Castile Don Iohn Nugnes Don Aluar Nugnes and others all beeing assisted by the troupes of France and Nauarre they made roades as far as Toledo with great ruine of the country and people for the French King hated Don Sancho as an vsurper of his Nephewes right neither was he lesse enemie to Don Pedro King of Arragon as well for the detention of his nephewes and his practises with Castile as for that which had happened in the Realme of Naples betwixt the Arragonois and the French as you shall heare These spoilers being a competent armie of foure thousand horse and great numbers of foot returning towards Toledo had a desseigne to enter into Arragon and to assaile Tarrassone whereof Don Pedro being aduertised who kept a garrison of three hundred horse at Logrogno for the defence of Castile he sent to intreat the Infant Don Sancho to march thither and to succour him against the French and Nauarrois who came to destroy his Realme of Arragon the which he did presently so as beeing ioyned with the king Don Pedro they saued Tarrassone yet the Arragonois lost the castell of VI the which was wel defended by Ximeno of Artieda they also lost Lerida and Filera the which were giuen in gard to them to Sanguessa Baylo and Arbuis were ruined and the French and Nauarrois past vnto Verdun Vpon their returne the army of D. Pedro and D. Sancho attended them where as they could not auoyd the battaile which the French presented them but the Knights of Castile which did accompany them told them that they had willingly ouer-runne the country and done their indeauors in all assaults but to charge their lances against Don Sancho it was not their intention that is to say to spoile towns to ruine poore innocents who had no interest in great mens quarrels they did it willingly yet wold they not attempt any thing against the heads who might giue them impunity for all their insolencies and could take reuenge of them if they shewed themselues too eager enemies So the troupes of France and Nauarre returned towards Pampelone from whence some of the Noblemen of Castile went to D. Sancho hauing made their peace 26 The King D. Pedro finding himselfe in this danger Arragon it made him to seeke a peace with Nauarre for some moneths for he had many questions to decide with his Noblemen and Knights of Arragon and Cattelogne who complained much of his sower disposition and his tyrannous manner of gouernement insulting ouer the greatest yea against his owne bloud contrarie to all lawe and nature For wee reade that there were scarce two yeares expired after the decease of his father when as hee forced his brother Don Iames to whom the Ilands of Maiorca and Minorca with other places adiacent had beene giuen by testament Iniustice of D. Pedro against his bro. with the title of a king to hold them of him as fees depending of the Crowne of Arragon and therefore he caused him to take an oath and do homage as also for the Counties of Rossillon Cerdagne Conflans Vallespierre Colibre Omelades Carlades and for the rights of Montpellier with promise for himselfe and his descendants Kings of Maiorca to come to the Estates of Barcelona beeing called and do deliuer the citty of Maiorca the towne of Perpignan and the castell of Cerdagne vnto the Kings of Arragon whensoeuer they shold demand them in regard of which submissions and promises the king Don Pedro did confirme these lands and portions to the king Don Iames his brother for the which he would haue the Earles of Foix and Empurias D. Dalmas of Rocabertin Vicount of Castelnau Raymond of Vrgio William Canet Bernard Hugo Serralongue Dalmais of Castelnau Ponce Zagardia Arnaud Corsaccio William Sous with the Deputies of the Ilands of Maiorca and Minorca to become cautions Sometime after picking a quarrell against the Nobilitie of Cattelogne and their priuiledges this king Don Pedro did so furiously assaile the Earles of Foix Vrgel and Palliars with the Vicount of Cardona who were the most apparent as hauing beseeged and taken them in Balaguer he detained them long in a miserable prison especially the Earle of Foix whom he intreated vnworthily in the castell of Siurana Moreouer a little before this last warre of Nauarre hee had attempted and executed great matters against the French raigning in Italy hauing employed the men and meanes of Arragon and Cattelogne to the great discontentment and oppression of all his subiects and hee was newly returned out of France whether the warre of Naples and Sicily had drawne him vppon the occasion which followeth 27 The French hauing conquered Naples and Sicily Insolencies of the French in Sicily vnder Charles the first brother to Saint Louis they committed many vnaccustomed insolencies among these nations against the honor of women with other exactions and spoiles vnder colour of Iustice by reason whereof as also by the iust iudgement of God to whom without doubt the cruel deaths of Conradin and of the Duke of Austria whose heads King Charles had caused to be cut off by the pernitious counsell of Pope Clement the Sicilians did sollicite D. Pedro King of Arragon to pursue the right which he had vnto these Realmes as husband to Q. Constance heire thereof beeing daughter to king Manfroy promising to ayde and assist him with their persons and goods he which did most labour in this poursute was called Iohn de Procula or Prochida borne at Salerne Phisition to the deceased King Manfroy who by his perswasions induced the king Don Pedro to affect this conquest for the effecting whereof he first made a secret league with Pope Nicholas the third and with Michel Paleologue Emperour of Constantinople obtayning from the Pope a promise of Inuestiture of the Realmes of Naples and Sicily Martin the 4. beeing Pope after the decease of Nicholas the king sent Hugh Mataplana a Catelan to Rome to sound his disposition touching the confirmation or renewing of this Leaque and to intertaine him for Martin was friend to Charles King of Naples and to disguise the cause of his Ambassadors voyage he had charge to mooue the Pope and the Consistorie to canonize Don Friar Raymond of Pegnafort according to the aduice of a Prouinciall Councell held a litle before at Barcelona by the Prelates of Arragon and Cattelogne In the meane time D. Pedro did arme forty galleys with many ships the which he caused to passe along the coast of Affricke vnder a colour of restoring Bouqueron king of Constatine in Africke who was expelled by his brother and the better to couer his enterprise the Ambassador besought the Pope to take the Realme of Arragon into the protection of the Church whilest that the king D. Pedro should be absent in the warre of Affricke and to demaund leaue to exact a tenth of his Cleargie The king was demanded by the Ambassadours of France the reason of this great preparation with offers that if it were
had assured his comming to Rome were forced to put themselues in armes to warrant him and to conduct him to a place of safetie whereof there followed great hatred betwixt the Pope and the Colonnois And king Ferdinand was no lesse displeased at these violent proceedings of the Pope for he had a particular affection vnto duke Alphonso his kinsman borne of a daughter to king Ferdinand the first of Naples But to make an end of that which had beene concluded by the league that is to 〈◊〉 the French out of Italie and out of the world if they could D. Raymond of Gardona Viceroy of Naples who since the battell of Rauenna had beene in his gouernement returned this yeare with his armie about Bolonia to continue the warre But the Pope and the Venetians finding themselues seised of a good part of that which they pretended refused to furnish money for the entertainment of his armie as had beene agreed by the treatie of the league so as there grew a great mutinie in the campe among the souldiers for want of pay and the Viceroy was forced to retire with great danger of his person to Modena where he found meanes to recouer some money with the which he returned and kept his souldiers together who began to disband At that time there being a day appoynted at Mantoua to consult of the affaires of the warre the Viceroy of Naples came thither with deputies from the Pope Emperor Venetians and Suisses There it was concluded That they should put Maximilian Sforce sonne to Lewis Sforce in possession of the duchie of Milan And moreouer it was propounded to assaile the Florentines who were friends and allied to the Crowne of France as wel for this cause as to restore the familie of Medicis expelled out of that commonweale to their goods and honours the which the Pope did presse much in fauour of cardinall Iohn of Medicis his legate and others of that familie This was the Viceroyes first taske after his returne to the armie to lead it into the estate of Florence from whom he tooke the town of Prato where there were slain aboue two thousand men of the Florentines part Estate of Florence vexed by the Viceroy of Naples and many taken Whereat the citie of Florence being amazed and their Councell vnprouided of forces and meanes to resist they yeelded to the restitution of the Medicis and to whatsoeuer the Viceroy would impose vpon them For besides the summes of money which they payed for the entertainment of the Spanish armie and another summe vnto the Emperour they made a league with king Ferdinand promising to entertaine two hundred men at armes in the armie of the league and yet the people were depriued of a good part of their libertie by the cardinall of Medicis who created magistrats and officers at his pleasure These exploits being done in the Florentines countrey the Viceroy led his armie to Bresse which the Venetians did besiege so as the lord of Aubigny was out of hope to be able to keepe it this Spanish armie hauing so great a fame for that it had humbled so powerfull a commonweale as that of Florence and therefore he did capitulate with the Viceroy of Naples although the Venetians had layed the siege and yeelded it vpon condition to depart himselfe and his men free with their armes and baggage their colours flying and without artillerie After the taking of Bresse the bishop of Gurcensis embassadour for the Emperour came to Rome whereas he of Spaine laboured much to reconcile the Emperour and the Venetians there remaining no difference but onely for the citie of Vincence This embassadour did also seeke to reconcile the Pope with the Colonnois League made against the Venetians with whom he was much displeased for the duke of Ferraraes cause Yet there was a new league made betwixt the Pope and the Emperour against the Venetians approued by the Councell of Latra◠leauing a place for king Ferdinand to enter The reason of this league was for that the Venetians would not yeeld to certaine conditions which the Pope propounded vnto them King Ferdinands doubt herein was that the Venetians would joyne with the French king if they were too much prest wherfore his embassadour fauoured them what he could The comming of Maximilian Sforce to Verona caused the bishop of Gurcensis to part from Rome to establish him in the Emperours name in the duchie of Milan whither he conducted him hauing found him at Cremona with the Viceroy D. Raymond of Cardona The duke much desired by the Milanois was receiued there with great joy The cardinal of Sion presented him the keies in the Suisses name who would haue the honour of his restoring Notwithstanding the league newly made against the Venetians the Pope had a great desire to ruine the duke of Ferrara to preuent the which the embassadour of Spaine by commaundement from his king did all good offices and vsed all the meanes he could And this was one of the chiefe causes why king Ferdinand would not please the Pope and enter into the league Notwithstanding the duke shewing himselfe vngratefull no man knowes vpon what reason procured a scandalous and horrible attempt against him Iugratitude of the duke of Ferrara pretended by the Spaniards as the Spaniards write persuading D. Ferdinand of Arragon duke of Calabria sonne to king Frederic and conspiring with him to depriue him of his life There was a certaine monke who was messenger from the duke of Ferrara to him of Calabria who had also for negotiator on his part Philip Copula sonne to the earle of Sarno whose head king Ferdinand of Naples had caused to be striken off This Copula had made some voyages into France and treated with king Lewis to giue a retreat and meanes in his realme to the duke of Calabria being then in the Catholike kings Court at Logrogne and should haue saued himselfe in the French armie Conspiracie againg king Ferdinand which was about Pampelone hauing resolued first to set fire on certaine powder that was hidden in the kings lodging But God would not suffer so wicked a practise to take effect The matter being discouered Copula was quartered and D. Ferdinand duke of Calabria was sent prisoner to the castle of Xatiua neere vnto Valencia where hee remained aboue ten yeares vntill that the Emperour Charles pardoned him and set him at libertie Hereupon king Ferdinand conceiued so great a hatred against the duke of Ferrara as hee commaunded the Viceroy of Naples to ayd the Pope with his armie or any other thing hee had without any respect to the pretended pay The Venetians seeing the Pope and Emperour leagued together to annoy them and that the Emperour would not giue eare to the Catholike kings embassadour who did still persuade him to make a peace with their commonwealth and to take a summe of money in the place of Vincence they joyned with the French king who had not wholly forgotten
Caraffes did fortifie Paliano vpon the confines of the realme of Naples sent the erle of Sanvalentino to the Caraffi exhorting them that they would not attempt a thing so preiudiciall to his Maiestie and that they should doe all good offices to pacifie the Pope and to take away the occasions of these tumults seeing that they might expect more from the King of Spaines bountie Earle of Sannalentino at Rome to treat at accord by quietnesse than from their vncle by such daungerous and not durable Innouations which could not produce any thing but warre and ruine The Earle complayned also in the Duke of Albas behalfe that his Holinesse had vsed all them sowerly that were friends to the Emperour and to the King of Spaine and that hee daily gaue new occasions to thinke Duke of Alba complaines of the Popes actions that his heart was estraunged from them for that to wrong the fauorites friends and dependants of the house of Austria without respect of anie was a signe of much hatred which was borne them and small accompt that was made of them besides arming and leuying new troupes daily the which were sent vnto diuerse places of the frontire and finally causing a fort to bee built vpon the confines of the realme of Naples and imploying men therein that were suspected to the house of Austria did shew plainely that hee had done them wrong or meant to wrong them and then defend it by force But this was against the quiet of Christendome seeking to ouerthrow the hope of a generall peace which with great toyle was lately grounded vpon a truce and to receiue into Rome not only the enemies of his King but open rebelles was nothing else but to approue their treacherie and to haue an intent to vse their councell or seruice to preiudice his Maiesty seeing they were so familiar in his Court The which hee should beleeue hee could not long endure beeing of so generous a mind and of so great power as hee needed not to feare anie man and if hee had endured vntil that time it was onely in respect of the holie Sea desiring peace aboue all things whereunto the Pope should bee more inclined than he in regard of his dignitie and charge The Pope answered pertinently to euerie one of these points shewing that it was not fit for anie man Answer made by the Pope to the duke of Albas complaint much lesse for a Catholike King or his ministers to seeke vpon anie colour whatsoeuer to hinder the Popes authoritie ouer his subiects that he might not take knowledge of their offences and punish them for the respect hee should beare to anie Potentate and that hee although that the King of Naples were feudatarie to that Sea tooke no care for that which was doone in that kingdome much lesse should hee with such vehemencie seeke an accompt in Rome of the Popes actions who was a free and absolute Lord But touching that which was spoken of armes and souldiers it was neither in that citie nor anie where else a preparation to warre but for the safetie and defence of his person and State seeing that hee had cause to feare secret treason and that which they could not doe by poison they would seeke to effect by the sword and they that could not depriue him of his life would with ignominie spoile him of his estate hauing before his eyes the example of Clement the seuenth by his too great trust And as hee could not altogether blame his Maiesties royall conceptions so hee could not excuse the malice of some of his followers who haue thought therein to please him whom hee also blamed for entertaining anie hard conceit in the Kings mind causing him to suspect his Holinesse actions and his nephews so as happily he had commaunded him to send some troupes vnto the frontires of the territories of the Church vnder Bernardin of Mendosa and that they had made other demonstrations nothing conformable to the peace which the Duke seemed to desire according to the intent of the King his master Touching enemies and rebelles which he saied he had receiued into Rome hee answered that hee might well know that that Citie had beene alwayes a common Countrie wherewith the King should not be grieued Besides the Duke of Alua who made all this noyse should consider how much the Pope of Rome was reuerenced and respected by him seeing that hee had receiued and fauoured Marc Anthonie Colonna who had beene excommunicated by him with all those that should receiue or assist him And as for the Kings well taking of it it was well knowne and of what power hee was seeing that hauing scarce taken in hand the gouernement of his Realmes hee would haue soueraigne Princes respect his Maiesties fauourites the which hee entertained in other mens estates But notwithstanding hee did hope that God would fauour the iust cause and that beeing forced to take some other resolution hee trusted to find them that would helpe the oppressed But after this they fell to open armes the Pope apprehending the preparations which were made by the Spaniards in the realme of Naples Truce broken betwixt France and Spaine had recourse vnto the French King and to the forces of Fraunce the auncient refuge of Popes oppressed This was an occasion to breake the truce and to bring Fraunce and Spaine againe to armes There had been a league made by the procurement of the cardinall of Lorraine before the conclusion of the truce betwixt the Pope Henrie the French king and the Duke Ferrara whereof the Duke should be generall in Italie in qualitie of the Kings lieutenant Cardinall Carraffe legate in Fraunce Cardinall Carraffa the Popes Nuntio was sent into France for Legat who brought a sword vnto the king in signification of warre at whose instance there were three thousand foot appoynted to bee sent to Rome whereof part were speedily imbarked in those gallies which brought this Legate to Marseilles The Pope hee stood vpon his gard entertained captaines and gaue commissions to leuie men causing the places about Rome to be fortified The duke of Alba seeing the French king ingaged in this quarrell entred in hostile manner into the territories of the Church where hee tooke many places and brought his army neere to the gates of Rome which made the Pope to importune the French King for succours Afterwards hee tooke the towne of Ostia and the castle the which had wonderfully amazed the Romans if Peter Strossy had not beene who since his defeat being no friend to the Spaniards had liued in Rome and had accompanied Cardinall Carraffa into Fraunce and returned with him to Rome by the kings commaundement who imployed himselfe wholy for the Caraffes who had all the authoritie wherefore hee was verie pleasing vnto them By his industrie and valour Ostia with some other places were recouered from the Spaniards The king desirous to rleieue the Pope Duke of Guise sent into Italie sent
of Spaine touching the reigne of Amalaric and deeds of Theodoric king of Italie whom the Spaniards make his grandfather by the mothers side 19 Theude the ninth king of the Gothes in Spaine 20 Theodiscle the tenth king of the Gothes in Spaine 21 Agila the eleuenth king 22 Athanagilde the twelfth king 23 Luiba the thirteenth king 24 Leonigilde the foureteenth king and his deeds 25 End of the reigne of the Sueues in Gallicia 26 Ricared the fifteenth king abiuration of the Arrian heresie at the third Councell of Toledo reformation of the Gothicke lawes 27 Luiba the second of that name sixteenth king cruell his death 28 Vuiteric the seuentcenth king a tyrant 29 Gundamyr the eighteenth king 30 Sizebut the nineteenth king 31 Suintilla the twentieth king deposed for his vices 32 Sizenand the one and twentieth king the fourth Councell of Toledo 33 Cinthilla the two and twentieth king and the fift and sixt Councels of Toledo 34 Tulba the three and twentieth king 35 Cindasuinthe the foure and twentieth king vnder whom was the seuenth Councell of Toledo 36 Recesuinthe the fiue and twentieth king and the ninth and tenth Councels of Toledo 37 Bamba the six and twentieth king rebellion of Paule and others in Gothike Gaule and their punishment 38 The eleuenth Councell of Toledo vnder him and some decrees 39 Eringe the seuen and twentieth king and vnder him the twelfth thirteenth and foureteenth Councels of Toledo 40 Egica the eight and twentieth king vnder whom were the fifteenth sixteenth and seuenteenth Councels of Toledo 41 Vitiza the nine and twentieth king cruell and infamous the eighteenth Councell at Toledo 42 Roderic the thirtieth and last king of Gothes in Spaine his vices inuasion of Spaine by the Moores and Arabians and the end of the Gothes reigne 43 A Catalogue of the auncient Bishops of Spaine BEing to treat of the Gothes kingdome in Spaine it is fit to know from what region they are come and by what accidents they first seated themselues in Spaine Honorius sonne to Theodosius the Great then reigning in the West 1 The Gothes are issued from the Getes The Gothes come out of Asia intâ— Europe and their first beginning was in Asia they passed into Europe long before and did first seize vpon the higher countrey of Thrace and Mysia which is at this day Bulgaria Bosna Rascia Seruia and it may be a part of Hungarie and in the end they came to either banke of the riuer of Danube and then by degrees peopling all that lyes betwixt that riuer and the Northerne shore of the Baltike sea they did in the end hold all that continent which extends it selfe in manner of an island in the bosome thereof with all the neighbour islands They were famous for a long time in Dacia in those regions which wee now call Valachia Transyluania Gothes Geâ—es Gepides all one nation and Moldauia where they were called Getes and Gepides In the times of Alexander the Great there were certaine encounters betwixt the Grecians and the Gothes not farre from the island of Peuce aboue Constantinople at the mouths of Danube or Ister as they called it in that place Syrmius reigned ouer that nation at that time We read also That Lysimachus one of Alexanders successors was vanquished in battaile and taken by a king of the Gothes whom hee afterwards set freely at libertie and married his daughter After which in tract of time other nations being mingled with them those which did inhabite the great Peninsule which the auncients called Scandia and Scandinauia yet little knowne to them retained the name of Gothes and the language the which as some affirme was like vnto that of the Celtes others hold That it was the Teuton or Dutch tongue which languages being corrupted differ much at this day from those times when they were in their greatest puritie From these Northerne regions which containe at this day the realmes of Suethland and Denmarke often and vpon diuers occasions there came great troupes of people who tooke possession againe of the countries joyning to the Venedique or Baltike sea The Gothish tongue and of the islands thereof chasing away the inhabitants and aduauncing into the maine land they did repossesse Dacia and Mysia and ouerrun the higher Thrace vnder Filymer sonne to Gandaric who was the fift king after this returne In these countries they planted their bounds vpon the Danube and there reigned some ages they did encrease their fame with great victories and did giue their name to many nations whom they subjected They inuaded the Romane Empire in the time of Decius vnder the conduct of their king Giua and did vanquish the Romanes in a great battaile whereas Decius and his sonne were slaine after which by many victories they made themselues fearefull to the Romans so as the Emperous were often glad to haue them for friends and companions in arms and by the vertue and valor of their troups which they entertained did often execute great matters About the time of Valentinian and Valens Hermanaric reigned ouer the Gothes The Hunschase the Gothes out of their coÌ„quests who vanquished many nations who notwithstanding yeelded to the force of the Hunnes fathers to the Hungarians who came at that time out of Asia into Europe in great numbers through the fennes of Meotides Hermanaric being dead and Vithimir his successor slaine in battaile the Gothes estate was ouerthrowne and troden vnder foot by the Hunnes wherefore such as would not liue vnder the Conquerors subjection retyred themselues into diuers other countries Athanaric who had shewed himselfe an enemie to Valens in supporting Procopius his rebell would not trust him and therefore he tooke his course towards the North and did inhabite with his troupes in the forrests of Sarmatia But Fritigerne and Alauin being followed with a great number of Gothes came vnto the bankes of Danube vpon the confines of the Empire where desiring to be admitted to dwell with the other subjects Valens consented supposing that they should serue as a rampier against forraine nations that would inuade the empire on that side Then there arriued vpon the same marches Vitheric Distinction of the East and West Gothes sonne to Vithimir with his tutors Alathee and Safrax and also Farnabe conductors of other great troupes Then did the Romans begin to distinguish these people into Ostrogoths or East Goths and Visigoths or West Goths calling those which did remaine vnder the domination of the Hunnes Ostrogoths and those Visigots which had passed the Danube and dwelt in Hungarie Mysia and Thracia the which distinction was ancient among them according to their countries and abodes and was againe practised in Italie Gaule and Spaine when as this nation had erected kingdomes there whereof the princes were diuided into two families or factions that is the Hâ—mels or Amales and the Baltes 2 The name of Iesus Christ had beene many yeares preached among this nation Christian religion among the Gothes before
4 After the defeat of Radagase Alaric marched into Italie with a great armie Alaric passeth into Italie and demaunded to diuide the Empire with Honorius to whom by the counsell of Stilico Honorius graunted the possession of Gaule and Spaine who were also in prey to the French and other nations Alaric and the Gothes marching towards the Alpes doubting no surprize were charged by an armie which Stilico had sent after them to keepe them from spoyling Italie vnder the commaund of a Iew called Saule who had a secret commaundement to set vpon the Gothes armie when they should be most busied in the straits of the mountaines the which hee could not put in execution for the Gothes seeing themselues betrayed gathered their forces together and put themselues in battaile as well as they could Trecherie of Stillâ—â— and defeat of the imperiall army defending themselues so valiantly as the imperiall armie was defeated wherefore Alaric being victor and full of a furious desire of reuenge leauing the way to Gaule he turned backe and did miserably spoyle the countries which were since called Lumbardie Tuscane and Romania putting all to fire and sword Rome taken by the Gothes euen to the gates of Rome the which he tooke after a long siege and sacked it pardoning the holy places and those that were fled into them From thence hee did ouerrun Italie euen vnto the furthest bounds then returning towards Rome he died suddainely neere vnto Cosence and was buried in the riuer of Barsente turned out of her course for that cause The death of Alaric and afterwards drawne againe into her old bed by the Gothes who after his death made choice of Ataulphe his cousin for their king being a very wise man Hauing brought backe the armie to Rome he spoyled all that remained of the first sacke yet he was somewhat pacified by the loue of Placidia Galla Ataulphe Alarics successors pacified by Pâ—aâ—idia sister to the Emperour Honorius being prisoner whom by reason of her nobilitie and beautie he married at Forly in Romania From that time hauing some respect to Honorius as his allie he resolued to leaue Italie and take his way into Gaule according to the first agreement betwixt Honorius and Alaric where bee erected the kingdome of the Visigothes restrained the French within certaine limits and helped to chase away the rest of the Vandales Alanes and Sueues beyond the Pyrenees where he afterwards pursued them A little before these accidents one Constantine of a simple souldior being growne captaine of the Legions which were in great Britaine hauing slaine a tyrant who had seized vpon that island vnder the Roman Empire Constantine a tyrant called Gratian had passed into Gaule to vsurpe the imperiall title there and from thence had sent Gouernours into Spaine But two noblemen Spaniards Didimus and Seuerianus or Verianus or Verinianus for this diuersitie is found in authors rich and mightie men opposed themselues and seeking to preserue the prouince for the lawfull Emperour they gathered some troupes together of friends and subjects and seized vpon the passages of the mountaines to keepe these gouernours and their companies from passing Against these Spaniards the tyrant sent a sonne of his called Constant whom hee had drawne out of a Monasterie and proclaimed him Caesar who being followed by an armie of Barbarians which he called Honoriaques he defeated and slew the two brethren These Honoriaques being masters of the straits and passages of the Pyrenees by this victorie and hauing afterwards rebelled with their captaine Gerontius they as some hold deliuered Spaine to the Vandales Alanes and Sueues after the death of the tyrant Constantine and of his sonne Constant whereof the one was taken at Arles and the other dispatched at Vienna These nations joyning together to rob and spoyle Palantia since called Palenza was the first towne of Spaine which fell in prey to these Barbarians who besieged Toledo in vaine ransomed Lisbone and committed infinite spoyles whilest that Maximus Maximus a tyrant another tyrant being rebelled against the Emperour sought during these combustions to make himselfe king of Spaine of another side who being taken by them that did yet reuerence the majestie of the Romane Empire he was depriued of his vsurped royaltie yet his life was saued Spaine for the space of two yeares was thus miserably oppressed as well by tyrants as by these cruell nations so as there remained nothing but the mountaines of the Cantabrians at this present Biscaye and Nauarre in the quiet possession of the Romanes maintained by Constantius Patricius who was the Emperours Lieutenant on this side the Alpes which was at such time as the Vandales Sueues and Alanes made the diuision of Spaine Then did Ataulphe passe into Spaine to dispossesse them according to the right he had by an accord made with Honorius his brother in law but as he was at Barcelona he was slaine with six children which he had had by another wife than Placidia The time and cause of his death are not reported alike Iornandes sayth Aâ—aulphâ— slaine by his owne men That he was slaine hauing reigned three yeares in Spaine and Gaule being thrust into the flanke by Vernulphe whom he was accustomed to jest at Some affirme That he had been chased and forced to passe into Spaine by Constantius Patricius Gouernour of Gaule The Christian religion during these troubles and forraine inuasions was not neglected among the Spaniards Ann. 402. for in the yeare 402 although others write 420 was held at Toledo the first Councell by 29 Bishops The first Councell of Toledo where Patron Bishop of Toledo did preside against the heresie of Priscilian He had beene Bishop of Auila and had published an heresie mixt with the errors of the Gnostiques Manicheans and auncient Philosophers among other opinions he maintained That the soule of man was a portion of the Diuinitie he was condemned first at a Councell held at Bourdeaux and from thence he appealed to Maximus the tyrant who caused him to be heard at Treues then he commaunded his head to be cut off with some of his followers This Councell notwithstanding gaue place to a single life and decreed That priests should liue continually vnmarried This decree was contradicted by Vigilantius who liued then at Barcelona who did also write against the abuse of reliques against whom S. Ierosme was very bitter Many learned men liued at that time in Spaine Learned men in Spaine as Lucinius Abigaus Abundius Auitus Olympus Audentius Turbius P. Orosius and others yet the Church was declined much from her auncient puritie and then grew in request ceremonies vowes merits reliques and miracles for the clergie was then much infected with couetousnesse and ambition Then came the Vandales and Gothes who were all infected with the heresie of Arrian who did in some sort persecute the good as we shall heare Ataulphe being dead the Gothes did chuse Sigeric for their king who reigned but a
yeare and was slaine by his owne men in disdaine that he was too desirous of peace He left many children Giseric Huneric Guntemaud Trasamund and Hilderic yet Vallia succeeded him to the end he should breake the peace with the Romanes but God had otherwise decreed for he confirmed it more With him according vnto some begins the reigne of the Vice-Gothes in Spaine Vallia first King of the Gothes 7 IN the yeare of Christ 418 Vallia was chosen king of the Gothes whereof next vnto Narbone Ann. 418. Tolouse was the royall seat In his time the French began to erect a kingdome in Gaule vnder Pharamond Constantius Patricius Gouernour for the Emperour in Gaule and Spaine was admitted by Honorius to the dignitie of Caesar which in those dayes was a degree to attaine vnto the Empire as in our time the dignitie of king of Romanes during the life of the Emperour of Germanie Vallia a friend to the Romanes makes warre against the Barbatians in Spain This Vallia shewed himselfe a friend and well affected to the Romane Empire He restored to Honorius Placidia his sister widow to king Ataulphe whom he had honoured and kept in his house since the death of her husband She was afterwards married to Constantius Caesar aboue mentioned by whom she had Valentinian the third who was the last Emperour in the West vntill Charlemaigne Vallia vndertooke by a contract made with Constantius to chase the barbarous nations of Vandales Alanes and Sueues out of Spaine to the benefit of the Romane Empire and his owne whereupon he entred into Spaine Alanes and Vandales defeated by the Gothes being called by Constantius to begin this warre in the yeare 420 and assailed the Alanes and Vandales who held Betica and Lusitania slew their king Atace and reduced them to that extremitie as those few which remained went and joined with Gunderic who reigned ouer the other Vandales in Gallicia the battaile wherein they were wholly defeated was giuen neere vnto Emerita the which is Merida in Portugall These victories obtained he meant to passe into Africke but he was put backe by a storme and therefore returned into Gaule where hee purchased vnto the Gothes all the countrey from Tolouse to the Ocean bounded in by the Pyrenee mountaines and the riuer of Garonne 8 Sometime after the Alanes which were retyred to Gunderic in Gallicia shooke of his yoake being loth to subject themselues vnto him and returned into Lusitania Betica and the prouince of Carthagena yet not chusing any prince ouer them there they obtained certaine lands and liued tributaries to the Romanes dispersing themselues as farre as the riuer of Ebro and to the foot of the Pyrenee mountaines where some maintaine that of their name the countrey of Cattelogne was called Cattalania for that they did inhabite there being mingled with the Cattes a nation of Germanie which had passed with them into Spaine In Gallicia which contained at that time part of the realme of Portugall there grew debate betwixt Gunderic king of the Vandales and Hermeric king of the Sueues so as they fell to armes Warre in Spaine betwixt the Vandales and Sueues and the Sueues were besieged in the mountaines called Narbaseens but the Vandales left them there despising that barren countrey and came into the prouinces of Betica and Carthagena the which they forraged then passing into the islands of Maiorca and Minorca they sackt them returning into Spaine they tooke and ruined Carthagena Betica takes the name of Vandalusia of the Vandales and brought backe their armie into Betica the which was afterwards called Vandalusia of their name there they ruined the towne of Seuille and made the countrey desolate Gunderic died at the sacke of Seuille vpon the threshold of S. Vincents temple which he had commaunded should be spoyled he was sonne to Godigisque after whose decease Giseric or Genseric his bastard brother was chosen king of the Vandales Vallia entred againe into Spaine to suppresse the spoyles and cruelties of these Vandales whither there was also sent by the Emperour a captaine called Castinus who should joyne with Boniface Gouernour of Africke and joyntly make warre against the Barbarians But as Castinus had nothing in him but vanitie and foolish presumption he disdained Boniface who was a valiant and wise nobleman Dissention betwixt the Emperors lieutenants causeth the losse of Spain and Africke against whom hee did also bandie Aetius Gouernour of Gaules either through emulation and enuie or for some other cause of hatred so as when Vallia came with his armie of Gothes to set vpon the Vandales Boniface who was retyred into his gouernment of Africke being incensed sent messengers vnto Genseric to sollicite him to passe the strait promising to giue him means to lodge himselfe in Africke with all his men in despight of the Emperour the which fell out happily for him being oppressed with many enemies wherefore he left Spaine but not without bloud for in a battaile which was giuen him by the people of Spaine Boniface deliuers Africke to Gonseric and the Vandales subjects to the Romanes and by the Gothes he slew twentie thousand of his enemies vpon the place at his departure The Vandales being then passed into Africke with all their families there remained not any forraine power to make head in Spaine but that of the Sueues with their king Hermeric who being fallen into a grieuous sicknesse died about that time after he had languished long In the meane time Vallia incensed against the Vandales prepared to pursue them into Africke but he was preuented by death hauing reigned 22 yeares 2. Theodoric or Roderic 9 THeodoric succeeded Vallia Valentinian the third being Emperour in the West Anno 440. in the yeare 440. Hermeric about a little before his death had so pacified the people of Gallicia as he reigned ouer them and of two nations he made one taking his sonne Rechilan for companion whom he made his heire and successor in the kingdome and sent him into Betica or Vandalusia against Andenot a Romane captaine whom he defeated neere vnto Singil a riuer vpon that continent where he was much enriched Returning he besieged Merida tooke it and enlarged the kingdome of the Sueues the which had a beginning about the yeare 437. Theodoric reigning ouer the Gothes Romans assailed by the Sueues in Spaine and by the Gothes in Gaule they brake the peace made by Vallia with the Emperour Honorius besieged Narbonne the which was relieued by Lictorius Gouernor in those parts for the Empire vnder the Generall Aetius but Lictorius was defeated soone after by the same Gothes the which was a great prejudice to the Romanes By reason of this defeat the peace was renued among these potentates Rechilan being king of Gallicia after his fathers decease hee sought also to enlarge his limits Rechilan 2. king of Sueues in Gallicia wherefore he first assayled Vandalusia and the countrey about new Carthage the which he made subject
vpon Abderramens armie the which they would fauour in such sort as most of his best men and hee himselfe should either bee taken or slaine and hauing instructed them where they should charge and of the situation of the kings lodging which was vpon the side of a hill called Senesta two leagues from Grenado they held themselues readie attending the alarme the which being giuen verie hot and at a fit time to strike terrour they joyned with the Grenadines where they made a great slaughter of Abderramens men he himselfe being in like manner slaine and the rest of the armie dispersed and put to flight abandoning their Engines of batterie and all their baggage the which was spoyled and carried into Grenado with great joy This treason was practised by these two captaines through enuie together with a distrust of king Abderramens good successe wherefore after this goodly exploit they resolued to send part of the bootie with manie heads of the chiefe of the Moores slaine in this surprise to king Cacin in signe of triumph the which was verie pleasing to this king who was then at Cordoua and making vse of this good fortune he went to field to reduce vnder his obedience manie townes and forts which had reuolted to king Abderramen when as hee was aduaunced to that dignitie the which he did to manie but he wanted force and time to finish it for hauing raigned scarce three yeares he died in the yeare 1007. The Moores of Barbarie which had for a time followed the partie of the kings of Cordoua were then in great authoritie in the citie and therefore had the meanes and credit to chuse Hiaya the sonne of Mahumet for king the which did much discontent the auncient Moores borne in the countrey who sought some good opportunitie to be rid of these Berberuzes as the Spaniards called them by killing or chasing them out of the towne to the end that the gouernment thereof might returne into their hands as before A fit occasion was offered for the new king Hiaya who before his election to be king was resident at Malaga hauing a desire to haue that towne at his deuotion for that it had not obeyed the precedent kings of Cordoua since their troubles and seditions went forth of Cordoua leading with him great troupes of souldiours especially of that race of Moores which came out of Barbarie Comming to Malaga he was receiued without any contradiction but whilest hee was busie there the inhabitants of Cordoua who had intelligence with Buz of Grenado drew certaine troupes which hee had sent into their towne being led by two of his captaines Hayran and Mogid by whose helpe they cut the throats of aboue a thousand African Moores who were left for the gard of the citie Hiaya 15 king of the Moores at Cordoua At this bruite king Hiayas lieutenant was so amazed as he got out of the towne with all the ministers of justice and fled to Malaga to carrie these troublesome newes to the king his master who within few dayes was slaine by a Moore called Ismael Abderramen 16 king at Cordoua hauing raigned onely three moneths and some dayes Abderramen the fourth of that name was aduaunced in his place he was king but a moneth and seuenteene dayes and we doe not read whither he died or were expelled his kingdome After him followed Mahumet Mahumet 17 king at Cordoua great Miralmumin of Cordoua who raigned not long for that being rich in treasure by his good husbandrie before he came to be king it was a cause to shorten his life by the trecherie of his household seruants who conspired to murther him for his treasure wherefore they poysoned him hauing held the kingdome a yeare and foure moneths He died in the yeare one thousand and nine and of the Arabians raigne three hundred ninetie two Hizen 18 king at Cordoua He left this place to Hizen the third of that name who liued long at Seuile being desirous to raigne the which he now obtained In the meane time a Moore who called himselfe king of Ceuta passing the strait came to Malaga where he tooke the fort of the towne He was called Esdriz and brought with him a great number of the Moores of Africke with whom Buz who tearmed himselfe king of Grenado joyned at Malaga and called himselfe his vassall doing him homage Being thus fortified with the Moores of Spaine he came to Carmona the which he tooke then passing on by Alcaladel Rio he burnt the suburbes of Triana and seized vpon Seuile Many other tyrants did rise in diuers places so as all Spaine vnder the Moores jurisdiction was full of seditions and ciuill warres and the estate of Cordoua was spoyled by him that could get it but the kings of Toledo made their profit more than any other who medling not with other mens quarrells kept themselues quiet and assured with their owne limits After the death of Obeidalla as we haue said Hyran raigned of the linage of Aben Humeia who dying left the scepter to his sonne called Hizen who raigned in the time of this other Hizen king of Cordoua and was the eight king of Toledo King Hizen of Cordoua was of as small continuance as his late predecessors for the Moores his subjects expelled him in hatred of the robberies and extortions committed by his Alhabib or Constable who from a base place was aduaunced to that dignitie so hauing held the kingdome twentie moneths and some dayes he gaue place to Almondirs follie in the yeare one thousand and eleuen Almondir who was of the linage of Aben Humeya put himselfe forward being desirous to raigne in this sedition and popular tumult and hauing gathered some of his friends and kinsfolkes together he came vnto the castle of the citie entreating them to receiue him seeing they would not haue king Hizen Whereupon being aduertised by some one well affected that he offered himselfe in an vnseasonable time the people being in armes and incensed against a king wherefore hee should doe wisely to retyre The furious and nrestrained ambition of Almondir and to keepe himselfe from murthering in this tumult but being mad with ambition he persisted in his demaund adding thereunto that he did not care so as they created him king that day if they slue him the next Which words were so odious vnto all that heard them as without any further delay or giuing him that fading contentment to see himselfe king that day they slew him vpon the place presuming by the words which he had vttered that he would be an vnprofitable and bad king such was the reward of his furious desire to raigne This being done they did forbeare to kill Hizen and being resolued not to haue him for their king they let him vnderstand That if he would saue his life he should quit the fort and retyre where he pleased whereunto he obeyed and retyred himselfe with some of his friends into another strong house of his joyning vnto
small number which pursued them Descat and death of King D. Alphonso the warrior turned head and hauing stretched forth their bands they enuironed the King and his whole troupe and put them in a manner all to the sword where amongst the rest the King was slaine This happened in September in the yeere 1134. Such was the end of King D. Alphonso the warrior a very worthy and a fortunat Prince if home-bred calamities the hatred of his owne bloud and his ouer great superstition had not vndermined and weakned the vigour of his spirit the which was much decaied in his latter daies They say his body was taken vp and buried in the Monastery of Iesus of Nazareth in Montarragon yet many hold that it was not found beeing it may bee scattered in this defeat from his company and so swallowed vp in some bogge or riuer or lost by some other accident as hath happened to other Princes in the like incounters The brute was among the common people that he was escaped in the charge and that seeing himselfe twice vanquished wherevnto he had not beene accustomed he was so greeued as he durst not shew himselfe to his subiects any more but went to Ierusalem from whence he neuer returned He had raigned about thirty yeeres At this decease the Estates of Nauarre and Arragon were much perplexed both for that their King had left no heire of his body as also for the desperate will which he had made These difficulties were augmented by the factions of the Nobility who could not agree vpon the election of a new King 9. Whilest they contended among themselues D. Alphonso Raymond King of Castille being aduertised of the decease of his father in law by the aduice and perswasion of his councell hee reuiued his pretensions to the Estates of Nauarre and Arragon as great grand-child to D. Sancho the great Vsurpation of some places in Nauarre by by the King of Castille who was King of Nauarre and Earle of Arragon wherevpon hee seized vpon the Lands of the riuer of Oija of Villorodo Granon Nagera Logrogno Arnedo Biguerra and many other places vnto Calaorra which were thence cut off from the body of Nauarre so as the iurisdiction of that Kingdome was then lymited towards Castille by the riuer of Ebro D. Alphonso continuing his conquests whilest that no man made head against him hauing attempted the towne of Victoria in vaine he ouer-runne the country of Alaua and tooke the towne of Maragnon and other forts striking such a terror into the Nauarrois and Arragonois as if they had not feared to loose their exemptions and preuiledges and to bee ill intreated by King D. Alphonso they would haue willingly yeelded all vnto him Amongst the chiefe which did councell and accompany the King in this spoile Names of Knights and Prelats which did accompany the King of Castille were the Bishops D. Bernard of Siguença D. Sancho of Nagera D. Bertrand of Osma and of Noblemen D. Lope and D. Sancho Diaz D. Garcis Fortuniones D. Roderigo Gonçales the Earles D. Pedro Lopes D. Gomes Nugnes D. Guttiere Peres de Lorea Diego Nugnes Garcia-Garces Almerigo standard bearer to the King D. Lopes Lord Steward of the Kings house Melendo Bofino Ordogno Peres Rodrigo Gonçales of Olea Guttiere Fernandes Rodrigo Fernandes and Rodrigo Nugnes de Gusman King D. Alphonso spoyling all along the riuer of Oija Expiations of the sins and vsurpatons of D. Alphonso King of Castille beeing admonished not to forget to make expiation for his excesse he gaue many goodly things to the Monastery of Saint Emilian the which are found written and receiued by Berenger Arch-deacon of Toledo Beeing afterwards entred in Arragon hee committed the like spoiles as in Nauarre The Nauarrois and Arragonois seeing themselues prest by the King of Castille they made hast to preuent these mischiefes wherevnto they were subiect for want of a head wherefore beeing assembled at a place called Borja a towne belonging to D. Pedro de Atares a knight of the bloud royall who some thinke was sonne to D. Garcia the sonne of D. Sancha Bastard to D. Ramir first King of Arragon and of D. Theresa Caxal his wife a great number of them were of aduice that they should choose him for King of Nauarre and Arragon for that they had obserued in him many royall qualities and did know that the deceased King had much esteemed him and had giuen him that towne in reward of his seruices with many other guifts Notwithstanding this personage otherwise endowed with great vertues was graue and exceeding seuere which made him to bee the lesse beloued by the Nobility of Nauarre of whom some held themselues wronged in their particular for that offring some-times to visit him they haue refused them the entry the porters saying that Mounsier was busie about matters of great importance but they vnderstood afterwards that the great affaires which had made D. Pedro exclude his friends D. Pedro â—â—â—ected for hir sâ—â—iolence were that his Barber was a trimming him wherefore his great ouer-weening and his vnseasonable grauitie did him then harme so as hee was not chosen King of these two large Kingdomes his greatest aduersaries beeing Pedro Tizan of Quadrieta and Pelegrin of Castellezuelo who gaue the assembly to vnderstand that the chiefe vertues requisite in Kings wanted in D. Pedro which were clemency and affability in steed of which hee was full of Arrogancy and insupportable presumption If he haue say they made shew thereof in many places lyuing in a priuate estate who can doubt but after that hee hath attained to the royall throne hee will passe all bounds of modesty and that hee will contemne the Noblemen and Gentlemen his subiects who shal be the more reiected when hee shall finde them to bee vertuous for pride in him that holds the soueraigne place is euer accompanied with iealousie and deadly hatred against the best men Wherefore they concluded that they must bee very carefull not to submit themselues to such a man but should choose some other Lord who was descended of the same bloud whereof the country by the Prouidence of God was not vnfurnished that they had D. Ramir brother to the deceased King D. Garcia Ramires Lord of Monçon and others who had giuen better hope of them then D. Pedro. By their perswasions the Noblemen and men of State assembled at Borja inclined to D. Ramir who was a Monke of the order of Saint Bener But to the end it might be effected with more order and lesse difficulty they resolued to change the place of their assembly and goe to Monçon D. Garcia Ramires the seuenth of that name and the ninteenth King of Nauarre 10. IN this dislodging the Nauarrois grew to bee of an other opinion considering that D. Ramir hauing beene bread vp amongst Monkes for the space of forty yeeres Diuision among the Nobility of Nauarre and Arragon it was likely that hee was better acquainted
Sancho would not accept saying God forbid that the son of so great a Prince as the Emperor Don Alphonso was should euer acknowledge to hold his land of any In the end after great feasts and ioy these two Kings parted good friends The king D. Sancho being returned to Toledo hee had newes that the Moores were gone to field came with a great power to beseege Calatraua a fort of great importance vpon the frontier the which did then belong vnto the knights of the temple who amazed at the brute of this seege did so distrust their owne strength to defend it as they deliuered it into the kings hands to the end he should send Captanies and souldiers to resist the Moores The king hauing receiued it into his protection and meaning to prouide for it he found himselfe much troubled for there was not any one that presented himselfe to take this charge but they all drew backe and excused themselues fearing the great power which was said the Mores had In the end God inspired the hearts of two religious men of the Order of Cisteaux who offered vnto the king that if it pleased him to giue them that place in gard they would defend it like honest men One of these religious men was Friar Raymond Abbot of the Monasterie of S. Mary de Hitero vpon the riuer of Pisuerga in the Diocesse of Palence not of Hilero in Nauarre which was not then built the other was one of his Monkes called Diego Velasco who had caried armes long before he became a religious man of that Order The offer was pleasing vnto the King but more to D. Iohn Archbishop of Toledo for that the lands of his Diocesse should be first annoyed by the entry of the Moores to Calatraua wherefore this Prelate by preaching and publike exhortations began to commend this Abbot D. Raymond and to incourage all men to assist him so as in a short time hee was followed by a great number of Nobilitie and other souldiers some thrust on to winne honour some mooued with zeale to defend the Christian Religion against the inuasion of Infildes and some wirh shame The king the Archbishop the Nobilitie of his Court and the Inhabitants of Toledo euery one for his part furnished money armes horses corne and other necessaries for a towne which attends a seege and all with such willingnesse and bountie as the Abbot might well put himselfe into Calatraua beeing assured not to be taken for want of men victuals and munition of warre but before hee dislodged the king to incourage him to do his duty and to recompence the good which he had showne to employ himselfe for the defence of the countrie mooued also with some Religion gaue vnto God to the Virgin Mary his mother to the congregation of Cisteaux to the Abbot D. Raymond and to his Monkes both present and to come the towne of Calatraua with all the confines hilles land waters meddowes pastures entries and issues rights names and actions belonging thereunto whereof he caused letters pattents to be drawne in the yeare 1158. Calatraus giuten 〈◊〉 the Monkes of Cisâ—eaux signed by his Secretarie Martin Peleaz in the which are named as witnesses Don Sancho king of Nauarre vassall to the king of Castile Don Iean Archbishop Primate of Spaine Don Raymond Bishop of Palence and others The Abbot hauing this prouision he set forward and came to Calatraua a place of great importance as we haue sayd and the onely rampar for the Christians on that side against the Moores who either aduertised of this great preparation to defend that place or for some other lets did no great exploit worthie the great brute which had runne of their armie neither came they to beseege Calatraua whereof the King was exceeding glad and the Abbot with his Monkes no lesse who by their couragious resolution had gotten this towne the which the Templers had basely abandoned Many Gentlemen which had followed the Abbot in this voyage seeing him in such reputation left the world and made themselues Monkes of Cisteaux yet with a decent habit fit for the exercise of armes the which they meant to follow against the Infidels Moores enemies to the Christian Religion This was the beginning of the Knights of Calatraua Knights of Calatraua first instituted an Order which was famous in Spaine The Abbot Don Raymond beeing freed from feare of seege leauing a good garrison in Calatraua he returned to Toledo and from thence past to his Monastery of Hitero about the which he gathered together a great multitude of people to the number of twenty thousand as the Histories report whome with their mooueable goods and cattell hee transported to Calatraua and other places of the fronter which was badly peopled making it as it were a strong bastion against the enterprises of the Arabians Death of Don Sancho toe Desired The king Don Sancho the desired liued not long after but dyed the same yeare They write that his wife D. Blanche beeing deceased some few dayes before in child-bed hee was so opprest with griefe as he fell sicke and dyed His death was very preiudiciall to the Realme of Castile and followed by many miseries the which he did well fore-see He left the gouernement of his sonne Don Alphonso who was yet very young to a knight whose name was Don Guttiere Fernand Ruis de Castro ordayning that hee should bee bred vp vnder his discipline vntill hee came to the age of fifteene yeares complete willing that the Knights which held any places and garrisons should keepe them vntill that time They surnamed him the Desired by reason of the great vertues wherewith hee was adorned and the hope and taste the people had of his good and iust gouernement in one yeare or there-abouts that hee raigned Hee was buried at Toledo in the Cathedrall church neere to the Empeour Don Alphonso his father The Queene Don Blanche his wife lyes in the Monasterie of Saint Mary the royall of Nagera to the which a little before her death shee had giuen the towne of Nectaries neare vnto Torrezillas de los Cameros The Earle Don Raymond Berenger Gouernour of Arragon Arragon and Barcelone hauing in the meane time made warre against Don. Sancho King of Nauarre with his forces of Arragon and Cattelogne beeing not able to ingage the King of Castile and taken Buereta with some other pettie forts of small importance seeing in the end that hee striued in vaine against an enemie which had not onely meanes to defend himselfe but also on the contrarie to offend him hee yeelded himselfe tractable to the perswasions of certain good Prelates who were much grieued to see Christians seeke the ruine one of another 1159. Peace betwixt Nauarre and Arragon for their ambition wherefore in the yeare 1159. after many treaties of Peace betwixt these two Princes in the end there was an interview and they remained good friends making an end of all their quarrels which had
of Montagu who in this last tumult had beene opposite to the Gouernor Eustache Bellemarche would reconcile himselfe vnto him they came in the night into his lodging and murthered him cruelly Such insolencies did the Inhabitants of Nauarriere commit against the Maiesty of God and their Queene D. Pero Sanches de Montagu murthered wherefore they drew a heauy Iudgement vpon them for the French King beeing aduertised of their rebelious actions vpon the descouery of their conspiracy was wonderfully offended wherefore he raised a great army meaning to punish those which had carried so little respect vnto his greatnesse and had beene the cause of the ensuing miseries which army he himselfe would lead into Nauarre in the yeere 1276. but being arriued at Saluaterre in Bearn and forced to stay there some time An. 1276. by reason of the aboundance of snow which had fallne and stopt the passages of the mountaines he was so sollicited by them that were not well pleased with this voyage as he resolued to returne giuing the floure of his army to Charles the Histories of France call him Robert the second Earle of Artois to conduct it into Nauarre who crossing the mountaines by Iacca Earle of Artois sent into Nauâ—â—e to punish the rebels of Pampelone came by Sanguessa to Pampelona refusing to passe by the Valley of Roncal for that the Inhabitants held the party of them of Nauarriere To whose succors there were certaine bands of Castillans entred into the realme who would haue retired when as they heard of the comming of the French but beeing charged in the reereward they lost some men and as they retired slowly the French and Nauarrois of their party charged them againe wherevpon they turned head but they were defeated and put to flight with great losse And for that during the fight the Nauarrois cried often vnto the Castillans Aqui tornais that is to say doe you returne and that this demaund was often heard they say that the hospital which was built to bury them that were slaine in this incounter was for this caused named Aqui tornais and so continues vnto this day The Earle of Artois besieged Nauarriere the which he prest in such sorrt D. Garcia almorauid abandons the rebels as D. Garcia Almorauid who was within it with many of his confederates fearing they should not bee able to defend it got out in the night abandoning those miserable wretches to the punishment which they had deserued These commanders retired to the castle of Sar from whence the French dislodged them forcing them to flie into the Island of Sardaigne The Inhabitants of Nauarriere finding themselues in the morning without captaines were much troubled and like men which were better theeues and mutines then soldiars they beganne to cry out for mercy and to craue pardon of the Earle of Artois who seeming to pitty them much Nauarriere of Pampclone taken whilst he entertained them with words on the one side hee caused the walles and forts which were vnmanned to be assailed on the other so as the souldiars entred sodainely and made a cruell butchery of this wretched people neuer ceasing to kil whilst that day lasted and when night came they fel to the spoile committing such excesse and violences as victory hatred and fury doth sugiest to insolent souldiars and not content to haue slaine the men and taken their goods without respect of holy to prophane they extended their rage euen vnto the houses and buildings which they did ruine and burne wherewith the other quaters of the towne were indomaged the fire flying from one to the other doing great harme to them that had not offended The Chamber of accounts was fired where there were many titles letters and ancient Records of the realme of Nauarre burned the rest which could bee saued was carried to the castle of Tiebas whereas the Treasor and Chamber of accounts of Nauarre hath continued long Seuere punished The fury beeing ended those which had escaped the sword were condemned and publikely executed as traitors not any one escaping the seuerity of that sentence but such as the innocency of their age excused and all their goods were confiscated Thus Nauarriere of Pampelone was ruined by a iust iudgement of God in reuenge of the brutish cruelties which these mutines did vse against innocent age in the villages against the city and other their insolencies and rebellions For the murther committed vpon the person of D. Pedro Sanches of Montagu Lord of Cascante and other their insolencies there were called in question and accused before the Estates of Nauarre which were called to that end D. Gonçal Inigo Iohn Inçalbiz and his sonne Symon of Varriz Michel Garces of Varriz Garcia Perez of Liçoani Pedro Ximenes of Sabalça Symon Perez of Opaco Inegâ— Gil of Vrdauiz Sancho Inigues of Vrdaniz Gonçalâ—o of Arbiçu and Ruy Gonçales his brother Sancho Perez of Aguerre Ochoa Perez his brother Iohn of Armendariz Iohn and Sanches the Biscain al which appeering not their cause was more hainous hauing for their aduerse parties Ruy Peres of Echales Fernand Perez of Echales Michel Perez of Subica and Pedro of Aybar By these proceedings and excutions and rest of mutines were terrefied and the realme remained in peace 17 During these actions in Nauarre D. Alphonso King of Castille Castilie made preparation to march with an intent to despossesse the Emperor Rodolphus who had beene chosen to his preiudice notwithstanding that he had beene perswaded by many of his friends not to make any more account of the Empire seeing the occasions which might haue fauored him were lost yea Pope Gregory being come to the councel of Lyons considering the miseries which might come to Christendome if D. Alphonso should wilfully pursue his pretended right hee sent one vnto him called Fredul Abbot of Lunel afterwards Bishoppe of Ouiedo to perswade him to rest satisfied with his royall Estate and not to trouble himselfe any more with the affaires of the Empire seeing that by the consent of all the Electors Rodolphus had beene crowned in the towne of Aix La Chappelle And to make him beleeue that hee gaue him fatherly councell he dispensed with him to take the tenth of all the reuenues of the Clergy for sixe yeeres to make warre against the Moores But D. Alphonso being obstinate hee thought that if hee went to see the Pope he might draw him to set downe some order betwixt him and Rodolphus so as both might intitle themselues Kings of the Romains wherefore he told the Abbot of Lunel that he desired to passe into France and to conferre personally with his Holinesse in some commodious towne either Montpellier or where hee pleased The Pope hearing this answer perswaded himselfe that D. Alphonso had no great desire to be Emperor wherevpon without further deliberation he ratefied the Election of Rodolphus Pope ratefies the elections of Rodolphus with the consâ—â—t of the whole consistory in a conuocation
two gentlemen of Arragon and did see them fight with those ceremonies which were then vsed in combats both in Spaine and elsewhere the report whereof it may be will not be vnpleasing vnto the Reader for that now they are left off and they proceed after another maner Peter Toreilla and Ierome Anca for so the contendants were named both borne at Saragosse great friends before and alied yong and fierie neither of them being yet fiue and twenty yeares old falling out at play they had beene already in field vnaccompanied with their rapiers and cloakes where it happened that after many thrusts and blows and neither hurt either of them hauing very good knowledge in his weapon Anca with an ouerthwart blow strucke his aduersaries weapon out of his hand who seeing himselfe disarmed confessed generously that he was vanquished But he intreated Anca to do him this curtesie to rest satisfied with the victorie and not to tell any one that they had bin in field as their quarrell was also secret and no man had beene acquainted therewith the which he hauing promised they imbraced each other and returned good friends to their lodgings thinking that not any one had seene them fight Two or three dayes after Toreilla vnderstood that all the court talked of this fact whereat beeing much grieued hee blamed Ierosme Anca saying that hee had fayled of his promise and that through vanitie and to dishonour him he had published that which had passed betwixt them Anca protested that hee had neuer spoken of it but one had told him that a Curate of the next village walking at the time of their fighting about a troup of his that was feeding had seen them fight had told it for the which hee was sorry The Curate being demanded touching this matter answered doubtfully seemed to speake all in fauour of Ierosâ— Anca which did confirme the other in his opinion that he had broken his faith so as hee told him resolutely that he had done at act vnworthie of a knight of honour and that he must do him reason by arms who admitting no excuse he made his petition to the emperour that he would be pleased to graunt him the combate against his enemy to make it knowne that hee was a traitor disloyall and vnworthy to beare the name of a gentleman and withall hee sent him a challenge The emperour reâ—erred this difference to the iudgement of his Constable D. Inigo Fernandes of Velasco who did what hee could to reconcile theÌ„ but seeing there was no means he put them into the field with the formalties vsed in those times In the publike place at Vailledolit there was a plot measured out which was 50 paces long 36 broad railed rouÌ„d about On either side loÌ„g waies without the lists was a scaffold set vp one on the one side for the emperor the other for the Constable either of them being couered with rich tapestrie in them chaires couered with cloth of gold At the other two ends were two other scaffolds built lower for the kinsemen and friends of the coÌ„batants and ioyning to either of them was a pauilion in which the chaÌ„pions shold take their armes the place had bin made very euen and couered with sand that they should not slip About 11 of the clock the emperour came accompained with a great nobility the marshals of the field and his gards both of horse foot Being set in his seat vnder a cloth of estate they deliuered a golden rod into his hand the which being cast by him should part the combat Soon after came the Constable with a graue setled countenance being aboue 60 yeres old he did weare a long roabe of cloth of golde and was mounted vpon a Genet of Spaine richly furnished hauing alighted from his horse hee came and past before the emperour to whom he made a low obeysance there marching before him forty gentlemen a Squire carrying the royall sword shethed as his Maiesties lieutenant and after him another Squire carrying the Constables armes and his coat of armes After whome came other gentlemen pages or young Squires richly apparrelled in blew satten imbrodered with gold and siluer Hauing in this pompe gone about the campe and viewed it he went vnto his seat which was right against the emperour whose gards did presently compasse in the field without the lists Then Toreilla the challenger presented himselfe being accompained by his godfather the duke of Beiar Albuquerque the admirall of Castille and many other noblemen and gentlemen hee was attyred in a short Iuppe of silke imbrodered with gold furred with sables before whom there was carried a battle axe and a sword a scutcheon with his armes a cassacke to weare vpon his armes Hauing presented himselfe in this manner before the emperour hee made him a low obeysance and hauing done the like vnto the Constable hee went to the pauilion which was prepared for him On the other side Ierome Anca entred the lists accompaned after the same maner and with the like furniture except his Iuppe which was furred with ermines the Marquesse of Brandeburge was his godfather and hee was followed by the dukes of Nagera of Alua and of Benanent the Marquesse of Aguilar and of other noblemen and knights who hauing made the like submissions to the emperor and Constable hee went to the pauillion which was prepared for him and the scutcheons and coates of armes of both combatants were carried and planted before the Constables scaffold During these shewes the ayre did eccho againe with the sound of drummes and trumpets the which being commanded to cease the two knights were brought by their Godfathers before the Constable where a booke of the Gospell and a Crucifix being presented vnto them they putting their hands into a priests hands did sweare that they came to this triall of armes with an intent to defend a iust quarrell wherein they would behaue themselues like loyall knights without fraud charms or any inchanted sword or without vsing the naturall vertue of any herbes stones or any other thing protesting to imploy only the force and dexterity of body and mind trusting only in God S. George the virgin Mary and with the aduice councell of their godfathers who caused a cofer to be broght before the coÌ„stable in the which were the armes wherwith the champions should fight and be couered the which were weighed in his presence according to the laws customs of combats by the which the weight was limited to 90 pounds of the country at the least This done they were chosen carried to either Pauillion where the champions did arm themselues in the presence of some that were appointed by the Constable to witnes that there was no fraud whilest they were arming the trumpets and drums sounding againe The constable went from his seat to dispose of that which was fit within the lists the which he did with great grauitie ceremonies Then he weÌ„t
sat him down at one of the corners of the field accoÌ„pained with 12 knights sending the like number to the other opposit corner commanding them that they shold not remoue froÌ„ thence before the end of the combat To either of the other two corners he sent 3 noblemen of quality instructed in like maner Then hauing commanded silence one of the marshals of the field cried out with a loud voice in the emperours name going to euery one of the 4 corners that it was forbidden vpon pain of death for any one to make a noise whilest the champions did fight nor to make any signe by deed voice or word neither in spitting coffing blowing of the nose neezing or whistling nor by beating of hands or feet lifting vp of the hands nor by shaking of the head or any motion of the bodie to giue them aduertisement courage feare or amazement nor otherwise to instruct them in what they haue to do except their godfathers in their charge duty And then the two kinghts entred the field in compleat armor holding in their hands their battel axes their swords by their sides Peter Toreilla the first for that he was challenger accompained with his godfather presented himself before the constable who demanded of him what he was for what cause he was entred so armed hauing receiued his answer he caused him to put off his head peece to know him then he caused him to put it on againe sent him to one of the corners of the camp where he was receiued by the three noblemen that were plast there Then he past to the other corner opposit being set in the midest of the 12 knights that were left there by him he made the like demands ceremonies to Ierom Anca who was also presented vnto him by his godfather from theÌ„ce sent to the other corner right against his aduersary wher he was in like maner receiued by 3 noblemen After al this the constable went to his first seat then the truÌ„pets did sound again which hauing done the knights which shold fight their godfathers fel vpoÌ„ their knees praied which done either of the godfathers hauing imbraced his chaÌ„pion exhorted him to fight valianâ—ly he bad him farewel then they rerired into their PauillioÌ„s After which one cried out that they shold let the good champions go Then they came affronted one another couragiously fighting a long time with their battel axes somtimes one reeling somtimes another vntil they had broken them in peeces Being thus vnarmed they had no leasure to draw their swords they were so neere one vnto another so as they fell to handy gripes one seeking to ouerthrow another But the emperor who would not lose theÌ„ cast his rod in sign that they shold part them saying that they had done enough and that he held them both for good knights wherupon all they that were set at the foure corners being 30 in al ran but they had great difficulty to part them they wer so incensed one against another crying contendiâ—g for honor and victorie whereas either of them thought he had the aduantage In the end the respect of the emperour made them retire yet wold they not be friends but threatned one another bitterly contemning the constables persuasions who told them that they shold rest satisfied reuerence the emperours testimony who had pronounced with his own mouth that either of theÌ„ had behaued him self valiantly had done his duty so as their honors were vntoucht The emperor was coÌ„strained throgh their obstinacy to send them both to prison froÌ„ whence they parted not vntil they were reoÌ„ciled at the least in shew for they were neuer perfect friends If of two bad things we must chuse the one as some think it necessary the maner of coÌ„bats practised in the time of our predecessors wold seem more tollerable then that which is vsed at this day for in that they made a certain kind of trial of doubtful things The princes leue or of his lieutenants was required who first of al took knowledge whether the cause did merit that two men of quality and honor shold hazard their liues who might serue the publike in better affaies or their Soueraigne or their owne families If after mature deliberation they held it fit to grant the combate they came vnto it with great ceremonies as we haue shewed witnessing that in those times they made no little esteem of the life of men They did carefully procurea certain equality preuenting surprises by any aduaÌ„tage in armes strength and dexterity of horse or otherwise They made them sweare that there was no â—lander in them but that they came to fight for a iust quarel to defend their honors The point wherin it did confist in those daies was to reuerence God their princes the lords of the â—ee Point of honour of the ancients to be loyal true to al men curteous 〈◊〉 modest amoÌ„g friends valiant couragious against their enemies in war If it were known that in this point of honor any one were falsly blamed or wronged by deed with aduantage of time place or company with vnequall and extraordinary armes or that hee had otherwise iust cause to complaine they caused speedy reparation to be done of the wrong as the cause required either by the lawe or militarie customes which did neuer allow the combate when there was any other remedy Much lesâ—e did they suffer a gentlemaÌ„ of honor to come to the vncertain triall of armes with one that was conuicted of rashnes or manifest slander He that was vanquished in the combat was held guilty of that wherof he was accused or a slanderer alyar if he did liue he was punished ignominiously by degradation sometimes by death The combat was most coÌ„monly continued or staied according to the pleasure of the prince or of iudges that were appointed who most commonly did part the champions before they came to the extremity declaring them both vpon the place to be good hardie knights which did also shew a wise affection to preserue the nobility to better vses If any were found so froward disobedient as notable to get leaue to fight in the countrie of their natural prince should go vnto some other soueraign neere or far off to grant them a place of combat hauing fought they were not to return into their country for they were held for mutins yea felons guilty of high treason there was great difficulty to obtain letters of abolitioÌ„ for such offeÌ„ces Moderne combats and the Maximes of the point of honour at this day But in our daies al this is out of vse their proceedings in combats is very different For if it happen that any man offend another without cause or reason the point of honor is that he must maintaine his deed not giue any excuse nor confesse that he hath erred for that were
that yeare 1524 the computation of the yeare beginning at our Lady day was that memorable battaile of Pauia where the French were defeated and king Francis taken prisoner by the imperials whereof the chiefe were Cont Charles of Launoy viceroy of Naples Ferdinand d'Aualos Marquesse of Pescaire and Charles duke of Bourbon who forsome discontentment had left France and followed the emperours party What were the causes of this great ouerthrow and what succeeded after ye may read at large in the History of France whereunto I referre the Reader to auoid needlesse repetitions The emperor was aduertised of this defeat and prision the tenth of March the news were pleasing vnto him as wee may coniecture yet he shewed himself verie modest shewing no tokens of pride for this great successe Worthy Councel of the bishop of Osma There were two opinions debated in his councel the bishop of Osma was author of the one to suffer this great prisoner to depart freely to bind him vnto him by a frank and brotherly deliuerance the other was to keep him still and to draw from him all the profit and aduantages that might be This last aduice proceeded from D. Frederic of Toledo duke of Alua was followed by the emperor wherefore there were certaine articles drawn and sent with al speed vnto the king by the lord of Reux who reiected them as vnreasonable Hereupon the Viceroy of Naples persuaded the king not to take it in ill part if he were led into Spain 1525 to treat himself with the emperour touching his libertie assuring him that he desired it shewing him letters from his friends in court But his intention was in the meane time to led him to the castle of Naples and there to attend the opportunitie of a passage for they were not strong enough at sea for the French who had Andrew Dorias Galleys at their deuotion Neither did hee much trust his armie at land which wanting pay hee feared would mutine Besides he was iealous of the Pope Venetians and other Potentates of Italie who were discontented at the prosperitie of the emperour his maister wherefore being thus resolued he conducted the king to Genoa and from thence to Porto Fino whereas the marshall of Montmorency comming vnto him with sixe French galleys Passage of king Francis being Prisoner into Spaine without any souldiers by the commandement of the Queene Regent the kings mother he changed his aduice hauing furnished those galleys with Spanish souldiers and ioyning them to those which he had thinking that he might easily passe whilest that the French expected his going to Naples he suddenly bent his course for Spain laÌ„ded the prisoner at Barcelona before that it was known or that he had aduertised the emperor and from thence hee conducted him to Valencia But passing by Tortosa the king was in great danger among the mutyned Spaniards who pursued the Viceroy tumultuosly for their pay forcing him with their shot to escape ouer the top of his lodging the bullets flying nere vnto the kings person The emperor hearing of his arriual coÌ„manded he shold be put into the castle of Xatiua a place ordained in old time to be a prison for great men but the viceroy obtained that he might liue in certain houses of pleasure about Valencia vntil that he had commandement to conduct him to Madrid The emperor was resolued not to see him before thee had concluded for his liberty for the treating whereof besides the archbishop of Ambrun who was afterwards Cardinal of Tournon and Selua the first President of Paris he gaue a safe coÌ„duct to Marguerite of France duches of Alanson who arriued at Barcelona in September passing from thence by Saragosse shee came to Madrid whether she found the emperor was come to visit the king who had bin brought almost to deaths doore with a violent feuer This had a shew of charity to comfort him giuing hope that he should be soone set at liberty but it was rather a curiosity that he might visibly see in what estate he was fearing to lose the fruits of his prize if he should die It is said that being in consultation whether hee should see him or not hee was dissuaded by his Chauncellour who told him that if he saw him 1526 and did not set him freely at libertie the world would thinke that hee had been brought thither by couetousnesse Gouernours counsell thrust on with a mercinarie charitie and a seruile feare to loose by the prisoners death the price of his ransome a noble aduice and worthie to be obserued But the duchesse of Alansons presence was the best remedie to recouer the king where she remained almost three moneths what she effected and vpon what tearmes the king was deliuered you may read in its proper historie 23 These things past in the yeare 1526 Mariage of the Emperor Charls in the which the Emperour Charles maried D. Isabella of Portugal daughter to the king D. Manuel D. Alphonso Fonseca Archbishop of Toledo and primat of Spaine with D. Ferdinand of Arragon duke of Calabria were sent to receiue this princesse who conducted her with great state to Seuile where the mariage was celebrated Of this mariage was borne the one and twentieth day of May 1527 in the yeare 1527 D. Philip who succeeded in all the realmes lands and seigniories of the Emperour as well hereditarie as conquered A memorable yeare for that by the Emperours armie consisting for the most part of Spaniards whereof Charles duke of Bourbon was generall Rome taken sackt the citie of Rome was taken and sackt and Pope Clement with many cardinals ransomed and hardly intreated the greedie and insolent souldiers not sparing the cardinals of their owne nation prophaning by all acts of crueltie and excesse in their disordered appetites the places and persons dedicated and vowed to religion notwithstanding that the prince for whom they made warre heire of the realms of Spaine carried the title of Catholike purchased by his predecessors for the good offices they had done to Popes and to the sea of Rome The same yeare king Francis being râ—turned into his realme Mariage of king Henry of Albreâ— he caused the mariage to be accomplished betwixt D. Henrie of Albret and Marguerite of France widow to the duke of Alanson father and mother to queene Ioane heire to the realme of Nauarre King Francis being come from his imprisonment discontented he entred willingly into league with the Pope League against the Emperor the king of England the Venetians and Florentines for the libertie of Italie 〈◊〉 when as he vnderstood the cruelties vsed by the Imperiall armie at Rome he allied himselfe more strictly with the king of England vnder colour to free the Pope and the territories of the Church whereupon the lord of Lautrec was appointed to lead an armie into Italie at their common charge The Emperour being aduertised that king Francis not onely refused to
summoned and solicited That he should not disdaine to submit himselfe to the Emperour Charles as his vassall and to pay him tribute and moreouer to make himselfe a Christian else they threatened him that the Pope would depriue him of his realme and would giue it wholly vnto the Emperour the which he might well doe sayed they for hee was Gods lieutenant on earth of God who had made all the world of nothing and who to deliuer and saue men from the slauerie of the euill spirit had made himselfe man had died vpon the crosse and was called Christ Iesus Father Vincent a Iacobine Monke was messenger of this summons To whom Atabalipa answered That hee did much esteeme and desire the Emperours friendship and would send him presents as to his friend but to pay him tribute he would not doe it the kings of Cusco being accustomed to make others tributarie That as for the Pope whose power hee did alledge hee held him for some madde man seeing he presumed to giue vnto another that which was not in his power and where he had no right And in regard of Iesus Christ and of his seruice he saied that he had no knowledge of it and therefore he would not leaue the auncient gods of Cusco and especially for that he vnderstood by him that Christ was alreadie dead He would therefore adhere rather to the Sonne and the Moone which died not And touching that which he did assure him that the Christians God had made heauen and earth of nothing and finally all the world he demaunded of him where he had learned it for he thought that the world had euer beene or at the least many thousands of yeares wondering much that the Monke who was not yet much aduanced in the first hundred of the course of his life did speake so confidently of such ancient things Frier Vincent replied That the Emperour Charles was a great Monarch whom many kings as mightie as the king of Cusco obeyed and therefore he should not make triall of his force nor compare himselfe vnto him and holding in the one had a Crucifix and in the other a Bible he told Atabalipa that that Image had instructed him what the creation of the world had beene and the booke contained the certaine historie The king taking this booke in his hand opened it and turned it ouer he smelt to it and layed his eare to it hearkening if it spake any thing vnto him but seeing there was no feeling in it and that it spake not any thing he cast it to the ground saying That both the booke and Monke mockt him Wherefore Frier Vincent hauing taken vp his booke returned to Picarro to whom hauing related all he persuaded him to take some cruell reuenge of the impietie of that Infidell king The two armies therefore being so neere as one might say they were mingled within the circuit of the great citie of Caxamalcan the Spaniards ran vpon the Indians with a great thunder of muskets and artillerie and the sound of drums and trumpets wherewith the Indians being not acquainted were daunted and confounded Atabalipa himselfe was so amazed as forgetting the duetie of a generall not giuing them any signe nor commaunding to fight he saw them slaine by heapes neere vnto the place where he was set vpon an high seat of gold carried on his gards shoulders who sought to retire him out of the prease Atabalipa defeated taken and to flie away with him but they were staied and their king ouerthrowne and taken being abandoned by all his people most of them escaping by flight By this victorie and the taking of the king of Cusco the Spaniards made themselues easily masters of all the townes of that great and rich kingdome and the souldiers were instantly made rich with the spoyle of the kings mouables and of the noblemen of his traine with a wonderfull quantitie of gold siluer and slaues among the which there were found fiue hundred maids and wiues which did serue king Atabalipa who for a time was honourably garded in hope to be set at libertie for the which he promised to glut the couetousnesse of the Spaniards whom he saw to be verie greedie after gold and siluer yea he offered to goe into Spaine or whereas the Emperour should be and was persuaded to be baptised But notwithstanding all this they strangled him cruelly and hauing halfe burnt him they caused his bodie to be laid in a chappell built to that end in the market place of Caximalcan for that they would haue all men honor his funerall excusing themselues of the execution vnder colour of justice for that said they hee had treacherously made secret leuies of souldiers in the realme of Quito to surprise the Spaniards and to free himselfe by force out of their hands and also for that he had put his brother Guascar to death after the same maner being their allie The which he dissembled not for that said he he had attempted to take away his life to raigne In the place of him that was dead there was set vp by Francis Picarro the gouernor for a shew another brother of his called Mangan others name him also Atabalipa who discouered vnto them part of the treasures so as the present fruits of this victorie amounted to many millions drawne as well out of the kings houses as out of the Indians tombes being accustomed to burie with the dead bodie the most precious things they had and in like maner from their temples in the towne of Pauca Canu in that of Cusco which is the chiefe of the realme This great citie of Cusco is situated 17 degrees beyond the Equinoctiall line towards the South sea in a temperat region yet their Winters are somewhat sharp in their season that is when we haue Summer for those people are almost Antipodes to vs the cold continues and is the greater for that the high mountaines of that countrey are most part of the yeare couered with snow Soone after this conquest of Picarro Iames of Almagra who had a good share in the honor thereof went and inuaded the region of Chile or Chiliane but he found more difficultie than he expected for besides that his men were in daunger of death through cold hee found stronger resistance the people being more warlike than they of Cusco Discipline of them of Peru at the warre whom notwithstanding the Spaniards do not represent vnto vs without dexteritie or martial discipline for they witnes that in their armies they did obserue a foreward a battel a rereward that they had scours and forlorne hopes which were excellent casters in slings as in old time they of Majorca were who furiously began the fight casting a showre of hard polished stones as big as an egge carrying a a targuet on the left arme Their chiefe battalion where their king was did consist of men richly armed with cuerasses quilted with cotton bonets of the same reasonably strong to resist
he had drawne out of the garrisons of Italie Thither also came many round and flat bottomed vessels carrying victuals munition artillerie horse and a good number of foot newly leuied to that end in Spaine Italy Germany so as there was found when this army weighed anchor three hundred and sixtie saile carrying besides the Court the traine of noblemen and many voluntaries seuen hundred men at armes two thousand light horse and 12 thousand bisoques or new souldiers fiue thousand old souldiers Spaniards and sixe thousand Italian foot seuen thousand Lansquenets men of experience These forces being not lesse than forty thousand men parted with a prosperous wind from the IslaÌ„d of Sardinia and came to land the fiue and twentieth of Iune this yere 1535 at a place called Porto Farina neere to the ruines of old Vtica about sixe leagues distant from Tunes There order was giuen by the emperour for the landing of his men the first were the old Spanish arquebuzies and the Italians that they might keepe off the Moores who had shewed themselues both horse and foot to disturbe their landing wherin the Marquesse of Guast who was general of the foot shewed great iudgement for he wold not suffer the souldiers to leaue their standings and to pursue the enemy vntill the army were landed with the victuals and munition and the quarters made and fortified with a Trench in the which they found great difficulty for that the sand was loose not fit for that purpose neither had they any bauines or other matter to binde it with all The army being lodged the emperour called a Councel Councell held by the emperour for the beseeging of Goulett where it was propounded whether they shold first assault Goulette or goe directly to fight with the enemy in Tunes which was much more easie than that of Goulette whereas attempting that fort first being strong by situation defended by valiant men commanded by iudicious captaines and hauing great store of artillery and which did most import not being able to take their succours from them neither by the lake nor by land on the east part either the action would proue desperate and they shold consume their forces there in vaine or at the least they should spend so much time there as not onely Baberousse would grow stronger in men be of greater reputation but the Christians campe being wonderfully afflicted with the violent heat of the Sunne in that region and vnder that clymat and which did more import the waters which they dranke being halfe salt in short time being corrupted would breed a great mortalitie so as they should be forced rather to seeke to saue the relikes of their army than to attempt any new enterprise But the most judicious shewing how dangerous it was to leaue such a fort as Goulette with a great garrison and so neere vnto Tunis behind that the army aduancing they should be in extreame want of victuals the which not being able to bee conducted but from the army the enemies horse being many and venturous scouring the fields continually would at the least force the Christians to keep the greatest part of their horse and of their best foot to gard their victuals which were ingaged It was therefore resolued first to attempt Goulette Goulette the fort which fort Barberousse had furnished with great care it is a great square Tower with large rampers and flankers and is set vpon the mouth or entrie of the Lake which extends from it vnto the Citie and is foure leagues broad Campana writes that it is twelue miles long and fiue miles broad The Citie of Tunes was great and well peopled but at that time the walles were weake and low hauing three suburbs open greater and farre better peopled than the towne in the which there dwelt many kindes of Merchants some of the most industrious Artisans and among them some other rich people who were delicate and idle For the gard of these places Barberousse had about eight thousand good souldiers Forces of Barberousse in Tunes whereof he had put a good part into the fort of Goulette some write they were three thousand men commanded by Sinan Cefutt of Smirna called the Iew and Nâ—aid surnamed Chasediuels The rest were with Barberousse who had also leuied great numbers of Moores and Alarabes both horse and foot whome hee sent or led himselfe continually to the warre and made continuall skirmishes to molest the emperours campe to hinder the approaches and the batterie which was planted against this fort the which they must force and take before they came vnto the citie vnlesse they would bee betwixt two enemies subiect to the great and ordinarie sallies of either of them especially of the Moores who ouerrunning the countrie which was well knowne to them might hinder the victuals surprise them that went to forrage seeking aboue all things water which is rare in that countrie and take from them the commoditie of the sea if they had gone farre and left this fort standing and so had ruined the imperiall armie Whilest they are busie at this worke and about fiue weekes after the emperours arriuall Muley Hascen creepes out of his holes and comes vnto the campe hauing had a good conuoye sent vnto him with two hundred horse or there abouts Moores ill attyred and ragged mounted vpon geldings or mares peasantlie clownes Hauing saluted the emperour and kindly receiued by him they conferred long together by truchmen but they soone discouered that this Prince had neither friends nor meanes although hee vaunted that hee had left not farre from thence sixteene thousand horse Alarabes and eight hundred camels laden with victuals and refreshings of the which they neuer saw head nor taile assuring impudently that hee had great intelligences within the Towne with the chiefe inhabitants who notwithstanding neuer made any signe that they would fauour him Thus the winde carried away all the goodly promises which his embassador had made in Spaine to the emperour for he kept not any one were it through inconstancy or impossibilitie Notwithstanding the emperor continued constant in his resolution to chase away Barberousse and to restore this exiled king to the possession of his realme for he had made no accompt to be assisted by the Moores and had beene drawne vnto this enterprise more for his owne priuate interest then for any other consideration and therefore he was come well prouided Notwithstanding all the attempts of the Barbarians Goulette was battered by land with forty peeces of ordnance planted in two batteries and by sea with aboue 200 for the galleys being put into squadrons whilest that one approached to discharge the other retired to charge their peeces and so they continued from the break of day vntill noone whilest that the two batteries at land thundred continually The which did so ruine the tower as the greatest part of it falling it couered or made most of the ordnance within it vnprofitable The ruines of the
meanes to liue in peace and vnitie one with another attending the determination of such a Councell and that in the meane time all proceedings against the Protestants should cease yet they saw the Archbishop of Cologne pursued and condemned for that he sought to reforme his Clergie the conference made frustrat by the policie and importunitie of some Monkes the Pope to vse his absolute authoritie and all Germanie to be full of armes their aduersaries picking quarels with the priuâ—tie of the Emperour and Pope so as they were forced to defend themselues the which was falsly tearmed sedition Vpon which discontents there were many embassadours sent vnto the Emperour from the Protestant princes whereof the chiefe were Frederic duke of Saxonie Elector and Philip Landgraue of Hesse who drew after them many princes and barons of great place their friends allies or vassals with the chiefe Imperiall townes Demands of the Protestants all which demaunded peace and assurance that it should not be broken by any decree of the Councell of Trent and a present reformation of the Imperiall Chamber where there were some of their profest enemies To which demaunds the Emperour made dilatorie and ambiguous aunswers to win time to the end hee might draw his forces which came from all parts into one bodie so as they seeing no other remedie began also to arme Ausbourg Vlme and other townes of high Germanie being assisted by the duke of Wirtemberg came first to field and fell vpon the subiects of Ferdinand king of Romans taking Ereberg at the foot of the Alpes comming out of Italie with other places The duke of Saxonie the Landgraue and their confederats raised a mightie armie vpon the marches of Franconia and marcht towards the riuer of Danow passing quietly through the lands of the bishop of Virtzbourg and of other Clergie men The Emperour who prepared his campe with all speed about Landshuot vpon the riuer of Iser proclaimed them as troublers of the publicke peace Protestants preclaimed and guiltie of high treason Being fortified hee came and lodged vpon the riuer of Danow betwixt Ingolstade and Ratisbone hauing receiued tenne thousand foot and fiue hundred light horse from the Pope led by cardinall Farnese Captaines of the Popes armie Legat and Octauio his brother prince of Parma and Plaisance assisted by many worthie captaines whereof the chiefe were Alexander and Paul Vitelli Iohn Baptista and Frederic Sauelli Iulio Vrsino Sforce Paliuicin Alphonso of Este and Ralph Bailloni And they had brought him out of the garrisons of Italie six thousand Spaniards of the old Regiments vnder the commaund of Ferdinand of Toledo Captaines of the Emperors forces duke of Alua Marshall generall of the armie Iohn Baptista Castaldo Philip of Launoy Aluaro Sandis Alphonso Viues and other auncient and approued Captaines In this Imperiall armie the cardinall of Ausbourg had the charge of the victuals There was with the Emperour Maximilian sonne to the king of Romans Emanuel Philibert prince of Piedmont with many princes and noblemen Germanes The Protestants armie aduanced being much stronger than the Emperours they had two generals the Elector Frederic Two generals the ruine of an armie and the Landgraue with equall authoritie which it may be was the ruine of their armie They had with them Iohn Ernest brother to the duke of Saxonie and Iohn Frederic his eldest sonne Philip duke of Brunswic and foure of his sonnes Francis duke of Lunebourg Wolfgang prince of Anhalt Christopher of Heneberg George of Wirtemberg Albert of Mansfield earles William of Furstemberg Recrod and Reffeberg colonels with six companies of Suisses The two armies lay neere together for some dayes and the Protestants offered battell to the Imperials but the Emperour would none assuring himselfe that the enemie could not keepe those great forces long together and that in the end hee which gets the profit of the warre hath the honour besides hee expected Maximilian earle of Bure with foure thousand horse and ten thousand foot of the choice bands of the Netherlands The Landgraue Heads of the Protestants armie disagree who was a resolute souldier and therefore feared more by the Emperour than all the rest that were in the Protestants campe made offer to force the Emperour to fight if they would giue him credit but the Elector would not yeeld to it so as these two commaunders not concurring well together lost many occasions The earle of Bure came to the campe and many of the Emperours faction in Germanie spoyled the Protestants lands whilest they were in the armie yea some Protestants being woon by the Emperour with goodly promises of aduancement and persuading them that the warre was grounded vpon other causes than religion Maurice of Saxonie serues the Emperour Among them was Maurice of Saxonie who desirous to get the Electorship was entred into duke Frederics countrey with forces wherewith king Ferdinand had furnished him out of Bohemia and Hungarie and had by loue or force seised vpon all the townes and places of Turinga Misnia and other prouinces adioyning vnder a colour of charitie saying That it was to preserue the duke Electors countrey and lands the which would haue beene ruined if any other had beene imployed by the Emperour in that conquest yet the Bohemians and Hungarians vsed as great crueltie and violence as if they had made warre against the Turkes The Protestants armie being verie great and not able to draw the Emperour to battell being in some want of victuals but much more of money the which they were forced to beg from the townes and comminalties the confederat princes haning no support from the kings of France and England as they had expected hauing sent embassadours vnto them with full instructions touching that which the Emperour practised by this warre to the preiudice of Germanie and the neighbour Estates The heads being also jealous of their owne houses and lands which they saw inuaded whilest they laboured for the common cause they thought to draw the warre neerer to their owne commodities whereupon they dislodged and marched towards Norling the Emperour still coasting them The townes of Vlme Ausbourg and others holding the Protestants partie seeing the armie retire farre from them hauing done nothing of import they began to think of their estates and the rather for that the Imperiall armie increased daily there being a fresh supplie of six hundred men at armes come from Naples vnder the conduct of Iohn Baptista Spinelli and the confederats being retired they made shew as if they would besiege Vlme one of the richest townes of all Germanie Being troubled with these considerations Protestants league dissolued and terrified when as they vnderstood that the Landgraue had left the duke of Saxonie and was retired home to his house leauing the whole conduct of the warre to him and that the duke marcht towards his owne countrey without any longer delay they sent vnto the Emperour to make their peace Vlme was one of the
first that obtained pardon 1547 paying an hundred thousand crownes and twelue peeces of ordnance with their furniture and receiuing a garrison of ten companies of foot Ausbourg did the like and paid an hundred and fiftie thousand crownes and twelue peeces of ordnance and receiued the like garrison Diuers other townes yeelded also 1546 and in the end the duke of Wittenberg would make triall of the Emperours clemencie so as being assured of high Germanie he began to follow the Protestants armie and came to Nuremberg The Prince Elector tooke some small townes in his way bending towards Francfort to draw money as well from his friends as from the Clergie and then he turned towards his countrey his armie decreasing much for that many seeing the Emperour to prosper abandoned him He being come into Turinga and Misnia Maurice dislodged hauing put good garrisons into Leipfie and Dresda which places he onely preserued for all the rest the Electors recouered and then he retyred to Ferdinand and they both together came and ioyned with the Emperours campe at Egre vpon the confines of Bohemia The earle of Bure was come towards Francfort with commaundement to enter into the Landgraues countrey for whom many princes and among them Maurice his sonne in law did sue vnto the Emperour for his pardon but to small effect for he had a great desire to haue him thinking him alone sufficient to raise the Protestant affaires Landgraue feared by the Emperour if they were ruined Bure tooke Darmast by composition and then Francfort where they were in great feare to loose their Faires which many of their neighbours did affect Strasbourg a great and rich citie did also compound The Emperour comming with great speed to the riuer of Elbe hauing found a foord where the Spaniards did him great seruice for the passage was defended by the Protestants armie he past his troupes and pursued the Elector who sought to recouer Wittenberg the chiefe towne of his Electorat being strong and well fortified but he stayed him neere vnto the forest of Lochane the Elector hauing scarce halfe his forces Defeat of the Elector of Saxony and his â—â—king for he had not leasure to gather them together being dispersed Being thus forced to fight with disaduantage he was vanquished and taken being wounded in the face Ernest of Brunswic sonne to Philip was taken with the Elector his eldest sonne recouered Wittenberg being hurt whither many others escaped from this conflict The Emperour hauing this prince his prisoner vsed him roughly in speech and king Ferdinand more He was giuen in gard to the duke of Alua who committed him to Alphonso Viues to keepe safely Within few dayes the Emperour gaue sentence of death against him the which notwithstanding was reuoked at the suit of the marquesse of Brandebourg but to redeem his life he was forced to vndergo hard conditions Among others he did quit the dignitie of Elector Conditions imposed vpon the Elector of Saxonie which was giuen to Maurice with all his lands by the Emperor who did confiscat them as being guiltie of high treason he and his children promising to obey the Imperiall chamber such as the Emperour should erect and for his entertainment Maurice was charged to pay him a yearely pention of fiftie thousand crownes The towne of Wittenberg and the castle of Goth were deliuered to Maurice leauing it to his discretion to suffer Frederics children to dwell in Goth and as for himselfe hee should remaine the Emperours prisoner There were many other sharpe conditions imposed vpon him all which he signed and refused but one article which was a promise to obey the decrees of the Councell of Trent the which hee constantly reiected saying That he had rather die than yeeld to it Constancie of the Elector Frederic wherefore the Emperour caused it to be rased out Duke Maurice being now Elector and hauing ioyned to his owne patrimonie the inheritance of prince Frederic of Saxonie he began to be a suitor for the Landgraue of Heâ—â—e his father in law imploying all his friends as the marquesse of Brandebourg did in like maner who in the end obtained a promise from the Emperour to pardon his life Conditions propounded by the Emperor to the Landgraue to remit all other punishments due to rebels to leaue him his country with one fort furnished with artillerie so as he did renounce all leagues to the preiudice of him or his brother Ferdinand obey the Imperial Chamber which the Emperor should establish giue him all the rest of his ordnance pay him within foure moneths 150000 crownes for the charges of the warre to deliuer the prisoners which he held and come and craue pardon of the Emperour The Landgraue hauing accepted these conditions by the aduice of his counsellors considering the present danger he came to Hale in Saxonie to the Emperor on the eight and twentieth of Iune where before he presented himselfe vnto him they brought him the former articles to signe but for that they had added many things which were not contained in those which the marquesse of Brandebourg and duke Maurice had sent him he would not doe any thing 1547 for the which there was great question betwixt betwixt him and the bishop of Arras who would needs haue him signe it Among other things they had added That the Emperour did reserue vnto himselfe the interpretation of euerie article and that the Landgraue did submit himselfe to the decrees of the Councell of Trent for the which he should giue caution The Landgraue being prest and threatened remembring that Brandebourg and the new Elector had promised to maintaine the confession of Ausbourg he signed That he would obey the decrees of a holy free and generall Councell where both head and members should be reformed as Maurice and Braâ—debourg would doe This done they led him into a hall Submission of the Landgraue whereas the Emperour was set vpon a throne where kneeling downe before him and confessing That he had offended his Maiestie and deserued punishment he craued pardon and implored his clemencie The Emperour made answer by George Selde That although he had deserued grieuous punishment yet vsing his clemencie and yeelding to the intreaties of many princes and noblemen whom he desired to gratifie he remitted the punishment which he had deserued either by losse of life and goods or by perpetuall imprisonment Which done the Landgraue was carried backe to the duke of Aluaes lodging where he supt where hauing plaied late at dice he was amazed when as offering to goe away he was staied and had a gard giuen him whereat the marquesse of Brandebourg and Maurice were much discontented but there was no remedie the duke of Alba and the bishop of Arâ—â—s saying That it was the Emperours pleasure This proceeding which the Emperour sought to justifie by glosses depriued him of the fruit which he pretended of his enterprises so easily are mans designes and imaginations ouerthrowne 3 We
him into Spain by the first wind as an vnprofitable person yea prejudicial to the quiet of the coūtry that he might giue an accōpt to the emperor of his actions but the violence of the rebels of their commander Gonsaluo was such after this restraint of the Gouernour they of the Councell disagreeing among themselues as they were forced with all speede to deliuer him to gouerne this warre the which prooued difficult for Picarro being assisted by Francis of Caruaial a great Captaine and an old experienced Souldier hee then declared himselfe openly against the Emperour and contended for the Soueraigntie of Peru hauing made the Towne of Cusco the chiefe of that countrie his store-house for the warre Vasco Nugnes striuing to resist them somewhat rashlie Death of the gouernour Vasco Nugnes was slaine in an Incounter neere vnto the towne of Quitoa and his head was carried to Cusco and there made a publike spectacle and scorne to all men a brother of his called Vela Nugnes being then a prisoner who had no better fortune afterwards To bee reunnged of this rout Iohn Aluares Iames de Silua and Iames de Ceuton remaining heads of the emperours part vntill there were some other order taken gathered all the souldiers they could together but they were also defeated by Francis Caruaiall so as they had great difficultie to mainteine their masters authoritie vnto the yeare one thousand fiue hundred fortie and sixe that the Emperour after long deliberation D. Pedro Guasca gouernour at Peru. and by the aduise and choise of his Councell sent D. Pedro Guasca thether a clergie man and of the Councell of the Inquisition a graue wise and discreet man to whome hee gaue a more ample power than to any of the precedent Gouernours with the title of President of the royall audience of Peru parting from Seuile that yeare he came to Nombre de Dios notwithstanding that he vnderstood that there was there in garrison Ferdinand Mexia de Gusman vnder Pedro Alfonso Hinoiosa Gouernour in that Countrie for the party of Gonsaluo Piarro who had a little before put Melchior Verdugo one of the emperours Captaines to rout and chased him as farre as the fort of Carthagena which is vpon the North Sea Hinoiosa remaine at Panama which is opposit vpon the South sea It is the narrowest place of all the firme land of the Indies betwixt the two Seas D. Pedro Guasca did in this action shew a great resolution for hee had beene aduertised at the neere Islands of this rout and that the port of Carthagena was the onely landing place for him yet hee would needs cast anchor neere vnto Nombre de Dios which place was held by the said Mexia with a garrison of eighteene hundred Spaniards where hee sent Alfonso Aluaredo to land in ioyning him to aduertise Mexia of his comming and to found him how hee stood affected Dexteritie of Guasca to win the rebels at Peru. The which Aluaredo performed so well as Mexia and hee parted good friends in effect though they made shew to the contrarie For some daies after the President Guasca was receiued honourably into that place yea with ioy and content of the whole garrison Thus this religious man being politike and modest did for the first fruits of his comming winne this fort and them that held it without any tumult or blowes who thinking himselfe well fortified began with grauitie and authoritie to sollicit the rebels and their leaders that they should acknowledge their errors to repaire the which hee gaue to vnderstand that they had nothing to doe but to imbrace the emperors clemency and the grace and pardon which hee offered them Hinoiosa who was at Panama vpon the South sea had beene aduertised of the presidents arriuall and although he were none of the most obstinate rebels yet would hee see how hee would carrie himselfe at his first entrie into his gouernment being somewhat discontented that Mexia had spoken with him without his leaue and priuitie writing in choller vnto him but Mexia was nothing amazed thereat but by the Presidents aduice went freely to Panama to Hinioiosa what discourse they had the euents did shew for Mexia returned as freely as hee went and presently the President departed and went towards Panama where wrought so with good words persuasions and promises as he drew Pedro Alfonso of Hinoiosa and all them that were with him to the emperours obedience They say that the greatest motiue to make them resolue was that they saw with the President the Marshall Alfonso of Aluaredo who had bin a dear friend to Francisco Pizarro These things succeeding thus happely the president holding it a great aduantage to haue won Hinoiosa hee thought it now time to presse Goncaluo Pizarro to come vnto himselfe and to acknowledge his master He gaue him hope of good vsage if he did obey if not he protested his vtter ruine writing vnto him and sending him letters in the Emperors name from whom he had brought many blanks signed the bearer whereof was Ferdinand Pauiaguada borne at Placentia in Spaine The emperors letters were dated at Venloo in Guelderland the 17 of February 1546 the Presidents the 26 of September following Gonsaluo was at the time of this dispatch in the citie of Kings so called for that the first foundations thereof were laid the day before the feast of Kings which wee call Twelfe day where hauing some intelligence of the Presidents comming hee had called all the heads of his party vnto him to consult what was to be done in the end they resolued to send vnto the emperour and to informe him of the causes of their rising and to iustifie themselues for the death of the gouernour Nugnes and it was concluded that the Deputies should carry letters from all the townes in Peru and that they should demand the generall gouernement for Gonsaluo Pizarro That in passing by Panama they should informe themselues of the president Guascas authority and should acquaint him with the cause of their voyage with protestation that if hee attempted any thing or did presume to enter into the Countrey of Peru in armes before their returne and the Emperours answer they would resist him by armes The deputies were Ierosme Loyosa Archbishop of the city of Kings Laurence of Aldana who commanded the garrison there Thomas of saint Martin prouinciall of the order of saint Dominicke at Peru and Gomes de Soli◠de Carceres some of which being suspect to Pizarro namely the prouinciall he was glad to be rid of him and to estrange him from his designes procuring the bishop of Sancta Martha to goe the voiage with them Thus the deputies being dispatcht they imbarked in diuers ships and sailed towards Panama causing Laurence Aldana to aduance and aduertise them what was done there In the meane time there was a conspiracie discouered against the person of Gonsaluo which had beene practised as they said by Vela Nugnes the deceased gouernors brother who