A speech；〃 says Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃full of most courtly wit and Christian piety； and one only marvels that it should have been made by a native of an island so far distant from Castile。〃
CHAPTER XLI。
CAPTURE OF ILLORA。
King Ferdinand followed up his victory at Loxa by laying siege to the strong town of Illora。 This redoubtable fortress was perched upon a high rock in the midst of a spacious valley。 It was within four leagues of the Moorish capital； and its lofty castle； keeping vigilant watch over a wide circuit of country； was termed the right eye of Granada。
The alcayde of Illora was one of the bravest of the Moorish commanders； and made every preparation to defend his fortress to the last extremity。 He sent the women and children； the aged and infirm； to the metropolis。 He placed barricades in the suburbs； opened doors of communication from house to house； and pierced their walls with loopholes for the discharge of crossbows； arquebuses； and other missiles。
King Ferdinand arrived before the place with all his forces； he stationed himself upon the hill of Encinilla； and distributed the other encampments in various situations so as to invest the fortress。 Knowing the valiant character of the alcayde and the desperate courage of the Moors； he ordered the encampments to be fortified with trenches and palisadoes； the guards to be doubled； and sentinels to be placed in all the watch…towers of the adjacent heights。
When all was ready the duke del Infantado demanded the attack： it was his first campaign； and he was anxious to disprove the royal insinuation made against the hardihood of his embroidered chivalry。 King Ferdinand granted his demand； with a becoming compliment to his spirit； he ordered the count de Cabra to make a simultaneous attack upon a different quarter。 Both chiefs led forth their troops those of the duke in fresh and brilliant armor； richly ornamented； and as yet uninjured by the service of the field； those of the count were weatherbeaten veterans； whose armor was dented and hacked in many a hard…fought battle。 The youthful duke blushed at the contrast。 〃Cavaliers；〃 cried he； 〃we have been reproached with the finery of our array： let us prove that a trenchant blade may rest in a gilded sheath。 Forward！ to the foe！ and I trust in God that as we enter this affray knights well accoutred； so we shall leave it cavaliers well proved。〃 His men responded by eager acclamations； and the duke led them forward to the assault。 He advanced under a tremendous shower of stones； darts； balls； and arrows； but nothing could check his career； he entered the suburb sword in hand； his men fought furiously； though with great loss； for every dwelling had been turned into a fortress。 After a severe conflict they succeeded in driving the Moors into the town about the same time that the other suburb was carried by the count de Cabra and his veterans。 The troops of the duke del Infantado came out of the contest thinned in number and covered with blood and dust and wounds； they received the highest encomiums of the king； and there was never afterward any sneer at their embroidery。
The suburbs being taken； three batteries； each furnished with eight huge lombards； were opened upon the fortress。 The damage and havoc were tremendous； for the fortifications had not been constructed to withstand such engines。 The towers were overthrown； the walls battered to pieces； the interior of the place was all exposed； houses were demolished； and many people slain。 The Moors were terrified by the tumbling ruins and the tremendous din。 The alcayde had resolved to defend the place until the last extremity： he beheld it a heap of rubbish； there was no prospect of aid from Granada； his people had lost all spirit to fight and were vociferous for a surrender； with a reluctant heart he capitulated。 The inhabitants were permitted to depart with all their effects； excepting their arms； and were escorted in safety by the duke del Infantado and the count de Cabra to the bridge of Pinos； within two leagues of Granada。
King Ferdinand gave directions to repair the fortifications of Illora and to place it in a strong state of defence。 He left as alcayde of the town and fortress Gonsalvo de Cordova； younger brother of Don Alonso de Aguilar。 This gallant cavalier was captain of the royal guards of Ferdinand and Isabella； and gave already proofs of that prowess which afterward rendered him so renowned。
CHAPTER XLII。
OF THE ARRIVAL OF QUEEN ISABELLA AT THE CAMP BEFORE MOCLIN； AND OF THE PLEASANT SAYINGS OF THE ENGLISH EARL。
The war of Granada； however poets may embroider it with the flowers of their fancy； was certainly one of the sternest of those iron conflicts which have been celebrated under the name of 〃holy wars。〃 The worthy Fray Antonio Agapida dwells with unsated delight upon the succession of rugged mountain…enterprises； bloody battles； and merciless sackings and ravages which characterized it； yet we find him on one occasion pausing in the full career of victory over the infidels to detail a stately pageant of the Catholic sovereigns。
Immediately on the capture of Loxa； Ferdinand had written to Isabella； soliciting her presence at the camp that he might consult with her as to the disposition of their newly…acquired territories。
It was in the early part of June that the queen departed from Codova with the princess Isabella and numerous ladies of her court。 She had a glorious attendance of cavaliers and pages； with many guards and domestics。 There were forty mules for the use of the queen； the princess； and their train。
As this courtly cavalcade approached the Rock of the Lovers on the banks of the river Yeguas； they beheld a splendid train of knights advancing to meet them。 It was headed by that accomplished cavalier the marques…duke de Cadiz； accompanied by the adelantado of Andalusia。 He had left the camp the day after the capture of Illora； and advanced thus far to receive the queen and escort her over the borders。 The queen received the marques with distinguished honor； for he was esteemed the mirror of chivalry。 His actions in this war had become the theme of every tongue； and many hesitated not to compare him in prowess with the immortal Cid。*
*Cura de los Palacios。
Thus gallantly attended； the queen entered the vanquished frontier of Granada； journeying securely along the pleasant banks of the Xenil； so lately subject to the scourings of the Moors。 She stopped at Loxa； where she administered aid and consolation to the wounded； distributing money among them for their support according to their rank。
The king after the capture of Illora had removed his camp before the fortress of Moclin； with an intention of besieging it。 Thither the queen proceeded； still escorted through the mountain…roads by the marques of Cadiz。 As Isabella drew near to the camp the duke del Infantado issued forth a league and a half to receive her； magnificently arrayed and followed by all his chivalry in glorious attire。 With him came the standard of Seville； borne by the men… at…arms of that renowned city； and the prior of St。 Juan with his followers。 They ranged themselves in order of battle on the left of the road by which the queen was to pass。
The worthy Agapida is loyally minute in his description of the state and grandeur of the Catholic sovereigns。 The queen rode a chestnut mule； seated in a magnificent saddle…chair decorated with silver gilt。 The housings of the mule were of fine crimson cloth； the borders embroidered with gold； the reins and head…piece were of satin； curiously embossed with needlework of silk and wrought with golden letters。 The queen wore a brial or regal skirt of velvet； under which were others of brocade； a scarlet mantle； ornamented in the Moresco fashion； and a black hat； embroidered round the crown and brim。 The infanta was likewise mounted on a chestnut mule richly caparisoned： she wore a brial or skirt of black brocade and a black mantle ornamented like that of the queen。
When the royal cavalcade passed by the chivalry of the duke del Infantado； which was drawn out in battle array； the queen made a reverence to the standard of Seville and ordered it to pass to the right hand。 When she approached the camp the multitude ran forth to meet her with great demonstrations of joy； for she was universally beloved by her subjects。 All the battalions sallied forth in military array； bearing the various standards and banners of the camp； which were lowered in salutation as she passed。
The king now came forth in royal state； mounted on a superb chestnut horse and attended by many grandees of Castile。 He wore a jubon or close vest of crimson cloth； with cuisses or short skirts of yellow satin； a loose cassock of brocade； a rich Moorish scimetar； and a hat with plumes。 The grandees who attended him were arrayed with wonderful magnificence； each according to his taste and invention。
These high and mighty princes （says Antonio Agapida） regarded each other with great deference as allied sovereigns； rather than with connubial familiarity as mere husband and wife。 When they approached each other； therefore； before embracing； they made three profound reverences； t