Chapter 108 - How Gil Fernandes did battle with Payo Rodríguez Mariño, and how Payo Rodríguez was defeated and killed

Summary

For you to see in what manner Gil Fernandes was avenged for his captivity, although it did not happen very soon afterwards, we wish to relate it here, as we do not know whether we will have any further occasion to speak about his exploits.

It so happened that Payo Rodríguez Mariño sent twenty horsemen from Campo Maior to raid Elvas. Gil Fernandes went out after them with fifty horsemen, followed them for a very long way and captured four squires from among them. He paused on the approach to a hill called Segóvia, believing that Payo Rodríguez would make for there, since he had been sent for by his men. While they were waiting, some of Payo Rodríguez's men came on ahead, and Gil Fernandes captured two of them. Payo Rodríguez had eighty horsemen with him, very well arrayed. When he arrived, he established himself on a small rise at the edge of the road on the side of the hill, whereas Gil Fernandes was at the bottom.

On both sides there were no foot soldiers except for two that Payo Rodríguez had brought with him; one was a crossbowman, and the other threw stones by hand and caused considerable damage. At this point a good squire called Pero Fernández Viscaino said to Payo Rodríguez, ‘I tell you, Payo Rodríguez, my advice is that you should not fight with Gil Fernandes.’

Nuno Fernandes Cogominho said: ‘In truth, do you call that good advice? There are eighty of us horsemen here, well armed, and Gil Fernandes has no more than fifty over there, and all of them thieves and rascals, such as João Ruivano and Afonso das Vacas, and others of the sort, and you advise us not to fight with them! I tell you that if he misses this chance, it will be a long time before he gets another one as good.’

To this Pero Fernández retorted, ‘Really, Nuno Fernandes, do you not see those good squires riding there alongside Gil Fernandes? Let Payo Rodríguez do as he likes, for I shall not abandon him and flee the field.’ Nuno Fernandes was a powerful man and had seven squires of his own with him there, and moreover was a good fighter. Payo Rodríguez did not reply to either of them, and they continued disputing with each other for what must have been a quarter of an hour.