is son, (23) to the war, and with him the
Constable of Castille and the Duke of Alba, (24) two old and prudent
lords. The Duke of Cardona and the Count of Aranda were unwilling to
remain behind, and prayed the King to give them some command. This
he did as befitted their rank, and gave them into the safe keeping of
Amadour, who performed such extraordinary deeds during the war, that
they seemed to be acts as much of despair as of bravery.

22 The last King of Granada was Mahomed Boabdil, dethroned
in 1493. The title may have been assumed, however, by the
leader of an insurrection.--D.

23 As Ferdinand and Isabella had no son, the reference must
be to their daughter's husband, Philip the Fair of Austria,
son of the Emperor Maximilian I. and father of Charles V.--
B. J.

24 Frederick of Toledo, Marquis of Coria and Duke of Alba,
generally called the old Duke of Alba to distinguish him
from his son.--B. J.

Coming now to the point of my story, I have to relate how his
overboldness was proved by his death. The Moors had made a show of
offering battle, and finding the Christian army very numerous had
feigned a retreat. The Spaniards started in pursuit, but the old
Constable and the Duke of Alba, who suspected the trickery of the Moors,
restrained the Prince of Spain against his will from crossing the river.
The Count of Aranda, however, and the Duke of Cardona crossed, although
it was forbidden; and when the Moors saw that they were pursued by only
a few men they faced about again. The Duke of Cardona was struck down
and killed with a blow of a scimitar, and the Count of Aranda was so
grievously wounded that he was left for dead. Thereupon Amadour came up
filled with rage and fury, and bursting through the throng, caused the
two bodies to be taken up and carried to the camp of the Prince, who
mourned for them as for his own brothers. On examining their wounds the
Count of Aranda was found to be still alive, and was sent in a litter
to his home, where he lay ill for a long time. On the other hand, the
Duke's body was sent back to Cardona.

Meanwhile Amadour, having made this effort to rescue the two bodies, had
thought so little of his own safety that he found himself surrounded by
a large number of Moors. Not desiring his person to be captured any more
than he had captured that of his mistress, nor to break his faith with
God as he had broken faith with her--for he k