19. CHAPTER XIX.
Captivity of Boabdil el Chico.
The unfortunate Boabdil remained a prisoner,
closely guarded, in the castle of Vaena. From the
towers of his prison, he beheld the town below filled
with armed men; and the lofty hill on which it was
built, girdled by massive walls and ramparts, on
which a vigilant watch was maintained night and
day. The mountains around were studded with
watch-towers, overlooking the lonely roads which
led to Granada, so that a turban could not stir over
the border without the alarm being given, and the
whole country put on the alert. Boabdil saw that
there was no hope of escape from such a fortress,
and that any attempt to rescue him would be equally
in vain. His heart was filled with anxiety, as he
thought on the confusion and ruin which his captivity
must cause in his affairs; while sorrows of a softer
kind overcame his fortitude, as he thought on the
evils it might bring upon his family.
The count de Cabra, though he maintained the
most vigilant guard over his royal prisoner, yet treated
him with profound deference; he had appointed
the noblest apartments in the castle for his abode,
and sought in every way to cheer him during his
captivity. A few days only had passed away, when
missives arrived from the Castilian sovereigns. Ferdinand
had been transported with joy at hearing of
the capture of the Moorish monarch, seeing the deep
and politic uses that might be made of such an
event; but the magnanimous spirit of Isabella was
filled with compassion for the unfortunate captive.
Their messages to Boabdil were full of sympathy
and consolation, breathing that high and gentle courtesy
which dwells in noble minds.
This magnanimity in his foe cheered the dejected
spirit of the captive monarch. “Tell my sovereigns,
the king and queen,” said he to the messenger, “that
I cannot be unhappy, being in the power of such
high and mighty princes, especially since they partake
so largely of that grace and goodness which
Allah bestows upon the monarchs whom he greatly
loves. Tell them further, that I had long thought of
submitting myself to their sway, to receive the kingdom
of Granada from their hands, in the same manner
that my ancestor received it from king John II.,
father to the gracious queen. My greatest sorrow, in
this my captivity, is, that I must appear to do that
from force, which I would fain have done from inclination.”
In the mean time, Muley Aben Hassan, finding the
faction of his son still formidable in Granada, was
anxious to consolidate his power, by gaining possession
of the person of Boabdil. For this purpose, he
sent an embassy to the Catholic monarchs, offering
large terms for the ransom, or rather the purchase, of
his son; proposing, among other conditions, to release
the count of Cifuentes and nine other of his most
distinguished captives, and to enter into a treaty of
confederacy with the sovereigns. Neither did the
implacable father make any scruple of testifying his
indifference whether his son were delivered up alive
or dead, so that his person were placed assuredly
within his power.
The humane heart of Isabella revolted at the idea
of giving up the unfortunate prince into the hands of
his most unnatural and inveterate enemy: a disdainful
refusal was therefore returned to the old monarch,
whose message had been couched in a vaunting
spirit. He was informed that the Castilian sovereigns
would listen to no proposals of peace from
Muley Aben Hassan, until he should lay down his
arms, and offer them in all humility.
Overtures in a different spirit were made by the
mother of Boabdil, the Sultana Ayxa la Horra, with
the concurrence of the party which still remained
faithful to him. It was thereby proposed, that Mahomet
Abdalla, otherwise called Boabdil, should hold
his crown as vassal to the Castilian sovereigns, paying
an annual tribute, and releasing seventy christian
captives annually, for five years: that he should,
moreover, pay a large sum, upon the spot, for his
ransom, and at the same time give freedom to four
hundred christians to be chosen by the king: that he
should also engage to be always ready to render military
aid, and should come to the Cortes, or assemblage
of nobles and distinguished vassals of the
crown, whenever summoned. His only son, and the
sons of twelve distinguished Moorish houses, were
to be delivered as hostages.
King Ferdinand was at Cordova, when he received
this proposition. Queen Isabella was absent at the
time. He was anxious to consult her in so momentous
an affair; or rather, he was fearful of proceeding
too precipitately, and not drawing from this fortunate
event all the advantage of which it was susceptible.
Without returning any reply, therefore, to the mission,
he sent missives to the castle of Vaena, where
Boabdil remained in courteous durance of the brave
count de Cabra, ordering that the captive monarch
should be brought to Cordova.
The count de Cabra set out, with his illustrious
prisoner; but when he arrived at Cordova, king
Ferdinand declined seeing the Moorish monarch.
He was still undetermined what course to pursue,—
whether to retain him prisoner, set him at liberty on
ransom, or treat him with politic magnanimity; and
each course would require a different kind of reception.
Until this point should be resolved, therefore,
he gave him in charge to Martin de Alarcon, alcayde
of the ancient fortress of Porcuna, with orders to
guard him strictly, but to treat him with the distinction
and deference due unto a prince. These commands
were strictly obeyed; and, with the exception
of being restrained in his liberty, the monarch was as
nobly entertained as he could have been in his regal
palace at Granada.
In the mean time, Ferdinand availed himself of
this critical moment, while Granada was distracted
with factions and dissensions, and before he had concluded
any treaty with Boabdil, to make a puissant
and ostentatious inroad into the very heart of the
kingdom, at the head of his most illustrious nobles.
He sacked and destroyed several towns and castles,
and extended his ravages to the very gates of Granada.
Old Muley Aben Hassan did not venture to
oppose him. His city was filled with troops, but he
was uncertain of their affection. He dreaded, that
should he sally forth, the gates of Granada might be
closed against him by the faction of the Albaycin.
The old Moor stood on the lofty tower of the
Alhambra, (says Antonio Agapida,) grinding his
teeth, and foaming like a tiger shut up in his cage,
as he beheld the glittering battalions of the christians
wheeling about the vega, and the standard of the
cross shining forth from among the smoke of infidel
villages and hamlets. The most Catholic king (continues
Agapida,) would gladly have continued this
righteous ravage, but his munitions began to fail.
Satisfied, therefore, with having laid waste the country
of the enemy, and insulted old Muley Aben Hassan
in his very capital, he returned to Cordova covered
with laurels, and his army laden with spoils; and
now bethought himself of coming to an immediate
decision, in regard to his royal prisoner.
