69 - How the King of Castile sent a message to Martim Gonçalves telling him to surrender the town in accordance with what had been negotiated in the truce

Summary

Martim Gonçalves's squire reached Zamora, which was where the King of Castile was to be found, and chanced to arrive, with no specific intention of doing so, so late at night that the king was already in bed with the queen his wife. Owing to his anxiety to know the king's wishes, he felt obliged to go at once to the palace. He told the guard on the gate that, despite the fact that the king had already retired, he should go and tell him directly that a squire from Martim Gonçalves de Ataíde had arrived and that he requested the favour of being heard at once, for it was a matter which greatly affected his interests. Having been told this, though he had retired, the king rose from his bed. The squire entered his chamber and told the king about the siege, the events relating to it and all that Martim Gonçalves had done up to the point where he had entered into the truce. The king gave the following answer: ‘I am well aware of his difficulties and readily accept all those that you have described to me. I am also under a great obligation to grant Martim Gonçalves many favours in return for all the excellent service he has done me in defending that town for so long, under such pressure and without the advantages which others have had, for he does not simply defend Chaves, but [thereby] defends a large part of Castile as well. That I say, because the man who has laid siege to him could in the meantime have caused great devastation in my kingdom, something which he has not done, and for that very reason. However, since I am at this time in no position to go to his aid in a fitting manner, and since that man is so ready for war, tell Martim Gonçalves, therefore, to surrender the town to him and that I fully release him from his sworn obligations to me.’

Next day the king wrote letters to Martim Gonçalves, telling him that he was releasing him from the sworn undertaking which he had given in respect of Chaves, and urging him to head for Castile, where he would heap favours upon him and give him lands which would enable him to spend his remaining days honourably.