John, of Austria, 1547-1578; Spain -- History -- Philip II, 1556-1598
lordship and ladyship enjoy it for many long years. I kiss your
lordship's hands many times. From Real before the Moors. 16th of
May, 1569."
Footnote 9:
He alludes to the dreadful storm that the twenty-four galleys under
the command of Luis de Requesens encountered for three days on leaving
the port of Marseilles; some were lost, others dispersed and went,
disabled, to Sardinia. It was impossible for the Knight Commander to
fulfil D. John's orders. Gian Antonio Doria was then instructed to
come from Naples with his galleys and D. Álvaro de Bazán to bring his
from Sardinia; but it was too late, and meanwhile the Moors could
receive provisions and reinforcements of soldiers, Turks and Berbers.
CHAPTER XV
Philip II approved of his brother's proposal and authorised him to expel
all Moors over ten and under sixty from Granada.
They were to be assigned places of habitation in the villages of
Andalucia and Castille, which the King indicated, and handed over lists
to the justices there, that they might know about them.
The King also desired, to avoid scandal and to perform the matter more
gently, that the exile should not be inflicted as a punishment, but that
they were to be given to understand that they were taken away from
danger for their own good and peace, and that, quiet being restored,
they would be taken care of, and that the loyal and innocent would be
rewarded. Few were so in their acts and none were so in their feelings.
As D. Philip said, it was a dangerous piece of work for two different
reasons. It was to be feared that the Moors, seeing themselves found
out, would try some last and supreme stroke; and it was equally probable
that the populace of Granada, on seeing them captured and without arms,
would rise against them and commit some barbarous injury to their
persons and property. D. John foresaw all; with great prudence and
secrecy he sent to warn first of all, the armed men in the towns and
villages of the plain, and on the 23rd of June, the Eve of St. John's
Day, he suddenly issued a proclamation, ordering that in two hours' time
all the Moors who dwelt in the town of Granada, or its castle, and in
the Albaicin, citizens as well as strangers, should repair to their
respective parish churches.
The terror of the Moors was great, and fear and surprise stopped all
idea of resistance; they knew themselves to be criminals worthy of the
extreme penalty, and they were afraid that they were going to be
imprisoned in order that they might be beheaded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account