reign of Bedeci Aben Abuz, who governed, and was Lord of Granada about the year 1013, as Marmol relates, after the Arabian writers; and the reason which I have for this assertion is, that in the romance of Abulcacim the story is told which gave occasion to the said Bedeci Aben Habuz to set up in Granada that famous vane, which represents a knight upon horseback in bronze, with a spear in the right hand, and a club in the left, and these words in Arabic,-Bedeci Aben Habuz says that in this manner Andalusia must be kept! the figure moves with every wind, and veers about from one end to another.-Memorias de Braga, T. iii. p. 120. Antonio Galvam, in his Tratado dos Descobrementos amusing romance flourished, it was certainly after the Antigos e Modernos, relates a current and manifestly fabulous story, which has been supposed to refer to Sacaru, and the companions of his emigration. They say, he says, that at this time, A. D. 1447, a Portugueze ship sailing out of the Straits of Gibraltar, was carried by a storm much farther to the west than she had intended, and came to an island where there were seven cities, and where our language was spoken; and the people asked whether the Moors still occupied Spain, from whence they had fled after the loss of King Don Rodrigo. The contramaster of the ship said, that he brought away a little sand from the island, and sold it to a goldsmith in Lisbon, who extracted from it a good quantity of gold. It is said that the Infante D. Pedro, who governed at that time, ordered these things to be written in the Casa de Tombo. And some will have it that these lands and islands at which the Portugueze touched, were those which are now called the Antillas and New Spain (p. 24). In the fabulous Chronicle of D. Rodrigo, Sacarus, as he is there called, is a conspicuous personage; but the tale of his emigration was not then current, and the author kills him before the Moors appear upon the stage. He seems to have designed him as a representation of perfect generosity. Note 22, page 395, col. 1. Here in their own inheritance, the sons Of Spain have groaned beneath a foreign yoke. There had been a law to prohibit intermarriages between the Goths aud Romans; this law Recesuintho annulled, observing in his edict, that the people ought that the distinction should have existed so long; but it in no slight degree to rejoice at the repeal. It is curious This Antilia, or Island of the Seven Cities, is laid down in Martin Behaim's map; the story was soon improved by giving seven bishops to the seven cities; and Galvam has been accused by Hornius of having invented it to give his countrymen the honour of having discovered the West Indies! Now it is evident that Antonio Galvam relates the story as if he did not believe it, — contam — they relate, and, diz, it is said,never affirming the fact, nor making any inference from it, but merelys found also in a law of Wamba's, and doubtless must stating it as a report; and it is certain, which perhaps Hornius did not know, that there never lived a man of purer integrity than Antonio Galvam; a man whose history is disgraceful, not to his country but to the government under which he lived, and whose uniform and unsullied virtue entitles him to rank among the have continued till both names were lost together in the general wreck. The vile principle was laid down in the laws of the Wisigoths, that such as the root is, such ought the branch to be, gran confusion es de linage, quando el fiyo non semeya al padre, que aquelo ques de la raiz, deba ser en a cima, and upon this principle a law was made to keep the children of slaves, slaves also. best men that have ever done honour to human nature. The writers who repeat this story of the Seven Islands and their bishops, have also been pleased to find traces of Sacaru in the new world, for which the imaginary re- Argote, (Memorias de Braga, 3. 273.) «think, and think Many men well versed in history,» says Contador de semblances to Christianity which were found in Yucatan rightly, that this was a civil war, and that the moand other places, serve them as proofs.-Gregorio Gar-narchy was divided into two factions, of which the least cia, Origen de los Indios, 1. iv, c. 20. The work of Abulcacim, in which the story first appears, has been roundly asserted to be the forgery of the translator, Miguel de Luna. The Portugueze academician, Contador de Argote, speaking of this romantic history, acquits him of the fraud, which has with little reflection been laid to his charge. Pedraça, he says, in the Grandezas de Granada, and Rodrigo Caro, in the Grandezas de Sevilla, both affirm that the original Arabic exists in the Escurial, and Escolano asserts the same, although Nicholas Antonio says that the catalogues of that library do not make mention of any such book. If Luna had forged it, it would not have had many of those blunders which are observed in it; nor is there any reason for imputing such a fraud to Luna, a man well skilled in Arabic, and of good reputation. What I suspect is, that the book was composed by a Granadan Moor, and the reason which induces me to form this opinion is, the minuteness with which he describes the conquest which Tarif made of those parts of the kingdom of Granada, of the Alpuxarras and the Serra Neveda, pointing out the that these auxiliaries made themselves masters, and easipowerful availed itself of the Arabs as auxiliaries; and ly effected their intent by means of the divisions in the country.»> «The natives of Spain,» says Joam de Barros, « never comelings, and when they came had no right there, for bore much love to the Goths, who were strangers and the whole belonged to the Roman empire. It is believed that the greater part of those whom the Moors slew were Goths, and it is said that, on one side and on the other, in the course of two years there were slain by the sword seven hundred thousand men. The Christians who escaped chose that the name of Goths should be lost: and though some Castillians complain that the race should be extinguished, saying with Don Jorge Manrique, Pues la sangre de los Godos y el linage y la nobleza tan crecida, por quantas vias y modos etymologies of the names of places, and other circum-I must say that I see no good foundation for this; for stances, which any one who reads with attention will observe. As to the time in which the composer of this Fuero Juzgo, 1. 3, tit. 1, leg. 1. they were a proud nation and barbarous, and were a long time heretics of the sects of Arius and Eutychius and Pelagius, and can be praised as nothing except as warriors, who were so greedy for dominion, that whereever they reached they laid every thing bare like locusts, and therefore the emperor ceded to them this country. The people who dwelt in it before were a better race, always praised and feared and respected by the Romans, loyal and faithful and true and reasonable; and if the Goths afterwards were worthy of any estimation they became so here: for as plants lose their bitterness and improve by being planted and translated into a good soil (as is said of peaches), so does a good land change its inhabitants, and of rustic and barbarous make them polished and virtuous. «The Moors did not say that they came against the Christians, but against the Goths, who had usurped Spain; and it appears that to the people of the land it mattered little whether they were under Goths or Moors; or indeed it might not be too much to say that they preferred the Moors, not only because all new things and changes would be pleasing, but because they were exasperated against the Goths for what they had done against the Christians, (i, e. the Catholicks,) and for the bad government of King Witiza.»> You are not to think,» says the chronicler, «< that Count Don Julian and the Bishop Don Orpas came of the lineage of the Goths, but of the lineage of the Cæsars, and therefore they were not grieved that the good lineage should be destroyed.»—Chr. del K. D. Rodrigo, p. i, c. 248. Note 23, page 396, col. 1. Favila. Barrios, taking a punster's licence in orthography, plays upon the name of Pelayo's father :-- del gran Favila (que centella Note 24, page 396, col. 2. The Queen too, Egilona, Was she not married to the enemy, For this fact there is the unquestionable testimony of Isidorus Pacensis. «Per idem tempus in Era 735, anno imperii ejus 9. Arabum 97. Abdalaziz omnem Hispaniam per tres annos sub censuario jugo pacificans, cum Hispali divitiis et honorum fascibus cum Regina Hispani in conjugio copulata, filias Regum ac Principum pellicatas, et imprudenter distractas æstuaret, seditione suorum facta, orationi instans, consilio Ajub, occiditur; atque eo Hispaniam retinente, mense impleto, Alahor in regno Hesperia per principalia jussa succedit, cui de morte Abdalaziz ita edicitur, ut quasi consilio Egilonis Regiæ conjugis quondam Ruderici regis, quam sibi sociaberat, jugum Arabicum a sua cervice conaretur avertere, et regnum invasum Hiberia sibimet retemptare.»-Espana Sagrada, t. 8, P. 302. Florez relates the story in the words of the old translation of an Arabic original imputed to Rasis. « When Belazin, the son of Muza, remained for Lord of Spain, and had ordered his affairs right well, they told him tidings of Ulaca, who had been the wife of King D. Rodrigo, that she was a right worthy dame, and right beautiful, and of a great lineage, and that she was a native of Africa; whereupon he sent for her, and ordered that beasts should be given her, and much property, and men-servants and maid-servants, and all things that she could require, till she could come to him. And they brought her unto him, and when he saw her, he was well pleased with her, and said, Ulaca, tell me of thy affairs, and conceal nothing from me; for thou knowest I may do with thee according to my will, being my captive. And when she heard this, it increased the grief which she had in her heart, and her sorrow was such, that she had well nigh fallen dead to the ground, and she replied weeping and said, Baron, what wouldst thou know more of my affairs? For doth not all the world know, that I, a young damsel, being married with King D. Rodrigo, was with him Lady of Spain, and dwelt in honour and in all pleasure, more than I deserved; and therefore it was God's will that they should endure no longer. And now I am in dishonour greater than ever was dame of such high state: For I am plundered, and have not a single palm of inheritance; and I am a captive, and brought into bondage. I also have been mistress of all the land that I behold. Therefore, Sir, have pity upon my misfortunes; and in respect of the great lineage which you know to be mine, suffer not that wrong or violence be offered me by any one; and, Sir, if it be your grace you will sell me. There are men I know who would take compassion on me, and give you for me a great sum. And Belazin said to her, Be certain that so long as I live, you shall never go from my house. And Ulaca said, What then, Sir, would you do with me? and Belazin said, I will that you should remain in my house, and there you shall be free from all wretchedness, with my other wives. And she said, In an evil day was I born, if it is to be true that I have been wife of the honoured king of Spain, and now have to live in a stranger's house as the concubine and captive of another! And I swear unto God, whose pleasure it is to dismay me thus, that I will rather seek my own death as soon as I can; for I will endure no more misery, seeing that by death I can escape it. And when Belazin saw that she thus lamented, he said to her, Good dame, think not that we have concubines, but by our law we may have seven wives, if we can maintain them, and therefore you shall be my wife, like each of the others; and all things which your law requires that a man should do for his wife, will I do for you; and therefore you have no cause to lament; and be sure that I will do you much honour, and will make all who love me serve and honour you, and you shall be mistress of all my wives. To this she made answer and said, Sir, offer me no violence concerning my law, but let me live as a Christian: And to this Belazin was nothing loth; and he granted it, and his marriage was performed with her according to the law of the Moors: and every day he liked her more, and did her such honour that greater could not be. And it befell that Belazin being one day with Ulaca, she said to him, Sir, do not think it ill if I tell you of a thing in which you do not act as if you knew the custom. And he said, Wherein is it that I err? Sir, said she, because you have no crown, for no one was ever confirmed in Spain, except he had a crown upon his head. He said, This which you say is nothing, for we have it not of our lineage, neither is it our custom to wear a crown. She said, many good reasons are there why a crown is of use, and it would and when you injure you nothing, but be well for you, should wear your crown upon your head, God would know you and others also by it: And she said, You would look full comely with it, and it would be great nobleness to you, and be right fitting, and you should wear in it certain stones, which will be good for you, and avail you. And in a short time afterwards Belazin went to dwell at Seville, and he carried Ulaca with him, and she took of her gold, and of her pearls, and of her precious stones, which she had many and good, and made him the noblest crown that ever was seen by man, and it him, and bade him take it, and place Gave it where it should be well kept; and Ulaca, as she was a woman of understanding and prudence, ordered her affairs as well as Belazin, so that he loved her much, and did great honour to her, and did many of those things which she desired; so that he was well pleased with the Christians, and did them much good, and showed favour unto them.»-Memorias da las Reynas Catholicas, i, p. 28. The issue of this was fatal to Abdalaziz. In Abulcacim's history, it is said that he was converted by this Christian wife, and for that reason put to death by his father. Others have supposed that by means of her influence he was endeavouring to make himself King of Spain, independent of the Caliph. A characteristic circumstance is added. Egilona was very desirous to convert her husband, and that she might at least obtain from him some mark of outward respect for her images, made the door of the apartment in which she kept them, so low, that he could not enter without bowing. -Bleda, p. 214. Deixam a Abdalaziz, que de Bellona Mamara o leite, por Rector da Hespería; Mulher de Dom Rodrigo, (o gram miseria!) Lhe den para a tomar larga materia, Cazars com hum Mouro tam asinha. Destruicam de Espanha, p. 237. Abdalazis. Thon lovest still thy country. Julian. Abdalazis, All men with human feelings love their country. No better men still better love their country. Or when unworthy lords hold wassail there, At last they fix their steady and stiff eye Note 26, page 401, col. 1. Restoring in thy native line, O Prince, This was a favourite opinion of Garibays, himself a Biscayan, but he has little better proof for it than the fact, that Gothic names disappeared with Roderick, and that Pelayo and his successors drew their nomenclature from a different stock. He says, indeed, that ancient writings are not wanting to support his opinion. Some rude commentator has written against this assertion in the margin of my copy, miente Garibay; and I am afraid the commentator is the truer man of the two. There is a fabulous tale of Pelayo's birth, which, like many other tales of no better authority, has legends and relics to support it. The story, according to Dr D. Christoval Lozano, in his history of Los Reyes Nuevos de Toledo, is this. Luz, niece to Egilona, and sister of Roderick, dwelt at Toledo, in the palace of King Egica. Duke Favila, her father's brother, fell in love with her, and came from his residence in Cantabria to ask her in marriage, expecting to find no other obstacle than the dispensable one of consanguinity. But it so happened, that the King was wooing Luz to become his concubine; The Character of this Queen is beautifully conceived her refusal made him jealous, as he could not conceive | by the author of Count Julian: Beaming with virtue inaccessible Stood Egilona; for her lord she lived, And for the heavens that raised her sphere so high: The earthly passions war against the heavenly! Her glorious beams adversity hath blunted, Hardens and flaws around her. Note 25, page 398, col. 2. One day of bitter and severe delight. I have ventured to borrow this expression from the tragedy of Count Julian. Nothing can be finer than he passage in which it occurs. that it proceeded from any cause except love for another, and as his temper and power were not to be provoked without danger, Favila dared not openly make his suit. He and his mistress therefore met in private, and plighted their vows before an image of the Virgin. The consequences soon became apparent,-the more so, because, as Dr Lozano assures us, there were at that ↑ time no fashions to conceal such things,—F mas que en aquella era no se avian inventado los guarda-infantes. The king observed the alteration in her shape, and placed spies upon her, meaning to destroy the child and punish the mother with the rigour of the law, death by fire being the punishment for such an offence. Laz was well aware of the danger. She trusted her Camarera and one servant: they made an ark: She herself, as soon as the infant was born, threw water in his face, and baptised him by the name of Pelayo : a writing was placed with him in the ark, requesting that whoever should find it would breed up the boy with care, for he was of good lineage. Money enough was added to support him for eight years, and the ark was then launched upon the Tagus, where it floated down the stream all night, all day, and all the following night. On the second morning it grounded near Alcantara, and was found by Grafeses, who happened to be Luz's uncle. The king's suspicion being confirmed by the sudden alteration in the lady's appearance, he used every means to detect her, but without avail; he even ordered all children to be examined who had been born in or around Toledo within three months, and full enquiry to be made into the circumstances of their births: To the astonishment of later historians, 35,000 of that age were found, and not one among them of suspicious extraction. The tale proceeds in the ordinary form of romance. The lady is accused of incontinence, and to be burnt, unless a champion defeats her accuser. Favila of course undertakes her defence, and of course is victorious. A second battle follows with the same success, and fresh combats would have followed, if a hermit had not brought the king to repentance. Grafeses in due time discovers the secret, and restores the child to his parents. This fabulous chronicle seems to be the oldest written source of this story, but some such tradition had probably long been current. The ark was shewn at Alcantara, in the convent of St Benito; and a description of it, with reasons why its authenticity should be admitted, may be found in Francisco de Pisa's Description de Toledo, L. iii. c. i. Note 27, page 401, col. 2. And in thy name Accept the crown of thorns she proffers me. Godfrey was actually crowned with thorns in Jerusalem, a circumstance which has given rise to a curious question in heraldry,-thus curiously stated and commented by Robert Barret, in that part of his long poem which relates to this Prince : To free man from Hell. The foolishness of He ralds. A Prince religions, if ever any, Sith Heaven's-King, man's-Redeemer, did scorn By reas'n of Godfrey's great humility Annotacion. Potentates regard this heaven-aspiring Prince. High-throned kings aspect the starred fence Note 28, page 402, col. 2. Outwatching for her sake The starry host, and ready for the work Of war before the sun begins his course. Garci Fernandez Manrique surprised the Moors so often during the night, that he was called Garci Madrugi, an appellation of the same import as Peep-ofday-boy. He founded the convent of St Salvador de Palacios de Benagel for Benedictine nuns, and when he called up his smerry men, used to say, Up, sirs, and fight, for my nuns are up and praying; Levantaos Senores à pelear, que mis monjas son levantedas a rezar. Pruebas de la Hist. de la Casa de Lara, p. 42. Note 29, page 404, col. 2. Hermesind. Mariana derives the name of Hermesinda from the reverence in which flermenegild was held in Spain,-a prince who has been sainted for having renounced the Homooisian creed, and raised a civil war against his father in favour of the Homoousian one. It is not a little curious when the fate of D. Carlos is remembered, that his name should have been inserted in the Kalendar, at the solicitation of Philip II! From the same source Mariana derives the names Hermenisinda, Armengol, Ermengaud, Hermegildez, and Hermildez. But here, as Brito has done with Pelayo, he seems to forget that the name was current before it was borne by the Saint, and the derivations from it as numerous. Its root may be found in Hermann, whose German name will prevail over the latinized Arminius. Note 30, page 406, col. 2. The glen where Tagus rolls between his rocks. The story of the Enchanted Tower at Toledo is well known to every English reader. It neither accorded with the character of my poem to introduce the fiction, nor would it have been prudent to have touched upon it after Walter Scott. The account of the Archbishop Rodrego, and of Abulcacim, may be found in his notes. What follows here is translated from the fabulous chronicle of King Don Rodrigo. << And there came to him the keepers of the house which was in Toledo, which they called Pleasure with Pain, the Perfect Guard, the secret of that which is to come; and it was called also by another name, the Honour of God. And these keepers came before the king, and said unto him, Sire, since God hath done thee such good, and such favour as that thou shouldest be king of all Spain, we come to require of thee that thou wouldst go to Toledo, and put thy lock upon the house which we are appointed to keep. And the king demanded of them what house was that, and wherefore he should put upon it his lock. And they said unto him, Sire, we will willingly tell thee that thou mayest know. Sire, true it is, that when Hercules the Strong came into Spain he made in it many marvellous things in those places where he understood that they might best remain; and been done in Spain; be pleased therefore to observe that which the other kings have observed. And the king said unto them, Leave off now, and I will appoint the soonest that may be how I may go to see this house, and then I will do that which shall seem good. And he would give them no other reply. And when they saw that he would give them no other reply, they dared not persist farther, and they dispeeded themselves of him, and went their way. thus when he was in Toledo he understood well that that city would be one of the best in Spain; and saw that the kings who should be Lords of Spain, would have more pleasure to continue dwelling therein than in any other part; and seeing that things would come after many ways, some contrariwise to others, it pleased him to leave many enchantments made, to the end that after his death his power and wisdom might by them be known. And he made in Toledo a house, after the manner which we shall now describe, with great mas- «Now it came to pass that the King Don Rodrigo tership, so that we have not heard tell of any other called to mind how he had been required to put a lock such: The which is made after this guise. There are upon the doors of the house which was in Toledo, and four lions of metal under the foundation of this house: he resolved to carry into effect that unto which his heart and so large are they that a man sitting upon a great inclined him. And one day he gathered together all horse on the one side, and another in like manner upon the greatest knights of Spain, who were there with him, the other, cannot see each other, so large are the lions. and went to see this house, and he saw that it was more And the house is upon them, and it is entirely round, marvellous than those who were its keepers had told and so lofty that there is not a man in the world who him, and as he was thus beholding it, he said, Friends, can throw a stone to the top: And many have attempt- I will by all means see what there is in this house which ed this, but they never could. And there is not a man Hercules made. And when the great Lords who were of this age who can tell you by what manner this house with him heard this, they began to say unto him that was made, neither whose understanding can reach to he ought not to do this; for there was no reason why say in what manner it is worked within. But of that he should do that which never king nor Caesar, that had which we have seen without, we have to tell thee. been Lord of Spain since Hercules, had done until that Certes in the whole house there is no stone bigger time. And the king said unto them, Friends, in this than the hand of a man, and the most of them are house there is nothing but what may be seen. I am well off jasper and marble, so clear and shining that sure that the enchantments cannot hinder me, and this they seem to be crystal. They are of so many colours being so, I have nothing to fear. And the knights said, that we do not think there are two stones in it of the Do that, sir, which you think good, but this is not done same colour; and so cunningly are they joined one with by our counsel. And when he saw that they were all another, that if it were not for the many colours, you of a different accord from that which he wished to do, would not believe but that the whole house was made he said, Now gainsay me as yon will, for let what will of one entire stone. And the stones are placed in such happen, I shall not forbear to do my pleasure. And manner one by another, that seeing then you may forthwith he went to the doors, and ordered all the locks know all the things of the battles aforepast, and of to be opened; and this was a great labour, for so many great feats. And this is not by pictures, but the colour were the keys and the locks, that if they had not seen of the stones, and the great art of joining one with the it, it would have been a great thing to believe. And other, make it appear thus. And sans doubt he who after they were unlocked, the king pushed the door with should wish to know the truth of the great deeds of his hand, and he went in, and the chief persons who arms which have been wrought in the world, might by were there with him, as many as he pleased, and they means of that house know it. See now in what manner found a hall made in a square, being as wide on one Hercules was wise and fortunate, and right valiant, and part as on the other, and in it there was a bed richly acquainted with the things which were to come. And furnished, and there was laid in that bed the statue of when he was Lord of Spain, he made it after this guise, a man, exceeding great, and armed at all points, and which we have related unto you. And he commanded he had the one arm stretched out, and a writing in his that neither King nor Lord of Spain who might come hand. And when the king and those who were with after him, should seek to know that which was within; him saw this bed, and the man who was laid in it, they but that every one instead should put a lock upon the marvelled what it might be, and they said, Certes, that doors thereof, even as he himself did, for he first put on bed was one of the wonders of Hercules and of his ena lock, and fastened it with his key. And after him chantments. And when they saw the writing which he there has been no King nor Lord in Spain, who has held in his hand, they showed it to the king, and the thought it good to go from his bidding; but every one king went to him, and took it from his hand, and as he came put on each his lock, according to that which opened it and read it, and it said thus, Audacious one, Hercules appointed. And now that we have told thee thou who shalt read this writing, mark well what thou the manner of the house, and that which we know con- art, and how great evil through thee shall come to pass, cerning it, we require of thee that thou shouldest go thi- for even as Spain was peopled and conquered by me, ther, and put on thy lock on the gates thereof, even as so by thee shall it be depopulated and lost. all the kings have done who have reigned in Spain until unto thee, that I was Hercules the strong, he who conthis time. Aud the King Don Rodrigo hearing the mar-quered the greater part of the world, and all Spain; vellous things of this house, and desiring to know what there was within, and moreover being a man of a great heart, wished to know of all things how they were and for what guise. He made answer, that no such lock would be put upon that house, and that by all means he would know what there was within. And they said unto him, Sire, you will not do that which has never And I say and I slew Geryon the Great, who was Lord thereof; and I alone subdued all these lands of Spain, and conquered many nations and brave knights, and never any one could conquer me, save only Death. Look well to what thou doest, for from this world thou wilt carry with thee nothing but the good which thou hast done. « And when the king had read the writing he was |