ing, at their first charge, those who guarded it and shouting liberty! * The troops of the governor and viceroy, being attacked at two different points, took to flight, and soon left their antagonists masters of the place. † The viceroy, and the judges and lords who accompanied him, hastily took refuge in a house. But the people set fire to it, and they only escaped from the danger by breaking down the back walls and taking shelter in the fortified habitation of the Duke de Villahermosa. On their side, the lieu * "Al mismo tiempo Gil de Mesa con Franco. de Ayerbe de Tauste y la gente y lacayos de don Diego, y el pueblo y canalla que les siguieron, acometieron con sus pedreñales por la calle de la Albaderia. Gil de Mesa con un mosquete y Franco. de Ayerbe con su pedreñal fueron los que primero entraron (que los vi por mis ojos) en la plaça appellidando libertad!”Llorente's Collection, vol. xvi. t. vi. fol. 63. "Fue tanto lo, que se acuerdaron los que tenian occupados ·los puestos, que en breve rato los desempararon todos, quedando señores de la plaça los agressores." Ibid., fol. 53. "Gil de Mesa con mucho numero de lacayos arcabuzeros. . . haviendo peleado grande rato con muertes de muchos hombres ... ganaron le plaça y aviendo en su favor grandissimo numero de gente popular, appellidando: Viva libertad !"— Ibid., vol. xv. t. v. fol. 130. Deposition of Lanceman de Sola. Proceso. MS. "Virrey y todos deputados. ... se metieron in una casa, donde se hicieron fuertes... (Los agressores) pusieron fuego a la casa ... viendo el virrey y las mas señores. que iba en aumento el fuego acordaron de rumper ciertas paredes para poderse escapar de tan notable peligro y desta manera se fueron escapando a las casas del duque de Villahermosa, que por ser fuertes entendian estar en ellas mas seguros.”—Pro tenant, the deputy, the jurat, and the Alguazil, who were with Perez, seized with fear, left him all alone, and fled over the roofs of the houses, as far as the palace of the chief justice.* The victorious rioters then broke open the doors of the prison, delivered Perez, and carried him in triumph to the house of Don Diego de Heredia. † Perez immediately mounted on horseback with Gil de Mesa, Francisco de Ayerbe, and two lacayos, and departed from Saragossa by the gate of Santa-Engracia, followed by a crowd of people, who accompanied him with their acclamations and good wishes for half a mile. He bent his course * "Losque dentro en la carcel estavan, procuraron meterse en cobro passandose por los texados a casa del justicia." Llorente's Collection, vol. xvi. t. vii. fol. 53., Basante's Deposition. +"Y rompieron los puertas de la carcel de los Manifestados, entraron, hasta donde el dicho Ant. Perez estaba, y con grandissima vozeria le sacaron y liberaron."-Ibid., vol. xv. t. v. fol. 130. Deposition of Lanciman de Sola. "Llevandole en palmas a casa de don Diego de Heredia."-Ibid., vol. xvi. t. vii. fol. 53. Deposition of Basante. "Y entrado Gil de Mesa començó a desaprisionar y quitar, los grillos a Ant. Perez, y le sacó y llevó a la casa de don Diego de Heredia." Proceso, MSS. "Y tomado luego los cavallos de don Diego el y Gil de Mesa y Franco. de Ayerbe..... salieron por la puerta de Santa Engracia." Collection, vol. xvi. t. vii. fol. 53., Deposition of Basante. Proceso, MSS. "La tarde a 24 de Septiembre despues que el pueblo le depositó en casa de don Diego de Heredia, tomó Antonio Perez cavallos, y con Gil de Mesa y un amigo y dos de los que llaman lacayos en Aragon salio de Caragoça publicamente, accompañandole una nuebe de pueblo de aquella grand multitud medio quarto de legua con gritos y bendiciones towards the mountains, nor stopped till he had ridden nine Spanish leagues; then, separating from Francisco de Ayerbe, and the two lacayos, he remained alone with Gil de Mesa.* He remained several days concealed among the mountains, going abroad only by night to fetch water, and living on a little bread that he had brought with him. † He waited for a favourable moment to cross the Pyrenees by a pass called the Col de Roncevaux. But having heard that the governor's emissaries were in pursuit of him, he turned back by the advice of Don Martin de la Nuza, and, on the 20th of October, re-entered Saragossa in disguise; there he was received by Don Martin de la Nuza, who concealed him in his house. § y ruegos al cielo dor su buen viage y salvacion."-Relaciones, p. 137. * Relaciones, p. 137. "En este monte estuvó tres dias... sin que comer sino pan. De noche anduva en busca de aqua."— Ibid. Ibid., p. 13a. § Ibid. CHAPTER VI. FORMATION OF A CASTILIAN ARMY UPON THE FRONTIERS OF ARAGON.- ITS ENTRANCE INTO SARAGOSSA.- ARREST AND EXECUTION OF THE JUSTICIA MAYOR. EXECUTION OR FLIGHT OF THE PRINCIPAL INSURGENTS. SENTENCE OF DEATH PRONOUNCED BY THE TRIBUNAL OF THE HOLY OFFICE AGAINST PEREZ AND SEVENTY-NINE OTHERS, FOUND GUILTY. AUTO-DA-FÉ IN SARAGOSSA.-DESTRUCTION OF THE ANCIENT LIBERTIES OF ARAGON. THE insurrection of the 24th of September had subsided about five in the evening, after the deliverance of the prisoners and the escape of Perez. Saving a few cries of "Liberty for ever!" which were continued throughout the following night by bands of men or children, who perambulated the streets of Saragossa, order seemed to be every where restored.* The deputies thought of sending an embassy to Madrid; and the viceroy informed Philip of their project, after having apprised him of the measures he had taken to prevent the popular tumult, and * "Luego aquella noche siguiente gran numero de gente de hombres y muchachos andubieron por toda la ciudad, appellidando libertad! vivan los fueros del reyno de Aragon! Y pasado esto, estubó la ciudad quieta per algunos dias.” — Proceso, MSS. Philip showed no of the dangers he had incurred. anger, and seemed disposed to practise no severity. He replied to the viceroy that he would receive the deputies whom they proposed to send to him, and would listen to them with pleasure; he charged him to say so, in his name, to whomsoever and in whatsoever manner it might be most proper, and he added: “I am not less sensible of the peril you have incurred than I am satisfied with the prudence and zeal you have displayed, both you and those who assisted you in the affair of the 24th of September. For this I return you many thanks, which you will express, likewise, very particularly to those who supported you. This justice is due to the fidelity and attachment which you all testified, on that occasion, for my service and the good of this kingdom. Given at SanLorenzo, the 1st of October, 1591. I the King."* Notwithstanding this apparent calm, and these proofs of satisfaction, Philip had the intention, this time, of punishing the insurgents and of profiting by * "Holgare de oyrlos siempre que aqui llegaren, y vos lo podreys dezir en mi nombre a quien y como mas convenga. No estoy menos sentido de vuestro peligro que agradecido del cuidado y zelo que tubisteys, vos y los que os asistieron en el caso del dia de 24 de Setiembre. Dello os doy muchas gracias, y vos de mi parte las dad muy en particular a los que a aquello acudieron, como lo merece la fidelidad y amor que en ello mostraysteys todos a mi se servicio y bien de ese reyno. Dado en San-Lorenzo, a primero de Octubre, 1591. Yo el Rey.”—Llo |