177 - Concerning what happened in Elvas when Álvaro Pereira raised the banner for Queen Beatriz

Summary

Not only in these places, but also in others throughout the kingdom, the bearing of the banner and the acclamation of the queen caused great commotion, as you have heard. This was what happened in Elvas, where, immediately after the king died, Álvaro Pereira, the governor of the castle, raised the flag and rode through the town, to the gate of São Domingos, bearing it aloft, shouting, ‘Long live Queen Beatriz!’ Gil Fernandes, of whom we have already spoken, was not in the town when this was going on and, when he arrived and found out what had happened, he assembled most of the local men but raised a different flag in opposition to the previous one and carried it round all the squares in the town, with everyone shouting, ‘Long live Portugal!’

Álvaro Pereira was very displeased by this and invited Gil Fernandes to dine with him. When they had finished their meal, Álvaro Pereira said, ‘Gil Fernandes, I am arresting you and, since you’re my prisoner, I hold all Elvas.’ He replied, ‘You have no right to arrest me, but as that's the case, let the ordinary folk leave the vineyards and come to my rescue.’

Indeed that was what happened, for as soon as it was known in the town that he had been taken prisoner, they began to ring the church bells, and the townspeople joined forces with those outside. They all went to attack the castle with such determination that even the women and children did what they could to help. When Álvaro Pereira saw this, he spoke to the people who were outside the castle and said that he would free Gil Fernandes in exchange for hostages. Then Vasco Lobeira, a knight, and Martim Vasques, a squire, remained in his stead, and he was freed.

The following day, Gil Fernandes and Martim Rodrigues found out that the governor had sent to Castile for more men to better defend the castle; some say that there were 150 lances. Gil Fernandes, Martim Rodrigues and others began to attack them right away, with the outcome that the gate was quickly burned down and the wall breached in several places. Then Álvaro Pereira surrendered the castle, on condition that Gil Fernandes gave him safe conduct to leave Elvas with his wife and children, as well as his men.