The truce had lasted for nine months since it had been pledged in Olivença for the count and the other lords to settle the peace between the kings their liege lords, as we have said, when Prior Álvaro Gonçalves, who was still in the kingdom after his flight from Coimbra, decided at this time to go over to Castile.

The king had promised the constable to give the priorship to Lourenço Esteves de Góis, the Commander of Santa Vera Cruz, who had served him well in the count's campaign, should the prior lose it by right. But he was then minded to give it to Fernando Álvares de Almeida, the guardian and mentor of his sons, so he first informed the count of what his desire on this matter was, because of the promise he had made to him.

The count read the king's message, noted the person to whom it referred and became somewhat preoccupied. He replied that he thanked the king for the message that he had sent him and that the next day he would send his answer with someone he trusted. So he did, as he sent Gil Aires, his private secretary, to the king, directing him to say that some days earlier the king had granted the priorship to Lourenço Esteves, who was well suited to the post because he was a good knight and had served the king well in his campaign; moreover, since he was a friar of the order, that the friars should be allowed to elect him, this being something they dared not do as they had been forbidden to do so. He graciously requested the king that by his mercy he should not withdraw the position from Lourenço Esteves since he had already granted it to him. There were also other similar arguments, to which the king replied in this manner:

‘True it is that it was my wish to give this priorship to Fernando Álvares because he is fully worthy of it. Also, as you can see, in my land there are four positions of special honour, namely the military mastership of the Orders of Christ, of Santiago and of Avis and the priorship of the Hospitallers, which constitute the four pillars that uphold the honour of my kingdom.