35. CHAPTER XXXV.
How Queen Isabella arrived 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 watch-towers,
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 clangor of
the trumpet and the faint swell of 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; and 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 armor. 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
on 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 learnt 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 marques 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 armor, the
splendor 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.
[1]
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 rigor
and turbulence of war were softened, and the storm
of passion sunk into a calm. The sword was sheathed;
the cross-bow no longer lanched 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 or 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 weary
of exasperating the enemy by an obstinate yet 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 veteran alcayde Mohammed. They met at an
appointed place, within view of both camp and city,
honorably attended by cavaliers of either army.
Their meeting was highly courteous, for they had
learnt, 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 sovereigns,” 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.
