he eye that ever was ravaged by an army。 Sheltered from every rude blast by a screen of mountains； and sloping and expanding to the south； this lovely valley was quickened by the most generous sunshine； watered by the silver meanderings of the Velez； and refreshed by cooling breezes from the Mediterranean。 The sloping hills were covered with vineyards and olive trees； the distant fields waved with grain or were verdant with pasturage； while round the city were delightful gardens； the favorite retreats of the Moors； where their white pavilions gleamed among groves of oranges； citrons； and pomegranates； and were surrounded by stately palms those plants of southern growth bespeaking a generous climate and a cloudless sky。
In the upper part of this delightful valley the city of Velez Malaga reared its warrior battlements in stern contrast to the landscape。 It was built on the declivity of a steep and insulated hill； and strongly fortified by walls and towers。 The crest of the hill rose high above the town into a mere crag； inaccessible on every other side； and crowned by a powerful castle； which domineered over the surrounding country。 Two suburbs swept down into the valley from the skirts of the town； and were defended by bulwarks and deep ditches。 The vast ranges of gray mountains； often capped with clouds； which rose to the north； were inhabited by a hardy and warlike race； whose strong fortresses of Comares； Canillas； Competa； and Benamargosa frowned down from cragged heights。
When the Christian host arrived in sight of this valley； a squadron was hovering on the smooth sea before it displaying the banner of Castile。 This was commanded by the count of Trevento； and consisted of four armed galleys； convoying a number of caravels laden with supplies for the army。
After surveying the ground； King Ferdinand encamped on the side of a mountain which advanced close to the city； and was the last of a rugged sierra； or chain of heights； that extended quite to Granada。 On the summit of this mountain； and overlooking the camp； was a Moorish town； powerfully fortified； called Bentomiz； considered capable of yielding great assistance to Velez Malaga。 Several of the generals remonstrated with the king for choosing a post so exposed to assaults from the mountaineers； but he replied that he should thus cut off all communication between Bentomiz and the city； and that； as to the danger； his soldiers must keep the more vigilant guard against surprise。
King Ferdinand rode about； attended by several cavaliers and a small number of cuirassiers； appointing the various stations of the camp。 Having directed a body of foot…soldiers to possess themselves； as an advanced guard； of an important height which overlooked the city； he retired to a tent to take refreshment。 While at table he was startled by a sudden uproar； and； looking forth； beheld his soldiers flying before a superior force of the enemy。 The king had on no other armor but a cuirass： seizing a lance； however； he sprang upon his horse and galloped to protect the fugitives； followed by his handful of knights and cuirassiers。 When the soldiers saw the king hastening to their aid； they turned upon their pursuers。 Ferdinand in his eagerness threw himself into the midst of the foe。 One of his grooms was killed beside him； but before the Moor who slew him could escape the king transfixed him with his lance。 He then sought to draw his sword； which hung at his saddle…bow； but in vain。 Never had he been exposed to such peril； he was surrounded by the enemy without a weapon wherewith to defend himself。
In this moment of awful jeopardy the marques of Cadiz； the count de Cabra； the adelantado of Murcia； with two other cavaliers； named Garcilasso de la Vega and Diego de Atayde； came galloping to the scene of action； and； surrounding the king； made a rampart of their bodies against the assaults of the Moors。 The horse of the marques was pierced by an arrow； and that worthy cavalier exposed to imminent danger； but with the aid of his valorous companions he quickly put the enemy to flight； and pursued them with slaughter to the very gates of the city。
When those loyal warriors returned from the pursuit they remonstrated with the king for exposing his life in personal conflict； seeing that he had so many valiant captains whose business it was to fight。 They reminded him that the life of a prince was the life of his people； and that many a brave army was lost by the loss of its commander。 They entreated him； therefore； in future to protect them with the force of his mind in the cabinet； rather than of his arm in the field。
Ferdinand acknowledged the wisdom of their advice； but declared that he could not see his people in peril without venturing his person to assist thema reply （say the old chroniclers） which delighted the whole army； inasmuch as they saw that he not only governed them as a good king； but protected them as a valiant captain。 He； however； was conscious of the extreme peril to which he had been exposed； and made a vow never again to venture into battle without having his sword girt to his side。*
*Illescas； Hist。 Pontif。； lib。 6； c。 20； Vedmar； Hist。 Velez Malaga。
When this achievement of the king was related to Isabella； she trembled amidst her joy at his safety； and afterward； in memorial of the event； granted to Velez Malaga； as the arms of the city； the figure of the king on horseback； with a groom lying dead at his feet and the Moors flying。*
*Ibid。
The camp was formed； but the artillery was yet on the road； advancing with infinite labor at the rate of merely a league a day； for heavy rains had converted the streams of the valleys into raging torrents and completely broken up the roads。 In the mean time； King Ferdinand ordered an assault on the suburbs of the city。 They were carried after a sanguinary conflict of six hours； in which many Christian cavaliers were killed and wounded； and among the latter Don Alvaro of Portugal； son of the duke of Braganza。 The suburbs were then fortified toward the city with trenches and palisades； and garrisoned by a chosen force under Don Fadrique de Toledo。 Other trenches were digged round the city and from the suburbs to the royal camp； so as to cut off all communication with the surrounding country。
Bodies of troops were also sent to take possession of the mountain… passes by which the supplies for the army had to be brought。 The mountains； however； were so steep and rugged； and so full of defiles and lurking…places； that the Moors could sally forth and retreat in perfect security； frequently swooping down upon Christian convoys and bearing off both booty and prisoners to their strongholds。 Sometimes the Moors would light fires at night on the sides of the mountains； which would be answered by fires from the watch…towers and fortresses。 By these signals they would concert assaults upon the Christian camp； which in consequence was obliged to be continually on the alert。
King Ferdinand flattered himself that the manifestation of his force had struck sufficient terror into the city； and that by offers of clemency it might be induced to capitulate。 He wrote a letter； therefore； to the commanders； promising； in case of immediate surrender； that all the inhabitants should be permitted to depart with their effects； but threatening them with fire and sword if they persisted in defence。 This letter was despatched by a cavalier named Carvajal； who； putting it on the end of a lance； reached it to the Moors on the walls of the city。 Abul Cacim Vanegas； son of Reduan； and alcayde of the fortress； replied that the king was too noble and magnanimous to put such a threat in execution； and that he should not surrender； as he knew the artillery could not be brought to the camp； and he was promised succor by the king of Granada。
At the same time that he received this reply the king learnt that at the strong town of Comares； upon a height about two leagues distant from the camp； a large number of warriors had assembled from the Axarquia； the same mountains in which the Christian cavaliers had been massacred in the beginning of the war； and that others were daily expected； for this rugged sierra was capable of furnishing fifteen thousand fighting…men。
King Ferdinand felt that his army； thus disjoined and enclosed in an enemy's country； was in a perilous situation； and that the utmost discipline and vigilance were necessary。 He put the camp under the strictest regulations； forbidding all gaming； blasphemy； or brawl； and expelling all loose women and their attendant bully ruffians； the usual fomenters of riot and contention among soldiery。 He ordered that none should sally forth to skirmish without permission from their commanders； that none should set fire to the woods on the neighboring mountains； and that all word of security given to Moorish places or individuals should be inviolably observed。 These regulations were enforced by severe penalties； and had such salutary effect that； though a vast host of various people was collected together； not an opprobrious epithet was heard nor a weapon drawn in quarrel。
In the mean time the cloud of war continued to gather about the summits of the mountains； and multi