Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada | Page 5

subsequent to the Submission of El
Zagal. LXXXIV.....How King Ferdinand turned his Hostilities against
the City of Granada. LXXXV......The Fate of the Castle of Roma.
LXXXVI.....How Boabdil el Chico took the Field, and his Expedition
against Alhendin. LXXXVII....Exploit of the Count de Tendilla.
LXXXVIII...Expedition of Boabdil el Chico against
Salobrena.--Exploit of Hernan Perez del Pulgar. LXXXIX.....How King

Ferdinand Treated the People of Guadix, and how El Zagal Finished his
Regal Career. XC.........Preparations of Granada for a Desperate
Defence. XCI........How King Ferdinand conducted the Siege cautiously,
and how Queen Isabella arrived at the Camp. XCII.......Of the Insolent
Defiance of Tarfe the Moor, and the Daring Exploit of Hernan Perez
del Pulgar. XCIII......How Queen Isabella took a View of the City of
Granada, and how her Curiosity cost the Lives of many Christians and
Moors. XCIV.......The Last Ravage before Granada.
XCV........Conflagration of the Christian Camp.--Building of Santa Fe.
XCVI.......Famine and Discord in the City. XCVII......Capitulation of
Granada. XCVIII.....Commotions in Granada. XCIX.......Surrender of
Granada. C..........How the Castilian Sovereigns took Possession of
Granada.
Appendix.

INTRODUCTION.
Although the following Chronicle bears the name of the venerable Fray
Antonio Agapida, it is rather a superstructure reared upon the fragments
which remain of his work. It may be asked, Who is this same Agapida,
who is cited with such deference, yet whose name is not to be found in
any of the catalogues of Spanish authors? The question is hard to
answer. He appears to have been one of the many indefatigable authors
of Spain who have filled the libraries of convents and cathedrals with
their tomes, without ever dreaming of bringing their labors to the press.
He evidently was deeply and accurately informed of the particulars of
the wars between his countrymen and the Moors, a tract of history but
too much overgrown with the weeds of fable. His glowing zeal, also, in
the cause of the Catholic faith entitles him to be held up as a model of
the good old orthodox chroniclers, who recorded with such pious
exultation the united triumphs of the cross and the sword. It is deeply to
be regretted, therefore, that his manuscripts, deposited in the libraries of
various convents, have been dispersed during the late convulsions in
Spain, so that nothing is now to be met of them but disjointed
fragments. These, however, are too precious to be suffered to fall into

oblivion, as they contain many curious facts not to be found in any
other historian. In the following work, therefore, the manuscript of the
worthy Fray Antonio will be adopted wherever it exists entire, but will
be filled up, extended, illustrated, and corroborated by citations from
various authors, both Spanish and Arabian, who have treated of the
subject. Those who may wish to know how far the work is indebted to
the Chronicle of Fray Antonio Agapida may readily satisfy their
curiosity by referring to his manuscript fragments, carefully preserved
in the Library of the Escurial.
Before entering upon the history it may be as well to notice the
opinions of certain of the most learned and devout historiographers of
former times relative to this war.
Marinus Siculus, historian to Charles V., pronounces it a war to avenge
ancient injuries received by the Christians from the Moors, to recover
the kingdom of Granada, and to extend the name and honor of the
Christian religion.*
*Lucio Marino Siculo, Cosas Memorabiles de Espana, lib. 20.
Estevan de Garibay, one of the most distinguished Spanish historians,
regards the war as a special act of divine clemency toward the Moors,
to the end that those barbarians and infidels, who had dragged out so
many centuries under the diabolical oppression of the absurd sect of
Mahomet, should at length be reduced to the Christian faith.*
*Garibay, Compend. Hist. Espana, lib. 18, c. 22.
Padre Mariana, also a venerable Jesuit and the most renowned historian
of Spain, considers the past domination of the Moors a scourge
inflicted on the Spanish nation for its iniquities, but the conquest of
Granada the reward of Heaven for its great act of propitiation in
establishing the glorious tribunal of the Inquisition! No sooner (says the
worthy father) was this holy office opened in Spain than there shone
forth a resplendent light. Then it was that, through divine favor, the
nation increased in power, and became competent to overthrow and
trample down the Moorish domination.*

*Mariana, Hist. Espana, lib. 25, c. 1.
Having thus cited high and venerable authority for considering this war
in the light of one of those pious enterprises denominated crusades, we
trust we have said enough to engage the Christian reader to follow us
into the field and stand by us to the very issue of the encounter.

NOTE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
The foregoing introduction, prefixed to the former editions of this work,
has