Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

THE MONARCHIE OF SPAIN.

THus having spoke of Spain, and the Estate thereof, when broken and divided into many king∣doms; let us next look upon it as united into one main body: effected for the most part by Ferdinand the last King of Aragon, before mentioned. Before which time Spain being parcelled into many kingdoms was little famous, and less feared, the Kings thereof as the Author of the Politick Dispute, &c hath well observed, being only Kings of Figs and Orenges. Their whole puissance was then turned against one another; and small Achievements had they out of that Continent, except those of the House of Aragon upon Sicilie, Sarai••••a, and the Baleares. ••huanus, a diligent Writer of the Historie of his own times, (if in some things he savour not more of the Partie. than the Historian (telleth us, that before this Kings Reign, the name and glory of the Spaniards was like their Countrey, hemmed in by the Seas on some sides, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the other: Potius; patuisse exteris invadentibus, qu••m quicquam mem••rab le extra suos sines 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tis true, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Great, King of Navarre, assumed unto himself the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of Spain, and that Alfonso the first of Castile, and the sixt of Leon, caused himself to be

crowned Emperour of Spain, in the Cathedral Church of Leon; Titles ambitiously affected upon no good ground, and such as ended with their Persons. But this Prince worthily named the Great, sei∣zed on the Kingdom of Navarre, conquered Granada from the Moores, subdued the Kingdom of Naples, united Aragon to Castile, banished 124000 Families of the Jewes, began by the Conduct of Columbus, the discoverie of the Western Indies: and finally, by marying his Daughter Ioan to Philip, Sonne of the Emperour Maximilian, Duke of Burgundy, and Lord of the greatest part of the Netherlands, laid the Foundation of the present Austrian greatness. Continued since by so many intermariages betwixt the Spanish and Imperiall Branches of that potent Family, that Philip the second might have called the Archduke Albertus, Brother, Cousin, Nephew, and Sonne. A strange Medley of Relations. Thus by the puissance of this Prince, the Spaniards became first con∣siderable in the eye of the World, and grew to be a terror to the neighbouring Nations. Nomen Hispanicum obscurum antea et Vicinis pene incognitum, (saith the same Thuanus) tum primùm emer∣sit, tractu{que} temporis in tantam magnitudinem excrevit, ut formidolosum ex eo, & terribile toti terrarium Orbi esse coeperit. And he saith true, with reference to the French and Italian Nations, to whom the Spaniards have administred no small matter of fear and terrour: though unto others they appear no such dreadfull Bugg-Bears. But sure it is, and we may warrantably speak it with∣out any such impressions of fear and terror, that this Kingdom since that time is wonderfully both enlarged and strengthned: strongly compacted in it self with all the Ligaments both of Power and State, and infinitely extended over all the parts of the World; his Dominions beholding (as it were) both the rising and setting of the Sun; which before the Spaniard no Monarch could ever say. A greater change than any man can possibly imagine to have been effected in so short a time, as was between the first yeer of Ferdinand the Catholick, to the last yeer of Charles the fift.

Concerning the title of the most Catholick King, re-attributed to this Ferdinand, I find that Alfonso the first of Ovi••do was so named for his sanctity: with whom it died, and was revived in Al∣fonso the Great, the twelfth King of Leon and Oviedo, by the grant of Pope Iohn the 8th. After it lay dead till the dayes of this Prince, who re-obtained this title from Pope Alexander the sixt: either because he compelled the Moores to be baptized, banished the Iewes, and in part converted the A∣mericans unto Christianity; or because, having united Castile to his Dominions, surprized the Kingdom of Navarre, and subdued that of Granada; he was in a manner the Catholique, or gene∣nerall King of all Spain. The last reason seemeth to sway most in the restauration of this attribute; in that when it was granted or confirmed on Ferdinand by Pope Alexander the sixt; the King of Portugal exceedingly stomached at it; quando Ferdinandus imperio universam Hispaniam (saith Mariana) non obtineret, ejus tum non exigua parte penes Reges alios. It seems Emanuel could not think himself a King of Portugal, if the title of the Catholick King did belong to Ferdinand. Where∣in he was of the same mind as was Gregory the Great, who when Iohn of Constantinople had assu∣med to himself the title of the Occumenicall or Catholique Bishop, advised all Bishops of the World to oppose that arrogancie: and that upon the self-same reason, Nam si ille est Catholicus, vos non esti•• Episcopi, for it Iohn were the Catholick Bishop, they were none at all. But upon what consideration soever it was first re-granted, it hath been ever since assumed by his Posterity: to whose Crown as hereditarie and in common use, as the most Christian King to France, the Defen∣der of the Faith to England.

And yet there was some further reason why the Spaniard might affect the title of Catholick King, his Empire being Catholick in regard of extent (though not of Orthodoxie of doctrines) as reach∣ing not over all Spain onely, but over a very great part of the World besides. For in right of the Crown of Castile he possesseth the Towns of Mellila and Oran, the Haven of Ma∣salquivir, the Rock of Velez, and the Canarie Ilands in Africk; the Continent and Ilands of all America except Brasil, and some plantations in the North, of the English▪ Hollanders, and a few poor French. In the rights of the Kingdom of Aragon, he enjoyeth the Realms of Naples, Sicil, and Sardinia, with many Ilands interspersed in the Mediterranean; and in right of the house of Burgundie, the Counties of Burgundie and Charolois, the greatest part of Belgium, with a title unto all the rest: besides the great Dukedom of Millain, the Havens of Telamon and Plombino, and many other peeces of importance in Italie, held by investiture from the Empire. To which if those Estates be added which ac∣crewed to Philip the second by the Crown of Portugal, we have the Towns of Ceuta, Targier, and Maragon in Barbarie, the Fortresses of Arguen and S. George in Guinea, the Ilands of Azores, Madera, Cape Verd, S. Thomas, Del Principle on this side of the Cape, and of Mosambique on the other: in Asia all the Sea-coast almost from the Gulf of Persia unto China and many strong holds in the Moluccoes, Bantan, Zeilan, and other Ilands; and finally in America the large Country of Brasil, extending in length 1500 miles. An Empire of extent enough to appropriate to these Monarchs the stile of Catholick.

The Monarchs of Spain.

• A. Ch.
• 1478. 1
  • Ferdinand, K. of Aragon, Sicily, Sardinia, Majorca, Valentia, Earl of Catalogue, sur∣prised Navarre, and conquered the Realm of Naples.
  • Isabel, Q. of Castile, Leon, Gallicia, Toledo, Murcia, Lady of Biscay, conquered Grana∣da, and discovered America.
• 1504. 2
  • Joane, Princess of Castile, Granada, Leon, &c. and of Aragon, Navarre, Sicily, &c.
  • Philip, Archduke of Austria, Lord of Belgium.
• 1516. 3 Charles, King of Castile, Aragon, Naples, &c. Archduke of Austria, Duke of Millain, Burgundy, Brabant, &c. Earl of Catalogue, Flanders, Holland, &c, Lord of Biscay, Fri••zland, Iltreict, &c. and Emperour of the Germans. He added the Realms of Mexico and Peru, the Dukedoms of Gelde••land and Millain, the Earldom of ••ut∣phen, and the Signeuries of Utrecht, Over-Yssell, and Growing, unto his Estates. A Prince of that magnanimity and puissance, that had not Francis the first in time op∣posed him, he had even swallowed all Europe. He was also for a time of great strength and reputation in ••unis and other parts of Africa, disposing Kingdomes at his pleasure: but the Turk broke his power there, and being hunted also out of ••••er∣many, he resigned all his kingdoms, and died private. 42.
• 1558. 4 Philip II. of more ambition, but less prosperity than his Father; fortunate onely in his attempt on the kingdom of Portugal, but that sufficiently balanced by his ill successes in the Netherlands, and against the English. For the Hollanders and their Consede∣rates drove him out of eight of his Belgic Provinces: the English overthrew his In∣vincible Armada, intercepted his Plate-Fleets, and by awing the Ocean had almost impoverished him. And though he held for a time an hard hand upon France, in hope to have gotten that Crown by the help of the Leaguers: yet upon casting up his Accompts, he found that himself was the greatest Loser by that undertaking. So zealous in the cause of the Romi••h Church, that it was thought that his eldest Sonne Charles was put to death with his consent in the Inquisition-house, for seeming savourably inclined to the Low-Country-〈◊〉〈◊〉, as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called them. These four great Kings were all of the Order of the ••arrer; but neither of the two that followed.
• 1598. 5 Philip III. Finding his Estate almost destroyed by his Fathers long and chargeable Warres, first made peace with England, and then concluded a Truce for twelve years with the States of the Netherlands: which done, he totally banished all the Moores out of Spain, and was a great stickler in the Warres of Germany.
• 1621. 6 Philip IV. Sonne of Philip the 3d, got into his power all the Lower ••aluinate; but lost the whole Realm of Portugal, and the Province of Catalonia, with many of his best Towns in Flanders, Artots, and Brabant, and some Ports in Italy, not yet recovered to that Crown from the power of the French.

This Empire consisting of so many severall Kingdoms united into one Body, may seem to be in∣vincible. Yet had Queen Elizabeth followed the counsell of her men of Warre, she might have broken it in pieces. With 4000 men, she might have taken away his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from him: without whose gold, the Low-Country Army (which is his very best,) could not be paid, and by conse∣quence must needs have been dissolved. Nay Sir Walter Ralegh, in the Epilogue of his most excel∣lent History of the World, plainly affirmeth, that with the charge of 200000 l, continued but for two years, or three at the most, the S••aniard•• might not only have been perswaded to live in peace, but that all their swelling and overflowing streams, might be brought back to their naturall chan∣nels, and old banks. Their own proverb saith, the Lion is not so fierce as he is painted: yet the Americans tremble at his name, it's true: and it is well observed by that great Politi••ian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that things wcich seem 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and are not, are more feared far••e off, than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at hand. Nor is this judgement built upon weak conjectures but such as shew the power of Spain not to be so for∣midable as it's commonly supposed: which I find marshalled to my hand in this manner following. 1 The 〈…〉〈…〉 his Realms and other Estates, severed by infinite distances both of Sea and Land, which makes one part unable to relieve or defend the other. 2 The 〈…〉〈…〉 Wars, his Forces of necessity being long a gathering in places so remote from the ••oyall Seat; and being gathered, no less subject to the dangers both 〈…〉〈…〉 and Land, before un••ted into a body, and made fit for action. 3 The danger and uncertaintie which the most part of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Revenues are subject to, many times intercepted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pirates and open Enemies; sometimes so long delayed by cross Winds and Seas, that they come too late to serve the turn. 4 The different tem••ers and affections of a great part o•• his Subjects not easily concur∣ring in the same ends, or travelling the same way un••o them. 5 The 〈…〉〈…〉 Portugueze, and Italian Provinces, not well affected, for their private and particular rea∣sons, unto the Castilians; apt to be wrought on by the Ministers of neighbouring Princes; whom 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of State keep watchfull upon all advantages, for the depressing of his power. 6 〈◊〉〈◊〉 last of all, the want of people of his own naturall Subjects, whom he may best relie on for the in∣crease

and grandour of his Estates; exhausted and diminished by those waies and means which have been touched upon before; without any politique or provident course to remedy that defect for the time to come. And this I look on as the greatest and most sensible Error in the Spanish Government: therein directly contrary to the antient Romans. Who finding that nothing was more necessary for great and important enterprizes than multitudes of Men, employed all their studies to increase their numbers by Mariages, Colonies, and such helps, making their Con∣quered Enemies free Denizens of their Common-wealth; by which means the number of the Ro∣man Citizens became so great (all being equally interressed in the preservation of it) that Rome could not be ruined (in Annibals judgement) by any forces but her own. But on the other side the Spaniards employ none in their Plantations but their own native Subjects, and so many of them also in all their enterprizes both by Sea and Land, that so many thousands going forth every year, in the flower of their age, not one of ten returning home, and those few which return, ei∣ther lame or old, the country is not only deprived of the Men themselves, but also of the Chil∣dren which might be born. An evidence whereof may be, that Iohn the first of Portugal, who reigned before the severall Voyages and Plantations of that people, was able to raise 40000 Men for the War of Africk; whereas Emanuel, who lived after those undertakings, had much a do to raise 20000 foot and 3000 horse on the same occasion, and Sebastian after that found as great a difficulty to raise an Army of 12000.

As for the forces which the King of Spain is able to make out of all his Estates, they may be best seen by his preparations for the Conquest of England, France, and Flanders. In his design for England, Anno 1588. he had a Fleet consisting of 150 sail of Ships, whereof 66 were great Galleons, 4 Galleasses of Naples, 4 Gallies, the rest smaller Vessels: fraughted with 20000 Souldiers for land service, 9000 Saylers, 800 Gunners, 400 Pioneers, 2650 peeces of Ordinance, not Reckoning into this accompt the Commanders and Voluntaries, of which last there were very great numbers, who went upon that service for Spoil, Merit, or Honour. In the design of Charles the fift for the Conquest of Provence, he had no lesse than 50000 in the field; and in that of Philip the second for the reducing of Flanders, the Duke of Alva had an Army, at his first setting forward out of Italie, consisting of 8800 Spanish foot, and 1200 horse, all of them old experienced Souldiers, drawn out of Naples, Sicil, and the Dutchie of Millain, 3600 German foot, 300 Lances, and 100 Harcubusiers on horseback of the County of Bur∣gundy, all old Souldiers also, besides many Voluntiers of great ranck and quality, very well attended, and his old standing Army in the Belgick Provinces, a strength sufficient to have Conquered a far greater Countrie.

Of standing forces in this Countrie he maintaineth in these Realms of Spain, but three thou∣sand horse, and in his Forts and Garrisons no more than 8000 Foot, his Garrisons being very few, and those upon the Frontiers only, and in Maritime Towns; his Galies being served with Slaves out of Turkie and Barbarie. And yet he is able on occasion to raise very great forces, part∣ly because the ordinary Subjects are so well affected to their Prince, whom they never mention without reverence: and partly in regard there is so great a number of Fendataries and Noble-men, who are by Tenure to serve personally at their own charges for defence of the Realm. And certainly it must be a considerable force which the Noblemen of Spain are able to raise, conside∣ring the greatness of their Revenue, and the number of Vassalls which live under them: it be∣ing supposed that the Dukes of Spain (of which there were 23 when my authour lived) were able one with another to dispend yearly from 50000 Ducats to a 100000, some going very much a∣bove that proportion; and that of 36 Marquesses and 50 Earls, the poorest had 10000 Ducats of yearly Rent, and so ascending unto 50 and 60000. The Archbishops, Bishops, and others of the greater Clergie, being all endowed with fairer Temporall estates, than in most places of Eu∣rope, are also bound to serve (though not personally) on the like occasions. And to these services the Noblemen are for two reasons more forwards than the other Fendataries. 1 Because their honours descend not de jure from the Father to the Sonne, unless confirmed to the Sonne by the Kings acknowledgment and compellation: which makes them more observant of him than in France or England, where it is challenged as a Birth-right. 2 Because out of the gross body of these Noblemen, the King doth use to honour some with the title of Grandees, privileged to stand covered before the King, and to treat with him as their Brother: which being the high∣est honour which that State can yield, keeps those great persons in a readiness to obey his pleasure, in hope to come unto an honour of so high esteem.

For the R••v••nues of this King, which ordinarily arise out of his Estates (taking Portugal into the accompt) they are computed at 11 millions of Crowns yearly, that is to say 4 from his Dominions in Italie, 2 from Portugal and the Appertinents thereof, 3 from the West-Indies, and the other 2 remaining from his Kingdoms in Spain. Besides this he receiveth yearly the Revenues of the Ma∣sterships of all the great Orders in his Kingdom, incorporated to the Crown by Ferdinand the Catholick, not without good Policie and reason of State: the Masters (or Commendadors as they call them) of those severall Orders drawing after them such troopes of the Nobility, Gentry, and other dependants, that their power began to be suspected by the Kings themselves. By which addition there accreweth to the Crown (besides the opportunity of preferring servants of the greatest merit) above 150000 l. of yearly Rents. As for his Casualties and extraordinary waies of raising money, they are very great: reckoned by the Author of the Generall H••story of

Spain to amount (according to divers opinions) to 14. 18. and 23 millions of Crowns. For making up which sum he puts in the First Fruits, and some, part of the Tenthes of Rectories, and other Church preferments, amounting to 3 millions yearly. And the Author of the Poli∣tique Dispute, &c. affirmeth the Pardons sent to the Indies, given him by the Pope, to be worth half a million of pounds yearly. Adde hereunto the fall and disposall of all Offices, which make up a good round sum; and the free Gifts and Contributions of his Subjects, which amount unto a good Revenue. For the Kingdom of Naples presents him every third year with a million & 20000 Crowns; and Castile only at one time granted a Contribution of four millions to be paid in four years: his Subjects generally being so well affected unto the Crown, that he can demand nothing in reason of them which they are not ready to grant: the King of Spain being called in that regard by the Emperor Maximilian, the King of Men. And yet this great King is not counted to be rich in treasure, his expences being very great. First, In keeping Forts and Garrisons in many parts of his Estates against the revolt of the Natives; Secondly, Maintaining so many Frontire places, a∣gainst sorein Invasions; Thirdly, In the continuall pay of an Armada for Conducting his Plate-Fleets from America; And last of all the many and unprofitable Wars of King Philip the second, so plunged the Crown in the Gulfes of Bankers and Money-Changers, that much of the Revenues of it stand ingaged for payment to this very day.

There are in Spain Arch-Bishops 11. Bishops 52. Vniversities 18. i. e.

• 1 Sevill,
• 2 Granad••,
• 3 S. Iago,
• 4 Toledo,
• 5 Valladolit,
• 6 Majorca,
• 7 Salamanca,
• 8 Alcala de Henares,
• 9 Signenca,
• 10 Ebora,
• 11 Lisbon,
• 12 Conimbre,
• 13 Valentia,
• 14 Lerida,
• 15 Huesca,
• 16 Saragossa,
• 17 Tudela,
• 18 Ossuna.