The Latin text relates that “the garrison defending the Cape finds itself threatened by an attack of the Africans. The Conqueror comes to the rescue and repulses the assailants. Goletta is attacked by land and sea; the enemy fights with arrows. Part of the wall, already undermined, falls where the fight is fiercest. The Spanish troops enter first into the breach; this being taken, they slay or put to flight the defenders, while Charles deals with another section of the enemy.”
This piece is to be regarded “from the lagoon, with Tunis on the left hand, the promontory of Carthage on the right, and the north behind to the right.”
Tapestry No. 8. The original of this tapestry was lost during the eighteenth century, shortly after the reproduction of the Tunis series was undertaken at the command of Philip V. This represented the march against Tunis of the Emperor and his troops, and the victory gained at Los over Barbarossa, where 600 of the enemy were slain.
Tapestry No. 9. The upper inscription of this tapestry reads: “After having scattered the enemy’s army and put to flight the captain, Barbarossa, the Emperor, with his troops, advances on Tunis and occupies the outskirts of the town. The Christians, held captive in the fortress, rise and demand aid from the Marquis de Vasto. The place is taken and the Emperor allows it to be sacked.” The Latin legend adds the following details about the slaves: “Undermining the walls and breaking down the doors, they have, with God’s help, abandoned their prison. Having defeated the garrison they make themselves masters of the citadel and implore help from the avenger, Charles. Haradin flies the town.”
The inscription in the border directs us that “we are looking towards the lagoon, with Tunis in front, Goletta and the north behind.”
Tapestry No. 10. This represents “the sack of Tunis, hostilities against those who offer resistance, and the imprisonment of a great number of the enemy. The Conqueror delivers over the town to the King of Tunis, who remains a vassal of the Emperor.”
The Latin text reads: “The troops sent against the outskirts of the town lay siege to and take them, slaughter the enemy’s army, take the houses and spare the inhabitants; as to the remainder, they use the rights of conquest. More than 20,000 captives recover their liberty and salute, with cries of gratitude, Charles the avenger. The Conqueror re-establishes on the throne of his ancestors the unfortunate Hassan, though he hardly merited this, since he had promised much and performed little.”
Tapestry No. 11. This tapestry shared the fate of No. 8, being lost during the eighteenth century. From the reproduction we find that it represented the return of the army to Rada after the occupation of Tunis, which lasted eight days. “The Emperor orders the Moors to bring back their wives and children, and to bring the clothes taken by the soldiers during the sack. In order to be recognized they are to carry on their heads branches of olive. He also orders them to furnish the Christians with the recovered vessels, so that they may return to their respective countries.”
Tapestry No. 12. According to the upper inscription this deals with “the return of the Emperor from Rada to Goletta: the encamping of the army in the old place: the arrival of the King of Tunis to sign the capitulation forcing him to be a tributary of the Emperor and his successors: Goletta which he wishes to fortify, over which he sets Bernardin de Mendoza as ruler, with 1000 Spaniards: the embarking of the army towards the middle of the month of August: the departure of the Infante Louis with the Portuguese fleet: that of the Marquis de Mondejer: the vessels that accompanied him: departure of Don Alvano de Bazan with the Spanish galleys: that of the Germans and the Italians for their respective countries, and finally that of the Emperor with the galleys of the Prince Doria.”
The Latin inscription is merely a résumé of the Spanish one.