With the count thus settled after the journey, and while people were preparing his food and setting up his tent, it being not yet midday, there came a trumpeter on behalf of the Castilians. He asked which man the constable was, and people showed him. He came up to him and said, ‘My lord Constable, my lord the Master of Santiago, the Master of Alcántara, and the lords with him send word to you that they are over there in Feria, which is a league and a half from here, in order to do battle with you, but if you wish to leave with your people and inflict no further harm upon this land, they will be pleased. Otherwise, if you do not wish it so, you should prepare yourself for battle, for they are ready.’ The count responded joyfully and said, ‘My friend, you are most welcome with such news, which makes me very happy. Meanwhile, go and take a little refreshment in this camp, and I shall take counsel on this and very soon will give you my decision.’

Then he had his trumpeters called, and charged and ordered them to give privately to the Castilian trumpeter as many provisions as he needed. While the Castilian trumpeter was eating, the count recounted to the [Portuguese] Master [of Santiago], and to the lords and captains, the message that had come from the Castilians. All were very joyful at it. The count agreed with them that since the next day was Sunday, and moreover, a major feast of the year, Trinity Sunday, they did not wish to fight. But on Monday they could set out to do battle.

Then the count ordered the trumpeter to be given clothes and money, and so did some of the captains, readily giving him clothes and jewels. The count said to a good squire named João Esteves Correia, ‘Go with the Master of Santiago's trumpeter and commend me greatly to him, and to the Master of Alcántara, and greet the others individually and in person. Say that I thank them warmly for the message that they sent via the trumpeter. So as not to detain them there, I shall, God willing, be with them on Monday to respond to the battle that they wish to fight with me, for they have come for this reason.