139 - How the motive arose for the imprisonment of the Master of Avis and of Gonçalo Vasques de Azevedo

Summary

Leaving Lisbon besieged, and returning to speak of King Fernando, who was in Évora preparing himself for war against Castile, it behoves us to say how, before he left, he ordered the arrest of Dom João his brother, who was the Master of Avis, and of Gonçalo Vasques de Azevedo, a fine nobleman and a trusted counsellor. Since we have to bring this story into the full light of day, and unlike some people who in booklets have made public how things have happened but without fully understanding them, we keep to the Philosopher's rule, which states that we cannot know how things are if we lack every point in relation to their prime causes. Accordingly, we shall seek the remote cause and origin of their imprisonment.

So it was, as you have heard, that, when Juan Fernández de Andeiro went to speak to King Fernando in Estremoz about the coming of the English, and the king kept him hidden in the tower there, rumours broke out about disreputable behaviour between him and the queen. Although at first the rumours were vague and unattributable to anyone in particular, it later became a firm opinion that was bruited abroad. For this reason, both were held in much hatred by the people, especially by the great and good who were pained at the king's dishonour.

Now it came about that while the king was in Évora, as we have said, one day in the early afternoon there came to the queen's chamber her brother Count Gonçalo, and Juan Fernández de Andeiro with him; because of the great heat, they were both perspiring heavily. When she saw them arrive in that state, she asked if they had brought cloths in order to wipe away their sweat, but they said no. Then the queen took a veil and ripped it down the middle, giving each man a piece so they could wipe themselves dry.

Walking about the chamber with the veil in his hand, Juan Fernández at one point knelt down before her, and said in a low voice, very softly, ‘My lady, I would rather have a piece of cloth that has been closer to your person and used more frequently, were you to give one to me, rather than this you give me,’ at which the queen began to laugh.