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.

7 GRANADA.

GRANADA is bounded on the West with Andalusia; on the East, with Murcia, and the Mediterranean; on the North, with New Castile; on the South, with the Mediterranean only. So called from Granada, the chief Citie and Seat Royal of it.

It is in length 200 miles, 100 miles in breadth, and about 700 miles in compass. The North part of the Countrey plain, the South parts over-spread with the Alpuxarras, and other spurres and branches of the Orospeda. In the time of the Moores wonderfully well inhabited, and full of all sorts of commodities; the Hils planted with Vines and Fruits, the Plains and Vallies swelling with Corn and Gardens: since their expulsion, neither much peopled nor very fruitfull, for want of men to dress and manure the Land. The principal Cities of it, are 1 Granada, situate on two Hils, divided by a Valley, thorow which runneth the River Darien; consisting of four severall parts, called Alhamb••e, Sierre de sol, Granada, and Antequerula; the two first standing on the Hils, the two last in the Valley: the whole containing in the time of the Moorish kingdom about 200000 of fouls. Fenced with strong wals, fortified with 130 Turrets, and replenished with abun∣dance of wholsome and pleasant Springs; the whole Circuit being about seven miles. The Mer∣chants and Gentry of the best sort doe dwell in that part which is called Granada; the houses of which are for the most part built of free stone, with delicate and artificiall Masonrie, shewing great magnificence. Herein standeth the Cathedral Church, a work of admirable structure, of Figure round, as having sometimes been a Mahom••tane Mosquit. Here is also the place which they call Alcazar, representing a little Town, the which are ten Gates. In the A••hambre is the Palace of the Moorish Kings, covered with Gold, indented with Moisaical work; and which by reason of the structure, and multitude of Fountains which are about it, may be put amongst the Wonders of the World; having withall a goodly prospect over all the Town, lying under it upon the East, a spacious Champian towards the North, and the snowie tops of Sierra Nevade towards the South. This Citie is the ordinarie Parliament, and Court of Iustice for all the Sou∣thern

parts of Spain, as Valladolit is for the Northern; Madrid, which is the highest Court, ha∣ving jurisdiction over, and receiving Appeals from both. A Town first rai••ed out of the ruines of Illiberis, situate not far off on the Hill Elvire, much mentioned in the stories of Rome and Carthage. In the two other parts of the Town, there is nothing remarkable, inhabited only by Mechanicks of the poorer sort. 2 Alhama, seated amongst steep and craggie rocks, out of which issue Medi∣cinall Waters, occasioning a great resort of the Spanish Gentrie. 3 Gua••ix, an Episcopall See, about nine leagues from Granada, 4 Ve••es Malaga, (by Ptolomie called Sex, by Antoninus, Sexi∣c••num) situate at the Foot of the Mountains called Alpuxarras, a large branch of the Orospeda, overspreading a great part of this Countrie, heretofore planted with incredible numbers of Moores, who chose to dwell there for the strength and safety of the situation; since their expulsion, desolate and unfrequented, nothing remaining of them now but the Arabick Language, which is still spoke by those few people which inhabit in it. The Mountains in this tract so high, that from the topps hereof a man may easily discern the whole course of the Streight of Gibraltar, together with the Towns of Seuta and Tangier in Africk. 5 Ronda, at rhe foot of another branch of the Orospeda, called from this Town, Sierra de Ronda. Not far from which, by Munda, now a very small Village, was sought that memorable battell betwixt Caesar and the Sonnes of Pompey: the honour of which fell to Caesar, who then made an end of the Civill Wars, which that very day four yeares before were begun by Pompey the Father. In this fight was C••. Pompeius slain, and his Forces broken: Caesar himself being so put to it, that seeing his Soldiers give back, he was fain to maintain the fight by his own great courage, bidding them remember, that at Munda they forsook their Generall. The shame of which reproach, and his noble example, encouraged them to a new onset, which was ho∣noured with a signall and remarkable Victory: this being the last fight that Caesar was in, murde∣red not long after in the Senate-house. And of this Fight he used to say, That in all other places he fought for his Honour, but in this for his life. 6 Antiquera, heretofore a well-fortified Town, bor∣dering close upon Castile. 7 Maxacra, on the shore of the Mediterranean, supposed to be the Margis of Ptolomie. 8 Vera, on the same shore, the furthest Town of Baetica, and of this Countrie towards Murcia. 9 Malaga, or Malaca, situate at the mouth of Guadalquivir, once sacked by Crassus the rich Roman; Who flying out of Spain, to avoid the furie of Marius and Cinna, who had slain his Father and Uncle, hid himself and his Companions in a Cave hereabouts for eight mo∣neths together: but after hearing of their deaths, issued out, and ransacked, amongst many other Cities, this Malaga. A Town of great traffick, and much resort, especially for Raisins, Almonds, Malaga Sacks: well fortified, and of great importance, as a Town of War; and to the great prejudice of the Moors taken by Ferdinand the Catholick, Anno 1487. the conquest of the whole kingdom of Granada following not long after. It was since made a Bishops See, or restored rather to that dignity which it had of old. 10 Almeria, a noted haven on the Mediterranean, the Abdera of Mela, a Colonie of the Carthaginians, and antiently a Bishops See.

As for the fortunes of this Countrie, after the Conquest of it by the Moores and Saracens, it was a part or member of the kingdom of Corduba, and so continued till that kingdom was subdued by the Spaniards: But the Moores were too stout to yeeld all at once. Having yet ground enough both to secure themselves in, and endow their King: they are resolved, though they had lost one kingdom, to erect another. And therefore Corduba being taken, and that kingdom ruinated, the Moores, with Mahomet Aben Alhamar their unfortunate, but valiant King, removed them∣selves unto Granada, and there renew their strength and kingdom, which lasted 256 yeers, under 20 Kings, whose names here follow in this Catalogue of

The Kings of Granada.

• 1236. 1 Mahomet Alcamir, the last King of Corduba, and the first King of Gra∣nada. 36.
• 1272. 2 Mahomet Mir Almir. 30.
• 1302. 3 Mahomet Aben Ezar. 7.
• 1309. 4 Mahomet Aben Evar. 10.
• 1319. 5 Ismael. 3.
• 1322. 6 Mahomet. 12.
• 1334. 7 Joseph Aben Amet. 20.
• 1354. 8 Mahomet Lagus. 23.
• 1377. 9 Mahomet Vermeil. 2.
• 1379. 10 Mahomet Guadix. 13.
• 1392. 11 Ioseph II. 4:
• 1396. 12 Mahomet Aben Balva. 11.
• 1407. 13 Ioseph III. 16.
• 1423. 14 Mahomet Aben Azar. 4.
• 1427. 15 Mahomet the little. 5.
• 1432. 16 Ioseph Aben Almud. 13.
• 1445. 17 17 Mahomet Osmen. 8.
• 1453. 18 Ismael II. 9.
• 1462. 19 Muley Alboacen. 16.
• 1478. 20 Mahomet Boabdelin, The last King of the Moores in Spain. Of all which there is little left upon Record, their whole time being spent in defending their borders against the encroachments of Castile; or else in Civil Wars and discords amongst themselves; in which they were so freqnent, and sometimes so violent, as if they had no Enemie neer them. Mahomet Aben Ezar the 4th King, deposed by Mahomet Aben Levin, and he again thrust out by Ismael the Sonne of Ferrachen, before he could enjoy the fruits of his trea∣son. Mahomet, Sonne of Ismael, murdered by his Subjects; ••oseph, the Sonne of Mahomet slain by Mahomet Lagus; and he again deposed by Mahomet Vermeil, who in the end was miserably slain by Pedro the Cruell of Castile, to whom he had fled for help and

• succour. After this time they ruined and deposed one another, till the end of their king¦dom, the Successor never staying for the death of his Predecessor, but violently making way for himself to enter on the Government: even Mahomet Boabd••lin the last King hereof, not ha∣ving patience to expect the death of his Father; but setting him besides the Throne, and thereby opening a fair Gate for Ferdinand, King of Castil•• and Aragon, to bring in his Forces, to the sub∣duing of them both. Such was the fortune of this kingdom, that as it began under a Mahomet, a Ftrdinand being King of Cast••le: so it ended under a Mahomet, a Ferdinand being King of Ca∣stile also. In the tenth yeer then of this mans Reign, did the war begin, and about the yeer 1492, the Empire of the Moores ended in Spain; by the valour of Ferdinand the Catholick, and Isabel his Wife; after their first entrance into it, more than 760 yeers.

Such of them, as after the decay of their kingdom had a desire to stay in Spain, which had for so long time been their native Countrey, were suffered so to doe by the prudent Victors, (fearing a desolation of the Countrie, if they should abandon it) conditioned that they would be ••hrist••ned. And that they might be known to be as they professed, the Iuquisition was ordained, consisting of a certain number of Dom••nican Friers; who finding any counterfeit, or Apostate Christian••, were first gently to reprove and exhort them; and after, if no amendment followed, to inflict some punishment upon them. This custom in it self, was wondrous tolerable and laudable: but from the Moores it was after turned on the Protestants, and that with such violence and extremity of torture, that it is counted the greatest tyrannie and severest kind of persecution under Heaven. Insomuch, that many Papists who would willingly die for their Religion, abhor the very name and mention of it; and to the death, withstand the bringing in of this slavery among them. This is it that made the people of Aragon, and Naples rebel, Countries where the people are all of the Papal side: and this was it which caused the irremediable revolt of the Low-countries; the grea∣test part of that Nation at the time of their taking Arms, being Romish Catholicks. Yet is it planted and established in Spain, and all Italy, (Naples and Venice excepted) the managing thereof com∣mitted to the most zealous, fierie, and rigorous Friers in the whole pack. The least suspition of heresie, affinitie, or commerce with Hereticks, reproving the lives of the Clergy, keeping any books or Editions of books prohibited, or discoursing in matters of Religion, are offences suffici∣ent. Nay they will charge mens consciences under pain of damnation, to detect their nearest and dearest friends, if they doe but suspect them to be herein culpable. Their proceedings are with great secrecie and security: for 1. the parties accused, shall never know their Accuser, but shall be constrained to reveal their own thoughts and affections. 2. If they be but convinced of any errour in any of their opinions, or be gainsayed by two witnesses, they are immediatly condem∣ned. 3. If nothing can be proved against them, yet shall they with infinit tortures and miseries be kept in the house divers yeers, for a terrour to others: and 4. If they escape the first brunt with many torments, and much anguish, yet the second questioning or suspition brings death remedi∣less. And as for torments and kinds of death, Phalaris and his Fellow-tyrants come far short of these-blood-hounds.

The Administration of this Office, for the more orderly Reglement and dispatch thereof, di∣stributed into twelve Courts, or Supreme Tribunals, for the severall Provinces of S••ain; no one de∣pending on another; in which those of the Secular Clergy sit as Iudges; the Friers being only used as Promoters to inform the Court, and bring more Grist unto the Mill. Of those Inquisi∣tors every one hath the Title of Lord, and are a great terrour to the neighbouring Peasants. I here goeth a Tale how one of their Lordships desirous to eat of the Pears which grew in a poor mans Orchard not far off, sent for the man to come unto him; which put the poor soul into such a fright, that he fell sick upon it, and kept his bed. Being afterwards informed, that all his Lord∣ships busines with him, was to request a Dish of his Pears, he pulled the tree up by the roots▪ and carried it unto him with the Fruit upon it. And when he was demanded the reason of that rash and improvident action, he returned this Answer, that he would never keep that thi•••• in his house, which should give any of their Lordships cause to send further after him. Certain it is, that by this means the people of this kingdom are so kept under, that they dare not hearken after any other Religion, than what their Priests and Friers shall be pleased to teach them, or en∣tertain the truth if it come amongst them, or call in question any of those palpable and gross ••m∣postures, which every day are put upon them.

But to return unto the Moores, most of which by the terrour of this Inquisition, pro••••ssed in shew the Christian Faith. But being Christians only in the outward shew, and practising on all occasions against the State, the Kings of Spain resolved long agoe on their Exterminat••on; but never had opportunity to effect it, till the yeer 1609. At what time Philip the third having made a peace with England, and a truce with Holland; and finding the Moores of Africk 〈…〉〈…〉 in wars, that they were not able to disturb him; put that extreme rigour in execution, which had before been thought of in their consultations, 1100000 of them being forced to quit this 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and provide new dwellings, under colour that they went about to free themselves from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and to recover their old Liberty lost so long before.

The Forces which the Kings of Granada in the times of their greatest power were able to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, were far beyond the Ameasurement and extent of their kingdom, not above 700 miles in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as before is said: but so exceeding populous, and well accommodated w••••hall manner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ne∣cessaries, that within two dayes space, the King hereof was able to draw 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Horse,* 1.1 and 200000 Foot, for defence of the Kingdom. The Armes whereof were Or, a Pomgranat (or Apple of Granada) slipped, Vert.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Murcia, & Toledo.