Book contents
92 - How King João and the Duke of Lancaster first met
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2024
Summary
Several days were spent discussing these matters, and it was already October. The duke reached the Benedictine monastery of Celanova, which is in Galicia in the bishopric of Orense near Milmanda, 10 leagues from Santiago. He arrived with his wife and children and part of his following. The king left Oporto fully accoutred and with a goodly body of men. Among the trappings he took with him were jupons of white fustian with crosses of Saint George, which he distributed to all those who accompanied him daily; these numbered some 500 lances. He himself wore a similar jupon made of white silk. With the troops serving his noblemen, the party comprised 2,000 men all together. He also took along a good 40 horses, mules and hacks, the latter as reserve mounts, and bedecked with his armorials and other examples of the finest adornment, as befitted meeting a great and noble lord for the first time.
The constable was at his ease by the river Guadiana when these events began. There he received the king's message informing him that the duke was in Galicia and how, therefore, it was important to go and meet him. In the message the king commanded him to make ready and head for the place where the discussions were due to take place, wherefore he at once set about equipping himself to go there, departing in the company of certain knights and squires, all well accoutred and horsed. He encountered the king in Ponte da Barca, where the king was very pleased to see him and gave him a warm welcome.
While the king was travelling on this side of Ponte do Mouro, the duke appeared on the opposite bank close to Melgaço, a village which sided with Castile at that time. When the king saw the duke's approach, he crossed the river, and they met one another on the hillside. The king was fully armed, lacking only his bascinet, and many of his men were similarly accoutred. The duke's men wore haubergeons, vambraces and surcoats, some embroidered and others slashed, all of them a fine sight and well equipped. Mingling with them were a number of Galicians and Castilians who had gone over to join him and acknowledged him as their liege lord. There the two men welcomed and embraced each other with courteous greetings and with great pleasure and joy.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Chronicles of Fernão LopesVolume 4. The Chronicle of King João i of Portugal, Part II, pp. 221 - 222Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2023