King Fernando changes his Camp.—Garci Perez and the seven Moors.
King Fernando the Saint soon found his encampment on the banks of
the Guadalquivir too much exposed to the sudden sallies and insults
of the Moors. As the land was level, they easily scoured the fields,
carried off horses and stragglers from the camp, and kept it in
continual alarm. He drew off, therefore, to a securer place, called
Tablada, the same where at present is situated the hermitage of
Nuestra Señora de el Balme. Here he had a profound ditch digged all
round the camp, to shut up the passes from the Moorish cavalry. He
appointed patrols of horsemen also, completely armed, who continually
made the rounds of the camp, in successive bands, at all hours of
the day and night.[89] In a little while his army was increased by
the arrival of troops from all parts,—nobles, cavaliers, and rich
men, with their retainers,—nor were there wanting holy prelates,
who assumed the warrior, and brought large squadrons of well-armed
vassals to the army. Merchants and artificers now daily arrived,
and wandering minstrels, and people of all sorts, and the camp
appeared like a warlike city, where rich and sumptuous merchandise
was mingled with the splendor of arms; and the various colors of the
tents and pavilions, and the fluttering standards and pennons bearing
the painted devices of the proudest houses of Spain, were gay and
glorious to behold.
[89] _Corona Gothica_, T. 3, § viii.
When the king had established the camp in Tablada he ordered that
every day the foragers should sally forth in search of provisions and
provender, guarded by strong bodies of troops. The various chiefs of
the army took turns to command the guard who escorted the foragers.
One day it was the turn of Garci Perez, the same cavalier who had
killed the king of the Azules. He was a hardy, iron warrior, seasoned
and scarred in warfare, and renowned among both Moors and Christians
for his great prowess, his daring courage, and his coolness in the
midst of danger. Garci Perez had lingered in the camp until some time
after the foragers had departed, who were already out of sight. He at
length set out to join them, accompanied by another cavalier. They
had not proceeded far before they perceived seven Moorish genetes, or
light-horsemen, directly in their road. When the companion of Garci
Perez beheld such a formidable array of foes, he paused and said:
“Señor Perez, let us return; the Moors are seven and we but two,
and there is no law in the _duello_ which obliges us to make front
against such fearful odds.”
To this Garci Perez replied: “Señor, forward, always forward; let us
continue on our road; those Moors will never wait for us.” The other
cavalier, however, exclaimed such rashness, and turning the reins
of his horse, returned as privately as possible to the camp, and
hastened to his tent.
All this happened within sight of the camp. The king was at the door
of his royal tent, which stood on a rising ground and overlooked the
place where this occurred. When the king saw one cavalier return and
the other continue, notwithstanding that there were seven Moors in
the road, he ordered that some horsemen should ride forth to his aid.
Upon this Don Lorenzo Xuarez, who was with the king and had seen
Garci Perez sally forth from the camp, said: “Your majesty may leave
that cavalier to himself; that is Garci Perez, and he has no need
of aid against seven Moors. If the Moors know him they will not
meddle with him; and if they do, your majesty will see what kind of a
cavalier he is.”
They continued to watch the cavalier, who rode on tranquilly as if in
no apprehension. When he drew nigh to the Moors, who were drawn up on
each side of the road, he took his arms from his squire and ordered
him not to separate from him. As he was lacing his _morion_, an
embroidered cap which he wore on his head fell to the ground without
his perceiving it. Having laced the capellina, he continued on his
way, and his squire after him. When the Moors saw him near by they
knew by his arms that it was Garci Perez, and bethinking them of his
great renown for terrible deeds in arms, they did not dare to attack
him, but went along the road even with him, he on one side, they on
the other, making menaces.
Garci Perez went on his road with great serenity, without making any
movement. When the Moors saw that he heeded not their menaces, they
turned round and went back to about the place where he dropped his
cap.
Having arrived at some distance from the Moors, he took off his arms
to return them to his squire, and unlacing the capellina, found that
the cap was wanting. He asked the squire for it, but the latter
knew nothing about it. Seeing that it had fallen, he again demanded
his arms of the squire and returned in search of it, telling his
squire to keep close behind him and look out well for it. The squire
remonstrated. “What, señor,” said he, “will you return and place
yourself in such great peril for a mere capa? Have you not already
done enough for your honor, in passing so daringly by seven Moors,
and have you not been singularly favored by fortune in escaping
unhurt, and do you seek again to tempt fortune for a cap?”
“Say no more,” replied Garci Perez; “that cap was worked for me by
a fair lady; I hold it of great value. Besides, dost thou not see
that I have not a head to be without a cap?” alluding to the baldness
of his head, which had no hair in front. So saying, he tranquilly
returned towards the Moors. When Don Lorenzo Xuarez saw this, he
said to the king: “Behold! your majesty, how Garci Perez turns upon
the Moors; since they will not make an attack, he means to attack
them. Now your majesty will see the noble valor of this cavalier,
if the Moors dare to await him.” When the Moors beheld Garci Perez
approaching they thought he meant to assault them, and drew off, not
daring to encounter him. When Don Lorenzo saw this he exclaimed,—
“Behold! your majesty, the truth of what I told you. These Moors
dare not wait for him. I knew well the valor of Garci Perez, and it
appears the Moors are aware of it likewise.”
In the mean time Garci Perez came to the place where the capa had
fallen, and beheld it upon the earth. Then he ordered his squire to
dismount and pick it up, and putting it deliberately on his head, he
continued on his way to the foragers.
When he returned to the camp from guarding the foragers, Don Lorenzo
asked him, in presence of the king, who was the cavalier who had
set out with him from the camp, but had turned back on sight of the
Moors; he replied that he did not know him, and he was confused, for
he perceived that the king had witnessed what had passed, and he was
so modest withal, that he was ever embarrassed when his deeds were
praised in his presence.
Don Lorenzo repeatedly asked him who was the recreant cavalier,
but he always replied that he did not know, although he knew full
well and saw him daily in the camp. But he was too generous to say
anything that should take away the fame of another, and he charged
his squire that never, by word or look, he should betray the secret;
so that, though inquiries were often made, the name of that cavalier
was never discovered.
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