the pleasure which he had, that he cared not for food, neither remembered
it, but went after that his holy guide. And at night he saw how the
cloud, when the sun was about to set, turned to the right of the road
toward the mountains; and it went on so far, that before night had closed
it came to a hermitage, in which there was a good man for a Hermit, who
was more than ninety years of age, and there it stopt. And the King
perceived that he was to rest there, and the good man welcomed the King,
and they spake together of many things. And the King was well contented
with his speech, and saw that certes he was a servant of God. And all
that day the King had not eaten, and he was barefoot, and his raiment
tattered: and as he had not been used to travel a-foot, and with his feet
bare, his feet were swollen with blisters. And when it was an hour after
night, the Hermit gave him a loaf, full small, which was made of rye, and
there were ashes kneaded with it, and the King ate it: and when he had
eaten they said prayers. And when they had said their hours, they lay
down to sleep. And when it was midnight they arose and said their hours:
and when they had said them, the King went out of the hermitage, and saw
that the cloud did not move: and then the King understood that he had to
tarry here, or that he was to hear mass before he departed, and he asked
the Hermit to hear his confession, and the Hermit confessed him. And when
he had confessed, he said that he would communicate, and the good Hermit
saw that it was good, and he put on his vestments and said mass; and the
King heard the mass, and received the very body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And when the King had done this, he went out to look at the cloud. And
as he went out of the hermitage he saw that the cloud began to move,
and then he dispeeded himself from the Hermit, and they embraced each
other weeping, and each entreated the other, that he would bear him in
mind, and remember him in his prayers. And when the King had dispeeded
himself, he followed after his holy guide, and the holy Hermit returned
to his hermitage. And the King Don Rodrigo, notwithstanding his feet were
swollen and full of blisters, and that in many places they were broken
and bleeding, such and so great was the joy which he felt at going on in
the course which he now held, that he endured it all as though he felt
nothing. And he went, according as it seemed to him, full six leagues,
and arrived at a convent of Black Monks, and there the cloud stopt, and
would proceed no farther. And at that convent there was an Abbot who led
an extraordinary good and holy life; and they were not there like other
monks; and he was a great friend of God and of our Lady the Virgin St.
Mary: and this Abbot took the King to his cell, and asked if he would
eat as he was wont to do, or like the other monks, and the King said,
that he would do as he should direct him. And the Abbot ordered that a
loaf should be brought of pannick and maize mixed together, and a jar of
water, and on the other side he had food placed such as the monks used;
and the King would eat only of the pannick bread, as he had been wont to
do, and he drank of the water. And when he had eaten, the Abbot asked
him if he would remain that night or not, and the King said that he knew
not, but that he would go out and see whether he were to go or to remain.
And the Abbot said that it was the hour of vespers, and that he ought
to remain; and the King went out and saw that the cloud moved, and that
it behoved him to go, and he dispeeded himself from the Abbot, and they
commended themselves each to the other in his prayers. And the Abbot saw
plainly how that cloud had guided him, and how there was no other in the
sky, and he marvelled greatly, and said, Certes this is some holy man,
and he gave thanks to God. And the King went on that evening till he came
to a church which was solitary and remote from peopled places: and there
the cloud stopt, and he abode there that night. And the King went into
the church, and found in it a lamp burning, and it rejoiced him much,
for by the light of it he said his hours as well before he should sleep
as after. And on the morrow when he had made his prayer, he went out of
the church and beheld the cloud, and saw that it moved; and he went after
it, and after two days’ journey he came to a place which where it is, or
what it is called, is not said, save that it is the place of his burial,
for such it is. And there the cloud stopt and proceeded no farther; and
it rested without the town over an ancient hermitage. And the elder of
that place incontinently knew by the Holy Spirit how King Don Rodrigo was
come there: but he knew not his name, neither who he was; and he asked
him if he meant to lead his life there, and he answered that it was to be
as God should please. And the Elder said to him, Friend, I am the Elder
of this place, for all the others, when they knew that King Don Rodrigo
and his chivalry were slain and vanquished, fled from hence for fear of
the Moors, and of the traitor Count Don Julian, and they all went to
the mountains to escape. And I remained, putting my trust in our Lord
God, and in his holy hands: for that I would rather abide that which may
befall and take my adventure here, than utterly forsake our mother holy
church; while I am able I will remain here and not forsake it, but rather
receive my death. And therefore I say, that if you are to abide here you
must provide yourself of that whereof you have need. And the King said,
Friend of God, concerning my tarriance I cannot certify you; though
surely I think that I shall abide; and if for the service of God you
will be pleased to send me every day that I remain a loaf of pannick and
water, I shall be contented therewith. And the Elder promised this, and
departed forthwith and went to his home, and sent him a loaf of pannick
and water. And the cloud remained there three days over that hermitage,
and when the three days were at an end, it was seen no more. And the
King, when he could no longer see it, understood that there he must
perform his penance, and gave many thanks to God, and was full joyful
thereat. And on the morrow the Elder came to see him, and they communed
with each other in such manner, that the King confessed to him all the
sins which he had committed during his whole life till that time, all
which he called to mind with great contrition, weeping full bitterly and
groaning for his errors and sins. And the Elder was greatly astonished,
and said, That on the third day from thence he would appoint him his
penance. And he went to his church and confessed, and addrest himself to
prayer in such guise that he neither ate nor drank, nor raised himself
from one place, weeping bitterly, and beseeching God that he would show
him what penance he should appoint the King; for after no other manner
did he think to appoint it, than such as his holy mercy and compassion
should direct. And on the third day he heard a voice which said thus,
Command King Don Rodrigo that he go to a fountain which is below his
hermitage, and he shall find there a smooth stone; and bid him lift it
up, and under it he shall find three little serpents, the one having two
heads. And bid him take that which hath two heads, and carry it away,
and place it in a jar, and nurse it secretly, so that no person in the
world shall know thereof, save only he and thou; and let him keep it till
it wax so great that it hath made three turns within the jar, and puts
its head out; and when it is of that greatness, then let him take it out,
and lay it in a tomb which is there, and lie down himself with it, naked;
and close the tomb well, that the serpent may not be able to go out; and
in this manner God is pleased that King Don Rodrigo should do penance.”
Ch. 254.—_Of the Penance which was appointed King Don Rodrigo._
“The Elder when he heard the voice was greatly amazed at so rigorous a
penance as this, and gave many thanks to God, and he went to King Don
Rodrigo, and told him the manner how he had heard the voice; and the
King was full joyful and content and pleased therewith, and gave many
thanks to our Lord, for that he should now complete his penance and
save his soul. And therewith in great joy, and shedding many tears for
pleasure, he went to the fountain as he had been directed, and found the
smooth stone. And when he had lifted it up, he found the three serpents
according as the Elder had said, and he took that which had two heads,
and he took it and put it in a great jar, such as would be a large wine
vessel, and nurst it there till it was of such bigness as the voice
had said. And when King Don Rodrigo saw that it was of this bigness he
confessed to the Elder, weeping full bitterly, demanding favour of God
that he would give him grace and strength with patience to fulfil that
penance without any temptation or trouble of soul; to the end that, the
penance being completed, it might please our Lord God to receive his
soul into his glory. And before the fifth day after the serpent was thus
big, the King and the Elder went to the tomb, and they cleansed it well
within; and the King placed himself in it naked as he was born, and the
serpent with him, and the Elder with a great lever laid the stone upon
the top. And the King besought the Elder that he would pray to our Lord
to give him grace that he might patiently endure that penance, and the
Elder promised him, and thus the King remained in his tomb, and the
serpent with him. And the Elder consoled him, saying to him many things
to the end that he might not be dismayed, neither fall into despair,
whereby he should lose the service of God. And all this was so secret
that no man knew it, save only the King and the Elder. And when it was
day-break the Elder went to the church and said mass, with many tears
and with great devotion beseeching God that he would have mercy and
compassion upon King Don Rodrigo, that with true devotion and repentance
he might complete his penance in this manner, which was for his service.
And when he had said mass, he went to the place where King Don Rodrigo
lay, and asked him how he fared, and the King answered, Well, thanks to
God, and better than he deserved, but that as yet he was just as when he
went in. And the Elder strengthened him as much as he could, telling him
that he should call to mind how he had been a sinner, and that he should
give thanks to our Lord God, for that he had visited him in this world,
and delivered him from many temptations, and had himself appointed for
him this penance; the which he should suffer and take with patience,
for soon he would be in heavenly glory. And the king said to him, that
he well knew how according to his great sins he merited a stronger
penance: but that he gave many thanks to our Lord Jesus, for that he
himself had given him this penance, which he did receive and take with
great patience; and he besought the Elder that he would continue to pray
our Lord God that he would let him fulfil it. And the Elder said to him
many good things concerning our Lord God. And the King lay there three
days, during all which time the serpent would not seize on him. And when
the third day, after that he had gone into the tomb, was completed, the
serpent rose from his side, and crept upon his belly and his breast, and
began with the one head to eat at his nature, and with the other straight
toward his heart. And at this time the Elder came to the tomb, and asked
him how he fared, and he said, Well, thanks to God, for now the serpent
had begun to eat. And the Elder asked him at what place, and he answered
at two, one right against the heart with which he had conceived all the
ills that he had done, and the other at his nature, the which had been
the cause of the great destruction of Spain. And the Elder said that God
was with him, and exhorted him that he should be of good courage, for now
all his persecutions both of the body and of the soul would have an end.
And the King ceased not always to demand help of our Lord, and to entreat
that of his holy mercy he would be pleased to forgive him. And the Elder
went to his home, and would not seat himself to eat, but retired into his
chamber, and weeping, prayed full devoutly to our Lord that he would give
strength to the King that he might complete his penance. And the serpent,
as he was dying for hunger, and moreover was large, had in one minute
eaten the nature, and began to eat at the bowels; nevertheless he did
not eat so fast, but that the King endured in that torment from an hour
before night till it was past the middle of the day. And when the serpent
broke through the web of the heart, he staid there and ate no further.
And incontinently the King gave up his spirit to our Lord, who by his
holy mercy took him into his glory. And at that hour when he expired all
the bells of the place rang of themselves as if men had rung them. Then
the Elder knew that the King was dead, and that his soul was saved.”
Thomas Newton in his “Notable History of the Saracens,” seems to imagine
that this story is allegorical. “Nowe,” he says, “whereas it is reported,
and written that he folowed a starre or a messenger of God, which
conducted and guided him in his way; it may be so, and the same hath also
happened to others; but it may as well also be understoode of a certaine
secrete starre moving and directing his will.
“And whereas they say he was put by that holy man into a cave or hole,
and a serpent with him that had two heads, which in two days’ space
gnawed all the flesh off his body from the bones; this, beyng simplie
taken and understanded, hath no likelihood of any truth. For what
sanctity, what religion, or what pietie, commandeth to kill a penitent
person, and one that seeketh comfort of hys afflicted mind by amendment
of life, with such horrible torments and straunge punishment? Wherefore
I woulde rather think it to be spoken mysticallye, and that the serpent
with two heads signifieth his sinful and gylty conscience.”
* * * * *
_A humble tomb was found._—XXV. p. 250.
_How Carestes found the grave of King Don Rodrigo at Viseo in Portugal._
“I, Carestes, vassal of King Don Alfonso of Leon, son-in-law of the
Knight of God, King Don Pelayo, when the said King Don Alfonso won Viseo
from the Moors who held it, found a grave in a field, upon the which were
written in Gothic letters, the words which you shall here read. This
grave was in front of a little church, without the town of Viseo, and the
superscription of the writing was thus:—
_Of the writing which was upon the grave of King Don Rodrigo._
“Here lies King Don Rodrigo, the last of the Goths. Cursed be the wrath
of the traitor Julian, for it was of long endurance, and cursed be his
anger, for it was obdurate and evil, for he was mad with rage, and
stomachful with pride, and puffed up with folly, and void of loyalty, and
unmindful of the laws, and a despiser thereof; cruel in himself, a slayer
of his lord, a destroyer of his country, a traitor to his countrymen;
bitter is his name; and it is as grief and sorrow in the mouth of him who
pronounces it; and it shall always be cursed by all that speak of him.”
That veracious chronicler Carestes then concludes his true history in
these words:—“And by this which I found written upon this grave, I am of
mind that King Don Rodrigo lies there, and because of the life which
he led in his penitence, according as ye have heard, which also was in
the same tomb written in a book of parchment, I believe without doubt
that it is true, and because of the great penance which he did, that God
was pleased to make it known in such manner as it past, for those who
hereafter shall have to rule and govern, to the end that all men may see
how soon pride is abased and humility exalted. This Chronicle is composed
in memory of the noble King Don Rodrigo; that God pardon his sins, and
that the son of the Virgin without stain, Jesus Christ, bring us to true
repentance, who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.
Thanks be to God!”
I believe the Archbishop Roderick of Toledo is the earliest writer who
mentions this discovery. He died in 1247. The fact may very possibly have
been true, for there seems to have been no intention of setting up a
shrine connected with it. The Archbishop’s words are as follow:—
“_Quid de Rege Roderico acciderit ignoratur; tamen corona,
vestes et insignia et calciamenta auro et lapidibus adornata,
et equus qui Orelia dicebatur, in loco tremulo juxta fluvium
sine corpore sunt inventa. Quid autem de corpore fuerit factum
penitus ignoratur, nisi quod modernis temporibus apud Viseum
civitatem Portugalliæ inscriptus tumulus invenitur_, Hic jacet
Rodericus ultimus Rex Gothorum. _Maledictus furor impius
Juliani quia pertinax, et indignatio, quia dura; animosus
indignatione, impetuosus furore, oblitus fidelitatis, immemor
religionis, contemptor divinitatis, crudelis in se, homicida
in dominum, hostis in domesticos, vastator in patriam, reus in
omnes, memoria ejus in omni ore amarescet, et nomen ejus in
æternum putrescet._”—Rod. Tol. f. 3. g. 19.
Lope de Vega has made this epitaph, with its accompanying reflections,
into two stanzas of Latin rhymes, which occur in the midst of one of his
long poems:—
_Hoc jacet in sarcophago Rex ille
Penultimas Gothorum in Hispania,
Infelix Rodericus; viator sile,
Ne fortè pereat tota Lusitania;
Provocatus Cupidinis missile
Telo, tam magnâ affectus fuit insaniâ
Quam tota Hiberia vinculis astricta
Testatur mæsta, lachrimatur victa._
_Execrabilem Comitem Julianum
Abhorreant omnes, nomine et remoto
Patrio, appellent Erostratum Hispanum,
Nec tantum nostri, sed in orbe toto:
Dum current cœli sidera, vesanum
Vociferant, testante Mauro et Gotho,
Cesset Florindæ nomen insuave,
Cava viator est, a Cava cave._
Jerusalen Conquistada, l. 6. ff. 137.
FOOTNOTES
[1] See pages 77, 78. antè.
[2] In the seventeenth, and last council of Toledo, it was decreed that
the baptistery should be shut up, and sealed with the episcopal seal,
during the whole year, till Good Friday; on that day the bishop, in
his pontificals, was to open it with great solemnity, in token that
Christ, by his passion and resurrection, had opened the way to heaven
for mankind, as on that day the hope was opened of obtaining redemption
through the holy sacrament of baptism.—_Morales_, 12. 62. 3.
[3] Monarchia Lusitana, 2. 7. 19.
[4] Père Tomich. c. 34. ff. 26
[5] Hist. Goth. apud Florez. Espana Sagrada, t. 6. 486.
[6] Espana Sagrada, t. 6. 474.
[7] Hist. of the Captivity of Thomas Pellew, p. 257.
[8] España Sagrada, t. xiii. p. 242.
[9] Johnes’s Monstrellet, vol. v. p. 190.
[10] C. 13.
[11] Fuero Juzgo, L. 3. tit. 1. leg. 1.
END OF THE NINTH VOLUME.
LONDON.
SPOTTISWOODE and SHAW,
New-street-Square.