151 - How Nuno Álvares begged leave of the prior to take part in the battle with the king and, when he was denied it, what the manner of his departure was

Summary

With King Fernando and all his people in Elvas, it was common knowledge from reliable accounts that the King of Castile was assembling his forces to come to Badajoz and challenge King Fernando, and that a battle between the kings could not be avoided. Nuno Álvares, who was with the prior defending Lisbon, as we have said, expected each day that the king would send for his brother and the rest to be with him in the fighting; instead, the prior received a letter from him saying that he should not seek to go there but should remain where he was in Lisbon with his men, as, indeed, he was doing, for such was the service he required. The prior was very sorrowful at such a message, for his desire was at all costs to be with the king in battle. But he was forced to do what he was commanded and not to leave his post in Lisbon. He told his brothers and the rest the terms in which the king had written.

Nuno Álvares was very saddened at this but, owing to the many people who were there at that moment, made no reply to the prior. When the others left, the prior went to his chamber and Nuno Álvares with him; as soon as they were inside, Nuno Álvares spoke to his brother in this manner:

‘My lord brother, have you determined not to leave here to be with the king in the battle? Kindly state what your will is in this matter.’

When he heard this, the prior began to laugh and replied in this way:

‘My brother, you can surely see that I cannot do anything else than carry out what my liege lord the king commands. If I did the opposite, I would not be considered to be serving him. But I hope in God that he will be victorious in battle, and that God will lead us into confronting the men aboard this [Castilian] fleet so that we will serve him as well here as we could there. So, brother, do not take this as a setback, nor should you be annoyed at it.’ Nuno Álvares was still very keen to take part in the battle and thought the prior was excusing himself with tortuous arguments.