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. III. The Birth of the Emperor Charles the V. The French possess themselves of the State of Milan, and take the Duke and his Brother the Cardinal; The Great Year of Jubilee 1500; The League betwixt France and Spain; Cefalonia taken from the Turks.

AT the same time that the Moors of the Mountains Alpujarras were in Rebellion King Ferdinand had ordered a Fleet to be Rigged with all speed, to be Commanded by * 1.1 the Great Captain, in favour of the Venetians, and against the Turks who threatned Italy. It was given out that the Duke of Milan and King of Naples had brought them to their as∣sistance against their Enemies. Duke Valentin with Forces brought out of France made War in Romania, as General of the Church, against several who had possessed themselves of Towns in that Territory. He took Imola, and Fori, the Countess whereof he made Pri∣soner. His chief design was against the Lord of Pesaro who had Married his Sister, who understanding his own danger, having Garrisoned the City, absented himself. Luis Sforcia solicited the Emperor and Princes of Germany to assist him in recovering his Dominions. He raised Men among the Swissers and Grisons, and sending his Brother the Cardinal Asca∣nius before with them, all Places he came to submitted to him. The People of Milan drove their Governor into the Castle, whence he was forced the 3d day to fly towards Pavia. That same day the Cardinal entred Milan, and after him the Duke with great Joy of the People, tho' still the Castle was held by the French. Pavia, Lodi, Pertona, and Plasencia, did the same. The main of the French Army Rendezvouzed at Novaro, in order to oppose the Duke. Thither repaired the French Forces that had been with Duke Valentin, he there∣upon returning to Rome, where nothing was done by the Pope without his advice. At Ghent in Flanders the Princess Joenna, Wife to the Archduke, was brought to Bed of her Son Charles on the day of St. Mathias. This is he to whom Heaven had Decreed so * 1.2 mighty an Empire, as afterwards was subject to his Command. Eight days after his Birth the Princess Margaret came to Ghent, and was his Godmother, with the Dutchess Margaret 2d Wife to Duke Charles. The young Prince was Created Duke of Luxemburg, whereas before, the Eldest Sons of the Dukes of Burgundy were called Earls of Charalois. The News of his Birth wasreceived with great Joy in Spain, and the Catholick Queen said, The Lot has fallen upon Mathias alluding to the day he was Born upon, and considering the weakness of Prince Michael, who died soon after at Granada; after whose death the Archduke and his Wife, were Princes of Castile and Aragon. After the Return of Vasco de Gama from India, Peter Al∣verez Cabral was sent on the 8th of March, with a Fleet of 13 Sail to continue that Enter∣prize. By the way he Discovered Brasil, was at first well received at Calicut, but after∣wards came to Blows with that People. The War continued in Lombardy, and the Duke by degrees recovered all he had lost. He made himself Master of Alexandria and Novaro, and being desirous to put an end to the War, drew out of the City with all his Forces, which were about 16000 Swissers and Germans. Both Armies being ready to Engage, his Swissers refused to Fight against the French and their Countrymen who served on their side, whereupon he retired to the City in hopes to perswade them to Fight. But they had before sold, and now delivered him up to the French, who sent him to France, where he died in Prison. This sad News being brought to Cardinal Ascanius his Brother, who lay before the Castle of Milan, he went away with 500 Horse towards Placencia. Charles Ursinus who Commanded some * 1.3 Troops of the Venetians met, defeated and took him Prisoner. After the Venetians had kept him some time, they delivered him to the King of France, who secured him in Prison at Bourges, and some Years after set him at liberty. Maximilian and Francis the Dukes Sons were at the Empe∣ror's Court, which saved them from being involved in the Ruin of their Family. The French without any Opposition possessed themselves of all the Dukedom. The Cardinal of Roan resided at Milan, to gain whom the Pope made him Legate of France, excepting Bri∣tany for the space of a Year and a half. The King of Castile was jealous of the King of Navarre, because he shewed much affection towards the French, wherefore not content with the Ingagements the Governors of Towns were obliged to make to him, the Towns of San∣guessa and Viana had been put into a third Hand, by way of pledge for five Years. That Time being expired, the King of Navarre demanded the Restitution of them, and the Catho∣lick King delayed it. To end all Controversies, the King of Navarre came himself in A∣pril to Sevil, where the Catholick King and Queen were. All things were there adjusted, and the Towns restored. The Count de Lerin, then a Banished Man in Castile, was restored to most of his Eastate, and to the Office of Constable which he had before, to the great Offence of D. Alonso Peralta Earl of Santistevan, from whom that Honour was then taken, without any Demerit of his, or any Recompence made him. This 'twas feared might occa∣sion new Troubles. For Security of the Agreement betwixt the Two Kings, the King of Navarre left his Daughter, the Princess Magdalen to be bred up in the Court of the Ca∣tholick King, as a Pledge of his real Friendship. * 1.4

This was now the great Year of Jubilee, in which multitudes of People from all Parts of * 1.5 Christendom flocked to Rome to obtain the Indulgence and Remission of their Sins. No∣thing

could be more depraved than the People of that City, but especially the Clergy, for which God seemed in some measure to threaten his Judgments by an Accident that befel the Pope. On the day of S. Peter and Paul, about Four in the afternoon hapned a violent storm of Rain and Hail, with so furious a Hurricane that it beat down the Stack of Chimneys over the Room where the Pope was, under that where Duke Valentin Lodged. The fall of it beat down the Floors of the Dukes Room, killing Two, and wounding a Third Florentine, who were waiting there to receive some Money. Many Bricks and Planks fell before the Pope, who was much saved by the Canopy under which he Sate. However he was found Senseless with a Wound on his Head, another on his Hand. The Cardinal of Capua and Mosen Po, who were with him, saved themselves within the Arches of the Win∣dows. The Pope was 70 Years of Age, and his wounds dangerous, which made People look upon him as a dead Man, and Duke Valentin was gathering Forces to have a Pope of his own chusing. It pleased God he recovered, and so all that Confusion Ceased. At this time the Great Captain set Sail from Malaga with a Fleet of 27 Ships, 25 Caravels, some Gallies and other small Craft, in which were 4000 Foot and 300 Men at Arms. With him went many Men of Note. They touched at Majorca, and Sardinia, and at last arrived at Mecina in Sicily on the 18th of July. Thither repaired to him the Spanish Soldiers that were in Italy, all choice Men, and he gathered some other Vessels. The Turks laid Siege to Mo∣don, a City of the Venetians in the Morea, and these pressed the Great Captain to join them; yet he could not set forward till the 27th of September, when Modon was lost. The Xeque of Gelves desired the Great Captain to send him some Succours, because the People of the Island were incensed against the Soldiers of Margarit for their Insolencies, and all Barbary against the Xeque, for having called the Christians. No Relief was sent, but Or∣ders given him to apprehend Margarit and all his Men, whom he afterwards released, and possessed himself of the Castle and Island of Gelves. On the 2d of October the Spanish Fleet arrived at Gorfu, an Island of the Venetians. Hereupon the Turks altered their Resolution of invading that Island, and marched to Napoli de Romania. Now the Peace betwixt France * 1.6 and Spain was concluded upon honourable Conditions. As to the Kingdom of Naples, it was agreed it should be taken from King Frederick, that Apulia and Calabria should be given to the Catholick King, Abruzzo and Campania to the French, and that all the Revenue of the Kingdom should be equally divided. This Agreement was not like to be lasting. Be∣sides, their pretensions of Right to that Crown, they had another colour, which was to make War upon the Turks, with whom King Frederick was in League. At first this contract was kept very private, afterwards discovered to the Pope, who was well pleased, and gave each of the Kings an Investiture of his Part; to the King of France, with the Title of King of Naples and Hierusalem; and to the Catholick King, that of Duke of Apulia. From Corfu the Spanish Fleet sailed to Zant, where it arrived the 5th of October. There the Venetian Fleet joined it. Two French Carracks came thither with 800 Men, that King having promi∣sed to assist the Venetians when they delivered up Cardinal Ascanius to him. The Turks who had distressed Napoli de Romania raised their Siege, and their Fleet drew into the Channel of Negropont on the farther side of the Morea. At Zant there were various Opinions about what was best to be done. The Great Captain was for attacking Modon. It was resolved to Conquer the Island Cefalonia, which is large and has one of the best Ports in the World on the West side. It lies between Corfu and Zant opposite to the Gulph of Lepanto. The French being gone upon pretence they were not paid, the rest laid Siege to the chief Town of the Island called S. George. In it were 300 Turks, chosen Men who defended themselves * 1.7 well; and the Christians were repulsed in an assault they gave the first day. By reason of the Bad Weather the Siege lasted some Weeks, but upon Christmas-Eve the Town was car∣ried by storm. 170 Turks were killed, and 50 that retired to a strong Tower surrendred upon discretion. Captain Martin Gomez was the first that entred the Town. That Island had belonged to Leonard Torus a Greek, from whose Brother the Venetians took, and gave it to the Turks. Now it was again given to the Venetians. This done, the Great Captain returned to Sicily, and arrived at Siracusa, where all his Fleet met, having been dispersed in a Storm. For his good Service done to that State, the Venetians sent the Great Captain the Title of Nobleman of Venice, and with it a present of Plate and rich Silks. All the present he sent to the King, contenting himself with the honour gained. At this time Duke Valentin after having murdered his Brother in Law D. Alonso de Aragon Duke of Viseli, had renewed the War in Romania, and taken Pesera and Arimino without any Resistance, Faença held out long. This Year also the Pope allowed of the Divorce betwixt Ladislaus King of Hungary, and Beatrix of Aragon, who had been Wife to Mathias his Predecessor, Daughter to Ferdinand King of Naples, and Niece to the Catholick King. Ladislaus Married Ann Daughter to Gaston de Faux, Lord of Candale, Niece to the Catholick King, and Grandchild to Queen Ellenor of Navarre.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ferdinand assists the Venetians.
• * 1.2

  Birth of the Empe∣ror Charles the 5th.
• * 1.3

  The Fr. posses them∣selves of the Duke and Duke∣dom of Millan.
• * 1.4

  1500.
• * 1.5

  Great Year of Jubilee.
• * 1.6

  Peace be∣twixt Fr. and Spain.
• * 1.7

  Cefalonia taken from the Turks.