Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/231

87 MARRIAGE OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. 87 confronted by his insurgent subjects. The royal chapter army was considerably the larger ; but the de- 1_ ficiency of numbers in the other was amply sup- plied by the intrepid spirit of its leaders. The archbishop of Toledo appeared at the head of its squadrons, conspicuous by a rich scarlet mantle, embroidered with a white cross, thrown over his armour. The young prince Alfonso, scarcely fourteen years of age, rode by his side, clad like him in complete mail. Before the action com- menced, the archbishop sent a message to Beltran de la Cueva, then raised to the title of duke of Albuquerque, cautioning him not to venture in the field, as no less than forty cavaliers had sworn his death. The gallant nobleman, who, on this as on some other occasions, displayed a magnanimity, which in some degree excused the partiality of his master, returned by the envoy a particular descrip- tion of the dress he intended to wear ; a chivalrous defiance, which wellnigh cost him his life. Henry did not care to expose his person in the engage- ment, and, on receiving erroneous intelligence of the discomfiture of his party, retreated precipi- tately with some thirty or forty horsemen to the shelter of a neighbouring village. The action lasted three hours, until the combatants were separ- ated by the shades of evening, without either party having decidedly the advantage, although that of Henry retained possession of the field of battle. The archbishop of Toledo and Prince Alfonso were the last to retire ; and the former was seen repeatedly to rally his broken squadrons, notwith-