117 - How two of the duke's men fought a duel, and the reason why

Summary

It pleased the Lord God to restore the king to full health. They left that place and all came to Coimbra. After they had been there for a few days, a plot to betray the duke was uncovered, which, in remembrance of things past and as a warning about those to come, we wish to recount here. It happened in this way.

On one occasion, while the king and the duke were engaged in the conquests of which you have heard, as they were traveling along the road between Zamora and Toro on their way back to the village called Corrales, a number of horsemen from both Portugal and Castile gathered to attack each other, as is often the custom. From among the Castilians there emerged a man on horseback, galloping as fast as he could to hurl himself among the Portuguese, bearing a standard with the red cross of Saint George, which he brandished as he came. He shouted for help, because there were some men coming after him, making as if they wanted to capture him. As he had a fast horse, and moreover the Castilians had no wish to catch him, he pulled away from them as far as he wanted. The Portuguese, seeing this, went out to protect him, and surrounded him, asking him what it was all about. He replied to all of them, saying, ‘Take me to the King of Castile, my liege lord the Duke of Lancaster, and to the queen his wife, and I will explain.’

They took him before the duke, just as he asked. After he had been presented to him, he said that he had come to them as his rightful liege lord and lady, heirs to the kingdom of Castile by the right of King Pedro, her father, who had provided for him and his family and given him a commandery and land that he held. He said that he had left everything behind to come and serve them and help to avenge the death of his liege lord, King Pedro.

The duke and his wife, when they heard this, considered it a sign of great virtue in him, and therefore offered him a warm welcome, promising to grant him favours. They held him in high esteem, as befitted his rank, and yet he had come to poison the duke.