Álvaro Mendes de Oliveira, the Chief Provincial Governor of the town of Évora, who at that time held the castle in the queen's name, heard what was happening in a number of townships and realised that events similar to what was happening to others could also happen to him. Recognising this, and recognising too that he had no forces available with whom he could defend the castle, other than a handful of criados of his, such as Gonçalo Eanes Melão, Martim Bravo, Rui Gil and up to seven or eight others all told, he sent for Martim Afonso Arnalho, who was a merchant and at that time a judge and married to a lady-in-waiting of Queen Leonor. He also sent for Gonçalo Lourenço, who was the deputy governor, as well as Vasco Martins Porrado, who was the town council clerk, Rui Gonçalves, who was a land surveyor, along with Martim Velho, the merchant Álvaro Vasques and other worthy men of the town. When they all assembled in answer to his summons, he put to them many arguments on behalf of the queen, whom he wished to support, with the result that they all agreed to join with him and help to defend the castle on her behalf.

That very day, once they had all hurried inside the castle and this had become known throughout the town, Diogo Lopes Lobo, Fernão Gonçalves da Arca and João Fernandes his son, who were among the men of rank who lived there, together with all the townspeople, immediately rose up against them and attacked the castle. This they did by climbing on top of both the cathedral and the slaughterhouse, which are lofty buildings from which they were able to attack them with crossbows and from which they shot many bolts at those inside the castle, a building which was very strong owing to its towers, ramparts and surrounding moat and which was very difficult to capture without immense effort.

In order to bring about their surrender more quickly, they seized the wives and children of those who were inside defending the castle, and placed them on carts, all tied together, which was a ploy, in such circumstances, which the common folk customarily resorted to in those days.