Iscar © Mark Wade

Now hath my Cid left the kingdom of King Don Alfonso, and entered the country of the Moors.

And at day-break they were near the brow of the Sierra, and they halted there upon the top of the mountains, and gave barley to their horses, and remained there until evening.

And they set forward when the evening had closed, that none might see them, and continued their way all night, and before dawn they came near to Castrejon, which is upon the Henares.

And Alvar Fanez said unto the Cid, that he would take with him two hundred horsemen, and scour the country as far as Fita and Guadalajara and Alcala, and lay hands on whatever he could find, without fear either of King Alfonso or of the Moors.

And he counselled him to remain in ambush where he was, and surprise the castle of Castrejon: and it seemed good unto my Cid.

Away went Alvar Fanez, and Alvar Alvarez with him, and Alvar Salvadores, and Galin Garcia, and the two hundred horsemen; and the Cid remained in ambush with the rest of his company.

And as soon as it was morning, the Moors of Castrejon, knowing nothing of these who were so near them, opened the castle gates, and went out to their work as they were wont to do.

And the Cid rose from ambush and fell upon them, and took all their flocks, and made straight for the gates, pursuing them.

And there was a cry within the castle that the Christians were upon them, and they who were within ran to the gates to defend them, but my Cid came up sword in hand; eleven Moors did he slay with his own hand, and they forsook the gate and fled before him to hide themselves within, so that he won the castle presently, and took gold and silver, and whatever else he would.