the　extraordinary　privilege　of　sitting　in　presence　of　the　Catholic　sovereigns　an　honor　well　worth　fighting　for。
  The　good　count　took　his　seat　at　a　short　distance　from　the　king；　and　near　him　was　seated　the　duke　of　Najera；　then　the　bishop　of　Palencia；　then　the　count　of　Aguilar；　the　count　Luna；　and　Don　Gutierre　de　Cardenas；　senior　commander　of　Leon。
  On　the　side　of　the　queen　were　seated　the　grand　cardinal　of　Spain；　the　duke　of　Villahermosa；　the　count　of　Monte　Rey；　and　the　bishops　of　Jaen　and　Cuenca；　each　in　the　order　in　which　they　are　named。　　The　infanta　Isabella　was　prevented　by　indisposition　from　attending　the　ceremony。
  And　now　festive　music　resounded　through　the　hall；　and　twenty　ladies　of　the　queen's　retinue　entered；　magnificently　attired；　upon　which　twenty　youthful　cavaliers；　very　gay　and　galliard　in　their　array；　stepped　forth；　and；　each　seeking　his　fair　partner；　they　commenced　a　stately　dance。　　The　court　in　the　mean　time　（observes　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　looked　on　with　lofty　and　becoming　gravity。
  When　the　dance　was　concluded　the　king　and　queen　rose　to　retire　to　supper；　and　dismissed　the　count　with　many　gracious　expressions。　　He　was　then　attended　by　all　the　grandees　present　to　the　palace　of　the　grand　cardinal；　where　they　partook　of　a　sumptuous　banquet。
  On　the　following　Saturday　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles　was　received　likewise　with　great　honors；　but　the　ceremonies　were　so　arranged　as　to　be　a　degree　less　in　dignity　than　those　shown　to　his　uncle；　the　latter　being　considered　the　principal　actor　in　this　great　achievement。　　Thus　the　grand　cardinal　and　the　duke　of　Villahermosa　did　not　meet　him　at　the　gate　of　the　city；　but　received　him　in　the　palace　and　entertained　him　in　conversation　until　summoned　to　the　sovereigns。　#　When　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles　entered　the　presence…chamber　the　king　and　queen　rose　from　their　chairs；　but　without　advancing。　　They　greeted　him　graciously；　and　commanded　him　to　be　seated　next　to　the　count　de　Cabra。
  The　infanta　Isabella　came　forth　to　this　reception；　and　took　her　seat　beside　the　queen。　　When　the　court　were　all　seated　the　music　again　sounded　through　the　hall；　and　the　twenty　ladies　came　forth　as　on　the　preceding　occasion；　richly　attired；　but　in　different　raiment。　　They　danced　as　before；　and　the　infanta　Isabella；　taking　a　young　Portuguese　damsel　for　a　partner；　joined　in　the　dance。　　When　this　was　concluded　the　king　and　queen　dismissed　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles　with　great　courtesy；　and　the　court　broke　up。
  The　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　here　indulges　in　a　long　eulogy　on　the　scrupulous　discrimination　of　the　Castilian　court　in　the　distribution　of　its　honors　and　rewards；　by　which　means　every　smile　and　gesture　and　word　of　the　sovereigns　had　its　certain　value　and　conveyed　its　equivalent　of　joy　to　the　heart　of　the　subjecta　matter　well　worthy　the　study　（says　he）　of　all　monarchs；　who　are　too　apt　to　distribute　honors　with　a　heedless　caprice　that　renders　them　of　no　avail。
  On　the　following　Sunday　both　the　count　de　Cabra　and　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles　were　invited　to　sup　with　the　sovereigns。　　The　court　that　evening　was　attended　by　the　highest　nobility；　arrayed　with　that　cost　and　splendor　for　which　the　Spanish　nobility　of　those　days　were　renowned。
  Before　supper　there　was　a　stately　and　ceremonious　dance；　befitting　the　dignity　of　so　august　a　court。　　The　king　led　forth　the　queen　in　grave　and　graceful　measure；　the　count　de　Cabra　was　honored　with　the　hand　of　the　infanta　Isabella；　and　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles　danced　with　a　daughter　of　the　marques　de　Astorga。
  The　dance　being　concluded；　the　royal　party　repaired　to　the　supper…table；　which　was　placed　on　an　elevated　part　of　the　saloon。　Here；　in　full　view　of　the　court；　the　count　de　Cabra　and　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles　supped　at　the　same　table　with　the　king；　the　queen；　and　the　infanta。　　The　royal　family　were　served　by　the　marques　of　Villena。　　The　cup…bearer　to　the　king　was　his　nephew；　Fadrigue　de　Toledo；　son　to　the　duke　of　Alva。　　Don　Alexis　de　Estaniga　had　the　honor　of　fulfilling　that　office　for　the　queen；　and　Tello　de　Aguilar　for　the　infanta。　　Other　cavaliers　of　rank　and　distinction　waited　on　the　count　and　the　alcayde　de　los　Donceles。　　At　one　o'clock　the　two　distinguished　guests　were　dismissed　with　many　courteous　expressions　by　the　sovereigns。
  Such　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　were　the　great　honors　paid　at　our　most　exalted　and　ceremonious　court　to　these　renowned　cavaliers；　but　the　gratitude　of　the　sovereigns　did　not　end　here。　　A　few　days　afterward　they　bestowed　upon　them　large　revenues　for　life；　and　others　to　descend　to　their　heirs；　with　the　privilege　for　them　and　their　descendants　to　prefix　the　title　of　Don　to　their　names。　　They　gave　them；　moreover；　as　armorial　bearings　a　Moor's　head　crowned；　with　a　golden　chain　round　the　neck；　in　a　sanguine　field；　and　twenty…two　banners　round　the　margin　of　the　escutcheon。　　Their　descendants；　of　the　houses　of　Cabra　and　Cordova；　continue　to　bear　these　arms　at　the　present　day　in　memorial　of　the　victory　of　Lucena　and　the　capture　of　Boabdil　el　Chico。*
  *The　account　given　by　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　of　this　ceremonial；　so　　characteristic　of　the　old　Spanish　court；　agrees　in　almost　every　　particular　with　an　ancient　manuscript　made　up　from　the　chronicles　　of　the　curate　of　los　Palacios　and　other　old　Spanish　writers。
  CHAPTER　XXV。
  HOW　THE　MARQUES　OF　CADIZ　CONCERTED　TO　SURPRISE　ZAHARA；　　　　　AND　THE　RESULT　OF　HIS　ENTERPRISE。
  The　valiant　Roderigo　Ponce　de　Leon；　marques　of　Cadiz；　was　one　of　the　most　vigilant　of　commanders。　　He　kept　in　his　pay　a　number　of　converted　Moors　to　serve　as　adalides；　or　armed　guides。　　These　mongrel　Christians　were　of　great　service　in　procuring　information。　　Availing　themselves　of　their　Moorish　character　and　tongue；　they　penetrated　into　the　enemy's　country；　prowled　about　the　castles　and　fortresses；　noticed　the　state　of　the　walls；　the　gates；　and　towers；　the　strength　of　their　garrisons；　and　the　vigilance　or　negligence　of　their　commanders。　　All　this　they　minutely　reported　to　the　marques；　who　thus　knew　the　state　of　every　fortress　upon　the　frontier　and　when　it　might　be　attacked　with　advantage。　　Besides　the　various　town　and　cities　over　which　he　held　feudal　sway；　he　had　always　an　armed　force　about　him　ready　for　the　field。　　A　host　of　retainers　fed　in　his　hall　who　were　ready　to　follow　him　to　danger；　and　death　itself；　without　inquiring　who　or　why　they　fought。　　The　armories　of　his　castles　were　supplied　with　helms　and　cuirasses　and　weapons　of　all　kinds；　ready　burnished　for　use；　and　his　stables　were　filled　with　hardy　steeds　that　could　stand　a　mountain…scamper。
  The　marques　was　aware　that　the　late　defeat　of　the　Moors　on　the　banks　of　the　Lopera　had　weakened　their　whole　frontier；　for　many　of　the　castles　and　fortresses　had　lost　their　alcaydes　and　their　choicest　troops。　　He　sent　out　his　war…hounds；　therefore；　upon　the　range　to　ascertain　where　a　successful　blow　might　be　struck；　and　they　soon　returned　with　word　that　Zahara　was　weakly　garrisoned　and　short　of　provisions。
  This　was　the　very　fortress　which；　about　two　years　before；　had　been　stormed　by　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　and　its　capture　had　been　the　first　blow　of　this　eventful　war。　　It　had　ever　since　remained　a　thorn　in　the　side　of　Andalusia。　　All　the　Christians　had　been　carried　away　captive；　and　no　civil　population　had　been　introduced　in　their　stead。　　There　were　no　women　or　children　in　the　place。　　It　was　kept　up　as　a　mere　military　post；　commanding　one　of　the　most　important　passes　of　the　mountains；　and　was　a　stronghold　of　Moorish　marauders。　　The　marques　was　animated　by　the　idea　of　regaining　this　fortress　for　his　sovereigns　and　wresting　from　the　old　Moorish　king　this　boasted　trophy　of　his　prowess。　　He　sent　missives；　therefore；　to　the　brave　Luis　Fernandez　Puerto　Carrero；　who　had　distinguished　himself　in　the　late　victory；　and　to　Juan　Almaraz；　captain　of　the　men…at…arms　of　the　Holy　Brotherhood；　informing　them　of　his　designs；　and　inviting　them　to　meet　him　with　their　forces　on　the　banks　of　the　Guadalete。
  It　was　on　the　day　（says　Fray　Antonio　Agapida）　of　the　glorious　apostles　St。　Simon　and　Judas；　the　twenty…eighth　of　October；　in　the　year　of　grace　one　thousand　four　hundred　and　eighty…three；　that　this　chosen　band　of　Christian　soldiers　assembled　suddenly　and　secretly　at　the　appointed　place。　　Their　forces　when　united　amounted　to　six　hundred　horse　and　fifteen　hundred　foot。　　Their　gathering…place　was　at　the　entrance　of　the　defile　leading　to　Zahara。　　That　ancient　town；　renowned　in　Moorish　warfare；　is　situated　in　one　of　the　roughest　passes　of　the　Serrania　de　Ronda。　　It　is　built　round　the　craggy　cone　of　a　hill；　on　the　lofty　summit　of　which　is　a　strong　castle。　　The　country　around　is　broken　into　deep　barrancas　or　ravines；　some　of　which　approach　its　very　walls。　　The　place　had　until　recently　been　considered　impregnable；　but　（as　the　worthy　Fray　Antonio　Agapida　observes）　the　walls　of　impregnable　fortresses；　like　the　virtue　of　self…confident　saints；　have　their　weak　points　of　attack。
  The　marques　of　Cadiz　advanced　with　his　little　army　in　the　dead　of　the　night；　marching　silently　into　the　deep　and　dark　defiles　of　the　mountains；　and　stealing　up　the　ravines　which　extended　to　the　walls　of　the　town。　　Their　approach　was　so　noiseless　that　the　Moorish　sentinels　upon　the　walls　heard　not　a　voice　or　a　foo