Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/546

400 400 WAR OF GRANADA. PART I. Isabella vis- its llie camp. all occasions, they contended with each other for the post of danger. The duke del Infantado, the head of the powerful house of Mendoza, was con- spicuous above all for the magnificence of his train. At the siege of Illora, 1486, he obtained permis- sion to lead the storming party. As his followers pressed onwards to the breach, they were received with such a shower of missiles as made them falter for a moment. "What, my men," cried he, "do you fail me at this hour ? Shall we be taunted with bearing more finery on our backs than courage in our hearts ? Let us not, in God's name, be laughed at as mere holyday soldiers ! " His vassals, stung by this rebuke, rallied, and, penetrating the breach, carried the place by the fury of their assault. ^^ Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the sove- reigns against this ostentation of luxury, they were 32 Puljjar, Reyes Catolicos, cap, 59. — This nobleman, whose name was Iiiigo Lopez de Mendoza, was son of the first duke, Diego Hurta- do, who supported Isabella's claims to the crown. Oviedo was present at the siege of Illora, and gives a minute description of his appear- ance there. " He came," says that writer, "attended by a numerous body of cavaliers and gentlemen, as befitted so great a lord. He displayed all the luxuries which belong to a time of peace ; and his tables, which were carefully served, were loaded with rich and curi- ously wrought plate, of which he had a greater profusion than any other grandee in the kingdom." In another place he says, "The duke Ifiigo was a perfect Ale.xan- dcr for his liberality, in all his actions princely, maintaining un- bounded hospitality among his nu- merous vassals and dependents, and beloved throughout Spain. His palaces were garnished with the most costly tapestries, jewels, and lich stuffs of gold and silver. His chapel was filled with accomplish- ed singers and musicians ; his falcons, hounds, and his whole hunting establishment, including a magnificent stud of horses, not to be matched by any other nobleman in the kingdom. Of the truth of all which," concludes Oviedo, "I my- self have been an eyewitness, and enough others can testify." See Oviedo, (Quincuagenas, AlS., bat. 1, quinc. 1, dial. 8.) who has given the genealogy of the Mendozas and jilendozinos, in all its endless ramifications.