iving no response to his
proposal, soon assembled a thousand foot-soldiers and three hundred
cavaliers, and hastened to the conquest of Grenada under the guidance
of the prophetic hermit.

The King of Castile, Henry III., who desired to preserve peace with the
followers of the Prophet at the commencement of a reign during which
his own dominions were but ill at rest, was no sooner informed of the
enterprise of Barbuda, than he sent him positive orders not to cross
the frontiers; but that dignitary replying that he ought to obey the
commands of Jehovah rather than those of any earthly master, proceeded
on his way. The governors of the different cities through which he
passed on his route endeavoured, though vainly, to arrest his progress;
but the people overwhelmed him with homage, and everywhere added to the
number of his forces.

The army of the grand-master amounted to six thousand men, when, in
A.D. 1394, Heg. 798, he entered the country which his folly taught him
to regard as already in his possession. In attacking the first castle
at which he {175} arrived, three soldiers were killed and their
fanatical commander himself wounded. Surprised beyond measure at
beholding his own blood flow and three soldiers fall, he summoned the
anchorite into his presence, and sedately demanded what this meant,
after his express promise that not a single champion of the true faith
should perish. The fanatic replied, that the word he had pledged
extended only to regular battles. Barbuda complained no more, and
presently perceived the approach of a Moorish army composed of fifty
thousand men. The conflict soon commenced: the grand-master and his
three hundred mounted followers perished in the field, after having
performed prodigies of valour. The remainder of the Spanish army were
either taken prisoners or put to flight; and the silence of historians
respecting the hermit, leads to the opinion that he was not among the
last to seek safety at a distance from the scene of action.

This foolish enterprise did not interrupt the good understanding
subsisting between the two nations. The King of Castile disavowed all
approval of the conduct of Martin de Barbuda, and Joseph long continued
to reign with honour and tranquillity. But he was at last poisoned,
{176} it is said, by a magnificent robe which he received from his
secret enemy, the King of Fez through the ambassadors of that
sovereign. Historians assert that this garment w