chronicle of the conquest of granada-第51章

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a。

King　Ferdinand　gave　directions　to　repair　the　fortifications　of　Illora　and　to　place　it　in　a　strong　state　of　defence。　　He　left　as　alcayde　of　the　town　and　fortress　Gonsalvo　de　Cordova；　younger　brother　of　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar。　　This　gallant　cavalier　was　captain　of　the　royal　guards　of　Ferdinand　and　Isabella；　and　gave　already　proofs　of　that　prowess　which　afterward　rendered　him　so　renowned。



CHAPTER　XLII。

OF　THE　ARRIVAL　OF　QUEEN　ISABELLA　AT　THE　CAMP　BEFORE　MOCLIN；　　　　　AND　OF　THE　PLEASANT　SAYINGS　OF　THE　ENGLISH　EARL。


The　war　of　Granada；　however　poets　may　embroider　it　with　the　flowers　of　their　fancy；　was　certainly　one　of　the　sternest　of　those　iron　conflicts　which　have　been　celebrated　under　the　name　of　〃holy　wars。〃　　The　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　dwells　with　unsated　delight　upon　the　succession　of　rugged　mountain…enterprises；　bloody　battles；　and　merciless　sackings　and　ravages　which　characterized　it；　yet　we　find　him　on　one　occasion　pausing　in　the　full　career　of　victory　over　the　infidels　to　detail　a　stately　pageant　of　the　Catholic　sovereigns。

Immediately　on　the　capture　of　Loxa；　Ferdinand　had　written　to　Isabella；　soliciting　her　presence　at　the　camp　that　he　might　consult　with　her　as　to　the　disposition　of　their　newly…acquired　territories。

It　was　in　the　early　part　of　June　that　the　queen　departed　from　Codova　with　the　princess　Isabella　and　numerous　ladies　of　her　court。　　She　had　a　glorious　attendance　of　cavaliers　and　pages；　with　many　guards　and　domestics。　　There　were　forty　mules　for　the　use　of　the　queen；　the　princess；　and　their　train。

As　this　courtly　cavalcade　approached　the　Rock　of　the　Lovers　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Yeguas；　they　beheld　a　splendid　train　of　knights　advancing　to　meet　them。　　　It　was　headed　by　that　accomplished　cavalier　the　marques…duke　de　Cadiz；　accompanied　by　the　adelantado　of　Andalusia。　　He　had　left　the　camp　the　day　after　the　capture　of　Illora；　and　advanced　thus　far　to　receive　the　queen　and　escort　her　over　the　borders。　　The　queen　received　the　marques　with　distinguished　honor；　for　he　was　esteemed　the　mirror　of　chivalry。　　His　actions　in　this　war　had　become　the　theme　of　every　tongue；　and　many　hesitated　not　to　compare　him　in　prowess　with　the　immortal　Cid。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


Thus　gallantly　attended；　the　queen　entered　the　vanquished　frontier　of　Granada；　journeying　securely　along　the　pleasant　banks　of　the　Xenil；　so　lately　subject　to　the　scourings　of　the　Moors。　　She　stopped　at　Loxa；　where　she　administered　aid　and　consolation　to　the　wounded；　distributing　money　among　them　for　their　support　according　to　their　rank。

The　king　after　the　capture　of　Illora　had　removed　his　camp　before　the　fortress　of　Moclin；　with　an　intention　of　besieging　it。　　Thither　the　queen　proceeded；　still　escorted　through　the　mountain…roads　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz。　　As　Isabella　drew　near　to　the　camp　the　duke　del　Infantado　issued　forth　a　league　and　a　half　to　receive　her；　magnificently　arrayed　and　followed　by　all　his　chivalry　in　glorious　attire。　　With　him　came　the　standard　of　Seville；　borne　by　the　men…　at…arms　of　that　renowned　city；　and　the　prior　of　St。　Juan　with　his　followers。　　They　ranged　themselves　in　order　of　battle　on　the　left　of　the　road　by　which　the　queen　was　to　pass。

The　worthy　Agapida　is　loyally　minute　in　his　description　of　the　state　and　grandeur　of　the　Catholic　sovereigns。　　The　queen　rode　a　chestnut　mule；　seated　in　a　magnificent　saddle…chair　decorated　with　silver　gilt。　　The　housings　of　the　mule　were　of　fine　crimson　cloth；　the　borders　embroidered　with　gold；　the　reins　and　head…piece　were　of　satin；　curiously　embossed　with　needlework　of　silk　and　wrought　with　golden　letters。　　The　queen　wore　a　brial　or　regal　skirt　of　velvet；　under　which　were　others　of　brocade；　a　scarlet　mantle；　ornamented　in　the　Moresco　fashion；　and　a　black　hat；　embroidered　round　the　crown　and　brim。　　The　infanta　was　likewise　mounted　on　a　chestnut　mule　richly　caparisoned：　she　wore　a　brial　or　skirt　of　black　brocade　and　a　black　mantle　ornamented　like　that　of　the　queen。

When　the　royal　cavalcade　passed　by　the　chivalry　of　the　duke　del　Infantado；　which　was　drawn　out　in　battle　array；　the　queen　made　a　reverence　to　the　standard　of　Seville　and　ordered　it　to　pass　to　the　right　hand。　　When　she　approached　the　camp　the　multitude　ran　forth　to　meet　her　with　great　demonstrations　of　joy；　for　she　was　universally　beloved　by　her　subjects。　　All　the　battalions　sallied　forth　in　military　array；　bearing　the　various　standards　and　banners　of　the　camp；　which　were　lowered　in　salutation　as　she　passed。

The　king　now　came　forth　in　royal　state；　mounted　on　a　superb　chestnut　horse　and　attended　by　many　grandees　of　Castile。　　He　wore　a　jubon　or　close　vest　of　crimson　cloth；　with　cuisses　or　short　skirts　of　yellow　satin；　a　loose　cassock　of　brocade；　a　rich　Moorish　scimetar；　and　a　hat　with　plumes。　　The　grandees　who　attended　him　were　arrayed　with　wonderful　magnificence；　each　according　to　his　taste　and　invention。

These　high　and　mighty　princes　（says　Antonio　Agapida）　regarded　each　other　with　great　deference　as　allied　sovereigns；　rather　than　with　connubial　familiarity　as　mere　husband　and　wife。　　When　they　approached　each　other；　therefore；　before　embracing；　they　made　three　profound　reverences；　the　queen　taking　off　her　hat　and　remaining　in　a　silk　net　or　caul；　with　her　face　uncovered。　　The　king　then　approached　and　embraced　her；　and　kissed　her　respectfully　on　the　cheek。　　He　also　embraced　his　daughter　the　princess；　and；　making　the　sign　of　the　cross；　he　blessed　her　and　kissed　her　on　the　lips。*

*Cura　de　los　Palacios。


The　good　Agapida　seems　scarcely　to　have　been　more　struck　with　the　appearance　of　the　sovereigns　than　with　that　of　the　English　earl。　He　followed　（says　he）　immediately　after　the　king；　with　great　pomp　and；　in　an　extraordinary　manner；　taking　precedence　of　all　the　rest。　He　was　mounted　〃a　la　guisa；〃　or　with　long　stirrups；　on　a　superb　chestnut　horse；　with　trappings　of　azure　silk　which　reached　to　the　ground。　　The　housings　were　of　mulberry　powdered　with　stars　of　gold。　He　was　armed　in　proof；　and　wore　over　his　armor　a　short　French　mantle　of　black　brocade；　he　had　a　white　French　hat　with　plumes；　and　carried　on　his　left　arm　a　small　round　buckler　banded　with　gold。　　Five　pages　attended　him；　apparelled　in　silk　and　brocade　and　mounted　on　horses　sumptuously　caparisoned；　he　had　also　a　train　of　followers　bravely　attired　after　the　fashion　of　his　country。

He　advanced　in　a　chivalrous　and　courteous　manner；　making　his　reverences　first　to　the　queen　and　infanta；　and　afterward　to　the　king。　　Queen　Isabella　received　him　graciously；　complimenting　him　on　his　courageous　conduct　at　Loxa；　and　condoling　with　him　on　the　loss　of　his　teeth。　　The　earl；　however；　made　light　of　his　disfiguring　wound；　saying　that　〃our　Blessed　Lord；　who　had　built　all　that　house；　had　opened　a　window　there；　that　he　might　see　more　readily　what　passed　within；〃*　whereupon　the　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　is　more　than　ever　astonished　at　the　pregnant　wit　of　this　island　cavalier。　The　earl　continued　some　little　distance　by　the　side　of　the　royal　family；　complimenting　them　all　with　courteous　speeches；　his　horse　curveting　and　caracoling；　but　being　managed　with　great　grace　and　dexterity；　leaving　the　grandees　and　the　people　at　large　not　more　filled　with　admiration　at　the　strangeness　and　magnificence　of　his　state　than　at　the　excellence　of　his　horsemanship。**

*Pietro　Martyr；　Epist。　61。

**Cura　de　los　Palacios。


To　testify　her　sense　of　the　gallantry　and　services　of　this　noble　English　knight；　who　had　come　from　so　far　to　assist　in　their　wars；　the　queen　sent　him　the　next　day　presents　of　twelve　horses；　with　stately　tents；　fine　linen；　two　beds　with　coverings　of　gold　brocade；　and　many　other　articles　of　great　value。

Having　refreshed　himself；　as　it　were；　with　the　description　of　this　progress　of　Queen　Isabella　to　the　camp　and　the　glorious　pomp　of　the　Catholic　sovereigns；　the　worthy　Antonio　Agapida　returns　with　renewed　relish　to　his　pious　work　of　discomfiting　the　Moors。

The　description　of　this　royal　pageant　and　the　particulars　concerning　the　English　earl；　thus　given　from　the　manuscript　of　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　agree　precisely　with　the　chronicle　of　Andres　Bernaldez；　the　curate　of　Los　Palacios。　　The　English　earl　makes　no　further　figure　in　this　war。　　It　appears　from　v