When once the Master had received from all the people of Lisbon their acceptance of him as their lord, he set about preparing the defence both of the city and of the entire kingdom.

Two seals were immediately made, a pendant seal and a [wax] seal stamp, both of them showing the undifferenced arms of Portugal; between the castles the cross of the Order of Avis was added in exactly the way it is currently displayed. The Master installed Doctor João das Regras, who was a very learned man, as his chancellor of the great seal. This was the heading which he adopted for all his correspondence: Dom João, by the grace of God, son of the most noble King Pedro, Master of the Chivalric Order of Avis, Ruler and Defender of the kingdoms of Portugal and the Algarve.

The Master appointed to his council the aforementioned Doctor João das Regras, plus Dom Lourenço, the Archbishop of Braga; João Afonso de Azambuja, who later became Archbishop of Lisbon and then a cardinal; Doctor Martim Afonso, who later became Archbishop of Braga; João Gil, licentiate at law; and Lourenço Esteves the Younger, the son of Lourenço Esteves, a former counsellor of King Pedro. Both these last-named were appointed high court justices and magistrates of the Master's council. As comptrollers of his finances he appointed João Gil and Martim da Maia, and as treasurer of the Mint he appointed a merchant named Master Persifal. Another merchant, named Lopo Martins, was made chief justice of Lisbon. João Domingues Torrado became treasurer and receiver general of revenues from houses and shops. The Master also distributed other offices among such people as he deemed fit to serve him and thought suitable for the good of the country.

An immediate order went out throughout the city that twenty-four men, two from every craft, should undertake to be part of the city council, in order that everything that it was necessary to decide for the sound government of the city and in due service of the Master should meet with their approval.

Many other offices were given to people whom it would take too long to name, as in a kingdom which was beginning to be newly constituted.