Chapter 81 - Concerning the conversations between Queen Leonor’s brother Count Gonçalo and Count Pedro

Summary

After her discussion with Count Gonçalo, Queen Leonor gave King Juan to understand that she was hoping that he, the king, would very soon take control of the city, despite the discussion which she had held with her brother, as a result of other matters which she had discussed with him afterwards. It is said that this was done in order to arrange sufficient time to put into effect what she and Count Pedro had plotted against the king. Here follows the way in which the aforesaid author describes the plan.

King Juan was to be killed one night by Count Pedro and a number of his followers; the count and all his men were then to install themselves in the city, as well as Queen Leonor along with him. Once married, Count Pedro would then immediately declare himself King of Portugal and she would continue as its queen. In that way she would remain liege lady of the realm as set down in the treaties, having renounced it [before] as she should not have done, because she could not do so according to law. She would then enter negotiations with the Master and go ahead with what she had to do.

However, Count Gonçalo knew nothing about the [planned] death of the king, nor about his sister's [intended] marriage to Count Pedro, nor, indeed, that the latter was going to declare himself king. That was because, when he discussed the matter with him, Count Pedro revealed none of his plans, except that he would install himself in the city along with Queen Leonor in order to wrest her from the King of Castile's control, thus making it plain to him that he was displeased with the king, owing to the eminence and favouritism which the king gave to Pedro Fernández de Velasco. In fact, with the many kinsmen he had, and the remaining troops of the King of Castile, who he believed would go over to him, Count Pedro believed that he could fulfil his plans.