Piedmont where the French did afterwards make warre to their best aduantage discouraging the ready meanes of diuerting all attempts on that side against Fraunce besides the credite which they got by the action with the States of Italie If they had knowne as I haue said how to vse this prosperous successe to their best aduantage I doubt not but they had often put all the estates you holde thereabouts in daunger Seeke therefore alwayes to assault the French King in his owne Realme and to preuent his first attempts for otherwise you cannot when you will ridde your hands of him by making a diuersion from Italie if hee may be suffered to put in his foote for then the difficultie of repairing your armie with supplies of Spaniards considering the situation will be verie great wherein all consisteth for they beeing defeated by anie mischaunce it giues great incouragement to the States of Italie to laie new plottes especially the Venetiant whom euerie little blast doth easily awake Persuade not your selfe that your deerest friends in Italie seeing your power decline will euer adhere to your misfortunes with the hazard of their owne estates but rather secretly reconcile themselues to him that hath the vpper hand and follow the Victors good fortune I would not wish you to applie vour whole care about the recouerie of Siena which will be hardly effected I graunt the Duke of Florence hath beene jealous to that State considering his oportunity to annoy them both by neere neighbourhood and the power of his authoritie This plot if it might take effect will bee a notable president to all States and make them warie how to intermeddle against your power And which importeth your cause most of all you shall by this meanes cut off all intelligence betweene the French Kings forces and the States of Italie who finding the French setled within the heart of their Countrey will be more apt to ioyne with them in friendship and relie vpon their strength rather than when they see them farre off in Piedmont and much lesse if they can bee drawne on this side the Alpes whereas their fauour cannot bee commodious nor their displeasure daungerous It shall also much auaile in your dealing with the Crowne of France to bee fully informed of the humors and affections of all such persons as are in greatest fauour with the King or that stand for the best offices thrust your hand secretly into all their competitions and drawe the strongest partie vnto you with all the Art you can for neuer can the Theater of publique Actions affoord more fauourable shewes in your behalfe than when it shall bee moued vnder hand with inuisible deuises If euer Fortune fauour you so much as that either by alliance or anie other kind of agreement you shall bee able to remooue the French out of Piedmont wincke at all other things Doe the best you can whereby the Realme may bee induced to desist from armes so shall you bee secured from tumults and many other kindes of crosses which are more daungerous and not knowne to euery man if afterwards anie occasion be offred of doing your selfe good forbeare not to lay holde of it Thus shall you euer be most secure concerning causes which belong to Italie This is the ground vpon which in the end it behoueth you to settle the strongest sinews of your foreine power and therefore haue alwayes an eye vnto it with an aduised consideration The reason is not all one for the French to bee now put out of Piedmont and as if they had neuer held it for in the opinion of the world it will be more disgrace vnto them than the winning thereof before did yeeld them profit Wherefore in all your capitulations and agreements let your eye leuell directly at this end and your plottes of policie aime alwayes at this marke For beleeue me son and I assure you out of my long experience that Piedmont alone will benefit you more than if on that side which lies next vnto Flaunders you had berest him of the third part of his owne kingdome Seeing then wee are entred so farre into the State of Italie and ingaged in the highest mysterie of State wee must proceed a little farther in this politique discourse I will tell you once againe that by the life of this one artere the pulse of all your great power doth beate This waie your eyes must bee euer bent and open to all oportunities First I would haue you vse all deuotion and curtesie to the holie father and the apostolike Sea I would wish you to bee verie kind to the members of the same as the Cardinalles Bishoppes Prelates and other of the Clergie belonging to the Court of Rome Be euer readie for the defence of them and the Catholike profession In all elections of Popes see that you labour not by anie vnchristian vnlawfull and indirect meanes to preferre anie of those Cardinalles that are your especiall friends Striue not to make one rather than an other so as all Competitors bee worthie of the place for in these sacred actions the holie Ghost doth worke And it is better to submit our likings to the prouidence of God which turneth all things to the best as wee may vnderstand by that which is recorded of Mathias in the Text than to follow humours or respect particulars There is no question but anie of them may bee wonne by due respect and admit they should become strange yet after you haue sought to reconcile your selfe into their fauours by such meanes as are prescribed you by the holie Ghost hauing your territories included in the middest of theyr Countrey you can neuer want the choice of manie meanes belonging to the world by which for your last refuge when there is no other meanes you may insinuate your selfe more easily into their good opinions I meane either by alliance with their chiefest friends abroad or bestowing pensions and sundrie curtesies vpon such persons of the Clergie as they most affect at home with a thousand such like complements as may pleasure them daily without anie hinderance to princes of your qualitie This is the waie to make the Pope you friend though at the first hee were elected by a faction of Cardinalles which depend not on your affection for hardly shall you find anie hawke so haggard but hee will prey vpon all apt aduaunxstages Hereof you must haue an especiall care the end whereof is the general good of Christendome rather than anie respect of your owne priuate interest though manie perhaps doe not so much regard those bonds which ought to moue them simply to make a Pope as they doe the profit when a Pope is made to their purpose The territories of the Church lie as we may say in the very heart of Italie but so inuironed with yours as they may serue for a garland if Siena were once recouered they should then be compassed in on all sides with your forces So as the way which you shall take
20 D. Antonio layes aside armes and retires himselfe 21 Articles graunted by the King D. Philip to the Estates and realme of Portugall 22 D. Philip receiued and acknowledged for King at Lisbone 23 Terceres Ilands their conquest and the rout of the French armie 24 D. Philips sonne Prince of Spaine acknowledged and sworne at Lisbone 25 Absolute conquest of the Terceres by the defeat of Emanuel de Silua and of Monsieur de Chattes ¶ All the Realmes of Spaine vnited to the Crowne of Castille vnder D. Philip the second 1575 DOn Lewis de Requesens great Commander of Castille was sent to succeed the D. of Alba in the gouernment of the Low Countries after that the duke of Medina Celi had refused it He was a man approching somewhat in disposition to his predecessor Great Commander of Castille sent gouernour into the Law Countries He had accompanied D. Iohn of Austria in his sea-army whenas he fought with the Turke at Lepanto as his chiefe Councellor and after his returne into Sicile the King D. Philip had made him gouernour of Milan where hee remained not long the King thinking him fit to calme that which the Duke of Alba had left in trouble in Holland and Zeland into which prouinces it seemed that the whole warre was reduced Among other disorders he found the Spanish souldiers discontented and cursing the Duke who owed them foure and thirtie moneths pay whom he was forced for the first triall of his wisedome to seeke meanes to pacifie the which he did in some sort but when he beganne to enter into the managing of affaires he fell grossely into an inconuenience which did preiudice the rest of his gouernement What his actions were during his charge there you may reade at large in that Country historie He liued not long there but died of a pestilent feuer in the yere one thousand fiue hundred seuentie and sixe leauing those Countries in greater confusion than the Duke of Alba his predecessor had done In the yeare 1574 it was found that king Philip was indebted to the merchants of Genoua and Spaine in 37 millions of ducats King of Spaine reuokes his â—ssignations and bâ—eakes with the Genâ—uois for the which hee gaue them assignements out of his royall reuenues whereupon for the relieuing of his necessities and to free the king from the Genouois the Deputies of the chiefe Cities and Townes were called to Madrid to consult how to relieue the king in these great wants Among other there was one in Court whose name was Francisco Brauo who told the king that the contractions which he had made with the merchants were in respect of them against all law and equitie the which if he did not remedie within a yeare hee would not haue any meanes to free himselfe telling him moreouer that he had beene fraudulently circumuented by them in very great summes contrarie to all diuine and humane lawe Whereupon in the yeare 1575 the king of Spaine made a decree touching the losse and preiudice which his royall reuenues had receiued by the coÌ„trectations which he had made with the Genouois and others making a staie of all the said contrectations and assignements the which did much trouble the Genouois and others to whom the king was indebted for by reason of this suspension they could not giue satisfaction vnto their creditours which made them to present an answer to this decree vnto the King shewing that it would bee a blemish to his honour and verie preiudiciall to his seruice yet could they not get it reuoked but were forced to make a new composition The citie of Genoua was diuided into two factions Genoua diuided into factioÌ„s the old which were the noble men and gentlemen and the new who were some gentlemen supported by the common people D. Iohn Idiaques as embassadour for the Catholike King had labored much to quench this fire which beganne to kindle and had persuaded them to lay aside armes but this yeere the furious multitude little respecting the promise of the wiser citizens to disarme and to treate an accord with the liking and authoritie of the Catholike King for whom Idiaques was imployed in that action matters were brought to despaire the faction of the new offering by force to reforme the publique gouernement after their owne manner and to abate the power of the nobles who were called the old who not suffering so great an indignitie went most of them out of Genoua Iohn Andrew Doria beeing as it were their head The Pope sent Cardinall Morone thither but the Genouois would not treat with him alone vnlesse the Catholike kings Embassadour were called he being the chiefe protector of that common weale The matter was found so difficult as the faction of the old despayring were come with good forces some to Final and some to Aqui resoluing to recouer their countrie and dignitie by armes choosing Iohn Andrew Doria for their Generall in that warre who refused that charge vntill he had leaue from the king of Spaine whom he serued In the meane time they had newes that the king was ready to send another Embassadour to adde authority and counsell to the other two which was the Duke of Gandie but D. Iohn d' Austria came first with a nauie vpon that coast to see that no Prince by means of this tumult should enter into Genoua and make himselfe master thereof and therefore they made prouision of souldiers drawing into the duchie of Milan two regiments of Germans and leuying some Italians The people of Genoua grewe iealous that D. Iohn meant to seize vpon their citie but he according to the order he had from his brother hauing conferred with Prince Doria and the gouernour of Milan at Spetie they concluded onely that there should be all meanes attempted to quiet that citie and if the people should continue in their obstinacie the faction of the Old should haue leaue to recouer their countrie with their auncient rights and dignities and the rather for that they offered to make warre at their owne charge requiring nothing of his Maiestie but Dorias person and the gallies wherewith hee serued the king The Emperour and the French king sent their Embassadours to pacifie this tumult but they could not effect any thing especially he of France whom for that they would not breed a iealousie in the king of Spaine they dismist with good words They without the citie finding by the treatie that there was no hope of any pacification were readie to goe to armes when as Charles Borgia Duke of Gandie arriued but hoping that his authority and the priuat instructions of the catholike king would preuaile much they staied but yet the mischiefe could not be thus cured Soone after the Secretarie Escouedo hauing beene sent by D. Iohn returned from Spaine who brought order from the king that all the resolution of that businesse for that which concerned his Maiestie was referred to D. Iohn who was then at Naples whither
whereof there were many remedies applied both naturall and superstitious but to small effect so as Bamba either willingly finding himselfe vnable or otherwise quit the crowne and retyred himselfe into a monasterie where he liued seuen yeares and one moneth after that he had beene king nine yeares The place where he passed the remainder of his life is called Pampliga neere Burgos Thus Eruinge seized by force as they say of the kingdome of the Visigothes in Spaine the which the Archbishop of Toledo doth affirme yet it doth not accord well with the acts of the twelfth Councell held at Toledo vnder Eruinge where the election of this king Eruinge is confirmed and allowed as lawfull But to reconcile these contrarieties it is to bee presumed that Eruinge being king and hauing power in his hands gratifying the Fathers in some sort that he was also gratified by them as one hand washeth another or as they say in France one Barber shaues another 27. Eruinge 39 WHen as Eruinge was seated in the royall throne Anno 681. hee confirmed the lawes of the kings of the Gothes his predecessours and did authorize with his name some made by Saint Isidorus and that to the end it should not seeme that the Clergie vnder the title of the Church would vsurpe a ciuile jurisdiction he rejected many of the plebeians from all dignities and honours hauing gotten them by money and other vnlawfull meanes to the dishonour of nobilitie he ordained but with the aduice of the Romane See That no Archbishop should be subject to the Primats To fortifie the beginning of his reigne against Theofrede the sonne of Bamba whom he feared much he gaue Cixilone his daughter whom he had by Luibigotte his wife to an Earle who was rich and of great authoritie among the Gothes called Egica 12 Councell of Toledo cousin to Bamba deceased And soone after the twelfth Councell was held at Toledo which was in the yeare 681 Iulian Archbishop of Seuille being President where there assisted one and fortie Bishops An. 681. fiue Abbots and fifteene great Noblemen By the acts of this Councell in the seuenth Article it appeares Nomination of Bishops belonged to the kings of Spaine That the kings of Spaine had power to giue Bishoprickes and that to that collation the confirmation of the other Bishops of Spaine was required especially of the Archbishop of Toledo the which doth also appeare by the answere of an Epistle written by Braule Bishop of Sarragosse to S. Isidorus where he is admonished to chuse some good man in the place of Eusebius Archbishop of Tarracone deceased Isidorus answeres him That he did not know the kings pleasure therein This Councell did abolish certaine Bishops newly erected and created by king Bamba in some townes which were not very conuenient Three yeares after 13 Councell of Toledo in the yeare 684 was another Councell held at Toledo which was the thirteenth of eight fortie Bishops and three Archbishops of Toledo Bracar and Merida yet the Authors varie in the number of these Bishops An. 684. one of the decrees of these fathers was Decree not to marrie the kings widow That neither the king nor any other should marrie the widow of the deceased king nor defile her by adulterie vpon paine of excommunication and to be damned to hell fire And in the yeare 685 the foureteenth Councell was assembled at Toledo of sixteene Bishops and many Vicars of them that were absent 14 Councell of Toledo to confirme the acts of the sixt Councell of Constantinople begun vnder Constantine the fourth and some yeares after ended against the errors of Apollinaris renewed then denying the two natures diuine and humane in Iesus Christ which acts the Pope sent into Spaine that in a generall assembly of the Prelats they might be read and by their authoritie allowed and published throughout all the kingdome of the Gothes The Archbishop of Toledo was then called Iulian Pomer of the Iewes race whose father and mother had made themselues Christians a learned man religious and of a good life Eruinge hauing reigned seuen yeares died at Toledo of a naturall death leauing his kingdome to Egica his sonne in law In his time there was a great famine in Spaine 28. Egica 40 AS soone as Egica An. 688. or as others call him Egican was king he put away his wife Cixilone for the wickednesse which her father had committed against king Bamba yet he did auow the infant Vitisa which he had had by her and caused it to be nourished in hope to make it his heire in the towne of Tude or Tuy in Gallicia as if he had giuen it the realme of Gallicia and of the Sueues for a portion whilest that he reigned ouer the Gothes He caused himselfe to be absolued at a Councell held at Toledo 15 Councell of Toledo in the first yeare of his reigne of the oath which he had taken against his dutie to that vnlawfull king This Councell was called the fifteenth at Toledo whereas Iulian the Archbishop of that place did preside where there were sixtie one Bishops or sixtie six according vnto some There Iulian did maintaine by reasons and good authoritie what he had written in a confession of the Faith sent to Rome as well in his name as of all the Bishops of Spaine which was That in our Lord Iesus Christ were the word the bodie and the soule Pope Benedict an hereticke the which had beene rejected by Pope Benedict the second who as it seemes did not well vnderstand these things the Article was allowed by the Councell of Toledo and afterwards being well considered was receiued at Rome The acts of this Councell were published in Gothique Gaule in the Cathedrall Churches for that the Bishops of that Prouince could not come to Toledo by reason of the plague being enjoyned to receiue them vpon paine of excommunication and the losse of the tenth part of their goods that should oppugne them 16 Councell of Toledo Six yeares after there was the sixteenth Councell held at Toledo Sigebert being Archbishop of that place after the death of Iulian and was deposed by this Councell for his ill deseruing and in his place was set Felix Archbishop of Seuille Faustin Archbishop of Bracar was aduanced to Seuille and Felix Bishop of Portogallo to Bracar this alteration being made they did proceed to the acts The cause why they deposed Sigebert was for that he had attempted to depriue king Egica of the realme for the which hee was degraded banished his goods confiscated and excommunicated so as hee might not receiue the Sacraments but at the houre of his death yea a penaltie was inflicted vpon all clergie men of what degree soeuer they were that should attempt against their prince The yeare following 17 Councell of Toledo which was 694 the seuenteenth Councell was held at Toledo whereas the king with great humilitie demaunded many things of the Fathers
Eylo or Zethon whom we had confined into Ouiedo in the beginning of the raigne of this Alphonso who being made earle or gouernour of Biscaie by the kings bountie would rebell as his brother had done Rebellion of the gouernor of Biscate forcing the king to send an armie against him by the which he was vanquished taken and led to Ouiedo where he ended his dayes in prison This Zeno left two daughters the one called Theude was maried according vnto some to D. Inigo Arista king of Nauarre and the other D. Iniga to the infant D. Suria of whom we shall hereafter speake This was in the yeare 856. All this time and to the yeare 859 Moores Anno 859. there had beene a suspension of armes betwixt king D. Alphonso and the Moores but that yeare king Mahumet went to armes and came and besieged the towne of Coimbra belonging now to Portugal but D. Alphonso forced him to raise his siege and not content therewith entred into the Moores countrey wasted it and returned with great spoyles continuing euerie yeare to annoy them in such sort as they were constrained to accept of a truce for three yeares with the preiudice of their reputations and great disaduantage in their iurisdictions Then there raigned in Sarragosse a Moore called Aben Alfaie The rest of Mahumets raigne vnto his death was spent in voluptuous lust and idlenesse In his time there was a great earthquake in Spaine and a little before his death lightening entring into the Mosquee where he was slew two Noblemen Moores neere vnto him D. Garcia Inigues third of that name and seuenth King of Nauarre 37 About the yeare 867 Nauarre and Arragon vnited as some Authors write died D. Inigo Arista king of Nauarre to whom succeeded D. Garcia Inigues his sonne the third of that name who vnited the countrey of Arragon to Nauarre by marying with D. Vrraca daughter to D. Fortun the last earle or of D. Endregot Galinde of the same house and familie of Arragon He had two sons by this Ladie D. Fortun and D. Sancho Abarca and one daughter called D. Sanctiua or Sancha They write this fable of D. Sancho That the king going inconsiderately with his queene through the mountaines of Nauarre he was surprised by certaine Moores and slaine and the queene ouerthrowne being thrust into the bellie with a Moores launce at such time as she was great with this D. Sancho Some houres after a knight whom they called D. Sancho of Gueuara passing that way met with this pitifull spectacle and saw that the child had thrust forth a hand by the mothers wound and had laboured to come forth there wherefore this knight lighting from his horse made the wound greater so as he drew forth this infant aliue without any harme then he carried it to his house with good witnesses where he caused it to be nourished according to his degree vntill he grew great and then he presented him to the Estates of the realme and made him be acknowledged for their lawfull king But as we say it is like to be a fable and hath no great authoritie yet they say that the surname of Ladron which is peculiar to the house of Gueuara came for that this knight did secretly nourish the infant D. Sancho D. Sanctiua the daughter was maried to king Ordogno the second sonne to Alphonso the great 38 They hold opinion Biscaie That the lords of Biscaie had their beginning at this time in D. Suria whose posteritie was famous for many yeares for after that D. Zeno had beene vanquished and led prisoner as we haue said the Biscaines seeing themselues without a head fell to mutinies and seditions Thither was sent D. Ordogno sonne to king D. Alphonso whom they called Earle of Asturies who began to ouerrun and spoyle the countrey The townes and comminalties assembled to make head against him chusing D. Suria for their captaine who was descended from the bloud royall of Scotland by his mother and had maried a daughter of Cont Zenos called D. Iniga but at that time deceased The forces of either part came to fight in a place called then Padura The battell was sharpe and cruell and for that the whole countrey did swim with bloud the place was from that time called Arrigoriaga which in the countrey language signifies a vermilion stone The Biscaines with the aid and by the valour of D. Sancho Estiguis Lord of Durando who ended his dayes in this battell won it which was in the yeare 870. After this victorie the Biscaines chose D. Suria for their Lord as well for that he was sonne in law to their last Earle and gouernour Zeno by his daughter notwithstanding we doe not read that he had any children as for the valour and good conduct they had seene in him in this warre This D. Suria did presently after marie the daughter of D. Sancho Estiguis in whose right he got the Seigniorie of Durando which was vnited vnto Biscaie whose posteritie did enjoy those lands vntill the time of D. Henrie the second of that name king of Castille and Leon. The linage of D. Suria was called de Haro Castille the old had also an Earle called D. Diego Porcello 39 Mahumet Miralmumin of Cordoua Moores Anno 874. hauing liued some time in peace by reason of the last truce made with the Christians died in the yeare 874 leauing 54 children by his wiues whereof 34 were males and 20 females He had held the kingdome 35 yeares and his death was in the 257 yeare of the Arabians raigne Almundir sixt king of the Moores at Cordoua His sonne Almundir succeeded him who liue but two yeares hauing done nothing worthie of memorie against whom they of Cordoua rebelled notwithstanding that he offered to free them of the tenth part of their tribute which they paid He left six sonnes and seuen daughters Such was the estate of Spaine in the time of king D. Alphonso who had to wife a Ladie of the bloud royall of France called Ameline Ouiedo but they changed her name to D. Ximena by whom he had foure sonnes D. Garcia D. Ordogno D. Fruela who raigned and D. Gonsalo the Archdeacon This king in his later dayes gaue himselfe wholly to workes of pietie building of churches and monasteries indowing them with rents and great reuenewes and adorning them with iewels vessels of gold and siluer and precious ornaments according to the ceremonies brought in and maintained in the Church In the yeare 877 the church of S. Iaques was consecrated at the instance of this king and by the authoritie of Pope Iohn the eighth where many Bishops were present And it is to be noted that in those dayes the citie of Ouiedo was full of Bishops without any flockes for they did chuse Bishops of townes that were in the Moores possession keeping an account of their succssion Ouiedo the towne of Bishops all which did liue in Ouiedo and therfore it was called the
rewarding euerie one according to his degree Yet he was not receiued nor obeyed throughout all the townes of his jurisdiction but some maintained Hizens partie who was prisoner at Cordoua Mahumet Almohadi being come to Toledo Abdalla raigned there but not verie quietly in the beginning but the hatred the Toledanes did beare to the kings of Cordoua made his way the more easie Neither of these two tyrants raigned long for Albaharin the Alhabib who liued at Medina Celi hearing that Zuleima was much troubled to subdue the people of the jurisdiction of Cordoua which were rebelled against him he made a leuie of souldiers both Moores and Christians and came to Mahumet Almohadi at Toledo who had beene newly made king of that citie but the manner how is not specified in Histories There hauing raised a great armie they tooke their way to Cordoua to deliuer king Hizen who was prisoner Whereof Zuleima being aduertised he resolued to defend himselfe calling all his friends and vassals together whereof most of them excused themselues shewing that they were naturally bound vnto king Hizen for whose deliuerie they knew Mahumet had taken arms with Albaharin and some Christian captaines which were in their armie whereof two are called Bermondo and Argomento Notwithstanding this refusall Zuleima relying vpon the forces of Barbarie who assured him that they would neuer forsake him sallied out of Cordoua and came and affronted the enemie Battell betwixt the Moores nine leagues from the citie at a place called Hacantalbasar where his first charge was so furious as he put the formost of the enemies squadrons to rout and slue so many as hee thought all had beene defeated and Mahumet dead but the Christians which were in Mahumets armie rallied their disordered battell and charged Zuleimaes men with such violence as they made them quit the field with great slaughter of the Barbarian Africanes Zuleima saued himselfe with a small troupe in the fort of Cafra They write that in this battell there died thirtie thousand Moors and nine thousand Christians among which were D. Arnoul Bishop of Ausa Aetius Bishop of Barcelone and Otho of Girone who carried armes for the Moores quarels by the losse whereof Zuleima left the realme of Cordoua the second time Hizen a prisoner restored to realme of Cordoua where hee had raigned a yeare This was in the yeare 995. Hizen was restored to his royall Estate by the victors the people of Cordoua being affected to him and did mutine to haue him and Mahumet was the more inclined to him for that he was setled at Toledo The victor prepared to besiege Casra to expell Zuleima and to spoyle the treasure that was within it but foreseeing the danger he dislodged and carried away with him what he could The castle being abandoned was taken by them of Cordoua and that which remained spoyled and the souldiers which were found in it slaine The bootie which was taken in this castle was carried to the great Mosquee at Cordoua and there consecrated This doue Albaharin the Alhabib led the armie against some places in Andolousia which continued in their rebellion since the former diuisions he besieged Almerie which was defended by Afila a Moore of a great house and battered it twentie dayes the which in the end was forced and Afila with some of his children drowned The like happened to the townes of Iaen Baesa and Ariona the which were kept for king Hizen In this manner did the Moores make warre being diuided into two factions where of the one held the partie of Hizen and of the Moores in Spaine and the other of the Barbarians and Moores of Affrick of whom Zuleima was the chiefe in Spaine Mahumet Almohadi raigned at Toledo after Abdalla verie little Obeidalla sixt king of Toledo for the Historians make present mention of his sonne Obeydalla sixt king of Toledo against whom king Hizen seeing himselfe now setled in his kingdome sent his lieutenant with a great armie to reduce them of Toledo vnder his obedience who made a sallie vpon them of Cordoua where there was a cruell combate but the end was shamefull for the Toledanes who lost their king Obeidalla there and many of their men Yet were they not daunted neither did they abate any thing of their rebellious contumacie against Hizen and the Estate of Cordoua whom they did hate extreamely For presently after their defeat and the death of their king Obeidalla they chose another of the same linage of Aben Humeâ—a Hairam seuÌ„eth king of Toledo called Hairam the seuenth king in number who left the Scepter of Toledo to his descendants vntill it was conquered by the Christians This past about the yeare 1000 when as king Hizen thinking himselfe to be in more quiet and securitie then euer he found himselfe plunged in greater troubles then before for the Moores were so greedie of commaund as those which had any authoritie or power would make haed against whom soeuer that would commaund them The which was no wonder for that in the citie of Cordoua and the jurisdiction thereof there were infinit families descending from kings of the Moores issuing from the race of Aben Humeia which grew by reason of their pluralitie of wiues which their sect allowed which was the cause of seditions and reuolts for the desire of rule During these ciuile warres Cattelogue the Cattelans and Barcelonians had beene in peace and free from the Moores inuasions and had rather sought to annoy them or inuade them either alone or joyntly with the Castillans D. Raymond Borel the earle who had succeeded his father did burie in a manner at the entrie of his principalitie his cousin D. Oliban Cabrica earle of Cerdagne and Besalu at our Ladie of Ripon in the yeare 994 whose Estates were diuided among his children D. Bernard Brisefer and D. Geoffrey This new earle had fortified Barcelone and repaired all the spoyles which the Moores had made during the warre against D. Borel his father joyning the Monasterie of Montjuhy to the walls of Barcelone and called it S. Peter of the virgines to gratifie D. Borella his sister whom some call Engelrade Abbesse of that place There is no mention made of him in Histories but that he had one sonne called D. Berenger Borel in the yeare 995 who succeeded him after his death D. Garcia called the Trembling fift of that name and 12 King of Nauarre 23 IN the same yere of the decease of the earle D. Borel Nauarre which was 993 died according to the common opinion of writers D. Sancho the 3 sonne to D. Garcia Sanches king of Nauarre but it is most vncertaine for the computation of the liues and raignes of these first kings of Nauarre Leon and other Princes and Potentates of Spaine is so diuers and confused in their writings as no man can judge rightly of them D. Sancho gaue for the soules health of his sonne D. Ramir to the Monasterie of S. Emylian the towne of
vpon Abderramens armie the which they would fauour in such sort as most of his best men and hee himselfe should either bee taken or slaine and hauing instructed them where they should charge and of the situation of the kings lodging which was vpon the side of a hill called Senesta two leagues from Grenado they held themselues readie attending the alarme the which being giuen verie hot and at a fit time to strike terrour they joyned with the Grenadines where they made a great slaughter of Abderramens men he himselfe being in like manner slaine and the rest of the armie dispersed and put to flight abandoning their Engines of batterie and all their baggage the which was spoyled and carried into Grenado with great joy This treason was practised by these two captaines through enuie together with a distrust of king Abderramens good successe wherefore after this goodly exploit they resolued to send part of the bootie with manie heads of the chiefe of the Moores slaine in this surprise to king Cacin in signe of triumph the which was verie pleasing to this king who was then at Cordoua and making vse of this good fortune he went to field to reduce vnder his obedience manie townes and forts which had reuolted to king Abderramen when as hee was aduaunced to that dignitie the which he did to manie but he wanted force and time to finish it for hauing raigned scarce three yeares he died in the yeare 1007. The Moores of Barbarie which had for a time followed the partie of the kings of Cordoua were then in great authoritie in the citie and therefore had the meanes and credit to chuse Hiaya the sonne of Mahumet for king the which did much discontent the auncient Moores borne in the countrey who sought some good opportunitie to be rid of these Berberuzes as the Spaniards called them by killing or chasing them out of the towne to the end that the gouernment thereof might returne into their hands as before A fit occasion was offered for the new king Hiaya who before his election to be king was resident at Malaga hauing a desire to haue that towne at his deuotion for that it had not obeyed the precedent kings of Cordoua since their troubles and seditions went forth of Cordoua leading with him great troupes of souldiours especially of that race of Moores which came out of Barbarie Comming to Malaga he was receiued without any contradiction but whilest hee was busie there the inhabitants of Cordoua who had intelligence with Buz of Grenado drew certaine troupes which hee had sent into their towne being led by two of his captaines Hayran and Mogid by whose helpe they cut the throats of aboue a thousand African Moores who were left for the gard of the citie Hiaya 15 king of the Moores at Cordoua At this bruite king Hiayas lieutenant was so amazed as he got out of the towne with all the ministers of justice and fled to Malaga to carrie these troublesome newes to the king his master who within few dayes was slaine by a Moore called Ismael Abderramen 16 king at Cordoua hauing raigned onely three moneths and some dayes Abderramen the fourth of that name was aduaunced in his place he was king but a moneth and seuenteene dayes and we doe not read whither he died or were expelled his kingdome After him followed Mahumet Mahumet 17 king at Cordoua great Miralmumin of Cordoua who raigned not long for that being rich in treasure by his good husbandrie before he came to be king it was a cause to shorten his life by the trecherie of his household seruants who conspired to murther him for his treasure wherefore they poysoned him hauing held the kingdome a yeare and foure moneths He died in the yeare one thousand and nine and of the Arabians raigne three hundred ninetie two Hizen 18 king at Cordoua He left this place to Hizen the third of that name who liued long at Seuile being desirous to raigne the which he now obtained In the meane time a Moore who called himselfe king of Ceuta passing the strait came to Malaga where he tooke the fort of the towne He was called Esdriz and brought with him a great number of the Moores of Africke with whom Buz who tearmed himselfe king of Grenado joyned at Malaga and called himselfe his vassall doing him homage Being thus fortified with the Moores of Spaine he came to Carmona the which he tooke then passing on by Alcaladel Rio he burnt the suburbes of Triana and seized vpon Seuile Many other tyrants did rise in diuers places so as all Spaine vnder the Moores jurisdiction was full of seditions and ciuill warres and the estate of Cordoua was spoyled by him that could get it but the kings of Toledo made their profit more than any other who medling not with other mens quarrells kept themselues quiet and assured with their owne limits After the death of Obeidalla as we haue said Hyran raigned of the linage of Aben Humeia who dying left the scepter to his sonne called Hizen who raigned in the time of this other Hizen king of Cordoua and was the eight king of Toledo King Hizen of Cordoua was of as small continuance as his late predecessors for the Moores his subjects expelled him in hatred of the robberies and extortions committed by his Alhabib or Constable who from a base place was aduaunced to that dignitie so hauing held the kingdome twentie moneths and some dayes he gaue place to Almondirs follie in the yeare one thousand and eleuen Almondir who was of the linage of Aben Humeya put himselfe forward being desirous to raigne in this sedition and popular tumult and hauing gathered some of his friends and kinsfolkes together he came vnto the castle of the citie entreating them to receiue him seeing they would not haue king Hizen Whereupon being aduertised by some one well affected that he offered himselfe in an vnseasonable time the people being in armes and incensed against a king wherefore hee should doe wisely to retyre The furious and nrestrained ambition of Almondir and to keepe himselfe from murthering in this tumult but being mad with ambition he persisted in his demaund adding thereunto that he did not care so as they created him king that day if they slue him the next Which words were so odious vnto all that heard them as without any further delay or giuing him that fading contentment to see himselfe king that day they slew him vpon the place presuming by the words which he had vttered that he would be an vnprofitable and bad king such was the reward of his furious desire to raigne This being done they did forbeare to kill Hizen and being resolued not to haue him for their king they let him vnderstand That if he would saue his life he should quit the fort and retyre where he pleased whereunto he obeyed and retyred himselfe with some of his friends into another strong house of his joyning vnto
continued almost fiue and twentie yeares We must not wonder if Secular Princes were in combustion seeking to rule one ouer another hauing it may be some plausible pretext seeing that the Prelates of Spaine were a president for them without any reason Primacie of Toledo confirmed The Primacie which hee of Toledo held ouer other Bishops was not acknowledged of all for the Archbishop of Braga and he of Saint Iames resfused to obey him but the Primate of Primates Adrian the third sending l Hyacinth his Legat from Rome forced them by a sentence The end of the ninth Booke THE TENTH BOOKE of the Historie of Spaine The Contents 1. D. Alphonso the seuenth King of Castile and the fourth of that name called the Noble and the troubles which did rise by the factions of Castro and Lara 2 D. Alphonso the second of that name and sixth King of Arragon Earle of Barcelone 3 Confirmation of the Order of Calatraua 4 Beginning and continuance of the ancient house of Biscay 5 Marriage of King D. Alphonso the noble and of Elenor daughter to Henry the second King of England 6 Warre of Nauarre against Castile and Arragon 7 Marriage of D. Alphonso the second king of Arragon with D. Sancha of Castile to the disgrace of the daughter of Manuel Emperour of Constantinople 8 Prouâ—nce annexed to the Crowne of Arragon the which is exempted from all fealtie and homage to Castile 9 Institution of the knights of the sword of the Order of S. Iames in Galicia Their increase and forces with their Commanderies and benefices 10 Commanderies and other benefices of the Order of Calatraâ—a and their strength 11 Continuance of the warre against Nauarre and the taking of the lands of Bureuâ— and Rioja from this Realme by the Castillans 12 Sedition of the Nobilitie of Castile to defend their Immunities 13 Continuance of the deedes of D. Alphonso Henriques the new King of Portugal and the quarrels betwixt him and the king of Leon. 14 Limitations and diuisions of the conquests which were to be made vpon the Moores betwixt the Christian Princes of Spaine 15 Exploits of the Portugals against the Moores 16 Continuance of the raigne and deeds of D. Fernand the second king of Leon. 17 Beginning of the towne of Victoria in Alaua Expedition of the Nauarrois in Castile and other deeds of armes of D. Sancâ—o the seuenth 18 Cattelogâ—e reiects the Soueraigntie of the French 19 The last acts of D. Alphonso Henriques king of Portugal 20 D. Sancho first of that name the second king of Portugal 21 Marriage of D. Fernand the 28. king of Leon and his death 22 D. Alphonso the ninth of that name and 29. king of Leon. 23 Submission of the king of Leon to him of Castile Assembly of the ordinarie estates in Castile Enmitie and hatred betwixt fiue Christian kings raigning in Spaine 24 Deeds of D. Sancho king of Portugal the first of that name and the institution of the Order of Auâ—z 25 Continuance of the deeds of D. Alphonso king of Castile the building of the fort of of Nauarre neere to Nagera 26 Aben Ioseph Mazemut king of the Moores and his exploits against the Christians of Spaine 27 D. Sancho the strong 21 King of Nauarre the 8. of that name 28 Spoiles done by the Moores in the countries of Castille and Leon. 29 D. Pedro the 2. of that name 7. King of Arragon his marriages and submission to the Pope 30 Descent of the house of Champagne vnto Thibault King of Nauarre the first of that family 31 Inuasions of the realme of Nauarre by the Castillans and Arragonois the Prouince of Guipuscoa taken from it 32 Buildings and reparations of D. Alphonso the Noble King of Castille marriage of D. Blanche his daughter with Lewis father to Saint Lewis the French King 33 D. Rodrigo Ximenes Archbishop of Toledo his deeds buildings and the vniversity made at Palence by King D. Alphonso 34 Great preparatiues of warre both by the Christian Princes and the Moores the memorable battaile of Muradal 35 Armories of Nauarre 36 The last exploits of D. Sancho King of Portugal D. Alphonso second of that name and third King of Portugal 37 Exploits of D. Pedro the 2. King of Arragon Hatred betwixt him and Symon Earle of Montfort his death in the warre of the Albigeois mooued by Saint Dominike 38 D. Iaques the 1. of that name 8. King of Arragon 39 Seditions at Pampelone Exercises of armes appointed by D. Sancho the 8. King of Nauarre as necessary for a warlike nation 40 Order of the Knights of Alcantara 41 D. Henry the first of that name and 8. King of Castille 42 Councel of Saint Iohn de Latran vnder Innocent the 3. sute for the Primacy of Spaine This tenth Booke conteines the descent and continuance of the royall families of Spaine that is Of Nauarre 21 D. Sancho 8. Of Leon. 29 D. Alphonso 9. Of Portugal 2 D. Sancho 1. 3. D. Alphonso 2. Of Arragon 6 D. Alphonso 2. 7 D. Pedro. 2. 8 D. Iaques 1. Of Castille 7 D. Alphonso 4. 8 D. Henry 1. D. Alphonso the noble the seuenth King of Castille the fourth of that name THE death of the King D. Sancho confirmed his surname of desired for that there followed dangerous combustions begunne betwixt two great families of Castille through iealousie and desire of rule The young Kings person beeing then but foure yeeres old was vnder the charge of D. Guttiere Fernando Ruis de Castro according vnto the will of the deceased King his father who had also ordained that the captaines and Gouernors of Prouinces and places should continue in their charges Troubles in Castille by reason of the Kings Noâ—â—age vntill that his sonne D. Alphonso should bee fifteene yeeres old compleate Those of the house of Lara being men of great account were discontented with this decree of which family the chiefe was the Earle D. Manrique de Lara who had two brethren D. Aluaro and D. Nugno all sonnes to D. Pedro de Lara of whom wee haue made mention and of D. Aba forsaken by the Earle D. Garcia de Cabra with these there ioyned by reason of consanguinity D. Garcia d' Acia their brother by the mothers side sonne to that Lady D. Aba and the Earle D. Garcia de Cabra her first husband they were greeued to see the Kings person and the chiefe affaires of the Realme in the hands of them of Castro who held many places and good gouernments in Castille and Toledo wherefore they sought all occasions to seize vpon the authority and to dispossesse their aduersaries D. Guttiere Fernandes was an ancient Knight wise faithfull and without any malice who gaue no man occasion to complaine but great meanes to such as enuied his honour to hurt him by his sincerity Hee had also beene Gouernor to the King D. Sancho his father in his youth and was so worthy a knight as they say hee had made and armed fiue hundred Knights with
his owne hand Onely hee wanted the happinesse to haue children but his brother D. Ruy Fernandes called the Bald had foure D. Fernand D. Aluar D. Pedro and D. Guttiere surnamed Ruys and one daughter called D. Sancha Ruys married to D. Aluaro Ruys de Gusman These factions declaring themselues euery one stood vpon his gard and for that it was not easie to dissolue that which D. Sancho had decreed by his testament nor to wrest the authority from them of Castro by force being in possession the brothers of Lara found meanes to circumuent the good knight D. Guttiere Fernandes by goodly perswasions saying that for the good of the general peace he should bee content with those honours hee had and suffer the Earle D. Manriques to keepe the Kings person the which should in no sort blemish his authority Indiscretion of D. Guttiere Fernandes but should giue great reputation vnto the Earle who was a noble man of that quality as hee well deserued it all the foure brothers promising and swearing vnto him that they would alwaies preserue and defend the honour and authority which was due to his reuerent age D. Guttiere deceiued with these good words deliuered the King into the hands of these foure brethren who remained with D. Garcia d' Acia as the eldest the rest hauing at that time no meanes to contradict it but soone after they had an oportunity to get the King from him for D. Garcia who was not cunning nor of a bad disposition beeing entred into some termes and difficulty touching the entertainment of the yong Kings house and the necessary prouisions of money for his Estate with the brothers of Lara they wrought in such manner as hee resigned this burthensome charge vnto them the which they willingly accepted as a thing which they had long affected wherein the Earle D. Garcia did some-what wrong his honour and faile of his dutie as well as D. Guttiere Fernandes de Castro had done so the King came into the power of D. Manriques de Lara These alterations vnfit for the dignity of the young King discontented D. Guttiere and withall those of Lara beganne to faile in that which they had promised him wherefore he let them vnderstand that he would haue the King D. Alphonso againe to nourish and breed him vp according to the disposition of the King D. Sanchos will but they mocked him as a man which had lost his sences Wherevpon these two houses went to armes and drew vnto them their kinsmen friends and partisans giuing way and meanes to all the lewd people of the country to commit a thousand insolencies following the one or the other faction as it is vsuall in ciuill warres And moreouer they made a passage for D. Fernand King of Leon to enter into the territories of Castille where hee committed great excesse vnder pretext to pacefie the warres betwixt these two houses of Castro and Lara for beeing entred with an army he seized vpon those forts which were neerest vnto his fronters of Leon along the riuer of Duero and passing on further beecaused the Earle D. Manriques and his brethren to dislodge who carried the King D. Alphonso with them to Soria During these tumults D. Guttiere Fernandes de Castro died and was buried in the Monastery of Saint Christopher of Encas after whole decease the Earle D. Manriques caused his Nephewes D. Fernand D. Aluaro D. Pedro and D. Guttiere Ruis to be sommoned to deliuer vp into his hands the places belonging vnto the crowne the which they held and had commanded vnto their vncles death but they made answere that they were not bound to deliuer them vp seeing that the will of the deceased King was that they should hold them vntill the King D. Alphonso were full fifteene yeeres old There vpon D. Manrique commanded that the body of D. Guttiâ—re Fernandes should bee vnterred and charging him with fellony and treason against the King and crown hee sought to haue him found guilty His foure Nephewes imbraced the cause and defended both themselues and their deceased vncle saying that they neither had nor did commit any fellony in retayning of those places seeing it was according to the last will and testament of the King D. Sincho the which they had neuer demanded of their vncle lyuing The Lords of the councell who were Iudges in this cause gaue sentence that there was not any fellony committed and therefore they ordained that the body of D. Guttiere which had beene against the law of Nations inhumainely pulled out of his graue should bee laied in againe Their contentions were so great and the miseries which ensued so infinit as prest by necessity they were forced to ingage all the reuenues of Castille and Toledo for twelue yeeres vnto King Fernand and in the end the Earle D. Manriques bound himselfe to deliuer vnto the King of Leon Treachery of D. Manriques de Lara against his Prince and country the person of young D. Alphonso his Lord and to make him his vassal And to performe his promise he led the King D. Fernand to Soria where hauing propounded certaine reasons in an assembly of the Noblemen of Castille to perswade them that it was expedient the Kings person should bee put into his vncles custody they deliuered him vnto him protesting that they put him into his hands being a free Prince and therefore they intreated him to maintaine him in his liberty The Noblemen durst not herein contradict the King D. Fernand being within the country and in armes The young Infant beeing carried in a gentlemans armes beganne to weepe and cry out wherefore they carried him backe to the lodging to giue him an aple or some such like thing to please him At that time there was present D. Pedro Nugnes Almexir a hardy and generous knight who beeing greeued at this trecherous act of the Earle D. Manrique gaue order that whilest they dandled the child to still him they should bring him a good horse behinde the Kings lodging then approching neere vnto the young Prince Pero Nugnes a faithful vassal making shew to flatter him hee tooke him in his armes and slipping away by some secret passage well knowne to him he carried him to his horse and so fled with him to the towne of Saint Estienne of Gormas doing this act for the liberty of his King with such dexterity and diligence whilest that the King D. Fernand attended the Infants returne as he was gon a good way before it was discouered This beeing knowne by the King D. Fernand hee grew into a great rage and vsing threats he commanded D. Manrique and the rest of his faction to giue order that the child might bee found out and brought againe wheresoeuer he were wherevpon the Earle D. Manrique and his brethren vnder collour of seeking their King D. Alphonso had meanes to get out of Soria where all was in Combustion Being arriued at Saint Estienne de Gormas that night they seized againe of
and readie to be beseeged by her enemies vpon which pretext they should demaund the Infant her sonne with some succors of souldiers the which the Ambassadours did wisely effect bringing D. Fernand to Oteilla where hee was proclaimed king of Castile Toledo and Nagera in the open field vnder an Elme by the Noblemen which were there present and presently marched towards Palencia Fernand the third proclaimed king of Castile where as the King the Queen his mother with their whole traine were receiued with great honour by Don Tello the Bishop From thence they came to Duegnas which place they were constrained to force so as the warre began to grow hote which the Prelates and Noble-men of the countrie laboured to preuent but in vaine the Earle D. Aluar refusing to quit his authoritie and to lay downe armes vntill he had the person of the new King Don Fernand in his power as he had had that of D. Henry but the memorie of his bad gouernment distasted euery man so as they were so farre from satisfying his desire as they were all ashamed to haue beene so ill aduised to giue the authoritie and gouernement of the Realme to such violent persons as them of Lara wherefore they sought how to haue the king obeyed by Armes to the great ruine of the countrey The King and Queene-mother past on with their troupes to Vailledolit and so to the riuer of Duero from thence they went to Coca where they shut the gates against them wherefore they came to Saint Iust where they receiued two aduertisements the one was that they should not go to Auila nor Segouia the other that the Infant Don Sancho Fernandes brother to Don Alphonso king of Leon borne of D. Vrraca Lopes was comming against them with a mightie army whereupon they turned backe towards Vailledolit where they found some alterations against the Queene and her sonne practised by them of Lara whom by her wisedome she pacified There hauing aâ—â—embled the Noblemen which had charges and dignities within the Realme she intreated them to aduise what was fit for the peace and publike quiet offering to do any thing which they should councell her They who knew her to be a wise and discreet woman were of opinion that she should raigne as lawfull heire of Castile but she desiring more the good and greatnesse of her sonne then her owne renounced the royaltie in the presence of them all resigned it wholly vnto her fon Don Fernand the which was a worthy act and commended of all men Whereupon the King was conducted vnto the Church of Saint Mary the great and there with a generall applause and consent was confirmed King and the oath taken of either side the King being scarce seuenteene yeares whose raigne was happie and full of all good 4 The Moores of Spaine Moores subiect to Aben Mahomad Miralmumin of Affricke seeing themselues destitute of his ayde and support after the losse of the Battaile of Muradal as it doth often happen after such inconueniences and losses grew to haue a bad conceite of their King Mahomad and did beleeue or made shew to beleeue that the battaile was lost by his fault wherefore all such aâ— The Arabians in Spain reâ—ect the Miralmumins of Africk had any charges and gouernements reuolted and erected many petty Kingdomes in Spaine Among them the first and chiefe was the Miralmumims owne brother called Zeit Aben-Zeit who by others is called Zeita Buzeit who seazed vpon the towne of Valencia the Iurisdictions therof A cousin of his called Aben Mahomad when as the Christians army infected with the plague returned into Castile seazed vpon Baeça who had the cittie of Cordoua also at his deuotion with many other places in Andalusia and on the confines of Toledo whom many Moores followed for that he was descended by masculine line from Abdelmon the first king of the Almohades and came of Abdalla one of his sonnes these two had yet some colour to hold that which their grandfather had conquered in Spaine But at Seuille there did rise a mightie Moore called Aben Lalle vnder whose power the townes of Eccia Carmona Xeres Gouernours Moores make themsâ—lues Lords of their gouernements and others of Andalusia did subiect themselues In Murcia and Granado there was one named Abenâ—Hut made himselfe King beeing of the race of those Moores which had raigned in Sarragossa In this sort the other Moores made themselues masters of townes and Prouinces in Spaine where they had beene set for Gouernors all which did enter into league with the aboue-named as the mightiest giuing an end in Spaine to the Empire of the Almohades and Kings of Maroc two and fiftie yeares after the passage of king Abdelmon This was the last diuision betwixt the Moores of Spaine and Affricke the which were neuer more vnited vnder one Crowne notwithstanding that there haue many times troupes and armies past out of Africke into Spaine against the Christians to succor those pettie Kings of the Moores which raigned there whereas the Kings of Maroc might hold some sea-townes and forts giuen them by the Kings of Granado to fauour their descents yet they neuer after had any great power not Empire there From these new erected estates which were not yet very well vnited the King of Castile as we haue sayd had taken the strong citty of Alcaraz and he of Leon that of Alcantara in the yeare 1213. Since a truce beeing made betwixt the Christians and Moores for some yeares these Infidels had leysure to settle themselues and to fortifie their places In the yeare 1217. 1217. Don Mathew Bishop of Lisbone beeing leader of the armie of Portugal tooke from them Alcaçar de Sal beeing assisted by strangers which were going into Syria and by the Prior of the Templers and Prior of Saint Iohn These strangers were English French and Flemings hauing a fleet of an hundred sayle beeing mooued thereunto by the admonitions and decrees of the Councell of Saint Iohn de Latran held by Pope Innocent the third which was the fifth expedition made by publike decree and Councell by the which Andrew king of Hungarie was named Generall of the Christians armie in the West notwithstanding Iohn Earle of Brenne went in his place 5 Returning to Castile Castile the young king Don Fernand his mother and and all the Castillans were much troubled after they had chosen him for that the King D. Alphonso his father beeing discontented that D. Berenguela had by policy gorten away his sonne and seemed to distrust him and withall being desirous to vnite that realme to his of Leon and to be called Emperour of Spaine he came into Spaine with a mightie armie whereupon they sent Don Maurice Bishop of Burgos and Don Domingo bishop of Auila to beseech the King not to disquiet his sonnes Realme The King of Leon enters with an armie into Castile against his son D. Fernand. of whose good he should bee rather glad then
haue beene a widow To this effect D. Maurice Bishop of Burgos and D. Pedro Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Peter of Arlança D. Ferdinand King of Castille merries the Emperor of Germanies daughter with the Prior of the Order of Saint Iohn were sent Ambassadors wel attended who concluded this marriage notwithstanding that they held them foure monthes without any resolution this Princesse was sent into Spaine through France whereas Philip Augustus then raigning did her much honour throughout his whole realme causing her to bee conducted vnto Guipusâ—oa from whence the Noblemen of Spaine which were deputed to receiue her conducted her to Victoria whereas the Queene D. Berengula met her and did accompany her to Burgos this Princesse did please D. Fernand for she was exceeding faire Three daies after her arriual the King was made Knight and did arme himselfe in the Monastery of Las Huelgas and then he married D. Beatrix the last of December 1220. An. 1220. Of this marriage issued many children whereof the eldest was Alphonso who succeeded in the two Realmes of Castille and Leon the second was D. Frederic the third D. Fernand the fourth D. Henry the fifth D. Philip the sixth D. Sancho the seuenth and last D. Manuel Hee had also two daughters D. Elenor who died and Infant an D. Berenguela a Nunne in the Monastery of Las Huelgas The yeere following 1221. the marriage was concluded betwixt D. Elenor the King of Castilles aunt and D. Iames King of Arragon Arragon who was then but thirteene yeeres old which argues falshood in some which haue written that this King before hee married this Princesse had contracted a secret marriage with D. Theresa Gil of Bidaura daughter of D. Iohn of Bidaura of whom hee begot two sonnes the one called D. Pedro who was Lord of Aierbe and the other D. Iaime Lord of Xerica the which hath no great ground in nature considering the King was very yong and we must beleeue that the acquintance he had with this Lady either as a spouse or a friend was ten yeeres after when he was diuorced from D. Elenor. He was in a manner constrained to make this alliance with Castille hauing need of D. Fernands assistance by reason of the troubles he had in his country which grew through the bad and tyranous gouernment and ambition of his vncles the which wee must relate and fetch farther off This Prince had beene drawne as wee haue sayd out of the hands of Symon Earle of Montfort and conducted into his realme of Arragon where there was great contention betwixt the Estates Contentions in Arragon and the Earles of Roussillon the father and sonne to D. Fernand and the Abbot of Montarragon the Kings vncles who in stead of gouerning the realme would haue wrested it from him notwithstanding by the fidelity of the Estates and their authority together with the dilligence of the Cardinal of Beneuent the Legat right preuailed and the Infant D. Iames was ackowledged for lawfull King at Lerida as I haue sayd where the Princes contending did not appeere Raymond Berenger Earle of â—rouence father to fiue Queenes 8 There were three Gouernors appointed two in Arragon which were D. Pedro d' Ahones and D. Pedro Fernandes d' Açagra whose Gouernments were distinct by the riuer of Ebro and the third in Cattelogâ—e Ouer all the which D. Sancho Earle of Roussillon was appointed superintendent There it was also concluded that D. Raymond Berenger Earle of Prouence a young Prince of nine yeeres of age sonne to D. Alphonso should be with the King vnder the same tutors aboue mentioned the which was put in execution but the Earle soone after about the yeere of our Lord 1216. escaped from them and retired into Prouence where hee married the daughter of Thomas Earle of Morienne named Beatrix who was mother of fiue Queenes To preuent the continual practises of the Earles of Roussillon and of D. Fernand vncles to the young King it was resolued about the yeere 1217. that hee should bee declared of full age being then but tenne yeeres old according vnto some the which the Earle of Rousillon did wonderfully contradict yet after great contention he quit the Regency in the yeere 1218. by the authority of the Estates assembled to that end at Tarragone whereas the Earle receiued certaine places in fee of the King At this time the authority of the Magistrate called the Iustice of Arragon was great for the defence of the publike liberty The yeere following 1219. all the continent of Spaine was afflicted with a great drought wherevnto it is very much subiect as well through want of raine as for that the springs were dried vp so as there followed a great dearth and pestilent diseases These calamities were accompanied with troubles and ciuill seditions by the rebellion of D. Roderigo Lizana a man of great authority and power who being incensed for some pretended wrongs against Lope d' Albero hee surprized him in his house and shut him vp in a fort of his from whence the King deliuered him by force his commandements nor the decrees of his councel preuailing nothing D. Roderigo despayring to finde grace with the King retired to Albarrazin to D. Pedro Fernandes de Açagra whether they senâ—troupes of souldiers to besiege them who could not force the place beeing strong both by nature and art notwithstanding D. Roderigo and D. Pedro Fernandes acknowledging their fault obtained pardon of the King In these sieges they vsed an Engine of battery made at Huesca which did cast great stones making one hundred and fifty shot in a day and a night with great ruine These things happened in the yeere 1221. whilest they treated of the marriage of the sayd King D. Iames with D. Elenor of Castille the Mediators whereof were D. Symon Cornel William Ceruera and William Raymond of Moncade hee which married Garsinde the heire of the country of Berne for the accomplishing wherof the parties met at Agreda where they were made sure and the contract of marriage drawne greatly to the Queenes aduantage from whence they went to marry in the city of Tarrassone Of this marriage D. Alphonso was borne who died before the father This marriage was not firme for being made without a dispensation from the Pope being cousins in a prohibited degree it was dissolued by Pope Honorius the second after some yeeres and the Infanta sent home into Castille yet some say that shee professed herselfe in the Monastery of Saint Mary de la Vega. 9 A little before this King D. Iaime had instituted the Order which they call our Lady of the redemption of prisoners otherwise de la Merced Order of Merced by the councel of his confessor friat Raymond of Pegnafort or Rochefort who set downe the rules for the religious of this Order vnder that of Saint Augustine Their profession and chiefe vow was to goe into the Moores country to redeeme Christians that were prisoners and if
Clement of Launay Viceroy of Nauar. the Realme of Nauarre was gouerned by a Gentleman called Clement of Launay in quality of Viceroy who defended it against the daily inuasions of the Arragonois A captaine of Nauarre whose name was D. Iohn Corbaran hauing the charge of the frontier towards Arragon was defeated and taken by D. Pedro Cornel an Arragonois The Nauarrois also entring into the country of Arragon besieged Tiermas but could not take it yet they did great spoiles About the end of the yeere there was a truce made betwixt these two Kingdomes and a defence made not to molest one an other vpon paine of death There was also a truce concluded betwixt Philip King of France and Nauarre and Don Alphonso King of Arragon during the which they sought meanes to make a peace betwixt them for the controuersies of Sicile and other places The death of Philip the third King of France being knowne in Castille the King D. Castille Sancho sent backe the Archbishop of Calaorra and the Abbot of Vailedolit his Ambassadors to Philip the faire his sonne to seeke some meanes of an accord for many considerations one and the most important was that the Kings of France father and sonne had beene the meanes at Rome to stop the dispensations of the marriage which D. Sancho had made with D. Maria his cousin These Ambassadors carried backe into Spaine an entervew of both Kings graunted in the towne of Bayonne yet they met not for the King of France would not passe the mount of Marçan and he of Castille staied at Saint Sebastians sending their deputies to treat and end their quarrels For King Philip there came Robert Duke of Bourgongne and others for the King of Castile came D. Guttieres Archbishop of Toledo Conference of Deputiâ—s for the Kings of France and Castille successor to the Cardinal D. Gonçalo with the Bishop of Calaorra Burgos and others The first demand which the French made and whereon they did insist was that the King D. Sancho should leaue his wife D. Maria to marry one of king Philips sisters which should be either Marguerite or Blanche which the Ambassadors of Spaine found to be out of reason and hauing giuen aduice thereof vnto their King who was neere he was so much offended as hee recalled them and would not haue the conference to proceed any further The Abbot of Vailledolit who was superintendent of the Kings reuenues by this voiage fell into disgrace with his master and was accused to haue put this sauage demand into the Frenchmens heads wherefore hee was straightly looked into and dismist from all affaires The King went from Saint Sebastians to Victoria where the Queen attended him from whence they past to Burgos from thence he went to Saint Iames in pilgrimage Passing by Sahagun he caused the bodies of the King D. Alphonso the sixth and the Queenes which were there interred to be remoued 5 His voyage being ended hee honoured D. Lope Diaz de Haro Haro Lord of Biseay exceedingly honored by the King D. Sancho Lord of Biscay with the dignity of high Steward and Standard-bearer of the realme of Castille giuing the suruiuance vnto D. Diego Lope de Haro his sonne with promise neuer to dispossesse them of their offices so as they did serue him and his sonne D. Fernand faithfully without affecting any other parties appointments or alliances the which they promised sollemnly vpon paine of losing Biscay and all they had in Castille and Leon and the King gaue into the hands of D. Lope for assurance of that which he had promised most of the forts in Castille By meanes of these things D. Lope Diaz was made Earle the first day of the yeere 1287. An. 1287. with command ouer all the country from Burgos vnto the sea To D. Diego Lopes de Haro the Earles brother was giuen the Gouernment of the Moores frontier about which time the marriage was made betwixt D. Iohn the Kings brother and D. Maria Diaz de Haro daughter to the Earle D. Lope who had a great desire to see the King D. Sancho diuorced from the Queene his wife to haue him marry the daughter of Gaston Lord of Berne his cousin hoping that the children which should come of that marriage should inherit those realmes and those which hee had had by Queene Mary should be excluded for that the marriage was made without the Popes dispensation but God did otherwise dispose This Princesse was brought in bed this yeere of her second sonne called Alphonso and then the King retired D. Isabel heire of the Estate of Molina whom her mother D. Blanch sister to Queene Mary would haue married to D. Alphonso King of Arragon This great power and authority which the King had giuen to the Earle D. Lope discontented many Noblemen of Gallicia but especially of Leon so as hee was prest to abate this power too great for a subiect the which hee abused but the King had no will to diminish any thing wherefore he tried to content them with good words and in the meane time he ordained that the Earle D. Lope should goe into the Marches of Galicia with good numbers of souldiars to suppresse such as would attempt any thing against his will The Earle D. Lopes held a garrison at Astorga and the King went an other way to see his Nephew D. Denis King of Portugal to reconcile him with D. Alphonso of Portugal who held some places vpon the frontiers of Leon where by reason of his quarrels hee kept some souldiers whether also some banished men of Castille retired themselues who made roades into the territories of Leon. The two Kings of Castille and Portugal met at the siege of Ronches and tooke it by composition by the which D. Aluaro de Lana who had retired himselfe to D. Alphonso of Portugall was restored to D. Sanchos fauour At this siege the King of Portugal did councel the King of Castille to humble D. Lope Diaz de Haro who did abuse the authority which he had giuen him tyranously else it was to be feared there would grow great troubles in Castille This aduice was wel taken by the King D. Sancho and from that time hee began to study by what meanes he might take away or diminish that extraordinary power but it was too late It is not the custome for such as are once mounted to stoope The Earle D. Lope finding the Kings intent retired to Gaston of Berne his cousin there to make some faction where he had newes of the death of D. Aluaro de Lara his competitor and enemy whereof he was exceeding glad and returned into Castille but he found that the King had giuen his offices and all that D. Aluaro had enioyed to his brother D. Iohn Nugnes de Lara of as D. Lope found himselfe preuented wherevpon he debaucht the Infant D. Iohn his sonne in law leauing the court much discontented D. Iohn made some roads about Salamanca wherefore the King being in
of Granado murthered by his subiects with such and the like reasons he incensed the Moores in generall so as they slue the king inhumanely with their swords at the entry of his tent as he was talking with his Alguazil in the 23. yeare of his age and of the Arabians 716. hauing raigned in Granado eleuen yeares Ioseph the seuenth King of Granado AT the time of this murther committed on the person of a king by his execrable subiects from whom they had receiued all good honour Rodoan a captaine of great authoritie and much fauoured by the deceased king whose Alguazil he had beene was then absent from the armie but he was soone aduertised of this disaster wherefore he went with all the speed he could not vnto the campe to pacifie the mutinies which might rise by reason of this accident but to the cittie of Granado wheras king Mahumets breethren were bred vp which were two Farrachen the elder and Ioseph the yonger into whose hands beeing most affected to him he would put the scepter of the Granadins as he did to the preiudice of the elder and hauing great authority in the cittie of Granado he caused the people to choose Ioseph The example of which citty was followed by all the rest of the kingdome and soone after allowed by Abomelic King of Algezire and by Abraham and Abucebet the murtherers of king Mahumet who contemning the truce made some few daies before with the king of Castile and wheron they had taken occasion to murther their Prince thought to breake it instantly presuming that the tumult of armes and the necessitie of warre would passe ouer their treason with silence the which in a time of peace might be punished Abomelic beeing as desirous of warre sent Ambassadors to Granado to this effect to congratulate the Kings elections and to perswade him to take armes and to go to field The new king thinking it not conuenient to oppose himselfe to the desire of the men of warre for that they were yet mutined with the murther of the King his brother committed in the middest of their campe in hatred of the truce and fearing that Ferrachen his elder brother would easily winne them if they were discontented he suffered himselfe to be perswaded whereupon he sent his Ambassadors to the Miralmumin of Maroc that he might be receiued vnder his protection the which hee obtayned The King of Castile beeing aduertised of these practises as hee was readie to dislodge from Seuile Castile to go and suppresse the Rebels hee was forced to stay there And at the same time hauing discouered that certaine Knights had had a secret Conspiracy with king Mahumet deceased to the preiudice of his Crown he caused one of them called Diego Sanches de Iaen to be executed at Cordoua the rest fled into the Moores countrie Seuerity of the king of Castile makes many christian Knights fly to the Moores of which number were Don Gonçalo Lord of Aguilar and Montilla and his brother Don Fernand Gonçales of Aguilar who made themselues vassals to the king of Granado and by them and others of the same sort who were well entertayned by king Ioseph the warre was begun making roades from their Castels of Aguilar Montilla Monturgue and other forts which were in their hands agreeing with D. Iohn Manuel D. Nugno de Lara and other rebels who for their parts committed no lesse excesse in Castile the which did much trouble the king Don. Alphonso fearing aboue all that the brethren of Aguilar would deliuer the places which they held vnto the Moores Alboacen king of Maroc was glad of these troubles Moores and desired to entertain the reuolts of Castile for that he had an intent to go in person into Spaine with a great power as soone as the warre of Tremessen should giue him any leysure the which notwithstanding did so trouble him as he changed his resolution for a time and was so prest as hee called home some of his troupes which he had sent into Spaine with his son Abomelic whereupon he sent him word that he should seeke by all secret practises to make a truce for himselfe alone aduertising him that if the king of Castiles ambassadors should demand if he meant to comprehend King Alboacen his father hee should answer that it might bee hee would accept thereof if any messengers were sent vnto him According to these instructions Abomelic sent Ambassadors to king D. Alphonso being at Seuile to treat of a truce to whom the question was made according to king Alboacens desire Truce very beneficial for the Moores and vpon their answer D. Gonçalo Garcia of Gallegos Alcaide maior of Seuile was sent to Maroc to vnderstand king Alboacens will concerning this truce who answered that hee would willingly enter so as Ioseph the new king of Granado were comprehended for being vnder his protection he could not abandon him desiring that he might be assured from all troubles and moreouer fred from the tribute which hee payed to the king of Castile during this truce The Alcaide who had no such commission aduertised the king his master who seeing himselfe annoyed by his owne subiects was content the king of Granado should bee comprehended and that he should not pay any tribute during the truce the which was concluded in the beginning of the yeare 1334. 1334. to continue foure yeares causing king Alhoacen to make his Letters pattents sealed with a seale of gold and so in like manner did D. Alphonso king of Castile Abomelic of Algezire and Ioseph of Granado This Ioseph called Aben Amet was the first King of the Moores of Granado that was exempt from paying tribute to the kings of Castile in time of peace through the fauour of the king of Maroc and the factions and seditions of Castile 14 King Don Alphonso beeing thus afflicted betwixt warre and truce Castile in the Cittie of Seuile Donna Loonora of Guzman brought him two sonnes at one birth Don Henry who obtayned the Realme of Castile as you shall heare and Don Fredericke who was Master of the Order of Saint Iames. About March this yeare 1334. the king went from Seuile hauing prouided for the places on the fronters as it was necessarie and came to Vailledolit where hauing suddenly raised an armie he marched against the Rebels and hauing taken some places from them he came to Lerma whereas Don Iohn Nugnes de Lara was for whom he layed many ambushes but without effect wherefore he entred into Biscay and beeing at Guernica a place deputed for the assembly of the Estates of the countrie vnder a tree after the manner of their ancestors he receiued from them the oath of fealty and they yeelded vnto him most of the townes and places of the country for some held yet for Donna Maria of Haro their Lady This beeing done hee came to Bermeo and assayled a castell vppon the sea called Saint Iohn de la Pegna two small Leagues from Bermeo
much ballance their affaires by the succours he gaue by sea vnto the French hauing sent a good number of ships of warre vnder the command of Ambrose Becanegra a Genouois his Admirall who stopped the passage in such sort betwixt France and England as besides many small prizes which he had taken he defeated a fleet of English about that time and tooke sixe and thirty of their vessels neere vnto Rochel by which victorie Rochel came vnder the obedience of the French king Rochel yeelded to the French and the greatest part of the prey and prisoners were carried into Spaine among the which was the Earle of Pembrooke Generall of the army Besides which succours the king Don Henry being come from Burgos to Saint Ander he sent Don Ruy Diaz of Rojas into the Prouince of Guipuscoa to make ready a new army of 40. ships the which he sent soone after vnder the command of the same Ruy Diaz to the French K. who came to Rochel and hauing ioyned with a French Captaine called Iohn Calais who had about twenty Barkes all together came and set vpon another fleet of English whom they likewise put to rout and then Don Ruy Diaz returned a victor into Spaine so as the English had reason to seeke to diuide the king of Castile from him of France and to draw him vnto their partie Pope Gregorie the eleuenth presumed to interpose his authoritie in these Princes quarrels the which did not please them Hauing made an accord betwixt the Kings of Castile and Nauarre he would also reconcile the controuersies that were betwixt Castile and Arragon and to this end hee sent the Cardinall of Cominges into Spaine who prest the two Kings to send their Deputies to debate their cause before him Don Henry named for his part the bishop of Burgos and Don Aluar Garcia of Albornoz Lord Steward of his house the king of Arragon deputed the bishop of Lerida and Don Râ—â—mond Alamâ—n Ceruillon who agreed that thâ— Colledge of Cardinals should determine this controuersie But these Princes beeing better aduised that it was not fit their quarels should be decided by the Court of Rome they tooke a better course to agree betwixt themselues The towne of Tuy which had for many mâ—â—eths refused to obey D. Henry now submitted about this peace of Arragon But the warre was renewed betwixt Castile and Portugal by reason of many prizes taken in the port of Lisbone Portugal and at sea of ships and merchants of Biscay Guipuscoa and Asturia and also for that the King Don Fernand gaue a retreat vnto the banished men of Castile concerning matters of State and also that hee had contemned the marriage concluded betwixt him and Donna Leonora of Castile to marrie Donna Leonora Telles of Meneses Neece to the Earle of Barcelos a Lady of great beautie but much inferiour in qualitie to the Infanta Donna Leonora of Castile and Donna Leonora of Arragon whom he might haue had with great profit to his Realme and to himselfe honour Hee contemned these marriages Marriage vnlawful of the king of Poâ—tugal taking away his subiects wise which had beene very beneficiall to himselfe and to his Realme of Portugall to marrie this Ladie offending God and all good lawes for he tooke her violently from her husband Laurence Vasques of Acugna forcing him to flie into Castile where he past the remainder of his dayes in exile carrying commonly hornes of siluer on his hat to witnesse the lust and infamy of his Prince yet some to excuse this fact write that the king caused this marriage to be dissolued by the Popes authoritie as vnlawfull by reason of the neerenesse of consanguinitie of the which notwithstanding there was issued one sonne called Aluaro of Acugna The king was made sure vnto her in the presence of the Earle of Barcelos and a â—â—ster of hers called Don Mary who had mannaged this marriage and to whom the king had imparted his loues When this marriage was published in Lisbone the inhabitants incensed that the king had left so profitable and honorable a marriage Tumult at Lisbon for the kings mariage as that of Castile began to mutine and hauing taken Fernand Vasques of Acugna for their Captaine they sent 300. armed men about the kings pallace and gaue the king to vnderstand in the behalfe of the citty that hee should leaue this woman else they would take her and do vnto her as their Predecessors had done to the king D. Sancho Capello in the like case The king fearing the furie of this multitude answered them mildly that in what they did they were good subiects being iealous of his honour and thanked them for their good will but he let them vnderstand that D. Leonora Telles was not his married wife and intreated them to retire vntill the next day when he would talke to them more amply of that businesse in the Monasterie of S. Dominicke This blast being blowne ouer the king parted by night out of Lisbone and carried D. Leonora Telles with him into the countrie betwixt Duero and Minio and retiring towards Porto he lodged neere vnto it in the Monasterie of Leza where he married this Lady publikely not caring how his subiects tooke it He commanded that all men should acknowledge her and call her Queene and gaue her the townes of Almadra Sintra Torresuedras Atognia Ouiedos Alanguer Abrantes Villa viciosa and many other places All in the end yeelded to it without murmuring seing it was the kings pleasure and D. Leonora had the title of Queene giuen her by all men but by D. Denis the kings brother who would neuer kisse her hand saying That it was her duty to kisse his whereat the King D. Fernand was so incensed as if Don Denis had not retired presently by the meanes of those that were then present he had stab'd him with his dagger for this cause the Infant retired himselfe for euer after into Castile When as D. Leonora Telles saw her selfe installed Queene shee made a diligent search who had bin the chiefe motiues of the mutiny at Lisbon and vnderstanding that they were of the family of Vasques of Acugna she ceased not to pursue them with a deadly hatred vntill she had forced many of them to flie into Castile Of this marriage betwixt the king D. Fernand and D. Leonora Telles issued D. Beatrix Genealogie of Portugal who was married to D. Iohn the first King of Castile borne at Coimbra and afterwards a son and a daughter who died yong some Authors hold that they were borne in adulterie committed by the Queene with D. Iohn Fernandes of Andeiro a knight of Gallicia borne at Corunua Moreouer the king before this marriage had a daughter called D. Izabel The king D. Henry hauing these causes of discontent against the king of Portugall he gaue him to vnderstand by his ambassadors that he could not take it in good part that he had retired his rebellious subiects of which he demanded
some and moreouer that he should deliuer the ships and merchants of Asturia Biscay Guipuscoa with their goods which he had taken and stayed whereof the K. D. Fernand made no accompt wherefore the king of Castile prepared to armes Diego Lope Pacheco a knight of Portugal was then in Castile who was retired thither by reason of the death of D. Agnes of Castro flying the fury of the king D. Pedro and had bin so fauored by the king D. Henry as he had got great reuenues honors This Knight had left many friends in Portugal by whose means he was aduertised of all that was done in D. Fernands Court and as he was a most affectionat seruant to the king of Castile so he sought to draw vnto him all those that were valiant in Portugall and if any one were persecuted he perswaded him to come into Castile declaring vnto them the bountie of the king D. Henry He had had intelligence of all that had past touching the marriage of D. Leonora Telles and of the discontent betwixt the K. and his brother D. Denis and them of the house of Acugna and the city of Lisbon wherfore imbracing these occasions fit for the war which was like to grow betwixt these two kings Diego Lope Pacheco wrought so as he drew D. Denis to come and put himselfe vnder the protection of the king D. Henry entertayned by all means such Gentlemen as were ill affected to their King to be reuenged of the wrongs he had done them Matters beeing thus prepared and the ambassador being returned who had bin sent to summon the king D. Fernand to deliuer the banished men which he had in his Realm to make restitution of the prizes which had bin taken by him the king D. Henry entred into Portugal with an army VVar betwixt â—â—tile and â—â—â—ugal and hauing sent D. Alphonso his son to Coimbra a castle in Gallicia where the banished men had fortified themselues the place was taken The king on his side seized of Almorda Panel Cillonico and Linares and there Don Denis ioyned with him with other Noblemen of Portugal who were liberally intreated and much honoured Pope Gregorie the eleuenth residing in Auignon hearing of the trobles betwixt these two kings was carefull like a good pastor to send a Legat which was Cardinall Guy of Bologno with full authoritie to reconcile them But before that hee could draw the parties to any friendly composition the king Don Henry made a new entrie tooke Viseo and ranne vp the countrie as farre as S. Iren finding no resistance for Don Fernand was not so able to maintain a quarrell as he was ready to breed one wherfore keeping himselfe within Saint Iren the king Don Henry had the passage free and open to go vnto Lisbone where he spoyled and burnt the lower part of the towne Lisbon spoiled and burnt by the King of Castile as the new street and some other places for that he neither found walles nor any resistance the quarter called Sus held good being walled in and well manned for all the inhabitants were retired thither during the which the sea-armie of Castile entred into the mouth of the riuer which is large and spacious where they did not onely recouer the ships of Biscay and others which had beene taken but many vesselles of all sorts which were fit for seruice were carried away by the Castillans and the rest burnt In the meane time the Legate laboured what he could to end these miseries wherein he preuailed so much as hee reduced the two kings to a peace the which was concluded to the great aduantage of the king of Castile Peace betwixt Castile and Portugal after which the kings met neere vnto Saint Iren either of them in a barke vppon the riuer of Tayo where they finished their accord and capitulations among the which there was a marriage concluded betwixt Donna Beatrix sister to the king D. Fernand and Don Sancho Earle of Albuquerque brother to the king of Castile and of Donna Izabella base daughter to the king Don Fernand and Don Alphonso Earle of Gijon base sonne to the king Don Henry The mariage betwixt Don Sancho and Donna Beatrix was celebrated the places taken were restored the peace was proclaimed and the king of Castile returned into his countrie leading his daughter-in-law Donna Izabella with him being but eight yeares old who was afterwards married to the Earle of Gijon to his great griefe The quarrels betwixt Castile and Arragon Arragon being not well ended they were forced to come to a new compromise wherein the Duke of Anjou brother to the French king was a dealer but with so bad successe as he became enemie to the K. of Arragon At that time were celebrated the mariages of D. Iohn D. of Girone the heire of Arragon and Martha daughter to the Earle of Armaignac who had fifteene thousand pounds starling in dowrie and of Don Martin of Arragon the kings youngest sonne with Donna Mary daughter to Don Lopes Earle of Luna and Lord of Segorbe The same yeare 1372. Don Pedro king of Arragon finding too late how easie he had beene to beleeue false reports and repenting himselfe of the vnworthie death of Bernand of Cabrera hee restored his Grand-child Bernardin sonne to Bernardin of Cabrera to all his goods except the Earldome of Vic which he kept to himselfe The father of this young Nobleman dyed in Castile in the seruice of the king Don Henry notwithstanding that hee had sought his fathers death There were this yeare seene in Arragon horrible Earthquakes with the ruins of mountaines about Ribagorça where as many villages were ouerthrowne and great multitudes of people perished In Castile the king Don Henry was prest by Donna Maria of Lara Castile Countesse of Alençon to do her right tfor the Lordships of Biscay and Lara she had many sons which were all aduanced in France the first was Earle of Alençon Biscay belongs to the house of Alenson the second of Estampes the third of Perch and two of the Church The king Don Henry made answer that she should send him two of her sonnes to remaine in Spaine and that he would giue the Lordship of Biscay to the one and that of Lara to the other He presumed that she could not do it all her children being so well aduanced in France and for some other reasons Edward king of England and his sonne Iohn Duke of Lancaster who intitled himselfe King of Castile and Leon in the right of his wife Donna Constance daughter to the king Don Pedro the Cruel sent Ambassadors to the king of Arragon 1373. Pretensiâ—ns of Iohn Duke of Lancaster to Castile in the yeare 1373. to treat a League with him beeing resolued to send a great army into Castile to conquer that Realme wherof the Duke of Lancaster should be Generall as belonging to his wife offering great conditions to the king of Arragon if he would adhere
The appointed day beeing come the Legate came to the place where with great insolencie he was compassed about with aboue three hundred horse of the league which did greatly amaze him for he was none of the stoutest Prelats Presently after Don Iohn de Pacheco The Master of S. Iames contradicts the Popes authoritie ouer the temporal states Master of Saint Iames the Earle of Luna the Bishop of Coria with other Lords of the same faction came in place vnto whome the Legate shewed his faculties and authoritie to do in Spaine what he thought good Wherupon the Master of Saint Iames made him this answer that those which had informed the Pope that hee had any power or authority to dispose of the estate of the Kingdomes of Spaine or Leon had deceyued him for that did belong onely to him and to the other great Lords of the same countrie At this meeting nor yet at another which was made nere to Montejo de la Veja was there any thing concluded on Wherefore hee beganne to proceed against the Confederates by Ecclesiasticall censures Appeale from the Pope to the next generall Councell but the Lords of the League did appeale to the first generall Councell the Licentiate Iohn d' Alcoâ—er and the Doctor Alphonso of Madrigal throwing in their appeales The Legaâ—e perceyuing his labour to bee lost would haue gone backe to Medina but diuers of the Rebells followed after him crying out Wee appeale Insolencie against the Legate we appeale and with great outrages brought him backe to Olmedo the Arch-bishoppe of Toledo and the Master of Saint Iames seeming to bee discontented therewith tooke vppon them to defend him Whilest the Legate was thus handled the Confederates practised how to draw to their side Pedro Arias of Auila and the Bishop Don Iohn of Segobia his brother who beeing alreadie offended with the wrong which the King had offered them whereof wee haue spoken heretofore were easily perswaded thereunto the chiefe doers in this businesse were Lewis de Mesa Pedro Arias his familiar friend Perucho of Munsaras Captaine of the Castle of Segobia Fryar Rodrigo of Mesa Abbot of Parral and brother to Lewis with other Monkes and Church-men who did lay a plotte to deliuer the cittie of Segobia to the Confederate Lords Queene Ioane Donna Izabella with other Ladies and Gentlewomen of great place were lodged in the pallace of the same Citie where they had notice of this practise some of them with great feare beganne to dislodge the Queene withdrew her selfe into the Cathedrall Church The citty of Seigoâ—ia deliuered to the confederate Lords where thinking her selfe not safe enough shee entreated to bee receyued into the Castle with the Dutchesse of Albuquerque and other Ladies but the Infanta Donna Izabella had no will to remooue for beeing incensed against king Henry her brother shee had intelligence with the Prince Don Alphonso and did wholy adhere to the Confederates who entred into the Cittie in armes through a false port of the Bishoppes lodgings and made themselues master thereof without any resistance to the great griefe of the Inhabitants The Lords of the League went directly to the pallace to salute the Infanta who committed her selfe wholly into their hands The king hauing notice hereof departed very melancholy from Medina with such troupes as hee could get about him and marched towards Cuellar where in the mid way the Castle of Iscar was assayled at the intreatie of the Earle of Treuigno in which Castle the Earle of Plaisance kept the Earle of Treuigno's mother in dishonest manner the place beeing taken the Countesse was sent away prisoner by her sonne into his countrie The losse of Segobia did much grieue the the King for his aboade there pleased him aboue all other as well because hee was brought vp there from his infancie The King forsaken of his people as for the wood of Balsain and other places thereabouts fitte for hunting and also in regard of his treasure which lay in the castle thereof and the griefe and feeling of his aduersities did so oppresse him as beeing desperate and almost besides himselfe he was contented to be drawne by the deuices of the Master of Saint Iames to the towne of Coca vnder the promise and assurance of the Archbishoppe of Seuille not telling or making it knowne to any of the Lords or Knights of his trayne and taking but a very few of his houshold seruants with him Wherefore all men beeing discontented with these courses which did manifestly tend to the ruine of the King and of those which did him seruice they with-drew themselues discontented to their owne houses The Kings Officers and houshold seruants seeing themselues forsaken and left in so pittifull and miserable estate were ashamed to tell vnto whome they did belong when they came to any place The Licentiate Diego Henriques the Kings Chronicler hauing obtayned a safe conduct Diego Henriques King Henries Chronicler came to Segobia where hee had a house wherin were diuers goods and papers of great consequence but neuerthelesse he was taken and ill intreated his goods stolen and his writings scattered abroade to the great danger of his person if God had not drawne him out of their hands for the Rebels were greatly mooued against him because that in his written memories and chronicles hee had set downe the truth of their proceedings The king beeing come to Coca they changed the place and their opinion was to conferre at Segobia in the castle of which cittie hee was lodged and entertayned by the Earle of Alua and the Master of Alcantara albeit that Peruchâ— de Munsaras Captaine of the place was not well contented therewith The King and the Master of Saint Iames meeting afterward in the great Church Other agreement betwixt the king and the rebels after diuers reasons on either side it was agreed that the king should consent that the fort of Segobia should remayne vnder the command of the Master of Saint Iames the kings treasures and mooueables to be kept safe and restored to him who should send them to the castle of Madrid the Captaine-ship of which with the keeping of those things the King should graunt to Perucho de Munsaras Moreouer that the Queene should bee giuen in hostage and left in trust with the Arch-bishop of Seuile for sixe moneths within which time the King should be restored to all his former honour and dignitie These articles were afterward performed the treasures transported to Madrid and Queene Ioane was sent to the castle of Alaejos Euill life of Queene Ioanâ— of Castile where holding on the course of life which the King had taught her shee fell in loue with a certaine young man by whome shee had two children which was the cause of many vnworthie outrages as shall bee hereafter declared After this treatie the King beeing in as lamentable an estate as before went vppe and done his kingdome no otherwise than if hee had beene a poore
point to raise the seege and to cause great forts to bee raised round about it furnished with strong guardes and to strengthen the neigbour garrisons and by these slow meanes to tame the enemies and make them yeeld but because Queene Isabel did greatly desire to see an end of this warre of Granado to whose constancy the pursute thereof and the conquest of that Kingdome The conquest of Granado attributed to Queene Isabeâ—s constancy so long time held by the Infidel is to bee attributed the King craued her opinion who being wonderfully displeased that so dishonorable a resolution should be taken did entreate the King to thinke better thereon and for modesties sake would not vtter her opinion but perceiuing that want of victuals and money was the greatest hinderance they stood vpon which in so long a seege might disaduantage the army shee said that they needed not to doubt any such matter for shee would prouide in such sort as there should be no want of either of them The King knowing the Queenes dilligence in such matters and the desire shee had that Baça might bee taken commaunded the seege should bee continued with all vehemency wherewith the whole army in generall was well pleased wherefore the two campes were disposed and placed a miles distance the one from the other a great trench drawn from one to an other fortified with piles aâ—d fifteene forts of timber and flags where great numbers of souldiars were lodged and by this meanes the city was more streightly shut vp An other trench was drawne from the hils side of two miles long so as the place was enuironed round about in which workes they spent two monthes in all which time they neuer left skirmishing And as diuers Moores distrusting the successe of the seege fled to the Christians campe it was knowne by their meanes how that the city was not well prouided with victualls wherein King Zagall had greatly failed and besides how that they had their water from a fountaine at the foote of the hill called Alboahacen which being taken from them they would be in great want wherefore the King hauing resolued vpon this intelligence to build a fort vpon that hill The Moores being aduertized thereof by some spies did preuent him and they themselues made a fort there for the guarde of their fountaine In the meane space Don Antonio de la Cuena and others ranne vp and downe the country and spoiled the townes and villages neere to Guadix from whence bringing great numbers of cattaile of all sorts the Moores came forth to the reskew of them and there the Christians beganne to stand at a stay and knew not whether it were best to leaue their booty to betake themselues to flight or else to tarry still and defend it valiantly The valour of Hernand Peres de Pulgar encouraged the rest who hanging an hand-kercher vpon the toppe of a pike cried out aloud let those that are no cowards follow this Enseigne and in this sort marching against the Moores they beate them backe with great slaughter and returned victorious to the campe in regarde whereof the King made Hernand Peres Knight and permitted him to beare a white hand-kercher in his armes in token of his valor to his posterity King Muley did oftentimes attempt to victuall Baça but it was in vaine and foreseeing that the end of the Moores reigne in Spaine was at hand his last refuge was by the counsell of his friends to haue recourse to the Soldan of Egipt who in a manner commaunded ouer all the pettie Kings of Affrica vnto whom hee complained of the greedinesse of the Christian King who did vniustly dispossesse him from the Kingdome which his Ancestors had enioyed so long a time whereat the Sultan beeing mooued sent two friers Ambassadors to Pope Innocent of those that dwelt in the Temple of Ierusalem which they call our Sauiours Sepulchre The Soldan of Egipts dilligence in the behalfe of the Spanish Moores to let him vnderstand how that the Kings of Castile did deale vniustly in vexing the Moores that dwelt there by warres wherein if they persisted hee would vse the Christians in the same manner that liued in his countries and dominions the Pope gaue notice thereof to King Fernand and Queene Isabella yet they for all that would not leaue of their deseigne but satisfied the Pope with reasons wherefore they pursued that warre The King of Castile gaue a thousand dueats yeerly rent to the friers at Ierusalem and beeing deuout and charitable Princes they gaue and assigned a yeerely stipend to the friars of a thousand ducats which they enioy and is the fairest reuenue they haue at these daies Besides that the Queene sent a vaile wrought with her owne hand to hang ouer the Sepulchre at Ierusalem During the seege of Baça this yeere 1489. Don Garcia Lopes de Padilla the last Maister of the Knights of Calatraua died The Mastership of Calatraua incorporated to Castile for the Maistership was then incorporated to the Royall crowne of Castile by the Popes authority as not long after those of Saint Iames and Alcantara were remayning euer after in the Kings hands with title of perpetuall administrators thereof for in truth these masters did draw after them by reason of the authority which they had ouer so great a number of Knights all gentlemen of great houses to great a power and to be suspected by the Kings as pernitious to a state where in conclusion they were heads of factions by whom Spaine was many times torne in peeces The Knights of this order were permitted to marry the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and forty by Pope Paul the third From the first institution of this order vntill this time and the death of Don Garcy Lopes de Padilla eight and thirty maisters of the same order are reckoned The siege of Baça had already lasted foure whole moneths without hope of winning it against which the Artillery wrought no great effect for that men in those dayes were not skilfull in the approaches and neere batteries as they are now in these times Neuerthelesse King Ferdinand thinking it would bee a great blemish to his reputation if hee should raise the siege would by no meanes giue it ouer beeing assured that continuance of time would bring the Moores to reason the besieged on the contrary knowing that the losse of Baça would carry with it Almerie and Guadix and so consequently the whole ruine of the Moores state in Spaine did all of them resolue to dye rather then to yeeld And because the trench on the hills side was a great hinderance to them they went out vpon a day to breake and fill it vp where they gaue a very furious assault wherein great numbers on both sides were slaine Wherevpon the King commanded that no man should goe forth to skirmish without leaue and caused all the Moores to depart out of the Campe commanding that all those that should flye forth
Mentia was married to D. Pedro Giron D. Henrie was vnapt for generation and dyed without children D. Aluaro borne of the second venter married as we haue said with D. Anne of Arragon daughter to D. Alphonso of Arragon which marriage was made by the King D. Ferdinand in hope that D. Aluaro should succeede in all the seigniories of Duke Iohn his father who beeing dead hee was put in possession of the Duchie of Medina Sidonia notwithstanding the opposition of D. Pedro Giron who saied that D. Alâ—â—ro was a bastard borne in incest not beeing tollerable neyther by Diuine nor Humane Lawes to marrie two sisters and if Popes had at anie time suffered it it was for some great good and benefite to the Common weale which had no such consideration in the fact of the deceased duke D. Iohn but for all his reasons D. Aluaro enioyed the possession beeing fauoured and supported by king Ferdinand whilest hee liued but being dead D. Pedro Girâ—â— thought that prince Charles beeing absent and the gouernement in the hands of a monke Hauing therefore gathered together a good troupe of licentious fellowes hee went to field and first attempted the towne of Luzero but D. Pedro of Arras had preuented him and put himselfe into the place to defend it besides the castle was held in the kings name with a garrison by D. Gomes de Solis as it it is the manner of Spaine in polices vpon the sea although they belong to priuate Lords So as D. Pedros attempt was vaine In the meane time cardinall Ximenes being aduertised of this tumult hee had meanes to prouide for it commaunding by the aduice of the Councell the inhabitants of Seuile and Cordoua to assist the duke of Medinâ— Sidonia and captaine Solis with forces Then D. Anthony Fonseca was sent with certaine ensignes of foot and with him an Alcade of the court called Corneille to disperse D. Pedroes troupes and to punish those that should be taken as troublers of the publike peace and guiltie of high treason wherewith D. Pedro Giron being terrified hee retired for that time but within few dayes after hee incited the Constable D. Inigo Fernandes of Velasco his vncle by the mothers side who on the other side was no good friend to Cardinall Ximenes drawing many other noblemen to his designes and enterprises passing by Madrid with a great troupe hee stayed there keeping himselfe in his lodging and would not vouchsafe to visite the Cardinall who was the kings lieuetenant but as if hee would braue him and in a manner threaten him to incense the noblemen of Castille against him hee sent him word that he was come to visite his kinsemen and friends whereunto the Cardinall who knew well to what end all his courses tended made no other answer but that hee should goe on in a good houre and continue his officious voyage There were great signes of a mutinous and rebellious heart in the answer which hee made to some of his friends demaunding of him why hee vndertooke these things without any respect or reuerence to Cardinall Ximenes Arrogant answer of D. Pedro Giron who presented there the kings person And what thankes said hee will the king giuevs if wee respect and honour his lieutenants as much as himselfe but he was much mistaken for there was no comparison betwixt his meanes and of all those of his partie and the power of Cardinall Ximenes who besides the authoritie which he had as regent was so rich both in reuenues and treasure which hee had gathered together as hee was well able to entertaine an army without any helpe of the kings money D. Pedro Giron in his frenzie went towards his vncle D. Inigo Fernandes of Velasco knowing that he hated the Cardinall for that hee vnderstood that hee had propounded to retire all that which priuate noblemen did hold of the reuenues of the crowne if they did not shew good titles and were grounded vpon lawfull causes and therefore fearing hee should be depriued of certaine imposts hee drew from the sea hee desired to see the Cardinalls authority abated There were meanes plotted betwixt the vncle and the nephew to attaine vnto that which they pretended and to fortifie themselues they did write or went in person to all them that they knew to bee anie way discontented with Cardinall Ximenes Faction against the Cardinall Ximenes the duke of Benauent was one whom they had forbidden to finish a fort which he had begunne to build at Cibales the duke of Albuquerque and the erle of Medina Celi for the affinity which they had with the earle of Vregna offered themselues to be ready against all persons that would offend him or his and they did also hold some of the kings rents D. Frederike of Portugall bishop of Siguensa fearing to be depriued of his bishoprike to giue it to doctor Carnaial ioyned with that faction Aboue all they desired to draw vnto them the duke of the Infantazgo the head of the familie of Mendoza whose power and riches they held a sufficient counterpoize to ouersway the Cardinall their aduersary The duke offered himselfe freely to be theirs in all enterprises so as it were not against the state and the gouernment of the realme for he meant not to attempt any thing that should contradict the will of the deceased king D. Ferdinand 〈◊〉 made by the Coâ—â—able against the Cardinall nor the will of king Charles wherefore all these noblemen went vnto him to Guadalajara whereas the Constable D. Inigo Fernandes of Velasco made a long inuectiue against the Cardinall whom he called rash insupportable an obscure man of an vnknowne beginning an enemy to nobilitie vnworthy to commaund and gouerne those realmes which charge did belong more rightly to them then to monke who abused the authoritie to the dishonour and scorne of the nobility That if they said hee was appoynted to that degree by the testament of the deceased king D. Ferdinand let them remember that they had endured indignities enow in his time without fearing his vaine comaundements after his death but let him shew his letters of power and authority from king Charles else for his part hee was not resolued to obey him The duke of the Infantazgo the chiefe in this assembly Wise speech of the duke of the Infantazâ—â— seeing euery man moued at the Constables words I haue said hee many occasions to complaine of cardinall Ximenes euen in this that contrarie to his faith and promise hee hath hindered the marriage betwixt my nephew and his neece and that now he seeks to diminish my patrâ—â—onie what hee can but these are but priuate wrongs for the which I would not cause the least alteration in the world in our kings absence and I will say more vnto you that I haue alwayes knowne this man to be so vpright as the authoritie power nor credit of any man cannot moue him you see what great reuenues hee hath and what lands and countries
others Lewis coâ—t Palatin allied to the king and some to giue the authoritie to the Infant D. Ferdinand many gaue their voyces to the Chancellor Sauâ—age As for Maximilian he was ingaged in the warres of Italie to aduance Ferdinand that was not safe nor conuenient and it had beene alwayes their care which loued the peace and vnion of these two brethren that the Infant should be neerely lookt vnto least that mutines should make him their shield The cont Palatin was held fit yea to take charge of the Infant the which did not altogether displease the cardinall for he had desired euer since the death of the Catholike king to remoue such from about him as in his opinion had bred him vp ill yet he desired rather not to obey any one to which end he writ to the king Cardinall Ximenes cannot endure a companion in the gouernment of Castille beseeching him not to send any into Spaine with whom he must alwayes quarell but rather to giue him leaue to retire to his diocesse where hee would looke to his owne priuat affaires and liue religiously in rest for he did foresee that the enuie of some and the couetousnesse of many would alwayes seeke to crosse his good designes and resolutions to serue the commonweale they tending to no other end but to cause some great tumult in Spaine wherein he desired not to be ingaged but rather to looke on a farre off aduertising him that the onely remedie of these inconueniences was to commit the affaires to his tried faith and to relie onely vpon him not suffering any Fleming nor any of his Councell a farre off no not himselfe vntill he were at age to meddle in Spaine with the prouision of Estates and order of justice with gouernments of prouinces leuying of the kings money nor with garrisons of frontires and their commaunders but onely retaine vnto himselfe the disposition of bishoprickes being void commaunderies and benefices of knights of militarie orders and to vse his royall bountie with good measure Cardinall Ximenes will diuide the royall authoritie betwixt the king and himselfe his cardinall diuiding betwixt the king and him the royall soueraigntie the which euerie man of judgement thought expedient considering his constant resolution to maintaine justice and right in all things adding still this concluding reason For that said he the Flemings vnderstand nothing in our affaires in Spaine and that the king by reason of his tender age cannot vndergoe so great a burthen full of care and trouble By reason whereof he caused himselfe to be so hated as many Councels were held against him and without doubt his dayes were shortened The courteors dissembled expecting but an opportunitie to tumble him from this high degree in the which hee maintained himselfe inuincible against their wills who writ vnto him That hee should continue to doe well assuring him that they would assist him with all their meanes and solicite the kings passage into Spaine aduising him for the effecting thereof to send a good armie of ships well furnished into Flanders This voyage was much prest by the Emperour Maximilian as most necessarie and therefore he came to Brâ—ssels to see the king and to conferre with him fearing least his long stay there would cause some alteration in the State comparing those people being moued to a colt which being stung with a hornet kickes at euerie one sparing not his owne damme This conference put the cardinall into a jealousie writing to monsieur de Cheures That the enteruiew of great men did neuer bring profit neither to themselues nor to their affaires prouing it by many examples and great reasons The Spaniards seeing that the time past away in vaine hopes of their princes comming they began to make conuenticles and to runne into the course but by another way of former seditions For sayed they the Flemings not able to forbeare to meddle with the affayres of Spaine whereof they had made shew not to care they leaue vs not any estate Greedinesse of the Flemings gouerning king Charles charge nor benefice but it is sold to them that will giue most and prophaned by vnworthie men The great treasures of the realme gathered together and religiously preserued by cardinall Ximenes for the kings comming are spoyled by strangers and transported out of Spaine the which is not tollerable to a free nation well affected to the honour and greatnesse of their prince and to the publicke good They of Burgos Leon Vailledolit and all that countrey of Spaine being incensed with these complaints and quarels they appointed a day to resolue on some remedies for these great disorders or how they might withstand the greedinesse of the Flemish courteors Many thought it fit to persuade the king to chase all Flemings from about him and to take Spaniards in their places such as were vnderstanding men to counsell him Others sayed That besides the difficultie to obtaine it it was to bee feared the Spaine would in short time be as corrupt as the rest and more cunning in their villanies holding that the best course to restraine the couetousnesse of courteors by a publike decree by the which power should be taken from the king to giue the estates offices or benefices of Spaine to strangers Demaunds of the townes of Spaine That there should be no readie money câ—rried out of the countrey without great cause and that no necessarie money for the kings house should be sent by cardinall Ximenes without consent of the townes Many other things of this kind were then propounded profitable in truth for the publike but derogating somewhat from the authoritie and Maiestie royall for thereby they did open a gate vnto the people to commit great insolencies the which they found by experience after the death of cardinal Ximenes who moderating what he could the peoples heat could not preuent the decrees of these assemblies for the publike good some gouernors consenting thereunto and signing them as D. Pedro of Castille at Burgos and others yet the Leonnois could neuer induce D. Frederic of Zamora their gouernour to consent vnto such decrees whereof the towne and Comminalties did afterwards aduertise the cardinall and the kings Councell sending deputies to treat with them of the affaires of the commonweale afflicted and to intreat them to appoint a place and time for a generall assemblie to that end The cardinall and the Councell knew well that the desire of the townes was just yet they sought to moderate them Cardinall and Councell fauour the Spaniards demaunds against the Flemings fearing some popular tumults persuading them to forbeare an assemblie vntill they had more certaine newes of the kings comming who they vnderstood made preparation to imbarke speedily In the meane time they did aduertise the king of all that had past excusing the Spaniards for that they did not in any sort doubt of the kings good will and judgement to know that all the admonitions counsels which they gaue
if hee might not haue such authoritie giuen him as hee might gouerne with honour and hope of good successe Wherefore hee obtained a title Duke of Alba sent Viceroy into Italie which was neuer before graunted to any of the emperours Ministers passing with full power and authoritie to gouerne the realme of Naples and the duchie of Milan as well in peace as in warre and to gouerne all as if his Majestie were there in person And for that hee knew how weake the forces were in Italie for want of money before his departure he would haue great prouision made both from the lowe countries Spaine and Italie so as with an opinion to doe great matters not onely by the same of his authoritie and valour but by the great sum of money which was assigned him he gaue order for his speedy passage beyond the Alpes Hee sent Commissions before to haue men artillerie munition victuals and pioners in a readinesse and himselfe came in post the twelfth of Iune to Milan the successe of that warre you may read in its proper historie The duke of Alba hearing of some alteration intended vpon the confines of the realmes of Naples was inuited to goe thither notwithstanding that the king had already sent Bernardine of Mendosa thither with the title of Lieutenant in the place of Cardinall Pacecco who went away hearing of the dukes arriuall in Italie making Iohn Baptista Castaldo his Lieutenant in the state of Milan 18 The emperour this yeare one thousand fiue hundred fiftie and fiue Emperour Charles resignes the Gouernment to his son broken with toyles of the world and willing to free himselfe of so great a burthen and to satisfie the desire of his sonne king Philip to whom although he had giuen the title of King of Naples and afterwards of duke of Milan yet the gouernment remained at the disposition of the emperors councell he resolued to renounce the absolute gouernment with the titles of al those realmes states except the empire to the which his brother Ferdinand should succeed So calling his sonne into Flaunders he made this renunciation with great ceremonies in the town of Brussels the fiue and twentieth day of October in a great assemblie of the Nobilitie Prelates and deputies of towns the Queene of Hungarie and Meximilian the emperours sonne in law with some other princes being present but all Spaniards officers others of what qualitie soeuer were put out of the hall and not any suffered to stay but such as had business or had beene called So as from that time all matters were handled by the said kings Councell and he was called both king of Spaine and Catholike But before the resignation of all his realmes and estates in this honourable assemblie he gaue these instructions vnto his Sonne for the better gouernment of his estate The instructions of the emperour Charles when hee resigned his estates vnto his Sonne Philip. I Haue resolued most deare son to come now to the point of resigning into your hands the full administration and absolute gouernment of al my estates realms as I haue often told you wherefore my pleasure is that against the morning you giue order for the performance of this act with all due ceremonies you shall also giue order with speed by sending messengers into euery part that both gouernors inferior magistrates and people acknowledge you as in duty they are boūd for their superior yeelding you due obediēce that al persons except such as are subiect to the empire take the oth of allegeance The like oth I wil haue the generals of armies al the commanders of martial forces take that they may from henceforth in the point of loyalty depend vpon your selfe no other The more rare this president is of princes which haue bin content to resigne their estates vnto their successors the greater are the signs not only of my loue to you but of the assurance I haue of your good inclination my great care to see your estate setled I could defer this act as most princes doe vntill my death but hauing a desire rather to imitate the smaller number of fathers in this point I haue chosen willingly by this act in my life time to make my self a superior rather than a cōpanion to any It is a weak trial of the valor resolution of a prince to subdue kingdoms by force in comparison of conquering himself being thus far cōtent not only to bridle al ambition desire of rule but to submit himselfe to a certain kind of obedience Against this course sensuality doth striue with all her force and in exchange of al worldlie satisfactiōs which are enioyed by the prerogatiue of absolute authoritie setteth before our eies the rigor of the laws to which as to a common bounder princes setting their authoritie aside must leuell all their actions as well as priuat men To blind our vnderstanding farther with like vailes the same sensuall consideration stirreth vp by way of admonition a prouident forecast of diuers inconueniences whereinto many fall that haue made themselues subiect to the will of other men by the diuersitie of their conceits and censures the which by the corruption of the care of priuat interest are apt to swarue from the right rule of integritie It may be that some wil be terrified with this common supposition that princes which are once possessed of authoritie may resigne it at their owne pleasures but they must resume it at the pleasures of other men Yet fatherly affection hath preuailed in me more than all these zealous considerations and duetie also in some part for finding my selfe now aged which may bee accompted greater in regard of my sickely estate my satietie of glory in this world and wearinesse of toile finding moreouer that by my continuall trauell vnto this day I could not satisfie in any part the duetie which belongeth vnto the profession of a Christian I find my selfe inflamed with a most earnest desire to free my selfe from so manie troublesome incombrances and then retire my selfe to a meere religious kind of life and more fit for a Christian. On the other side the consideration of your age being now ripe and fit for gouernment together with the expectation which you haue gotten in the world by managing the greatest affaires of Spaine with great judgement do moue me the rather to proceed in my resolution Being moued by all these good considerations I haue thought it fit to lay this weighty burthen vpon your shoulders and to ease mine owne which time and trauell haue now weakened and disabled I do confidently hope that the subiects of al my prouinces shal haue cause to thanke God first and then me for this resolution in respect of the gratious vsage they shall receiue at your hands succeeding in my place neither is it hurtfull vnto your selfe that by his occasion during my life you shall settle your selfe more firmely in my dominions It remaineth then
had drawne from the Diuines of the Vniuersity of Alcala of Henares of Castile to the which he sayd there was no reply and that they were conformable in euery point to those which he had before from other Vniuersities King Philip with his Councell and Lawyers did set downe as a thing which they ought not to call in question that beeing the most ancient male liuing of the race of Don Emanuel of Portugall he should praecede all others in the succession to the Crown Allegations made by King Philip touching his title to Portugall yea presently after the death of King Sebastian for the Cardinall whome he had suffered to raigne was not capable thereof considering his qualitie beeing a Clergi-man This beeing presupposed he demanded of the Diuines first whether he were bound to submit himselfe to any Iudge or Arbitrator to haue the Realme of Portugall adiudged vnto him Secondly if there were any other pretending that Crown who might decide their controuersies and that there beeing no competent Iudge to do it and the Portugals refusing to receiue him before the cause were decided which might be a meanes to â—ustrate him whether hee might not take possession of his owne authoritie by armes without any scruple And last of all if the Gouernors or Estates of Portugall alledge that they are bound by oath not to acknowledge any one for king but he to whome the Realme shall be adiudged by iustice if that may excuse them To the first point the Diuines of Castile answered That Don Philip beeing a Soueraigne King Aduice of the Diuines of Alcala of Henares he was not bound to submit himselfe to any Iudge but onely take councell and that he might thereuppon adiudge the Realme vnto himselfe and not charge his conscience grounding vppon the neerenes of bloud which was apparent And if there were no Iudge in this cause they sayd that the Pope who had the greatest power might not take knowledge of it for that it was meerely temporall hauing not any circumstance to bind it to the Spirituality The Emperor in like manner was no competent Iudge for the Kings of Castile are Soueraignes Emperours in their countries and Estates The Estates of Portugall were inferiours and subiects and therefore in no sort Iudges the deceased King Don Henry could not preiudice the right nor dignitie of king Philip in appoynting eleuen Iudges to determine of the Succession of that Crowne besides hee beeing dead the Commission of those Iudges was expired and their authoritie extinct As for the referring it to the compromise of Arbitrators it was not vsed but in matters which were doubtfull and whereas their titles and interests were obscure If they would say that in this cause King Philip should not be regarded as a King but as a priuate person bound to plead against the rest pretending the same succession by reason of bloud it was a friuolous distinction for that the dignitie of a King cannot bee separated from the person that carryeth it in any case whatsoeuer If they did pretend that the controuersie must be ended whereas the matter in question lyeth that this rule hath no place in matters of Kingdomes To the second point they did apply some of the former answers and to make it more plaine they sayd that it was sufficient for the King to exhibite his titles and right to the Gouernours or to the Estates to iustifie his proceeding by armes the which he might lawfully vse in case of refusall the which was a king of contumacie and rebellion And last of all they sayd that an oath made by whomsoeuer to preiudice another doth not bind him that hath taken it especially where there is no Iudge and he cannot pretend it for an excuse against a Soueraigne especially when his title is apparent King Philip hauing resolued to enter Portugall with an armie more sayd he to feare the Portuguezes then to do them harme besides the armie which he prepared at Badajos he caused his vassals after their example in euery Prouince bordering vpon Portugal to be in a readines commaunding the Lords which had their lands there to shew themselues in armes but not to aduance and that if any neare Townes Noblemen or commons would acknowledge him for their King they should assure them of all good vsage The Gouernours were much amazed yet they made shew as if they would defend themselues sending into France to the Emperour and to other Christian Princes for succours But they did aboue all imploy the Popes authority and prerogatiue that he would be a meanes to make King Philip lay aside armes and submit himselfe to a quiet course of iustice whereupon they obtayned that there should be a Legate sent into Spaine to decide this controuersie which was Cardinall Alexander Riâ—rio who was not pleasing vnto the King being held suspect neither would he that the Pope should meddle in this busines much lesse determine of it Besides this Legate came late the Castillan armie beeing alreadie entred farre into Portugall and the Gouernors were in such a confusion and did so disagree among themselues as they suffered to haue a Croisado preached against the Castillans as if it had beene to go against Infidels the Magistrates did the like in many townes Hatred of the Portuguizes to the Castillans and they sayd that there were slaine Noblemen of Portugall who by the meanes of prisoners which were yet in Affricke since the ouerthrow of D. Sebastian did sollicite the Xeriffe Hamet to take vppon him the protection of the Realme of Portugall against the King of Caâ—â—le such was the hatred of these two nations and the proceedings of Don Philip so much detested seeking to be Iudge in his owne cause and to decide it by armes to the preiudice of the other pretendants and namely of the generall Estates of the Realme The contrarieties which were obserued in all that the Gouernors did being fearefull irresolute and yet very ambitious seeking to retaine the royall authoritie longer then they might and to sell their fauours to their owne priuate benefits did witnesse the confusion that was in their minds and in their affaires being sollicited by the Ambassadors of Castile Gouernors bring King Philip into Portugal they yeelded to declare D. Philip King vppon certaine conditions whereof they drew Articles which were all signed by the Duke of Ossuna but the difficulty was to publish this decree with any collour On the other side they fortified themselues daily both within and without the Realme In the meane time they had not any money and suffered the reuenues of the Crowne to be lost by their bad intelligence and withall the peoples loue who might haue supplied their present necessities out of their store if they had seene any order or grauitie in them They resolued to sell the Iewels of the Crowne but the Ambassadors of Castile opposed themselues saying That they did belong vnto the King their master who was the true and lawfull king
betrothed to a duke or gouernour of Gaule Narbonoise did there also end this fugitiue life Dacian was then Gouernour of Spaine and a diligent minister of these impieties who residing at Sarragosse and seeing the constancie of the Christians to surpasse his inhumanitie he caused a proclamation to be made by the sound of the trumpet that all those that were Christians should depart the towne and haue leaue to retire where they pleased The faithfull being joyfull hereof went forth in great troups thanking God for this libertie thinking they would suffer them to depart but they were not gone farre from the gates before they were compassed in by armed souldiours and cut in peeces The multitude of those that were thus villanously murthered was verie great and therefore in those dayes the Christians by a certaine humane affection From a humane affection of the antient Christians is grown the superstition which in the end is become impious more than for any religion made account of the ashes bones and all things which did belong vnto those holy martyres and did reuerence the places where they had frequented or were buried not for any superstition but to incite the liuing to imitate their pietie This cruell Gouernour hauing committed this horrible massacre sought also to depriue the faithful seruants if any remained in the countrey of all comfort Wherefore hauing gathered all their bodies together and murthered vpon them all the offendors which were committed for any crimes he burnt them all together that the ashes being thus mingled should not be gathered vp by the Christians whereupon the bruit was That God meaning to giue a testimonie of the innocencie of his people made the ashes of the faithful to appeare verie white among the rest the which with a small shewer which fell were gathered together in white heapes whereof those which haue come after being moued with another zeale than the Christians of those times haue made their profit Lambert seruing a countrey man was also beheaded for that he would not renounce Iesus Christ. The bruit was That hauing taken his head in his hands he went two good leagues vntil he came vnto the place where the bodies of the martyres aboue mentioned lay and that there he began to sing Exultabunt sancti in gloria and that they answered Et letabuntur in cubilibus suis and then he fell vpon them the which I will not call into question considering the end of myracles There were many others put to death in Spaine for the profession of the Gospell during the gouernment of Dacian whose names for breuities sake I omit being not much pertinent to a historie Dacian a bloudie instrument of these cruelties was during these executions slaine with fire from heauen The wicked end of Ducian the persecutor The like persecutions were in the other prouinces of the empire At this time liued Prudentius borne in the prouince of Cantabria of the countrey which is now called Alaba he was bishop of Tarracone and not the Poet aboue mentioned There is a decretall epistle extant of Melchiades bishop of Rome who liued in those times vnto the bishops of Spaine touching the Primacie of the Romane Sea but it sauours not of the Latine stile of that age no more than those of Marcelin Marcellus Eusebius Syluester Mare Iulius Liberius Damasus and Syricius which must bee read with judgement As for the politique Artes of Dioclesian and Maximian although they were great and worthie of memorie yet the histories of Spaine make no mention of them They receiued into their companie to gouerne the empire Maximus Galerius and Constantius Chlorus the last in a good time tooke vpon him the gouernment of Spaine and Gaule who dying in England left the dignitie of Caesar to Constantine his sonne who learned the first principles of religion of a certaine Spaniard as some write Galerius adopted Seuerus and Maximian the young At the same time Dioclesian and Maximian resigned the imperiall dignitie at Milan but Maximian repenting himselfe as he did striue to resume his authoritie at Rome being rejected by his sonne Maxenc◠and the Pretorian souldiors he fled towards his son in law Constantine against whom he practised treason and was slaine at Marseilles Dioclesian a strange monster who caused himselfe to be called Brother to the Sunne and Moone and to bee worshipped liued long a priuat life but God shewed a testimonie of his wrath vpon him in the end of his dayes for he died madde The miserable end of tyrants eaten with vermine and so infected and stinking as none could endure to come neere him howling as Nicephorus writes like a dog Galerius slew himselfe as cruell as a butcher for 〈◊〉 he had beene from his youth Seuerus was slaine by the faction of Maxence whom the Pretorians had created Caesar. Maximian the younger died eaten with wormes hauing beene vanquished neere vnto Tharse by Licinius whom Constantine had sent against him Maxence a cruel tyrant and therefore hated of the Romans as he thought to make head against Constantine was defeated in battel neere vnto Rome and drowned himself in the riuer of Tiber all cruell and bloudie princes enemies to the Church of God remarkable for such as persecute it After these Licinius and Constantine held the empire the one in the East the other in the West But Licinius who had maried Constantines sister a cruell and barbarous man Licinius an 〈…〉 learning an enemie to Christians and all learning tearming them a plague to the commonweale hauing no good thing in him but that he persecuted the courtisans whom he tearmed mice sought to breake the order made betwixt him and Constantine wherefore after that he had beene supprest aboue once and reconciled to his brother in law by the meanes of his wife Constance he was slaine by his commaundement at Thessalonica so as Constantine called the Great remained sole emperor who gaue peace vnto the Churches much desired and if they could haue vsed it to the aduancement thereof most happie Constantine a good prince This prince did great honour vnto the Christians imbraced the true religion endowed the churches with rents and riches caused the Gentiles temples to be beaten downe in many places assembled by his imperiall authoritie the Councell of Nice in Bithinia Anno 326. in the yeare 326 or 328 where there met 318 bishops of diuers countries among the which was Osius bishop of Cordoua who was also at the Councell of Gangre Nice the first general Councell celebrated the same yeare That of Nice is held the first generall Councell where the impietie of the Arrians was condemned the which notwithstanding did afterwards infect many nations That Constantine made a donation of the citie of Rome of Italie and of all the Westerne empire vnto Siluester then bishop of Rome or that he had declared him head and primat ouer other bishops and granted vnto him and his successors other things conteined in that which is called
among other there was a decree made against the Iewes An. 694. who being accused not onely to haue reuolted from the Christian religion in the which they had beene once baptized but also to haue conspired against the King and the State of Spaine it was said That their goods should be confiscated A decree against the Iewes their persons wiues and children and their descendants held for slaues and dispersed throughout Spaine That those which had them in seruice should not suffer them to exercise their Iewish ceremonies That their children being once seuen yeres old should be sent away from their parents and giuen to Christians to bring vp and then married to Christians and by all meanes drawne from the conuersation and acquaintance of their parents and men of their sect this is to be seene in the eight article These last Councels were generall assemblies of the nation What the Councels of these times were whereas the Clergie held the first place the which in name and shew were made to determine of matters concerning religion but in effect they treated of matters of State whereas controuersies betwixt great men and other politicke matters were there decided and although there were men of all estates yea and of the noblest houses and that there was an order that regular men should take knowledge of regular causes and secular causes should be decided by the secular men yet it is easie to judge that the soueraigne and last decision depended vpon the authoritie of the Fathers in all things so as the spiritualtie in the confusion of these two powers did often vanish among worldly affaires and ciuile policie vsurped by clergie men became tyrannie as we shall soone see Egica growne old Fafila Gouernor of Biscaye had setled his sonne Vitiza as Viceroy in Gallicia holding his seat at Tuy then Tude whither a little before he had confined Fafila duke or gouernour of Biscaye sonne to king Cindasiunthe as some hold for certaine attempts made against him whose wife was corrupted by Vitiza who afterwards by her instigation slew Fafila that they might enjoy their loues more freely This excesse happened in a towne which was then called Douzemains and now Palatio neere vnto the riuer Vrbicum This Fafila was father to king Pelagius who restored Spaine being oppressed and ruined by the Moores Egica hauing reigned about thirteene yeares died at Toledo being honoured for a wise and temperate king 29. Vitiza 41 THe dishonour and infamie of the kings of the Gothes was in the person of this Vitiza Ann. 701. being full of all excesse in his lust without feare or reuerence of God in his actions an hipocrite and dissembler for at his first comming he shewed himselfe mild liberall and religious but soone after he turned to his owne nature He called a Councell of Bishops and Noblemen at Toledo 18 Councell of Toledo to consult touching the gouernment of his realme he caused Theofreds eyes to be pulled out who had beene confined to Cordoua least that hee who was beloued of the people and brother to Reccesiunthe should aspire vnto the Crowne Hee intended to doe the like to Pelagius the sonne of Fafila whom hee had slaine but hee escaped and fled into Biscaye being reserued for greater matters Hee committed manie villanies the first two yeares yet secretly but afterwards he exceeded in all vices without any shame he filled his palace with many wiues which he had married and an infinite number of concubines the which he would haue publickely allowed vnto all men The impâ—re and lend life of Vitiza and did persuade the Noblemen to follow his example Hee did likewise disannull the Popes Constitutions for a single life and by an Edict which he caused to be set foorth suffered Clergie men to marrie and to haue as many women married or vnmarried as they pleased vsing all the inticements he could to infect them with his licentiousnesse least they should oppose themselues against him and by their censures draw the people from obeying of so filthie and vnchast a king And to preuent all rebellions this man blinded with his lustfull pleasures caused vnder the colour of peace which Spaine did then enjoy all the townes of his realme to be demanteled Towns of Spain demanteled and the people disarmed by Vitiza except Leon Toledo and Asturica Besides hee disarmed the people and depriued Sinderede Archbishop of Toledo were it justly or vnjustly of his dignitie giuing it to his brother Opas who was Archbishop of Seuille hee disannulled all the immunities and priuiledges of Churches called backe the Iewes and restored the banished men to their goods and possessions giuing them more priuiledges than euer they had before Finally as a presage of the future miseries he shewed in all sorts of excesse and violence contrarie to the lawes of God and men what princes ill instructed and ignorant of true pietie could doe In the meane time blind Theofred confined to Cordoua being newly married to Recilone a ladie of the bloud royall of the Gothes had begotten two sonnes of her Roderic and Costa to whom Vitiza would haue done as much as hee had done to the father but they escaped and implored the Romanes aid as the Archbishop Rodrigo doth report or else of the nobilitie of the Gothes who in remembrance of Reccesiunthe gaue them aid to chase this infamous monster out of the royall throne which he did vnworthily hold Being come to battaile Vitiza was defeated and taken Vitiza taken and his eyes put out by Roderic and Costa sons to Theofred and according to the president which he had giuen his owne eyes were put out and he confined to Cordoua without title or honour where he spent the rest of his life in miserie hauing reigned tenne yeares Thus Roderic obtained the crowne by the fauour of the Romanes and the suffrages of the people 30. Roderic last King of the Gothes 42 THe time was now come when as the kingdome of the Gothes in Spaine must haue an end Ann. 711. being come to the height of their iniquities for in their Commonweale all things both holy and prophane were managed with fraud and violence and their princes affected confusion to satisfie their ambition and infamous lusts wherefore it pleased God to confound them in their imaginations to blind them that would be blind to root out the incorrigible and to take his graces from them that did obstinately contemne him Roderic more vitious than Vitiza Roderic hauing beene an instrument to punish a tyrant made no vse of this correction nor acknowledged the fauour from whence it came but presently after his comming to the crowne he followed Vitizaes steps yea he exceeded him in all vices He shewed himselfe cruell and inhumane to Sisebut and Elba the children of Vitiza whom he pursued with all the indignities that might be and forced them to flie into Africke depriued of all their goods where they were entertained by Recila Earle
authoritie and power from the whole Order the which doth enioy more dignities conuents monasteries colleges Two chiefe 〈◊〉 and other lands then any Order that is in Spaine first there are those principal conuents which are the chiefe of all the rest which bee Vcles and Saint Marke under the which are foure Hermitages Saint Marie de la Pegna neere vnto the Towne of Segure of the Mountaine Saint Saluator of Munstiers neere to Almesca Saint Mary of Cagnamanes in the fields of Montiel and Saint Anthony about Alhambra Besides one Conuent in the Cittie of Seuille two Colledges in the Vniuersitie of Salamanca Colledges sixe Monasteries of Religious women which were the holy Ghost at Salamanca S. â—oy at Toledo Saint Croix at Vailledolit Saint Iames at Granado S. Olalia at Merida and Saint Iames in Iunguera of Barcelone Religious commandâ—ries of women They haue also fiue Hospitals S. Iames of Toledo where they go to be cured which haue the poxe or French disease and all other infirmities which depend thereon S. Iames at Cuença las Tiendas in Castile the old Hospitalâ— the hospitall neere vnto the Coâ—â—ent of Saint Mark at Leon and the hospitall of the Conuent at Vcles Moreouer this Order hath many commanderies the which are bound to serue in time of warre against the Moores and to furnish 368. lances those which belong to the iurisdiction of Vcles are the great Commanderie of Castille that of Paracuellos Monthernand Mora dos Barrios Monreal Horcajo el Corral of Almaguer el Campo de Critana Alhambra Membrilla Montizon Bedmar Vacas Segura de la Sierra which is the best Commanderie of all Spaine Yeste Moratallal Carauaca Aledo Ricote Biedma Cieça Soconos Torres and Cagnamares Montiel Socuellamos Villamaior Carrizoja Vilhermosa Vallanoua de la Fuente the buildings del campo de Montiel Villa Escusa de Haro the buildings of Mancha and the riuer of Tayo Huelamo Orria Estremera Saint Croix de Sarça Villoria Villarubia Alpages and the Priorie of Vcles the Chamber of the Priuiledges of the Order and Alorqui These bee those which acknowledge Vcles Now those follow which are of the Iurisdiction of Saint Mark of Leon the great Commanderie Aquilarejo Calçadilla la Puebla de Sancho Peres el Santo Villafrancha la Fuente del maestre Almendralegio Lobon Montijo Merida Alcuescar Riuera and Azebucha Hallame Ellotiua Palomas Ornachos Reyna Hinojosa Medina de la Torres Valencia ventoso Monasterio Montemolino Vsagre Azuaga Guadalcanal Mures Benaçuça Estepa the houses of Corduba the buildings in the Prouince of Leon the Prouince of the conuent of Leon Villauoua of Alisdar Vena Mexi the Prouostship of Bienuenida In Castile the old are Pegna Vsende Estriana Castrotoraua Besides all these there are the commanderies of la Torre d' Ocague Sarça Mirauel Castelleja de la Cuesta Barra Castroverdé And in the Realme of Valencia are the commanderies of Museros Enguerra Orcheta Sagra Zenet and Fradel Besides these Commanderies this Order hath at this day aboue fixe hundred Knights of the habit aboue two hundred Clerkes breethren which remaine in the conuents with Vicarages and other Benefices so as it is wonderfull great and rich And although it were first instituted to make warre against the Infidels yet there are few at this day which affect these commanderies or the habit to that end but only to increase their reuenues or to be in greater reputation among souldiers by meanes of this habit Such was the iurisdiction of this Order of Knights During the raigne of this King Don Alphonso the Noble the Monasterie of religious women of Balbuena was built by Peter of Balbuena an Hermite in like manner one Iohn of Ortega borne at Quintana in Ortugno in the Diocesse of Burgos was sanctified I know not for what holines and his bodie was buried in the yeare 1173. in the Monastery which carries his name where the Spanish Authors say hee did many miracles There were infinit donations made vnto Monasteries Conuents and Orders of Knights by the King and the Nobility of Spaine for the redemption of their soules and of their kindred and friends deceased as their letters report 10 The Order of the Knights of Calatraua whose beginning wee haue described in the life of the king D. Sancho the desired was much augmented at that time Order of Calatraua and was only gouerned by masters whereof the first was called D. Garcia to whom succeeded D. Martin Peres of Syon and the third master which gouerned at that time was D. Nugno Peres of Quignones The first Conuent of this Order was at Calatraua but since the Knights made diuers changes as appeares by their Histories as to Ciruelos Buxeda Corcoles and castel of Saluatierra and since the chiefe seate of their Order was translated to the castell of Couo in the time of D. Nugno Hernandes the twelfth Master where it now remaines The rents and reuenues of this holy company of Warriours haue so increased from time to time by the bountie of the Kings of Castile as they haue beene seene to serue against the Moores with 300 Lances well appointed whereunto those Commanderies are ordinarily bound whose names be first the great commanderie Clauerra Obreâ—â—a and Argamaâ—illa the commanderies of Malagon Mançares Almagro Montancheulos Daymiel Villarubia val de pegnas Eluico and Saint Croix Fuenteel Moral and the houses of Citte Real Castellanos Almedouar del campo Puerto Llano Corral of Caracuel Piedra Buena Herrera Fuente del Imperador Carrion Guadalerza Mestança Castilsers Balestreros Alcolea Possuelo Torroua Bolagnos Morall Almiradiel Hauanilla the houses of Seuile the houses of Corduba Belmer Villafranca Lopera Canaueral Ximena and Recena Pegna de Martos Biuoras Moratalaz Tores and Canena Vallaga Sorita Almoguera Auignon and Verniches the houses of Talauera those of Toledo Huerta Val de Carauanes the houses of Plaisance Ateca Carezuela Ortas Calatraua the old And in the realme of Arragon are the commanderies of Alcaâ—is Mouroijo Penna Roija Faraxneda Ralfas Castelseras Laguna rotta Molinos In that of Valencia there are also other commanderies In Castile are the Priories of Seuile Granado Iaen Alhama Fuencaliente Porcuna Sugueca and Villatoro besides other dignities ecclesiasticall reuenues This Order was confirmed Pope Alexander the third and receiued into the protection and tuition of the Apostolike Sea and had vnder it Knights of the Alcantara for a time About the year 1176. Nauarre was founded the Monasterie of our Ladie of Irançu by Don Pedro de Paris An. 1176. bishop of Pampelone who notwithstanding he called himselfe so was of Nauarre It is very likely that the Prelates in those dayes had a great desire to build Monasteries and such like houses that they might leaue markes and memorie after their death of their diligence in the estate whereunto they were called for otherwise they could leaue no subiect to speake of them that age beeing vnlearned and full of ignorance so as not knowing in a manner any other duties they
and arriuing at Cordoua hee found that D. Aluaro Perez de Castro and other Captaines and souldiers in great numbers were already come to succour his men King Aben Hut beeing aduertised of all these things and of D. Fernands arriuall with small forces although there came great troupes afterwards thought it fit to preuent him if he could or at the least to strike some terror into the Christians and force them to retire from this seege He had in his armie which lay about Eccia a Christian Knight D. Laurence Suarez betrays king Aben Hut who had entertained him in his exile a banished man called D. Laurens Suares Hauing imparted his desseigne vnto him he resolued to send him one night vnto the campe vnder colour of seeking to recouer the kings fauour but it was to espie and to discouer vnto him the true estate of the Christians armie This Knight hauing obtained a pasport came vnto the campe and spake vnto the king doing the contrarie to that which he had in charge for he discouered vnto the King D. Fernand all the Moores desseignes and what forces hee had wherefore beeing assured from the king of his grace and fauour he retired to Aben Hut to whom he concealed what he had seene and vnderstood telling him that the Christians army was much stronger then it was indeed Wherefore king Aben Hut durst not attempt that which he had resolued and thinking that they of Cordoua wold hold good for a time he resolued to employ his forces to succour king Zaen who was prest by the king of Arragon towards Valencia thinking after that he had repulsed the Arragonois to returne fortified with Zaens forces and cause the Christians to retire from before Cordoua Beeing arriued at Almery to imbarke his army a vassall of his whom hee did much esteeme called Aben Arramin inuited him to supper where he so feasted him as beeing drunke he cast him into a great vessell full of water and there drowned him wherupon the army disbanded and D. Laurence Suarez whom king Aben Hut had ledde with him retired to the king of Castile who receiued him graciously notwithstanding that he had betrayed him who had entertayned him during his exile This death of this Moorish king Cordoua yelded 1236. beeing generally knowne especially at Cordoua the beseeged despayred of succors so as they yeelded the cittie vnto the king of Castile the sixt moneth of the seege in the yeare 1236 which was 522. yeares after that it had beene first taken by the Moores The king Don Fernand caused a crosse to be set vppon the tower of the great Mesquide in token of our redemption and neere vnto it the standard of Castile which Mesquide was purified beeing one of the goodliest buildings in Spaine and made the Cathedrall Church D Lope de Hitero first Bishop of Cordoua of the which Don Lope de Hitero of Piçuerga was made bishop The king did indow it with rents and reuenues like the rest and so did the Arch-bishop Don Roderigo in his returne from Rome where he had beene during the seege and was not at the taking thereof of his great griefe but affaires of greater Importance had kept him absent in the meane time Don Iohn Bishop of Osma was his Vice-gerent and Chancelor to the King There the bells of Saint Iames were found which the Alhagib Almançor had taken away in the yeare 975. and placed them in this great Mosqueé making them to serue for lampes which the king Don Fernand caused to be transported to their auncient mansion The affaires of this great cittie which had beene the chiefe of the Moores estate were ordered by the king both for religion 〈◊〉 Iustice and for the guard and safety therof with great care Don Tello Alphonso de Mâ—neses was made Gouernor of the citty and Don Aluar Perez de Castro of the whole fronter The kingdome of Granado BY the losse of Cordoua and the death of king Aben Hut the Moores were wonderfully dismayed and voyd of Councell wherefore they returned to their old course euery one respecting his priuate interest so as the Infidels estate was dismembred into many parts Aben Hudiel among others seazed vpon the Realme of Murcia Zeit and Zaen being yet in warre and contending for the realme of Valencia In the country of Algarbe whereof Niebla was the chiefe citty Aben Iafon raigned who had for his successor Aben Amarin and then another called Aben Mofad Those of Seuile would haue no king but onely a Gouernor Beginning of Granado where one Axataf was in great authoritie and it was he which lost it But aboue all the power of Mahomad Alienalagmar or Aben Alamar was great so called for that he had a red face who from a shepheard hauing followed armes had attained to the chiefe places of honour and was in such credit by reason of his valour force and stature as in these tumults the Inhabitants of Arjona where he was borne chose him for their king and then other people submitted themselues vnder him especially the townes of Iaen Bacça which was ill garded and Guadix and in the end the citty of Granado which he afterwards made his royall seate and the chiefe of all his country and Seigneuries This was the first king of Granado whereas vntill that time there was no kingdome it was erected at such time as Cordoua the chiefe cittie of all the Moores Estate in Spain was made subiect vnto the Christians 25 Whilest that the king Don Fernand is busie at this honorable enterprize of Cordoua and D. Iaime or Iames king of Arragon at that of Valencia which was nothing inferior â—auarre Thibaud the new king of Nauarre had meanes of settle his affaires without any difficultie for he found all the Estates of the Kingdome willing to obey him At his reception he did sweare and confirme the liberties and priuiledges of the country the which he did also augment This was the beginning of the second masculine line of the Kings of Nauarre 〈…〉 the first ending in D. Sancho the which since D. Garcia Ximenes had continued 518. yeares Successions of States and Soueraignties falling to women against all lawe and presidents of well ordered kingdomes in the first ages is the cause that strange and vnknowne Princes of diuers humors come to raigne ouer Nations which sometimes haue succeeded well but very often great troubles and inconueniences haue followed At this time the Nauarrois were not vnfortunate to haue a king of the French nation who was a meanes to augment the power and dignitie of that Crowne by many accessories from France his mother D. Blanche daughter to the king D. Sancho the Wise and sister to the last Sancho was the first which brought the succession of women into Nauarre although she did not raigne beeing dead before the king Don Sancho the Strong her brother D. Pedro Ramires of Pedrola Bishop of Pampelone among others did faithfully maintaine the rights of this
to their partie The king of Arragon demanded the Realme of Murcia the townes of Requegna Otiel Moya Cagnete the citty of Cuenca and the Segneurie of Molina with other places vppon the frontier of Castile whereof he held some but hoping he should haue a better composition with the king D. Henry he kept himselfe betwixt both being doubtfull what to do so as nothing was concluded for that time with the ambassadors of England During these reuolutions in Spaine in temporall affaires religion was managed by diuers fects of Monkes especially by the begging Friars of Saint Dominick and Saint Francis who this yeare incensed the people against a new Order which had risen in Spaine in the time of the king Don Pedro through the deuout ignorance of certaine Italians of Sienna religious Hermits who had heard one of their companions called Friar Thomas say dying by a Propheticall spirit Order of Saint Ierom in Spain sayd they that within few dayes the holy Ghost should come into Spaine and that he had this by reuelation wherfore all these religious men thinking that the holy Ghost did not frequent much in Italy in those times and that it was something which they must seeke farre off in a strange countrie they left Italy and came into the countrie of Toledo hoping to get the grace of the holy Ghost and therby saue their soules The fame of these men being spred ouer Spaine a bishop of Iaen called D. Alphonso Pecha and Don Pero Fernand Pecha his brother Chamberlaine to the king Don Pedro Hernando Ianes Chanoine of Toledo and chiefe Chaplaine of the chappell of the auncient Kings with many other Christians commending the resolution of these Friars and their ignorance being desirous to liue in that contemplation ioyned with them leauing Bishoprickes Chanonries Benefices and Estates and chusing their aboads in caues and woods farre from the societie of men where they began to liue a wonderfull austere life saying that it was according to the rule of Saint Paul that they must suffer many discommodities to liue like Christians and that it was the meanes to gaine Paradice This sect beeing in great esteeme the begging Friars began to blame the people for following of these men who had no setled Order nor discipline among them and which did more import had no approbation from the Pope For these reasons the inconstant multitude began to retire themselues and to abate much of their deuotion which these good Hermits finding to their great griefe they tooke councell among themselues to send vnto the Pope to get authoritie from him for a name rule profession order and aboade The messengers were Friar Peter Fernandez of Guadajara and Friar Peter Romaine of their company who beeing come before the Pope exposed their deuotion vnto him their maner of life Approbation of the Order of S. Ierome by the Pope exercises in religion their means and merits beseeching him that he would bee pleased to approoue their Order and profession giuing them for Patron the great Doctor Saint Ierome to whome all were most addicted The Pope made no difficultie to allow of them hauing had some former information of that which they had sayd appointing them to liue vnder the rule of S. Augustine hee prescribed what manner of garment they should weare and sent backe these Deputies into Spaine with Buls in October 1373. By this approbation from the Pope these Monkes crept into credit and did build their first conuent in a place called Lupiana in the Archbishoppricke of Toledo two leagues from Guadalajara dedicating it to Saint Bartholomew the which was since the chiefe of the Order the Prior of which Monasterie is Generall of the Order for three yeares and is bound to reside in that Monasterie during his charge Since by the bountie of the Princes of Spaine these Hermits haue built many Conuents and haue greatly inlarged their possessions Their exercise is more in singing then studying the which they do neglect expresly to the end they might not be diuerted from their simple contemplation notwithstanding there haue beene some great Preachers found among them and men of vnderstanding in great affaires of State Returning to politicke worldly affaires the king D. Henry beeing aduertised of the practises betwixt the English and the king of Arragon he sought to entertain the hope of compromise propounded by the Cardinall Guy of Bologne who by the Popes commandement was a mediator to make this peace In the meane time hee had intelligence with Lewis Duke of Aniou Gouernor of Languedoc and concluded that hee should presse the English towards Bayone and the duke of Aniou vppon the limits of his gouernment and then hauing ioyned their forces together they shold annoy them all they could in Guienne for he had intelligence that Iohn Duke of Lancaster had imparted his enterprises and ioyned his forces with those of Iohn of Montfort Duke of Brittaine making preparation to enter into Castile 〈…〉 against D Henry of Castile the which he thought fit to preuent and to assaile him in Guienne whilest that Philip the Hardy Duke of Bourgongne and brother to the French king made warre against the English in Artois and Vermandois and to this effect the king D. Henry gaue order to rayse an armie in Rioja Whilest that the troupes were leuying the Court being at Burgos there fell a quarrell betwixt the seruants of D. Sancho Earle of Albuquerque the kings brother and them of D. Pedro Gonçales of Mendoça for their lodgings whether the Earle running to pacifie this broyle whereof neither hee nor D. Pedro were guilty he was thrust through with a lance and slaine by one that knew him not The king parting from Burgos came to Rioja where hauing mustred his army he found 6200. horse whereof 1200. were Genets with the which he past to Bayone being assured by the Duke of Aniou that he would come and ioyne with him And to keepe the king of Arragon in awe Don Iames Infant of Majorca husband to Ieanne Queene of Naples was come to Narbone with good troupes threatning to enter into Cattelogne The K. D. Henry passing by Alaua and Guipuscoa entred into the territorie of Bayone D. Henry of Castile 〈◊〉 Guiâ—nnâ— wiâ—h an army against the English where he found no great resistance for the armie of English which had beene hotly pursued by the Duke of Bourgongne beeing come to Bourdeaux was much dminished There he stayed some dayes for the Duke of Aniou hauing sent Pero Fernandes of Velasco his Lord Chamberlaine and Don Iohn Ramires of Areillan to hasten him but they found him busied in taking of townes and castels from the English some by force some by composition so as the king Don Henry returned with his army into Spaine hauing done no great exploite Passing through Guipuscoa Don Bertrand of Gueuara Lord of Ognate who had done him great seruice made sute vnto him to giue him the towne of Mondragon whereof the Inhabitants beeing aduertised they
more stately and bountifull and King Mahumet desiring on a time to make demonstration of his loue to the king D. Henry sending him rich presents hee gaue the charge of the ambassage to one of his wiues the which gaue great content to the king of Castile But to returne to this king Don Henry after that he had subdued the Princes of his bloud and their confederates Castile who contemning his youth and thrust on by ambition had troubled his Realme he beganne to be sickely and vnfit for the actions of warre the causes where-of by the singular grace of God ceased Hee had a great care of Iustice and to ease his subiects and beeing in that estate hee sought all meanes to maintaine his reputation and authoritie fearing nothing more then to bee contemned of his seruants to whome he sometimes seemed seuere and rigorous and sometimes was content onely to terrifie them Whereof they produce this example The king on a time hauing hunted late in vnknowne countrie and ill followed recouered his lodging being readie to sit downe to his supper hauing a very good stomacke he found it ill prepared so as hee began to grow in choller with the clarke of his kitchin saying that hee was negligent and that he would punish him The clarke who it may be sought for this occasion excused himselfe vppon the small meanes which were appointed him by his Councellors to furnish his table so as sayd he besides the assignation which is very short I recouer it with such difficultie as I am forced to pawne mine owne to supply it wherewith the king was very sad taking it for a great argument of the small esteeme the Noblemen that ruled made of him by this dishonest sparing for a kings table into whose coffers there entred of yearely reuenue 70. millions of Marauidis if Writers do not erre And therefore he beganne to studie how he might make them know it giuing to his Clarke one of his roabes called at that time Calandranas the which hee pawned for two shoulders of mutton with the which and some Quailes which they had taken the king supped beeing serued by the Clarke Beeing returned to Burgos he dissembled that which he had in his heart and watched an opportunitie to be reuenged Hee was aduertised that the chiefe Noblemen of his trayne and Councell holding the greatest dignities in the Realme of Castile the Prelats the Masters of knightly Orders the Duke of Medina Celi D. Ruy Lopes of Aualos Don Iohn and D. Diego Hurtado of Mendoça Diego Lopes of Estuniga Iohn of Velasco Gomes Manrique Peter Alfan of Ribera and others hauing gouernements in the chiefe Prouinces should meet together one night at a stately and sumptuous banket wherefore hee found meanes to enter disguised to see their cheare and heare their discourse where hee saw all things furnished in great aboundance and with more then royall state where there wanted not any thing that might please the appetite and as for their discourse and table-talke it was nothing but of the great and bounteous pension they drew from the King of the profits and commodities of their Offices and Gouernements gifts presents honours fauours and such like which makes the Courtiers paradise The King hauing obserued all this beeing returned vnto his lodging hee secretly in the night drew in his Guards and many other souldiers and when it was day hee sent for all these Noblemen of the Banquet to come vnto his Pallace to bee witnesses to the Will which hee would make who flocking thither with all expedition they stayed in the great Hall vntill it was past noone In the end the king came foorth with a naked sword in his hand setting him downe in his chaire and then presently the hall was full of his armed guards so as the Noblemen were amazed at this vnaccustomed ceremonie The king addressing his speech to the Arch-bishop of Toledo asked him how many kings of Castile he had seene he answered that he had seene foure which were the king D. Pedro D. Henry his grandfather D. Iohn his father and himselfe The like demand the king made vnto the rest and euery one answered as he had seene according to their ages some three some foure and some fiue How can it then be sayd the king that I who am younger then any of you can brag to haue seene aboue twenty The Noblemen replyed that they knew not what hee meant thereby for naturally with his corporall eyes he could not haue seene so many kings Yes truly sayd the king I haue seene them and all you here present are those kings who dispose of my Realme and mannage my rents and reuenues at your pleasures I am king but in name and as a shade but you are the bodie and the effect wasting my goods to my dishonour and the contempt of my authoritie I haue seene I haue seene the pompe and aboundance you liue in at my charge and haue vnderstood how you intreat my subiects and abuse the power which I giue you in your estates and gouernments but you shal not liue vnpunished I haue conuicted you all by your owne confessions and brags and iudge you all to die like bad and trecherous vassals This speech beeing ended the Ministers of iustice appeared among them the executioner of the court carying an axe and cords the which did much amaze all the Noblemen thinking verily that they should lose their heads seeing themselues compassed in his guards and considering that they had to do with a young king who for want of iudgement might giue way to his choller and reuenge his wrong without regard to the consequence Beeing thus amazed looking one vppon another and not knowing what to answer the Arcbishop of Toledo tooke courage to speake vnto the king who kneeling downe told him that so seuere a sentence was happily more iust then honourable for a young Prince or profitable for the realme of Castile which for euer would feele the losse of so many great and worthie men both for councel and armes as he meant to put to death for that they had committed some faults which are common to all that liue with kings and are bred vp in great charges of realmes Moreouer it was not reasonable to take that for a confession to conuict one which is spoken at banquets and in wine where men do vsually talke and bragge and oftentimes without truth yet he spake not these things to iustifie himselfe or any of his companions nor to contend against his clemencie as beeing free from offence the which they would rather implore and trie demanding with all humilitie the liues of all these offenders and his pardon adding many other reasons the which wee allowed by the king for he desired an occasion to pardon them yet he would haue them yeeld vp all the forts which they had in guard and he condemned them in pecuniarie fynes so as he drew from them aboue an hundred and fifty millions of
the warre in the seruice of the King of Castile had retired himselfe with his leaue and fauour to Montefrio to this Marshall and there had beene saluted for King yet weake and ill prouided to make any attempt against Granado and the Alhambra the seate royall which was held by Coxo but God prepared him the meanes and stirred vp occasions in time King Coxo embracing the confusions and quarrels of Castile which made them neglect the guard of the frontiers and animated by the factions of Nauarre entring into Andalusia had taken the towne of Banamaruel by force and carried away Iohn de Herrera who commanded in the place Exploits of the Moores in Aâ—dalusia with many other Christian prisoners after that hee had slaine many hee then beseeged Bançalema which was defended by Aluaro of Pecellin the which he forced in like manner putting all hee found in it to the sword for which losses the Captaines were not to bee blamed for wanting pay they could not keepe the Garrisons of those sorts full and compleat and moreouer hauing demanded succours from them of laen Vbeda and Baeça they could not obtaine it by reason of the diuisions and quarels betwixt the King and the Prince father and sonne which could not be so well and conueniently compounded but vppon euery occasion they brake so as the time beeing fauourable for the Moorish King hee made daily and ordinarie roades into Castile carrying away infinite spoyles of men and innumerable multitudes of cattell and other goods besides the taking and sacking of the Townes of Arenes Huescar Velez the white and Velez the red with their forts and castles all through the negligence of such as had the managing of affaires about the kings person places vpon the fronter of Castile abandoâ—ned by bad â—â—â—ncell whereof some were so ill aduised as to giue their opinions in councell that they should not trouble themselues for those pettie places which cost more the keeping then they were worth and that it was more for the profit and the ease of his treasure to suffer them to bee lost for with that which should be spent in keeping them they might fortifie other places of greater importance This yeare 1448. after the former losses King Mahumet Aben-Ozmen was newly entred into the country of Murcia making cruell spoiles wherefore Don Alphonso Telles Giron cousin to Don Iohn de Pacheco being newly made Gouernor of Hellin and Chumilla desirous to make triall of his good command went hastily to field where finding some of the Moores troupes disbanded he charged and cut some of them in peeces where the souldiers began presently to spoyle the dead not caring to keepe any order or discipline or to see if all danger were past The Moores which escaped and others that were not farre off being aduertised of this defeat of their men came vnto the place where the fight had beene Christians beeing Victors busie at the spoile are vanquished and finding the Christians dispersed like beasts and busie at the pillage they charged them furiously so as most of them were slaine Don Alphonso Telles with some few knights saued themselues by flight in Hellin and by this route giuen vnto the Christians the way was open for the Moores to spoyle and burne the countrie at their pleasures The King of Castile could hardly preuent these miseries Castile beeing continually afflicted with seditions and mutinies in his Court and house the Prince Don Henry giuing him infinite crosses and for light occasion the which did much displease the Constable fearing that their discord would redound to his losâ—e and preiudice wherefore hee made them conferre together at Tordesillas At that time the Estates were held at Vailledolit where the King hauing declared that hee went to see the Prince his sonne to haue him concurre with him to the end they might punish Rebels and reward the good euery man hauing spoken something concerning that matter Diego of Valera Deputie of Cuenca a wise Knight did highly commend the Kings holy resolution to seeke the vnion of his royall house and to put in practise the act to distribute rewards and punishments in equall proportion according to euery mans merits but hee did aduertise him as a faithfull vassall that to do it without errour and misprison hee must take the course of Iustice and examine euery mans actions and iudge with good aduice the parties being duly called and heard both present and absent The King tooke great delight in Diego's speech and much more in a letter which hee writ vnto him afterwards vppon this subiect full of good and holesome councell and aduertisements whereof there were infinite copies taken by the Noblemen in Court who dispersed them ouer all Spayne but this wisedome was offensiue to the Constable and his faction wherefore Diego de Valerras his recompence was that the King took from him a pension which he before had giuen him and moreouer hee was disappointed of his entertaynment for the voyage hee had made to the Estates at Vailledolit with Gomez Carillo of Albornoz as Deputie of the Diocesse of Cuenca to teach him to bee a Courtier and not so zealous of the good of his Prince and country This good Knight was receiued into house by Don Pedro of Estuniga Earle of Flaisance who made him Gouernour of his Nephew Don Pedro supplying with his owne the Kings ingratitude who hauing seene the Prince and somewhat reconciled their dis-ioynted affaires past to Ocagne in the Realme of Toledo where hee was aduertised that the Earle of Benauent had escaped out of prison from Portillo and retired into his countrey where hee had put a garrison armes and victuals into his Castle of Benauent and other places Wherefore seeing himselfe engaged in a new warre hee came discontented to Areualo and sent for his souldiers and vassalles to come thither meaning to go against the Earle who stayed not in Castile but retired to Morgadojo a fort of Portugall Ciuil warres corrupt the best men where hee was well entertayned by the commandement of King Don Alphonso who did not greatly like the gouernement of Castile Ciuill dissentions make many attempt things against reason and oftentimes such as are in shew honorable and of good conuersation who otherwise would not vndertake any thing that were dishonest Ciuill warres corrupt the best men the which appeared at this time in Don Bertrand of Gueuara Lord of Ognate a Knight of great authority in Spain towards the North seas who desirous to seize vppon the towne of Mondragon in the Prouince of Guipuscoa by reason of the seditions of Castile he vsed such practises and meanes as hee thought would serue him wherein he found the inhabitants contrarie to his will incensed and supported by Gomes Gonçales of Butron a Knight of great allyance and power in Biscay of the Ognazin faction Ognazins and Gamboyus factions in Guipuscoa and Biscay contrarie to Don Bertrand who held the partie of
the excesse thereof which men call ambition is alwaies accompanied with the greatest vices They were also maintainers of iustice in Spaine the which they executed in such sort as their seuerity did not depriue them of the praise which they deserued by their mildnesse and elemency The plaies and pastimes which King Fernand vsed in his youth were Cardes and Chesse but afterward he became inclined to hunting and hawking to the exercize of armes and he did prooue excellent in all kindes of horsemanship he loued learned men but his euil hap was not to be instructed therein in his youth which was thorough his fathers negligence who was also himself in a maner wholy vnlearned King Fernand did greatly delight to heare learned men talke and to vnderstand of the laudable actions of great men but especially of his ancestors Queene Isabella for her part tooke great pleasure in learning the Latin tongue and proffiâ—ed so well therein as in lesse then a yeere she was able to vnderstand what her selfe did reade or what was spoken vnto her in the same language her continency and chastity was rare and it did appeere in all her actions speeches attire and countenance Shee kept ordinarily in her house young men and women of noble parentage whom shee brought vp and also Ladies of great place who were honoured for their vertue and honesty She would willingly haue had the King her husband like her selfe of whom she was extreamely iealous and if at any time shee perceiued him familliar with any of her Ladies or Gentlewomen she presenty sought meanes to quench those vnlawfull fires yet without scandall either by marrying them sending them away or admonishing them or by some other honest and discreet meanes desyring that the Ladies of her traine should be rather vertuous then faire It is noted of her that in her trauaile of child what paine soeuer she indured shee did neuer fetch one sigh or groane and at that time she would cause her face to be couered Charmes and inchantements she abhorred as became a Christian she did greatly loue learned men who were of good conuersation especially prelats of an holy and religious life doing more good vnto such and sooner preferring them to liuings and dignities then others of greater houses who made more shew of the fame and glory of their ancestors then of their owne vertues These Princes being thus qualified obtained the crowne of Castile and afterwards that of Arragon not without paine trauaile and great oppositions as hereafter shall appeare which being by them surmounted and passed ouer they established iustice gaue peace to the Spaniards quenching all forepassed ciuill warres and did zealously labour about the ordering of religion wherein they wanted good-helpe this at the leastwise redounded to their honour that they did roote the Moores out of Spaine and made conquests in Affrica they did quicken vp the Spaniards spirits and incited them to al excellent artes and sciences ordayning great stipends to learned men namely benefices and Ecclesiasticall reuenewes they made diuerse good and profitable lawes and by their authoritie and meanes the inhabitants of a new world came to the knowledge of those Regions the which hath for all that in diuerse sorts redounded to the hurt of man-kinde not by these Princes occasion but by the couetousnesse and cruelty of those which came after them The Princesse Isabell as hath beene already said was at Segobia at the time hir brother King Henry died whither the Princes and Lords which tooke his part did come after the Kings obsequies were finished which lasted nine dayes and there they saluted her as Queene of Castile and Leon taking the oath of fealty and dooing her homage after the accustomed manner There were present when this was done Don Alphonso Cariâ—â—o d' Acugna Archbishop of Toledo Lords holding the party of the Princes Ferdinand Isabel. D. Pero Gonçall of Mendoça Archbishop of Siuill called Cardinall of Spaine and the Bishop of Siguença Don Pedro de Velasco Constable of Castile Don Alphonso Henriques Admirall of Castile by the death of his father Don Frederick newly deceased and Vnckle by the mothers side to the new King Don Garcy Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alua Don Bertrand de la Cueua Duke of Albuquerque Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoçca Marquis of Santillana Don Roderigo Alphonso Pimentel Earle of Benauent Don Pedro Manrique Earle of Treuigno and others some of whom were already with the Princesse before the Kings death Prince Ferdinand was at the same time in Cattalonia with his father King Iohn who beeing aduertised of that which hapned came speedily to Segobia where hee in like manner was receiued and acknowledged as King to the great ioy and contentment not onely of the Citty but of the whole kingdome who sent their Deputies vnto him to doe him homage and seruice as to their lawfull Lord and King in the right of his wife it beeing a matter out of all question that Donna Ioane was a bastard borne in adultery and not capable of any right to the Crowne Other Lords which were absent did in like manner send their deputies to make their submissions and to take the oathes due to the new King But the Marquis of Villena who had Donna Ioane in keeping Lords contrary to the Princes taking Donna Ioanes part and Don Aluaro d' Estuniga Duke of Areualo Don Roderigo Tellas Gyron Maister of Calatraua and Don Iohn Gyron Earle of Vregna cousins to the Marquis of Villenâ— with others their confederates and adherents were of another opinion and did not onely fauour Donna Ioane who called her selfe Queene of Castile but craued many things for their owne particular profit The Marquis would haue the Maistership of Saint Iames and the places belonging therevnto which Don Iohn de Pacheco his father had enioyed The Duke of Areualo would haue his Dutchy confirmed to him and the Maistership of Alcantara for Don Iohn d' Estuniga his sonne other men demanded other matters Now the first thing that was thought vpon by the King and Queenes Councell Iustice and treasures the principall members of a state was about the ordering of their treasures and administration of iustice the managing and execution whereof was to be committed to fit persons and capable of such affaires wherefore Don Guttiere de Cardegna the Queenes Chamberlaine and Gonçalo Chacon were created chiefe Treasurers and with them Roderigo de Vllao was ioyned then they sent Ambassadors to Lewis the eleuenth the French King to aduertise him of King Henries death of their promotion and to request him to continue and confirme the ancient alliance with the house of Spaine The Ambassadors had likewise commission and instructions for the restitution of the Earldome of Rossillon to the King of Arragon King Lewis made a shew of sorrow for King Henries death and seemed to reioyce that they had succeeded him but touching the restoring of the County of Rossillon hee would by no meanes hearken therevnto
drawing all the Potentates of Italy to their Factions VVars of Italy appeased who by the diligence and good meanes of Don Iohn Bishoppe of Girone chiefe of that Ambassage and by the fauour and authoritie of the Kings of Castile were reconciled albeit the Venetians did alwaies nourish a secret hatred and contempt of King Fernand and Queene Izabella and did not greatly care to obserue the peace In this meane space the Captaines which lay vppon the frontiers of Granado made inroades and incredible spoyles vppon the Moores especially those of the Garrison of Alhama from whence a craftie and cunning Squire whose name was Iohn de Corrall of Diego Lopes d'Aâ—ala his companie came foorth by meanes of a safe-conduct to conferre with the King of Granado giuing him to vnderstand how that hee of himselfe could vse meanes to cause Alhama to bee restored vnto him wherewith the Moore king was so pleased as he offered readily on his part to yeeld vp Zahara and to set all the Christian prisoners at libertie giuing a great quantitie of gold and besides that to pay tribute and for euer to become vassall to the kings of Castile Iohn de Corrall with these promises came to the Kings and declared to them in part what he had treated with the King of Granado his chiefe drift beeing onely to get gifâ—s and rewards whereuppon the Kings giuing credite vnto him gaue him limited authoritie to contract with the Moore Beeing returned to Granado the Moore King who thought that the principall Article of his Commission was for the restitution of Alhama had not the patience to consider and looke vppon Iohn de Corral his authoritie but beganne readily on his part to performe what hee had promised causing diuers Christian prisoners to be set at liberty Then Iohn de Corall contenting himselfe with that which was done came to Iaen and told the Duke of Nagera how he had deceiued the king of Granado who presently sent to the Duke to complaine of this deceipt The Duke sent Iohn de Corrall to the Court aduertising the Kings what he had done whereat they were highly discontented and they did commaund that the prisoners ransomes should bee payed Integrity of â— Fernand and Q. Izabel and that Iohn de Corrall should pay backe the money iewels and other presents that hee had receiued of the King of Granado and that hee should bee kept prisoner in Antequera vntill hee had made full restitution and that the warre should stand vppon the selfe-same tearmes as before Notwithstanding that the Kings had begunne the warre of Granado and did greatly suspect the French on the side of Nauarre yet for that they did not giue ouer to vndertake matters of great importance either of them beeing of an haughtie and magnanimous courage Of the seauen Ilands called the Canaries which are girdled with the Atlantick Ocean foure of them were alreadie conquered by the valor and industrie of certaine inhabitants of Seuill Canaries made subiects to the Kings of Castil euer since the raigne of King Iohn the second and there remayned yet the great Canarie Thenerif and the I le of Palmes to be brought vnder the subiection of the kings of Castile therefore this yeare 1483. they sent thither Alphonso of Muxica and Pedro de Vera valiant Captaines and no lesse skilfull in sea-fights than at land who landed in the great Canaries where they found two kings striuing for the principalitie thereof they fauoured one of them and dealt in such sort as hauing rooted out the other they obtained the gouernement of the Island the Cittie was erected into a Bishops Sea and translated from the Isle of Lançarot In Andalusia the Master of Saint Iames the Marquis of Cales the Earle of Cifuentes Gouernour of Siuill Don Alphonso d'Aguilar Don Pedro Henriques Captaine of the frontiers and others came to Antequera with an intent to spoile the countrey of las Lomas de Malaga The Christians defeated called Axarquia a territorie abounding in cattell of the which enterprise the Moores had notice who made themselues readie to charge them on the sudden when they should least looke for it hauing driuen their cattell into streights and strong places The Christians beeing entred into the countrey beganne to spoyle and they soone found sharpe resistance wherefore in regard of the streightnesse of the countrey and because they found not such booties as they expected they thought to turne backe but beeing ignorant of the wayes and ouertaken by the night they fell into streight and narrow places betwixt certaine hilles which were filled with enemies at the last they came into a valley where with great labour and disaduantage they were enforced to fight all that night with the Moores the which did greatly amaze the whole army The Master of Saint Iames beeing valiant and couragious in striuing to ascend an hill lost his Ensigne-bearer and a kinsman of his owne called Iohn d'Osorno Iohn Baçan and other Commaunders who sold their liues at a deare rate the Marquis of Cales did in like manner follow the Master of Saint Iames but the victorious Moores ouerthrew his troupes likewise and slue Don Diego Don Lope and Don Bertrand his brethren and Don Lorenzo and Don Manuel his nephewes euen in his sight yet notwithstanding himselfe the Master of Saint Iames and Don Pedro Henriques did escape with great danger The Earle of Cifuentes making meanes to escape among the rest was taken prisoner with Don Bernardin Manrique the Captaines of Antequera and Moron and diuers others great was the slaughter of the souldiers at this defeate the which was notable and of great consequence The Moores carried away the Earle and the rest of the prisoners to Granado but they did not long reioyce in the good hap of their victorie for the Christians soone after tooke a sharpe vengâ—ance on them for King Mahomet Boabdellin surnamed the Little hauing with great troupes of horse and foote ouer-runne and spoyled the territorie of Lucena and Aguilar at his returne backe beeing pestred with great heards of cattaile and other booties Don Diego of Cordoua Earle of Cabra who lay in garrison at Beana to resist such enterprises and Don Diego Fernandes of Cordoua on the one side did pursue him to cause him to leaue his bootie behind him and Don Alphonso of Aguilar on the other side with his troupes placed themselues in ambush in a narrow streight thorough which they were to passe at their returne with intent to charge them on a sudden Now the King who had tenne Moores for one Christian of the Earle of Cabra's band which followed him made no difficultie to stay for them yet they charged one another with great furie The Moores defeated and their King taken prisoner where the Moores notwithstanding their multitudes prooued the weaker and thinking to make a safe retreate they fell into Don Alphonso d'Aguilars ambush who slue a thousand of them vpon the same place the rest leauing their prey behind
contradiction was chosen King of Granado both against the father and the sonne who were driuen away in the yeere 1485. and the 868. yeere of the reigne of the Arabians there Muley Albohacen hauing reigned nineteene yeeres Now these two Princes of one name did make such cruell warre vpon each other for the crowne of Granado as is not almost to bee beleeued Boabdellin is a corrupted word those which speake it better call both of them Aben Abdileha but the truest is Aben Abdella The Moores to make a difference betwixt them by some surname called King Albohacens brother Zagall which signifieth valorous and Mahumet the little his Nephew Zagois that is to say the vnhappy Muley Boabdelin 21. King of Granado IN the beginning of the reigne of Muley Boabdelin el Zagal hee had to doe with the Earle of Cabra with Martin Alphonso de Corduba Lord of Montemajor Diego del Castillo great Commander of Calatraua Pedro Ruis d'Alarcon Diego Lopes d'Ayala Francisco de Bouadilla and other braue captaines and Knights who ouer-ranne the country neere to Nixar and Guejar beyond the City of Granado neere to the hilles called Sierra Neuada where they tooke great booties and made their retreate by meanes of the good guarde which they had left at the difficult passages by the aduise of Pedro Ruis d'Alarcon albeit the new King had drawne great numbers of Moores out of the city of Granado and else-where to enclose and defeat them King Fernand and Queene Isabella did then lie at Siuill where Don Inigo Manriques the Archbishop being dead Castile the Pope by his full power and authority gaue that Archbishoprike to the Cardinall Don Roderigo Borgia Popes cannot keepe themselues from breaking the concordats which restrain their power who was afterward Pope Alexander the sixth these holy fathers being not able to abstaine from breaking the concordats which did in some sort restraine their power the which they pretend to bee absolute but these couragious Kings brideled them at this time likewise and delt in such sort as the Cardinall hauing resigned that Archbishoprike and put it into the Popes hands it was giuen at the Kings entreaty to Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoça Bishop of Palence and his Bishoprike of Palence resigned to Don Alphonso de Burgos Bishop of Cuenca that of Cuenca to Don Alphonso de Fonseca Bishop of Auyla and that of Auyla to Frier Hernando of Talauera and Oropesa Prior of the Monastery of Pré of Valiodolit and the Queenes Confessor In this sort did euery one affect good Bishoprikes in recompence of their seruices I call them good in respect of their reuenues Whilest the Kings remained this yeere at Siuill they made diuers good Edicts and Ordonances for Iudges and for the administration of Iustice as also for the mannaging of the future warre and the time drawing neere when as armies vse to march into the field and diuerse companies of horse and foote being already arriued from all parts of Spaine vpon the frontiers of Andaluzia they left Siuill and came to Cordoua diuerse great Lords Knights and people of all sorts did come thither who suted themselues the best they could which made a gallant shew wherein great cost and superfluity was vsed as likewise in feasts games and other military sports in regard whereof the Kings thought to redresse those matters by two courses both profitable and milde Proffitable waies for to redresse 〈◊〉 expences namely by admonishments which they themselues made to the noblest and to others by religious persons of credit and afterwards by their owne example shewing in their apparrell traine and manner of life great modesty wherein neuerthelesse some Maiesty did appeare as was fitting for their degree As concerning the warre the opinion was that Malaga should be beseeged and by the way they laboured but in vaine to take the castle of Montefrio Passing forward they did ouer-runne spoile and destroy the country neere to Carthama where the common opinion was to seeke to take Carthama and Coin before they did attempt any thing against Malaga to the end to haue the country more at their commandement the which was not the worst counsell and because the army was great part thereof was sent to beseege Carthama vnder the conduct of the Maister of Saint Iames the Constable and D. Alphonso D'Aguilar and the other part to Coyne which was commanded by the Marquis of Cales the Earle of Crugna and D. Hurtado de Mendoza with the Cardinalls people The King with some part of his forces was lodged betwixt both these seeges to succor either of them as need should require In the mean time the towne of Benamexi yeelded as it had done in time before but it did reuolt when the Earle of Benalcaçar was slaine into the which fault it fell againe after it had yeelded and was now taken by assault the Inhabitants were taken or slaine and the place razed to the ground 〈…〉 the King did choose out one hundred of the principall prisoners and caused them to be hanged for a terror to the rest chiefly for an example to them of Carthama Coin and Ronde yet notwithstanding they were not negligent in their owne defence Certaine Affrican Moores of Velez de la Gomera being mooued with zeale to their religion came ouer into Spaine and espied a fit occasion whereby to enter into Coin which they did at such time as a great and large breach was made which the Christians did assaile who by this new aide were rudely repulsed with great slaughter there were slaine Pero Ruis Alarcon a most wise and valiant captaine and Tello d' Aguilar likewise whose death did greatly greeue King Fernand wherevpon hee caused the 〈◊〉 to bee redoubled and did so presse the beseeged as they beganne to talke of composition The King being highly displeased for his losse receiued at that assault would not receiue them at the first vpon any condition but at the last he graunted them their liues and goods and so the towne was yeelded vp Coin was a great towne and very hard to bee kept wherefore it was razed Those of Carthama hauing notice that Coin was yeelded Coin Carthama and other places taken by composition from the Moores did compound in like manner whose example was followed by 〈…〉 and others The garde and defence of Carthama was committed to the Maister of Saint Iames vpon his entreaty who left there for Lieutenant vnder him a Gentleman of his owne named Iohn de Cespedes About the same time Don Alphonso Henriques high Admirall of Castile died at Valiodolit in whose place and dignity Don Frederike Henriques his sonne succeeded The Queene beeing at Cordoua tooke care to prouide the army of money and victualls D. Frederike Henriques Admirall of Castill wherein she vsed incredible dilligence and dexterity After the taking of the places aboue mentioned the King passed on with a great number of men at armes and came within sight of Malaga a strong
of the Pereira◠an other daughter named also D. Maria of Arragon who was in like manner a nunne in Madrigal with her sister this was the posteritie of king Ferdinand 16 That yeare Alphonso of Hojeda or Fogeda Fort built by the Spaniards in the firme land of the Indies running ouer the countrey of Vraba tooke in the strong Iland two men and seuen women and got about two hundred ounces of gold and hauing landed in Caribana hee beganne a fort and towne which was the first the Spaniards made in the firme land of the Indies The Spaniards being entred foure leagues into the countrey they affailed a little towne called Taripi whereas the Indians made great resistance Policie of the Indians and they had this policie to draw their enemies on with gold whereof they knew them to be very couetous casting it in certaine places that comming to gather it vp they might pierce them more easily with their poysoned arrowes whereof they died like mad men Hoieda prest with these difficulties and with hunger raised his siege and went to another Borough where he found some small store of victualls and tooke some prisoners and among others a woman whose husband came before Hoieda and promised by a certaine day to bring her ransome at which prefixed time hee came being accompanied with eight archers who began to shoot many poysoned arrowes among the Spaniards wherewith Hoieda himselfe was hurt and others died wherefore the Spaniards slue them all nine Hereupon Bernardin of Talauera arriued with a ship laden with victualles and three score and tenne Spaniards to succour Hoieda but this did not much comfort the Spaniards wherefore Hoieda fearing that they would mutine hee resolued to returne himselfe to Saint Domingo to make sufficient prouision of victualles and other things necessarie leauing for lieutenant in his place Francis Picarro who was afterwards marquesse of Atabillos with an expresse charge that if within fiftie dayes they had no newes of him they should make the best shift they could So Hoieda parting from Caribana hee arriued in the Iland of Hispaniola a citie of Saint Domingo where being tired with the toyle hee had endured and with the bad successe of his voyage desperate wounded and sicke of his person he became a Franciscan Frier the remaynder of his life Diego of Nicuesa who had taken the rout of Beragua aduaunced with a carauell and two brigantines and past the land without discouerie but one of his brigantines commaunded by Lope of Olano turned backe to consider of that coast then returning to the other brigantine they went together to enter in at the mouth of the riuer of Charge which they called Lagartos where they found the rest of the army except Nicuesa who was strayed with his carauel Being come to the riuer of Beragua thinking to finde their captayne Nicuesa there but hearing not any newes of him they were out of hope euer to returne vnto their houses breaking their vesselles in peeces which were halfe rotten they chose Lope of Olano for their captayne who beganne to make a fort there and to till the ground meaning to make his abode there In the meane time Nicuesa who had lost his carauell was come to Sorobaro in great want of victualls so as hee and his companie liued some daies with wild fruits the which was reported to Lope of Olano by those men who had stolne away his carauells cocke-boat wherefore hee presently sent a brigantine vnto him laden with victualls in the which he came to Beragua but there enuying the good successe of Olano he began to charge him that he had incroched vpon his authoritie intreating him ingratefully whereat the whole company was much discontented after which he caused them to dislodge and to leaue that country where they had sowen much Mays leading them to Porto Bello where hee left halfe his men and led the rest to a place called Marmoll or marbre where hee began a fort which since hath beene verie famous Nōbre de Dios which he called Nombre de Dios there Nicuesa and his people were in such extreame necessitie as they were forced to eate their dogges whereof some were sold for fiue and twenty ducats of Castile Extremitie of the Spaniards at the Indies yea they did eate the flesh of an Indian whom they found dead and halfe rotten They which Hoieda had left in Caribana seeing that their captaine returned not at the fiftieth day assigned being opprest with hunger they imbarqued by the aduice of Francis Picarro and hauing lost one brigantine they sayled towards Cochibocoa neere to the which they met with the bacheler Martin Fernandes of Enciso hauing a shippe laden with victualles and men and a brigantine who commaunded them to returne backe with him and hauing landed and watered at Camari they came to Vraba in which gulfe they built a Towne the which they called Guarda The King or Cachique of that countrey called Cemaco being incensed that without his leaue they built vpon his land hauing hidden all the wealth of his towne among the reedes hee drew together fiue hundred Indians and beganne to threaten the Spaniards then was the Bacheler in great distresse and beganne to make vowes and promises That if he got the victorie of those men hee would build a Temple of the Cachiques towne the which he would haue called Our Lady of the Ancient of Darien and that he would send a certayne quantity of gold and siluer to the church of our Lady the Ancient of Seuille whereupon a hundred Spaniards did charge these Indians and defeated them and their towne was taken and spoyled and their hidden treasure found which was not small then they began to build the towne and colonie of the Antique of Darien 17 Whilest that these men guided by aurice by the practise of cruelty thought to amplifie the religion of our Lord Iesus Christ at the west Indies the cardinall D. Francis Ximenes of Cisneros archbishop of Toledo vnder the same pretext but it may be thrust on by some other affection made offer to go in person into Affrike and there to make warre against the Moores animated thereunto besides his owne desire to make that enterprise by the spoyles which some pyrates Moores had lately made vpon the coast of Spaine from whence they had carried away many poore slaues of all ages men and women and that which did more pricke him forward was that D. Diego Fernandes Gouernour of Mersalcabler had beene lately defeated by the Moores of Oran importunately prouoked by him which disgrace hee desired to reuenge vpon that citie These things happened during the kings absence whenas he was at Naples from whence being returned hee was presently sollicited by the Cardinall to vndertake this enterprise of Oran whither hee offered to goe himselfe wherein hee had many oppositions and crosses not so much by the king as by the noblemen of the court who scorned him holding him for a man
the which was faithfully sollicited by Diego Lopes and fauourably grâ—unted by the King so as at the comming of those Letters into Spaine the inhabitants of Vailledolit and others seeing that the Cardinalles councell was allowed by the prince submitted themselues and gaue ouer their factions There were foure sinâ—â—ies of the people appointed at Vailledolit who should assist at the Councell and might oppose against all decrees and resolutions which should bee made to the preiudice of the King or commonweale and if they would proceede then to aduertise the King Rebellions pacified in Castille This was thought verie fit and necessarie by the Vailledolitanes the chiefe whereof were too much obliged to the Admirall and Earle of Benanent Thus ended the rebellion of those townes against the Cardinall who by meanes of these prouisions maintained himselfe in his charge and authoritie These militarie Orders haue been in our time practised by King Philip the second hauing appoynted bands and captaines and graunted immâ—nities to the souldiers throughout all his townes And for that the Cardinall had prouided in vaine for all inconueniences which might happen at land if he should not in like maner assure the realme towards the Sea he added to the old gallies which hee found in Spaine twentie new which were built and rigged at the charge of the people Defeat of Turks at sea by the Spanish gallies dwelling vpon the Sea coast vnder colour to defend them from the incursions and surprizes of the Moores Turkes and pyrates the which prooued honourable for him for soone after that they were readie the Spanish armie tooke six Turkish gallies with the slaughter of aboue six hundred Turks and brought them to Alicant This Cardinall forgetting nothing that might serue for the publique good hee repaired the sorts and publique monuments which went to ruine amongst which was the Aâ—arazane or Arcenal of Seâ—ile His care and diligence extended to the Ilands and West Indies Orders for the Indies where by his pietie and wisedome the Handers beganne to â—â—iste some libertie At that time there was resident in Madrid D. Diego Coloâ—â—â—lim Admirall of the Indies who had beene called home into Spaine by the deceased King D. Ferdinand by reason of some quarrelles betwixt him and some that had charge at the Indies and for many complaints and accusaations framed against him by his enemies After the kings decease hee did sollicite Cardinall Ximenes the Regent to take knowledge of his affaires and to suffer him to execute his charge whereâ—â—â— hee thought it fitte to send some good and learned men to be informed of these quarâ—ells at the Indies and to that end hee made choise of 〈…〉 of the Order of Saint Ierosme the one was Lewis of Figuer prior of the monasterie of Mejorada of Olmedo and the other Alphonso of Saint Iohn prior of Ortega of Burgos Cardinal Ximens causeâ—â— information to be taken at the Indies of the Spaniards to whom hee ioyned Bernardin Mâ—rzâ—ndo and gaue them charge to passe into the Iland of Saint Dominicke or Hisâ—aniola and there to take an exact information of the insolencies and abuses of euerie man and especially of the quarrells betwixt the Admirall and the Spaniards and to inquite of all things that were profitable or necessary for the publique gouernment and especially for the quiet and good vsage of the naturall Indians who at 〈◊〉 time were oppressed with cruell serâ—tude recommending especially vnto them the instruction of those people in religion Afterwards hee appoynted that Alphonso Suâ—ses should follow them for President of the Iustice a man learned in the Lawes and verubuâ— The friers being come into the Iland beganne to execute their charge very diligently and with discretion and did order many things whereof this is memorable King Ferdinand deceased had distributed the Ilanders and Indians to certaine captaines and other Spaniards who had employed themselues in these discoueries and conquests to haue the care and defence of them as Lordes of their vassalls and subiects and for this reason were called Commandataires for that these poore Indians we recommended vnto them many of these hauing left the Indies were returned into Spaine and there remayned from whome the Fathers disannulling â—he king D. 〈…〉 tooke their vassalles and subiects saying that it was not reasonable the absent liuing in idlenesse and delights should enioy the fruites due to their vertue who sayling ouer the spacious Ocean with so great daunger did sweate continually vnder their armes to extend the Empire of the Crowne of Spaine and religion wherefore the Ilanders were diuided by them to the olde inhabitants residing at the Indies according to euerie mans merite and dignitie Then they thought that these miserable Indians were slaues by the Lawes of armes by reason whereof their masters did intreate them cruelly causing them to draw and to carrie burthens like horses or asses the which seemed verie inhumane to these fathers and strange from all Christian pietie wherefore somewhat to moderate that which they could not altogether helpe they ordayned that this people liuing then in the fieldes and desart places of whom they made no more accompt then of beasts should bee drawne into townes and villages and liue vnder some forme of policie and municipall Lawe taking from their masters this great authoritie and power which they pretended of life and death letting them know that they should vse them as vssalls and not abuse them as slaues Thus the Fathers thought to prouide for the libertie of this people against the tyrannie of the souldiers where they found great difficulties and debates the which is vsually seene when they seeke to abolish any peruerse custome so as their holy diligence did afterwards cause a very bad effect through the wickednesse of the Spaniards who seeing the same order obserued by the fathers in other Ilands and places of those regigions whereas the like diuisions and distributions had beene assigned as well by the Admirall Colombus and others thinking that hereafter there would come others so as in the end the Indians should be set at full libertie Cruelty of the Spaniards 〈◊〉 the Indians whereat the Spaniards were so mad as surcharging their subiects and vassalls with insupportable trauel they made them shrinke vnder their burthens and die They saie that by the industrie of these friers the art of drawing and refining of sugar was much bettered and augmented and therefore they were much honoured in Spaine as the authors and inuentors of many profitable things It happened at that time that some without the priuitie of Cardinall Ximenes had gotten leaue of King Charles in Flaunders to carrie foure hundred Ethiopian Moores to the Ilands Moores strong and fit for the warre such as the Portugalles were accustomed to bring into Spaine vnder colour that the art of drawing and trimming their sugars required great and strong labour which the weake bodied Indians could not vndergoe which the Cardinall vnderstanding hee presently
then to his sonne after his death but the Cardinal had newly by the aduice of king Charles giuen that place with Olmedo Madrigal and Sancta Maria de Nieua with their reuenues vnto queen Germaine widow to king Ferdinand in exchange of 30000 ducats of rent which the king her husband had left her by his wil to be taken out of the reuenues of Naples wherupon Velasques seeing himself put from the possession of the Castle of Areualo which he did think should haue bin perpetual he durst presume to hold it by force being prest therunto by D. Maria of Velasco his wife who was at that times as much hated of Q. Germaine as shee had beene formerly beloued and fauoured by her besides that many noblemen desiring to see Velasques aduanced either for loue or for aliance that was betwixt them not greatly affecting queen Germaine they incouraged him to commit this insolency promising him aide at all euents but such promises are most commonly vaine defectiue when as the soueraigne magistrate pursues his right euery man fearing when it comes to a matter of fact to incur the punishment of a rebell Against this purpose of Velasques the Cardinal after his accustomed maner vsed al mild courses causing the king to write kind letters vnto him and this preuailing little he afterwards added threats but he gaue more credit to his wife to the persuasions of the admirall the constable the earle of Benauent the duke of the Infantazgo others who enuied the cardinal of which the admirall shewed letters signed by them al promising that if the Cardinall attempted any thing against the town of Areualo they would send him succours therfore the Inhabitants should take courage to maintein themselues vnder the jurisdiction of the crown rather than to receiue a woman for their lady mistresse being assured that k. Charles being in the countrey he would like of their constancy and dispose otherwise of their affaires The inhabitants of Areualo being animated heereby they reiected all good Councell wherfore the Cardinal sent an Alcaide of the court thither with some souldiers to reduce them to their duties who summoned them by a trompet to obey the kings commandement else he would proceed against them with al rigour as rebels would make Velascos processe condemning him as a traitor which note shold passe to all his posterity would confiscate his goods These sommations being reiterated according to the forme of Iustice with solemnities and ceremonies Velasco seeing that neither the admirall nor the other noblemen which had promised him so much assistance did not make any offer to defend him he thought it better for him to yeeld vnto the Alcaide thē to attend the rigor of armes or the proceeding of justice wherfore hee dismist the souldiers which were in garrison in the Castle the which with the towne were deliuered vp vnto Alcaide Some daies after Velasques went to court submitted himselfe his affaires to the Cardinals pleasure who receiued him courteously promising him al assistance fauor to the king did comfort him for the great afflictions which he had suffered especially for the late death of his eldest son which grief did soon bring him to his end at Madrid although some did say that he was poisoned These things done in fauour of the royall authority by Cardinall Ximenes he found meanes to maintaine them of Areualo Olmedo in their priuiledges and liberties to keep them from comming into the power of Q. Germaine whom he did not loue for that he saw himself contemned by her that she did incline to the party of the Infant D. Ferdinand of his gouernors who were opposite vnto him wherupon he did write vnto king Charles in Flanders shewing him by old new examples how much it did import for the safety of Castille that Areualo Olmedo places of strength and fit to trouble the realm should remain vnited to the crown not be in the possession of any priuat lord obiecting that which D. Iohn king of Nauarre Arragō had attempted by the opportunity of those two places against D. Iohn 2 king of Castille saying moreouer that Q. Germain had cause content her self with the large reuenues of Madrigal alone wherwith she had bin satisfied before the troubles of Areualo That if he had supprest the inhabitants Velasques it was more to teach them to obey the kings commandement than for that he thought it expedient that place should bee giuen to the queene to whom he had granted it before hee was truely aduertised of the estate of her affaires adding to his letters a copy of the priuiledges granted by auncient kings to the townes of Areualo and Olmedo wherfore hee did easily obtaine from the kings that which hee pretended at the least hee kept these townes in their liberty and caused the matter to be deferred vntill his comming 23 The pitiful estate of D. Ioane queen of Castille Estate of queen Ioan of Castille mother to king Charles did much trouble the Cardinall Ximenes being afflicted with a miserable infirmity for this princesse was possest with a cruell melācholike humor so as she led a most lamentable life in the castle of Tordesillas wheras k. Ferdinand her father had lodged her a pleasant commodious place Lewis Ferrier of Valencia had charge of her being also captain of the castle of Tordesillas but he was vnfit for such a busines for whether by his slownes growing by reason of his age or throgh ignorance he could neuer get her to lodge in any pleasant and well ayred chamber of the castle but would alwaies lurke in darke and obscure places neere the ground fit to entertain and augment her malancholike humor she did abhorre soft and delicate beds and would lie vpon the ground and if she did lay herselfe vpon a board couered with a Carpet it was by great importunity it was not possible to make her weare a furred gowne in winter Ambition raigning in Queene Ioane nor any thing that was rich She was often three daies together without eating neither could the prayers nor persuasions of her Seruants preuaile any thing with her she often complained that she was kept like a prisoner and that they with-held her from the gouernment of affaires like a priuat person The Cardinall was much grieued for these things somewhat to remedie it holding for certaine that the negligence of Lewis Ferrier did feed the malice of her infirmity hee dismist him by reason of his great age putting in his place Ferdinand Duca called Strate of Talauera a man of a Noble family wise and well aduised who carried himselfe so discreetly in his charge as in a short time hee did moderate this violent humour in the Queene and got her to bee content to haue her chamber made cleane and many earthen dishes wherein they did commonly serue her to bee carried away for shee had an humor to make them
If there were euer barbarism like vnto this since the foundatioÌ„ of the world was laid they may iudge which be meÌ„ hauing retained some light of reason may conclude pertinently that there is not any thing among human actioÌ„s in this miserable age that is more repugnaÌ„t to the law of god more absurd in nature more preiudicial to good gouernmeÌ„t more in conteÌ„pt of kings magistrats to conclude more offensiue before God man than these modern duels Not that we should allow or giue place to the ancient maner of coÌ„bats wheras there is a king or some other soueraign power who ought not to graÌ„t nor suffer them according to the rules of justice wel administred without the authoritie of which soueraigne power it is not lawful for any whatsoeuer to draw his sword according to the laws of Christendome Being most certain that combats in the best form that they were euer practised if it be not against an enemy that prouokes in opeÌ„ war are the inuentions of cruel barbarous nations which are ignorant of piety justice and gouernment Returning to our Historie wee find this yere 1522 Iames of Aillon earle of Lude gouernor of Fontarraby being so long disquieted by the enemy wanting things necessary for the defence of a town of war which attended a fiege hourly he aduertised the French king his master of his estate intreating him to releeue him to send another gouernor the which the king performed aswel as he could for he was otherwise busied the war being hot both in Italy Picardy betwixt him the emperor The marshall of Chastillon was sent thither who dying at Dax his charge was giueÌ„ to the marshal Chaâ—anes who victualled Fontarrabie in view of the enemy changed the garrison drawing forth the earle of Lude Frauget gouernour of Fontaâ—rabie and making captain Frauget gouernor in his place who had alwaies had the reputation of a good soldier but he lost it in this charge They of Fontarrabie hauing a little before made a sally vpoÌ„ the enemy which lay at Yrun it had succeeded ill in the which they had lost the signior of Chanfarron many good soldiers and after the comming of captain Frauget they made many skirmishes most of them preiudiciall to the French In the yere 1523 1523 the marshall D. Pedro of Nauarre a prisoner in the fort of Symanca died Death 〈…〉 whose death was diuersly published it is most certain that it was violently by the sword the Spaniards impute the fault to himself saying that being too much affected to K. Henry of Albret his naturall Prince seeing himself so long detained in prison for that he would not swear to another he fel into such despaire as hee slue himselfe hee left one son of the same name who did then serue the FreÌ„ch k. in FoÌ„tarrabie At Rome Pope Adrian also dyed the 20 month of his raigne in whose place Iulio de Medicis was chosen was named Clement 7. Emperors 〈◊〉 into Pampelâ—â—â— The same yere the emperor entred into Pampelone where prouiding for the defence of his couÌ„trie of Guipuscoa he sent the constable D. Inigo FernaÌ„des of Velasco with the prince of Orang who led an army of about 24000 meÌ„ by the pace of Beoyuia into Bearn camped before Saluateria the which yeelded where staying they made shew that they would conquer the country of Bearn or attempt Bayone and so they held the minds of men in suspeÌ„ce Exploits of the Spanish army in Bearn The lord of Lautrec gouernor of Guienne gaue good order both for Bayone Fontarrabie being doubtful what designe the enemy had who hauing remained 4 daies at Saluaterra returned into Guipuscoa hauing done nothing memorable in that voyage but taken the Castle of Vidaxone belonging to the lord of Gramont a great part of this army died of cold and want in this voyage 21 In the beginning of the yere 1524 1524 the emperour leauing Nauarre Siege laid by the Spaniards to Fontarrabie retyred to Victoria where he resolued of the siege of Fontarrabie which was begun in the beginning of February the Constable of Castille being generall of the army assisted by the prince of Orange and many other noblemen and knights of name among which was William of Roccandolphe Colonel of 3000 Germans the batterie was planted towards Miranda against the queens bastion it was furious continuall yet they gaue not any assault for the Spaniards desired to take it by famin without the losse of their men Fontarrabie yeelded to the emperour the place was reasonably wel furnished to endure a long siege yet captain Frauget yeelded it vpon composition to depart with their armes baggage saued their colours flying as the Spaniards had done Punishment of Captaine Frauget for the yeelding of Fontarrabie Frauget excused himselfe vpon the intelligences which D. Pedro of Nauarre had with the enemies notwithstanding he was degraded of his nobilitie vpon a scaffold in the citie of Lion D. Pedro of Nauarre was sonne to the Marshall D. Pedro who died a prisoner in the Castle of Symanca and was nephew to the Constable of Castille by whome being solicited he went to emperors seruice The place was found well furnished of all things whereunto hauing added other prouisions the gard and defence thereof was giuen to Sancho Martines de Leyua brother to Anthony de Lyna who was then reputed a wise and discreet Captaine in the warres of Italie Besides the gouernment of that towne Sancho Martines was corrector of the Prouince of Guipuscoa the which hath not hapned to any one to haue had the charge of warre and of Iustice. Those which haue gouerned in Fontarrabie successiuely vnto our time after Sancho Martines were D. Sancho de Leyua his son then D. Diego of Caruajal lord of Xodar in our time D. Iohn d' Acugna In Nauarre the king appointed D. Diego of Auellaneda Diego d' Auellaneda viceroy of Nauarre bishop of Tuy to bee Viceroy gouernor reformer of the Iustice. And then the knights of the faction of GramoÌ„â— which had followed the kings of the house of Albret returned into their country to the emperors seruice to whom they did sweare as to their king namely D. Pedro of Nauarre who obtained the dignity of Marshall 1524 which his father had held and the Marquisate of Cortes Gramontoies returne into Nauarre to the emperours seruice Hee was descended from D. Lionell sonne to king Charles the second of that name As for the earle of Saint Stephens when as he came to the emperors seruice he had the title of Marquesse of Falses giuen him and the office of high chamberlaine of Nauarre with other fauors since which time that realme hath beene held by the house of Castille in peace and without troubles 22 On Saint Mathias day Francis the French king taken at Pauia being the 24 day of Februarie
tower had made the way easie for an assault so as the Spaniards Italians and Germanes being put in order one nation after another at their time appointed they presented themselues with ladders to the assault with so great resolution as al the defence of the moors Turkes was in vain so as a great part of them were slaine or wounded fighting neither was the slaughter lesse of them that fled a long the lake or that sought to escape by swimming for they were slain by the shot or thrust through by the Germans pikes if they came neere the shore so as it was reported there died aboue 1500 and not without the losse of some men of worth among the Christians yet Campana writes there were not aboue thirty slaine Goulette being taken it was bruted that they had taken 300 peeces of ordinance Gouletta taken by the emperour all Barberousses fleet which was in the chanel of the lake the number whereof is diuersly reported some write 20 gallies 20 galliots and fiue foysts others seuentie two and some affirme they were 107. Three daies after the taking of this fort Fernād Gonsago came vnto the camp who hauing certain vessels appointed him by the viceroy of Sicile brought many refreshings for the which but especially for his owne valour hee was ioyfully receiued by the emperour and by the whole army Ferdinand Gonzaga comes to Guolette to the emperour There grew now some diuersitie of opinions touching the continuance of the warre some cold flegmatike complections were of opiuion the emperor shold rest satisfied with the taking of Goulette which was held impregnable the which hee should fortifie and furnish with a great garrison and good prouision of victuals to liue and defend it with a designe to returne the next yere to besiege Tunes Alger and the other townes vpon that coast of Afrike Their reasons were grounded vpon the great difficulties which the army did then suffer in their drink wheras the scorching sun did cause great thirst and did force the poore souldiers to drink the pit water which was verie falt which bred many infirmities many died of it wherfore seeing the army much diminished by the former enterprises Councell of the Imperialists to continue the warre of Naples and hearing that the enemy grew daily stronger that he did shortly expect a great number of Arabiās which he had hired they persuaded the emperor that he might with his honor return into Europe prepare as we haue said for the next yere But this was contrarie to the greatnes of Caesars minde who discouered with better reasons the weakenes of his enemy hauing lost Gouletta the little confidence the Turkes had in the Arabians Moors the good disposition of the Christian army especially after so great a victory the which althoug it were diminished in numbers yet it was increased incourage and resolution so as Barberousse should haue means to furnish himself better for the next yere to obtaine greater forces from the Turk to defend his possession in Afrike the cōquest wherof which was not now vneasie hauing found the enemy in a maner vnprouided would afterwards proue vnpossible besides it was not for the dignitie of so great an army honoured with the presence of the Christian Emperour to goe away contented with the taking of a Tower The captaines of greatest resolution and experience were of the same opinion the which was mainteined by Muley Hascen with great reasons who discoursed particularly of the nature of that nation of the designes of Barberousse and of remedies for the thirst persuading them to the enterprise of Tunes and of the easinesse to take it affirming that the enemie would neuer be drawne to a battell neither had he meanes to keepe the citie many daies His reasons were beleeued and although his desire to returne into his realme with the hazard of another made him to be the lesse credited yet the authoritie and will of the emperor who was the authour of this councell did confirme it Barberousse on the other side was wonderfully grieued for the losse of Gouletta so as hee could not forbeare to complaine of Sinan the Iew who might haue escaped flying away with his men from so great a daunger in the which hee had lost many Ianisaries and other good souldiers It is written that Barberousse was once in an humour to haue slain all the Christian slaues that were found there the which for his better securitie being diuers thousands he had already imprisoned in the castle and that Sinan the Iew and others of authority had diuerted him from that wicked and cruell resolution shewing him that so foule and brutish a fact would not onely bee a perpetuall blemish to his name but also bring him into disgrace with Solyman who was a generous Prince and hated all such base and wicked actions as that would be to kil people who being in a strait prison neither had nor could offend him Being then dissuaded from these cruel imaginations which rage greefe for his former losse did suggest he began to prouide for the rest taking councell of such as were about him what was to be done for their common health with this resolution still to keepe himselfe close and to defend the citie and not to come to battell with the enemy hoping that in Autumne they should be forced to leaue that coast it might be their fleet would be beaten disperst with stormes The emperour being not freed from that feare was carefull to haue the ruines of the fort of Goulette repaired whereof he gaue the charge to Andrew Doria with his sea-forces who caused it to hee clensed from the infection of dead bodies which were found there both men and beasts and the breaches to be raised Hee tooke an Inuentorie of all the goods that were in it where were found as we haue said three hundred peeces of ordnance great and small great store of armes of all sorts with an incredible quantitie of victualls powder and all other munition Engines and implements necessarie for the defence of places The emperour seing all things in a readinesse hee commanded euerie souldier shold carrie a bottle full of water taken out of the prouision of the nauie hee marcht that way the twentieth of Iuly Comming within fiue miles of the citie they found certaine welles of fresh water which bred great disorder among the souldiers who were verie greedy to drinke so as the emperour was forced to come thither in person to stay the souldiers greedy rage who desired rather to drink and die presently as many did for that the enemy had poisoned the waters than to suffer a little to preserue themselues at the least to die fighting Hauing past this danger with no smal difficulty they discouered Barberousses armie who was come forth of the citie in shew to giue the emperour battel The number of his army is diuersly set downe Vlloa writes that he had 70000
the next day but somewhat late towards Tremessen lodging two leagues from the citie being continually molested by the Moores with often charging and flying away The king was in Tremessen where hee had leuied what souldiers he could both of horse and foot hauing entertained about 400 Turkes which were in garrison vpon that coast so as the next morning the earle did with great iudgement put his men in battell left that being farre inferiour in nuÌ„ber to the enemy he should be inuironed by so great a multitude disordered being charged in front flanke and rere and therefore he so disposed of his troupes both horse and foot as they might fight and succour one another fortifying his rereward as much as might be for that he vnderstood they had laied an ambush and would charge them behind They had sent the woman and children with their richest mooueables into the mountaines which were neere to preserue them whatsoeuer should happen and the king hauing disposed of his troupes would not be present at the battell but attend the euent in a place of safetie The two armies being ioyned the Spaniards shewed no lesse valour then was needful the enemies foreward being greater then all their army and although the Moores in the beginning shewed great resolutioÌ„ discharged a great volley of shot yet they did it so disorderly and so far of as there was not any one slain and but three lightly hurt the Spaniards giuing them no time to charge again the horse coÌ„ming vpon them with great violence the fight continued about two houres and the General hauing placed some loose shot in the head of the foreward they made a great spoile of the Moores and Turkes so as in the end the enemy was put to rout on that side whilest that they fought with great obstinacy in the rereward Thither the earle sent two companies who charged with such resolution as the Spaniards taking new courage the enemie being amazed hauing seen their companions put to rout the battell was ended hauing continued about three houres the Christians won the victorie but there was no great slaughter of the Moores who desired rather to saue themselues by flight than by fighting obstinatly to giue their enemies any cause to feare a new incounter King of Tâ—emessen defeated by the Spaniards flâ—â—s The king of Tremessen who expected the doubtfull euent of this battel hauing a signe giuen him by smoak that it was lost he prouided for his safety by flight among the rest the earle of Alcadette did win great honor in this battell both for his valor and iudgement being worthily imitated by his three sons D Alfonso D Francisco D. Aluaro the first leading a part of the foreward the secoÌ„d of the rereward D. Alfonso of Villaruolo marshall of the field D. Martin of Cordoua D. Iohn Pacieco with other noblemen of marke were much commended for their prowesse that day This victorie was won the fift of Februarie the victor hauing lost few men and most of them were slaine with crosbows whereof there were not aboue a hundred among the Moores and aboue fiue thousand Harquebuziers The Spaniards desirous to enter the Towne the generall sought to stay them that night fearing the slaughter would be great or there wold be some great disorder committed in the sacke wherfore he lodged the army without the towne among certain Oliue trees giuing good instructions vnto the captains to preuent all dangers which might grow by their too great confidence of the victorie or the disorders which doe accompany spoiling as it hath often fallen out either by the small authority of the generall or by indiscretion on want of militarie discipline About this time the state of Tunes which the emperor had conquered and restored to Muley Hascen fell into great combustions 1545 he hauing only retained Goulette Moores 42. with an homage and small tribute for the kings of Spain Muley Hascen king of Tunes dispossest again as we haue said The occasion was that Muley Hascen being desirous to confer with the emperor had past into Sicile with an intent to come vnto him to Genoa or wheresoeuer he should be at his last passage out of Spaine after which hee came to Naples and meaning to continue his course by sea he was staied there some daies by a tempest during the which D. Pedro de Toledo viceroy of Naples receiued a commandement to will him not to depart from thence vntill hee receiued farther newes from the emperour who was busied with the warres of France and would not haue any thing to diuert him This king as it was reported had a meaning to demand some forces against the Turkes which held Constantine a towne within his realme the which was rich and strong and did much annoy him and for that at the time of his passage into Sicile Barberousse was at Marseille hee feared also that in his returne he would fall vpon him He thought in like maner that in leauing the countrie he should auoid some great accident wherewith the starres did threaten him if hee remained in Afrike at that season this prince being studious of Astrologie Moores curious and superstitious and too credulous of such diuinations During his absence such as loued him not and desired some Innouation in the state bruted it out that the king was dead at Naples after that he had beene baptized and prest his Sonne Amida who had the command of certaine garrisons which were appointed to withstand the inuasions of the Turkes and the thefts of the Alarabes which did adhere vnto them to hasten his comming vnto the Citie Sonne dispossesseth the father and to seaze vpon the Castle and his fathers treasure before that his younger brother called Mahumet who remained in hostage at Goulette should preuent him and make himselfe king with the helpe of Francis de Touar then Gouernour of the fort Amida did easily credit that which it may bee he desired and although in the beginning he found some resistance which was made him by the Manufette of Tunes Amida incestuous who as it is were the kings Lieutenant general in that Countrie yet in the end hee preuailed and slue all his fathers friends seruants yea hee abused his wiues and concubines These newes being broght to Naples Muley Hascen was much troubled making great hast to depart he made great instance to haue some forces the which hee obtained of the viceroy who suffered him to leuie 1800 men such as were banished condemned by justice to whom impunitie was promised if they went to this war they had a gentleman of the countrie appointed for their commander whose name was Baptista Lofredo with which troupe the King did assure himselfe that hee should bee able to surprise his rebellious sonne before hee were setled Being come to Goulette the Gouernour sought to dissuade him from going into the Towne no not to approach too neere before hee vnderstood
was then a prisoner following Pizarro but not in custodie for the which he lost his head being publiquely executed to the great griefe both of Spaniards and Indians who sawe well that this would make the peace more difficult Laurence Aldana being come to Panama and hauing conferred with Hinoiosa and spoken vnto the president he was presently wonne by them he forgat his companions and took an othe to the Emperour persuading the president Guasca to go to field to fight with the rebells if they giue him not a good answer The other deputies comming neere to Panama and aduertised what Aldana had done did the like and ioyned with the president who gaue foure shippes of warre to Aldana with some souldiers commanding him to run vp Southerly and Westward and to trie if he could seaze vpon the port towne of Kings there to make a body of all those that desired to maintain the Emperors maiestie and to giue all hindrances he could to Pizarro he left a good garrison at Panama he paied his souldiers bountifully he made Hinoiosa generall of the imperiall army in field he confirmed all the other captaines in their first places and filled them with hopes and promises to haue better He caused the prouinciall Thomas of Saint Martin a man of great authoritie with the Spaniards to imbarke with Laurence Aldana being fit to fortifie the imperiall party to whom he gaue many blanks signed by the Emperour that he might fill them with letters directed to the captaines that were with Gonsaluo Pizarro He sent D. Iohn de Mendosa into new Spaine to D. Antonio de Mendosa the viceroy to bring him some succors and others were sent by him to the gouernors of Saint Domingo and other prouinces to the same effect Whilest that Pizarro expected newes from Panama and from his deputies they brought Fernand Paâ—â—aguada bound vnto him who as we haue said had bin sent from the president Guasca vnto him with letters from the emperour and had beene staied by him who commanded in the fort of Saint Michael for the rebells Gonsaluo abandoned by his chiefe adhereÌ„ts The Councell was assembled to heare the charge and report of this prisoner but Pizarro supprest the letters Being heard al their opinions were nothing but Rodomonâ—ades rebellions fire and murder and to conclude that they must keep the Emperors army from entring into Peru whereupon they sent for Francis de Carâ—â—â—al who held the second place among the rebells and was then at Plata he came to Pizarro with 150 Spaniards 30 field peeces and about 400000 crownes passing by the towne of Kings they told him that they had discouered foure shippes at sea but they knew not what they were nor whither they went Iames de Mora gouernour of the fort of Truxillo was sent forth to discouer them who found that it was the little fleete of Laurence Aldana with whom hee spake in the port of Malabriga and hearing what had passed at Panama hee staied with him encreasing his armie with his shippe and so they went all to Truxillo from which place Mora was sent towards Caxamalcan a neere Prouince to draw all them together which had a desire to serue the Emperour carrying with him many blankes the which hee filled with good words assurances of pardon and promises to the Captaines of that Countrie all which in a manner did abandon Pizarro who beeing at that time much troubled for the reuolt of Iames de Mora thinking to prouide for the fort of Truxillo hee sent Doctor Garcia de Leon thither but hee reuolted in like manner and added an other shippe with twentie souldiers to Aldanas fleete Gonsaluo Pizarro was then certified to what end Aldana was come into that Sea beeing full of rage that hee had beene thus abandoned Captains of Pizarrâ—s partie hee deuised with himselfe how hee might stay the rest beeing resolute to make warre with all violence Hee went to field with about a thousand Spanish footemen and three hundred horse and a great number of Indians which followed him The Captaines of whom hee made accompt were Francis of Caruajal his lieutenant pretending to share the fruites of his victories with him Doctor Caruaial and Doctor Cepeda Iohn Acosta Velez de Gueuara Iohn Torrens and some others of lesse note In his annie the Generalles Standard was with the Emperours armes alone but all other ensignes and cornets had Pizarros blasons and deuises testifying that hee termed himselfe King of Peru. Martin Silueiran and Alphonso de Mendosa were left to gard the towne of Plata Anthonie Robles was made gouernor of Cusco and others in other places all which hee enioyned to send souldiers and money speedily to the campe and to publish his declarations and patents in their gouernements that hee was not in armes against the Emperour but against D. Pedro Guasca who ambitiously contrary to the Emperours commaundement had proclaimed warre against him and assailed him first All that were surprized going to ioyne with the imperiall troupes were forced to march vnder his ensignes or to die Hee caused Peter of Vlloa a Iacobin frier to bee put in yrons for that hee went in the disguised habite of a souldier amongst the troupes publishing the Emperours pardon which he offered to all those that would returne vnto his seruice and hee sent Iohn Acosta towards the sea to hinder the descent of Laurence Aldana who had newly withdrawne the gouernour of Guanico and all the souldiers and had sent them to ioyne with the troupes of Iames de Mora at Caxamalcan in reuenge whereof Pizarro caused Guanico to bee fired Cusco reuolts from Pizarro To encrease his miseries the Inhabitants of Cusco disdaining to be gouerned by Anthony Robles a man of no worth in the night they opened the gates to Iames Ceuton who liuing in the mountaines and woods in great miserie euer since that hee and his companions had beene defeated seeking to reuenge the death of the gouernour Vasco Nugnes had now come out of his holes vpon the occasion of this warre which was made by the President and had put himselfe into the citie with some tattered souldiers which hee had gathered together beeing fauoured and fortified by them of Cusco both Spaniards and Indians where hee defeated the gouernour Robles who going towards Pizarros campe with most part of his garrison and one hundred thousand ducats hearing of Ceutons enterprise had turned head They fought within the walles where hee was defeated taken and his head cut off retaining all his souldiers which were appointed to succour the rebelles by force or faire meanes So as Ceuton finding himselfe fortified with foure hundred foote and two hundred horse he led them to the fort of Plata to chase away Alphonso de Mendosa who had the gard thereof Cusco being wonne the townes and forts of Saint Michael Mercadille and Procellin their gouernors Towns â—orts 〈◊〉 Pizarro and souldiers abandoned Gonsaluo Pizarro all which garrisons went and ioyned with
ought to be preferred before the course of keeping them in awe may easily appeare by a due consideration of the causes from whence these affections haue their beginning The causes of the peoples loue are justice gracious vsage and fauours all which deserue praise The causes of their feare are grieuances ill vsage and oppression which merit blame Looke what the cause is such is commonly the effect whereby it followes necessarily that as out of loue is drawne a regiment more firme and stable though more moderate so out of feare proceeds a kind of power more absolute in shew but yet lesse durable the like proportion holdes in the peoples hearts for where they loue there is all satisfaction mirth sweet conuersation and dutifull respect but where they feare there is suspition strangenes discontent quarrels melancholie Out of the impressions which feare breeds wee can expect no better fruits than hatred but from that deuotion which loue kindleth assured confidence whereupon we ground the common prouerbe Loue is among kinsfolkes and feare among enemies The parts which beside respect of Religion are required in a Prince for the better gouernment of his estates setling in his subiects hearts a loue and reuerent respect both of his person state are chiefly three Faith Iustice Continencie Faith makes him intire in all his proceedings and a man of his word for without it no man would giue credit either to his practises or promises Continencie makes him to be reuerenced with respect and imitated with commendation it giueth him an excellent aduantage in a large field correcting seuerely the faults of subiects that offend in that degree the which he could not doe without blushing if himselfe were culpable Iustice teacheth a prince how to reward the good and to punish the bad to giue euerie man his due to restraine men by correction that are apt to erre to incourage others by rewards that are desirous to deserue wel besides it makes the princes bloud his honor and his estate secure without which vertue no force is able to keep the subiects faithfully affected to their Soueraigne for it is the propertie of all people when as they neither find reward of good deserts nor punishment of offences to grow first into distrust then into despaire which passions corrupt their mindes hauing once gotten the masterie Wherefore let the due consideration of what is iust and honest bee alwaies preferred in all your princely purposes that being once setled in the subiects hearts that iustice is duely administred they will euer remaine satisfied with your direction especially if besides this fauour they liue in aboundance hauing free traffike to all parts and quietnesse of minde for men toile and trauell during the course of their liues not only for their Princes superiors but for themselues and families Doubtlesse to maintain the people in aboundance of al things necessarie for the preseruation of their liues is not only commendable in a prince but doth worke great effectes in winning the hearts of men the which may bee easily prouided for by a carefull fore-sight of the times of dearth making diligent prouision for necessaries in due time so as the benefitte may wholie redound to the peoples ease and not to the princes gaine by inhaunsing of prices and preferring of priuate benefit before publike content A prince may alwaies hold himselfe rich when as his subjects that liue vnder him are rich for vpon any extremitie he shall bee frankely releeued by their beneolence good vsage setleth their loues and bindeth their deuotions Experience teacheth that fauours of this kind are neuer forgotten that a small consideration in time of need winnes more vnfained loue than greater benefits when there is plentie And that those fauours haue alwaies had deepest impressions in mens gratefull thought which concerne maintenance and the preseruation of life in time of necessitie It is sufficient for a prince in this cause of prouision to take order that hee lose not by the bargaine or if hee desire to gaine something for the releefe of other charges let it bee no more than an honest merchant with a good conscience may gaine for to these bounds may the politike prouision of princes ayme but no farther either in respect of honour or authoritie If a Prince will bee beloued of his people hee must giue them cause to thinke that hee loueth them assuring himselfe that their thākfulnes must grow from his desert their loue from his prouidence their content frō the peace and securitie which they enioy vnder him and that according to the fruits of fauour which the people reape by the Princes policie they frame themselues to liue contentedly vnder the gracious shadow and protection of his princely wings relying vpon his wisdome and carefull gouern ment Otherwise there is no doubt but subiection being in it selfe both burthensome and odious they would soone take some new course to settle their quiet and securitie by some other means freeing themselues from all cause of feare which as I haue said before is lesse durable and lesse secure and therefore lesse pleasing to the state of a Christian Gouernour Let no Prince imagin that with solemne shewes and publike sights alone subiects are delighted and pleased in their own conceits for those things are not acceptable but whē as their minds are satisfied in matters which do import them more Vpon this ground and to the same end I must also aduise you in any case to vse that moderation which is fit in charging the people with tributes or any other kind of impositions for albeit that States cannot bee ruled without some kind of releefe in respect of the manie occasions and excessiue charges wherewith Princes are burthened in times of peace but much more in time of war yet vnto euerie thing there belongs a meane which in all occurrents is the perfect rule of humane actions especially those which any way grieue the subiects hearts considering that euerie princes power is grounded vpon their conformitie to his directions and vniforme assent to serue and honor him wherfore this meane must be sought out with all care being found it must be put in practise with great temperance and worthily preferred before all other courses seeme they neuer so commodious and profitable If the continuall toile of warre hath inforced mee at anie time to holde a heauie hand ouer my subiects in this kinde I protest this course was alwaies against mine owne liking Touching this point of obseruing a conuenient meane in all impositions and taxes you must consider that the reuenues of a prince whether they be publike or priuate are raised two waies the first by augmentation of the old the other by addition of new for vnto these two heads all the inuentions to get money which are put in practise by the princes of our age may bee reduced In like maner the waies by which mony may be drawn from the subiect others are voluntarie
raines of vertue which onely ruleth their intents and accompanieth their actions else there should be more difference betwixt the members of this diuision They that by cunning will seeme vertuous in respect of endlesse feare least their ill meaning should be brought to light standing in the mid way to the marke which is common to all men like a bow drawne from the other extreame they are heauie melancholie and full of doubts vpon euerie rumor of the vulgar sort they cast false shadowes of suspition linger in mistrust and affright themselues with fancies their daies are troublesome their nights vnquiet their cares infinit and therefore our Sauiour might boldly say Haeparietes testes But they that are sincerely and intirely vertuous relying onely vpon their bountie and worth liue in continuall peace with content of mind and without all feare of oppression It resteth in the will and power of the prince himselfe to incourage faithfull ministers to shew their loue and duetie to their superiours either by binding them by rewards and fauours or by contenting them with honour and authoritie or by fitting them with such commodities and pleasures as they most affect or by setling their inclinations to deserue well in offering occasions whereby they make proofe of their fidelities For as it is most proper for mans nature to proceed with courage where they find their seruice thankefully rewarded vpon iust cause so princes are apt to trust vpon due triall of their ministers integritie But the way to make them constant and sure against all assaults is to tye them not with any single bond but with all these together if it bee possible Let no prince thinke that it is more safe in consultation touching his affaires of Estate to trust domesticals and such as are most deere vnto him for other ordinarie causes but lesse able to aduise before others that bee farther off so as they bee more fit onely of feare to seeme more vnthankefull to the first and depriue them of their due for the end will be that by this opinion hee shall preferre men of no worth nor vnderstanding before others that are more sufficient and necessarie which is the most absurd and sencelesse errour which hee can commit touching this point of election of ministers I would haue all other considerations of riches fauour and all other gifts of fortune yeeld in your esteeme to vertue and worthinesse for where a prince finds qualities agreeable it is his part to thinke how to inrich and aduance them for the meaner their estates are whom the prince shall raise to high degrees the greater shall their bond appeare and the more sincere and firme their dueties and affections In rewarding your seruants good deserts I would wish you to endeuour as much as you may to gratifie them according to your desires and to haue an eye to their owne ends for some seeke ease onely and aboundance of commodities belonging to this life others hunt after honour and authoritie and some couet satisfaction in other kinds according to their seuerall humors or as such fauours either are indeed or at the least are held by them most sutable to their conditions and qualities without respect of these affections of men a prince should often loose the thanks which bountie expects for many desire rather to fast than to be crammed against appetite Among other rules it shal not be amisse to note that nothing bindeth loue more firmely than when a prince bestowes a benefit out of his owne free choice without the instance or soliciting of any fauorer The first we must ascribe to the fauour of our Soueraigne alone the second we may diuide betweene the prince that giueth and the friend that moueth it Some haue commended and allowed a distrust and disagrement betweene ministers of State as if it were the best meanes to acquaint a prince with the truth but this course was neuer pleasing to my humor neither could I euer find how so bad a cause as discord could euer produce any commendable effects in a princes seruice A kind of emulation is not amisse so as it tend onely to incite honourable minds to shew themselues more worthie of the princes fauour to deserue better in his seruice and to be fit for a better place when time shall serue as we read of two of Caesars Corporals but in no wise let it grow to malice or mislike for the prince may neuer shew more fauor to one than to another as it falleth out sometimes for that it will not be possible alwayes to keepe the ballance euen but the partie which receiueth lesse is tormented with jealousie fretted inwardly with spight blinded with disdaine and all in the end turneth to the prejudice of the princes seruice and the publicke action Among these and out of these ought the prince to make choice of a sufficient number to serue him in the place of councell and imploy the rest in other seruices belonging to the State for being guided by their aduice counsell he can hardly erre but may rather rest assured that his worthie acts shal purchase honor immortalitie to his name wherefore striue to abound in these rather than in any other treasure whatsoeuer and feare not least facilitie in being led and directed by the aduice of worthie men should rob you of the honor which belongeth to your rare deserts for that the chiefest commendation is not ascribed vnto him that either giueth counsel or hath charge to execute but vnto the prince vpon whose resolution all depends and who out of his judgement and discretion assignes to euery man that part for which he is most fit in his owne opinion for although there may be aptnesse in the timber yet to make choice of the best for building and imploy it to the best vse shewes the skill of a good workeman Besides if the prince out of a jealous and suspitious humor be mistrustfull in this point how easie a matter is it at all times vpon diuers colours and pretences to change alter or deferre his resolution so as whatsoeuer they inuent shal be ascribed to his own perfectiō A prince can neuer want occasions to sound their opinions and to make profit of their deep judgements without imparting the secret of his purposes to any one of them My meaning was to discourse with you about this point of chusing able ministers at large for that in my opinion the weight of this subiect required no lesse wherefore I repeat it againe That a prince can neuer become great nor maintaine his greatnesse without the seruice and assistance of sufficient counsellors officers And therefore my most deere sonne I require you carefully to open both your eyes and eares in this respect and to be diligent in searching out the qualities of men for your better instruction All offices administrations and gouernments which are giuen for a short limited time are most secure from those suspitions jealousies which long continuance in
office and authoritie doth breed being impossible in so short a space to make parties or to procure followers And although this course be not alwayes free from those dangers and discommodities which are incident to gouernors who either want experience or acquaintance with state yet a moderate exchange ought in my conceit to be preferred before a perpetuitie for the people be the gouernors neuer so religious and just feele a kind of safetie at the least and as well in this point as in others delight in change vsing the same as a counterpoise to that irkesome loathsomenesse which groweth out of the continuall vse of any one thing without alteration Let your maner in giuing audience to suitors be easie liberal and ordinarie wherby not only the subiect is pleased with the same reputing this accesse as a restoritiue for that it giueth them opportunitie to ease their grieuances by their superiors fauor but on the other side it maketh the prince more wise when euery day by this means he cōmeth to the knowledge of new accidents new impressions new opinions The prince also commeth to vnderstand all the affairs humors passions and plots of his own subiects and their interest which is as I said before one kind of wisedome To this end therefore and for a thousand other good effects a prince ought to visit all his estates often but in such sort as many progresses and extraordinarie charges which belongs vnto them may not be burthensome to his subiects and a blemish to his owne authoritie for things that are accounted excellent if they be made common they loose a great part of their estimation in the eyes of the world If their progresses be seldom in like maner they giue some suspition of neglect and carelesse regard of the peoples good they giue incouragement to deputies and magistrats to follow their own humors and moreouer they make their subiects despaire of all hope of refuge to the princes presence and of recourse to the same in time of necessitie for as I said before this is a meane to ease the subiect and to curbe the magistrat In giuing audience let your care be to send euerie man away with some satisfaction or at the least with good liking of your affabilitie Heare such as offer you petitions with patience and answer them with compassion Prouide alwaies that the power of those that are most mightie ouersway not the right of them that are miserable haue no respect of persons but looke only to the justice of the cause If any man appeare before you in a rightfull matter who is otherwise ill spoken of regard not at that time his conuersation but his complaint not what he is in life but what he speaketh Now to the end the parties which haue recourse vnto you appealing from your officers or charging them with corruption may be more throughly conuinced by due proofe and more easily induced of themselues to confesse their faults stretch out your hand as farre as in honor you may in granting them new Iudges or Commissioners who together with other ordinarie officers will be more carefull to carrie themselues vprightly in such offices as are assigned to their cares The way to plant a firme resolution in your officers to deserue well is to reward them bountifully that haue shewed their worth for by this meanes by the discharge of his duetie in a meane place he will endeuour to be held worthie of an office of more esteeme notwithstanding there is great reason why the prince vpon these occasions should haue due respect to the credit and honour of his officers and to vse such moderation in this kind as without wrong to the plaintifes their reputations may be tendred Examine weightie causes with deliberation but be carefull to giue quicke dispatch to matters of small moment especially if they concerne persons that are in miserie Vse the like expedition in matters concerning poore men orphans dowers churches education maintenance charges left tutorship debts and such like charitable causes of which you are in conscience bound to haue an especiall care and to protect them in necessitie That state can neuer prosper where such causes are neglected for that God which makes no difference of persons but assureth vs That he will alwaies haue one eare open to the sortowful complaints of simple soules which suffer wrong will punish kings and magistrats for their contempt euen of their Christian subiects I would exemplifie this danger by some speciall example of Gods justice in my time but the verie ground of charitie set downe in a word or two may serue and for the rest I leaue you to the tendernesse of your owne conscience and the counsel of your Confessor The like course must be taken with tradesmen artisans marchants and husbandmen for these kind of people can neuer follow the court nor without ruine to their estates spend their goods labour and time about suits for it were better to be speedily dispatcht with some losse than to be tired with a world of Proctors Aduocates and Notaries in hope of getting all considering how much the losse of time in regard of their trade importeth them Whatsoeuer may be ended at one hearing by your selfe dispatch what you are not able of your selfe to rid recommend it by way of tables and memorials in other affaires It shall not be amisse for quicke dispatch of causes to assigne to euerie officer his particular taske for otherwise it were not possible for one man to run through all In case of necessitie the prince may commit his office for his owne ease to his faithfull ministers in imitation of the knife which in old time was vsed in the sacrifice at Delphos for there was such a fashion deuised for the reliefe of poore men which could not long attend without great losse as one man alone was able by the helpe of its many parts to serue all the priests In criminiall causes where there is question of life and death and other capitall punishment proceed benignely with seueritie and seuerely with benignitie according to the state and qualitie of the cause Applie you sences to the circumstances of the person time and place the maner and such like considerations Be content to imitate the rule of Lesbos in this case which was apt to bend according to the obliquitie of the subiect vnto which it was applied by art So must princes follow occasions if they will rule with commendation This is not to make difference of persons touching the right it selfe but to judge of right with wisedome and diseretion according to the sundrie indifferences that are aptly offered proceeding notwithstanding where we find the like respects in all degrees concurre with like consideration for the people are not grieued with setting downe any resolution how grieuous soeuer it may seeme but diuersitie of punishments for one and the selfesame fault where no certaine reason can be found of the diuersitie If any conceiues this counsel to be
the rereward and on their flankes they had other troupes of horse And for that they were in some doubt of the French which were at Tiuoli they sent some troupes of horse and foot on the right hand to stay the enemie if they should haue any notice of their enterprise Hee then sent aboue three hundred before with ladders and other instruments to climbe vp and to breake open gates if need were that being brought by some neere way neere vnto Port Maior they might giue a sudden assault and being seconded by some horse which were neere them they might enter the Citie and keepe a port vntill that the rest of the armie arriued The order was that they should present themselues vnto the wall about the seuenth houre of the night but there falling a small continuall raine the waies were so broken as being constrained to take a longer course it was breake of day before they arriued so as being discouered by some of the Countrimen they aduertised them of the citie which made them retyre speedily leauing their ladders against the walles and many cloakes wherewith they had couered themselues from the raine yea and some armes but the slackenesse of the enemie in the pursute was the cause that there were not aboue fiue and twentie or thirtie taken Cardinall Caraffy had intelligence by the Secretary Placidi when he came from the viceroy that the armie began to rise whereupon hee doubted they would assaile Rome or Tiuoli and take the French vnprouided so as hee gaue them warning ouer night and hee himselfe not making it knowne to the Romanes in whom he had no great confidence wachâ— all night with the duke and was in armes doubling the sentinels wheras they most doubted the enemie Ascanio de la Corne who commanded the horse that went to second the 300 foot seeing the lights about the wall and the gards in a readines held the enterprise to be discouered And to confirme this opinion foure light horsemen went forth earelie to get some bootie they thinking by reason of the darkenesse of the night the number to be greater and that they had laied an ambush whereupon they retired The duke of Alba comming neere vnto Rome and seeing his men had not done any thing thought that they stood readie within to receiue them And for that he vnderstood by certaine spies that Strossy had led foure hundred Horse and twelue companies of Gascons the euening before out of Tiuoli it confirmed him in his beleefe that they were entred into Rome Rome in danger to be sackt hauing notice of the Spaniards comming wherupon he caused the armie to retire to Colonna from whence it came without doubt if hee had but attempted it Rome had beene taken and sackt The citie was so ill garded as a lesser armie would haue forced it for that the Romanes were enemies to the Caraffi for the wrongs they thought they had receiued of them and of the souldiers that were within the citie of the which the Gascons did not spare their goods nor honors the Germans enemies to the Pope spoiled the church altars The Pope considering of these things lamenting the miseries of the time being forced to countenance and not to punish those wretches who called themselues defenders in name but in effect were destroiers of that miserable citie beganne to bee fully resolued to peace and the rather for that hee did visibly see the danger wherein hee was being certified that the Citizens of Rome had resolued that if the duke of Alba returned they would send to capitulate with him and open him the gates vpon honest conditions The duke of Guise and Peter Strossy entred into Rome after this tumult who talking with the Pope aduised him to accommodate himselfe vnto the time as wisemen doe commonly They laied before him the vnfortunate losse of the French king whereby there was no hope of any greater succours and that hee should remaine without a Generall for that hee was to returne speedily into Fraunce which would bee no small preiudice vnto him for that his Nephewes who were to gouerne the warre were of small experience neither would they beleeue them that vnderstood more in that art but intreated them ill keeping backe their entertainment so as seeing his holinesse without money and without Captaines they did not thinke the warre could continue long wherefore they counselled him to make the speediest and best accord he could with the king of Spaine The Pope gaue an attentiue eare to the free speeches of these Noblemen and resolued to make an end of the peoples miseries wherefore he called the embassadour of Venice vnto him intreating him to goe and informe that Senate of the estate of things and to exhort them in his name to make some good accord with the imperials After manie treaties in the end a Peace was concluded by the Cardinals of Santafiori and Vitelli and afterwards by Caraffa and the duke of Alba who met together at Caui And so by either of them hauing full authoritie from the Pope and the king of Spaine the following accord was published the 14 day of September 1 That the Pope should receiue from the duke of Alba in the name of the king of Spaine Peace betwixt the Pope and the king of Spaine the submissions that were necessarie to obtaine pardon from his Holinesse but afterwards the Catholike king should send a man expresly to that end And so his Holinesse should receiue the king into fauour as an obedient Sonne admitting him to all the graces of the holy church like vnto other Christian Princes 2 That the Pope should renounce the league contracted with the French king and remaine a Neuter louing them both equally as his Sonnes 3 That his Maiestie should cause the townes and Cities demanteled which had beene taken and held since the beginning of the warre to bee restored if they did in any sort belong vnto the Apostolike sea 4 That the ordnance taken on either part in that warre should be restored 5 That his Holinesse and his Maiestie should forgiue all offences that had beene done them and remit all spiritiuall and temporall punishments graunting them a gerall pardon with restitution of their honors dignities faculties and iurisdictions wherof they had beene depriued in regard of that warre From the which were excepted Marc Antonio Colonna Ascanio de la Corgna and other rebels the Popes vassals who should remaine in the same censure and disgrace during the Popes pleasure 6 That Paliano should bee deliuered into the hands of Iohn Bernardino Carbone sonne to the Popes Cousin but faithfull to both parties deliuering the fort as it was at that time and that the said Carbone should sweare fealtie to the pope and king of Spaine and to obserue the articles concluded betwixt the Cardinall Caraffa and the duke of Alba hee hauing the gard of Paliano with eight hundred foot which should bee paied equally by the Pope and king Besides
Generall to goe to Tripoli for that hee had beene receiued quietly by his subiects who would take it ill if the Christians should remaine in that Island but in effect they came to discouer the campe They were entertained vntill the morning and then an answere was giuen them that they had landed at Gerbe finding the winds contrary to goe to Tripoly but yet they had done it willingly to put the Xec in possession of the Island before they went to Tripoly which they intended afterwards They therefore desired to see him well setled to buy refreshings with their money take water and as soone as the windes were faire goe for Tripoly In the morning hauing put all their men in battaile they marched towards the wells beeing sixe miles off the souldiers hauing indured much that night for want of water hauing not brought any out of the gallies so as they marched with great thirst Sandy beeing carefull least at their arriuall disordering themselues hauing a great desire to drinke they should bee charged by the Moores and receiue some great losse They marched in three squadrons in the foreward went the great Commander with the knights and souldiers of Malta and with the Germanes and French which were not in all aboue two thousand Andrew Gonzaga commanded the battaile Order of the Christians army at Gerbe consisting of three thousand Italians and in the rere-ward were three thousand and fiue hundred Spaniards And of either side they were couered with a wing of three hundred shot leauing in the midest a conuenient space for the baggage But if they came to a battaile one of these wings was to ioyne with the foreward and the other with the battaile hauing marched a while they were staied at a certaine bogge by a field peece Sandy with the shot which were towards the shore aduanced to recouer the wells which hee found had beene spoiled by the Moores and filled with stones and sand so as hee was forced to send for Pioners with tooles to clense them neither did the Moores yet shew themselues beeing an apparent signe that they had an intent to charge them in their lodging so as they marched in good order forbidding any man to disband vpon paine of death Then they met with foure Moores of Authority sent from the Xec with a designe to view the army but with an excuse of a friuolous Embassage where they were entertained with good words whilest that the army aduanced toward the wells and then were dismist with a generous answere from the Generall That seeing the Xec could not come vnto him beeing staied by his people that hee should rest satisfied and that hee would soone bee with him in his castle reiecting their proposition that the Duke should aduance with foure horses onely as the Xec had done that they might parle together Yet for all this the Moores who lay two miles off couered with a little hill did not mooue seeing the order of the Christians army to bee verie firme wherefore they did forbeare vntill they lodged imagining that hauing endured much thirst that day and the night before they would in their lodging fall into a confusion with a desire of drinke Which did not follow by Aluaro de Sandys great care who caused them still to keepe their rankes Notwithstanding that Colonel Spinola hauing too eagrely aduanced to entertaine a great skirmish was in great daunger with some Harguebuziers that were with him But the Marshall foreseeing this danger had sent captaine George Ruis with two hundred Harguebuziers of Sicile behind certaine walles to fauour their retreat The Moores attempted also to breake the rankes of the Christians in other places with great courage and readinesse but with little losse that day onely captaine Ruis being hurt in the shoulder with a launce died within few daies after The skirmish ended two houres before night and the Christians lodged hauing caused the wells to be clensed during the skirmish The day following they fortified their lodging against the enemie and the gallies were sent for to furnish themselues with water but three daies after they went forth in battaile to goe and fight with the enemie which did not succeed for the Moores with their Xec did often intreat the Generall to receiue them for vanquished offering to bee subiects to the King of Spaine Hauing first taken hostages Michel of Baraona a Colonel was sent with two companies of Spaniards to take possession of the castle and the next day the Generall entred with the chiefe of the army the Moores shewing themselues very obsequious bringing aboundance of victuals vnto the campe The Arabians Mahamidi were also paied with their Xec who had faithfully kept the passage of the bridge as they had beene appointed at Secco di Palo They afterwards held a Councell how they might keepe that Island at the kings deuotion the which they held to bee verie necessarie for by that meanes they should take a retreat from the Turkes and Moores which did robbe vpon those seas and withall they should secure Sicile Sardinia Malta and other places and to that end they should build a fort making vse of the castle to keepe their victualls and munition and for some wells besides hauing their materialls neere with other commodities for the speedy doing it On the seuenteenth of March the army began to lodge about the castle Fort built in the Island of Gerbe where they had appointed to build a fort Antonio Conte being Ingener assisted by Bernardo Aldano and Sanchio de Lieua within two daies after the worke beganne it being diuided amongst the Nations after this manner Being to make foure Bulwarkes the charge of one was giuen to Andrew Gonzaga and to the Italians an other to the great Commander and to them of that order the third to Andrew Doria and them of the gallies the Generall reseruing the fourth for himselfe so as within few daies it was put in defence But neither the ayre nor the water were healthfull for them that were not accustomed vnto it so as many died daily and more fell sicke which was a lamentable spectacle There was an hospitall prouided and the bishop of Majorca who was also gouernour did what hee could to preserue the souldiers They had newes that they prepared an army at Constantinople and the great Master of Malta doubting some danger called home the great Commander with his Gallies and men the which patted from Gerbe the eight of Aprill leauing the charge of fynishing that Bulwarke to Pedro Vrrea for that they made great hast to leaue it defensible the Duke resoluing to imbarke being verie carefull to furnish it although that all things did not succeed according to his desire The king of Caruano came to visit him and there past great kindnesse betwixt them but the Xec would by no meanes meet him yet hee came once halfe a mile out of the castle to treat with him beeing accompanied with a great number of Moores The Generall was earnest to
by Diego de Carcamo This Carcamo vvas a gentleman of Castile who had serued D. Antonio when he was but Prior of Crato in the life of King Henry who seeing that King Philip had resolued after his decease to seize vpon the Realme of Portugal by armes and that the Gouernors made a shew that they would defend it he had demaunded his leaue and was retired into Castile whereas the King suffred him to follow the Duke of Albas campe as a voluntary Being in the army after the taking of Setuual Discours betwixt D. Antonio aâ—d Carcaâ—o at the passage of the riuer of Tayo he had leaue giuen him to goe to Lisbone to see the new King D. Antonio letting the Duke vnderstand that it was the King their Masters pleasure Being well entertained by D. Antonio they beganne to discourse of the present Estate of the affaires and of what might happen seriously and without vanity they both concluding that D. Antonio had committed an error in taking vpon him the title of a King Carcamos speech to D. Antonio and that he should haue beene satisfied with that of defender of the country and that hauing in effect no support neither from the Gouernors who were opposite vnto him nor from the Estates who were disperst nor of the Nobility nor of any other but of the Inhabitants of Lisbone and some other townes whereas the multitude being ignorant inconstant base and vilde are alwaies mutinous and disobedient in such occasions he must needs thinke that he could not subsist and that he must yeeld vnto the forces of Castile being in danger to be ill intreated and without any respect if he were taken and escaping hee must not hope that any Prince in Christendome would vndertake a warre for his sake He might well procure some weake succors from France or England vnder the name of voluntaries without advow for once with the hazard of some incounter but this were no great foundation obtayning a victory either at sea or land to thinke your selfe thereby setled against a mighty Prince as King Philip is who hath meanes in an instant to repaire all the losses that may happen vnto him It is true said Carcamo that this name and title of a King or Soueraigne Prince is a sweet enchantment to bewitch men and it seemes that honour doth binde your highnesse hauing once gotten it to maintaine it with the hazard of your life and rather to die fighting then to leaue it This were good if we knew our aduentures which are most incertaine Man dies not when nor how hee doth imagine it depends of the wil of God A King is as soone taken as slaine in a battaile If your highnesse should be taken consider what would be your condition and seeke no farther into Gods secret Iudgements who shewes plainly by the successe of King Philips enterprises that he hath ordained the realme of Portugal should be vnited to that of Castile That he should haue recourse whilest he had time to those remedies which might warrant him from dishonour and infamy rather then to contend in vaine against heauen and nature and cast himselfe into the Kings armes whom hee holds for his enemy assuring him that he should find him milde and forgetting all that was past giuing him meanes to liue with honour if not with the title of a King yet in quality of a Prince whom hee will loue and acknowledge as his kinsman Diego de Carcamo did without any dispute make D. Antonio allow of these reasons who knowing them to be most true resolued to write an humble letter vnto King Philip yet still retayning some right vnto himselfe He excused himselfe for that hee had taken the name of King D. Antonio wriâ—s to king Philip. and receiued royall honours at Saint Iren Setuual and at Lisbone the question of succession beeing not decided saying that he had beene forced by the multitude who would haue yeelded him no obedience if he had onely carried the title of defender of the country and that if he had prepared to make defence it was by authority from the states which is the greatest power within the realme the royall seat being voide and that his Highnesse should impute that to the loue and charity which euery good Portugues should carry vnto the crowne of Portugal being then free and full of honours purchased by the proper and peculiar vertues which God had infused into the Nation both in Kings and subiects the which he greeued to see conâ—ounded and in danger to be darkened beeing mingled with the trophees of Castile And howsoeuer he held himselfe bound to perseuer in this defence thinking the quarrel iust in his conscience and by the consultations which hee had had both in the vniuersities of the country as strangers as well of Diuines as Lawiers yet considering the condition of humaine things and the vncertentie of their euents and also to spare bloud and to preuent the insolencies and spoiles which follow warre he was content to lay aside armes and the title of King knowing how his highnesseâ—ment to intreat both the realmes and him This was the substance of the letter which Diego de Carcamo carried vnto King Philip being yet at Badajos the which hee receiued in good part seeming desirous the quarrel might be ended by such submissions without any more force But for that this negotiation fell out either during the Kings sicknesse or vpon his recouery being it may bee aduised to haue this matter treated of farre from him to the end hee might not haue his spirits continually importuned nor haue occasion to alter his humors by any difficulty that should put him in choller hee gaue the whole charge thereof to the Duke of Alba to whom Diego of Carcamo was sent who made some voiages more to Lisbone and had so well aduanced the businesse as there remained nothing but to draw neere and to conferre together by their Deputies or in person if it might bee when as Don Antonio receiuing letters from the Duke conceiued by the termes thereof an opinion that hee contemned him and that hee would treat with him as a Master for although that the Duke did witnesse by the tenor of his letters that hee would imploy his best endeauors to attaine vnto a peace saying that he honoured the memory of the Infant D. Lewis his father the which did binde him to seeke D. Antonios aduancement in this treaty yet he gaue him no other title but your Lordship where they had beene accustomed to say vnto him your Highnesse since he was King and before your Excelleny when he was but Prior of Crato This ceremonious kinde of speaking being omitted by the Duke of Alba willingly to humble Don Antonio was the cause that the treaty went not forward which was a great crosse both for the country and himselfe D. Philip being now King of all Spaine King Philip enters into Portugal entred into Portugall soone after his recouery and came
him with his companie of two hundred men and to bring him with honour and respect for if haply hee were the same whom he vaunted himselfe to be hee would deliuer vp into his hands the scepter and crowne of the kings of Portugall with his realmes Gill de Mesa went into the prouince of Beira and came to the towne of Pena macor where he tooke him easily and carried him to Lisbone who being knowne for an impostor he was publiquely whipt and sent to the gallies which Impostor liued of late yeeres and was called Sebastian in derision who was not hanged notwithstanding for that in his processe hee was not found charged with any other crimes than with that of his intention But one who termed himselfe Bishop of La gard was hanged for that hee had persuaded this man And as for the cardinall Albert he would not retire but when-as the King D. Antonio came into Portugall with his sea armie That there haue not onely beene such Impostors who termed themselues to be the king D. Sebastian but that lately in Castille there was a pie baker at Madrigal who gaue it out secretly that he was D. Charles prince of Spain whom king Philip his father had put to death twenty yeeres before who beeing knowne for an abuser was hanged Others say that this pie baker termed himselfe king Sebastian being incited thereunto by Michel de los Sanctos an Augustine Frier Preacher to Queene Katherine who was hanged in his religious habite That in like maner other ages had furnished the like Impostors which had taken vpon them the name of Kings and Princes The Portugalls on the other side maintaine that this is their true king by many and sundry great markes which he carries like vnto those of the true Sebastian wherein they are the better confirmed Portugalls opinion touching D. Sebastian for that the Spaniards say they ground onely vpon simple common and light presumptions the which doe in no sort ballance so many marks and reasons which justifie this to be the true king And moreouer that the Spaniards who say that he is a Calabrois a Monke or Mâ—rs Tulle Catizon of Apulia haue not yet produced any apparent proofes of his life and means whom they call an Impostor The which they may so easily doe by the authoritie and absolute power which they haue in those Prouinces as the Portugalls doe not receiue their negatiue but for a meâ—re slander but on the other side they repeat the life of D. Sebastian from his birth vnto his comming to Saint Lucar of Barameda with many prophecies signes and predictions the which we haue added that it may serue as an example to posteritie D. Sebastian as you haue heard was the onely sonne and after birth of the Prince D. Iohn sonne to the king D. Iohn the third Birth of D. Sebastian king of Portugall who died yong leauing D. Ioane of Austria princesse of Castille and daughter to the Emperour Charles the fift with child who was deliuered of D. Sebastian on Saint Sebastians day eighteene dayes after the fathers death who as it seemes was in a maner wrested out of the hands of God by the great prayers which were made generally throughout the realme of Portugall to the end the crowne should not be left without lawful heires males in the succession of great Alphonso the first king of Portugall They were induced here unto by the predictions and reuelations which had beene giuen to the said Alphonso the first founder of the said realme by the which it was promised them of God To warrant his posteritie in such sort as it should not faile vpon the earth yet at the sixteenth descent from him it should haue great tribulations and afflictions By this Oracle it appeareth it was spoken of his birth for the which also the Portugals made such praiers and shewed such deuotion for that they feared to fall vnder the Spaniards yoake who are their naturall enemies either for that the Portugalles had in olde time their beginning from the French as the name doth shew for that the French comming into those parts did inhabite that countrey and gaue it their name or else for that the Spaniards beeing enuious of their prosperities seeking alwayes to raigne ouer them are become their enemies without cause The king D. Sebastian being ouerthrowne at the battell of Alcaserquibir in Afrike the Spaniards say that some noblemen of Portugall which followed him seeing all lost aduised him to retire but he answered that he had rather die and so thrust into the middest of his enemies where some noblemen entred with him where they beleeue he died whose bodie they say was buried at Belem But the Portugalls say that they did neuer beleeue that it was D. Sebastians bodie or that he was dead but that he imbarqued as you shall heare and that he went into Algarue and put himselfe into a monasterie of Ieronomits or according vnto some of S. Francis whom they called los Descalgos or the bare footed and there hee caused his wounds to bee cured the which they say had beene verified by a seruant to Cardinall Henrie the Kings vncle who was a Churchâ—man and trusty to his master and brought an Act signed by the Gardian and monks of the said monastery of Ieronomits this seruants name was Manuel Antonez But cardinall Henrie who was acknowledged king did not then speake neither did the said Manuell Antonez the which as they say was afterwards the cause of great miseries in Portugall for the cardinall dying notwithstanding that the Portugalls did after him choose D. Antonio a prince of Portugall for their lawful king yet the king of Castille seazed vpon the Realme and held it by force Afterwards the said Manuel Antonez reuealed this Act seeing that in the yeere 1598 it was said that D. Sebastian was recouered who beeing sent for by king Philip hee went vnto him but no man knew what was become of him some said he was dead The Portugalls beleeue How the Portugalls beleeue that D. Sebastian saued himselfe from the battell that the king D. Sebastian seeing the battel lost that hee was in daunger to bâ— taken but that defending himselfe valiantly hee slew some which sought to take him and hid himselfe amongst the dead carkasses vntill night at which time hee went towards the sea where the rest of his armie lay in the roade There hee met with the Duke of Auero Christopher de Tauora his great fauourite the Earle of Redonde and other noblemen with whom he imbarqued and went into Algarue as you haue heard sending his shippes away where hee resolued with the said noblemen to wander ouer all Europe Afrike and Asia into Ethiopia to Prete Ian and into Persia where he was in battells against the Turke and receiued many wounds Beeing wearie of running and tired with the vanitie of the world hee came vnto an Hermitage where hee continued vntill hee had visions and reuelations both to
had finished Hee left it to bee Abbot of Montarragon King D. Alphonso had three daughters also by the Queene D. Sancha that is D. Constance who was married first to the King of Hongarie and afterwards to the Emperour Frederic the second D. Elcnor and D. Sancha both Countesses of Tolousa the one married to Cont Raymond the father and the other to Cont Raymond the sonne This Queene D. Sancha was verie deuout after the manner of that age wherefore as soone as she was married she built the Monastery of Sixena of the Nuns of Saint Iean 9 This age was as the rest full of deuotions Castilleâ— and inuentions of new seruices for Cardinall Hyacinthe beeing Legate a Latere for the Pope in Spaine the order of knights or men at armes Order of Saint Iames. of Saint Iames had his beginning in the realme of Galicia by an emulation betwixt some knights Monkes of Saint Eloy a Monastery in the same Kingdome These good religious fathers seeing the great concourse of people which came from all parts of Christendome to the sepulcher of Saint Iames they beganne to build Hospitals out of their reuenues which were very great vpon the passage which in Spaine they doe commonly call the French way to lodge and feed Pilgrimes and to supplie all their necessities in sicknesse or in health wherein they imployed themselues honestly and the first Hospitall of their foundation was that of Saint Marke the Euangilists without the walles of the city of Leon afterwards they built another vpon the passage of Castille called de las Tiendas In imitation of these Monkes vsing such courtesie to strangers which went to Saint Iames there were thirteene Knights very deuout to this Apostle taking him for their particular Patron and aduocate according to their instruction vowed themselues to gard and assure the way for pilgrimes against the incursions of the Moores and other theeues which troubled Spaine and hauing imparted their deseigne to the Monkes of Saint Eloy they agreed to make one body amongst them and to make the patrimonie of the Monastery of Saint Eloy common with that of these Knights and others which should ioyne with them at that time they did enioy about twenty castles which made the Monkes more willing to allow of this communion al these holy souldiars were married from their first institution wherefore they did onelie vow coniugal chastetie and as for pouerty it was not very great they onelie renounced the propertie of their goods for the seruice of the order enioying the fruites whereof they payed tithe vnto the Monkes for the diuine seruice wherein they were imployed they did vowe obedience to their Prior and Maister by such an order as the Monkes should bee subiect to their Priors both for spirituall and temporall and the Knights to the same Prior touching the spiritualty but in regard of the temporall they should obay the maister of the order Whereof the first was named D. First conuent of Knights of Saint Iames. Pedro Fernandes de Puente Encalada The first conuent which was built for these Knights was neere vnto Saint Markes Hospitall without the walles of Leon on a peece of ground belonging to the Monkes of Saint Eloy which they gaue into the which they all retired taking vpon them a modest kinde of habit fit for the warre carrying upon a white cloake a red-crosse in forme of a sword for a marke of their order and for an argument of humilitie they had haire powled which was no smal abasement in those times Their Order was vnder Saint Augustin according to that of the Monkes of Saint Eloy and all these things were ordred in the presence of Cardinal Hyacinthe the Legat and allowed by him hauing especiall authority for it A while after D. Pedro the Master of the Order accompanied with certaine Knights this order beeing wonderfully increased went to Rome to present himselfe to Pope Alexander who confirmed the order in the yeare of our Lord 1175. according to the disposition of Cardinal Hyacinthe his Legat who was afterwards Pope Many have beleeued and some haue written that this order of Knights of Saint Iames is more ancient grounding it vpon a certaine priuiledge which is found at Salamanca in the Monasterie of the Holie Ghost where at this present the relligious women of that order are for besides the moderne Castillan Language in the which this priuiledge is written with the date and yeere thereof counted from the natiuity of our Lord Iesus Christ discouers the falshood for that in those daies all Instruments titles and letters were in written in Latin and that they did account the yeeres from the Aera of Caesar there is not any mention found in Authors of the Institution of this Order nor of any exploit of the Knights thereof before this time besides other makes of falshood which may bee discouered in this priuiledge as to intitle the King D. Fernand the Great Lord of Biscay and King of Leon which hee was not and by consequence had no cause to grant priuiledges to that Monastery of the citie of Salamanca which hath been alwaies of the iurisdiction of Leon Whereas in the yeere 1034. which is the date thereof there raigned D. Bernard the third of that name so as it is not without cause if they doubt of the truth of the priuiledges granted to churches and conuents These Knights newly instituted being fallne into some dislike with D. Fernand King of Leon raigning at that time they left their Conuent of Saint Marke at Leon and retired into Castille where they were courteously receiued by the King D. Alphonso who gaue them the towne and Castle of Vcles called in old time Vrcesia where they built that renowned conuent which is the chiefe seate of their religion and order yet they sent some of their brethren to dwell in their first conuent of Saint Marke at Leon after the decease of the King D. Fernand vpon condition that the superioritie should belong to that of Vcles but it is not obserued for the conuent of S. Marke doth not acknowledge that of Vcles in any thing but doth keep their first reuenues the which were since augmented in Estremadura after the conquest thereof by them of Leon. In time this order did extend farre into Portugal where it got great reuenues vnder the obedience of the conuent of Vcles vnto the King D. Denis who put the Knights out of his country This order of the Knights of Saint Iames did so grow in wealth and number by the bountie of Kings A thousand launces of the Order of Saint Iames. and indulgences of Popes as they were able to arme a thousand launces compleat in both conuents of Vcles and Saint Marke and before that by the authority of Pope Adrian the sixth the masters place was incorporate to the crowne of Castille the Maisters of the Order were chosen and displaced if there were cause by the suffrages of thirteene brethren who had that
to his vncle D. Alphonso King of Arragon Moreouer hee did write a breefe Chronicle of the Kings of Nauarre his Progenitors beginning with the most ancient time vnto King D. Inigo Arista and from thence hath continued the History vnto the reigne of King Charles his Grandfather which Chronicle is to bee found at this day in written hand but full of errors made by them that haue coppied it for it was neuer printed He did also write some verses imploying the time which he could spare in the gouernment of the realme in these honest exercises so as this Prince was cherished beloued and blest of euery man but of his own father of whom he demanded the realme of Nauarre being his mothers Inheritance which bred him great troubles and aduersity wherein he made proofe of his courrage and singular patience the which was better knowne and lamented after his death The King of Castile and the Prince his sonne hauing raised his seege from before Estella Castille left Nauarre without doing any other harme and returned to Burgos from whēce soone after they led an army against Palençuela whereas D. Alphonso Henriques the Constables sonne had fortefied himselfe and committed infinite spoiles round about The seege beeing before this place the Constable going neere the walles to view the scituation thereof a seruant of the Admirals called Fernand Tremigno sallied out of the towne with thirty men well armed who came and charged the Constable and them that were with him beeing vnarmed so sodainely as they put them all in daunger of their liues The Constable charged and in danger to bee slaine It behoued the Constable to shew his resolution who like a valiant and hardy Knight as in deed hee was with his rapier and cloake made head against this troupe and the rest by his example putting themselues also in defence endured the charge vntill that succors came vnto them from the next lodging of the army which made the enemies to turne head and retire towards the towne with some losse the which yeelded afterwards vpon composition From thence the King went vnto Madrigall where hee had newes that the affaires vpon the Moores frontier succeeded verie well King Mahumet Aben Ozmen Moores called Coxo that is to say the Halting had made offer to the King of Nauarre to fauour his quarrels promising that when he should inuest Castile by Nauarre and Arragon he would enter by Andalusia and assaile the city of Cordoua with all the power of his realme This Moore hearing afterwards that there had beene some accord made betwixt the Christian Princes did not forbeare to make warre on his part withall violence Moores defeated neere vnto Arcos sending troupes of horse and foot diuers waies to spoile whereof a band of six hundred horse and eight hundred foot were incountred nere vnto Arcos by D. Iohn Ponce de Leon Earle of Arcos who made a notable slaughter This Nobleman beeing somewhat sickly in Marchena had beene aduertised of the disorder which these spoilers caused by a Christian renegado sometimes called Benedict of Chincilla and then he was named Monfarres wherevpon drawing together about 300. horse and 600. foot he went that way being led by his spy where hauing marcht foureteene leagues that day and night he came the next day where the Moores were who expected him not who hauing put their foot-men before to recouer some place of safety the horsemen made head against the Christians and fought long whilest that their foote retired but in the end the Earle of Arcos had the victory there being aboue foure hundred horsemen slaine vpon the place and fiue and fifty taken prisoners with a hundred good horses of seruice The Moores fainted not for this route but within a while after An. 1452. and the same yeere 1452. they entred by Murcia hoping to haue better successe in that country being six hundred horse and fifteene hundred foote who hauing ruined a great part of the country vsing al kinds of cruelty they draue away aboue 40000. head of cattaile great and small and about fifty prisoners whereof D. Alphonso Faiardo being aduertised hee wrate speedily to D. Diego of Ribera Gouernor of Murcia Marshall of the Kings lodging that he should come forth of the city with all that were fit to beare armes the which he did presently and came to Lorca with seuenty horse and fiue hundred foote whereas D. Alphonso Fajardo met him with two hundred horse and 1500. foote with these forces they went to affront the Moores and charged them breaking them three times An other defeat of Moores but they rallied themselues twice againe together yet at the third they were victors with the slaughter of aboue eight hundred of their men and twelue captaines and of Christians there were forty slaine vpon the place and aboue two hundred wounded by which victory the booty was rescued There is no other mention made in our Histories of the deeds of this King Mahumet Aben Ozmen the Lame but that hee was depriued of his Realme by the Infant Aben-Izmael who kept at Malaga being assisted and fauored by the King of Castile but the yeere is not certaine D. Frederic Henriques Admirall of Castile being retired againe to his sonne in law the King of Nauarre for that they kept not the promises made in the aboue mentioned accord Nauarre did also thinke that it was lawfull for him to say that for his part hee would not be bound to performe to the King of Castile that which he had sworne and promised wherefore he led with him Queene Ioane his daughter and deliuered her to the King her husband This married couple being together it was not long before the Queene was with child she remayning at a place called Fresne in Arragon where King Iohn beeing exceeding glad of these newes he caused her to goe into Nauarre there to be deliuered She made her residence in the towne of Sanguesse An. 1453. the remainder of the yeere 1453. and there she applied her selfe with the Prince Don Charles and the Councell of the Realme to the gouernment of the State the King her husband consenting therevnto but it was not very pleasing to many Knights of Nauarre who were affectionate seruants to the Prince namely to the family and faction of Beaumont holding that the authority of a mother in law could neither be good nor proffitable for the Prince nor Realme The time of the Constables punishment did now approch the measure of his villanies being full Castile whereof he himselfe did seeke Iustice by his impudency and vnlymited desire of reuenge He hated D. Pedro of Estuniga Earle of Plaisance deadly and was in like manner hated by him The Constable laid an ambush for this Earle to take him prisoner which was the greatest matter he could doe to be reuenged his mighty enemies for being once taken it was easie for him who had the authority and force of the Realme in his
power to finde them guilty The Earle being aduertised of this practise he did impart his deseigne to the Prince the Marquis of Santillana and to the Earles of Benauent and Haro with others which was to loose his life or to make the Constable loose his The Prince Don Henry made him no answere as the rest did who by the negotiation of Diego de Valera laied a plot amongst them that the Earle of Plaisance and the Marquis of Santillana should send their eldest sonnes with fiue hundred Launces vnder pretext of a quarrell which was betwixt the Earle of Benauent and D. Pedro Aluares Osorio and that passing neere vnto Vailledolit whereas the King and the Constable were they should finde means to seize vpon a gate drawing their men into the town they should take or kil the Constable publishing that it was done by the commandement of Prince Henry But it succeeded not Queene Isabel 〈…〉 Lords against the Constable for the Constable beeing aduertised hee caused the King to dislodge and led him to Burgos These things beeing imparted by the King of Castile to Queene Isabel who was no friend to the Constable she imbraced this occasion and induced the King to let these Noblemen doe what 〈◊〉 had resolued the which was easie to effect for that the King was already distasted of his Constable The Queene did not only this good office but she did sollicit the confederates to make hast whilest the time was fit sending the Countesse of Ribadeo vnto them vnder collour to visit the Earle of Plaisance her vncle who had fortefied himselfe in Bejar carrying letters of credit who did informe them as shee was commanded of the time place and meanes they should hold to seize vpon the Constable or to dispatch him This Ambassage deliuered vnto the Earle reioyced him much and for that he was lame himselfe he presently sent D. Aluaro of Estuniga his eldest sonne with Diego of Valera a Secretarie and a Page to leauy men in Curiel where they could not for the shortnesse of time assemble aboue seuenty Launces with the which D. Aluaro went towards Burgos and going before vpon a Mule with one man that did attend him hee entred into the Castle of Burgos commanding his men to follow after giuing it out in the Country that they did belong vnto the Constable but aboue all that they should so obserue the time as their comming into Burgos should bee by night and that they should not offer to come into the castle vntill they had newes from him the which was duely executed and these seuenty Knights entred into the castle on Monday at night the first of May in the yeere 1453. whereas D. Aluaro had already drawne in the same night two hundred of his friends of the towne well armed Presage of the Constables end The day following there was an vncertaine brute that the Constable should bee apprehended who had many other presages of his ruine if hee could haue fore-seene it The King being priuy to all these matters had a conceit that this apprehension could not be made without great scandale and therefore he sent commandement to D. Aluaro that hee should returne to Curiel for that he could not execute that for the which hee was come but D. Aluaro a valiant and hardy Knight made answere that vpon his life hee would seiz vpon the Constable and deliuer him vnto him so he would be pleased to giue him a decree VVarrant to apprehend the Constable or warrant to apprehend him the which the King caused to be made in this forme D. Aluaro of Estuniga my Alguazil Maior or Marshall I command you to apprehend the body of D. Aluaro de Luna Maister of Saint Iames and if he offer to defend himselfe that you kill him And moreouer the King commanded the Rectors and Aldermen of the city to put the people in armes according to their regiments and bands and to keepe them in battaile in the Bishops place at the breake of day At which time D. Aluaro going out of the castle to inuest the Constables lodging and to take him hee receiued diuers commandments from the King that he should not fight but onely beseege him and set gards about his lodging that he might not escape which did much discontent him Comming neere the place his men beganne to cry Castile Castile for the Kings liberty At which noyse the Constable came to the windoe and his men put themselues in defence many shot both with bowes and harguebuses wherewith there were some slaine and others hurt D. Aluaro of Estuniga sent often to intreat the King that hee would giue him leaue to fight for they slue his men from the windoes of the Constables lodging but he would neuer grant it Therevpon arriued D. Alphonso of Carthagena Bishop of Burgos and Ruy Diaz of Mendoçca Lord Steward to whom the Constable who was armed and on horse-backe yeelded himselfe prisoner hauing promised him in the Kings name that there should be no harme done vnto his person nor goods but by the course of Iustice. Being taken he was giuen in gard by the King to Ruy Diaz of Mendoça and by him to his brother Iohn Hurtado of Mendoça who carried him to Portillo whereat D. Aluaro of Estuniga was very much discontented and the city likewise so as some offred to goe and take the Constable away by force from Iohn Hurtado and to deliuer him into his hands to keepe hauing more right therevnto then any other seeing he had taken him but D. Aluaro who was a discreet Knight pacefied them with thankes After this the King went to Portillo and caused a great quantity of treasure belonging to the Constable to be seized on and carried to Vailledolit and he gaue him in gard to D. Diego of Estuniga sonne to the Marshall D. Inigo Ortis of Estuniga who was Earle of Nieua commanding that his processe should be made and that his Attorney Generall should informe against him This yeere was remarkable in Spaine Nauarre for the birth of 〈◊〉 Infant D. Fernand sonne to D. Iohn King of Nauarre by D. Ioane Henriques his wife who being vnwilling to be deliuered in Nauarre going towards Arragon she was forced to stay at Sos a small place of Arragon Birth of D. Fernand who was King of 〈◊〉 and Arrâ—gâ—n and 〈◊〉 to D. Isabel. where she had this Prince who was famous for the great things he did for by him the Moores were chased out of Granado and all Spaine clensed of that vermine the West Indies discouered with many Islands in the Ocean sea the Realmes of Castile Leon Arragon Nauarre and Granado vnited vnder one crowne many places conquered vpon the coast of Affrike and subiected to the crowne of Spaine And that which may serue to make him famous the Inquisition was instituted vnder him the only support of the authority of the Sea of Rome and of the Clergy in Spaine The yeere of Prince Fernands birth
souldiers found smal resistance in this latter roade Seditions betwixt the father and sonne in regard the Mores were greatly diuided among themselues by meanes whereof King Muley Alboacen was dispossessed and driuen away for hee was much feared and hated because of his tyrannies which extended chiefly to the Nobilitie and he had namely euill intreated the family of Abencaraxes one of the most illustrious houses among the Granadins These men with their complices and allyes constrayned Muley Alboacen to giue place and they deliuered the cittie with the Alhambra or fort thereof to his sonne Mahomet Boabdellin surnamed the Little who was fled to Guadix for feare of beeing slaine by his father who was carried away with vnreasonable amorous passions and false suggestions of a second wife a renied Christian whom hee had married for her rare and excellent beautie in regard whereof she was called Zoraya which signifieth Morning-starre This woman beeing desirous to aduance her children which shee had by the King did indeauour by all meanes to roote out those which hee had begotten on the Queene Aixa his wife a Ladie of a great and illustrious house and his neere kinswoman who because she would not see her eldest sonne murthered which was this Boabdellin she caused him on a night to be let downe out of the window of the castle with the helpe of her woman by a rope made of their vailes and night tyres and thereby gaue him meanes to saue himselfe in the cittie of Guadix where the Abenceraxes his kinsmen who were of great power there did kindly receiue him and dealt in such sort with their friends of the citty of Granado as they acknowledged him for their king The father hauing retired himselfe somewhere else made fierce and sharpe warre vpon his sonne which caused the losse of their Crowne and totall ruine to the raigne of the Moores in Spaine Albeit that those barbarous people were at such dissention among themselues The Moores take Cagnette yet when there was any cause they wold agree together to annoy the Christians so as they tooke the towne of Cagnette spoyled it and carried away all the inhabitants and souldiers for slaues and afterwards razed it downe to the ground These things were done in the yeare 1482. wherein is to be noted that foure seuerall Christian armies entred in a few moneths space into the kingdome of Granado An. 1482. King Fernand and Queene Izabella appointed Captaines for the frontiers namely for Iaen Don Pedro Manrique Earle of Treuigno who was newly made Duke of Nagera the Master of Saint Iames for Eccia and Don Iohn de Silua Earle of Cifuentes for Siuill the assistant Diego Merlo beeing lately dead â—onna Mary borne Towards the end of the yeare the Queene in the cittie of Cordoua was deliuered of a daughter called the Infanta Maria who was afterward Queene of Portugall and after she was churched the Court remooued to Madrid The beginning of the yeare 1483. was sorrowfull to the Nauarrois Nauarre by reason of the death of their king Francis Phoebus whome the Princesse his mother had carried backe into France to auoyde the importunate solliciting of marriages which they would haue procured in Spaine both for him and his sister Donna Catherina wherewith King Lewis the eleuenth was not contented hee dyed not without suspition of poyson for without any apparance at all of sicknesse Francis Phoebus poysoned he felt himselfe to be stricken with a deadly pricking as he was playing vppon a flute which was presented vnto him in which and all other instruments of musicke he did greatly delight Beeing neere to his end hee repeated these words taken out of the Gospell My kingdome is not of this world therefore I leaue the world trouble not your selues for I go to the Father He dyed in Bearne in the castle of Paâ— the fourth yeare of his raigne if we reckon from his grand-mothers death Queene Leonora being but fifteene yeares of age fully compleat hee lyes buried at Lescar in the Cathedrall Church of S. Mary King Fernand and Queene Izabella receiued newes of his death at Madrid Castile where they had called a Parlament and because the Crowne of Nauarre descended to the Infanta Donna Catherine sister to the deceased king they sent the Licenciate Rodrigo Maldonado of Talauera one of their Councell Ambassador into Bearne to the Princesse Magdalen her mother to demaund the Infanta in marriage for the Prince Don Iohn their sonne The mother Princesse notwithstanding that shee would willingly haue condescended thereunto made answer that shee could not bestow her without the consent of his brother the French king Vppon this answer the Catholike kings sent Iohn de Ribera with troupes of men at armes towards the frontiers of Nauarre to haue intelligence with the Earle of Lerin who had married King Fernandes bastard sister to the end to hinder the French-men from enterprising any thing and from entring into that kingdome The Estates assembled at Madrid granted a subsidie to the King towards the warre of Granado and besides that the Pope permitted them to leauie one hundred thousand Crownes vpon the Clergie of Spayne and sent them a Croizado to gather contributions and gifts for the same purpose and in this Parlament the power authoritie and iurisdiction of the Hermandades and vnions of the Communalties was ordered and reformed Afterwards the Kings diuided the affaires betwixt them that they might the better prouide for all matters shee remayned in Castile and he prepared himselfe to returne into Andalusia but the troubles which were raised in Gallicia by the meanes of D. Pero Aluares Osorio Earle of Lemos did call him into those parts The Earle dyed there before the Kings arriuall Sedition in Gallicia and by that meanes saued the King a labour who otherwise would haue had him arraigned by order of lawe Another contention arose betwixt a bastard sonne of the late Earles called Rodrigo Osorio whome his father had appointed heire in the Earledome of Lemos to the preiudice of his lawfull daughter who was married to the Earle of Benauents sonne she sayd that in regard Rodrigo was a bastard he was incapable to inherite he on the contrarie alleaged his legitimation by the Pope the king imposed silence and peace to both parties and referred the cause to his Councell to bee ordered according to iustice and in the meane time did commit the towne of Ponferrada and the Lordship thereof beeing a parcell of the litigious inheritance to the keeping of his Vncle Don Henry Henriques great Master excepting one strong hold of the same Lordshippe which he gaue in keeping to Don George d'Abendagno his countri-man and a Knight of the Kings house These matters thus ordered the king returned to Madrid from whence he dispatched Ambassadours to procure the peace of Italy which flamed with intestine warres the Pope and the Venetians hauing ioyned to the preiudice of King Fernand of Naples and the Florentines
write vnto the king complaining of the cardinals sowre disposition whereby Spaine was opprest and filled full of troubles The cardinall in like maner did not faile to aduertise the king of what had past at Villefratre and of the rashnesse disobedience and contempt of these noblemen omitting nothing of the rigor of justice in this action wherfore there was apparence of some great tumult for these noblemeÌ„ made many assemblies and the bishop of Zamora was already come to Vailledolit who was afterwards strangled in the castle of Aquila and the earle of Alba de Lista with troupes of men in fauour of the earle of Vregna who notwithstanding were forced to depart the towne by the aduice of them of the Chauncerie for that they did solicite the people to sedition They did also surprise a packet of the constables directed to the earle of Vregna to whom he promised to rayse all the countrey of Burgos and that of the mountaines whereby it appeared that the demonstrations he made to pacifie things and to bee a neuter in this businesse were but fained On the other side the duke of Alba a secret enemie to the cardinall by reason of the commission which he in his opinion had purchased to depriue his sonne of the priorie of Saint Iohn he offered all his power and meanes to the duke of Albuquerque against the cardinall In the meane time the Alcayde proceeded against them that were within Villefratre who to omit nothing that might make their cause odious had made an image attired like a cardinall the which they caused to be dragd vp and downe the towne in derision of cardinall Ximenes but in the end these vaine young lords finding that their forces might not equall the Viceroyes power they dislodged by night and left the place Then Sarmiento proceeding in the processe pronounced sentence Sentence against the town of Villefratre and the execution thereof by the which the towne of Villefratre was condemned to be burnt to ashes and the ground of it to be sowne with salt and neuer more to be built for that the ministers of royall justice had beene outraged there and the decrees of the court of Vailledolit contemned the earle of Vregna Rodrigo his sonne and their other confederats and adherents conuicted of high treason and condemned to Guttiere of Quixade in his charges dammage and interest This sentence was presently put in execution the towne was reduced to powder first with the canon and then with fire seuen of the inhabitants which had outraged the vsher when they did beat him and cried out That they knew no other lord but the earle of Vregna were publikely whipt a seruant of the Admirals being accused to haue leuied men secretly in fauour of the rebels was also condemned by Sarmiento to be whipt This sentence was executed vpon a festiuall day against custome and al example Which rigorous acts did much afflict all the great noblemen of Spaine among the which the duke of Escalona who was then at Madrid kept his chamber six dayes for griefe and would not speake to any man and then being visited by D. Francis Ruis Complainâ—s against cardinall Ximenes bishop of Auila he complained much of the cardinals rough and inexorable seueritie a man without friendship or humanitie to haue so vilely intreated the earle of Vregna his kinsman whereby he would tread vnder his feet the dignitie of great and famous houses of Spaine and shew himselfe an enemie to nobilitie The constable with the duke of the Infantazgo and other noblemen gaue the cardinall to vnderstand That seeing he had proceeded so furiously against Villefratre to the great contempt and prejudice of the earle of Vregna he should doe well to satisfie himselfe and not pursue the house of Giron any farther But the Admirall Henriques who had neuer shewed himselfe an open enemie to the cardinall being come to Madrid spake vnto him with great mildnesse and modestie shewing him the wrong he did vnto himselfe as well as to the whole realme holding the ranke of Archbishop of Toledo and primat so to blemish the honor of the great houses of Spaine so well deseruing of their kings not onely in these publike executions but by accusations and reports written vnto the king whereof they were well aduertised Admonition of the Admirall of Castille to cardinall Ximenes and other bad offices Wherefore he admonished him That if he loued the quiet of the realme and desired to doe the king seruice he should moderate his austere behauiour and intreat men and their affaires with more equitie and lesse choler Whereunto the cardinall Answer of cardinall Ximenes to the Admirall of Castille with a setled spirit answered That he intreated him to thinke that he was neuer any of those which sought to win the fauour of kings or to maintaine their reputation in the world by crueltie or doing injurie to any other but he had endeuoured to acquit himselfe duly of that great charge which had bin committed vnto him to gouerne the realm And if they would inquire of that which he had written and of the offices which he had done with the king they should find he had not bin so inciuile as they thought as euery one did publish according to his passions As for the processe of Giron matters were proceeded so far Proceedings of the cardinall allowed by the king as the king himselfe did set downe an order Thus matters remained in suspence vntil the king had signified his pleasure who did approue al the cardinal justice had done referring the rest to his judgemeÌ„t the which the duke of Escalona with the other friends kinsmen and allies of the earle of Vregna seeing they knew not what to resolue but to pacifie the cardinall seeking by all meanes to haue his fauour by which meanes they obtained that the earle representing himselfe in justice suomitting himselfe thereunto all offences were pardoned D. Francis Ruis bishop of Auila presiding in counsell and pronouncing the sentence The discontentment which D. Frederie of Toledo Causes of the duke of Albaes discontentment duke of Alba had against the cardinall grew for the priorie of S. Iohn of Ierusalem of the knights of Rhodes the which D. Diego his third son held then had enioyed it six yeres This dignitie is esteemed among the greatest of Spaine whereof the prior Valenzuela had beene depriued in the life of king Ferdinand for his ill deseruings and D. Aluaro of Estuniga canonically aduanced who had resigned it vnto his newphew D. Anthonie of Estuniga with the consent of king Philip and confirmation of Pope Leo but king Ferdinand after the death of Philip returning to the gouernment of Castille desirous to gratifie the duke of Alba from whom he had drawne many good seruices he tooke this priorie from D. Anthonie and did inuest the aboue named D. Diego of Toledo against the auncient order and against the lawes and customes of
Spaine begging therein the authoritie of the great master of Rhodes who was discontented that the Pope should take vpon him to conferre that priorie to D. Anthonie of Estuniga causing the grant of the order to be brought expresly from Rhodes to that end D. Anthonie complaining in vaine to the Pope both of the king and great master who for his last refuge retired into Flanders to king Charles beseeching him to confirme and maintaine that which his father Philip had done the which hee obtained when as he was aduertised of the death of king Ferdinand for king Charles did write in his fauour vnto the Pope And so D. Diego of Toledo and D. Anthonie of Estuniga began to fall to suit for this priorie at Rome where D. Anthonie did win his cause and got letters of execution from the Pope with the which and the Popes fauourable letters he came vnto king Charles who sent him into Spaine to cardinall Ximenes whom he commaunded to take into his hands all the places of the priorie admonishing the duke of Alba and his son to retire their men and to referre the controuersie to him to compromise and if the duke of Alba should refuse he should then cause the kings letters and sentence to be executed forcing them to obey that should oppose themselues notwithstanding any oppositions The duke of Bejar with his brother D. Anthonie of Estuniga presented these letters and commaundement from the king to the cardinall the which the duke of Alba vnderstanding being out of hope to procure any delay from the cardinall for hee was well acquainted with the nature of the man and knew well that he desired to see this processe in the which there had past many threats and injurious words ended hee resolued to oppose himselfe and to crosse his proceedings by force He had of his part the duke of Escalona and many other noblemen the which did trouble his aduerse partie At that time the cardinall was troubled with a tertian ague the which did animate the duke of Alba and his partie and gaue them hope to prolong the processe and to keepe the possession vntill that the king said they were better informed But being somewhat recouered of his sicknesse he called both parties and enioyned them to lay aside armes vntill he were better informed of the right The cardinall would haue the places sequestred according to the kings letters wherein seeing great difficultie by the practises and force vsed on the duke of Albaes part in the end he propounded to execute the kings letters brought by D. Anthonie of Estuniga wherein there was a diuision among the counsellors some holding that the duke of Albaes cause was more just and for that said they there was some obscuritie in the letters not being certaine whether the duke of Alba referring the matter to the kings arbitrement might still hold the possession as depositarie vntill the cause were ended or else vntil the king shold name another depositarie into whose hands the places the priorie should be deliuered they thought it therefore necessarie to haue another warrant of which aduice were doctor Adrian the seignior of Chaux The cardinall banding himself against all these difficulties he brought all the councel to that point as they concluded the kings letters should be executed The duke of Alba forgetting nothing that might helpe his cause imploied in his fauor queene Germaine the French king and the king of England by whose meanes king Charles was not so resolute to restore D. Anthonie of Estuniga to his Priory whereof the Cardinall being aduertised hee wrote letters of complaint vnto the king to the Lord of Cheuâ—es and to the whole councell of Flanders shewing them how necessarie constancie and perseuerance were in such like ordinances and decree then hee thought it good to call the duke of Alba vnto him Speech of Cardinall Ximenes to the duke of Alba. to whome in the presence of the councell and the earle of Osorâ—o hee said friendly that he should temper the heat which hee saw in him in the pursute of his rights and that there would be meanes if he himself did not hindeâ—it to reconcile all things without tumult or armes wherefore he did aduise him to put the priory into the kings hands to dispose according vnto right and justice assuring him that if hee did it willingly hee would mitigate much of the rigour of the commandement which hee had receiued from the king and that hee would deliuer the Priorie into the hands of D. Pedro Bazan who hee knew was much affected to his house and hee should keepe it vntill the kings comming promising moreouer that he would then cause the deliuerie of it to D. Anthonie to bee staied for three moneths that in the meane time hee might worke his best meanes These conditions were contemned by the Duke of Alba who departed saying that the Cardinall might doe better if hee list and not derogate any thing from the kings authority and going from Madrid with this discontent bee went to his kinsmen and friends to conferre with them of the enterprize which hee had in his braine all dissuading him from opposing himselfe against the Cardinall witnes the calamity of them of Villefratre and of the earle of Vregna for the which they gaue him such reasons as at that time hee yeelded to their counsels But falling afterwards into furie the Cardinal was forced to come to the last remedy calling together his Legionary companies both horse and foot as well to gard and fortifie the councell and justice Defeat of the duke of Albas men by the Cardinals companies as to suppresse the mutines and keepe them from ioyning together which forces did incounter and put to rout about a thousand foote and some horse of the duke of Albas and stript them in the diocesse of Toledo After which rout the duke comming to himselfe hee imployed the fauour of Queene Germaine and doctor Adrian and came to Madrid where hee was so tractable as hee yeelded the Priorie at the Cardinals discretion for hee shewed him with what vprightnesse he proceeded in this businesse Duke of Alba submits himself to Cardinall Ximenes and let him read the originall letters hee had receiued of the kings commandement to the end hee might know it was no cause that hee did affect and seeke adding that hee should consider with himselfe wherein hee might assist him preseruing his honour and the king his masters seruice assuring him that hee would not faile him to whome the duke made answere that hee would not intreat any other thing of him but after that his sonne should be depriued of the priory the king would remember that their house had alwaies been affectionat to the crowne and haue regard vnto it and for that hee had vnderstood that he would leaue the priory in deposito in the hands of D. Ferdinand Andrada who had married D. Francis of Estuniga kinswoman to his aduerse party he desired