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. The State of Spain, and of the Catholick Church under great apprehensions of Troubles. Actions of the Aragonians at Naples. King Edward of Portugal dies. The Re∣bellion in Castile.

SPain was now under great Apprehensions of new Troubles, the Nobility of Castile being incens'd against the King, for the unjust Imprisonment (as they term'd it) of Peter Man∣rique. * 1.1 Among the Clergy was no less Contention, because Pope Eugenius labour'd to dissolve the Council of Basil, which was only a Design to lessen the Authority of General Councils, be∣cause they alone were a check upon Popes. Yet he desisted, being warn'd so to do by the Emperor Sigismand, and Cardinal Cesarinus his own Legate. The Bishops at Basil summon'd the Pope to appear there in Person, and he refusing to obey, threaten'd to depose him. The Christian Princes agreed not what was best to be done, but Sigismund the Emperor fearing a Schism, tho he lov'd not the Pope, oppos'd the deposing of him. His Authority soon ceas'd, for he dy'd on the 9th of December. His Son in Law Albertus, Duke of Austria, then King of the Romans, succeeded him, and was crown'd on the first of January 1438. This year at Ma∣deruelo, * 1.2 a Town in Old Castile belonging to D. Alvaro de Luna, there fell Stones as big as small Cushions, which yet did no great harm, being very light. John de Agreda carry'd some of them to Roa, where the King then was. About the same time Huelma, a strong Town and well Garrison'd was taken from the Moors, by In̄igo Lopez de Mendoça, Lord of Hita, who then commanded on the Frontiers about Jàen. Soon after Roderick Perea, Lieutenant of Cagorla, making an Incursion with 1400 Men, was kill'd, and of all his Party, only 20 escap'd, the Enemy being very numerous, and yet bought not this Victory cheap, for many of them were slain, and among them the Governour of Granada. The King of Aragon being offended at Pope Eugenius, favour'd the Fathers at Basil, and the more now, because John Vitelesco, Patriarch of Alexandria with Forces of the Popes enter'd the Kingdom of Naples, which gave many of the Natives occasion to change their Affections. Particularly the Prince of Taranto, and Earl of Caserta, Men of little Faith went over to the Pope. On the other side Antony Co∣lonna was reconcil'd to the King of Aragon, being put in hope he should be restor'd to the Prin∣cipality of Salerno. The Patriarch was overthrown by the Aragonians, and drove out of the Kingdom of Naples. The Nobility was soon reduc'd. At the same time Renee, Duke of * 1.3 Anjou having been Ransom'd arriv'd with his Fleet at Naples on the 19th of May. His Arri∣val produc'd no great effect, because he brought no Mony to defray the Charge of the War-Ye•••••• several places it broke out anew, and chiefly in Abruzzo, where James Caldora, a re∣nowned Captain supported the Interest of Anjou. Renee to gain Reputation challeng'd the King of Aragon, and sent him his Gauntlet; the Aragonian accepted the Challenge, but it came to nothing, for they could never agree upon the Time and Place. At Bourges the King of France by Proclamation approv'd all the Acts of the Council of Basil, whereupon Pope Eugenius order'd the Council to remove to Ferrara in Italy. Cesarinus the Legate, and 5 other Cardinals immediately repair'd to that City. It was given out that the Cause of removing the Council was to unite the Eastern and Western Churches, the Emperor John Palcologus, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Constantinople being come into Italy to that purpose. From Ferrara the Council remov'd to Florence, the Plague being in the other City. Here the Affair of the Union was long debated to little purpose. The Fathers at Basil would have the Greeks go thither, but they refus'd. For this reason, and because the Pope had dissolv'd that Assembly they grew into Heats, and began to assume more than belong'd to them. In Italy whilst Renee was bu∣sy reducing some Castles in Abruzzo, the King of Aragon resolv'd to besiege Naples then weak, because most of the Youth had follow'd Renee, and Provisions were scarce. In the Ara∣gonian * 1.4 Army there were 15000 Men, and the Fleet consisted of 4 Galleys, 7 great Ships, and many small Vessels, fit to hinder any Supplies from coming to the City. With this Force he lay'd Siege to Naples on the 22d of September. He fortify'd his Camp and prepar'd all things to give an Assault, when an unexpected Misfortune overthrew all his Designs. On the 23d of October Prince Peter going out to view the City was kill'd by a Cannon Ball from the Church of the Carmelites. The Ball rebounded 3 times, and at the 4th dash'd his Head to pieces. His Body was carry'd to the Church of St. Mary Magdalen, where the King came and wept over him. He dy'd in the prime of his Age, being but 27 years Old, a Batchelor, and had gain'd Honour in War. His Body was deposited in the Castle del Ovo. The Soldiers took his Death as an ill Omen, and believ'd it the more because the Rains hinder'd carrying on the Siege, which was rais'd, and the Army retir'd to Capua. John Vintemilla, Marques of Girachi, who had been sent to meet Renee then marching to the Relief of Naples, falling upon him unexpectedly in the Valley Gardano, took many Prisoners and forc'd him to return towards Nola. This done Vintemilla return'd to the Siege of Naples. King Alonso intending to take the Field as soon as the Season would permit, sent for his other two Brothers out of Spain. He was so bent upon the Conquest of Naples that he seem'd not to regard the Kingdom left him by his Father, which was now infested by a Body of French, who being us'd to live upon plunder under the com∣mand

of Alexander de Bourbon, Bastard Son to John Duke of Bourbon, had broke into Aragon by the way of Russillon. The Q. of Aragon, and K. of Navarre were much alarm'd, but this Storm soon vanish'd, for the Weather drove the French another way, without doing any consider∣able harm. This year was unfortunate to Portugal, not only for their Loss in Africk, but for the Plague which rag'd throughout the Kingdom, and destroy'd great Numbers of People. Also King Edward dy'd of a Fever at the Convent of Tomar, whither he withdrew for fear of * 1.5 the Plague. His Reign was short; for it lasted but Five Years and Thirty Seven Days. He writ a Book of the Government of a Kingdom; and ordain'd, that for the future the King's Eldest Son should be call'd Prince, as was the Custom in Castile. He had Issue Alonso, who suc∣ceeded him, and was the First that had the Title of Prince in Portugal. Ferdinand Duke of Viseo, Master of the Orders of Christ and Santiago, Constable of Portugal, who was Father of Ellenor Queen of Portugal, Elizabeth Dutchess of Bragança, James, Kill'd by his Brother-in-Law King John, and Emanuel that came at length to be King of Portugal. Ellenor the Em∣press, Wife to Frederick the III. and Mother to Maximilian, was also Daughter to King Ed∣ward. Besides, he had Catherine, Contracted to several Princes, yet never Marry'd; and Jo∣anna Wife to Henry IV. King of Castile. The late King order'd the Queen should Govern during the Minority of his Son; but the Nobility mutiny'd, and chose Peter Duke of Coimbra the New King's Uncle. The Queen complain'd of the Wrong done her, but to no purpose.

In August Peter Manrique the Lieutenant, with his Wife and Two Daughters, let themselves * 1.6 down by Ropes out of the Castle of Fuentiduen̄as, where he was Prisoner, and escap'd by the Assistance of some Servants of the Governour Gomez Carrillo; and this occasion'd New Trou∣bles. Many Noblemen associated themselves with him, in order to pull down. D. Alvaro de Luna; which was a difficult Task, his Power being very great. At Medina de Ruysico they made all manner of Warlike Preparations. In February 1439. the King went from Madrigal * 1.7 to Roa, to prevent their Designs, carrying along with him his Son Prince Henry, D. Alvaro de Luna, and several other Nobles and Prelates. The Conspirators sent a Letter to the King full of submissive Language, protesting they were ready to Obey him, or his Son; and that they had taken up Arms to defend themselves against the Favourite. The King return'd no Answer. Roderick de Villandrando was then come from France, bringing with him 4000 Horse to serve the King, upon promise of being Created Earl of Ribadeo. Prince Henry of Aragon, and his Brother the King of Navarre, entred Castile with 500 Horse, hoping during those Tumults, to recover the Lands that had been taken from them. Both Parties sent to Court them, neither knowing what they design'd. They agreed among themselves, that the King of Navarre should go to Cuellar, where the King of Castile then was, and Prince Henry to Pen̄afiel, a Town which had been his. Their design was to look on till they found which side was likeliest to restore them to their Estates. Mean while In̄igo de Zuniga, Brother to the * 1.8 Earl of Ledesma, with a Party of 500 Horse secur'd Valladolid, a Large, Rich, and plentiful Town. Immediately a great Number of the Conspirators repair'd thither. The King of Castile fearing these Beginnings might produce greater Mischiefs, went to Olmedo, to be the nearer in order to appease those Commotions, and to bring Prince Henry over to his Party. They had several Conferences to this purpose, but all without success; for the Prince after amusing both Parties for some time, at last joyn'd with the Rebels. This was suppos'd to be done with the Advice of the King of Navarre, that he might have a sure Stake, whoever was uppermost. The whole Kingdom was under great Apprehensions of a New War. Therefore some Religious, Pious, and Learned Persons interpos'd. They spoke to those Re∣bellious Noblemen, and represented to them the Miseries of a Civil War, advising to com∣pose Differences before any Blood was spilt. They labour'd so much, that they perswaded both Parties to meet at Castro Nun̄o, there to treat of some amicable Accommodation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Troubles of Castile, and in the Church.
• * 1.2

  1438.
• * 1.3

  Duke of Anjou in Naples.
• * 1.4

  Naples be∣sieg'd by the Ara∣gonians.
• * 1.5

  Plague in Portugal. K. Edward dyes.
• * 1.6

  Conspira∣cy to de∣stroy D. Alvaro de Luna.
• * 1.7

  1439.
• * 1.8

  Princes of Aragon joyn with the Rebels of Castile.