to the great Church where the Deputies with the Captains of the Citie were assembled with loud voices and lamentable cries beseeching them to seek som remedie for their miserie was insupportable desiring them moreover to let them know the reason why the war was so procrastinated and urging that fiftie daies were past without any action of war neither could their imaginations reach to what they intended The Officers answered them That the occasion of those demurres was the often going to and coming from Tordesillas about the Treatie of Peace with the Cavaliers bidding them return quietly to their houses and before night they should know particularly all the circumstances and passages of the business Whereupon the people praied them to consider well what they did and not to let them suffer any further detriment or bee burthened vvith any more expences for vvithin less then seven months they had dis-bursed above one hundred thousand and five hundred Duckets besides other charges and losses which they had sustained beyond number yet they did grudg none of all this if they could close up their miseries with peace or revenge themselvs by war and that they might bee permitted to fall upon Simancas and Tordesillas for nothing grieved them so much as that they could not have their wills on them Towards the Evening the people of every Ward beeing called together they were shewed certain Articles which two Commissioners of the Iunta had concluded with the Governors and brought from Tordesillas the substance of them beeing according to the contents of the General Articles of the Kingdom specified at large already I shall spare to trouble the Reader with a second relation SECT XV. THe people having perused these Articles would by no means approve of them nor consent to any agreement alleging that what the Cavalier promised therein was not sufficient neither was it certain to bee performed for they had no warrant from his Majestie so especial as a business of that consequence did require besides they refused to give any pledges or deliver any strong holds into the Commonaltie's possession for their securitie And since the conditions they offered them were neither good nor sure they would have no Peace but War with them in regard they found no securitie of their persons or lives without it The Commissioners and Captains seeing all the people fully determined and bent to give the Cavaliers battle and either live with libertie or end their miseries with death most of them beeing of the same opinion deeming that to bee their onely safe way cherish'd them in that resolution presently giving order to all the people of Valladolid to bee in a readiness all the Artillerie to bee prepared and fitted to carrie into the field the like was done through all the Cities and Towns of the Commonaltie every Commissioner repairing to his own Citie and Town to that purpose Thus they intended in one daie to end all their troubles and that this last bout should paie for all their delaies and triflings whereby they had ruined themselvs and given the Cavaliers time to recruit and strengthen their Partie SECT XVI ONe night whilest these things were thus in agitation Iohn de Padilla by order of those of the Iunta came privately to Valladolid and after they had consulted with him concerning things necessarie for the present expedition hee returned immediately to Torrelobaton to secure the Artillerie which was there having intelligence that the Cavaliers in Tordesillas had a design to surprise it Order was given to rais him two thousand Foot well armed with two hundred Lances in Valladolid and two pieces of Ordnance for two purposes the one to demolâ—sh Torrelobaton which hee did afterwards the other to give the Lord High Constable battle before hee could join his forces with the rest For those from Valladolid with the two thousand which hee had in Torrelobaton and those which hee exspected hourly from Salamanca Toro and Zamora who were six thousand Foot and two hundred lances besides two thousand five hundred from Palencia fifteen hundred from DuenÌ„as four hundred from Palacios and others from the Beherrias and Merindades would make him an Armie of fourteen thousand But those of Valladolid were so long before they could bee in fit equipage to march and the other Tovvns and Cities not sending in their supplies time enough Iohn de Padilla could not execute his design against the Lord high Constable vvho as you have heard took Vezerril and marched into Rioseco vvith four thousand Foot six hundred lances three or four pieces of Artillerie c. So that through the vveakness and vvant of care of the Commoners Captains hee soon after set a period to that so miserably contentious and destructive War The Cavaliers on the one partie and the Cities for the Commonaltie on the other raised all the force they could possibly for this expedition The Citie of Palencia sent six hundred men and tvvo pieces of Ordnance DuenÌ„as four hundred men and tvvo pieces of Ordnance Baltanas de Cerrato two hundred Those of Segovia Avila and Leon came not Salamanca made good the number before mentioned All these were without any discipline or experience in Martial affairs and amongst their Officers there was such emulations every one standing so upon their punctillio's of honor each Captain would bee chief scorning to receiv orders from any other In a word they were ill bred people possessed with no less ignorance then unadvisedness The Merchants and other Citizens of Valladolid seeing the â—â—siness brought to the push and the people resolved to decide â—â—eir difference with the sword fearing or doubting the event caâ—â—ied all their goods and Merchandises into Monasteries having shut up all their ware-houses and shops and laid all other trading aside onely for matter of arms every one providing himself the best hee could The poorer sort of people beeing ready to starv made lamentable complaints in the streets crying out to God for mercie and to releas them out of those calamities though it were with the loss of their lives They feared the power of the Cavaliers who had an Armie of two thousand Lances and seven thousand Foot of the choicest men in the Kingdom all well armed and in good order with stout and experienced Officers under the Command of the Earl of Haro who with great Vigilancie answerable to his Courage executed the place of Captain General SECT XVII THe Lord High Constable marched out of Rioseco towards Tordesillas the 19th of April 1521 to join with the rest of the Cavaliers where hee was exceedingly desired Beeing com to PenÌ„aflor near Torrelobaton hee there took up quarters for his forces wence hee went to Tordesillas where hee was received with extraordinarie expressions of joie Iohn de Padilla was yet in Torrelobaton with eight thousand Foot five hundred Lances and the Artilleâ—ie of Medina del Campo exspecting more supplies from the other Cities which by their ill management and slackness were not com to him And
these sums for in effect no bodie could rightly understand what they would have had yet they saie the Emperor desired no more then the ordinarie Subsidie that his Predecessors the Catholick Kings had which was two hundred millions everie year and that the over-plus they stole from him and the Kingdom contrarie to his will or knowledg SECT XI THe affairs of Spain were so imbroiled and men so inconsiderately raving that it seemed as it were a scourge from Heaven which threatned no less destruction to that Countrie then that during the reign of Don Rodrigo They trusted in Southsaier's Prognostical judgments of the succeeding mischiefs Som Divels invented I know not what Prophecies which they father'd upon Saint Isidorus Arch-Bishop of Sevilia others upon Frier Iohn de Roccacelsa and one Merlin besides others which they said were of Saint Iohn Damascenus and other Doctors that of Saint Isidorus was his complaints or lamentations over Spain I have read all those ill presâ—ges of calamitie and destruction to Spain which so much affrighted and dismaied the people and I find them onely idle things which deserv not the setting down here unless it were to make us wonder at the facilitie and weakness of men in those times to give credit to anie such like fopperies The ignorant people were particularly besotted with one which pourported That there should reign over Spain a Prince called Charles who should destroie the Kingdom and make the Cities desolate but hee should bee overcom and driven out of the Kingdom by an Infante of Portingal and that the said Infante should reign over all Spain and mee think's wee see the contrarie Such follies doth blinde passion work in thoughts of ignorant and indiscreet people SECT XII TOledo wrote to the other Cities the last year 1519 inviting them to assemble and consult of what was most meet and expedient for them to supplicate the Emperor before his departure out of the Kingdom And in regard that Assemblie went not forwards and that now things were in such disorder that the breaking out was universal through the whole Kingdom yet they did not well understand nor trust one another so for the begetting a better intelligence amongst them and to the end they might the more firmly establish the Commonaltie which thâ—y called Holie Toledo sent other Letters to all the Cities of Castillia pressing them with manie powerful arguments to send without delaie their Commissioners to the Holie Assemblie at Avila and not to return them anie such excuse as formerly becaus such kinde of Congregations and Assemblies were condemned by strangers for in that Holie Assemblie nothing was to bee debated but what concerned the Service of GOD. And that they might studie or invent Remedies against the Seven sins of Spain treating first Of their fidelitie to the King their Lord. Secondly the Peace of the Kingdom Thirdly the Remedie or settling of the Roial Patrimonie Fourthly the grievances of the Natives Fifthly the Injustice done by Strangers Sixtly the Tyrannies w th som of their own Countrie-men had invented Seventhly the intolerable Impositions taxes which that Kingdom suffered Urging moreover that they should not value what censure passed upon them amongst their enemies for so doing in regard wicked persons are alwaies ready to blast with opprobrious tongues all good and religious actions which presupposed although things should fall out contrarie to their exspectations or desires and that they should bee in danger of their persons theiâ— houses should be plucktdown their goods taken away and at last should lose their lives In such case they were to esteem disgrace a favor danger securitie povertie riches banishment a glorie loss profit persecution a crown death life for nothing is so glorious for a man as to spend his life in the defence of the Republick After all these and divers other persuasive arguments they desired each Citie to give ful credence to their Messenger who had instructions to treat further with them SECT XIII THe fifth of Iulie 1520 the Lord Deputie of Murcia made a complaint to the Cardinal and Council how the Citie beeing risen had killed their Governor a Judg and one of the Sheriffs besides several other persons and that the people were all in Arms and so disorderly that becaus hee went about to pacifie and allaie their furie gently and in a peaceable manner representing to them the foulness and enormitie of what they had don they drove him out of the Citie and placed Guards and Rounds which committed very great disorders Hereupon it was ordered by the Council that Leguizama a Judg of Oyer and Terminer should go thither with large powers taking Officers along with him and that the neighboring towns should furnish him with men sufficient to bring them to reason Leguizama the Judg beeing arrived at Murcia entred peaceably into the Citie Hee intimated his orders to the Chief Justice Gentlemen Council and Assemblie of the Citie requiring their favor and assistance Which at first they did obey and the Judg began to make his privie search and examination whereby hee found som guiltie which hee gave order to apprehend This pleased not the People who began to think of turning him out of the Citie Hee sentenced a Shoomaker to bee whipp'd who beeing brought through the streets the Beadles still whipping him the people mutinied and manie beeing armed they rescued the prisoner with great nois and hubbub which done they went into a hous to consult what they were to do The Judg perceiving that presently betook him to his heels and fled into the Marquess of Velez his hous who then was in the Citie The Marquess hearing that the Judg was gone to his hous hee would not staie with him but presently took hors and rode out of the Town as fast as hee could to Mula a Citie ten leagues from Murcia The Judg made all haste possible after the Marquess and overtook him in the field a good waie from Murcia where hee shewed him his Orders charging him in the King's name under pain of Death and Confiscation of all his Estate to go back again with him into the Citie and to aid and assist him to do Justice The Marquess answered him very angerly for hee had desired him before to bee very careful how hee proceeded to consider the times and not to be too rigorous but he would not follow his counsel saying Iudg Go make these Requests to such men as your self is not to mee for in respect I am very much a servant to his Majestie I give you this answer and no other But to obey and shew the reverence I bear to the Roial Crown in whose name you require mee to return with you let your Notarie publick com after mee and I will give him an answer to what you demand of mee With that hee turned the reins of his Hors and rode on towards Mula The Judg went back to Murcia and set up his Hors in the same
the vanitie of anie earthly Crowns Having received this repuls hee agreed with Lewis King of France that hee should make the match betwixt him and Madam Germana daughter to Gaston de Foix and to the said French King's sister which was concluded upon this condition That King Lewis in stead of her Dowrie should grant and pass over to Don Fernando the right which hee pretended to the kingdom of Naples and that if the Queen should die before him without issue hee should succeed and inherit the same title but if shee should survive Don Fernando that Lewis should repossess the said claim These Articles beeing confirmed they made a Peace betwixt France and Spain for a hundred and one years but it scarce continued so manie weeks and Don Iuan de Silva Earl of Cifuentes with the Vice-Chancellor of Aragon went into France to attend and conduct her Majestie into Castillia SECT IV. THe Castillians in mean time beeing very desirous to have their Natural Sovereign amongst them importuned by frequent messages and invitations Donnia Iuana and her husband to return and bring their Children with them into Spain Whereupon Don Philip having provided a Fleet for the purpose they departed Flanders leaving the Prince Don Carles under the care and tuition of the Emperor Maximiliano and Donnia Margarita widdow to the Duke of Savoye and at last though tossed with much storm and tempests by the waie they landed safe at the Groyne in Galicia Don Fernando hearing of their arrival went to meet them betwixt La Puebla de Sanabria and Asturianos This interview occasioned no small discontent betwixt these Princes for Kings will admit of no competitors or Companions no not of their own châ—ldren in matters of Government and Command Whereupon Don Fernando forsaken by all but onely the Duke of Alva and the Earl of Altamira with som few others took his waie to Villafafila and Tordesillas and King Philip with his Queen to Venauente attended by all the Nobles and flower of Castillia besides strangers to the number of above two thousand hors One caus of their discord was about the title and inscription of Commissions Patents and other dispatches Roial which at last was determined and agreed that all things should pass in the names of Don Fernando Don Philip and Donnia Iuana But this style was soon altered by the unexspected dâ—ath of Don Philip which hapned at Burges hee had but seven daies of sickness which was thought to bee a surfeit and past from this life to the eternal on fridaie the fifth of September annoâ—â—0â— â—â—0â— beeing aged but twentie eight years and having enjoied the Kingdom of Castillia a year and ten moneths lacking one daie hee commanded that his heart should bee carried to Bruxels his bodie to Granada and his bowels to remain there His death was much lamented by the Emperor his Father for besides that hee was his onely son hee was one of the handsomest men of his time therefore hee was called Philip the Fair and the nobleness of his minde was answerable to the feature of his bodie Donnia Iuana his Queen was so sensible of his loss that with the extremitie of sorrow and her incessant weeping shee became in a manner distracted An old woman in Galicia seeing him at his landing and beeing told who hee was said That hee should bee a longer time and travel more leagues in Castillia beeing dead then living which proved so for the Queen carried his bodie with her from place to place and would not suffer it to bee buried for manie years after Hee left two sons Don Carles and Don Fernando both Emperors and three daughters all mightie Queens Donnia Leonor first reigned in Portugal and afterwards was married to the King of France Donnia Catalina was wife to Don Iohn the Third King of Portugal Aunt and Mother-in-law to Philip the Second of Spain And Donnia Maria had for her husband Lewis King of Bohemia and Hungaria SECT V. IN mean time Don Fernando beeing married to the Queen Germana and distasted in Castillia retired himself into Aragon from thence beeing upon his â—ournie to Naples the Castilliâ—ns gave him notice of Don Philip's death and of the necesâ—itie that there was of his Roial presence but hee refused to return beeing incensed against som of them for their ingratitude to him By the death of Don Philip and the absence of King Fernando divers tumults and seditions arose in the kingdom the people refusing to obeie the Magistrates and Officers of Justice and the Nobles wanted not factions and partialities amongst them to trouble and disquiet the Countrie and almost everie Citie throughout the Kingdom was infected with the same contagion Som crying up Charls or Don Carles others Fernando no small number stood for Maximiliano but verie few made anie mention of Donnia Iuana who whether out of a sens of her own disabilitie or overcom with melancholie for her husbands deceas had retired her self at Tordesillas refusing to govern or trouble her head with State-affairs Whereupon with the consent of most part of the Peers and Nobles of the Realm the Cardinal Ximenez Don Bernardino de Velasso Lord high Constable and Don Pedro Manrique Duke of Naxara took upon them the administration of Government for the present they made Don Alonso Suarez Bishop of Iaen President of their Council assisted by Doctor Tello el Licenciado Polanco and other learned Lawyers They called a Parlament wherein they ordered to send to Don Fernando desiring him in the name of the Queen and the whole Kingdom to return and undertake the Government for his Daughter and Grandchilde Which hee beeing more readie to accept then they to offer did not refuse but returned answer that having setled the business which had called him to Naples hee would satisfie their desires And after som time leaving Don Iuan de Aragon Earl of Ribagorsa his Vice-Roy hee embarqued himself for Spain with his Queen Germana Don Gonsalo Fernandez de Cordova commonly called the gran Capitan and a great train of Spanish Gentlemen that attended him in his voiage Beeing arrived at Valentia the Queen Donnia Iuana went to meet him whom hee received with signs of much affection and fatherlie tenderness which shee answered with all the honor and due obedience that could bee exspected from an observant Daughter for although the excess of sorrow had weakned her intellectual faculties yet shee never lost her respect to her Father but paied him with all humilitie and filial dutie neither was shee ever heard to utter anie mis becoming words which is common to people tainted with her infirmitie The eighth of October the King and Queens came to Arcos where Donnia Iuana desiring to staie Don Fernando went with his Court to Burges leaving her a good number of Noblemen and Ladies besides guards suitable to the dignitie of her person Som years after Don Fernando left the troubles of this transitorie life to enjoie the quietness and bliss of the
eternal in the sixtie fourth year of his age having reigned and governed as King fourtie two years compleat Som saie it was the Dropsie that brought him to his end others report that his young Queen to quicken his Spirit and thaw the ice that contracted the blood in his aged veins gave him a certein provocative potion which instead of raising a part cast the whole bodie into the grave After his death arose manie differences amongst the Grandees concerning the Government Adriano Dean of Lovain and Tutor to Don Carles produced a Commission which the young Prince had given him to succeed Don Fernando in the Government until his coming into Spain this was opposed by Cardinal Ximenez who alleged that by virtue of his Catholick Majestie 's last Will and Testament hee was to bee Governor of the Kingdom until the Prince should com himself or give som special order to the contrarie that Adriano's Commission was dated long before Don Ferdinando's deceas therefore not valeable besides that hee was a foreigner which was sufficient reason to bar his pretensions But at last they agreed to govern both together until they received further order from Don Carles This joint-Government continued a great while during which time several Grandees of the Kingdom were much discontented and murmured that a Frier and a stranger in a manner of the same stamp should bee raised to such a height above them as to rule and command the whole Kingdom and them they alleged that Don Fernando had no power to substitute or appoint anie one to administer the Government of that kingdom in regard that since the Catholick Queen 's death hee was not King but onely Governor thereof himself and that considering Donnia Iuana would not undergo the trouble of the Crown according to the Laws of that â—and they agreed that the Duke del Infantado the Lord High-Counstable and the Earl of Venavente should examine the Cardinal by what autoritie and power hee took upon him to bee Governor of those kingdoms Whereunto hee boldly made them answer By the Power of his Catholick Majestie And they replying that the Catholick King had no autoritie â—o to do hee led them to a brest-work which hee had made about the hous where hee then lodged and shewed them a great rank of Artillerie commanding his servants to discharge them all which don hee told them this is the power by which I do and will govern Spain until the Prince our Lord com to take charge of it himself they were not very well satisfied with this answer neither did that manner of discours bode anie good to the Kingdom Notwithstanding the oppositions and murmurations of the Grandees and others in Castillia the Cardinal continued at the helm in despight of all until his Majestie 's coming into Spain which was anno 1517. At which time the Cardinal finding himself indisposed was retired into a Monasterie of his own Order at Aquilera whither his Majestie beeing received at Valladolid sent him a letter thanking him for his former services and requiring him to repair with those of the Council to Mojados where hee might consult with him concerning the present settling of his affairs after which hee should bee eased of the weightie burthen of that troublesom emploiment and have libertie to solace and retire himself This Letter was said to bee penned by the Bishop Mota who envious of the Cardinal's power and studying nothing more then which waie to eclips his greatness perswaded his Majestie to write to him in those terms which his Eminence having perused it struck him into a high distemper and the violent passion of his minde joined with the infirmitie of his bodie increased his fever in such manner that hee rendred his soul into the Creator's hands within eight daies after and was buried at Alcala de Henares in the College of St Illefonso whereof hee was Founder After whose death the Arch-Bishoprick of Toledo was given to Guillermo de Croüy Bishop of Cambray and nephew to Monsieur de Xeures his Majesties chief favorite which bred no small discontent amongst the Castillians seeing the principal Jewel of their kingdom bestowed upon a foreigner Yet the general report was that the Marquis of Villena with other Grandees of Castillia desired and earnestly importuned his Majestie so to do and that of himself hee had no such Intention neither did Monsieur de Xeures ever mention it And it is not to bee thought that those Noblemen tooke pleasure in seeing anie stranger advanced above them in their own Countrie But they were induced hereunto out of hopes to ingratiate themselvs thereby to the Flemings and chiefly to Xeures who had the King's ear above anie at that time Such is the force and power of over-swaying Ambition which so bastardiseth and adulterate's the hearts even of Noble-men that they will descend or stoop to anie thing to currie favor with a Prince's Minion Don Carles at that time could not reckon above seventeen years and a half at most from his Nativitie which was a verie tender age to undergo so weightie a charge as was that of ruling so manie and so considerable Countries especially those of Spain where according to their Laws and Customs it never had been seen that a Youth so young and one that had been born and bred in foreign parts should sit in their King's Throne Hee understood no Spanish neither was hee acquainted with the inclinations and dispositions of the people therefore although hee was verie ingenuous and of as excellent and sweet a nature as could bee desired in a truly Christian Prince hee could do no less then suffer himself to bee advised and guided by som of more mature years and experience And having been bred and tutored from his infancie by Guillermo de Croüy Lord of Xeures who was Duke of Sora in the kingdom of Naples and afterwards Duke of Arschot in Brabant a man of ripe age solid Judgment and eminent parts answerable to his birth beeing descended of the illustrious stock of the Kings of Hungarie and recommended to bee his Governor by his Grandfather Maximilian the Emperor hee committed himself with the management of all State-affairs wholly to his wisdom and Xeures in matters concerning Spain beeing a stranger to that Countrie was led by Maestro Mota a Native of Burgos Bishop of Badajos and som other Castillians who were more ambitious then virtuous SECT VI. AFter the reception of the Prince Don Carles in Valladolid which was most splendid and magnificent all the Procuradores del Reyno or the Commissioners of the Kingdom were summoned to assemble in Parlament wherein the Castillians were highly distasted becaus the Lord Chancellor a Fleming assisted as President for his Highness and that other strangers were admitted to sit in Parlament Som of the Commissioners took the oath of Allegeance to his Highness as King others refused to acknowledg him to bee their King as long as
bee no lodging allowed for those of the Council Judges nor anie such like Officers That the King should not give general or particular billets for the lodging of anie That the taxes and impositions should bee reduced to a certain number and the Pole-monie set at a just and moderate rate whereby the People might perceiv the grace and favor his Majestie did them That the subsidies granted by the Commissioners at the Groyn should not bee received nor demanded neither should there bee anie â—ew taxes or extraordinary tribute imposed upon the Kingdome without som evident necessitie and that it were thought requisite for the good of the Kingdom and his Majestie 's service That the King should not â—end any instructions to the Cities or form of granting Powers nor nominate any particular men for Officers but that the Cities and towns should have the freedom and libertie to bestow and confer their Powers upon such men as they should finde zealous for the good of their Republicks That the Commissioners in Parlament should have the libertie to meet when and where they pleased and to discours and confer freely with one another That such Commissioners during their emploiment should not receiv of the King anie Office favor or gift whatsoever for themselvs their Wives Children or kindred under pain of death and confiscation of goods and that those goods should bee employed for the publick reparations of the Citie or Town whereof they were Commissioners to the end that they should bee the more careful to do onely that which was most expedient for the glory of God the service of his Majestie and good of the Kingdom That everie Commissioner or Burgess should have a competent allowance from the place whose persons they represented That the Parlament beeing ended the several Commissioners should return within forty dayes to give account of what they had done under pain of losing their wages and emploiment That no gold or Silver coyned or to bee coyned should bee transported out of the Kingdom under pain of death In regard the contrary having been done the Kingdomes were impoverished and destroied That there should bee monie coyned differing as well in value as stamp from that of the neighboring Countries and that it should bee of a base alloy two Carats under the rate of the finest gold That in Weight and value it should bee answerable to the Crowns of Gold which are coyned in France Becaus that would bee a means that it should not bee transported Manie other artickles were given in touching gold and silver the particular favors and rewards of the King and other matters of justice But that which they insisted most upon was that the Councils should bee strictly looked to That the Chancery and other Courts in the Kingdom should bee visited or reviewed from six to six years and that all suits should bee dispatched in order and determined whithin a certain time without any delay That there should bee no appealing from Court to Court but that each case should bee decided at it's own Tribunal That no Counsellor or other whosoever should enjoie two offices but should apply himself to one onely These and manie other things the Nobles and Commissioners of the Kingdom desired but they fell into the hands of Strangers the King beeing young and full of thoughts of his Voiage and possession of his Empire So they remained And in regard these and other such like propositions were slighted and layd aside though presented with much zeal and affection the whole Kingdom burst out and slipping in one they fell into the Precipice of manie inconveniences as it is commonly seen They desired one thing verie Holie in the Chapter concerning Ecclesiastical dignities and pensions That they should not bee conferred upon strangers and that the acts of Naturalization which had been made should bee revoked That in the Ecclesiastical Courts there should bee no more duties payed then in the secular and that they should observ the same Statute Which I would it were well seen unto in these times There were likewise som complaints and Petitions given in against Pedrarias de Avila a gentleman of good note and quality brother to the Earl of Punio en Rostro and who had done great services yet hee was accused by som of his enemies and charged for having put manie to death unjustly at the discoverie of the Indies and committed divers Robberies and Tyrannies There were seaven consultations hereupon and Pedrarias was quitted by them all and the Emperor himself taking particular notice of the services which hee had done at Oran in Africa and the taking of Buxia besides other places in the Indies freed him notwithstanding these fals and passionate accusations and confirmed him in the government and charge which formerly had been conferred upon him and gave him som rewards besides But all this was not sufficient to stop the mouths of his enemies who gave occasion to strangers not onely of speaking ill but also of writing against this gentleman who was valiant in his own person and of antient extraction in this Kingdom And others not knowing to the contrary have followed them in the prejudicial censure of this nation and the Nobilitie thereof SECT XXXII TO the grief of those gentlemen who took ill Cardinal Adriano's beeing Governor by a general consent of the Council and Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada then President Hee was confirmed Governor of Castilla and Navarra jointly with those of his Council who were Don Alonso Tellez Lord of la-Puebla de Montalvan Hernando de Vega Chancellor of the order in Castilla Don Iohn de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada and President of his Majestie 's Council of Justice and Francisco de Vargas Treasurer general these were to reside at Valladolid Antonio de Fonseca Lord of Coca was appointed Captain General of the kingdom and Don Iohn Brother to the Bishop of Burgos his Treasurer Don Iohn de la Nuza was Governor of Aragon Don Diego de Mendoza brother to the Marquis of Zenete Vice-Roy of Valencia All being thus ordered for the Government of the kingdom and the winde coming faire upon Saturday the 19.th of May at Sun-set The Emperor commanded to bee Proclaimed That all the mariners and his retinue should goe on board that night for the next day in the morning hee would set saile Sunday the 20.th of May before day hee did his devotion and received the Sacrament after which hee tooke ship Don Alonso de Fonseca Arch-Bishop of Santjago Don Iuan de Fonseca Bishop of Burgos Don Inigo de Velasco Constable of Castilla and Leon Don Diego Lopez Pacheco Marquis of Villena Don Alonso Pimentel Earl of Benavente Don Iohn Osorio Marquis of Astorga and divers other persons of quality waited on him to the Sea-side Those that imbarked with him were Don Fadrique de Toledo Duke of Alva the Marquis of Villa Franca and his son Don Hernando de
Common People then neglect or forsake that which conduced to the King's service SECT XXXVI THis message which the Post brought from Segovia to the Governors declaring the crueltie done in that Citie possessed them with much trouble and care These risings touched the Cardinal to the heart and hereupon hee entred into consultation with those Gentlemen whom his Majestie had appointed to assist him After this the Gentlemen and Regidores of Segovia sent another Messinger to make their excuse to the Governor alledging That they had nothing to doe in the Death of Tordesillas nor the other two men neither were they able to hinder it in regard of the Mutinie of a great multitude of teazers of Wooll who made that scandalous uproar and outrage men of strange places vagabonds and who were already dispersed and fled from the Citie That if it could bee proved that anie man of account or worth in the Citie was amongst them or but anie waie favoured assisted or so much as consented to their barbarous proceeding they would willingly submit themselvs to anie Punishment that could bee inflicted on them The President of the Council Don Antonio de Rojas Arch-Bishop of Granada grew so cholerick and furious that through excess of passion hee gave the Messengers whom the Gentlemen Regidores and Citizens had sent to make their excuses such reproachful language and high threatnings that it spoiled all For returning to their Citie much distasted with this answer They were all scandalizâ—d at it and those that before were very quiet and peaceable began to incline to the Mutiniers The Cardinal beeing arrived at Valladolid the 5th of Iune 1520 the day before Corpus Christi eve the Arch-Bishop beeing gon thither two daies before Hee assembled all the Council and asked their opinions which were very different concerning this matter And becaus they are of so much importance to the Historie I will set down som of the most remarkable which were then taken in writing The first that spake was Don Antonio de Rojas President of the Council who declared himself in these words The opinion of Don Antonio de Rojas concerning Segovia MY LORDS wee who are dedicated to the Divine Sacraments have not the libertie to speak over boldly iâ— matters which concern humane rigors and chastisements becaus our profession is to shed tears for those which transgress against the God of Heaven and not spill the blood of those who offend earthlie Kings You see My Lords if the dignitie of Arch-Bishop invite's me to Clemencie the office of President which is conferred upon mee constrain's me to Iustice. This I say My Lords that you mâ—y not bee scandalized if I declare my self in this my vote I denie not that our Lord God giveth a beginning to all things with his Providence but yet manie of them hee persu's and concludeth with his rigor and Iustice. And this hee doth that the Good may bee incouraged to serv him and the wicked refrain from displeasing him According to this saying of the Prophet Misericordiam Judicium cantabo tibi Domine To com to the Purpose which now is in agitation This action of Segovia for my particular I hold it so hainous and scandalous that I cannot think of any Punishment great enough for it For where the offence is without weight the Penaltie ought to bee beyond measure Those of the Citie of Segovia have offended God in so barbarously putting to Death a man who better deserved to live then They. Which wicked action is of no less consequence then that it should wreak God's Iudgments upon them for the blood of his Innocencie is no other then the Crier or Proclaimer of Vengeance Again in my sense they are guiltie of Crimen laesâ—e Majestatis and it is very palpable for they did not murther Tordesillas for any offence hee had done them but for the service hee did the King in the Parlament And since for the King hee lost his life the King is obliged to see him revenged and in respect his Majestie is gone out of Castilla to receiv the Imperial Crown in Germanie It will bee sufficient if hee return in prosperitie that hee reward his wife and Children with some gratuity And wee are to proceed according to Iustice considering that the offence is as hainous as if it had been done to his own person For if I have served his Majestie beeing here present in giving him good Counsel I shall serv him more now My Lords in punishing misdeeds in his absence Moreover Since the King our Sovereign took shipping at the Groyn This is the first act of disobedience in Spain Wherefore I judge their crime the greater For an offence committed in absence alwaies argueth the more malice and where the malice is so great the Punishment ought to bee correspondent Item it is alleadged by those of Segovia that the Citie in general is not guiltie of this fact but only som particular men Carders did hang Tordesillas upon the Gallows I would fain know of them what was the reason why they did not punish those fellows since they were but few for there is no such testimonie of Innocence as to execute Iustice upon offenders In my opinion the Citie of Segovia cannot plead Non-Guiltie in this case for Five Thousand Citizens if they had listed might easily have withstood the furious insolence of Fiftie Teazers and those Strangers too But some secretly with their counsels others publickly using violence committed this insolent outrage For if it bee a crime in Wicked men to murther the good It is no less crime in good men not to resist the Wicked You have seen My Lords the peremptoriness of those of Toledo The King our Lord beeing at his Parlament in Santjago and the Groyn which was so great and scandalous that for my part I know not which was more to bee condemned their malicâ— in so doing or Xeures his negligence in not remedying it Wherefore I say that if that which was done hee being here hath pas't unpunished and this which hath bin committed in his absence be not remedyed from henceforwards I give all Castilla for lost and ruined For this is a General maxime if Iustice once lose her force presently start's up insulting Tyrannie Item since his Majestie 's departure out of this Kingdom This is the first scandal wherein it is requisite that the Council make appeare their Counsel and wisdom And there is nothing that can give a greater evidence thereof then in governing the People in such sort that wee may gain the affections of the good and bee no less feared by the evil If the death of this Regidor bee thus smothered and the insolence of Toledo dissembled the Carders of Segovia will thinke and the Cap-makers of Toledo will Proclaime that wee doe not let these things pass with our good wills but that wee dare not punish them And by this means Iustice will bee defamed in that shee cover's Feare and which is worst of all will
to incounter them and it is affirmed that hee might easily have routed them for although they were more in number they were but ordinarie people and as disorderly as unskilful But he was unwilling thereunto out of respect that manie men's lives might have been lost in the Conflict or perchance being doubtful of the Success So there were onely som light skermishes wherein Ronquillo took som of their baggage and divers of them prisoners whereof som he hang'd others he punished otherwise So that the Segovians retreated with no sâ—al loss and thenceforwards hee advanced his Siege and cut of their Commerce and Provisions so that nothing could pass into or out of the Citie yet hee used no extremitie towards them becaus hee had still hopes of som accommodation Hereupon Segovia mustered up their forces which amounted to twelv thousand men besides women and children who with an unspeakable courage took up Arms to defend the Citie against Ronquillo They made strong Pallisadoes deep Ditches and chained all their streets The Citie of Avila assisted them as if it had been their own Interest and both these Cities made a Joint-supplication to the Cardinal that hee would not proceed against them with so much rigor but receiving no satisfactorie answer they said Since it must bee so wee will remedie our selvs At length Segovia finding themselvs streightned by the Siege wrote to the Citie of Toledo declaring the occasion of their Revolt excusing themselvs of the death of Tordesillas and imputing it to the indiscreet furie of som Carders and Teazers exclaiming against the rigor of the Cardinal and Council for sending Ronquillo not as an equitable Judg to do them Justice but as a cruel Tyrant to wage War against them and at last conjuring and imploring their succor and assistance to rais the Siege alleging that the punishment the Cardinal and Council intended to inflict upon Segovia was but the Precursor of the destruction of Toledo in regard they were in the same Predicament and declared by the Council for disobedient as well as those of Segovia were condemned for Traitors In the Close of all they desired that Citie to give credit to the Relation of Rodrigo de Cieca and Albara de Guadarrama the bearers of their Letter who had Instructions and Orders to impart matters of higher consequence unto them which they durst not commit to paper Other Letters to the same effect they sent to the other Cities of Castilla who all returned them great promisses and encouragement and in effect they sent to the Cardinal and Council desiring a pardon for Segovia all but Toledo who beeing less scrupulous in stead of fair words sent them men of Arms to succor the Citie as shall appear hereafter SECT XLV TOledo upon receit of this Letter sent to reliev Segovia four hundred Musketiers as manie Halberdiers and three hundred Hors well Armed which were joifully received and gave them courage to sallie out again upon Ronquillo But first they sent to him requiring that hee would let them alone depart from Santa Maria de Nieva where hee laie and that hee would meddle no more with the affairs of Segovia otherwise they would make him go away with a Vengeance But Ronquillo thought to do what hee came for that was to enter into Segovia and punish severely the Delinquents to which effect hee assembled the whole Countrie thereabouts yet could not accomplish his Design for all the Cities and Towns that then were up were wedded so unanimously to that same Interest that there was much to bee feared Ronquillo went from place to place one night hee laie in one Town the next night in another setting out Spies somtimes catching those that came out of Segovia and seeking all means possible to get into it In the Market-place of Santa Maria de la Nieva hee made publick Acts Proclamations and Out-laws against the Segovians but they scorned and laughed at them and 't is reported that the Common People set up a great high Gallows which they swept and watered everie daie saying That was to hang Ronquillo upon making shew of as much courage and resolution as if they had had the whole world on their side this was when they saw how forward and ready Toledo was to back them and had furnished them with both men and monie SECT XLVI THe Cardinal seeing the ill success of this business sent about three hundred and fiftie Lanciers and som Foot Souldiers of those which were Garrisoned in Navarra to Ronquillo with whom hee scoured the Confines of Segovia One daie hee went to Zamarramala where hee caused to bee set up certain papers against the Segovians proclaiming them Traitors and Rebels and summoning them to appear before him within a certain time thence hee returned to Nieva where hee commanded a high Scaffold to bee built whereon hee caused to bee set other Acts and Writings to the same effect then gave order to bee proclaimed in all the adjacent Towns and Villages that no bodie should dare to carrie anie provisions whatsoëver to Segovia under pain of death Segovia seeing Ronquillo use them so hardly keeping all provisions from them three thousand five hundred of them very well provided with Corslets Lances Halberds and Swords made another sallie one of the principal Citizens named Peralta was their Commander in Chief so with great nois and little order as Common-people use to do they marched directly towards Santa Maria de Nieva but at two Leagues distance from Segovia they met Ronquillo with his men who were better disciplined then they made som shots at them whereupon they soberly retreated towards their quarters The Segovians seeing that and thinking that they ran away pursued with great eagerness and in such disorder that the others turning upon them killed som of them and took Don Diego Peralta their Captain Prisoner and they took an Officer and som of Ronquillo's men At last the Combat grew so hot that Ronquillo quitted his quarters and left the Segovians beeing far more in number masters of the place who presently set fire to the Scaffold and burned all the Acts and proclamations hee had set up against them Upon this came a new supplie of three thousand men to them which gave them fresh courage and seeing themselvs so strong they followed Ronquillo and made two great shots at him which killed him two Hors-men and they took the Paie-master of his Forces with two millions of Maravediz whereof thirtie four make six-pence sterl which hee carried to paie his men this Prize with other prisoners they sent to Segovia Ronquillo still retreated in good order and som of his Hors perceiving a Partie of about fortie men of the Segovians scattered in a smal Village near Nieva charged them and having took som they brought them to Ronquillo whereof he presently hanged two the rest he carried to Coca where he went to lodg And the Segovians having rescued their Captain returned joifully to their Citie SECT XLVII THe distempers
Groyn should not bee exacted from those Cities which continued in their obedience to him nor from those which were willing to submit and bee reduced for it was his will and pleasure graciously to forgive it them This grace hee did likewise to the whole Kingdom That the Roial Revenue should bee allowed for the Taxes as during the Reigns of other Catholick Kings his Ancestors Hee resolved also to abrogate the sale farming and enhauncement of all Taxes and Impositions which indeed were very great and besides hee sent to offer and certifie That no Office in that Kingdom should bee conferred upon anie whomsoëver unless hee were a Native which if hee had granted when hee was desired these Commotions had never happened Of all this were ingrossed his Majestie 's Patents and Commissions of sufficient power Yet notwithstanding these three things were the principal grievances and most important reasons that Toledo and the other Cities alleged for excuse of their tumultuous risings The granting all these demands was not available enough to quiet their Commotions and reduce them to obedience for the Contrivers and Ring-leaders who had seduced the people into those mischievous practices finding profit in fishing in that troubled water hindered all they could that these graces of his Majestie might not com unto the people's knowledg and when they were known they gave out that they were vain promises and onely fained or framed by the Council becaus they were not able to do any thing els untill they had divided the people and then that they would fall upon them SECT XVIII ABout this time Letters were brought to Toledo from all the Cities concerning their Iunta or Assemblie and they all agreed it should bee as Toledo desired Don Pedro Lasso whom Toledo honored so much since his return from the Groyn where hee shewed such obstinacie in his resolution that they received him with great Solemnitie giving him the stile of the Deliverer of that Countrie Was appointed for the chief Commissioner of that Citie with him they sent Don Pedro de Ayala and two Iurates besides other Deputies of the Common-People Who resolved to take their Iournie the same daie Iohn de Padilla went to the succor of Segovia The Citie of Avila was pitched upon for this Assemblie more particularly becaus it was situate in the middle of old Castilla and the Kingdom of Toledo The Cities which made this Assemblie were Toledo Madrid Guadalaxara Soria Murciâ— Cuenca Segovia Avila Salamanca Toro Zamora Leon Valladolid Burgos Cuidad Rodrigo The Commissioners of all these Places beeing assembled they chose their Secretaries and other Officers correspondent The Assemblie was held in the Chapter of the Cathedral Church Don Pedro Lasso Commissioneâ— from Toledo and the Dean of Avila who was a native of Segovia were chosen Presidents Upon a table in the Chapter laie a Cross and the Evangelists whereon they made oath everie one to live and die in the King's Service and in favor of the Commonaltie And those that refused to do this in Avila were not onely ill treated in words but had their houses pulled down But this fortune onely befell one Gentleman named Don Antonio Ponze Knight of the order of Sant jago and son to the Prince Don Iohn his nurs The rest fearing the Peoples furie condescended and collogued with them to save their lives which were in no small danger In the middle of the Commissioners of this Assemblie was placed a little form whereon did sit a certain Cloath-worker named Pinilles with a wand in his hand and no Gentleman Commissioner or Ecclesiastick durst offer to speak one word untill this Cloath-worker had given him the sign by pointing to him with his wand So that those who took upon them to remedie the Kingdom were commanded by a mean inferior fellow a Cloath-worker Such was the violence and blindness of the Common People's passion The first thing they Ordered was to take awaie the staff from the Corregidor of Avila next they sent Letters to the Alcalde Ronquillo charging him not to set foot in the land of Segovia and condemning him to great penalties if hee did the contrarie SECT XIX HAving alreadie related the manner of the Commotions of the Cities and principall Towns of the Kingdom with their general Assemblie at Avila I will now tell you the successes of those unadvised and indiscreetly raised Tumults And in regard one of the most notorious Actors in these tragicall disorders was Don Antonio de Acunna Bishop of Zamora who is famous to this very daie for the strangeness of his disposition and manner of the death hee suffred which was not suitable to the dignitie of a Prelate but very answerable to his Actions since it was done with very great justification of the Emperor and by the Autoritie of Pope Clement the 7th as appear's upon Record in the Arches of Simancas which I have seen you shall briefly hear who this Bishop was and what his conditions During the time of Don Iohn the second his raign in Castilla lived in that Kingdom Don Luis Osorio de Acunia a Gentleman of eminent note and account father to Don Diego Osorio and this Don Antonio de Acunia to whom his father dying left the Arch-Deakonship of Valpuesta besides other meanes In these times hee beeing in service to their Catholick Majestie 's was sent by them Embassador into France after which the Bishoprick of Zamora was conferred upon him The King was not very well pleased with him becaus hee was of a turbulent Spirit a lover of broils impatient adventurously bold and one that did take more upon him then his profession and degree required Hee was naturally inclined to Arms his ambition was to make himself Lord and Master of Zamora where the Earl of Alva de Lista then lived son in law to the Duke of Alva a stout gallant Gentleman and a great lover of honor The Bishop and the Earl meeting about certain affairs betwixt them they grew to such odds that very good Mediators were not able to pacifie them Zamora beeing in Rebellion and paying no obedience but to the Junta or Assemblie the Bishop on one side and the Earl on the other used all means possible to draw the people to thâ—ir factions The Earl was better beloved and bore the greater sway in the Citie so that the Bishop was forced to leav it It made him half madd to lose his hous and so desperate seeing his Enemie prevail so far against him That hee presently went to Tordesillas where the Commissioners of the Iunta were then assembled with whom hee joyned in confederacie desiring them to assist him and furnish him with forces to beat the Earl of Alva out of Zamora They all received him with great respect and contentment thinking it an honor to their caus to have so eminent a Prelate amongst them they gave him men and Artillerie wherewith hee marched back towards Zamora The â—arl beeing informed of the manner of his
Guards went away the daie before by two and two After which time hee sent to entreat the Citie to suffer his goods to bee brought unto him assuring them that his going away should bee no waie prejudicial to them that hee was in a manner enforced so to absent himself from them both for respect of his Majestie 's service and that hee had not left him wherewithal to defraie his charges in the Citie but wheresoëver hee was they might bee confident hee would do all that might be for theirâ— and the whole Kingdom 's good Valladolid with much complement and civil expressions sent him all his Linnens and other houshold-stuff to the Town of Rioseco whither hee was gone in exspectation of the Lord Admiral About this time there were great differences betwixt those of the Commonaltie and their Captain the Infante of Granada They would have killed him manie of them coming violently against him with their Arms and giving him very reproachful and abusive language As hee advanced into the market place with above six hundred Lances to apprehend Alonso de Vera they saie it was a Bridle-maker and som such like audacious fellows that were the occasion of stirring the people to this insolent attempt The Iunta beeing much displeased â— ereat ordered that the Infante of Granada should leav the Office of Captain becaus it was too great a charge to allow him everie month 30000 Maradiz alleging moreover that none but a native of the Citie ought to execute that Command But the Infante giving notice of his discontent by command of the Iunta this matter was put to Votes and hee having the major part on his side it was ordered that hee should bee confirmed in his Office but withal that hee should pardon Alonso de Vera with the rest that had offended him and strict command was given that the people should make no more meetings nor demand any thing from thenceforward with Arms in their hands but by waie of Justice and Reason That presently under pain of one hundred lashes all those Vagabands and fellows that had no professions should avoid the Citie This was proclaimed in Valladolid on St Luke's daie SECT XXXII WHil'st the Commonaltie of Valladolid was in consultation whether the Infante should continue in his Charge or not arrived a Commissioner from the Junta desiring that Citie in their names to agree and bee all as one and not to give waie to their particular passions which might breed division among them to the great weakning and disenabling of that Citie for they were now to consider that they had manie enemies who had already begun one of the highest and greatest attempts in the world That if their hearts were not united stirred up therewith they with their wives and children should bee reduced to most wretched slaverie That with couragious mindes and upright desires they ought to prosecute this matter and bee assistant to those Gentlemen who were already engaged therein and boüy them up out of that gulf of miserie whereinto they were plunged For the Lords of the Iunta considering that Valladolid was the most noble principal Citie of all Spain and that it had been the principal autor of their good as in former times exposing and hazarding their lives and fortunes to many eminent dangers They thought it great reaâ—on to give them an account of what they had done in the Iunta To whiâ—h effect they had sent to let them know how that neither night nor daie they ceased laboring in the advancement of the service of God and the King and the publick good of the Nation neither eating nor drinking in quiet but still watching with much care and studie how God and the King might have their due respect and honor and the Kingdom bee preserved in libertie Renouncing all private affairs leaving houses goods wives and children at random to attend and applie themselvs with more fervencie to procure the people's good without Interest That before the Iunta sate at Tordesillas they all took a solemn oath that no man should procure for himself wife children friends or kindred anie Lands Offices or benefits whatsoëver to the end that they might loiâ—lly and without Interests serv the publick That every one of the Iunta was a Gentleman and as free as the King himself from all the tributes taxes that were imposed upon the meaner subjects that neither for respect of what they might hope to gain or to free themselvs of that which others did paie they had exposed themselvs to so great hazard beeing no more then fiftie that did help or any waie advance this business which so nearly concerned all That without them the Iunta could do little the case bâ—eing weightie and dangerous That they trusted in God within eight daies the Iunta would have taken such a cours that Castilla should enjoie as much peace quietness and plentie as formerly for they wanted nothing but the Articles of the several Cities of the Kingdom to extract the best out of them which should bee printed and and sent through the whole Kingdom that every one might see the good which proceeded from the Iunta The Articles which were purged in the Iunta whereby they thought as they saie here to remedie and restore Castilla to its former condition shal bee punctually set down in the following Book In Valladolid they much rejoiced at this discours and were highly taken with the promises made them by the Iunta which filled them with a thousand good hopes but within seven months they found them all fruitless They offered willingly their estates and goods and to expose their lives in the defens of the Holie Iunta as they called it SECT XXXIII THe Cardinal and those of the Council prudently desired first to proceed with mildness and endeavor by fair persuasions to quench or at least mitigate the furie of that unnatural â—ire to that effect they sent to entreat the Iunta to assemble rather in Valladolid where the Council then was that there things should bee remedied to their liking and content Those of the Iunta having intelligence of this message sent one to meet him that brought it before hee could reach to Avila with command to charge him in their names under pain of death not to com into the Citie The Council seeing that they could prevail nothing by fair means sent to command and require the Junta not to assemble at all in regard it was a thing forbidden by the King and the Laws of the Kingdom without their Sovereign's leav That if they had anie thing to desire they should repair to the Council at Valladolid and they would join with them in Petition to the Emperor for the obteining and fulfilling their demands This also they refused to hear and sent the like message back to the Council by the Commendador Hinestrosa to whom they denied both audience and entrance into the Citie From that time forwards the Junta called them of Council Tyrants
free themselvs from the punishment which the Governor though hee deferred it was to inflict upon them It would bee most expedient for their purpose to incite the whole people to rise up in Arms and having possessed themselvs of the justice the Fort and the bridges to defend themselvs against whomsoever To this effect they solicited som Fryers and Priests to declare with aggravation in their Pulpits the damages and miseries the Kingdom then suffered That no Offices nor Benefices of value were bestowed upon the Natives but the Flemings enjoied all That no places of Trust or Honor were conferred upon them for either their's or their Predecessor's merits or services but must bee purchased with great sums of monie Thus began the Priests to move the People's hearts Commending and applauding much what they had don and urging that the Kingdom was tyranised over That the Castilians were debased and vilified That they should bee loaded with new taxes That every head of Cattle should pay such a rate and every hous so much And that in this respect whosoever would ingage himself in the defence of the Kingdom with the liberties and freedoms thereof should purchase an eternall memorie Hereupon the fire grew so violent that those who discreetly would not ingage in these combustions for fear of beeing murthered were enforced either to flie from the Citie or confine themselvs to their own houses And the most considerable amongst whom were som Regidores and Iurates of the Citie took refuge in the Fort with Don Iohn de Rivera or Sylva who kept it at his own charge and was retired thither with som of his Kindred Children and servants Thence hee sent to his Tenants in several places to bring him in provisions for the sodain and unexspected necessitie of his flying thither did not permit to furnish himself with what was needful And those of the Communalty as they already styled themselvs which was the rest of the Citie following them who took upon them to bee the most wise set themselvs to fortifie and repair the wals and places of importance fearing the damage they might receive from abroad for within they feared nothing and possessed themselvs of the gates and Bridges which were under Don Iohn's command SECT XXV THings beeing in this condition the Earl of Palma Don Luis Puerto Carrero fearing the mischiefs this Commotion might produce sent an express to inform the Emperor of the several passages in the Citie that hâ—e might sodainly provide som remedy In this interim Don Pedro Lasso Don Alonso Suarez Miguel de Hita and Alonso Ortiz were com again all to Santâ—ago and although som gentlemen their friends had counselled them to bee gon in order to his Majestie 's commands and not to stay any longer about the Court becaus the Emperor beeing already incensed at the Audaciousness of the Toledians might perchance command them to bee punished as believing them to bee the occasioners thereof Yet they still continued at Santâ—ago without fearing much what could befal them The Constable of Castilla and Garci Lasso de la Vega Don Pedro Lasso's brother Seeing this earnestly desired the King's Soliciter who was resident at Toledo that hee would with all expedition go to Santâ—ago and perswade them to depart thence becaus Don Pedro Lasso had but five dayes remaining of the forty which were limited him to retire to Gibraltar The Soliciter presently took Post for Santjago and communicated to them what the Constable and Garci Lasso had injoined him besides hee told them his own opinion and how rotten the hearts of the People were in Toledo Hee prevailed with Don Pedro Lasso that he should depart the next day which hee did Passing through Zamora hee declared there what commands had bin layd upon him which troubled and incensed the People as you shall see hereafter SECT XXVI THe Common People of Toledo beeing thus distempered they determined to possess themselvs of the Fort as well as of the Gates and bridges of the Citie To this effect a nois was spread amongst them that Don Iohn de Sylva was a Traytor to the good of the Communalty and that it was fit to take the Fort from him and turn him out of Toledo The Multitude gathered together to assault it and in regard during the Reigns of the Catholick Kings there had bin so much peace and so little use of armes all Forts and places of strength were very ill repaired and unprovided aswel of arms as victuals Don Iohn perceiving the People's fury and malice as you have heard fortified himself the best hee could taking into the Fort with him divers gentlemen and others to the number of about four hundred all resolved to defend themselvs against the People if assailed by them The multitude perceiving this determined first to take the Gates and Bridges of the Citie so they went forthwith to the Gate of Visagra and to the Port of Cambron which they gained without resistance One of the Iurates called Miguel de Hita who theâ— was joint-Commissioner with Don Pedro Lasso and Don Alonso Suarez was commander of the Bridg of Alcantara in whose absence his Lievtenant could not so wel defend the tower of the bridg but that in short time they were masters of it Thence they went to St Martin's Bridg whereof was Commander Clement de Aguayo a man of great courage and hee had provided himself with som friends and servants to help him they assaulted him desperately and hee with no less resolution defended himself until by meer strength they forced an entrance into the first Tower of the Bridg on that side towards the Citie for such infinites of Common People and gentry flocked thither many thinking that rising to bee upon better grounds and with a better intention then afterwards it appeared and the boyes flowed in such multitudes thither that with brick-bats and stones from an eminent place neer tâ—ey made them quit the top of the Tower The assault beeing thus hot from several parts at last they made breaches and entred with such fury that taking the Commander they wounded him sorely in two places and threatned to hang him if hee would not send to command the other tower of the bridg towards the fields to bee surrendred to them but hee couragiously putting his life to the venture would send no such Order Hee beeing secured they fell desperately upon the other tower but they within seeing the success of the former and their Commander taken had not the courage to stand out but delivered it immediately to the Citie Thus they got all the bridges and Gates into their own hands Thence they marched in very great numbers All armed to the Fort resolving to take it by assault if it were not sodainly surrendred to them Som religious men grieving much at the mischiefs and death of divers persons which must needs ensue so violent an assayling became mediators betwixt Don Iohn de Sylva who defended the Fort and the better sort of those that
came against it This treaty continued a good while at length Don Iohn seeing divers of his neer kinsmen against him his friends and Allies and considering that hee wanted provisions to make anie long resistance to avoid the damages his standing out might have occasioned suffered himself to bee perswaded to deliver up the Fort upon condition that one of his own servants should remain as Commander having first taken the Oath of fealty Thus on Saturday 21 of April Don Iohn and his Children with the other gentlemen and friends that were retired thither came out of the Fort and went to a village of his four leagues thence from which place hee wrote again to the Emperor informing him how the People had taken the Fort from him and possessed themselvs of all the Gates and Bridges of the Citie which news incensed his Majestie very much yet hee did not resolve to send any Souldiery thither becaus every one told him that beeing a business of no foundation it must needs fall again of it self All this passed before the Governor went out of the Citie or gave up his Staff So all the Common People conducted by their Chiefs went next unto his hous and made him swear that hee should hold his staff or acknowledg his autoritie and Office as from the Communalty of Toledo Hee beeing affrighted with this tumult condescended to what they would have him do the People soon after broke out and did what they listed seeing him so helpless and so void of resolution The Citie thus wanting both Governor and Don Iohn de Sylva Those of the Communaltie became freemen and Lords of all They constituted Deputies and began to settle a form of government at their own pleasures Saying they did it in the name of the King Queen and Communaltie In this manner began the great troubles and commotions of Toledo SECT XXVII DOn Pedro Lasso arrived at a village of his called Cueua in his way to Gibraltar whither hee intended to go like a good and Loial Subject in obedience to his Majestie 's Command although the fortie dayes hee was limited were expired But Toledo having notice of his beeing there They sent to desire him to return to the Citie Hee would have excused himself Saying that hee was to repair to Gibraltar in Order to that which the Emperor had commanded whereupon they ordered a party of Hors to seiz upon him and bring him thither Hee not beeing able to withstand them went though seemingly against his will and got privately into his own hous but could not keep himself long concealed for the People gathering presently together went to his hous and forcing him to com forth carried him to the Church Hee rode on horsback and the People went on foot by him with great acclamations of joie applauding and extolling the Valor and resolution hee had shewen in their behalfs for indeed at that time Hee was beloved and highly esteemed not onely of that People but of the whole Kingdom This favor and honor which everie one did him made him not reflect so soon upon his Error For Don Pedro was a very sweet dispositioned gentleman without malice and besides his good naturâ— a great friend to justice and the weal of his country and therefore hee ingaged so far in those first broils Whosoever knew what hee was will acknowledg all this for the noble bloud that ran in his veins would not suffer him to degenerate from his Ancestor's generositie who were of the Grandees of Spain Hee beeing son to Don Garci Lasso de la Vega Comendador mayor de Leon one of the most renowned gentlemen that were in the times of the Catholick Kings Saâ—cha de Guzman Ladie of Batres descended from that most illustrious familie of the Guzmans of Leon was his mother Hee was nephew to Don Gomez Xuarez de Figueroa Father to the first Earl of Feria and to the Lady Eluina Lasso de la Vega sister to the Marquis of Santillana which two houses Vega and Mendosa were of the most Illustrious families of all Spain This was his extraction and it is to bee expected that his thoughts and desires to serv his Prince should bee correspondent as the Emperor and his son King Philip had good experience of afterwards Who in times very troublesom when they had need of men of resolution and loialty sent Garci Lasso Don Pedro Lasso's son their Embassador to Paul the fourth about businesses of very high consequence and great difficulty I finde my self obliged to this digression for the honor of so noble a person It beeing no less then my dutie not to suffer such eminent virtues to bee buried in Oblivion although it doth somwhat hinder the Story SECT XXVIII IT was generally voted by the Communalty of Toledo which already gave themselvs the attribute of Holie for further security of their place and persons That it was expedient to turn the Governor and all his Officers out of the Citie notwithstanding hee had taken an Oath to Officiate for them For the better effecting whereof they raised a mutinie pretending to kill him and to take away the staves from Him his Lievtenant and other Officers who presently delivered them for fear of their lives The Governor the Lord chief Justice and the High Sheriff fled to Don Pedro Lasso's hous for refuge where hee secured them and Hernando de Avalos with som other gentlemen The tumult of the Common People beeing appeased they were conducted out of the Citie on foot then they took hors and rode to Alcala de Henares Whence the Governor sent one of his Officers named Don Pedro del Castillo to inform the Emperor of these passages in Toledo The Citie set guards at all their gates and Avenues that no body should go out to give notice of their proceedings nor anie one com in without beeing examined who hee was whence hee came and what letters hee brought All this was done by the general command and consent of all the gentlemen that assisted in this insurrection of the Common People and all the Fryers and Priests excepting som few who absented and withdrew themselvs though with danger of their lives The Order they kept to conform themselvs in these disorders was That every time they were to treat of anie business the inhabitants of every perticular parish were to assemble and two publick Notaries with them before whom every man how mean soever was to sit down and declare his opinion SECT XXIX THe 8th of Maie in the same year was published at the Groyn this rising of Toledo som were glad of it others sorry every one according as hee stood affected Som advised the Emperor to take post and go to Toledo and inflict som exemplarie punishment upon the principal delinquents which might bee a means to keep the whole Kingdom in subjection The Emperor beeing young and full of Spirit approved of that counsel but Monsieur de Xeures disswaded him fearing greater disorders if hee went thither and