32 - Concerning King Fernando's departure from La Coruña when he learnt that King Enrique was on his way to do battle with him

Summary

While King Enrique was in Toledo, he received reports that King Fernando of Portugal was making ready to wage war against him and had news of which places had declared for King Fernando and how many nobles had gone over to him, as well as how he was laying claim to inherit the kingdoms of Castile [and León], on the grounds that, as we have explained, he was the rightful great-grandson of King Sancho. He also learned for certain that King Fernando had ordered the construction of a fleet of galleys, that in the places that had declared for him they were assembling their forces and that King Fernando was sending them their pay. On receiving this news, King Enrique immediately left Toledo and headed for Zamora, which was opposed to him, and pitched camp alongside the bridge. These events took place in the month of July 1369.

While King Enrique was thus confronting Zamora, pondering how he might win certain agreements from the inhabitants whereby they might obey him and become his adherents, he received further news that King Fernando had entered Galicia, that La Coruña had gone over to him and that all this territory wished to obey him. Armed with this knowledge, King Enrique left Zamora at once and headed for Galicia with all his forces and with the clear intent of doing battle with King Fernando. He was accompanied by Sir Bertrand du Guesclin and his fellow Bretons, as well as all the great lords and noble knights who were in his kingdom.

King Fernando, who was unaware of this and was unprepared for anything except for receiving townships, on learning that King Enrique was approaching with all his forces with the intent of doing battle with him, did not think it advisable to await his arrival. Indeed, when he heard that King Enrique was in Galician territory, he posted his officers of the marches in the places which had declared for him, so that in La Coruña he left Dom Nuno Freire, Master of the Order of Christ and a native of that area, with 400 horsemen, in Tuy he left Alfonso Gómez de Lira and he posted captains in Salvatierra and other places. He ordered Don Álvaro Pérez de Castro to take command of the forces which had been accompanying him and to march with them overland into Portugal.