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 1666.

This Year began with a Treaty of Peace betwixt Castile and Portugal: Some proposals were offered by the Military Commanders of both Kingdoms to the Two Queens, then Go∣verning * 1.1 for their Sons, who were both under Age. These proposals being altogether ma∣naged at a distance by 3 Persons, they could not come to any Agreement, and both Parties were still in Arms.

It pleased God to take to himself the Queen Mother of France, Ann Mauricia of Austria; upon whose death the King her Son began new Commotions, there being none to allay Resentments betwixt the Two Nations. No Body could guess what his great Preparations tended to, for he like a good Soldier kept his Counsels secret; raising great jealousies in all the Neighbouring Princes. The Queen Regent of Portugal also departed this Life on the 25th of February. On the 25th of April the Princess Margaret of Austria, was Contracted to her * 1.2 Uncle Leopoldus Ignatius the Emperor. Her departure was fixed for the 28th of the same Month: She Travelled to Denia thinking to Embark there; but being disappointed, went thence to Barcelona. Her Imperial Majesty came the 18th of July to Monjuy, distant half a League from Barcelona, whither she came by Sea. D. Luis Gonzaga the Viceroy first, then the Bishop, Chapter, and Magistrates went out to welcome, and kiss her Hand; which Cere∣mony lasted from 6 in the Morning, till Noon. All this while she was upon the Sea in the Admiral Gally, encompassed by 27 others, and much bigger than any of them, being guilt all over even to the Oars, the Stem and Stern set round with Christal Glass, through which appeared her Majesties Bed. At Noon she came to the Mole of the City, and all the Cannon was Three times fired round, the Gallys answering. She stept out of the Gally upon a Bridge made on purpose, that ran 200 yards into the Sea, was Railed on both sides, the Rails covered with Crimson Damask, and the Ground with Red and Yellow Bays. The Duke of Albuquerque handed her out, then followed the Dutchess, the Ladies, Cardinal Colonna, Two Bishops and the Dukes Two Brothers. These were covered, but the Viceroy and other Nobility had their Hats in their Hands. At the Foot of the Bridge were Two rich Chairs, which took up the Empress and Dutchess, the rest went a-Foot to the Mole;

where they again came out of their Chairs and went into a Coach, the Cannon now Firing the 4th time. The Empress spent 3 days in Visiting the City and Churches, all which time there were Fireworks and Illuminations at Night, other sports being forbidden on account of the King's death. Six days before her Majesty Embarked, came 7 Galleys of Malta, which Saluted 7 times with Vollies of small, as well as great Shot. Every Salute was answered by the City, and the Rejoicing lasted Two Hours. The 10th of August her Majesty Em∣barked, being 3 times saluted by the Cannon of the Town, her Fleet consisted of 34 Gal∣leys. Contrary Winds obliged them to put into Roses and Cadaques, at length they arrived at Final, where Cardinal Nepos the Pope's Legate, the Duke of Savoy, the Duke of Modena, the Duke of Florence his Brother, with other great Men expected her Majesty, accompanied by 10000 Men to guard her to Trent. There the Duke of Albuquerque delivered her to the Im∣perial Ministers sent to Receive her, and taking his leave, returned with all the Spaniards, going over to Sicily to take Possession of the Viceroyship of that Island.

Cid Hamet the Moor after having been several times assisted by King Philip IV. and recei∣ving * 1.3 many Favours at his Hands, in Requital for all those Obligations resolved to surprize the Town of Alarache, and to that effect provided all things necessary for an Escalade. A Chri∣stian Captive understanding the Design, fled with danger of his Life the 24th of February, and the 26th came to the Bank of the River, opposite to the Water Gate, where fearing lest his Intelligence should come late, he called out to Arms. Immediately some of the Garrison ran out, and meeting no Body, thought it had been some unlucky Moor had given the Alarm. Day appearing, discovered the Christian on the other side the River, who be∣ing brought over, acquainted the Governour D. John de Alvarado Bracamonte and Sarabia, that the Moor had 4000 Men with all necessaries, ready to Assault the Town, and had ordered 3 Ships to Sea to hinder any Advice being sent to Spain. Soon after the 3 Ships were dis∣covered, which confirmed what the Captive had said, and the Governour sent Alonso Belin∣ches Lieutenant of the Ordnance in a Tartan over to Spain to acquaint the Duke of Medina Celi who was General of the Coasts of Andaluzia, and desire Succours of him. The 27th, the Governor Posted all his Men, Assigning every Officer his Charge, reserving him∣self with a Party to be ready wherever the greatest danger called, On the 1st of March after midnight the Enemy began to draw near, which our Centries perceiving, made several shot, and about 4 in the morning the Moors gave the Assault upon all Sides at once with hideous Cries. Those that Attacked on the Side of the Land Gate possessed themselves of the Ra∣velin that covers the Gate, filling all the Place with their Multitude. Here the Vollies of small shot and the Pedreroes from the Flanks, made such Havock, that they were at length forced to abandon the Place, leaving it covered with dead Bodies, tho' they carried off ma∣ny. The same Fate followed them attempting to Scale the Wall on the Side of S. Francis, whither the Governor himself repaired, encouraging his Men; as finding the Moors made their greatest Efforts on that Side. Another Party cut down the Barrier before the Ravelin at the Foot of S. Martins Castle, yet found such Opposition, that tho' they kept their Ground till it was broad day, they then quitted it with great loss: Not were the Redoubis of S. Antony and Santiago forgotten by the Enemy, who made their utmost Efforts there, tho' with as little Success as in the other Places. At the same time that the Moors gave the As∣sault by Land, 5 Barques came up the River full of Men, to Scale the Walls on that Side. They thinking it convenient first to secure a Genoese Setie that had brought Provisions, board∣ed her all at once, but were received with such bravery that they were obliged to draw off, leaving many dead in the River, and one of the Barques aground, most of the Men in her being killed. When it was open day the Colours were displaied upon the Walls, and the Garrison went out to strip the dead. We lost but 11 Men, it was reported the Enemy had 4000 killed, and a greater number wounded. In the afternoon the Enemy put up a white Flag, which was for leave to bury their dead, and was granted.

Bernardin Gosbert, Quartermaster to the Guard of Archers, being in the Palace upon the * 1.4 7th of July, a Woman came up, and viewing him well, drew a Pistol from under her Veil and shot him in the Head, of which he died within Two Hours. She was apprehend∣ed for the Murder, and passing by the Church of S. Saviour, pleaded Sanctuary, tho' carried in a Sedan, and Persons above Exception gave their Opinions for her. All the Kingdom being in great Apprehensions of the Turkish Pyrates, and no less of the French, En∣glish and Portugues Fleets then abroad, the Spanish Plate Fleet arrived safe at Sanlucar the 16th of August.

At Ruremond in the Province of Guelders, in May a Magazine of Powder took Fire, and Destroyed 4000 Houses, 8 Parish Churches and Monasteries, the Bishops Palace, the Town House, and 35 Persons. In Holland a small Town of 200 Houses was burnt. Such like misfor∣tunes hapned in many other Places, as at Bouraeaux, Tours, Nantes; S. Malo, Blois, Roan, and several Parts of France. Many French Ships were cast away, and above 6000 Souls lost: Besides there were Earthquakes and great Floods. The Canal of Brussels was this Year carried on as far as Ostend.

The Venetian and Malta Fleets lay before Constantinople, whither the Turkish Fleet also came, * 1.5 and Anchored under the Cannon of the Forts. The Christians did all they could to draw them out, offering Battle; the Enemy never stirring till Midsummer-day, when overcome

with shame to be so dared, they weighed, and stood out. Their Fleet consisted of 34 Men of War, 66 Galleys, 9 Galleases, and 30 small Vessels. The Christian Fleet consisted of 28 Men of War, 9 Galleys, 7 Galleasses, 10 Brigantines and 30 other small Vessels. The Venetian Admiral sent to ask Advice of the Maltese, what was best to be done, for he had never imagined the Enemy was so strong. He answered it was then no time to Consult, but to Fight. They fell on with such Fury, that it was not long before the Turks began to give way, and their whole Fleet was totally Destroyed, excepting only 8 Galleys which Red at first. Two Galeasses and 9 Galleys were taken, the rest all burnt or sunk. Of the Christi∣ans 1500 Men were killed, and among them the Venetian Admiral taken off by a Cannon shot. What number of Men the Turks lost could not be known.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Overtures of Peace betwixt Spain and Portugal.
• * 1.2

  Queen Regent of Portugal dies.
• * 1.3

  Alarache in vain at∣tempted by the Moors.
• * 1.4

  A murder commit∣ted by a Woman.
• * 1.5

  Turkish Fleet beaten.