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that the body of the old monarch was deposited by two Christian captives in his osario or charnel…house。* Such was the end of the turbulent Muley Abul Hassan； who； after passing his life in constant contests for empire； could scarce gain quiet admission into the corner of a sepulchre。
*Cura de los Palacios； c。 77。
No sooner were the populace well assured that old Muley Abul Hassan was dead and beyond recovery than they all began to extol his memory and deplore his loss。 They admitted that he had been fierce and cruel； but then he had been brave； he had； to be sure； pulled this war upon their heads； but he had likewise been crushed by it。 In a word； he was dead； and his death atoned or every fault； for a king recently dead is generally either a hero or a saint。
In proportion as they ceased to hate old Muley they began to hate his brother。 The circumstances of the old king's death； the eagerness to appropriate his treasures； the scandalous neglect of his corpse； and the imprisonment of his sultana and children； all filled the public mind with gloomy suspicions； and the epithet of Fratricide was sometimes substituted for that of El Zagal in the low murmurings of the people。
As the public must always have some object to like as well as to hate； there began once more to be an inquiry after their fugitive king； Boabdil el Chico。 That unfortunate monarch was still at Cordova； existing on the cool courtesy and meagre friendship of Ferdinand； which had waned exceedingly ever since Boabdil had ceased to have any influence in his late dominions。 The reviving interest expressed in his fate by the Moorish public； and certain secret overtures made to him； once more aroused the sympathy of Ferdinand： he advised Boabdil again to set up his standard within the frontiers of Granada； and furnished him with money and means for the purpose。 Boabdil advanced but a little way into his late territories； he took up his post at Velez el Blanco； a strong town on the confines of Murcia： there he established the shadow of a court； and stood； as it were； with one foot over the border； and ready to draw that back upon the least alarm。 His presence in the kingdom； however； and his assumption of royal state gave life to his faction in Granada。 The inhabitants of the Albaycin； the poorest but most warlike part of the populace； were generally in his favor： the more rich； courtly； and aristocratical inhabitants of the quarter of the Alhambra rallied round what appeared to be the most stable authority and supported the throne of El Zagal。 So it is in the admirable order of sublunary affairs： everything seeks its kind； the rich befriend the rich； the powerful stand by the powerful； the poor enjoy the patronage of the poor； and thus a universal harmony prevails。
CHAPTER XXXVI。
OF THE CHRISTIAN ARMY WHICH ASSEMBLED AT THE CITY OF CORDOVA。
Great and glorious was the style with which the Catholic sovereigns opened another year's campaign of this eventful war。 It was like commencing another act of a stately and heroic drama； where the curtain rises to the inspiring sound of martial melody and the whole stage glitters with the array of warriors and the pomp of arms。 The ancient city of Cordova was the place appointed by the sovereigns for the assemblage of the troops； and early in the spring of 1486 the fair valley of the Guadalquivir resounded with the shrill blast of trumpet and the impatient neighing of the war…horse。 In this splendid era of Spanish chivalry there was a rivalship among the nobles who most should distinguish himself by the splendor of his appearance and the number and equipments of his feudal followers。 Every day beheld some cavalier of note； the representative of some proud and powerful house； entering the gates of Cordova with sound of trumpet； and displaying his banner and device renowned in many a contest。 He would appear in sumptuous array； surrounded by pages and lackeys no less gorgeously attired； and followed by a host of vassals and retainers； horse and foot； all admirably equipped in burnished armor。
Such was the state of Don Inigo Lopez de Mendoza； duke of Infantado； who may be cited as a picture of a warlike noble of those times。 He brought with him five hundred men…at…arms of his household armed and mounted 〃a la gineta〃 and 〃a la guisa。〃 The cavaliers who attended him were magnificently armed and dressed。 The housings of fifty of his horses were of rich cloth embroidered with gold； and others were of brocade。 The sumpter mules had housings of the same； with halters of silk； while the bridles； head…pieces； and all the harnessing glittered with silver。
The camp equipage of these noble and luxurious warriors was equally magnificent。 Their tents were gay pavilions of various colors； fitted up with silken hangings and decorated with fluttering pennons。 They had vessels of gold and silver for the service of their tables； as if they were about to engage in a course of stately feasts and courtly revels； instead of the stern encounters of rugged and mountainous warfare。 Sometimes they passed through the streets of Cordova at night in splendid cavalcade； with great numbers of lighted torches； the rays of which； falling upon polished armor and nodding plumes and silken scarfs and trappings of golden embroidery； filled all beholders with admiration。*
*Pulgar； part 3； cap。 41； 56。
But it was not the chivalry of Spain alone which thronged the streets of Cordova。 The fame of this war had spread throughout Christendom： it was considered a kind of crusade； and Catholic knights from all parts hastened to signalize themselves in so holy a cause。 There were several valiant chevaliers from France； among whom the most distinguished was Gaston du Leon； seneschal of Toulouse。 With him came a gallant train； well armed and mounted and decorated with rich surcoats and panaches of feathers。 These cavaliers； it is said； eclipsed all others in the light festivities of the court： they were devoted to the fair； but not after the solemn and passionate manner of the Spanish lovers； they were gay； gallant； and joyous in their amours； and captivated by the vivacity of their attacks。 They were at first held in light estimation by the grave and stately Spanish knights until they made themselves to be respected by their wonderful prowess in the field。
The most conspicuous of the volunteers； however； who appeared in Cordova on this occasion was an English knight of royal connection。 This was the Lord Scales； earl of Rivers； brother to the queen of England； wife of Henry VII。 He had distinguished himself in the preceding year at the battle of Bosworth Field； where Henry Tudor； then earl of Richmond； overcame Richard III。 That decisive battle having left the country at peace； the earl of Rivers； having conceived a passion for warlike scenes； repaired to the Castilian court to keep his arms in exercise in a campaign against the Moors。 He brought with him a hundred archers； all dextrous with the longbow and the cloth…yard arrow； also two hundred yeomen； armed cap…a…pie； who fought with pike and battle…axemen robust of frame and of prodigious strength。 The worthy padre Fray Antonio Agapida describes this s