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ver high honor and consideration in his court。 He had long and frequent conversations with them about the Holy Land； the state of the Christian Church in the dominions of the grand soldan； and of the policy and conduct of that arch…infidel toward it。 The portly prior of the Franciscan convent was full and round and oratorical in his replies； and the king expressed himself much pleased with the eloquence of his periods； but the politic monarch was observed to lend a close and attentive ear to the whispering voice of the lowly companion； 〃whose discourse；〃 adds Agapida； 〃though modest and low； was clear and fluent and full of subtle wisdom。〃 These holy friars had visited Rome in their journeying； where they had delivered the letter of the soldan to the sovereign pontiff。 His Holiness had written by them to the Castilian sovereigns； requesting to know what reply they had to offer to this demand of the Oriental potentate。
The king of Naples also wrote to them on the subject； but in wary terms。 He inquired into the cause of this war with the Moors of Granada； and expressed great marvel at its events； as if （says Agapida） both were not notorious throughout all the Christian world。 〃Nay；〃 adds the worthy friar with becoming indignation； 〃he uttered opinions savoring of little better than damnable heresy； for he observed that； although the Moors were of a different sect； they ought not to be maltreated without just cause； and hinted that if the Castilian sovereigns did not suffer any crying injury from the Moors； it would be improper to do anything which might draw great damage upon the Christiansas if； when once the sword of the faith was drawn； it ought ever to be sheathed until this scum of heathendom were utterly destroyed or driven from the land。 But this monarch；〃 he continues； 〃was more kindly disposed toward the infidels than was honest and lawful in a Christian prince； and was at that very time in league with the soldan against their common enemy the Grand Turk。〃
These pious sentiments of the truly Catholic Agapida are echoed by Padre Mariana in his history；* but the worthy chronicler Pedro Abarca attributes the interference of the king of Naples not to lack of orthodoxy in religion； but to an excess of worldly policy； he being apprehensive that should Ferdinand conquer the Moors of Granada he might have time and means to assert a claim of the house of Aragon to the crown of Naples。
*Mariana； lib。 25； cap。 15。
〃King Ferdinand；〃 continues the worthy father Pedro Abarca； 〃was no less master of dissimulation than his cousin of Naples； so he replied to him with the utmost suavity of manner； going into a minute and patient vindication of the war； and taking great apparent pains to inform him of those things which all the world knew； but of which the other pretended to be ignorant。〃* At the same time he soothed his solicitude about the fate of the Christians in the empire of the grand soldan； assuring him that the great revenue extorted from them in rents and tributes would be a certain protection against the threatened violence。
*Abarca； Anales de Aragon； Rey xxx。 cap。 3。
To the pope he made the usual vindication of the warthat it was for the recovery of ancient territory usurped by the Moors； for the punishment of wars and violences inflicted upon the Christians； and； finally； that it was a holy crusade for the glory and advancement of the Church。
〃It was a truly edifying sight；〃 says Agapida； 〃to behold these friars； after they had had their audience of the king； moving about the camp always surrounded by nobles and cavaliers of high and martial renown。 These were insatiable in their questions about the Holy Land； the state of the sepulchre of our Lord； and the sufferings of the devoted brethren who guarded it and the pious pilgrims who resorted there to pay their vows。 The portly prior of the convent would stand with lofty and shining countenance in the midst of these iron warriors and declaim with resounding eloquence on the history of the sepulchre； but the humbler brother would ever and anon sigh deeply； and in low tones utter some tale of suffering and outrage； at which his steel…clad hearers would grasp the hilts of their swords and mutter between their clenched teeth prayers for another crusade。〃
The pious friars； having finished their mission to the king and been treated with all due distinction； took their leave； and wended their way to Jaen； to visit the most Catholic of queens。 Isabella； whose heart was the seat of piety； received them as sacred men invested with more than human dignity。 During their residence at Jaen they were continually in the royal presence： the respectable prior of the convent moved and melted the ladies of the court by his florid rhetoric； but his lowly companion was observed to have continual access to the royal ear。 That saintly and soft…spoken messenger （says Agapida） received the reward of his humility； for the queen； moved by his frequent representations； made in all modesty and lowliness of spirit； granted a yearly sum in perpetuity of one thousand ducats in gold for the support of the monks of the Convent of the Holy Sepulchre。*
*〃La Reyna dio a los Frayles mil ducados de renta cado ano para el sustento de los religiosos del santo sepulcro； que es la mejor limosna y sustento que hasta nuestros dias ha quedado a estos religiosos de Gerusalem： para donde les dio la Reyna un velo labrado por sus manos； para poner encima de la santa sepultura del Senor。〃Garibay； 〃Compend Hist。；〃 lib。 18； cap。 36。
Moreover； on the departure of these holy ambassadors； the excellent and most Catholic queen delivered to them a veil devoutly embroidered with her own royal hands； to he placed over the Holy Sepulchre；a precious and inestimable present； which called forth a most eloquent tribute of thanks from the portly prior； but which brought tears into the eyes of his lowly companion。*
*It is proper to mention the result of this mission of the two friars； and which the worthy Agapida has neglected to record。 At a subsequent period the Catholic sovereigns sent the distinguished historian； Pietro Martyr of Angleria； as ambassador to the grand soldan。 That able man made such representations as were perfectly satisfactory to the Oriental potentate。 He also obtained from him the remission of many exactions and extortions heretofore practised upon Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Sepulchre； which； it is presumed； had been gently but cogently detailed to the monarch by the lowly friar。 Pietro Martyr wrote an account of his embassy to the grand soldana work greatly esteemed by the learned and containing much curious information。 It is entitled 〃De Legatione Babylonica。〃
CHAPTER LXXVII。
HOW QUEEN ISABELLA DEVISED MEANS TO SUPPLY THE ARMY WITH PROVISIONS。
It has been the custom to laud the conduct and address of King Ferdinand in this most arduous and protracted war； but the sage Agapida is more disposed to give credit to the counsels and measures of the queen； who； he observes； though less ostensible in action； was in truth the very soul； the vital principle； of this great enterprise。 While King Ferdinand was bustling in his camp and making a glittering display with his gallant chivalry； she； surrounded by her saintly counsellors in the episcopal palace of Jaen； was devising ways and means to keep the king and his army in existence。 She had pledged herself to keep up a supply of men and money and provisions until the city should be taken。 The hardships of the siege caused a fearful waste of life； but the supply of men was the least difficult part of her undertaking。 So beloved was the queen by the chivalry of Spain that on her calling on them for assistance not a grandee or cavalier that yet lingered at home but either repaired in person or sent forces to the camp； the ancient and warlike families vied with each other in marshalling forth their vassals； and thus the besieged Moors beheld each day fresh troops arriving before their city； and new ensigns and pennons displayed emblazoned with arms well known to the veteran warriors。
But the most arduous task was to keep up a regular supply of provisions。 It was not the army alone that had to be supported； but also the captured towns and their garrisons； for the whole country around them had been ravaged； and the conquerors were in danger of starving in the midst of the land they had desolated。 To transport the daily supplies for such immense numbers was a gigantic undertaking in a country where there was neither water conveyance nor roads for carriages。 Everything had to be borne by beasts of burden over rugged and broken paths of mountains and through dangerous defiles exposed to the attacks and plunderings of the Moors。
The wary and calculating merchants accustomed to supply the army shrank from engaging at their own risk in so hazardous an undertaking。 The queen therefore hired fourteen thousand beasts of burden； and ordered all the wheat and barley to be brought up in Andalusia and in the domains of the knights of Santiago and Calatrava。 She entrusted the administration of these supplies to able and confidential persons。 Some were employed to collect the grain； others to ta