Segovia © Mark Wade

Yahia being now King in Valencia, made Aboeza his Guazil, and gave him authority throughout all his kingdom.

Nevertheless he bore displeasure against him in his heart, because he had served Abdalla Azis; and on his part also Aboeza secretly feared the King, and knew not whether it were better to depart from him, or not; howbeit he thought it best to remain and serve him right loyally and well, that so he might win his good will; and when the-King perceived this, his anger abated and was clean put out of mind.

And he made Aboeza his favorite, and made a vow unto him and confirmed it by a writing, that he would never take away his favour from him, nor change him for another, nor do any thing in his dominions without him.

With this was Aboeza satisfied, and the fear which he felt in his heart was removed.

And they who held the castles brought great gifts to Yahia, with much humility and reverence, such as the Moors know how to put on.

This they did to set his heart at rest, that he might confide in them, and send away Alvar Fanez into his own country, and not keep him and his people at so great a charge, for it cost them daily six hundred maravedis, and the King had no treasure in Valencia, neither was he so rich that he could support his own company and supply this payment; and for this reason the Moors complained of the great cost.

But on the other hand, Yahia feared that if he should send away Alvar Fanez, the Moors would rise against him; and to maintain him he laid a great tax upon the city and its district, saying that it was for barley.

This tax they levied upon the rich as well as the poor, and upon the great as well as the little, which they held to be a great evil and breach of their privileges, and thought that by his fault Valencia would be lost, even as Toledo had been.

This tribute so sorely aggrieved the people, that it became as it were a bye word in the city, Give the barley.

They say there was a great mastiff, with whom they killed beef in the shambles, who, whenever he heard, 'Give the barley,' began to bark and growl: upon which a Trobador said, Thanks be to God, we have many in the town who are like the mastiff.