CHAPTER LXXX.
How Queen Isabella arrives at the camp; and the
consequences of her arrival.
Mohammed ben Hassan still encouraged
his companions, with hopes that
the royal army would soon relinquish the
siege; when they heard one day shouts
of joy from the Christian camp, and
thundering salvos of artillery. Word
was brought at the same time, from the
sentinels on the watchtowers, that a
Christian army was approaching down
the valley. Mohammed and his fellow-commanders
ascended one of the highest
towers of the walls, and beheld in truth
a numerous force, in shining array, descending
the hills; and heard the distant
clangour of the trumpets, and the faint
swell of the triumphant music. As the
host drew nearer, they descried a stately
dame, magnificently attired, whom they
soon discovered to be the queen. She
was riding on a mule; the sumptuous
trappings of which were resplendent with
gold, and reached to the ground. On her
right hand rode her daughter, the Princess
Isabella, equally splendid in her array:
on her left, the venerable grand cardinal
of Spain. A noble train of ladies and
cavaliers followed her, together with pages
and esquires, and a numerous guard of
hidalgos of high rank, arrayed in superb
armour. When the veteran Mohammed
ben Hassan beheld that this was the
Queen Isabella, arriving in state to take
up her residence in the camp, his heart
failed him. He shook his head mournfully,
and, turning to his captains, "Cavaliers,"
said he, "the fate of Baza is
decided!"
The Moorish commanders remained
gazing, with a mingled feeling of grief
and admiration, at this magnificent pageant,
which foreboded the fall of their
city. Some of the troops would have
sallied forth in one of their desperate
skirmishes, to attack the royal guard;
but the Prince Cidi Yahye forbade them:
nor would he allow any artillery to be
discharged, or any molestation or insult
to be offered: for the character of Isabella
was venerated even by the Moors; and
most of the commanders possessed that
high and chivalrous courtesy which
belongs to heroic spirits; for they were
among the noblest and bravest cavaliers
of the Moorish nation.
The inhabitants of Baza, when they
learned, that the Christian queen was
approaching the camp, eagerly sought
every eminence that could command a
view of the plain; and every battlement,
and tower, and mosque, was covered with
turbaned heads, gazing at the glorious
spectacle. They beheld King Ferdinand
issue forth in royal state, attended by the
Marquis of Cadiz, the Master of Santiago,
the Duke of Alva, the Admiral of Castile,
and many other nobles of renown; while
the whole chivalry of the camp, sumptuously
arrayed, followed in his train, and
the populace rent the air with acclamations
at the sight of the patriot queen.
When the sovereigns had met and embraced
each other, the two hosts mingled
together, and entered the camp in martial
pomp; and the eyes of the infidel beholders
were dazzled by the flash of
armour, the splendour of golden caparisons,
the gorgeous display of silks, and
brocades, and velvets, of tossing plumes
and fluttering banners. There was at
the same time a triumphant sound of
drums and trumpets, clarions and sackbuts,
mingled with the sweet melody of
the dulcimer, which came swelling in
bursts of harmony, that seemed to rise
up to the heavens.[106]
"On the arrival of the queen," says
the historian Hernando del Pulgar, who
was present at the time, "it was marvellous
to behold how, all at once, the
rigour and turbulence of war were softened,
and the storm of passion sunk into a
calm. The sword was sheathed, the
crossbow no longer launched its deadly
shafts, and the artillery, which had
hitherto kept up an incessant uproar, now
ceased its thundering. On both sides
there was still a vigilant guard kept up,
the sentinels bristled the walls of Baza
with their lances, and the guards patrolled
the Christian camp; but there was no
sallying forth to skirmish, nor any wanton
violence nor carnage."
Prince Cidi Yahye saw, by the arrival
of the queen, that the Christians were
determined to continue the siege; and he
knew that the city would have to capitulate.
He had been prodigal of the lives
of his soldiers, as long as he thought a
military good was to be gained by the
sacrifice; but he was sparing of their
blood in a hopeless cause, and wary of
exasperating the enemy by an obstinate,
hopeless defence.
At the request of Prince Cidi Yahye, a
parley was granted, and the master commander
of Leon, Don Gutiere de Cardenas,
was appointed to confer with the
valiant alcayde Mohammed. They met
at an appointed place, within view of
both camp and city, honourably attended
by cavaliers of either army. Their
meeting was highly courteous; for they
had learned from rough encounters in the
field, to admire each other's prowess.
The commander of Leon, in an earnest
speech, pointed out the hopelessness of
any further defence, and warned Mohammed
of the ills which Malaga had
incurred by its obstinacy. "I promise,
in the name of my sovereign," said he,
"that, if you surrender immediately, the
inhabitants shall be treated as subjects,
and protected in property, liberty, and
religion. If you refuse, you, who are
now renowned as an able and judicious
commander, will be chargeable with the
confiscations, captivities, and deaths,
which may be suffered by the people of
Baza."
The commander ceased, and Mohammed
returned to the city, to consult with
his companions. It was evident, that all
further resistance was hopeless; but the
Moorish commanders felt, that a cloud
might rest upon their names should they,
of their own discretion, surrender so important
a place, without its having sustained
an assault. Prince Cidi Yahye
requested permission, therefore, to send
an envoy to Guadix, with a letter to the
old monarch, El Zagal, treating of the
surrender. The request was granted;
a safe conduct assured to the envoy, and
the veteran alcayde, Mohammed ben
Hassan, departed upon this momentous
mission.
