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The month of December had nearly passed away： the famine became extreme； and there was no hope of any favorable event within the term specified in the capitulation。 Boabdil saw that to hold out to the end of the allotted time would but be to protract the miseries of his people。 With the consent of his council he determined to surrender the city on the sixth of January。 He accordingly sent his grand vizier； Yusef Aben Comixa； to King Ferdinand to make known his intention； bearing him； at the same time； a present of a magnificent scimetar and two Arabian steeds superbly caparisoned。
The unfortunate Boabdil was doomed to meet with trouble to the end of his career。 The very next day the santon or dervise； Hamet Aben Zarrax； the same who had uttered prophecies and excited commotions on former occasions； suddenly made his appearance。 Whence he came no one knew： it was rumored that he had been in the mountains of the Alpuxarras and on the coast of Barbary endeavoring to rouse the Moslems to the relief of Granada。 He was reduced to a skeleton； his eyes glowed like coals in their sockets； and his speech was little better than frantic raving。 He harangued the populace in the streets and squares； inveighed against the capitulation； denounced the king and nobles as Moslems only in name； and called upon the people to sally forth against the unbelievers； for that Allah had decreed them a signal victory。
Upward of twenty thousand of the populace seized their arms and paraded the streets with shouts and outcries。 The shops and houses were shut up； the king himself did not dare to venture forth； but remained a kind of prisoner in the Alhambra。
The turbulent multitude continued roaming and shouting and howling about the city during the day and a part of the night。 Hunger and a wintry tempest tamed their frenzy； and when morning came the enthusiast who had led them on had disappeared。 Whether he had been disposed of by the emissaries of the king or by the leading men of the city is not known： his disappearance remains a mystery。*
*Mariana。
Boabdil now issued from the Alhambra； attended by his principal nobles； and harangued the populace。 He set forth the necessity of complying with the capitulation； from the famine that reigned in the city； the futility of defence； and from the hostages having already been delivered into the hands of the besiegers。
In the dejection of his spirits the unfortunate Boabdil attributed to himself the miseries of the country。 〃It was my crime in ascending the throne in rebellion against my father；〃 said he； mournfully； 〃which has brought these woes upon the kingdom； but Allah has grievously visited my sins upon my head。 For your sake； my people； I have now made this treaty； to protect you from the sword； your little ones from famine； your wives and daughters from outrage； and to secure you in the enjoyment of your properties； your liberties； your laws； and your religion under a sovereign of happier destinies than the ill…starred Boabdil。〃
The versatile population were touched by the humility of their sovereign： they agreed to adhere to the capitulation； and there was even a faint shout of 〃Long live Boabdil the Unfortunate！〃 and they all returned to their homes in perfect tranquillity。
Boabdil immediately sent missives to King Ferdinand apprising him of these events； and of his fears lest further delay should produce new tumults。 The vizier； Yusef Aben Comixa； was again the agent between the monarchs。 He was received with unusual courtesy and attention by Ferdinand and Isabella； and it was arranged between them that the surrender should take place on the second day of January； instead of the sixth。 A new difficulty now arose in regard to the ceremonial of surrender。 The haughty Ayxa la Horra； whose pride rose with the decline of her fortunes； declared that as sultana…mother she would never consent that her son should stoop to the humiliation of kissing the hand of his conquerors； and unless this part of the ceremonial were modified she would find means to resist a surrender accompanied by such indignities。
Aben Comixa was sorely troubled by this opposition。 He knew the high spirit of the indomitable Ayxa and her influence over her less heroic son； and wrote an urgent letter on the subject to his friend； the count de Tendilla。 The latter imparted the circumstance to the Christian sovereigns； a council was called on the matter。 Spanish pride and etiquette were obliged to bend in some degree to the haughty spirit of a woman。 It was agreed that Boabdil should sally forth on horsebackthat on approaching the Spanish sovereigns he should make a slight movement； as if about to draw his foot from the stirrup and dismount； but would be prevented from doing so by Ferdinand； who should treat him with a respect due to his dignity and elevated birth。 The count de Tendilla despatched a messenger with this arrangement； and the haughty scruples of Ayxa la Horra were satisfied。*
*Salazar de Mendoza； Chron。 del Gran Cardinal； lib。 1； c。 69； p。 1； Mondajar； His。 MS。； as cited by Alcantara； t。 4； c。 18。
CHAPTER XCIX。
SURRENDER OF GRANADA。
The night preceding the surrender was a night of doleful lamentings within the walls of the Alhambra； for the household of Boabdil were preparing to take a last farewell of that delightful abode。 All the royal treasures and most precious effects were hastily packed upon mules； the beautiful apartments were despoiled； with tears and wailings； by their own inhabitants。 Before the dawn of day a mournful cavalcade moved obscurely out of a postern gate of the Alhambra and departed through one of the most retired quarters of the city。 It was composed of the family of the unfortunate Boabdil； which he sent off thus privately； that they might not be exposed to the eyes of scoffers or the exultation of the enemy。 The mother of Boabdil； the sultana Ayxa la Horra； rode on in silence； with dejected yet dignified demeanor； but his wife Morayma and all the females of his household gave way to loud lamentations as they looked back upon their favorite abode； now a mass of gloomy towers behind them。 They were attended by the ancient domestics of the household； and by a small guard of veteran Moors loyally attached to the fallen monarch； and who would have sold their lives dearly in defence of his family。 The city was yet buried in sleep as they passed through its silent streets。 The guards at the gate shed tears as they opened it for their departure。 They paused not； but proceeded along the banks of the Xenil on the road that leads to the Alpuxarras； until they arrived at a hamlet at some distance from the city； where they halted and waited until they should be joined by King Boabdil。 The night which had passed so gloomily in the sumptuous halls of the Alhambra had been one of joyful anticipation in the Christian camp。 In the evening proclamation had been made that Granada was to be surrendered on the following day； and the troops were all ordered to assemble at an early hour under their several banners。 The cavaliers； pages； and esquires were all charged to array themselves in their richest and most splendid style for the occasion； and even the royal family determined to lay by the mourning they had recently assumed for the sudden death of the prince of Portugal； the husband of the princess Isabella。 In a clause of the capitulation it had been stipulated that the troops destined to take possession should not traverse the city； but should ascend to the Alhambra by a road opened for the purpose outside of the walls。 This was to spare the feelings of the afflicted inhabitants； and to prevent any angry collision between them and their conquerors。 So rigorous was Ferdinand in enforcing this precaution that the soldiers were prohibited under pain of death from leaving the ranks to enter into the city。
The rising sun had scarce shed his rosy beams upon the snowy summits of the Sierra Nevada when three signal guns boomed heavily from the lofty fortress of the Alhambra。 It was the concerted sign that all was ready for the surrender。 The Christian army forthwith poured out of the city； or rather camp； of Santa Fe； and advanced across the Vega。 The king and queen； with the prince and princess； the dignitaries and ladies of the court； took the lead； accompanied by the different orders of monks and friars； and surrounded by the royal guards splendidly arrayed。 The procession moved slowly forward； and paused at the village of Armilla； at the distance of half a league from the city。
In the mean time； the grand cardinal of Spain； Don Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza； escorted by three thousand foot and a troop of cavalry； and accompanied by the commander Don Gutierrez de Cardenas and a number of prelates and hidalgos； crossed the Xenil and proceeded in the advance to ascend to the Alhambra and take possession of that royal palace and fortress。 The road which had been opened for the purpose led by the Puerta de los Molinos； or Gate of Mills； up a defile to the esplanade on the summit of the Hill of Martyrs。 At the approach of this detachment the Moorish king sallied forth from a postern gate of the Alhambra； having left his vizier； Yusef Aben Comixa； to deliv