A company of soldiers under the command of Captain don Álvaro de Ataide arrived in the Extremaduran town of Zalamea de la Serena, in Badajoz (Spain), due to the war in Portugal. The captain is staying at the home of a rich farmer, Pedro Crespo, mayor of the village, whose daughter Isabel is seduced by don Álvaro. Pedro Crespo tries to remedy the situation and ask don Álvaro to marry Isabel, but don Álvaro rejects her because she is not a member of the nobility. This contempt hurts the honor of the entire Pedro Crespo family. So, even without possessing jurisdiction over the military, Pedro Crespo orders to arrest him and have him executed. Finally, King Felipe II reviews the mayor's decision, ratifies it and names Pedro Crespo perpetual mayor of Zalamea.