On learning that Queen Leonor was a captive in Coimbra and how the King of Castile was treating her, the inhabitants of Alenquer all agreed that it was right to go over to the Master, though cautiously and subject to certain conditions. They sent Vasco Martins de Alteiro and Álvaro Fernandes do Rego to convey their message to Lisbon. On entering the Master's presence and after presenting their credentials, they made the following proposal: ‘Great lord, the honourable men of Alenquer and we along with them, bearing in mind that we are all Portuguese and all born in this realm, consider it right that we are bound to love its honour and interests, especially [standing] against those who wrongly and illegally seek to harm and wage war on it, just as the King of Castile is doing at this time, along with those who are helping his party, in his wrong and illegal endeavour to force it to undergo grim and severe subjection. Accordingly, we agree that it is better for us to declare our allegiance to you and to hold this town on your behalf and in your name. We do this on the following condition, namely that, if Queen Leonor is released, though she is currently a prisoner in the King of Castile's power, and if she is freely restored to power, in such a way that neither King Juan nor anybody else can restrict or otherwise wrong her against her will, then you should vigorously confirm the donation to her of Alenquer in line with what was laid down by your brother King Fernando. Moreover, as for the revenue and entitlements which in the meantime you will receive from the town, you should arrange for them to be handed over to her, wherever you wish, and should confirm the town's inhabitants in their ancestral rights and traditions.’

The Master answered them and said that, since he was mindful of their noble intent in respect of the honour and defence of the realm and since he honoured the queen as though she were his own mother, he would do everything he could to preserve her honour.