Boabdil was alarmed by the gathering dangers from without and by the clamors of his starving people.  He summoned a council, composed of the principal officers of the army, the alcaids of the fortresses, the xequis or sages of the city, and the alfaquis or doctors of the faith.  They assembled in the great hall of audience of the Alhambra, and despair was painted in their countenances.  Boabdil demanded of them what was to be done in their present extremity; and their answer was, “Surrender.”  The venerable Abul Kazim Abdalmalek, governor of the city, represented its unhappy state:  “Our granaries are nearly exhausted, and no further supplies are to be expected.  The provender for the war-horses is required as sustenance for the soldiery; the very horses themselves are killed for food; of seven thousand steeds which once could be sent into the field, three hundred only remain.  Our city contains two hundred thousand inhabitants, old and young, with each a mouth that calls piteously for bread.”

The xequis and principal citizens declared that the people could no longer sustain the labors and sufferings of a defence.  “And of what avail is our defence,” said they, “when the enemy is determined to persist in the siege?—­what alternative remains but to surrender or to die?”

The heart of Boabdil was touched by this appeal, and he maintained a gloomy silence.  He had cherished some faint hope of relief from the Sultan of Egypt or the Barbary powers, but it was now at an end; even if such assistance were to be sent, he had no longer a seaport where it might debark.  The counsellors saw that the resolution of the King was shaken, and they united their voices in urging him to capitulate.

The valiant Musa alone arose in opposition:  “It is yet too early,” said he, “to talk of a surrender.  Our means are not exhausted; we have yet one source of strength remaining, terrible in its effects, and which often has achieved the most signal victories—­it is our despair.  Let us rouse the mass of the people; let us put weapons in their hands; let us fight the enemy to the very utmost, until we rush upon the points of their lances.  I am ready to lead the way into the thickest of their squadrons; and much rather would I be numbered among those who fell in the defence of Granada than of those who survived to capitulate for her surrender!” The words of Musa were without effect.  Boabdil yielded to the general voice; it was determined to capitulate with the Christian sovereigns; and the venerable Abul Kazim was sent forth to the camp empowered to treat for terms.

The old Governor was received with great distinction by Ferdinand and Isabella, who appointed Gonsalvo of Cordova and Fernando de Zafra, secretary to the King, to confer with him.  All Granada awaited, in trembling anxiety, the result of his negotiations.  After repeated conferences he at length returned with the ultimate terms of the Catholic sovereigns.  They agreed to suspend all attack for seventy days, at the end of which time, if no succor should arrive to the Moorish King, the city of Granada was to be surrendered.