Chronicle of the Cid (Spain) E-book
Author: Historical Document
Genre: Epic, Literature
1637
THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID
translated by Robert Southey
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
THE TRANSLATOR'S 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.
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I. 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 Cardena, ordered 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 account 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 Diaz himself, because the manuscript at Cardena 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 before 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 confirms by saying, Segun cuenta
la Estoria del Cid, que de aqui adelante compuso Aben Alfarax su
sobrino de Gil Diaz en Valencia. The printed Chronicle however says
Abenalfarax where Berganza reads Abenfax, and writes 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 Chronicle.
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 Arellano, which according to his account was in Portuguese, but
agreed in the main with that which had been published. The older the
language, the more it would resemble Portuguese. 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 original;... 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
thirteenth 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 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.*
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*The language of the Chr. del Cid is sometimes of greater antiquity
than the other,... for instance;... E tamano fue el plazer del Rey
D. Fernando e de los suyos quamano fue el pesar del Rey D. Ramiro de
Aragon e de los suyos.
In the Cor. Gen., quan grande and tan grande are the phrases. But
this is a subject which none but a Spaniard can properly investigate.
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II. LA CRONICA DE ESPANA
Las quatro partes enteras de la Cronica de Espana, que mando
componer el Serenissimo Rey Don Alonso llmado el sabio, donde se
contienen los acontescimientos y hazanas mayores y mas senaladas que
sucedieron en Espana, desde su primera poblacion hasta casi los
tiempos del dicho senor Rey. Vista y emendada mucha parte de su
impresion por el maestro Florian Docampo Cronista del emperador rey
nuestro senor. Con previlegio imperial.
Fue impressa la presente Cronica general de Espana en la
magnifica, noble y antiquissima cibdad de Zamora: por los honrrados
varones Augustin de paz y Juan Picardo companeros inpressores de
libros, vezinos de la dicha cibdad. A costa y espensas del virtuoso
varon Juan de Spinosa mercader de libros vezino de Medina del Campo.
Acabose en nueve dias del mes de deziembre. Ano del nascimiento de
nuestro salvador Jesu Cristo de mill y quinientos y quarenta y un
anos. Reynando en Espana el Emperador Don Carlos nuestro Senor y Rey
natural.
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Florian de Ocampo relates the history of this first edition in his
epistle dedicatory to Don Luys 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
manuscript to the printers, and Ocampo undertook to correct the
press as far as s which 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 be an offence committed
upon the work of another. Notwithstanding this becoming respect for
antiquity, Ocampo passes a censure upon the style at the end of the
Sumario. He says, Todas estas cosas sobredichas van escritas en
estas quatro partes con palabras antiguas y toscas, segun las usavan
los Espanoles al tiempo que las hazian, quando se presciavan mas de
bien obrar que de bien hablar; puesto que siempre fue y sera gran
alabanca bien hablar a los que bien obran.
The Spanish Chronicles were all villainously printed, because the
printers made use of the first manuscript they could find, and the
correctors did their best to bring the language 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; be was Chronicler to
the King of Castile, and any manuscript in the kingdom he had asked
for would have been put into his hands as readily as that of his
friend Aguilar. The copy which he implicitly followed happened to be
remarkably faulty. Words and sentences are omitted in almost every
column, whole chapters are wanting, and even one entire reign.
Zurita collated the printed book with a manuscript of great antiquity,
which had once belonged to the famous Marques de Santillana; and
this copy, in which he had witb 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 Collegio de S. Bartolome; some man of letters has
prefixed a note to it, saying that it contains many chapters which are
not to be found in the printed book... y tiene tambien otra utilidad
que es, el hallarse aqui los vocablos y voces castellanas antiguas
en su pureza, sin haberse limado al tiempo presente, como la
imprimio Florian de Ocampo. If this writer be accurate, the copier
of Aguilar's manuscript had modernized the book as well as mutilated
it.
Ocampo calls this work la Chronica de Espana, que mando componer
el Serenissimo Rey D. Alonso. The manuscript which Zurita collated has
la Estoria de Espana que fizo el mui noble Rey D. Alonso. The
Marques de Mondejar possessed three manuscripts, neither of which
supported Ocampo's reading, nor afforded the slightest ground for
supporting it. On the other hand, Don Juan Manuel, 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 overlooked this, is inconceivable; and why he
should deny 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 Maestro 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 five
centuries any proof can possibly be obtained to show that Alonso the
Wise did not write the history, which he himself says he wrote, 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 recording. 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 Valladolid in 1604. It is
the later edition which I have used.
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III. POEMA DEL CID
Sandoval first mentioned this poem, which is preserved at Bivar, and
gave the four first lines, calling the whole "Versos Barbaros y
Notables." Berganza afterwards inserted seventeen lines in his
Antiguedades. The notice which they thus gave of its existence excited
the curiosity of Sanchez, to whom Spanish literature has been so
greatly indebted, and he published it in the first volume of his
Coleccion de Poesias Castellanas Anteriores al Siglo XV.
Some leaves are wanting at the beginning of the manuscript, and
one in the middle. The whole fragment consists of 3744 lines, the
three last of which are added by the transcriber:
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Quien escribio este libro del' Dios paraiso: Amen.
Per abbat le escribio en el mes de mayo
En era de mill e CC..XLV. anos.
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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 a 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 Sanchez, 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 superfluous; 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 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.
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ROMANCES DEL CID
Sarmiento (Mem. para la Hist. de la Poesia, SS 546. 548. 550.)
delivers it as his opinion, that the popular ballads of the Twelve
Peers, Bernardo del Carpio, Fernan Gonzalez, the Cid, &c. were
composed soon after the age of the heroes whom they celebrate, and
were what the Copleros, Trouveurs, 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 ballads, in old
style, and in eight-syllable verse. This is the Historia del muy
valeroso Cavallero el Cid Ruy Diez de Bivar, en Romances, en
lenguage 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
nuevamente sacados de Historias Antiguas de la Cronica de Espana por
Lorenzo de Sepulveda vezino de Sevilla. Van anadidos muchos nunca
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
todos los Romances que andan impressos en las nueve partes de
Romanceros. Aora nuevamente impresso, anadido, 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
worthless. Indeed the heroic ballads of the Spaniards have been
over-rated 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 Story of the Cid.
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 Cronica General 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 which 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, whose name
unfortunately has perished, is the Homer of Spain.
BOOK ONE
I
King Don Ferrando succeeded to the states of Castille after the
death of his father King Don Sancho el Mayor, in the aera 1072,
which was the year of the Incarnation 1034, and from the coming of the
Patriarch Tubal to settle in Spain 3197, and from the general deluge
3339, and from the creation of the world 4995, according to the
computation 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 Dona 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 Dona Sancha his wife the
Infanta Dona Urraca, his eldest daughter, who was 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 Dona Elvira, whom after the death of the King her father,
her brother King Don Alfonso married to the Count Don Garcia 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 battle, and
to be huntsmen. And he ordered that his daughters should be brought up
in the studies beseeming dames, so that they might be of good customs,
and instructed in devotion and in all things which it behoved them
to know.
II
In those days arose Rodrigo of Bivar, who was a youth strong in arms
and of good customs; and the people 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 Ordono the Second
committed upon the Counts of Castille, that country remained without a
chief: the people therefore chose two judges, of whom the one was
called Nuno Rasuera, and the other Layn Calvo, who married Nuno's
daughter, Elvira Nunez. From Nuno Rasuera King Don Ferrando descended,
and from Layn Calvo, Diego Laynez, who took to wife Dona Teresa
Rodriguez, the daughter of Don Rodrigo Alvarez, Count and Governor
of Asturias, and had by her this Rodrigo. In the year of the
Incarnation 1026 was Rodrigo born, of this noble lineage, 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 Pernegas, being his godfather: and to this
church Rodrigo was always greatly affectionate, and he built the
belfry tower thereof.
III
At this time it came to pass that there was strife between Count Don
Gomez the Lord of Gormaz, and Diego Laynez the father of Rodrigo;
and the Count insulted Diego and gave him a blow. Now Diego was a
man in years, and his strength had passed from him, so that he could
not take vengeance, and he retired to his home to dwell there in
solitude and lament over his dishonour. And he took no pleasure in his
food, neither could he sleep by night, nor would he lift 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 offered to the blood of Layn
Calvo. He asked nothing but justice of Heaven, and of man he asked
only a fair field; and his father seeing of how good heart he was,
gave him his sword and his blessing. The sword had been the sword of
Mudarra in former times, and when 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
should 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 who had brought
home that head should be the head of the house of Layn Calvo.
IV
After this Diego being full of years fell asleep and was gathered to
his fathers. And the Moors entered Castille, in great power, for there
came with them five Kings, and they past above Burgos, and crost the
mountains of Oca, and plundered Carrion, and Vilforado, and Saint
Domingo de la Calzada, and Logrono, 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. Then he
went back to his mother, taking the Kings with him, and there he
divided the whole spoil with the hidalgos and his other companions,
both the Moorish captives and all the spoil of whatever kind, so
that they departed 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 liberty 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 acknowledged
themselves to be his vassals.
V
King Don Ferrando was going through Leon, putting the Kingdom in
order, when tidings reached him of the good speed which Rodrigo had
had against the Moors. And at the same time there came before him
Ximena Gomez, 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
honoured; 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 Palencia, for he had much to communicate to him,
upon an affair which was greatly to God's service, and his own welfare
and great honour.
VI
When Rodrigo saw the letters of his Lord the King, he greatly
rejoiced in them, and said to the messengers that 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 Palencia 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 well, and did him honour; and at this were
all the Counts displeased. And when the King thought it a fit
season, he spake to him and said, that Dona Ximena 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 favour. When Rodrigo 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 Palencia, and took their vows
and made them plight themselves each to the other according as the law
directs. And when they were espoused the King did them great honour,
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, and for all
that he had heard him say.
VII
So Rodrigo departed from the King, and took his spouse with him to
the house of his mother, and gave her to his mother's keeping. And
forthwith he made a vow in her 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 honour, for which he should ever
serve her with the better good will. And his mother promised him so to
do; and then he departed from them and went out against the frontier
of the Moors.
VIII
Now the history relates that King Don Ferrando contended with King
Don Ramiro of Aragon for the city of Calahorra, which each claimed
as his own; in such guise that the King of Aragon 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
plighted homage on both parts to meet and bring each his knight, and
the knight who conquered 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 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 vowed a pilgrimage; and the King was content therewith, and
gave him great gifts.
IX
Rodrigo forthwith set out upon the road, and took with him twenty
knights. And as he went he did great 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 alighted from his
beast and helped him, and placed him upon the beast before 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
within himself what had happened, and of that breath which had
passed through him, and how the leper was not there. After a while, as
he was thus musing, there appeared before him one in white garments,
who said unto him, Sleepest thou or wakest thou, Rodrigo? and he
answered and said, I do not sleep: but who art thou that bringest with
thee such brightness and so sweet an odour? Then said he, I am Saint
Lazarus, and know that I was the leper to whom thou didst so much good
and so great honour 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 honour shall go on increasing from day to day; and
thou shalt be feared both by Moors and Christians, and thy enemies
shall never prevail against thee, and thou shalt die an honourable
death in thine own house, and in thy renown, 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
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 the day broke. Then he proceeded on
his way, and performed his pilgrimage, doing much good for the love of
God and of St. Mary.
X
Now the day came which had been appointed for the combat
concerning Calahorra, between Rodrigo and Don Martin Gonzalez, and
Rodrigo was not arrived; therefore his cousin Alvar Fanez Minaya
undertook 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 Fanez, 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 wounded; but Don Martin began to
address Rodrigo, thinking to dismay him: Greatly dost thou now repent,
Don Rodrigo, said he, that thou hast entered into these lists with me;
for I shall so handle thee that never shalt thou marry Dona Ximena thy
spouse, whom thou lovest so well, 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
honour 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 anything 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 Castillians 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 Aragon 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 power of King Don
Ferrando.
XI
But when the Counts of Castille saw how Rodrigo increased day by day
in honour, 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. Rodrigo thanked them greatly for their good faith, and took
the letters and carried them 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 astonished 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 Dona
Elvira his kinswoman, 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 beseech 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 live. So he gave her
a letter to the King of Cordova, who received 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
King of Cordova that he made war upon him from Cabra which the King
had given him, till Rodrigo came and took it.
XII
The history relateth that at this time while the King was in
Galicia, the Moors entered Estremadura, and the people called upon
Rodrigo of Bivar to help them. And when he heard the summons he made
no delay, but gathered together his kinsmen and his friends, and
went against the misbelievers. And he came up with them between
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 pursuit 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 thousand
maravedis. Rodrigo divided the whole among his people without
covetousness, and returned with great honour.
XIII
Now the greater part of these Moors had been they of Merida,
Badajoz, Beja and Evora, and the King 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
Portugal, 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 fear 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 armour 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 castle. And on the following day at
the hour of tierce they also came to terms, and yielded themselves
to his mercy, saving their lives. 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 King Don Alfonso fell
into Ferrando's power, and the King took vengeance and punished him in
all the parts which had offended; he cut off the foot which had
prest down the Armatost, and lopt off the hands which had held the bow
and fitted the quarrel, and plucked out the eyes which had taken the
mark; and the living trunk was then set up as a butt for the archers.
XIV
In all these wars there was not a man who bore greater part, or
did better feats in arms, than Rodrigo of Bivar. 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 King, and the King took with him many of the Moors,
to be employed in building up the churches which had fallen to ruin
since the land was lost.
XV
All this while was Coimbra in the power of the misbelievers. And the
Abbot of Lorvam took counsel with 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 Dominicum, to say prayers 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 there, what they
are and how many, and with how little 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 that 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 covenant 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 when 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 meantime 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
fought against the city all February, and March, and April, May and
June, five months did he fight, and could not prevail against it.
And when July came the food of the besiegers failed them, insomuch
that they had only the dole for a few days left; then the baggage
was made ready, and the sumpter beasts and serving-men were ordered to
depart for Leon, and proclamation was made in the camp that the army
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 engines 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 prayer;
and the city was yielded to him on a Sunday at the hour of tierce,
which was before a week had run out since the Monks of Lorvam had
succoured the host.
XVI
Now it came to pass that while the King lay before Coimbra, there
came a pilgrim from the land of Greece on pilgrimage to Santiago;
his name was Estiano, and he 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 mayest 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 armour, 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 tomorrow, 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 when 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, even so did it come to pass; for tidings came that
on that day, and at the hour of tierce, the gates of the city had been
opened.
XVII
King Don Ferrando then assembled his Counts and chief captains,
and told them all that the Monks of Lorvam had done, in bringing him
to besiege the city, and in 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 were with
him in the host, and said the hours to him daily, and mass in St.
Andre's, and buried there and in their Monastery as many 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 favour and your council I have won it. But they
made answer, Thanks be to God and to you, and to your forefathers,
we have enough and shall have, if so be that we have your favour 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 single
church! Now therefore, since they require but this, on the part of God
Almighty let us grant and confirm unto them what they ask, to the
honour 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 married a daughter of King
Bermudo, and of other good men. And the King confirmed them, and he
bade them make a writing 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 honour 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 ye back the crown, and take also
ten marks of silver, and make with the money a good cross, to remain
with you for ever. And he who shall befriend you, may God befriend
him; but he who 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
honour 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 dominions.
XVIII
Then King Ferrando knighted Rodrigo of Bivar in the great mosque
of Coimbra, which he dedicated to St. Mary. And the ceremony was after
this manner: the King girded on his sword, and gave him the kiss,
but not the blow. To do him more honour the Queen gave him his
horse, and the Infanta Dona Urraca fastened on his spurs; and from
that day forth he was called Ruydiez. 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 favour, and gave him the city to keep, which he kept, and did much
evil to the Moors till the day of his death. And the King departed and
went to Compostella to return thanks to Santiago.
XIX
But then Benalfagi, who was the Lord of many lands in Estremadura,
gathered together a great power of the Moors and built up the walls 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 against
the town, and fought against it, and took it. Great honour 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 prest by them, and in great peril, nevertheless would
not send to the camp for succour, but put forth his manhood and
defeated them. And from that day the King gave more power into his
hands, and made him head over all his household.
XX
Now the men of Leon besought the King that he 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 was there came messengers from the five Kings who were
vassals to Ruydiez of Bivar, bringing him their tribute; 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 would not receive it, and
from that time he ordered that Ruydiez should be called the Cid,
because the Moors had so called him.
XXI
In those days Pope Victor II held a council at Florence, and the
Emperor Henry there made his complaint against King Don Ferrando, that
he did not acknowledge 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, defying him if he should refuse. When the King saw their
letters he was troubled, for he knew that if this thing were done,
great evil would follow to Castille and Leon. And he took counsel with
his honourable 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 Dona 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
honour 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 honour 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 honour should
perish. And the King thought that he was well counselled by him, for
the King was of a great heart.
XXII
Then the King ordered letters to be written, in which he besought
the Pope not to proceed farther against 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 to the Emperor and to the other Kings, telling 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 persisted to speak against him he then sent
them back their friendship, and defied them, and where they all were
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 advance 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 would
not sell, but to those who brought food he did no wrong. And after
such manner did he proceed, that wherever the King and his army
arrived they found all things of which they could stand in need; and
the news went sounding throughout all the land, so that all men
trembled.
XXIII
Then Count Remon, Lord of Savoy, with the 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 harbinger the Cid, who went before him to prepare lodgings, and
they had a hard battle; and the men of the Count were discomfited, and
he himself made prisoner and many with him, and many were slain. And
the Count besought the Cid of his mercy to set him free, saying that
he would give him a daughter he had, the which 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 Ferrando had his son
the Cardinal Ferrando, who was so honourable a man.
XXIV
After this the Cid had another battle with all the power of
France, and discomfited them, and at neither of these battles did
the King and his main army arrive. So the news went sounding before
them to the council, of the fierceness of the Cid; and as they 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, begging
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 Alvar Fanez Minaya, 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 honourable men of the council, 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. And the Pope sent Master Roberto, the
Cardinal of St. Sabina, with full powers, and the representatives 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 which they made were confirmed by the Pope and
by the Emperor and the other Kings, and sealed with their seals.
XXV
While this was doing the King abode where he was, beyond Tolosa; six
months did he abide there. And the Pope sent to ask of him the
daughter of Count Remon; and she was then five months gone with child;
and by the 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 was his godfather, and brought him up right
honourably, and dispensed with his bastardy that he might hold any
sacred dignity; and in process of time he was made an honourable
Cardinal. So the King returned with great honour into his own land,
and from that time he was called Don Ferrando the Great, the Emperor's
Peer; and it was said of him in songs that he had passed the passes of
Aspa in despite of the Frenchmen.
XXVI
Many other things did King Don Ferrando, which are written in the
book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Spain, enriching churches and
monasteries, and honouring the saints and martyrs, and making war upon
the misbelievers. 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 clean from offence before the face of God. From that day he,
being certain that his end was at hand, began to discharge 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 pleasure 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,
Dona Urraca and Dona 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 Navarre 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 kingdom of the Suevi had been overthrown by King
Leovegildo. And to Dona Urraca he gave the city of Zamora with all its
dependencies, and with half the Infantazgo; and the other half, with
the city of Toro and its dependencies, to Dona Elvira.
XXVII
When the Infante Don Sancho knew that the King his father had made
this allotment it displeased him, for he was the eldest son; and he
said to his father that he neither could nor ought to make this
division; for the Gothic Kings had in old time made a constitution for
themselves, that the kingdom and empire of Spain never should be
divided, but remain one dominion under one Lord. But the King
replied that he would not for this forbear to do as he had resolved,
for he had won the kingdom: then the Infante made answer, Do as you
will, being my father and Lord; but I do not consent unto it. So the
King made the division against the right of the Infante Don Sancho,
and it displeased many in the kingdom, and many it pleased; but they
who were of good understanding perceived the evil which would arise.
XXVIII
After this the King fell sick with the malady whereof he died. And
he made himself be carried to Leon, and there on his knees before
the bodies of the saints he besought 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 all kingdoms, and of
all Kings, and of all nations, and all 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 with gold in which he was arrayed, and took the crown
from his head and placed it upon the altar; and he put sackcloth
upon the carrion of his body, and prayed to God, confessing 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 order he was carried to St. Mary of Almazan
in pilgrimage, and there he remained thrice nine days, beseeching
St. Mary that she would have mercy upon him and intercede with her
blessed Son for his soul. From thence they carried him to Cabezon, and
there the Abbot Don Ferrando came to him, an honourable man, and
many other honourable men of his realms, and the Cid Ruydiez, whom the
King commended to the Infante Don Sancho, his son. And after he had
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 commended Spain and his other sons to him,
and gave him his blessing, and then at the hour of sexts he rendered
up his soul without 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: always had she counselled him well, being in truth the
mirror of his kingdoms, and the friend of the widows and orphans.
Her end was a good end, like that of the King her husband: God give
them Paradise for their reward. Amen.
BOOK TWO
I
The history relates how after the death of King Don Ferrando, the
three Kings his sons reigned each in his kingdom, according to the
division made by their father, who had divided that which should all
by right have descended to the King Don Sancho. Now the Kings of Spain
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 blood was King Don Sancho
descended, and he thought that it would be a reproach unto him if he
did not join together 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 the land setting
it in order, and what thing soever his people asked at his hand that
did he grant them freely, to the end that he might win their hearts.
II
When King Don Sancho of Navarre saw that there was a new King in
Castille, he thought to recover the lands of Bureva and of Old
Castille as far as Laredo, which had been lost when the King his
father was defeated and slain at Atapuerca in the mountains of Oca.
And now seeing that the kingdom of Ferrando was divided, he asked help
of his uncle Don Ramiro, King of Aragon; and the men of Aragon 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. Now
the King of Castille was wroth against the King of Aragon, 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
Zaragoza saw the great will which the King had to do evil unto him,
and that there was 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 honourably, 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
me is well, but he hath another thing in his heart. He sends to bid me
break up the siege and depart from his land, and as soon as I should
have departed, he would make friends unto himself among Christians and
among Moors, and fail me in all which he covenants. Nevertheless 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 himself 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 great riches and full honourably did he and
all his men depart from the siege.
III
Greatly was the King of Aragon displeased at this which King Don
Sancho had done, thinking that it was to his great injury and
abasement, for Zaragoza he held to be 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 dishonour 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 was the head of the kingdoms of
Castille and Leon, and all the conquests in Spain were his, for the
Kings of Aragon 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 demand, and let him pass in peace. But
the King of Aragon drew up his host for battle, and the onset was
made, and heavy blows were dealt on both sides, and many horses were
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! and charged the main body so fiercely that
by fine force he broke them; and when they were thus broken, the
Castillians 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 discomfited,
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 Aragon would then have been slain, or
made prisoner. This was the battle whereof the Black Book of
Santiago speaketh, saying, that in this year, on the day of the
Conversion of St. Paul, was the great slaughter of the Christians in
Porca. In all these wars did my Cid demean himself after his wonted
manner; and because of the great feats which he performed the King
loved him well, and made him his Alferez; so that in the whole army he
was second only to the King. And because when the host was in the
field it was his office to chuse the encampment place, for this reason
was my Cid called the Campeador.
IV
While King Don Sancho was busied in these wars, King Don Garcia of
Galicia took by force from Dona Urraca his sister 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 land be brought to destruction. And now also will be
accomplished 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 always 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 assembled 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 disherited Dona 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 always 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 me how best to
recover these kingdoms, for if I have not counsel from you I do not
expect to have it from any man in the world.
V
Greatly troubled at this was the Cid, and he answered and said, Ill,
Sir, would it behove me to counsel you that you should go against
the will of your father. You well know that when I went to Cabezon
unto him, after he had divided his kingdoms, how he made me swear to
him that I would always counsel his sons the best I could, 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 our sister Dona 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, twenty for Castille and twenty for Leon, as
vouchers that this which they covenanted should be faithfully
fulfilled on both sides.
VI
Then King Don Sancho gathered together a great host, Castillians and
Leonese, and they of Navarre and Biscay, Asturians, and men of
Aragon and of the border. And he sent Alvar Fanez, the cousin of the
Cid, to King Don Garcia, to bid him yield up his kingdom, and if he
refused to do this to defy him on his part. Alvar Fanez, 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 we 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 Fanez, 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 with this answer Alvar Fanez returned. Then King Don
Garcia called unto him a knight of Asturias, whose name was Ruy
Ximenez, and bade him go to his brother King Don Alfonso and tell
him what had past, 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 dominions. 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 bade the King look
to himself for defence, for he would find no help in his brother.
VII
Now Don Garcia was not beloved in his kingdom of Galicia, neither in
Portugal, for as much as he showed little favour to the hidalgos, both
Galegos and Portugueze, and vexed the people with tributes which he
had newly imposed. The cause of all this was a favourite, 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 Dona
Urraca of her lands, and his sister Dona 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 intreated
to put away his favourite. Don Rodrigo Frojaz was the one named to
speak unto the King; for being a man of approved valour, and the
Lord of many lands, it was thought that the King would 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 toward France; many of his vassals and kinsmen and
friends following him, to seek their fortunes in a country where
valour would be esteemed, for they were weary of the bad Government of
King Don Garcia.
BOOK_TWO|VIII
VIII
But when King Don Garcia knew of the league 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 them; and they advised him that he should send to
recall Don Rodrigo Frojaz, for having him the realm would be secure,
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 resist them, and the Count Don Nuno
de Lara, and the Count of Monzon, and Don Garcia de Cabra, were
drawing nigh unto Coimbra. When Don Rodrigo heard this and knew that
the Castillians were 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 coming against him. And it came to pass that when
the scouts gave notice that the Castillians were at hand, he ordered
the trumpets to be sounded, and the Portugueze sallied, and a little
below the city, at the place which 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 discomfited the Castillians, 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 hundred and twenty of their people were
left upon the field, and many were sorely wounded, among whom, even to
the great peril of his life, was Don Rodrigo Frojaz, being wounded
with many and grievous wounds. In this battle was slain the Count
Don Fafes Sarracem de Lanhoso, with many of his vassals, he from
whom the Godinhos are descended: he was a right good knight.
IX
A sorrowful defeat was that for King Don Sancho, more for the
quality of the slain than for their number; and he put himself at
the head of his army, and hastened through the midst of Portugal, to
go against his brother. And King Don Garcia hearing of his approach,
called together his knights and hidalgos, and said unto them, Friends,
we have no land whereunto to fly from the King Don Sancho my
brother, let us therefore meet him in battle, and either conquer him
or die; for better is it to die an honourable death than to suffer
this spoiling in our country. And to the Portugueze 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, which will be to your own great honour and profit; and if
I come out of this struggle well, 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 was 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 me, and help me to the utmost of your power. Ye see how
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 now. 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 kingdom of
Leon. And the Moors made answer, O King, thou canst not defend
thyself; how then canst thou give unto us the kingdom of Leon? Howbeit
they did him honour and gave him great gifts, and he returned to his
people and recovered many of the castles which he had lost.
X
When King Don Sancho came against his brother, to besiege him in
Santarem. And the Portugueze and Galegos took counsel together what
they should do; for some 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 Castillians 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 wounds 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 powerful 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 Pedro 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 arrive; 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 Castillians were
seen advancing, the Galegos and Portugueze drew up in battle array,
Don Rodrigo and his brethren having the van, as he had requested,
and a body of chosen knights with them.
XI
Count Don Garcia came in the front of King Don Sancho's army, and in
the one wing was the Count de Monzon and Count Don Nuno de Lara; and
the Count Don Fruela of Asturias in the other; and the King was in the
rear, with Don Diego de Osma, who carried his banner: and in this
manner were 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 well know that all which I had therein I
divided among ye, keeping ye for a season like this. And they
answered, Great benefits have we received at your hands, and we will
serve you to the utmost of our power. Now when the two hosts were
ready to join battle, Alvar Fanez came to King Don Sancho and said
to him, Sir, I have played away my horse and arms; I beseech you
give me others for this battle, and I will 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, who heard this, said to the
King, Give him, Sir, what he asketh; and the King ordered that horse
and arms should be given him. So the armies joined battle bravely on
both sides, and it was a sharp onset; many were the heavy blows
which were given on both sides, and many were the horses that were
slain at that encounter, and many the men. Now my Cid had not yet come
up into the field.
XII
Now Don Rodrigo Frojaz and his brethren and the knights who were
with them had resolved to make straight for the banner of the King
of Castille. And they broke through the ranks of the Castillians,
and made their way into the middle of the enemy's host, doing
marvellous feats of arms. Then was the fight at the hottest, for
they 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 honours, heartened them; and with the Castillians there
was their King, giving them brave example as well as brave words.
The press of the battle was here; here died Gonzalo de Sies, a right
valiant Portugueze, on the part of Don Garcia; but on Don Sancho's
part the Count Don Nuno 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 encountered 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 honourable 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 answer 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 honour 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 which 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 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 world,
Don Rodrigo Frojaz. In all the conquests 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
dominions than he, but two such knights as his two Rodrigos, meaning
my Cid and this good knight, there was none but himself who had for
vassals.
XIII
When King Don Garcia being desirous to be in the pursuit himself,
delivered his brother into the hands of six 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 will 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 reward would
they commit such disloyalty, but would guard him well, not offering
him any injury, till they had delivered him to his brother the King
Don Garcia. While they were parleying Alvar Fanez 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 overthrew 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 Fanez cried out to
them aloud, Ye see here the King our Lord, who is free; now then
remember the good name of the Castillians, and let us not lose it this
day. And about four hundred knights gathered about him. And while they
stood there they saw the Cid Ruydiez 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 beheld 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 recover 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 succoured his Lord in such season as you now succour
me, for the King my brother had overcome me. And the Cid answered,
Sir, be sure that you shall recover the day, or I will die; for
wheresoever you go, either you shall be victorious or I will meet my
death.
XIV
By this time King Don Garcia returned from the pursuit, singing as
he came full joyfully, for he thought that 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 Pedro, so that five of that family died that day. And the King Don
Sancho put his brother in better ward than his brother three hours
before had put him, for he put him in chains and sent him to the
strong castle of Luna.
XV
When King Don Sancho had done this he took unto himself the
kingdom of Galicia and of Portugal, and without delay sent to his
brother King Don Alfonso, commanding him to yield up to him the
kingdom of Leon, for it was his by right. At this was the King of Leon
troubled at 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 defied him to a pitched battle, saying that to
whichsoever God should give the victory, to him also would he give the
kingdom of Leon: and the King of Castille accepted the defiance, and a
day was fixed for the battle, and the place was 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 the Ansures, Lords of Monzon, which is nigh unto Palencia;
the same who in process of time was Count of Carrion and of Saldana
and Liebana, and Lord of Valladolid, 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 Ruydiez the Cid. Both
Kings were in the field that day, and full hardily was the battle
contested, and great was the mortality on either side, for the
hatred which used to be between Moors and Christians was then
between brethren. And that day also was the saying of Arias Gonzalo
fulfilled. But in the end the skill and courage of my Cid prevailed,
and King Don Alfonso was fain to avail himself of his horse's feet
to save himself.
XVI
Nevertheless the power of King Don Alfonso was not yet destroyed,
and he would not yield up his kingdom: and he sent to his brother a
second time to bid him battle, saying that whosoever conquered
should then certainly remain King of Leon; and the place appointed was
at Vulpegera, 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 Castillians
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: howbeit 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 themselves 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 them. And it came to pass as he had
said. The Leonese lodged themselves in Vulpegera, taking no thought of
their enemies, and setting no watch; and Ruydiez arose betimes in
the morning and fell upon them, and subdued them before they could
take their arms. King Don Alfonso 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 Castillians; and as it befell, they
encountered King Don Sancho and took him prisoner, not having those in
his company 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 with 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 therewith 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 Castillians 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 Dona Urraca bore to her brother
King Don Alfonso, and when she heard that he was made prisoner, she
feared lest he should be put to death: and she took with her the Count
Don 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 any
thing the Infanta Dona 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 were willing 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 Dona 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 went among the Moors to King Alimaymon of Toledo. And the
Moorish King welcomed him with a good will, and did great honour to
him and gave him great possessions many gifts.
XIX
When Dona Urraca knew that her brother King Don Alfonso had fled
to Toledo, she sent to him three good men of the kingdom of Leon, that
they should be his counsellors, for she loved him well. These were Don
Pero Ansures, and Don Ferran Ansures, and Don Gonzalo Ansures, all
three brethren: and they went with King Don Sancho's permission, for
it was God's pleasure. Now Alimaymon 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 always,
so long as he should remain with him, and not to depart from him
without his leave; and the King covenanted on his side to love him and
honour 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 saw the
great honour 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 was
descended, it grieved him in his heart to see that city in the hands
of the Moors: and he said within his heart, Lord God and Father
Jesus Christ, it is wholly 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 show unto me
such favour that this land and this city shall by me be won, that
thy holy body may be sacrificed in it to the honour 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 good service that he quelled their power, and they durst 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 was 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 lineage of these people continued there till Don Juan, the third
archbishop of Toledo, enlarged it, and peopled the parish of St.
Pedro.
XX
It came to pass after this that both the Kings one day came out of
Toledo, and past over the bridge of Alcantara, and went into the royal
garden to disport themselves therein and take their pleasure. And at
evening Don Alfonso lay down upon a bed to sleep, and King Alimaymon
fell in talk with his favourites 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 favourite 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
sleeping: and it troubled him, and he said to his favourites, We did
not heed Alfonso who is lying there, and has heard all that we have
said. And the favourites made answer, Kill him, Sir. But the King
said, How shall I go against my true promise? moreover he sleepeth,
and peradventure 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 drivelled 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 wont to do, and King Don Alfonso
went with him. Now Don Alfonso was a goodly personage and of fair
demeanour, so that the Moors liked him well. And as he was going by
the side of the King, two honourable 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 Alimaymon's favourites heard
all which they said. And after the sheep had been sacrificed they
returned into the city, and the favourite told the King what 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 against 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 favour than before. All
this while did King Don Alfonso govern himself by the advice of
Count Peransures, who always advised him discreetly and well.
XXII
But when King Don Sancho heard how his brother had fled from the
Monastery, he drew out his host and went against the city of Leon. The
Leonese would fain have maintained the city against him, but they
could not, and he took the city of Leon, and all the towns and 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 what they saw him
do, for they saw that nothing which he willed to take by force could
stand against him. And when the Infanta Dona Urraca, and the men of
Zamora, saw that he had quiet possession 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, Dona 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, especially by Dona Urraca's, because Don
Alfonso guided himself in all things by her counsel, holding her in
place of a mother, for she was a lady of great understanding. And he
went forth with his army, and took from the Infanta Dona Elvira the
half of the Infantazgo which she possessed, and also from Dona
Urraca the other half. And he went against Toro, the city of Dona
Elvira, and took it; and then he went to Zamora to Dona Urraca,
bidding her yield 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 which
the King her father had given her; and she besought him that he
would suffer her to continue to dwell peaceably therein, saying that
no disservice should ever be done against him on her part.
XXIII
When King Don Sancho went to Burgos, because it was not the season
for besieging a town, being winter. And he sent his letters through
all the land, calling upon his vassals to assemble together upon the
first day of March in Sahagun, upon pain of forfeiting his favour. 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, because 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 Carrion, 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 proclamation 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 see how strong it
is, neither Moor nor Christian can prevail against it; if I could have
it from my sister either for money or exchange, I should be Lord of
Spain.
XXIV
Then the King returned to his tents, and incontinently he sent for
the Cid, and said unto him, Cid, you well know how manifoldly you
are bound unto me, both by nature, and by reason of the breeding which
the King my father gave you; and when he died he commanded you to
me, and I have ever shown favour 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 Dona Urraca, and say unto her again, that I beseech her to
give me the town either for a price, or in exchange, 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, with twelve knights of my vassals, never to break this
covenant between us; but if she refuseth to do this I will take away
the town from her by force. And my Cid kissed the hand of the King and
said unto him, This bidding, 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 Gonzalo,
with Dona Urraca and with his sons, and it is not fitting that I
should be the bearer of such bidding. And the King persisted in
requiring of him that he should go, insomuch that he was constrained
to obey his will. And he took with him fifteen of his knights and rode
towards Zamora, 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 Dona 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 would order him to be well lodged
while he went to Dona Urraca to know if she would be pleased to see
him. So the Cid went in, and the knight went to the Infanta, and
told her that Ruydiez of Bivar was come with a message from King Don
Sancho; and it pleased her well that he should be the messenger, and
she bade him come before 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 Dona Urraca
advanced to meet him, and greeted him full well, and they seated
themselves both upon the Estrado. And Dona 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 always 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 will 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 agai |
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