Spanish Castle © Mark Wade

Early on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez, came to the Cid.

Gil Diaz and Dona Ximena were always with him; and the Cid began to make his testament.

And the first thing which he directed, after commending his soul to God, was, that his body should be buried in the Church of St. Pedro de Cardena, where it now lies; and he bequeathed unto that Monastery many good inheritances, so that that place is at this day the richer and more honourable.

Then he left to all his company and household according to the desert of every one.

To all the knights who had served him since he went out of his own country, he gave great wealth in abundance.

And to the other knights who had not served him so long, to some a thousand marks of silver, to others two, and some there were to whom he bequeathed three, according who they were.

Moreover, to the squires who were hidalgos, to some five hundred, and others there were who had a thousand and five hundred.

And he bade them, when they arrived at St. Pedro de Cardena, give clothing to four thousand poor, to each a skirt of escanforte and a mantle.

And he bequeathed to Dona Ximena all that he had in the world, that she might live honourably for the remainder of her days in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena; and he commanded Gil Diaz to remain with her and serve her well all the days of her life.

And he left it in charge to the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Dona Ximena his wife, and Don Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Felez Munoz, his nephews, that they should see all this fulfilled.

And he commanded Alvar Fanez and Pero Bermudez, when they had conquered King Bucar, to proceed forthwith into Castille and fulfil all that he had enjoined.

This was at the hour of sexts.

Then the Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador of Bivar, bade the Bishop Don Hieronymo give him the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and he received it with great devotion, on his knees, and weeping before them all.

Then he sate up in his bed and called upon God and St. Peter, and began to pray, saying, Lord Jesus Christ, thine is the power and the kingdom, and thou art above all Kings and all nations, and all Kings are at thy command.

I beseech thee therefore pardon me my sins, and let my soul enter into the light which hath no end.

And when the Cid Ruydiez had said this, this noble Baron yielded up his soul, which was pure and without spot, to God, on that Sunday which is called Quinquagesima, being the twenty and ninth of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand and ninety and nine, and in the seventy and third year of his life.

After he had thus made his end they washed his body twice with warm water, and a third time with rose-water, and then they anointed and embalmed it as he had commanded.

And then all the honourable men, and all the clergy who were in Valencia, assembled and carried it to the Church of St. Mary of the Virtues, which is near the Alcazar, and there they kept their vigil, and said prayer and performed masses, as was meet for so honourable a man.