Class 
 Book. 
 
 ,X 85 
 
 LC Control Number 
 
 tmp96 025700 
 

The Bridge of Saragossa. 
 
 Etching by Charles A. Piatt. 
 
 
•Knickerbocker lEDitfon 
 
 Spanish Papers 
 
 BY 
 
 WASHINGTON IRVING 
 
 
 G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 
 NEW YORK AND LONDON 
 

 Copyright, 1895 
 
 BY 
 
 G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 
 
 
 Ube Tfcnfcfeerbocfeer press 
 
 NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK 
 
 
<* 
 
 - 
 
 S I 
 
 SPANISH PAPERS 
 
 IRnicfcerbocfter jE&ftion 
 
preface b£ tbe JE&itor* 
 
 A LIMITED edition of the Legends of 
 the Conquest of Spain, with which 
 this volume commences, was published 
 in 1835. These legends, consisting of 
 the *" Legend of Don Roderick,' ' the " Le- 
 gend of the Subjugation of Spain," the "Le- 
 gend of Count Julian and his Family,' ' formed 
 No. III. of the Crayon Miscellany. For the 
 chronicles which follow them, with the excep- 
 tion of * " Abderahman " and f" Spanish 
 Romance," which have appeared in the Knick- 
 erbocker Magazine, T have drawn upon the 
 unpublished manuscripts of Mr. Irving be- 
 queathed to me by his will. This portion of 
 the volume is illustrative of the wars between 
 the Spaniards and the Moors, and consists of 
 the * " Legend of Pelayo," the " Chronicle of 
 
 * In the present edition these appear in the volume 
 entitled Mahomet, Vol. III. 
 
 t In the present edition this appears in Crayon 
 Miscellanies, Vol. II. 
 
vi preface 
 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez," the most illustrious 
 hero of his epoch, who united the kingdoms 
 of Leon and Castile; and the "Chronicle of 
 Fernando the Saint," that renowned champion 
 of the faith, under whom the greater part of 
 Spain was rescued from the Moors. I have 
 selected these themes from a mass of unpub- 
 lished manuscript that came into my hands at 
 the death of Mr. Irving, because they bore the 
 impress of being most nearly, though not fully, 
 prepared for the press, and because they had 
 for him a special fascination, arising in part, 
 perhaps, from his long residence in that ro- 
 mantic country. " These old Morisco-Spanish 
 subjects " — is the language of one of his pub- 
 lished letters — "have a charm that makes 
 me content to write about them at half price. 
 They have so much that is high-minded, and 
 chivalrous, and quaint, and picturesque, and 
 at times half comic, about them. ,, 
 
preface* 
 
 FEW events in history have been so original 
 and striking in their main circumstances, 
 and so overwhelming and enduring in 
 their consequences, as that of the con- 
 quest of Spain by the Saracens ; yet there are 
 few where the motives, and characters, and ac- 
 tions of the agents have been enveloped in more 
 doubts and contradiction. As in the memor- 
 able story of the " Fall of Troy," we have to 
 make out, as well as we can, the veritable 
 details through the mists of poetic fiction ; yet 
 poetry has so combined itself with and lent 
 its magic coloring to every fact, that to strip it 
 away would be to reduce the story to a meagre 
 skeleton and rob it of all its charms. The 
 storm of Moslem invasion that swept so sud- 
 denly over the peninsula silenced for a time 
 the faint voice of the Muse, and drove the sons 
 of learning from their cells. The pen was 
 thrown aside to grasp the sword and spear, 
 
 Vll 
 
viii preface 
 
 and men were too much taken up with battling 
 against the evils which beset them on every 
 side, to find time or inclination to record them. 
 
 When the nation had recovered in some 
 degree from the effects of this astounding 
 blow, or rather had become accustomed to the 
 tremendous reverse which it produced, and 
 sage men sought to inquire and write the 
 particulars, it was too late to ascertain them in 
 their exact verity. The gloom and melan- 
 choly that had overshadowed the land had 
 given birth to a thousand superstitious fancies ; 
 the woes and terrors of the past were clothed 
 with supernatural miracles and portents, and 
 the actors in the fearful drama had already 
 assumed the dubious characteristics of romance. 
 Or if a writer from among the conquerors 
 undertook to touch upon the theme, it was 
 embellished with all the wild extravagances 
 of an Oriental imagination, which afterwards 
 stole into the graver works of the monkish 
 historians. 
 
 Hence, the earliest chronicles which treat of 
 the downfall of Spain are apt to be tinctured 
 with those saintly miracles which savor of the 
 pious labors of the cloister, or those fanciful 
 fictions that betray their Arabian authors. 
 Yet from these apocryphal sources the most 
 legitimate and accredited Spanish histories 
 
preface ix 
 
 have taken their rise, as pure rivers may be 
 traced up to the fens and mantled pools of a 
 morass. It is true, the authors, with cautious 
 discrimination, have discarded those particu- 
 lars too startling for belief, and have culled 
 only such as, from their probability and con- 
 gruity, might be safely recorded as historical 
 facts ; yet, scarce one of these but has been 
 connected in the original with some romantic 
 fiction, and even in its divorced state bears 
 traces of its former alliance. 
 
 To discard, how r ever, everything wild and 
 marvellous in this portion of Spanish history, 
 is to discard some of its most beautiful, in- 
 structive, and national features ; it is to judge 
 of Spain by the standard of probability suited 
 to tamer and more prosaic countries. Spain is 
 virtually a land of poetry and romance, where 
 every-day life partakes of adventure, and 
 where the least agitation or excitement carries 
 everything up to extravagant enterprise and 
 daring exploit. The Spaniards, in all ages, 
 have been of swelling and braggart spirit, 
 soaring in thought, pompous in word, and 
 valiant, though vainglorious, in deed. Their 
 heroic aims have transcended the cooler con- 
 ceptions of their neighbors, and their reck- 
 less daring has borne them on to achievements 
 which prudent enterprise could never have 
 
pretace 
 
 accomplished. Since the time, too, of the con- 
 quest and occupation of their country by the 
 Arabs, a strong infusion of Oriental magnifi- 
 cence has entered into the national character, 
 and rendered the Spaniard distinct from every 
 other nation of Europe. 
 
 In the following pages, therefore, the author 
 has ventured to dip more deeply into the 
 enchanted fountains of old Spanish chronicle 
 than has usually been done by those who, in 
 modern times, have treated of the eventful 
 period of the Conquest ; but in so doing, he 
 trusts he will illustrate more fully the charac- 
 ter of the people and the times. He has 
 thought proper to throw these records into 
 the form of legends, not claiming for them 
 the authenticity of sober history, yet giving 
 nothing that has not historical foundation. 
 All the facts herein contained, ^owever ex- 
 travagant some of them may be deemed, will 
 be found in the works of sage and reverend 
 chroniclers of yore, growing side by side with 
 long-acknowledged truths, and might be sup- 
 ported by learned and imposing references in 
 the margin. 
 
Contents. 
 
 LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN. 
 
 Chap. I. — Consternation of Spain — Conduct of 
 the Conquerors — Missives between Taric and 
 Muza 
 
 Chap. II. — Capture of Granada — Subjugation of 
 the Alpuxarra Mountains .... 
 
 Chap. III. — Expedition of Magued against Cor- 
 dova — Defense of the Patriot Pelistes 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 24 
 
 3i 
 
 Chap. IV. — Defense of the Convent of St. George 
 by Pelistes 
 
 Chap. V. — Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes 
 and the Traitor Julian ..... 
 
 Chap. VI. — How Taric el Tuerto Captured the 
 City of Toledo through the Aid of the Jews, 
 and how he Found the Famous Talismanic 
 Table of Solomon 36 
 
 Chap. VII. — Muza ben Nosier — His Entrance into 
 
 Spain and Capture of Carmona . . .44 
 xi 
 
xii Contents 
 
 Chap. VIII.— Muza Marches against the City of 
 Seville 50 
 
 Chap. IX. — Muza Besieges the City of Merida . 53 
 
 Chap. X. — Expedition of Abdalasis against Se- 
 ville and the "Land of Tadmir" ... 63 
 
 Chap. XI. — Muza Arrives at Toledo — Interview 
 
 between him and Taric 74 
 
 V 
 
 Chap. XII.— Muza Prosecutes the Scheme of Con- 
 quest — Siege of Saragossa — Complete Subju- 
 gation of Spain ...... 80 
 
 Chap. XIII. — Feud between the Arab Generals — 
 They are Summoned to Appear before the 
 Caliph at Damascus — Reception of Taric . 86 
 
 Chap. XIV.— Muza Arrives at Damascus — His 
 Interview with the Caliph — The Table of 
 Solomon — A Rigorous Sentence . . -93 
 
 Chap. XV. — Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of 
 
 Spain 98 
 
 Chap. XVI. — Loves of Abdalasis and Exilon a . 104 
 
 Chap. XVII. — Fate of Abdalasis and Exilon a — 
 
 Death of Muza no 
 
 LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND 
 HIS FAMILY. 
 
 Legend of Count Julian and his Family . .117 
 
 Note to the Preceding Legend .... 137 
 
Contents xiii 
 
 CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ 
 COUNT OF CASTILE. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction 141 
 
 Chap. I. — Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as 
 Count of Castile — His First Campaign against 
 the Moors — Victory of San Quirce — How the 
 Count Disposed of the Spoils .... 144 
 
 Chap. II. — Of the Sally from Burgos, and sur- 
 prise of the Castle of Lara — Capitulation of 
 the Town — Visit to Alfonso the Great, King 
 of Leon 150 
 
 Chap. III. — Expedition against the Fortress of 
 Mugnon — Desperate Defense of the Moors — 
 Enterprise against Castro Xeriz . . .156 
 
 Chap. IV.— How the Count of Castile and the 
 King of Leon Made a Triumphant Foray into 
 the Moorish Country — Capture of Salamanca 
 —Of the Challenge Brought by the Herald, 
 and of the Counts Defiance .... 159 
 
 Chap. V. — A Night Assault upon the Castle of 
 Carazo — The Moorish Maiden who Betrayed 
 the Garrison 161 
 
 Chap. VI. — Death of Alfonso, King of Leon — 
 The Moors Determined to Strike a Fresh Blow 
 at the Count, who Summons all Castile to his 
 Standard — Of his Hunt in the Forest while 
 Waiting for the Enemy, and of the Hermit 
 that he Met with 166 
 
 Chap. VII. —The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares, 172 
 
 Chap. VIII. — Of the Message Sent by the Count 
 
xiv Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 to Sancho II. , King of Navarre, and the Reply 
 
 — Their Encounter in Battle . . . .176 
 
 Chap. IX.— How the Count of Toulouse Makes a 
 Campaign against Castile, and how he Re- 
 turns in his Coffin 181 
 
 Chap. X. — How the Count Went to Receive the 
 Hand of a Princess, and was Thrown into a 
 Dungeon — Of the Stranger that Visited him 
 in his Chains, and of the Appeal that he Made 
 to the Princess for his Deliverance . . 186 
 
 Chap. XI.— Of the Meditations of the Princess, 
 and their Result — Her Flight from the Prison 
 with the Count, and the Perils of the Escape 
 — The Nuptials 191 
 
 Chap. XII. — King Garcia Confined in Burgos by 
 the Count — The Princess Intercedes for his 
 Release 198 
 
 Chap. XIII. — Of the Expedition against the An- 
 cient City of Sylo — The Unwitting Trespass 
 of the Count into a Convent, and his Com- 
 punction thereupon 200 
 
 Chap. XIV.— Of the Moorish Host that Came up 
 from Cordova, and how the Count Repaired to 
 the Hermitage of San Pedro, and Prayed for 
 Success against them, and Received Assurance 
 of Victory in a Vision — Battle of Hazinas . 203 
 
 Chap. XV. — The Count Imprisoned by the King 
 of Leon — The Countess Concerts his Escape 
 — Leon and Castile United by the Marriage of 
 the Prince Ordono with Urraca, the Daughter 
 of the Count by his First Wife . . . 211 
 
Contents *v 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chap. XVI.— Moorish Incursion into Castile — 
 Battle of San Estevan — Of Pascual Vivas and 
 the Miracle that Befell him— Death of Ordono 
 III 217 
 
 Chap. XVII.— King Sancho the Fat— Of the 
 Homage he Exacted from Count Fernan 
 Gonzalez, and of the Strange Bargain* that he 
 Made with him for the Purchase of his Horse 
 and Falcon 225 
 
 Chap. XVIII. — Further of the Horse and Falcon, 230 
 
 Chap. XIX.— The Last Campaign of Count Fer- 
 nan — His Death 234 
 
 CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT. 
 
 Chap. I. — The Parentage of Fernando — Queen 
 Berenguela — The Laras — Don Alvar Conceals 
 the Death of King Henry — Mission of Queen 
 Berenguela to Alfonso IX. — She Renounces 
 the Crown of Castile in Favor of her Son 
 Fernando 243 
 
 Chap. II. — King Alfonso of Leon Ravages Castile 
 
 — Captivity of Don Alvar — Death of the Laras 252 
 
 Chap. III. — Marriage of King Fernando — Cam- 
 paign against the Moors — Aben Mohamed, 
 King of Baeza, Declares himself the Vassal 
 of King Fernando — They March to Jaen — 
 Burning of the Tower — Fernando Commences 
 the Building of the Cathedral at Toledo . 260 
 
 Chap. IV. — Assassination! of Aben Mohamed — 
 
xvi Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 His Head Carried as a Present to Abullale, 
 the_Moorish King of Seville — Advance of the 
 Christians into Andalusia — Abullale pur- 
 chases a Truce . ...... 266 
 
 Chap. V. — Aben Hud — Abullale Purchases An- 
 other Year's Truce — Fernando Hears of the 
 Death of his Father, the King of Leon, 
 while Pressing the Siege of Jaen — He Be- 
 comes Sovereign of the Two Kingdoms of 
 Leon and Castile . . . . . .270 
 
 Chap. VI. — Expedition of the Prince Alonso 
 against the Moors — Encamps on the Banks 
 of the Guadalete — Aben Hud Marches out 
 from Xerez and Gives Battle — Prowess of 
 Garcia Perez de Vargas — fight and Pursuit 
 of the Moors — Miracle of the Blessed 
 Santiago ........ 274 
 
 Chap. VII. — A Bold Attempt upon Cordova, the 
 
 Seat of Moorish Power 284 
 
 Chap. VIII. — A Spy in the Christian Camp — 
 Death of Aben Hud— A Vital Blow to Moslem 
 Power — Surrender of Cordova to King 
 Fernando 28S 
 
 Chap. IX. — Marriage of King Fernando to the 
 Princess Juana — Famine at Cordova — Don 
 Alvar Perez ....... 297 
 
 Chap. X.— Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alham- 
 bra — Fortifies Granada and Makes it his 
 Capital — Attempts to Surprise the Castle of 
 Martos — Peril of the Fortress — A Woman's 
 
Contents xvii 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Stratagem to Save it — Diego Perez, the 
 Smasher — Death of Count Alvar Perez de 
 Castro 301 
 
 Chap. XI. — Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of 
 Murcia, Becomes the Vassal of King Fernando 
 — Aben Alhamar Seeks to Drive the Chris- 
 tians out of Andalusia — Fernando Takes the 
 Field against him — Ravages of the King — 
 His Last Meeting with the Queen-Mother . 308 
 
 Chap. XII. — King Fernando's Expedition to An- 
 dalusia — Siege 01 Jaen — Secret Departure of 
 Aben Alhamar for the Christian Camp — He 
 Acknowledges himself the Vassal of the King, 
 who Enters Jaen in Triumph .... 318 
 
 Chap. XIII. — Axataf, King of Seville, Exas- 
 perated at the Submission of the King of 
 Granada — Rejects the Propositions of King 
 Fernando for a Truce — The Latter is En- 
 couraged by a Vision to Undertake the Con- 
 quest of the City of Seville — Death of Queen 
 Berenguela — A Diplomatic Marriage . . 324 
 
 Chap. XIV. — Investment of Seville — All Spain 
 Aroused to Arms — Surrender of Alcala del Rio 
 — The Fleet of Admiral Ramon Bonifaz Ad- 
 vances up the Guadalquivir — Don Pelayo 
 Correa, Master of Santiago — His Valorous 
 Deeds aud the Miracles Wrought in his 
 Behalf 330 
 
 Chap. XV. — King Fernando Changes his Camp 
 
 — Garci Perez and the Seven Moors . . 338 
 
xviii Contents 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chap. XVI.— Of the Raft Built by the Moors, and 
 how it was Boarded by Admiral Bonifaz — 
 Destruction of the Moorish Fleet — Succor 
 from Africa 345 
 
 Chap. XVII.— Of the Stout Prior Ferran Ruyz, 
 and how he Rescued his Cattle from the 
 Moors — Further Enterprises of the Prior, and 
 of the Ambuscade into which he Fell . . 349 
 
 Chap. XVIII. — Bravado of the Three Cavaliers- 
 Ambush at the Bridge over the Guadayra — 
 Desperate Valor of Garci Perez — Grand 
 Attempt of Admiral Bonifaz on the Bridge of 
 Boats — Seville Dismembered from Triana . 354 
 
 Chap. XIX. — Investment of Triana — Garci Perez 
 
 and the Infanzon ...... 364 
 
 Chap. XX. — Capitulation of Seville — Dispersion 
 of the Moorish Inhabitants — Triumphant 
 Entry of King Fernando .... 369 
 
 Chap. XXI.— Death of King Fernando . . 376 
 
LEGEND 
 
 OF 
 
 THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN. 
 
LEGEND 
 
 OF 
 
 THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN/ 
 
 Cbapter 1K 
 
 Consternation of Spain — Conduct of the Conquerors 
 — Missives between Taric and Muza. 
 
 THE overthrow of King Roderick and his 
 army on the banks of the Guadalete, 
 threw open all southern Spain to the 
 inroads of the Moslems. The whole 
 country fled before them ; villages and hamlets 
 were hastily abandoned ; the inhabitants placed 
 their aged and infirm, their wives and children, 
 
 * In this legend most of the facts respecting the 
 Arab inroads into Spain are on the authority of Ara- 
 bian writers, who had the most accurate means of in- 
 formation. Those relative to the Spaniards are chiefly 
 from old Spanish chronicles. It is to be remarked 
 
Spant6b papers 
 
 and their most precious effects, on mules and 
 other beasts of burden, and driving before 
 them their flocks and herds, made for distant 
 parts of the land, for the fastnesses of the 
 mountains, and for such of the cities as yet 
 possessed walls and bulwarks. Many gave 
 out, faint and weary, by the way, and fell into 
 the hands of the enemy ; others, at the distant 
 sight of a turban or a Moslem standard, or on 
 hearing the clangor of a trumpet, abandoned 
 their flocks and herds and hastened their flight 
 with their families. If their pursuers gained 
 upon them, they threw by their household 
 goods and whatever was of burden, and thought 
 themselves fortunate to escape, naked and 
 destitute, to a place of refuge. Thus the roads 
 were covered with scattered flocks and herds, 
 and with spoil of all kinds. 
 
 The Arabs, however, were not guilty of 
 wanton cruelty or ravage ; on the contrary, 
 they conducted themselves with a moderation 
 but seldom witnessed in more civilized con- 
 querors. Taric el Tuerto, though a thorough 
 man of the sword, and one whose whole 
 
 that the Arab accounts have most the air of verity, 
 and the events as they relate them are in the ordinary 
 course of common life. The Spanish accounts, on the 
 contrary, are full of the marvellous ; for there were 
 no greater romancers than the monkish chroniclers. 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 5 
 
 thoughts were warlike, yet evinced wonderful 
 judgment and discretion. He checked the 
 predatory habits of his troops with a rigorous 
 hand. They were forbidden, under pain of 
 severe punishment, to molest any peaceable 
 and unfortified towns, or any unarmed and un- 
 resisting people, who remained quiet in their 
 homes. No spoil was permitted to be made, 
 excepting in fields of battle, in camps of routed 
 foes, or in cities taken by the sword. 
 
 Taric had little need to exercise his severity ; 
 his orders were obeyed through love, rather 
 than fear, for he was the idol of his soldiery. 
 They admired his restless and daring spirit, 
 which nothing could dismay. His gaunt and 
 sinewy form, his fiery eye, his visage seamed 
 with scars, were suited to the hardihood of his 
 deeds ; and when mounted on his foaming 
 steed, careering the field of battle with quiver- 
 ing lance or flashing scimitar, his Arabs would 
 greet him with shouts of enthusiasm. But 
 what endeared him to them more than all was 
 his soldier-like contempt of gain. Conquest 
 was his only passion : glory the only reward 
 he coveted. As to the spoil of the conquered, 
 he shared it freely among his followers, and 
 squandered his own portion with open-handed 
 generosity. 
 
 While Taric was pushing his triumphant 
 
SpanfBb papers 
 
 course through Andalusia, tidings of his stu- 
 pendous victory on the banks of the Guadalete 
 were carried to Muza ben Nosier. Messenger 
 after messenger arrived, vying who should 
 most extol the achievements of the conqueror 
 and the grandeur of the conquest. "Taric," 
 said they, 4 ' has overthrown the whole force 
 of the unbelievers in one mighty battle. Their 
 king is slain ; thousands and tens of thousands 
 of their warriors are destroyed ; the whole land 
 lies at our mercy ; and city after city is sur- 
 rendering to the victorious arms of Taric." 
 
 The heart of Muza ben Nosier sickened at 
 these tidings, and, instead of rejoicing at the 
 success of the cause of Islam, he trembled with 
 jealous fear lest the triumphs of Taric in Spain 
 should eclipse his own victories in Africa. He 
 despatched missives to the Caliph Waled Alman- 
 zor, informing him of these new conquests, but 
 taking the whole glory to himself, and making 
 no mention of the services of Taric ; or at least, 
 only mentioning him incidentally as a subordi- 
 nate commander. ' ' The battles, ' ' said he, 
 " have been terrible as the day of judgment ; but 
 by the aid of Allah we have gained the victory . ' ' 
 
 He then prepared in all haste to cross over 
 into Spain and assume the command of the 
 conquering army ; and he wrote a letter in ad- 
 vance to interrupt Taric in the midst of his 
 
ftbe Subjugation of Spain 7 
 
 career. ' ' Wherever this letter may find thee, ' ' 
 said he, " I charge thee halt with thy army 
 and await my coming. Thy force is inadequate 
 to the subjugation of the land, and by rashly 
 venturing, thou maystlose everything. I will 
 be with thee speedily, with a reinforcement of 
 troops competent to so great an enterprise. ,, 
 
 The letter overtook the veteran Taric while 
 in the full glow of triumphant success, having 
 overrun some of the richest part of Andalusia, 
 and just received the surrender of the city of 
 Ecija. As he read the letter the blood mantled 
 in his sunburnt cheek and fire kindled in his 
 eye, for he penetrated the motives of Muza. 
 He suppressed his wrath, however, and turn- 
 ing with a bitter expression of forced composure 
 to his captains, " Unsaddle your steeds," said 
 he, ' * and plant your lances in the earth ; set 
 up your tents and take your repose, for we 
 must await the coming of the Wali with a 
 mighty force to assist us in our conquest." 
 
 The Arab warriors broke forth with loud 
 murmurs at these words. "What need have 
 we of aid," cried they, "when the whole coun- 
 try is flying before us ; and what better com- 
 mander can we have than Taric to lead us on 
 to victory ? ' ' 
 
 Count Julian, also, who was present, now 
 hastened to give his traitorous counsel. 
 
Spantsb papers 
 
 "Why pause," cried he, "at this precious 
 moment ? The great army of the Goths is van- 
 quished, and their nobles are slaughtered or 
 dispersed. Follow up your blow before the 
 land can recover from its panic. Overrun the 
 provinces, seize upon the cities, make yourself 
 master of the capital, and your conquest is 
 complete."* 
 
 The advice of Julian was applauded by all 
 the Arab chieftains, who were impatient of an}^ 
 interruption in their career of conquest. Taric 
 was easily persuaded to what was the wish of 
 his heart. Disregarding the letter of Muza, 
 therefore, he prepared to pursue his victories. 
 For this purpose he ordered a review of his 
 troops on the plain of Ecija. Some were 
 mounted on steeds which they had brought 
 from Africa ; the rest he supplied with horses 
 taken from the Christians. He repeated his 
 general orders, that they should inflict no wan- 
 ton injury, nor plunder any place that offered 
 no resistance. They were forbidden, also, to 
 encumber themselves with booty, or even with 
 provisions ; but were to scour the country with 
 all speed, and seize upon all its fortresses and 
 strongholds. 
 
 He then divided his host into three several 
 armies. One he placed under the command of 
 * Conde, p. i, c. 10. 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain g 
 
 the Greek renegado Magued el Rumi, a man of 
 desperate courage ; and sent it against the 
 ancient city of Cordova. Another was sent 
 against the city of Malaga, and was led by Zayd 
 ben Kesadi, aided by the Bishop Oppas. The 
 third was led by Taric himself, and with this 
 he determined to make a wide sweep through 
 the kingdom.* 
 
 * Cronica de Espana, de Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3, c. 1. 
 
Cbapter If. 
 
 Capture of Granada — Subjugation of the Alpuxarra 
 Mountains. 
 
 THE terror of the arms of Taric ben Zeyad 
 went before him ; and, at the same 
 time, the report of his lenity to those 
 who submitted without resistance. 
 Wherever he appeared, the towns, for the most 
 part, sent forth some of their principal inhabit- 
 ants to proffer a surrender ; for they were des- 
 titute of fortifications, and their fighting men 
 had perished in battle. They were all received 
 into allegiance to the Caliph, and were pro- 
 tected from pillage or molestation. 
 
 After marching some distance through the 
 country, he entered one day a vast and beauti- 
 ful plain, interspersed with villages, adorned 
 with groves and gardens, watered by winding 
 rivers, and surrounded by lofty mountains. It 
 was the famous vega, or plain of Granada, des- 
 tined to be for ages the favorite abode of the 
 
 IO 
 
JLhe Subjugation of Spain n 
 
 Moslems. When the Arab conquerors beheld 
 this delicious vega, they were lost in admira- 
 tion ; for it seemed as if the Prophet had given 
 them a paradise on earth, as a reward for their 
 services in his cause. 
 
 Taric approached the city of Granada, which 
 had a formidable aspect, seated on lofty hills 
 and fortified with Gothic walls and towers, and 
 with the red castle or citadel, built in times of 
 old by the Phoenicians or the Romans. As the 
 Arab chieftain eyed the place, he was pleased 
 with its stern warrior look, contrasting with 
 the smiling beauty of its vega, and the fresh- 
 ness and voluptuous abundance of its hills and 
 valleys. He pitched his tents before its walls, 
 and made preparations to attack it with all his 
 force. 
 
 The city, however, bore but the semblance 
 of power. The flower of its youth had per- 
 ished in the battle of the Guadalete ; many of 
 the principal inhabitants had fled to the moun- 
 tains, and few remained in the city excepting 
 old men, women, and children, and a number 
 of Jews, which last were well disposed to take 
 part with the conquerors. The city, therefore, 
 readily capitulated, and was received into vas- 
 salage on favorable terms. The inhabitants 
 were to retain their property, their laws, and 
 their religion ; their churches and priests were 
 
i2 Spanteb papers 
 
 to be respected ; and no other tribute was re- 
 quired of them than such as they had been ac- 
 customed to pay to their Gothic kings. 
 
 On taking possession of Granada, Taric 
 garrisoned the towers and castles, and left as 
 alcayde or governor a chosen warrior named 
 Betiz Aben Habuz, a native of Arabia Felix, 
 who had distinguished himself by his valor 
 and abilities. This alcayde subsequently made 
 himself king of Granada, and built a palace on 
 one of its hills ; the remains of which may be 
 seen at the present day.* 
 
 * The house shown as the ancient residence of Aben 
 Habuz is called la Casa del Gallo, or the house of the 
 weathercock ; so named, says Pedraza, in his history 
 of Granada, from a bronze figure of an Arab horse- 
 man, armed with lance and buckler, which once sur- 
 mounted it, and which varied with every wind. On 
 this warlike weathercock was inscribed, in Arabic 
 characters, — 
 
 4i Dice el sabio Aben Habuz 
 Que asi se defiende el Andaluz." 
 
 (In this way, says Aben Habuz the Wise, 
 The Andalusian his foe defies.) 
 
 The Casa del Gallo, even until within twenty years, 
 possessed two great halls beautifully decorated with 
 morisco reliefs. It then caught fire and was so dam- 
 aged as to require to be nearly rebuilt. It is now a 
 manufactory of coarse canvas, and has nothing of the 
 Moorish character remaining. It commands a beauti- 
 ful view of the city and the vega. 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 13 
 
 Even the delights of Granada had no power 
 to detain the active and ardent Taric. To the 
 east of the city he beheld a lofty chain of 
 mountains, towering to the sky, and crowned 
 with shining snow. These were the " Moun- 
 tains of the Sun and Air ' ' ; and the perpetual 
 snows on their summits gave birth to streams 
 that fertilized the plains. In their bosoms, 
 shut up among cliffs and precipices, were many 
 small valleys of great beauty and abundance. 
 The inhabitants were a bold and hardy race, 
 who looked upon their mountains as everlast- 
 ing fortresses that could never be taken. The 
 inhabitants of the surrounding country had 
 fled to these natural fastnesses for refuge, and 
 driven thither their flocks and herds. 
 
 Taric felt that the dominion he had acquired 
 of the plains would be insecure until he had 
 penetrated and subdued these haughty moun- 
 tains. Leaving Aben Habuz, therefore, in 
 command of Granada, he marched with his 
 army across the vega, and entered the folds of 
 the sierra, which stretch towards the south. 
 The inhabitants fled with affright on hearing 
 the Moorish trumpets, or beholding the ap- 
 proach of the turbaned horsemen, and plunged 
 deeper into the recesses of their mountains. 
 As the army advanced, the roads became more 
 and more rugged and difficult ; sometimes 
 
i4 Spanisb papers 
 
 climbing great rocky heights, and at other 
 times descending abruptly into deep ravines, 
 the beds of winter torrents. The mountains 
 were strangely wild and sterile ; broken into 
 cliffs and precipices of variegated marble. At 
 their feet were little valleys, enamelled with 
 groves and gardens, interlaced with silver 
 streams, and studded with villages and ham- 
 lets — but all deserted by their inhabitants. No 
 one appeared to dispute the inroad of the Mos- 
 lems, who continued their march with increas- 
 ing confidence, their pennons fluttering from 
 rock and cliff, and the valleys echoing to the 
 din of trumpet, drum, and cymbal. At length 
 they came to a defile where the mountains 
 seemed to have been rent asunder to make way 
 for a foaming torrent. The narrow and broken 
 road wound along the dizzy edge of precipices, 
 until it came to where a bridge was thrown 
 across the chasm. It was a fearful and gloomy 
 pass ; great beetling cliffs overhung the road, 
 and the torrent roared below. This awful de- 
 file has ever been famous in the warlike his- 
 tory of those mountains, by the name, in former 
 times, of the Barranco de Tocos, and at pres- 
 ent of the Bridge of Tablete. The Saracen 
 army entered fearlessly into the pass ; a part 
 had already crossed the bridge, and was slowly 
 toiling up the rugged road on the opposite side, 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 15 
 
 when great shouts arose, and every cliff ap- 
 peared suddenly peopled with furious foes. In 
 an instant a deluge of missiles of every sort 
 was rained upon the astonished Moslems. 
 Darts, arrows, javelins, and stones, came whis- 
 tling down, singling out the most conspicuous 
 cavaliers ; and at times great masses of rock, 
 bounding and thundering along the mountain 
 side, crushed whole ranks at once, or hurled 
 horses and riders over the edge of the preci- 
 pices. 
 
 It was in vain to attempt to brave this moun- 
 tain warfare. The enemy were beyond the 
 reach of missiles, and safe from pursuit ; and 
 the horses of the Arabs were here an incum- 
 brance rather than an aid. The trumpets 
 sounded a retreat, and the army retired in tu- 
 mult and confusion, harassed by the enemy 
 until extricated from the defile. Taric, who 
 had beheld cities and castles surrendering with- 
 out a blow, was enraged at being braved by a 
 mere horde of mountain boors, and made 
 another attempt to penetrate the mountains, 
 but was again waylaid and opposed with 
 horrible slaughter. 
 
 The fiery son of Ishmael foamed with rage 
 at being thus checked in his career and foiled 
 in his revenge. He was on the point of aban- 
 doning the attempt, and returning to the vega, 
 
16 Spanfsb papers 
 
 when a Christian boor sought his camp, and 
 was admitted to his presence. The miserable 
 wretch possessed a cabin and a little patch of 
 ground among the mountains, and offered, if 
 these should be protected from ravage, to in- 
 form the Arab commander of a way by which 
 troops of horse might be safely introduced into 
 the bosom of the sierra, and the whole sub- 
 dued. The name of this caitiff w r as Fandino, 
 and it deserves to be perpetually recorded with 
 ignominy. His case is an instance how much 
 it is in the power, at times, of the most insig- 
 nificant being to do mischief, and how all the 
 valor of the magnanimous and the brave may 
 be defeated by the treason of the selfish and 
 the despicable. 
 
 Instructed by this traitor, the Arab com- 
 mander caused ten thousand foot-soldiers and 
 four thousand horsemen, commanded by a val- 
 iant captain, named Ibrahim Albuxarra, to be 
 conveyed by sea to the little port of Adra, at 
 the Mediterranean foot of the mountains. 
 Here they landed, and, guided by the traitor, 
 penetrated to the heart of the sierra, laying 
 everything waste. The brave mountaineers, 
 thus hemmed in between two armies, destitute 
 of fortresses and without hope of succor, were 
 obliged to capitulate ; but their valor was not 
 without avail, for never, even in Spain, did 
 
Zbc Subjugation of Spain 17 
 
 vanquished people surrender on prouder or 
 more honorable terms. We have named the 
 wretch who betrayed his native mountains ; let 
 us equally record the name of him whose pious 
 patriotism saved them from desolation. It was 
 the reverend Bishop Centerio. While the war- 
 riors rested on their arms in grim and mena- 
 cing tranquillity among the cliffs, this venerable 
 prelate descended to the Arab tents in the val- 
 ley, to conduct the capitulation. In stipulating 
 for the safety of his people, he did not forget 
 that they were brave men, and that they still 
 had weapons in their hands. He obtained 
 conditions accordingly. It was agreed that 
 they should be permitted to retain their houses, 
 lands, and personal effects ; that they should be 
 unmolested in their religion, and their temples 
 and priests respected ; and that they should pay 
 no other tribute than such as they had been ac- 
 customed to render to their kings. Should they 
 prefer to leave the country and remove to any 
 part of Christendom, they were to be allowed 
 to sell their possessions, and to take with them 
 the money, and all their other effects.* 
 
 Ibrahim Albuxarra remained in command 
 of the territory, and the whole sierra, or chain 
 of mountains, took his name, which has since 
 
 * Pedraza, Hist. Granad., p. 3. c. 2. Bleda, Crou- 
 ica y Iv. 2, c, 10. 
 
i8 
 
 Spanisb ipapeus 
 
 been slightly corrupted into that of the Alpux- 
 arras. The subjugation of this rugged region, 
 however, was for a long time incomplete ; 
 many of the Christians maintained a wild and 
 hostile independence, living in green glens 
 and scanty valleys among the heights ; and the 
 sierra of the Alpuxarras has in all ages been 
 one of the most difficult parts of Andalusia to 
 be subdued. 
 
Cbapter MIL 
 
 Expedition of Magued against Cordova — Defense of 
 the Patriot Pelistes. 
 
 WHIIyE the veteran Taric was making 
 this wide circuit through the land, 
 the expedition under Magued the 
 renegado proceeded against the city 
 of Cordova. The inhabitants of that ancient 
 place had beheld the great army of Don Rod- 
 erick spreading like an inundation over the 
 plain of the Guadalquivir, and had felt confi- 
 dent that it must sweep the infidel invaders 
 from the land. What then was their dismay 
 when scattered fugitives, wild with horror and 
 affright, brought them tidings of the entire 
 overthrow of that mighty host, and the disap- 
 pearance of the king ! In the midst of their 
 consternation, the Gothic noble Pelistes arrived 
 at their gates, haggard with fatigue of body 
 and anguish of mind, and leading a remnant 
 of his devoted cavaliers, who had survived the 
 
 19 
 
20 Spanisb papers 
 
 dreadful battle of the Guadalete. The people 
 of Cordova knew the valiant and steadfast 
 spirit of Pelistes, and rallied round him as a 
 last hope. ''Roderick is fallen," cried they, 
 1 ' and we have neither king nor captain ; be 
 unto us as a sovereign ; take command of our 
 city, and protect us in this hour of peril ! ' ' 
 
 The heart of Pelistes was free from ambi- 
 tion, and was too much broken by grief to be 
 flattered by the offer of command ; but he felt 
 above everything for the woes of his country, 
 and was ready to assume any desperate service 
 in her cause. " Your city," said he, " is sur- 
 rounded by walls and towers, and may yet 
 check the progress of the foe. Promise to 
 stand by me to the last, and I will undertake 
 your defense." The inhabitants all promised 
 implicit obedience and devoted zeal ; for what 
 will not the inhabitants of a wealthy city 
 promise and profess in a moment of alarm? 
 The instant, however, that they heard of the 
 approach of the Moslem troops, the wealthier 
 citizens packed up their effects and fled to the 
 mountains, or to the distant city of Toledo. 
 Even the monks collected the riches of their 
 convents and churches, and fled. Pelistes, 
 though he saw himself thus deserted by those 
 who had the greatest interest in the safety of 
 the city, yet determined not to abandon its de- 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 21 
 
 fense. He had still his faithful though scanty 
 band of cavaliers, and a number of fugitives 
 of the army, in all amounting to about four 
 hundred men. He stationed guards, therefore, 
 at the gates and in the towers, and made every 
 preparation for a desperate resistance. 
 
 In the meantime, the army of Moslems and 
 apostate Christians advanced, under the com- 
 mand of the Greek renegado Magued, and 
 guided by the traitor Julian. While they were 
 yet at some distance from the city, their scouts 
 brought to them a shepherd, whom they had 
 surprised on the banks of the Guadalquivir. 
 The trembling hind was an inhabitant of Cor- 
 dova, and revealed to them the state of the 
 place and the weakness of its garrison. 
 
 "And the walls and gates," said Magued, 
 " are they strong and well guarded? " 
 
 i ' The walls are high and of wondrous 
 strength," replied the shepherd, " and soldiers 
 hold watch at the gates by day and night. 
 But there is one place where the city may 
 be secretly entered. In a part of the wall, 
 not far from the bridge, the battlements are 
 broken, and there is a breach at some height 
 from the ground. Hard by stands a fig-tree, 
 by the aid of which the wall may easily be 
 scaled." 
 
 Having received this information, Magued 
 
22 Spanieb papers 
 
 halted with his army, and sent forward several 
 renegado Christians, partisans of Count Julian, 
 who entered* Cordova as if flying before the 
 enemy. On a dark and tempestuous night, 
 the Moslems approached to the end of the 
 bridge which crosses the Guadalquivir, and 
 remained in ambush. Magued took a small 
 party of chosen men, and guided by the shep- 
 herd, forded the stream, and groped silently 
 along the wall to the place where stood the fig- 
 tree. The traitors, who had fraudulently en- 
 tered the city, were ready on the wall to render 
 assistance. Magued ordered his followers to 
 make use of the long folds of their turbans 
 instead of cords, and succeeded without diffi- 
 culty in clambering into the breach. 
 
 Drawing their scimitars, they now hastened 
 to the gate which opened towards the bridge ; 
 the guards, suspecting no assault from within, 
 were taken by surprise and easily overpowered ; 
 the gate was thrown open, and the army that 
 had remained in ambush rushed over the 
 bridge, and entered without opposition. 
 
 The alarm had by this time spread through- 
 out the city ; but already a torrent of armed 
 men was pouring through the streets. Pelistes 
 sallied forth with his cavaliers and such of the 
 soldiery as he could collect, and endeavored to 
 repel the foe ; but every effort was in vain. 
 
ftbe Subjugation of Spain 23 
 
 The Christians were slowly driven from street 
 to street and square to square, disputing every 
 inch of ground ; until, finding another body of 
 the enemy approaching to attack them in rear, 
 they took refuge in a convent, and succeeded in 
 throwing to and barring the ponderous doors. 
 The Moors attempted to force the gates, but 
 were assailed with such showers of missiles 
 from the windows and battlements that they 
 were obliged to retire. Pelistes examined the 
 convent, and found it admirably calculated for 
 defense. It was of great extent, with spacious 
 courts and cloisters. The gates were massive, 
 and secured with bolts and bars ; the walls 
 were of great thickness ; the windows high and 
 grated ; there was a great tank or cistern of 
 water, and the friars, who had fled from the 
 city, had left behind a good supply of provisions. 
 Here, then, Pelistes proposed to make a stand, 
 and to endeavor to hold out until succor should 
 arrive from some other city. His proposition 
 was received with shouts by his loyal cavaliers, 
 not one of whom but was ready to lay down 
 his life in the service of his commander. 
 
Cbapter TO. 
 
 Defense of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes. 
 
 FOR three long and anxious months did 
 the good knight Pelistes and his caval- 
 iers defend their sacred asylum against 
 the repeated assaults of the infidels. 
 The standard of the true faith was constantly 
 'displayed from the loftiest tower, and a fire 
 blazed there throughout the night, as signals 
 of distress to the surrounding country. The 
 watchman from his turret kept a wary lookout 
 over the land, hoping in every cloud of dust to 
 descry the glittering helms of Christian war- 
 riors. The country, however, was forlorn and 
 abandoned, or if perchance a human being was 
 perceived, it was some Arab horseman, career- 
 ing the plain of the Guadalquivir as fearlessly 
 as if it were his native desert. 
 
 By degrees the provisions of the convent 
 were consumed, and the cavaliers had to slay 
 their horses, one by one, for food. They suf- 
 
 24 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 25 
 
 fered the wasting miseries of famine without a 
 murmur, and always met their commander 
 with a smile. Pelistes, however, read their 
 sufferings in their wan and emaciated counte- 
 nances, and felt more for them than for himself. 
 He was grieved at heart that such loyalty and 
 valor should only lead to slavery or death, and 
 resolved to make one desperate attempt for 
 their deliverance. Assembling them one day 
 in the court of the convent, he disclosed to 
 them his purpose. 
 
 " Comrades and brothers in arms," said he, 
 " it is needless to conceal danger from brave 
 men. Our case is desperate ; our countrymen 
 either know not or heed not our situation, or 
 have not the means to help us. There is but 
 one chance of escape ; it is full of peril, and, as 
 your leader, I claim the right to brave it. To- 
 morrow, at break of day, I w 7 ill sally forth and 
 make for the city gates at the moment of their 
 being opened ; no one will suspect a solitary 
 horseman ; I shall be taken for one of those 
 recreant Christians who have basely mingled 
 with the enemy. If I succeed in getting out 
 of the city I will hasten to Toledo for as- 
 sistance. In all events I shall be back in less 
 than twenty days. Keep a vigilant lookout 
 toward the nearest mountain. If you behold 
 five lights blazing upon its summit, be assured 
 
26 Spanteb ipapers 
 
 I am at hand with succor, and prepare your- 
 selves to sally forth upon the city as I attack 
 the gates. Should I fail in obtaining aid, I 
 will return to die with you." 
 
 When he had finished, his warriors would 
 fain have severally undertaken the enterprise, 
 and they remonstrated against his exposing 
 himself to such peril ; but he was not to be 
 shaken from his purpose. On the following 
 morning, ere the break of day, his horse was 
 led forth, caparisoned, into the court of the 
 convent, and Pelistes appeared in complete 
 armor. Assembling his cavaliers in the chapel, 
 he prayed with them for some time before the 
 altar of the Holy Virgin. Then rising and 
 standing in the midst of them, " God knows, 
 my companions," said he, " whether we have 
 any longer a country ; if not, better were we 
 in our graves. I^oyal and true have ye been 
 to me, and loyal have ye been to my 
 son, even to the hour of his death ; and 
 grieved am I that I have no other means of 
 proving my love for you, than by adventuring 
 my worthless life for your deliverance. All I 
 ask of you before I go, is a solemn promise to 
 defend yourselves to the last like brave men 
 and Christian cavaliers, and never to renounce 
 your faith, or throw yourselves on the mercy 
 of the renegado Magued, or the traitor Julian. ' ' 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 27 
 
 They all pledged their words, and took a sol- 
 emn oath to the same effect before the altar. 
 
 Pelistes then embraced them one by one, and 
 gave them his benediction, and as he did so 
 his heart yearned over them, for he felt to- 
 wards them, not merely as a companion in 
 arms and as a commander, but as a father ; 
 and he took leave of them as if he had been 
 going to his death. The warriors, on their 
 part, crowded round him in silence, kissing 
 his hands and the hem of his surcoat, and 
 many of the sternest shed tears. 
 
 The gray of the dawning had just streaked 
 the east, when Pelistes took lance in hand, 
 hung his shield about his neck, and mounting 
 his steed, issued quietly forth from a postern 
 of the convent. He paced slowly through the 
 vacant streets, and the tramp of his steed 
 echoed afar in that silent hour ; but no one 
 suspected a warrior, moving thus singly and 
 tranquilly in an armed city, to be an enemy. 
 He arrived at the gate just at the hour of open- 
 ing ; a foraging party was entering with cattle 
 and with beasts of burden, and he passed un- 
 heeded through the throng. As soon as he 
 was out of sight of the soldiers who guarded 
 the gate, he quickened his pace, and at length, 
 galloping at full speed, succeeded in gaining 
 the mountains. Here he paused, and alighted 
 
28 Spantsb papers 
 
 at a solitary farmhouse to breathe his panting 
 steed ; but he had scarce put foot to ground 
 when he heard the distant sound of pursuit, 
 and beheld a horseman spurring up the moun- 
 tain. 
 
 Throwing himself again upon his steed, he 
 abandoned the road and galloped across the 
 rugged heights. The deep dry channel of a 
 torrent checked his career, and his horse stum- 
 bling upon the margin, rolled with his rider to 
 the bottom. Pelistes was sorely bruised by 
 the fall, and his whole visage was bathed in 
 blood. His horse, too, was maimed and un- 
 able to stand, so that there was no hope of 
 escape. The enemy drew near, and proved to 
 be no other than Magued the renegado general, 
 who had perceived him as he issued forth from 
 the city and had followed singly in pursuit. 
 * * Well met, sefior alcaid ! ' ' exclaimed he, 
 " and overtaken in good time. Surrender 
 yourself my prisoner.' ' 
 
 Pelistes made no other reply than by draw- 
 ing his sword, bracing his shield, and prepar- 
 ing for defense. Magued, though an apostate, 
 and a fierce warrior, possessed some sparks 
 of knightly magnanimity. Seeing his adver- 
 sary dismounted, he disdained to take him at a 
 disadvantage, but, alighting, tied his horse to 
 a tree. 
 
Zbc Subjugation of Spain 29 
 
 The conflict that ensued was desperate and 
 doubtful, for seldom had two warriors met so 
 well matched or of equal prowess. Their 
 shields were hacked to pieces, the ground 
 was strewed with fragments of their armor, 
 and stained with their blood. They paused 
 repeatedly to take breath, regarding each 
 other with wonder and admiration. Pelistes, 
 however, had been previously injured by his 
 fall, and fought to great disadvantage. The 
 renegado perceived it, and sought not to slay 
 him, but to take him alive. Shifting his 
 ground continually, he wearied his antagonist, 
 who was growing weaker and weaker from 
 the loss of blood. At length Pelistes seemed 
 to summon up all his remaining strength to 
 make a signal blow ; it was skilfully parried, 
 and he fell prostrated upon the ground. The 
 renegado ran up, and putting his foot upon 
 his sword, and the point of his scimitar to his 
 throat, called upon him to ask his life ; but 
 Pelistes lay without sense, and as one dead. 
 Magued then unlaced the helmet of his van- 
 quished enemy, and seated himself on a rock 
 beside him, to recover breath. In this situa- 
 tion the warriors were found by certain Moor- 
 ish cavaliers, who marvelled much at the traces 
 of that stern and bloody combat. 
 
 Finding there was yet life in the Christian 
 
3o Spantsb papers 
 
 knight, they laid him upon one of their horses, 
 and aiding Magued to remount his steed, pro- 
 ceeded slowly to the city. As the convoy 
 passed by the convent, the cavaliers looked 
 forth and beheld their commander borne along 
 bleeding and a captive. Furious at the sight, 
 they sallied forth to the rescue, but were re- 
 pulsed by a superior force and driven back to 
 the great portal of the church. The enemy 
 entered pell-mell with them, fighting from 
 aisle to aisle, from altar to altar, and in the 
 courts and cloisters of the convent. The 
 greater part of the cavaliers died bravely, 
 sword in hand ; the rest were disabled with 
 wounds and made prisoners. The convent, 
 which was lately their castle, was now made 
 their prison, and in after-times, in commemora- 
 tion of this event, was consecrated by the 
 name of St. George of the Captives. 
 
 

 Cfoapter ID* 
 
 Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor 
 
 Julian. 
 
 THK loyalty and prowess of the good 
 knight Pelistes had gained him the 
 reverence even of his enemies. He 
 was for a long time disabled by his 
 wounds, during which he was kindly treated 
 by the Arab chieftains, who strove by every 
 courteous means to cheer his sadness and make 
 him forget that he was a captive. When he 
 was recovered from his wounds they gave him 
 a magnificent banquet, to testify their admira- 
 tion of his virtues. 
 
 Pelistes appeared at the banquet clad in 
 sable armor, and with a countenance pale and 
 dejected, for the ills of his country evermore 
 preyed upon his heart. Among the assembled 
 guests was Count Julian, who held a high 
 command in the Moslem army, and was ar- 
 rayed in garments of mingled Christian and 
 
 31 
 
32 Spanish papers 
 
 morisco fashion. Pelistes had been a close and 
 bosom friend of Julian in former times, and had 
 served with him in the wars in Africa, but 
 when the count advanced to accost him with 
 his wonted amity, he turned away in silence 
 and deigned not to notice him ; neither, dur- 
 ing the whole of the repast, did he address to 
 him ever a word, but treated him as one un- 
 known. 
 
 When the banquet was nearly at a close, the 
 discourse turned upon the events of the war, 
 and the Moslem chieftains, in great courtesy, 
 dwelt upon the merits of many of the Christian 
 cavaliers who had fallen in battle, and all ex- 
 tolled the valor of those who had recently per- 
 ished in the defense of the convent. Pelistes 
 remained silent for a time, and checked the 
 grief which swelled within his bosom as he 
 thought of his devoted cavaliers. At length, 
 lifting up his voice, " Happy are the dead," 
 said he, " for they rest in peace, and are gone to 
 receive the reward of their piety and valor ! I 
 could mourn over the loss of my companions 
 in arms, but they have fallen with honor and 
 are spared the wretchedness I feel in witness- 
 ing the thraldom of my country. I have seen 
 my only son, the pride and hope of my age, cut 
 down at my side ; I have beheld kindred, 
 friends, and followers falling one by one around 
 
XLbc Subjugation ot Spain 33 
 
 me, and have become so seasoned to those 
 losses that I have ceased to weep. Yet there 
 is one man over whose loss I will never cease to 
 grieve. He was the loved companion of my 
 youth, and the steadfast associate of my graver 
 years. He was one of the most loyal of Chris- 
 tian knights. As a friend, he w T as loving and 
 sincere ; as a warrior, his achievements were 
 above all praise. What has become of him, 
 alas, I know not ! If fallen in battle, and I 
 knew where his bones were laid, whether 
 bleaching on the plains of Xeres or buried in 
 the waters of the Guadalete, I would seek them 
 out and enshrine them as the relics of a sainted 
 patriot. Or if, like many of his companions 
 in arms, he should be driven to wander in 
 foreign lands, I would join him in his hapless 
 exile, and we would mourn together over the 
 desolation of our country ! ' ' 
 
 Even the hearts of the Arab warriors were 
 touched by the lament of the good Pelistes, and 
 they said : * ' Who was this peerless friend in 
 whose praise thou art so fervent ? ' ' 
 
 "His name," replied Pelistes, "was Count 
 Julian.' ' 
 
 The Moslem warriors started with surprise. 
 " Noble cavalier," exclaimed they, " has grief 
 disordered thy senses ? Behold thy friend liv- 
 ing and standing before thee, and yet thou 
 
34 Spanish papers 
 
 dost not know him? This, this is Count 
 Julian !" 
 
 Upon this, Pelistes turned his eyes upon the 
 count, and regarded him for a time with a lofty 
 and stern demeanor ; and the countenance of 
 Julian darkened, and was troubled, and his 
 eye sank beneath the regard of that loyal and 
 honorable cavalier. And Pelistes said, "in 
 the name of God, I charge thee, man un- 
 known ! to answer. Dost thou presume to 
 call thyself Count Julian ? ' ' 
 
 The count reddened with anger at these 
 words. " Pelistes,' ' said he, "what means 
 this mockery ? thou knowest me well ; thou 
 knowest me for Count Julian." 
 
 "I know thee for a base impostor !" cried 
 Pelistes. * ' Count Julian was a noble Gothic 
 knight ; but thou appearest in mongrel Moor- 
 ish garb. Count Julian was a Christian, faith- 
 ful and devout ; but I behold in thee a renegado 
 and an infidel. Count Julian was ever loyal to 
 his king, and foremost in his country's cause ; 
 were he living, he would be the first to put 
 shield on neck and lance in rest, to clear the 
 land of her invaders ; but thou art a hoary 
 traitor ; thy hands are stained with the royal 
 blood of the Goths, and thou hast betrayed 
 thy country and thy God. Therefore, I again 
 repeat, man unknown ! if thou say est thou art 
 
XLbc Subjugation of Spain 
 
 35 
 
 Count Julian, thou liest ! My friend, alas, is 
 dead ; and thou art some fiend from hell, which 
 hast taken possession of his body to dishonor 
 his memory and render him an abhorrence 
 among men ! ' ' So saying, Pelistes turned his 
 back upon the traitor, and went forth from the 
 banquet ; leaving Count Julian overwhelmed 
 with confusion, and an object of scorn to all 
 the Moslem cavaliers. 
 
Cbapter FIT. 
 
 How Taric el Tuerto Captured the City of Toledo 
 through the Aid of the Jews, and how he Found the 
 Famous Talismanic Table of Solomon. 
 
 WHIIyK these events were passing in 
 Cordova, the one-eyed Arab gen- 
 eral, Taric el Tuerto, having sub- 
 dued the city and vega of Granada, 
 and the Mountains of the Sun and Air, directed 
 his march into the interior of the kingdom, to 
 attack the ancient city of Toledo, the capital 
 of the Gothic kings. So great was the terror 
 caused by the rapid conquests of the invaders, 
 that at the very rumor of their approach many 
 of the inhabitants, though thus in the very 
 citadel of the kingdom, abandoned it and fled 
 to the mountains with their families. Enough 
 remained, however, to have made a formidable 
 defense ; and, as the city was seated on a 
 lofty rock, surrounded by massive walls and 
 towers, and almost girdled by the Tagus, it 
 
 36 
 
 
Zbc Subjugation of Spain 37 
 
 threatened a long resistance. The Arab warriors 
 pitched their tents in the vega, on the borders 
 of the river, and prepared for a tedious siege. 
 
 One evening, as Taric was seated in his 
 tent, meditating on the mode in which he 
 should assail this rock-built city, certain of 
 the patrols of the camp brought a stranger be- 
 fore him. " As we were going our rounds/' 
 said they, " we beheld this man lowered down 
 with cords from a tower, and he delivered him- 
 self into our hands, praying to be conducted to 
 thy presence, that he might reveal to thee 
 certain things important for thee to know." 
 
 Taric fixed his eye upon the stranger ; he 
 was a Jewish rabbi, with a long beard which 
 spread upon his gabardine, and descended 
 even to his girdle. ' ' What hast thou to re- 
 veal ? " said he to the Israelite. "What I 
 have to reveal,' ' replied the other, " is for thee 
 alone to hear ; command, then, I entreat thee, 
 that these men withdraw." When they were 
 alone he addressed Taric in Arabic : ' ' Know, 
 
 leader of the host of Islam," said he, " that 
 
 1 am sent to thee on the part of the children 
 of Israel, resident in Toledo. We have been 
 oppressed and insulted by the Christians in the 
 time of their prosperity, and now that they 
 are threatened with siege, they have taken 
 from us all our provisions and our money ; 
 
38 Spantsb papers 
 
 they have compelled us to work like slaves, 
 repairing their walls ; and they oblige us to 
 bear arms and guard a part of the towers. 
 We abhor their yoke, and are ready, if thou 
 wilt receive us as subjects, and permit us the 
 free enjoyment of our religion and our property, 
 to deliver the towers we guard into thy hands, 
 and to give thee safe entrance into the city." 
 
 The Arab chief was overjoyed at this propo- 
 sition, and he rendered much honor to the 
 rabbi, and gave orders to clothe him in a costly 
 robe, and to perfume his beard with essences 
 of a pleasant odor, so that he was the most 
 sweet-smelling of his tribe ; and he said : 
 1 ' Make thy words good, and put me in posses- 
 sion of the city, and I will do all and more 
 than thou hast required, and will bestow count- 
 less wealth upon thee and thy brethren.' ' 
 
 Then a plan was devised between them by 
 which the city was to be betrayed and given 
 up. "But how shall I be secured, " said he, 
 "that all thy tribe will fulfil what thou hast 
 engaged, and that this is not a stratagem to 
 get me and my people into your power ? ' ' 
 
 " This shall be thy assurance," replied the 
 rabbi ; ' ' ten of the principal Israelites will 
 come to this tent and remain as hostages." 
 
 "It is enough," said Taric ; and he made 
 oath to accomplish all that he had promised ; 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 39 
 
 and the Jewish hostages came and delivered 
 themselves into his hands. 
 
 On a dark night a chosen band of Moslem 
 warriors approached the part of the walls 
 guarded by the Jews, and were secretly ad- 
 mitted into a postern gate and concealed 
 within a tower. Three thousand Arabs were 
 at the same time placed in ambush among 
 rocks and thickets, in a place on the opposite 
 side of the river, commanding a view of the 
 city. On the following morning Taric ravaged 
 the gardens of the valley, and set fire to the 
 farmhouses, and then, breaking up his camp, 
 marched off as if abandoning the siege. 
 
 The people of Toledo gazed with astonish- 
 ment from their walls at the retiring squadrons 
 of the enemy, and scarcely could credit their 
 unexpected deliverance ; before night there 
 was not a turban nor a hostile lance to be seen 
 in the vega. They attributed it all to the 
 special intervention of their patron saint, I,eo- 
 cadia ; and the following day being Palm 
 Sunday, they sallied forth in procession, man, 
 woman, and child, to the church of that blessed 
 saint, which is situated without the walls, that 
 they might return thanks for her marvellous 
 protection. 
 
 When all Toledo had thus poured itself 
 forth, and was marching with cross and relic 
 
40 Spanisb papers 
 
 and solemn chant towards the chapel, the 
 Arabs who had been concealed in the tower 
 rushed forth, and barred the gates of the city. 
 While some guarded the gates, others dispersed 
 themselves about the streets, slaying all who 
 made resistance ; and others kindled a fire and 
 made a column of smoke on the top of the 
 citadel. At sight of this signal, the Arabs in 
 ambush be}^ond the river rose with a great 
 shout, and attacked the multitude who were 
 thronging to the church of St. L,eocadia. 
 There was a great massacre, although the peo- 
 ple were without arms and made no resistance; 
 and it is said in ancient chronicles that it was 
 the apostate Bishop Oppas who guided the 
 Moslems to their prey, and incited them to 
 this slaughter. The pious reader, says Fray 
 Antonio Agapida, will be slow to believe such 
 turpitude ; but there is nothing more venomous 
 than the rancor of an apostate priest ; for the 
 best things in this world, when corrupted, be- 
 come the worst and most baneful. 
 
 Many of the Christians had taken refuge 
 within the church, and had barred the doors, 
 but Oppas commanded that fire should be set 
 to the portals, threatening to put every one 
 within to the sword. Happily the veteran 
 Taric arrived just in time to stay the fury of 
 this reverend renegado. He ordered the trum- 
 
Ubc Subjugation of Spain 41 
 
 pets to call off the troops from the carnage, 
 and extended grace to all the surviving inhab- 
 itants. They were permitted to remain in 
 quiet possession of their homes and effects, 
 paying only a moderate tribute ; and they 
 were allowed to exercise the rights of their 
 religion in the existing churches, to the num- 
 ber of seven, but were prohibited from erecting 
 any others. Those who preferred to leave the 
 city were suffered to depart in safety, but not 
 to take with them any of their wealth. 
 
 Immense spoil was found by Taric in the 
 alcazar, or royal castle, situated on a rocky 
 eminence in the highest part of the city. 
 Among the regalia treasured up in a secret 
 chamber were twenty-five regal crowns of fine 
 gold, garnished with jacinths, amethysts, dia- 
 monds, and other precious stones. These 
 were the crowns of the different Gothic kings 
 who had reigned in Spain ; it having been the 
 usage on the death of each king to deposit his 
 crown in this treasury, inscribing on it his 
 name and age.* 
 
 When Taric was thus in possession of the 
 city, the Jews came to him in procession, with 
 songs and dances, and the sound of timbrel 
 and psaltery, hailing him as their lord, and re- 
 minding him of his promises. 
 
 * Conde, Hist, de las Arabes en Espafia, c. 12. 
 
42 Spanisb papers 
 
 The son of Ishrnael kept his word with the 
 children of Israel ; they were protected in the 
 possession of all their wealth and the exercise 
 of their religion, and were, moreover, rewarded 
 with jewels of gold and jewels of silver and 
 much moneys.* 
 
 A subsequent expedition was led by Taric 
 against Guadalaxara, which surrendered with- 
 out resistance ; he moreover captured the city 
 of Medina Celi, where he found an inestimable 
 table which had formed a part of the spoil 
 taken at Rome by Alaric, at the time that the 
 sacred city was conquered by the Goths. It 
 was composed of one single and entire emerald, 
 and possessed talismanic powers ; for traditions 
 affirm that it was the work of genii, and had 
 been wrought by them for King Solomon the 
 Wise, the son of David. This marvellous relic 
 was carefully preserved by Taric, as the most 
 precious of all his spoils, being intended by 
 him as a present to the caliph ; and in com- 
 memoration of it the city was called by the 
 Arabs Medina Almeyda, — that is to say, " The 
 City of the Table." f 
 
 * The stratagem of the Jews of Toledo is recorded 
 briefly by Bishop L,ucas de Tuy, in his chronicle, but 
 is related at large in the chronicle of the Moor Rasis. 
 
 t According to Arabian legends, this table was a 
 mirror revealing all great events ; insomuch that by 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 
 
 43 
 
 Having made these and other conquests of 
 less importance, and having collected great 
 quantities of gold and silver, and rich stuffs 
 and precious stones, Taric returned with his 
 booty to the royal city of Toledo. 
 
 looking on it the possessor might behold battles and 
 sieges and feats of chivalr}^, and all actions worthy of 
 renown ; and might thus ascertain the truth of all 
 historic transactions. It was a mirror of history 
 therefore ; and had very probably aided King Solo- 
 mon in acquiring that prodigious knowledge and 
 wisdom for which he was renowned. 
 
Cbapter WIT. 
 
 Muza ben Nosier — His Entrance into Spain and 
 Capture of Carmona. 
 
 LET us leave for a season the bold Taric 
 in his triumphant progress from city to 
 city, while we turn our eyes to Muza 
 ben Nosier, the renowned emir of Al- 
 magreb, and the commander-in-chief of the 
 Moslem forces of the West. When that jealous 
 chieftain had despatched his letter command- 
 ing Taric to pause and await his coming, he 
 immediately made every preparation to enter 
 Spain with a powerful reinforcement, and to 
 take command of the conquering army. He 
 left his eldest son, Abdalasis, in Caervan, with 
 authority over Almagreb, or Western Africa. 
 This Abdalasis was in the flower of his youth, 
 and beloved by the soldiery for the magna- 
 nimity and the engaging affability which 
 graced his courage. 
 
 Muza ben Nosier crossed the Strait of Her- 
 
 44 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 45 
 
 cules with a chosen force of ten thousand horse 
 and eight thousand foot, Arabs and Africans. 
 He was accompanied by his two sons, Meruan 
 and Abdelola, and by numerous illustrious 
 Arabian cavaliers of the tribe of the Koreish. 
 He landed his shining legions on the coast of 
 Andalusia, and pitched his tents near to the 
 Guadiana. There first he received intelligence 
 of the disobedience of Taric to his orders, and 
 that, without waiting his arrival, the impetu- 
 ous chieftain had continued his career, and 
 with his light Arab squadrons had overrun and 
 subdued the noblest provinces and cities of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 The jealous spirit of Muza was still more 
 exasperated by these tidings ; he looked upon 
 Taric no longer as a friend and coadjutor, but 
 as an invidious rival, the decided enemy of his 
 glory, and he determined on his ruin. His 
 first consideration, however, was to secure to 
 himself a share in the actual conquest of the 
 land before it should be entirely subjugated. 
 
 Taking guides, therefore, from among his 
 Christian captives, he set out to subdue such 
 parts of the country as had not been visited 
 by Taric. The first place which he assailed 
 was the ancient city of Carmona ; it was not of 
 great magnitude, but was fortified with high 
 walls and massive towers, and many of the 
 
46 Spanisb papers 
 
 fugitives of the late army had thrown them- 
 selves into it. 
 
 The Goths had by this time recovered from 
 their first panic ; they had become accustomed 
 to the sight of Moslem troops, and their na- 
 tive courage had been roused by danger. 
 Shortly after the Arabs had encamped before 
 their walls, a band of cavaliers made a sudden 
 sally one morning before the break of day, fell 
 upon the enemy by surprise, killed above 
 three hundred of them in their tents, and 
 effected their retreat into the city ; leaving 
 twenty of their number dead, covered with 
 honorable wounds, and in the very centre of 
 the camp. 
 
 On the following day they made another 
 sally, and fell on a different quarter of the en- 
 campment ; but the Arabs were on their guard, 
 and met them with superior numbers. After 
 fighting fiercely for a time, they were routed, 
 and fled full speed for the city, with the Arabs 
 hard upon their traces. The guards within 
 feared to open the gate, lest with their friends 
 they should admit a torrent of enemies. See- 
 ing themselves thus shut out, the fugitives 
 determined to die like brave soldiers rather 
 than surrender. Wheeling suddenly round, 
 they opened a path through the host of their 
 pursuers, fought their way back to the camp, 
 
XLbc Subjugation of Spain 47 
 
 and raged about it with desperate fury until 
 they were all slain, after having killed above 
 eight hundred of the enemy.* 
 
 Muza now ordered that the place should be 
 taken by storm. The Moslems assailed it on 
 all sides, but were vigorously resisted ; many 
 were slain by showers of stones, arrows, and 
 boiling pitch, and many who had mounted 
 with scaling-ladders were thrown headlong 
 from the battlements. The alcayde, Galo, 
 aided solely by two men, defended a tower and 
 a portion of the wall, killing and wounding 
 with a cross-bow more than eighty of the 
 enemy. The attack lasted above half a day, 
 when the Moslems were repulsed with the loss 
 of fifteen hundred men. 
 
 Muza was astonished and exasperated at 
 meeting with such formidable resistance from 
 so small a city ; for it was one of the few places, 
 during that memorable conquest, where the 
 Gothic valor shone forth with its proper lus- 
 tre. While the Moslem army lay encamped 
 before the place, it was joined by Magued the 
 renegado, and Count Julian the traitor, with 
 one thousand horsemen ; most of them recreant 
 Christians, base betrayers of their country, and 
 more savage in their warfare than the Arabs 
 of the desert. To find favor in the eyes of 
 * Abulcasim, Perdida de Espana> 1. I, c. 13. 
 
4& Spanisb papers 
 
 Muza, and to evince his devotion to the cause, 
 the count undertook, by wily stratagem, to 
 put this gallant city in his power. 
 
 One evening, just at twilight, a number of 
 Christians, habited as travelling merchants, 
 arrived at one of the gates, conducting a train 
 of mules laden with arms and warlike muni- 
 tions. " Open the gate quickly," cried they ; 
 "we bring supplies for the garrison, but the 
 Arabs have discovered and are in pursuit of 
 us." The gate was thrown open, the merchants 
 entered with their beasts of burden, and 
 were joyfully received. Meat and drink were 
 placed before them, and after they had re- 
 freshed themselves they retired to the quarters 
 allotted to them. 
 
 These pretended merchants were Count 
 Julian and a number of his partisans. At 
 the hour of midnight they stole forth silently, 
 and assembling together, proceeded to what is 
 called the Gate of Cordova. Here setting 
 suddenly upon the unsuspecting guards, they 
 put them to the edge of the sword, and throw- 
 ing open the gates, admitted a great body of 
 the Arabs. The inhabitants were roused from 
 their sleep by sound of drum and trumpet and 
 the clattering of horses. The Arabs scoured the 
 streets ; a horrible massacre was commenced, 
 in which none were spared but such of the fe- 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 
 
 49 
 
 males as were young and beautiful, and fitted 
 to grace the harems of the conquerors. The 
 arrival of Muza put an end to the pillage and 
 the slaughter, and he granted favorable terms 
 to the survivors. Thus the valiant little city 
 of Carmona, after nobly resisting the open 
 assaults of the infidels, fell a victim to the 
 treachery of apostate Christians.* 
 
 * Crcn. Gen. de Espana, por Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3, 
 
 c. 1. 
 
 4 
 
Cbapter OTITir. 
 
 Muza Marches against the City of Seville. 
 
 AFTER the capture of Carmona, Muza 
 descended into a noble plain, covered 
 with fields of grain, with orchards and 
 gardens, through which glided the soft- 
 flowing Guadalquivir. On the borders of the 
 river stood the ancient crty of Seville, sur- 
 rounded by Roman walls, and defended by its 
 golden tower. Understanding from his spies 
 that the city had lost the flower of its youth in 
 the battle of the Guadalete, Muza anticipated 
 but a faint resistance. A considerable force, 
 however, still remained within the place, and 
 what they wanted in numbers they made up 
 in resolution. For some days they withstood 
 the assaults of the enemy, and defended their 
 walls with great courage. Their want of war- 
 like munitions, however, and the superior force 
 and skill of the besieging army, left them no 
 hope of being able to hold out long. There 
 
 50 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 51 
 
 were two youthful cavaliers of uncommon valor 
 in the city. They assembled the warriors and 
 addressed them. "We cannot save the city," 
 said they; "but at least, we may save our- 
 selves, and preserve so many strong arms for 
 the service of our country. L,et us cut our 
 way through the infidel force, and gain some 
 secure fortress, from whence we may return 
 with augmented numbers for the rescue of the 
 city." 
 
 The advice of the young cavaliers was 
 adopted. In the dead of the night the garri- 
 son assembled, to the number of about three 
 thousand, — the most part mounted on horse- 
 back. Suddenly sallying from one of the gates, 
 they rushed in a compact body upon the camp 
 of the Saracens, which was negligently guar- 
 ded, for the Moslems expected no such act 
 of desperation. The camp was a scene of great 
 carnage and confusion ; many were slain on 
 both sides ; the two valiant leaders of the 
 Christians fell covered with wounds, but the 
 main body succeeded in forcing their way 
 through the centre of the army, and in mak- 
 ing their retreat .to Beja in Iyusitania. 
 
 Muza was at a loss to know the meaning of 
 this desperate sally. In the morning he per- 
 ceived the gates of the city wide open. A 
 number of ancient and venerable men pre- 
 
52 
 
 Spanish jpapers 
 
 sented themselves at his tent, offering submis- 
 sion and imploring mercy, for none were left in 
 the place but the old, the infirm, and the miser- 
 able. Muza listened to them with compassion, 
 and granted their prayer, and the only tribute he 
 exacted was three measures of wheat and three 
 of barley from each house or family. He placed 
 a garrison of Arabs in the city, and left there 
 a number of Jews to form a body of population. 
 Having thus secured two important places in 
 Andalusia, he passed the boundaries of the 
 province, and advanced with great martial 
 pomp into L,usitania. 
 
Cbapter 1T£. 
 
 Muza Besieges the City of Merida. 
 
 THE army of Muza was now augmented 
 to about eighteen thousand horsemen, 
 but he took with him but few foot-sol- 
 diers, leaving them to garrison the 
 conquered towns. He met with no resistance 
 on his entrance into L,usitania. City after city 
 laid its keys at his feet, and implored to be re- 
 ceived in peaceful vassalage. One city alone 
 prepared for vigorous defense, the ancient Me- 
 rida, a place of great extent, uncounted 
 riches, and prodigious strength. A noble 
 Goth named Sacarus was the governor, — a 
 man of consummate wisdom, patriotism and 
 valor. Hearing of the approach of the inva- 
 ders, he gathered within the walls all the peo- 
 ple of the surrounding country, with their 
 horses and mules, their flocks and herds, and 
 most precious effects. To insure for a long 
 time a supply of bread, he filled the magazines 
 
 53 
 
54 Spanisb ipapers 
 
 with grain, and erected wind-mills on the 
 churches. This done, he laid waste the sur- 
 rounding country to a great extent, so that a 
 besieging army would have to encamp in a 
 desert. 
 
 When Muza came in sight of this magnifi- 
 cent city he was struck with admiration. He 
 remained for some time gazing in silence upon 
 its mighty walls and lordly towers, its vast 
 extent, and the stately palaces and temples 
 with which it was adorned. " Surely," cried 
 he, at length, " all the people of the earth 
 have combined their power and skill to embel- 
 lish and aggrandize this city. Allah Achbar ! 
 Happy will he be who shall have the glory of 
 making such a conquest ! ' ' 
 
 Seeing that a place so populous and so 
 strongly fortified would be likely to maintain 
 a long and formidable resistance, he sent mes- 
 sengers to Africa to his son Abdalasis, to col- 
 lect all the forces that could be spared from 
 the garrisons of Mauritania, and to hasten and 
 reinforce him. 
 
 While Muza was forming his encampment, 
 deserters from the city brought him word that 
 a chosen band intended to sally forth at mid- 
 night and surprise his camp. The Arab com- 
 mander immediately took measures to receive 
 them with a counter-surprise. Having formed 
 
XLbc Subjugation of Spain 55 
 
 his plan, and communicated it to his principal 
 officers, he ordered that, throughout the day, 
 there should be kept up an appearance of negli- 
 gent confusion in his encampment. The out- 
 posts were feebly guarded ; fires were lighted 
 in various places, as if preparing for feasting ; 
 bursts of music and shouts of revelry resounded 
 from different quarters, and the whole camp 
 seemed to be rioting in careless security on the 
 plunder of the land. As the night advanced, 
 the fires were gradually extinguished, and si- 
 lence ensued, as if the soldiery had sunk into 
 deep sleep after the carousal. 
 
 In the meantime, bodies of troops had been 
 secretly and silently marched to reinforce the 
 outposts ; and the renegado Magued, with a 
 numerous force, had formed an ambuscade in 
 a deep stone quarry by which the Christians 
 would have to pass. These preparations being 
 made, they awaited the approach of the enemy 
 in breathless silence. 
 
 About midnight the chosen force intended 
 for the sally assembled, and the command was 
 confided to Count Tendero, a Gothic cavalier 
 of tried prowess. After having heard a solemn 
 mass and received the benediction of the priest, 
 they marched out of the gate with all possible 
 silence. They were suffered to pass the am- 
 buscade in the quarry without molestation ; as 
 
56 Spantsb papers 
 
 they approached the Moslem camp everything 
 appeared quiet, for the foot-soldiers were con- 
 cealed in slopes and hollows, and every Arab 
 horseman lay in his armor beside his steed. 
 The sentinels on the outposts waited until the 
 Christians were close at hand, and then fled in 
 apparent consternation. 
 
 Count Tendero gave the signal for assault, 
 and the Christians rushed confidently forward. 
 In an instant an uproar of drums, trumpets, 
 and shrill war-cries burst forth from every 
 side. An army seemed to spring up from the 
 earth ; squadrons of horse came thundering 
 on them in front, while the quarry poured forth 
 legions of armed warriors in their rear. 
 
 The noise of the terrific conflict that took 
 place was heard on the city walls, and an- 
 swered by shouts of exultation, for the Chris- 
 tians thought it rose from the terror and 
 confusion of the Arab camp. In a little while, 
 however, they were undeceived by fugitives 
 from the fight, aghast with terror and covered 
 with wounds. " Hell itself," cried they, "is 
 on the side of these infidels ; the earth casts 
 forth warriors and steeds to aid them. We 
 have fought, not with men, but devils ! ,: 
 
 The greater part of the chosen troops who 
 had sallied were cut to pieces in that scene of 
 massacre, for they had been confounded by the 
 
 
XLbe Subjugation of Spain 57 
 
 tempest of battle which suddenly broke forth 
 around them. Count Tendero fought with 
 desperate valor, and fell covered with wounds. 
 His body was found the next morning, lying 
 among the slain, and transpierced with half a 
 score of lances. The renegado Magued cut 
 off his head and tied it to the tail of his horse, 
 and repaired with this savage trophy to the 
 tent of Muza ; but the hostility of the Arab 
 general was of a less malignant kind. He 
 ordered that the head and body should be 
 placed together upon a bier, and treated with 
 becoming reverence. 
 
 In the course of the day a train of priests 
 and friars came forth from the city to request 
 permission to seek for the body of the count. 
 Muza delivered it to them, with many soldier- 
 like encomiums on the valor of that good 
 cavalier. The priests covered it with a pall 
 of cloth of gold, and bore it back in melan- 
 choly procession to the city, where it was re- 
 ceived with loud lamentations. 
 
 The siege was now pressed with great vigor 
 and repeated assaults were made, but in vain. 
 Muza saw, at length, that the walls were too 
 high to be scaled, and the gates too strong to 
 be burst open without the aid of engines, and 
 he desisted from the attack until machines for 
 the purpose could be constructed. The gov- 
 
5& Spanish papers 
 
 ernor suspected from this cessation of active 
 warfare that the enemy flattered themselves to 
 reduce the place by famine ; he caused, there- 
 fore, large baskets of bread to be thrown from 
 the wall, and sent a messenger to Muza to 
 inform him that if his army should be in want 
 of bread he would supply it, having sufficient 
 corn in his granaries for a ten years' siege.* 
 
 The citizens, however, did not possess the 
 undaunted spirit of their governor. When the}^ 
 found that the Moslems were constructing tre- 
 mendous engines for the destruction of their 
 walls, they lost all courage, and, surrounding 
 the governor in a clamorous multitude, com- 
 pelled him to send forth persons to capitulate. 
 
 The ambassadors came into the presence of 
 Muza with awe, for they expected to find a 
 fierce and formidable warrior in one who had 
 filled the land with terror ; but, to their aston- 
 ishment, they beheld an ancient and venerable 
 man, with white hair, a snowy beard, and a 
 pale, emaciated countenance. He had passed 
 the previous night without sleep, and had been 
 all day in the field ; he was exhausted, there- 
 fore, by watchfulness and fatigue, and his 
 garments were covered with dust. 
 
 " What a devil of a man is this," murmured 
 the ambassadors, one to another, ' ( to under- 
 *Bleda, Cro?iica y 1. 2, c. 11. 
 
Gbe Subjugation ot Spain 59 
 
 take such a seige when on the verge of the 
 grave. L,et us defend our city the best way 
 we can ; surely we can hold out longer than 
 the life of this gray beard. ' ' 
 
 They returned to the city, therefore, scoffing 
 at an invader who seemed fitter to lean on a 
 crutch than wield a lance ; and the terms offered 
 by Muza, which would otherwise have been 
 thought favorable, were scornfully rejected by 
 the inhabitants. A few days put an end to 
 this mistaken confidence. Abdalasis, the son 
 of Muza, arrived from Africa at the head of 
 his reinforcement ; he brought seven thousand 
 horsemen and a host of Barbary archers, and 
 made a glorious display as he marched into the 
 camp. The arrival of this youthful warrior 
 was hailed with great acclamations, so much 
 had he won the hearts of the soldiery by the 
 frankness, the suavity, and generosity of his 
 conduct. Immediately after his arrival a grand 
 assault was made upon the city, and several 
 of the huge battering engines being finished, 
 they were wheeled up and began to thunder 
 against the walls. 
 
 The unsteady populace were again seized 
 with terror, and, surrounding their governor 
 with fresh clamors, obliged him to send forth 
 ambassadors a second time to treat of a sur- 
 render. When admitted to the presence of 
 
6o Spanisb papers 
 
 Muza, the ambassadors could scarcely believe 
 their eyes, or that this was the same withered, 
 white-headed old man of whom they had lately 
 spoken with scoffing. His hair and beard 
 were tinged of a ruddy brown ; his countenance 
 was refreshed by repose and flushed with in- 
 dignation, and he appeared a man in the 
 matured vigor of his days. The ambassadors 
 were struck with awe. " Surely,' ' whispered 
 they, one to another, "this must be either a 
 devil or a magician, who can thus make him- 
 self old and young at pleasure ! ' ' 
 
 Muza received them haughtily. " Hence/' 
 said he, * ' and tell your people I grant them 
 the same terms I have already proffered, pro- 
 vided the city be instantly surrendered ; but, 
 by the head of Mahomet, if there be any further 
 delay, not one mother's son of ye shall receive 
 mercy at my hands ! " 
 
 The deputies returned into the city pale and 
 dismayed. ' ' Go forth ! go forth ! ' ' cried they, 
 " and accept whatever terms are offered ; of 
 what avail is it to fight against men who can 
 renew their youth at pleasure ? Behold, we 
 left the leader of the infidels an old and feeble 
 man, and to-day we find him youthful and 
 vigorous." * 
 
 * Conde, p. i, c. 13. Ambrosio de Morales. N. B. 
 =— In the chronicle of Spain, composed by order of 
 
 > 
 
 
XLhc Subjugation of Spain 61 
 
 The place was, therefore, surrendered forth- 
 with, and Muza entered it in triumph. His 
 terms were merciful. Those who chose to re- 
 main were protected in persons, possessions, 
 and religion ; he took the property of those 
 only who abandoned the city or had fallen in 
 battle ; together with all arms and horses, and 
 the treasures and ornaments of the churches. 
 Among these sacred spoils was found a cup 
 made of a single pearl, which a king of Spain, 
 in ancient times, had brought from the temple 
 of Jerusalem when it was destroyed by Nabu- 
 chodonosor. This precious relic was sent by 
 Muza to the caliph, and was placed in the prin- 
 cipal mosque of the city of Damascus.* 
 
 Muza knew how to esteem merit even in an 
 enemy. When Sacarus, the governor of 
 Merida, appeared before him, he lauded him 
 greatly for the skill and courage he had dis- 
 played in the defense of his city ; and, taking 
 off his own scimetar, which was of great value, 
 girded it upon him with his own hands. 
 " Wear this," said he, u asa poor memorial of 
 my admiration ; a soldier of such virtue and 
 valor is worthy of far higher honors." 
 
 He would have engaged the governor in his 
 
 Alonzo the Wise, this anecdote is given as having 
 happened at the siege of Seville. 
 * Marmol., Descrip. de Africa, t. i, 1. 2. 
 
62 Spanfeb papers 
 
 service, or have persuaded him to remain in 
 the city, as an illustrious vassal of the caliph, 
 but the noble-minded Sacarus refused to bend 
 to the yoke of the conquerors ; nor could he 
 bring himself to reside contentedly in his coun- 
 try, when subjected to the domination of the 
 infidels. Gathering together all those who 
 chose to accompany him into exile, he em- 
 barked to seek some country where he might 
 live in peace and in the free exercise of his re- 
 ligion. What shore these ocean pilgrims landed 
 upon has never been revealed ; but tradition 
 vaguely gives us to believe that it was some 
 unknown island far in the bosom of the 
 Atlantic* 
 
 * Abulcasim, Perdida de Esfiana, 1. i, c. 13. 
 
Cbaptet £♦ 
 
 Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and the 
 "Land ofTadmir." 
 
 AFTER the capture of Merida, Muza gave 
 a grand banquet to his captains and 
 distinguished warriors in that magnifi- 
 cent city. At this martial feast were 
 many Arab cavaliers who had been present in 
 various battles, and they vied with each other 
 in recounting the daring enterprises in which 
 they had been engaged, and the splendid 
 triumphs they had witnessed. While they 
 talked with ardor and exultation, Abdalasis, 
 the son of Muza, alone kept silence, and sat 
 with a dejected countenance. At length, w T hen 
 there was a pause, he turned to his father and 
 addressed him with modest earnestness : ' * My 
 lord and father," said he, "I blush to hear 
 your warriors recount the toils and dangers 
 the)^ have passed while I have done nothing 
 to entitle me to their companionship. When 
 
 63 
 
64 Spanisb papers 
 
 I return to Egypt and present myself before 
 the caliph, he will ask me of my services in 
 Spain ; what battle I have gained ; what town 
 or castle I have taken. How shall I answer 
 him? If 3^ou love me, then, as your son, give 
 me a command, intrust me to an enterprise, 
 and let me acquire a name worthy to be men- 
 tioned among men." 
 
 The eyes of Muza kindled with joy at find- 
 ing Abdalasis thus ambitious of renown in arms. 
 * 'Allah be praised ! ' ' exclaimed he, ' ' the heart 
 of my son is in the right place. It is becoming 
 in youth to look upward and be aspiring. Thy 
 desire, Abdalasis, shall be gratified. ,, 
 
 An opportunity at that very time presented 
 itself to prove the prowess and discretion of the 
 youth. During the siege of Merida, the Chris- 
 tian troops which had taken refuge at Beja had 
 reinforced themselves from Pefiaflor, and sud- 
 denly returning, had presented themselves 
 before the gates of the city of Seville.* Certain 
 of the Christian inhabitants threw open the 
 gates and admitted them. The troops rushed 
 to the alcazar, took it by surprise, and put 
 many of the Moslem garrison to the sword ; 
 the residue made their escape, and fled to the 
 Arab camp before Merida, leaving Seville in 
 the hands of the Christians. 
 
 *Espinosa, Antq. y Grand, de Sevilla, 1. 2, c. 3.. 
 
Zhe Subjugation of Spain 65 
 
 The veteran Muza, now that the siege of 
 Merida was at an end, was meditating the re- 
 capture and punishment of Seville at the very 
 time when Abdalasis addressed him. " Be- 
 hold, my son," exclaimed he, "an enterprise 
 worthy of thy ambition ! Take with thee all 
 the troops thou hast brought from Africa ; re- 
 duce the city of Seville again to subjection, 
 and plant thy standard upon its alcazar. But 
 stop not there : carry thy conquering sword into 
 the southern parts of Spain ; thou wilt find 
 there a harvest of glory yet to be reaped." 
 
 Abdalasis lost no time in departing upon this 
 enterprise. He took with him Count Julian, 
 Magued el Rumi, and the Bishop Oppas, that 
 he might benefit by their knowledge of the 
 country. When he came in sight of the fair 
 city of Seville, seated like a queen in the midst 
 of its golden plain, with the Guadalquivir flow- 
 ing beneath its walls, he gazed upon it with the 
 admiration of a lover, and lamented in his soul 
 that he had to visit it as an avenger. His 
 troops, however, regarded it with wrathful eyes, 
 thinking onty of its rebellion and of the massa- 
 cre of their countrymen in the alcazar. 
 
 The principal people of the city had taken 
 no part in this gallant but fruitless insurrec- 
 tion ; and now, when they beheld the army of 
 Abdalasis encamped upon the banks of the 
 
66 Spanfeb papers 
 
 Guadalquivir, would fain have gone forth to 
 make explanations, and intercede for mercy. 
 The populace, however, forbade any one to 
 leave the city, and, barring the gates, prepared 
 to defend themselves to the last. 
 
 The place was attacked with resistless fury. 
 The gates were soon burst open ; the Moslems 
 rushed in, panting for revenge. They confined 
 not !:heir slaughter to the soldiery in the al- 
 cazar, but roamed through every street, con- 
 founding the innocent with the guilty in one 
 bloody massacre, and it was with the utmost 
 difficulty that Abdalasis could at length suc- 
 ceed in staying their sanguinary career.* 
 
 The son of Muza proved himself as mild in 
 conquest as he had been intrepid in assault. 
 The moderation and benignity of his conduct 
 soothed the terrors of the vanquished, and his 
 wise precautions restored tranquillity. Having 
 made proper regulations for the protection of 
 the inhabitants, he left a strong garrison in the 
 place to prevent any future insurrection, and 
 then departed on the further prosecution of his 
 enterprise. 
 
 Wherever he went his arms were victorious, 
 
 and his victories were always characterized by 
 
 the same magnanimity. At length he arrived 
 
 on the confines of that beautiful region, com- 
 
 * Conde, p. i, c. 14. 
 
ttbe Subjugation of Spain 67 
 
 prising lofty and precipitous mountains and 
 rich and delicious plains, afterwards known by 
 the name of the kingdom of Murcia. All this 
 part of the country was defended by the veteran 
 Theodomir, who, by skillful management, had 
 saved a remnant of his forces after the defeat 
 on the banks of the Guadalete. 
 
 Theodomir was a stanch warrior, but a wary 
 and prudent man. He had experienced the 
 folly of opposing the Arabs in open field, where 
 their cavalry and armor gave them such superi- 
 ority ; on their approach, therefore, he assem- 
 bled all his people capable of bearing arms, and 
 took possession of the cliffs and mountain 
 passes. ' ' Here, ' ' said he, ' ' a simple goatherd, 
 who can hurl down rocks and stones, is as good 
 as a warrior armed in proof. ' ' In this way he 
 checked and harassed the Moslem army in 
 all its movements, — showering down missiles 
 upon it from overhanging precipices, and way- 
 laying it in narrow and rugged defiles, where 
 a few raw troops could make stand against a 
 host. 
 
 Theodomir was in a fair way to baffle his 
 foes, and oblige them to withdraw from his 
 territories ; unfortunately, however, the wary 
 veteran had two sons with him, young men of 
 hot and heady valor, who considered all this 
 prudence of their father as savoring of coward- 
 
68 Spantsb papers 
 
 ice, and who were anxious to try their prowess 
 in the open field. "What glory," said they, 
 " is to be gained by destroying an enemy in this 
 way, from the covert of rocks and thickets ? ' ' 
 
 "You talk like young men," replied the 
 veteran. " Glory is a prize one may fight for 
 abroad, but safety is the object when the enemy 
 is at the door." 
 
 One day, however, the young men succeeded 
 in drawing down their father into the plain. 
 Abdalasis immediately seized on the opportu- 
 nity, and threw himself between the Goths and 
 their mountain fastnesses. Theodomir saw 
 too late the danger into which he was betrayed. 
 "What can our raw troops do," said he, 
 " against those squadrons of horse that move 
 like castles ? l,et us make a rapid retreat to 
 Orihuela, and defend ourselves from behind its 
 walls." 
 
 " Father," said the eldest son, " it is too late 
 to retreat ; remain here with the reserve while 
 my brother and I advance. Fear nothing ; am 
 not I your son, and would I not die to defend 
 you?" 
 
 " In truth," replied the veteran, " I have my 
 doubts whether you are my son. But if I re- 
 main here, and you should all be killed, where 
 then would be my protection ? Come," added 
 he, turning to the second son, "I trust that 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 6 9 
 
 thou art virtually my son, let us hasten to re- 
 treat before it is too late." 
 
 " Father," replied the youngest, " I have not 
 a doubt that I am honestly and thoroughly 
 your son, and as such I honor you ; but I owe 
 duty likewise to my mother, and when I sallied 
 to the war she gave me her blessing as long as 
 I should act with valor, but her curse should I 
 prove craven and fly the field. Fear nothing, 
 father ; I will defend you while living, and 
 even after you are dead. You shall never fail 
 of an honorable sepulture among your kindred. ' ' 
 
 " A pestilence on ye both," cried Theodomir, 
 " for a brace of misbegotten madmen ! What 
 care I, think ye, where ye lay my body when 
 I am dead? One day's existence in a hovel is 
 worth an age of interment in a marble sepul- 
 chre. Come, my friends," said he, turning to 
 his principal cavaliers, ' ' let us leave these hot- 
 headed striplings and make our retreat ; if we 
 tarry any longer the enemy will be upon us. ' ' 
 
 Upon this the cavaliers and proud hidalgoes 
 drew up scornfulty and tossed their heads : 
 * ' What do you see in us, ' ' said they, ' ' that you 
 think we will show our backs to the enemy ? 
 Forward ! was ever the good old Gothic watch- 
 word, and with that will we live and die ! ' ' 
 
 While time was lost in these disputes, the 
 Moslem army kept advancing until retreat was 
 
7o Spanish papers 
 
 no longer practicable. The battle was tumul- 
 tuous and bloody. Theodomir fought like a 
 lion, but it was all in vain ; he saw his two 
 sons cut down, and the greater part of their 
 rash companions, while his raw mountain 
 troops fled in all directions. 
 
 Seeing there was no longer any hope, he 
 seized the bridle of a favorite page who was 
 near him, and who was about spurring for the 
 mountains. " Part not from me," said he, 
 " but do thou, at least, attend to my counsel, 
 my son ; and of a truth I believe thou art my 
 son, for thou art the offspring of one of my 
 handmaids who was kind unto me." And in- 
 deed the youth marvellously resembled him. 
 Turning then the reins of his own steed, and 
 giving him the spur, he fled amain from the 
 field, followed by the page ; nor did he stop 
 until he arrived within the walls of Orihuela. 
 
 Ordering the gates to be barred and bolted, 
 he prepared to receive the enemy. There were 
 but few men in the city capable of bearing 
 arms, most of the youth having fallen in the 
 field. He caused the women, therefore, to 
 clothe themselves in male attire, to put on hats 
 and helmets, to take long reeds in their hands 
 instead of lances, and to cross their hair upon 
 their chins in semblance of beards. With 
 these troops he lined the walls and toweis. 
 
Zbc Subjugation of Spain 71 
 
 It was about the hour of twilight that Ab- 
 dalasis approached with his army, but he 
 paused when he saw the walls so numerously 
 garrisoned. Then Theodomir took a flag of 
 truce in his hand, and put a herald's tabard on 
 the page, and they two sallied forth to capitu- 
 late, and were graciously received by Abdalasis. 
 
 11 1 come," said Theodomir, " on the behalf 
 of the commander of this city, to treat for 
 terms worthy of your magnanimity and of his 
 dignity. You perceive that the city is capable 
 of withstanding a long siege, but he is desirous 
 of sparing the lives of his soldiers. Promise 
 that the inhabitants shall be at liberty to de- 
 part unmolested with their property, and the 
 city will be delivered up to you to-morrow 
 morning without a blow ; otherwise we are 
 prepared to fight until not a man be left." 
 
 Abdalasis was well pleased to get so power- 
 ful a place upon such easy terms, but stipulated 
 that the garrison should lay down their arms. 
 To this Theodomir readily assented, with the 
 exception, however, of the governor and his 
 retinue, w T hich was granted out of considera- 
 tion for his dignity. The articles of capitula- 
 tion were then drawn out, and when Abdalasis 
 had affixed his name and seal, Theodomir took 
 the pen and wrote his signature. " Behold in 
 me," said he, " the governor of the city ! " 
 
72 Spantsb papers 
 
 Abdalasis was pleased with the hardihood of 
 the commander of the place in thus venturing 
 personally into his power, and entertained the 
 veteran with still greater honor. When The- 
 odomir returned to the city, he made known 
 the capitulation, and charged the inhabitants 
 to pack up their effects during the night and 
 be ready to sally forth during the morning. 
 
 At the dawn of day the gates were thrown 
 open, and Abdalasis looked to see a great force 
 issuing forth, but to his surprise beheld merely 
 Theodomir and his page in battered armor, 
 followed by a multitude of old men, women, 
 and children. 
 
 Abdalasis waited until the whole had come 
 forth, then turning to Theodomir, "Where," 
 cried he, " are the soldiers whom I saw last 
 evening lining the walls and towers ? " 
 
 " Soldiers have I none," replied the veteran. 
 "As to my garrison, behold it before you. 
 With these women did I man my walls, and 
 this my page is my herald, guard, and re- 
 tinue. ' ' 
 
 Upon this the Bishop Oppas and Count Ju- 
 lian exclaimed that the capitulation was a base 
 fraud and ought not to be complied with ; but 
 Abdalasis relished the stratagem of the old 
 soldier, and ordered that the stipulations of 
 the treaty should be faithfully performed. 
 
OT>e Subjugation of Spain 73 
 
 Nay, so high an opinion did he conceive of the 
 subtle wisdom of this commander that he per- 
 mitted him to remain in authority over the 
 surrounding country on his acknowledging 
 allegiance and engaging to pay tribute to the 
 caliph ; and all that part of Spain, comprising 
 the beautiful provinces of Murcia and Valen- 
 cia, was long after known by the Arabic name 
 of its defender, and is still recorded in Arabian 
 chronicles as ' * The land of Tadmir. ' ' * 
 
 Having succeeded in subduing this rich and 
 fruitful region, and having gained great re- 
 known for his generosity as well as valor, Ab- 
 dalasis returned with the chief part of his 
 army to the city of Seville. 
 
 * Conde, p. i. Cronica del Moro Rasis. Cron. 
 Gen. Espana, por Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3, c. 1. 
 
Cbapter f f. 
 
 Muza Arrives at Toledo — Interview between him and 
 
 Taric. 
 
 WHEN Muza ben Nosier had sent his 
 son Abdalasis to subdue Seville, he 
 departed for Toledo to call Taric to 
 account for his disobedience to his 
 orders ; for, amidst all his own successes, the 
 prosperous career of that commander preyed 
 upon his mind. What can content the jealous 
 and ambitious heart ? As Muza passed through 
 the land, towns and cities submitted to him 
 without resistance ; he was lost in wonder at 
 the riches of the country and the noble monu- 
 ments of art with which it was adorned ; when 
 he beheld the bridges, constructed in ancient 
 times by the Romans, they seemed to him the 
 work, not of men, but of genii. Yet all these 
 admirable objects only made him repine the 
 more that he had not had the exclusive glory 
 of invading and subduing the land ; and exas- 
 
 74 
 
Zhc Subjugation of Spain 75 
 
 perated him the more against Taric, for hav- 
 ing apparently endeavored to monopolize the 
 conquest. 
 
 Taric heard of his approach, and came forth 
 to meet him at Talavera, accompanied by many 
 of the most distinguished companions of his 
 victories, and with a train of horses and mules 
 laden with spoils, with which he trusted to 
 propitiate the favor of his commander. Their 
 meeting took place on the banks of the rapid 
 river Tietar, which rises in the mountains of 
 Placencia and throws itself into the Tagus. 
 Muza, in former days, while Taric had acted 
 as his subordinate and indefatigable officer, 
 had cherished and considered him as a second 
 self ; but now that he had started up to be a 
 rival, he could not conceal his jealousy. When 
 the veteran came into his presence, he regarded 
 him for a moment with a stern and indignant 
 aspect. "Why hast thou disobeyed my or- 
 ders ? " said he. ' * I commanded thee to await 
 my arrival with reinforcements, but thou hast 
 rashly overrun the country, endangering the 
 loss of our armies and the ruin of our cause.' ' 
 
 "I have acted," replied Taric, "in such 
 manner as I thought would best serve the 
 cause of Islam, and in so doing I thought to 
 fulfil <the wishes of Muza. Whatever I have 
 done has been as your servant ; behold your 
 
76 Spanisb papers 
 
 share as commander-in-chief of spoils which I 
 have collected." So saying he produced an 
 immense treasure in silver and gold, and costly 
 stuffs and precious stones, and spread it before 
 Muza. 
 
 The anger of the Arab commander was still 
 more kindled at the sight of this booty, for it 
 proved how splendid had been the victories of 
 Taric ; but he restrained his wrath for the pres- 
 ent, and they proceeded together in moody si- 
 lence to Toledo. When he entered this royal 
 city, however, and ascended to the ancient pal- 
 ace of the Gothic kings, and reflected that all 
 this had been a scene of triumph to his rival, 
 he could no longer repress his indignation. 
 He demanded of Taric a strict account of all 
 the riches he had gathered in Spain, even of 
 the presents he had reserved for the caliph, and 
 above all, he made him yield up his favorite 
 trophy, the talismanic table of Solomon. When 
 all this was done, he again upbraided him bit- 
 terly with his disobedience of orders, and with 
 the rashness of his conduct. "What blind 
 confidence in fortune hast thou shown," said 
 he, ' ' in overrunning such a country and assail- 
 ing such powerful cities with thy scanty force ! 
 What madness to venture everything upon a 
 desperate chance, when thou knewest I was 
 coming w T ith a force to make the victory secure. 
 
XLhe Subjugation ot Spain 77 
 
 All thy success has been owing to mere luck, 
 not to judgment nor generalship/ ' 
 
 He then bestowed high praises upon the 
 other chieftians for their services in the cause 
 of Islam, but they answered not a word, and 
 their countenances were gloomy and discon- 
 tented ; for they felt the inj ustice done to their 
 favorite leader. As to Taric, though his eye 
 burned like fire, he kept his passion within 
 bounds. " I have done the best I could to 
 serve God and the caliph/ ' said he emphati- 
 cally ; " my conscience acquits me, and I trust 
 my sovereign will do the same." 
 
 " Perhaps he may," replied Muza, bitterlv ; 
 "but, in the meantime, I cannot confide his 
 interests to a desperado who is heedless of 
 orders and throws everything at hazard. Such 
 a general is unworthy to be intrusted with the 
 fate of armies. ' ' 
 
 So saying, he divested Taric of his command, 
 and gave it to Magued the renegado. The 
 gaunt Taric still maintained an air of stern 
 composure. His only words were, * ' The ca- 
 liph will do me justice ! " Muza was so trans- 
 ported with passion at this laconic defiance 
 that he ordered him to be thrown into prison, 
 and even threatened his life. 
 
 Upon this, Magued el Rumi, though he had 
 risen by the disgrace of Taric, had the gen- 
 
78 Spanish lpapera 
 
 erosity to speak out warmly in his favor. 
 " Consider/ ' said he, to Muza, " what may be 
 the consequences of this severity ? Taric has 
 many friends in the army ; his actions, too, 
 have been signal and illustrious, and entitle 
 him to the highest honors and rewards, instead 
 of disgrace and imprisonment.' ' 
 
 The anger of Muza, however, was not to be 
 appeased ; and he trusted to justify his meas- 
 ures by despatching missives to the caliph, 
 complaining of the insubordination of Taric, 
 and his rash and headlong conduct. The result 
 proved the wisdom of the caution given by 
 Magued. In the course of a little while Muza 
 received a humiliating letter from the caliph, 
 ordering him to restore Taric to the command 
 of the soldiers ' * whom he had so gloriously 
 conducted ; " and not render useless " one of 
 the best swords in Islam ! " * 
 
 It is thus the envious man brings humilia- 
 tion and reproach upon himself, in endeavor- 
 ing to degrade a meritorious rival. When the 
 tidings came of the justice rendered by the 
 caliph to the merits of the veteran, there was 
 general joy throughout the army, and Muza 
 read in the smiling countenances of every one 
 around him a severe censure upon his conduct. 
 He concealed, however, his deep humiliation, 
 *Conde, pt. i, c. 15. 
 
Zbc Subjugation ot Spain 
 
 79 
 
 and affected to obey the orders of his sovereign 
 with great alacrity ; he released Taric from 
 prison, feasted hirn at his own table, and then 
 publicly replaced him at the head of his troops. 
 The army received its favorite veteran with 
 shouts of joy, and celebrated with rejoicings 
 the reconciliation of the commanders ; but the 
 shouts of the soldiery were abhorrent to the 
 ears of Muza. 
 
Chapter f1F1F. 
 
 Muza Prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest — Siege of 
 Saragossa — Complete Subj ugation of Spain . 
 
 THE dissensions, which for a time had dis- 
 tracted the conquering army, being ap- 
 peased, and the Arabian generals being 
 apparently once more reconciled, Muza, 
 as commander-in-chief, proceeded to complete 
 the enterprise by subjugating the northern parts 
 of Spain. The same expeditious mode of con- 
 quest that had been sagaciously adopted by 
 Taric was still pursued. The troops were 
 lightly armed, and freed from every superflu- 
 ous incumbrance. Each horseman, beside his 
 arms, carried a small sack of provisions, a cop- 
 per vessel in which to cook them, and a skin 
 which served him for surcoat and for bed. The 
 infantry carried nothing but their arms. To 
 each regiment or squadron was allowed a limited 
 number of sumpter-mules and attendants, barely 
 
 80 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 81 
 
 enough to carry their necessary baggage and 
 supplies ; nothing was permitted that could 
 needlessly diminish the number of righting men, 
 delay their rapid movements, or consume their 
 provisions. Strict orders were again issued, 
 prohibiting, on pain of death, all plunder ex- 
 cepting the camp of an enemy or cities given 
 up to pillage.* 
 
 The armies now took their several lines of 
 march. That under Taric departed towards 
 the northeast ; beating up the country towards 
 the source of the Tagus, traversing the chain 
 of Iberian or Arragonian Mountains, and pour- 
 ing down into the plains and valleys watered 
 by the Ebro. It was wonderful to see, in so 
 brief a space of time, such a vast and difficult 
 country penetrated and subdued, and the invad- 
 ing army, like an inundating flood, pouring its 
 streams into the most remote recesses. 
 
 While Taric was thus sweeping the country 
 to the northeast, Muza departed in an opposite 
 direction ; yet purposing to meet him, and to 
 join their forces in the north. Bending his 
 course westwardly, he made a circuit behind 
 the mountains, and then, advancing into the 
 open country, displayed his banners before 
 Salamanaca, which surrendered without resist- 
 ance. From hence he continued on towards 
 * Conde pt. i, c. 15. 
 
82 Spanisb papers 
 
 Astorga, receiving the terrified submission of 
 the land ; then turning up the Valley of the 
 Douro, he ascended the course of that famous 
 river towards the east ; crossed the Sierra de 
 Moncayo, and, arriving on the banks of the 
 Ebro, marched down along its stream, until he 
 approached the strong city of Saragossa, the 
 citadel of all that part of Spain. In this place 
 had taken refuge many of the most valiant of 
 the Gothic warriors — the remnants of armies 
 and fugitives from conquered cities. It was 
 one of the last rallying-points of the land. 
 When Muza arrived, Taric had already been 
 for some time before the place, laying close 
 siege ; the inhabitants were pressed by famine, 
 and had suffered great losses in repeated com- 
 bats ; but there was a spirit and obstinacy in 
 their resistance surpassing anything that had 
 yet been witnessed by the invaders. 
 
 Muza now took command of the siege, and 
 ordered a general assault upon the walls. The 
 Moslems planted their scaling-ladders, and 
 mounted with their accustomed intrepidity, but 
 were vigorously resisted ; nor could all their 
 efforts obtain them a footing upon the battle- 
 ments. While they w T ere thus assailing the 
 walls, Count Julian ordered a heap of combusti- 
 bles to be placed against one of the gates, and 
 set on fire. The inhabitants attempted in vain, 
 
XLhe Subjugation ot Spain 83 
 
 from the barbican, to extinguish the flames. 
 They burned so fiercely that in a little while 
 the gate fell from the hinges. Count Julian 
 galloped into the city, mounted upon a power- 
 ful charger, himself and his steed all covered 
 with mail. He was followed by three hundred 
 of his partisans, and supported by Magued the 
 renegado, with a troop of horse. 
 
 The inhabitants disputed every street and 
 public square ; they made barriers of dead 
 bodies, fighting behind these ramparts of their 
 slaughtered countrymen. Every window and 
 roof was filled with combatants ; the very wo- 
 men and children joined in the desperate fight, 
 throwing down stones and missiles of all kinds, 
 and scalding water upon the enemy. 
 
 The battle raged until the hour of vespers, 
 when the principal inhabitants held a parley, 
 and capitulated for a surrender. Muza had 
 been incensed at their obstinate resistance, 
 which had cost the lives of so many of his 
 soldiers ; he knew, also, that in the city were 
 collected the riches of many of the towns of 
 eastern Spain. He demanded, therefore, be- 
 side the usual terms, a heavy sum to be paid 
 down by the citizens, called the contribution 
 of blood ; as by this they redeemed themselves 
 from the edge of the sword. The people were 
 obliged to comply. They collected all the 
 
84 Spanieb fl>apers 
 
 jewels of their richest families, and all the or- 
 naments of their temples, and laid them at the 
 feet of Muza ; and placed in his power many 
 of their noblest youths as hostages. A strong 
 garrison was then appointed, and thus the 
 fierce city of Saragossa was subdued to the 
 yoke of the conqueror. 
 
 The Arab generals pursued their conquests 
 even to the foot of the Pyrenees ; Taric then 
 descended along the course of the Ebro, and 
 continued along the Mediterranean coast ; sub- 
 duing the famous city of Valencia, with its 
 rich and beautiful domains, and carrying the 
 success of his arms even to Denia. 
 
 Muza undertook with his host a wider range 
 of conquest. He overcame the cities of Barce- 
 lona, Gerona, and others that lay on the skirts 
 of the eastern mountains ; then crossing into 
 the land of the Franks, he captured the city 
 of Narbonne — in a temple of which he found 
 seven equestrian images of silver, which he 
 brought off as trophies of his victory.* Re- 
 turning into Spain, he scoured its northern 
 regions along Gallicia and the Asturias ; passed 
 triumphantly through L,usitania, and arrived 
 once more in Andalusia, covered with laurels 
 and enriched with immense spoils. 
 
 Thus was completed the subjugation of un- 
 * Conde, pt. i, c. 16. 
 
Hbe Subjugation of Spain 85 
 
 happy Spain. All its cities, and fortresses, and 
 strongholds, were in the hands of the Saracens, 
 excepting some of the wild mountain tracts 
 that bordered the Atlantic and extended tow- 
 ards the north. Here, then, the story of the 
 conquest might conclude, but that the inde- 
 fatigable chronicler, Fray Antonio Agapida, 
 goes on to record the fate of those persons 
 who were most renowned in the enterprise. 
 We shall follow his steps, and avail ourselves 
 of his information, laboriously collected from 
 various sources ; and, truly, the story of each of 
 the actors in this great historical drama bears 
 with it its striking moral, and is full of admo- 
 nition and instruction. 
 
( ^^^^^^^^^^^)(a^^^ > 
 
 (^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ > 
 
 dbapter $m. 
 
 Feud Between the Arab Generals — They are Sum- 
 moned to Appear Before the Caliph at Damascus — 
 Reception of Taric. 
 
 THK heart of Muza ben Nosier was now 
 lifted up, for he considered his glory 
 complete. He held a sway that might 
 have gratified the ambition of the 
 proudest sovereign, for all western Africa and 
 the newly acquired peninsula of Spain were 
 obedient to his rule ; and he was renowned 
 throughout all the lands of Islam as the 
 great conqueror of the West. But sudden 
 humiliation awaited him in the very moment 
 of his highest triumph. 
 
 Notwithstanding the outward reconciliation 
 of Muza and Taric, a deep and implacable 
 hostility continued to exist between them ; and 
 each had busy partisans who distracted the 
 armies by their feuds. Letters were inces- 
 santly despatched to Damascus by either party, 
 
 86 
 
£be Subjugation of Spain 87 
 
 exalting the merits of their own leader and de- 
 crying his rival. Taric was represented as rash, 
 arbitary, and prodigal, and as injuring the 
 discipline of the army, by sometimes treating 
 it with extreme rigor and at other times giving 
 way to licentiousness and profusion. Muza was 
 lauded as prudent, sagacious, dignified, and sys- 
 tematic in his dealings. The friends of Taric, 
 on the other hand, represented him as brave, 
 generous, and high-minded ; scrupulous in re- 
 serving to his sovereign his rightful share of 
 the spoils, but distributing the rest bounteously 
 among his soldiers, and thus increasing their 
 alacrity in the service. "Muza, on the con- 
 trary,'' said they, " is grasping and insatiable ; 
 he levies intolerable contributions and collects 
 immense treasure, but sweeps it all into his 
 own coffers." 
 
 The caliph was at length wearied out by 
 these complaints, and feared that the safety of 
 the cause might be endangered by the dissen- 
 sions of the rival generals. He sent letters, 
 therefore, ordering them to leave suitable per- 
 sons in charge of their several commands, and 
 appear, forthwith, before him at Damascus. 
 
 Such was the greeting from his sovereign 
 that awaited Muza on his return from the con- 
 quest of northern Spain. It was a grievous 
 blow to a man of his' pride and ambition ; but 
 
88 Spanisb papers 
 
 he prepared instantly to obey. He returned 
 to Cordova, collecting by the way all the treas- 
 ures he had deposited in various places. At 
 that city he called a meeting of his principal 
 officers, and of the leaders of the faction of 
 apostate Christians, and made them all do 
 homage to his son Abdalasis, as emir or gov- 
 ernor of Spain. He gave this favorite son 
 much sage advice for the regulation of his con- 
 duct, and left with him his nephew, Ayub, a 
 man greatly honored by the Moslems for his 
 wisdom and discretion ; exhorting Abdalasis 
 to consult him on all occasions, and consider 
 him as his bosom counsellor. He made a part- 
 ing address to his adherents, full of cheerful 
 confidence ; assuring them that he would soon 
 return, loaded with new favors and honors by 
 his sovereign, and enabled to reward them all 
 for their faithful services. 
 
 When Muza sallied forth from Cordova, to 
 repair to Damascus, his cavalgada appeared 
 like the sumptuous pageant of some oriental 
 potentate ; for he had numerous guards and 
 attendants splendidly armed and arrayed, to- 
 gether with four hundred hostages, who were 
 youthful cavaliers of the noblest families of the 
 Goths, and a great number of captives of both 
 sexes, chosen for their beauty, and intended 
 as presents for the caliph. Then there was a 
 
Zbe Subjugation of Spain 89 
 
 vast train of beasts of burden, laden with the 
 plunder of Spain ; for he took with him all the 
 wealth he had collected in his conquests and 
 all the share that had been set apart for his 
 sovereign. With this display of trophies and 
 spoils, showing the magnificence of the land 
 he had conquered, he looked forward with con- 
 fidence to silence the calumnies of his foes. 
 
 As he traversed the valley of the Guadal- 
 quivir he often turned and looked back wist- 
 fully upon Cordova ; and, at the distance of a 
 league, when about to lose sight of it, he 
 checked his steed upon the summit of a hill, 
 and gazed for a long time upon its palaces and 
 towers. " O Cordova ! " exclaimed he, "great 
 and glorious art thou among cities, and abun- 
 dant in all delights. With grief and sorrow do 
 I part from thee, for sure I am it would give 
 me length of days to abide within thy pleasant 
 walls !" When he had uttered these words, 
 say the Arabian chronicles, he resumed his 
 wayfaring ; but his eyes were bent upon the 
 ground, and frequent sighs bespoke the heavi- 
 ness of his heart. 
 
 Embarking at Cadiz, he passed over to 
 Africa with all his people and effects, to regu- 
 late his government in that country. He di- 
 vided the command between his sons, Abdelola 
 and Meruan, leaving the former in Tangier 
 
90 Spaniab papers 
 
 and the latter in Cairvan. Thus having se- 
 cured, as he thought, the power and prosperity 
 of his family, by placing all his sons as his 
 lieutenants in the country he had conquered, 
 he departed for Syria, bearing with him the 
 sumptuous spoils of the West. 
 
 While Muza was thus disposing of his com- 
 mands, and moving cumbrously under the 
 weight of wealth, the veteran Taric was more 
 speedy and alert in obeying the summons of the 
 caliph. He knew the importance, where com- 
 plaints were to be heard, of being first in pres- 
 ence of the judge ; besides, he was ever ready to 
 march at a moment's warning and had nothing 
 to impede him in his movements. The spoils 
 he had made in his conquests had either been 
 shared among his soldiers, or yielded up to Muza, 
 or squandered away with open-handed profu- 
 sion. He appeared in Syria with a small train 
 of war-worn followers, and had no other 
 trophies to show than his battered armor and a 
 body seamed with scars. He was received, 
 however, with rapture by the multitude, who 
 crowded to behold one of those conquerors of 
 the West, whose wonderful achievements were 
 the theme of every tongue. They were 
 charmed with his gaunt and martial air, his 
 hard, sunburnt features and his scathed eye. 
 "All hail," cried they, "to the Sword of 
 
Zbe Subjugation of Spain 9* 
 
 Islam, the terror of unbelievers ! Behold the 
 true model of a warrior, who despises gain, 
 and seeks for nought but glory. 
 
 Taric was graciously received by the caliph, 
 who asked tidings of his victories. He gave 
 a soldier-like account of his actions, frank and 
 full, without any feigned modesty, yet without 
 vainglory. " Commander of the Faithful," 
 said he, * ' I bring thee no silver, nor gold, nor 
 precious stones, nor captives, for what spoils I 
 did not share with my soldiers I gave up to 
 Muza as my commander. How I have con- 
 ducted myself the honorable warriors of thy 
 host will tell thee ; nay, let our enemies, the 
 Christians, be asked if I have ever shown my- 
 self cowardly , or cruel, or rapacious.' ' 
 
 " What kind of people are these Chris- 
 tians? " demanded the caliph. 
 
 " The Spaniards,' ' replied, Taric, " are lions 
 in their castles, eagles in their saddles, but 
 mere women when on foot. When vanquished 
 they escape like goats to the mountains, for 
 they need not see the ground they tread on." 
 
 " And tell me of the Moors of Barbary.' , 
 
 " They are like Arabs in the fierceness and 
 dexterity of their attacks and in their knowl- 
 edge of the stratagems of war ; they resemble 
 them, too, in feature, in fortitude, and hospi- 
 tality ; but they are the most perfidious people 
 
9 2 
 
 Spantsb papers 
 
 upon earth, and never regard promise or 
 plighted faith." 
 
 ' ' And the people of Afranc ; what sayest 
 thou of them ? ' ' 
 
 " They are infinite in number, rapid in the 
 onset, fierce in battle, but confused and head- 
 long in flight." 
 
 ' ' And how fared it with thee among these 
 people ? Did they sometimes vanquish thee ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Never, by Allah ! ' ' cried Taric, with hon- 
 est warmth ; ' ' never did a banner of mine fly 
 the field. Though the enemy were two to one, 
 my Moslems never shunned the combat ! ' : 
 
 The caliph was well pleased with the martial 
 bluntness of the veteran, and showed him great 
 honor ; and wherever Taric appeared he was 
 the idol of the populace. 
 
Cbaptet £ W, 
 
 Muza Arrives at Damascus — His Interview with the Ca- 
 liph — The Table of Solomon — A Rigorous Sentence. 
 
 SHORTLY after the arrival of Taric el 
 Tuerto at Damascus the caliph fell 
 dangerously ill, insomuch that his life 
 was despaired of. During his illness, 
 tidings were brought that Muza ben Nosier 
 had entered Syria with a vast cavalcade, bear- 
 ing all the riches and trophies gained in the 
 western conquests. Now Suleiman ben Abdel- 
 melec, brother to the caliph, was successor to 
 the throne, and he saw that his brother had 
 not long to live, and wished to grace the com- 
 mencement of his reign by this triumphant 
 display of the spoils of Christendom ; he sent 
 messengers, therefore, to Muza, saying: "The 
 caliph is ill and cannot receive thee at present ; 
 I pray thee tarry on the road until his re- 
 covery.' ' Muza, however, paid no attention 
 to the messages of Suleiman, but rather has- 
 
 93 
 
94 Spanisb papers 
 
 tened his march to arrive before the death of 
 the caliph. And Suleiman treasured up his 
 conduct in his heart. 
 
 Muza entered the city in a kind of triumph, 
 with a long train of horses and mules and 
 camels laden with treasure, and with the four 
 hundred sons of Gothic nobles as hostages, each 
 decorated with a diadem and a girdle of gold ; 
 and with one hundred Christian damsels, whose 
 beauty dazzled all beholders. As he passed 
 through the streets he ordered purses of gold 
 to be thrown among the populace, who rent 
 the air with acclamations. "Behold," cried 
 they, "the veritable conqueror of the unbe- 
 lievers ! Behold the true model of a conqueror, 
 who brings home wealth to his country ! ' ' 
 And they heaped benedictions on the head of 
 Muza. 
 
 The Caliph Waled Almanzor rose from his 
 couch of illness to receive the emir, who, when 
 he repaired to the palace, filled one of its great 
 courts with treasures of all kinds ; the halls, 
 too, were thronged with youthful hostages, 
 magnificently attired, and with Christian dam- 
 sels, lovely as the houris of paradise. When 
 the caliph demanded an account of the con- 
 quest of Spain, he gave it with great eloquence; 
 but, in describing the various victories, he made 
 no mention of the name of Taric, but spoke 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 95 
 
 as if everything had been effected by himself. 
 He then presented the spoils of the Christians 
 as if they had been all taken by his own hands ; 
 and when he delivered to the caliph the mirac- 
 ulous table of Solomon, he dwelt with anima- 
 tion on the virtues of that inestimable talisman. 
 Upon this, Taric, who was present, could no 
 longer hold his peace. " Commander of the 
 Faithful/ ' said he, "examine this precious 
 table, if any part be wan ting.' ' The caliph 
 examined the table, which was composed of a 
 single emerald, and he found that one foot was 
 supplied by a foot of gold. The caliph turned 
 to Muza, and said : ' ' Where is the other foot 
 of the table ? ' ' Muza answered : * ' I know 
 not ; one foot was wanting when it came into 
 my hands." Upon this, Taric drew from be- 
 neath his robe a foot of emerald of like work- 
 manship to the others, and fitting exactly to 
 the table : ' ' Behold, O Commander of the Faith- 
 ful ! " cried he, " a proof of the real finder 
 of the table ; and so is it with the greater part 
 of the spoils exhibited by Muza as trophies of 
 his achievements. It was I who gained them, 
 and who captured the cities in which they were 
 found. If you want proof, demand of these 
 Christian cavaliers here present, most of whom 
 I captured ; demand of those Moslem warriors 
 who aided me in my battles." 
 
96 Spanieb ©apers 
 
 Muza was confounded for a moment, but 
 attempted to vindicate himself. "I spake," 
 said he, ' ' as the chief of your armies, under 
 whose orders and banners this conquest was 
 achieved. The actions of the soldiers are the 
 actions of the commander. In a great victory 
 it is not supposed that the chief of the army 
 takes all the captives, or kills all the slain, or 
 gathers all the booty, though all are enumer- 
 ated in the records of his triumph." The 
 caliph, however, was wroth, and heeded not 
 his words. ' ' You have vaunted your own de- 
 serts," said he, "and have forgotten the de- 
 serts of others ; nay, you have sought to 
 debase another, who has loyally served his 
 sovereign ; the reward of your envy and covet- 
 ousness be upon your head ! " So saying, he 
 bestowed a great part of the spoils upon Taric 
 and the other chiefs, but gave nothing to Muza, 
 and the veteran retired amidst the sneers and 
 murmurs of those present. 
 
 In a few days the Caliph Waled died, and 
 was succeeded by his brother Suleiman. The 
 new sovereign cherished a deep resentment 
 against Muza for having presented himself at 
 court contrary to his command, and he listened 
 readily to the calumnies of his enemies — for 
 Muza had been too illustrious in his deeds not 
 to have many enemies. All now took courage 
 
Gbe Subjugation ot Spain 97 
 
 when they found he was out of favor, and they 
 heaped slanders on his head ; charging him 
 with embezzling much of the share of the 
 booty belonging to the sovereign. The new 
 caliph lent a willing ear to the accusation, and 
 commanded him to render up all that he had 
 pillaged from Spain. The loss of his riches 
 might have been born with fortitude by Muza, 
 but the stigma upon his fame filled his heart 
 with bitterness. " I have been a faithful ser- 
 vant to the throne from my youth upwards,'' 
 said he, " and now am I degraded in my old 
 age. I care not for wealth, I care not for life, 
 but let me not be deprived of that honor which 
 God has bestowed upon me ! ' ' 
 
 The caliph was still more exasperated at his 
 repining, and stripped him of his commands, 
 confiscated his effects, fined him two hundred 
 thousand pesants of gold, and ordered that he 
 should be scourged and exposed to the noon- 
 tide sun, and afterwards thrown into prison.* 
 The populace, also, reviled and scoffed at him 
 in his misery, and as they beheld him led forth 
 to the public gaze, and fainting in the sun, 
 they pointed at him with derision, and ex- 
 claimed : " Behold the envious man and im- 
 postor ; this is he who pretended to have 
 conquered the land of the unbelievers ! " 
 
 * Conde, pt. i, c. 17. 
 
 7 
 
Cbapter ft). 
 
 Conduct of Abdalasis as Bmir of Spain. 
 
 T T 7 HIIyE these events were happening 
 \/\/ in Syria, the youthful Abdalasis, 
 
 ▼ V the son of Muza, remained as emir 
 or governor of Spain. He was of 
 a generous and benignant disposition, but he 
 was open and confiding, and easily led away 
 by the opinions of those he loved. Fortunatety 
 his father had left with him, as a bosom coun- 
 sellor, the discreet Ayub, the nephew of Muza ; 
 aided by his advice, he for some time adminis- 
 tered the public affairs prudently and prosper- 
 ously. 
 
 Not long after the departure of his father, he 
 received a letter from him, written while on his 
 journey to Syria ; it was to the following pur- 
 port : 
 
 " Beloved son ; honor of thy lineage ; Allah guard 
 thee from all harm and peril ! Listen to the words of 
 
ftbe Subjugation of Spain 99 
 
 thy father. Avoid all treachery, though it should 
 promise great advantage, and trust not in him who 
 counsels it, even though he should be a brother. 
 The company of traitors put far from thee ; for how 
 canst thou be certain that he who has proved false to 
 others will prove true to thee ? Beware, O my son, 
 of the seductions of love. It is an idle passion, which 
 enfeebles the heart and blinds the judgment ; it ren- 
 ders the mighty weak, and makes slaves of princes. 
 If thou shouldst discover any foible of a vicious kind 
 springing up in thy nature, pluck it forth, whatever 
 pang it cost thee. Bvery error, while new, may easily 
 be weeded out, but if suffered to take root, it flour- 
 ishes and bears seed and produces fruit an hundred- 
 fold. Follow these counsels, O son of my affections, 
 and thou shalt live secure.' ' 
 
 Abdalasis meditated upon this letter, for 
 some part of it seemed to contain a mystery 
 which he could not comprehend. He called 
 to him his cousin and counsellor, the discreet 
 Ayub. "What means n^ father," said he, 
 ' ' in cautioning me against treachery and 
 treason? Does he think my nature so base 
 that it could descend to such means ? ' ' 
 
 Ayub read the letter attentively. " Thy 
 father," said he, " would put thee on thy guard 
 against the traitors Julian and Oppas, and 
 those of their party who surround thee. What 
 love canst thou expect from men who have 
 been unnatural to their kindred, and what 
 
 .fC. 
 
ioo Spanish papers 
 
 loyalty from wretches who have betrayed their 
 country ? ' ' 
 
 Abdalasis was satisfied with the interpreta- 
 tion, and he acted accordingly. He had long 
 loathed all communion with these men, for 
 there is nothing which the open, ingenuous 
 nature so much abhors as duplicity and trea- 
 son. Policy, too, no longer required their 
 agency ; they had rendered their infamous ser- 
 vice, and had no longer a country to betra}' ; 
 but they might turn and betray their employ- 
 ers. Abdalasis, therefore, removed them to a 
 distance from his court, and placed them in 
 situations where they could do no harm, and 
 he warned his commanders from being in any- 
 wise influenced by their counsels or aided by 
 their arms. 
 
 He now confided entirely in his Arabian 
 troops, and in the Moorish squadrons from 
 Africa, and with their aid he completed the 
 conquest of Lusitania to the ultimate parts of 
 the Algarbe, or west, even to the shores of the 
 great Ocean sea.* From hence he sent his 
 generals to overrun all those vast and rugged 
 
 * Algarbe, or Algarbia, in Arabic signifies the west, 
 as Axarkia is the east, Algufia the north, and Aquibla 
 the south. This will serve to explain some of the 
 geographical names on the peninsula which are of 
 Arabian origin. 
 
Gbe Subjugation ot Spain 101 
 
 sierras, which rise like ramparts along the 
 ocean borders of the peninsula ; and they car- 
 ried the standard of Islam in triumph even to 
 the Mountains of Biscay, collecting all manner 
 of precious spoil. 
 
 " It is not enough, O Abdalasis," said Ayub, 
 " that we conquer and rule this country with 
 the sword ; if we wish our dominion to be 
 secure, we must cultivate the arts of peace, 
 and study to secure the confidence and promote 
 the welfare of the people we have conquered." 
 Abdalasis relished counsel which accorded so 
 well with his own beneficent nature. He en- 
 deavored, therefore, to allay the ferment and 
 confusion of the conquest ; forbade, under 
 rigorous punishment, all wanton spoil or op- 
 pression, and protected the native inhabitants 
 in the enjoyment and cultivation of their lands, 
 and the pursuit of all useful occupations. By 
 the advice of Ayub, also, he encouraged great 
 numbers of industrious Moors and Arabs to 
 emigrate from Africa, and gave them houses 
 and lands ; thus introducing a peaceful and 
 Mahometan population in the conquered prov- 
 inces. 
 
 The good effect of the counsels of Ayub were 
 soon apparent. Instead of a sudden but tran- 
 sient influx of wealth, made by the ruin of the 
 land, which left the country desolate, a regular 
 
io2 Spanieb papers 
 
 and permanent revenue sprang up, produced 
 by reviving prosperity, and gathered without 
 violence. Abdalasis ordered it to be faithfully 
 collected, and deposited in coffers by public 
 officers appointed in each province for the pur- 
 pose ; and the whole was sent by ten deputies 
 to Damascus to be laid at the feet of the caliph ; 
 not as the spoils of a vanquished country, but 
 as the peaceful trophies of a wisely adminis- 
 tered government. 
 
 The common herd of warlike adventurers, 
 the mere men of the sword, who had thronged 
 to Spain for the purpose of ravage and rapine, 
 were disappointed at being thus checked in 
 their career, and at seeing the reign of terror 
 and violence drawing to a close. What man- 
 ner of leader is this said they, who forbids us 
 to make spoil of the enemies of Islam, and to 
 enjoy the land we have wrested from the un- 
 believers ? The partisans of Julian, also, whis 
 pered their calumnies. "Behold," said they, 
 ' ' with what kindness he treats the enemies of 
 your faith ; all the Christians who have borne 
 arms against you, and withstood your entrance 
 into the land, are favored and protected ; but 
 it is enough for a Christian to have befriended 
 the cause of the Moslems to be singled out by 
 Abdalasis for persecution, and to be driven 
 with scorn from his presence. ' ' 
 
XLbc Subjugation of Spain 
 
 103 
 
 These insinuations fermented the discontent 
 of the turbulent and rapacious among the Mos- 
 lems, but all the friends of peace and order and 
 good government applauded the moderation of 
 the }^outhful emir. 
 
Cbapter £ ID1. 
 
 Iyoves of Abdalasis and Bxilona. 
 
 ABDALASIS had fixed his seat of govern- 
 ment at Seville, as permitting easy and 
 frequent communications with the 
 coast of Africa. His palace was of 
 noble architecture, with delightful gardens ex- 
 tending to the banks of the Guadalquivir. In 
 a part of this palace resided many of the most 
 beautiful Christian females, who were detained 
 as captives, or rather hostages, to insure the 
 tranquillity of the country. Those who were 
 of noble rank were entertained in luxury and 
 magnificence ; slaves were appointed to attend 
 upon them, and they were arrayed in the rich- 
 est apparel and decorated with the most pre- 
 ciousjewels. Those of tender age were taught 
 all graceful accomplishments ; and even where 
 tasks were imposed, they were of the most 
 elegant and agreeable kind. They embroidered, 
 they sang, they danced, and passed their times 
 
 104 
 
Zbe Subjugation of Spain 105 
 
 in pleasing revelry. Many were lulled by this 
 easy and voluptuous existence ; the scenes of 
 horror through which they had passed were 
 gradually effaced from their minds, and a desire 
 was often awakened of rendering themselves 
 pleasing in the eyes of their conquerors. 
 
 After his return from his campaign in Lusi- 
 tania and during the intervals of public duty, 
 Abdalasis solaced himself in the repose of this 
 palace, and in the society of these Christian 
 captives. He remarked one among them who 
 ever set apart, and neither joined in the labors 
 nor sports of her companions. 
 
 She was lofty in her demeanor, and the others 
 always paid her reverence ; yet sorrow had 
 given softness to her charms, and rendered her 
 beauty touching to the heart. Abdalasis found 
 her one day in the garden with her companions ; 
 they had adorned their heads with flowers, and 
 were singing the songs of their country, but 
 she sat by herself and wept. The youthful emir 
 was moved by her tears, and accosted her in gen- 
 tle accents : " O fairest of women ! ' • said he, 
 " why dost thou weep, and why is thy heart 
 troubled ? " " Alas ! " replied she, " have I 
 not cause to weep, seeing how sad is my con- 
 dition, and how great the height from which I 
 have fallen ? In me you behold the wretched 
 Kxilona, but lately the wife of Roderick and 
 
io6 Spanieb papers 
 
 the Queen of Spain, now a captive and a slave ! " 
 and, having said these words, she cast her 
 eyes upon the earth, and her tears began to 
 flow afresh. 
 
 The generous feelings of Abdalasis were 
 aroused at the sight of beauty and royalty in 
 tears. He gave orders that Exilona should be 
 entertained in a style befitting her former rank ; 
 he appointed a train of female attendants to 
 wait upon her, and a guard of honor to protect 
 her from all intrusion. All the time that he 
 could spare from public concerns was passed 
 in her society ; and he even neglected his 
 divan, and suffered his counsellors to attend 
 in vain, while he lingered in the apartments 
 and gardens of the palace, listening to the voice 
 of Exilona. 
 
 The discreet Ayub saw the danger into which 
 he was falling. " O Abdalasis," said he, "re- 
 member the words of thy father. * Beware, 
 my son/ said he, 'of the seductions of love. 
 It renders the mighty weak, and makes slaves 
 of princes ! ' " A blush kindled on the cheek 
 of Abdalasis, and he was silent for a moment. 
 " Why," said he, at length, " do you seek to 
 charge me with such weakness? It is one 
 thing to be infatuated by the charms of a 
 woman, and another to be touched by her mis-* 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 107 
 
 fortunes. It is the duty of my station to con- 
 sole a princess who has been reduced to the 
 lowest humiliation by the triumphs of cur arms. 
 In doing so I do but listen to the dictates of 
 true magnanimity." 
 
 Ayub was silent, but his brow was clouded, 
 and for once Abdalasis parted in discontent 
 from his counsellor. In proportion as he was 
 dissatisfied with others or with himself, he 
 sought the society of Exilona, for there was a 
 charm in her conversation that banished every 
 care. He daily became more and more enam- 
 oured, and Exilona gradually ceased to weep, 
 and began to listen with secret pleasure to the 
 words of her Arab lover. When, however, he 
 sought to urge his passion, she recollected the 
 light estimation in which her sex was held by 
 the followers of Mahomet, and assumed a coun- 
 tenance grave and severe. 
 
 " Fortune,' ' said she, "has cast me at thy 
 feet ; behold I am thy captive and thy spoil. 
 But though my person is in thy power, my 
 soul is unsubdued ; and know that, should I 
 lack force to defend my honor, I have resolu- 
 tion to wash out all stain upon it with my 
 blood. I trust, however, in thy courtesy as a 
 cavalier to respect me in my reverses, remem- 
 bering what I have been, and that though the 
 
io8 Spanisb papers 
 
 crown has been wrested from my brow, the 
 royal blood still warms within my veins." * 
 
 The lofty spirit of Exilona, and her proud 
 repulse, served but to increase the passion of 
 Abdalasis. He besought her to unite her 
 destiny with his, and share his state and power, 
 promising that she should have no rival nor 
 copartner in his heart. Whatever scruples the 
 captive queen might originally have felt to a 
 union with one of the conquerors of her lord, 
 and an enemy of her adopted faith, they were 
 easily vanquished, and she became the bride 
 of Abdalasis. He would fain have persuaded 
 her to return to the faith of her fathers ; but 
 though of Moorish origin, and brought up in 
 the doctrines of Islam, she was too thorough a 
 convert to Christianity to consent, and looked 
 back with disgust upon a religion that ad- 
 mitted a plurality of wives. 
 
 When the sage Ayub heard of the resolution 
 of Abdalasis to espouse Exilona he was in 
 despair. " Alas, my cousin ! " said he, " what 
 infatuation possesses thee ? Hast thou then 
 entirely forgotten the letter of thy father ? ' Be- 
 ware, my son,' said he, i of love ; it is an idle 
 passion, which enfeebles the heart and blinds 
 the judgment.' " But Abdalasis interrupted 
 
 * Faxardo, Corona Gothica, t. i, p. 492 Joan, Mar. 
 de Reb, Hisp., 1. 6, c. 27. 
 
ftbe Subjugation of Spain 
 
 109 
 
 him with impatience. ' ' My father, ' ' said he, 
 ' * spake but of the blandishments of wanton 
 love ; against these I am secured by my vir- 
 tuous passion for Exilona." 
 
 Ayub would fain have impressed upon him 
 the dangers he ran of awakening suspicion in 
 the caliph, and discontent among the Moslems, 
 by wedding the queen of the conquered Roder- 
 ick, and one who was an enemy to the religion 
 of Mahomet ; but the youthful lover only 
 listened to his passion. Their nuptials were 
 celebrated at Seville with great pomp and re- 
 joicings, and he gave his bride the name of 
 Omalisam ; that is to say, she of the precious 
 jewels*; but she continued to be known 
 among the Christians by the name of Exilona^ 
 
 * Conde, pt. 1, c. 17. 
 
(Tbapter £DI1. 
 
 Fate of Abdalasis and Bxilona — Death of Muza. 
 
 POSSESSION, instead of cooling the pas- 
 sion of Abdalasis, only added to its 
 force ; he became blindly enamoured 
 of his beautiful bride, and consulted 
 her will in all things ; nay, having lost all 
 relish for the advice of the discreet Ayub, he 
 was even guided by the counsels of his wife 
 in the affairs of government. Exilona, unfor- 
 tunately, had once been a queen, and she 
 could not remember her regal glories without 
 regret. She saw that Abdalasis had great 
 power in the land, — greater even than had been 
 possessed by the Gothic kings, — but she con- 
 sidered it as wanting in true splendor until his 
 brow should be encircled with the outward 
 badge of royalty. One day, when they were 
 alone in the palace of Seville, and the heart of 
 Abdalasis was given up to tenderness, she 
 addressed him in fond yet timid accents : 
 
 no 
 
TLhc Subjugation of Spain in 
 
 "Will not my lord be offended,' ' said she, 
 "if I make an unwelcome request?" Abda- 
 lasis regarded her with a smile. "What 
 canst thou ask of me, Exilona," said he, " that 
 it would not be a happiness for me to grant ? " 
 Then Exilona produced a crown of gold, spark- 
 ling with jewels, which had belonged to the 
 king, Don Roderick, and said : " Behold, thou 
 art king in authority ; be so in thy outward 
 state. There is majesty and glory in a crown ; 
 it gives a sanctity to power. ' ' Then putting 
 the crown upon his head, she held a mirror 
 before him, that he might behold the majesty 
 of his appearance. Abadalasis chid her fondly, 
 and put the crown away from him, but Exilona 
 persisted in her prayer. ' ' Never, ' ' said she^ 
 " has there been a king in Spain that did not 
 wear a crown. ' ' So Abdalasis suffered himself 
 to be beguiled by the blandishments of his wife, 
 and to be invested with the crown and sceptre 
 and other signs of royalty.* 
 
 It is affirmed by ancient and discreet chroni- 
 clers, that Abdalasis only assumed this royal 
 state in the privacy of his palace, and to gratify 
 the eye of his youthful bride ; but where was 
 a secret ever confined within the walls of a 
 palace ? The assumption of the insignia of the 
 
 * Chron. Gen. de Alonzo elSabio, p. 3. Joan, Mar. 
 de Reb. Hisp., lib. 6, c. 27. Conde, pt. i, c. 19. 
 
ii2 Spanisb papers 
 
 ancient Gothic kings was soon rumored about, 
 and caused the most violent suspicions. The 
 Moslems had already felt jealous of the ascen- 
 dency of this beautiful woman, and it was now 
 confidently asserted that Abdalasis, won by 
 her persuasions, had secretly turned Christian. 
 
 The enemies of Abdalasis, those whose rapa- 
 cious spirits had been kept in check by the 
 beneficence of his rule, seized upon this occa- 
 sion to ruin him. They sent letters to Damas- 
 cus, accusing him of apostasy, and of an inten- 
 tion to seize upon the throne in right of his 
 wife, Exilona, as widow of the late King 
 Roderick. It was added, that the Christians 
 were prepared to flock to his standard as the 
 only means of regaining ascendency in their 
 country. 
 
 These accusations arrived at Damascus just 
 after the accession of the sanguinary Suleiman 
 to the throne, and in the height of his persecu- 
 tion of the unfortunate Muza. The caliph 
 waited for no proofs in confirmation ; he im- 
 mediately sent private orders that Abdalasis 
 should be put to death, and that the same fate 
 should be dealt to his two brothers who gov- 
 erned in Africa, as a sure means of crushing 
 the conspiracy of this ambitious family. 
 
 The mandate for the death of Abdalasis was 
 sent to Abhilbar ben Obeidah and Zeyd ben 
 
Gbe Subjugation of Spain 113 
 
 Nabegat, both of whom had been cherished 
 friends of Muza, and had lived in intimate fa- 
 vor and companionship with his son. When 
 they read the fatal parchment, the scroll fell 
 from their trembling hands. " Can such hos- 
 tility exist against the family of Muza ? " ex- 
 claimed they. " Is this the reward for such 
 great and glorious services ? ' ' The cavaliers 
 remained for some time plunged in horror and 
 consternation. The order, however, w 7 as ab- 
 solute, and left them no discretion. " Allah is 
 great,' ' said they, " and commands us to obey 
 our sovereign.'' So they prepared to execute 
 the bloody mandate with the blind fidelity of 
 Moslems. 
 
 It was necessary to proceed with caution. 
 The open and magnanimous character of Ab- 
 dalasis had won the hearts of a great part of 
 the soldiery, and his magnificence pleased the 
 cavaliers who formed his guard ; it was feared, 
 therefore, that a sanguinary opposition w T ould 
 be made to any attempt upon his person. The 
 rabble, however, had been embittered against 
 him from his having restrained their depreda- 
 tions, and because they thought him an apos- 
 tate in his heart, secretly bent upon betraying 
 them to the Christains. While, therefore, the 
 two officers made vigilant dispositions to check 
 any movement on the part of the soldiery, they 
 
 8 
 
H4 Spanieb papers 
 
 let loose the blind fury of the populace by pub- 
 lishing the fatal mandate. In a moment the 
 city was in a ferment, and there was a ferocious 
 emulation who should be first to execute the 
 orders of the caliph. 
 
 Abdalasis was at this time at a palace in the 
 country not far from Seville, commanding a 
 delightful view of the fertile plain of the 
 Guadalquivir. Hither he was accustomed to 
 retire from the tumult of the court, and to pass 
 his time among groves and fountains and the 
 sweet repose of gardens, in the society of Exi- 
 lona. It was the dawn of day, the hour of 
 early prayer, when the furious populace ar- 
 rived at this retreat. Abdalasis was offering 
 up his orisons in a small mosque which he had 
 erected for the use of the neighboring peas- 
 antry. Exilona was in a chapel in the interior 
 of the palace, where her confessor, a holy friar, 
 was performing mass. They were both sur- 
 prised at their devotions, and dragged forth by 
 the hands of the rabble. A few guards, who 
 attended at the palace, would have made de- 
 fense, but they were overawed by the sight of 
 the written mandate of the caliph. 
 
 The captives were borne in triumph to Se- 
 ville. All the beneficent virtues of Abdalasis 
 were forgotten ; nor had the charms of Exi- 
 lona any effect in softening the hearts of the 
 
XLhc Subjugation of Spain 115 
 
 populace. The brutal eagerness to shed blood, 
 which seems inherent in human nature, was 
 awakened ; and woe to the victims when that 
 eagerness is quickened by religious hate. The 
 illustrious couple, adorned with all the graces 
 of youth and beauty, were hurried to a scaffold 
 in the great square of Seville, and there be- 
 headed amidst the shouts and execrations of 
 an infatuated multitude. Their bodies were 
 left exposed upon the ground, and would have 
 been devoured by dogs, had they not been 
 gathered at night by some friendly hand, and 
 poorly interred in one of the courts of their 
 late dwelling. 
 
 Thus terminated the loves and lives of Ab- 
 dalasis and Exilona, in the year of the Incar- 
 nation seven hundred and fourteen. Their 
 names were held sacred as martyrs to the 
 Christian faith ; but many read in their un- 
 timely fate a lesson against ambition and vain- 
 glory ; having sacrificed real power and sub- 
 stantial rule to the glittering bauble of a crown. 
 
 The head of Abdalasis was embalmed and 
 inclosed in a casket, and sent to Syria to the 
 cruel Suleiman. The messenger who bore it 
 overtook the caliph as he was performing a 
 pilgrimage to Mecca. Muza was among the 
 courtiers in his train, having been released from 
 prison. On opening the casket and regarding 
 
n6 Spanteb papers 
 
 its contents, the eyes of the tyrant sparkled 
 with malignant satisfaction. Calling the un- 
 happy father to his side, " Muza," said he, 
 "dost thou know this head?" The veteran 
 recognized the features of his beloved son, and 
 turned his face away with anguish. "Yes! 
 well do I know it," replied he ; " and may the 
 curse of God light upon him who has destroyed 
 a better man than himself." 
 
 Without adding another word, he retired to 
 Mount Deran, a prey to devouring melancholy. 
 He shortly after received tidings of the death 
 of his two sons, whom he had left in the gov- 
 ernment of western Africa, and who had fallen 
 victims to the jealous suspicions of the caliph. 
 
 His advanced age was not proof against these 
 repeated blows and this utter ruin of his late 
 prosperous family, and he sank into his grave 
 sorrowing and broken-hearted. 
 
 Such was the lamentable end of the con- 
 queror of Spain ; whose great achievements 
 were not sufficient to atone, in the eye of his 
 sovereign, for a weakness to which all men 
 ambitious of renown are subject ; and whose 
 triumphs eventually brought persecution upon 
 himself and untimely death upon his children. 
 
 Here ends the legend of the Subjugation of 
 Spain. 
 
LEGEND 
 
 OF 
 
 COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY. 
 
 117 
 
LEGEND 
 
 OF 
 
 COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY. 
 
 IN the preceding legends is darkly shadowed 
 out a true story of the woes of Spain. It 
 is a story full of wholesome admonition, 
 rebuking the insolence of human pride 
 and the vanity of human ambition, and show- 
 ing the futility of all greatness that is not 
 strongly based on virtue. We have seen, in 
 brief space of time, most of the actors in this 
 historic drama disappearing, one by one, from 
 the scene, and going down, conqueror and con- 
 quered, to gloomy and unhonored graves. It 
 remains to close this eventful history by hold- 
 ing up, as a signal warning, the fate of the 
 traitor whose perfidious scheme of vengeance 
 brought ruin on his native land. 
 
 iiq 
 
i2o 5pant5b papers 
 
 Many and various are the accounts given in 
 ancient chronicles of the fortunes of Count 
 Julian and his family, and many are the tradi- 
 tions on the subject still extant among the 
 populace of Spain, and perpetuated in those 
 countless ballads sung by peasants and mule- 
 teers, which spread a singular charm over the 
 whole of this romantic land. 
 
 He who has travelled in Spain in the true 
 way in which the country ought to be trav- 
 elled, — sojourning in its remote provinces, ram- 
 bling among the rugged defiles and secluded 
 valleys of its mountains, and making himself 
 familiar with the people in their out-of-the-way 
 hamlets and rarely-visited neighborhoods, — 
 will remember many a group of travellers and 
 muleteers, gathered of an evening around the 
 door or the spacious hearth of a mountain 
 venta, wrapped in their brown cloaks, and lis- 
 tening with grave and profound attention to the 
 long historic ballad of some rustic troubadour, 
 either recited with the true oi'e rotundo and 
 modulated cadences of Spanish elocution, or 
 chanted to the tinkling of a guitar. In this 
 way he may have heard the doleful end of 
 Count Julian and his family recounted in tra- 
 ditionary rhymes, that have been handed down 
 from generation to generation. The particu- 
 lars, however, of the following wild legend 
 
Count Julian anD Ibis ffamilE 121 
 
 are chiefly gathered from the writings of the 
 pseudo-Moor Rasis ; how far they may be 
 safely taken as historic facts it is impossible 
 now to ascertain ; we must content ourselves, 
 therefore, with their answering to the exac- 
 tions of poetic justice. 
 
 As yet everything had prospered with Count 
 Julian. He had gratified his vengeance ; he 
 had been successful in his treason, and had ac- 
 quired countless riches from the ruin of his 
 country. But it is not outward success that 
 constitutes prosperity. The tree flourishes with 
 fruit and foliage while blasted and withering 
 at the heart. Wherever he went, Count Julian 
 read hatred in every eye. The Christians cursed 
 him as the cause of all their woe ; the Moslems 
 despised and distrusted him as a traitor. Men 
 whispered together as he approached, and then 
 turned away in scorn ; and mothers snatched 
 away their children with horror if he offered to 
 caress them. He withered under the execra- 
 tion of his fellow-men, and last, and worst of 
 all, he began to loathe himself. He tried in 
 vain to persuade himself that he had but taken 
 a justifiable vengeance ; he felt that no per- 
 sonal wrong can justify the crime of treason to 
 one's country. 
 
 For a time he sought in luxurious indulgence 
 to soothe or forget the miseries of the mind. 
 
i22 Spanfsb papers 
 
 He assembled round him every pleasure and 
 gratification that boundless wealth could pur- 
 chase, but all in vain. He had no relish for 
 the dainties of his board ; music had no charm 
 wherewith to lull his soul, and remorse drove 
 slumber from his pillow. He sent to Ceuta for 
 his wife Frandina, his daughter Florinda, and 
 his youthful son Alarbot ; hoping in the bosom 
 of his family to find that sympathy and kind- 
 ness which he could no longer meet with in 
 this world. Their presence, however, brought 
 him no alleviation. Florinda, the daughter of 
 his heart, for whose sake he had undertaken 
 this signal vengeance, was sinking a victim to 
 its effects. Wherever she went, she found her- 
 self a byword of shame and reproach. The 
 outrage she had suffered was imputed to her as 
 wantonness, and her calamity was magnified 
 into a crime. The Christians never mentioned 
 her name without a curse, and the Moslems, 
 the gainers by her misfortunes, spoke of her 
 only by the appellation of Cava, the vilest 
 epithet they could apply to woman. 
 
 But the opprobrium of the world was noth- 
 ing to the upbraiding of her own heart. She 
 charged herself with all the miseries of these 
 disastrous wars — the deaths of so many gal- 
 lant cavaliers, the conquest and perdition of 
 her country. The anguish of her mind preyed 
 
Count Julian an& Ibis ffamilg 123 
 
 upon the beauty of her person. Her eye, once 
 soft and tender in its expression, became wild 
 and haggard ; her cheek lost its bloom, and 
 became hollow and pallid, and at times there 
 was desperation in her words. When her father 
 sought to embrace her she withdrew with shud- 
 dering from his arms, for she thought of his 
 treason and the ruin it had brought upon 
 Spain. Her wretchedness increased after her 
 return to her native country, until it rose to 
 a degree of frenzy. One day, when she was 
 walking with her parents in the garden of 
 their palace, she entered a tower, and having 
 barred the door, ascended to the battlements. 
 From thence she called to them in piercing 
 accents, expressive of her insupportable an- 
 guish and desperate determination : ' ' L,et this 
 city," said she, " be henceforth called Malacca, 
 in memorial of the most wretched of women, 
 who therein put an end to her days." So say- 
 ing, she threw herself headlong from the 
 tower, and was dashed to pieces. The city, 
 adds the ancient chronicler, received the name 
 thus given it, though afterwards softened to 
 Malaga, which it still retains in memory of the 
 tragical end of Florinda. 
 
 The Countess Frandina abandoned this scene 
 of woe, and returned to Ceuta, accompanied 
 by her infant son. She took with her the re- 
 
i24 Spanisb papers 
 
 mains of her unfortunate daughter, and gave 
 them honorable sepulture in a mausoleum of 
 the chapel belonging to the citadel. Count 
 Julian departed for Carthagena, where he re- 
 mained plunged in horror at this doleful event. 
 
 About this time, the cruel Suleiman, having 
 destroyed the family of Muza, had sent an 
 Arab general, named Alahor, to succeed Abda- 
 lasis as emir or governor of Spain. The new 
 emir was of a cruel and suspicious nature, and 
 commenced his sway with a stern severity that 
 soon made those under his command look back 
 with regret to the easy rule of Abdalasis. He 
 regarded with an eye of distrust the renegado 
 Christians who had aided in the conquest, and 
 who bore arms in the service of the Moslems ; 
 but his deepest suspicions fell upon Count 
 Julian. ' ' He has been a traitor to his own 
 countrymen," said he ; "how can we be sure 
 that he will not prove traitor to us ? ' ' 
 
 A sudden insurrection of the Christians who 
 had taken refuge in the Asturian Mountains, 
 quickened his suspicions, and inspired him 
 with fears of some dangerous conspiracy against 
 his power. In the height of his anxiety, he 
 bethought him of an Arabian sage named 
 Yuza, who had accompanied him from Africa. 
 This son of science was withered in form, and 
 looked as if he had outlived the usual term of 
 
Count Julian anD Ibis ffamilE 125 
 
 mortal life. In the course of his studies and 
 travels in the East, he had collected the knowl- 
 edge and experience of ages ; being skilled in 
 astrology, and, it is said, in necromancy, and 
 possessing the marvellous gift of prophecy or 
 divination. To this expounder of mysteries 
 Alahor applied to learn whether any secret 
 treason menaced his safety. 
 
 The astrologer listened with deep attention 
 and overwhelming brow to all the surmises 
 and suspicions of the emir, then shut himself 
 up to consult his books and commune with 
 those supernatural intelligences subservient to 
 his wisdom. At an appointed hour the emir 
 sought him in his cell. It was filled with the 
 smoke of perfumes ; squares and circles and 
 various diagrams were described upon the 
 floor, and the astrologer was poring over a 
 scroll of parchment, covered with cabalistic 
 characters. He received Alahor with a gloomy 
 and sinister aspect ; pretending to have dis- 
 covered fearful portents in the heavens, and to 
 have had strange dreams and mystic visions. 
 
 "O emir," said he, "be on your guard! 
 treason is around you and in your path ; your 
 life is in peril. Beware of Count Julian and his 
 family. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Enough, ' ' said the emir. ' ' They shall all 
 die ! Parents and children — all shall die ! ' ' 
 
i26 Spanisb papers 
 
 He forthwith sent a summons to Count 
 Julian to attend him in Cordova. The mes- 
 senger found him plunged in affliction for the 
 recent death of his daughter. The count ex- 
 cused himself, on account of this misfortune, 
 from obeying the commands of the emir in 
 person, but sent several of his adherents. His 
 hesitation, and the circumstance of his having 
 sent his family across the straits to Africa, were 
 construed by the jealous mind of the emir into 
 proofs of guilt. He no longer doubted his be- 
 ing concerned in the recent insurrections, and 
 that he had sent his family away preparatory 
 to an attempt, by force of arms, to subvert the 
 Moslem domination. In his fury he put to 
 death Siseburto and Evan, the nephews of 
 Bishop Oppas and sons of the former king, 
 Witiza, suspecting them of taking part in the 
 treason. Thus did they expiate their treachery 
 to their country in the fatal battle of the Gua- 
 dalete. 
 
 Alahor next hastened to Carthagena to seize 
 upon Count Julian. So rapid were his move- 
 ments that the count had barely time to escape 
 with fifteen cavaliers, with whom he took 
 refuge in the strong castle of Marcuello, 
 among the mountains of Aragon. The emir, 
 enraged to be disappointed of his prey, em- 
 barked at Carthagena and crossed the straits to 
 
Count Julian anfc Ibis ffamilg 127 
 
 Ceuta, to make captives of the Countess Fran- 
 dina and her son. 
 
 The old chronicle from which we take this 
 part of our legend, presents a gloomy picture 
 of the countess in the stern fortress to which 
 she had fled for refuge — a picture heightened 
 by supernatural horrors. These latter the 
 sagacious reader will admit or reject according 
 to the measure of his faith and judgment ; 
 always remembering that in dark and eventful 
 times, like those in question, involving the 
 destinies of nations, the downfall of kingdoms, 
 and the crimes of rulers and mighty men, the 
 hand of fate is sometimes strangely visible, and 
 confounds the wisdom of the worldly wise by 
 intimations and portents above the ordinary 
 course of things. With this proviso, we make 
 no scruple to follow the venerable chronicler in 
 his narration. 
 
 Now it so happened that the Countess Fran- 
 dina was seated late at night in her chamber, 
 in the citadel of Ceuta, which stands on a lofty 
 rock, overlooking the sea. She was revolving 
 in gloomy thought the late disasters of her 
 family, when she heard a mournful noise like 
 that of the sea-breeze moaning about the 
 castle walls. Raising her eyes, she beheld her 
 brother, the Bishop Oppas, at the entrance of 
 the chamber. She advanced to embrace him 
 
i28 Spanisb papers 
 
 but he forbade her with a motion of his hand, 
 and she observed that he was ghastly pale, and 
 that his eyes glared as with lambent flames. 
 
 " Touch me not, sister," said he, with a 
 mournful voice, ' ' lest thou be consumed by the 
 fire which rages within me. Guard well thy 
 son, for bloodhounds are upon his track. His 
 innocence might have secured him the protec- 
 tion of Heaven, but our crimes have involved 
 him in our common ruin." He ceased to 
 speak, and was no longer to be seen. His 
 coming and going were alike without noise, 
 and the door of the chamber remained fast 
 bolted. 
 
 On the following morning a messenger ar- 
 rived with tidings that the Bishop Oppas had 
 been made prisoner in battle by the insurgent 
 Christians of the Asturias, and had died in fet- 
 ters in a tower of the mountans. The same 
 messenger brought word that the Emir Alahor 
 had put to death several of the friends of Count 
 Julian ; and obliged him to fly for his life to a 
 castle in Aragon, and was embarking with a 
 formidable force for Ceuta. 
 
 The Countess Frandina, as has already been 
 shown, was of courageous heart, and danger 
 made her desperate. There were fifty Moorish 
 soldiers in the garrison ; she feared that they 
 would prove treacherous, and take part with 
 
Count Julian and Ibis aFamilB 129 
 
 their countrymen. Summoning her officers, 
 therefore, she informed them of their danger, 
 and commanded them to put those Moors to 
 death. The guards sallied forth to obey her 
 orders. Thirty-five of the Moors were in the 
 great square, unsuspicious of any danger, when 
 they were severally singled out by their exe- 
 cutioners, and, at a concerted signal, killed on 
 the spot. The remaining fifteen took refuge in 
 a tower. They saw the armada of the emir at 
 a distance, and hoped to be able to hold out un- 
 til its arrival. The soldiers of the countess saw 
 it also, and made extraordinary efforts to de- 
 stroy these internal enemies before they should 
 be attacked from without. They made repeated 
 attempts to storm the tower, but were as often 
 repulsed with severe loss. They then under- 
 mined it, supporting its foundations by stan- 
 chions of wood. To these they set fire, and 
 withdrew to a distance, keeping up a constant 
 shower of missiles to prevent the Moors from 
 sallying forth to extinguish the flames. The 
 stanchions were rapidly consumed, and when 
 they gave way the tower fell to the ground. 
 Some of the Moors were crushed among the 
 ruins ; others were flung to a distance and 
 dashed among the rocks ; those who survived 
 were instantly put to the sword. 
 
 The fleet of the emir arrived at Ceuta about 
 
 9 
 
i3o Spanteb papers 
 
 the hour of vespers. He landed, but found the 
 gates closed against him. The countess her- 
 self spoke to him from a tower, and set him at 
 defiance. The emir immediately laid siege to 
 the city. He consulted the astrologer Yuza, 
 who told him that for seven days his star would 
 have the ascendant over that of the youth Alar- 
 bot, but after that time the youth would be safe 
 from his power, and would effect his ruin. 
 
 Alahor immediately ordered the city to be 
 assailed on every side, and at length carried it 
 by storm. The countess took refuge with her 
 forces in the citadel, and made desperate de- 
 fense : but the walls were sapped and mined, 
 and she saw that all resistance would soon be 
 unavailing. Her only thoughts now were to 
 conceal her child. " Surely,' ' said she, " they 
 will not think of seeking him among the dead." 
 She led him, therefore, into the dark and dis- 
 mal chapel. ' * Thou art not afraid to be 
 alone in this darkness, my child? " said she. 
 
 " No, mother/ ' replied the boy ; " darkness 
 gives silence and sleep." She conducted him 
 to the tomb of Florinda. " Fearest thou the 
 dead, my child ? " " No, mother ; the dead can 
 do no harm, and what should I fear from my 
 sister?" 
 
 The countess opened the sepulchre. " Listen, 
 my son," $aid she, " There are fierce and 
 
Count Julian ant) Ibis jFamilg 131 
 
 cruel people who have come hither to murder 
 thee. Stay here in company with thy sister, 
 and be quiet as thou dost value thy life ! " The 
 boy, who was of a courageous nature, did as 
 he was bidden, and remained there all that day, 
 and all the night, and the next day until the 
 third hour. 
 
 In the meantime the walls of the citadel 
 were sapped, the troops of the emir poured in 
 at the breach, and a great part of the garrison 
 was put to the sword. The countess was taken 
 prisoner, and brought before the emir. She 
 appeared in his presence with a haughty de- 
 meanor, as if she had been a queen receiving 
 homage ; but when he demanded her son, she 
 faltered and turned pale, and replied : ' ' My son 
 is with the dead. ' ' 
 
 " Countess/' said the emir, " I am not to be 
 deceived ; tell me where you have concealed the 
 boy, or tortures shall wring from you the 
 secret. ' ' 
 
 "Emir," replied the countess, "may the 
 greatest torments be my portion, both here and 
 hereafter, if what I speak be not the truth. 
 My darling child lies buried with the dead." 
 
 The emir was confounded by the solemnity 
 of her words ; but the withered astrologer 
 Yuza, who stood by his side regarding the 
 countess from beneath his bushed eyebrows, 
 
132 Spanfsb papers 
 
 perceived trouble in her countenance and 
 equivocation in her words. ' ' L,eave this mat- 
 ter to me," whispered he to Alahor ; " I will 
 produce the child.' ' 
 
 He ordered strict search to be made by the 
 soldiery, and he obliged the countess to be al- 
 ways present. When they came to the chapel, 
 her cheek turned pale and her lip quivered. 
 "This," said the subtile astrologer, "is the 
 place of concealment ! " 
 
 The search throughout the chapel, however, 
 was equally vain, and the soldiers were about 
 to depart, when Yuza remarked a slight gleam 
 of joy in the eye of the countess. "We are 
 leaving our prey behind," thought he ; " the 
 countess is exulting." 
 
 He now called to mind the words of her as- 
 severation, that her child was with the dead. 
 Turning suddenly to the soldiers, he ordered 
 them to search the sepulchres. " If you find 
 him not," said he, "drag forth the bones of 
 that wanton Cava, that they may be burned, 
 and the ashes scattered to the winds. ' ' 
 
 The soldiers searched among the tombs, and 
 found that of Florinda partly open. Within 
 lay the boy in the sound sleep of childhood, 
 and one of the soldiers took him gently in his 
 arms to bear him to the emir. 
 
 When the countess beheld that her child 
 
 
Count Julian anfc 1bfs jfamfl£ 133 
 
 was discovered, she rushed into the presence 
 of Alahor, and, forgetting all her pride, threw 
 herself upon her knees before him. 
 
 ' i Mercy ! mercy ! ' ' cried she, in piercing 
 accents, ' ' mercy on my son — my only child ! 
 O emir ! listen to a mothers prayer, and my lips 
 shall kiss thy feet. As thou art merciful to him, 
 so may the most high God have mercy upon 
 thee, and heap blessings on thy head." 
 
 " Bear that frantic woman hence/ ' said the 
 emir, ' i but guard her well. ' ' 
 
 The countess was dragged away by the sol- 
 diery, without regard to her struggles and her 
 cries, and confined in a dungeon of the citadel. 
 
 The child was now brought to the emir. 
 He had been awakened by the tumult, but 
 gazed fearlessly on the stern countenances of 
 the soldiers. Had the heart of the emir been 
 capable of pity, it would have been touched 
 by the tender youth and innocent beauty of 
 the child ; but his heart was as the nether 
 millstone, and he was bent upon the destruc- 
 tion of the whole family of Julian. Calling 
 to him the astrologer, he gave the child into 
 his charge with a secret command. The with- 
 ered son of the desert took the boy by the 
 hand and led him up the winding staircase of 
 a tower. When they reached the summit, 
 Yuza placed him on the battlements. 
 
i34 Spanteb papers 
 
 " Cling not to me my child," said he ; 
 " there is no danger." " Father, I fear not," 
 said the undaunted boy ; ' ' yet it is a wondrous 
 height!" 
 
 The child looked around with delighted 
 eyes. The breeze blew his curling locks about 
 his face, and his cheek glowed at the bound- 
 less prospect ; for the tower was reared upon 
 that lofty promontory on which Hercules 
 founded one of his pillars. The surges of the 
 sea were heard far below, beating upon the 
 rocks, the sea-gull screamed and wheeled about 
 the foundations of the tower, and the sails of 
 lofty caraccas were as mere specks on the 
 bosom of the deep. 
 
 4 ' Dost thou know yonder land beyond the 
 blue water ? ' ' said Yuza. 
 
 " It is Spain," replied the boy ; " it is the 
 land of my father and my mother." 
 
 " Then stretch forth thy hands and bless it, 
 my child," said the astrologer. 
 
 The boy let go his hold of the wall ; and, as 
 he stretched forth his hands, the aged son of 
 Ishmael, exerting all the strength of his with- 
 ered limbs, suddenly pushed him over the 
 battlements. He fell headlong from the top 
 of that tall tower, and not a bone in his tender 
 frame but what was crushed upon the rocks 
 beneath. 
 
Count Julian anD Ibis jFamilg 135 
 
 Alahor came to the foot of the winding stairs. 
 
 * ' Is the boy safe ? ' ' cried he. 
 
 " He is safe/' replied Yuza ; "come and 
 behold the truth with thine own eyes." 
 
 The emir ascended the tower and looked 
 over the battlements, and beheld the body of 
 the child, a shapeless mass on the rocks far 
 below, and the sea-gulls hovering about it ; 
 and he gave orders that it should be thrown 
 into the sea, which was done. 
 
 On the following morning the countess was 
 led forth from her dungeon into the public 
 square. She knew that her own death was at 
 hand, but she neither wept nor supplicated. 
 Her hair was dishevelled, her eyes were hag- 
 gard with watching, and her cheek was as the 
 monumental stone ; but there were the remains 
 of commanding beauty in her countenance, and 
 the majesty of her presence awed even the 
 rabble into respect. 
 
 A multitude of Christian prisoners were then 
 brought forth, and Alahor cried out : " Be- 
 hold the wife of Count Julian ! behold one of 
 that traitorous family which has brought ruin 
 upon yourselves and upon your country ! ' ' 
 And he ordered that they should stone her to 
 death. But the Christians drew back with 
 horror from the deed, and said: " In the hands 
 of God is vengeance ; let not her blood be 
 
136 Spanisb papers 
 
 upon our heads.' ' Upon this the emir swore 
 with horrid imprecations that whoever of the 
 captives refused should himself be stoned to 
 death. So the cruel order was executed, and 
 the Countess Frandina perished by the hands 
 of her countrymen. Having thus accomplished 
 his barbarous errand, the emir embarked for 
 Spain, and ordered the citadel of Ceuta to be 
 set on fire, and crossed the straits at night by 
 the light of its towering flames. 
 
 The death of Count Julian, which took 
 place not long after, closed the tragic story of 
 his family. How he died remains involved in 
 doubt. Some assert that the cruel Alahor pur- 
 sued him to his retreat among the mountains, 
 and, having taken him prisoner, beheaded him; 
 others that the Moors confined him in a dun- 
 geon, and put an end to his life with lingering 
 torments ; while others affirm that the tower 
 of the castle of Marcuello, near Huesca, in 
 Aragon, in which he took refuge, fell on him 
 and crushed him to pieces. All agree that his 
 latter end was miserable in the extreme and 
 his death violent. The curse of Heaven, which 
 had thus pursued him to the grave, was ex- 
 tended to the very place which had given him 
 shelter ; for we are told that the castle is no 
 longer inhabited on account of the strange and 
 horrible noises that are heard in it ; and that 
 
 
Count Julian anD 1bte jfamflE 137 
 
 visions of armed men are seen above it in the 
 air ; which are supposed to be the troubled 
 spirits of the apostate Christians who favored 
 the cause of the traitor. 
 
 In after times a stone sepulchre was shown, 
 outside of the chapel of the castle, as the tomb 
 of Count Julian ; but the traveller and the 
 pilgrim avoided it, or bestowed upon it a male- 
 diction ; and the name of Julian has remained 
 a byword and a scorn in the land for the warn- 
 ing of all generations. Such ever be the lot 
 of him who betrays his country. 
 
 Here end the legends of the Conquest of 
 Spain. 
 
 Written in The Aijiambra, June 10, 1829. 
 
 NOTE TO THE) PRECEDING LEGEND. 
 
 El* licenciado Ardevines (lib. 2, c. 8) dize que dichos 
 Duendos caseros, o los del aire, hazen aparacer exer- 
 citos y peleas, como lo que se cuenta por tradicion (y 
 aun algunos personas lo deponen como testigos de 
 vista) de la torre y castello de Marcuello, lugar al pie 
 de las montanas de Aragon (aora inhabitable, por las 
 grandes y espan tables ruidos, que en el se oyen) donde 
 se retraxo el Conde Don Julian, causa de la perdicion de 
 Espafia ; sobre el qual castillo, deze se ven en el aire 
 ciertas visioues, como de soldados, que el vulgo dize 
 son los cavalleros y gente que le favorecian. 
 
138 
 
 Spanteb papers 
 
 Vide " El Bnte Dislucidado, " por Fray Antonio de 
 Fuentalapena, Capuchin. Seccion 3, Subseccion 5, 
 Instancia 8, Num. 644. 
 
 As readers unversed in the Spanish language may 
 wish to know the testimony of the worthy and discreet 
 Capuchin friar, Antonio de Fuentalapena, we subjoin 
 a translation of it : 
 
 "The licentiate Ardevines (book ii., chap. 8) says 
 that the said house fairies (or familiar spirits), or those 
 of the air, caused the apparitions of armies and 
 battles, — such as those which are related in tradition 
 (and some persons even depose to the truth of them 
 as eye-witnesses) of the town and castle of Marcuello, 
 a fortress at the foot of the mountains of Aragon (at 
 present uninhabitable, on account of the great and 
 frightful noises heard in it), the place of retreat of 
 Count Don Julian, the cause of the perdition of Spain. 
 It is said that certain apparitions of soldiers are seen 
 in the air, which the vulgar say are those of the 
 courtiers and people who aided him." 
 
CHRONICLE 
 
 OF 
 
 FERNAN GONZALEZ, 
 
 COUNT OF CASTILE. 
 
 139 
 
CHRONICLE 
 
 OF 
 
 FERNAN GONZALEZ, 
 
 COUNT OF CASTILE. 
 
 IFntro&uctiotu 
 
 AT the time of the general wreck of Spain 
 by the sudden tempest of Arab inva- 
 sion, many of the inhabitants took 
 refuge in the mountains of the Astu- 
 rias, burying themselves in narrow valleys 
 difficult of access, wherever a constant stream 
 of water afforded a green bosom of pasture- 
 land and scanty fields for cultivation. For 
 mutual protection they gathered together in 
 small villages called castros, or castrellos, with 
 watch-towers and fortresses on impending cliffs, 
 in which they might shelter and defend them- 
 
 141 
 
i42 Spanisb papers 
 
 selves in case of sudden inroad. Thus arose 
 the kingdom of the Asturias, subject to Pelayo 
 and the kings his successors, who gradually 
 extended their dominions, built towns and 
 cities, and after a time fixed their seat of 
 government at the city of Leon. 
 
 An important part of the region over which 
 they bore sway was ancient Cantabria, extend- 
 ing from the Bay of Biscay to the Duero, and 
 called Castile from the number of castles with 
 which it w T as studded. They divided it into 
 seigniories, over which they placed civil and 
 military governors called counts — a title said 
 to be derived from the Latin co??ies, a com- 
 panion, the person enjoying it being admitted 
 to the familiar companionship of the king, 
 entering into his councils in time of peace, 
 and accompanying him to the field in time of 
 war. The title of count was, therefore, more 
 dignified than that of duke in the time of the 
 Gothic kings. 
 
 The power of these counts increased to such a 
 degree that four of them formed a league to 
 declare themselves independent of the crown 
 of Leon. Ordofio II., who was then the king, 
 received notice of it, and got them into his 
 pow 7 er by force, as some assert, but as others 
 maintain, by perfidious artifice. At any rate, 
 they were brought to court, convicted of 
 
 
jfernan <3on3ale3 143 
 
 treason, and publicly beheaded. The Castil- 
 ians flew to arms to revenge their deaths. 
 Ordono took the field with a powerful army, 
 but his own death defeated all his plans. 
 
 The Castilians now threw off allegiance to 
 the kingdom of Leon, and elected two judges 
 to rule over them — one in a civil, the other in 
 a military capacity. The first who filled those 
 stations were Nufio Rasura and Lain Calvo, 
 two powerful nobles, the former descended 
 from Diego Porcello, a count of Lara ; the 
 latter, ancestor of the renowned Cid Cam- 
 peador. 
 
 Nufia Rasura, the civil and political judge, 
 was succeeded by his son Gonzalez Nufio, who 
 married Dona Ximena, a daughter of one of 
 the counts of Castile put to death by Ordono 
 II. From this marriage came Fernan Gonza- 
 lez, the subject of the following chronicle. 
 
Cbapter I # 
 
 Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as Count of Castile— 
 His First Campaign against the Moors — Victory of 
 San Quirce — How the Count Disposed of the Spoils. 
 
 THE renowned Fernan Gonzalez, the 
 most complete hero of his time, was 
 born about the year 887. Historians 
 trace his descent to Nuno Belchidez, 
 nephew of the Emperor Charlemagne, and 
 Dona Sula Bella, granddaughter of the prince 
 Don Sancho, rightful sovereign of Spain, but 
 superseded by Roderick, the last of the Gothic 
 kings. 
 
 Fernan Gonzalez was hardily educated among 
 the mountains in a strong place called Maron, 
 in the house of Martin Gonzalez, a gallant and 
 veteran cavalier. From his earliest years he 
 was inured to all kinds of toils and perils, 
 taught to hunt, to hawk, to ride the great 
 horse, to manage sword, lance, and buckler ; 
 
 144 
 
jfetnan <3on3ale3 145 
 
 in a word, he was accomplished in all the 
 noble exercises befitting a cavalier. 
 
 His father, Gonzalvo Nunez, died in 903, and 
 his elder brother, Rodrigo, in 904, without 
 issue ; and such was the admiration already 
 entertained of Fernan Gonzalez by the hardy 
 mountaineers and old Castilian warriors, that 
 though scarce seventeen years of age, he was 
 unanimously elected to rule over them. His 
 title is said to have been Count, Duke, and 
 Consul, under the seigniory of Alonzo the 
 Great, King of L,eon. A cortes, or assemblage 
 of the nobility and chivalry of Castile and of 
 the mountains, met together at the recently 
 built city of Burgos to do honor to his installa- 
 tion. Sebastian, the renowned Bishop of Oca, 
 officiated. 
 
 In those stern days of Spain, the situation 
 of a sovereign was not that of silken ease and 
 idle ceremonial. When he put the rich crown 
 upon his head, he encircled it likewise with 
 shining steel. With the sceptre w r ere united 
 the lance and shield, emblems of perpetual 
 war against the enemies of the faith. The 
 cortes took this occasion to pass the following 
 laws for the goverment of the realm : 
 
 1. Above all things the people should ob- 
 serve the law of God, the canons and statutes 
 of the holy fathers, the liberty and privileges 
 
146 Spanieb papers 
 
 of the Church, and the respect due to its min- 
 isters. 
 
 2. No person should prosecute another out 
 of Castile at any tribunal of justice or of arms, 
 under pain of being considered a stranger. 
 
 3. All Jews and Moors who refused to ac- 
 knowledge the Christian faith should depart 
 from Castile within two months. 
 
 4. That cavaliers of noble blood should treat 
 their tenants and vassals with love and gentle- 
 ness. 
 
 5. That he who slew another, or committed 
 any other grave offense, should make equal 
 measure of atonement. 
 
 6. That no one should take the property of 
 another ; but, if oppressed by poverty, should 
 come to the count, who ought to be as a 
 father to all. 
 
 7. That all should unite and be of one 
 heart, and aid one another in defense of their 
 faith and of their country. 
 
 Such were the ordinances of the ancient 
 Cortes of Burgos ; brief and simple, and easy 
 to be understood ; not, as at the present day, 
 multifarious and perplexed, to the confusion 
 and ruin of clients and the enrichment of 
 lawyers. 
 
 Scarce was the installation ended, and while 
 Burgos was yet abandoned to festivity, ere the 
 
 
JFernan <3on3ale3 147 
 
 young count, with the impatient ardor of 
 youth, caused the trumpets to sound through 
 the streets a call to arms. A captain of the 
 Moorish king of Toledo was ravaging the 
 territory of Castile at the head of seven thou- 
 sand troops, and against him the youthful count 
 determined to make his first campaign. In 
 the spur of the moment but one hundred horse- 
 men and fifteen hundred foot-soldiers could be 
 collected ; but with this slender force the 
 count prepared to take the field. Ruy Velaz- 
 quez, a valiant cavalier, remonstrated against 
 such rashness, but in vain. "I owe," said 
 the count, ' * a death to the grave ; the debt 
 can never be paid so honorabfy as in the service 
 of God and my country. L,et every one, there- 
 fore, address himself heart and hand to this 
 enterprise ; for if I come face to face with this 
 Moor, I will most assuredly give him battle." 
 So saying, he knelt before Bishop Sebastian 
 of Salamanca and craved his benediction. 
 The reverend prelate invoked on his head the 
 blessing and protection of Heaven, for his 
 heart yearned toward him ; but when he saw the 
 youthful warrior about to depart, he kindled, 
 as it were, with a holy martial fire, and order- 
 ing his steed to be saddled he sallied forth 
 with him to the wars. 
 
 The little army soon came upon traces of the 
 
148 Spantsb papers 
 
 enemy in fields laid waste, and the smoking 
 ruins of villages and hamlets. The count 
 sent out scouts to clamber every height and 
 explore every defile. From the summit of a 
 hill they beheld the Moors encamped in a 
 valley which was covered with the flocks and 
 herds swept from the neighboring country. 
 The camp of the marauders was formidable 
 as to numbers, with various standards floating 
 in the breeze ; for in this foray were engaged 
 the Moorish chiefs of Saragossa, Denia, and 
 Seville, together with many valiant Moslems 
 who had crossed the straits from Africa to 
 share in what they considered a holy enterprise. 
 The scouts observed, however, that the most 
 negligent security reigned throughout the 
 camp ; some reposing, others feasting and 
 revelling, all evidently considering themselves 
 safe from any attack. 
 
 Upon hearing this the count led his men 
 secretly and silently to the assault, and came 
 upon the Moors in the midst of their revelry, 
 before they had time to buckle on their armor. 
 The infidels, however, made a brave though 
 confused resistance ; the camp was strewn 
 with their dead ; many were taken prisoners, 
 and the rest began to falter. The count killed 
 their captain-general with his own hand, in 
 single fight, as he was bravely rallying his 
 
afernan Gonzales 149 
 
 troops. Upon seeing him fall, the Moors threw 
 down their weapons and fled. 
 
 Immense booty was found in the Moorish 
 camp, — partly the rich arms and equipments 
 of the infidel warriors, partly the plunder of 
 the country. An ordinary victor would have 
 merely shared the spoils with his soldiery, but 
 the count was as pious as he was brave, and, 
 moreover, had by his side the venerable Bishop 
 of Salamanca as counsellor. Contenting him- 
 self, therefore, with distributing one third 
 among his soldiery, he shared the rest with 
 God, devoting a large part to the Church, and 
 to the relief of souls in purgatory — a pious 
 custom, which he ever after observed. He, 
 moreover, founded a church on the field of 
 battle, dedicated to St. Quirce, on whose festi- 
 val (the 1 6th July) this victory was obtained. 
 To this church was subsequently added a mon- 
 astery where a worthy fraternity of monks 
 was maintained in the odor of sanctity, to 
 perpetuate the memory of this victory. All 
 this was doubtless owing to the providential 
 presence of the good bishop on this occasion ; 
 and this is one instance of the great benefit 
 derived from those priests and monks and 
 other purveyors of the Church, who hovered 
 about the Christian camps throughout all these 
 wars with the infidels. 
 
Cbapter 1T1K 
 
 Of the Sally from Burgos and Surprise of the Castle 
 of Lara — Capitulation of the Town — Visit to Alfonso 
 the Great, King of Leon. 
 
 COUNT FERNAN GONZALEZ did 
 not remain idle after the victory of 
 San Quirce. There was at this time 
 an old castle, strong but much bat- 
 tered in the wars, which protected a small 
 town, the remains of the once flourishing city 
 of Lara. It was the ancient domain of his 
 family, but was at present in possession of the 
 Moors. In sooth it had repeatedly been taken 
 and retaken ; for in those iron days no castle 
 or fortress remained long under the same 
 masters. One year it was in the hands of the 
 Christians ; the next, of the Moors. Some of 
 these castles, with their dependent towns, were 
 sacked, burnt, and demolished ; others re- 
 mained silent and deserted, their original 
 owners fearing to reside in them ; and their 
 
 150 
 
ffernan (Borates 151 
 
 ruined towers were only tenanted by bats and 
 owls and screaming birds of prey. I,ara had 
 lain for a time in ruins after being captured 
 by the Moors, but had been rebuilt by them 
 with diminished grandeur, and they had a 
 strong garrison in the castle, whence they 
 sallied forth occasionally to ravage the lands 
 of the Christians. The Moorish chieftain of 
 L,ara, as has been observed, was among the 
 associated marauders who had been routed in 
 the battle of San Quirce ; and the Count Fer- 
 nan Gonzalez thought this a favorable time to 
 strike for the recovery of his family domain, 
 now that the infidel possessor was weakened 
 by defeat and could receive no succor. 
 
 Appointing Rodrigo Velasquez and the 
 Count Don Vela Alvarez to act as governors 
 of Castile during his absence, the count sallied 
 forth from Burgos with a brilliant train of 
 chivalry. Among the distinguished cavaliers 
 who attended him were Martin Gonzalez, Don 
 Gustios Gonzalez, Don Velasco, and Don L,ope 
 de Biscaya, which last brought a goodly band 
 of stout Biscayans. The alfarez, or standard- 
 bearer, was Orbita Velasquez, who had dis- 
 tinguished himself in the battle of San Quirce. 
 He bore as a standard a great cross of silver, 
 which shone gloriously in front of the host, 
 and is preserved, even to the present day, in 
 
152 Spanisb papers 
 
 the church of San Pedro de Arlanza. One 
 hundred and fifty noble cavaliers, well mount- 
 ed, with many esquires and pages of the lance, 
 and three thousand foot-soldiers, all picked 
 men, formed this small but stout-hearted army. 
 
 The count led his troops with such caution 
 that they arrived in the neighborhood of Lara 
 without being discovered. It was the vigil of 
 St. John ; the country was wrapped in evening 
 shadows, and the count was enabled to ap- 
 proach near to the place to make his observa- 
 tions. He perceived that his force was too 
 inconsiderable to invest the town and fortress. 
 Besides, about two leagues distant was the 
 gaunt and rock-built castle of Carazo, a pre- 
 sidio or stronghold of the Moors, whence he 
 might be attacked in the rear, should he linger 
 before the fortress. It was evident, therefore, 
 that whatever was to be effected must be done 
 promptly and by sudden surprise. Revolving 
 these things in his mind he put his troops in 
 ambush in a deep ravine where they took their 
 rest, while he kept watch upon the castle ; 
 maturing his plans against the morrow. In 
 this way he passed his midsummer's night, 
 the vigil of the blessed St. John. 
 
 The festival of St. John is observed as well 
 by Mahometans as Christians. During the 
 night bonfires blazed on the hill-tops and the 
 
jFernan <5on3ale3 153 
 
 sound of music and festivity was heard from 
 within the town. When the rising sun shone 
 along the valley of the Arlanza the Moors in 
 the castle, unsuspicious of any lurking danger, 
 threw open the gates and issued forth to rec- 
 reate themselves in the green fields and along 
 the banks of the river. When they had pro- 
 ceeded to a considerable distance, and a hill 
 shut them from view, the count and his eager 
 followers issued silently but swiftly from their 
 hiding-place and made directly for the castle. 
 On the way they met with another band of 
 Moors who had likewise come forth for amuse- 
 ment. The count struck the leader to the 
 earth with one blow of his lance ; the rest 
 were either slain or taken prisoners ; so that 
 not one escaped to give the alarm. 
 
 Those of the garrison who had remained in 
 the castle, seeing a Christian force rushing up 
 to the very walls, hastened to close the gates, 
 but it was too late. The count and his cava- 
 liers burst them open and put every one to 
 the sword who made opposition. Leaving 
 Don Velasco and a number of soldiers to guard 
 the castle, the count hastened with the rest in 
 pursuit of the Moors who were solemnizing 
 the day on the banks of the Arlanza. Some 
 were reclining on the grass, others were amus- 
 ing themselves with music and the popular 
 
t54 Spanleb papers 
 
 dance of the Zambra, while their arms lay- 
 scattered among the herbage. 
 
 At sight of the Christians, they snatched up 
 their weapons and made a desperate though 
 vain resistance. Within two hours almost all 
 were either slain or captured ; a few escaped to 
 the neighboring mountains of Carazo. The 
 town, seeing the castle in the hands of the 
 Christians, and the garrison routed and de- 
 stroyed, readily capitulated ; and the inhabi- 
 tants were permitted to retain -unmolested 
 possession of their houses, on agreeing to pay 
 to the count the same tribute which had been 
 exacted from them by the Moorish king. Don 
 Velasco was left alcaid of the fortress, and the 
 count returned, covered with glory, to his cap- 
 ital of Burgos. 
 
 The brilliant victories and hardy deeds of 
 arms with which the youthful Count of Castile 
 had commenced his reign excited the admira- 
 tion of Alfonso the Great, King of Leon, and 
 he sent missives urging him to appear at his 
 royal court. The count accordingly set forth 
 with a cavalcade of his most approved knights 
 and many of his relatives, sumptuously armed 
 and arrayed and mounted on steeds richly ca- 
 parisoned. It was a pageant befitting a young 
 and magnificent chief, in the freshness and 
 pleasance of his years. 
 
jFernan <Son;$ale3 
 
 155 
 
 The king came out of the city to meet him, 
 attended by all the pomp and grandeur of his 
 court. The count alighted, and approached to 
 kiss the king's hand ; but Alfonso alighted 
 also, and embraced him with great affection, 
 and the friendship of these illustrious princes 
 continued without interruption throughout the 
 life of the king. 
 
Cbapter 1F1T1F. 
 
 Expedition against the Fortress of Mugnon — Desper- 
 ate Defense of the Moors — Enterprise against Cas- 
 tro Xeriz. 
 
 M 
 
 ANY are the doughty achievements re- 
 corded in ancient chronicles of this 
 most valorous cavalier ; among others 
 is his expedition, with a chosen band, 
 against the castle of Mugnon, a place of great 
 importance, which stood at no great distance 
 from Burgos. He sallied from his capital in 
 an opposite direction, to delude the Moorish 
 scouts ; but making a sudden turn, came upon 
 the fortress by surprise, broke down the gates, 
 and forced his way in at the head of his troops, 
 having nothing but a dagger in his hand, his 
 lance and sword having been broken in the as- 
 sault. The Moors fought desperately from 
 court to tower, from tower to wall ; and when 
 they saw all resistance vain, many threw them- 
 selves from the battlements into the ditch rather 
 
 156 
 
Jfernan <3on3ale3 157 
 
 than be made captives. Leaving a strong 
 garrison in the place, the count returned to 
 Burgos. 
 
 His next enterprise was against Castro Xeriz, 
 a city with a strong castle, which had been a 
 thorn in the side of Castile — the Moorish gar- 
 rison often sweeping the road between Burgos 
 and I^eon, carrying off travellers, capturing 
 cattle, and plundering convoys of provisions 
 and merchandise. The count advanced against 
 this place in open day, ravaging the country 
 and announcing his approach by clouds of 
 smoke from the burning habitations of the 
 Moors. Abdallah, the alcaid of the fortress, 
 would have made peace, but the count refused 
 all terms. " God," said he, "has appointed 
 me to rescue his holy inheritance from the 
 power of infidels ; nothing is to be negotiated 
 but by the edge of the sword." 
 
 Abdallah then made a sally with a chosen 
 band of his cavaliers. They at first careered 
 lightly with their Arabian steeds and launched 
 their Moorish darts, but the Christians closed 
 in the old Gothic style, fighting hand to hand. 
 Abdallah fell by the sword of the count, and 
 his followers fled with loosened reins back to 
 the city. The Christians followed hard upon 
 them, strewing the ground with dead. At the 
 gate of the city they were met by Almondir, 
 
158 Spanish papers 
 
 the son of Abdallah, who disputed the gateway 
 and the street inch by inch, until the whole 
 place ran with blood. The Moors, driven from 
 the streets, took refuge in the castle, where 
 Almondir inspirited them to a desperate defense, 
 until a stone struck him as he stood on the 
 battlements, and he fell to the earth dead. 
 Having no leader to direct them, the Moors 
 surrendered. When the town was cleared of 
 the dead, and order restored, the count divided 
 the spoils — allotting the houses among his fol- 
 lowers, and peopling the place with Christians. 
 He gave the command of it to L,ayn Bermu- 
 dez, with the title of count. From him de- 
 scended an illustrious line of cavaliers termed 
 de Castro, whose male line became extinct in 
 Castile, but continued to flourish in Portugal. 
 The place is said to have been called Castro 
 Xeriz, in consequence of the blood shed in this 
 conflict — xeriz, in the Arabic language sig- 
 nifying bloody.* 
 
 * Sandoval, p. 301. 
 
Cbapter W. 
 
 How the Count of Castile and the King of Iyeon Made 
 a Triumphant Foray into the Moorish Country — 
 Capture of Salamanca — Of the Challenge Brought 
 by the Herald and of the Count's Defiance. 
 
 COUNT FERNAN GONZALEZ was 
 restless, daring, and impetuous ; he 
 seldom suffered lance to rest on wall 
 or steed in stable, and no Moorish com- 
 mander could sleep in quiet who held town 
 or tower in his neighborhood. King Alphonso 
 the Great became emulous of sharing in his 
 achievements, and they made a campaign to- 
 gether against the Moors. The count brought 
 a splendid array of Castilian chivalry into the 
 field, together with a host of Montaneses, hardy 
 and vigorous troops from the Asturias, excel- 
 lent for marauding warfare. The King of 
 Leon brought his veteran bands, seasoned to 
 battle. With their united forces they ravaged 
 the Moorish country, marking their way with 
 
 159 
 
i6o Spanteb papers 
 
 havoc and devastation ; arrived before Sala- 
 manca, they took that city by storm after a 
 brave defense, and gave it up to be sacked by 
 the soldiery. After which such of the Moors 
 as chose to remain in it were suffered to retain 
 their possessions as vassals to the king. Hav- 
 ing accomplished this triumphant foray, they 
 returned, each one to his capital. 
 
 The Count of Castile did not repose long in 
 his palace. One day a Moorish herald, mag- 
 nificently dressed, rode into the city of Burgos, 
 bringing Fernan Gonzalez a cartel of defiance. 
 It was from a vaunting Moor named Acefali, 
 who had entered the territories of Castile with 
 a powerful force of horse and foot, giving out 
 that he had come to measure strength and 
 prowess with the count in battle. Don Fernan 
 Gonzalez replied to the defiance with weapon in 
 hand at the head of his warriors. A pitched 
 battle ensued, which lasted from early morn 
 until evening twilight. In the course of the 
 fight the count was in imminent peril, his horse 
 being killed under him and himself surrounded, 
 but he was rescued by his cavaliers. After 
 great bloodshed, the Moors were routed and 
 pursued beyond the borders. The spoil gained 
 in this battle was devoutly expended in repair- 
 ing the churches of Castile and the Montaneses. 
 
Cbapter D* 
 
 A Night Assault upon the Castle of Carazo — The 
 Moorish Maiden who Betrayed the Garrison. 
 
 IN those warlike times of Spain every one 
 lived with sword in hand; there was 
 scarcely a commanding cliff or hill-top 
 but had its castle. Moors and Christians 
 regarded each other from rival towers and bat- 
 tlements perched on opposite heights, and were 
 incessantly contending for the dominion of the 
 valleys. 
 
 We have seen that Count Fernan Gonzalez 
 had regained possession of the ancient town 
 and fortress of Lara, the domain of his ances- 
 tors ; but it will be recollected that within two 
 leagues' distance stood the Moorish presidio of 
 Carazo. It was perched like an eagle's nest 
 on the summit of a mountain, and the cragged 
 steepness of its position and its high and thick 
 walls seemed to render it proof against all 
 
 assault. The Moors who garrisoned it were 
 
 11 £ 
 
 161 
 
162 Spanieb papers 
 
 fierce marauders, who used to sweep down like 
 birds of prey from their lofty nest, pounce upon 
 the flocks and dwellings of the Christians, 
 make hasty ravages, and bear away their spoils 
 to the mountain-top. There was no living 
 with safety or tranquillity within the scope of 
 their maraudings. 
 
 Intelligence of their misdeeds was brought 
 to the count at Burgos. He determined to 
 have that castle of Carazo, whatever might be 
 the cost : for this purpose he called a council 
 of his chosen cavalier. He did not conceal 
 the peril of the enterprise, from the crag-built 
 situation of the castle, its great strength, and 
 the vigilance and valor of its garrison. Still 
 the Castilian cavaliers offered themselves to 
 carry the fortress or die. 
 
 The count sallied secretly from Burgos with 
 a select force, and repaired in the night-time to 
 Lara, that the Moors might have no intimation 
 nor suspicion of his design. In the midst of 
 the next night the castle gate was quietly 
 opened, and they issued forth as silently as 
 possible, pursuing their course in the deep 
 shadows of the valley until they came to the 
 foot of the mountain of Carazo. Here they 
 remained in ambush, and sent forth scouts. 
 As the latter prowled about, the day began to 
 dawn, and they heard a female voice singing 
 
jfernan <3on3ale3 163 
 
 above them on the side of the mountain. It 
 was a Moorish damsel coming down, with a 
 vessel upon her head. She descended to a 
 fountain which gushed forth beneath a grove 
 of willows, and as she sang she began to fill 
 her vessel with water. The spies issued from 
 their concealment, seized her, and carried her 
 to Count Fernan Gonzalez. 
 
 Overcome by terror or touched by convic- 
 tion, the Moorish damsel threw herself on her 
 knees before the count, declared her wish to 
 turn Christian, and offered, in proof of her sin- 
 cerity, to put him in a way of gaining posses- 
 sion of the castle. Being encouraged to pro- 
 ceed, she told them there was to be a marriage 
 feast that day in the castle, and of course a 
 great deal of revelry, which would put the gar- 
 rison off its guard. She pointed to a place 
 where he might lie in ambush with his troops 
 in sight of the tower, and promised, when a 
 favorable moment presented for an attack, to 
 give a signal with a light. 
 
 The count regarded her for a time with a 
 fixed and earnest gaze, but saw no faltering 
 nor change of countenance. The case required 
 bold measures, combined with stratagem ; so 
 he confided in her, and permitted her to return 
 to the castle. All the day he lay in ambush 
 with his troops, each man his hand upon his 
 
164 Spanfeb papers 
 
 weapon to guard against surprise. The dis- 
 tant sound of revelry from the castle, with now 
 and then the clash of cymbals, the bray of 
 trumpets, and a strain of festive music, showed 
 the gayety that reigned within. Night came 
 on ; lights gleamed from walls and windows, 
 but none resembling the appointed signal. It 
 was almost midnight, and the count began to 
 fear the Moorish damsel had deceived him, 
 when to his great joy he saw the signal-light 
 gleaming from one of the towers. 
 
 He now sallied forth with his men, and all, 
 on foot, clambered up the steep and rugged 
 height. They had almost attained the foot of 
 the towers when they were descried by a senti- 
 nel, who cried with a loud voice : * ' The foe ! 
 the foe ! to arms ! to arms ! ' ' The count, 
 followed by his hardy cavaliers, rushed for- 
 ward to the gate, crying: " God and Saint 
 Millan ! " The whole castle was instantly in 
 an uproar. The Moors were bewildered by 
 the sudden surprise and the confusion of a 
 night assault. They fought bravely but irreg- 
 ularly. The Christians had but one plan and 
 one object. After a hard struggle and great 
 bloodshed, they forced the gate and made 
 themselves masters of the castle. 
 
 The count remained several days, fortifying 
 the place and garrisoning it, that it might not 
 
jfernan <5on3ale3 165 
 
 fall again into the possession of the Moors. 
 He bestowed magnificent rewards on the Moor- 
 ish damsel who had thus betrayed her country- 
 men ; she embraced the Christian faith, to 
 which she had just given such a signal proof 
 of devotion, though it is not said whether the 
 count had sufficient confidence in her conversion 
 and her newly moulted piety to permit her to 
 remain in the fortress she had betrayed. 
 
 Having completed his arrangements, the 
 count departed on his return, and encountered 
 on the road his mother, Dona Nuiia Fernandez, 
 who, exulting in his success, had set out to 
 visit him at Carazo. The mother and son 
 had a joyful meeting, and gave the name of 
 Contreras to the place of their encounter. 
 
Cbapter IDf ♦ 
 
 Death of Alfonso, King of Leon — The Moors Deter- 
 mined to Strike a Fresh Blow at the Count, who 
 Summons All Castile to his Standard — Of his Hunt 
 in the Forest while Waiting for the Enemy, and of 
 the Hermit that he Met with. 
 
 ALFONSO THE GREAT was now grow- 
 ing old and infirm, and his queen and 
 sons, taking advantage of his age and 
 feebleness, endeavored by harsh treat- 
 ment to compel him to relinquish the crown. 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez interceded between 
 them, but in vain ; and Alfonso was at length 
 obliged to surrender his crown to his oldest son, 
 Don Garcia. The aged monarch then set out 
 upon a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Iago ; 
 but, falling ill of his mortal malady, sent for 
 the count to come to him to his death-bed at 
 Zamora. The count hastened thither with all 
 zeal and loyalty. He succeeded in effecting a 
 reconciliation between Alfonso and his son Don 
 
 166 
 
jFernan (5on3alC3 167 
 
 Garcia in his dying moments, and was with 
 the monarch when he quietly breathed his last. 
 The death of the king gave fresh courage to 
 the Moors, and they thought this a favorable 
 moment to strike a blow at the rising power of 
 the count. Abderahman was at this time King 
 of Cordova and Miramamolin, or sovereign, of 
 the Moors in Spain. He had been enraged at 
 the captors of the castle of Carazo, and the 
 other victories of the count ; and now that the 
 latter had no longer the King of I,eon to back 
 him, it was thought he might, by a vigorous 
 effort, be completely crushed. Abderahman 
 accordingly assembled at Cordova a great army 
 of Moorish warriors, both those of Spain and 
 Africa, and sent them, under the command of 
 Almanzor, to ravage the country of Count 
 Fernan Gonzalez. This Almanzor was the 
 most valiant Moorish general in Spain, and one 
 on whom Abderahman depended as upon his 
 right hand. 
 
 On hearing of the impending danger, Count 
 Fernan Gonzalez summoned all men of Castile 
 capable of bearing arms to repair to his standard 
 at Mufion. His force when assembled was but 
 small, but composed of the bravest chivalry of 
 Castile, any one knight of which he esteemed 
 equal to ten Moors. One of the most eminent 
 of his cavaliers was Don Gonzalo Gustios, of 
 
i68 Spanfab fl>apers 
 
 Lara, who brought seven valiant sons to the 
 field — the same afterwards renowned in Spanish 
 story as the seven princes of Lara. With Don 
 Gonzalo came also his wife's brother, Ruy or 
 Rodrigo Velazquez, a cavalier of great prowess. 
 
 In the meantime tidings continued to arrive 
 of the great force of the enemy, which was said 
 to cover the country with its tents. The name 
 of the Moorish general, Almanzor, likewise 
 inspired great alarm. One of the count's cav- 
 aliers, therefore, Gonzalo Diaz, counselled him 
 not to venture upon an open battle against such 
 fearful odds ; but rather to make a tula, or 
 ravaging inroad, into the country of the Moors, 
 by way of compelling them to make a truce. 
 The count, however, rejected his advice. " As 
 to their numbers,' ' said he, " one lion is worth 
 ten sheep, and thirty wolves could kill thirty 
 thousand lambs. As to that Moor, Almanzor, 
 be assured we shall vanquish him, and the 
 greater his renown the greater will be the 
 honor of the victory." 
 
 The count now marched his little army to 
 I,ara, where he paused to await the movements 
 of the enemy. While his troops were lying 
 there he mounted his horse one day and went 
 forth with a few attendants to hunt in the for- 
 ests which bordered the river Arlanza. In the 
 course of the chase he roused a monstrous boar, 
 
jFeman <Bon3ale3 169 
 
 and pursued it among the rocks and brakes 
 until he became separated from his attendants. 
 Still following the track of the boar, he came 
 to the foot of a rocky precipice, up which the 
 animal mounted by a rugged and narrow path, 
 where the horse could not follow. The count 
 alighted, tied his horse to an oak, and clam- 
 bered up the path, assisting himself at 
 times with his boar-spear. The path led to 
 a close thicket of cedars, surrounding a 
 small edifice partly built of stone and partly 
 hewn out of the solid rock. The boar had 
 taken refuge within, and had taken his 
 stand behind what appeared to be a mass of 
 stone. The count was about to launch his 
 javelin when he beheld a cross of stone stand- 
 ing on what he now perceived was an altar, 
 and he knew that he was in a holy place. 
 Being as pious as he was brave, the good count 
 now knelt before the altar and asked pardon 
 of God for the sin he had been on the point of 
 committing ; and when he had finished this 
 prayer, he added another for victory over the 
 foe. 
 
 While he was yet praying, there entered a 
 venerable monk, Fray Pelayo by name, who, 
 seeing him to be a Christian knight, gave him 
 his benediction. He informed the count that 
 he resided in this hermitage in company with 
 
i7o Spanteb papers 
 
 two other monks — Arsenio and Silvano. The 
 count marvelled much how they could live 
 there in a country overrun by enemies, and 
 which had for a long time, and but recently, 
 been in the power of the infidels. The hermit 
 replied that in the service of God they were 
 ready to endure all hardships. It is true they 
 suffered much from cold and hunger, being 
 obliged to live chiefly on herbs and roots ; but 
 by secret paths and tracks they were in com- 
 munication with other hermitages scattered 
 throughout the country, so that they were en- 
 abled to aid and comfort each other. They 
 could also secretly sustain in the faith the 
 Christians who were held in subjection by the 
 Moors, and afford them places of refuge and 
 concealment in cases of extremity. 
 
 The count now opened his heart to the good 
 hermit, revealing his name and rank, and the 
 perils impending over him from the invasion 
 of the infidel. As the day was far spent, Fray 
 Pelayo prevailed upon him to pass the night 
 in the hermitage, setting before him barley 
 bread and such simple fare as his cell afforded. 
 
 Early in the morning the count went forth 
 and found the hermit seated beneath a tree on 
 a rock, whence he could look far and wide out 
 of the forest and over the surrounding country. 
 The hermit then accosted him as one whose 
 
ffernan <3on3ale3 
 
 171 
 
 holy and meditative life and mortifications of 
 the flesh had given him the power to look into 
 the future almost with the eye of prophecy. 
 u Of a truth, my son," said he, " there are 
 many trials and hardships in store for thee ; 
 but be of good cheer, thou wilt conquer these 
 Moors, and wilt increase thy power and posses- 
 sions. ' ' He now revealed to the count certain 
 signs and portents which would take place 
 during the battle. ' ' When thou shalt see 
 these," said he, "be assured that Heaven is 
 on thy side, and thy victory secure." The 
 count listened with devout attention. "If 
 these things do indeed come to pass," said he, 
 " I will found a church and convent in this 
 place, to be dedicated to St. Peter, the patron 
 saint of this hermitage ; and when I die my 
 body shall be interred here. ' ' Receiving then 
 the benediction of the holy friar he departed. 
 
'*m®M 
 
 Cbapter OT1K 
 
 The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares. 
 
 WHEN Count Fernan Gonzalez re- 
 turned to his troops he found them 
 in great alarm at his absence, fear- 
 ing some evil had befallen him ; 
 but he cheered them with an account of his 
 adventure and of the good fortune predicted 
 by the hermit. 
 
 It was in the month of May, on the day of 
 the Holy Cross, that the Christian and Moslem 
 armies came in sight of each other. The 
 Moors advanced with a great sound of trum- 
 pets, atabals, and cymbals, and their mighty 
 host extended over hill and valley. When 
 they saw how small was the force of the 
 Christians they put up derisive shouts, and 
 rushed forward to surround them. 
 
 Don Fernan Gonzalez remained calm and 
 unmoved upon a rising ground, for the hour 
 was at hand when the sign of victory prom- 
 
 172 
 
afernan <3ott3ale3 173 
 
 ised by the hermit was to take place. Near 
 by him was a youthful cavalier, Pedro Gonza- 
 lez by name, native of La Puente de Hitero, 
 of fiery courage but vainglorious temper. He 
 was cased in shining armor, and mounted on a 
 beautiful horse impatient of spirit as himself, 
 and incessantly foaming and champing on the 
 bit and pawing the earth. As the Moors drew 
 near, while there was yet a large space between 
 them and the Christains, this fiery cavalier 
 could no longer contain himself, but giving 
 reins to his steed set off headlong to encounter 
 the foe ; when suddenly the earth opened, 
 man and horse rushed downward into an abyss, 
 and the earth closed as before. 
 
 A cry of horror ran through the Christian 
 ranks, and a panic was like to seize upon them, 
 but Don Fernan Gonzalez rode in front of them, 
 exclaiming : * ' This is the promised sign of vic- 
 tory. Let us see how Castilians defend their 
 lord, for my standard shall be borne into the 
 thickest of the fight/ ' So saying, he ordered 
 Orbita Fernandez to advance his standard ; and 
 when his troops saw the silver cross glittering 
 on high and borne toward the enemy, they 
 shouted ' ' Castile ! Castile ! ' ' and rushed for- 
 ward to the fight. Immediately around the 
 standard fought Don Gonzalo Gustios and his 
 seven sons, and he was, say the old chroniclers, 
 
i74 Spanisb papers 
 
 like a lion leading his whelps into the fight. 
 Wherever they fought their way, they might 
 be traced by the bodies of bleeding and ex- 
 piring infidels. Few particulars of this battle 
 remain on record ; but it is said that the Moors 
 were as if struck with sudden fear and weak- 
 ness, and fled in confusion. Almanzor himself 
 escaped by the speed of his horse, attended by 
 a handful of his cavaliers. 
 
 In the camp of the Moors was found vast 
 booty in gold and silver, and other precious 
 things, with sumptuous armor and weapons. 
 When the spoil was divided and the troops 
 were refreshed, Don Fernan Gonzalez went 
 with his cavaliers in pious procession to the 
 hermitage of San Pedro.* Here he gave much 
 
 * It does not appear that Count Fernan Gonzalez 
 kept his promise of founding a church and monastery 
 on the site of the hermitage. The latter edifice re- 
 mained to after ages. "It stands," says Sandoval, 
 "ona precipice overhanging the river Arlanza, inso- 
 much that it inspires dread to look below. It is ex- 
 tremely ancient ; large enough to hold a hundred 
 persons. Within the chapel is an opening like a 
 chasm, leading down to a cavern larger than the 
 church, formed in the solid rock, with a small window 
 which overlooks the river. It was here the Christians 
 used to conceal themselves. " 
 
 As a corroboration of the adventure of the Count of 
 Castile, Sandoval assures us that in his day the oak 
 
jfernan <3on3ale3 
 
 175 
 
 silver and gold to the worthy Fray Pelayo, to 
 be expended in masses for the souls of the 
 Christian warriors who had fallen in battle, and 
 in prayers for further victories over the infidels ; 
 after which he returned in triumph to his capi- 
 tal of Burgos. 
 
 still existed to which Don Fernan Gonzalez tied his 
 horse, when he alighted to scramble np the hill in 
 pursuit of the boar. The worthy Fray Agapida, how- 
 ever, needed no corroboration of the kind, swallowing 
 the whole story with the ready credence of a pious 
 monk. The action here recorded was known by the 
 name of the battle of the Ford of Cascajares. 
 
 Sandoval gives a different account of the fate of the 
 hermits. He says that Almanzor, in a rage at their 
 prognostics, overthrew their chapel, and, without 
 alighting from his horse, ordered the three monks to 
 be beheaded in his presence. " This martyrdom,' ' he 
 adds, "is represented in an ancient painting of the 
 chapel which still exists/ ' 
 
Cbapter 1OT11. 
 
 Of the Message Sent by the Count to Sancho II. , King 
 of Navarre, and the Reply — Their Encounter in 
 Battle. 
 
 THE good Count of Castile was so in- 
 spirited by this signal victory over the 
 Moors, and their great general Alman- 
 zor, that he determined, now that he 
 had a breathing-spell from infidel warfare, to 
 redress certain grievances sustained from one 
 of his Christian neighbors. This was Don San- 
 cho II., King of Navarre, surnamed Abarca, 
 either from the abarcas or shepherd shoes, which 
 he had worn in early life, when brought up in 
 secrecy and indigence, during the overthrow 
 of his country by the Moors, or from making 
 his soldiers wear shoes of the kind in crossing 
 the snowy Pyrenees. It was a name by which 
 the populace delighted to call him. 
 
 This prince had recovered all Navarre from 
 the infidels, and even subjected to his crown 
 
 176 
 
jfernan <Son3ale3 177 
 
 all Biscay, or Cantabria, and some territory be- 
 yond the Pyrenees, on the confines of France. 
 Not content with these acquisitions, he had 
 made occasional inroads into Castile, in conse- 
 quence of a contest respecting the territories of 
 Najarra and Rioxa, to which he laid claim. 
 These incursions he repeated whenever he had 
 peace or truce with the Moors.* 
 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez, having now time, 
 as has been observed, to attend to these mat- 
 ters, sent an ambassador to King Sancho, 
 charged with a courteous but resolute message. 
 * ' I come, Seflor, ' ' said the ambassador to the 
 king, ' * by command of the Count Fernan Gon- 
 zalez of Castile, and this is what I am told to 
 say. You have done him much wrong in times 
 past, by leaguing with the infidels and making 
 inroads into his territories while he was absent 
 or engaged in war. If you will amend your 
 ways in this respect, and remedy the past, you 
 will do him much pleasure ; but if you refuse, 
 he sends you his defiance. ' ' 
 
 King Sancho Abarca was lost in astonish- 
 ment and indignation at receiving such a mes- 
 sage from a count of Castile. " Return to the 
 count, ' ' said he, ' ' and tell him I will amend 
 nothing; that I marvel at his insolence, and 
 
 * Sandoval. The Five Bishops, Mariana, lib. 8, c. 
 5> P- 367. Cron, Gen. de Espana y part 3, c. 18, fol. 53. 
 
178 Spanisb papers 
 
 hold him for a madman for daring to defy me. 
 Tell him he has listened to evil counsel, or a 
 few trifling successes against the Moors have 
 turned his brain ; but it will be very different 
 when I come to seek him, for there is not town or 
 tower from which I will not drag him forth."* 
 
 The ambassador returned with this reply, 
 nor did he spare the least of its scorn and bit- 
 terness. Upon this the count assembled his 
 cavaliers and councillors, and represented the 
 case. He exhorted them to stand by him in 
 seeking redress for this insult and injury to 
 their country and their chieftain. "We are 
 not equal in numbers to the enemy, but we are 
 valiant men, united and true to each other, and 
 one hundred good lances, all in the hands of 
 chosen cavaliers, all of one heart and mind, 
 are worth three hundred placed by chance in 
 the hands of men who have no common tie." 
 The cavaliers all assured him they would follow 
 and obey him as loyal subjects of a worthy 
 lord, and would prove their fealty in the da3' 
 of battle. 
 
 A little army of staunch Castilians was soon 
 assembled, the silver cross was again reared on 
 high by the standard-bearer Orbita Velasquez, 
 and the count advanced resolutely a day's 
 journey into the kingdom of Navarre, for his 
 * Cron. Gen. de Espana, ut supra. 
 
jfernan <5on;$ale3 179 
 
 maxim was to strike quickly and sudden. 
 King Sancho wondered at his daring, but 
 hastened to meet him with a greatly superior 
 force. The armies came in sight of each other 
 at a place called the Era de Gollanda. 
 
 The count now addressed his men. " The 
 enemy/' said he, "are more numerous than 
 we ; they are vigorous of body and light of foot, 
 and are dexterous in throwing darts. They 
 will have the advantage if they attack us ; but 
 if we attack them and close manfully, we shall 
 get the field of them before they have time to 
 hurl their darts and wound us. For my part, 
 I shall make for the king. If I can but re- 
 venge the wrongs of Castile upon his person 
 I care not how soon I die." 
 
 As the armies drew near each other the Cas- 
 tilians, true to the orders of their chieftain, put 
 up the war-cry, " Castile ! Castile ! " and rush- 
 ing forward, broke through the squadrons of 
 Navarre. Then followed a fight so pitiless and 
 deadly, says an old chronicler, that the strokes 
 of their weapons resounded through the whole 
 country. The count sought King Sancho 
 throughout the whole field ; they met and recog- 
 nized each other by their armorial bearings and 
 devices. They fought with fury, until both fell 
 from their horses as if dead. The Castilians cut 
 their way through the mass of the enemy, and 
 
1S0 Spantsb papers 
 
 surrounded their fallen chief. Some raised him 
 from the earth while others kept off the foe. 
 At first they thought him dead, and were loud 
 in their lamentations ; but when the blood and 
 dust were wiped from his face he revived and 
 told them not to heed him, for his wounds were 
 nothing ; but to press on and gain the victory, 
 for he had slain the King of Navarre. 
 
 At hearing this they gave a great shout and 
 returned to the fight ; but those of Navarre, 
 seized with terror at the fall of their king, 
 turned their backs and fled. 
 
 The count then caused the body of the king 
 to be taken from among the slain and to be 
 conducted, honorably attended, to Navarre. 
 Thus fell Sancho Abarca, King of Navarre, 
 and was succeeded by his son Don Garcia, sur- 
 surnamed the Trembler. 
 
Cbapter 1F£ . 
 
 How the Count of Toulouse Makes a Campaign 
 against Castile, and how he Returns in his Coffin. 
 
 WHIIyK the Count Fernan Gonzalez 
 was yet ill of his wounds in his 
 capital, and when his soldiers had 
 scarce laid by their cuirasses and 
 hung up their shields and lances, there was a 
 fresh alarm of war. The Count of Toulouse 
 and Poictiers, the close friend and ally of King 
 Sancho Abarca, had come from France with a 
 host to his assistance, but finding him defeated 
 and slain, raised his standard to make a cam- 
 paign, in his revenge, against the Castilians. 
 The Navarrese all gathered round him, and 
 now an army was on foot more powerful than 
 the one which had recently been defeated. 
 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez, wounded as he was, 
 summoned his troops to march against this new 
 enemy ; but the war-worn Castilians, vexed 
 at being thus called again to arms before they 
 
 181 
 
182 Spanisb papers 
 
 had time to breathe, began to murmur. " This 
 is the life of the very Devil," said they, " to go 
 about day and night, without a moment's rest. 
 This lord of ours is assuredly Satan himself, 
 and we are lesser devils in his employ, always 
 busy entrapping the souls of men. He has no 
 pity for us, so battered and worn, nor for him- 
 self, so badly wounded. It is necessary that 
 some one should talk with him, and turn him 
 from his madness." 
 
 Accordingly a hardy cavalier, Nufio I,aynez, 
 remonstrated with the count against further 
 fighting until he should be cured of his wounds 
 and his people should have time to repose ; for 
 mortal men could not support this kind of 
 life. " Nor is this urged through cowardice," 
 added he, ' ' for your men are ready to fight 
 for and defend you as they would their own 
 souls." 
 
 "Well have you spoken, Nufio Iyaynez," 
 replied the count; "yet for all this I am 
 not minded to defer this fight. A day lost 
 never returns. An opportunity foregone can 
 never be recalled. The warrior who indulges 
 in repose will never leave the memory of great 
 deeds behind him. His name dies when his 
 soul leaves the body. L,et us, therefore, make 
 the most of the days and hours, allotted us, 
 and crown them with such glorious deeds 
 
ffernan (3on3alc3 183 
 
 that the world shall praise us in all future 
 time/' 
 
 When Nufio L,aynez repeated these gener- 
 ous words to the cavaliers, the blood glowed 
 in their veins, and they prepared themselves 
 manfully for the field ; nor did the count give 
 them time to cool before he put himself at their 
 head and marched to meet the enemy. He 
 found them drawn up on the opposite side of 
 a river which was swollen and troubled by re- 
 cent rains. Without hesitation he advanced to 
 ford it, but his troops were galled by flights of 
 darts and arrows as they crossed, and received 
 with lances on the water's edge ; the bodies of 
 many floated down the turbid stream, and 
 many perished on the banks. They made 
 good their crossing, however, and closed with 
 the enemy. The fight was obstinate and the 
 Castilians were hardly pressed, being so in- 
 ferior in number. Don Fernan Gonzalez gal- 
 loped along the front of the enemy. " Where 
 is the Count of Toulouse ? " cried he ; " let 
 him come forth and face me, — me, Fernan 
 Gonzalez of Castile, who defy him to single 
 combat I" The count answered promptly to 
 the defiance. No one from either side pre- 
 sumed to interfere while the two counts en- 
 countered, man to man and horse to horse, like 
 honorable and generous cavaliers. They rushed 
 
184 5panf5b papers 
 
 upon each other with the full speed of their 
 horses ; the lance of Don Fernan pierced 
 through all the armor and accoutrements of 
 the Count of Toulouse and bore him out of 
 the saddle, and before he touched the earth his 
 soul had already parted from his body. The 
 men of Toulouse, seeing their chief fall dead, 
 fled amain, but were pursued, and three hun- 
 dred of them taken.* 
 
 The field being won, Count Fernan Gonza- 
 lez alighted and took off the armor of the 
 Count of Toulouse, with his own hands, and 
 wrapped him in a xemete, or Moorish mantle, 
 of great value, which he had gained when he 
 conquered Almanzor. He ordered a coffin to 
 be made, and covered with cloth of gold, and 
 studded with silver nails, and he put therein 
 the body of the count, and delivered it to the 
 captive cavaliers, whom he released and fur- 
 nished with money for their expenses, making 
 them swear not to leave the body of the count 
 until they had conducted it to Toulouse. So 
 the count, who had come from France in 
 such chivalrous state, at the head of an array 
 of shining warriors, returned in his coffin 
 with a mourning train of vanquished cavaliers, 
 while Count Fernan Gonzalez conducted his 
 victorious troops in triumph back to Burgos. 
 * Cron. Gen, de Espana. 
 
jfernan (5oti3ale3 
 
 185 
 
 This signal victory took place in the year of 
 our Redemption 926, in the beginning of the 
 reign of Alfonso the Monk on the throne of 
 I>on and the Asturias.* 
 
 * Mariana, lib. 8, c. 5, p. 367. 
 
Cbapter £ . 
 
 How the Count Went to Receive the Hand of a 
 Princess, and was Thrown into a Dungeon — Of the 
 Stranger that Visited him in his Chains, and of the 
 Appeal that he Made to the Princess for his Deliv- 
 erance. 
 
 GARCIA II. , who had succeeded to the 
 throne of Navarre on the death of 
 his father, was brave of soul, though 
 surnamed El Tembloso, or The 
 Trembler. He was so called because he was 
 observed to tremble on going into battle ; but, 
 as has been said of others, it was only the 
 flesh that trembled, foreseeing the dangers into 
 which the spirit would carry it. This king 
 was deeply grieved at the death of his father, 
 slain by Count Fernan Gonzalez, and would 
 have taken vengeance by open warfare, but he 
 was counselled by his mother, the Queen 
 Teresa, to pursue a subtler course. At her 
 instigation overtures were made to the count 
 
 186 
 
jfernan <3ort3ale3 187 
 
 to settle all the feuds between Navarre and 
 Castile by a firm alliance, and to this end it 
 was proposed that the count should take to 
 wife Dona Sancha, the sister of King Garcia 
 and daughter of King Sancho Abarca. The 
 count accepted gladly the proffered alliance, 
 for he had heard of the great merit and beauty 
 of the princess, and was pleased with so agree- 
 able a mode of putting an end to all their con- 
 tests. A conference was accordingly appointed 
 between the count and King Garcia, to take 
 place at Ciruena, each to be attended only by 
 five cavaliers. 
 
 The count was faithful to his compact, and 
 appeared at the appointed place with five of the 
 bravest of his cavaliers ; but the king arrived 
 with five-and-thirty chosen men, all armed 
 cap-a-pie. The count, suspecting treachery, 
 retreated with his cavaliers into a neighboring 
 hermitage, and, barricading the door, defended 
 himself throughout the day until nightfall. 
 Seeing there was no alternative, he at length 
 capitulated and agreed to surrender himself 
 a prisoner, and pay homage to the king, on 
 the latter assuring him, under oath, that 
 his life should be secure. King Garcia the 
 Trembler, having in this wily manner gained 
 possession of the count, threw him in irons 
 and conducted him a prisoner to Navarre, 
 
t88 Spantsb papers 
 
 where he confined him in a strong castle called 
 Castro Viejo. At his intercession, however, his 
 five cavaliers were released, and carried back 
 to Castile the doleful tidings of his captivity. 
 
 Now it came to pass that a brave Norman 
 count, who was performing a pilgrimage to St. 
 Iago of Compostella, heard that the Count 
 Fernan Gonzalez, whose renown had spread 
 far and wide, lay in chains in Castro Viejo. 
 Having a vehement desire to see the man of 
 whom fame had spoken so loudly, he repaired 
 to the castle, and bribed his way to the prison 
 of the count. When he entered and beheld 
 so noble a cavalier in a solitary dungeon and 
 in chains, he was sore at heart. The count 
 looked up with wonder as this stranger stood 
 before him in pilgrim garb and with sorrowful 
 aspect, but when he learned his name and 
 rank, and the object of his visit, he gave him 
 the right hand of friendship. 
 
 The pilgrim count left the castle more en- 
 amoured than ever of the character of Count 
 Fernan Gonzalez. At a festival of the court 
 he beheld the Princess Sancha, who had served 
 as a lure to draw the good count into the 
 power of his enemies, and he found her of 
 surpassing beauty, and of a gentle and loving 
 demeanor ; so he determined to seek an oppor- 
 tunity to speak with her in private, for surely, 
 
ffetnan <3on3aIe3 189 
 
 thought he, in such a bosom must dwell the 
 soft pity of womanhood. Accordingly one 
 day as the princess was walking in the garden 
 with her ladies, he presented himself before 
 her in his pilgrim's garb, and prayed to speak 
 with her apart, as if on some holy mission. 
 And when they were alone, " How is this, 
 princess,' ' said he, " that you are doing such 
 great wrong to Heaven, to yourself, and to all 
 Christendom ? ' ' The princess started, and 
 said : " What wrong have I done? " Then 
 replied the pilgrim count : " Behold, for thy 
 sake the noblest of cavaliers, the pride of Spain, 
 the flower of chivalry, the hope of Christen- 
 dom, lies in a dungeon, fettered with galling 
 chains. What lady but would be too happy 
 to be honored with the love of Count Fernan 
 Gonzalez ; and thou hast scorned it ! How 
 will it tell for thy fame in future times, that 
 thou wast made a snare to capture an honor- 
 able knight ; that the gentlest, the bravest, 
 the most generous of cavaliers was inveigled 
 by the love of thee to be thrown into a dun- 
 geon ? How hast thou reversed the maxims of 
 chivalry ! Beauty has ever been the friend 
 of valor ; but thou hast been its foe ! The 
 fair hands of lovely dames have ever bestowed 
 laurels and rewards on those gallant knights 
 who sought and deserved their loves ; thou 
 
190 Spanisb {papers 
 
 hast bestowed chains and a dungeon. Behold, 
 the Moors rejoice in his captivity, while all 
 Christians mourn. Thy name will be accursed 
 throughout the land like that of Cava ; but 
 shouldst thou have the heroism to set him 
 free, thou wilt be extolled above all Spanish 
 ladies. Hadst thou but seen him as I have 
 done, alone, abandoned, enchained ; yet so 
 noble, so courteous, so heroic in his chains, 
 that kings upon their thrones might envy the 
 majesty of his demeanor. If thou couldst feel 
 love for man, thou shouldst do it for this 
 knight ; for I swear to thee on this cross 
 which I bear, that never was there king 
 or emperor in the world so worthy of woman's 
 love. ,, When the pilgrim count had thus 
 spoken, he left the princess to meditate upon 
 his words. 
 
Cbapter £1. 
 
 Of the Meditations of the Princess, and their Result 
 — Her Flight from the Prison with the Count, and 
 Perils of the Escape — The Nuptials. 
 
 THE Princess Sancha remained for some 
 time in the garden, revolving in her 
 mind all that she had just heard, and 
 tenderness for the Count Fernan Gon- 
 zalez began to awaken in her bosom ; for noth- 
 ing so touches the heart of woman as the idea 
 of valor suffering for her sake. The more the 
 princess meditated the more she became en- 
 amoured. She called to mind all she had heard 
 of the illustrious actions of the count. She 
 thought upon the pictures just drawn of him 
 in prison — so noble, so majestic in his chains. 
 She remembered the parting words of the 
 pilgrim count — "Never was there king or 
 emperor so worthy of a woman's love." 
 "Alas!" cried she, "was there ever a lady 
 more unfortunate than I ? All the love and 
 devotion of this noble cavalier I might have 
 
 191 
 
192 Spantsb papers 
 
 had, and behold it has been made a mockery. 
 Both he and myself have been wronged by the 
 treachery of my brother.' ' 
 
 At length the passion of the princess arose 
 to such a height that she determined to de- 
 liver the count from the misery of which she 
 had been made the instrument. So she found 
 means one night to bribe the guards of his 
 prison, and made her way to his dungeon. 
 When the count saw her, he thought it a beau- 
 tiful vision, or some angel sent from heaven 
 to comfort him, for certainly her beauty sur- 
 passed the ordinary loveliness of woman. 
 
 " Noble cavalier,' ' said the princess, "this 
 is no time for idle words and ceremonies. Be- 
 hold before you the Princess Dona Sancha ; 
 the word which my brother brake I am here to 
 fulfil. You came to receive my hand, and, in- 
 stead, you were thrown in chains. I come to 
 yield you that hand, and to deliver you from 
 those chains. Behold, the door of your prison 
 is open, and I am ready to fly with you to the 
 ends of the earth. Swear to me one word, 
 and when you have sworn it, I know your 
 loyalty too well to doubt that you will hold 
 your oath sacred. Swear that if I fly with 
 you, you will treat me with the honor of a 
 knight ; that you will make me your wife, and 
 never leave me for any other woman. ' ' 
 
tfernan 0oii3ate3 193 
 
 The count swore all this on the faith of a 
 Christian cavalier ; and well did he feel dis- 
 posed to keep his oath, for never before had 
 he beheld such glorious beauty. 
 
 So the princess led the way, and her author- 
 ity and her money had conquered the fidelity 
 of the guards, so that they permitted the 
 count to sally forth with her from the prison. 
 
 It was a dark night, and they left the great 
 road and climbed a mountain. The count was 
 so fettered by his chains that he moved with 
 difficulty, but the princess helped and some- 
 times almost carried him ; for what will not 
 delicate woman perform when her love and 
 pity are fully aroused. Thus they toiled on 
 their way until the day dawned, when they 
 hid themselves in the cliffs of the mountain, 
 among rocks and thickets. While thus con- 
 cealed they beheld an archpriest of the castle, 
 mounted on a mule with a falcon on his fist, 
 hawking about the lower part of the mountain. 
 The count knew him to be a base and malig- 
 nant man, and watched his movements with 
 great anxiety. He had two hounds beating 
 about the bushes, which at length got upon 
 the traces of the count and princess, and dis- 
 covering them set up a violent barking. 
 Alighting from his mule, the archpriest clam- 
 bered up to where the fugitives were concealed. 
 13 
 
i94 Spanisb papers 
 
 He knew the count, and saw that he had es- 
 caped. 4 ' Aha ! traitor," cried he, drawing his 
 sword, " think not to escape from the power of 
 the king. ' ' The count saw that resistance was 
 in vain, for he was without weapons and in 
 chains, and the archpriest was a powerful man, 
 exceeding broad across the shoulders ; he 
 sought, therefore, to win him by fair words, 
 promising that if he would aid him to escape 
 he would give him a city in Castile, for him 
 and his heirs forever. But the archpriest was 
 more violent than ever, and held his sword at 
 the breast of the count to force him back to 
 the castle. Upon this the princess rushed for- 
 ward, and with tears in her eyes implored him 
 not to deliver the count into the hands of his 
 enemies. But the heart of the priest was in- 
 flamed by the beauty of the princess, and 
 thinking her at his mercy, ' ' Gladly, ' ' said he, 
 "will I assist the count to escape, but upon 
 one condition.' ' Then he whispered a pro- 
 posal which brought a crimson glow of horror 
 and indignation into the cheeks of the princess, 
 and he would have laid his hand upon her, 
 but he was suddenly lifted from the earth by 
 the strong grasp of the count, who bore him to 
 the edge of a precipice and flung him head- 
 long down ; and his neck was broken in the 
 fall. 
 
jFernan <3on3ate3 tgi 
 
 The count then took the mule of the arch- 
 priest, his hawk, and his hounds, and after 
 keeping in the secret parts of the mountain 
 all day, he and the princess mounted the mule 
 at night, and pursued their way, by the most 
 rugged and unfrequented passes, towards Cas- 
 tile. 
 
 As the day dawned they found themselves 
 in an open plain at the foot of the mountains, 
 and beheld a body of horsemen riding towards 
 them, conducting a car, in which sat a knight 
 in armor, bearing a standard. The princess 
 now gave all up for lost. " These,'' said she, 
 "are sent by my brother in pursuit of us; 
 how can we escape, for this poor animal has 
 no longer strength nor speed to bear us up 
 the mountains ?" Upon this Count Fernan 
 alighted, and drawing the sword of the arch- 
 priest, placed himself in a narrow pass. ' ' Do 
 you," said he to the princess, "turn back and 
 hasten to the mountains, and dearly shall it 
 cost him who attempts to follow you." " Not 
 so," replied the princess ; " for the love of me 
 hast thou been brought from thine own domain 
 and betrayed into all these dangers, and I will 
 abide to share them with thee." 
 
 The count would have remonstrated, when 
 to his astonishment he saw, as the car drew 
 near, that the knight seated in it was clad in 
 
196 Spanisb ©apera 
 
 his own armor, with his own devices, and held 
 his own banner in his hand. ' ' Surely, ' ' said 
 he, crossing himself, "this is enchantment' ' ; 
 but on looking still nearer, he recognized among 
 the horsemen Nufio Sandias and Nuno I^aynez, 
 two of his most faithful knights. Then his 
 heart leaped for joy. "Fear nothing," cried 
 he to the princess ; "behold my standard, and 
 behold my vassals. Those whom you feared 
 as enemies shall kneel at your feet and kiss 
 your hand in homage." 
 
 Now so it appears that the tidings of the 
 captivity of the count had spread mourning 
 and consternation throughout Castile, and the 
 cavaliers assembled together to devise means 
 for his deliverance. And certain of them had 
 prepared this effigy of the count, clad in his 
 armor and bearing his banner and devices, and 
 having done homage and sworn fealty to it as 
 they would have done to the count himself, 
 they had placed it in his car and set forth with 
 it as a leader, making a vow, in the spirit of 
 ancient chivalry, never to return to their homes 
 until they should have delivered the count 
 from his captivity. 
 
 When the cavaliers recognized the count, 
 they put up shouts of joy, and kissed his hands 
 and the hands of the princess in token of 
 devoted loyalty. And they took off the fetters 
 
ffernan <3oti3ale3 
 
 197 
 
 of the count and placed him in the car, and 
 the princess beside him, and returned joyfully 
 to Castile. 
 
 Vain would be the attempt to describe the 
 transports of the multitude as Count Fernan 
 Gonzalez entered his noble capital of Burgos. 
 The Princess Sancha, also, was hailed with 
 blessings wherever she passed, as the deliverer 
 of their lord and the savior of Castile, and 
 shortly afterwards her nuptials with the count 
 were celebrated with feasting and rejoicing 
 and tilts and tournament, which lasted for 
 many days. 
 
Cbapter £1f # 
 
 King Garcia Confined in Burgos by the Count — The 
 Princess Intercedes for his Release. 
 
 THE rejoicings for the marriage of Count 
 Fernan Gonzalez with the beautiful 
 Princess Sancha were scarcely finished 
 when King Garcia the Trembler came 
 with a powerful army to revenge his various 
 affronts. The count sallied forth to meet him, 
 and a bloody and doubtful battle ensued. The 
 Navarrese at length were routed and the king 
 was wounded and taken prisoner in single 
 combat by Count Fernan, who brought him to 
 Burgos and put him in close confinement. 
 
 The Countess Dona Sancha was now almost 
 as much afflicted at the captivity of her brother 
 as she had been at that of the count, and inter- 
 ceded with her husband for his release. The 
 count, however, retained too strong a recollec- 
 tion of the bad faith of King Garcia and of his 
 own treacherous and harsh imprisonment to be 
 
3fernan <3on3ale3 
 
 199 
 
 easily moved, and the king was kept in du- 
 ress for a considerable time. The countess 
 then interested the principal cavaliers in her 
 suit, reminding them of the services she had 
 rendered them in aiding the escape of their 
 lord. Through their united intercessions the 
 count was induced to relent ; so King Garcia 
 the Trembler was released and treated with 
 great honor, and sent back to his dominions 
 with a retinue befitting his rank. 
 
Cbapter £ Iff. 
 
 Of the Expedition against the Ancient City of Sylo — 
 The Unwitting Trespass of the Count into a Con- 
 vent, and his Compunctions thereupon. 
 
 VOLUMES would it take to follow the 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez in his heroic 
 achievements against the infidels, — - 
 achievements which give to sober his- 
 tory almost the air of fable. I forbear to dwell 
 at large upon one of his campaigns, wherein he 
 scoured the valley of Iyaguna ; passed victori- 
 ously along the banks of the Douro, building 
 towers and castles to keep the country in sub- 
 jection ; how he scaled the walls of the castle 
 of Ormaz, being the first to mount, sword in 
 hand ; how by the valor of his arm he captured 
 the city of Orma ; how he took the town of 
 Sandoval, the origin of the cavaliers of Sando- 
 val, who were anciently called Salvadores ; how 
 he made an inroad even to Madrid, then a 
 
 200 
 
jFernan <Son3aIe3 201 
 
 strongly fortified village, and having taken and 
 sacked it, returned in triumph to Burgos. 
 
 But it would be wronging the memory of 
 this great and good cavalier to pass in silence 
 over one of his exploits, in which he gave a 
 singular instance of his piety. This was in 
 an expedition against the ancient city of Sylo. 
 It was not a place of much value in itself, 
 being situated in a cold and sterile country, 
 but it had become a stronghold of the Moors, 
 whence they carried on their warfare. This 
 place the count carried by assault, entering it 
 in full armor, on his steed, overturning and 
 slaying all who opposed him. In the fury of 
 his career he rode into a spacious edifice which 
 he supposed to be a mosque, with the pious 
 intention of slaying every infidel he might 
 find within. On looking round, however, 
 great was his astonishment at beholding images 
 of saints, the blessed cross of our Saviour, and 
 various other sacred objects, which announced 
 a church devoted to the veritable faith. Struck 
 with remorse, he sprang from his horse, threw 
 himself upon his knees, and with many tears 
 implored pardon of God for the sin he had 
 unknowingly committed. While he was yet 
 on his knees, several monks of the Order of St. 
 Dominic approached, meagre in looks and 
 squalid in attire, but hailing him with great 
 
202 Spanieb papers 
 
 joy as their deliverer. In sooth this was a 
 convent of San Sebastian, the fraternity of 
 which had remained captives among the 
 Moors, supporting themselves poorly by mak- 
 ing baskets, but permitted to continue in the 
 exercise of their religion. 
 
 Still filled with pious compunction for the 
 trespass he had made, the count ordered that 
 the shoes should be taken from his horse and 
 nailed upon the door of the church ; for never, 
 said he, shall they tread any other ground 
 after having trodden this holy place. From 
 that day, we are told, it has been the custom 
 to nail the shoes of horses on the portal of that 
 convent — a custom which has extended to 
 many other places. 
 
 The worthy Fray Prudencia de Sandoval 
 records a marvellous memento of the expedition 
 of the count against this city, which remained, 
 he says, until his day. Not far from the place, 
 on the road which passes by L,ara, is to be seen 
 the print of his horse's hoofs in a solid rock, 
 which has received the impression as though 
 it had been made in softened wax.* It is to 
 be presumed that the horse's hoofs had been 
 gifted with miraculous hardness in reward to 
 the count for his pious oblation of the shoes. 
 
 * Sandoval, p. 313. 
 
Cbapter f TO, 
 
 Of the Moorish Host that Came up from Cordova, and 
 how the Count Repaired to the Hermitage of San 
 Pedro, and Prayed for Success against them, and 
 Received Assurance of Victory in a Vision — Battle 
 of Hazinas. 
 
 THE worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, from 
 whose manuscripts this memoir is ex- 
 tracted, passes by many of the striking 
 and heroic deeds of the count, which 
 crowd the pages of ancient chroniclers ; but 
 the good friar ever is sure to dwell with delight 
 upon any of those miraculous occurrences 
 which took place in Spain in those days, and 
 which showed the marked interposition of 
 Heaven in behalf of the Christian warriors in 
 their battles with the infidels. Such was the 
 renowned battle of Hazinas, which, says Aga- 
 pida, for its miraculous events is worthy of 
 eternal blazon. 
 
 Now so it was that the Moorish king of 
 Cordova had summoned all the faithful, both 
 
 203 
 
2o 4 Spanfeb papers 
 
 of Spain and Africa, to assist him in recover- 
 ing the lands wrested from him by the 
 unbelievers, and especially by Count Fernan 
 Gonzalez in his late victories ; and such count- 
 less legions of turbaned warriors were assem- 
 bled that it was said they covered the plains 
 of Andalusia like swarms of locusts. 
 
 Hearing of their threatening approach, the 
 count gathered together his forces at Piedra- 
 fita, while the Moors encamped in Hazinas. 
 When, however, he beheld the mighty host 
 arrayed against him, his heart for once was 
 troubled with evil forebodings, and calling to 
 mind the cheering prognostications of the friar 
 Pelayo on a like occasion, he resolved to repair 
 again to that holy man for counsel. leaving 
 his camp, therefore, secretly, he set out, accom- 
 panied by two cavaliers, to seek the chapel 
 which he had ordered to be built at the her- 
 mitage of San Pedro, on the mountain over- 
 hanging the river Arlanza, but when arrived 
 there he heard to his great grief that the 
 worthy friar was dead. 
 
 Entering the chapel, however, he knelt down 
 at the altar and prayed for success in the com- 
 ing fight; humbly representing that he had 
 never, like many of the kings and nobles of 
 Spain, done homage to the infidels and ac- 
 knowledged them for sovereigns. The count 
 
ffernan <3on3ale3 205 
 
 remained a long time at prayer, until sleep 
 gradually stole over him ; and as he lay slum- 
 bering before the altar the holy Fray Pelayo 
 appeared before him in a vision, clad in gar- 
 ments as white as snow. " Why sleepest thou, 
 Fernan Gonzalez ?" said he; " arise, and go 
 forth, and know that thou shalt conquer those 
 Moors. For, inasmuch as thou art a faithful 
 vassal of the Most High, he has commanded 
 the Apostle San Iago and myself, with many 
 angels, to come to thy aid, and we will appear 
 in the battle clad in white armor, with each of 
 us a red cross upon our pennon. Therefore 
 arise, I say, and go hence with a valiant 
 heart.' ' 
 
 The count awoke, and while he was yet 
 musing upon the vision he heard a voice say- 
 ing : ' ' Arise, and get thee hence ; why dost 
 thou linger ? Separate thy host into three 
 divisions : enter the field of battle by the east, 
 with the smallest division, and I will be with 
 thee ; and let the second division enter by the 
 west, and that shall be aided by San Iago ; and 
 let the third division enter by the north. 
 Know that I am San Millan who come to thee 
 with this message.' ' 
 
 The count departed joyfully from the chapel, 
 and returned to his army ; and when he told 
 his troops of this, his second visit to the her- 
 
2o6 Spantsb papers 
 
 mitage, and of the vision he had had, and how 
 the holy friar San Pelayo had again assured 
 him of victory, their hearts were lifted up, and 
 they rejoiced to serve under a leader who had 
 such excellent counsellors in war. 
 
 In the evening preceding the battle Don 
 Fernan Gonzalez divided his forces as he had 
 been ordered. The first division was com- 
 posed of two hundred horsemen and six thou- 
 sand infantry ; hardy mountaineers, light of 
 foot and of great valor. In the advance were 
 Don Gustios Gonzalez of Salas, and his seven 
 sons and two nephews, and his brother Ruy 
 Velasquez, and a valiant cavalier named Gon- 
 zalo Dias. 
 
 The second division was led by Don I/)pe 
 de Biscaya, with the people of Burueba and 
 Trevino, and Old Castile and Castro and the 
 Asturias. Two hundred horsemen and six 
 thousand infantry. 
 
 The third division was led by the count him- 
 self, and with him went Ruy Cavia, and Nufio 
 Cavia and the Velascos, whom the count that 
 day dubbed knights, and twenty esquires of 
 the count, whom he had likewise knighted. 
 His division consisted of four hundred and fifty 
 horse and fifteen hundred foot ; and he told 
 his men that if they should not conquer the 
 Moors on the following day, they should draw 
 
jFernan <3on3ale3 207 
 
 off from the battle when he gave the word. 
 Late at night, when all the camp, excepting 
 the sentinels and guards, were buried in sleep, 
 a light suddenly illumed the heavens, and a 
 great serpent was seen in the air, wounded and 
 covered with blood, and vomiting flames, and 
 making a loud hissing that awakened all the 
 soldiers. They rushed out of their tents, and 
 ran hither and thither, running against each 
 other in their affright. Count Fernan Gonzalez 
 was awakened by their outcries, but before he 
 came forth the serpent had disappeared. He 
 rebuked the terrors of his people, representing 
 to them that the Moors were great necroman- 
 cers, and by their arts could raise devils to their 
 aid ; and that some Moorish astrologer had 
 doubtless raised this spectrum to alarm them ; 
 but he bade them to be of good heart, since 
 they had San Iago on their side, and might set 
 Moor, astrologer, and devil at defiance. 
 
 In the first day's fight Don Fernan fought 
 hand to hand with a powerful Moor, who had 
 desired to try his prowess with him. It was 
 an obstinate contest, in which the Moor was 
 slain ; but the count was so badly wounded 
 that he fell to the earth, and had not his men 
 surrounded and defended him, he would have 
 been slain or captured. The battle lasted all 
 day long, and Gustios Gonzalez and his kindred 
 
2o8 Spanlsb papers 
 
 warriors showed prodigies of valor. Don Fer- 
 nan, having had his wounds stanched, re- 
 mounted his horse and galloped about, giving 
 courage to his men ; but he was covered with 
 dust and blood, and so hoarse that he could no 
 longer be heard. The sun went down, the 
 Moors kept on fighting, confiding in their great 
 numbers. The count, seeing the night ap- 
 proaching, ordered the trumpets to be sounded, 
 and, collecting his troops, made one general 
 charge on the Moors, and drove them from the 
 field. He then drew off his men to their tents, 
 where the weary troops found refreshment and 
 repose, though they slept all night upon their 
 arms. 
 
 On the second day the count rose before the 
 dawn, and having attended mass like a good 
 Christian, attended next to his horses, like a 
 good cavalier, seeing with his own eyes that 
 they were well fed and groomed, and prepared 
 for the field. The battle this day was obstinate 
 as the day before, with great valor and loss on 
 either side. 
 
 On the third day the count led forth his 
 forces at an early hour, raising his silver stand- 
 ard of the cross, and praying devoutly for aid. 
 Then lowering their lances, the Castilians 
 shouted ' ' San Iago ! San Iago ! ' ' and rushed 
 to the attack. 
 
ffernan <3on3ale3 209 
 
 Don Gustios Gonzalo de Salas, the leader of 
 one of the divisions made a lane into the cen- 
 tre of the Moorish host, dealing death on either 
 side. He was met by a Moorish cavalier of 
 powerful frame. Covering themselves with 
 their shields, they attacked each other with 
 great fury ; but the days of Gustios Gonzalo 
 were numbered, and the Moor slew him, and 
 with him fell a nephew of Count Fernan, and 
 many of his principal cavaliers. 
 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez encountered the 
 Moor who had just slain his friend. The infi- 
 del would have avoided him, having heard that 
 never man escaped alive from a conflict with 
 him ; but the count gave him a furious thrust 
 with his lance, which stretched him dead upon 
 the field. 
 
 The Moors, however, continued to press the 
 count sorely, and their numbers threatened to 
 overwhelm him. Then he put up a prayer for 
 the aid promised in his vision, and of a sudden 
 the Apostle San Iago appeared, with a great 
 and shining company of angels in white, bear- 
 ing the device of a red cross, and all rushing 
 upon the Moors. The Moors were dismayed 
 at the sight of this reinforcement to the enemy. 
 The Christians, on the other hand, recovered 
 their forces, knowing the Apostle San Iago to 
 be at hand. They charged the Moors with new 
 
2IO 
 
 Spanisb papers 
 
 vigor, and put them to flight, and pursued 
 them for two days, killing and making captive. 
 They then returned and gathered together the 
 bodies of the Christians who had been slain, 
 and buried them in the chapel of San Pedro of 
 Arlanza and in other hermitages. The bodies 
 of the Moors were piled up and covered with 
 earth, forming a mound which is still to be 
 seen on the field of battle. 
 
 Some have ascribed to the signal worn in 
 this battle by the celestial warriors the origin 
 of the Cross of Calatrava. 
 

 Cbapter £10. 
 
 The Count Imprisoned by the King of I^eon — The 
 Countess Concerts his Kscape — I/eon and Castile 
 United by the Marriage of the Prince Ordono with 
 Urraca, the Daughter of the Count by his First 
 Wife. 
 
 NOT long after this most renowned and 
 marvellous battle, a Moorish captain 
 named Aceyfa became a vassal of the 
 Count Don Fernan. Under his pro- 
 tection, and that of a rich and powerful Cas- 
 tilian cavalier named Diego Mufion, he rebuilt 
 Salamanca and Ledesma, and several places on 
 the river Tormes, which had been desolated 
 and deserted in times past. 
 
 Ramiro the Second, who was at this time 
 King of L,eon, was alarmed at seeing a strong 
 line of Moorish fortresses erected along the 
 borders of his territories, and took the field 
 with an army to drive the Moor Aceyfa from 
 the land. The proud spirit of Count Fernan 
 
 2EI 
 
2i2 Spanteb papers 
 
 Gonzalez was aroused at this attack upon his 
 Moorish vassal, which he considered an indig- 
 nity offered to himself ; so being seconded by 
 Don Diego Mufion, he marched forth with his 
 chivalry to protect the Moor. In the present 
 instance he had trusted to his own head, and 
 had neglected to seek advice of saint or her- 
 mit ; so his army was defeated by King Ra- 
 miro, and himself and Don Diego Mufion taken 
 prisoners. The latter was sent in chains to the 
 castle of Gordon ; but the count was carried to 
 I^eon, where he was confined in a tower of the 
 wall, which to this day is pointed out as his 
 prison.* 
 
 All Castile was thrown into grief and con- 
 sternation by this event, and lamentations were 
 heard throughout the land, as though the count 
 had been dead. The countess, however, did 
 not waste time in idle tears, for she was a lady 
 of most valiant spirit. She forthwith assem- 
 bled five hundred cavaliers, chosen men of tried 
 loyalty and devotion to the count. They met 
 in the chapel of the palace, and took an oath 
 
 * In the Cronica General de Espana, this imprison- 
 ment is said to have been by King Sancho the Fat ; 
 but the cautious Agapida goes according to his favor- 
 ite Sandoval in attributing it to King Ramiro, and in 
 so doing he is supported by the Chronicle of Bleda, 1. 
 3, c. 19. 
 
jfernan <3ott3ale3 213 
 
 upon the Hoi; Evangelists to follow the coun- 
 tess through 'A difficulties and dangers, and to 
 obey implicit]/ all her commands for the rescue 
 of their lord. With this band the countess de- 
 parted secrecy at nightfall, and travelled rap- 
 idly until norning, when they left the roads, 
 and took t> the mountains, lest their march 
 should be dscovered. Arrived near to Leon, 
 she halted her band in a thick wood in the 
 mountain of Samosa, where she ordered them 
 to remain in secrecy. Then clothing herself 
 as a pilgrm, with her staff and pannier, she 
 sent word to King Ramiro that she was on a 
 pilgrimage to San Iago, and entreated that she 
 might have permission to visit her husband in 
 his prison. King Ramiro not merely granted 
 her request, but sallied forth above a league 
 from the city with a great retinue to do her 
 honor. So the countess entered a second time 
 the prison where the count lay in chains, and 
 stood before him as his protecting angel. At 
 sight of him in this miserable and dishonored 
 state, hpwever, the valor of spirit which had 
 hithertcj) sustained her gave way, and tears 
 flawed j t c rom her eyes. The count received her 
 joyfully,, and reproached her with her tears ; 
 "for it becomes us," said he, " to submit to 
 what is ^imposed upon us by God." 
 
 The (gXruntess now sent to entreat the king 
 
2i4 Spanisb papers 
 
 that while she remained with t^ e coun ^ ^is 
 chains should be taken off. Th4 kj n o- aeain 
 granted her request ; and the coii nt was f ree( j 
 from his irons, and an excellent t >e( j p repare( i 
 in his prison. 
 
 The countess remained with hin a a ^ n j e ht 
 and concerted his escape. Before £ g ^ 
 light she gave him her pilgrim's dres s an( j sta g- 
 and the count went forth from hie. cframiw 
 disguised as his wife. The porter at ^e outer 
 portal, thinking it to be the counte, ss wou i(j 
 have waited for orders from the king. . j^ ^ e 
 count, in a feigned voice, entreated no ^. ^ Q ^ e 
 detained, lest he should not be able t Q r> er f orm 
 his pilgrimage. The porter, mistri ist j no 
 deceit, opened the door. The coui lt j ssue( j 
 forth, repaired to a place pointed ot^ ^ ^ e 
 countess, where two cavaliers awar^ ^ 
 with a fleet horse. They all sallied qu i et iy 
 forth from the city at the opening of th e o; a |- es 
 until they found themselves clear of th^ wa jj s 
 when they put spurs to their horses anc^ ma( j e 
 their way to the mountain of Samosa. jj ere 
 the count was received with shouts of l « ^ 
 the cavaliers whom the countess had leivj. j-k ere 
 in concealment. 
 
 As the day advanced the keeper of the, r> r i son 
 entered the apartment of Don Fernan, l out was 
 astonished to find there the beautiful c DUn ^ ess 
 
jfernan <3ort3ale3 215 
 
 in place of her warrior husband. He conducted 
 her before the king, accusing her of the fraud 
 by which she had effected the escape of the 
 count. King Ramiro was greatly incensed, 
 and he demanded of the countess how she 
 dared to do such an act. " I dared," replied 
 she, " because I saw my husband in misery, 
 and felt it my duty to relieve him ; and I dared 
 because I was the daughter of a king, and the 
 wife of a distinguished cavalier ; as such I 
 trust to your chivalry to treat me. ' ' 
 
 The king was charmed with her intrepidity. 
 " Senora," said he, " you have acted well and 
 like a noble lady, and it will redound to your 
 laud and honor/ ' So he commanded that she 
 should be conducted to her husband in a man- 
 ner befitting a lady of high and noble rank ; 
 and the count was overjoyed to receive her in 
 safety, and they returned to their dominions 
 and entered Burgos at the head of their cav- 
 aliers, amidst the transports and acclamations 
 of their people. And King Ramiro sought 
 the amity of Count Fernan Gonzalez, and pro- 
 posed that they should unite their houses by 
 some matrimonial alliance which should serve 
 as a bond of mutual security. The count 
 gladly listened to his proposals. He had a 
 fair daughter named Urraca, by his first wife, 
 who was now arrived at a marriageable age ; 
 
2l6 
 
 Spanisb papers 
 
 so it was agreed that nuptials should be 
 solemnized between her and the Prince Ordofio, 
 son of King Ramiro ; and all L,eon and Castile 
 rejoiced at this union, which promised tran- 
 quillity to the land. 
 
Cbapter £ Wl. 
 
 Moorish Incursion into Castile — Battle of San Estevan 
 — Of Pascual Vivas and the Miracle that Befell him 
 —Death of Ordono III. 
 
 FOR several succeeding years of the career 
 of this most redoubtable cavalier, the 
 most edifying and praiseworthy traces 
 which, remain, says Fray Antonio Aga- 
 pida, are to be found in the archives of various 
 monasteries, consisting of memorials of pious 
 gifts and endowments made by himself and his 
 countess, Dona Sancha. 
 
 In the process of time King Ramiro died, 
 and was succeeded by his son Ordono III., the 
 same who had married Urraca, the daughter 
 of Count Fernan. He was surnamed the 
 Fierce, either from his savage temper or savage 
 aspect. He had a step-brother named Don 
 Sancho, nephew, by the mother's side, of King 
 Garcia of Navarre, surnamed the Trembler. 
 This Don Sancho rose in arms against Ordono 
 
 217 
 
218 Spanish papers 
 
 at tlie very outset of his reign, seeking to de- 
 prive him of his crown. He applied for assis- 
 tance to his uncle Garcia and to Count Fernan 
 Gonzalez, and it is said both favored his pre- 
 tensions. Nay, the count appeared in the field 
 in company with King Garcia the Trembler, 
 in support of Prince Sancho. It may seem 
 strange that he should take up arms against 
 his own son-in-law ; and so it certainly ap- 
 peared to Ordofio III., for he was so incensed 
 against the count that he repudiated his wife 
 Urraca and sent her back to her father, telling 
 him that since he would not acknowledge him 
 as king, he should not have him for son-in-law. 
 
 The kingdom now became a prey to civil 
 wars ; the restless part of the subjects of King 
 Ordofio rose in rebellion, and everything was 
 in confusion. King Ordono succeeded, how- 
 ever, in quelling the rebellion, and defended 
 himself so ably against King Garcia and Count 
 Fernan Gonzalez, that they returned home 
 without effecting their object. 
 
 About this time, say the records of Compos- 
 tello, the sinful dissensions of the Christians 
 brought on them a visible and awful scourge 
 from Heaven. A great flame, or, as it were, a 
 cloud of fire, passed throughout the land, burn- 
 ing towns, destroying men and beasts, and 
 spreading horror and devastation even over 
 
ffcrnan (5oti3ale3 219 
 
 the sea. It passed over Zamora, consuming a 
 great part of the place ; it scorched Castro 
 Xerez likewise, and Brebiesco and Pan Corvo 
 in its progress, and in Burgos one hundred 
 houses were consumed. 
 
 " These/ ' said the worthy Agapida, "were 
 fiery tokens of the displeasure of Heaven at the 
 sinful conduct of the Christians in warring 
 upon each other, instead of joining their arms 
 like brethren in the righteous endeavor to 
 extirpate the vile sect of Mahomet. " 
 
 While the Christians were thus fighting 
 among themselves, the Moors, taking advan- 
 tage of their discord, came with a great army, 
 and made an incursion into Castile as far as 
 Burgos. King Ordofio and Count Fernan 
 Gonzalez, alarmed at the common danger, 
 came to a reconciliation, and took arms to- 
 gether against the Moors ; though it does not 
 appear that the king received again his repudi- 
 ated wife Urraca. These confederate princes 
 gave the Moors a great battle near to San 
 Estevan. "This battle/ ' says Fray Antonio 
 Agapida, " is chiefly memorable for a miracle 
 which occurred there," and which is recorded 
 by the good friar with an unction and perfect 
 credence worthy of a monkish chronicler. 
 
 The Christians were incastellated at San 
 Estevan de Gormaz, which is near the banks 
 
22o Spantsb papers 
 
 of the Douro. The Moors had possession of 
 the fortress of Gormaz, about a league farther 
 up the river on a lofty and rocky height. 
 
 The battle commenced at the dawn of day. 
 Count Fernan Gonzalez, however, before tak- 
 ing the field, repaired with his principal cava- 
 liers to the church, to attend the first morning's 
 mass. Now, at this time, there was in the 
 service of the count a brave cavalier named 
 Pascual Vivas, who was as pious as he was 
 brave, and would pray with as much fervor 
 and obstinacy as he would fight. This cavalier 
 made it a religious rule with himself, or rather 
 had made a solemn vow, that, whenever he 
 entered a church in the morning, he would on 
 no account leave it until all the masses were 
 finished. 
 
 On the present occasion the firmness of this 
 brave but pious cavalier was put to a severe 
 proof. When the first mass was finished, the 
 count and his cavaliers rose and sallied from 
 the church in clanking armor, and soon after 
 the sound of trumpet and quick tramp of steed 
 told that they were off to the encounter. Pas- 
 cual Vivas, however, remained kneeling all in 
 armor before the altar, waiting, according to 
 custom, until all the masses should be finished. 
 The masses that morning were numerous, and 
 hour after hour passed away ; yet still the 
 
jfernon <3oit3ale3 221 
 
 cavalier remained kneeling all in armor, with 
 weapon in hand, yet so zealous in his devotion 
 that he never turned his head. 
 
 All this while the esquire of the cavalier 
 was at the door of the church, holding his war- 
 horse, and the esquire beheld with surprise the 
 count and his warriors depart, while his lord 
 remained in the chapel ; and, from the height 
 on which the chapel stood, he could see the 
 Christian host encounter the Moors at the ford 
 of the river, and could hear the distant sound 
 of trumpets and din of battle ; and at the sound 
 the war-horse pricked his ears and snuffed the 
 air and pawed the earth, and showed all the 
 eagerness of a noble steed to be among the 
 armed men, but still Pascual Vivas came not 
 out of the chapel. The esquire was wroth, 
 and blushed for his lord, for he thought it was 
 through cowardice and not piety that he re- 
 mained in the chapel while his comrades were 
 fighting in the field. 
 
 At length the masses were finished, and 
 Pascual Vivas was about to sally forth when 
 horsemen came riding up the hill with shouts 
 of victory, for the battle was over and the 
 Moors completely vanquished. 
 
 When Pascual Vivas heard this he was so 
 troubled in mind that he dared not leave the 
 chapel nor come into the presence of the count, 
 
222 Spanisb papers 
 
 for he said to himself : ' ' Surely I shall be 
 looked upon as a recreant knight, who have 
 hidden myself in the hour of danger. ' ' Shortly, 
 however, came some of his fellow-cavaliers, 
 summoning him to the presence of the count ; 
 and as he went with a beating heart, they 
 lauded him for the valor he had displayed and 
 the great services he had rendered, saying that 
 to the prowess of his arm they owed the victory. 
 The good knight, imagining they were scoff- 
 ing at him, felt still more cast down in spirit, 
 and entered the presence of the count covered 
 with confusion. Here again he was received 
 with praises and caresses, at which he was 
 greatly astonished, but still thought it all 
 done in mockery. When the truth came to 
 be known, however, all present were filled with 
 wonder, for it appeared as if this cavalier had 
 been, at the same moment, in the chapel and 
 in the field ; for while he remained on his 
 knees before the altar, with his steed pawing 
 the earth at the door, a warrior exactly re- 
 sembling him, with the same arms, device, 
 and steed, had appeared in the hottest of the 
 fight, penetrating and overthrowing whole 
 squadrons of Moors ; that he had cut his way 
 to the standard of the enemy, killed the stand- 
 ard-bearer, and carried off the banner in 
 triumph ; that his pourpoint and coat-of-mail 
 
ffernan (5oti3ale3 223 
 
 were cut to pieces, and his horse covered with 
 wounds ; yet still he fought on, and through 
 his valor chiefly the victory was obtained. 
 
 What more moved astonishment was that 
 for every wound received by the warrior and 
 his steed in the field, there appeared marks on 
 the pourpoint and coat of mail and upon the 
 steed of Pascual Vivas, so that he had the 
 semblance of having been in the severest press 
 of the battle. 
 
 The matter was now readily explained by 
 the worthy friars who followed the armies in 
 those days, and who were skilful in expound- 
 ing the miracles daily occurring in those holy 
 wars. A miraculous intervention had been 
 vouchsafed to Pascual Vivas. That his piety 
 in remaining at his prayers might not put him 
 to shame before sinful men, an angel bearing 
 his form and semblance had taken his place 
 in battle and fought while he prayed. 
 
 The matter being thus explained, all present 
 were filled with pious admiration, and Pascual 
 Vivas, if he ceased to be extolled as a warrior, 
 came near being canonized as a saint.* 
 
 * Bxactly the same kind of miracle is recorded as 
 happening in the same place to a cavalier of the name 
 of Don Fernan Antolenez, in the service of the Count 
 Garcia Fernandez. Fray Antonio Agapida has no 
 doubt that the same miracle did actually happen to 
 
224 Spantsb papers 
 
 King Ordofio IIL did not long survive this 
 battle. Scarce had he arrived at Zamora on 
 his way homeward, when he was seized with 
 a mortal malady of which he died. He was 
 succeeded by his brother Don Sancho, the 
 same who had formerly endeavored to dispos- 
 sess him of his throne. 
 
 both cavaliers ; "for in those days," says he, "there 
 was such a demand for miracles that the same had 
 frequently to be repeated" witness the repeated ap- 
 pearance of Santiago in precisely the same manner, 
 to save Christian armies from imminent danger of 
 defeat, and achieve wonderful victories over the infi- 
 dels, as we find recorded throughout the Spanish 
 chronicles. 
 
Cbapter f M1T. 
 
 King Sancho the Fat— Of the Homage he Exacted 
 from Count Fernan Gonzalez, and of the Strange 
 Bargain that he Made with him for the Purchase of 
 his Horse and Falcon. 
 
 KING SANCHO L, on ascending the 
 throne, held a cortes at L,eon, where 
 all the great men of the kingdom and 
 the princes who owed allegiance to him 
 were expected to attend and pay homage. As 
 the court of I^eon was excessively tenacious 
 of its claim to sovereignty over Castile, the 
 absence of Count Fernan Gonzalez was noticed 
 with great displeasure by the king, who sent 
 missives to him commanding his attendance. 
 The count being proud of heart, and stand- 
 ing much upon the independence of Castile, 
 was unwilling to kiss the hand of any one in 
 token of vassalage. He was at length induced 
 to stifle his repugnance and repair to the court, 
 but he went in almost regal style and with a 
 
 225 
 
 is 
 
226 Spanf6b papers 
 
 splendid retinue, more like a sovereign making 
 a progress through his dominions. 
 
 As he approached the city of I^eon, King 
 Sancho came forth in great state to receive him, 
 and they met apparently as friends, but there 
 was enmity against each other in their hearts. 
 
 The rich and gallant array with which Count 
 Fernan made his entry into L,eon was the theme 
 of every tongue ; but nothing attracted more 
 notice than a falcon, thoroughly trained, which 
 he carried on his hand and an Arabian horse, 
 of wonderful beauty, which he had gained in 
 his wars with the Moors. King Sancho was 
 seized with a vehement desire to possess this 
 horse and falcon, and offered to purchase them 
 of the count. Don Fernan haughtily declined 
 to enter into traffic ; but offered them to the 
 monarch as a gift. The king was equally 
 punctilious in refusing to accept a favor ; but 
 as monarchs do not easily forego anything on 
 which they have set their hearts, it became 
 evident to Count Fernan that it was necessary, 
 for the sake of peace, to part with his horse 
 and falcon. To save his dignity, however, he 
 asked a price corresponding to his rank ; for it 
 was beneath a cavalier, he said, to sell his 
 things cheap, like a mean man. He de- 
 manded, therefore, one thousand marks of sil- 
 ver for the horse and falcon, — to be paid on a 
 
3Fernan <3on3a!e3 227 
 
 stipulated day ; if not paid on that day the 
 price to be doubled on the next, and on each 
 day's further delay the price should in like 
 manner be doubled. To these terms the king 
 gladly consented, and the terms were specified 
 in a written agreement, which was duly signed 
 and witnessed. The king thus gained the 
 horse and falcon, but it will be hereinafter 
 shown that this indulgence of his fancy cost 
 him dear. 
 
 This eager desire for an Arabian steed ap- 
 pears the more singular in Sancho the First, 
 from his being so corpulent that he could not 
 sit on horseback. Hence he is commonly 
 known in history by the appellation of King 
 Sancho the Fat. His unwieldy bulk, also, 
 may be one reason why he soon lost the favor 
 of his warrior subjects, who looked upon him 
 as a mere trencherman and bed-presser, and not 
 fitted to command men who lived in the sad- 
 dle, and had rather fight than either eat or 
 sleep. 
 
 King Sancho saw that he might soon have 
 hard fighting to maintain his throne ; and how 
 could he figure as a warrior who could not 
 mount on horseback ? In his anxiety he re- 
 paired to his uncle, Garcia, King of Navarre, 
 surnamed the Trembler, who was an exceed- 
 ing meagre man, and asked counsel of him 
 
228 Spanish papers 
 
 what he should do to cure himself of this 
 troublesome corpulency. Garcia the Trembler 
 was totally at a loss for a recipe, his own lean- 
 ness being a gift of Nature ; he advised him, 
 however, to repair to Abderahman, the Mira- 
 mamolin of Spain and King of Cordova, with 
 whom he was happily at peace, and consult 
 with him, and seek advice of the Arabian phy- 
 sicians resident at Cordova — the Moors being 
 generally a spare and active people, and the 
 Arabian physicians skilful above all others in 
 the treatment of diseases. 
 
 King Sancho the Fat, therefore, sent amica- 
 ble messages beforehand to the Moorish Mira- 
 mamolin, and followed them as fast as his 
 corpulency would permit ; and he was well 
 received by the Moorish sovereign, and re- 
 mained for a long time at Cordova, diligently 
 employed in decreasing his rotundity. 
 
 While the corpulent king was thus growing 
 leaner, discontent broke out among his subjects 
 at home ; and Count Fernan Gonzalez, taking 
 advantage of it, stirred up an insurrection, 
 and placed upon the throne of I^eon Ordofio 
 IV., surnamed the Bad, who was a kinsman 
 of the late King Ordofio III., and he more 
 over gave him his daughter for wife — his 
 daughter Urraca, the repudiated wife of the 
 late king. 
 
jfernan <3ott3ale3 229 
 
 If the good Count Fernan Gonzalez sup- 
 posed he had fortified himself by this alliance, 
 and that his daughter was now fixed for the 
 second time, and more firmly than ever, on the 
 throne of ]>on, he was grievously deceived ; 
 for Sancho I. returned from Cordova at the 
 head of a powerful host of Moors, and was no 
 longer to be called the Fat, for he had so well 
 succeeded under the regimen prescribed by the 
 Miramamolin and his Arabian physicians, that 
 he could vault into the saddle with merely 
 putting his hand upon the pommel. 
 
 Ordofio IV. was a man of puny heart ; no 
 sooner did he hear of the approach of King 
 Sancho, and of his marvellous leanness and 
 agility, than he was seized with terror, and, 
 abandoning his throne and his twice-repudiated 
 spouse Urraca, he made for the mountains of 
 Asturias, or, as others assert, was overtaken by 
 the Moors and killed with lances. 
 
Cbapter flPffl. 
 
 Further of the Horse and Falcon. 
 
 KING SANCHO I., having re-established 
 himself on the throne, and recovered 
 the good- will of his subjects by his 
 leanness and horsemanship, sent a stern 
 message to Count Fernan Gonzalez to come to 
 his cortes or resign his countship. The count 
 was exceedingly indignant at this order, and 
 feared, moreover, that some indignity or injury 
 would be offered him should he repair to I^eon. 
 He made the message known to his principal 
 cavaliers, and requested their advice. Most of 
 them were of opinion that he should not go to 
 the cortes. Don Fernan declared, however, 
 that he would not act disloyally in omitting to 
 do that which the counts of Castile had always 
 performed, although he felt that he incurred 
 the risk of death or imprisonment. Leaving 
 his son, Garcia Fernandez, therefore, in charge 
 
 230 
 
jfernan <5on3ale3 231 
 
 of his counsellors, lie departed for I^eon with 
 only seven cavaliers. 
 
 As he approached the gates of that city, no 
 one came forth to greet him, as had always 
 been the custom. This he considered an evil 
 sign. Presenting himself before the king, he 
 would have kissed his hand, but the monarch 
 withheld it. He charged the count with being 
 vainglorious and disloyal ; with having ab- 
 sented himself from the cortes and conspired 
 against his throne ; — for all which he should 
 make atonement, and should give hostages or 
 pledges for his good faith before he left the 
 court. 
 
 The count in reply accounted for absenting 
 himself from the cortes by the perfidious treat- 
 ment he had formerly experienced at L,eon. 
 As to any grievances the king might have 
 to complain of, he stood ready to redress them, 
 provided the king would make good his own 
 written engagement, signed with his own hand 
 and sealed with his own seal, to pay for the 
 horse and falcon which he had purchased of 
 the count on his former visit to L,eon. Three 
 years had now elapsed since the day appointed 
 for the payment, and in the meantime the 
 price had gone on daily doubling, according to 
 stipulation. They parted mutually indignant ; 
 and, after the count had retired to his quarters, 
 
232 Spanisb papers 
 
 the king, piqued to maintain his royal word, 
 summoned his major-domo, and ordered him 
 to take a large amount of treasure and carry it 
 to the Count of Castile in payment of his de- 
 mand. So the major-domo repaired to the 
 count with a great sack of money to settle with 
 him for the horse and hawk ; but when he 
 came to cast up the account, and double it 
 each day that intervened since the appointed 
 day of payment, the major-domo, though an 
 expert man at figures, was totally confounded, 
 and, returning to the king, assured him that 
 all the money in the world would not suffice to 
 pay the debt. King Sancho was totally at a 
 loss how to keep his word, and pay off a debt 
 which was more than enough to ruin him. 
 Grievously did he repent his first experience 
 in traffic, and found that it is not safe even for 
 a monarch to trade in horses. 
 
 In the meantime the count was suffered to 
 return to Castile ; but he did not let the matter 
 rest here ; for, being sorely incensed at the in- 
 dignities he had experienced, he sent missives 
 to King Sancho, urging his demand of pay- 
 ment for the horse and falcon — menacing other- 
 wise to make seizures by w r ay of indemnifica- 
 tion. Receiving no satisfactory reply, he made 
 a foray into the kingdom of Leon, and brought 
 off great spoil of sheep and cattle. 
 
jFetnan (3on3alC3 233 
 
 King Sancho now saw that the count was 
 too bold and urgent a creditor to be trifled 
 with. In his perplexity he assembled the 
 estates of his kingdom, and consulted them 
 upon this momentous affair. His counsellors, 
 like himself, were grievously perplexed be- 
 tween the sanctity of the royal word and the 
 enormity of the debt. After much deliberation 
 they suggested a compromise — the Count Fer- 
 nan Gonzalez to relinquish the debt, and in 
 lieu thereof to be released from his vassalage. 
 
 The count agreed right gladly to this com- 
 promise, being thus relieved from all tribute 
 and imposition, and from the necessity of kiss- 
 ing the hand of any man in the world as his 
 sovereign. Thus did King Sancho pay with 
 the sovereignty of Castile for a horse and fal- 
 con, and thus were the Castilians relieved, by 
 a skilful bargain in horse-dealing, from all 
 subjection to the kingdom of I^eon.* 
 
 * Cronica de Alonso el Sabio, pt. 3, c. 19. 
 
Cbapter fHf . 
 
 The Last Campaign of Count Fernan — His Death. 
 
 THIJ good Count Fernan Gonzalez was 
 now well stricken in years. The fire 
 of youth was extinct, the pride and 
 ambition of manhood were over ; in- 
 stead of erecting palaces and lofty castles, he 
 began now to turn his thoughts upon the grave 
 and to build his last earthly habitation, the 
 sepulchre. 
 
 Before erecting his own, he had one built of 
 rich and stately workmanship for his first wife, 
 the object of his early love, and her remains 
 conveyed to it and interred with great solem- 
 nity. His own sepulchre, according to ancient 
 promise, was prepared at the chapel and her- 
 mitage of San Pedro at Arlanza, where he had 
 first communed with the holy Friar Pelayo. 
 When it was completed, he merely inscribed 
 upon it the word "Obijt," leaving the rest 
 to be supplied by others after his death. 
 
 234 
 
jfernan <3on3ale3 235 
 
 When the Moors perceived that Count Fer- 
 nan Gonzalez, once so redoubtable in arms, 
 was old and infirm, and given to build 
 tombs instead of castles, they thought it a 
 favorable time to make an inroad into Castile. 
 They passed the border, therefore, in great 
 numbers, laying everything waste and beard- 
 ing the old lion in his very den. 
 
 The veteran had laid by sword and buckler, 
 and had almost given up the world ; but the 
 sound of Moorish drum and trumpet called 
 him back even from the threshold of the sep- 
 ulchre. Buckling on once more his armor 
 and bestriding his war-steed, he summoned 
 around him his Castilian cavaliers, seasoned 
 like him in a thousand battles, and accom- 
 panied by his son Garcia Fernandez, who in- 
 herited all the valor of his father, issued forth 
 to meet the foe, followed by the shouts and 
 blessings of the populace, who enjoyed to see 
 him once more in arms and glowing with his 
 ancient fire. 
 
 The Moors were retiring from an extensive 
 ravage, laden with booty and driving before 
 them an immense cavalgada, when they des- 
 cried a squadron of cavaliers, armed all in 
 steel, emerging from a great cloud of dust, 
 and bearing aloft the silver cross, the well- 
 known standard of Count Fernan Gonzalez, 
 
236 Spanisb f>aper0 
 
 That veteran warrior came on, as usual, lead- 
 ing the way, sword in hand. The very sight 
 of his standard had struck dismay into the 
 enemy ; but they soon gave way before one of 
 his vigorous charges, nor did he cease to pur- 
 sue them until they took shelter within the 
 very walls of Cordova. Here he wasted the 
 surrounding country with fire and sword, and 
 after thus braving the Moor in his very capital, 
 returned triumphant to Burgos. 
 
 " Such," says Fray Antonio Agapida, " was 
 the last campaign in this life of this most valor- 
 ous cavalier ' ' ; and now, abandoning all fur- 
 ther deeds of mortal enterprise in arms to his 
 son Garcia Fernandez, he addressed all his 
 thoughts, as he said, to prepare for his cam- 
 paign in the skies. He still talked as a veteran 
 warrior, whose whole life had been passed in 
 arms, but his talk was not of earthly warfare 
 nor of earthly kingdoms. He spoke only of 
 the kingdom of heaven, and what he must do 
 to make a successful inroad and gain an eternal 
 inheritance in that blessed country. 
 
 He was equally indefatigable in preparing 
 for his spiritual as for his mortal campaign. 
 Instead, however, of mailed warriors tramping 
 through his courts, and the shrill neigh of 
 steed or clang of trumpet echoing among their 
 walls, there were seen holy priests and bare- 
 
jfernan <3on3ale3 237 
 
 foot monks passing to and fro, and the halls 
 resounded with the sacred melody of litany 
 and psalm. So pleased was Heaven with the 
 good works of this pious cavalier, and espe- 
 cially with rich donations to churches and 
 monasteries which he made under the guid- 
 ance of his spiritual counsellors, that we are 
 told it was given to him to foresee in vision the 
 day and hour when he should pass from this 
 weary life and enter the mansions of eternal 
 rest. 
 
 Knowing that the time approached, he pre- 
 pared for his end like a good Christian. He 
 wrote to the kings of L,eon and Navarre in 
 terms of great humility, craving their pardon 
 for all past injuries and offenses, and entreat- 
 ing them, for the good of Christendom, to live 
 in peace and amity, and make common cause 
 for the defense of the faith. 
 
 Ten days before the time which Heaven had 
 appointed for his death he sent for the abbot 
 of the chapel and convent of Arlanza, and 
 bending his aged knees before him, confessed 
 all his sins. This done, as in former times he 
 had shown great state and ceremony in his 
 worldly pageants, so now he arranged his last 
 cavalgada to the grave. He prayed the abbot 
 to return to his monastery and have his sepul- 
 chre prepared for his reception, and that the 
 
238 Spantsb fl>apers 
 
 abbots of St. Sebastian and Silos and Quirce, 
 with a train of holy friars, might come at the 
 appointed day for his body ; that thus, as he 
 commended his soul to Heaven through the 
 hands of his confessor, he might, through the 
 hands of these pious men, resign his body to 
 the earth. 
 
 When the abbot had departed, the count de- 
 sired to be left alone ; and clothing himself in 
 a coarse friar's garb, he remained in fervent 
 prayer for the forgiveness of his sins. As he 
 had been a valiant captain all his life against 
 the enemies of the faith, so was he in death 
 against the enemies of the soul. He died in 
 the full command of all his faculties, making 
 no groans nor contortions, but rendering up 
 his spirit with the calmness of an heroic 
 cavalier. 
 
 We are told that when he died voices were 
 heard from heaven in testimony of his sanctity, 
 while the tears and lamentations of all Spain 
 proved how much he was valued and beloved 
 on earth. His remains were conveyed, accord- 
 ing to his request, to the monastery of St. Pedro 
 de Arlanza by a procession of holy friars with 
 solemn chant and dirge. In the church of that 
 convent they still repose ; and two paintings 
 are to be seen in the convent, — one represent- 
 ing the count valiantly fighting with the 
 
aFewan <3ott3ale3 239 
 
 Moors, the other conversing with St. Pelayo 
 and St. Millan, as they appeared to him in 
 vision before the battle of Hazinas. 
 
 The cross which he used as his standard is 
 still treasured up in the sacristy of the convent. 
 It is of massive silver, two ells in length, with 
 our Saviour sculptured upon it, and above the 
 head, in Gothic letters, I. N. R. I. Below is 
 Adam awaking from the grave, with the words 
 of St. Paul : " Awake, thou who sleepest, and 
 arise from the tomb, for Christ shall give thee 
 life." 
 
 This holy cross still has the form at the 
 lower end by which the standard-bearer rested 
 it in the pommel of his saddle. 
 
 " Inestimable," adds Fray Antonio Agapida, 
 " are the relics and remains of saints and 
 sainted warriors." In after times, when Fer- 
 nando the Third, surnamed the Saint, went to 
 the conquest of Seville, he took with him a 
 bone of this thrice-blessed and utterly re- 
 nowned cavalier, together with his sword and 
 pennon, hoping through their efficacy to suc- 
 ceed in his enterprise, — nor was he disap- 
 pointed ; but what is marvellous to hear, but 
 which we have on the authority of the good 
 Bishop Sandoval, on the day on which King 
 Fernando the Saint entered Seville in triumph, 
 great blows were heard to resound within the 
 
240 
 
 Spanisb fl>apers 
 
 sepulchre of the count at Arlanza, as if veri- 
 tably his bones which remained behind exulted 
 in the victory gained by those which had been 
 carried to the wars. Thus were marvellously 
 fulfilled the words of the holy psalm, — " Ex- 
 altabant ossa humilitata.''* 
 
 Here ends the chronicle of the most valorous 
 and renowned Don Fernan Gonzalez, Count of 
 Castile. Laus Deo. 
 
 * Sandoval, p. 334. 
 
CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE 
 SAINT. 
 
 16 241 
 
CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE 
 SAINT. 
 
 Cbapter H. 
 
 The Parentage of Fernando — Queen Berenguela— The 
 Ivaras — Don Alvar Conceals the Death of King 
 Henry — Mission of Queen Berenguela to Alfonso 
 IX. — She Renounces the Crown of Castile in Favor 
 of her son Fernando. 
 
 FERNANDO III., surnamed the Saint, 
 was the son of Alfonso III. King of 
 I,eon, and of Berenguela, a princess of 
 Castile ; but there were some particu- 
 lars concerning his parentage which it is nec- 
 essary clearly to state before entering upon his 
 personal history. 
 
 Alfonso III. of I^eon, and Alfonso IX. King 
 of Castile, were cousins, but there were dissen- 
 sions between them. The King of Iyeon, to 
 strengthen himself, married his cousin, the 
 
 243 
 
244 Spanisb ipapers 
 
 Princess Theresa, daughter of his uncle, the 
 King of Portugal. By her he had two daugh- 
 ters. The marriage was annulled by Pope 
 Celestine III. on account of their consanguin- 
 ity, and, on their making resistance, they were 
 excommunicated and the kingdom laid under 
 an interdict. This produced an unwilling 
 separation in 1195. Alfonso III. did not long 
 remain single. Fresh dissensions having 
 broken out between him and his cousin Al- 
 fonso IX. of Castile, they were amicably 
 adjusted by his marrying the Princess Beren- 
 guela, daughter of that monarch. This sec- 
 ond marriage, which took place about three 
 years after the divorce, came likewise under 
 the ban of the Church, and for the same rea- 
 son, the near propinquity of the parties. 
 Again the commands of the Pope were re- 
 sisted, and again the refractory parties were 
 excommunicated and the kingdom laid under 
 an interdict. 
 
 The unfortunate King of Leon was the more 
 unwilling to give up the present marriage, 
 as the Queen Berenguela had made him the 
 happy father of several children, one of whom 
 he hoped might one day inherit the two 
 crowns of Leon and Castile. 
 
 The intercession and entreaties of the bishops 
 of Castile so far mollified the rigor of the Pope, 
 
ffernanfco tbe Saint 245 
 
 that a compromise was made ; the legiti- 
 macy of the children by the present marriage 
 was not to be affected by the divorce of the 
 parents, and Fernando, the eldest, the subject 
 of the present chronicle, was recognized as 
 successor to his father to the throne of I^eon. 
 The divorced Queen Berenguela left Fernando 
 in I>on, and returned in 1204 to Castile, to 
 the court of her father, Alfonso III. Here 
 she remained until the death of her father in 
 12 14, who was succeeded by his son Enrique, 
 or Henry I. The latter being only in his 
 eleventh year, his sister, the ex-Queen Beren- 
 guela, was declared regent. She well merited 
 the trust, for she was a woman of great pru- 
 dence and wisdom, and a resolute and mag- 
 nanimous spirit. 
 
 At this time the house of L,ara had risen to 
 great power. There were three brothers of 
 that turbulent and haughty race, Don Alvar 
 Nunez, Don Fernan Nunez, and Don Gonzalo 
 Nunez. The I^aras had caused great trouble 
 in the kingdom during the minority of Prince 
 Henry's father, by arrogating to themselves 
 the regency ; and they attempted, in like man- 
 ner, to get the guardianship of the son, de- 
 claring it an office too important and difficult 
 to be intrusted to a woman. Having a power- 
 ful and unprincipled party among the nobles, 
 
246 Spanisb ipapere 
 
 and using great bribery among persons in 
 whom Berenguela confided, they carried their 
 point ; and the virtuous Berenguela, to pre- 
 vent civil commotions, resigned the regency 
 into the hands of Don Alvar Nunez de I^ara, 
 the head of that ambitious house. First, how- 
 ever, she made him kneel and swear that he 
 would conduct himself toward the youthful 
 King Enrique as a thorough friend and a loyal 
 vassal, guarding his person from all harm ; 
 that he would respect the property of individ- 
 uals, and undertake nothing of importance 
 without the counsel and consent of Queen Be- 
 renguela. Furthermore, that he would guard 
 and respect the hereditary possessions of Queen 
 Berenguela, left to her by her father, and 
 would always serve her as his sovereign, the 
 daughter of his deceased king. All this Don 
 Alvar Nunez solemnly swore upon the sacred 
 evangelists and the holy cross. 
 
 No sooner, however, had he got the young 
 king in his power, than he showed the ambi- 
 tion, rapacity, and arrogance of his nature. 
 He prevailed upon the young king to make 
 him a count ; he induced him to hold cortes 
 without the presence of Queen Berenguela ; 
 issuing edicts in the king's name, he banished 
 refractory nobles, giving their offices and lands 
 to his brothers ; he levied exactions on rich 
 
ffernan^o tbe Saint 247 
 
 and poor, and, what is still more flagrant, he 
 extended these exactions to the Church. In 
 vain did Queen Berenguela remonstrate ; in 
 vain did the Dean of Toledo thunder forth an 
 excommunication ; he scoffed at them both, 
 for in the king's name he persuaded himself 
 he had a tower of strength. He even sent a 
 letter to Queen Berenguela in the name of the 
 young king, demanding of her the castles, 
 towns, and ports which had been left to her 
 by her father. The queen was deeply grieved 
 at this letter, and sent a reply to the king that, 
 when she saw him face to face, she would do 
 with those possessions whatever he should 
 command, as her brother and sovereign. 
 
 On receiving this message, the young king 
 was shocked and distressed that such a de- 
 mand should have been made in his name ; 
 but he was young and inexperienced, and 
 could not openly contend w T ith a man of Don 
 Alvar's overbearing character. He wrote se- 
 cretly to the queen, however, assuring her 
 that the demand had been made without his 
 knowledge, and saying how gladly he would 
 come to her if he could, and be relieved from 
 the thraldom of Don Alvar. 
 
 In this way the unfortunate prince was made 
 an instrument in the hands of this haughty 
 and arrogant nobleman of inflicting all kinds 
 
248 Spani5b papers 
 
 of wrongs and injuries upon his subjects. Don 
 Alvar constantly kept him with him, carrying 
 him from place to place of his dominions, 
 wherever his presence was necessary to effect 
 some new measure of tyranny. He even en- 
 deavored to negotiate a marriage between the 
 young king and some neighboring princess, in 
 order to retain an influence over him, but in 
 this he was unsuccessful. 
 
 For three years had he maintained this in- 
 iquitous sway, until one day in 121 7, when the 
 young king was with him at Palencia, and was 
 playing with some youthful companions in the 
 court-yard of the episcopal palace, a tile, either 
 falling from the roof of a tower, or sportively 
 thrown by one of his companions, struck him in 
 the head, and inflicted a wound of which he 
 presently died. 
 
 This was a fatal blow to the power of Don 
 Alvar. To secure himself from any sudden 
 revulsion in the popular mind, he determined 
 to conceal the death of the king as long as pos- 
 sible, and gave out that he had retired to the 
 fortress of Tariego, whither he had the body 
 conveyed, as if still living. He continued to 
 issue despatches from time to time in the name 
 of the king, and made various excuses for his 
 non-appearance in public. 
 
 Queen Berenguela soon learned the truth. 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 249 
 
 According to the laws of Castile she was heiress 
 to the crown, but she resolved to transfer it to 
 her son Fernando, who, being likewise ac- 
 knowledged successor to the crown of I,eon, 
 would unite the two kingdoms under his rule. 
 To effect her purpose she availed herself of the 
 cunning of her enemy, kept secret her knowl- 
 edge of the death of her brother, and sent two 
 of her confidential cavaliers, Don IyOpe Diaz de 
 Haro, Sefior of Biscay, and Don Gonzalo Ruiz 
 Giron, and Don Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, to 
 her late husband, Alfonso IX., King of Leon, 
 who, with her son Fernando, was then at Toro, 
 entreating him to send the latter to her to pro- 
 tect her from the tyranny of Don Alvar. The 
 prudent mother, however, forebore to let King 
 Alfonso know cf her brother's death, lest it 
 awaken in him ambitious thoughts about the 
 Castilian crown. 
 
 This mission being sent, she departed with 
 the cavaliers of her party for Palencia. The 
 death of the King Enrique being noised about, 
 she was honored as Queen of Castile, and Don 
 Tello, the bishop, came forth in procession 
 to receive her. The next day she proceeded 
 to the castle of Duenas, and, on its making 
 some show of resistance, took it by force. 
 
 The cavaliers who were with the queen en- 
 deavored to effect a reconciliation between her 
 
250 Spanish papers 
 
 and Don Alvar, seeing the latter had powerful 
 connections, and through his partisans and re- 
 tainers held possession of the principal towns 
 and fortresses; that haughty nobleman, how- 
 ever, would listen to no proposals unless the 
 Prince Fernando was given into his guardian- 
 ship, as had been the Prince Enrique. 
 
 In the meantime the request of Queen Beren- 
 guela had been granted by her late husband, 
 the King of Leon, and her son Fernando, has- 
 tened to meet her. The meeting took place at 
 the castle of Otiella, and happy was the anxious 
 mother once more to embrace her son. At her 
 command the cavaliers in her train elevated 
 him on the trunk of an elm-tree for a throne, 
 and hailed him king with great acclamations. 
 
 They now proceeded to Valladolid, which at 
 that time was a great and wealthy town. 
 Here the nobility and chivalry of Estremadura 
 and other parts hastened to pay homage to the 
 queen. A stage was erected in the market- 
 place, where the assembled states acknowledged 
 her for queen and swore fealty to her. She im- 
 mediately, in presence of her nobles, prelates, 
 and people, renounced the crown in favor of 
 her son. The air rang with the shouts of 
 "Long live Fernando, King of Castile ! " 
 The bishops and clergy then conducted the 
 king in state to the church. This was on the 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 
 
 251 
 
 31st of August, 1 217, and about three months 
 from the death of King Enrique. 
 
 Fernando was at this time about eighteen 
 years of age, an accomplished cavalier, having 
 been instructed in everything befitting a prince 
 and a warrior. 
 
Cbapter H1T. 
 
 King Alfonso of Leon Ravages Castile — Captivity of 
 Don Alvar — Death of the Laras. 
 
 KING ALFONSO of I^eon was exceed- 
 ingly exasperated at the furtive man- 
 ner in which his son Fernando had left 
 him, without informing him of King 
 Henry's death. He considered, and perhaps 
 with reason, the transfer of the crown of Castile 
 by Berenguela to her son, as a manoeuvre to 
 evade any rights or claims which he, King 
 Alfonso, might have over her, notwithstand- 
 ing their divorce ; and he believed that both 
 mother and son had conspired to deceive and 
 outwit him ; and, what was especially pro- 
 voking, they had succeeded. It was natural 
 for King Alfonso to have become by this time 
 exceedingly irritable and sensitive ; he had 
 been repeatedly thwarted in his dearest con- 
 cerns ; excommunicated out of two wives by 
 the Pope, and now, as he conceived, cajoled 
 out of a kingdom. 
 
 252 
 
jFernanfco tbe Saint 253 
 
 In his wrath he flew to arms, — a prompt and 
 customary recourse of kings in those days 
 when they had no will to consult but their 
 own ; and notwithstanding the earnest expos- 
 tulations and entreaties of holy men, he entered 
 Castile with an army, ravaging the legitimate 
 inheritance of his son, as if it had been the 
 territory of an enemy. He was seconded in 
 his outrages by Count Alvar Nunez de Lara 
 and his two bellicose brothers, who hoped still 
 to retain power by rallying under his standard. 
 
 There were at this time full two thousand 
 cavaliers with the youthful king, resolute men, 
 well armed and well appointed, and they urged 
 him to lead them against the King of Leon. 
 Queen Berenguela, however, interposed and 
 declared her son should never be guilty of the 
 impiety of taking up arms against his father. 
 By her advice King Fernando sent an embassy 
 to his father, expostulating with him, and 
 telling him that he ought to be thankful to 
 God that Castile was in the hands of a son 
 disposed at all times to honor and defend him, 
 instead of a stranger who might prove a dan- 
 gerous foe. 
 
 King Alfonso, however, was not so to be 
 appeased. By the ambassadors he sent pro- 
 posals to Queen Berenguela that they reenter 
 into wedlock, for which he would procure a 
 
254 Spantsb papers 
 
 dispensation from the Pope ; they would then 
 be jointly sovereigns of both Castile and I^eon, 
 and the Prince Fernando, their son, should 
 inherit both crowns. But the virtuous Beren- 
 guela recoiled from this proposal of a second 
 nuptials. "God forbid/ ' replied she, "that I 
 should return to a sinful marriage ; and as to 
 the crown of Castile, it now belongs to my 
 son, to whom I have given it with the sanc- 
 tion of God and the good men of this realm.' ' 
 
 King Alfonso was more enraged than ever 
 by this reply, and, being incited and aided by 
 Count Alvar and his faction, he resumed his 
 ravages, laying waste the country and burn- 
 ing the villages. He would have attacked 
 Duenas, but found that place strongly garri- 
 soned by Diego Lopez de Haro and Ruy Diaz 
 de los Cameros ; he next marched upon Bur- 
 gos, but that place was equally well garrisoned 
 by Lope Diez de Faro and other stout Cas- 
 tilian cavaliers ; so perceiving his son to be 
 more firmly seated upon the throne than he 
 had imagined, and that all his own menaces 
 and ravages were unavailing, he returned 
 deeply chagrined to his kingdom. 
 
 King Fernando, in obedience to the dictates 
 of his mother as well as of his own heart, 
 abstained from any acts of retaliation on his 
 father ; but he turned his arms against Munon 
 
jfernan&o the Saint 255 
 
 and L,erma and I,ara, and other places which 
 either belonged to, or held out for, Count Al- 
 var, and, having subdued them, proceeded to 
 Burgos, the capital of his kingdom, where he 
 was received by the bishop and clergy with 
 great solemnity, and whither the nobles and 
 chivalry from all parts of Castile hastened to 
 rally round his throne. The turbulent Count 
 Alvar Nunez de I^ara and his brothers retain- 
 ing other fortresses too strong to be easily 
 taken, refused all allegiance, and made ravag- 
 ing excursions over the country. The prudent 
 and provident Berenguela, therefore, while at 
 Burgos, seeing that the troubles and conten- 
 tions of the kingdom would cause great ex- 
 pense and prevent much revenue, gathered to- 
 gether all her jewels of gold and silver and 
 precious stones, and all her plate and rich silks, 
 and other precious things, and caused them to 
 be sold, and gave the money to her son to 
 defray the cost of these civil wars. 
 
 King Fernando and his mother departed 
 shortly afterwards for Palencia ; on their way 
 they had to pass by Herrera, which at that 
 time was the stronghold of Count Alvar. 
 When the king came in sight, Count Fernan 
 Nunez, with his battalions, was on the banks 
 of the river, but drew within the walls. As 
 the king had to pass close by with his retinue, 
 
256 Spanisb papers 
 
 lie ordered his troops to be put into good order, 
 and gave it in charge to Alonzo Tellez and 
 Suer Tellez and Alvar Ruyz to protect the 
 flanks. 
 
 As the royal troops drew near, Count Alvar, 
 leaving his people in the town, sallied forth 
 with a few cavaliers to regard the army as it 
 passed. Affecting great contempt for the youth- 
 ful king and his cavaliers, he stood drawn up 
 on a rising ground with his attendants, look- 
 ing down upon the troops with scornful aspect, 
 and rejecting all advice to retire into the town. 
 
 As the king and his immediate escort came 
 nigh, their attention was attracted to this little 
 body of proud w T arriors drawn up upon a bank 
 and regarding them so loftily ; and Alonzo 
 Tellez and Suer Tellez looking more closely, 
 recognized Don Alvar, and putting spurs to 
 their horses, dashed up the bank, followed by 
 several cavaliers. Don Alvar repented of his 
 vain confidence too late, and seeing great 
 numbers urging towards him, turned his reins 
 and retreated toward the town. Still his 
 stomach was too high for absolute flight, and 
 the others, who spurred after him at full speed, 
 overtook him. Throwing himself from his 
 horse, he covered himself with his shield and 
 prepared for defense. Alonzo Tellez, however, 
 called to his men not to kill the count, but to 
 
ilfernanDo tbe Saint 257 
 
 take him prisoner. He was accordingly cap- 
 tured, with several of his followers, and borne 
 off to the king and queen. The count had 
 everything to apprehend from their vengeance 
 for his misdeeds. They used no personal 
 harshness, however, but demanded from him 
 that he should surrender all the castles and 
 strong places held by the retainers and parti- 
 sans of his brothers and himself, that he 
 should furnish one hundred horsemen to aid 
 in their recovery, and should remain a prisoner 
 until those places were all in the possession of 
 the crown. 
 
 Captivity broke the haughty spirit of Don 
 Alvar. He agreed to those conditions, and 
 until they should be fulfilled was consigned to 
 the charge of Gonsalvo Ruyz Giron, and con- 
 fined in the castle of Valladolid. The places 
 were delivered up in the course of a few months, 
 and thus King Fernando became strongly 
 possessed of his kingdom. 
 
 Stripped of power, state, and possessions, 
 Count Alvar and his brothers, after an ineffec- 
 tual attempt to rouse the King of Leon to 
 another campaign against his son, became 
 savage and desperate, and made predatory 
 excursions, pillaging the country, until Count 
 Alvar fell mortally ill of hydropsy. Struck 
 
 with remorse and melancholy, he repaired to 
 17 
 
258 Spaniab papers 
 
 Toro and entered the chivalrous order of San- 
 tiago, that he might gain the indulgences 
 granted by the Pope to those who die in that 
 order, and hoping, says an ancient chronicler, 
 to oblige God, as it were, by that religious 
 ceremony, to pardon his sins.* His illness 
 endured seven months, and he was reduced to 
 such poverty that at his death there was not 
 money enough left by him to convey his body 
 to Ucles, where he had requested to be buried, 
 nor to pay for tapers for his funeral. When 
 Queen Berenguela heard this, she ordered that 
 the funeral should be honorably performed at 
 her own expense, and sent a cloth of gold to 
 cover the bier.f 
 
 The brother of Count Alvar, Don Fernando, 
 abandoned his country in despair and went to 
 Marocco, where he was well received by the 
 miramamolin, and had lands and revenues 
 assigned to him. He became a great favorite 
 among the Moors, to whom he used to recount 
 his deeds in the civil wars of Castile. At length 
 he fell dangerously ill, and caused himself to 
 be taken to a suburb inhabited by Christians. 
 There happened to be there at that time one 
 Don Gonsalvo, a knight of the order of the 
 
 * Cronica Gotica ) por Don Alonzo Nunez de Castro, 
 p. 17. 
 f Cronica General de Espana^ pt. 3, p. 370. 
 
jfernan&o tbe Saint 259 
 
 Hospital of St. John de Acre, and who had 
 been in the service of Pope Innocent III. Don 
 Fernando, finding his end approaching, en- 
 treated of the knight his religious habit, that 
 he might die in it. His request was granted, 
 and thus Count Fernando died in the habit of 
 a Knight Hospital of St. John de Acre, in 
 Elbora, a suburb of Marocco. His body was 
 afterwards brought to Spain, and interred in 
 a town on the banks of the Pisuerga, in which 
 repose likewise the remains of his wife and 
 children. 
 
 The Count Gonsalvo Nunez de I,ara, the 
 third of these brothers, also took refuge among 
 the Moors. He was seized with violent disease 
 in the city of Baeza, where he died. His body 
 was conveyed to Campos a Zalmos, which 
 appertained to the Friars of the Temple, where 
 the holy fraternity gave it the rites of sepulture 
 with all due honor. Such was the end of these 
 three brothers of the once proud and powerful 
 house of Lara, whose disloyal deeds had 
 harassed their country and brought ruin upon 
 themselves. 
 
Cbapter 1F1T1L 
 
 Marriage of King Fernando — Campaign against the 
 Moors — Aben Mohamed, King of Baeza, Declares 
 himself the Vassal of King Fernando — They March 
 to Jaen — Burning of the Tower — Fernando Com- 
 mences the Building of the Cathedral at Toledo. 
 
 KING FERNANDO, aided by the sage 
 counsels of his mother, reigned for 
 some time in peace and quietness, ad- 
 ministering his affairs with equity and 
 justice. The good Queen Berenguela now 
 began to cast about her eyes in search of a 
 suitable alliance for her son, and had many 
 consultations with the Bishop Maurice of Bur- 
 gos, and other ghostly counsellors, thereupon. 
 They at length agreed upon the Princess Bea- 
 trix, daughter of the late Philip, Emperor of 
 Germany, and the Bishop Maurice and Padre 
 Fray Pedro de Arlanza were sent as envoys to 
 the Emperor Frederick II., cousin of the prin- 
 cess, to negotiate the terms. An arrangement 
 was happily effected, and the princess set out 
 
 260 
 
jfernan&o tbe Saint 261 
 
 for Spain. In passing through France she 
 was courteously entertained at Paris by King 
 Philip, who made her rich presents. On the 
 borders of Castile she was met at Vittoria by 
 the Queen Berenguela, with a great train of 
 prelates, monks, and masters of the religious 
 orders, and of abbesses and nuns, together 
 with a glorious train of chivalry. In this state 
 she was conducted to Burgos, where the king 
 and all his court came forth to receive her, 
 and their nuptials were celebrated with great 
 pomp and rejoicing. 
 
 King Fernando lived happily with his fair 
 Queen Beatrix, and his kingdom remained in 
 peace ; but by degrees he became impatient of 
 quiet, and anxious to make war upon the 
 Moors. Perhaps he felt called upon to make 
 some signal essay in arms at present, having, 
 the day before his nuptials, been armed a 
 knight in the monastery of I^as Huelgos, and 
 in those iron days knighthood was not a matter 
 of mere parade and ceremony, but called for 
 acts of valor and proofs of stern endurance. 
 
 The discreet Berenguela endeavored to dis- 
 suade her son from taking the field, consider- 
 ing him not of sufficient age. In all things 
 else he was ever obedient to her counsels, and 
 even to her inclinations, but it was in vain that 
 she endeavored to persuade him from making 
 
262 Spanisb papers 
 
 war upon the infidels. " God," would he say, 
 ' * had put into his hands not merely a sceptre 
 to govern, but a sword to avenge his country. " 
 
 It was fortunate for the good cause, more- 
 over, add the Spanish chroniclers, that while 
 the queen-mother was endeavoring to throw a 
 damper on the kindling fire of her son, a worthy 
 prelate was at hand to stir it up into a blaze. 
 This was the illustrious historian Rodrigo, 
 Archbishop of Toledo, who now preached a 
 crusade against the Moors, promising like in- 
 dulgences with those granted to the warriors 
 for the Holy Sepulchre. The consequence was 
 a great assemblage of troops from all parts at 
 Toledo. 
 
 King Fernando was prevented for a time from 
 taking the field in person, but sent in advance 
 Don Lope Diaz de Haro and Ruy Gonsalvo de 
 Giron and Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, with five 
 hundred cavaliers, well armed and mounted. 
 The very sight of them effected a conquest 
 over Aben Mohamed, the Moorish King of 
 Baeza, insomuch that he sent an embassy to 
 King Fernando, declaring himself his vassal. 
 
 When King Fernando afterwards took the 
 field, he was joined by this Moorish ally at the 
 Navas or plains of Tolosa ; who was in com- 
 pany with him when the king marched to Jaen, 
 to the foot of a tower, and set fire to it, where- 
 
3f etnanfco tbe Saint 263 
 
 upon those Moors who remained in the tower 
 were burned to death, and those who leaped 
 from the walls were received on the points of 
 lances. 
 
 Notwithstanding the burnt-offering of this 
 tower, Heaven did not smile upon the attempt 
 of King Fernando to reduce the city of Jaen. 
 He was obliged to abandon the siege, but con- 
 soled himself by laying waste the country. 
 He was more successful elsewhere. He carried 
 the strong town of Priego by assault, and gave 
 the garrison their lives on condition of yielding 
 up all their property, and paying, moreover, 
 eighty thousand maravedis of silver. For the 
 payment of this sum they were obliged to give 
 as hostages fifty-five damsels of great beauty, 
 and fifty cavaliers of rank, besides nine hun- 
 dred of the common people. The king divided 
 his hostages among his bravest cavaliers and 
 the religious orders ; but his vassal, the Moor- 
 ish King of Baeza, obtained the charge of the 
 Moorish damsels. 
 
 The king then attacked L,oxa, and his men 
 scaled the walls and burnt the gates, and made 
 themselves masters of the place. He then led 
 his army into the Vega of Granada, the inhabi- 
 tants of which submitted to become his vassals, 
 and gave up all the Christian captives in that 
 city, amounting to thirteen hundred. 
 
264 Spanisb papers 
 
 Aben Mohamed, king of Baeza, then deliv- 
 ered to King Fernando the towers of Martos 
 and Andujar, and the king gave them to Don 
 Alvar Perez de Castro and placed with him 
 Don Gonzalo Ybafiez, Master of Calatrava, and 
 Tello Alonzo Meneses, son of Don Alonzo 
 Tellez, and other stout cavaliers, fitted to main- 
 tain frontier posts. These arrangements being 
 made, and having ransacked every mountain 
 and valley, and taken many other places not 
 herein specified, King Fernando returned in 
 triumph to Toledo, where he was joyfully re- 
 ceived by his mother Berenguela and his wife 
 Beatrix. 
 
 Clerical historians do not fail to record with 
 infinite satisfaction a signal instance of the de- 
 vout and zealous spirit which King Fernando 
 had derived from his constant communion with 
 the reverend fathers of the Church. As the 
 king was one day walking with his ghostly ad- 
 viser the archbishop, in the principal church 
 of Toledo, which was built in the Moresco 
 fashion, having been a mosque of the infidels, 
 it occurred, or more probably was suggested to 
 him, that, since God had aided him to increase 
 his kingdom, and had given him such victories 
 over the enemies of his holy faith, it became 
 him to rebuild his holy temple, which was an- 
 cient and falling to decay, and to adorn it richly 
 
jfernanfco tbe Saint 
 
 265 
 
 with the spoils taken from the Moors. The 
 thought was promptly carried into effect. The 
 king and the archbishop laid the first stone 
 with great solemnity, and in the fullness of 
 time accomplished that mighty cathedral of 
 Toledo, which remains the wonder and admira- 
 tion of after-ages. 
 
Cbapter W. 
 
 Assassination of Aben Mohamed — His Head Carried 
 as a Present to Abullale, the Moorish King of Seville 
 — Advance of the Christians into Andalusia — Abul- 
 lale Purchases a Truce. 
 
 THK worthy Fray Antonio Agapida records 
 various other victories and achieve- 
 ments of King Fernando in a subse- 
 quent campaign against the Moors of 
 Andalusia ; in the course of which his camp 
 was abundantly supplied with grain by his 
 vassal Aben Mohamed, the Moorish King of 
 Baeza. The assistance rendered by that Mos- 
 lem monarch to the Christian forces in their 
 battles against those of his own race and his 
 own faith, did not meet with the reward it 
 merited. * ' Doubtless, ' ' says Antonio Aga- 
 pida, ' ' because he halted half way in the right 
 path, and did not turn thorough renegado.' , 
 It appears that his friendship for the Christians 
 gave great disgust to his subjects, and some of 
 
 266 
 
JFetnan&o tbe Saint 267 
 
 them rose upon him, while he was sojourning 
 in the city of Cordova, and sought to destroy 
 him. Aben Mohamed fled by a gate leading 
 to the gardens, to take shelter in the tower of 
 Almodovar ; but the assassins overtook him, 
 and slew him on a hill near the tower. They 
 then cut off his head and carried it as a present 
 to Abullale, the Moorish king of Seville, ex- 
 pecting to be munificently rewarded ; but that 
 monarch gave command that their heads should 
 be struck off and their bodies thrown to the 
 dogs, as traitors to their liege lords.* 
 
 King Fernando was grieved when he heard 
 of the assassination of his vassal, and feared 
 the death of Aben Mohamed might lead to a 
 rising of the Moors. He sent notice to Andu- 
 jar, to Don Alvar Perez de Castro and Alonzo 
 Tellez de Meneses, to be on their guard ; but 
 the Moors, fearing punishment for some rebel- 
 lious movements, abandoned the town, and it 
 fell into the hands of the king. The Moors of 
 Martos did the like. The Alcazar of Baeza 
 yielded also to the king, who placed in it Don 
 Lope Diaz de Haro with five hundred men. 
 
 Abullale, the Moorish sovereign of Seville, 
 was alarmed at seeing the advances which the 
 Christians were making in Andalusia ; and at- 
 tempted to wrest from their hands these newly 
 * Cron. Gen. de Espana, pt. 4, fol. 373. 
 
268 Spanisb papers 
 
 acquired places. He marched upon Martos, 
 which was not strongly walled. The Countess 
 Dona Yrenia, wife to Don Alvar Perez de Cas- 
 tro, was in this place, and her husband w 7 as 
 absent. Don Tello Alonzo, with a Spanish 
 force, hastened to her assistance. Finding the 
 town closely invested, he formed his men into 
 a troop, and endeavored to cut his way through 
 the enemy. A rude conflict ensued, the cava- 
 liers fought their way forward, and Christian 
 and Moor arrived pell-mell at the gate of the 
 town. Here the press was excessive. Fernan 
 Gomez de Pudiello, a stout cavalier, who bore 
 the pennon of Don Tello Alonzo, was slain, 
 and the same fate would have befallen Don 
 Tello himself, but that a company of esquires 
 sallied from the town to his rescue. 
 
 King Abullale now encircled the town, and 
 got possession of the Pefia, or rock, which 
 commands it, killing two hundred Christians 
 w r ho defended it. 
 
 Provisions began to fail the besieged, and 
 they were reduced to slay their horses for food, 
 and even to eat the hides. Don Gonsalvo 
 Ybafiez, master of Calatrava, who was in Baeza, 
 hearing of the extremity of the place, came 
 suddenly with seventy men and effected an en- 
 trance. The augmentation of the garrison 
 only served to increase the famine, without 
 
jfernanfco tbe Saint 269 
 
 being sufficient in force to raise the siege. At 
 length word was brought to Don Alvar Perez 
 de Castro, who was with the king at Guada- 
 laxara, of the imminent danger to which his 
 wife was exposed. He instantly set off for 
 her relief, accompanied by several cavaliers 
 of note, and a strong force. They succeeded 
 in getting into Martos, recovered the Pena, 
 or rock, and made such vigorous defense that 
 Abullale abandoned the siege in despair. In 
 the following year King Fernando led his host 
 to take revenge upon this Moorish King of 
 Seville ; but the latter purchased a truce for 
 one year with three hundred maravedis of 
 silver.* 
 
 * Cron. Gen. de Espana, pt. 4, c. ii. 
 
 
Cbapter ID. 
 
 Aben Hud — Abullale Purchases Another Year's Truce 
 — Fernando Hears of the Death of his Father, the 
 King of I/eon, while Pressing the Siege of Jaen — 
 He Becomes Sovereign of the Two Kingdoms of 
 Leon and Castile. 
 
 ABOUT this time a valiant sheik, named 
 Aben Abdallar Mohammed ben Hud, 
 but commonly called Aben Hud, was 
 effecting a great revolution in Moorish 
 affairs. He was of the lineage of Aben Alfange, 
 and bitterly opposed to the sect of Almohades, 
 who for a long time had exercised a tyrannical 
 sway. Stirring up the Moors of Murcia to rise 
 upon their oppressors, he put himself at their 
 head, massacred all the Almohades that fell 
 into his hands, and made himself sheik or 
 king of that region. He purified the mosques 
 with water, after the manner in which Chris- 
 tians purify their churches, as though they had 
 been defiled by the Almohades. Aben Hud 
 
 270 
 
ffernan&o tbe Saint 271 
 
 acquired a name among those of his religion 
 for justice and good faith as well as valor ; 
 and after some opposition, gained sway over 
 all Andalusia. This brought him in collision 
 with King Fernando. . . . 
 
 U^° (Something is wanting here.)* 
 laying waste fields of grain. The Moorish 
 sovereign of Seville purchased another year's 
 truce of him for three hundred thousand mara- 
 vedis of silver. Aben Hud, on the other hand, 
 collected a great force and marched to oppose 
 him, but did not dare to give him battle. He 
 went, therefore, upon Merida, and fought with 
 King Alfonso of I^eon, father of King Fer- 
 nando, where, however, he met with complete 
 discomfiture. 
 
 * The hiatus, here noted by the author, has evi- 
 dently arisen from the loss of a leaf of his manuscript. 
 The printed line which precedes the parenthesis con- 
 cludes page 32 of the manuscript ; the line which 
 follows it begins page 34. The intermediate page is 
 wanting. I presume the author did not become con- 
 scious of his loss until he had resorted to his manu- 
 script for revision, and that he could not depend upon 
 his memory to supply what was wanting without a 
 fresh resort to authorities not at hand. Hence a post- 
 ponement and ultimate omission. The missing leaf 
 would scarce have filled half a page of print, and, it 
 would seem from the context, must have related the 
 invasion of Andalusia by Fernando and the ravages 
 committed bv his armies, — Kd. 
 
272 Spanisb papers 
 
 On the following year King Fernando re- 
 peated his invasion of Andalusia, and was 
 pressing the siege of the city of Jaen, which 
 he assailed by means of engines discharging 
 stones, when a courier arrived in all speed 
 from his mother, informing him that his 
 father, Alfonso, was dead, and urging him to 
 proceed instantly to L,eon, to enforce his pre- 
 tensions to the crown. King Fernando ac- 
 cordingly raised the siege of Jaen, sending his 
 engines to Martos, and repaired to Castile, to 
 consult with his mother, who was his counsellor 
 on all occasions. 
 
 It appeared that in his last will King Alfonso 
 had named his two daughters joint heirs to the 
 crown. Some of the L,eonese and Gallegos were 
 disposed to place the Prince Alonzo, brother to 
 King Fernando, on the throne ; but he had 
 listened to the commands of his mother, and 
 had resisted all suggestions of the kind ; the 
 larger part of the kingdom, including the most 
 important cities, had declared for Fernando. 
 
 Accompanied by his mother, King Fernando 
 proceeded instantly into the kingdom of Leon 
 with a powerful force. Wherever they went 
 the cities threw open their gates to them. The 
 princesses Dona Sancha and Dona Dulce, with 
 their mother, Theresa, would have assembled 
 a force to oppose them, but the prelates were 
 
ffetnanOo tbe Saint 273 
 
 all in favor of King Fernando. On his ap- 
 proach to Leon, the bishops and clergy and all 
 the principal inhabitants came forth to receive 
 him, and conducted him to the cathedral, where 
 he received their homage, and was proclaimed 
 king, with the Te Deums of the choir and the 
 shouts of the people. 
 
 Dona Theresa, who, with her daughters, 
 was in Galicia, finding the kingdom thus dis- 
 posed of, sent to demand provision for herself 
 and the two princesses, who, in fact, were step- 
 sisters of King Fernando. Queen Berenguela, 
 though she had some reason not to feel kindly 
 disposed towards Dona Theresa, who she 
 might think had been exercising a secret in- 
 fluence over her late husband, yet suppressed 
 all such feelings, and undertook to repair in 
 person to Galicia, and negotiate this singular 
 family question. She had an interview with 
 Queen Theresa at Valencia de Merlio in Gali- 
 cia, and arranged a noble dower for her, and 
 an annual revenue to each of her daughters of 
 thirty thousand maravedis of gold. The king 
 then had a meeting with his sisters at Bene- 
 vente, where they resigned all pretensions to 
 the throne. All the fortified places which held 
 for them were given up, and thus Fernando 
 became undisputed sovereign of the two king- 
 doms of Castile and Iyeon. 
 18 
 
Chapter OT. 
 
 Expedition of the Prince Alonzo against the Moors — 
 Encamps on the Banks of the Guadalete — Aben 
 Hud Marches Out from Xerez and Gives Battle- 
 Prowess of Garcia Perez de Vargas — Flight and 
 Pursuit of the Moors — Miracle of the Blessed San- 
 tiago. 
 
 KING FERNANDO III. having, through 
 the sage counsel and judicious manage- 
 ment of his mother, made this amica- 
 ble arrangement with his step-sisters, 
 by which he gained possession of their inheri- 
 tance, now found his territories to extend from 
 the Bay of Biscay to the vicinity of the Guad- 
 alquivir, and from the bonders of Portugal to 
 those of Aragon and Valencia ; and in addi- 
 tion to his titles of King of Castile and lyeon, 
 called himself King of Spain by seigniorial 
 right. Being at peace with all his Christian 
 neighbors, he now prepared to carry on with 
 more zeal and vigor than ever his holy wars 
 
 274 
 
aFernan&o tbe Saint 275 
 
 against the infidels. While making a progress, 
 however, through his dominions, administer- 
 ing justice, he sent his brother, the Prince 
 Alonzo, to make an expedition into the coun- 
 try of the Moors, and to attack the newly-risen 
 power of Aben Hud. 
 
 As the Prince Alonzo was young and of little 
 experience, the king sent Don Alvar Perez de 
 Castro, the Castilian, with him as captain, he 
 being stout of heart, strong of hand, and 
 skilled in war. The prince and his captain 
 went from Salamanca to Toledo, where they 
 recruited their force with a troop of cavalry. 
 Thence they proceeded to Andujar, where they 
 sent out corredores, or light foraging troops, 
 who laid waste the country, plundering and 
 destroying and bringing off great booty. 
 Thence they directed their ravaging course tow- 
 ard Cordova, assaulted and carried Palma, and 
 put all its inhabitants to the sword. Follow- 
 ing the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir, they 
 scoured the vicinity of Seville, and continued 
 onward for Xerez, sweeping off cattle and 
 sheep from the pastures of Andalusia ; driv- 
 ing on long cavalgadas of horses and mules 
 laden with spoil ; until the earth shook with 
 the tramping of their feet, and their course 
 was marked by clouds of dust and the smoke 
 of burning villages. 
 
276 Spanfeb papers 
 
 In this desolating foray they were joined by 
 two hundred horse and three hundred foot, 
 Moorish allies, or rather vassals, being led by 
 the son of Aben Mohamed, the King of Baeza. 
 
 Arrived within sight of Xerez, they pitched 
 their tents on the banks of the Guadalete — 
 that fatal river, sadly renowned in the annals 
 of Spain for the overthrow of Roderick and 
 the perdition of the kingdom. 
 
 Here a good watch was set over the cap- 
 tured flocks and herds which covered the ad- 
 jacent meadows, while the soldiers, fatigued 
 with ravage, gave themselves up to repose on 
 the banks of the river, or indulged in feasting 
 and revelry, or gambled with each other for 
 their booty. 
 
 In the meantime Aben Hud, hearing of this 
 inroad, summoned all his chivalry of the sea- 
 board of Andalusia to meet him in Xerez. 
 They hastened to obey his call ; every leader 
 spurred for Xerez with his band of vassals. 
 Thither came also the King of the Azules, with 
 seven hundred horsemen, Moors of Africa, 
 light, vigorous, and active ; and the city was 
 full of troops. 
 
 The camp of Don Alonzo had a formidable 
 appearance at a distance, from the flocks and 
 herds which surrounded it, the vast number of 
 sumpter mules, and the numerous captives ; 
 
jFernanfco tbc Saint 277 
 
 but when Aben Hud came to reconnoitre it, he 
 found that its aggregate force did not exceed 
 three thousand five hundred men — a mere 
 handful in comparison to his army, and those 
 encumbered with cattle and booty. He an- 
 ticipated, therefore, an easy victory. He now 
 sallied forth from the city, and took his posi- 
 tion in the olive-fields between the Christians 
 and the city ; while the African horsemen were 
 stationed on each wing, with instructions to 
 hem in the Christians on either side, for he 
 was only apprehensive of their escaping. It is 
 even said that he ordered great quantities of 
 cords to be brought from the city, and osier 
 bands to be made by the soldiery, wherewith 
 to bind the multitude of prisoners about to fall 
 into their hands. His whole force he divided 
 into seven battalions, each containing from 
 fifteen hundred to two thousand cavalry. 
 With these he prepared to give battle. 
 
 When the Christians thus saw an over- 
 whelming force in front, cavalry hovering on 
 either flank, and the deep waters of the Guada- 
 lete behind them, they felt the perils of their 
 situation. 
 
 In this emergency Alvar Perez de Castro 
 showed himself the able captain that he had 
 been represented. Though apparently defer- 
 ring to the prince in council, he virtually took 
 
278 Spanfsb papers 
 
 command, riding among the troops lightly 
 armed, with truncheon in hand, encouraging 
 every one by word and look and fearless de- 
 meanor. To give the most formidable appear- 
 ance to their little host, he ordered that as 
 many as possible of the foot-soldiers should 
 mount upon the mules and beasts of burden, 
 and form a troop to be kept in reserve. Before 
 the battle he conferred the honor of knight- 
 hood on Garcia Perez de Vargas, a cavalier 
 destined to gain renown for hardy deeds of 
 arms. 
 
 When the troops were all ready for the field, 
 the prince exhorted them as good Christians 
 to confess their sins and obtain absolution. 
 There was a goodly number of priests and 
 friars with the army, as there generally was 
 with all the plundering expeditions of this holy 
 war, but there were not enough to confess all 
 the army ; those, therefore, who could not have 
 a priest or monk for the purpose, confessed to 
 each other. 
 
 Among the cavaliers were two noted for their 
 valor ; but who, though brothers-in-law, lived 
 in mortal feud. One was Diego Perez, vassal 
 to Alvar Perez and brother to him who had 
 just been armed knight ; the other was Pero 
 Miguel, both natives of Toledo. Diego Perez 
 was the one who had given cause of offense. 
 
jfernan&o tbe Saint 279 
 
 He now approached his adversary and asked 
 his pardon for that day only ; that, in a time 
 of such mortal peril, there might not be enmity 
 and malice in their hearts. The priests added 
 their exhortations to this request, but Pero 
 Miguel sternly refused pardon. When this 
 was told to the prince and Don Alvar, they 
 likewise entreated Don Miguel to pardon his 
 brother-in-law. " I will," replied he, "if he 
 will come to my arms and embrace me as a 
 brother." But Diego Perez declined the fra- 
 ternal embrace, for he saw danger in the eye 
 of Pero Miguel, and he knew his savage 
 strength and savage nature, and suspected 
 that he meant to strangle him. So Pero Mi- 
 guel went into battle without pardoning his 
 enemy who had implored forgiveness. 
 
 At this time, say the old chroniclers, the 
 shouts and yells of the Moorish army, the 
 sound of their cymbals, kettle-drums, and 
 other instruments of warlike music were so 
 great that heaven and earth seemed commin- 
 gled and confounded. In regarding the battle 
 about to overwhelm him, Alvar Perez saw that 
 the only chance was to form the whole army 
 into one mass, and by a headlong assault to 
 break the centre of the enemy. In this emer- 
 gency he sent word to the prince, who was in 
 the rear with the reserve and had five hundred 
 
28o Spanieb papers 
 
 captives in charge, to strike off the heads of 
 the captives and join him with the whole re- 
 serve. This bloody order was obeyed. The 
 prince came to the front, all formed together 
 in one dense column, and then, with the war- 
 cry, " Santiago ! Santiago ! Castile ! Castile ! " 
 charged upon the centre of the enemy. The 
 Moors' line was broken by the shock, squadron 
 after squadron was thrown into confusion, 
 Moors and Christians were intermingled, until 
 the field became one scene of desperate, chance- 
 medley fighting. Every Christian cavalier 
 fought as if the salvation of the field de- 
 pended upon his single arm. Garcia Perez de 
 Vargas, who had been knighted just before the 
 battle, proved himself worthy of the honor. 
 He had three horses killed under him, and 
 engaged in a desperate combat with the King 
 of the Azules, whom at length he struck dead 
 from his horse. The king had crossed from 
 Africa on a devout expedition in the cause of 
 the Prophet Mahomet. " Verily/ ' says An- 
 tonio Agapida, " he had his reward/' 
 
 Diego Perez was not behind his brother in 
 prowess ; and Heaven favored him in that 
 deadly fight, notwithstanding that he had not 
 been pardoned by his enemy. In the heat of 
 the battle he had broken both sword and lance ; 
 whereupon, tearing off a great knotted limb 
 
Jfernan&o tbe Saint 281 
 
 from an olive-tree, he laid about him with 
 such vigor and manhood that he who got one 
 blow in the head from the war-club never 
 needed another. Don Alvar Perez, who wit- 
 nessed his feats, was seized with delight. At 
 each fresh blow that cracked a Moslem skull 
 he would cry out : ' ' Assi ! assi ! Diego ; ma- 
 chacha ! machacha ! " (So ! so ! Diego ; smash 
 them ! smash them ! ) and from that day for- 
 ward that strong-handed cavalier went by the 
 name of Diego Machacha, or Diego the 
 Smasher, and it remained the surname of sev- 
 eral of his lineage. 
 
 At length the Moors gave way and fled for 
 the gates of Xerez ; being hotly pursued they 
 stumbled over the bodies of the slain, and thus 
 many were taken prisoners. At the gates the 
 press was so great that they killed each other 
 in striving to enter ; and the Christian sword 
 made slaughter under the walls. 
 
 The Christians gathered spoils of the field, 
 after this victory, until they were fatigued with 
 collecting them, and the precious articles found 
 in the Moorish tents were beyond calculation. 
 Their camp-fires were supplied with the shafts 
 of broken lances, and they found ample use 
 for the cords and osier bands which the Moors 
 had provided to bind their expected captives. 
 
 It was a theme of much marvel and solemn 
 
282 Spanteb papers 
 
 meditation that of all the distinguished cava- 
 liers who entered into this battle, not one was 
 lost, excepting the same Pero Miguel who 
 refused to pardon his adversary. What be- 
 came of him no one could tell. The last that 
 was seen of him he was in the midst of the 
 enemy, cutting down and overturning, for he 
 was a valiant warrior and of prodigious 
 strength. When the battle and pursuit were 
 at an end, and the troops were recalled by 
 sound of trumpet, he did not appear. His 
 tent remained empty. The field of battle was 
 searched, but he was nowhere to be found. 
 Some supposed that, in his fierce eagerness to 
 make havoc among the Moors, he had entered 
 the gates of the city and there been slain ; but 
 his fate remained a mere matter of conjecture, 
 and the whole was considered an awful warn- 
 ing that no Christian should go into battle 
 without pardoning those who asked forgive- 
 ness. 
 
 "On this day," says the worthy Agapida, 
 " it pleased Heaven to work one of its miracles 
 in favor of the Christian host ; for the blessed 
 Santiago appeared in the air on a white horse, 
 with a white banner in one hand and a sword 
 in the other, accompanied by a band of cava- 
 liers in white. This miracle," he adds, "was 
 beheld by many men of verity and worth,' ' 
 
3fernan&o tbe Saint 283 
 
 probably the monks and priests who accom- 
 panied the army, ' ' as well as by numbers of the 
 Moors, who declared that the greatest slaughter 
 was effected by those sainted warriors. ' ' 
 
 It may be as well to add that Fray Antonio 
 Agapida is supported in this marvellous fact by 
 Rodrigo, Archbishop of Toledo, one of the 
 most learned and pious men of the age, who 
 lived at the time and records it in his chronicle. 
 It is a matter, therefore, placed beyond the 
 doubts of the profane. 
 
 Note by The Editor. — A memorandum at the foot 
 of this page of the author's manuscript reminds him 
 to " notice death of Queen Beatrix about this time," 
 but the text continues silent on the subject. Accord- 
 ing to Mariana, she died in the city of Toro in 1235, 
 before the siege of Cordova. Another authority gives 
 the 5th of November, 1236, as the date of the decease, 
 which would be some months after the downfall of 
 that renowned city. Her body was interred in the 
 nunnery of Las Huelgas at Burgos, and many years 
 afterwards removed to Seville, where reposed the re- 
 mains of her husband. 
 
$&&&%.?3. 
 
 ~<>X r X&. 
 
 Cbapter OTI. 
 
 A Bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish 
 
 Power. 
 
 ABOUT this time certain Christian cava- 
 liers of the frontiers received informa- 
 tion from Moorish captives that the 
 noble city of Cordova was negligently 
 guarded, so that the suburbs might easily be 
 surprised. They immediately concerted a bold 
 attempt, and sent to Pedro and Alvar Perez, 
 who were at Martos, entreating them to aid 
 them with their vassals. Having collected a 
 sufficient force, and prepared scaling ladders, 
 they approached the city on a dark night in 
 January, amid showers of rain and howling 
 blasts, which prevented their footsteps being 
 heard. Arrived at the foot of the ramparts, 
 they listened, but could hear no sentinel. 
 The guards had shrunk into the watch-towers 
 for shelter from the pelting storm, and the 
 
 284 
 
jfernanfco tbe Saint 285 
 
 garrison was in profound sleep, for it was the 
 midwatch of the night. 
 
 Some, disheartened by the difficulties of the 
 place, were for abandoning the attempt, but 
 Domingo Mufioz, their adalid, or guide, en- 
 couraged them. Silently fastening ladders to- 
 gether, so as to be of sufficient length, they 
 placed them against one of the towers. The 
 first who mounted were Alvar Colodro and 
 Benito de Banos, who were dressed as Moors 
 and spoke the Arabic language. The tower 
 which they scaled is to this day called the 
 tower of Alvar Colodro. Entering it suddenly 
 but silently, they found four Moors asleep, 
 whom they seized and threw over the battle- 
 ments, and the Christians below immediately 
 despatched them. By this time a number 
 more of Christians had mounted the ladder, 
 and sallying forth, sword in hand, upon the 
 wall, they gained possession of several towers 
 and of the gate oY Martos. Throwing open 
 the gate, Pero Ruyz Tabur galloped in at the 
 head of a squadron of horse, and by the dawn 
 of day the whole suburbs of Cordova, called 
 the Axarquia, were in their possession ; the 
 inhabitants having hastily gathered such of 
 their most valuable effects as they could carry 
 with them, and taken refuge in the city. 
 
 The cavaliers now barricaded every street of 
 
286 Spanisb papers 
 
 the suburbs excepting the principal one, which 
 was broad and straight ; the Moors, however, 
 made frequent sallies upon them, or showered 
 down darts and arrows and stones from the 
 walls and towers of the city. The cavaliers 
 soon found that they had got into warm quar- 
 ters, which it would cost them blood and toil 
 to maintain. They sent off messengers, there- 
 fore, to Don Alvar Perez, then at Martos, and 
 to King Fernando, at Benevente, craving in- 
 stant aid. The messenger to the king trav- 
 elled day and night, and found the king at 
 table, when, kneeling down, he presented the 
 letter with which he was charged. 
 
 No sooner had the king read the letter than 
 he called for horse and weapon. All Benevente 
 instantly resounded with the clang of arms 
 and tramp of steed ; couriers galloped off in 
 every direction, rousing the towns and villages 
 to arms, and ordering every one to join the 
 king on the frontier. " Cordova ! Cordova ! " 
 was the war-cry, — that proud city of the infi- 
 dels ! that seat of Moorish power ! The king 
 waited not to assemble a great force, but, within 
 an hour after receiving the letter, was on the 
 road with a hundred good cavaliers. 
 
 It was the depth of winter ; the rivers were 
 swollen with rain. The royal party were often 
 obliged to halt on the bank of some raging 
 
ffernant)o the Saint 287 
 
 stream until its waters should subside. The 
 king was all anxiety and impatience. Cor- 
 dova ! Cordova ! was the prize to be won, and 
 the cavaliers might be driven out of the sub- 
 urbs before he could arrive to their assistance. 
 
 Arrived at Cordova, he proceeded to the 
 bridge of Alcolea, where he pitched his tents 
 and displayed the royal standard. 
 
 Before the arrival of the king, Alvar Perez 
 had hastened from the castle of Martos with a 
 body of troops, and thrown himself into the 
 suburbs. Many warriors, both horse and foot, 
 had likewise hastened from the frontiers and 
 from the various towns to which the king had 
 sent his mandates. Some came to serve the 
 king, others out of devotion to the holy faith, 
 some to gain renown, and not a few to aid in 
 plundering the rich city of Cordova. There 
 were many monks, also, who had come for the 
 glory of God and the benefit of their convents. 
 
 When the Christians in the suburbs saw the 
 royal standard floating above the camp of the 
 king, the}' shouted for joy, and in the exulta- 
 tion of the moment forgot all past dangers and 
 hardships. 
 
Cbapter OTIF1T, 
 
 A Spy in the Christian Camp — Death of Aben Hud — 
 A Vital Blow to Moslem Power — Surrender of Cor- 
 dova to King Fernando. 
 
 ABEN HUD, the Moorish chief, who had 
 been defeated by Alvar Perez and 
 Prince Alonzo before Xerez, was at 
 this time in Ecija with a large force, 
 and disposed to hasten to the aid of Cordova, 
 but his recent defeat had made him cautious. 
 He had in his camp a Christian cavalier, Don 
 I/)renzo Xuares by name, who had been ban- 
 ished from Castile by King Fernando. This 
 cavalier offered to go as a spy into the Chris- 
 tian camp, accompanied by three Christian 
 horsemen, and to bring accounts of its situa- 
 tion and strength. His offer was gladly ac- 
 cepted, and Aben Hud promised to do nothing 
 with his forces until his return. 
 
 Don I,orenzo set out privately with his 
 companions, and when he came to the end of 
 
 283 
 
ffetnanfco tbe Saint 289 
 
 the bridge he alighted and took one of the 
 three with him, leaving the other two to guard 
 the horses. He entered the camp without im- 
 pediment, and saw that it was small and of 
 but little force ; for, though recruits had re- 
 paired from all quarters, they had as yet 
 arrived in but scanty numbers. 
 
 As Don Lorenzo approached the camp he 
 saw a montero who stood sentinel. " Friend,' ' 
 said he, "do me the kindness to call to me 
 some person who is about the king, as I have 
 something to tell him of great importance." 
 The sentinel went in, and brought out Don 
 Otiella. Don Lorenzo took him aside and said : 
 " Do you not know me? I am Don Lorenzo. 
 I pray you tell the king that I entreat permis- 
 sion to enter and communicate matters touch- 
 ing his safety." 
 
 Don Otiella went in and awoke the king, 
 who was sleeping, and obtained permission for 
 Don Lorenzo to enter. When the king beheld 
 him he was wroth at his presuming to return 
 from exile ; but Don Lorenzo replied : ' • Sefior, 
 your majesty banished me to the land of the 
 Moors to do me harm, but I believe it was in- 
 tended by Heaven for the welfare both of your 
 majesty and myself." Then he apprised the 
 king of the intention of Aben Hud to come 
 
 with a great force against him, and of the 
 
 19 
 
290 Spanieb papers 
 
 doubts and fears he entertained lest the army 
 of the king should be too powerful. Don 
 Lorenzo, therefore, advised the king to draw 
 off as many troops as could be spared from the 
 suburbs of Cordova, and to give his camp as 
 formidable an aspect as possible ; and that he 
 would return and give Aben Hud such an 
 account of the power of the royal camp as 
 would deter him from the attack. "If," con- 
 tinued Don Lorenzo, " I fail in diverting him 
 from his enterprise, I will come off with all my 
 vassals and offer myself, and all I can com- 
 mand, for the service of your majesty, and 
 hope to be accepted for my good intentions. 
 As to what takes place in the Moorish camp, 
 from hence, in three days, I will send your 
 majesty letters by this my squire." 
 
 The king thanked Don Lorenzo for his good 
 intentions, and pardoned him, and took him 
 as his vassal ; and Don Lorenzo said : " I be- 
 seech your majesty to order that for three or 
 four nights there be made great fires in various 
 parts of the camp, so that in case Aben Hud 
 should send scouts by night, there may be the 
 appearance of a great host." The king prom- 
 ised it should be done, and Don Lorenzo took 
 his leave ; rejoining his companions at the 
 bridge, they mounted their horses and trav- 
 elled all night, and returned to Ecija. 
 
jfernan&o tbe Saint 291 
 
 When Don Lorenzo appeared in presence of 
 Aben Hud he had the air of one fatigued and 
 careworn. To the inquiries of the Moor he 
 returned answers full of alarm, magnifying the 
 power and condition of the royal forces. 
 " Senor," added he, " if you would be assured 
 of the truth of what I say, send out your scouts, 
 and they will behold the Christian tents whiten- 
 ing all the banks of the Guadalquivir, and 
 covering the country as the snow covers the 
 mountains of Granada ; or at night they will see 
 fires on hill and dale illumining all the land." 
 
 This intelligence redoubled the doubts and 
 apprehensions of Aben Hud. On the following 
 day two Moorish horsemen arrived in all haste 
 from Zaen, King of Valencia, informing him 
 that King James of Aragon was coming against 
 that place with a powerful army, and offering 
 him the supremacy of the place if he would 
 hasten with all speed to its relief. 
 
 Aben Hud, thus perplexed between two 
 objects, asked advice of his counsellors, among 
 whom was the perfidious Don Iyorenzo. They 
 observed that the Christians, though they had 
 possession of the suburbs of Cordova, could 
 not for a long time master the place. He 
 would have time, therefore, to relieve Valencia, 
 and then turn his arms and those of King Zaen 
 against the host of King Fernando. 
 
2Q2 Spanish papers 
 
 Aben Hud listened to their advice, and 
 marched immediately for Almeria, to take 
 thence his ships to guard the port of Valencia. 
 While at Almeria a Moor named Aben Arra- 
 min, and who was his especial favorite, invited 
 him to a banquet. The unsuspecting Aben 
 Hud threw off his cares for the time, and, 
 giving loose to conviviality in the house of his 
 favorite, drank freely of the wine-cup that was 
 insidiously pressed upon him, until he became 
 intoxicated. He was then suffocated by the 
 traitor in a trough of water, and it was given 
 out that he had died of apoplexy. 
 
 At the death of Aben Hud, his host fell 
 asunder, and every one hied him to his home, 
 whereupon Don Lorenzo and the Christians 
 who were with him hastened to King Fernando, 
 by whom they were graciously received and 
 admitted into his royal sendee. 
 
 The death of Aben Hud was a vital blow to 
 Moslem power, and spread confusion through- 
 out Andalusia. When the people of Cordova 
 heard of it, and of the dismemberment of his 
 army, all courage withered from their hearts. 
 Day after day the army of King Fernando was 
 increasing ; the roads were covered with foot- 
 soldiers hastening to his standard ; every hidal- 
 go who could bestride a horse spurred to the 
 banks of the Guadalquivir to be present at 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 293 
 
 the downfall of Cordova. The noblest cava- 
 liers of Castile were continually seen marching 
 into the camp with banners flying and long 
 trains of retainers. 
 
 The inhabitants held out as long as there 
 was help or hope ; but they were exhausted 
 by frequent combats and, long and increasing 
 famine, and now the death of Aben Hud 
 cut off all chance of succor. With sad and 
 broken spirits, therefore, they surrendered their 
 noble city to King Fernando, after a siege of 
 six months and six days. The surrender took 
 place on Sunday, the twenty-ninth day of July, 
 the feast of the glorious Apostles St. Peter and 
 St. Paul, in the year of the Incarnation one 
 thousand two hundred and thirty-six. 
 
 The inhabitants were permitted to march 
 forth in personal safety, but to take nothing 
 with them. "Thus," exclaims the pious 
 Agapida, "was the city of Cordova, the queen 
 of the cities of Andalusia, which so long had 
 been the seat of the power and grandeur of the 
 Moors, cleansed from all the impurities of 
 Mahomet and restored to the dominion of the 
 true faith.' ' 
 
 King Fernando immediately ordered the 
 cross to be elevated on the tower of the princi- 
 pal mosque, and beside it the royal standard ; 
 while the bishops, the clergy, and all the 
 
2Q4 Spanfsb ©apere 
 
 people chanted Te Deum Laudamus, as a song 
 of triumph for this great victory of the faith.* 
 
 The king, having now gained full possession 
 of the city, began to repair, embellish, and 
 improve it. The grand mosque, the great- 
 est and most magnificent in Spain, was now 
 converted into a holy Catholic church. The 
 bishops and other clergy walked round it in 
 solemn procession, sprinkling holy water in 
 every nook and corner, and performing all 
 other rites and ceremonies necessary to purify 
 and sanctify it. They erected an altar in it, 
 also, in honor of the Virgin, and chanted 
 masses with great fervor and unction. In this 
 way they consecrated it to the true faith, and 
 made it the cathedral of the city. 
 
 In this mosque were found the bells of the 
 church of San Iago in Galicia, which the 
 Alhagib Almanzor, in the year of our Redemp- 
 tion nine hundred and seventy-five, had 
 brought off in triumph and placed here, turned 
 with their mouths upward to serve as lamps, 
 and remain shining mementos of his victory. 
 King Fernando ordered that these bells should 
 be restored to the church of San Iago ; and as 
 Christians had been obliged to bring those 
 bells hither on their shoulders, so infidels were 
 compelled in like manner to carry them back. 
 
 * Cron. Gen, de Espana, pt. 4. Bleda, lib. 4, c. 10. 
 
afernanDo tbc Saint 295 
 
 Great was the popular triumph when these 
 bells had their tongues restored to them, and 
 were once more enabled to fill the air with 
 their holy clangor. 
 
 Having ordered all things for the security 
 and welfare of the city, the king placed it 
 under the government of Don Tello Alonzo de 
 Meneses ; he appointed Don Alvar Perez de 
 Castro, also, general of the frontier, having his 
 stronghold in the castle of the rock of Martos. 
 The king then returned, covered with glory, 
 to Toledo. 
 
 The fame of the recovery of the renowned 
 city of Cordova, which for five hundred and 
 twenty-two years had been in the power of the 
 infidels, soon spread throughout the kingdom, 
 and people came crowding from every part to 
 inhabit it. The gates which lately had been 
 thronged with steel-clad warriors were now be- 
 sieged by peaceful wayfarers of all kinds, con- 
 ducting trains of mules laden with their effects 
 and all their household wealth ; and so great 
 was the throng that in a little while there were 
 not houses sufficient to receive them. 
 
 King Fernando, having restored the bells to 
 San Iago, had others suspended in the tower 
 of the mosque, whence the muezzin had been 
 accustomed to call the Moslems to their wor- 
 ship. "When the pilgrims/' says Fray An- 
 
2g6 
 
 Spanisb papers 
 
 tonio Agapida, ' ' who repaired to Cordova, 
 heard the holy sound of these bells chiming 
 from the tower of the cathedral, their hearts 
 leaped for joy, and they invoked blessings on 
 the head of the pious King Fernando. 
 
1 iwnaiaananoDraaiai 
 
 £■000130130)313)3): 
 
 Cbapter 1T£ ♦ 
 
 Marriage of King Fernando to the Princess Juana- 
 Famine at Cordova — Don Alvar Perez. 
 
 WHEN Queen Berenguela beheld King 
 Fernando returning in triumph 
 from the conquest of Cordova, her 
 heart was lifted up with transport, 
 for there is nothing that more rejoices the heart 
 of a mother than the true glory of her son. The 
 queen, however, as has been abundantly shown, 
 was a woman of great sagacity and forecast. 
 She considered that upwards of two years had 
 elapsed since the death of the Queen Beatrix, 
 and that her son was living in widowhood. 
 It is true he was of quiet temperament, and 
 seemed sufficiently occupied by the cares of 
 government and the wars for the faith ; so that 
 apparently he had no thought of further mat- 
 rimony ; but the shrewd mother considered 
 likewise that he was in the prime and vigor 
 
 297 
 
jg8 Spanisb papers 
 
 of his days, renowned in arms, noble and com- 
 manding in person, and gracious and capti- 
 vating in manners, and surrounded by the 
 temptations of a court. True, he was a saint 
 in spirit, but, after all, in flesh he was a man, 
 and might be led away into those weaknesses 
 very incident to, but highly unbecoming of, 
 the exalted state of princes. The good mother 
 was anxious, therefore, that he should enter 
 again into the secure and holy state of wed- 
 lock. 
 
 King Fernando, a mirror of obedience to his 
 mother, readily concurred with her views in 
 the present instance, and left it to her judg- 
 ment and discretion to make a choice for him. 
 The choice fell upon the Princess Juana, 
 daughter of the Count of Pothier, and a de- 
 scendant of Iyouis the Seventh of France. The 
 marriage was negotiated by Queen Beren- 
 guela with the Count of Pothier ; and the 
 conditions being satisfactorily arranged, the 
 princess was conducted in due state to Burgos, 
 where the nuptials were celebrated with great 
 pomp and ceremony. 
 
 The king, as well as his subjects, was highly 
 satisfied with the choice of the sage Beren- 
 guela, for the bride was young, beautiful, and 
 of stately form, and conducted herself with 
 admirable suavity and grace. 
 
JFernanDo tbe Saint 299 
 
 After the rejoicings were over, King Fer- 
 nando departed with his bride and visited the 
 principal cities and towns of Castile and I^eon ; 
 receiving the homage of his subjects, and ad- 
 ministering justice according to the primitive 
 forms of those days, when sovereigns attended 
 personally to the petitions and complaints of 
 their subjects, and went about hearing causes 
 and redressing grievances. 
 
 In the course of his progress, hearing while 
 at Toledo of a severe famine which prevailed 
 at Cordova, he sent a large supply of money 
 to that city, and at the same time issued orders 
 to various parts, to transport thither as much 
 grain as possible. The calamity, however, 
 went on increasing. The conquest of Cordova 
 had drawn thither great multitudes, expecting 
 to thrive on the well-known fertility and 
 abundance of the country. But the Moors, 
 in the agitation of the time, had almost ceased 
 to cultivate their fields ; the troops helped to 
 consume the supplies on hand ; there were 
 few hands to labor and an infinity of mouths 
 to eat, and the cry of famine went on daily 
 growing more intense. 
 
 Upon this, Don Alvar Perez, who had com- 
 mand of the frontier, set off to represent the 
 case in person to the king ; for one living 
 word from the mouth is more effective than a 
 
3oo Spani5b papers 
 
 thousand dead words from the pen. He found 
 the king at Valladolid, deeply immersed in the 
 religious exercises of Holy Week, and much 
 did it grieve this saintly monarch, say his 
 chroniclers, to be obliged even for a moment 
 to quit the holy quiet of the church for the 
 worldly bustle of the palace, to lay by the 
 saint and enact the sovereign. Having heard 
 the representations of Don Alvar Perez, he 
 forthwith gave him ample funds wherewith 
 to maintain his castles, his soldiers, and even 
 the idlers who thronged about the frontier, 
 and who would be useful subjects when the 
 times should become settled. Satisfied, also, 
 of the zeal and loyalty of Alvar Perez, which 
 had been so strikingly displayed in the pres- 
 ent instance, he appointed him adelantado of 
 the whole frontier of Andalusia — an office 
 equivalent to that at present called viceroy. 
 Don Alvar hastened back to execute his mis- 
 sion and enter upon his new office. He took 
 his station at Martos, in its rock-built castle, 
 which was the key of all that frontier, whence 
 he could carry relief to any point of his com- 
 mand, and could make occasional incursions 
 into the territories. The following chapter 
 will show the cares and anxieties which 
 awaited him in his new command. 
 
Cbapter £ . 
 
 Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra— Fortifies 
 Granada and Makes it his Capital — Attempts to 
 Surprise the Castle of Martos — Peril of the Fortress 
 — A Woman's Stratagem to Save it — Diego Perez, 
 the Smasher — Death of Count Alvar Perez de 
 Castro. 
 
 ON the death of Aben Hud, the Moorish 
 power in Spain was broken up into 
 factions, as has already been men- 
 tioned, but these factions were soon 
 united under one head, who threatened to be 
 a formidable adversary to the Christians. This 
 was Mohammed ben Alhamar, or Aben Al- 
 hamar, as he is commonly called in history. 
 He was a native of Arjona, of noble descent, 
 being of the Beni Nasar, or race of Nasar, and 
 had been educated in a manner befitting his 
 rank. Arrived at manly years, he had been 
 appointed alcayde of Arjona and Jaen, and had 
 distinguished himself by the justice and benig- 
 nity of his rule. He was intrepid, also, and am- 
 
 301 
 
302 Spanish papers 
 
 bitious, and during the late dissensions among 
 the Moslems had extended his territories, mak- 
 ing himself master of many strong places. 
 
 On the death of Aben Hud, he made a mili- 
 tary circuit through the Moorish territories, 
 and was everywhere hailed with acclamations 
 as the only one who could save the Moslem 
 power in Spain from annihilation. At length 
 he entered Granada amidst the enthusiastic 
 shouts of the populace. He was proclaimed 
 king, and found himself at the head of the Mos- 
 lems of Spain, being the first of his illustrious 
 line that ever sat upon a throne. It needs 
 nothing more to give lasting renown to Aben 
 Alhamar than to say he was the founder of 
 the Alhambra, that magnificent monument 
 which to this day bears testimony to Moorish 
 taste and splendor. As yet, however, Aben 
 Alhamar had not time to indulge in the 
 arts of peace. He saw the storm of war 
 that threatened his newly founded kingdom, 
 and prepared to buffet with it. The territories 
 of Granada extended along the coast from 
 Algeziras almost to Murcia, and inland as far 
 as Jaen and Huescar. All the frontiers he 
 hastened to put in a state of defense, while he 
 strongly fortified the city of Granada, which 
 he made his capital. 
 
 By the Mahometan law every citizen is a 
 
JFernanfco the Saint 303 
 
 soldier, and to take arms in defense of the 
 country and the faith is a religious and im- 
 perative duty. Aben Alhamar, however, knew 
 the unsteadiness of hastily levied militia, and 
 organized a standing force to garrison his forts 
 and cities, the expense of which he defrayed 
 from his own revenues. The Moslem warriors 
 from all parts now rallied under his standard, 
 and fifty thousand Moors, abandoning Valencia 
 on the conquest of that country by the king of 
 Aragon, hastened to put themselves under the 
 dominion of Aben Alhamar. 
 
 Don Alvar Perez, on returning to his post, 
 had intelligence of all these circumstances, and 
 perceived that he had not sufficient force to 
 make head against such a formidable neighbor, 
 and that, in fact, the whole frontier, so recently 
 wrested from the Moors, was in danger of be- 
 ing reconquered. With his old maxim, there- 
 fore, " There is more life in one word from the 
 mouth than in a thousand words from the pen, ' ' 
 he determined to have another interview with 
 King Fernando, and acquaint him with the 
 imminent dangers impending over the frontier. 
 
 He accordingly took his departure with great 
 secrecy, leaving his countess and her women 
 and donzellas in his castle of the rock of Martos, 
 guarded by his nephew Don Tello and forty 
 chosen men. 
 
304 Spantsb papers 
 
 The departure of Don Alvar Perez was not 
 so secret, however, but that Aben Alhamar 
 had notice of it by his spies, and he resolved 
 to make an attempt to surprise the castle of 
 Martos, which, as has been said, was the key- 
 to all this frontier. 
 
 Don Tello, who had been left in command 
 of the fortress, was a young galliard, full of 
 the fire of youth, and he had several hardy and 
 adventurous cavaliers with him, among whom 
 was Diego Perez de Vargas, surnamed Macha- 
 cha, or the Smasher, for his exploits at the 
 battle of Xerez in smashing the heads of the 
 Moors with the limb of an olive-tree. These 
 hot-blooded cavaliers, looking out like hawks 
 from their mountain hold, were seized with an 
 irresistible inclination to make a foray into the 
 lands of their Moorish neighbors. On a bright 
 morning they accordingly set forth, promising 
 the donzellas of the castle to bring them jewels 
 and rich silks, the spoils of Moorish women. 
 
 The cavaliers had not been long gone when 
 the castle was alarmed by the sound of trum- 
 pets, and the watchman from the tower gave 
 notice of a cloud of dust, with Moorish banners 
 and armor gleaming through it. It was, in 
 fact, the Moorish king, Aben Alhamar, who 
 pitched his tents before the castle. 
 
 Great was the consternation that reigned 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 305 
 
 within the walls, for all the men were absent, 
 excepting one or two necessary for the service 
 of the castle. The dames and donzellas gave 
 themselves up to despair, expecting to be car- 
 ried away captive, perhaps to supply some 
 Moorish harem. The countess, however, was 
 of an intrepid spirit and ready invention. Sum- 
 moning her duefias and damsels, she made 
 them arrange their hair, and dress themselves 
 like men, take weapons in hand, and show 
 themselves between the battlements. The 
 Moorish king was deceived, and supposed the 
 fort well garrisoned. He was deterred, there- 
 fore, from attempting to take it by storm. In 
 the meantime she despatched a messenger by 
 the postern-gate, with orders to speed swiftly 
 in quest of Don Tello, and tell him the peril 
 of the fortress. 
 
 At hearing these tidings, Don Tello and his 
 companions turned their reins and spurred 
 back for the castle, but on drawing nigh, they 
 saw from a hill that it was invested by a nu- 
 merous host who were battering the walls. It 
 was an appalling sight, — to cut their way 
 through such a force seemed hopeless, — yet 
 their hearts were wrung with anguish when 
 they thought of the countess and her helpless 
 donzellas. Upon this, Diego Perez de Vargas, 
 surnamed Machacha, stepped forward and pro- 
 
306 Spanfsb papers 
 
 posed to form a forlorn hope, and attempt to 
 force a passage to the castle. * ' If any of us 
 succeed/ ' said he, "we may save the countess 
 and the rock ; if we fall, we shall save our 
 souls and act the parts of good cavaliers. This 
 rock is the key of all the frontier, on which the 
 king depends to get possession of the country. 
 Shame would it be if Moors should capture it ; 
 above all if they should lead our honored 
 countess and her ladies captive before our eyes, 
 while our lances remain unstained by blood 
 and we unscarred with a wound. For my 
 part, I would rather die than see it. Life is 
 but short ; we should do in it our best. So, 
 in a word, cavaliers, if you refuse to join me I 
 will take my leave of you and do what I can 
 with my single arm." 
 
 1 ' Diego Perez, ' ' cried Don Tello, ' ' you have 
 spoken my very wishes ; I will stand by you 
 until the death, and let those who are good 
 cavaliers and hidalgos follow our example. ' ' 
 
 The other cavaliers caught fire at these 
 words ; forming a solid squadron, they put 
 spurs to their horses and rushed down upon the 
 Moors. The first who broke into the ranks of 
 the enemy was Diego Perez, the Smasher, and 
 he opened a way for the others. Their only 
 object was to cut their way to the fortress, so 
 they fought and pressed forward. The most of 
 
ffernando tbe Saint 307 
 
 them got to the rock ; some were cut off by 
 the Moors, and died like valiant knights, 
 fighting to the last gasp. 
 
 When the Moorish king saw the daring of 
 these cavaliers, and that they had succeeded in 
 reinforcing the garrison, he despaired of gain- 
 ing the castle without much time, trouble, and 
 loss of blood. He persuaded himself, there- 
 fore, that it was not worth the price, and, 
 striking his tents, abandoned the siege. Thus 
 the rock of Martos was saved by the sagacity 
 of the countess and the prowess of Diego Perez 
 de Vargas, surnamed the Smasher. 
 
 In the meantime Don Alvar Perez de Castro 
 arrived in presence of the king at Hutiel. 
 King Fernando received him with benignity, 
 but seemed to think his zeal beyond his pru- 
 dence ; leaving so important a frontier so 
 weakly guarded, sinking the viceroy in the 
 courier, and coming so far to give by word of 
 mouth what might easily have been communi- 
 cated by letter. He felt the value, however, of 
 his loyalty and devotion, but, furnishing him 
 with ample funds, requested him to lose no 
 time in getting back to his post. The count set 
 out on his return, but it is probable the ardor 
 and excitement of his spirit proved fatal to him, 
 for he was seized with a violent fever when on 
 the journey, and died in the town of Orgaz. 
 
Cbapter £ 1. 
 
 Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of Murcia, Becomes 
 the Vassal of King Fernando — Aben Alhamar Seeks 
 to Drive the Christians out of Andalusia — Fernando 
 Takes the Field against him — Ravages of the King— 
 His Last Meeting with the Queen-Mother. 
 
 THE death of Count Alvar Perez de 
 Castro caused deep affliction to King 
 Fernando, for he considered him the 
 shield of the frontier. While he was 
 at Cordova, or at his rock of Martos, the king 
 felt as assured of the safety of the border as 
 though he had been there himself. As soon as 
 he could be spared from Castile and L,eon, he 
 hastened to Cordova, to supply the loss the 
 frontier had sustained in the person of his 
 vigilant lieutenant. One of his first measures 
 was to effect a truce of one year with the king 
 of Granada, — a measure which each adopted 
 with great regret, compelled by his several 
 policy : King Fernando to organize and secure 
 
 308 
 
3fernanfco tbe Saint 309 
 
 his recent conquests ; Aben Alhamar to regu- 
 late and fortify his newly founded kingdom. 
 Each felt that he had a powerful enemy to 
 encounter and a desperate struggle before him. 
 King Fernando remained at Cordova until 
 the spring of the following year (1241), regu- 
 lating the affairs of that noble city, assigning 
 houses and estates to such of his cavaliers as 
 had distinguished themselves in the conquest, 
 and, as usual, making rich donations of towns 
 and great tracts of land to the Church and to 
 different religious orders. Leaving his brother 
 Alfonso with a sufficient force to keep an eye 
 upon the king of Granada and hold him in 
 check, King Fernando departed for Castile, 
 making a circuit by Jaen and Baeza and An- 
 dujar, and arriving in Toledo on the fourth of 
 April. Here he received important proposi- 
 tions from Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of 
 Murcia. The death of Aben Hud had left 
 that kingdom a scene of confusion. The al- 
 caydes of the different cities and fortresses were 
 at strife with each other, and many refused 
 allegiance to Aben Hudiel. The latter, too, 
 was in hostility with Aben Alhamar, the King 
 of Granada, and he feared he would take ad- 
 vantage of his truce with King Fernando, and 
 the distracted state of the kingdom of Murcia, 
 to make an inroad. Thus desperately situated, 
 
3io Spanisb H>apers 
 
 Aben Hudiel had sent missives to king Fer- 
 nando, entreating his protection, and offering 
 to become his vassal. 
 
 The king of Castile gladly closed with this 
 offer. He forthwith sent his son and heir, the 
 Prince Alfonso, to receive the submission of 
 the king of Murcia. As the prince was young 
 and inexperienced in these affairs of state, he 
 sent with him Don Pelayo de Correa, the Grand 
 Master of Santiago, a cavalier of consummate 
 wisdom and address, and also Rodrigo Gonza- 
 lez Giron. The prince was received in Murcia 
 with regal honors ; the terms were soon ad- 
 justed by which the Moorish king acknowl- 
 edged vassalage to King Fernando, and ceded 
 to him one half of his revenues, in return for 
 which the king graciously took him under his 
 protection. The alcaydes of Alicant, Elche, 
 Oriola, and several other places agreed to this 
 covenant of vassalage, but it was indignantly 
 spurned by the Wali of L,orca ; he had been 
 put in office by Aben Hud ; and, now that 
 potentate was no more, he aspired to exercise 
 an independent sway, and had placed alca3 r des 
 of his own party in Mula and Carthagena. 
 
 As the Prince Alfonso had come to solemnize 
 the act of homage and vassalage proposed by 
 the Moorish king, and not to extort submission 
 from his subjects by force of arms, he contented 
 
tfernanfco tbe Saint 311 
 
 himself with making a progress through the 
 kingdom and receiving the homage of the ac- 
 quiescent towns and cities, after which he re- 
 joined his father in Castile. 
 
 It is conceived by the worthy Fray Antonio 
 Agapida, as well as by other monkish chroni- 
 clers, that this important acquisition of territory 
 by the saintly Fernando was a boon from 
 Heaven in reward of an offering which he made 
 to God of his daughter Berenguela, whom early 
 in this year he dedicated as a nun in the con- 
 vent of I^as Huelgas, in Burgos — of which con- 
 vent the king's sister Constanza was abbess.* 
 
 About this time it was that King Fernando 
 gave an instance of his magnanimity and his 
 chivalrous disposition. We have seen the 
 deadly opposition he had experienced from the 
 haughty house of L,ara, and the ruin which the 
 three brothers brought upon themselves by their 
 traitorous hostility. The anger of the king was 
 appeased by their individual ruin ; he did not 
 desire to revenge himself upon their helpless 
 families, nor to break down and annihilate a 
 house lofty and honored in the traditions of 
 Spain. One of the brothers, Don Fernando, 
 had left a daughter, Dona Sancha Fernandez 
 de L,ara ; there happened at this time to be in 
 Spain a cousin-german of the king, a prince 
 * Cronica del Rey Santo, cap. 18. 
 
3i2 Spani6b papers 
 
 of Portugal, Don Fernando by name, who held 
 the senoria of Serpa. Between this prince and 
 Dona Sancha the king effected a marriage, 
 whence has sprung one of the most illustrious 
 branches of the ancient house of I,ara.* The 
 other daughters of Don Fernando retained 
 large possessions in Castile ; and one of his 
 sons will be found serving valiantly under the 
 standard of the king. 
 
 In the meantime the truce with Aben Al- 
 hamar, the King of Granada, had greatly 
 strengthened the hands of that monarch. He 
 had received accessions of troops from various 
 parts, had fortified his capital and his frontiers, 
 and now fomented disturbances in the neigh- 
 boring kingdom of Murcia, — encouraging the 
 refractory cities to persist in their refusal of 
 vassalage, — hoping to annex that kingdom to 
 his own newly consolidated dominions. 
 
 The Wali of L,orca and his partisans, the al- 
 caydes of Mula and Carthagena, thus insti- 
 gated by the king of Granada, now increased 
 in turbulence, and completely overawed the 
 feeble-handed Aben Hudiel. King Fernando 
 thought this a good opportunity to give his 
 son and heir his first essay in arms. He ac- 
 cordingly despatched the prince a second time 
 to Murcia, accompanied as before by Don 
 * Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey y p. 554. 
 
afernan&o tbe Saint 313 
 
 Pelayo de Correa, the Grand Master of Santi- 
 ago ; but he sent him now with a strong mili- 
 tary force, to play the part of a conqueror. 
 The conquest, as may be supposed, was easy ; 
 Mula, Iyorca, and Carthagena soon submitted, 
 and the whole kingdom was reduced to vassal- 
 age — Fernando henceforth adding to his other 
 titles King of Murcia. "Thus," says Fray 
 Antonio Agapida, " was another precious jewel 
 wrested from the kingdom of Antichrist, and 
 added to the crown of this saintly monarch." 
 
 But it was not in Murcia alone that King 
 Fernando found himself called to contend with 
 his new adversary the king of Granada. That 
 able and active monarch, strengthened as has 
 been said during the late truce, had made bold 
 forays in the frontiers recently conquered by 
 King Fernando, and had even extended them 
 to the neighborhood of Cordova. In all this 
 he had been encouraged by some degree of 
 negligence and inaction on the part of King 
 Fernando' s brother Alfonso, who had been left 
 in charge of the frontier. The prince took the 
 field against Aben Alhamar, and fought him 
 manfully ; but the Moorish force was too 
 powerful to be withstood, and the prince was 
 defeated. 
 
 Tidings of this was sent to King Fernando, 
 and of the great danger of the frontier, as 
 
3i4 SpaniBb papers 
 
 Aben Alhamar, flushed with success, was aim- 
 ing to drive the Christians out of Andalusia. 
 King Fernando immediately set off for the 
 frontier, accompanied by the Queen Juana. 
 He did not wait to levy a powerful force, but 
 took with him a small number — knowing the 
 loyalty of his subjects and their belligerent 
 propensities, and that they would hasten to 
 his standard the moment they knew he was in 
 the field and exposed to danger. His force 
 accordingly increased as he advanced. At 
 Andujar he met his brother Alfonso with the 
 relics of his lately defeated army, — all brave 
 and expert soldiers. He had now a command- 
 ing force, and leaving the queen with a suffi- 
 cient guard at Andujar, he set off with his 
 brother Alfonso and Don Nuiio Gonzalez de 
 I^ara, son of the Count Gonzalo, to scour the 
 country about Arjona, Jaen, and Alcandete. 
 The Moors took refuge in their strong places, 
 whence they saw with aching hearts the deso- 
 lation of their country — olive plantations on 
 fire, vineyards laid waste, groves and orchards 
 cut down, and all the other modes of ravage 
 practised in these unsparing wars. 
 
 The king of Granada did not venture to take 
 the field ; and King Fernando, meeting no 
 enemy to contend with, while ravaging the 
 lands of Alcandete, detached a part of his force 
 
jFernanDo tbe Saint "315 
 
 under Don Rodrigo Fernandez de Castro, a son 
 of the brave Alvar Perez, lately deceased, and 
 he associated with him Nuno Gonzalez, with 
 orders to besiege Arjona. This was a place 
 dear to Aben Alhamar, the King of Granada, 
 being his native place, where he had first tasted 
 the sweets of power. Hence he was commonly 
 called the King of Arjona. 
 
 The people of the place, though they had 
 quailed before King Fernando, despised his 
 officers and set them at defiance. The king 
 himself, however, made his appearance on the 
 following day with the remainder of his forces, 
 whereupon Arjona capitulated. 
 
 While his troops were reposing from their 
 fatigues, the king made some further ravages, 
 and reduced several small towns to obedience. 
 He then sent his brother Don Alfonso with 
 sufficient forces to carry fire and sword into 
 the Vega of Granada. In the meantime he 
 returned to Andujar to the Queen Juana. He 
 merely came, say the old chroniclers, for the 
 purpose of conducting her to Cordova ; ful- 
 filling, always, his duty as a cavalier, without 
 neglecting that of a king. 
 
 The moment he had left her in her palace at 
 Cordova, he hastened back to join his brother 
 in harassing the territories of Granada. He 
 came in time ; for Aben Alhamar, enraged at 
 
316 Spanisb papers 
 
 seeing the destruction of the Vega, made such 
 a vigorous sally that had Prince Alfonso been 
 alone in command, he might have received a 
 second lesson still more disastrous than the 
 first. The presence of the king, however, put 
 new spirits and valor into the troops : the 
 Moors were driven back to the city, and the 
 Christians pursued them to the very gates. 
 As the king had not sufficient forces with him 
 to attempt the capture of this place, he con- 
 tented himself with the mischief he had done, 
 and, with some more which he subsequently 
 effected, he returned to Cordova to let his 
 troops rest from their fatigues. 
 
 While the king was in this city a messenger 
 arrived from his mother, the Queen Beren- 
 guela, informing him of her intention of com- 
 ing to pay him a visit. A long time had 
 elapsed since they had seen each other, and 
 her extreme age rendered her anxious to em- 
 brace her son. The king, to prevent her from 
 taking so long a journey, set off to meet her, 
 taking with him his Queen Juana. The meet- 
 ing took place in Pezuelo near Burgos,* and 
 was affecting on both sides, for never did son 
 and mother love and honor each other more 
 
 * Some chronicles, through mistake, make it Pezuelo 
 near Ciudad Real, in the mountains on the confines of 
 Granada. 
 
ilfernanDo tbe Saint 317 
 
 truly. In this interview, the queen represented 
 her age and increasing weakness, and her in- 
 capacity to cope with the fatigues of public 
 affairs, of which she had always shared the 
 burden with the king ; she therefore signified 
 her wish to retire to her convent, to pass the 
 remnant of her days in holy repose. King 
 Fernando, who had ever found in his mother 
 his ablest counsellor and best support, entreated 
 her not to leave his side in these arduous times, 
 when the king of Granada on one side, and 
 the king of Seville on the other, threatened to 
 put all his courage and resources to the trial. 
 A long and earnest, yet tender and affection- 
 ate, conversation succeeded between them, 
 which resulted in the queen-mother's yielding 
 to his solicitations. The illustrious son and 
 mother remained together six weeks, enjoying 
 each other's society, after which they separated 
 — the king and queen for the frontier, and the 
 queen-mother for Toledo. They were never 
 to behold each other again upon earth, for the 
 king never returned to Castile. 
 
Cbapter £1J1L 
 
 King Fernando's Expedition to Andalusia — Siege of 
 Jaen — Secret Departure of Aben Alhamar for the 
 Christian Camp — He Acknowledges himself the 
 Vassal of the King, who Enters Jaen in Triumph. 
 
 IT was in the middle of August, 1245, that 
 King Fernando set out on his grand ex- 
 pedition to Andalusia, whence he was 
 never to return. All that autumn he pur- 
 sued the same destructive course as in his pre- 
 ceding campaigns, laying waste the country 
 with fire and sword in the vicinity of Jaen and 
 to Alcala la Real. The town, too, of Illora, 
 built on a lofty rock and fancying itself secure, 
 was captured and given a prey to flames, which 
 was as a bale-fire to the country. Thence he 
 descended into the beautiful Vega of Granada, 
 ravaging that earthly paradise. Aben Alha- 
 mar sallied forth from Granada with what 
 forces he could collect, and a bloody battle 
 
 318 
 
3fernan&o tbe Saint 319 
 
 ensued about twelve miles from Granada. A 
 part of the troops of Aben Alhamar were hasty 
 levies, inhabitants of the city, and but little 
 accustomed to combat ; they lost courage, 
 gave way, and threw the better part of the 
 troops in disorder ; a retreat took place which 
 ended in a headlong flight, in which there was 
 great carnage.* 
 
 Content for the present with the ravage he 
 had made and the victory he had gained, 
 King Fernando now drew off his troops and 
 repaired to his frontier hold of Martos, where 
 they might rest after their fatigues in security. 
 
 Here he was joined by Don Pelayo Perez 
 Correa, the Grand Master of Santiago. This 
 valiant cavalier, who was as sage and shrewd 
 in council as he was adroit and daring in the 
 field, had aided the youthful Prince Alfonso 
 in completing the tranquillization of Murcia, 
 and leaving him in the quiet administration 
 of affairs in that kingdom, had since been on 
 a pious and political mission to the court of 
 Rome. He arrived most opportunely at Mar- 
 tos, to aid the king with his counsels, for there 
 was none in whose wisdom and loyalty the 
 king had more confidence. 
 
 The grand master listened to all the plans 
 of the king for the humiliation of the haughty 
 * Conde, torn, iii., c. 5. 
 
32o Spanisb papers 
 
 king of Granada ; he then gravely but most 
 respectfully objected to the course the king 
 was pursuing. He held the mere ravaging 
 the country of little ultimate benefit. It 
 harassed and irritated, but did not destroy the 
 enemy, while it fatigued and demoralized the 
 army. To conquer the country, they must 
 not lay waste the field, but take the towns ; 
 so long as the Moors retained their strong- 
 holds, so long they had dominion over the 
 land. He advised, therefore, as a signal blow 
 to the power of the Moorish king, the capture 
 of the city of Jaen. This was a city of im- 
 mense strength, the bulwark of the kingdom ; 
 it was well supplied with provisions and the 
 munitions of war ; strongly garrisoned and 
 commanded by Abu Omar, native of Cordova, 
 a general of cavalry, and one of the bravest 
 officers of Aben Alhamar. King Fernando 
 had already besieged it in vain, but the reason- 
 ing of the grand master had either convinced 
 his reason or touched his pride. He set him- 
 self down before the walls of Jaen, declaring 
 he would never raise the siege until he was 
 master of the place. For a long time the siege 
 was carried on in the depth of winter, in defi- 
 ance of rain and tempests. Aben Alhamar 
 was in despair ; he could not relieve the place ; 
 he could not again venture on a battle with 
 
tfernanfco tbe Saint 321 
 
 the king after his late defeat. He saw that 
 Jaen must fall, and feared it would be fol- 
 lowed by the fall of Granada. He was a man 
 of ardent spirit and quick and generous im- 
 pulses. Taking a sudden resolution, he de- 
 parted secretly for the Christian camp, and 
 made his way to the presence of King Fer- 
 nando. " Behold before you," said he, "the 
 king of Granada. Resistance I find unavail- 
 ing ; I come, trusting to your magnanimity 
 and good faith, to put myself under your pro- 
 tection and acknowledge myself your vassal.' ' 
 So saying, he knelt and kissed the king's hand 
 in token of homage. 
 
 "King Fernando," say the old chroniclers, 
 " was not to be outdone in generosity. He 
 raised his late enemy from the earth, embraced 
 him as a friend, and left him in the sovereignty 
 of his dominions ; the good king, however, was 
 as politic as he was generous. He received 
 Aben Alhamar as a vassal ; conditioned for 
 the delivery of Jaen into his hands ; for the 
 yearly payment of one half of his revenues ; 
 for his attendance at the cortes as one of the 
 nobles of the empire, and his aiding Castile in 
 war with a certain number of horsemen." 
 
 In compliance with these conditions, Jaen 
 was given up to the Christian king, who en- 
 tered it in triumph about the end of Febru- 
 
322 Spanisb papers 
 
 ary.* His first care was to repair in grand 
 procession, bearing the holy cross, to the prin- 
 cipal mosque, which was purified and sanc- 
 tified by the bishop of Cordova, and erected 
 into a cathedral and dedicated to the most 
 holy Virgin Mar}\ 
 
 He remained some time in Jaen, giving re- 
 pose to his troops, regulating the affairs of 
 this important place, disposing of houses and 
 estates among his warriors who had most dis- 
 tinguished themselves, and amply rewarding 
 the priests and monks who had aided him 
 with their prayers. 
 
 As to Aben Alhamar, he returned to Gra- 
 nada, relieved from apprehension of impending 
 ruin to his kingdom, but deeply humiliated at 
 having to come under the yoke of vassalage. 
 He consoled himself by prosecuting the arts 
 of peace, improving the condition of his peo- 
 ple, building hospitals, founding institutions 
 of learning, and beautifying his capital with 
 those magnificent edifices which remain the 
 admiration of posterity ; for now it was that 
 he commenced to build the Alhambra. 
 
 Note. — There is some dispute among historians as 
 to the duration of the siege and the date of the sur- 
 render of Jaen. Some make the siege endure eight 
 
 * Notas para la Vida, etc., p. 562. 
 
afernan&o tbe Saint 
 
 323 
 
 months, from August into the middle of April. The 
 authentic Agapida adopts the opinion of the author 
 of Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey, etc., who makes 
 the siege begin on the 31st December, and end about 
 26th February. 
 
Cbapter £ m. 
 
 Axataf, King of Seville, Exasperated at the Submis- 
 sion of the King of Granada, Rejects the Proposi- 
 tions of King Fernando for a Truce — The Latter is 
 Kncouraged by a Vision to Undertake the Conquest 
 of the City of Seville — Death of Queen Berenguela 
 — A Diplomatic Marriage. 
 
 KING FERNANDO, having reduced the 
 fair kingdom of Granada to vassalage, 
 and fortified himself in Andalusia by 
 the possession of the strong city of 
 Jaen, bethought him now of returning to 
 Castile. There was but one Moorish potentate 
 in Spain whose hostilities he had to fear : this 
 was Axataf, the King of Seville. He was the 
 son of Aben Hud, and succeeded to a portion 
 of his territories. Warned by the signal defeat 
 of his father at Xerez, he had forborne to take 
 the field against the Christians, but had spared 
 no pains and expense to put the city of Seville 
 in the highest state of defense ; strengthening 
 
 324 
 
ffernanfco tbe Saint 325 
 
 its walls and towers, providing it with mu- 
 nitions of war of all kinds, and exercising his 
 people continually in the use of arms. King 
 Fernando was loth to leave this great frontier 
 in its present unsettled state, with such a 
 powerful enemy in the neighborhood, who 
 might take advantage of his absence to break 
 into open hostility ; still it was his policy to 
 let the sword rest in the sheath until he had 
 completely secured his new possessions. He 
 sought, therefore, to make a truce with King 
 Axataf, and, to enforce his propositions, it is 
 said he appeared with his army before Seville 
 in May, 1246.* His propositions were rejected, 
 as it were, at the very gate. It appears that 
 the King of Seville was exasperated rather 
 than dismayed by the submission of the king 
 of Granada. He felt that on himself depended 
 the last hope of Islamism in Spain ; he trusted 
 on aid from the coast of Barbary, with which 
 his capital had ready communication by water ; 
 and he resolved to make a bold stand in the 
 cause of his faith. 
 
 King Fernando retired indignant from before 
 Seville, and repaired to Cordova, with the 
 pious determination to punish the obstinacy 
 and humble the pride of the infidel, by plant- 
 ing the standard of the cross on the walls of 
 * Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey y p. 572. 
 
326 Spanfsb papers 
 
 his capital. Seville once in his power, the 
 rest of Andalusia would soon follow, and then 
 his triumph over the sect of Mahomet would be 
 complete. Other reasons may have concurred 
 to make him covet the conquest of Seville. 
 It was a city of great splendor and wealth, 
 situated in the midst of a fertile country, in a 
 genial climate, under a benignant sky ; and 
 having by its river, the Guadalquivir, an open 
 highway for commerce, it was the metropolis 
 of all Morisma — a world of wealth and delight 
 within itself. 
 
 These were sufficient reasons for aiming at 
 the conquest of this famous ciiy, but these 
 were not sufficient to satisfy the holy friars 
 who have written the history of this monarch, 
 and who have found a reason more befitting 
 his character of saint. Accordingly we are 
 told, by the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, 
 that at a time when the king was in deep 
 affliction for the death of his mother,, the 
 Queen Berenguela, and was praying with great 
 fervor, there appeared before him Saint Isidro, 
 the great Apostle of Spain, who had been 
 Archbishop of Seville in old times, before the 
 perdition of Spain by the Moors. As the 
 monarch gazed in reverent wonder at the vision, 
 the saint laid on him a solemn injunction 
 to rescue from the empire of Mahomet his 
 
jFernanfco tbe Saint 327 
 
 city of Seville. ' ' Que asi la llamo por suya en la 
 patria, suya en la silla y y suya en la protection." 
 "Such," says Agapida, " was the true reason 
 why this pious king undertook the conquest of 
 Seville ' ' ; and in this assertion he is supported 
 by many Spanish chroniclers ; and by the tra- 
 ditions of the Church — the vision of San Isidro 
 being read to this day among its services.* 
 
 The death of Queen Berenguela, to which 
 we have just adverted, happened some months 
 after the conquest of Jaen and submission of 
 Granada. The grief of the king on hearing 
 the tidings, we are told, was past description. 
 For a time it quite overwhelmed him. ' ' Nor 
 is it much to be marvelled at," says an old 
 chronicler; "for never did monarch lose a 
 mother so noble and magnanimous in all her 
 actions. She was indeed accomplished in all 
 things, an example of every virtue, the mirror 
 of Castile and Leon and all Spain, by whose 
 counsel and wisdom the affairs of many king- 
 doms were governed. This noble queen," 
 continues the chronicler, * * was deplored in all 
 the cities, towns, and villages of Castile and 
 Iyeon ; by all people, great and small, but 
 especially by poor cavaliers, to whom she was 
 ever a benefactress." t 
 
 * Rodriguez, Memorias del Santo Rey y c. lviii 
 t Cronica del Rey Don Fernando, c. xiii. 
 
328 Spanisb papers 
 
 Another heavy loss to King Fernando, about 
 this time, was that of the Archbishop of Toledo, 
 Don Rodrigo, the great adviser of the king in 
 all his expeditions, and the prelate who first 
 preached the grand crusade in Spain. He 
 lived a life of piety, activity, and zeal, and 
 died full of years, of honors, and of riches — 
 having received princely estates and vast 
 revenues from the king in reward of his servi- 
 ces in the cause. 
 
 These private afflictions for a time occupied 
 the royal mind ; the king was also a little dis- 
 turbed by some rash proceedings of his son, 
 the hereditary Prince Alfonso, who, being left 
 in the government of Murcia, took a notion of 
 imitating his father in his conquests, and made 
 an inroad into the Moorish kingdom of Valen- 
 cia, at that time in a state of confusion. This 
 brought on a collision with King Jayme of 
 Aragon, surnamed the Conqueror, who had 
 laid his hand upon all Valencia, as by his right 
 of arms. There was thus danger of a rupture 
 with Aragon, and of King Fernando having 
 an enemy on his back, while busied in his 
 wars in Andalusia. Fortunately King Jayme 
 had a fair daughter, the Princess Violante ; 
 and the grave diplomatists of the two courts 
 determined that it were better the two children 
 should marry, than the two fathers should 
 
JFernanDo tbe Saint 329 
 
 fight. To this arrangement King Fernando 
 and King Jay me gladly assented. They were 
 both of the same faith ; both proud of the name 
 of Christians ; both zealous in driving Ma- 
 hometanism out of Spain, and in augmenting 
 their empires with its spoils. The marriage 
 was accordingly solemnized in Valladolid in 
 the month of November in this same year ; 
 and now the saintly King Fernando turned his 
 whole energies to this great and crowning 
 achievement, the conquest of Seville, the em- 
 porium of Mahometanism in Spain. 
 
 Foreseeing, as long as the mouth of the 
 Guadalquivir was open, the city could receive 
 reinforcements and supplies from Africa, the 
 king held consultations with a wealthy man of 
 Burgos, Ramon Bonifaz, or Boniface, byname, 
 — some say a native of France, — one well ex- 
 perienced in maritime affairs, and capable of 
 fitting out and managing a fleet. This man he 
 constituted his admiral, and sent him to Biscay 
 to provide and arm a fleet of ships and galleys, 
 with which to attack Seville by water, while 
 the king should invest it by land. 
 
Cbapter $ W. 
 
 Investment of Seville — All Spain Aroused to Arms — 
 Surrender of Alcala del Rio — The Fleet of Admiral 
 Ramon Bonifaz Advances up the Guadalquivir — 
 Don Pel ay o Correa, Master of Santiago — His Val- 
 orous deeds and the Miracles Wrought in his 
 Behalf. 
 
 WHEN it was bruited abroad that 
 King Fernando the Saint intended 
 to besiege the great city of Seville, 
 all Spain was roused to arms. The 
 master of the various military and religious 
 orders, the ricos hombres, the princes, cavaliers, 
 hidalgos, and every one of Castile and Leon 
 capable of bearing arms, prepared to take the 
 field. Many of the nobility of Catalonia and 
 Portugal repaired to the standard of the king, 
 as did other cavaliers of worth and prowess 
 from lands far beyond the Pyrenees. 
 
 Prelates, priests, and monks likewise 
 thronged to the army, — some to take care of 
 
 350 
 
aFernan&o tbe Saint 331 
 
 the souls of those who hazarded their lives in 
 this holy enterprise, others with a zealous de- 
 termination to grasp buckler and lance, and 
 battle with the arm of flesh against the ene- 
 mies of God and the Church. 
 
 At the opening of spring the assembled 
 host issued forth in shining array from the 
 gates of Cordova. After having gained pos- 
 session of Carmona, and L,ora and Alcolea, and 
 of other neighboring places, — some by volun- 
 tary surrender, others by force of arms, — the 
 king crossed the Guadalquivir, with great diffi- 
 culty and peril, and made himself master of 
 several of the most important posts in the 
 neighborhood of Seville. Among these was 
 Alcala del Rio, a place of great consequence, 
 through w T hich passed all the succors from the 
 mountains to the city. This place was bravely 
 defended by Axataf in person, the commander 
 of Seville. He remained in Alcala with three 
 hundred Moorish cavaliers, making frequent 
 sallies upon the Christians, and effecting great 
 slaughter. At length he beheld all the coun- 
 try around laid waste, the grain burnt or 
 trampled down, the vineyards torn up, the cat- 
 tle driven away, and the villages consumed ; 
 so that nothing remained to give sustenance 
 to the garrison or the inhabitants. Not daring 
 to linger there any longer, he departed secretly 
 
332 Spantsb ©apers 
 
 in the night and retired to Seville, and the town 
 surrendered to King Fernando. 
 
 While the king was putting Alcala del Rio 
 in a state of defense, Admiral Ramon Bonifaz 
 arrived at the mouth of the Guadalquivir with 
 a fleet of thirteen large ships and several small 
 vessels and galleys. While he was yet hover- 
 ing about the land, he heard of the approach 
 of a great force of ships from Tangier, Ceuta, 
 and Seville, and of an ara^ to assail him from 
 the shores. In this peril he sent in all speed 
 for succor to the king ; when it reached the 
 sea-coast the enemy had not yet appeared ; 
 wherefore, thinking it a false alarm, the rein- 
 forcement returned to the camp. Scarcely, 
 however, had it departed when the Africans 
 came swarming over the sea, and fell upon 
 Ramon Bonifaz with a greatly superior force. 
 The admiral, in no way dismayed, defended 
 himself vigorously — sunk several of the enemy, 
 took a few prizes, and put the rest to flight, 
 remaining master of the river. The king had 
 heard of the peril of the fleet, and, crossing 
 the ford of the river, had hastened to its aid ; 
 but when he came to the sea-coast, he found 
 it victorious, at which he was greatly rejoiced, 
 and commanded that it should advance higher 
 up the river. 
 
 It was on the twentieth of the month of 
 
jfetnanDo tbe Saint 333 
 
 August that King Fernando began formally 
 the siege of Seville, having encamped his 
 troops, small in number but of stout hearts 
 and valiant hands, near to the city on the 
 banks of the river. From hence Don Pelayo 
 Correa, the valiant Master of Santiago, with 
 two hundred and sixty horsemen, many of 
 whom were warlike friars, attempted to cross 
 the river at the ford below Aznal Farache. 
 Upon this, Aben Amaken, Moorish King of 
 Niebla, sallied forth with a great host to de- 
 fend the pass, and the cavaliers were exposed 
 to imminent peril, until the king sent one hun- 
 dred cavaliers to their aid, led on by Rodrigo 
 Flores and Alonzo Tellez and Fernan Dianez. 
 Thus reinforced, the Master of Santiago 
 scoured the opposite side of the river, and with 
 his little army of scarce four hundred horse- 
 men, mingled monks and soldiers, spread dis- 
 may throughout the country. They attacked 
 the town of Gelbes, and, after a desperate com- 
 bat, entered it, sword in hand, slaying or 
 capturing the Moors, and making rich booty. 
 They made repeated assaults upon the castle 
 of Triana, and had bloody combats with its 
 garrison, but could not take the place. This 
 hardy band of cavaliers had pitched their tents 
 and formed their little camp on the banks of 
 the river, below the castle of Aznal Farache, 
 
334 Spanteb papers 
 
 This fortress was situated on an eminence 
 above the river, and its massive ruins, remain- 
 ing at the present day, attest its formidable 
 strength. 
 
 When the Moors from the castle towers 
 looked down upon this little camp of Christian 
 cavaliers, and saw them sallying forth and 
 careering about the country, and returning in 
 the evenings with cavalgadas of sheep and 
 cattle, and mules laden with spoil, and long 
 trains of captives, they were exceedingly 
 wroth, and they kept a watch upon them, and 
 sallied forth every day to fight with them, and 
 to intercept stragglers from their camp, and to 
 carry off their horses. Then the cavaliers 
 concerted together, and they lay in ambush 
 one day in the road by which the Moors were 
 accustomed to sally forth, and when the Moors 
 had partly passed their ambush, they rushed 
 forth and fell upon them, and killed and cap- 
 tured above three hundred, and pursued the 
 remainder to the very gates of the castle. 
 From that time the Moors were so disheartened 
 that they made no further sallies. 
 
 Shortly after, the Master of Santiago receiv- 
 ing secret intelligence that a Moorish sea- 
 captain had passed from Seville to Triana, on 
 his way to succor the castle of Aznal Farache, 
 placed himself, with a number of chosen cava- 
 
jFernanfco tbe Saint 335 
 
 Hers, in ambuscade at a pass by which the 
 Moors were expected to come. After waiting 
 a long time, their scouts brought word that 
 the Moors had taken another road, and were 
 nearly at the foot of the hill on which stood 
 the castle. " Cavaliers,' ' cried the master, " it 
 is not too late ; let us first use our spurs and 
 then our weapons, and if our steeds prove 
 good, the day will yet be ours." So saying, 
 he put spurs to his horse, and the rest follow- 
 ing his example, they soon came in sight of 
 the Moors. The latter, seeing the Christians 
 coming after them full speed, urged their 
 horses up the hill towards the castle, but the 
 Christians overtook them and slew seven of 
 those in the rear. In the skirmish, Garci 
 Perez struck the Moorish captain from his 
 horse with a blow of his lance. The Christians 
 rushed forward to take him prisoner. On 
 seeing this, the Moors turned back, threw 
 themselves between their commander and his 
 assailants, and kept the latter in check while 
 he was conveyed into the castle. Several of 
 them fell, covered with wounds ; the residue, 
 seeing their chieftain safe, turned their reins 
 and galloped for the castle, just entering in 
 time to have the gates closed upon their pur- 
 suers. 
 
 Time and space permit not to recount the 
 
336 Spani6b papers 
 
 many other valorous deeds of Don Pelayo 
 Correa, the good Master of Santiago, and his 
 band of cavaliers and monks. His little camp 
 became a terror to the neighborhood, and 
 checked the sallies of the Moorish mountain- 
 eers from the Sierra Morena. In one of his 
 enterprises he gained a signal advantage over 
 the foe, but the approach of night threatened 
 to defraud him of his victory. Then the pious 
 warrior lifted up his voice and supplicated the 
 Virgin Mary in those celebrated words, Santa 
 Maria, deten tu dia (Holy Mary, detain thy 
 day), for it was one of the days consecrated to 
 the Virgin. The blessed Virgin listened to the 
 prayer of her valiant votary ; the daylight 
 continued in a supernatural manner, until the 
 victory of the good Master of Santiago was 
 completed. In honor of this signal favor, he 
 afterwards erected a temple to the Virgin by 
 the name of Nuestra Sefiora de Tentudia.* 
 
 If any one should doubt this miracle, 
 wrought in favor of this pious warrior and his 
 soldiers of the cowl, it may be sufficient to 
 relate another, which immediately succeeded, 
 and which shows how peculiarly he was under 
 the favor of Heaven. After the battle was 
 over, his followers were ready to faint with 
 thirst, and could find no stream or fountain ; 
 * Zuniga, Annates de Sevilta, 1. i. 
 
3fernan&o tbe Saint 
 
 337 
 
 and when the good master saw the distress of 
 his soldiers, his heart was touched with com- 
 passion, and, bethinking himself of the miracle 
 performed by Moses, in an impulse of holy 
 zeal and confidence, and in the name of the 
 blessed Virgin, he struck a dry and barren 
 rock with his lance, and instantly there gushed 
 forth a fountain of water, at which all his 
 Christian soldiery drank and were refreshed.* 
 So much at present for the good Master of 
 Santiago, Don Pelayo Correa. 
 
 * Jacob Paranes, Lib. de los Maestro s de St. I ago. 
 Corona Gotica, t. 3, \ xiii. Zuniga, Annates de 
 Sevilla, 
 
Cbaptet £ U. 
 
 King Fernando Changes his Camp — Garci Perez 
 and the Seven Moors. 
 
 KING FERNANDO the Saint soon found 
 his encampment on the banks of the 
 Guadalquivir too much exposed to the 
 sudden sallies and insults of the Moors. 
 As the land was level, they easily scoured the 
 fields, carried off horses and stragglers from 
 the camp, and kept it in continual alarm. He 
 drew off, therefore, to a securer place, called 
 Tablada, the same where at present is situated 
 the hermitage of Nuestra Sefiora de el Balme. 
 Here he had a profound ditch digged all round 
 the camp, to shut up the passes from the Moor- 
 ish cavalry. He appointed patrols of horse- 
 men also, completely armed, who continually 
 made the rounds of the camp, in successive 
 bands, at all hours of the day and night.* 
 
 * Corona Gotica, t. 3, \ viii. 
 338 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 339 
 
 In a little while his army was increased by the 
 arrival of troops from all parts, — nobles, cava- 
 liers, and rich men, with their retainers, — nor 
 were there wanting holy prelates, who assumed 
 the warrior, and brought large squadrons of 
 well-armed vassals to the army. Merchants 
 and artificers now daily arrived, and wandering 
 minstrels, and people of all sorts, and the camp 
 appeared like a warlike city, where rich and 
 sumptuous merchandise was mingled with the 
 splendor of arms ; and the various colors of 
 the tents and pavilions, and the fluttering 
 standards and pennons bearing the painted 
 devices of the proudest houses of Spain, were 
 gay and glorious to behold. 
 
 When the king had established the camp in 
 Tablada he ordered that every day the foragers 
 should sally forth in search of provisions and 
 provender, guarded by strong bodies of troops. 
 The various chiefs of the army took turns to 
 command the guard who escorted the foragers. 
 One day it was the turn of Garci Perez, the 
 same cavalier who had killed the king of the 
 Azules. He was a hardy, iron warrior, sea- 
 soned and scarred in warfare, and renowned 
 among both Moors and Christians for his great 
 prowess, his daring courage, and his coolness 
 in the midst of danger. Garci Perez had 
 lingered in the camp until some time after the 
 
340 Spanisb papers 
 
 foragers had departed, who were already out 
 of sight. He at length set out to join them, 
 accompanied by another cavalier. They had 
 not proceeded far before they perceived seven 
 Moorish genetes, or light-horsemen, directly 
 in their road. When the companion of Garci 
 Perez beheld such a formidable array of foes, 
 he paused and said : " Sefior Perez, let us re- 
 turn ; the Moors are seven and we but two, 
 and there is no law in the duello which obliges 
 us to make front against such fearful odds." 
 
 To this Garci Perez replied : ' ' Sefior, for- 
 ward, always forward ; let us continue on our 
 road ; those Moors will never wait for us. ' ' 
 The other cavalier, however, exclaimed against 
 such rashness, and turning the reins of his 
 horse, returned as privately as possible to the 
 camp, and hastened to his tent. 
 
 All this happened within sight of the camp. 
 The king was at the door of his royal tent, 
 which stood on a rising ground and overlooked 
 the place where this occurred. When the king 
 saw one cavalier return and the other continue, 
 notwithstanding that there were seven Moors 
 in the road, he ordered that some horsemen 
 should ride forth to his aid. 
 
 Upon this Don Lorenzo Xuarez, who was 
 with the king and had seen Garci Perez sally 
 forth from the camp, said: "Your majesty 
 
ffernanfco tbe Saint 341 
 
 may leave that cavalier to himself; that is 
 Garci Perez, and he has no need of aid against 
 seven Moors. If the Moors know him they 
 will not meddle with him ; and if they do, 
 your majesty will see what kind of a cavalier 
 he is." 
 
 They continued to watch the cavalier, who 
 rode on tranquilly as if in no apprehension. 
 When he drew nigh to the Moors, who were 
 drawn up on each side of the road, he took 
 his arms from his squire and ordered him not 
 to separate from him. As he was lacing his 
 morion^ an embroidered cap which he wore on 
 his head fell to the ground without his per- 
 ceiving it. Having laced the capellina y he 
 continued on his way, and his squire after him. 
 When the Moors saw him near by they knew 
 by his arms that it was Garci Perez, and be- 
 thinking them of his great renown for terrible 
 deeds in arms, they did not dare to attack him, 
 but went along the road even with him, he on 
 one side, they on the other, making menaces. 
 
 Garci Perez went on his road with great se- 
 renity, without making any movement. When 
 the Moors saw that he heeded not their men- 
 aces, they turned round and went back to 
 about the place where he dropped his cap. 
 
 Having arrived at some distance from the 
 Moors, he took off his arms to return them to 
 
342 Spanisb papers 
 
 his squire, and unlacing the capellina, found 
 that the cap was wanting. He asked the 
 squire for it, but the latter knew nothing about 
 it. Seeing that it had fallen, he again de- 
 manded his arms of the squire, and returned 
 in search of it, telling his squire to keep close 
 behind him and look out well for it. The 
 squire remonstrated. "What, sen or," said 
 he, " will 3^ou return and place yourself in 
 such great trouble for a mere capaf Have 
 you not already done enough for your honor, 
 in passing so daringly by seven Moors, and 
 have you not been singularly favored by for- 
 tune in escaping unhurt, and do you seek again 
 to tempt fortune for a cap ? ' ' 
 
 " Say no more," replied Garci Perez ; " that 
 cap was worked for me by a fair lady ; I hold 
 it of great value. Besides, dost thou not see 
 that I have not a head to be without a cap ? ' ' 
 alluding to the baldness of his head, which 
 had no hair in front. So saying, he tranquilly 
 returned towards the Moors. When Don Lo- 
 renzo Xuarez saw this, he said to the king : 
 "Behold! your majesty, how Garci Perez 
 turns upon the Moors ; since they will not 
 make an attack, he means to attack them. Now 
 your majesty will see the noble valor of this 
 cavalier, if the Moors dare to await him." 
 When the Moors beheld Garci Perez approach- 
 
ffernan&o tbe Saint 343 
 
 ing they thought he meant to assault them, 
 and drew off, not daring to encounter him. 
 When Don L,orenzo saw this he exclaimed : 
 "Behold! your majesty, the truth of what 
 I told you. These Moors dare not wait for 
 him. I know well the valor of Garci Perez, 
 and it appears the Moors are aware of it like- 
 
 wise." 
 
 In the meantime Garci Perez came to the . 
 place where the capa had fallen, and beheld it 
 upon the earth. Then he ordered his squire 
 to dismount and pick it up, and putting it de- 
 liberately on his head, he continued on his way 
 to the foragers. 
 
 When he returned to the camp from guard- 
 ing the foragers, Don Iyorenzo asked him, in 
 presence of the king, who was the cavalier 
 who had set out with him from the camp, but 
 had turned back on sight of the Moors ; he 
 replied that he did not know him, and he was 
 confused, for he perceived that the king had 
 witnessed what had passed, and he was so 
 modest withal, that he was ever embarrassed 
 when his deeds were praised in his presence. 
 
 Don L,orenzo repeatedly asked him who was 
 the recreant cavalier, but he always replied 
 that he did not know, although he knew full 
 well and saw him daily in the camp. But he 
 was too generous to say anything that should 
 
344 
 
 Spanteb papers 
 
 take away the fame of another, and he charged 
 his squire that never, by word or look, he 
 should betray the secret ; so that, though in- 
 quiries were often made, the name of that 
 cavalier was never discovered. 
 
Cbapter £ M. 
 
 Of the Raft Built by the Moors, and how it was 
 Boarded by Admiral Bonifaz — Destruction of the 
 Moorish Fleet — Succor from Africa. 
 
 WHIIyE the army of King Fernando 
 the Saint harassed, the city by land 
 and cut off its supplies, the bold 
 Bonifaz, with his fleet, shut up the 
 river, prevented all succor from Africa, and 
 menaced to attack the bridge between Triana 
 and Seville, by which the city derived its sus- 
 tenance from the opposite country. The Moors 
 saw their peril. If this pass were destroyed, 
 famine must be the consequence, and the mul- 
 titude of their soldiers, on which at present 
 they relied for safety, would then become the 
 cause of their destruction. 
 
 So the Moors devised a machine by which 
 they hoped to sweep the river and involve the 
 invading fleet in ruin. They made a raft so 
 wide that it reached from one bank to the other, 
 and they placed all round it pots and vessels 
 
 345 
 
346 Spanfeb papers 
 
 filled with resin, pitch, tar, and other combusti- 
 bles, forming what is called Greek fire, and upon 
 it was a great number of armed men ; and on 
 each shore — from the castle of Triana on the 
 one side, and from the city on the other — sallied 
 forth legions of troops to advance at the same 
 time with the raft. The raft was preceded by 
 several vessels well armed, to attack the Chris- 
 tian ships, while the soldiers on the raft should 
 hurl on board their pots of fire ; and at length, 
 setting all the combustibles in a blaze, should 
 send the raft flaming into the midst of the hostile 
 fleet, and wrap it in one general conflagration. 
 When everything w T as prepared, the Moors 
 set off by land and water, confident of success. 
 But they proceeded in a wild, irregular manner, 
 shouting and sounding drums and trumpets, 
 and began to attack the Christian ships fiercely, 
 but without concert, hurling their pots of fire 
 from a distance, filling the air with smoke, but 
 falling short of their enemy. The tumultuous 
 uproar of their preparations had put all the 
 Christians on their guard. The bold Bonifaz 
 waited not to be assailed ; he boarded the raft, 
 attacked vigorously its defenders, put many 
 of them to the sword, and drove the rest into 
 the water, and succeeded in extinguishing the 
 Greek fire. He then encountered the ships of 
 war, grappling them and fighting hand to hand 
 
ffernanfco tbe Saint 347 
 
 from ship to ship. The action was furious and 
 bloody, and lasted all day. Many were cut down 
 in flight, many fell into the water, and many in 
 despair threw themselves in and were drowned. 
 
 The battle had raged no less furiously upon 
 the land. On the side of Seville, the troops 
 had issued from the camp of King Fernando, 
 while on the opposite shore the brave Mas- 
 ter of Santiago, Don Pelayo Perez Correa, 
 with his warriors and fighting friars, had made 
 short work with the enemy. In this way a 
 triple battle was carried on : there was the rush 
 of squadrons, the clash of arms, and the din 
 of drums and trumpets on either bank, while 
 the river was covered with vessels, tearing each 
 other to pieces, as it were, their crews fighting 
 in the midst of flame and smoke, the waves 
 red with blood and filled with the bodies of 
 the slain. At length the Christians were 
 victorious ; most of the enemies' vessels were 
 taken or destroyed, and on either shore the 
 Moors, broken and discomfited, fled, — those on 
 the one side for the gates of Seville, and those 
 on the other for the castle of Triana, — pursued 
 with great slaughter by the victors. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great destruction of 
 their fleet, the Moors soon renewed their at- 
 tempts upon the ships of Ramon Bonifaz, for 
 they knew that the salvation of the city 
 
34§ Spantsb papers 
 
 required the freedom of the river. Succor 
 arrived from Africa, of ships, with troops and 
 provisions ; they rebuilt the fire-ships which 
 had been destroyed, and incessant combats, 
 feints, and stratagems took place daily, both 
 on land and water. The admiral stood in great 
 dread of the Greek fire used by the Moors. 
 He caused large stakes of wood to be placed in 
 the river, to prevent the passage of the fire- 
 ships. This for some time was of avail ; but 
 the Moors, watching an opportunity when the 
 sentinels were asleep, came and threw cables 
 round the stakes, and fastening the other ends 
 to their vessels, made all sail, and, by the help 
 of wind and oars, tore away the stakes and 
 carried them off with shouts of triumph. The 
 clamorous exultation of the Moors betrayed 
 them. The Admiral Bonifaz was aroused. 
 With a few of the lightest of his vessels he 
 immediately pursued the enemy. He came 
 upon them so suddenly that they were too 
 much bewildered either to fight or fly. Some 
 threw themselves into the waves in affright ; 
 others attempted to make resistance and were 
 cut down. The admiral took four barks laden 
 with arms and provisions, and with these 
 returned in triumph to his fleet.* 
 
 * Cronica Gotica y 1. 3, § 13. Cronica General, pt. 4. 
 
 Cronica del Santo Rcy, c. 55. 
 
Cbapter f OT1T. 
 
 Of the Stout Prior, Ferran Ruyz, and how he Rescued 
 his Cattle from the Moors — Further Enterprises of 
 the Prior, and of the Ambuscade into which he 
 Fell. 
 
 IT happened one day that a great part of the 
 cavaliers of the army were absent, some 
 making cavalgadas about the country, 
 others guarding the foragers, and others 
 gone to receive the Prince Alfonso, who was 
 on his way to the camp from Murcia. At this 
 time ten Moorish cavaliers, of the brave lineage 
 of the Azules, finding the Christian camp but 
 thinly peopled, came prowling about, seeking 
 where they might make a bold inroad. As 
 they were on the lookout they came to that 
 part of the camp where were the tents of the 
 stout Friar Ferran Ruyz, prior of the hospital. 
 The stout prior and his fighting brethren, were 
 as good at foraging as fighting. Around their 
 quarters there were several sleek cows grazing, 
 
 349 
 
350 Spantsb papers 
 
 which they had carried off from the Moors. 
 When the Azules saw these, they thought to 
 make a good prize, and to bear off the prior's 
 cattle as a trophy. Careering lightly round, 
 therefore, between the cattle and the camp, 
 they began to drive them towards the city. 
 The alarm was given in the camp, and six 
 sturdy friars sallied forth, on foot, with two 
 cavaliers, in pursuit of the marauders. The 
 prior himself was roused by the noise ; when 
 he heard that the beeves of the Church were 
 in danger his ire was kindled ; and buckling 
 on his armor, he mounted his steed and gal- 
 loped furiously to the aid of his valiant friars, 
 and the rescue of his cattle. The Moors at- 
 tempted to urge on the lagging and full-fed 
 kine, but finding the enemy close upon them, 
 they were obliged to abandon their spoil among 
 the olive-trees, and to retreat. The prior then 
 gave the cattle in charge to a squire, to drive 
 them back to the camp. He would have re- 
 turned himself, but his friars had continued on 
 for some distance. The stout prior, therefore, 
 gave spurs to his horse and galloped beyond 
 them, to turn them back. Suddenly great 
 shouts and cries arose before and behind him, 
 and an ambuscade of Moors, both horse and 
 foot, came rushing out of a ravine. The stout 
 Prior of San Juan saw that there was no re- 
 
ffernanfco tbe Saint 351 
 
 treat ; and he disdained to render himself a 
 prisoner. Commending himself to his patron 
 saint, and bracing his shield, he charged 
 bravely among the Moors, and began to lay 
 about him with a holy zeal of spirit and a vig- 
 orous arm of flesh. Every blow that he gave 
 was in the name of San Juan, and every blow 
 laid an infidel in the dust. His friars, seeing 
 the peril of their leader, came running to his 
 aid, accompanied by a number of cavaliers. 
 They rushed into the fight, shouting, ' ' San 
 Juan! San Juan!" and began to deal such 
 sturdy blows as savored more of the camp than 
 of the cloister. Great and fierce was this strug- 
 gle between cowl and turban. The ground 
 was strewn with bodies of the infidels ; but the 
 Christians were a mere handful among a mul- 
 titude. A burly friar, commander of Sietefilla, 
 was struck to the earth, and his shaven head 
 cleft by a blow of a scimeitar ; several squires 
 and cavaliers, to the number of twenty, fell 
 covered with wounds ; yet still the stout prior 
 and his brethren continued fighting with des- 
 perate fury, shouting incessantly, " San Juan ! 
 San Juan ! ' ' and dealing their blows with as 
 good heart as they had ever dealt benedictions 
 on their followers. 
 
 The noise of this skirmish, and the holy 
 shouts of the fighting friars, resounded through 
 
352 Spanteb papers 
 
 the camp. The alarm was given : " The Prior 
 of San Juan is surrounded by the enemy ! To 
 the rescue ! to the rescue ! ' ' The whole Chris- 
 tian host was in agitation, but none were so 
 alert as those holy warriors of the Church, 
 Don Garcia, Bishop of Cordova, and Don San- 
 cho, Bishop of Coria. Hastily summoning 
 their vassals, horse and foot, they bestrode 
 their steeds, with cuirass over cassock, and 
 lance instead of crosier, and set off at full gal- 
 lop to the rescue of their brother saints. When 
 the Moors saw the warrior bishops and their 
 retainers scouring to the field, they gave over 
 the contest, and leaving the prior and his com- 
 panions, they drew off towards the city. Their 
 retreat was soon changed to a headlong flight ; 
 for the bishops, not content with rescuing the 
 prior, continued in pursuit of his assailants. 
 The Moorish foot-soldiers were soon over- 
 taken and either slaughtered or made pris- 
 oners ; nor did the horsemen make good their 
 retreat into the city until the powerful arm of 
 the Church had visited their rear with pious 
 vengeance.* Nor did the chastisement of 
 Heaven end here. The stout prior of the hos- 
 pital, being once aroused, was full of ardor and 
 enterprise. Concerting with the Prince Don 
 Enrique, and the Masters of Calatrava and Al- 
 * Cronica General \ pt. 4, p. 338. 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 353 
 
 cantara, and the valiant Lorenzo Xuarez, they 
 made a sudden assault by night on the suburb 
 of Seville called Benaljofar, and broke their way 
 into it with fire and sword. The Moors were 
 roused from their sleep by the flames of their 
 dwellings and the shouts of the Christians. 
 There was hard and bloody fighting. The prior 
 of the hospital, with his valiant friars, was in the 
 fiercest of the action, and their war-cry of " San 
 Juan ! San Juan ! " was heard in all parts of 
 the suburb. Many houses were burnt, many 
 sacked, many Moors slain or taken prisoners, 
 and the Christian knights and warrior friars, 
 having gathered together a great cavalgada of 
 the flocks and herds which were in the suburb, 
 drove it off in triumph to the camp, by the 
 light of the blazing dwellings. 
 
 A like inroad was made by the prior and the 
 same cavaliers, a few nights afterwards, into 
 the suburb called Macarena, which they laid 
 waste in like manner, bearing off wealthy 
 spoils. Such was the pious vengeance which 
 the Moors brought upon themseives by med- 
 dling with the kine of the stout prior of the 
 hospital. 
 23 
 
Chapter £ WHIT. 
 
 Bravado of the Three Cavaliers — Ambush at the Bridge 
 over the Guadayra — Desperate Valor of Garci Perez 
 — Grand Attempt of Admiral Bonifaz on the Bridge 
 of Boats — Seville Dismembered from Triana. 
 
 OF all the Christian cavaliers who distin- 
 guished themselves in this renowned 
 siege of Seville, there was none who 
 surpassed in valor the bold Garci 
 Perez de Vargas. This hardy knight was 
 truly enamoured of danger, and like a gamester 
 with his gold, he seemed to have no pleasure 
 of his life except in putting it in constant jeop- 
 ardy. One of the greatest friends of Garci 
 Perez was Don Iyorenzo Xuarez Gallinato, the 
 same who had boasted of the valor of Garci 
 Perez at the time that he exposed himself to be 
 attacked by seven Moorish horsemen. They 
 were not merely companions, but rivals in 
 arms ; for in this siege it was the custom 
 
 354 
 
 
tfernanfco tbe Saint 355 
 
 among the Christian knights to vie with each 
 other in acts of daring enterprise. 
 
 One morning, as Garci Perez, Don Lorenzo 
 Xuarez, and a third cavalier, named Alfonso 
 Tello, were on horseback, patrolling the skirts 
 of the camp, a friendly contest rose between 
 them as to who was most adventurous in arms. 
 To settle the question, it was determined to 
 put the proof to the Moors, by going alone and 
 striking the points of their lances in the gate 
 of the city. 
 
 No sooner was this mad bravado agreed upon 
 than they turned the reins of their horses and 
 made for Seville. The Moorish sentinels, from 
 the towers of the gate, saw three Christian 
 V nights advancing over the plain, and supposed 
 them to be messengers or deserters from the 
 army. When the cavaliers drew near, each 
 struck his lance against the gate, and wheeling 
 round, put spurs to his horse and retreated. 
 The Moors, considering this a scornful de- 
 fiance, were violently exasperated, and sallied 
 forth in great numbers to revenge the insult. 
 They soon were hard on the traces of the 
 Christian cavaliers. The first who turned to 
 fight with them was Alfonso Tello, being of a 
 fiery and impatient spirit. The second was 
 Garci Perez ; the third was Don I y orenzo, who 
 waited until the Moors came up with them, 
 
356 Spanish papers 
 
 when he braced his shield, couched his lance, 
 and took the whole brunt of their charge. A 
 desperate light took place, for though the 
 Moors were overwhelming in number, the cav- 
 aliers were three of the most valiant warriors in 
 Spain. The conflict was beheld from the camp. 
 The alarm was given ; the Christian cavaliers 
 hastened to the rescue of their companions in 
 arms ; squadron after squadron pressed to the 
 field, the Moors poured out reinforcements from 
 the gate ; in this way a general battle ensued, 
 which lasted a great part of the day, until the 
 Moors were vanquished and driven within their 
 walls. 
 
 There was one of the gates of Seville, called 
 the gate of the Alcazar, which led out to a 
 small bridge over the Guadayra. Out of this 
 gate the Moors used to make frequent sallies, 
 to fall suddenly upon the Christian camp, or to 
 sweep off the flocks and herds about its out- 
 skirts, and then to scour back to the bridge, 
 beyond which it was dangerous to pursue them. 
 
 The defense of this part of the camp was 
 intrusted to those two valiant compeers in 
 arms, Garci Perez de Vargas and Don Lorenzo 
 Xuarez ; and they determined to take ample 
 revenge upon the Moors for all the depreda- 
 tions they had committed. They chose, there- 
 fore, about two hundred hardy cavaliers, the 
 
ffernanDo tbe Saint 357 
 
 flower of those seasoned warriors on the oppo- 
 site side of the Guadalquivir, who formed the 
 little army of the good Master of Santiago. 
 When they were all assembled together, Don 
 Lorenzo put them in ambush, in the way by 
 which the Moors were accustomed to pass in 
 their maraudings, and he instructed them, in 
 pursuing the Moors, to stop at the bridge, and 
 by no means to pass beyond it ; for between it 
 and the city there was a great host of the 
 enemy, and the bridge was so narrow that to 
 retreat over it would be perilous in the extreme. 
 This order was given to all, but was particu- 
 larly intended for Garci Perez, to restrain his 
 daring spirit, which was ever apt to run into 
 peril. 
 
 They had not been long in ambush when 
 they heard the distant tramp of the enemy upon 
 the bridge, and found that the Moors were 
 upon the forage. They kept concealed, and 
 the Moors passed by them in careless and irregu- 
 lar manner, as men apprehending no danger. 
 Scarce had they gone by when the cavaliers 
 rushed forth, charged into the midst of them, 
 and threw them all into confusion. Many were 
 killed or overthrown in the shock, the rest took 
 to flight, and made at full speed for the bridge. 
 Most of the Christian soldiers, according to or- 
 ders, stopped at the bridge ; but Don Lorenzo, 
 
358 Spanisb papers 
 
 with a few of his cavaliers, followed the enemy 
 half-way across, making great havoc in that 
 narrow pass. Many of the Moors, in their 
 panic, flung themselves from the bridge, and 
 perished in the Guadayra ; others were cut 
 down and trampled under the hoofs of friends 
 and foes. Don Lorenzo, in the heat of the 
 fight, cried aloud incessantly, defying the 
 Moors, and proclaiming his name: "Turn 
 hither ! turn hither ! 'T is I, Lorenzo Xuarez ! ' ' 
 But few of the Moors cared to look him in the 
 face. 
 
 Don Lorenzo now returned to his cavaliers, 
 but on looking round, Garci Perez was not to 
 be seen. All were dismayed, fearing some evil 
 fortune had befallen him ; when, on casting 
 their eyes beyond the bridge, they saw him on 
 the opposite side, surrounded by Moors and 
 fighting with desperate valor. 
 
 "Garci Perez has deceived us," said Don 
 Lorenzo, ' ' and has passed the bridge, contrary 
 to agreement. But to the rescue, comrades ! 
 never let it be said that so good a cavalier as 
 Garci Perez was lost for want of our assistance. ' ' 
 So saying, they all put spurs to their horses, 
 rushed again upon the bridge, and broke their 
 way across, cutting down and overturning the 
 Moors, and driving great numbers to fling them- 
 selves into the river. When the Moors who 
 
afernanDo tbe Saint 359 
 
 had surrounded Garci Perez saw this band of 
 cavaliers rushing from the bridge, they turned 
 to defend themselves. The contest was fierce, 
 but broken ; many of the Moors took refuge in 
 the river, but the Christians followed and slew 
 them among the waves. They continued fight- 
 ing for the remainder of the day, quite up to 
 the gate of the Alcazar ; and if the chronicles 
 of the times speak with their usual veracity, 
 full three thousand infidels bit the dust on that 
 occasion. When Don Iyorenzo returned to the 
 camp, and was in presence of the king and of 
 numerous cavaliers, great encomiums were 
 passed upon his valor ; but he modestly replied 
 that Garci Perez had that day made them good 
 soldiers by force. 
 
 From that time forward the Moors attempted 
 no further inroads into the camp, so severe a 
 lesson had they received from these brave 
 cavaliers.* 
 
 The city of Seville was connected with the 
 suburb of Triana by a strong bridge of boats, 
 fastened together by massive chains of iron. 
 By this bridge a constant communication was 
 kept up between Triana and the city, and 
 mutual aid and support passed and repassed. 
 
 * Cronica General de Espana y pt. 4. Cronica del 
 Rey Fernando el Santo, c. 60. Corona Gotica, t. 3, 
 p. 126. 
 
360 Spanisb papers 
 
 While this bridge remained, it was impossible 
 to complete the investment of the city, or to 
 capture the castle of Triana. 
 
 The bold Admiral Bonifaz at length con- 
 ceived a plan to break this bridge asunder, and 
 thus to cut off all communication between the 
 city and Triana. No sooner had this idea en- 
 tered his mind than he landed, and proceeded 
 with great speed to the royal tent, to lay it be- 
 fore the king. Then a consultation was sum- 
 moned by the king of ancient mariners and 
 artificers of ships, and other persons learned in 
 maritime affairs ; and after Admiral Bonifaz 
 had propounded his plan, it was thought to be 
 good, and all preparations were made to carry 
 it into effect. The admiral took two of his 
 largest and strongest ships, and fortified them 
 at the prows with solid timber and with plates 
 of iron ; and he put within them a great num- 
 ber of chosen men, well armed and provided 
 with everything for attack and defense. Of 
 one he took the command himself. It was the 
 third day of May, the day of the most Holy 
 Cross, that he chose for this grand and perilous 
 attempt ; and the pious King Fernando, to in- 
 sure success, ordered that a cross should be 
 carried as a standard at the masthead of each 
 ship. 
 
 On the third of May, towards the hour 
 
jfernanDo tbe Saint 361 
 
 of noon, the two ships descended the Guadal- 
 quivir for some distance, to gain room to come 
 up with the greater violence. Here they waited 
 the rising of the tide, and as soon as it was in 
 full force, and a favorable wind had sprung up 
 from the sea, they hoisted anchor, spread all 
 sail, and put themselves in the midst of the 
 current. The whole shores were lined on each 
 side with Christian troops, watching the event 
 with great anxiety. The king and the Prince 
 Alfonso, with their warriors, on the one side 
 had drawn close to the city to prevent the 
 sallying forth of the Moors, while the good 
 Master of Santiago, Don Pelayo Perez Correa, 
 kept watch upon the gates of Triana. The 
 Moors crowded the tops of their towers, their 
 walls, and house-tops, and prepared engines 
 and weapons of all kinds to overwhelm the 
 ships with destruction. 
 
 Twice the bold admiral set all sail and started 
 on his career, and twice the wind died away 
 before he had proceeded half his course. 
 Shouts of joy and derision rose from the walls 
 and towers of Seville, while the warriors in the 
 ships began to fear that their attempt would be 
 unsuccessful. At length a fresh and strong 
 wind arose that swelled every sail and sent the 
 ships ploughing up the waves of the Guadal- 
 quivir. A dead silence prevailed among the 
 
362 Spantsb papers 
 
 hosts on either bank, even the Moors remained 
 silent, in fixed and breathless suspense. When 
 the ships arrived within reach of the walls of 
 the city and the suburbs, a tremendous attack 
 was commenced from every wall and tower; 
 great engines discharged stones and offensive 
 weapons of all kinds, and flaming pots of Greek 
 fire. On the tower of gold were stationed 
 catapults and vast cross-bow r s that were worked 
 with cranks, and from hence an iron shower 
 was rained upon the ships. The Moors in 
 Triana were equally active ; from every wall 
 and turret, from house-tops, and from the 
 banks of the river, an incessant assault was 
 kept up with catapults, cross-bows, slings, 
 darts, and everything that could annoy. 
 Through all this tempest of war, the ships kept 
 on their course. The first ship which arrived 
 struck the bridge on the part towards Triana. 
 The shock resounded from shore to shore, the 
 whole fabric trembled, the ship recoiled and 
 reeled, but the bridge was unbroken ; and 
 shouts of joy rose from the Moors on each side 
 of the river. Immediately after came the ship 
 of the admiral. It struck the bridge just about 
 the centre with a tremendous crash. The iron 
 chains which bound the boats together snapped 
 as if they had been flax. The boats were 
 crushed and shattered and flung wide asunder, 
 
ffernan&o tbe Saint 
 
 363 
 
 and the ship of the admiral proceeded in tri- 
 umph through the open space. No sooner did 
 the king and the Prince Alfonso see the suc- 
 cess of the admiral, than they pressed with 
 their troops closely round the city, and pre- 
 vented the Moors from sallying forth ; while 
 the ships, having accomplished their enterprise, 
 extricated themselves from their dangerous 
 situation, and returned in triumph to their ac- 
 customed anchorage. This was the fatal blow 
 that dismembered Seville from Triana, and in- 
 sured the downfall of the city. 
 
^g^^^^^^^^^^^g^^^ > 
 
 (^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 Cbapter f 1Ff. 
 
 Investment of Triana — Garci Perez and the Infanzon. 
 
 ON the day after the breaking of the 
 bridge, the king, the Prince Alfonso, 
 the Prince Enrique, the various mas- 
 ters of the orders, and a great part 
 of the army, crossed the Guadalquivir and com- 
 menced an attack on Triana, while the bold 
 Admiral Bonifaz approached with his ships 
 and assaulted the place from the water. But 
 the Christian army was unprovided with lad- 
 ders or machines for the attack, and fought to 
 great disadvantage. The Moors, from the safe 
 shelter of their walls and towers, rained a shower 
 of missiles of all kinds. As they were so high 
 above the Christians, their arrows, darts, and 
 lances came with the greater force. They were 
 skilful with the cross-bow, and had engines of 
 such force that the darts which they discharged 
 would sometimes pass through a cavalier all 
 armed, and bury themselves in the earth.* 
 * Cronica General, pt. 4, p. 341. 
 364 
 
jpernanDo tbe Saint 365 
 
 The very women combated from the walls, 
 and hurled down stones that crushed the war- 
 riors beneath. 
 
 While the army was closely investing Triana, 
 and fierce encounters were daily taking place 
 between Moor and Christian, there arrived at 
 the camp a youthful Infanzon, or noble, of 
 proud lineage. He brought with him a shining 
 train of vassals, all newly armed and appointed, 
 and his own armor, all fresh and lustrous, 
 showed none of the dents and bruises and 
 abuses of the war. As this gay and gorgeous 
 cavalier was patrolling the camp, with several 
 cavaliers, he beheld Garci Perez pass by, in 
 armor and accoutrements all worn and soiled 
 by the hard service he had performed, and he 
 saw a similar device to his own, of white waves, 
 emblazoned on the scutcheon of this unknown 
 warrior. Then the nobleman was highly ruf- 
 fled and incensed, and he exclaimed. ' ' How is 
 this ? who is this sorry cavalier that dares to 
 bear these devices? By my faith, he must 
 either give them up or show his reasons for 
 usurping them." The other cavaliers ex- 
 claimed : " Be cautious how you speak ; this is 
 Garci Perez ; a braver cavalier wears not sword 
 in Spain. For all he goes thus modestly and 
 quietly about, he is a very lion in the field, nor 
 does he assume anything that he cannot well 
 
366 Spanisb papers 
 
 maintain. Should he hear this which you 
 have said, trust us he would not rest quiet until 
 he had terrible satisfaction." 
 
 Now so it happened that certain mischief- 
 makers carried word to Garci Perez of what 
 the nobleman had said, expecting to see him 
 burst into fierce indignation, and defy the 
 other to the field. But Garci Perez remained 
 tranquil, and said not a word. 
 
 Within a day or two after, there was a sally 
 from the castle of Triana and a hot skirmish 
 between the Moors and Christians ; and Garci 
 Perez and the Infanzon and a number of cav- 
 aliers pursued the Moors up to the barriers of 
 the castle. Here the enemy rallied and made 
 a fierce defense, and killed several of the 
 cavaliers. But Garci Perez put spurs to his 
 horse, and, couching his lance, charged among 
 the thickest of the foes, and, followed by a 
 handful of his companions, drove the Moors 
 to the very gates of Triana. The Moors, 
 seeing how few were their pursuers turned 
 upon them, and dealt bravely with sword and 
 lance and mace, while stones and darts and 
 arrows were rained down from the towers 
 above the gates. At length the Moors took 
 refuge within the walls, leaving the field to the 
 victorious cavaliers. Garci Perez drew off 
 coolly and calmly amidst a shower of missiles 
 
ffernanfco tbe Saint 367 
 
 from the wall. He came out of the battle with 
 his armor all battered and defaced ; his helmet 
 bruised, the crest broken off, and his buckler 
 so dented and shattered that the device could 
 scarcely be perceived. On returning to the 
 barrier, he found there the Infanzon, with his 
 armor all uninjured, and his armorial bearing 
 as fresh as if just emblazoned, for the vaunting 
 warrior had not ventured beyond the barrier. 
 Then Garci Perez drew near to the Infanzon, 
 and eying him from head to foot, ' * Senor cava- 
 lier," he said, " you may well dispute my 
 right to wear this honorable device in my 
 shield, since you see I take so little care of it 
 that it is almost destroyed. You, on the other 
 hand, are worthy of bearing it. You are the 
 guardian angel of honor, since you guard it so 
 carefully as to put it to no risk. I will only 
 observe to you that the sword kept in the 
 scabbard rusts, and the valor that is never put 
 to the proof becomes sullied."* 
 
 At these words the Infanzon was deeply 
 humiliated, for he saw that Garci Perez had 
 heard of his empty speeches, and he felt how 
 unworthily he had spoken of so valiant and 
 magnanimous a cavalier. " Senor cavalier," 
 he said, " pardon my ignorance and presump- 
 tion ; you alone are worthy of bearing those 
 
 * Cronica General, pt. 4. Corona Gotica, t. 3, \ 16. 
 
368 
 
 Spanisb papers 
 
 arms, for you derive not nobility from them, 
 but ennoble them by your glorious deeds. ' ' 
 
 Then Garci Perez blushed at the praises he 
 had thus drawn upon himself, and he regretted 
 the harshness of his words toward the Infan- 
 zon, and he not merely pardoned him all that 
 had passed, but gave him his hand in pledge 
 of amity, and from that time they were close 
 friends and companions in arms.* 
 
 * Cronica General, pt. 4. Cronica del Rey Santo. 
 Corona Gotica, t. 3, \ 16. 
 
Cbapter £ £ . 
 
 Capitulation of Seville — Dispersion of the Moorish 
 Inhabitants — Triumphant Kntry of King Fernando. 
 
 ABOUT this time there arrived in Seville 
 a Moorish alfaqui, named Orias, with 
 a large company of warriors, who 
 came to this war as if performing a 
 pilgrimage, for it was considered a holy war no 
 less by infidels than Christians. This Orias 
 was of a politic and crafty nature, and he sug- 
 gested to the commander of Seville a stratagem 
 by which they might get Prince Alfonso in 
 their power, and compel King Fernando to 
 raise the siege by way of ransom. The coun- 
 sel of Orias was adopted, after a consultation 
 with the principal cavaliers, and measures 
 taken to carry it into execution ; a Moor was 
 sent, therefore, as if secretly and by stealth, to 
 Prince Alfonso, and oifered to put him in pos- 
 session of two towers of the wall, if he would 
 
 24 369 
 
37o Spantsb papers 
 
 come in person to receive them, which towers 
 once in his possession, it would be easy to over- 
 power the city. 
 
 Prince Alfonso listened to the envoy with 
 seeming eagerness, but suspected some deceit, 
 and thought it unwise to put his person in 
 such jeopardy. L,est, however, there should 
 be truth in his proposals, a party of chosen 
 cavaliers were sent as if to take possession of 
 the towers, and with them was Don Pero 
 Nunez de Guzman, disguised as the prince. 
 
 When they came to the place where the 
 Moors had appointed to meet them, they be- 
 held a party of infidels strongly armed, who 
 advanced with sinister looks, and attempted to 
 surround Don Nunez, but he, being on his 
 guard, put spurs to his horse, and, break- 
 ing through the midst of them, escaped. His 
 companions followed his example, all but one, 
 who was struck from his horse and cut to 
 pieces by the Moors.* 
 
 Just after this event there arrived a great 
 reinforcement to the camp from the city of 
 Cordova, bringing provisions and various 
 munitions of war. Finding his army thus 
 increased, the king had a consultation with 
 Admiral Bonifaz, and determined completely 
 to cut off all communication between Seville 
 * Cronica General, pt. 4, p. 424. 
 
 
jfernanfco the- Saint 371 
 
 and Triana, for the Moors still crossed the 
 river occasionally by fording. When they 
 were about to carry their plan into effect, 
 the crafty Alfaqui Orias crossed to Triana, 
 accompanied by a number of Ganzules. He 
 was charged with instructions to the garri- 
 son, and to concert some mode of reuniting 
 their forces, or of effecting some blow upon the 
 Christian camp ; for unless they could effect a 
 union and co-operation, it would be impossible 
 to make much longer resistance. 
 
 Scarce had Orias passed, when the Christian 
 sentinels gave notice. Upon this, a detach- 
 ment of the Christian army immediately 
 crossed and took possession of the opposite 
 shore, and Admiral Bonifaz stationed his fleet 
 in the middle of the river. Thus the return 
 of Orias was prevented, and all intercourse be- 
 tween the places, even by messenger, com- 
 pletely interrupted. The city and Triana were 
 now severally attacked, and unable to render 
 each other assistance. The Moors were daily 
 diminishing in number ; many slain in battle, 
 many taken captive, and many dying of hun- 
 ger and disease. The Christian forces were 
 daily augmenting, and were animated by 
 continual success, whereas mutiny and sedi- 
 tion began to break out among the inhabitants 
 of the city. The Moorish commander, Axataf, 
 
372 Spantsb papers 
 
 therefore, seeing all further resistance vain, 
 sent ambassadors to capitulate with King 
 Fernando. It was a hard and humiliating 
 struggle to resign this fair city, the queen of 
 Andalusia, the seat of Moorish sway and 
 splendor, and which had been under Moorish 
 domination ever since the Conquest. 
 
 The valiant Axataf endeavored to make 
 various conditions ; that King Fernando should 
 raise the siege on receiving the tribute which 
 had hitherto been paid to the miramamolin. 
 This being peremptorily refused, he offered 
 to give up a third of the city, and then half, 
 building at his own cost a wall to divide the 
 Moorish part from the Christian. King Fer- 
 nando, however, would listen to no such terms. 
 He demanded the entire surrender of the place, 
 with the exception of the persons and effects 
 of the inhabitants, and permitting the com- 
 mander to retain possession of St. L,ucar, 
 Aznal Farache, and Niebla. The commander 
 of Seville saw the sword suspended over his 
 head, and had to submit ; the capitulations of 
 the surrender were signed, when Axataf made 
 one last request, that he might be permitted to 
 demolish the grand mosque and the principal 
 tower (or giralda} of the city.* He felt that 
 these would remain perpetual monuments of 
 * Mariana, 1. 13, c. 7. 
 
jFernanfco tbe Saint 373 
 
 his disgrace. The Prince Alfonso was present 
 when this last demand was made, and his 
 father looked at him significantly, as if he de- 
 sired the reply to come from his lips. The 
 prince rose indignantly and exclaimed, that if 
 there should be a single tile missing from the 
 temple, or a single brick from the tower, it 
 should be paid by so many lives that the 
 streets of Seville should run with blood. The 
 Moors were silenced by this reply, and pre- 
 pared with heavy hearts to fulfil the capitula- 
 tion. One month was allowed them for the 
 purpose, the alcazar, or citadel, of Seville being 
 given up to the Christians as a security. 
 
 On the twenty-third day of November this 
 important fortress was surrendered, after a 
 siege of eighteen months. A deputation of 
 the principal Moors came forth and presented 
 King Fernando with the keys of the city ; at 
 the same time the aljamia, or council of the 
 Jews, presented him with the key of Jewry, 
 the quarter of the city which they inhabited. 
 This key was notable for its curious workman- 
 ship. It was formed of all kinds of metals. 
 The guards of it were wrought into letters, 
 bearing the following signification: "God 
 will open — the king will enter. ' ' On the ring 
 was inscribed in Hebrew: " The King of 
 kings will enter ; all the world will behold 
 
374 Spanieb papers 
 
 him." This key is still preserved in the ca- 
 thedral of Seville, in the place where repose 
 the remains of the sainted King Fernando.* 
 
 During the month of grace the Moors sold 
 such of their effects as they could not carry 
 with them, and the king provided vessels for 
 such as chose to depart for Africa. Upwards 
 of one hundred thousand, it is said, were thus 
 convoyed by Admiral Bonifaz, while upwards 
 of two hundred thousand dispersed themselves 
 throughout such of the territory of Andalusia 
 as still remained in possession of the Moors. 
 
 When the month was expired, and the city 
 was evacuated by its Moorish inhabitants, 
 King Fernando the Saint entered in solemn 
 triumph, in a grand religious and military 
 procession. There were all the captains and 
 cavaliers of the army, in shining armor, with 
 the prelates, and masters of the religious and 
 military orders, and the nobility of Castile 
 L,eon, and Aragon, in their richest apparel. 
 The streets resounded with the swelling notes 
 
 * In Castile, whenever the kings entered any place 
 where there was a synagogue, the Jews assembled in 
 council and paid to the Monteros, or bull-fighters, 
 twelve maravedis each, to guard them, that they should 
 receive no harm from the Christians ; being held in 
 such contempt and odium, that it was necessary they 
 should be under the safeguard of the king, not to be 
 injured or insulted. — Zuniga, Annates de Sevilla, 
 
tfernanfco tbe Saint 
 
 375 
 
 of martial music and with the joyous accla- 
 mations of the multitude. 
 
 In the midst of the procession was the ven- 
 erable effigy of the most Holy Mary, on a 
 triumphal car of silver, wrought with admira- 
 ble skill ; and immediately after followed the 
 pious king, with a drawn sword in his hand, 
 and on his left was Prince Alfonso and the 
 other princes. 
 
 The procession advanced to the principal 
 mosque, which had been purified and conse- 
 crated as a Christian temple, where the tri- 
 uniphal car of the Holy Virgin was placed at 
 the grand altar. Here the pious king knelt 
 and returned thanks to Heaven and the Virgin 
 for this signal victory, and all present chanted 
 Te Deum Laudamus. 
 
Cbapter ££f. 
 
 Death of King Fernando. 
 
 WHEN King Fernando had regulated 
 everything for the good govern- 
 ment and prosperity of Seville, he 
 sallied forth with his conquering 
 army to subdue the surrounding country. He 
 soon brought under subjection Xerez, Medina 
 Sidonia, Alua, Bepel, and many other places 
 near the sea-coast ; some surrendered volun- 
 tarily, others were taken by force ; he main- 
 tained a strict peace with his vassal the king 
 of Granada, but finding not sufficient scope for 
 his arms in Spain, and being inflamed with a 
 holy zeal in the cause of the faith, he deter- 
 mined to pass over into Africa, and retaliate 
 upon the Moslems their daring invasion of his 
 country. For this purpose he ordered a power- 
 ful armada to be prepared in the ports of Canta- 
 bria, to be put under the command of the bold 
 Admiral Bonifaz. 
 
 376 
 
jfernanfco tbe Saint 377 
 
 In the midst of his preparations, which 
 spread consternation throughout Mauritania, 
 the pious king fell dangerously ill at Seville of 
 a dropsy. When he found his dying hour 
 approaching, he made his death -bed confession, 
 and requested the holy Sacrament to be admin- 
 istered to him. A train of bishops and other 
 clergy, among whom was his son Philip, Arch- 
 bishop of Seville, brought the Sacrament into 
 his presence. The king rose from his bed, 
 threw himself on his knees, with a rope round 
 his neck and a crucifix in his hand, and poured 
 forth his soul in penitence and prayer. Hav- 
 ing received the viatica and the holy Sacrament, 
 he commanded all ornaments of royalty to be 
 taken from his chamber. He assembled his 
 children round his bedside, and blessed his son 
 the Prince Alfonso, as his first-born and the 
 heir of his throne, giving him excellent advice 
 for the government of his kingdom, and char- 
 ging him to protect the interests of his brethren. 
 The pious king afterwards fell into an ecstasy 
 or trance, in which he beheld angels watching 
 round his bed to bear his soul to heaven. He 
 awoke from this state of heavenly rapture, and, 
 asking for a candle, he took it in his hand and 
 made his ultimate profession of the faith. He 
 then requested the clergy present to repeat the 
 litanies, and to chant the Te Deum Laudamus. 
 
378 Spanisb papers 
 
 In chanting the first verse of the hymn, the 
 king gently inclined his head, with perfect 
 serenity of countenance, and rendered up his 
 spirit. " The hymn," says the ancient chron- 
 icle, " which was begun on earth by men, was 
 continued by the voices of angels, which were 
 heard by all present. ' ' These doubtless were 
 the angels whom the king in his ecstasy had 
 beheld around his couch, who now accom- 
 panied him, in his glorious ascent to heaven, 
 with songs of holy triumph. Nor was it in his 
 chamber alone that these voices were heard 
 but in all the royal alcazars of Seville, the sweet- 
 est voices were heard in the air and seraphic 
 music, as of angelic choirs, at the moment 
 that the sainted king expired.* He died on 
 the 30th of May, the vespers of the Holy 
 Trinity, in the year of the Incarnation one 
 thousand two hundred and forty-two, aged 
 seventy-three years — having reigned thirty-five 
 years over Castile and twenty over I^eon. 
 
 Two days after his death he was interred in 
 his royal chapel in the Holy Church, in a 
 sepulchre of alabaster, which still remains. It 
 is asserted by grave authors that at the time of 
 putting his body in the sepulchre, the choir of 
 
 * Pablo de Espinosa, Grandesas de Sevilla y fol. 146. 
 Cronica del Santo Rey> 78. Corona Gotica y t. 3, p. 
 166. 
 
ffernanOo tbe Saint 379 
 
 angels again was heard chanting his eulogium, 
 and filling the air with sweet melody in praise 
 of his virtues.* 
 
 When Alhamar, the Moorish King of Grana- 
 da, heard of his death, he caused great demon- 
 strations of mourning to be made throughout 
 his dominions. During his life he sent yearly 
 a number of Moors with one hundred wax 
 tapers, to assist at his exequies, which cere- 
 mony was observed by his successors, until 
 the time of the conquest of Granada by Fer- 
 nando the Catholic, f 
 
 * Argoti de Molina, Nobleza de Andaluzia, 1. i, c. 
 21. Tomas Bocio, Signales de la Iglesia, 1. 29. Don 
 Rodrigo Sanchez, Bishop of Palencia, pt. 3, c. 40. 
 
 f Pablo de Espinosa, fol. 146. 
 
 THK KND. 
 
AUG 25 1904