VI.

was abashed; howbeit he did as the Cid commanded him: BOOK and after he had dined he went to his lodging and began to think upon what the Cid had said unto him, and perceived that he had seen all the baseness which he had done; and then he understood that for this cause he would not let him sit at board with the other knights who were precious in arms, but had seated him with himself, more to affront him than to do him honor, for there were other knights there better than he, and he did not show them that honor. Then resolved he in his heart to do better than he had done heretofore. Another day the Cid and his company and Martin Pelaez rode toward Valencia, and the Moors came out to the tourney full resolutely, and Martin Pelaez was among the first, and charged them right boldly; and he smote down and slew presently a good knight, and he lost there all the bad fear which he had had, and was that day one of the best knights there and as long as the tourney lasted there he remained, smiting and slaying and overthrowing the Moors, till they were driven within the gates, in such manner that the Moors marvelled at him, and asked where that Devil came from, for they had never seen him before. And the Cid was in a place where he could see all that was going on, and he gave good heed to him, and had great pleasure in beholding him, to see how well he had forgotten the great fear which he was wont to have. And when the Moors were shut up within the town, the Cid and all his people returned to their lodging, and Martin Pelaez full leisurely and quietly went to his lodging also, like a good knight. And when it was the hour of eating the Cid waited for Martin Pelaez, and when he came, and they had washed, the Cid took him by the hand and said, My friend, you are not such a one as deserves to sit with me from henceforth, but sit you here with Don Alvar Fañez, and with these other good knights, for the good feats which you have done this day, have made you a companion for them; and from that day forward he was placed in the company of the

VI.

BOOK good. And the history saith that from that day forward this knight Martin Pelaez was a right good one, and a right valiant, and a right precious, in all places where he chanced among feats of arms, and he lived alway with the Cid, and served him right well and truly. And the history saith, that after the Cid had won the city of Valencia, on the day when they conquered and discomfited the King of Seville, this Martin Pelaez was so good a one, that setting aside the body of the Cid himself, there was no such good knight there, nor one who bore such part, as well in the battle as in the pursuit. And so great was the mortality which he made among the Moors that day, that when he returned from the business the sleeves of his mail were clotted with blood, up to the elbow; insomuch that for what he did that day, his name is written in this history, that it may never die. And when the Cid saw him come in that guise, he did him great honor, such as he never had done to any knight before that day, and from thenceforward gave him a place in all his actions, and in all his secrets, and he was his great friend. In this knight Martin Pelaez was fulfilled the example which saith, that he who betaketh himself to a good tree, hath good shade, and he who serves a good Lord winneth good guerdon; for by reason of the good service which he did the Cid, he came to such good state that he was spoken of as ye have heard for the Cid knew how to make a good knight as a good groom knows how to make a good horse. The history now leaves to speak of him, and returns to the ac196-9. cord of the Alfaqui and Abeniaf, which they propounded unto the Cid.

Chr. del

Cid. cap.

Chr. Gen.

ff. 269.

How the city was to be yielded up, if succor

did not come within fifteen days.

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 favor. 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

VI.

what they would have. And he went into the town, and BOOK 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 succor them within fifteen days; and if within that time they were not succored, 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 Almoraxife 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 Yahia, 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 footmen 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 Chr. del made, and that he should alter none of their privileges, nor Cid. cap. of their customs, nor the rents which they paid, nor their Chr. Gen. money.

200.

ff. 270.

riches

XXXI. Presently on the morrow they sent five good men of the as messengers to the King of Zaragoza, and as many more which were found upon to Murcia; and it had been covenanted that neither of the messenthese messengers should take with him more than fifty gers, and of maravedis 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

the price of food.

VI.

BOOK 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 Murcia, not being minded to abide in Valencia: and he took it all, leaving them no more than fifty maravedis each, according to the covenant. This was the price of food on the day when these messengers departed: the pound of wheat was three maravedis, 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 maravedi and two dineros of silver, and the pound of neat-skin one maravedi. 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 Chr. Gen. ten pounds of the flesh. And the butcher sold the flesh of that horse at ten maravedis the short pound, and afterwards 201. at twelve, and the head for twenty doblas of gold.

ff. 270.

Chr. del
Cid. cap.

How the

city was

XXXII. The Moors of Valencia were now something yielded up 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 till 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

VI.

swore with great oaths, that if they delayed a single hour BOOK 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 that 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 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. Chr. del And Abeniaf asked why so many went up, for it was not in 202. 203. the terms; but they would not cease for that, and they took Chr. Gen. possession of all, little to his liking.

Cid. cap.

ff. 271.

30