grace that might be obtained from the Castilian | again mounted to the citadel, excepting Ali Dorcus, sovereigns, by an early and voluntary acknowledg- who refused to obey the summons. They entered ment of Boabdil as king; the peaceful possession of with hearts filled with awe, for they found Hamet their property, and the profitable commerce with the surrounded by his grim African guard, and all the christian ports, that would be allowed them. He stern array of military power, and they beheld the was seconded by his weighty and important coadju- bloody traces of the recent massacre. tors; and the alcayde, accustomed to regard them Hamet el Zegri rolled a dark and searching eye as the arbiters of the affairs of the place, yielded to upon the assembly. "Who," said he, “is loyal and their united counsels. He departed, therefore, with devoted to Muley Abdalla el Zagal?" Every one all speed, to the christian camp, empowered to ar-present asserted his loyalty. "Good !" said Hamet; range a capitulation with the Castilian monarch;" and who is ready to prove his devotion to his soverand in the mean time, his brother remained in com- eign, by defending this his important city to the last mand of the Alcazaba.

extremity?" Every one present declared his readiThere was at this time, as alcayde, in the old ness. "Enough!" observed Hamet; "the alcayde crag-built castle of Gibralfaro, a warlike and fiery Albozen Connixa has proved himself a traitor to his Moor, an implacable enemy of the christians. This sovereign, and to you all; for he has conspired to was no other than Hamet Zeli, surnamed El Zegri, deliver the place to the christians. It behoves you the once formidable alcayde of Ronda, and the ter- to choose some other commander capable of defendror of its mountains. He had never forgiven the ing your city against the approaching enemy." The capture of his favorite fortress, and panted for ven-assembly declared unanimously, that there was no geance on the christians. Notwithstanding his re- one so worthy of the command as himself. So verses, he had retained the favor of El Zagal, who Hamet el Zegri was appointed alcayde of Malaga, knew how to appreciate a bold warrior of the kind, and immediately proceeded to man the forts and and had placed him in command of this important towers with his partisans, and to make every prepafortress of Gibralfaro. ration for a desperate resistance.

Hamet el Zegri had gathered round him the remnant of his band of Gomeres, with others of the same tribe. These fierce warriors were nestled, like so many war-hawks, about their lofty cliff. They looked down with martial contempt upon the commercial city of Malaga, which they were placed to protect; or rather, they esteemed it only for its military importance, and its capability of defence. They held no communion with its trading, gainful inhabitants, and even considered the garrison of the Alcazaba as their inferiors. War was their pursuit and passion; they rejoiced in its turbulent and perilous scenes; and, confident in the strength of the city, and, above all, of their castle, they set at defiance the menace of christian invasion. There were among them, also, many apostate Moors, who had once embraced christianity, but had since recanted, and had fled from the vengeance of the Inquisition. These were desperadoes, who had no mercy to expect, should they again fall into the hands of the enemy.

Such were the fierce elements of the garrison of Gibralfaro; and its rage may easily be conceived, at hearing that Malaga was to be given up without a blow; that they were to sink into christian vassals, under the intermediate sway of Boabdil el Chico; and that the alcayde of the Alcazaba had departed, to arrange the terms of capitulation.

Hamet el Zegri determined to avert, by desperate means, the threatened degradation. He knew that there was a large party in the city faithful to El Zagal, being composed of warlike men, who had taken refuge from the various mountain towns which had been captured their feelings were desperate as their fortunes, and, like Hamet, they panted for revenge upon the christians. With these he had a secret conference, and received assurances of their adherence to him in any measures of defence. As to the counsel of the peaceful inhabitants, he considered it unworthy the consideration of a soldier; and he spurned at the interference of the wealthy merchant Ali Dordux, in matters of warfare.

"Still," said Hamet el Zegri, "let us proceed regularly." So he descended with his Gomeres to the citadel, entered it suddenly, put to death the brother of the alcayde, and such of the garrison as made any demur, and then summoned the principal inhabitants of Malaga, to deliberate on measures for the welfare of the city.* The wealthy merchants

Cura de los Palacios, c. 82.

Intelligence of these occurrences put an end to the negotiations between king Ferdinand and the superseded alcayde Albozen Connixa, and it was supposed there was no alternative but to lay siege to the place. The marques of Cadiz, however, found at Velez a Moorish cavalier of some note, a native of Malaga, who offered to tamper with Hamet el Zegri for the surrender of the city, or at least of the castle of Gibralfaro. The marques communicated this to the king: "I put this business, and the key of my treasury, into your hands," said Ferdinand; "act, stipulate, and disburse, in my name, as you think proper.'

The marques armed the Moor with his own lance, cuirass, and target, and mounted him on one of his own horses. He equipped in similar style, also, another Moor, his companion and relation. They bore secret letters to Hamet from the marques, offering him the town of Coin in perpetual inheritance, and four thousand doblas in gold, if he would deliver up Gibralfaro; together with large sums, to be distributed among his officers and soldiers: and he offered unlimited rewards for the surrender of the city.*

Hamet had a warrior's admiration of the marques of Cadiz, and received his messengers with courtesy in his fortress of Gibralfaro. He even listened to their propositions with patience, and dismissed them in safety, though with an absolute refusal. The marques thought his reply was not so peremptory as to discourage another effort. The emissaries were dispatched, therefore, a second time, with further propositions. They approached Malaga in the night, but found the guards doubled, patrols abroad, and the whole place on the alert. They were discovered, pursued, and only saved themselves by the fleetness of their steeds, and their knowledge of the passes of the mountains.

Finding all attempts to tamper with the faith of Hamet el Zegri utterly futile, king Ferdinand publicly summoned the city to surrender, offering the most favorable terms in case of immediate compliance; but threatening captivity to all the inhabitants, in case of resistance.

The message was delivered in presence of the principal inhabitants, who, however, were too much in awe of the stern alcayde to utter a word. Hamet el Zegri then rose haughtily, and replied, that the

* Cura de los Palacios, c. 82.

city of Malaga had not been confided to him to be of the enemy, and planted his banner on the summit. surrendered, but defended; and the king should wit-The Gallicians and Castilians, stimulated by this noness how he acquitted himself of his charge.* ble self-devotion, followed him fighting desperately, and the Moors were at length driven to their castle of Gibralfaro.*

The messengers returned with formidable accounts of the force of the garrison, the strength of the fortifications, and the determined spirit of the commander and his men. The king immediately sent orders to have the heavy artillery forwarded from Antiquera; and, on the 7th of May, marched with his army towards Malaga.

CHAPTER VIII.

ADVANCE OF KING FERDINAND AGAINST

MALAGA.

THE army of Ferdinand advanced in lengthened line, glittering along the foot of the mountains which border the Mediterranean; while a fleet of vessels, freighted with heavy artillery and warlike munitions, kept pace with it at a short distance from the land, covering the sea with a thousand gleaming sails. When Hamet el Zegri saw this force approaching, he set fire to the houses of the suburbs which adjoined the walls, and sent forth three battalions to encounter the advance guard of the enemy.

The christian army drew near to the city, at that end where the castle and rocky height of Gibralfaro defend the seaboard. Immediately opposite, at about two bow-shots' distance, stood the castle; and between it and the high chain of mountains, was a steep and rocky hill, commanding a pass through which the christians must march to penetrate to the vega and surround the city. Hamet el Zegri ordered the three battalions to take their stations, one on this hill, another in the pass near the castle, and a third on the side of the mountain near the sea.

This important height being taken, the pass lay open to the army; but by this time evening was advancing, and the host was too weary and exhausted to seek proper situations for the encampment. The king, attended by several grandees and cavaliers, went the rounds at night, stationing outposts towards the city, and guards and patrols to give the alarm on the least movement of the enemy. All night the christians lay upon their arms, lest there should be some attempt to sally forth and attack them.

When the morning dawned, the king gazed with admiration at this city, which he hoped soon to add to his dominions. It was surrounded on one side by vineyards, gardens, and orchards, which covered the hills with verdure; on the other side, its_walls were bathed by the smooth and tranquil sea. Its vast and lofty towers and prodigious castles, hoary with age, yet unimpaired in strength, showed the labors of magnanimous men in former times to protect their favorite abode. Hanging gardens, groves of oranges, citrons, and pomegranates, with tall cedars and stately palms, were mingled with the stern battlements and towers-bespeaking the opulence and luxury that reigned within.

In the mean time, the christian army poured through the pass, and, throwing out its columns and extending its lines, took possession of every vantageground around the city. King Ferdinand surveyed the ground, and appointed the stations of the different commanders.

The important mount which had cost so violent a struggle, and faced the powerful fortress of Gibralfaro, was given in charge to Roderigo Ponce de A body of Spanish foot-soldiers, of the advance Leon, marques of Cadiz, who, in all sieges, claimed guard, sturdy mountaineers of Gallicia, sprang for- the post of danger. He had several noble cavaliers ward to climb the side of the height next the sea; with their retainers in his encampment, which conat the same time, a number of cavaliers and hidalgos sisted of fifteen hundred horse and fourteen thousand of the royal household attacked the Moors who foot; and extended from the summit of the mount guarded the pass below. The Moors defended their to the margin of the sea, completely blocking up the posts with obstinate valor. The Gallicians were re-approach to the city on that side. From this post, peatedly overpowered and driven down the hill, but a line of encampments extended quite round the as often rallied, and being reinforced by the hidalgos city to the seaboard, fortified by bulwarks and deep and cavaliers, returned to the assault. This obstinate ditches; while a fleet of armed ships and galleys struggle lasted for six hours: the strife was of a dead-stretched before the harbor; so that the place was ly kind, not merely with cross-bows and arquebusses, but hand to hand, with swords and daggers; no quarter was claimed or given, on either side-they fought not to make captives, but to slay. It was but the advance of the christian army that was engaged; so narrow was the pass along the coast, that the army could proceed only in file: horse and foot, and beasts of burden, were crowded one upon another, impeding each other, and blocking up the narrow and rugged defile. The soldiers heard the uproar of the battle, the sound of trumpets, and the war-cries of the Moors-but tried in vain to press forward to the assistance of their companions.

At length a body of foot-soldiers of the Holy Brotherhood climbed, with great difficulty, the steep side of the mountain which overhung the pass, and advanced with seven banners displayed. The Moors, seeing this force above them, abandoned the pass in despair. The battle was still raging on the height; the Gallicians, though supported by Castilian troops under Don Hurtado de Mendoza and Garcilasso de la Vega, were severely pressed and roughly handled by the Moors; at length a brave standard-bearer, Luys Mazedo by name, threw himself into the midst

Pulgar, part 3. cap. 74.

completely invested, by sea and land. The various parts of the valley now resounded with the din of preparation, and were filled with artificers preparing warlike engines and munitions: armorers and smiths, with glowing forges and deafening hammers; carpenters and engineers, constructing machines wherewith to assail the walls; stone-cutters, shaping stone balls for the ordnance; and burners of charcoal, preparing fuel for the furnaces and forges.

When the encampment was formed, the heavy ordnance was landed from the ships, and mounted in various parts of the camp. Five huge lombards were placed on the mount commanded by the marques of Cadiz, so as to bear upon the castle of Gibralfaro.

The Moors made strenuous efforts to impede these preparations. They kept up a heavy fire from their ordnance, upon the men employed in digging trenches or constructing batteries, so that the latter had to work principally in the night. The royal tents had been stationed conspicuously, and within reach of the Moorish batteries; but were so warmly assailed, that they had to be removed behind a hill. When the works were completed, the christian

* Pulgar. Cronica.

batteries opened in return, and kept up a tremendous | cannonade; while the fleet, approaching the land, assailed the city vigorously on the opposite side.

"It was a glorious and delectable sight," observes Fray Antonio Agapida, "to behold this infidel city thus surrounded by sea and land, by a mighty christian force. Every mound in its circuit was, as it were, a little city of tents, bearing the standard of some renowned Catholic warrior. Beside the warlike ships and galleys which lay before the place, the sea was covered with innumerable sails, passing and repassing, appearing and disappearing, being engaged in bringing supplies for the subsistence of the army. It seemed a vast spectacle contrived to recreate the eye, did not the volleying bursts of flame and smoke from the ships, which seemed to lie asleep on the quiet sea, and the thunder of ordnance from camp and city, from tower and battlement, tell the deadly warfare that was raging.

66

By this time, however, a breach had been made in the wall adjoining the tower, and troops poured in to the assistance of their comrades. A continued battle was kept up, for two days and a night, by reinforcements from camp and city. The parties fought back wards and forwards through the breach of the wall, with alternate success; and the vicinity of the tower was strewn with the dead and wounded. At length the Moors gradually gave way, disputing every inch of ground, until they were driven into the city; and the christians remained masters of the greater part of the suburb.

This partial success, though gained with great toil and bloodshed, gave temporary animation to the christians; they soon found, however, that the attack on the main works of the city was a much more arduous task. The garrison contained veterans who had served in many of the towns captured by the christians. They were no longer confounded and dismayed by the battering ordnance and other strange engines of foreign invention, and had become expert in parrying their effects, in repairing breaches, and erecting counter-works.

At night, the scene was far more direful than in the day. The cheerful light of the sun was gone; there was nothing but the flashes of artillery, or the baleful gleams of combustiles thrown into the city, and the conflagration of the houses. The fire kept The christians, accustomed of late to speedy conup from the christian batteries was incessant; there quests of Moorish fortresses, became impatient of were seven great lombards in particular, called The the slow progress of the siege. Many were appreSeven Sisters of Ximenes, which did tremendous hensive of a scarcity of provisions, from the diffiexecution. The Moorish ordnance replied in thun-culty of subsisting so numerous a host in the heart der from the walls; Gibralfaro was wrapped in of the enemy's country, where it was necessary to volumes of smoke, rolling about its base; and Ha- transport supplies across rugged and hostile mountmet el Zegri and his Gomeres looked out with tri-ains, or subjected to the uncertainties of the sea. umph upon the tempest of war they had awakened. Truly they were so many demons incarnate," concludes the pious Fray Antonio Agapida, "who were permitted by Heaven to enter into and possess this infidel city, for its perdition."

CHAPTER IX.

SIEGE OF MALAGA.

Many also were alarmed at a pestilence which broke out in the neighboring villages; and some were so overcome by these apprehensions, as to abandon the camp and return to their homes.

Several of the loose and worthless hangers-on that infest all great armies, hearing these murmurs, thought that the siege would soon be raised, and deserted to the enemy, hoping to make their fortunes. They gave exaggerated accounts of the alarms and discontents of the army, and represented the troops as daily returning home in bands. Above all, they declared that the gunpowder was nearly exhausted, so that the artillery would soon be useless. They assured the Moors, therefore, that if they persisted a little longer in their defence, the king would be obliged to draw off his forces and abandon the siege.

THE attack on Malaga, by sea and land, was kept up for several days with tremendous violence, but without producing any great impression, so strong were the ancient bulwarks of the city. The count de Cifuentes was the first to signalize himself by any The reports of these renegadoes gave fresh courage noted achievement. A main tower of the suburb to the garrison; they made vigorous sallies upon the had been shattered by the ordnance, and the battle- camp, harassing it by night and day, and obliging ments demolished, so as to yield no shelter to its de- every part to be guarded with the most painful vigifenders. Seeing this, the count assembled a gallant lance. They fortified the weak parts of their walls band of cavaliers of the royal household, and ad- with ditches and palisadoes, and gave every manivanced to take it by storm. They applied scaling-festation of a determined and unyielding spirit. ladders, and mounted, sword in hand. The Moors, having no longer battlements to protect them, descended to a lower floor, and made furious resistance from the windows and loop-holes. They poured down boiling pitch and rosin, and hurled stones and darts and arrows on the assailants. Many of the christians were slain, their ladders were destroyed by flaming combustibles, and the count was obliged to retreat from before the tower. On the following day he renewed the attack with superior force, and, after a severe combat, succeeded in planting his victorious banner on the tower.

The Moors now assailed the tower in their turn. They undermined the part towards the city, placed

Ferdinand soon received intelligence of the reports which had been carried to the Moors; he understood that they had been informed, likewise, that the queen was alarmed for the safety of the camp, and had written repeatedly urging him to abandon the siege. As the best means of disproving all these falsehoods, and of destroying the vain hopes of the enemy, Ferdinand wrote to the queen, entreating her to come and take up her residence in the camp.

CHAPTER X.

HAMET EL ZEGRI.

props of wood under the foundation, and, setting SIEGE OF MALAGA CONTINUED OBSTINACY OF fire to them, drew off to a distance. In a little while the props gave way, the foundation sunk, and the tower was rent; part of its wall fell, with a tremendous noise; many of the christians were thrown out headlong, and the rest were laid open to the missiles of the enemy.

GREAT was the enthusiasm of the army, when they beheld their patriot queen advancing in state, to share the toils and dangers of her people. Isabella entered the camp, attended by the dignitaries and

the whole retinue of her court, to manifest that this was no temporary visit. On one side of her was her daughter, the Infanta; on the other, the grand cardinal of Spain, Hernando de Talavera, the prior of Prado, confessor to the queen, followed, with a great train of prelates, courtiers, cavaliers, and ladies of distinction. The cavalcade moved in calm and stately order through the camp, softening the iron aspect of war by this array of courtly grace and female beauty.

opposite towers of Gibralfaro. Here a splendid collation was served up to the sovereigns; and the courtly revel that prevailed in this chivalrous encampment, the glitter of pageantry, and the bursts of festive music, made more striking the gloom and silence that reigned over the Moorish castle.

The marques of Cadiz, while it was yet light, conducted his royal visitors to every point that commanded a view of the warlike scene below. He caused the heavy lombards also to be discharged, Isabella had commanded, that on her coming to that the queen and ladies of the court might witness the camp, the horrors of war should be suspended, the effect of those tremendous engines. The fair and fresh offers of peace made to the enemy. On dames were filled with awe and admiration, as the her arrival, therefore, there had been a general ces-mountain shook beneath their feet with the thunder sation of firing throughout the canip. A messenger of the artillery, and they beheld great fragments of was, at the same time, dispatched to the besieged, the Moorish walls tumbling down the rocks and informing them of her being in the camp, and of the precipices. determination of the sovereigns to make it their set- While the good marques was displaying these tled residence until the city should be taken. The things to his royal guests, he lifted up his eyes, and same terms were offered, in case of immediate sur-to his astonishment beheld his own banner hanging render, that had been granted to Velez Malaga; but the inhabitants were threatened with captivity and the sword, should they persist in their defence.

44

out from the nearest tower of Gibralfaro. The blood mantled in his cheek, for it was a banner which he had lost at the time of the memorable massacre of Hamet el Zegri received this message with haughty the heights of Malaga.* To make this taunt more contempt, and dismissed the messenger without evident, several of the Gomeres displayed themselves deigning a reply. 'The christian sovereigns," said upon the battlements, arrayed in the helmets and he, "have made this offer in consequence of their cuirasses of some of the cavaliers slain or captured despair. The silence of their batteries proves the on that occasion. The marques of Cadiz restrained truth of what has been told us, that their powder is his indignation, and held his peace; but several of exhausted. They have no longer the means of de- his cavaliers vowed loudly to revenge this cruel bramolishing our walls; and if they remain much long-vado, on the ferocious garrison of Gibralfaro. er, the autumnal rains will interrupt their convoys, and fill their camp with famine and disease. The first storm will-disperse their fleet, which has no neighboring port of shelter: Africa will then be open to us, to procure reinforcements and supplies."

The words of Hamet el Zegri were hailed as oracular, by his adherents. Many of the peaceful part of the community, however, ventured to remonstrate, and to implore him to accept the proffered mercy. The stern Hamet silenced them with a terrific threat: he declared, that whoever should talk of capitulating, or should hold any communication with the christians, should be put to death. The fierce Gomeres, like true men of the sword, acted upon the menace of their chieftain as upon a written law, and having detected several of the inhabitants in secret correspondence with the enemy, they set upon and slew them, and then confiscated their effects. This struck such terror into the citizens, that those who had been loudest in their murmurs became suddenly mute, and were remarked as evincing the greatest bustle and alacrity in the defence of the city.

CHAPTER XI.

ATTACK OF THE MARQUES OF CADIZ UPON
GIBRALFARO.

THE marques of Cadiz was not a cavalier that readily forgave an injury or an insult. On the morning after the royal banquet, his batteries opened a tremendous fire upon Gibralfaro. All day, the encampment was wrapped in wreaths of smoke; nor did the assault cease with the day-but, throughout the night, there was an incessant flashing and thundering of the lombards, and, the following morning, the assault rather increased than slackened in fury. The Moorish bulwarks were no proof against those formidable engines. In a few days, the lofty tower on which the taunting banner had been displayed, was shattered; a smaller tower in its vicinity reduced to ruins, and a great breach made in the intervening walls.

Several of the hot-spirited cavaliers were eager for storming the breach, sword in hand; others, more cool and wary, pointed out the rashness of such an attempt; for the Moors had worked indefatigably in the night; they had digged a deep ditch within the breach, and had fortified it with palisadoes and a high breastwork. All, however, agreed that the camp might safely be advanced near to the ruined walls, and that it ought to be done so, in return for the insolent defiance of the enemy.

When the messenger returned to the camp, and reported the contemptuous reception of the royal message, king Ferdinand was exceedingly indignant. Finding the cessation of firing, on the queen's arrival, had encouraged a belief among the enemy that there was a scarcity of powder in the camp, he ordered a general discharge from all the batteries. The sudden burst of war from every quarter soon convinced the Moors of their error, and completed the confusion of the citizens, who knew not which most to dread, their assailants or their defenders, The marques of Cadiz felt the temerity of the

the christians or the Gomeres.

measure, but he was unwilling to dampen the zeal That evening the sovereigns visited the encamp- of these high-spirited cavaliers; and having chosen ment of the marques of Cadiz, which commanded a the post of danger in the camp, it did not become view over a great part of the city and the camp. him to decline any service, merely because it might The tent of the marques was of great magnitude, appear perilous. He ordered his outposts, therefore, furnished with hangings of rich brocade and French to be advanced within a stone's-throw of the breach, cloth of the rarest texture. It was in the oriental but exhorted the soldiers to maintain the utmost style; and, as it crowned the height, with the surrounding tents of other cavaliers, all sumptuously furnished, presented a gay and silken contrast to the i

vigilance.

* Diego de Valera. Cronica, MS.

The thunder of the batteries had ceased; the with the utmost vigor. Hamet el Zegri went the troops, exhausted by two nights' fatigue and watch-rounds of the walls and towers, doubling the guards, fulness, and apprehending no danger from the dis- and putting every thing in the best posture of de. mantled walls, were half of them asleep; the rest fence. The garrison was divided into parties of a were scattered about in negligent security. On a hundred, to each of which a captain was appointed. sudden, upwards of two thousand Moors sallied forth Some were to patrol, others to sally forth and skir from the castle, led on by Alrahan Zenete, the prin- mish with the enemy, and others to hold themselves cipal captain under Hamet. They fell with fearful armed and in reserve. Six albatozas, or floating bathavoc upon the advanced guard, slaying many of teries, were manned and armed with pieces of artil them in their sleep, and putting the rest to headlong lery, to attack the fleet. flight.

On the other hand, the Castilian sovereigns kept open a communication by sea with various parts of Spain, from which they received provisions of all kinds; they ordered supplies of powder also from Valencia, Barcelona, Sicily, and Portugal. They made great preparations also for storming the city. Towers of wood were constructed, to move on wheels, each capable of holding one hundred men ; they were furnished with ladders, to be thrown from their summits to the tops of the walls; and within those ladders, others were encased, to be let down for the descent of the troops into the city. There were gallipagos or tortoises, also, being great wooden shields, covered with hides, to protect the assailants, and those who undermined the walls.

The marques was in his tent, about a bow-shot | distance, when he heard the tumult of the onset, and beheld his men flying in confusion. He rushed forth, followed by his standard-bearer. "Turn again, cavaliers!" exclaimed he; "I am here, Ponce de Leon! to the foe! to the foe!" The flying troops stopped at hearing his well-known voice, rallied under his banner, and turned upon the enemy. The encampment, by this time, was roused; several cavaliers from the adjoining stations had hastened to the scene of action, with a number of Gallicians and soldiers of the Holy Brotherhood. An obstinate and bloody contest ensued; the ruggedness of the place, the rocks, chasms, and declivities, broke it into numerous combats: christian and Moor fought hand to Secret mines were commenced in various places; hand, with swords and daggers; and often, grappling some were intended to reach to the foundations of and struggling, rolled together down the precipices. the walls, which were to be propped up with wood, The banner of the marques was in danger of being ready to be set on fire; others were to pass under taken: he hastened to its rescue, followed by some the walls, and remain ready to be broken open so of his bravest cavaliers. They were surrounded by as to give entrance to the besiegers. At these the enemy, and several of them cut down. Don mines the army worked day and night; and during Diego Ponce de Leon, brother to the marques, was these secret preparations, the ordnance kept up a wounded by an arrow; and his son-in-law, Luis fire upon the city, to divert the attention of the bePonce, was likewise wounded: they succeeded, how-sieged. ever, in rescuing the banner, and bearing it off in safety. The battle lasted for an hour; the height was covered with killed and wounded, and the blood flowed in streams down the rocks; at length, Alrahan Zenete being disabled by the thrust of a lance, the Moors gave way and retreated to the castle.

They now opened a galling fire from their battlements and towers, approaching the breaches so as to discharge their cross-bows and arquebusses into the advanced guard of the encampment. The marques was singled out; the shot fell thick about him, and one passed through his buckler, and struck upon his cuirass, but without doing him any injury. Every one now saw the danger and inutility of approaching the camp thus near to the castle; and those who had counselled it, were now urgent that it should be withdrawn. It was accordingly removed back to its original ground, from which the marques had most reluctantly advanced it. Nothing but his valor and timely aid had prevented this attack on his outpost from ending in a total rout of all that part of the army. Many cavaliers of distinction fell in this contest; but the loss of none was felt more deeply than that of Ortega de Prado, captain of escaladors. He was one of the bravest men in the service; the same who had devised the first successful blow of the war, the storming of Alhama, where he was the first to plant and mount the scaling-ladders. He had always been high in the favor and confidence of the noble Ponce de Leon, who knew how to appreciate and avail himself of the merits of all able and valiant men.*

CHAPTER XII.

SIEGE OF MALAGA CONTINUED.-STRATAGEMS
OF VARIOUS KINDS.

GREAT were the exertions now made, both by the besiegers and the besieged, to carry on this contest

Zurita. Mariana. Abarra.

In the mean time, Hamet el Zegri displayed wonderful vigor and ingenuity in defending the city, and in repairing or fortifying, by deep ditches, the breaches made by the enemy. He noted, also, every place where the camp might be assailed with advantage, and gave the besieging army no repose night or day. While his troops sallied on the land, his floating batteries attacked the besiegers on the sea; so that there was incessant skirmishing. The tents called the Queen's Hospital were crowded with wounded, and the whole army suffered from constant watchfulness and fatigue. To guard against the sudden assaults of the Moors, the trenches were deepened, and palisadoes erected in front of the camp; and in that part facing Gibralfaro, where the rocky heights did not admit of such defences, a high rampart of earth was thrown up. The cavaliers Garcilasso de la Vega, Juan de Zuñiga, and Diego de Atayde, were appointed to go the rounds, and keep vigilant watch that these fortifications we maintained in good order.

In a little while, Hamet discovered the mines secretly commenced by the christians: he immediately ordered counter-mines. The soldiers mutually worked until they met, and fought hand to hand, in these subterranean passages. The christians were driven out of one of their mines; fire was set to the wooden framework, and the mine destroyed. Encouraged by this success, the Moors attempted a general attack upon the camp, the mines, and the besieging fleet. The battle lasted for six hours, on land and water, above and below ground, on bulwark, and in trench and mine; the Moors displayed wonderful intrepidity, but were finally repulsed at all points, and obliged to retire into the city, where they were closely invested, without the means of receiving any

assistance from abroad.

The horrors of famine were now added to the

other miseries of Malaga. Hamet el Zegri, with the spirit of a man bred up to war, considered every