d cavaliers and certain captains of the Holy Brotherhood with their men…at…arms。
The duke of Medina Sidonia and the count de Cabra commanded the third battalion； with the troops of their respective houses。 They were accompanied by other commanders of note with their forces。
The rear…guard was brought up by the senior commander and knights of Alcantara； followed by the Andalusian chivalry from Xeres； Ecija； and Carmona。
Such was the army that issued forth from the gates of Antiquera on one of the most extensive 〃talas；〃 or devastating inroads； that ever laid waste the kingdom of Granada。
The army entered the Moorish territory by the way of Alora； destroying all the cornfields； vineyards； and orchards and plantations of olives round that city。 It then proceeded through the rich valleys and fertile uplands of Coin； Cazarabonela； Almexia； and Cartama； and in ten days all those fertile regions were a smoking and frightful desert。 Hence it pursued its slow and destructive course； like the stream of lava of a volcano； through the regions of Pupiana and Alhendin； and so on to the vega of Malaga； laying waste the groves of olives and almonds and the fields of grain； and destroying every green thing。 The Moors of some of those places interceded in vain for their groves and fields； offering to deliver up their Christian captives。 One part of the army blockaded the towns； while the other ravaged the surrounding country。 Sometimes the Moors sallied forth desperately to defend their property； but were driven back to their gates with slaughter and their suburbs pillaged and burnt。 It was an awful spectacle at night to behold the volumes of black smoke mingled with lurid flames rising from the burning suburbs； and the women on the walls of the town wringing their hands and shrieking at the desolation of their dwellings。
The destroying army on arriving at the sea…coast found vessels lying off shore laden with all kinds of provisions and munitions sent from Seville and Xeres； and was thus enabled to continue its desolating career。 Advancing to the neighborhood of Malaga； it was bravely assailed by the Moors of that city； and there was severe skirmishing for a whole day； but； while the main part of the army encountered the enemy； the rest ravaged the whole vega and destroyed all the mills。 As the object of the expedition was not to capture places； but merely to burn； ravage； and destroy； the host； satisfied with the mischief they had done in the vega； turned their backs upon Malaga and again entered the mountains。 They passed by Coin and through the regions of Allazayna； and Gatero； and Alhaurin； all which were likewise desolated。 In this way did they make the circuit of a chain of rich and verdant valleys； the glory of those mountains and the pride and delight of the Moors。 For forty days did they continue on like a consuming fire； leaving a smoking and howling waste to mark their course； until； weary with the work of destruction； and having fully sated their revenge for the massacre of the Axarquia； they returned in triumph to the meadows of Antiquera。
In the month of June； King Ferdinand took command in person of this destructive army； he increased its force； and added to its means of mischief several lombards and other heavy artillery； intended for the battering of towns and managed by engineers from France and Germany。 With these the＇7＇marques of Cadiz assured the king he would soon be able to reduce the Moorish fortresses； which were only calculated for defence against the engines anciently used in warfare。 Their walls and towers were high and thin； depending for security on their rough and rocky situations。 The stone and iron balls thundered from the lombards would soon tumble them in ruins upon the heads of their defenders。
The fate of Alora speedily proved the truth of this opinion。 It was strongly posted on a rock washed by a river。 The artillery soon battered down two of the towers and a part of the wall。 The Moors were thrown into consternation at the vehemence of the assault and the effect of those tremendous engines upon their vaunted bulwarks。 The roaring of the artillery and the tumbling of the walls terrified the women； who beset the alcayde with vociferous supplications to surrender。 The place was given up on the 20th of June； on condition that the inhabitants might depart with their effects。 The people of Malaga； as yet unacquainted with the power of this battering ordnance； were so incensed at those of Alora for what they considered a tame surrender that they would not admit them into their city。
A similar fate attended the town of Setenil； built on a lofty rock and esteemed impregnable。 Many times had it been besieged under former Christian kings； but never taken。 Even now； for several days the artillery was directed against it without effect； and many of the cavaliers murmured at the marques of Cadiz for having counselled the king to attack this unconquerable place。*
*Cura de los Palacios。
On the same night that these reproaches were uttered the marques directed the artillery himself： he levelled the lombards at the bottom of the walls and at the gates。 In a little while the gates were battered to pieces； a great breach was effected in the walls； and the Moors were fain to capitulate。 Twenty…four Christian captives； who had been taken in the defeat of the mountains of Malaga； were rescued from the dungeons of this fortress； and hailed the marques as their deliverer。
Needless is it to mention the capture of various other places which surrendered without waiting to be attacked。 The Moors had always shown great bravery and perseverance in defending their towns； they were formidable in their sallies and skirmishes； and patient in enduring hunger and thirst when besieged； but this terrible ordnance； which demolished their walls with such ease and rapidity； overwhelmed them with dismay and rendered vain all resistance。 King Ferdinand was so struck with the effect of this artillery that he ordered the number of lombards to be increased； and these potent engines had henceforth a great influence on the fortunes of this war。
The last operation of this year； so disastrous to the Moors； was an inroad by Ferdinand； in the latter part of summer； into the Vega； in which he ravaged the country； burnt two villages near to Granada； and destroyed the mills near the very gates of the city。
Old Muley Abul Hassan was overwhelmed with dismay at the desolation which during the whole year had raged throughout his territories and had now reached the walls of his capital。 His fierce spirit was broken by misfortunes and infirmity； he offered to purchase a peace and to hold his crown as a tributary vassal。 Ferdinand would listen to no propositions： the absolute conquest of Granada was the great object of this war； and he was resolved never to rest content without its complete fulfilment。 Having supplied and strengthened the garrisons of the places taken in the heart of the Moorish territories； he enjoined their commanders to render every assistance to the younger Moorish king in the civil war against his father。 He then returned with his army to Cordova in great triumph； closing a series of ravaging campaigns which had filled the kingdom of Granada with grief and consternation。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
ATTEMPT OF EL ZAGAL TO SURPRISE BOABDIL IN ALMERIA。
During this year of sorrow and disaster to the Moors the younger king； Boabdil； most truly called the Unfortunate； held a diminished and feeble court in the maritime city of Almeria。 He retained little more than the name of king； and was supported in even this shadow of royalty by the countenance and treasures of the Castilian sovereigns。 Still he trusted that in the fluctuation of events the inconstant nation might once more return to his standard and replace him on the throne of the Alhambra。
His mother； the high…spirited sultana Ayxa la Horra； endeavored to rouse him from this passive state。 〃It is a feeble mind；〃 said she； 〃that waits for the turn of fortune's wheel； the brave mind seizes upon it and turns it to its purpose。 Take the field； and you may drive danger before you； remain cowering at home； and it besieges you in your dwelling。 By a bold enterprise you may regain your splendid throne in Granada； by passive forbearance you will forfeit even this miserable throne in Almeria。〃
Boabdil had not the force of soul to follow these courageous counsels； and in a little time the evils his mother had predicted fell upon him。
Old Muley Abul Hassan was almost extinguished by age and paralysis。 He had nearly lost his sight； and was completely bedridden。 His brother； Abdallah； surnamed El Zagal； or the Valiant； the same who had assisted in the massacre of the Spanish chivalry among the mountains of Malaga； was commander…in…chief of the Moorish armies； and gradually took upon himself most of the cares of sovereignty。 Among other things； he was particularly zealous in espousing his brother's quarrel with his son； and he prosecuted it with such vehemence that many affirmed there was something more than mere fraternal sympathy at the bottom of his zeal。
The disasters and disgraces inflicted on the country by the Christians duri