Conquest

Hereward and Alphonso’s kindly host told them that Rodrigo was to be found spending the winter in the north of Leon, at the court of his friend Count Diego of Oviedo. It would be another long trek for the two friends, taking them even further from England.

But based on Pedro’s stirring account of Rodrigo’s prowess, both agreed it was a venture worth undertaking.

20. The Cid

By the time Hereward and Alphonso left Urgel, they were both impatient to meet Rodrigo Diaz. They talked about him constantly as they journeyed across ancient lands and saw places Hereward had heard of from Alphonso’s stories: San Juan de la Pena with its imposing monastery, Pamplona, home to the fiercely proud Basque peoples, and Burgos and Leon, capital cities of the noble lands of Castile and Leon. Hereward liked what he saw, but the land was demanding of its inhabitants — bitingly cold in winter and searingly hot in summer. Its peoples needed to be rugged and independent. He decided there were many similarities between Spain and his own land. Just as its many kingdoms had buried their differences to fight the Moors, perhaps the Celts, Danes and Saxons would unite to defeat William.

The Bishop of Urgel’s stories about The Cid had been a rude reminder of the passage of time: Hereward was now approaching his thirty-fourth birthday, whereas Bishop Pedro estimated that The Cid was only about twenty-five. Perhaps the younger man could offer Hereward some insight that would be the vital key to oust William from his palace at Westminster.

Oviedo was an impressive fortified town with an imposing cathedral. Count Diego, a rotund, jovial man with long grey whiskers, had been a staunch ally and good friend to Sancho’s father, Ferdinand, and had fought many battles with him. As a pragmatic ruler and a firm believer in order and discipline, he approved of Sancho enforcing his authority over his two brothers, believing it preferable that the Christians of the north be united against the threat from the Muslims of the south. He was also blunt about the Moors. Although he thought them keenly intelligent and in possession of a wealth of knowledge from antiquity, they were not Christians. Moreover, even though he had fought both with them and against them and knew they were brave and honourable, they nevertheless worshipped a different God. For him it was straightforward: they had brought their heresy to Spain many years ago and it was time for them to go back to where they belonged.

Hereward and Alphonso arrived in the Great Hall of Count Diego in some style. They had cleaned their tunics, weapons and armour and Hereward’s unmistakable hallmark, the Great Axe of Goteborg, shone like a newly forged weapon.

With Alphonso acting as translator, the Count’s Chamberlain introduced the guests. ‘Lord Diego, I present Hereward of Bourne, formerly in the service of Harold I, King of England. With him is his sergeant-at-arms, Alphonso of Granada.’

‘Welcome to Oviedo, Hereward of Bourne.’ Count Diego was polite but perplexed.

This Englishman had made a grand entrance and had the bearing and weapons of a lord, but without the title. Fearing that he had been deceived into welcoming a mercenary, he cast a look of annoyance at his Chamberlain, but the man to the Count’s right, who Hereward immediately sensed must be The Cid, intervened.

‘I have heard of this man, my Lord Diego. Fear not, you are right to offer him a welcome worthy of a nobleman, for that, beyond any doubt, is what he is.’ The Cid looked directly at Hereward. ‘Forgive me for talking across you, Hereward of Bourne, but your admirable modesty has put my good friend Count Diego at a disadvantage. May I introduce myself? I am Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, Armiger to Sancho of Castile.’

‘Alphonso and I are honoured to be given an audience by the Count of Oviedo and to meet Rodrigo of Bivar.’

Rodrigo addressed Diego, who was now looking much more relaxed. ‘I hear that Hereward of Bourne has been offered many titles and refused them all. There are myriad legends that pass from traveller to traveller about his exploits.’ He turned to Hereward. ‘Tell me, noble Englishman, are they all true?’

‘My Lord Rodrigo, I’m certain they’ve become embellished in the telling — ’

The Count interrupted. ‘You two have something in common. Rodrigo accepts no title either, so you can call one another by whatever names you choose. But may I remind you that, until I deem it otherwise, I am your Lord, Count Diego.’

Everyone laughed.