[8] More specifically, in one of his memorials, Tomás, regarding his time on the galleys, says that: "I spent some years at sea, near Prince Andrea Doria, with an armada, hunting and capturing enemy vessels.

[12] The Duke of Savoy commanded his council of the household, and in particular to the majordomo in service, that without any objection, the ordinary ration be given to Tomás Fernández de Medrano from the beginning of the year, for him and two servants, and to ensure that there are no interruptions.

[13] On 1 August 1591 Tomás Fernández de Medrano assumed the significant role of serving as an intermediary between King Philip II of Spain and Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, stationed in Turin.

[3] Tomás Fernández de Medrano was entrusted with a dangerous mission to deal with the Duke of Savoy's political-military affairs in Madrid shortly after his appointment on 1 August 1591, with King Philip II of Spain himself: "The state of affairs in this Provence and the great and extreme necessity that we are in here have forced me to send to Your Majesty my secretary of state and war, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, so that, as a person through whose hands everything has passed and who infinitely desires the service of Your Majesty, he may understand the importance of your assistance in these parts.

"[3] On that trip, the Duke of Savoy reveals in a letter that Medrano was robbed and important documents were taken from him: "My secretary Tomás Fernández de Medrano, whom I sent from Provence to deal with His Majesty on some matters of great importance, informed me that among other things, thieves robbed him on the road from Barcelona to Madrid, and that the Papal bulls which Your Majesty ordered to be dispatched from Rome with hanging seals, when with the approval and pleasure of His Holiness he granted him the habit of San Juan from his own hand (without vows), for certain claims that are shared with his house.

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel I, played pivotal roles in this conflict, with Ladighiera emerging as a crucial figure on the French side.

[17] During the French Wars of Religion, his brother Francisco Fernández de Medrano commanded a Spanish garrison from Flanders, under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, stationed in Paris.

Since then, during the time I have been in Italy (which is approaching two years), I have been even more confirmed in my initial opinion because I have been in contact and communicated with him, and I see with my own eyes what a great servant he is of Your Majesty and what he deserves for it, and the abilities he has to serve in anything that is entrusted to him.

Together, they diligently sought new favors, and on 4 November 1595, the Duke even petitioned for a pension from Pope Clement VIII for Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, recognizing his exemplary qualities and services to the King and Infanta.

The Duke of Savoy hoped that the Pope would grant this favor to allow Don Tomás to enjoy it alongside the habit he had received from the Order of Saint John: "For the many good qualities that I recognized in Tomas Fernandez de Medrano, my Secretary of State and War, I brought him into my service on the occasions in Provence.

In response to this request and considering past services, the Marquis of Denia made efforts with His Majesty to grant Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano an income of four hundred ducats in Milan on 10 August 1607.

With the approval and pleasure of His Holiness Pope Paul V, he granted Tomás the habit of San Juan from his own hand (without vows), for certain claims that are shared with the House of Medrano.

This was a strategic location due to the presence of its coveted salt pans, one of the most important in Castile, which had been incorporated into the crown in 1564, respecting the rights of its previous owners, including the said convent.

[35] King Philip III of Spain wrote to Friar Vignancourt on 26 July 1608: "The Most Reverend and of great religion Master of the convent and order of S. John of Jerusalem, our very dear and beloved friend Tomás Fernández de Medrano, knight of that sacred religion, lord (who claims to be) of the town and estate of Valdeosera, secretary to the Princes of Savoy my nephews, by my order and that of the sacred chapters and assemblies of Castile, has served me for many years in papers and other things, with all satisfaction and with much integrity, especially as Secretary of State and War for the Duke of Savoy and Infanta Doña Catalina my siblings, of whom I have had and continue to have honored approvals, and of having served me in the war in particular tasks and ministries and as a soldier in good occasions; at that time he came from France to treat with the King my Lord and father, may he have glory, important matters for his Royal Service, in which he showed great prudence and goodness, and in the time he has served and continues to serve my nephews in Spain, he has been known to have such great zeal in matters of Religion, that I have very approved reports from them and from many others.

In the plot of Valdeosera, created according to tradition in the 9th century by King Ramiro, there were 13 "divisas", coinciding with the thirteen offspring of Sancho Fernández de Tejada.

And being V. M. now the mayor of the knight sons of diviseros of him, and being in that court with my lady doña Isabel de Sandoval his wife, come from Savoy, it seemed to me that it should be dedicated to such a principal successor, true and legitimate descendant of the field master and captain general of King Ramiro the first of León, and who now represents his same person in dignity: because as the wise man says: The glory of children are their parents.

In 1589, his father Tomás was officially recognized as a divisero (hereditary noble member of the Solar), along with his brothers, after proving their lineage as descendants of the original lords of Valdeosera.

Under the feudal system, the lords of Valdeosera held significant seigneurial rights, receiving rents in the form of 104.7 fanegas of wheat and rye, as well as 36 hens, which together were valued at 1,575 reales.

[46] Republica Mista (The Mixed Republic)[17] is an important political treatise written by Tomas Fernández de Medrano, Lord of Valdeosera, and published in Madrid by Juan Flamenco in 1602.

[3] A letter in the name of Tomás Fernández de Medrano, undated but probably from 1607, indicates the book he wrote on the Republic (addressed to the Duke of Lerma), where he treated, among other things, how important it is for Kings and Princes to be religious in order to be more obedient to their subjects, was pleasing to his Majesty.

This father-son collaboration is echoed in the Orazion Consotoria dedicated to Lord Carlo Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, with Tomás as the author and his son Juan responsible for its publication.

[1] Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas writes to King Philip III of Spain on 16 August 1601 about the fact that he has seen the prologue of the Mixed Republic entitled "On the three precepts that the Ambassador of the Romans gave to King Ptolemy on the good governance of his republic," Antonio writes that the subject matter is very useful and beneficial, full of good doctrine, examples, and history, and that his Highness, being served by it, may grant the license requested to print it.

In this invention, the King Ptolemy of Egypt is depicted conversing at length with seven ambassadors from the most flourishing states of the time: Rome, Carthage, Sicily, Rhodes, Athens, Sparta, and Sicyon.

Miguel Herrero's assertion in his introductory study to Fray Juan de Salazar's book confirms this is the work of Medrano: Addressed to Don Francisco de Sandoval, Duke of Lerma, Marquis of Denia, Cea, and Ampudia, of the Council of State of King D. Felipe III, our Lord, his Chief Equerry and Chief Steward, Grand Commander of Castilla, and Perpetual Alcaide of the Castle of Burgos, and of the Royal Houses of Tordesillas and Valladolid.

[50] For the prologue, Tomás Fernández de Medrano arranges all the political doctrine within a novelistic fiction, which recalls the ancient Spanish literature of Arabic origin.

In this invention, King Tolomeo of Egypt appears discussing over dinner with seven Ambassadors from the most flourishing contemporary states: Rome, Carthage, Sicily, Rhodes, Athens, Sparta, and Sicionia.

Each Ambassador explains the three main bases of the policy of his country,[51] leading Tomas to conclude that a mixed republic would be the most effective if the twenty-one political principles of the seven states were combined.

He replied that he met Tomás Fernández de Medrano while serving the Duke of Savoy, wearing the habit of Saint John of Jerusalem, despite being married, out of devotion (...) indicating that if he were not of clean and noble birth, he could not have her.

[3] In the prologue of the Sumario, Licenciado Salinas mentions the brothers of Tomás Fernández de Medrano: The neighborhood I have with the lordship and lords of Valdeosera and having seen the archives of their antiquities and closely touched the virtue and nobility of all in general and in particular of His Grace Tomás Fernández de Medrano and three soldier brothers that I have known and know in the service of His Majesty (one who died in the expedition to England, another who is a captain of Spanish Infantry and another ensign, of whose value and qualities we have such great proofs).

[3] Tomas had a second brother named Francisco Fernández de Medrano, Lord and Divisero of Regajal, resident and regidor of Logroño, who fought during the French Wars of Religion under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma.