he city to keep, which he kept, and did much evil to the Moors till
the day of his death. And the King departed and went to Compostella,
to return thanks to Santiago.

But then Benalfagi, who was the lord of many lands in Estremadura,
gathered together a great power of the Moors and built up the walls of
Montemor, and from thence waged war against Coimbra, so that they of
Coimbra called upon the King for help. And the King came up against
the town, and fought against it, and took it. Great honor did Ruydiez
win at that siege; for having to protect the foragers, the enemy came
out upon him, and thrice in one day was he beset by them; but he,
though sorely pressed by them, and in great peril, nevertheless
would not send to the camp for succor, but put forth his manhood and
defeated them. And from that day che King gave more power into his
hands, and made him head over all his household.

Now the men of Leon besought the King that he should repeople Zamora,
which had lain desolate since it was destroyed by Almanzor. And he
went thither and peopled the city, and gave to it good privileges.
And while he was there came messengers from the five kings who were
vassals to Ruydiez of Bivar, bringing him their tribute; and they came
to him, he being with the King, and called him Cid, which signifieth
lord, and would have kissed his hands, but he would not give them his
hand till they had kissed the hand of the King. And Ruydiez took the
tribute and offered the fifth thereof to the King, in token of his
sovereignty; and the King thanked him, but would not receive it;
and from that time he ordered that Ruydiez should be called the Cid,
because the Moors had so called him.

III

HOW THE CID MADE A COWARD INTO A BRAVE MAN

At this time Martin Pelaez the Asturian came with a convoy of laden
beasts, carrying provisions to the host of the Cid; and as he passed
near the town the Moors sallied out in great numbers against him; but
he, though he had few with him, defended the convoy right well, and
did great hurt to the Moors, slaying many of them, and drove them into
the town. This Martin Pelaez who is here spoken of, did the Cid make
a right good knight, of a coward, as ye shall hear. When the Cid first
began to lay seige to the city of Valencia, this Martin Pelaez came
unto him; he was a knight, a native of Santillana in Asturias, a
hidalgo, great of body and strong of limb, a well-made man and of
goodly semblance, but with