CLXXV.

When the mines had advanced so that they actually opened into the moat, I made my plan. I posted a hundred men in armour between the hurdles and the mines in the night, before daybreak, and ordered that at dawn all in the tents should quietly and noiselessly arm themselves. At the sound of trumpets all were to sally from the mines to assault the town; they were to storm the tower which the "fonevol" had battered down, for it could be done. I sent word the night before to the bishops and barons of what was to be done in the morning, and told them, if they kept the secret, the town would be taken next day. They said, "May it so please God! tell us how?" They were told of the plan I had made, which they thought very good; and they said they would set their companies in order, and that when daybreak came they would all be ready. I said, "God speed you, and take care to do so." And I myself set about preparing the thing.

CLXXVI.

At morning they sent me word that they were ready, and asked for orders how to act. I told them to stand in readiness, for the trumpets would presently sound; when they heard them sound [281] they were to push on. Daylight was coming on when I ordered the trumpets to sound; the men sallied from the mines and began to ascend the wall. When the Saracens heard the trumpets sound, and saw the camp in motion, they set up cries, and sounded their horns, and before our men could get up [the breach], six or seven of them came who had no other arms but maces. One of them drew up his sleeves, took a great stone and threw it at the man who was foremost, but though it struck him, the man was too near to be hurt. However, the man got five sword-wounds in the legs, and therefore could not go on whilst this was going on. The other Saracens on the wall threw stones down so that all the shields were broken, and my men could not get up, do what they would, though on the other hand the Saracens were greatly disheartened by our assault, as well as by the "fonevol" that kept battering the wall, and the mines close to it.

CLXXVII.

At the end of two days the Saracens of Burriana began a parley; they offered to surrender the town at the end of a month if the King of Valencia did not succour them before that time. I told them I would not wait three days, much less one month; if they did not choose to surrender, they [282] must prepare for battle, which they would have to their grief. They then asked me to allow them fifteen days; I said I would not give them fifteen nor eight, nor five. When they saw how things stood, they said they would agree to this, that I should let them leave the town with what they could carry with them, and they would surrender; they should have five days for doing that, as time to make ready their things to depart. I should besides give them a guard to escort them to Nules, and swear that no one should interrupt them on the road, but allow them to reach that town safe and sound. I said I would consider of it.

CLXXVIII.

That was my conclusion; in view of the expenditure that was going on every day, and because Burriana was a better place for the conquest of Valencia than any other, there might be at the storming of the town a great fight between Catalans, Aragonese, and many foreigners who were in the camp;⁽¹⁾ again, there was in the town much corn that would serve for those who then guarded the frontier. For all these and many other things and reasons, I thought it [283] well to accept the proposal; and so it was done, the terms being that they should leave within four days with what they could carry on their backs and in their hands. In that way did I have Burriana. And that men may know how many souls there were in it, men, women, and children, there were seven thousand and thirty-two. The siege lasted two months from the day we pitched our tents till the town was taken.

CLXXIX.

When Burriana was taken Don Pedro Cornell said to me that if I gave him the means of staying at it, and providing for the knights who stayed with him and for their wants, he would remain there with a hundred knights till summer. I reckoned with him how much [money] the knights would want, and how much food. It was agreed between us that I should give him sixteen thousand "morabatins,"⁽²⁾ and that he should remain stationed there till summer. I therefore asked him to send for his [284] men at once and garrison the town, and said that I would give the money to whomsoever he pleased. But Don Pedro said he could not do that; it was so great a matter that he must first go [home], muster his vassals, and speak with them. I saw that he was right, and therefore resolved to try what I could do with Don Blasco de Alagon and Don Exemen de Urrea. I begged them to garrison Burriana, with them their respective bands, and keep the town for me for two months, at the end of which Don Pedro Corneyll (sic) would have to come back. I did so, and begged them most earnestly to stay two months for my sake. They made excuses, and said that they could not do it; but I spoke to them, and prayed it of them so much, telling them how necessary a thing it was that they should grant my request, and not be the cause of my losing so great a boon as God had given me through the default of my vassals, that at last they gave way. When Don Blasco and Don Exemen saw that I wanted it done so much, they said they would do it if I would supply them and their retainers with what they needed. I accepted, and gave them many thanks.

CLXXX.

Then I divided my army, and borrowed from merchants provisions for two months, and everything [285] else the garrison of Burriana might want. I went myself to Tortosa, and with me En Berenguer, the Bishop of Lerida, and En Guillem de Cervera, who was Lord of Juneda, and became afterwards a monk of Poblet. When I had been a day in my quarters in the castle of Tortosa, both of the above-named came to me; there were with me at the time En Pero Sanz and En Bernard Rabaça, my notary; En Berenguer and En Guillem said that they wished to speak to me in great secresy and for my good. The Bishop of Lerida said, "En Guillem de Cervera, do you begin as was previously agreed between us." En Guillem said he could not do that; the other was a bishop and of greater dignity, wherefore it was for him to speak first: "It would be (he said) for the great profit of you and of me, so great a thing is it that we can advise the king to do." Then the Bishop began: "My lord, you know well how near I am to you, and En Guillem de Cervera too; and how earnestly we desire your profit and your honour; now we see you have undertaken a great and costly enterprise; it is so great that we perceive you cannot carry it through." I asked them, "What do you mean?" They replied: "This that you have undertaken at Burriana, for you know, and we know as well as you, that you have no treasure and have no great revenue, and have no corn on hand anywhere in the world, but are embarrassed how to live in [286] going about your land; how do you think, then, you can bear so great an outlay at this place, which is only within two days' journey of the country of the Moors? And how do you intend to keep there so many horse and foot who cannot live there, but must fight and die, while you yourself cannot help them?" En Bernard de Cervera said: "My lord, the Bishop has said what I myself would say, for we are of one mind and thought in this; yet this will I say more, that the King of Castile and you together could not keep Burriana against the Saracens."

CLXXXI.

To the words I heard from them I made answer; but their speech grieved me much, for it came from some of the wisest men in the kingdom, and when I hoped they would comfort me did they bring discomfort and pain. Our Lord, however, gave me grace for the success that I was yet to have in other things that came afterwards, so that I took no notice of their words, but disdained them, and spoke thus to them: "I have no doubt that you have spoken right and mean well; you intend to keep me from trouble and outlay; but that trouble and that outlay I will gladly bear, rather than give up a place which God has granted to me. It must not grieve you if for once I will not follow your advice." [287]

CLXXXII.

And so I left them and went to Aragon, to Teruel. One morning, between dawn and sunrise, there came to me a messenger from En Exemen de Urrea at Burriana. I was then lying in bed; they knocked at the door, and one of my porters said that there was a messenger at the door from En Exemen de Urrea, and that he was the bearer of good news. I said, "Let the messenger come in; he is welcome, since he brings good news." The messenger then came in, and asked me to give him a reward for the good news (albixeres) whereof he was bearer. I said that I would in proportion to the goodness of the news he brought; the messenger said he was well content. Then he told me that the Saracens of Peñiscola had sent two of their number to Don Exemen de Urrea, intimating that he might send for me, since they would willingly surrender Peñiscola immediately. "And Don Exemen," added the messenger, "is actually sending you by me the letter the Saracens wrote to him. Here it is." I had it read by a Christian who knew Arabic (algarabia), and found the words of the letter to be what the messenger said.

CLXXXIII.

Thereupon I heard the mass of the Holy Ghost and the office of Saint Mary, in order that God and His Mother might guide me in that business as [288] in every other I might afterwards undertake; I had food cooked while I heard mass; I ate, and immediately after took horse. There were with me at the time seven knights only, with their esquires, besides my own houshold servants. I did not require a guide, for through occasional boar-hunting in the mountain, I was confident that I could find the road to Peñiscola. The day that I left Teruel I crossed the plain of Muntagut and reached Vilaroja, which belongs to the Order of the Hospital. I rose before daybreak, and passed through a place called Atorella, where there is now a settlement; then I crossed the Trout river,⁽³⁾ went through the valley of Ares,⁽⁴⁾ and the pass of Prunelles, to Salvassoria and Temi.⁽⁵⁾ I passed through the plain of Saint Matthew, which was then a waste, and reached the dry river bed at Cervera. At sunset I got before Peñiscola, on the other side of the vineyards, towards the Almarge.

CLXXXIV.

And I at once sent word to the Saracens that I was there. They rejoiced greatly; four of them came out of the place, and said to me that they were very glad of my coming and would send me their presents; that it was then late but next morning they would do according to my will and [289] would surrender. Then at once the sheikhs of the town sent me a hundred loaves, two pitchers of wine, raisins, figs, and ten fowls as a present. At night I made screens against the dew, of carpets and blankets which we had with us, for I forbade cutting down any tree; it would have offended the Saracens if at our first entry we had begun to waste their land. Except bread, wine, and cheese which I had with me, we had no food except what they (the Saracens) brought us. When it was full day, and the sun had risen, I went with the small escort I had there to the strand before the castle, with my quilted coat (perpunte) on, my sword girt, and iron cap on head. The Saracens when they saw me come, came out to me, all, men, women, and children in the castle, without any arms; they saluted me, and I said to them that Don Exemen de Urrea had sent a message on their behalf to Teruel, saying that I should come, and they would surrender the castle of Peñiscola, but only to myself. "I saw (said I) and read your letter which Don Exemen de Urrea sent me." Then they owned that they had sent the letter; they would make a treaty with me and surrender the castle at once, provided I allowed them their religion, and the liberties they were wont to have under their Saracen kings. They added that they were prepared to deliver the town and the castle to me on such terms. I replied that my scribes (escrivas) were not there to attest the deed [290] as I had come hurriedly; but if they should write the things they required of me, I would willingly come to an agreement with them, and that whatever agreement was made, that I faithfully promised to keep, and would keep. They then said "My lord thou wilt have it so, and we will have it so: we will put our trust in thee, and will give up the castle on thy faith."⁽⁶⁾ They chose two Saracens the Alfaqui of the place, and another one, and I gave them all my own escort to go up into the castle; the other Saracens, full two hundred, stayed with me outside. All stood before me, and I took care that none of them could seize the reins of my horse. When I saw my people enter the castle and shout Aragon! Aragon! I and the Saracens together went up there. Next morning I went off to Tortosa with the Saracens whom the people of Peñiscola had sent to take back the dresses, the stores, and the cattle I was to give them, as contained in the capitulation. The very same day I got to Tortosa all this was done, so that next day I returned to Peñiscola, where the scribes had already arrived, and gave them the papers to draw out the capitulation in due form. [291]

CLXXXV.

Soon after the Master of the Temple and the Master of the Hospital heard of my taking Peñiscola, the former went to Chivert, and the latter to Cervera; for my father and grandfather had granted them that those towns should belong to their Orders. So they insisted with the Saracens of Chivert and Cervera that since I had taken Peñiscola, they should surrender their castles to them. For as they had a charter for it from my father and grandfather, and as Peñiscola was the most renowned place in that district, and yet had surrendered, there would be no shame or disgrace in their surrendering also. Thereupon the Saracens did surrender the said castles, and immediately after I myself had Polpis.

CLXXXVI.

I had made an engagement with Don Pedro Cornell to meet him in two months' time at the latest, at Burriana; but one month after I was with him, accompanied by twenty five knights. I entered the town bearing my crane falcons; and there came also with me Don Pedro Ferrandez de Cagra⁽⁷⁾ with fifteen knights. When I arrived those whom I had left behind rejoiced greatly. During my stay there my people made excursions, and I [292] was constantly hunting; what with wild boars cranes, and partridges, twenty-five knights lived daily on meat in my household, besides other inferior officers. In this manner I took Castello de Burriana, Borriol, the Caves of Avinromà, Alcalaten, and Villa Hamec.

CLXXXVII.

I waited at Burriana for Don Pedro Cornell from Michaelmas to Christmas. I then determined to make a raid on the banks of the Xucar, with perhaps a hundred and thirty knights,⁽⁸⁾ up to a hundred and fifty almogavars⁽⁹⁾ and seven hundred footmen. We marched all night from Burriana, and when opposite Almenara,⁽¹⁰⁾ as we were going along the sea, the Saracens made five or six signal-fires on the coast below; then others who saw those signals made another great fire on the top of a mound on the ridge of hills (sierra) between Murviedro and Puçol, that the people of the country might know that a great raid was going to the banks of the Xucar. And when we had got to the Murviedro hills, the Saracens began to make signals from all [293] the towers in Valencia. We went by the upper pass; and finding that we were discovered went as fast as we could, driving the mules which had been left behind by those of the vanguard. In this way we passed by Paterna and by Manitzes to a ford that a guide knew, where the others had passed. When we were in the plain the day broke, it was a Friday; and we marched on to take up quarters at the town of Espiota; as we passed by Alcocer some two hundred men of the mule train went to the town of Alcocer, and in despite of the Saracens brought away plunder. This vexed me much, for what we wanted was to fight, not to plunder. I then went to Espiota, and took quarters there, for the mules could go no farther.

CLXXXVIII.

And when we were housed a Saracen said that if we would wait till sunrise Zaen would give us battle. We sent to him to say that we would wait for him till sunrise, and he might send any other message he had to send. We waited for him in the morning, but seeing he did not come we loaded our mules and overtook our scouting party on the banks of the Xucar, and went on to Albalat. There we stayed four days; but the war was so cautiously managed by the enemy that we could only make sixty Saracens prisoners, and took nothing else on the whole [294] raid. Yet we found a great deal of barley and many fowls, and we loaded all our beasts with as much as they could carry. We then crossed the bridge of Quart, and in three days got back to Burriana.

CLXXXIX.

At Burriana there came to me about Christmas Don Pedro Cornell; he had bought what supplies he could, and for the rest he brought money, for there was at Burriana a market for flour, barley, and wine, all which came by sea. I left the place, and Don Pedro Cornell, according to agreement, remained there with his hundred knights, who soon began to make forays against Onda, Nules, Uxó, and Almenara; they did not dare go very far into the Saracens' country, but still made good raids. An esquire of Don Pedro, named Miguel Perez, knew Arabic (algarabia) very well; he went sometimes to Almaçora to redeem prisoners,⁽¹¹⁾ of which there were many in the place. One day two Saracens said to him that if he would keep their secret and would reward them accordingly, they would make his lord have a great gain. The esquire said he would keep their secret and get his lord to reward them well; but what was the gain? They said, it was Almaçora. The esquire then said that what they said was really good; he would go to his lord and [295] speak with him on the subject. He came to Don Pedro Cornell and told him the news; Don Pedro was very glad and content therewith.

CXC.

He settled with his esquire to bring the two Saracens, or one of them, to him, as he would then make a bargain, and reward them accordingly. The esquire went back, and one Saracen came for himself and for the other. Don Pedro Cornell said he would reward them both well, and would even get me to give them a heritage, and besides that, one good horse and garments to each. But they said that it was too great a thing for them to perform and do without some Saracens, their relations and friends. Don Pedro Cornell said, "What do you want me to do for them?" The Saracen said: "Give them heritages, and let them remain in the country." Don Pedro Cornell said that he would get me to do that, and gave them a letter to that effect. It was settled between them on what night they should surrender the place; and Don Pedro put himself in ambush with his armoured horse half a mile off. The Saracen came out, and told them to send twenty men, good knights or others, whom he could get into two towers, and that the rest should be ready to come when they raised a shout or made signal by fire. [296]

CXCI.

Thither went the twenty esquires in armour, with (perpuntes) their quilted coats and their breast-plates (gonios), and their iron caps, with swords, but without lances, which they could not well wield within the towers. They went in, and as they entered they were taken into a house where there were thirty Saracens, who seized and bound them as they entered. Three of the esquires who saw what treachery was being done, drew their swords and ascended the staircase of the tower; the Saracens pursued, but could not overtake them. They got on to the top of the tower and defended it well, raising a cry for help. Those in ambush heard them and ran to their help. While the Saracens of Almaçora fought with them the knights and people in ambush came up. On their way thither they found a beam the Saracens had cut to make an "algarada," for which, however, it did not answer; they got over the moat of the town, and putting the beam against the tower climbed up by it with the help of leather belts which those on the tower let down, so that the Saracens could not defend the tower. When the Saracens saw that, they got out of the tower and fled; but many were taken, and besides all their goods and stores. So was Almaçora taken. [297]

CXCII.

Then I went again to Burriana, and after two months' stay there returned to Aragon and Catalonia. Next summer I returned to Burriana, and there were with me my uncle Don Fernando, the Bishop of Lerida, Don Blasco de Alagon, Don Pedro Cornell, Don Exemen de Urrea, Hugh de Muntlaur, Master of the Temple, Hugh de Fuylalquer, Master of the Hospital. It was agreed that a raid should be made against Alcira and Cullera; and I resolved that two "fonevols" we had at Burriana should be got ready, though secretly, so that no one in the world should know of it. So that if the army wanted "fonevols" they would be ready without having to send for them. I accordingly had them put into a barque well and secretly. When we got to Cullera we encamped before the town, between the river Xucar and the castle. All the Saracens from the farms, all cows, asses, and goats, had been previously put into the place; the hill-side below the castle down to the town at the bottom, whence they drew water, swarmed with women, children, and cattle.

CXCIII.

When my men saw that, most of them said: "Saint Mary! if we had but a 'fonevol'! we could [298] kill them all from the top of that hill, and take the town before three days were over." At vespers the Bishop of Lerida, my uncle Don Fernando and the barons came to my tent to see me, and have some pastime. They drew me aside, and sending away the servants said: "My lord, what do you think of this place?" I said: "So help me God! I think it could be taken if there were here any one to do it." They replied: Here are those who will do it, together with you, if only they had the necessary appliances for a siege." I said: "What appliances do you want?" They said: "A 'fonevol' is much needed." I then said to them: "Do you really mean that we could take that town if we only had a 'fonevol'?" They said it could be so done. I replied: "If that be the case I will give you two." They asked: "Where have you got them?" I said: "Lo! in the 'grau,'⁽¹²⁾ there they are in a barge." They said: "Then you guessed what was likely to happen?" I said: "I did guess, and lucky is he who guesses, not he who has to find out." They said: "Now tell us what you think we should do." I replied: "It is first necessary to consider where the machines should [299] be placed. I will go up the hill with thirty of my mounted followers; and do you give me one knight of yours; and we will look out for a place for the machines." They said: "You have spoken well."

CXCIV.

In the morning at sunrise, after hearing mass, I sent straightway for Don Pedro Cornell and Don Rodrigo Liçana, and with my thirty men went up the hill from the sea side. When we got to the spot above the castle, where there were once two towers, we left our horses, put on our armour, went down the hill, and got close to the castle within point-blank crossbow-shot. There I carefully examined the spot, and found it a convenient one for placing both the "fonevols." I saw that they could be very easily set up, screened, and guarded from the enemy, for there was in the castle no "algarada" or other engine to prevent it. When I had seen and considered the spot, I descended again and sent for the barons. I went to the tent of the Bishop of Lerida, En Bernard, to see him and hold a council there; it was Saint John's day. I told the assembly how the thing could be done, how we could batter the tower from that place; even if a stone missed and did not hit the mark, it would fall on the side of the tower, full of women, children, and cattle. When they saw the thing could be done, the greater part [300] of them asked what they should do for stones for the engines, as there were none on the banks of the Xucar, and they must be brought from far away. I said, "I know three ways; let us see which is the best for us to get them: one is, to send to Riu Sech, and for that a hundred knights with horses in armour will be needed, besides five hundred footmen. Another way is to send down to the river Bayren, but for that again a considerable force will be required, lest the Saracens should hinder our getting the stones on board ship. The other plan is to have here stone cutters for them to cut the stone out of this hill into shape for 'brigoles' or 'trabuquets.' "

CXCV.

Then I asked Don Fernando, "What do you say to that?" And he said, "My lord, I must first deliberate on it; take no offence; I will presently be here again before you." After deliberating Don Fernando came back, and spoke for all the rest, as it had been previously agreed. He said: "My lord, in what you have said to us we see a great difficulty, for reasons we will tell you. It were not well that you undertook anything that you did not achieve; in the whole camp there is not food for more than five days; Valencia is not yours, but of the Saracens;[301] should the sea become boisterous and bad, the ships could not bring supplies, and if they do; not, you will have to raise this siege. To bring stones from such a distance, against so great forces of the enemy, is not an easy thing to do; there is not a single stone-cutter in the camp, nor are there in Burriana so many as the engines will require, if they are to be supplied with stones, nor have you in this kingdom of Valencia any other place whence they can be supplied." Perceiving that all were of that mind, I had to yield and agree to what they said.

CXCVI.

Next day accordingly the siege was raised, and we went before Cilia, where we took up quarters, for there was plenty of wood and good pasture in the neighbourhood. After sleeping the siesta, I sent for the Master of the Hospital, and for Don Pedro Cornell and Don Exemen de Urrea, and spoke in secret with them; there was no one in the room but me and they. I said: "I sent for you because it seems to me as if we are going badly out of this land, with so great an army as we have, and with only twenty or thirty prisoners. The Saracens will hold us in little worth, and so will the Christians; but if you will help me well I will show you how we can do a [302] good deed. I am alone in proposing a thing, and you are all against me, I can do nothing. When I have ended my speech, and Don Fernando has also spoken, do you not wait for the others but let each of you declare that you approve of what I have said. I will show you that we can in that wise get great gain and honour. These Valencian towers here before us are like eyes to a man; they save Valencia from the hurt that many times it would get. Here is the tower of Muntcada, which is one of the best towers in the whole 'huerta.'⁽¹³⁾ When we passed close to it there remained inside only the men-at-arms, for the women and children had all taken shelter in Valencia. As they did not completely evacuate the farms when we passed by, and we did not then assail them, they will not expect us to attack them on our return; the women and children will have come back; we can take the place in eight days, and besides prisoners we shall take more or less of their chattels and provisions. Now I will tell you how to take the place."

CXCVII.

"I will go down to Burriana and will get rations for the whole army for eight days, against a hundred prisoners the army shall give me, chosen [303] out of those in the tower [of Muntcada], where I believe a thousand or more can be taken; I will also bring a 'fonevol' from Burriana.⁽¹⁴⁾ For that I want no more time than a day to go, a day to get the rations, and on the third day I will be back to you with the supplies and the 'fonevol.' And so when we leave this place we shall leave with honour to myself and to you; and when we come back another time they will not dare to abide our visit in the towers of Valencia." Thereupon the Master of the Hospital, En Hugh de Fullalquer, said, "So help me God! our lord the king has a good plan, and we must help him in it; I tell you for my part that I will help him as much as I can." When Don Pedro Cornell and Don Exemen de Urrea heard this, they said they held it for good and noble counsel; but how would I do it? Certainly I would have Don Fernando and some of the others against it. I said, "With my own power and with the help you will give me, my wish will ultimately prevail."

CXCVIII.

I accordingly sent for Don Fernando, Don Rodrigo Liçana, the Master of the Temple, En [304] Hugh de Muntlaur, the Bishop of Lerida and the other barons of Aragon and Catalonia, as well as for some other knights who were there, all good and honourable men, well skilled in arms. And I sent away those who were first with me, that the others might not know that I had spoken with them. They returned, however, when the others had come. I arranged the council round the tent and said to them, "Barons, we came here to do hurt to the Saracens; and if we now leave the country, so great a company as is here having done nothing but taking sixty prisoners, men and women together, I will not go away with honour to myself or to you. And it seems to me that we could make a good capture, and do great damage to Valencia, and that with God's aid I ought not to fail in it." They asked what my plan was. I said, "The tower of Muntcada is a very good one; there are great riches in it; on the road to Valencia there is no better tower except Quart. In case of need we can send to Burriana for anything we want, which they of Valencia cannot stop, for we shall be between them and Burriana. Let us go to-morrow to besiege it in God's name; we will take it and get there great gain and honour, for that within a league of Valencia we take such a tower as that is. Now, say what you think, the enterprise seems to me a good one." [305]

CXCIX.

All told Don Fernando to speak first, and Don Fernando said, "It seems indeed a good thing if it can be done; but there are no supplies with the army, and without supplies we cannot endure or support the labour of taking a tower like that of Muntcada." I said, "If you had supplies, would you do it?" Don Fernando replied, "Let the barons here and the Masters of the Orders say; for me I will agree to what the others agree to." The Master of the Hospital asked the Master of the Temple to speak; and the latter said, "My opinion is that the plan is good, if the army has enough provisions; but it seems plain to me that this place, the tower of Muntcada, is too near the towers of Valencia." I said, "Master, those towers are not here."⁽¹⁵⁾ He said, "It - seems to me you should first take Torres Torres, which is also a good tower, and on the road from Teruel to Valencia." I said, "Master, Torres Torres is a good tower, but Muntcada is as good as seven Torres Torres, and it will be to our great honour if we take such a place as [306] this so near Valencia; and it can be easier done, for though Torres Torres is a stronger place, yet this one is more worth for honour and gain." On this the Master of the Hospital said, "The words the King has said are good, and since he has this good will to win the place, let it not stay for us, and let us help him to win it." Don Exemen de Urrea said, "My lord, what you have said is good, and if you will give us what will keep us till you take it, it is my advice that you do it." "And I also agree," said Don Pedro Cornell, "with what the Master has replied to you, and with Don Exemen de Urrea." I then asked the Bishop of Lerida what he had to say; and he answered, "You others understand fighting; I came here to serve God and the King; what you do, I will do." I asked Don Rodrigo Liçana to speak; and he said: "My lord, since you desire it, and I see that all, or the greater part, desire it and advise you to it, I will do what you wish; but you already know how the Moors defend their fortresses; it were not fit for you to begin a thing you did not accomplish."

CC.

Thereupon I replied to Don Rodrigo Liçana and to the others: "I will tell you what I will do; I will take up quarters near the tower, and on the morrow early I will attack the town. The Moors [307] will defend it. In the defence they will no doubt strive to hold the stockades, but our people will break them down, and in this the Moors will suffer heavy loss, for those who defend the stockades will probably be their best men, and those who are good for nothing will remain in the tower and in the "albacar."⁽¹⁶⁾ I will act in the fight as I find things to go; if you and I see that the place can easily be taken, I myself will go down to Burriana with fifteen knights (it were well that the whole force did not leave the place). On the third day I will be back with the almaianech,⁽¹⁷⁾ or battering engine, and rations for eight days." All approved what I said, with this condition, that they should give me a hundred prisoners for my share - it was calculated that more than a thousand would be taken - and that I should have the choice of them, to repay the outlay of taking the tower. They saw that I was reasonable in what I asked, and agreed to it.

CCI.

In the morning after mass the esquires and many of the knights put on their armour, and began the attack on the side next the camp. They soon [308] forced their way into the tower. All the best Moors were at the stockades, and on forcing them seven or eight of the bravest were killed, for my people so pressed on them that they could not get into the tower or the "albacar" (bailey).

When near the "albacar," I saw the Saracens defending themselves badly and without spirit; I called to the masters [of the Orders] and some of the barons, and said, "Seems it to you that I should go to Burriana, and that these people can be taken?" They all assented. I said, "Then order your men to send me all the mules they have, and they shall come back to you loaded with everything you want."

I took with me only twelve knights. When close under Murviedro, I waited for the mules, and displayed my banners, and in a body we passed by the sea-shore, and went along it to Burriana. It was about vespers when I entered Burriana. Before I ate my dinner I bespoke bread, wine, barley, and sheep in sufficient quantity according to the list of rations which the barons, the masters, and the bishop had given me of what each of them required.

CCII.

Next day at sunrise I ordered the rations to be sent in, and I spent all that day receiving them. The following day I left Burriana in battle array, at [309] the head of my knights, in armour, of which there might be twelve or fifteen. I passed near Murviedro, and at vespers got back to the Tower of Muntcada with the "fonevol," so that before the stars came out at night the "fonevol" was set up behind a house, and during the night we put the cords to it, so that next day at half tierce,⁽¹⁸⁾ the engine began to batter the tower. So great was the crowd of women, children, cows and other cattle, in the "albacar" (bailey), that the stones thrown by the "fonevol" killed many of those inside. And as the "fonevol" battered without ceasing by day and night, the stench of the dead cattle was so great that on the fifth day the Moors of Muntcada surrendered the tower and themselves as prisoners. There were taken out one thousand one hundred and forty-seven of them; with much good and fine silken and cotton cloth, pearl, necklaces, gold and silver bracelets, rich silks, and many other valuable stuffs; so that what with the prisoners and the goods, the spoil amounted to a hundred thousand besants.⁽¹⁹⁾ I had with me at this time some Saracens from Valencia; one hundred prisoners were chosen for me as had been agreed; one of the Moors standing by and pointing out to me which to take. [310]

CCIII.

It was then determined to demolish the tower, and remain two days there for that purpose, and then leave for Museros, another tower, intending to batter it with the "fonevol," and storm it, unless immediately surrendered. The tower of Muntcada was accordingly demolished, and the whole force went to Museros and laid siege to the tower there. I began by setting up the "fonevol" against it, having previously ascertained from a Saracen of the place, whom an almogavar of mine had taken prisoner, that Zaen, the King of Valencia, had ordered that sixty men should stay to defend the tower, whilst the women, children, and the rest, should go into Valencia, which they had done. Next day the "fonevol" began to batter the tower, when three or four of its battlements were carried away. At night the Moors put baskets full of earth, that if our stones hit they might not injure the roof of the tower. But as we had arrows in the shape of spindles, which I had caused to be made, lighted tow was put on them, the crossbows shot these arrows at the baskets filled with earth, and set them on fire. On the third day the Saracens saw that their arts were of no avail; they parleyed for a surrender on condition of saving their lives. I agreed to that, for I would rather have them alive than dead. [311]

CCIV.

When I had the prisoners, there came to me En Guillem çaguardia, the uncle of En Guillem Aguiló, then a prisoner of the Moors in Valencia, and he prayed me very humbly that as his nephew was captive, I would give him sixty Saracens from Museros, for he believed that against those sixty he could get En Guillem Aguiló exchanged. With the consent of the barons I assented to this, on condition that if he (En Guillem) could not get his nephew in exchange for them, the army should have the prisoners again. He kissed my hand for the favour, going away very content, and forthwith sent a Christian, who could enter Valencia safely, to see if they would give up En Guillem de Aguiló for those sixty prisoners from Museros. The Valencians agreed to the bargain, and immediately after En Guillem de Aguiló was exchanged for the sixty prisoners from Museros.

CCV.

When that was done I went to Torres Torres to take up quarters. Before I got past Alventosa, they gave me for the hundred Moorish prisoners I had with me no less than seventeen thousand [312] besants. I would have got thirty thousand⁽²⁰⁾ had I kept them a month more; but I had to give them up for such a small sum owing to the merchants pressing me for payment of what I had borrowed from them. I therefore paid that debt and some others, and went to Zaragoza and thence to Huesca.

CCVI.

From Huesca I went through my own country towards Sariñena; I had resolved to take a castle the Moors called Enesa, and the Christians the Puig (hill) of the Onion (Cebolla); now it is called Puig de Santa Maria. I was much puzzled as to what baron of my dominions I should leave in it, when the place was taken. I reflected that men rise in praise and in worth only by good deeds, and that I ought to entrust so great a place as that was to some one who loved me well, and in whom I trusted. And as Don Bernard Guillem de Entença was my uncle on the mother's side, and he had got much from me, I resolved to entrust the Puig to him rather than to any other man, when God gave it to us. On the road I drew him aside and said to him: "Don Bernard Guillem, you are a man whom I love and trust; you are [313] very near of kin to me, and I would raise you and give you plenty, that you may do me such service that all men may say that I bestowed well what I gave you. Now I have thought of something in which you can serve me well, and for which I shall be bound to do you great good for the service you will have done to me." He returned great thanks to me and kissed my hand for the favour I promised him, and begged me to say what service it was. I said that my intention was to go and besiege the Puig de la Cebolla, which was only two leagues from Valencia, and when I had taken it to put him there, with a hundred knights, as an advanced post. I told him how the castle was on a hill, and was good, and strong, and well built; that I would give him provisions for a year, and all the winter he should keep the outposts there for me. When summer came I would be there, and would lay Valencia waste; and with the damage done by the raids and the waste I should do, I would have it ripened like a fruit fit for eating. And when that was done, the time would come for besieging Valencia, for it was already distressed for food. I would then send for all barons of my kingdoms, and for the men of the towns, to come to help in the siege of Valencia, and with God's help we would take it. "When Valencia is taken (I said), all the kingdom, as far as Xativa, will be ours." [314]

CCVII.

When Don Bernard heard that proposal of mine, he spoke not and answered nothing, but stood a long time doubting. And when I saw that he doubted about what I had said to him, I added, "Don Bernard Guillem, do not doubt that the proposal I have made to you is very good; keep it secret between you and me, and let no man in the world know of it till I have prepared the means of executing it. Accept what I offer you and let it content you well, for of two things one cannot fail; if God lets you perform the service I want you to do for Him and for me, I will make you the most honoured man of my kingdom; and if you die in God's service and mine, Paradise cannot fail you, that you have it not. For these two reasons, you should not have any doubts whatever on the matter." On that he came up to me, kissed my hand, and said that he willingly accepted the gift I gave him; that my advice was good, inasmuch as he could not choose amiss either of the two things I had spoken of.

CCVIII.

Thereon I agreed with him that I would summon my army for next Easter, and I accordingly gave orders for the barons, the militia of the cities and [315] towns, to assemble. At the beginning of Lent men from Valencia came, and told me as certain that the castle of the Puig had been dismantled. When I heard that, it grieved me much; nevertheless I said to those who brought the news that no harm had been done, inasmuch as the case being, I would immediately build another castle whenever I went there with the army. I ordered twenty pairs of moulds for "tapia"⁽²¹⁾ to be made secretly, so that no one in Teruel should know of it. On Easter Sunday I was in Teruel; and before the army came I began my preparations for departure. Don Exemen de Urrea came with me, and my household, Don Pedro Fernandez de Çagra, and the townsmen of Daroca and Teruel; before the others came I departed. As I was leaving Teruel, the army on the road saw the beasts carrying the "tapia" moulds. No one, however, in the army knew my secret, where I was going or where not. Before Xerica, whose fields were laid waste, Don Pedro Fernandez de Çagra and Don Exemen de Urrea came up to me after dinner, and said: "My lord, what is this? They say you are carrying moulds for 'tapia'; what do you intend doing with them?" I said: "I will not return you an answer [316] before every one; if you send the others away I will explain, and tell you what it is and what it is not."

CCIX.

When the others had gone away, I told them: "I have done this in great secresy, and I pray and command you to keep it reserved till people see for what purpose it is done. I have had those moulds made because I wish to occupy the Puig⁽²²⁾ now called Enesa, and which shall henceforward be called the Puig de Santa Maria. The Moors have pulled down the castle that was once there, and I intend rebuilding it. When it is rebuilt, I will leave there a good and well-fortified outpost, whence we can make war on the Moors until Valencia shall be so weakened for want of supplies that we can besiege and take it." They said: "You should have let us know that; we would have been better prepared with provisions and other things." I knew by their faces as well as by their speech, which they did not sufficiently dissemble, that my plan did not please them much. And I said to them: "Barons, let what I have done and will do content you; for in this manner Valencia will be conquered better than in any other way in the world." [317]

CCX.

Thereon, next day, I went to Torres Torres, and on the third day, after laying the country round waste, I left Torres Torres and passed by Murviedro over a hill there, and then I passed close to its castle, three or four crossbow-shots off. I gave the command of the vanguard to Don Exemen de Urrea; the men on foot were between him and me, and they kept the rearguard. When we were in the plain below and had passed Murviedro, Don Exemen de Urrea sent me a message to say that we were soon to have a battle; that Zaen, with all his power, was at Pucol, and that we ought to rejoice at it. My answer was that I was right glad it was so. Shortly after this the mule drivers and all those who were in the middle of the train took to the hills for fear of the Moors, save a few fighting men, who stood their ground. There were with me at the time the Master of the Hospital and the commanders of the Alcaniç and Castellon, fully two thousand men on foot, besides one hundred horse, those of Burriana, and fully thirty more horsemen in armour. I had moreover sent out some light troops on the road to Valencia, and placed them in ambush, so that should Zaen, the King of Valencia, come out, they might fight him to advantage. But Zaen did not come out. Those were the men Don Exemen saw. [318]

CCXI.

When it was found that the armed men in the distance were my own people, it pleased me much. I went to the Puig, and set up my tent in the plain below the town, and took up quarters with great joy and content; those who had been in ambush joining the rest of the army. In a few days there came to me many barons, who had not come before; also the townsmen of Zaragoza, Daroca, and Teruel, who had remained behind. When they came I distributed to them, according to numbers, so many fathoms [of wall to build]; if they could get it done in fifteen days or three weeks they might go on their way; so they made good work, and yet the work lasted not less than two months.

CCXII.

All the time I was there several raids (cavalcades) were made. So full was the grace of God on us before the Puig, that no one who went out against the Saracens but returned to the camp with some plunder, more or less; no party that went forth was beaten by the enemy, so well did our Lord conduct them. And for the ships that came on the sea I had made a paved road or quay near the hill beside it, on which one could go to the sea when ships came with what the army wanted, and to bring up provisions. [319]

CCXIII.

When I had been full three months waiting for Don Bernard Guillem de Entença to take charge of the place (I would not leave till he came), a message arrived by two knights Don Bernard sent, saying that he was at Burriana and wished to see me. When I heard their message I thought that Don Bernard had not brought his proper supplies. I was not in good health at the time, and said to the messengers, "For what does En Bernard Guillem want me at Burriana? I can do more for him here than I could at Burriana." They said, "Any how he begs you to go there." I replied, "I would willingly go, but I have been ill, and it is now July; if I expose myself to the heat, I fear that I shall get worse, so tell him to come to me as well as he can, and risk it. He can speak with me here better than he could there." Thereupon the messengers went away, and Don Bernard came next day. When I knew that he was coming I went out to receive him. There came with him up to a hundred knights. When he met me he kissed my hand and I saluted him. When that was done, I asked how it was with him. He said, "Well." I said, "I see you come well accompanied, but how is it with you for provisions?" When I had said that he [320] replied, "Let us go within, and I will speak with you." As he said that, and did not give me an answer, I thought as we went along that he had not proper supplies with him. He told me that besides the knights then with him full sixty knights more were to come. When I heard that he had brought more knights than I had ordered him to bring, I concluded that all I had given him had been spent in enlisting his force.

CCXIV.

After hearing that I went in, and he dined. When he had eaten, and I had slept, I sent for him to come to me; he came, and said he wished to speak apart with me, where no one else was. I went aside, and he said to me: "I was unwilling to answer the question you asked me about the supplies, for I have spent on the knights the greatest part of the money you gave me to buy provisions." "How is that?" said I; "have you not brought supplies to Burriana by land or by sea? You must know that I have none here; on the contrary, the barons in my camp themselves are in great distress. That is the reason why I am here waiting; for we have no food, and if you have brought none, I can only tell you that you have played me a sad trick." "I have," said he, "in Tortosa, three hundred [321] 'cafizes' of wheat,⁽²³⁾ Aragon measure, and fifty hogs, but they are in pledge for fifteen hundred sols."⁽²⁴⁾ I said, "By God! Don Bernard Guillem, a sad trick have you played me and yourself; for, relying on you, I had made no preparations; you cannot now keep your word to me, nor can I to you. Things here are run so close that the knights with me will not stay unless they have food, nor will your own knights either. Know for certain, that if it were not for your near kinship to me, and that I love you so much, I know no man in the world on whom I would not revenge myself for what you done to me. If this place is not held, perchance Valencia is lost for ever; I shall never come again with so good a chance of taking that city." I added, "Go hence, and think of it this night; I will pray Our Lord to give us good counsel, for certainly yours is bad." And he left me.

CCXV.

In the morning, after considering what had better be done, I said to Don Bernard: "I see no way but this; I will go to Burriana. Do you give me [322] what mules (atzembles) you have with you, and if I find any wheat there (beyond what the inhabitants must have for bare sustenance) I will send you all I can, and that must last you for fifteen days. I will thence go to Tortosa, and from Tortosa I will send you supplies for two months." I accordingly went to Burriana. When I was about to raise the camp, I found that a swallow had made her nest by the roundel on my tent; so I ordered the men not to take it down till the swallow had taken flight with her young ones, as she had come trusting in my protection.⁽²⁵⁾ They sent the mules after me, and I loaded them with bread, wine, and barley. I bought in the camp sheep, cows, and goats, which had been brought in by raids, and besides that, bespoke rations of meat for a month. I then left Burriana for Tortosa, and got there in two days. I loaded four vessels (lenys) with bread, wine, barley, and salt meat for two months, and sent all that to the people at the Puig.

CCXVI.

Leaving Tortosa, I went to Tarragona. As I was going into Tarragona, from the road above Vilaseca, I saw many masts in Salou. I stopped [323] there all day, and in the morning, at dawn, I said to Fernando Perez de Pina, who was lying down near me, "Are you asleep?" He said, "No, my Lord." I said: "Something has occurred to me which I think may be done in that matter of the Puig. Yesterday, as I passed Vilaseca, I saw masts in Salou; I believe they are loading provisions for Mallorca. Get up at once; I will give you two porters⁽²⁶⁾ to go with you. Take possession of all, and tell the owners of the vessels to come to me. Before you leave [Salou] take note of all there is in writing, and bring away the rudders and the sails of the vessels, that they may not go away." Perez did what I said. The owners of the ships were brought before me, as well as an inventory of everything there was on board. I found I could give Don Bernard Guillem de Entença at the Puig rations of flour for three months, and of wine for six months, and that there was besides salt meat and barley for two months. I gave deeds to the merchants for what I should pay them. I then went to Lerida, and borrowed of the corporation (?) sixty thousand sols; with that I paid the merchants, and with the money that was over I sent people by sea to make up the rations of bread and wine. After that I went to Huesca. [324]

CCXVII.

Being at Huesca, there came to me a messenger, a native of Huesca, name Guillem de Sales; he came by order of Don Bernard Guillem de Entença and of all the force I had left at the Puig; on their behalf he saluted me. The man had a wound in the face, and carried on it a bandage and lint. He began by asking me for a reward for good news (albixires).⁽²⁷⁾I said to him that I would willingly give him reward according as his news was. He said: "The news is such as will please and rejoice you. Here are letters from the barons and knights you left at the Puig; they say that Zaen with all the power he could raise from Xativa to Onda, full six hundred knights and forty thousand men on foot, came on such a day very early, at sunrise, to attack the Puig; ten horsemen, who had gone to explore the land towards Valencia, hastily came back to the Puig, and made it known to Don Bernard Guillem de Entença that Zaen was coming with all his army. Thereon they heard mass and took the Sacrament, those who had not taken it; and all in armour went out of the Puig. They said, If we shut ourselves up in the town it will be worse for us; we shall [325] be more easily taken than if we were outside They, therefore, commended themselves to Our Lord, and determined on having battle.

CCXVIII.

"Meantime the Saracens came on, our vanguard being at once attacked by the footmen of the frontier of Xerica, Segorbe, Liria, and Onda; "their best warriors were put foremost. Their horsemen with the rest of the foot got in our back, so that at their first onset our people had to give way. But then our men returned again down the hill and recovered the ground they had lost at first. The Saracens shouted and gained ground again, the Christians drawing off towards the castle hill. At this juncture there came a cry from the castle, from those who were looking on; they called out, Look at them; they will not resist.⁽²⁸⁾ When the knights heard that cry, they said, 'Shame to you, shame,' and all cried with one voice, 'Saint Mary !' and charged the enemy. "Then the rearguard of the Moors began to fly; they were higher up the hill than the others, and fled. Then our vanguard attacked the Saracens and broke them. The battle was thus won, and the pursuit lasted as far as the Riu Seco, between Torgos and Valencia; many died smitten by the sword, others without a wound. Of ours there died [326] Ruiz Xemenez de Luziá, who on the first onset went so far into the enemy's ranks that no one saw him again till he was found dead. There died also his son, the eldest son of Don Exemen Perez de Terga,⁽²⁹⁾ and another who bore the pennon of Don Bernard Guillem. There were besides several knights wounded, who, however, did not die of their wounds.

When the knights and townsmen of Teruel heard that the Christians had won the battle, but had lost many knights, from seventy to eighty of them mounted their horses and rode to the Puig, where they arrived at tierce on the second day."

CCXIX.

I was at Huesca when I heard the news, and immediately made it known to the Orders. I myself went to the cathedral, knelt before Jesus of Nazareth, and had a Te Deum Laudamus sung by the bishop and canons. I then went to Daroca, and sent a message to all the chivalry of the place to come to me. I also sent for the principal men of the town and the heads of the villages, and had them before me. When in my presence I prayed and commanded them to have a thousand mules within five days at Teruel, without fail. They said that since God had hitherto guided me so [327] and I wished it, they would do it. I then went to Teruel, and sent round the villages, in the same way, to bid them come to me and have within three days a thousand mules equipped for carrying provisions to the Puig. They said they would do anything I might order, but that eighty horsemen from Teruel were already there at the Puig, where I would find them. I then prayed Fernandez Diez to lend me wheat to load the two thousand mules with. He said he would do it; they would send round the villages and bring the wheat to Sarrio; they would also meet us on the road and not make us wait. I started with my own train of retainers and a hundred horsemen besides, and I reached the Puig, taking up my quarters at the Alcubles. While I was there some one came to me and said that Zaen, King of Valencia, was at Liria with all his power, and would give us battle. I said to the man, "Let him come if he dare, for I shall certainly go on." I left the Alcubles, and with our loaded mules and armoured horses went up to the Puig with spread banners. Don Berenguer de Entença and the knights of the Orders who were there, came out to receive me, with En Guillem de Aguiló and the others. I rejoiced much with them, and they with me, over the good fortune that had befallen us. All, however, could not come out to receive me, for they had lost no less than eighty-six horses in the last battle. [328]

CCXX.

Then I sent a message to En Exemen Perez of Tarragona, who was at that time my lord high steward for all the kingdom of Aragon,⁽³⁰⁾ to send me sixty horses, none to cost more than a hundred "morabitins." At this time there came to me at the Puig, Don Artal de Alagon⁽³¹⁾ and Don Pedro Cornell; they came because they had got my message to come to me at the Puig. From them I got word that the horses I had sent for were already at Teruel; and I said to Don Bernard Guillem, Don Bernard de Entença, En Guillem Aguiló and the other knights who were at the Puig, that I would before they left the castle replace all the horses they had lost, for which they gave me great thanks; moreover, that I would give up to them one-fifth of all the spoils, because of their good behaviour in the last battle; for all which they returned me thanks, saying they knew and acknowledged that I had done them great grace. I then sent word to those who were bringing the horses, and who were at Teruel, to bring them to Segorbe; but as they dared not bring the horses except under the escort of horsemen, I myself went to Segorbe [329] with a party. When I had been a day at Segorbe the barons arrived with the horses. I prayed and ordered them to tell the men not to sell their horses too dearly because I had such need of them, but meet us fairly. I would pay for them what they were worth and more. They said they would willingly do it. I then spoke with the knights, carefully examined the horses I wanted, and bought forty-six of them which cost me sixty thousand sols, thus making up eighty-six with those I had sent for to Aragon. The nobles then returned to Aragon, and I remained with fourteen knights.

CCXXI.

After that I returned to the Puig by way of Murviedro. When I was near Murviedro I proposed passing it by the hill above the castle, not more than two crossbow shots off; some of my people saying that it would be better to go by the valley of Segon. But a knight, whose name I do not remember at the present moment, said that I should pass over the hill, we could very well get past before they made us out. His opinion seemed to me the best; and I said to them: "Do you as I say. I have here no pennon or banner, but I have a horse-cloth, let us make a banner of it, and put ourselves and the horses into a clump. We will carry our lances, shields, and iron caps, and will [330] go on the side between the horses and the castle so close to the horses that they will think we are in greater number than we really are." So it was done, all who were with me agreeing as to that. And as we passed by, full a thousand Saracens came out on the hill-side of Murviedro, with five horsemen; they shouted and hooted, but dared not come near us. So by God's will I got past [Murviedro] and reached the Puig. The day I got there I divided the eighty-six horses among those who had lost theirs.

CCXXII.

When that was done I took leave of Don Bernard Guillem de Entença, Don Guillem Aguiló, and the knights; they came out with me as far as Puçol, whence I made them go back, for I would not leave the Puig without a garrison to defend it. I left there also the horses of four or five knights who came with me. I went that day to Burriana: it was a fast day. After dinner En Guillem Aguiló came all dismayed. I said, "How come you, in such dismay?" He said he had come by sea in a vessel. I asked if it was well with those at the Puig. He said, "Yes, right well; but when I left them they said there was stirring news at the place." Don Pedro Cornell was with us. One of my suit then inquired: "What news was there?" En Guillem answered: "At the Puig they said that [331] Zaen would be there to-morrow morning with all his power." I and all with me then said: "How can that be? We left [the Puig] this very morning, when there was not a word of that." En Guillem replied: "I know for truth Zaen knew of your departure the moment you left the Puig, and that all the Saracens as far as Castellon⁽³²⁾ and Concentayna have been gathered together. As soon as the Saracens knew that you had left the Puig they would surely come down: so was the talk in the garrison." I and all the others held it for nought; we believed that it could not be, and took no heed of the news.

CCXXIII.

At midnight there was a very hard knocking at the gate of the town: the porter came in to me and said, "Some one knocks very hard at the gate of the town; he is on horseback, and says he wishes to speak with you." I told him to open the gate; then Don Pedro Cornell came to me, and I said to him, "Now we shall hear if the news brought by En Guillem de Aguiló be true or not." Don Pedro Cornell said, "By my faith, I fear so!" And without delay Sancho de Mora entered with his purpoint or quilted coat on, with his sword girt, and his head uncovered, for he had taken his iron [332] cap off; and he said: "My lord, God preserve you! By order of Don Bernard Guillem de Entença I come here with a message to Don Pedro Cornell, for he would not send word to you direct." Don Pedro Cornell said, "What is the message?" He said: "He sends me to tell you that Zaen with all his power will be to-morrow morning at the Puig, and that he must give him battle. If Don Bernard saw you in such a plight, he would not fail you, and therefore he prays you to come to his succour." I said, "Battle?" He said, "Yes, my lord, surely they will be there this morning." On that, Don Pedro Cornell said: "My lord, I will tell you what to do; we will accompany you as far as the Grau of Oropesa, after which you have nothing to fear. If you go at once, I shall be the sooner back for the battle; since Don Bernard Guillem has sent for me, I will not fail him." And I said: "By the faith I owe to God and to you, Don Pedro Cornell, it shall not be so; it was I who left my people at that place; they stayed there relying on God and on me, and as I am near them, they shall not fight a second battle without me." Don Pedro replied: "My lord, do not do so; that is not for you to do; you ought to send us to such things as these are, and not go yourself." I said: " Know, Don Pedro Cornell, that for nothing in the world will I not go; leave that talk, for [333] nothing shall persuade me." And to that some one observed, "It well beseems a king not to abandon his vassals so covertly." I heard all what they said about it. Don Alaman de Sadaua was ill in Burriana; he had a good steed; I sent one of my own people to him to ask him to lend it to me, as I had to go back to the Puig for the battle; he gladly lent it to me.

CCXXIV.

I took horse at midnight, and went along the sea shore. I had my chaplain with me, and when I had got past Almenara, I said I would hear mass and would confess, lest I had forgotten any sins, and that all of us should take the Sacrament. I heard mass, and every one who chose took the Sacrament. As I went along, Don Fortuny Lopez de Sadaua (who was a good knight, and had a habit of calling every one he liked "nephew") came up to me, and said: "My lord, what do you think will become of us to-day?" "By my faith," said I, "to-day the flour will be sifted from the bran!" Then he embraced me, and said, "God give us good luck!" When I was near the river at Murviedro, Don Martin Perez (he who was afterwards Justicia of Aragon) came to me, and said: "My lord, you should send two knights to the Puig to know what news there is or is not, and how things [334] are." I said, "Do you go then." He said, "Give me someone to accompany me, and I will go." I gave him a companion, and he went; and before we got within a half a league of the Puig, he came at full speed to me. When I saw him come in that way I thought what I had heard was truth, and said, "What news bring you?" He said, "Good; all is well with them at the Puig, and there is no truth in what they told you."

CCXXV.

When I got to the Puig I held council with Bernard Guillem de Entença and others about making a foray in the plain of Valencia. I sent out "adalils"⁽³³⁾ for that purpose, fifty horsemen; and they brought in Saracens, about twelve men and fifty women, who had gone out of the city, some for wood, and others for food. When they came I asked them if the Saracens had made any other gathering to come against the Puig; I asked this of each separately that they might not concert their answer. They said that there was no gathering but of the people of the town. When I heard that, I said to my knights that I intended to go away, for certainly my going was better than my staying there waiting for [335] the enemy. I could do better, I said, sending them help for their wants from Catalonia and Aragon, than by remaining with them. That day each of our knights before parting gave to a friend [at the Puig], some their iron caps, and some their good lances if they had any, and I myself departed for Burriana. I told Don Bernard Guillem to turn back from the hamlet⁽³⁴⁾ called Puçol, and he at my command turned back. Don Bernard de Entença said that he had to speak with me, and he followed me to near the river of Murviedro. He had with him about twelve knights, all of whom had horses, arms, and quilted coats (perpunts), and who turned back with him.

CCXXVI.

When he had left me and I had crossed the river near the beginning of the marsh that goes to the sea, Miguel Garces, who was of Navarre, and has now settled in Sariñena, and the scouts (troters) who went before the host called, "To arms!" Don Pedro Cornell, who heard the cry, seized his arms and spurred forward; but I bethought myself, took his rein and said: "What is it, Don Pedro Cornell? is that the war-call of Xea?⁽³⁵⁾ Do you wait here, and let us see first what it is before you are carried away by your ardour." [336] There were then with me Don Exemen de Foces Don Ferran Perez de Pina, and Don Fortuny Lopez de Çadava.⁽³⁶⁾ Between my own men, those of Don Pedro Cornell, and those of Don Exemen de Foces, we might be fully seventeen. Don Fortuny Lopez had only a helmet (barbuda⁽³⁷⁾), which he put on his head, and a scarlet robe⁽³⁸⁾ (garnatxa), which he put on his body; he rode a mule and carried a lance; we had no horses in armour, only our quilted coats (perpunts), our iron caps, and lances. Meantime our scouts (troters) drew off towards the sea as if they wished to get shelter in a barque, in which Don Guillem de Aguiló was going off.

CCXXVII.

Presently there came two muleteers,⁽³⁹⁾ and I asked what they carried; they said seven suits of armour for man and horse. I ordered them to unload them at once, and to arm horses with them. A [337] knight, whose name I do not remember, said, "Why do you not send for Don Berenguer de Entença? he could still come in good time." I ordered Domingo de Fraga, one of my own porters, to go for him and tell him to come as soon as he could, since he saw how it stood with us. While they were arming the horses I put on a "gonio,"⁽⁴⁰⁾ and iron footpieces on my feet; but while I had put on the right one, one of my people came up running and said, "Lo! here come the Saracens!" I threw the shoe from my leg, saying: "It matters not whether my feet are protected or not, if my body and the horse are armoured." I rode forward; the enemy were preparing to charge us; I reckoned there might be a hundred and thirty horsemen,⁽⁴¹⁾ between Don Artal de Alagon and his company, and the Saracens. I did not know certainly that Don Artal was there.⁽⁴²⁾ Before I armed myself, the Saracens had taken Miquel Garces and an ass which carried the bed of Don Exemen de Foces;⁽⁴³⁾ that was when I caused Don Pedro Cornell to stop. I had scarcely mounted my horse when a knight, who bore the pennon of Don Pedro Cornell, [338] and carried it behind me, was thus addressed by Don Fortuny Lopez de Sadava,⁽⁴⁴⁾ "Blockhead that you are! bear the pennon before the king, and not at his back." And the knight accordingly set the pennon before me. Then Don Ferran Perez de Pina said: "The enemy are many, and you are here with few men; there is nothing to be done for us, but to put ourselves forward and die; there is no help for it unless we go back to the Puig." I said to him: "Don Ferran Perez, that will I not do, I never fled before the enemy yet, nor know I how to fly; but this I say, that whatever God orders for my lot, that will I share with them." I took post on a hillock. The Saracens turned about twice to attack me; but Our Lord willed it that they should not come, and I got away from them. A month after this some one said that Don Artal [was with the Saracens], and knew that I was there, and forbade them to attack me. But it was not so, for Miquel Garces who was their prisoner had not been taken to him yet, and I had no ensign or banner by which they could know me except perhaps that of Don Pedro Cornell.

[ 339] Afterwards, when the thing was over, I believe that Miquel Garces really told them that I was there. Meanwhile, the enemy saw Don Bernard de Entença coming, whereupon after crossing the olive grounds and fig gardens of the valley of Segon, they moved slowly to Almenara, and I was really glad when I saw them go away.

CCXXVIII.

Just as the Saracens began to retreat, Don Bernard arrived; I asked him to go with me, and he said he would, gladly; and that he would not part from me till such a time at Burriana. I expected the people of La Rapita to come out to me, but they did not. When I got to Burriana, Don Pedro Cornell asked me to eat and rest there all day. I said, "Don Pedro Cornell, those are not the ways of war; through resting man sometimes loses much; by my faith I say I will not eat or drink to-night till I reach Orpesa." He asked why not? "For this reason," said I; "should the Saracens during this night have gone on to the Grau of Orpesa; they would overtake us altogether in the morning, and destroy us. But surely they cannot yet have passed there, so as to be between us and that town. Let us, then, go on to Orpesa, and sleep there; thence we can go on in safety. Let Don Berenguer return and march all night; he [340] has nothing to fear from the enemy; they will not attend to his movements as they will to mine." So he [Don Pedro] took his leave, and went away.⁽⁴⁵⁾

CCXXIX.

I then ordered that none of our men should stay in the town, but should follow me; only I, Don Pedro Cornell, and Pere Palasi left the town.⁽⁴⁶⁾ When I had crossed the river Millars, a crossbowman came at a gallop on horseback with his quilted coat (perpunt) on, his iron cap on his head, and his crossbow bent. Pere Palasi said, "See what a cavalier comes scampering towards us!" I and Don Pedro Cornell were going towards the cavalier, when Pere Palasi said, "I will go myself; it is not for you to do that." We stopped, and Palasi asked the man why he came galloping in that manner, and with his crossbow bent as if he meant to shoot at us. He said, "My lord, I am a dead man." I asked him, "How is that?" He said, "Aben Lop had lain in ambush for the commander of Orpesa at the hill on this side of the Grau, and has taken the commander prisoner." I said, "Were you with the commander?" He said, "Yes, my lord, I was." "And how is it," said I, "that you dare come [341] here when your lord is a prisoner, and that you come with your crossbow bent, and turned towards me as if you wanted to kill me? You had better shoot at the Saracens than at me. You timid boy,⁽⁴⁷⁾ how could you thus desert your lord? If you were taken prisoner you would get out of captivity for one hundred and fifty sols, or for two hundred sols at the most; and you have deserted him on the field! By Christ, you never did so bad a deed in all your life; dismount at once from the horse." He said, "My lord, why am I to dismount?" I said, "For what you have done." I then took from him his horse, his quilted coat (perpunt), his iron cap, and his crossbow, and left him only his cassock⁽⁴⁸⁾(gonella), and he had to come after us on foot.

CCXXX.

When I had gone a mile (miller) from the river, I waited for my train. When it had joined me, we all went in a body to the Grau, and took up quarters there, it being already dark when we got to Orpesa. I had brought from Burriana meat, bread, and wine. We ate, laid down, and slept till morning; in the morning I heard mass; the place belonged then to the Hospital. That day I went to Ulldecona, and entered Tortosa the next day. I then sent requisitions round the towns of Aragon and Catalonia, [342] and summoned all men who held feuds from my crown,⁽⁴⁹⁾ and also the cities, to be at Easter with the army I was to lead against Valencia; and I forthwith went into Aragon. When I was at Zaragoza, Don Fernando, Don Blasco de Alagon, Don Exemen Urrea, Don Rodrigo Liçana, Don Pedro Cornell, Don Garcia Romeu, and Don Pedro Fernandez de Açagra came to me, so as to make a court though I had not summoned them.

CCXXXI.

I had been at Zaragoza eight days or more, when there came a message to me that En Bernard Guillem de Entença was dead; the barons knew it before me, and agreed that they would all come to me and tell me of his demise, that I might deliberate as to what should be done at the Puig of Santa Maria after his death. They came all sorrowful before me, and told Don Fernando to undertake the task of telling me of the death of En Bernard Guillem. When they entered I knew by their faces that they had got bad news. I told the barons to send out of the room all except themselves, Fernan Perez de Pina, and En Bernard Vidal, a learned man who accompanied me; all went away. Then Don Fernando began his discourse for himself and the others, and said, "My lord, all things in [343] the world have been made by Our Lord, and He undoes them when it pleases him. We are bound to you to do everything that can profit you, and every disadvantage that befalls you must grieve us. We have had news of what may do you hurt, unless you quickly take thought about it. News we have that grieve us much, for the sake of a man of much worth, and for your own sake also. We make it known to you that En Bernard Guillem de Entença is dead; we know it for certain, and as he held of you so great a post, and so honourable, on the border, it is needful for you to take counsel as to what you are to do."

CCXXXII.

When I heard Don Fernando's words I was greatly troubled, and I could not answer for a space of time, for the great grief I had felt at the death of En Bernard. But after a time I forced myself to answer them, and said: "The death of En Bernard Guillem grieves me much for many reasons; first because he was my near relative, my uncle on the mother's side, and I had entrusted to him a place so dear to me as the Puig is, for by the help of that, Valencia, I fancy, and its kingdom can be taken. And it grieves me for another reason, even more than all I have said, for that he himself was good and loyal, and that he had much at heart to serve me; and he has died in [344] God's service and my own. Yet I comfort myself with this, that his soul, as every good Christian must believe, will go to a good place. But I am so troubled by this news of his death, that to-night I cannot see or listen for grief; but tomorrow at morning mass, come all of ye to me, and we will take counsel together as to what is to be done respecting the place." All said that I spoke well, and that they would come to me. Next morning I heard mass in my own house, which I would not leave, that people might not know the grief in which I was. All came, and I went with them into a room, and prayed and commanded them to give me counsel and aid as to what to do in so great a business as that. They said they would go apart, and hold their council, and would then come to me, and tell me their opinion. I said that it was not necessary to go away from me, but since they wished it, I was content. They went away to deliberate; at the end of an hour they returned and told Don Blasco de Alagon to say what they had determined on, as he knew more of Valencia than they, for he had been there for two or three years. Don Blasco objected for a time to speaking for them; but all said with one voice that they wished him to speak, and Don Blasco said he would say what they had resolved on when away; and he said: [345]

CCXXXIII.

"My lord, this is what we all have seen and thought. We have to consider your interests, and not only your interests, but the outlay you must be at in keeping the Puig. You have not revenue enough for achieving so great an enterprise as you have begun, and so it seems to us you should order your men to come back; another time you may have better means prepared for conquering Valencia than now you have; the more you spend on that place, unless you succeed, the worse will it be for you and for us. With all that, you can return hereafter to take Valencia, and with God's will you may take it." After this speech, Don Fernando said: "My lord, remember that when we began this business of the Puig, I said you could not finish it, and that you would make a great outlay in vain; we are all of the opinion of Don Blasco." I then wished to know if the others were of that opinion, and they all agreed that they were.

CCXXXIV.

My answer was that I did not expect to have such a counsel from them; what I was doing I did for the service of God, and none of my house had ever done the same.The death of Don Bernard [346] Guillem was the death of one of my barons who had defeated in the field the power of the King of Valencia, and done the greater part of the work towards conquering the kingdom. "If on account of that death I should abandon the Puig, all would say that all the merit of holding the place was his; but I will show to the world that such is my nature and such my courage, that the death of Don Bernard will not be felt, not even if four or five such as he was were lost. I tell you that the place will not be abandoned, and that from it I will take Valencia and all the rest of the country afterwards." None of the barons assented except Fernan Perez de Pina and En Bernard Vidal, though they dared not say so before the others, only aside. I ordered all who were there to be with me at Easter; I would go immediately to the Puig and comfort the garrison there, till the army went to their assistance.

CCXXXV.

At the appointed time I went to the Puig with fifty knights of my own household. Don Exemen de Urrea came with me, and I ordered the son of En Bernard Guillem, whose name was En Guillem de Entença, to come with me; he might be between ten and eleven years old at the time. When I got there I found Don Berenguer and [347] En Guillem de Aguiló, and the knights of the Hospital, the Temple, Calatrava and Ucles (Santiago) in discouragement. I found that they had the dead man in his coffin, and were waiting for orders. I comforted them by my words, and told them not to have fear because their lord was dead, for I would be their lord, and would do for them what he did for their gain and advantage, and more. I then had En Bernard Guillem buried till such time as I could carry him to Escarp,⁽⁵⁰⁾ where he himself had prepared his tomb.

CCXXXVI.

Next morning, after mass, I sent for his son, En Guillem de Entença, who was there with me; I made him a knight, and granted him all the land that his father held of me. And the knights and the others who saw that I behaved well to the son and to those who had remained by the father, gave me great thanks for it, and prayed to Our Lord that He would give me a happy life, for the good example I had made of the son, and my resolution to hold that place. When that business was settled, I made arrangements for supplying the garrison till Easter, when I would again come with the whole of my army; and I made Don Berenguer de Entença governor of the place in the room of [348] En Bernard Guillem. But when the men knew that I wished to depart, they agreed with one another (the greater part of them parleying apart) that as soon as I was gone they would quit the Puig; some, for business they had at home, some for bad excuses they invented, because they did not wish to stay there. I knew nothing of all that; but there were inside the place two Dominican friars, to confess- and to preach, one called Friar Pedro of Lerida, and another whose name I do not recollect, and they came to us. Friar Pedro said that he wished to speak apart with me, and then told me that he wished to depart with me and not remain at the Puig. I said to him: "Why do you wish to go? You are much needed here, for one thing, to preach to them; for another, that if one of them came to die, you could confess him better than a chaplain who knows nothing at all about it." He said: "I will tell you why I wish to go. More than sixty knights, all men of account, of the best in this place, have spoken to me, and have said that they will leave, by day or by night, whenever you go." I said to Friar Pedro: "It is a great marvel to me; they have conquered in battle, I have made good to them the horses they had lost, and have besides engaged to supply them with all they might need for their sustenance; how is it they cannot hold out till Easter, to which there are but two months, when [349] I promise to come here with my army, and then go and besiege Valencia?" Friar Pedro replied: "Know, my lord, that if you depart it will certainly be viafors'⁽⁵¹⁾ with them; they will also go; and that is why neither I nor my companion can stay here. For my part, I do not choose to die till it is God's will that I should, that is, if I can help it." I said to him, "Go you away; I must reflect all to-night, and to-morrow morning will give you an answer." The friars went away, and left me in great concern, for the whole thing seemed to me as a spider's web. After so much work on my part, to lose it all in an hour! That which I had managed to keep up together by dint of so many prayers, and so many honors bestowed on them, thus to be undone! Were I and my knights now to give it up, great damage and great hurt and shame would befall us all!

CCXXXVII.

Then I went to bed, without disclosing to any one of those with me what Friar Pedro had said. Though it was then January, and very cold, I turned more than a hundred times from one side of the bed to the other, and I sweated as if in a hot bath. After a great deal of thinking I at last went to sleep, worn out with fatigue and the want of rest.[350] Between midnight and dawn I awoke and returned to my anxious cares, and bethought me of what bad people I had to deal with, for in the world there are no people so arrogant as knights are;⁽⁵²⁾ they would not, when I left, feel any shame in stealing away by night or by day and going to Burriana, which is only seven leagues off; and through the country, as I had conquered it, they might go, whether they were many or few, when they pleased, without need of an escort. I reflected how, by the help of God and of His Mother, I had conquered from Tortosa down to Burriana; and if that place of the Puig were abandoned and lost, so might be the other places I had taken. Wherefore I determined to go in the morning to the Church of Saint Mary, and call a council of the knights and all the others. Before addressing them, I asked Friar Pedro if he wished me to keep secret what he had told me; he said, no, on the contrary, that it would please him that I disclosed it. When all were met in my presence I said: "Barons, I know well and believe that you and all who are in Spain know the great grace that our Lord showed me in my youth in the conquest of Mallorca and the other islands, and of what I have since conquered from Tortosa down to this place. You are here assembled to serve God and me. Now Friar Pedro, of Lerida, spoke last night with me, [351] and said that the greater part of you would go away if I went; and I marvel much at it, for my departure, I intended it to be for your advantage and that of our enterprise; but since I understand that my departure disturbs you" (I said this standing up), "I promise before God and this altar of His Mother, that I will not go beyond Teruel and the river at Tortosa till I have taken Valencia. I will send for the Queen, my wife, and for my daughter (who is now⁽⁵³⁾ Queen of Castile), to come, that you may understand what a will I have to stay here, and conquer this kingdom for God's service."

CCXXXVIII.

When they heard those words of mine there was no one in the church who did not take to weeping, and I with them. I said: "Now be comforted, for I will not leave this till the city of Valencia be taken." They went away all joyful and content with the good fare of the words I had spoken. That discourse ended, and they having left me, I [352] forthwith sent my messengers to the Queen to come to Tortosa, and to my uncle, Don Fernando, to come with her. I stayed at the Puig after I had said that full fifteen days, and then I departed for Peñiscola, for I would not cross the Ebro, seeing what engagement I had taken.

CCXXXIX.

And on the day I had appointed for the Queen to be at Tortosa and Don Fernando with her, they sent to me, at Peñiscola, word that they had arrived. I sent them a message to come to Peñiscola, for I could not cross the Ebro on account of the agreement made with the knights at the Puig; on their arrival I would tell them why I had made such an agreement. But when the Queen, my wife, and Don Fernando left Tortosa to come to me, there came great rain, so great that when they had to cross the Ulldecona river⁽⁵⁴⁾ only one knight could cross, who crossed by his horse swimming; they told him before he crossed to come to me at Peñiscola and tell me that the Queen and Don Fernando had come to Ulldecona, but could not cross the river with the ladies, and that I was to send them word what to do. I told the messenger that I myself would go there. After dinner I took horse; the rain had ceased, but there was [353] such a sea raised by the wind that when the waves struck the Castle of Peñiscola on the side of the Grau of Tortosa they went over to the other side of the castle, and when others came from the Oropesa side, they too went over the castle on to the sand. I left, and found that the water at Ulldecona had gone down, but not much. I passed without swimming, but the water was still high, and went up to the saddle flaps. I found there the Queen and Don Fernando, who had already heard what I had said to the barons and knights at the Puig. I nevertheless spoke apart with the Queen and Don Fernando, and told them again what I had done at the Puig because of the knights wishing all to return home if I left at that time and season. I told them how, when I learned the wish of those knights and heard their intention, which was to abandon the place, notwithstanding they had nothing to fear after the battle they had won, since I had replaced the horses they had lost and was leaving them food enough, yet for all that they would not stay in the place, and cared not for the mischief they would bring about. I also told them how I insisted upon their remaining there because the place was of much consequence to me for the strong works I had built there, which would be destroyed through their baseness and weakness if I did not hinder it, and because I feared two things: one, that God would be offended at my undoing what He [354] had done so well; the other, shame before the world, that men could blame me and yet speak truly.⁽⁵⁵⁾

CCXL.

Upon that my uncle Don Fernando answered and said, he wondered much at the plan I had formed, and was about to act on. To take Valencia was a great thing; what I wished, my predecessors had till then been unable to accomplish. "Not to be able (he said) to enter your own kingdoms because of your engaging to accomplish so great a thing; not to speak with your lieges nor they with you, would be what could not be; such a great thing could not be done!" The Queen agreed with what Don Fernando said, for on their road to Ulldecona they had agreed they would speak thus.

CCXLI.

I saw their wish was that I should go to Catalonia and Aragon. But for all they said to me, I did not give up the good design I had formed. I told them that I came from the spot and knew how things were; I had seen and heard them, and they [355] themselves had not. I said: "Don Fernando, I ask you how could I take Valencia if the Puig were abandoned? Before I laid siege to Valencia the Saracens could harvest what they have sown; if I went to Catalonia and Aragon before I had done deliberating with my lieges as to what had to be done, certainly the Moors would have gathered in what they have sown, for Valencia and its country is a very warm land, and such a town as Valencia if conquered must be taken by famine. Let us not give them time to get grain, or supplies, or succour from any quarter; that is the best way I can find to take Valencia. Again, I have given my solemn word that I will not pass the Ebro or Teruel till Valencia be taken; and my agreement I cannot break, with the help of God and of those who hold fiefs from me in Catalonia and 'honors'⁽⁵⁶⁾ in Aragon, and of the archbishops and the bishops who promised me aid when I held Cortes at Monzon. I have sent them word that they are to come here with what they promised, and with God's will I shall have done so much before you arrive that everything will be ready for taking Valencia; for before you come the Saracens cannot have harvested the wheat and barley. You will come in time. I commend you [356] to God. Take care to come; you will find the table served; and no otherwise will I do." He and the Queen, seeing that it could not be otherwise, asked me for some grants for their own advantage, which I readily gave. Don Fernando returned, and I and the Queen next morning crossed the river, whose waters had fallen considerably. In two days I returned to Burriana, left the Queen there, and returned next day to the Puig, where they had great joy at our coming, and seeing that I bore them in mind so well.

CCXLII.

Zaen, finding that I had set my heart on the business, and made my wife come, was seized with great fear; he sent Ali Albaca [with a message] to Don Fernando Diez, whom he was to make swear on the Gospels not to disclose it. After that, Fernando Diez came, and said he wished to speak to me in secret of something to my great profit. When I heard that, I drew apart to a chamber in the house in which I was lodging. He asked me to keep the thing secret, and then said: "There has, my lord, come to you the greatest fortune and the greatest honour that ever came to a man of your house. Zaen has sent me a message by Ali Albaca, which he made me swear on the Gospels to disclose only [357] to you; he says that he would bind himself to this, to give up to you all the castles from the Guadalviar to Tortosa,⁽⁵⁷⁾ and from Tortosa to Teruel; to build for you an alcazar (fortress palace) in the Çaidia;⁽⁵⁸⁾ and to pay you besides every year henceforth, in the city of Valencia, ten thousand besants as rent." When I heard that proposal I thought it in my heart a good and fine one, and that it was a great thing that they would give me; yet I said I would think of it. I was a great space of time thinking, as long as one could walk a mile in, and then I said: "Fernando Diez, I know and believe that you would seek my profit and honour; but this thing is one that I will not do, for this reason: I have arrived at a time and a point at which I can take Valencia, and so I intend having the hen and the chickens too." Don Fernando wondered and crossed himself, and said he marvelled much that I should refuse such offers, for (said he) "had this proposal been made in the time of your father or grandfather they would all have jumped at it, and danced at such good fortune as had befallen them." So Ali Albaca went back, and could not do what he had come for.

1. Entre Catalans e Aragoneses e molta gent que y havia estranya: It is evident that the king apprehended a fight over the plunder.

2. Morabetins, from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book), morábitin (Almoravides). The morabetin, in Spanish maravedi, was a coin introduced in Spain by the Africans in the eleventh century. The Morabitin, or Almoravidin, were a dynasty of African Moors, who, after the overthrow of the Umeyyah, and of the Moluk at-tawayif or chiefs of petty kingdoms, established on the ruins of the Califate, became masters of Mohammedan Spain. The morabeti was of gold, or of silver, according to time. Whoever wishes for information on this point will find it in Saez, Demostracion historica de la moneda de Castilla en tiempo de Enrique IV.; Madrid, 1805, 4to.

3. "Puis passam pel riu de les Troytes," literally, "and then we crossed the river of the Trout."

4. Dares or d'Ares.

5. Saluasoria et Athemi in the more modern edition.

6. These words are not in Provençal, but in what approaches old Castilian. "Senyor queres lo tu axi e nos lo queremos e nos fiaremos en tu e donarte hemos (?) lo castello en la tua fe." The modern edition gives the sentence thus: "Seyor queres lo tu aixi (?) e nos lo queremos ens fiaremos en tu, e dartemos lo castello en la tua fe." Did the Saracens of Peñiscola speak Spanish on this ocasion?

7. Açagra, he is generally called.

8. Cavalers de paratge; I believe this to be the equivalent of hidalgo, i.e., hijo de algo, or "caballero de solar conocido."

9. Al nogavar, from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book)

10. It is singular enough that the words menára and mináret, both derived from (Arabic letters in book), "a place to light a fire," should have given name to the very town where such fire-signals were lighted. Upwards of fifty different towns and villages, generally situated on mountain elevations, still bear the name of Almenara in Spain.

11. Per traure catius dels sarains.

12. Grau. Many towns on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, like Valencia itself, are a mile or two from the sea, on which is their landing place, "grau " (the Latin "gradus," stairs). The object of such graus was more safety, than convenience, for the place itself, from the sudden attacks of corsairs, who must leave their ships to get at it. "

13. Orta, from the Latin hortus, huerto, huerta.

14. I presume that the somewhat obscure text means as above, that the king would get the rations against the promise of delivering to him a hundred Saracen slaves to be taken in Muntcada. He has just said the army had not yet taken more than twenty or thirty.

15. I suppose the Master meant that Muntcada tower was dangerously near the great fortress of Valencia; and that the king's answer meant that it was not near enough to be an obstacle. The new edition gives the king's answer thus: "Maestre en esta terra no ha turchs," probably for torres, as in other editions.

16. Albacar, space between the tower or keep and an outer wall, (bailey?).

17. Almaianech, or rather Almanganec, in Arabic (Arabic letters in book), is a war engine for battering walls; both are derived from the Latin machina.

18. That is about eight o'clock.

19. An old gold coin struck at Byzantium.

20. The edition of 1515 and the new one say 30,000; that of 1557, xix milia, probably a misprint.

21. Boxes of board, into which the concrete for blocks of "tapia" was poured. Tapia is an Arabic word, (Arabic letters in book), meaning a cob wall (French, pisé; Spanish, apisonado), one made of unburnt clay mixed with sand or straw. The unburnt bricks are called in Spanish adoves, from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book), tob, with the article at-tob.

22. Puig in Catalonian means a hillock; it is pronounced puch.

23. Cafizes of wheat; a "cafiz," or "cahíz," is about twelve English bushels. The word is Arabic, from (Arabic letters in book). Cafiçada is the tract of land requiring one cafiz of wheat or other grain as seed. The Aragonese measure, however, seems to have been larger than that of Castile.

24. Sols, about fifteen pounds of our English money.

25. The original text of this pretty story is, "Una horeneta havia fet un niu prop de la scudella del tendal: e manam que no levassen la tenda tro que ella sen fos anada ab sos fills, pus en nostra fe era venguda."

26. "Dos porters," ushers or alguasils (?).

27. Albixires (in Spanish "albricias") comes from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book), rei lætæ et optatæ nuntir. "Pedir albricias de una nueva bucna," in Spanish, is to "ask a reward for good news.

28. "Vansen, Vansen e vencense."

29. Elsewhere Triergua.

30. Reboster maior; in Spanish, repostero mayor was the chief steward in the king's household.

31. Alagó is the true Provençal, or Catalonian, form of this proper name, which in Aragon and Castile is written Alagon. The same remark applies to Corneil, Cornell, &c.

32. Castalla, in the new edition.

33. Adalils is the plural of (Arabic letters in book), (dalil), with the article ad-dalil, which Spaniards write adalid, having turned the final l into d. It is, properly speaking, the leader or guide of an army, and comes from (Arabic letters in book), to guide.

34. Alqueria, from (Arabic letters in book), which means the hamlet or village.

35. "Que sera, don Pero Cornell? es apelido de Xea aço?"

36. Sadaua?

37. Forepart of a helmet covering the cheeks, the mouth, and the chin, in Spanish "babera." In the Exposicio des vocables oscurs, at the beginning of the edition of 1557, the meaning is given as, "armadura de cap feyta barbelleres."

38. "Guarnaja es armadura de cos llaugera feyta de malla," or what was then called "coat of mail"; but I suspect that the interpreter mistook "guarnage," or "guarnatxe," which might well mean a mailcoat, for "garnatxe," sorte d'habit long, ou manteau, whence the Spanish garnacha; i.e. granacha, a scarlet robe still used by men of law.

39. Adzemblers; in Spanish, "azemileros," from azemila, (Arabic letters in book), a beast of burden.

40. The original reads "gôyjo," which I believe to be a misprint for gonio. See above, p. 136, note 1.

41. "E caualcam al cauall, e els (les?) altres foren dreçats per venir contra nos, e asmauemlos que eren be CXXX a cauall, entre Don Artal Dalago e sa companya e els sarrahins," says the text.

42. "E nos no sabiam que Don Artal Dalago hi fos," says the text of all the editions.

43. Written Fosses.

44. Fortuny Lopis de Sadaua. See above, p. 336. The words translated by Blockhead, &c., are thus given in the original: "Baueca dom metets lo peno dauant lo Rey e nol tengate a les epalles." Baueca is for Babieca, the name of the horse belonging to the Cid. In the Exposicio des vocables oscurs the word baueça is thus explained: "En lo capit. 65 baueça es dit bastia, e home fat y de poch saber."

45. "E pres nostre comiat e anasen."

46. "E nos manam que nul hom nostre no romangues en la vila e quens seguissen, e no exim de la vila sino nos don P. Cornell, e P. Palasi." What town? Oropcsa ? The passage, on the whole, is anything but clear.

47. "Bacallar pudent."

48. "Gonelle" in old French is the same as "casaque d'homme." See above, p. 136, note.

49. "Tenien feu per nos."

50. A celebrated monastery.

51. Catalan expression equivalent to sauve qui peut, or "all out."

52. "Car elmon non ha tan sobrer poble com son cauallers."

53. The king, or the writer of the Chronicle, did not intend the words I have placed in a parenthesis to be understood as uttered in his speech, but rather as explanatory of it. This daughter, Violante or Yolande, being the child of the king's second marriage, February 20th, 1234, cannot have been more than three years old at this time. She married in 1246 the Infante, Don Alfonso, who became King of Castile in 1252, after which date, of course, the author of the Chronicle must have written this passage. Her title of Roman Empress is not mentioned; Alfonso X.'s (contested) election as Emperor was in 1256.

54. The Cenia.

55. This confused and tautological passage suggests strongly the belief that it was taken down from the dictation of an old man reviving his remembrance of old troubles. The passage stands thus; "Et quant nos entenem la lur volentat, ja fos ço que nols calia tembre res per la batalla que haviem vençuda, e nos quels haviem smenat los caualls que haviem e quels lexauem prou que manjar, per tot aço no volien romanir en aquell lloch," &c.

56. "Nostres feus en Catalunya e honors en Aragon." Feus (from feudum) and honors are synonymous; both meaning an estate or piece of land held in fief from a superior on condition of fidelity and certain services, which were in general of a military nature.

57. "Tots los castells quants son de Guardalamar tro a Tortosa."

58. "E queus faria un alquacer a la çaydia." Alquacer, in Spanish "alcazar," is a fortress-palace, from the Arabic (Arabic letters in book), with the article. Çaidía is the name for the citadel of Valencia, (Arabic letters in book), or (Arabic letters in book).