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.

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Title
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.
Author
Mariana, Juan de, 1535-1624.
Publication
London :: Printed for Richard Sare ... and Thomas Bennet ...,
1699.
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Subject terms
Spain -- History.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A51926.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A51926.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 8, 2025.

Pages

CHAP. IV. The Differences betwixt the Kings of Castile and Aragon reconcil'd: After which they joyn in League against the Moors, but to no consider able Effect. Death of Roger Lau∣ria, the great Admiral of Aragon; and Divisions among the Moors.

SPain weary'd out with long Troubles, enjoy'd some Peace; but there rather wanted Pow∣er than Will to disturb it. The Differences betwixt the Princes were great, and it was * 1.1 requisite to compose them. Castile and Aragon were at Variance about the Kingdom of Mur∣cia. D. Alonso de la Cerda Itil'd himself King of Castile, but had no Power. The King of Gra∣nada invaded the Territories of the Crown of Aragon and took Bedmar, a Town not far from Baeca. Prince John, the King's Uncle, and the Family of Haro were Enemies; the former pretending to the Lordship of Biscay, in right of his Wife, and hoping to prevail by his Interest with the King. The Family of Haro, for the same reason was Discontented, and ready to take up Arms. King Ferdinand earnestly desir'd to put an end to all these Conten∣tions; to this purpose he sent Prince John his Uncle Embassador to the King of Aragon, whose Power and Authority was then great. In the Month of March 1304 at Calatayud after much * 1.2 debate, it was agreed that Arbitrators should be chosen, to whom the whole Affair should be referr'd, and a Truce was concluded till Judgment should be given. Time and Place were also appointed for the Kings to meet, mean while King Ferdinand being careful for Andaluzia,

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set out from Burges, and in April came to Badajoz to meet his Father in Law, the King of Portugal, of whom he expected to recover certain Towns pawn'd to him, during his Mino∣rity. This enterview produc'd Discontents, and nothing was done, but only that the Por∣tugues sent his Son in Law some Mony, with which he went away for Andaluzia. No Action happen'd, but a Peace was concluded, the Moor promising to pay the same Tribute his Fa∣ther had done, and so both Armies broke up. Prince Henry dy'd about this time very Aged, at Roa, and was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Francis at Valladolid. He was ever of a rest∣less Spirit, and ambitious of Command. His Death was pleasing to all the Kingdom, for they fear'd he would disturb the Peace that was afoot; and because he left no Issue, his Estate was divided among several Noblemen, the best part falling to D. John de Lara, who held the first Place in the King's Favour. In pursuance of the Agreement at Calatayud, Denis King of Portugal was chosen Arbitrator to decide the Differences betwixt Castile and Aragon, * 1.3 and for his Associates, Prince John for the former, and D. Ximeno de Luna, Bishop of Zara∣goça for the latter Kingdom. The two Kings met at Torrellas, a Town on the Frontiers of Aragon, where the Judges decreed that the River Segura should part the Dominions of Ca∣stile and Aragon, which was what the Aragonian had strugl'd for. Judgment was given on the 8th of August, and the next day the three Kings met at Campillo, and ratify'd the Decree. Thence they went to Agreda, and so to Taraçona, and were receiv'd with great Joy; for besides the 3 Kings, there were as many Queens, the Mother and Consort of Castile, and Elizabeth of Portugal famous for Sanctity, besides Elizabeth, Sister to King Ferdinand, who had been Contracted to the Aragonian. The Retinue was great, especially that of the Por∣tugues, who brought with him out of Portugal 1000 Horse, and by the Way would never lye in Towns, but in Tents set up in the Fields. As to the Pretentions of the two Brothers Cerdas, the Kings of Aragon, and Portugal as Judges, decited that D. Alonso should no longer take the Title of King, but restore all the Towns he had been, and that Alva, Bejar, Val∣decerneja, Gibraleon, Sarria, and some other Towns should be setl'd upon him. A small re∣compence for so many Kingdoms. This Judgment was so grievous to D. Alonso, that he would not appear, but went away heartily cursing the Kings. It remain'd only to adjust Matters betwixt Prince John, and D. James de Haro. Therefore as soon as the Conference was dissolv'd, King Ferdinand summon'd D. James to appear at Medina del Campo, where the Cortes were to meet. Judges were appointed to hear their Pretentions, and determine the Cause, but D. James fearing the King favour'd his Adversary, withdrew. After the Cortes broke up, Judgment was given in favour of Prince John, but the Execution of it deferr'd in hopes some means might be found of adjusting that Matter. This was the Posture of Affairs * 1.4 in Castile, in the Year 1305. On the 17th of January dy'd Roger Lauria, the famous Admi∣ral of Aragon, who gain'd Sicily for King Peter, perform'd many brave Exploits by himself, * 1.5 and those Kings did none without him. His Body was bury'd in the Monastery of Santa Cruz, near unto the Tom of King Peter. On the 6th of April dy'd Joanna, Queen of Navarre, at Paris, and was bury'd in the Monastery of S. Francis. Luis call'd Huttin succeeded his Mo∣ther in the Kingdom of Navarre, and afterwards his Father in that of France. The Queen left two other Sons, Philip the Long, and Charles the Fair, who all came to be Kings of France and Navarre. She left also two Daughters, one dy'd Young, the other call'd Elizabeth was marry'd to Edward King of England, and was the beautifullest Lady of her Time.

Benedict sat in the Papal Chair, but 8 Months, and 6 Days; And he dying it was vacant 10 Months, and 28 Days. After long Debates betwixt the French and Italian Cardinals, Clement the Vth. was chosen and proclaim'd on the 5th. of June. He was before Arch-Bishop of Bour∣deaux, * 1.6 and is said to have promis'd many scandalous Things to the King of France, before he would permit him to pass towards Rome. He was Crown'd on the 11th. of November, at which time a Wall falling as the Procession was going, did much mischief, and struck the Tyara off his Head, out of which a great Carbuncle was lost, which Things were look'd upon as ill Omens; and the rest of his life was not unlike to this beginning, but those Things do not belong to this History. At the same time troubles began again to break out in Spain. D. John Nun̄ez de Lara declin'd in the King's Favour, who took from him the Of∣fice of Lord Steward, and confer'd it on D. Lope, Son to D. James de Haro, on pretence that D. John de Lara being General of the Frontiers, could not serve both places, but in re∣ality to oblige the Family of Haro, and divide it from that of Lara. Those Families under∣standing the Design, knit their Interests the closer together, and seem'd to threaten a Rebel∣lion. Alonso Perez de Guzman and the Queen interpo'd, and restoring each of those Gentle∣men their Honours, pacify'd them. Besides, the dispute betwixt Prince John, and the House of Haro was reconcil'd upon these Conditions. That D. James de Haro during his Life should possess the Lordship of Biscay, and after his Death it should fall to Prince John. That Or∣duna * 1.7 and Balmaseda, should be Intail'd ••••on D. John, D. James his Son and his Heirs, and in lieu of what he was to lose, Miranda de Ebro and Villalva de Losa were given him. All Men rejoyc'd to see these Differences compos'd, except D. John de Lara, who in a rage that he had not been consulted, in the Affair of D. James de Haro, and studying to make his Advantage of the publick Calamities, renouncing his Oath of Fidelity, withdrew with his Followers to Tordehumos, a strong Pace, where he hoped to be able to withstand the King, whom he had hainously offended. The King's Forces laid Siege to that Place, but many favouring D.

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John, it was protracted to a long time. Some Overtures of Accommodation were made, and because the King would not harken to them, his Army broke up of it self and disbanded. Among others, Prince John favour'd D. John de Lara, and the Business was carry'd to such a beight that the King was forc'd to Pardon him, only taking from him the Towns of Moya and Canete, the Gift of King Sancho. Nor was the Peace lasting, for both those Gentlemen imagining the King had a Design to take away their Lives, openly rebell'd again. Prince John was soon appeas'd, but it was not so easy to reduce D. John de Lara. D. Alonso de la Cerda forsaken of all Men, and seeing no Hopes of obtaining the Crown, sent Martin Ruiz to take possession of the Towns assign'd him by the Arbitrators, and was ever after call'd D. Alonso the Disinherited.

The Moors of Granada about this time began to Mutiny, for that their King was blind, * 1.8 and his Brother-in-Law the Lord of Malaga, govern'd the State with the same Grandeur as if he had been another King. The Nobility were not wanting to incense the Commons. Among them Aborrabes, a Gentleman descended from the Kings of Morocco, seiz'd Almeria, and call'd himself King of that place, Most of the People favour'd Mahomet Azar the King's Brother, and were for putting the Crown upon his Head. Aborrabes was expell'd Almeria by the contrary Faction; and he designing to seize upon Ceuta, a City on the Coast of Africk, belonging to the Kingdom of Granada, thought to obtain Aid of the Christians. This seem'd a good opportunity to drive the Moors quite out of Spain, and in order to it the Two Kings of Castile and Aragon met at the Monastery of Huerta, upon the Borders of both King∣doms, at the beginning of the Year 1309. There, and at Monreal whither they remov'd, it * 1.9 was agreed, First, to pacify D. Alonso de la Cerda, somewhat mollifying the Decree of the * 1.10 Arbitrators, lest whilst they were busie in the War with the Moors, he should raise Tumults in Castile. Next to make War upon the Moors with two Armies, and at once besiege Alme∣ria and Algezira. Besides, it was resolv'd Prince Jayme, the King of Aragon's Son, should Marry Ellenor the Sister of King Ferdinand, her Dower to be the sixth part of what was gain'd in War, and particularly the City Almeria. After the Interview broke up, great preparations were made. King Ferdinand went away to Toledo, to see the Body of his Father King Sancho translated to a stately Tomb built by the Queen. This King was naturally meer and merciful, and of Body comely and well shap'd. He advis'd a Gentleman to whom he had given the Government of Galicia, not to put to death some Men of Note that had rais'd Rebellion in that Country, but to send them to him, which prov'd very advantagious, for they to blot out the shame of their Crimes, did extraordinary Service against the Moors. The Army march'd into Andaluzia, and the Castilians laid Siege to Algezira on the 27th of June. About the middle of the next Month the King of Aragon set down before Almeria. * 1.11 Gilbert Viscoune Castelnovo with part of the Aragonian-Fleet sail'd to Ceuta in Africk, and took it. The Plunder was given to the Souldiers, the City to Aborrabe, as had been agreed. The Moors of Granada with all their Forces march'd to relieve Almeria, but were so bravely re∣ceiv'd by the Aragonians, that after a sharp Dispute they fled, and a great Slaughter was * 1.12 made, tho the Woods which were near sav'd many. Whilst the Aragonians were busy in the Pursuit, the Besieged fallying entred their Works, but the Christians returning Victori∣ous, soon drove them back into the City. On the 15th of October 40000 Moors again as∣sauited the Aragonians in their Works, and met with the same success they had done before. No'less Valour and Industry was us'd by the Castilians at Algezira; but the place being strong and well Garrison'd, they advanc'd but little: Because the Siege seem'd tedious, the Arch-Bishop of Sevil, and D. John Nun̄ez de Lara, were sent with some Forces to attack Gibral∣tar. Alonso Perez de Gusman so much spoken of, was kill'd by the way, in a Skirmish with the Moors, to the great grief of all the Kingdom. Gibraltar surrender'd to King Ferdinand, * 1.13 who came thither to that purpose. The Moors were permitted to go over into Africk, and carry their Goods with them. Winter and other hardships made the Souldiers before Algezira steal away from the Camp, and many Men of Note went off, as well as the meaner sort, and among them Prince John, and D. John Manuel, and D. James Lopez de Haro dy'd before the Town; and by his Death the Lorship of Biscay, as had been agree'd, fell to the La∣dy Mary, Wife to Prince John. In fine, the Siege was rais'd, the Moors delivering up the Towns of Quesada and Bedmar. The Aragonians did the same at Almeria, only upon having the captive Christians restor'd to them. This was all the Fruit of that mighty Expedi∣tion.

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