: VII. came a Valencia, Cid made XII. At this time there came a crowned one from the BOOK parts of the East, that is to say, one who was shaven and shorn; his name was the Bishop Don Hieronymo, a full How there learned man and a wise, and one who was mighty both on Bishop to horseback and a-foot and he came inquiring for the Cid, and the wishing that he might see himself with the Moors in the the city a Bishopric field, for if he could once have his fill of smiting and slaying for him. them, Christians should never lament him. And when the Cid knew this it pleased him in his heart, and he took horse and went to visit him, and rejoiced greatly that he was come; and he resolved to make Valencia a bishopric and give it to this good Christian. And they took counsel, and it was that on the morrow the Bishop and his clergy should turn the Mosques into Churches, wherein they might sing masses, and sacrifice the body of Jesus Christ. And rents were appointed for the table of the Bishop and for his Canons, and for all the clergy in the city of Valencia. And nine parish Churches were made. And the greatest was called St. Pedro's and another was called St. Mary of the Virtues. This was near the Alcazar, and there the Cid went oftenest to hear service. After this manner the Cid ordered his city Chr. Gen. that it should be a Bishopric, for the honor of the Catholic Poema del faith. God! how joyful was all Christendom that there was 1295. 1314 a Lord Bishop in the land of Valencia ! Chr.delCid. cap. 213. ff. 275. Cid. v. How the his wife ters. XIII. Now the Cid bethought him of Doña Ximena his Cid sent for wife, and of his daughters Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, and daughwhom he had left in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardeña; and he called for Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez of Burgos, and spake with them, and besought them that they would go to Castille, to King Don Alfonso his Lord, and take him a present from the riches which God had given them; and the present should be a hundred horses, saddled and bridled; and that they would kiss the King's hand for him, and beseech him to send him his wife Doña Ximena, and his daughters, and that they would tell the King all the mercy which God had shown him, and how he was at his BOOK service with Valencia and with all that he had. Moreover he bade them take a thousand marks of silver to the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardeña, and give them to the Abbot, and thirty marks of gold for his wife and daughters, that they might prepare themselves and come in honorable guise. And he ordered three hundred marks of gold to be given them, and three hundred marks of silver, to redeem the chests full of sand which he had pledged in Burgos to the Jews; and he bade them ask Rachel and Vidas to forgive him the deceit of the sand, for he had done it because of his great need: and he said, You, Martin Antolinez, were aiding and abetting herein, but praised be the name of the Lord for ever, he hath let me quit myself truly; tell them that they shall have more profit than they asked. And he bade them each take with him his whole company, that they might be better advised and accompanied, and that Doña Ximena Chr. del might come with the greater honor: and the company was Cid. cap. this: two hundred knights who were of Don Alvar Fañez, ff. 275. and fifty of Martin Antolinez: and he ordered money to be Poema del given them for their disbursement, and for all things need1280. 1294. ful, in abundance. 214. Chr. Gen. Cid. v. How these messengers came to the favor which them. XIV. Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez went their King, and way, and they found the King in the city of Palencia. of the great When they arrived he was coming from mass, and seeing was shown this goodly company of horsemen he stopt in the church porch, and asked who they were. And it was told him that they were people of the Cid, who came to him with a full great present. And Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez alighted, and came to the King, and kissed his hand; and he received them right well, and said, What tidings bring ye me of the Cid, my true vassal, the most honorable knight that ever was knighted in Castille? Well was Minaya pleased when he heard this, and he said, A boon, Sir King Don Alfonso, for the love of your Maker! My Cid sendeth to kiss your hands and your feet, as his natural Lord, at whose service he is, and from whom he expecteth much VII. bounty and good. You banished him from the land; but BOOK though in another's country, he hath only done you service. Five pitched battles hath he won since that time, some with Moors and some with bad Christians; and he hath taken Xerica, and Ondra, and Almenar, and Monviedro which is a bigger place, and Cebola also, and Castrejon, and Peña Cadiella which is a strong eminence, and with all the right noble city of Valencia, for the honor of the faith of Jesus Christ, and of you our Lord and King; and he hath made it a Bishopric, and made the honorable Don Hieronymo Bishop thereof with his own hand. And behold here are a hundred horses of the spoils which he hath won; they are great and swift, and all are bridled and saddled, and he kisseth your hand and beseecheth you as his natural Lord to receive them. When the King heard this he was greatly astonished, and he lifted up his right hand and blest himself, and said, As St. Isidro shall keep me, I rejoice in the good fortune of the Cid, and receive his gift full willingly. But though this pleased the King it did not please Garci Ordoñez, and he said, It seemeth there is not a man left in the land of the Moors, that the Cid can thus do his pleasure! And the King said unto him, Hold thy peace, for in all things he serves me better than thou. Then Alvar Fañez kissed the King's hand again, and said, Sir, the Cid beseecheth you of your bounty that he may have his wife Doña Ximena and his two daughters, that they may go to Valencia unto him, from the Monastery where he left them, for it is many days since he saw them, and if it please you this would rejoice. him. And the King made answer, It pleases me well, and I will give them a guard throughout my dominions, that they may be conducted honorably to the border: when they have past it, the Campeador himself will look to them. And he said, Hear me ! all those whom I have disseized of their inheritances for following the Campeador, I restore again to the possession thereof, and all those who desire to serve him I freely license: let them go in the grace of God. Moreover VII. BOOK the King said, I grant him Valencia and all that he hath won and shall win hereafter, that he be called Lord thereof, and that he hold it of no other Lordship save of me, who am his liege Lord. Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez kissed his hand for this in the Cid's name. And the King called a porter, who should go with them, bearing a writing from the Cid. cap. King, that all things needful should be given unto them so long as they were in his lands. Then Alvar Fañez and Poema del Martin Antolinez dispeeded themselves of the King, and took 1315. 1379. their way towards Burgos. Chr. del 215. Chr. Gen. ff. 275. Cid. v. How they came to Burgos, and how ena and her left the Mo go with them to XV. When they reached Burgos they sent for Rachel and for Vidas, and demanded from them the chests, and paid Doña Xim- unto them the three hundred marks of gold and the three daughters hundred of silver as the Cid had commanded, and they benastery to sought them to forgive the Cid the deceit of the chests, for it was done because of his great necessity.' And they said Valencia. they heartily forgave him, and held themselves well paid; and they prayed God to grant him long life and good health, and to give him power to advance Christendom, and put down Pagandom. And when it was known through the city of Burgos the goodness and the gentleness which the Cid had shown to these merchants, in redeeming from them the chests full of sand and earth and stones, the people held it for a great wonder, and there was not a place in all Burgos where they did not talk of the gentleness and loyalty of the Cid; and they besought blessings upon him, and prayed that he and his people might be advanced in 'I am afraid it is not quite so certain that the Cid redeemed these chests, as that he pledged them. The Poem, which gives the minutest account of the pledging, says nothing of the repayment. On the contrary, when Alvar Fañez and the ladies are about to set off for Valencia, it says, "Behold Rachel and Vidas fell at his feet . . . mercy, Minaya, good knight, the Cid has undone us, if he do not help us. We will give up the interest, if he will pay us the capital." "I will see about it with the Cid if God shall let me reach him; you will find good help from him for what you have done." Rachel and Vidas said, "God grant it; if not we will leave Burgos and go seek him." 1439. 1446. VII. honor. When they had done this, they went to the Monas- BOOK tery of St. Pedro de Cardeña, and the porter of the King went with them, and gave order every where that every thing which they wanted should be given them. If they were well received, and if there was great joy in St. Pedro de Cardeña over them, it is not a thing to ask, for Doña Ximena and her daughters were like people beside themselves with the great joy which they had, and they came running out on foot to meet them, weeping plenteously for great joy. And Alvar Fañez and Martin Antolinez, when they saw them coming, leapt off their horses and went to them, and Minaya embraced Doña Ximena and both his cousins, Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, and so great was the rejoicing which they made together that no man can tell it you. And when this great joy was somewhat abated, Doña Ximena asked how the Cid fared, for since he had parted from her, she had heard no news of him. And Alvar Fañez Isaid he had left him safe and sound in Valencia; and he bade her and her daughters thank God for the great favor that he had shown him, for he had won sundry castles from the Moors, and the noble city of Valencia, whither he was now come to carry her and her daughters, for the Cid had sent for them, and when he should see them his heart's desire would be accomplished. When Doña Ximena and her daughters heard this, they set their knees to the ground, and lifted up their hands and thanked God for the favor he had shown to the Cid, and to them with him, in giving him the Lordship of Valencia. While they were preparing for the journey, Alvar Fañez sent three knights to the Cid, to tell him how they had sped with the King, and of the great favor which they had found at his hands, and how he only tarried now to equip Doña Ximena, that she might come full honorably. That good one Minaya then began to deck them out for the journey with the best trappings which could be found in Burgos: right noble garments did he provide for them, and a great company of damsels, and |