There was great feasting and merriment in the city of
Lisbon before the barons and knights who were present departed, as well as the councils of the towns and cities of the realm. A parliament was held to deliberate and discuss the affairs of the kingdom, and how they could conduct themselves and persevere honourably while holding firmly, resolutely and with honour to their cause, for as some of the country's wisest said, "Now did the strong come together to consider straightway amongst themselves what counsel they might adopt". And so they began to explore how they could so fortify themselves against the might of the
king of Castile and his power that they might enjoy their victory with honour, and allow it to continue to swell and intensify. At the parliament which took place at
Lisbon in the
cathedral church of São Domingos, a number of proposals and suggestions were put forward, not all of which deserve a mention, but the decision of the assembly was that an envoy would be sent to
England to the
duke of Lancaster who claimed the kingdom of
Castile in the name of my lady
Constanza, his wife, who was the eldest daughter of the late
king Pedro. They would write letters to him to the effect that, should he ever wish to claim rights to the kingdom of
Castile and not resign from this enterprise which had hung in the balance for some time and was very nearly lost, he should come to
Portugal with a great force of men-at-arms and archers for the time was right.
Count Nuño, constable of
Portugal, then made a fine speech,
"Since we are all agreed that an emissary be sent to
England to the
duke of Lancaster, from whom we hope to have aid and counsel, and it is the best way for us to inspire fear and dread in our enemies, let us search our kingdom for shrewd and distinguished men to carry this message and inform the
duke of Lancaster and his council in such a way that he will readily come to this land with a force great enough to resist our enemies, with the assistance he will receive from us. We must suppose and expect that the
king of Castile will strengthen himself through the support of the
king of France and the
French. They have been at a loose end since a truce was declared between themselves and the
English until St John the Baptist's day, not to mention that peace is now well established between the
French and the
Flemings who have occupied them for quite a few years now."
SHF 3-75 syncCount Nuño's speech was well received, for it was said that it was good and fitting, and his advice was to be followed. After much deliberation the
grand master of Santiago of the kingdom of
Portugal and
Lourenço Fogaça, an astute and prudent squire who spoke good French, were appointed to carry the message to
England, for according to the opinion of the
king of Portugal's council, there was, at this time, nobody else better equipped to handle the matter.
pb 261 r