The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 2 (of 2)Mills, Charles
Philosophy
The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 2 (of 2)
Mills, Charles
Chivalry
The Cid returned to the King with the answer which this counsel dictated.
Sancho, in his anger at the failure of the embassy, reproached his
campeador with unskilful management of his task; for his conscience told
him that he who, like the Cid, had been bred up in the same house with
Urraca, must have felt some compunctions at requiring her to give up the
right of her inheritance. The campeador did not defend himself by stating
that he had discharged his duty as an advocate for the King's purposes; he
only declared that he had discharged faithfully his bidding as a true
vassal; but he added, that he would not bear arms against the Infanta, nor
against Zamora, because of the days that were past.[188]
[Sidenote: Death of Sancho.]
[Sidenote: Instance of the Cid's virtuous boldness.]
Incensed at this opposition to his authority, Sancho banished his faithful
campeador, who joined King Alfonso in the Moorish territories, with twelve
hundred horse and foot, knights and squires, all men of approved worship.
Alarmed at this defection of his bravest cavaliers, the counsellors of
Sancho advised him to revoke his edict: it was revoked: the campeador
returned, but he would not bear arms against the Infanta nor Zamora,
because of the days that were past. The King attacked the town, and lost
his life in the attempt. There were circumstances about his death that
impeached both his brother Alfonso and his sister Urraca. The Castilians
murmured their suspicions; but when Alfonso came to be crowned, the Cid
was the only man of sufficient virtue and spirit to decline doing homage.
Much astonishment was expressed in the countenances of the courtiers and
prelates, who had already kissed the hands of Alfonso; and when he was
called on by the sovereign-elect to perform his acknowledgment, he boldly
declared, that all who were then present suspected that by his counsel the
King, Don Sancho, had come by his death, "and therefore I say," he
continued, "unless you clear yourself of this, as by right you should do,
I will never kiss your hand, nor receive you for my lord."
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