132 - Concerning an incursion that the enemy made into Portugal, and the plunder they carried away

Summary

After the Castilians had suffered the defeat of which you have heard in that great battle [at Aljubarrota], the King of Castile and all his kingdom felt great distress and pain. His people could not rest, but rather talked endlessly about the misfortunes that had befallen them, one after another, not only the lords and nobles, but also good squires and other middling folk. They boldly declared in public that good fortune was clearly against them at every turn, since they had lost so many troops who were dead, both through defeats in battle and other accidents ever since the beginning of the war. Indeed, it was true that there were far fewer men on their side, a shortage not only among common folk but even of nobles and able captains, which left them greatly deprived. For besides those who were mentioned when we spoke of that battle, many others who could be mentioned also died there, such as Pedro Boil and a son of his; Pedro Gómez de Porres and two of his sons; Ruy de Tovar, the brother of the admiral [Juan Fernández de Tovar]; the Grand Commander of [the order of] Calatrava; Gómez Gutiérrez de Sandoval; Álvaro Núñez Cabeza de Vaca; Lope Fernández de Padilla; Juan Fernández Mujica; Pedro Suárez de Toledo; Fernán Rodríguez and Álvaro Rodríguez de Escobar; Lope Rodríguez de Aza; Ruy Niño, Lope Niño and Juan Niño, three brothers; García González and Lope González de Quirós, brothers; Sancho Fernández de Tovar; Master Arnaud and Lemisan, Gascons; and others whom authors have not chosen to record.

Consequently, speaking of all this in many ways, these people came to express various opinions. Some of them, especially the foreigners, who were audacious in their presumption, said that it was very good for them to make an incursion into Portugal without any captain at all. Rather, acting on their own account and in good numbers, they would show their disdain for the constable, gaining thereby much honour, and could do so in complete safety.

This discussion and gathering took place in Jerez de Badajoz, 8 leagues from Olivença. Assembled were a good 300 lances, along with foot soldiers and crossbowmen; the greater part of them were Gascons.