Chronicle Of The Cid by Various

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XXX. This Alfaqui sent his messengers to an Almoxarife of the Cid whose
name was Abdalla Adiz; who was a good man and one whom the Cid loved,
and who never left him after he had obtained his favour. And when
Abdalla Adiz heard that they wished to propose terms, he spake with the
Cid upon this matter, and the Cid bade him enter the town, and speak
with them, and know of them what they would have. And he went into the
town, and spake with them as the Cid had commanded, and came out again,
and reported unto him what they had said, till he had made terms
between them, Abeniaf sent three good men with him to confirm the terms
which were made, and the covenant was after this manner, that they of
Valencia should send messengers to the King of Zaragoza, and to Ali
Abenaxa who was Adelantado of the Almoravides and Lord of Murcia,
beseeching them to succour them within fifteen days; and if within that
time they were not succoured they should then give up the city to the
Cid, with such conditions, that Abeniaf should remain mighty in the
town, as he had been before, his person being secure and all that he
had, and his wives, and his children, and that he should remain
_Veedor_, that is to say. Overseer, of all the rents of the town, he
and the Almoxarife of the Cid, and a Moor who was called Musa should be
Guazil of the town; this Musa had looked after the affairs of the Cid
in the time of King Yabia, and never forsook him after the death of the
King his Lord; and the Cid made him Alcayde of a Castle, and alway
found him loyal, and at his service, and for this reason trusted he in
him so as to make him Guazil, who should keep the keys of the town,
with a guard of Almocadenes, and of Christian foot-men of Almogavares
who had been born in the land of the Moors. And it was appointed that
the Cid should dwell in Juballa, in the town which he had made, and
that he should alter none of their privileges, nor of their customs,
nor the rents which they paid, nor their money.

XXXI. Presently on the morrow they sent five good men as messengers to
the King of Zaragoza, and as many more to Murcia; and it had been
covenanted that neither of these messengers should take with him more
than fifty _maravedís_ for his journey, and that they should go by sea
as far as Denia, in a ship of the Christians, and from thence by land.
These messengers embarked with their company on board that ship, and
the Cid sent orders to the master thereof not to sail till he came; and
the Cid came himself in his own body and bade them search the
messengers to see if they took with them more than had been agreed; and
he found upon them great riches in gold and in silver and in pearls and
in precious stones; part was their own, and part belonged to other
merchants in the city, who thought to send it to Murcla, not being
minded to abide in Valencia: and he took it all, leaving them no more
than fifty _maravedís_ each, according to the covenant. This was the
price of food on the day when these messengers departed: the pound of
wheat was three _maravedís_, and the pound of barley one and a half,
and the pound of painick three, saving a quarter; the ounce of cheese
three _dineros_, and the ounce of hemp seed four, and the pound of
colewort one _maravedí_ and two _dineros_ of silver, and the pound of
neat-skin one _maravedí_. In the whole town there was only one mule of
Abeniaf's, and one horse: another horse which belonged to a Moor he
sold to a butcher for three hundred and eighty _doblas_ of gold,
bargaining that he should have ten pounds of the flesh. And the butcher
sold the flesh of that horse at ten _maravedís_ the short pound, and
afterwards at twelve, and the head for twenty _doblas_ of gold.

XXXII. The Moors of Valencia were now something comforted, for they
weened that they should receive help, and the Christians did not now
war upon them; nevertheless they kept guard, and went the rounds, as
before, and waited for the day appointed, as one who looked to be
released from prison. And for this reason men began to bring out the
food which they had hidden, and to sell of it, and thus they went on
til the time expired, and the messengers were not returned. And Abeniaf
besought them that they would wait yet three days more, but they made
answer that they would not, for they could bear it no longer. And the
Cid sent unto them bidding them yield up the town, as they had
covenanted to do; and he swore with great oaths, that if they delayed a
single hour after the time was expired, he would not keep the terms
which he had made, and moreover that he would slay the hostages;
nevertheless they let a day pass over and above the term. And then they
who made the covenant with the Cid went out unto him and besought him
to come and receive the town, but the Cid said wrathfully to them that
he was not bound to keep the terms, seeing they had let the time
appointed pass; and they yielded themselves into his hands that he
should do with them according to his pleasure; then he was moved to
compassion, and had pity upon them. And Abeniaf and other good men came
out, and the writings were made and were confirmed on both sides, by
the Chiefs of the Christians and of the Moors, and the gates were
opened at the hour of noon, upon Thursday the last day of June, after
the feast of St. John, which the Moors call Alhazaro. And when the gate
was opened Abeniaf was there within, with a great company round about
him, both of his own people and of those of the town; and the
Christians as they entered ascended the walls and towers. And Abeniaf
asked why so many went up, for it was not in the terms; but they would
not cease for that, and they took possession of all, little to his
liking.

BOOK VII.

I. And all the people of the town gathered together, like men risen
from their graves,...yea, like the dead when the trumpet shall sound
for the day of judgment, and men shall come out of their graves and be
gathered together before the Majesty of God. And hucksters came from
Alcudia and brought bread and pulse to sell, and others of the town
went out to Alcudia to buy food; and they who were poor, and had not
wherewith to buy, plucked of the herbs of the field and ate them, and
they held themselves rich because they could go out when they would,
and enter in again without fear. And such as were wise among them
abstained from taking much food, fearing what would happen, and they
took it little by little till they had gotten strength; all they who
took their fill died, and the mortality among them was so great that
all the fields were full of graves.

II. On the following day after the Christians had taken possession of
the town, the Cid entered it with a great company, and he ascended the
highest tower of the wall, and beheld all the city; and the Moors came
unto him, and kissed his hand, saying he was welcome. And the Cid did
great honour unto them. And then he gave order that all the windows of
the towers which looked in upon the town should be closed up, that the
Christians might not see what the Moors did in their houses; and the
Moors thanked him for this greatly. And he commanded and requested the
Christians that they should show great honour to the Moors, and respect
them, and greet them when they met: and the Moors thanked the Cid
greatly for the honour which the Christians did them, saying that they
had never seen so good a man, nor one so honourable, nor one who had
his people under such obedience.

III. Now Abeniaf thought to have the love of the Cid; and calling to
mind the wrath with which he had formerly been received, because he had
not taken a gift with him, he took now great riches which he had taken
from those who sold bread for so great a price during the siege of
Valencia, and this he carried to the Cid as a present. Among those who
had sold it were some men from the Islands of Majorca, and he took from
them all that they had. This the Cid knew, and he would not accept his
gifts. And the Cid caused proclamation to be made in the town and
throughout the whole district thereof, that the honourable men and
knights and castellans should assemble together in the garden of Villa
Nueva, where the Cid at that time sojourned. And when they were all
assembled, he went out unto them, to a place which was made ready with
carpets and with mats, and he made them take their seats before him
full honourably, and began to speak unto them, saying, I am a man who
have never possessed a kingdom, neither I nor any man of my lineage.
But the day when I first beheld this city I was well pleased therewith,
and coveted it that I might be its Lord; and I besought the Lord our
God that he would give it me. See now what his power is, for the day
when I sate down before Juballa I had no more than four loaves of
bread, and now by God's mercy I have won Valencia. And if I administer
right and justice here God will let me enjoy it, but if I do evil, and
demean myself proudly and wrongfully, I know that he will take it away.
Now then let every one go to his own lands, and possess them even as he
was wont to have and to hold them. He who shall find his field, or his
vineyard, or his garden, desert, let him incontinently enter thereon;
and he who shall find his husbanded, let him pay him that hath
cultivated it the cost of his labour, and of the seed which he hath
sown therein, and remain with his heritage, according to the law of the
Moors. Moreover I have given order that they who collect my dues take
from you no more than the tenth, because so it is appointed by the
custom of the Moors, and it is what ye have been wont to pay. And I
have resolved in my heart to hear your complaints two days in the week,
on the Monday and the Thursday; but if causes should arise which
require haste, come to me when ye will and I will give judgment, for I
do not retire with women to sing and to drink, as your Lords have done,
so that ye could obtain no justice, but will myself see to these
things, and watch over ye as friend over his friend, and kinsman over
his kinsman. And I will be Cadi and Guazil, and when dispute happens
among ye I will decide it. When he had said these things they all
replied that they prayed God to preserve him through long and happy
years, and four of the most honourable among them rose and kissed his
hands, and the Cid bade them take their seats again.

IV. Then the Cid spake unto them and said, It is told me that Abeniaf
hath done much evil, and committed great wrong toward some of ye, in
that he hath taken great riches from ye to present them to me, saying,
that this he did because ye sold food for a great price during the
siege. But I will accept of no such gift; for if I were minded to have
your riches, I could take them, and need not ask them neither from him,
nor from any other; but thing so unseemly as to take that which is his
from any one, without just cause, I will not do. They who have gotten
wealth thus, God hath given it them; let them go to Abeniaf, and take
back what he hath forced from them, for I will order him to restore the
whole. Then he said, Ye see the riches which I took from the messengers
who went to Murcia; it is mine by right, for I took it in war because
they brake the covenant which they had made, and would have deceived
me: nevertheless I will restore it to the uttermost farthing, that
nothing thereof shall be lost. And ye shall do homage to me that ye
will not withdraw yourselves, but will abide here, and do my bidding in
all things, and never depart from the covenant which ye make with me;
for I love ye, and am grieved to think of the great evil and misery
which ye endured from the great famine, and of the mortality which
there was. And if ye had done that before which ye have done now, ye
would not have been brought to these sufferings and have bought the
_cafiz_ of wheat at a thousand _maravedís_; but I trust in God to bring
it to one _maravedí_. Be ye now secure in your lands, and till your
fields, and rear cattle; for I have given order to my men that they
offer ye no wrong, neither enter into the town to buy nor to sell; but
that they carry on all their dealings in Alcudia, and this I do that ye
may receive no displeasure. Moreover I command them not to take any
captive into the town, but if this should be done, lay ye hands on the
captive and set him free, without fear, and if any one should resist,
kill him and fear not. I myself will not enter your city nor dwell
therein, but I will build me a place beside the Bridge of Alcantara,
where I may go and disport myself at times, and repair when it is
needful. When he had said these things he bade them go their way.

V. Well pleased were the Moors when they departed from him, and they
marvelled at the greatness of his promises, and they set their hearts
at rest, and put away the fear which they had had, thinking all their
troubles were over; for in all the promises which the Cid had made unto
them, they believed that he spake truth; but he said these things only
to quiet them, and to make them come to what he wished, even as came to
pass. And when he had done, he sent his Almoxarife, Abdalla Adiz, to
the Custom House, and made him appoint men to collect the rents of the
town for him, which vas done accordingly. And when the Cid had given
order concerning his own affairs at his pleasure, the Moors would fain
have entered again into possession of their heritages as he told them;
but they found it all otherwise, for of all the fields which the
Christians had husbanded; they would not yield up one; albeit they let
them enter upon such as were left waste; some said that the Cid had
given them the lands that year, instead of their pay, and other some
that they rented them and had paid rent for the year. So the Moors
seeing this, waited till Thursday, when the Cid was to hear complaints,
as he had said unto them. When Thursday came all the honourable men
went to the Garden, but the Cid sent to say unto them that he could not
come out that day, because of other causes which he had to determine;
and he desired that they would go their way for that time, and come
again on the Monday: this was to show his mastery. And when it was
Monday they assembled again in the Garden, and the Cid came out to
them, and took his seat upon the _estrado_, and the Moors made their
complaint. And when he had heard them, he began to make similitudes,
and offer reasons which were not like those which he had spoken the
first day, for he said to them, I ask of ye, whether it is weil that I
should be left without men? for if I were without them, I should be
like unto one who hath lost his right arm, or to a bird that hath no
wings, or to one who should do battle and hath neither spear nor sword.
The first thing which I have to look to is to the well-being of my
people, that they may live in wealth and honour, so that they may be
able to serve me, and defend my honour; for since it has pleased God to
give me the city of Valencia, I will not that there be any other Lord
here than me. Therefore I say unto you and command you, if you would be
well with me, and would that I should show favour unto you, that ye see
how to deliver that traitor Abeniaf into my hands. Ye all know the
great treason which he committed upon King Yahia, his Lord and yours,
how he slew him, and the misery which he brought upon you in the siege;
and since it is not fitting that a traitor who hath slain his Lord
should live among you, and that his treason should be confounded with
your loyalty, see to the obeyment of my command.

VI. When the honourable Moors heard this they were dismayed; verily
they knew that he spake truth touching the death of the King, but it
troubled them that he departed from the promise which he had made; and
they made answer that they would take counsel concerning what he had
said, and then reply. Then five of the best and most honourable among
them withdrew, and went to Abdalla Adiz, and said unto him, Areed us
thy reed now the best and truest that thou canst, for thou art of our
law, and oughtest to do this; and the reason why we ask counsel of thee
is this. The Cid promised us many things, and now behold he says
nothing to us of what he said before, but moveth other new reasons, at
which great dismay hath seized us. And because thou better knowest his
ways, tell us now what is his pleasure, for albeit we might wish to do
otherwise, this is not a time wherein anything but what he shall
command can be done. When the Almoxarife heard this he made answer,
Good men, it is easy to understand what he would have, and to do what
should be done. We a11 know the great treason which Abeniaf committed
against we all in killing your Lord the King: for albeit, at that time
ye felt the burden of the Christians, yet it was nothing so great as
after he had killed him, neither did ye suffer such misery. And since
God hath brought him who was the cause to this state, see now by all
means how ye may deliver him into the hands of the Cid. And fear not,
neither take thought for the rest; for though the Cid may do his
pleasure in some things, better is it to have him for Lord, than this
traitor who hath brought so much evil upon ye. Moreover the things of
this world soon pass away, and my heart tells me that we shall ere long
come out of the bondage of the Cid, and of the Christians, for the Cid
is well nigh at the full of his days, and we who remain alive after his
death, shall then be masters of our city. When the good men heard what
he said, they thanked him much, and held themselves to be well advised,
and said that they would do willingly what he bade them: and they
returned forthwith to the Cid, and said unto him that they would fulfil
his commandment. Incontinently did the good men dispeed themselves of
the Cid, and they went into the city, and gathered together a great
posse of armed men, and went to the place where Abeniaf dwelt; and they
assaulted the house and brake the doors, and entered in and laid hands
on him, and his son, and all his company, and carried them before the
Cid. And the Cid ordered Abeniaf to be cast into prison, and all those
who had taken counsel with him for the death of King Yahia.

VII. When this was done, the Cid said unto the good men, Now that ye
have fulfilled my bidding, I hold it good to show favour unto you in
that which ye yourselves shall understand to be fitting for me to
grant. Say therefore what ye would have, and I will do that which I
think behoveth me: but in this manner, that my dwelling place be within
the city of Valencia, in the Alcazar, and that my Christian men have
all the fortresses in the city. And when the good men heard this, they
were greatly troubled; howbeit they dissembled the sorrow which they
resented, and said unto him, Sir Cid, order it as you think good, and
we consent thereto. Then said he unto them that he would observe
towards them all the uses and customs of their law, and that he would
have the power, and be Lord of all; and they should till their fields
and feed their flocks and herds, and give him his tenth, and he would
take no more. When the Moors heard this they were well pleased, and
since they were to remain in the town, and in their houses and their
inheritances, and with their uses and customs, and that their Mosques
were to be left them, they held themselves not to be badly off. Then
they asked the Cid to let their Guazil be the same as he had first
appointed, and that he would give them for their Cadi the Alfaqui
Alhagi, and let him appoint whom he would to assist him in distributing
justice to the Moors; and thus he himself would be relieved of the
wearisomeness of hearing them, save only when any great occasion might
befall. This Alhagi was he who made the lamentation for Valencia, as ye
have heard; and when the Cid was peaceably established in Valencia, he
was converted, and the Cid made him a Christian. And the Cid granted
this which they required, and they kissed his hand, and returned into
the town. Nine months did the Cid hold Valencia besieged, and at the
end of that time it fell into his power, and he obtained possession of
the walls, as ye have heard. And one month he was practising with the
Moors that he might keep them quiet, till Abeniaf was delivered into
his hands; and thus ten months were fulfilled, and they were fulfilled
on Thursday the last day of June, in the year of the æra one thousand
one hundred and thirty and one, which was in the year one thousand
ninety and three of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when
the Cid had finished all his dealings with the Moors, on this day he
took horse with all his company in good array, his banner being carried
before him, and his arms behind: and in this guise, with great
rejoicings he entered the city of Valencia. And he alighted at the
Alcazar, and gave order to lodge all his men round about it, and he
bade them his banner upon the highest tower of the Alcazar.

Glad was the Campeador, and all they who were with him when they saw
his banner planted in that place. And from that day forth was the Cid
possessed of all the Castles and fortresses which were in the kingdom
of Valencia, and established in what God had given him, and lie and ail
Ins people rejoiced.

VIII. On the morrow the Cid sent Abeniaf to Juballa. and they gave him
great tortures till he was at the point of death; and they kept him
there two days, and then brought him to Valencia to the Garden of the
Cid, and the Cid gave order that he should write with his own hand an
account of all that he had. And he did this, and wrote down the
carkanets, and rings, and costly garments, and rich apparel which he
had, and also many other precious household things, and the debts which
were due unto him. This the Cid did that he might see if all was there
which Abeniaf had taken when he slew the King his Master; and the
writing was read before the Cid. And the Cid sent for certain Moors who
were good and honourable men, and made Abeniaf be brought before him,
and demanded of him if he had nothing more than what was there written
down; and he answered that he had not; and he bade him swear this
before the Moors, and Abeniaf swore accordingly. Then the Cid sent
privily to make search in all the houses of the friends of Abeniaf,
swearing unto them, that if they had anything of his and denied it, and
it should afterwards be discovered, he would put them to death, and
moreover take from them all that they had. And they when they heard
this, partly in the fear of the Cid, and partly that they might find
favour with him, brought each of them great riches, saying, Sir,
Abeniaf gave us this in keeping, that if it might be saved, he might
share it with us. And he gave order to search and dig in the houses of
Abeniaf, and they found great treasure there in gold and in silver, and
in pearls, and in precious stones, all which a servant discovered unto
them. And when the Cid saw it all before him it pleased him much, and
he called for the Moors before whom Abeniaf had taken the oath, and he
took his seat upon the _estrado_ full nobly, and there in the presence
of Christians and Moors he ordered Abeniaf and all the other prisoners
to be brought forth. And he bade that Alfaqui whom he had made Cadi,
and the other good men, judge by what death he who had slain his Lord
deserved to die, according to their law, and who moreover was perjured,
for he had sworn that he possessed nothing more than what he had set
down in writing: and the Cadi and the other Moors said that according
to their law, he and his accomplices should be stoned: This, they said,
we find in our law, but you will do as you think good. Nevertheless we
ask mercy of you for his son, who is but a child; may it please you to
set him free, for he hath no fault in what his father hath done. And
the Cid answered, that for the love of them he pardoned the child, but
that he should depart from the city, for he would not have the son of
a traitor dwell therein. And he commanded them that they should stone
Abeniaf and all them who had taken counsel with him for the death of
the King, according as they had given sentence. Then the honourable
Moors rose and kissed his feet and his hands for the mercy which he had
shown to the son of Abeniaf; and they took out Abeniaf to stone him,
and other twenty and two with him. And the Cid bade them come again to
him on the morrow, and he would appoint what should be the manner of
his dwelling among them.

IX. That night the Cid spake with Alvar Fañez and with Pero Bermudez,
and all them who were of his council, and they resolved in what manner
they would live among the Moors. And on the morrow the honourable Moors
of Valencia assembled together in the Alcazar as they had been
commanded to do, and the Cid took his seat upon the _estrado_, and all
the honourable men round about him, and he spake unto them after this
manner: Good men of the Aljama of Valencia, ye know how I served and
defended King Yahia your Lord, and ye also, until his death. And I had
great sorrow for him, and strove to revenge him, as ye know, and
endured great hardships in winning Valencia.

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