Tournament at Calahorra

In the following years nothing is found to be related, save that my Cid did battle by command of the King with a knight called Ximen Garcia de Tiogelos, who was one of the best of Navarre: they fought for the castle of Pazluengas, and for two other castles, and my Cid conquered him, and King Don Alfonso had the castles.

And after this my Cid did battle in Medina Celi, with a Moor called Faras, who was a good knight in arms, and he defeated and slew him and another also.

And in the fifth year of the reign of King Don Alfonso, the King sent the Cid to the Kings of Seville and of Cordova for the tribute which they were bound to pay him.

Now there was at this time war between Almocanis, King of Seville, and Almundafar, King of Granada, and with Almundafar were these men of Castille, the Count Don Garcia Ordonez, and Fortun Sanchez, the son-in-law of King Don Garcia of Navarre, and Lope Sanchez his brother, and Diego Perez, one of the best men of Castille; and they aided him all that they could, and went against the King of Seville, and when my Cid knew this it troubled him, and he sent unto them requiring them not to go against the King of Seville, nor to destroy his country, because he was King Don Alfonso's vassal; otherwise the King must defend him.

And the King of Granada and the Ricos-omes who were with him cared nothing for his letters, but entered boldly into the land of Seville, and advanced as far as Cabra, burning and laying waste before them.

When the Cid saw this he gathered together what Christians he could and went against them.

And the King of Granada and the Christians who were with him, sent to tell him that they would not go out of the country for him.

And the wrath of the Cid was kindled, and he went against them, and fought with them in the field, and the battle lasted from the hour of tierce even until the hour of sexts; and many died upon the part of the King of Granada, and at length my Cid overcame them and made them take to flight.

And Count Garcia Ordonez was taken prisoner, and Lope Sanchez, and Diego Perez, and many other knights, and of other men so many that they were out of number; and the dead were so many that no man could count them; and the spoils of the field were very great.

And the Cid held these good men prisoners three days and then set them free, and he returned with great honour and great riches to Seville.

And King Almocanis received him full honourably, and gave him great gifts for himself, and paid him the full tribute for the King; and he returned rich to Castille, and with great honour.

And King Don Alfonso was well pleased with the good fortune of the Cid in all his feats; but there were many who wished ill to him, and sought to set the King against him.