Chronicle Of The Cid by Various
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Various >> Chronicle Of The Cid
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XVII. Then he of Bivar returned to Zaragoza, and divided the spoil,
which was so great that none of his men knew how much they had. And the
Moors of the town rejoiced in his good speed, liking him well, because
he protected them so well that they were safe from all harm. And my Cid
went out again from Zaragoza, and rode over the lands of Monzon and
Huerta and Onda and Buenar. And King Pedro of Aragon came out against
him, but my Cid took the Castle of Monzon in his sight; and then he
went to Tamarit: and one day as he rode out hunting from thence with
twelve of his knights, he fell in with a hundred and fifty of the King
of Aragon's people, and he fought with them and put them to flight, and
took seven knights prisoners, whom he let go freely. Then he turned
towards the sea-coast, and won Xerica and Onda and Almenar, and all the
lands of Borriana and Murviedro; and they in Valencia were greatly
dismayed because of the great feats which he did in the land. And when
he had plundered all that country he returned to Tamarit, where Zulema
then was.
XVIII. Now Zulema had sent for my Cid, and the cause was this. His
brother the King of Denia had taken counsel with Count Ramon Berenguer,
and with the Count of Cardona, and with the brother of the Count of
Urgel, and with the chiefs of Balsadron and Remolin and Cartaxes, that
they should besiege the Castle of Almenar, which my Cid had refortified
by command of King Zulema. And they came up against it while my Cid was
away, besieging the Castle of Estrada, which is in the rivers Tiegio
and Sege, the which he took by force. And they fought against it and
cut off the water. And when my Cid came to the King at Tamarit, the
King asked him to go and fight with the host which besieged Almenar;
but my Cid said it would be better to give something to King
Abenalfange that he should break up the siege and depart; for they were
too great a power to do battle with, being as many in number as the
sands on the sea-shore. And the King did as he counselled him, and sent
to his brother King Abenalfange, and to the chiefs who were with him,
to propose this accord, and they would not. Then my Cid, seeing that
they would not depart for fair means, armed his people, and fell upon
them. That was a hard battle and well fought on both sides, and much
blood was shed, for many good knights on either party were in the
field; howbeit he of good fortune won the day at last, he who never was
conquered. King Abenalfange and Count Ramon and most of the others
fled, and my Cid followed, smiting and slaying for three leagues; and
many good Christian knights were made prisoners. Ruydiez returned with
great honour and much spoil, and gave all his prisoners to King Zulema,
who kept them eight days, and then my Cid begged their liberty and set
them free. And he and the King returned to Zaragoza, and the people
came out to meet them, with great joy, and shouts of welcome. And the
King honoured my Cid greatly, and gave him power in all his dominions.
XIX. At this time it came to pass that Almofalez, a Moor of Andalusia,
rose up with the Castle of Rueda, which was held for King Don Alfonso.
And because he held prisoner there the brother of Adefir, another Moor,
Adefir sent to the King of Castille, beseeching him to come to succour
him, and recover the Castle. And the King sent the Infante Don Ramiro
his cousin, and the Infante Don Sancho, son to the King of Navarre, and
Count Don Gonzalo Salvadores, and Count Don Nuņo Alvarez, and many
other knights with them; and they came to the Castle, and Almofalez
said he would not open the gates to them, but if the King came he would
open to him. And when King Don Alfonso heard this, incontinently he
came to Rueda. And Almofalez besought him to enter to a feast which he
had prepared; howbeit the King would not go in, neither would his
people have permitted him so to have risked his person. But the Infante
Don Sancho entered, and Don Nuņo, and Don Gonzalo, and fifteen other
knights; and as soon as they were within the gate, the Moors threw down
great stones upon them and killed them all. This was the end of the
good Count Don Gonzalo Salvadores, who was so good a knight in battle
that he was called He of the Four Hands. The bodies were ransomed,
seeing that there was no remedy, the Castle being so strong, and Don
Gonzalo was buried in the Monastery of Oņa, according as he had
appointed in his will; and the Infante Don Sancho with his forefathers
the Kings of Navarre, in the royal Monastery of Naxara.
XX. Greatly was King Don Alfonso troubled at this villainy, and he sent
for the Cid, who was in those parts; and the Cid came to him with a
great company. And the King told him the great treason which had been
committed, and took the Cid into his favour, and said unto him that he
might return with him into Castille. My Cid thanked him for his bounty,
but he said he never would accept his favour unless the King granted
what he should request; and the King bade him make his demand. And my
Cid demanded, that when any hidalgo should be banished, in time to
come, he should have the thirty days, which were his right, allowed
him, and not nine only, as had been his case; and that neither hidalgo
nor citizen should be proceeded against till they had been fairly and
lawfully heard; also, that the King should not go against the
privileges and charters and good customs of any town or other place,
nor impose taxes upon them against their right; and if he did, that it
should be lawful for the land to rise against him, till he had amended
the misdeed. And to all this the King accorded, and said to my Cid that
he should go back into Castille with him: but my Cid said he would not
go into Castille till he had won that castle of Rueda, and delivered
the villainous Moors thereof into his hands, that he might do justice
upon them. So the King thanked him greatly, and returned into Castille,
and my Cid remained before the Castle of Rueda. And he lay before it so
long, and beset it so close, that the food of the Moors failed, and
they had no strength to defend themselves; and they would willingly
have yielded the castle, so they might have been permitted to leave it
and go whither they would; but he would have their bodies, to deliver
them up to the King. When they saw that it must be so, great part of
them came out, and yielded themselves prisoners; and then my Cid
stormed the Castle, and took Almofalez and they who held with him, so
that none escaped; and he sent him and his accomplices in the treason
to the King. And the King was right glad when they were brought before
him, and he did great justice upon them, and sent to thank my Cid for
having avenged him.
XXI. After my Cid had done this good service to King Don Alfonso, he
and King Zulema of Zaragoza entered Aragon, slaying, and burning, and
plundering before them, and they returned to the Castle of Monzon with
great booty. Then the Cid went into King Abenalfange's country, and did
much mischief there; and he got among the mountains of Moriella, and
beat down every thing before him, and destroyed the Castle of Moriella.
And King Zulema sent to bid him build up the ruined Castle of Alcala,
which is upon Moriella; and the Cid did so. But King Abenalfange being
sorely grieved hereat, sent to King Pedro of Aragon, and besought him
to come and help him against the Campeador. And the King of Aragon
gathered together a great host in his anger, and he and the King of
Denia came against my Cid, and they halted that night upon the banks of
the Ebro; and King Don Pedro sent letters to the Cid, bidding him leave
the castle which he was then edifying. My Cid made answer, that if the
King chose to pass that way in peace, he would let him pass, and show
him any service in his power. And when the King of Aragon saw that he
would not forsake the work, he marched against him, and attacked him.
Then was there a brave battle, and many were slain; but my Cid won the
day, and King Abenalfange fled, and King Don Pedro was taken prisoner,
and many of his Counts and knights with him. My Cid returned to
Zaragoza with this great honour, taking his prisoners with him; and he
set them all freely at liberty, and having tarried in Zaragoza a few
days, set forth for Castille, with great riches and full of honours.
XXII. Having done all these things in his banishment, my Cid returned
to Castille, and the King received him well, and gave him the Castle of
Dueņas, and of Orcejon, and Ybia, and Campo, and Gaņa, and Berviesca,
and Berlanga, with all their districts. And he gave him privileges with
leaden seals appendant, and confirmed with his own hand, that whatever
castles, towns, and places, he might win from the Moors, or from any
one else, should be his own, quit and free for ever, both for him and
for his descendants. Thus was my Cid received into the King's favour,
and he abode with him long time, doing him great services, as his Lord.
BOOK V.
I. In these days King Yahia reigned in Toledo, the grandson of King
Alimaymon, who had been the friend of King Don Alfonso; for Alimaymon
was dead, and his son Hicem also. Now Yahia was a bad King, and one who
walked not in the ways of his fathers. Insolent he was towards the
elders, and cruel towards his people: and his yoke was so heavy that
all men desired to see his death, because there was no good in him. And
the people seeing that he did not protect them, and that their lands
were ravaged safely, went to him and said, Stand up, Sir, for thy
people and thy country, else we must look for some other Lord who will
defend us. But he was of such lewd customs that he gave no heed to
their words. And when they knew that there was no hope of him, the
Moors sent to the King of Badajoz, inviting him to come and be their
protector, saying that they would deliver the city into his hands in
spite of Yahia. And the Muzarabes who dwelt in the city sent to King
Don Alfonso, exhorting him to win Toledo, which he might well do, now
that he was no longer bound by his oath. Then both Kings came, thinking
to have the city: and the King of Badajoz came first, and the gates
were opened to him in despite of Yahia. Howbeit King Don Alfonso
speedily arrived, and the King of Badajoz, seeing that he could not
maintain Toledo against him, retreated, and King Don Aifonso pursued
him into his own dominions and gave orders that he should be attacked
along the whole of his border, and did not leave him till he had
plainly submitted. In this manner was Yahia delivered from the King of
Badajoz; but King Don Alfonso knowing how that city was to be taken,
contented himself with overrunning the country, and despoiling it, even
to the walls of the city; and thus he did for four years, so that he
was master of the land.
II. In all this time did my Cid do good service to King Don Alfonso.
And in these days King Don Alfonso fought at Consuegra with King
Abenalfange of Denia, and in this battle the Christians were defeated,
and Diego Rodriguez, the son of my Cid, was slain. Greatly was his
death lamented by the Christians, for he was a youth of great hope, and
one who was beginning to tread in the steps of his father. And King Don
Alfonso was fain to retire into the Castle of that town. And
Abenalfange gathered together the greatest power of the Moors that he
could, and entered the land of the Christians, and past the mountains,
and came even to Medina del Campo, and there Alvar Faņez Minaya met
him. Minaya had but five and twenty hundred horse with him, and of the
Moors there were fifteen thousand; nevertheless by God's blessing he
prevailed against them. And by the virtue of God Alvar Faņez gave King
Abenalfange a cruel wound in the face, so that he fled away. Great
honour did Minaya win for this victory.
III. Now had King Don Alfonso for many years cut down the bread and the
wine and the fruits in all the country round about Toledo, and he made
ready to go against the city. The tidings of this great enterprise
spread far and wide, and adventurers came from all parts lo be present;
not only they of Castille and Leon, Asturias and Nagera, Galicia and
Portugal, but King Sancho Ramirez of Aragon came also, with the flower
of Aragon and Navarre and Catalonia, and Franks and Germans and
Italians, and men of other countries, to bear their part in so great
and catholic a war. And the King entertained them well, being full
bountiful, insomuch that he was called He of the Open Hand. Never had
so goodly a force of Christians been assembled in Spain, nor so great
an enterprise attempted, since the coming of the Moors. And of this
army was my Cid the leader. So soon as the winter was over they began
their march. And when they came to a ford of the Tagus, behold the
river was swoln, and the best horsemen feared to try the passage. Now
there was a holy man in the camp, by name Lesmes, who was a monk of St.
Benedict's; and he being mounted upon an ass rode first into the ford,
and passed safely through the flood; and all who beheld him held it for
a great miracle.
IV. Greatly to be blamed are they who lived in those days for not
handing down to everlasting remembrance the worthy feats which were
atchieved at this siege. For not only was Toledo a strong city, both by
nature and in its walls and towers, but the flower of the chivalry of
all Spain and of all Christendom was there assembled, and the Moors of
Spain also, knowing that this was, as it were, the heart of their
empire, did all they could to defend it: greatly to be blamed are they
who neglected to transmit to us the memory of their deeds, and greatly
have they wronged the worthy knights whose exploits should else have
gained for them a never-dying renown. Nothing more, owing to their
default, can we say of this so notable a siege, than that when Don
Cabrian, the Bishop of Leon, was earnestly engaged in prayer for the
success of the Christian arms, the glorious St. Isidro appeared unto
him, and certified that in fifteen days the city should be surrendered;
and even so it came to pass, for the gates were opened to the King on
Thursday the twenty-fifth of May, in the year of the æera 1123, which
is the year of Christ 1085. The first Christian banner which entered
the city was the banner of my Cid, and my Cid was the first Christian
Alcayde of Toledo. Of the terms granted unto the Moors, and how they
were set aside for the honour of the Catholic faith, and of the cunning
of the Jews who dwelt in the city, and how the Romish ritual was
introduced therein, this is not the place to speak; all these things
are written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Spain.
V. Now Yahai, when he saw that he could by no means hold Toledo,
because on the one hand the Moors would give it to the King of Badajoz,
and on the other King Don Alfonso warred against it, he made a covenant
with King Don Alfonso to yield the city to him, if he with the help of
Alvar Faņez would put him in possession of Valencia, which had belonged
unto Hicem and Alimaymon, his fathers, but which the Guazil Abdalla
Azis held now as his own, calling himself King thereof. And he
covenanted that King Don Alfonso should also put into his hand Santa
Maria de Albarrazin, and the kingdom of Denia; and the King assented to
the covenant, thinking that in this manner the land would be all his
own. Yahia therefore sent Abenfarat, who was his cousin, to Valencia,
to spy out what the Guazil would do, whether he would peaceably deliver
up the kingdom unto him, or whether he would oppose his coming, which
he greatly doubted, because it was rumoured that he was about to give
his daughter in marriage to the King of Zaragoza. Abenfarat went his
way, and took up his abode in the house of a Moor who was called
Abenlupo; and while he sojourned there the marriage of the Guazil's
daughter was effected, and the Guazil himself fell sick and died. Then
Abenfarat tarried yet awhile to see what would be the issue, for the
men of Valencia were greatly troubled because of the death of their
King. He left two sons, between whom there was no brotherly love during
his life, and now that he was dead there was less. And they divided
between them all that he had left, even the least thing did they
divide, each being covetous to possess all that he could; and they made
two factions in the town, each striving to possess himself of the power
therein. But the men of Valencia who were not engaged on their side,
and they also who held the castles round about, were greatly troubled
because of this strife which was between them; and they also were
divided between two opinions, they who were of the one wishing to give
the kingdom to the King of Zaragoza, and they who were of the other to
yield themselves unto Yahai the grandson of Alimaymon, because of the
covenant which King Don Alfonso had made with him. When Abenfarat knew
these things he returned unto Yahia, and told him all even as it was;
and Yahia saw that he should have the city, because of the discord
which was therein.
VI. Then Yahia gathered together all his people, knights, and cross-bow
men, and foot-soldiers, and they of his board, and the officers of his
household which are the eunuchs; and he set forward on the way toward
Valencia, and Alvar Faņez and his body of Christians with him. And he
sent to the townsmen greeting them, and saying that he was coming to
dwell among them and to be their King, and that he would deal
bountifully by them; and that he should wait awhile in the town which
was called Sera. The chief men of the town took counsel together what
they should do, and at length they agreed to receive him for their
Lord; and this they did more in fear of King Don Alfonso and of Alvar
Faņez than for any love towards him. This answer they sent him by
Aboeza the Alcayde. Now Aboeza would fain have departed from Valencia
when the Guazil Abdalla Azis died, because of the strife which was in
the city, and he thought to betake himself to his own Castle of
Monviedro and dwell there, away from the troubles which were to come.
Upon this purpose he took counsel with his friend Mahomed Abenhayen the
Scribe, for there was great love between them; and when the Scribe
heard what he purposed to do he was grieved thereat, and represented
unto him that it was not fitting for him to forsake the city at such a
time, so that Aboeza was persuaded. And they twain covenanted one to
the other, to love and defend each other against all the men in the
world, and to help each other with their persons and possessions; and
Aboeza sent trusty men of his kinsfolk and friends to keep the Castles
of Monviedo and Castro and Santa Cruz, and other Castles which were in
his possession, and he himself abode in Valencia. And now he went out
to Yahia to give unto him the keys of the city, and the good men of the
city went out with him, and they made obeisance to him and promised to
serve him loyally. Then Yahia, the grandson of Alimaymon, set forth
with all his company from Sera, and all the people of Valencia, high
and low, went out to meet him with great rejoicings. And Aboeza adorned
the Alcazar right nobly, that Yahia and his women and they of his
company might lodge within. The most honourable of his knights took up
their lodging in the town, and the cross-bow men and others of low
degree lodged round about the Alcazar, and in certain dwellings which
were between it and the Mosque, and Alvar Faņez and the Christians who
were with him, in the village which was called Ruzaf.
VII. Yahia being now King in Valencia, made Aboeza his Guazil, and gave
him authority throughout all his kingdom. Nevertheless he bore
displeasure against him in his heart, because he had served Abdalla
Azis; and on his part also Aboeza secretly feared the King, and knew
not whether it were better to depart from him, or not; howbeit he
thought it best to remain and serve him right loyally and well, that so
he might win his good will; and when the King perceived this, his anger
abated and was clean put out of mind. And he made Aboeza his favourite,
and made a vow unto him and confirmed it by a writing, that he would
never take away his favour from him, nor change him for another, nor do
any thing in his dominions without him. With this was Aboeza satisfied,
and the fear which he felt in his heart was removed. And they who held
the castles brought great gifts to Yahia, with much humility and
reverence, such as the Moors know how to put on. This they did to set
his heart at rest, that he might confide in them, and send away Alvar
Faņez into his own country, and not keep him and his people at so great
a charge, for it cost them daily six hundred maravedis, and the King
had no treasure in Valencia, neither was he so rich that he could
support his own company and supply this payment; and for this reason
the Moors complained of the great cost. But on the other hand, Yahia
feared that if he should send away Alvar Faņez, the Moors would rise
against him; and to maintain him he laid a great tax upon the city and
its district, saying that it was for barley. This tax they levied upon
the rich as well as the poor, and upon the great as well as the little,
which they held to be a great evil and breach of their privileges, and
thought that by his fault Valencia would be lost, even as Toledo had
been. This tribute so sorely aggrieved the people, that it became as it
were a bye word in the city, Give the barley. They say there was a
great mastiff, with whom they killed beef in the shambles, who,
whenever he heard, 'Give the barley,'began to bark and growl: upon
which a Trobador said, Thanks be to God, we have many in the town who
are like the mastiff.
VIII. When they who held the Castles sent presents to King Yahia, there
was one among them, by name Abenmazot, who held Xativa, who neither
sent him gifts, nor came to offer obedience. And the King sent to bid
him come before him. But then Abenmazot sent a messenger with letters
and full rich presents, saying that he could by no means come himself,
and this not from any feigning, and that he would alway do him service
with a true good will. And he besought him as his Lord to let him
remain in Xativa, and he would give him the rents thereof; but if it
was his pleasure to appoint some other in his stead, he besought that
he would then give him something for himself and his company to subsist
upon, seeing that he desired nothing but the King's favour to be well
with him. Then the King took counsel with Aboeza the Guazil, and the
Guazil advised him to do unto Abenmazot even as he had requested, and
let him keep Xativa; and to send away Alvar Faņez because of the great
charge it was to maintain him, and to live in peace, and put his
kingdom in order; in all which he advised him like a good counsellor
and a true. But the King would not give heed to him; instead thereof he
communicated his counsel to the two sons of Abdalla Azis who had
submitted unto him, and whom he had taken into his favour, and they
told him that Aboeza had advised him ill, and that it behoved him to
lead out his host and bring Abenmazot to obedience. And the King
believed them and went out and besieged Xativa. And the first day he
entered the lower part of the town, but Abenmazot retired to the
Alcazar and the fortresses, and defended the upper part; and the King
besieged him there for four months, attacking him every day, till food
began to fail both in the army of the King and in the town. And they of
Valencia could not supply what was to be paid to Alvar Faņez and his
company, much less what the King wanted. Then the King understood that
he had been ill advised, and for this reason he condemned one of the
sons of Abdalla Azis to pay Alvar Faņez for thirty days; and he seized
a Jew who was one of his Almoxarifes in Valencia, that is to say, one
who collected the taxes, and took from him all that he had, because he
had advised him ill, and while this lasted the people of Valencia had
some respite.
IX. When Abenmazot saw that the King was bent upon destroying him, and
that every day he prest him more and more, he sent to Abenalfange who
was King of Denia and Tortosa, saying, that if he would come and help
him, he would make him Lord of Xativa and of all his other Castles, and
would be at his mercy; and this he did to escape from the hands of
Yahia. When Abenalfange heard this it pleased him well, and he sent one
of his Alcaydes, who was called the Left-handed, to enter the Alcazar,
and help to defend it till he could collect a company of Christians who
might deal with Alvar Faņez. So that Left-handed one entered the
Alcazar with his company, and the Lord of the Castle which was called
Almenar, was already there to help Abenmazot, and encourage him that he
should not submit. Then Abenalfange gathered together all his host and
his cavalry, and brought with him Giralte the Roman, with a company of
French knights, and came towards Xativa, as a hungry lion goes against
a sheep, or like the coming of a flood in its hour; so that Vahia was
dismayed at the tidings of his approach, and fled as fast as he could
to the Isle of Xucar, and though that Isle was so near, he thought he
had done a great thing; and from thence he went to Valencia, holding
himself greatly dishonoured. Then Abenalfange had Xativa and all its
Castles, so that it was all one kingdom as far as Denia. And he took
Abenmazot with all his women and his household and all that he had, to
Denia, and gave him possessions there, and did him much honour. And
when it was seen that King Yahia was thus dishonoured, and that Alvar
Faņez had not helped him as had been looked for, they who held the
Castles lost all fear of him, so that their hearts were changed towards
him, as well they of Valencia as of the other Castles, and they said
that they would rather belong to Abenalfange than to him, because the
town could not bear the charge of the Christians, nor the oppressions
which they suffered because of them.
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