King Enrique took advice to advance speedily and to seek a way to do battle with King Pedro, for he knew only too well that if the war were to be prolonged King Pedro would gain many advantages. Therefore, he made haste as fast as he could in order to bring the battle forward, so that he came close to Montiel, where King Pedro was. Several of those who were with him set fire to the scrubland in order to see their way, because it was a very dark night.

King Pedro had not received any news of King Enrique and was unsure whether he had left the encampment which had besieged Toledo. His own companies were scattered around the villages two or 3 leagues away from Montiel. García Morán, who was the castle governor, on seeing the fires, told the king about them and asked him to see whether they were caused by his enemies. King Pedro said that he thought it was Gonzalo Mejía and the others who had left Córdoba and were on their way to join those who were at Toledo. As he was in some doubt, however, the king sent messages to all his men, who were lodged in the neighbouring villages, ordering them to join him at daybreak at Montiel, where he was to be found.

On the morning of the following day, King Enrique arrived with his forces, who had advanced within sight of Montiel since midnight. A number of King Pedro's men, whom he had sent along the route from which the light of the fires could be seen, hurried back to say that King Enrique and his companies were all getting very close. On hearing this, King Pedro and his men buckled on their armour and drew up their battle-line close to Montiel. However, not all his supporters whom he had summoned from the [surrounding] villages had yet arrived.

On his arrival, King Enrique drew up his forces ready for battle; Sir Bertrand du Guesclin, the Masters of Santiago and Calatrava and the others who were in the vanguard, on advancing to join battle with King Pedro’s men, found a ravine which they were unable to cross. King Enrique and his troops, which constituted the second line of battle, took a different route and headed straight for King Pedro's banners.