chronicle of the conquest of granada-第103章

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ion；　but　that　pious　princess；〃　adds　Antonio　Agapida；　〃calling　to　mind　the　holy　cause　in　which　it　was　erected；　gave　it　the　name　of　Santa　Fe　（or　the　City　of　the　Holy　Faith）；　and　it　remains　to　this　day　a　monument　of　the　piety　and　glory　of　the　Catholic　sovereigns。〃

Hither　the　merchants　soon　resorted　from　all　points。　　Long　trains　of　mules　were　seen　every　day　entering　and　departing　from　its　gates；　the　streets　were　crowded　with　magazines　filled　with　all　kinds　of　costly　and　luxurious　merchandise；　a　scene　of　bustling　commerce　and　prosperity　took　place；　while　unhappy　Granada　remained　shut　up　and　desolate。



CHAPTER　XCVI。

FAMINE　AND　DISCORD　IN　THE　CITY。


The　besieged　city　now　began　to　suffer　the　distress　of　famine。　　Its　supplies　were　all　cut　off；　a　cavalgada　of　flocks　and　herds　and　mules　laden　with　money；　coming　to　the　relief　of　the　city　from　the　mountains　of　the　Alpuxarras；　was　taken　by　the　marques　of　Cadiz　and　led　in　triumph　to　the　camp　in　sight　of　the　suffering　Moors。　　Autumn　arrived；　but　the　harvests　had　been　swept　from　the　face　of　the　country；　a　rigorous　winter　was　approaching　and　the　city　was　almost　destitute　of　provisions。　　The　people　sank　into　deep　despondency。　They　called　to　mind　all　that　had　been　predicted　by　astrologers　at　the　birth　of　their　ill…starred　sovereign；　and　all　that　had　been　foretold　of　the　fate　of　Granada　at　the　time　of　the　capture　of　Zahara。

Boabdil　was　alarmed　by　the　gathering　dangers　from　without　and　by　the　clamors　of　his　starving　people。　　He　summoned　a　council；　composed　of　the　principal　officers　of　the　army；　the　alcaydes　of　the　fortresses；　the　xequis　or　sages　of　the　city；　and　the　alfaquis　or　doctors　of　the　faith。　　They　assembled　in　the　great　Hall　of　Audience　of　the　Alhambra；　and　despair　was　painted　in　their　countenances。　　Boabdil　demanded　of　them　what　was　to　be　done　in　the　present　extremity；　and　their　answer　was；　〃Surrender。〃　　The　venerable　Abul　Casim；　governor　of　the　city；　represented　its　unhappy　state：　〃Our　granaries　are　nearly　exhausted；　and　no　further　supplies　are　to　be　expected。　　The　provender　for　the　war…horses　is　required　as　sustenance　for　the　soldiery；　the　very　horses　themselves　are　killed　for　food；　of　seven　thousand　steeds　which　once　could　be　sent　into　the　field；　three　hundred　only　remain。　Our　city　contains　two　hundred　thousand　inhabitants；　old　and　young；　with　each　a　mouth　that　calls　piteously　for　bread。〃

The　xequis　and　principal　citizens　declared　that　the　people　could　no　longer　sustain　the　labors　and　sufferings　of　a　defence。　　〃And　of　what　avail　is　our　defence；〃　said　they；　〃when　the　enemy　is　determined　to　persist　in　the　siege？　　What　alternative　remains　but　to　surrender　or　to　die？〃

The　heart　of　Boabdil　was　touched　by　this　appeal；　and　he　maintained　a　gloomy　silence。　　He　had　cherished　some　faint　hope　of　relief　from　the　soldan　of　Egypt　or　the　Barbary　powers；　but　it　was　now　at　an　end；　even　if　such　assistance　were　to　be　sent；　he　had　no　longer　a　seaport　where　it　might　debark。　　The　counsellors　saw　that　the　resolution　of　the　king　was　shaken；　and　they　united　their　voices　in　urging　him　to　capitulate。

Muza　alone　rose　in　opposition。　　〃It　is　yet　too　early；〃　said　he；　〃to　talk　of　surrender。　　Our　means　are　not　exhausted；　we　have　yet　one　source　of　strength　remaining；　terrible　in　its　effects；　and　which　often　has　achieved　the　most　signal　victoriesit　is　our　despair。　　Let　us　rouse　the　mass　of　the　peoplelet　us　put　weapons　in　their　hands　let　us　fight　the　enemy　to　the　very　utmost　until　we　rush　upon　the　points　of　their　lances。　　I　am　ready　to　lead　the　way　into　the　thickest　of　their　squadrons；　and　much　rather　would　I　be　numbered　among　those　who　fell　in　the　defence　of　Granada　than　of　those　who　survived　to　capitulate　for　her　surrender。〃

The　words　of　Muza　were　without　effect；　for　they　were　addressed　to　broken…spirited　and　heartless　men；　or　men；　perhaps；　to　whom　sad　experience　had　taught　discretion。　　They　were　arrived　at　that　state　of　public　depression　when　heroes　and　heroism　are　no　longer　regarded；　and　when　old　men　and　their　counsels　rise　into　importance。　　Boabdil　el　Chico　yielded　to　the　general　voice：　it　was　determined　to　capitulate　with　the　Christian　sovereigns；　and　the　venerable　Abul　Casim　was　sent　forth　to　the　camp　empowered　to　treat　for　terms。



CHAPTER　XCVII。

CAPITULATION　OF　GRANADA。


The　old　governor　Abul　Casim　was　received　with　great　courtesy　by　Ferdinand　and　Isabella；　who；　being　informed　of　the　purport　of　his　embassy；　granted　the　besieged　a　truce　of　sixty　days　from　the　5th　of　October；　and　appointed　Gonsalvo　of　Cordova　and　Hernando　de　Zafra；　the　secretary　of　the　king；　to　treat　about　the　terms　of　surrender　with　such　commissioners　as　might　be　named　by　Boabdil。　　The　latter　on　his　part　named　Abul　Casim；　Aben　Comixa　the　vizier；　and　the　grand　cadi。　　As　a　pledge　of　good　faith　Boabdil　gave　his　son　in　hostage；　who　was　taken　to　Moclin；　where　he　was　treated　with　the　greatest　respect　and　attention　by　the　good　count　de　Tendilla　as　general　of　the　frontier。

The　commissioners　on　both　parts　held　repeated　conferences　in　secret　in　the　dead　of　the　night　at　the　village　of　Churriana；　those　who　first　arrived　at　the　place　of　meeting　giving　notice　to　the　others　by　signal…　fires　or　by　means　of　spies。　　　After　many　debates　and　much　difficulty　the　capitulation　was　signed　on　the　25th　of　November。　　　According　to　this；　the　city　was　to　be　delivered　up；　with　all　its　gates；　towers　and　fortresses；　within　sixty　days。

All　Christian　captives　should　be　liberated　without　ransom。

Boabdil　and　his　principal　cavaliers　should　perform　the　act　of　homage　and　take　an　oath　of　fealty　to　the　Castilian　Crown。

The　Moors　of　Granada　should　become　subjects　of　the　Spanish　sovereigns；　retaining　their　possessions；　their　arms　and　horses；　and　yielding　up　nothing　but　their　artillery。　　They　should　be　protected　in　the　exercise　of　their　religion；　and　governed　by　their　own　laws；　administered　by　cadis　of　their　own　faith　under　governors　appointed　by　the　sovereigns。　　They　should　be　exempted　from　tribute　for　three　years；　after　which　term　they　should　pay　the　same　that　they　had　been　accustomed　to　render　to　their　native　monarchs。

Those　who　chose　to　depart　for　Africa　within　three　years　should　be　provided　with　a　passage　for　themselves　and　their　effects；　free　of　charge；　from　whatever　port　they　should　prefer。

For　the　fulfilment　of　these　articles　five　hundred　hostages　from　the　principal　families　were　required　previous　to　the　surrender；　who　should　be　treated　with　great　respect　and　distinction　by　the　Christians；　and　subsequently　restored。　　The　son　of　the　king　of　Granada　and　all　other　hostages　in　possession　of　the　Castilian　sovereigns　were　to　be　restored　at　the　same　time。

Such　are　the　main　articles　affecting　the　public　weal　which　were　agreed　upon；　after　much　discussion；　by　the　mixed　commission。　　There　were　other　articles；　however；　secretly　arranged；　which　concerned　the　royal　family。　　These　secured　to　Boabdil；　to　his　wife　Morayma；　his　mother　Ayza；　his　brothers；　and　to　Zoraya；　the　widow　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan；　all　the　landed　possessions；　houses；　mills；　baths；　and　other　hereditaments　which　formed　the　royal　patrimony；　with　the　power　of　selling　them；　personally　or　by　agent；　at　any　and　all　times。　　To　Boabdil　was　secured；　moreover；　his　wealthy　estates　both　in　and　out　of　Granada；　and　to　him　and　his　descendants　in　perpetuity　the　lordships　of　various　town　and　lands　and　fertile　valleys　in　the　Alpuxarras；　forming　a　petty　sovereignty。　　In　addition　to　all　which　it　was　stipulated　that　on　the　day　of　surrender　he　should　receive　thirty　thousand　castelanos　of　gold。*

*Alcantara；　t。　4；　c。　18。


The　conditions　of　surrender　being　finally　agreed　upon　by　the　commissioners；　Abul　Casim　proceeded　to　the　royal　camp　at　Santa　Fe；　where　they　were　signed　by　Ferdinand　and　Isabella；　he　then　returned　to　Granada；　accompanied　by　Hernando　de　Zafra；　the　royal　secretary；　to　have　the　same　ratified　also　by　the　Moorish　king。　Boabdil　assembled　his　council；　and　with　a　dejected　countenance　laid　before　it　the　articles　of　capitulation　as　the　best　that　could　be　obtained　from　the　besieging　foe。

When　the　members　of　the　council　found　the　awful　moment　arrived　when　they　were　to　sign　and　seal　the　perdition　of　their　empire　and　blot　themselves　out　as　a　nation；　all　firmness　deserted　them；　and　many　gave