DEATH OF ALONSO DE AGUILAR. 4-i.l way or other involved in the disgrace ; and the most chapter spirited exertions were made on all sides to retrieve '- — it. By the beginning of April, King Ferdinand found himself at Ronda, at the head of a strong body of troops, which he determined to lead in person, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his courtiers, into the heart of the Sierra, and take bloody vengeance on the rebels. These latter, however, far from being; encouras;- The rebels ' ' O O submit to ed, were appalled by the extent of their own sue- ^^'■'""an- cess ; and, as the note of warlike preparation reached them in their fastnesses, they felt their temerity in thus bringing the whole weight of the Castilian monarchy on their heads. They accord- ingly abandoned all thoughts of further resistance, and lost no time in sending deputies to the king's camp, to deprecate his anger, and sue in the most submissive terms for pardon. Ferdinand, though far from vindictive, was less Bauuument . or conver- open to pity than the queen ; and, in the present ^'on- instance he indulged in a full measure of the indig- nation, with which sovereigns, naturally identifying themselves with the state, are wont to regard rebel- lion, by viewing it in the aggravated light of a per- sonal offence. After some hesitation, however, his prudence got the better of his passions, as he re- flected that he was in a situation to dictate the terms of victory, without paying the usual price for it. His past experience seems to have convinced him of the hopelessness of infusing sentiments of loyalty in a Mussulman towards a Christian prince ; for, while he granted a general amnesty to those VOL. II. 56
