closed； he bore a huge buckler and a ponderous lance； his scimetar was of a Damascus blade； and his richly ornamented dagger was wrought by an artificer of Fez。 He was known by his device to be Tarfe； the most insolent yet valiant of the Moslem warriorsthe same who had hurled into the royal camp his lance inscribed to the queen。 As he rode slowly along in front of the army his very steed； prancing with fiery eye and distended nostril； seemed to breathe defiance to the Christians。
But what were the feelings of the Spanish cavaliers when they beheld； tied to the tail of his steed and dragged in the dust； the very inscription〃 AVE MARIA〃which Hernan Perez del Pulgar had affixed to the door of the mosque！ A burst of horror and indignation broke forth from the army。 Hernan was not at hand to maintain his previous achievement； but one of his young companions…in…arms； Garcilasso de la Vega by name； putting spurs to his horse； galloped to the hamlet of Zubia； threw himself on his knees before the king； and besought permission to accept the defiance of this insolent infidel and to revenge the insult offered to our Blessed Lady。 The request was too pious to be refused。 Garcilasso remounted his steed； closed his helmet； graced by four sable plumes； grasped his buckler of Flemish workmanship and his lance of matchless temper； and defied the haughty Moor in the midst of his career。 A combat took place in view of the two armies and of the Castilian court。 The Moor was powerful in wielding his weapons and dextrous in managing his steed。 He was of larger frame than Garcilasso； and more completely armed； and the Christians trembled for their champion。 The shock of their encounter was dreadful； their lances were shivered； and sent up splinters in the air。 Garcilasso was thrown back in his saddle： his horse made a wide career before he could recover； gather up the reins； and return to the conflict。 They now encountered each other with swords。 The Moor circled round his opponent as a hawk circles where about to make a swoop； his steed obeyed his rider with matchless quickness； at every attack of the infidel it seemed as if the Christian knight must sink beneath his flashing scimetar。 But if Garcilasso was inferior to him in power； he was superior in agility： many of his blows he parried； others he received upon his Flemish shield； which was proof against the Damascus blade。 The blood streamed from numerous wounds received by either warrior。 The Moor； seeing his antagonist exhausted； availed himself of his superior force； and； grappling； endeavored to wrest him from his saddle。 They both fell to earth： the Moor placed his knee upon the breast of his victim； and； brandishing his dagger； aimed a blow at his throat。 A cry of despair was uttered by the Christian warriors； when suddenly they beheld the Moor rolling lifeless in the dust。 Garcilasso had shortened his sword； and as his adversary raised his arm to strike had pierced him to the heart。 〃It was a singular and miraculous victory；〃 says Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃but the Christian knight was armed by the sacred nature of his cause； and the Holy Virgin gave him strength； like another David； to slay this gigantic champion of the Gentiles。〃
The laws of chivalry were observed throughout the combatno one interfered on either side。 Garcilasso now despoiled his adversary； then； rescuing the holy inscription of 〃AVE MARIA〃 from its degrading situation； he elevated it on the point of his sword； and bore it on as a signal of triumph amid the rapturous shouts of the Christian army。*
*The above incident has been commemorated in old Spanish ballads； and made the subject of a scene in an old Spanish drama ascribed by some to Lope de Vega。
The sun had now reached the meridian； and the hot blood of the Moors was inflamed by its rays and by the sight of the defeat of their champion。 Muza ordered two pieces of ordnance to open a fire upon the Christians。 A confusion was produced in one part of their ranks： Muza called to the chiefs of the army； 〃Let us waste no more time in empty challengeslet us charge upon the enemy： he who assaults has always an advantage in the combat。〃 So saying； he rushed forward； followed by a large body of horse and foot； and charged so furiously upon the advance guard of the Christians that he drove it in upon the battalion of the marques of Cadiz。
The gallant marques now considered himself absolved from all further obedience to the queen's commands。 He gave the signal to attack； 〃Santiago！〃 was shouted along the line； and he pressed forward to the encounter with his battalion of twelve hundred lances。 The other cavaliers followed his example； and the battle instantly became general。
When the king and queen beheld the armies thus rushing to the combat； they threw themselves on their knees and implored the Holy Virgin to protect her faithful warriors。 The prince and princess； the ladies of the court； and the prelates and friars who were present did the same； and the effect of the prayers of these illustrious and saintly persons was immediately apparent。 The fierceness with which the Moors had rushed to the attack was suddenly cooled； they were bold and adroit for a skirmish； but unequal to the veteran Spaniards in the open field。 A panic seized upon the foot…soldiers； they turned and took to flight。 Muza and his cavaliers in vain endeavored to rally them。 Some took refuge in the mountains； but the greater part fled to the city in such confusion that they overturned and trampled upon each other。 The Christians pursued them to the very gates。 Upward of two thousand were either killed； wounded； or taken prisoners； and the two pieces of ordnance were brought off as trophies of the victory。 Not a Christian lance but was bathed that day in the blood of an infidel。*
*Cura de los Palacios； cap。 101； Zurita； lib。 20； c。 88。
Such was the brief but bloody action which was known among the Christian warriors by the name of 〃the Queen's Skirmish；〃 for when the marques of Cadiz waited upon Her Majesty to apologize for breaking her commands； he attributed the victory entirely to her presence。 The queen； however； insisted that it was all owing to her troops being led on by so valiant a commander。 Her Majesty had not yet recovered from her agitation at beholding so terrible a scene of bloodshed； though certain veterans present pronounced it as gay and gentle a skirmish as they had ever witnessed。
The gayety of this gentle pass at arms； however； was somewhat marred by a rough reverse in the evening。 Certain of the Christian cavaliers； among whom were the count de Urena； Don Alonso Aguilar； his brother Gonsalvo of Cordova； Diego Castrillo； commander of Calatrava； and others to the number of fifty； remained in ambush near Armilla； expecting the Moors would sally forth at night to visit the scene of battle and to bury their dead。 They were discovered by a Moor who had climbed an elm tree to reconnoitre； and who hastened into the city to give notice of their ambush。 Scarce had night fallen when the cavaliers found themselves surrounded by a host which in the darkness seemed innumerable。 The Moors attacked them with sanguinary fury to revenge the disgrace of the morning。 The cavaliers fought to every disadvantage； overwhelmed by numbers； ignorant of the ground； perplexed by thickets and by the water…courses of the gardens； the sluices of which were all thrown open。 Even retreat was difficult。 The count de Urena was surrounded and in imminent peril； from which he was saved by two of his faithful followers at the sacrifice of their lives。 Several cavaliers lost their horses； and were themselves put to death in the water…courses。 Gonsalvo of Cordova came near having his own illustrious career cut short in this obscure skirmish。 He had fallen into a water…course； whence he extricated himself； covered with mud and so encumbered with his armor that he could not retreat。 Inigo de Mendoza； a relative of his brother Alonso； seeing his peril； offered him his horse。 〃Take it； senor；〃 said he； 〃for you cannot save yourself on foot； and I can； but should I fall take care of my wife and daughters。〃
Gonsalvo accepted the devoted offer； mounted the horse； and had made but few paces when a lamentable cry caused him to turn his head； and he beheld the faithful Mendoza transfixed by Moorish lances。 The four principal cavaliers already named； with several of their followers； effected their retreat and reached the camp in safety； but this nocturnal reverse obscured the morning's triumph。 Gonsalvo remembered the last words of the devoted Mendoza； and bestowed a pension on his widow and marriage portions on his daughters。*
*The account of this nocturnal affair is from Peter Martyr； lib。 4； Epist。 90； and Pulgar； Hazanas del Gran Capitan； page 188； as cited by Alcantara； Hist。 Granada； tom。 4； cap。 18。
To commemorate the victory of which she had been an eye…witness； Queen Isabella afterward erected a monastery in the village of Zubia dedicated to St。 Francisco； which still exists； and in its garden is a laurel planted by her hands。*
*The house whence the king and queen contemplated the battle is likewise to be seen at the present day。 It is in the first str