Chapter 154 - How the nobility and the people paid homage to the Master, and concerning the privileges that he gave to the city
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 December 2023
Summary
With many and various projects discussed, both by the nobility and the people at large, and the good and the bad that could ensue from such deeds laid out before their eyes, after long debates which we wish to leave aside so as not to detain you, their final conclusion was this: although everyone in the city and certain noblemen among those who were present had already received the Master as their liege lord, and although he had adopted the title of ruler and defender, they should all receive him as their lord once more, noblemen as well as citizens, and pay him homage as to the ruler and defender of the kingdoms of Portugal and the Algarve; also, they should consider themselves bound to serve and aid him with their lives and possessions, since they saw they were at a juncture where that was necessary. Furthermore, they should summon the districts that maintained support for Portugal; and everyone in Coimbra, together with the noblemen and clergymen who were gathered there, should discuss the provisioning of the war, and where the necessary funds could be obtained.
With this decided, when it came to 6 October of the aforementioned year of 1384, the following gathered in the royal palace where the Master was lodging: Count Gonçalo, Brother Álvaro Gonçalves [Pereira], who was the Prior of the Hospitallers, Nuno Álvares Pereira, Diogo Lopes Pacheco, and other lords with all the noblemen, knights as well as squires, and all the inhabitants of the city and of other places whose presence on such an occasion was fitting.
All together, and one by one, they swore by touching the Holy Gospels and pledged fealty and homage to the Master as their liege lord, to serve and help him with all their might, against the King of Castile as against any others who might wish to cause him harm, and kissed his hand as their lord. Some did so heart and soul, while others pretended to do so but were insincere, as afterwards was shown. He vowed and swore to them to guard all the privileges and freedoms they had, and to maintain the kingdom in law and justice.
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- The Chronicles of Fernão LopesVolume 3. The Chronicle of King João I of Portugal, Part I, pp. 311 - 314Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2023