CHAP. I V . ]
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
97
proofs of the distinguished valor which accompanied his wisdom and his lofty desires."* The campaign in which Columbus is here said to have borne so honorable a part, was one of the most glorious of the war of Granada.
Queen Isabella attended with all her court, including
as usual a stately train of prelates and friars, among whom is particularly mentioned the procrastinating arbiter of the preten sions of Columbus, Fernando de Talavera.
Much of the success
of the campaign is ascribed to the presence and counsel of Isa bella.
The city of Baza, which was closely besieged and had
resisted valiantly for upwards of six months, surrendered soon after her arrival; and on the 22d of December, Columbus beheld Muley Boabdil, the elder of the two rival kings of Granada, sur render in person all his remaining possessions, and his right to the crown, to the Spanish sovereigns. During this siege a circumstance took place which appears to have made a deep impression on the devout and enthusiastic spirit of Columbus.
Two reverend friars arrived one day at the
Spanish camp, and requested admission to the sovereigns on business of great moment.
They were two of the brethren of
the convent established at the holy sepulchre at Jerusalem. They brought a message from the Grand Soldan of Egypt, threatening to put to death all the Christians in his dominions, to lay waste their convents and churches, and to destroy the sepulehre, if the sovereigns did not desist from the war against Gra nada.
The menace had no effect in altering the purpose of the
sovereigns, but Isabella granted a yearly and perpetual sum of * Diego Ortiz de Zuniga.
VOL.
I.
Ann. de Sevilla, lib. xii, anno 1489, p. 404.
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