25 - How the king left Alenquer for Abrantes and sent for the constable

Summary

When the king was in Alenquer, he decided to send for those noblemen of Beira who had won the Battle of Trancoso. He dispatched Diogo Machado to them, declaring that they should immediately make every effort to join him, as was very necessary in his interests, in the preservation of his honour and in the defence of the realm. At this juncture there arrived Fernão Rodrigues de Sequeira, the chief officer of the marches at Lisbon, with the troops he had there, as well as those from the city, who amounted to 100 lances, if we count 21 English lances who came with them. These had arrived on 10 July. When they had joined the king, he immediately set out with his army and that very day he pitched camp at Valada, which is very close to Santarém, where his enemies were. To enhance both security and preparedness he ordered a proclamation to be issued throughout the encampment that everyone that night should sleep fully armed. After his first sleep, the king walked through the camp and harshly rebuked all those whom he found to be unarmed, each one according to his rank. Next day he crossed the ford and went along the road he had originally taken. In front of Santarém he lingered a while, to see whether any Castilians would emerge to challenge him. However, realising that they were not keen for any further conflict, he went on his way and pitched camp at a place known as the estate of Rui Pereira. The following day he journeyed to the tower of Cardiga and the day after he reached Abrantes.

Since he was there for several days, a number of those who have written books of fanciful accounts claim that, since the count had not arrived with his forces from the Alentejo, the king held a meeting of his royal council on a Sunday, and that some of his advisers agreed that, without him, he should launch an attack on the King of Castile, for it was being said that he was already in the kingdom, and that he should not wait for the constable any longer.