156 - How the people of Badajoz began to be suspicious of Gonçalo Eanes, and the arguments they put to him

Summary

Gonçalo Eanes went away giving much thought to this and told a lie in confidence to the gatekeeper, who was very poor and indigent: ‘I know where there is a silo of wheat in the outskirts of Elvas, on a deserted farm where no one lives. I’ll go there and steal it for you and me; and you’ll open the gates to me at the time I tell you, so that no one knows what I’ve done.’

The gatekeeper said he would be pleased to do this, that he would willingly go with him and that his wife would have the gate open for him. Gonçalo Eanes replied he did not want any company but, as the gatekeeper took the keys each night to Alfonso Sánchez, whenever he should tell him he wanted to go outside, he could undo the padlocks, and then lock them again after he came back inside.

With both of them agreed on this, Martim Afonso, who knew about it, ordered that some wheat be brought to Gonçalo Eanes in Elvas. Sometimes, he brought it during the dogwatch, other times in the morning watch, and yet others in the first watch, thus changing his times for greater security and to hinder detection. Other times he said that, in order not to be found out, he would bring the pack-animals up to the old wall and from there the gatekeeper could take them. So it was done, the gatekeeper thinking that God had revealed Father São Gião to him in this form. Acting in this manner, and with the gate secured by this means, Gonçalo Eanes went to Évora, where Martim Afonso was, and told him how he had the gate ready and that he should prepare himself to go.

Martim Afonso said that he would do so, and Gonçalo Eanes went back straightaway. But when he realised that he was not receiving any message, he returned to Évora, asking why Martim Afonso was delaying matters. To this the latter replied that it could not take place at that time because, in accordance with what the king had written to him, he should go immediately to Bragança; he was on his way to acquiring his [own] household, for he was betrothed to the daughter of João Afonso Pimentel, by name Dona Beatriz.