131 - How the king ordered that what had been taken from the Genoese ships be paid for, and how he went to Braga to convene Cortes

Summary

While the king was in that city, there arrived Ambrosio de Marines, an ambassador of Antoniotto Adorno, the Duke of Genoa, and the honourable Fifteen Elders, the rulers of that commonwealth. He spoke in the presence of the king, saying that his grace was well aware of the goods that had been taken on his order from the Genoese naos in front of the port of Lisbon (as we recounted at the beginning of these events). The king had been approached several times about this, and had always given a courteous response, ordering that the merchandise that had been taken should be itemised. When it had all been added up, it was found that it came to just over 60,000 dobras, which they asked him in his magnanimity to order to be paid.

The king said that he was quite happy to do so; when the ambassador had received good compensation and fuller payment for all the goods, he issued a receipt for them and took his leave.

Then the king decided to leave for Braga and hold Cortes there. He summoned all the appropriate people to come to them, among whom was the constable. The noblemen pleaded with him to raise on their behalf a number of issues that concerned them; but he made as many excuses as he could to avoid doing so. Nevertheless, in the end he yielded owing to their great insistence. With them present, the constable told the king what he believed should be done for the honour of them all, according to what they had told him. The king showed his displeasure at this, if we are to judge by his reply. Even though all of them were present, there was not one who backed up the count in what he had proposed on their behalf. For this reason, from then on he never chose to speak in public on their behalf. He said that the old adage was true, namely that ‘whoever serves everyone, serves no one’.

While the count was there at these Cortes, he received a message that his wife had died in Oporto, where she was staying. He left for that city at once, with a great company, as you can well understand.