The chaplain was a native of Spain,
and as the pilgrims approached, he knew the foremost to be Don Munio
Sancho de Hinojosa, with whom he had been well acquainted in former
times. Hastening to the patriarch, he told him of the honorable rank
of the pilgrims at the gate. The patriarch, therefore, went forth with
a grand procession of priests and monks, and received the pilgrims
with all due honor. There were seventy cavaliers, beside their leader,
all stark and lofty warriors. They carried their helmets in their
hands, and their faces were deadly pale. They greeted no one, nor
looked either to the right or to the left, but entered the chapel, and
kneeling before the sepulchre of our Saviour, performed their
orisons in silence. When they had concluded, they rose as if to
depart, and the patriarch and his attendants advanced to speak to
them, but they were no more to be seen. Every one marvelled what could
be the meaning of this prodigy. The patriarch carefully noted down the
day, and sent to Castile to learn tidings of Don Munio Sancho de
Hinojosa. He received for reply, that on the very day specified,
that worthy knight, with seventy of his followers, had been slain in
battle. These, therefore, must have been the blessed spirits of
those Christian warriors, come to fulfil their vow of pilgrimage to
the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Such was Castilian faith, in the
olden time, which kept its word, even beyond the grave.
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