Chapter 100 - How Vasco Porcalho used guile to arrest Álvaro Gonçalves

Summary

After Vasco Porcalho entered the town, he spoke to Álvaro Gonçalves and Pero Rodrigues, resorting to composed and unassuming assertions of the sort that tricksters habitually deploy, begging them to forgive him, if he had in any way offended them, and declaring that he was ready to serve the Master in anything that they might command or consider appropriate. Moreover, he promised to maintain a true and honourable friendship, in order to be united with them in affection and intention. Such was the nature of the affability which he showed to everyone that, when he restored the castle to how it was beforehand, they all deemed it to have been well done. He repaired the ramparts with stone and placed huge beams on top of the battlements. For himself he stored up firewood, meat and other things needed for defence, telling them that this was what the Master had ordered him to do.

As he did all this, he feigned great friendship with Álvaro Coitado, acting as godfather at the baptism of one of the latter's sons. Pero Rodrigues, the Governor of Alandroal, was also present at the baptism, but after they had all eaten a meal with Álvaro Gonçalves, Pero Rodrigues went back to where he had come from. Álvaro Gonçalves did not go to spend that night in the town's great tower, of which he was still in charge, and, as it was evening, Vasco Porcalho came to see him, explaining that, as godfather to his son, he had come to have a drink with him and to spend some pleasant time in his company. He stayed with him far into the night, until fifty squires burst in, as well as 200 foot soldiers whom he had hidden in the castle. Vasco Porcalho then arrested Álvaro Coitado, his wife and children, and anyone else who was with him. They were at once taken away to the keep of the castle, and Vasco Porcalho stole from his houses everything he possessed.