199 - The comportment of the constable during wartime

Summary

Since it pleased God that the war ceased completely, and both kings enjoyed the tranquillity of peace, before we make mention of other things let us say a little about the ways of the constable in wartime, although we have already touched on this in scattered places of brief record throughout this work. This is not only in praise of him, for he well deserves it, but to serve as an example to those who are yet to come, especially those who will hold his rank and office.

It is true that the practice of successful deeds over a long period of time gives men the authority to praise the man to whom they pertain, saying that great age made him wise and long practice gave him good outcomes, just as is said of Diogo Lopes Pacheco and other people like him whom we might name. Yet what shall we say of this Nuno Álvares Pereira as a young warrior, while the king was still Master of Avis, when he was appointed lord of the marches of the Guadiana region at the age of twenty-two? Setting out from Lisbon with such a difficult charge, especially in a war so fiercely fought in so many places, unacquainted with and unused to the stratagems that pertain to such activity, he preferred not to take with him the large number of men that captains are accustomed to depend upon. Instead, he chose Pedro Eanes Lobato, who knew who were the fine men-at-arms, especially those whom Nuno Álvares would welcome in his company, acting in such matters as a faithful go-between. It was thus his custom later on, when taking some squire or foot soldier to live with his army, always to inquire whether for his deeds as much as for his name he deserved to be called a man.

How wise he was, on arriving in Setúbal and preparing to sleep outside the walls, when he ordered to post scouts surveilling the castle of Palmela, and told Lourenço Fernandes to come and give the news you have heard about, to see if they were indeed the men whom he thought he was taking with him, and whether he would find them ready at the right time, and in what way, if his enemies came to attack him.