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ibuted the victory entirely to her presence。 The queen； however； insisted that it was all owing to her troops being led on by so valiant a commander。 Her Majesty had not yet recovered from her agitation at beholding so terrible a scene of bloodshed； though certain veterans present pronounced it as gay and gentle a skirmish as they had ever witnessed。
The gayety of this gentle pass at arms； however； was somewhat marred by a rough reverse in the evening。 Certain of the Christian cavaliers； among whom were the count de Urena； Don Alonso Aguilar； his brother Gonsalvo of Cordova； Diego Castrillo； commander of Calatrava； and others to the number of fifty； remained in ambush near Armilla； expecting the Moors would sally forth at night to visit the scene of battle and to bury their dead。 They were discovered by a Moor who had climbed an elm tree to reconnoitre； and who hastened into the city to give notice of their ambush。 Scarce had night fallen when the cavaliers found themselves surrounded by a host which in the darkness seemed innumerable。 The Moors attacked them with sanguinary fury to revenge the disgrace of the morning。 The cavaliers fought to every disadvantage； overwhelmed by numbers； ignorant of the ground； perplexed by thickets and by the water…courses of the gardens； the sluices of which were all thrown open。 Even retreat was difficult。 The count de Urena was surrounded and in imminent peril； from which he was saved by two of his faithful followers at the sacrifice of their lives。 Several cavaliers lost their horses； and were themselves put to death in the water…courses。 Gonsalvo of Cordova came near having his own illustrious career cut short in this obscure skirmish。 He had fallen into a water…course； whence he extricated himself； covered with mud and so encumbered with his armor that he could not retreat。 Inigo de Mendoza； a relative of his brother Alonso； seeing his peril； offered him his horse。 〃Take it； senor；〃 said he； 〃for you cannot save yourself on foot； and I can； but should I fall take care of my wife and daughters。〃
Gonsalvo accepted the devoted offer； mounted the horse； and had made but few paces when a lamentable cry caused him to turn his head； and he beheld the faithful Mendoza transfixed by Moorish lances。 The four principal cavaliers already named； with several of their followers； effected their retreat and reached the camp in safety； but this nocturnal reverse obscured the morning's triumph。 Gonsalvo remembered the last words of the devoted Mendoza； and bestowed a pension on his widow and marriage portions on his daughters。*
*The account of this nocturnal affair is from Peter Martyr； lib。 4； Epist。 90； and Pulgar； Hazanas del Gran Capitan； page 188； as cited by Alcantara； Hist。 Granada； tom。 4； cap。 18。
To commemorate the victory of which she had been an eye…witness； Queen Isabella afterward erected a monastery in the village of Zubia dedicated to St。 Francisco； which still exists； and in its garden is a laurel planted by her hands。*
*The house whence the king and queen contemplated the battle is likewise to be seen at the present day。 It is in the first street to the right on entering the village from the Vega； and the royal arms are painted on the ceilings。 It is inhabited by a worthy farmer； Francisco Garcia； who in showing the house to the writer refused all compensation with true Spanish pride； offering； on the contrary； the hospitalities of his mansion。 His children are versed in the old Spanish ballads about the exploits of Hernan Perez del Pulgar and Garcilasso de la Vega。
CHAPTER XCIV。
THE LAST RAVAGE BEFORE GRANADA。
The ravages of war had as yet spared a little portion of the Vega of Granada。 A green belt of gardens and orchards still flourished round the city； extending along the banks of the Xenil and the Darro。 They had been the solace and delight of the inhabitants in their happier days； and contributed to their sustenance in this time of scarcity。 Ferdinand determined to make a final and exterminating ravage to the very walls of the city； so that there should not remain a single green thing for the sustenance of man or beast。 The eighth of July was the day appointed for this act of desolation。 Boabdil was informed by his spies of the intention of the Christian king； and prepared to make a desperate defence。 Hernando de Baeza； a Christian who resided with the royal family in the Alhambra as interpreter； gives in a manuscript memoir an account of the parting of Boabdil from his family as he went forth to battle。 At an early hour on the appointed day； the eighth of July； he bathed and perfumed himself； as the Moors of high rank were accustomed to do when they went forth to peril their lives。 Arrayed in complete armor； he took leave of his mother； his wife； and his sister in the antechamber of the Tower of Comares。 Ayxa la Horra； with her usual dignity； bestowed on him her benediction and gave him her hand to kiss。 It was a harder parting with his son and his daughter； who hung round him with sobs and tears： the duenas and doncellas too of the royal household made the halls of the Alhambra resound with their lamentations。 He then mounted his horse and put himself in front of his squadrons。*
*Hernando de Baeza； as cited by Alcantara； Hist。 Gran。； t。 4； c。 18。
The Christian army approached close to the city； and were laying waste the gardens and orchards when Boabdil sallied forth； surrounded by all that was left of the flower and chivalry of Granada。 There is one place where even the coward becomes bravethat sacred spot called home。 What； then； must have been the valor of the Moors； a people always of chivalrous spirit； when the war was thus brought to their thresholds！ They fought among the scenes of their loves and pleasures； the scenes of their infancy； and the haunts of their domestic life。 They fought under the eyes of their wives and children； their old men and their maidensof all that was helpless and all that was dear to them； for all Granada； crowded on tower and battlement； watched with trembling heart the fate of this eventful day。
There was not so much one battle as a variety of battles： every garden and orchard became a scene of deadly contest； every inch of ground was disputed with an agony of grief and valor by the Moors； every inch of ground that the Christians advanced they valiantly maintained； but never did they advance with severer fighting or greater loss of blood。
The cavalry of Muza was in every part of the field； wherever it came it gave fresh ardor to the fight。 The Moorish soldier； fainting with heat； fatigue； and wounds； was roused to new life at the approach of Muza； and even he who lay gasping in the agonies of death turned his face toward him and faintly uttered cheers and blessings as he passed。
The Christians had by this time gained possession of various towers near the city； whence they had been annoyed by crossbows and arquebuses。 The Moors； scattered in various actions； were severely pressed。 Boabdil； at the head of the cavaliers of his guard； mingling in the fight in various parts of the field； endeavored to inspirit the foot…soldiers to the combat。 But the Moorish infan