University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER VII.

The perilous situation of the Christian
cavaliers, pent up and beleaguered
within the walls of Alhama, spread terror
among their friends, and anxiety
throughout all Andalusia. Nothing,
however, could equal the anguish of
the Marchioness of Cadiz, the wife of
the gallant Rodrigo Ponce de Leon. In
her deep distress she looked round for
some powerful noble, who had the means
of rousing the country to the assistance
of her husband. No one appeared more
competent for the purpose than Don Juan
de Guzman, the Duke of Medina Sidonia.
He was one of the most wealthy
and puissant grandees of Spain; his possessions
extended over some of the most
fertile parts of Andalusia, embracing
towns and seaports, and numerous villages.
Here he reigned in feudal state
like a petty sovereign, and could at any
time bring into the field an immense
force of vassals and retainers. The
Duke of Medina Sidonia, and the Marquis
of Cadiz, however, were at this
time deadly foes. An hereditary feud
existed between them, that had often
arisen to bloodshed and war; for as yet

the fierce contests between the proud
and pussant Spanish nobles had not
been completely quelled by the power
of the crown, and in this respect they
exerted a right of sovereignty, in leading
their vassals against each other in
open field.

The Duke of Medina Sidonia would
have appeared to many the very last
person to whom to apply for aid of the
Marquis of Cadiz; but the marchioness
judged of him by the standard of her
own high and generous mind. She
knew him to be a gallant and courteous
knight, and had already experienced the
magnanimity of his spirit, having been
relieved by him when besieged by the
Moors in her husband's fortress of Arcos.
To the duke, therefore, she applied in this
moment of sudden calamity, imploring
him to furnish succour to her husband.
The event showed how well noble spirits
understand each other. No sooner did
the duke receive this appeal from the
wife of his enemy, than he generously
forgot all feeling of animosity, and determined
to go in person to his succour.
He immediately despatched a courteous
letter to the marchioness, assuring her,
that, in consideration of the request of
so honourable and estimable a lady, and
to rescue from peril so valiant a cavalier
as her husband, whose loss would be
great, not only to Spain, but to all
Christendom, he would forego the recollection
of all past grievances, and
hasten to his relief with all the forces
he could raise.

The duke wrote at the same time to
the alcaydes of his towns and fortresses,
ordering them to join him forthwith at
Seville, with all the force they could
spare from their garrisons. He called
on all the chivalry of Andalusia to make
common cause in the rescue of those
Christian cavaliers, and he offered large
pay to all volunteers who would resort
to him with horses, armour, and provisions.
Thus all who could be incited
by honour, religion, patriotism, or thirst
of gain, were induced to hasten to his
standard; and he took the field with an
army of five thousand horse and fifty
thousand foot.[15] Many cavaliers of distinguished
name accompanied him in this
generous enterprise. Amongst these was
the redoubtable Alonso de Aguilar, the
chosen friend of the Marquis of Cadiz,
and with him his younger brother, Gonsalvo
Fernandez de Cordova, afterwards
renowned as the grand captain; Don
Rodrigo Givon, also, master of the order
of Calatrava; together with Martin
Alonso de Montemayor, and the Marquis
de Villena, esteemed the best lance
in Spain. It was a gallant and splendid
army, comprising the power of Spanish
chivalry, and poured forth in brilliant
array from the gates of Seville, bearing
the great standard of that ancient and
renowned city.

Ferdinand and Isabella were at Medina
del Campo when tidings came of the
capture of Alhama. The king was at
mass when he received the news, and
ordered Te Deum to be chanted for this
signal triumph of the holy faith. When
the first flush of triumph had subsided,
and the king learned the imminent peril
of the valorous Ponce de Leon and his
companions, and the great danger there
was that this stronghold might again be
wrested from their grasp, he resolved to
hurry in person to the scene of action.
So pressing appeared to him the emergency,
that he barely gave himself time
to take a hasty repast while horses were
providing, and then departed at furious
speed for Andalusia, leaving a request for
the queen to follow him.[16] He was attended
by Don Beltran de la Cueva, Duke of
Albuquerque; Don Inigo Lopez de Mendoza,
Count of Tendilla; and Don Pedro
Manriquez, Count of Trevino, with a few
more cavaliers of prowess and distinction.
He travelled by forced journeys, frequently
changing his jaded horses, being
eager to arrive in time to take command
of the Andalusian chivalry. When he
came within five leagues of Cordova,
the Duke of Albuquerque remonstrated
with him upon entering with such incautious
haste into the enemy's country,
He represented to him, that there were
troops enough assembled to succour Alhama,
and that it was not for him to
adventure his royal person in doing
what could be done by his subjects,

especially as he had such valiant and
experienced captains to act for him.
"Besides, sire," added the duke, "your
majesty should bethink you, that the
troops about to take the field are mere
men of Andalusia; whereas your illustrious
predecessors never made an inroad
into the territory of the Moors, without
being accompanied by a powerful force
of the staunch and iron warriors of Old
Castile."

"Duke," replied the king, "your
counsel might have been good had I not
have departed from Medina with the
avowed determination of succouring these
cavaliers in person. I am now near the
end of my journey, and it would be beneath
my dignity to change my intention,
before even I had met with an impediment.
I shall take the troops of this
country who are assembled, without
waiting for those of Castile, and, with
the aid of God, shall prosecute my journey."[17]

As King Ferdinand approached Cordova,
the principal inhabitants came forth
to receive him. Learning, however, that
the Duke of Medina Sidonia was already
on the march, and pressing forward into
the territory of the Moors, the king was
all on fire to overtake him, and to lead
in person the succour to Alhama. Without
entering Cordova, therefore, he exchanged
his weary horses for those of
the inhabitants who had come to meet
him, and pressed forward for the army.
He despatched fleet couriers in advance,
requesting the Duke of Medina Sidonia
to await his coming, that he might take
command of the forces.

Neither the duke nor his companions
in arms, however, felt inclined to pause
in their generous expedition, and gratify
the inclination of the king. They sent
back missives, representing that they
were far within the enemy's frontiers,
and it was dangerous either to pause or
to turn back. They had likewise received
pressing entreaties from the besieged
to hasten their speed, setting forth
their great sufferings, and their hourly
peril of being overwhelmed by the enemy.

The king was at Ponton del Maestre
when he received these missives. So inflamed
was he with zeal for the success
of this enterprise, that he would have
penetrated into the kingdom of Granada
with the handful of cavaliers who accompanied
him; but they represented the
rashness of such a journey, through the
mountainous defiles of a hostile country
thickly beset with towns and castles.
With some difficulty, therefore, he was
dissuaded from his inclination, and prevailed
upon to await tidings from the
army, in the frontier city of Antequera.