CHAP. . V The League betwixt the Emperor, the Archduke, and King of France; The League against the Venetians; The death of King Frederick of Naples, and Queen Elizabeth of Ca∣stile; Contention about the Government of Castile betwixt King Ferdinand and King Philip; Treaties with France.

ONE of the principal Causes of removing the Spanish Ambassadors was, that they might not hinder the proceedings towards a League Offensive and Defensive soon * after Concluded on the 22th of September, betwixt the Emperor, the Archduke his Son, and the King of France. The principal Articles were, That the Emperor should attempt nothing against the Dukedom of Milan, or any other State then in League with France, but should pardon all Offences by them committed against the Empire since King Charles passed the Alpes till that day. That if for the future they failed of their Duty, he might Punish them, and the King of France should not Protect them. That the Investiture of Milan should within 3 Months be given to the King of France for him and his Heirs, he paying 200000 Livers for the same. That the King of France should come to no Agreement with the Ca∣tholick King about the Kingdom of Naples without the Emperor's Consent, and in case the Catholick King would not be brought to Composition, the Emperor should assist the King of France to Recover that Kingdom. That Lands and Revenues should be assigned in France to the Children of Luis Sforcia last Duke of Milan, whensoever they would go thither. That all those who were fled thence should be restored to their Estates, and the King's favour. Four months were allowed the Catholick King to come into the League, upon Condition he should resign all his Right to the Kingdom of Naples, to Charles his Grandson, on the Terms before proposed; and that each of the Allies should have 3 Months allowed him to bring his Confederates into the League. It much disgusted the Catholick King, and most Men observed that neither the Emperor, nor the Archduke named him among their Allies. This League was managed openly, but under Hand another was agreed upon betwixt the same Princes and the Pope, on pretence of Uniting their Forces against the Turks, but the real design was against the Venetians. Each of those Princes pretended that Seigneury wrongfully detained several Towns of theirs, which now they proposed to Recover by Force. A mighty Storm threatned that State, whereof Lawrence Suarez de Figueroa gave them notice, designing to draw them to join with Spain. The Enemy was Powerful, and * the Catholick King much Exhausted, for it appeared by his Books that he had already re∣turned above 331 Millions for the Charge of that War in Italy. (F. Mariana names not what these Millions were of, I guess them to be of Maravedies, which will amount to above 160000 Pounds Sterling, a vast Sum in those days.) The Venetians would not believe any thing of that League, and were resolved to stand Neuters, and take Party with that Side which proved strongest. At the same time they held Intelligence with the Soldan of Egypt, for hindring the Portugues Trade in India, which totally Ruined theirs at Alexandria. To this effect they sent an Ambassador to the Soldan, and Founders to cast Guns, as also Shipwrights to build Ships after our manner, and a great quantity of Mettal to be sent forward to Calicut, the chief Mart of the East for Spice, to the intent that King might drive the Portugueses out of those Seas. They also proposed to the Catholick King to be Mediator betwixt them and the Portugueses, for adjusting those Differences, which he refused, it being a matter not easily to be reconciled, the Interest of both Parties being so deeply concerned.

Page  510 None of the Princes we have spoken of enjoyed any great Satisfaction. The Emperor was poor, and at variance with his Son. The Princess, Wife to the Archduke, was not in her * right Senses. Queen Elizabeth laboured under a foul, tedious, and incurable Disease, which it was said would soon make an end of her. It was feared her Death would produce Troubles and change of Government. What Satisfaction could the King. of France have, seeing himself despoiled of a Kingdom he looked upon as his own? King Frederick ceased not to contrive ways how he might be restored. Seeing himself forsaken on all sides, Discontent cast him into an Ague, with which he returned from Blois to Tours his ordinary Residence. It grieved him to see there was no way left to reconcile the Kings of France and Spain; but above all, that his Son the Duke of Calabria was not a Man of those Parts as to wade through such Diffi∣culties. Hereupon towards his latter days, he wrote a Letter to him full of Fatherly Advice. Fortune so persecuted this unhappy King, that one night the House where he lay took fire, and he had much ado to escape naked with his Wife and Children. This Accident increased * his Sickness, of which he died in that City on the 9th of November. He left by his First Wife one Daughter married in France, and by the Second five Children, Elizabeth, Julia, Alonso, Caesar, and the Eldest of them all Ferdinand Duke of Calabria, who received the News of his Father's death at Medina del Campo, where the Court of Spain then was. Prosper Colona was sent by the King to give him the News, and comfort him. The King himself was then much afflicted on account of the Queen's Sickness, she being then in great danger. She pressed to have the Archduke and his Wife come into Spain, but the Archduke excused himself on ac∣count of the War he was engaged in against the Duke of Guelders. The truth was, he had no mind to come, and seemed not to value the Inheritance of such large Dominions. At length the Queen died on the 26th of November. She ordered her Body to be buried at Gra∣nada, where, because the Chapel designed for that Use was not finished, she was deposited in * the Alhambra. By her Will she vacated some Grants prejudicial to the Crown, made at the beginning of her Reign. She declared the Marquisate of Moya had been given to D. Bernard de Conbera by her Consent, for his good Service. She also appointed the Princess Joanna and her Husband the Archduke her Heirs; but in case the Princess, by reason of her Indisposition, or for any other Cause, should not take upon her the Government, then, as had been before resolved in the Cortes, or Assembly of the Three Estates, King Ferdinand was to Govern till Prince Charles were 20 Years of Age. Besides the Administration of the Masterships of the Three Military Orders granted by the Pope to King Ferdinand, she left him half the Profits of the Islands and Continent newly discovered, and 10 Millions (of Maravedics) yearly, out of the Revenue arising in the Lands of the Three Masterships. Her Executors were the King, the Archbishop of Toledo, the Bishop of Palencia, Antony Fonseca and John Velasquez her Com∣ptrollers, and John Lopez de Lezarraga her Secretary. Notwithstanding the Queen's Will, there wanted not some who advised the King to enter upon the Government as Heir to the Crown, he being descended of the Male Line of the Kings of Castile, affirming this was his safest way; and that easing the People of some Burdens, he would be received with General Applause. However, the King, tho' offended at his Son-in-Law, and knowing the Incapa∣city of his Daughter, yet that very Afternoon appeared publickly on a Scaffold, and caused his Daughter Joanna to be proclaimed Queen of Castile, and the Archduke Philip King, as be∣ing her Husband. In all other Places only Queen Joanna was proclaimed, without making mention of the Archduke, on pretence that he ought first to swear he would preserve their Privileges, and not put Strangers into Publick Employments, which Queen Elizabeth had or∣dered in her Will. This Winter the Rains were so violent, that all the Corn was destroyed, and there ensued a great Famine.

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth, there arose Differences and Contention. King Fer∣didand, in pursuance to her Will, pretended to Govern Castile, Queen Joanna's Distraction * being so notorious, that she was shut up in Flanders. Two things he did to secure himself, one was, That he writ to the Archduke to acquaint him he would not be admitted into Ca∣stile, unless he brought his Wife with him to satisfie the People whether her Brain was really distempered or not. The other, That he assembled the Cortes at Toro. There on the 11th of January, 1505. Garcilasso de la Vega, Chief Commendary of Leon, who presided in the Assembly of the Three Estates having seen that Clause in the Queen's Will which related * to the Succession and Government, solemnly swore Joanna Rightful Queen of Castile, and the Archduke her Husband King in her Right, and the Catholick King as Governour there∣of. Soon after the Queen's Distemper being made known, they made application to King Ferdinand to take upon him the Government. Letters were also sent into Flanders to the Arch∣duke pursuant to this Address. However, there ensued great Contention about the Govern∣ment. Many of the Nobility being disgusted by the Catholick King, desired a Change. The chief of these were D. Peter Manrique Duke of Najara, and D. James Lopez Pacheco Mar∣quess of Villena, who openly opposed the Catholick King; others, tho' of the same Opinion, temporized. Only D. Frederick de Toledo Duke of Alva stood firm to King Ferdinand. The New King and his Council protested against these Proceedings of the Catholick King, say∣ing, It was preposterous either to take the Title of King, or come into the Kingdom, if he was not to have the Power and Prerogative of a King. D. John Manuel, a Gentleman of a little Body but sharp Wit, heightned these Discontents. The Catholick King to remove him Page  511 from the Archduke, commanded him to return to the Emperor's Court, but the Archduke would never consent, and rather valued him the more, making him privy to all his Secrets. This Project failing, the Catholick King endeavoured to gain him by large Promises made to his Wife the Lady Catherine de Castilla; but he made more account of the present Bounty of a Young Prince, than the Promises of a crafty Old King. Nor was this all, the King grew jealous of the Kingdom of Naples, fearing lest the Great Captain should encline to favour his Son-in Law. Prosper Colona failed not to encrease this Jealousie, tho' he had obtained all he came to Spain for, and particularly that Bartholomew d' Albianos Company of 400 Men at Arms should be reduced to 200. Besides, the Catholick King ordered only 1200 Men at Arms, 600 Light Horse, and 3000 Spanish Foot, to be left in the Kingdom of Naples, 2000 Spaniards to be sent to Spain, and the Germans dismissed, all to save Charges, and weaken that Kingdom. A particular Council was erected in Castile for the Government of it. Ladron de Mauleon was sent Ambassadot from the King of Navarre, to confirm the ancient Alliance with King Ferdinand, by concluding the Match betwixt the Prince of Viana and the Archduke's Daughter. He also pressed to have Duke Valentine, then Prisoner, released, as did many Cardinals created by Pope Alexander. The King was willing to renew the League, and in∣clinable to the Match. As to the Duke he said it could not be done at present, tho' at the same time he thought to make use of him in Italy to balance against the Great Captain. He desired Security that he would be true to his Interest, and Alonso d' Este Duke of Ferrara, offered to be bound for him. Emanuel King of Portugal sent the Bishop of Porto and James Pacheco his Ambassadors to Rome, to acknowledge Pope Julius. After he had sent several Fleets to Trade in India, he now sent Francis d' Almeyda with the Title of Governour to reside there, that all who passed to those Parts might know who they were to obey. Many Difficulties attended the Prosecution of this Enterprize, besides the length of the Voyage: One was, the Opposition made by the Venetians, as has been hinted before; Another, that the Soldan of Babylon, either at the Instigation of that State, or of his own accord, undertook to ruin their Trade in those Parts. He sent Maurus, Guardian of the Monastery at Hierusalem, with Let∣ters to the Pope, complaining of the Proceedings of the Catholick King in the Conquest of Granada and Conversion of the Moors, and of the King of Portugal for ruining his Trade in India and taking his Ships. He desired him to put a stop to any further progress in this Af∣fair, otherwise he threatned to destroy the Holy Sepulchre, and put to death all the Christians within his Dominions. This moved the Pope to send the same Religious Man with the Let∣ters to Spain to both the Kings, neither of whom made any account of them or the Threats they contained.