and assembled together the Moors of that place, and comforted them much
with his speeches, and promised that he would favour them greatly and
not oppress them, and bade them till their fields and tend their flocks
securely, saying that he would take only a tenth of the fruit thereof,
as their law directed. And he placed a Moor there named Yucef to be his
Almoxarife, that is to say, his Receiver. And he gave orders that all
Moors who would come and dwell therein might come securely, and they
also who would bring food thither for sale, and other merchandize. So
much food and much merchandize were brought there from all parts, and
that suburb became like a city, and there was plenty therein.
VIII. Now when the Cid Ruydiez had gotten possession of the suburbs, he
cut off from Valencia both the ingress and the egress, and they of the
town were greatly straightened, and knew not what they should do, and
they repented them that they had not listened to what the King of
Zaragoza sent to counsel them, for they had none to help them; and the
Almoravides were in the like straight, for they had none to look to,
and the pay which they were wont to receive failed, both to them and to
the other knights. All this time Abeniaf secretly continued his love
with the Cid, for he had not departed from the promise which he had
made him to send away the Almoravides, and put himself under his
protection. And they took counsel together in this distress, both the
Almoravides and the men of the town, how they might obtain the love of
the Cid, in whatever manner they could, so that they might remain in
peace in the city till they had sent to the Miramamolin beyond sea, and
received his commands; and they sent to the Cid to say this. But he
made answer that he would make no treaty with them till they had sent
away the Almoravides. And they of the town told the Almoravides what
the Cid had said, and these Africans were well pleased, being full
weary of that place, and said that they would go their way, and that it
would be the happiest day of their lives, that, wherein they should
depart. So they made their covenant that the Almoravides should be
placed in safety, and that they should pay the Cid for all the corn
which was in his granaries at the time when King Yahia was slain. And
moreover the thousand _maravedis_ per week, which they were wont to pay
him should be paid for the whole time which they had been in arms, and
also from that time forth. And that the suburb which he had won should
be his; and that his host should remain in Juballa so long as they
continued in that land. And upon this they made their writings, and
confirmed them. And the Almoravides departed from Valencia, and
horsemen were sent with them, who conducted them in safety, and the
Moors of Valencia were left in peace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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