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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
Dona Beatriz discussed her plan with Queen Leonor, and Alfonso Enríquez did so with his brother [Count Pedro]. The queen was very pleased with the advice, and Count Pedro no less so. Having talked the matter over at some length, they agreed to send Alfonso Enríquez to discuss it with Count Gonçalo. On learning about it, he was very pleased that such a plan was being considered.
That evening Count Pedro and his brother went into the city, both unaccompanied, to discuss the matter with Count Gonçalo, and Count Pedro told him everything that he wanted to do in this regard. Count Gonçalo said that he was very grateful to him and that, if he were to proceed with the proposal, then in himself he would gain a very good friend, who would do anything which would bring him honour, adding that he would await them with his men on the night when they would be ready. In order to do these things more secretly and to allay all suspicion, several of Count Gonçalo's men went under safe conduct to speak to Queen Leonor, as well as to Count Pedro, creating the impression and leading the king to believe that everything was being done to serve his best interests and to bring about his early take-over of the city.
Moreover, Queen Leonor expressed to King Juan the view that she should discuss the matter openly with her brother, to see whether she could change his mind in the course of their conversation, so that the king could take possession of the city, since in discussions with others it had proved impossible to get the count to agree. The king declared this to be an excellent suggestion but, though he did not know what was being transacted between them, he did not feel sure that there would not be any trickery. He therefore ordered the construction of a raised platform on the bridge in such a fashion that her brother could not seize her even when they were conversing together.
When the day for the discussion arrived, Count Pedro took Queen Leonor by the arm and she was accompanied by some twenty others. Count Gonçalo was already on the bridge with three or four of his men.
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