No matter how measured one's praise of someone may be, those whose tongues are always wont to find fault will often discover matters which they can criticize. Therefore, since we have described this King Pedro as being generous and happy in giving and yet do not mention a number of generous acts deserving of such praise, it is possible that some will find fault with us, saying that we are not writing history properly. This is not due to any failure on our part to acknowledge that the appropriate talent cannot be found to speak with authority about such highly praiseworthy acts. Rather, lest we deviate from those expressions of praise that the people from ancient times have recommended, we are presenting our narrative in accordance with the manner that they have laid down.

We know for sure that King Pedro never became annoyed whenever he was asked for gifts, and that he ordered up to 100 silver marks’ worth in cups and goblets to give as New Year presents: he distributed them every year, along with other jewels, to whomsoever he thought fit. He added to the allowance given to his knights and vassals in the way we have said. Before, a vassal's allowance amounted to only 75 libras, but King Pedro increased it to 100, namely some 15 crossed or Moorish dobras. For this allowance the vassal was obliged to maintain a horse in good condition, as well as a hauberk and mail coif; on the vassal's death the horse and hauberk were to be left to the king by way of death duty. The king gave these items to whomsoever he chose, so that with the horse and the armour the allowance passed on to another vassal, with the result that the number of vassals remained unchanged and never diminished.

At the time of this king, the silver-alloy mark was worth 19 libras, and the Moorish dobra 3 libras and 15 soldos; the escudo 3 libras and 17 soldos; and the moutão 3 libras and 19 soldos. King Pedro never devalued the coinage out of any greed for temporal gain; rather, in his reign noble and unalloyed gold and silver coins were minted, that is to say dobras of very fine gold and of the same weight as the crossed doblas minted in Seville, known as ‘Doña Blanca doblas’.