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 21, 2025.

Pages

CHAP. III. The Death of Frederick King of Sicily. A Truce betwixt Castile and Portugal. The Death of Abomelique, and defeat of his Army. Peace betwixt Castile and Aragon. A Synod at Barcelona.

ON the 25th of June 1337, dy'd Frederick King of Sicily, of a great Age, and Famous for * 1.1 the War, he long maintain'd against Powerful Princes. He lies bury'd at Catanea. His * 1.2 Son Peter succeeded him in the Throne. The Dukedoms of Athens and Neopatria, he left to his 2d Son William, and other Legacies to his 3d Son John. His four Daughters he total∣ly excluded from inheriting the Crown, contrary to what had before, and was afterwards us'd in that Kingdom. D. Ximeno de Luna, Arch-bishop of Toledo dy'd on the 16th of No∣vember, and was bury'd in his own Cathedral. Giles Alvarez de Cuenca, otherwise call'd Al∣bornoz, at the Instance of the King was chosen to succeed him. This Prelate was Famous for

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his Learning, Piety, and Virtue. Being created Cardinal, he was very Serviceable to the Popes. He founded a College at Bolonia, in Lombardy, for 4 Chaplains, and 30 Students, all Spaniards. Besides he left to the Chapter of Toledo the Town of Paracuellos, with an Ob∣ligation of paying a Pension to the Church of Villaviciosa, built by himself. The Arch-bi∣shop of Reimes, and Great Master of Rhodes went from place to place exhorting the Kings of Spain to Peace. It was agreed he of Castile should go to Merida to Treat, there a Truce was concluded for one Year, in the beginning of that which was of our Lord 1338, but no Peace could be Established. * 1.3

Great Preparations for War were now making in Spain, and it was much labour'd to set∣tle a General Peace in the Country, because Fame which always is greater than Truth spread * 1.4 it abroad, that Albohaçen King of Morocco design'd to land in Valencia with an innumerable Multitude, bringing over their Wives and Children, in order to settle in Spain. The King of Aragon entertain'd the English Embassadors, who came to settle Peace, with Ambiguous, yet fair Words. On the 20th of July he marry'd Mary, Daughter to the King of Navarre, having deferred it so long, by reason she was not of Age. An Embassy was sent to the Pope, begging he would order the Tenths of Ecclesiastical Revenues granted for carrying on the War against the Moors to be paid according to the full Value, because they were worth lit∣tle as they were in the Ancient Records. This in Aragon. The King of Castile was gone to Burgos to hold the Cortes or Parliament, where Laws were established to regulate Excess in Dyet and Cloathing. Godfrey Tenorio the Admiral was sent to the Streights, to obstruct the Passage of the Moors. From Burgos at the Request of his Sister, the King went to Cuenca, and with him D. John de Lara, and D. John Manuel, who were now reconcil'd to him. Thither came D. Peter de Açagra from the King of Aragon, to propose an Allyance against the Moors, and offer the 3d part of the Fleet that should be requisite to hinder their Passage. The Castillian answer'd, that the Friendship of the Aragonian would be very grateful to him when he had given Satisfaction to his Sister Ellenor, in the Complaints she had against him. In the Cortes of Aragon held at Daroca, Prince Peter the King of Aragon's Uncle, and D. John * 1.5 Manuel were chosen Arbitrators to decide these Differences, and they agreed that D. John de Exerica should be pardon'd, and all that had been granted to the Queen and her Sons by the late King confirm'd to them. It happen'd fortunately, that D. Peter de Luna, Arch-bi∣shop of Zaragoça was then at Rome, who might have obstructed this Agreement. The King of Castile sign'd these Articles at Madrid, and Queen Ellenor with her Children return'd to Aragon, where they were receiv'd with great Pomp. The Arch-bishop of Reimes, the Great Master of Rhodes, and Arch-bishop of Braga, Embassador from Portugal, were dismiss'd be∣cause they demanded Constance the Daughter of D. John Manuel, for the Prince of Portugal. Vasco Rodriguez Cornade, Master of the Knights of Santiago dying, his Nephew Vasco Lopez, was by the Knights chosen to succeed him, at which the King was offended because he de∣sign'd that Honour for his son Frederick. Many Objections were made against the new Ma∣ster and his Election, whereupon he fled to Portugal, and was therefore depos'd, and D. Alon∣so Melendez de Guzman, Uncle by the Mother's Side to Frederick the King's Son chosen Ma∣ster. D. Ruy Perez Master of Alcantara was also depos'd, and D. Gonçalo Martinez elected in his Place. A mighty Army was gathering about Sevil, for the War with the Moors. The King of Castile us'd all Expedition, because he understood Abomelique was come out of Africk with 5000 Horse, and the time of the Truce was now expir'd. All the Territory of Ante∣quera, * 1.6 Archidona and Ronda was wasted, and a great Multitude of Moors who came out of the last, and fell upon our Rear, routed by D. John de Lara, D. John Manuel, and the Ma∣ster of Santiago, who Commanded there. In the Pursuit, many Moors who had fled to the Ridges of the Mountains, cast themselves headlong for fear of the Christians. This done the Army return'd to Sevil, and was dispers'd into Garrisons to guard the Frontiers. At this time came Gilaberto Admiral of Aragon, with 12 Galleys to joyn the Fleet of Castile, and guard the Mouth of the Streights. There was great want of Mony. In September the King went to the Cortes he had Summon'd to meet at Madrid, leaving the Master of Santiago to Command as General, and other Noblemen in other Posts. Great store of Corn was lay'd up at Nebrixa, near the Mouth of Guadalquivir, which the Moors, knowing the King was gone, thought to make themselves Masters of. Our Men tho' it was the dead of Winter, drew out of their Garrisons. Abomelique incamp'd near Xerez, and sent 1500 Horse to Nebrixa. The Town defended it self, but all the Country was destroy'd. Fernan Perez Portocarrero, Alvar Perez de Gusman, and D. Peter Ponce de Leon, with a small Party march'd Day and Night, and near Arcos overtook the 1500 Moors, who mov'd slowly by reason of their great Booty. They charg'd them so furiously, that few escap'd being kill'd or taken, and the whole Prey was recover'd. Incourag'd with this Success, they resolv'd to fall upon Abome∣lique, * 1.7 and the main Army of the Moors. Abomelique was marching towards Arcos in great Disorder, without any advanc'd Parties. The Christians at break of Day, fell on with ex∣traordinary Bravery, 500 Moors made some Resistance upon passing a River, but our Men being over the Infidels soon fled and were entirely Overthrown. Abomelique in the Confusi∣on flying afoot was kill'd in the Croud, his Cousin Aliatar dy'd in the Battle, and 10000 Moors were slain, as the Report went. The Christians having taken all the Enemie's Tents, and Baggage, return'd Joyful, and with Honour, after obtaining two Victories to their Quar∣ters.

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This year the Arch-bishop of Tarragona held a provincial Synod at Barcelona, and the * 1.8 Body of Saint Eulalia was in solemn Procession translated to a more honourable Tomb. The King of Aragon went to Avignon to do Homage to the Pope for the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica.

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