chronicle of the conquest of granada-第33章

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。　　Other　cavaliers　of　rank　and　distinction　waited　on　the　count　and　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles。　　At　one　o'clock　the　two　distinguished　guests　were　dismissed　with　many　courteous　expressions　by　the　sovereigns。

Such　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　were　the　great　honors　paid　at　our　most　exalted　and　ceremonious　court　to　these　renowned　cavaliers；　but　the　gratitude　of　the　sovereigns　did　not　end　here。　　A　few　days　afterward　they　bestowed　upon　them　large　revenues　for　life；　and　others　to　descend　to　their　heirs；　with　the　privilege　for　them　and　their　descendants　to　prefix　the　title　of　Don　to　their　names。　　They　gave　them；　moreover；　as　armorial　bearings　a　Moor's　head　crowned；　with　a　golden　chain　round　the　neck；　in　a　sanguine　field；　and　twenty…two　banners　round　the　margin　of　the　escutcheon。　　Their　descendants；　of　the　houses　of　Cabra　and　Cordova；　continue　to　bear　these　arms　at　the　present　day　in　memorial　of　the　victory　of　Lucena　and　the　capture　of　Boabdil　el　Chico。*

*The　account　given　by　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　of　this　ceremonial；　so　　characteristic　of　the　old　Spanish　court；　agrees　in　almost　every　　particular　with　an　ancient　manuscript　made　up　from　the　chronicles　　of　the　curate　of　los　Palacios　and　other　old　Spanish　writers。



CHAPTER　XXV。

HOW　THE　MARQUES　OF　CADIZ　CONCERTED　TO　SURPRISE　ZAHARA；　　　　　AND　THE　RESULT　OF　HIS　ENTERPRISE。


The　valiant　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz；　was　one　of　the　most　vigilant　of　commanders。　　He　kept　in　his　pay　a　number　of　converted　Moors　to　serve　as　adalides；　or　armed　guides。　　These　mongrel　Christians　were　of　great　service　in　procuring　information。　　Availing　themselves　of　their　Moorish　character　and　tongue；　they　penetrated　into　the　enemy's　country；　prowled　about　the　castles　and　fortresses；　noticed　the　state　of　the　walls；　the　gates；　and　towers；　the　strength　of　their　garrisons；　and　the　vigilance　or　negligence　of　their　commanders。　　All　this　they　minutely　reported　to　the　marques；　who　thus　knew　the　state　of　every　fortress　upon　the　frontier　and　when　it　might　be　attacked　with　advantage。　　Besides　the　various　town　and　cities　over　which　he　held　feudal　sway；　he　had　always　an　armed　force　about　him　ready　for　the　field。　　A　host　of　retainers　fed　in　his　hall　who　were　ready　to　follow　him　to　danger；　and　death　itself；　without　inquiring　who　or　why　they　fought。　　The　armories　of　his　castles　were　supplied　with　helms　and　cuirasses　and　weapons　of　all　kinds；　ready　burnished　for　use；　and　his　stables　were　filled　with　hardy　steeds　that　could　stand　a　mountain…scamper。

The　marques　was　aware　that　the　late　defeat　of　the　Moors　on　the　banks　of　the　Lopera　had　weakened　their　whole　frontier；　for　many　of　the　castles　and　fortresses　had　lost　their　alcaydes　and　their　choicest　troops。　　He　sent　out　his　war…hounds；　therefore；　upon　the　range　to　ascertain　where　a　successful　blow　might　be　struck；　and　they　soon　returned　with　word　that　Zahara　was　weakly　garrisoned　and　short　of　provisions。

This　was　the　very　fortress　which；　about　two　years　before；　had　been　stormed　by　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　and　its　capture　had　been　the　first　blow　of　this　eventful　war。　　It　had　ever　since　remained　a　thorn　in　the　side　of　Andalusia。　　All　the　Christians　had　been　carried　away　captive；　and　no　civil　population　had　been　introduced　in　their　stead。　　There　were　no　women　or　children　in　the　place。　　It　was　kept　up　as　a　mere　military　post；　commanding　one　of　the　most　important　passes　of　the　mountains；　and　was　a　stronghold　of　Moorish　marauders。　　The　marques　was　animated　by　the　idea　of　regaining　this　fortress　for　his　sovereigns　and　wresting　from　the　old　Moorish　king　this　boasted　trophy　of　his　prowess。　　He　sent　missives；　therefore；　to　the　brave　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero；　who　had　distinguished　himself　in　the　late　victory；　and　to　Juan　Almaraz；　captain　of　the　men…at…arms　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood；　informing　them　of　his　designs；　and　inviting　them　to　meet　him　with　their　forces　on　the　banks　of　the　Guadalete。

It　was　on　the　day　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　of　the　glorious　apostles　St。　Simon　and　Judas；　the　twenty…eighth　of　October；　in　the　year　of　grace　one　thousand　four　hundred　and　eighty…three；　that　this　chosen　band　of　Christian　soldiers　assembled　suddenly　and　secretly　at　the　appointed　place。　　Their　forces　when　united　amounted　to　six　hundred　horse　and　fifteen　hundred　foot。　　Their　gathering…place　was　at　the　entrance　of　the　defile　leading　to　Zahara。　　That　ancient　town；　renowned　in　Moorish　warfare；　is　situated　in　one　of　the　roughest　passes　of　the　Serrania　de　Ronda。　　It　is　built　round　the　craggy　cone　of　a　hill；　on　the　lofty　summit　of　which　is　a　strong　castle。　　The　country　around　is　broken　into　deep　barrancas　or　ravines；　some　of　which　approach　its　very　walls。　　The　place　had　until　recently　been　considered　impregnable；　but　（as　the　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　observes）　the　walls　of　impregnable　fortresses；　like　the　virtue　of　self…confident　saints；　have　their　weak　points　of　attack。

The　marques　of　Cadiz　advanced　with　his　little　army　in　the　dead　of　the　night；　marching　silently　into　the　deep　and　dark　defiles　of　the　mountains；　and　stealing　up　the　ravines　which　extended　to　the　walls　of　the　town。　　Their　approach　was　so　noiseless　that　the　Moorish　sentinels　upon　the　walls　heard　not　a　voice　or　a　footfall。　　The　marques　was　accompanied　by　his　old　escalador；　Ortega　de　Prado；　who　had　distinguished　himself　at　the　scaling　of　Alhama。　　This　hardy　veteran　was　stationed；　with　ten　men　furnished　with　scaling…ladders；　in　a　cavity　among　the　rocks　close　to　the　walls。　　At　a　little　distance　seventy　men　were　hid　in　a　ravine；　to　be　at　hand　to　second　him　when　he　should　have　fixed　his　ladders。　　The　rest　of　the　troops　were　concealed　in　another　ravine　commanding　a　fair　approach　to　the　gate　of　the　fortress。　　A　shrewd　and　wary　adalid；　well　acquainted　with　the　place；　was　appointed　to　give　signals；　and　so　stationed　that　he　could　be　seen　by　the　various　parties　in　ambush；　but　not　by　the　garrison。

By　orders　of　the　marques　a　small　body　of　light　cavalry　passed　along　the　glen；　and；　turning　round　a　point　of　rock；　showed　themselves　before　the　town：　they＇6＇skirred　the　fields　almost　to　the　gates；　as　if　by　way　of　bravado　and　to　defy　the　garrison　to　a　skirmish。　　The　Moors　were　not　slow　in　replying　to　it。　　About　seventy　horse　and　a　number　of　foot　who　had　guarded　the　walls　sallied　forth　impetuously；　thinking　to　make　easy　prey　of　these　insolent　marauders。　　The　Christian　horsemen　fled　for　the　ravine；　the　Moors　pursued　them　down　the　hill；　until　they　heard　a　great　shouting　and　tumult　behind　them。　　Looking　round　toward　the　town；　they　beheld　a　scaling　party　mounting　the　walls　sword　in　hand。　　Wheeling　about；　they　galloped　for　the　gate：　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero　rushed　forth　at　the　same　time　with　their　ambuscade；　and　endeavored　to　cut　them　off；　but　the　Moors　succeeded　in　throwing　themselves　within　the　walls。

While　Puerto　Carrero　stormed　at　the　gate　the　marques　put　spurs　to　his　horse　and　galloped　to　the　support　of　Ortega　de　Prado　and　his　scaling　party。　　He　arrived　at　a　moment　of　imminent　peril；　when　the　party　was　assailed　by　fifty　Moors　armed　with　cuirasses　and　lances；　who　were　on　the　point　of　thrusting　them　from　the　walls。　　The　marques　sprang　from　his　horse；　mounted　a　ladder　sword　in　hand；　followed　by　a　number　of　his　troops；　and　made　a　vigorous　attack　upon　the　enemy。*　They　were　soon　driven　from　the　walls；　and　the　gates　and　towers　remained　in　possession　of　the　Christians。　　The　Moors　defended　themselves　for　a　short　time　in　the　streets；　but　at　length　took　refuge　in　the　castle；　the　walls　of　which　were　strong　and　capable　of　holding　out　until　relief　should　arrive。　　The　marques　had　no　desire　to　carry　on　a　siege；　and　he　had　not　provisions　sufficient　for　many　prisoners；　he　granted　them；　therefore；　favorable　terms。　　They　were　permitted；　on　leaving　their　arms　behind　them；　to　march　out　with　as　much　of　their　effects　as　they　could　carry；　and　it　was　stipulated　that　they　should　pass　over　to　Barbary。　　The　marques　remained　in　the　place　until　both　town　and　castle　were　put　in　a　perfect　state　of　defence　and　strongly　garrisoned。

*Cura　de　los　Palacios；　c。　68。


Thus　did　Zahara　return　once　more　in　possession　of　the　Christians；　to　the　great　confusion　of　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　who；　having　paid　the　penalty　of　his　ill…timed　violence；　was　now　depr