At this time, there happened to be in Elvas a youthful squire by the name of Gil Fernandes. He was the son of Fernão Gil and grandson of Gil Lourenço, who was the prior of the Priory of Santa Maria in that very town and who had been a man of great endeavour and capability, as we related in our account of the reign of King Afonso IV. The said Gil Fernandes, who took after his grandfather in both character and valour, accomplished many most noble deeds and for these he later earned great repute in the wars that were to follow, as you will hear in due course. His first feat took place at the very outset of the war, even before Gonçalo Mendes de Vasconcelos came to Elvas as officer of the marches.

Gil Fernandes had worked hard at assembling from his relatives and friends [a company of] seventy men-at-arms and 400 foot soldiers. Passing through Badajoz, he attacked the area around Medellín and in a mounted raid captured a vast number of cattle, mules and prisoners. The plunder was so immense that everyone had difficulty in believing it could be brought back into Portugal, especially as they had to defend it against anyone who sought to wrest it away from them. They were of the opinion that it could scarcely be done, so much so that many told Gil Fernandes that because of his youth and lack of experience in war he had been wrong to expose them to such danger by taking them so deep into enemy territory. Gil Fernandes, whom nature had endowed with great courage and valour, began his reply by saying: ‘My friends, take courage and have no fear. If any forces attack us, let us fight against them daringly and fearlessly.’

He then put into effect the following wise and cunning scheme: as Prince João was the chief officer of the marches of that region, he told an uncle of his, Martim Eanes by name, that he, Martim Eanes, should be addressed as ‘Prince João’ and that in consequence they would treat him as such.