The general history of Spain from the first peopling of it by Tubal, till the death of King Ferdinand, who united the crowns of Castile and Aragon : with a continuation to the death of King Philip III / written in Spanish by the R.F.F. John de Mariana ; to which are added, two supplements, the first by F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo, the other by F. Basil Varen de Soto, bringing it down to the present reign ; the whole translated from the Spanish by Capt. John Stevens.

CHAP. IX. The revolt of D. John Nunnez de Lara. The Death of the King of Aragon: His Brother J••••me succeeds him. Matches betwixt the three Kings of Spain. Defeat of the Moors at Sea Original of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia.

D. John Nun̄ez de Lara, began again to incline to take part with the Aragonians, either out of his natural Inconstancy, or because some Overtures were made of restoring * 1.1 Albarazin to him. King Sancho understanding of what Consequence his stay or departure might be, did all he could to oblige him, and therefore made him General of the Frontiers of Aragon, and bestow'd other Favours upon him. All prov'd ineffectual, and the more, for that at Burgos, where the Court then was, Letters were brought him, intimating some De∣sign against his Person, whether true or false, is not known. D. John who was naturally jea∣lous, gave Credit to those Letters, and withdrawing from Court, went away nastily through Navarre to Aragon, notwithstanding the Queen us'd means to stop him, and the King himself went after him as far as Valladolid. As soon as D. John had joyn'd the other Conspirators, he enter'd Castile, and did all the harm he could as far as Cuenca and Alarcon. A Body of King Sancho's Forces coming to oppose him, was defeated, and many Colours taken, after which he forc'd the Town of Moya, and return'd to Valencia with a great Number of Pri∣soners and Cattle. From thence the King of Aragon, D. James de Haro, and D. John de Lara made an Incursion by the way of Molina, Signença, Berlanga, and Almaçan, and destroy'd all the Country without meeting any Opposition. King Sancho endeavour'd to put a stop to this Mischief; but an Ague kept him in such a Condition he could neither Act, nor give the ne∣cessary Orders, insomuch that he was given over by the Doctors. The Queen who was late∣ly deliver'd of a Prince call'd Peter, tho' not perfectly recover'd, set out to see the King. Her Presence was comfortable to him, and produc'd good Effect. She reduc'd D. John de Lara, who now repented his Change, being disappointed of recovering Albarazin. It was agreed that Elizabeth, Daughter to the Lady Blanch, and the Queen's Brother, should be Marry'd to D. John de Lara's Son. Her Portion was the Lordship of Molina, her Father having no Issue∣male. The Marriage was solemniz'd at Cuenca; thence the King, Queen, and D. John went * 1.2 to Toledo, the latter took up his Lodging in the Monastery of S. Paul of Dominicans without the City, on the Banks of Tagus. Being at Dice late at Night with a rich Jew, on a sudden a Servant of his call'd Nun̄o Churuchao advis'd him to make his Escape, for there was a Design to kill him, and in order to it, Arms had been carry'd into the Court. He credited the In∣telligence, but could not get away, for that the City Gates were shut, and his Servants and Horses within. He spent the Night in Fear, and having call'd his Servants at break of Day, they perswaded him not to stir, for that there was not the least ground for any Suspicion. The King was much concerned that he should be Suspected, and the more he endeavour'd to satisfy D. John, the more Jealous he was. At this time the League with the King of Grana∣da was renew'd, upon Condition he should pay the usual Tribute; for that King was before wavering. Hernan Ponce de Leon, who commanded upon the Frontiers was the chief Instru∣ment of continuing this good Understanding betwixt the two Kings. From Toledo the King and Queen went to Burgos, and thence to Palencia, where was held a general Chapter of the Order of S. Dominick. D. John de Lara could not be oblig'd by any Favours, but endea∣vour'd to stir up the Nobles to revolt. To oppose him, Prince John the King's Brother, who was belov'd by all Men, was taken out of Prison, and took the Oath of Fidelity to the King and his Son Ferdinand, as Heir apparent, kissing his Hand according to the Custom of Castile. By his means many were reduc'd to the King's Service. The King also going to Santiago of

Galicia, under colour of Devotion perswaded D. John Alonso de Albuquerque, a Man of great Power, who at the Instigation of D. John de Lara had revolted, to lay down his Arms. These Things happen'd in Castile, in the Year of our Lord 1291, when in the Month of February * 1.3 the Pope's Legates in France at Tarascon compos'd the Differences betwixt the Kings of France * 1.4 and Aragon. Charles King of Naples was present with the Embassadors of the other two Kings. Peace was concluded upon the following Conditions; That the King of Aragon send Embassadors to Rome, humbly to beg Pardon of his past Contumacy and Disobedience; That he pay the yearly Tribute of 70 Ounces of Gold to the Church, as was promis'd by his Grand∣father. That he go with a powerful Fleet to the Service of the Holy Land. That at his re∣turn he advise his Mother and Brother to quit Sicily. That he publish an Edict, commanding all Aragonians under severe Penalties to depart that Island. That Charles of Valois resign his Claim to the Crown of Aragon, on Account of the Gift of the Pope. That his Holiness shall receive the Aragonian into Favour, and send a Prelate to take off the Interdict from his Kingdom, to whom the King shall deliver the Hostages he has from the King of Naplas. At the con∣cluding of these Articles, the Embassadors of Sicily were not present, by the Contrivance of the King of Aragon, knowing they would break all these Measures, at which King Jayme and all the Sicilians were highly offended. They complain'd he who ought to have Protected, had deceiv'd and forsaken them, yet resolv'd rather to dye, than return under the Dominion of the French, and they obtain'd their Ends. The French were disappointed of recovering Sicily, and the King of Aragon's Voyage to the Holy Land was prevented, the City Ptolemays, the last that remain'd in the Hands of the Christians being taken, and utterly subverted by the Infidels. The Kings of Aragon and Naples met a second time at Junquera, in order to establish a lasting Peace; both of them being weary of the War. Therefore as soon as they parted King Charles marry'd his Eldest Daughter Clemencia, to Charles of Valois, giving her in Dower the Earldom of Anjou, and Province of Main, upon Condition he should quit all Pretensions to the Crown of Aragon. The King of Aragon was resolv'd to fullfil all that had * 1.5 been agreed upon when Death cut him off at Barcelona, in the midst of his Preparations to receive the Princess Ellenor his Bride. He dy'd in the Flower of his Youth, being but 27 Years of Age, and on the 18th Day of June. His Body was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Francis in that City, with the Habit of that Order.

Upon the News of the King of Aragon's Death, his Brother Jayme presently came over * 1.6 from Sicily to take Possession of that Crown which appertain'd to him, as next of Blood, his Brother dying without Issue, and having in his Will appointed him his Successor. He was receiv'd without any Opposition, and Crown'd at Zaragoça, with the usual Solemnity on the 24th of September. He would not allow of that Clause in his Brother's Will, which appointed Prince Frederick his younger Brother King of Sicily, but resolv'd to keep and maintain that Kingdom. Alonso de la Cerda, who had only the Title and Right to the Crown of Castile, and was then present, and King Sancho who was in Possession of the Kingdom, both strove for his Friendship. The Aragonian was more inclinable to the Fortune of King Sancho, than the Justice of D. Alonso, whose Strength decay'd, especially since the Queen politickly drew away D. John Nun̄ez de Lara from his Party. Besides, King Sancho to strengthen himself, had made a League with the King of Portugal, and concluded a Match betwxit his Son and Heir Prince Ferdinand, and Constance, that King's Daughter, giving some Towns in Castile, to secure the Performance. The Kings of Castile and Aragon at length concluded a Peace, and for the Ra∣tification * 1.7 of it agreed to meet at Montagudo, a Town on the Borders of the two Kingdoms. There on the 20th of November they made a League Defensive and Offensive, and articled, that neither should protect the others Rebels, but deliver them up. Moreover, for that the King of Morocco, notwithstanding the Truce had lay'd Siege to Beja, the Aragonian oblig'd him∣self if it were requir'd to send 20 Galleys to relieve it. To make this Agreement the sirm∣er, it was resolv'd the Aragonian should marry Elizabeth the Daughter of the King of Castile, tho' but 9 Years of Age, hoping the Pope would dispense with the Consanguinity, and ac∣cordingly they were Contracted at Soria, on the first of December. The Child was deliver'd to her Husband, and then the two Kings went to Calatayud, where there were great Enter∣tainments of all sorts. The Nobility of Aragon for some Years had been very Mutinous, and in the Reign of King Alonso they endeavour'd to Retrench the King's Houshold, and still labour'd to alter the Laws, and erect a new Form of Government. Now by means of King Sancho they were reconcil'd and pardon'd. The Kings parted about the end of the Year, when he of Morocco rais'd his Siege, and returu'd to Africk, fearing Benedict Zacharias, who was Equipping a great Fleet upon the Coast of Galicia; besides the Town was strong, and brave∣ly defended. These things concluded, Spain at length was restor'd to Peace, both at Home and Abroad. Only D. John de Lara could not be pacify'd, therefore King Sancho bent his Force against him, and took the Towns of Moya and Canete, which he had given him when he return'd from Aragon. D. John having no Refuge left in Spain, fled to France. After him went the Arch-Bishop of Toledo, sent by King Sancho to appease that King, and continue the Amity that was betwixt them, excusing the League made with Aragon, as of absolute Ne∣cessity to prevent Civil-Wars. The King of France answer'd, he was no ways displeas'd at it, but that his Brother Charles would freely renounce his Claim to Aragon, provided that King would restore Sicily to the See of Rome. While these things were in Agitation, at the

beginning of the Year 1292. Benedict Zacharias, Admiral of Castile, on the Coast of Africk, * 1.8 fought 20 Galleys of the Moors, and took 13 of them. This Loss prevented the King of Morocco from passing over to Spain again, as he had intended, having a great Army ready for that purpose at Tangier. King Sancho was encourag'd by this Success, to set down before Ta∣rifa, which after a long Siege, he took on the 21st of September. The King of Portugal tho it was ask'd, sent no Succour. At the same time the Queen of Castile at Sevil was deliver'd of a Son call'd Philip. At first Roderick, Master of the Knights of Calatrara was made Governour of Tarifa, afterwards Alonso Perez de Gusman offer'd to defend it for one third of what was given to other Governours. He had gather'd much Mony, not only in Spain, but in Africk, while he serv'd the King of Morocco. With it he bought several Towns in Andaluzia, and added them to his paternal Estate. He also gave great Alms, and was therefore call'd the Good, which Name his Family still keeps up. From him are descended the Dukes of Medina, Sidonia. D. Alonso had a Son call'd John, and a Grandson by him, of the same Name, mar∣ry'd to Beatrix, Bastard Daughter to King Henry the II. who gave him the Town of Niebla, in Dower with the Title of an Earl, and therefore he call'd his Son Henry. John the Son of Henry, was by King Henry the Fourth created Duke of Medina Sidonia, which Title continues in the Family. Let us return to the Kings.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. John Nunnez de Lara re∣volts from Castile.
• * 1.2

  D. John reconcil'd to King Sancho, a∣gain ready to fly from him.
• * 1.3

  1291.
• * 1.4

  Peace be∣twixt France and Ara∣god.
• * 1.5

  Death of Alonso the 3d King of Aragon.
• * 1.6

  Jayme Crowned King of Aragon,
• * 1.7

  A League betwixt Castile and Ara∣gon.
• * 1.8

  1292. Moors van∣quished at Sea.