[fol. 1r] In the year 5377 after the creation of the world, on the seventh day of the month of August, in the kingdom of France, in a place called Orleans.

One evening, a Portuguese from the States of Holland was standing in the doorway of an inn, when a pilgrim greeted him and then asked, ‘By chance are you Portuguese?’

‘Yes, I am’, said the friend (which is what we will call him).

‘Our national heritage is so strong’, said the pilgrim, ‘that I thought you were as soon as I saw you, and I felt great joy that one's love for his homeland causes this’.

To which the friend replied, ‘Our Portuguese Nation is the greatest in the world! I’m happy to see you and, if you’re looking for a place to stay, you’ll find it here. In my room there's an empty bed where you can rest’.

‘I gratefully accept’, said the pilgrim.

‘And not a moment too soon’, said the friend, ‘we should go inside because it's a cold night’.

After dining they went to the room. Late that night, while it seemed like the pilgrim was sleeping, the friend said, ‘Are you asleep, my friend?’

‘No, because the need to be careful on the journey doesn't allow for it. And the nights are long’.

‘By your clothes’, said the friend, [fol. 1v] ‘I can see that you’ve had a long trip. I’d like to know if you’re coming from our homeland’.

‘I’m coming from Rome’, the pilgrim said, ‘and traveling to Portugal’.

‘You’re coming from a good place’, the friend said. ‘Did you happen to be there a long time?’

‘Four years’, said the pilgrim.

‘You’ve been there so long that you surely have much to tell’.

‘There are many wonderful things there’, the pilgrim responded, ‘but since I didn't get what I wanted I can promise you, sir, that during the whole time I was there I didn't enjoy one moment’.

‘I’m very surprised’, the friend replied, ‘because I’ve always heard that the pope was a liberal man, and that he does a lot for people, even more so if, like yourself, one is trying to obtain his favor’.