I can tell you that if they had so wished, they could have returned to
Castile without a fight, but they were brash and arrogant and declared that they would seek out the garrison of
Trancoso. The country people fled before them, so that the news reached
Trancoso. When
Sir João Fernandes Pacheco heard that the
Castilians were advancing, he called for his arms and had trumpets sounded to rouse the knights and squires throughout the town. They all armed themselves with great haste, mounted their horses and rode forth from
Trancoso; they amounted to around two hundred out there in the fields. They formed themselves up, demonstrating that they would dearly love to meet their enemies. They asked those who were fleeing to safety in
Trancoso where their enemies were and where they would find them. They replied that they were not far off, but that they were only making slow progress. They could not go any quicker because of the copious booty they were carrying.
Sir João Fernandes Pacheco was delighted with this news and said to his companions
Sir Martim Vasques da Cunha and his brother
Gil Vasques da Cunha,
'Let us advance! I wish never again to enter a town or castle in
Portugal until I have seen our enemies and fought them, and I will make it my mission to recover all their booty.'
Then he said to me, '
Lourenço, unfurl my banner, for it is time. We will soon meet the enemy.'
So I did as he commanded me and we rode at a good pace until we saw in front of us the dust clouds thrown up by our enemies. We took advantage of the sun and advanced on them. When the
Castilians spied us they halted and reformed, putting their booty and prisoners to one side. We approached so close to them that we could easily speak to them and they to us. We espied three banners and four pennants and judged there to be around three hundred of them including the bannerets, all well-mounted. I will name for you first of all
Sir Juan Rodriguez de Castaneda, knight and baron of
Castile,
Sir Alvar Garcia de Albornoz and
Sir Adelantado de Toledo. The pennants identified
Sir Pero Suarez de Toledo,
Sir Adelantado de Castilla,
Sir Juan Rodriguez de Vera and
Diego Sanchez de Toro. When we were facing one another, we dismounted as did they, and the horses were handed over to pages and varlets. Before we came against one another with lance, javelin and arms, we entered into a discussion - or rather the captains on each side did. As I was present I heard every word, since my master
Sir João Fernandes Pacheco, whose banner I bore, stood there in front of them all and the discussions were addressed to him. First he asked them who had bidden them ride into
Portugal and loot these goods.
Sir Adelantado de Toledo replied, saying that they could ride wherever they pleased in order to punish dissidents, for they had been so commanded by their lord the
king of Castile to whom belonged the inheritance of
Portugal.
pb 269 v