122 - How King Fernando was informed of Nuno Álvares’s challenge and ordered his brother not to consent to it

Summary

While Nuno Álvares was making ready to carry out his challenge, he felt that the day of its fulfilment would never arrive. Having already got his companions prepared for it and arranged everything that was necessary, he spoke to the prior his brother, as follows: ‘My lord and brother, you already know the engagement I have undertaken and how, thanks be to God, of the things I need nothing is lacking. Therefore, I beg you to favour me by granting me leave, with the help of God, to carry it through.’

The prior laughed and, beaming at him, gave this answer: ‘Brother, I can see yours is a noble intent, but I am right in telling you what is usually said in the proverb, namely that the bay horse has one intention, and whoever saddles it has another. So I say to you: be assured that the king my liege lord has been informed of the plan you were busy with and, as it appears from what he has written to me, he is not pleased that you should be involved in it and he has ordered me not to give you permission and, should you [still] wish to carry it out, not to allow you to do it. I therefore pray you not to bother further with this and to make yourself ready to go with me, because the king orders me to go and join him immediately, and we shall both go together.’

Nuno Álvares's heart sank when he heard this and made the prior his brother understand clearly that he did not believe that the king had sent him such a message but that the prior was telling him this so as to divert him from what he wanted to do. The prior, to assure him, then showed him the letter that the king had sent him on the matter. When Nuno Álvares saw it, he believed what his brother had told him. Then he said that since it was so, he would not go against the king's order, although it was much against his will, and that it would please him to go with the prior to the king's residence. The prior then made himself ready, and both left together.