testy diplomatist。 They found Don Juan playing a game of chess with the alcayde of the Alhambra； and took occasion to indulge in sportive comments on some of the mysteries of the Christian religion。 The ire of this devout knight and discreet ambassador began to kindle； but he restrained it within the limits of lofty gravity。 〃You would do well；〃 said he； 〃to cease talking about what you do not understand。〃 This only provoked light attacks of the witlings； until one of them dared to make some degrading and obscene comparison between the Blessed Virgin and Amina； the mother of Mahomet。 In an instant Don Juan sprang to his feet； dashed chess…board and chess…men aside； and； drawing his sword； dealt； says the curate of los Palacios； such a 〃fermosa cuchillada〃 （such a handsome slash） across the head of the blaspheming Moor as felled him to the earth。 The renegado； seeing his comrade fall； fled for his life； making the halls and galleries ring with his outcries。 Guards； pages； and attendants rushed in； but Don Juan kept them at bay until the appearance of the king restored order。 On inquiring into the cause of the affray he acted with proper discrimination。 Don Juan was held sacred as an ambassador； and the renegado was severely punished for having compromised the hospitality of the royal palace。
The tumult in the Alhambra； however； soon caused a more dangerous tumult in the city。 It was rumored that Christians had been introduced into the palace with some treasonable design。 The populace caught up arms and ascended in throngs to the Gate of Justice； demanding the death of all Christian spies and those who had introduced them。 This was no time to reason with an infuriate mob； when the noise of their clamors might bring the garrison of the Albaycin to back them。 Nothing was left for El Zagal but to furnish Don Juan with a disguise； a swift horse； and an escort； and to let him out of the Alhambra by a private gate。 It was a sore grievance to the stately cavalier to have to submit to these expedients； but there was no alternative。 In Moorish disguise he passed through crowds that were clamoring for his head； and； once out of the gate of the city； gave reins to his horse； nor ceased spurring until he found himself safe under the banners of Don Fadrique。
Thus ended the second embassy of Don Juan de Vera； less stately but more perilous than the first。 Don Fadrique extolled his prowess； whatever he may have thought of his discretion； and rewarded him with a superb horse； while at the same time he wrote a letter to El Zagal thanking him for the courtesy and protection he had observed to his ambassador。 Queen Isabella also was particularly delighted with the piety of Don Juan and his promptness in vindicating the immaculate character of the Blessed Virgin； and； besides conferring on him various honorable distinctions； made him a royal present of three hundred thousand maravedis。*
*Alcantara； Hist。 Granad。； vol。 3； c。 17； apud De Harro； Nobiliario Genealogico； lib。 5； cap。 15。
The report brought by this cavalier of affairs in Granada； together with the preceding skirmishings between the Moorish factions before the walls； convinced Don Fadrique that there was no collusion between the monarchs： on returning to his frontier post； therefore； he sent Boabdil a reinforcement of Christian foot…soldiers and arquebusiers； under Fernan Alvarez de Sotomayor； alcayde of Colomera。 This was as a firebrand thrown in to light up anew the flames of war in the city； which remained raging between the Moorish inhabitants for the space of fifty days。
CHAPTER XLVII。
HOW KING FERDINAND LAID SIEGE TO VELEZ MALAGA。
Hitherto the events of this renowned war have been little else than a succession of brilliant but brief exploits； such as sudden forays； wild skirmishes among the mountains； and the surprisals of castles； fortresses； and frontier towns。 We approach now to more important and prolonged operations； in which ancient and mighty cities； the bulwarks of Granada； were invested by powerful armies； subdued by slow and regular sieges； and thus the capital left naked and alone。
The glorious triumphs of the Christian sovereigns （says Fray Antonio Agapida） had resounded throughout the East and filled all heathenesse with alarm。 The Grand Turk； Bajazet II。； and his deadly foe； the grand soldan of Egypt； suspending for a time their bloody feuds； entered into a league to protect the religion of Mahomet and the kingdom of Granada from the hostilities of the Christians。 It was concerted between them that Bajazet should send a powerful armada against the island of Sicily； then appertaining to the Spanish Crown； for the purpose of distracting the attention of the Castilian sovereigns； while at the same time great bodies of troops should be poured into Granada from the opposite coast of Africa。
Ferdinand and Isabella received timely intelligence of these designs。 They resolved at once to carry the war into the sea… board of Granada； to possess themselves of its ports； and thus； as it were； to bar the gates of the kingdom against all external aid。 Malaga was to be the main object of attack： it was the principal seaport of the kingdom； and almost necessary to its existence。 It had long been the seat of opulent commerce； sending many ships to the coasts of Syria and Egypt。 It was also the great channel of communication with Africa； through which were introduced supplies of money； troops； arms； and steeds from Tunis； Tripoli； Fez； Tremezan； and other Barbary powers。 It was emphatically called； therefore； 〃the hand and mouth of Granada。〃 Before laying siege to this redoubtable city； however； it was deemed necessary to secure the neighboring city of Velez Malaga and its dependent places； which might otherwise harass the besieging army。
For this important campaign the nobles of the kingdom were again summoned to take the field with their forces in the spring of 1487。 The menaced invasion of the infidel powers of the East had awakened new ardor in the bosoms of all true Christian knights； and so zealously did they respond to the summons of the sovereigns that an army of twenty thousand cavalry and fifty thousand foot； the flower of Spanish warriors； led by the bravest of Spanish cavaliers； thronged the renowned city of Cordova at the appointed time。
On the night before this mighty host set forth upon its march an earthquake shook the city。 The inhabitants； awakened by the shaking of the walls and rocking of the towers； fled to the courts and squares； fearing to be overwhelmed by the ruins of their dwellings。 The earthquake was most violent in the quarter of the royal residence； the site of the ancient palace of the Moorish kings。 Many looked upon this as an omen of some impending evil； but Fray Antonio Agapida； in that infallible spirit of divination which succeeds an event； plainly reads in it a presage that the empire of the Moors was about to be shaken to its centre。
It was on Saturday； the eve of the Sunday of Palms （says a worthy and loyal chronicler of the time）； that the most Catholic monarch departed with his army to render service to Heaven and make war upon the Moors。* Heavy rains had swelled all the streams and rendered the roads deep and difficult。 The king； therefore； divided his host into two bodies。 In one he put all the artillery； guarded by a strong body of horse； and commanded by the master of Alcantara and Martin Alonso； senior of Montemayor。 This division was to proceed by the road through the valleys； where pasturage abounded for the oxen which drew the ordnance。
*Pulgar； Cronica de los Reyes Catholicos。
The main body of the army was led by the king in person。 It was divided into numerous battalions； each commanded by some distinguished cavalier。 The king took the rough and perilous road of the mountains； and few mountains are more rugged and difficult than those of Andalusia。 The roads are mere mule…paths straggling amidst rocks and along the verge of precipices； clambering vast craggy heights； or descending into frightful chasms and ravines； with scanty and uncertain foothold for either man or steed。 Four thousand pioneers were sent in advance； under the alcayde de los Donceles； to conquer in some degree the asperities of the road。 Some had pickaxes and crowbars to break the rocks； others had implements to construct bridges over the mountain…torrents； while it was the duty of others to lay stepping…stones in the smaller streams。 As the country was inhabited by fierce Moorish mountaineers； Don Diego de Castrillo was despatched with a body of horse and foot to take possession of the heights and passes。 Notwithstanding every precaution； the royal army suffered excessively on its march。 At one time there was no place to encamp for five leagues of the most toilsome and mountainous country； and many of the beasts of burden sank down and perished on the road。
It was with the greatest joy； therefore； that the royal army emerged from these stern and frightful defiles； and came to where they looked down upon the vega of Velez Malaga。 The region before them was one of the most delectable to the eye that ever was ravaged by an army。 Sheltered from every rude blast by a screen of mountains；