chronicle of the conquest of granada-第5章

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y　Christian　faith　had　been　signalized　in　battle　during　the　lifetime　of　his　father；　and　the　same　diabolical　spirit　of　hostility　was　apparent　in　his　ceasing　to　pay　this　most　righteous　tribute。〃



CHAPTER　II。

OF　THE　EMBASSY　OF　DON　JUAN　DE　VERA　TO　DEMAND　ARREARS　　　　　OF　TRIBUTE　FROM　THE　MOORISH　MONARCH。


The　flagrant　want　of　faith　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan　in　fulfilling　treaty　stipulations　passed　unresented　during　the　residue　of　the　reign　of　Henry　the　Impotent；　and　the　truce　was　tacitly　continued　without　the　enforcement　of　tribute　during　the　first　three　years　of　the　reign　of　his　successors；　Ferdinand　and　Isabella　of　glorious　and　happy　memory；　who　were　too　much　engrossed　by　civil　commotions　in　their　own　dominions；　and　by　a　war　of　succession　waged　with　them　by　the　king　of　Portugal；　to　risk　an　additional　conflict　with　the　Moorish　sovereign。　When；　however；　at　the　expiration　of　the　term　of　truce；　Muley　Abul　Hassan　sought　a　renewal　of　it；　the　pride　and　piety　of　the　Castilian　sovereigns　were　awakened　to　the　flagrant　defalcation　of　the　infidel　king；　and　they　felt　themselves　called　upon；　by　their　dignity　as　monarchs　and　their　religious　obligations　as　champions　of　the　faith；　to　make　a　formal　demand　for　the　payment　of　arrearages。

In　the　year　of　grace　1478；　therefore；　Don　Juan　de　Vera；　a　zealous　and　devout　knight；　full　of　ardor　for　the　faith　and　loyalty　to　the　Crown；　was　sent　as　ambassador　for　the　purpose。　　He　was　armed　at　all　points；　gallantly　mounted；　and　followed　by　a　moderate　but　well…appointed　retinue：　in　this　way　he　crossed　the　Moorish　frontier；　and　passed　slowly　through　the　country；　looking　round　him　with　the　eyes　of　a　practised　warrior　and　carefully　noting　its　military　points　and　capabilities。　　He　saw　that　the　Moor　was　well　prepared　for　possible　hostilities。　　Every　town　was　strongly　fortified。　　The　Vega　was　studded　with　towers　of　refuge　for　the　peasantry：　every　pass　of　the　mountain　had　its　castle　of　defence；　every　lofty　height　its　watch…tower。　　As　the　Christian　cavaliers　passed　under　the　walls　of　the　fortresses；　lances　and　scimetars　flashed　from　their　battlements；　and　the　Moorish　sentinels　darted　from　their　dark　eyes　glances　of　hatred　and　defiance。　　It　was　evident　that　a　war　with　this　kingdom　must　be　a　war　of　posts；　full　of　doughty　peril　and　valiant　enterprise；　where　every　step　must　be　gained　by　toil　and　bloodshed；　and　maintained　with　the　utmost　difficulty。　　The　warrior　spirit　of　the　cavaliers　kindled　at　the　thoughts；　and　they　were　impatient　for　hostilities；　〃not；〃　says　Antonio　Agapida；　〃from　any　thirst　for　rapine　and　revenge；　but　from　that　pure　and　holy　indignation　which　every　Spanish　knight　entertained　at　beholding　this　beautiful　dominion　of　his　ancestors　defiled　by　the　footsteps　of　infidel　usurpers。　　It　was　impossible；〃　he　adds；　〃to　contemplate　this　delicious　country；　and　not　long　to　see　it　restored　to　the　dominion　of　the　true　faith　and　the　sway　of　the　Christian　monarchs。〃

Arrived　at　the　gates　of　Granada；　Don　Juan　de　Vera　and　his　companions　saw　the　same　vigilant　preparations　on　the　part　of　the　Moorish　king。　His　walls　and　towers　were　of　vast　strength；　in　complete　repair；　and　mounted　with　lombards　and　other　heavy　ordnance。　　His　magazines　were　well　stored　with　the　munitions　of　war；　he　had　a　mighty　host　of　foot…soldiers；　together　with　squadrons　of　cavalry；　ready　to　scour　the　country　and　carry　on　either　defensive　or　predatory　warfare。　　The　Christian　warriors　noted　these　things　without　dismay；　their　hearts　rather　glowed　with　emulation　at　the　thoughts　of　encountering　so　worthy　a　foe。　　As　they　slowly　pranced　through　the　streets　of　Granada　they　looked　round　with　eagerness　on　the　stately　palaces　and　sumptuous　mosques；　on　its　alcayceria　or　bazar；　crowded　with　silks　and　cloth　of　silver　and　gold；　with　jewels　and　precious　stones；　and　other　rich　merchandise；　the　luxuries　of　every　clime；　and　they　longed　for　the　time　when　all　this　wealth　should　be　the　spoil　of　the　soldiers　of　the　faith；　and　when　each　tramp　of　their　steeds　might　be　fetlock　deep　in　the　blood　and　carnage　of　the　infidels。

The　Moorish　inhabitants　looked　jealously　at　this　small　but　proud　array　of　Spanish　chivalry；　as　it　paraded；　with　that　stateliness　possessed　only　by　Spanish　cavaliers；　through　the　renowned　gate　of　Elvira。　　They　were　struck　with　the　stern　and　lofty　demeanor　of　Don　Juan　de　Vera　and　his　sinewy　frame；　which　showed　him　formed　for　hardy　deeds　of　arms；　and　they　supposed　he　had　come　in　search　of　distinction　by　defying　the　Moorish　knights　in　open　tourney　or　in　the　famous　tilt　with　reeds　for　which　they　were　so　renowned；　for　it　was　still　the　custom　of　the　knights　of　either　nation　to　mingle　in　these　courteous　and　chivalrous　contests　during　the　intervals　of　war。　　When　they　learnt；　however；　that　he　was　come　to　demand　the　tribute　so　abhorrent　to　the　ears　of　the　fiery　monarch；　they　observed　that　it　well　required　a　warrior　of　his　apparent　nerve　to　execute　such　an　embassy。

Muley　Abul　Hassan　received　the　cavalier　in　state；　seated　on　a　magnificent　divan　and　surrounded　by　the　officers　of　his　court；　in　the　Hall　of　Ambassadors；　one　of　the　most　sumptuous　apartments　of　the　Alhambra。　　When　De　Vera　had　delivered　his　message；　a　haughty　and　bitter　smile　curled　the　lip　of　the　fierce　monarch。　　〃Tell　your　sovereigns；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　kings　of　Granada；　who　used　to　pay　tribute　in　money　to　the　Castilian　crown；　are　dead。　　Our　mint　at　present　coins　nothing　but　blades　of　scimetars　and　heads　of　lances。〃*

*Garibay；　1。　40；　c。　29；　Conde；　Hist。　Arab。；　p。　4；　c。　34。


The　defiance　couched　in　this　proud　reply　was　heard　with　secret　satisfaction　by　Don　Juan　de　Vera；　for　he　was　a　bold　soldier　and　a　devout　hater　of　the　infidels；　and　he　saw　iron　war　in　the　words　of　the　Moorish　monarch。　　Being　master；　however；　of　all　points　of　etiquette；　he　retained　an　inflexible　demeanor；　and　retired　from　the　apartment　with　stately　and　ceremonious　gravity。　　His　treatment　was　suited　to　his　rank　and　dignity：　a　magnificent　apartment　in　the　Alhambra　was　assigned　to　him；　and　before　his　departure　a　scimetar　was　sent　to　him　by　the　king；　the　blade　of　the　finest　Damascus　steel；　the　hilt　of　agate　enriched　with　precious　stones；　and　the　guard　of　gold。　　De　Vera　drew　it；　and　smiled　grimly　as　he　noticed　the　admirable　temper　of　the　blade。　　〃His　Majesty　has　given　me　a　trenchant　weapon；〃　said　he：　〃I　trust　a　time　will　come　when　I　may　show　him　that　I　know　how　to　use　his　royal　present。〃　　The　reply　was　considered　a　compliment；　of　course：　the　bystanders　little　knew　the　bitter　hostility　that　lay　couched　beneath。

On　his　return　to　Cordova；　Don　Juan　de　Vera　delivered　the　reply　of　the　Moor；　but　at　the　same　time　reported　the　state　of　his　territories。　These　had　been　strengthened　and　augmented　during　the　weak　reign　of　Henry　IV。　and　the　recent　troubles　of　Castile。　　Many　cities　and　strong　places　contiguous　to　Granada；　but　heretofore　conquered　by　the　Christians；　had　renewed　their　allegiance　to　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　so　that　his　kingdom　now　contained　fourteen　cities；　ninety…seven　fortified　places；　besides　numerous　unwalled　towns　and　villages　defended　by　formidable　castles；　while　Granada　towered　in　the　centre　as　the　citadel。

The　wary　Ferdinand；　as　he　listened　to　the　military　report　of　Don　Juan　de　Vera；　saw　that　the　present　was　no　time　for　hostilities　with　a　warrior　kingdom　so　bristled　over　with　means　of　defence。　　The　internal　discords　of　Castile　still　continued；　as　did　the　war　with　Portugal：　under　these　circumstances　he　forbore　to　insist　upon　the　payment　of　tribute；　and　tacitly　permitted　the　truce　to　continue；　but　the　defiance　contained　in　the　reply　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan　remained　rankling　in　his　bosom　as　a　future　ground　of　war；　and　De　Vera's　description　of　Granada　as　the　centre　of　a　system　of　strongholds　and　rock…built　castles　suggested　to　him　his　plan　of　conquestby　taking　town　after　town　and　fortress　after　fortress；　and　gradually　plucking　away　all　the　supports　before　he　attempted　the　capital。　　He　expressed　his　resolution　in　a　memorable　pun　or　play　upon　the　name　of　Granada；　which　signifies　a　pomegranate。　　〃I　will　pick　out　the　seeds　of　this　pomegranate　one　by　one；〃　said　the　cool　and　crafty　Ferdinand。

NOTE。In　the　first　edition　of　this　work　the　author　recounted　a　　characteristic　adventure　of　the　stout　Juan　de　Vera　as　happening　on　　the　occasion　of　this