said to the King, The Cid came after you like one who was wearied, and
now he goes before you. And after this manner they set the King again
against him, so that his displeasure was greatly moved. And the Moors
did not venture to give him battle, but left the Castle of Aledo and
retreated to Murcia, and the King returned to Ubeda. And when the Cid
saw that the heart of the King was changed, he returned to Valencia,
and the King went back to Toledo.

XXIV. After this King Don Alfonso drew forth a great host and went
towards Valencia, and sent to all the Castles in that land, saying that
for five years they should pay him the tribute which they were wont to
pay unto the Cid. When the Cid knew this he sent to the King, saying,
he marvelled why the King should thus seek to dishonour him, and that
he trusted in God soon to make him know how ill he was advised by those
about him. And presently the Cid gathered together a full great host
both of Moors and of Christians, and entered the land of King Don
Alfonso, burning and destroying whatever he found, and he took Logrono,
and Alfaro also, and sacked it. While he was at Alfaro, Count Garci
Ordonez and certain other Ricos-omes of Castille sent to say to him,
that if he would tarry for them seven days, they would come and give
him battle. He tarried for them twelve days, and they did not dare to
come; and when the Cid saw this he returned to Zaragoza. Now when King
Don Alfonso knew what the Cid had done in his land, and that the
Ricos-omes had not dared fight against him, he saw that he had taken an
evil counsel when he set his heart against him. And he sent his letters
to the Cid saying, that he forgave him all that he had done, seeing
that he himself had given the occasion; and he besought him to come to
Castille, where he should find all things free which appertained unto
him. Much was the Cid rejoiced at these tidings, and he wrote to the
King thanking him for his grace, and beseeching him not to give ear to