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 honour, 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 accord of the Alfaqui and Abeniaf, which they propounded unto
the Cid.
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 favour. 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 what they would have. And he went into the
town, and 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 succour them within fifteen days; and if within that
time they were not succoured 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 Almoxarife 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 Yabia, 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
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