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. IV. The Portugueses pass over into Africk and take Ceuta. All Endeavours us'd to move Pope Benedict to resign the Papacy prove vain. Ferdinand King of Aragon his Death. The Council of Constance puts an end to the Schism in the Church.

WHilst these things were in Agitation at Constance, the King of Aragon at Valencia with * 1.1 all Majesty solemniz'd the Marriage of his Son Alonso, with the Princess Mary, Si∣ster to King John of Castile. To Honour the Solemnity, Pope Benedict came thither, as did all the Nobility of the Kingdom. With the Princess came from Castile D. Sancho de Rojas, then translated from the See of Valencia to the Archbishoprick of Toledo, upon the Death of D. Peter de Luna, who departed this Life at Toledo, on the 18th of September, and was bury'd in that Cathedral. D. Sancho was promoted at the Instance of the King of Aragon, and he well deserv'd it for his good Parts, and the signal Services he had done to the Crown. Prince Alonso was marry'd on the 12th of June. Her Father left the Princess the Marquisate of Vil∣lena for her Dower, but it was taken from her, and in lieu of it she had 200000 Ducats, because the Castilians would not allow that Estate to be given to the Aragonians, it lying on the Borders of both those Kingdoms, very opportunely to make Incursions in time of War. The King of Portugal since the last Year was fitting out a powerful Fleet. All the Neigh∣bouring Princes, as is usual in such Cases, were jealous lest it might be design'd against them: Particularly the King of Aragon was concern'd, because it was reported the Portugues design'd to undertake the Protection of the Earl of Ʋrgel, which would disturb the Peace of Aragon. They were all deceiv'd, for the Designs of the Portugues were of another Nature, * 1.2 to wit to pass over into Africk and make new Conquests there. His good Fortune which had gain'd and fix'd him in that Kingdom, to which he had no Right, encourag'd him, and he sought new Conquests to bestow on his many Children, because the Limits of Portugal were but very Narrow. By the Queen his Wife he had the Princes, Edward, Peter, Hen∣ry, John, and Ferdinand, and the Princess Elizabeth. Besides them a Bastard Son call'd Alon∣so, afterwards Earl of Barcelos. He fitted out 30 great Ships, 27 Galleys, 30 Galliots, and many other small Vessels, which in all made up 120 Sail. With this Fleet the King set sail towards Africk, notwithstanding that at the same time Queen Philippa dy'd, whom he caus'd to be bury'd in the new Monastery of Batalla at Aljubarrota. At his first Landing on the 22d of August he took the City Ceuta, seated upon the Sreights of Gibraltar by Storm. The first that mounted the Wall was a Souldier call'd Cortereal, another call'd Albergueria was first at entring the Gate. Both were rewarded by the King as they deserv'd, and others were honour'd according to their Merits. Of the Moors, some were put to the Sword, others fled, and others were made Slaves. This lucky beginning put the Portugueses in hopes of subduing large Territories in Africk. This same Year they also alter'd their manner of Com∣putation from the Era of Cesar, and began to reckon from the Birth of our Lord, as all other Countries did. The Council of Constance still labour'd to settle the Affairs of the Church. King Ferdinand could not go to Nice by reason of Sickness, and therefore it was resolv'd the Emperor should come as far as Perpignan, in the County of Russillon: Pope Benedict and King * 1.3 Ferdinand being nearest came thither first. On the 19th of September came the Emperor with 400 Men at Arms on Horseback, a splendid Retinue. His Habit was plain, and the Ser∣vice of his Table of Pewter, in token of Mourning for the unhappy State of the Church. Thi∣ther resorted Embassadors from France, Castile, and Navarre. All the World was in Expe∣ctation what this Meeting would produce. King Ferdinand by reason of his Indisposition could not attend the Conferences. Yet from his Bed conjur'd Pope Benedict to restore the Peace of the Church, and to remember the Promises he had formerly made. He urg'd the Example of his Competitors, and shew'd how short a time he could expect to live, being of a great Age. Pope Benedict was resolv'd not to agree to any Composition, and therefore only stu∣dy'd to protract or delay time. Both Princes press'd him to come to some Resolution. One

day he made a long Harangue in defence of his Right, alledging, that if ever there was any doubt of the dueness of his Election it had now ceas'd by the Resignation of his Competitors, he only being left as sole Governour of the Church; that the Older he was the more cause he had to fear offending God, by timorously yeilding to quit his Charge. He spent 7 whole Hours in this Discourse without the least sign of Weariness, tho he was 77 years of Age, and the Auditors tir'd slip'd away one after another. At last he urg'd, that in case he were not the true Pope, yet the choosing of another appertain'd to him alone, as being the only Cardinal left alive of those promoted before the Schism by a Pope, whose Right was indis∣putable. Much time was spent in these Debates, and no hopes of any Conclusion. The Em∣peror * 1.4 weary of these delays departed from Perpignan, threatning Pope Benedict to make use of Force, since he could not be reduc'd by fair means. Yet he made some stay at Narbonne, to see whether King Ferdinand could work upon that hard Heart; but all was in vain, for Pope Benedict fled to Piniscola, hoping to maintain himself there, it being seated on a Rock en∣compass'd almost on all sides by the Sea. At length the only remedy remaining was made use of, which was to disown him in Aragon, as was done by Edict, and all Persons forbid to acknowledge him as Pope. F. Vincent Ferrerius, who had always adher'd to him, was the * 1.5 Man that now advis'd to cast him off. Some Persons still retain'd a scruple, but the gene∣rality easily consented. Benedict himself was so offended, that he say'd, he who was most beholding to him was his chief Enemy, and he hop'd God would for his Ingratitude deprive him of the Kingdom which he had given him. Whilst these things were hottest in Debate, Ellenor Queen of Navarre dy'd on the 5th of March at Pamplona. She lies in an Alablaster Tomb in the Cathedral of that City, with an Inscription signifying the time of her Death.

King Ferdinand's Disease continu'd, and he earnestly desir'd to return to Castile, to try whether his Native Air would recover him. Sickly Persons, especially at the Point of Death, fancy whatever they desire. Besides he was solicitous to promote the Interest of Castile on account of his Kindred with that King, and as Governour to him during his Minority. He also was desirous that Kingdom should cast off Pope Benedict, as Aragon had done. To this purpose he return'd from Perpignan to Barcelona, and at the beginning of the Summer set out for Castile. Travelling increas'd his Distemper, and he was forc'd to take up at Igualada, 6 Leagues from Barcelona. There the Physicians gave him over, and having receiv'd the Sa∣craments, he dy'd like a good Christian upon the 2d of April. He was a Prince endu'd with * 1.6 excellent Perfections, of a graceful Presence, and dextrous at gaining the good Will of all Men. Some accuse him of being very slow, for abandoning Pope Benedict, for making his Advantage of the Revenue of Castile, for being lavish of his own, and covetous of what be∣long'd to others to supply his Extravagances. He reign'd 3 Years, 9 Months, and 28 Days. His Body lies at Poblete in a very mean Tomb. By his Will made some Months before at Perpignan, he provided for his Children in this manner. To Prince John he gave the Estate of Lara, and Medina del Campo, also the Town of Monblanc, with the Title of Duke in Ca∣talonia, and several other Towns. To Prince Henry he left Albuquerque, and to D. Sancho Montalvan. He appointed Alonso his eldest Son, Heir to the Crown. In case all the Brothers should die without Issue, he order'd the Sons and Grandsons of his Daughters, Mary and Ellenor, should succeed, yet excluded the Mothers. King Ferdinand's Death was the cause that Castile for some time continu'd to give Obedience to Pope Benedict. He had many Friends, whom he had oblig'd in Castile, and particularly the Arch-bishops of Toledo, and Sevil, D. Sancho de Rojas, and D. Alonso de Exea stickl'd for him.

Fresh Tumults began in Castile, which shew'd how necessary the Prudence and Valour of King Ferdinand had been for the Peace of that Country. Queen Catherine immediately entred * 1.7 upon the whole Government of the Kingdom. She committed the Education of the King to the Arch-bishop of Toledo, and joyn'd with him John de Velasco, and James Lopez de Zuniga, the chief Justice. Many complain'd they had no share in the Preferments given, and among them were D. Alonso Enriquez the Admiral, and D. Ruy Lopez Davalos the Constable. At the beginning of the Year 1417, a Truce was concluded with the King of Granada for two * 1.8 Years, by which he was oblig'd every Year to release 100 Christian Slaves. The Prelates at the Council of Constance attended to all that was for the Advancement of the Church. To pacify the Rebellion in Bohemia, and reduce the Hereticks, they brought their Heads, John * 1.9 Hus, and Hierome of Prague to that City, having obtain'd them a safe Conduct from the Emperor. Heresy once fix'd, is hard to be rooted out. They both fled from the City, and being apprehended by Parties sent out after them, were publickly Burnt. The Hereticks being punish'd, and their Heresy condemn'd, the Bishops again apply'd themselves to make up the Divisions in the Church. On the 26th of July they excommunicated Pope Benedict, who only remain'd of the three, and depriv'd him of any Right he could pretend to S. Pe∣ter's Chair. This Sentence being made publick, they proceeded to the Election of a new Pope. There were present 22 Cardinals of those that had follow'd the three Popes; to these were joyn'd 30 other Electors, some of them Bishops, the others Men of Note, all which were shut up in the Conclave. All of them to a Man agreed to the Election of the Cardinal, Otho Colonna, a Native of Rome. This was done on the 11th of November, and he took the Name of Martin the Vth. The Joy for this Choice was universal, for all Nations * 1.10 laying aside former Prejudices submitted to the new Pope. Only the King of Scotland, and

Earl of Armegnac with some few Cardinals for a while stuck to Pope Benedict, but they also in a short time forsook him. Soon after the Council was dissolv'd, but it was decreed they should meet again within 5 Years, and the second time 7 Years after that, and then at the end of 10 Years, and that for ever after there should be a General Council once in 10 Years. The new Pope sent two Cistercian Monks to advise Benedict to submit to the Decree of the Council, and admonish his Cardinals to leave him. They prevail'd not upon Benedict, but his four Cardinals who were Spaniards, and whom he had retain'd upon promise of Prefer∣ment left him, and repair'd to the new Pope at Florence. This Year was unhappy to France, * 1.11 and no less fortunate to Castile for the renewing of the Voyage to the Canaries, by consent of the Queen of Castile, by which means John de Betancour, a French Man, who undertook this Expedition, subdu'd 5 of those Islands. Menante his Kinsman succeeded him. Pope Mar∣tin gave the Bishoprick of those Islands to a Fryer call'd Mendo. These two fell at Variance, and Peter Barba was sent by the King to compose them. He bought the Islands for a Sum of Mony of Menante, and sold them again to Peter Peraça, a considerable Citizen of Sevil, whose Heirs possess'd them till the time of King Ferdinand the Catholick, who intirely subdu'd and annex'd them to the Crown of Castile. This is what relates to Spain. The Misfortunes of France happen'd in this manner. Henry the Vth King of England demanded of Charles the VIth of France his Daughter Catherine in Marriage, which he refusing King Henry sail'd over into * 1.12 Normandy, overthrew the French Army, took the Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon Prisoners, and after a troublesom Siege made himself Master of Roan, the Metropolis of that Province. This was not all, for Elizabeth Queen of France left her Husband, and with her Daughter Catherine, fled to Tours, whence she sent to the Duke of Burgundy, who not only secur'd the Queen and her Daughter, but also the King and City of Paris. Charles the Dauphin made what Head he could against the English and Burgundians. The Dauphin and Duke of Burgun∣dy agreed to have a Conference upon a Bridge over the Seine, on the middle of which was a strong Barrier; the Dauphin invited the Duke to come over to him, and some Words arising kill'd him. Whether his Life or Death were most fatal to France is doubtful, for his Son Philip to revenge the Death of his Father deliver'd up the City of Paris with the King, Queen and Princess Catherine to the English, whence ensu'd innumerable Calamities which happen'd later, and are forreign to our purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Marriage of the Prince of Aragon with the Princess of Castile.
• * 1.2

  Ceuta tak∣en by the Portugueses
• * 1.3

  Interview of Princes at Perpig∣nan.
• * 1.4

  Pope Be∣nedict dis∣own'd in Aragon.
• * 1.5

  1416.
• * 1.6

  Ferdinand of Aragon dies.
• * 1.7

  New Troubles in Castile.
• * 1.8

  1417.
• * 1.9

  John Hus and Hie∣rome of Prague burnt.
• * 1.10

  Martin the Vth. chosen Pope.
• * 1.11

  The Cana∣ries con∣quered.
• * 1.12

  Henry the Vth of England invades France.