37 - Concerning the forces which each king had at his disposal

Summary

Though our account is rather lengthy, since you have heard about the council held by each king as to whether or not to engage in battle, and how they both decided to go ahead, it is right to consider what troops each of them had on his side and how they were arrayed and deployed. Having seen what many have written on this subject, despite the fact that some of their comments were somewhat rough and ready, we are particularly displeased at those who, in favour of one of the parties, have sought fraudulent reasons to justify their adverse fortune. As for us, however, as we have already indicated elsewhere, while not attending to differences among authors, let us seek to know what ought to be known, indeed, how many men went into battle and how it was won, which captains took part, how long it lasted and which soldiers were killed. In such an account it is inappropriate to parade ornamented arguments or to utter embellished remarks; rather, on behalf of both kings, one should offer a straightforward and truthful account of what took place.

It is important, therefore, that you should know that all those who have compiled accounts of battles, some more so, some less, mention the forces which each king had available, in order to know how many there were and to give praise to whosoever might appear to deserve it; otherwise the vanquished and the victors would receive neither glory nor opprobrium. This is what many have done in their accounts of this battle, for some have said in detail that the King of Castile availed himself of 8,000 lances, whereas others claimed 9,000 plus 3,000 light horsemen, 15,000 crossbowmen and 20,000 foot soldiers. Others have asserted that his army amounted to 60,000 all told, others that it was as many as 100,000. Yet others have calculated from the various groupings that there was such a multitude of them that there were 100 Castilians for every one Portuguese. Certain others calculated that there were more, some less, depending on their impressions or on what it suited them to write. Nevertheless, it was not so.