It was the year1225 AD, and all of Spain was excited because there was to be a
new king. It was the time of the coronation of a new king in Spain. King Pedro , well
liked, had died two years after being crowned king. He had died in the Battle of Madrid.
He was not yet married when he died and was without siblings. So royal kingship fell to
his Uncle Luis, who was 40 years older than him. This happening was disliked by two
high ranking knights, Octavo and Bernat. They disliked Luis for his love of power
and wealth. Though most kings love power and wealth, Luis seemed to love them
especially and he planned to tax his people highly for his own treasury. Also, both
knights thought Bernat should be king. One night the two displeased knights walked
across the grounds outside the castle. They began to talk. Looking up at the stone walls of the castle which he had known since childhood and served under, Bernat said,
"The longing of power corrodes a man’s soul."
"Thou speak wisely, Sir Bernat, and wealth, too, is a danger."
"Shall we let Spain suffer under this evil monarch!" Bernat exclaimed.
"No," agreed Octavo, "hence rebellion is needed. But how?"
"Thou wonder, I know!" Bernat said angrily. "Half of Spain is on our side!"
"Yes, you are right, but I’m no leader , though you are," Octavo replied.
"Thou thinkest?" he said pleased. "And thou art the best jouster in Spain ! That I know!"
"Thank you! I will try to live up to that honor," Octavo smiled. "If it is rebellion we want, how will we go about it?"
" I will try to find out what the king plans through his advisors. They should know, though Pablo Berto and Carlos Gonzolas are as brainless as cows!" Bernat and Octavo laughed.
" I shall spy on the lowest peasants. They should be the ones to disagree with the future King Luis the most." Octavo said.
"Thou art wise to think of that Sir Octavo ."
The next day was completely taken up by jousting and a melee celebrating King Luis’ first daughter, Princess Cora. In fact, it was not until several weeks later that Bernat talked with Pablo.
"Greetings, Sir Pablo, thou must be distressed because of the rebellion in Pamplona."
"Yes ! Yes !"
" Thou doth not think it will happen again?" said Bernat, trying to sound worried. " Well, ‘tis not in my place to say so but, I think his majesty should punish the rebels strictly. Dost not thou!" demanded Sir Pablo.
"I could not say, though you may be right ." said Bernat cunningly.
This talk though seemingly worthless would be used often in the future to rally Spain against the new king.
" I could get nothing from my brief spying" said Octavo that night as he and Bernat stood talking at midnight. " My province seems to be completely for the king, or if they are not, they won’t let on. What did you find out ?"
" Well Sir Berto is under the opinion that the king should use more force , but that is all."
The next day the king was traveling through the land, on advice from his advisor, Sir Andres, who thought that the king should tour provinces to gain favor with both the knights and the entire peasantry.
"Your Majesty, let me not hide from thee the dire circumstance in your kingdom!" Sir Andres said in a worried voice as he and the king sat in the carriage riding to the nearest province. "When I talked to the townsfolk of Pamplona, they threw mud at me, and when Sir Henri went out to me in his carriage, they threw mud at him! When at last I could talk to him, I asked ‘should these townsfolk be counseled or punished?’ Sir Henri said to me, ‘It pains me to say to thee, Sir Andres, but neither can be done without warfare. The whole town is against us!’"
Sir Andres turned to the king. "I asked Sir Henri, ‘Thou art not against us art thou?!’ ‘Nay !’ he shouted, ‘Long live King Luis!!’"
"Sire, since I’m the your majesty’s adviser, I say lower your taxes." Sir Andres said.
" Nay ! I am king now, and we must show all Spain that I am!"