December. This done, all their Estates were restored to those who had been of the Empe∣rour's and Prince's Party; and D. Peter de Guevara was set at liberty according to Capitula∣tion. Upon which, some Gentlemen departed the Kingdom, pretending to go serve the Prince. Among these D. Alonso Manrique, Bishop of Badajoz, was most remarkable. At this time the Earl of Pitillano the Venetian General died at Lonigo in the Territory of Vincenza. King Ferdinand ordered the Earl of Lemos, who still held Intelligence in Portugal and Flanders, to deliver up the Forts of Sarria and Monforte to the Lord of Poça, then Governour of Ga∣licia. D. Raymund de Cardona, Viceroy of Sicily, was appointed to succeed the Earl of Ri∣bagorça at Naples, and D. Hugo de Moncada to be Viceroy of Sicily. Various Reports were spread abroad concerning this Change of Viceroy at Naples. Most Men said the Earl of Ribagorça was not capable of that Command: Others believed the Ursini were the cause of his removal. But who can stop the Mouths of the Multitude, or fathom the Designs of Princes?
King Ferdinand being desirous to employ his Forces against the Infidels, was always for con∣cluding a Peace with the Venetians, and joining in League with them, after each of the Con∣federates had recovered what he pretended a right to. Thus he proposed with the joint Forces of them all to make War upon the Turks, the common Enemy of Christendom. It was hard to reconcile such different Interests. He proposed to join his Forces with those of the other Princes, and to go himself in Person to the Levant. This his Design he made known to the Pope, who approved of it, and offered to forward it. The Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily lay opportunely for this Enterprize. Those who well weighed the Circumstances of Things, thought it not fit for the King at his Age, and in the present posture of Affairs in Castile to absent himself so far off. It was thought more expedient to continue the Conquest of Africk so fortunately begun. Count Peter Navarro had 13 Ships well equipped in the Port of Mazal∣quivir. He sailed thence with some chosen Troops to the Island Yviça, where Hierome Vianelo expected him with another part of the Fleet. There they staid some days, it being the dead of Winter. It was declared the Fleet was designed for Bugia. They sailed from Yviça on the first of January, 1510. The Forces consisted of about 5000 Men, well provided with Cannon. Bugia is seated on the Coast of Numidia, not far from the Borders of Mauritania Caesariensis. First it belonged to the Kings of Tunez, then to those of Tremecen, who pos∣sessed it till recovered by Abuferriz King of Tunez. He left it to his Son Abdulhazis, with the Title of a New Kingdom. From him was descended Abdurrahamel the present Possessor, who usurped it from Muley Abdalla his Brother's Son, and the Rightful King. It is seated on the side of a high Mountain, with a good Castle at the upper part, all of it encompassed with an old but strong Wall. It used to contain 8000 Inhabitants, and was the chief University for Philosophy in Africk. The Country about it is fitter for Gardens and Orchards than to bear Corn Our Fleet came before it on the Eve of the Epiphany, but the Men could not land because the Wind was contrary. On the top of the Mountain appeared the Moorish King with 10000 Foot and some Squadrons of Horse. They began to come down to the Shoar to hinder our Men landing, but the Cannon of the Fleet made them draw back, and clear the Landing∣place. The Earl drew up his Men in Four Bodies, and began to ascend the Hill in order to fight the Moors, but they retired into the City. Our Men, some through an Ascent in the Old City which was abandoned, and others from the top of the Mountain, soon scaled the Walls. Within they found no resistance; for as they entred on the one side, the King and his Men fled out at the other. This Success terrified all Africk, and the more for that Muley Abdalla the Lawful King escaping out of Prison, fled to the Earl. He, after taking the City, attacked Abdarrahamel in his Camp 8 Leagues thence, and put him to flight, upon which many Towns along that Coast submitted themselves. The first of these was Argier, afterwards the Terror of Spain, and grown Rich with our Spoils. After Argier the King of Tunez and City Tedeliz did the same. Even the King of Tremecen and Moors of Mostagan subjected themselves to the King. Articles were concluded with them all, by which they were obliged to set free all Christians, and pay a yearly Tribute. This took up the Earl some time, yet he omitted nothing that might tend to advance the Conquest. At this time Alonso d' Albuquerque in India made himself Master of the City Goa, the Metropolis of the Portugues Empire in those Parts. This City stands in an Island made by a River falling into the Sea. It is about 5 Leagues in length, was subject to Zabaim Hidalcan, and at that time ill provided, he having drawn away the Garrison to serve in his other Wars. Timoja a Pirate who robbed along those Seas with 14 Vessels, gave notice of it to the Governour, and he found all his Intelligence to be true. On the 16th of February he entred that Port, and easily made himself Master of the City. Francis d' Almeyda his Predecessor, in his return to Portugal, having put in to Water at the Cape of Good Hope, was killed in a Skirmish with the Cafres, so the Natives of that Country are called. The Catholick King had made choice of D. Garcia de Toledo, Eldest Son to the Duke of Alva, to be General in Africk, designing to make use of Count Peter Navarro in his Wars in Italy. D. Garcia made some considerable stay before he departed Spain. The Earl not to lose time, as also because the Plague began to spread in Bugia, on the 7th of June set out with 8000 Men towards Favignana, a small Island off of Trapana in Sicily; thither re∣paired to him 11 Galleys, besides other Vessels of Naples and Sicily; so that he was 14000 Men strong. With this Fleet he soon came in sight of Tripoli on the Coast of Barbary, for∣merly