Chapter 88 - Concerning the banner which Nuno Álvares ordered to be made, and about the powers which the Master gave him

Summary

When Nuno Álvares took on this undertaking, as we have said, and thinking that, not only in major matters, but also in very minor ones, we should always seek help from that Lord, without Whom nothing can have a worthy beginning or end, he decided, deep in his soul, to cling to God as his principal guide in all that he did. He also resolved to direct his worldly actions to the very best of his ability and in every instance within the limits of his human frailty.

Thus, since it is important, wherever the greatest dangers lie, devoutly to recall that Lord on Whose help man so much relies, Nuno Álvares ordered a banner to be made, on which there was a white field with a great red cross in the middle. In the first quarter, on the flagpole side, was depicted the image of Our Saviour Jesus Christ crucified, with His Mother and Saint John close by. In the second quarter, on the fly side of the banner, was the image of the Blessed Virgin, with her Blessed Son in her arms. In the first of the two base quarters, the dexter, on the flagpole side, had Saint George, in armour and kneeling, with his hands joined in prayer and looking upwards, while the sinister displayed Saint James in the same posture, each one of them with his bascinet in front of him. By this means, when the banner was unfurled, in such places where it was appropriate, and he beheld the images of Our Saviour and His Blessed Mother, his heart would be more devoutly uplifted into calling on Their aid. In the corners of the banner were placed four small shields bearing his family coat of arms, a cross argent voided on a gules field.

The Master gave Nuno Álvares letters to present to every town or village which had declared for him, announcing that he was sending him to that region as its officer of the marches and defender, and ordering them to be ready to carry out his commands and to supply him with whatever things he required from them in the Master's service and in defence of the realm, as though he, the Master, were there in person.