Dona Urraca, who was deeply attached to her brother, now managed to convey to him secret information of Don Sancho's death, and Don Alfonso cleverly effected his escape, turning his pursuers off his track by reversing his horse's shoes.
When he arrived at Zamora, all were ready to do him homage except the Cid, who proudly held aloof until Don Alfonso had publicly sworn that he had not bribed Dolfos to commit the dastardly crime which had called him to the throne.
"'Wherefore, if thou be but guiltless, Straight I pray of thee to swear,-- Thou and twelve of these thy liegemen, Who with thee in exile were,-- That in thy late brother's death Thou hadst neither part nor share That none of ye to his murder Privy or consenting were.'" _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.).
The king, angry at being thus called upon to answer for his conduct to a mere subject, viewed the Cid with great dislike, and only awaited a suitable occasion to take his revenge.

During a war with the Moors he made use of a trifling pretext to banish him, allowing him only nine days to prepare for departure.

The Cid accepted this cruel decree with dignity, hoping that the time would never come when the king would regret his absence, and his country need his right arm.
"'I obey, O King Alfonso, Guilty though in naught I be, For it doth behoove a vassal To obey his lord's decree; Prompter far am I to serve thee Than thou art to guerdon me.
"'I do pray our Holy Lady Her protection to afford, That thou never mayst in battle Need the Cid's right arm and sword.'" _Ancient Spanish Ballads_ (Lockhart's tr.).
Amid the weeping people of Burgos, who dared not offer him help and shelter lest they should incur the king's wrath, lose all their property, and even forfeit their eyesight, the Cid slowly rode away, and camped without the city to make his final arrangements.

Here a devoted follower supplied him with the necessary food, remarking that he cared "not a fig" for Alfonso's prohibitions, which is probably the first written record of the use of this now popular expression.
[Sidenote: The Cid in exile.] To obtain the necessary money the Cid pledged two locked coffers full of sand to the Jews.

They, thinking that the boxes contained vast treasures, or relying upon the Cid's promise to release them for a stipulated sum, advanced him six hundred marks of gold.