chronicle of the conquest of granada-第61章

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um　throughout　the　city。

Never　was　any　commander　more　astonished　and　confounded　by　a　sudden　reverse　of　fortune　than　El　Zagal。　　The　evening　had　seen　him　with　a　powerful　army　at　his　command；　his　enemy　within　his　grasp；　and　victory　about　to　cover　him　with　glory　and　to　consolidate　his　power：　the　morning　beheld　him　a　fugitive　among　the　mountains；　his　army；　his　prosperity；　his　power；　all　dispelled；　he　knew　not　howgone　like　a　dream　of　the　night。　　In　vain　had　he　tried　to　stem　the　headlong　flight　of　the　army。　　He　saw　his　squadrons　breaking　and　dispersing　among　the　cliffs　of　the　mountains；　until　of　all　his　host　only　a　handful　of　cavaliers　remained　faithful。　　With　these　he　made　a　gloomy　retreat　toward　Granada；　but　with　a　heart　full　of　foreboding。　　As　he　drew　near　to　the　city　he　paused　on　the　banks　of　the　Xenil　and　sent　forth　scouts　to　collect　intelligence。　　They　returned　with　dejected　countenances。　〃The　gates　of　Granada；〃　said　they；　〃are　closed　against　you。　　The　banner　of　Boabdil　floats　on　the　tower　of　the　Alhambra。〃

El　Zagal　turned　his　steed　and　departed　in　silence。　　He　retreated　to　the　town　of　Almunecar；　and　thence　to　Almeria；　which　places　still　remained　faithful　to　him。　　Restless　and　uneasy　at　being　so　distant　from　the　capital；　he　again　changed　his　abode；　and　repaired　to　the　city　of　Guadix；　within　a　few　leagues　of　Granada。　　Here　he　remained；　endeavoring　to　rally　his　forces　and　preparing　to　avail　himself　of　any　sudden　change　in　the　fluctuating　politics　of　the　metropolis。



CHAPTER　LI。

SURRENDER　OF　VELEZ　MALAGA　AND　OTHER　PLACES。


The　people　of　Velez　Malaga　had　beheld　the　camp　of　Muley　Abdallah　covering　the　summit　of　Bentomiz　and　glittering　in　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun。　　During　the　night　they　had　been　alarmed　and　perplexed　by　signal…fires　on　the　mountain　and　by　the　sound　of　distant　battle。　　When　the　morning　broke　the　Moorish　army　had　vanished　as　if　by　enchantment。　　While　the　inhabitants　were　lost　in　wonder　and　conjecture；　a　body　of　cavalry；　the　fragment　of　the　army　saved　by　Reduan　de　Vanegas；　the　brave　alcayde　of　Granada；　came　galloping　to　the　gates。　　The　tidings　of　the　strange　discomfiture　of　the　host　filled　the　city　with　consternation；　but　Reduan　exhorted　the　people　to　continue　their　resistance。　　He　was　devoted　to　El　Zagal　and　confident　in　his　skill　and　prowess；　and　felt　assured　that　he　would　soon　collect　his　scattered　forces　and　return　with　fresh　troops　from　Granada。　　The　people　were　comforted　by　the　words　and　encouraged　by　the　presence　of　Reduan；　and　they　had　still　a　lingering　hope　that　the　heavy　artillery　of　the　Christians　might　be　locked　up　in　the　impassable　defiles　of　the　mountains。　　This　hope　was　soon　at　an　end。　　The　very　next　day　they　beheld　long　laborious　lines　of　ordnance　slowly　moving　into　the　Spanish　camplombards；　ribadoquines；　catapults；　and　cars　laden　with　munitionswhile　the　escort；　under　the　brave　master　of　Alcantara；　wheeled　in　great　battalions　into　the　camp　to　augment　the　force　of　the　besiegers。

The　intelligence　that　Granada　had　shut　its　gates　against　El　Zagal；　and　that　no　reinforcements　were　to　be　expected；　completed　the　despair　of　the　inhabitants；　even　Reduan　himself　lost　confidence　and　advised　capitulation。

Ferdinand　granted　favorable　conditions；　for　he　was　eager　to　proceed　against　Malaga。　　The　inhabitants　were　permitted　to　depart　with　their　effects　except　their　arms；　and　to　reside；　if　they　chose　it；　in　Spain　in　any　place　distant　from　the　sea。　　One　hundred　and　twenty　Christians　of　both　sexes　were　rescued　from　captivity　by　the　surrender；　and　were　sent　to　Cordova；　where　they　were　received　with　great　tenderness　by　the　queen　and　her　daughter　the　infanta　Isabella　in　the　famous　cathedral　in　the　midst　of　public　rejoicings　for　the　victory。

The　capture　of　Velez　Malaga　was　followed　by　the　surrender　of　Bentomiz；　Comares；　and　all　the　towns　and　fortresses　of　the　Axarquia；　which　were　strongly　garrisoned；　and　discreet　and　valiant　cavaliers　appointed　as　their　alcaydes。　　The　inhabitants　of　nearly　forty　towns　of　the　Alpuxarras　mountains　also　sent　deputations　to　the　Castilian　sovereigns；　taking　the　oath　of　allegiance　as　mudexares　or　Moslem　vassals。

About　the　same　time　came　letters　from　Boabdil　el　Chico　announcing　to　the　sovereigns　the　revolution　of　Granada　in　his　favor。　　He　solicited　kindness　and　protection　for　the　inhabitants　who　had　returned　to　their　allegiance；　and　for　those　of　all　other　places　which　should　renounce　adherence　to　his　uncle。　　By　this　means　（he　observed）　the　whole　kingdom　of　Granada　would　soon　be　induced　to　acknowledge　his　sway；　and　would　be　held　by　him　in　faithful　vassalage　to　the　Castilian　Crown。

The　Catholic　sovereigns　complied　with　his　request。　　Protection　was　immediately　extended　to　the　inhabitants　of　Granada；　permitting　them　to　cultivate　their　fields　in　peace　and　to　trade　with　the　Christian　territories　in　all　articles　excepting　arms；　being　provided　with　letters　of　surety　from　some　Christian　captain　or　alcayde。　　The　same　favor　was　promised　to　all　other　places　which　within　six　months　should　renounce　El　Zagal　and　come　under　allegiance　to　the　younger　king。　Should　they　not　do　so　within　that　time；　the　sovereigns　threatened　to　make　war　upon　them　and　conquer　them　for　themselves。　　This　measure　had　a　great　effect　in　inducing　many　to　return　to　the　standard　of　Boabdil。

Having　made　every　necessary　arrangement　for　the　government　and　security　of　the　newly…conquered　territory；　Ferdinand　turned　his　attention　to　the　great　object　of　his　campaign；　the　reduction　of　Malaga。



CHAPTER　LII。

OF　THE　CITY　OF　MALAGA　AND　ITS　INHABITANTS。MISSION　OF　　　　　HERNANDO　DEL　PULGAR。


The　city　of　Malaga　lies　in　the　lap　of　a　fertile　valley；　surrounded　by　mountains；　excepting　on　the　part　which　lies　open　to　the　sea。　　As　it　was　one　of　the　most　important；　so　it　was　one　of　the　strongest；　cities　of　the　Moorish　kingdom。　　It　was　fortified　by　walls　of　prodigious　strength　studded　with　a　great　number　of　huge　towers。　　On　the　land　side　it　was　protected　by　a　natural　barrier　of　mountains；　and　on　the　other　the　waves　of　the　Mediterranean　beat　against　the　foundations　of　its　massive　bulwarks。

At　one　end　of　the　city；　near　the　sea；　on　a　high　mound；　stood　the　Alcazaba；　or　citadel；　a　fortress　of　great　strength。　　Immediately　above　this　rose　a　steep　and　rocky　mount；　on　the　top　of　which　in　old　times　had　been　a　pharos　or　lighthouse；　from　which　the　height　derived　its　name　of　Gibralfaro。*　　It　was　at　present　crowned　by　an　immense　castle；　which；　from　its　lofty　and　cragged　situation；　its　vast　walls；　and　mighty　towers；　was　deemed　impregnable。　　It　communicated　with　the　Alcazaba　by　a　covered　way　six　paces　broad；　leading　down　between　two　walls　along　the　profile　or　ridge　of　the　rock。　　The　castle　of　Gibralfaro　commanded　both　citadel　and　city；　and　was　capable；　if　both　were　taken；　of　maintaining　a　siege。　　Two　large　suburbs　adjoined　the　city：　in　the　one　toward　the　sea　were　the　dwelling…houses　of　the　most　opulent　inhabitants；　adorned　with　hanging　gardens；　the　other；　on　the　land　side；　was　thickly　peopled　and　surrounded　by　strong　walls　and　towers。

*A　corruption　of　〃Gibel…faro；〃　the　hill　of　the　lighthouse。


Malaga　possessed　a　brave　and　numerous　garrison；　and　the　common　people　were　active；　hardy；　and　resolute；　but　the　city　was　rich　and　commercial；　and　under　the　habitual　control　of　numerous　opulent　merchants；　who　dreaded　the　ruinous　consequences　of　a　siege。　　They　were　little　zealous　for　the　warlike　renown　of　their　city；　and　longed　rather　to　participate　in　the　enviable　security　of　property　and　the　lucrative　privileges　of　safe　traffic　with　the　Christian　territories　granted　to　all　places　which　declared　for　Boabdil。　　At　the　head　of　these　gainful　citizens　was　Ali　Dordux；　a　mighty　merchant　of　uncounted　wealth；　connected；　it　is　said；　with　the　royal　family　of　Granada；　whose　ships　traded　to　every　part　of　the　Levant　and　whose　word　was　as　a　law　in　Malaga。　　Ali　Dordux　assembled　the　most　opulent　and　important　of　his　commercial　brethren；　and　they　repaired　in　a　body　to　the　Alcazaba；　where　they　were　received　by　the　alcayde；　Aben　Comixa；　with　that　deference　generally　shown　to　men　of　their　great　local　dignity　and　power　of　purse。　　Ali　Dordux　was　ample　and　stately　in　his　form　and　fluent　and　emphatic　in　his　discourse；　his　eloquence　had　an　effect；　therefore；　upon　the