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II.

BOOK of the Douro and go apart; now he carried in his hand a light hunting spear which was gilded over, even such as the Kings from whom he was descended were wont to bear; and he gave this to Vellido to hold it while he went aside, to cover his feet. And Vellido Dolfos, when he saw him in that guise, took the hunting spear and thrust it between his shoulders, so that it went through him and came out at his breast. And when he had stricken him he turned the reins and rode as fast as he could toward the postern; this was not the first treason which he had committed, for he had killed the Count Don Nuño treacherously. Now it chanced that the Cid saw him riding thus, and asked him wherefore he fled, and he would not answer; and then the Cid understood that he had done some treason, and his heart misgave him that he had slain the King; and he called in haste for his horse, but while they were bringing it, Vellido had ridden far away; and the Cid being eager to follow him, took only his lance and did not wait to have his spurs buckled on. And he followed him to the postern and had well nigh overtaken him, but Vellido got in; and then the Cid said in his anger, Cursed be the knight who ever gets on horseback without his spurs. Now in all the feats of the Cid never was fault found in him save only in this, that he did not enter after Vellido into the town; but he did not fail to do this for cowardice, neither for fear of death, or of imprisonment; but because he thought that peradventure this was a device between him and the King, and that he fled by the King's command; for certes, if he had known that the King was slain, there was nothing Chr. Gen. which would have prevented him from entering the town, Sandoval, and slaying the traitor in the streets, thereright.

Chr. del
Cid.cap.62.

ff. 215.

ff. 36.

How Velli

fled to D.

XXXI. Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos do Dolfos had got within the postern, he was in such fear both of those who were in the town and of those who were without, that he went and placed himself under the mantle of the Infanta Doña Urraca. And when Don Arias Gonzalo knew this,

Urraca for protection.

II.

he went unto the Infanta and said, Lady, I beseech you that BOOK you give up this traitor to the Castilians, otherwise be sure that it will be to your own harm; for the Castilians will impeach all who are in Zamora, and that will be greater dishonor for you and for us. And Doña Urraca made answer, Counsel me then so that he may not die for this which he hath done. Don Arias Gonzalo then answered, Give him unto me, and I will keep him in custody for three days, and if the Castilians impeach us we will deliver him into their hands; and if they do not impeach us within that time, we will thrust him out of the town so that he shall not be seen among us. And Don Arias Gonzalo took him from thence, and secured him with double fetters, and Cid.cap.63. guarded him well.

Chr. del

Chr. Gen. ff. 216.

death of

XXXII. Meantime the Castilians went to seek their of the King, and they found him by the side of the Douro, where the King. he lay sorely wounded, even unto death; but he had not yet lost his speech, and the hunting spear was in his body, through and through, and they did not dare to take it out, lest he should die immediately. And a master of Burgos came up, who was well skilled in these things, and he sawed off the ends of the spear, that he might not lose his speech, and said that he should be confessed, for he had death within him. Then Count Don Garcia de Cabra, the curly-haired one of Grañon, said unto him, Sir, think of your soul, for you have a desperate wound. And the King made answer, Blessed be you, Count, who thus counsel me, for I perceive that I am slain the traitor Vellido has killed me, and I well know that this was for my sins, because I broke the oath which I made unto the King my father. And as the King was saying this the Cid came up and knelt before him and said, I, Sir, remain more desolate than any other of your vassals, for for your sake have I made your brethren mine enemies, and all in the world who were against you, and against whom it pleased you to go. The King your father commended me to them as well as to you, when he

II.

BOOK divided his kingdoms, and I have lost their love for your sake, having done them great evil. And now neither can I go before King Don Alfonso, your brother, nor remain among the Christians before Doña Urraca your sister, because they hold that whatsoever you have done against them was by my counsel. Now then, Sir, remember me before you depart. The King then commanded that they should raise him up in the bed, and the Counts and Ricos-omes stood round about him, and the Bishops and Archbishops who had come thither to make accord between him and his sister Doña Urraca, and they heard what the Cid said, and knew that he said truly; for whatever good speed King Don Sancho had had in his doings was all by means of my Cid. And the King said unto them, I beseech all ye who are here present, Counts and Ricos-omes, and all my other vassals, that if my brother King Don Alfonso should come from the land of the Moors, ye beseech him to show favor unto you, my Cid, and that he always be bountiful unto you, and receive you to be his vassal; and if he alway doth this and listen unto you, he will not be badly advised. Then the Cid arose and kissed his hand, and all the chief persons who were there present did the like. And after this the King said unto them, I beseech ye intreat my brother King Don Alfonso to forgive me whatever wrong I have done him, and to pray to God to have mercy upon my soul. Oct. 4. And when he had said this he asked for the candle, and preff. 216. sently his soul departed. And all who were there present Cid.cap.64. made great lamentation for the King.

A. D. 1072.

Chr. Gen.

Chr. del

HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRD BOOK

OF THE

CHRONICLE OF THE

CID.

III. How it was

I. Now when the King was dead, the townsmen who BOOK were in the camp forsook their tents and fled, and much did they lose in their flight; but the noble Castilians, thinking resolved to rather of what they were bound to do as men who had impeach the city of alway preserved their loyalty, like their ancestors before Zamora. them, would not depart from Zamora, nor break up the siege thereof, but remained bravely before it, though they had lost their Lord. And they summoned all the Bishops, and took the body of the King and sent it full honorably to the Monastery of Oña, and buried him there as beseemed a King; and while one part of the chief men of the host accompanied the body, the rest remained in the camp before Zamora. And when the prelates and good men had returned to the army, they took counsel together how they should proceed against the men of Zamora, for this great treason which had been committed. Then Count Don Garcia de Cabra arose and said, Friends, ye see that we have lost our Lord the King Don Sancho; the traitor Vellido, being his vassal, slew him, and they of Zamora have received and harbored him within their walls; and therefore as we think, and as has been said unto us, he did this

III.

BOOK treason by their counsel. Now then if there be one here who will impeach them for this thing, we will do whatever may be needful that he may come off with honor, and the impeachment be carried through. Then Don Diego Ordoñez arose, the son of Count Don Ordoño, a man of royal lineage and great hardihood; and he said unto them, If ye will all assent unto this which ye have heard, I will impeach the men of Zamora, for the death of the King our Lord and they all assented, promising to fulfil what had been said. Now my Cid did not make this impeachment against the people of Zamora, because of the oath which he Rom.30.31. had sworn.

Chr. del

Cid. cap. 64. 65. Sandoval. ff. 35.

Chr. Gen.

ff. 217. Escobar

the impeachment.

How Don II. Then Don Diego Ordoñez went to his lodging and Diego Ordoñez made armed himself well, and armed his horse also, and mounted and rode toward Zamora. And when he drew nigh unto the town, he covered himself with his shield, that they might not hurt him from the walls, and began to cry aloud, asking if Don Arias Gonzalo were there, for he would speak with him. A squire who was keeping guard upon the wall went to Don Arias and told him that there was a knight well armed calling for him, without the walls, and he said that if it pleased Don Arias he would shoot at him with a cross-bow, and strike him or kill his horse: but Don Arias forbade him, saying that he should no ways harm him. And Don Arias Gonzalo went with his sons upon the wall, to see who called for him, and he spake to the knight, saying, Friend, what wouldst thou? And Don Diego Ordoñez answered, The Castilians have lost their Lord; the traitor Vellido slew him, being his vassal, and ye of Zamora have received Vellido, and harbored him within your walls. Now therefore I say that he is a traitor who hath a traitor with him, if he knoweth and consenteth unto the treason. And for this I impeach the people of Zamora, the great as well as the little, the living and the dead, they who now are, and they who are yet unborn; and I impeach the waters which they drink, and the garments which they put

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