47 - How the people of Lisbon discovered that the battle had been won and how they reacted

Summary

Since we have set down in its due place how the Queen of Castile reacted on learning that the battle had been lost and that her husband had been routed, let us now report the reaction of the loyal city of Lisbon when it heard similar news.

Since the city was gripped by both hope and doubt, in the knowledge that battle between the Portuguese and the Castilians could not be avoided, a battle in which the realm would be won and lost, save only if the King of Castile chose not to go ahead (which was unthinkable, owing to the vast army he had with him), the people made [solemn] vows and participated in [religious] processions, earnestly beseeching Almighty God and His Blessed Mother to assist them against their enemies.

As though in a miracle, we know not how, at the very time when the battle was fought, there broke out in the city a piece of most welcome news, worthy of reward, yet nobody discovered how it was announced, or who disclosed it first. That news was that the King of Portugal had won the battle. On hearing such a wonderful report, the people were moved by a keen desire to be certain of it; they stopped whatever work they were doing and charged in droves through the city, asking one another who it was that had said this. Some answered that it was a man dressed in red, who was lodging at so-and-so's house, which was a clue to who it was. They rushed to that person's house but found no news of such a man. Others, however, repeated, ‘But he's lodging with such-a-body’, and off they went there. But he was not to be found in that place, either.

Thus they made their way through the streets, tirelessly asking one another who had first told them the news. After spending a great deal of time on this, their tumult subsided. Indeed, they regarded it as a good beginning and carried on with their prayers and devotions on behalf of the state and defence of the realm. Every day in the churches they chanted the devout prayer Salve Regina in honour and praise of the Mother of God. Since the Tuesday was her feast-day, many people were present in the city's cathedral that evening, ready to intone the Salve Regina, as was their custom.