Some histories, we do not know why, are silent about various things that many who read them wish to know. Others, although not exactly silent, do not speak as they ought to on matters about which men seek clarity. Thus it is at this point where, speaking of the agreement made between these kings, no author writes plainly about which of them was the first to broach it. Since we feel justified in speaking of the matter, even though we do not have certain knowledge of it, we shall give the opinions from various quarters.

Some say that King Fernando, racked with the pain that he had been suffering for some time, was aware that his wars were dragging on, as well as of the fact that the English, being men of a violent nature, were inflicting much damage on his kingdom, as you have already heard, as they had been there so long. Moreover, since the King of Castile had not immediately wished to join in combat, despite the choice of battlefield being so near to his camp, he might want the alternative of a prolonged war, something that he, King Fernando, greatly disliked. So he sent a message to King Juan very secretly with a proposal of peace. This was to avoid the English finding out, who certainly liked nothing better than war.

Others argue quite the contrary, saying that, when the King of Castile learned that, the day before his arrival, King Fernando had reached the field with all his troops, he thought that his own forces would already be fighting the English. Then, on the day that he arrived, when immediately the Portuguese and the English all came to the field, and arranged their battle formation, demonstrating a strong desire to fight, he saw their boldness and remembered above all how his father had been defeated by the English at the battle of Nájera. Consequently, he greatly feared to join battle and was the first one to seek peace.

Yet other authors put neither the first nor the second argument but say that there were certain people there who desired peace and love between these kings, seeing that they were first cousins, and that they worked for some measures of benefit and concord to be negotiated between them.