CHAPTER XLI.
King Ferdinand followed up his victory
at Loxa by laying seige 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 barricadoes
in the suburbs, opened doors of communication
from house to house, and picrced
their walls with loop-holes, 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 watchtowers
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 were in
fresh and brilliant armour, richly ornamented,
and as yet uninjured by the service
of the field. Those of the count
were weatherbeaten veterans, whose armour
was dinted 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 arms: 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,
he 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 afterwards
any sneer at their embroidery.
The suburbs being taken, three batteries,
each furnished with eight large
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 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 unto 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 afterwards
rendered him so renowned.
