chronicle of the conquest of granada- 第14部分

With　all　his　fierceness；　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　a　gleam　of　warlike　courtesy；　and　admired　the　hardy　and　soldier…like　character　of　Pedro　de　Vargas。　　He　summoned　two　Christian　captives；　and　demanded　what　were　the　revenues　of　the　alcayde　of　Gibraltar。　　They　told　him　that；　among　other　things；　he　was　entitled　to　one　out　of　every　drove　of　cattle　that　passed　his　boundaries。　　〃Allah　forbid；〃　cried　the　old　monarch；　〃that　so　brave　a　cavalier　should　be　defrauded　of　his　dues！〃

He　immediately　chose　twelve　of　the　finest　cattle　from　the　twelve　droves　which　formed　the　cavalgada。　　These　he　gave　in　charge　to　an　alfaqui　to　deliver　to　Pedro　de　Vargas。　　〃Tell　him；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　crave　his　pardon　for　not　having　sent　these　cattle　sooner；　but　I　have　this　moment　learnt　the　nature　of　his　rights；　and　I　hasten　to　satisfy　them　with　the　punctuality　due　to　so　worthy　a　cavalier。　　Tell　him；　at　the　same　time；　that　I　had　no　idea　the　alcayde　of　Gibraltar　was　so　active　and　vigilant　in　collecting　his　tolls。〃

The　brave　alcayde　relished　the　stern　soldier…like　pleasantry　of　the　old　Moorish　monarch。　　He　ordered　a　rich　silken　vest　and　a　scarlet　mantle　to　be　given　to　the　alfaqui；　and　dismissed　him　with　great　courtesy。　　〃Tell　His　Majesty；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　kiss　his　hands　for　the　honor　he　has　done　me；　and　regret　that　my　scanty　force　has　not　permitted　me　to　give　him　a　more　signal　reception　on　his　coming　into　these　parts。　　Had　three　hundred　horsemen；　whom　I　have　been　promised　from　Xeres；　arrived　in　time；　I　might　have　served　up　an　entertainment　more　befitting　such　a　monarch。　　I　trust；　however；　they　will　arrive　in　the　course　of　the　night；　in　which　case　His　Majesty　may　be　sure　of　a　royal　regale　in　the　dawning。〃

Muley　Abul　Hassan　shook　his　head　when　he　received　the　reply　of　De　Vargas。　　〃Allah　preserve　us；〃　said　he；　〃from　any　visitation　of　these　hard　riders　of　Xeres！　　A　handful　of　troops　acquainted　with　the　wild　passes　of　these　mountains　may　destroy　an　army　encumbered　as　ours　is　with　booty。〃

It　was　some　relief　to　the　king；　however；　to　learn　that　the　hardy　alcayde　of　Gibraltar　was　too　severely　wounded　to　take　the　field　in　person。　　He　immediately　beat　a　retreat　with　all　speed　before　the　close　of　day；　hurrying　with　such　precipitation　that　the　cavalgada　was　frequently　broken　and　scattered　among　the　rugged　defiles　of　the　mountains；　and　above　five　thousand　of　the　cattle　turned　back　and　were　regained　by　the　Christians。　　Muley　Abul　Hassan　returned　triumphantly　with　the　residue　to　Malaga；　glorying　in　the　spoils　of　the　duke　of　Medina　Sidonia。

King　Ferdinand　was　mortified　at　finding　his　incursion　into　the　Vega　of　Granada　counterbalanced　by　this　inroad　into　his　dominions；　and　saw　that　there　were　two　sides　to　the　game　of　war；　as　to　all　other　games。　　The　only　one　who　reaped　real　glory　in　this　series　of　inroads　and　skirmishings　was　Pedro　de　Vargas；　the　stout　alcayde　of　Gibraltar。*

*Alonzo　de　Palencia；　1。　28；　c。　3；　MS。



CHAPTER　XII。

FORAY　OF　SPANISH　CAVALIERS　AMONG　THE　MOUNTAINS　OF　MALAGA。


The　foray　of　old　Muley　Abul　Hassan　had　touched　the　pride　of　the　Andalusian　chivalry；　and　they　determined　on　retaliation。　　For　this　purpose　a　number　of　the　most　distinguished　cavaliers　assembled　at　Antiquera　in　the　month　of　March；　1483。　　The　leaders　of　the　enterprise　were；　the　gallant　marques　of　Cadiz；　Don　Pedro　Henriquez；　adelantado　of　Andalusia；　Don　Juan　de　Silva；　count　of　Cifuentes　and　bearer　of　the　royal　standard；　who　commanded　in　Seville；　Don　Alonso　de　Cardenas；　master　of　the　religious　and　military　order　of　Santiago；　and　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar。　　Several　other　cavaliers　of　note　hastened　to　take　part　in　the　enterprise；　and　in　a　little　while　about　twenty…seven　hundred　horse　and　several　companies　of　foot　were　assembled　within　the　old　warlike　city　of　Antiquera；　comprising　the　very　flower　of　Andalusian　chivalry。

A　council　of　war　was　held　by　the　chiefs　to　determine　in　what　quarter　they　should　strike　a　blow。　　The　rival　Moorish　kings　were　waging　civil　war　with　each　other　in　the　vicinity　of　Granada；　and　the　whole　country　lay　open　to　inroads。　　Various　plans　were　proposed　by　the　different　cavaliers。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz　was　desirous　of　scaling　the　walls　of　Zahara　and　regaining　possession　of　that　important　fortress。　　The　master　of　Santiago；　however；　suggested　a　wider　range　and　a　still　more　important　object。　　He　had　received　information　from　his　adalides；　who　were　apostate　Moors；　that　an　incursion　might　be　safely　made　into　a　mountainous　region　near　Malaga　called　the　Axarquia。　　Here　were　valleys　of　pasture…land　well　stocked　with　flocks　and　herds；　and　there　were　numerous　villages　and　hamlets；　which　would　be　an　easy　prey。　　The　city　of　Malaga　was　too　weakly　garrisoned　and　had　too　few　cavalry　to　send　forth　any　force　in　opposition；　nay；　he　added；　they　might　even　extend　their　ravages　to　its　very　gates；　and　peradventure　carry　that　wealthy　place　by　sudden　assault。

The　adventurous　spirits　of　the　cavaliers　were　inflamed　by　this　suggestion：　in　their　sanguine　confidence　they　already　beheld　Malaga　in　their　power；　and　they　were　eager　for　the　enterprise。　　The　marques　of　Cadiz　endeavored　to　interpose　a　little　cool　caution。　　He　likewise　had　apostate　adalides；　the　most　intelligent　and　experienced　on　the　borders：　among　these　he　placed　especial　reliance　on　one　named　Luis　Amar；　who　knew　all　the　mountains　and　valleys　of　the　country。　　He　had　received　from　him　a　particular　account　of　these　mountains　of　the　Axarquia。*　　Their　savage　and　broken　nature　was　a　sufficient　defence　for　the　fierce　people　who　inhabited　them；　who；　manning　their　rocks　and　their　tremendous　passes；　which　were　often　nothing　more　than　the　deep　dry　beds　of　torrents；　might　set　whole　armies　at　defiance。　Even　if　vanquished；　they　afforded　no　spoil　to　the　victor。　　Their　houses　were　little　better　than　bare　walls；　and　they　would　drive　off　their　scanty　flocks　and　herds　to　the　fastnesses　of　the　mountains。

*Pulgar；　in　his　Chronicle；　reverses　the　case；　and　makes　the　marques　　of　Cadiz　recommend　the　expedition　to　the　Axarquia；　but　Fray　Antonio　　Agapida　is　supported　in　his　statement　by　that　most　veracious　and　　contemporary　chronicler；　Andres　Bernaldez；　curate　of　Los　Palacios。


The　sober　counsel　of　the　marques；　however；　was　overruled。　　The　cavaliers；　accustomed　to　mountain…warfare；　considered　themselves　and　their　horses　equal　to　any　wild　and　rugged　expedition；　and　were　flushed　with　the　idea　of　terminating　their　foray　by　a　brilliant　assault　upon　Malaga。

Leaving　all　heavy　baggage　at　Antiquera；　and　all　such　as　had　horses　too　weak　for　this　mountain…scramble；　they　set　forth　full　of　spirit　and　confidence。　　Don　Alonso　de　Aguilar　and　the　adelantado　of　Andalusia　led　the　squadron　of　advance。　　The　count　of　Cifuentes　followed　with　certain　of　the　chivalry　of　Seville。　　Then　came　the　battalion　of　the　most　valiant　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz：　he　was　accompanied　by　several　of　his　brothers　and　nephews　and　many　cavaliers　who　sought　distinction　under　his　banner；　and　this　family　band　attracted　universal　attention　and　applause　as　they　paraded　in　martial　state　through　the　streets　of　Antiquera。　　The　rear…guard　was　led　by　Don　Alonso　Cardenas；　master　of　Santiago；　and　was　composed　of　the　knights　of　his　order　and　the　cavaliers　of　Ecija；　with　certain　men…at…arms　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood　whom　the　king　had　placed　under　his　command。　　The　army　was　attended　by　a　great　train　of　mules；　laden　with　provisions　for　a　few　days'　supply　until　they　should　be　able　to　forage　among　the　Moorish　villages。　　Never　did　a　more　gallant　and　self…confident　little　army　tread　the　earth。　　It　was　composed　of　men　full　of　health　and　vigor；　to　whom　war　was　a　pastime　and　delight。　　They　had　spared　no　expense　in　their　equipments；　for　never　was　the　pomp　of　war　carried　to　a　higher　pitch　than　among　the　proud　chivalry　of　Spain。　　Cased　in　armor　richly　inlaid　and　embossed；　decked　with　rich　surcoats　and　waving　plumes；　and　superbly　mounted　on　Andalusian　steeds；　they　pranced　out　of　Antiquera　with　banners　flying　and　their　various　devices　and　armorial　bearings　ostentatiously　displayed；　and　in　the　confidence　of　their　hopes　promised　the　inhabitants　to　enrich　them　with　the　spoils　of　Malaga。

In　the　rear　of　this　warlike　pageant　followed　a　peaceful　band　intent　upon　profiting　by　the　anticipated　victories。　　They　were　not　the　customary　wretches　that　hover　about　armies　to　plunder　and　strip　the　dead；　but　goodly　and　substantial　traders　from　Seville；　Cordova；　and　other　cities　of　traffic。　　They　rode　sleek　mules　and　were　clad　in　goodly　raiment；　with　long　leather　purses　at　their　girdles　well　filled　with　pistoles　and　other　golden　coin。　　They　had　heard　of　the　spoils　wasted　by　the　soldiery　at　the　capture　of　Alhama；　and　were　provided　with　moneys　to　buy　up　the　jewels　and　precious　stones；　the　vessels　of　gold　and　silver；　and　the　rich　silks　and　cloths　that　should　form　the　plunder　of　Malaga。　　The　proud　cavaliers　eyed　these　sons　of　traffic　with　great　disdain；　but　permitted　them　to　follow　for　the　convenience　of　the　troops；　who　might　otherwise　be　overburdened　with　booty。

It　had　been　intended　to　conduct　this　expedition　with　great　celerity　and　secrecy；　but　the　noise　of　the　preparations　had　already　reached　the　city　of　Malaga。　　The　garrison；　it　is　true；　was　weak；　but　it　possessed　a　commander　who　was　himself　a　host。　　This　was　Muley　Abdallah；　commonly　called　El　Zagal；　or　the　Valiant。　　He　was　younger　brother　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　and　general　of　the　few　forces　which　remained　faithful　to　the　old　monarch。　　He　possessed　equal　fierceness　of　spirit　with　his　brother；　and　surpassed　him　in　craft　and　vigilance。　His　very　name　was　a　war…cry　among　his　soldiery；　who　had　the　most　extravagant　opinion　of　his　prowess。

El　Zagal　suspected　that　Malaga　was　the　object　of　this　noisy　expedition。　　He　consulted　with　old　Bexir；　a　veteran　Moor；　who　governed　the　city。　　〃If　this　army　of　marauders　should　reach　Malaga；〃　said　he；　〃we　should　hardly　be　able　to　keep　them　without　its　walls。　I　will　throw　myself　with　a　small　force　into　the　mountains；　rouse　the　peasantry；　take　possession　of　the　passes；　and　endeavor　to　give　these　Spanish　cavaliers　sufficient　entertainment　upon　the　road。〃

It　was　on　a　Wednesday　that　the　pranking　army　of　high…mettled　warriors　issued　forth　from　the　ancient　gates　of　Antiquera。　　They　marched　all　day　and　night；　making　their　way；　secretly　as　they　supposed；