We do not care to speak further of such things that happened during the siege. Mournful death began to display its ire more harshly against the troops in the siege camp, and likewise against those in the Castilian fleet; not only did it take squires and noblemen and others of lesser station, so many that it was an extraordinary thing to behold, but also it began to attack the lords of high rank, so that it caused great terror among everyone.

The Castilians, seeing themselves thus beset with plague, which flared up increasingly among them, well understood that their stay there could not last long, and that they would perforce have to lift the siege and depart soon. Among the many and varied considerations they put to the king, they told him that it would be wise to offer to negotiate with the Master, so as to come away with some honour from his invasion. The arguments that each of them stated seemed valid to the king, so he sent to ask for safe conduct from the Master so that Pedro Fernández de Velasco could go and speak to him on his behalf, for he was a man whom the king greatly trusted. The Master agreed and, on the day that had been designated for Pedro Fernández to come and speak, the Master sent several knights along the road to remain as hostages with the contingent that accompanied Pedro Fernández, until he had spoken with the Master and returned, in line with what had been requested by the Castilians. The hostages were Juan Alfonso de Baeza, Álvaro Gonçalves Camelo, Afonso Eanes Nogueira, Mem Rodrigues, Rui Mendes de Vasconcelos and others. Pedro Fernández arrived before noon, on a good horse, accompanied by a page with a lance and skullcap, who remained behind with the contingent.

The Master came forward on horseback wearing a haubergeon, vambraces, a sword girded on and a short tabard over the top. When they saw each other, they bowed and embraced each other. This meeting took place between the barbican and the city wall, at the gate of Santa Catarina.