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.

Anno 1576.

Pope Gregory the 13th, at Rome, at length gave Judgment against Bartholomew de Mi∣randa, * 1.1 Archbishop of Toledo, after he had been 17 years a Prisoner. He died 18 days after in the Monastery of his Order, called La Minerva in that City. He was more fortunate while a private Man, than in his great Dignity, being a Person of Learning and Piety; if in his latter years he had not given occasion to be suspected, and even condemned as one not per∣fectly sound in matter of Religion. Dr. Martin Aspizcueta of Navarre pleaded for him, and writ in his Defence, being the famousest Canonist of that Age, as appears by his Works in Print, no less pious than learned.

Maximilian the Emperor dying, his Son Rodulphus, already King of the Romans, succeed∣ed him in the Empire. The Prince of Conde and John Casimir, Son to the Palatin, entred France by the way of Lorain, with 30000 Men, in favour of the Duke of Alençon, for fear of whom a Peace was concluded with the Hereticks little to the King's Advan∣tage.

D. Luis de Requesens, Governor of Flanders, dying, the States of that Country met to * 1.2 consult what was to be done. The result was, that they conspired against their King, and resolved to expel the Spaniards, join with the Hereticks, and take the Prince of Orange for their Head. To colour their Treason, soon after they sent for Mathias, the Emperor's Bro∣ther, out of Germany; but abused him, giving him the Name of Prince, and doing what pleased themselves. Whereupon in a little time, leaving that shadow of a Principality, he re∣turned to Germany.

The Rebels in Flanders laid siege to the Castle of Antwerp, at such time as the Spaniards, * 1.3 being without a Head, were in a Mutiny, nevertheless they assembled from all parts to defend that Place. The Garison of the Castle, with all that resorted to them, made not above 4000 Men. In the City were above 40000 able to bear Arms: Yet their Multitude no way dismayed the Soldiers; who falling upon them, killed 14000, then plundered, and set fire to that rich and beautiful City.

The same Day this hapned at Antwerp, which was the 4th of November, D. John of Au∣stria * 1.4 came to Luxemburgh, sent by the King of Spain to remedy the Disorders of the Low-Countries; and for more Expedition, he went through France in a disguise. His coming availed nothing, the Rebellion being too far advanced.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Archb. of Toledo con∣demned.
• * 1.2

  The Low-Countries conspire against Spain.
• * 1.3

  Antwerp plunder'd.
• * 1.4

  D. John in the Low Countries.