162 - How the count left Cáceres and came to Portugal

Summary

After he had eaten, the count left the town and went that night to sleep in a grove of cork oaks between Cáceres and Arroyo del Puerco.

When it was already evening and dusk was gathering, ten Castilian squires, who appeared to be worthy men, arrived without having previously asked for safe conduct. When presented to the count, they spoke to him, making their bows. He received them well, with pleasant words and countenance. Then he asked who they were, to which they replied that they were from the kingdom of Castile. ‘But how was it that you were so bold as to come like this without first seeking safe conduct?’ asked the count. ‘Trusting in your great goodness, sir’, they said, ‘and the many virtues that God bestowed on you, we were emboldened to come before you.’ Thinking about this, the count asked what their pleasure was. They said that it was merely to see him, as they had now done. Then the count ordered supper to be given to them, but they did not want to eat and took their leave.

That night, the count sent out a number of people from that place to Garrovillas and to Barca de Alcántara and into the whole district for 4 or 5 leagues around, so that they penetrated 16 leagues into Castile, from where they brought back many prisoners and cattle. Not content with this, they looted a church, which the count had absolutely forbidden. Among the things they took from the church was a cauldron belonging to the confraternity. This gave the opportunity for it to please God that they immediately made amends for the evil deed they had committed in the church. As they lay down with the loot that they brought back to the camp on the following night, one of them tied the handle of the cauldron to the pack-animal on which it came. During the night, when it was shifting around, it took fright at the cauldron and started to run off. It made a great noise, dragging it along, so startling the other animals that many horses took flight and were never recovered.