For all that few books mention it, one should not omit how the Master reacted after he had spoken to Friar João, both on that occasion and on several others, concerning whether he should leave the country or remain there. Since he was giving much thought to how to handle the very difficult problems which the situation demanded that he should resolve, he sent for Álvaro Pais and a number of the city's inhabitants who had spoken to him about it. He told them that he had pondered long and hard on what they had mentioned to him on a number of occasions in urging him to remain in the kingdom. He added that he could foresee so many difficulties which prevented that course of action from going ahead in accord with both his honour and their own wellbeing, that he had always had great doubts about doing so. He consequently entreated them to think very carefully about the matter, because it was not the sort of thing to undertake lightly; indeed, if they could find an effective way to proceed with what they wanted, then he was ready to set it in motion; otherwise it would be preferable not to go ahead and, rather, to look for a different solution.

After discussing the matter at some length, a number of citizens came to the conclusion that, in order to avoid the kind of harm which had befallen the realm in the wars in King Fernando's time, and in order to resolve the issue in a better and more advantageous way, it was a good thing for the Master of Avis to marry Queen Leonor. They said that she would rule the country as regent for a certain number of years, as stated in the treaties, and that meanwhile it could so happen that the King of Castile would have a son by Queen Beatriz. That son would be brought to Portugal and reared there, as had been set down in the agreements. During all that time the Master would share the regency with the queen. When once the time arrived in which that son were old enough to reign, the Master would act as the king's lord protector and would be the major figure both in the realm and in the Royal Council.