Romance setting in three voices. It is not entirely clear if this is an original composition in three voices or an intabulation of a setting by an unidentified composer, but more likely to be the latter as it is the first of a group headed “Romances viejos”, and also because the melody to be sung is the middle voice, shown in red ciphers. Another setting of the same text by Fuenllana (fu152) is apparently based on vocal polyphony by a composer named Bernal. The Pisador setting was one of those on the pioneer 1935 recording by Emilio Pujol accompanying Maria Cid (R0026). See: http://www.youtube.com/user/PujolDisciple [accessed 19-02-2008]

Ramón Menéndez Pidal, menendezpidalROMANCERO, vol. II, 55-7, reconstructs the text, adding further verses based on unspecified sources, but not in quatrains that fit the musical structure, although he does explain the historical context. Gonzalo Menéndez Pidal made a second reconstruction using other contemporary glosses, parodies and versions “a lo divino” [menpidal-gonz1960, p. xxv] that fits the music better:
A las armas Moriscote, / Si las has en voluntad / Los franceses son entrados, / Los que en romería van. //
Entran por Fuenterrabía, / salen por San Sebastián, / no se esconden los traidores, / que muy descubiertos van; //
los vestidos que llevaban / arneses son de justar; / bravos son los enemigos / y muy poderosos van.
Poa and Gerturdix indicate that the text concerns and inceident communicated to Queen Isabella i n 1496, concerning some French knights who crossed the border into Spain disguised as pilgrims.