He was one of the most hardy, valiant, and enterprising of the Spanish knights, and foremost in all service of a perilous and adventurous nature.

He had not been at hand to accompany his friend Ponce de Leon, marques of Cadiz, in his inroad into the Moorish territory, but he hastily assembled a number of retainers, horse and foot, and pressed forward to join the enterprise.

Arriving at the river Yeguas, he found the baggage of the army still upon its banks, and took charge of it to carry it to Alhama.

The marques of Cadiz heard of the approach of his friend, whose march was slow in consequence of being encumbered by the baggage.

He was within but a few leagues of Alhama when scouts came hurrying into the place with intelligence that the Moorish king was at hand with a powerful army.