The Cardinal made them a thousand congies and excused himself saying that hee never commanded Medina to bee burned nor had any hand in the other mischiefs quite contrarie it grieved him to the very soul to hear what Fonseca had done And beeing desired by the Citie and thinking it to bee convenient himself hee commanded to bee proclaimed publickly that all those that were with Antonio de Fonseca should leav him and return to their houses and hee sent his express order to the same effect to Antonio de Fonseca commanding him to disband his men reserving onely what was necessarie for the guard of his own person in regard it was not possible to maintein an Army in those parts having no means nor place where to raise monie for their subsistance Fonseca was inforced to obey conforming himself to the time so taking a partie of hors with him hee went out of the Kingdom for all in that Countrie were his deadlie enemies and hee had no mind to bee surprised by them in Arevalo or either of his Towns of Coca or Alaejos but leaving them well fortified and his son Don Fernando in Coca hee passed into Portugal and thence by Sea into Flanders with the Judge Ronquillo SECT IV. ABout this time Caceres in Estremadura and the Citie of Iaen in Andaluzia where as yet the diseas had not broke out began to cry up the Commonaltie So that Don Rodrigo Mexia Lord of Santa Eufemia who had a great partie beeing born in that Citie labored and used all means possible to hinder the people from the outrages and mischiefs which were done in other Cities and not beeing able to bridle and restrain their furie otherwise hee took upon himself the charge of the Justice and Commonaltie Manie other Gentlemen made use of the like prudent dissimulation not beeing able to do otherwise Badajoz also beeing in the like distemper was quieted by his good industrie they of Badajoz took a fort from him that kept it for the Earl of Feria There is no reason why the Andaluzians should bee held any better then the Castillians for in all places the dissentions were much alike and their demeanors as if the common people had agreed and contracted together som yeares before SECT V. UBeda and Baeza were divided into two parties between the Venavides and the Caravajales both noble and ancient families in Castilla Don Luis de la Cueva cozen german to the Duke of Alburquerque was Captain of the Venavides Caravajal Lord of Todar which is a Village two leagues from Ubeda commanded the other partie In these factions there was so much animositie that one daie Don Luis de Ubeda coming in a litter for hee was an old man was set upon by Caravajal Lord of Todar attended by an hundred hors who gave him so manie thrusts with his lance that hee killed him in his litter This done hee was carried back to Ubeda where the manner of his death beeing related to his son Don Alonso and their kindred to revenge his father's death they went to the Village of Todar where they killed and cut the throats of all they could lay hands upon and afterwards set fire to the Village in manie places that some that hid themselvs in their houses were fain to leap out at the windows to avoid the fire The destruction and crueltie was so great that they reckoned of killed and burned about two thousand persons men women or children and onely the ruines of some houses in the village remained But indeed though these Gentlemen were Loyall like Noble persons yet it was so that in this there was more of passion and particular grudge and hatred then anie matter of Commonaltie For neither the Venavides nor those of la Cueva ever were Commoners or pretended to disserv the King But in these places with the occasion of the Kingdom 's beeing in a hurly-burly they made use of the Common Interest to revenge their private passions And it is apparent that if these Gentlemen did follow the Commonaltie as wishing it well yet they were none of their Captains SECT VI. CUenca in imitation of other Cities rose also and committed the like disorders In this Citie was Captain of the Commonaltie one Calaborra and with him a Bridle-maker whom the whole Citie obeied as their Lords And there beeing a person of principal note and power in the Kingdom Luis Carrillo de Albhornoz Lord of Torralva and Berreta they so much slâ—ghted him that hee was inforced to dissemble and sumâ—on all his reason and prudence to persuade his heart to brook it Their audaciousness grew to that pass that hee riding upon his mule through the street a Rascal of the Common sort struck him over the buttock saying in a scoffing manner Go thy waie Luis Carrillo hee was glad to let this pass the times not permitting him to do otherwise Luis Carrillo was married to Donia Inez Varrientos de Manrique a Ladie of a Masculine courage who desiring to revenge the injuries and affronts done to her husband and to stop and take off the opprobrious taunts of the people she invited the Captains of the Commonaltie to Supper and having well loaden their heads with wine shee caused them to bee carried to sleep in several chambers and beeing dead with sleep and the vapors of the wine shee commanded her servants to cut their throats and hang their bodies out at the windows next the street SECT VII AVila was the seat where all the Cities made their Assemblie Here they did such disorders as the loyal Citie of Avila ought not to have permitted The Common people were the onely Actors thereof for the Gentrie still persevered in the fidelitie of their Ancestors And becaus Antonio Ponce like a loial Gentleman would not swear to follow the Commonaltie they began to pluck down his hous but did not beeing hindred by som other Gentlemen The rest as in other Cities did swear and took the Engagement of the Commonaltie som willingly som becaus they did not rightly understand themselvs and others out of fear They would have pluckt down the hous of Diego Hernando de Quiniones becaus hee had granted the Subsidie beeing their Commissioner in the last Parlament but som good men intervening hindered the executing of their Purpose They had possessed themselvs of the Fort if Don Gonzalo Chachon Lord of Cassarruvios seeing the Commotions in most parts of the Kingdom and that Toledo had taken the Fort from Don Iohn de Silva and Segovia would have done the like to the Earl of Chinchon had not prudently and with dissimulation provided it hee beeing Governor thereof with Munition Arms and men taking them in by night and hiding them by daie The Fort beeing thus Ammunitioned when the Common-people ple flocked thither to take it they found greater resistance then they exspected And the Citie perceiving they might bee much damnified by the Fort and those of the Fort likewise by the Citie they treated of an
the King and Commonaltie live and evil Counsel perish The two hundred Lanciers disorderly flight to Medina alarmed the Cavaliers who having put their Armie in good order marched into the field with intent to rout the Bishop with his five thousand men but hee valued them not though they were numerous and men of eminent qualities for hee knew Don Pedro Giron was so neer with the Rere-guard and so Vigilant that hee would bee readie to back and assist him if occasion should require it Thus the two Armies faced one another each watching an opportunitie to get the advantage of their enemies and so they remained both drawn up in Batalia one whole daie after which the Cavaliers retreated to Tordehumos and the Iunta's Armie to Villabraxima both neer Rioseco The four hundred Priests which had left their Altars in Imitation of the Bishop of Zamora to sacrifice their bloods in this Holie enterprise remained at Tordesillas for the guard of the Town and of the Iunta who out of respect to their Sacerdotal Dignities would not permit them to march amongst the rabble of the Common Souldiers Besides these Priests remained two other Companies of Foot at Tordesillas and some hors commanded by Hernando de Porras Commissioner of Zamora Gomez de Avila and others Three whole daies Don Pedro Giron kept his Armie in order offering to give the Cavaliers Battle but they would not and indeed it had been madness for them to ingage beeing far inferior in num ber and not so well armed although they were better men and of higher courages then the Common People yet they thought it their securest waie to exspect the Earl of Haro's coming their Captain-General who was reported to bee upon his march thither and besides they were in hopes tâ— obtain the Victorie by some other means without any loss of blood the Lord Admiral having some overtures thereof by private intelligence and dealing with Don Pedro Giron and som other Gentlemen who sided with the CoÌ„moners whom if hee could handsomly have taken off it would have been no hard matter to have routed the Vulgar Pack of Tailors Shoomakers Skinners Curriers such like whereof the rest of their Armiâ— was compos'd But the CoÌ„moners perceiving themselvs much the stronger Partie infested the Cavaliers with such skirmishes and hot alarms both night daie that they could take no rest all the while they staied at Tordehumos And hearing that the Earl of Haro was exspected with more forces they determined to force them to fight before his arrival or at least to gain the reputation of proffering them Battle To this effect having mâ—de a general muster they marched with all their Artillerie in very good order towards Rioseco Sanabria Commissioner of Valladolid rid before with 30 Light Hors to discover the field Don Pedro Lasso de la Vega led the Vantguard of Cuirassiers Don Peâ—ro Maldonado and Francisco Maldonado commanded the Light Horsmen The Bishop of Zamora was Captain of the Vantguard of Foot with him marched Don Iohn de Mendoça Captain of Valladolid son to the Cardinal Don Pedro Goncalez de Mendoça Don Gonzalo de Guzman Captain of Leon Don Hernando de Ulloa Captain of Toro and others In the bodie marched Don Pedro Giron called Duke of Medina Sidonia with him divers other Captains and Don Iohn de Figueroa brother to the Duke of Arcos who came that same daie to the Armie from Sevilla besides other Commanders The Rear-guard and the Artillerie was committed to the charge of other officers Beeing arrived within Culverine-shot of the Town they made an Halt commanding their Heralds in mean time to approach so near unto the walls that they might bee heard and declare unto the Admiral and Earl of Venavente with the other Grandees and Gentlemen in Medina that the Armie of their Sovereign Ladie the Queen was com thither to execute upon them by her command those penalties which they had incurred by governing the Kingdom without her ordeâ— or consent and for raising and arming men in contempt and to the disservice of her Majestie and therefore they did offer them Battle and did exspect their coming into the field Having sent this message to the Town they remained in the same order almost until Sun-set But the Cavaliers although they were in Arms made no shew at all of Battel or skirmish but persevering in their former resolution let them stand cooling their heels there At last Don Pedro Giron having commanded som of his Cannon to bee discharged against the Town but the bullets never reach't the Walls returned with his Armie into his Quarters losing and neglecting that occasion which proved very prejudicial to his Partie Hee was no sooner gone but the Earl of Haro arrived with his men who had marched as fast as possibly they could thinking to have com time enough to meet Don Pedro for the Earl had intelligence of his defying the Cavaliers in Medina though hee had no great stomach to fight with them All the Nobles and Gentlemen with their Souldiers marched forth to receiv their Captain General with great solemnitie and Militarie order Hee brought with him three hundred Hors-men in compleat Armor four hundred Light-hors-men and two thousand five hundred Foot all choice men and twelv or thirteen field-pieces The same night came likewise to Rioseco Don Francisco de ZunÌ„iga y Avellaneda Earl of Miranda Don Veltran de la Cueva eldest son to the Duke of Alburquerque Don Luys de la Cueva his brother Don Bernardo de Sandoval y Royas Marquis of Denia with his son Don Luys de Sandoval and Don Francisco de QuinÌ„ones Earl of Luna with all the servants tenants and souldiers they could get This supplie encreased the Cavaliers to above one and twentie hundred hors and six thousand foot souldiers besides a good companie of servants Insomuch that hereby they held themselvs stronger then their enemies not that they exceeded them in number but in virtue and courage besides the Caus which they mainteined was more just and warrantable which add's much confidence and boldness to the hearts of men and make's their souls insusceptible of any Panick fears SECT IV. THose of the Iunta seeing fresh forces com daily in to the Cavaliers endeavored to prepossess themselvs of all the Towns and places of strength and sent besides to all those of their league to rais and have in a readiness what men possibly they could notwithstanding they were already much stronger then the other partie Hereupon in Valladolid by order from the Iunta was publickly proclaimed that all the Townsmen from eighteen to threescore years of age should bee trained and bee readie with their Arms to march into the field upon notice from the Captain General of the Armie The President and other Judges of the Chancerie in Valladolid who were Persons of great respect and esteem in the Citie having never before meddled with either side seeing the great disorder amongst the people and fearing further confusion
the Bishop of Zamora and shee had a meeting at Villabraxima one evening And having ordered and agreed upon certain Articles in favor of the Iunta the Earl of Venavente said to the Admiral My Lord though you desire to keep four or five Licenciado's in your Town I hope you will not bring our estates in question and give waie to so many murâ—hers and robberies as must needs follow if so God forbid that I should have any thing to do with it but to favor and assist the Iunta and the Commonalties since all that they desire is good and just and I so acknowledge and approve it and from this time forwards will justifie it Which said hee set his hand to the said Articles the Countess said as hee did And the Admiral taking the paper in his hands said to the Earl Since you have signed this first I 'le do the like And hee having subscribed they went all together to supper very well contented After supper they returned to Medina and presently gave a Command that the whole Town should declare for the Queen the King her Son and the Commonaltie All this was done with a politick art and cunning to make the Armie of the Commoners leav Medina For if it had continued longer there it would have very much streightned and incommodated the Cavaliers the Commoners beeing already many more in number and receiving every daie fresh supplies and the Cavaliers having little hopes of increasing their force by reason that all the Nobles and persons of honor in the Kingdoms of Toledo Andaluzia and Estremadura sat still exspecting which waie the scale would turn without declaring for King or Commonaltie SECT VII UPon the agreement between the Lord Admiral the Earl of Venavente and Don Pedro Giron the Armie without knowing any reason wherefore marched from Tordehumos and Villabraxima to Villalpando where after some small resistance they were received and quartered peaceably Don Pedro Giron took up his lodging in his unkle the Lord high Constable's hous All were of opinion that Don Pedro juggled and plaied legerdemain in this business and so it appeared by his dislodging his Armie and leaving the enemie free besides having nothing at all to do at Villalpando And indeed Don Pedro Giron might well bee suspected herein for the Grandees who were his neer kindred wrought much upon him as shall bee seen hereafter The Cavaliers seeing themselvs free from the incumbrance of that powerful Armie which blocked them up in a manner and finding the waie cleer and secure from thence to Tordesillas marched all out of Rioseco seizing on all Posts and Travellers that might give notice of their approach making as if they had a design upon Valladolid but with as much speed as an Armie could advance they went directly to Tordesillas Those of the Iunta hearing of their coming dispatched presently a Post to Valladolid telling them that the Cavaliers were marching thither with all expedition therefore they desired them to send them speedie succor But Valladolid having sent neer four thousand of their choisest men already to the Armie and hearing that the enemie was like to fall upon them desired to bee excused thinking they might better have relief from the Armie where were men enough But they beeing in good quarters at Villalpando were not over-hastie to go to Tordesillas for the plot was so well laid that no man knew the certaintie of the design but that which Don Pedro did a little after confirmed the suspition the world had conceived of him One night the Cavaliers stormed the Town having clapt a Petar to the Gates but finding strong resistance the Earl of Haro sent a Trumpet to tell them they came onely to kiss the Queen's hands and to set her at libertie and required them to yeild Whereunto they giving no satisfactorie answer the Earl resolved to force them and encouraged his Souldiers promising them the pillage of the Town But what by the natural strength of the place what through the courageous resistance of the besieged the Earl lost above 250 men before hee could make any breach The Priests which the Bishop of Zamora left there behaved themselvs very valorously in this Holie caus One amongst the rest was particularly observed to have given eleven men their Viaticum with his musket from behinde the Battlements of the Wall where hee thought hee stood secure and as he saw occasion sent his Benediction amongst them which seldom mist his man But at last some of the besiegers with an unsanctified arrow shot him quite through the head with which hee presently fell down and died not having the time to saie so much as one Miserere At length an Alferez with some other Cavaliers having forced their entrie at a smal breach in the wall and given the sign to their Camarades the whole Armie gave a shout and with sound of Drums and Trumpets cried all out Victoria Victoria which so animated the Besiegers that in the same and in other parts of the Town they made fresh assaults insomuch that the Besieged were no longer able to resist The Cavalier-Souldiers beeing thus entred the Town used no violence to either man woman or childe for that they were forbidden but neither Houses Churches nor Monasteries escaped from plundering So that no man had so much as a bed left to sleep upon unless the Souldiers out of charitie would let him have any which punishment they did deserv for fighting and defending their goods no better after they were engaged and put themselvs into a posture of resistance The Grandees and Gentlemen beeing entred into Tordesillas went directly to the Palace to kiss the Queen's hands and shew her their due respects they found her with the Infanta her daughter DonÌ„a Catalina in her own chamber whence Don Pedro de Ayala Commissioner of Toledo had persuaded her to withdraw during the fight Som say to the end that from the wall shee might have commanded the besiegers not to storm the Town others think it was with intent to conveie her thence and carrie her by the Bridg-waie to Medina del Campo But this escape that was intended for the Queen beeing attempted just upon the entrie of the enemie into the Town Don Pedro de Ayala left her and fled himself to Medina del Campo Shee shewed the Gentlemen that came to kiss her hands very gracious countenance though by reason of her infirmitie and want of judgment shee cared little how things went onely it is reported that while they were battering the Town som of the Commissioners beeing there desired that shee would send a Command to the Besiegers to desist and shee answered Open you the gates and let them in The Earl of Haro staied at the gates to see his Artillerie and Hors let in until midnight which done hee went likewise to kiss her Majestie 's hands where hee found the rest of the Nobles who soon after taking their leavs went to take their rest but the
forces beeing all discomfited as wee have seen and their three principal Captains executed those of the Iunta who were in Valladolid fled away and all was of a sudden blown up like smoke in the aër Within three daies after the Cavalier's whole Armie marched to Simancas and quartered in Towns all about Valladolid intending to fall upon that Citie and treat them as such open enemies did deserv But first beeing numerous enough they possessed all the Towns and Villages thereabouts and stopt up all the Avenues suffering no provisions to bee carried in to them Whereupon the most valiant and violent of all the people began to bee crest-fallen Others that had as much as they durst opposed those past Commotions seeing the Governors victorious and powerful declared themselvs There was no Captain nor Commander left in the Citie Whereupon to make short and prevent a Summons they thought their onely way was to yield themselvs upon good conditions which they hoped the Lord Admiral though much offended out of compassion and affection to that Citie would grant them In which resolution they sent som religious men and persons of respect with much submission and humble acknowledgment of their faults to desire mercie and pardon of the Lord Admiral Who at first shewed himself very much displeased and unwilling to hearken to their desires saying Hee ought and would make an example aswel of the principal offendors as of the Common people The Souldiers who exspected notable plunder their fingers itching to measure out the silks and velvets with their Pikes as they bragg'd they would were mad becaus the word of command To fall on and enter the Citie was so long a giving out which the Inhabitants knowing every one secured their commodities the best they could But by God's help and the indulgence of the Governors a Peace and pardon was concluded and proclaimed in the market places and streets of Valladolid with great acclamations of joie and sound of Trumpets Drums and other musical instruments All the Inhabitans beeing exempted from personal punishment confiscation or loss of offices excepting twelv whom the Lord Admiral should nominate appoint to bee left out of the Articles to bee disposed of as the Governors should think fitting that they might all take notice that they had a King and Lord to whom they ovved obedience and service and such a King as did not seek after vengeance or desire the destruction of his Subjects but to pardon them with clemencie and chastise them with mercie SECT XXII THe Citie of Valladolid which had shewn so much stubbornness and obstinacie not long before proclaimed the Pardon with great contentment and thought they had obteined no smal favor to preserv their Town from beeing sacked the Souldiers beeing so ready to make the on-set The â—arl of Venavente and the Bishop of Osma were great instruments of hindring the destruction of that Citie and the Lord High Constable with all the rest of the Grandees were very glad of it esteeming that the pacification of the whole Kingdom depended upon the surrendering of Valladolid The same daie April 27 all the Cavaliers entred in great state with their Squadrons in Martial order the Hors all in Armor covered with rich scarlet coats the first that marched in were the Earl of Venavente and Earl of Haro Captain General the Earl of Castro the Earl of OnÌ„ate with their Troops their Armor was covered with scarlet embroidered with gold After them followed the Lord Admiral with the Adelantado his brother and the Earl of Osorno all in green with their troops in Armor covered with the same Liverie Next them marched the Captains and Camp masters of the Armie with their Colors flying and the Gentlemen all clad in cloth of silver and gold Then came the Bishop of Osma with those of the Council Roial the Alcaldes and Alguaziles And last of all the Lord High Constable with the Earl of Alva de Lista the Earl of Salinas the Earl of Aguilar and the Marquis of Astorga with all their men splendidly accoutred besides divers Gentlemen and Foot souldiers all in such stately manner that Valladolid was worth the seeing that daie yet it was observed that the people were so stomackful that neither man nor woman did so much as look ouâ— or open a window as if they disdained or abhorred to see them who four daies before were their moâ—tal enemies Such are the Comedies and Tragedies of this life How often did the Cavaliers desire Valladolid to make a â—eace what advantageous conditions they offered them how often did they slight their favors how many scornful answers did they return them and at last it came to this that they were constreined though with heavie hearts and hanging down their hâ—ads to receiv and treat in their houses thosâ— whom they so ill affected And those of Valladolid must aâ—knowledg a particular obligation to the Nobilitie of Castilla whom they alwaies found ready to receiv them with open arms and do them all the good offices and favor possible aswel for this daie's favor as others which by their mediation the Kings of Spain have granted them notwithstanding so great uproars and disorders as have been committed in that Citie All the rigor that was don at this time in Valladolid was the executing of an Alcalde and an Alquazil of the Iunta whom the Governors commanded to bee hanged the rest fled though no bodie prosecuted them SECT XXIII THe rout of the Junta's Armie at Villalor and the Justice â—hat was executed upon the Gentlemen there with the surrendring of Valladolid and the favor which the Governors shewed them beeing noised through the Kingdom the other Cities began to bee more submissive who before carried their heads so high DuenÌ„as courted their Earl again whom they had forced to leav the town rising up in Arms against him Palencia opened their gates to the Lord High Constable Medina del Campo did the same But Mota stood out a while upon the defensive yet at last they were glad to make their peace But the Lord High Constable and the Lord Admiral were such worthie Noblemen that they used no acts of rigor in any place and all those whom they reduced found themselvs so well with their present condition that they held themselvs as redeemed out of thraldom and oppression Onely those of Toledo continued in their willfullness The Common People murthered two brothers Biscayners named Aguirres onely upon vain surmises and suspitions which they conceived of them yet they had both been Captains under Iohâ— de Padilla Notwithstanding that the Prior of St Iuan Don Antonio de ZunÌ„iga was with his Armie in the confines of that Citie the Commoners with a great bodie and some pieces of Ordnance marched to a Castle called Almonacid and continued battring it for two daies the Governor valorously defending it which the Prior hearing presently gave command to draw all his forces into the field intending to give them battle But
lose the credite of being feared In summ of all that I have spoken I say that my determinate will and opinion is that an Alcalde de Corte who is in nâ—ture of a Iudge of Oyer and Terminer here in England should goe to Segovia and what hee ought to doe in this although I know it my Sacred Orders doe not give me leav to express I onely say thus much that the Iudge ought to do wors to them by Iustice then they did to Tordesillas without Iustice. Let all that I have said in this consultation bee under your most Reverend Lordship's correction and if these Lords bee of any other opinion I shall bee content to conform my self to them for in matters of weight and moment a man is not to defend his own opinion but to follow that which is most expedient for the publick good SECT XXXVII THe second that was remarkeable in this Consultation was Don Alonso Tellez Giron who in those times was esteemed a man of a good Conscience a vertuous life of a generous ofspring and chiefly in the opinion which hee delivered very circumspect for hee would never give any counsel unless hee had considered the matter throughly before hand Don Antonio de Rojas having ended his speech Don Alonso Tellez began Saying The discreet Opinion of Don Alonso Tellez Giron IT chanceth often-times amongst the most expert Captains that being upon the point of giving battle they differ in the manner and order of their Combate and if such men take oath of their dissenting opinions I say that kind of discord proceedeth not from any particular difference betwixt them but that each one of them thinkes that what hee sayes is the best and most secure way to gain the Victorie that day This I say most Reverend Lord Cardinal in order to my Lord Arch-Bishop and President his Speech which was very good and beseeming a Prelate that is desirous of the publick good But if hee and I doe differ in the meanes which is to bee used for the remedying of so great a scandal wee shall not I am confident in our intentions be dissenting I swear by the faith of a Christian and a Gentleman and by this Holy habit of Santjago which I wear that my soul desireth nothing at this present more then that wee may hit upon the right way of rectifying and providing for Segovia For my mind giv's me that if wee miss our aim in this first enterprise we shall not bee powerful enough hereafter to execute Justice Hee that is to give his sens in such occurrences ought not only to see to the remedying of mischiefs but to bee circumspect and warie lest the fulfilling of his Vote should bee the occasion of a greater Inconvenience For it may bee already which God forbid thinking to tile Segovia wee have untiled it and so bewetted all Spain Vndoubtedly those of Segovia offended God in destroying his creature and the King in murthering him for his cause They scandalized the Republick by hanging him in that manner And accordingly if it were of no further consequence nothing could bee more just then that the more cruel and barbarous they have shewd themselvs in that murther the less pitie wee should shew in chastising them I would say in this case that wee are able to punish Segovia or we are not able and so likewise Toledo of their rebellion and to speak the truth to my best sens to chastise Segovia or correct Toledo is yet too soon For being as we are but newly come to the government we should grant som privileges and libertie to the People at first to win their obedience and afterwards chastise them that we may bee feared Put case wee are not powerful enough as I believ we are not to quell that high couraged stubborn People if my Iudgment fail me not I hold for most certain that if Segovia lose their respect to us the like we shall find through all the Cities of Spain Moreover you know my Lords that it hath been averred to us that there was never a Gentleman nor Citizen at the murther of Tordesillas and that those Teazers which had committed the fact were fled already The Judge whom wee shall send thither to seem that hee doth somthing must rob the Poor chastise the Innocent disquiet the Rich defame the Noble and chiefly scandalize the bordering People so that the untimely punishing of one man's death may bee an occasion of destroying all Item you know My Lords that the King our Lord had the ill will of all his Subjects for the ill Government of his Tutors and certainly those of this Kingdom desire to express their discontents Me think's we should rather provide for and hinder the manifestation of the ill intentions of Castilla then to stand so much upon the rigorous chastising of the Carders of Segovia for it is the part of wise men to dissemble and defer the punishment of faults already past and forthwith apply a remedie to a present evil Item Segovia cryeth out and desire's that if Fifty or a Hundred weavers committed that outrage the whole Citie should not lose its Innocence And in my Judgment we should bee very injurious and unjust if we should declare a whole Citie Traytors when but few are guiltie and I know the King hath manie faithful servants in Segovia therefore wee should commit a great offence therein Besides it is as much the Propertie of Clement Princes to pardon many wicked men for the respect of som few good as it is the Practise of cruel Tyrants to condemn many good for a few evil Item it is sufficiently known that Toledo is in Rebellion and beeing as it is so powerful a Citie wee cannot exercise Justice upon it Now if wee doe chastise Segovia wee cannot do it so much dammage as wee shall do favor to Toledo thereby For all those whom wee take now for enemies wee make friends to Toledo And by this means there will bee manie favorers of their Tyranie and but few to assist our Justice Item it is to be considered that the Citie of Segovia and the Town of Medina del Campo by reason of the Cloaths of the one and the fairs of the other Those two People used alwaies to bee like Brothers My end in saying this is becaus the best Artillerie the King hath in Castilla is at Medina and if the business were come to that They would sooner give it Segovia for their defence then to us to punish them And by this means Segovia will get the Artillerie and wee shall lose Medina Item Segovia hath not taken the Fort as yet nor disobeyed the Justice nor shut the Gates nor taken up Armes And if a Judge go thither to chastise them perchance wee shall the Guiltie beeing fled away for fear of punishment give occasion of fear to those that are Innocent and they put themselvs into a defensive posture thereupon And this will bee the way to make those whom wee have as yet
generous spirit and the sens of Loialtie which was Hereditarie to that noble familie I do not finde that any of the Grandees of Castilla were very forward to break the ice in this undertaking though afterwards like honest men they all set their helping hands The Lord High Constable at first prudently feared the Event and was loth to engage himself in so perillous an enterprise hazarding no less then his life and whole estate in endeavouring to oppose so manie especially without arms monie or order from the Emperor For the enemies were very manie and powerful no less then thirteen of the most considerable Cities of Castilla with divers other Towns and Villages beeing declared for the Commonaltie besides that many Gentlemen of qualitie great estates much animated against the Emperor and his Ministers had involved themselvs in the same Interest It vvas an attempt of so much consideration and danger that the other Grandees thought it the best vvay seeing they vvere not able to do otherwise to sit still and look on and manie of them advised the Lord High Constable to do the like But his Ladie Donia Maria de Tovar onely daughter and heir to Don Luis de Tovar Marquis of Berlanga beeing one of the discreetest and most magnanimous Ladies in all Spain of her time was not of the opinion of those that gave her husband that Counsel but she never ceased representing to him the advancement of his Majestie 's service and that for the good of the Kingdom hee ought to resist and suppress the exorbitances of the insulting Commoners although hee put himself to the hazard of losing both life and fortune in regard hee bare the Office of Lord High Constable Captain General and the second person of the Kingdom next his Majestie The Dutchess beeing at her own hous at Haro wrote to the Lord High Constable her husband this ensuing Letter which is worthie to bee Chronicled The Dutchesse's letter to the Lord high Constable YOur Letter I received by Pedro de Velasco And my opinion is since his Majestie from the place where hee is doth what hee can to give you his power and Revenue here That you determine to preserv it For if hee lose his right no wonder if you and all those that have done what they were obliged to do bee dispossest of your's But if you maintain his interest you and his other Servants will bee all secured That which in my judgment your Lordship and the Lord Admiral are now to do is to raise men and monie with all possible expedition and trie your fortunes I write to Pedro de Melgosa to use all means and shifts that may bee to procure you monie The greater the danger more glorious is the attempt Trust in our Lord God for since herein you doe both him and the King service bee confident hee will bee favourable and give a blessing to your indeavors So becaus I intend to write more at large to you by the Treasurer I rest praying God to preserv your Lordship's most Illustrious person with more tenderness then I wish to my self From Haro this 19th of June 1520. Finis Libri Tertii THE CIVIL WARS OF SPAIN THE FOURTH BOOK SECT I. THere is no Republick or Change of Government whatsoëver so barbarous as to bee ignorant how important and necessarie a Cement Concord is to make it long subsist Wherefore those of the Iunta dreading and not without caus the dangeâ— wherein they stood desired the Citie of Valladolid to agree and bee all of one heart for the high consequence of the matter wherein they were ingaged did require it promising them that within fevv daies they should see the Ordinances which with incessant labor and watching the Holie Iunta had agreed to publish and dispers through the whole Kingdom whereby they hoped to make that Republick flourish as one of the most happie and best governed in the whole world The people were big with glorious hopes of injoying a second golden Age and those of the Iunta were so well pleased with the thanks and applaus of the People that their Ordinances beeing finished they resolved to send them to the Emperor by two Gentlemen and a Frier not doubting but therefore his Majestie would confer som honorable dignities upon them But what these were I will not mention onely I may say that hee was so incensed at their message that they held it a great mercie they escaped with their lives They wrote moreover a kinde of requisitorie letter for the Cities and Towns where their Embassadors were to pass and therein they inclosed their Letters to the Emperor with the Articles and Ordinances which in the name of the Kingdom they desired his Majestie to confirm and though already I have declared the substance thereof I will set them down in the same form they sent them that the curious and patient may read and see the pretensions of the Commonalties and what the Kingdom demanded Let every one judg what reason they had for my own part I will neither excuse nor condemn them but onely relate faithfully the truth which is as much as can bee required of mee considering my office In their Letters to the Emperor they give his Majâ—stie an account of all the troubles and insurrections of the Kingdom which they told him proceeded from the evil Counsel which his Majestie entertained about his Roial Person who for their disordinate Covetousness private passions and interests besides other sinister ends they said might more properly bee styled the Deceivers Cheaters and Enemies of his Majestie 's Kingdoms and the publick good thereof then Counsellors such as they ought to bee For they were the occasion that the Kingdom of Castilla which abounded in riches and all other things that could bee required of the most opulent and flourishing Kingdoms of the World was now beecom the poorest and most miserable of all the neighboring Kingdoms Which did not onely concern the publick but was also particularly prejudicial to his Majestie 's Roial Patrimonie and which was insufferable That the desolation of his Majestie 's Kingdoms and the exhausting of his treasure to his own exceeding inconvenience and the ruine of his subjects was to no other purpose then to enrich his evil Counsellors and divers other persons strangers who bare no affection to his Majestie nor had any zeal to advance his service or the publick good but to build their own fortunes Next they complained that the Commissioners of several Cities who desired his Majestie in the name of the Kingdom at Santjago and the Groyn not to demand any Subsidies were by his Counsel sentenced rather worthie of punishment then audience and order given that they should not bee admitted to sit in Parlament but bee confined and banished som of them to the remotest parts of the Kingdom That since his Majestie 's departure out of the Kingdom the Cardinal with the President and rest of the Council had given Commissions to Antonio de Fonseca
levie or recover any thing of that which some Cities Towns Villages and Corporations have expended in their own houses in feasting Bull-baitings or acts of Charitie although they do it from an ancient custom by vow or what other waie soëver they can pretend Item That the monies levyed by the Cruzadas and Compositiones which were granted for the war against the Moores costs and charges of the Armies which had been or are to bee raised against the enemies of our Catholick faith and to releiv the Kingdoms and Cities of Africa may bee expâ—nded and imployed to the same end for which they were granted and that they may not bee granted hereafter upon any other pretence whatsoëver nor the said monie or any part thereof may bee given or bestowed as a Merced or gratuitie upon any bodie becaus besides the publick dammage men's Souls are indangered by the not imploying it to the use for which it was granted Which if it were applyed to the proper and right intent the Royal Revenues would remain free for the service and augmentation of the Royal estate Item That the Mercedes and Librancas of any monie of those said Bulls Cruzadas and Compositiones which have been given to any particular persons as well natives as strangers may bee revoked and made void Concerning the Indies Isles and Continent THat henceforwards for ever no Mercedes may bee made of Indians whereby the Gold or any other Commodities may bee taken thence to anie person or persons of what qualitie soëver That these which hitherto have been may bee revoked for by that means their Majestie 's Roial Patrimonie hath been and will bee much damnified in stead of beeing advantaged by reason of the great quantitie of Gold exhausted thence Besides that they are used more like Infidels and slaves then Christians as they are Item that the hous of Contratacion at Sevilla for the Isles and Continent of the Indies may remain for ever in the said Citie and not bee removed to anie other Citie or place within this Kingdom or without In regard the said Citie of Sevilla is so famous and fit a place for it and it would bee a great hinderance to these Kingdoms and a disservice to their Majesties if it should bee altered Concerning Mercedes THat their Majesties or the succeeding Kings may not make anie Merced of goods confiscated or to bee confiscated or of anie part or parcel thereof to anie Judg or Judges who have given or are to give Sentence in the said Causes That the said Judges or anie of them may not receiv anie such Mercedes either in paiment or lieu of their Salaries or for Ayuda de Costa or in anie other kinde whatsoëver directly or indirectly either for themselvs or their wives children friends or kindred for by this means they beeing free from all covetousness and interests may with more equitie and Justice proceed and give their Sentence That whosoëver shall do the contrarie may bee obliged to restore four times as much into his Majesties Exchequer and that they may for ever remain incapable of enjoying the same or anie other publick Offices Item that their Majesties or their Successors may not give or make anie Mercedes or Librancas of goods and monie which hath not been brought into their Exchequer or in their own hands for by this means they will know what they give and how they endammage themselvs which not knowing they easily grant the said Librancas and Mercedes as their Majesties had given away in that nature great quantities of pearls and monie which if preserved had been sufficient to have mainteined their Roial Houshold without making such shifts as they were driven to by taking up monie at Interest or demanding Subsidies of the Subjects and Natives of their Kingdoms Item that their Majesties or their Successors may not give or grant anie Merced of goods demanded in their Majesties names or of the Roial Crown of these Kingdoms concerning which there is anie Suit depending unless sentence bee first pronounced against the possessors thereof and that they bee absolutely condemned That whatsoëver hath been done to the contrarie heretofore may bee revoked Otherwise it would hinder the free Administration of Justice according to right and equitie And that whosoëver should receiv or procure anie such Mercedes may for ever bee held incapable and unworthie of receiving for themselvs or others anie Merced from their Majesties or their Successors in these Kingdoms Item that their Majesties may pleas to revoke all Mercedes whatsoever which had been made or granted since the death of the Catholick Queen Donia Isabel as well by the Kings Don Fernando and Don Felipe as by Don Carlos our present Sovereign And whatsoever Confirmations have been made of anie Towns Villages Vassals Jurisdictions Salt-pits Mines of Gold and Silver Copper Lead Tin or Allum In regard besides that they are contrarie to the Laws of the Land the most illustrious and Catholick Queen Donia Isabel our Ladie did absolutely prohibit and forbid them when by her last Will and Testament shee left the government and rule of these Kingdoms to the charge and care of the Catholick King Don Fernando And that all this may bee applied to the proper use and benefit of the Roial Crown of these Kingdoms and that those persons who have obteined anie such Mercedes may make no further use of them hereafter Item forasmuch as since the deceas of the Queen Donia Isabel have been made divers Mercedes and manie Patents and Privileges of Gentilitie given for monie to several persons without anie just caus or consideration of services done to their Majesties that might deserv the said favour whereby the Towns Commonalties and those which paie the taxes have been much damnified and injured That their Majesties may revoke all such Patents Mercedes and Privileges whatsoever and those to whom they were given may not anie waies enjoie them And that henceforward no such Mercedes Patents or Privileges may evâ—r bee granted or bee in force to benefit those to whom they were given And that this may never bee derogated or abrogated with anie claus general or particular or by anie ordinarie or absolute Power Item forasmuch as contrarie to equitie and the tenour and foâ—m of the Laws of these Kingdoms have been granted and made divers Mercedes of the Reversion of Offices Benefices Dignities and other things in the hands of men yet living That their Majesties may revoke all of them without exception that hitherto have been made or granted either by their Majesties or their Predecessors That nothing in this nature bee ever granted hereafter and if anie should bee granted that they may not bee fulfilled nor take effect notwithstâ—â—ding any derogatorie clauses with penalties and confirmations whatsoever but to the end they may bee resisted and bee of no value that they may bear no penalâ—ies at all And that whosoever shall procure anie such Merced may bee made incapable of anie place in Court or
Earl of Haro spent all the night in placing his Guards and taking order for securing of the place Nine or ten of the Commissioners of the Cities were taken and imprisoned the rest fled som to Medina others to Valladolid where they arrived so mangled and stript that 't was a pitie to see them The Doctor Zun̄iga of Salamanca Suero del Aguila and Gomez de Avila Commissioners of Avila were released at the request of som Grandees who engaged for them In this manner was taken the Town of Tordesillas but not the Iunta nor the good will of the revolted Cities whose furie was hereby more enflamed Amongst the dead in the field were found divers dangerously wounded and som Gentlemen as Don Diego Osorio son to the Marquis of Astorga who was shot through the arm Don Francisco de la Cueva hurt in the face with a stone the Earl of Venavente wounded in the Arm with an arrow the Earl of Alva had his hors killed under him and divers Commanders and other persons of account The King's Standard was shot and tattered with two musket bullets the Earl of Cisuentes holding it in his hand However that daie's work was of exceeding great importance and was the means of giving a glorious end to these miserable distempers although not so suddenly For hereby the Common people were disabused the allegations and excuses of those of the Iunta appearing to bee no less fals then malitious for to give a more specious lustre to their forgeries and gain credit with the People they cunningly gave out that the Queen was perfectly well and in her right senses and that all they did was by her order which was nothing so whereby the blinde ignorant Commonaltie ran themselvs headlong into the precipice of those disasters which I have and hereafter shall relate The glorie of this memorable exploit was properly to bee attributed to the Earl of Haro's valor who contrarie to the Votes of divers others would assault Tordesillas in stead of following their Armie to seek satisfaction for having been out-dared by them to fight and blocked up in Rioseco according to the others opinions and propositions SECT VIII THose of Valladolid were in great fear when they heard that Tordesillas was taken lest the enemie should fall next upon them in regard they had disobliged the Cardinal the Council the Lord Admiral the Earl of Venavente and other Nobles in not admitting them and favoring so much those of the Iunta that it was generally reported that Valladolid alone did maintain them Few men able to bear Arms were left in the Citie for they had sent all to the Armie in a manner but those that were left stood upon their guard Whilest Valladolid was in this fright came a Post from Don Pedro Giron and the Bishop of Zamora with letters wherein they said That they knew not neither did they think that the Cavaliers in Rioseco would have attempted to take Tordesillas nor have offred that affront or disrespect to the Queen beeing there That they could have no intelligence of their design becaus they had stopt and taken all the Messengers and Travellers that might give notice of their march thither and that when they did know it and were prepared to go succor the Town news was brought them that the Cavaliers were carrying the Queen away to Burgos which made them turn towards Valladolid thinking that waie to intercept them And that now beeing at Villagarzia they thought good to acquaint them with their motion to the end they might receiv provision and orders thence to prosecute their design Promising since that the Cavaliers had taken Tordesillas and begun the War with fire and sword that they would do the like if Valladolid was so contented These Letters confirmed the Peoples jealousies of Don Pedro Giron insomuch that they cursed him in private and in publick saying hee was a Traytor and had sold them Moreover they wrote to this effect to Don Pedro That in regard hee had clouded his reputation by not succoring Tordesillas to vindicate his honor hee should forth with go and laie siege to it and shew himself what hee was That his Armie on one side and those of Valladolid on the other besides the rest of their Associates might joyntly take their full revenge for so insupportable an affront They wrote in like manner to the Bishop and other Captains but Don Pedro took no great notice thereof neither did hee make any other shew then that hee would go to Valladolid himself Divers disorderly Captains like sheep without a shepherd with their Companies came and took up their Quarters at Villanubla two leagues from Valladolid Others went to Valladolid with their plunder 'mongst others two horsmen brought in a thousand Sheep others fiftie others two hundred Mules Mares and Carts loaden with linnen and all manner of housholdstuff taken from the poor Countrie-men to the value of above three Millions of Maravediz which they sold in the Citie for little or nothing a Wether was sold for two Ryalls an Ewe for one and a Cow for two Duckets But the mischief was the greater in that the poor shepherds and husbandmen having ransomed their cattle and goods before they had gon half a league the Souldiers would plunder them again spoiling and robbing friend and foe as much as they could By which exorbitancies they began to see how much better it would have been to have satisfied their King's demands although the tax was somwhat heavie But so great acts of disobedience never passed long without such just punishments Their outrageous impudence grew to such a height that without any reverence or respect they robb'd and spoiled the very Churches as if they had been Infidels Women were not secure in their houses nor men by the high waies Valladolid to prevent further disorder in this kinde Commanded that those straggling Souldiers which were to the number of six hundred should return to their Colours at Villanubla where their Captains were and there they gave them ten daies paie more to endear them to go before Tordesillas whither also marched with all expedition men from Salamanca Toro and Zamora in great numbers thinking to catch the Cavaliers in the Climm But they lost no time in fortifying themselvs repairing the Walls as was but need scouring and clearing their ditches and laying in provisions of Victuals and Ammunition SECT IX FAme soon carried the taking of Tordesillas through the whole Kingdom which was diversly resented according to the disposition and inclination of the hearers as is usual amongst a divided people Assoon as notice thereof was brought to Quintanilla who commanded before Alaejos hee raised his siege and returned in all haste with his men to Medina del Campo fearing lest that might also bee surprised The Nobles in Tordesillas sent for the Cardinal who remained in Rioseco with those of the Garrison Don Rodrigo de Mendoça Earl of Castro who came to Medina de Rioseco with
his men too late for the expedition of Tordesillas attended upon the Cardinal thither where his Eminence beeing arrived the Lord Admiral solemnly accepted the Joint-government of the Kingdoms with the Cardinal and the Lord High Constable having first tried all means possible to reduce the people fairly to the obedience of his Majestie for after the taking of Tordesillas hee sent Gomez de Avila who was there made prisoner making him first swear to return to treat with Don Pedro Giron and the rest of the Iunta offering them very honorable Conditions if they would laie down their Arms and com in But Gomez beeing returned without concluding any thing there was no apparent hope of any accommodation besides seeing that the Iunta and the forces of the Commoners were retired to Valladolid which was but five leagues from Tordesillas and that it was no time of year to keep the field or besiege any other Citie leaving the enemies to themselvs the Governors with consent of the rest of the Nobles put all their Souldiers in Garrison in the adjacent Towns For divers of their men were gon away having enriched themselvs with the plunder which they took at Tordesillas The Earl of Haro with som chois companies remained in Tordesillas for the Guard of her Majestie 's person and defence of the Town Don Pedro Velez Earl of OnÌ„ate with som Hors and Foot Companies was placed in Simancas though the Government thereof belonged to Don Hernando de Vega but hee beeing of the Emperor's Council of State it was thought more convenient hee should reside at Tordesillas yet hee went thither somtimes himself as occasion served In Portillo a place of strength belonging to the Earl of Venavente was put another Garrison under the Command of Don InÌ„igo de Padilla cosen-german to the Earl of Venavente To Torrelobaton a Town of the Lord Admiral 's betwixt Tordesillas and Rioseco by which all their provisions were to pass were sent other companies of souldiers besides those which Don Hernando Enriquez the Lord Admiral 's brother had there in regard that was the waie to Burgos where the Lord High Constable was with the Council with whom they were to keep continual correspondence Betwixt the Towns which were for the Commoners and those wherein were Garrisons for his Majestie was such killing robbing and spoiling as if they had been the most mortal enemies in the world as shall bee declared hereafter Artificers could get no emploiment Husbandmen could not till their grounds Merchants had no traffick Cities lost their correspondence with each other becaus the waies were unsecure Justice was quite out of date Excise Tributes Levies Impositions increased daily by reason of the excessive charges of the Armie the Revenue of the Roial Crown which they had usurped not beeing sufficient to defraie them These and such like were the fruits and profit which Castilla reaped by their disobedience And yet for all their miserable condition they did not humble nor submit themselvs neither would they accept of the honorable and advantageous Conditions which were offered them But everie daie they were sending fresh men to maintein and foment the War from Valladolid where those who cast the Kingdom into this precipice had taken up their seat Although they were so jealous and displeased at their Captain General DON PEDRO GIRON especially the Common people that they did neither obey nor respect him neither did hee hold himself secure amongst them and therefore hee left them soon after as you shall see SECT IX THe Bishop of Zamora and Don Pedro Giron thinking themselvs not secure in Zaratan which was but a smal open Village marched with their Armie to Valladolid although their coming was not very acceptable to most of the Citie Beeing there they quartered themselvs in the houses of those that were affected to the King's Partie making abominable havock and spoil their souldiers pulled down tâ—e houses of Francisco de la Serna and Don Alonso NinÌ„o de Castro they plundered the hous of the Comendador Santistevan robb'd and spoiled all they could laie hands on in the Earl of Miranda's hous and divers other mischiefs they did within the Citie whereof the Bishop beeing informed hee caused many things to bee restored and som souldiers to bee punished whereby hee gained much good opinion and affection Two daies after their coming thither they marched both Hors and Foot in goodly order out of the Citie with intent to go to break down the Bridg of Simancas but hearing by the waie that the Earl OnÌ„ate and those of the Town had saved them that labor for the Earl had intelligence that they intended to surprise him there and pass thence to Tordesillas they wheeled about to take the Fort of FuensaldanÌ„a which they entred without any contradiction and having left som souldiers with a Commander in it they returned to Valladolid the same night giving orders to their men to bee ready the next morning before daie which was obeied and they gave out they would gain the pass at Simancas proclaiming war with fire and sword against the Cavaliers at Tordesillas But Simancas beeing scituate upon the descent of an hill the river on one side and a strong Fort on the other which the Earl of OnÌ„ate had been very careful and vigilant in poviding with all necessaries they feared no attempts from those of Valladolid Most of those that marched out of Valladolid that time were from Salamanca Toro and Zamora many of them sillie ignorant fellows and their Captains not much more knowing in Martial affairs they were so long fitting themselvs that they made it three a clock in the Afternoon before they were all out of Valladolid which was ten hours after the time appointed so that they were forced to quarter that night at Laguna one league from the Citie som in the Monasterie of Abrojo others in the field with the Artillerie There fell such a difference betwixt Don Pedro Giron and the Bishop of Zamora that Don Pedro with his Lanciers marched to Tudela but there hee was refused quarters so hee was enforced to go on to VillavanÌ„ez Next 〈◊〉 the Bishop gave orders to march to Simancas but som told him that 't was better to return to Valladolid and there take further advice The people of Toro Zamora and Valladolid had likewise som bickerings amongst themselvs insomuch that every one would carrie their Artillerie home to their own Cities but those of Valladolid beeing the strongest partie carried it to their Citie without any more ado which bred much discontent and heart-burning and all exclaimed against Don Pedro Giron saying all the ill their discontented mindes could imagine of him for leaving them in that manner which confirmed all the jealousies and suspicions which they had formerly conceived of him One daie twelv Foot souldiers of Valladolid went out upon a partie towards Simancas and about one league from Valladolid they met with fourscore Hors of that Garrison which made them flie to secure themselvs
grieved them to the souls that any man should die in that quarrel yet nothing would do SECT XXXIX ON Thursdaie the 21 of Februarie Iohn de Padilla marched out of Zaratan with his whole Camp which consisted of seven thousand Foot and five hundred Lances at two of the clock after midnight going very silently in good order and taking Guides along with them to shew them the waie to Torrelobaton in the very Suburbs whereof hee took up his quarters robbing and plundering all they could lay hands on but the people had carried all their best goods into the Town which was very strong The next daie Iohn de Padilla commanded his great Ordnance to bee planted in convenient places to batter â—he Town which hee did very smartly but all his shots were to little purpose for the rampires were extraordinarie After this hee gave them a brisk assault with great clamors of men and bouncing of Guns but hee got nothing by that for the besieged defended themselvs with much resolution In this Conflict which lasted all daie were divers slain and hurt but the most part were of Iohn de Padilla's men who fought at disadvantage having no defence nor rampires to shelter them so that seeing the great loss hee received and the little good hee did mosâ— of their ladders beeing too short and those that ventured to mount up were either knock'd down dead or shrewdly wounded hee thought it his best waie to fall off and sound a Retreat so the combate ceased for that time All that night Iohn de Padilla labored to entrench himself and rais a batterie in another place that hee might give them another fresh assault the next daie The Lord Admiral and the others at Tordesillas beeing advertised of Iohn de Padilla's beeing advanced to Torrelabaton sent presently to draw the Garrisons out of Simancas and Portillo with intent to reliev Torrelobaton if possible although they were but weak in Foot and the enemie had great store and very good First they sent out two Troops of Hors to discover the order and strength of the enemie's Camp with whom they had som slight skirmishes This daie Iohn de Padilla wasted in raising a new batterie and planting his Artillerie but hee found that pâ—rt of the Town no less strong then the former so that hee could do no execution but on the morrow which was the third daie of his beeing there hee removed his Ordnance to another part of the wall which was weaker where hee made som breaches which those of Valladolid and Toledo spying ran presently hurrying without order to enter the dispute continued very hot a great while but the Besieged behaved themselvs so gallantly that they were forced to retreat with no smal loss The same daie the Earl of Haro Captain General having left a sufficient Guard in Tordesillas marched out to face the enemie with a matter of a thousand Lances intending to give the Alarm on one side of the Town whil'st the Governor Don Francisco Ossorio Lord of Valdonquillo carried in a fresh suppliâ— of souldiers on the other Hee desired of the Lord Admiral that they might bee Horsmen but the Earl of Haro thought that not so convenient hee having more need of the Cavalrie for the field-battle Beeing com within sight of the Town in the Evening they staied upon the top of a hill whence the Earl sent a partie of his Hors to skirmish with som Arcabusiers who beeing betwixt the besieged and the mud-walls stood much to their advantage but seeing his men cruelly galled and able to do no good there hee commanded they should retreat to the bodie which was still upon the hill expecting Don Francisco Ossorio to put in execution their intended design but whil'st they were thus staying arrived a Gentleman with a Letter from the Lord Admiral to the Earl of Haro saying That hee might return again for hee had notice since that there was no such need of putting any succor into Torrelobaton for there was already strength sufficient to defend it notwithstanding this countermand divers Gentlemen offered to go into the Town but it could not bee attempted the Lord Admiral having forbidden the Ladders to bee brought which were agreed upon So it behoved the Earl to go back again that night to Tordesillas without bringing his purpose to effect to satisfie the Lord Admiral who as it afterwards proved was very much over-seen therein But som say hee was angrie becaus the Earl of Haro did not follow his advice in the prosecution of that design Iohn de Padilla beeing alarmed by these thousand Hors and finding that hee had not force enough for the offensive and defensive both sent presently to Valladolid for more Upon receipt of his Letter three thousand Foot and four hundred Hors were ordered to march to the Armie at Torrelobaton vvho vvent vvith as good a will to fight as if they had gon to gain the Iubilee On Saturday 28 Febr. they arrived in the suburbs to the no less rejoicing and encouragement of the Besiegers then the dis-heartening and terror of the Besieged who sent to the Lord Admiral complaining very much of Valladolid saying That onely that Citie â—id them all the mischief Sunday Munday and Tuesday they battered incessantly with all their Ordnance and very many were killed on both sides A man could not peep above the wall but hee had presently a bullet or an arrow in his head yet the Cavaliers stood out manfully but beeing not above four hundred Foot and som few Hors they were not able to defend themselvs and wâ—thstand the continual assaults of the Enemie having no intermission nor time to take any rest besides provisions began to fail them Iohn de Padilla having raised several batteries against the Town at last one of them made a breach where whil'st the besieged were defending themselvs in another part of the Town those of Valladolid entred with their Colors they sacked the Town with the greatest crueltie in the world they killed the poor laboring men becaus they could not give them what they demanded spilled all their Wines breaking the tubs in pieces they plundered the Churches stript the Altars and broke open the Tombs thinking to finde som hidden treasure therein Finally they did such things that the most savage bruits who have not the use of reason could not do wors respecting neither humane things nor divine Next daie beeing Wednesdaie they fell to battering of the Tower which defended it self stoutly but beeing full of women and children that had retired themselvs thither for securitie who feeling it shake at everie shot that hit it cried out fearing it would fall upon their heads and having nothing to eat it was surrendered upon condition to secure all their lives and half their goods Thus Iohn dâ— Padilla took Torrelobaton which was no inconsiderable piece of service Hereby hee gained himself much reputation amongst the Common-people it beeing but three leagues from Tordesillas where the Governors
did much incite the Commoners to accept But they would have the Grandees engage themselvs to demand it by force of arms in case the Emperor should denie to ratifie their conditions and promises to the people delivering them som principal persons as hostages and certain Forts then in their hands as pledges of their performance thereof Insomuch that tâ—eir standing upon such terms destroied absolutely all hopes and probabilitie of Peace Yet hoping that time might produce som better effect it was resolved before the Truce was fully expired to procure a Prorogation or a renewing of it to vvhich effect the Embassador of Portugal and Don Pedro Lasso taking som grave Religious men vvith them the last daie of the Truce vvent to Torrelobaton and gave John de Padilla and the other Captains an account of all passages who whether not willing or not having the power to grant their desires agreed although the Truce was out to go to Zaratan where those of the Junta assembled to treat thereupon But they were so high and fearing thereby to lose their great Offices especially the Commanders of the Armie that they could agree upon neither Peace nor Truce although som of the Iunta did give their Votes for it whereof Don Pedro Lasso de la Vega was the leading man who from that time forwards left them withdrawing himself from that Assemblie and went to the Governors at Tordesillas Thus the Truce and Treaties came to nothing onely this benefit they produced that in those eight daies time Iohn de Padilla lost a good part of his Armie for those souldiers who had gotten monie or any good plunder at the sacking of Torrelobaton the passages beeing free and secure during the Truce went home to their own dwellings the like did divers of the Hors of the antient Guards of the Kingdom becaus they were not paied After this there was another Assemblie at Bamba whither Iohn de Padilla was sent for who beeing com they all agreed to sit at Zaratan Thither repaired divers from Valladolid on hors-back and on foot to small purpose The Grandees demanded Truce for eight daies more or for three but the Commoners would by no means give consent thereunto alleging that they would deceiv them then they went to dinner but beeing ready to sit down Iohn de Padilla had notice that they had a design to murther him whereupon without staying to eat or drink away went hee to Torrelobaton and the rest to Tordesillas SECT XLI BY this time Don Antonio de ZunÌ„iga had on foot a complete Armie in the Kingdom of Toledo in favor of his Majesties loial servants and to reduce OcanÌ„a which with other places of the Maestrazgo of Santjago was risen up in Arms and beeing at Almaguer the Gardian of St Iuan de los Reyes of Toledo came to him with certain admonitions and treaties from that Citie and Commonaltie thereof insomuch that there was a kinde of Truce betwixt them and probabilities of a peaceable accommodation but it fell out otherwise and their difference grevv to an open War the Bishop of Zamora beeing made Captain for OcanÌ„a and other revolted places against Don Antoni SECT XLII IN some papers which I have seen Originals of Fray Antonio de Guevaua Chronicler to his Imperial Majestie concerning the Commonalties Hee mention's that the Town of DuenÌ„as likewise rose up in Arms and misdemeaned themselvs exceedingly towards the Earl and Countess of Buendia who making resistance against their furie the people sent to desire succor from those of the Junta And hee saie's that those of the Junta and the Commoners also did seem to bee sorrie that those of DuenÌ„as had desobliged the Earl becaus neither hee nor his Ladie had expressed any disaffection to the Commonalties and that of secret friends their miscarriage had now made them open enemies Yet seeing that it was of no small concernment to have the Town of DuenÌ„as at their Devotion the succor which they demanded was forthwith sent them from Valladolid to wit seven hundred Foot Pikemen Muskettiers and Cross-bow-men and all paid for a certain time For which they returned thanks in a Letter to Valladolid wherein they made large expressions and protestations of their firm resolution to serv the Emperor and the Commonaltie with divers other things SECT XLIII THe 27th of March 1521. Both the Armies were in ill condition enough and neither of them could boast of much advantage over the other according to the information which Don Pedro Luxan Commendador Mayor of Castilla beeing in Simancas did give the Emperor saying That in that Garrison they stood in want of men That John de Padilla with the other Captains for the Commonaltie had taken Torrelobaton That from Tordesillas and other places thereabout his Foot had received some prejudice That divers of his men had left the Camp as is usual when an Armie lie's still without action That the like was done by the Foot in the Loyal Armie also but of hors they had a sufficient quantitie That the Armie remaining in Torrelobaton was reported not to exceed two thousand Foot and three hundred horâ— That Iohn de Padilla and those with him were upon their departure thence having a great desire to com to Simancas where they presumed at least a thousand more would com to them from Valladolid out of revenge and hatred to those of that Garrison and to secure themselvs from any further dammage That monie began to grow scarce amongst the Commoners and that their souldiers were ill paid That the same diseas was amongst the Cavaliers yet they had somwhat salved that sore by the sale of those Noblemen's and Gentlemen's plate that were in Tordesillas wherewith they had procured monie to give one months paie to the Foot and two to the hors viz. March and April By which time the Emperor had written that hee would bee back in Flanders and readie to take shipping for Spain And that those old souldiers which came from los Gelves came every daie by two and three at a time into the Cavaliers Armie and gave out that the rest would all go neer to follow them Finis Libri Quinti THE CIVIL WARS OF SPAIN THE SIXTH BOOK SECT I. THe passions seated in the Souls of men are in effect not unlike to the recoverie of a bodie out of some desperate sickness For any the least excess cast's the affected Partie into a relapse and by an untimely precipitation hurrieth him into the Sepulchre The Cavaliers and the Commoners did not treat with that realtie as they ought Some made a fair shew and seemed to desire a Peace though they were best contented with the War for divers particular interests which they did receiv thereby Others dissembled though not altogether and the most part of those which were called Commoners were prepossessed with a diffident and distrustful humor holding for uncertain and onely pretences all the conditions that were offred them on the behalf of his Majestie and the Cavaliers
Whilest they were in a treatie during the eight daies of Truce two things hapned which destroyed all the Impostume or poison wherewith their hearts were swoln bursting out into the disorders which in this Book shall bee related and shall conclude this deplorable Historie Insomuch that the clouds which hung over Castilla threatning a cruel storm were all dissipated in one short and not bloodie battle betwixt the Cavaliers and the Commoners in the plain of Villalar the success whereof struck such remors of Conscience into the people's hearts and the Cities acknowledging their errors returned to their obedience unto him whom God had given them for their King serving and loving him as shall bee â—een hereafter During the fore-mentioned occurrences Francisco de Mercado Corregidor of Medina del Campo with twentie hors which in those daies were called Esquiers and other persons who by command of the Iunta were coming to Valladolid at the pass over the River Duero which is two leagues from Valladolid and one from Simancas they were encountred by a partie of one hundred and fiftie light-hors of the Earl of OnÌ„ate's who were going to seek adventures Four of those of Medina were killed upon the place Francisco de Mercado the Master of the Ordnance and two more were taken prisoners and carried to Simancas Notice hereof beeing given at Valladolid they sent out a strong partie to rescue them but it was too late and the Corregidor of Medina who was immediatly released again hindred them somwhat for meeting with them hee told them They might go back again for the business was nothing But afterwards knowing the truth of the storie they apprehended the Corregidor of Medina for a suspicious person laying to his charge the loss of those men and would have executed him presently but upon more serious consideration they held it best to dissemble and forbear a while lest they should thereby indanger the lives of those that were prisoners at Simancas So they sent first to demand them making great complaints that during the Truce they should commit such acts of hostilitie and break their words with them But they found no amends SECT II. THat which chiefly incensed the mindes of all the Commonaltie was that before the time of the Truce was exspired there was set up they knew not by whom in the market place of Valladolid a Proclamation made and signed by the Governors of the Kingdom wherein they named divers Citizens of Valladolid Toledo Salamanca Madrid Guadalaxara Murcia Segovia Toro Zamora and all the rest of the Commonalties to the number of five hundred persons and som Gentlemen declaring them Traitors Violaters of their faith to God and their King and calling the Bishop and Iohn de Padilla and other Officers of the Commonaltie treacherous enemies to his Majestie This was dispatched in Burgos and proclaimed with great solemnitie before Anton Gallo Chancellor and Secretarie of his Majestie 's Council then at Burgos and divers other persons of note The names of the parties mentioned beeing very many and that importing little or nothing to the substance of the Historie I shall not trouble the Reader therewith SECT III. VAlladolid in revenge of this Proclamation set up against them and the rest of the Commonalties the next daie after it was found in the market place they pasted upon the door of Santa Maria Church which is now the Cathedral a Paper with a direction to the Citie of Valladolid animating them to persevere in their holie purpose and not to bee intimidated for any practices of the Enemies or bee troubled at their reviling them with such opprobrious terms and encouraging all those of the Commonaltie to make all forces possible and march speedily into the field with so numerous an Armie that the sight of them onely should serv to overcom their enemies without fighting by which means they should save the lives of many men which would bee lost if their Armies met with equal strength besides the hazard to which they should expose their Caus. And if they were successful the War would bee at an end peace and plentie vvould encreas the libertie and publick good of the Kingdom ensue and the name of Traitors remain upon the Conquerred vvho never vvould dare to face them again This vvith som other things to the same effect vvas the substance of that Paper vvhich the Common people read vvith great content and applaus crying it up exceedingly and sending copies of it through the vvhole Kingdom SECT IV. Padilla's staying so long at Torrelobaton was very prejudicial to the Commonalties for besides that hee lost many men hee gave the Cavaliers time to recruit and strengthen themselvs notably whereas questionless if hee had fallen upon Tordesillas assoon as hee had taken in Torrelobaton hee had driven them to extraordinarie straits But he remained there hugging himself with that small victorie and the applaus of the people which hee had thereby procured Hee fell to repairing the walls which hee had battered down as if hee intended to make that the seat and residence of his Armie which lasted not long after The Cities of Toro and Zamora sent him som fresh supplies whereof the Cavaliers having notice they sent out a Partie of seven hundred Lances to cut off their waie and their lives too if they could near Pedrosa they met and after a prettie hot skirmish the Cavaliers forced them into the Town where they besieged them close but Iohn de Padilla having notice of his men's distress soon came to reliev them with three thousand Foot and five hundred Hors leaving a sufficient Guard in Torrelobaton whom when the Cavaliers saw with so great force they made their retreat good to Tordesillas And Iohn de Padilla marched with his men to Castromonte another Town of the Lord Admiral 's and having taken it left a Garrison in it and thence returned to Torrelobaton intending to exspect the succor for which hee had sent to the Cities of his Combination in the mean time hee repaired and fortified the Town as I said before lest the Cavaliers of Tordesillas should fall upon him before the forces hee exspected were com to him There hee began to be sensible of his own ill government and of the dammage which hee received by his too great confidence which soon after hee more plainly saw to the loss of his libertie and life For it is a blindeness and imperfection of a man's intellect to thrust himself upon imploiments beyond the reach of his capacitie and having undertaken them to bee râ—miss in the execution of them To bee the occasion of any troubles or disturbance in a Common-wealth is not Justifiable but beeing once ingaged it is an act of prudence for a man to bee vigilant and active in the atchievment of his design SECT V. IT were unjust that the great zeal wherewith the Lord high Admiral of Castilla was moved to reduce the people of that Kingdom which were up in Arms by fair means and
Valladolid beeing the chief seat of the Commonalties and as it were the sinewes of the War all the other places of the Kingdom made their addresses to that Citie extolling it to the skies saying That was the onely firm Piller which supported their Holie pretensions whence they expected the benefiâ— of their libertie Amongst others the Citie of Leon having levied some monies in order to the Iunta's command sent a Letter to those of Valladolid highly magnifying the Justice and holiness of their caus thanking and commending them exceedingly for their care and vigilance in the mainteinance and prosecution thereof and lastly excusing themselvs that they could procure no more monie to send them at that present promising within short time to rais a more considerable summe for the furtherance of that holie design and their treasure beeing exhausted to engage their own persons with all their friends and allyes in whatsoever they should pleas to command them SECT XIII PAlacios de Meneses a Town not far from Medina de Rioseco would needs enter into the same brawl with the Commoners and rise up in Arms with them Don Alonso Enriquez Bishop of Osma brother to the Lord Admiral and the Earl Don Hernando beeing at that time in Medina drew out three thousand Foot and one hundred and fiftie hors with which they marched directly to Palacios de Meneses intending to storm and sack it in revenge of that which the Commoners had don at Torrelobaton This design beeing discovered Iohn de Padilla sent threescore hors into Palacios which otherwaies was not very ill provided for having the enemie neer them their continual fear made them the more careful and circumspect There was within the Town neer four hundred inhabitants able to bear Arms all well provided with Cross-bows and other weapons insomuch that when those of Rioceco came thither and required them to let them in they answered That their manner of coming was such that they could not with safeâ—ie permit them entrance Thereupon the Cavaliers bid them send any two of their Towns-men to treat with them whiâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—d But beeing com unto them they stript them 〈…〉 â—â—em back in their shirts with threatnings and commâ—â—â—â—â—â—liver the town presently otherwise they would â—ansack 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—oy them utterly The Town not valuing their menaâ—â—â—â—â—â—od to their former resolution and would not admiâ— them pâ—â—â—ing themselvs in a defensive posture in case they should atteâ—â—â— to storm them The Assault was very furious and the resistance of the Assailed no less couragious killing and wounding â—â—ch other without pitie four hours together At last those within beeing fewer in number then the Assailers were forced to quit the walls which the enemie presently scaled and placed two Colors upon the top and divers others were following them but when those of Palacios saw themselvs in that extremitie three hundred Cross-bow-men and many with slings charged them so thick with stones and arrows that both the Ensigns beeing killed one fell with his Colors within the other on the out-side of the wall so that those of Rioseco seeing so resolute a resistance were glad to make a fair retreat but they first set fire to the gates which the Towns people perceiving the women brought presently above two hundred great pitchers of Vinegar and the bow-men sent such clouds of arrows amongst them that they killed ten of their men and wounded a great number With this paiment they returned to Rioseco and those of Palacios remained very well pleased and satisfied hereof they presently gave intelligence to Iohn de Padilla Don Iohn de Mendoça Captain of the forces of Valladolid and to Empudia desiring â—uccor lesâ— the Enemie angrie at their ill success in that attempt should surprise them another time Hereupon those of the Iunta commanded Don Iohn de Mendoça to go to Palacios The same night after the assault came fiftie musketiers from Empudia to Palacios so secretly that they were not discovered by the Enemie who returned the next daie thither thinking to carrie it not knowing any thing of the succor which came to them of Palacios over-night which though it was not much proved of great importance Those of Rioseco fell on deâ—perately but the Towns-men with the help of those Musketiers defended themselvs very stoutly and killed their men so fast that they were fain to retire with loss And those of Palacios were cried up for gallant men having repulsed so many enemies two several times without the loss of one man they beeing but an handful in comparison and their Town not strong SECT XIV THus the confusion and war daily grew more violent in the miserable Kingdoms of Castilla Toledo the Province of Alava and in the Mountains of Burgos In the Kingdom of Valencia there was nothing but cutting of throats and robbing one another And Valladolid seeing the Kingdom in so distracted a condition began to murmure against those that sate at the helm charging them with the ill managing of the affairs and that they did nothing but trifle and delaie the time without knowing when or how to set a period to their miseries They desired to bring their differences to an end but chiefly by the conquest of the Cavaliers that they might bee exempted and free'd from such great mischiefs The fault of not concluding either by a firm peace or an open war they imputed to the Commissioners of the Kingdom who to enrich themselvs and becaus they would not bee brought to an account of one hundred and fiftie thousand Duckets which they had received were glad to keep things from a conclusion of which Valladolid having suffered the most of any place and which had been at the greatest expences was most sensible and did exceedingly lament To say the truth on both sides as well of the Cavaliers as of the Commonalties there was trouble and hard measure enough In Montealegre the Bishop of Osma and the Earl Don Hernando put a great number of the Toledian souldiers to tâ—e rout beeing there with their Captains swaggering and rioting and never suspecting to bee surprised by the Enemie They killed som of them that made resistance and carried near two hundred prisoners to Rioseco Thus both parties studied to weaken ruine each other and betwixt them consumed the whole Countrie Iohn de Padilla kept his Court in Torrelobaton like another Annibal in Capua Upon a Mundaie the 8 of April all the people of Valladolid rose up in a tumultuous manner beeing wearied out with those of the Iunta and discontented at their secret and long consultations without concluding any thing In this disorder they went seeking them from place to place beeing fully resolved to turn them out of the Citie or know of them the reason of their delaies for the dammage which they daily receiv'd from those of Simancas was insufferable There was no trading at all every thing grew so excessive dear that a bushel of wheat was worth eight hundred Maravediz The people flocked in multitudes
into a little Tower amongst the Vineyards where they defended themselvs until the Alarm was given in Valladolid and the Bishop of Zamora came out with a partie of Hors and rescued them two of those of Simancas were killed and the rest seeing more men com from Valladolid fled all away so the Bishop returned with som hurt men but lost not one Beeing night the Citie much satisfied with his courage in this exploit sent out many torches to receiv him The next daie becaus a brother of Serna's had murmured somthing against the Bishop they commanded his hous to bee pull'd down and in regard the people thronged thither out of greediness to carrie away the timber they heedlessly cut down the pillars and posts that supported it whereby the four quarters of the hous fell amongst the people killed fourteen or fifteen men and hurt divers others SECT X. THe Commissioners who fled at the taking of Tordesillas to Medina del Campo came afterwards to Valladolid where they held their Iunta general concerning the affairs of the Kingdom The Lord Admiral seeing his Towns destroied his tenants plundered of all their goods and cattle since the â—â—rdinal's departure from Rioseco sent them a Letter to Valladolid pourporting That since it had been God's pleasure to laie his Judgments upon the Kingdom and afflict them with the â—pirit of dissention hee desired to the end there might bee no more spoiling nor murthering one another That there might bee a Ceâ—sation of Arms but upon this condition That whatsoever dammage and prejudice hee and the Earl of Venavente had sustained in their Lands by the robbing and violence of those of Valladolid should bee repaired otherwise That those Arms which they had taken to offend them they should take to defend themselvs This Letter beeing read in the Iunta it was Voted that no answer should bee returned nor any other Letter received thenceforwards from any of the Grandees Christmas beeing com they made great preparations to go against Tordesillas Iohn de Padilla beeing arrived with the men of Toledo at Medina del Campo it was moved that hee should besiege it on one side and the Bishop on the other hereupon were every daie consultations amongst the Commissioners but they could not determine any thing At last it was resolved that Iohn de Padilla should bee sent for to Valladolid that they might take his advice The Commoners were far more in number then the Cavaliers but these were the better and more experienced men in matters of Arms Tordesillas they fortified daily and furnished with all sorts of provisions Simancas likewise was in so good condition that the hors of that garrison plagued those of Valladolid in such manner that no bodie could Travel nor keep any Cattle in the fields or any thing els but they would bee sure to snap it By order of the Iunta it was Proclaimed in Valladolid with sound of Trumpets and Minstrels that no Souldiers or others should rob under pain of death albeit they should meet with people coming from the enemies quarters unless they bore Arms on the other side and in such case they might do what they could to the end that People might pass to and fro securely and trade not absolutely bee destroied The like was proclaimed in Tordesillas and Simancas By this means the waies began to bee somwhat secure but not altogether and the People desired there might bee one good battle for either side falling the dispute would bee ended The spirit and Courage of the Bishop was remarkable One night hee sallied out of Valladolid and went to Palencia took the Corregidor the Alcaldes and other officers of Justice and placed others in their steads hee had an intent to apprehend Don Diego de Castilla also but hee fled With the favor and assistance of the major part of the Citie hee called himself Bishop of Palencia for which Bishoprick hee was presently offâ—ed sixteen thousand Duckets Thence hee went to Carrion and Torquemadâ— in each of which Towns as in Palencia hee left two thousand men to guard them which the Commonaltie had given him hee gave them strict orders to bee very watchful and Vigilant but to offer violence to none except the the people of Burgos and other places belonging to the Cavaliers and from such hee bid them take what they could and paie themselvs with the plunder and tell the people that if they came a second time they might thank God if they took not their lives away as for their goods or Cattle they must exspect to have none left This done hee returned to Valladâ—lid having made himself a King and Pope SECT XI IOhn de Padilla marched out of Medina del Campo towards Valladolid with â— great number of Foot paid for a long time but onely threescore hors And beeing arrived at the bridg of Duero hee commanded his Artillerie to bee carried up the River to Simancas At about half a league distance hee caused four peeces of Ordnance to bee shot at the Town whereupon the Earl of OnÌ„ate sallied forth with fourscore Lances with which hee laie in ambush thinking to cut off Iohn de Padilla's train but beeing discovered Iohn de Padilla let flie four Falconets at them which made them soon turn their bâ—cks and hee pursued them to the very Gates of Simancas Thence hee went to Valladolid where hee was solemnly received with the applaus and content of the whole Citie making as if hee were the father of them all in whom they reposed all their trust and confidence And there hee was made Captain-General although those of the Iunta would have given that Command to Don Pedro Lasso de la Vega but the great credit and esteem which Iohn de Padilla had gotten amongst the Souldierie made them decline that resolution The Earl of Haro having intelligence of Iohn de Padilla's march to Valladolid had an intent to stop his waie to which effect hee sent for Don Geronimo de Padilla to Simancas with those men hee had at Portillo but beeing upon his departure informed for certain that some of Tordesillas had given Iohn de Padilla notice of his design and that they had agreed assoon as the Earl was gon with his men one waie Iohn de Padilla shouâ—d com another and fall upon Tordesillas where most of the Inhabitants were for the Commonaltie and desired nothing more then the effecting of this ploâ— Hee câ—anged his former determination and staied to secure Tordesillas After this they had intelligence that in a place called Rodilana betwixt Medina del Campo and Valladolid were quartered five hundred Souldiers of Salamanca who beeing so neer Medina thought themselvs secure and kept no guards hereupon the Lord Admiral and the â—arl consulted how to beat up their quarters and destroie them Don Pedro de la Cueva brother to the Duke of Alburquerque a valiant Gentlemen undertook the execution of this design and with few more then what the enemie was spoken to bee
hee marched one night to Rodilana and falling in suddenly upon them hee killed and took most of them the rest fled Five or six daies after this the Earl of Haro having received other intelligence that in a small Town called lâ— Zarca six leagues from Tordesillas where arrived seven or eight hundred Souldiers from Segovia Hee incharged the same Don Pedro who was his Cosen German becaus hee had been so successful before to go and surprise the said Souldiers giving him two hundred hors and five hundred Foot to that effect Don Pedro with those men marched all night and going a great league about to avoid Medina del Campo hee set upon them unawares though the said souldiers retir'd fighting into a Church Don Pedro followed them so close that entring perforce after them hee killed and wounded many of them and brought almost all the rest prisoners to Tordesillas which was held an exploit of great valor conduct and importance SECT XII JOhn de Padilla the Bishop of Zamora and other Captains of the Commoâ—altie neglected no opportunities of advancing their Interest and infesting the advers partie It was concluded amongst them that Iohn de Padilla with the two thousand five hundred men hee brought from Toledo and Madrid should pitch his camp before Cigales a smal Town belonging to the Earl of Venavente two leagues from Valladolid and if they did not receiv them willingly that they should force their entrance but those of Cigales received them without making the least opposition and lodged them in their houses thinking no harm At midnight which was a base unworthie action the Souldiers gave the alarm through all the Town and beeing in arms they took all their Hosts who had so freely given them quarters and all the rest of the Town and having manacled and disarmed them not leaving them so much as a sword or dagger they put them all into the Church and set a strong Guard upon them saying They did so to secure the place becaus it belonged to an enemie The third of Ianuarie the Bishop marched again out of Valladolid at midnight with som companies of souldiers directly to Palâ—nâ—ia his new Bishoprick where hee staied som time after which hee gave out that hee would return to Valladolid but hee turned another waie and having sent his Scouts before to Moçon the next morning by break of daie hee assaulted the Fort of Valdepero whereof was Commander Andres de Ribera son in law to Doctor Tello who after a long dispute and several men killed on both sides the Bishop receiving fresh supplies from the Beherrias was enforced to surrender upon condition onely to secure the lives of those that were within The Bishop took the persons of the Governor his wife and Doctor Tello her father into his protection but could not or would not hinder his men â—rom plundering all their goods They found much very rich bootie within the Fort whereof the Bishop demanded a fifth part as beeing their Captain which they gave him yet hee that had least amongst the Souldiers carried away fourtie Duckets The Bishop grown glorious by this prize dispatched a messenger to Valladolid requiring them to send him more men that hee migâ—t take the other Forts about Fuâ—ntes and Palencia and put Gaâ—râ—sons iâ— them for the Commonaltie which done hee sent Doctor Tello his son-in-law aâ—d daughter prisoners to Valladolid with a Guard of thirtie Hors. SECT XIII THe Commanders of the Iunta's forces used all possible diligence to bee revenged of those of Simancas from whom they received continual affronts and mischief and therefore they sent for more meâ— to Toro Zamora Salamanca and Avila which they exspected daily for all those and other Cities were possessed with so much disdain and wilfulness that they asspired and studied nothing more then the mainteining of that War as if they thought that their onely means to Salvation whereof certainly there was weak probabilitie considering that for eleven months which those Domestick or Civil Wars had reigned in Spain the Divel had transported the hearts of men with this infernal furie If any one though but of an ordinarie capacitie did seâ—iously consider what destinie would befal those Citiâ—s sor denying their due obedience to their King hee granting more then they desired and persevering in such extravagâ—nt misdemeanors and cruelties to themselvs besides the ofâ—ens to God what could hee think but that they were quite bereaved of natural reason And that a Bishop CHRIST'S Vicar should make himself Captain of such ungratious miscreants O â—empora ô Mores Impudence and respectless audacitie were onely in esteem the vile inconsiderate multitude fought against the noble and virtuous Those that were of good extraction or possessed any considerable fortune durst not open their mouths for if by chance they did let fall any word which sounded not well in the other's ears presently their persons were committed to prisons their goods and estates confiscate and they proclaimed Traitors Such was the confusion such the corruption and reprobate estate of the Castillians in our Grandfathers times from the year 1519 until 1522 In which year God brought his Majestie back into these Kingdoms which returning to their obedience and beeing acknowledged by their King God raised them to the magnificence and glorie wherewith they flourished in former ages and enjoie yet at this present To the end the people may see what blessings hee bestow's upon subjects that are obedient to their Princes and how hee punisheth the contrarie for although the Taxes which they impose upon them bee heavie they heap upon themselvs grievances infinitely more insupportable by rising in Rebellion against them Though this strange Historie of the Commonalties seem opprobrious to this Nation and an indelible blot to the Castillian honor having broken their faith to their Sovereign for which they were so renowned in other ages yet it is exceeding profitable in this respect that Kings may know how to govern their Subjects without oppression and the subjects learn to obey without reluctancie for the contrarie can but produce such sad effects as wee both have and shall see hereafter But to return to our former relation I must tell you That the Garrison of Simancas holding themselvs secure by reason of the natural as well as the Artificial strength of the place went almost every daie Pekeering to the gates of Valladolid and not onely brought away all their goods and cattle they could meet withal but abused and reviled them with most shameful language calling them Dogs and Infidels bidding them turn Christians again In revenge whereof those of Valladolid so reaked their malice upon the Lord Admiral and other Noblemen in this manner The 11 daie of Januarie in the same year by order or at least consent of the Iunta they made a Proclamation that no Citizen or Inhabitant of Valladolid or Jurisdiction thereof should dare under great penalties to go to the Fairs or Marts of Villalon Rioseco or