Fernão Gonçalves, who was in the castle as we have said, was the most humorous man in Portugal, and very coarse in his language. When he saw that action, he was amazed, fully understanding that the people of the town had brought it about, but he knew no remedy for such a deed. When everyone was calm once more, and everything that had been found had been plundered, Nuno Álvares sent to him to say that he should hand over the castle for the Master, his lord; if not, he could be sure that he would soon fight for it and rend it into three parts.

Although Fernão Gonçalves was somewhat angry, he carried on behaving in his usual way, and immediately replied to the messenger: ‘Tell Nuno Álvares that with his great pride and threatening words he cannot please God. For even if the castle of Portel were a pair of breeches of French cloth, of the sort with three holes, they would not rend as quickly as he says he will rend this castle. Now go and tell him that I shall discuss terms.’

That day, Nuno Álvares's troops and a number of men from Beja who were with them, after taking their supper and without anyone ordering them, began suddenly and in a disorderly manner to attack the castle, shouting that somebody should set fire to the gates. When Fernão Gonçalves saw this, he said to his people in jest, ‘Did you ever see such a strange thing as this, Portel fighting Portel?’ He said this because of the abundance of excellent wines there are in that town, giving to understand that they had drunk more than they ought, and that was what had moved them to do that.

Then Nuno Álvares ordered them not to attack any more, since some could perish without being able to do anything very advantageous. Then Fernão Gonçalves sent to ask Nuno Álvares if it pleased him for them to talk under safe conduct. Nuno Álvares said that it did, so they spoke at the outer wall of the castle near the Beja Gate. In order to bring him back to the Master's service, Nuno Álvares told Fernão Gonçalves in that parley that he was quite amazed at him, being such a good nobleman, of such great lineage and also a genuine Portuguese, as he was.