him. Then Dona Elvira his kinswoman, the wife of the Count Don Garcia,
came and fell on her knees before him; but Rodrigo took her by the hand
and raised her up, and would not hear her till she was arisen. And when
he had raised her up she said. I beseech you, cousin, since you have
banished me and my husband, that you would give us a letter to some
King who is one of your vassals, enjoining him to befriend us, and give
us something for your sake whereon we may live. So he gave her a letter
to the King of Cordova, who received her and her husband well for the
love of Rodrigo, and gave Cabra to him, that he and his people might
dwell therein. This Count was afterwards so ungrateful to the King of
Cordova that he made war upon him from Cabra which the King had given
him, till Rodrigo came and took it.

XII. The history relateth that at this time while the King was in
Galicia, the Moors entered Estremadura, and the people called upon
Rodrigo of Bivar to help them. And when he heard the summons he made no
delay, but gathered together his kinsmen and his friends, and went
against the misbelievers. And he came up with them between Atienza and
San Estevan de Gormaz, as they were carrying away a great booty in
captives and in flocks, and there he had a brave battle with them in
the field; and in fine Rodrigo conquered, smiting and slaying, and the
pursuit lasted for seven leagues, and he recovered all the spoil, which
was so great that two hundred horses were the fifth, for the whole
spoil was worth a hundred times a thousand maravedis. Rodrigo divided
the whole among his people without covetousness, and returned with
great honour.

XIII. Now the greater part of these Moors had been they of Merida,
Badajoz, Beja and Evora, and the King was minded to requite them in
their own land according to their deeds; and he entered into the heart