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. II. Discoveries and Conquests of the Spaniards in the West-Indies; Controversies arise be∣twixt the Crowns of Spain and Portugal concerning their Discoveries; Roussillon and Cerdagne restored to King Ferdinand.

THE most Honourable and Advantageous Enterprize that Spain ever undertook was the * 1.1 Discovery of the West-Indies, properly called The New World, which hapned in this man∣ner. A Ship being drove by a violent Storm from the Coast of Africk, was cast upon an un∣known Land. After the Storm had ceased, the Master, with only 3 or 4 Mariners, the rest being consumed by Famine, returned to the Island Madera. Christopher Columbus, a Genoese, but Married in Portugal, was then in that Island, and was an able Seaman, and daring Man. He entertained the Master of that Ship in his House, who died soon after, and left Columbus his Journal of that Voyage. Others say, he was informed by one Marcus Polus a Florentine,

and others, that he found out by his Skill in Astrology, that there were vast Countreys to∣wards the West undiscovered. These his thoughts he communicated first to the King of Por∣tugal, then to Henry VII. of England, and being slighted by them both, came to the Court of King Ferdinand: There he waited 7 years, and at last after the subduing of the Kingdom of Granada, obtained of the King 3 Ships to attempt this Discovery. It is wonderful that so great an Undertaking was begun only with 17000 Duccats, which the King was forced to borrow, his Revenue was so far exhausted. Columbus set sail on the 3d of August from Palos de Moguer, and having touched at the Canaries, after several days sail, and many difficulties, he discovered certain Islands which he called The Princes Islands. He spent some days there, and leaving some of his Company in a Fort he built, under the Command of James de Ara∣na, returned to Spain with the News of what he had discovered, and some Proofs of the Riches of the Country. The following year he continued to discover many other Islands, the chiefest whereof were Hispaniola and Cuba. Besides he Coasted a great part of the Con∣tinent, as well towards the Southern as Northern Pole. Columbus died in the year of Grace 1500, a Man worthy of Immortal Praise. He was made Admiral of the Indies and Duke of Veraguas, Rewards due to his great Merit. Several others continued these Discoveries, as well during his Life as after his Death. Among these Americus Vespusius, a Florentine, by or∣der of Emanuel King of Portugal, in the year 1500 discovered all Brasil, which is a great part of that Continent. After much of the Northern Coast had been discovered by several Persons, Vasco Nun̄ez de Balboa, born at Badajoz, was the first that adventured to pass that narrow Neck of Land that lies between Nombre de Dios and Panama, and so came to the South Sea in the year 1513. These Discoveries of Columbus and Americus Vespusius raised a Controversie betwixt the Crowns of Castile and Portugal, the latter pretending all the Disco∣very of the New World appertained to him by Grants of several Popes, and particularly of Eugenius IV. On the other side the King of Castile pleaded a Bull of Pope Alexander VI. in the year 1493, which assigned to him all the Lands to the Westward of an imaginary Line * 1.2 drawn 100 Leagues beyond the Islands of Cabo Verde. This Grant was afterwards altered by another, which ordained the said Line to be drawn 370 Leagues farther towards the West, to the end that Brasil might fall within the Portugues Limits. Hierome Ozorio, Bishop of Silves, in the Life of King Emanuel, affirms the said Line was appointed to be drawn 36 Degrees West of the Meridian of Lisbon. Upon this Determination was grounded another Dispute, the Castillians pretending that the Molucco Islands, whence the Spice is brought, fell within their Limits, as being within that half of the World assigned them. All this the Portugueses deny, and each Party bring Arguments to make good their Assertions. Certain it is, that Ferdinand Magallanes, a Portugues, being disgusted because his King did not Reward his Ser∣vices done in India, perswaded, the Emperor Charles V. Grandson to King Ferdinand, that a new way might be found to the Moluco Islands by the South West. He had 5 Ships given him for this Enterprize, and sailed from Sevil in the year 1519. Having touched at the Canaries, he Coasted all along Brasil, and found a Streight in 53 Degrees of South Latitude, which of him is called the Streight of Magellan. At the entrance of that Streight one of the Ships struck upon a Rock and was lost; another weary of that long Voyage stole away by night, and re∣turned to Sevil. With the rest he passed the Streight, and was himself with some of his Companions killed in an Island called Zubu. Those that were left being too few to Man all the Ships, burnt one, and with the other two came to the Moluco Islands. They loaded in the Island of Tidore, but one of them being very leaky was lost. The other coming round by the Cape of Good Hope, at last arrived at Sevil, 3 years after his departure. The Ship was called the Victory, the Master John Sebastian Cano, a Biscainer, whose Name ought never to be forgotten, as being the first that sailed round the World. Many afterwards attempted that same Voyage, but the Profit not answering the Trouble it was laid aside, as also because King John of Portugal lent the Emperor Charles V. 350000 Duccats, upon Condition he and his Heirs should desist from that Undertaking, till the Money were repayed. On the Right Hand of that Neck of Land, which we have said lies between the North and South Seas, is the King∣dom of New Spain, and the City Mexico, its Metropolis, seated in the midst of a Lake. Over this and many other large Provinces and Kingdoms Reigned the mighty Emperor Montezuma, whom Ferdinand Cortes in the year 1520, with wonderful Resolution, apprehend∣ed, and made Prisoner in his own Palace. He being killed accidentally by a Stone cast at a Window where he was looking out to appease his People, Cortes brought those vast Provinces under the subjection of Charles the Emperor, gained himself Eternal Honour, and left to his Successors the Marquesses del Valle, a great Estate in the Kingdom of Mexico. On the Left Hand of that Neck of Land Francis Pizarro, in the year 1525, discovered the Kingdom of Peru, and 6 years after Conquered it, taking and putting to death Atabalipa Lord of that Country. This is the richest Countrey for Mines of Gold and Silver hitherto discovered, insomuch that all the Utensils of those People, even to their Pots and Kettles, were of these precious Mettals. Pizarro shared not the vast Booty he got there fairly with James de Alma∣gro, his principal Companion in that Conquest, and the rest of his Men, and yet the meanest Soldier's part came to 9000 Duccats, which was the richest Plunder ever taken till that time. His Force was about 300 Men, who in Battle overthrew above 100000 Indians. Riches and Plenty produced Pride and Insolence, for Ferdinand, Brother to Francis Pizarro, understand∣ing

that Almagro openly complained of the Wrong done him and meditated Revenge, he murdered him. A Bastard Son of Almagro, whom he had by an Indian, and whose Name was James, assaulted the House of Francis Pizarro in the City of Lima, and killed him in revenge of his Father. This was a bold Attempt, and to punish it the Governour Christo∣pher Vaca de Castro, joined with Gonçalo Pizarro, another Brother of the said Francis, and with their Forces overthrew and killed the said James. This Victory and his great Riches so puffed up Gonçalo Pizarro, that he attempted to make himself absolute Lord of that Country. Blasco Nun̄ez Vela was sent by the Emperor from Spain to be Viceroy of Peru, him the Rebellious Spaniards took Prisoner, and put to Death. Afterwards the Licentiate Peter de Gasca, tho a Priest, and one of the General Council of the Inquisition, put an end to all those Tumults rather by Policy than Force. He put to death Gonçalo Pizarro, and the other Heads of the Rebellion. This done he returned into Spain, where he was first Bishop of Palencia, then of Siguença till the end of his Life, which was very long. Ferdinand Pizarro, the only Surviver of the Three Brothers, was long a Prisoner in Spain, for before the Rebellion of his Brother he came to answer for the Murder of Almagro, which was the cause of all those Broils; Thus God punished the Murder of the Emperor Atabalipa, not suffering one of his Enemies to escape scotfree, and the ill acquired Riches perished with their Owners. The Customs of all these People were strange, and all other things extraordinary. Their Fish, Beasts, Trees and Herbs all different from ours. They had no use of Letters, no Money, no Weights, nor did they build any Ships, only Boats of one Tree hollowed like Trays, which they call Canoes. For Cloathing they had neither Linnen, Woollen, nor Silk, but only Cotton, whereof there is abundance. There was no Iron, and consequently none of the Weapons and other Neces∣saries made thereof. Corn like ours they have none, but a Grain they call Maiz, nor Oil, nor Wine made of Grapes, but they wanted not other Liquors to make them Drunk, to which they are much addicted. They know not how to make Candles of Wax or Tallow. There were no Beasts of Burden, nor to Ride, nor Carts, or Litters. Prisoners taken in War, and Slaves, were sacrificed in such vast numbers, that it is held for a certain truth above 20000 perished in this manner every year in only the City Mexico, whose Flesh they eat without any loathing. It was Customary to have many Wives, and Sodomy was permitted, so brutish was their Government. Their Garb was strange, and many went quite naked. Afterwards Chile upon the South Sea was discovered, where were found Warlike Indians, and difficult to be subdued, and on our side beyond Brasil and the River de la Plata lies Paraguay and Tucuman, extending to the Streights of Magellan. The Philippine Islands were found at another time, and took their Name from Philip II. King of Spain. The Lieutenant Michael Lopez de Le∣gaspi, conquered the chief of them called Luzon, and its City Manila, on the 18th of May 1572. Lastly, in the year 1598, a good Body of Men under the Command of D. John de Onate, set out from Mexico, to the Conquest of New Mexico. This Country lies in about 30 deg. of N. Lat. The Soil is fruitful, the People more polished than the other Indians, their Houses 3 or 4, and some 7 Stories high. It was known by hearsay ever since the time of Cortes, and often attempted to be conquered, but never before with such a Power. The Success was not answerable to so great Preparations. This may suffice as to the West-Indies.

Charles VIII. King of France, being inflamed with the desire of conquering the Kingdom of * 1.3 Naples, to which he pretended he had a good Title, thought it necessary to secure King Fer∣dinand, by entring into a League with him, lest he should in his absence invade France, the Kingdom of Naples belonging to the House of Aragon. To this purpose a Treaty was carried on for restoring Russillon and Cerdaigne. King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth leaving the Go∣vernment of their new Kingdom of Granada to the Earl of Tendilla, in June set out towards Aragon, to be nearer to their Commissioners who managed that Treaty. At Zaragoça they settled the Government of that City, and went thence to Barcelona in October. There, as the King came out from giving Audience, according to Custom, one John Canamares, a Catalo∣nian, came up with his naked Sword to kill him, and gave him a Wound under his Ear. This Fellow being apprehended, it appeared he was Mad, and had undertaken that Action, be∣cause he Dreamed that if he killed the King he should succeed him. However, he was torn with Pinchers and then burnt. The League betwixt Spain and France, after much alterca∣tion, was lastly concluded at Narbonne on the 18th of January 1493, all Princes, except the Pope, being excluded. It was agreed that the King of Spain should not Marry his Daughters without the consent of the King of France, and that on this account Russillon and Cerdaigne should be restored. However some months passed before the execution. Next, to pacifie Maximilian King of the Romans, the King of France restored to him his Daughter, and the Earldom of Artois her Dower, and gave him Security for the Restitution of the Earldom of Burgundy, and the rest of the Dutchy wrongfully detained from him. At the same time died the Emperor Frederick, and his Son Maximilian succeeded him. King Ferdinand continued still in Aragon and Catalonia, till such time, as according to Contract, Russillon and Cerdaigne were delivered to him in September, the French Garrison marching out. All Historians, and especially the French, blame that King for parting with those Dominions he had in possession, upon an uncertain hope. Many lay the blame on the Bishop of Albi, who was the French Ambassador at the Treaty, and say he was corrupted with Spanish Gold.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Discove∣ries and Conquests in the West-In∣dies.
• * 1.2

  Contro∣versies betwixt Castile and Portugal about their Dis∣coveries.
• * 1.3

  Roussillion and Cer∣dagne re∣stored to King Fer∣dinand.