V.

Moors, and brought away flocks and herds, both of cattle BOOK and of brood mares, and much gold and silver, and store of. wearing apparel, all which they sold in Valencia.

covenant

of the sons

Azis made with King

fonso.

XI. Now when one of the sons of Abdalla Azis was of the loosed from prison, he placed his love upon Alvar Fañez, which one and gave him goodly gifts, and upon Aboeza, the King's of Alla Guazil, and upon a Jew who was a messenger from King Don Alfonso. And they all sent to King Don Alfonso, to be- Don Alseech him that he would take the son of Abdalla Azis and all that he had under his protection, so that Yahia might do no evil unto him, neither take by force from him anything that was his; and for this protection he promised to give the King thirty thousand maravedis yearly. This request King Don Alfonso granted, and incontinently he took him under his protection, and sent to the King of Valencia to request that he would do him no wrong. Therefore the son of Abdalla Azis was from that time held in more honor, because of the love of King Don Alfonso; nevertheless he was still kept under a guard in his own house, that he should not

gico, makes it merely warriors or fighting men. An incursion into an enemy's country was called almogauria.

Winter and summer they lay upon the bare earth, they consorted in the camp with none but their fellows, their manners were sullen like savages, they spake little, but when they went to battle were like wild beasts let loose, and kindled with joy. Winter and summer they wore the same dress of skins, girt with a cord of esparto. Shoes, bonnet, and scrip, were of the same skin as their dress; they carried spear, sword, and dagger, some of them a mace, (porrimaza) and without any defensive armor attacked horse or foot, generally the horse. The Almogavar, when a horseman ran at him, rested the end of his lance against his right foot, bent forward, and let the horse spit himself; —in a moment he was upon the fallen horseman with his dagger, or rather knife. If he could kill the man and save the horse, his reward was to become a horse-soldier himself, for they were as skilful when mounted as when a-foot.

but

The French in Sicily thought little of the Spanish men at arms, stood in great fear of the Almogavares. Miedes, Historia del Rey D. Jamye el Conquistador. L. 11. C. 7.

V.

BOOK issue forth. And because of this confinement not thinking himself safe, he made a hole through the wall and got out by night in woman's apparel, and lay hid all the next day in a garden, and on the following night mounted on horseback and rode to Monviedro. When the Guazil knew this he took his son and his uncle as sureties for him for the thirty thousand maravedis, which the Jew was now come to receive for King Don Alfonso. And they went to Monviedro to him, and communed with him, and accorded with him that he should pay the one half immediately, and whenever he returned to Valencia and was safe there in possession of all his rents and inheritances, that then he should pay the remainder: so he paid the fifteen thousand forthwith in silver, and in rings of gold, and in cloth, and in strings of pearls, and the Jew returned therewith to King Don Alfonso. At this time his brother was released from prison by desire of the King of Zarragoza, and he went unto him; and many of the rich men of the city also betook themselves to Monviedro, because they were not secure neither in their possessions nor in their bodies.

Chr. del

Cid. cap.

139. 140. Chr. Gen. ff. 244.

How Alvar

Fañez was

XII. In these days the Almoravides arose in Barbary. called The rise of this people and all that they did in Spain are not Valencia. for me to relate in this place. Suffice it to say, that King

away from

Don Alfonso being in great Danger, sent for Alvar Fañez and all his company; and that he had so much to do for himself that he took no thought for Valencia. And when they who had the keeping of Yahia's Castles saw this they rose against him, so that few remained unto him, and they of his vassals in whom he put the most trust proved false, so that the heart of the King of Denia and Tortosa grew, and he thought to win Valencia. The chief persons of the town also sent unto him, saying that if he would come they would give the city into his hands. So he gathered together his host, and a company of French also, and sent them forward under the command of his uncle, saying that he would follow and join them on a certain day. But they went for

town.

V.

Chr.delCid.

Chr. Gen.

ff. 249.

Cid went to

Zaragoza.

ward, and Yahia thinking that if he should conquer them he BOOK should be secure, went out and fought against them; and he was defeated and lost a great part of his people and of his arms, and returned into the city with great loss. When Abenalfange, who was a day's journey off, heard this, he marched all night, and came before Valencia. And King Yahia knew not what to do, and was minded to yield up the And he took counsel with his people, and they advised him to send for help to King Don Alfonso, and also to the King of Zaragoza, and he did accordingly. And an Arrayaz of Cuenca, whose name was Abencaño, who was a native of Valencia went to Zaragoza, and told the King that if he would go thither he would deliver the city into his hands, cap. 150. for it appertained unto him rather than to Abenalfange. XIII. And in those days my Cid gathered together a How the great force, and went to the borders of Aragon, and crost the Douro, and lodged that night in Fresno. From thence he went to Calamocha, where he kept Whitsuntide. While he lay there the King of Albarrazin, being in great fear of him, sent to him requesting that they might meet. And when they saw each other they established great love between them, and the King from that day became tributary to the Cid. Then the Cid went to Zaragoza, where he was full honorably received. And when Abencaño came to Zaragoza inviting King Almescahen to go and take Valencia, and King Yahia sent also to beg succor at his hands, the King asked the Cid to go with him, and gave him whatever he demanded. So greatly did this King desire to have Valencia, that he looked not whether his force was great or little, nor whether that of the Cid was greater than his own, but went on as fast as he could. When the King of Denia heard that he was coming and the Cid with him, he durst not abide them. And he thought that the King of Zaragoza by the Cid's help would win the city, and that he should remain with the labor he had undergone, and the costs. Then he placed his love upon King Yahia, and sent him all the

V.

BOOK food he had, and besought him to help him, saying that he would supply him with whatever he needed. King Yahia was well pleased with this, though he well understood the 151. Chr. reason, and firm writings were made to this effect, and then Abenalfange went to Tortosa.

Chr. del
Cid. cap.

Gen. ff.

249.

How the

King of Zaragoza could not win the

XIV. And when the King of Zaragoza and the Cid drew nigh unto Valencia, Yahia went out to welcome them, and thanked them greatly for coming to his assistance; and city as he he lodged them in the great garden, which was called the

thought.

Chr. del

Cid. cap. 152.

Chr. Gen.

ff. 250.

renguer

came

cazar.

Garden of Villa Nueva, and honored them greatly, and sent them great presents; and he invited them afterwards to come with their honorable men and be his guests in the AlBut the King of Zaragoza all this while had his eye upon the town, thinking that it would be given up to him as Abencaño had promised; but he saw no sign of this, neither knew he how he could win it. Moreover Yahia had placed his love upon the Cid, and had sent him full noble gifts when he was upon the road, in secret, so that the King of Zaragoza knew not thereof. And the King of Zaragoza asked counsel of the Cid how he might get Valencia into his hands, and besought the Cid to help him. But the Cid made answer, how could that be, seeing that Yahia had received it from the hands of King Don Alfonso, who had given it unto him that he might dwell therein. If indeed King Don Alfonso should give it to the King of Zaragoza, then might the King win it, and he would help him so to do; otherwise he must be against him. When the King heard this, he perceived how the Cid stood in this matter; and he left an Alcayde with a body of knights to assist King Yahia, and also to see if he could win the town; and he himself returned to Zaragoza.

How Count XV. Then the Cid went to besiege the Castle called Ramon Be- Xerica, by advice of the King of Zaragoza, that he might have a frontier against Monviedro. This he did because, when the King came to relieve Valencia, Aboeza had covenanted to give up Monviedro unto him, the which he had

against Valencia.

V.

not done; and the King thought that if he made war upon BOOK these Castles, they must either yield unto him, or be at his mercy, because they did not belong to the King of Denia. But when Aboeza knew this, he sent to Abenalfange the King of Denia, saying that he would give him the Castle; and the King of Denia incontinently came and took possession of it, and Aboeza became his vassal. When the Cid saw this, he understood that Valencia must needs be lost, and thought in his heart that he could win the city for himself, and keep it. Then sent he letters to King Don Alfonso, in which he besought him of his mercy not to think it ill that the people who were with him should remain with him, for he would do God service, and maintain them at the cost of the Moors, and whensoever the King stood in need of their service, he and they would go unto him and serve him freely; and at other times they would make war upon the Moors, and break their power, so that the King might win the land. Well was King Don Alfonso pleased at this, and he sent to say that they who were in the Cid's company might remain with him, and that as many as would might go join him. And my Cid went to the King to commune with him, and while my Cid was with him, Don Ramon Berenguer, Lord of Barcelona, came to Zaragoza; and the King gave him great gifts, that he might not place his love upon any other for want; for the King had now put away his love from the Cid, thinking that because of him he had lost Valencia. And presently he sent a force to besiege Valencia, under Don Ramon Berenguer; and he had two Bastilles built, one in Liria, which King Yahia had given him when he came to relieve him, and the other in Juballa, and he thought to build another on the side of Albuhera, so that none might enter into the city, neither go out from it. And he reëdified the Castle of Cebolla, that the Count might retire thither, if it should be Chr. del needful; and every day the Count attacked the city, and 153. 154. King Yahia defended himself, looking for the coming of the ff. 251.

Cid. cap.

Chr. Gen.