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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
It would not be an unworthy question, if anyone reading or listening to this chronicle were to ask, ‘As the affair between the queen and Count Juan Fernández had been bruited abroad for so long and had been so widely made public, had the king no suspicion of it? Did he know of the rumour?’ The answer is as follows: among the features of love written about by those who have discussed it at length and have been reared in its court, it is true that, however much a person in love may wish to conceal the fact, it proves impossible, owing to a number of signs, remarks and other giveaway gestures, to avoid offering some hint of the burning desire which constantly dwells in that person's heart. Besides, when people notice unaccustomed acts of fondness or attentiveness, where there is no established bond that prevents tongues from wagging, they easily presume the blunder to which such a person can fall victim.
Consequently, King Fernando noticed the many ways in which the queen showed an unseemly affection and fondness towards Count Juan Fernández and the great increase in his status which she sought for him in any way that she could. As a result, the king reached a firm conclusion in his own mind as to what the truth was, a truth which people at large were assuming, even though he was unaware of the rumours and public gossip about the queen and her dealings with the count. Indeed, despite their sincere sorrow for his dishonour, no daring soul had made so bold as to tell him, out of fear of some punishment as their reward or of some deadly hatred in return for their friendly gesture. That, indeed, had been the fate of a number of people for passing on information of such a kind, particularly when relating it to kings and great lords.
King Fernando, therefore, fully understood what the situation was but gave no hint that he did, for fear of revealing, through his doubts, something which rumours and public gossip had long been asserting. When the queen took their daughter to Elvas for her wedding to the King of Castile, and when King Fernando gave orders for his own transportation from Salvaterra [de Magos] to Almada, the king decided to kill the count in the following manner.
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