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. Mazalquivir in Africk taken from the Moors; The Nobility of Spain divided for and against King Philip; The Agreement made betwixt the Two Kings Ferdinand and Philip; The latter in England.

THE Archbishop of Toledo never forsook the Catholick King, but upon all occasions stood by him with extraordinary Fidelity, and was a great Check to many disaffected Per∣sons. * 1.1 This Prelate was a Man of a mighty Spirit, and more Generous than might have been expected of his mean Education. He often pressed the King, even whilst Queen Elizabeth was living, to make War upon the Moors in Barbary, as soon as that in Naples were ended. This Business was so far advanced, that the King ordered part of the Spanish Forces to be sent out of Naples into Spain, which was accordingly done. The Earl of Tendilla offered, if the King would assign him 40 Millions of Maravedies, to conquer Oran and the Port of Mazal∣quivir, with the Towns adjacent. In case any of that Sum were left after defraying the Charge, he promised to restore it; but if it fell short, to make it up of his own. This Con∣tract being well advanced, was broke off by the Queen's death. Yet that the Enterprize might not be wholly laid aside, and the Neapolitan Soldiers be idle, the Archbishop lent the King 11 Millions towards carrying on that Design. A Fleet was fitted out on the Coast of Andaluzia, at first intending to take Tedeliz, a Town betwixt Bugia and Argiers, to which purpose Intelligence was held with some Persons in it. But this appearing to be a Place of no Consequence, nor worth the keeping, it was resolved to attempt Mazalquivir, which in Arabick signifies the Great Port, and Ptolomy calls it Portus Magnus. It stands near to Oran, almost opposite to Almeria, only a little more to the Eastward. The Fleet consisted of 6 Galleys, and a great Number of Caravels and other small Vessels, in which were about 5000 Men, under the Command of D. James Fernandez de Cordova, a Valiant Officer. They sailed from Malaga upon Friday the 29th of August. D. Raymund de Cardona was Admiral. They met with bad Weather, and were forced to put into the Port of Almeria. Thence they set forward on the 11th of September, and came to an Anchor with the whole Fleet in the Har∣bour of Mazalquivir. On the Point of the Harbour was a Bulwark planted with Cannon, with other Works, under which our Fleet entred. 150 Horse and 3000 Foot came to ob∣struct our Men landing. The Landing-place was bad, and the Weather tempestuous, yet the Valour of the Christians overcame all Difficulties. Peter Lopez Zagal, a valiant Soldier, was the first that leaped ashore. The Moors were forced back to Oran, and only 400 left in the Fort of Mazalquivir. The Fort was battered, the Commander of it killed by a Cannon-Ball, and their best Guns dismounted. This so discouraged the Moors, that the third day they surrendered, and the Spanish Colours were set upon the Walls. It fell out very fortunately in the first place, that the Fleet was stayed by ill Weather; for upon the News of their setting

out of Malaga, a great Multitude of Moors assembled; but having waited 8 days, and Pro∣visions growing scarce, they thought our Fleet had steered another Course, and so they dis∣persed. Next, that the very Day the Fort surrendered, a great number of Moors came down the Mountain to relieve the Besieged, who might have done us much harm if they had come soon enough. They joined with those of Oran, and took the Field, in order as was thought to give Battel, which yet they durst not do, tho' our Commander drew out to meet them. Some Skirmishes there were with our Parties that went out for Wood or Water, of both which they were scarce. The Command of that Fort, with the Title of Captain General of the Conquests in Barbary, was given to James Fernandez de Cordova. D. Raimund de Car∣dona returned with his Fleet to Malaga, on the 24th of the aforesaid Month. Those that were left at Mazalquivir concluded a Truce with the Moors at Oran, by which a Free Trade was allowed between them, which was very advantageous to the Moors because of their Trade. This Enterprize gained the Catholick King much Reputation, tho' at the same time malici∣ous People gave out that was only a Colour to gather Forces, which in reality were de∣signed to keep out his Son-in-Law, if he should attempt to come to deprive him of the Govern∣ment. This good Beginning encouraged the Archbishop of Toledo to spend most of his Re∣venue in prosecuting that Design, insomuch that he thought of going over into Africk himself, as at last he did. About the middle of this Month the Queen was delivered of a Daughter called Mary. The Catholick King sent Charles d' Aragon, one of his Domesticks, to visit her, and advise King Philip to Peace. King Emanuel of Portugal retired to Almeria, because the Plague began to spread at Lisbon. This same Year the Court of Chancery was removed from Ciudad Reall to Granada, and the Bishop of Astorga made President.

King Ferdinand spent some Months at Segovia, and in the Forrest of Balsain, and on the 20th of October went away to Salamanca, where he caused the Peace concluded with France * 1.2 to be Proclaimed, which was not so well liked for the most part in Castile as in Aragon. The same thing that pleased the one Kingdom, discontented the other, that is the Separati∣on of the Kingdoms. All things were disposed to oppose King Philip in case of an open Breach. He from Brussels sent to require the Nobility to stand by him, particularly the Marquess de Villena, the Duke of Najara, Garlciasso de la Vega, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, the Earl of Uren̄a, the Admiral and Constable of Castile, which Two last, tho' related to King Ferdinand were wavering. D. John Manuel with his Letters widened the Breach, but always seemed desirous they should come to Agreement, which he said was easie if King Ferdinand would leave Castile to his Son-in Law, whose of Right it was. Otherwise he must expect to be turned out of it, and in danger of Aragon, for King Philip either with or without his consent would be there very soon. In order to it, a great Fleet was fitting out in Zealand, and 60 Sail were already in a readiness. Notwithstanding the King of France sent twice to require King Philip not to undertake that Voyage till he had agreed with his Father-in-Law, on the 8th of November he set out from Brussels for Zealand. There he delayed the time, whereupon it was believed he staied to have those of his Party in Spain to declare themselves openly. The Marquess de Villena chief of them going at this time to Toledo, it was supposed he had Orders from King Philip to secure that City, which alarmed the People, and the Family of the Silvas who stood firm to King Ferdinand, joined with the Governor D. Peter de Castilla to oppose him, but the Marquess went away quietly. Besides the Family of Silva, the Duke of Alva, and the Archbishop of Toledo, the principal Men that adhered to the Catholick King were, D. Bernard de Rojas Marquess of Denia, D. Gutierre Lopez chief Commendary of Calatrava, Antony de Fonseca and Ferdinand de la Vega. These were for opposing King Philip by all means whatsoever, if he should at∣tempt to come to Castile before some Agreement were made. This was the Resolution of the Catholick King, tho' he was unwilling to take up Arms against his Children, and believed the Country would not be satisfied to have Force used against its rightful Sove∣reigns. When things were in this posture tending to a Breach, King Philip sent ample Commission to his Ambassadors to promote an Accommodation. In pursuance hereof the Two Kings came to an Agreement at Salamanca, on the 24th of November upon the fol∣lowing Conditions. That both Kings and the Queen should Govern jointly, and all their Names should be inserted in all Orders, Patents, or other publick Wrings; and the Secre∣taries * 1.3 should subscribe by Order of their Highnesses. That as soon as King Philip and Queen Joanna came into the Kingdom, they should be Sworn King and Queen, King Ferdinand Governor, and Prince Charles Heir apparent of the Kingdoms of Castile, Leon and Granada. That the Revenue of the said Kingdoms should be divided into Two equal Parts after all charges deducted, one Part for King Ferdinand, the other for King Philip and his Queen. That all Employments should be given in like manner, even the Commendaries of the Military Orders, tho' the Administration of them appertained beyond all dispute to the Catholick King. The Pope, the Emperor, and Kings of England and Portugal were chosen Guarrantees for the performance hereof. It was also decreed that in case the Queen would not be concerned in the Government, still all Three Names should be used, but only the Two Kings Subscribe, and if either of the Two was absent, then all business should be done by the other. A Copy of these Articles was sent to Flanders, which displeased King Philip and his; howsoever they were accepted of, and Sworn to; for the King of France

had great power in Flanders, and besides they hoped when they came into Spain all things would become more easie. Now the Secretary Lope de Conchillos was enlarged, having been all this while close Prisoner. This Agreement was Proclaimed at Salamanca on the 6th of January 1506, and Two days after the King and Queen set Sail from Zealand. Such a vi∣olent Storm arose that some Ships were lost, and the rest forced to put into Weymouth in * 1.4 England. Thence King Philip went to Windsor to meet the King of England, where they con∣cluded * 1.5 a League, and agreed that the King of England should Marry Margaret of Austria, Widow of the late Duke of Savoy, and Prince Charles of Austria Marry that Kings Daughter, which Matches took no effect. King Philip delivered up the Duke of Suffolk who had put himself into his Protection, to the King of England. In this, and in Feasting was spent all the next Month, after which King Philip returned to Plymouth to take Ship. The Catholick King hearing of the Storm his Son-in-Law had been in, gathered all the best Ships along the Coast of Spain, and sent them to him under the Command of D. Charles Enriquez de Cisneros, who about this time raised the Estate, which his Family still possesses at Portugalete. At such time as the Treaty was at Salamanca, the Catholick King writ a Letter to D. John Manuel requiring him to advise King Philip to wave all past discontents, and be entirely reconciled. It will not be amiss to insert his answer, to shew the Wit and boldness of that Gentle∣man, it is thus. I received your Highness's Letter, and shall perform what is your Order, which is to use all my endeavours that past Discontents may be laid aside, and Friendship established, for it is not to be doubted that so good a Master as your Highness, and such good Schollars as the King and Queen will contribute much to the Happiness of those Kingdoms. God and my Conscience can bear Wit∣ness, that has been always my Study, tho' some, and perhaps your Highness may have judged otherwise by the ill Usage I have received. But Mens Tongues and Thoughts are not to be Confined, nor do I seek any Reward for what I have done. It would suffice that my past Services and Fatigues were not forgotten as they are. I judge by my Age, and the small regard had of me, that your Highness designs me no other recompence in this World, but in Prayers against I go into the next: Which reward I do not aspire to, for I have often heard it said, that a Prince can carry his Ministers to Hell; but never, that any King, tho' the most Christian, as is he of France, fetched any of his Favourites out of Purgatory. However, I will not fail of doing my Duty, nor forbear begging your Highness to use your ordinary Good∣ness and Prudence towards advancing this Agreement.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mazali∣quivir in Africk ta∣ken.
• * 1.2

  Nobles in Castile for and a∣gainst K. Philip.
• * 1.3

  Accord twixt the 2 Kings, Ferdinand and Philip
• * 1.4

  1506.
• * 1.5

  King Phi∣lip in England