Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/519

CHAPTER XI. WAR OF GRANADA. — GENERAL VIEW OF THE POLICY PURSUED IN THE CONDUCT OF THIS WAR. 1483—1487. Defeat and Capture of Abdallah. — Policy of the Sovereigns. — Large Trains of Artillery. — Description of the Pieces. — Stupendous Roads. — Isabella's Care of the Troops. — Her Perseverance. — Discipline of the Army. — Sv^iss Mercenaries. — English Lord Scales. — Magnificence of the Nobles. — Isabella visits the Camp. — Ceremonies on the Occupation of a City. The joung monarch, Abu Abdallah, was proba- chapter blj the only person in Granada, who did not receive with unmingled satisfaction the tidings of the rout ^^'^.'^^I'^jije" in the Axarquia. He beheld with secret uneasi- ness the laurels thus acquired by the old king his father, or rather by his ambitious uncle El Zagal, whose name now resounded from every quarter as the successful champion of the Moslems. He saw the necessity of some dazzling enterprise, if he would maintain an ascendency even over the fac- tion which had seated him on the throne. He accordingly projected an excursion, which, instead of terminating in a mere border foray, should lead to the achievement of some permanent conquest. He found no difficulty, while the spirits of his people were roused, in raising a force of nine thou-