8 MVRCIA.
MVRCIA is bounded on the West, with Granada; on the East, with Valentia; on the North, with Valentia; and a part of Granada; and on the South, with the Mediterranean Seas, so called from Murcia the chief Citie. In former times esteemed a rich and wealthy Countrey, stored with all sorts of fruits, and so abounding in Silver Mines, that when the Romans were Lords of it, they kept continually 400 men at work, and received 2500 Drachmas of daily profit: now for the most part barren, and but ill inhabited.
Cities of note there are not many in so small a Countrey. The principal, 1 Murcia, by Pto∣lomi•• called Men••al••a, seated upon the River Segura, a Bishops See, situate in a pleasant and de∣lightfull Plain, planted with Pomgranats, and other excellent fruits: From this the Countrey had the name of the Kingdom of Murcia. 2 Carthagena, or Nova Carthago, first built by As∣d••ubal of Carthage, the Brother of Annibal, for the better receiving of such aids, both of men and money, as should come from Africa. Situate in a Demi-Iland, in the very jawes of the Mediterranean; by which, and by a deep Marish on the West side of it, so impregnably fortified, that if Scipi••, afterwards called Asricanus, who then lay at the siege thereof, had not been shew∣ed a way over that Marish, at a dead low▪ Water, by some poor Fisher-men of Tarragon, who knew the secret, he had there lost both his time and Honour. Nothing more memorable, in the sack••ge and spoyl thereof, (though there was found abundance of Armes and Treasure) than the vertue of Scipio, who finding there many Spanish Ladies of great birth, and beauties, left there as Hostages for the Spaniards with the Carthaginians, would not permit any of them to be brought before him; for fear it should betray him to some inconvenience. Being reedified it was made a Roman Colonie, and one of the seven Iuridicall Resorts of Tar∣raconensi••: by Constantine made a chief Citie of the new Province of Carthaginensis, which was hence denominated: Afterwards twice sacked by the Gothes and Vandals, it lay for a long time bu∣ried in its own ruins. And though again new built and peopled, it is still but smal; containing at the most but 600 Housholds: and would be utterly abandoned, but for the safety of the place, and the strength thereof, garrison'd, and fortified very strongly by King Philip the 2d, for fear of surpri∣sall by the Tnrks; and the security of the Haven (which is withall very large and capacious) com∣ing from a little Iland, lying at the mouth thereof; by which assured from tempestuous winds, and the violent ragings of the Sea. Hence the occasion of that Saying of Andreas Doria, Admiral unto Charles the fifth, that there were but three safe Ports in the Mediterranean; that is to say, August, Iuly, and the Carthagena: meaning as I conceive, that those two moneths being common∣ly free from tempestuous weather, were of as great safety to the Mariners, as this famous Port. 3. Lorca, another Port Town, situate on a Creek more within the Land. 4 Almanca, 5 Sa∣r••zal, two strong Towns bordering on Valentia; well fortified, when Murcia and Valentia were in severall hands. 6 C••rvillan. 7 Alhama. 8 Rus, &c.
This Countrey being part of the Province of Carthaginensis, was by the Alani taken from the Roman••, at their first entrance into Spain; from them recovered by Wallia, the first King of the Gothes in this part of Europe. Together with the rest of Spain, it was subdued by the Moors of Africk; in the distractions of whose Empire after the going hence of the Moores of Africk, it was made a distinct Kingdom by Aben-Hut, of the race of the Kings of Saragossa, who had seized up∣on it▪ Anno 1228, and for a time was the most puissant King of the Moores in Spain, command∣ing over this Countrey Granada, and a great part of Andaluzia. Invited to a Feast, made drunk, and then basely murdered by Aben Arramin a false servant of his, Anno 1236, one Aben Hudiel seized on the Realm of Murcia, disturbed in his possession by Alboaquis, the last King hereof. But he not able to defend himself against his Competitor, surrendred it to Ferdinand the 2d of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whom he put into possession of the Fort of Murcia, and many other places of great im∣portance; conditioned, that Alboaquis should enjoy the title of King of Murcia, as long as he lived under the Soveraignty of Castile; and that Ferdinand should enjoy one half of the pro∣fits of it, this was in the yeer, 1241, after it had continued in the state of a Kingdom••, but 12. yeers only, united to Castile without blood or trouble, and so remains ever since.