[1785.] Don Alvaro de Luna, a Spanish courtier, born about 1388, was, in his youth, a page at the court of John II, whose favor he later enjoyed to a high degree. He was made Constable of Castile in 1423 and a few years later grand master of the order of Santiago—a double distinction never enjoyed by any other man. He afterwards fell a victim of a conspiracy of the Spanish feudal grandees and was executed at Valladolid in 1453. His life and achievements became a popular theme for Spanish authors, and doubtless much of interest written concerning him has been lost. The romances relating to don Alvaro de Luna which have come down to us concern his fall and execution, and some of them are favorites of beggars who sing in the streets of Spanish cities. It is evidently to a romancero or collection of these poems that reference is made by Lope.
[1817.] el Cid. Rodrigo Ruy Diaz de Bivar (1040-1099), called "el Cid Campeador," is the great national hero of Spain. From the numerous accounts, real and fictitious, of his achievements we learn that he was a great warrior who fought sometimes with the Moors, sometimes with the Spaniards, and that at last as a soldier of fortune he seized Valencia and until his death successfully defied the two great rivals of his time, the Spaniards and the Moors. His life has served as a theme for numerous literary masterpieces, especially the Old Spanish Cantar de mio Cid. Lope de Vega treats of his fall in his play entitled el Milagro por los Celos.
[1818.] gigote=jigote.
[1824.] Valladolid, an interesting city of Northern Spain and the seat of an important university. Valladolid has figured prominently in Spanish history for many centuries, for it was long the favorite residence of the Spanish sovereigns. Early in the reign of Philip III the seat of government was again transferred to that city, but was returned to Madrid in 1606.
[1836.] si le come, if he likes it. Comer, lit. "to eat."
[1837.] No haya más, Let that be the end of it.
[1844.] No lo acabes de decir, Don't go any farther.
[1854.] Llegue el lacayo gallina, Let the chicken-hearted lackey come on.
[1858.] mohadas=mojadas, coll., knife-thrusts.