Pelegrina © Mark Wade

King Don Alfonso made no delay, but sent out his letters through Leon and Santiago, to the Portugueze and the Galicians, and they of Carrion, and the Castillians, that he would hold a Cortes in Toledo at the end of seven weeks, and that they who did not appear should no longer be accounted his vassals.

At this greatly were the Infantes of Carrion troubled, for they feared the coming of my Cid the Campeador.

And they took counsel with their kin and prayed the King that he would hold them excused from that Cortes; and the King made answer, that nothing but God should excuse them from it, for the Campeador was coming to demand justice against them, and he, quoth the King, who will not appear, shall quit my kingdoms.

So when they saw that they must needs appear, they took counsel with the Count Don Garcia, the enemy of my Cid, who always wished him ill, and they went with the greatest company that they could assemble, thinking to dismay my Cid the Campeador.

And they arrived before him.