chronicle of the conquest of granada-第76章

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far　on　his　return　through　the　mountains；　and　he　re…entered　the　gates　of　Guadix　in　triumph；　his　army　laden　with　Christian　spoil　and　conducting　an　immense　cavalgada。　　Such　was　one　of　El　Zagal's　preparatives　for　the　expected　invasion　of　the　Christian　king；　exciting　the　warlike　spirit　of　his　people；　and　gaining　for　himself　a　transient　popularity。

King　Ferdinand　assembled　his　army　at　Murcia　in　the　spring　of　1488。　He　left　that　city　on　the　fifth　of　June　with　a　flying　camp　of　four　thousand　horse　and　fourteen　thousand　foot。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz　led　the　van；　followed　by　the　adelantado　of　Murcia。　　The　army　entered　the　Moorish　frontier　by　the　sea…coast；　spreading　terror　through　the　land：　wherever　it　appeared；　the　towns　surrendered　without　a　blow；　so　great　was　the　dread　of　experiencing　the　woes　which　had　desolated　the　opposite　frontier。　　In　this　way　Vera；　Velez　el　Rubio；　Velez　el　Blanco；　and　many　towns　of　inferior　note　to　the　number　of　sixty　yielded　at　the　first　summons。

It　was　not　until　it　approached　Almeria　that　the　army　met　with　resistance。　　This　important　city　was　commanded　by　the　prince　Zelim；　a　relation　of　El　Zagal。　　He　led　forth　his　Moors　bravely　to　the　encounter；　and　skirmished　fiercely　with　the　advance　guard　in　the　gardens　near　the　city。　　King　Ferdinand　came　up　with　the　main　body　of　the　army　and　called　off　his　troops　from　the　skirmish。　　He　saw　that　to　attack　the　place　with　his　present　force　was　fruitless。　　Having　reconnoitred　the　city　and　its　environs；　therefore；　against　a　future　campaign；　he　retired　with　his　army　and　marched　toward　Baza。

The　old　warrior　El　Zagal　was　himself　drawn　up　in　the　city　of　Baza　with　a　powerful　garrison。　　He　felt　confidence　in　the　strength　of　the　place；　and　rejoiced　when　he　heard　that　the　Christian　king　was　approaching。　　In　the　valley　in　front　of　Baza　there　extended　a　great　tract　of　gardens；　like　a　continued　grove；　intersected　by　canals　and　water　courses。　　In　this　he　stationed　an　ambuscade　of　arquebusiers　and　crossbowmen。　　The　vanguard　of　the　Christian　army　came　marching　gayly　up　the　valley　with　great　sound　of　drum　and　trumpet；　and　led　on　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　the　adelantado　of　Murcia。　As　they　drew　near　El　Zagal　sallied　forth　with　horse　and　foot　and　attacked　them　for　a　time　with　great　spirit。　　Gradually　falling　back；　as　if　pressed　by　their　superior　valor；　he　drew　the　exulting　Christians　among　the　gardens。　　Suddenly　the　Moors　in　ambuscade　burst　from　their　concealment；　and　opened　such　a　fire　in　flank　and　rear　that　many　of　the　Christians　were　slain　and　the　rest　thrown　into　confusion。　　King　Ferdinand　arrived　in　time　to　see　the　disastrous　situation　of　his　troops；　and　gave　signal　for　the　vanguard　to　retire。

El　Zagal　did　not　permit　the　foe　to　draw　off　unmolested。　　Ordering　out　fresh　squadrons；　he　fell　upon　the　rear　of　the　retreating　troops　with　triumphant　shouts；　driving　them　before　him　with　dreadful　havoc。　　The　old　war…cry　of　〃El　Zagal！　El　Zagal！〃　was　again　put　up　by　the　Moors；　and　echoed　with　transport　from　the　walls　of　the　city。　　The　Christians　were　in　imminent　peril　of　a　complete　rout；　when；　fortunately；　the　adelantado　of　Murcia　threw　himself　with　a　large　body　of　horse　and　foot　between　the　pursuers　and　the　pursued；　covering　the　retreat　of　the　latter　and　giving　them　time　to　rally。　　The　Moors　were　now　attacked　so　vigorously　in　turn　that　they　gave　over　the　contest　and　drew　back　slowly　into　the　city。　　Many　valiant　cavaliers　were　slain　in　this　skirmish；　among　the　number　was　Don　Philip　of　Aragon；　master　of　the　chivalry　of　St。　George　of　Montesor：　he　was　illegitimate　son　of　the　king's　illegitimate　brother　Don　Carlos；　and　his　death　was　greatly　bewailed　by　Ferdinand。　　He　had　formerly　been　archbishop　of　Palermo；　but　had　doffed　the　cassock　for　the　cuirass；　and；　according　to　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　had　gained　a　glorious　crown　of　martyrdom　by　falling　in　this　holy　war。

The　warm　reception　of　his　advance　guard　brought　King　Ferdinand　to　a　pause：　he　encamped　on　the　banks　of　the　neighboring　river　Guadalquiton；　and　began　to　consider　whether　he　had　acted　wisely　in　undertaking　this　campaign　with　his　present　force。　　His　late　successes　had　probably　rendered　him　over…confident：　El　Zagal　had　again　schooled　him　into　his　characteristic　caution。　　He　saw　that　the　old　warrior　was　too　formidably　ensconced　in　Baza　to　be　dislodged　by　anything　except　a　powerful　army　and　battering　artillery；　and　he　feared　that　should　he　persist　in　his　invasion　some　disaster　might　befall　his　army；　either　from　the　enterprise　of　the　foe　or　from　a　pestilence　which　prevailed　in　various　parts　of　the　country。　　He　retired；　therefore；　from　before　Baza；　as　he　had　on　a　former　occasion　from　before　Loxa；　all　the　wiser　for　a　wholesome　lesson　in　warfare；　but　by　no　means　grateful　to　those　who　had　given　it；　and　with　a　solemn　determination　to　have　his　revenge　upon　his　teachers。

He　now　took　measures　for　the　security　of　the　places　gained　in　the　campaign；　placing　in　them　strong　garrisons；　well　armed　and　supplied；　charging　their　alcaydes　to　be　vigilant　on　their　posts　and　to　give　no　rest　to　the　enemy。　　The　whole　of　the　frontier　was　under　the　command　of　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero。　　As　it　was　evident　from　the　warlike　character　of　El　Zagal　that　there　would　be　abundance　of　active　service　and　hard　fighting；　many　hidalgos　and　young　cavaliers　eager　for　distinction　remained　with　Puerto　Carrero。

All　these　dispositions　being　made；　King　Ferdinand　closed　the　dubious　campaign　of　this　year；　not；　as　usual；　by　returning　in　triumph　at　the　head　of　his　army　to　some　important　city　of　his　dominions；　but　by　disbanding　the　troops　and　repairing　to　pray　at　the　cross　of　Caravaca。


CHAPTER　LXIX。

HOW　THE　MOORS　MADE　VARIOUS　ENTERPRISES　AGAINST　THE　　　　　CHRISTIANS。


〃While　the　pious　king　Ferdinand；〃　observes　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　〃was　humbling　himself　before　the　cross　and　devoutly　praying　for　the　destruction　of　his　enemies；　that　fierce　pagan；　El　Zagal；　depending　merely　on　arm　of　flesh　and　sword　of　steel；　pursued　his　diabolical　outrages　upon　the　Christians。〃　　No　sooner　was　the　invading　army　disbanded　than　he　sallied　forth　from　his　stronghold；　and　carried　fire　and　sword　into　all　those　parts　which　had　submitted　to　the　Spanish　yoke。　　The　castle　of　Nixar；　being　carelessly　guarded；　was　taken　by　surprise　and　its　garrison　put　to　the　sword。　　The　old　warrior　raged　with　sanguinary　fury　about　the　whole　frontier；　attacking　convoys；　slaying；　wounding；　and　making　prisoners；　and　coming　by　surprise　upon　the　Christians　wherever　they　were　off　their　guard。

Carlos　de　Biedma；　alcayde　of　the　fortress　of　Culla；　confiding　in　the　strength　of　its　walls　and　towers　and　in　its　difficult　situation；　being　built　on　the　summit　of　a　lofty　hill　and　surrounded　by　precipices；　ventured　to　absent　himself　from　his　post。　　He　was　engaged　to　be　married　to　a　fair　and　noble　lady　of　Baeza；　and　repaired　to　that　city　to　celebrate　his　nuptials；　escorted　by　a　brilliant　array　of　the　best　horsemen　of　his　garrison。　　Apprised　of　his　absence；　the　vigilant　El　Zagal　suddenly　appeared　before　Culla　with　a　powerful　force；　stormed　the　town　sword　in　hand；　fought　the　Christians　from　street　to　street；　and　drove　them　with　great　slaughter　to　the　citadel。　　Here　a　veteran　captain；　by　the　name　of　Juan　de　Avalos；　a　gray…headed　warrior　scarred　in　many　a　battle；　assumed　the　command　and　made　an　obstinate　defence。　　Neither　the　multitude　of　the　enemy　nor　the　vehemence　of　their　attacks；　though　led　on　by　the　terrible　El　Zagal　himself；　had　power　to　shake　the　fortitude　of　this　doughty　old　soldier。

The　Moors　undermined　the　outer　walls　and　one　of　the　towers　of　the　fortress；　and　made　their　way　into　the　exterior　court。　　The　alcayde　manned　the　tops　of　his　towers；　pouring　down　melted　pitch　and　showering　darts；　arrows；　stones；　and　all　kinds　of　missiles　upon　the　assailants。　　The　Moors　were　driven　out　of　the　court；　but；　being　reinforced　with　fresh　troops；　returned　repeatedly　to　the　assault。　For　five　days　the　combat　was　kept　up：　the　Christians　were　nearly　exhausted；　but　were　sustained　by　the　cheerings　of　their　stanch　old　alcayde　and　the　fear　of　death　from　El　Zagal　should　they　surrender。　At　length　the　approach　of　a　powerful　force　under　Don　Luis　Puerto　Carrero　relieved　them　from　this　fearful　peril。　　El　Zagal　abandoned　the　assault；　but　set　fire　to　the　town　in　his　rage