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CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
FROM THE SPANISH.
BY
ROBERT SOUTHEY
FIRST AMERICAN EDITION.
LOWELL:
DANIEL BIXBY, MERRIMACK STREET
MDCCCXLVl.
'■ ¿
BOSTON:
PRINTED BY FREEMAN AND BOLLES,
WASHINGTOM STREET.
CONTENTS.
BOOK I.
Pect. Page
I. How King Ferrando reigned in Cas-
lille, . . . . . 4i
ir. Of the lineage of Rodrigo of Bivar, . 4f
III. Of the strife between Count Gomez
and Diego Laynez, and how
Rodrigo slew him, .
IV. How Rodrigo took the five Moorish
kings, .....
V. How Ximena Gomez asked Rodrigo
of the King in marriage,
VI. How Rodrigo accepted her for his
wife,
VII. How Rodrigo took his wife home,
and of the vow which he made,
VIII. Of the dispute concerning Cala-
horra, .....
IX. Of the charity of Rodrigo towards
the leper, ....
X. Of the combat which was fought for
Calahorra, ....
XI. How the Counts plotted against
Rodrigo, ....
XIÍ, How Rodrigo gained a great victory
over the Moors,
Xni. Of the taking of Viseu,
XIV. Of the taki-.ig of Lamego,
XV. Of the siege of Coimbra,
XVI. How Santiago appeared to the
Greek Bishop,
XVII. Of the grant made by the King to
the monks of Lorvam, .
XVIII. How Rodrigo was knighted,
XÍX. Of the taking of Montemor, .
XX. How Ruydiez was called the Cid,
XXI. How the Emperor demanded tri-
bute of Spain,
XXII. Of the answer which the King
sent,
XXIII. How the Cid defeated the Lord
of Savoy, . . . . G8
47
48
49
lb.
51
ib.
52
54
5G
57
lb.
59
60
61
G2
65
ib.
6C
ib.
67
Sect. Page.
XXIV. How the Pope and the Emperor
yielded their demand, . . 69
XXV. How the King returned into his
own land, .... 70
XXVI. How the King divided his do-
minions, .... ib.
XXVII. How the Infante Don Sancho
complained of the wrong which
was done him, . • .72
XXVIII. Of the death of the King, . ¿6.
BOOK 11.
I. How King Don Sancho was wroth at
the partition of the kingdoms, 75
II. How the Kings of Navarre and Ara-
gón came against Caslille, . 76
III. How King Don Sancho defeated the
King of Aragón, . . . 77
IV. Of the beginning of the strife be-
tween the brethren, . . 78
V. How King Don Sancho had a meet-
ing with his brother Kmg Don
Alfonso, .... 80
VI. How King Don Garcia sent to ask
aid from his brother King Don
Alfonso, .... 81
VII. How Don Rodrigo Frojaz slew
Verna, ib.
VIII. Of the battle at Agoa de Mayas, . 82
IX. How King Don Garcia fled to the
Moors, ..... 84
X. How King Don Garcia went out from
Santarem to battle, . . 85
XI. How Alvar Fancz asked the king
for a horse and arms, . . 86
XII. How King Don Sancho was taken,
and of tlie death of Don Rod-
rigo Frojaz, .... ib.
XIII. How Alvar Fanez rescued the king, 88
XIV. How King Don Garcia was taken, 89
IV
CONTENTS.
Pert. Page.
XV. How King Don Sancho went against
his brother Alfonso, . . 90
XVI. Of the battle at Vulpegora, . . 'Jl
XVII. How the Cid delivered King Don
Sancho, 92
XVIII. How King Don Alfonso fled to
the Moors, .... ib.
XIX. Of the friendship which Alimay-
nion showed to King Don Al-
fonso, ..... 93
XX. Of the talk which the Moors held,
in what manner Toledo could
be taken, .... 95
XXI. How Alimaymon took an oath.
from Kinc: Don Alfonso, . 96
XXII. How King Don Sancho crowned
himself king of the three king-
doms, 98
XXIII. How King Don Sancho went
against ¿amora, ... 99
XXIV. Of the message which the king
sent to Doña Urraca, . . ib.
XXV. Of the council which Doña Ur-
raca held, and the answer
which she gave, . . .102
XXVI. How the King was wroth with
the Cid, . . . .103
XXVII. How Doña Urraca resolved to
yield the town, . . .105
XXVIII. How Vellido Dolfos fled out
of the town, . . . .107
XXIX. How the men of Zamora warn-
ed King Don Sancho of the
treason which was designed, 108
XXX. How King Don Sancho was slain
by treason, .... 109
XXXI. How Vellido Dolfos fled to Doña
Urraca for protection, . . 110
XXXII. Of the death of the king, . Ill
BOOK III.
I. How it was resolved to impeacli the
people of Zamora, .
II. How Don Diego Ordonez made the
impeachment,
III. Of the manner in which the combat
was to be performed,
IV. How Don Arias and his sons resolv-
ed to do combat for Zamora,
V. How Don Arias was persuaded that
his son Pedrarias should do
battle in his stead,
VI. Of the first combat,
VII. Of the second combat, .
VIII. Oí the third combat, and how it
was left undetermined, .
IX. How King Don Alfonso departed
from Toledo, ....
X. How the Cid would not kiss the
King's hand, ....
XL Of the oath which King Don Alfonso
took,
XII. How Don Alfonso was crowned
liiiig,
XIII. How King Don Alfonso went to
succor Alimaymon,
113
114
115
116
117
lis
119
120
122
124
126
127
128
Sect. Page.
XIV. How the King went into Toledo, 129
XV. Of the noble dealing of the King
with Alimaymun, . . . ib.
XVI. How my Cid won many l)atlles, . 131
XV'II. How King l^on Alfonto was
made wroth with tlie Cid, . 132
XVIII. How ihe Cid was wrongfully
banished, . . . .133
XIX. How the Cid departed from his
own house, being a banished
man, 134
XX. How the Burgalese dared not re-
ceive him, . . . .135
XXI. How the Cid sent to borrow mo-
ney of the Jews, . . . 136
XXII. How tlie Jews lent the money,
and took away the chests, . 138
XXIII. How the Cid went to Doña Xi-
mena at Cárdena, . . .139
XXIV. How the Cid took leave of his
wife and daughters, . . 141
XXV. How the Cid left the kingdom of
King Don Alfonso, . . 142
BOOK IV.
I. How the Cid won the castle of Cas-
trejon, 143
II. How the Cid sold his spoil to the
Moors, 144
III. How the Cid went against Alcocer, 145
IV. Of the taking of Alcocer, . . 146
V. How the King of Valencia sent orders
to take the Cid alive, . . 147
VI. How the Cid was besieged in Al-
cocer, . . . . .ib.
VIL How the Cid went out to give them
battle, 148
VIII. How Pero Bermudez carried the
banner into the middle of the
Moors, 149
IX. Of the great victory won by the Cid, 150
X. How the Cid sent a present to King
Don Alfonso, ... 151
XL How Alvar Fanez presented the
horses to the King, . . 152
XII. How the Cid departed from Al-
cocer, . . . . • 153
XIII. How the Cid was received into
Zaragoza, .... 154
XIV. How the Cid spoiled the country, 155
XV. How Don Ramon Berenguer came
to take away his spoil from
the Cid, . . . .156
XVI. Of the great bounty of the Cid to-
wards Don Ramon Berenguer, 157
XVII. How the Cid won all the lauds of
Borriana, . . . .160
XVIII. How the Cid defeated King
Abenalfange and Don Ra-
mon Berenguer ; and of the ib.
great treason which was com-
mitted at Rueda, . . .161
XIX. How the Cid took the castle of
Rueda, 162
XX. How the Cid took King Don Pedro
of Aragón prisoner, . .163
CONTENTS.
Sect. Page.
XXI. How the Cid returned into Cas-
tilla, . - ... 164
BOOK V.
I. How the King of Badajoz would have
taken Toledo, . . .165
II. How Diego Rodriguez, the son of the
Cid, was slain, . . . 166
III. How King Don Alfonso went against
Toledo, ih.
IV. Of the taking of Toledo, . . . 167
V. How Yahia went to spy the state of
Valencia, .... 168
VI. How Yahia was received into Va-
lencia, ..... 169
VII. Of the tax which was raised for
barley for the Christians, . 170
VIII. How Yahia went against Aben-
mazot in Xativa, . . . 171
IX. How Abenalfange came to help
Abenmazot, .... 173
X. How Alvar Fanez plundered the
country, . . . .174
XI. Of the covenant Avhich one of the
sons of Abdalla Azis made
with King Don Alfonso, . 175
XII. How Alvar Fanez was called away
from Valencia, . . . 176
XIII. How the Cid went to Zaragoza, 177
XIV. How the King of Zaragoza could
not win the city as he thought, 178
XV. How Count Ramon Berenguer
came against Valencia, . ih.
XVI. Of the covenant which was made
between King Yahia and the
Cid, . . . . _ . 180
XVII. How Count Ramon came with
a great power of Frenchmen
against the Cid, . . . ih.
XVIII. Of the letter which Count Ra-
mon sent unto the Cid, . . 182
XIX. Of the letter which the Cid sent
in reply, .... ih.
XX. How the Cid defeated Count Ra-
mon, ..... 183
XXI. Of the death of Abenalfange, and
how the Cid became master
in the land, .... 185
XXII. How the Cid went to Requena,
thinking to meet the king, . 186
XXIII. How King Don Alfonso banished
the Cid a second time, . . 187
XXIV. How the Cid laid waste the
lands of King Don Alfonso,
and the kins did him justice, 189
XXV. How Abeniaf sent to the Almo-
rávides to come against Va-
lencia, ..... ¿6.
XXVI. How Valencia was won by the
Almorávides, . . . 191
XXVII. How Abeniaf put King Yahia
to death 192
BOOK VI.
1. How Abeniaf was greatly puffed up, . 194
Sect. Page.
II. How the Cid sent letters to Abeniaf, 195
III. How the Cid laid siege to Juballa, . ib.
IV. How the Cid warred against Va-
lencia, 197
V. How the Cid offered to support Abe-
niaf, who agreed to send away
the Almorávides, . . . 193
VI. How Abeniaf sent great treasures .
to the Miramamolin, . . ib.
VII. How the Cid won the suburb of
Alcudia, . . . .199
VIII. How they of Valencia sent away
the Almorávides, and made
peace with the Cid, . . 201
IX. How Juballa became a great town, 202
X. How the Cid made war upon Albar-
razin, 203
XI. How Abeniaf sent for the Cid, . 204
XII. How the Cid asked Abeniaf to
give him a garden, . . 205
XIII. How they of Valencia took cour-
age because of the approach
of the Almorávides, , . 206
XIV. Of the great rain and wind which
caused the Almorávides to turn
back, . . . . . ih.
XV. Of the great price of food in Va-
lencia, and how the suburbs
were destroyed, . . . 208
XVI. How the Almorávides returned
into their own country, . . 209
XVII. Of the lamentation which was
made for Valencia, . .210
XVIII. How they of Valencia put their
trust again in Abeniaf, . . 212
XIX. How Abeniaf took the sons of
Aboegib and delivered them
to the Cid, . . . .213
XX. How Abeniaf went out to meet the
Cid, and how he would not
keep the terms which were
made, 215
XXI. Of the pride and tyranny of Abe-
niaf; and how the ])rice of
food waxed more and more, . 217
XXII. Of the famine which there was
in Valencia, .... 218
XXIII. How they sent to ask aid of the
King of Zaragoza, . , . 219
XXIV. Of the answer of the King of
Zaragoza, and of the search
which Abeniaf made for food, 220
XXV. How the King of Zaragoza sent
letters to Valencia, . . 221
XXVI. How Abenmoxiz rose against
Abeniaf and how he was taken, 222
XXVII. How the Cid attacked the city
and was put to the worst, and
of the great cruelty which he
committed upon the Moors, . 224
XXVIII. How the people went to an
Alfaqui, and it was accorded
that he should go between
them and the Cid, . . . 226
XXIX. How the Cid made Martin Pe-
laez, of a coward, a good
knight, ib.
VI
CONTEiNTS.
Sect. Page.
XXX. How the city was to be yielded
up, if succor did not come
within iiClccn days, . . 230
XXXI. Oí" the riches which were found
upon the messengers, and of
the price of food, . . . 231
XXXIII. How llie city was yielded up, 232
BOOK VII.
I. How the people died after the famine, 234
II. Of the honor which the Cid did unto
the Moors, . . . . ih.
III. How the Cid spake unto the Moors, 235
IV. What farther the Cid said unto the
Moors, 237
V. How the promises of the Cid proved
false, and how he demanded
that Aheniaf should be deliv-
ered into his hands, . . 238
VI. How the Moors asked counsel of
Abdalla Adiz, and how they
delivered up Abeniaf, . . 239
VII. How the Cid said that he would
dwell in the Alcazar, and how
he took possession thereof, 240
VIII. How Abeniaf was tortured to
make him give account of his
riches, and he gave a false ac-
count, and was stoned, . . 242
IX. Of the speech which the Cid made
unto the Moors, telling them
that he would have the city to
himself, 244
X. How the King of Seville came
against Valencia, and was de-
feated, 245
XI. How the Cid numbered his people, 240
XII. How there came a Bishop to Va-
lencia, and the Cid made the
city a bishopric for him, . 247
XIII. How the Cid sent for his wife
and daughters, . . . ih.
XIV. How these messengers came to the
king, and of the great favor
which was shewn them, . 248
XV. How they came to Burgos, and
how Doña Ximena and her
daughters left the monastery
to go with them to Valencia, 250
XVI. How Doña Ximena and her
daughters came to Valencia, 252
XVII. How tidings came that the Mi-
ramamolin was coming against
Valencia, .... 256
XVIII. How the Cid tock his wife and
daughters upon the lower, that
they might see the Moors land, 257
XIX. Of the counsel which was taken,
after what manner they should
attack the Moors, . . . 259
XX. Of the great victory which the Cid
won over King Yuccf, . . ib.
XXI. How the Cid entered the city, and
how he gave in marriage the
damsels of his wife Doña
Ximena, . . . .261
Sect.
XXII
Page.
Of the great spoil which was
found, 2G2
XXIII. How King Yucef died, and of
the charge lie gave his brother
to revenge him, . , . 2G3
XXIV. Of the present which the Cid
sent unto the king, . . ib.
XXV. How the Infantes, of Carrion
desired to marry the Cid's
daughters, . . . . 265
XXVI. How the meeting was appointed
between the Kmg and the Cid, 266
XXVII. How they made ready for the
meeting, .... 267
XXVIII. Of the meeting, . . .268
XXIX. How the King asked the Cid
to give his daughters in mar-
riage to the Infantes, . . 270
XXX. How the Cid dispeeded himself
of the King, . . . .271
XXXI. Of the conditions of the In-
fantes, 272
XXXII. How Alvar Fanez gave his
kinswomen to the Infantes, . 273
XXXIII. Of the marriage, . . .274
BOOK VIII.
I. How King Bucar made ready to re-
venge his brother, King Yucef, 275
II. Of the cowardice shewn by the Infan-
tes of Carrion when the lion
brake loose, .... ih.
III. How the Infantes plotted to revenge
themselves upon the Cid, . 277
IV. How the Infantes were afraid when
they beheld the great power of
the Moors, . . . . 278
V. Of the message sent by King Bucar
to the Cid, .... 279
VI. Of the answer of the Cid, . . 280
VII. Of the order of the Cid's battle, . 281
VIII. How the Cid defeated King Bucar
and twenty-nine kings, . . 233
IX. Of the great spoil which was won-by
the Christians, . . .285
X. How the Infantes said that they
would return into their own
country 236
XI. How Doña Ximena mistrusted the
evil purpose of the Infantes, . 287
XII. Of the partings between the Cid
and his daughters, . . . 288
XIII. How the Infantes would have
slain Abengalvon, . . . 289
XIV. Of the great cruelty which the
Infantes committed upon their
wives, 290
XV. How Felez Munoz found these
dames lying in the forest, . 292
XVI. How Pero Sanchez and the other
knights defied the Infantes, . 293
XVII. How those knights made their
complaint to the king, . . 294
XVIII. How Felez Munoz found a good
man, who took the dames to
bis house, .... 295
COJNTENTS.
Vil
Sect. Page.
XIX. How Diego Tellez took these
dames to Santesteban, . . 29G
XX. How Alvar Fanez demanded jus-
tice of the King against the
Infantes, .... 298
XXI. How Alvar Fanez went for the
dames, 299
XXII. How Pero Bermudez returned
to Valencia, . , . .301
XXIII. How the dames returned to Va-
lencia, 302
BOOK. IX.
I. How the Cid departed for the Cortes, 304
II. How the Infantes would fain have
been held excused, . . 305
III. Of the meeting between the Cid and
the King, . . . . ib.
IV. How the Cid sent his ivory seat to
be placed in the palace, . . 307
V. Of the strife which was about to rise
concerning the ivory seat, . 308
VI. How the Cid and his knights ap-
parelled themselves and went
to the Cortes, . . . 309
VII. How the King bade the Cid sit
on his ivory seat, , . .310
VIII. How the King appointed Alcades
to give judgment in this cause, 31 1
IX. How the Cid demanded back Co-
lada and Tizona, . . . 312
X. How the Cid made his second de-
mand against the Infantes, . 314
XI. How the Cid made his third demand
against the Infantes, . .316
XII. How the Cid defied the Infantes, . 318
XIII. How Pero Bermudez, being an-
gered by the Cid, smote, down
Count Don Garcia, . . . 319
XIV. How the King said that he would
give sentence in this matter, . 320
XV. How the battle was appointed,
and the Cid named his cham-
pions, 321
XVI. How the Infantes of Aragón and
Navarre sent to ask the daugh-
ters of the Cid in marriage, . 323
XVII. How the Cid committed his three
knights to the King's protec-
tion, 324
XVIII. Of the nobleness with which the
Cid distributed his treasure, . ib.
XIX. How the Cid would have given
Bavieca to the King, . . 325
XX. Of what the Cid said to his three
knights, 326
BOOK X.
I. How the King went to Carrion, . . 327
II. How the Infantes sent to desire that
Colada and Tizona might not
be used against them, . . 328
III. How they entered the lists, . . 329
IV. Of the combat between Pero Ber-
mudez and Ferrando Gon-
zalez, 330
Sect. Page.
V. Of the battle between Martin Antoli-
nez and Diego Gonzalez, . 331
VI. Of the battle between Muño Gusticz
and Suero Gonzalez, . . ib.
VII. How the Infantes oí Carrion were
declared traitors, . . . 332
VIII. Of the great joy which was made
in Valencia, .... 334
IX. How the Soldán of Persia sent
presents to the Cid, . . 335
X. Of the presents which the Soldán
sent, 336
XL Of what passed between the messen-
scnger of the Soldán and
the Cid, 338
XII. Of the reason why the Soldán sent
this great present, . . . 339
XIII. Of the coming of the Infantes of
Aragón and Navarre, . . 341
XIV. Of the marriage of the Infantes, . 342
XV. How the messenger of the Soldán
was despatched, . . . 343
XVI. How the Alcade of Valencia was
baptized, . . . .344
BOOK XL
I. How tidings came that King Bucar
was coming against Valencia, 346
II. How St., Peter appeared unto the
Cid, 347
III. How the Cid spake to his people, . 348
IV. How the Cid took to his bed, . . 349
V. How the Cid appointed what should
be done after his death, . . 350
VI. How the Cid made his testament
and departed, .... 351
VII. How King Bucar came up against
the city, . . • .353
VIII. How the Christians went out from
Valencia, .... 354
IX. How King Bucar was utterly dis-
comfited, .... 356
X. How the Moors went into the city, . 357
XL How the sons-in-law of the Cid
Cfime to meet the body, . . 359
XII. How King Don Alfonso came to do
honor to the Cid, . . . 361
XIII. How the body of the Cid was
placed in his ivory chair, . 3C2
XIV. How the company brake up after
this was done, . . . 363
XV. Of the care which was taken of
Bavieca, .... ib.
XVI. Of the death of Doña Ximena, . 364
XVII. Of what happened to a Jew who
would have taken the Cid by
the heard, .... 366
XVIII. How the body of the Cid was
interred, .... 368
XIX. Of the death of Gil Diaz, . . ib.
XX. How the King of Navarre restored
the booty which he had taken,
in bonor'lo the Cid, . . 369
XXI. How the Cid went to the great
battle of the Navas de Tolosa, 370
VIH
CONTENTS.
Sect.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
Page.
How King Don Alfonso the
Wise removed the body of the
Cid, 371
Of the second removal of the
body, and how it was resolved
to remove it again, . . 372
Of the ceremonies before the
lid of the tomb was lifted, . 373
How the third translation was
performed, .... 375
Of the miraculous rain which
fell during this translation, . 376
Sect. Pa^e.
XXVII. Of the letter which the Emper-
or issued touching this trans-
lation, 377
XXVIII. How the tombs were trans-
lated to the middle of the
great Chapel, . . . 379
XXIX. Of the state of those tombs at
the present time, . . . 3S0
XXX. Of the relicks of the Cid, . . 381
XXXI. How the Cid should have been
canonized, .... 383
PREFACE.
This Chronicle of the Cid is wholly translation, but it is
not the translation of any single work. The three following
have been used.
1. CHRONICA DEL FAMOSO CAVALLERO CID
RUYDIEZ CAMPEADOR. Burgos 1593.
The First and only other edition of this Chronicle was
printed in 1552. The Infante Don Fernando, who was
afterwards Emperor, seeing the manuscript at Cárdena, or-
dered the Abbot Don Fr. Juan de Velorado to publish it,
and obtained an order from his grandfather Fernando the
Catholic King to the same effect. The Abbot performed
his task very carelessly and very inaccurately, giving no ac-
count of the manuscript, and suffering many errors to creep
into the text, which might have been corrected by collating
it with the original.
Beuther, Escolano, and others, ascribe it to Abenalfarax,
the nephew of Gil Diaz. Berganza is of opinion that the
main part was written by Gil Dias himself, because the manu-
script at Cárdena, says, ' Then Abenfax the Moor, who wrote
this Chronicle in Arabic, set down the price of food : And
Abentaxi, according to him, was the name of Gil Diaz be-
fore his conversion. Abenalfarax is named in the end of
the book as the author : he concludes therefore that it was
completed by him ; . . and this the Coronica General con-
2
X PREFACE.
firms by saying, Begun cuenta la Estoria del Cid, que de
aqui adelante compuso Aben Alfarax su sobrino de Gil Diaz
en Valencia. The printed Chronicle however says Abenal-
farax where Berganza reads Abenfax, and ^vrites Alfaraxi
for the Moorish name of Gil Diaz. This question is not
easily decided. There is nothing Arabian in the style of the
Chronicle, except the lamentation for Valencia, which is
manifestly so. It is most probably the work of a Spaniard,
who used Arabic documents.
It is equally impossible to ascertain the age of this Chron-
icle. The Abbot who published it judged that it was as old
as the days of the Cid himself. This supposition is absurd.
Lucas of Tuy and the Archbishop Rodrigo are frequently
cited in it. It was however an old manuscript in 1552. A
much older was seen in 1593 by Don Gil Ramirez de Arel-
lano, which according to his account was in Portugueze, but
agreed in the main with that which had been published.
The older the language, the more it would resemble Portu-
gueze. Another question is, whether it has been inserted in
the Coronica General, or extracted from it : for that the one
copied from the other is certain : but it is equally certain
from the variations, that each must have had some other ori-
ginal ; . . perhaps the Arabic. If the Chronica del Cid be
extracted from the General Chronicle, which is giving it the
latest date, even in that case it was written before the end
of the 13th century ; that is. Little more than 150 years after
the Cid's death ; and whatever fiction has been introduced
into the story, must have been invented long before, or it
would not have been received as truth, and incorporated
into the general history of Spain. This question has not
been, and perhaps cannot be decided. There are some
errors in the Chronicle of the Cid which are corrected in the
General Chronicle, and sometimes it contains passages
which are necessary to explain an after circumstance, but
are not found in the other.'
' The language of the Chr. del Cid is sometimes of greater antiquity
PREFACE. XI
2. Las qiiatro partes enteras de la Crónica de España^ que
mando componei' el Serenissimo Rey Don Alonso limado el
sabio ^ donde se contienen los acontescimientos y hazañas may-
ores y mas señaladas que siigedieron en España^ desde su pri-
mera población hasta casi los tiempos del dicho señor Rey.
Vista y eme)idada mucha parte de su impresión por el maestro
Florian Docampo Cronista del emperador rey nuestro señor.
Con previleg-io imperial.
Fue impressa la presente Crónica general de España en la
magnifica^ noble y antiquissima cibdad de Zamora : por los
honrrados varones Augustin de paz y Juan Picardo com-
pañeros inpressores de libros^ vezinos de la dicha cibdad. A
costa y espensas del virtuso varón Juan de Spinosa mercader de
libros vezino de Medina del Campo. Acabóse en nueve dias
del mes de deziembre. Año del nascimiento de nuestro salva-
dor Jusu Christo de mili y quinientos y quarenta y un años,
Reynando en España el Emperador Don Carlos nuestro Se-
ñor y Rey natural.
Florian de Ocampo relates the history of this first edition
in his epistle dedicatory to Don Liiys de Stuniga y Avila.
The printers of Zamora, he says, came to him and besought
him to give them something which they might publish to the
use and glory of those kingdoms whereof they and he were
natives. He had at that time in his house a manuscript of
this Chronicle, which had been lent him by the Licentiate
Martin de Aguilar. Aguilar joyfully gave up the manu-
script to the printers, and Ocampo undertook to correct the
press as far as he could in those hours which he could spare
from his studies and pursuits : this, says he, I did with such
fidelity, that I would never permit the style, nor order, nor
antique words to be changed, holding any such alteration to
than the other, , . for instance ; . . E tamaño fue el plazer del Rey D.
Fernando e de los suyos quamaño fue el pesar del Rey D. Ramiro de Ara-
gón e de los suyos.
In the Cor. Ger. quan grande and tan grande are the phrases. But
this is a subject which none but a Spaniard can properly investigate.
Xll PREFACE.
be an offence committed upon the work of another. Not-
withstanding this becoming respect for antiquity, Ocampo
passes a censure upon the style at the end of the Sumario.
He says, Todas estas cosas soh'edichas van escritas en estas
quatro partes con plabras antiguas y toscas^ según las usavan
los Españoles al tiempo que las hazian, quando se presciavan
mas de bien obrar que de bien hablar ; puesto que siempre fue
y sera gran alabanza bien hablar a los que bien obran.
The Spanish Chronicles Avere all villanously printed, be-
cause the printers made use of the first manuscript they
could find, and the correctors did their best to bring the lan-
guage to that of their own times, after the newest and most
approved fashion. This mischief Ocampo prevented as far
as he could, but he should have done more ; Ocampo was
not a common Corrector of the Press ! he was Chronicler to
\ the King of Castille, and any manuscript in the kingdom
which he had asked for would have been put into his hands
as readily as that of his friend Aguilar. The copy which he
imphcitly followed happened to be remarkably faulty.
Words and sentences are omitted in almost every column,
whole chapters are wanting, and even one entire reign.
Z urita collated the printed book with a manuscript of great
antiquity, which had once belonged to the famous Mar-
ques de Santillana ; and this copy, in which he had with his
own hand inserted all the omissions, was in the possession of
the Marques de Mondejar. An imperfect manuscript,
which is likewise of great antiquity, is at Salamanca, in
the CoUegio de S. Bartolomé : some man of letters has prefix-
ed a note to it, saying that it contains many chapters which are
not to be found in the printed book. . . y tiene también otra utili-
dad que es, el hallarse aqui los vocablos y voces castellanas an-
liguas en su pureza, sin haberse limado al tietnpo presente,
como la imprimió Florian de Ocampo. If this writer be accu-
rate, the copier of Aguilar's manuscript had modernized the
book as Avell as mutilated it.
Ocampo calls this Avork la Chronica de España, que mando
PREFACE. Xm
componer el Serenissimo Rey D. Alonso, The manuscript
which Zurita collated has la Estoria de España que fizo el
mid noble Rey D. Alonso. The Marques de Mondejar pos-
sessed three manuscripts, neither of which supported Ocam-
po's reading, nor afforded the slightest ground for support-
ing it. On the other hand, Don Juan Manual, Alonso's
nephew, expressly says that the King made the Chronicle,
and in the Prologue the King says so himself. That Florian
de Ocampo, who printed the Prologue, should have over-
looked this, is inconceivable ; and why he should deny that
the King wrote it, in direct contradiction of the King's own
authority, is what he has not explained, and what nobody
can explain for him. Don Francisco Cerda y Rico says,
the real author was Maestre Jofre de Loaysa, Archdeacon of
Toledo, and afterwards Abbot of Santander ; and this he
says he has proved in a dissertation which was ready for the
press. I know not whether this dissertation has appeared,
neither do I know that at the distance of more than ñve cen-
turies any proof can possibly be obtained to show that Alonso
the Wise did not write the history, Avhich he himself says he
Avrote, and which we know he was capable of writing.
The printed Chronicle is divided into four parts, and the
last part is not Alonso's work. Ocampo gives it as his own
opinion, and that of many other intelligent persons, that it
was not written by the author of the three former, because it
contained nothing but what was to be found in other books ;
because the style was different, and the language ruder, . . the
whole being in fact composed of fragments put together
without any attempt at improving them, and because in
many places the writer expressed himself as if he had been
contemporary with the persons whose feats he was then re-
cording. There is no doubt that this opinion is right. It
ends with the death of King St. Fernando, Alonso's father.
It is in this part that the history of the Cid is contained.
This very curious work was reprinted at Valladohd in
1604. It is the latest edition which I have used.
XIV PREFACE.
8. POEMA DEL CID.
Sandoval first mentioned this poem, which is preserved at
Bivar, and gave the four first fines, calfing the whole ' Ver-
sos Barbai'os y Notables. "^ Berganza afterwards inserted
seventeen fines in his Antigüedades. The notice which they
thus gave of its existence excited the curiosity of Sanchez,
to whom Spanish fiterature has been so greatly indebted,
and he published it in the first volume of his Colección de
Poesías Castellanas Anteriores al Siglo X V.
Some leaves are wanting at the beginning of the manu-
script, and one in the middle. The whole fragment con-
sists of 3744 lines, the three last of which are added by the
transcriber ;
Qiiien\escribio este libro deV Dios paraíso : Amen.
Per abbat le escribió en el mes de mayo
En era de mili e CC. . XLV. años.
Who Per Abbat was, and whether Abbat implied his rank
or his name, cannot now be known : . . it is certain that he
was the copier of the book, not the author, by the language,
which is much older than the date of the manuscript. But
there is difficulty concerning the date. There is a space
between the CC and the XLV ; and that space is just as
much as another C would have filled. Perhaps, says San-
chez, the copier put one C too much and erased it ; perhaps
he placed the conjunction e, part of the date being expressed
by words and part by figures, and afterwards erased it as
superñuous ; or possibly some person thought to give the
manuscript greater value by obliterating one C, to make it
appear a century older. The writing seems to be of the
fourteenth century. It is of little consequence ; even upon
that supposition the date is 1307 : and no person can doubt
that the language of the poem is considerably older than
that of Gonzalo de Berceo, who flourished about 1220 ; . . .
a century is hardly sufficient to account for the difference
PREFACE. XV
between them. Sanchez is of opinion that it was composed
about the middle of the twelfth century, some fifty years
after the death of the Cid ; . . . there are some passages
which induce me to believe it the work of a contemporary.
Be that as it may, it is unquestionably the oldest poem in
the Spanish language. In my judgment it is as decidedly
and beyond all comparison the finest.
One other source of information remains to be mentioned,
the popular ballads of the Cid.
ROMANCES DEL CID.
Sarmiento {Mem. para la Hist de la Poesie, § 546. 548.
550.) delivers it as his opinion, that the popular ballads of the
Twelve Peers, Bernardo del Carpió, Ferran Gonzalez, the
Cid, &c. were composed soon after the age of the heroes
whom they celebrate, and were what the Copleros, Trou-
veurs, Joculars, and all the common people, sung at their
entertainments. That these being orally preserved, were
subject to frequent alterations as the language of the country
altered ; and thus when at length they were committed to
writing, their language was materially different, but their
substance remained the same. In support of this authority
which he assigns to them in point of fact, he observes that
the Cor. General frequently cites the Joglares or popular
poets. Their present form he assigns to the end of the
fifteenth century.
Sarmiento describes the collection which he had seen of the
Ballads of the Cid as containing one hundred and two bal-
lads, in old style, and in eight syllable verse. This is the Histo-
ria del muy valeroso Cavallero el Cid Ruy Diez de Bivar,
en Romances, en lengnage antiguo, recopilados por Juan de
Escobar. Sevilla, 1632. The ballads in this little volume are
chronologically arranged ; it is, I believe, the only separate
collection, and by no means a complete one. Two which
Escobar has overlooked are among the Romances nueva-
mente saca/ios de Historias Antiguas de la Crónica de España
XVI PREFACE.
por Lorcnso de Sepulveda vezino de Sevilla. Van añadidos
muchos minea vistos^ compuestos por un Cavallero Cesario,
cuyo nombre se guarda para mayores cosas. Anvers, 1566.
This volume contains forty-one ballads of the Cid, scattered
through it without any regular order. There are thirty-two
in the Romancero General, en que se contienen todas los Ro-
mances que andan impressos, en las nueve partes de Romance-
ros. Aora nuevamente impresso, añadido, y emendado. Medina
del Campo, 1602. Twelve of these are not in Escobar's
collection ; and probably others which he has overlooked
may be found in other Romanceros. Many of these ballads
are evidently little older than the volumes in which they are
contained ; very few of them appear to me to bear any
marks of antiquity, and the greater part are utterly worth-
less. Indeed the heroic ballads of the Spaniards have been
overrated in this country : they are infinitely and every way
inferior to our own. There are some spirited ones in the
Guerras Civiles de Granada, from which the rest have been
estimated ; but excepting these, I know none of any value
among the many hundreds which I have perused. I have
very seldom availed myself of the Romances del Cid.
The Chronicle of the Cid is the main web of the present
volume. I have omitted such parts as relate to the general
history of Spain but have no reference to Ruydiez, and I
have incorporated with it whatever additional circumstances,
either of fact or costume, are contained in the Crónica Gen-
eral or the Poema del Cid. The poem is to be considered
as metrical history, not metrical romance. It was written
before those fictions were invented which have been added
to the history of the Cid, and Avhich have made some authors
discredit what there is not the slightest reason to doubt. I
have preferred it to the Chronicles sometimes in point of
fact, and always in point of costume ; for as the historian of
manners, this poet, Avhose name unfortunately has perished,
is the Homer of Spain. A few material additions have been
made from other authentic sources, and the references are
given, section by section, with exemplary minuteness.
INTRODUCTION.
If any country might have been thought safe from the Sa-
racens, it was Spain. The Wisi-Goths had been nearly
three centuries in possession of it : during that time the in-
dependent kingdoms which were founded by the first con-
querors, had been formed into one great monarchy, more
extensive and more powerful than any other existing at
the same time in Europe ; they and the conquered were
blended into one people ; their languages were intermingled,
and the religion and laws of the peninsula had received that
character which they retain even to the present day. The
Wisi-Goths themselves were a more formidable enemy than
the Mahommedans had yet encountered ; in Persia, Syria,
and Egypt, they had found a race always accustomed to
oppression, and ready for the yoke of the strongest ; among
the Greeks a vicious and effeminated people, a government
at once feeble and tyrannical, and generals who either by
their treachery or incapacity, afforded them an easy con-
quest ; in Africa they overrun provinces which had not yet
recovered from the destructive victories of Belisarius. But
the Spanish Goths were a nation of freemen, and their
strength and reputation unimpaired. Yet in two battles
their monarchy was subverted ; their cities fell as fast as
they were summoned, and in almost as little time as the
Moors could travel over the kingdom, they became masters
of the whole, except only those mountainous regions in which
the language of the first Spaniards found an asylum from
3
18 INTRODUCTION.
the Romans, and which were now destined to preserve the
hberties and institutions of the Goths.
No country was ever yet subdued by foreign enemies,
unless the badness of its government, or the folly of its gov-
ernors, prepared the way for them. The laws of succession
among the Wisi-Goths were ill-defined and worse observed.
There were claimants to the crown abject enough to be wil-
ling to accept it from the hand of the Moorish Conqueror,
and fools enough to suppose that a conqueror would give it
them ; actuated by this vile hope, and by the desire of
destroying their rival, though the utter overthrow of their
country should be brought about by the same means, they
invited the invaders, and aided them with all their influence.
These wretches are inexcusable. Count Julian was pro-
voked by heavier injuries to pursue the same unhappy
course. Rodrigo the reigning King had forcibly violated
his daughter. An act of manly vengeance w^ould have been
recorded with applause ; but he betrayed his country and
renounced his rehgion to revenge an individual wrong, and
for him too there is no excuse. There is httle for those
Arians and other persecuted sectaries, with whom Spain
abounded, who welcomed the Moors, or willingly submitted
to them, . . weak and miserable men, to rejoice in ruin,
because it fell heavier upon their oppressors than them-
selves ! But there were two classes m Spain, the Jcavs and
the slaves, whom the grievances which they endui'ed justi-
fied in forwarding any revolution that afforded them even a
chance of change, and in joining any invaders as their
deliverers. The persecution w^hich the Jews endured from
the Wisi-Goth Kings Avas more atrocious than any to which
that persecuted race had yet been exposed : . . . the fiend-
ish system of extirpation, which has since been pursued
</ against them in the same country, was httle more than a
renewal of the execrable laws enacted by Sisebuto, Suin-
Fuero Juz-
go. 1. 12. thela, Recesuinto, and Egica. If they were detected in
3—11. observing any custom or ceremony of their rehgion, they
INTRODUCTION. 19
were to be killed upon the spot, or stoned, or burnt ; . . .
and finally, upon an absurd accusation that they had con-
spired with the Jews of Africa and other provinces to rise
against the Christians and destroy them, they were all con-
demned to slavery, and their children above the asre of seven Morales.
•^ ' ^ . 12. 62. § 2
taken from them, and baptized. The laws respecting slaves —5. Con-
were miquitous m the highest degree. At one time tney Toledo.
were not admitted as witnesses, and the law which disquali- grada!^. 6.
fied them, classed them with thieves, murderers, and poison- P' ^^^'
ers. If in spite of this law their evidence was taken, it was Puero Juz-
not to be believed, though it had been forced from them by f^j \^' ^'
torture. When it was found that this disqualification too dq_\ 4^
frequently obstructed the course of justice, they were al-
lowed to be heard in trifling actions, and upon any deadly
fray, provided no free witnesses could be found. In ques- Do.— 1. 10.
tions of adultery, treason, coining, murder, and poisoning,
they might be tortured to extort evidence against their mas-
ters : he who gave it under the torture suffered with the
criminal, but if he gave it without compulsion, he escaped ;
this law must often have occasioned the condemnation of
the innocent. If a slave who had been transferred accused do.— l. 6.
his former master, that master had the privilege of re- ^' ^' ' ^'
purchasing him to punish him at pleasure. A law was do.— 1. 5.
made to keep the children of slaves slaves hke their parents, ^' ^' '^^'
because, said the legislator, there is a great confusion of
lineage when the son is not like the father, and as the root
is even so must the branch be. By a still greater injustice,
if a runaway slave of either sex married a free person,
under pretence of being free, the children of that marriage
became slaves to the owner of the fugitive. If a woman do — l. 9.
married her slave, or one Avho having been her slave had L/¿. ' ^^'
been emancipated, both were to be burnt. The very sane- ^^ _ 1 3
tuary was forbidden them ; they used to fly to the churches, ^* ^' ^' ^'
that the clergy might hear their complaints and compel their
merciless owners to sell them ; but even this refuge was
taken away, and it was enacted that they should be given
20 INTRODUCTION.
Fuero Juz- up to piinishmcnt. There was a penalty for harboring fiigi-
t. 4, 1. 18. live slaves ; and whosoever admitted one into his house,
tliough the runaway called himself free, and did not imme-
diately carry him before a judge for examination, was to
receive a hundred stripes and pay the owner a pound ; the
neighbors were Hable to the same penalties, if they did not
supply his neglect ; all persons therefore were bound to
examine a suspicious stranger, and torture him to find out
who he was. If they omitted to do this, men or women, of
whatever race, family, or rank, were to suffer two hundred
stripes, churchmen and officers of justice three hundred, and
Bishop or Lord who was thus guuty, either for compassion
or for a bribe, was to forfeit three pounds to the King, and
do penance during thirty days, Hke one who had been ex-
Do.— 1. 9. communicated. The monstrous severity of this law proves
t. 1. 1. 20. .
how frequently these unhappy people fled from their mas-
ters, and the legislator complains that there Avas neither
city, castle, burgh, nor village, in which runaway slaves
were not concealed. Such were the laws of the Spanish
Goths respecting slavery ! "Where such a system was estab-
lished, the first invader could not but be victorious, because
he found recruits in every house. The kingdom deserved to
fall, and it fell.
The Mahommedans made many proselytes in Spain as
well as everyAvhere else where they established themselves.
But the growth and decline of all Mahommedan empires are
necessarily connected with the civu and religious institutions
of Islamism, and may be traced to them.
In forming a new religion, Mahommed aimed at making
its ritual less burdensome, its morahty more indulgent, and
its creed more rational than those of other nations. It was
not however enough to appeal to the reason, nor even to
the passions of mankind, without at the same time profiting
by their credulity. To the Jews he announced himself as
the Messiah, the conqueror in whom their prophecies cen-
tered ; to the Christians as the Paraclete who was to accom-
INTORDUCTION. 21
plish the yet unfulfilled system of revelation. The mere
robber would soon have been crushed, the mere philosopher
would have been neglected, and he who had attempted to
preach the incommunicable nature of Deity either among Pa-
gan or Christian Idolaters, would hardly have escaped death
as a blasphemer. God is God, was a tenet to which none
would have listened without the daring addition that Ma-
hommed was his prophet. The impiety of one reasonable
doubt would have shocked and terrified those who believed
the impudence of an asserted mission. Reason was too
weak to stand alone, and clung to fanaticism for support.
No traces of a disordered mind are discoverable either in
the life or in the doctrines of Mahommed. The pure theism
which he preached he probably believed ; but his own
claims proceeded from ambition, not from self-deceit. Per-
severing in his object, he varied the means, and never
scrupled at accommodating his institutions to the established
prejudices of the people. At first Jerusalem was chosen to
be the metropolis of his religion, and the point toward which
all the faithful should turn their faces in prayer. This privilege
he transferred to Mecca, and though he destroyed the Idols
of the Caaba, he suffered the black stone which was the great
object of idolatrous worship, to retain its honors. Those
founders or reformers of religion who were inspired, and
those who believed themselves to be so, have spared neither
the prejudices, nor passions, nor feelings, nor instincts,
which opposed them. Mahommed attempted no such con-
quest over human nature : he did not feel himself strong
enough to conquer. His conduct displayed the versatihty
of a statesman, not the inflexibility of an honest fanatic.
The Moslem, in proof of their religion, appeal to the
plenary and manifest inspiration of the Koran. They rest
the divinity of their holy Book upon its inimitable excel-
lence ; but instead of holding it to be divine because it is
excellent, they believe its excellence because they admit its
divinity. There is nothing in the Koran which affects the
22 INTRODUCTION.
feelings, nothing which elevates the imagination, nothing
which enlightens the understanding, nothing Avhich amelio-
rates the heart : it contains no beautiful narrative, no proverbs
of wisdom or axioms of morality ; it is a chaos of detached
sentences, a mass of dull tautology. Not a solitary passage
to indicate the genius of a poet can be found in the Avhole
volume. Inspired by no fanaticism, of a meagre mind, and
with morals of open and impudent profligacy, Mahommed
has effected a revolution which in its ruinous consequences
still keeps in barbarism the greatest and finest part of the
old Avorld. His were common talents, and it is by common
talents that great revolutions have most frequently been
effected ; when the train is ready there needs no lightning
to kindle it, any spark suffices. That his character was not
generally mistaken, is evident from the number of imitators
who started up : there is also reason to suspect that it was
as well understood by many of his friends as by his enemies.
Ali indeed believed in him with all the ardor of youth and
affection ; but they who were convinced by the sword are
suspicious converts, and among these are Abbas and Amrou
and Caled, the holiest heroes of Islamism. Ambition and
the hope of plunder soon filled his armies, and they w^ho
followed him for these motives could teach their children
what they did not believe themselves.
The political and moral system of the Impostor, if system
it may be called, is such as might be expected from one who
aimed only at his own aggrandizement, and had no gener-
ous views or hopes beyond it. That his language and his
institutions have spread together is not to be attributed to
him : this great political advantage necessarily Eirises when
nations are either civilized or converted by force, and it is
only by force that this religion has been propagated ; its
missionaries have marched in armies, and its only martyrs
are those who have fallen in the field of battle. Mahommed
attempted nothing hke a fabric of society : he took abuses
as he found them. The continuance of polygamy was his
INTRODUCTION. 23
great and ruinous error ; where this pernicious custom is
estabhshed, there will be neither connubial, nor paternal, nor
brotherly affection ; and hence the unnatural murders with
which Asiatic history abounds. The Mahommedan impri-
sons his wives, and sometimes knows not the faces of his
own children ; he believes that despotism must be necessary
in the state, because he knows it to be necessary at home :
thus the domestic tyrant becomes the contented slave, and
the atrocity of the ruler and the patience of the people pro-
ceed from the same cause. It is the inevitable tendency of
polygamy to degrade both sexes ; wherever it prevails, the
intercourse between them is merely sexual. Women are
only instructed in wantonness, sensuality becomes the char-
acteristeric of Avhole nations, and humanity is disgraced by
crimes the most loathsome and detestable. This is the pri-
mary and general cause of that despotism and degradation
which are universal throughout the East : not climate, or the
mountaineers would be free and virtuous ; not religion, for
through all the changes of belief which the East has under-
gone, the evil and the effect have remained the same.
Mahommed inculcated the doctrine of fatalism, because it
is the most useful creed for a conqueror. The blind pas-
siveness which it causes has completed the degradation, and
for ever impeded the improvement of all Mahommedan na-
tions. They will not struggle against oppression, for the
same reason that they will not avoid the infection of the
plague. If from this state of stupid patience they are pro-
voked into a paroxysm of brutal fury, they destroy the
tyrant ; but the tyranny remains unaltered. Oriental revo-
lutions are like the casting a stone into a stagnant pool ; the
surface is broken for a moment, and then the green weeds
close over it again.
Such a system can produce only tryants and slaves, those
who are watchful to commit any crime for power, and those
who are ready to endure any oppression for tranquillity. A
barbarous and desolating ambition has been the sole motive
24
INTRODUCTION.
Elmacin.
p. 185.
Elmacin.
p. 298.
Marigny.
Rev. des
Arbes. 1. 1,
p. 298.
Elmacin.
p. 226.
Abul. Pha-
rajius.
p. 183.
of ihcir conquering chiefs ; the wisdom of ihcir wisest sove-
reigns has produced nothing of public benefit : it has ended
in idle rnoralizings, and the late discovery that all is vanity.
One Tyrant at the hour of death asserts the equality of man-
kind ; another, who had attained empire by his crimes, ex-
poses his shroud at last, and proclaims that now nothing but
that is left him. I have slahi the Princes of men, said Azzud
ad Dowlah, and have laid waste the palaces of Kings. I
have dispersed them to the East and scattered them to the
West, and now the Grave calls me, and I must go ! And he
died with the frequent exclamation. What avails my wealth ?
my empire is departing from me ! . . . When Mahmoud,
the great Gazne vide, was dying of consumption in his Palace
of Happiness, h^ ordered that all his treasiu'cs should be
brought out to amuse him. They Avere laid before him, silk
and tapestry, jewels, vessels of silver and gold, coffers of
money, the spoils of the nations whom he had plundered : it
was the spectacle of a Avhole day, . . but pride yielded to
the stronger feeling of nature ; . . Mahmoud recollected that
he was in his mortal sickness, and wept and moralized upon
the vanity of the world.
It were wearying to dwell upon the habitual crimes of
which their history is composed ; Ave may estimate their
guilt by Avhat is said of their virtues. Of all the Abbassides,
none but Mutaded equalled Almanzor in goodness. A slave
one day, when fanning away the flies from him, struck off
his turban, upon Avhich Mutaded only remarked that the boy
was sleepy ; but the Vizir Avho was present fell down and
kissed the ground, and exclaimed, O Commander of the
Faithful, I never heard of such a thing ! I did not think
such clemency had been possible ! . . for it was the custom
of this Caliph, Avhen a slave displeased him, to have the
offender buried alive.
The Mahommedan sovereigns have suffered their just pun-
ishment ; they have been miserable as well as Avicked. For
others they can feel no sympathy, and have learned to take
INTRODUCTION. 25
no interest : for themselves there is nothing but fear ; their
situation excludes them from hope, and they have the per-
petual sense of danger, and the dread of that inevitable hour
wherein there shall be no distinction of persons. This fear
they have felt and confessed ; in youth it has embittered en-
joyment, and it has made age dreadful. A dream, or the
chance words of a song, or the figures of the tapestry, have
terrified them into tears. Haroun Al Raschid opened a vol-
ume of poems, and read. Where are the Kings, and where
are the rest of the world ? They are gone the way which
thou shalt go. O thou who choosest a perishable world, and
callest him happy whom it glorifies, take what the world can
give thee, but death is at the end ! And at these words, he Elmacin.
who had murdered Yahia and the Barmecides, wept aloud.
In these barbarous monarchies the people are indolent,
because if they acquire wealth they dare not enjoy it. Pun-
ishment produces no shame, for it is inflicted by caprice not
by justice. They who are rich or powerful become the vic-
tims of rapacity or fear. If a battle or fortress be lost, the
Commander is punished for his misfortune ; if he become
popular for his victories, he incurs the jealousy and hatred
of the ruler. Nor is it enough that wealth, and honor, and
existence are at the Despot's mercy ; the feehngs and in-
stincts must yield at his command. If he take the son for
his eunuch, and the daughter for his concubine ; if he order
the father to execute the child, it is Avhat Destiny has ap-
pointed, and the Mahommedan says, . . God's will be done.
But insulted humanity has not unfrequently been provoked
to take vengeance ; the monarch is always in danger, be-
cause the subject is never secure ; these are the conse-
quences of that absolute power and passive obedience which
have resulted from the doctrines of Mahommed ; and this
is the state of society wherever his religion has been estab-
lished.
But when Islamism entered Spain, it was in its youth and
vigor ; its destructive principles had not yet had time to de-
4
p. 23
26 INTRODUCTION.
velop themselves ; and its military apostles could safely
challenge corrupted Christianity to a comparison of creeds.
No nation had yet been able to resist them ; they had gone
• on from victory to victory. With the majority of mankind
the successful cause passes for the right one ; and when
there were so many motives for conversion, it is not to be
wondered at that the greater number of the Spanish Goths
became converts to a triumphant faith. When in the first
years of that faith Amrou led an army against Gaza, the
Governor asked, for Avhat reason the city was attacked.
Our Master, replied Amrou, has sent us to conquer you,
unless ye receive our religion ; do this and ye shall be our
Eimacin. Companions and brethren. If ye refuse this, pay a yearly
tribute forever, and we Avill protect you against all invaders.
If neither of these terms be accepted, there can be only the
sword between us, and we must war upon you in obedience
to the command of the Lord. This was the system of the
Mahommedans, and hitherto no policy could have succeeded
better. The Christians who retained their relisrion became
o
a kind of Helots, who supplied the revenue and cultivated
the land ; they were everyAvhere the minority, and as
Mahommedan states grew round them on all sides, it was
not long before they disappeared. The Moors found the
same obsequiousness in Spain as they had done in Africa and
in the East. The main part of the men apostatized, and the
women contentedly learnt a new creed, to qualify them-
selves for foreign husbands, or for the renegadoes who profit-
ed by the ruin of their country. But there yet remained
Gothic valor and Gothic genius. Pelayo baffled them with
a troop of mountaineers, the wreck and remnant of the na-
tion. This hero was strengthened by the accident of his
royal descent ; but it was not for his birth that his fellow
soldiers hfted him upon a shield, and in the hour of difficulty
and danger acclaimed him King. In a strong country, with
the defiles of which he was well acquainted, he maintained
himself against the neighboring Moors. His oa\ti w^eakness
INTRODUCTION. 27
was his best security ; foes like these were beneath the no-
tice of the conqueror ; he who had overthrown the kingdom
of the Goths did not stop to exterminate a handful of ban-
ditti. Once already had Musa crost the Pyrenees and ad-
vanced as far as Carcassomie : he now proposed to overrun
France, proceed through Germany and Hungary to Con-
stantinople, and by this line of conquests, connect Spain
with the Saracen empire. For this enterprise he was pre-
paring when a courier seized the bridle of his horse, and
commanded him in the CaHph's name to set out for Damas-
cus. There was retribution in this. Musa had imprisoned
Tarif because he envied his glory ; he himself was now ar-
rested in his own career, and detained in Syria, while secret
orders were sent to destroy his whole family. All who
were in Africa were cut off. His son Abdalazis, a man
worthy of a better fate, had been left governor in Spain ;
but the commanders of every town at this time exercised
independent authority, and his power was little more than
nominal. To strengthen himself by conciliating the Chris-
tians, he married Egilona, widow of the late King ; her
foolish bigotry Avas one occasion of his ruin. Finding it ^leda. I. 3.
impossible to convert her husband, she placed saint-images
in all her apartments, and made the doors so low that he
could not enter, without bowing his head before her idols.
The Moorish Chiefs interpreted this as an artifice on his
part to entrap them into a gesture which was an acknowl-
edgment of their inferiority. His views were too generous
for their comprehension. He wished to introduce the Gothic
forms of freedom, and with that view assembled them in a
Cortes. They murdered him, that the anarchy might con-
tinue. His head was sent to Damascus, and the Caliph
bade Musa look, if he knew the face. The broken hearted Cardonne.
old man retired to Mecca, seeking there for that consolation, us.'
which, such is the blessed nature of religion, every religion
however corrupted, can in some degree bestow ; and there
he ended his days.
28 INTRODUCTION.
Spain was so distant from the capital of the CaHphs, that
they were continually exerting their authority there, lest their
weakness should be discovered. For this reason it was
their policy frequently to change the Governor, a system
every way pernicious, which allowed integrity no time to be
useful, and hurried avarice into rapacity. A few plunder-
ing expeditions were made beyond the Pyrenees, while
tyranny and extortion provoked frequent commotions at
home. At length Abderrahman, as well to employ a rest-
less people as to gratify his own ambition, collected a pro-
digious army, and burst into France. The cause of civil-
ized society has never been exposed to equal danger, since
the Athenians preserved it at Salamis. Charles Martel met
him by Tours, and destroyed him and his army. To re-
venge this defeat was for awhile the great object of the
Moors, and Christendom was still saved by the same hero.
Dissensions broke out between the original conquerors, and
the Moors Avho had flocked over from Africa : an army of
Syrians was called in, and they soon became a third party.
i^^ise'^'^^ Meantime Pelayo and the Spaniards strengthened them-
Ferreras. sclvcs in Asturias. Wherever they advanced they found a
t. 4. p. 60. ^ ^ ^ ^
number of Christians ready to assist in recovering their
Morales, country. Under Alonzo the Catholic, they became formi-
dable, and then in their turn weakened themselves. His
successor, Froyla, murdered one brother, and was himself
murdered by another, who seized the throne. The inseciu*e
Usurper made himself vassal to the Moors, and liis only
wars were against the slaves in his own kingdom, who had
Bleda. 3. 8. risen upon their Christian masters.
The revolution which established the Abbassides in Syi*ia,
erected another dynasty and a new empire in Spain. Ab-
doulrahman, one of the Ommiades, fled from the massacre
of his family, and hid himself, with his child and his brother,
A. D. 749. in a forest beside the Euphrates. They were discovered,
the boy was slain, the two brethren rode into the river.
One, allured by the promise of his pursuers to spare him.
INTRODUCTION. 29
turned back from the dangerous passage, and was imme-
diately murdered. Abdoulrahman swam on, and effected Cardonne.
. ^ 1. 181.
his escape. He got into Africa, and had found adherents
there who promised to protect him against the Governor,
when deputies came over from the Spanish Moors to invite
him to the kingdom of Spain as his inheritance. His reign
was a perpetual warfare against those who transferred their
loyalty with the throne of the Caliphs, or against chiefs who
fought for their own aggrandizement, and called it the cause
of the Abbassides. Almanzor made one direct effort, and
sent Ala with troops from Africa, and the whole weight of
his authority, to destroy the last of a rival race. He Avas at
Mecca when the head of Ala, salted and filled with cam-
phor, was nailed against his palace door, and the sight made
him rejoice that the sea rolled betAveen him and his enemy.
The Onnmiade triumphed over every opposer ; established ?^^gg"°®'
his throne at Cordova, and left the undisputed sovereignty
of all the Spanish Moors to his son. The race of Abdoul- ^' ^- '^^'^^
rahman should not go without their fame. An astrologer
predicted to his successor Haccham, a happy and glorious
reign, but only of eight years. In the belief of this predic-
tion he reigned with the wholesome fear of death before his
eyes, and no act of injustice or cruelty is of him recorded.
Two elder brethren, to whom he had been wisely preferred
by his father, attempted to dethrone him : he subdued them,
and then settled ample revenues upon these dangerous rivals,
when they were at his mercy. Haccham's armies were
filled by soldiers who loved him ; and when a father died,
the sons received his pay till they also were of an age to serve.
The Christians resisted him with courage ; but he pursued
them into their mountains, and burnt the palace of their
Kings, and so reduced them, that when a wealthy Moor
bequeathed his treasures to ransom his countrymen who
were in captivity among the Spaniards, none could be found
to profit by the bequest. The Pyrenees did not bound his
exploits ; he completed the great Mosque at Cordova with
30t INTRODUCTION.
the «poiLs of Narbonne. The liberality of lliis Caliph was
Cordonne. as danfi^crous to the Christians as his arms. Of his body
1. 225-229. t ■ ■ r r
Rod. Xiin. o;uard, which consisted of five thousand men, three thousand
Hist. Ar. ^ , '
p. 38. were rcncgadoes.
The reign of the second Haccham was more troubled.
Always in arms either against the Leonese, or his own re-
bellious subjects, he was alike terrible to both. A revolt
threw Toledo into the hands of the Christians, who were too
feeble to keep the metropohs which they had thus recovered.
Another mutmy of the citizens incensed Haccham, and the
vengeance which he planned was in the spirit and upon the
scale of Asiatic barbarity. Their fellow citizen Amrouz
was made Governor ; he liu'ed the affections of the people,
and tempted them to plot another rebelhon in which he
should be their leader ; and he persuaded them that a citi-
del would be necessary for their defence. They built one,
and within it, a palace for their new chief. This citadel
was designed to keep the people in obedience, and Amrouz
made the workmen dig a pit secretly within the walls, deep
and wide and long. When everything was prepared, Hac-
cham sent his son to Toledo, on some specious pretext.
Amrouz entertained him and invited aU who possessed either
authority or influence in the town to a feast. As they en-
Hist. Arat. tered, they were seized ; the massacre lasted from morning
Cardonae. ^^ mid-day, and the ready grave was filled with five thou-
Marlaiia 7 ^^^^^ bodies. No provocation can palliate a crime hke this ;
^2- yet all that his subjects complained of in Haccham, w^ere his
sloth, his excesses at table, and above all his love of wine.
New mutinies excited him to new cruelty : meantmie the
Christians insulted his border. A female Moor, as she was
led away into captivity, called upon Haccham to dehver her.
Her appeal was reported to him, and it roused his pride.
He entered the Christian territories at the head of a victorious
army, sought out the woman, and with his own hand broke
Cardonne. j^^j. chains.
1. ¿00,
A second Abdoulrahman succeeded. He is called the
INTRODUCTION. 31
Victorious, though he was more fortunate against his own
rebelhous subjects than against the Christians, who gained
upon his frontier, or the Normans who plundered his coast.
Mahommed, the next in succession, left thkty-three sons ;
one of his forty-four brethren broke the line of inheritance
and seized his nephew's throne. The Usurper was the third
Abdoulrahman, the most magnificent of the Moorish Kings
of Spain. His history is like a tale of Eastern splendor,
with an Eastern moral at the end. To gratify the vanity of
a favorite slave, he built a town and called it after her name,
Zehra, which signifies the ornament of the world. There
were in its palace a thousand and fourteen columns of Afri-
can and Spanish marble, nineteen from Italian quarries, and
a hundred and forty beautiful enough to be presents from the
Greek Emperor. The marble walls of the hall of the Ca-
liph were inlaid with gold ; birds and beasts of gold, stud-
ded with jewels, spouted water into a marble bason in its
centre ; the bason was the work of the best Greek sculptors,
and above it hung the great pearl which had been sent to
Abdoulrahman by the Emperor Leon. The extent of the
buildings may be imagined by the size of his seraglio, which
contained six thousand three hundred persons. This was
his favorite abode. After the chase, to which twelve thou-
sand horsemen always accompanied him, he used to rest in
a pavilion in the gardens ; the pillars were of pure white
marble, the ñoor of gold and steel and jewelry, and in the
midst there Avas a fountain of quicksilver. Yet Abdoulrah-
man left a writing which contained this testimony against
the vanity of the world. From the moment when I began
to reign, I have recorded those days in which I enjoyed
real and undisturbed pleasure : they amount to fourteen.
Mortal man, consider what this world is, and what depend-
ence is to be placed upon its enjoyments ! Nothing seems
wanting to my happiness ; . . riches, honors, to say every-
thing, Sovereign power. I am feared and esteemed by my
contemporary princes, they envy my good fortune, they are
32 INTRODUCTION.
jealous of my glory, they solicit my friendship. Fifty years
have I reigned, and in so long a course of time can count
but fourteen days which have not been poisoned by some
Cardonne. yexatiou.
The reign of his son Haccham Avas short and splendid and
peaceful. He wanted to enlarge his palace at Zehra: the
groimd adjoining was the property of a poor woman, who
would not for any price sell the inheritance of her fathers ;
the workmen took possession by force, and she went to the
Cadi Ibn Bechir with her complaint. Ibn Bechir took a
large sack, mounted his ass, and rode to the Caliph, whom
he found sitting in a pavilion Avhich had been built upon the
place ; he prostrated himself and asked permission to fill the
sack with earth. Having obtained leave, he filled it, and
then requested the Prince would help him to lift it up upon
the ass. Haccham attempted, but found it too heavy.
Prince, then said the Cadi, this is but a small part of that
land whereof you have ^vrongfully deprived one of your sub-
jects ; . . how will you at the last judgment bear the burthen
of the whole ? He restored the ground, and gave with it the
buildings which had already been erected there.
The Christians acquired strength during the distiu-bed reign
of the second Haccham. A race of able kings succeeded
Alfonso the Chaste. Ramiro, Ordoño, and another Alfonso,
called the Great : then came a feebler line, and the Chris-
tians were divided. New states were erected in Navarre, in
Catalonia, and in Aragón : if these sometimes rivalled the
Kings of Leon they were more dangerous to the Moors, and
the common cause was strengthened. But the separation of
Castille from Leon, was a dismemberment, an actual loss of
strength. The bond of unity once broken, jealousies and
wars followed, and the example was mdschievous. GaUcia
was ambitious of becoming independent like Castille, and
frequent rebellions were the consequence. Abdoulrahman
profited little by these dissensions : his power was employed
in gratifying a passion for splendor, for which he is better
Cardonne.
1. 349.
IJ\TRODUCTION. 33
remembered than he would have been for a hfe of greater
activity. His son made only one campaign. A sickly boy
succeeded him. Mahonmied, w^ho w^as appointed his guar-
dian, was called after the manner of the Orientals, Alhagib,
or the Eyelid ; he soon acquired and deserved the name of
Almanzor, the Victorious, by w^hich he is remembered in
history. The genius of this man v^ell nigh proved fatal to
the Spanish Christians, v^eakened as they were by their own
divisions. The Leonese looked on with unconcern or with
satisfaction while he ravaged Cas tille, and the Castillians
were consoled when Leon suffered in its turn. Two and
fifty times did he lead his armies into their country, and re-
turn with their spoils. Such terror had he struck into them,
that Bermudo retreated with the seat of government from
Leon back among the mountains to Oviedo, the bodies of
the Kings his predecessors were taken from their graves and
removed, and the relics of the Saints and Martyrs packed up
for flight. This fear was not without cause. Almanzor ap-
peared before the walls. Count Guillen was in the city, so
far spent with sickness that he could not stand ; nevertheless
when he heard that the Moors had made a breach, he ordered
his men to arm him and carry him in his bed to the place of
danger. There he encouraged the Leonese, more by his
presence than by his weak efforts ; but there he maintained
the breach three days, and there, when another quarter had
been forced, he perished, sword in hand, in his bed. The
conqueror carried his arms farther and ravaged Galicia.
Santiago, the tutelary saint of Spain, the god of their battles,
could not defend his own church. Almanzor sent the great
bells from Compostella to be his trophies, and hung them up
as lamps in the mosque of Cordova. During one of his ex-
peditions, the Christians took advantage of a fall of snow,
and occupied the mountain passes to intercept his return.
The Moor calmly pitched his camp in the valley, and pre-
pared to make it his dwelling place. He ploughed and
sowed the ground, and so harassed the country behind him,
6
34 INTRODUCTION.
Rod. xim. that the Christians offered him a price for his coming harvest,
Hist. Arab. , . , , . . ,
51. and implored him to depart.
They who could not triumph over him while hving, in-
sulted him with lying legends when he was no more.
They asserted that the Saints whose churches he had pro-
faned, struck him with his mortal sickness, and that when
he died the Devil was heard bewailing him along the
banks of the Guadalquivir. But the Moors wrote truly
Cor. Gen. upon his monument, What he was is seen in his actions ;
Haian apud such a Defender of Spain will not be found after him.
p. 49. Yet the ascendency which Almanzor obtained by these
triumphs eventually ruined the Spanish Moors. Their King
had still the nominal authority ; whatever splendor his state
required, and whatever luxuries could tend to amuse or
effeminate him, Avere amply afforded him ; but he was ac-
tually a prisoner ; he never went beyond the precincts of
the palace, and none except the governor's friends were ad-
mitted to see him. For a character thus helpless and
enfeebled, the people could feel no respect ; and they re-
peatedly offered the throne to Almanzor ; he was satisfied
with the substantial sovereignty which he enjoyed, nor could
he be tempted by the wish of leaving a legitimate title to his
son Abdalmelic, a man not unworthy of such a father.
]y[oret. That son was supported during a short administration by his
Navar^^l ^^^^ moderation and his father's fame. His brother, Avho
10. c. 2.§2. gm3(.gg¿g¿^ had less talent and less virtue ; he usurped the
royal title, abused his power, and was soon destroyed.
Civil wars ensued ; the Spanish Moors espoused the cause
of one adventurer, the Africans who had flocked to foUow
Ahnanzor's victories, fought for another ; the race of Ab-
Moret. 1. doulrahman Avas cut off, and his empire was divided. The
12. 2. §4. petty tyrant of every town now called himself King, and
crimes and miseries multiplied with the title. The lower
the sceptre sunk, the more hands were stretched out to
reach it. Ambition takes no warning from example. Hy-
meya, one of these Avretches, asked the Cordovans to make
INTRODUCTION. 85
him King, just as the last puppet had been murdered. They
repUed, Do you not see the tumultuous state of the city ?
The populace will destroy you. Obey me to-day, said Rod. Xim.
he, and kill me to-morrow. Such was the drunken lust for p. 72.
power.
The Moors brought with them into Spain the causes of
their own destruction, . . despotism and polygamy ; con-
sumptive principles, which suffered indeed the body to ma-
ture, but when the growing energy had ceased, immediately
began their morbid and mortal action. These causes pro-
duced their inevitable effects, the war of brother against
brother, the revolt of towns and provinces, the breaking up
of kingdoms. The Spaniards meantime were free ; they
were inferior in numbers, they were less civilized than their
enemies, and their history is sullied by acts of worse barba-
rity ; . . but they were a Christian and a free people. The
moral institutions of Christianity gave them a decided and
increasing advantage. Even its corruptions were in their
favor. Mahommed won his first victory by calHng for an
army of Angels, when his troops were giving way. He
galloped forward, and casting a handful of sand among the
enemy, exclaimed. Let their faces be covered with confu-
sion ! The Moslem believed that the armies of God obeyed
his call, and in that faith they were victorious. The deliv-
erers of Spain encouraged their followers by coarser frauds ;
a hermit had promised them victory, . . or they had seen
visions, . . or the Cross which was their banner, had ap-
peared to them in the sky. The invention of a tutelary
Saint to fight their battles, not metaphorically, but in person,
was a bolder and more animating fiction. Ramiro had
fought a whole day long with the Moors ; he kept the field at
night with a broken and dispirited army, who were com-
pelled to abide the next morning's danger, because they
were surrounded and could not fly. The King called them
together, and told them that Santiago had appeared to him
in a dream, and had promised to be with them in the bat-
36 INTRODUCTION.
lie, visibly and bodily, on a white steed, bearing a white
banner with a red cross. The Leonese, who before this
had lost all hope, began the attack, shoulin"- God and San-
tiago. A knight led them on, riding a white steed, and
bearing a white banner with a bloody cross. They utterly
defeated the Moors. A general tribute in bread and wine
was granted to the Saint's church forever, and a knight's
portion from the spoils of every victory which the Christians
should gam.
This pious fraud was the resom-ce of genius in distress ;
but it had been preluded by deceit, and was systematized
into a national mythology. The body of Santiago had been
discovered under Ramü'o's predecessor ; his grandson Al-
fonso rebuilt the church of the Apostle with greater magni-
ficence than the Christian Kings before him had ever dis-
played ; and its priesthood exercised their ingenuity, in
inventing legends to the honor of their patron Saint, and to
their own emolument. This they did so successfully, that
Compostella became the great point of European pilgrim-
age. The merit of this pilgrimage was enhanced by the
difficulty and danger of the journey ; the pilgrims soon
became so numerous that parties of Moorish, and perhaps
also of Christian banditti, associated to plunder them. On
the other hand, the Canons of St. Eloy erected guest-
houses for their accommodation along the road from France,
and money and estates were often bequeathed to endoAv
them by individuals and princes. After then- example a
few hidalgos who were equally devout and warlike, joined
their property, and formed themselves into a religious broth-
erhood for the purpose of protecting the pilgrims. War
A. D. 1175. never stops at defence. They soon found it their duty to
attack the Misbehevers : and hence, about fourscore years
after the death of the Cid, arose the order of Santiago, which
Mariana, -^^^g g^ Iq^ict the scourge of the Moors.
1. 11. c. 12. o o
A regular system of deceit practised by the priests for
their own immediate interest, continually freshened and
INTRODUCTION. 37
invigorated the enthusiasm of the people. To obtain the
profits of a favorite ahar, was the motive which influenced
the inventor of a Martyr's body, or of an Image ; but when
Chapels were thus founded, cities sometimes grew. A
shepherd told his fellows that he had followed a dove to-
wards a rock, whither by her frequent flight, and turning
back to him upon the wing, she seemed to invite him : there
he had discovered a cavern and an image of the Virgin, at
whose feet the Dove remained undisturbed, being conscious
of divine protection. Such was the devotion of the people
that a town was soon built there. St. Maria la Blanca was Moret.
Ann Hg
deserted by aU its inhabitants for this holier place of resi- Nav! t. i.
dence, but the priests and people go yearly among its ruins ^'
to perform a service for the souls of their forefathers who
are buried there. A pious Spaniard employed his life in
improving the great road to Compostella, opening thickets
and building bridges along the way. About twenty paces
from his little hermitage he made his own tomb. The pil-
grims' gratitude did not cease when their benefactor died.
His tomb became a place of popular devotion ; a splendid
church was at length erected over it, and that church is now
the Cathedral of a City, which is called St. Domingo de la
Calzada, after his name. A hermit, by name Juan, fixed Morales. 9.
his dwelling on Mount Uruela, not far from Jaca : he built oaribay."^
a chapel on one of its summits, and dedicated it to John ^^^'
the Baptist. Four other Monks joined him : the fame of
their piety was bruited abroad, and their chapel became
the chosen spot for the devotion of the Christians round
about. When Juan died, a great multitude assembled at
his funeral ; six hundred hidalgos were among them ; they
saw their numbers, and the strength of the country ; the
feeling which had brought them together excited them ;
they elected a leader, and founded the kingdom of Ña-
Mariana.
varre. l, s. c 1.
The local deities whom their Pagan ancestors had wor-
shipped were less numerous than the Saints who had pa-
38 INTRODUCTION.
tronized the churches of the Spanish Christians. Every
town, almost every village, had been hallowed by tlie death
or burial of Martyrs, to whose wonder-working bodies the
faithful were led sometimes by the song of Angels, more
frequently by lights hovering over their holy graves. Above
all, the Virgin Mother was lavish in her favors to Spain.
Once, she descended in person upon a stone pillar, which
she left behind her, and which is held at this day in as high
veneration by thousands and tens of thousands of CathoUcs,
as the black stone at Mecca is by the Mahommedans.
Sometimes she sent her image down from Heaven. Some-
times a dove guided the chosen discoverer to the cavern
where she had been hidden ; or the hunted beast who ran
to her ruined altar was protected by her pity, or struck dead
for his intrusion. In the number of her titles the deified
Mary exceeded the many-named Diana, as well as in the
extent and effect of her worship. In perusing the attested
history of any one of her images, the reader might think she
had imparted to it all her power, did not the Goddess of the
next great shrine afford a catalogue of w^onders, equally
splendid, equally attested, and equally authentic. These
miracles were easily managed in darkness, and amid the
wilds and ruins of a desolated country. The clergy some-
times, in the confidence of talent, ventured upon a more
A. D. 1053. public and general exhibition. Fernando the Great sent to
Benabet King of Seville, requesting that he would let him
have the body of St. Justa to remove to Leon. Three
Counts and two Bishops were the ambassadors to beg
this boon. Benabet said he knew nothing about it, he
had never heard of St. Justa, but they were very wel-
come to her body if they could find it. Upon this Alvito
the Bishop of Leon said they would pray three days for a
revelation. At the close of the thii'd day Alvito fell asleep
at his prayers, and there appeared to him in a dream an old
man, who told him that St. Justa must not be removed.
Seville was not to be deprived of a treasure reserved for its
INTRODUCTION. 39
glory when it should again become a Christian city, . . but
they might have his body instead. . . And who was he ? . .
He was St. Isidore. Alvito humbly intreated him to be
dreamt of twice more, that he might be sure this was not
merely a dream ; and the dead Bishop gave the desired
proof. At his last appearance he struck the ground thrice
with his crosier, saying. You will find me here, here, here.
In the morning three holes were seen in the ground, and
upon digging there they discovered his body in full odor.
The court and clergy went out from Leon in procession to Sandoval.
meet the relics ; the King and his three sons bore the body
barefooted ; all the Monks and Clergy of the city were
feasted upon the occasion, and Fernando and the Queen
served them at the board. f-^^^ ^^"^'
torum.
The zeal with which these patron saints were worshipped Apr. 4.
was proportionate to the beneficial power which they pos-
sessed. They could preserve their own district from pesti-
lence, and if for the sins of the people they sometimes suf-
fered the Infidels to violate their sanctuaries, they never
failed to punish the violation. In their beatitude they were
still influenced by human feelings, by gratitude, and by
national and local affection. A Saint was the representative
of his townsmen in Heaven where he was supposed to
receive their prayers, and exert all his influence in their
behalf.
The religious fervor of the Moors meanwhile was abating.
Fanaticism in a few generations becomes bigotry. The be-
lief which the first Mahommedans had chosen was inherited
by their children ; in the fathers it had the hfe and ardor of
a new passion ; in the sons it was become habit, inveterate
indeed, but cold. This process has been exemplified in
every age, and by every sect. The Dominicans and Fran-
ciscans of the present day profess the same tenets which their
predecessors practised at the massacre and the auto da fe.
There are analogies in nature ; the wolf has been tamed
into the dog : and swine were once formidable in the forest.
40
INTRODUCTION.
Ill the first years of the Moorish conquest the Christians
carried on a perpetual war against their invaders. There
was no alternative between hostilities and submission ; but
during the anarchy which soon weakened the conquerors,
their little kingdom acquired a respectable strength, and they
could venture to rest from war when peace was convenient.
A righteous national hatred was encouraged by their leaders,
and this hatred was increased by rehgious contempt and ab-
horrence. Yet even these feelings readily gave way when-
ever either public or individual interest required their sacri-
fice. A frequent intercourse necessarily subsisted between
the two people ; discontented chiefs ñed to a Moorish Court
for protection, and the Christian princes, when at war with
each other, scrupled not to invite Moorish assistance. It has
even been said, that when the kingdom of Aragón was
founded, and that compact established between the sovereign
and the people which the Aragonese have struggled so
nobly, but unsuccessfully to maintain, one of the privileges
Zurita 1. 1. proposed to them was, that they might choose either a Chris-
tian, or a Mahommedan King, at pleasure ; but they rejected
it as a thing Avhich ought not to be thought of.
Still the war between the two nations was a war of exter-
mination. Peace was never named, never thought of as a
thing possible ; but because perpetual hostilities would have
destroyed both by famine, they made occasional truces by
common consent, to recover strength for renewing the con-
test : or the weaker power purchased a respite by paying
tribute, till he believed himself strong enough to revolt.
These intervals were short ; the Spaniards could never long
endure to be idle ; they had to recover the coimtry of their
fathers, an honorable and a holy object : and war also was
the business, the amusement, the passion of the age. It was
in war that the chiefs found their sport and their spoil ; that
the King at once employed and gratified a turbulent nobility ;
that the people indulged their worst passions, and beheved
that they were at the same time atoning for their sins. And
c. 5.
INTRODUCTION. 41
what a warfare ! it was to burn the standing corn, to root
up the vine and the ohve, to hang the heads of their enemies
from the saddle-bow, and drive mothers and children before
them with the lance ; to massacre the men of a town in the
fury of assault ; to select the chiefs that they might be mur-
dered in cold blood; to reserve the w^omen for violation,
and the children for slavery ; . . and this warfare year after
year, till they rested from mere exhaustion. The soldiers
of Ferran Gonzalez complained that they led a life hke
Devils, like those in Hell, who rested neither day nor night :
Our Lord, said they, is like Satan, and we are hke his ser-
vants, whose whole delight is in separating soul from body. cor. Gen.
The Spaniards on their part suffered retaliated cruelties, and P- • • •
the perpetual sense of danger. At one time Knights, Nobles,
and Kings, never slept without having the war-horse ready-
saddled in the chamber. P^ q- g3
In the beginning of the eleventh century, Navarre, Aragón,
and Castille, were united under Sancho the Great. But ex-
perience had not taught the Christian Kings good poHcy, and
when accident had joined the separate states, the possessor
divided them at his death, desirous that his sons should all be
Kings, though thereby they inevitably became enemies.
Sancho left Navarre to his eldest son Garcia, Aragón to his
bastard son Ramiro, and Castille to Fernando ; and these
latter states, which had long been independent, now first
received the appellation of kingdom. Zurita, i.i.
Sancho had compelled Bermudo the King of Leon to give ^'
his sister in marriage to Fernando ; the King of Leon had
no children, his sister was his heir, and the kingdom there-
fore would fall to her husband. Leon had long been declin-
ing ; but when the territories of Sancho were divided at his
death, Bermudo hoped to recover its old ascendency, and
declared war against his brother-in-law. Fernando called
Garcia to his aid, and an obstinate battle was fought. Ber-
mudo, who was a brave man, confident in his own strength,
and in that of his horse Pelayuelo, rode into the Castilian
6
42 INTRODUCTION.
army, moaning to engage Fernando man to man ; he was slain
in the atlein})t, and Fernando possessed himself of Leon by
the donble right of conquest and inheritance.
The elder brother regarded with impatience the division
of his father's kingdoms. Fernando had excited some dis-
pute respecting their boundary, and though no enmity was
yet avowed, no fraternal affection existed. It happened that
Garcia fell sick ; the Castilian went to visit him at Najara ;
he discovered that his brother designed to imprison him, and
extort a cession of territory for his ransom, and he hastily
departed, and then sent to excuse his departure on the plea
of urgent business. He soon feigned sickness and requested
Garcia to come and see him ; the king of Navarre came,
and was immediately made prisoner : by the help of money
he effected his escape, and open war followed. Garcia in-
vited the Moors to his assistance, and entered Castille. The
armies met about four leagues from Bui'gos, near Atapuerca.
St. Iñigo, the Abbot of Oña, endeavored to persuade Garcia
to peace ; the good old man was revered by him, and though
his persuasions were vain, still continued in the camp, hoping
he might yet succeed in his mediation. An old knight
called Fortun Sanchez tried also to reconcile the brethren ;
he was Garcia's foster-father, and had loved them both from
infancy. When he found that his advice and entreaties were
of no avail, knowing the danger of Garcia, and that he could
not prevent it, the old man threw off his defensive armor,
and with only his sword and spear, went foremost among
the enemy to die, that he might not behold the overthrow
and destruction of his foster-child. Before the battle began,
two knights whom Garcia had unjustly stript of their pos-
sessions came to him, and demanded that he would redress
then' wrongs, and for the futui'e respect their privileges.
The demand was just, but Garcia gave no ear to it, per-
haps provoked that it should be made like a menace in his
hour of need. They then renoimced their allegiance, and
went over to the Castilian army. The other knights who
INTRODUCTION. 43
had joined with them in their remonstrance, did not indeed
desert the king, but they served him without good will, and
without exertion. There was a band of Leonese, who di-
rected their efforts against him to revenge Bermudo ; the
two knights whom Garcia had wronged, fought in their
company, and one of them thrust him through with a lance.
The wound was mortal. He died upon the field with his
head between the Abbot's knees, the pious old man holding
it, and praying and weeping over him as he expired. A
great stone was set up as a monument, by the brook side Sandoval,
where he was slain. In consequence of this victory Fernán- ' "
do became the most powerful of all the Kings of Spain,
Moor or Christian. It was in his days that the Cid began to
distinguish himself.
HERE BEGINNETH THE FIRST BOOK
OF THE
CHEONICLE OF THE CID
I. King Don Ferrando succeeded to the states of Castille BOOK
after the death of his father King Don Sancho el Mayor, in ^ —
the era 1072, which was the year of the Incarnation 1034, Pe^rrando
and from the coming of the Patriarch Tubal to settle incaltme!*^
Spain 3197, and from the general deluge 3339, and from
the creation of the world 4995, according to the computa-
tion of the Hebrews, and from the beginning of the false
sect of the Moors 413. And in the year 1037 Ferrando
slew Bermudo the King of Leon in battle, who was his
wife's brother, and conquered his kingdom, and succeeded
to it in right of his wife Doña Sancha. So he was the first
person who united the states of Castille and Leon, and the
first who was called King of Castille ; for till this time the
lords of that country had been called Counts. He was a
good king, and one who judged justly and feared God, and
was .bold in all his doings. Before he reigned he had by
Doña Sancha his wife the Infanta Doña Urraca, his eldest
daughter, Avho Avas a right excellent lady, of good customs
and bounty and beauty ; and after her he had the Infante
Don Sancho, his eldest son and heir ; and then the Infanta
Doña Elvira, whom after the death of the King her father,
46 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK her brother Kinsf Don Alfonso married to the Count Don
I. .
'. Garci de Cabra. And after he became King he had the
Infante Don Alfonso, and the Infante Don Garcia, who was
the youngest of all. And he put his sons to read, that they
might be of the better understanding, and he made them
take arms, and be shown how to demean themselves in
SiTr battle, and to be huntsmen. And he ordered that his
(ffronGen daughters should be brought up in the studies beseeming
Gar b^' dames, so that they might be of good customs, and in-
lib. u. cap. structed in devotion and in all things which it behoved them
1. Rod.Tol. ^
lib. 6. cap. to knOAV.
9.
II. In those days arose Rodrigo of Bivar,^ who was a
Ofthe , . 1 r n , ,
lineage of youth Strong m arms and oi good customs ; and the people
Bivarr rejoiced in him, for he bestirred himself to protect the land
from the Moors. Now it behoves that ye should know
whence he came, and from what men he was descended,
because we have to proceed with his history. Ye are to
know therefore, that after the treason which King Don
Ordoño the Second committed upon the Counts of CastiUe,
that country remained without a chief : the people therefore
chose two judges, of whom the one was called Ñuño
Rasuera, and the other Layn Calvo, who married Nuño's
daughter, Elvira Nunez. From Ñuño Rasuera King Don
Ferrando descended, and from Layn Calvo, Diego Laynez,
who took to Avife Doña * Teresa Rodriguez, the daughter of
Don Rodrigo Alvarez, Count and Governor of Asturias, and
* He was lord of the town of that name, now a small place about two
leagues North of Burgos. Berganza conjectures that he was called from
it to distinguish him from his cousin Rodrigo Diaz, son of Count Don
Diego de Asturias.
* The Chr. del Cid calls her Doña Teresa Nunez, and her father Count
Ñuño Alvarez de Amaya. Berganza (5. 10. ^ 117.) quotes two ancient
MSS. to prove that her name was Teresa Rodriguez ; and the Cid's own
name, Rodrigo, must be admitted as some presumption in their favor.
One of these authorities states that Diego Laynez and his wife were
buried at S. Pedro de Cárdena.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 47
had by her this Rodrigo. In the year of the Incarnation BOOK
1026 was Rodrigo born, of this noble hneage, in the city of _______
Burgos, and in the street of St. Martin, hard by the palace
of the Counts of Castille, where Diego Laynez had his^
dwelling. In the church of St. Martin was he baptized, a
good priest of Burgos, whose name was Don Pedro de
Pernesras, beins: his s^odfather : and to this church Rodrisjo ^hy. del
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ _ ^ Cid.cap. 1.
was always greatly affectionate, and he built the belfry 2. Bergan-
tower ^ thereof. 10! § 129.
III. At this time it came to pass that there was strife of the
between Count Don Gomez the Lord of Gormaz, and ^J^^^^^^ ^^"
Diesjo Laynez the father of Rodrisjo ; and the Count in- Count Go-
o J o 7 j^^g2 and
suited Diesfo and ejave him a blow. Now Die2:o was a man Diego Lay-
, . nez, and
in years, and his strength had passed from him, so that he how Rodri-
could not take vengeance, and he retired to his home to him.
dwell there in solitude and lament over his dishonor. And
he took no pleasure in his food, neither could he sleep by
night, nor would he hft up his eyes from the ground, nor
stir out of his house, nor commune with his friends, but
turned from them in silence, as if the breath of his shame
would taint them. Rodrigo was yet but a youth, and the
Count was a mighty man in arms, one who gave his voice
first in the Cortes, and was held to be the best in the war,
and so powerful that he had a thousand friends among the
mountains. Howbeit all these things appeared as nothing
to Rodrigo when he thought of the wrong done to his
father, the first which had ever been ofíered to the blood of
^ In Berganza's days the Casas del Cid were shown at Burgos, aad
probably are so at this day. The Monastery of Cárdena, to which he
had given them, granted them to the city upon a low rent, and on condi-
tion that the arms of Rodrigo should always be preserved over the gate-
way, in token of respect to him who was so great an honor to the city,
and by them the arms of the Monastery, in memory that it had been his
inheritor. Berganza, 5. 10. § 129.
' For this Berganza quotes the Historia de Burgos of P. Fray Melchior
Prieto.
48 CHIIONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Layn Calvo. Ho asked nothing but justice of Heaven,
' and of man he asked only a fair field ; and his father see-
ing of how good heart he was, gave liim his sword and his
blessing. The sword had been the sword of Mudarra in
former times, and Avhen Rodrigo held its cross in his hand,
he thought within himself that his arm was not weaker than
Mudarra's. And he went out and defied the Count and
slew him, and smote off his head and carried it home to his
father. The old man was sitting at table, the food lying
before him untasted, when Rodrigo returned, and pointing
to the head which hung from the horse's collar, dropping
blood, he bade him look up, for there was the herb which
would restore to him his appetite ; the tongue, quoth he,
which insulted you, is no longer a tongue, and the hand
which wronged you is no longer a hand. And the old
man arose and embraced his son, and placed him above
him at the table, saying, that he Avho had brought
Escobar, home that head should be the head of the house of Layn^
Rom, 1,2, ^~ ,
3, 4. Calvo.
How Ro- IV. After this Diego being full of years feU asleep and
the°five°° ^ was gathered to his fathers. And the Moors entered Cas-
kingi^ tille, in great power, for there came with them five Kings,
and they passed above Burgos, and crossed the moimtains
of Oca, and plundered Carrion, and Vilforado, and Saint
Domingo de la Calzada, and Logroño, and Najara, and all
that land ; and they carried away many captives both male
and female, and brood mares, and flocks of all kinds. But
as they were returning with all speed, Rodrigo of Bivar
raised the country, and came up with them in the mountains
of Oca, and fell upon them and discomfited them, and won
back all their booty, and took all the five Kings prisoners.
* The death of Count Gomez is mentioned by the Chronicles, Garibay,
and Mariana, but not the cause of the quarrel. This, with the cir-
cumstances which follow it, is given from the first four Ballads in Esco-
bar's collection.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. • 49
Then he went back to his mother, taking the Kings BOOK
with him, and there he divided the whole spoil with the '.
hidalgos and his other companions, both the Moorish cap-
tives and all the spoil of whatever kind, so that they de-
parted right joyfully, being well pleased with what he had
done. And he gave thanks to God for the grace which
had been vouchsafed to him, and said to his mother, that he
did not think it good to keep the Kings in captivity, but to
let them go freely ; and he set them at Hberty and bade
them depart. So they returned each to his own country,
blessing him for their deliverance, and magnifying his great
bounty ; and forthwith they sent him tribute and acknow- cid. cap. 2.
ledged themselves to be his vassals. íT. 194.
V. King Don Ferrando was going through Leon, put-HowXim-
ting the Kingdom in order, when tidings reached him ofag^g^^!^
the good speed which Rodrigo had had against the Moors. ^"^°ij[^^®
And at the same time there came before him Ximena Go- damage.
mez, the daughter of the Count, who fell on her knees
before him and said. Sir, I am the daughter of Count Don
Gomez of Gormaz, and Rodrigo of Bivar has slain the
Count my father, and of three daughters whom he has left I
am the youngest. And Sir, I come to crave of you a boon,
that you will give me Rodrigo of Bivar to be my husband,
with whom I shall hold myself well married, and greatly
honored ; for certain I am that his possessions will one day
be greater than those of any man in your dominions.
Certes Sir, it behoves you to do this, because it is for God's
service and because I may pardon Rodrigo with a good
will. The King held it good to accomplish her desire ;
and forthwith ordered letters to be drawn up to Rodrigo
of Bivar, wherein he enjoined and commanded him that
he should come incontinently to Falencia, for he had much chr. del
to communicate to him, upon an affair which was greatly to ^¡j^. ^^' ^•
God's service, and his OAvn welfare and great honor. ^- ^^'^■
VI. When Rodrigo saw the letters of his Lord the King f,-^^ f °;
he greatly rejoiced in them, and said to the messengers that J^P{^^¿ ^^'*
50 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK he would fulfil the king's pleasure, and go incontinently at
' his command. And he dight himself full gallantly and
well, and took with him many knights, both his own and of
his kindred and of his friends, and he took also many new
arms, and came to Falencia to the King with two hundred
of his peers in arms, in festival guise ; and the King went
out to meet him, and received him right Avell, and did him
honor ; and at this were all the Counts displeased. And
when the King thought it a fit season, he spake to him and
said, that Doña Zimena Gomez, the daughter of the Count
whom he had slain, had come to ask him for her husband,
and would forgive him her father's death ; wherefore he
besought him to think it good to take her to be his wife, in
which case he would show him great favor. When Ro-
drigo heard this it pleased him well, and he said to the King
that he would do his bidding in this, and in all other things
which he might command ; and the King thanked him
much. And he sent for the Bishop of Falencia, and took
their vows and made them pHght ^ themselves each to the
^ This marriage, with all its circumstances, has been doubted. The
marriage settlement of the Cid to Ximena Diaz, daughter of his cousin
Count Don Diego de Asturias, is extant among the archives of Burgos,
and has been printed by Sandoval. This author, however, who is suiB-
ciently, and more than sufficiently, sceptical concerning the history of the
Cid, admits that the marriage with Ximena Gomez is asserted in so
many manuscripts, and her tomb shown with such evident authenticity in
the monastery of St. Juan de Peña, that there is evidence enough to
prove two marriages, both wives having the same baptismal name, and
the first dying young. — Ay bastantes indicios, y digo provanca suficiente,
para dezir, que Rodrigo Diaz fue casado dos vezes, una en tiempo del Rey
Don Fernando con Ximena Gomez, como dizen las historias, íf. 54.
" I do not," says Berganza, (5. 11. ^ 132.) hold for very certain what
is related of this match ; because of the suspicion there is that the an-
cients intermixed in their histories some marriage adventures taken from
the Joculars {Juglares) ; just as in these times the composers of Come-
dies are wont to invent such, even when they are treating of the histories
of saints." If however it be admitted, as it is, that Rodrigo had a wife
named Ximena Gomez, the circumstances of that marriage are not to be
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. • 51
other according as the law directs. And Avhen they were BOOK
espoused the King did them great honor, and gave them '.
many noble gifts, and added to Rodrigo' s lands more than
he had till then possessed : and he loved him greatly in his
heart, because he saw that he was obedient to his commands, Cid. cap. 4.
and for all that he had heard him say. ff. 194.
VII. So Rodris^o departed from the kinsf, and took hisHowRodri-
spouse with him to the house of his mother, and gave her to wife home,
. and of the
his mother s keepmg. And forthwith he made a vow m her vow which
hands that he would never accompany with her, neither in
the desert nor in the inhabited place, till he had won five
battles in the field. And he besought his mother that she
would love her even as she loved him himself, and that she
would do good to her and show her great honor, for which
he should ever serve her with the better good will. And Chr.delCid.
his mother promised him so to do; and then he departed chr. Gen.
from them and went out against the frontier of the Moors.
VIII. Now the history relates that Kinsj Don Ferrando Oí" i^e dis-
pute con-
contended with King Don Ramiro of Aragón, for the city of cemingCa-
Calahorra, which each claimed as his own ; in such guise
that the King of Aragón placed it upon the trial by combat,
confiding in the prowess of Don Martin Gonzalez, who was
at that time held to be the best knight in all Spain. King
Don Ferrando accepted the challenge, and said that Rodrigo
of Bivar should do battle on his part, but that he was not
then present. And they phghted homage on both parts to
meet and bring each his knight, and the knight who con-
quered should win Calahorra for his Lord. Having ratified
this engagement, they returned into their own lands. And
immediately Ferrando sent for Rodrigo of Bivar, and told
him all the matter as it then stood, and that he was to do
battle. Well pleased was Rodrigo when he heard this, and
disbelieved for their singularity ; had such circumstances appeared incre-
dible, or repugnant to common feeling, they would not have been in-
vented ; — whether therefore they be true or false, they are equally cha-
tacteristic of the state of manners.
52 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK he accorded to all that the King had said that he should do
battle for him upon that cause ; but till the day arrived he
must needs, he said, go to Compostella, because he had
Cid. cap. 6. vowed a pilgrimage; and the King w^as content therewith,
Chr. (Jen. . -r
ff. 195. and gave him great guts.
Of the char- IX. Rodrisfo forthwith set out upon the road, and took
itv of Rod- . . ^ 1 '
rigo to- with him twenty knights. And as he went he did great
leper. good, and gave alms, feeding the poor and needy. And
upon the way they found a leper, struggling in a quagmire,
who cried out to them with a loud voice to help him for the
love of God ; and when Rodrigo heard this, he ahghted from
his beast and helped him, and placed him upon the beast be-
fore him, and carried him with him in this manner to the inn
where he took up his lodging that night. At this were his
knights little pleased. And when supper was ready he bade
his knights take their seats, and he took the leper by the
hand, and seated him next himself, and ate with him out of
the same dish. The knights were greatly offended at this
foul sight, insomuch that they rose up and left the chamber.
But Rodrigo ordered a bed to be made ready for himself
and for the leper, and they twain slept together. When
it was midnight and Rodrigo was fast asleep, the leper
breathed against him between his shoulders, and that breath
was so strong that it passed through him, even through his
breast ; and he awoke, being astounded, and felt for the
leper by him, and found him not ; and he began to call him,
but there was no reply. Then he arose in fear, and called
for light, and it was brought him ; and he looked for the
leper and could see nothing ; so he returned into the bed,
leaving the light burning. And he began to think Avithiii
himself what had happened, and of that breath which had
passed through him, and how the leper was not there. After
awhile, as he was thus musing, there appeared before him
one in white garments, Avho said unto him, Sleepest thou or
wakest thou, Rodrigo ? and he ansAvered and said, I do not
sleep:; but who art thou that bringest with thee such bright-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 53
ness and so sweet an odor ? Then said he, I am Saint BOOK
J.
Lazarus, and know that I was the leper to whom thou didst
so much good and so great honor for the love of God ; and
because thou didst this for his sake hath God now granted
thee a great gift ; for whensoever that ^ breath which thou
hast felt shall come upon thee, whatever thing thou desirest
to do, and shalt then begin, that shalt thou accomplish to
thy heart's desire, whether it be in battle or aught else, so
that thy honor shall go on increasing from day to day; an\d
thou shalt be feared both by Moors and Christians, and
thy enemies shall never prevail against thee, and thou shalt
die an honorable death in thine own house, and in thy re-
nown, for God hath blessed thee ; — therefore go thou on,
and evermore persevere in doing good ; and with that he
disappeared.^ And Rodrigo arose and prayed to our lady
' E por el hien que tu por el su amor me fezisie, otórgate Dios un gran
don, que quando el hafo que sentiste ante te veniere, que comiences la cosa
que quisieres fazer; assi como en lides, o en otras cosas, todas las acabaras
complidamente.
Both the Chronica del Cid and the Chronica General have this passage.
It is remarkable that the promised token is never afterwards referred to.
The Ballad which appears to be one of the more ancient ones, omits the
circumstance altogether. Sepulveda, ff. 66. Escobar. Rom. 12.
^ This miracle of the leper is sufficiently common in hagiology.
Simam Rodriguez, who introduced the Jesuits into Portugal, took one in
like manner into his bed, who disappeared during the night ; for ventura,
sem saber quern agasalhava, recolhia ao mcsmo Christo, saysTellez. In
most of these miraculous stories charity is carried to an excess at once
loathsome and ridiculous. Thus in the Chronicle, diz que les semejava
que caya la gafedad en la escudilla en que comía.
Berganza displays some right Catholic logic upon this subject. We
believe, he says, the cruelty of Dives towards Lazarus in refusing him
the crumbs which fell from his table ; why then should we not believe
that the human heart is capable of an equal degree of charity] And as
if to show there was nothing extraordinary in the miracle, he relates
three such, one of which happened " about, if not at the very same time,
to Pope Leo IX." The devotion of the Cid to St. Lazarus is brought
forward in proof of the truth of the story. He gave certain houses in
Falencia to form a parish and hospital under his invocation, and estab-
54 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK and intercessor St. Mary, that she would pray to her
' blessed son for him to watch over both his body and soul
in all his undertakings ; and he continued in prayer till
Chr. del the day broke. Then he proceeded on his way, and per-
Chr Gen. formed his pilgrimage, doing much good for the love of God
195
and of St. Mary.
Of the com- X. Now the day came which had been appointed for the
bat which • ^ i , -r.
was fought combat concermng Calahorra, between Rodrigo and Don
for Cvfilfi-
horra. Martin Gonzalez, and Rodrigo was not arrived ; there-
fore his cousin Alvar Fañez Minaya imdertook the battle in
his stead, and ordered his horse to be harnessed ^ right well.
While he was arming himself Rodrigo came up and took the
» horse of Alvar Fañez, and entered the lists ; Don Martin
Gonzalez did the same, and the judges placed them fairly,
each in his place, so that neither should have the sun in his
eyes.^ They ran their career, one against the other, and met
so fiercely that their lances brake, and both were sorely
lished a brotherhood {Cofradía) of knights in the hospital to attend to the
lepers. This institution was revived by Don Alonzo Martinez de Olivera,
one of his descendants, as appears by his will, and by a privilege of Fer-
nando IV. granted in 1296. Another proof is, that the promise of per-
petual success made by the Saint was accomplished.
Leprosy is a disease so loathsome, and was considered as so dreadfully
infectious, that it is easy to conceive how charity towards a leper should
be considered as an effort of heroic piety. — Why was there a sort of in-
famy attached to it ? A clergyman becoming a leper was to be super-
seded, and just enough allowed him from his former preferment to subsist
upon ; but if he were disabled by any other disease, a coadjutor was
allowed him, and he was to receive half his income, and retain his rank.
1 Partida. Tit. 16. /. 18.
^ Mando armar su cavallo muy bien. Harness, it may be remembered,
is a word used in our Bible for armor.
' Partiéronles el sol. The phrase is remarkable, and may best be ren-
dered by explaining it. Many battles, in what the Spaniards call the
days of the shield and lance, have been lost because the conquered army
had their faces towards the sun.
" Equally without any favor distributed to them the sun — " is the way
in which Anthony Munday expresses this. Primalcon, P. 1. page 201.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 55
wounded ; but Don Martin began to address Rodrigo, think- BOOK
ing to dismay him: Greatly dost thou now repent, Don '.
Rodrigo, said he, that thou hast entered into these hsts with
me ; for I shall so handle thee that never shalt thou marry
Doña Ximena thy spouse, whom thou lovest so Avell, nor
ever return alive to Castille. Rodrigo waxed angry at these
words, and he replied. You are a good knight, Don Martin
Gonzalez, but these words are not suitable to this place, for
in this business we have to contend with hands and not with
empty speeches ; and the power is in God who will give the
honor as he thinketh best. And in his anger he made at
him, and smote him upon his helmet, and the sword cut
through and wounded as much of the head as it could reach, •
so that he was sorely hurt and lost much blood. And Don
Martin Gonzalez struck at Rodrigo, and the sword cut into
the shield, and he plucked it towards him that with main
force he made Rodrigo lose the shield ; but Rodrigo did not
forget himself, and wounded him again in the face. And
they both became greatly enraged, and cruel against each
other, striking without mercy, for both of them were men
who knew how to demean themselves. But while they thus
struggled Don Martin Gonzalez lost much blood, and for
very weakness he could not hold himself upon his horse, but
fell from his horse upon the ground ; and Rodrigo alighted
and went to him and slew him : and when he had slain him
he asked the judges if there was any thing more to be done
for the right of Calahorra : and they made answer that there
was not. Then came the King Don Ferrando to him, and
alighted by him, and helped to disarm him, and embraced
him much ; and when he was disarmed he went with him
from the field, he and all the Castilians greatly rejoicing ;
but as great as was the pleasure of King Don Ferrando and
his people, so great was the sorrow of King Don Ramiro of
Aragón and of his. And he ordered them to take up Don
Martin Gonzalez, and they carried the body into his own
lands, and he went with it, and Calahorra remained in the q^J; ^^^ ^
power of King Don Ferrando. ^^^- ^^»'
56
CHRONICLE OP THE CID,
BOOK
I.
How the
Counts
plotted
against
Rodriffo.
XL But when the Counts of Castille saw how Rodrigo
. increased day by day in honor, they took counsel together
that they should plot with the Moors, and fix a day of battle
with them, on the day of the Holy Cross in May, and that
they should invite Rodrigo to this battle, and contrive
with the Moors that they should slay him ; by which means
they should be revenged upon him, and remain masters of
Castille, which now because of him they could not be.
This counsel they sent to communicate to the Moors and to
the Moorish Kings who were Rodrigo's vassals, being those
whom he had made prisoners and set at liberty. But they,
when they saw this counsel and the falsehood which was
devised, took the letters of the Counts, and sent them to
Rodrigo their Lord, and sent to tell him all the secret of the
treason. And Rodrigo thanked them greatly for their good
faith, and took the letters and carried to the King, and
showed him all the enmity of the Counts, and especially of
the Count Don Garcia, who was afterwards called of
Cabra. When the King saw this as it was, he was aston-
ished at their great falsehood, and he issued his letters in
which he ordered them to leave his dominions ; then he
went to Santiago on a pilgrimage, and ordered Rodrigo
to cast these Counts out of the land ; and Rodrigo did as
the King commanded him. Then Doña Elvira his kins-
woman, the wife of the Count Don Garcia, came and fell
on her knees before him ; but Rodrigo took her by the
hand and raised her up, and would not hear her till she was
arisen. And when he had raised her up she said, I be-
seech you Cousin, since you have banished me and my
husband, that you would give us a letter to some King who
is one of your vassals, enjoining him to befriend us, and
give us something for your sake, whereon we may Uve.
So he gave her a letter to the King of Cordova, who re-
ceived her and her husband well for the love of Rodrigo,
and gave Cabra to him, that he and his people might dwell
therein. This Count was afterwards so ungrateful to the
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 57
King of Cordova, that he made war upon him from Ca- BOOK
bra which the King had given him, till Rodrigo ^ came and
. 1 •. Chr. del
took It. Cid. cap. 9.
XII. The history relateth that at this time, while the ^gh'^- ^e"-
King was in Galicia, the Moors entered Estremadura, and
the people called upon Rodrigo of Bivar to help them. JJ°^ ^°-
And when he heard the summons he made no delay, but tained a
great vic-
ffathered together his kinsmen and his friends, and went tory over
° ^ . the Moors.
against the Misbelievers. And he came up with them be-
tween Atienza and San Estevan de Gormaz, as they were
carrying away a great booty in captives and in flocks, and
there he had a brave battle with them in the field ; and in
fine Rodrigo conquered, smiting and slaying, and the pur-
suit lasted for seven leagues, and he recovered all the spoil,
which was so great that two hundred horses were the fifth,
for the whole spoil was worth a hundred times a thou- Chr del
sand maravedis. Rodrigo divided the whole among hisn.'chr.
people without covetousness, and returned with great honor.
XIII. Now the greater part of these Moors had been of the tak-
they of Merida, Badajoz, Beja, and Evora, and the Kingyfseu.
was minded to requite them in their own land according to
their deeds ; and he entered into the heart of their country,
carrying with him fire and sword, and pressed them sorely
so that they yielded vassalage. Then turning through Por-
tugal, he won the town of Sea, which was upon the western
slope of the Serra da Estrella ; and also another town
called Gamne, the site whereof cannot now be known, for
in course of years names change and are forgotten. And
proceeding with his conquests he laid siege to the city of
Viseu, that he might take vengeance for the death of King
Don Alfonso, his wife's father, who had been slain before
that city. But the people of Viseu, as they lived with this
^ Como vos lo contara adelante la hystoria says the Chronica del Cid^
and the promise is repeated in the Chronica General; but no such account
is to be found in either.
8
X
58 ClIROiMCLt: OF THE CID,
BOOK iear before their eyes, had fortified their city well, and stored
'. it abundantly with all things needful, and moreover, they
put their trust in their Alcayde, who was an African, by
name Cid Alafum, a man tried in arms. He encouraged
them, saying that the city could not be taken in ten years,
by a greater power than the Christians ; and there were
many good arbalisters in the city, who shot so strong that
neither shield nor armor availed against their quarrels.
King Don Ferrando therefore ordered mantles to be made,
and also pavaises to protect his people ; and moreover he
enjoined them to fasten boards upon their shields, so that
the quarrels from the cross-bows might not pierce through.
And he continued for eighteen days to combat the city,
keeping such good watch, that neither could they within
receive help from without, nor themselves issue forth ; and
on the eighteenth day, which was the Vesper of St. Peter's,
he won the city by force of arms ; and few were they who
escaped from the sword of the conquerors, except those who
retreated with Alafum into the eastle. And on the follow-
ing day at the hour of tierce they also came to terms, and
yielded themselves to his mercy, saving their hves. In this
manner was Viseu ^ recovered by the Christians, and never
after did that city fall into the hands of the barbarians.
And the Moor who had slain Kmg Don ^ Alfonso fell into
' The particulars of this siege are recorded in a MS. Chronicle,
which belonged to Andre de Resende, belter known to antiquarians by
his latinized name, Resendius. Both Brito and Sandoval relate them from
this source.
The Alcayde had lands given him by Ferrando, where his name is still
preserved, a Serra being still called Monte Alafom, and the whole district
the Concelho de Alafoens, from whence the ducal title, lately extinct in
the person of Don Joam Carlos de Braganza, Sousa, e Ligne, the third
Duke. Brito, P. 2. L. 7. C. 28.
^ Alfonso V. Having laid siege to Viseu, he rode out one day to recon-
noitre, with nothing on but his shirt and his cloak, on account of the heat.
This Moor took aim at him, and though he was at a considerable distance
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 59
Ferrándoos power, and the King took vengeance and pim- BOOK
ished him in all the parts which had offended ; he cut
Brito. Mon.
off the foot which had pressed down the Armatost, and Lusitana.
Par. 2. lib.
lopped off the hands which had held the bow and fitted 7. cap. 28.
the quarrel, and plucked out the eyes which had taken the fíf"4.°^ '
mark ; and the living trunk was then set up as a butt for the cid cap.12.
archers. ?98? ^''''
XIV. In all these wars there was not a man who bore of the tak-
greater part, or did better feats in arms, than Rodrigo of Bi- mfgo.
var. And the King went up against Lamego, and besieged
it. Now Zadan Aben Huim, son of Huim Alboazem, the King
thereof, was mightier than all the Kings who had reigned
before him in Lamego, and he had peopled many places
from the Douro ^ even to the rivers Tavora and Vouga.
And because he was well beloved and his city well stored and
strong, all the chief Moors in that district being dismayed
by the fall of Viseu, retired into it, to be under his protection.
But maugre all their power, King Don Ferrando girt the
city round about, and brought against it so many engines,
and so many bastilles, that Zadan submitted, and opened his
gates on the twenty-second of July, the day of St. Mary
Magdalene, being twenty-five days after the capture of Viseu. ?"^*° ^"^•
And Zadan became tributary to the Kins:, and the Kins: took J;, ^- ,^- 2^-
•^ ^' ^ Chr.delCid.
with him many of the Moors, to be employed in buildins: up cap. 13.
„ . ^ ^ Chr. Gen.
the churches which had fallen to ruin since the land was lost. ff. los.
from the walls, shot him between the shoulders, — being, says Morales,
the first and last of our kings who died in war against the Moors. He
was slain in the year 1027.
^ The Armatoste was an instrument made for charginfj the cross-bow
at this time, as they were not made of steel, says Brito. According to
this author, the foot was used to press the bow down ; but in the original
document it is called the foot of the Armatost, which seems as if it acted
upon the instrument like a lever.
^ Duero is the Spanish orthography. I prefer the Portugeze, because,
though the river rises in Spain, it falls into the sea in Portugal ; and it
seems right to adopt that name by which it is known where it is of most
importance.
60 CHliOWlCLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XV. All this while was Coimbra in the power of the
'. misbehevers. And the Abbot of Lorvam took counsel with
of CofmLm! his Monks, and they said, Let us go to King Ferrando and
tell him the state of the city. And they chose out two of
the brethren for this errand. When the Moors therefore
who came to hunt among the mountains took up their lodging
in the monastery, as they were wont to do, these twain said
unto them, We would go to the holy Doniinicum^ to say pray-
ers there for our sins. So feigning this to be their errand
they set forth, and came to the King in the town of Carrion,
and spake unto him in council, saying. Sir King, we come
to you through waters and over mountains and by bad ways,
to tell you concerning Coimbra in what plight it is, if you
desire to know, and in what guise the Moors dwell therein,
what they are and how many, and with how httle heed they
keep the city. And he said unto them, I beseech ye, for the
love of God, say on. Then told they him what they knew :
and the King took counsel upon this matter with Rodrigo of
Bivar, and Rodrigo said, that certes the Lord would help
him to win the city : and he said he would fain be knighted
by the King's hand, and that it seemed to him now that he
should receive knighthood at his hand in Coimbra. A cov-
enant was then made with the two Monks, that they should
go with the army against the city in the month of January
without fail. Now this was in October. Incontinently the
King sent to summon his knights and people, and w^hen one
part of them had assembled at Santa Maria, he bade them
do all the damage they could against Coimbra, and ravage
the country, which accordingly they did. In the mean time
the King made a pilgrimage to Santiago, as Rodrigo had
exhorted him to do ; and he remained there three days and
nights in prayer, offering great gifts, and taking upon himself
great devotion, that it might please God to fulfil his desire.
And with the help of Santiago he gathered together a great
host, and went up against Coimbra in the month of January,
even as he had covenanted, and laid siege to it. And he
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 61
fought against the city all February, and March, and April, BOOK
May and June, five months did he fight, and could not pre- '
vail against it. And w^hen July came the food of the be-
siegers failed them, insomuch that they had only the dole for
a few days left ; then the baggage w^as made ready, and the
sumpter-beasts and serving men v^ere ordered to depart for
Leon, and proclamation was made in the camp that the ar-
my should remain yet four days, and on the fifth they might
break up and depart every one to his own house. But then
the Monks of Lorvam and the Abbot consulted together
and said, Let us now go to the King and give him all the
food which we have, both oxen and cows, and sheep and
goats and swine, wheat and barley and maize, bread and
wine, fish and fowl, even all that we have ; for if the city,
which God forbid, should not be won by the Christians, we
may no longer abide here. Then went they to the King
and gave him all their stores,^ both of flocks and herds, and
pulse, and wine beyond measure, which they had for a
long time stored. Then was there abundance in the camp ;
but they who were within the city waxed feeble for hunger
and long suffering, because the Christians beset them on all
sides, and warred upon them hotly, and brought their en-
gines to bear on every part, and the walls of the city were
broken down. ^ When the Moors saw this they came to the
King, and fell at his feet, and besought him of his mercy that
he would let them depart, leaving to him the city and all that
they had therein, for they asked for nothing but their lives.
And the King had compassion upon them and granted their iJ^^^ p "2!
prayer ; and the city Avas yielded to him on a Sunday at the ^¿^^ ^'¿^y'
hour of tierce, Avhich was before a week had run out since i;V^-^^P^ '*•
' Chr. Gen.
the Monks of Lorvam had succored the host. ff- i98.
XVI. Now it came to pass that while the Kinsf lay be- How Santi-
. . o ► gg(^ appear-
fore Coimbra, there came a pile^rim from the land of Greece e^i to
. . the Greek
on pilgrimage to Santiago ; his name was Estiano, and he Bishop.
' Berganza intimates a possibility that these stores were miraculously
increased by the prayers of the Monks.
62 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK was a Bishop. And as he was praying in the church he
'. heard certain of the townsmen and of the pilgrims saying that
Santiago was wont to appear in battle like a knight, in aid of
the Christians. And when he heard this it nothing pleased
him, and he said unto them, Friends, call him not a knight,
but rather a fisherman. Upon this it pleased God that he
should fall asleep, and in his sleep Santiago appeared to him
with a good and cheerful countenance, holding in his hand a
bunch of keys, and said unto him, thou thinkest it a fable
that they should call me a knight, and sayest that I am not
so : for this reason am I come unto thee that thou never more
may est doubt concerning my knighthood ; for a knight of
Jesus Christ I am, and a helper of the Christians against the
Moors. While he was thus saying a horse was brought him
the which was exceeding white, and the Apostle Santiago
mounted upon it, being well clad in bright and fair armor,
after the manner of a knight. And he said to Estiano, I go
to help King Don Ferrando who has lain these seven months
before Coimbra, and to-morrow, with these keys which thou
seest, will I open the gates of the city unto him at the hour
of tierce, and deliver it into his hand. Having said this he
departed. And the Bishop w^hen he awoke in the morning
called together the clergy and people of Compostella, and
told them what he had seen and heard. And as he said,
Cid.cap.i4. even so did it come to pass; for tidings came that on that
ff 1^98 ^" d^y^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ tierce, the gates of the city had been
tm'Ys. opened.
Of the XVII. King Don Ferrando then assembled his Counts
grant made ^^d chief captains, and told them all that the Monks of Lor-
by the King ^ '
to the vam had done, in brinsfins: him to besiege the city, and in
monks of .. ^ ^ . . ^
Lorvam. supplying his army in their time of need : and the Counts and
chief captains made answer and said, Certes, O King, if the
Monks had not given us the stores of their Monastery, thou
couldest not have taken the city at this time. The King then
called for the Abbot and the brethren, for they w^ere with
him in the host, and said the hours to him daily, and mass in
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 63
St. Andre's, and buried there and in their Monastery as many BOOK
as had died during the siege, either of arrow- wounds or by '.
lances, or of their own infirmities. So they came before him
and gave him joy of his conquest ; and he said unto them,
Take ye now of this city as much as ye desire, since by God's
favor and your council I have won it. But they made an-
swer, Thanks be to God and to you, and to your forefathers,
we have enough and shall have, if so be that we have your
favor and dwell among Christians. Only for the love of God,
and for the remedy of your own soul, give us one church
with its dwelling houses within the city, and confirm unto
us the gifts made to us in old times by your forefathers, and
the good men to whom God give a happy rest. With that
the King turned to his sons and his soldiers, and said. Of a
truth, by our Creator, these who desire so little are men
of God. I would have given them half the city, and they
will have only a single church ! Now therefore, since they
require but this, on the part of God Almighty let us grant
and confirm unto them lyhat they ask, to the honor of God
and St. Mamede. And the brethren brought him their
charters of King Ramiro,, and King Bermudo, and King
Alfonso, and of Gonzalo Moniz, who was a knight and mar-
ried a daughter of King Bermudo, and of other good men.
And the King confirmed them, and he bade them make a
Avriting of all which had passed between him and them at .
the siege of Coimbra ; and when they brought him the
writing, they brought him also a crown of silver and of
gold, which had been King Bermudo's, and which Gonzalo
Moniz had given to the Monastery in honor of God and St.
Mamede. The King saw the crown, how it was set with
precious stones, and said to them. To what end bring ye
hither this crown ? And they said. That you should take it,
Sire, in return for the good which you have done us. But
he answered, Far be it from me that I should take from
your Monastery what the good men before me have given
to it ! Take ve back the crown, and also ten marks of
G4 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK silver, and make with the money a good cross, to remain
'. Avith you forever. And he who shall befriend you, may
God befriend him ; but he Avho shall disturb you or your
Monastery, may he be cursed by the living God and by his
Saints. So the King signed the writing which he had
commanded to be made, and his sons and chief captains
signed ^ it also, and in the -writing he enjoined his children
and his children's children, as many as should come after
him, to honor and protect the Monastery of Lorvam, upon
his blessing he charged them so to do, because he had
„ . ,, found the brethren better than all the other Monks in his
Bnto Mon.
Lus.2.7.28. dominions.
' The history of the siege of Coimbra, as far as the Monks of Lorvam
are concerned, is preserved in this very writing, to which among other
witnesses, the name of Rodrigo Diaz appears. Brito has printed the
original Latin in the Monarchia Lusitana. P. 2. L. 7. C. 28. Its
authenticity has never I believe been called in question ; the Latin is
barbarous, and contains one Arabic word, which was disused at a very
early period ; it differs from the Ballads and Chronicles, in assigning
seven months to the siege, instead of seven years, and is in other
respects authenticated by other records.
There is however one passage which at first appears suspicious. The
Monks in asking leave of the Moors to make their pilgrimage say, —
Volumus ire ad Sanctum Dominicum faceré orationem fro peccatis nos-
tris. Sanctum Dominicum has been literally rendered St. Domingo ; but
Brito has perceived the error, for neither of the St. Domingos were then
born. Dominicum, he says, is here used in its ancient signification, for a
church ; and the church thus called for distinction, is probably that of
San Salvador at Oviedo, then the most famous in Spain for its treasury of
relics. Sandoval explains it in the same manner, but accounts less satis-
factorily for his explanation. He translates the words Santo Domingo,
and says in a marginal note, Santo Domingo seria Oviedo, que por
excelencia se diria Sanctum Dominicum, primer Santo del Stñor.
The document is very valuable, and that not merely because it gives a
fuller and more authentic account of the conquest of Coimbra than is
elsewhere to be found. It proves that the Kings of Leon had possession
of this district at an early age ; that the Christians were tolerated with
the utmost freedom by the Moorish conquerors ; — and that the con-
querors had good reason to repent of thoir toleration.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. S5
XVIII. Then King Don Ferrando knighted Rodrigo of BOOK
Bivar in the great mosque of Coimbra, which he dedicated ___!__
to St. Mary. And the ceremony was after this manner : JJ°^ ^^¡
the King girded on his sword, and gave him the kiss/ but^°^^^^^^-
not the blow. To do him more honor the Queen gave him
his horse, and the Infanta, Doña Urraca fastened on his
spurs ; and from that day forth he was called Ruy diez.''
Then the King commanded him to knight nine noble squires
with his own hand ; and he took his sword before the altar,
and knighted them. The King then gave Coimbra to the
keeping of Don Sisnando, Bishop of Iria ; a man, who
having more hardihood than religion, had by reason of his
misdeeds gone over to the Moors, and sorely infested the
Christians in Portugal. But during the siege he had come
to the King's service, and bestirred himself well against the
Moors ; and therefore the King took him into his favor,
and gave him the city to keep, Avhich he kept, and did
much evil to the Moors till the day of his death. And the cid.cap.i4.
•^ Cr. Gen.
King departed and went to Compostella to return thanks to fF. 199.
^ . Escobar
feantiago. Rom. 13.
XIX. But then Benalfagi, who was the Lord of many of the tak-
lands in Estremadura, gathered together a great power of ["mor.
the Moors and built up the Avails of Montemor, and from
thence waged war against Coimbra, so that they of Coimbra
called upon the King for help. And the King came up
* The blow was given with the hand upon the neck, and with these
words, Despertad, y no os durmáis en las cosas de Cavalleria, — Awake,
and sleep not in affairs of knighthood. Berganza. 5. II. ^ 142. He
adds that the King omitted this, knowing well that the Cid needed no
such exhortation.
^ Ruy is merely the abbreviation of Rodrigo. Berganza (5. 11. ^
142.) infers from this passage, that they who aspired to knighthood were
called only by their baptismal names, and did not assume the patro-
nymic till they had received the order; — in signification that they
were not to pride themselves upon hereditary honor till they were able to
support it.
9
66 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK against the town, and foiigliL against it, and took it. Great
[ honor did Ruydiez win at that siege ; for having to protect
the foragers, the enemy came out upon him, and thrice in
one day was he beset by them ; but he, though sorely
pressed by them, and in great peril, nevertheless Avould not
Brito Mon. Send to the camp for succor, but put forth his manhood
Chr". ciei " i^nd defeated them. And from that day the King gave more
cifr*'' G¿L^" po^ver into his hands, and made him head over all his house-
ff.200. ' hold.
dieTw^7" ^^- ^^^^ the men of Leon besought the King that he
caikd the would repeople Zamora, which had lain desolate since it
was destroyed by Almanzor. And he went thither and
peopled the city, and gave to it good privileges. And while
he Avas there came messengers from the five Kings who
w^ere vassals to Ruydiez of Bivar, bringing him their tri-
bute ; and they came to him, he being with the King, and
called him Cid, which signifyeth Lord, and would have
kissed his hands, but he would not give them his hand till
they had kissed the hand of the King. And Ruydiez took
the tribute, and offered the fifth thereof to the King, in
token of his sovereignty ; and the King thanked him, but
Chr. del would not receive it, and from that time he ordered that
ciir.^Gen. Ruydiez should be called the Cid, because the Moors had so
^- 201- called him.
How the XXI. In those days Pope Victor 11. held a council at
de"manded Florence, and the Emperor Hem-y there made his com-
tribute of pjai^t against King Don Ferrando, that he did not ac-
knowledge his sovereignty, and pay him tribute, like all
other Kings ; and he besought the Pope to admonish him so
to do. And the Pope being a German, and the friend of
Henry, sent to the King to admonish him, and told him that
unless he obeyed he would proclaim a crusade against him ;
and in like manner the Emperor, and the King of France,
and the other Kings, sent to exhort him to obedience, defy-
ing him if he should refuse. When the King saw their
letters he was troubled, for he knew that if this thing were
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 67
done, great evil would follow to Castille and Leon. And BOOK
he took counsel with his honorable men. They seeing '.
on the one hand the great power of the Church, and on
the other the great evil that it would be if Castille and Leon
should be made tributary, knew not what counsel to give ;
howbeit at length they said to him that he should do the
Pope's bidding. At this council the Cid was not present, for
he had lately completed his marriage with Doña Ximena
Gomez, and was then with her ; but at this time he arrived,
and the King showed him the letters, and told him the matter
how it then stood, and what had been the advice of his good
men, and besought him to speak his advice, as a good and
true vassal to his Lord. When the Cid heard what had
passed it grieved him to the heart, more for the counsel
which had been given to the King, than because of the Pope's
commands ; and he turned to the King and said. In an ill
day. Sir, were you born in Spain, if it be in your time to be
made tributary, which it never was before ; for all the honor
which God hath given you, and whatever good he hath done
to you, is lost if it should be so. And, Sir, whoever hath
given you this counsel is not a true man, neither one who
regardeth your honor nor your power. But send to defy
them since they will have it so, and let us carry the war
home to them. You shall take with you five thousand
knights, all of whom are hidalgos, and the Moorish Kings
who are your vassals will give you two thousand knights ;
and. Sir, you are such a one as God loves, and he will not
that your honor should perish. And the Kins: thought that Chr. del
1 n n 1 • r n Cid.cap.2l.
he was well counselled by him, for the Kins: was of a OTeat chr. Gen.
heart.
XXII. Then- the King ordered letters to be written, in Of the an-
which he besought the Pope not to proceed farther against the King
him without just cause, for Spain had been conquered by ^^" *
those who dwelt therein, by the blood of them and of their
fathers, and they had never been tributary, and never would
be so, but would rather all die. Moreover he sent his letters
68 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK to the Emperor and to the other Kings, telHng them that
they well knew the wrong which the Emperor did him,
having no jurisdiction over him, nor lawful claim; and he
besought them to let him alone that he might continue to
wage war against the enemies of the faith ; but if they per-
sisted to speak against him he then sent them back their
friendship, and defied them, and where they all where there
would he go seek them. While this reply was on its way he
gathered together his people, as he and the Cid had advised,
and set forward with eight thousand and nine hundred
knights, both of his own and of the Cid, and the Cid led the
advanced guard. When they had passed the passes of Aspa
they found that the country was up, and the people would
not sell them food ; but the Cid set his hand to, to burn all
the country before him, and plunder from those who Avould
not sell, but to those who brought food he did no "wrong.
And after such manner did he proceed, that wherever the
ciir. del King and his army arrived they found all things of w^hich
Chr^^Gen ^^^^ could Stand in need ; and the news went sounding
if. 202. throughout all the land, so that all men trembled.
How the XXIII. Then Count Remon, Lord of Savoy, with the
Old defeat- ^ ' «^ '
ed the Lord power of the King of France, gathered together twenty
thousand knights and came beyond Tolosa, to hold the road
against King Don Ferrando. And he met with his harbin-
ger ^ the Cid, who Avent before him to prepare lodgings, and
they had a hard battle ; and the men of the Count were dis-
comfited, and he himself made prisoner and many with him,
and many were slain. And the Count besought the Cid of
' Aposentador. Harbinger is the corresponding word : an officer of the
Prince's court, that allotteth the noblemen and those of the household
their lodgings in time of progress. Minshew.
Anthony Munday {Primaleon, Part 1. p. 58.) speaks of the Fourriers
and Harbingers of the Emperor. The former of these terms is found in
French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and German. Its etymology is doubt-
ful, and it seems in England to have given place to a word of more ob-
vious meaning, as Furriel has done in Spain.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 69
his mercy to set him free, saying that he would give him a BOOK
daughter he had, the Avhich was right fair ; and the Cid did '.
as he besought him, and the daughter was given to him, and
he set the Count free. And by this woman King Don Fer- Chr. del
'^ ^ Cid. cap. 22.
rando had his son the Cardinal Ferrando, who was so hon- chr. Gen.
^ . . ff. 202.
orable a man.
XXIV. After this the Cid had another battle with all "ow the
Pope and
the power of France, and discomfited them, and at neither the Empe-
^ .... ror yielded
of these battles did the King and his mxain army arrive. So iheir de-
the news went sounding before them to the council, of the
fierceness of the Cid ; and as tliey all knew that he was the
conqueror of battles, they knew not what to advise ; and
they besought the Pope that he would send to them, beg-
ging them to turn back, and saying that they did not require
tribute. These letters came to the King when he had past
Tolosa, and he took counsel with the Cid and with his good
men, and they advised that he should send two of his good
men to the Pope, who should tell him to send a Cardinal
with power to make a covenant, that this demand should
never again be made upon Spain ; and that persons from
the Emperor and from the other Kings also should come to
ratify this, and meanwhile he would abide where he was.
But if they did not come he would go on to them. Count
Don Rodrigo, and Alvah Fañez Mmaya, and certain learned
men, were sent with this bidding. And when they came to
the Pope and gave him their letters, he was much dismayed,
and he assembled the good and honorable men of the coun-
cil, and asked of them what he should do. And they made
answer that he must do as the King willed him, for none
was so hardy as to fight against the good fortune of his
vassal the Cid. Then the Pope sent Master Roberto, the
Cardinal of St. Sabina, with full powers, and the representa-
tives of the Emperor and of the other Kings came also and
signed the covenant, that this demand should never again
be made upon the King of Spain. And the writings Avhicli cldcap 22
they made were confirmed by the Pope and by the Em- ^•^^- ^^^•
peror and the other Kings, and sealed with their seals.
70 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XXV. Wliilc lilis was doing the King abode where he
was, beyond Tolosa ; six months did he abide there. And
Kin^^ ref ^^^^ Pope scnt to ask of him the daughter of Count Remon ;
his"own"^° and she was then five months gone with child ; and by the
land. advice of his vassal the Cid the King sent her, and sent to
tell the Pope the whole truth, requesting that he would see
she was taken care of; and the Pope ordered that she
should be taken care of till the event should be. And
she was delivered of the Abbot Don Ferrando ; the Pope
Avas his godfather, and brought him up right honorably,
and dispensed with his bastardry that he might hold any
sacred dignity ; and in process of time he was made an
honorable Cardinal. So the King^ returned ^vith great
honor into his own land, and from that time he was called
Don Ferrando the Great, the Emperor's Peer ; and it was
Cid.cap.22. said of him in songs that he had passed the passes of Aspa
ff. 203.^'^ i^ despite of the Frenchmen.
How the XXVI. Many other things did King Don Ferrando,
^i"§ l!" which are Avritten in the book of the Chronicles of the Kins^s
vided his o
dominions. Qf Spain, enriching churches and monasteries, and honoring
the saints and martyrs, and making war upon the misbe-
lievers. And it came to pass when he was waxed old, that
as he was one day saying his prayers, the confessor St.
Isidro appeared unto him, and told him the day and hour
when he should die, to the intent that he might make
ready and confess his sins, and make atonement for them,
and take thought for his soul, that so he might appear
* Berganza believes everything- in the history of this expedition, ex-
cept the episode of the Lord of Savoy's daughter, which he attributes
with good reason to the Joculars. That Ferrando had no bastard son
of that name, or that dignity, is certain ; and to suppose, as the Chronicle
does, that this son was old enough at the King's deatli to have his
brethren confided to his care, is a manifest absurdity. Berganza guesses
that there was such a Cardinal Abbot, but that he was the King's
nephew ; this is a mere guess, for there is no other intimation of the
existence of any such person than in this story, which is so evidently
false in all its parts.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 71
clean from offence before the face of God. From that day BOOK
he, being certain that his end was at hand, began to dis- '
charge his soul. And he devised within himself how to
dispose of the kingdoms which God had given him, that
there might be no contention between his sons after his
death ; and he thought it best to divide his lands among
them ; but this which he thought best proved to be the
worst, and great evil came thereof, for better had it been
that he had left all to the eldest. Howbeit it was his plea-
sure to divide them : he had three sons, Don Sancho who
was the eldest, and Don Alfonso who was the second born,
and Don Garcia who was the youngest ; and two daughters.
Doña Urraca and Doña Elvira. The manner in which he
divided his lands was this ; he gave to Don Sancho the
kingdom of Castille as far as to the river Pisuerga, on the
side of Leon, with the border,^ which included the dioceses
of Osma, and Segovia, and Avila, and on the side of Na-
varre as far as the Ebro, as he had won it from his nephew
Don Sancho Garcia, King of Navarre. To Don Alfonso
he gave the kingdom of Leon, and in Asturias as far as the
river Deva, which runs by Oviedo, and part of Campos as
far as Carrion, and the river Pisuerga, with the border,
which contained the dioceses of Zamora, Salamanca, and
Ciudad Rodrigo, and the city of Astorga, and other lands
in Galicia, with the town of Zebreros. To Don Garcia he
gave the kingdom of Galicia, and all the lands which he
had won in Portugal, with the title of King of Galicia,
which country had had no King of its own since the king-
dom of the Suevi had been overthrown by King Leovegildo. cid.cap.27.
And to Doña Urraca he gave the city of Zamora, with all ff. 204.
* Estremadura is the word which I have rendered Border. It is now
the name of two provinces, one in Spain, the other in Portugal. Bor-
der was its original meaning, as the word implies ; and the country
designated by that name varied, as the Christians extended their con-
quests.
72 UlIKUMCLl:: OF THE CID,
BOOK its dependencies, and with half the Infantazgo ; and the
'. other half, with the city of Toro and its dependencies, to
Sandoval, t^ ~ t-ii •
ff. 15, JJoiia Jjilvira.
1. u.?9. XXVII. When the Infante Don Sancho knew that the
How the I^i^o l^is father had made this allotment, it displeased him,
Saíí^c"ho ^* ^°^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ eldest son ; and he said to his father that he
oHiie^^"^^ neither could nor ought to make this division ; for the
wrong Gothic Kiuffs had in old times made a constitution for them-
which was °
done him. sclvcs, that the kingdom and empire of Spain should never
be divided, but remain one dominion under one Lord. But
the King replied that he wonld not for this forbear to do as
he had resolved, for he had won the kingdom : then the In-
fante made answer, Do as you will, being my father and
Lord ; but I do not consent unto it. So the King made
this division against the right of the Infante Don Sancho, and
it displeased many in the kingdom, and many it pleased ;
Cid.cap.28. but they who were of good understanding perceived the evil
Chr, Gen. i • i i i
ff. 205. which would arise.
Of the XXVIII. After this the King fell sick with the malady
King. whereof he died. And he made himself be carried to Leon,
and there on his knees before the bodies of the saints he be-
sought mercy of them. And putting his crown upon his
head before the holy body of St. Isidro, he called upon God,
saying, O Lord Jesus Christ, thine is the power over all,
and thine is the kingdom, for thou art King of aU king-
doms, and of aU Kings, and of all nations, and aU are at thy
command. And now Lord I return unto thee the kingdom
which thou hast given me, but I beseech thee of thy mercy
that my soul may be brought to the light which hath no end.
Having said thus, he stript himself of the royal robes adorned
w ith gold in which he was arrayed, and took the crown from
his head and placed it upon the altar ; and he put sackcloth^
^ In this instance I have rendered cilicio by sackcloth, a familiar word
in this sense, and here sufficiently accurate. Cilicium, a cilicibus populis
dictum, apud quos (ut inquii Y arro de re rustica, cap . 11.) Cilicia pn-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 73
upon the carrion of his body, and prayed to God, confessing BOOK
all the sins which he had committed against him, and took '
his acquittal from the bishops, for they absolved him from
his sins ; and forthwith he there received extreme unction,
and strewed ashes upon himself. After this by his own or-
der he was carried to St. Mary of Almazan in pilgrimage,
and there he remained thrice nine days, beseeching St. Ma-
ry that she would have mercy upon him and intercede with
her blessed Son for his soul. From thence they carried him
to Cabezón, and there the Abbot Don Ferrando came to
him, an honorable man, and many other honorable men of
his realms, and the Cid Ruydiez, whom the King commend-
ed to the Infante Don Sancho, his son. And after he had . r» ,n^r
■' A. U. 1065.
put all his affairs in order he remained three days lamenting
in pain, and on the fourth, being the day of St John the
Evangelist, he called for the Cardinal Abbot, and commend-
ed Spain and his other sons to him, and gave him his bless-
ing, and then at the hour of sexts* he rendered up his soul
mum confecta sunt. Cilicia Árabes nuncupant velamenta pellibus caprarum
conteocia, ex quibus sihi tentoria faciunt. Isid. Est autem vestís e pilis hirco-
rum et caprarum tonsilibus iexia, qua monachi et eremicolce dum pcBniten-
tiam agebant uti consueverunt. Gr. hiXítíiov^ a Lat. ut alia plura gr(Eca
vocahula a latinis eodem modoformantur. Minshew.
The cilicio was however sometimes made of such materials that to call
it either haircloth or sackcloth would be a contradiction in terms. In a
future work therefore, wherein it will frequently be necessary to mention
it, I shall venture to anglicize the original word, which in all probability
has already been done by some of our Catholic writers. I believe there
are few words in any European language for which a precise term may
not be found in our own ; but our Dictionaries are miserably imperfect.
The Reviews have more than once censured me for having introduced
new words, when not my English but their own ignorance was in fault.
Our word in the Bible is literally from the Hebrew jp:r) sak, — a word
which is said to be the same in almost every known language.
1 Berganza (5. 12. ^ 155.) in examining this account of the King's
death, admits as beyond all doubt, that St. Isidro warned him of it ; —
shews by good proof that he might receive extreme unction before the
Viaticum, and says that Cabezón has been wrongly understood to mean
10
74 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK Avithout Stain to God, being full of years. So they carried him
' to Leon, and buried him near his father, in the Church of St.
Isidro, which he had built. Thirty and one years did King
Don Ferrando the Great, who was peer with the Emperor,
reign over Castille. The Queen his wife lived two years
after him, leading a holy life ; a good Queen had she been
and of good understanding, and right loving to her husband :
alway had she counselled him well, being in truth the mirror
Chr. del of his kingdoms, and the friend of the widows and orphans.
29. 30^^31. Her end was a good end, like that of the King her husband :
ff 'L?^°* God give them Paradise for their reward. Amen.
n. 205. o
the name of a place, E lo llevaron a cabezón meaning that he was carried
in men's arms, being unable to stand.
HERE BEGINNETH THE SECOND BOOK
OF THE
CHEONICLE OF THE CID.
I. The history relates how after the death of King Don BOOK
Ferrando, the three Kings his sons reigned each in his
kingdom, according to the division made by their father, DoiTsancho
who had divided that which should all by right have de- ^t^\rpaí-
scended to the Kinsf Don Sancho. Now the Kinsjs of Spain fifionof the
c5 or kingdoms.
were of the blood of the Goths, which was a fierce blood, ^
for it had many times come to pass among the Gothic Kings
that brother had slain brother upon this quarrel ; from this
* The Chronica Genera/ refers here to the Archbishop Rodrigo, whose
words are these : Sed licet ipse regnum Jiliis divisissei, et partem suam
unicuique assignassei , quia omnis potestas impatiens est consortis, et quia
Reges HispanicB a fcroci Gotthorum sanguine contraocerunt , ne majores ali-
quem velint parent, nee minores superiorem, scBpius inter Gotthos regalia
fuñera fraterno sanguine maduerunt. Rex itaque Sancius, CastellcB et Na-
varrcB finibus non contentus, inhumanitatis GotthiccB successor et hceres, et
sanguinem fratrum siiire, et ad eorum regnam coepit cupidus anhelare, <SfC.
L. 6. C. 15.
The Archbishop himself seems to have had before him the observation
which the Monk of Silos makes on the same occasion. Porro Hispanici
Reges tantm ferocitatis dicuntur fore, quod quum ex eorum stirpe quilihet
Regulus adulta átate jam arma primo sumpserit, sive in fratres, seu in
párenles, si super stiles fuerint , ut jus regale solus obtineat, pro viribus con-
tendere parat. Chronicon Monachi Siliensis, C. 2. ^ 10.
76 CHIIONICLP; OP^ THE CID,
BOOK blood was King Don Sancho descended, and lie tljouglit
that it wonld be a reproach unto him if he did not join to-
gether the three kingdoms under his own dominion, for he
was not pleased with what his father had given him, holding
that the whole ought to have been his. And he went through
cidca^p ^^^^ ^^^^^ setting it in order, and what thhig soever his people
^- 33. asked at his hand that did he grant them freely, to the end
ff- 205. that he might win their hearts.
How the II. Now when Kine^ Don Sancho of Navarre saw that
Kings of ...
Navarre there was a new King in Castille, he thought to recover the
came ° lands of Burcva and of Old Castille as far as Laredo, which
dastiiie. had been lost when the King his father was defeated and
slain at Atapuerca in the mountains of Oca. And now see-
ing that the kingdom of Ferrando was divided, he asked
help of his uncle Don Ramiro, King of Aragón ; and the
men of Aragón and of Navarre entered Castille together.
But King Don Sancho gathered together his host, and put
the Cid at their head ; and such account did he give of his
enemies, that he of Navarre was glad to enjoy Rioja in
peace, and lay no farther claim to what his father had lost.
NoAV the King of Castille was wroth against the King of
Aragón, that he should thus have joined against him without
cause ; and in despite of him he marched against the Moors
of Zaragoza, and laying waste their country with fire and
sword, he came before their city, and gave orders to assault
it, and began to set up his engines. When the King of Za-
ragoza saw the great will which the King had to do e^dl unto
him, and that there Avas none to help him, he thought it best
to come to his mercy, paying tribute, or serving him, or in any
manner whatsoever. And he sent interpreters to King Don
Sancho saying, that he would give him much gold and silver,
and many gifts, and be his vassal, and pay him tribute
yearly. The King received them right honorably, and
when he had heard their bidding he answered resolutely,
being of a great heart. All this which the King of Zaragoza
sends to say unto mo is well, but he hath another thing in
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 77
his heart. He sends to bid me break up the siege and de- BOOK
part from his land, and as soon as I should have departed,
Chr. del
he would make friends unto himself among Christians and
among Moors, and fail me in all which he covenants. Ne-
vertheless I will do this thing which your King requires of
me ; but if in the end he lie, I will come back upon him
and destroy him, trusting in God that he cannot defend him-
self against me. And when the interpreters heard this they
were greatly dismayed, and they returned and told their
King all that he had said. And the Moors seeing that they
could not help themselves, made such terms with him as it
pleased him to grant, and gave him hostages that they might
not be able to prove false. And they gave him gold and
silver and precious stones in abundance, so that with s^reat Cid.cap.33.
'- . Chr. Gen.
riches and full honorably did he and all his men depart from íF. 206.
Sandoval.
the siege. ff. 21.
III. Greatly was the Kins: of Aras^on displeased at this How King
•^ ^ ... Don Sancho
which King Don Sancho had done, thinking that it was to defeated
his great injury and abasement, for Zaragoza he held to be Aragón f
within his conquest. And he came out with all his power to
cut off the King's return, and took possession of the way,
and said unto him that he should not pass till he had made
amends for the great dishonor which he had wrought him,
in coming into his conquest and against his vassals : the
amends which he required was, that he should yield unto
him all the spoil, and all which the King of Zaragoza had
given him, else should he not pass without battle. When
King Don Sancho heard this, being a man of great heart, he
made answer, that he Avas the head of the kingdoms of
Castille and Leon, and all the conquests in Spain were his,
for the Kings of Aragón had no conquests appertaining unto
them, being by right his tributaries, and bound to appear at
his Cortes. Wherefore he counselled him to waive this de-
mand, and let him pass in peace. But the King of Aragón
drew up his host for battle, and the onset was made, and
heavy blows were dealt on both sides, and many horses were
78 CHRONICLR OF TIIK ('ID,
BOOK left without a master. And while the battle was yet upon
'. — the chance, King Don Sancho riding right bravely through
the battle, began to call out Castille ! Castille I and charged
the main body so fiercely that by fine force he broke them ;
and when they were thus broken, the Castihans began
cruelly to slay them, so that King Don Sancho had pity
thereof, and called out unto his people not to kill them, for
they were Christians. Then King Don Ramiro being dis-
comfited, retired to a mountain, and King Don Sancho beset
the mountain round about, and made a covenant with him
that he should depart, and that the King of Zaragoza should
remain tributary to Castille ; and but for this covenant the
King of Aragón would then have been slain or made pris-
oner. This Avas the battle whereof the Black Book of San-
tiago speaketh, saying, that in this year, on the day of the
A. D. 1065. Conversion of St. Paul, was the great slaughter of the Chris-
tians in Porca. In all these wars did my Cid demean
himself after his wonted manner ; and because of the sreat
Chr. del . . ' • n i
Cid.cap.34. feats which he performed the King loved hmi well, and made
ff. 206. him his Alférez ; so that in the whole army he was second
fif "22! ' oiily to the King. And because when the host Avas in the
field it was his office to choose the place for encampment,
therefore was my Cid caUed the Campeador.^
Of the he- lY, While Kinsj Don Sancho was busied in these wars,
ginning 01 "^
the strife King Don Garcia of Galicia took by force from Doña Ur-
nptwppn
the breth- raca his sistcr a great part of the lands which the King their
father had given her. And when she heard this she began
to lament aloud, saying. Ah King Don Ferrando, in an evil
hour didst thou divide thy kingdom, for thereby will all the
^ This word is variously latinized Campiaior, Campidator, and Campi-
ductor. Berganza, by way of explaining it, gives an account of the origin
and form of judicial combats, and supposes that the title w^as given to
Rodrigo either because he was appointed judge of the field on such occa-
sions, or King's Champion. Sandoval's, which I have followed, is the
more probable explanation.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 79
land be brought to destruction. And now also will be ac- BOOK
^ 11.
complished that which my fosterer Arias Gonzalo said, for
now that King Don Garcia who is my younger brother, hath
dispossessed me and broken the oath which he made unto
my father, what will not the elder do, who made the vow by
compulsion, and alway made protestation against the division !
God send that as thou hast disherited me, thou mayest
speedily thyself in like manner be disherited. Amen ! But
when King Don Sancho heard what his brother had done
he was well pleased thereat, thinking that he might now
bring to pass that which he so greatly desired ; and he as-
sembled together his Ricos-omes and his knights, and said
unto them. The King my father divided the kingdoms which
should have been mine, and therein he did unjustly ; now
King Don Garcia my brother hath broken the oath and dis-
herited Doña Urraca my sister ; I beseech ye therefore
counsel me what I shall do, and in what manner to proceed
against him, for I will take his kingdom away from him.
Upon this Count Don Garcia Ordonez arose and said. There
is not a man in the world, Sir, who would counsel you to
break the command of your father, and the vow which you
made unto him. And the King was greatly incensed at him
and said, Go from before me, for I shall never receive good
counsel from thee. The King then took the Cid by the
hand and led him apart, and said unto him, Thou well
knowest, my Cid, that when the King my father commended
thee unto me, he charged me upon pain of his curse that I
should take you for my adviser, and whatever I did that I
should do it with your counsel, and I have done so even until
this day ; and thou hast alway counselled me for the best,
and for this I have given thee a county in my kingdom,
holding it well bestowed. Now then I beseech you advise Chr. del
me how best to recover these kingdoms, for if I have not chr.^^Gen."
counsel from you I do not expect to have it from any man ^' ^^^'
in the world.
80 CliROiMCLl<: OF THE CID,
BOOK V. Greatly troubled at this was the Cid, and he an-
swered and said, 111, Sir, would it behove me to counsel
BonSan-^ you that you sliould go against the will of your father.
m °etinl ^ ^^" ^^^^ know that when I went to Cabezón unto him,
with his after he had divided his kinojdoms, how he made me swear
brother " '
King Don to him that I would alway counsel his sons the best I could,
Alfonso. . *^
and never give them ill counsel ; and while I can, thus must
I continue to do. But the King answered. My Cid, I do
not hold that in this I am breaking the oath made to my
father, for I ever said that the partition should not be, and
the oath which I made was forced upon me. Now King
Don Garcia my brother hath broken the oath, and all these
kingdoms by right are mine : and therefore I will that you
counsel me how I may unite them, for from so doing there
is nothing in this world which shall prevent me, except it be
death. Then when the Cid saw that he could by no means
turn him from that course, he advised him to obtain the love
of his brother King Don Alfonso, that he might grant him
passage through his kingdom to go against Don Garcia :
and if this should be refused, he counselled him not to make
the attempt. And the King saw that his counsel was good ;
and sent his letters to King Don Alfonso, beseeching him to
meet him at Sahagun. When King Don Alfonso received
the letters, he marvelled to what end this might be : howbeit
he sent to say that he would meet him. And the two Kings
met in Sahagun. And King Don Sancho said. Brother, you
well know that King Don Garcia our brother hath broken
the oath made unto our father, and disherited oiu* sister
Doña Urraca : for this I will take his kingdom away from
him, and I beseech you join with me. But Don Alfonso
answered that he would not go against the will of his father,
and the oath which he had sworn. Then King Don Sancho
said, that if he would let him pass through his kingdom he
would give him part of what he should gain : and King Don
Alfonso agreed to this. And upon this matter they fixed
another day to meet ; and then forty knights were named,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BíVAR. 81
twenty for Castille and twenty for Leon, as vouchers that BOOK
this which they covenanted should be faithfully fulfilled on
both sides. Cid.cap.se.
VI. Then King Don Sancho gathered together a great ^.^208?^^*
host, Castilians and Leonese, and they of Navarre and j^^^ j^j^^^
Biscay, Asturians, and men of Aragón and of the border. ^^^^ f^^ask^
And he sent Alvar Fañez, the cousin of the Cid, to Kinsj pi^ from his
\ ^ _ . brother
Don Garcia, to bid him yield up his kingdom, and if he King Doa
refused to do this, to defy him on his part. Alvar Fañez,
albeit unwillingly, was bound to obey the bidding of his
Lord, and he went to King Don Garcia and delivered his
bidding. When King Don Garcia heard it he was greatly
troubled, and he cried out in his trouble and said, Lord
Jesus Christ, thou rememberest the oath which Ave made to
our father ! for my sins I have been the first to break it, and
have disherited my sister. And he said to Alvar Fañez, Say
to my brother that I beseech him not to break the oath which
he made to our father ; but if he will persist to do this thing,
I must defend myself as I can. And Avith this answer Alvar
Fañez returned. Then King Don Garcia called unto him a
knight of Asturias, whose name was Kuy Ximenez, and
bade him go to his brother King Don Alfonso, and tell him
what had passed, and how King Don Sancho would take
away his kingdom from him ; and to beseech him as a
brother that he would not let him pass through his domin-
ions. And King Don Alfonso replied. Say to my brother
that I will neither help King Don Sancho, nor oppose him :
and tell him that if he can defend himself I shall be well
pleased. And with this answer Ruy Ximenez returned, and
. . * Chr del
bade the King look to himself for defence, for he would find cid.cap 37.
no help in his brother. fj- 208.^"'
VII. Now Don Garcia was not beloved in his kingdom How Don
of Gahcia, neither in Portugal, for as much as he showed Frojaf slew
little favor to the hidalgos, both Galegos and Portuguese, ^^'■"^•
and vexed the people with tributes, which he had newly
9 *
82 CHROiNlCLE ÜK THE CID,
BOOK imposed. The cause of all this was a favorite/ by name
' Verna, to whom the King gave so much authority, that he
displeased all the chief persons in his dominions, and
hearkened unto him in all things ; and by his advice it was
that he had despoiled his sister Doña Urraca of her lands, and
his sister Doña Elvira also, and had done other things,
whereby Portugal and Galicia were now in danger to be
lost. And the knights and hidalgos took counsel together,
how they might remedy these evils, and they agreed that
the King should in the name of them all be advised how ill
he was served, and entreated to put away his favorite.
Don Rodrigo Frojaz was the one named to speak unto the
King ; for being a man of approved valor, and the lord of
many lands, it was thought that the King Avould listen more
to him than to any other. But it fell out otherwise than
they had devised, for Verna had such power over the mind
of the King, that the remonstrance was ill received, and Don
Rodrigo and the other hidalgos were contumeliously treated
in public by the King. Don Rodrigo would not bear this,
being a right loyal and valiant man ; and he went one day
into the palace, and finding Verna busied in affairs of
state, he drew forth his sword and slew him ; then leaving
the palace, for none cared to lay hands on him, he left
Portugal, and took the road towards France ; many of his
del Conde vassals and kinsmen and friends following^ him, to seek
Don Pedro, . . o 7
p. 45. their fortunes in a country where valor would be esteemed,
Chr. del
Cid.cap.38. for they were weary of the bad government of King Don
Chron.Gen. ^^
ff. 208. (jrarcia.
Of the bat- VIII. But whcu King Don Garcia knew of the league
de Mayal?^ which his brethren had made to divide his kingdom between
them, it was a greater trouble to him than the death of Verna,
and he called his chief captains together and consulted with
^ Garibay says a female favorite ; in this he differs from all other au-
thorities, otherwise the manners of the age would not render his account
improbable. The story of Inez de Castro is well known.
Nobiliario,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 83
them ; and they advised him that he should send to recall BOOK
Don Rodrigo Frojaz, for having him the realm would be se-
cure, and without him it was in danger to be lost. So two
hidalgos were sent after him, and they found him in Navarre,
on the eve of passing into France. But when he saw the
King's letters, and knew the peril in which he then stood,
setting aside the remembrance of his own wrongs, like a
good and true Portugueze, he turned back, and went to
the King at Coimbra. In good time did he arrive, for the
captains of King Don Sancho had now gained many lands
in Galicia and in the province of Beira, finding none to re-
sist them, and the Count Don Ñuño de Lara, and the Count
of Monzón, and Don Garcia de Cabra, were drawing nigh
unto Coimbra. When Don Rodrigo heard this and knew
that the Castilians where approaching, and who they were,
he promised the King either to maintain his cause, or die for
it ; and he besought him not to go into the battle himself,
having so many vassals and so good ; for it was not fitting
that he should expose himself when there was no king com-
ing against him. And it came to pass that when the scouts
gave notice that the Castilians were at hand, he ordered the •
trumpets to be sounded, and the Portugueze sallied, and a
little below the city, at the place Avhich is now called Agoa de
Mayas, the two squadrons met. Then was the saying of
Arias Gonzalo fulfilled, that kinsmen should kill kinsmen,
and brother fall by his brother's hand. But the Portugueze
fought so well, and especially Don Rodrigo, and his brothers
Don Pedro and Don Vermui Frojaz, that at length they dis-
comfited the Castilians, killing of them five hundred and
forty, of whom three hundred were knights, and winning
their pennons and banners. Howbeit this victory was not
obtained without great loss to themselves ; for two hun-
dred and twenty of their people were left upon the field. Nobiliario,
and many were sorely wounded, among whom, even to the 211.
great peril of his life, was Don Rodrigo Frojaz, being wound- cap. 30.
ed with many and grievous wounds. In this battle wasg-, 208^ ^^'
84
CHRONICLE OV THE CID,
BOOK slain the Count Don Fafes Sarracom de Lanhoso, with many
of his vassals, he from whom the (xodinos are descended : he
was a right good knight.
Don Garcia IX. A sorrowful defeat was that for King Don Sancho,
Moors. more for the quality of the slain than for their number ;
and he put himself at the head of liLs army, and hastened
through the midst of Portugal, to go against his brother.
And King Don Garcia hearing of his approach, called to-
gether his knights and hidalgos, and said unto them, Friends,
we have no land whereunto to fly from the King Don San-
cho my brother, let us therefore meet him in battle, and
either conquer him, or die ; for it is better to die an honor-
able death than to suffer this spoiling in our country. And
to the Portugeze he said. Friends, ye are right noble and
haughty knights, and it is your custom to have among you
few lords and good ones ; now therefore make me a good
one, Avhich will be to your own great honor and profit ; and
if I come out of this struggle w^ell, I shall guerdon ye
well, so that ye shall understand the will I have to do good
towards ye. And they made answer and said that they
would stand by him to the last, and that he should not be
put down by their default. Then spake he to the Galegos
and said. Friends, ye are right good and true knights, and
never Avas it yet said that lord was forsaken by you in the
field. I put myself in your hands, being assured that ye
will well and loyally advise jne, and help me to the utmost
of your power. Ye see hoAv King Don Sancho my brother
presses upon us, and we have nothing left us but to die or to
conquer ; but if ye know any other counsel, I beseech ye
tell it me. And the Galegos answered, that they would
serve and defend him loyally, and that they held it best to
fight. Nevertheless they were too few in number to stand
against the King Don Sancho : so they retired before him.
And Don Garcia took with him three hundred horsemen,
and went to the Moors, and besought them to lend him aid
against his brother, saying that he would give them the
RODRKÍO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 85
kingdom of Leon. And the Moors made answer, O King, BOOK
II
thou canst not defend thyself ; how then canst thou give '
unto us the kmsfdom of Leon ? Howbeit they did him Chr. del
-r 1 ^ 11- Cid. Cap.
honor and gave him great giits, and he returned to hiS4oChr.
people and recovered many of the castles which he had Kod'. Tol.
1 ^ 1. 6. c. 18.
lost.
X. Then Kinff Don Sancho came as^ainst his brother, to How King
^ A 1 1 T. 1^1 Don Garcia
besiege him in Santarem. And the Portugueze and Gale- went out
gos took counsel together what they should do ; for some rem to bat-
were of advice that it was better to defend the cities and
fortresses which they held, and so lengthen out the war ;
others that they should harass the army of the Castilians
with frequent skirmishes and assaults, and never give them
battle power to power, thinking that in this manner they
might baffle them till the winter came on. Don Rodrigo
Frojaz was at this time recovering of the Avounds which he
had received at Agoa de Mayas, and he said unto the King
that it behoved him above all things to put his kingdom
upon the hazard of a battle ; for his brother being a greater
lord of lands than he, and richer in money and more pow-
erful in vassals, could maintain the war longer than he could
do, who peradventure would find it difficult another year to
gather together so good an army as he had now ready.
For this cause he advised him to put his trust in God first,
and then in the hidalgos who were with him, and without
fear give battle to the King his brother, over whom God
and his good cause would give him glorious victory. And
to show his own good will to the King, he besought of him
the leading of the van for himself and the Counts Don Pe-
dro and Don Vermui Frojaz his brethren, and his two
nephews. Greatly was the King Don Garcia encouraged
by his gallant cheer, and he bade his host make ready to
give battle to King Don Sancho, as soon as he should ar-
rive ; and he marched out from the city, and took his stand
near unto it in a field where afterwards were the vineyards
of the town. And when the banners of the Castilians were
86 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK seen advancing, the Galcgos and Portugueze drew up in
battle array, Don Rodrigo and his brethren having the van,
Lus.2.7.29. iind as he had requested, and a body of chosen knights with
NobiUario/ ^^^^^
How Alvar ^^' Count Don Garcia came in the front of King Don
^^",^g¿^j¡\; Sancho's army, and in the one wing Avas the Count de
for a horse Monzon and Count Don Ñuño de Lara ; and the Count
and arms. '
Don Fruela of Asturias in the other ; and the King was in
the rear, Avith Don Diego de Osma, who carried his ban-
ner : and in this manner Avere they arrayed on the one side
and on the other, being ready for the onset. And King Don
Garcia bravely encouraged his men, saying. Vassals and
friends, ye see the great wrong which the King my brother
doth unto me, taking from me my kingdom ; I beseech ye
help me now to defend it ; for ye Avell know that all Avhich
I had therein I divided among ye, keeping ye for a season
like this. And they answered. Great benefits have Ave re-
ceived at your hands, and Ave Avill serve you to the utmost of
our poAver. Noav Avhen the tAvo hosts Avere ready to join
battle, Alvar Fañez came to King Don Sancho and said to
him. Sir, I have played aAvay my horse and arms ; I beseech
you give me others for this battle, and I Avill be a right good
one for you this day ; if I do not for you the service of six
knights, hold me for a traitor. And the Count Don Garcia,
Avho heard this, said to the King, Gía^c him, Sir, Avhat he
asketh ; and the King ordered that horse and arms should
be given him. So the armies joined battle bravely on both
Chr. del sidcs, and it was a sharp onset ; many Avere the heavy bloAvs
cii*^^G^^ Avhich were given on both sides, and many AA^ere the horses
ff. 209. that were slain at that encounter, and many the men. Noav
feandoval, '^
ff. 26. my Cid had not yet come up into the field.
How King XII. Noav Don Rodrigo Frojaz and his brethren and
Dun Sancho , •, . , • i i
was taken, the knights Avho Avere Avith them had resoWed to make
death of Straight for the banner of the King of Castille. And they
go^Frojaz" broke through the ranks of the Castilians, and made their
way into the middle of the enemy's host, doing marA^ellous
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 87
feats of arms. Then was the fight at the hottest, for they BOOK
did their best to win the banner, and the others to defend it ; '.
the remembrance of what they had formerly done, and the
hope of gaining more honors, heartened them ; and with
the Castihans there was their King, giving them brave ex-
ample as well as brave words. The press of the battle was
here ; here died Gonzalo de Sies, a right vaKant Portu-
gueze, on the part of Don Garcia ; but on Don Sancho's
part the Count Don Ñuño was sorely wounded and thrown
from his horse ; and Count Don Garcia Ordonez was made
prisoner, and the banner of King Don Sancho was beaten
down, and the King himself also. The first who encoun-
tered him was Don Gomes Echiguis, he from whom the old
Sousas of Portugal derived their descent ; he was the first
who set his lance against King Don Sancho, and the other
one was Don Moninho Hermigis, and Don Rodrigo made
way through the press and laid hands on him and took him.
But in the struggle his old wounds burst open, and having
received many new ones he lost much blood, and perceiving
that his strength was failing, he sent to call the King Don
Garcia with all speed. And as the King came, the Count
Don Pedro Frojaz met him and said. An honorable gift,
Sir, hath my brother Don Rodrigo to give you, but you lose
him in gaining it. And tears fell from the eyes of the King,
and he made ansAver and said. It may indeed be that Don
Rodrigo may lose his life in serving me, but the good name
which he hath gained, and the honor which he leaveth to his
descendants, death cannot take away. Saying this, he came
to the place where Don Rodrigo was, and Don Rodrigo
gave into his hands the King Don Sancho his brother, and
asked him three times if he was discharged of his prisoner ;
and when the King had answered Yes, Don Rodrigo said,
For me, Sir, the joy Avhich I have in your victory is enough ;
give the rewards to these good Portugueze, who with so
good a will have put their lives upon the hazard to serve
you, and in all things follow their counsel, and you will not
88 CHllüNlCLL OF THE CID,
BOOK err therein. Having said this he kissed the King's hand,
' and lying upon his shield, for he felt his breath fail him.
with his helmet for a pillow, he kissed the cross of his sword
in remembrance of that on which the incarnate Son of God
had died for him, and rendered up his soul into the hands
of his Creator. This was the death of one of the worthy
knights of the Avorld, Don Rodrigo Frojez. In all the con-
quests which King Don Ferrando had made from the Moors
of Portugal, great part had he borne, insomuch that that
King was wont to say that other Princes might have more
Brito Mon. dominions than he, but two such knights as his two Rod-
Nobüiarb ^^g^s, meaning my Cid and this good knight, there was
^3- none but himself who had for vassals.
How Alvar XIII. Then KinsT Don Garcia beinsf desirous to be in the
Fanez res- " "
cued the pursuit himself, dehvered his brother into the hands of six
King. ^
knights that they should guard him, which he ought not to
have done. And when he was gone King Don Sancho said
unto the knights. Let me go and I wiU depart out of your
country and never enter it again ; and I will reward ye well
as long as ye Live ; but they answered him, that for no re-
ward would they commit such disloyalty, but would guard
him weU, not offering him any injury, till they had dehvered
him to his brother the King Don Garcia. While they were
parleying Alvar Fañez Minaya came up, he to whom the
King had given horse and arms before the battle ; and he
seeing the King held prisoner, cried out with a loud voice,
Let loose my Lord the King : and he spurred his horse and
made at them ; and before his lance was broken he over-
threw two of them, and so bestirred himself that he put the
others to flight ; and he took the horses of the two whom he
had smote down, and gave one to the king, and mounted
upon the other himself, for his own was hurt in the rescue ; and
they went together to a little rising ground where there was
yet a small body of the knights of their party, and Alvar
Fañez cried out to them aloud. Ye see here the King our
Lord, who is free ; now then remember the good name of
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 89
the Castilians, and let us not lose it this day. And about BOOK
four hundred knights gathered about him. And while they . —
stood there they saw the Cid Ruy diez coming up with three
hundred knights, for he had not been in the battle, and they
knew his green pennon. And when King Don Sancho be-
held it his heart rejoiced, and he said, Now let us descend
into the plain, for he of good fortune cometh : and he said,
Be of good heart, for it is the will of God that I should re-
cover my kingdom, for I have escaped from captivity, and
seen the death of Don Rodrigo Frojaz who took me, and
Ruydiez the fortunate one cometh. And the King went
down to him and welcomed him right joyfully, saying. In
happy time are you come, my fortunate Cid ; never vassal
succored his Lord in such season as you now succor me, for
the King my brother had overcome me. And the Cid an- chr. del
swered. Sir, be sure that you shall recover the day, or I will(;fjr;^QP'^/'
die ; for wheresoever you go, either you shall be victorious ^o^mario
or I will meet my death. 49.
XIV. By this time Kinsr Don Garcia returned from the íJ"^^^^"°
''^ " _ Don Garcia
pursuit, singing as he came full joyfully, for he thought that was taken,
the King his brother was a prisoner, and his great power
overthrown. But there came one and told him that Don
Sancho was rescued and in the field again, ready to give
him battle a second time. Bravely was that second battle
fought on both sides ; and if it had not been for the great
prowess of the Cid, the end would not have been as it was :
in the end the Galegos and Portugueze were discomfited,
and the King Don Garcia taken in his turn. And in that
battle the two brethren of Don Rodrigo Frojaz, Don Pedro
and Don Vermui, were slain, and the two sons of Don Pe- ^^^ q^^
dro, so that five of that family died that day. And the King f^i^^^^^i
Don Sancho put his brother in better ward than his brother Cid.cap 42.
^ . Brilo. Mon.
three hours before had put him, for he put him in chains and Lus. p. 2.
sent him to the strona: castle of Luna.^ Sandoval,
^ ff. 27.
^ The history of Garcia's captivity is defective. His epitaph says that
he was taken by stratagem. The Castle of Luna was in Alfonso's do-
12
90 chroiMcll: ok the cid^
BOOK XV. When Kins: Don Sancho had done this he took
11. . .
unto himself the kingdom of Galicia and of Portugal, and
without delay sent to his brother Kins: Don Alfonso, com-
How King ,. . . ^
Don Sancho manding him to yield up to him the kingdom of Leon, for it
went
against his was his by light. At this was the King of Leon troubled at
Alfonso, heart ; howbeit he answered that he would not yield up his
kingdom, but do his utmost to defend it. Then King Don
Sancho entered Leon, slaying and laying waste before him,
as an army of infidels would have done ; and King Don
Alfonso sent to him to bid him cease from this, for it was
inhuman work to kill and plunder the innocent : and he de-
fied him to a pitched battle, saying that to Avhichsover God
should give the victory, to him also would he give the king-
dom of Leon : and the King of Castille accepted the de-
fiance, and a day was fixed for the battle, and the place Avas
to be Lantada, which is near unto Carrion. The chief
counsellor of King Don Alfonso was Don Pero Ansures, a
notable and valiant knight, of the old and famous stock of
minions, and from hence Sandoval infers that he aided Sancho. Ber-
ganza adduces two early MSS. to prove that Sancho set him free, and
that he v^^as afterwards taken by Alfonzo ; and it should be remarked in
corroboration of his opinion, that the Archbishop Rodrigo makes the defeat
and flight of Alfonso anterior to Garcia's capture : but whether or not
Alfonso assisted one brother in ruining the other, he profited by the
crime. Seventeen years after his own succession he sufliered Garcia to
remain a prisoner and in chains. At the end of that time Garcia fell sick
and desired to be bled. The King then either felt or affected compassion,
and ordered his brother's irons to be taken off. But Garcia would not
submit to this tardy and unavailing humanity ; he knew that his sickness
was mortal, and said that as he had worn those irons so long, he would
die in them, and all that he requested of his brother now, was that he
might be buried in them. This was not refused, and he was buried in his
chains beside the King his father, in the church of St. Isidro, at Leon.
Chronica General, ff. 234.
His monument represents him in these fetters. This is the epitaph :
H. R. Dmnus Garcia Rex Por lug ales ei Galicia!, filius Regis Magni Fer-
dinandi : hie ingenio captus afratre sua, in vinculis obiit. Era M.c.xxviii.
XI Kal. Aprilis. Sandoval, ff. 27.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 9^1
the Ansures, Lords of Monzón, which is nigh unto Falencia ; BOOK
.II.
the same who in process of time was Count of Carrion and '. —
of Saldaña and Liebana, and Lord of ValladoHd, a city
which was by him greatly increased. This good knight
commanded the army of his King Don Alfonso, and on the
part of King Don Sancho came Ruy diez the Cid. Both
Kings were in the field that day, and full hardily was the
battle contested, and great was the mortahty on either side,
for the hatred which used to be between Moors and Chris-
tians was then between brethren. And that day also was
the saying of Arias Gonzalo fulfilled. But in the end the chr. del
skill and courage of my Cid prevailed, and King Don Al- chr'.^^Gen.'
fonso was fain to avail himself of his horse's feet to save fand^o^;^!
himself. ^- ^^•
XVI. Nevertheless the power of Kins^ Don Alfonso was 9^ the bat-
^ _ " ^ tie at Vul-
not yet destroyed, and he would not yield up his kingdom ; pegera.
and he sent to his brother a second time to bid him battle,
saying that whosoever conquered should then certainly re-
main King of Leon ; and the place appointed was at Vul-
pegera, beside the river Carrion. And the two armies met
and joined battle, and they of Leon had the victory, for my
Cid was not in the field. And King Don Alfonso had pity
upon the Castilians because they were Christians, and gave
orders not to slay them ; and his brother King Don Sancho
fled. Now as he was flying, my Cid came up with his
green pennon ; and when he saw that the King his Lord
had been conquered, it grieved him sorely ; hovvbeit he
encouraged him saying, This is nothing, Sir ! to fail or to
prosper is as God pleases. But do you gather together
your people who are discomfited, and bid them take heart.
The Leonese and Galegos are with the King your brother,
secure as they think themselves in their lodging, and taking
no thought of you ; for it is their custom to extol them-
selves when their fortune is fair, and to mock at others, and
in this boastfulness will they spend the night, so that we
shall find them sleeping at break of day, and will fall upon
92
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
II.
Chr. del
Cid. cap.
44. 45.
Chr. Gen,
ff. 210.
Sandoval.
ff. 29.
How the
Cid deliv-
ered King
Don San-
cho.
Chr. del
Cid. cap. 45.
Chr. Gen.
ff. 210.
A. D. 1072
How King
Don Al-
fonso fled
to the
Moors.
them. And it came to pass as he had said. The Leonese
lodged themselves in Vul])egera, taking no thought of their
enemies, and setting no watch ; and Ruydiez arose be-
times in the morning and fell upon them, and subdued
them before they could take their arms. King Don Al-
fonso fled to the town of Carrion, which was three leagues
distant, and would have fortified himself there in the
Church of St. Mary, but he was surrounded and constrained
to yield.
XVII. Now the knights of Leon gathered together in
their flight, and when they could not find their King they
were greatly ashamed, and they turned back and smote the
Castilians ; and as it befell, they encountered King Don
Sancho and took him prisoner, not having those in his com-
pany whom he should have had, for his people considered
the victory as their own, and all was in confusion. And
thirteen knights took him in their ward, and were leading
him away, — but my Cid beheld them, and galloped after
them : he was alone, and had no lance, having broken his
in the battle. And he came up to them and said. Knights,
give me my Lord, and I will give unto you yours. They
knew him by his arms, and they made answer, Ruydiez,
return in peace and seek not to contend with us, otherwise
we will carry you away prisoner Avith him. And he waxed
wroth and said. Give me but a lance and I will, single as I
am, rescue my Lord from all of ye : by God's help I will
do it. And they held him as nothing, because he was but
one, and gave him a lance. But he attacked them there-
with so bravely, that he slew eleven of the thirteen, leaving
two only alive, on whom he had mercy ; and thus did he
rescue the King. And the Castilians rejoiced greatly at the
King's deliverance : and King Don Sancho went to Burgos,
and took with him his brother prisoner.
XVIII. Great was the love which the Infanta Doña
Urraca bore to her brother King Don Alfonso, and when
she heard that he was made prisoner, she feared lest he
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 93
should be put to death : and she took with her the Count BOOK
Peransures, and went to Burgos. And they spake with the !
Cid, and besought him that he would join with them, and
intercede with the King that he should release his brother
from prison, and let him become a monk at Sahagun. Full
willing was the Cid to serve in anything the Infanta Doña
Urraca, and he went with her before the King. And she
knelt down before the King her brother, and besought mercy
for Don Alfonso, his brother and hers. And the King took
her by the hand, and raised her from her knees, and made
her sit beside him, and said unto her. Now then, my sister,
say what you would have. And she besought him that he
would let their brother Don Alfonso take the habit of St.
Benedict, in the royal Monastery of Sahagun, and my Cid,
and Count Peransures and the other chief persons who were
there present, besought him in like manner. And the King
took my Cid aside, and asked counsel of him what he
should do ; and the Cid said, that if Don Alfonso Avere wil-
ling to become a Monk, he would do well to set him free
upon that condition, and he besought him so to do. Then
King Don Sancho, at my Cid's request, granted to Doña
Urraca what she had asked. And he released King Don
Alfonso from prison, and Don Alfonso became a Monk in
the Monastery at Sahagun, more by force than of free will.
And being in the Monastery, he spake with Don Peransures,
and took counsel with him, and fled away by night from the
Monks, and Avent among the Moors to King Alimaymon of
Toledo. And the Moorish King Avelcomed him Avith a good
Avill, and did sjreat honor to him, and save him snceat posses- Cid.cap.42.
. . -r ' & & r Qhj.. Gen.
sions and many gifts. ff. 211.
XIX. When Doña Urraca kncAv that her brother King Of the
Don Alfonso had fled to Toledo, she sent to him three good which Aii-
men of the kingdom of Leon, that they should be his coun- shew^Tto
sellors, for she loved him well. These Avere Don Pero Alfolso?'^
Ansures, and Don Ferran Ansures, and Don Gonzalo An-
sures, all three brethren : and they Avent Avith King Don
Chr. del
94 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Sancbo's permission, for it was God's pleasure. Now Ali-
'. — maymoii rejoiced in the King Don Alfonso, and loved him
as if he had been his own son. And Don Alfonso made a
covenant with him to love him and defend him and serve
him alway, so long as he should remain with him, and not
to depart from him without his leave ; and the King cove-
nanted on his side to love him and honor him, and defend
him to the utmost of his power. And Alimaymon ordered
fair palaces to be edified for him, by the wall of the Alcazar,
on the outer part, that the Moors of the city might do no
displeasure neither to him nor to his companions : and they
were hard by a garden of the King's, that he might go out
and disport himself therein whensoever it pleased him.
And for these things King Don Alfonso loved to serve King
Alimaymon. Nevertheless when he saAv the great honor
of the King of Toledo, and how powerful he was, and that
he was the Lord of so great chivalry, and of the noblest
city which had belonged unto the Gothic Kings, from whom
he himself Avas descended, it grieved him in his heart to see
that city in the hand of the Moors : and he said within his
heart. Lord God and Father Jesus Christ, it is w^iolly in
thy power to give and to take away, and right it is that thy
will should be done, even as thou hast done it to me, to
whom thou gavest a kingdom, and it was thy will to take
it away from me, and thou hast made me come hither to
serve the enemies who were at the service of the King my
father. Lord, I put my hope in thee that thou wilt deliver
me from this servitude, and give me a land and kingdom
to command, and that thou wilt shoAv unto me such favor
that this land and this city shall by me be won, that thy holy
body may be sacrificed in it to the honor of Christendom.
This prayer he made with great devotion and with many
tears ; and the Lord God heard him, as hereafter you shall
hear in this history. In those days King Alimaymon was
at war with other Moorish Kings his enemies, and King
Don Alfonso fought against them on his side, and did such
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 95
good service that he quelled their power, and they durst BOOK
no longer offend him. And in time of peace Don Alfonso '. —
and his companions went fowling along the banks of the
¿^ Tagus, for in those days there was much game there, and
venison of all kinds; and they killed venison among the
mountains. And as he Avas thus sporting he came to a
place which is now called Brihuega, and it pleased him
well, for it was a fair place to dwell in, and abounded with
game, and there was a dismantled castle there, and he
thought that he would ask the King for this place. And he
returned to Toledo and asked it of the King, and King
Alimaymon gave it him, and he placed there his huntsmen
and his fowlers who were Christians, and fortified the place
as his own. And the lineaste of these people continued ^^í'• ^^^
" ^ ^ Cid. cap.
there till Don Juan, the third archbishop of Toledo, en- 48. 49.
' nc^ T^ 1 ' Chr Gen.
larged it, and peopled the parish of St. Pedro. ff. 211.
XX. It came to pass after this that both the Kings one of the talk
day came out of Toledo, and past over the bridge of Alean- Moors held,
tara, and Avent into the royal garden to disport themselves manner To-
therein and take their pleasure. And at evening Don Al- be^taken'^
fonso lay down upon a bed to sleep, and King Ahmaymon
fell in talk with his favorites concerning his city of Toledo,
how strong it was and how well provided with all things,
and that he feared neither war of Moor nor Christian against
it ; and he asked them if it could by any means be lost in
war. Then one of them answered and said. Sir, if you
would not hold it ill, I would tell you how it might be lost,
and by no other manner in the world could it be so. And
the King bade him say on. And the favorite then said. If
this city were beset for seven years, and the bread and the
wine and the fruits should be cut down year by year, it would
be lost for lack of food. All this King Don Alfonso heard,
for he was not sleeping, and he took good heed of it. Now
the Moors knew not that he was lying there. And when
they had thus spoken Alimaymon arose to walk in the palace,
and he saw King Don Alfonso lying there as if he were
9G
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
II.
Chr. del
Cid. cap. 50,
How Ali-
maymon
took ail
oath from
King Don
Alfonso.
¡sleeping : and it troubled him, and he said to his favorites,
We did not heed Alfonso who is lying there, and has heard
all that we have said. And the favorites made answer,
Kill him, Sir. But the King said, How shall I go against
my true promise ? Moreover he sleepeth, and perad venture
hath heard nothing. And they said to him, Would you
know whether or not he sleepeth ? And he answered, Yea :
and they said. Go then and wake him, and if he have driv-
eled he hath slept, but if not, he hath been awake, and hath
heard us. Then King Don Alfonso immediately wetted the
pillow,^ and feigned himself hard to be awakened, so that
Alimaymon thought he slept.
XXI. And when the Easter of the Sheep^ was come,
which the Moors celebrate, the King of Toledo went out of
the city to kill the sheep at the place accustomed, as he was
^ Garibay relates with due discredit an old story, in which Alfonso is
put to a more painful proof. To try whether he is really asleep, they
propose to pour melted lead upon his hand ; he resolutely lets the proof
be made, and his hand is burnt through, from whence, it is added, he was
called El de la mano oradada, — he of the pierced hand. But this appel-
lation was in reality given him for his liberality, coma oy dia dezimos ma-
niroio, a los que mucho gastan, como lo noto bien Alcocer sobre el mesmo
punto. L. 11. C. 12. The Chronica Generad has neither of these stories.
2 The Bairem of the Turks. " This festival consistelh of four days
successively, days of satisfaction, rejoicing, and content, wherein both
soul and body are exhilarated. This sacrifice must be of a creature law-
fully to be eaten, elected from the drove or flock of those who have
them, or purchased by those who have none of their own ; and it ought
to be in good case, sound and healthy, and the ceremony performed at
the hour of Adoah, (in the forenoon, when the sun is half way advanced
towards the meridian,) the feet of the victim fast tied, the head to the
Kebla, and when the weapon passeth over the creature's throat, Bismil-
lah Allahu Alibar must be pronounced aloud. If possible this ought to
be performed in a clear unpolluted place, rather in private than other-
wise, and accompanied with fumigations of odoriferous drugs. This
must be constantly observed once a year on this day, and every Mussul-
man must then sacrifice a sheep if he is able, or if not, that which he
can most conveniently procure ; for God receiveth and accepteth of oiTer-
ings according to the intention with which they are rendered by the
ofFerer." Morgaños Mahometism Explained, Vol. 2. P. 188.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 97
*
wont to do, and Kins: Don Alfonso went with him. BOOK
.II
Now Don Alfonso was a goodly personage and of fair '.
demeanor, so that the Moors hked him well. And as
he was going by the side of the King, two honorable
Moors followed them, and the one said unto the other, How
fair a knight is this Christian, and of what good customs !
well doth he deserve to be the lord of some great land.
And the other made answer, I dreamed a dream last night,
that this Alfonso entered the city riding upon a huge boar,
and many swine after him, who rooted up all Toledo with
their snouts, and even the Mosques therein : Certes, he will
one day become King of Toledo. And while they were
thus communing every hair upon King Don Alfonso's head
stood up erect, and Alimaymon laid his hand upon them to
press them down, but so soon as his hand was taken off they
rose again ; and the two Moors held it for a great token, and
spake with each other concerning it, and one of King Ali-
maymon's favorites heard all which they said. . And after
the sheep had been sacrificed they returned into the city, and
the favorite told the King Avhat he had heard the two Moors
say ; and the king sent for them forthwith, and questioned
them, and they repeated to him what they had said, even as
ye have heard. And King Alimaymon said unto them.
What then shall I do ? and they made answer, that he should
put Don Alfonso to death ; but the King replied, that this
he would not do, nor go against the true promise which he
had given him, but that he would so deal that no evil should
ever come towards himself from Alfonso. So he sent for
Don Alfonso and bade him swear that he would never come
against him, nor against his sons, and that no evil should
come agoinst them from him ; and King Don Alfonso did as
Alimaymon required, and did him homage to this effect.
And thenceforth was the King of Toledo more secure of him,
and held him even in greater favor than before. All this _.
. Chr. del
while did Kini? Don Alfonso ejovern himself bv the advice of Cid.cap.si.
Count Peransures, who alway advised him discreetly and well. ff. 21 1 .
13
98 CHRONICLE OF 'J'HE CID,
■
BOOK XXII. But when Kini? Don Sancho heard hoAV his
11.
brother had fled from the Monastery, he drew out his host
Do,i^Sin"° and went against the city of Leon. The Leonese would
ed^imseif ^^^ hnYG maintained the city against him, but they could
three kVi^^^ ^^^' ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ Lcon, and all the towns and
doms. castles which had been under the dominion of his brother
King Don Alfonso. And then he put the crown upon his
head, and called himself King of the three kingdoms. He was
a fair knight and of marvellous courage, so that both Moors
and Christians were dismayed at Avhat they saw him do, for
they saw that nothing which he willed to take by force
could stand against him. And when the Infanta Doña
Urraca, and the men of Zamora, saw^ that he had quiet pos-
session of both his brothers' kingdoms, they feared that he
would come against them and disherit his sister also. And
for this reason they took Don Arias Gonzalo to be their
chief captain, Doña Urraca's foster-father, that by his means
they might protect themselves, if need should be. And it
came to pass as they had feared, for King Don Sancho knew
that his sisters greatly loved Don Alfonso, and he thought
that by their counsel he had fled from the Monastery, espe-
cially by Doña Urraca's, because Don Alfonso guided him-
self in all things by her counsel, holding her in place of a
mother, for she w^as a lady of great understanding. And he
went forth with his army, and took from the Infanta Doña
Elvira the half of the Infantazgo which she possessed, and
also from Doña Urraca the other half. And he w^ent
against Toro, the city of Doña Elvira, and took it ; and
then he went to Zamora to Doña Urraca, bidding her peld
him up the city, and saying that he would give her lands as
much as she required in the plain country. But she returned
for answer that she would in no manner yield unto him that
w^hich the King her father had given her ; and she besought
Chr. Gen. him that he Avould suffer her to continue to dw^ell peaceably
ff. 212. .... .
Chr. del therein, saying that no disservice should ever be done against
Cid. cap.
52. 63. him on her part.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. ^^
XXIII. Then Kin^ Don Sancho went to Burgos, be- BOOK
^ . r . II.
cause it was not the season for besieging a town, being wm
ter. And he sent his letters through all the land, calling DoiTsancho
upon his vassals to assemble together, upon the first day ^g\"i{,st
of March, in Sahagun, upon pain of forfeiting his favor. Zamora.
Now though the King was yet but a young man, whose
beard was but just coming, he was of so great courage that
the people feared him, and dared not do otherwise than as
he commanded. And they assembled together in Sahagun
on the day appointed ; and when the King heard in what
readiness they were, it gladdened him, and he lifted up his
hands to God and said. Blessed be thy name, O Lord, be-
cause thou hast given me all the kingdoms of my father.
And when he had said this, he ordered proclamation to be
made through the streets of Burgos, that all should go forth
to protect the host and the body of the King their Lord.
And the day in which they left Burgos, they took up their
lodging at Fromesta ; and the next day they came to Car-
rion, but the King would not lodge there, and he went on to
Sahagun, where the army awaited him, and took up his
lodging without the town ; and on the following morning he
bade the host advance, and they made such speed that in
three days they arrived before Zamora, and pitched their
tents upon the banks of the Douro ; and he ordered procla-
mation to be made throughout the host that no harm should
be done until he had commanded it. And he mounted on
horseback with his hidalgos, and rode round the town, and
beheld how strongly it was situated upon a rock, with strong
walls, and many and strong towers, and the river Douro
running at the foot thereof; and he said unto his knights. Ye p., ^
see how strong^ it is, neither Moor nor Christian can prevail ^■, 212.
. . . ^hr. del
against it ; if I could have it from my sister either for money Cid. cap.
or exchange, I should be Lord of Spain.
. Oflhemes-
XXIV. Then the King returned to his tents, and incon- sage which
tinently he sent for the Cid, and said unto him, Cid, you sent to °
well know how n^anifoldly you are bound unto me, both by raca^
100 CHKUiMCLE OF THE CID,
BOOK nature, and by reason of the breeding which the King my
'- father gave yon ; and when he died he commended you to
me, and I have ever shown favor unto you, and you have
ever served me as the loyalest vassal that ever did service to
his Lord ; and I have for your good deserts given unto you
more than there is in a great county, and have made you
the chief of all my household. Now therefore I beseech
you as my friend and true vassal, that you go to Zamora to
my sister Doña Urraca, and say unto her again, that I be-
seech her to give me the town either for a price, or in ex-
change, and I will give to her Medina de Rio-seco, with the
whole Infantazgo, from Villalpando to Valladolid, and
Tiedra also, which is a good Castle ; and I will swear unto
her, Avith twelve knights of my vassals, never to break this
covenant between us ; but if she refuseth to do this I Avill
take aAvay the town from her by force. And my Cid
kissed the hand of the King and said unto him. This bid-
ding. Sir, should be for other messenger, for it is a heavy
thing for me to deliver it ; for I was brought up in Zamora
by your father's command, in the house of Don Arias Gon-
zalo, with Doña Urraca and Avith his sons, and it is not fit-
ting that I should be the bearer of such bidding. And the
King persisted in requiring of him that he should go, inso-
much that he was constrained to obey his will. And he
took with him fifteen of his Imights and rode towards Za-
mora, and when he drew nigh he called unto those who kept
guard in the towers not to shoot their arrows at him, for he
was Ruydiez of Bivar, who came to Doña Urraca with the
bidding of her brother King Don Sancho. With that there
came down a Knight who was nephew to Arias Gonzalo,
and had the keeping of the gate, and he bade the Cid enter,
saying that he Avould order him to be well lodged while he
went to Doña Urraca to know if she would be pleased to
see him. So the Cid went in, and the knight Avent to the
Infanta, and told her that Ruydiez of Bivar Avas come Avith
a message from King Don Sancho ; and it pleased her Avell
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 101
that he should be the messenger, and she bade him come BOOK
before her that she might know what was his bidding ; and '
she sent Arias Gonzalo and the other knights of her party to
meet him and accompany him. And when the Cid entered
the palace Doña Urraca advanced to meet him, and greeted
him full well, and they seated themselves both upon the
Estrado. And Doña Urraca said unto him, Cid, you well
know that you were brought up with me here in Zamora, in
the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and when my father was
at the point of death he charged you that you should alway
counsel his sons the best you could. Now therefore tell me
I beseech you what is it which my brother goes about to do,
now that he has called up all Spain in arms, and to what
lands he thinks to go, whether against Moors or Christians.
Then the Cid answered and said. Lady, to messenger and
a letter no wrong should be done ; give me safe assurance
and I Avill tell unto you that which the King your brother
hath sent me to say. And she said she would do as Don
Arias Gonzalo should advise her. And Don Arias answered
that it was well to hear what the King her brother had sent
to say : Peradventure, said he, he goeth against the Moors,
and requires aid of you, which it would be right to give ; and
for such service I and my sons would go with him, and I
would give fifteen of my people well mounted and armed,
and supply them with food for ten years, if he needed them.
Doña Urraca then said to the Cid, that he might speak his
bidding safely. Then said my Cid, the King your brother
sends to greet you, and beseeches you to give him this town
of Zamora, either for a price or in exchange ; and he
will give to you Medina de Rio-seco, with the whole
Infantazgo, from Villalpando to Valladolid, and the good
castle of Tiedra, and he will swear unto you, with twelve
knights his vassals, never to do you hurt or harm ; but ff. 213.
if you will not give him the town, he will take it against Cid.cap.55.
your will.
r.hr. Gen.
gave.
102 chkonicll: of the cid,
BOOK XXV. When Doña Urraca heard this she was sorely
II
' grieved, and in her great sorrow she lamented aloud, say-
cuundl iiig) Wretch that I am, many are the evil messages which I
Urraca^' ^^^^'^ heard since my father's death ! He hath disherited
ihe^'ánswlr ^^ brother King Don Garcia of his kingdom, and taken him,
which she and now holds him in irons as if he were a thief or a Moor :
and he hath taken his lands from my brother King Don
Alfonso, and forced him to go among the INIoors, and live
there exiled, as if he had been a traitor ; and would let none
go with him except Don Peransures and his brethren, whom
I sent : and he hath taken her lands from my sister Doña
Elvira against her will, and now would he take Zamora
from me also ! Now then let the earth open and swallow
me, that I may not see so many troubles ! Arjd with that,
in her strong anger against her brother King Don Sancho,
she said, I am a woman, and well knoAV that I cannet strive
with him in battle ; but I will have him slain either secretly
or openly. Then Don Arias Gonzalo stood up and said.
Lady Doña Urraca, in thus complaining and making lamen-
tation you do inconsiderately ; for in time of trouble it befits
us to take thought of what best is to be done, and so must
we do. Now then. Lady, give order that all the men of
Zamora assemble in St. Salvador's and know of them
whether they will hold with you, seeing that your father gave
them to you to be your vassals. And if they Avill hold with
you, then give not you up the town, neither for a price, nor
in exchange ; but if they will not, let us then go to Toledo
among the Moors, where your brother King Don Alfonso
abideth. And she did as her foster-father had advised, and
it was proclaimed through the streets that the men of
Zamora should meet in council at St. Salvador's. And
when they Avere all assembled, Doña Urraca arose and said.
Friends and vassals, ye have seen how my brother King
Don Sancho hath disherited all his brethren, against the
oath which he made to the King my father, and now he
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 103
would disherit rae also. He hath sent to bid me sjive him BOOK
II.
Zamora, either for a price or in exchange. Now concern-
ing this I would know whereimto ye advise me, and if you
will hold with me as good vassals and true, for he saith that
he will take it from me whether I will or no ; but if ye will
keep my career I think to defend it by God's mercy and
with your help. Then by command of the council there
rose up a knight who was called Don Ñuño, a man of
worth, aged, and of fair speech ; and he said, God rcAvard
you, Lady, this favor which you have shown us in thinking
good to come to our council, for we are your vassals, and
should do what you command. And we beseech you give
not up Zamora, neither for price nor for exchange, for he
who besieges you upon the rock would soon drive you from
the plain. The council of Zamora will do your bidding,
and will not desert you neither for trouble nor for danger
which may befall them, even unto death. Sooner, Lady,
will we expend all our possessions, and eat our mules and
horses, yea sooner feed upon our children and our wives,
than give up Zamora, unless by your command. And they
all with one accord confirmed what Don Ñuño had said.
When the Infanta Doña Urraca heard this she was well
pleased, and praised them greatly ; and she turned to the
Cid and said unto him, You were bred up with me in this
town of Zamora, where Don Arias Gonzalo fostered you by
command of the King my father, and through your help it
was that the King my father gave it unto me to be my in-
heritance. I beseech you help me now against my brother,
and intreat him that he will not seek to disherit me ; but if
he will go on with what he hath begun, say to him that I
will rather die with the men of Zamora, and they with
me, than give him up the town, either for price or ex- chr. Gen.
change. And with this answer did the Cid return unto chr/dél
the King. Cid.cap.56.
XXVI. "When King Don Sancho heard what the Cid ""^^ Jj^,^,
said, his anger kindled against him, and he said, You have Jl'^^c'^T"^
104 CHRONICLE OF THK CID,
BOOK given this counsel to my sister because you were bred up
' with her. And my Cid answered and said, Faithfully have
I discharged your bidding, and as a true vassal. Howbeit,
O King, I will not bear arms against the Infanta yoiu: sister,
nor against Zamora, because of the days which are past ; ' —
and I beseech you do not persist in doing this wrong. But then
King Don Sancho was more greatly incensed, and he said
unto him. If it were not that my father left you commended
to me, I would order you this instant to be hanged. But
for this Avhich you have said I command you to quit my
kingdom within nine days. And the Cid went to his tent in
anger, and called for his kinsmen and his friends, and bade
them make ready on the instant to depart Avith him. And he
set forth with all the knights and esquires of his table, and with
all their retainers horse and foot, twelve hundred persons,
all men of approved worth, a goodly company ; — and they
took the road to Toledo, meaning to join the King Don Al-
fonso among the Moors. And that night they slept at Cas-
tro Ñuño. But when the Counts and Ricos-omes, and the
other good men of the host saw this, they understood the
great evil and disservice which might arise to the King, and
to the land, from the departure of the Cid, w^ho went away
in Avrath. And they went to the King and said unto him.
Sir, wherefore would you lose so good a vassal, w^ho has
done you such great service ? If he should go unto yoiu* bro-
ther Don Alfonso among the Moors, he w^ould not let you
besiege this city thus in peace. And the King perceived that
they spake rightly, and he called for Don Diego Ordonez,
the son of Count Don Bermudo, Avho was the son of the
' I have ventured to insert in this place the declaration of the Cid that
he vvould not bear arms against Zamora, which is nowhere to be found,
neither in the Chronicles nor Ballads, though referred to by some, and
implied in all. This seemed the fittest place, as it would account for the
violence of King Sancho's resentment, which would hardly have been so
excited by the failure of his embassy, or a mere suspicion that the Cid
had not faithfully discharged it.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BiVAR. 105
Infante Don Ordoño of Leon, and bade him follow the Cid, BOOK
II.
and beseech him in his name to return ; and whatever cove- !
nant he should make it should be confirmed unto him ; and
of this he ordered his letters of credence to be made out.
And Don Diego Ordonez went to horse, and rode after the
Cid, and overtook him between Castro Ñuño and Medina
del Campo. And when it was told unto the Cid that Don
Diego Ordonez was coming, he turned to meet him, and
greeted him well, and asked him wherefore he was come.
And he delivered the King's bidding, and showed unto him
his letters of credence, and said unto him that the King be-
sought him not to bear in mind the words which he had
spoken unto him, being in anger. Then the Cid called to-
gether his kinsmen and friends, and asked them what they
should do. And they counselled him that he should return
to the King, for it was better to remain in his land and serve
God, than to go among the Moors. And he held their
counsel good, and called for Don Diego, and said unto him
that he would do the will of the King : and Don Diego sent
to the King to tell him how he had sped. And when the
Cid drew nigh unto the host, the King went out with five
hundred knights to meet him, and received him gladly, and
did him great honor. And the Cid kissed his hand and
asked him if he confirmed what Don Diego had said ; and
the King confirmed it before all the knights who were there
present, promising to give him great possessions. And when
they came to the army great was the joy because of the Cid's
return, and great were the rejoicings which were made : but
as great was the sorrow in Zamora, for they who were in the
town held that the siege was broken up by his departure. Sandoval.
Nevertheless my Cid would not bear arms against the In- ch?^* Gen
fanta, nor against the town of Zamora, because of the days ^hJ^ ¿el
which were past. Cid.cap.57.
XXVII. And the King ordered proclamation to be made How Doña
throughout the host that the people should make ready to at- solveti to
tack the town. And they fought against it three days and [own.
14
106 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK three nights so bravely that all the ditches were filled up,
' and the barbicans thrown down, and they who were within
fought sword in hand with those without, and the waters of
the Dour o , as they past below the town, were all discolored
with blood. And when Count Don Garcia de Cabra saw
the great loss which they were suffering, it grieved him ; and
he went unto the King and told him that many men were
slain, and advised him to call off the host that they should no
longer fight against the town, but hold it besieged, for by
famine it might soon be taken. Then the King ordered them
to draw back, and he sent to each camp to know how many
men had died in the attack, and the number was found to be
a thousand and thirty. And Avhen the King knew this he
was greatly troubled for the great loss which he had received,
and he ordered the town to be beleagered round about, and
in this manner he begirt it, that none could enter into it,
neither go out therefrom ; and there Avas a great famine
within the town. And when Don Arias Gonzalo saw the
misery, and the hunger, and the mortaHty which were there,
he said to the Infanta Doña Urraca, You see. Lady, the
great wretchedness which the people of Zamora have suffered,
and do every day suffer to maintain their loyalty ; now then
call together the Council, and thank them truly for what they
have done for you, and bid them give up the town Avithin
nine days to the King your brother. And Ave, Lady, avlQ go
to Toledo to your brother King Don Alfonso, for we cannot
defend Zamora ; King Don Sancho is of so great heart and
so resolute, that he Avill never break up the siege, and I do
not hold it good that you should abide here longer. And
Doña Urraca gave orders that the good men of Zamora
should meet together in Council ; and she said unto them,
Friends, ye well see the resoluteness of King Don Sancho
my brother ; and already have ye suffered much evil and
much AATctchedness for doing right and loyally, losing kins-
men and friends in my service. Ye have done enough, and
1 do not hold it good that ye should perish ; 1 command ye
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 107
therefore give up the town to him within nine days, and I BOOK
will go to Toledo to my brother King Don Alfonso. The '
men of Zamora when they heard this had great sorrow, be-
^ 11 Chr. del
cause they had endured the siege so long, and must nowcid.cap.
. • 58 59
give up the town at last ; and they determined all to go with chr. Gen.
the Infanta, and not remain in the town.
XXVIII. When Vellido Dolfos' heard this, he went to How Veili-
do Dolfos
Doña Urraca and said. Lady, I came here to Zamora to do fled out of
you service with thirty knights, all well accoutred, as you
loiow ; and I have served you long time, and never have I
had from you guerdon for my service, though I have de-
manded it : but now if you will grant my demand I will re-
lieve Zamora, and make King Don Sancho break up the
siege. Then said Doña Urraca, Vellido, I shall repeat to
thee the saying of the wise man, A man bargains well with
the slothful and with him who is in need ; and thus you
would deal with me. I do not bid thee commit any evil
thing, if such thou hast in thy thought ; but I say unto you,
that there is not a man in the world to whom if he should
relieve Zamora, and make the King my brother raise the
siege, I would not grant whatsoever he might require. And
when Vellido heard this he kissed her hand, and went to a
porter who kept one of the gates of the town, and spake with
him, saying, that he should open the gate unto him when he
saw him flying toAvard it, and he gave him his cloak. Then
went he to his lodging and armed himself, and mounted his
horse, and rode to the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and
cried with a loud voice. We all know the reason, Don Arias
Gonzalo, why you will not let Doña Urraca exchange Za-
mora with her brother ; it is because you deal with her as
with a harlot, like an old traitor. When Arias Gonzalo
heard this, it grieved him to the heart, and he said. In an
evil day was I born, that so shameful a falsehood as this
* Dolfos is the corrupted patronymic of Ataulpho, the Adolphus of
modern Germany.
108 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK should be said to me in mine old age, and there should be
^ none to revenge me I Tlien his sons arose and armed them-
selves hastily, and went after VeUido, vs^ho fled before them
toward the gate of the town. The porter when he saw him
coming opened the gate, and he rode out and galloped into
the camp of the King Don Sancho, and the others followed
him till they were nigh the camp, but farther they did not
venture. And VeUido went to the King and kissed his
hand, and said unto him these false words with a lying
tongue : Sir, because I said to the Council of Zamora that
they should yield the town unto you, the sons of Arias Gon-
zalo would have slain me, even as you have seen. And
therefore come I to you. Sir, and Avill be your vassal, if I
may find favor at your hands. And I will shew you how in
a few days you may have Zamora, if God pleases ; and if I
do not as I have said, then let me be slain. And the King
believed all that he said, and received him for his vassal, and
did him great honor. And all that night they talked to-
gether of his secrets, and he made the King believe that he
Cid.cap 60. knew a postern by means of which he would put Zamora
ff. 215."^ ^^^^ his hands.
How the XXIX. On the morrow in the morning, one of the
mora warn- knights who Were in the town went upon the wall, and
Don Sancho ^^^^d out with a loud voicc, SO that the greater part of the
son^which ^^^^ heard him, King Don Sancho, give ear to what I say ;
was design- J ^m a knight and hidalgo, a native of the land of Santiago ;
and they from whom I spring were true men and delighted
in their loyalty, and I also will live and die in my truth.
Give ear, for I Avould undeceive you, and tell you the truth,
if you will beheve me. I say unto you, that from this town
of Zamora there is gone forth a traitor to kill you ; his name
is VeUido Dolfos ; he is the son of Adolfo, who slew Don
Ñuño like a traitor, and the grandson of Laino, another
traitor, who kiUed his gossip and threw him mto the river ;
and this is as great a traitor as the rest of his race ; look to
yourself therefore and take heed of him. I say this to you.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BTVAR. 109
that if peradventure evil should befall you by this traitor, BOOK
it may not be said in Spain that you were not warned '-
against him. Now the name of this knight was Bernal
Diañez de Ocampo. And the men of Zamora sent also to
the King to bid him beware of Vellido, and the King took
their warning in good part, and sent to say unto them, that
when he had the town he would deal bountifully with them,
for this which they had done ; nevertheless he gave no heed
to the warning. And Vellido, when he heard this, went to
the King, and said. Sir, the old Arias Gonzalo is full crafty,
and hath sent to say this unto you, because he knows that by
my means you would have won the town. And he called
for his horse, feigning that he would depart because of what
had been said. But the King took him by the hand, and
said. Friend and vassal, take no thought for this ; I say
unto you, that if I may have Zamora, I will make you chief
therein, even as Arias Gonzalo is now. Then Vellido ^, _, ,
. Sandoval,
kissed his hand and said, God grant you life, Sir, for many ff- 34.
and happy years, and let you fulfil what you desire. But cid.cap.ei.
the traitor had other thoughts in his heart. íT. 215.
XXX. After this Vellido took the King apart and said How King
to him, If it please you, Sir, let us ride out together alone ; ^^s íai?°
we will go round Zamora, and see the trenches which you ^^ treason,
have ordered to be made ; and I will show unto you the
postern which is called the Queen's, by which we may enter
the town, for it is never closed. When it is night you shall
give me a hundred knights who are hidalgos, well armed,
and we will go on foot, and the Zamorans because they are
weak with famine and misery, will let us conquer them, and
we will enter and open the gate, and keep it open till all
your host shall have entered in ; and thus shall we win the
town of Zamora. The King believed what he said, and
they took horse and went riding round the town, and the
King looked at the trenches, and that traitor showed him the
postern whereof he had spoken. And after they had ridden
round the town the King had need to alight upon the side
1 1 o CHRONICLR OF THE CID,
BOOK oí the Douro and go íiparl ; now lie carried in his hand a
'. light hunting s})ear which was gilded over, even such as the
Kings from whom he was descended were wont to bear ;
and he gave this to Vellido to hold it while he went aside,
to cover his feet. And Vellido Dolfos, when he saw him
in that guise, took the hunting spear and thrust it between
his shoulders, so that it went through him and came out at
his breast. And when he had stricken him he turned the
reins and rode as fast as he could toward the postern ; this
was not the fii'st treason which he had committed, for he
had killed the Count Don Ñuño treacherously. Now it
chanced that the Cid saw him riding thus, and asked him
wherefore he fled, and he would not answer ; and then the
Cid understood that he had done some treason, and his
heart misgave him that he had slain the King ; and he called
in haste for his horse, but while they were bringing it, Vel-
lido had ridden far away ; and the Cid being eager to fol-
low him, took only his lance and did not wait to have his
spurs buckled on. And he followed him to the postern and
had well nigh overtaken him, but Vellido got in ; and then
the Cid said in his anger. Cursed be the knight who ever
gets on horseback without his spurs. Now in all the feats
of the Cid never was fault found in him save only in this,
that he did not enter after Vellido into the town ; but he
did not fail to do this for cowardice, neither for fear of
death, or of imprisonment ; but because he thought that
peradventure this was a device between him and the King,
and that he fled by the Kine^'s command ; for certes, if he
S^T' ^^^cn had known that the Kina: was slain, there was nothing
Cia.cap.62. o ' &
chr. Gen. which would havc prevented him from entering the town,
Sandoval, and slaying the traitor in the streets, thereright.
How Veiii- XXXI. Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos
flecUo D^ had got within the postern, he was in such fear both of those
Urraca for who Were in the town and of those who were without, that
protection.
he went and placed himself under the mantle of the Inñinta
Doña Urraca. And when Don Arias Gonzalo knew this,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR.
he went unto the Infanta and said, Lady, I beseech you that BOOK
you give up this traitor to the CastiHans, otherwise be sure '
that it will be to your own harm ; for the Castilians will im-
peach all who are in Zamora, and that will be greater dis-
honor for you and for us. And Doña Urraca made answer,
Counsel me then so that he may not die for this which he
hath done. Don Arias Gonzalo then answered. Give him
unto me, and I will keep him in custody for three days,
and if the Castilians impeach us we will deliver him into
their hands ; and if they do not impeach us within that
time, we will thrust him out of the town so that he shall
not be seen among us. And Don Arias Gonzalo took him ^^^^ ^^^
from thence, and secured him with double fetters, and^^i^-^^P-^^.
^ ' Chr. Gen.
guarded him well. ff- 21 6.
XXXII. Meantime the Castilians went to seek their Of the
King, and they found him by the side of the Douro, where the King.
he lay sorely wounded, even unto death ; but he had not
yet lost his speech, and the hunting spear was in his body,
through and through, and they did not dare to take it out,
lest he should die immediately. And a master of Burgos
came up, who was well skiUed in these things, and he sawed
off the ends of the spear, that he might not lose his speech,
and said that he should be confessed, for he had death within
him. Then Count Don Garcia de Cabra, the curly-haired
one of Grañon, said unto him. Sir, think of your soul, for
you have a desperate wound. And the King made ansAver,
Blessed be you. Count, who thus counsel me, for I perceive
that I am slain : the traitor Vellido has killed me, and I
well know that this was for my sins, because I broke the
oath which I made unto the King my father. And as the
King was saying this the Cid came up and knelt before him
and said, I, Sir, remain more desolate than any other of
your vassals, for for your sake have I made your brethren
mine enemies, and all in the world who were against you,
and against whom it pleased you to go. The King your
father commended me to them as well as to you, when he
112 CHROiNlCLE OF THE CID.
BOOK divided his kingdoms, and I have lost their love for your
' sake, having done them great evil. And now neither can I
go before King Don Alfonso, your brother, nor remain
among the Christians before Doña Urraca your sister, be-
cause they hold that whatsoever you have done against them
was by my counsel. Now then. Sir, remember me before
you depart. The King then commanded that they should
raise him up in the bed, and the Counts and Ricos-omes
stood round about him, and the Bishops and Archbishops
who had come thither to make accord between him and his
sister Doña Urraca, and they heard what the Cid said, and
knew that he said truly ; for Avhatever good speed King
Don Sancho had had in his doings was all by means of my
Cid. And the King said unto them, I beseech all ye who
are here present. Counts and Ricos-omes, and all my other
vassals, that if my brother King Don Alfonso should come
from the land of the Moors, ye beseech him to show favor
unto you, my Cid, and that he always be bountiful unto
you, and receive you to be his vassal ; and if he alway
doth this and listen unto you, he will not be badly advised.
Then the Cid arose and kissed his hand, and all the chief
persons who were there present did the like. And after this
the King said unto them, I beseech ye intreat my brother
King Don Alfonso to forgive me whatever ^\Tong I have
A. D. 1072. done him, and to pray to God to have mercy upon my soul.
Oct. 4. ^j^¿ when he had said this he £^sked for the candle, and pre-
ff. 216. sently his soul departed. And all who were there present
Cid.cap.64. made great lamentation for the King.
HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRD BOOK
OF THE
CHRONICLE OF THE CID
I. Now when the King was dead, the townsmen who BOOK
were in the camp forsook their tents and fled, and much did
they lose in their flight ; but the noble Castilians, thinking JJsoivedto^
rather of what they were bound to do as men Avho had [|^ePck^*^of
alway preserved their loyalty, like their ancestors before Zamora.
them, would not depart from Zamora, nor break up the
siege thereof, but remained bravely before it, though they
had lost their Lord. And they summoned all the Bishops,
and took the body of the King and sent it full honorably to
the Monastery of Oña, and buried him there as beseemed a
King ; and while one part of the chief men of the host ac-
companied the body, the rest remained in the camp before
Zamora. And when the prelates and good men had re-
turned to the army, they took counsel together how they
should proceed against the men of Zamora, for this great
treason which had been committed. Then Count Don
Garcia de Cabra arose and said, Friends, ye see that we
have lost our Lord the King Don Sancho ; the traitor Vel-
lido, being his vassal, slew him, and they of Zamora have
received and harbored him within their walls ; and therefore
as we think, and as has been said unto us, he did this
15
114 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK treason by their counsel. Now then if there be one here
III ■ .
' who Avill impeach them for this thing, we will do whatever
may be needful that he may come oft' with honor, and the
impeachment be carried through. Then Don Diego Or-
donez arose, the son of Count Don Ordoño, a man of royal
lineage and great hardihood ; and he said unto them, If
ye will all assent unto this which ye have heard, I will im-
cid ca^ peach the men of Zamora, for the death of the King our
64. 65. Lord : and they all assented, promising to fulfil what had
ff. 35. been said. Now my Cid did not make this impeachment
Chr. Gen. • , , / r , ,
ff. 217. agamst the people of Zamora, because of the oath Avhich he
Escobar , ,
Rom.30.31. had sworn.
How Don n. Then Don Diego Ordonez went to his lodging and
doñezmade armed himself well, and armed his horse also, and mounted
peachiñent ^^^^ rode toward Zamora. And when he drew nigh unto
the town, he covered himself with his shield, that they
might not hurt him from the walls, and began to cry aloud,
asking if Don Arias Gonzalo were there, for he would
speak with him. A squh-e Avho was keeping guard upon
the wall went to Don Arias and told him that there was a
knight well armed calling for him, without the Avails, and he
said that if it pleased Don Arias he would shoot at him Avith
a cross-bow, and strike him or kill his horse : but Don Arias
forbade him, saying that he should no Avays harm him.
And Don Arias Gonzalo Avent Avith his sons upon the Avail,
to see Avho called for him, and he spake to the knight, say-
ing. Friend, Avhat Avouldst thou ? And Don Diego Ordonez
ansAvered, The Castilians have lost their Lord ; the traitor
Vellido slcAv him, being his vassal, arid ye of Zamora have
received Vellido, and harbored him Avithin your Avails.
NoAv therefore I say that he is a traitor Avho hath a traitor
with him, if he knoAveth and consenteth unto the treason.
And for this I impeach the people of Zamora, the great as
Avell as the little, the living and the dead, they who noAV
are, and they Avho are yet unborn ; and I impeach the
waters which they drink, and the garments which they put
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 115
on ; their bread and their wine, and the very stones in BOOK
their walls. If there be any one in Zamora to gainsay what '. —
I have said, I will do battle with him, and with God's
pleasure conquer him, so that the infamy shall remain upon
you. Don Arias Gonzalo replied, If I were what thou say-
est I am, it had been better for me never to have been born ;
but in what thou say est thou liest. In that which the great
do the little have no fault, nor the dead for the deeds of the
living, which they neither see nor hear : but setting aside
these and the things which have no understanding, as to the
rest I say that thou liest, and I will do battle with thee upon
this quarrel, or give thee one in my stead. But know
that you have been ill advised, in making this impeach-
ment, for the manner is, that whosoever impeacheth a
Council must do battle with five, one after another, and if
he conquer the ñve, he shall be held a true man, but if
either of the five conquer him, the Council is held acquitted
and he a liar. When Don Diego heard this it troubled
him ; howbeit he dissembled this right well, and said unto
Don Arias Gonzalo, I will bring twelve Castilians, and do
you bring twelve men of Zamora, and they shall swear
upon the Holy Gospel to judge justly between us, and if
they find that I am bound to do battle with five, I will per-
form it. And Don Arias made answer that he said well, and
it should be so. And truce was made for three times nine q]^^ q^^^
days, till this should have been determined and the combat Qi^J^^gj
fought. Cid.cap.66.
III. Then when the truce was made, Don Arias Gon- of the man-
zalo went out from the town into the host of the Castilians, which the
and his sons with him, and many of the knights of the town, to'he p^er^^^
and all the Ricos-omes and knights who were in the host ^°'^"^^'^-
assembled together with them, and consulted Avhat was to
be done in this impeachment. And they chose out twelve
alcaldes on the one part, and twelve on the other, who
should decide in what manner he was bound to perform
combat who impeached a Council. And the four and twenty
116 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK alcaldes accorded concerning what was the law in this case ;
'. — and two of them who were held the most learned in these
things arose, the one being a Castilian and the other of Za-
mora, and said that they had found the law as it was Avritten
to be this : That Avhosoever impeacheth the Council of a town
which was a bishop's seat, must do battle with five in the
field, one after another ; and that after every combat there
should be given unto him fresh arms and horse, and three sops
of bread, and a draufírht either of wine or of water, as he
Chr. Gen. . . . ,
ff. 218. chose. And in this sentence which the twain pronounced,
Chr. del - , , , , ^
Cid.cap.69. the Other twenty and two accorded.
How Don IV. On the morrow before the hour of tierce, the four
his sons re- ^nd twenty alcaldes marked out the lists upon the sand
combat^ for° Reside the river, at the place which is called Santiago, and
Zamora, jj^ ^^le middle of the lists they placed a bar, and ordained
that he who won the battle should lay hand on the bar, and
say that he had conquered : and then they appointed a term
of nine days for the combatants to come to those hsts which
had been assigned. And when all was appointed as ye
have heard, Don Arias returned to Zamora, and told the
Infanta Doña Urraca all that had been done, and she or-
dered a meeting to be caUed, at which all the men of the
town assembled. And when they were gathered together,
Don Arias Gonzalo said unto them. Friends, I beseech ye,
if there be any here among ye who took counsel for the
death of King Don Sancho, or were privy thereunto, that
ye now tell me, and deny it not ; for rather would I go
with my sons to the land of the Moors, than be overcome in
the field, and held for a traitor. Then they all rephed, that
there was none there who knew of the treason, nor had
consented unto it. At this was Don Arias Gonzalo well
pleased, and he bade them go each to his house ; and he
went to his house also with his sons, and chose out four of
them to do combat, and said that he would be the fifth
himself; and he gave them directions how to demean
themselves in the lists, and said, that he would enter
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 117
first ; and if, said he, what the Castihan saith be true, I BOOK
. . III.
would die first, not to see the infamy ; but if what he saith '. —
be false, I shall conquer him, and ye shall ever be held cld.'cap.ro.
in honor. ff^2i?^'^'
V. When the day appointed was come, Don Arias How Don
Gonzalo early in the morning armed his sons, and they persuaded
armed him ; and it was told him that Don Diego Ordonez Pedrarfas°'^
was already in the lists. Then he and his sons mounted ^^^"g -^^
their horses, and as they rode through the gates of their ^^^ ^^^^^•
house. Doña Urraca, with a company of dames met them,
and said to Don Arias, weeping. Remember now how my
father. King Don Ferrando, left me to your care, and you
swore between his hands that you would never forsake me ;
and lo ! now you are forsaking me. I beseech you remain
with me, and go not to this battle ; for there is reason
enough why you should be excused, and not break the oath
which you made unto my father. And she took hold on
him, and would not let him go, and made him be disarmed.
Then came many knights around him, to demand arms of
him, and request that they might do battle in his stead ;
nevertheless he would give them to none. And he called
for his son Pedro Arias, who was a right brave knight,
though but of green years, and who had greatly intreated
his father before this, that he would suffer him to fight in his
stead. And Don Arias armed him completely with his
own hands, and instructed him how to demean himself,
and gave him his blessing with his right hand, and said
unto him, that in such a point he went to save the people
of Zamora, as when our Lord Jesus Christ came through
the Virgin Mary, to save the people of this world, who
were lost by our father Adam. Then went they into the
field, where Don Diego Ordonez was awaiting them, and
Pedrarias entered the lists, and the judges placed them each ^, ^
in his place, and divided the sun between them, and went J" 2i9-
* _ ' Chr. del
out, leaving them in the lists. Cid.cap.7i.
118 CHRONICLE OP THE CID,
BOOK VI. Then they turned their horses one a2:ainst the other,
III s ?
and ran at each other full bravely, like good knights. Five
combat. '^^ times they encountered, and at the sixth encounter their
spears brake, and they laid hands upon their sw^ords, and
dealt each other such heavy blows that the helmets failed ;
and in this manner the combat between them continued till
noon. And when Don Diego Ordonez saw that it lasted so
long, and he could not yet conquer him, he called to mind
that he was there fighting to revenge his Lord, who had been
slain by a foul treason, and he collected together all his
strength. And he lifted up his sword and smote Pedrarias
upon the helmet, so that he cut through it, and through the
hood of the mail also, and made a wound in the head.
And Pedrarias with the agony of death, and with the blood
which ran over his eyes, bowed down to the neck of the
horse ; yet with all this he neither lost his stirrups, nor let
go his sword. And Don Diego Ordonez seeing him thus,
thought that he was dead, and would not strike him again ;
and he called aloud, saying, Don Arias, send me another
son, for this one will never fulfil your bidding. When Pe-
drarias heard this, grievously wounded as he was, he wiped
the blood away with the sleeve of his mail, and went fiercely
against him : and he took the sword in both hands, and
thought to give it him upon his head ; but the blow missed,
and fell upon the horse, and cut off great part of his nostrils,
and the reins with it ; and the horse immediately ran away
because of the great wound which he had received. And Don
Diego had no reins wherewith to stop him, and perceiving
that he should else be carried out of the lists, he threw him-
self on". And while he did this, Pedrarias fell down dead,
just without the mark. And Don Diego Ordonez laid hand
on the bar, and said. Praised be the name of God, one is
conquered. And incontinently the judges came and took
him by the hand, and led him to a tent and disarmed him,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 119
and gave him three sops/ and he drank of the wine and BOOK
rested awhile. And afterwards they gave him other arms, !
and a horse that was a right good one, and went with him ^^219.^^"'
to the Hsts. ^Ij- ^^U
Cid.cap.72.
VII. Then Don Arias Gonzalo called for another son, ofthese-
whose name was Diego Arias, and said unto him. To horse ! tat.
and go fight to deliver this Council and to revenge the death
of your brother : and he answered. For this am I come
hither. Then his father gave him his blessing and went
with him to the lists. And the judges took the reins of the
two champions and led them each to his place, and went out
and left them in the lists. And they ran against each other
with such force that both shields failed, and in another career
they brake their lances. Then laid they hand on their good
swords, and delivered such blows that their helmets were cut
away, and the sleeves of the mail. And at length Diego
Arias received such a bloAV near the heart that he fell dead.
And Don Diego Ordonez went to the bar and laid hold on
it, and cried out to Don Arias Gonzalo, Send me another
son, for I have conquered two, thanks be to God. Then the
judges came and said that the dead knight was not yet out
of the lists, and that he must alight and cast him out. And
Don Diego Ordonez did as they had directed him, and
alighted from his horse and took the dead man by the leg,
and dragged him to the Hne, and then letting the leg fall he
thrust him out of the lists with his feet. And then he went
and laid hand upon the bar again, saying that he had liefer
fight with a living man than drag a dead one out of the field.
And then the judges came to him, and led him to the tent,
and disarmed him, and gave him the three sops and the
' So in one of the Scotch Metrical Romances —
Thre soppes de mayn
Thei brought to Schir Gawayn,
For to confort his brayn,
The King gared commaunde.
Sir Gawan and Sir Calaron. 2. xi.
120 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Avine, as they had done before, and sent to say to Don Arias
III
' Gonzalo that this son also was slain, and that he should send
ff.\'i9.^'"" another.
c!d ca^Vs VIII. Then Don Arias Gonzalo, in great rage and in
Of the third great trouble called for his son Rodrigo Arias, who was a
how Tt was good knight, right hardy and valiant, the elder of all the
termined. brethren ; he had been in many a tournament, and with
good fortune. And Don Arias said unto him. Son, go now
and do battle with Diego Ordonez, to save Doña Urraca
your Lady, and yourself, and the Council of Zamora ; and
if you do this, in happy hour were you born. Then Rodrigo
Arias kissed his hand and ansAvered, Father, I thank you
much for what you have said, and be sure that I will save
them, or take my death. And he took his arms and mount-
ed, and his father gave him his blessing, and went with him
to the lists ; and the judges took his reins and led him in.
And when the judges Avere gone out, they tAvain ran at
each other, and Don Diego missed his bloAv, but Rodrigo
Arias did not miss, for he gave him so great a stroke Avith
the lance that it pierced through the shield, and broke the
saddle-bow behind, and made him lose his stiiTups, and he
embraced the neck of his horse. But albeit that Don
Diego Avas sorely bested Avith that stroke, he took heart
presently, and went bravely against him, and dealt him so
great a bloAv that he broke the lance in him ; for it Avent
through the shield and all his other arms, and great part
of the lance remained in his flesh. After this they laid
hand to sAvord, and gave each to the other great bloAvs,
and great Avounds Avith them. And Rodrigo Arias gave
so great a Avound to Diego Ordonez, that he cut his left
arm through to the bone. And Don Diego Ordonez, Avhen
he felt himself so sorely Avounded, AA^ent against Rodrigo
Arias and deliAí-ered him a bloAv upon the head Avhich cut
through the helmet and the hood of the mail, and entered
into his head. When Rodrigo Arias felt himself Avound-
ed to death, he let go the reins and took his sword in both
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 121
hands, and gave so great a blow to the horse of Don Diego BOOK
that he cut his head open. And the horse in his agony ! —
ran out of the hsts, and carried Don Diego out also, and
there died. And Rodrigo Arias fell dead as he Avas follow-
ing him. Then Don Diego Ordonez would have returned
into the field to do battle with the other two, but the judges
would not permit this,^ neither did they think good to de-
cide whether they of Zamora were overcome in this third
duel or not. And in this manner the thing was left unde-
cided. Nevertheless though no sentence was given, there
remained no infamy upon the people of Zamora. But bet-
ter had it been for Don Arias Gonzalo if he had given up
Vellido to the Castilians, that he might have died the death
of a traitor ; he would not then have lost these three sons,
who died like good men, in their duty. Now what was the
end of Vellido the history sayeth not, through the default of
the Chroniclers ;^ but it is to be beheved, that because the im-
^ The Emperor Palmerin de Oliva, lest any good knight should some
day lose the guerdon of his valor, (as Don Diego Ordonez in this instance)
encircled the lists at Constantinople with a palisade, sufficiently high ; a
precaution of which Palmerin of England found the benefit when he and
his brother and Dramuziando fought with the three giants. The reins of
his horse were cut, and if it had not been for the palisade he would have
been carried out of the lists. Palmeirim de Inglaterra, P. 2. C. 94.
The costume of the Spanish romances is very ill preserved in the va-
rious translations. Every translator seems to have thought himself privi-
leged to make what omissions and additions he pleased in the manner of
narration. No trace of the passage to which I have just referred is to be
found in the English Palmerin.
^ All the Chronicles, Histories and Ballads, are silent as to the fate
of Vellido Dolfos. An account however, which is manifestly fabulous,
is to be found in the interpolations made by an anonymous writer in the
Sumario de los Reyes de España por el Despensero* Mayor de la Reyna
Doña Leonor.
This fable states that Vellido exacted from Doña Urraca a promise to lie
* His name is said by the Marques de Mondejar to been Juan Rodriguez de
Cuenca.
16
122 chromclií: of the cid,
BOOK peachment was not made within ihroe days. Don Arias
111. .
Gózalo thrust him out of the town as Doña Urraca had re-
quested, and that he fled into other lands, peradventure
chr Gen ^^^^ng the Moors. And though it may be that he escaped
s" H^*^; punishment in this Avorld, yet certes he could not escape it in
ff. 37. hell where he is tormented with Dathan and Abiram, and
Chr.delCid. . , ^ i - r
cap. 74. With Judas the Traitor, for ever and ever.
How King IX. In the meantime the Infanta Doña Urraca wrote
departed letters sccrctly and sent messengers with them to Toledo
^rom 0 e- ^^ j^i^ig Don Alfonso, telling him that King Don Sancho his
brother was dead, and had left no heir, and that he should
come as speedily as he could to receive the kingdoms.
And she bade her messengers deliver these privately that
the Moors might not discover Avhat had taken place, lest
they should seize upon King Don Alfonso, whom she dearly
loved. Moreover the Castilians assembled together and
found that as King Don Sancho had left no son to suc-
ceed him they Avere bound by right to receive King
Don Alfonso as their Lord ; and they also sent unto him
in secret. HoAvbeit, certain of those spies who discover
to the Moors whatever the Christians design to do, when
they knew the death of King Don Sancho, w^ent pre-
sently to acquaint the Moors therewith. Now Don Peran-
sures, as he was a man of great understanding and under-
stood the Arabic tongue, when he knew the death of
King Don Sancho, and while he was devising hoAV to get
his Lord away from Toledo, rode out every day, as if to
with him; — accordingly, after he had committed the treason, she had
him bound hand and foot, put into a sack, tied in it, and laid in her bed,
where she herself lay down in her clothes and past the night beside
him. As soon as it was day-break he was by her orders fastened to
four wild horses, and so torn in pieces.
This anonymous interpolator wished to make the Sumario of the Des-
pensero pass for his own, and altered it for that purpose. Many of his
additions are as fabulous as the one which is here related ; and they
have been singularly mischievous, having misled such truly able men
and excellent historians as Zurita, Mariana, Garibay, and Gil Gonzalez
Davila.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 123
solace himself, on the way towards Castille, to see whom he BOOK
might meet, and to learn tidings. And it fell out one day
that he met a man who told him he was going with news to
King Ahmaymon, that King Don Sancho was dead ; and
Don Peransures took him aside from the road as if to speak
to him, and cut off his head. And Peransures returned
into the road and met another man coming with the same
tidings to the King, and he slew him in like manner. Ne-
vertheless the tidings reached King Alimaymon. Now Pe-
ransures and his brethren feared that if the Moor knew this
he would not let their Lord depart, but would seize him
and make hard terms for his deliverance ; and on the other
hand they thought that if he should learn it from any other
than themselves, it would be yet Avorse. And while they
were in doubt what they should do. King Don Alfonso,
trusting in God's mercy, said unto them. When I came
hither unto this Moor, he received me with great honor, and
gave to me abundantly all things of which I stood in need,
even as if I had been his son ; how then should I conceal
from him this favor which it hath pleased God to show me ?
I will go and tell it unto him. But Don Peransures be-
sought him not to tell him of his brother's death. And he
went to King Alimaymon and said unto him, that he would
fain go into his own country, if it pleased him, to help his
vassals, who stood greatly in need of him, and he besought
him that he would give him men. The death of King Don
Sancho he did not make known. And King Alimaymon
answered that he should not do this, because he feared that
King Don Sancho his brother would take him. And King
Don Alfonso said, that he knew the ways and customs of
his brother, and did not fear him, if it pleased the king to
give him some Moors to help him. Now Alimaymon had
heard of the death of King Don Sancho, and he had sent to
occupy the roads and the passes, that King Don Alfonso
might be stopped if he should attempt to depart without his
knowledge. Howbeit he did not fully believe the tidings,
IlL
124 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK soi^inff that Kin£^ Don Alfonso did not speak of it ; and he
III .
rejoicecl in his heart at what the King said, and he said unto
him, I thank God, Alfonso, that thou hast told me of thy
wish to go into tliine own country ; for in this thou hast
dealt loyally by me, and saved me from that which might
else have happened, to which the Moors have alway im-
portuned me. And hadst thou departed privily, thou couldst
not have escaped being slain or taken. Now then go and
take thy kingdom ; and I will give thee w^hatever thou hast
need of to give to thine own people, and win their hearts
that they may serve thee. And he then besought him to
renew the oath which he had taken, never to come against
him nor his sons, but alway to befriend them ; and this
same oath did the King of Toledo make unto him. Now
Alimaymon had a grandson w^hom he dearly loved, 'who
was not named in the oath, and King Don Alfonso there-
fore was not boimd to keep it towards him. And King
Don Alfonso made ready for his departure, and Alimay-
mon and the chief persons of the court w^ent out from the
Chr del ^^^J ^'^^^^ hiui^ and rode with him as far as the Sierra del
Cid.cap.67. Draoron, which is now called Valtome ; and he s^ave him
Chr. Gen. o ^ 70
ff. 217^218. orreat Sfifts, and there they took leave of each other with
Rod. Tol. & & ' J
1. 6. c. 20. great love.^
How the X. As soon as King Don Alfonso arrived at Zamora, he
not kiss the pitched his tcuts in the field of Santiago, and took counsel
hand.^ with his sistcr. And the Infanta Doña Urraca, who was a
* The Chronicle of the Cid relates this differently ; that Alimaymon,
after giving him leave to depart, detained him day after day, upon va-
rious pretexts, and that at last Alfonso and his followers let themselves
down from the castle by ropes, and escaped in the night. In the morn-
ing Alimaymon asked his favorites if they knew why Alfonso was in such
haste to depart, and they said they thought his brother was dead ; upon
which he sent to seize him, meaning to detain him prisoner.
I have preferred the Archbishop Rodrigo's account, because, if the
previous narrative be authentic, Alfonso knew that the roads were guarded
to prevent his flight, and because, by the after transactions between him
and Alimaymon, it is evident that they parted in friendship.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 125
right prudent lady and a wise, sent letters throughout the BOOK
land, that a Cortes should assemble and receive him for their '.
Lord. And when the Leonese and the Gallegos knew that
their Lord King Don Alfonso was come, they were full
joyful, and they came to Zamora and received him for their
Lord and King. And afterwards the Castilians arrived, and
they of Navarre,^ and they also received him for their Lord
and King, but upon this condition, that he should swear that
he had not taken counsel for the death of his brother King
Don Sancho. Howbeit they did not come forward to re-
ceive the oath, and they kissed his hands in homage, all,
save only Ruydiez, my Cid. And when King Don Alfonso
saw that the Cid did not do homage and kiss his hand, as
all the other chief persons and prelates and Councils had
done, he said. Since now ye have all received me for your
Lord, and given me authority over ye, I would know of the
Cid Ruydiez why he Avill not kiss my hand and acknow-
ledge me ; for I would do something for him, as I promised
unto my father King Don Ferrando, when he commended
him to me and to my brethren. And the Cid arose and
said. Sir, all whom you see here present, suspect that by
your counsel the King Don Sancho your brother came to
his death ; and therefore, I say unto you that, unless you
clear yourself of this, as by right you should do, I will never
kiss your hand, nor receive you for my Lord. Then said
the King, Cid, what you say pleases me well ; and here I
swear to God and to Saint Mary, that I never slew him, nor
took counsel for his death, neither did it please me, though
he had taken my kingdom from me. And I beseech ye
therefore all, as friends and true vassals, that ye tell me how
I may clear myself. And the chiefs who were present said,
that he and twelve of the knights who came with him from cid. cap.
Toledo, should make this oath in the Church of St. Gadea ^ ciir.' Gen.
at Burgos, and that so he should be cleared. " ^^^'
^ The people of Rioja are meant.
^ There were in these times, says Garibay, and for many ages after,
126 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XL So the King and all liis company look horse and went
'__ to Burgos. And when the day appointed for the oath was
^[^^u .T^^^ come, the Kins: went to hear mass in the church of Gadea,
which the ' i^ '
King Don and his sisters the Infantas Doña Urraca and Doña Elvira
Alfonso.
took. with him, and all his knights. And the King came forward
upon a high stage that all the people might see him, and my
Cid came to him to receive the oath ; and my Cid took the
book of the Gospels and opened it, and laid it upon the altar,
and the King laid his hands upon it, and the Cid said unto
him. King Don Alfonso, you come here to swear concerning
the death of King Don Sancho your brother, that you neither
slew him nor took counsel for his death ; say now you and
these hidalgos, if ye swear this. And the King and the hi-
dalgos, answered and said, Yea, we swear it. And the Cid
said, If ye knew of this thing, or gave command that it should
be done, may you die even such a death as your brother the
King Don Sancho, by the hand of a villain whom you trust ;
one who is not a hidalgo, from another land, not a Castihan ;
and the King and the knights who Avere with him said Amen.
And the King's color changed ; and the Cid repeated the
oath unto him a second time, and the King and the twelve
knights said Amen to it in like manner, and in lilie manner
the countenance of the King was changed again. And my
Cid repeated the oath unto him a thh'd time, and the King
and the Knights said Amen ; but the wrath of the King was
exceeding great, and he said to the Cid, Ruydiez, why dost
particular churches in the chief places of these kingdoms, where the
sacraments of the oath were wont to be taken, for the greater awe and
terror, when any one had to purge himself by oath from some great and
atrocious crime, whereof he was accused. Such a church, under the
advocation of St. Mary Magdalene, there is, he adds, in this town of
Mondragon, where in times past people used to come from the whole dis-
trict for such purposes. Some, he adds, are even remembered in the pre-
sent age. L. 11. C. 13.
These expurgatory oaths were forbidden by the Leyes de Toro. Ber-
ganza 5. 14. 191.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 127
thou thus press me man ? To-day thou swearest me, and BOOK
to-morrow thou wüt kiss my hand. And from that day for-
ward there was no love towards my Cid ^ in the heart of the ff. 220.
T^. Chr. del
Kmg. Cid. cap.
Xri. After this was King Don Alfonso crowned King '^^^ '^^' '^^'
of Castille, and Leon, and Galicia, and Portugal ; and he Alfonso""
called himself King and Emperor of all Spain, even as his ^¿^¿n°J^'
father had done before him. And in the beginning of his
reign he did in all things according to the counsel of the
Infanta Doña Urraca his sister ; and he was a good King,
and kept his kingdom so Avell, that rich and poor alike
dwelt in peace and security, neither did one man take arms
^ The Cid when he repeated the oath seems only to have enforced the
law of Castille. A case of debt might be decided by the oath of the de-
fendant, asín our Court of Chancery, and he was bound to repeat the oath
three times : Devele responder fasia la tercera vegada sin rejierta ; e siV
refierta la jura, es vencido. Fuero Viejo. Lib. 3. Tit. 2. ^ 7. ^ 9.
The threat of Urraca, that she would have her brother Sancho slain,
either secretly or openly, and the escape of Vellido, give some color to
the suspicion J which all the Castilians, and especially the Cid, entertained.
They accused Urraca in the King's epitaph :
Sanctius forma Paris, eiferox Hector in armis
Clauditur hac tumba, jam /actus pulvis ¿f umbra;
Femina mente dirá, sóror, hunc vita expoliavit.
Jure quidem dcmpto non flevit , fratre perempto.
Rex iste occisus est proditore, consilio sororis suae UrraccB, apud Numantiam
Civitatem, per manum Belliti Adelfis, magni traditoris, in era M. C. X.
Nonis Octobris, rapuit me cur sus db horis,
Beiganza, 5. 13. 184. This author, whose judgment is of great value
when there is no miracle, to mislead it, inclines, on the oldest and best
authorities, to this suspicion, which is strengthened by Alfonso's conduct
towards Garcia. He who kept one brother so many years in chains, would
have little scruple in instigating the assassin of another.
A place of penance was shown in Philip II.'s time, in the cloisters of a
church at Bamba near Valladolid, said to have been made by Urraca in
atonement for having occasioned Sancho's death. The tombs of the sons of
Arias Gonzalo were also shown there — both, as Morales thinks, without
any good authority. Morales, 12. 40. 7.
128 CIIllONICLK OF THE CID,
BOOK acjainst another, nor dan^ to do it, if he vahied the eyes in
III ?
'■ — his head. And if the King was noble and high of hneage,
much more was he of heart ; and in his days justice abound-
ed in the land so, that if a woman had gone alone through-
out the whole of his dominions, bearing gold and silver in
her hand, she would have found none to hurt her, neither
in the waste, nor in the peopled country. The merchants
and pilgrims also who passed through his lands w^ere so well
protected, that none durst do them wrong. Never while
the kingdom was his, had they of his land to do service to
any other Lord. And he was a comforter of the sorrowful,
and an increaser of the faith, and a defender of the churches,
and the strength of the people ; a judge without fear ; there
was not in Spain a consoler of the poor and of those who
were oppressed, till he came. Now there was a mortal
enmity between my Cid and Count Garcia Ordonez, and in
this year did my Cid gather together those of his table, and
all his power, and entered into the lands of Longroiio, and
Navarre, and Calahorra, burning and spoiKng the country
before him. And he laid siege to the Castle of Faro and
Chr Gen ^^^^ ^^' ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ messengers to the Count his enemy,
?,-y.^V\r^-^ to say that he would wait for him seven days, and he
Chr.delCid. *' _ •' '
cap. 80. waited. And the mighty men of the land came to the
Sandoval, -r\ ^^ ' t • r^■^^^
if. 39. 42. Count Don Garcia, but come agamst my Cid that they
Cárdena, dared uot do, for they feared to do battle with him.
How King XIII. In the second year of the reign of King Don Al-
went to""^° fonso, the King of Cordova made war upon Ahmapnon
maymon King of Tolcdo, and did great damage in his land, and held
him besieged in Toledo ; and King Don Alfonso drew forth
a great host and went to help the King of Toledo. When
Alimaymon knew that he was coming with so great a
power, he was greatly dismayed, thinking that he came
against him ; and he sent to remind him of the love and
the honor which he had shown unto him in the days of his
brother King Don Sancho, and of the oath which he had
taken ; and to beseech him that he would continue in peace
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 129
with him. And the King detained his messengers, giving BOOK
them no reply, and went on advancing into the land, doing '. —
no hurt therein. And when he came to Olias, he ordered
the Avhole army to halt. And when the King of Cordova
kncAv that King Don Alfonso was coming;, he rose up from ^, , ,
before Toledo, and fled away, and the men of Toledo pur- Cid.cap.82.
1 i--i-n-i Chr. Gen.
sued him, and mnicted great loss upon mm m his night. íf. 222.
XIV. And when the army had halted at Olias, the Kinar How the
•^ _ . . Ki'ig went
called for the messengers of Alimaymon, and took with him imoToiedo.
five knights, and rode to Toledo. And when they came to
the gate which is called Visagra, the messengers who went
with him made him enter the town, and he sent one of
them to tell the King that he was there, and went on in the
mean time to Avar ds the Alcazar. And when King Ali-
maymon heard this, he would not wait till a beast should be
brought him that he might ride, but set out on foot and
went to meet him ; and as he was going out he met King
Don Alfonso, and they embraced each other. And the
King of Toledo kissed King Don Alfonso's shoulder, for
the joy and pleasure that he had in his heart at seeing him ;
and he gave thanks to God for what he had done to King
Don Alfonso, and thanked him also for the truth which
was in him, in coming thus to his deliverance, and for
remembering the oath which they had made each to the
other. And they rejoiced together all that night, and great
was the joy of the people of Toledo, because of the love
which Kino; Don Alfonso bore toward their Lord. But
great was the sorrow in the host of the Castilians, for they
never thought to see their Lord again ; and they thought ^^^^ ^^j
that he had committed a great folly in thus putting himself ^¡J^-^^p^^^-
into the power of the Moors. ff- 222.
XV. On the morrow, Kins; Don Alfonso besousfht Kins; or the no-
111 ^ hie dealing
Alimaymon that he would go and eat with him at Ohas, of the King
and see how he came to help him. And they went both maymon.
together with a little company, and when they of the host
saw their lord they were all right joyful, and the two Kings
17
130 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK went through the camp, find they sat down to eat in the
'. — tent of the King, which was a large one. And while they
were at meat King Don Alfonso gave order in secret that
five hundred knights should arm themselves and surround
the tent. And when the King of Toledo saw these armed
knights, and that the tent was surrounded, he was in great
fear, and he asked of King Don Alfonso what it should be ;
and the King bade him eat, and said, that afterwards they
would tell him. And after they had eaten, King Don Al-
fonso said to Alimaymon, You made me swear and promise
when you had me in Toledo in your power, and no evil
should ever come against you on my part : now since I have
you in my power I w^ill that you release me from this oath
and covenant. And the King of Toledo consented to release
him, and besought him to do him no other wrong, and he
acquitted him from the promise three times. And when he
had done this King Don Alfonso called for the book of the
Gospels, and said unto him, Now then that you are in my
power, I swear and promise unto you, never to go against
you, nor against your son, and to aid you against all other
men in the world. And I make this oath unto you because
there was reason why I should have broken that other one,
seeing that it was made when I was in your hands ; but
against this I must not go, for I make it when you are in
mine, and I could do with you even whatever pleased me ;
and he laid his hands upon the book, and swore even as he
had said. Right joyful was the King of Toledo at this which
King Don Alfonso had done, for the loyalty which he had
shown towards him. And they remained that night together ;
and on the morrow Alimaymon returned to his city full gladly,
and King Don Alfonso made his host move on towards Cor-
dova, and Alimaymon went with him ; and they overran the
land, and burnt towns and villages, and destroyed castles, and
plundered whatever they could find ; and they returned each
Chr. del into his owu couutry with great spoils. And from thencefor-
84. 85. ward the King of Cordova durst no more attack the King of
Chr. Gen. __, , ,
ff. 223. 1 oledo.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE RIVAR. 131
XVI. In the following years nothing is found to be BOOK
related, save that my Cid did battle by command of the
King, with a knight called Ximen Garcia de Tiogelos, who cid^^n
was one of the best of Navarre : they fought for the castle ^^^J
of Pazluengas, and for two other castles, and my Cid con-
quered him, and the King Don Alfonso had the castles.
And after this my Cid did battle in Medina Celi, with a
Moor called Faras, who was a good knight in arms, and he
defeated and slew him and another also. And in the fifth
year of the reign of King Don Alfonso, the King sent the
Cid to the Kings of Seville and of Cordova, for the tribute
which they were bound to pay him. Now there was at this
time war between Almocanis King of Seville, and Almun-
dafar King of Granada, and Avith Almundafar were these
men of Castille, the Count Don Garcia Ordonez, and For-
tun Sanchez, the son-in-law of King Don Garcia of Na-
varre, and Lope Sanchez his brother, and Diego Perez, one
of the best men of Castille ; and they aided him all that they
could, and went against the King of Seville. And when
my Cid knew this it troubled him, and he sent unto them
requiring them not to go against the King of Seville, nor to
destroy his country, because he was King Don Alfonso's
vassal ; otherwise the King must defend him. And the
King of Granada and the Ricos-omes who were with him,
cared nothing for his letters, but entered boldly into the land
of Seville, and advanced as far as Cabra, burning and lay-
ing waste before them. When the Cid saw this, he gathered
together what Christians he could, and went against them.
And the King of Granada and the Christians who were
with him, sent to tell him that they would not go out of the
country for him. And the wrath of the Cid was kindled,
and he went against them, and fought with them in the field,
and the battle lasted from the hour of tierce even until the
hour of sexts ; and many died upon the part of the King of
Granada, and at length my Cid overcame them, and made
them take to flight. And Count Garcia Ordonez was taken
132 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK prisoner, and Lope Sanchez, and Diego Perez, and many
other knights, and of other men so many that they were
Cid.
out of number ; and the dead were so many that no man
could count them ; and the spoils of the field were very
great. And the Cid held these good men prisoners three
days,^ and then set them free, and he returned with great
honor and great riches to Seville. And King Almocanis
received him full honorably, and gave him great gifts for
himself, and paid him the full tribute for the King ; and he
returned rich to Castille, and with great honor. And King
Cid cap Don Alfonso was well pleased^ with the good fortune of
^- ^^ the Cid in all his feats ; but there were many who wished ill
ff. 223. to him, and sought to set the King against him.
DoiTaS ^^II- ^i'tei' this King Don Alfonso assembled together
so was oil }^jg power and Avent against the Moors. And the Cid
made wroth ^^ c?
with the should have gone with him, but he fell sick and perforce
therefore abode at home. And while the King was going
through Andalusia, having the land at his mercy, a great
power of the Moors assembled together on the other side,
and entered the land, and besieged the castle of Gormaz,
and did much evil. At this time the Cid was gathering
strength ; and when he heard that the Moors were in the
country, laying waste before them, he gathered together
^ It was a custom that the victor should remain three days upon the
field of battle, in proof of his victory : and this seems to have been the
Cid's reason for detaining his prisoners thus long. A disgraceful in-
stance of this custom will be found in the history of Aifonso Y. of Por-
tugal, who remained three days upon the field at Alfarrobeira, after he
had slain the Infante Don Pedro, his uncle, guardian, and father in law,
the best and ablest man that ever Portugal produced.
^ In recompense for these services, Alfonso granted a privilege to the
Cid, confirming to him all his possessions, and declaring them free from
all imposts : the town of Bivar is especially mentioned. This privilege
bears date July 28, 1075 ; it is preserved at Bivar, and in reverence for
the Cid's memory has been confirmed by all the subsequent kings of Cas-
tille, down to Philip V. and is probably continued to this day. Berganza
5. 14. ^ 196.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR, 133
what force he could, and went after them ; and the Moors, BOOK
. . III.
when they heard this, dared not abide his coming, but began
to fly. And the Cid followed them to Atienza, and to
Siguenza, and Fita, and Guadalajara, and through the
whole land of St. Esteban, as far as Toledo, slaying and
burning, and plundering and destroying, and laying hands
on all whom he found, so that he brought back seven thou-
sand prisoners, men and women ; and he and all his people
returned rich and with great honor. But when the King of
Toledo heard of the hurt which he had received at the
hands of the Cid, he sent to King Don Alfonso to complain
thereof, and the King was greatly troubled. And then the
E/icos-omes who wished ill to the Cid, had the way open to
do him evil with the King, and they said to the King, Sir,
Ruydiez hath broken your faith, and the oath and promise
which you made to the King of Toledo : and he hath done
this for no other reason but that the Moors of Toledo may
fall upon us here, and slay both you and us. And the King
believed Avhat they said, and was wroth against the Cid,
having no love towards him because of the oath which he
had pressed upon him at Burgos concerning the death of Chr. del
Cid. cap.
King Don Sancho his brother. And he went with all speed to 88. 89.
Burgos, and sent from thence to bid the Cid come unto him. ff. 224.
XVIII. Now my Cid knew the evil disposition of the gow the
.... C!id was
King towards him, and when he received his bidding, he wrongfully
made answer that he would meet him between Burgos and
Bivar. And the King went out from Burgos and came nigh
unto Bivar ; and the Cid came up to him and would have
kissed his hand, but the King withheld it, and said angrily
unto him, Ruydiez, quit my land. Then the Cid clapt spurs
to the mule upon which he rode, and vaulted into a piece of
ground which was his own inheritance, and answered, Sir, I
am not in your land, but in my own. And the King replied
full wrathfully. Go out of my kingdoms without any delay.
And the Cid made answer. Give me then thirty days time,
as is the right of the hidalgos ; and the King said he would
184 CHKuNICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK not, but that if he were not gone in nine days time he would
'. — come and look for him. The Counts were well pleased at
this ; but all the people of the land were sorrowful. And
then the King and the Cid parted. And the Cid sent for all
his friends and his kinsmen and vassals, and told them how
King Don Alfonso had banished him from the land, and
asked of them Avho would follow him into banishment, and
Avho would remain at home. Then Alvar Fañez, who was
his cousin-german, came forward and said, Cid, we will all
go with you, through desert and through peopled country,
and never fail you. In your service will we spend our
mules and horses, our wealth and our garments, and ever
while we live be unto you loyal friends and vassals. And
Chr. del they all confirmed what Alvar Fañez had said ; and the Cid
Cid. cap.
89. 90. thanked them for theh* love, and said that there might come
ff. 224. a time in which he should guerdon them.
How the XIX. And as he was about to depart he looked back
Cid depart- . • n i i i
ed from his upon his own hoHic, and when he saw his hall deserted, the
being a ba- household chest unfastened, the doors open, no cloaks hang-
man! úig ^P) iio seats in the porch, no hawks upon the perches, the
tears came into his eyes and he said. My enemies have done
this . . God be praised for aU things. And he turned toward
the East, and knelt and said. Holy Mary Mother, and aU
Saints, pray to God for me, that he may give me strength to
destroy all the Pagans, and to win enough from them to re-
quite my friends therewith, and all those who follow and help
me. Then he called for Alvar Fañez and said unto him.
Cousin, the poor have no part in the wrong which the King
hath done us ; see now that no wrong be done imto them
along our road ; and he called for his horse. And then an
old woman who was standmg at her door said, Go in a lucky
minute and make spoil of whatever you wish. And with this
proverb he rode on, saying,' Friends, by God's good pleasure
we shall return to Castille with great honor and great gain.
Chr. del And as they went out from Bivar they had a crow on their
9i!^Poema I'ig^t hand, and Avhen they came to Burgos they had a crow
?i?i;' ^' on the left.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR, 135
XX. My Cid Ruydiez entered Burgos, having sixty BOOK
streamers in his company. And men and women went forth
11 r -r> How the
to see him, and the men of Burgos and the women oí Bur- Burgaiese
, . . , . , .1 • dared not
gos were at their wmdows, weeping, so great was tneir sor- receive
row ; and they said with one accord, God, how good a vas- ^""*
sal if he had but a good Lord ! and wilhngly would each
have bade him come in, but no one dared so to do. For
King Don Alfonso in his anger had sent letters to Burgos,
saying that no man should give the Cid a lodging ; and that
whosoever disobeyed should lose all that he had, and more-
over the eyes in his head. Great sorrow had these Christian
folk at this, and they hid themselves when he came near
them because they did not dare speak to him ; and my Cid
went to his Posada, and when he came to the door he found
it fastened, for fear of the King. And his people called out
with a loud voice, but they within made no answer. And
the Cid rode up to the door, and took his foot out of the stir-
rup, and gave it a kick, but the door did not open with it,
for it was well secured ; a httle girl of nine years old then
came out of one of the houses and said unto him, O Cid, the
King hath forbidden us to receive you. We dare not open
our doors to you, for we should lose our houses and all that
we have, and the eyes in our head. Cid, our evil would
not help you, but God and all his Saints be with you. And
when she had said this she returned into the house. And
when the Cid knew what the King had done he turned
away from the door and rode up to St. Mary's, and there
he alighted and knelt down, and prayed with all his heart ;
and then he mounted again and rode out of the town, and
pitched his tent near Arlanzon, upon the Glera, that is to
say, upon the sands. My Cid Ruydiez, he who in a happy
hoiu* first girt on his sword, took up his lodging upon the
sands, because there was none who would receive him c^^"^^ fg^
within their door. He had a ffood company round about ^l/'^''- ^^^
^ r ./ (^id cap
him, and there he lodged as if he had been amonsr the^i- ^'tir.
. ^ ^ Gen. ff. 224.
mountains.
136 CHilONICLK OF THE CID,
BOOK XXI. Moreover the King had given orders that no food
III o o
' should be sold them in Burgos, so that they could not buy
CicTseiu to 6ven a pennyworth. But Martin Antolincz, who was a good
ne"onhe° Burgalese, he supphed my Cid and all his company with
Jews. bread and wine abundantly. Campeador, said he to the Cid,
to-night Ave will rest here, and to-morrow we will be gone ; I
shall be accused for what I have done in serving you, and
shall be in the King's displeasure ; but following your for-
tunes, sooner or later, the King will have me for his friend,
and if not, I do not care a fig ' for what I leave behind.
Now this Martin Antolinez was nephew unto the Cid, being
the son of his brother. Ferrando Diaz.^ And the Cid said
unto him, Martin Antolinez, you are a bold Lancier ; If I
live I will double you your pay. You see I have nothing
with me, and yet must provide for my companions. I will
take two chests and fill them with sand, and do you go in
secret to Rachel and Vidas, and teU them to come hither
privately ; for I cannot take my treasures with me, because
of their weight, and wiU pledge them in their hands. Let
Literally
Si noUj quanta dexo non lo precio un figo.
Poema del Cid. V. 11.
The probable origin of this common phrase I have remarked in a note
upon Thalaba, Vol. 1. p. 309. Ancient Pistol is good authority for its
Spanish descent.
* Diego Laynez, the father of Rodrigo, riding out when a young man
upon Santiago's Day, met a woman who was carrying food to her hus-
band at the threshing floor, and forced her. She conceived a son, pro-
ceeded to her husband, and told him what had befallen her ; and she con-
ceived another son by him also, the same day. The child of the knight
came into the world first, and was baptized Ferrando Diez. This Don
Ferrando married the daughter of Anton Antolinez of Burgos, and had
by her Martin Antolinez, Fernand Alfonso Pero Bermudez, Alvar Salva-
dores, and Ordeño. Chronica del Cid. Cap. 2.
How the son of the knight was distinguished from the son of the peas-
ant, is not specified by the Chronicler. It was perhaps believed that the
young Cavallero would insist upon taking precedence.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 137
them come for the chests at night, that no man may see BOOK
them. God knows that I do this thing more of necessity ! —
than of wilfulness; but by God's good help I shall redeem
all. Now Rachel and Vidas were rich Jews, from whom
the Cid used to receive money for his spoils.^ And Martin
Antolinez went in quest of them, and he passed through
Burgos and entered into the Castle ; and when he saw them
he said. Ah Rachel and Vidas, my dear friends ! now
let me speak with ye in secret. And they three went
apart. And he said to them, Give me your hands that you
will not discover me neither to Moor nor Christian ! I will
make you rich men forever. The Campeador went for the
tribute and he took great wealth, and some of it he has kept
for himself. He has two chests full of gold ; ye know that
the King is in anger against him, and he cannot carry these
away with him, without their being seen. He will leave
them therefore in your hands, and you shall lend him
money upon them, swearing with great oaths and upon your
faith, that ye will not open them till a year be past. Rachel
and Vidas took counsel together and answered. We well
knew he got something when he entered the land of the
Moors ; he who has treasures does not sleep without suspi-
cion ; we will take the chests, and place them where they
shall not be seen. But tell us with what will the Cid be
contented, and what gain will he give us for the year ?
Martin Antolinez answered, like a prudent man. My Cid-
requires what is reasonable ; he will ask but little to leave •
his treasures in safety. Men come to him from all parts.
He must have six hundred marks. And the Jews said. We
will advance him so much. Well then, said Martin Antoli-
nez, ye see that the night is advancing ; the Cid is in haste,
give us the marks. This is not the way of business, said
they ; we must take first, and then give. Ye say well, re-
plied the Burgalese ; come then to the Campeador, and we
' Con quien el soliafazer sus manllenas.
18
138 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK will help you to bring away the chests, so that neither Moors
' nor Christians may see us. 80 they went to horse and rode
out together, and they did not cross the bridge, but rode
Poema del throuffh the water that no man mic^ht see them, and they
Cid. V. 62 '=' ^ 5 J
—152. came to the tent of the Cid.
How the XXII. Meantime the Cid had taken two chests, which
the money, Were covcrcd with leather ' of red and gold, and the nails
home the which fastened down the leather were well gilt ; they were
c esis. ribbed with bands of iron, and each fastened with three locks ;
they were heavy, and he filled them with sand. And when
Rachel and Vidas entered his tent with Martin Antolinez,
they kissed his hand ; and the Cid siniled and said to them,
Ye see that I am going out of the land, because of the King's
displeasure ; but I shall leave something with ye. And they
made answ^er, Martin Antolinez has covenanted ^vith us, that
we shall give you six hundred marks upon these chests, and
keep them a full year, swearing not to open them tiQ that
time be expired, else shall we be perjured. Take the chests,
said Martin Antolinez ; I will go with you, and bring back
the marks, for my Cid must move before cock-crow. So
they took the chests, and though they were both strong men
they could not raise them from the ground ; and they were
fuU glad of the bargain which they had made. And Rachel
then went to the Cid and kissed his hand and said, Now,
Campeador, you are going from Castille among strange na-
tions, and your gain will be great, even as your fortune is.
t I kiss your hand, Cid, and have a gift for you, a red skin ;
it is Moorish and honorable. And the Cid said. It pleases
me : give it me if ye have brought it, if not, reckon it upon
the chests. And they departed with the chests, and Martin
Antolinez and his people helped them, and went with
* Guadamacel. Tapetum coriaceum pictum <Sf deauratum. So called,
according to Covarrubias, because it was first manufactured near the river
Guadameci in Andalusia. Hangings of this were used in Spain. Beck-
mann speaks of the ' now old-fashioned leather tapestry.'
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 139
them. And when they had placed the chests in safety BOOK
they spread a carpet in the middle of the hall, and laid a ! —
sheet upon it, and they threw down upon it three hundred
marks of silver. Don Martin counted them, and took them
without weighing. The other three hundred they paid in
gold. Don Martin had five squires with him, and he loaded
them all with the money. And Avhen this was done he said
to them. Now Don Rachel and Vidas, you have got the
chests, and I who got them for you well deserve a pair of hose.
And the Jews said to each other. Let us give him a good
gift for this which he has done ; and they said to him. We
will give you enough for hose and for a rich doublet and a c^d^y. 153.
good cloak ; you shall have thirty marks. Don Martin ^g^Jj^ '^*
thanked them and took the marks, and biddinsj them both cap. 90. 91.
' " Chr. Gen.
farewell, he departed right joyfully. ff- 224.
XXIII. When Martin Antolinez came into the Cid's tent JJ"7 ^^f ^
Cid went to
he said unto him, I have sped well. Campeador I you have d. Ximena
at v^srciena.
gained six hundred marks, and I thirty. Now then strike
your tent and be gone. The time draws on, and you may
be with your Lady Wife at St. Pedro de Cárdena, before
the cock crows. So the tent was struck, and my Cid and
his company went to horse at this early hour. And the Cid
turned his horse's head toward St. Mary's, and with his right
hand he blest himself on the forehead, and he said, God be
praised I help me, St. Mary. I go from Castille because the
anger of the King is against me, and I know not whether I
shall ever enter it again in all my days. Help me, glorious %
Virgin, in my goings, both by night and by day. If you do
this and my lot be fair, I will send rich and goodly gifts to
your altar, and will have a thousand masses sung there.
Then with a good heart he gave his horse the reins. And
Martin Antolinez said to him. Go ye on ; I must back to
my wife and tell her what she is to do during my absence.
I shall be with you in good time. And back he went to
Burgos, and my Cid and his company pricked on. The
cocks were crowing amain, and the day began to break,
140 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK when the good Campeador reached St. Pedro's. The Abbot
' Don Si.se])i]to ^ Avas saying matins, and Doña Ximena and
ñve of her ladies of good hneagc were with him, praying to
God and St. Peter to help my Cid. And when he called
at the gate and they knew his voice, God, what a joyful
man was the Abbot Don Sisebuto ! Out into the court yard
they went with torches and with tapers, and the Abbot gave
thanks to God that he now beheld the face of my Cid.
And the Cid told him all that had befallen him, and how he
was a banished man ; and he gave him fifty marks for him-
self, and a hundred for Doña Ximena and her children.
Abbot, said he, I leave two little girls behind me, whom I
commend to your care. Take you care of them and of my
wife and of her ladies : when this money be gone, if it be
not enough, supply them abundantly ; for every mark Avhich
you expend upon them I will give the Monastery four. And
the Abbot promised to do this with a right good will. Then
Doña Ximena came up and her daughters with her, each of
them borne in arms, and she knelt down on both her knees
before her husband, weeping bitterly, and she would have
kissed his hand ; and she said to him, Lo now you are ban-
ished from the land by mischief-making men, and here am I
with your daughters, Avho are little ones and of tender years,
and we and you must be parted, even in your life time.
For the love of St. Mary tell me now what we shall do.
And the Cid took the children in his arms, and held them to
his heart and wept, for he dearly loved them. Please God
and St. Mary, said he, I shall yet live to give these my
daughters in marriage with my own hands, and to do you
Poema del service yet, my honored wife, whom I have ever loved, even
Cid. V.
202. 285. as my own soul.
' On the unquestionable authority of Berganza I restore his true name
to the Abbot, who is called in the Chronicle and in the Poem, Sancho ; —
Acaso^ he says by a fortunate conjecture, por aver encontrado en la His-
toria Latina Sanctus, y después íraduxeron Sancho. 5. 15. ^ 201.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 141
XXIV. A great feast did they make that day in the BOOK
Monastery for the good Campeador, and the bells of St.
Pedro's rung merrily. Meantime the tidings had gone Qj'J\o|J{f
throu2:h Castille how my Cid was banished from the land, leave of his
^ «^ / wife and
and great was the sorrow of the people. Some left their daughters.
houses to follow him, others forsook their honorable offices
which they held. And that day a hundred and fifteen
knights assembled at the bridge of Arlanzon, all in quest of
my Cid ; and there Martin Antolinez joined them, and they
rode on together to St. Pedro's. And when he of Bivar
knew what a goodly company were coming to join him, he
rejoiced in his own strength, and rode out to meet them and
greeted them full courteously ; and they kissed his hand, and
he said to them, I pray to God that I may one day requite
ye well, because ye have forsaken your houses and your her-
itages for my sake, and I trust that I shall pay ye twofold.
Six days of the term allotted were now gone, and three only
remained : if after that time he should be found within the
King's dominions, neither for gold nor for silver could he
then escape. That day they feasted together, and when it
was evening the Cid distributed among them all that he had,
giving to each man according to what he Avas ; and he told
them that they must meet at mass after matins, and depart at
that early hour. Before the cock crew they were ready, and
the Abbot said the mass of the Holy Trinity, and when it
was done they left the church and went to horse. And my
Cid embraced Doña Ximena and his daughters, and blest
them ; and the parting between them was like separating the
nail from the quick flesh : and he wept and continued to
look round after them. Then Alvar Fañez came up to him
and said. Where is your courage, my Cid ? In a good hour
were you born of woman. Think of our road now ; these
sorrows wiU yet be turned into joy. And the Cid spake
again to the Abbot, commending his family to his care ; —
well did the Abbot know that he should one day receive
good guerdon. And as he took leave of the Cid, Alvar
142 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK Fafiez said to him, Ab})ot, if you see any who corne to fol-
'. low us, tell them what route we take, and bid them make
speed, for they may reach us either in the waste or in the
Poema del peopled country. And then they loosed the reins and
234. 394. pricked forward.
How the XXV. That night my Cid lay at Spinar de Can, and
kinocfo^m of P^<^pl^ flocked to him from all parts, and early on the mor-
King Don j-qw he Set out ; Santestevan lay on his left hand, which is a
Alfonso. _ ' - '
good city, and Ahilon on the right, which belongs to the
Moors, and he passed by Alcobiella, which is the boundary
of Castille. And he Avent by the Calzada de Quinea, and
crossed the Douro upon rafts.^ That night, being the
eighth, they rested at Figeruela, and more adventurers
came to join him. And when my Cid was fast asleep, the
Angel Gabriel appeared to him in a vision, and said, Go
on boldly and fear nothing ; for everything shall go well
with thee as long as thou livest, and all the things which
thou beginnest, thou shalt bring to good end, and thou shalt
be rich and honorable. And the Cid awoke and blessed
himself ; and he crost his forehead and rose from his bed,
and knelt down and gave thanks to God for the mercy which
he had vouchsafed him, being right joyful because of the
vision. Early on the morrow they set forth ; now this was
the last day of the nine. And they went on towards the
Sierra de Miedes. Before sunset the Cid halted and took
account of his company ; there were three hundred lances,
all with streamers, beside foot soldiers. And he said imto
Poema del them, Now take and eat, for we must pass this great and
C^ \A XT
395. 423. wild Sierra, that we may quit the land of King Alfonso this
Ci^i cap^3 i^ight* To-morrow he who seeks us may find us. So they
ff^225 ^^''' P^s^^^ the Sierra that night.
* Sobre navas de palos al Duero va paser.
V. 404.
In the Chronica General, this is made the name of a place — Nava de
Palos. TheChronica del Cid says, barca de Palos, agreeing with the Poem,
which is better authority than either.
HERE BEGINNETH THE FOURTH BOOK
OF THE
CHEONICLE OF THE CID
I. Now hath my Cid left the kingdom of King Don BOOK
Alfonso, and entered the country of the Moors. And at
daybreak they were near the brow of the Sierra, and they cid won
halted there upon the top of the mountains, and gave barley of Castre-
to their horses, and remained there until evening. And-'""'
they set forward when the evening had closed, that none
might see them, and continued their way all night, and
before dawn they came near to Castrejon, which is upon the
Henares. And Alvar Fañez said unto the Cid, that he
would take with him two hundred horsemen, and scour the
country as far as Fita and Guadalajara and Alcalá, and
lay hands on whatever he could find, without fear either of
King Alfonso or of the Moors. And he counselled him to
remain in ambush where he was, and surprise the castle
of Castrejon: and it seemed good unto my Cid. Away
went Alvar Fañez, and Alvar Alvarez with him, and Alvar
Salvadores, and Galin Garcia, and the two hundred horse-
men ; and the Cid remained in ambush with the rest of his
company. And as soon as it was morning, the Moors of
Castrejon, knowing nothing of these who were so near
them, opened the castle gates, and went out to their work
144 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK as they were wont to do. And the Cid rose from ambush
'■ — and fell upon them, and took all their flocks, and made
straight for the gates, pursuing them. And there was a cry
within the castle that the Christians were upon them, and
they who were withhi ran to the gates to defend them, but
my Cid came up sword in hand ; eleven Moors did he
Cid. V. 428 slay with his own hand, and they forsook the gate and fled
chr.deicid. before him to hide themselves within, so that he won the
cfir. Gen. castle presently, and took gold and silver, and whatever else
ff. 225. Yie would.
Sd^oid ^^' ^Ivar Fañez meantime scoured the country along
the Moo ^° ^^^ Henares as far as Alcalá, and he returned driving flocks
and herds before him, with great stores of wearing apparel,
and of other plunder. He came with the banner of Minaya,
and there were none who dared fall upon his rear. And
when the Cid knew that he was nigh at hand he went out to
meet him, and praised him greatly for what he had done,
and gave thanks to God. And he gave order that all the
spoils should be heaped together, both what Alvar Fañez
had brought, and what had been taken in the castle ; and
he said to him. Brother, of all this which God hath given us,
take you the fifth, for you well deserve it ; but Minaya
would not, saying. You have need of it for our support.
And the Cid divided the spoil among the knights and foot-
soldiers, to each his due portion ; to every horseman a
hundred marks of silver, and half as much to the foot-sol-
diers : and because he could find none to whom to sell his
fifth, he spake to the Moors of Castrejon, and sent to those
of Fita and Guadalajara, telling them that they might come
safely to purchase the spoil, and the prisoners also whom he
had taken, both men-prisoners and women, for he would
have none with him. And they came, and valued the spoil
Poema del and the prisoners, and s^ave for them three thousand marks
Cid, V. 484 , ^ . ' ^ ,
—531. of silver, which they paid within three days: they bought
cid.cap.94. also much of the spoil which had been divided, makmg
ff. 225. great gain, so that all who were in my Cid's company were
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 145
full rich. And the heart of my Cid was joyous, and he sent BOOK
to King Don Alfonso, telling him that he and his compan- '. —
ions would yet do him service upon the Moors.
III. Then mv Cid assembled too^ether his ffood men and ^PJ^ the
~ ^ Cid went
said unto them, Friends, we cannot take up our abode in against
Alcocer.
this Castle, for there is no water in it, and moreover the
King is at peace with these Moors, and I know that the
treaty between them hath been written ; so that if we
should abide here he Avould come against us with all his
power, and with all the power of the Moors, and we could
not stand against him. If therefore it seem good unto you,
let us leave the rest of our prisoners here, for it does not
beseem us to take any Avith us, but to be as free from all
encumbrance as may be, like men who are to live by war,
and to help ourselves with our arms. And it pleased them
well that it should be so. And he said to them. Ye have all
had your shares, neither is there anything owing to any one
among ye. Now then let us be ready to take horse betimes
on the morrow, for I would not fight against my Lord the
King. So on the morrow they went to horse and departed,
being rich with the spoils which they had won : and they
left the Castle to the Moors, who remained blessing them for
this bounty which they had received at their hands. Then
my Cid and his company went up the Henares as fast as
they could go, and they passed by the Alearlas,^ and by the
caves of Anquita, and through the waters, and they entered
the plain of Torancio, and halted between Fariza and
Cetina : great were the spoils which they collected as they
went along. And on the morrow they passed Alfama, and
leaving the Gorge below them they passed Bobierca, and
Teca which is beyond it, and came against Alcocer. There
my Cid pitched his tents upon a round hill, which was a
* Alearla signifies a cottage. The word however is used in the Poem
as the name of a place, as we should speak of a few dwelling houses
standing together in an open country.
19
146 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK great hill and a strong ; and the river Salon ran near them,
so that the water could not be cut off. My Cid thought to
c?d"^v 1?32 ^^^^^ Alcocer ; so he pitched his tents securely, having the
— ^'^i- , Sierra on one side, and the river on the other, and he made
Chr. del ' '
Cid.cap.95. all his Dcoplc disj a trench, that they misrht not be alarmed,
Chr. Gen. . ^ ^ ^ J & '
ff. 226. neither by day nor by night.
Of the ta- IV. When my Cid had thus encamped, he went to look
Alcocer. at the Alcazar, and see if he could by any means enter it.
And the Moors offered tribute to him if he would leave
them in peace ; but this he would not do, and he lay before
the town. And news went through all the land that the Cid
was come among them, and they of Calalayud were in fear.
And my Cid lay before Alcocer fifteen weeks ; and when
he saAv that the town did not surrender, he ordered his peo-
ple to break up their camp, as if they were flying, and they
left one of their tents behind them, and took their way
along the Salon, Avith their banners spread. And when the
Moors saw this they rejoiced greatly, and there was a great
stir among them, and they praised themselves for what they
had done in withstanding him, and said, that the Cid's
bread and barley had failed him, and he had fled away, and
left one of his tents behind him. And they said among
themselves. Let us pursue them and spoil them, for if they
of Teruel should be before us the honor and the profit will
be theirs, and Ave shall have nothing. And they went out
after him, great and little, leaving the gates open and shout-
ing as they went ; and there was not left in the town a
man Avho could bear arms. And when my Cid saw them
coming he gave orders to quicken their speed, as if he was
in fear, and would not let his people turn till the Moors
were far enough from the town. But when lie saw that
there was a good distance betAveen them and the gates, then
he bade his banner turn, and spurred towards them, cry-
ing. Lay on, knights, by God's mercy the spoil is our own.
God ! what a good joy was theirs that morning ! My
Cid's vassals laid on Avithout mercy; — in one hour, and
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 147
in a little space, three hundred Moors were slain, and BOOK
the Cid and Alvar Fañez had good horses, and got between '. —
Poema del
them and the Castle, and stood in the gateway sword in
hand, and there was a great mortahty among the Moors ;
and my Cid won the place, and Pero Bermudez planted his
banner upon the highest point of the Castle. And the Cid
said. Blessed be God and all his Saints, we have bettered
our quarters both for horses and men. And he said to
Alvar Fañez and all his knights. Hear me, we shall get no-
thing by killing these Moors ; — let us take them, and they
shall show us their treasures which they have hidden in their Cid. v. 572
•^ 632.
houses, and we will dwell here and they shall serve us. In chr. del
this manner did my Cid win Alcocer, and take up his abode chr. Gen.
41, • ff. 226.
therem.
V. Much did this trouble the Moors of Teca, and it did ^«^ ^^^
' King or
not please those of Teruel, nor of Calatayud. And they Valencia
^ . . sent orders
sent to the King of Valencia to tell him that one who Avas to take the
called Ruydiez the Cid, whom King Don Alfonso had
banished, was come into their country, and had taken Al-
cocer ; and if a stop were not put to him, the King might
look upon Teca and Teruel and Calatayud as lost, for
nothing could stand against him, and he had plundered the
whole country, along the Salon on the one side, and the
Siloca on the other. When the King of Valencia, whose
name was Alcamin, heard this, he Avas greatly troubled.
And incontinently he spake unto two Moorish Kings who
were his vassals, bidding them take three thousand horsemen cid v. 6.33
and all the men of the border, and bring the Cid to him chr^^jel
alive, that he might make atonement to him for having en- chl^^Gerf
tered his land. ff- 227.
VI. Faris and Galve Avere the names of these tAVO How the
Moorish Kings, and they set out Avith the companies of sieged fn
King Alcamin from Valencia, and halted the first night in ^ ^^^^^'
Segorve, and the second night at Celfa de Canal. And
they sent their messengers through the land to all thfe Coun-
cils thereof, ordering all men at arms, as well horsemen as
148
CHIlOiNICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
IV.
Poema del
Cid. V. 651
—678.
Chr. del
Cid.cap.98.
Chr. Gen.
ff. 227.
How the
Cid went
out to give
them battle,
footmen, to join them, and the third night they halted at
Calatayud, and great numbers joined them ; and they came
up against Alcocer, and pitched their tents round about the
Castle. Every day their host increased, for their people
were many in number, and their watchmen kept watch day
and night ; and my Cid had no succor to look for except
the mercy of God, in which he put his trust. And the
Moors beset them so close that they cut off their water, and
albeit the Castilians would have sallied against them, my
Cid forbade this. In this guise were my Cid and his people
besieged for three weeks, and when the fourth week began,
he called for Alvar Fañez, and for his company, and said
unto them, Ye see that the Moors have cut off our water,
and we have but little bread ; they gather numbers day by
day, and we become weak, and they are in then' own coun-
try. If we would depart they Avould not let us, and we can-
not go out by night because they have beset us round about
on all sides, and we cannot pass on high through the air,
neither through the earth which is underneath. Now then if
it please you let us go out and fight with them, though they
are many in number, and either defeat them or die an hon-
orable death.
VII. Then Minaya answered and said. We have left the
gentle land of Castille, and are come hither as banished
men, and if we do not beat the Moors, they wiU not give us
food. Now though we are but few, yet are we of a good
stock, and of one heart and one wiU ; by God's help let us
go out and smite them to-morrow, early in the morning,
and you who are not in a state of penitence, go and shrieve
yourselves, and repent ye of your sins. And they all held
that what Alvar Fañez had said was good. And my Cid
answered, Minaya, you have spoken as you should do.
Then ordered he all the Moors, both men and women, to be
thrust out of the tovm, that it might not be known what
they w^e preparing to do ; and the rest of that day and
the night also, they passed in making ready for the battle.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 149
And on the morrow at sunrise, the Cid ^ave his banner to BOOK
. . IV.
Pero Bermudez, and bade him bear it boldly like a good
man as he was, but he charged him not to thrust forward
with it without his bidding. And Pero Bermudez kissed his
hand, being well pleased. Then leaving only two foot sol-
diers to keep the gates, they issued out ; and the Moorish
scouts saw them and hastened to the camp. Then was there
such a noise of tambours, as if the earth would have been
broken, and the Moors armed themselves in great haste.
Two royal banners were there, and ñve city ones, and they p^g^^^^ ¿^j
drew up their men in two great bodies, and moved on, c^'id. v. 679.
thinking to take my Cid and all his company ahve ; and my chr- del
Cid bade his men remain still, and not move till he should 98. 99.
Chr. Gen.
bid them. ff. 227.
VIII. Pero Bermudez could not bear this, but holding How Pero
the banner in his hand, he cried, God help you. Cid Cam-caTiSd ^the
peador ; I shall put your banner in the middle of that main th ""middle
body ; and you who are bound to stand by it — 'I shaU see J^jjo^g
how you wiU succor it. And he began to prick forward.
And the Campeador called unto him to stop as he loved
him, but Pero Bermudez replied he would stop for nothing,
and away he spurred and carried his banner into the middle
of the great body of the Moors. And the Moors feU upon
him that they might win the banner, and beset him on all
sides, giving him many and great blows to beat him down ;
nevertheless his arms were proof, and they could not pierce
them, neither could they beat him down, nor force the ban-
ner from him, for he was a right brave man and a strong,
and a good horseman, and of great heart. And when the
Cid saw him thus beset he called to his people to move on
and help him. Then placed they their shields before their
hearts, and lowered their lances with the streamers thereon,
and bending forward, rode on. , Three hundred lances
were they, each with its pendant, and every man at the first
charge slew his Moor. Smite them, knights, for the love of
charity, cried the Campeador. I am Ruydiez, the Cid of
150 CHRONICLE OK THE CID,
BOOK Bivar ! Many a shield was pierced that day, and many á
' false corselet was broken, and many a white streamer dyed
with blood, and many a horse left without a rider. The Mis-
believers called on Mahomet, and the Christians on Santiago,
and the noise of the tambours and of the trumpets, was so
great that none could hear his neighbor. And my Cid and
his company succored Pero Bermudez, and they rode
through the host of the Moors, slaying as they went, and
they rode back again in like manner ; thirteen hundred did
they kill in this guise. If you would know who they were,
who were the good men of that day, it behoves me to tell you,
for though they are departed, it is not fitting that the names
of those who have done well should die, nor would they
who have done well themselves, or Avho hope so to do, think
it right ; for good men would not be so bound to do well if
their good feats should be kept silent. There was my Cid,
the good man in battle, who fought well upon his gilt saddle ;
and Alvar Fañez Minaya, and Martin Antohnez the Burga-
lese of prowess, and Muno Gustios, and Martin Munos who
held Montemayor, and Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadores,
Galin Garcia the good one of Aragón, and Felez Munos
the nephew of the Campeador. Wherever my Cid went,
the Moors made a path before him, for he smote them down
without mercy. And while the battle still continued, the
Moors killed the horse of Alvar Fañez, and his lance was
broken and he fought bravely with his sword afoot. And
my Cid, seeing him, came up to an Alguazil who rode upon
Poema del a ffood horse, and smote him with his sword under the right
Cid. 712. t5 ' o
763." Chr. arm, so that he cut him through and through, and he gave
cap. 99.' the horse to Alvar Fanes, saying. Mount, Minaya, for you
Cnr. Gen. • i j. i j
ff. 228. ^1*6 i^y i*ight hand.
Of the IX. When Alvar Fañez Avas thus remounted, they fell
fy^ woTby "Pon the Moors again, and by this time the Moors were
the Cid. greatly disheartened, having suffered so great loss, and they
began to give way. And my Cid, seeing King Fariz, made
towards him, smiting down all who were in his way ; and
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 151
he carne up to him, and made three blows at him ; two of BOOK
them failed, but the third was a good one, and went through
his cuirass, so that the blood ran down his legs. And with
that blow was the army of the Moors vanquished, for King
Fariz, feeling himself so sorely wounded, turned his reins
and fled out of the field, even to Teruel. And Martin
Antolinez the good Burgalese came up to King Galve, and
gave him a stroke on the head, which scattered all the car-
buncles out of his helmet, and cut through it even to the skin ;
and the King did not wait for another such, and he fled also.
A good day was that for Christendom, for the Moors fled
on all sides. King Fariz got into Teruel, and King Galve
fled after him, but they would not receive him within the
gates, and he went on to Calatayud. And the Christians
pursued them even to Calatayud. And Alvar Fañez had a
good horse ; four and thü'ty did he slay in that pursuit with
the edge of his keen sword, and his arm was all red, and the
blood dropt from his elbow. And as he was returning from
the spoil he said. Now am I well pleased, for good tidings
will go to Castille, how my Cid has won a battle in the field.
My Cid also turned back ; his coif was wrinkled, and you
might see his full beard ; the hood of his mail hung down
upon his shoulders, and the sword was still in his hand.
He saw his people returning from the pursuit, and that of all
his company fifteen only of the lower sort was slain, and he
gave thanks to G od for this victory. Then they fell to the spoil,
and they found arms in abundance, and great store of wealth ;
and five hundred and ten horses. And he divided the spoil,
giving to each man his fair portion, and the Moors whom cS^m.^
they had put out of Alcocer before the battle, they now re- ^^^ ¿^^
ceived ag^ain into the castle, and sjave to them also a part ^^^- i,^P-
^ ' & ^100. Chr.
of the booty, so that all were well content. And my Cid Gen. ff.
had great joy with his vassals.
X. Then the Cid called unto Alvar Fañez and said. How the
Cousin, you are my right hand, and I hold it good that you present to
should take of my fifth as much as you will, for all would be Alfonso.
152 OHKüiMCLE OF THE CID,
BOOK well bestowed upon you ; but Minaya thanked him, and said,
' that he would take nothing more than his share. And the
Cid said unto him, I will send King Don Alfonso a present
from my part of the spoils. You shall go into Castille, and
take Avith you thirty horses, the best Avhich were taken from
the Moors, all bridled and saddled, and each having a sword
hanging from the saddle-bow ; and you shall give them to the
King, and kiss his hand for me, and tell him that we know
how to make our way among the Moors. And you shall
take also this bag of gold and silver, and purchase for me a
thousand masses in St. Mary's at Burgos, and hang up there
these banners of the Moorish Kings whom we have overcome.
Go then to St. Pedro's at Cárdena, and salute my wife Doña
Ximena, and my daughters, and tell them how well I go on,
and that if I live I will make them rich women. And salute
for me the Abbot Don Sisebuto, and give him fifty marks of
silver ; and the rest of the money, whatever shall be left, give
Poema del to my wife, and bid them all pray for me. Moreover the
843 ' * Cid said unto him. This country is all spoiled, and we have
Cid cap ^^ ^^^P ourselves with sword and spear. You are going to
Geti ff.*^"^ gentle Castille ; if when you return you should not find us
228. here, you will hear where we are.
How Alvar XI. Alvar Fañez went his way to Castille, and he found
Fanez pre- _ _ ''
sented the the King in Valladolid, and he presented to him the thirty
the King, horses, with all their trappings, and swords mounted with
silver hanging from the saddle-bows. And when the King
saw them, before Alvar Fañez could deliver his bidding, he
said unto him, Minaya, who sends me this goodly present ;
and Minaya answered, My Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador,
sends it, and kisses by me your hands. For since you were
wroth against him, and banished him from the land, he being
a man disherited, hath helped himself with his own hands,
and hath won from the Moors the Castle of Alcocer. And
the King of Valencia sent two Kings to besiege him there,
with all his power, and they begh-t hmi round about, and cut
off the water and bread from us so that we could not subsist.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 153
And then holding: it better to die like srood men in the field, BOOK
. IV
than shut up like bad ones, we went out against them, and '.
fought with them in the open field, and smote them and put
them to flight; and both the Moorish Kings were sorely
wounded, and many of the Moors were slain, and many
were taken prisoners, and great was the spoil which we won
in the field, both of captives and of horses and arms, gold
and silver and pearls, so that all who are with him are rich
men. And of his fifth of the horses which were taken that
day, my Cid hath sent you these, as to his natural Lord,
whose favor he desireth. I beseech you, as God shall help
you, show favor unto him. Then King Don Alfonso an-
swered. This is betimes in the morning for a banished man
to ask favor of his Lord ; nor is it befitting a King, for no
Lord ought to be wroth for so short a time. Nevertheless,
because the horses were won from the Moors, I will take
them, and rejoice that my Cid hath sped so well. And I
pardon you, Minaya, and give again unto you all the lands
which you have ever held of me, and you have my favor to
go when you will, and come when you will. Of the Cid
Campeador, I shall say nothing now, save only that all who
choose to follow him may freely go, and their bodies and
goods and heritages are safe. And Minaya said, God grant
you many and happy years for his service. Now I beseech
you, this which you have done for me, do also to all those
who are in my Cid's company, and show favor unto them Poema del
also, that their possessions may be restored unto them. And l^^f ®^^'
the King gave order that it should be so. Then Minaya ^fjT- ^^^^
kissed the Kinsj's hand and said, Sir, you have done this lo^.
^ . ' J J Qhr. Gen.
now, and you will do the rest hereafter. ff. 229.
XII. My Cid remained awhile in Alcocer, and the Moors How the
of the border waited to see what he would do. And in this ed from
time King Fariz got well of his wound, and my Cid sent to
him and to the Moors, saying, that if they would give him
three thousand marks of silver, he would leave Alcocer and
go elsewhere. And King Fariz and the Moors of Techa,
20
154 CimONICLK OF THE CID,
BOOK and of Teruel, and of Calatayud, were right glad of ihiis, and
'. the covenant Avas put in writing, and they sent hiin the three
thousand marks. And my Cid divided it among his com-
pany, and he made them all rich, both knights and esquires
and footmen, so that they said to one another, He who
serves a good Lord, happy man is his dole. But the Moors
of Alcocer were full sorry to see him depart, becaase he had
been to them a kind master and a bountiful ; and they said
unto him. Wherever you go, Cid, our prayers will go before
you : and they wept both men and women when my Cid
went his way. So the Campeador raised his banner and
departed, and he went down the Salon, and crossed it ; and
as he crossed the river they saw good birds, and signs of
good fortune. And they of Za and of Calatayud were well
pleased, because he went from them. My Cid rode on till
he came to the knoU above Monte-Real ; it is a high hill
and strong, and there he pitched his tents, being safe on all
sides. And from thence he did much harm to the Moors of
Medina and of the country round about ; and he made
Poema del Daroca pay tribute, and Molina also, which is on the other
S^ 878. side, and Teruel also, and Celfa de Canal, and all the
Chr. del coimtry along the river Martin. And the news went to
l?^- ^ the Kinsj of Zaras^oza, and it neither pleased the Kinoj nor
Chr. Gen. & & ? r o
ff. 229. his people.
How the XIII. Ever after was that knoll called the Knoll of the
Cid was
received at Cid. And when the perfect one had waited a long time for
Minaya and saw that he did not come, he removed by night,
and passed by Teruel and pitched his camp in the pine-forest
of Tebar. And from thence he infested the Moors of Zara-
goza, insomuch that they held .it best to give him gold and
silver and pay him tribute. And when this covenant had
been made, Almudafar, the Kmg of Zaragoza, became
greatly his friend, and received him full honorably into the
town. In three weeks time after this came Alvar Fañez
from Castille. Two hundred men of lineage came with
him, every one of Avhom wore SAvord gii't to his side, and
Zaragoza.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 155
the foot-soldiers in their company were out of number. BOOK
When my Cid saw Minaya he rode up to him, and embraced '
him without speaking, and kissed his mouth and the eyes in
his head. And Minaya told him all that he had done.
And the face of the Campeador brightened, and he gave
thanks to God and said, It will go well with me, Minaya, as
long as you live ! God, how joyful was that whole host be-
cause Alvar Fañez was returned ! for he brought them greet-
ings from their kinswomen and their brethren, and the fair
comrades whom they had left behind. God, how joyful
was my Cid with the fleecy beard, that Minaya had pur- p^f^^ ^®^
chased the thousand masses, and had brought him the bid- 94i.
dings of his wife and daughters I God, what a joyful man Cid. cap.
, , 104. Chr.
was he I Gen.ff. 230.
XIV. Now it came to pass that while my Cid was in How the
Zaragoza the days of King Almudafar AvCre fulfilled : and the country.
he left his two sons Zulema and Abenalfange, and they di-
vided his dominions between them ; and Zulema had the
kingdom of Zaragoza, and Abenalfange the kingdom of De-
nia. And Zulema put his kingdom under my Cid's protec-
tion, and bade all his people obey him even as they would
himself. Now there began to be great enmity between the
two brethren, and they made Avar upon each other. And
King Don Pedro of Aragón, and the Count Don Ramon
Berenguer of Barcelona, helped Abenalfange, and they were
enemies to the Cid because he defended Zulema. And my
Cid chose out two hundred horsemen and went out by night,
and fell upon the lands of Alcañiz ; and he remained out
three days in this inroad, and brought away great booty.
Great was the talk thereof among the Moors ; and they of
Monzón and of Huesca were troubled, but they of Zaragoza
rejoiced, because they paid tribute to the Cid, and were safe.
And when my Cid returned to Zaragoza he divided the spoil
among his companions, and said to them. Ye know, my
friends, that for all who live by their arms, as we do, it is not
good to remain long in one place. Let us be on again to-
156 CHKONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK morrow. 80 on the morrow they moved to the Puerto de
IV.
Akicant, and from thence they infested Huesca and ]\lontal-
Cid. V. 943. ban. Ten days were they out upon this inroad ; and the
chi'. del news was sent every where how the exile from Castille was
105. Chi." lifindling them, and tidings went to the King of Denia and
Gea.ff. 230. iQ i\^Q Count of Barcelona, how my Cid was overrunning
the country.
Ramon"'' ^^' "^^cn Don Ramon Berenguer the Count of Barce-
Berenguer ¡Q^a heard this, it troubled him to the heart, and he held it
came to ' '
take away for a ffrcat dishonor, because that part of the land of the
his spoil ...
from the Moors w^as in his keeping. And he spake boastfully saying.
Great wrong doth that Cid of Bivar offer unto me ; he smote
my nephew ' in my own court and never would make amends
for it, and now he ravages the lands which are in my keeping,
and I have never defied him for this nor renounced his friend-
ship ; but since he goes on in this way I must take ven-
geance. So he and King Abenalfange gathered together a
great power both of Moors and Christians, and went in
pursuit of the Cid, and after three days and two nights they
came up with him in the pine-forest of Tebar, and they
came on confidently, thinking to lay hands on him. No"w
my Cid was returning with much spoil, and had descended
from the Sierra into the valley Avhen tidings were brought
him that Count Don Ramon Berenguer and the King of
Denia were at hand, with a great power, to take away his
booty, and take or slay him. And when the Cid heard this
he sent to Don Ramon saying, that the booty which he had
won was none of his, and bidding him let him go on his
way in peace : but the Count made answer, that my Cid
should now learn whom he had dishonored, and make
amends once for all. Then my Cid sent the booty forward,
and bade his knights make ready. They are coming upon
us, said he, with a great power both of Moors and Chris-
' Nothing more than this incidental mention of this circumstance is to
be found.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 157
íians, to take from us the spoils Avhich we have so hardly BOOK
won, and without doing battle we cannot be quit of them ; '. —
for if we should proceed they would follow till they over-
took us : therefore let the battle be here, and I trust in God
that we shall win more honor, and something to boot.
They come down the hill, drest in their hose, with then* gay
saddles, and their girths wet ; we are with our hose covered
and on our Galician saddles ; — a hundred such as we
ought to beat their whole company. Before they get upon
the plain ground let us give them the points of our lances ;
for one whom we run through, three will jump out of their -p^^^^ ¿el
saddles ; and Ramon Berenguer will then see whom he has íji^'^^'^*
overtaken to-day in the pine-forest of Tebar, thinking to Chr. del
despoil him of the booty which I have won from the enemies 105. loe.
p /Í 1 r r ^hr. Gen.
of God and of the faith. íF. 231.
XVI. While my Cid was speaking, his knights had taken Of the
their arms, and were ready on horseback for the charge, ly of the
Presently they saw the pendants of the Frenchmen coming Don Ramon
down the hill, and when they were nigh the bottom, and had ^^^"^s^^"^-
not yet set foot upon the plain ground, my Cid bade his
people charge, which they did with a right good will, thrust-
ing their spears so stiffly, that by God's good pleasure not
a man whom they encountered but lost his seat. So
many were slain and so many wounded, that the Moors
were dismayed forthwith, and began to fly. The Count's
people stood firm a little longer, gathering round their
Lord ; but my Cid was in search of him, and when he
saw where he was, he made up to him, clearing the way
as he went, and gave him such a stroke with his lance that
he felled him down to the ground. When the Frenchmen
saw their Lord in this phght they fled away and left him ;
and the pursuit lasted three leagues, and would have been
continued farther if the conquerors had not had tired
horses. So they turned back and collected the spoils, which
were more than they could carry away. Thus was Count
Ramon Berenguer made prisoner, and my Cid won from
158 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK him that day the good sword Colada, which was Avorth
'. — more than a thousand marks of silver. Thai night did my
Cid and his men make merry, rejoicing over their gains.
And the Count was taken to my Cid's tent, and a good sup-
per was set before him ; nevertheless he would not eat,
though my Cid besought him so to do. And on the morrow
my Cid ordered a feast to be made, that he might do pleas-
ure to the Count, but the Count said that for all Spain he
would not eat one mouthful, but would rather die, since he
had been beaten in battle by such a set of ragged fellows.*
And Ruy diez said to him. Eat and drink. Count, of this
bread and of this wine, for this is the chance of war ; if
you do as I say you shall be free ; and if not you will never
return again into your own lands. And Don Ramon an-
swered. Eat you, Don Rodrigo, for your fortune is fair
and you deserve it ; take you your pleasure, but leave me to
die. And in this mood he continued for three days, refusing
all food. But then my Cid said to him. Take food. Count,
and be sure that I will set you free, you and any two of
your knights, and give you wherewith to return into your
own country.' And when Don Ramon heard this, he took
^ Tales malcalzados. A term of reproach, not unlike Sans-culoties.
^ Fr. Francisco Diago, in his Historia de los Victoriosissimos Antiguos
Condes de Barcelona^ Barcelona, 1603, attempts to disprove this part of
the Cid's history, by showing that the dates cannot possibly be accurate.
Lib. 2. Cap. 63. He was in duty bound not to allow that any of the
Victoriosissimos had been taken prisoner. But as the dates in old chron-
icles are seldom so accurate as to be implicitly relied on, little weight is
to be laid upon any trifling inaccuracy in them. The Annals of Santiago
(the same I believe which Sandoval often refers to by the name of the
Black Book, and which are of great authority, — cuyas noticias se tienen
por seguras, says Berganza,) affirm the fact. So does the Conde Dom
Pedro in his Nobiliario, P. 07 ; though this adds little support to the
story, not being older authority than the Chronicles. Zurita, L. I, C.
22, devotes half a chapter to shovi^ the discordance of historians upon
this subject ; but he quotes una relación muy antigua de los successos y
hazañas del Cid in proof of it. His own opinion seems to be that the
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 159
comfort and ¡said, If you will indeed do this thing, I shall BOOK
marvel at you as long as I live. Eat then, said Ruy diez, '.
and I will do it ; but mark you, of the spoil which we have
taken from you I will give you nothing ; for to that you
have no claim neither by right nor custom, and besides we
want it for ourselves, being banished men, who must live by
taking from you and from others, as long as it shall please
God. Then was the Count full joyful, being well pleased
that what should be given him was not of the spoils which
he had lost ; and he called for water and washed his hands,
and chose two of his kinsmen to be set free with him ; the
one was named Don Hugo, and the other Guillen Bernalto.
And my Cid sate at the table with them, and said. If you
do not eat well, Count, you and I shall not part yet. Never
since he was Count did he eat with better will than that
day. And when they had done he said, Now Cid, if it be
your pleasure, let us depart. And my Cid clothed him
and his kinsmen AveU with goodly skins and mantles, and
gave them each a goodly palfrey, with rich caparisons, and
he rode out with them on their way. And when he took
leave of the Count he said to him, Now go freely, and I
thank you for what you have left behind ; if you wish to
play for it again let me know, and you shall either have
something back in its stead, or leave what you bring to be
added to it. The Count answered. Cid, you jest safely
now, for I have paid you and all your company for this
twelvemonths, and shall not be coming to see you again so
soon. Then Count Ramon pricked on more than apace. Poema del
and many times looked behind him, fearing that my Cid loso!'
would repent what he had done, and send to take him back dd.' cap.
to prison, which the Perfect one would not have done for the qj^; q^j^
whole world, for never did he do disloyal thing. ^' 2"^^-
story was invented by the ballad-makers. The uniform testimony of all
the histories of the Cid, both in prose and verse, supported by these
early authorities, seems to me of more weight than the silence of the Cat-
alan writers.
160 CHRONIcr.E OF THE CID, ♦
BOOK XVII. Then he of Bivar returned to Zarajioza, and di-
IV. . . . » 5
' vided the spoil, which was so great that none of hLs men
CiTwmf all ^"^^^ how much they had. And the Moors of the town re-
^le lauds of joiced in his good speed, Hking him well, because he pro-
tected them so well that they were safe from all harm. And
my Cid went out again from Zaragoza, and rode over the
lands of Monzón and Huerta and Onda and Buenar. And
King Pedro of Aragón came out against him, but my Cid
took the Castle of Monzón in his sight ; and then he went to
Tamarit : and one day as he rode out hunting from thence
with twelve of his knights, he fell in with a hundred and
fifty of the King of Aragon's people, and he fought with
them and put them to flight, and took seven knights pris-
oners, whom he let go freely. Then he turned towards the
sea-coast, and won Xerica and Onda and Almenar, and all
Cid. V. the lands of Borriana and Murviedro ; and they in Valencia
Cbr. del " Were greatly dismayed because of the great feats which he
jQg'^^P* did in the land. And when he had plundered all that
ff^23?^^ country he returned to Tamarit, where Zulema then was.
How the XVIII. Now Zulema had sent for my Cid, and the cause
feated^Kin^ was this. His brother the King of Denia had taken counsel
Abenai- with Count Ramon Berenofuer, and wáth the Count of Car-
lange and o ?
Don Ramon ¿ona, and with the brother of the Count of Ursjel, and with
Iserengaer. _ o ^
the chiefs of Balsadron and Remolin and Cartaxes, that they
should besiege the Castle of Almenar, which my Cid had re-
fortified by command of King Zulema. And they came up
against it Avhile my Cid was away, besieging the Castle of
Estrada, Avhich is in the rivers Tiegio and Sege, the which
he took by force. And they fought against it and cut on" the
water. And when my Cid came to the King at Tamarit,
the King asked him to go and fight with the host which be-
sieged Almenar ; but my Cid said it would be better to give
something to King Abenalfange that he should break up the
siege and depart ; for they were too great a power to do
battle with, being as many in number as the sands on the
sea-shore. And the King did as he counselled him, and sent
I RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 161
to his brother King Abenalfange, and to the chiefs who BOOK
were with him, to propose this accord, and they would not. '.
Then my Cid, seeing that they Avould not depart for fair
means, armed his people, and fell upon them. That was a
hard battle and well fought on both sides, and much blood
was shed, for many good knights on either party were in the
field ; howbeit he of good fortune won the day at last, he
who never was conquered. King Abenalfange and Count
Ramon and most of the others fled, and my Cid followed,
smiting and slaying for three leagues ; and many good
Christian knights were made prisoners. Ruydiez returned
with great honor and much spoil, and gave all his prisoners
to King Zulema, who kept them eight days, and then my
Cid begged their liberty and set them free. And he and the
King returned to Zaragoza, and the people came out to meet
them, with great joy, and shouts of welcome. And the King q¿ cap.
honored my Cid greatly, and gave him power in all hisjij^^; ^^^^
dominions. ^- ^^2-
XVIII. At this time it came to pass that Almofalez, ^9^^^^^^^^^
•^ ' treason
Moor of Andalusia, rose up with the Castle of Reuda, which which was
^ _ committed
was held for King Don Alfonso. And because he held pris- at Rueda.
oner there the brother of Adefir, another Moor, Adefir sent
to the King of Castille, beseeching him to come to succor
him, and recover the Castle. And the King sent the Infante
Don Ramiro his cousin, and the Infante Don Sancho, son to
the King of Navarre, and Count Don Gonzalo Salvadores,
and Count Don Ñuño Alvarez, and many other knights with
them ; and they came to the Castle, and Almofalez said he
would not open the gates to them, but if the King came he
would open to him. And when King Don Alfonso heard
this, incontinently he came to Rueda. And Almofalez be-
sought him to enter to a feast which he had prepared ; how-
beit the King would not go in, neither would his people have
permitted him so to have risked his person. But the Infante
Don Sancho entered, and Don Nufio, and Don Gonzalo,
and fifteen other knights ; and as soon as they were within
21
162 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK the gate, the Moors threw down great stones upon th(;m and
'. — killed them all. This was the end of the good Count Don
Gonzalo Salvadores, who was so good a knight in battle that
he was called He of the Four Hands. The bodies were
ransomed, seeing that there was no remedy, the Castle being
if "232!^ ' ^^ strong, and Don Gonzalo was buried in the Monastery of
Cid cap Oii^,, according as he had appointed in his will ; and the In-
]l^- ^ fante Don Sancho with his forefathers the Kins^s of Navarre,
Chr. Gen, ° '
ff. 232. ill the royal Monastery of Naxara.'
How the XIX. Greatly was Kinsr Don Alfonso troubled at this
Cid took . . .
the castle of villany, and he sent for the Cid, who was in those parts;
and the Cid came to him with a great company. And the
King told him the great treason which had been committed,
and took the Cid into his favor, and said unto him that he
might return with him into Castille. My Cid thanked him
for his bounty, but he said he never would accept his favor
unless the King granted what he should request ; and the
King bade him make his demand. And my Cid demanded,
that when any hidalgo should be banished, in time to come,
he should have the thirty days, which were his right, allowed
him, and not nine only, as had been his case ; and that
neither hidalgo nor citizen should be proceeded against till
they had been fairly and lawfully heard ; also, that the King
should not go against the privileges and charters and good
customs of any town or other place, nor impose taxes upon
them against their right ; and if he did, that it should be law-
ful for the land to rise against him, till he had amended the
misdeed. And to all this the King accorded, and said to my
Cid that he should go back into Castille with him ; but my
Cid said he would not go into Castille till he had won that
Castle of E-ueda, and delivered the villanous Moors thereof
into his hands, that he might do justice upon them. So the
' The Black Book of Santiago notices this. Era 1121. (A. D.) 1083.
fuit interfectio apud Rodam, ubi et Gundisalvus Comes interfectus. San-
doval.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 163
King thanked him greatly, and returned into Castille, and BOOK
my Cid remained before the Castle of Rueda. And he lay '
before it so long, and beset it so close, that the food of the
Moors failed, and they had no strength to defend them-
selves ; and they would willingly have yielded the Castle, so
they might have been permitted to leave it and go whither
they would ; but he would have their bodies, to deliver them
up to the King. When they saw that it must be so, great
part of them came out, and yielded themselves prisoners ;
and then my Cid stormed the Castle, and took Almofalez
and they who held with him, so that none escaped ; and he
sent him and his accomplices in the treason to the King.
And the King was right glad when they were brought before ^¡J[- ^^^
him, and he did great justice upon them, and sent to thank J^^o- ^^^
my Cid for having avenged him. ff- 233.
XX. After my Cid had done this ffood service to Kinff How the
'^ ^ Cid took
Don Alfonso, he and King Zulema of Zaragoza entered Ara- King Don
gon, slaying, and burning, and plundering before them, and Aragón
they returned to the Castle of Monzón with great booty. P"^°"^^*
Then the Cid went into King Abenalfange's country, and
did much mischief there ; and he got among the mountains
of Moriella, and beat down every thing before him, and de-
stroyed the Castle of Moriella. And King Zulema sent to
bid him build up the ruined Castle of Alcalá, which is upon
Moriella ; and the Cid did so. But King Abenalfange being
sorely grieved hereat, sent to King Pedro of Aragón, and be-
sought him to come and help him against the Campeador.
And the King of Aragón gathered together a great host in
his anger, and he and the King of Denia, came against my
Cid, and they halted that night upon the banks of the Ebro ;
and King Don Pedro sent letters to the Cid, bidding him
leave the Castle which he was then edifying. My Cid made
answer, that if the King chose to pass that way in peace, he
would let him pass, and show him any service in his power.
And when the King of Aragón saw that he would not for-
sake the work, he marched against him, and attacked him.
164 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK Then was there a brave battle, and many were slain ; but
' my Cid won the day, and King Abenalfange fled, and King
Don Pedro was taken prisoner,^ and many of his Counts
and knights with him. My Cid returned to Zaragoza with
this great honor, taking his prisoners with him ; and he set
Chr. del them all freely at liberty, and having tarried in Zaragoza a
112. few days, set forth for Castille, with s^reat riches and full of
Chr. Gen. , "^ '6
ff. 233. honors.
How the XXI. Having done all these things in his banishment,
Cid re- . ^ . . . .
turned into my Cid returned to Castille, and the King received him well,
and gave him the Castle of Dueñas, and of Orcejon, and
Ybia, and Campo, and Gaña, and Berviesca, and Ber langa,
with all their districts. And he gave him privileges with
leaden seals appendant, and confirmed with his own hand,
that whatever castles, towns, and places, he might win from
the Moors, or from any one else, should be his own, quit
and free for ever, both for him and for his descendants.
Chr. del . .
Cid. cap. Thus was my Cid received into the King's favor, and he
113. . . . . . .
Chr. Gen. abode with him long time, doing him great services as his
ff- 234. Lord.
^ The Aragonian writers, not contented with denying this, insist that
the Cid was taken prisoner. They rest upon the authority of the Historia
del Monasterio de San Juan de la Peña. This authority is both late and
bad. Berganza {L. 5. C. 17. ^ 222.) quotes Zurita to show its worth-
lessness — Vetus rerum Aragonensium Author, qui ante C. C. annos, Re-
gum facta composuit, in artificio et opera quam tenui et exili, cum alias
nullam adhihuisse diligentiam videatur in recensendi regni originihus, longe
se et ccBteros omnes superat, sed falso qucEsita propricE gentis laus leviorem
authorem facit . Such authority would be of little force, even if it were
not opposed by the concurrent testimony of so many earlier documents.
HERE BEGINNETH THE FIFTH BOOK
OF THE
CHEONICLE OF THE CID.
I. In these days King Yahia reigned in Toledo, the BOOK
grandson of King Alimaymon, who had been the friend of
King Don Alfonso ; for Alimaymon was dead, and his son King of
Hicem also. Now Yahia was a bad King, and one who wouid°have
walked not in the ways of his fathers. Insolent he was \l^^^
towards the elders, and cruel towards his people : and his
yoke was so heavy that all men desired to see his death,
because there was no good in him. And the people seeing
that he did not protect them, and that their lands were
ravaged safely, went to him and said, Stand up. Sir, for
thy people and thy country, else we must look for some
other Lord who will defend us. But he was of such lewd
customs that he gave no heed to their words. And when
they knew that there was no hope of him, the Moors sent
to the King of Badajoz, inviting him to come and be their
protector, saying that they Avould deliver the city into his
hands in spite of Yahia : And the Muzárabes who dwelt in
the city sent to King Don Alfonso, exhorting him to win
Toledo, which he might well do, now that he was no longer
bound by his oath. Then both Kings came, thinking to
have the city : and the King of Badajoz came first, and the
166 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK gales were opened lo him in despite of Yahia. Howbeit
'. King Don Alfonso speedily arrived, and the King of Bada-
joz, seeing that he could not maintain Toledo against him,
retreated, and King Don Alfonso pursued him into his
own dominions, and gave orders that he should be attacked
along the Avhole of his border, and did not leave him till he
had plainly submitted. In this manner was Yahia delivered
from the King of Badajoz ; but King Don Alfonso knowing
xi. ¡e/' how that city was to be taken, contented himself with
cap. us! overrunning the country, and despoihng it, even to the
Cifr Gen ^^^^^^ o^ ^hc city ; and thus he did for four years, so that he
if. 234. ^yag master of the land.
How Diego ji^ ji^ all this time did my Cid do s^ood service to Kins
Kodnguez .-' o o
the son of Don Alfonso. And in these days Kins: Don Alfonso fought
the Cid . ^. . . .
was sJain. at Consuegra with King Abenalfange of Denia, and in this
battle the Christians were defeated,^ and Diego Rodriguez,
the son of my Cid, was slain. Greatly was his death
lamented by the Christians, for he was a youth of great
hope, and one who was beginning to tread in the steps of
his father. And King Don Alfonso Avas fain to retire into
the Castle of that town. And Abenalfange gathered to-
gether the greatest power of the Moors that he could, and
entered the land of the Christians, and past the mountains,
and came even to Medina del Campo, and there Alvar
Fañez Minaya met him. Minaya had but five and twenty
ChrdelCid hundred horse Avith him, and of the Moors there were
cap. 116. fifteen thousand ; nevertheless by God's blessing he prevailed
if. 234. as^ainst them. And by the virtue of God Alvar Fañez srave
Bleda. 1. 3. ^ ^ ^
c. 30. King Abenalfange a cruel wound in the face, so that he ñed
1. 9. c. 14. away. Great honor did Manaya win for this victory.
How King III. Now had King Don Alfonso for many years cut
so went down the bread and the Avine and the fruits in all the coun-
againsl To-
ledo.
^ Bleda, following the Chronica General, makes the Christians vic-
torious in this battle. But where two writers of equal authority record
the one the victory, the other the defeat of his countrymen, the latter is
obviously to be preferred.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 167
try round about Toledo, and he made ready to go against BOOK
the city. The tidings of this great enterprize spread far and '
wide, and adventurers came from all parts to be present ;
not only they of Castille and Leon, Asturias and Nagera,
Galicia and Portugal, but King Sancho Ramirez of Aragón
came also, with the flower of Aragón and Navarre and Ca-
talonia, and Franks and Germans and Italians, and men of
other countries, to bear their part in so great and catholic a
war. And the King entertained them well, being full boun-
tiful, insomuch that he was called He of the Open Hand.
Never had so goodly a force of Christians been assembled in
Spain, nor so great an enterprize attempted, since the coming
of the Moors. And of this army was my Cid the leader, a. d. io85.
So soon as the winter was over, they began their march.
And when they came to a ford of the Tagus, behold the river
was swoln, and the best horseman feared to try the passage.
Now there was a holy man in the camp, by name Lesmes,
who was a monk of St. Benedict's ; and he being mounted
upon an ass, rode first into the ford, and passed safely Garibay,
through the flood ; and all who beheld him held it for a great Sandoval.
. 1 ^ ff. 227.
miracle.
IV. Greatly to be blamed are they who lived in those Of the tak-
days, for not handing down to everlasting remembrance the ledo.
worthy feats which were atchieved at this siege. For not
only was Toledo a strong city, both by nature and in its
walls and towers, but the flower of the chivalry of all Spain
and of all Christendom was there assembled, and the Moors
of Spain also, knowing that this Avas, as it were, the heart of
their empire, did all they could to defend it : greatly to be
blamed are they who neglected to transmit to us the memory
of their deeds, and greatly have they wronged the worthy
knights, Avhose exploits should else have gained for them a
never-dying renown. Nothing more, owing to their default,
can we say of this so notable a siege, than that when Don
Cabrian, the Bishop of Leon, was earnestly engaged in
prayer for the success of the Christian arms, the glorious
168 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK St. Isidro appeared unto him, and certified that m fifteen
days the city should be surrendered ; and even so it came
to pass, for the gates Avere opened to the King on Thursday
the twenty-fifth of May, in the year of the aera 1123, which
is the year of Christ 1085. The first Christian banner
which entered the city was the banner of my Cid, and my
Cid was the first Christian Alcayde of Toledo. Of the
terms granted unto the Moors, and how they were set aside
for the honor of the Catholic faith, and of the cunning
of the Jews who dwelt in the city, and how the Romish
Garibay. ritual was introduced therein, this is not the place to speak ;
Sandoval ^^ these things are Avritten in the Chronicles of the Kmgs
ff- 5^6. * of Spain.
How Yahia y, Now Yahia, when he saw that he could by no means
sent to spy ' *'
the state of hold Tolcdo, bccause on the one hand the Moors would
Valencia. . . . „
give it to the King of Badajoz, and on the other King Don
Alfonso warred against it, he made a covenant with King
Don Alfonso to yield the city to him, if he with the help of
Alvar Fañez would put him in possession of Valencia,
which had belonged unto Hicem and Alimaymon his fathers,
but which the Guazil Abdalla Azis held now as his own,
calling himself King thereof. And he covenanted that
King Don Alfonso should also put into his hand Santa Maria
Albarrazin, and the kingdom of Denia ; and the Kmg as-
sented to the covenant, thinking that in this manner the land
would be all his own. Yahia therefore sent Abenfarat, who
was his cousin, to Valencia, to spy out what the Guazil
would do, whether he Avould peaceably deliver up the king-
dom unto him, or whether he would oppose his coming,
which he greatly doubted, because it was rumored that he
was about to give his daughter in marriage to the King of
Zaragoza. Abenfarat went his way, and took up his abode
in the house of a Moor Avho was called Abenlupo ; and
while he sojourned there, the marriage of the Guazil's
daughter was effected, and the Guazil himself fell sick and
died. Then Abenfarat tarried yet awhile, to see what
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 169
would be the issue, for the men of Valencia were greatly BOOK
troubled because of the death of their King. He left two '.
sons, between whom there was no brotherly love during his
life, and now that he was dead there Avas less. And they
divided between them all that he had left, even the least
thing did they divide, each being covetous to possess all
that he could ; and they made two factions in the town,
each striving to possess himself of the power therein. But
the men of Valencia who were not engaged on their side,
and they also who held the castles round about were greatly
troubled because of this strife which was between them ; and
they also were divided between two opinions, they who
were of the one wishing to give the kingdom to the King of
Zaragoza, and they who were of the other, to yield them-
selves unto Yahia, the grandson of Alimaymon, because of
the covenant which King Don Alfonso had made with him.
V^hen Abenfarat knew these things he returned unto Ya-
hia, and told him all even as it was ; and Yahia saw that ^\^J- ^^^
' _ ' Cid. cap.
he should have the city, because of the discord which was i32. 133.
Chr. Gen.
therein. ff. 241.
VI. Then Yahia gathered together all his people, knights, How Yahia
and cross-bowmen, and foot soldiers, and they of his board, ed into Va-
and the officers of his household, which are the eunuchs ;
and he set forward on the way toward Valencia, and Alvar
Fañez and his body of Christians with him. And he sent
to the townsmen greeting them, and saying that he was
coming to dwell among them and to be their King, and that
he would deal bountifully by them ; and that he should wait
awhile in the town which was called Sera. The chief men
of the town took counsel together what they should do, and
at length they agreed to receive him for their Lord ; and
this they did more in fear of King Don Alfonso and of Al-
var Fañez than for any love towards him. This answer
they sent him by Aboeza the Alcayde. Now Aboeza would
fain have departed from Valencia when the Guazil Abdalla
Azis died, because of the strife which was in the city, and
22
170 CHRO:MCLE OF THE CID,
BOOK he thouo^hl to betake himself lo his own castle of Monviedro
V. "^
and dwell there, away from the troubles which Avere to
come. Upon this purpose he took counsel with his friend
Mahomed Abenhaycn the Scribe, for there was great love
between them ; and when the Scribe heard what he pur-
posed to do he was grieved thereat, and represented unto
him that it was not fitting for him to forsake the city at such
a time, so that Aboeza was persuaded. And they twain
covenanted one to the other, to love and defend each other
against all the men in the world, and to help each other
with their persons and possessions ; and Aboeza sent trusty
men of his kinsfolk and friends to keep the Castles of
Monviedro and Castro and Santa Cruz, and other Castles
Avhich were in his possession, and he himself abode in Va-
lencia. And now he went out to Yahia, to give unto him
the keys of the city, and the good men of the city went out
with him, and they made obeisance to him, and promised
to serve him loyally. Then Yahia, the grandson of AH-
maymon, set forth Avith all his company from Sera, and
all the people of Valencia, high and low, went out to meet
him with great rejoicings. And Aboeza adorned the Al-
cazar right nobly, that Yahia and his women and they of
his company might lodge within. The most honorable
of his knights took up their lodging in the tOAvn, and the
cross-bow men, and others of Ioav degree, lodged round
about the Alcazar, and in certain dwelhngs which were be-
Chr. del twccu it and the Mosque, and Alvar Fañez, and the Christ-
Cid. cap. -^ ' ' ^
133. 134. ians who Avere Avith him, in the villasre Avhich was called
Chr. Gen. _. . ' &
if. 242. Kuzal.
Of the tax VII. Yahia being noAv King in Valencia, made Aboeza
raised for his G uazil, and gave him authority throughout all his king-
the Cliris- ^om. Nevertheless he bore displeasure against him in his
heart, because he had served Abdalla Azis ; and on his part
also Aboeza secretly feared the King, and kncAv not Avhether
it were better to depart from him, or not ; hoAA^beit he
thought it best to remain and serve him right loyally and
tians.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 171
well, that so he might win his good will ; and when the King BOOK
perceived this, his anger abated and was clean put out of '. —
mind. And he made Aboeza his favorite, and made a vow
unto him and confirmed it by a vsriting, that he would never
take away his favor from him, nor change him for another,
nor do any thing in his dominions without him. With this
was Aboeza satisfied, and the fear which he felt in his heart
was removed. And they who held the castles brought great
gifts to Yahia, with much humility and reverence, such as
the Moors know how to put on. This they did to set his
heart at rest, that he might confide in them, and send away
Alvar Fañez into his own country, and not keep him and his
people at so great a charge, for it cost them daily six hun-
dred maravedís, and the King had no treasure in Valencia,
neither was he so rich that he could support his own com-
pany and supply this payment ; and for this reason the
Moors complained of the great cost. But on the other hand,
Yahia feared that if he should send away Alvar Fañez, the
Moors would rise against him ; and to maintain him he laid
a great tax upon the city and its district, saying that it was
for barley. This tax they levied upon the rich, as well as
the poor, and upon the great as well as the little, which they
held to be a great evil and breach of their privileges, and
thought that by his fault Valencia would be lost, even as To-
ledo had been. This tribute so sorely aggrieved the people,
that it became as it were a by- word in the city. Give the bar-
ley. They say there was a great mastiff", with whom they
killed beef in the shambles, who, whenever he heard, ' Give Chr. del
the barley,' began to bark and growl : upon which a Troba- 134. 135.
dor said. Thanks be to God, we have many in the town who ff. 242.
are like the mastiíF.
VIII. When they who held the Castles sent presents to ^^^^ Yahia
'' ^ went
King Yahia, there was one among them, by name Aben- against
,,,,,_. . , , . .„ Abenmazot
mazot, who held Aativa, who neither sent him gifts, nor in Xativa.
came to offer obedience. And the King sent to bid him
come before him. But then Abenmazot sent a messenger
172 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK with letters and full of rich presents, saying that he could by
' no means come himself, and not this from any feigning, and
that he would alway do him service with a true good will.
And he besought him as his Lord to let him remain in
Xativa, and he Avould give him the rents thereof; but if it
was his pleasure to appoint some other in his stead, he be-
sought that he would then give him something for himself
and his company to subsist upon, seeing that he desired
nothing but the King's favor to be well with him. Then the
King took counsel with Aboeza the Guazil, and the Guazil
advised him to do unto Abenmazot even as he had requested,
and let him keep Xativa ; and to send away Alvar Fañez
because of the great charge it was to maintain him, and to
live in peace, and put his kingdom in order ; in all which he
advised him like a good counsellor and a true. But the
King would not give heed to him ; instead thereof he com-
municated his counsel to the two sons of Abdalla Azis who
had submitted unto him, and whom he had taken into his
favor, and they told him that Aboeza had advised him ill,
and that it behoved him to lead out his host and bring Aben-
mazot to obedience. And the King believed them and went
out and besieged Xativa. And the first day he entered the
lower part of the town, but Abenmazot retired to the Alcazar
and the fortresses, and defended the upper part ; and the
King besieged him there for four months, attacking him
every day, till food began to fail both in the army of the King
and in the town. And they of Valencia could not supply
what was to be paid to Alvar Fañez and his company, much
less what the King wanted. Then the King understood that
he had been ill advised, and for this reason he condemned
one of the sons of Abdalla Azis to pay Alvar Fañez for
thirty days ; and he seized a Jew who was one of his Al-
moxarifes in Valencia, that is to say, one who collected the
9.^J- ^^^ taxes, and took from him all that he had, because he had
Cid. cap. ' '
136. advised him ill, and while this lasted the people of Valencia
Chr. Gen.
ff. 243. had some respite.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 173
IX. When Abenmazot saw that the King was bent upon BOOK
destroying him, and that every day he prest him more and
more, he sent to Abenalfange who was King of Denia and ^Jil^te^"
Tortosa, saying, that if he would come and help him, he ^^¡"^Aben
would make him Lord of Xativa and of all his other mazot.
Castles, and would be at his mercy ; and this he did to
escape from the hands of Yahia. When Abenalfange heard
this it pleased him well, and he sent one of his Alcaydes,
who was called the Left-handed, to enter the Alcazar, and
help to defend it till he could collect a company of Christians
who might deal with Alvar Fañez. So that Left-handed
one entered the Alcazar with his company, and the Lord of
the Castle which was called Almenar, was already there to
help Abenmazot, and encourage him that he should not sub-
mit. Then Abenalfange gathered together all his host and
his cavalry, and brought with him Giralte the Roman, with
a company of French knights, and came towards Xativa, as
a hungry lion goes against a sheep, or like the coming of a
flood in its hour ; so that Yahia was dismayed at the tidings
of his approach, and fled as fast as he could to the Isle of
Xucar, and though that Isle was so near, he thought he had
done a great thing ; and from thence he went to Valencia,
holding himself greatly dishonored. Then Abenalfange had
Xativa and all its Castles, so that it was all one kingdom as
far as Denia. And he took Abenmazot with all his Avomen
and his household and all that he had, to Denia, and gave
him possessions there, and did him much honor. And
when it was seen that King Yahia was thus dishonored, and
that Alvar Fañez had not helped him as had been looked
for, they who held the Castles lost all fear of him, so that
their hearts were changed towards him, as well they of
Valencia as of the other Castles, and they said that they
would rather belong to Abenalfansje than to him, because i:!'T- ^^^^
^ " ' Cid. cap.
the town could not bear the charge of the Christians, nor i'^^-
the oppressions which they suffered because of them. ff. 243.
174 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK X. Abcnalfangc abode some days in Xativa, and then
moved on towards Valencia, thinking to win the city ; for
Faaez he kncAV how greatly the people were oppressed because of
the'couQ- ^he Christians, and that they could not bear it, and that there
^^^- was no love between them and their Lord. And he passed
by a place Avhich Avas an oratory of the Moors in their festi-
vals, which they call in Arabic Axera, or Araxea ; and he
halted near Valencia, so that they in the town might see him ;
and he went round about the town, to the right and to the
left, wheresoever he Avould. The King of Valencia with his
knights was near the wall watching him, and Alvar Fañez
and his company were in readiness lest the French should
defy them. And after Abenalfange had staid there awhile
he drew off and went his way to Tortosa. And Yahia
was perplexed with Alvar Fañez, and sought for means to
pay him ; and he threw the two sons of Abdalla Azis into
prison, and many other good men of the town also, and
took from them great riches. Then he made a covenant
with Alvar Fañez, that he should remain wdth him, and gave
him great possessions. And when the Moors saw that Al-
var Fañez was in such power, all the ruffians and lewd
livers in the town flocked unto him, so that Valencia was in
the hands of him and his followers ; and the Moors being
desperate of remedy deserted the town, and went whither
they could, setting at nought their inheritances, for no man
was safe, neither in his goods nor person. Then Alvar
Fañez made an inroad into the lands of Abenalfange, and
overran the lands of B uriana, and other parts ; and there
chr. del went with him a great company of those Moorish desperá-
is?' 138 ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ joined him, and of other Moorish Almogav-
chr. Gen. ares,^ and they stormed towns and castles, and slew many
* Miedes says that Almogávares means — Of dust — i. e. Men sprung
from the dust of the earth ; or because, being the best of the army, they,
in Arabic phrase, trod their enemies to dust. Bluteau explains it to mean
men covered with dust, — he is strangely mistaken in supposing them to
be old garrison soldiers. Fr. Joam de Sousa, in his Lexicon Etymolo-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 175
Moors, and brought away flocks and herds, both of cattle BOOK
and of brood mares, and moch gold and silver, and store of ^ !
wearing apparel, all which they sold in Valencia.
XI. Now when one of the sons of Abdalla Azis was of the
loosed from prison, he placed his love upon Alvar Fañez, ^hich one
and gave him goodly gifts, and upon Aboeza, the King's ^f^^^^^^"!
Guazil, and upon a Jew who was a messenger from King ^?^^ ^^^^
Don Alfonso. And they all sent to Kins^ Don Alfonso, to be- P^» ^^-
•^ ~ 7 fonso.
seech him that he would take the son of Abdalla Azis and all
that he had under his protection, so that Yahia might do no
evil unto him, neither take by force from him anything that
was his ; and for this protection he promised to give the
King thirty thousand maravedis yearly. This request King
Don Alfonso granted, and incontinently he took him under his
protection, and sent to the King of Valencia to request that
he would do him no wrong. Therefore the son of Abdalla
Azis was from that time held in more honor, because of
the love of King Don Alfonso ; nevertheless he was still
kept under a guard in his own house, that he should not
gico, makes it merely warriors or fighting men. An incursion into an
enemy's country was called almogauria.
Winter and summer they lay upon the bare earth, they consorted in
the camp with none but their fellows, their manners were sullen like sav-
ages, they spake little, but when they went to battle were like wild
beasts let loose, and kindled with joy. Winter and summer they wore
the same dress of skins, girt with a cord of esparto. Shoes, bonnet,
and scrip, were of the same skin as their dress; they carried spear,
sword, and dagger, some of them a mace, {porrimaza) and without any
defensive armor attacked horse or foot, generally the horse. The Almo-
gávar, when a horseman ran at him, rested the end of his lance against
his right foot, bent forward, and let the horse spit himself; — in a mo-
ment he was upon the fallen horseman with his dagger, or rather knife.
If he could kill the man and save the horse, his reward was to be-
come a horse-soldier himself, for they were as skilful when mounted as
when a-foot.
The French in Sicily thought little of the Spanish men at arms, but
stood in great fear of the Almogávares. Miedes, Historia del Rey D.
J amy e el Conquistador, L. 11. C. 7.
176 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK issue forth. And because of this confinement not thinking
'. himself safe, he made a hole through the wall and got out
by night in woman's apparel, and lay hid all the next day
in a garden, and on the following night mounted on horse-
back and rode to Monviedro. When the Guazil knew this
he took his son and his uncle as sureties for him for the
thirty thousand maravedís, which the Jew was now come to
receive for King Don Alfonso. And they went to Monvie-
dro to him, and communed with him, and accorded with
him that he should pay the one half immediately, and when-
ever he returned to Valencia and was safe there in posses-
sion of all his rents and inheritances, that then he should
pay the remainder : so he paid the fifteen thousand forth-
with in silver, and in rings of gold, and in cloth, and in
strings of pearls, and the Jew^ returned therewith to King
Don Alfonso. At this time his brother was released from
prison by desire of the King of Zarragoza, and he went
Chr. del ^j^^q Yiim ; and many of the rich men of the city also betook
139. 140. themselves to Monviedro, because they were not secure
Chr. Gen. . . , . ' . . «^ ,
ff. 244. neither in their possessions nor in their bodies.
How Alvar XII. In these days the Almorávides arose in Barbary.
called The rise of this people and all that they did in Spam are not
Valencia!"^ íoY me to relate in this place. Suffice it to say, that King
Don Alfonso being in great Danger, sent for Alvar Fañez
and all his company ; and that he had so much to do for
himself that he took no thought for Valencia. And when
they who had the keeping of Yahia's Castles saw this they
rose against him, so that few remained unto him, and they
of his vassals in whom he put the most trust proved false,
so that the heart of the King of Denia and Tortosa grew,
and he thought to win Valencia. The chief persons of the
toAvn also sent unto him, saying that if he would come they
would give the city into his hands. So he gathered together
his host, and a company of French also, and sent them for-
ward under the command of his uncle, saying that he would
follow and join them on a certain day. But they went for-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 177
ward, and Yahia thinking that if he should conquer them he BOOK
should be secure, went out and fought against them ; and he '. —
was defeated and lost a great part of his people and of his
arms, and returned into the city with great loss. When
Abenalfange, who was a day's journey off, heard this, he
marched all night, and came before Valencia. And King
Yahia knew not what to do, and was minded to yield up the
town. And he took counsel with his people, and they ad-
vised him to send for help to King Don Alfonso, and also to
the King of Zaragoza, and he did accordingly. And an Ar-
rayaz of Cuenca, whose name was Abencaño, who was a na-
tive of Valencia went to Zaragoza, and told the King that if
he would go thither he would deliver the city into his hands, cap. iso.^ *
for it appertained unto him rather than to Abenalfange. ^^ 249?^""
XIII. And in those days my Cid gathered together a jj^^ ^^g
great force, and went to the borders of Aragón, and crost2ara^oza^°
the Douro, and lodged that night in Fresno. From thence
he went to Calamocha, where he kept Whitsuntide. While
he lay there the King of Albarrazin, being in great fear of
him, sent to him requesting that they might meet. And
when they saw each other they established great love be-
tween them, and the King from that day became tributary to
the Cid. Then the Cid went to Zaragoza, where he was
full honorably received. And when Abencaño came to Za-
ragoza inviting King Almescahen to go and take Valencia,
and King Yahia sent also to beg succor at his hands, the
King asked the Cid to go with him, and gave him whatever
he demanded. So greatly did this King desire to have Va-
lencia, that he looked not whether his force was great or
little, nor whether that of the Cid was greater than his own,
but went on as fast as he could. When the King of Denia
heard that he was coming and the Cid with him, he durst
not abide them. And he thought that the King of Zaragoza
by the Cid's help would win the city, and that he should re-
main with the labor he had undergone, and the costs. Then
he placed his love upon King Yahia, and sent him all the
23
178
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
V.
Chr. del
Cid. cap.
151. Chr.
Gen. ff.
249.
How the
King of
Zaragoza
could not
win the
city as he
thought.
Chr. del
Cid. cap.
152.
Chr. Gen.
ff. 250.
How Count
Ramon Be-
renguer
came
against Va-
lencia.
food he had, and besought him lo help him, saying that he
would su})ply him with whatever he needed. King Yahia
was well pleased with this, though he Avell understood the
reason, and firm writings were made to this effect, and then
Abenalfange went to Tortosa.
XIV. And when the King of Zaragoza and the Cid
drew nigh unto Valencia, Yahia went out to welcome them,
and thanked them greatly for coming to his assistance ; and
he lodged them in the great garden, which was called the
Garden of Villa Nueva, and honored them greatly, and
sent them great presents ; and he invited them afterwards to
come with their honorable men and be his guests in the Al-
cazar. But the King of Zaragoza all this while had his eye
upon the town, thinking that it would be given up to him as
Abencaño had promised ; but he saw no sign of this, neither
knew he how he could win it. Moreover Yahia had placed
his love upon the Cid, and had sent him full noble gifts
when he was upon the road, in secret, so that the King of
Zaragoza knew not thereof. And the King of Zaragoza
asked counsel of the Cid hoAv he might. get Valencia into
his hands, and besought the Cid to help him. But the Cid
made answer, how could that be, seeing that Yahia had re-
ceived it from the hands of King Don Alfonso, who had
given it unto him that he might dwell therein. If indeed
King Don Alfonso should give it to the King of Zaragoza,
then might the King win it, and he would help him so to do ;
otherwise he must be against him. When the King heard
this, he perceived how the Cid stood in this matter ; and he
left an Alcayde with a body of knights to assist King Yahia,
and also to see if he could win the town ; and he himself
returned to Zaragoza.
XV. Then the Cid went to besiege the Castle called
Xerica, by advice of the King of Zaragoza, that he might
have a frontier against Monviedro. This he did because,
when the King came to relieve Valencia, Aboeza had cov-
enanted to give up Monviedro unto him, the which he had
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 179
not done ; and the King thought that if he made war upon BOOK
these Castles, they must either yield unto him, or be at his '
mercy, because they did not belong to the King of Denia.
But when Aboeza knew this, he sent to Abenalfange the
King of Denia, saying that he would give him the Castle ;
and the King of Denia incontinently came and took posses-
sion of it, and Aboeza became his vassal. When the Cid
saw this, he understood that Valencia must needs be lost,
and thought in his heart that he could win the city for him-
self, and keep it. Then sent he letters to King Don Al-
fonso, in which he besought him of his mercy not to think it
ill that the people who were with him should remain with
him, for he would do God service, and maintain them at the
cost of the Moors, and whensoever the King stood in need
of their service, he and they would go unto him and serve
him freely ; and at other times they would make war upon
the Moors, and break their power, so that the King might
win the land. Well was King Don Alfonso pleased at
this, and he sent to say that they who were in the Cid's
company might remain with him, and that as many as
would might go join him. And my Cid went to the King
to commune with him, and while my Cid was with him,
Don Ramon Berenguer, Lord of Barcelona, came to Zara-
goza ; and the King gave him great gifts, that he might
not place his love upon any other for Avant ; for the King
had now put away his love from the Cid, thinking that be-
cause of him he had lost Valencia. And presently he sent
a force to besiege Valencia, under Don Ramon Berenguer ;
and he had two Bastilles built, one in Liria, which King
Yahia had given him when he came to relieve him, and the
other in Juballa, and he thought to build another on the
side of Albuhera, so that none might enter into the city,
neither go out from it. And he reedified the Castle of Ce-
bolla, that the Count miajht retire thither, if it should be chr. del
needlul ; and every day the Count attacked the city, and ip. 154.
King Yahia defended himself, looking for the coming of the if. 251 .
180 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
.BOOK Cid to help him, according to the covenant which was be-
' tween them.
Of the XVI. When the Cid returned from Castille, and knew
covenant i ^r i • • ^ -r^
which was that Valencia Avas besieged by the French, he went to Tares
twccu King which is near Monviedro, and encamped there with his
the c^icf." people, who were many in number. And when the Count
knew that the Cid was so near, he feared him, holding him
to be his enemy. And the Cid sent to him, to bid him
move from that place and raise the siege of Valencia. The
Count took Counsel Avith his knights, and they said that they
would rather give battle to the Cid. Howbeit the Cid had
no wish to fight with them, because the Count was related
to King Don Alfonso, and moreover he had defeated him
and made him prisoner heretofore : so he sent a second
time, bidding him depart. And the Count seeing that he
could not abide there in the Cid's despite, broke up the
siege and went his way by Requena, for he would not pass
through Zaragoza. Then the Cid went to Valencia, and
King Yahia received him full honorably, and made a cove-
nant with him to give him weekly four thousand maravedís
of silver, and he on his part was to reduce the Castles to
his obedience, so that they should pay the same rents unto
him, as had been paid unto the former kings of Valencia ;
and that the Cid should protect him against all men, Moors
or Christians, and should have his home in Valencia, and
bring all his booty there to be sold, and that he should have
his granaries there. This covenant Avas confirmed in Avrit-
ing, so that they were secure on one side and on the other.
„ , . And my Cid sent to all those Avho held the Castles, com-
Chr. del "^
Cid. cap. manding them to pay their rents to the King of Valencia as
Chr. Gen. they had done aforetime, and they all obeyed his command,
ff. 251.
every one striving to have his love.
R^mon^"^ XVII. When the Cid had thus set the land in order he
sTgieaT^^ went against the King of Denia, and Avarred against Denia
jfiSmen ^^^^ against Xativa ; and he abode there all the Avinter, do-
against the [^g great hurt, insomuch that there did not remain a wall
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 181
Standing from Orihuela to Xativa, for he laid everything BOOK
waste ; and all booty and his prisoners he sold in Valencia '.
Then he went towards Tortosa, destroying every thing as
he went ; and he pitched his camp near unto the city of
Tortosa, in a place which in Arabic is called Maurelet, and
he cut down every thing before him, orchards and vines and
corn. When King Abenalfange saw that the land was thus
destroyed, and that neither bread, nor wine, nor flocks
would be left him, he sent to Count Ramon Berenguer, be-
seeching him to gather together a great force, and drive the
Cid out of the land, for which service he would give him
Avhatever he might stand in need of. And the Count, think-
ing now to be revenged of the Cid for his former defeat, and
because he had taken from him the rents which he used to
receive from the land of Valencia, took what the King gave
him, and assembled a great host of the Christians. This
was so great a power when the Moors had joined, that
they surely thought the Cid would fly before them ; for the
Moors held that these Frenchmen were the best knights in
the world, and the best appointed, and they who could bear
the most in battle. When the Cid kncAV that they came
resolved to fight him, he doubted that he could not give
them battle because of their great numbers, and sought how
he might wisely disperse him. And he got among the
mountain valleys, whereunto the entrance was by a narrow
strait, and there he planted his barriers, and guarded them
well that the Frenchmen might not enter. The King of
Zaragoza sent to tell him to be upon his guard, for Count
Ramon Berenguer would without doubt attack him : and
the Cid returned for answer. Let him come. On the mor-
row the Count came nearer, and encamped a league on] in
sight of him, and when it was night he sent his spies to
view the camp of Ruydiez the Cid. The next day he sent
to bid him come out and fight, and the Cid answered, that
he did not want to fight nor to have any strife with him, but
to pass on with his people. And they drew nearer and
182 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK invited him to come out, and defied him, saying that he
'. feared to meet them in the field ; but he set nothin^i^ by all
Chr del • . . .
Cid. cap. this. They thought he did it because of his weakness, and
Chr. Gen. ^hat he was afraid of them : but what lie did was to wear
ff. 252. Q^^^ their patience.
Of the let- XVIII. Then the Count sent a letter to the Cid after this
ter which
Count Ray- fashion : I Count Don Ramon Beren^uer of Barcelona, and
moil sent . .
unto the all my vassals with me, say unto thee, Ruydiez, that we have
seen thy letter to King Almescahen of Zaragoza, which thou
toldest him to show unto us, that we might have the more
cause of quarrel against thee. Before this thou hast done
great displeasure unto us, so that we ought at all times to
bear ill will against thee. And now while thou hast our
goods in thy possession as booty, thou sendest thy letter to
King Almescahen, saying that we are like our wives. God
give us means to show thee that we are not such. And thou
saidst unto him, that before we could be w^ith thee thou
wouldst come to us ; now we will not aUght from our horses
till we have taken vengeance on thee, and seen w^hat sort of
Gods these mountain crows and daws are, in whom thou
puttest thy trust to fight with us ; whereas we believe in one
God alone, who will give us vengeance against thee. Of a
truth, to-morrow morning we will be with thee, and if thou
wilt leave the mountain and come out to us in the plain,
then wilt thou be, as they call thee, Rodrigo the Campeador.
But if thou wilt not do this, thou wilt then be what accord-
ing to the custom of Castille is called alevoso, and bauzador
according to the custom of France ; that is to say, a false
traitor. And if thou wilt not come down from the mountain
it shall not avail thee, for we will not depart from hence till
w^e have thee in our hands, either dead or alive, and we will
Chr. del deal with thee as thou hast done by us, and God in his mercy
156.' ^^^' now take vengeance upon thee for his churches which thou
ff. 252. ^° hast destroyed.
Of the letter XIX. When the Cid had read this letter he wrote another
Cid sent in in reply after this manner : I Ruydiez and my vassals : God
reply.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 183
save you Count ! I have seen your letter in v^^hich you tell BOOK
me that I sent one to King Almescahen of Zaragoza, speak- '
ing contumeliously of you and of all your vassals ; and true
it is that I did so speak, and I will tell you for what reason.
When you were with him you spake contumeliously of me
before him, saying of me the worst you could, and affirming
that I did not dare enter the lands of Abenalfange for fear
of you. Moreover Ramon de Bajaran, and other of your
knights who were with him, spake ill of me and of my vas-
sals before King Don Alfonso of Castille, and you also after
this went to King Don Alfonso, and said that you would
have fought with me, and driven me out of the lands of
Abenalfange, but that I was dismayed, and did not dare do
battle with you ; and you said unto him, that if it had not
been for the love of him, you would not have suffered me to
be one day in the land. Now then I say that I thank you
because you no longer let me alone for the love of him.
Come I here I am ; this is the plainest ground among these
mountains, and I am ready to receive you. But I know
you dare not come, for Moors and Christians know that I
conquered you once, and took you and your vassals, and
took from ye all that ye had with ye : and if ye come now
ye shall receive the same payment at my hands as heretofore. Chr. del
As for what thou sayest that I am a false traitor, thou liest, i56.
, PI . IIP Chr. Gen.
and art a lalse traitor thyseii. íT, 252.
XX. Greatly was the Count enraged when he read this How the
•^ . . ^ Cid defeat-
letter, and he took counsel with his vassals, and in the night ed Count
time took possession of the mountain above the camp of the
Cid, thinking that by this means he might conquer him. On
the morrow the Cid sent away certain of his company as if
they were flying, and bade them go by such ways that the
French might see them, and instructed them what to say
when they should be taken. When the French saw them,
they pursued and took them, and carried them before the
Count, and he asked of them what the Cid would do. Then
made they answer that he meant to fly, and had only re-
184 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK maincd that day to put his things in order for flight, and as
soon as night came he would make his escape by way of the
mountain. Moreover they said that the Cid did not think
Count Ramon had it so much at heart to give him battle, or
he would not have awaited till his coming ; and they coun-
selled the Count to send and take possession of the passes by
which he meant to escape, for so he might easily take him.
Then the Frenchmen divided their host into four parts, and
sent them to guard the passes, and the Count himself remained
with one part at the entrance of the straits. The Cid was
ready "with all his company, and he had sent the Moors who
were with him forward to the passes whither his men had
directed the Frenchmen, and they lay in ambush there ; and
when the Frenchmen were in the strong places, and had
begun to ascend, little by little, as they could, they rose upon
them from the ambush and slew many, and took others of the
best, and among the prisoners was Guirabent the brother of
Giralte the Roman, who was wounded in the face. And the
Cid went out and attacked the Count, and the battle was a
hard one ; the Count was beaten from his horse, nevertheless
his men remounted him, and he bade them stand to it bravely,
and the battle lasted long time ; but at the end, he who was
never conquered Avon the day. And the Cid took a good
thousand prisoners ; among them was Don Bernalte de
Tamaris, and Giralte the Roman, and Ricarte Guillen. And
he put them all in irons, and reproached them saying, that he
well knew what his chivalry was, and his hardihood, and that
he should thus beat them all down ; and he said to them that
he was in God's service, taking vengeance for the ills which
the Moors had done unto the Christians, and had done them
no wrong ; but they being envious of him, had come to help
the Moors, therefore God had helped him, because he was in
his service. And he took their tents, and their horses, and
their arms, which were many and good ; and much gold and
silver, and fine linen, and all that they had, so that he and all
his company were rich men with the spoils. And when
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 185
Count Ramon heard in his flisjht that the Cid had taken all book
. V.
his chief captains, and that well nigh all his power was either
slain or taken, he thought it best to come imto the Cid and
trust unto his mercy, and he came full humbly and put him-
self into his hands. And the Cid received him full Avell and
honored him greatly, and let him go into his own country.
And the Count offered a price for the prisoners which was a
full great ransom, and moreover the swords precious above
all others, which were made in other times. ^ Bountiful was
the Cid when he received this ransom, and great part of it
he returned unto them again, and showed them great coiu*- ^IjT- ^^^
tesy, and they did homage to him never to come against him J?^- J,^^-
with any man in the world. ff- 253.
XXI. When Abenalfange the King of Denia and Tortosa of the
heard this, he was so sorely grieved that he fell sick and died. Abenal-
He left one son who was a little one, and the sons of Buxar how the
were his guardians. One of these held Tortosa for the child, masteThT^
and the other held Xativa, and one who was their cousin held ^^^^ ^^"*^"
Denia. And they knowing that they could neither live in
peace, nor yet have strength for war, unless they could have
the love of the Cid, sent humbly to say unto him that if he
would do no hurt to their lands they would do whatever he
pleased, and pay him yearly Avhat he should think good.
And the Cid demanded of them fifty thousand maravedís of
silver, every year : and the covenant was made between
them, and the whole country from Tortosa to Orihuela was
under his protection and at his command. And he fixed
the tribute Avhich each Castle Avas to pay, that it should be
certahi : and it Avas as you shall be told. The Lord of Albar-
* E mas las espadas preciadas de todos, que fueran de otro tempo. Ber-
ganza labors to prove that this is not the former story of the Count of
Barcelona told over again, and that the only error in the Chronicle is
that of mistaking Berenguer Ramon for his brother Ramon Berenguer, —
a mistake sufficiently easy. But this circumstance of the swords makes
against him, for Colada must be meant, and Colada is mentioned as part
of the spoils in the former battle.
24
186 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK raziii was to pay ten thousand, according to covenant as
'. — you heard herctoibre, and the Lord of Alfuente ten thou-
sand, and Monviedro eight thousand, and Segorbe six thou-
sand, and Xerica four thousand, and Aknenara three thou-
sand. Liria at that time paid nothing, for it was in the
Lordship of Zaragoza ; but the Cid had it in his heart to
fight with that King. For every thousand maravedis a
hundred more were paid for a Bishop, whom the Moors
called Alat Aknarian. And you are to know that whatever
my Cid commanded in Valencia Avas done, and whatever
he forbad Avas forbidden. And because the King was sick
of a malady which continued upon him long time, so that
he could not mount on horseback, and was seen by none,
Valencia remained under the command of his Guazil Aben-
alfarax, whom the Cid had appointed. And then the Cid
appointed trusty men in the city who should know to how
much the rents amounted, as Avell those of the land as of
the sea ; and in every village he placed a knight to protect
it, so that none dared do A\Tong to another, nor take any-
thing from him. Each of these knights had tlu*ee maravedis
daily. And the people complained greatly of what they
gave these knights, and of that also which they paid to
King Yahia. Yet were they withal abundantly supplied with
Cici. cap. bread, and with flocks which the Christians brought in, and
chr.^Gen. ^"^^^^ captives both male and female, and with Moorish men
ff. 253. ^j^¿ women, who gave great sums for their ransom.
How the XXIL Then the Cid sent to the Kinff of Zaragoza, bid-
Cid went to o o '
Requena, ¿¿j^gr him yield UD the Bastilles which he had built against
thinking to '^^ '^^ ^ ^
meet the Valencia; and the King returned for answer that he would
Kin"'.
not imtil King Yahia had paid him the whole cost which he
had been at, when he came to his succor against King
Abenalfange. Then the Cid besieged Liria, and the people
submitted unto him, that they should pay him yearly two
thousand maravedis. And he overran the whole of the
King of Zaragoza's country, and brought great spoils to
Valencia. Now at this time a Moor called Ali Abenaxa,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 187
the Adelantado of the Almorávides, that is to say, of the BOOK
Moors from beyond sea, came with a great power of the '. —
Moors of Andalusia to besiege the Castle of Aledo. This
he did because he knew that King Don Alfonso would come
to its rehef, and he thought that peradventure the King
would bring with him so small a force that he might slay or
take him. But when the King heard of it he assembled a
great host, and sent to the Cid, bidding him come and aid
him. And the Cid went to Requena, believing that he
should meet the King there ; but the King went another
way, and the Cid not knowing this tarried some days in
Requena expecting him, because that was the road. And
when the Moors knew that King Don Alfonso was coming
with so great a host to relieve the Castle, they departed,
flying. And King Don Alfonso came to the Castle, and
when he came there he found that he was short of victuals,
and returned in great distress for want of food, and lost
many men and many beasts who could not pass the Sierra.
Nevertheless he supplied the castle well with arms, and with chr.delCid.
such food as he could. ''^P- ^^^•
XXIII. Now they who hated the Cid spake leasing ofg,^^]^';!^
him to King Don Alfonso, saying that he had tarried in [^ "c'^d'^
Requena, knowing that the King was gone another way, second
that so he might give the Moors opportunity to fall upon
him. And the King believed them, and was wroth against
the Cid, and ordered all that he had in Castille to be taken
from him, and sent to take his wife, and his daughters.
When the Cid heard this he sent presently a knight to the
King to defend himself, saying, that if there were Count or
Rico-ome or knight who would maintain that he had a better
and truer will to do the King service than he had, he would
do battle with him body to body,^ but the King being greatly
^ Berganza refers to Fr. Jua;n Gil de Zamora, who wrote about five cen-
turies before him, for a fuller account of this part of the Cid's history ;
and he quotes from him four different forms of defiance delivered in the
188 CHRÜiNlCLE OF THE CID,
BOOK incensed would not hear liiin. And wlien ihey who hated
'. the Cid saw this, and knew that the Cid was gone against a
Castle near Zaragoza, they besought the King to give them
force to go against him ; howbeit this the King would not.
At this time Ali Abenaxa, the Adelantado of the Almorá-
vides, besieged INIurcia, and there was a dearth in the city,
and Alvar Fañez who should have relieved them did not,
and they were so closely beset that they were compelled to
yield up the town. As soon as he had taken Murcia he
went against the Castle of Aledo, of which you have heard,
and assaulted it vigorously, and took it by force and by
famine. And w^hen he had won Murcia and Aledo, he
wished to have Valencia also, and they of Valencia, because
of the yoke of the Cid, longed to be his vassals, even as the
sick man longeth after health. When King Don Alfonso
heard what Ali Abenaxa had done, he made ready to go
against him. And the Queen his "wife, and certain knights
who were friends to the Cid, Avrote to him that he should
now come and serve the King in such a season, that the King
might thank him greatly and lay aside his wrath. Having
seen these letters the Cid set out from Zaragoza where he
was, and went his way with a great host, and advanced as
far as Martos, where he found the King. And the King re-
ceived him honorably, and they continued together till the
King passed the Sierra de Elvira, and the Cid went in the
plain below before him. And they who wished ill to him
said to the King, The Cid came after you like one who was
wearied, and now he goes before you. And after this man-
ner they set the King again against him, so that his dis-
pleasure was greatly moved. And the Moors did not ven-
Chr. del ture to give him battle, but left the Castle of Aledo and
161. ^^^ retreated to Murcia, and the King returned to Ubeda. And
Cid's name by one of his people before the King ; upon which the King
set Doña Ximena and her daughters at liberty, but would do the Cid no
farther justice. L. 5. C. 22. ^ 274. 275.
RODRIGO DÍAZ DE BIVAR. 189
when the Cid saw that the heart of the King was changed, BOOK
he returned to Valencia, and the King went back to Toledo '.
XXIV. After this Kins: Don Alfonso drew forth a sjreat How the
^ Cid laid
host and went towards Valencia, and sent to all the Castles waste the
in that land, saying that for five years they should pay him King Don
the tribute which they were wont to pay unto the Cid. and^the'
When the Cid knew this he sent to the King, saying, he himjustice.
marvelled why the King should thus seek to dishonor him,
and that he trusted in God soon to make him know how ill
he was advised by those about him. And presently the Cid
gathered together a full great host both of Moors and of
Christians, and entered the land of King Don Alfonso, burn-
ing and destroying whatever he found, and he took Logroño,
and Alfaro also, and sacked it. While he was at Alfaro,
Count Garci Ordonez and certain other Ricos-omes of Cas-
tille sent to say to him, that if he would tarry for them seven
days, they would come and give him battle. He tarried for
them twelve days, and they did not dare to come ; and
when the Cid saw this he returned to Zaragoza. Noav
when King Don Alfonso knew what the Cid had done in
his land, and that the Ricos-omes had not dared fight against
him, he saw that he had taken an evil counsel when he set
his heart against him. And he sent his letters to the Cid
saying, that he forgave him all that he had done, seeing that
he himself had given the occasion ; and he besought him to
come to Castille, where he should find all things free which
appertained unto him. Much was the Cid rejoiced at these
tidings, and he wrote to the King thanking him for his grace,
and beseechinsT him not to s^ive ear to bad counsellors, for Chr. del
he would alway be at his service. 162.
XXV. Now it came to pass, that by reason of certain How Aben-
affairs the Cid tarried a long time in Zaragoza. And they if,e Ximo^
of Valencia being no longer kept in awe by his presence, [oc'^,^g
complained one to another of the oppressions and wronsrs f^^'.^st Va-
^ '^ *^ ~ leticia.
which they endured from him and from his servants, and
from Abenalfarax, the Guazil whom he had appointed ;
190 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK and they conspired with an Alcayde who was called Aben-
' iaf. And when Abenalfarax the Guazil understood how
Abeniaf cast about to disturb the peace of the city, he would
have taken him and cast him into prison ; but this he dared
not do till the Cid should come, and moreover he weened
that upon his coming the disturbance would cease. Now
Abeniaf knew that the Guazil was minded to seize him if
he could have dared so to do, and he sent his messengers to
Ali Abenaxa the Adelantado of the Almorávides, who was
now Lord of Murcia, telling him to come to Valencia, and
he would deliver the city into his hands. Moreover he took
counsel with the Alcayde of Algezira de Xucar, that the
Alcayde also should send to Ali Abenaxa, exhorting him to
make good speed himself, or to send an Alcayde with a
fitting power, and to come to Algezira, which was near, and
then presently proceed to Valencia. So soon as Ali Aben-
axa had received this message, he made speed to come, and
as many castles as were upon his road submitted unto him.
When the Alcayde of Denia heard of his coming, and that
all these Castles had submitted, he durst not abide there, but
fled to Xativa ; and Ali Abenaxa took possession of Denia,
and he sent his Alcayde to Algezira de Xucar, and took
possession of that also. When these tidings came to Va-
lencia, the Bishop who was there, and the forty knights who
were with the messenger of the King of Ai'agon because of
the friendship between their King and the Cid, and all the
other Christians who were in the city, would no longer
abide there, but took of their goods each as much as he
could, and went away in fear. And the Guazil Avas greatly
dismayed, neither knew he Avhat course to take, and Yahia
the King, though he was now healed of his malady, neither
mounted on horseback, nor appeared abroad. Abenalfarax
went unto him, and told him the peril in which they stood.
And their counsel was, that they should remove all that they
had from Valencia, and go to the Castle of Segorbe. Then
they sent away many beasts laden with goods and with
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 191
riches, under the care of a nephew of the Guazil and many BOOK
others, to the Castle of Benaecab, that is to say, the Castle \
Chr. Gen.
of the Eagle, to be in charge of the Alcayde thereof. And
the King and the Guazil bestirred themselves, and gathered
together foot soldiers and cross-bowmen to defend the Alca-
zar, and sent speedily to Zaragoza, telling the Cid to come ;
but he could not set forth so speedily as need was : and the
stir which was in the city endured for full twenty days.
Then that Alcayde of Ali Abenaxa who was in Algezira de
Xucar, set forward in the first of the night with twenty horse-
men of the Almorávides, and as many more of Algezira, all
clad alike in green, that they might all be taken for Almorá-
vides ; and they came by day -break to Valencia to the gate
of Tudela, and sounded their drums, and the rumor in the
town was, that there were full five hundred knights of the
Almorávides, and the Guazil was in great fear. And he
went to the Alcazar to take counsel with the King, and they ^^ g.^
ffave order that the spates of the town should be barred, and S^-f- ^^^
o o J Cid. cap.
that the walls should be manned. i63.
XXVI. Then the King's soldiers went to the house of P^w Va-
^ _ lencia was
Abeniaf the Alcayde who had sent for the Almorávides, and won by the
• 1 11- Almoravi-
called unto him to come lorth that they might take him be- des,
fore the King ; but he was trembling in great fear, and
would not come out. And the men of the town came to his
help, and when he saw the company that were on his side,
he came forth and went with them to the Alcazar, and en-
tered it and took the Guazil of the Cid. And the townsmen
ran to the gates and drove away those of the King's party
who guarded them ; and they strove to beat the gates down,
but they could not, and they set fire to them and burnt
them. And others let down ropes from the walls, and drew
up the Almorávides. King Yahia put on woman's apparel,
and fled Avith his women, and hid himself in a dwelling near
unto a bath. And the Almorávides took possession of the chr. Gen.
Alcazar, and plundered it. One Christian they slew who chr.^del
guarded the gates, and another who was of St. Maria de J^gg ; Í^J;
192
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Albarrazin, who miardod one of the towers of the wall.
V. .
In this manner was Valencia lost.
niafpnt ^ XXVII. Now when Abcniafsaw that all the people Were
t^"deaihl^'^ on his side, and obeyed him, his heart grew and he was
puffed up, insomuch that he despised those who were as
good as himself or better. Albeit he was of good parentage,
for his fathers before him had all been Alcaydes ever since
Valencia was in the hands of the Moors. And because he
knew that the King had not fled out of the town, he made
search for him, and found him in the house Avhere he had
hidden himself Avith his women. Now the King when he
fled from the Alcazar had taken with him the best of his
treasures, pearls, among which was one the most precious
and noble that could be, so that no where was there a better
one to be found, nor so good ; and precious stones, sap-
phires and rubies and emeralds ; he had with him a casket
of pure gold full of these things ; and in his girdle he had
hidden a string of precious stones and of pearls, such that
no King had so rich and precious a thing as that carkanet.
They say that in former times it had belonged to Queen
Seleyda, who Avas Avife to Abanarrexit King of Belcab,
Avhich is beyond sea ; and afterAvards it had come to the
Kings called Benivoyas, Avho Avere Lords of Andalusia ;
after that King Alimaymon of Toledo possessed it, and gaA^e
it to his Avife, and she gave it to the Avife of her son, Avho
Avas the mother of this Yahia. Greatly did Abeniaf covet
these treasures and this carkanet, and incontinently he
thought in his heart that he might take them and none knoAv
thereof, Avhich could no Avays be done unless he sIcav King
Yahia. When therefore it was night he gave order to cut
off his head, and throAv it into a pond near the house in
Avhich he had been taken. This was done accordingly, and
Abeniaf took the treasures, and they Avho Avere set OA^er
King Yahia to guard him and murder him, took also each
Avhat he could, and concealed it. And the body lay AA'here
it had been slain till the folloAving day ; but then a good
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 193
man who grieved for the death of his Lord took it up, and BOOK
laid it upon the cords of a bed, and covered it with an old '
horsecloth, and carried it out of the town, and made a grave
for it in a place where camels were wont to lie, and buried fF. 255.
it there, without graveclothes and without any honors what- cid. cap.
soever, as if the corpse had been the corpse of a villain. ^^^'
25
HERE BEGINNETH THE SIXTH BOOK
OF THE
CHRONICLE OF THE CID
BOOK I. "When Abeniaf had slain his Lord, as you have heard,
he became haughty hke a King, and gave no thought to
How Abe- 1 -1 T 1 • 1 1
Diaf was any thing save to bunding his own houses, and setting
puffe/up. guards round about them by day and by night ; and he
appointed secretaries who should A\TÍte his secret letters,
and chose out a body from among the good men of the
city to be his guard. And when he rode out he took with
him many knights and huntsmen, all armed, who guarded
him like a King ; and when he went through the streets the
women came out to gaze at him, and shouted and rejoiced
in him ; and he being elated and puffed up with these
vanities, demeaned himself in all things after the manner
of a King. This he did for the sake of abasing a cer-
tain kinsman of his, who was chief Alcayde, and who
was better and wiser than he. Moreover he made no ac-
count of the Alcayde of the Almorávides w^ho held the
Alcazar, neither took counsel with him concerning any
Chr. del thing, and he gave no heed to him except to supply him
166. and his company with their charges, which he did right
Chr. Gen. . ,
ff. 255. sparingly.
CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 195
II. But when Kins: Yahia was slain, his servants and BOOK
VI.
eunuchs and they of his household fled to Juballa, a Castle
which was held by a kinsman of the Guazil Abenalfarax, ^iTsent
who lay in prison ; other some fled to Zaragoza, and told JfP^''? r°
the Cid all that had befallen. The Cid was greatly grieved
when he heard it, and without delay he set forth with all his
people, and went as fast as he could go to Juballa, and
there they who had escaped from Valencia met him, and
besought him to help them to revenge the death of their
Lord, saying that they would follow him for life or for
death, and do whatsoever he commanded them. Then
the Cid sent letters to Abeniaf, saying disdainfully unto him,
that by God's help he had kept his Lent well, and accom-
plished his fast with a worthy sacrifice by murdering the
King his master ! and he reproached him for the shame he
had done the King in casting his head into the pond and
letting the body be buried in a dunghill ; and at the end of
the letter he bade Abeniaf give him his corn which he had
left in his granaries at Valencia. Abeniaf returned for an-
swer that his granaries had all been plundered, and that the
city now belonged to the King of the Almorávides ; and he
said that if the Cid would serve that King he Avould do his
best to help him that he might win his love. When the Cid
read this letter he saw that Abeniaf was a fool, for he had
sent to reproach him for the death of his Lord, and the
answer Avhich he had returned was concerning another mat-
ter ; and he then knew that Abeniaf was not a man to keep
the power which "he coveted. So he sent other letters to
him, calling him and all who were with him traitors, and
sayinff that he would never leave from making: war asfainst SK^- ^®^
•^ ° . & to Cid. cap.
them till he had taken vensfeance for the death of Kins: i67.
^^ , . ^ ^ Chr. Gen.
Yahia. ff. 255.
III. And the Cid sent letters to all the Castles round How the
about, bidding them supply his host with victuals, and do it siege to
speedily, or or he would do all he could to destroy them. " ^ ^•
And there was none to gainsay him : and all obeyed his com-
196 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK mands in thii> matter, saving Aboeza Abenlupo, for lie was a
— ^-1 — discreet man, and ]:)ercei\ed what was to come, and in what
this was to end : moreover he feared that if he should not do
as the Cid commanded, the Cid would put him out of the
Avorld, and no one would be able to protect him ; and if he
should do it, then he feared lest he should be banished. So
he sent to the Cid to say he would do his pleasure, and he
sent also to Abenrazin, the Lord of Albarrazin, saying that
he would give him Monviedro and the other Castles in his
possession, and bidding liim make his terms with the Cid,
for as touching himself, he desired to have no dispute, but
to come off with his company and his own person in peace.
When Abenrazin heard this he was well pleased ; and he
went to Monviedro with all speed, and took possession of
the Castle. From the time that King Yahia was slain till
this time, was twenty and six days. And when Abenrazin
had got possession of the Castle of Monviedro he came to
the Cid, and estabhshed love with him, and made a covenant
that there should be buying and selling between his Castles
and the host, and that he would provide food, and that the
Cid should not make war upon him. And upon this they
made their writings, which were full fast ; and Abenrazin
returned to his own land, and left one to keep INIonviedro
for him ; and Abenlupo Avent with him, taking with him his
wives and his children and his people and all that he had,
and he thought himself well off that he had escaped with
his body, for he desired to have nothing to do with the Cid.
And the Cid lay before Juballa, and sent out his foragers
towards Valencia twice a day ; one party went in the morn-
ing, and another towards night ; and they slew many Moors,
and made many prisoners, and made prey of all the flocks
which they found without the walls ; nevertheless the Cid
commanded that no hurt should be done to those of the land
of Moya, nor to the husbandmen, but that they who labored
to produce bread and wine should be protected and en-
couraged ; and this he did thinking that what they raised
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 197
would be for him when he should lay siege unto the town ; BOOK
and he said this to his knights and Adalides and Almoca-
denes, and took homage of them that they should obey him
therein. All this time the Cid held that Castle besieged, so
that none could enter in nor come out thereof; and it is
said that terms had secretly been made with him to yield it
up, but that it was so to be done that the other Moors might
believe that they had yielded from great necessity, for it
was not stored so as to be able to hold out long. And while
the Cid lay before Juballa, all the spoil which his Almo-
gávares took they brouojht to the host, and from the host it ^hr Gen,
° J iD 5 ff 256.
was taken and sold at Monviedro. Many laden beasts chr. del
came every day, and there was plenty in the host. i67. les.
IV. Abeniaf gathered together the knights who were na- How the
lives of the city and vassals to the King whom he had slain, ao^ains^Va-
and sent for others who were in Denia, so that in all they ^^"cia.
were three hundred knights, and maintained them with the
bread which was in the granaries of the Cid Ruydiez, and
with the rents and possessions of those who had been the
King's officers, and who were goae from Valencia, and with
the customs ; from all these did he give these knights what-
soever they stood in need of. And he took no counsel with
the Alcayde of the Almorávides concerning anything which
he did, neither with any one, nor did he care a jot for them.
And when the Alcayde and the Almorávides saw that he
made himself master in the city, and how everything that
he did was by his own will, they were offended therewith.
The sons of Aboegib were offended also : and they and the
Almorávides placed their love upon each other, and took
counsel together against him, and became of one party, and
they bare great hatred against him, and he against them.
All this while the Cid lay before Juballa, and every day
he scoured the country to the gates of Valencia, early in
the morning, and at noon-day, and at night, so that he
never let them rest. And the three hundred knights whom
Abeniaf had collected went out against his foragers, with
198 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK the men of the town, and the Christians slew many of
VI . . . "
them, so that there were lamentations daily within the walls,
and wailings over the dead that were brought in. And
in one of these skirmishes a rich Moor was taken who was
Alcayde of Acala, which is near Toralva, and they gave
him grievous torments till he ransomed himself for ten thou-
sand marks of silver ; and moreover he gave the houses
Chr. del which he had in Valencia, which were called the houses of
169. Añaya, to be theh's if peradventure the town should be
Chr. Gen. • i i i
if. 256. yielded up.
How the V. When the Cid knew that there was great hatred be-
to^upport tween Abeniaf, and the Almorávides and the sons of Aboe-
who"aieed §^^' ^^ devised means how to set farther strife between
to send them, and sent privily to proffer his love to Abeniaf on condi-
away the ' r j i
Almora- tion that they should expel the Almorávides out of the town ;
vides. . .p . .
saying, that if he did this, he would remain Lord thereof,
and the Cid would help him in this, and Avould be good to
him, as he knew he had been to the King of Valencia, and
would defend him. When Abeniaf heard this he was well
pleased, thinking that he should be King of Valencia. And
he took counsel with Abenalfarax, the Guazil of the Cid,
whom he held prisoner, and Abenalfarax, with the hope of
getting out of prison, counselled him to do thus, and to
accept the love of the Cid. Then sent he to the Cid, say-
ing that he would do all which he commanded to gain his
love, and he began to stop the allowance of the Ahnora-
Chr. del vidcs, sayiug that he could give them nothing, for he had
170. nothing whereof to give ; this did he to the end that they
ff. 257. might go their way, for he lacked not means.
How Aben- VI. At this time Ali Abenaxa, the Alcayde who was in
great treas- Denia, Sent to Abeniaf, saying unto him that he should send
M^ramamo- ^^ ^^^^ treasure, and of those jewels which he had taken
lin. from King Yahia, to the Mkamamolin beyond sea ; with the
which he would gather together a great power, and cross
the sea, and come against the Cid, to help the people of
Valencia, and protect them against the Cid, who did so
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 199
much evil to them all. And Abeniaf took counsel with the BOOK
VI.
men of Valencia, concerning this matter, whether he should
send this to the Miramamolin beyond sea or not. And the
old men advised him that he should, and the others that he
should not. And Abeniaf took the treasures, and hid the
best part thereof for himself, for none kncAV what it was ;
and the rest he sent by his messengers, Abenalfarax the
Guazil of the Cid being one ; and they took their departure
from Valencia with great secrecy, lest the Cid should know
it and overtake them upon the road. But Abenalfarax de-
vised means to let the Cid know, and sent him a messenger.
And the Cid sent horsemen to follow their track, who
caught them, and took the treasure, and brought it to the
Cid. Greatly did he thank Abenalfarax for having served
him so well at that season, and putting the treasure into his
hands, and he promised him goodly guerdon ; and he
made him chief over all the Moors who were his subjects.
At this time the Alcayde of Juballa yielded up the Castle to
the Cid, and the Cid placed another therein, and went up
with his host against Valencia, and encamped in a village
which is called Deroncada. And as the seed time was
now over, he burnt all the villages round about, and wast-
ed all that belonged to Abeniaf and his lineage, and he
burnt the mills, and the barks which were in the river.
And he ordered the corn to be cut, for it was now the sea-
son, and he beset the city on all sides, and pulled down the chr. del
houses and towers which were round about, and the stone 170. in.
and wood thereof he sent to Juballa, to make a town there ^.^25?^"'
beside the castle.
VII. At this time there came the Guazil of the King of How the
, . . ^ Cid won
Zaragoza to the host of the Cid, brmging with him great the suburb
treasures which the King had sent for the redemption of the
captives, for ruth which he had of them, and also that he
might have his reward from God in the other world. He
came also to talk with Abeniaf and counsel him that he
should give up the city to the King of Zaragoza, and they
200 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK would send away the Almorávides, and the King would pro-
'. — tect him ; but Abeniaf would give no ear to this, and the
Guazil said unto him that he would repent not having taken
this advice. On the second day after this Guazil had ar-
rived, the Cid attacked the suburb which is called Villa
Nueva, and entered it by force, and slew many Moors, both
men of Andalusia and Almorávides, and plundered all that
they found, and pulled down the houses, and the wood and
stone the Cid sent to Juballa, and he set a guard there that
the Moors might not recover the place. On the morrow the
Cid attacked another suburb, which is called Alcudia, and
there were a great body of the Moors gathered together
there. And he sent a part of his host against the gate of
Alcantara, bidding them attack the gate, while he fought
against them in Alcudia ; and he thought that by God's
mercy peradventure he should enter the town. And the Cid
with his company rode among that great multitude of the
Moors, smiting and slaying Avithout mercy, and the Cid's
horse trampled over the dead, and stumbled among them
and fell, and the Cid remained afoot. Howbeit they brought
him to horse again, and he continued smiting and laying on
strenuously, so that the Moors were amazed at the great
mortality which he made among them, and maugre all they
could do, were fain to fly into the town. And they whom
he had sent against the gate of Alcantara, attacked it so
bravely that they would have entered the city, if it had not
been for the boys and the women, who were upon the wall
and in the towers, and threw down stones upon them. And
this while the cry went forth in the city, and many horsemen
sallied forth and fought with the Christians before the bridge,
and the battle lasted from morning until mid-day, and when
they separated, the Cid returned to his camp. And when
the Cid had taken food, he retm-ned after the siesta to attack
the suburb of Alcudia ; and this attack was so vigorous that
they who dwelt therein thought the place would be forced,
and they began to cry out. Peace ! peace I being in great
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 201
fear. Then the Cid bade his men ffive over the attack, and BOOK
. VI
the good men of the suburb came out to him, and whatsoever '
terms of security they asked, he granted them ; and he took
possession of the suburb that night, and set his guards
therein ; and he commanded his people that they should do
no wrong to them of Alcudia, and if any one offended he
said that his head should be smitten off: so he returned that
night to the camp. And on the morrow he came there, and
assembled together the Moors of that place, and comforted
them much with his speeches, and promised that he would
favor them greatly and not oppress them, and bade them till
their fields and tend their flocks securely, saying that he
would take only a tenth of the fruit thereof, as their law di-
rected. And he placed a Moor there named Yucef, to be
his Almoxarife, that is to say, his Receiver. And he gave
orders that all Moors who would come and dwell therein
might come securely, and they also who would bring food
thither for sale, and other merchandize. So much food and q[¿ ^ap.
much merchandize were brought there from all parts, and IJ^^ ^^^^^j^
that suburb became like a city, and there was plenty therein. ^- ^^'^•
VIII. Now when the Cid Ruydiez had gotten possession How they
of the suburbs, he cut off from Valencia both the ingress and gent ^away^
the egress, and they of the town were greatly straightened, vides^'ín?"
and knew not what they should do, and they repented them "^^¿^P^^®
that they had not listened to what the King of Zaragoza sent Cid.
to counsel them, for they had none to help them ; and the
Almorávides were in the like straight, for they had none to
look to, and the pay which they were wont to receive failed,
both to them and to the other knights. All this time Abeniaf
secretly continued his love with the Cid, for he had not de-
parted from the promise which he had made him to send
away the Almorávides, and put himself under his protection.
And they took counsel together in this distress, both the Al-
morávides and the men of the town, how they might obtain
the love of the Cid, in whatever manner they could, so that
they might remain in peace in the city till they had sent to
26
202
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
VI.
the Miramamolin beyond sea, and received hLs commands ;
and they sent to the Cid to say this. But he made answer
that he would make no treaty with them till they had sent
away the Almorávides. And they of the town told the Al-
morávides what the Cid had said, and these Africans were
well pleased, being full weary of that place, and said that
they would go their way, and that it would be the happiest
day of their lives, that, wherein they should depart. So they
made their covenant that the Almorávides should be placed
in safety, and that they should pay the Cid for all the corn
which w^as in his granaries at the time when King Yahia was
slain. And moreover the thousand maravedís per week
which they were w^ont to pay him should be paid for the
w^hole time which they had been in arms, and also from that
time forth. And that the suburb which he had won should
be his ; and that his host should remain in Juballa so long
as they continued in that land. And upon this they made
their writings, and confirmed them. And the Almorávides
departed from Valencia, and horsemen were sent with them,
who conducted them in safety, and the Moors of Valencia
were left in peace.
IX. Then the Cid went with all his host to Juballa,
great town, leaving none but such as were to collect his rents with his
Almoxarife. And Abeniaf cast about how he might pay the
Cid for the corn, and also what else was to be given him.
And he made terms with those who held the Castles round
about Valencia, that they should pay him the tenth of all
their fruits and of all their other rents. Now this was the
season for gathering in the fruit, and he appointed men iii
every place who should look to it, and see it valued, and re-
ceive the tenth ; a Moor and a Christian did he appoint in
every place, who were to receive this, and to gather the corn
also into the granaries : and this was done after such man-
ner that the Cid had his tribute well paid. At this time
came tidings to Valencia, that the Almorávides Avere coming
again with a great power, and the Cid devised hoAv he might
Chr. del
Cid. cap.
173.
Chr. Gen.
ff. 258.
HowJubal
la became a
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 203
prevent their coming, or if they came how he might fight BOOK
against them. And he sent to tell Abeniaf to forbid them
from coming, for if they should enter the town he could not
be Lord thereof, which it was better he should be, and the
Cid would protect him against all his enemies. Well was
Abeniaf pleased at this ; and he held a talk with the Alcayde
of Xativa, and with him who held the Castle of Carchayra ;
and they agreed to be of one voice. And they came to Va-
lencia, and the Cid came to his suburb ; and they confirmed
love with him in great secrecy. But he who had the Castle
of Algezira would not be in this covenant with them, and the
Cid sent parties into his lands, and did him much evil ; and
the Alcayde of Juballa went against him, and cut down all
his corn and brought it to Juballa, which the Cid had made
a great town with a church and with towers, and it was a
goodly place ; and there he had his corn and his other things,
and his rents were all brought thither, and it abounded with
all things ; and men held it for a great marvel that in so
short time he had made so great a town, which was so rich
and so plentiful. And the Cid thought to have Valencia if ^j^J • ^^^
the Almorávides did not come, and for this reason did all H"^- ^
' ^ Clir. Gen.
that he could to prevent their coming. ff. 258.
X. At this time Abenrazin the Lord of Albarrazin, cov- How the
enanted with the King of Aragón that the King should help war upon
him to win Valencia, and he w^ould give him great treas-
ures ; and he gave him in pledge a Castle which is called
Toalba. And in this which he did he gained nothing, but
he lost the Castle. Now this Abenrazin had made covenant
with the Cid, so that they were friends, and the Cid had
never done hurt in his lands. And when he knew this that
he had done with the King of Aragón, he held himself to
have been deceived and dealt falsely with ; howbeit he dis-
sembled this, and let none of his company wit, till they had
gathered in all the corn from about Algezira de Xucar, and
carried it to Juballa. When this was done, he bade his
men make ready, and he told them not whither they were
204 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK to SO. and he set forward at iii<2;lit toward Albarrazin, and
VI. .
came to the Fountain. Now that land was in peace, and
the dwellers thereof kept neither watch nor w^ard ; and his
foragers slew many, and made many prisoners, and drove
great flocks and herds, sheep and kine, and brood mares,
and prisoners all together, and they carried away all the
corn ; and they sent all the spoil to Juballa, and it was so
great that Valencia and Juballa and all their dependencies
were rich Avith cattle and with other things. While the Cid
lay before Albarrazin, as he one day rode forth with five of
his knights to disport himself, there came twelve knights out
of the town, thinking to slay him or take him. And he
pricked forward against them, and encountered them so
bravely that he slew twain, and other twain he overthrew,
so that they were taken, and the rest were put to flight :
Chr. del but he remained with a wound in his throat from the push
175. ^ ^ of a spear, and they thought he would have died of that
ff. 259.^^* wound ; and it was three weeks before it was healed.
How Aben- ^^' NoAv Came truc tidings to Valencia that the host of
the Cid ^°^ the Almorávides were coming, and that they were now at
Lorca, and the son in law of the Miramamolin at their head,
for he himself could not come, by reason that he ailed.
They of Valencia took courage at these tidings, and waxed
insolent, and began to devise how they should take ven-
geance upon Abeniaf, and upon all those who had oppressed
them. And Abeniaf was in great trouble at this which was
said openly concerning him, and he sent privily to the Cid,
telhng him to come as soon as might be. The Cid was then
before Albarrazin, doing all the evil that he could, and he
brake up his camp, and came with his host to Juballa ; and
Abeniaf and the Alcaydes of Xativa and Carchayra came
unto him, and they renewed then' covenant to stand by
each other, and be of one voice. And they took counsel
and made a letter for the leader of the army of the Al-
morávides, wherein they told him that the Cid had made a
treaty with the King of Aragón, whereby the King bound
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 205
himself to help him against them ; and they bade him be- BOOK
ware how he came towards Valencia, unless he chose to '. —
do battle with eight thousand Christian horsemen, covered
with iron, and the best warriors in the world. This did chr. del
they, thinking that he would be dismayed and turn back : 176.' ^^^'
but the Moor did not cease to advance, notwithstanding this ^ 2*59. *
letter.
XII. There was a 2:arden nÍ2:h unto Valencia, which had JJ?,^ *^^ ,
o o ' Cid asked
belonsred to Abenalhazis, and the Cid asked Abeniaf to Abeniaf to
" ^ _ give him a
give it him, that he might take his pleasure there, when he garden.
was disposed to solace himself. This he did cunnmgly,
that when the Almorávides heard how this garden had been
given him, which was so nigh unto the city, they should
ween that the men of Valencia had given it, and that they were
better pleased with his company than with theirs. Abeniaf
granted it. And the Cid was wary, and would not enter it
till a gateway had been opened into the garden, for the en-
trance was through narrow streets, and the Cid would not
trust himself in those strait places : so Abeniaf ordered the
gate to be made, and told the Cid that he would be his host
on a day appointed. And Abeniaf bedecked the gate of
this garden full richly, and spread costly carpets, and or-
dered the way to be strewn with rushes, and made a great
feast, and expected him all the day, but he did not come.
And when it was night he sent to say that he was sick, and
he could not come : and he prayed him to hold him ex-
cused. This he did to see whether they of Valencia would
murmur against him. And the sons of Aboegib and all the
people murmured greatly, and would fain in their hearts
have risen against Abeniaf ; but they durst not because of
the Cid, with whom they would not fall out, least he should
lay waste all that was without the walls. And they looked
daily for the Almorávides, and one day they said, Lo !
now they are coming : and on the morrow they said, They
are coming not. And in this manner some days past on.
And the murmur which there had been concerning the gar-
206 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK don died away ; and then tlic Cid entered it, and took pos-
'. — session of the whole suburb of Alcudia round about it : and
Cid. cap. ^hi^ he did peaceably, for the Moors and Cliristians dwelt
Chr". Gen. ^here together.
ff. 259. XIII. Now came true tidings that the host of the Almo-
ofVaienJia ravidcs, which was at Lorca, was coming on through Mur-
a^e^because ^^^' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ tarriaucc which they had made had been by
°roach^of ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ Captain, who had fallen sick, but he was
the Almo- now healed, and they were advancing: fast. And the sons
ravides. *' °
of Aboegib and great part of the people rejoiced in these
tidings, and took heart : and Abeniaf was in great fear, and
he began to excuse himself to the men of the town, and said
unto them to pacify them, that they did him wrong to com-
plain of him for the garden Avhich the Cid had asked of him,
inasmuch as he had only given it him to disport himself
therein for some days and take his pleasure, and that he
would make him leave it again whenever it should please
* them. Moreover he said, that seeing they were displeased
with what he had done, he would take no farther trouble
upon him ; but would send to break off his covenant with
the Cid, and send to bid him look out for others to collect
his payments, for he would have the charge no longer.
This he said in his cunning, thinking that he should pacify
them ; but they understood his heart, and they cried aloud
against him that they would not stand to his covenant, nor
by his counsel, but that the sons of Aboegib should counsel
them, and whatsoever they should think good, that would they
do. And they gave order to fasten the gates of the town,
and to keep watch upon the towers and walls. When
Abeniaf saw this he ceased to do as he had been wont,
for fear of the people and of the sons of Aboegib, and
Chr. del ^^ok unto himself a greater company to be his guard. And
178 179^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^'^^^ renewed between the Cid and the people of
ff.^26?^"' "Valencia.
XIV. Now came true tidings that the host of the Almo-
rávides was nigh unto Xativa ; and the people of Valencia
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 207
were glad and rejoiced, for they thought that they were now BOOK
dehvered from their great misery, and from the oppression
Of the great
of the Cid. And when he heard these tidings he left the rain and
garden and went to the place where his host was encamped, Ja^u^dTthe
which was called Xarosa, and remained there in his tents, ^iJj^g^to"
and he was at a stand what he should do, whether to abide t"™ ^■'^^'^•
the coming of the Almorávides, or to depart ; howbeit he re-
solved to abide and see what would befall. And he gave
order to break down the bridges and open the sluices, that
the plain might be flooded, so that they could only come by
one way, which was a narrow pass. Tidings now came
that the host of the Almorávides was at Algezira de Xucar,
and the joy of the people of Valencia increased, and they
went upon the walls and upon the towers to see them come.
And when night came they remained still upgn the walls, for
it was dark, and they saw the great fires of the camp of the
Almorávides, which they had pitched near unto a place
called Bacer ; and they began to pray unto God, beseeching
him to give them good speed against the Christians, and
they resolved as soon as the Almorávides were engaged in
battle with the Cid, that they would issue forth and plunder
his tents. But our Lord Jesus Christ was not pleased that
it should be so, and he ordered it after another guise ; for
he sent such a rain that night, with such a wind and flood
as no man living remembered, and when it was day the
people of Valencia looked from the wall to see the banners
of the Almorávides and the place where they had encamp-
ed, and behold they could see nothing : and they were full
sorrowful, and kneAv not what they should do, and they re-
mained in such state as a woman in her time of childing,
till the hour of tierce, and then came tidings that the Almo-
rávides had turned back, and would not come unto Valencia.
For the rains and floods had dismayed them, and they
thought the waters would have swept them away, and that
the hand of God was against them, and therefore they
turned back. And when the people of Valencia heard this
208 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK they held thomsolvcs for dead men, and they wandered
VI. . ' ^
'. — about the streets like drunkards, so that a man knew not his
neighbor, and they smeared their faces with black hke unto
pitch, and they lost all thought like one who falls into the
waves of the sea. And then the Christians drew nigh unto
the walls, crying out unto the Moors with a loud voice like
thunder, calling them false traitors and renegadoes, and say-
Cid. cap. ing, Give up the town to the Cid Ruydiez, for ye cannot
chr. Geá. ©scape from him. And the Moors were silent, and made no
ff. 260. reply because of their great misery.
pice'or^^ XV. Then Abenalfarax, a Moor of Valencia, he who
food in wrote this history in Arabic, took account of the food w^hich
Valencia, -^ '
and how was in the city, to see how lonsr it could hold out. And he
the suburbs -^ '^
were de- says that the cafiz of wheat was valued at eleven iimravedis^
and the cafiz of ^barley at seven mai'avedis, and that of pulse
or other grain at six ; and the arroba of honey at fifteen
dineros ; and the arroba of carobs ^ the third of a maravedí,
and the arroba of onions two thirds of a maravedí^ and the
arroba of cheese two maravedís and a half, and the measure
of oil which the Moors call mar on ^ a maravedí, and the
quintal of figs five maravedís, and the pound of mutton six
dineros of silver, and the pound of beef four. These mara-
vedís were silver ones, for no other money was current
among them. The Moors who dwelt in the suburbs car-
ried all the best of their goods into the city, and the rest they
buried. And when the Cid was certain that the Almorávides
were not coming, he returned again to lodge in the garden,
and gave order to spoil the suburbs, save that of Alcudia,
because the inhabitants of that had received him without
resistance : and the Moors fled into the city with their w4ves
and children. And when the Christians began to plunder
the suburbs they of the town came out and plundered also
* Alcarehofas — artichokes, the Chronica del Cid has it; this cannot
have been a common article of food. The Chronica General substitutes
the right word.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 209
those houses Avhich were nearest unto the Avails, so that BOOK
VI
every thing was carried away and nothing but the timbers '■ —
left : and then the Christians took that to build them lodg-
ments in the camp ; and when the Moors saw this they
came out, and carried away what timber they could into
the city. And the Christians pulled down all the houses,
save only such as could be defended with arrows, and these
which they dared not pull down they set fire to by night.
And when all the houses had been levelled they began to
dig in the foundations, and they found great wealth there,
and store of garments, and hoards of wheat ; and when the
Cid saw this he ordered them to dig every where, so that
nothing might be lost. And when all had been dug up the
Cid drew nearer to the city, and girt it round about, and
there was fighting every day at the barriers, for the Moors
came out and fought hand to hand, and many a sword-stroke
w^as given and many a push with the spear. While the
Moors were thus beleagered came letters from the Captain
of the Almorávides, saying that he had not turned back to
Algezira de Xucar for fear, nor for cowardice, neither as
one who fled, but for lack of food, and also by reason of the
waters ; and that it was his set purpose at all events to
succor them and deliver them from the oppression which
they endured, and he was preparing to do this with all dili-
gence. And he bade them take courage, and maintain the
city. And when the Moors of Valencia heard these letters
they took heart, and joined with the sons of Aboegib, and
their resolve was that they Avould be firm and maintain the
city. And they said that Abeniaf had made the Almorávides
retreat, because he had told them that there was discord in
the town* And Abeniaf kept great watch, having a great
guard to secure him, least the people should attempt aught Chr. del
against him. And the price of all things in Valencia was iso. is?.
doubled. ff'26i.^'"'
XVI. Then the Cid drew nearer to the walls, so that no
man could either enter in or issue out, but whosoever at-
27
210 CHRONICLE UF THE CID,
BOOK tempted it was either slain or taken. And he gave orders to
VI. .
'. — till all the lands wliieli lay round aljout Aleudia, for this was
country.
How iiie now become a ^reat i^lace, even hke a city, and the Moors
Almora- cd i / ^7
vides re- wlio dwelt there were safe ; and tents and shops were made
turned into „ n 1 • 1 />
their own there lor all kmds ol merchandize, and merchants came there
safely from all parts to buy and to sell, so that they who
dwelt there were greatly enriched. And justice was admin-
istered to all full righteously, so that there was none who
could complain of the Cid nor of his Almoxarife, nor of any
of his people; and the Moors were judged by their own
law, and were not vexed, and he took from them only a
tenth. Now came true tidings from Denia that the Almo-
rávides had returned into their own country, and that there
was no hope of succor at their hands. And when they of
Valencia heard this they were greatly troubled. And they
who held the Castles round about came humbly to the Cid,
to place their love upon him, and besought him that he
would accept tribute from them, and have them under his
protection ; and he gave orders that they might travel the
roads in peace : and in this manner his rents increased, so
that he had plenty to give. And he sent to them who held
the Castles, bidding them provide him with cross-bow men,
and foot soldiers, to fight against the city ; and there was
none who dared disobey his bidding, and they sent him
cross-bow men and foot-men in great numbers, with their
arms and provisions. Thus was Valencia left desolate, and
forsaken by all the Moorish people ; and it was attacked
Cki cap every day, and none could enter in, neither could any come
]^3' r^ out ; and they were sore distressed, and the waves of death
Chr. Gen. ' «^ '
ff- 261. compassed them round about.
Of the la- XVII. Then was there a Moor in the city who was a
mentation
which was learned man and a wise, and he went upon the highest
Valencia, tower, and made a lamentation, and the words with which
he lamented he put in writing, and it was rendered after-
wards from the Arabic into the Castilian tongue, and the
lamentation which he made was this :
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 211
Valencia ! Valencia ! trouble is come upon thee, and BOOK
VI
thou art in the hour of death ; and if perad venture thou '
shouldst escape, it will be a wonder to all that shall behold
thee.
But if ever God hath shown mercy to any place, let
him be pleased to show mercy unto thee ; for thy name was
joy, and all Moors delighted in thee and took their pleasure
in thee.
And if it should please God utterly to destroy thee now,
it will be for thy great sins, and for the great presumption
which thou hadst in thy pride.
The four corner stones whereon thou art founded would
meet together and lament for thee, if they could !
Thy strong wall which is founded upon these four stones
trembles, and is about to fall, and hath lost all its strength.
Thy lofty and fair towers, which were seen from far,
and rejoiced the hearts of the people, . . httle by little they
are falling.
Thy white battlements which glittered afar off, have lost
their truth, with which they shone like the sunbeams.
Thy noble river Guadalaver, with all the other waters
with which thou hast been served so well, have left their
channel, and now they run where they should not.
Thy water courses, " which were so clear and of such
great profit to so many, for lack of cleansing are choked
with mud.
Thy pleasant gardens which were round abo at thee ; . .
the ravenous Avolf hath gnawn at the roots, and the trees can
yield thee no fruit.
Thy goodly fields, with so many and such fair flowers,
wherein thy people were wont to take their pastime, are all
dried up.
Thy noble harbor, which was so great honor to thee, is
deprived of all the nobleness which was wont to come into
it for thy sake.
The fire hath laid waste the lands of which thou wert
212 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK called the Mistress, and the great smoke thereof reaclieth
' thee.
There is no medicine for thy sore infirmity, and the phy-
sicians despair of healing thee.
Valencia ! Valencia ! from a broken heart have I uttered
all these things which I have said of thee.
And this grief would I keep unto myself, that none
should know it, if it were not needful that it should be known
Chr. Gen. ,,
ff. 262. to all.'
How they XVIII. Now all the trouble and distress which the men
put their oí Valencia endured, pleased Abeniaf well, because they
in^Ab^elTaf. ^^^ forsaken him, and followed the sons of Aboegib ; and
he said that it did not behove a man to give advice unto
those who would not listen to it, and that if the people had
hearkened to him, they would not have been brought to this
misery ; and what evil they endured was because of the
sons of Aboegib, who lacked wit to be well with any one,
or to do any thing. These things Abeniaf said daily to aU
who came to visit him ; so that the people greaf as well as
little began to talk thereof, saying that Abeniaf spake truly.
And the Christians fought against them every day, and prest
them close, and the price of food increased daily : and they
withdrew themselves from the love of the sons of Aboegib,
and thought that they had been ill advised to follow their
counsel, and that because of them all this evil was come
upon them, and they held them for fools. And the people
* The Chronica del Cid contains only four verses of this lamentation ;
. . which is I think, beyond a doubt, Arabic. In the Chronica General^
which gives the whole, a long gloss follows allegorizing away all its
beauty and all its passion ; in which one of the corner stones is made the
King, a second his son, a third the King of Zaragoza, and so on, for more
than two pages, in the same insipid style.
Berganza, in a sneer at the Chronica General, praises the Chronicler of
the Cid for not having inserted this curious poem. ' El Recopilador de la
Coronica del Cid no fue tan aficionado a llenar su historia de successos cele-
brados for 'poetas."
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 213
cried out upon Abeniaf that he should forgive them for hav- BOOK
ing forsaken him, and that he should protect them, and de- '. —
vise means for their deliverance from this great trouble.
And Abeniaf said that he would have nothing to do with
them more than as one of them ; for if they were in trouble,
so was he : and what they stood in fear of, that did he fear
also ; and that he could not give counsel to men who were
divided among themselves ; and he said unto them that they
must agree among themselves, and be all of one mind to
do one of these two things ; . . either to forsake the sons
of Aboegib and their counsel, or to stand by it. And
when he should see that they no longer opposed him with
their evil counsels, and the bad way in which they Avere
going on, that he would then take counsel for them in such
guise that they should be at peace ; for they knew how
they had sped so long as they let him direct them, and
he trusted in God so to speed as that they should have no
war with the Cid, neither with any other. And they made
answer with one accord, that they would trust in him, f^hr. del
Cid. cap.
and obey him, and do all which he should command, for it iss.
had alway been well with them when they followed his ff. 263.
advice.
XIX. Then the men of Valencia made Abeniaf their How Abe-
Adelantado, and promised to abide by his counsel ; howbeit the sons of
this could not lightly be done, for many of the people held and ^^eliv-
with the others. And when Abeniaf saw that they would ^^^Jj^g ^¿^^2^
have him for their chief, he said that they should make a
writing, and the chief persons of the town confirm it with
their names ; and the people accorded that it should be so,
and it was done accordhigly. Then he made offers to the
Cid that they should pay him tribute, and took counsel with
him how to put the sons of Aboegib, and those who held
with them, out of the town ; and their counsel was, that the
Cid should draw nigh to the walls, and speak unto the men
of the town, saying, that so long as they followed after the
ways of the sons of Aboegib, he would never grant them
214 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK his love ; and tluil all the evil which he did unto them was
VI.
; — because of ihem, and because ihey were guided by them
and by their evil counsel. And if they desired to speed well
they should send away the sons of Aboegib, and take Aben-
iaf to be their chief, and give ear unto him. And the Cid
came nigh unto the walls and said these things, and more-
over that he had great ruth for them, for he loved them well ;
and if they would do according to his words he would help
thenfi and protect them, as he had been wont to do in the
days of King Yahia ; and he bade them look well to what
they were doing, and not suffer themselves to be brought to
destruction. And Abeniáf also said these things to those of
his household and to all those who talked with him, and
asked of them why they would let themselves be brought to
destruction by the counsel of foolish men and imwise. And
this he said so often that they thought it was truth, and they
besought him that as he was their Adelantado, now he would
devise means for their deliverance, and how they might live
in peace ; and he made answer that they were not to think
he had forgotten this, for he had labored greatly with the
Cid to obtain his love for them, but the Cid had sworn that
they should never have his love till they had put the sons of
Aboegib out of the town ; when they had done that, he
would do whatsoever they should think good, but till they
had done it there should be no covenant between him and
them. But when the men of the town heard this they mur-
mured greatly and said that he demanded a hard thing,
and that it were better they should all die than do this ; and
they talked concerning this matter three days, being in
doubt what they should do. And when Abeniaf saAv that
the people Avere thus at a stand, he took counsel privily
with the Cid, and with the knights, and the good men who
were on his side, how he might take them. And one of the
chief persons of Abeniaf s household went out with a great
company of horse and foot to seize the sons of Aboegib ; and
the y when they knew this, took shelter in the house of an
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 215
Alfaqui, that is to say, one learned in the law, who was held BOOK
in much honor by the Moors ; and in this house, which was '. —
surrounded with an embattled wall, they thought with the
little company that they had with them, to defend themselves,
till the cry could go forth through the city, and their friends
come to their succor. And they who went to take them set
fire to the outer gates, and many of the baser sort gathered
together to see what the stir was. And they ascended the
roof and threw down tiles upon the assailants till they made
them take shelter under the eaves, and then the house was
forced, and they plundered all that they could find, and laid
hands on the sons of Aboegib and carried them to prison.
All this was done before the cry could go forth through the
town ; and all the kinsmen of the sons of Aboegib were
taken also : they Avere kept that day in prison, and when it ^^J' ^p
was night they were taken to the Cid, to his lodging in J^^. iss.
Alcudia, and delivered into his hands. ff- 264.
XX. On the morrow there was a sreat stir amonff the How Abe-
^ . niafwent
men of the town, and they Avere greatly troubled at this foul out to meet
thing which Abeniaf had done. But Abeniaf thinking that how he'
he should now have his desire, and that all Avas done, took keep the
horse and rode forth Avith all his company to the Bridge- ^iS were
end, to see Ruy diez the Cid. And the Bishop, as he Avas"^^^^*
called, of Albarrazin, came to meet him with a great com-
pany of knights, being the chiefs of the company of the Cid,
and they did great honor unto him, thinking that he Avould
give them something. And they brought him to the lodging
of the Cid, Avhich Avas in the Garden of the Ncav Town ;
and the Cid came out to meet him at the garden gate, and
embraced him, and made much of him. And the first thing
which he said, Avas, to ask him Avhy he had not put on kingly
garments, for King he Avas : and he bade him take off the
coif Avhich he wore, for it was not Avhat beseemed him noAv,
and made semblance as if he Avould have held his stirrups.
And they stood talking aAvhile. Noav the Cid thought that
Abeniaf would not come to him with empty hands, and
216 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK looked that he should mve him of the treasures and jewels
VI. ^. ^ . "^
^ — that he had taken from King Yahia Avhom he had slain ; but
when he saw that he brought nothing, then began the Cid to
talk of terms, and said unto him that if he desired to have
his love, and that there should be peace between them, he
must divide with him the rents of the town, as well what
was collected within as Avithout, and that he would have his
own Almoxarife to see to this and collect his share. And
Abeniaf made answer that it should be so. And the Cid
demanded of him his son as hostage, that he might keep him
ill Juballa, for otherwise he said he could not be secure.
And Abeniaf agro^d to this also ; so they parted for that
day, having appointed that they should meet on the morrow,
and confirm this covenant by writings so that it should be
good. Then Abeniaf returned into the city, full sorrowful
and taking great thought ; and then he saw the foolishness
that he had done in sending away the Almorávides out of
the land, and in putting his trust in men of another law.
And on the morrow the Cid sent for him that he should
come out and confirm the covenant ; but Abeniaf sent him
word that he v\^ould not give him his son, even though he
knew he should lose his head for refusing. And the Cid
sent him a letter with great threats, saying, that since he had
thus deceived him, there should never more be love between
them, nor would he ever believe aught which he should say.
And then the hatred between them waxed very great. And
the Cid sent unto that Moor Avho had taken the sons of
Aboegib and bade him leave the town, and go unto the
Castle which was called Alcalá ; and he obeyed and Avent
thither, for he dared not do otherwise than as the Cid com-
manded. And he did great honors to the sons of Aboegib
and to their kinsmen, and gave orders that they should be
provided with all things which they needed, and gave them
garments, and promised that he would be their great friend.
Chr. del At this time three good men of Valencia died, who were the
186.' ^^^' most honorable of the town and of the most discretion, and
Chr. Gen. Abeniaf was left as Chief, for there was none to gainsay him.
ff. 264. ' ^ ^
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 217
XXI. And the Cid made war afresh upon the city as BOOK
cruelly as he could, and the price of bread was now three
times as great as it had been at the beginning ; the load of pj.^^^ ^^^^^
wheat was worth an hundred maravedís of silver, and the J^^enrnf °^
pound of flesh was a maravedí. And the Cid drew nis^h ^"^ how
^ ^ the price oi
unto the walls, so as to fiejht hand to hand with the towns- food waxed
^ . more and
men. And Abeniaf waxed proud and despised the people, more.
and when any went to make complaint before him, and ask
justice at his hands, he dishonored them, and they were evil
entreated by him. And he was like a King, retired apart,
and trobadors and gieemen and masters disported before
him which could do the best, and he took his pleasure.
And they of the town were in great misery, from the
Christians who warred upon them from without, and the
famine whereof they died within. Moreover Abeniaf op-
pressed them greatly, and he took unto himself all the goods
of those who died, and he made all persons equal, the good
and the bad, and took from all all that he could ; and those
who gave him nothing he ordered to be tormented with
stripes, and cast into rigorous prisons, till he could get some-
thing from them. And he had no respect neither for kins-
man nor friend. There was but one measure for all, and
men cared nothing now for their possessions, so that the
sellers were many and the buyers none. And Avith all
these miseries the price of food became exceeding great, for
the cafiz of wheat was priced at ninety maravedís^ and that
of barley at eighty, and that of painick ^ eighty and five,
and that of all pulse sixty, and the arroba of figs seven, and
of honey twenty, and of cheese eighteen, and of carobs six-
teen, and of onions twelve, and the measure of oil twenty :
flesh there was none, neither of beast nor of any thing
else ; but if a beast died,' the pound was worth three
' Panizo . . . this is Minsheu's interpretation, who says it is a grain
resembling millet.
^ i. e. horse, mule, or ass.
28
218 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK maravedís. And they were so weak with liiinger that the
'. Christians came to tlie walls and threw stones in with the
cap fsG^ hand, and there was none Avho had strength to drive them
?iet''- back.
Of the XXII. And the Cid having it at heart to take the town,
whiciTthere ^^^ make an engine, and placed it at one of the gates,
lencia"^^ and it did great hurt both to the walls and within the
town ; and the Moors made other engines, with the which
they brake that of the Cid. And the Cid in his anger
let make three engines, and placed them at the three gates
of the town, and they did marvellous great hurt. And
food waxed dearer every day, till at last dear nor cheap
it was not to be had, and there was a great mortality
for famine ; and they eat dogs and cats and mice. And
they opened the vaults and privies and sewers ^ of the toAvn,
and took out the stones of the grapes which they had eaten,
and washed them, and ate them. And they who had horses
fed upon them. And many men, and many women, and
many children watched Avhen the gates were open, and
went out and gave themselves into the hands of the Christ-
ians, who slew some, and took others, and sold them to the
Moors in Alcudia ; and the price of a Moor was a loaf and
a pitcher of wine : and when they gave them food and
they took their fill, they died. Them that were stronger
they sold to merchants who came there by sea from all
parts. And the Moors of Alcudia, and of the town which
' Of the sewers at Valencia Miedes gives a long account, L. 12. C. 17.
which fills the whole chapter. They were the work of the Romans, and
were perfect two centuries ago, to the great comfort of the inhabitants.
A canal from the river, after supplying the dye-houses, entered them,
and swept away their filth to the sea, . . fertilizing, says Miedes, the
fields through which it flowed.
This mention of privies is curious. I give the original passage because
it has escaped Professor Beckmann's researches. Ahrian las cámaras e
privadas, e las caños de la villa, e saccavan el uruso de las uvas que comian^
e lavavanlo en el agua, e comíanlo. Chronica del Cid. cap. 187.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 219
the Cid had made there, had plenty of all things, and as BOOK
great as was their abundance, even so great was the misery '. —
of those in the town : and they spake the verse which say- Chr. del
T ./-r Cid. cap.
eth, If I go to the right the water will destroy me, and if I ip.
go to the left the lion will kill me, and if I turn back there is íf. 265.
the fire.
XXIII. Now the Moors of Valencia being in this great How they
f, , . 1 • 1 1 /^' 1 1 • 1 1 sent to ask
misery, because oí the siege which the Cid laid unto the the aid of
town, Abeniaf bethought him that he would send a messen- Zaragoza.
ger to the King of Zaragoza, and beseech him to come to
his succor, even as he had succored the grandson of Ali-
maymon, when the Lord of Denia and Tortosa came
against him. And the good men of the town took counsel
whether they should say in these letters. To you the King,
or whether they should humble themselves before him and
call him Lord ; and they debated upon this for three days,
and agreed that they would call him Lord, that he might
have the more compassion upon them. And though Aben-
iaf was troubled at heart at this determination, nevertheless
he said in the letter as they had appointed. And he called
a Moor who spake the mixed language, and instructed him
how to get out of the city by night, so that the Christians
might not see him, and told him that when he had given
that letter to the King of Zaragoza, the King would give
him garments, and a horse, and a mule to ride on, and that
he himself would show favor unto him as long as he lived.
So the messenger departed with the letter. And the famine
in the town waxed greater, and food was not now bought
by the cafiz, neither by the fanega^ but by ounces, or
at most by the pound. And the pound of wheat cost a
maravedí and a half, and that of barley a maravedí, and that
of painick a maravedí and a quarter, and of pulse a mara-
vedí, and of flax-seed three parts of a maravedí, and of
cheese three dineros, and of honey three, and of figs one ;
and the panilla of oil was eight dineros, and the pound of
colewort five, and the ounce of carobs three parts of a
220 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK dinero, and the ounce of onions the same, and the head of
VI
'. — garhck the same ; and a pound of beast's flesh was six ma-
ravedís^ and grape-stones were half a dinej'o the pound,
Chr. del and the skins of kine and of beasts five dineros : the din-
188. ero was silver, for there was no money current save silver
Chr. Gen. , , ,
ff. 26G. and gold.
Of the XXIV. When the King of Zaragoza saw the letter
the1ichi° of which Abcniaf and the men of Valencia had sent him, he
and^lfihe g^-vc no heed to it, neither cared he for the messenger,
^^u-^u A V neither did he s^ive him a drausjht of water for his reward.
which Abe- ^ "
niaf made And the mcssenser waited for his answer from day to day
for food. '^ .
for three weeks, and he dared not depart without it for fear
lest Abeniaf should slay him ; and he thought also that some
of the King's people would come out after him, and slay
him upon the way : and he w^as urgent for his answer, and
began at last to cry aloud at the gate of the King's house,
so that the King asked of what that messenger Avas making
his complaint. Then they told the King that he wanted his
answer that he might be gone. And the King wTote an an-
swer and said, that this aid which they besought of him he
could not give till he had sent to ask help of King Don
Alfonso of Castille, for he could not else venture to do bat-
tle with the Cid. And he exhorted them to defend them-
selves the best they could, Avhile he procured horsemen from
King Don Alfonso to help them, and that they should from
time to time send him word how they went on. So the
messenger returned in great sorroAv, that he had sped no
better, and that nothing had been given him as Abeniaf had
promised : and all this which the King of Zaragoza said
was only delay, and meant nothing. And the faixdne now
waxed so great that there was no food to sell, and many
died of hunger. And many for great misery went out to
the Christians, recking not whether they should be made
captive, or slain, for they thought it better to be slain than
to perish for lack of food. And Abeniaf searched all the
houses in the town for food, and where he found any store,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 221
he left only what would suffice for a fortnight, and took BOOK
the rest, sayhig that in that time the King of Zaragoza
would come and relieve them, for that he only tarried to
collect great store of food, that he might bring it with him.
This he said to keep the people quiet, and to encourage
them. And of the food which he carried away, he took the
most part for himself and for his guards, and the rest he
ordered to be sold in such manner, that none should buy
more than Avould suffice him for the day. And what he
took he did not pay for, and when the people demanded
payment, he put them off till another day ; and he bade
them not complain, for they would be relieved from this
misery, and then he would pay them well. And they who
had any food left buried it for fear, and for this reason there
was none to be bought, neither dear nor cheap. And they chr. del
who had nothing else, ate herbs, and leather, and electuaries i^g* igg.*
from the apothecaries,^ which they bought at a great price, ^^Qge^^"
and the poor ate the dead bodies.
XXV. Now Abeniaf had no hope of succor, save only JJ?^ th^e
^ _ *^ King of
from the King of Zaragoza, who had sent to bid him hold Zaragoza
S6nt Icttsrs
out ; and he sent to him every night, to tell him of the great to Valencia,
misery which there was in Valencia, and the King of Zara-
goza returned for answer that King Don Alfonso had sent
him a great body of horsemen with Garcia Ordonez, and
would come himself after them ; and he sent in this letter
another letter written with his own hand, and which was
to be shown to the good men of the town privily ; and he
said therein, with great oaths to confirm it, that he would
without fail come and deliver them, for it was a great
grief to him to think what they endured, and that this was
* The Chronica General has especieros in the place of boticarios, . . a
synonyme which is worthy of notice. This early mention of apothecaries
was also unknown to Beckmann, and it strengthens the conjecture of that
very learned and laborious writer, that the trade originated with the Sar-
acens, and was by them introduced into Europe. Hist, of Inventions.
English translation, Vol. 2. p. 133.
222 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK as fiTcat sorrow to him as theirs could be. And certain of
' the King's favorites wrote to Abeniaf also after the same
manner, telling him that he would surely come ; how-
beit one of his favorites who had compassion upon the men
of Valencia, sent a covert message to warn them, saying,
that the King of Zaragoza would build a tower in Alcudia
de Tudela ; ^ the meaning of this was, that all the King
said, was only to put them off. Abeniaf did not under-
stand it, and sent to ask him what it was that he had said ;
but the other made him no reply. Then the King of Zara-
goza sent two messengers to the Cid with jewels and rich
presents, and besought him that he would not distress the
men of Valencia so greatly, and also that he would let his
messengers enter the town that they might speak with Abe-
niaf. This the Cid would not permit ; howbeit they found
means to send in a letter, saying. Wit ye that I send to
entreat the Cid that he will not do so great evil unto you,
and I give him jewels and rich presents that he may do my
will in this, and I believe that he will do it. But if he
should not, I will gather together a great host, and drive
him out of the land. Howbeit these were but dissembling
words, for the King of Zaragoza and the Cid were friends
S\i' ^i and were of one accord, that the Cid should take Valencia
Cid. cap, '
ch' G^' ^^^ S^^® ^^ ^^^ i^i^^gj ^"^^o should give him great treasures
ff. 267. in return.
How Aben- XXVI. Then the Cid besjan to treat with a great Moor
moxiz rose . „ .
against of the town, named Abenmoxiz" that he should rise up
A Mf*Tl 1ÍÍ T
and how he against Abeniaf, and kill him or deliver him into his hands,
was taken.
* Que querie fazer una torre de candela en el Alcudia^ . . is what the
Chronica General says.
' Aboegib, according to the Chronica General. The sons of Aboegib
have appeared so much without any mention of the father, that it seems
probable he was either dead or superannuated : had their father been
living, and active enough to have taken the part which this Abenmoxiz
did, he would certainly have been sent out of the town with the rest of
his family.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 223
and that he would make him Lord over Valencia, and BOOK
the country as far as Denia. And Abenmoxiz took coun '■ —
sel with his friends, and they advised him that he should
do this; but Abeniaf knew of their counsel, and took
them, and put them in prison, and gave them in charge
to two of his household in whom he had great trust.
And Abenmoxiz talked with his keepers, and told them
all that he purposed to do, and promised them, if they
would release him, to reward them greatly when he had
succeeded, saying, that he undertook this with the con-
sent and advice of the King of Zaragoza : so they were per-
suaded and promised to join with him. And when it was
night Abenmoxiz and his friends and the two keepers agreed
to seize the Alcazar, which was the place wherein they were
imprisoned, and to beat the alarm, and raise a cry for the
King of Zaragoza ; and they thought the men of the town
would join with them, and then they would go to the house
of Abeniaf and lay hands on him. And they did accordingly,
and beat a drum, and sent a cryer upon the tower of the
Mosque to bid all the people assemble at the Alcazar.
And when the people heard that drum and that cryer they
were in great fear, and knew not what to think : and they
assembled some to guard their own houses, other some to
guard the tower, till they knew what it was. And when
Abeniaf heard it, he was greatly dismayed, and he asked of
all whom he found at his gates, Avhat the uproar was, and
what this thing might be. In short time all they who were
on his side, both horse and foot, assembled together, and
then they knew what it was ; and he bade them go to the
Alcazar and take Abenmoxiz, und all that held with him.
Abenmoxiz this while was at the gate of the Alcazar with
his little company, thinking that the whole town would join
him; and behold Abeniaf 's company came up and charged
him ; and he thought to defend himself with the few that
were with him, but the most part fled, and he with four
others were taken ; and they led them with great shame
224 CHRONicLt: of the cid,
BOOK to the house of Abeniaf, who sent him to prison, and gave
'. — orders to smite off the heads of the others. And Abe-
niaf sent to lay hands on all whom he suspected, and took
from them all that they had. And he sent messengers to
the King of Zaragoza to tell him what had chanced, and
Cid. cap. they took with them Abemnoxiz prisoner, and they were
ciir Geii. charged to remain at Zaragoza, and send him true tidings
ff. 267. £j.Qj^ thence.
cTauack- XXVII. Now there was no food to be bought in the
ed the city (.¿^y ^j^^^ ^^le people wcrc in the waves of death : and men
and was «^ ' a i
put to the were seen to drop and die in the streets, and the Place of the
worst, and ^ '
of the great Alcazar round about the walls thereof was full of graves, and
cruelty
which he there was no grave which had fcAver than ten bodies in it.
upon the As many as could fled out of the town, and dehvered them-
selves up to the Christians to be made prisoners. The Cid
thought that they who were the Chiefs within the walls,
thrust out the poor and feeble, that they might be able to
hold out longer ; and it troubled him, for he thought to take
the town by starving it, and he feared the coming of the Al-
morávides. Sometimes it troubled him, and at other times
he seemed pleased that the Moors should come out and give
themselves prisoners to his people. Now it befel that once,
at such time as it seemed to please him, some of the chief
men of the town came out in this manner, and counselled
him that he should attack it, for they said the men at arms
were few, and weak for hunger, and that he might presently
win it : and the Cid took thought upon this matter, and re-
solved to do as they said ; and he gathered together his host
and advanced against the gate which is called Belfanhanes,
that is to say, the Gate of the Snake, and they drew nigh
unto the Avail. And all the people of the town assembled,
even all the force which was therein, and threw down stones
from the gate and from the wall, and shot their arrows, so
that neither stone nor arrow fell in vain ; and the Cid and
they who had advanced with him went into a bath which
was near the wall, to be under cover from the arrows. And
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 225
Abeniaf's company opened the gate and sallied out, seeing BOOK
that the stones and arrows from the wall had hurt many, '
and made the Christians draw back ; and the Cid and they
who were with him remained in the bath, being shut up
there, for they could not go out by the door whereat they
had entered, and they broke through the wall on the other
side, and the Cid escaped that way, being thus put to rout.
Then he thought himself ill advised in having attacked the
town, and in putting himself into a place from whence he
had escaped with such great danger ; and he held that the
worst war which he could make upon the men of Valencia
was to let them die of hunger. So he ordered proclamation
to be made so loud that all the Moors upon the walls could
hear, bidding all Avho had come out from the town to return
into it, or he would burn as many as he should find ; and
saying also that he would slay all who came out from that
time forth. Nevertheless they continued to let themselves
doAvn from the walls, and the Christians took them without
his knowledge. But as many as he found he burnt alive be-
fore the walls, so that the Moors could see them ; in one day
he burnt eighteen, and cast others alive to the dogs, who tore
them in pieces. They who could hide any sent them away
by sea and by land to be sold ; the most whom they sent
were young men and girls, for others they would not take ;
and many virgins they kept for themselves. And if they
knew that any who came out, had left kinsmen or friends in
the town who would give any thing for them, they tortured
them before the walls, or hung them from the towers of the
Mosques which were without the city, and stoned them ; and
when they in the town saw this they gave ransom for them,
that they might be permitted to dwell in Alcudia with the
Moors Avho were in peace with the Cid. This continued for
two months, till there were only four beasts left in the town,
and one was a mule of Abeniaf's, and another was a horse <-'hr. del
P , . - Cid. cap.
ol his son's ; and the people were so wasted that there were 193. 194.
but few who had strength to mount the wall. ff. 268.
29
226 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XXVIII. The company of Abcniaf and of his kinsmen
' despaired noAv of holding out, and of the help of the King of
How the Zaragoza, or of the Ahnoravides, and they desired rather to
10 an Al- die than endure this misery. And the good men of the city,
was accord- ^s many as were left, went to an Alfaqui, who was a good
shouW "o^ man, and one who was held in great esteem, and besought
tiiem^aud ^™^ ^^ §^^^ them counscl, for he saw their great distress, and
the Cid. how they were out of all hope of succor ; and they besought
him that he would go to Abeniaf, and know of him what he
thought to do, or what hope he had, that he let them all
perish thus. The Alfaqui gave ear to them, and said that if
they would all hold together, and be of one heart, and show
great anger at having been brought to this misery, he would
do all he could to relieve them ; and they promised to do
whatever he should advise. Now Abeniaf knew of the talk
which the good men of the town had had with the Alfaqui,
and understood that it was because of the great misery which
they endured ; and he thought in his heart that he would
humble himself, and do whatever his people should think
good. And the Alfaqui thought that happy man was his
dole now that the people had committed themselves to his
guidage, and he went to Abeniaf and communed with him,
and their accord was to give up all hope of succor. And
Abeniaf put himself in the hands of the Alfaqui, that he
should 20 between him and the Cid and the people of Va-
Chr. del . '^^ r r
Cid. cap. lencia, and make the best terms for them that he could,
194. 195.
chr. Geu. Seeing that they could no longer hold out, and maintain the
ff. 269.
town.
CiTmade XXIX. Here the history relates that at this time Martin
Pekez of a Pd^ez the Asturian came with a convoy of laden beasts,
^ ood'^'^ ^ carrying provisions to the host of the Cid ; and as he past
knight. near the town the Moors sallied out in great nimibers against
him ; but he, though he had few with him, defended the con-
voy right well, and did great hurt to the Moors, slaying
many of them, and drove them into the town. This Martin
Pelaez who is here spoken of, did the Cid make a right good
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 227
knight, of a coward, as ye shall hear. When the Cid first BOOK
began to lay siege to the city of Valencia, this Martin Pelaez '.
came unto him ; he was a knight, a native of Santillana in
Asturias, a hidalgo, great of body and strong of limb, a well
made man and of goodly semblance, but withal a right
coward at heart, which he had shown in many places when
he was among feats of arms. And the Cid was sorry when
he came unto him, though he would not let him perceive
this ; for he knew he was not fit to be of his company.
Howbeit he thought that since he was come he would make
him brave whether he would or not. And when the Cid
began to war upon the town, and sent parties against it
twice and thrice a day, as ye have heard, for the Cid was
alway upon the alert, there was fighting and tourneying every
day. One day it fell out that the Cid and his kinsmen and
friends and vassals were engaged in a great encounter, and
this Martin Pelaez was well armed ; and when he saw that
the Moors and the Christians were at it, he fled and betook
himself to his lodging, and there hid himself till the Cid re-
turned to dinner. And the Cid saw what Martin Pelaez did,
and when he had conquered the Moors he returned to his
lodging to dinner. Now it was the custom of the Cid -to
eat at a high table, seated on his bench, at the head. And
Don Alvar Fañez, and Pero Bermudez, and other precious
knights, ate in another part, at high tables, full honorably,
and none other knights whatsoever dared take their seats with
them, unless they were such as deserved to be there ; and
the others who were not so approved in arms ate upon
estrados, at tables with cushions.^ This was the order in
' Comian en estrados, e en mesas de cabezales. Chronica General.
The others are said to eat at mesas altas. It should seem therefore,
if 1 have not mistaken the meaning of the words, that the common and
least honorable mode of eating was after the Roman fashion. The
Welsh Kings had their Pedifer, whose office it was to chafe their feet
while they were at their meals ; . , they probably retained the Roman
fashion also. By whom were chairs introduced into common use ? Our
228 CHRONICLE OF TÍIE CID,
BOOK the house of the Cid, and every one knew the place where he
VI. .
was to sit at meat, and every one strove all he could to gain
the honor of sitting to eat at the table of Don Alvar Fañez
and his companions, by strenuously behaving himself in all
feats of arms ; and thus the honor of the Cid was advanced.
This Martin Pelaez, thinking that none had seen his bad-
ness, washed his hands in turn with the other knights, and
would have taken his place among them. And the Cid
went unto him, and took him by the hand and said. You are
not such a one as deserves to sit with these, for they are
worth more than you or than me ; but I will have you with
me : and he seated him with himself at table. And he, for
lack of understanding, thought that the Cid did this to honor
him above all the others. On the morroAV the Cid and his
company rode towards Valencia, and the Moors came out
to the tourney ; and Martin Pelaez went out well armed,
and was among the foremost who charged the Moors, and
when he was in among them he turned the reins, and went
back to his lodging ; and the Cid took heed to all that he
did, and saw that though he had done badly he had done
better than the first day. And when the Cid had driven the
Moors into the town he returned to his lodging, and as he
sate down to meat he took this Martin Pelaez by the hand,
and seated him with himself, and bade him eat with him in
the same dish, for he had deserved more that day than he
had the first. And the knight gave heed to that saying, and
Cowper has given the rise and progress of seat-making, from the joint-
stool to the sofa ; the subject still remains to be investigated by anti-
quarians. Sitting on the ground is the more natural and more convenient
custom : . . . the Portugueze women of the lower ranks, who still retain
it, say it keeps the feet warm. High seats may have been preferred in
cold countries because it is desirable to expose the feet to the fire, and
skreen the face from it ; by a drunken people like the Northern conquer-
ors, because it was convenient at their beastly banquets that a guest
should fall under the table rather than on his neighbor's lap ; or by a
dirty people, like our ancestors, who suffered filth to accumulate upon the
floors.
VI.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 229
Avas abashed ; howbeit he did as the Cid commanded him : BOOK
and after he had dined he went to his lodging and began to -
think upon what the Cid had said unto him, and perceived
that he had seen all the baseness which he had done ; and
then he understood that for this cause he would not let him
sit at board with the other knights who were precious in
arms, but had seated him with himself, more to affront him
than to do him honor, for there were other knights there
better than he, and he did not show them that honor. Then
resolved he in his heart to do better than he had done here-
tofore. Another day the Cid and his company and Martin
Pelaez rode toward Valencia, and the Moors came out to
the tourney full resolutely, and Martin Pelaez was among
the first, and charged them right boldly ; and he smote
down and slew presently a good knight, and he lost there
all the bad fear which he had had, and was that day one of
the best knights there : and as long as the tourney lasted
there he remained, smiting and slaying and overthrowing
the Moors, till they were driven within the gates, in such
manner that the Moors marvelled at him, and asked Avhere
that Devil came from, for they had never seen him before.
And the Cid was in a place where he could see all that was
going on, and he gave good heed to him, and had great
pleasure in beholding him, to see how well he had forgot-
ten the great fear which he was wont to have. And
when the Moors were shut up within the town, the Cid and
all his people returned to their lodging, and Martin Pelaez
full leisurely and quietly went to his lodging also, like a
good knight. And when it was the hour of eating the Cid
waited for Martin Pelaez, and when he came, and they had
washed, the Cid took him by the hand and said. My friend,
you are not such a one as deserves to sit with me from
henceforth, but sit you here with Don Alvar Fañez, and with
these other good knights, for the good feats which you have
done this day, have made you a companion for them ; and
from that day forward he was placed in the company of the
230 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK good. And the history saith that from that day forward
' this knight Martin Pelacz was a right good one, and a right
vahant, and a right precious, in all places where he chanced
among feats of arms, and he hved alway with the Cid, and
served him right well and truly. And the history saith,
that after the Cid had won the city of Valencia, on the day
when they conquered and discomfited the King of Seville,
this Martin Pelaez was so good a one, that setting aside the
body of the Cid himself, there was no such good knight
there, nor one who bore such part, as well in the battle as in
the pursuit. And so great was the mortality which he made
among the Moors that day, that when he returned from the
business the sleeves of his mail were clotted with blood, up
to the elbow ; insomuch that for what he did that day,
his name is written in this history, that it may never die.
And when the Cid saw him come in that guise, he did him
great honor, such as he never had done to any knight before
that day, and from thenceforward gave him a place in all
his actions, and in all his secrets, and he was his great friend.
In this knight Martin Pelaez was fulfilled the example which
saith, that he who betaketh himself to a good tree, hath good
shade, and he who serves a good Lord wimieth good guer-
don ; for by reason of the good service which he did the
Cid, he came to such good state that he was spoken of as
ye have heard : for the Cid knew how to make a good knight
as a good groom knows how to make a good horse. The
Cid. cap. history now leaves to speak of him, and returns to the ac-
chr~"Gen ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Alfaqui and Abeniaf, which they propounded
ff- 269. * unto the Cid.
How the XXX. This Alfaqui sent his messengers to an Almox-
city was to _ ^ '-' ^
be yielded arifc of the Cid, whose name was Abdalla Adiz, who was
did not a good man, and one whom the Cid loved, and who never
in fifteen left him after he had obtained his favor. And when Ab-
^^^' dalla Adiz heard that they wished to propose terms, he
spake with the Cid upon this matter, and the Cid bade him
enter the town, and speak with them, and know of them
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 231
what they would have. And he went into the town, and BOOK
spake Avith them as the Cid had commanded, and came out '.
again, and reported unto him what they had said, till he
had made terms between them. Abeniaf sent three good
men with him to confirm the terms which were made, and
the covenant was after this manner, that they of Valencia
should send messengers to the King of Zaragoza, and to
Ali Abenaxa who was Adelantado of the Almorávides and
Lord of Murcia, beseeching them to succor them within fif-
teen days ; and if within that time they were not succored,
they should then give up the city to the Cid, with such con-
ditions, that Abeniaf should remain mighty in the town, as
he had been before, his person being secure and all that he
had, and his wives, and his children, and that he should re-
main Veedw, that is to say. Overseer, of all the rents of the
town, he and the Almoraxife of the Cid, and a Moor who
was called Musa should be Guazil of the town ; this Musa
had looked after the affairs of the Cid in the time of King
Yahia, and never forsook him after the death of the King his
Lord ; and the Cid made him Alcayde of a Castle, and al-
way found him loyal, and at his service, and for this reason
trusted he in him so as to make him Guazil, who should
keep the keys of the town, with a guard of Almocadenes,
and of Christian footmen of Almogávares Avho had been
born in the land of the Moors. And it was appointed that
the Cid should dwell in Juballa, in the town which he had
... Chr. del
made, and that he should alter none of their privileges, nor cid. cap.
of their customs, nor the rents which they paid, nor their chr. Gen.
fF. 270.
money.
XXXI. Presently on the morrow they sent ñ.Ye good men of the
as messengers to the King of Zaragoza, and as many more wíiích were
to Murcia; and it had been covenanted that neither of [1)"'^^"^^''^.
these messengers should take with him more than fifty fhe^'r^ce of
maravedís for his journey, and that they should go by sea ^ooci.
as far as Denia, in a ship of the Christians, and from thence
by land. These messengers embarked with their company
232 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK on board that ship, and the Cid sent orders to the master
VI • •
'. thereof not to sail till he came ; and the Cid came himself
in his own body and bade them search the messengers to
see if they took with them more than had been agreed ; and
he found upon them great riches in gold and in silver and in
pearls and in precious stones ; part was their own, and part
belonged to other merchants in the city, who thought to
send it to Murcia, not being minded to abide in Valencia :
and he took it all, leaving them no more than fifty inaravedis
each, according to the covenant. This Avas the price of
food on the day when these messengers departed : the
* pound of wheat was three maravedís^ and the pound of
barley one and a half, and the pound of painick three,
saving a quarter ; the ounce of cheese three dineros^ and
the ounce of hemp seed four, and the pound of colewort
one maravedí and two dineros of silver, and the pound of
neat-skin one maravedL In the whole town there was only
one mule of Abeniaf's, and one horse: another horse which
belonged to a Moor he sold to a butcher for three hundred
and eighty doblas of gold, bargaining that he should have
Chr. Gen. ten pourids of the flesh. And the butcher sold the flesh of
ÍF. 270. ^
Chr. del that horsc at ten maravedís the short pound, and afterwards
201. at twelve, and the head for twenty doblas of gold.
How the XXXII. The Moors of Valencia were now something
city was r 1 r i •
yielded up, comforted, for they weened that they should receive help,
and the Christians did not now war upon them ; neverthe-
less they kept guard, and went the rounds, as before, and
waited for the day appointed, as one Avho looked to be re-
leased from prison. And for this reason men began to bring
out the food which they had hidden, and to sell of it, and
thus they went on till the time expired, and the mes-
sengers were not returned. And Abeniaf besought them
that they would wait yet three days more, but they made
answer that they would not, for they could bear it no
longer. And the Cid sent unto them bidding them yield
up the town, as they had covenanted to do ; and he
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 233
swore with great oaths, that if they delayed a single hour BOOK
after the time was expired, he would not keep the terms '
which he had made, and moreover that he would slay the
hostages ; nevertheless they let a day pass over and above
the term. And then they who made the covenant with the
Cid went out unto him, and besought him to come and re-
ceive the town, but the Cid said wrathfuUy to them, that he
was not bound to keep the terms, seeing that they had let
the time appointed pass ; and they yielded themselves into
his hands, that he should do with them according to his
pleasure ; then he was moved to compassion, and had pity
upon them. And Abeniaf and other good men came out, •
and the writings were made and confirmed on both sides,
by the Chiefs of the Christians and of the Moors, and the
gates were opened at the hour of noon, upon Thursday, the
last day of June, after the feast of St. John, which the
Moors call Alhazaro. And when the gate was opened Aben-
iaf was there within, with a great company round about him,
both of his own people and of those of the town ; and the
Christians as they entered ascended the walls and towers, chr. del
And Abeniaf asked why so many Avent up, for it was not in ^^2 " 203"
the terms ; but they would not cease for that, and they took ^^Lf ^"*
possession of all, little to his liking.
30
HERE BEGINNETH THE SEVENTH BOOK
OF THE
CHEONICLE OF THE CID
BOOK I- ^^^ ^11 the people of the town gathered together,
^^^- Hke men risen from their graves, . . yea, like the dead when
^o^ie^d" d^^^ trumpet shall sound for the day of judgment, and men
after the shall come out of their sjraves and be slathered tos^ether be-
famine. . ^ o &
fore the Majesty of God. And hucksters came from Alcu-
dia and brought bread and pulse to sell, and others of the
town went out to Alcudia to buy food ; and they who were
poor, and had not wherewith to buy, plucked of the herbs of
the field and ate them, and they held themselves rich because
they could go out when they would, and enter in again
without fear. And such as were wise among them ab-
stained from taking much food, fearing what would hap-
pen, and they took it little by little tul they had gotten
c^d' ca^ strength ; all they who took their fill died, and the mortahty
203- _ among them was so ^reat that all the fields were full of
Chr Gen. ^ ^
ff. 271. graves.
Of the ho- II. On the following day after the Christians had taken
nor which . i ^- i i • • i
the Cid did posscssiou ol the towu, the Cid entered it with a great com-
Moors. pany, and he ascended the highest tower of the wall, and
beheld aU the city ; and the Moors came imto him, and
CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 235
kissed his hand, saying he was welcome. And the Cid did BOOK
great honor unto them. And then he gave order that all the '- —
windows of the towers which looked in upon the town should
be closed up, that the Christians might not see what the
Mcors did in their houses ; and the Moors thanked him for
this greatly. And he commanded and requested the Christ-
ians that they should show great honor to the Moors, and re-
spect them, and greet them when they met : and the Moors
thanked the Cid greatly for the honor which the Christians cid.* cap.
did them, saying that they had never seen so good a man, q^¿ q^^^
nor one so honorable, nor one who had his people under such ff- 271.
obedience.
III. Now Abeniaf thought to have the love of the Cid ; ciTspale
and calling to mind the wrath with which he had formerly ^QQ^g*^®
been received, because he had not taken a gift with him, he
took now great riches, which he had taken from those who
sold bread for so great a price during the siege of Valencia,
and this he carried to the Cid as a present. Among those
who had sold it were some men from the Islands of Majorca,^
and he took from them all that they had. This the Cid
knew, and he would not accept his gifts. And the Cid
caused proclamation to be made in the town, and through-
out the whole district thereof, that the honorable men and
knights and castellans should assemble together in the gar-
den of Villa Nueva, Avhere the Cid at that time sojourned.
And. when they were all assembled, he went out unto them,
to a place which was made ready with carpets and with
mats, and he made them take their seats before him full
honorably, and began to speak unto them, saying, I am a
man who have never possessed a kingdom, neither I nor
any man of my lineage. But the day when I first beheld
this city I was well pleased therewith, and coveted it, that I
might be its Lord ; and I besought the Lord our God that
he would give it mc. See now what his power is, for the
* All the Balearic Islands, thus called as being subject to the largest.
236 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK day when I sate down before Juballa I had no more than
VII
four loaves of bread, and now by God's mercy I have won
Valencia. And if I administer right and justice here, God
will let me enjoy it, but if I do evil, and demean myself
proudly and wrongfully, I know that he will take it away.
Now then let every one go to his own lands, and possess
them even as he was wont to have and to hold them. He
who shall find his field, or his vineyard, or his garden, de-
sert, let him incontinently enter thereon ; and he who shall
find his husbanded, let him pay him that hath cultivated it
the cost of his labor, and of the seed which he hath sown
therein, and remain with his heritage, according to the law
of the Moors. Moreover I have given order that they who
collect my dues take from you no more than the tenth, be-
cause so it is appointed by the custom of the Moors, and it
is what ye have been wont to pay. And I have resolved in
my heart to hear your complaints two days in the week, on
the Monday and the Thursday ; but if causes should arise
which require haste, come to me when ye will, and I will
give judgment, for I do not retire with women to sing and
to drink, as your Lords have done, so that ye could obtain
no justice, but will myself see to these things, and watch
over ye as friend over his friend, and kinsman over his
kinsman. And I will be Cadi ^ and G uazil, and when dis-
pute happens among ye I will decide it. When he had said
these things they all replied that they prayed God to preserve
Chr. del him through long and happy years, and four of the most
205 ^^^* honorable among them rose and kissed his hands, and the
^*^^- ^^"^^ Cid bade them take their seats again.
* Both originals have Alcayde. The Cid uses the word in its civil
sense ; in which sense every person who has read the Arabian Nights
Entertainments will understand it. If the Moors in Spain had but one
Cadi, . . that is, if the civil power was in the hands of a military officer,
as perhaps may be inferred from the word Alcayde, it is one proof more
of the miserable state of barbarism into which they had fallen.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. ' 237
IV. Then the Cid spake unto them and said, it is told BOOK
VII
me that Abeniaf hath done much evil, and committed great
wrong toward some of ye, in that he hath taken great riches J^g^/f/e'^'
from ye to present them to me, saying, that this he did be- ^jj^^^^^^^g
cause ye sold food for a great price during the siege. But I Moors,
will accept of no such gift ; for if I were minded to have
your riches, I could take them, and need not ask them
neither from him, nor from any other ; but thing so unseem-
ly as to take that which is his from any one, without just
cause, I will not do. They who have gotten wealth thus,
God hath given it them ; let them go to Abeniaf, and take
back what he hath forced from them, for I will order him to
restore the whole. Then he said. Ye see the riches which I
took from the messengers who went to Murcia ; it is mine
by right, for I took it in war because they brake the cove-
nant which they had made, and would have deceived me :
nevertheless I will restore it to the uttermost farthing, that
nothing thereof shall be lost. And ye shall do homage to
me that ye will not Avithdraw yourselves, but will abide here,
and do my bidding in all things, and never depart from the
covenant which ye make with me ; for I love ye, and am
grieved to think of the great evil and misery which ye en-
diu^ed from the great famine, and of the mortality which
there was. And if ye had done that before which ye have
done now, ye would not have been brought to these suffer-
ings and have bought the cafiz of wheat at a thousand mara-
vedís ; but I trust in God to bring it to one maravedí. Be
ye now secure in your lands, and till your fields, and rear
cattle ; for I have given order to my men that they offer ye
no wrong, neither enter into the town to buy nor to sell ;
but that they carry on all their dealings in Alcudia, and this
I do that ye may receive no displeasure. Moreover I com-
mand them not to take any captive into the town, but if this
should be done, lay ye hands on the captive and set him
free, without fear, and if any one should resist, kill him and
fear not. I myself will not enter your city nor dwell therein,
238 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK but I will build me a place beside the Bridge of Alcantara,
VII. . .
where I may go and disport myself at times, and repair
Ciir.' cip. ^vhen it is needful. When he had said these things he bade
Gei ^ff^' ^^^^^ S^ ^^^^^ way.
2''2. V. Well pleased were the Moors when they departed
How the from him, and they marvelled at the greatness of his pro-
promises 01 "^ •=* *
the Cid mises, and they set their hearts at rest, and put away the fear
false, and which they had had, thinking all their troubles were over;
demanded for in all the promiscs which the Cid had made unto them,
niaf should they believed that he spake truth ; but he said these things
ered^into ^^ty ^^ quiet them, and to make them come to what he
his hands, -vvishcd, even as came to pass. And when he had done, he
sent his Almoxarife, Abdalla Adiz, to the Custom House, and
made him appoint men to collect the rents of the town for
him, which was done accordingly. And Avhen the Cid had
given order concerning his own affairs at his pleasure, the
Moors would fain have entered again into possession of their
heritages as he told them ; but they found it all otherwise,
for of all the fields which the Christians had husbanded,
they would not yield up one ; albeit they let them enter upon
such as Avere left waste : some said that the Cid had given
them the lands that year, instead of their pay, and other
some that they rented them and had paid rent for the year.
So the Moors seeing this, waited till Thursday, when the
Cid was to hear complaints, as he had said unto them.
When Thursday came all the honorable men went to the
Garden, but the Cid sent to say unto them that he could not
come out that day, because of other causes which he had to
determine ; and he desired that they would go their way for
that time, and come again on the Monday : this w^as to show
his mastery. And when it was Monday they assembled
again in the Garden, and the Cid came out to them, and
took his seat upon the estrado, and the Moors made their
complaint. And when he had heard them, he began to
make similitudes, and offer reasons which were not hke
those which he had spoken the first day, for he said to them.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 239
I ask of ve, whether it is well that I should be left without BOOK
. VII
men ? for if I were without them, I should be like unto one L_
who hath lost his right arm, or to a bird that hath no wings,
or to one who should do battle and hath neither spear nor
sword. The first thing which I have to look to is to the
well-being of my people, that they may live in wealth and
honor, so that they may be able to serve me, and defend my
honor : for since it has pleased God to give me the city of
Valencia, I will not that there be any other Lord here than
me. Therefore I say unto you and command you, if you
would be well with me, and would that I should show favor
unto you, that ye see how to deliver that traitor Abeniaf into
my hands. Ye all know the great treason which he com-
mitted upon King Yahia, his Lord and yours, how he slew
him, and the misery which he brought upon you in the siege ;
and since it is not fitting that a traitor who hath slain his
Lord should live among you, and that his treason should be cicf." cap.
confounded with your loyalty, see to the obeyment of my ^^¿ Qg|^
command. ^' ^^■^•
VI. When the honorable Moors heard this they were How the
dismayed ; verily they knew that he spake truth touching the ed counsel
death of the King, but it troubled them that he departed Adiz, and
from the promise which he had made ; and they made an- delTvered
swer that they would take counsel concerning what he had "P Abemaf.
said, and then reply. Then five of the best and most hon-
orable among them Avithdrew, and went to Abdalla Adiz,
and said unto him, Areed us thy reed now the best and
truest that thou canst, for thou art of our law, and oughtest
to do this : and the reason why we ask counsel of thee is
this. The Cid promised us many things, and now behold
he says nothing to us of what he said before, but moveth
other new reasons, at which great dismay hath seized us.
And because thou better knowest his ways, tell us now what
is his pleasure, for albeit we might wish to do otherwise, this
is not a time wherein any thing but what he shall command
can be done. When the Almoxarife heard this he made
240 CHRONICLE OF THE CTD,
BOOK answer, Good men, it is easy to understand what he would
VII.
have, and to do what should be done. We all know the
great treason which Abeniaf committed against ye all in
kiUing your Lord the King : for albeit at that time ye felt
the burden of the Christians, yet was it nothing so great as
after he had killed him, neither did ye suffer such misery.
And since God hath brought him who was the cause to this
state, see now by all means how ye may deliver him into the
hands of the Cid. And fear not, neither take thought for the
rest ; for though the Cid may do his pleasure in some things,
better is it to have him for Lord, than this traitor who hath
brought so much evil upon ye. Moreover the things of this
world soon pass away, and my heart tells me that we shall
ere long come out of the bondage of the Cid, and of the
Christians, for the Cid is well nigh at the full of his days, and
we who remain alive after his death, shall then be masters of
our city. When the good men heard what he said, they
thanked him much, and held themselves to be well advised,
and said that they would do willingly what he bade them :
and they returned forthwith to the Cid, and said unto him
that they would fulfil his commandment. Incontinently did
the good men dispeed themselves of the Cid, and they went
into the city, and gathered together a great posse of armed
men, and went to the place where Abeniaf dwelt ; and they
assaulted the house and brake the doors, and entered in and
laid hands on him, and his son, and all his company, and
^!Y- ^^^ carried them before the Cid. And the Cid ordered Abeniaf
Old. cap.
207. 208. to be cast into prison, and all those who had taken counsel
Glir. Gen. _ ^ ^ '
ÍF. 273. Avith him for the death of King Yahia.
How the VII. When this was done, the Cid said unto the sood
Cid said , . . ^
that he men. Now that ye have fulfilled my bidding, I hold it good
dwell in to show favor unto you in that Avhich ye yourselves shall
and how he Understand to be fitting for me to grant. Say therefore
session^" ^hat ye would have, and I will do that which I think
thereof. behoveth me : but in this manner, that my dwelling place
be within the city of Valencia, in the Alcazar, and that my
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 241
Christian men have all the fortresses in the city. And when BOOK
VII
the good men heard this, they Avere greatly troubled ; how- '.
beit they dissembled the sorrow which they resented, and
said unto him. Sir Cid, order it as you think good, and we
consent thereto. Then said he imto them that he would
observe towards them all the uses and customs of their law,
and that he would have the power, and be Lord of all ; and
they should till their fields and feed their flocks and herds,
and give him his tenth, and he would take no more.
When the Moors heard this they were well pleased, and
since they were to remain in the town, and in their houses
and their inheritances, and with their uses and customs, and
that their Mosques were to be left them, they held them-
selves not to be badly off. Then they asked the Cid to let
their Guazil be the same as he had first appointed, and that
he would give them for their Cadi the Alfaqui Alhagi, and
let him appoint whom he would to assist him in distributing
justice to the Moors ; and thus he himself would be re-
lieved of the wearisomeness of hearing them, save only
when any great occasion might befall. This Alhagi was
he who made the lamentation for Valencia, as ye have
heard ; and when the Cid was peaceably established in
Valencia, he was converted, and the Cid made him a Chris-
tian. And the Cid granted this which they required, and
they kissed his hand, and returned into the town. Nine
months did the Cid hold Valencia besieged, and at the end
of that time it fell into his power, and he obtained possession
of the walls, as ye have heard. And one month he was
practising with the Moors that he might keep them quiet,
till Abeniaf Avas dehvered into his hands ; and thus ten
months were fulfilled, and they were fulfilled on Thursday
the last day of June, in the year of the sera one thousand
one hundred and thirty and one, which was in the year one
thousand ninety and three ^ of the Incarnation of our Lord
1 Both the Chronicles say aera 1125. i. e. A. D. 1087; but by specify-
ing Thursday, the last day of June, they supply a date for correcting this
31
242 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Jesus Christ. And when the Cid had ñnished all his deal-
VII
'. ings with the Moors, on this day he took horse with all his
com})any in good array, his banner being carried before
him, and his arms behind : and in this guise, with great
rejoicings he entered the city of Valencia. And he ahghled
at the Alcazar, and gave order to lodge all his men round
about it, and he bade them plant his banner upon the highest
tower of the Alcazar. Glad was the Campeador, and all
they who Avere with him, when they saw his banner planted
in that place. And from that day forth was the Cid pos-
Cid' cap. sessed of all the Castles and fortresses which were in the
208. 209. kinordom of Valencia, and established in what God had
Chr. Gen. & ?
ff. 273. given him, and he and all his people rejoiced.
How Abe- VIII. On the morrow the Cid sent Abeniaf to Juballa,
niaf was _ '
tortured to and they gave him great tortures till he was at the point of
make him iiii-i
give ac- death ; and they kept him there two days, and then brought
riches, and him to Valencia to the Garden of the Cid, and the Cid gave
false^ac-^ Order that he should write Avith his own hand an account of
was"stoned. ^^^ ^^^^ ^c had. And he did this, and wi*ote down the
carkanets, and rings, and costly garments, and rich apparel
which he had, and also many other precious household
things, and the debts which were due unto him. This the
Cid did that he might see if all was there which Abeniaf
had taken when he slew the King his Master ; and the
wTitinor was read before the Cid. And the Cid sent for cer-
tain Moors who were good and honorable men, and made
Abeniaf be brought before him, and demanded of him if he
had nothing more than Avhat was there written down ; and
he answered that he had not : and he bade him swear this
error. Berganza, 5. 24. § 299, calculates that the last day of June
would fall on a Thursday, in the years 1082, 1093, and 1099 : the last
is the year of the Cid's death, and Valencia was certainly not taken in
the former. Yet he supposes a mistake of one day, and follows the
Annales de Toledo in fixing 1094 as the year of the conquest ; that date
seeming to agree best with the chronology of other connected events.
If the day be assumed as datum, the result should be adhered to.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BTVAR. 243
before the Moors, and Abeniaf swore accordingly. Then BOOK
VII
the Cid sent privily to make search in all the houses of the '■ —
friends of Abeniaf, swearing unto them, that if they had any
thing of his and denied it, and it should afterwards be dis-
covered, he would put them to death, and moreover take
from them all that they had. And they when they heard
this, partly in the fear of the Cid, and partly that they might
find favor with him, brought each of them great riches, say-
ing. Sir, Abeniaf gave us this in keeping, that if it might be
saved, he might share it with us. And he gave order to
search and dig in the houses of Abeniaf, and they found
great treasure there in gold and in silver, and in pearls, and
in precious stones, all which a servant discovered unto
them. And when the Cid saw it all before him it pleased
him much, and he called for the Moors before whom Abe-
niaf had taken the oath, and he took his seat upon the
estrado full nobly, and there in the presence of Christians
and Moors he ordered Abeniaf and all the other prisoners to
be brought forth. And he bade that Alfaqui whom he had
made Cadi, and the other good men, judge by what death
he who had slain the Lord deserved to die, according to
their law, and who moreover was perjured, for he had
sworn that he possessed nothing more than what he had set
down in writing : and the Cadi and the other Moors said
that according to their law, he and his accomplices should be
stoned : This, they said, we find in our law, but you will
do as you think good. Nevertheless we ask mercy of you
for his son, who is but a child ; may it please you to set him
free, for he hath no fault in what his father hath done. And
the Cid answered, that for the love of them he pardoned the
child, but that he should depart from the city, for he would
not have the son of a traitor dwell therein. And he com-
manded them that they should stone Abeniaf and all them
who had taken counsel with him for the death of the King,
according as they had given sentence. Then the honorable
Moors rose and kissed his feet and his hands for the mercy
244 CHRONICLC OF THE CID,
BOOK which he had shown to the son of Abeniaf ; and thev took
VII. • ' T J
'. out Abeniaf to stone liini, and other twenty and two with
Chr. del him. And the Cid bade them come asjain to him on the
Cid. cap. °
210. morrow, and he would appoint what should be the manner
Chr. Gen. „ . .
ff. 274. of his dwelling among them.
Of the IX. That night the Cid spake with Alvar Fañez and
whfch the with Pero Bermudez, and all them who were of his council,
untoThe^ and they resolved in what manner they would live among
Moors, tei- ^]^g Moors. And on the morrow the honorable Moors of
ling them
that he Valencia assembled tocjether in the Alcazar, as thev had
"would have ^ , ^ ''
the city to been commanded to do, and the Cid took his seat upon the
estrado^ and all the honorable men round about him, and he
spake unto them after this manner : Good men of the Al-
jama of Valencia, ye know how I served and defended
King Yahia your Lord, and ye also, until his death. And I
had great sorrow for him, and strove to revenge him, as ye
know, and endured great hardships in winning Valencia.
And since God hath thought it good that I should be Lord
thereof, I will have it for myself, and for those who have
holpen me to win it, saving the sovereignty of King Don
Alfonso of Castille, my Lord, whom God preserve for his
service long and happy years. Ye are all now in my
power, to do with ye whatever I will, both with your per-
sons and your riches, and your wives and your children ;
but I will not do thus. And I hold it good that the honor-
able men among ye who have alway been loyal, remain in
the city in their dwellings and with all their family ; and
that none among ye keep more than one beast, which shall
be a mule, and that ye do not use arms, neither have them
in your possession, except when it is needful and I shall
give command. And all the rest of the people shall go out
of the tow^n, and dwell in the suburb of Alcudia, where I
was wont to be. Ye shall have two Mosques, one in
the city and one in the suburb ; and ye shall have your
Alfaquis and follow yom* own law ; and ye shall have your
Cadis, and your Guazil, as I have appointed ; and ye shall
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 245
have your inheritances, and pay me the tenth of the fruits BOOK
thereof as your service ; and the powder of justice shall be '. —
mine, and I will order such money to be coined as I shall
think good. Do ye therefore who are minded to abide with
me in the land abide : and let those who are not, go, in
God's name, and good luck with them, but they shall take
only their own persons, and I will give command to see
them escorted in safety. When the Moors of Valencia heard
this, they were full sorrowful ; howbeit it was now a time
when they could do no otherwise than as he commanded.
And incontinently they began to go out of the city with
their waives and children, all except those whom the Cid had
commanded to abide there ; and as the Moors went out
the Christians who dwelt in Alcudia entered in. And the
history saith, that so great was the multitude which departed,
that they Avere tAvo whole days in going out. Great was the Chr. del
joy of the Cid and his people that day, and from thence- 211.'
forward he was called My Cid the Campeador, Lord of if. 274.^"'
Valencia.
X. Now it was bruited abroad throughout all lands, how How the
the Cid Ruydiez had won the noble city of Valencia. And viiie^came"
when Ali Abenaxa the Adelantado of the Almorávides knew Sia^Vnd"
it, he sent his son-in-law the King of Seville to besiege him ¡^^ted^"
in Valencia, and gave him thirty thousand men at arms.
And this King came in great haste to Valencia, and be-
sieged the Cid therein. And the Cid made ready with all
his people, and went out to fight him. And the battle Avas
nigh unto Valencia, beside the garden which is called the
Garden of Villa Nueva ; and it was a good battle, and at
length he of the good fortune conquered ; and the pursuit
continued as far as Xativa ; even so far did the Christians
pursue them, smiting and slaying. And at the passage of
the Xucar there might you have seen confusion, and there
the Moors Avithout liking it, drank plenty of water. They
say that fifteen thousand Moors died in the river ; and the
King of Seville fled Avith three great blows. This day did
246 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Martin Pelaez the Asturian approve himself a right good
one ; there was no knight so good that day in arms as he,
nor who bore away such honor. And when the pursuit was
ended the Cid returned to the field of battle, and ordered
the spoils of the field and of the tents to be collected. Be it
known that this was a profitable day's work. Every foot
soldier shared a hundred marks of silver that day. And the
Cid returned full honorably to Valencia. Great was the joy
of the Christians in the Cid Ruydiez, he who was born in a
Chr. del good hour. His beard was grown, and continued to grow a
212* ^^^" gi'eat length. My Cid said of his chin. For the love of King
ff'274'^"' -^^^^ Alfonso, Avho hath banished me from his land, no scis-
c°d"^^ 12^30 ^^^^ shall come upon it, nor shall a hair be cut away, and
1251. Moors and Christians shall talk of it.
XI. That nis^ht the Cid took counsel with Alvar Fañez,
How the ...
Cid num- wlio departed not from his side, and with the other honora-
bered his
people. ble men who were of his council, concerning what should
be done : for now that his people were all rich, he feared
least they should return into their own country, for my Cid
saw that if they might go they would. And Mmaya advised
him that he should cause proclamation to be made through
the city, that no man should depart without permission of
the Cid, and if any one went who had not dispeeded him-
self and kist his hand, if he were overtaken he should lose
all that he had, and moreover be fixed upon a stake. And
that they might be the more certain, he said unto Minaya
that he would take account of all the people who were with
him, both horsemen and foot, and Pero Bermudez and Mar-
tin Antolinez made the roll ; and there were found a thou-
sand knights of lineage, and five hundred and fifty other
horsemen, and of foot soldiers four thousand, besides boys
^^^1^13^*^' ^^^ others ; thus many were the people of my Cid, he of
chr. Gen. Bivar. And his heart rejoiced, and he smiled and said,
ÍF. 274. «^ ' '
Poema del Thaiiks be to God, Mmaya, and to Holy Mary Mother ! . . .
1270. we had a smaller company when we left the house of Bivar !
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 247
XII. At fliis time there carne a crowned one from the book
parts of the East, that is to say, one who was shaven and '- —
shorn ; his name was the Bishop Don Hieronymo, a full How there
' ^ . came a
learned man and a wise, and one who was mighty both on Bishop to
. . . r ^-1 Valencia,
horseback and a-foot : and he came mqmrmg for the Cid, and the
wishing that he might see himself with the Moors in the the city a
field, for if he could once have his fill of smiting and slaying for^ him!^
them. Christians should never lament him. And when the
Cid knew this it pleased him in his heart, and he took horse
and went to visit him, and rejoiced greatly that he was come ;
and he resolved to make Valencia a bishopric and give it to
this good Christian. And they took counsel, and it w^as that
on the morrow the Bishop and his clergy should turn the
Mosques into Churches, Avherein they might sing masses,
and sacrifice the body of Jesus Christ. And rents were
appointed for the table of the Bishop and for his Canons,
and for all the clergy in the city of Valencia. And nine
parish Churches w^ere made. And the greatest was called
St. Pedro's and another was called St. Mary of the Virtues.
This was near the Alcazar, and there the Cid went oftenest Chr.delCid.
' cap. 213.
to hear service. After this manner the Cid ordered his city ^l^^- i^en.
ff. 275.
that it should be a Bishopric, for the honor of the Catholic Hoema del
faith. God ! how joyful was all Christendom that there was 1295. 1314
a Lord Bishop in the land of Valencia !
XIII. Now the Cid bethought him of Doña Ximena his Cid sent for
wife, and of his daughters Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, and daugh-
whom he had left in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Car- ^^^^'
deña ; and he called for Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez
of Burgos, and spake with them, and besought them that
they would go to Castille, to King Don Alfonso his Lord,
and take him a present from the riches which God had given
them ; and the present should be a hundred horses, saddled
and bridled ; and that they would kiss the King's hand for
him, and beseech him to send him his wife Doña Ximena,
and his daughters, and that they would tell the King all the
mercy which God had shown him, and how he was at his
248 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK service with Valencia and Avith all that he had. Moreover
VII.
'. — he bade them take a thousand marks of silver to the Monas-
tery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, and give them to the Abbot,
and thirty marks of gold for his Avife and daugliters, that
they might prepare themselves and come in honorable guise.
And he ordered three hundred marks of gold to be given
them, and three hundred marks of silver, to redeem the
chests full of sand which he had pledged in Burgos to the
Jews ; and he bade them ask Rachel and Vidas to forgive
him the deceit of the sand, for he had done it because of his
great need : and he said, You, Martin Antolinez, were aid-
ing and abetting herein, but praised be the name of the Lord
for ever, he hath let me quit myself truly ; tell them that they
shall have more profit than they asked. And he bade them
each take with him his whole company, that they might be
better advised and accompanied, and that Doña Ximena
Chr. del might come with the greater honor : and the company was
214. ^* this : two hundred knights who were of Don Alvar Fañez,
if. 275. ^"* ^^d fi^ty ^^ Martin Antolinez : and he ordered money to be
cm"v ^^^ given them for their disbursement, and for all things need-
1280. 1294. f^^[^ [y^ abundance.
messengers XIV. Alvar Faiiez and Martin Antolinez went their
icbff ^ani^ "^vay, and they found the King in the city of Falencia,
of the great When thev arrived he was cominsj from mass, and seeing
favor which *' o ' o
was shown this goodly company of horsemen he stopt in the church
porch, and asked who they Avere. And it was told him that
they were people of the Cid, who came to him Avith a full
great present. And Alvar Fañez and Martin Antohnez
alighted, and came to the King, and kissed his hand ; and
he received them right Avell, and said. What tidings bring
ye me of the Cid, my true vassal, the most honorable knight
that ever Avas knighted in Castille ? Well Avas Minaya
pleased Avhen he heard this, and he said, A boon. Sir King
Don Alfonso, for the love of your Maker ! My Cid sendeth
to kiss your hands and your feet, as his natural Lord, at
Avhose service he is, and from Avhom he expecteth much
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 249
bounty and good. You banished him from the land ; but BOOK
though in another's country, he hath only done you service '■ —
Five pitched battles hath he won since that time, some with
Moors and some with bad Christians; and he hath taken
Xerica, and Ondra, and Almenar, and Monviedro which is a
bigger place, and Cebóla also, and Castrejon, and Peña
Cadiella which is a strong eminence, and Avith all the right
noble city of Valencia, for the honor of the faith of Jesus
Christ, and of you our Lord and King ; and he hath made it
a Bishopric, and made the honorable Don Hieronymo Bishop
thereof with his own hand. And behold here are a hundred
horses of the spoils which he hath won ; they are great and
swift, and all are bridled and saddled, and he kisseth your
hand and beseecheth you as his natural Lord to receive
them. When the King heard this he was greatly astonished,
and he lifted up his right h^nd and blest himself, and said.
As St. Isidro shall keep me, I rejoice in the good fortune of
the Cid, and receive his gift full willingly. But though this
pleased the King it did not please Garci Ordonez, and he
said. It seemeth there is not a man left in the land of the
Moors, that the Cid can thus do his pleasure ! And the
King said unto him. Hold thy peace, for in all things he
serves me better than thou. Then Alvar Fañez kissed the
King's hand again, and said. Sir, the Cid beseecheth you of
your bounty that he may have his wife Doña Ximena and
his two daughters, that they may go to Valencia unto him,
from the Monastery where he left them, for it is many days
since he saw them, and if it please you this would rejoice
him. And the King made answer, It pleases me well, and
I w^ill give them a guard throughout my dominions, that they
may be conducted honorably to the border : when they have
past it, the Campeador himself will look to them. And he
said. Hear me ! all those whom I have disseized of their in-
heritances for following the Campeador, I restore again to
the possession thereof, and all those who desire to serve him
I freely Hcense : let them go in the grace of God. Moreover
32
250
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
VII.
Chr. del
Cid. cap.
215.
Chr. Gen.
ÍF. 275.
Poema del
Cid. V.
1315. 1379.
How they
came to
Burgos,
and how
Doña Xim-
ena and her
daughters
left the Mo-
nastery to
go with
ihem to
Valencia.
the King said, I grant him Valencia and all that he hath won
and shall win hereafter, that he be called Lord thereof, and
that he hold it of no other Lordship save of me, who am his
liege Lord. Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez kissed his
hand for this in the Cid's name. And the King called a
porter, who should go with them, bearing a Avriting from the
King, that all things needful should be given unto them so
long as they were in his lands. Then Alvar Fañez and
Martin Antolinez dispeeded themselves of the King, and took
their way towards Burgos.
XV. When they reached Burgos they sent for Rachel
and for Vidas, and demanded from them the chests, and paid
unto them the three hundred marks of gold and the three
hundred of silver as the Cid had commanded, and they be-
sought them to forgive the Cid the deceit of the chests, for
it was done because of his great** necessity.^ And they said
they heartily forgave him, and held themselves well paid ;
and they prayed God to grant him long life and good
health, and to give him power to advance Christendom, and
put down Pagandom. And when it was known through
the city of Burgos the goodness and the gentleness which
the Cid had shown to these merchants, in redeeming from
them the chests full of sand and earth and stones, the peo-
ple held it for a great wonder, and there was not a place in
all Burgos where they did not talk of the gentleness and
loyalty of the Cid ; and they besought blessings upon him,
and prayed that he and his people might be advanced in
' I am afraid it is not quite so certain that the Cid redeemed these
chests, as that he pledged them. The Poem, which gives the minutest
account of the pledging, says nothing of the repayment. On the contrary,
when Alvar Fañez and the ladies are ahout to set off for Valencia, it
says, " Behold Rachel and Vidas fell at his feet . . . mercy, Minaya,
good knight, the Cid has undone us, if he do not help us. We will give
up the interest, if he will pay us the capital.'' " I will see about it with
the Cid if God shall let me reach him ; you will find good help from him
for what you have done." Rachel and Vidas said, " God grant it ; if not
we will leave Burgos and go seek him." 1439. 1446.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 251
honor. When they had done this, they went to the Monas- BOOK
tery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, and the porter of the King '
went with them, and gave order every where that every thing
which they wanted should be given them. If they were
well received, and if there was great joy in St. Pedro de
Cárdena over them, it is not a thing to ask, for Doña Xim-
ena and her daughters were like people beside themselves
with the great joy which they had, and they came running
out on foot to meet them, weeping plenteously for great
joy. And Alvar Fañez and Martin Antohnez, when they
saw them coming, leapt off their horses and went to them,
and Minaya embraced Doña Ximena and both his cousins.
Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, and so great was the rejoicing
which they made together that no man can tell it you.
And when this great joy was somewhat abated. Doña Xim-
ena asked how the Cid fared, for since he had parted from
her, she had heard no news of him. And Alvar Fañez
said he had left him safe and sound in Valencia ; and he
bade her and her daughters thank God for the great favor
that he had shown him, for he had won sundry castles from
the Moors, and the noble city of Valencia, whither he Avas
now come to carry her and her daughters, for the Cid had
sent for them, and when he should see them his heart's de-
sire would be accomplished. When Doña Ximena and
her daughters heard this, they set their knees to the ground,
and lifted up their hands and thanked God for the favor
he had shown to the Cid, and to them Avith him, in giving
him the Lordship of Valencia. While they were preparing
for the journey, Alvar Fañez sent three knights to the Cid,
to tell him how they had sped with the King, and of the
great favor which they had found at his hands, and how he
only tarried now to equip Doña Ximena, that she might
come full honorably. That good one Minaya then began to
deck them out for the journey with the best trappings
which could be found in Burgos : right noble garments did
he provide for them, and a great company of damsels, and
252 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK good palfreys, and great mules, which were not bad ones.
'_— And he gave the Abbot the thousand marks of silver which
the Cid had sent for the Monastery, with which to discharge
all the debt that Doña Ximena and his daughters had con-
tracted. Great was the stir throughout all that land, of the
honor of the Cid, and of the license which the King gave to
as many as should choose to join him ; and for this reason
full sixty knights came to St. Pedro de Cárdena and a great
number of squires on foot. Don Alvar Fañez was well
pleased to see them, and he promised them that he would
obtain the Cid's grace for them, and would befriend them all
he could. Great dole did the Abbot make when they de-
parted ; and he said, As God shall help you, iVIinaya, kiss the
hand of the Campeador for me. This Monastery will never
forget him, to pray for him every day in the year. The Cid
will alway prosper more and more. Minaya promised to do
Chr. del this, and dispeeded himself, and they went their way. Five
sie! ^^^ days they travelled, and then they came to Medina Celi ; and
ff. 276 ^" alway the porter of the King was with them, and made all
Poema del ^j^jj^ |]^gy -wanted be mven unto them, even as the Kins; had
Cid.v.1400. J tD 7 »
1450. commanded.
How Doña XVI. Now the three knis^hts whom Alvar Fañez had
Ximena ^
and her sent, Came to the Cid and delivered their message. When
came to my Cid heard it his heart rejoiced and he was glad, and he
If ill pnf*iii
spake with his mouth and said. He who sends good messen-
gers looks for good tidings. Blessed be the name of God,
since King Don Alfonso rejoices in my good fortime. And
he called for Muño Gustios, and Pero Bermudez, and the
Bishop Don Hieronymo, and bade them take a hundred
knights least there should be need to fight, and go to Molina,
to Abencano, who was his friend and vassal, and bid him
'J
take another hundred knights, and go with them to Medina
Celi as fast as they could go. There, said he, ye will find
Alvar Fañez and my wife and daughters ; bring them to me
with great honor : I will remain here in Valencia which has
cost me so much ; great folly would it be if I were to leave
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 253
it : I will remain in it, for I hold it for my heritage. And BOOK
they did as he commanded them. And when they came to '■ —
Molina, Abencaiio received them right well, and did them
great honor ; and though the Cid had bidden him take only
one hundred horse, he took two. On the morrow they went
to horse : they crossed the mountains which are great and
wild, and they passed Mata de Toranz without fear, and
they thought to come through the valley of Arbuxedo.
There was good look out kept in Medina, and Alvar Fañez
sent two knights to know who they were. They made no
tarriance in doing this, for they had it at heart ; one tarried
with them, and the other returned, and said it was the host
of the Campeador with Pero Bermudez, and Muño Gustios,
and the Bishop Hieronymo, and the Alcayaz Abencaño.
This instant, said Mináya, let us to horse ; incontinently this
was done, for they would make no delay. And they rode
upon goodly horses with bells at their poitrals and trappings
of sandall silk, and they had their shields round their
necks, and lances with streamers in their hands. Oh, how
Alvar Fañez went out from Castille with these ladies I They
who pricked forward, couched their spears and then raised
them, and great joy was there by Salon where they met.
The others humbled themselves to Minaya : when Abenca-
ño came up he kissed him on the shoulder, for such was his
custom. In a good day, Minaya, said he, do you bring these
ladies, the Avife and daughters of the Cid, whom we all ho-
nor. Whatever ill we may wish him we can do him none ;
. . in peace or in war he will have our wealth, and he must
be a fool who does not acknowledge this truth. Alvar Fa-
ñez smiled and told him he should lose nothing by this ser-
vice which he had done the Cid ; and now, said he, let us
go rest, for the supper is ready. Abencaño said he was well
pleased to partake it, and that within three days he would
return him the enter tamment two-fold. Then they entered
Medina, and Minaya served them ; all were full glad of the
service which they had undertaken, and the King's porter
254 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK paid for all. The night is gone, morning is come, mass Ls
'. — said, and they go to horse. They left Medina and past the
river Salon, and pricked up Arbuxuelo, and they crost the
plain of Torancio. That good Christian the Bishop Don
Hieronymo, night and day he guarded the ladies ; on a goodly
horse he rode, and they went between him and Alvar Fa-
ñez. They came to Molina and there were lodged in a good
and rich house, and Abencaño the Moor waited on them.
Nothing did they want which they could wish to have ; he
even had all their beasts new shod, and for Minaya and the
ladies, Lord ! how he honored them ! On the morrow they
left Molina, and the Moor went with them. When they
were within three leagues of Valencia, news of their coming
was brought to the Cid. Glad was the Cid, never was he
more joyful, never had he such joy, for tidings were come
to him of Avhat he loved best. Two hundred knights did he
order out to meet them, others he bade to keep the Alcazar,
and the other high towers, and all the gates and entrances.
And he commanded that they should bring him Bavieca. ^
It was but a short time since he had won this horse ; my
Cid, he who girt on sword in a happy hour, did not yet know
if he was a good goer, and if he stopt well. The Bishop
Don Hieronymo, he pricked forward and entered the city.
* This is the first mention of this famous horse in the Poem : an old
history to which Berganza often refers as beginning with King Fruela,
says, Bavieca was won in the battle with the King of Seville, which may
well agree with the Poem. The Chronica del Cid absurdly makes it the
first horse that ever Rodrigo rode to battle. When he was growing to-
wards years of strength, he asked his godfather to give him a foal from
one of his mares : and the Priest, who had many mares, with many good
foals, bade him choose for himself, and take the best. When it was time
to choose, he went into the yard, and let many good mares go out with
good foals, till last of all there went out one with a foal which was a full
ugly one, and a scurvy, and he said to his godfather, I will have this.
The godfather thereat was angered and said angrily, Bavieca, which sig-
nifyeth booby, ihou hast chosen ill ! Rodrigo answered, He will be a good
horse, and Bavieca shall be his name ; and the horse proved afterwards a
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 255
He left his horse and went to the Church, and collected all BOOK
the clergy ; they put on their surplices, and with crosses of '. —
silver went out to meet the ladies, and that good one Minaya.
He who was born in happy hour made no tarriance ; they
saddled him Bavieca and thrcAv his trappings on. My Cid
wore light armor, ^ and his sur coat over it : long was his
beard. He went out upon this horse, and ran a career with
him ; Bavieca was the name of the horse, and when he was
running all marvelled at him : from that day Bavieca was
famous all over Spain. At the end of the course my Cid
alighted and went towards his wife and his daughters. Who
can tell the joy that was made at their meeting ? They fell
at his feet, and their joy was such that they could not speak.
And he raised them up and embraced them, and kissed them
many times, weeping for joy that he saw them alive. Hear
what he said who was born in happy hour ! You dear and
honored wife, and ye my daughters, my heart and my soul ;
enter with me into Valencia ; . . this is the inheritance
good one and right fortunate, and upon this horse did my Cid conquer in
many a pitched battle. Chronica del Cid. Cap. 2.
Bavieca is an old and obsolete word of contempt ; lubber would perhaps
represent it.
Bien me ten por babieca si yo te lo consciento.
D. Gonzalo de Berceo. p. \9S.
According to tradition, he was foaled in the vale of Mondego.
M. Lusitana. 2. 7. 28.
^ Armas de fuste tomaba.
Poema del Cid. 1594.
" Fuste is any frame made of slight wood to bulke out, being commonly
covered over with painted cloths, as castles for a shew, and such like. The
officers of them in Valencia are called Fusteros, and with such cudgels
which support such frames they use to beat galley slaves, and thereof
comes fustar , fustigar , and hostigar^ to cudgel." Minsheu,
He had forgotten the Latin etymon. I have rendered the passage
vaguely, least by aiming at accuracy I should become incorrect. It
seems to have been a suit of mock armor for shew ; . . such perhaps as
Ghosts walk in, upon the stage. Sancha has left the phrase unex-
plained.
256 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK which I have won for you. While they were thus rejoicing
'__ the Bishop Don Hicronymo came with the procession. Doña
Ximena brought good rehcs and other sacred things, which
she gave to ennoble the new Church of Valencia. In this
guise they entered the city. Who can tell the rejoicings
that were made that day, throwing at the board, and killing
bulls ! My Cid led them to the Alcazar, and took them up
upon the highest tower thereof, and there they looked around
and beheld Valencia, how it lay before them, and the great
Garden with its thick shade, and the sea on the other side ;
and they lifted up their hands to thank God. Great honor
did the Cid do to Abencaño the Lord of Molina, for all the
service which he had done to Doña Ximena. Then said
Abencaño, This, Sir, I was bound to do, for since I have
been your vassal I have alway been respected and defended
from all my enemies, and maintained in good estate ; hoAV
Poema del ^^^^ should I do Otherwise than serve you ? If I did not, I
should lack understanding. And the Cid thanked him for
what he had done, and what he had said, and promised also
to show favor unto him. And Abencaño took his leave and
returned to Molina.
XVII. The winter is past, and March is coming in.
Three months Doña Ximena had been in Valencia, when
tidings came to the Cid from beyond sea, that King Yucef,
againSva-the SOU of the Miramamolin, w^ho dwelt in Morocco, was
leiicia. coming to lay siege unto Valencia with fifty thousand men.
When the Cid heard this he gave command to store all his
Castles, and had them well repaired. And he had the walls
of the city prepared, and stored it well with food and with
all things needful for war, and gathered together a great
power of Christians and of the Moors of his seignory.
Hardly had he done this before he heard that Yucef was
near at hand, and coming as fast as he could come. Then
the Cid assembled together the Christians in the Alcazar,
and when they were assembled, he rose upon his feet and
said. Friends and kinsmen and vassals, praised be God and
Cid.
V.
1461
. 1626
Chr.
del
Cid.
cap.
217.
Chr.
Gen.
ff. 276.
How
tid-
ings
came
that the
Miramam-
olin
was
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 257
holy Mary Mother, all the good which I have in the world I BOOK
have here in Valencia ; with hard labor I won the city, and '
hold it for my heritage, and for nothing less than death will
I leave it. My daughters and my Avife shall see me fight, . .
they shall see with their own eyes our manner of living in
this land, and how Ave get our bread. We will go out
against the Moors and give them battle, and God who hath
thus far shoAvn favor unto us will still continue to be our chr. del
helper. When they heard this they cried out with one ac- ^/g ^^^'
cord that they would do his bidding, and go out with him ^^277^^"'
and fight under his banner, for certain they were that by his ^9^^^ ^^^
good fortune the Moors Avould be overthrown. 1627. lesi.
XVIII. On the morroAv the Cid took Doña Ximena by How the
*^ Cid took
the hand, and her daughters with her, and made them go up his wife
upon the highest tower of the Alcazar, and they looked to- ters upon
ward the sea and saw the great power of the Moors, how }hat^°hey
they came on and drew nigh, and began to pitch their tents Jh^Mom-s
round about Valencia, beating their tambours and with great ^^^^•
uproar. And Ximena' s heart failed her, and she asked the
Cid if peradventure God would deliver him from these ene-
mies. Fear not, honored woman, said he ; you are but lately
arrived, and they come to bring you a present, which shall
help marry your daughters. Fear not, for you shall see me
fight by the help of God and holy Mary Mother ; my heart
kindles because you are here ! The more Moors the more
gain ! ^ The tambours sounded now with a great alarum,
and the sun was shining . . . Cheer up, said my Cid ; . . this
is a glorious day. But Ximena was seized with such fear as
if her heart would have broken ; she and her daughters had
never been in such fear since the day that they were born.
Then the good Cid Campeador stroked his beard and said,
Fear not, all this is for your good. Before fifteen days are
over, if it please God, those tambours shall be laid before
* A mas Moros, mas ganancia. Berganza. The words past into a
proverb.
33
258 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK you, and shall be sounded for your pleasure, and then they
VII
'. — shall be given to the Bishop Don Hieronymo, that he may
hang them up in the Church of St. Mary, Mother of God.
This vow the Cid Campeador made. Now the Moors began
to enter the gardens which were round about the town, and
the watchman saw them and struck the bell. My Cid
looked back and saw Alvar Salvadores beside him, and he
said, Go now, take two hundred horse, and sally upon yon-
der Moors who are entering the gardens : let Doña Ximena
and her daughters see the good will you have to serve them.
Down went Alvar Salvadores in great haste, and ordered a
bell to be rung which was a signal for two hundred knights
to make ready ; for the history saith, that the Cid, by reason
that he was ahvay in war, had appointed such signals for
his people, that they knew when one hundred were called
for, and when two, and so forth. Presently they were ready
at the place of meeting, and the gate was opened which was
nearest the gardens where the Moors had entered, without
order ; and they fell fiercely upon them, smiting and slaying.
Great was the pleasure of the Cid at seeing how well they
behaved themselves. And Doña Ximena and her daughters
stood trembling, like women who had never seen such things
before : and when the Cid saw it he made them seat them-
selves, so as no longer to behold it. Great liking had the
Bishop Don Hieronymo to see how bravely they fought.
Alvar Salvadores and his companions bestirred themselves so
well that they drove the enemy to their tents, making great
mortality among them, and then they tm'ned back, Avhereat
my Cid was well pleased ; but Alvar Salvadores went on,
hacking and hewing all before him, for he thought the ladies
were looking on, and he prest forward so far, that being
without succor he was taken. The others returned to the
city, faUing back in brave order till they were out of reach
of the enemy : and they had done no little in that exploit.
Cid ca^ ^^^ ^^^y ^^^^ above two hundi'cd and fifty Moors. When
218. 219. jny Cid saw that they who eat his bread were returned, he
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 259
went down from the tower, and received them right well, BOOK
. . VII.
and praised them for what they had done Hke good knights :
howbeit he was full sorrowful for Alvar Salvadores that he ff. 277.^^*
should be in the hands of the Moors, but he trusted in God cidTesí
that he should dehver him on the morrow. ^^^^•
XIX. And the Cid assembled his chief captains and ^^^^l^
knights and people, and said unto them, Kinsmen ^^id J^|^i^^^ ^^^^^
friends and vassals, hear me : to-day has been a srood day, what man-
' -' ^ -^ ' ner they
and to-morrow shall be a better. Be you all armed and should at-
. tack the
ready in the dark of the morning ; mass shall be said, and Moors.
the Bishop Don Hieronymo will give us absolution, and then
we will to horse, and out and smite them in the name of the
Creator and of the Apostle Santiago. It is fitter that we
should Uve than that they should gather in the fruits of this
land. But let us take counsel in what manner we may go
forth, so as to receive least hurt, for they are a mighty power,
and we can only defeat them by great mastery in Avar.
When Alvar Fañez Minaya heard this he answered and
said, Praised be God and your good fortune, you have
achieved greater things than this, and I trust in God's mercy
that you will achieve this also. Give me three hundred
horse, and we will go out when the first cock crows, and
put ourselves in ambush in the valley of Albuhera ; and
when you have joined battle we will issue out and fall upon
them on the other side, and on one side or the other God
wiU help us. Well was the Cid pleased with this counsel,
and he said that it should be so ; and he bade them feed
their horses in time and sup early, and as soon as it was
Chr. del
cock-crow come to the Church of St. Pedro, and hear mass. Cid! cap.
21s C hr
and shrive themselves, and communicate, and then take Gen. ff.
horse in the name of the Trinity, that the soul of him who dd c^d.^"^^
should die in the business might go without let to God. ^^"^^^ ^''°^-
XX. Day is gone, and night is come. At cock-crow they ^ícÍot ?^^^'
all assembled tosrether in the Church of St. Pedro, and the )i:^i^^^ ^^^
^ ' Cid won
Bishop Don Hieronymo sung mass, and they were shriven ^Y^^ King
and assoyled, and hoAvselled. Great was the absolution
260 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK which the Bishop gave them : He who shall die, said he,
'- — fighting faee forward, I will take his sins, and God shall
have his soul. Then said he, A boon. Cid Don Rodrigo ; I
have smig mass to you this morning : let me have the giving
the first wounds in this battle ! and the Cid granted him this
boon in the name of God. Then being all ready they went
out through the gate which is called the Gate of the Snake,
for the greatest power of the Moors w^as on that side, leav-
ing good men to guard the gates. Alvar Fañez and his
company were already gone forth, and had laid their am-
bush. Four thousand, lacking thirty, were they Avho went
out with my Cid, with a good will, to attack fifty thousand.
They went through all the narroAV places, and bad passes,
and leaving the ambush on the left, struck to the right hand,
so as to get the Moors between them and the town. And
the Cid put his battles in good array, and bade Pero Ber-
mudez bear his banner. When the Moors saAV this they
were greatly amazed ; and they harnessed themselves in
great haste, and came out of their tents. Then the Cid bade
his bamier move on, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo pricked
forward with his company, and laid on with such guise, that
the hosts were soon mingled together. Then might you
have seen many a horse running about the field with the
saddle under his belly, and many a horseman in evil pHght
upon the ground. Great Avas the smiting and slaying in
short time ; but by reason that the Moors were so great a
number, they bore hard upon the Christians, and were in the
hour of overcoming them. And the Cid began to encomage
them Avith a loud voice, shouting God and Santiago ! And
Alvar Fañez at this time issued out from ambush, and fell
upon them, on the side which Avas nearest the sea ; and the
Moors thought that a great poAver had arrived to the Cid's
succor, and they Avere dismayed, and began to fly. And
the Cid and his people pursued, punishing them in a bad
Avay. If Ave should Avish to tell you how every one behaved
himself in this battle, it is a thing Avliich could not be done,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 261
for all did so well that no man can relate their feats. And BOOK
VII.
the Cid E-uydiez did so well, and made such mortality
among the Moors, that the blood ran from his wrist to his
elbow ! Great pleasure had he in his horse Bavieca that day,
to find himself so Avell mounted. And in the pursuit he
came up to King Yucef, and smote him three times : but the
King escaped from under the sword, for the horse of the Cid
passed on in his course, and when he turned, the King being
on a fleet horse, was far off, so that he might not be overtak-
en ; and he got into a Castle called Guyera, for so far did
the Christians pursue them, smiting and slaying, and giving cid.' cap.
them no respite, so that hardly fifteen thousand escaped of Qeii. ff/'
fifty that they were. They who were in the ships, when ¿el c^df"^^
they saw this great overthrow, fled to Denia. ^'^^'^' ^'^^'^'
XXI. Then the Cid and his people returned to the field cfdentered
and bcffan to plunder the tents. And the spoil was so \^^ city,aud
great that there was no end to the riches, in gold and in gave in
silver, and in horses and arms, so that men knew not what the damsels
to leave and what to take. And they found one tent which Dona Xim-
had been King Yucef 's ; never man saw so noble a thing as ^"^'
that tent was ; and there were great riches therein, and
there also did they find Alvar Salvadores, who had been
made prisoner the yesterday, as ye have heard. Greatly
did the Cid rejoice when he saw him alive and sound, and
he ordered his chains to be taken off" ; and then he left Al-
var Fañez to look to the spoil, and went into Valencia with
a hundred knights. His wrinkled brow was seen, for he
had taken off his helmet, and in this manner he entered,
upon Bavieca, sword in hand. Great joy had Doña Ximena
and her daughters, who were awaiting him, when they saw
him come riding in ; and he stopt when he came to them,
and said. Great honor have I won for you, while you kept
Valencia this day ! God and the Saints have sent us goodly
gain, upon your coming. Look, with a bloody sword and
a horse all SAveat, this is the way that we conquer the
Moors ! Pray God that I may live yet awhile for your
262 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK sakes, and you shall enter into great honor, and they shall
- '. — kiss your hands. Then my Cid alighted when he had said
this, and the ladies knelt down before him, and kissed his
hand and wished long life. Then they entered the Palace
with him, and took their seats upon the precious benches.
Wife Doña Ximena, said he, these damsels who have served
you so well, I will give in marriage to these my vassals,
and to every one of them two hundred marks of silver,
Poema del that it may be known in Castille what they have got by
1744. 1779. their services. Your daughters' marriage will come in
Cid. cap. time. And they all rose and kissed his hand ; and great was
c?hr Gen ^^® j^y in the Palacc, and it was done according as the Cid
ff- 279. ' had said.
^^^^^ ., XXII. Alvar Fañez this while was in the field Avritins:
great spoil ^
which was and takins: account of the spoil : but the tents and arms and
found. ^ ^
precious garments were so many, that they cannot be told,
and the horses were beyond all reckoning ; they ran about
the field, and there was nobody to take them, and the
Moors of the land got something by that great over-
throw. Nevertheless so many horses were taken, that the
Campeador had to his share of the good ones a thousand
and five hundred. Well might the others have good store
when he had so many. And my Cid won in this battle
from King Yucef, his good sword Tizona, which is to say,
the fire-brand. The tent of the King of Morocco, which
was supported by two pillars wrought with gold, he gave
order not to be touched, for he would send it to Alfonso the
Castilian. The Bishop Don Hieronymo, that perfect one
with the shaven crown, he had his fill in that battle, fighting
with both hands ; no one could tell how many he slew.
Great booty came to him, and moreover the Cid sent him the
Poema del ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^* ^^^^ were the Christian folk in Valencia
1780 1811 ^^^ ^^^ great booty which they had gotten, and glad was
ciir. del Doña Ximcua and her daughters, and sjlad were all those
Cid, cap. o / cj
221. ladies who were married.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 263
XXIII. King Yucef, after the pursuit was given over, BOOK
and he saw that he might come forth from the Castle, fled to
Denia, and embarked in his ships, and returned to Morocco. Yucef d\ed,
And thinking every day hoAV badly he had sped, and how ^¡¡^j.^^ ^^®
he had been conquered by so fcAV, and how many of his peo- ^jf^^g^o^^g
pie he had lost, he fell sick and died. But before he died brother to
^ ' revenge
he besought his brother, who was called Bucar, that for the him.
tie there was between them, he would take vengeance for the
dishonor which he had received from the Cid Campeador
before Valencia ; and Bucar promised to do this, and
swore also upon the Koran, which is the book of their law.
And accordingly he came afterwards across the sea, with
nine and twenty Kings, as shall be related when the time cid." cap.
221
comes.
XXIV. Then the Cid sent Alvar Fañez and Pero Ber- ^^^^^^
mudez with a present to King Alfonso his Lord. And the cjjj^g^^^'^
present which he sent was two hundred horses saddled and ^}^ ^^^
bridled, with each a sword hanging from the saddle-bow ;
and also the noble tent which he had won from King Yucef
of Morocco. This present he gave, because the King had
sent him his wife and daughters when he asked for them,
and because of the honor which he had done them, and that
the King might not speak ill of him who commanded in
Valencia. Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez went their
way towards Castille, over sierras and mountains and wa-
ters ; and they asked where the King was, and it was told
them that he was at Valladolid, and thither they went.
And when they drew nigh unto the city, they sent to let him
know of their coming, and to ask of him whether he thought
it good for them to come into the city unto him, or if he
would come out to them, for they were a great company,
and the present a full great one, which he would see better
without, than in the town. And the King thought this best,
and he went to horse, and bade all the hidalgos Avho were
with him do the like. Now the Infantes of Carrion were
there, Diego Gonzalez, and Ferrando Gonzalez, the sons
264 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK of Count Don Gonzalo. And they found the company of
' the Cid about half a league from the town, and when the
King saw how many they were, he blest himself, for they
seemed like a host. And Minaya and Pero Bermudez
pricked on when they saw him, and came before him, and
alighted, and knelt down, and kissed the ground and kiss-
ed both his feet : and he bade them rise and mount their
horses, and would not hear them till they had mounted, and
taken their places one at his right hand, and the other at his
left. And they said. Sir, the Cid commends himself to your
grace as his hege Lord, and thanks you greatly for having
sent him with such honor his wife and daughters. And
knoAV, Sir, that since they arrived, he hath achieved a great
victory over the Moors, and their King Yucef of Morocco,
the Miramamolin, who besieged him in Valencia with fifty
thousand men. And he went out against them, and smote
them, and hath sent you these two hundred horses from his
fifth. Then Alvar Fañez gave order that the horses should
be led forward. And this was the manner in which they
came. The two hundred horses came first, and every one
was led by a child, and every one had a sword hanging
from the saddle, on the left side ; and after them came the
pages of all the knights iii company, carrying their spears,
and then the company, and after them an hundred couple
with spears in rest. And when they had all past by, the
King blest himself again, and he laughed and said that never
had so goodly a present been sent before to King of Spain
by his vassal. And Alvar Fañez said moreover. Sir, he
hath sent you a tent, the noblest that ever man saw, which
he won in this battle : and the King gave order that the
tent should be spread, and he alighted and went into it, he
and all his people, and he was greatly pleased ; and they
all said that they had never seen so noble a tent as this :
and the King said he had won many from the Moors,
but never such as this. But albeit that all the others were
well pleased. Count Don Garcia was not so ; and he and
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 265
ten of his lineage talked apart, and said that this which BOOK
the Cid had done was to their shame, for they hated the ,
Cid in their hearts. And King Don Alfonso said. Thanks
be to God and to Sir Saint Isidro of Leon, these horses
may do me good service ; and he gave three of them to
Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and bade them choose, and
he ordered food and clothing to be given them while they
remained, and said that he would give them complete ar- chr. del
mor when they returned, such as was fit for them to 222. ^^^'
appear in before my Cid. And they were lodged, and ^ 27^^°*
all things that were needful provided for them and their cid^^i8f2
people. is2^-
XXV. When the Infantes of Carrion, Diesro Gonzalez P^w the
' ^ ^ Iniantes of
and Ferrando Gonzalez, saw the noble present which the Carrion de-
sired to
Cid had sent unto the King, and heard how his riches and marry the
power daily increased, and thought what his wealth must daughters.
needs be when he had given those horses out of the fifth of
one battle, and moreover that he was Lord of Valencia :
they spake one with the other, and agreed, that if the Cid
would give them his daughters to wife, they should be well
married, and become rich and honorable. And they agreed
together that they would talk with the King in private upon
this matter. And they went presently to him, and said. Sir,
we beseech you of your bounty to help us in a thing which
will be to your honor ; for we are your vassals, and the
richer we are the better able shall we be to serve you. And
the King asked of them what it was they would have, and
they then told him their desire. And the King thought upon
it awhile, and then came to them, and said. Infantes, this
thing which you ask lies not in me, but in the Cid ; for it is
in his power to marry his daughters, and peradventure he
will not do it as yet. Nevertheless that ye may not fail for
want of my help, I will send to tell him what ye Avish.
Then they kissed his hand for this favor. And the King
sent for Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez, and went apart
with them, and praised the Cid, and thanked him for the
34
266 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK fi^ood will which he had to do him service, and said that he
VII
had great desire to see him. Say to him, he said, that I be-
seech him to come and meet me, for I would speak with him
concerning something which is to his good and honor.
Diego and Ferrando, the Infantes of Carrion, have said unto
me that they Avould fain wed with his daughters, if it seemeth
good to him ; and methinks this would be a good marriage.
When Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez heard this, they
Chr. del answered the King, and said. Certain w^e are. Sir, that nei-
223.* Chn ther in this, nor in anything else will the Cid do aught but
Gen. ff. what you, Sir, shall command or advise. When ye have
Poema del your meeting ye will agree concerning it as is best. Then
1888. 1923. they kissed his hand, and took their leave.
How the XXVI. On the morrow the messengers of the Cid de-
meeting ,
was ap- parted from Valladolid, and took their way towards Va-
tween the lencia ; and when the Cid knew that they were nigh at hand
the"cid". he went out to meet them, and when he saw them he waxed
joyful ; and he embraced them, and asked what tidings of
his Lord Alfonso. And they told him how they had sped,
and hoAv greatly the King loved him ; and when we de-
parted, said they, he bade us beseech you to come and meet
him anywhere where you Avill appoint, for he desireth to
speak with you concerning the marriage of your daughters
with the Infantes of Carrion, if it should please you so to be-
stow them : now by what the King said it seemeth unto us
that this marriage pleaseth him. And when the Cid heard
this he became thoughtful, and he said to them after awhile.
What think ye of this marriage ? And they answered him.
Even as it shall please you. And he said to them, I was
banished from my own country, and was dishonored, and
with hard labor gained I what I have got ; and now I stand
in the King's favor, and he asketh of me my daughters for
the Infantes of Carrion. They are of high blood and full
orguUous, and I have no liking to this match ; but if our
Lord the King adviseth it we can do no otherwise : we will
talk of this, and God send it for the best. So they entered
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 267
Valencia, and the Cid spake with Doña Ximena touching BOOK
. VII
this matter, and when she heard it it did not please her ; . '. —
nevertheless she said, if the King thought it good they could
do no otherwise. Then the Cid gave order to write letters
to the Khig, saying, that he would meet the King as he com-
manded, and whatever the King wished that he would do.
And he sealed the letters well, and sent two knisjhts with
Chr. del
them. And when the Kins^ saw the letters he was well Cid. cap.
. P . . 224.
pleased, and sent others to say that the time of their meeting chr. Gen.
. ff 280
should be three weeks after he received these letters, and poema del
the place appointed ^ was upon the Tagus, which is a great ^924. 1973.
river.
XXVII. Now bes^an they to prepare on both sides for How they
*-* ./ 1 i made ready
this meeting. He who should relate to you the s^reat prepa- for the
^ . i^ meeting.
rations, and the great nobleness which were made for the
nonce, would have much to recount. Who ever saw in
Castille so many a precious mule, and so many a good-
going palfrey, and so many great horses, and so many
goodly streamers set upon goodly spears, and shields adorned
with gold and with silver, and mantles, and skins, and rich
sendals of Adria ? '^ The King sent great store of food to
the banks of the Tagus, where the place of meeting was
appointed. Glad were the Infantes of Carrion, and richly
did they bedight themselves ; some things they paid for,
and some they went in debt for : great was their company,
and with the King there were many Leonese and Galegos,
and Castilians out of number. My Cid the Campeador
made no tarriance in Valencia ; he made ready for the meet-
ing : there was many a great mule, and many a palfrey,
^ The Poem leaves the place of meeting at the Cid's choice, . . which
is something over-courteous on the King's part. The Chronica del Cid
names ' Requena, which is near Valencia,' making the King appoint it.
This is still less likely. I follow the scene of the Poem.
* Adria, which the Spanish editor observes upon this passage must
have been famous for this sendal-silk, is a city belonging to what was
once the Venetian State ; it has been greatly reduced by inundations.
268 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK and many a good horse, and many a goodly suit of arms,
VII
cloaks, and mantles both of cloth and of peltry ; ^ . . great
and little arc all clad in colors. Alvar Fañez Minaya, and
Pero Bermudez, and Martin Munoz, and Martin Antohnez
that worthy Biirgalese, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo that
good one with the shaven crown, and Alvar Alvarez, and
Alvar Salvadores, and Muño Gustios that knight of prowess,
and Galind Garcia of Aragón ; all these and all the others
made ready to go with the Cid. But he bade Alvar
Salvadores and Galind Garcia and all those who were under
them, remain and look with heart and soul to the safety of
Valencia, and not open the gates of the Alcazar neither by
day nor by night, for his wife and daughters were there, in
whom he had his heart and soul, and the other ladies with
them ; he like a good husband gave order that not one of
them should stir out of the Alcazar till he returned. Then
Poema del ^^^Y ^^^^ Valencia and pricked on more than apace ; more
2022 ^^'^^' ^^^^ ^ thousand knights, all ready for war, were in this
Chr. del company. All those great horses that paced so well and
224.225. were so soft of foot, my Cid won ; they were not given to
Chr. Gen. ./ o
ff. 280. him.
Of the XXVIII. King Don Alfonso arrived first by one day at
the place of meeting, and when he heard that the Cid was at
hand, he went out with all his honorable men, more than
a long league to meet him. When he who was born in a
good hour had his eye upon the King, he bade his company
halt, and with fifteen of the knights Avhom he loved best he
alighted, and put his hands and his knees to the ground,
and took the herbs of the field between his teeth, as if he
would have eaten them,' weeping for great joy ; . . thus did
* Pellizones.
* Neither of the Chronicles make the Cid thus enact Nebuchadnezzar
before his Lord the King ; both however represent him as offering to kiss
his feet. It is remarkable that even this should not have been felt as a
humiliation ; and that so free a people as the Spaniards should have
adopted the loathsome forms of eastern servility from the Moors.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 269
he know how to humble himself before Alfonso his Lord ; BOOK
VII.
and in this manner he approached his feet and would have ! —
kissed them. And the King drew back and said, The hand,
Cid Campeador, not the foot ! And the Cid drew nigh
upon his knees and besought grace, saying. In this guise
grant me your love, so that all present may hear. And
the King said that he forgave him, and granted him his
love with his heart and soul. And the Cid kissed both
his hands, being still upon his knees ; and the King
embraced him, and gave him the kiss of peace. Well
pleased were all they who beheld this, save only Alvar Diez
and Garcia Ordonez, for they did not love the Cid. Then
went they all toward the town, the King and the Cid talking
together by the way. And the Cid asked the King to eat
with him, and the King answered, Not so, for ye are not
prepared ; we arrived yesterday, and ye but now. Eat you
and your company therefore with me, for we have made
ready. To-day, Cid Campeador, you are my guest, and
to-morrow we will do as pleases you. Now came the In-
fantes of Carrion up and humbled themselves before the
Cid, and he received them well, and they promised to do
him service. And the company of the Cid came up, and
kissed the King's hand. So they alighted and went to
meat ; and the King said unto the Cid that he should eat
with him at his table ; howbeit he would not. And when
the King saw that he would not take his seat with him, he
ordered a high table to be placed for the Cid and for Count
Don Gonzalo, the father of the Infantes of Carrion. All the
while that they ate the King could never look enough at the
Cid, and he marvelled greatly at his beard, that it had
grown to such length. And when they had eaten they
were merry, and took their pleasure. And on the morrow pog^a del
the King and all they who went with him to this meeting, £j^- 2023.
ate with the Cid, and so well did he prepare for them that ^h|- del
all were full joyful, and agreed in one thing, that they had 225.
not eaten better for three years. There was not a manff. 281.
270 CHRONICLE OP THE CID,
BOOK there who did not eat upon silver, and the Kins: and the
VIÍ. . .
'. — chief persons ate upon dishes and trenchers ' of gold. And
when the Infantes saw this they had the marriage more at
heart than before.
Ki!i^ aiked XXIX. On the morrow as soon as it was day, the Bi-
the Old to shop Don Hicronymo suns: mass before the King, in the
give his ^ J D o 7
daughters oratory of the Cid : and when it Avas over, the Kins^ said
m marriage / o
to the In- before all Avho were there assembled, Counts and Infan-
fantes.
zones and knights, hear what I shall say unto the Cid. Cid
Ruydiez, the reason wherefore I sent for you to this meet-
ing was twofold : first, that I might see you, which I greatly
desii-ed, for I love you much because of the many and great
services which you have done me, albeit that at one time I
was wroth against you, and banished you from the land.
But you so demeaned yourself that you never did me dis-
service, but contrariwise, great service, both to God and to
me, and have won Valencia, and enlarged Christendom,
wherefore I am bound to show favor unto you, and to love
you alway. The second reason was, that I might ask you
for your two daughters Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, that
you would give them in marriage to the Infantes of Carrion,
for this methinks would be a fit marriage, and to your ho-
nor and good. When the Cid heard this, he was in a
manner bound to consent, having them thus demanded
from him ; and he answered and said. Sir, my daughters
are of tender years, and if it might please you, they are yet
too young for marriage. I do not say this as if the Infantes
of Carrion were not worthy to match with them, and with
better than they. And the King bade him make no excuse,
saying, that he should esteem himself well served if he gave
his consent. Then the Cid said. Sir, I begat them, and you
give them in marriage ; " both I and they are yours, . .
' Tajaderos ; the English corresponds in etymology.
^ Both the Poem and the Chronica del Cid say, Vos las criastes, . .
you bred them up, . . which is in contradiction to the history. Vos las
casays are the words of the Chronica General.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 271
give them to whom you please, and I am pleased therewith. BOOK
When the King heard this he was well pleased, and he bade '. —
the Infantes kiss the hand of the Cid Campeador, and in-
continently they changed swords before the King, and they
did homage to him, as sons-in-law to their father-in-law.
Then the King turned to the Cid and said, I thank thee,
Ruydiez, that thou hast given me thy daughters for the In-
fantes of Carrion : and here I give them to the Infantes
to be their brides ; I give them and not you, and I pray
God that it may please him, and that you also may have
great iov herein. The Infantes I put into your hands ; Cid. cap.
^ X V 225. 226.
they will go with you, and I shall return from hence, and I chr. Gen.
order that three hundred marks of silver be given to them for Poema del
their marriage, and they and your daughters Avill all be your 2129.
children.
XXX. Eight days this meeting lasted ; the one day they How the
dined with the King, and the other with the Cid. Then pJeded '
was it appointed that on the morrow at sunrise every one {"¿^Kins
should depart to his own home. My Cid then began to
give to every one who would take his gifts, many a great
mule, and many a good palfrey, and many a rich garment,
. . every one had what they asked, . . he said no to none.
Threescore horses did my Cid give away in gifts ; well
pleased were all they who went to that meeting. And now
they were about to separate, for it was night. The King
took the Infantes by the hand, and delivered them into the
power of my Cid the Campeador, . . See here your sons :
from this day, Campeador, you will know what to make of
them. And the Cid answered. Sir, may it please you, see-
ing it is you who have made this marriage for my daughters,
to appoint some one to whom I may deliver them, and who
may give them, as from your hand, to the Infantes. And
the King called for Alvar Fañez Minaya, and said. You are
sib to the damsels : I command you, when you come to
Valencia, to take them with your own hands, and give them
to the Infantes, as I should do if that I were there present :
272 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK and be you the brides' father. Then said the Cid, Sir, you
. '. — must accept sometliing from me at this meeting. I bring
for you twenty palfreys, these that are gaily trapped, and
thirty horses fleet of foot, these that are well caparisoned,
. . take them, and I kiss your hand. Greatly have you
bound me, said King Don Alfonso ; I receive this gift, and
God and all Saints grant that it may be well requited ;
if I live you shall have something from me. Then my Cid
sprung up upon his horse Bavieca, and he said. Here I say
before my Lord the King, that if any will go with me to
the wedding, I think they will get something by it ! And he
besought the King that he would let as many go with him
as were so minded ; and the King licensed them accord-
Chr. del i^^gly* -^^^ whcu they were about to part, the company
226 ^^^' ^^^^ went with the Cid was greater than that which returned
Chr. Gen. ^yith the Kins^. And the Cid kissed the Kinsj's hand and
n. 281. '-' "
Poema del disDcedcd himsclf with his favor, and the Kinsr returned to
Cid. 2121. ^ ' °
2176. Castille.
Of the con- XXXI. My Cid went his way toward Valencia, and he
the In- appointed Pero Bermudez and Muño Gustios, than whom
there were no better two in all his household, to keep com-
pany with the Infantes of Carrion and be their guard, and he
bade them spy out what their conditions Avere ; and this they
soon found out. The Count Don Suero Gonzalez went with
the Infantes ; he w^as their father's brother, and had been
their Ayo and bred them up, and badly had he trained them,
for he was a man of great words, good of tongue, and of
nothing else good ; and full scornful and orguUous had he
made them, so that the Cid was little pleased with them, and
would willingly have broken off the marriage ; but he could
, not, seeins: that the King had made it. And when they
Chr. del ' ^ ^ t r • i
Cid. cap. reached Valencia, the Cid lod2:ed the Infantes m the suburb
226. .
Chr. Gen. of Alcudia, where he had formerly lodged himself; and all
Poema del the company who w^ere come to the marriage were quar-
21^77.^2193. tered with them. And he went to the Alcazar.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 273
XXXII. On the morrow the Cid mounted his horse and BOOK
VII
rode into Alcudia, and brought the Infantes his sons-in-law
How Alvar
from thence with him into the city to the Alcazar, that they p^^^^ ^Je
mÍ2:ht see their brides Doña Elvira and Doña Sol. Doña ^is kins-
^ womea to
Ximena had her dausjhters ready to receive them in full the in-
^ fantes.
noble garments, for since midnight they had done nothing
but prink and prank themselves. Full richly was the Alca-
zar set out that day, with hangings both above and below,
purple and samite,' and rich cloth. The Cid entered be-
tween the Infantes, and all that noble company went in after
them ; and they went into the chief hall of the Alcazar,
where Doña Ximena was with her daughters ; and when
they saw the Cid and the Infantes, they rose up and wel-
comed them right well. And the Cid took his seat upon his
bench with one of the Infantes on one side of him, and one
on the other, and the other honorable men seated themselves '^
on the estrados^ each in the place where he ought to be, and
which belonged to him ; and they remained awhile silent.
Then the Cid rose and called for Alvar Fañez and said.
Thou knowest what my Lord the King commanded ; fulfil
now his bidding, . . take thy cousins, and deliver them to
the Infantes, for it is the King who gives them in marriage,
and not I. And Alvar Fañez arose and took the damsels
one in each hand, and delivered them to the Infantes, saying,
Diego Gonzalez, and Ferrando Gonzalez, I deliver unto you
these damsels, the daughters of the Cid Campeador, by com-
mand of King Don Alfonso my Lord, even as he com-
manded. Receive you them as your equal helpmates,^ as
the law of Christ enjoineth. And the Infantes took each his
bride by the hand, and went to the Cid and kissed his hand,
and the same did they to their mother Doña Ximena Gomez :
and the Bishop Don Hieronymo espoused them, and they
exchanged rings. When this was done, the Cid went and
seated himself on the estrado with the ladies, he and Doña
* Xamed. ' Parejas.
35
274 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK Ximena in the middle, and beside him he placed Doña El-
VII.
Chr. del
vira his eldest daughter, and by her, her spouse the Infante
Diego Gonzalez ; and Doña Sol was seated on the other
side, by her mother, and the Infante Ferrando by her. And
when they had solaced themselves awhile, the Cid said that
now they would go eat, and that the marriage should be
performed on the morroAv, and he besought and commanded
Cid. cap. the Bishop Don Hieronymo to perform it in such a manner
227. 228. ^ J I
Chr. Gen. that no cost should be spared, but that every thing should be
Poema del donc SO Completely, that they who came from Castille to this
2193. 2245. wcddiug might alway have something to tell of.
Of the XXXIII. On the morrow they went to the Church of St.
marriage. ]y[aj.y^ ^nd there the Bishop Don Hieronoymo sate awaiting
them, and he blest them all four at the altar. Who can tell
the great nobleness which the Cid displayed at that wedding,
the feasts and the bull-fights, and the thro^ving at the target,
and the throwing canes, and how many j oculars were there,
and all the sports which are proper at such weddings ? As
soon as they came out of Church they took horse and rode
to the Glera ; three times did the Cid change his horse that
day ; seven targets were set up on the morrow, and before
they went to diiuier all seven were broken. Fifteen days
did the feasts at this wedding continue ; then aU they who
had come there to do honor to the Cid took leave of him and
of the Infantes. Who can teU the great and noble gifts
which the Cid gave to them, both to great and little, each
according to his quality, vessels of gold and silver, rich cloth,
cloaks, furs, horses, and money beyond all reckoning, so that
Chr. del all were well pleased. And Avhen it was told in Castille
228. Chr. with what gifts they who had been to the wedding Avere re-
fon fC
282. Poe- turned, many were they who repented that they had not gone
ma del Cid tVipvp
2247. 2279. '^^A^^^'
HERE BEGINNETH THE EIGHTH BOOK
OF THE
CHRONICLE OF THE CID
I. Now the history relateth that Gilbert, a sage who BOOK
wrote the history of the Moorish Kings who reigned in Afri- ^^^^^-
ca, saith, that Bucar remembering^ the oath which he had How King
^ Bucar made
made to his brother King Yucef, how he would take ven- ready to re-
vense his
geance for him for the dishonor which he had received from brother
the Cid Ruydiez before Valencia, ordered proclamation to cef"^
be made throughout all the dominions of his father, and
gathered together so great a power of Moors, that among
the Captains of his host there were twenty and nine Kings ;
this he could well do, for his father was Miramamolin,
which is as much as to say Emperor. And when he had
gathered together this mighty host, he entered into his ships
and crost the sea and came unto the port of Valencia, and
what there befell him with the Cid the history shall relate in cid.'^ap.
due time. 2^^'
II. Two years after their marriage did the Infantes of ^rdice ^°^'
Carrion sojourn in Valencia in peace and pleasure, to their ^^°^]f" ^y
own great contentment, and their uncle Suero Gonzalez Mantes of
. , , 1 r 1 Carrion
With them ; and at the end oi those two years, there came to when the
pass a great misadventure, by reason of which they fell out loose,
with the Cid, in whom there was no fault. There was a lion
276 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK in the house of the Cid, who had grown a large one, and a
'— strong, and was full nimble : three men had the keeping of
this lion, and they ke})t him in a den Avhich was in a court-
yard, high up in the palace ; and when they cleansed the
court they were wont to shut him up in his den, and after-
ward to open the door that he might come out and eat :
the Cid kept him for his pastime, that he might take pleasure
with him when he was minded so to do. Now it was the
custom of the Cid to dine every day with his company, and
after he had dined, he was wont to sleep awhile upon his
seat. And one day when he had dined there came a man
and told him that a great fleet was arrived in the port of
Valencia, wherein there was a great power of the IVIoors,
whom King Bucar had brought over, the son of the Mirama-
molin of Morocco. And when the Cid heard this, his heart
rejoiced and he was glad, for it was nigh three years since
he had had a battle with the Moors. Incontinently he or-
dered a signal to be made that all the honorable men who
were in the city should assemble together. And when they
were all assembled in the Alcazar and his sons-in-law with
them, the Cid told them the news, and took counsel with
them in what manner they should go out against this great
power of the Moors. And when they had taken counsel the
Cid went to sleep upon his seat, and the Infantes and the
others sate playing at tables and chess. Now at this time
the men w^ho were keepers of the Hon were cleaning the
court, and when they heard the cry that the Moors were
coming, they opened the den, and came down into the pal-
ace where the Cid was, and left the door of the court open.
And when the lion had ate his meat and saw that the door
was opened he went out of the court and came into the pal-
ace, even into the hall where they all were ; and when they
who were there saAV him, there was a great stir among them ;
but the Infantes of Carrion showed grreater cowardice than
all the rest. Ferrando Gonzalez having no shame, neither
for the Cid nor for the others who were present, crept under
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 277
the seat whereon the Cid was sleepins^, and in his haste he BOOK
VIII
burst his mantle and his doublet also at the shoulders. And —
Diego Gonzalez, the other, ran to a postern door, crying, I
shall never see Carrion again ! This door opened upon a
court-yard where there was a wine press, and he jumped out
and by reason of the great height could not keep on his feet,
but fell among the lees and defiled himself therewith. And
all the others who were in the hall Avrapt their cloaks around
their arms, and stood round about the seat whereon the Cid
was sleeping, that they might defend him. The noise which
they made awakened the Cid, and he saw the Hon coming
towards him, and he lifted up his hand and said, What is
this ? . . and the lion hearing his voice stood still ; and he
rose up and took him by the mane, as if he had been a gen-
tle mastiff, and led him back to the court where he was be-
fore, and ordered his keepers to look better to him for the cid. cap.
time to come. And when he had done this he returned to q^^^ fj-/'
the hall and took his seat again ; and all they who beheld it def'ad^""^
were greatly astonished. 22S8. 2313.
III. After some time Ferrando G onzalez crept from ^9.^^ t^®
^ Infantes
under the seat where he had hidden himself, and he came plotted to
out with a pale face, not having yet lost his fear, and his thems^elves
brother Diego got from among the lees : and when they cid.
who were present saw them in this phght you never saw
such sport as they made ; but my Cid forbade their laugh-
ter.^ And Diego went out to wash himself and change his
garments, and he sent to call his brother forth, and they took
counsel together in secret, and said to each other, Lo now,
what great dishonor this Ruydiez our father-in-law hath
done us, for he let this lion loose for the nonce, to put us to
shame. But in an evil day were we born if we do not
revenge this upon his daughters. Badly were we matched
with them, and now for the after-feast he hath made this
* Thus the Poem, with more feeling of propriety than both the Chron-
icles, which make him publicly reproach the Infantes for their cowardice.
278 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK mockery of us ! But we must keep secret this which we
VIII
'. bear iii mind, and not let him wit that we are wrath against
him, for otherwise he would not let us depart from hence,
neither give us our wives to take with us, and he would take
from us the swords Colado and Tizona which he gave us . . .
We will therefore turn this thing into merriment before him
and his people, to the end that they may not suspect what
we have at heart. While they were thus devising their
uncle Suero Gonzalez came in, and they told him of their
intent. And he counselled them to keep their wrath secret,
as they said, till this stir of the INIoors from beyond sea was
over, and then they should demand their wives of the Cid
that they might take them to their OAvn country : This, said
he, the Cid can have no reason to deny, neither for detahiing
ye longer with him ; and w^hen ye are got away far out of
his land, then may ye do what ye will with his daughters,
and ill will ye do if ye know not how to revenge yourselves ;
^, , ,,,., so shall ye remove the dishonor from yourselves, and cast it
Chr.delCid, '^ . .
cap. 230. upon him and his children. This wicked coimsel did Suero
231. ^
Chr. Gen. Gonzalez give unto his nephews, which he might have well
Poema del cxcuscd giving, and then both he and they would not have
2320. come off so badly as the history will in due season relate.
How the IV. After Suero Gonzalez and his nephews had taken
we^?e° afraid ^his evil couuscl together, they went to their lodgmg, and on
behdd^ihe ^^^ morrow they went to the Alcazar, and came to the Cid
great power where he was preparing for business. And when they drew
Moors. nigh, the Cid rose and welcomed them right well, and they
carried a good countenance towards him, and made sport
of Avhat had happened about the lion. And the Cid began
to give order in what array they should go out to battle.
While they were in this discom'se, a great cry was heard in
the town and a great tumult, and this was because King Bu-
ear was come with his great power into the place which is
called the Campo del Quarto, which is a league from Valen-
cia, and there he was pitching his tents ; and when this was
done the camp made a mighty show, for the history saith
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 279
that there were full five thousand pavilions, besides common BOOK
. VIII
tents. And when the Cid heard this, he took both his sons- '
in-law and Suero Gonzales with them, and went upon the
highest tower of the Alcazar, and showed them the great
power which King Bucar of ]\Iorocco had brought ; and
when he beheld this great power he began to laugh and
was exceeding glad : but Suero Gonzalez and his nephews
were in great fear : howbeit they would not let it be seen.
And when they came down from the tower the Cid went
foremost, and they tarried behind, and said. If we go into
this battle, Ave shall never return to Carrion. Now it so
chanced that Muño Gustios heard them, and he told it to
the Cid, and it grieved the Cid at heart ; but he presently
made sport of it, and turned to his sons-in-law, and said.
You, my sons, shall remain in Valencia and guard the
town, and we who are used to this business will go out to
battle ; ^ and they when they heard this were ashamed, for
they weened that some one had overheard what they said ; p., , ,
and they made answer, God forefend. Cid, that we should <^'id. cap.
abide in Valencia ! we will 2^0 with you to the work, and Chr. Gen.
ff. 2S3.
protect your body as if we were your sons, and you were the Poema del
Cid 2321
Count Don Gonzala Gomez, our father. And the Cid was 2347.
well pleased hearing them say this.
V. While they were thus saying, word was brought to of the
the Cid that there was a messenger from King Bucar at the sent by
gate of the town, who would fain speak with him. The ?^^"the*^Cid!
name of this Moor was Ximen de Algezira, and the Cid
gave order that he should be admitted. Now the history
saith, God had given such grace to my Cid that never Moor
beheld his face without having great fear of him ; and this
Ximen began to gaze upon his countenance, and said
' A gap occurs here in the Poem, the MS. wanting a leaf in this place.
It seems by the first lines which follow, as if some quarrel had been re-
lated between Pero Bermudez and one of the Infantes, who had been ex-
tolling his own courage.
280 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK nothinsf, for he could not speak. And so great was the fear
VIII. . ^
which came upon him, that the Cid perceived it, and bade
him take courage and dehver the bidding of his Lord, with-
out fear or shame, for he was a messenger. And when the
Moor heard this, he laid aside his fear, and recovered heart,
and delivered his bidding fully, after this wise. Sir Cid
Campeador, King Bucar my Lord hath sent me to thee say-
ing, great wrong hast thou done him in holding Valen-
cia against him, which belonged to his forefathers ; and
moreover thou hast discomfited his brother King Yucef.
And now he is come against thee Avith twenty and nine
Kings, to take vengeance for his brother, and to win Valen-
cia from thee in spite of thee and of all who are with thee.
Nevertheless, King Bucar saith, that inasmuch as he hath
heard that thou art a wise man and of good understanding,
he will show favor unto thee, and let thee leave Valencia
with all the lands thereof, and go into Castille, and take with
thee all that is thine. And if thou wilt not do this he sends
to say that he will fight against Valencia, and take thee and
thy wife and thy daughters, and torment thee grievously, in
Chr. del such manner that all Christians who shall hear tell of it shall
Cid. cap.
233. talk thereof for evermore. This is the biddinsr of my Lord
Chr. Gen. ^. ^^ & J
ff. 284. Kmg Bucar.
Of the an- VI. When the Cid heard this, notwithstanding he was
Cid. wroth at heart, he would not manifest it, but made answer
in few words and said. Go tell thy Lord King Bucar I will
not give him up Valencia : great labor did I endure in win-
ning it, and to no man am I beholden for it in the world,
save only to my Lord Jesus Christ, and to my kinsmen and
friends and vassals who aided me to win it. Tell him that
I am not a man to be besieged, and when he does not ex-
pect it I will give him battle in the field ; and would that
even as he has brought with him twenty and nine Kings, so
he had brought all the Moors of all Pagandom, for with the
mercy of God in which I trust, I should think to conquer
them all. Bear this answer to your Lord, and come here
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 281
no more with messasres, neither on this account, nor on BOOK
VIII
any other. When Ximen de Algezira, the Moorish mes-
senger, heard this, he left Valencia and went unto his
Lord and told him before the twenty and nine Kings all that
the Cid had said. And they were astonished at the brave
words of the Cid, for they did not think that he would have
resisted, so great was their power, neither did they ween that
he would so soon come out to battle. And they began to
give order to set their siege round about Valencia, as the his-
tory, and as Gilbert also relateth. This King Bucar and his
brother King Yucef were kinsmen of Alimaymon, who had chr. del
been King of Toledo and Valencia, and this was the rea- 2.33," ^^^'
son why Bucar said that Valencia had belonged to his fore- ^^ gk. ^"
fathers.
VII. No sooner had Ximen, the messenger of King Bu- Of the or-
ear, left the city, than the Cid ordered the bell to be struck, cid's bat-
tie
at the sound of which all the men at arms in Valencia were
to gather together. Incontinently they all assembled before
the Cid, and he told them all to be ready full early on the
morrow, to go out and give battle to the Moors. And they
made answer with one accord that they were well pleased to
do this, for they trusted in God and in his good fortune that
they should overcome them. On the morrow therefore, at
the first cock-crow, they confessed and communicated, as
was their custom, and before the morning brake they went
forth from Valencia. And when they had got through the
narrow passes among the gardens, the Cid set his army in
array. The van he gave to Alvar Fañez Minaya, and to
Pero Bermudez who bore his banner ; and he gave them
five hundred horsemen, and a thousand and five hundred
men a-foot. In the right wing was that honorable one with
the shaven crown, Don Hieronymo the Bishop, with the like
number both of horse and foot ; and in the left Martin An-
tolinez of Bin-gos and Alvar Salvadores, with as many
more. The Cid came in the rear with a thousand horse-
men all in coats of mail, and two thousand five hundred
36
282 CHRONICLE OK THE CID,
BOOK men a-foot. And in this array ihey proceeded till they
L_ came in sight of the Moors. As soon as the Cid saw their
tents he ordered his men to slacken their pace, and got upon
his horse Bavieca, and put himself in the front before all his
army, and his sons-in-law the Infantes of Carrion advanced
themselves with him. Then the Bishop Don Hieronymo
came to the Cid and said, This day have I said the mass of
the Holy Trinity before you. I left my own country and
came to seek you, for the desire I had to kill some Moors,
and to do honor fo my order and to my ow^n hands. Now
would I be foremost in the business ; I have my pennon ^
and my armorial bearing, and will employ them by God's
help, that my heart may rejoice. And my Cid, if you do
not for the love of me grant this, I w^ill go my ways from
you. But the Cid bade him do his pleasure, saying that it
would please him also. And then the great multitude of
the Moors began to come out of their tents, and they formed
their battle in haste, and came against the Christians, with
the sound of trumpets and tambours, and with a great up-
roar ; and as they came out upon the alarm, not expecting
that the Cid would come against them so soon, they did not
advance in order, as King Bucar had commanded. And
when the Cid saw this, he ordered his banner to be ad-
vanced, and bade his people lay on manfully. The Bishop
Don Hieronymo he pricked forward ; two Moors he slew
with the two first thrusts of the lance ; the haft broke, and
he laid hand on his sword. God, . . how well the Bishop
fought ! two he slew with the lance, and five with the
sword ; the Moors came round about him and laid on load
of blows, but they could not pierce his arms. He who was
* Pendón iraio a corzas.
Poema del Cid. 2385.
The Glossary says upon this passage, parece que se habla de pendón li-
gero para llevarle guando se corría. Acaso debe leerse cordas porque iria
asegurado con cuerdas.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAF. 283
born in happy hour had his eyes upon him, and he took his BOOK
shield and placed it before him, and lowered his lance, and '. —
gave Bavieca the spur, that good horse. With heart and
soul he went at them, and made his way into their first bat-
tle ; seven the Campeador smote down, and four he slew.
In short time they joined battle in such sort that many were (^¡^^ ¿^i
slain and many overthrown, on one side and on the other, ^g^- ^^P-
and so great was the din of strokes and of tambours that S^**- ^6"-
^ _ ff. 284.
none could hear what another said ; and they smote away Poema del
•^ -^ Cid, 2378.
cruelly, without rest or respite. 2407.
VIII. Now it came to pass in this battle that the Infante How the
Diego Gonzalez encountered a Moor of Africa who was of ed King
great stature and full valiant withal, and this Moor came the twenty-
fiercely against him ; and when the Infante saw how fiercely "^"® ^"^^'
he was coming, he turned his back and fled. No one beheld
this but Felez Muñoz the nephew of the Cid, Avho was a
squire ; he set himself against the Moor with his lance under
his arm, and gave him such a thrust in the breast, that the
streamer of the lance came out all red with blood between
his shoulders, and he down'd with the dead man and took
his horse by the bridle, and began to call the Infante Diego
Gonzalez. When the Infante heard himself called by his
name he turned his head to see who called him, and when
he saw that it was his cousin Felez Muñoz, he turned and
awaited him. And Felez Muñoz said. Take this horse,
cousin Diego Gonzalez, and say that you killed the Moor ;
nobody shall ever know otherwise from me, unless you give
just cause. While they were talking the Cid came up, after
another Moorish knight, whom he reached just as he came
up to them, and smote him Avith his sword upon the head, so
that he split it down to the teeth. When Felez Muñoz saw
the Cid, he said. Sir, your son-in-law Don Diego Gonzalez
hath great desire to serve and help you in this day's work,
and he hath just slain a Moor from whom he hath won this
horse : and this pleased the Cid much, for he weened that it
was true. And then they all three advanced themselves
/
284 CHKONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK toward the midst of the battle, giving great strokes, and
'. — smiting and slaying. Who can tell how marvellously the
Bishop Don Ilieronymo behaved himself m this battle, and
how well all the rest behaved, each in his way, and above
all, the Cid Campeador, as the greatest and best of all !
Nevertheless the power of the Moors was so great that they
could not drive them to flight, and the business was upon
the balance even till the hour of nones. Many were the
Christians who died that day among the foot soldiers ; and
the dead. Moors and Christians together were so many, that
the horses could scant move among their bodies. But after
the hour of nones the Cid and his people smote the Moors
so sorely that they could no longer stand against them, and
it pleased God and the good fortune of the Cid that they
turned their backs ; and the Christians followed, hewing
them down, and smiting and slaying ; and they tarried not
to lay hands on those whom they felled, but went on in the
pursuit as fast as they could. Then might you have seen
cords broken, and stakes plucked up as the Christians came
to the tents ; my Cid's people drove King Bucar's through
their camp, and many an arm with its sleeve-mail Avas lopt
oif, and many a head with its helmet fell to the ground ;
and horses ran about on all sides without riders. Seven full
miles did the pursuit continue. And Avhile they were thus
following their flight the Cid set eyes upon King Bucar, and
made at him to strike him with the sword ; and the JMoorish
King knew him when he saw him coming : Turn this way
Bucar, cried the Campeador, you who came from beyond
sea, to see the Cid wdth the long beard. We must greet
each other and cut out a friendship ! God confound such
friendship, cried King Bucar, and turned his bridle, and
began to fly towards the sea, and the Cid after him, having
great desire to reach him. But King Bucar had a good
horse and a fresh, and the Cid went spm*ring Bavieca who
had had hard work that day, and he came near his back ;
and when they were nigh unto the sliips, and the Cid saw
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 285
that he could not reach hhn, he darted his sword at him, book
. VIII.
and struck him between the shoulders ; and King Bucar
being badly wounded rode into the sea, and got to a boat,
and the Cid alighted and picked up his sword. And his
people came up, hewing down the Moors before them, and
the Moors in their fear of death ran into the sea, so that
twice as many died in the water as in the battle ; neverthe-
less so many were they who were slain in the field, that they
were thought to be seventeen thousand persons and upward :
but a greater number died in the sea. And so many were
they who were taken prisoner, that it was a wonder ; and
of the twenty and nine kings who came with King Bucar, cap! 235/ *
seventeen were slain. And when the Cid saw that of the Jf'^gs?^"*
Moors some had gotten to the ships and the others were ^^^^^ ^^^
slain or taken, he returned toward their tents. 2409. 2441.
IX. Mv Cid Ruydiez the Campeador returned from the Oí" the great
•^ . . spoil which
slaughter ; the hood of his mail was thrown back, and the was won
coif upon his head bore the marks of it. And when he saw chrisiiaus.
his sons-in-law the Infantes of Carrion, he rejoiced over
them, and said to them to do them honor. Come here my
sons, for by your help w^e have conquered in this battle.
Presently Alvar Fañez came up : the shield which hung
from his neck was all battered : more than twenty Moors
had he slain, and the blood Avas running from his wrist to
his elbow. Thanks be to God, said he, and to the Father
who is on high, and to you. Cid, we have won the day. All
these spoils are yours and your vassals. Then they spoiled
the field, where they found great riches in gold, and in sil-
ver, and in pearls, and in precious stones, and in sumptuous
tents, and in horses, and in oxen, which were so many that
it was a wonder. The poorest man among the Christians
was made full rich that day. So great was the spoil that
six hundred horses fell to the Cid as his fifth, beside sumpter
beasts and camels, and twelve hundred prisoners ; and of
the other things which were taken no man can give account,
nor of the treasure which the Cid won that day in the Campo
\
286
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK del Quarto. God be praised I said the Campeador . . .
once I was poor, but now am I rich in lands and in posses-
sions, and in gold and in honor. And Moors and Christians
both fear me. Even in Morocco, among their Mosques, do
they fear least I should set upon them some night. Let
them fear it ! I shall not go to seek them, but here will I
be in Valencia, and by God's help they shall pay me tribute.
Great joy was made in Valencia for this victory, and great
Poema del ^'^^ ^^^ ]^J ^^ ^hc Infantes of Carrion ; five thousand marks
2^445 2519 ^^^® ^^ them for their portion of the spoil. And when they
Chr. del g^^y thcmselvcs so rich, they and their uncle Suero Gonzalez
Old. cap. ' «^
236. took counsel tos^ether, and confirmed the wicked resolution
Chr. Gen. . ^ '
ff. 235. Avhich they had taken.
How the X. One day the companions of the Cid were talking be-
said that fore him of this victory, and they were saying who were the
return ^nio jo^ng knights that had demeaned themselves well in the
country!" battle and in the pursuit, and who had not ; but no mention
was made of the Infantes ; for though some there were who
whispered to each other concerning them, none Avould speak
ill of them before the Cid. And the Infantes saw this, and
took counsel with their uncle, who ought not to have given
. them the evil counsel that he did, and they determined forth-
with to put their wicked design in execution. So they went
before the Cid, and Ferran Gonzalez, having enjoined si-
lence, began to say thus. Cid, thou knowest well the good
tie which there is between thee and us, for we hold thee in
the place of a father and thou didst receive us as thy sons
on the day when thou gavest us thy daughters to be our
wives ; and from that day Ave have alway abode with thee,
and have alway endeavored to do that which was to thy ser-
vice ; and if Ave have at any time failed therein it hath not
been Avilfully, but for lack of better understanding. Noav
inasmuch as it is long time since Ave departed from Castille,
from our father and from our mother, and because neither
we knoAv hoAv it fares Avith them, nor they hoAv it fares Avith
us, we Avould noAv, if vou and Doña Ximena should so think
/
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 287
ffood, return unto them, and take our wives with us : so BOOK
^ . VIII.
shall our father and our mother and our kmsmen see how ■
honorably we are mated, and how greatly to our profit, and
our wives shall be put in possession of the towns which we
have given them for their dower, and shall see what is to be
the inheritance of the children whom they may have. And
whensoever you shall call upon us, we will be ready to
come and do you service. Then the Cid made answer,
weening that this was spoken without deceit. My sons, I am
troubled at what ye say, for when ye take my daughters ye
take my very heart-strings : nevertheless it is fitting that ye qj^^ ¿gj
do as ye have said. Go when ye will, and I will give unto ^¿j' ^^^'
you such gifts that it shall be known in Gallicia and in Cas- S^J* ^^"'
tille and in Leon, with what riches I have sent my sons-in- Poema del
' -^ Cid. V.
law home. 2541. 2539.
XI. When the Cid had made this reply, he rose from How Doña
his seat and went to Doña Ximena his wife, and spake mistrusted
with her and with Alvar Fañez, and told them what had purpose of
passed with his sons-in-law, and what answer he had given. Jgg
Greatly was Doña Ximena troubled at this, and Alvar Fañez
also, that he had consented to what they asked ; and she said,
I do not think it is wisely done to let them take our daughters
from us, and carry them into another country ; for these our
sons-in-law are traitorous and false at heart, and if I areed
them right they will do some dishonor to our daughters,
when there will be none there to call them to account.
And Alvar Fañez was of the same mind ; but the Cid was
displeased at this, and marvelled greatly at what they said ;
and he bade them speak no more thereof, for God would
not let it be so, . . neither were the Infantes of such a race
as that they should do this ; neither, quoth he, would it
come into their minds to do it, if only because our Lord Kins: ^, , ,
' *' ^ Chr. del
Don Alfonso was he who made the marriage ; but if the Cid. cap.
238
Devil should tempt them, and they should commit this wick- chr. Gen.
edness, dearly would it cost them !
288 CHRONICLE OF Ttík CID,
BOOK XII. So the Infantes of Carrion made ready for their
VIII.
departure, and there was a great stir in Valencia. And the
ing between two sisters, Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, came and knelt be-
and h!s ^^^^ ^hc Cid, and before Doña Ximcna their mother, and
daughters, g^ij^ You send US to the lands of Carrion, and we must
fulfil your command ; now then give us your blessing, and
let us have some of your people with us in Carrion, we
beseech you. And the Cid embraced them and kissed
them, and the mother kissed them and embraced them twice
as much, and they gave them their blessing, and their
daughters kissed their hands. And the Cid gave unto his
sons-in-law great store of cloth of gold, and of serge, and
of wool, and an hundred horses bridled and saddled, and an
hundred mules with all their trappings, and ten cups of
gold, and an hundred vessels of silver, and six hundred
marks of silver in dishes and trenchers and other things.
"When all this was done they took their departure and went
out of Valencia, and the Cid rode out a long league with
them. He looked at the birds, and the augury was bad,
and he thought that these marriages would not be without
some evil. And his heart ^ smote him, and he began to
think on what Doña Ximena had said, and to fear least evil
should befall him from these sons-in-law, for the manner of
their speech was not as it was Avont to be. Where art thou
my nephew, where art thou Felez Muñoz ? Thou art the
cousin of my daughters, said he, both in heart and in soul.
Go with them even unto Carrion, and see the possessions
which are given them, and come back with tidings thereof.^
* The phrase is literally Spanish . . . Comenzó de ferirle el corazón
muy reziamente. Chronica del Cid.
^ The Chronica del Cid says that the Cid sent a hundred knights with
his daughters, under Martin Pelaez the Asturian, and another knight
called Pero Sanchez, who did homage in his hands that they would alway
serve his daughters, as their liege ladies, and children of their natural
Lord. Neither the Poem, nor the Chronica General mention this,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 289
And Felez Muñoz said that he would do this. And the Cid BOOK
bade him sahite the Moor Abengalvon in his name, with _
whom they should tarry a night at Molina, and bid him do
service unto his daughters and his sons-in-law, and accom-
pany them as far as Medina ; and for all that he shall do,
said the Cid, I will give him good guerdon. And when the
ladies came to take their leave of their father the Cid, and of
their mother Doña Ximena, great were the lamentations on
both sides, as if their hearts had divined the evil which was
to come ; and the Cid strove to comfort them, saying, that
he should alway think of them, and would maintain them in Cid. cap.
•^ . . 238.
good estate : and he gave them his blessing and turned Chr. Gen.
back toward Valencia, and they went their way with their p'oema del
husbands, and that parting was like plucking the nail from 2595. '2651.
the flesh.
XIII. So the Infantes of Carrion Avent their way, by the How the
Campo del Quarto to Chiva, and to Bonilla, and to Re- would have
quena, and to Campo-Robres, and they took up their lodg- taTvon. ^"'
ing at Villa Taxo. And on the morrow they took the road
to Amaja, and leaving it on the right came to Adamuz, and
passed by Colcha, and rested at Quintana. And when
Abengalvon knew that the daughters of the Cid were com-
ing, he Avent out joyfully from Molina to meet them, and
pitched tents for them in the field, and had food brought
there in abundance. God, how Avell he served them ! and
on the morrow the Moor s^ave full rich and noble shifts to
the daughters of his Lord the Cid, and to each of the In-
fantes he gave a goodly horse. And he took horse himself
and rode on with them, having two hundred knights in his
company. They crossed the mountains of Luzon, and
passed Arbuxuelo, and came to Salon, and the Moor lodged
them in the place which is called Ansarera : all this he did
for the love of the Cid Campeador. Now the Infantes see-
and all that is afterwards related of these knights, is in the latter
attributed with more probability to the knights of the Infantes own com-
pany.
37
290 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK ing the riches wliicli this Moor had a\ ilii him, look counsel
'— together for treason, and said, Lo now if we could slay
this Moor Abengalvon, we should possess all these riches as
safely as if we were in Carrion, and the Cid could never
take vengeance. And a Moor who understood the Latin of
the country, heard them and knew what they said, and he
went to Abengalvon, and said unto him, Acaiaz, that ls to
say. Sire, take heed, for I heard the Infantes of Carrion
plotting to kill thee. Abengalvon the Moor was a bold Ba-
ron, and when this was told hiiTi, he went with his two hun-
dred men before the Infantes, and what he said to them did
not please them. Infantes of Carrion, he said, tell me Avhat
have I done ? I have served ye without guile, and ye have
taken counsel for my death. If it weie not for the sake of
my Cid, never should you reach Carrion ! I Avould carry back
his daughters to the loyal Campeador, and so deal with you
, , that it should be talked of over the whole world. But I
Poema del _
<-'id. leave ye for traitors as ye are. Doña Elvira and Dona Sol,
2653. 2698. _ *'. , _ ^ i i i •
Chr. del I go With your lavor. (jrod grant that this marriage may
239. please your father I Having said this the good INIoor returned
ff. 286. ^^' to Molina.
Of the XIV. They went on by Valdespino, and by Parra, and
fy^whfJh^^ Berrocal, and Val de Endrinas, and they left Medina Ceh
the Infan- ^^ ^\^q right, and crost the plain of Barahona, and past near
milted upon Bcrlanffa ; and they crost the Douro by a ford below the
their wives. o ^ j ^ j
town, and rode on and came into the Oak-wood of Corpes.
The mountains were high, and the trees thick and lofty,
and there were w^ild beasts in that place. And they came
to a green lawn in the midst of that oak forest, where there
was a fountain of clear water, and there the Infantes gave
order that their tent should be pitched ; and they passed the
night there, making show of love to thek wives, which they
badly fulfilled when the sun was risen, for this was the
place Avhere they thought to put them to shame. Early in
the morning they ordered the sumpter beasts to be laden,
and the tent struck, and they sent aU their company on, so
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 291
that none remained with them, neither man nor woman, but BOOK
. . VJII.
they and their wives were left alone, that they might disport
with them at pleasure. And Doña Elvira said to her hus-
band, Why wouldst thou that we should remain alone in
this place ? And he said. Hold thy peace, and thou shalt
see ! And the Infantes tore away the mantles from off
their wives, and the garments which they wore, save only
their inner garment, and they held them by the hair of their
head with one hand, and with the other took the girths of
their horses. And the Avomen said, Don Diego and Don
Ferrando, ye have strong swords and of sharp edge ; the
one is called Colada and the other Tizona ; cut off our
heads and we shall become martyrs ! But set not this evil
example upon us, for whatever shame ye do unto us, shall
be to your own dishonor. But the Infantes heeded not
what they said, and beat them cruelly Avith the saddle-
girths, and kicked them with their spurs, so that their gar-
ments were torn and stained with blood. Oh, if the Cid
Campeador had come upon them at that hour ! And the
women cried out and called upon God and Holy Mary to
have mercy upon them ; but the more they cried, the more
cruelly did those Infantes beat and kick them, till they were
covered with blood and swooned away. Then the Infantes
took their mantles and their cloaks, and their furs of er-
mine and other garments, and left them for dead, saying.
Lie there, daughters of the Cid of Bivar, for it is not fitting
that ye should be our Avives, nor that ye should have your
doAver in the lands of Carrion ! We shall see hoAv your
father Avill avenge you, and Ave have noAv avenged ourselves
for the shame he did us Avith the Lion. And they rode aAvay
as they said this, leaAáns;' them to the mountain birds and to
, , r , r ^ n Poema del
the beasts oi the forest. Oh if the Cid Campeador had cid.v.2699.
come upon them at that hour ! And the Infantes rode on, chr.del
glorying in Avhat they had done, for they said that the daugh- 239.' ''''^'
ters of the Cid Avere Avorthy to be their harlots, but not their ^.^sst!^""
wives.
292 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XV. When the Infantes, before they committed this great
cruchy, ordered their company to ride forward, Felez
•
MuiU)7^-^'^^ Muñoz the nephew of the Cid, rode on with the rest : but
found ihese this Order uothiufí^ pleased him, and he was troubled at heart,
dames ly- C5 i 7 7
ing in the insomuch that he went aside from his comi)anions, and
lorest. . *■ '
struck into the forest, and there waited privily till he should
see his cousins come, or learn what the Infantes had done
to them. Presently he saw the Infantes, and heard w^hat
they said to each other. Certes if they had espied him he
could not have escaped death. But they pricked on, not
seeing him, and he rode back to the fountain, and there he
found the Avomen lying senseless, and in such plight as ye
have heard. And he made great lamentation over them,
saying, Never can it please God that ye my cousins should
receive such dishonor ! God and St. Mary give them who
have done this an evil guerdon ! for ye never deserved this,
neither are ye of a race to deserve that this or any other evil
should betide ye ! By this time the ^vomen began to come to
themselves, but they could not speak, for their hearts were
breaking. And Felez Muñoz called out to them, Cousins !
Cousins ! Doña Elvira ! Doña Sol ! for the love of God
rouse yourselves that we may get away before night comes,
or the wild beasts will devour us ! And they came to them-
selves and began to open their eyes, and saw that he who
spake to them was Felez Muñoz ; and he said to them. For
the love of God take heart and let us be gone ; for the
Infantes Avill soon seek for me, and if God do not befriend
us Ave shall all be slain. And Doña Sol said to him in her
great pain. Cousin, for all that our father hath deserved at
your hands, give us water. Felez Muñoz took his hat and
filled it Avith Avater and gave it to them. And he comforted
them and bade them take courage, and besought them to
bear up. And he placed them upon his horse, and covered
them both Avith his cloak, and led them through the oak
forest, into the thickest part thereof, and there he made a
bed of leaves and of grass, and laid them on it, and covered
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 293
them with his cloak, and he sate down by them and began BOOK
to Aveep, for he knew not what he should do ; for he had no
food, and if he went to seek it, great danger Avas there
because thev were wounded and bloody, that the wild beasts Poema del
Cid 2774.
and the birds of the mountain would attack them ; and on28i9.
the other hand, unless he Avent to his uncle the Cid, to tell cid.' caV
him of this wickedness, none other knew what had been q^^^ g-/*
done, and thus there would be no vengeance taken. ^^^•
XVI. While Felez Muñoz was in this srreat trouble the How Pero
^ Sanchez
Infantes joined their company, and their spurs were bloody the other
and their hands also from the Avounds which they had given fied°ihe in-
their wives. And Avhen their people saAv them in this plight,
and that their Avives were not Avith them, they Aveened that
some Avickedness had been done ; and all they who were of
good heart and understanding among them went apart, to
the number of an hundred, with one Avho Avas named Pero
Sanchez ; and he spake unto them, saying. Friends, these
Infantes have done a foul deed upon their wives, the daugh-
ters of our Lord the Cid ; and they are our liege Ladies, for
we did homage to them before their father, and accepted
them as such ; and the Cid made us knights that Ave should
discharge the duty Avhich Ave owe to them. Noav then, it
behoveth us that Ave arm ourselves, and demand of the
Infantes Avhat they have done Avith our ladies, and require
them at their hands. And if they will not deliver them to
us, then Avill Ave fight against them even to death ; for thus
shall we do right, and otherAvise Ave shall be ill spoken of,
and not AA^orthy to live in the Avorld. This Avas the counsel
which Pero Sanchez gave, and they all held it good and did
accordingly. And the Infantes, when they saAv them coming
and heard their demand, Avere greatly afraid, and they said,
Go to the fountain in the Oak-forest of Corpes, and there ye
may find them ; we left them safe and sound, and no harm
have Ave done unto them ; but Ave Avould not take them with
us. Ill have ye done, replied those knights, to forsake such
wives, and the daughters of such a father, and ill Avill ye fare
294 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK for it ! And from henceforward, we renounce all friendship
viii. . . ^
Avith ye, and defy ye for tlie Cid, and for ourselves, and for
all his people. And the Infantes could not reply. And when
they saw that the Infantes did not answer, they said. Get ye
gone for traitors and false caitiffs ; there is no way in the
Cid. caV world by which ye can escape from the enemies whom ye
Gen.^i"^' ^^^^^ "^^^ made ! But for all this the Infantes made no
287. reply, and went their way.
How those XVII. Pero Sanchez and those other knights rode back
knights . ^
made their to the green lawn in the Oak-forest, where they had left the
to the King, damcs ; and when they came to the fountain they saw that
there was blood round about, but the dames were not there ;
and they were greatly troubled, and knew not where to seek
them. And they went about the forest seeking them, calling
them aloud, and making great lamentation for the ill that
had befallen, and also, because they could not find them.
Now Felez Muñoz and the women heard their voices, and
were in great fear, for they Aveened that it was the Infantes
and their company, who were returned with intent to kill
them ; and in their great fear they remained still, and would
fain have been far from that place. So Pero Sanchez and
they who were with him went about seeking them in vain.
Then spake up a knight called Martin Ferrandez, who was
a native of Burgos, saying. Friends, it boots us to turn back
from hence and follow after the Infantes, and do battle with
them, even unto death, because of this wickedness which
they have committed, rather than return to the Cid ; for if
we do not strive to take vengeance, we are not worthy to
appear before him. And if, peradventure, w^e cannot come
up with them upon the road, let us go before the King Don
Alfonso, and discover unto him this foul deed, and tell him
the truth thereof, to the intent that he may order justice to
be done for such a thing ; for certes, greatly will he be
troubled when he knoweth it, and greatly will he be incensed
against them, inasmuch as he it was who besought the Cid
to give them his daughters to wife. And we will not depart
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 295
from the Kins^'s house, nor take unto ourselves any other BOOK
.... VIII.
Lord till the Cid shall have obtained justice in this matter
And all those knights held this counsel to be good, and
agreed to do so. And they took their w^ay and followed
after the Infantes as fast as they could, taking no rest ; but
the Infantes had ridden away full speed, and they could not
overtake them. And when they saw this they went their
way to King Don Alfonso who was at Falencia, and they
came before him and kissed his hands, and then with sor-
rowful hearts told him of the evil which had befallen the
Cid, in this dishonor done unto his daughters by the Infantes
of Carrion. And when the King heard it, he was grievously
offended, as one who had great part therein ; and he said
unto them. It must needs be, that before many days we shall
receive tidings of this from the Cid Campeador, and then
upon his complaint we will enter into the business in such
wise, that every one shall have justice. Then Pero Sanchez chr. del
and the other knisjhts kissed the Kings's hands for what he 242.
had said ; and they abode in his court, waiting tidings from ff. 280.
the Cid.
XVIII. When Felez Muñoz saw that the voices which How Felez
they heard had ceased, he went after a while to a village found a
which was at hand, to seek food for the dames and for him- who took
self ; and in this manner he kept them for seven days. And tVhis"^^^
in that village he found a good man, who was a husband- ^°"^^'
man, and who lived a godly life with his wife and with his
daughters ; and this good man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for
the Cid had lodged in his house, and he had heard tell of
his great feats. And when Felez Muñoz knew this he took
the man aside, seeing how good a man he was, and how
well he spake of the Cid, and told him what had befallen
those dames, and how he had hidden them in the wood.
And when the good man heard it he had great ruth for them,
but he held himself a happy man in that he could do them
service ; and he took two asses and went with Felez Muñoz
to the place where they were hidden, and took with him his
296 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK two sons, who were younff men. And when the dames
Vlll.
saw them they marvelled who they might be, and were
ashamed and would have hidden themselves ; but they could
not. And the good man bent his knees before them, weep-
ing, and said. Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your
father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I
served him the best I could, and he alway was bountiful
toward me. And now, this young man, who saith his name
is Felez Muños, hath told me the great wrong and dishonor
which your husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done
unto you. And when I heard it I was moved to great sor-
row, and for the great desire I have to do service to the Cid
and to you, I am come hither, to carry you, if you will be
so pleased, upon these beasts, to my house ; for you must
not remain in this wild forest, where the beasts would devour
you. And when you are there, I and my wife and my
daughters will serve you the best we can ; and you may then
send this squire to your father, and we will keep you secretly
and well till your father shall send for you ; this place is not
fit for you, for you would die of cold and hunger. When
the good man had said this. Doña Sol turned to Doña Elvira
and said. Sister, the good man saith Avell, and it is better
that we should go with him than remain and die here, for so
shall we see the vengeance which I trust in God our father
will give us. So they gave thanks to God, and to that good
man. And he set them upon his beasts, and led them to the
village, when it was now night ; and they entered his house
secretly, so that none knew of their coming save the good
Cid. cap. man and his family, whom he charged that they should tell
Chr. Gen. ^^ m^u thereof. And there his wife and his daughters min-
ff. 288. istered unto them with pure good will.
TeiTez^to?k ^^^' '^'^^^^ ^^^^^ damcs wrote a letter to their father the
these Q[A which was a letter of credence, that he should believe
dames to ' ^
Santesie- the tidings which Felez Munoz would deliver, and they
ban. . ^ , 7 J
wrote it with the blood from their wounds. And Felez
Muñoz went his way toward Valencia ; and when he came
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 297
to Santesteban he spake with Diego Tellez, who had been BOOK
of the company of Alvar Fañez, and told him what had be-
fallen. He, so soon as he heard this great villany, took
beasts and seemly raiment, and went for those damss, and
brought them from the house of that good man ^ to Santes-
teban, and did them all honor that he could. They of San-
testeban were always gentle men ; and they comforted the
daughters of the Cid, and there they were healed of their
hurts. In the mean time Felez Muñoz proceeded on his
journey ; and it came to pass that he met Alvar Fañez Mi-
naya, and Pero Bermudez on the way, going to the King
with a present which the Cid had sent him ; and the present
was this, . . two hundred horses, from those which he had
won in the battle of Quarto from King Bucar, and an hun-
dred Moorish prisoners, and many good swords, and many
rich saddles. And as Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez
rode on in talk, they thought that it was he, and marvelled
greatly ; and he when he drew nigh began to tear his hair,
and make great lamentation, so that they were greatly
amazed. And they alighted, asking him what it was. And
he related unto them all that had befallen. But when they
heard this, who can tell the lamentation which they made ?
And they took counsel together what they should do, and
their counsel was this, . . that they should proceed to the
King, and demand justice at his hands in the name of the
Cid, and that Felez Muñoz should proceed to Valencia. So ci'd"2^823^
he told them the name of the s^ood man with whom he had ^?p-^ ,
" Chr. del
left the dames, and the place where he dwelt, and also how Cid. cap.
. . 244.
he had spoken Avith Diego Tellez at Santesteban, and then chr. Gen.
they parted.
' The Poem says that they came to the Donro, and he left them at the
Tower of Doña Urraca, and went on to Santesteban ; saying nothing of
the 'good man,' ... on the contrary, both Chronicles say nothing of
Diego Tellez. They are easily reconciled, by supposing that one sup-
plies what the other omits.
38
298 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XX. Alvar Fañoz and Pero Bermudez held on their
VIII
way, and came to the King, whom they found in Vallad o-
Faiiez^^de- ^^* ^^^ ^^ received them right well, and asked them for
manded the Cid, and they kissed his hand, and said, Sir, the Cid
justice of ' - 7 ? ?
the King commends himself to your srace : he hath had a ffood
against the . j o 7 o
lafanies. affair with King Bucar of Morocco, and hath defeated him,
and nine and twenty Kings who came with him, in the field
of Quarto, and great booty did he gain there in gold and
in silver, and in horses and tents and cattle ; and he hath
slain many and taken many prisoners. And in acknow-
ledgment of you as his natural Lord, he sends you two
hundred horses, and an hundred black Moors, and many
rich saddles and precious swords, beseeching you to accept
them at his hand, in token of the desire he hath to do service
to God and to you, maintaining the faith of Jesus Christ.
And King Don Alfonso made answer and said, that he took
the present of the Cid with a right good will, as of the
truest and most honorable vassal as ever Lord had : and he
gave order to his people to receive it, and bade Alvar Fañez
and Pero Bermudez seat themselves at his feet. After a
while Alvar Fañez rose and said. Sir, when we departed
from the Cid we left him in great honor and prosperity ;
but on oiu' way we met a squire who is his nephew, by name
Felez Muñoz, and he hath told us the evil and the dishonor
which both we and the Cid endure in the villany which the
Infantes of Carrion have committed upon his daughters.
You, Sir, know how great this villany hath been, and how
nearly it toucheth you, for the marriage was of your ap-
pointment, and I gave them by your command to the In-
fantes. Pero Sanchez hath told you that the dames were
dead, as he believed them to be ; but we, Sir, know that
they are yet alive, having been grievously hurt and wounded
with bridles and spurs, and stript of their garments, . . in
which plight Felez Muñoz found them. Certes such a thing
as this cannot please God in Heaven, and ought to offend
you who are Lord here in your own realm. Now therefore
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 299
we beseech you that you take justice for yourself, and give ^^^^
us and the Cid ours. And let not the Cid be dishonored
in your time, for blessed be God, he hath never been dis-
honored yet, but hath gone alway advancing in honor
since King Don Ferrando your father knighted him in Coim-
bra. To this the King made answer and said, God knoweth
the trouble which I resent for this dishonor which hath been
done to the Cid, and the more I hear of it the more doth it
trouble me, and many reasons are there why it should ; for
my own sake, and for the sake of the Cid, and for the sake
of his daughters ; but since they are yet alive the evil is not
so great, for as they have been wrongfully put to shame,
nothing meriting such treatment, they may be rightfully
avenged, as my Cortes shall determine. Moreover it is a
grief to me that my vassals the Infantes of Carrion should
have erred so badly and with such cruelty ; but since it hath
been so I cannot but do justice. I hold it good therefore to
summon them to my Cortes, which I will assemble for this
matter in Toledo, and the time assigned them shall be three
months from this day ; and do ye tell the Cid to come there
with such of his people as he shall think good. Glad were
Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez of this reply, and they
kissed his hand, and dispeeded themselves. And the King Chr. del
ordered mules to be given them for the dames, with right 244. ^^^*
noble saddles and trappings of gold and cloth of gold and g- 239.^"
of wool, with menever and gris.^
XXI. Then Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez went their How Alvar
way, and Pero Sanchez and his company departed with them, for the
They went up Val de Esgueva to Peñafiel, and by Roa and ^^^^'
Arrueco, and they entered the oak-forest of Corpes, and
Pero Sanchez showed the place beside the fountain where
the villany had been committed ; and they made such la-
' I do not pretend to explain words which have baffled the researches
of all glossarists : . . but it is evident that peñas de veros e grises mean
these furs whatever they may have been.
300 CHllOiVICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK mentation there as if they had seen the dames He dead before
VIII. J ,
them. Then rode they to the village where the good man
dwelt, and went to his dwelling, and good guerdon did
they give unto him for the service which he had done, so that
he was full well requited. And they took with them the two
sons and the two daughters of the good man, that they might
recompense them for the good deeds of their father ; and
the dames gave them in marriage, and made them full rich,
and held them even as brothers and as sisters, because of the
service which they had received from them. When it was
known at Santesteban that Minaya was coming for his kins-
women, the men of that town welcomed him and his com-
pany, and they brought him in payment the efurcion, that
is to say, the supper-money, and it was full great. But Mi-
naya would not accept it at their hands, and he thanked
them and said, Thanks, men of Santesteban, for what ye
have done, and my Cid the Campeador will thank ye, as I
do, and God will give ye your guerdon. Then went they to
visit their kinswomen, and when they saw the dames, who
can tell the great lamentation w^hich was made on both sides ?
Albeit that they rejoiced to see each other. And Minaya
said unto them. By God, cousins, he knoweth the truth,
and your father and mother know it also, . . I misdoubted
this Avhen you went away with those false ones ; and it
grieved me when your father said that he had given his con-
sent that ye should go, and your mother gainsaid it also ;
but we could not prevail, for he said he had consented.
Howbeit, since ye are alive, of evils let us be thankful for
the least : you have lost one marriage, and may gain a
better, and the day will come when we shall avenge ye.
That night they rested at Santesteban, and on the morrow
they set forward and took the road towards Atienza, and the
men of Santesteban escorted them as far as the river Damor,
to do them pleasure. And they past Alcoceba, and went on
to the King's Ford, and there took up their lodging at the
Casa de Berlanga. On the morrow they lodged at Medina
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 301
Celi, and from thence they went to Müina, and Abensjalvon BOOK
. VIII
came out with a right good will to welcome them, for love
of the Cid, and he did them all the honor that he could. P^^"'^ ^"^
And it was accorded between them that the dames should ?,^^^- ,2?^^-
Chr. del
rest there some days, because of their weakness, and that ^id. cap.
-^ ' . ' 244. 245.
they should send and let the Cid know what had been chr. Gen.
-^ ff. 290.
done.
XXII. Then Pero Bermudez went on to Valencia, and BeTmude?''
Alvar Fañez and the rest of his company abode with the l^i"i*"ed to
dames in Mohna. And when Pero Bermudez arrived he
found the Cid Ruy diez just risen with his chivalry from din-
ner, and when the Cid saw him he welcomed him right
well ; howbeit he could not refrain from weeping ; for be-
fore this Felez Muños had told him all. And he stroked
his beard and said. Thanks be to Christ, the Lord of this
world, by this beard which no one hath ever cut, the Infan-
tes of Carrion shall not triumph in this ! And he began to
take comfort, hearing how King Don Alfonso had appointed
the Cortes. And he took Pero Bermudez by the hand and
led him to Doña Ximena, who wept greatly at seeing him,
and said, Ah, Pero Bermudez, what tidings bringest thou
of my daughters ? And he comforted her and said. Weep
not, Lady, for I left them alive and well at Molina, and
Alvar Fañez with them ; by God's blessing you shall have
good vengeance for them ! Then the Cid seated himself
near his wife, and Pero Bermudez took his seat before them,
and told them all that he had done, and hoAV the King had
summoned them to the Cortes at Toledo. And he said unto
the Cid, My uncle and Lord, I know not what to say, but
ill is my luck that I could not take vengeance before I re-
turned here : and certes, if I could have found them I would
have died, or have completed it : but they when they had
done this villany dared not appear before the King, neither
in his Court, and therefore he hath issued this summons to
them that they should come. Manifestly may it be seen that
the King well inclineth to give you justice, if you fail not to
302
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK demand it. Now then I beseech you tarry not, but let us to
horse and confront them and accuse them, for thLs is not a
thing to be done leisurely. And the Cid answered and
said. Chafe not thyself, Pero Bermudez, for the man who
thinketh by chafing to expedite his business, leaveth ofí'
worse than he began. Be you certain, that if I die not I
shall take vengeance upon those traitors, and I trust in God
not to die till I have taken it. Now therefore, give me no
more anger than I feel in my own heart, for Felez Muñoz
hath given me enough. I thank my Lord King Don Alfonso
for the answer which he gave you, and for appointing the
Cortes, and in such guise will I appear there as shall gall
them who Avish ill to me. God w^iUing, yve will take our de-
Poema del parture in good time ! Do you now return to Molina, and
2839. 2343. bring On my daughters, for I would fain see them ; and I
Cid.i:ap. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ them that they may tell me the whole truth of
Ch ^G ^^^^ thing, that I may know the whole when I go to the
ff. 290. court of the King to demand vengeance.
How the XXIII. Pero Bermudez returned the next day to MoU-
dames re- '^
turned to na, whcrc Abens^alvon had done s^reat honor to the dames,
Valencia. ' ^ ^ . . '
and to Alvar Fañez and all that were with him. And they
departed from Molina, and Abengalvon with them, for he
would not leave them till he had brought them to Valencia
to his Lord the Cid. And Avhen the Cid knew that they were
drawing nigh he rode out tAvo leagues to meet them, and
when they saw him they made great lamentation, they and
all his company, not only the Christians but the Moors also
who were in his service. But my Cid embraced his daugh-
ters, and kissed them both, and smiled and said, Ye are
come, my children, and God will heal you ! I accepted this
marriage for you, but I could do no other ; by God's plea-
sure ye shall be better mated hereafter. And when they
Cid. V. reached Valencia and went into the Alcazar to their mother
2895 2905
Chr. del * Doña Ximcna, who can tell the lamentation which w^as made
246. ^^^ by the mother over her daughters, and the daughters with
ff^i9p^"* tbeir mother, and by the women of their household. Three
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 303
days did this ffreat lamentation last. And the Cid thanked BOOK
Abengalvon, his vassal, for the honor which he had shown .
to his children and their company, and promised to protect
him from all who should come against him. And Abengal-
von returned to Mohna well pleased.
HERE BEGINNETH THE NINTH BOOK
OF THE
CHEONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK I. My Cid the Campeador made ready to appear at the
Cortes in Toledo, and he left the Bishop Don Hieronymo,
Cid depart- and Martin Pelaez the Asturian, to command in Valencia,
Cortes. ^ ^^^ fi^6 hundred knights with them, aU hidalgos. And he
spake with his daughters, and commanded and besought them
to tell him the whole truth, how this matter had been, and not
say the thing which was false ; and they did accordingly,
and related unto him all, even as it had befallen them. And
the Cid departed from Valencia, and with him Avent Alvar
Fañez Minaya with two hundred knights, and Pero Bermu-
dez with one hundred, and Martin Antolinez with fifty, and
Martin Fernandez with other fifty, and Felez Ferruz and
Benito Sanchez with fifty each ; . . these were five hundred
knights. And there went fifty with Martin Garcia and
Martin Salvadorez, and fifty with Pero Gonzalvez and Martm
Muñoz, and Diego Sanchez of Arlanza went with fifty, and
Don Ñuño he who colonized Cubiella, and Alvar Bermu-
dez he who colonized Osma, went with forty, and Gonzalo
Muñoz of Orbaneja, and Muño Ravia, and Yvañez Cor-
nejo with sixty, and Muño Fernandez the Lord of Monte-
forte, and Gomez Fernandez he who colonized Pampliega
CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 305
with sixty ; and Don Garcia de Roa and Serrazin his brother, BOOK
Lord of Aza, with ninety ; and Antolin Sanchez of Soria '■ —
took with him forty knights who were his children or his kin :
. . nine ^ hundred knights were they in all. And there went
with them five hundred esquires on foot, all hidalgos, be-
side those who were bred in his household, and beside other ^^^ ^^^
footmen, who were many in number. All these went well Ciid. cap.
clad in right good garments, and with good horses, to serve Chr. Gen.
the Cid both in the Cortes and in war.
II. Kinsf Don Alfonso made no delay, but sent out his How the
^ •^' Infantes
letters through Leon and Santiago, to the Portugueze and would fain
the Galicians, and they of Carrion, and the Castilians, that held ex-
he would hold a Cortes in Toledo at the end of seven
weeks, and that they who did not appear should no longer
be accounted his vassals. At this greatly were the Infantes
of Carrion troubled, for they feared the coming of my Cid
the Campeador. And they took counsel with their kin and
prayed the King that he would hold them excused from that
Cortes ; and the King made answer, that nothing but God
should excuse them from it, for the Campeador was coming
to demand justice against them, and he, quoth the King,
who will not appear, shall quit my kingdoms. So when they
saw that they must needs appear, they took counsel with the
Count Don Garcia, the enemy of my Cid, who alway wished
him ill, and they went with the greatest company that they Poema del
could assemble, thinking to dismay my Cid the Campeador. ^24.^^^^'
And they arrived before him.
III. When my Cid drcAv nieh unto Toledo, he sent Al- ^^^^.^ ^
, meetmgbe-
var Fañez forward to kiss the Kings's hand, and let him wit ^^^en the
^ ' Cid and the
that he should be there that night. When the King heard King.
this it rejoiced his heart, and he took horse and went out
with a great company to meet him who was born in happy
hour ; and there went with him his sons-in-law, the Count
*
* The number is not accurate, and the Chronica General^ which differs
in the detail, is also erroneous in the sum total.
39
306 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Don Anrrich, and the Count Don Rcmond ; this one was
IX.
the father of the good Emperor/ When they came in
sight, the Cid dismounted and fell to the ground, and would
have abased himself to honor his Lord, but the King cried
out to him and said, By St. Isidro this must not be to-day !
Mount, Cid, or I shall not be well pleased ! I welcome
you with heart and soul ; . . and my heart is grieved
for your grief. God send that the court be honored by
you ! Amen, said my Cid the Campeador, and he kissed
his hand, and afterwards saluted him. And the Cid said, I
thank God that I see you. Sir ; and he humbled himself to
Count Don Anrrich, and Count Don Remond, and the
others, and said, God save all our friends, and chiefly you,
Sir ! my wife Doña Ximena kisses your hand, and my
daughters also, that this thing Avhich hath befallen us, may
be found displeasing unto you. And the King said. That
will it be, unless God prevent. So they rode toward
Toledo. And the King said unto him, I have ordered you
to be lodged in my Palaces of Galiana, that you may be
near me. And the Cid answered, Gramercy, Sir ! God
grant you long Hfe and happy, but in your Palaces there is
none who should be lodged save you. When you hold
your Cortes let it be in those Palaces of GaHana, for there
is better room there than in the Alcazar. I will not cross
the Tagus to-night, but will pass the night in St. Ser vans
on this side, and hold a vigil there. To-morrow I will
Poema del ^^^^er the city, and be in the court before dinner. The King
Cid. 3026. gaid that it pleased him well, and he returned into Toledo.
Chr. del And the Cid went into the Church of St. Servans, and or-
Cid. cap.
247. dered candles to be placed upon the altar, for he would keep
ff. 292. a vigil there ; and there he remained with INIinaya and the
* Aqueste fue padre del buen Emperador.
Poema del Cid. 3014.
This line looks as if the ' Good Emperor ' were reigning when it was
written.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 307
other good ones, praying to the Lord, and talking in private. BOOK
The tents of his company were pitched upon the hills round ___ll__
about. Any one who beheld them might well have said, that
it looked like a great host.
IV. When the Kins: entered the city, he bade his senes- How the
^ '^ . Cid sent
chal Benito Perez, make ready the Palaces of Galiana for his ivory
the next day, when the Cortes should begin ; and he fitted placed in
the great Palace after this manner. He placed estrados with
carpets upon the ground, and hung the walls with cloth of
gold. And in the highest place he placed the royal chair in
which the King should sit ; it was a right noble chair and a
rich, which he had won in Toledo, and which had belonged
to the Kings thereof ; and round about it right noble estrados
were placed for the Counts and honorable men who were
come to the Cortes. Now the Cid knew how they were
fitting up the Palaces of Galiana, and he called for a squire,
who was a young man, one whom he had brought up and
in whom he had great trust ; he was an hidalgo, and hight
Ferran Alfonso : and the Cid bade him take his ivory seat
which he had won in Valencia, and which had belonged to
the Kings thereof, and place it in the Palace, in the best
place, near the seat of the King ; and that none might hurt
or do dishonor unto it, he gave him a hundred squires, all
hidalgos, to go with him, and ordered them not to leave it
till he should come there the next day. So when they had
dined, they made the seat be taken up, and went with it to
the Palaces of Galiana, and placed it near the seat of the
King, as the Cid had commanded ; and all that day and
night they remained there guarding the ivory seat, till the
Cid should come and take his place thereon ; every one
having his sword hung from his neck. This was a right
noble seat, and of subtle work, so that whoso beheld it would
say it was the seat of a good man, and that it became such c¡d.' cap.
a one as the Cid. It was covered with cloth of gold, under- chr. Gen.
neath which was a cushion.^ ^' ^^^'
* Cobierto de un iartari muy noble. This I am unable to explain. It
308 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK V. On the morrow, after the Kins: had hoard mass, he
IX •
went into the Palace of Gahana, where the Cortes was to
which was assemble, and the Infantes of Carrion and the other Counts
rise^co*!" ^^^ Ricos-omes with him, save the Cid who was not yet
hwy"seaf ^ come ; and when they who did not love the Cid beheld his
ivory seat, they began to make mock of it. And Count
Garcia said to the King, I beseech your grace, tell me, for
whom that couch is spread beside your seat : for what dame
is it made ready ; will she come drest in the almexia . . or
with white alquinales on her head, or after what fashion will
she be apparelled ? Sir, a seat like that is fit for none but
your Grace : give order to take it for yourself, or that it be
removed. When F erran Alfonso, who was there to guard
the ivory seat heard this, he answered and said. Count, you
talji full foolishly, and speak ill of one against whom it be-
hoves you not to talk. He who is to sit upon this seat is
better than you, or than all your lineage ; and he hath ever
appeared a man to all his enemies, not like a woman as you
say. If you deny this, I will lay hands upon you, and
make you acknoAvledge it before my Lord the King Don
Alfonso, who is here present. And I am of such a race
that you cannot acquit yourself by saying I am not your
peer, and the vantage of half your arms I give you ! At
these words was the King greatly troubled, and the Counts
also, and all the honorable men who were there present.
And Count Garcia who was an angry man, wrapt his man-
tle under his arm, and would have struck Ferran Alfonso,
saying. Let me get at the boy who dares me ! And Ferran
Alfonso laid hand upon his sword and came forward to
meet him, saying, that if it were not for the King, he would
punish him thereright for the folly wliich he had uttered.
But the King seeing that these words went on from bad to
worse, put them asunder that farther evil might not happen,
may have been the name of some skin or leather, called from the country
from whence it came, as we speak of Moiocco and Russia.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 309
and he said, None of ye have reason to speak thus of the BOOK
seat of the Cid ; he won it hke a good knight and a vaHant, '. —
as he is. There is not a king in the world who deserves
this seat belter than my vassal the Cid, and the better and
more honorable he is the more am I honored through him.
This seat he won in Valencia, where it had belonged to the
Kings thereof: and much gold and silver, and many pre-
cious stones hath he won ; and many a battle hath he won
both against Christians and Moors : and of all the spoil which
he hath won, he hath alway sent me part, and great presents
and full rich, such as never other vassal sent to his Lord, and
this he hath done in acknowledgment that I am his Lord.
Ye who are talking here against him, which of ye hath ever Chr. del
sent me such gifts as he ? If any one be envious let him achieve 249.
such feats as he hath done, and I will seat him with myself if. 292.
to do him honor.
VI. Now the Cid had performed his vigil in the Church How the
of St. Servan, matins and primes were said, and mass per- knights ap-
formed ; and then he made ready to go to the Cortes, and themselves
with him went Alvar Fañez Minaya, whom he called his ^^^ corteí
right arm, and Pero Bermudez, and Muño Gustios, and
Martin Antolinez that doughty Burgalese, and Alvar Al-
varez, and Alvar Salvadorez, and Martin Muñoz, and Felez
Muñoz the Cid's nephew, and Malanda who was a learned
man, and Galin Garciez the good one of Aragón : these
and others made ready to go with him, being an hundred of
the best of his company. They wore velmezes under their
harness, that they might be able to bear it, and then their
mail, which was as bright as the sun : over this they had er-
mine or other skins, laced tight that the armor might not be
seen, and under their cloaks, their swords which were ' sweet
and sharp. He who was born in happy hour made no tar-
' This savage epithet is explained by Sanchez in his glossary to the
Poem with excellent dulness, , . adjetivo que se aplicaba a la espada bien
afilada.
310 CHRONICLE OP THE CID,
BOOK riance ; he drew on his legs hose of fine cloth, and put on
IX
' over them shoes which were richly worked. A shirt of
ramal he wore, which Avas as white as the sun ; all the fas-
tenings were wrought with gold and silver : over this a hrial
of gold tissue ; and over this a red skin with points of gold.
My Cid the Campeador alway wore it. On his head he
had a coif of scarlet wrought with gold, which was made
that none might clip the hair of the good Cid. His
was a long beard, and he bound it with a cord. And he
bade Alvar Fañez and Pero Bermudez assemble their com-
panions, and when he saw them he said, If the Infantes of
Carrion should seek a quarrel, where I have a hundred such
as these I may be well without fear ! And he said, Let us
mount now and go to the Cortes. We go to make one de-
fiance, and peradventure it may be two or three, through the
folly of those who may stir against us. Ye will be ready to
aid me, saying and doing as I shall call upon ye, alway sav-
Cid. 3070. ing the honor and authority of King Don Alfonso our Lord ;
chr. del See now that none of ye say or do aught amiss, for it would
250. be unseemly. Then called he for his horse and bestrode it,
ff. 293.^"" ^iid rode to the Cortes.
How the VII. My Cid and his company ahghted at the gate of
the"cid sft ^^^ Palaces of Galiana,^ and he and his people went in
on his ivory grravely, he in the midst and his hundred knis^hts round
seat. & J 7 íD
about him. When he who was born in happy hour entered,
the good King Don Alfonso rose up, and the Counts Don
Anrrich and Don Remond did the like, and so did all the
others, save the curly-headed one of Granon, and they who
were on the side of the Infantes of Carrion. All the others
received him with great honor. And he said unto the King,
Sir, where do you bid me sit, with these my kinsmen and
friends who are come with me ? And the King made an-
swer. Cid, you are such a one, and have past your time so
^ Both the Chronicles make him carry his whole nine hundred knights
to the Cortes. The Poem is more reasonable.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 311
well to this day, that if you would listen to me and be com- BOOK:
manded by me, I should hold it good that you took your
■^'
seat with me ; for he who hath conquered Kings, ought to
be seated with Kings. But the Cid answered. That, Sir,
would not please God, but I will be at your feet : for by the
favor of the King your father Don Ferrando was I made,
his creature, and the creature of your brother King Don
Sancho am I, and it behoveth not that he who receiveth
bounty should sit with him who dispenseth it. And the
King answered. Since you will not sit with me, sit on your
ivory seat, for you won it like a good man ; and from this
day I order that none except King or Prelate sit with you,
for you have conquered so many high-born men, and so
many Kings, both Christians and Moors, that for this reason
there is none who is your peer, or ought to be seated with
you. Sit therefore like a King and Lord upon your ivory
seat.^ Then the Cid kissed the King's hand, and thanked
him for what he had said, and for the honor which he had -pf^^^^ ¿gi
done him ; and he took his seat, and his hundred knights f^'^^i ^5*
seated themselves round about him. All who were in the Chr. del
Cid. cap.
Cortes sate looking at my Cid and at his lonsf beard which 250.
(^hr (""fin
he had bound with a cord ; but the Infantes of Carrion could ff. 293.
not look upon him for shame.
VIII. When they were all seated the King gave com- How the
mand that they should be silent ; and when the Cid saw that pointed Al-
they were all still, he rose and spake after this manner. Sir give^judg-
King Don Alfonso, I beseech you of your mercy that you ¡h^" cause.
would hear me, and give command that I should be heard,
and that you would suffer none to interrupt me, for I am
not a man of speech, neither know I how to set forth my
words, and if they interrupt me I shall be worse. More-
over, Sir, give command that none be bold enough to utter
unseemly words, nor be insolent towards me, least we should
* On that seat which you gave me as a gift, says the Poem, omitting
all the previous circumstances about it.
312 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK come to Strife in your presence. Then King Don Alfonso
IX.
rose and said, Hear me, as God shall help you I Since I
have been King I have held only tw^o Cortes, one in Burgos,
and one in Carrion. This third I have assembled here in
Toledo for the love of the Cid, that he may demand justice
against the Infantes of Carrion for the wrongs which we all
know. The Counts Don Anrrich and Don Remond shall
be Alcaldes in this cause ; and these other Counts who are
not on either side, give ye all good heed, for ye are to take
cognizance that the right may be decreed. And I give order,
and forbid any one to speak without my command, or to
utter aught insolent against the Cid ; and I swear by St.
Isidro, that whosoever shall disturb the Cortes shall lose my
love and be banished from the kingdom. I am on the side
J , of him who shall be found to have the riffht. Then those
Poema del _ ^
Cid. 3138. Counts who were appointed Alcaldes were sworn upon the
Chr. del Holy Gospels, that they would judge between the Cid and
251. the Infantes of Carrion, rightly and truly, according to the
ff. 293. ' law of Castille and Leon.
How the IX. When this was done the King bade the Cid make
manded ^^^ demand ; and the Cid rose and said, Sir, there is no
da^and t1- ^^^^^^ ^^^' making long speeches here, which would detain
zona. tj^e Cortes. I demand of the Infantes of Carrion, before
you, two swords which I gave into their keeping ; the one
is Colada and the other Tizona. I won them like a man,
and gave them to the keeping of the Infantes that they
might honor my daughters with them, and serve you.
When they left my daughters in the Oak-forest of Corpes
they chose to have nothing to do with me, and renounced
my love ; let them therefore give me back the swords, see-
ing that they are no longer my sons-in-law. Then the King
commanded the Alcaldes to judge upon this demand ac-
cording as they should find the right ; and they took coun-
sel and judged, that the swords should be restored unto
the Cid. And Count Don Garcia said they would talk
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 313
concerning it ; and the Infantes of Carrion talked apart BOOK
with those who were on their side, and they thought that '.
they were well off ; for that the Cid would demand nothing
more of them, but would leave the Cortes when he had re-
covered the swords. So they brought the SAvords Colada
and Tizona, and delivered them to the King. The King
drew the swords, and the whole Court shone with their
brightness : their hilts were of solid gold ; all the good
men of the Cortes marvelled at them. And the Cid rose
and received them, and kissed the King's hand, and went
back to his ivory seat ; and he took the swords in his hand
and looked at them ; they could not change them, for the
Cid knew them well, and his whole frame rejoiced, and
he smiled from his heart. And he laid them upon his lap
and said. Ah, my swords. Colada and Tizona, truly may I
say of you, that you are the best swords in Spain ; and I
won you, for I did not get you either by buying or by
barter. I gave ye in keeping to the Infantes of Carrion
that they might do honor to my daughters with ye. But
ye were not for them ! they kept ye hungry, and did not
feed ye with flesh as ye were wont to be fed. Well is it
for you that ye have escaped that thraldom and are come
again to my hands, and happy man am I to recover you.
Then Alvar Fañez rose and kissed the hand of the Cid,
and said, I beseech you give Colada into my keeping while
this Cortes shall last, that I may defend you therewith : and
the Cid gave it him and said. Take it, it hath changed its
master for the better. And Pero Bermudez rose and made
the same demand for the sword Tizona, and the Cid gave
it him in like manner. Then the Cid laid hand upon his
beard as he was wont to do, and the Infantes of Carrion Cid.
and they who were of their side thought that he meant to chr. del
disturb the Cortes, and they were greatly afraid; but he252.'ciir.
sate still like a man of good understanding, for he was not 23^3!'
one who did things lightly.
40
Poema del
314 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK X. Then the Cid rose and said, Thanks be to God and to
IX
. '. — you, Sir King, I have recovered my swords Colada and Ti-
Cid^made ^ona. I have now another demand against the Infantes of
his second Carrion. King Don Alfonso, you well know that it Avas your
against the pleasure to bid me meet you at Requeña, and I went there in
obedience to your command. And you asked of me my
daughters in marriage for the Infantes, and I did not refuse,
in that I would not disobey your command ; and you bade
me deliver them to my kinsman here Don Alvar Fañez, and
he gave them to the Infantes to be their wives, and the
blessing was given them in the church of St. Mary, accord-
ing to the laAv of Rome. You, Sir, gave them in marriage,
not I ; and you did it for good, not for evil ; but what they
did w^as after another wise. And though they are of great
blood and honorable, yet w^ould I not have given my daugh-
ters to them, unless in obedience to your command ; and
this, Sir, you well know, for so I said unto you. I gave
them, when they took my daughters from Valencia, horses
and mules, and cups and vessels of fine gold, and much
wrought silver, and many noble garments, and other gifts,
three thousand marks of silver in all, thinking that I gave it
to my daughters whom I loved. Now, Sir, since they have
cast my daughters off, and hold themselves to have been
dishonored in marrying them, give command that they re-
store unto me this Avhich is my oAvn, or that they show cause
why they should not. Then might you have seen the In-
fantes of Carrion in great chafing. And Count Don Re-
mond called upon them to speak ; and they said, We gave
his swords to the Cid Campeador, that he might ask nothing
more of us, if it please the King. But the King said that
they must answer to the demand. And they asked to con-
sult together concerning it ; and the King bade them take
counsel and make answer incontinently. So they went
apart, and with them eleven Counts and Ricos-omes who
were on their side, but no right or reason could they find
for opposing this demand which the Cid had made. How-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 315
beit Count Don Garcia spake for them and said, Sir, this BOOK
which the Cid demands back from them, it is true that he '. —
gave it, but they have expended it in your service ; we hold
therefore that they are not bound to make restitution of it,
seeing how it hath been expended. Nevertheless if you
hold it to be lawful that they should restore this money, give
order that time be given them to make the payment, and
they will go to Carrion, their inheritance, and there dis-
charge the demand as you shall decree. When the Count
had thus said he sate down. And the Cid arose and said,
Sir, if the Infantes of Carrion have expended aught in your
service, it toucheth not me. You and the Alcaldes whom
you have appointed have heard them admit that I gave them
this treasure, and this excuse which they set up ; I pray you
let judgment be given whether they are bound to pay it or
not. Then King Don Alfonso answered and said. If the
Infantes of Carrion have expended aught in my service, I
am bound to repay it, for the Cid must not lose what is his
own : and he bade the Alcaldes consult together and judge
according to what they should find right. And the Alcaldes
having taken counsel gave judgment, that seeing the Infantes
acknowledged the Cid had given them this treasure with his
daughters, and they had abandoned them, they must needs
make restitution in the Cortes of the King there-right : and
the King confirmed this sentence, and the Cid rose and kiss-
ed the King's hand. Greatly were the Infantes of Carrion
troubled at this sentence, and they besought the King that
he would obtain time for them from the Cid, in which to
make their payment ; and the King besought him to grant
them fifteen days, after this manner, that they should not
depart from the Court till they had made the payment, and
that they should plight homage for the observance of this.
And the Cid granted what the King desired, and they plight-
ed homage accordingly in the hands of the King. Then
made they their account with the King, and it was found
that what they had expended for his service was two hun-
316 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK dred marks of silver, and the King said that he would repay
this, so that there remained for them two thousand and eight
hundred to pay. Who can tell the trouble in which the
Infantes were, to pay this treasure to the Cid, they and all
their kindred and friends, for it was full hard for them to
accomphsh. And they took up upon trust horses and mules
and wrought silver, and other precious things, and as they
could get them, delivered them over to the Cid. Then
might you have seen many a good-going horse brought
there, and many a good mule, and many a good palfrey,
and many a good sword with its mountings. And they sent
to Carrion to their father and mother to help them, for they
Cid. 3211. were in great trouble : and they raised for them all they
3263.
Chr. del could, SO that they made up the sum within the time ap-
253. pointed. And then they thought that the matter was at an
ff. 294!"* end, and that nothing more would be demanded from them.
How the XI. After this payment had been made the Cortes as-
his'third^ scmbled again, and the King and all the honorable men
a^ains? the ^^^^E ©ach in his place, the Cid rose from his ivory seat,
Infantes, and Said, Sir, praise be to God and your favor, I have
recovered my swords, and my treasure ; now then I pray
you let this other demand be heard which I have to make
against the Infantes. Full hard it is for me to make it,
though I have it rooted in my heart ! I say then, let them
make answer before you, and tell why it was that they
besought you to marry them with my daughters, and why
they took them away from me from Valencia, when they
had it in heart to dishonor me, and to strike them, and leave
them as they were left, in the Oak-forest of Corpes ? Look
Sir, what dishonor they did them I They stript them of the
garments which they had not given them, as if they had
been bad women, and the children of a bad father. With
less than mortal defiance I shall not let them go ! . . . How
had I deserved this. Infantes, at your hands ? I gave you
my daughters to take with you from Valencia ; with gTeat
honor and great treasures gave I them unto you ; . . Dogs
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 317
and Traitors, . . ye took them from Valencia when ye did BOOK
not love them, and with your bridles ye smote and with ^ —
your spurs ye spurned and wounded them, and ye left
them alone in the Oak-forest, to the wild beasts and to the
birds of the mountain ! King Don Alfonso, they neither
remembered God, nor you, nor me, nor their own good for-
tune I And here was fulfilled the saying of the wise man,
that harder it is for those who have no understanding to
bear with good than with evil. Praise be to God and to
your grace, such a one am I, and such favor hath God
shown me, from the day when I first had horse and arms,
until now, that not only the Infantes of Carrion, but saving
yourself. Sir, there is not a King in Christendom who might
not think himself honored in marrying w^ith either of my
daughters, . . how much more then these traitors ! . . I
beseech you give me justice upon them for the evil and
dishonor which they have done me ! And if you and your
Cortes will not right me, through the mercy of God and
my own good cause, I will take it myself, for the offence
which they have committed agamst God and the faith and
the truth which they promised and vowed to their wives.
I will pull them down from the honor in which they now
are ; better men than they have I conquered and made
prisoners ere now ! And with your license. Sir, to Carrion
will I follow them, even to their inheritance, and there will
I besiege them, and take them by the throat, and carry them
prisoners to Valencia to my daughters, and there make them
do penance for the crime which they have committed, and
feed them with the food which they deserve. If I do not
perform this, call me a flat traitor. When the King heard *
this he rose up and said, that it might be seen how he was
offended in this thing. Certes, Cid Ruydicz Campeador, I
asked your daughters of you for the Infantes of Carrion,
because, as they Avell know, they besought me to do so, I
never having thought thereof. It well seemeth now that they
were not pleased with this marriage which I made at their
318 CHROiMCLE OF THE CID,
BOOK request, and great part of the dishonor which they have done
'. — you, toucheth me. Eut seeing ye are here in my presence,
it is not fitting that you make your demand in any other
Poema del ii^^^ner than through my Cortes ; do you therefore accuse
3^^^s'' 3264 ^^^^j ^^^ ^^t them acquit themselves if they can before my
Chr. del Alcaldes, who Avill pass sentence according to what is right.
254. And the Cid kissed the King's hand, and returned to his place
Chr. Gen. , . & J i
ff. 295. upon the ivory seat.
How the XII. Then the Cid arose and said, God prosper you,
Cid defied r^- • -¡'p ii i • i
the infan- ou', m hie, and honor, and estate, smce you have compassion
for me and for the dishonor which my daughters have re-
ceived. And he turned towards the Infantes of Carrion, and
said. Ferrando Gonzalez and Diego Gonzalez, I say that ye
are false traitors for leaving your wives as ye left them in the
Oak-forest ; and here before the King I attaint you as false
traitors, and defy you, and will produce your peers who shall
prove it upon you, and slay you or thrust you out of the Usts
or make you confess it in your throats. And they were si-
lent. And the King said, that seeing they were there pres-
ent, they should make answer to what the Cid Jiad said.
Then Ferrando Gonzalez the elder arose and said. Sir, we
are your subjects, of yom* kingdom of Castille, and of the
best hidalgos therein, sons of the Count Don Gonzalo Gon-
zalez ; and we hold that men of such station as ourselves
were not well married with the daughters of Ruydiez of
Bivar. And for this reason we forsook them, because they
come not of blood fit for our wives, for one lineage is above
another. Touching Avhat he says, that we forsook them,
he saith truly ; and w^e hold that in so doing we did no-
thing Avrong, for they were not worthy to be our wives,
and we are more to be esteemed for having left them, than
we were while they were wedded Avith us. Noav then, Sir,
there is no reason Avhy Ave should do battle upon this matter
Avith any one. And Diego Gonzalez his brother arose and
said. You knoAv, Sir, Avhat perfect men Ave are in our hneage,
and it did not befit us to be married Avith the daughters of
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 319
such a one as Ruydiez ; and when he had said this he held BOOK
his peace and sate down.^ Then Count Don Garcia rose ^^'
and said, Come away, Infantes, and let us leave the Cid
sitting like a bridegroom in his ivory chair : . . he lets his
beard grow and thinks to frighten us with it ! . . The Cam-
peador put up his hand to his beard, and said, What hast
thou to do with my beard. Count ? Thanks be to God, it is
long because it hath been kept for my pleasure ; ^ never son
of woman hath taken me by it ; never son of Moor or of
Christian hath plucked it, as I did yours in your castle of
Cabra, Count, when I took your castle of Cabra, and took
you by the beard ; there was not a boy of the host but had
his pull at it. What I plucked then is not yet methinks grown
even ! . . And the Count cried out again, Come away. In-
fantes, and leave him ! Let him go back to Rio de Ovierna,
to his own country, and set up his mills, and take toll as he
used to do ! . .he is not your peer that you should strive Cid. v.
. . f, 3282. 3393.
with him. At this the knights of the Cid looked at each Chr. del.
other with fierce eyes and wrathful countenances ; but none 255. 256.
of them dared speak till the Cid bade them, because of the g-. 296.^^"
command which he had given.
XIII. When the Cid saw that none of his people made H^w Pero
^ ^ Bermudez
answer, he turned to Pero Bermudez and said. Speak, Pero being an-
2fered bv
Mudo, what art thou silent for ? He called him Mudo, which the Cid,
smote down
Count Don
Garcia.
' The Chronica del Cid inserts here an account of the Cid's pedigree,
as given by the King in reply to this speech of the Infantes. Both
Chronicles proceed with a speech from Ordoño, in which he tells the
Infante Diego of his cowardice in the battle with King Bucar, and re-
peats the story of the lion. There is nothing of this in the Poem, and
it is foolishly interpolated, because it appears immediately afterwards that
none of the Cid's people, exasperated as they were, ventured to speak
till he commanded them.
All that the Chronicles attribute to Ordoño is in the Poem assigned to
Felez Muñoz, and this I have followed.
^ Por esa es luenga que a delicio fue creada.
Poema del Cid. 3294.
320 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK is to say, Diimb-ce, because he snaffled and stuttered when
'. — he began to speak ; and Pero Bermudez was wroth that he
should be so called before all that assembly. And he said,
I tell you what, Cid, you always call me Dumb-ee in Court,
and you know I cannot help my Avords ; but when any thing
is to be done, it shall not fail for me. And in his anger he
forgot what the Cid had said to him and to the others that
they should make no broil before the King. And he gath-
ered up his cloak under his arm and went up to the eleven
Counts who were against the Cid, to Count Garcia, and
when he was nigh him he clenched his fist, and gave him a
blow which brought him to the ground. Then was the
w^hole Cortes in an uproar by reason of that blow, and many
swords were drawn, and on one side the cry was Cabra and
Grañon, and on the other side it was Valencia and Bivar ;
but the strife was in such sort that the Counts in short time
voided the palace. King Don Alfonso meantime cried out
aloud, forbidding them to fight before him, and charging
them to look to his honor ; and the Cid then strove what he
could to quiet his people, saying to the King, Sir, you saw
that I could bear it no longer, being thus maltreated in your
presence ; if it had not been before you, well would I have
had him punished. Then the King sent to call those Counts
who had been driven out ; and they came again to the
Palace, though they fain would not, complaining of the dis-
honor which they had received. And the Kmg said unto
them that they should defend themselves with courtesy and
reason, and not revile the Cid, Avho was not a man to be re-
Chr. del viled ) and he said that he Avould defend as far as he could
257." ^^^' the rights of both parties. Then they took their seats on the
ff.^296.^^"' estrados as before.
jjow the XIV. And Pero Bermudez rose and said to Count
tiiaf he^^ Garcia, Foul mouth, in Avhich God hath put no truth, thou
would give hagt dared let thy tonsrue loose to speak of the Cid's beard.
sentence in jo i
this matter. His is a praiseworthy beard, and an honorable one, and one
that is greatly feared, and that never hath been dishonored
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 321
nor overcome ! and if you please you may remember when BOOK
he fought against you in Cabra, hundred to hundred, he '.
threw you from your horse, and took thee by the beard,
and made thee and thy knights prisoners, and carried thee
prisoner away across a packsaddle ; and his knights pulled
thy beard for thee, and I who stand here had a good hand-
full of it : how then shall a beard that hath been pulled
speak against one that hath alway been honorable I If you
deny this, I will fight you upon this quarrel before the King
our Lord. Then Count Suero Gonzalez rose in great haste
and said. Nephews, go you away and leave these rascally
companions : if they are for fighting, we will give them
their fill of that, if our Lord the King should think good so
to command ; that shall not fail for us, though they are not
our peers. Then Don Alvar Fañez Minaya arose and said,
Hold thy peace. Count Suero Gonzalez ! you have been to
breakfast before you said your prayers, and your words are
more like a drunkard's than one who is in his senses. Your
kinsmen like those of the Cid ! ... if it were not out of
reverence to my Lord the King, I would teach you never to
talk again in this way. And then the King saw that these
words were going on to worse, and moreover that they
were nothing to the business ; and he commanded them to
be silent, and said, I will determine this business of the de-
fiance with the Alcaldes, as shall be found risfht : and I will chr.delCid.
' ^ ' cap. 258.
not have these disputes carried on before me, least you ^h»*- ^^"•
should raise another uproar in my presence.
XV. Then the Kino: rose and called to the Alcaldes, and How the
P ' battle was
went apart with them into a chamber, and the Cid and all appointed,
the others remained in the Hall. And when the King and named his
the Alcaldes had taken counsel together concerning what ^ '^^^P^^"^-
was right in this matter, they came out from the chamber,
and the King went and seated himself in his chair, and the
Alcaldes each in his place, and they commanded all persons
to be silent and hear the sentence which the King should
give. Then the King spake thus : I have taken counsel
41
322 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK with these Counts whom I appointed to be Alcaldes in this
cause between the Cid and the Infantes of Carrion, and with
other honorable and learned men : and this is the sentence
which I give ; that Ijoth the Infantes and Count Suero
Gonzalez their fosterer and uncle, forasmuch as it is given
me to understand that he v^as the adviser and abetter in the
dishonor which they did unto the daughters of the Cid, shall
do battle with such three of the Cid's people as it may please
him to appoint, and thereby acquit themselves if they can.
When the King had given this sentence, the Cid rose and
kissed his hand and said. May God have you. Sir, in his
holy keeping long and happy years, seeing you have judged
justly, as a righteous King and our natural Lord. I receive
your sentence ; and now do I perceive that it is your plea-
sure to show favor unto me, and to advance mine honor,
and for this reason I shall ever be at your service. Then
Pero Bermudez rose up and went to the Cid and said, A
boon, Sir ! I beseech you let me be one of those who shaU
do battle on your part, for such a one do I hold myself to
be, and this which they have done is so foul a thing, that I
trust in God to take vengeance for it. And the Cid made
answer that he was well pleased it should be so, and that
he should do battle Avith Ferrando Gonzalez the eldest ; and
upon that Pero Bermudez kissed his hand. Then Martin An-
tolinez of Burgos rose and besought the Cid that he might
be another, and the Cid granted his desire, and said that he
should do battle Avith Diego Gonzalez the younger brother.
And then Muño Gustioz of Linquella rose and besought the
Cid that he might be the third, and the Cid granted it, and
appointed him to do battle with Count Suero Gonzalez.
And when the Cid had appointed his three champions, the
King gave command that the combat should be performed
on the morrow ; but the Infantes were not prepared to fight
so soon, and they besought him of his favor that he would
let them go to Carrion, and that they would come prepared
for the battle. And the King w^ould not allow this time
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 323
which they requested ; howbeit the Counts Don Anrrich ^^^^
IX.
and Don Remond his sons-in-law, and Count Don Nuno, — ^ ,
' , Chr. del
spake with him, and besought him of his grace that he would cid. cap.
allow them three weeks ; and the King at their entreaty chr. Gen.
granted it with the pleasure of the Cid.
XVI. Now when all this had been appointed, as ye have Pr^^gg^of
heard, and while they were all in the court, there came into Aragón and
' *^ _ Navarre
the Palace messeng-ers from the Kinsjs of Araron and of sent to ask
. the daugh-
Navarre, who brought letters to King Don Alfonso, and to ters of tlie
the Cid Campeador, wherein those Kings sent to ask the marriage.
daughters of the Cid in marriage ; the one for the Infante
Don Sancho of Aragón, and the other for the Infante Garcia
Ramirez of Navarre. And when they came before the
King, they bent their knees and gave him the letters, and
delivered their message ; the like did they to the Cid.
Much were the King and the Cid also pleased at this news,
and the King said unto him. What say you to this ? And
the Cid answered, I and my daughters are at your disposal,
do you with us as you shall think good. And the King said
I hold it good that they wed with these Infantes, and that
from henceforward they be Queens and ladies ; and that for
the dishonor which they have received, they now receive
this honor. And the Cid rose and kissed the hands of the
King, and all his knights did the like. These messengers
hight, he of Aragón Yñigo Ximenez, and he of Navarre
Ochoa Perez. And the King gave order that his letters of
consent to these marriages should be given, and the Cid did
the like. And those knights did homage before the King,
that in three months from that day the Infantes of Aragón
and Navarre should come to Valencia, to the Cid, to be
wedded to his daughters. Great joy had the companions of
the Cid that these marriages were appointed, seeing how
their honor was increased ; and contrariwise, great was the
sorrow of the Infantes of Carrion and their friends, because
it was to their confusion and great shame. And King Don
Alfonso said aloud unto the Cid before them all, Praised be
324 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK the name of God, because it halh pleased him that the dis-
'. honor which was done to me and to you in your daughters,
should thus be turned into honor : for they were the wives
of the sons of Counts, and now shall they be the wives of
the sons of Kings, and Queens hereafter. Great was the
pleasure of the Cid and his company at these words of the
King, for before they had sorrow, and now it was turned
into joy. And the Infantes went away from the Palace full
Chr. del sadly, and went to their lodging, and prepared to go to Car-
260. * rion that they might make ready for the combat, which was
ff. 297. ° ^o be in three Aveeks from that time.
How the XVII. Then the Cid said unto the King, Sir, I have
mitte^d'his appointed those who are to do battle with the Infantes and
kn?^Ms to ^^^i^ uncle, for the enmity and treason which they commit-
the King's ted agjaiust me and my daughters ; and now, Sir, as there is
protection. p ./ o ? ' '
nothing more for me to do here, I will leave them in your
hand, knowing that you will not suffer them to receive any
displeasure or wrong soever, and that you w^iU defend their
right. And if it please you I would fain return to Valen-
cia, where I have left my wife and daughters, and my other
companions ; for I would not that the Moors should rise up
against me during my absence, thinking peradventure that I
have not sped so well in this matter as I have done, praised
be God and you. And moreover I have to make ready
for these marriages which you have now appointed. And
the King bade him go when he pleased, and good fortune
with him, and said that he would protect his knights and
maintain his right in all things. Then the Cid kissed
the King's hand for this which he had said, and commended
the knifi^hts to his keeping^. And the Kin^ called for
Chr. del ^ . ^ . .
Cid. rap. Count Don Remond, his son-in-law, and 2^ave the knio^hts
261. Chr. . . ' & &
Geri. if. of the Cid to his charge, and bade them not depart from
him ; and then the King rose and returned to the Alcazar.
nobleness XVIII. Then the Cid took off his coif of raiizal, which
theCidd'is- ^'^^ ^^ Avhite as the sun, and he loosed his beard, and took
treasure ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ which it was bound. All they who
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 325
were there could not be satisfied with looking at him. And BOOK
• IX
the Counts Don Anrrich and Don Remond came up to him, '
and he embraced them, and thanked them and the other
good men who had been Alcaldes in this business for main-
taining his right ; and he .promised to do for them in requital
whatever they might require ; and he besought them to ac-
cept part of his treasures. And they thanked him for this
offer, but said that it was not seemly. Howbeit he sent great
presents to each of them, and some accepted them and
some did not. Who can tell how nobly the Cid distributed
his treasure before he departed ? And he forgave the King
the two hundred marks which should have been paid on ac-
count of the Infantes. And to the knights who had come Chr. del
from Aragón and Navarre concerning the marriages, he gave 26i.
many horses, and money in gold, and sent them with great g . 298.
honor into their own country.
XIX. On the morrow the Cid went to take leave of the How the
King, and the King went some way out of the town with have given
him, and all the good men who were in the court also, to do ^^KinA"
him honor as he deserved. And when he was about to dis-
peed himself of the King, they brought him his precious
horse Bavieca, and he turned to the King and said. Sir, I
should depart ill from hence if I took with me so good a
horse as my Bavieca, and did not leave him for you, for
such a horse as this is fit for you, and for no other master :
and that you may see what he is, I will do before you what
it is long since I have done, except in the battles which I
have had with my enemies. Then he mounted his horse,
with his ermine housings, and gave him the spur. Who can
tell the goodness of the horse Bavieca, and of the Cid who
rode him ? And as the Cid was doing this, the horse brake
one of his reins, yet he came and stopt before the King as
easily as if both the reins had been whole. Greatly did the
King and all they who were with him marvel at this, saying
that they had never seen or heard of so good a horse as
that. And the Cid besought the King that he would be
326 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK pleased to take the horse, but the King answered, God for-
' bid that I should take him ! . . rather would I give you a
better if I had one, for he is better bestowed on you than on
me or any other, for upon that horse you have done honor to
Poema del jourself, and to us, and to all Christendom, by the good feats
?r34 ^^^^' which you have achieved. Let him go as mine, and I will
Chr. del take him when I please. Then the Cid kissed the Kind's
Cid. cap. ^ ^
262. hand and dispeeded himself, and the Kins: embraced him
Chr. Gen. ^ i m i i
ff. 298. and returned to Toledo.
Of what XX. Now when the Cid had taken leave of the Kinff,
said to his and of the other honorable men and Counts, and Ricos-
knjhts. omes who were Avith him, Pero Bermudez and Martin An-
tolinez and Muño Gustioz Avent on yet awhile with him ;
and he counselled them how to demean themselves so as to
clear him of the shame which had been done him, and to be
held for good knights themselves, and to take vengeance for
King Don Alfonso, and for him, and for themselves, that he
might receive good tidings from them in Valencia. And
they took his counsel well, as they afterwards manifested
when there was occasion. But Martin Antolinez made an-
swer, Why do you say this. Sir ? We have undertaken the
business, and we shall go through it ; and they said unto
him, God have you in his guidance. Sir, and be you sure
and certain, that by the mercy and help of God we shall so
demean ourselves as to come to you wdthout shame. But if
for our sins it should betide otherwise, never more shall we
d 1 ^PP^^^ before you dead or living, . . for slain we may be,
Cid. 3535. but never vanquished. Then he bade them return to the
3544. '■
Chr. del King, praying to God to have them in his keeping, and as-
263.' ' sist them in fulfilhng their demand, as he kncAv that their
Chr. Gen. . , ,
299 cause was right.
HERE BEGINNETH THE TENTH BOOK
OF THE
CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
I. Now Kinsj Alfonso misdoubted the Infantes of Car- BOOK
rion that they would not appear at the time appointed, and '
therefore he said that he would go to Carrion, and the bat- ^9"^ ^^^^^
tie should be fought there. And he took with him the ^^ Camon.
Counts whom he had appointed Alcaldes, and Pero Ber-
mudez and Martin Antolinez and Muño Gustioz went with
the Count Don Remond, to whose charge the King had
given them. And on the third day after the Cid de-
parted from Toledo the King set forth for Carrion ; but it so
chanced that he fell sick upon the road, and could not arrive
within the three weeks, so that the term was enlarged to
five. And when the King's health was restored he pro-
ceeded and reached Carrion, and gave order that the com-
bat should be performed, and appointed the day, and named
the plain of Carrion for the place thereof. And the Infantes
came there with a sveat company of all their friends and
. .^ 1 J Poema del
kindred, for their kinsmen were many and powerful ; and Cid. 3545.
they all came with one accord, that if before the battle they Chr.'dei
could find any cause, they would kill the knights of the Cid ; 264." ^^^'
nevertheless, though they had determined upon this, they g-, 299. '
328 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK dared not put it in cfTect, because they stood in fear of the
King.
How the Ji. And when the nÍ2[ht came of which the morrow was
Inlantes ^ "
sent lo de- appointed for the combat, they on one side and on the other
sire that , . . . ' ^
Colada and kept Vigil in the Churchcs, each in that Church to which he
Tizona i i i ■, • tvt- , • i i i •
might not nacl the most devotion. JNight is past away and the dawn is
against i^ow breaking ; and at day-break a great multitude was
^ ^^' assembled in the field, and many Ricos-omes came there
for the pleasure which they would have in seeing this battle,
and the King sent and commanded the champions to make
ready. Moreover he made the two Counts his sons-in-law,
Don Anrrich and Don Remond, and the other Counts and
their people, arm themselves and keep the field, that the kins-
men of the Infantes might not make a tumult there. Who
can tell the great dole and sorrow of Count Gonzalo Gon-
zalez for his sons the Infantes of Carrion, because they had
to do battle this day ! and in the fulness of his heart he
curst the day and the hour in which he was born, for his
heart divined the sorrow which he was to have for his child-
ren. Great was the multitude which was assembled from
all Spain to behold this battle. And there in the field near
the lists the champions of the Cid armed themselves on one
side, and the Infantes on the other. And Count Don Re-
mond armed the knights of the Cid, and instructed them
how to do their devoir, and Count Garci Ordonez helped
arm the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gonza-
lez, and they sent to ask the Kmg of his favor that he would
give command that the swords Colada and Tizona should
not be used in that combat. But the King would not, and
he answered that each must take the best sword and the
best arms that he could, save only that the one should not
„ , , have more than the other. Greatly were they troubled at
Poema del «^ *'
Cid.v.3556. this reply, and greatly did they fear those good swords, and
Chr. del repent that they had taken them to the Cortes of Toledo.
264. And from that hour the Infantes and Suero Gonzalez be-
ff. 299. " wrayed in their countenances that they thought ill of what
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 329
they had done, and happy men would they have thought BOOK
themselves if they had not committed that great villany, and '.
he if he had not counselled it ; and gladly vs^ould they have
given all that they had in Carrion so it could nov\^ have been
undone.
III. And the Kinff went to the place where the Infantes How they
Gntered. the
were arming, and said unto them, If ye feared these swords lists.
ye should have said so in the Cortes of Toledo, for that was
the place, and not this ; . . there is now nothing to be done
but to defend youselves stoutly, as ye have need against
those with whom ye have to do. Then went he to the
knights of the Cid, whom he found armed ; and they kissed
his hand and said unto him. Sir, the Cid hath left us in your
hand, and we beseech you see that no wrong be done us in
this place, where the Infantes of Carrion have their party ;
and by God's mercy we will do ourselves right upon them.
And the King bade them have no fear for that. Then their
horses were brought, and they crost the saddles, and mount-
ed, with their shields hanging from the neck ; and they took
their spears, each of which had its streamer, and with many
good men round about they went to the lists ; and on the
other side the Infantes and Count Suero Gonzalez came up
with a great company of their friends and kinsmen and vas-
sals. And the King said with a loud voice. Hear Avhat I
say. Infantes of Carrion I . . this combat I would have had
waged in Toledo, but ye said that ye were not ready to per-
form it there, and therefore I am come to this which is your
native place, and have brought the knights of the Cid with
me. They are come here under my safeguard. Let not
therefore you nor your kinsmen deceive yourselves, thmking
to overpower them by tumult, or in any other way than by
fair combat ; for whosoever shall begin a tumult, I have
given my people orders to cut him in pieces upon the spot,
and no inquiry shall be made touching the death of him
who shall so have offended. Full sorrowful were the Infantes
of Carrion for this command which the King had given.
42
330 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK And the King appoinled twelve knights who were hidalgos
'. to be true-men ' and placed the combatants in the lists, and
show them the bounds at what point they were to win or to
Poema del be vanquished, and to divide the sun between them. And
3583. 3623. hc wcnt Avith a wand in his hand, and saw them placed on
Cid. cap. both sides ; then he went out of the lists, and gave command
chr. Gen. ^^^^ ^^^ people should fall back, and not approach within
ff. 299. seven spears-length of the lines of the hsts.
Of the com- jy^ Now Were the six combatants left alone in the lists,
bat he- '
tween Pero and each of them knew now with whom he had to do battle.
Bermudez
and Ferran- And thev laced their helmets, and put shield upon the arm,
do Gonza- . - . ' * . .
lez. and laid lance in rest. And the knights of my Cid advanc-
ed against the Infantes of Carrion, and they on their part
against the champions of the Campeador. Each bent
down with his face to the saddle-bow, and gave his horse the
spur. And they met all six with such a shock, that they
who looked on expected to see them all fall dead. Pero
Bermudez and Ferrando Gonzalez encountered, and the
shield of Pero Bermudez was pierced, but the spear past
through on one side, and hurt him not, and brake in two
places ; and he sat firm in his seat. One blow he receiv-
ed, but he gave another ; he drove his lance through Fer-
rando's shield, at his breast, so that nothing availed him.
Ferrando's breast-plate was threefold ; tAvo plates the spear
went clean through, and di'ove the third in before it, with the
velmez and the shirt, into the breast, near his heart ; . . and
the girth and the poitral of his horse burst, and he and the
saddle went together over the horse's heels, and the spear
in him, and all thought him dead. Howbeit Ferrando
Gonzalez rose, and the blood began to run out of his
mouth, and Pero Bermudez di'ew his sAvord and Avent
against him ; but Avhen he saw the sword Tizona over him,
^ Fieles may be well rendered by this phrase ; the number twelve is
particularized by the Chronica General. These true -men seem to have
been literally judges of the facts that past before them.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 331
before he received a blow from it, he cried out that he con- BOOK
fessed himself conquered, and that what Pero Bermudez
X.
had said asfainst him was true. And when Pero Bermudez Poema del
^ Cid.
heard this he stood still, and the twelve true-men came up 3623. 3557.
Chr del
and heard his confession, and pronounced him vanquished, cid. cap.
This Ferrando did thinking to save his life ; but the wound chr. Geii.
which he had got was mortal.
V. Martin Antolinez and Dies^o Gonzalez brake their ^f J^l^f^^^fi"
o tie beiween
lances on each other, and laid hand upon their swords. Martin An-
' ^ toJinez and
Martin Antolinez drew forth Colada, the brishtness of which Dif go Gon-
zalez.
flashed over the whole field, for it was a marvellous sword ;
and in their strife he dealt him a back-handed blow which
sheared off the crown of his helmet, and cut away hood and
coif, and the hair of his head and the skin also : this stroke
he dealt with the precious Colada. And Diego Gonzalez
was sorely dismayed therewith, and though he had his own
sword in his hand he could not for very fear make use of it,
but he turned his hojse and fled : and Martin Antolinez
went after him, and dealt him another with the flat part of
the sword, for he mist him with the edge, and the Infante Poema del
began to cry out aloud. Great God, help me, and save me ^^^g ^^^^•
from that sword ! And he rode away as fast as he could, ^j^j"- ^^^
and Martin Antolinez called out after him, Get out, Don 267.
Chr. Gen.
Traitor ! and drove him out of the lists, and remained con- ff. 300.
queror.
VI. Muño Gustioz and Suero Gonzalez dealt each Of the bat-
other such strokes with their spears as it was marvellous to Muño Gus-
behold. And Suero Gonzalez being a right hardy knight ero Gonza-
and a strong, and of great courage, struck the shield of ^^'
Muño Gustioz and pierced it through and through ; but
the stroke was given aslant, so that it passed on and touched
him not. Muño Gustioz lost his stirrups with that stroke,
but he presently recovered them, and dealt him such a
stroke in return that it went clean through the midst of the
shield, and through all his armor, and came out between his
ribs, missing the heart ; then laying hand on him he wrench-
ed him out of the saddle, and threw him down as he drew
332 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK the spear out of his body ; and the point of the spear and
— — the haft and the streamer all came out red. Tlien all the
beholders thought that he Avas stricken to death. And
Muño Gustioz turned to smite again. But when Gonzalo
Ansures his father saw this, he cried out aloud for great
ruth which he had for his son, and said. For God's sake do
not strike him again, for he is vanquished. And Muño
Gustioz, like a man of good understanding, asked the true-
men whether he were to be held as conquered for what his
father said, and they said not, unless he confirmed it Avith
Poema del ^^^ ^^^^ mouth. And Muño Gustioz turned again to Suero
3703^^^^^ Gonzalez where he lay wounded, and lifted his spear
Chr. del asjaiust him, and Suero Gonzalez cried out, Strike me not,
CkI. cap. ^ . .
268. Chr. for I am vanquished. And the judges said it Avas enough,
300. and that the combat Avas at an end.
How the VII. Then the King entered the lists, and many good
c^arr^r kniglits and hidalgos with him, and he called the tAvelve
dared iVai- truc-meu, and asked them if the knights of the Cid had
*"®- aught more to do to prove their accusation ; and they
made ansAver that the knights of the Cid had Avon the
field and done their devoir : and all the hidalgos who
were there present made ansAver, that they said true.
And King Don Alfonso lifted up his voice and said. Hear
me, all ye Avho are here present : inasmuch as the knights
of the Cid have conquered, they have Avon the cause ;
and the tAvelve true-men made ansAA^er, that Avhat the King
said Avas the truth, and all the people said the same. And
the King gave command to break up the lists, and gave sen-
tence that the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero
Gonzalez Avere notorious traitors, and ordered his seneschal
to take their arms and horses. And from that day forth
their lineage never held up its head, nor Avas of any Avorth
in Castille ; and they ^ and their uncle fled aAvay, haA^ng
1 P. Carvallo, in the Historia de Asturias^ P. 312. (quoted by Bergan-
za, 5. 27. ^ 342.) says that they fled into the mountains of Asturias, to
their cousin Count Don Suero, como todo consta de escrituras antiguas.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 333
been thus vanquished and put to shame. And thus it was ^^^
that Carrion fell to the Kins' after the days of Gonzalo Gon- tt"
^ *' Poema del
zalez, the father of the Infantes. Great was their shame, Cid. 3707.
' , , ' 3718.
and the like or worse betide him who abuseth fair lady, and chr.deicid.
cap 269.
then leaveth her. Chr. Gen.
ff. 301.
" This knight made his abode for the most part in the Palacio da Senra,
adjoining the Monastery of Cornellana ; and having compassion on his kins-
men, he built a tower for them joining the same Monastery, which is still
standing, and in which the Abbots have their apartments. Here Don
Suero gave order that they should live, and pass their lives with the Re-
ligious of that sacred House, which he was then re-edifying ; and he
provided them with all things necessary while they lived, and when they
died he buried them in the same church, in a great stone sepulchre, wide
enough to contain two bodies side by side, such as we now see it, stand-
ing upon stone lions, on the Gospel-side, and close by the first steps
which lead up to the high altar. This is understood by tradition in that
Convent, and they show the sepulchre as a thing beyond all doubt."
^ No part of the whole history of the Cid has been so frequently con-
troverted and so geneially discredited by later historians, as this story of
the Infantes of Carrion. Yepes, the Benedictine historian, (T. 6.^. 80.)
has entered into the fullest investigation, for the purpose of vindicating
the memory of these Infantes. He shows that their father's name was
Gomez Diaz, not Gonzalo Gonzalez, and consequently they were called
Diego Gomez and Ferrando Gomez, not Gonzalez. Sandoval {ff. 64.)
had shown before him that these Infantes died nine years after the mar-
riage of the Cid, consequently before his daughters were marriageable :
and Francisco Diago, in his Anales de Valencia, [L. 6. C. 15.) that the
daughters were named Christina and Maria, not Elvira and Sol ; and
that the latter married the Count of Barcelona, not the Infante of Aragón.
Yepes proceeds to invalidate the circumstances of the story . . . He is
shocked at the indecorous scenes at the Cortes, and still more that it
should be supposed two Spanish princes would marry women whose
husbands were yet alive, and that any Spanish prelate should be thought
capable of solemnizing such marriages.
In reply to these arguments, Berganza proves incontestably that all
the descendants both of the Infanta Doña Christina, daughter of Bermu-
do II. and of Doña Velasquita, whose possessions lay at Carrion, were
called Infantes, and that there were such Infantes as the story mentions,
living at that time, whom the impugners of the story, regarding only the
elder branch, had overlooked. The diíBculty concerning the names of
331 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK VIII. Then the King went to meat, and he took the
X
. knights of the Cid with him ; and great was the muhilude
great%y which followed after them, praising the good feat which
made'^u ^^ they had achieved. And the King gave them great gifts,
Valencia, ^nd scnt them away by night, and with a good guard to pro-
tect them till they should be in safety ; and they took their
leave of the King, and travelled by night and day, and
came to Valencia. When the Cid knew that they drew
nigh, he went out to meet them, and did them great honor.
Who can tell the great joy which he made over them ?
And they told him all even as it had come to pass, and how
the ladies is not so satisfactorily removed. Yepes supposes that they
had two names, which was not unusual ; . . but this is only supposition.
He might have shown that no scruple was made at that time of changing
a name, if it did not happen to please the husband : . . there is an ex-
ceedingly curious instance in the history of Alfonso himself. Perhaps
the Infantes of Navarre and Aragón followed his example, not liking to
use those names by which their wives had been known when they were
dishonored. Either supposition is possible, . . neither of them satisfac-
tory. It is however a difficulty of little consequence to the story. The
question is, whether the facts related of the two daughters of the Cid (be
their names what they may) are to be believed. Berganza invalidates the
arguments used to prove that Doña Sol did not marry an Infante of Ara-
gón ; in this he is successful, and he reconciles the other account by sup-
posing that after his death she married the Count of Barcelona.
Of the other difficulties which Yepes had advanced Berganza makes
light. There is nothing improbable in the scene at the Cortes, and Yepes
has forgotten that the Infantes of Carrion and the daughters of the Cid
were near enough of kin to afford a plea for divorce, being alike descend-
ed on the mother's side from King Don Bermudo II. It may be added,
that princes in those days cared little for the bond of marriage, married
whatever women they liked, and forsook them whenever they were tired
of them.
The conduct of the Infantes of Carrion is certainly improbable. There
are instances enough of such cruelty, but none of such folly. Yet noth-
ing can be so improbable as that such a story should be invented and re-
lated so soon after their death, of persons wiio had really existed, and
were of such rank : and that it should be accredited and repeated by all
the historians who lived nearest the time.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 335
the Kins^ had declared the Infantes of Carrion and their BOOK
. X.
uncle to be notorious traitors. Great was the joy of the '
Cid at these tidings, and he lifted up his hands to heaven,
and blest the name of God because of the vengeance which
he had given him for the great dishonor which he had re-
ceived. And he took with him Martin Antolinez and Pero
Bermudez and Muño Gustioz, and Avent to Doña Ximena
and her daughters, and said to them. Blessed be the name
of God, now are you and your daughters avenged ! And
he made the knights recount the whole unto them, even as it
had come to pass. Great was the joy of Doña Ximena
and her daughters, and they bent their knees to the ground,
and praised the name of Jesus Christ, because he had given
them this vengeance for the dishonor which they had re-
ceived ; and Doña Elvira and Doña Sol embraced those
knights many times, and would fain have kissed their hands
and their feet. And the Cid said unto Doña Ximena, Now
may you without let marry your daughters with the Infantes
of Aragón and Navarre, and I trust in God that they will
be well and honorably married, better than they were at first.
Eight days did the great rejoicings endure which the Cid
made in Valencia, for the venojeance which God had siven
him upon the Infantes of Carrion, and their uncle Suero cap. 269.
Gonzalez, the aider and abettor in the villany which they g- 301,^"*
had committed.
IX. Nowit came to pass after this, that the Great Soldán How the
of Persia, having heard of the great goodness of the Cid, Persia sent
and of his great feats in arms, and how he had never been the^CicL
vanquished by mortal man, and how he had conquered
many Kings, Moor and Christian, and had won the noble
city of Valencia, and had defeated King Bucar Lord of
Africa and Morocco, and twenty nine Kings with him, all
these things made him greatly desirous of his love, i^nd
holding him to be one of the noble men of the world, he
sent messengers to him with great gifts, which will be re-
counted hereafter, and with them he sent one of his kinsmen.
336 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK a full honorable man, with letters of ffreat love. When this
' kinsman reached the port of Valencia, he sent word to the
Cid that he was arrived there with a message from the
Great Soldán of Persia, who had sent a present by him ;
and when the Cid knew this, he was well pleased. And in
the morning the Cid took horse, and went out with all
his company, all nobly attired, and his knights rode be-
fore him with their lances erect. And when they had
gone about a league, they met the messenger of the
Soldán coming to Valencia : and when he beheld them,
in what order they came, he understood what a noble
man the Cid Campeador was. And when he drew nigh,
the Cid stopt his horse Bavieca, and waited to receive
him. And when the messenger came before the Cid and
beheld him, all his flesh began to tremble, and he mar-
velled greatly that his flesh should tremble thus ; and his
voice failed him, so that he could not bring forth a word.
And the Cid said that he was welcome, and went towards
him to embrace him ; but the Moor made him no reply,
being amazed. And when he had somewhat recovered and
could speak, he would have kissed the Cid's hand, but the
Cid would not give it him : and he thought this was done for
haughtiness, but they made him understand that it was to do
him honor ; then was he greatly rejoiced, and he said, I hum-
ble myself before thee, O Cid, who art the most fortunate,
the best Christian, and the most honorable that hath girded
on sword or bestrode horse these thousand years. The
Great Soldán of Persia, my Lord, hearing of thy great
fame and renown, and of the great virtue which is in thee,
hath sent me to salute thee and receive thee as his friend,
even as his best friend, the one whom he loveth and prizeth
Chr. del best. And he hath sent a present by me who am of his
270. lineage, and beseecheth thee to receive it as from a friend,
ff. 301.^" -^^^^ ^he Cid made answer that he thanked him greatly.
Of the pre- X. Then the Cid bade his people make way that the
the^'soidan sumpter beasts which carried the present might pass, and
sent.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 337
also the stransre animals which the Soldán had sent, the hke BOOK
whereof were not in that land. And when they were passed
he and his company returned towards the town, and the
messenger with him. And whensoever the messenger spake
to the Cid, it came into his mind how his voice had failed
and his flesh trembled when he beheld him ; and he mar-
velled thereat, and Avoiild fain have asked the Cid why it
should be. And when they entered Valencia, great was the
crowd which assembled to see the sumpter beasts, and the
strange animals, for they had never seen such before, and
they marvelled at them. And the Cid gave order that the
beasts should be taken care of, and he went to the Alca-
zar and took the Moor with him ; and when they came to
Doña Ximena the Moor humbled himself before her and
her daughters, and Avould have kissed her hand, but she
would not give it him. Then he commanded that the
camels and other beasts of burthen should be unloaded in
their presence, and he began to open the packages and dis-
play the noble things which were contained therein. And
he laid before them great store of gold and of money,
which came in leathern bags, each having its lock ; and
wrought silver in dishes and trenchers and basons, and pots
for preparing food ; all these of fine silver and full cun-
ningly wrought, the weight whereof was ten thousand
marks. Then he brought out five cups of gold, in each of
which were ten marks of gold, with many precious stones
set therein, and three silver barrels, which were full of pearls
and of precious stones. Moreover he presented unto him
many pieces of cloth of gold, and of silk, of those which are
made in Tartary, and in the land of Calabria. And more-
over, a pound of myrrh and of balsam, in little caskets of
gold : this was a precious thing, for with this ointment they
were wont to anoint the bodies of the Kings when they de-
parted, to the end that they might not corrupt, neither the
earth consume them : and Avith this was the body of the Cid
embalmed after his death. Moreover he presented unto him
43
338 CHRONICLE OP^ THK CID,
BOOK a chess board, which was one of the noble ones in the world ;
' it was of ivory riveted with gold, and Avith many precious
stones round about it ; and the men were of gold and silver,
and the squares also were richly wrought with stones of many
Cid. cap. virtues.' This was a full rich, and great and noble present,
Gen.ffJoi. SO that no man could tell the price thereof.
Of what XI. When the Moor had produced all these things be-
FweenThe ^OYe the Cid, he said unto him. All this. Sir, with the animals
ofThe s?i^ which thou hast seen, my Lord the Soldán of Persia hath
dan and the ggj^^ uuto thcc, bccausc of the great fame which he hath
heard of thy goodness and loyalty ; and, Sir, he beseecheth
thee to accept it for the love of him. And the Cid thanked
him, taking great pleasure therein, and said that he would
fain do him greater honor than he had ever yet done to any
one. And then he embraced him in the name of the Soldán,
and said, that if he were a Christian he would give him
the kiss of peace ; and he asked whether among those
things there was aught which had belonged to the person of
the Soldán, that if so he might kiss it in his honor, and in
token that if he were there present, he would kiss him on the
shoulder, according to the custom of the Moors, for he knew
that his Lord was one of the noblest men in all Pagandom.
When the kinsman of the Soldán heard this he was greatly
rejoiced because of the great coiu:tesy wdth which the Cid
had spoken, and he perceived how noble a man he was.
And he said unto him, Sir Cid, if you were present before
my Lord the Soldán, he would do you full great honor, and
would give you the head of his horse to eat, according to the
custom of our country ; but seeing that this is not the custom
of this country, I give you my hving horse, which is one of
the best horses of Syria ; and do you give order that he be
' This is the description in the Chronica del Cid. The Chronica Gene-
ral only says that this chess-board {arcidriche .... Berganza notices
the singular word) is at this day, i. e. about 1250, in the Monastery
at Cárdena. It had disappeared in Berganza's time.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 339
taken in honor of my Lord the Soldán, and he will be better BOOK
than his head would be boiled. And I kiss your hand, Sir '.
Ruydiez, and hold myself more honored and a happier man
than ever I have been heretofore. And the Cid accepted
the horse, and gave consent to the Moor that he should kiss
his hand. And then he called for his Almoxarife, and bade
him take with him this kinsman of the Soldán, and lodge qj¿' ^aV
him in the Garden of Villa Nueva, and do him even such ^^^ ^^^
honor and service as he would to himself. ^- ^oi-
XII. G reat was the honor which the Almoxarife of the ^^ ^^f ^^^"
son why the
Cid Ruydiez did unto the kinsman of the Soldán, and he Soidan sent
this great
served him even as he would have served his Lord the Cid. present.
And when they had disported and taken solace together, the
kinsman of the Soldán asked him concerning the Cid, what
manner of man he was. And the Almoxarife answered that
he was the man in the world who had the bravest heart, and
the best knight at arms, and the man who best maintained
his law ; and in the word which he hath promised he never
fails ; and he is the man in the world who is the best friend
to his friend, and to his enemy he is the mortallest foe
among all Christians ; and to the vanquished he is full of
mercy and compassion ; and fuU thoughtful and wise in
whatsoever thing he doeth ; and his countenance is such that
no man seeth him for the first time without conceiving great
fear. And this, said the Almoxarife, I have many times
witnessed, for when any messengers of the Moors come be-
fore him, they are so abashed that they know not Avhere they
are. When the messenger of the Soldán heard this he
called to mind how it had been with him, and he said unto
the Almoxarife, that as they were both of one law he be-
sought him to keep secret what he should say, and he would
tell him what had befallen him himself. And the Almoxarife
said that he Avould do as he desired. And with that he began
to say, that he marvelled greatly at what he had heard, for
even as he had now told him that it happened unto other
messengers, even so had he himself found it the first time
340 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK that ho had seen the Cid ; for so great was the fear which he
' conceived at the sight of his countenance, that for long time
he had no power of speech ; and according to his thinking,
this could only proceed from the grace of God towards the
Cid, that none of his enemies might ever behold his face
without fear. When the kinsman of the Soldán had said
this, the Almoxarife perceived that he was a wary man, and
one of good understanding ; and he began to talk with him,
and asked him whether he would tell him what he should
ask, and the messenger replied that he Avould. Then the
Almoxarife asked of him if he knew what Avas the reason
which had moved his Lord the Soldán to send so great a
present to the Cid Campeador, and why he desired to have
his love when he was so far away, beyond sea. Now the
messenger of the Soldán conceived that the Almoxarife
sought to know the state of the lands beyond sea, and he
feared that this had been asked of him by command of the
Cid ; and he made answer, that so great was the renown of
the Cid, and the report which they had heard in the lands
beyond sea of his great feats in arms, that it had moved the
Soldán to send him that present and desire his love. But
when the Almoxarife heard this, he said that he could not
believe that this had been the reason, but that some other
intention had moved him. And when the messenger per-
ceived that the Almoxarife understood him, and that he de-
sired to know the Avhole of the matter, he said that he would
tell him, but he besought him to keep it secret. And the
Almoxarife promised to do this. Then he told him that the
land beyond sea was in such state that they weened it would
be lost, and that the Christians would win it, so great a Cru-
sade had gone forth against it from Germany, and from
France, and from Lombardy, and Sicily, and Calabria, and
Ireland, and England, which had won the city of Antioch,
and now lay before Jerusalem. And my Lord the Great
Soldán of Persia, hearing of the great nobleness of the Cid,
and thinking that he would pass over also, was moved to
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 341
send him this present to gain his love, that if peradventure BOOK
he should pass there he might be his friend. And when the
Chr del
Almoxarife of the Cid heard this, he said that of a truth he cid.' cap.
272
believed it. Chr. Gen.
XIII. While vet that messens^er of the Soldán of Persia ^- ^°^-
•^ ™. , ^ Of the coin-
abode in Valencia, tidings came to the Cid that the Infantes ing of the
of Aragón and Navarre were coming to celebrate their mar- Aragón and
riage with his daughters, according as it had been appointed ^'^^^^®-
at the Cortes of Toledo. He of Navarre hight Don Ramiro,
and he was the son of King Don Sancho, him who was slain
at Rueda ; and he married with Doña Elvira, the elder :
and the Infante of Aragón who married Doña Sol, the
younger, hight Don Sancho, and was the son of King Don
Pedro. This King Don Pedro was he whom the Cid Ruy-
diez conquered and made prisoner, as the history hath rela-
ted ; but calling to mind the great courtesy which the Cid
had shown in releasing him from prison, and how he had
ordered all his own to be restored unto him, and moreover
the great worth and the great goodness of the Cid, and the
great feats which he had performed, he held it good that his
son should match with his daughter, to the end that the race
of so good a man might be preserved in Aragón. Howbeit
it was not his fortune to have a son by Doña Sol, for he died
before he came to the throne, and left no issue. "When the
Cid knew that the Infantes were coming, he and all his peo-
ple went out six leagues to meet them, all gallantly attired
both for court and for war ; and he ordered his tents to be
pitched in a fair meadow, and there he awaited till they
came up. And the first day the Infante Don Sancho of
Aragón came up, and they waited for the Infante Don Ra-
miro ; and when they were all met they proceeded to Va-
lencia. And the Bishop Don Hieronymo came out to meet
them with a procession, full honorably. Great were the
rejoicings which were made in Valencia because of the p^^J- <^^'-
•* _ ^ Cid. cap.
cominsr of the Infantes, for eiajht days before the marriage 273.
^ 7 & .7 & (jhr. Gen.
began. And the Cid gave order that they should be lodged ff. sos.
342 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK in the Garden of Villa Nueva, and supplied with all things
' in abnndanee.
Of the XIV. When eie^ht days were overpast the Bishop Don
marriage of . ' "
the In- Hieronymo married the Infantes of Aragón and Navarre
iciDlCS
to the daughters of the Cid in this manner : the Infante Don
Ramiro of Navarre to Doña Elvira, and the Infante Don
Sancho of Aragón to Doña Sol. And on the day after they
had been espoused they received the blessing in the great
Church of St. Peter, as is commanded by the law of Jesus
Chi'ist, and the Bishop said mass. Who can tell the great
rejoicings which were made at those marriages, and the
great nobleness thereof ? Certes there Avould be much to
tell ; for during eight days that they lasted, there was feast-
ing every day, full honorably and plentifully, where all
persons did eat out of silver ; and many bulls Avere killed
every day, and many of those wild beasts which the Soldán
sent ; and many sports were devised, and many garments
and saddles and noble trappings were given to the j oculars.
And the Moors also exhibited their sports and rejoicings,
after such divers manners, that men knew not which to go to
first. So great was the multitude which was there assem-
bled, that they were counted at eight thousand hidalgos.
And when the marriage Avas concluded, the Cid took his
sons-in-law and led them by the hand to Doña Ximena, and
showed them all the noble things which the Soldán had sent
him ; and they when they beheld such great treasures, and
such noble things were greatly astonished, and said that they
did not think there had been a man in Spain so rich as the
Cid, nor who possessed such things. And as they were
marvelling from whence such riches could have come, both
of gold and silver, and of precious stones and pearls, the
Cid embraced them and said. My sons, this and all that I
have is for you and for your wives, and I will give unto you
the noblest and most precious things that ever Avere given
with women for their dowry ; for I will give you the half of
all that you see here, and the other half I and Doña Ximena
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 343
will keep so long as we live, and after our death all shall be BOOK
yours ; and my days are now well nigh full. Then the '- —
Infantes made answer, that they prayed God to grant him
life for many and happy years yet, and that they thanked
him greatly, and held him as their father ; and that they
would ever have respect to his honor, and be at his service,
holding themselves honored by the tie there was between
them. Three months these Infantes abode with the Cid in
Valencia, in great pleasure. And then they dispeeded
themselves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law Doña
Ximena, and took each his wife and returned into their oAvn
lands with great riches and honor. And the Cid gave them
great treasures, even as he had promised, and gave them
certain of those strange beasts which the Soldán had sent.
And he rode out with them twelve leagues. And when
they took leave of each other, there was not a knight of all
those who came with the Infantes, to whom the Cid did not
give something, horse, or mule, or garments, or money,
so that all were well pleased ; and he gave his daugh- chr. del
ters his blessing, and commended them to God, and then 274! 275.
he returned to Valencia, and they went to their own country, g-, 303.
• XV. After the Cid had seen his sons-in-law depart, he How the
sent for the messenger of the Soldán, and gave him many of7he"b^oT-
of the rare things of his country to carry unto his Lord. And ^J^" Sed
he gave him a sword Avhich had the device of the Soldán
wrought in gold, and a coat of mail and sleeve armor, and
a noble gipion Avhich was wrought of knots ; ^ and his let-
ters of reply, which were full of great assurances of friend-
ship. Much was the messenger of the Soldán pleased with
the Cid for the great honor which he had shown him, and
much was he pleased also at seeing how honorably the mar- Chr. del
riage of his daughters had been celebrated. So he departed 276.'
and went to the port, and embarked on board his ship, and ir/303. ^"*
went to his Lord the Soldán.
' Perpunte que era fecho de nudos.
Í44 CHRONICLi: OF THE CID,
BOOK XVI. After this the Cid abode in Valencia, and he la-
X.
bored a full year in settling all the castles of the Moors who
Alcalde of "^^cre subjcct unto him in peace, and in setthng the Moors of
yoh/io? Valencia well with the Christians ; and this he did so that
was bap- '
tized. their tribute Avas well paid from this time till his death.
And all the land from Tortosa to Origuela was under his
command. And from this time he abode in peace in Va-
lencia ; and labored alway to serve God and to increase the
Catholic faith, and to make amends for the faults he had
committed towards God, for he weened that his days now
would be but few. And it came to pass one day, the Cid
having risen from sleep and being in his Alcazar, there came
before him an Alfaqui whom he had made Alcalde of the
Moors ; his name was Alfaraxi, and he it was who made
the lamentation for Valencia, as is recorded in this history.
This Alfaqui had served the Cid well in his office of Alcalde
over the Moors of Valencia : for he kept them in peace, and
made them pay their tribute well, being a discreet man and
of great prudence, so that for this and for his speech he
might have been taken for a Christian : and for this reason
the Cid loved him and put great trust in him. And when
the Cid saw him he asked him what he would have ; and he
like a prudent man bent his knees before him, and began to
kiss his hand, and said, Sir Cid Ruydiez, blessed be the
name of J esus Christ who hath brought you to this state that
you are Lord of Valencia,- one of the best and noblest cities
in Spain. What I would have is this. Sir, my forefathers
were of this city, and I am a native hereof ; and when I was
a httle lad the Christians took me captive, and I learnt their
tongue among them, and then my will was to be a Christian,
and to abide there in the land of the Christians ; but my
father and mother, being rich persons, released me. And
God showed me such favor, and gave me such understand-
ing and so subtle, that I learnt all the learning of the Moors,
and was one of the most honorable and best Alfaquis that
ever was in Valencia till this time, and of the richest, as you
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 345
know, Sir ; and you in your bounty made me Alcalde, and BOOK
gave me your authority over the Moors, of which peradven- '■ —
ture I was not worthy. And now, Sir, thinking in my heart
concerning the law in which I have lived, I find that I have
led a life of great error, and that all which Mahommed the
great deceiver gave to the Moors for their law, is deceit ;
and therefore, Sir, I turn me to the faith of Jesus Christ, and
will be a Christian and believe in the Catholic faith. And I
beseech you of your bounty give order that I may be bap-
tized in the name of the Holy Trinity, and give me what
name you will. And from this time forward I will live the
life of a Christian, and fulfil what is written in the Gospel,
and forsake wife and children and kin, and all that there is
in the world, and serve God, and believe in his faith and
holy law, as far as the weakness of my body can bear.
When the Cid Ruydiez heard this he began to smile for very
pleasure ; and he rose up and took Alfaraxi with him to
Doña Ximena, and said, Here is our Alcalde, who will be a
Christian, and our brother in the faith of Jesus Christ. I
beseech you therefore give order to provide all things that
may be needful. "When Doña Ximena heard this she re-
joiced greatly, and gave order that all things should be full
nobly prepared. And on the morrow the Bishop Don Hi-
eronymo baptized him, and they gave him the name of Gil
Diaz : and his godfathers were Don Alvar Fañez, and Pero
Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez of Burgos ; and Doña
Ximena, with other honorable dames, were his godmothers.
And from that time forward Gil Diaz was in such favor with
the Cid, that he trusted all his affairs to his hands, and he chr.deicid.
knew so well how to demean himself, both towards him and 277] ^^^'
all those of his company, that they all heartily loved him. ff.^s'of ^""
44
HERE BEGINNETH THE ELEVENTH BOOK
OF THE
CHKONICLE OF THE CID
BOOK
XL
How tid-
ings came
that King
Bucar was
coming
against
Valencia.
I. It is "written in the history which Abenalfarax, the
nephew of Gil Diaz, composed in Valencia, that for five
years the Cid Riiydiez remained Lord thereof in peace, and
in all that time he sought to do nothing but to serve God,
and to keep the Moors quiet who were under his dominion ;
so that Moors and Christians dwelt together in such accord,
that it seemed as if they had alway been united ; and they
all loved and served the Cid with such good will that it was
marvellous. And when these five years were over, tidings
were spread far and near, which reached Valencia, that King
Bucar the Miramamolin of Morocco, holding himself dis-
graced because the Cid Campeador had conquered him in
the field of Quarto near unto Valencia, where he had slain
or made prisoners all his people, and driven him into the sea,
and made spoil of all the treasures which he had brought
with him ; . . King Bucar calling these things to mind, had
gone himself and stirred up the whole Paganism of Barbary,
even as far as Montes Claros, to cross the sea again, and
avenge himself if he could ; and he had assembled so great
a power, that no man could devise their numbers. When
CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 347
the Cid heard these tidins^s he was troubled at heart ; how- BOOK
XI
beit he dissembled this, so that no person knew what he was '■ —
minded to do ; and thus the matter remained for some
days. And when he saw that the news came thicker and
faster, and that it was altogether certain that King Bucar
was coming over sea against him, he sent and bade all the
Moors of Valencia assemble together in his presence, and
when they were all assembled he said unto them, Good men
of the Aljama, ye well know that from the day wherein I
became Lord of Valencia, ye have alway been protected
and defended, and have past your time well and peaceably
in your houses and heritages, none troubling you nor doing
you wrong ; neither have I who am your Lord ever done
aught unto you that was against right. And now true tidings
are come to me that King Bucar of Morocco is arrived from
beyond sea, with a mighty power of Moors, and that he is
coming against me to take from me this city which I Avon
with so great labor. Now therefore, seeing it is so, I hold
it good and command that ye quit the town, both ye and
your sons, and your women, and go into the suburb of Al-
cudia, and the other suburbs, to dwell there with the other
Moors, till we shall see the end of this business between me
and King Bucar. Then the Moors, albeit they were loth, Chr. del
obeyed his command ; and when they were all gone out of 273. ^^^
the city, so that none remained, he held himself safer than g- 305, *
he had done before.
II. Now after the Moors were all gone out of the city. How St.
it came to pass in the middle of the night that the Cid was peared unto
lying in his bed, devising how he might withstand this com-
ing of King Bucar, for Abenalfarax saith that when he Avas
alone in his palace his thoughts were of nothing else. And
when it was midnight there came a great light into the pa-
lace, and a great odor, marvellous sweet. And as he was
marvelling what it might be, there appeared before him a
man as white as snow ; he was in the likeness of an old
man with grey hair and crisp, and he carried certain keys in
348 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK his hand ; and before the Cid could speak to him he said,
'. — Slecpest thou, Rodrigo, or what art thou doing ? And the
Cid made answer, What man art thou who askest me ?
And he said, I am St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles,
who come unto thee with more urgent tidings than those
for which thou art taking thought concerning King Bucar,
and it is, that thou art to leave this world, and go to that
which hath no end ; and this will be in thirty days. But
God will show favor unto thee, so that thy people shall dis-
comfit King Bucar, and thou, being dead, shalt win this bat-
tle for the honor of thy body : this will be with the help of
Santiago, whom God Avill send to the business : but do thou
strive to make atonement for thy sins, and so thou shalt be
saved. All this Jesus Christ vouchsafeth thee for the love of
me, and for the reverence which thou hast alway shown to
my Church in the Monastery of Cárdena. When the Cid
Campeador heard this he had great pleasure at heart, and he
let himself fall out of bed upon the earth, that he might kiss
the feet of the Apostle St. Peter ; but the Apostle said. Strive
not to do this, for thou canst not touch me ; but be sure that
all this which I have told thee will come to pass. And when
the blessed Apostle had said this, he disappeared, and the
palace remained full of a sweeter and more delightful odor
than heart of man can conceive. And the Cid Ruydiez re-
Chr. del mained greatly comforted by what St. Peter had said to him,
279. ^^^ and as certain that all this would come to pass, as if it w^ere
Éot"- already over.
How the m* Early on the morrow he sent to call all his honor-
Cid spake j^^jg j^gj^ ^q ^j^g Alcazar ; and when they were all assembled
to his peo- ' «^
pie. before him, he began to say unto them, weeping the Avhile,
Friends and kinsmen and true vassals and honorable men,
many of ye must well remember when King Don Alfonso
our Lord twice banished me from his land, and most of ye,
for the love which ye bore me followed me into banishment,
and have guarded me ever since. And God hath shown
such mercy to you and to me, that we have Avon many bat-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 349
ties against Moors and Christians ; those which were against BOOK
Christians, God knows, were more through their fault than .
my will, for they strove to set themselves against the good
fortune which God had given me, and to oppose his service,
helping the enemies of the faith. Moreover we won this
city in which we dwell, which is not under the dominion of
any man in the world, save only of my Lord the King Don
Alfonso, and that rather by reason of our natural allegiance
than of any thing else. And now I would have ye know
the state in which this body of mine now is ; for be ye cer-
tain that I am in the latter days of my life, and that thirty
days hence will be my last. Of this I am well assured ; for
for these seven nights past I have seen visions. I have seen
my father Diego Laynez, and Diego Rodriguez my son ; and
every time they say to me. You have tarried long here, let
us go now among the people who endure for ever. Now
notwithstanding man ought not to put his trust in these
things, nor in such visions, I know this by other means to
be certain, for Sir St. Peter hath appeared to me this night,
when I was awake and not sleeping, and he told me that
when these thirty days were over, I should pass away from
this world. Now ye know for certain that King Bucar is
coming against us, and they say that thirty and six Moorish
Kings are coming with him ; and since he bringeth so great
a power of Moors, and I have to depart so soon, how can
ye defend Valencia ! But be ye certain, that by the mercy
of God I shall counsel ye so, that ye shall conquer King
Bucar in the field, and win great praise and honor from him, ^^j. ^^^
and Doña Ximena, and ye and all that ye have, go hence in £|^- ^^P-
safety ; how ye are to do all this I will tell ye hereafter, be- ^hr. Gen.
r i^ \ ' ff. 305.
lore I depart.
IV. After the Cid had said this he sickened of the ma- How the
lady 01 which he died. And the day before his weakness iiis bed.
waxed great, he ordered the gates of the town to be shut,
and went to the Church of St. Peter ; and there the Bishop
Don Hieronymo being present, and all the clergy who were
350 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK in Valencia, and tho knigiils and honorable men and honor-
'■ — able dames, as many as the Church could hold, the Cid
Ruydiez stood up, and made a full noble preaching, showing
that no man whatsoever, however honorable or fortunate
they may be in this world, can escape death ; to which, said
he, I am now full near ; and since ye know that this body of
mine hath never yet been conquered, nor put to shame, I
beseech ye let not this befall it at the end, for the good for-
tune of man is only accomplished at his end. How this is
to be done, and what ye all have to do, I Avill leave in the
hands of the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fañez, and
Pero Bermudez. And when he had said this he placed
himself at the feet of the Bishop, and there before all the
people made a general confession of all his sins, and all the
faults which he had committed against our Lord Jesus Christ.
And the Bishop appointed him his penance, and assoyled
him of his sins. Then he arose and took leave of the people,
weeping plenteously, and returned to the Alcazar, and be-
took himself to his bed, and never rose from it again ; and
every day he w^axed weaker and weaker, till seven days only
remained of the time appointed. Then he called for the
caskets of gold in which was the balsam and the myrrh
which the Soldán of Persia had sent him ; and when these
were put before him he bade them bring him the golden
cup, of which he was wont to drink ; and he took of that
balsam and of that myrrh as much as a little spoon-full, and
mingled it in the cup wdth rose-water, and drank of it ; and
for the seven days which he lived he neither ate nor drank
aught else than a Httle of that myrrh and balsam mingled
with water. And every day after he did this, his body and
Cid ca^ ^^^ countenance appeared fairer and fresher than before, and
280- ^ his voice clearer, though he waxed weaker and weaker daily,
Chr. Gen. . .
ff. 306. SO that he could not move in his bed.
CkTap-^ V. On the twenty-ninth day, being the day before he de-
^hfa^ parted, he called for Doña Ximena, and for the Bishop Don
should be Hicronymo, and Don Alvar Fañez Minaya, and Pero Bermu-
done alter J ' J ^
his death.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 351
dez, and his trusty Gil Diaz ; and when they were all five BOOK
before him, he began to direct them what they should do '
after his death ; and he said to them, Ye know that King
Bucar will presently be here to besiege this city, with seven
and thirty Kings whom he bringeth with him, and with a
mighty power of Moors. Now therefore the first thing
which ye do after I have departed, wash my body with rose-
water many times and well, as blessed be the name of God
it is washed within and made pure of all uncleanness to re-
ceive his holy body to-morrow, which will be my last day.
And when it has been well washed and made clean, ye shall
dry it well, and anoint it with this myrrh and balsam, from
these golden caskets, from head to foot, so that every part
shall be anointed, till none be left. And you my Sister
Doña Ximena, and your women, see that ye utter no cries,
neither make any lamentation for me, that the Moors may
not know of my death. And when the day shall come in
which King Bucar arrives, order all the people of Valencia
to go upon the walls, and sound your trumpets and tam-
bours, and make the greatest rejoicings that ye can. And
when ye would set out for Castille, let all the people know in
secret, that they make themselves ready, and take with them
all that they have, so that none of the Moors in the suburb
may know thereof ; for certes ye cannot keep the city, neither
abide therein after my death. And see ye that sumpter
beasts be laden with all that there is in Valencia, so that no-
thing which can profit may be left. And this I leave espe-
cially to your charge, Gil Diaz. Then saddle ye my horse
Bavieca, and arm him well ; and ye shall apparel my body
full seemlily, and place me upon the horse, and fasten and
tie me thereon so that it cannot fall : and fasten my sword
Tizona in my hand. And let the Bishop Don Hieronymo
go on one side of me, and my trusty Gil Diaz on the other,
and he shall lead my horse. You, Pero Bermudez, shall
bear my banner, as you were wont to bear it ; and you,
Alvar Fañez, my cousin, gather your company together, and
352
CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK
XI.
Chr. del
Cid. cap.
280. Chr.
Gen. ff.
306.
How the
Cid made
his testa-
ment and
departed.
put the host in order as you are wont to do. And go ye
forth and fight with King Bucar ; for be ye certain and
doubt not that ye shall win this battle ; God hath granted
me this. And when ye have won the fight, and the Moors
are discomfited, you may spoil the field at pleasure. Ye
will find great riches. What ye are afterwards to do I will
tell ye to-morrow, when I make my testament.
VI. Early on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo,
and Alvar Fañez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Anto-
linez, came to the Cid. Gill Diaz and Doña Ximena were
alway with him ; and the Cid began to make his testament.
And the first thing which he directed, after commending
his soul to God, was, that his body should be buried in
the Church of St. Pedro de Cárdena, w^here it now hes ;
and he bequeathed nnto that Monastery many good inherit-
ances, so that that place is at this day the richer and more
honorable. Then he left to all his company and household
according to the desert of every one. To all the knights
who had served him since he went out of his own coimtry,
he gave great wealth in abundance. And to the other
knights who had not served him so long, to some a thousand
marks of silver, to others tAvo, and some there were to whom
he bequeathed three, according who they were. Moreover,
to the squires Avho were hidalgos, to some five hundred,
and others there were who had a thousand and five hundred.
And he bade them, when they arrived at St. Pedro de Cár-
dena, give clothing to four thousand poor, to each a skirt of
escanforte and a mantle. And he bequeathed to Doña Xim-
ena all that he had in the world, that she might live honor-
ably for the remainder of her days in the Monastery of St.
Pedro de Cárdena ; and he commanded Gil Diaz to remain
with her and serve her well all the days of her life. And he
left it in charge to the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Doña
Ximena his wife, and Don Alvar Fañez, and Pero Bermudez,
and Felez Muñoz, his nephews, that they should see all this
fulfilled. And he commanded Alvar Fañez and Pero Ber-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 353
mudez, when they had conquered King Bucar, to proceed BOOK
forthwith into Castille and fulfil all that he had enjoined '. —
This was at the hour of sexts. Then the Cid Ruydiez, the
Campeador of Bivar, bade the Bishop Don Hieronymo give
him the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and he
received it with great devotion, on his knees, and weeping
before them all. Then he sate up in his bed and called upon
God and St. Peter, and began to pray, saying. Lord Jesus
Christ, thine is the power and the kingdom, and thou art
above all Kings and all nations, and all Kings are at thy
command. I beseech thee therefore pardon me my sins, and
let my soul enter into the light which hath no end. And
when the Cid Ruydiez had said this, this noble Baron yielded
up his soul, which was pure and without spot, to God, on
that Sunday which is called Quinquagesima, being the May 29,
twenty and ninth of May, in the year of our Lord one thou-
sand and ninety and nine, and in the seventy and third year
of his life. After he had thus made his end they washed
his body twice with warm water, and a third time with rose
water, and then they anointed and embalmed it as he had
commanded. And then all the honorable men, and all the
clergy who were in Valencia, assembled and carried it to
the Church of St. Mary of the Vh'tues, which is near the q|J[" ^^^
Alcazar, and there they kept their vigil, and said prayer and?,^/- ^
performed masses, as was meet for so honorable a man. ^- ^oz,
VII. Three days after the Cid had departed Kin^ Bucar How King
. ^ ^ Bucar came
came into the port of Valencia, and landed with all his "p against
power, which was so great that there is not a man in the
world who could give account of the Moors whom he
brought. And there came with him thirty and six Kings,
and one Moorish Queen, who was a negress,- and she
brought with her two hundred horsewomen, all negr esses
like herself, all having their hair shorn save a tuft on the top,
and this was in token that they came as if upon a pilgrimage,
and to obtain the remission of their sins ; and they were all
armed in coats of mail and with Turkish bows. King Bucar
ordered his tents to be pitched round about Valencia, and
45
354 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Abcnalfarax who wrote this history in Arabic, saiih, thai
there were full fifteen thousand tents ; and he bade that
Moorish negress with her archers to take their station near
the city. And on the morrow they began to attack the city,
and they fought against it three days strenuously ; and the
Moors received great loss, for they came blindly up to the
walls and were slain there. And the Christians defended
themselves right well, and every time that they went upon
the walls, they sounded trumpets and tambours, and made
great rejoicings, as the Cid had commanded. This con-
tinued for eight days or nine, till the companions of the Cid
had made ready every thing for their departure, as he had
commanded. And King Bucar and his people thought that
the Cid dared not come out against them, and they were
the more encouraged, and began to think of making bastilles
Cid. cap. ^^^ engines wherewith to combat the city, for certes they
tfhr Gen ^'^^^^^d that the Cid Ruydiez dared not come out against
ff. 307. them, seeing that he tarried so long.
Chil ü^ VIII. All this while the company of the Cid were pre-
went out paring all things to go into Castille, as he had commanded
lencia. before his death ; and his trusty Gil Diaz did nothing else
but labor at this. And the body of the Cid was prepared
after this manner : first it was embalmed and anointed as the
history hath already recounted, and the virtue of the balsam
and myrrh was such that the flesh remained firm and fair,
having its natural color, and his coimtenance as it was wont
to be, and the eyes open, and his long beard in order, so
that there was not a man who would have thought him dead
if he had seen him and not known it. And on the second
day after he had departed, Gil Diaz placed the body upon a
right noble saddle, and this saddle with the body upon it he
put upon a frame ; and he dressed the body in a gambax '
' Vestieronla a carona un gamhax de cendal delgado. In the Poema de
Alexandra the word in used precisely in the same manner —
Vestio a carona un gamhax de cendal.
Copla 430.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 355
XI.
of fine sendal, next the skin. And he took two boards and ^2?^
fitted them to the body, one to the breast and the other to
the shoulders ; these were so hollowed out and fitted that
they met at the sides and under the arms, and the hind one
came up to the pole, and the other up to the beard ; and
these boards were fastened into the saddle, so that the body
could not move. All this was done by the morning of the
twelfth day ; and all that day the people of the Cid were
busied in making ready their arms, and in loading beasts
with all that they had, so that they left nothing of any price
in the whole city of Valencia, save only the empty houses.
When it was midnight they took the body of the Cid, fast-
ened to the saddle as it was, and placed it upon his horse
Bavieca, and fastened the saddle well : and the body sate so
upright and well that it seemed as if he was alive. And it
had on painted hose of black and white, so cunningly paint-
ed that no man who saw them would have thought but that
they were grieves and cuishes, unless he had laid his hand
upon them ; and they put on it a surcoat of green sendal,
having his arms blazoned thereon, and a helmet of parch-
ment, which was cunningly painted that every one might
have believed it to be iron ; and his shield was hung round
his neck, and they placed the sword Tizona in his hand, and
they raised his arm, and fastened it up so subtilly that it was
a marvel to see how upright he held the sword. And the
Bishop Don Hieronymo went on one side of him, and the
trusty Gil Diaz on the other, and he led the horse Bavieca,
as the Cid had commanded him. And when all this had
been made ready, they went out from Valencia at midnigbi,
through the gate of Roseros, which is towards Castille.
And the Glossary explains it to be a kind of shirt, as the passage plainly
implies. The Chronica Genera/ makes it of a different material, . . Ves-
tiol a carona del cuerpo un gamhax tranco fecho de un raudal. I know
not wheiher this means network, or if it be an error for cendal, or perhaps
for ranzal.
356 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Pero Bermiidez went first with the banner of the Cid, and
XI. . . . '
with him five hundred knights who guarded it, all well ap-
pointed. And after these came all the baggage. Then
came the body of the Cid with an hundred knights, all cho-
sen men, and behind them Doña Ximena with all her com-
pany, and six hundred knights in the rear. All these went
Chr deicid ^^^ ^^ silently, and Avith such a measured pace, that it seem-
cY* g"^' ^^ ^^ ^^ there Avere only a score. And by the time that they
ff. 303. had all gone out it was broad day.
How King IX. Now Alvar Fañez Minaya had set the host in order,
Bucar was
utterly dis- and while the Bishop Don Hieronymo and Gil Diaz led
away the body of the Cid, and Doña Ximena, and the bag-
gage, he fell upon the Moors. Flfst he attacked the tents of
that Moorish Queen the Negress, who lay nearest the city ;
and this onset was so sudden, that they killed full a hundred
and fifty Moors before they had time to take arms or go
to horse. But that Moorish Negress was so skilful m di*aw-
ing the Turkish bow, that it was held for a marvel, and it is
said that they called her in Arabic Nugueymat Tarya^
which is to say, the Star of the Archers. And she was the
first that got on horseback, and with some fifty that were
with her, did some hurt to the company of the Cid ; but in
fine they slew her, and her people fled to the camp. And
so great was the uproar and confusion, that few there were
who took arms, but instead thereof they turned their backs
and fled toward the sea. And when King Bucar and his
Kings saw this they were astonished. And it seemed to
them that there came against them on the part of the Christ-
ians full seventy thousand knights, all as white as snow : and
before them a knight of great stature upon a white horse
with a bloody cross, who bore in one hand a white banner,
and in the other a sword which seemed to be of fire, and he
made a great mortality among the Moors who were flying.
And King Bucar and the other Kings were so greatly dis-
* Megeyma Turia in the Chronica del Cid,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BTVAR. 357
mayed that they never checked the reins till they had ridden BOOK
into the sea ; and the company of the Cid rode after them,
smiting and slaying and giving them no respite ; and they
smote down so many that it Avas marvellous, for the Moors
did not turn their heads to defend themselves. And when
they came to the sea, so great was the press among them to
get to the ships, that more than ten thousand died in the water.
And of the six and thirty Kings, twenty and two were slain.
And King Bucar and they who escaped with him hoisted
sails and went their Avay, and never more turned their
heads. Then Alvar Fañez and his people, when they had
discomfited the Moors, spoiled the field, and the spoil
thereof was so great that they could not carry it away. And
they loaded camels and horses with the noblest things which
they found, and after the Bishop Don Hieronymo and Gil
Diaz, who Avith the body of the Cid, and Doña Ximena, and
the baggage, had gone on till they were clear of the host,
and then waited for those who were gone against the Moors.
And so great was the spoil of that day, that there was no
end to it : and they took up gold, and silver, and other pre-
cious things as they rode through the camp, so that the
poorest man among the Christians, horseman or on foot, be-
came rich Avith what he Avon that day. And when they
were all met together, they took the road toAvard Castille ; chr.del
and they halted that night in a village which is called Siete ^J^' ¿'JP*
Aguas, that is to say, the Seven Waters, Avhich is nine ^^"- ^•
leagues from Valencia.
X. Abenalfarax, he Avho Avrote this history in Arabic, How the
saith, that the day Avhen the company of the Cid Avent out into the
from Valencia, and discomfited King Bucar and the six and " ^*
thirty Kings Avho Avere Avith him, the Moors of Alcudia and
of the suburbs thought that he Avent out alive, because they
saw him on horseback, sAvord in hand ; but Avhen they saAv
that he went toAvards Castille, and that none of his company
returned into the town, they Avere astonished. And all that
day they remained hi such amaze, that they neither dared
358 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK £To into the tents which Kinff Bncar's host had left, nor enter
XI. :
into the town, thinking that the Cid did this for some de-
vice ; and all night they remained in the same doubt, so
that they dared not go out from the suburb. When it was
morning they looked towards the town, and heard no noise
there ; and Abenalfarax then took horse, and taking a man
with him, went toward the town, and found all the gates
thereof shut, till he came to that through Avhich the company
of the Cid had gone forth ; and he went into the city and
traversed the greater part thereof, and found no man therein,
and he was greatly amazed. Then he went out and called
aloud to the Moors of the suburbs, and told them that the
city was deserted by the Christians ; and they were more
amazed than before : nevertheless they did not yet dare
either to go out to the camp or to enter into the town, and
in this doubt they remained till it Avas mid-day. And w^hen
they saw that no person appeared on any side, Abenalfarax
returned again into the town, and there went Avith him a
great company of the best Moors ; and they went into the
Alcazar, and looked through all the halls and chambers, and
they found neither man nor living thing ; but they saw
written upon a wall in Arabic characters by Gil Diaz, how
the Cid Ruy diez was dead, and that they had carried him
away in that manner to conquer King Bucar, and also to the
end that none might oppose their going. And when the
Moors saw this they rejoiced and were exceeding glad, and
they opened the gates of the toAvn, and sent to tell these
tidings to those in the suburbs. And they came with their
wives and children into the town, each to the house which
had been his before the Cid won it. And from that day
Valencia remained in the power of the Moors till it was
Avon by King Don Jamye of Aragón, he Avho is called the
Conqueror, Avhich was an hundred and seventy years. But
though King Don Jamye won it, it is alway called Valencia
del Cid, On the morrow they went into the tents of King
Bucar, and found there many arms ; but the tents were
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 359
deserted, save only that they found certain women who had book
hid themselves, and who told them of the defeat of King — U —
Bucar. And the dead were so many that they could
scarcely make way among them. And they went on through
this great mortality to the port, and there they saw no ships
but so many Moors lying dead that tongue of man cannot
tell their numbers ; and they began to gather up the spoils
of the field, which were tents, and horses, and camels, and
buffaloes, and flocks, and gold and silver, and garments,
and store of provisions, out of all number, so that they had q^^ ¿^^
wherewith to suflice the city of Valencia for two years, and ^^^- ^^P-
to sell to their neis^hbors also ; and they were full rich from £h>'- G^en.
^ ' -^ if. 309.
that time.
XI. When the company of the Cid departed from the How the
Siete Aguas, they held their way by short journeys to Salva- of the Cid
cañete. And the Cid went alway upon his horse Bavieca, ^^^ ^^e
as they had brought him out from Valencia, save only that ^'^^^'
he wore no arms, but was clad in right noble garments ;
and all who saw him upon the way would have thought that
he was alive, if they had not heard the truth. And when-
ever they halted they took the body off, fastened to the sad-
dle as it was, and set it upon that frame which Gil Diaz had
made, and when they went forward again, they placed it in
like manner upon the horse Bavieca. And when they
reached Salvacañete, the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and
Doña Ximena, and Alvar Fañez, and the other honorable
men, sent their letters to all the kinsmen and friends of the
Cid Ruydiez, bidding them come and do honor to his
funeral ; and they sent letters also to his sons-in-law, the
Infantes of Aragón and Navarre, and to King Don Alfonso.
And they moved on from Salvacañete and came to Osma,
and then Alvar Fañez asked of Doña Ximena if they should
not put the body of the Cid into a coffin covered with purple,
and with nails of gold ; but she would not, for she said that
while his countenance remained so fresh and comely, and his
eyes so fair, his body should never be placed in a coffin, and
360 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK that her children should see the face of their father ; and they
' thought that she said well, so the body was left as it was.
And at the end of fifteen days the Infante of Aragón ar-
rived, with Doña Sol his wife, and they brought with them
an hundred armed knights, all having their shields reversed
hanging from the saddle bow, and all in grey cloaks, with
the hoods rent. And Doña Sol came clad in linsey-wool-
sey, she and all her women, for they thought that mourning
was to be made for the Cid. But when they came within
half a league of Osma, they saw the banner of the Cid com-
ing on, and all his company full featly apparelled. And
when they drew nigh they perceived that they were w^eep-
ing, but they made no wailing ; and when they saAV him
upon his horse Bavieca, according as ye have heard, they
were greatly amazed. But so great was the sorrow of the
Infante that he and all his company began to lament aloud.
And Doña Sol, when she beheld her father, took off her tire
and threw it upon the ground and began to tear her hair,
which was like threads of gold. But Doña Ximena held her
hand and said, Daughter, you do ill, in that you break the
command of your father, who laid his curse upon all who
should make lamentation for him. Then Doña Sol kissed
the hand of the Cid and of her mother, and put on her tire
again, saying, Lady mother, I have committed no fault in
this, forasmuch as I knew not the command of my father.
And then they tiu'ned back to Osma, and great was the
multitude whom they found there assembled from all parts
to see the Cid, having heard in what manner he was brought,
for they held it to be a strange thing ; and in truth it was,
for in no history do we find that with the body of a dead
man hath there been done a thing so noble and strange as
this. Then they moved on from Osma, and came to San-
testeban de Gormaz. And there after few days the King of
Navarre came Avith the Queen Doña Elvira his wife ; and
they brought with them two hundred knights ; howbeit their
shields were not reversed, for they had heard that no mourn-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR.
361
ing was to be made for the Cid. And when they were BOOK
within half a league of Santesteban, the company of the Cid
went out to meet them, as they had the Infante of Aragón ;
and they made no other lamentation, save that they wept
with Doña Elvira ; and when she came up to the body of
her father she kissed his hand, and the hand of Doña Xime-
na her mother. And greatly did they marvel when they saw
the body of the Cid Ruydiez how fair it was, for he seemed
rather alive than dead. And they moved on from Santes-
teban, towards San Pedro de Cárdena. Great was the con-
course of people to see the Cid Ruydiez coming in that
ffuise. They came from Rioia, and from all Castille, and _. , ,
° -^ -^ ' . Chr.delCid.
from all the country round about, and when they saw him cap. 286.
their wonder was the greater, and hardly could they be if. 310.
persuaded that he was dead.
XII. At this time King Don Alfonso abode in Toledo, How King
, . , 1 /-<• 1 1^0" Alfon-
and when the letters came unto him saying how the Cid so came to
Campeador was departed, and after what manner he had the Cid.
discomfited King Bucar, and how they brought him in this
goodly manner upon his horse Bavieca, he set out from
Toledo, taking long journeys till he came to San Pedro de
Cárdena, to do honor to the Cid at his funeral. The day
when he drew nigh the Infante of Aragón and the King of
Navarre went out to met him, and they took the body of the
Cid with them on horseback, as far as the Monastery of San
Christoval de Ybeas, which is a league from Cárdena ; and
they went, the King of Navarre on one side of the body, and
the Infante of Aragón on the other. And when King Don
Alfonso saw so great a company and in such goodly array,
and the Cid Ruydiez so nobly clad and upon his horse Ba-
vieca, he was greatly astonished. Then Alvar Fañez and
the other good men kissed his hand in the name of the Cid.
And the King beheld his countenance, and seeing it so fresh
and comely, and his eyes so bright and fair, and so even
and open that he seemed alive, he marvelled greatly. But
when they told him that for seven days he had drank of the
46
362 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK myrrh and balsam, and had neither ate nor drank of aught
^ cLsc, and how he had aiierwards been anointed and embaha-
ed, he did not then hold it for so great a wonder, for he had
heard that in the land of Egypt they were wont to do thus
with their Kings. When they had all returned to the Mo-
nastery they took the Cid from off his horse, and set the
body upon the frame, as they were wont to do, and placed
it before the altar. Many were the honors which King Don
Alfonso did to the Cid in masses and vigils, and other holy
services, such as are fitting for the body and soul of one who
is departed. IMoreover he did gi-eat honor to the King of
Chr. del Navarre, and to the Infante of Arasjon, ordering that all
Cid. cap. ' o ' o
287' ^ thinsfs which Avere needful should be sjiven to them and their
Chr. Gea. ^ . ^
flf. 310. companies.
How the XIII. On the third day after the coming of King Don
Cid was Alfonso, they Avould have interred the body of the Cid, but
his ivory when the King heard what Doña Ximena had said, that
^ ^^^' while it was so fair and comely it should not be laid in a
coffin, he held that what she said Avas good. And he sent
for the ivory chair which had been carried to the Cortes of
Toledo, and gave order that it should be placed on the right
of the altar of St. Peter ; and he laid a cloth of gold upon
it, and upon that placed a cushion covered Avith a right noble
tartarí, and he ordered a graven tabernacle to be made over
the chair, richly Avrought with azure and gold, having there-
on the blazonry of the Kings of Castille and Leon, and the
King of Navarre, and the Infante of Aragón, and of the Cid
Ruydiez the Campeador. And he himself, and the King
of Navarre and the Infante of Aragón, and the Bishop Don
Hieronymo, to do honor to the Cid, helped to take his body
from betAveen the tAvo boards, in Avhich it had been fastened
at Valencia. And Avhen they had taken it out, the body
Avas so firm that it bent not on either side, and the flesh so
firm and comely, that it seemed as if he Avere yet alive.
And the King thought that Avhat they purported to do and
had thus begun, might full Avell be effected. And they clad
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 363
the body in full noble tartaric and in cloth of purple, which BOOK
the Soldán of Persia had sent him, and put him on hose of \ — .
the same, and set him in his ivory chair ; and in his left
hand they placed his sword Tizona in its scabbard, and the
strings of his mantle in his right. And in this fashion the
body of the Cid remained there ten years and more, till it^|^Jcap
was taken thence, as the history will relate anon. And ^^,^- ^
when his garments waxed old, other good ones Avere put on. ff- 3ii.
XIV. Kina* Don Alfonso, and the sons-in-law of the Cid, ^^^ '^^^
<-• ' ' company
Kinsf Don Ramiro of Navarre, and the Infante Don Sancho brake up
^ _ ^ ^ after this
of Aragón, with all their companies, and all the other hon- was done.
orable men, abode three weeks in St. Pedro de Cárdena,
doing honor to the Cid. And the Bishop Don Hieronymo,
and the other Bishops who came with King Don Alfonso,
said every day their masses, and accompanied the body
of the Cid there where it was placed, and sprinkled holy
water upon it, and incensed it, as is the custom to do over a
grave. And after three weeks they who were there assem-
bled began to break up, and depart to their own houses.
And of the company of the Cid, some went with the King
of Navarre, and other some with the Infante of Aragón ;
but the greater number, and the most honorable among
them, betook themselves to King Don Alfonso, whose natural
subjects they were. And Doña Ximena and her compa-
nions abode in San Pedro de Cárdena, and Gil Diaz with
her, as the Cid had commanded in his testament. And the
Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fañez Minaya, and chr. del
Pero Bermudez, remained there also till they had fulfilled 288. ^^^
all that the Cid Ruydiez had commanded in his testament to g- \^ ^ ^""
be done.
XV. Gil Diaz did his best endeavor to fulfil all that his of ^^^ care
which was
Lord the Cid Ruydiez had commanded him, and to serve taken of
Doña Ximena and her companions truly and faithfully ; and
this he did so well, that she Avas well pleased with his faith-
fulness. And Doña Ximena fulfilled all that the Cid had
commanded her ; and every day she had masses performed
364 CHRo^'ICLE of the cid,
BOOK for his soul, and appointed many vigils, and gave great alms
^ for the soul of the Cid and of his family. And thLs was the
hfe which she led, doing good wherever it was needful for
the love of God ; and she was alway by the body of the
Cid, save only at meal times and at night, for then they
would not permit her to tarry there, save only when vigils
were kept in honor of him. Moreover Gil Diaz took great
delight in tending the horse Bavieca, so that there were few
days in which he did not lead him to water, and bring
him back with his own hand. And from the day in which
the dead body of the Cid was taken off his back, never
man was suffered to bestride that horse, but he was alway
led when they took him to water, and when they brought
him back. And Gil Diaz thought it fitting that the race of
that good horse should be continued, and he bought two
mares for him, the goodliest that could be found, and when
they were with foal, he saw that they were well taken care
of, and they brought forth the one a male colt and the other
a female ; and from these the race of this good horse was
kept up in Castille, so that there were afterwards many
good and precious horses of his race, and peradventure are
at this day. And this good horse hved two years and a half
after the death of his master the Cid, and then he died also,
having lived, according to the history, full forty years. And
Gil Diaz buried him before the gate of the Monastery, in
the public place, on the right hand ; and he planted two
elms upon the grave, the one at his head and the other
at his feet, and these elms grew and became great trees,
and are yet to be seen before the gate of the JMonastery.
Chr. Gen. And Gil Diaz save order that when he died they should
Chr. del bury him by that good horse Bavieca, whom he had loved
Cid. cap. „
289. SO well.
Of the XVI. Four years after the Cid had departed that noble
Doña Xim- lady Dofia Ximena departed also, she who had been the
®^^* wife of that noble baron the Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador.
At that time Don Garcia Tellez was Abbot of the Monas-
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. S65
tery, a right noble monk, and a great hidalgo. And the BOOK
Abbot and Gil Diaz sent for the daughters of the Cid and '- —
Doña Ximena to come and honor their mother at her funeral,
and to inherit what she had left. Doña Sol, who was the
younger, came first, because Aragón is nearer than Navarre,
and also because she was a widow ; for the Infante Don
Sancho, her husband, had departed three years after the
death of the Cid, and had left no child. King Don Ramiro
soon arrived with the other dame, Queen Doña Elvira his
wife, and he brought with him a great company, in honor of
his wife's mother, and also the Bishop of Pamplona, to do
honor to her funeral ; and the Infante Don Garcia Ramirez,
their son, came with them, being a child of four years old.
Moreover there came friends and kinsmen from all parts.
And when they were all assembled they buried the body of
Doña Ximena at the feet of the ivory chair on which the
Cid w^as seated ; and the Bishop of Pamplona said mass,
and the Abbot Don Garcia Tellez officiated. And they tar-
ried there seven days, singing many masses, and doing much
good for her soul's sake. And in that time the Bishop Don
Hieronymo arrived, who abode with King Don Alfonso,
and he came to do honor to the body of Doña Ximena ;
for so soon as he heard that she was departed, he set off,
taking long journeys every day. And Avhen the seven days
were over. King Don Ramiro and Queen Doña Elvira his
wife, and her sister Doña Sol, set apart rents for the soul of
Doña Ximena, and they appointed that Gil Diaz should have
them for his life, and that then they should go to the Monas-
tery for ever : and they ordained certain anniversaries for
the souls of the Cid and of Doña Ximena. After this was
done they divided between them what Doña Ximena had
left, which was a great treasure in gold and in silver, and in
costly garments ; . . the one half Queen Doña Elvira took,
and Doña Sol the other. And when they had thus divided
it. Doña Sol said that all which she had in the world should
be for her nephew the Infante Don Garcia Ramirez, and
366 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK with the good will of Queen Elvira his mother, she adopted
— - — '- — him then to be her son, and she took him with her to
Aragón, to the lands Avhich had been given her in dower,
and bred him up till he became a young man ; and alter the
death of his father he was made King of Navarre, as may be
seen in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Spain.
And when all these things were done they departed each to
Chr.delCid. ^^^ ^^^^ homc, and Gil Diaz remained, serving and doing
cJt ^Gen ^onor to the bodies of his master the Cid and Doña Ximena
ff. 312. Jiig mistress. '
Of what XVII. Now Don Garcia Tellez the Abbot, and the
happened '
to a Jew trusty Gil Diaz, were wont every year to make a sreaX fes-
who would . -^ ' . .
have taken tival on the day of the Cid's departure, and on that anniver-
the beard, sary they gave food and clothing to the poor, who came from
all parts round about. And it came to pass when they made
the seventh anniversary, that a great multitude assembled as
they were wont to do, and many Moors and Jews came to
see the strange manner of the Cid's body. And it was the
custom of the Abbot Don Garcia Tellez, when they made
that anniversary, to make a right noble sermon to the
people : and because the multitude which had assembled
was so great that the Church could not hold them, they
went out into the open place before the Monastery, and he
preached unto them there. And while he was preaching
there remained a Jew in the Church, who stopt before the
body of the Cid, looking at him to see how nobly he was
there seated, having his countenance so fair and comely, and
his long beard in such goodly order, and his sword Tizona in
its scabbard in his left hand, and the strings of his mantle in
his right, even in such manner as King Don Alfonso had left
him, save only that the garments had been changed, it being
now seven years since the body had remained there in that
ivory chair. Now there was not a man in the Church save
this Jew, for all the others were hearing the preachment
which the Abbot made. And when this Jew perceived that
he was alone, he began to think within himself and say.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 367
This is the body of that Ruydiez the Cid, whom they say no BOOK
man in the world ever took by the beard while he lived .
I will take him by the beard now, and see what he can do
to me. And with that he put forth his hand, to pull the
beard of the Cid ; . . but before his hand could reach it, God,
who would not suffer this thing to be done, sent his spirit
into the body, and the Cid let the strings of his mantle go
from his right hand , and laid hand on his sword Tizona, and
drew it a full palm's length out of the scabbard. And when
/the Jew saw this, he fell upon his back for great fear, and
began to cry out so loudly, that all they who were Avithout
the Church heard him, and the Abbot broke off his preach-
ment and went into the Church to see what it might be.
And when they came they found this Jew lying upon his
back before the ivory chair, like one dead, for he had ceased
to cry out, and had swooned away. And then the Abbot
Don Garcia Tellez looked at the body of the Cid, and saw
that his right hand was upon the hilt of the sword, and that
he had drawn it out a full palm's length ; and he was greatly
amazed. And he called for holy water, and threw it in the
face of the Jew, and with that the Jew came to himself.
Then the Abbot asked him what all this had been, and he
told him the whole truth ; and he knelt down upon his knees
before the Abbot, and besought him of his mercy that he
would make a Christian of him, because of this great miracle
which he had seen, and baptize him in the name of Jesus
Christ, for he would live and die in his faith, holding all
other to be but error. And the Abbot baptized him in the
name of the Holy Trinity, and gave him to name Diego Gil.
And all who were there present were greatly amazed, and
they made a great outcry and great rejoicings to God for
this miracle, and for the power which he had shown through
the body of the Cid in this manner ; for it was plain that
what the Jew said was verily and indeed true, because the chr. del
posture of the Cid was changed. And from that day for- 291 ." 292!
ward Diego Gil remained in the Monastery as long as he ff
lived, doing service to the body of the Cid.
Chr. Gen,
313.
368 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK XVIII. After that day the body of the Cid remained in
'. — the same posture, for they never took his hand off the sword,
bixiy 0^1116 ^^^ changed his garments more, and thus it remained three
^'.^ ^!f years longer, till it had been there ten years in all. And
then the nose began to change color. And when the Abbot
Don Garcia Tellez and Gil Diaz saw this, they weened that
it was no longer fitting for the body to remain in that man-
ner. And three Bishops from the neighboring provmces
met there, and with many masses and vigils, and great
honor, they interred the body after this manner. They dug
a vault before the altar, beside the grave of Doña Ximena,
Cid c^^ ^^^ vaulted it over with a high arch, and there they placed
29^- the body of the Cid seated as it Avas in the ivory chair, and
ff. 313. in his garments, and with the sword in his hand, and they
Berganza. i • i • i i i •
5. 33. §384. hung up his shield and his banner upon the walls.
9f the XIX. After the body of the noble Cid Campeador had
death ot ...
Gil Diaz, been thus honorably interred, Gil Diaz his trusty servant
abode still in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, doing
service to the graves of the Cid and Doña Ximena, and
making their anniversaries, and celebrating masses, and
giving great alms to the poor both in food and clothing, for
the good of their souls ; and in this manner he lived while
Don Garcia Tellez was Abbot, and two others after him,
and then he died. And his deportment had ahvay been such
in that Monastery, that all there were his friends, and la-
mented greatly at his death, because he had led so devout
and good a hfe, and served so trustily at the graves of his
master and mistress. And at the time of his death he gave
order that they should lay his body beside the good horse
Bavieca whom he had loved so Avell, in the grave which he
had made there for himself while he was living. And
Diego Gil remained in his place, doing the same service
ff*^3Í3^^"' ^vhich he had done, till he departed also. And the liistory
Chr. del snith that thousjh Gil Diaz was srood, Diec-o Gil was even
Cid. cap. '^^ a 7 o
292. better.
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 369
XX. Eighty and six years after the death of the Cid BOOK
Campeador, that is to say, in the year of the Era 1223,
How ihe
which is the year of the Incarnation 1185, it came to pass, K^n^^ofNa-
that there was war between the Kings of Leon and Na- ^J^J^'"^^^'"^^^-^
varre on the one part, and the King of Castille on the other, ^oo^y ,
^ _ ^ ^_ ^ which he
notwithstanding this King Don Sancho of Navarre was had taken
uncle to the King of Castille, being his mother's brother, the Cid,
And this King Don Sancho entered into the lands of his
nephew King Don Alfonso of Castille, and advanced as
far as Burgos, and with his sword he struck a great
stroke into the elm tree which is before the Church of
St. John at Burgos, in token that he had taken posses-
sion of all that land ; and he carried aAvay with him a
great booty in flocks and herds and beasts of the plough,
and whatever else he could find, and with all this booty
went his way toward Navarre. Now he had to pass nigh
the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, where the body of
the Cid Campeador lay. And at that time the Abbot of the
Monastery, whose name was Don Juan, was a good man,
and a hidalgo, and stricken in years ; and he had been a
doughty man in arms in his day. And when he saw this
great booty being driven out of Castille, he was sorely grieved
at the sight, and though he was now an old man, and it was
long since he had got on horseback, he went to horse now,
and took ten monks with him, and bade the strongest among
them take down the banner of the Cid from the place where
it was hung up, and he went after King Don Sancho, who
was carrying away the spoil. And the King when he saw
him coming marvelled what banner this might be, for in
those days there was no banner like unto that borne by any
man in all the kingdoms of Spain ; and perceiving how few
they were who came with it, he halted to see what it might
be. And the Abbot humbled himself before him when he
came up, and said. King Don Sancho of Navarre, I am the
Abbot of this Monastery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, wherein
lies the body of the Cid Campeador, your great grand-
47
370 CHRONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK fiither ; and for that reason presuming on your bounty and
— '. — '. — favor, I am come hither with this banner, which was borne
before him in his battles, to beseech you that you would
leave this booty for the honor of this banner and of the body
of the Cid. And when King Don Sancho heard this, he
marvelled at the great courage of the man, that he should
thus without fear ask of him to restore his booty. And he
said unto him after a while. Good man, I know you not :
but for what you have said I will give back the booty, for
which there are many reasons. For I am of the lineage of
the Cid as you say, and my father King Don Garcia being
the son of Doña Elvira his daughter, this is the first reason ;
and the second is for the honor of his body which lies in
your Monastery ; and the third is in reverence to this his
banner, which never Avas defeated. And if none of these
were of any avail, yet ought I to restore it, w^ere it only
for this, that if he were living there is none who could
drive away the spoils of Castille, he being so near. For
the love of God therefore, and of my forefather the Cid, I
give it to him, and to you, who have known so well how to
ask it at my hands. When the Abbot heard this he was as
joyful as he could be, and would have kissed the hand of
King Don Sancho, but the King w^ould not suffer this, be-
cause he was a priest of the mass. Then the King ordered
the spoil to be driven to the Monastery, and went himself
with it, and saw the banner hung up again in its place, and
abode there three weeks, till all that booty had been restored
to the persons from whom it was taken. And when this was
done he offered to the Monastery two hundred pieces of gold
for the soul of his forefather the Cid, and returned into his
Cid. cap. kingdom of Navarre, and did no more evil at that time
Ge^n ^ff '^" i^ the realm of Castille. This good service the Cid Ruy diez
^^^- did to Castille after his death.
How the XXI. Moreover when the Miramamohn brousrht over
Cid went to ^
thesreat from Africa against Kins: Don Alfonso, the eighth of that
])attle oí the ^ ^ . .
Navas de name, the mifi^htiest power of the misbelievers that had ever
Tolosa. ' ° ^
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 371
been brought against Spain since the destruction of the BOOK
Kings of the Goths, the Cid Campeador remembered his !
country in that great danger. For the night before the bat-
tle was fought at the Navas de Tolosa, in the dead of the
night, a mighty sound was heard in the whole city of Leon,
as if it were the tramp of a great army passing through.
And it passed on to the Royal Monastery of St. Isidro, and
there was a great knocking at the gate thereof, and they
called to a priest who was keeping vigils in the Chiu'ch,
and told him that the Captains of the army whom he
heard were the Cid Ruydiez, and Count Ferran Gonzalez,
and that they came there to call up King Don Ferrando
the Great, who lay buried in that Church, that he might
go with them, to deliver Spain. And on the morrow
that great battle of the Navas de Tolosa was fousjht, wherein Yepes.
o 1- 1 • 1 • , ^'hr. Gen.
Sixty thousand of the misbelievers were slain, which was de s. Beni-
one of the greatest and noblest battles ever won over the fi.' 332. "
Moors. ^
XXII. The body of the Cid remained in the vault How King
wherein it had been placed as ye have heard, till the year of so the wise
the Incarnation 1272, Avhen King Don Alfonso the Wise, Jhe^ body of
for the great reverence which he bore the memory of the ^^® ^^^"
Cid his forefather, ordered a coffin to be made for him,
which was hewn out of two great stones ; and in this the
body of the Cid was laid, and they placed it on that side
where the Epistle is read ; and before it, in a wooden coffin,
they laid the body of Doña Ximena. And round about the
stone coffin these verses were graven, in the Latin tongue.
^ This thing, says Yepes, God permitted to be heard in Leon, that it
might be known how those persons whom the Gentiles in their vanity call
Heroes, and the world holds for excellent men, do in Heaven take
thought for the things of this world ; and though their bodies were not
verily and indeed present, yet inasmuch as their souls so vehemently
desired to be there, this sound of their march was permitted to be
heard, that it might be known how they were still watchful for the good
of Spain.
372 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK being, according as it is said, composed by King Don Al-
' fon so himself.
BELLIGER, INVICTUS, FAMOSUS MARTE TRIUMPHIS,
CLAUDITUR HOC TÚMULO MAGNUS DmACI RODERICUS.
And upon his tomb he ordered these verses to be graven
also :
QUANTUM ROMA POTENS BELLICIS EXTOLLITUR ACTIS,
VIVAX ARTHURUS FIT GLORIA QUANTUM BRITANXIS,
NOBILIS E CAROLO QUANTUM GAUDET FRANCIA MAGNO,
TANTUM IBERIA DURIS CID INVICTUS CLARET.
And upon the walls it was thus written. I who lie here
interred am the Cid Ruydiez, who conquered King Bucar
with six and thirty Kings of the Moors ; and of those six
and thirty, twenty and two died in the field. Before Va-
lencia I conquered them, on horseback, after I was dead,
being the seventy and second battle which I won. I am he
who won the swords Colada and Tizona. God be praised,
Berganza. ^
5. 32. §384. Amen.
Of the se- XXIII. The body of the Cid remained here till the year
coiid re-
movai of of the Incarnation 1447, when the Abbot Don Pedro del
and how It Burgo Ordered the old Church to be pulled down, that a
e?to7e-° ^" ^^^^ o^^ might be built in its place. And then as all the
affain ^' scpulchres were removed, that of the Cid was removed also,
and they placed it in front of the Sacristy, upon four stone
lions. And in the year 1540 God put it in the heart of the
' Abbot and Prior, Monks and Convent of the Monastery of
St. Pedro de Cárdena for the glory of God, and the honor
of St. Peter and St. Paul, and of the Cid and other good
knights who lay buried there, and for the devotion of the
people, to beautify the great Chapel of the said Monastery
with a rich choir and stalls, and new altars, and goodly
steps to lead up to them. And as they were doing this,
they found that the tomb of the blessed Cid, if they left it
where it was, which was in front of the door of the Sacristy,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 373
before the steps of the ahar, it would neither be seemly for BOOK
the service of the altar, because it was in the way thereof, '■ —
nor for his dignity, by reason that they might stumble
against it ; . . moreover it was fallen somewhat to decay,
and set badly upon the stone lions which supported it ; and
there were other knights placed above him. Whereupon
the Abbot, Prior, Monks, and Convent, resolved that they
would translate his body, and remove the other tombs to
places convenient for them, holding that it was not meet that
those who neither in their exploits nor in holiness had
equalled him in life, should have precedency of him after
death. And they were of one accord that the day of this
translation should not be made public, knowing how great
the number would be of knights and other persons who
would be desirous of being at this festival, for which cause
they doubted least some misadventure would betide of tu-
mults and deaths, or scandals such as are wont to happen on
such occasions ; they were therefore minded to do this thing
without giving knowledge thereof to any but those who were
in the Monastery, who were of many nations and conditions,
and who were enow to bear testimony when it was done ;
for there was no lack there, besides the religious, of knisfhts,
' . . Berganza.
squires, hidalgos, laborers, and folk of the city and the dis- 5. 33. §386.
trict round about, and Biscayans, and mountaineers, and men Frias.
of Burgundy and of France.
XXIV. So on Thursday, the eighth day of Epiphany, of the cere-
being the thirteenth day of January in the year of our fore the lid
Lord 1541, and at the hour of complines, the Abbot and wasTiñedl
Convent being assembled, together with serving-men and
artificers who were called for this purpose, they made that
night wooden biers that the tomb might be moved more
easily and reverently, and with less danger. And on the
morrow, which was Friday, the fourteenth day of the said
month and year, the Convent having said primes, and the
mass of Our Lady, according to custom, and the Abbot
Fray Lope de Frias, who was a native of Velorado, having
374 CHRONICLK OP THE CID,
BOOK confessed and said mass, the doors of the Churcli beins
XI.
open, and the ahar richly drest, and the bells ringing as they
are wont to do npon great festivals, at eight in the morning
there assembled in the Church all the brethren of the Mo-
nastery, nineteen in number, the other fifteen being absent
each in his avocation ; and there were present with them
Sancho de Ocaña, Merino and Chief Justice of the JMonas-
tery ; Juan de Rosales, Pedro de Ruseras, and Juan Ruyz,
squires of the house ; master Ochoa de Artiaga, a mason,
with his men ; Andrez de Cárnica, and Domingo de Artiaga,
master Pablo and master Borgoñon, stone-cutters, wdth their
men ; and master Juan, a smith, Avith his ; and all the other
w^orkmen and serving-men and traders who w^ere in the
house. And the Abbot being clad in rich vestments, and
the ministers and acolites w^ith him, wdth cross, candles, and
torches burning, went all in procession to our Lady's altar,
where the sacrament was at that time kept, because of the
repairs which were going on in the great Chapel ; and all
kneeling on their knees, and having recited the Paternoster
and Ave-maria, the Abbot gave a sign, and the Precentor of
the Convent began in plain descant the antiphony Salvator
Mundi. And w^hen the w^hole Convent had sung this, the
Abbot said the verse Ostende nobis, and the verse Post par-
tu7n virgo, and the prayer Omnipotens sempiturne Deus qui
es omnium dubitantium certitudo, and the prayer Deus qui
salutis ceternce, demanding the grace and favor of the Lord.
When this was done they returned in procession to the great
Chapel, before the tomb of the blessed Cid, and then the
choir began the anthem Mirabilis Deus, saying it to the
organ. And while this w^as singing in great accord, the
workmen stood ready with their instruments in hand, to lift
off the upper stone of the coffin, because it w^as well nigh
impossible to remove the whole together, and also because
the Abbot, Prior, and Convent, had resolved to see that holy
body and relicks, by reason of the devotion w4iich they bore
to the blessed Cid, and that they might bear testimony in
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 375
what manner he lay in that tomb, wherein he had been de- BOOK
XI.
posited so many years ago, as behoved them for the honor
of the Cid and the authority of the Monastery. Frias!'^
XXV. When the anthem was finished, the Abbot said How the
, _, . . , . , 1 -r^ third trans-
the verse JiiXultabunt sancti m gloria^ and the prayer Deus laiion was
qui es tuo7'um gloria se?'vormn. And Avhen all had said ^^^ °™^
Amen, the Abbot himself, with a little bar of iron, began first
to move the lid of the stone coffin ; and then the workmen and
others easily lifted it on" upon the bier, and thus the tomb was
laid open ; and there appeared within it a coffin of Avood fas-
tened down with gilt nails, the hair of the coffin being entirely
gone, and great part of the wood decayed also. Within this
coffin was the holy body, now well nigh consumed, nothing
but the bones remaining entire. On some of the bones the
flesh was still remaining, not discolored, but Avith a rosy color,
and the bones were of the same rosy color, and the flesh also
which had fallen from them. The body was wrapt in a
sendal wrought after the Moorish fashion, with sword and
spear by its side, as tokens of knighthood. As soon as the
coffin was opened there issued forth a good odor, and com-
forting fragrance. It appeared that no part of the body was
wanting ; but this was not narrowly examined, by reason of
the reverence which they bore it. After all this had been
seen well and leisurely by all those who were present, the
Abbot and his ministers passed a clean sheet under the coffin,
and collecting into it all the bones and holy dust, covered it
with another sheet, and took it out, and laid it upon the high
altar, with candles and torches on each side ; and in this
manner it remained there all day, till it was time to deposit
it in the tomb. And all this while the choristers sung to the
organ, and the organ responded. And when the body was
laid upon the altar, the Abbot said the verse MirabUis Deus,
and the prayer Magnificet te Domine sanctorum Uiorum beata
solemnitas. And when this Avas done he Avent and disrobed
himself of his sacred vestments. And the Avorkmen Avent
and removed the stone lions, and placed them in the place
376 CHKONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK where they were to be, and the tomb upon them. And the
— ^ — '■ — Convent went to perform divine service, which was cele-
brated that day at all the hours with a full choir. And at
the hour accustomed, after this was done, the Abbot and the
Convent invited all who were there present to be their guests,
giving a right solemn feast to all ; and the chief persons
dined with the Convent in the Refectory. And that same
day in the evening, after vespers, when it was about four
o'clock, the workmen had removed the stone lions, and
placed the tomb upon them, and laid the lid of the tomb
hard by, and made all ready to fasten it down, so soon as
the holy body should be laid in it. And at that time, the
bells ringing again, and all being again assembled, the Abbot
having put on again his vestments, which were of white bro-
cade, and his ministers with him, went to the altar whereon
they had laid the holy body, which had been right nobly
guarded and accompanied. And the singers singing the
while, he and his ministers took it and laid it with great
reverence in the tomb, all seeing it when it was laid there,
wrapt up and covered with the sheets. And in the presence
of all, the workmen put on the lid and fastened it down.
Then the Abbot began the Te Deum laiidamus, and the
singers continuing it, they went in procession to Our Lady's
Chapel, where the most holy sacrament then was, as ye have
heard. And the Abbot said the verse Benedicamus Patrem
Sy et Filium cum Sancto Spii'itu, and the prayer Deus ad quern
digne laiidandum, and they all returned thanksgiving to the
Lord. And the Abbot and the ministers went into the Sa-
cristy, and took off their sacred vestments ; and then he re-
turned and again invited all who were there to a collation
in the Refectory, which had been prepared by the servants
of the Monastery. And when this was over they separated,
each going with great content to his several occupation,
F. Lope de praising God.
XX VL It was a thing of great consolation that there was
not a person in that Monastery, who did not all that day
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 377
feel great joy and delight in his soul. And there befell a book
thing of which many took notice, and which ought not to be — 1_J —
passed over in silence, and it was this. There was a great Of the
^ ' ^ . miraculous
want of rain in the land of Rioja and Bureva, and the dis- rain which
r /-M ~ 1 • r • ^'^'^ during
trict oi Cárdena also was in want ol water, though not in this trans-
such great need, for it was long since any rain had fallen ;
and it pleased God that on the aforesaid Thursday, the eve
of the translation, at the very hour when the Abbot and
his people began to prepare the bier, and make all things
ready for opening and removing the tomb, a soft and gentle
rain began, such a rain that to those who were out of doors
it was nothing troublesome, and to the country greatly pro-
fitable, and pleasant unto all ; and it lasted all that night,
and all the day following, till the holy business of the trans-
lation was accomplished, and then it ceased. Now it was
found that this rain had fallen at the same time and in the
same manner, both in the country below Burgos, and also in
Bureva, albeit that it rarely hath happened for rain to fall at
one time in both provinces, because they are wont to have
rain with different winds. It seemeth therefore that this
blessed knight, who while he lived protected and defended
that country with his person and his arms, beholding the
service which was done him, and how he was remembered,
favored it at that time in heaven with his holy intercession,
by sending that thing whereof it had then most need, which
was Avater from heaven, in order that it might be made man-
ifest that he never ceased to show favor to those who trusted
in him, and to that monastery of Saint Pedro de Cárdena.
And an account of this translation, and of all this which be-
fell, was drawn up by the Abbot Fray Lope de Frias, and
signed by all the brethren of the Monastery, and all the chief Frias°^^
persons there present.
XXVII. Now albeit this translation of the body of the Ofthe let-
•^ ter which
blessed Cid had been made with such honor and reverence, the Fanpe-
1 1 • • 1 -r-x T-» ^"'' issued
there were many who murmured against it : and Don re- touching
dro Fernandez de Velasco, Duke of Frias, who was then lation.
48
378 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Constable of Castille, and the Municipality of Burgos, sent
'. advice thereof to the Emperor Charles V. who was at that
time in Flanders, beseeching him to give order that the
tomb of the Cid might be translated back to its former place,
and that of Doña Ximena also, which had been removed
into the cloisters of the Monastery. Hereupon the Emperor
dispatched letters to his Governor, Cardinal Juan, bidding
him see that the petition of the Constable and of the City of
Burgos was fulfilled, and the Cardinal in obedience there-
unto dispatched the provision here following.
The King.
Venerable Abbot, INIonks and Convent of St. Pedro de
Cárdena, knoAv ye that we have ordered to be given, and do
hereby give our edict unto you, to the following tenor. The
Council, Justice, and Regidores, Knights, Esquires, Artificers
and Good Men of the City of Burgos, have made a memo-
rial to us the King, showing, that we well know the fame,
nobleness, and exploits of the Cid, which are notorious to
all, from whose valor there redoundeth honor to all Spain,
and especially to that city whereof he was a native, and
where he had his origin and birth place ; and that one of the
principal things w^hich they who pass through that city, both
natives of these kingdoms, and strangers also, desire to see,
is his tomb and the place wherein he and his ancestors are
interred, for his greatness and the antiquity thereof ; and that
it is now some thirty or forty days since ye, not having re-
spect to this, neither bearing in mmd that the Cid is our pro-
genitor, nor the possessions which he left to your house, nor
the authority that it is to the said Monastery that he should
there have been interred, have removed and taken away his
tomb from the middle of the great Chapel, where it had
stood for more than four hundred years, and placed it neox
a staircase, in a place unseemly, and unlike that where it
was placed heretofore, both in authority and honor. More-
over ye have removed with him the tomb of Doña Ximena
his wife, and placed it in the Cloisters of the said Monastery,
1
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 379
full differently from where it was. The which that city, as book
well because it toucheth us as for her honor, doth greatly
resent ; and albeit that as soon as it was known the Corregi-
dor and three of the Regidores thereof went there to prevail
with ye that ye should restore the said bodies to the place
where they were wont to be, ye would not be persuaded ;
whereof the said city holdeth itself greatly aggrieved ; and
moreover it is a thing of bad example for Monasteries and
Religioners, who, seeing how lightly the tomb of so famous
a person hath been removed, may venture to remove and
change any monuments and memorials, whereby great evil
would accrue to our kingdoms. And the said City supph-
cateth and beseeching us of our grace, that we would be
pleased to give command that ye should restore the bodies
of the Cid and of his wife to the same place and form as
heretofore. And the Cid having been so signal a person,
and one from whom the Royal Crown of Castille hath re-
ceived such great and notable services, we marvel that ye
should have made this alteration in their tombs, and we
command you if it be so that their bodies or their tombs have
been indeed removed, as soon as ye receive this, to restore
them to the same place, and in the same form and manner
as they were before ; and in case they have not yet been
removed, that ye do not move nor touch them, neither now
nor at any time to come. And having first complied with
this order, if ye have any cause or reason for making this
removal, ye are to send us an account thereof, and also how
ye have restored the said bodies and tombs to their former
place within forty days, to the end that we may give order
to have this matter inspected, and provide as shall be most
convenient. Done at Madrid, the 8th day of the month ofserganza.
July, in the year 1541. Johannes Cardinalis, by command 39?.^"^^^°'
of his Majesty, Governor in his name.
XXVIII. This provision having been notified unto them, ÍJmbs were
the Abbot and Monks made answer that they were ready to [oThe^mfd-
obey it, and that he would go and give account to the Lord '^^ °^^^¡?^
pel.
380 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK Governor of what had been done. And the Abbot went ac-
XI
'. — cordingly to Court, and informed the Cardinal Governor of
the translation which had been made ; and that the tomb of
the Cid had been removed to a place more decorous, and
nearer the high Altar, and answering the site where Kmg
Don Alfonso VI. had commanded him to be placed in his
ivory chair before he was first interred ; and where the vault
had been made wherein he had lain many years. And that
the reason why the tomb had been moved was, that the pas-
sage from the Sacristy to the choir and to the High Altar
might be cleared ; and that the reason why it had not been
placed in the middle of the Great Chapel, was, that if that
place were occupied, it seemed due to Queen Doña Sancha
the foundress of that House, or to King Don Ramiro, who
had held that place in the old Church. But notwithstanding
all these reasons which the Abbot alleged, the Cardinal or-
dered him to obey the King's command. Hereupon the
Abbot returned to the Monastery and determined to place
the tombs of the Cid and of Doña Ximena m the middle
of the Great Chapel, before it should be known in Burgos
that the translation was to take place ; and accordingly
Berganza. when thosc Dcrsons who would fain have been present made
6 33. § 392.
393. inquiry, they Avere told that the thing was done.
Of the state XXIX. Now there have not been Avanting over-curious
tombs at the persons who, because the Monastery of Cárdena is the first
time!"^ under the royal patronage, by reason that it is a foundation
of Queen Doña Sancha, who is the first royal personage
that ever founded a Monastery in Spain, and because King
Don Alfonso the Great re-edified it, and Garcia Ferrandez
the Count of Castille restored it, have said, that the Cid
hath taken the place of these patrons. And when Kmg
Carlos II. was in this Monastery in the year 1679, he asked
whose the tomb was which occupied the middle of the Great
Chapel : and Fray Joseph del Hoyo, who was at that time
Abbot, made answer. Sir, it is the tomb of Rodrigo Diaz,
the Cid Campeador. Why then, said one of the Grandees,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 381
doth the Cid occupy the best place, seeing that this Monas- BOOK
tery is a royal foundation ? Upon this the Abbot made
answer that the Emperor Charles V. had ordered the Abbot
and Monks to place him in that place ; and King Carlos II.
said. The Cid was not a King, but he was one who made
Kings. And from that time till the present day the tomb of
the Cid hath remained in the same place, and that of Doña
Ximena beside it ; and with such veneration and respect are
they preserved, that they are alway covered and adorned
with tAvo cloths, w^hereof the upper one is of silk, and on
great festivals they are adorned with one still more precious. 5. 33. § 393.
XXX. Many are the thins^s which belonsfed to Ruydiez Of the re-
•^ . '^ . ^ . lies of the
the Cid Campeador, which are still preserved with that Cid.
reverence which is due to the memory of such a man.
First, there are those good swords Colada and Tizona,
which the Cid won with his own hand. Colada is a sword
of full ancient make : it hath only a cross for its hilt, and
on one side are graven the words >S¿, S¿ . . . that is to say.
Yea, Yea : and on the other. No, No. And this sword is
in the Royal Armory at Madrid. That good sword Tizona
is in length three quarters and a half, some little more, and
three full fingers wide by the hilt, lessening down to the
point ; and in the hollow of the sword, by the hilt, is this
writing in Roman letters, Ave Maria gratia plena Dommtis,
and on the other side, in the same letters, I am Tizona,
which was made in the era 1040, that is to say, in the year
1002. This good sword is an heir-loom in the family of the
Marquises of Falces. The Infante Don Ramiro, who was
the Cid's son-in-law, inherited it, and from him it descended
to them. Moreover the two coffers which were given in
pledge to the Jews Rachel and Vidas are kept, the one in
the Church of St. Águeda at Burgos, where it is placed over
the principal door, in the inside, and the other is in the Mo-
nastery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, where it is hung up by
two chains on the left of the dome ; on the right, and op-
posite to this coffer, is the banner of the Cid, but the color
382 CHRONICLE OF THE CID,
BOOK thereof cannot now be known, for length of time and the
' dampness of the Church have clean consumed it. In the
middle is his shield hanging against the wall, covered with
skin, but now so changed that no blazonry or device is to
be seen. In the Sacristy there are the keys of the coffer, a
great round chest of satin wood, the setting of the amethyst
cup which he used at table, and one of the caskets which
the Soldán of Persia sent with the myrrh and balsam ; this
is of silver, and gilt in the inside, and it is in two parts, the
lid closing over the other part ; its fashion is hke that of the
vessels in which the three Kings of the East are represented
bringing their offerings to Christ when he was newly born.
On the upper part is graven the image of our Redeemer,
holding the world in his hand, and on the other the figure of
a serpent marvellously contorted, perad venture in token
of the victory which Jesus achieved over the enemy of
i the human race. That noble chess-board, the men whereof
were of gold and silver, was also in the Monastery in the
days of King Don Alfonso the Wise, but it hath long since
been lost, no man knoweth how. Moreover there is in this
Sacristy a precious stone of great size, black and sparkling ;
no lapidary hath yet known its name. The Convent have
had an infant Jesus graven thereon, with the emblem of the
Passion, that it might he worthily employed. It is thought
also that the great cross of crystal which is set so well and
wrought with such great cunning, is made of different pieces
of crystal which belonged to the Cid. But the most pre-
cious relic of the Cid Ruydiez which is preserved and ven-
erated in this Monastery, is the cross which he wore upon
his breast when he Avent to battle ; it is of plain silver, in
four equal parts, and each part covered with three plates of
gold, and in the flat part of each five sockets set with pre-
cious stones of some size, and with other white ones which
are smaller ; of these little ones, some are still left, fastened
in with filigrane. In the middle of the cross is a raised
part, after the manner of an artichoke, ending in white and
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR. 383
ffreen enamel ; and it is said that in the hollow thereof are BOOK
XI.
certain relics, with a piece of the holy wood of the true '. — >
cross. Verily, that part of the writing which can still be
read implieth this, for thus much may at this day be dis-
cerned, . . Crucis Salvator * * Sancti Petri * * Porto.
Of the four limbs of this cross, the upper one is wanting.
King Don Alfonso, the last of that name, asked for it, and
had it made into a cross to wear himself, when he went to
battle, because of the faith which he had, that through it he
should obtain the victory : of the lower limb little more is Berganza.
•^ . 5.40. §441.
left than that to which the plates of silver and gold were 442. 443.
fastened on. From point to point this cross is little more 5. 29. s.
than a quarter.
*^ XXXI. There is no doubt that the soul of the blessed How the
Cid resteth and reigneth with the blessed in Heaven. And have been
men of all nations and at all times have come from all parts ^^^^^^^^
to see and reverence his holy body and tomb, being led by
the odor of his fame, especially knights and soldiers, who
when they have fallen upon their knees to kiss his tomb, and
scraped a little of the stone thereof to bear away with them
as a relick, and commended themselves to him, have felt
their hearts strengthened, and gone away in full trust that
they should speed the better in all battles into which they
should enter from that time with a good cause. By reason
of this great devotion, and the great virtues of my Cid, and
the miracles which were wrought by him. King Philip the
Second gave to his ambassador Don Diego Hurtado de
Mendoza, to deal with the Court of Rome concerning the
canonization of this venerable knight Rodrigo Diaz. Now
Don Diego was a person of great learning, and moreover,
one of the descendants of the Cid ; and being greatly desi-
rous that this thing should be effected, he sent to the monas-
tery of St. Pedro de Cárdena, and had papers and deposi-
tions sent from thence, and made a memorial of the virtues
and miracles of the Campeador, showing cause why this
blessed knight should be canonized. But before the matter
384 CHKONICLE OF THE CID.
BOOK could be proceeded in, the loss of Sienna took place, where-
1_ upon he was fain to leave Rome ; and thus this pious design
could not be brought about. Nevertheless the Cid hath
alway been regarded with great reverence as an especial
servant of God : and he is called the Blessed Cid, and the
F. Lope de .
Frias Ber- Venerable Rodrigo Diaz. Certes, his soul resteth and
ganza. 3. . i • i i i i i • tx
33. § 397. reigneth with the blessed in Heaven. Amen.
HERE ENDETH THE CHRONICLE OF THAT RIGHT FAMOUS AND
GOOD KNIGHT THE BLESSED CID,
RODRIGO DIAZ DE BIVAR
THE CAMPEADOR.
NOTES .
49
NOTES
ON THE
INTRODUCTION.
Count Julian, P. 18.
(1.) Pellicer discredited the story of Count Julian and his daugh-
ter, because it is not mentioned in the three oldest Chronicles : and
this opinion has been too hghtly adopted by other writers, without
farther consideration. But the authors of those Chronicles wrote with
the utmost brevity, and never entered into the particulars of any event.
All the Moorish historians relate the circumstance, and all the Spanish
traditions agree with them. The Marques de Mondejar, one of the
most sceptical as well as most learned investigators of Spanish his-
tory, admits this story as authentic, and he is followed by Perreras, . .
a v^iter as sceptical as himself.
The children became slaves. P. 19.
(2.) It became a common trick to inveigle free persons into a mar-
riage with slaves, who appeared free, in order that the owner might
claim the children as his property. A law was necessary to check
this practice ; . . if the deceit was proved, the slave and children were
made free, and the master declared infamous.
Fuero Juzg-o, Lib. 3. Tit. 2. Ley 7.
Slaves could obtain no merced (bounty, favor, mercy,) from the
King . . . ca los siervos non son omes para parecer ante los Reyes para
pedirla I . . for slaves are not men fit to appear before Kings to ask it !
Part. 3. Tit. 24. Ley 2.
It is worth noticing, that the word for slave and for wretch is the
same . . caitiff and captive.
388 NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
Its creed more rational. P. 20.
(3.) Mahommed expressly and repeatedly aíFirmed that he had no
power to work miracles. Yet such is the appetite of man for the mi-
raculous, that his followers have invented them for him in profusion.
The exploit of dividing the moon exceeds all miracles in extrava-
gance ; . . even the great Moloch of Catholicism, St. Domingo him-
self, has had nothing half so extraordinary imputed to him, though he
is the Hercules Furens of hagiology. Even some of those parts of
corrupted Christianity which Mahommed was most zealous to keep
out of his system, have been engrafted upon it. All is regarded by
the Persians as a supcr-angehc being : indeed the songs in his praise
which are ^vritten in gold round the gallery of the tomb of Abbas 11.
represent him as equal, if not superior, to the Deity himself.
" The Universal Spirit with its sublime knowledge, cannot arrive
at the portal of thy Avondrous essence, O Master of the Faithful I
" Were there a place more exalted than the most high throne of
God, I would affirm it to be thy place, O Master of the Faithful !
" Being of an unconceivable puissance, the commands of Provi-
dence are executed by thy orders.
" The infallibility of Predestination depends only upon thy conduct :
she is so modest as never to set her foot before thine.
'' Had not thy perfect being been in the idea of the Creator, Eve
had been eternally a virgin, and Adam a bachelor,"
The Persians have also added redemption to their creed, through
the merits and sufferings of Hassan and Hosein. At the day of judg-
ment their mother Fatima will present herself before the throne of
God, holding the head of one and the heart of the other, and demand
absolution in theii* name for the sins of the followers of Ali.
Francklinh Tour. P. 253.
Hence the unnatural murders with ivhich Asiatic history abounds. P. 23.
(4.) Even Bruce allows that the confinement of all the Abyssinian
princes upon the mountain '' was probably intended to prevent some
disorders among them which seem to be the almost inevitable conse-
quences of poly gamy. ^"^ Book 2. Ch. 6.
Bruce is the great modern defender of polygamy, and he rests his
defence upon the greater number of women than of men in hot
countries. But the coast of Malabar is as hot as the coast of Arabia,
and there one woman has many husbands. The superabundance of
males in the one country, and of females in the other, must therefore
be considered as consequences of these opposite customs, not as causes
of them.
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
389
The Mahommedaii sometimes knoivs not the face of his own children.
P. 23.
(5.) Baron de Tott has recorded a conversation upon this subject
between himself and his friend Murad Mollach : the fact is Turkish,
the conversation French.
The Co7nmander is punished for his misfortune. P. 25.
(6.) The conqueror of Constantinople seeing his Janizaries repulsed
before Belgrade, reproached the Aga, asked him where were the sol-
diers whom he had committed to his charge, and threatened to make
an example of him. The Aga replied. Of those whom you committed
to my charge. Sire, the greater part are dead, or wounded, and the
few who have escaped will no longer obey me. For myself, I have
only to rush upon the enemy and die in your service. He advanced
alone and Avas cut to pieces, and then the Tyrant vainly regretted the
brave man whom he had thus unjustly destroyed.
Chalcondyles, L. 8.
An instance of similar injustice is related in the following ballads.
Passeabase el Rey Moro
por la Ciudad de Granada,
desde la Puerta de Elvira
hasta la de Bivarambla.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Cartas le fueron venidas
que Alhama era ganada,
las cartas echó en el suelo,
y al mensagero matara.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Descavalga de una muía,
y en un cavallo cavalgaba,
por el Zacatín arriba
subido se avia al Alhambra.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Como en el Alhambra estuvo,
al mismo punto mandaba
que se toquen las trompetas,
los añafiles de plata.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Y que las caxas de guerra
apriessa toquen al arma,
porque lo oygan sus Moriscos,
los de la Vega y Granada.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Thro' the city of Granada
Did the Moorish Monarch hasten,
From the portal of Elvira
To the gate of Bivarambla.
Woe is me, Alhama !
He had letters how Alhama
By the Christians had been taken.
In the fire he threw the letters
And he cut the bearer's head off.
Woe is me, Alhama !
From his mule in haste alighting.
Hastily he leaps on horseback.
Up the Zacatin he gallops,
He is come to the Alhambra.
Woe is me, Alhama !
Soon as he was in the palace,
That same instant he commanded
That the trumpets should be sounded
And the clarions of silver.
Woe is me, Alhama I
And he bade the drums of battle
Beat to arms in loud alarum.
That the Moors might hear the summons
O'er the plain and thro' the city.
Woe is me, Alhama !
390
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
Los Moros que el son oyeron
que al sangriento Marte llama,
uno il uno, y dos a dos,
junladose ha gran batalla.
A y de mi Alhama !
Alli hablo un Moro viejo
de esta manera hablara ;
para que nos llamas Rey?
para que es esta llamada?
A y de mi Alhama !
Aveis de saber amigos
una nueva desdichada;
que Christianos de braveza
ya nos han ganado Alhama!
Ay de mi Alhama !
Alli hablo un Alfaqui
de barba crecida y cana;
bien se te emplea buen Rey
buen Rey bien se te empleaba.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Mataste los Abencerrages
que eran la flor de Granada ;
cogiste los tornadizos
de Cordoba la nombrada.
Ay de mi Alhama !
Por esso mereces Rey
una pena muy doblada,
que te pierdas tu, y tu Reyno,
y que se pierda Granada,
Ay de mi Alhama !
They who heard the loud alarum
Ilasten'd to obey the Monarch.
One by one and two by two
They have formed a great battalion.
Woe is me, Alhama !
Then spake up an old Morisco,
Thus did that old man address him :
O King, wherefore hast thou call'd us,
Wherefore is this lamentation,
Woe is me, Alhama !
Friends you have to hear ill tidings,
Evil tidings I must tell you.
How the Christians have surprized us,
They have won from us Alhama, . .
Woe is me, Alhama !
Then spake up an old Alfaqui,
One whose beard was long and hoary.
This befits you well, good King,
Good King, this befits you well, . .
Woe is me, Alhama !
You have killed the Abencerrages
They the flower of Granada ;
You have fostered here the strangers,
Runaways from Cordova.
Woe is me, Alhama!
King, thou therefore hast deserved it,
Aye, and sorrow doubled on thee ;
Hast deserved to lose Granada,
And to perish with thy kingdom.
Woe is me Alhama !
Moro Alcayde, Moro Alcayde,
el de la belluda barba,
el Rey te manda prender
por la perdida de Alhama,
y cortarte la cabeza,
y ponerla en el Alhambra,
porque a ti sea castigo,
y otros tiemblen en mirarla ;
pues perdiste la tenencia
de una ciudad tan preciada.
El Alcayde respondía,
desta manera les habla ;
Cavalleros y-hombres buenos,
los que regis a Granada,
decid de mi parte al Rey
como no le debo nada.
Yo me estaba en Antequera
Moor Alcayde, Moor Alcayde,
You there with the fleecy beard.
The King has sent us to arrest thee
For the losing of Alhama.
He has sent to cut thy head off
And to set it on the Alhambra,
Giving thee thy due chastisement.
That others may behold and fear.
Then the old Alcayde answered,
Thus in answering did he say :
Cavaliers and worthy Moslem,
Honorables of Granada,
Tell the King for me I pray you,
I have not deserved to die.
I was gone to Antequera
To the marriage of my sister,
(Hell-fire light upon the marriage
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
391
en bodas de una mi hermana, . .
mal fuego quemen las bodas
y quien a ellos mi llamara :
el Rey me dio la licencia
que yo no me la tomara :
pedila por quince dias,
diomela por tres semanas.
De averse Alhama perdido
a mi me pesa en el alma,
que si el Rey perdió su tierra,
yo perdi mi honra y fama ;
perdi hijos y muger,
las cosas que mas amaba ;
perdi una hija doncella,
que era la flor de Granada ;
el que la tiene cautiva
Marques de Cadiz se llama,
cien doblas le doi por ella,
no me las estima en nada :
la respuesta que me han dado
es que mi hija es Christiana,
y por nombre la avian puesto
Doña Maria de Alhama ;
el nombre que ella tenia
Mora Fatima se llama.
Diciendo este el Alcayde
le llevaron a Granada,
y siendo puesto ante el Rey
la sentencia le fue dada,
que le corten la cabeza,
y la lleven al Alhambra :
executose justicia
assi como el Rey lo manda.
And on those who bade me to it)
Leave the King himself had given me.
For I did not go without it ;
I for fifteen days petitioned,
He allowed me twenty one.
Oh, my soul is grieved within me
For the capture of Alhama !
If the King has lost his city
I have lost my fame and honor,
I have lost my wife and children,
All that I loved best on earth : . .
I have lost a damsel daughter.
She who was Granada's flower !
To the Court of Cales for ransom
I a hundred doblas offered ;
He my offer set at nought : . .
And the answer which they gave me
Was that she was made a Christian,
And the name which they had given her
Dona Maria de Alhama ; . .
This the name which they have given
To Fatima the Moorish maid.
Thus the good Alcayde answered,
But they took him to Granada
And they brought him to the King ;
Sentence then was past upon him
Instantly to cut his head off".
And to bring it to the Alhambra.
Sentence was performed upon him
Even as the King decreed.
The feelings and instincts must yield at his commayid. P. 25.
(7.) A little before Mahommecl II. put the Pacha Cathites to death,
he sent him a present, and with it a message, bidding him not be
alarmed at false and idle rumors. The Pacha replied, It is you
Sire, who can sadden us or rejoice us as it seems good to you : if it
be your pleasure that we should be Avretched and unhappy, surely w^e
have enough cause to be so ; . . if you would have us cheerful, it is
reasonable that Ave should obey. Chalcondyks^ L. 8.
If he order the father to execute the child, it is ivhat Destiny has ap-
pointed. P. 25.
(8.) Amnrat the First, in punishing his subjects after a rebellion,
made every man be executed by his ow^n father or nearest relation.
Only two fathers refused to obey this accursed order, and they suf-
fered with their children. ChalcondyleSy L. 1.
392 NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
The Moors found the same obsequiousness in Spain. P. 26.
(9.) Some of the Spanish Goths arc said at this time to have fled
to England ; others to have ventured upon a farther flight. Among
the many wild conjectures Avliich have been sported upon the peo-
phng of America, one is, that the fugitives reached Yucatan : . . the
little crosses which the Indians laid upon their sick and dead are
adduced as presumptive proofs. BeuUier, L. 1. C. 28.
Sacaru the governor of Merida, is said to have emigrated by sea,
and gone in search of the Canaries ; but certain it is he did not find
them, for the Spanish discoverers found there a better race than them-
selves, a diffisrent language, and a different religion.
Tradition says that an island in the ' Ocean Sea,' far to the West,
is still possessed by his descendants, called the Island of the Seven
Cities, having six Bishops and one Archbishop. A Portugueze ship,
or a Genoese Carrack, once touched there. Brito had seen it laid
down in an old chart : and in an edition of Ptolemy, it is called Anti-
lia. Some have identified it with St. Brandon's famous Island ; but
they who landed upon that found it desolate. He however who
believes the existence of the one will not discredit the other ; . .
and if there be no better authority for Sacaru's emigration than Mi-
guel de Luna, his existence is as doubtful as that of fus island.
It ivas not for his birth that his fellow soldiers lifted Pelayo upon a
shield and acclaimed him King. P. 26.
(10.) When Philip II. put the Justiza to death, and destroyed the
liberties of Aragón, this plea was invented to justify liis tyranny ; . .
that Pelayo, by having been the first King that Avas set up by the
Spaniards after the Moorish conquest, was not only King of so much
of that country as they who had chosen him were at that time in pos-
session of, or did afterwards conquer ; but of all Spain, and conse-
quently of Aragón and Catalonia, though those countries had been
taken from the Moors by other princes and people, and had quietly
been enjoyed by them above five hundred years, without any depend-
ence on Don Pelayo and his heirs, none of which before had ever
pretended to or dreamt of any such right. Now Philip, said the
coiners of this new right, being heir and successor to Pelayo, as he is
King of Castille and Leon, he and all his predecessors in those two
kingdoms must by right have always been Kings of Aragón, though
in fact they had been so but for a few years : all the compacts there-
fore, whereon the Aragonese rights and privileges were grounded,
though of five hundred years' standing, are, and were from their be-
ginning, void and of no effect : having been made betwixt the sub-
jects of the King of Leon, and Princes who had no title to be their
Kings. Geddes's Tracts, V. 2. 400.
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION. 393
Tyrants are scarcely so detestable as the sycophants and sophists
who flatter and justify them. Gregorio Lopez Madera, who invented
this argument, is infamous as the defender of the Granadan Relics,
the most gross imposition that ever was attempted by ignorant impu-
dence. A good account of it is to be found in the first volume of
Geddes's Tracts ; . . a collection which for the knowledge and fidel-
ity that it displays, should not be mentioned without praise.
Dissentions broke out betiveen the original conquerors and the Moors
from Africa. P. 28.
(11.) A distinction was always made between the Arabian con-
querors, and the Africans who came over to share in what the others
had won. This distinction, says Moret, siempre fue de grandissima
conveiiieiicia a los Reyes Christianos. T. 1. P. 299.
Zehra. P. 31.
(12.) Five and twenty years were employed in building Zehra ;
the annual expenses were 300,000 dinars of gold, in the whole 3,125,-
000/. But where is the boasted superiority of Moorish art ? The
architect of Zehra Avas from Constantinople, and so were its finest
pieces of sculpture.
This is an Arabian account. The same author states that Cordova
contained 200,000 houses, 600 mosques, and 900 public baths : he
says that there were in Spain in his time, 80 large towns, and 300
of the second and third order : the villages and hamlets were innu-
merable ; . . there were 12,000 upon the banks of the Guadalquivir.
A traveller would find three or four towns in one day's journey and
could not proceed a quarter of an hour without coming to a village.
. . . Where are the monuments of this prodigious population ? Na-
tions do not perish without leaving a wreck behind them. The track
of the Tartar conquerors may still be traced by the ruins of cities.
The detail of the sources of the Moors' prosperity may be more
safely trusted. Their chief exports w^ere oil, sugar, cochineal, quick-
silver, bar and wrought iron, raw and wrought silk, wrought wool :
they also exported ambergris, amber, loadstones, antimony, the mar-
cassite of gold, talc, crystal, tuit, sulphur, saffron, ginger, gentian,
myrrh. The Spanish armorers were already famous, and their Avork
was preferred in Africa. There was a coral fishery off Andalusia, a
pearl one on the Catalonian coast. Rubies were found in several
mines ; the best by Malaga and Beja.
The revenues of Abdoulrahman Avere 12,045,000 dinars in specie,
501,875/. Many taxes Avere paid in kind : they Avould be producti\'e
iñ proportion to population and industry. The mines of gold and
silver Avere then rich.
There exists the inventory of a present made to Abdoulrahman by
50
394 NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
his Vizir : 400 pounds of vir^riii gold ; inc^ots of silver to the value of
420,000 sciiiiiiis, ls,7r)0/. ; 100 pounds ol" aloes wood, whereof ISO
were in one piece ; 400 ounces of ambergris, and a single lump of
100 ounces ; 800 ounces of camphire ; 80 pieces of silk and gold, of
that rich texture which none but the Caliphs might wear ; 10 marten
skins from Korassan ; 100 others of mferior kind : trappings of silk
and gold for 48 horses from Bagdad ; 4000 pounds of silk ; 30 Per-
sian carpets ; armor for 800 horses ; 1000 shields ; 100,000 arrows :
15 Arabian horses, caparisoned for the Caliph himself; 100 others
for his suit ; 20 mules with their trappings ; 40 boys and 50 girls of
great beauty ; and a copy of verses. In return, he had a revenue
granted him of 100,000 pieces of gold.
The principal trade lay with Constantinople. It Avas the pohcy of
the Greek Emperors to unite with the Ommiades against their com-
mon enemy at Bagdad. Barbary w^as also a considerable mart, and
there was a communication through Egvpt with the East.
Cardonne 320. 337. T. 1.
Galicia ivas ambitious of becoming indepoident^ like Castille. P. 32.
(13.) When Castille and Leon w^ere again divided after the death
of Alonso VII. A. D. 1157, the reason assigned was the old jealousy
between the Galician and Castilian Lords.
Moiidejar, Hist, del Rey D. Alonso, 8. P. 11.
Santiago could not defend his own Church. P. 33.
(14.) The Spaniards however insist upon it that he took vengeance
for the insult : for " Antes que Almanzor se partiesse de tierra de San-
tiago, fue ferido el e toda su compaña de mandamiento de Dios, por el
pecado del atrevimiento de las suziedades quel fazie en la ygresia de
Santiago ; ca cayo en el una de las mas suzias enfermedades que podie
ser, a la qual dizen los físicos Diarria.'''' Cor. Gen. ff. 81.
Santiago. P. 36.
(15.) This miracle of Santiago's first appearance is related at
length by King Ramiro, in the deed Avhich grants this perpetual trib-
ute to the Church of Compostella. The authenticity of this Privile-
gio de los Votos, as it is called, and of others which confirm it, Avas
questioned in Philip the Second's reign ; it was argued that the dates
were false ; . . but Morales proved that objection to be groundless.
To have denied the truth of the miracle w^ould have been heresy.
If the deed be authentic, the tribute of the hundred virgins must be
believed also ; it is neither inconsistent with jMahommedan manners,
nor in inself improbable. In Leon the damsels go annually in pro-
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
395
cession, with music and singing and dancing, in consequence of a vow
made after the victory. Morales. 9. 7.
The only old Ballad which I have found in the Portugueze lan-
guage is founded upon this tribute. Every district was to supply its
proportion of virgins. Six of the beauties of the land who had been
chosen to the number, were placed in a strong building where the
present Figueiredo stands, either as a resting place, or to wait for
more companions in slavery. Goesto Ansur, a knight, saw them,
plucked the bough of a fig-tree, after he had broken his sword, and
with that eifected their deliverance. He took the name of Figueiredo
from the scene of this exploit, which also is so called in remembrance,
ÍLve fig-leaves for his arms, and another for his crest.
Brito, who has preserved this fragment, saw it in a collection which
had belonged to Don Francisco Coutinho, Conde de Marialva, but
which fell into bad hands ; and he had also heard it sung by the peas-
antry in Beira. There is a peculiarity in the language which renders
it untranslatable.
No fi^ueiral fig-ueiredo
a no fiffueiral entry,
seis niñas encontrara
seis niñas encontrey,
para elJas andará
para ellas andey,
Ihorando as achara
Ihorando as achey,
logo Ihes pescudara
logo Ihes pescudey,
quern las mal tratara
y a taó mala ley.
No figueiral figueiredo
a no íigueiral entrey,
una repricara
infanzón nom sey,
mal ouvesse la terra
que teñe o mal Rey,
seu las armas usara
y a mim fé nom se,
se hombre a mim levara
de tao mala ley,
A Déos vos vayades
gargom ca nom sey
se onde me falades
mais vos falarey.
No figueiral figueiredo
a no figueiral entry,
eu Ihe repricara
a mim fé nom irey,
ca olhos dessa cara
caros los comprarey,
a las longas terras
entras vos me irey,
las compridas vias
eu las andarey,
lingoa de aravias
eu las falarey,
Mouros se me vissem
eu los matarey,
No figueiral figueiredo
a no figueiral entrey.
Moury que las goarda
cerca lo achey.
mal la ameagara
eu mal me anogey,
troncom desgalhara
troncom desgalhey,
todolos machucara
todolos machuquey,
las niñas furtara
las niñas furtey,
las que a mim falara
nalma la chantey,
no figueiral figueiredo
ano figueiral entrey.
M. Lusitana. 2. 7. 9.
The three authors who lived nearest the time never mention the
battle of Clavijo at all ; they only say that Ramiro twice conquered
the Moors. Yo no carece de maravilla^ says poor Ambrosio, porque
396 NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION.
no trataron mas de loia cosa tan insii^ir, romo fue afinclla victoria : . .
mas //o creo f/ncjjor ser tan sat^idíf, y estar tan cainptidatncntc contada en
et privilepcio del Rey^ no curaron de dar delto mas relación. T. 3. 54. 7,
iVIornles scems to have emasculated his mind as well as his body in
sacrifice to the miserable superstition of his country.
Perreras, T. 4. P. 186, says the Priviteg-io or deed of gift is mani-
festly false in date, signatures, and great part of its contents ; but the
gift itself is certain, and the reason why the deed was forged is be-
cause the original had been lost. It is manifest that the Church never
could have carried such a claim into effect without some authority for
so doing : nor is there anything improbable in the story, the machine-
ry of the miracle being so easy.
That Santiago actually did assist Ramiro is proved by a perpetual
miracle. In all the vicinity of Clavijo, where the battle was fought,
particularly about the town of .Jubera, scollop shells are found in the
stones, so exact and perfect, that art could not form a more accurate
resemblance. Some say they have been there, says Brito, since the
Apostle preached there in his life-time ; others refer them to the age
of this battle : in either case it is a notable testimony, and worthy of
pious consideration ! M. Lusitana. 2. 7. 20.
The scollop Avas the mark of a pilgrim who had been to Compos-
tella, as the palm was of those who had visited the Holy Land. Pal-
mer and Pilgrim therefore are not precisely synonymous, all Pilgrims
not being Palmers. Our old poetry, when a pilgrim is introduced,
shows by its costume that this was the fashionable pilgrimage.
The Jews are said to believe that they can rise from the dead no-
where but in the Holy Land. They therefore who are not buried
there, will have to work their way there through the bowels of the
earth. A similar belief was spread abroad respecting the pilgrimage
to Santiago, though a better journey was appointed for the trav-
eller ; . .
Namque ferunt vivi qui non haec templa pétenles
Invisunt, post fata illiic et funeris umbras
Venturos ; munusque illud praestare beatis
Lacte viam stellisque albam, quae nocte serena
Fulgurat, et longo designat tramite ccelum.
Padecidos. L.l. P. 117.
The Catholics take up the history of St. James where the Evan-
gehcal writers leave off : . .in other words, tradition begins where
history ends.
Santiago,' for as he is so much more celebrated in ecclesiastical ro-
* The name Jacob has been strangely metamorphosed in Spain. Santo Jacobo
was shortened into Santo Jaco, and then softened into the single word Santiago.
The simple name was then extracted from this, and made Yago, Tiago, Diago, and
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION. 397
manee than in ecclesiastical history, his romantic name should be
given him, . . came after the crucifixion to Spain. He preached
with little success, the names of only nine disciples being recorded.
Howbeit his visit was attended with singular benefits to that highly
favored country, . . for when he and his disciples were at Zaragoza,
one night as he went forth to the banks of the Ebro, to instruct them
and join Avith them in prayer, the Virgin appeared to him upon a
jaspar pillar, surrounded with angels, who sung to her the matin ser-
vice. The Apostle knelt before her . . . she said to him. Build me
a church upon this very spot, for I know that this part of Spain will
be especially devoted to me, and therefore from this time I take it un-
der my protection. And she re-ascended, leaving the miraculous
pillar, over which Santiago erected a chapel. That pillar is still the
glory of Zaragoza, and the object of veneration in Spain, furnishing
the Virgin with one of her thousand titles. He left two of his nine
disciples, and with the other seven returned to Jerusalem. There the
Jews hired Hermogenes, a magician, and his disciple Philetus, to con-
fute him by disputation, or confound him by their power. Philetus
first attempted ; he was bafifiied in argument, out-miracled, and con-
verted. When he returned to his Master to relate how he had sped,
Hermogenes spell-bound him so that he could not move. Santiago
sent him his handkerchief, and the spell was dissolved as soon as he
was touched with it. Hermogenes then bade the Devils bring the
Saint and his new disciples in bonds to him : they were constrained
to bind their master, and lay him at the Apostle's feet. Why do you
not bind Philetus also, said Santiago, willing to edify the beholders by
the confession which this question would extort. They replied. We
have no power to touch even a pismire within your habitation. Phi-
letus was then desired to release the old magician in the name of
Christ. These wonders convinced him, but he feared to stir out of
the door lest the fiends should destroy him. Santiago gave him his
walking-stick : with this he was secure, and he remained with him as
his disciple also.
At length Abiathar the High Priest sent Josias the Scribe ^ to ap-
prehend him, who accordingly put a rope round his neck and dragged
him before Herod. Herod ordered him immediately to be beheaded.
On the way he healed a paralytic ; the miracle opened the eyes of
Josias, who confessed Christ aloud. He received the kiss of peace
from his fellow- victim, and suffered martyrdom with the Saint, whom
he himself was leading to execution. Morales. 9. 7.
finally Diego by the Spaniards, Diogo by the Portuguese. From the French Jacques
we have our diminutive Jack. I know not by what process the Catalan Jayme and
the English .Tames have been formed.
* Eusebius {L. 2. C. 9.) mentions the conversion of this persecutor, but not his
name, nor the miracle which occasioned it. He quotes S^. Clemens.
398 NOTES OiN THE INTRODUCTION.
The seven Spanish disci])l(>s took the body by night, carried it to
Jop))ii, and embarked on board a shij) whieh was miraculously ready
for them ; by miracle they sailed from Joppa to Cape f^inisterre Aviih-
out sails or oars, in six days, and landed at a place called Birrivo,
because it stood at the junction of two rivers. Immediately they
went to the Queen of those parts, who was called Luparia, requesting
that she would give them a place wherein to bury their dead master ;
but she being a great Idolater, and as wolfish of nature as of name,
gave information against them to the King of the province. He burn-
ing with rage set out in pursuit of them ; they hid themselves in a
cave, but were warned divinely to leave it ; the persecutor imagined
they were still concealed there, and entered with all his followers.
The cave fell in and crushed them. This and sundry other miracles
converted Luparia. She gave them a temple, and was with many of
her subjects baptized, . . forming so large a body of Christians, that
two of the disciples thought it expedient to go to Rome and be made
Bishops by St. Peter. Brlto. 5. 4.
These first fruits were soon blighted. In one of the early perse-
cutions the body was hidden and forgotten ; . . this forgetfulness
was partly the Devil's work, Avho Avas very anxious to have the exist-
ence of such a treasure forgotten, and partly because . . . la genie
de equalla tierra no es comunmente de mucho entendimiento^ ni adver-
tencia en las cosas. Morales
(16.) Under Alonso VI. Don Diego Gelmirez, the first Archbishop,
wisely considering that the marble coffin and the body would be
regarded w^ith more rev^erence if they were concealed, placed them in
a vault under the great altar, where they still remain, never having
been opened since. Morales.
Ingens sub templo fornix, et claustra per umbras
Magna jacent, csecasque domus, queis magna Jacobi
Ossa sepulchrali fama est in sede latere.
Nulli fas hominum sacralum insistere limen,
Est vidisse nefas, nee eundi pervius usus.
E longe veniam exorant, atque oscula figunt
Liminibns, redeuntque domas, variesque galeris
Jacobi eííioies addunt, humerosque bacillis
Circundant, conchisque super fulgentibus ornant.
Padecidos. 7. P. 117.
Compostella. P. 86.
(17.) Compostella has been derived from Campus Stelloe, in allu-
sion to the lights which pointed out the relics ; but Florez, w^ith
greater probability, supposed it to be an abbreviation of Giacomo
Apostólo. Esp. Sag-r. T. 19. P. 71.
Some theplogians conceited that the mother of Zebedee's children
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION. 399
had obtained her petition that her two sons might be seated, one on
the right hand of Christ, and the other on his left ; . . because one
of them was buried at Compostella, and the other in the East.
Joannez Dryander^ Prcef. ad J. Stadium ap. de Bry.
When Chapels were thus founded^ Cities sometimes grew. P. 37.
(18.) In a charter granted to the See of Ourense 1165, it is stated
that the city being small before, was now grown great since it had
possessed the body of St. Euphemia, and this was only twelve years
after its translation. M. Lusitana. 2. 5. 23.
Our Lady of the Pillar. P. 38.
(19.) Perreras, in the year 1720, ventured to doubt this fable of
the Pillar, and a royal edict was immediately published, ordering the
obnoxious pages to be cancelled in every copy : Siendo, says the
King, muy de mi desagrado que con impoi'tantes vanas curiosidades se
quiera entibiar la devoción con que España y todas las Provincias
Christiajias veneran aquel Santuario ; y que se exciten disputas inútiles
que ocasionen escándalo en los ánimos constantemente Catholicos, y
ardientemente pios de mis vasalos. Philip V. gave oder that this edict
should be deposited among the archives at Zaragoza, in testimony of
his especial devotion to our Lady of the Pillar.
Risco. Esp. Sag. T. 30. P. 68.
The Inquisition shortly afterwards forbad any person ever to ques-
tion the truth of this precious tradition, and on the other hand per-
mitted all writers to defend it whenever an opportunity occurred.
Alvito intreated him to be dreamt of twice more. P. 39.
(20.) The practice of discovering relics by dreams, for the sake of
erecting altars there, and setting up a place of pilgrimage, became
too common at last, and the Bishops were ordered to destroy altars
thus fraudulently erected ; or if the people would not sufler this, to
explain the deception to them, and exhort them not to visit the place
in future. Partida. 1. Tit. 10. Ley. 10.
We have seen many men, says Huarte, feign miracles in houses
and places of devotion, for straightways the people flock unto them,
and hold them in great reverence, as persons of whom God makes a
special account ; and if they be poor they favor them with large alms
and so some sin upon interest. English Trans. P. 16.
The superstition of relics was not unknown to the ancients. The
great toe of Phyrrus, which remained unconsumed by the funeral
fire, was enshrined and hung up ni a temple. It had a special virtue
in curing diseases of the spleen. Pliny. Lib. 7. Cap. 2.
^00
NOTES ON THE LNTRODUCTION.
Tho romains of the Proplict ]\rop.sus wore hold in liko vrnoration
on the coast of Africa, wln^rc he died, after tlic Argonautic expedition ;
ex eo cespite Púnico tecti manca ejus Iieroici, doloruni varielali medentur
plerunque sospitcdes. Amm. Marcellinus. Lib. 14.
The zeal with ivhich these saints ivere worshipped^ 8fc. P. 39.
(21.) Those, says Sir Thomas Browne, that to refute the Invoca-
tion of Saints have denied that they liave any knowledge of our
affairs below, have proceeded too far, and must pardon my opinion,
till I can thoroughly answer that piece of the Scripture, At the conveV'
sion of a sinner the Angels in Heaven rejoice.
This delightful writer speaks of the Catholic religion, in his Religio
Medici^ like a poet, a philosopher, and a Christian.
Gonzalo de Berceo has left a curious description of the apotheosis
of St. Millan. After describing his death he proceeds thus :
Cerca sedien los Angeles, luego la recibieron,
Cantando grandes laudes al Cielo la subieron.
Con grandes processiones a Dios la offrecieron,
Con el todos los sanctos festa doble ficieron.
Todos los Confessores fazien grant alegría,
Porque vinie tal orne entre sue compañia,
Dicien que meioraba toda sue confradia,
Querrien que lis viniessen tales tres cada dia.
Los Santos Patriarcas ancianos varones,
E todos los Prophetas oscuros en sermones,
Avien grant alegría, dizien sanctas canciones,
Todos li facien onra e grandes processiones.
Los doce Apostólos principes acabados.
Que foron de la ley de Christo abocados,
Con est huésped tan noble teniense por onrados,
Dizien cantos, e sones dulces e modullados.
El coro de los Martyres que por Christo morieron,
Que por salvar las almas las carnes aburrieron.
Con sos amitos blancos procession li fizieron.
Non serie asmaduera la onra que le dieron.
El gozo de las Vergines qui lo podrie asmar?
Todas con sos coronas li vinien visitar.
Non podrien mayor gozo aver nin demostrar,
Metien bien so estudio por mucho li onrar.
El Rey de los Cielos, e la sue madre gloriosa
Dieronli rica siella e corona preciosa,
En cielo e en tierra onra maravellosa,
Ont es en altas nuebas sobida la sue cosa.
V. de S. Millan. 302. 8.
I cannot translate these lines without destroying their character.
Those readers who do not understand them will pardon their iinser-
tion for the sake of others who do.
NOTES ON THE INTRODUCTION, 401
A war of extermination. P. 40.
(22.) The Spaniards however had a less horrible idea of the Moors
than those nations who were only acquainted with them by name.
When crusaders from France and other countries came to assist
Alonso VIII. it was with great difficulty that he could make them
give quarter to the Misbelievers. Cor, Gen. 4. ff. 357.
War was the business of the age. P. 40.
(23.) The greater part of the people neither cultivated the fields, nor
had any other estate than the sword : and when in harvest time they
wished to lay in bread for their children, they informed themselves
where the Moors had most, and collecting their friends together made
a sufiicient company, with which they fell upon the enemy, and gath-
ered in by force of arms the fruits which they had reared in the course
of the year. By these means they became so ready for war, that
whenever their Prince took the field, they left every thing which they
had in hand, and flocked to the place appointed ; the old men and
boys lamenting that their age did not allow them to do the like. And
the Portugueze women held themselves disgraced if the ornaments
and furniture of their houses were not spoils which their husbands
had taken ; nor was there a man, however low his rank, who would
give his daughter in marriage to one who had not borne a part in
some famous encounter. Brito. Chron. de Cister, P. 232.
51
NOTES
ON
THE CHEONICLE
Em. P. 45.
(1.) Many dissertations have been written concerning the origin
and etymology of the Era, from which the Spaniards used to date,
till it was abolished in Aragón by Pedro IV. 1358, in Castille by Juan
I. 1383, and in Portugal by Joam I. 1415.
St. Isidore thinks it originated from the tribute imposed by Augus-
tus, and that the word was hterally jEra^ . . the brazen money. Brito
says that this is confirmed by a manuscript of Eusebius at Alcobaga,
in which these words are found : Hoc tempore edicto Augusti Cccsaris^
CBS in tributum et census dari jubetur, ex quod jEi'a coUecta est. He
means, I suppose, that this is inserted as a marginal note by the trans-
criber. Both the Toledan Annals support this etymology by calhng
it. Era del Arambre^ . . arambre meaning the same as ^s.
Sepulveda says it is a corruption. Annus er. A. and from this ab-
breviation of erat Augusti came era. Resende and Morales assert
that Era was a well known word in this acceptation before the age of
Augustus.
Of these opinions, says Bernardo de Brito, the reader may choose
which he likes best : for myself, I judge St. Isidore's tobe very likely,
Sepulveda's very ingenious, and Resende's very true, . . till some
better shall be discovered. But certain it is, that this date is pecuhar
to Spain.
The mode of reducing the year of the Era to the year of Christ
is by subtracting 38. No doubt had been made of this computation
till the Marques de Mondejar endeavored to prove that the Era
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 403
should be reckoned before the Incarnation instead of before the Na-
tivity, and then another year ought to be subtracted. This opinion
was supported by Gregorio Mayans y Sisear, who edited Mondejar's
chronological works. The authority of two such men was not lightly
to be rejected. Florez therefore entered into a full investigation of
the subject, and has for ever established the accuracy of the old com-
putation.
And from the coming of the Patriarchy Sfc. P. 45.
(2.) The most complete specimen of this kind of date is to be
found in Gomes Eannes, in his Chronicle of the capture of Ceuta.
He is telling on what day the city was taken. " It was on the twenty-
first day of the month of August, from the Era of Adam, that is to
say, the year of the world 5176, Hebrew years ; and from the Era
of the Deluge 4517, Roman years ; and from the Era of Nebuchad-
nezzar 2162 ; and from the Era of Philip the great King of Greece
1728 ; and from the Era of Alexander the great King of Macedonia
1726 ; and from the Era of Caesar the Emperor of Rome 1458 ; and
from the Era of our Lord Jesus Christ 1415 ; and from the Era of
Alimus the Egyptian 971 ; and from the Era of the Arabs 793, ac-
cording to their years, for all the other years are Roman ; and from
the Era of the Persians 783 ; and from the Era of the reign of King
Don Alfonso I. of Portugal 313 ; and of the year of the reign of
the King Don Joam 32 solar years ; Avhen the Sun was in six degrees
of the sign of Virgo, and the moon had past the first quarter, and was
in the first degree of the Gemini, who are Pollux and Castor, sons of
Leda ; and it was more than seven hours and a half after noon-day
when the city was quite cleared of the Moors."
Beuther has an amusing chapter concerning epochs, in w^hich he
mentions the circumstances from which the old people of Valencia in
his time used to date events. They give a curious picture of the
times. Some among us, says he, in this city, count from the sackage
of the JeAvry, when the people plundered and burnt it, after which
feat the Synagogue was consecrated into a Church in the name of
St. Christoval, and many Jews were baptized by their own free will,
all which was in the year 1391, on the tenth of July. Others reckon
from the fire in the market-place, when because justice had been done
upon a Avoman of rank and some of her servants who had murdered
a whole family in Payporta, a village near Valencia, her husband,
being a principal man in that place, attempted to burn the city, and
set fire in many places to the market-place, where the bodies of the
criminals were exposed ; but it pleased God that the fire took in one
part only, where about a hundred houses Avere destroyed, and many
persons perished. This was in the year 1447. And the street Avhich
was built on that occasion took its name therefrom, being called
404 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Carrer Non, that is to say, New Sircct. Othors reckon from the
robbing of the Moorery on Trinity Sunday, 14'>j, when by reason of
a figlit with knives hard by there, in which a man was killed, they
cried out Muerto Ian, They have killed him I and the mob thought
it was Moros hay, The Moors ! and they rose and entered the
Moorery, and slew many Moors, and plundered then* houses.
L. 1. C. 1.
And he put his sons to read, that they might be of the better under-
standing. P. 46.
(3.) Two centuries after Ferrando the Great, Alfonso the Wise
thought it necessary to advise in the Partidas that the children of a
King should be taught to read, and to explain the advantage which
they would derive from the acquisition. Even, says the Law, as their
clothes must be made larger as they grow older, so are there other
things which the sons of a King should be taught as they increase in
years ; such as to read and write, which is very useful to those who
can do it, because they can more easily learn what they desire to
know, and can better keep their secrets.
Partida. 2. Tit. 7. Leij 10.
A King should learn to read that he may be able to keep his own
secrets, for otherwise he Avill be obliged to entrust them to another :
besides, he will be the better able to understand the Scriptiu*es, and
know better how to pray to God ; and he will be able to read the
great feats which have been wrought in the world, from which he
may learn many good customs and examples. And the wise men of
old not only held it advisable that Kings should be taught to read,
but also that they should learn all the sciences, which was the opinion
of King David and King Solomon, and of Boethius who was a wise
knight. Partida. 2. Tit. 5. Ley 16.
And he ordered that his daughters should be brought up in the studies
besee77iinsr dames. P. 46.
"¿3
(4.) They were instructed in works of devotion, says Garibay,
speaking as much from the manners of his own time as of King Fer-
rando's. In the Partidas, Amas and Ayas, or Nurses and Govern-
esses, are exhorted " above all other things to teach the daughters of
a King to be true to themselves and to their husbands, and to all
with whom they are concerned. This care, though it belong to the
father also, is especially the mother's charge. And as soon as they
have understanding for it. they should be taught to read, so as to read
the hours well, and to be able to read the Psalter. They should par-
ticularly be taught not to be prone to anger, for that is the thing
which of all others most easily induces women to do wrong. And
NOTES OJN THE CHRONICLE. 405
they should be taught to be handy in all those works which apper-
tain to noble ladies, for this behoves them much that they may be
cheerful and kept quiet ; and besides, it takes away evil thoughts,
such as it is not fitting that they should have.
Pa7'iida. 2. Tit. 7. Ley 11.
The treason which King Don OrdoTio the Second committed upon the
Counts of Castille. P. 46.
(5.) A. D. 922. Ordoño the Second summoned four of the Counts
of Castille to his court at Tejares, upon the banks of the Carrion.
They came and were seized there, carried to Leon, and secretly put
to death in prison ; and thus, says the Archbishop Rodrigo, Ordoño
stained the girdle of his glory with innocent blood. L. 4. C. 22.
Ferreras, T. 4. P. 301, justifies the King, and this occasioned a Avarm
dispute between him and Berganza, who attacks him in his Antigüe-
dades de España, L. 3. C. 3. § 24 — 26. Ferreras replied in his
Historia de España, Part 16. Eiíiendada Añadida y Vindicada, C. 12.
and Berganza again answered him in ' Ferreras Convencido,'' C. 8.
Both writers Avere wrong. The Counts of Castille were making
themselves independent of Leon, . . that is to say, revolting. Ber-
ganza is Avrong in denying this, and attempting to explain away plain
language and plain facts. Ferreras commits the heavier fault of
justifying a base and treacherous act of cowardly cruelty, which, like
all such acts, proved as impolitic as it was iniquitous.
Layn Calvo. P. 46.
(6.) Layn Calvo appears by both his names to have been of Roman
parentage. The former (the patronymic of which, Laynez, ought to
be as famous in ecclesiastical history as Loyola,) is variously Latin-
ized Flavins, Flavinius, Flaynus, and Flaginus.' The Spaniards,
when their language Avas in its infancy, wrote many words Avith a
single I Avhich they probably pronounced with the //, because they
noAv Avrite them so : . . lamar, llamar ; laño, llano, for instance. If
Layn Avas thus pronounced, the Ft aa^ouM easily pass into the lisping
aspirate, Avhich is peculiar to the Spanish and the Welsh. It is thus
that Shakspeare has made Fluellin of LleAvelyn.
The Gothic Kings affected the name of Flavins. Recaredus is
believed to have been the first Avho assumed it. Morales (L. 12. C.
3. § 9.) guessed that it Avas conferred upon him by the Greek Em-
perors, Avhose forms he ambitiously imitated. They might Avillingly
bestoAv it, as less imperial than Augustus and Coesar. Resendé, to
whom Morales communicated this opinion, thought the name Avas
assumed to concihate their Roman subjects.
* Berganza. L. 5. C. 10. ^ 115. In this last word the g was perhaps aspirated.
406 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
The Calvi * are said to have sprung from one of that name who
came into Spain with the Sci})ios.
Elvira Nunez. P. 46.
(7.) She was called Velio, says the Chronica del Cid, because
she was Vellosa. But B and V are continually confounded in
all the dialects of Spain, and by the help of this mutation, Garibay
derives the name from something better than a beard. Bella, he
says, if it be not a patronymic, from the name of her father Ñuño
Belchidez, or Bellidez, or from her mother Sula or Bella, may have
been given her on account of her great beauty ; for the wise ancients
oftentimes gave their children such good names as would influence
others in their favor, land excite those who bore them to the perform-
ance of good actions. Lib. X. Cap. 6.
Casas del Cid. P. 47. N. 1.
(8.) According to Florez, the houses of the Cid at Burgos fell down
in 1600. They were in a street llamada calle Real, calle alta de S.
Martin, y de Vejarrua ; porque en su principio hay Iglesia de S. Mar-
tÍ7i, y porque en aquella calle {(jue en lo antiguo era baja respecto de las
que habla encima acia el Castillo) ruaban los Caballeros, y la llamaban
el Rual donde los señores se paseaban y festejaban a' las damas, (que
esto era ruar) y hoy es la Vejarrua, asi dicha no solo per ser la mas
vieja que persevera de lo primitivo, sino por haber servido a los cortejos.
Esp. Sagr. T. 27. 652.
Mudarra. P. 48.
(9.) The Infantes of Lara are among the most celebrated heroes
of the popular Ballads of Spain. Their history is thus related in the
Coronica General. P. 3.
Sancha, the sister of Ruy Velasquez, was the wife of Gonzalo Gus-
tios, a good and honorable knight. Their seven sons, the Infantes of
Lara, were bred up by Ñuño Salido, a good knight, who was skilful
in training hawks and in other good arts ; he brought them up in all
good customs, and they were all knighted in one day by Garci Fer-
randez, the Count of Castille.
Their uncle Ruy Velasquez married Doña Lambra, and celebrated
his marriage with great splendor ; not only his friends and kin and
country-folk came to Burgos, but guests also were there from Portu-
gal and Navarre and Gascony. Garci Ferrandez, w^ho was cousin
' Luc. Mar. Siculus enumerates them in his Chapter De Romanorum Coloniis.
De Reb. Hisp. L. 3. but he does not mention this descent. Berf^anza relates it after
Cardinal Mendoza ; . . it would be time ill spent to hunt out classical authorities.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 407
to the bride, made great donations at these nuptials, as did all the
men of rank. The feasts continued five weeks, and in the last week
Ruy Velasquez set up a tablado ^ beyond the river as a mark for the
knights. They threw their tilting canes at it without success, till
Alvar Sanchez, a kinsman of the bride, who had waited to see the
rest fail, rode up, and threw and struck it full. At this Lambra ex-
ulted and said to her husband's sister, Sancha, See now if there be
any knight here so good, and so skilful a horseman, as my kinsman
Alvar Sanchez, for he is the only one Avho can hit the mark. Sancha
smiled at the boast, and her sons smiled also ; the six elder were
playing tables, and thought no more of what had been said ; but Gon-
zalo Gonzalez, who was the youngest, mounted his horse, and took a
tilting-cane without their knowledge, and having only one Sqaire
with him, who carried a hawk on his fist, he rode toward the mark
and flung, and struck it so forcibly that he broke it.
His brethren, though they were glad at his success, feared it might
occasion some dispute, for Lambra was manifestly displeased ; and
they took horse and rode up to him. Alvar Sanchez had already be-
gun a broil, and given such haughty language to Gonzalo, that the
young knight in return broke his jaw and knocked out his teeth. At
this Lambra shrieked, and exclaimed that never woman was so dis-
honored at her wedding feast ; her husband caught up the haft of a
spear, and without farther inquiry rode up to his nephew and struck
at him, and wounded him sorely in the head. Gonzalo kept down
his anger, and said, I have not deserved this at your hands ; perhaps
it is my death-blow ; if it should prove so, I request my brethren not to
pursue you for vengeance. But I beseech you do not strike me again,
for I cannot bear it. Ruy Velasquez, nothing heeding this forbear-
ance, struck at him again ; the spear missing his head, fell upon his
shoulder, and broke. Gonzalo then seized the hawk from his Squire,
for he had no arms, and drove with it at his uncle's face, and crushed
the bird with the blow, and made the blood start from his mouth and
nostrils. Immediately there was a cry ' to arms ! ' and the knights
and friends of Ruy Velasquez gathered together on one side, and the
Infantes with all their people, to the number of two hundred, gathered
together, expecting surely to be slain. But Coimt Garci Ferrandez,
' Morales, L. 16. C. 46. ^ 4, endeavors to explain this por lo que mejor sepeuede
entender : but Zurita, he says, with all his knowledge of antiquities, did not under-
stand it, and he does not seem thoroughly satisfied with his own explanation. A.
wooden Castle, or something like it, he says, was set on high, so loosely made as to
be easily broken to pieces; this they threw at with wands, which were! called Bo-
hordos, or Bofordos, whence the sport is sometimes called Bofordar. There is a
Latin word of the middle age, Bohordicum, from the same stock ; and an old French
one, Bohordois, from whence probably bordel or brothel. The obvious meaning of
Tablado would be a wooden mark, . . a target, . . but if it had meant nothing more,
these excellent historians would have found no difficulty in explaining it.
408 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
and the father oí" the Infantes, Gonzalo Gnstios, interfered, and re-
stored peace and reconciled them. When tliis was effected the father
said to his brother-in-law, Rny Velasquez, you stand in need of knights,
for you have the highest praise in arms of any man living, so that
INIoors and Christians fear and greatly envy you. Let my sons serve
you, and deal you by them so that they may serve you well. Ruy
Velasquez made answer, that he should rejoice to have them in his
service, and would honor them as his sister's children and the ne-
phews of his own flesh.
When the marriage feasts were over. Count Garci departed to go
through the land, and Ruy Velasquez and Gonzalo Gustios departed
with him. The Infantes and their mother and their foster-father re-
mained with Doña Lambra, and went w^ith her to Barvadiello, hawk-
ing for her diversion as they went along. When they arrived the
brethren w^ent into a garden, and there under the shade of the trees
Gonzalo bathed his hawk to refresh it. Lambra seeing him, and
hating him because of what had past, called to one of her men, and
bade him take a gourd and fill it with blood and fling it at that knight
with the hawk, then run to her, and she would protect him. When
the Infantes saAV this shame which was done to their brother, they
took counsel together, and resolved to take their swords under their
cloaks and pursue the man. If he do not run from us, said they, he
is a fool, and hath done this in his folly ; but if he runs to Doña Lam-
bra and she protects him, the thing is her doing. The man, as he
had been commanded, ran to his mistress for safety. Lady and Aunt,
said the Infantes, we beseech you seek not to save him from us. She
replied, he is my vassal, and you shall not hurt him ; but they slew
him at her feet, and his blood was sprinkled upon her garments and
her coif. Then they went to horse, and took their mother, and rode
home to Salas.
Lambra had a bed placed in the middle of the Castle court, and
covered it with a pall,' and she and all her women made a great la-
mentation over it. Ruy Velasquez and Gonzalo Gustios were on
their return when they heard w4iat had past, and they Avere greatly
troubled, and they separated and each went to his wife ; Lambra re-
ceived her husband with complaints and cries for vengeance : Doña
Lambra, said he, do not grieve ; I will do you such justice that the
Avhole Avorld shall talk of it. Immediately he sent for Gonzalo Gus-
tios, who came and brought his sons with him ; they talked of the
dishonor which the Infantes had done unto Doña Lambra, and the
seven brethren put themselves into their uncle's hands, bidding him
remember what had been the cause of this thing, and do with them as
he thought good. And Ruy Velasquez spake like a friend, to the end
that they might not suspect him.
* Paños de home muerto.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 409
Then Ruy Velasquez said to Gonzalo Gustios, Brother-law, this
marriage of mine hath put me to great cost, and the Count Don Garei
did not help me so much as I expected. Almanzor, as you know,
sent me great help towards my charges ; if it please you, you shall
go to him, and take him letters of salutation, and tell him the heavy
costs I have been at ; and certes he wall give you great gifts. And
Gonzalo Gustios answered that he was right willing to do his bidding,
and Ruy Velasquez went apart with a Moor who spake the Roman
tongue,^ and wrote letters in Arabic ; and this was what the letter
said : To you, Almanzor, health, from me Ruy Velasquez ; know
that the sons of Gonzalo Gustios of Salas, he who bringeth this letter,
have done great dishonor to me and to my wife, and I cannot revenge
myself upon them here in the land of the Christians. I send therefore
this their father unto you, that incontinently you may have his head
struck off. And I will draw out my people, and take his seven sons
with me, and will lodge with them at Almenar, and do you send
Viara and Galve with your host, and I will put them in your power.
And then do you strike off the heads of the seven Infantes my
nephews ; for when you shall have slain them, all the land of the
Christians will be at your will ; for know you that these knights are
greater enemies to you than any other whatsoever, and that in them
is the strength of Count Garci Ferrandez.
As soon as this letter was made, Ruy Velasquez killed the Moor
who had written it, least he should discover what had been done.
Meantime Gonzalo Gustios went to Salas, and Ruy Velasquez went
thither after him : and he said to his sister Doña Sancha, Don Gon-
zalo will return full rich from Cordova, if it please God ; he will
bring us such treasures that we shall be rich for ever. And he said
to Gonzalo Gustios, Brother-law, dispeed yourself of Doña Sancha,
for it is time ; and you and I will go sleep this night at Bivestre.
And they took horse, and they communed together great part of the
night. And on the morrow Ruy Velasquez gave him the letter, and
he not knowing the deceit took it, and went his way. And when he
came to Cordova he gave the letter to Almanzor, saying, Almanzor,
Ruy Velasquez grecteth you, and desireth that you will send him an
answer to what he hath said in his letter. And Almanzor took the
letter, and when he saw the enmity that was therein, he tore the let-
ter, and said unto Gonzalo Gustios, What is this which thou hast
brought me ? And he answered that he knew not. And Almanzor
said unto him. Know then that Ruy Velasquez sends to bid me strike
off thy head ; but I will not do this ; nevertheless I must put thee in
prison. And he did so ; and he gave charge to an honorable Moorish
woman that she should keep him and serve him Avell ; and it came to
pass that this Moor and Don Gonzalo loved each other.
* Moro ladino.
52
410 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Now when Ruy Velasquez had thus sent Gonzalo Gustios to Cor-
dova, ho spake with his nej)hews the seven Infantes, and said to them,
I hold it good, while your father is gone to Almanzor, that we make
an inroad towards Almenar ; if it please you to go with me, I shall
rejoice in your company ; but if it be otherwise, then do you tarry
and guard the land. And they said unto him, Don Rodrigo, it is not
fitting that you should go forth, with the host, and we tarry behind.
And he said. Make ready then, and ye shall go with me. And then
Ruy Velasquez sent through all the land, bidding those who would go
forth with him, to make ready, and join him. And when the people
heard that he w^ould go forth, they were full joyful, and many came
unto him, for this Ruy Velasquez was a man w^fio had good fortune
in the inroads which he made. And when Ruy Velasquez saw that
they were more than enough, he sent to bid his nephews come after
him, for he Avould wait for them in the plain of Febros ; and inconti-
nently he sallied from Barvadiello with his people, and went his way.
And the seven Infantes set forth to follow him ; and when they came
to a grove of pines which was upon the way, they looked for omens,
and full evil ones they had. And Ñuño Salido was greatly troubled
at these omens, seeing them so bad, and he said to the Infantes that
they should return to Salas, for it was not fitting to go on Avith omens
such as those. And Gonzalo Gonzalez, the youngest of the seven
brethren, said unto him, Don Ñuño Salido, this which you say is
nought, . . for they are not for us, but for him who hath gathered
together the host, and goeth as their leader. But do you, who are
now an old man, and full of years, and no longer fit for battle, turn
back, for Ave Avill go on Avith our uncle Ruy Velasquez. And Ñuño
Salido answered. My sons, verily I speak truth, and it grieve th me to
the heart that ye Avill go in this inroad, for I see such omens that Ave
shall never return to our OAvn homes. And Gonzalo Gonzalez an-
SAvered, Hold thy peace Don Ñuño, and say no more, for Ave Avill not
believe you Avhatever you may say. And Ñuño Salido said. Sorely
doth it trouble me that ye Avill not believe Avhat I say ; but since it is
so, I Avill take my leave of ye noAV, for I knoAv full Avell that I shall
never see ye more. Then Ñuño Salido turned back, and the Infantes
Avent their Avay. But as Ñuño Salido Avent along, he thought that he
Avas doing ill in thus forsaking those Avhom he had bred up so many
years, for the fear of death : and he said Avithin himself. Far better
doth it become me to go Avherever death may find me, than them,
Avho are yet young men, and should have long life before them.
Moreover, if they should die there, Ruy Velasquez Avould slay me
when he returned, and it Avould even be suspected that I had taken
counsel for their death ; . . and this would be an evil fame for me,
and I Avho have been honored in my youth, should be put to shame
in my old age. And Avith that he tiu'ned again tOAvards the Infantes,
and Avent after them.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 411
When the seven Infantes came to Febros, Rny Velasquez went out
to meet them, and he asked for Ñuño Sahdo, wherefore he came not
with them. And they told him what had past concerning the omens.
And when Ruy Velasquez heard it, he said unto them with fair words,
but lying ones, My nephews, these omens were right good ones, for
they give us to understand that we shall make great spoil of the
goods of another, and lose none of our own ; Ñuño Salido hath done
ill in not coming with ye, and God send that he may one day repent
of it. While they were thus communing Ñuño Salido came up, and
the Infantes welcomed him with good cheer. And Ruy Velasquez
said unto him, Don Ñuño Salido, you have alway been my enemy in
all that you could ; and you are so at this time ; but greatly will it
grieve me, if I shall not be righted upon you. Ñuño Salido answer-
ed, Don Rodrigo, I have never dealt falsely, nor as an enemy toAvards
you, but alway like a true man ; and I say unto you, that, whosoever
saith the omens which we have seen are good, and promise gain to
us, lieth with great treason. He said nothing amiss in this, for they
had contrived treason : and he said it because he knew Avhat Ruy
Velasquez had spoken. And when Ruy Velasquez heard these
words, he held himself greatly dishonored, and he said to his vassals.
In an evil day do I give ye your pay, since ye see me thus dishonor-
ed by Ñuño Salido, and do not right me upon him ! When one of
his knights heard this, he took a sword, and went to strike Ñuño Sa-
lido ; but Avhen Gonzalo Gonzalez beheld him, he went up to him,
and gave him such a blow that he laid him at the feet of Ruy Velas-
quez. And Ruy Velasquez in his anger cried aloud, and called for
arms that he might revenge himself upon his nephew. And the In-
fantes and Ñuño Salido drew apart, with two hundred knights of
their company, for they well perceived that Ruy Velasquez, desired
to be revenged upon them ; and the others drew up their battle, and
they did the like, one against the other. And Gonzalo Gonzalez said
unto Ruy Velasquez, What is this ? why hast thou brought us from
our own land to go against the Moors, if it be thy wish that Ave should
slay each other here ? And Ruy Velasquez saw that it Avas not the
time to take vengeance as he desired, and he said that Gonzalo (xon-
zalez had spoken Avell, and that he Avas Avell pleased Avith Avhat he
had said, and thus they Avere all friends.
So Avhen there Avas love between them again, they moved from thence
and went tOAvards Almena, and Ruy Velasquez placed himself in am-
bush Avith all his people, and ordered the Infantes to scour the coun-
try, for he had sent to the Moors to bid them drive their flocks out
that day. And Avhen the Infantes were about to do his bidding, their
foster-father Ñuño said unto them. Do not my sons go to take the
spoil yet, for if ye Avill tarry aAvhilc, ye Avill see many more Moors
and more flocks. While they were thus talking they saAv more than
ten thousand appear with their ensigns and pennons. And Gonzalo
412 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Gonzalez said to Ruy Velasquez, Don Rodrigo, what arc yonder
banners which rise up ? And Ruy Velasquez said. Fear not, for I
have scoured this country three times and borne away great
spoil and never yet found Moor to hinder me, and those Moors
when they knew it came here with their ensigns and standards, as
you noAv see them ; therefore I say unto you, fear not, and scour the
country as far as you will, for if need be, which I know it will not, I
will succor ye. Now all these words were full of deceit and false-
hood ; and when he had said this, he went aside, and rode off privily
to the Moors, and told them to strive and do battle with the seven
Infantes, for there were no more than two hundred knights who
would help them, and by all means devise to slay them all, so that
not one should escape alive. But Ñuño Salido rode after Ruy
Velasquez, for he saw him go to the Moors, and when he heard this
he began to cry aloud and say, Ah traitor, how hast thou betrayed
thy nephews to death ! God give thee an evil guerdon, for as long as
the world shall last thy treason shall be talked of I And when he had
said this, he rode back to the Infantes as fast as he could, and said to
them. To arms my sons, for your uncle Ruy Valasquez and the Moors
are of one consent, and have taken counsel together to slay you. When
the Infantes heard this they armed themselves as fast as they could.
And the Moors being many more in number, made fifteen battal-
ions, and went against the Infantes and hemmed them round about.
And then Ñuño Salido began to hearten them, saying. Take courage
my sons and fear not, for the omens which I said were evil, are not
so ; they will prove good ones : and they gave us to know that we
should get the victory, and win something from our enemies. I will
go smite that foremost body, and from henceforth, I commend you to
God. And Avith that he went against the Moors and slew many of
them ; but as they were many in number, they came upon him, and
hemmed him in on all sides, and slew him there. And there they
joined battle one Avith the other, and there the Christians fought with
such good heart, that they slew many more than they were them-
selves ; but all the two hundred knights of the Infantes were slain, so
that none Avere left alive, save only the seven brethren, with none to
help them. And when they saw that there Avas no remedy but to
conquer or die, they commended themselves to God, and called upon
the Apostle Santiago, and attacked the Moors, and so bravely they
attacked them, and sIcav so many, that there Avas not a Moor Avho
dared stand before them ; nevertheless the Moors Avere so many, and
they so few, that they could no longer Avithstand them. And Ferran
Gonzalez said then to his brethren, Let us take courage and fight
Avith a good heart, for Ave haA^e none but God to help us, and since
Ave have lost our foster-father Ñuño Salido and our knights, it behoves
us to revenge them here, or die Avith them ; and if Ave should be
wearied, let us get upon the point of this sierra, and take breath.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 413
With that they fell upon the Moors again, and fought so bravely that
they slew many, but at last Ferran Gonzalez was slain. And the In-
fantes feeling themselves weary, strove to make way through the
Moors, and they got to the point which they had spoken of. And
then they cleaned away the dust from their faces ; and when they
could not see their brother Ferran Gonzalez they had great sorrow,
for they well knew that he was either slain, or taken.
Then the Infantes accorded, that they would ask a truce of Viara
and Galve, till they could let their uncle Ruy Velasquez know in
what stead they were, if he would succor them or not. And they did
thus. And the Moors willingly granted it, and then they sent Diego
Gonzalez to Ruy Velasquez. And Diego Velasquez said unto him
what he was charged to say ; and when Ruy Velasquez had heard
him he made answer, I know not what thou sayest. Then Diego
Gonzalez said unto him again. Let it be your pleasure to help us,
for the Moors have slain your nephew Ferran Gonzalez, and our two
hundred knights ; . . and if you would not do it for our sakes, do it
for God's sake, and because Ave are Christians, and countrymen of
Castille. But Ruy Velasquez made answer. Friend, go thy way, and
good luck with thee ; . . thinkest thou that I have forgotten the shame
which ye did me at Burgos, at my marriage, when ye slew Alvar
Sanchez ; and what ye did to my wife Doña Lambra, when ye slew
the man before her ; and the knight whom ye slew at Febros ? be
good knights and thnik of defending yourselves how ye can, for in
me ye are to have no trust. When Diego Gonzalez saw this he de-
parted, and went to his brethren and told them all that their uncle
had said.
Now while they were in this tribulation, seeing themselves alone
and without help, God put it in the heart of some of those Christians
who were with Ruy Velasquez, to go and succor them. And about
a thousand knights went out from his company to help them ; and
when this was told to him he went after them, and made them turn
back, saying. Friends, suffer ye my nephews to display themselves in
battle, for I should go to succor them if need Avere. And with that
they drew back, greatly against their will, for they well saw that there
was treason in this matter. But Avhen they Avere come back to their
post, they went out by threes and by fours, privily. Full three hun-
dred knights were they Avho thus gathered together in one place, and
they made a a^ow that he should be held for a traitor, Avho did not go
and stand by the Infantes for life or for death ; and that if peradven-
ture Ruy Velasquez should again attempt to turn them back, they
Avould slay him Avithout delay. Incontinently Avhen they had done
this, they pricked forAA^ard as fast as they could. And the Infantes,
when they saw them coming towards them, thought that Ruy Velas-
quez came to slay them : but the knights, A\4ien they drcAv nigh, cried
aloud and said. Infantes, fear not, for we come to succor you, and to
414 JNOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
live or die with you ; for it is i)lain that your uncle Ruy Velasquez is
greatly desirous of your death. And if ¡)eradventure we should es-
cape from hence alive, we beseech you plight your faith to us that
you will defend us against him ; . . and the Infantes promised them
this which they desired. And when they had done this they went
against the Moors, and then began between them so fierce, and so
grievous, and so desperate, and so cruel a battle, that never man
heard tell of a greater, the Christians being so few : and so great
was the mortahty which they made among the Moors before any one
of them died, that more than two thousand Moors were destroyed,
as the history relateth. Howbeit, at the end these three hundred
who came to help the Infantes were slain. And the Infantes were
now so over-worn with fighting, that they could not command their
arms to strike Avith the sword. And when Viara and Galve saw
them thus wearied they had compassion upon them, and went to them
to take them out of the press, and took them to their tents, and had
them disarmed, and ordered bread and wine to be given them.
But when Ruy Velasquez knew this he went to Viara and Galve,
and told them that they did ill in leaving such men as those alive,
and that they would fare ill in so doing ; for if they escaped he
could not return again to Castille ; and that he would go forthwith
to Cordova, and there cause them to be put to death for Avhat they
had done : and the Moors when they heard this Avere full sorrowful.
And Gonzalo Gonzalez said. False traitor, thou broughtest us here
to bring down the enemies of the faith, and now thou tellest them to
slay us ; but may God never forgive thee for this thing which thou
hast done against us ! And Viara and Galve said then to the In-
fantes, We know not what to do in this matter ; for if Ruy Velasquez
your uncle should go to Cordova as he says, and turn Moor there,
and Almanzor give him all his power, he would do us great evil for
this. And since it is so we must place you again in the field from
which we took you, for you plainly see that we can do no otherwise.
And they did accordingly. And the Moors, when they saw the In-
fantes in the field, beat their tambours, and came at them as thick as
the rain when it falls, and they began a crueller battle than any of the
former, . . but though all the six Infantes stood by each other like
one man, and fought right well and courageously, yet the Moors
were so many that they could not bear up against them, and they
were so wearied with fighting that they could not stir from the place,
nor their horses with them : and even if they Avould have fought,
they had neither swords nor other arms, for all were broken and lost.
And the Moors, when they saw them without arms, slew their horses,
and took them ; and stript off their armor, and struck on' their heads
one by one, in order according to their birth, before the eyes of their
uncle Ruy Velasquez. But when Gonzalo Gonzalez, who was the
younger of them all, saw all his brethren lying headless before him,
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 415
he took heart with the grief which he resented, and went against the
Moor who had beheaded them, and gave him so great a blow in the
throat that he laid him dead upon the ground, and caught up the
sword which he had used, and slew therewith more than twenty
Moors who Avere round about him, as the history relateth. Never-
theless the Moors took him, and smote off his head thereright. And
when they were all slain as you have heard, Ruy Velasquez dispeeded
himself from the Moors, and returned home. And the Moors took
the heads of the seven Infantes, and of Ñuño Salido their foster
father, and went with them to Cordova.
When Viara and Galve reached Cordova, they went to Almanzor,
and presented unto him the heads of the seven Infantes, and of Ñuño
Salido. And Almanzor, Avhen he saw them, made semblance as if
he were greatly grieved that they had slain them thus, and gave
order that the blood with which they were smeared should be washed
off with wine. And after they had been washed, he had a white
sheet spread in the palace, and the heads were placed thereon, in
order, according to the order of their birth, and that of Ñuño Salido
apart from them, at the end. And Almanzor went to the prison
where Gonzalo Gustios, the father of the Infantes, lay prisoner, and
he said unto him, How fares it with thee, Gonzalo Gustios ? And
he made answer and said. Even Sir as it pleaseth you ; and glad am
I that you come here, for I well know that this day you will show me
favor, and order me to be taken out from hence, seeing you have
come to see me ; for this is your custom, that when the Lord goeth
to visit his prisoner, incontinently he giveth command that he should
be set free. And Almanzor said unto him, I sent my host into the
land of Castille, and they did their battle with the Christians in the
plain of Almenar, and the Christians were vanquished : and they
have brought me here eight heads, the seven are young, and the
other is of an old man ; and I will take thee out that thou mayest see
if thou knowest them, for my Adalides say that they Avere natives of
the straits of Lara. Gonzalo Gustios answered. When I see them,
I will tell thee who they are, or of Avhat place, or of what lineage, for
verily there is not a knight in all Castille but is known to me. And
Almanzor gave order that he should be taken out, and went Avith him
to the place Avhere the heads were laid. And when Gonzalo Gustios
saw them and knew them, so exceeding great was his sorrow that he
fell upon the ground like a dead man, and they thought that he had
past away from this life ; and he lay thus a long while, and Avhen he
came to himself, he began to lament so bitterly that it Avas marvel-
lous to hear him. And he said to Almanzor, I knoAv these heads full
Avell, for they are my children's, the seven Infantes of Salas, and this
other one is Ñuño Salido's, Avho fostered them. And Avhen he had
said, he began again to make his lamentation full dolorously, so that
there Avas not a man who could have seen him Avithout great compás-
416 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
sion, or have stood by and borne it without weeping. And he took
up the heads one by one, and talked to them, recounting to each
the good feats which he had acliieved. And in liis strong agony, he
took up a sword which he saw in the hall, and slew with it seven
guards there right before Almanzor ; and the Moors closed in with
him, so that he could do no more, and then he earnestly prayed Al-
manzor to put him to death, for he would lie ver die than live : but
Almanzor, for the pity which he resented for him, commanded them
to do him no hurt.
Now when Gonzalo Gustios was in this great sorrow, and lament-
ing as ye have heard, the Moorish woman who guarded him, as ye
have been told, came in, and said unto him. Take heart. Sir Don
Gonzalo, and cease to lament ; I had thirteen sons, all of them good
knights, and such was my fortune and theirs, that all thirteen were
slain from me in battle in one day ; howbeit I did not fail to take
comfort ; . . how much more then should you who are a knight ?
For it is not by lamenting all your life long that you could recover
your sons, and what doth it profit you to destroy yourself ? And
Almanzor said, God knows, Gonzalo Gustios, that I have great ruth
for this evil and breaking down which hath come upon thee, and I
will release thee from prison, and give thee all of which thou hast
need, and also the heads of thy children. Go thy way to thine own
country, and to thy wife Doña Sancha, for it is long since she hath
seen thee. Then Gonzalo Gustios answered, God requite thee for
the goodness which thou showest me, and peradventure the time may
come when I shall do you service in return. . . And the Moorish
woman who had guarded him, took him apart and said. Sir Don
Gonzalo, I am great with child by you ; tell me therefore what I
shall do. And he made answer. If it shall be a boy, give him two
nurses who will breed him up right well ; and Avhen he is of age to
know good and evil, tell him he is my son, and send him to me at
Salas. And when he had said this, he took a ring from his finger,
and brake it in half, and gave her the one half, saying. Keep you
this half ring for a token ; and when the boy is grown up, give it
him that he may bring it unto me, and thereby I shall know him. And
when Don Gonzalo had done this, he dispeeded himself from Alman-
zor and the other chiefs, and went to Salas.
Not many days after his departure the Moorish woman brought
forth a son, and Almanzor appointed two nurses who should breed
him up, and they named him Mudarra Gonzalez. And when he
grew to be ten years of age, Almanzor made him a knight, for he
loved him well ; for it is said that the Moor whose son he was,
was Almanzor's sister : and moreover he loved him because he saw
that he proved good, and was of good understanding, and good cus-
toms, and right hardy in all things that beseemed his years. And on
the day that Afinanzor made him a knight, he knighted two hundred
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 417
Others, who were all kinsmen of Mudarra Gonzalez, on the side of
his mother, according to the law of the Moors ; and he gave them to
him, that they should be his, and guard him, and serve him as their
Lord. And this Mudarra Gonzalez turned out afterwards so good a
knight and so brave, that save only Almanzor, there was not a better,
nor such a one among all the Moors. And he knew that his father
was a Christian, and how he had been made prisoner, and suffered
great misery in his prison, and how his brethren had been slain by
treason, for his mother told him all, and she gave him the half ring
which his father had left to be a token. And then he said to all his
company. Friends, ye know what great misery my father Gonzalo
Gustios suffered wrongfully, not having deserved it, and how the
seven Infantes my brethren were slain ; and I say unto you that I
hold it good to go into the land of the Christians, and revenge them
if I can. Tell me therefore what ye think good. And they an-
swered after this manner. Know that whatsoever seemeth good unto
you we heartily approve thereof ; for we are all yours, and bound to
defend you as our Lord, and to serve you and do your bidding.
And when he heard them say this, he went to his mother, and told
her he would go seek his father, and learn whether he were dead or
living. And when he had said this, and taken leave of her, he went
to Almanzor, and besought him that he would let him go into Cas-
tille ; and Almanzor held it good : and he took his leave and went
his way with a great company which Almanzor had given him, and
with great treasures, and he entered Castille. And when he came to
Salas he asked if Don Gonzalo were there. And Gonzalo Gustios,
when he saw this great chivalry, inquired what company it was.
And Mudarra Gonzalez made answer, Don Gonzalo, I am your son
who was born in Cordova ; and that you may know it is so, lo here
is the half ring which you gave unto my mother. And when Don
Gonzalo saw the token, and knew that this was his son, his heart
rejoiced and he was glad.
After some days Mudarra Gonzalez said to his father, I came here
to learn tidings of you, in what state you were ; and also to take ven-
geance for the death of the Infantes my brethren, and your sons.
Now there is no reason why this matter should be delayed. Then
Don Gonzalo took horse, and Mudarra also, and they who came
with him and were his vassals, and they rode to Burgos where Count
Don Garci Ferrandez then was, and Ruy Velasquez with him. And
Mudarra, as soon as he saw Ruy Velasquez, defied him before the
Count. And Ruy Velasquez said that he set his defiance at naught ;
and Mudarra Gonzalez was in great wrath, and went towards him to
give it him with the sword : biit Count Don Garci Ferrandez took
him by the hand, and would not sufler him to do this. And he made
them agree to a truce for three days, for he could not delay the time
longer, and then they all dispeeded themselves from the Count, and
53
418 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
went their way. Howbeit Riiy Velasquez did not go that day, but
remained at Burgos ; and on the morrow he set out and went towards
Barvadiello ; and he did not go by day, but waited for the night.
And Mudarra (Gonzalez had taken possession of the road ; and on the
following day Ruy Velasquez eame early in the morning to the place
where Mudarra lay in wait ; and Mudarra cried aloud, Liar and
traitor, thou shalt die ! and as he said this he ran at him, and gave
him such a blow Avith the sword that he fell dead upon the ground,
and thirty knights who were his vassals Avere slain with him. And in
process of time, when Count Don Garci Ferrandez was dead, Mu-
darra Gonzalez took Doña Lambra, and had her burnt alive : for in
the days of the Count he could not do this, because she was his kins-
woman. Now you are to know, ye who hear this history, that when
this Mudarra Gonzalez came from Cordova to Salas, his father made
him a Christian, and had him baptized, for till then he was a Moor.
And he was a right good knight and a strong, as long as he lived ;
and Doña Sancha alway loved him well, because in all his deeds he
was greatly like Gonzalo Gonzalez her youngest son, and also in his
lineaments.* And she adopted him to be her son ; and the manner
of adopting him was this, according to the custom of those times. On
the day when he w^as baptized, Count Garci Ferrandez knighted him,
and Doña Sancha had put on over her apparel a garment in the
fashion of a smock, which was made exceeding wade, and she took
her step-son by the hand, and put him in at the sleeve '^ of that wide
garment, and took him out at the collar, and kissed his cheek ; and
with that he "was held to be her son, and heir to the lordship of Salas,
and to all that she had.
This ceremony of adoption must have been Moorish, for Pietro
della Valle describes it as the custom of the Persians. It is curious,
as he remarks, that Juno in Diodorus Siculus, adopts Hercules in the
same manner. The custom has left behind it a proverb in Spain . . .
Metedio po?' la maiiga^ y salir seos ha j)or el cabezón. It is equivalent
to our Give him an inch and heHl take an ell.
Luis de Salazar, in his great Historia Genealógica de la Casa de
Lara, discredits that part of the story which relates to Mudarra, but
admits that the Infantes were thus betrayed to death. Ferreras re-
jects the whole, and somewhat unfairly refers to Salazar as if he did
the same. He has overlooked a decisive proof of the main fact which
^ What follows is added by Morales, L. 17. C. 20, from an old manuscript of the
Chron. Gen. Unluckily he has very much abridged what, as he tells us, is related
in the original with great minuteness.
' The deepe smocke sleive, which the Irish women use, they say, was old Span-
ish, and is used yet in Barbary : and yet that should seeme rather to be an old Eng-
lish fashion ; for in armory the fashion of the Manche, which is given in armes by
many, being indeed nothing else but a sleive, is fashioned much like to that sleive.
Spenser^s View of the State of Ireland.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 419
incidentally occurs in Yepes. The tomb of the Infantes is shown at
two places, . . at S. Millan de la Cogolla, and at S. Pedro de Ar-
lanza, . . two of the most celebrated Monasteries in Spain. Morales
thought the former the most probable place for their interment. In
the year 1603, the Abbot of S. Millan had the grave opened, in the
presence of a public notary and other witnesses, and seven bodies
were found there, without heads. In 1597, seven heads without
bodies had been found in the parochial church of Salas.
Cor. Gen. de S. Benito. T. 1. ff. 276.
When Morales lived there was a house at Cordova called Casa de
las Cabezas, because two chests were preserved there, on which, ac-
cording to tradition, the heads of the Infantes had been laid. He
remembered also in his youth an old and fine Moorish building, which
was shown as the prison of Gonzalo Gustios.
A series of prints representing the whole history of the Infantes of
Lara, with allegorical machinery, is in the very curious collection of
the Rev. Henry White of Lichfield. The subject of each print is
briefly explained under it, in Spanish and Latin. There is no title
or date to the book, but the engravings bear the name of Dancker
Danckertze.
The four first Ballads in Escobaras Collection. P. 48.
(10.) These four Ballads appear to me not to be much older than
the beginning of the seventeenth century. They are not in Sepulve-
da's collection ; they abound with tricks of composition, and give to
Rodrigo that blustering and bullying sort of character which seems to
prove that when they were written the guapo, or ruffian, was the
favorite hero of the popular songs of Spain. The author, Avhoever he
was, was not well versed in the history of the Cid, for he gives him
two elder brethren, in direct contradiction to the Chronicle, which
mentioning his bastard brother Ferrando Diaz, adds, e nunca el ovo
otro hermano nin hermana.
Some lines are in so much better a tone both of feeling and expres-
sion, that they seem to be fragments of older poems. Such is the
description of Diego in his retreat.
Non puede dormir de noche,
nin gustar de las viandas,
ni alzar del suelo los ojos,
nin osa salir de casa,
IN in fablar con sus amigos,
antes les niega la fabla,
temiendo que les ofenda
el aliento de su infamia.
That part also of Rodrigo's speech upon his return, Avhich in woven
into the text,
420 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Veys aqui la yerva mala
para que vos comays buena,
* * # # ♦
que ay manos que no son manos,
y esta lengua ya no es lengua.
The Romancero General has another Ballad upon the same subject,
which is not in Escobar's collection.
Consolando al noble vieja
Está el valiente Rodrigo, &c. ff. 358.
The box on the ear has terribly perplexed the French actors.
Voltaire remarks upon it, On ne donnerait pas anjourdliui un souflet
sur la joue dhin héros. Les acteurs mémes sont tres embarrassé a don-
ner ce souflet ; ils font le semblont. Cela n''est plus mtme soufert dans
la comedie ; et c^est le seid exemple qiCon oi ait sur la theatre tragique.
II est a croire que c'est une des raisons qui firent intituler le Cid tragi-
comedie.
Hidalgos. P. 49.
(11.) This title is well explained by Huarte, . . I transcribe from
the old translation.
To the bent of this purpose, though we shall thereby somewhat
lengthen our matter, I cannot but recount a discourse which passed
between our Lord the Prince Don Carlos, and the Doctor Suares
of Toledo, who was Judge of the Court in Alcalá de Henares.
P. Doctor, what think you of this place ? D. Very well, my Lord,
for here is the best air and the best soil of any place in Spain.
P. For such the Physicians made choice of it to recover my health :
Have you seen the University ? D. No, my Lord. P. See it then,
for it is very special, and where they tell me the sciences are very
learnedly read. D. Verily for a college it carrieth gi'eat fame, and
should be such in effect as your highness speaketh of. P. Where
did you study ? D. In Salamanca, my Lord. P. And did you
proceed Doctor in Salamanca ? D. My Lord, no. P. That me-
seemeth was ill done, to study in one University and take degree in
another. D. May it please your highness, the charges of taking de-
grees in Salamanca are excessive, and therefore we poor men fly the
same, and get us to some other University, knowing that we receive
our sufficiency and learning, not from the degree, but from our study
and pains : albeit my parents were not so poor but if ihey listed
might have borne the charge of proceeding in Salamanca ; but your
highness well knoweth that the Doctors of this University have the
like franchises as the hidalgos of Spain, and to us, who are such by
nature, this exemption doth harm, at least to our posterity. P. Which
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 421
of the Kings mine ancestors gave this nobility to your lineage ?
2). None. And to this end your highness must understand there are
two sorts of hidalgos in Spain, some of blood, and some by privilege ;
those in blood, as myself, have not received their nobility at the King's
hand, but those by privilege have. P. This matter is very hard for
me to conceive, and I would gladly that you expressed it in plainer
terms ; for my blood royal, reckoning from myself to my father, and
from him to my grandfather, and so by order from each to other,
cometh to finish in Pelayo, to whom by the death of the King Don
Rodrigo the kingdom was given, before which time he was not King.
If we reckon up after this sort your pedigree, shall w^e not come at
last to end in one who was no hidalgo ? D, This discourse cannot
be denied, for all things have had a beginning. P. I ask you, then,
from whence that first man had his nobility who gave beginning to
your nobility ? he could not enfranchise himself nor pluck out his own
neck from the yoke of tributes and services w^hich before-time he paid
to the Kings my predecessors ; for this were a kind of theft, and a
preferring himself by force with the King's patrimony ; and it sound-
eth not wdth reason that gentlemen of blood should have so bad an
original as this ; therefore it falleth out plain, that the King gave him
freedom and yielded him the grace of that nobility. D. Your high-
ness concludeth very well, and it is true that there is no true nobility
save of the King's grant ; but Ave term those noble of blood of whose
original there is no memory, neither is it specified in writing when
the same began, nor what King yielded them this favor ; and this ob-
scureness is received in the commonwealth for more honorable than
distinctly to know the contrary. The commonwealth also maketh
gentlemen ; for w^hen a man groweth valorous, of great virtue, and
rich, it dareth not to challenge such a one, as seeming thereby to do
him wrong, and that it is fit a man of that worth do live in all fran-
chise. This reputation passing to the children and to the grandchild-
ren, groweth to nobility, and so they get a pretence against the King.
These are not therefore gentlemen because they receive five hundred
soldi of pay ; but when the contrary cannot be proved, they pass for
such.
That Spaniard Avho devised this name of a gentleman hijodalgo^
gave very well to understand this doctrine ; for by his opinion men
have two kinds of birth, the one natural, in which all are equal, the
other spiritual. When a man performeth any heroical enterprise, or
any virtue or extraordinary work, then is he new born, and procureth
for himself other new parents, and loseth that being which he had
tofore. Yesterday he was called the son of Pedro and grandson of
Sancho, and now he is named the son of his own actions. Hence
had that Castilian proverb its original which saith. Every man is the
son of his own works. And because good and virtuous works are in
the Holy Scripture termed somewhat, which a]go signifyeth in the
422 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Spanish tongue, tliis Spaniard compounded this word hijodalgo
thereof, which imporlelh nought else but that such a one is descended
of him who performed some notorious and virtuous action, for which
he deserved to be rewarded by the King or Commonwealth, together
Avith all his posterity for ever. The law of the Partida saith that hijo-
dal<y'o signifyeth the son of goods ; but if Ave understand the same of
temporal goods, the reason was not good, for there are infinite hidal-
gos poor, and infinite rich men who are no hidalgos. But if it mean
the son of goods, that is to say, of good quahlies, it carricth the same
sense which we before expressed. Hitarte.
The degrees of rank in Catalonia were settled by the Usatg-es, or
Usages which Count Ramon Berenguer, and his wife Almodis,
enacted in 1068. The fullest account is thus given by Pere Tomich.
Lo dit cgregi Baro en Ramon Berenguer, Comte de Barcelona, e
la prudentissima Comtesa Almodis muller sua, ordenaren e feren los
dits usatges, segons en aquells mes largament es contengut, e ab los
dits usatges lo dit virtuos Baro agradua totes les gents de son Comtat
e principal. E primerament lo dit Comte agradua los Comtes, dient
los potestats sobre los Vescomtes, nobles Vervessors qui son en grau
sobira apres los Comtes a potestats dessus dits, exceptat sobre los
nou Barons, los quals lo dit Comte mete en grau de dits Comtes ;
appellant los Comdors, quasi volent dir, que en les senyories e Baro-
nies que ells havien sobre lurs vassals, eran axi com los Comtes, qui
son dits potestats en lurs Comtats, e havien axi la senyoria sobre tots
qui eran poblats en los Comtats ; e perco foren axi appellats e inti-
tulats per lo dit virtuos Baro tots los dessus dits. Encara feu difer-
encia en los cavaliers ; car en aquell temps tots los qui anaven a
cavall e armats eran dits Cavaliers ; e ell dix los miles vero, qui vol
dir, que tot Cavalier que tingua lo orde de cavalleria era cavalier, e lo
lorn que prenia lorde havia a fer un horn géneros qui tingues en feu
per ell, e havien a tenir un altre, qui tostemps estigues ab ell, portant
li son scut e la lan^a ; e lo altre home géneros se deya com pan yo
del Cavalier, e aquest se deya sender. IjOs tais eran dits homens
generosos, qui seguien lart de cavalleria ; e al dit companyo que lo
Cavalier havia pres lo die que avia pres lo orde de cavalleria, havia li
de donar lo dit Cavalier renda de que visques, tenint aquell la renda
en feu sen ; e tots los altres del estament militar eran dits Cavaliers
menors, axi los homens de paratge, com los altres qui seguien la art
de cavalleria menor sens lo orde. E axi mateix agradua tots los
ciutadans, Burgesos, e totes les gents de son Comtat e Principal
segous lo grau de quiscu. Encara feu lo dit virtuos Baro que tots los
qui vinguessen apres de ell Comtes de Barcelona haguessen a tenir
tinell, e dar a menjar als nobles, e fessen Cavaliers nouells. E en
aquesta manera lo dit Comte e virtuos Baro mes en orde les gents de
la terra quiscu en son grau, e axi ho trobareu en los dits usatges, si be
ho mirau. Pe?'e Toniich, C. 32, ff. 24.
NOTES OJN THE CHRONICLE. 423
'' The said famous Baron Ramon Berenguer Count of Barcelona,
and the most discreet Countess Almodis his wife, ordained and made
these Usages. And with those Usages the said virtuous Baron placed
in order all the people of his County and Principality. And first he
set in rank the Counts, giving them powers above the Viscounts ;
noble Vavassours, who are in the highest degree after the Counts or
Potestats aforesaid, except over the nine Barons whom he set in the
same rank with the said Counts, calling them Comdors,^ as if to say
that in the lordship and baronial rights which they had over their vas-
sals, they were like Counts, Avho are called Potestats in their Coun-
ties, and had lordship in like manner over all who dwelt in their
counties, and therefore all these were thus appellated and entitled by
the said virtuous Baron. Moreover he made a distinction among
Knights ; for in those days all who went on horseback and bore arms
were called Knights, and he called them Miles vero, which was to
say, that every Knight who had the order of Chivalry was a Knight,
and the day on which he took the order he was to make a gentle-
man, who should hold in feud of him, and should have another who
should alway be with him, bearing his shield and his lance : and the
first gentleman should be called the Companion of the Knight, and
this other should be called his Squire. They were called, gentlemen
who followed the art of chivalry, and the Knight was to give a rent
as long as he lived, to the said companion whom he took on the day
when he received the order of knighthood, and he was to hold it as
his fief. And all others of the military state were called Knights-
minor, as well the homens de paratge, that is to say the hidalgos, as
others who followed the art of minor-chivalry without the order.
And moreover he put in order all the citizens, burgesses, and all the
people of his County and principality, according to the rank of each.
And he appointed that all the Counts of Barcelona who should come
after him, should maintain these Usages, and keep a table for the no-
bles, and make new knights. And in this manner the said Count and
virtuous Baron put in order the people of the land, each in his de-
gree, and thus it is found in the said Usages.
I use Mr. Heber's copy of Pere Tomich. Barcelona 1534. ff. 71.
of this edition the same print is used to represent Juan II. of Ara-
gón, Avhich serves for Esplandian in the title page to the Burgos
edition of the Sergas, 1526. The only difference is, that instead of
the scroll which bears the name of Esplandian, there is a cloud and
three birds. Unless the block had been transferred from Burgos to
Barcelona, which is not likely, they must have been cast like types,
for the cut is manifestly the same.
^ This is probably the origin of Commodore, which Johnson supposed to be a
corruption of Commendador ; . . the Catalan word is much nearer both in sound
and meaning.
424 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
And when he hml slain him he asked the Jadfj^es if there was any thing
more to be done. P. 12.
(12.) This appeal to the Judges after the combat is decided, occurs
sometimes in Romance. When Palmerin de Ohva (C. 28.) does
battle with count Domarco, " he brought him to the ground, and knelt
upon his breast, and cut the straps of his helmet, and the head after
them, and took it by the hair, and sent it rolling along the field.
And when he had done this he looked at Tolome, and saw that he
had his enemy at his mercy, and it was not long before he slew him ;
and then Palmerin asked the Judges if aught more was to be done
for the acquittance of Diardo and Cardonia."
Perhaps the barbarous custom of casting the body of the slain out
of the lists, was a necessary ceremony in some places, and not in
others, and hence this question.
Estremadura. P. 57.
(13.) This word ought to have been rendered here, the Marches
of Burgos.
He enjoined them to fasten boards upon their shield. P. 58.
(14.) When the Tartars began their conquest of China by besieg-
ing Leaotung, because they chiefly feared the musquet balls, they re-
solved by a stratagem to make that unknown instrument less hurt-
ful to them than their enemies did imagine. For the Tartarian King
commanded such as made the first onset, to carry a thick hard board
for their shield, which was as good to them as a wooden wall : these
men were seconded by other companies, who carried ladders to climb
up the walls : and the horse came up in the rear. In this manner he
set upon the city in four quarters, and received the discharge of their
musquets against his Avooden wall : then in a moment the scaling
ladders being applied, before they could charge again, they were upon
the walls, and entered the city.
Bellum Tartaricum by Martinus Martinius. Eng. Trans. P. 16.
Lorvam. P. GO.
(15.) The monks of Lorvam produced among their archives a
deed of exemption granted to them by Alboacem the son of INIaha-
met Alhamar, and grandson of Tarif the Conqueror, which, if
genuine, is one of the most curious records in Spain. The charter,
after specifying what tributes the Christians shall pay, proceeds thus.
Monaster iiLm de rnontanis, qui dicitur Laurbano^ von pecfie mdlo pe-
sante^ qnoniani bona intentione Tiionstrant mihi loca de snís venatis, e
faciunt Sarracenis bona acolhenza^ et numquam biveni falsum neque
malum animum in illis qui morant ibi ; et totas suas hereditates pos-
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 425
sideant cum pace et bona quiete^ sine rixa, et sine vexatione neqne
forcia de Mauris ; et veniant et vadant ad Colimbriam cum libértate^
per diem et per noctem, quando melius velint aiit nolint, emant et
vendant sine pecJio^ tali pacto quod non vadant foras de nostras terras
sine nostro aprazmo^ et bene vele^ et quia, sic volumiis^ et ut omnes
sciant, facio cartam salvo condiicto^ et do Christianis^ ut habeant
illam, pro sua juzgo, et mostrent cum, Mauri requisiverint ab illis.
Et siquis de Sarracenis non sibi observarit nostrum juzgo, in quo
fecerit damnum^ componat pro suo avere, vet pro sua vita, et sic juzgo
de illo, sicut de Christiano, usque ad sanguitiem et vitam. Fuit facta
karta de juzgo, era de Christianis DCCLXXTI. secundum vero
annos Arabum CXXXXVII. Luna XIII dulhija. Alboacen Iben
Mahamet Alhamar, Iben Tarif, rogatu Christianorom Jirmavi pro
Tnor +, et dederunt pro robore duos equos optiinos, et ego cojifirmavi
totum. Brito, Mon. Lucit. 2. 7. 7.
This charter, like the funeral urn of Achilles, the tomb of Alex-
ander, and the relicks of the Archangel Michael, is the more to be
suspected because it would be of such exceeding value, if genuine.
It may be doubted if a Moorish Governor at so early an age would
give charters in Latin, whetlier at any age he would use the sign of
the Cross for his mark, and whether the language with which the
Latin is corrupted be not of a more modern complexion. But the
exemption, if it be forged, could be of no use after Coimbra was re-
covered by the Christians ; so that, even in that case, it is of very
curious antiquity, and may truly state the laws to which the Christians
were subject.
This is the deed of which Gibbon (0. 51. Note 187,) who had only
seen its substance in Fleury, intimates a dark suspicion.
Carona del cuerpo. P. 73.
(16.) I would not weaken the word by softening it. Our own lan-
guage furnishes a curious instance of the same use of the word in the
Will of Sir Lewis Clifford (the probate whereof bears date Dec. 5.
1404.) He had been a follower of Wickliffe, but had recanted ; and
as this is the only part of the Will in Enghsh, it has been conjectured
that it was dictated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, by way of
penance.
" The sevententhe day of September the y ere of our lord Jesu
Christ 1404. I Lowys ClyiTorth, fals and tray tor to my Lord God
and to all the blessed company of hevene, and unworthi to be clepyd
a Christen man, make and ordeine my testament and my last will in
this manere. At the begynning I most unworthi and Goddis traytor,
recommaunde my wrechid and synfule soule hooly to the grace and
to the grcte mercy of the blessed Trynytie, and my Avrechid carey ne
to be beryed in the ferthest corner of the chirche-zerd, in which
pariche my wrechid soule departeth fro my body. And I prey and
54
426 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
charge my survivors and mync executors, as they wollen answere
tofore God, and as all myne lioole trust in this matere is in hem, that
on my stinking careyne be neyther leyd clothe of gold, rie of yilke,
but a blacke clothe, and a taper at myne hed, and another at my fete,
ne stone ne other thing whereby eny man may witt where my stynkyng
careyne liggeth. And to that chirche do myne executors all thingis,
which owen duly in such caas to be don, without eny more cost, saaf
to pore men." (fee.
Ntcolson and Biinih Hist, of Westmoreland. Vol. 1. 280.
Quhare is the meit and drink delicious,
With whilk we fed our cairful carionis !
Sir David Lyndsay.
In the translation of P. Richeome's Pilgrim of Loretta, by E. W.
printed at Paris 1630, a similar Avord is employed, but not design-
edly, . . the translator living in a foreign country, and speaking a
foreign language, had forgotten the nicer distinctions of his own.
" Women and maides," he says, " shall also particularly examine
themselves about the vanity of their apparell, their too much speaking,
or speaking evill, of their too much care of their corps, of impatience,
choler, covetise of the goods of this world, and of other vices more
familiar to their sexe."
For Zaragoza he held to he loithin his conquest. P. 77.
(17.) The resolution with which the Spaniards set about recovering
their country was truly heroic. Each of the Christian kingdoms had
its allotted portion of Moorish territory to conquer, and this, though it
v^as sometimes a state as extensive and powerful as itself, was called
its conquest. Wars sometimes arose between them, if one King tres-
passed upon the conquest of another ; . . for they regarded it as a
manor, and the Moors as game. King Jayme of Aragón used the
metaphor, when, having one day started a herd of them he clapped
spurs to his horse, and cried out to his followers, . . After them !
after them, brethren ! . . these deer, who are to be the food and sus-
tenance of our honors, must not be suffered to escape.
Miedes, L. 6. C. 5.
Alférez. P. 78.
(18.) The Master of the Horse, or of the Knights of the Emperor
or King, is what they call in Romance the Alférez. He ought to
carry the King's standard when he goes to battle, and he has powder
to judge knights in all cases of knighthood Avhich arise among them,
as if they should sell or paAvn, or misuse their horses or arms. Also
he hath power to settle all suits among them by reason of debts.
Also he may restrain, or expel those who have deserved it, if they are
NOTES OJN THE CHRONICLE. 427
disobedient in the ordinances and things which he commands them to
do in matters of knighthood. And notwithstanding he may do all
these things aforesaid, nevertheless he cannot adjudge any one to the
pain of death, nor to loss of limb, for any thing that he may say or
do. Part 4. Tit. 18. Leij 11.
Count Don Piñolo Ximenez, the Alférez of King Bermudo, is called
Christiferus in old writings, which Yepes explains to be another term
for standard-bearer, the banner having either a crucifix or a cross
upon it. Chr. Gen. de S. Benito, T. 6. ff. 17.
The Cross which was the standard at the famous battle of the
Navas de Tolosa, was made of iron, because at that time any thing
like luxury had been just denounced by law. About half its staff was
covered by a sort of shield, to protect the bearer, and from this an
index-hand proceeded, which the Alférez might turn to that part of
the field where succor was most needed : . . at least this is supposed
to have been its use. A print of this standard is given in the Notes
to Mondejar's Historia del Rey Don Alonso VIH. P. 434.
By name Verna. P. 82.
(19.) Brito gives the name ; . . where he found it does not appear.
But as a name he gives it, though it may be suspected rather to mark
the rank of the person.
He sleio eleven of the thirte&ti. P. 92.
(20.) Berganza observes that one of the most authentic accounts of
the Cid calls him the Campeador upon this occasion only . . . indicio
de que gano este campo con ventajas a las demás lides carnpales, y acaso
el Rey Don Sancho, admirando del ijivicto brazo del Cid, le daria el
nombre de Campeador. If, he adds, any one shall think this exploit
incredible, let him look at the answer which Moses gave to those who
asked him. How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thou-
sand to flight ?
The Conde Don Pedro relates a more probable achievement of the
same kind. In a battle between the Kings of Castille and Navarre
the former Avas taken, and delivered into the custody of four knights.
Don Ñuño or Manho Guterres de Castanheda came up, snatched a
lance from one of them and killed him, gave another lance to the
King, saying. Now Sir, they are three and we are two ; the King then
killed another, and they took the other two. Don Ñuño was ever
afterwards called He of the Four Hands, from this feat.
Nobiliario, P. 100.
And he released King Don Alfonso from prison. P. 93.
(21.) As the old Spanish historians had not quite miracles enough,
428 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Yepes has discovered one here which they had all overlooked, but
wliich rests upon the authority of Hugo, the biographer of St. lingo
the Great, and of the Bibliotheca Cluniacensis. King Ferrando had
been a great benefactor to tlie Monastery of Cluni, and in their gra-
titude the great Hugo and all his Monks prayed for Alfonso's deliver-
ance. St. Peter, in consequence of these prayers, appeared to St.
Hugo, telling him his desire should be accomplished, and also to
King Sancho, threatening him grievously unless he released his
brother and restored to him his kingdom. Sancho obeyed so far as
to take him out of prison, . . and put him into a Monastery ; and
the vengeance Avhich fell upon him was his punishment for not ful-
filling the whole of the Apostle's command.
Cor. Gen. de S. Benito. T. 6. /. 288.
Alfonso acknowledged the benefit which he had received by suit-
able donations to the House of Cluni ; and the grateful brethren
did him a second good turn, by delivering him from a worse place
than prison. Yepes (T. 7. ff. 111.) relates the story after St. Pierre
the Venerable.
St. Pierre the Venerable, in the course of one of his visitations,
came to the Cluniac Monastery of St. Maria de Naxara, in which
one Pedro Engelberto, formerly a powerful and wealthy inhabitant of
the city of Estella in Navarre, had professed. This brother was famous
for an extraordinary adventure which had befallen him, and which the
Venerable heard from his own lips, and recorded as worthy of full
belief. During the wars which took place after the death of our
Alfonso, this Engelberto had been obliged to furnish a man to the
King of Aragon's army. The man's name was Sancho : . . he
served his time in Castille, returned to Estella, and died there. Four
months after his death, as Engelberto was sitting at midnight by the
fire, broad awake, he saw his man Sancho, and knew him distinctly
by the fire light, . . he Avas naked, save that his loins were girt with
a cloth for decency. Engelberto asked him who he was, and the
ghost replied, Sancho. And Avhat was he doing there ? I am going
to Castille, and a great multitude with me, there to suffer the punish-
ment of our sins in the very place where we committed them. But
said Engelberto, If you are taking that road, why do you come here ?
Sancho replied. That he and some others had robbed a church, and
taken away even the ornaments of the Sacrament, for which they
were sentenced to the cruellest pains of Purgatory ; and he Avas come
to implore help. His mistress, the Avife of Engelberto, owed him
when he died, some little money, and he requested that it might be
distributed in alms for the relief of his soul. By this time Engel-
berto began to recover courage, and thinking it an excellent opportu-
nity to learn news from the other world, inquired for his acquaintance
there, How was Pedro de laca, one of his townsmen ? He was in
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 429
bliss, for he had been compassionate and pitiful towards the poor,
especially during a year of famine, when he had given great alms.
How was Vernerio, who died lately ? Of him Sancho gave a deplo-
rable account ; . . he was damned because he had taken bribes,
being a judge, and perverted the course of justice. Engelberto then
thought of inquiring for King Don Alfonso, who had been dead not
many years, . . but then another Ghost appeared, and interrupted
him, saying. Do not ask this of him, for it is but a little while since
he died, and he can tell you nothing about it ; but I have been dead
five years, and have talked with Ghosts who have been dead longer,
so that I can tell you Avhat you want to know. Engelberto was a
little alarmed at this second voice, and at perceiving the other Ghost
sitting in the moon light under the window, naked like Sancho, and
girt with the same kind of wrapper round the loins ; however he took
heart and asked him Avho he was, . . He was one of the party who
were bound for Castille. And do you know any thing of King
Alfonso ? Yes, replied the Ghost, I know where he was, but not
where he is now, for at one time he was tormented with most grievous
pains among the guilty ; but after awhile the Monks of Cluni deliv-
ered him from that place, and I cannot tell what has been done with
him. Having said this, both ghosts told him they must now join the
army of Spirits, which was gone before. And Sancho again re-
quested that the money due to him might be paid to the poor. En-
gelberto, after they had departed, awakened his wife, and asked her
if she owed any thing to their man Sancho when he died, . . she
answered. Yes, eight shillings, . . which was the sum the Ghost had
specified. Accordingly this money was applied as he had desired,
and other alms- added to it, and spent in masses. And from this story
St. Pierre the Venerable was fully persuaded that King Alfonso was
in heaven.
The Monks of Cluni had reason to be grateful to this King. Fer-
rando had given them a thousand meteales yearly for their clothing,
believing that he should in return be made a partaker of their spiritual
treasure. Alfonso doubled this annuity, and made it perpetual, for
the relief of his own soul, his father's and mother's, his brothers,
children and wives, living and dead ; and he declared that any of his
successors who should either withhold or lessen this tribute should be
thereby disinherited. Sandoval j ff, 85.
Toledo. P. 94.
(22.) Old Pere Tomich gives a very straight forAvard etymology of
Toledo. Julius Csesar, he says, built the city, e trames hi dos caval-
iers, e el hu havia nom Tol, el altre Ledo. E aquesto la intitidaran de
lur nom. C. 7. ff. 5.
430 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
They found him by the side of the Douro. P. 111.
(23.) The people of Zamora have erected a cross upon the spot
where Sancho was murdered. Gil Gonzalez Davi/a, Hist, del B,ey
Don Henrique HI. Gil Gonzalez mentions this as an example to
the Corregidor of Alcalá de Henares, to erect one upon the place
where Juan I. was accidentally killed, . . that all passers-by might be
reminded to say a prayer for his soul.
There is a second siege of Zamora, which deserves to be remem-
bered. Alonzo Lopez de Texeda defended it for the children of Pe-
dro the Cruel, after that Prince had been betrayed by du Guesclin,
and murdered. Henrique of Trastamara, then Henrique II. slew hLs
three sons before the walls, thinking to make him surrender, and save
their lives ; but the true Spaniard held out inflexibly, till pestilence
had utterly disabled his garrison, and then he escaped by night and
eñectcd his flight into Portugal, taking the keys of the city Avith him.
The heroic fidelity displayed here, and at Carmona, in the cause of
Pedro after his death, evinces that that Prnice, furious as he was in
his fits of anger, had qualities which made him faithfully and affec-
tionately beloved, . . and the cruelties which Henrique perpetrated at
both places incontestably prove that the successful brother was the
more atrocious of the two.
This was not the only iniquity which Henrique committed at Za-
mora, . . diose al Rey a pleyiesia, says the old Chronicler of Pero Nino,
e si el Rey ge la tovo, non es mió de escrebir.
It has been affirmed by el egregio Doctor Figuerola, that St. Paul's
Epistle to the Hebrews was addressed to the Jews of Zamora, who
had requested him when he was in those parts, to give them an ex-
planation of the new faith which he preached. Beuther observes that
the egregious Doctor has too hastily believed the Jcavs, this Epistle
having been manifestly written to the Jews of Jerusalem, . . but he
adds, that the Zamoran Hebrews may perhaps have obtained a copy
of it. L. 1. a 24.
And he called for the candle. P. 112.
(24.) Few readers can require to be told that it is one of the cere-
monies of the Catholic Church to put a lighted taper into the hand
of a dying man. Among the Greeks it is lit upon the birth of a child,
. . and if the child be a first-born, carefully laid aside for his death
candle ; it is then buried with him. Pietro delta Valle.
And they summoned all the Bishops, Sfc. P. 113.
(25.) '' All things, though they may have a good beginning, and a
good middle, are not completely good unless they have a good end.
And this is because the end is the accomphshment of all the past ;
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 431
and therefore the wise men said that all praise was to be sung at
the end, for that thing is completely good which has well finished.
Wherefore it behoves the people, as they are bound to honor the
King in his life, so also to honor him at his death, for there all the
honor which they can do him is accomplished. And in this they
show greater loyalty than in doing it while he lived, because it is
done at a time when they can no longer look to him for favor nor re-
ward, neither in word nor in deed ; nor on the other hand, for injunc-
tion or force. And moreover they manifest that they do not forget
the goodness which there was in him, nor the benefits which they had
received at his hands. And therefore as soon as they know his death
the honorable men should repair to the place where his body lies, the
prelates and other Ricos-Omes, and the Masters of the Orders, and
the other good men of the Cities and great ToAvns in his dominions,
to do him honor at his funeral. And they must not excuse them-
selves, but must come presently, at the latest within forty days, unless
some of them should have any such impediment that they can in no-
wise come. These forty days the Antients appointed on account of
the number four, because four times ten are forty. And they did this
because of the four ages, and of the four seasons of the year, in which
man passes his whole life, and does all things which he is bound to
do as well for the sake of his soul as of his body. And they did this
also because of four things which ought to be done for the honor of
the deceased King noAV, rather than at any other time. The first to
lament for him as their Lord, remembering that they take leave of
him now, never to see him again in this world. The second to secure
his place, taking immediately for King him who ought by right to in-
herit the kingdom, and who comes of his lineage. The third to aid
him as vassals and friends and true men, to discharge his soul, giving
alms and offering up prayers for him. Moreover aiding those to
whose hands it has been entrusted to pay his debts and discharge his
commands and redress wrongs, if any he shall have done. For even
as they are bound to defend the body of the King while he is alive,
from any hurt which might come from earthly enemies, and to pro-
tect him therefrom, so are they to protect his soul as much as they
can from the infernáis, with the arms of alms and prayers, by which
he may gain the love of God and the honor of Paradise. The fourth
to take counsel with the new King, and quiet the kingdom, that no
alterations or disturbance may happen because of his death. And
therefore this term was appointed, that they who could not come im-
mediately might have thus much time allowed them, and assemble to
do these things as we have said. And in this manner the People
ought to honor their King after he is departed. And they who know-
ingly do otherwise commit manifest treason, so that the new King
ought to have no mercy upon them, but take from them all which
they held of him, and cast them out of the land for ever. And not
432 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
only oiiglit they to honor the body of the deceased King, but also the
place or town wherein it lies ; so that whosoever violates it, unless it
be in case of justice, ought to be punished according to the oiience."
Part. 2. T. 13. L. 19.
And a draught either of wine or water, as lie chose. P. 116.
(26.) One of the scriptural commentators oddly explains these
verses. " And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the
weight of whose spear Aveighed three hundred shekels of brass in
weight, he being girded with a new SAvord, thought to have slain
David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote
the Philistine and slew him." 2 Sam. xxi. 16. 17. The commenta-
tor (INIatthew Henry, I believe,) supposes that Abishai gave him a
cordial, and that then David slew the giant.
And the horse in his agony ran out of the lists. P. 121.
(27.) Amadis {Book 1. C. 43), in his combat with Abiseos, when
his horse ran away with him, " seeing that he had no remedy, and
that he should be carried out of the lists, struck the beast between
the ears with his sword, and split his head."
And they received him for their Lord and King. P. 125.
(28.) The deceased King being interred, the honorable men must
go to the new King to acknowledge the honor of Lordship in him in
two manners ; the one by word and the other by deed. By word,
acknowledging that they hold him to be their Lord, and confessmg
that they are his vassals, and promising that they will obey him, and
be loyal and true to him in all things, and will increase his honor
and profit, and ward off evil and harm from him, as far as they can.
By deed, in kissing his foot and his hand in acknowledgment of
Lordship, and doing other humbleness according to the custom of
the land, and surrendering to him their offices, and the lands which
are called honors, and all other things which they held of the de-
ceased King, such as cellars and wine vaults, and flocks and other
things, and rents, of what kind soever they may be. And they who
do not do this commit manifest treason, wherefore, being honorable
men, they ought to lose the offices and honors which they hold, and to
be cast out of the kingdom. And if they have received any thing there-
from, they ought then to restore it two-fold. And if they are men
of lower rank, they ought to die for this, and to restore to the King
two-fold of all that they have gained by him ; but if they cannot be
found, they shall lose all that they have : but after this they ought
not to be put to death, since all that they had has been taken from
lliem as a punishment. Part 2. T. 13. L. 20.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
433
The oath of expurgation. P. 125.
(29.) It has been said that the oath was made upon one of the
bolts of the great door. That the vulgar had some form of this
kind appears certain, because the bolt was taken away and destroyed
by the Bishop Ampudia, at the beginning of the 16th century.
Esp. Sagr. T, 27. 668.
One of the ballads mentions this bolt, and amplifies the oath with
curious absurdity.
Las juras eran tan fuertes
que a todos ponen espanto ; . .
sobre un cerrojo de hierro,
y una ballesta de palo.
Villanos te maten Alfonso,
villanos que non fidalgos ;
de las Asturias de Oviedo,
que non sean Castellanos ;
Mátente con aguijadas,
no con lanzas, ni con dardos ;
con cuchillos cachicuernos,
no con puñales dorados ;
Abarcas traygan calzadas
que non zapatos de lazo ;
capas traygan aguaderas,
non de contray, ni frisado ;
Con camisones de estopa,
non de olanda, ni labrados ;
vayan cavalgando en burras
non en muías, ni en cavallos ;
Frenos traygan de cordel
non de cueros fogueados ;
mátente por las aradas,
non por villas, ni poblados ;
Y saquente el corazón
por el siniestro costado,
si non dixeres verdad
de lo que te es preguntado,
Escobar Rom 37.
Doubtful cases used in France to be decided in this manner, by
oath, at the sepulchres of St. Denys, St. Medouard, St. Carilfe, and
St. Antonine, or Antolin. This latter saint was accustomed to punish
perjurers by the disease called corruptly from him, St. Anthony's Fire.
Yepes. Chr. Gen. de S. Benito, ff. 34.
The life of this St. Antolin is one of those for which there does not
seem to be the slightest foundation of truth. It is palpably fiction
from beginning to end. A certain Emperor Pepin figures in the
story. The Saint is laid in a dungeon, and left there to be famished ;
. . an Angel brings him food. He is put into a furnace of melted
lead ; , . it is changed into water, with which he baptizes the specta-
tors. They tie a mill-stone round his neck, and throw him into the
Garonne : . . he floats down the stream upon this singular life-boat,
and christens the people, who swim ofl" to him in shoals at the sight
of the miracle. No difliculty however occurs in cutting his head off ;
. . but this is only done to give occasion to a whole host of still more
wonderful wonders.
This seems to be the Saint whose church in London was formerly
called Tantlins.
P. 134. § XIX.
(30.) Here the Poem commences. Sanchez judged from the ap-
55
434 NOTES ON TflE CHRONICLE.
pearance of the manuscript, tliat something more than three hundred
lines Avcre lost.
They had a crow on their right hand. P. 134.
(31.) Many heathen superstitions, and this in particular, seem to
have remained longer in Spain than in any other part of the world.,
S. Domingo de Silos preaches against augury —
Nincatassen agüeros, ca de Dios es vedado.
Gonz. de Berceo. S. Dom. 465.
When King Jamye El Conquistador was one day hawking at
herons near Burriana, a flight rose before him, and going off in their
triangular array, Jamye w^as struck by the regularity of their line,
and thought it worthy a soldier's admiration. As he came up to
them the cackling they made was excessive, greater than ever he or
any of his attendants had heard before ; . . and the King, Avho listened
to it more attentively than any one else, persuaded himself that the
herons were telling him it better behoved a good Captain to be break-
ing the ranks of his enemies in their own country, than disturbing
their flight. Upon which he immediately made ready to go on with
his conquests against the Moors. Miedes. L. 9. C. 20.
Jamye was a believer in augury. When he Avas leaving his army
before Entesa to Don Guillen Dentensa's charge, it was told him by
those who were about to strike his tent, that a swallow had built
upon the point of it, (en lo alto, que dizen la escudilla, o arandela)
and hatched her young there, he immediately gave orders that the
tent should not be moved, nor the nest disturbed ; for this bird, said
he, is the announcer of victory, and as she hath trusted in our shadow
and protection, by it shall she be protected tiU her young are fledged
and take flight. L. 10. C. 12.
Doña Orraca Ferrandez, a noble lady, left by will in 1335, among
other things to her niece Senhorinha, huuns Pentées Láares, e quati'o
libras pera adjuda do sua casamento. Doc. de Tarouca. INIention is
made of Pentes Ladres elscAvhere about the same time. Fr. Joaquim
de Santa Rosa asks what ornament, movable, or piece this can be ?
" Are they," he says, " combs (^pentes) of great value worn as orna-
ments in the head ? Are they pendants for the ears ? In an edict of
Charles V. of France, 1367, it is said, Item; quod non audeant por-
tare mochas, vel inanicas pentes, latiores trium digitorum. Ap.
Dufresne. V. Pentes. And Lar we know was the name of a
King. Id. V. Lar. But this is only a hght conjecture.
Elucidario Portuguez.
Pentes Laares is probably a barbarous compound of the two words
Penates and Lares. If it be remembered how many Roman super-
stitions were still in full use, it will not appear improbable that some
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 435
family idols were preserved as amulets ; . . or perhaps the corrupted
Pagan names applied to some of those objects of Catholic idolatry
which have supplied their place.
It was perhaps believed that the young Cavalier o would insist upon
taking precedence. N. 2. P. 136.
(32.) One of the oddest passages I have ever met with is the de-
scription of a quarrel upon this subject between Esau and Jacob,
before they were born. It occurs in a serious poem, and one which
is not without some passages of great beauty.
Deja, pendant neuf mois, la fiere Antipathic
D'ou naissent la Discorde et la Haine en partie,
Qui fait la Repugnance, engendre le Dedain ;
Qui ne peut rien souffrir, qui se fasche soudain,
Qui formant une horreur pour les plus belles choses
DefFend á quelques uns I'aspect mesme des roses,
Qui trouve tout mauvais, et dont I'ceíI depilé
De ses propres Parens fuit la societe ;
Deja, dis-je, ce Monstre enorme et redoubtable,
A soy-mesme en tous lieux souvent insuportable,
Par le vouloir du Ciel, que I'honnme, sans pecher
Ne peut approfondir, ne sgauroit eplucher,
Avoit de Rebecca, qui s'en plaignoit sans cesse,
Durant neuf mois entiers tourmente la grossesse,
Fait tresaillir les flanes, et de ses bras mutins
Pousse les grandas Jumeaux aux troubles intestins ;
Quand apres maint effort, et mainte ardente lutte,
Esau par hazard, ou plutot par sa chutte,
Vintle premier au jour, non pas comme vainqueur,
Mais comme un qui fuyoit, qui despourveu de cceur,
Laissoit la palme a I'autre, au saint Champ des entrailles,
Ou pour regner tout seul il donna cent battailles.
Aussy rheureux Jacob, qui I'avoit abatlu,
Sembloit dire en naissant, " tourne, teste, ou vas-tu? "
Et tenant la talon de la plante germaine
Lors quil vint a parestre en la carriere humaine,
Exprimoit aux regards ce propos obstiné,
La gloire m'appartient, c'est moy qui suis l'Aisné.
Moyse Sauvé, du Sieur de Saint Amant.
St. Pedro de Cardería. P. 139.
(33.) The Abbot Vclorado has given the traditional history of the
foundation of this Monastery, at the end of the Chronicle of the Cid.
According to this account, the Infante Theodorico, son to the Great
Theoderick, and of his Queen Doña Sancha, one day when he was
weary with the chase, stopt beside a fountain which is near the site of
the Monastery, and drank there and fell asleep. An angel appeared
to him and told him to prepare for death, for it was the will of God
to summon him, . . upon which he awoke with the pains of death
436 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
upon him, . . called for a Priest, confessed himself, and died.
His mother, upon this, founded a Monastery there, and because
when she saw the fountain she exclaimed, Caradina, which is ex-
plained to mean a dear draught, and a dear slumber, the place was
called Cárdena.
Some weighty objections have been raised against this story, and
such as no charters nor epitaphs can remove. The titles of Infante
and Doña and Catholica, Avhich are shown on the tombs of Theodo-
rico and his mother, were not invented till long after the age in which
they are supposed to have lived. No other mention is to be found of
a son of Theodorick ; and as that King and his family were Arians,
it is not very likely that they would build Convents for the Athana-
sians, and colonize them Avith Benedictines. The story therefore is
given up as fictitious by Sandoval, Yepes, and Florez, . . who sup-
pose that a mother and son of that name are buried in the church,
and that this mother was founder thereof, . . but that who she was is
altogether unknown.
In the year 872 the Monastery Avas burnt by the Moors, and two
hundred monks put to the sword. A very remarkable miracle was
for many years enacted on the anniversary of their martyrdom, Aug. 6.
The Avhole pavement of the Cloister where they had been slain, and
where they were buried, was on that day covered with blood, which
diffused a sweet odor, . . but of which no trace was to be seen the
next morning. It has not been ascertained when this miracle ceased.
By a privilege granted to the House by Henrique IV. 1473, it is cer-
tain that it continued then, . . but when inquiry was made concerning
it in 1588, Fr. Antonio Hurtado could only depose that he had known
some Monks who remembered brethren who had seen it, . . and he spe-
cified one who died in an advanced age in 1548. This has furnished
Berganza with a good reason for the cessation of the miracle. The
blood of the Martyrs, he says, cried out to heaven against the Moors,
and when Granada was taken their prayers Avere accomplished, and
there was no farther occasion for it.
In 1674 a part of the New Cloister, which is contiguous to that
wherein the Martrys are buried, appeared for many days covered
with what Avas supposed to be blood. As it was neither in the right
place, nor on the right day, this Avas something more extraordinary
than the correct miracle itself Avould have been. The Archbishop of
Burgos came to see it, and having declared that he Avas greatly affect-
ed at the sight, sent a deputation of Divines and Physicians to investi-
gate the matter on the spot. They agreed, Avith only two dissentient
voices, Avho Avere of the Clergy, that the appearance was preternatu-
ral, and that the liquor had the accidents of blood. The Physicians,
after premising that miraculous blood was not necessarily subject to
miraculous processes, proposed to try some of it in boiling Avater : it
coagulated therein, and then the tAvo sceptics Avere convinced that it
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 437
was blood, and exclaimed, Mirahilis Deus in Sanctis suis. Part of
this blood was sent to the Archbishop, . . the devout dipt cloths in it,
and the Cloister was boarded up so that the crowds who flocked there
might behold it without entering ; and thus it continued till it dried
away, . . for it did not disappear, as in former times, . . the secret of
the miracle was lost. Berganza. L. 2. C. 9.
Two hundred Martyrs in one grave were a Potosi of relicks, and
the Monks of Cárdena have not been niggardly of their stores. Skulls
and shin bones were given away so liberally about the beginning of
the seventeenth century, and so many applications made for them,
that the brethren found in necessary to obtain a Brief from the Pope,
which made his express permission necessary for such a gift, . . ex-
cept it were to a Cathedral or Collegiate church. L. 2. C. 15.
Berganza however was not contented with this inexhaustible mine.
The history of the martyrdom is recorded by different writers, with
such irreconcilable difference of date and circumstance, that he is
persuaded a second troop of two hundred were in like manner put to
the sword, some years after the first ! L. 3. C. 11. And yet this au-
thor, when he was not blinded by the abominable superstitions of his
church, was an acute and accurate antiquary.
Xativa. P. 172.
(34.) Among the glories of this town of Xativa, Miedes reckons
that of its having been the birth-place of Alexander VI. who by the
grace of God became Pope ! guiado por la mano de Dios ! L. 14.
C. 15.
Almogávares. P. 174.
(35.) If Miedes and Bluteau be right in the etymology which they
assign to this word, it may perhaps mean Men of the Earth, . . i. e.
who lay upon the bare earth. Moneada however, in his Expedición
de los Catalanes y Aragoneses, f. 19, thinks the name refers rather to
their origin than their customs, and that they were descended from
the Avars, as is affirmed by the Byzantine historian George Pachymer.
In the Sicilian wars between Pedro the Third of Aragón, and the
French, a party of the Almogávares fell in with a large body of the
enemy, and fled. One of them was taken, and the French thought
him such a monster, that instead of killing him they took him to the
Prince of the Morea, their commander, as a curiosity. His dress was
a short frock, girt round him with a rope ; a bonnet of undressed
leather, Avith buskins and shoes of the same, . . and this was all : he
was lean and sun burnt, his beard long, and his hair black and bushy.
He was asked who he was, and he answered, An Almogávar of the
King of Aragon's army. The Prince, thinking little of him because
of his WTCtched appearance, observed that it was not possible there
438 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
could be iiny worth or courage in such a miserable, poor, half-savage
race, if they were all such as tliis. The Almogávar was offended at
this, and said. In truth he thought himself one of the meanest of his
fellows ; yet such as he was, if they would restore him his weapons,
and any knight was there who would venture to fight him, armed at
all points and on horseback, he would undertake the combat, on con-
dition that he should be set at liberty if he were conqueror, or other-
Avise put to death. The Prince expressed so great a Avish to see this
challenge accepted that a young French knight presented himself ;
and they went out to the field. The knight couched his spear and
ran at him, . . he leapt aside from the encounter, and at the same time
threw his dart with a sure aim, and drove it half way to the hilt in the
horse's breast : the horse fell, and in an instant the Almogávar was
upon his enemy, knife in hand, had cut the lace of his helmet, and in
another instant would have had his head off, had not the Prince inter-
fered. The Prince then ordered him to be clothed, and sent to Mes-
sina. When the King of Aragón heard this, he ordered ten French-
men to be clothed, and sent them to the Prince, saying, That for
every one of his people whom he Avould set at liberty, he would give
ten Frenchmen in exchange. Desclot. ff. 125, of Cervera^s Trans-
lation,
These men were mostly mountaineers of Aragón and Catalonia.
They would sometimes pass two days Avithout food, and if nothing
else Avas to be had, fed upon the herbs of the field : each man carried
a Avallet Avith provisions, and flint and steel. Do. ff. 95.
Adalides. P. 197.
(36.) The Adalides Avere people of great importance in an army.
They Avere the guides ; they Avere to say Avhat quantity of proA-ision
Avas to be taken, . . to shoAv Avhere Avood, oats, and herbage Avere to
be found, . . where scouts Avere to be placed, . . almost they AA-ere
to direct every inroad. The Avord is interpreted in the Partidas to
mean Guides. No man could become an Adalid, unless he Avere ap-
pointed to the office ; and Avhen a King or other Lord AA^as about to
appoint one, twelve of the best Adalides Avere to be convened, or if
so many could not be found, the number Avas made up by the best
informed men at hand, and they Avere SAVorn to say Avhether they
thought the person proposed possessed sufficient, 1. knoAAdedge of the
country ; 2. courage ; 3. good natural sense ; and 4. honesty, to
qualify him for the office. Any person Avho undertook it Avithout this
authority incurred the penalty of death. When this jury had pro-
nounced that he Avas qualified, the Lord Avho AA^as to appoint him
should then gÍA^e him raiment, a sword, a horse, and armor both of
iron and of fuste ^ according to the custom of the country. A Rico
* In Note 1. p. 255, I have conjectured armas de fuste to mean mock-armor, . .
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 439
Orne who has knights under him, Avas then to gird on his sword, but
the blow on the neck was not to be given. Then a shield was to be
laid upon the ground, on which he was to stand, . . and the King or
Lord who appointed him drew the sword and delivered it into his
hands ; his twelve vouchers lifted him on the shield, with his face to
the East, and he made two strokes with the sword, one upward, the
other athwart, so as to describe a cross, exclaiming, I, such-a-one,
defy all the enemies of the faith, in the name of God and of my Lord
the King, and of my country : and this he repeated towards the other
three quarters. He then sheathed the sword, and the King gave him
his badge of office, saying, I permit thee to be an Adalid from this
time forward. He was then allowed to bear arms and banner, and to
eat at board with knights, and he might exercise authority by words
over honorable men and knights, and over foot soldiers and the Almo-
gavar-horse, by deeds, striking them if they did amiss, not however
so as to injure them. Partida^ 2. T. 22. L. 1. 2. 3. 4.
One of the reasons assigned for these honorable ceremonies at the
creation of an Adalid was the danger to which he was exposed. For
if he, or any of his sons, were taken, there was no mercy shown him :
the state purchased him of the captors, and he was delivered up to
the people to be cruelly put to death.
Milagros de N. Señora de Mojitserrat. Barcelona 1574. Mil. 23.
In Barbary every man of the district gave a dobra to the captor, of
such importance Avas it thought to destroy them. The Alcayde of Al-
cacer saved one for the sake of Don Pedro de Menezes, though he
was often called upon to give him up. He represented to the people
that the Adalid was not to blame in performing his office, and bade
them remember how many lives their vengeance would cost : this
latter argument prevailed.
Gomes Eannes. Chr. de Don Pedro de Menezes. C. 44.
Almocadenes. P. 197.
(37.) These men Avere to the foot-soldiers Avhat the Adalides Avere
to the horse, and Avere appointed by the Adalides. Twelve Almo-
not then recollecting this passage ; which evidently shows that it was intended for
service. Perhaps it was made of reeds, or very small twigs. The shepherds in the
North of Portugal wear at this day great coats and hoods of straw, . . a complete
covering of thatch. Something of this kind may have been used, which would
deaden the blow of a sword. When Artasirus had undertaken to stab the usurper
Gontharis at Carthage, he cut some arrow-shafts in pieces, and fastened the pieces
round his left arm, from the wrist to the elbow, over the shirt. On this arm he re-
ceived the blows which were made at him, by the adherents of Gontharis, and the
arrows saved him. Procopius.
A friend upon casting his eye over this sheet, observes to me that fustian has a
tempting similarity of sound lo fiisie, and that the linen corselets of the Saracens
and the cotton ones which the Spaniards borrow from the Mexicans, favor such an
interpretation.
440 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
cadenes vouched for his quahfications, one of which was to be swift
of foot ; raiment was given him and a lance, with a pennon of trian-
gular shape ; he was elevated upon the hafts of two spears, which
were held short lost they should break, and then performed the same
ceremony with his lance towards the four i)oints of Heaven, as the
Adahd did with the sword. These men could not rise to be Ada-
lides, till they had first served among the Almogavar-horse.
Part. 2. Tit. 22. L. 5. 6.
And merchants came tliefrefrom all parts to buy and to sell, P. 210.
(38.) Good part of the spoil at this time lay in rich merchandize.
In the wars of King Jayme El Conquistador against the Moors,
merchants always followed the camp to buy the plunder and advance
money to the King. When he was besieging Murcia, the soldiers
used to say they should soon measure the velvets there, not by the
yard but by the spear. Miedes, L. 17. C. 6.
Valencia, P. 211.
(39.) Miedes. {L. 12. C. 16.) says that there are above thirty thou-
sand wells in Valencia and its suburbs, and that they contribute greatly to
preserve the city from earthquakes and pestilent vapors, by letting the
mischievous matter escape little by little, and tempering it as it passes.
Los quales ayudan mucho a la firmeza y sanidad de la tierra^ defendi-
éndola assi de terremotos y otras aberturas^ co'ino de pestilentes vapores^
para que salgan no con ímpetu debaxo de la tierra^ sino poco a poco^ y
como rosciados y templados por los Tnesmos pozos.
Some, says Beuther, have called this city Epedrapolis, . . the city
founded upon waters, because it hath within it more than ten thou-
sand wells ; and because they are of spring water, they rightly call
them fountains. L. 1. C. 9.
According to fabulous history Valencia was founded by Rome, the
20th King from Tubal, and called after his name, Rome, in the days
when Deborah and Barak were Judoes of Israel. Beuther. L. 1.
C. 11.
Mithridate, that great mother of medicines, says Beuther, which
was invented by the King "bf Pontus whose name it bears, was not
formerly made in Spain, because the numerous herbs used in its com-
position were not found there : and therefore it was brought from
Venice. But for some years past it has been compounded w4th great
solemnity in our city of Valencia by the college of Doctors in Medi-
cine, and by the Spicers. And it is made here in greater perfection
than in other parts of the world, and exported from hence to many
provinces. For in the territory of this city all the herbs used in it
are found, except those which grow only in India, those having now
been found, which till now had not been discovered here.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 441
P. 218. N. 1.
(40.) The sewers at Valencia were the work of Cn. Scipio, . . the
six main branches are of such depth, that a man on horseback
might ride through them. They have long been neglected, which
Beuther imputes to the Moors : but when at any time, either from
chance, or design, they have been opened, itbasbeen with great diffi-
culty that the workmen could break through the arch, . . so excel-
lently durable were the public works of the Romans.
Martin Pelaez. P. 230.
(41.) In a privilege of Henrique IV. which is given by Berganza,
{L. 7. C. 13,) the courage of Martin Pelaez is accounted for in a dif-
ferent manner. One day when the Moors and Christians were fight-
ing, and he as usual was in the rear, he saw an arrow strike a snake
in its hole and kill it, upon which he began to meditate upon the in-
evitableness of destiny, . . put spurs to his horse, and galloped into
the midst of the battle.
Adelantado. P. 231.
(42.) This, which is not a Moorish title, originally meant Leader :
. . the Provincial Governors are now thus called. In Castille, Anda-
lusia, and Murcia, the office is hereditary.
An Adelantado was not allowed to marry any woman of the pro-
vince over which he presided, during his office. This law was enacted
because the power which he possessed would have enabled him to
marry any woman, against the will of her friends, they not daring to
refuse him. He therefore might have a harragana^ a concubine, as
if this was not giving him greater power of mischief! but it did not
affect the great families, and they were the only persons who were
regarded. Fart 4. Tit. 14. Ley. 2.
Juan de Mena, when celebrating the Adelantado Diego de Ribera,
puns upon the word.
•■
Tu adelantaste virtud con estado,
Tomando la muerte por la sancta ley,
Tu adelantaste los reynos al rey
Seyendo le siervo leal y criado,
Tu adelantaste tu fama finado
En justa batalla muriendo como hombre ;
Pues quien de tal guisa adelanta su nombre
Ved si merece ser Adelantado.
Copla. 192.
They come to bring you a present. P. 257.
(43.) Mientras mas Moros ^ mas ganancia^ The more Moors the
more plunder ! said the Cid upon this occasion, and the words be-
56
442 KOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
came a proverb. They were repeated by lliat wretch Gonzalo Pi-
zarro, when he marched against the Viceroy Blasco Nunez Vela.
Herrera 7. 8. 10.
P. 268. N. 2.
(44.) Loyalty to a superior is carried to a more atrocious length by
the Spanish laws than I have seen it elsewhere. A father holding a
Castle for his Lord, and being besieged in it, and his provisions gone,
was authorized to kill and eat his own son ! I Part. 4. Tit. 17. Ley. 8.
The Partidas (P. 2. T. 13. L. 1.) speak of an old law whereby any
man who openly wished to see the King dead, was condemned to
death, and the loss of all that he had. The utmost mercy to be
shown him was to spare his life and pluck out his eyes, that he might
never see with them what he had desired. To defame the King is
declared as great a crime as to kill him, and in like manner to be
punished. The utmost mercy that could be allowed was to cut out
the offender's tongue. P. 2.^T. 13. L. 4.
Thep changed swords before the King. P. 271.
(45.) Berganza quotes Cassiodorus to show that one form of adop-
tion was by giving arms to the person adopted. Per arnia fieri posse
filium, grande inter gentes constat esse proiconiiim. Lib. 4. Epist. 2.
Thraiuing canes. P. 274.
(46.) T\vQ juego de cañas is an Eastern sport.
In the Atmidan (the old Hippodrome) at Constantinople, the
Spachies of the court play every Friday at Giocho di Canni ; which
is no other than Prison-base upon horseback, hitting one another Avith
darts, as the other do Avith their hands, Avhich they never throw coun-
ter, but at the back of the flyer. Nor is it the least contentment to
the Christian to behold the terrible falls that they often get (not rarely
costing them their lives) whilst by the wreathing of their bodies, or a
too hasty turn, they seek to avoid the pursuer : and sometimes the
darts not lighting in jest on their naked necks and reversed faces.
Sandijs Travels. 34.
The military men in Persia are constantly playing at jureed-bazee,
Avhich is throwing a dart three cubits long at a horseman, when they
are at full gallop. The person at Avhom it is thrown either catches it
in his hand, or throwing himself under the horse's belly allows it to
fly over him. This they perform very expertly ; Avhich is by no
means easy when we recollect that the horse is going nearly at his
speed. The jureed comes Avith sufficient force to break an arm.
Waring dQ.
Bertrandon La Brocquiere saAv another kind of the juego de cañas
at Constantinople, Avhich he seems to have regarded Avith great
contempt.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
443
They carried us, he says, (P. 232,) to see a feast given on account
of the marriage of one of the Emperor's relations. There was a tour-
nament after the manner of the country, but which appeared very
strange to me : I will describe it. In the middle of a square they
had planted, like to a quintany, a large pole, to which was fastened a
plank three feet wide, and ñve feet long. Forty cavaliers advanced
to this spot, without any arms or armor whatever but a short stick.
They at first amused themselves by running after each other, which
lasted for about half an hour ; then from sixty to fourscore rods of
alder were brought, of the thickness and lenajth of those we use for
thatching. The bridegroom first took one, and set off full gallop to-
ward the plank, to break it : as it shook in his hand he broke it with
ease, when shouts of joy resounded, and the instruments of music,
namely nacaires, like those of the Turks, began to play. Each of the
other cavaliers broke his wand in the same manner. Then the bride-
groom tied two of them together, which in truth were not too strong,
and broke them without being wounded. Thus ended the feast, and
every one returned to his home safe and sound.
Turkish exercises were at this time (1433) the fashion in Constan-
tinople. I saw, says La Brocquiere, the brother of the Emperor, the
Despot of the Morea, exercising himself in the Hippodrome with a
score of other horsemen. Each had a bow, and they galloped along
the inclosure, throwing their hats before them, which when they had
passed they shot at ; and he Avho with his arrow pierced his hat, or
was nearest to it, w^as esteemed the most expert. This exercise they
had adopted from the Turks, and Avas one of which they were en-
deavoring to make themselves masters. P. 225.
A court yard where there was a luine-press. P. 277.
(47.) It is only in the Poem that the place into which Diego leapt
is described as containing a wine press : the Chronicles speak
vaguely, . . and the Ballad-writer had evidently very different filth
in his view.
Pregunto por sus dos yernos,
Bermudo le resporidio,
del uno os dare recaudo
que aquí se agachó, por ver
si el león es fembra o macho.
Alli entro Martin Pelaez
aquel temido Asturiano,
diziendo a vozes, Señor
albricias, ya lo han sacado.
El Cid le replico, a quien ?
el respondió, al otro hermano,
que se sumió de pavor
do no se sumiera el diablo.
Miralde señor do viene, . .
empero fazeys a un lado,
que aveys para estar par del
menester un encensario.
Escobar. Rom. 62.
This writer was ignorant of the vaults of Valencia. They were
Roman Avorks, and the Spaniards have not yet learnt to imitate them.
Madrid is less offensive than Edinburgh formerly was, but liable to
the same reproach.
444 NOTES ON THE CHROxMCLE.
And he lifted up his voice. P. 277.
(48.) Aqui dio una voz el Cid, y llevólo a la leonera,
a quien como por milagro faziendole mil halagos,
se humillo la bestia fiera, Aturdido esta el gentio
humildüsa y coleando. viendo lo tal, no contando
Agradecioselo el Cid que ambos eran Leones
y al cuello le echo los brazos, mas el Cid era mas bravo.
Escobar. Rom. 62.
Danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions, littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible.
Flecknoe has two lines which bear some resemblance to the Bal-
lad ; they are addressed to Prince Rupert, on his naval victory over
the Dutch, in 1665.
The Belgick Lyon stands amazed to see
A greater Lyon than itself in thee.
The Lion. P. 277.
(49.) Juan II. as they say^ says the Comendador Fernán Nunez,
had a tame Lion, on which he placed his feet when he was seated on
the throne. As this Lion was fed from the King's own table he grew
so fat, that going one day in a cart from Madrid to Alcalá de He-
nares, he died on the way with heat. Glosa sobre Las Trezientas.
If there be any truth in the first part of this tradition, we may be
sure the Lion had had both his teeth and his claws under the hands
of the Barber, to qualify him for the place of Pedifer. But I suspect
the story has no other foundation than the allegorical representation
of this King in the Trezientas.
Al nuestro Rey magno y bienaventurado
Vi sobre todos en muy firme silla,
Digno de reyno mayor que Castilla,
Velloso león a sus pies por estrado.
Copla 221.
The ivory seat. P. 307.
(50.) Henrique III. one day saw his brother sitting, in sport, in the
chair of audience ; . . Fernando immediately rose when he perceived
him. The King ordered the chair to be thrown out of the window,
and said to the Infante, Thank me. Sir, that I have not had you
thrown with it ! From that time the seat of the chair of audience
was always turned towards the wall, and this law of the palace be-
came the fashion of the nobles.
Gil Gonzalez Davila^ Hist, del Rey Don Henrique. HL P. 10.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 445
In Palmer in de Oliva ^ ((7.44.) the King of Hungary conceives a
mortal hatred against his brother, because he saw him one day sitting
in the royal seat.
" Then the sage Urganda ordered royal seats to be brought, such
as in those days Emperors and Kings were wont to take about with
them, which were all covered with gold right cunningly wrought, and
set with many stones and pearls of great price. And this was done
that great personages, though they might peradvenlure equal them in
their garments might not in their seats, which gave them great autho-
rity ; and thereby they were known by strangers who entered their
royal palaces, even though no advisement were given."
Esplandian^ C. 183.
Sir John Finett, Master of the Ceremonies to James and Charles I.
left behind him, " some Choice Observations touching the Reception
and Precedence, the Treatment and Audience, the Puntillios and
Contests of Forren Ambassadors in England," which Howell pub-
lished under the title of Finetti Philoxenis. That any man should
have lived about such a court in such times, and have left such me-
moirs of it, is truly surprizing. A passage which shows that chairs
and stools were as great objects of discussion in those days as they
were in the reign of King Don Alfonso, is a good specimen of the
book. . . Sir John, who had a true genius for the worthy office which
he held, had been sent in the King's name to invite the French Am-
bassador to the marriage of the Lady Jane Dromond, which was to
be solemnized the next day, at Somerset House ; and after many di-
plomatic difficulties the point seemed to be settled that " the Ambas-
sador would (postponing all other considerations) be there both din-
ner and supper. With this signification I returned to the Lord Lysle,
(Lord Chamberlaine to the Queene) who communicated it to the Earl
of Worcester, Master of her Majesty's Horse, that he might convey
it to her Majesty, as he should go with her in a coach from Whitehall
to Somerset House. It hung yet in intention when the Ambassa-
dor's Secretary came to me from his Lord, with a further exception,
that, howsoever the Queen were pleased that he should be present
both dinner and supper, he would be bold to prefer this condition to
her allowance, that he niight not sit upon a stool, but in a chair, in
the same manner as the Bride should be seated. I answered, I
thought that would be a matter of no great difficulty. But how,
(quoth I) if the Prince be there, and have but a stool to sit on ? If
my Lord Ambassador were sure of that, rephed the Secretary, I
presume he would make no further question, but in all bear his High-
ness company. To be resolved of this, I went at his request to my
Lord Lysle, my Lord Worcester, and my Lord Carew Vice Cham-
berlain, whom I found altogether ; and having assurance from them of
the Prince his presence with the Bride at dinner, and requesting their
Lordships, (as the Secretary desired me) that they would not trouble
446 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
the Qiieou any further concerning the Ambassador till the Secretary
had been with him, and returned with his final satisfaction, he repair-
ed that evening to my Lord Lysle, and propounding the same de-
mand of a chair, as he had done to me in the afternoon, it was
resolved he should have one with the Prince ; and so ended that
difference. The next day he came, and the Bride (seated at the
table's end, which w^as placed cross at the upper end of the hall) had
the Prince at her left hand, as the better place nearest the wall, (his
Highness sitting with his right hand uppermost) on her right the Am-
bassador, both in chairs, and opposite to him, beneath the Prince in a
little distance, sate on a stool a Duke of Saxony, here at that time to
visit his Majesty." P. 17.
For the PuniUlios of an Ambassador Sir John had all imaginable
respect. But when one of the King's Gentlemen Ushers objected to
a guest's sitting on a stool at the end of the table in the Council
Chamber, " as being, he said, irregular and unusual, that place being
ever Avont to be reserved empty for state ; " . . This, says Sir
John, as a superstition of a Gentleman Usher'' s^ w^as neglected.
P. 35.
t
They must needs make restitution. P. 315.
(51.) Sponsalitia largitas is as much as to to say in the romance
tongue. The gift which the man giveth to his espoused, or she to
him, freely without condition, before the marriage. And notwith-
standing such a gift as this is given without condition, it must alway
be understood, that he w^ho receives it ought to return it, if by his
fault the marriage is not completed. But if peradventure it should
not be completed by reason of the death of one of the parties, in
that case there shall be this difference. If the spouse who made the
gift shall have died before he kissed his espoused, then all that which
he gave ought to be returned to his heirs. But if he had kissed her,
the half only is to be returned, and the other half remains to her.
And if it should happen that the espoused hath given a gift to her
spouse (a thing which seldom happeneth, because w^omen are natur-
ally covetous and avaricious) and she die before the marriage, then
in such case whether they have kissed or not, the thing given ought
to be returned to her heirs. And the reason by which the wise an-
cients were moved to give this different judgment respecting these gifts
is this : . . because the espoused gives the kiss to her spouse, and it is
not understood that she receives it from him. Moreover when the
spouse receives the kiss, he hath pleasure therein and is glad, and the
espoused remaincth abashed. Part. 4. Tit. 11. Ley 3.
By old custom, a hidalgo might give his wife at the time of mar-
riage, and before the vow, a marriage-gift ; which was to be una piel
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 447
de ' abortones, made very full, and with three trimmings of gold : this
dress was to be so large that a knight in armor might go in at one
sleeve and out at another, . . a fashion which refers to the ceremony
of adoption. A mule with its caparisons, a silver cup, and a female
Moor, were also to be given. In later times all this was commuted
for one thousand maravedís.
Doña Elvira, niece to the Arcidiano Don Matheo de Burgos, and
daughter of Ferran Rodriguez de Villarmentero, had been espoused
to a knight, and received from him garments and girdles and a mule,
as the marriage gift. The marriage was broken oil", and he reclaimed
them. This discourteous demand came before Don Diego Lope de
Faro, then Adelantado of Castille, and the knight and the lady's
uncle pleaded in person. The Adelantado pronounced that if the
Lady Avould affirm that after the espousals she had kissed and em-
braced the knight, the gift should be adjudged to her, otherwise it
must be returned. Doña Elvira w^ould not affirm this, and lost the
property ; and this story is registered as a fazaña of Castille, to be a
precedent. Fue)'o Viejo. L. 5. T. 1. L. 2. 4.
Aiid he loosed his beard. P. 324.
(52.) The Cid seems to have drest his beard in this extraordinary
manner on no other occasion, and it is not apparent why he should
have done so now.
A fashion of twisting the beard with threads of gold is mentioned
in Romance. When the knight of the Burning Sword comes to the
Defended Mountain, " going over the bridge he saAv at a window of
the Castle which looked towards the sea two knights playing at chess,
the one not so tall as the other, nor so large-limbed ; both were above
fifty years of age, and both attired in black ; the lesser knight had his
hair and beard so long, that they hung down below his girdle, and
they Avere filleted with threads of gold : presently he judged by the
appearance of this knight that it must be the King of Jerusalem, as
the truth was. Amadis de Grecia. P. 1. C. 9.
In the same Romance, P. 2. C. 124, the monster Furior Cornelio
has his beard threaded with gold in the same manner, and his hair
also in tufts. La barva avia lar^a y trancada con cuerdas de oro, y
assi mesmo los cabellos a guedejas.
Our Athelstan twisted golden threads with his hair. ( Turner'' s Hist.
of the Anglo Saxons, B. 6. C. 3.) Caramansa the negro King,
who gave the Portugueze permission to settle where St. Jorge da
Mina now stands, had his beard platted with gold wire.
BaíTos, L. 3. C. 1.
■^ I take this to be a dress oí unborn Lambskins. Abes was the name of the skin,
. . one manuscript says offis.
448 NOTES ON TÍ1E CHRONICLE.
Yepes supposes that they had two names. P. 334.
(53.) This opinion that tlic Cid's daughters had two names, or at
least that they bore at one time the names by which they are called
in the Poem, and in all the old Historians, derives some confirmation
from the fact, that a daughter of Doña Elvira bore the same name,
which had never been known in the royal house of Navarre before,
and which P. Moret, the laborious historian of that country, supposes
therefore to have been introduced by her mother.
Invesiig. L. 3. C. o. Berg-anza. 5. 27. § 331.
Romance Avriters have not exaggerated the helpless state of wo-
men.
Alonso II. of Aragón sent to ask in marriage the daughter of the
Greek Emperor Manuel; his proposal was accepted, and the Prin-
cess, escorted by two Archbishops and two Nobles of the empire, set
out for Spain. When they arrived at IMontpellier, they learnt that
Alonso had already married the Infanta of Castille, upon which they
made their complaint to Guillen the Lord of that place, and asked
him what they should do. Guillen called his Council, and their ad-
vice was that he should marry the Princess whether she liked it or not.
It was in vain that she and all her retinue protested against this vio-
lence, and the inequality of the match, . . the gates were shut, the city
up in arms ; she was forced to consent, having no power to refuse,
and the marriage was celebrated, says Miedes, by the grace of the
Holy Ghost !
The Lord of Montpellier was as little bound by the laws of mar-
riage as he had been by those of common honor and hospitality.
As soon as he was tired of his Greek wife he married another w^oman.
The daughter of the Princess however recovered her inheritance, and
was the mother of King Jayme El Conquistador. Hist, del. Rey Don
Jayme el Co?iq. por el M. Bernardino Gomez Miedes. L. 1. C. 3. 4. 5.
The most curious specimen which I have ever seen of barbarous
manners towards women occurs in the Mabinogion. It is the advice
of a Welch mother to her son Peredur, the hero of the tale. " Now
hear : If by chance thou comest by a church, there chaunt thy pater-
noster. When thou seest victuals and drink, to satisfy thy appetite,
help thyself thereto. If thou shouldest hear a cry of distress, go and
know the cause ; but in particular if it is the voice of a female.
Should any precious jewel attract thy eyes, take it ; and bestow on
others also ; thus shalt thou acquire fame. If thou beholdest a beauti-
ful icoman, concubinize her, though she seem coy ; thou lüilt be a better
man, and thy prosperity will thus be heightened."
From Mr. Owen^s MS. Translation.
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 449
And he asked whether among those things there was aught which had
belonged to the person of the Soldán. P. 338.
(54.) Sir, said the Ambassadors of the Old Man of the Mountain,
to King St. Louis, we say to you on the part of our Lord, that as the
shirt is the garment which is nearest the body, therefore he sends you
his shirt, Avhich you see here, in token that you are the only Prince
in the world whom he most desires to love and to serve ; . . and for
a farther assurance you see this ring which he sendeth : it is of pure
gold, and his name is graven thereon. With this ring our master
weddeth you, in token that henceforth you shall be like the fingers
of his hand. Joijiville in the Collection Universelle des Memoires Par-
iiculieres relatifs a Vhistoire de France^ T. 2. P. 60.
A garment belonging to his own person was one of the presents
which Sebastian sent to a BrazilUan Chief who had distinguished him-
self in his service against the French.
Vasconcellos. Chr. de Comp. L. 3. § 134.
Book XI. P. 346.
{^^.) The Poem, after relating the second marriage of the Cid's
daughters, mentions his death and concludes. It was therefore writ-
ten before the story of his removal from Valencia was invented ; and
all the circumstances of that removal are certainly fictitious. Valencia
was retained five years after his death. Berganza labors to find some
truth in the story, . . but the silence of the Poem would be decisive
against it, were there no other reasons for disbelief.
Perhaps a remarkable part of this fiction was borrowed from the
story of Bernardo del Carpió, . . the readers of Romance are better
acquainted with the name of this hero than with his history.
Bernardo was the only child of a secret marriage, between Count
Sandias de Saldaña, and Ximena, sister to Alfonso the Chaste. As
soon as the King discovered the marriage, he put Count Sandias in
irons, and imprisoned him in the tower of Lunia, vowing that he
should never be delivered ; his sister he forced into a convent : . .
but he took the child and bred him up, and loved him as if he had
been his own son ; and Bernardo knew not who were his parents.
Alfonso had formerly requested aid of Charlemagne against the
Moors, and having no issue, promised him the succession : but when
his nobles understood what he had done they advised him to annul
the treaty, or they would drive him from his kingdom ; for they
would rather die than become the slaves of France. He necessa-
rily yielded. Charlemagne was incensed against him, and threatened
him Avith his utmost vengeance unless he immediately became his
vassal. Bernardo, who had been the most zealous to preserve the
liberty of his country, obtained assistance from Marsil the Moorish
King of Zaragoza ; the French invaded Spain, and the battle of
57
450 NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE.
Roncesvalles was fought, in which Charlemagne himself escaped ; all
his peerage fell, and Roland, the no])lest of all, by Bernardo's hand.
Some kinsmen of Sandias let Bernardo know who was his father,
and how he Avas imprisoned. As soon as he heard it, the blood in
his body turned, and he put on mourning garments and went to the
King, and besought him to release his father. Alfonso refused ; . .
many times afterwards, when Bernardo saved him in danger, he pro-
mised to grant this request, and as often broke his promises : till at
last Bernardo renounced his allegiance, and being then banished,
made Avar upon Leon. During the two succeeding reigns he is not
mentioned. When Alfonso the Great succeeded, he did him good
service against the Moors, and after every success demanded his
father's liberty, which the King, like his uncle before him, often
promised but never would grant. Bernardo at last took arms in
despair ; he fortified the Castle of Carpió, from Avhence his name
has been given him, and leagued with the Moors : many knights also
joined him, from the country round Benevente and Toro and Zamora.
Alfonso besieged him in his Castle. Bernardo ever acting more gen-
erously than experience wanted, released two Counts Avhom he had
taken prisoner, and required his father in exchange ; the reasonable
demand Avas refused ; he sallied, routed the besiegers, and plundered
the royal camp. But this Avar proved so destructive that the men of
the land gathered together, and came before the King, and insisted
that Count Sandias should be released. He Avas compelled to yield,
and bound himself to deliver him up to Bernardo in exchange for the
Castle of Carpió. Bernardo Avithout hesitation gave up his strong
hold, . . the King sent to release his father, but the knights Avho Avent
to the ToAver of Lunia to deliver him, found him dead.
When Alfonso heard this he commanded them to dress the body in
rich garments, and place it on horseback as if it Avere living, and so
bring it to Salamanca. As they drew nigh the city, the king and
Bernardo rode out to meet them ; and Avhen Bernardo saAV his father
approaching, he exclaimed, O God, . . is Count Sandias of Saldaña
indeed coming ? . . Look Avhere he is, replied the cruel King, and
noAv go and greet him Avhom you have so long desired to see ! Ber-
nardo Avent forAvard, and took his father's hand to kiss it ; but Avhen
he felt the dead Aveight of the hand, and saAV the liA^id face of the
corpse, he cried aloud and said. Ah Don Sandias, in a evil hour didst
thou beget me ! thou art dead, and I have given my strong hold for
thee, and now I have lost all. Alfonso immediately banished him,
and nothing is related of his after fortune.
Cor. Gen. ff. 30. 33. 36. 45. Rod. Tol. L. 4. C. 9. 10. 15.
Bernardo del Carpió is one of the personages whom Perreras Avould
annihilate, . . Avhich is as unreasonable as it Avould be to believe all
that the ballad-makers have sung concerning him. The main diffi-
culty of his history is obviated if the authority of those chronicles be
NOTES ON THE CHRONICLE. 451
admitted, which affirm that the French suffered a second defeat in
Roncesvalles, under Charles the Bald.
I have two heroic poems of which he is the hero. Las Hazañas
del invincible CavaUero Bernaldo de Carpió^ por Augustin Alonso^
Toledo 1585 ; and España Defendida^ de Christoval Siiarez de Fig-
ueroa^ Madrid 1612. Both these are designed as continuations of the
Orlando Furioso. There is another poem upon the same subject by
Bernardo de Balbueña, which I have never seen, but which after two
centuries of neglect is noAv obtaining a late, and brobably therefore a
deserved reputation.
Balsam, P. 351.
{^^^ With this balm or balsam, some sort of superstition seems to
have been always connected. At Cairo it was said that the trees
grew nowhere but in one garden about a league from that city, where
was the fountain in which the Virgin had washed the clothes of her
blessed son, and where a lamp was, three centuries ago, kept burn-
ing to her honor in the hollow of an old fig tree, which had served
them for a place of shelter. Itenerario de Antonio Tenreiro. C. 42.
The Armenian Patriarch pretended to make, or rather increase it,
by miracle. An altar was raised in the fields, seven carpets were
laid upon it, and on them a large vessel was placed, containing many
flowers. After long prayers a small quantity of balm from Cairo
was given the Patriarch, who poured it on the flowers, and put St.
Gregory's arm into the vessel, and began praying again. Imme-
diately the whole began to boil up and froth, . . the scum was dis-
tributed among the beholders, and the Patriarch kept the rest as a
treasure. This miracle was never performed by a Patriarch more
than once in his life. Tenreiro. C. 20.
An Arabian superstition concerning it is noticed in Thalaba. B. 9.
Zarate {L. 1. C. 4.) had perhaps the story of the Cid in his thoughts
when he said of a Peruvian balsam, that if a corpse were anointed
with it, and some of it poured down the throat, the body would never
corrupt.
The second victoi'y over King Bucar. P. 356.
(57.) This second victory is manifestly the first told over again, as
a fit conclusion to such a life. The number of Kings who came in
Bucar's army will not appear improbable, if it be recollected how
vague the title is. Royalets swarm in the barbarous ages of society.
Joshua smote one and thirty, . . and if the present Scourge of God
goes on multiplying them as he has hitherto done, we may live to see
them, in the day of deliverance, hung up by half-dozens all over the
Continent, as they were formerly in Canaan.
252 NOTES OJN THE CHRONICLE.
The tomb of Doña Ximena. P. 380.
(58.) When the French were in Spain during the last war, nothing
excited their curiosity till they came to Burgos and heard that
Chbnene was buried at Cárdena ; but then every day parties were
made, who visited her tomb, and spouted over it passages from
Corneille.
The reader will not be displeased to see what is known of the com-
panions of the Cid. Alvar Fañez was made Governor of Toledo,
one of the most important posts in the Kingdom : he was killed by
the people of Segovia in 1114, but on w^hat occasion is not related.
{Berganza L. 6. 1. § 32.) His tomb is shown at Cárdena, with
those of Pero Bermudez, Alvar Salvadores, Martin Antolinez, and
Martin Pelaez the Asturian. Their arms are on the tombs, but they
who placed them there did not know that armorial bearings were not
used in Spain till after the days of the Cid. " That good Christian,"
the Bishop Don Hieronymo, was a native of Periguex in France, and
after the abandonment of Valencia was made Bishop of Zamora, and
then of Salamanca, where he lies buried in his Cathedral. In 1607
his grave was opened, at a time when some repairs were making in
that part of the church ; his ring was then found, having this inscrip-
tion, Hieronymus Episcopus Servus Dei Fldelis. A sweet savor pro-
ceeded from his remains : . . he is in the ordor of sanctity, and the
dust from his grave cures agues. The crucifix which he used to carry
in battle works miracles. Yepes takes some trouble to persuade us
that the Bishop Don Hieronymo carried nothing but this crucifix in
battle, and that he only went to assist the soldiers with spiritual
weapons ; but it is wronging the memory of "that Perfect One with
the shaven crown," to deny that he fought with both hands, and
added works to his faith.
APPENDIX.
The following translated extracts from the Poema del Cid may serve to give an
idea of the style of language and metre, and of the species of poetical merit which
belongs to the Poem. They have been obligingly communicated to me by a Gentle-
man well acquainted with the Spanish language. I have never seen any other trans-
lation which so perfectly represents the manner, character, and spirit of its original.
ARGUMENT.
The Cid being driven into banishment by the intrigues of his enemies, is accom-
panied by several of his friends and followers ; for whom he undertakes to provide
by carrying on a predatory war against the Moors. In the course of their adven-
tures they surprise the Castle of Alcocer, but are soon after surrounded and besieged
by a superior army. After some difference of opinion, the Cid yields to the wishes of
hisfollovjers, and determines upon a sally, which is successful.
They fain would sally forth, but he the noble Cid
Accounted it as rashness, and constantly forbid.
The fourth week was beginning, the third already past,
The Cid and his companions they are now agreed at last.
"• The water is cut off, the bread is well nigh spent,
" To allow us to depart by night the Moors will not consent.
'' To combat with them in the field our numbers are but few,
Mesnadas de mió Cid exir querien á la batalla.
El que en buen ora násco firnie gelo vedaba.
Tobierongela en cerca complidas tres sennanas ;
A cabo de tres semanas la quarta querie entrar,
Mío Cid con los sos tornos' a acordar :
" El agua nos han vedada, exir nos ha el pan :
" Que nos queramos ir de noch, non nos lo consintrán :
" Grandes son los poderes por con ellos lidiar:
456 APPENDIX.
*^ Gentlemen tell me your minds, what do yo think to do ? "
Minaya Alvar Fañez answered him again,
" We are come here from fair Castille to live like banished men.
'' There are here six hundred of us, beside some nine or ten ;
" It is by fighting with the Moors that we have earned our bread,
*' In the name of God that made us, let nothing more be said,
" Let us sally forth upon them by the dawn of day."
The Cid replied, " Minaya, I approve of what you say,
" You have spoken for the best, and had done so without doubt."
The Moors that were within the town they took and turn'd them out.
That none should know their secret ; they labor'd all that night.
They were ready for the combat with the morning light.
The Cid was in his armor mounted at their head.
He spoke aloud amongst them, you shall hear the words he said :
'' We must all sally forth ! There cannot a man be spar'd,
*' Two footmen only at the gates to close them and keep guard ;
Decidme cavalleros como vos place de far ? "
Primero fablo Minaya, un cavallero de prestar :
" De Castiella la gentil exidos somos acá,
" Si con Moros non lidiaremos, non nos darán del pan ;
" Bien somos nos seiscientos, algunos hay de mas.
" En el nombre del Criador que non pase por al :
"" Vayamos los ferir en aquel dia de eras."
Dixo el Campeador, " á mi guisa fablastes :
" Ondrastes vos Minaya, ca aun vos lo yedes de far."
Todos los Moros é las Moras de fuera los manda echar,
Que non sóplese ninguno esta su poridad.
El dia é la noche piensanse de adovar.
Otro dia mañana el sol querie apuntar.
Armado es el Mió Cid con quantos que el ha :
Pablaba Mió Cid como odredes contar :
" Todos iscamos fuera, que nadi non raste,
" Sinon dos peones solos por la puerta guardar.
APPENDIX. 457
" If we are slain in battle they will bury us here in peace,
" If we survive and conquer, our riches will increase.
" And you, Pero Bermuez, the standard you must bear,
" Advance it like a valiant man, evenly and fair ;
" But do not venture forward before I give command."
Bermuez took the standard, he went and kist his hand.
The gates were then thrown open, and forth at once they rush'd.
The outposts of the Moorish host back to the camp were push'd ;
The camp was all in tumult, and there was such a thunder
Of cymbals and of drums, as if earth would cleave in sunder.
There you might see the Moors arming themselves in haste.
And the two main battles how they were forming fast ;
Horsemen and footmen mixt, a countless troop and vast.
The Moors are moving forward, the battle soon must join,
" My men stand here in order, ranged upon a line !
" Si nos muriéremos en campo, en castiello nos enterraran :
" Si venciéremos la batalla, crezremos en rictad.
" E vos, Pero Bermuez, la mi seña tomad :
" Como sodes muy bueno, tenerla hedes sin arch :
" Mas non aguigedes con ella, si yo non vos lo mandar."
Al Cid besó la mano, la seña va tomar.
Abrieron las puertas, fuera un salto dan.
Vieronlo las axobdas de los Moros, al almofalla se van tornar.
Que priesa va en los Moros, é tornáronse á armar.
Ante roydo de alamores la tierra querie quebrar :
Veriedes armarse Moros, apriesa entrar en haz :
De parte de los Moros dos señas ha cabdales :
E ficieron dos haces de peones mezclados ; qui los podrie contar ?
Las Haces de los Moros yas' mueven adelant.
Pora mió Cid é á los á manos los tomar:
" Quedas sed, mesnadas, aqui en este logar :
58
458 APPENDIX.
" Let not a man move from his rank before I give the sign."
Pero Bcrmuez heard the word, but he could not refrain.
He held the banner in his hand, he gave his horse the rein ;
" You see yon foremost squadron there, the thickest of the foes,
*' Noble Cid, God be your aid, for there your banner goes I
'' Let him that serves and honors it show the duty that he owes."
Earnestly the Cid call'd out, ' For heaven's sake be still I '
Bermuez cried, ' I cannot hold,' so eager was his will.
He spurr'd his horse, and drove him on amid the Moorish rout ;
They strove to win the banner, and compast him about.
Had not his armor been so true he had lost either life or limb ;
The Cid called out again, ' For heaven's sake succor him ! '
Their shields before their breasts, forth at once they go,
Their lances in the rest levell'd fair and low ;
Their banners and their crests waving in a row.
Their heads all stooping down toward the saddle bow.
" Non desrranche ninguno fata que yo lo mand."
Aquel Pero Bermuez non lo pudo endurar :
La seña tiene en mano, compezó de espolonar :
" El Criador vos vala, Cid Campeador leal :
" Vo meter la vuestra, seña en aquela mayor haz.
" Los que el debdo avedes veremos como la acorredes.''
Dixo el Campeador, " ñon sea, por caridad ! "
Respuso Pero Bermuez, " non rastará por al : "
Espolonó el cavallo, é metioP en el mayor haz :
Moros le reciben por la seña ganar :
Danle grandes colpes, mas noP pueden falsar.
Dixo el Campeador, " valelde por caridad ! "
Embrazan los escudos delant los corazones :
Abaxan las lanzas apuestas'de los pendones :
Encunaron las caras desuso de los arzones :
APPENDIX. 459
The Cid was in the midst, his shout was heard afar,
" I am Rui Dias, the Champion of Bivar ;
" Strike amongst them, gentlemen, for sweet mercies sake ! ''
There where Bermuez fought amidst the foe they brake.
Three hundred banner'd knights, it was a gallant show :
Three hundred Moors they kill'd, a man with every blow ;
When they wheel' d and turn'd, as many more lay slain,
You might see them raise their lances and level them again.
There you might see the breastplates, how they were cleft in twain,
And many a Moorish shield lie shatter' d on the plain.
The pennons that were white mark'd with a crimson stain.
The horses running wild whose riders had been slain.
The Christians call upon St. James, the Moors upon Mahound,
There were thirteen hundred of them slain on a little spot of ground.
Minaya Alva Fanez smote with all his might.
He went as he was wont, and was foremost in the fight.
Ybanlos ferir de fuertes corazones :
A grandes voces lama el que en buen ora nasco ;
"" Feridlos caballeros por amor de caridad ;
" Yo so Ruy Diaz el Cid Campeador de Bibar."
Todos fieren en el haz do esta Pero Bermuez.
Trescientas lanzas son, todas tienen pendones :
Sennos Moros mataron, todos de sennos colpes :
A la tornada que facen otros tantos son.
Veriedes tantas lanzas premir é alzar:
Tanta adarga a foradar é pasar ;
Tanta loriga falsa desmanchar ;
Tantos pendones blancos salir bermeios en sangre ;
Tantos buenos cavallos sin sos dueños andar.
Los Moros laman Mafomat : los Christianos Sanctiague.
Cayen en un poco de logar Moros muertos mili é trecientos ya.
Que lidia bien sobre exorada arzón,
460 APPENDIX.
There was Galin Garcia, of courage firm and clear,
Felez Munioz, the Cid's own Cousin dear ;
Antolinez of Burgos, a hardy knight and keen,
Munio Gustioz, his pupil that had been.
The Cid on his gilded saddle above them all was seen.
There was Martin Munioz, that rul'd in Montmayor,
There were Alvar Fanez and Alvar Salvador :
These were the followers of the Cid, with many others more,
In rescue of Bermuez and the standard that he bore.
Minaya is dismounted, his courser has been slain,
He fights upon his feet, and smites with might and main.
The Cid came all in haste to help him to horse again ;
He saw a Moor well mounted, thereof he was full fain.
Mio Cid Ruy Diaz el buen lidiador.
Minaya Alvar Fanez que corta mandó ;
Martin Antolinez el Burgales de pro ;
Muño Gustioz que fue so criado ;
Martin Muñoz el que Mandó á Mont' mayor ;
Alvar Fanez é Alvar Salvadores ;
Galin Garcia el bueno de Aragón ;
Felez Muñoz so sobrino del Campeador ;
Deci adelante quantos que y son,
Acorren la seña é á mio Cid el Campeador.
A Minaya Alvar Fanez matáronle el cavallo ;
Bien lo acorren mesnadas de Christianos ;
La lanza ha quebrada, al espada metió mano.
Mager de pie buenos colpes va dando ;
Violo mio Cid Ruy Diaz el Castellano ;
Accostos' a un Alguacil que tenie buen cavallo,
Diol' tal espadada con el so diestro brazo,
APPENDIX. 461
Thro' the girdle at a stroke he east him to the plain :
He called to Minaya Fanez and reach'd him out the rein,
" Mount and ride Minaya, you are my right hand,
" "We shall have need of you to day, these Moors will not disband ! "
Minaya lept upon the horse, his sword was in his hand.
Nothing that came near him could resist him or withstand ;
All that fall within his reach he dispatches as he goes.
The Cid rode to King Fariz, and struck at him three blows ;
The third was far the best, it forc'd the blood to flow :
The stream ran from his side, and stain' d his arms below ;
The King caught round the rein and turn'd his back to go,
The Cid has won the battle with that single blow.
Cortol' por la cintura, el medio echó en campo :
A Minaya Alvar Fanez ybal' dar el cavallo,
" Cavalgad, Minaya, vos sodas el mió diestro brazo;
" Oy en esto dia de vos abré grand vando :
" Firmes son los Moros, aun nos' van del campo."
Cavalgó Minaya, el espada en la mano ;
Por estas fuerzas fuerte mientre lidiando ;
A los que alcanza valos delibrando. -
Mío Cid Ruy Diaz el que en buen ora nasco,
Al Rey Fariz tres colpes le avie dado ;
Los dos le fallen, é el unol' ha tomado ;
Por la loriga ayuso la sangre destellando.
Volvió la rienda por yrsele del campo ;
Por aquel colpe raneado es el fonsado.
ARGUMENT.
After various successes of inferior importance, the Cid undertakes and achieves
the conquest of the City and Kingdom of Valencia, where lie establishes himself in
a species of sovereign authority. In the mean time he obtains the favor of the
King ; this favor, however, is accompanied by a request on the part of the King
that the Cid should bestow his two daughters in marriage upon the Infants of Car-
rion, whose family were his old adversaries ; the Cid, in reply, consents to place
his daughters " at the disposition of the King." The wedding is celebrated at
Valentía with the greatest possible splendor, and the two young Counts remain at
Valentía with their father-in-law : their situation, however, is an invidious one ;
some occasions arise in which their courage appears doubtful, and the prudence and
authority of the Cid are found insufficient to suppress the contemptuous mirth of his
military court. Accordingly they enter into the resolution of leaving Valentía, but
determining at the same time to execute a project of the basest and most unmanly
revenge, they request of the Cid to be allowed to take their brides with them upon
a journey to Carrion, under pretence of making them acquainted with the property
which had been settled upon them at their marriage. The Cid is aware that their
situation is an uneasy one ; he readily consents, takes leave of them with great cor-
diality, loads them with presents, and at their departure bestows upon them the two
celebrated swords Colada and Tison. The Infants pursue their journey till they
arrive in a wilderness, where they dismiss their followers, and being left alone with
their brides, proceed to execute their scheme of vengeance by stripping them, and
" mangling them with spurs and thongs," till they leave them without signs of life :
in this state they are found by a relation of the Cid's, Felez Muñios, who suspecting
some evil design had followed them at a distance. They are brought back to Va-
lentía. The Cid demands justice. The King assembles the Cortes upon the occa-
sion. The Cid being called upon to state his grievances, confines himself to the
claim of the two swords which he had given to his sons-in-law, and which he
now demands back since they have forfeited that character. The swords are re-
stored without hesitation, and the Cid immediately bestows them upon two of his
champions. He then rises again, and upon the same plea requires the restitution of
the gifts and treasures with which he had honored his sons-in-law at parting. This
claim is resisted by his opponents : the Cortes however decide in favor of the Cid,
and as the Infants plead their immediate inability, it is determined that the property
which they have with them shall be taken at an appraisement. This is accordingly
done. The Cid then rises a third time, and demands satisfaction for the insult which
his daughters had suffered : an altercation arises, in the course of which the Infants of
Carrion and one of their pariizans are challenged by three champions on the part of the
Cid.
APPENDIX. 463
#*#*#*
Within a little space
There was many a noble courser brought into the place,
Many a lusty mule with palfreys stout and sure.
And many a goodly sword with all its furniture.
The Cid receiv'd them all at an appraisement made,
Besides two hundred marks that to the King were paid :
The Infants give up all they have, their goods are at an end.
They go about in haste to their kindred and their friend ;
They borrow as they can, but all will scarce suffice ;
The attendants of the Cid take each thing at a price :
But as soon as this was ended, he began a new device.
'' Justice and mercy, my Lord the King, I beseech you of your grace !
'^ I have yet a grievance left behind, which nothing can efface.
Veriedes aducir tanto cavallo corredor,
Tanta gruesa muía, tanto palafré de sazón.
Tanta buena espada con toda guarnizon.
Recibiólo Mío Cid como apreciaron en la cort ;
Sobre los docientos marcos que tenie el Rey Alfonso,
Pagaron los Infantes al que en buen ora násco.
Enprestanles de lo ageno, que non les cumple lo suyo.
Mal escapan, iogados, sabet desta razón.
Estas apreciaduras Mió Cid presas las ha.
Sos omes las tienen é dellas pensarán.
Mas quando esto ovo acabado, pensaron luego d' al.
" Merced ay, Rey é Señor, por amor de caridad.
" La rencura maior non se me puede olvidar.
464
APPENDIX.
Let all men present in the court attend and judge the case,
Listen to what these Counts have done and pity my disgrace.
Dishonor'd as I am, I cannot be so base,
But here before I leave them, to defy them to their face.
Say Infants, how had I deserv'd, in earnest or in jest,
Or on whatever plea you can defend it best.
That you should rend g,nd tear the heartstrings from my breast ?
I gave you at Valentia my daughters in your hand,
I gave you wealth and honors, and treasure at command ;
Had you been weary of them, to cover your neglect ;
You might have left them with me, in honor and respect.
Why did you take them from me. Dogs and Traitors as you were ?
In the forest of Corpes, why did you strip them there.
Why did you mangle them with whips, why did you leave them bare
To the vultures and the Avolves, and to the wintry air ?
The court will hear your answer, and judge what you have done.
I say, your name and honor henceforth is lost and gone."
" Oydme toda la cort, e pésevos de mío mal.
" De los Infantes de Carrion quern' desondraron tan mal,
" A menos de riebtos no los puedo dexar.
" Decid que vos mereci Infantes en juego ó en vero :
" O en alguna razón aqui lo meiorare á juuicio de la cort.
" A quem' descubrlestes las telas del corazón ?
" A la salida de Valencia mis fijas vos di yo,
" Con muy grand ondra é haberes á nombre.
" Quando las non queriedes ya canes traydores,
" Por qué las sacabades de Valencia sus onores ?
" A que las firiestes á cinchas é á espolones ?
" Solas las dexastes en el Robredo de Corpes
" A las bestias fieras é á las aves del mont.
*' Por quanto les ficiestes menos valedes vos.
" Sinon recudedes véalo esta cort."
APPENDIX. 465
The Count Don Garcia was the first to rise :
'' We crave your favor my Lord the King, you are always just and
wise ;
'' The Cid is come to your Court in such an uncouth guise,
" He has left his beard to grow and tied it in a braid,
" We are half of us astonish' d, the other half afraid.
" The blood of the Counts of Carrion is of too high a line
" To take a daughter from his house though it were for a concubine.
" A concubine or a leman from the lineage of the Cid,
'' They could have done no other than leave them as they did :
'' We neither care for what he says nor fear what he may threat."
With that the noble Cid rose up from his seat :
He took his beard in his hand, '' If this beard is fair and even,
" I must thank the Lord above, who made both earth and heaven ;
" It has been cherished with respect and therefore it has thriven :
" It never suffered an affront since the day it first was worn.
" What business. Count, have you to speak of it with scorn ?
El Conde Don Garcia en pie se levantaba ;
" Merced ya, Rey, el meior de toda España.
" Vezos Mío Cid alias cortez pregonadas ;
" Dexóla crecer é luenga trae la barba.
" Los unos le han miedo é los otros espanta.
" Los de Carrion son de natural tal,
" Non gelas debien querer sus fijas por barraganas ;
" O quien gelas diera por pareias ó por veladas.
" Derecho ficieron porque las han dexadas.
" Quanto el dice non gelo preciamos nada."
Esora el Campeador prísos' a la barba ;
" Grado á Dios que Cielo é tierra manda,
" Por eso es luenga que á delicio fue criada.
" Que habedes vos, Conde, por retraer la mi barba ?
59
466 APPENDIX.
" It never yet was shaken, nor pluck'd away nor torn,
" By Christian nor by Moor, nor by man of woman born,
" As yours was once, Sir Count, the day Cabra was taken ;
" When I was master of Cabra that beard of yours was shaken,
'' There was never a footboy in my camp but twitch' d away a bit
*' The side that I tore off grows all uneven yet."
Ferran Gonzales started upon the floor.
He cried with a loud voice, " Cid, let us hear no more,
" Your claim for goods and money was satisfied before :
" Let not a feud arise betwixt our friends and you,
" We are the Counts of Carrion, from them our birth we drew.
" Daughters of Emperors or Kings were a match for our degree,
" We hold ourselves too good for a baron's such as thee.
" Ca de quando nasco á delicio fue criada ;
" Ca non me priso á ella fijo de mugier nada,
" Nimbla meso fijo de Moro nin de Christiano,
" Como yo á vos, Conde, en el Castiello de Cabra,
" Quando pris' á Cabra, é á vos por la barba,
" Non y ovo rapaz que non mesó su pulgada ;
" La que yo mesé aun non es eguada."
Ferran Gonzales en pie se levantó ;
A altas voces ondredes ^ que fablo.
" Dexasedes vos, Cid, de aquesta razón ;
" De vuestros haberes de todos pagados sodes.
" Non crecies' baraia entre vos é nos.
" De natura somos de Condes de Carrion ;
" Debiemos casar con fijas de Reyes ó de Emperadores ;
" Ca non pertenecien fijas de Infanzones.
^ Probably oudredes.
APPENDIX. 467
" If Ave abandon 'd as you say, and left and gave them o'er,
" We vouch that we did right, and prize ourselves the more."
The Cid looked at Bermuez, that was sitting at his foot,
*' Speak thou, Peter the Dumb, what ails thee to sit mute ?
" My daughters and thy nieces are the parties in dispute.
" Stand forth and make reply, if you would do them right.
" If I should rise to speak, you cannot hope to fight."
Peter Bermuez rose, somewhat he had to say,
The words were strangled in his throat, they could not find their way ;
Till forth they came at once, without a stop or stay.
" Cid, I'll tell you what, this always is your way,
" You have always serv'd me thus, whenever we have come
" To meet here in the Cortes, you call me Peter the Dumb.
" I cannot help my nature ; I never talk nor rail ;
" But when a thing is to be done, you know I never fail.
" Fernando, you have lied, you have lied in every word :
" You have been honor'd by the Cid, and favor'd and prefer'd.
" Porque las dexamos ; derecho ficiemos nos ;
" Mas nos preciamos, sabet, que menos no."
Mio Cid Ruy Diaz á Pero Bermuez cata ;
" Fabla, Pero Mudo, varón que tanto callas ;
" Hyo las he fijas é tu primas cormanas,
" A mi lo dicen, a ti dan las oreidas.
" Si yo respondier', tu non entraras en armas."
Pero Bermuez conpezó de fablar :
Detienes'le la lengua, non puede delibrar,
Mas quando enpieza, sabed, noP da vagar.
" Direvos, Cid, costumbres habedes tales ;
" Siempre en las cortes, Pero Mudo me lamades.
*' Bien lo sabedes que yo non puedo mas ;
" Por lo que yo ovier' a fer por mi non mancará.
" Mientes Ferrando de quanto dicho has :
" Por el Campeador mucho valiestes mas.
468
APPENDIX.
I know of all your tricks, and can tell them to your face :
Do you remember in Valentia the skirmish and the chase ?
You asked leave of the Cid, to make the first attack :
You went to meet a IVIoor, but you soon came running back.
I met the Moor and kill'd him, or he would have kill'd you ;
I gave you up his arms, and all that was my due.
Up to this very hour I never said a word.
You prais'd yourself before the Cid, and I stood by and heard.
How you had kill'd the Moor, and done a valiant act.
And they believ'd you all, but they never knew the fact.
You are tall enough and handsome, but cowardly and weak.
Thou tongue without a hand, how can you dare to speak ?
There's the story of the lion should never be forgot :
Now let us hear, Fernando, what answer have you got ?
The Cid was sleeping in his chair, with all his knights around.
The cry went forth along the Hall, That the Hon was unbound,
Las tus mañas yo telas sabré contar ;
Miembrat' quando lidiamos cerca Valencia la grand,
Pedist las feridas primeras al Compeador leal :
Visf un Moro, fustel' ensaiar ; antes fugiste que al te alegases.
Si yo non uvjas' el Moro te jugara riial,
Pasé por ti con el Moro me oíf de aiuntar :
De los primeros colpes ofle de arrancar ;
Did el cavallo, tobeldo en poridad :
Pasta este dia no lo descubri á nadi.
Delant' Mió Cid, é delante todos ovistete de alabar,
Que mataras el Moro é que ficieras barnax.
Crovierontelo todos, mas non saben la verdad.
E eres fermoso, mas mal barragan.
Lengua sin manos, cuemo osas fablar ^
Di Ferrando, otorga esta razón ;
Non te viene en miente en Valencia lo del Leon,
Quando durmie Mió Cid é el Leon se desató ?
APPENDIX. 469
What did you do, Fernando ? like a coward as you were,
You slunk behind the Cid, and erouch'd beneath his chair.
We prest around the throne, to shield our Lord from harm,
Till the good Cid awoke ; he rose without alarm ;
He went to meet the Lion, with his mantle on his arm ;
' The Lion was abash' d the noble Cid to meet,
' He bow'd his mane to the earth, his muzzle at his feet.
' The Cid by the neck and mane drew him to his den,
' He thrust him in at the hatch, and came to the hall again :
' He found his knights, his vassals, and all his valiant men :
' He ask'd for his sons-in-law, they were neither of them there.
' I defy you for a coward and a traitor as you are ;
' For the daughters of the Cid you have done them great unright,
' In the wrong that they have suffer'd, you stand dishonor'd quite.
' Although they are but women, and each of you a knight,
' I hold them worthier far, and here my word I plight.
" E tu Ferrando qué ficist' con el pavor ?
" Metistet' tras el escaño, de Mío Cid el Campeador,
" Metistet' Ferrando, poro menos vales hoy.
" Nos cercamos el escaño por curiar nuestro Señor,
" Fasta do despertó Mió Cid el que Valencia ganó.
" Levantós' del escaño é fues' poral Leon :
" El Leon premió la cabeza, á Mió Cid esperó,
" Dexos' le prender al cuello, é á la red le metió.
" Quando se tornó el buen Campeador
" A sos vasallos, violes aderredor.
" Demandó por sus Yernos, ninguno non falló.
" Riebtot' el cuerpo por malo é por traydor.
" Estot' lidiaré aqui antél Rey Don Alfonso
'' Por fijas del Cid Don' Elvira é Dona Sol.
" Por quanto las dexastes menos valedes vos.
" Ellas son mugieres, é vos sodes varones ;
470 APPENDIX.
'' Before the King Alfonso upon this plea to fight ;
" If it be God his will, before the battle part,
" Thou shalt avow it with thy mouth, like a traitor as thou art."
Uprose Diego Gonzalez and answer'd as he stood :
" By our lineage we are Counts, and of the purest blood ;
" This match was too unequal, it never could hold good ;
" For the daughters of the Cid we acknowledge no regret,
" We leave them to lament the chastisement they met.
" It will follow them through life for a scandal and a jest :
^' I stand upon this plea to combat with the best,
*' That having left them as we did, our honor is increast."
Uprose Martin Antolinez when Diego ceast :
" Peace, thou lying mouth ! thou traitor coward. Peace !
*' The story of the Hon should have taught you shame at least :
" You rush'd out at the door, and ran away so hard.
"En todas guisas mas valen que vos.
" Quando fuere la lid, si ploguiere al Criador,
" Tu lo otorgarás aguisa de traydor.
" De quanto he dicho verdadero sere yo."
De aquestos amos aqui quedó la razón.
Diego Gonzalez odredes lo que dixo :
" De natura somos de los Condes mas limpios.
" Estos casamientos non fuesen aparecidos
" Por consograr con Mío Cid Don Rodrigo.
" Porque dexamos sus fijas aun no nos repentimos.
" Mientra que vivan pueden haber sospiros.
" Lo que les ficiemos serles ha retraído ; esto lidiaré a tod' el mas ardido.
" Que porque las dexamos ondrados somos nos."
Martin Antolinez en pie se levantaba ;
" Cala, alevoso, boca sin verdad.
** Lo del Leon non se te debe olvidar ;
" Saliste por la puerta, metistet' al corral :
APPENDIX, 47 1
" You fell into the cispool that was open in the yard.
" We dragg'd you forth in all men's sight, dripping from the drain ;
" For shame, never wear a mantle, nor a knightly robe again !
" I fight upon this plea without more ado,
*' The daughters of the Cid are worthier far than you.
" Before the combat part you shall avow it true,
" And that you have been a traitor and a coward too."
Thus was ended the parley and challenge betwixt these two.
Assur Gonzalez was entering at the door
With his ermine mantle trailing along the floor.
With his sauntering pace and his hardy look.
Of manners or of courtesy, little heed he took :
He was flush'd and hot with breakfast and with drink.
" What ho, my masters, your spirits seem to sink !
" Have we no news stirring from the Cid Ruy Diaz of Bivar ?
" Has he been to Riodivirna to besiege the Windmills there ?
" Fusted meter tras la viga lagar ;
" Mas non vestid' el manto nin el brial :
" Hyo lo lidiaré, non pasará por al.
" Fijas del Cid por qué las vos dexastes ?
" En todas guisas, sabet, que mas valen que vos.
'* Al partir de la lid por tu boca lo dirás,
*' Que eras traydor é mentiste de quanto dicho has."
Destos amos la razón fincó.
Asur Gonzalez entraba por el Palacio ;
Manto armiño é un brial rastrando ;
Bermeio viene, ca era almorzado.
En lo que fabló avie poco recabdo.
" Hya varones quien vio nunca tal mal ?
" Quien nos darie neuvas de Mió Cid el de Bibar ?
" Fues' a Riodouirna los molinos picar,
472 APPENDIX.
" Does he tax the Millers for their toll, or is that practice past ?
" Will he make a match for his daughters, another hke the last ? "
Munio Gustioz rose and made reply :
" Traitor ! wilt thou never cease to slander and to lie ?
" You breakfast before mass, you drink before you pray ;
" There is no honor in your heart, nor truth in what you say ;
" You cheat your comrade and your Lord, you flatter to betray :
" Your hatred I despise, your friendship I defy.
" False to all mankind, and most to God on high,
" I shall force you to confess that what I say is true."
Thus was ended the parley and challenge betwixt these two.
" E prender maquilas como lo suele far' :
" Quil' darie con los de Carrion a casar' ? "
Esora Muño Gustioz en pie se levantó :
" Cala, alevoso, malo é traydor,
" Antes almuerzas que bayas á oración ;
" A los que das paz, fartaslos aderredor.
" Non dices verdad amigo ni á Señor,
" Falso á todos é mas al Criador.
" En tu amistad non quiero aver ración.
'* Facértelo decir que tal eres qual digo yo."
60
ARGUMENT.
The King suppresses all further altercation, and declares that those only who
have already challenged shall be permitted to fight. The time and place are fixed.
The Cid being obliged to return to Valentía, leaves his champions under the protec-
tion of the King. The Cid takes leave of the King. At the end of three weeks the
combat is fought y and the three champions of the Cid are victorious.
APPENDIX. 475
*' I crave your favor, my Lord the King, since things are settled so ;
*' I have business at Valentia, and thither I must go.
" Before the town v\^as conquer'd it cost me pains enow."
The King hft up his hand, made a cross upon his brow :
" I swear by St. Isidro, the patron of Leon,
*' In all my realm beside there is not such a good baron."
The Cid leapt on his steed and rode him round the course,
He came up to the King and proiFer'd him the horse —
*' 'Tis the noble Babieca that is fam'd for speed and force,
*' Among the Christians nor the Moors there is not such another one,
" My Sovereign Lord and Sire he is fit for you alone ;
*' Give orders to your people, and take him for your own."
The King replied, " It cannot be ; Cid, you shall keep your horse,
" He must not leave his master, nor change him for a worse ;
" Merced vos pido, Rey, por amor del Criador.
" Quando todas estas nuevas asi puestas son,
" Beso vuestras manos con vuestra gracia Señor ;
" E yrme quiero pora Valencia, con afán la gané yo."
El Rey alzó la mano, la cara se sanctiguó.
" Hyo lo juro par Sant Isidro el de Leon,
" Que en todas nuestras tierras non ha tan buen varón."
Mío Cid en el cavallo adelant' se legó ;
Fue besar la mano á so Señor Alfonso.
" Mandastesme mover á Babieca el corredor ;
" En Moros ni en Christianos otro tal non ha hoy.
" Hy vos le do en don, mandedesle tomar. Señor."
Esora dixo el Rey, " desto non he sabor ;
" Si á vos le tollies', el cavallo non abrie tan buen Señor.
476 APPENDIX.
" Our kingdom has been honor'd by you and by your steed,
" The man that would take him from you, evil may he speed.
" A courser such as he is fit for such a knight,
*' To beat down Moors in battle, and follow them in flight."
Now they have taken leave, and broken up the Court,
The Cid goes with his champions to advise them and exhort :
" You Martin Antolinez, and Pero Bermuez you,
" And you Munio Gustioz, be valiant men and true :
*' When I am gone to Valentia let me have good tidings there."
Martin Antolinez rephed, " Sir what needs this care ?
" We are pledg'd in your behalf, we must do our best endeavor ;
*' You may hear that we are dead, but defeated never."
The Cid was joyful at the words, and quitted them anon.
He has taken leave of all his friends, and shortly he has gone.
The Cid goes to Valentia, the King to Carrion.
" Mas atal cavallo cum est' por atal como vos,
' Pora arrancar Moros del campo é ser segudador
" Quien vos lo toUer quisiere noP vala el Criador :
" Ca por vos e por el cavallo ondrados somos nos."
Esora se espidieron, é luegos' partió la cort.
El Campeador á los que han lidiar tan bien los castigo,
*' Hya Martin Antolinez é vos Pero Bermuez,
" E Muño Gustioz, firmes sed en campo á guisa de varones.
" Buenos mandados me vayan á Valencia de vos."
Dixo Martin Antolinez, " por qué lo decides Señor }
" Preso habemos el debdo, e a pasar es por nos.
" Podedes oir de muertos, ca de vencidos non."
Alegre fue de aquesto el que en buen ora nasció.
Espidios' de todos los que sos amigos son ;
Mío Cid pora Valencia, é el Rey pora Carrion.
APPENDIX. 477
Three weeks had been appointed, and now they are past away,
The champions of the Cid are ready at the day :
They are ready in the field to defend their master's right.
The noble King is with them, to protect them with his might.
They waited in the place for two days and a night,
Behold the Lords of Carrion where they appear in sight ;
They are coming with an host of their kindred and their clan,
With horses and with arms, and many a valiant man ;
If they could meet with them apart, or take them unaware.
In dishonor of the Cid to have slain his champions there.
The thought was foul and evil, but yet they did not dare,
For fear of the King Alfonso that had them in his care.
That night they watch'd their arms and past the hours in prayer ;
The night is past and over, the day begins to break.
Great was the throng of folk who, for that battle's sake,
Flock'd in on every side, assembled for the fight.
And many a man of arms and many a wealthy knight.
Mas tres semanas de plazo todas complidas son.
Felos al plazo los del Campeador ;
Cumplir quieren el debdo que les mandó so Señor.
Ellos son en poder del Rey Don Alfonso el de Leon.
Dos dias atendieron á Infantes de Carrion.
Mucho vienen bien adobados de cavallos é de guarnizones ;
E todos sus parientes con ellos son.
Que si los pudiesen apartar á los del Campeador
Que los matasen en campo por desondra de so Señor :
El cometer fue malo, que lo al nos' enpezó,
Ca grand miedo ovieron á Alfonso el de Leon.
De noche velaron las armas é rogaron al Criador.
Trocida es la noche, ya quiebran los albores.
Muchos se aiuntaron de buenos ricos omes
Por ver esta lid, ca hablen ende sabor.
478 APPE^ÍDIX.
There is the King Alfonso with all his power and might,
To keep down force and wrong, and to defend the right.
The champions of the Cid are all of good accord,
They are arming themselves together, like vassals of one Lord.
The Infants of Carrion are arming themselves apart,
Count Garcia sits advising them, and keeps them in good heart.
They bring a plea before the King, and they pretend a right.
That those two trenchant sw^ords should not be us'd in fight.
The swords Colada and Tizon, which the Cid's champions wore ;
They repent of their imprudence when they gave them up before.
They were earnest in their plea, but they could not succeed ;
" You might have kept them for yourselves to serve you in your need ;
" If you have other good ones make use of them instead ;
" Infants of Carrion ! Hear me and take heed :
" You must approve your honor, by some manly deed.
" Go forth into the field, and show a valiant heart,
^' For nothing will be wanting upon the Champions part.
Demas sobre todos y es el Rey Don Alfonso
Por querer el derecho e non consentir el tuerto.
Hyas' metian en armas los del buen Campeador :
Todos tres se acuerdan, ca son de un Señor.
En otro lugar se arman los Infantes de Carrion ;
Sedíelos castigando el Conde Garci Ordonez.
Andidieron en pleyto, dixieronlo al Rey Alfonso,
Que non fuesen en la batalla las espadas taladores
Colada é Tizon, que non lidiasen con ellas los del Campeador.
Mucho eran rependitos los Infantes por quanto dadas son.
Dixierongelo al Rey, mas non gelo conloyó.
Non sacaste ninguna quando oviemos la cort.
Si buenas las tenedes, pro habrán á vos ;
Otrosí faran á los del Campeador.
Lebad é salid al campo. Infantes de Carrion ;
Huebos vos es que lidiedes á guisa de varones ;
Que nada non mancará por los de Campeador.
APPENDIX. 479
" If you are conquerors in the fight you will purchase great renown,
" ff you are beaten and disgrac'd, the fault will be your own,
" For this business was your seeking, as has been seen and shown."
The Infants of Carrion are beginning to repent ;
The Lordship of Carrion with its honors and its rent,
Its mansion and its lands, they would have given all.
Could they command the past to redeem it and recall.
The Champions of the Cid, clad in their warlike weed,
The King is gone to see them and wish them well to speed.
*' Sir we kiss your hands as our good Lord and Sire,
" To have you judge and umpire is all that we require.
" Defend us in all right, assist us not in wrong ;
" The friends of the Lords of Carrion are numerous and strong,
" We cannot guess their counsels, nor how they will behave.
" To the good Cid our master the promise that you gave,
" To defend us and protect us, this. Six, is all we crave,
" Si del campo bien salidas, grand ondra habredes vos,
" E si fueres vencidos non rebtedes a nos,
*' Ca todos lo saben que los buscastes vos."
Hya se van repintiendo Infantes de Carrion,
Do lo que avien fecho mucho repisos son.
No lo querrien aver fecho por quanto ha en Carrion.
Todos tres son armados los del Campeador.
Hybalos ver el Rey Don Alfonso.
Dixieron los del Campeador,
" Besamosvos las manos como á Rey é á Señor,
" Que fiel seades hoy dellos e de nos :
" A derecho nos valed, a ningún tuerto no.
" Aqui tienen su vando los Infantes de Carrion,
" Non sabemos ques' comidran ellos ó que non.
" En vuestra mano nos metió nuestro Señor ;
" Tenendos a derecho por amor del Criador."
480 APPE^DIX.
" So long as right and justice are found upon our part."
" That will I," said the King, '< with all my soul and heart."
Their horses are brought up to them, coursers strong and fleet,
They sign their saddles with the cross, and leap into the seat ;
Their shields are hanging at their necks with bosses broad and sheen,
They take their lances in their hands, the points are bright and keen,
A pennon at each lance, the staves were large and stout.
And many a valiant man encompass'd them about.
They rode forth to the field where the barriers were set out.
The Champions of the Cid are agreed upon their plan,
To fight as they had challeng'd, and each to charge his man.
There come the Lords of Carrion with their kindred and their clan ;
The King has appointed Heralds for avoiding all debate,
He spoke aloud amongst them in the field there where they sate. •
'' Infants of Carrion ! Attend to what, I say :
" You should have fought this battle upon a former day,
" Esora," dixo el Rey, " d'alma é de corazón."
Aducenles los cavallos buenos é corredores ;
Sanctiguaron las sielas é cabalgan á vigor ;
Los escudos á los cuellos que bien blocados son ;
En mano prenden las astas de los fierros taladores ;
Estas tres lanzas traen senos pendones,
E derredor dellos muchos buenos varones.
Hya salieron al campo do eran los moiones.
Todos tres son acordados los del Campeador,
Que cada uno dellos bien fos' ferir el so.
Fevos de la otra part' los Infantes de Carrion,
Muy bien acompañados ca muchos parientes son.
El Rey dióles Fieles por decir el derecho é al non,
Que non barajen con ellos de si ó de non.
Do sedien en el campo fabló el Rey Don Alfonso,
" Oyd que vos digo, Infantes de Carrion ;
APPENDIX. 481
" When we were at Toledo, but you would not agree ;
" And now the noble Cid has sent these champions three,
" To fight in the lands of Carrion, escorted here by me.
" Be vahant in your right, attempt no force or wrong ;
" If any man attempt it he shall not triumph long,
" He never shall have rest or peace within my kingdom more."
The Infants of Carrion are now repenting sore ;
The Heralds and the King are foremost in the place,
They clear away the people from the middle space :
They measure out the lists, the barriers they ñx :
They point them out in order, and explain to all the six :
'^ If you are forc'd beyond the line where they are fixt and trac'd,
".You shall be held as conquer'd, and beaten and disgrac'd."
Six lances length on either side an open space is laid,
They share the field between them, the sunshine and the shade
Their ofiiice is perform'd, and from the middle space,
The heralds are withdrawn, and leave them face to face.
" Esta lid en Toledo la ficierades, mas non quisiestes vos ;
" Estos tres cavalleros de mió Cid el Campeador,
" Hyo los aduj' á salvo a tierras de Carrion.
" Habed vuestro derecho, tuerto non querades vos ;
" Ca qui tuerto quisiere fazer, mal gelo vedare yo ;
" En todo mió regno non habrá buen sabor."
Hya les va pesando á los Infantes de Carrion.
Los Fieles é el Rey enseñaron los moiones.
Librábanse del campo todos aderredor ;
Bien gelo demostraron á todos seis como son,
Que por y serie vencido qui saliese del moion.
Todas las yentes esconbraron aderredor
De seis astas de lanzas que non legasen al moion.
Sorteábanles el campo, ya les partien el sol ;
Salien los Fieles de medio ellos, cara por cara son.
61
482 APPENDIX.
Here stood the warriors of the Cid, that noble champion,
Opposite on the other side, the Lords of Carrion.
Earnestly their minds are fixt each upon his foe ;
Face to face they take their place, anon the trumpets blow.
They stir their horses with the spur, they lay their lances low,
They bend their shields before their breasts, their face to the saddle
bow.
Earnestly their minds are fixt each upon his foe.
The heavens are overcast above, the earth trembles below,
The people stand in silence, gazing on the show :
Bermuez the first challenger first in combat clos'd,
He met Ferran Gonzalez, face to face oppos'd ;
They rush together with such rage that all men count them dead.
They strike each other on the shield, without all fear or dread.
Ferran Gonzales with his lance pierc'd the shield outright.
It past Bermuez on the left side, in his flesh it did not bite.
Desi vinien los de Mió Cid á los Infantes de Carrion,
Ellos Infantes de Carrion á los del Canipeador.
Cada uno dallos mientes tiene al so.
Abrazan los escudos delant' los corazones ;
Abaxan las lanzas abueltas con los pendones ;
Encunaban las caras sobre los arzones ;
Batien los cavallos con los espolones ;
Tembrar querie la tierra dod eran movedores.
Cada uno dellos mientes tiene al só.
Todos tres por tres ya juntados son.
Cuidanse que esora cadran muertos, los que están aderredor.
Pero Bermuez el que antes rebtó,
Con Ferran Gonzalez de Cara se juntó ;
Feríense en los escudos sin todo pavor ;
Ferran Gonzalez á Pero Bermuez el escudo!' pasó ;
PrisoP en vacio, en carne noli tomó ;
APPENDIX. 483
The spear was snapt in twain, Bermuez sat upright,
He neither flinch'd nor swerv'd, hke a true steadfast knight.
A good stroke he receiv'd, but a better he has given ;
He struck the shield upon the boss, in sunder it is riven,
Onward into Ferran's breast the lance's point is driven,
Full upon his breastplate, nothing would avail ;
Two breastplates Fernando wore and a coat of mail :
The two are riven in sunder, the third stood him in stead,
The mail sunk in his breast, the mail and the spear head.
The blood burst from his mouth that all men thought him dead.
The blow has broken his girdle and his saddle girth,
It has taken him over his horse's back, and borne him to the earth.
The people think him dead as he lies on the sand ;
Bermuez left his lance and took his sword in hand.
Ferran Gonzalez knew the blade which he had worn of old.
Before the blow came down, he yielded and cried, " hold ! "
Bien en dos lugares el astil le quebró ;
Firme estido Pero Bermuez, por eso nos' encamó ;
Un colpe recibiera, mas otro firió ;
Quebrantó la boca del escudo, apart gela echó ;
Pasógelo todo que nada nol' valió ;
Metiol' la lanza por los pechos, que nada noP valió ;
Tres dobles de loriga tenie Fernando, aquestol' prestó ;
Las dos le desmanchan, é la tercera fincó :
El belmez con la camisa é con la guarnizon
De dentro en la carne una mano gela metió ;
Por la boca afuera la sangrel' salió.
Quebráronle las cinchas, ninguna noP ovo pro ;
Por la copla del cavallo en tierra lo echó,
Asi lo tenien las yentes que mal ferido es de muert.
El dexó la lanza, é al espada metió mano.
Quando lo vio Ferran Gonzalez, conuuo á Tizón.
Antes que el colpe esperase, dixo, *' venzudo so,"
Otorgarongelo los Fieles, Pero Bermuez le dexó.
484 APPENDIX.
Antolinez and Diego encountered man for man,
Their spears -were shiver'd with the shock, so eagerly they ran.
Antohnez drew forth the blade which Diego once had worn,
Eagerly he aimed the blow for the vengeance he had sworn.
Right through Diego's helm the blade its edge has born,
The crest and helm are lopt away, the coif and hair are shorn.
He stood astounded with the stroke, trembling and forlorn,
He waved his sword above his head, he made a piteous cry,
*' O save me, save me from that blade, Almighty Lord on high ! "
Antolinez came fiercely on to reach the fatal stroke,
Diego's courser rear'd upright, and thro' the barrier broke.
Martin Antolinez e Diego Gonzalez firieronse de las lanzas ;
Tales fueron los colpas que les quebraron las lanzas ;
Martin Antolinez mano metió al espada ;
Relumbra tod' el campo, tanto es limpia é clara.
Diór un colpe, de traviesol' tomaba ;
El casco de somo apart gelo echaba ;
Las moncluras del yelmo todas gelas cortaba :
Alia lebó el almófar, fata la cofia legaba ;
La cofia é el almófar todo gelo lebaba ;
Raxór los pelos de la cabeza, bien á la carne legaba.
Lo uno cayó en el campo e lo al suso fincaba.
Quando deste colpe ha ferido Colada la preciada,
Vio Diego Gonzalez que no escaparle con alma.
Bolvió la rienda al cavallo por tornase de cara.
Esora Martin Antolinez recibió!' con el espada.
Un colpel' dio de laño, con el agudo nol' tomaba.
Dia Gonzalez espada tiene en mano, mas non la ensaiaba.
Esora el Infante tan grandes voces daba,
" Valme, Dios glorioso, Señor, é curiarm' desta espada ! "
El cavallo asorrienda e mesurandol' del espada,
Sacól' del moion, Martin Antolinez en el campo fincaba.
Esora dixó el Rey, " venid vos a mi compaña,
APPENDIX. 485
Antolinez has won the day, though his blow was mist,
He has driven Diego from the field, and stands within the list.
I must tell you of Munio Gustioz, two combats now are done ;
How he fought with Assur Gonzales, you shall hear anon.
Assur Gonzalez, a fierce and hardy knight.
He rode at Munio Gustioz with all his force and might ;
He struck the shield and pierc'd it through, but the point came wide,
It passed by Munio Gustioz, betwixt his arm and side :
Sternly, like a practis'd knight, Munio met him there.
His lance he level' d steadfastly, and through the shield him bare ;
He bore the point into his breast, a Httle beside the heart ;
It took him through the body, but in no mortal part ;
The shaft stood out behind his back a cloth-yard and more ;
The pennon and the point were dripping down with gore.
Munio still clench'd his spear, as he past he forc'd it round,
He vn-ench'd him from the saddle, and cast him to the ground.
'' Por quanto avedes fecho, vencida avedes esta batalla."
Otorgangelo los Fieles que dice verdadera palabra.
Los dos han arrancado : direvos de Muño Gustioz
Con Asur Gonzalez como se adobó :
Firiense en los escudos unos tan grandes colpas :
Asur Gonzalez, furzudo é de valor.
Firió en el escudo a Don Muño Gustioz.
Tras el escudo falsóge la guarnizon ;
En vacio fue la lanza, ca en carne noP tomó.
Este colpe fecho, otro dio Muño Gustioz,
Tras el escudo falsóge la guarnizon.
Por medio de la bloca del escudo quebrantó.
Nol' pudo guarir, falsóge la guarnizon.
Apart' le prisó, que non cabel corazón.
Metiór por la carne adentro la lanza con el pendón.
De la otra part una braza gela echó :
Con el dio una tuerta, de la siella lo encamó,
486 APPENDIX.
His liorse sprung forward with the spur, he pkick'd the spear away,
He whcel'd and came again to pierce him where he lay.
Then cried Gonzalo Asurez, '' For God's sake spare my son !
" The other two have yielded, the field is fought and won."
Al tirar de la lanza en tierra lo echó.
Bermeio salió el astil, é la lanza é el pendón.
Todos se cuedan que ferido es de muert.
La lanza recombró é sobrél se paró.
Dixo Gonzalo Asurez, nol' firgades por Dios.
Venzudo es el campo quando esto se acabó.
THE END.
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