Chapter 59 - Concerning the reasons which Beatriz Gonçalves gave to her son for not handing over his castles to the king

Summary

An honourable nobleman from that area, Gonçalo Vasques Coutinho by name, was the Governor of Trancoso, Lamego and other townships. As he was in Trancoso when the king came to Guarda, the king believed he would come and join him as a number of others had. According to some writers he was inclined to do so, but others indicate in their books a number of reasons why he failed. Some relate that at that juncture he sent a squire with letters of credence, one to Vasco Martins de Melo, and the other to Vasco Martins the Younger, his son, who would die following the battle [of Aljubarrota], as you will hear in due course, requesting them to advise him as to what approach to adopt in relation to the king's invasion of the kingdom, as he had noticed that many noblemen of that area were going to join the King of Castile, and informing them that he would do nothing in this regard without their advice.

Such writers report that they sent back messages to say that Gonçalo Vasques should not join the King of Castile, because he was merely travelling on his way without any intention of besieging either him or others, even though they had not gone to join him. Other writers tell us that it was not for that reason at all but because his mother Beatriz Gonçalves was there with him and, when he asked her what approach he should adopt, seeing that the King of Castile was invading the country in the way he did, his mother answered him as follows: ‘My son, men gain at the expense of the stupid and the hasty, and, when it comes to matters that need pondering, haste is always harmful. Kings and powerful men often think they can bring to a speedy conclusion what they greatly desire, and sometimes things don't turn out as they expect. The King of Castile is invading this realm, thus breaking the treaties, as we can clearly see. Yet, even though certain nobles have gone to join him and have become his vassals, many others are displeased at his invasion; rather, the people at large are aggrieved and consider that the king is doing what he ought not to do, which is true, because he is breaking the agreements which were signed between him and King Fernando.