The laws of chivalry were observed throughout the combat—­no one interfered on either side.  Garcilasso now despoiled his adversary; then, rescuing the holy inscription of “Ave Maria” from its degrading situation, he elevated it on the point of his sword, and bore it off as a signal of triumph amid the rapturous shouts of the Christian army.

The sun had now reached the meridian, and the hot blood of the Moors was inflamed by its rays and by the sight of the defeat of their champion.  Musa ordered two pieces of ordnance to open a fire upon the Christians.  A confusion was produced in one part of their ranks.  Musa called to the chiefs of the army:  “Let us waste no more time in empty challenges; let us charge upon the enemy; he who assaults has always an advantage in the combat.”  So saying, he rushed forward, followed by a large body of horse and foot, and charged so furiously upon the advance guard of the Christians that he drove it in upon the battalion of the Marquis of Cadiz.

The gallant Marquis now gave the signal to attack.  “Santiago!” was shouted along the line; and he pressed forward to the encounter, with his battalion of twelve hundred lances.  The other cavaliers followed his example, and the battle instantly became general.

When the King and Queen beheld the armies thus rushing to the combat, they threw themselves on their knees and implored the holy Virgin to protect her faithful warriors.  The Prince and Princess, the ladies of the court, and the prelates and friars who were present did the same; and the effect of the prayers of these illustrious and saintly persons was immediately apparent.  The fierceness with which the Moors had rushed to the attack had suddenly cooled; they were bold and adroit for a skirmish, but unequal to the veteran Spaniards in the open field.  A panic seized upon the foot-soldiers—­they turned and took to flight.  Musa and his cavaliers in vain endeavored to rally them.  Some took refuge in the mountains; but the greater part fled to the city in such confusion that they overturned and trampled upon each other.  The Christians pursued them to the very gates.  Upward of two thousand were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, and the two pieces of ordnance brought off as trophies of the victory.  Not a Christian lance but was bathed that day in the blood of an infidel.  Such was the brief but bloody action, which was known among the Christian warriors by the name of the “Queen’s skirmish”; for when the Marquis of Cadiz waited upon her majesty he attributed the victory entirely to her presence.  The Queen, however, insisted that it was all owing to her troops being led on by so valiant a commander.  Her majesty had not yet recovered from her agitation at beholding so terrible a scene of bloodshed; though certain veterans present pronounced it as gay and gentle a skirmish as they had ever witnessed.