John of Austria arrived at Granada to take command of the royal troops and the disturbed districts, it having been perceived at last that the King had a formidable undertaking on his hands. Procrastination was one of the defects of Philip's character, and he had procrastinated here to his own serious detriment. Unnecessary caution, and the fettering of enterprise by dividing responsibility, and by requiring a reference to himself on every important occasion before action could be taken, were other of his methods which did not assist despatch or make for success.
Don John was to be assisted by a council, who were to discuss and to decide on all measures of importance; but even the decision of the council was not to be acted upon until it should have been approved by the Supreme Council at Madrid. When it is considered how effective sudden resolutions and movements may be in putting down an outbreak, one perceives that Don John's task was set for him in no encouraging way. The King, however, was kind and helpful according to his lights. He sent Don John with all honour to his command, he gave him his instructions in affectionate terms, and he appointed to a seat at the local council Luis Quixada, the general's erewhile guardian and constant friend. It was ordered that Don John should be treated with all the honour ever accorded to a person not royal. His fairy was thrusting greatness upon him without let or hindrance, that he might shortly achieve more glorious greatness for himself.
So cumbrous a system of command was not likely to result in brisk achievements. Don John was, during the first three months of his residence at Granada, able to do but little in the field. He, however, held receptions and reviews, and received deputations, winning everywhere golden opinions by the dignity and suavity of his manners and by his noble appearance. The first important act of his command appears to have been the expulsion of the Moorish inhabitants from the Albaycin quarter of Granada. These wretched people were got rid of because they were thought to be the centre from which, secretly, all the expeditions which took place in the theatre of war were plotted. They were assembled in the churches, and from thence marched, under military escort, into other parts of Spain. In a tumult which occurred at the time of their exodus, Don John showed great presence of mind.
Nine months passed away, not in inaction, but in warfare which was marked by no decisive result, though it was marked by enough of ferocity. The royal armies were at length largely reinforced, and Don John, who had hitherto directed operations from Granada, now took the field in person. In his first expedition he was accidentally baffled, not by the enemy, but by a force led by another general, which obtained possession of the fortress of Guejar before he came up. He bore his mortification well, and behaved with much discretion on the occasion. His next attempt was attended with a success which was all his own, and to which his personal gallantry and his skill as a leader contributed in no small degree. He attacked and took the town of Galera, which was fortified more by nature than by art, it being perched upon an eminence, the sides of which were everywhere precipitous. We find the assailants using artillery in the attack, exploding mines with great
