The king departed for Coimbra while the count remained in Évora, as we have said, greatly put out and angry at the way the Master [of Santiago] made an incursion into Portugal, and for the following reason.

The Master of the Order of Santiago of Castile was the greatest lord and officer of the marches in the vicinity of the count's territorial responsibility. Before the count left for Coimbra, whither the king had sent him, he was keen to leave the people of the Alentejo in safety and wrote to the master asking that, if he were to enter the kingdom, he would let him know of it some days beforehand. He himself would do the same, if he were to enter Castile, so that both of them could prepare for such an action. The master promised him that he would do so. With that assurance, the constable went to Coimbra. Even though Martim Afonso de Melo remained as officer of the marches in that district and, as an honourable knight, was capable of doing much, he was not up to resisting the might of so many troops with his 250 lances. So it was that, as soon as the master heard that the count had left, he broke his word, assembled his men, as you have heard, and overran the country, taking off a number of cattle and many prisoners.

As soon as the count realised the king was some distance away, he summoned all the knights and squires of the district for them to come to him with their forces as secretly as they could. He sent to ask the Master of Avis if he would kindly come with his men so they could be companions in the action that he wished to undertake for the service of their liege lord, the king. The master replied that he was pleased to do so and that he would make ready in haste. However, the count found out for a fact that he said afterwards, ‘The count isn't asking for much.