it himself honorably, and acknowledge that it is the king who is responsible for dispensing justice (Nelson 1). Instead, Alfonso further dishonors himself, relinquishing his right to dispense consolium, by allowing the Cid's nobles to challenge the son-in-laws and their supporters to trial by combat. To Nelson, the Cid's distrust of the king's motives are evident in the Cid's actions on the day of the trial: When the date came, the Cid and his vassals put on their mail and belted their swords and went into court wearing them under their coats. It is illegal to wear weapons or armor in a trial before the king. The king keeps order and protects the litigants, but the Cid does wear armor and carry a weapon. Why? He does not trust Alfonso's ability or inclination to defend him from attack (Nelson 1)." Being seemingly oblivious to the fact that he has been wronged is Alfonso's great fault. Instead, the Cid must resort to dispensing justice through the actions of his vassals. When taken in its entirety, the Poem of the Cid can be used as a primer for those interested in knowing what behavior was expected of a noble and his lord in medieval Spain. It is clearly evident that the attributes of commitment to one's lord, giving auxilium, and rendering consolium were expected of all proper rulers. The Poem can be seen as a morality play in which the Cid constantly strives to be a good and proper lord to his followers and a good and proper vassal to King Alfonso, only to be failed by those above him....
