The storming of Guajaras is a favorite theme with both chroniclers and bards. Among the latter Hita has not failed to hang his garland of verse on the tombs of more than one illustrious cavalier who perished in that bloody strife, and for whose loss "all the noble dames of Seville," as he tells us, "went into mourning."—Guerras de Granada, tom. ii. pp. 112-118.
[95] "Que no habia osado parar en la Alpuxarra, y con solos cincuenta ó sesenta hombres, que le seguian, andaba huyendo de peña en peña."—Marmol, Rebelion de Granada, tom. i. p. 464.
[96] The Castillian chronicler Marmol refuse his admission—somewhat roughly expressed—to this brave Morisco,-"este barbaro," as he calls him, "hijo de aspereza y frialdad indomable, y menospreciador de la muerte."—(Marmol, Rebelion de Granada, tom. i. p. 503.) The story of the escape of Aben-Humeya is also told, and with little discrepancy, by Cabrera (Filipe Segundo, p. 573), and Ferreras (Hist. d'Espagne, tom. x. pp. 39, 40).
[97] "Quando entendieron que peleaban contra el campo del Marques de los Velez, á quien los Moros de aquella tierra solian llamar Ibiliz Arraez el Hadid, que quiere decir, diabolo cabeza de hierro, perdieron esperanza de vitoria."—Marmol, Rebelion de Granada, tom. i. p. 451.
Hita, who was a native of Murcia, and followed Los Velez to the war, gives an elaborate portrait of this powerful chief, whom he extols as one of the most valiant captains in the world, rivalling in his achievements the Cid, Bernardo del Carpio, or any other hero of greatest renown in Spain.—Guerras de Granada, tom. ii. p. 68 et seq.
[98] Circourt, Hist. des Arabes d'Espagne, tom. ii. p. 346.
[99] "Mas mugeres que hombres," says Mendoza, Guerra de Granada, p. 83.
[100] "En menos de dos horas fueron muertas mas de seis mil personas entre hombres y mugeres; y de niños, desde uno hasta diez años, habia mas de dos mil degollados."—Hita, Guerras de Granada, tom. ii. p. 126.
We may hope this is an exaggeration of the romancer. Mendoza says nothing of the children, and reduces the slain to seven hundred. But Hita was in the action.
[101] "La soldadesca que andaba suelta por el lugar cometió crueldades inauditas, y que la pluma se resiste á transcribir."—Ibid. p. 125.