commonly called Guadalaviar. Two Months in the heat of Summer, the King lay before it, and was forced at last to raise the Siege. Nevertheless, Peter Fernandez de Açagra, was soon after restored to the Kings favour. All the Nobility interceded for him, his own Services were a great recommendation, and the King was willing to gain so considerable a Man. These things were done in Aragon, in the Year 1220. In Castile the same Year, on S. Andrew's Day, the Marriage of King Ferdinand, with Beatrix, Daughter to the late Empe∣ror Philip, was Celebrated. Embassadors had been sent to Treat of this match, to the Em∣peror, Frederick II. after four Months delay it was concluded. In France the Bride was en∣tertained by King Philip with great Liberality. Queen Berengaria, went as far as the Bor∣ders of Biscay, to receive her, and at the end of a whole Year spent in this Negotiation, they all arrived at Burgos, the place appointed for this Solemnity. Maurice Bishop of that City perform'd the Ceremony, and the day before had said Mass in his Pontificalibus, during which the King Knighted himself, there being none worthy to perform that Act, as was the Custom of those times. This match prov'd fortunate in a numerous Issue, for they had Se∣ven Children, viz. Alonso, Ferderick, Philip, Sancho, Emanuel, Ellenor who dy'd Young, and Berengaria who was a Nun, in the Monastery of Huelgas near Burgos. At the same time the Aragonians, desiring to secure the Succession of the Crown, sent Embassadors to Queen Berengaria, to Treat of a match betwixt their King, and her Sister Ellenor. This Proposal being very advantagious to her, was easily accepted, and the Town of Agreda, on the Bor∣dors of Castile and Aragon, appointed to Celebrate the Nuptials. Queen Berengaria came first with her Sister, and soon after King Jaime, with a Noble retinue. The Marriage was Celebrated in the Year 1221. yet the Bride, the King being yet very young, continued a Maid a year and half after, as he himself relates in the History, he writ of his own Life. On the 20th of June, Roderick Archbishop of Toledo, consecrated the Church of S. Romanus, in the highest part of that City. Upon the 23d of November, was born King Ferdinand's Eldest Son, called Alonso. About the beginning of December, a great Earthquake shook many Build∣ings, and mighty Floods, and Winds following upon it, part of the Walls, and many Houses fell down. These things were the more terrible, because the City being high, and built upon Rocks, seem'd the safer against such disasters.
Navarre, Portugal, and Leon, now enjoy'd Peace. The Moors wasted themselves with Civil Wars. In Castile and Aragon, there were some Commotions, but not considerable. Roderick Lord of Cameros, a Man in great Power, confiding in his strength, presum'd to pillage the Country about him. Being summon'd by the King, to Answer for himself, he Answer'd, he had taken the Cross, in Order to go to the War in the Holy-Land. This was a common excuse in those times, the Pope's among other priviledges, having granted, that such as wore the Cross, should not be Try'd before the Civil Magistrate, but in the Spiritual Courts. But that shift availed him nothing, for he was constrained to appear at Valladolid, whither the Court was remov'd from Burgos, and being accused of many Crimes, he fled. He was attainted, and his Estate Confiscated. Yet being a resolute Man, he fortified him∣self, in the strong holds he had, wherefore to prevent a War, he was not only Pardon'd, but 14000 Duccats given him, to quit those Towns he held for the King. After this follow'd another revolt. D. Gonzalo Nunez de Lara, who only remained of the Three Brothers, perswaded D. Gonçalo Perez Lord of Molina, to invade the Neighbouring Country about him, hoping by these troubles to be restor'd to his Country, for he was in Barbary, ever since the Death of his Brother Ferdinand, having gone thither with him. Some action there was, but not considerable, for the Lord of Molina, perceiving the danger he was in, begg'd par∣don, and obtain'd it, through the intercession of Queen Berengaria. Thus D. Gonzalo de Lara despairing of succeess, went into Andaluzia, where among the Moors, at Baeça he end∣ed his Days, neither Godly nor Honourably. Such was the end of those Three Brothers, from whom is descended the Family of Manriquez, well known in Spain. It was now the Year 1222. when the King of Leon, gathering a great Army, as well of Soldiers in pay, as those who taking the Cross, served upon their own expence, entred Estremadura, and laid Siege to Caceres. The Moors to raise the Siege, promised a great sum of Money, they expected out of Africk, but having obtained their ends, performed not, and we were not in a Con∣dition then to force them. About this time Maurice an Englishman, and Bishop of Burgos, laid the Foundation of the Cathedral of that City, and finish'd it. Many other Churches, and Stately Buildings were erected in several parts of Spain. Eleven Years before this, we now write of Roderick Archbishop of Toledo, built the great Church of Talavera. D. John Chancellor to the King, erected two Churches, one at Valladolid, and the other at Osma, when he was Bishop of that See. D. Nun̄o Bishop of Astorga, raised the Bishop's Palace in that City. D. Laurence Bishop of Orense, built a Bridge over the River Min̄o, the Cathe∣dral and Episcopal Palace. Stephen Bishop of Tuy, and Martin of Zamora, spent their Re∣venues in such like works. The King and the Queen his Mother, Liberally adorned those Churches, and by their example stirred up the Prelates, to lay out the profits of their Bene∣fices in the Service of the Church. Let us return to the Course of the History. In July dy'd Roger Earl of Faux, his Son Roger Bernard succeeded him. In August following, Raymund Earl of Toulouze, departed this Life, both favourers of the Heresie of the Albigenses, and there∣fore excommunicated, for which reason the Son and Heir to the Earl of Toulouze, could never ob∣tain