Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/444

418 418 XIMENES. PART restore order to the tumultuous populace, or induce them to listen to terms ; and they even stoned the messenger charged with pacific proposals from the count of Tendilla. They organized themselves under leaders, provided arms, and took every pos- sible means for maintaining their defence. It seemed as if, smitten with the recollections of an- cient liberty, they were resolved to recover it again at all hazards.^' ^nt8"aT ^^ length, after this disorderly state of things Tahtia^ had lasted for several days, Talavera, the arch- bishop of Granada, resolved to try the effect of his personal influence, hitherto so great with the Moors, by visiting himself the disaffected quarter. This noble purpose he put in execution, in spite of the most earnest remonstrances of his friends. He was attended only by his chaplain, bearing the cru- cifix before him, and a few of his domestics, on foot and unarmed like himself. At the sight of their venerable pastor, with his countenance beaming with the same serene and benign expression, with which they were familiar when listening to his exhortations from the pulpit, the passions of the multitude were stilled. Every one seemed willing to abandon himself to the tender recollections of the past ; and the simple people crowded around the good man, kneeling down and kissing the hem of his.robe, as if to implore his benediction. The count of Tendilla no sooner learned the issue, than he followed into the Albaycin, attended by a hand- 31 Mariana, Hist, de Espana, cap. 23. — Mendoza, fJuerra de ubi sup. — Bleda, Coronica, lib. 5, Granada, p. 11.