En el mismo tiempo volaba por el mundo la fama de Fernan Gonzalez, Conde de Castilla. El nombre y título de Conde (porque su padre solamente tuvo nombre de Juez) no se sabe si lo tomó con consentimiento de los Reyes de Leon, ó lo que parece mas verisimil, por voluntad de sus vasallos, que lo quisieron honrar por esta manera maravillados de las excelentes virtudes de tan gran varon. Señalóse en la justicia y mansedumbre, zelo de la Religion, y en el gran exercicio que tuvo y larga experiencia en las cosas de la guerra: virtudes con que no solo defendió los antiguos términos de su señorío, sino demas desto hizo que los del reyno de Leon se estrechasen y retraxesen de la otra parte del rio de Pisuerga. Ganó de los Moros ciudades y pueblos, castigó la insolencia de los Navarros. *** Falleció en Búrgos, fue sepultado á la ribera de Arlanza. En aquel monasterio de S. Pedro, junto al altar mayor se veen las sepulturas dél y de su muger Doña Sancha con sus letreros que declaran cuyos son. Las exêquias fueron célebres no mas por el aparato, quebranto y lutos de los suyos, que por las lágrimas de toda la provincia que lloraba la muerte de tan bueno y tan fuerte Príncipe, por cuyo esfuerzo las cosas de los Christianos se conservaron por tanto tiempo. MARIANA. FERNAN GONZALEZ. WHEN the Saracens had over-run Spain, and completely prostrated the power of the Goths as a nation, still many of the Christians, who disdained all composition with the infidel invaders, took refuge in the mountainous regions of ancient Cantabria, consoling themselves for the loss of riches and power by the possession of liberty of person and worship. Out of these fragment of the Gothic race grew up the kingdom of Leon under Pelayo, celebrated as the restorer of the Spanish monarchy. Meanwhile, the Christians, who were scattered among the recesses and wild hills nearer the centre of the Peninsula, had gradually assumed some degree of independence, partly because their places of refuge rendered them difficult of access, and partly because the Arabs were attracted elsewhere by richer conquests. For the security of their humble possessions in case of attack, the Christians built castles wherever suitable situations could be found, and under shelter of their strong holds began to cultivate somewhat extensively the neighboring territory. Such was the number of these castles, that the whole region at length acquired the name of Castilla. The word, at first, was employed in a very limited sense; but came to be more largely applied, when the Christians felt themselves strong enough to build and fortify Burgos, in the year 882. At this period, Castile was governed by counts, who held of the kings of Leon. The earliest of the counts, who figures in history, is Rodrigo, whose son, Diego Porcelos, founded Burgos. The grandsons of Rodrigo, by his daughter Sula Bella, were Nuño Rasura, the ancestor of the kings of Castile and of the Cid Rui Diaz,-and Gustio Gonzalez, the grandfather of the seven Infantes of Lara, the subjects of one of the most tragic stories in the chronicles of Spain. Nuño Rasura's grandson was Fernan Gonzalez, the famous Count of Castile, who has acquired so much celebrity in tradition, as to impair the credit of his genuine historical reputation. It is very certain, however, that Fernan Gozalez was one of the most brave, indefatigable, and successful warriors of Christian Spain; that he gained great accessions of territory by means of conquests from the Moors; that he was victorious in various contests with the Christians, also, of the adjacent countries; and that he finally rendered Castile independent of the kings of Leon. In one of these wars, it was the fortune of Fernan Gonzalez to slay, in single combat, Don Sancho Abarca, King of Navarre, whose daughter Teresa thereupon became the inveterate enemy of the Count. At the conclusion of another of the wars between Castile and Navarre, in which Fernan Gonzalez was the victor, it was agreed that the Count should proceed to the court of Don Garci Sanchez, King of Navarre, for the purpose of marrying his sister, Doña Sancha. The Count repaired thither, unsuspicious of any fraud; but at the instigation of Doña Teresa, he was immediately seized and imprisoned by the false King. He escaped in the manner described in the following ballad. The noble Count of fair Castile There came a Norman Count to Spain, Whilst long discourse the barons held On deeds of chivalry, It grieved the Norman cavalier Such shameful sight to see. And straight he seeks Don Garci's court, Resolved, whate'er betide, To gain the fair Infanta's ear, Of Spanish maids the pride. He knew her wise and bold as fair; VOL. I. The soul of ardor, love, and truth, 'God pardon you,' the Norman said, 'For hither came the gallant Count 'Succor, I say, the prisoned Count; So well the Norman plied his speech If he would take her to his arms, To be his wedded wife : 'Fear not, my lord,' she said; 'I'll save 'Thy freedom and thy life.' They gain the alcayde to their cause, And, issuing from the keep, They leave the city walls behind, By night and day, until they reach Trembled the lovely Sancha then, Who deemed Navarre was come |