get Valencia into his hands, and besought the Cid to help him. But the
Cid made answer, how could that be, seeing that Yahia had received it
from the hands of King Don Alfonso, who had given it unto him that he
might dwell therein. If indeed King Don Alfonso should give it to the
King of Zaragoza, then might the King win it, and he would help him so
to do; otherwise he must be against him. When the King heard this he
perceived how the Cid stood in this matter, and he left an Alcayde with
a body of knights to assist King Yahia, and also to see if he could win
the town; and he himself returned to Zaragoza.

XV. Then the Cid went to besiege the Castle called Xerica, by advice of
the King of Zaragoza, that he might have a frontier against Monviedro.
This he did because, when the King came to relieve Valencia, Aboeza had
covenanted to give up Monviedro unto him, the which he had not done;
and the King thought that if he made war upon these Castles they must
either yield unto him, or be at his mercy, because they did not belong
to the King of Denia. But when Aboeza knew this he sent to Abenalfange
the King of Denia, saying that he would give him the Castle; and the
King of Denia incontinently came and took possession of it, and Aboeza
became his vassal. When the Cid saw this he understood that Valencia
must needs be lost, and thought in his heart that he could win the city
for himself, and keep it. Then sent he letters to King Don Alfonso, in
which he besought him of his mercy not to think it ill that the people
who were with him should remain with him, for he would do God service,
and maintain them at the cost of the Moors, and whensoever the King
stood in need of their service, he and they would go unto him and serve
him freely; and at other times they would make war upon the Moors, and
break their power, so that the King might win the land. Well was King
Don Alfonso pleased at this, and he sent to say that they who were in
the Cid's company might remain with him, and that as many as would