51-2: a Cataluña: cf. note el Principado, p. 16, 9, and note a España, p. 35, 11.
51-3: se me ha olvidado: I have forgotten.
51-4: Bailén: a city of southern Spain (Andalusia), the scene of a signal victory of the Spanish over the French, who capitulated to the number of 20,000 (1808). Zaragoza, a city in northeastern Spain (Aragon), the scene of two sieges (1808-1809), the Spanish holding out with desperate heroism against the French invaders, and only surrendering after 50,000 of themselves had perished.
51-5: paladín: this term was applied to the knights of Charlemagne, and by extension, to any knight errant, or chivalrous and warlike hero.
51-6: cruzado: crusader (from cruz, cross, which was worn as a badge).