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. VII. The Death of the Moorish King of Granada. A Truce betwixt Castile and Portugal. The Interest of the Aragonians decays at Naples. Joseph King of Granada dies. Mahomet succeeds him.

AT Toledo (whither the King of Castile went, as soon as the Cortes broke up) the form * 1.1 of Government was alter'd, the Town being before divided into Factions, and sub∣ject to Mutinies. It was the Custom every two Years to choose 6 Officers, somewhat in the nature of Aldermen, 3 of the Commonalty, and 3 of the Gentry. These with the two Alcaides, who are not unlike to our Sheriffs, and the chief Alguazil, made up a Court, or Council, and govern'd all the Affairs of the City. All Men were free to come to their Consults, and Vote with them, which occasion'd Disorders. The King regulated this Af∣fair, and order'd as King Alonso had before done at Burgos, that there should be 16 Regidores or Aldermen, chosen half of the Gentry, and half of the Commonalty, who were to con∣tinue for Life, and the most Votes among them should take place. When any of these dy'd the King was to name another. This caus'd another inconveniency for those Places were expos'd to sale. At Pamplona, the Government of that Place which was divided betwixt * 1.2 three Governours, was afterwards also reform'd. One of these Governours had charge of the Suburbs, another of the City, and the third of a certain Quarter call'd Navarreria, which often caus'd Disputes about the extent of their Jurisdiction. King Charles ordained there should be but one Governour, and with him 10 Aldermen, who should have the whole Power in their Hands, and that all the City should compose but one Body and be subject to one Tribunal. John Earl of Faux had now a Son born to him call'd Gaston, who in time through strange Revolutions came to be King of Navarre, Prince Charles Son to Prince * 1.3 John of Aragon, and the Lady Blanch his Wife dying. He ought to have inherited his Grandfather's Crown, and his Father sent his Mother with him to be bred in her Father's Court. As soon as the Prince came to Court he was created Prince of Viana, and several other Towns, particularly Corella and Peralta given him, a thing new in Navarre, but done in imitation of the neighbouring Kingdoms. It was enacted that those Dominions should for the future ever belong to the Heir of the Crown. This Law passed on the 20th of Janu∣ary 1423. Five Months after to satisfy the desires of the People, the Oath of Allegiance to * 1.4 the Prince, as next Heir was taken by the three Estates, at Olite, where the King being very antient, commonly resided, by reason of the Pleasantness of the Seat, and the Beauty and Magnificence of a Palace, he himself had built. Ever since his Minority, the King of Portugal had pressed him of Castile to settle a lasting Peace, and enter into a League, both Na∣tions being wasted with tedious Wars, and desirous to put an end to the Miseries it occasin'd. So far the Portugues was comply'd with, that a Truce was concluded for 29 Years, and it * 1.5 was also agreed that after the Expiration of that time neither Party should commit any Ho∣stility upon the other, without declaring War a year and a half before such Breach made. This Truce was proclaim'd at Avila, where the King then was, to the great Joy and Sa∣tisfaction of the People. Processions of Thanksgiving were made, and all manner of Sports to express the publick Satisfaction. In certain Justs that were kept at Court, Ferdinand de Castro, the Portugues Embassador, was Challenger, and all others refusing to run against him, Roderick de Mendoça, Son to John Hurtado de Mendoça, threw him out of the Saddle at the first shock, and had like to have kill'd him. The King comforted, and presented him, and as soon as recover'd sent him home well satisfy'd. Embassies pass'd now betwixt the Kings of Castile and Aragon. John Hurtado de Mendoça sent to the latter at Naples, gave him the Reasons why Prince Henry was confin'd, and demanded in his King's Name to have Catherine the Prince's Wife, Ruy Lopez Davalos the Constable, and the other Fugitives of Castile deliver'd up. Dalmatius Archbishop of Tarragona was sent by the King of Aragon to Castile, to shew that the Reason why he did not grant what that King requir'd, was, that it was contrary to the Antient Liberties of the Kingdom of Aragon, not to protect any that sled thither for shelter, besides that he had given them a safe Conduct, which according to the Laws of Nations could not be violated. He also declar'd to the King the posture of * 1.6 Affairs at Naples, how many Jealousies arose betwixt the King and Queen, whereupon the Country was divided into Factions, and that the Fortune of the Aragonians began to decline, it being much fear'd they would come to blows: The Queen complain'd that King Alonso took more upon him than was his due. That he bestow'd all places of Trust, chang'd Gar∣risons,

and made the Souldiers take an Oath of Fidelity to him: In fine that he turn'd all things which way he listed, and incroach'd upon the Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom. These things she lay'd to the Charge of her adopted Son King Alonso, as an inconstant and changeable Woman grown weary of him, and now she was deliver'd of Fear, prov'd as un∣grateful as she had been liberal in her Distress. King Alonso fear'd the Inconstancy of the Queen, and could not bear with her open Leudness, therefore he order'd a Fleet to be fitted out in order to send her away to Catalonia. This was not carry'd so privately, but the Queen had notice of it, and from that time the Friendship betwixt those two Nations began to grow cold. Both parties complain'd that their Adversaries dealt not ingenuously, but lay'd Snares to intrap them, and it was true enough. The King kept at Castelnovo, the Queen at Porta Capuana, a strong Place. From this beginning sprang two Factions in Naples, one of the Aragonians, and the other of the Andegavenses, or Anjovines, Names odious in that Kingdom, and which lasted till our Days. The Enmity and Contrivances went on. King Alonso feign'd himself sick. John Caracciolo the Seneschal, came to see him. He was great in the Queen's Favour, and that more than became her Modesty, therefore he was secur'd at this Visit, and the Aragonians immediately repair'd to Porta Capuana. The Queen's Party shut the Gates, and drew up the Bridge, so that King Alonso was forc'd to go off not with∣out some Danger; for they cast Darts at him from the Walls. Thus by degrees they came to sight in the very Streets. At first the Aragonians got the better, possess'd themselves of the City, and having plunder'd and burnt several Houses, besieg'd the Queen in her strong Palace. Its own Strength, and the Resolution of the Garrison defended it against all the * 1.7 Attempts of the Aragonians. Sforcia, who lay near at Hand, came to relieve the Queen, and Bernard de Cabrera came out of Sicily to reinforce the King, as did a Fleet of 22 Galleys, and 8 large Ships from Catalonia. This Fleet arriving at Naples, on the 10th of June, recruited the Aragonians, who were now grown weak and declin'd. Encourag'd with this Relief they again fought in the City, many were kill'd and several Houses plunder'd. The Queen went away to Aversa, and Sforcia with her, as also a good Garrison, and 5000 Citizens, who offer'd to stand by her. Prisoners on both sides were exchang'd, and thus Caracciolo reco∣vered his Liberty. At length on the 21st of June the Queen at Nola recall'd, and made void the Adoption of King Alonso, as an ungrateful and unworthy Person. In his stead she adopted and appointed her Successor, Luis Duke of Anjou, the third of the Name, and Son to the 2d. To this effect she sent for him from Rome, and created him Duke of Calabria, a * 1.8 Title usually given to the Heir of the Crown. Sforcia, and Caracciolo, who were most in favour, gave the Queen this Advice. From this time the good Fortune of the Aragonians began to change and decline. King Alonso sent for Braccio de Monton, out of Abruzzo, where he was besieging Aquila, a great City, designing to set him up against Sforcia. But he excus'd himself, either not liking the Party, or because he hop'd to make himself Master of that City, and all its Territory. For this reason King Alonso was oblig'd to resolve upon returning to Spain to settle his Affairs and gather new Forces to carry on the War, tho he gave out it was to set at Liberty his Brother Prince Henry. He left his other Brother Prince Peter his Commissioner with full Power to Command in his Absence. With him stay'd James Caldora, and several other considerable Officers of both Nations. Antony de Luna, Son to Antony de Luna, Earl of Calatabelota was appointed Governour of Gaeta. At the same time the King of Castile took a Progress to Plasencia, Talavera and Madrid, and his Queen was brought to Bed on the 10th of September of another Daughter, call'd Ellenor. Joseph the * 1.9 Moorish King dy'd at Granada, and Mahomet his Son, called The left-handed, succeeded him. He was afterwards Famous for being three times depos'd, and as often restor'd to his King∣dom, and for his many Misfortunes rather than any great Actions. At first he observ'd the Peace with the King of Castile, and oblig'd Muley King of Tunez. Thus he endeavour'd by the Friendship of these Princes to secure himself against his Enemies, but took no care to gain the Affections of his People, the surest Prop of Princes. So that he appears to have been as imperfect in his Judgment, as he was in his Body; and Fortune prov'd his Enemy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Govern∣ment of Toledo al∣tered.
• * 1.2

  Also at Pamplona.
• * 1.3

  Gaston Heir of Navarre born.
• * 1.4

  1423.
• * 1.5

  Truce be∣twixt Ca∣stile and Portugal.
• * 1.6

  Troubles of Naples.
• * 1.7

  K. Alonso of Aragon besieges the Queen of Naples in her Palace.
• * 1.8

  Luis Duke of Anjou adopted Heir of Naples.
• * 1.9

  Joseph K. of Grana∣da dies.