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