Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
One day passed, and no more. On the following Saturday [28 May], quite early in the morning, several noblemen on horseback from the Castilian side arrived at the towers that stand on a high hill in the direction of São Domingos. Protected by a safe conduct, they spoke to those in the towers, saying that they should go and tell the Master that the king their liege lord, who was already on his way, wished to proclaim his edicts there, along with several claims. Therefore, he should order some knights and citizens to go to that spot to see how he would make his declarations.
They told the Master this, and he sent to tell them to go away at once; if they did not do so, they would be shot at with crossbows. When the Castilians heard this message, they departed from where they were, retreating to a distance from the wall, and there they waited for their liege lord the king, who was already on his way.
Here it is important for you to know that these edicts that the king had wished to proclaim were to accuse all the inhabitants of the city of treason, in order afterwards to dispose of their property and proceed against them by his own will, saying that he had come there in person with his banner unfurled, but they had refused to receive him as their rightful lord.
At this point the King of Castile arrived with his host all on horseback, and many foot soldiers and crossbowmen whom he had obtained from the galleys, to take a look at the city. He came up close at a high hill which is now called Olivete Hill. He spent most of the day there, and many of his men went about meanwhile cutting down trees and grapevines, and doing all the damage they could.
Now it happened that this same day in the morning, before the King of Castile came, numbers of men-at-arms and crossbowmen, and likewise foot soldiers, had gone out from the city by the Santa Catarina Gate. They arranged their defensive pavisade to skirmish with the Castilians, who they were already sure were going to come.
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