398 CONQUEST OF AFRICA AND SPAIN. 



Directing his steps through the Sierra Morena, 

 that divides Andalusia from Castile, the Saracen 

 general appeared with his victorious band under the 

 walls of Toledo. The Catholic part of the inhabit- 

 ants had fled to a dependent town beyond the moun- 

 tains, carrying with them the relics of their samts. 

 The Jews and others that remained were glad to 

 surrender on a fair and reasonable capitulation. 

 The voluntary exiles were permitted to depart with 

 their effects. The Christians were allowed seven 

 churches for the use of their worship ; the arch- 

 bishop and his clergy, the monks and the magis- 

 trates, were left free to exercise their respective 

 functions. The Hebrews, who were received and 

 trusted by the conquerors in preference to the 

 Christians, and to whose secret or open aid Tank 

 was deeply indebted for his success, were treated 

 with kindness and generosity. Nor were they un- 

 grateful to the restorers of their pohtical liberties ; 

 for the friendship between the disciples of Moses 

 and Mohammed was maintained till the final era ol 

 their common expulsion. Among the valuable 

 plunder of Toledo are enumerated 170 crowns 

 formed of pearls, rubies, and other precious stones 

 It is also related, that there was a gallery or hall 

 full of gold and sitver vessels, so large as to accom- 

 modate a body of horsemen in their diversion of 

 throwing the spear. . 



From the Gothic metropolis. Tank, pursuing the 

 fugitives, spread his conquests to the north over the 

 realms of Castile and Leon. Passing the Asturian 

 mountains, he bounded his victories by the maritime 

 town of Gijon ; and westward, by the city of Astorga. 

 With the speed of a traveller, he had extended his 

 march 700 miles, from the Rock of Gibraltar to the 

 Bay of Biscay ; and, in the course of a few months, 

 reduced a country which, in a more sarvage and dis- 

 orderly state, had resisted for 200 years the arms 

 of the Romans. 



