chronicle of the conquest of granada-第46章

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oic　drama；　where　the　curtain　rises　to　the　inspiring　sound　of　martial　melody　and　the　whole　stage　glitters　with　the　array　of　warriors　and　the　pomp　of　arms。　　The　ancient　city　of　Cordova　was　the　place　appointed　by　the　sovereigns　for　the　assemblage　of　the　troops；　and　early　in　the　spring　of　1486　the　fair　valley　of　the　Guadalquivir　resounded　with　the　shrill　blast　of　trumpet　and　the　impatient　neighing　of　the　war…horse。　　In　this　splendid　era　of　Spanish　chivalry　there　was　a　rivalship　among　the　nobles　who　most　should　distinguish　himself　by　the　splendor　of　his　appearance　and　the　number　and　equipments　of　his　feudal　followers。　Every　day　beheld　some　cavalier　of　note；　the　representative　of　some　proud　and　powerful　house；　entering　the　gates　of　Cordova　with　sound　of　trumpet；　and　displaying　his　banner　and　device　renowned　in　many　a　contest。　　He　would　appear　in　sumptuous　array；　surrounded　by　pages　and　lackeys　no　less　gorgeously　attired；　and　followed　by　a　host　of　vassals　and　retainers；　horse　and　foot；　all　admirably　equipped　in　burnished　armor。

Such　was　the　state　of　Don　Inigo　Lopez　de　Mendoza；　duke　of　Infantado；　who　may　be　cited　as　a　picture　of　a　warlike　noble　of　those　times。　　He　brought　with　him　five　hundred　men…at…arms　of　his　household　armed　and　mounted　〃a　la　gineta〃　and　〃a　la　guisa。〃　　The　cavaliers　who　attended　him　were　magnificently　armed　and　dressed。　　The　housings　of　fifty　of　his　horses　were　of　rich　cloth　embroidered　with　gold；　and　others　were　of　brocade。　　The　sumpter　mules　had　housings　of　the　same；　with　halters　of　silk；　while　the　bridles；　head…pieces；　and　all　the　harnessing　glittered　with　silver。

The　camp　equipage　of　these　noble　and　luxurious　warriors　was　equally　magnificent。　　Their　tents　were　gay　pavilions　of　various　colors；　fitted　up　with　silken　hangings　and　decorated　with　fluttering　pennons。　　They　had　vessels　of　gold　and　silver　for　the　service　of　their　tables；　as　if　they　were　about　to　engage　in　a　course　of　stately　feasts　and　courtly　revels；　instead　of　the　stern　encounters　of　rugged　and　mountainous　warfare。　Sometimes　they　passed　through　the　streets　of　Cordova　at　night　in　splendid　cavalcade；　with　great　numbers　of　lighted　torches；　the　rays　of　which；　falling　upon　polished　armor　and　nodding　plumes　and　silken　scarfs　and　trappings　of　golden　embroidery；　filled　all　beholders　with　admiration。*

*Pulgar；　part　3；　cap。　41；　56。


But　it　was　not　the　chivalry　of　Spain　alone　which　thronged　the　streets　of　Cordova。　　The　fame　of　this　war　had　spread　throughout　Christendom：　it　was　considered　a　kind　of　crusade；　and　Catholic　knights　from　all　parts　hastened　to　signalize　themselves　in　so　holy　a　cause。　　There　were　several　valiant　chevaliers　from　France；　among　whom　the　most　distinguished　was　Gaston　du　Leon；　seneschal　of　Toulouse。　　With　him　came　a　gallant　train；　well　armed　and　mounted　and　decorated　with　rich　surcoats　and　panaches　of　feathers。　　These　cavaliers；　it　is　said；　eclipsed　all　others　in　the　light　festivities　of　the　court：　they　were　devoted　to　the　fair；　but　not　after　the　solemn　and　passionate　manner　of　the　Spanish　lovers；　they　were　gay；　gallant；　and　joyous　in　their　amours；　and　captivated　by　the　vivacity　of　their　attacks。　　They　were　at　first　held　in　light　estimation　by　the　grave　and　stately　Spanish　knights　until　they　made　themselves　to　be　respected　by　their　wonderful　prowess　in　the　field。　

The　most　conspicuous　of　the　volunteers；　however；　who　appeared　in　Cordova　on　this　occasion　was　an　English　knight　of　royal　connection。　This　was　the　Lord　Scales；　earl　of　Rivers；　brother　to　the　queen　of　England；　wife　of　Henry　VII。　　He　had　distinguished　himself　in　the　preceding　year　at　the　battle　of　Bosworth　Field；　where　Henry　Tudor；　then　earl　of　Richmond；　overcame　Richard　III。　　That　decisive　battle　having　left　the　country　at　peace；　the　earl　of　Rivers；　having　conceived　a　passion　for　warlike　scenes；　repaired　to　the　Castilian　court　to　keep　his　arms　in　exercise　in　a　campaign　against　the　Moors。　　He　brought　with　him　a　hundred　archers；　all　dextrous　with　the　longbow　and　the　cloth…yard　arrow；　also　two　hundred　yeomen；　armed　cap…a…pie；　who　fought　with　pike　and　battle…axemen　robust　of　frame　and　of　prodigious　strength。　　The　worthy　padre　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　describes　this　stranger　knight　and　his　followers　with　his　accustomed　accuracy　and　minuteness。

〃This　cavalier；〃　he　observes；　〃was　from　the　far　island　of　England；　and　brought　with　him　a　train　of　his　vassals；　men　who　had　been　hardened　in　certain　civil　wars　which　raged　in　their　country。　　They　were　a　comely　race　of　men；　but　too　fair　and　fresh　for　warriors；　not　having　the　sunburnt；　warlike　hue　of　our　old　Castilian　soldiery。　They　were　huge　feeders　also　and　deep　carousers；　and　could　not　accommodate　themselves　to　the　sober　diet　of　our　troops；　but　must　fain　eat　and　drink　after　the　manner　of　their　own　country。　　They　were　often　noisy　and　unruly　also　in　their　wassail；　and　their　quarter　of　the　camp　was　prone　to　be　a　scene　of　loud　revel　and　sudden　brawl。　They　were；　withal；　of　great　pride；　yet　it　was　not　like　our　inflammable　Spanish　pride：　they　stood　not　much　upon　the　〃pundonor；〃　the　high　punctilio；　and　rarely　drew　the　stiletto　in　their　disputes；　but　their　pride　was　silent　and　contumelious。　　Though　from　a　remote　and　somewhat　barbarous　island；　they　believed　themselves　the　most　perfect　men　upon　earth；　and　magnified　their　chieftain；　the　Lord　Scales；　beyond　the　greatest　of　their　grandees。　　With　all　this；　it　must　be　said　of　them　that　they　were　marvellous　good　men　in　the　field；　dextrous　archers　and　powerful　with　the　battle…axe。　　In　their　great　pride　and　self…will　they　always　sought　to　press　in　the　advance　and　take　the　post　of　danger；　trying　to　outvie　our　Spanish　chivalry。　They　did　not　rush　on　fiercely　to　the　fight；　nor　make　a　brilliant　onset　like　the　Moorish　and　Spanish　troops；　but　they　went　into　the　fight　deliberately　and　persisted　obstinately　and　were　slow　to　find　out　when　they　were　beaten。　　Withal；　they　were　much　esteemed；　yet　little　liked；　by　our　soldiery；　who　considered　them　stanch　companions　in　the　field；　yet　coveted　but　little　fellowship　with　them　in　the　camp。

〃Their　commander；　Lord　Scales；　was　an　accomplished　cavalier；　of　gracious　and　noble　presence　and　fair　speech：　it　was　a　marvel　to　see　so　much　courtesy　in　a　knight　brought　up　so　far　from　our　Castilian　court。　　He　was　much　honored　by　the　king　and　queen；　and　found　great　favor　with　the　fair　dames　about　the　court；　who；　indeed；　are　rather　prone　to　be　pleased　with　foreign　cavaliers。　　He　went　always　in　costly　state；　attended　by　pages　and　esquires；　and　accompanied　by　noble　young　cavaliers　of　his　country；　who　had　enrolled　themselves　under　his　banner　to　learn　the　gentle　exercise　of　arms。　　In　all　pageants　and　festivals　the　eyes　of　the　populace　were　attracted　by　the　singular　bearing　and　rich　array　of　the　English　earl　and　his　train；　who　prided　themselves　in　always　appearing　in　the　garb　and　manner　of　their　country；　and　were；　indeed；　something　very　magnificent；　delectable；　and　strange　to　behold。〃

The　worthy　chronicler　is　no　less　elaborate　in　his　description　of　the　masters　of　Santiago；　Calatrava；　and　Alcantara　and　their　valiant　knights；　armed　at　all　points　and　decorated　with　the　badges　of　their　orders。　　These；　he　affirms；　were　the　flower　of　Christian　chivalry：　being　constantly　in　service；　they　became　more　steadfast　and　accomplished　in　discipline　than　the　irregular　and　temporary　levies　of　the　feudal　nobles。　　Calm；　solemn；　and　stately；　they　sat　like　towers　upon　their　powerful　chargers。　　On　parades　they　manifested　none　of　the　show　and　ostentation　of　the　other　troops；　neither　in　battle　did　they　endeavor　to　signalize　themselves　by　any　fiery　vivacity　or　desperate　and　vainglorious　exploit：　everything　with　them　was　measured　and　sedate；　yet　it　was　observed　that　none　were　more　warlike　in　their　appearance　in　the　camp　or　more　terrible　for　their　achievements　in　the　field。

The　gorgeous　magnificence　of　the　Spanish　nobles　found　but　little　favor　in　the　eyes　of　the　sovereigns。　　They　saw　that　it　caused　a　competition　in　expense　ruinous　to　cavaliers　of　moderate　fortune；　and　they　feared　that　a　softness　and　effeminacy　might　thus　be　introduced　incompatible　with　the　stern　nature　of　the　war。　　They　signified　their　disapprobation　to　several　of　the　principal　noblemen；　and　recommended　a　more　sober　and　soldier…like　display　while　in　a