While the king was in Santarém, which is one of the best and most noble towns in the kingdom of Portugal and one of the richest in all provisions, he received every day prominent captains bringing many soldiers from his kingdoms. Queen Leonor's herberger together with the herberger of the King of Castile distributed sectors of the town to each one, according to rank, both within the town itself and in the surrounding area. Nobody was exempt from providing lodging, except in the Jewish quarter, where they did not lodge owing to Dom David Negro and two high-ranking Jews who were allied to Queen Leonor. From the very outset the Castilians adopted an honourable attitude both towards those with whom they were billeted and in the purchase of food.

When the King of Castile arrived, all the justices and officials of King Fernando's time were present with the queen in Santarém, having accompanied her when she left Lisbon. Among these were King Fernando's chancellor of the great seal, Lourenço Eanes Fogaça; the latter's clerk [of the crown in chancery], Gonçalo Peres; Doctor Gil do Sém; João Gonçalves, Fernão Gonçalves and Lopo Esteves de Leiria, all three of whom were licenciates at law; Rodrigo Esteves de Lisboa; Gonçalo Peres, who was the Prior of Ourém, and Gonçalo Eanes, both of whom were bachelors in canon law; these men and others dispatched all of Portugal's affairs with great deliberation and according to law [in King Fernando's time]. On the King of Castile's arrival, he chose not to meddle with their duties but ordained that each one should continue in office; this also applied to the secretaries and all other officials.

He made Gonçalo Martins, who was a bachelor in canon law, his proctor. All of them received from him two months’ payment and in his name they dispatched the kingdom's affairs as though they understood that it was already his. The chief justice of the Court, Gil Eanes, together with one of the King of Castile's magistrates, presided over the town's legal affairs and heard cases which had arisen between the Castilians and the Portuguese.