THE CHRONICLE OF JAMES I OF ARAGON
John Forster, trans.
XCVII.
I then sent for the Master of the Hospital, and as the barons said that I was to speak for all, I said to him: "Master, you came here to serve, first God, then me, in the conquest we have made. Know now, that I and the nobles are willing to do what you have asked of me; yet this is our difficulty, the division has been made, and the greater part of those who have had shares have gone home; but for all that, we will give you your share as for thirty knights, and we will have it entered in the book with the others, and will give you besides a good and honourable farm - of my own. The others, however, cannot give you a farm, but will give you instead a proportionate share of the lands, each of them has had of the spoil as much as the share of thirty knights. In so doing I do you as great an honour, give you as good a portion, as the knights of the Temple had who were here with me." Whereupon the Master stood up with his knights and wished to kiss my hand; I would not let him do it, only the other brethren. After this they said: "My lord, since you have done so great a favour to the Master and to the Hospital and to ourselves, we pray you to give us also part of the goods gained, and houses in which to live?" Then I turned to the barons laughing, [187] and said: "What do you think of this fresh petition of the Master and Brethren?" "My lord," said they, "that cannot be done; those among us who have got money and goods will certainly not give them up; as for the houses, it is proper that they should have them, or at least ground on which to build them." "If I find a way for that," said I, "and it cost you nothing, will you agree?" They all assented. "Let us give them then the navy yard; there are already walls there, and they can build good houses inside; and for goods, I will make them a present of the four galleys which were once the King of Mallorca's, and now belong to me, so that they will have a share of everything." The Master and the Brethren were very glad, and kissed my hands, the Brethren themselves weeping profusely, whilst the Bishop and the Barons were pleased at the good arrangement I had made.
XCVIII.
With Don Nuño, the Bishop of Barcelona, and Don Exemen Dorrea, again with me in the island, I sallied out one day against the Saracens in the hills. When I reached Incha (Inca), the Master of the Hospital was with me. I sent for the barons and knights to take counsel with them, as well as for those who knew the ways into the country. [188] The opinion of Don Nuño, Don Exemen Dorrea (de Vrrea), and the Master of the Hospital, was, that with the force under my command it would not be wise to go into the hills, for in the hill of Soller Dalmerug, and Bonalbahar,(1) where I intended to go, there were fully three thousand fighting Moors. Their chief was Xuaip (or Xuarp), a native of Xurert, who had with him twenty or thirty mounted men. Their advice was that I should not go into the hills, for I should run great risks of losing myself and those with me. I acknowledged that their advice was the best, and I followed it; but it grieved me much that I could not do what I had intended.
XCIX.
When the barons were gone, and each had returned to his quarters, I sent for the guides, and spoke apart with them. There was no one but me with them: and I said: "I command you as my born subjects to tell me the truth on what I will ask; do any of you know of any Saracens in any other part of Mallorca than in this range of hills? those other hills that I see from this seem to me very high, and I wish to know if any of you have ever been across?" And one of them said: "I was once there in a raid not more [189] than eight days ago; we thought we should capture some Saracens in a cave in the hills you see, and when we thought we were about to take them, full sixty armed Saracens sallied out to protect them, and received them in the cave." When I heard that, I was greatly pleased, and sent at once for Don Nuño, the Master of the Temple, Don Exemen Dorrea, and other knights skilled in arms, who followed me on this expedition, and said to them: "I have found a way that will not make it necessary for us to return to the city of Mallorca so discomforted as we might be by the people saying that we went not on a raid among the hills and had accomplished nothing; which would be tantamount to going back in shame." They asked what way had I found out. I said: "Here is one of the scouts, who will show us a good troop of Saracens, which he left not eight days ago, and they are in the part of the mountain I will show you, in the Dartana country." They said: "So may God help us; that seems a very good thing for us to do." The scout came and told us how he had found the Saracens, and where they might probably be at the time.
C.
It was agreed that early in the morning we should pack up our tents and baggage, and go thither, but that we should send light troops to [190] engage them first, and prevent their escaping before we got to the spot. As was intended, so it was done. We got there at vespers, when our forerunners came to me and said: "You have not far to seek, for we have already had to deal with them, and there they are." Indeed, the Saracens were then lighting signal fires on that side of the hills where the larger party was. Our mules were worn out by the heat, and quartered by a river at the bottom of the hill. It was agreed that at early dawn we would arm ourselves and our horses; there might be with me at the time thirty-five men-at-arms, and no more. The men were to attack the rock, and keep the Saracens at bay, when I would determine what to do. And so it was done, and the men-at-arms fought the Saracens at the entrance of the cave. So steep was the mountain, and so high, that it formed a sort of peak, from which the rock projected. Caves(2) were hewn in the middle of the rock, so that no stone from above could reach the caves and do harm to the Saracens,(3) and yet some of our [191] projectiles could reach the huts they had built about. Thus, when our people fought with the Saracens, and had to come out to defend themselves, some stones thrown by our men did hurt them. That lasted a good long time, a fine sight for those who saw the fight.
CI.
Then Don Nuño said: "My lord, why do you and we stay here? All we do is in vain; the stones we throw from above can do no harm to the Moors; nothing can be done against them from below. It is midday; were it not better for us to go down? You are fasting, for it is a fast day; you should go down, eat your dinner, and then consider what had best be done."(4) And I said to Don Nuño: "On your faith! do not grow impatient and faint-hearted; we will yet get at the Moors." The Master of the Hospital then said; "Don Nuño, it seems to me as if the king spoke truth and reason to you; but do as you say, let the king and you go and eat, and afterwards send some of your men here, and we will consider what to do." "The Master says well." said I. Don Nuño assented, and we went down. [192]
CII.
While we were having our dinner, the Master strung his beasts of burthen together, tying one to the other; a man was then attached by a good cord to the end of the train, with lighted wood in a pan, and lowered with the fire gently down. When the man reached the huts, he set fire to one; the wind blew hard at the time, and the fire spread from one hut to another; in this manner full twenty of them were burnt, and I was very glad to see the fire as I was eating. The Master then summoned the Moors to surrender, as otherwise they were all dead men. They said they would agree to this, that, counting from the morning of the next day, Saint Lazarus in Lent, if in eight days the Moors in the hills did not succour them, and cause the siege to be raised, they would surrender themselves, but not as prisoners,(5) and also the stronghold and all there was in it. The Master came to me with that proposal, and said to me before I replied, "Do not accept it, unless they surrender as prisoners; they are at the last gasp: the wretches are done for." Accordingly, I agreed that that should be the answer. The Master went up again, and the [193] at last agreed to surrender as prisoners unless those in the hills succoured them within eight days. The eighth day was Palm Sunday; they gave us as hostages the sons of the ten most important people in the caves, and I stayed there waiting for the day to come; but the little bread we had with us lasted for two days less than was thought, on the last of which Don Nuño and I passed with only seven loaves for one hundred men we had to feed. The army itself had no bread except the wheat they took from the farms of the Saracens, which they roasted and ate; they came to ask me if they might eat meat, and I gave them leave to eat it.
CIII.
Meanwhile Don Pedro Maça made a raid with his own men and with men from the army, and almugavers.(6) He found a cave, inside which were many Saracens; he sent to me for crossbows, arrows, and picks, which I gave him; they fought for two days, and captured five hundred of the enemy. When Palm Sunday came, at sunrise I sent word to the Saracens in the caves that they should keep the agreement [194] they had made with us. They answered that it was not yet tierce, and that they would wait till then. I agreed to that, but said that they should at once get ready and come down. They accordingly equipped themselves and packed up their apparel, leaving behind a good deal of wheat and barley. And at half tierce (about ten o'clock) they actually began to come down from the cave, and fifteen hundred came out. There were in the cave no less than two thousand Saracens, the train of them was fully a league long, and we captured fully ten thousand cows and thirty thousand sheep, so we entered the city of Mallorca joyful and contented.
CIV.
A message came then from Aragon to the effect that Don Athó de Foces and Don Rodrigo Liçana were coming to us, and I was very glad to hear of it, because we had very few people. Don Rodrigo Liçana chartered a transport, one of those which had brought us to Mallorca, and two other vessels to carry stores. The transport was fit to carry horses; the other vessels carried his stores, and in this way we reached Pollença. Don Rodrigo brought thirty knights well provided with all necessary arms and stores. Don Athó de Foces, moreover, hired a "cocha"(7) from Bayonne. When at sea [195] the "cocha" made a great deal of water, so that at two or three places they caught the water in little pans; they caulked the holes as well as they could with tow, and the crew endeavoured to reach land either in Catalonia or Mallorca. And this "cocha," (ship) in which Don Athó de Foces and Don Blasco Maça and their companies of knights were coming, had to return through stress of weather to Tarragona, for the wind drove them there; they thought they would all perish, for the "cocha" (ship) made a good deal of water and was old, so that they had hardly got their baggage and horses out when she foundered and went down in the sea.
CV.
And when I had spent all that summer in Mallorca, there came En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, Lord of Torroela, and I prayed him, as I had been in Mallorca a long time since it was taken, and wished to go to Catalonia, that he should remain instead of me in Mallorca, and that I would advise the knights and all others to do for him as they would do for myself. En Berenguer said that he would willingly do that; but he prayed me that, in order that the people might know that he was loved by me, I would give him Pals, a castle near Torroela(8) and Palafragel, for his life [196] people might then understand that I loved him. This I granted; the love I showed him was of more price than the gift, for the place was not worth much. When I had done that, I signed an engagement to pay him what he might spend in his stay in Mallorca. I then assembled a general council, that is, all the knights and settlers who were in Mallorca, and spoke thus to them: "Barons, I have been here fourteen months, without ever leaving you; winter is now coming on; it seems to me that the country has nothing to fear, thank God, and I wish to leave; I can better send you directions than give them here; I can at any time send you reinforcements to defend the islands, or come in person if need be. Believe, on my faith, that at any season, by day or night, the best part of my thoughts will be with you. And since God has done me such grace, and given me such a kingdom in the sea as no King of Spain was able to conquer, and I have built here a church to Our Lady Saint Mary, besides other churches, be sure I will never desert you, but will think of you, and help you if necessary." I wept, and they took leave of me. And when it had been a while that I and they could not speak for grief, I told them that I would leave them for commander En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, for whom they should do what they would do for myself; and I ended by saying that if ever they [197] heard of a fleet coming from any quarter against them, they should let me know, and I would come to their aid in person.
CVI.
Thereupon I departed, and they had to bear my departure, which, as it happened, was best for them and for me too. There were two galleys in the port, one of En Remon de Canet, and the other of Tarragona. I left behind the horses and arms, in case those who stayed had need of them, and went to Palomera on board the galleys; I was in that of En Remon de Canet, one of the best in the world, and some of my suite went in the other. And on Saint Simon and Jude's day we put to sea, and were all that day and all night and another day, and at midnight of the third day we got to Porrassa, between Tamarit and Tarragona, with very fine weather. I there found En Remon de Plegamans,(9) who saluted me, and kissed my hand, and then burst into tears for great joy. He knew of the agreement that had been made between me and the King of Leon, who had promised to give me his kingdom, and his daughter to wife, and behold the King of Leon, Plagamans said [198] was dead(10) I asked him if he knew that for certain. He said that men of Castille had come to Barcelona who said so. When I heard that news it grieved me much; but nevertheless I comforted myself, for the conquest of Mallorca was of more esteem with me than the gain of the kingdom of Leon would have been; and as it was not the will of God, I did not concern myself with what He did not will. And I slept there till daybreak.
CVII.
And when day broke I went on board the galleys, and entered the harbour or roadstead of Tarragona. The people of the town received me joyfully, men and women, with sundry flags. After I had eaten, and the men and the sailors had got all things out of the galleys, a south-west wind suddenly sprang up; so strong was it that it wrecked the two galleys in their anchorage before the port, in front of the church built by Archbishop En Esparech, called Saint Michael's. Three men had remained in each of the galleys; four of them were drowned and two escaped. And in this Our Lord showed a great miracle.
After my stay at Tarragona I went to Montblanch and Lerida, and thence into Aragon. If [199] any men in the world could receive their Lord well with great manifestations of joy and pleasure, certainly my subjects in those places did it, greeting me wherever I passed, and thanking God for all the good He had done me.
CVIII.
After passing that winter in Aragon I returned to Catalonia, where news came to me, at Barcelona, that the King of Tunis was going to cross to Mallorca, and was getting ready, and capturing ships and men of the Pisans and Genoese. Thereupon I asked counsel of the barons who were with me at this time, and of the Town Councillors of Barcelona, as to how I should act on the news that had come. They said it would be well to know the thing more certainly than it was known; men often told things from remote lands that were untrue. And owing to some dispute En G. de Muntcada had with the men of Vich,(11) I had to go there to settle it. When I had been one day in the place there came, at nearly half tierce, a messenger sent by En R. de Plagamans, who had travelled all night, and said that certain news had come to Barcelona that the King of Tunis was to be soon in Mallorca. When I heard that, I was as distressed as man could be, for fear of [200] the disaster that might happen to my people on the island.
I took a little dinner, and rode without stopping, and at vespers was at Barcelona, having made a long day's work, and I rested that night. And at morning I rode to the coast to hear news, and saw a sail coming, and waited for it, and as it was fair weather it soon arrived. It was a vessel from Mallorca. A man landed first in a boat; I asked him what news he brought from Mallorca. And he stood before me, all pale, and said, "My lord, I believe the King of Tunis may be already there." And I said, "Bad news do you bring, man; but yet I trust in God that I will get there before him." And I went to Tarragona on the day we had fixed, and as to the advice they had given me at Barcelona I said, "It does not seem to me as if that was good counsel for me or for the land, for it was Our Lord's will that I should do the best thing that any one has done for a hundred years when He made me take Mallorca; and since God has given it to me, I will not lose it through sloth or cowardice, and I will certainly be there to succour it. This is my counsel, that a day be appointed for those who went with me to conquer Mallorca, and letters be sent to Aragon to those who hold lands in feu of me, and to those of my own train (meynada) to come to my help with what they have or can get to be [201] with me within three weeks at the port of Salou; for certainly it would be better for me to meet death in Mallorca than to lose that island by my default. And know that I will on no account lose that island; God and man shall know that nothing will be wanting in me to defend it." And in that same manner I said did I do.
CIX.
I was at Tarragona on the appointed day, and indeed before it, and set about chartering ships and transports (tarides), besides a galley in which I myself went, to get news of the Saracens if they were already at Mallorca. The ships and the transports (tarides) were fitted for carrying three hundred knights; two hundred and fifty came, and with fifty more who were collected there (at Tarragona), the number of three hundred was completed. And before I made the passage there came to me the Bishop of Tarragona, who was of the family of La Barca and my own relation, and En G. de Cervera, a monk of Poblet, and they prayed of me for God's sake and on their duty to me, and for the good counsel they gave me, not to adventure my own person, but send on the knights there assembled for the passage, and Don Nuño as their captain. They besides took to [202] weeping as bitterly as they could, and I myself was seized with grief at their weeping. I answered them in this wise, and said, that for nothing in the world would I desist from passing over. They strove much, throwing their arms round me to prevent my departing; but I broke from them, and departed and went to Salou.
I had some time before exchanged the domain of Mallorca with the Infante Don Pedro of Portugal, and had once or twice sent him messages to the effect that he was bound to succour the island of Mallorca as soon as possible. He had answered fairly, but had done nothing towards relieving the island.(12) [ 203]
CX.
And just at midnight when I had given orders for the galley and the other vessels to weigh anchor and go along the land, Don Nuño came to the sea shore, and shouted, "Galley ahoy!"(13) The men of my galley answered, "What is the matter?" Then they said, "Don Nuño begs you to wait a little; the Infante of Portugal is here, and wants to speak with you." I wished very much to go on; but since the Infante was there, I thought I would see him, without, however, desisting on his account, whatever he might say, from the undertaking. Presently I saw the Infante; he and Don Nuño came in a boat; he ascended the galley; and I asked him what he wanted? The Infante said that he had come to cross over into Mallorca. "How many knights have you here with you?" He said, "There are four or five here; the rest are coming." I said, "So help me God, you come [204] not well equipped for the passage; but here are my ships and my transports going tomorrow in the morning; if you choose to come on board you are welcome; I will go in any case. I must know if the King of Tunis, or his army, is really in Mallorca." Thereupon the Infante said that he would remain in the galley with one knight and one esquire, and that Don Nuño should undertake to send on the others; an undertaking I thought easy enough, for beyond the four knights of whom he spoke, the Infante of Portugal brought no more with him, and no more came afterwards. Don Nuño then left the galley and went on shore, and he (the Infante) remained with me.
CXI.
We weighed anchor, took to the oars, and went out to sea.(14) By sail and oars we got at noon of the second day to Soller, where we found a Genoese ship at anchor. When they saw us coming in, they were frightened beyond measure, but when they saw my flag they knew that the galley was mine; the sailors threw themselves into a fishing-boat, and came to us. I asked, "Good men, what news from Mallorca?" They said, "Good news." I then inquired if the fleet of the King of Tunis had come; they answered that there were no strangers [205] in the island. I was very glad at the good news they had told us. They brought fowls; and I sent two men of the ship to Mallorca to let them know that I was at Soller. They came out to receive us with great joy, and brought full fifty beasts saddled for us to ride on and enter the town of Mallorca.
CXII.
The galley rowed into the port of Mallorca, and I entered the town. And those whom I had left there told me, well did it appear that I had in good remembrance them and the honour that God had done me in conquering the kingdom; and they could not keep from weeping with joy at my having come. The third day after I came to Mallorca, all the transports and knights came in in good order and without harm. I then considered what was to be done in case, of the Saracens coming, and resolved that I would put out scouts, to let me know in the town before they came [to land] And I told my people that I would show them the way to defeat the Saracens; that, wherever they might direct their ships, I, with the knights and other men fit for battle, would not go down there to the sea, but into ambush on the very road they must necessarily take. I would send against them horsemen without armoured horses, and footmen with them, up to two thousand; these would seem to oppose the landing [206] of the Saracens, and when a great part of them had landed should begin to fly towards my ambush, so as to allure them to follow, thinking there were only those horsemen and footmen, and so would they fall into my ambush. Then I would attack the enemy with the armoured horse and with the men in reserve, besides the two thousand. These and the other horsemen, who had led them into the ambush, would then return to me, and so till they reached the sea I would not cease striking at them. When those in the ships saw that the first landed were defeated and dead, they would not dare to land for the hurt their people had taken. I accordingly kept scouts over all the island for full fifteen days, to light fire signals if the fleet of the King of Tunis appeared.
CXIII.
At the end of fifteen days I knew for certain that the King of Tunis and his fleet would not come to Mallorca. And then I set myself to conquer the mountainous districts and castles they (the Moors) still held in the island, such as Oloro, Pollenca, and Sentueri. The Saracens might be three thousand fighting men, besides full fifteen thousand more, counting women and children. And there came a parley from one (his name was Xuaip),(15)[207] whom the Saracens of the mountains had made their chief, saying that if I could only grant him grace and treat him well, he would surrender the castles on the mountains, in such wise, however, that he himself could afterwards live in honour. And because the treaty was good for me and for all the Christians who lived there, or might come afterwards, and because the island would not be safe while such a war went on, it was the opinion of the barons who came with me, and of the knights, and of the others, that I should accept that capitulation, the terms of which were as follows: - That to him (Xuaip) and four others of his lineage, I should give inheritances, and horses, and arms, to each of them a pack-horse or mule, good and fit for riding, and that the Saracens should be allowed to remain in the land; those who would might do so, and live free under my rule; as for those who would not submit and accept that capitulation, I should deal with them as I pleased. That was put down in writing, and carried out as undertaken. There remained, however, full two thousand Saracens in the mountains, who would not surrender at discretion.
CXIV
And when I was sure that the Tunisian fleet was not coming at all, I returned [to Catalonia], leaving there En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, and Don [208] Pere Maça, Lord of Sant Garren, one of my own train, with a number of followers besides about fifteen knights and esquires of the train of Don Pere Maça, who wished to remain in the island. I then crossed over to Catalonia, and those who remained in Mallorca began war with those in the mountains; the war lasted all winter, into May. So strong were the Saracens in the mountains that no great harm could be done to their persons. This, however, my people managed to do; they hindered their getting grain except in some wretched places, not enough for their support; so that the Saracens came to such distress that they had to graze on the grass on the mountains like cattle. En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, and Don Pere Maça determined to summon them to surrender, which they did by letters, and by a Saracen who carried them. They replied, also by letter, that they would never surrender except to the king who had conquered the land. Seeing that, En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, and En Pere Maça, and the knights of Mallorca, took counsel that they should come to me, and that I should cross over thither; and so I should ultimately have all the land.
CXV.
They accordingly came to me at Barcelona, and said they wished to speak with me, and give me [209] good news. I said, that they were welcome; I would listen to them and receive their good news. They then asked me to consider how I was to cross over to Mallorca; if alone, or with a train of followers. It had been agreed that the Saracens of the mountains would surrender on my setting foot on the island, and, therefore, no retainers were needed. I said that I rejoiced at their coming with such good news, and that I would cross over thither. And the opinion of those who had come was, that no knights or others need cross over, but only myself in person and a few men to attend on me. They had enough force (they said) to conquer the mountains, as well as a thousand knights, and my person was as good as one. En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia then said: "My lord, order two or three galleys to be fitted out and armed; put yourself on board, and we will go with you; as soon as the Saracens see you they will surrender at discretion."
CXVI.
It was done as En Berenguer told me. I had three galleys armed between Barcelona and Tarragona. On the fifteenth day they went with me to Salou; the night was dark and stormy, and it was against the opinion of the sailors that we put to sea. When we had gone ten miles with rather [210] bad weather, there came a fine night, calm sea and bright moon, so that En Berenguer said: "We may suppose that God loves us well; the sea is so smooth that we might cross it in slippers;(16) we expected to have bad weather, and you have it so fine as armed galleys could wish; it is apparent that God works for you." I said to him that I served such a Lord that we could not fail in anything we did in His name, for which I thanked Him as well as I could and knew. And early on the third day, between sunrise and tierce, we were at Portopi, my flag was hoisted on each of the galleys, and at the sound of trumpets we entered the port of the city of Mallorca.
CXVII.
When they in the city saw me coming, they knew who I was, and that those whom they had sent had delivered well their message. All at once men, women, and children, came out to the port with great joy and pleasure at my coming; also they of the Temple, and of the Hospital, and the other knights in the city. And when I had got into my quarters in the Almudayna, En R. de Serra the younger, who was then Knight Commander of the Temple in the island (I call him the younger because there was another commander [211] of the same name, who was his uncle, and held the commandery of Montso), came to me and said he wished to speak to me a little aside. I listened to him, and he said: "Do you want to do a good stroke of war? If you send the galleys, armed as they are, to Minorca that the people there may know that you have come to the island of Mallorca, they will no doubt be much afraid. Let them know that if they will surrender to you unconditionally, you will receive them, and that you desire not their death and destruction; and with the fright they will take, I believe you will get both gain and honour." I called for En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, Don Assalit de Gudar, and Don Pere Maça, and told them of the advice which the Commander of the Temple had given me (the Commander himself was there present), and they said they thought it good advice, and that I should do as the Commander proposed.
CXVIII.
I then ordered En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia, Don Assalit de Gudar, and the Commander himself, who had proposed the thing, each to go in a galley and tell the people of Minorca that I was there [at Mallorca] with an army, and that I did not desire their death. They had seen and heard what befell [212] those of Mallorca, who would not submit to us. But if they would submit, and behave toward me as they themselves had behaved towards the King of Mallorca, I would willingly receive them to mercy. If they would rather have death and captivity than come in to me, I could not help it; they would have to pass under it. I then had credentials in Arabic drawn up by an Alfaqui of mine from Saragossa, named Don Salomo, brother of Don Bahiel,(17) bidding them give credence to my three envoys, and believe that they spoke for me and in my name. I also said that I would go to Cap de la Pera, thirty miles by sea from Minorca, and that they would find me there ready to hear the result of their mission.
CXIX.
I made the galleys go all night with the messengers, who got to Minorca next day between nones and vespers. The Kaid, the sheikhs, and the people of the country, came out to the galleys to the harbour of Ciutadela, and asked: "Whose are the galleys?" They said they belonged to the King of Aragon, Mallorca, and Catalonia, and that they themselves were messengers from him. When the Saracens heard that they put aside their arms, on the ground, and said: "You are welcome [213] to our island; on our heads! You can land safe and sound! We will do you favour, honour, and pleasure." The galleys ran their poops on shore, and the men sent for mattresses, mats, and cushions, on which to lie down. All three messengers landed from the galleys, besides a Jew I had given them for an interpreter. Thereupon the Kaid and his brother El Moxerif,(18) a native of Seville, whom I afterwards made Rais (governor) of Minorca, and all the sheikhs, listened with attention and great devotion to my letter and message, and said they would consider its contents.
CXX.
The result was, that they begged the messengers to wait till next day, as they would send for other sheikhs (elders) in the island who were absent, that they might have a more complete council. The messengers, that is, En Berenguer, Don Assalit, and the Commander, replied that they would do as was wished. Thereupon they were invited to go into the town of Ciutadela, saying they would show them great love, for love of the King, whose men they were. They said that till they got their reply they would certainly not enter the town; they had no orders to do so. The [214] Saracens replied that it should be as they pleased. In a little time they brought ten cows, a hundred sheep, two hundred fowls, and bread and wine as much as the messengers wished, and stayed with them till vespers to keep them company. And at vespers, when the Saracens went into the town, our messengers went into the galleys. That same day, at vespers, I myself went to Cape Pera, which is in sight of Minorca. And behold what the Royal army consisted of! I had with me only six knights, four horses, one shield, five esquires to attend on my person, ten servants and some scouts. And when it became dusk, before eating my dinner, I gave directions to those who were with me, and caused fires to be lighted in more than three hundred places in the bushes, in the likeness of an army encamping. When the Saracens saw that, they sent two sheikhs to ask the envoys, "What were those fires on Cape Pera?" Our people said, "It is the King with his army there," (for I had instructed them to say so); "he wishes to hear quickly your answer, one way or the other."(19) When the Saracens heard that, they were in great fear, and when morning came they told the messengers to have patience a little time, that they would soon have their answer. The messengers replied they would do so. [215]
CXXI.
And next morning, after the Saracens had had prayers, the Kaid, his brother, the Moxerif, the sheikhs, and full three hundred of the principal people in the island, came from the town, and said that they gave great thanks to God and to me for the message I had sent them, for they knew well that they could not long defend themselves against me, and that they would put in writing the capitulation under which they wished to surrender. It was thus worded: They said the island was very poor, and there was not space in it for growing corn for the tenth part of the inhabitants; they would willingly take me for their lord, and divide with me what they had, for it was reasonable that a lord should receive tribute from his vassals; they would give me every year three thousand quarters of wheat, a hundred cows, and five hundred sheep or goats; but I should make an agreement with them to keep and defend them as my subjects and vassals: that duty and engagement would they keep towards me and my successors for ever and after. Then my envoys said to them, that they had something more to do, which was to give me possession of Ciutadela and of the hill on which its castle stands, as well as of any other [216] fortresses, if any there were, in the island. To this they agreed at last, though perforce and hard pressed; for after some consultation among themselves they said that since I wished it they would do so, for they had heard that I was a good lord to my people, and so they hoped I would be to them. In drawing up this capitulation, and all the principal and best men in the island swearing to it on the Alcoran, three whole days were spent. Don Assalit, however, had introduced a clause in the agreement that the people of Minorca should give two "quintals " (two hundredweight) of fresh butter(20) every year, besides two hundred bezants for leave to transport cattle. I was all the time at Cape Pera waiting for the galleys and for the messengers, though still making the same fires as at first.
CXXII.
Early in the morning of the fourth day, at sunrise, after mass, there came news that the galleys had arrived. And the envoys sent to tell me to decorate well the house I was in, for they brought good news. I, accordingly, had it well swept and strewed with fennel, for we had nothing else to serve for rushes.(21) I caused all the [217] counterpanes I and those of my suite had to be hung from the walls as if they were tapestry, and I and those who were with me put on the best clothes we had there. The envoys were accompanied by a deputation from Minorca, consisting of the Kaid's brother (the Moxerif) and five sheikhs, the most honourable in the whole island. I sent out horses for them to ride on, and other beasts of burthen for their luggage, and they came on. When they were in my presence they saluted me with great reverence, bent the knee before me, and said that on the Kaid's behalf they saluted me a hundred thousand times as their lord, in whom he and they put their hope. I replied, that I wished, in return, that God might give them happiness; and added, that their coming pleased me well. It was in order that those of my army might not interfere with or in any way control the words I would have to say to them that I had removed to the spot where I now was, that I might hear what they had to say, and the better speak with them, upon which they thanked God and me for the words I said to them.
CXXIII.
Then my envoys began to recite their negotiation and the result, and showed me for my approbation the agreement that had been made. I said that I [218] would consider of it, upon which the deputies from Minorca went out of the room. I then said to my envoys, "Great thanks do I owe to Our Lord for that which He has granted me without sin on my part, and to my great honour. In this present case there is no course left but to accept the terms which you have agreed to, and return thanks to the Lord for the favour He shows me and you." I then addressed the deputies from Minorca, and told them that I was content with the agreement my envoys had made. Whereupon I ordered letters to be drawn up, with my seal, which I gave them, acknowledging them as subjects of me and of my successors for all time to come, they in return agreeing to pay the stipulated tribute to me and to mine for ever after.
CXXIV.
Since that capitulation was made with the Saracens of Minorca, I have received as much again, or perhaps more, than was stipulated under it; for they have given me whatever I have asked for, and besides that have got every year from them, without asking, all I wanted. I, moreover, took as slaves, at my discretion, all the Saracens(22) who had risen in the hills; these I distributed [219] among those who might want them as slaves to settle on their lands. So in that expedition with only three galleys I achieved two enterprises,(23) because it so pleased Our Lord, my creator. After this I returned to Catalonia and to Aragon; and from that time to this, may God be thanked for it, the island of Mallorca has not required any help from me; indeed the Lord has so increased it that it produces twice what it did in the time of the Saracens.
CXXV.
Two years afterwards, the Sacristan of Gerona, En S. de Muntgri, who had been elected Archbishop of Tarragona, En Berenguer de Santa Eugenia and his brother, came to me at Alcañiz. I was right glad of the election of the former. When in my presence he (the Archbishop) asked leave to make a request. And he said that if I would grant to him the island of Iviça, he, with those of his household and family, would conquer it. Since I myself had not attempted its conquest, and had other things to do at the time, I ought to be willing and glad that he should undertake it, in order that men might say in future times that an Archbishop of Tarragona had conquered the island of Iviça, which he would hold [220] in my name and for me. I deliberated, and considering it an honour that an archbishop in my dominions should conquer land from the Saracens and hold it of me, I granted his request. He then made arrangements with those of his household and prepared for the expedition, causing a "trabuquet" and a "fonevol" to be made. When the Infante of Portugal and Don Nuño learned this, they called on the Archbishop, and told him that they would willingly assist him, if he would only give them shares proportionate to the number of men (horse and foot) they might furnish and take thither. The Archbishop agreed, and all went together.
CXXVI.
They therefore crossed to Iviça, and landed without resistance from the islanders; they then went with armoured horses, ships, and transports, to the harbour of Iviça, set their camp there, and attacked the town. When they had got their machines ready, the "fonevol," which was the less powerful, battered the town, and the "trabuquet" the castle. There are three walls to the town, one rising over the other. When they saw that the outside wall of the town was giving way by the battering of the "fonevol," the besiegers commenced mining; and when they saw it was time to begin the fight, they tried first petty attacks, [221] and prepared for a general assault. The army was put under arms, and one line of wall was taken; one Johan Xico, of Lerida, being the first man who entered by the breach. When the Saracens saw they had lost that first wall, they were dreadfully cowed, and parleyed for surrender. In this way was the town taken, and the castle too, for the "trabuquet" had not to throw ten stones against the latter. After Iviça was taken, there came many times [from Africa] Saracen galleys against it; but by the grace of God the invaders got there more hurt than did our own people.
CXXVII.
After this I was one day in my kingdom, in Aragon, playing and disporting; I had with me at Alcañiz, the Master of the Hospital, En Hugh de Fuylarquer, and Don Blasco D'Alagó; and we were on a terrace talking and amusing ourselves. He took up the word and said: "My lord, since God has guided you so well in this matter of Mallorca and of the islands, why should we not and you undertake the kingdom of Valencia on this side of the sea, which has been for such considerable time affronting us and your house? Even your ancestors have striven to have it, and could not. Wherefore, so God help me! it would be well that we should think thereon, who are [222] here present; for Don Blasco knows more [of war] than any man in this world, and he can tell you by which means and at what place he thinks we can enter and conquer that land." Don Blasco D'Alagó then said: "I will gladly tell the King all I know and what can serve him; since you wish, Master, that I should speak, I will." Whereupon I asked him to tell me where it seemed to him that we could enter the kingdom of Valencia.
CXXVIII.
Don Blasco then turned to me and said, "My lord, the Master of the Hospital speaks truly. Since God has given it to you to make conquests beyond sea, you should now undertake that which is at the gate of your own kingdom. Valencia is the best land and the finest in the world. My lord, I stayed two years or more in it, when you drove me from your land. There is not now-a-days so desirable a place as the city of Valencia and the surrounding territory; the land is full seven journeys long; if it be God's will that you conquer it, I can assure you that no land of more fertile and luxurious plains and stronger castles is to be found in the whole world. I will tell you my way of thinking in
this matter; should I advise you to besiege any [223] strong castle therein I should give you bad advice, for there are in the kingdom of Valencia forty or fifty such strongholds that while they have provisions you and all your power could not take them. My counsel, to the best of my judgment, is that you go first to Burriana, and for this reason: Burriana is on level ground, and near your own country; you can there get supplies from your own kingdom, by sea and by land, much better than if you were farther inland; and with the help of God you will take it at farthest within a month. You will find great stores in it; and that is undoubtedly the best place I know for you to commence the conquest." The Master of the Hospital then said, "My lord, Don Blasco speaks truly; in the world there is not a place so good and convenient to take possession of as Burriana, so say all those who have been in the kingdom of Valencia, and it is the common talk in this our country."
CXXIX.
And I said, "Now that I have heard your counsel and that of Don Blasco, I hold it for good and loyal, and in the name of God be it so, since you have advised me for the best. I will now tell you one thing, which shows it is God's will that I should undertake that conquest. I was at Mallorca, at Cape Pera, when Minorca surrendered; [224] Don Sanç(24) D'Orta was with me, and Don Garcia D'Orta, his brother, and Pero Lopez de Pomar, who had been on a mission from me to the Kaid (governor) of Xativa. I happened to praise to them much the land of Mallorca, which I had conquered, and whilst doing so Don Sanç D'Orta said, 'My lord, you are praising and extolling all day the kingdom of Mallorca; but if you do conquer Valencia, you will find that this island, good and fertile as it is, is nought in comparison with yonder kingdom across the sea. In Valencia you will find five or six thousand cross-bowmen, with two-footed crossbows(25) and men innumerable who will not allow an army to approach the walls of their city, such is the strength of the crossbows and of the power there. And if you take that, you can well say that you are the greatest King in the world, and the one who has done most.' "
CXXX.
These words of Don Sancho stirred me on, because of his dispraising Mallorca, and praising [225] Valencia. And I said to him, "Do you wish me to tell you how I think I should subdue the kingdom you speak of? I will tell you. I had no wife once; they proposed to me to marry the daughter of the King of Hungary, or the daughter of the Duke of Austria, and the Pope agreed to it.(26) Yet I took to wife a daughter of one of the most honourable kings in the world, and though they would have given me more with the daughter of the Duke of Austria, I would not take her; I preferred the daughter of the King of Hungary. When I was not of so much account as I am now, they gave me the daughter of Don Alfonso, King of Castille; it is right that now when I am more powerful than I was then, I should take to wife a king's daughter. Now I will tell you how I will take Valencia and all the rest of that land. I will go to Burriana; I will take thither what supplies I can carry on mules from Teruel, and I will get by sea besides supplies for the army, and I will take two 'fonevols,' and when Burriana is taken I will make the queen, my wife, go there, that people may see how resolute I am to stand by it. Then the castles that are on this side of Valencia - such as Peñiscola, Cervera, Exivert, Polpis, the caves of Vinromá, Alcalaten, Morella, Culler, and Ares, which live on supplies from the plain of Burriana - will be so shut in between me and my Christian lands that all will [226] have to surrender, for I will be in front of them, and they will not be able to get supplies from Burriana."
CXXXI.
"When that shall be done, and I have those castles, I will move on to a place the Christians call Puig de Cebolla (Onion Hill), two leagues from Valencia. Thence I will make raids on the city itself, ravage and waste the land wheresoever I go. I know the way to weaken and molest the enemy, and bring him to great distress by famine. Then I will set on them before they can gather the harvest again, and will besiege the city, and with the grace of God will conquer it." Don Blasco and the Master of the Hospital then said to me, "Had the Saracens in Valencia dictated your answer, you could not have said better. It seemeth to me that Our Lord will guide you, your resolution is so good." And then it was settled what should be done and what should not be done. At that time I was at Teruel, Don Pedro Fernandez D'Açagra, Lord of Albarracin, had invited me to hunt wild boar and dine with him in a village close to Albarracin, named Exea, where he said I would find him, and I promised to do so. [227]
CXXXII.
After I had dined, near vespers there came a message that men on foot from Teruel and the frontier had taken Ares; Don Pedro Fernandez and Don Atorella were then with me. He who came with the intelligence demanded a gift for the good news he had brought. I told him that I would give him one. Don Pedro Fernandez knew nothing about that part of the frontier; but Don Atorella said: "My lord, great good fortune has befallen you; much have you gained on this day; the conquest of the kingdom of Valencia is begun." I said to him: "Please God it be so!" He replied: "My lord, do not delay; Ares is a very good and very strong place, which you may keep despite of all the Saracens in the world; put yourself on horseback to go thither, and do not delay, for God's sake. I know what a strong place Ares is; and when you are there and see it, you will say I have told you truth."
CXXXIII.
I then sent a message to Teruel for Fernando Diez, Rodrigo Ortiz, and the knights there, to meet me at Alfambra. I got there before dark, supped, gave the horses barley, and went on after midnight. [228]
At dawn I had got to the end of the pass into the plain of Muntagut; I passed through Pobo, got to Vilaroja, one of the towns belonging to the Order of the Hospital, and stopped there that night. At dawn I left Vilaroja, and when I had got within half a league of the end of the hills, a mounted cross-bowman came after me, trotting and scampering to overtake me, and he said: "My lord, Don Blasco [d'Alagó] salutes you, and tells you that Morella is his!" When I heard that news it grieved me much. And Fernando Diez said: "My lord, bethink you what you will do; you need well think of it." I then made the cross-bowman stand aside, and called for Don Pedro Fernandez and for Don Atorella. But while I sent for the other [knights], Fernando Diez spoke in my ear, and said: "My lord, give up the journey to Ares; Morella is a more important place, and a great thing! It were far better for you that the Moors had t than Don Blasco, and I would rather that you gained it from the Saracens than from Don Blasco; though he is my lord, you are my natural sovereign.(27) Not for regard of a lord whom I can change when I please will I fail to give you my best advice; that is, that you may understand that I hold myself as your born subject." I then asked the opinion of Don [229] Pedro Fernandez, Don Atorella, and the other knights, as to what I should do. Don Pedro and Don Atorella said: "Our advice is that you should finish this journey to Ares, which you have begun, that then you should go to Morella, and thus get all done in one journey." But Don Fernando Diez said: "My lord, I am here one of the least of your Council, but whatever any one else may say, go you to Morella, and give orders for the light-armed foot of Teruel and the villages to move on. Let them follow as fast as they can, without bringing on their knapsacks."(28) I felt that Diez's advice was the best, and that one should take care of great things before lesser ones. He then told me to prepare for much fatigue, for it was (he said) a long ride to Morella.
CXXXIV.
I then ordered some of the footmen to stay there, and the others to take their arms and follow me; I myself riding at the trot, and without order(29) crossed the river of Calderes and went on to the river which runs by the foot of the ridge on which is Morella. When I got there, two light-armed footmen came up with me. I asked them where the others were, and they said they were coming.[230] I ascended a ridge to a little hill standing out from it, and afterwards called the King's Hill;(30) I stopped there waiting for my men to come up, and I set out watches, horse and foot, to hinder any one from going in or out of Morella till next day after I should have resolved what to do; I passed all night on that hill. It was snowy weather, for it was past Michaelmas; it snowed and rained a good deal, so that no one dared uncover his face; the horses and the beasts of burthen lay down in a hollow, here and there, where they best could; the mules that were to bring us supplies that night could not bring them up, and I dared not go down to meet them lest the people in the castle should communicate with Don Blasco, and he should put a stronger force into it. I had to go actually without eating or drinking from the night I had some food in Vilaroja till vespers(31) of the third day, I, the horses, and the beasts of burden.
CXXXV.
At sunrise, Don Blasco came in sight with his horse, the knights in pourpoints, and the esquires bearing their arms; our watch saw them come [231] down the hill. Thereupon Don Ferran Perez de Pina, who was captain of the watch, sent me word that Don Blasco meant to enter Morella, and asked for orders how to act. I sent them word that if Don Blasco tried to enter, they should prevent him, and make him come on to me. Before this message of mine reached the watch, Don Blasco pushed on as far as he could towards the entrance of the castle. Don Ferran Perez de Pina went up to him and said: "What is the matter, Don Blasco?" He replied: "I wish to go into Morella and give orders to my people; then I will go and see the king." Then my messenger got there, and said in Don Ferran's ear, that my orders were, not to let Don Blasco enter; whereupon Ferran Perez said: "Don Blasco, the king desires you to go to him." He said: "Tell the king that I will be with him presently, but I have a few orders to give to my men." He replied, "Know that you will not be allowed to enter the place till you have seen the king, for he has sent to me to tell you so." And Don Ferran went close to Don Blasco to bar the way, so that he could not escape from him if he tried. Don Blasco, seeing that it must be, turned his rein, and came towards me, the watch following him closely.
1. Probably Bayalbahar, as at p. 181.
2. Those of Artá, in the northeastern part of the island. The principal of them, La Cueva de la Ermita, on the coast, is a profound natural excavation, replete with the most curious crystallizations.
3. It will be observed that the words Saracens and Moors are here indistinctly applied to designate the inhabitants of Mallorca, and yet their meaning is different. Saracens, from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book), Xarquin, means people from the Xarq (in Spanish axarquia) or the East, whereas Moros (from Mauri) means the people of Mauritania, or the West.
4. "E es be mig dia, e seria bo queus en deuallassets que dia es de dijuni, e menjarriets, e puis acordar vosets com ho deuriets fer."
5. Catius: meaning no doubt that they were to be allowed to depart as free men.
6. Almogavares, an Arabic word meaning raider, one who makes raids, is applied to a formidable class of light-armed soldiers, who gained a terrible name for themselves in Sicily and the East under the next kings of Aragon.
7. Cocha, and Cocca, a kind of ship.
8. Torroella de Montgré, in Catalonia.
9. En Remon Guillen Marimon de Plegamans (de Plicamanibus), the same rich citizen of Barcelona who contracted to provision the fleet for the conquest of Mallorca.
10. Alfonso IX. the father of St. Ferdinand, died in 1214.
11. Vich is about fifty miles from Barcelona.
12. Don Pedro was a son of the King of Portugal, Sancho I., and of his Queen, Dulce, daughter of Petronila of Aragon and Ramon Berenguer of Catalonia; he was thus brother of King Alfonso II. of Portugal, and grand-uncle of King James. On the accession to the crown of Portugal of his brother Alfonso II., in 1211, he (Don Pedro) and another brother, Ferdinand, left the country; which in 1212 they invaded, with the army of Alfonso IX. of Leon, in a campaign seemingly intended to assist the great invasion of the Peninsula that year by the Sultan of Morocco! He was some time in Morocco itself, whence he sent to Portugal the relics of "the Martyrs of Morocco," (whoever they may have been). Then he returned to Leon, ultimately going to Aragon, where his kindred with King James procured for him a splendid marriage with Aurembiax, Countess in her own right of Urgel, on whose death, childless, in 1231, he was left lord of her great possessions. Desirous of incorporating her estates with those of the crown, James in the same year exchanged with him for them the kingdoms of Mallorca and Minorca, to be held by him for life in feudum et consuetudinem Barchinonœ et faciatis inde nobis homagium. After his death, his successors were to hold on the same terms "one third of them;" and the king was presently to hold three fortresses then considered the keys of the island, the Almudayna in the city of Mallorca, Pollenca, and Aloro. In 1244 Don Pedro returned this grant to the King, receiving in exchange many important towns and castles in Valencia; ten years afterwards, he gave these up for 39,000 sueldos annually, and some dominion again in Mallorca: (possibly the revenues of the city only.) Don Pedro presently found his way back into Portugal, where he was living in 1256; but the later history and the year of the death of this restless and unsuccessful prince are unknown. - Hist. Sesa de Mallorca, I. pp. 412 and 428. Herculano, Hist. de Portugal, II. pp. 87 and 148. Monarchia Lusitana, lib. 12 c. 21, lib. 13, c. 5, lib. 15, c, 4. Said by Lemos, Hist. de Portugal, t. iii. p. 171, to have been born in 1187, and who died in 1258.
14. Al pelech, from the Greek sea language.
15. "Xuarp" in the edition of 1557, but it is evidently a misprint for (Arabic letters in book), Xoâyb.
16. Galotxes, in French "galoches."
18. Almoxerif, in Spanish Almoxarife, is not a proper name, but that of a tax-collector, (Arabic letters in book), or minister of finances among the Spanish Moors.
19. O de hu, o de altre breument. Edit. 1557.
20. Mantega, i.e. butter, from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book), mantecah, "the best part of milk, cream," &c.
21. Cañas (rushes), the flooring made of them.
22. In the island, i.e. in Mallorca, for Minorca has no hills, and besides that no resistance at all was offered by the inhabitants.
23. By "two enterprises" the final occupation of Mallorca and the taking of Minorca are no doubt meant.
24. Sanç is the Provençal form of Sanctius, Sancho, whence Sanchez and Sanchiz are derived.
25. Ballesters de II. peus. Ducange, v. "Balista," mentions, without explaining, balistæ ad duos pedes; duas balistas ad tor et decem ad duos pedes: "two winch crossbows and ten two-footed." Perhaps "two footed crossbows" meant that they had stirrups in which a man could set both feet, so as to put his whole force to bending the bow. "Ballesta de arco" in Spanish.
26. It does not say which match the Pope favoured.
27. E iassia que Don Blasco sia mon senyor, vos sots mon senyor natural.
28. The word used is "serrons," Spanish, serones.
31. "Tro al tercer dia a hora de vespres," according to the Valencia edition of 1515. From the night in Vilaroja to the night of the day following that the king passed on Sierra of Morella, was forty-eight hours; the time was part of three days.