Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/543

MILITARY POLICY OF THE SOVEREIGNS. 397 military renown by the discomfiture of Charles the chapter Bold, when they first proved the superiority of in- L_ fantry over the best appointed chivalry of Europe. Their example no doubt contributed to the forma- tion of that invincible Spanish infantry, which, under the Great Captain and his successors, may be said to have decided the fate of Europe for more than half a century. Among the foreigners was one from the distant The Enfiisii " O lord Scales. isle of Britain, the earl of Rivers, or conde de Es- calas, as he is called from his patronymic. Scales, by the Spanish writers. " There came from Brit- ain," says Peter Martyr, " a cavalier, young, wealthy, and high-born. He was allied to the blood royal of England. He was attended by a beautiful train of household troops three hundred in number, armed after the fashion of their land with long-bow and battle-axe." This nobleman particularly distinguished himself by his gallantry in the second siege of Loja, in 1486. Having ask- ed leave to fight after the manner of his country, savs the Andalusian chronicler, he dismounted from his good steed, and putting himself at the head of his followers, armed like himself en hlanco, with their swords at their thighs, and battle-axes in their hands, he dealt such terrible blows around him as filled even the hardy mountaineers of the north with astonishment. Unfortunately, just as the sub- urbs were carried, the good knight, as he was mounting a scaling-ladder, received a blow from a stone, which dashed out two of his teeth, and stretched him senseless on the ground. He was