Chapter 39 - How the King of Castile departed from Coruche and left Portugal, and concerning those who were sent to accompany him
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
Summary
Despite the arguments we have put forward and many other words that were spoken between the King of Castile and the count concerning his affairs, King Pedro understood very well that the outcome of all his statements was that his uncle the King of Portugal had no wish to receive him in his realm or to help him in any way. He was so aggrieved by this that he could not refrain from giving some expression to his anger. After the count spoke with him, took his leave and went back to his lodgings, King Pedro was sad and deeply vexed, and with a perturbed mien he took some doblas that he had in his hand and threw them over a porch of the house where he was staying. A knight of his company, seeing what the king was doing, asked him in jest why he was throwing away those doblas in such a fashion, as it would be better to give them to some of his men, to whom they might be useful. The king answered him, saying: ‘Never mind that, for he who sows them will come to reap them later,’ meaning by this that, if he were not so much younger than the King of Portugal, he would willingly make war on him for not receiving any aid from him then, nor any welcome.
He then made up his mind to go to Alburquerque and there leave his daughters and all that he was bringing with him. When he arrived at the town they refused to let him in; rather, some of those who were in his company took refuge inside. The king, seeing that his affairs were going from bad to worse, sent a message to his uncle the King of Portugal, saying that, since he did not wish to help him in any other way, he asked to be given a letter of safe conduct to enable him to pass through his kingdom. He did this out of fear of Prince Fernando of Portugal, on account of his being the nephew of the wife of King Enrique, as was mentioned earlier.
The King of Portugal gave his full agreement, and sent him the Count of Barcelos, of whom you have heard, and Álvaro Pérez de Castro to go with him through the kingdom and leave him in safety in Galicia.
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- Information
- The Chronicles of Fernão LopesVolume 1. The Chronicle of King Pedro of Portugal, pp. 150 - 151Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2023