[1] On his return from Cordova, he experienced a most loyal and enthusiastic reception from the ancient capital of Andalusia. The most interesting part of the pageant was the troops of children, gayly dressed, who came out to meet him, presenting the keys of the city and an imperial crown, after which the whole procession moved under thirteen triumphal arches, each inscribed with the name of one of his victories. For a description of these civic honors, see Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., cap. 216, and Zuñiga, Annales de Sevilla, año 1508.
[2] He obtained this dignity at the king's solicitation, during his visit to Naples. See Ferdinand's letter, apud Quintanilla, copied from the archives of Alcalá. Archetypo, Apend. no. 15.
[3] "Ego tamen dum universas ejus actiones comparo," says Alvaro Gomez, "magis ad bellica exercitia a naturâ effictum esse judico. Erat enim vir animi invicti et sublimis, omniaque in melius asserere conantis." De Rebus Gestis, fol. 95.
[4] From a letter of King Emanuel of Portugal, it appears that Ximenes had endeavored to interest him, together with the kings of Aragon and England, in a crusade to the Holy Land. There was much method in his madness, if we may judge from the careful survey he had procured of the coast, as well as his plan of operations. The Portuguese monarch praises in round terms the edifying zeal of the primate, but wisely confined himself to his own crusades in India, which were likely to make better returns, at least in this world, than those to Palestine. The letter is still preserved in the archives of Alcalá; see a copy in Quintanilla, Archetype, Apend. no. 16.
[5] Zurita, Anales, tom. vi. lib. 6, cap. 15.--Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 77.--Robles, Vida de Ximenez, cap. 17.--Carbajal, Anales, MS., año 1507.--Mariana, Hist. de España, tom. ii. lib. 28, cap. 15; lib. 29, cap. 9.
[6] Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., epist. 418.
[7] Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 96-100.--Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., cap. 218--Robles, Vida de Ximenez, cap. 17.--Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., epist. 413.--Chrónica del Gran Capitan, lib. 3, cap. 7.
[8] Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 100-102.--Robles, Vida de Ximenez, ubi supra.--Quintanilla, Archetypo, lib. 3, cap. 19.--Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., cap. 218.