Chapter 75 - Concerning the arguments which Nuno Álvares expressed to Count Álvaro Pérez de Castro and his son, and how the Master decided to do battle with the Castilian captains who were in Lumiar

Summary

Setting aside all bias, if you just stop to consider the Master's remarkable achievements, then it is certainly true, when we comment on this passage in our text, that he deserves huge praise. That is because, despite his great courage and daring, equal to that of the strongest and most virtuous heroes, there were nevertheless many adverse circumstances which were there to confront him, since he could see the vast bulk of Portugal ready to assail a tiny Portugal that still held out. Likewise, he knew that several of those who were heading to join him were feeble and faint-hearted when giving advice; moreover, he was led to regard others as suspect and of doubtful loyalty.

However, these and all the matters that you can well imagine, which were greatly disadvantageous to him, failed to move him from his firm intent; his immense and lofty courage remained undefeated by such storms. A typical case occurred after Count Álvaro Pérez de Castro came to join him: one day the Master related to him and his son all the events which had befallen him up to that point and told them what his intentions were.

As for the count, who was more inclined to favour the success and honour of the King of Castile than to support the Master's honourable cause, he held his achievements in low esteem, telling him that he had begun a difficult undertaking and that he, the count, was very doubtful as to whether the Master could bring it about with honour. In this way, a man who ought to have given him strength, having come to serve him, uttered these and similar words, which were enough to discourage him from everything which he had undertaken and was so keen to bring about.

Nuno Álvares, who was also present, simply could not tolerate his line of argument, nor could he hold back from addressing him. Here is his reply: ‘Sir count, just let me tell you, since you have taken up with my lord the Master and honourably intend to serve him, that such arguments and advice as you have given him are neither honourable nor helpful to the common good. What is more, he should not believe a word of it but should go ahead with his plans and in no way turn back.