CHAP. II. Another Rebellion in Castile quell'd by the King. Pope Clement dyes, and Benedict the XIIIth is elected, which continues the Schism. The strange Death of John King of Aragon.

THE Nobility of Old Castile were discontented, and made Levies of Men, on pretence of * serving the King in the War, that, as has been said was fear'd from Granada, but in reality to carry on a Rebellion. At the same time the King came to Illescas with a great Re∣tinue; thither the Master of Calatrava brought the Marques of Villena to reconcile him to the King, and with him came many Men of Note from Aragon. He was receiv'd by the King with great Tokens of Affection, and presently ask'd to be restor'd to the Honour of Consta∣ble conferr'd on him by King John, and taken away during the present King's Minority by the Governours. The King having taken Advice upon it, answer'd he was pleas'd to grant his Request provided he would bear him Company into Old Castile, whither he was going to reduce the Rebels. He excus'd himself saying, he was not provided for such an Expedition, and return'd dissatisfy'd to Aragon. In Castile the Tumults continu'd, and consequently the poor People suffer'd. But the King raising Forces, such of the Noblemen, as were not strong enough to oppose him submitted. Upon security given for their Persons, there came first to Court the Archbishop of Santiago, and after him the Duke of Benavente. They plead∣ed in their own defence the great Power of their Enemies, and promis'd to make amends for their Faults by their future Fidelity. Both were pardon'd by the King, and the more to oblige the Duke he had a Pension of 500000 Maravedies allow'd him, and the Town of Va∣lencia* in Estremudura given him in lieu of the Portion he was to have from Portugal, but upon Condition he should be accountable, for as much of the King's Revenue, as he had re∣ceiv'd the last Years. To add to the Joy of the Reduction of these great Men. D. Alonso Enriquez prevail'd with his Brother the Earl of Trastamara to submit himself. A Pension of 500000 Maravedies was also assign'd him, and that he might be equal to the Duke of Benavente, the Town of Paredes wrongfully detain'd from him by the Earl of Gijon was restor'd. On∣ly the Earl of Gijon remain'd, who being ill inclin'd was not to be reduc'd by fair means, and the King prepar'd to subdue him by force. At that same time came Embassadors from the King of Navarre upon the old Account of having the Queen return to live with her Husband. What Justice could not effect in so long time, an Accident brought to pass. The Queen had retir'd from Madrid, offended that part of her Pension was cut off, and kept Correspondence with the mutinous Noblemen. For this Reason the King of Castile was displeas'd, and this was the Occasion of the Embassy. It happen'd the Earl of Trasta∣mara under standing what was design'd against the Queen, went away from Court to Roa where she was, to assist her that no Violence should be offer'd her. His Departure troubled the King, fearing new Tumults, and the more for that it was suspected he had communi∣cated his Designs with the Duke of Benavente, who was therefore sent for to Court, and be∣ing come was arrested and secur'd on the 25th of July. This done, lest the Queen and Earl should grow strong, the King with the Forces he had prepar'd against the Earl of Gijon march'd hastily to Roa. The Earl fled in time to Galicia. The Queen understanding the * Danger she was in went out with her Children in Mourning to appease the King, and ex∣cus'd her self, saying she had no Hand in the Earls escape, and could do no less than receive her Brother, who came to comfort her. These Excuses seem'd to satisfy the King, yet he se∣cur'd the Town, leaving her the Revenue, and carry'd her to Valladolid, where she was kept under a Guard that she might not fly. Mean while the Earl of Gijon fortify'd himself in that Place, and the King march'd speedily for Asturias. He took the City Oviedo, which held for the Earl, and then advanced, and incamped before Gijon. The Place could not be taken by force, because of its natural Strength, and the Coldness of the Season, and Sick∣ness in the Army would not allow to lye long before it. Yet the Labour was not quite lost, for the Earl of Trastamara submitted, was pardon'd and came to the Camp. It was also Page  316 concluded betwixt the King and the Earl of Gijon, that the King should put Garrisons into all Towns of his Estate, except only that. Also that the Earl should appear in Person be∣fore the King of France, who by both Parties was appointed Umpire betwixt them, and should stand by his Judgment. For security to Performance 〈◊〉 Earl deliver'd his Son Henry as a Hostage to the King of Castile. Thus they lay'd down 〈◊〉 and the Kingdom was eas'd of a great Trouble.

This was the posture of Affairs in Castile, when Pope Clement dy'd at Avignon on the 16th* of September. All the Christian Princes by their Embassadors requir'd the Cardinals not to proceed rashly to another Election, but find out some Method to put an end to the Schism which so long disturbed Christendom. They resolv'd not to delay the Election, but to show they in some Measure comply'd with those Princes, ordain'd that every Cardinal should positively Swear that in case he were Elected, he would abdicate the Papacy whenso∣ever the Pope at Rome would do the same, which they look'd upon as the best expedient to unite Christendom. By the unanimous Consent of 21 Cardinals, who were present at the Election, D. Peter de Luna, Cardinal of Aragon was ••osen. His Birth was well known, his Learning famous in the Civil and Canon Law, besides many Embassies in which he had been employ'd. He was very dexterous in gaining the good Will of all Men. In his Pa∣pacy * he was call'd Benedict the XIIIth. On 〈◊〉 chosen he began to think of removing his Seat into Italy without remembring the Oath 〈◊〉 taken, or considering of means to abdicate the Papacy. This much surprized the French. An Assembly of Nobles and Prelates was held at Paris, and there in order to curb the aspiring Thoughts of the new Pope, who they knew was a Man of a high Spirit▪ as he sufficiently testify'd afterwards, they resolv'd to send some eminent Persons to represent to him the desires of France, and the Church in ge∣neral. The Dukes of 〈◊◊〉, and Bo•rges were appointed Embassad•••. These being come to Avign•• requir'd him to restore •eace to Christendom, to 〈◊〉 the Ca∣lamities c••s'd by that Division in the Church, to remember his Oath, and particularly press'd him to call a general Council, in which the Prelates might determine what was fit to be done in that Case. He answer'd he would upon no Account for sake the Church of the living God, and quit the Helm of S. •eter's Ship put into his Hands. This answer was no way pleasing to those Princes, but seeing they could prevail no f•rther upon him, they re∣turn'd home much offended, as was their King and all the Nation. To appease the King, the Pope granted him the Tenths of all Eccles••stical Revenues for one Year. This happen'd in May, and the Year of Grace 1395, in which the new Pope's prosperity began by degrees * to d•cline, and was converted into Misery. The Governour of Avignon by the King's or∣der with French Forces besieg'd him in his Palace. An 〈◊〉 was also publish'd forbidding all Persons to have recourse to him upon Ecclesiastical Affairs; all his Cardinals forsook him except only he of Pampl•na, who continu'd with him till Death. In fine he was so streighten'd he was forc'd to fly in a disguise to C••alonia. But this happen'd somewhat later. Many Embassies pass'd betwixt the Christian Princes about this Affair. The King of France labour'd to draw those of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre, from the Obedience of that Pope. They were hard to be perswaded, especially the King of Castile▪ who sent the Bi∣shop of C•enca Embassador into France to reconcile that King to the Pope, believing he was displeas'd on some private Account, but this Em••ssy avail'd nothing. A great number of French enter'd Aragon by the way of Russ•••• to rob and plunder the Country. Queen Vio∣lante who by reason of her Husband's Carelesness govern'd the Kingdom, sent an Embassa∣dor to complain to the King of France, and her Uncles 〈◊〉 Dukes of Burg•ndy, Beri, and Or••ans, whereupon the French return'd home, at such time as King John of Aragon was taken away suddenly. He went a Hunting on the Mountain of Foxa, near the Castle of Mongriu and Ʋrriols in the f••thest part of 〈◊〉. He rous'd a she Wolf of a prodigious size, or whether he only imagin'd it, for with the Surprize he fell down and gave up the * Ghost, on the 19th of May. He was more remarkable for his lazy Life, than for any Vir∣tue. His Body was bury'd at P•blet• the common Place of Burial of those Kings. He left no Issue-male, but two Daughters by two Wi•es, call'd Jo•••na and Violante. The first was marry'd to Mathew Earl of F••x, the latter contracted to 〈◊〉 Duke of Anjo•. In his Will * he appointed his Brother Martin Duke of 〈◊〉 his Successor, which was approv'd of •• all the Kingdom to avoid falling under a 〈◊〉, if the Daughters inherited. Martin was busy subduing of Sicily, Mary his Wife supply'd his Place, taking the Title of Queen, and ••acing Guards to look to Queen Violante, who say'd she was with Child, to prevent any Frand. The Earl of 〈◊〉 pretended to the Crown in right of his Wife, because the Fe∣males had always been allow'd to inherit. Yet notwithstanding his just •laim, the Cortes which met in July at Zaragoça una••mously adjudg'd the Crown to Martin then absent. They also treated of the Preparations it was requisite to make to repulse the War which was ex∣pected from France.