The queen asked her counsellors how they should discuss this peace treaty, and, all being agreed, they said that they did not think there was any subject better to discuss, in order to bring the peace to a good conclusion, other than that which the archdeacon had proposed in Portugal, and which her own ambassadors had already demanded at other times. For they thought that an unconditional peace, without further binding clauses based on conditions of aid, would not bring their liege lord the king any advantage. ‘For in an unconditional peace’, they said, ‘although some might argue that it is fairer to both sides, neither side can be sure of to what extent and in what form it will be supported by the other party, or whether they will say afterwards that they cannot do so at that time, or perhaps that they do not want to. Therefore, if no better way can be found, then this is the one that should be discussed.’ Thus, they all came to the same conclusion.

The Portuguese, learning about this council meeting and [understanding] how they should respond to it, duly appeared on the day appointed for that purpose and presented the following argument:

‘My lords, you are of one mind that we should not discuss an unconditional peace but a conditional one, with certain binding clauses. You say that there is no benefit to be had from an unconditional peace and that you see many advantages in a peace made with certain binding clauses. My lords, we do not see it like this but think very much the opposite. For in conditional peace, the more terms there are, the more tensions and suspicions will arise. As a result of the strained relations deriving from it, it is easy to find reason to say: this is more honourable or dishonourable, which cannot happen when the peace is unconditional. If you insist on this point in order to profit by some aid from our liege lord the king, and he expects the same from you out of equal entitlement, the unconditional peace guarantees this in a more complete way and with more goodwill from both sides than a conditional peace, which leads to very strained relations among those who sign it.