47. CHAPTER XLVII.
Of the insolent defiance of Yarfe the Moor, and the daring
exploit of Hernando Perez del Pulgar.
When the Moorish knights beheld that all courteous
challenges were unavailing, they sought various
means to provoke the christian warriors to the field.
Sometimes a body of them, fleetly mounted, would
gallop up to the skirts of the camp, and try who
should hurl his lance farthest within the barriers,
having his name inscribed upon it, or a label affixed
to it, containing some taunting defiance. These bravadoes
caused great irritation, but still the Spanish
warriors were restrained by the prohibition of the
king.
Among the Moorish cavaliers was one named Yarfe,
renowned for his great strength and daring spirit; but
whose courage partook of fierce audacity, rather than
chivalric heroism. In one of these sallies, when
they were skirting the christian camp, this arrogant
Moor outstripped his companions, overleaped the
barriers, and, galloping close to the royal quarters,
lanched his lance so far within, that it remained
quivering in the earth close by the pavilions of the
sovereigns. The royal guards rushed forth in pursuit,
but the Moorish horsemen were already beyond the
camp, and scouring in a cloud of dust for the city.
Upon wresting the lance from the earth, a label was
found upon it, importing that it was infended for the
queen.
Nothing could equal the indignation of the christian
warriors, at the insolence of the bravado, and
the discourteous insult offered to the queen. Hernando
Perez del Pulgar, surnamed “he of the exploits,” was
present, and resolved not to be outbraved by this
daring infidel: “Who will stand by me,” said he, “in
an enterprise of desperate peril?” The christian cavaliers
well knew the harebrained valor of Hernando
del Pulgar, yet not one hesitated to step forward. He
chose fifteen companions, all men of powerful arm
and dauntless heart. In the dead of the night, he led
them forth from the camp, and approached the city
cautiously, until he arrived at a postern-gate, which
opened upon the Darro, and was guarded by foot-soldiers.
The guards, little thinking of such an unwonted
and partial attack, were for the most part
asleep. The gate was forced, and a confused and
chance-medley skirmish ensued: Hernando del Pulgar
stopped not to take part in the affray: putting spurs
to his horse, he galloped furiously through the streets,
striking fire out of the stones at every bound. Arrived
at the principal mosque, he sprang from his
horse, and, kneeling at the portal, took possession of
the edifice as a christian chapel, dedicating it to the
blessed virgin. In testimonial of the ceremony, he
took a tablet which he had brought with him, on
which was inscribed in large characters, “Ave
Maria,” and nailed it to the door of the mosque with
his dagger. This done, he remounted his steed, and
galloped back to the gate. The alarm had been given
—the city was in an uproar—soldiers were gathering
from every direction. They were astonished at seeing
a christian warrior galloping from the interior
of the city. Hernando del Pulgar overturned some,
cut down others, rejoined his companions, who still
maintained possession of the gate by dint of hard
fighting, and all made good their retreat to the camp.
The Moors were at a loss to imagine the meaning of
this wild and apparently fruitless assault; but great
was their exasperation, on the following day, when
the trophy of hardihood and prowess, the “
Ave
Maria,” was discovered thus elevated in bravado in
the very centre of the city. The mosque thus boldly
sanctified by Hernando del Pulgar was actually consecrated
into a cathedral, after the capture of Granada.
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