36 - Concerning King Fernando's return and the officers of the marches whom he posted in a few places

Summary

On learning that King Enrique had raised the siege of Guimarães, King Fernando advanced no further and turned back. It is said that he was disappointed that the King of Castile had departed. He then sent some of his forces back to their own individual areas and others to the borders of certain regions and towns in accordance with his view as to what they needed, rewarding them with great and generous favours and paying them their wages in advance over a given period.

To serve as chief officer of the marches in the region of the Alentejo, he dispatched Prince João, along with his brother Prince Dinis, and with them the Master of Santiago and Brother Álvaro Gonçalves, Prior of the Hospitallers, as well as Fernão Rodrigues de Aza, Fernão Gonçalves de Meira, Vasco Gil de Carvalho, Juan Alfonso de Baeza, Gonçalo Eanes Pimentel, Vasco Martins de Sousa and others whom we shall not bother to mention. The daily pay was as follows: 30 soldos a day (that is, 8 dobras a month) to a knight fully armed, à guisa, with a charger accustomed to go in a tari-bridle, and with a hackney; 20 [soldos] (that is, 5 dobras a month) to those on jennets; and 15 soldos to those with just one horse but no hackney. At that time, armed à guisa meant, in respect of both horsemen and foot soldiers, being fully equipped, without any item found wanting; anyone more ordinarily and less well armed was deemed to be armed à meia guisa. Indeed, when the wages were paid, a deduction was made in respect of any misdemeanours committed. From the armoury in Lisbon, they transported to each town the weaponry and other items necessary for their defence.

Gonçalo Mendes de Vasconcelos was dispatched to serve as chief officer of the marches at Elvas, and with him went forces from Lisbon, including Álvaro Gil, Vasco Esteves de Moles, Estêvão Eanes and Martim Afonso Valente, all of them knights. Gomes Lourenço do Avelar, Gonçalo Vasques de Azevedo, Gonçalo Gomes da Silva, João Gonçalves Teixeira and others were sent, in the company of the aforesaid Gonçalo Lourenço, to Ciudad Rodrigo. João Mendes de Vasconcelos went to Estremoz, and Fernando de Olivença went to Olivença.