that they spake rightly, and he called for Don Diego Ordonez, the son
of Count Don Bermudo, who was the son of the Infante Don Ordono of
Leon, and bade him follow the Cid, and beseech him in his name to
return; and whatever covenant he should make it should be confirmed
unto him; and of this he ordered his letters of credence to be made
out. And Don Diego Ordonez went to horse, and rode after the Cid, and
overtook him between Castro Nuno and Medina del Campo. And when it was
told unto the Cid that Don Diego Ordonez was coming, he turned to meet
him, and greeted him well, and asked him wherefore he was come. And he
delivered the King's bidding, and showed unto him his letters of
credence, and said unto him that the King besought him not to bear in
mind the words which he had spoken unto him, being in anger. Then the
Cid called together his kinsmen and friends, and asked them what they
should do. And they counselled him that he should return to the King,
for it was better to remain in his land and serve God, than to go among
the Moors. And he held their counsel good, and called for Don Diego,
and said unto him that he would do the will of the King: and Don Diego
sent to the King to tell him how he had sped. And when the Cid drew
nigh unto the host, the King went out with five hundred knights to meet
him, and received him gladly, and did him great honour. And the Cid
kissed his hand and asked him if he confirmed what Don Diego had said;
and the King confirmed it before all the knights who were there
present, promising to give him great possessions. And when they came to
the army great was the joy because of the Cid's return, and great were
the rejoicings which were made: but as great was the sorrow in Zamora,
for they who were in the town held that the siege was broken up by his
departure. Nevertheless my Cid would not bear arms against the Infanta,
nor against the town of Zamora, because of the days which were past.

XXVII. And the King ordered proclamation to be made throughout the host