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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
The Master got very little sleep that night, and likewise the city folk, as we have said. But before daybreak he attended Mass as usual, and went to the river bank, accompanied by many of his men who had been waiting for him, to arm the ships and barges which were to support the fleet. As the men were embarking, the Master wanted to get aboard a nao, but a friendly contest arose between them: the city-folk told the Master not to board any of the ships, since they would never allow him to expose himself to such a hazard and endanger his life, but that they would go and fight the enemy, whereas he should remain in the city and not desert them.
The Master said he was grateful for their thoughtfulness and loyal goodwill, but there was no reason in the world why he should remain in the city, and he would be personally taking part in the combat; also, he trusted in God that he would come out of the fight with great honour to himself, the city and the kingdom of Portugal. When they saw that this was his only course of action, they told him to do as he wished.
After this was done, when it was full morning, all the ships in the King of Castile's fleet, which was made up of forty naos and thirteen galleys, hoisted their topmost yards and were filled with many brave men. As the tide was going out and there was little wind, the galleys towed the large naos and the smaller naos were pulled by the skiffs ahead. They all proceeded to Restelo o Velho, which was barely a league nearer to where the Portuguese fleet would be approaching, and they all lined up, with their prows pointing towards Almada, each one moored by its hawser so that it would not drift with the tide. This was how they drew up their battle formation. Furthermore, the king ordered mounted men-at-arms to attack the walls [by the gates] of Santo Agostinho and São Vicente de Fora, so that the people in the city should be kept busy defending that part and not be free to help the fleet unhindered.
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