chronicle of the conquest of granada-第35章

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nd　other　historians　of　equal　veracity；　but　less　unction；　agree　in　pronouncing　him　one　of　the　ablest　of　Spanish　generals。　　So　terrible；　in　fact；　did　he　become　in　the　land　that　the　Moorish　peasantry　could　not　venture　a　league　from　Granada　or　Loxa　to　labor　in　the　fields　without　peril　of　being　carried　into　captivity。　　The　people　of　Granada　clamored　against　Muley　Abul　Hassan　for　suffering　his　lands　to　be　thus　outraged　and　insulted；　and　demanded　to　have　this　bold　marauder　shut　up　in　his　fortress。　　The　old　monarch　was　roused　by　their　remonstrances。　　He　sent　forth　powerful　troops　of　horse　to　protect　the　country　during　the　season　that　the　husbandmen　were　abroad　in　the　fields。　　These　troops　patrolled　in　formidable　squadrons　in　the　neighborhood　of　Alhama；　keeping　strict　watch　upon　its　gates；　so　that　it　was　impossible　for　the　Christians　to　make　a　sally　without　being　seen　and　intercepted。

While　Alhama　was　thus　blockaded　by　a　roving　force　of　Moorish　cavalry；　the　inhabitants　were　awakened　one　night　by　a　tremendous　crash　that　shook　the　fortress　to　its　foundations。　　The　garrison　flew　to　arms；　supposing　it　some　assault　of　the　enemy。　　The　alarm　proved　to　have　been　caused　by　the　rupture　of　a　portion　of　the　wall；　which；　undermined　by　heavy　rains；　had　suddenly　given　way；　leaving　a　large　chasm　yawning　toward　the　plain。

The　count　de　Tendilla　was　for　a　time　in　great　anxiety。　　Should　this　breach　be　discovered　by　the　blockading　horsemen；　they　would　arouse　the　country；　Granada　and　Loxa　would　pour　out　an　overwhelming　force；　and　they　would　find　his　walls　ready　sapped　for　an　assault。　　In　this　fearful　emergency　the　count　displayed　his　noted　talent　for　expedients。　　He　ordered　a　quantity　of　linen　cloth　to　be　stretched　in　front　of　the　breach；　painted　in　imitation　of　stone　and　indented　with　battlements；　so　as　at　a　distance　to　resemble　the　other　parts　of　the　walls：　behind　this　screen　he　employed　workmen　day　and　night　in　repairing　the　fracture。　　No　one　was　permitted　to　leave　the　fortress；　lest　information　of　its　defenceless　plight　should　be　carried　to　the　Moor。　　Light　squadrons　of　the　enemy　were　seen　hovering　about　the　plain；　but　never　approached　near　enough　to　discover　the　deception；　and　thus　in　the　course　of　a　few　days　the　wall　was　rebuilt　stronger　than　before。

There　was　another　expedient　of　this　shrewd　veteran　which　greatly　excites　the　marvel　of　Agapida。　　〃It　happened；〃　he　observes；　〃that　this　Catholic　cavalier　at　one　time　was　destitute　of　gold　and　silver　wherewith　to　pay　the　wages　of　his　troops；　and　the　soldiers　murmured　greatly；　seeing　that　they　had　not　the　means　of　purchasing　necessaries　from　the　people　of　the　town。　　In　this　dilemma　what　does　this　most　sagacious　commander？　　He　takes　me　a　number　of　little　morsels　of　paper；　on　the　which　he　inscribes　various　sums；　large　and　small；　according　to　the　nature　of　the　case；　and　signs　me　them　with　his　own　hand　and　name。　　These　did　he　give　to　the　soldiery　in　earnest　of　their　pay。　　'How！'　you　will　say；　'are　soldiers　to　be　paid　with　scraps　of　paper？'　　Even　so；　I　answer；　and　well　paid　too；　as　I　will　presently　make　manifest；　for　the　good　count　issued　a　proclamation　ordering　the　inhabitants　of　Alhama　to　take　these　morsels　of　paper　for　the　full　amount　thereon　inscribed；　promising　to　redeem　them　at　a　future　time　with　silver　and　gold；　and　threatening　severe　punishment　to　all　who　should　refuse。　　The　people；　having　full　confidence　in　his　word；　and　trusting　that　he　would　be　as　willing　to　perform　the　one　promise　as　he　certainly　was　able　to　perform　the　other；　took　those　curious　morsels　of　paper　without　hesitation　or　demur。　　Thus　by　a　subtle　and　most　miraculous　kind　of　alchymy　did　this　Catholic　cavalier　turn　worthless　paper　into　precious　gold；　and　make　his　late　impoverished　garrison　abound　in　money！〃

It　is　but　just　to　add　that　the　count　de　Tendilla　redeemed　his　promises　like　a　loyal　knight；　and　this　miracle；　as　it　appeared　in　the　eyes　of　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　is　the　first　instance　on　record　of　paper　money；　which　has　since　inundated　the　civilized　world　with　unbounded　opulence。



CHAPTER　XXVII。

FORAY　OF　CHRISTIAN　KNIGHTS　INTO　THE　TERRITORY　OF　THE　MOORS。


The　Spanish　cavaliers　who　had　survived　the　memorable　massacre　among　the　mountains　of　Malaga；　although　they　had　repeatedly　avenged　the　deaths　of　their　companions；　could　not　forget　the　horror　and　humiliation　of　their　defeat。　　Nothing　would　satisfy　them　but　a　second　expedition　of　the　kind　to　carry　fire　and　sword　throughout　a　wide　part　of　the　Moorish　territories；　and　leave　the　region　which　had　triumphed　in　their　disaster　a　black　and　burning　monument　of　their　vengeance。　　Their　wishes　accorded　with　the　policy　of　the　king　to　destroy　the　resources　of　the　enemy；　every　assistance　was　therefore　given　to　their　enterprise。

In　the　spring　of　1484　the　ancient　city　of　Antiquera　again　resounded　with　arms；　numbers　of　the　same　cavaliers　who　had　assembled　there　so　gayly　the　preceding　year　came　wheeling　into　the　gates　with　their　steeled　and　shining　warriors；　but　with　a　more　dark　and　solemn　brow　than　on　that　disastrous　occasion；　for　they　had　the　recollection　of　their　slaughtered　friends　present　to　their　minds；　whose　deaths　they　were　to　avenge。

In　a　little　while　there　was　a　chosen　force　of　six　thousand　horse　and　twelve　thousand　foot　assembled　in　Antiquera；　many　of　them　the　very　flower　of　Spanish　chivalry；　troops　of　the　established　military　and　religious　orders　and　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood。

Precautions　had　been　taken　to　furnish　this　army　with　all　things　needful　for　its　perilous　inroad。　　Numerous　surgeons　accompanied　it；　who　were　to　attend　upon　the　sick　and　wounded　without　charge；　being　paid　for　their　services　by　the　queen。　　Isabella　also；　in　her　considerate　humanity；　provided　six　spacious　tents　furnished　with　beds　and　all　things　needful　for　the　wounded　and　infirm。　　These　continued　to　be　used　in　all　great　expeditions　throughout　the　war；　and　were　called　the　Queen's　Hospital。　　The　worthy　father；　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　vaunts　this　benignant　provision　of　the　queen　as　the　first　introduction　of　a　regular　camp　hospital　in　campaigning　service。

Thus　thoroughly　prepared；　the　cavaliers　issued　forth　from　Antiquera　in　splendid　and　terrible　array；　but　with　less　exulting　confidence　and　vaunting　ostentation　than　on　their　former　foray；　and　this　was　the　order　of　the　army：　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　led　the　advance　guard；　accompanied　by　Don　Diego　Fernandez　de　Cordova；　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles；　and　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero；　count　of　Palma；　with　their　household　troops。　　They　were　followed　by　Juan　de　Merlo；　Juan　de　Almara；　and　Carlos　de　Biezman　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood；　with　the　men…at…arms　of　their　captaincies。

The　second　battalion　was　commanded　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　the　master　of　Santiago；　with　the　cavaliers　of　Santiago　and　the　troops　of　the　house　of　Ponce　Leon；　with　these　also　went　the　senior　commander　of　Calatrava　and　the　knights　of　that　order；　and　various　other　cavaliers　and　their　retainers。

The　right　wing　of　this　second　battalion　was　led　by　Gonsalvo　de　Cordova；　afterward　renowned　as　grand　captain　of　Spain；　the　left　by　Diego　Lopez　de　Avila。　　They　were　accompanied　by　several　distinguished　cavaliers　and　certain　captains　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood　with　their　men…at…arms。

The　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia　and　the　count　de　Cabra　commanded　the　third　battalion；　with　the　troops　of　their　respective　houses。　　They　were　accompanied　by　other　commanders　of　note　with　their　forces。

The　rear…guard　was　brought　up　by　the　senior　commander　and　knights　of　Alcantara；　followed　by　the　Andalusian　chivalry　from　Xeres；　Ecija；　and　Carmona。

Such　was　the　army　that　issued　forth　from　the　gates　of　Antiquera　on　one　of　the　most　extensive　〃talas；〃　or　devastating　inroads；　that　ever　laid　waste　the　kingdom　of　Granada。

The　army　entered　the　Moorish　territory　by　the　way　of　Alora；　destroying　all　the　cornfields；　vineyards；　and　orchards　and　plantations　of　olives　round　that　city。　　It　then　proceeded　through　the　rich　valleys　and　fertile　uplands　of　Coin；　Cazarabonela；　Almexia；　and　Cartama；　and　in　ten　days　all　those　fertile　regions　were　a　smoking　and　frightful　desert。　　Hence　it　pursued　its　slow　and　destructive　course；　like　the　stream　of　lava　of　a　volcano；　through　the　regions　of　Pupiana　and　Alhendin；　and　so　on　to　the　vega　of　Malaga；　layi