Chapter 125 - How Nuno Álvares should have joined the fleet, and the reason why he did not do so

Summary

While the galleys were in Oporto as we have said, the naos were being made ready as quickly as possible so that they could soon go to the aid of the Master and the city, because news was coming that they were in need of supplies on account of the Castilian fleet, which was preventing them from being sent in by sea. But, for the [Portuguese] fleet to be provided with what it needed, in spite of the great urgency of the situation, it was taking them longer than it should to meet the needs of the people who were waiting for their aid and support.

When the Master realised that the fleet was being delayed, and how the city was short of supplies, having great faith in his most loyal servant, Nuno Álvares Pereira, who would be sure to serve him honourably in this matter, he hastened to write to him in Évora, where he then was, telling him to assemble his men and go to Oporto to embark in the fleet and come to fight against the Castilian fleet, which had the city besieged.

When Nuno Álvares read the message, on finding out that Count Gonçalo and Rui Pereira as well as a number of other noblemen would be joining the fleet, he wrote to them urgently, asking them to wait for him as he would be joining them very soon. Then he shared out among his men a small amount of gold which the Master had sent to him, and they were very pleased when Nuno Álvares told them that the Master had written to him, telling him to go to Oporto. When the count and Rui Pereira and a number of others to whom Nuno Álvares had written saw his message, they were full of envy and evil intent, according to what has been said, and did not wish to wait for him. Instead, they decided to leave with the fleet, which is indeed what they did. Knowing nothing of this, Nuno Álvares went on his way hurriedly, taking with him as many as 200 lances, and anyone who writes that there were fewer is mistaken.