20. CHAPTER XX.
Of the treatment of Boabdil by the Castilian Sovereigns.
A stately convention was held by king Ferdinand
in the ancient city of Cordova, composed of
several of the most reverend prelates and renowned
cavaliers of the kingdom, to determine upon the fate
of the unfortunate Boabdil.
Don Alonzo de Cordena, the worthy Master of
Santiago, was one of the first who gave his counsel.
He was a pious and zealous knight, rigid in his devotion
to the faith; and his holy zeal had been inflamed
to peculiar vehemence, since his disastrous crusade
among the mountains of Malaga. He inveighed with
ardor against any compromise or compact with the
infidels: the object of this war, he observed, was not
the subjection of the Moors, but their utter expulsion
from the land; so that there might no longer remain
a single stain of Mahometanism throughout christian
Spain. He gave it as his opinion, therefore, that the
captive king ought not to be set at liberty.
Roderigo Ponce de Leon, the valiant marques of
Cadiz, on the contrary, spoke warmly for the release
of Boabdil. He pronounced it a measure of sound
policy, even if done without conditions. It would
tend to keep up the civil war in Granada, which was
as a fire consuming the entrails of the enemy, and
effecting more for the interests of Spain, without
expense, than all the conquests of its arms.
The grand cardinal of Spain, Don Pedro Gonzalez
de Mendoza, coincided in opinion with the marques
of Cadiz. Nay, (added that pious prelate and
politic statesman,) it would be sound wisdom to furnish
the Moor with men and money, and all other
necessaries, to promote the civil war in Granada: by
this means would be produced great benefit to the
service of God, since we are assured by his infallible
word, that “a kingdom divided against itself cannot
stand.”[1]
Ferdinand weighed these counsels in his mind, but
was slow in coming to a decision; he was religiously
attentive to his own interests, (observes Fray Antonio
Agapida,) knowing himself to be but an instrument
of Providence in this holy war, and that, therefore,
in consulting his own advantage he was promoting
the interests of the faith. The opinion of queen
Isabella relieved him from his perplexity. That
high-minded princess was zealous for the promotion
of the faith, but not for the extermination of the infidels.
The Moorish kings had held their thrones as
vassals to her progenitors; she was content at present
to accord the same privilege, and that the royal
prisoner should be liberated on condition of becoming
a vassal to the crown. By this means might be
effected the deliverance of many christian captives,
who were languishing in Moorish chains.
King Ferdinand adopted the magnanimous measure
recommended by the queen; but he accompanied it
with several shrewd conditions; exacting tribute,
military services, and safe passage and maintenance
for christian troops, throughout the places which
should adhere to Boabdil. The captive king readily
submitted to these stipulations, and swore, after the
manner of his faith, to observe them with exactitude.
A truce was arranged for two years, during which
the Castilian sovereigns engaged to maintain him on
his throne, and to assist him in recovering all places
which he had lost during his captivity.
When Boabdil el Chico had solemnly agreed to
this arrangement, in the castle of Porcuna, preparations
were made to receive him in Cordova in regal
style. Superb steeds richly caparisoned, and raiment
of brocade, and silk, and the most costly cloths,
with all other articles of sumptuous array, were furnished
to him and to fifty Moorish cavaliers, who had
come to treat for his ransom, that he might appear
in state befitting the monarch of Granada, and the
most distinguished vassal of the Castilian sovereigns.
Money also was advanced to maintain him in suitable
grandeur, during his residence at the Castilian court,
and his return to his dominions. Finally, it was ordered
by the sovereigns, that when he came to Cordova,
all the nobles and dignitaries of the court
should go forth to receive him.
A question now arose among certain of those ancient
and experienced men, who grow gray about a
court in the profound study of forms and ceremonials,
with whom a point of punctilio is as a vast political
right, and who contract a sublime and awful idea of
the external dignity of the throne. Certain of these
court sages propounded the momentous question,
whether the Moorish monarch, coming to do homage
as a vassal, ought not to kneel and kiss the hand
of the king. This was immediately decided in the
affirmative, by a large number of ancient cavaliers,
accustomed (says Antonio Agapida,) to the lofty
punctilio of our most dignified court and transcendant
sovereigns. The king, therefore, was informed
by those who arranged the ceremonials, that when
the Moorish monarch appeared in his presence, he
was expected to extend his royal hand to receive the
kiss of homage.
“I should certainly do so,” replied king Ferdinand,
“were he at liberty, and in his own kingdom; but I
certainly shall not do so, seeing that he is a prisoner
and in mine.”
The courtiers loudly applauded the magnanimity
of this reply; though many condemned it in secret,
as savoring of too much generosity towards an infidel;
and the worthy Jesuit, Fray Antonio Agapida,
fully concurs in their opinion.
The Moorish king entered Cordova with his little
train of faithful knights, and escorted by all the
nobility and chivalry of the Castilian court. He was
conducted, with great state and ceremony, to the
royal palace. When he came in presence of Ferdinand,
he knelt and offered to kiss his hand, not
merely in homage as his subject, but in gratitude for
his liberty. Ferdinand declined the token of vassalage,
and raised him graciously from the earth. An
interpreter began, in the name of Boabdil, to laud
the magnanimity of the Castilian monarch, and to
promise the most implicit submission. “Enough,”
said king Ferdinand, interrupting the interpreter in
the midst of his harangue: “there is no need of
these compliments. I trust in his integrity, that he
will do every thing becoming a good man and a
good king.” With these words, he received Boabdil
el Chico into his royal friendship and protection.
