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
watchtowers, 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 the
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 of 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 the 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
vasals 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 to 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 royal 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 albaycen.
"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 amidst the smoke of infidel villages
and hamlets. The most catholic king,"
continues Agapida, "would gladly have
persevered in 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 loaded with spoils;
and now bethought himself of coming to
an immediate decision in regard to his
royal prisoner."
