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. VIII. Institution of two new Orders of Knighthood in Aragon and Portugal. Peter and John Princes of Castile kill'd by the Moors. The Government of that Kingdom in Confu∣sion. A great Overthrow given the Navarrois, by the Biscainers.

IN the Year 1317, the King of Aragon obtain'd leave of the Pope to institute a new Or∣der * 1.1 of Knighthood out of the Ruins of the Templers. That they should be of the Cister∣cian * 1.2 Order, subject to that of Calatrava, but to have a particular Master of their own. Their Badge was a plain Red Cross, on a White Cloak. Their principal Seat Montesa, whence they took their Name. They did as good Service against the Moors, who infested the Coasts of Valencia, as any other Order. Soon after in Portugal by Permission of the same Pope, was instituted another Order call'd of Christ, the chiefest in that Kingdom. Their Badge a Red Cross, with a white Twist in the middle. To them also were given the Lands of the Tem∣plers, their chief Seat is at Tomar. The Portugueses had long enjoy'd Peace, which was now disturb'd by Civil Discord. Prince Alonso was displeas'd with his Father, the true Cause was Ambition, and the desire of ••••igning before his Time; but he pretended his Bastard Brother Alonzo Sanchez had too much Power, and more Interest with the King than was rea∣sonable. Many forsook the King and follow'd the Prince, who seiz'd upon the Cities of Co∣imbra, and Porto. The King endeavour'd to appease him by fair means, and us'd all possible Methods to prevent a War. Mean while in Aragon dy'd Queen Mary, Sister to the King of Cyprus, whence she came the Year before, and was marry'd to the King of Aragon. The Marriage was Celebrated at Girona, and she was bury'd at Tortosa, where she ended her Days in the Year 1318. The following Year 1319, was Remarkable for two extraordinary * 1.3 Accidents. One, the unfortunate Death of the two Princes, John and Peter. The other, the * 1.4 voluntary Resignation made by D. Jayme, Heir to the Crown of Aragon. Prince John en∣vy'd * 1.5 the Honour and Esteem his Competitor Prince Peter acquir'd, and Prince Peter was a

Man would take no wrong. It was fear'd these Differences might break out into open Ho∣stilities; for Prince John, under colour of the War with the Moors, had rais'd great Forces in Old Castile. The Queen made up these Breaches at Valladolid, where the Cortes tha•••• sat, and it was agreed, both Princes should Command severally against the Moors, and ea•••••••• have the payment of his own Army. In this Assembly the Archbishop of Santiago in the Pope's Name, propos'd the business of D. Alonso de la Cerda, threatning to proceed to Ecclesiastical Censures if he were not satisfy'd. D. Alonso now demanded those Towns, which he refus'd when offer'd him. The Nobility excus'd themselves, saying, it was against the Oath they had taken, to lessen any thing of the King's Patrimony during his Minority. All that could be obtain'd was, that Ferdinand, D. Alonso's younger Brother, should be made Lord Steward of the Houshold. The Queen went to Cuidad Rodrigo, to reconcile her Son-in-Law Prince Alonso, to his Father, but all in vain. The two Princes John and Peter, went several ways to Andaluzia. Ismael King of Granada, to obtain Succours out of Africk, gave the King of Morocco, Algezira and Ronda, with all their Dependencies. Prince Peter took Tiscar, a strong and populous Town. Mahomet Andon, whose the Town was, surrender'd the Castle. Prince John, extravagantly ambitious of Honour, resolv'd to march up to the Walls of Granada; a rash design, considering the great Heat of the Season. At Alcaudete the two Princes joyn'd their Forces, which consisted of 9000 Horse, and a great number of Foot. They march'd into the Enemies Country, destroying all before them. Prince John led the Van, and Prince Peter brought up the Reer. They took the Town of Alora, but being in great haste, did not make themselves Masters of the Castle. On a Saturday, being the Eve of Mid∣summer-day, they appear'd in sight of Granada, and rested there the next day. The 3d day; perceiving what Difficulties surrounded them, they began to retire, Prince Peter in the Van, and Prince John in the Reer with the Baggage. The Moors hearing of their Retreat, Sally'd out of Granada, to the number of 5000 Horse, and a multitude of Foot, under the Com∣mand of Ozmin. Their design was only to stick upon our Reer, without hazarding a Battel. In the Heat of the day our Men were far from the River, and wanted Water. Hereupon the Moors charg'd them with great Fury, and hideous Cries. Prince Peter hearing the Noise, Fac'd about to succour those that Fought. The Soldiers were dispers'd, and Fainting with the Heat, whom the Prince endeavouring to encourage and bring on, opprest with Labour, and the Fury of the scorching Sun, he fainted away, and dy'd, without any assistance. The same befell Prince John, who yet sensless, liv'd till Night. This News being spread abroad, the Soldiers drew themselves into a Close Body, and the Moors having plunder'd the Baggage * 1.6 retir'd. Night sav'd many of the Christians. The Bodies of the Princes were bury'd at Burgos. Prince John left a Son of the same Name, call'd also One-ey'd, because he was re∣ally so: His Inclinations were no better than his Presence. Mary Wife to Prince Peter, was deliver'd at Cordova of a Daughter, call'd Blanch; the Education of whom, and the Care of her Estate, Garcilasso de la Vega, a great Friend of her Fathers, took upon him. New Trou∣bles ensu'd in Castile upon the Death of the Princes, every one striving to have the greatest share in the Government. At the same time Aragon was disturb'd upon a very extraordinary occasion. D. Jayme the King's eldest Son, had resolv'd to renounce and resign his Right and Title to the Inheritance of that Crown. His Father us'd all possible Arguments to dis∣swade him, but all to no purpose. Therefore on the 23th of November, before the Cortes or * 1.7 Parliament then assembled at Tarragona, he made a publick act of Resignation. That done, he took the Habit of Calatrava, and soon after that of Montesa. The Lady Ellenor, who had been Contracted to him, was sent back a Maid into Castile. His loose manner of Life was a sufficient proof, that it was not Virtue, but weakness and inconstancy, that mov'd him to re∣fuse a Kingdom. D. Alonso his second Brother, succeeded in the Title to the Crown, and had at ••••••t time by his Wife the Lady Teresa, a young Son call'd Peter, born the 7th Month. This Ladys Portion was the Earldom of Ʋrgel, left her by her great Uncle Armengaud, Brother to her Grandmother.

The Moors incourag'd by their last Success, took Huescar, Orles, and Galera, Towns be∣longing * 1.8 to the Knights of Santiago. Besides they made themselves Masters of Martos, a very strong place where they spar'd neither Sex, nor Age; some Christians sav'd themselves up∣on a Rock, near the Town, and in the Castle. Castile was full of Confusion, caus'd by the many Competitors to the Government. Queen Mary according to what had been agree'd some years before, pretended it belong'd to her alone, and sent her Letters to all Places, exhorting the People to stick by her. Being a Wom•••• she was look'd upon as too weak to undergo so great a Burthen, and many strove to raise themselves to the supream Power. Among these the chief was Prince Philip, the King's Uncle, D. John Manuel, and the other D. John who had but one Eye, and was Lord of Biscay, all powerful Men, of the Blood Roy∣al. These were all put into Power, not by publick Consent, but in part, as every ones Interest lay. Several Assemblies of Provinces were held, the result was that Andaluzia chose Prince Philip for their Governour. The Kingdom of Toledo and Estremadura, elected * 1.9 D. John Manuel, most part of old Castile stood by D. John, Lord of Biscay. These things were not lasting, but at every foot the Governours were chang'd, as the Peoples Minds al∣ter'd, which caus'd an unspeakable Confusion. D. Ferdinand de la Cerda had no great Inter∣est, and was suspected by all Men; he resolv'd to joyn with D. John, the Lord of Biscay.

This was the condition of Castile in the Year 1320. The same Year Prince John the King of Ara∣gon's third Son, was consecrated Arch-Bishop of Toledo, at Lerida. Queen Mary was some∣what * 1.10 jealous of that Prince, but the Pope by his Letters, assur'd her he would do all things in her Favour. The new Arch-Bishop had great Disputes with the Prelates of that King∣dom about carrying his Cross through their Diocesses, and he persisting to do so, the Arch-Bishop of Zaragoça excommunicated him, and shut up all the Churches. This he did, relying on a Decree of the Prelates of that Kingdom, by which they declare any Bishop excommunicate, that shall carry his Cross in the Diocess of another. The King of Aragon was highly offended at it, and wrote to the Pope Letters, full of Passion and Threats, and had perhaps gone farther, but that he was disswaded by his Friends. The Pope's Answer was Ambiguous, for he blam'd the Arch-Bishop of Zaragoça, yet order'd him of Toledo to be absolv'd of the Excommunication, lest it might have been just. The new Prelate being come to Toledo, behav'd himself in such manner towards D. John Manuel, who was marry'd to his elder Sister Constance, that all Apprehensions of his favouring him ceas'd. He would by no means suffer him to receive the King's Revenue in his Arch-Bishoprick, whence there ensu'd a mortal Enmity betwixt them. At the same time the Na∣varrois still subject to France, sustain'd a great loss in Biscay. Philip the Long, King of France dying without Heirs, on the second of June 1321, his Brother Charles the Fair, succeeded * 1.11 him, and equall'd his Brothers in Liberality, Valour, and Beauty. In his time the Biscainers seiz'd the Castle of Gorricia, in Guipuscoa, pretending the Navarrois withheld it from them wrongfully. 60000 Men-march'd out of Navarre (if the Numbers are not mistaken) and came to Botivara on the 19th of September. 800 Biscainers having secur'd the Passes of the * 1.12 Mountains, from thence roll'd down Barrels full of Stones, and Bodies of Trees, on the Navarrois, which broke and put them to flight, with greater Slaughter than could be imagin'd, from so small a Number. Giles Oniz commanded the Biscayners, and Ponce Morentaina a Frenchman, and Viceroy of Navarre, those People. The Pope sent Cardinal William of Bay∣onne his Legate, into Castile, to endeavour to put an end to the Distractions of that King∣dom. He procur'd the Cortes or Parliament should meet at Palencia, at the same time that Queen Mary the Protectress of three Kings, and Honour of Castile, worn out with Age and Troubles dy'd at Valladolid, on the first of June 1322. She built the Monastery of Huelgas in that City, where she order'd her self to be bury'd, another at Burgos, a third at Tore, * 1.13 and others in several Parts of the Kingdom. The Cortes at Palencia it seems, took no effect. A Synod of all the Bishops or Castile was held at Valladolid by the Legate. There on the 2d. * 1.14 of August, many wholsom Constitions were enacted. Among other things, those that shall eat Flesh, or sell it publickly in Lent, or the Ember-days, are Excommunicated. Such as are not Christians are forbid to be present at Divine Service; yet if Baptiz'd, they are allow'd to be capable of Benefices. The common way of Purgation used in Spain is Condemned. The Decrees of D. John Archbishop of Toledo, publish'd at that time, are preserv'd to this day. He ordains, that Divine Service do not go forwards till the Jews or Moors, go out of the Church. That Monies gather'd upon the Croisade, be deliver'd to the Prelate for Redemption of Cap∣tives, and Relief of the Poor. That Priests say Mass at least four times a year; and that after they have said Mattins. That what is gotten by the Church shall not be left to Chil∣dren, tho' got in Wedlock. This same year, Ismael King of Granada, was kill'd in the Al∣hambra * 1.15 by his own People, stirr'd up against him by the Lord of Algezira and Ozmin; the first was offended at him, because at the taking of Martos, he took from him a Beautiful Cap∣tive; the other, because he lost a Nephew he dearly lov'd there. Scarce was his Death known abroad, when his Son Mahomet but 12 years of Age, was carry'd on a Chair on Men's Shoulders through the City, and proclaim'd King. By this means the Governour of the City manifested his Loyalty, and prevented the designs of the Conspirators, who intended to have set up a King of their own making, but were now forc'd to quit the City, and to fly to several places.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1317
• * 1.2

  Knights of Montesa in Aragon, and of Christ in Portugal.
• * 1.3

  1318
• * 1.4

  1319
• * 1.5

  Two ex∣traordina∣ry Acci∣dents.
• * 1.6

  The death of the Princes of Castile, Pe∣ter & John.
• * 1.7

  Jayme heir of Aragon, abdicates.
• * 1.8

  Several places ta∣ken by the Moors.
• * 1.9

  Several Governors chosen in the Pro∣vinces of Castile.
• * 1.10

  1320
• * 1.11

  1321
• * 1.12

  Biscainers and Navar∣rois at War.
• * 1.13

  1322
• * 1.14

  A Spanish Synod held at Valladolid.
• * 1.15

  King of Granada murder'd.