Fame of the affection and love which possessed King Fernando in Lisbon for Dona Leonor Teles, as we have already related, spread at once throughout his kingdom: it was asserted that she was his wife, that he had slept with her, and that he had married her in secret. The way in which the king had done this greatly displeased everyone in the country: not just the grandees and noblemen who loved the honour of serving him, but also the common folk, who much resented it. The arguments of those in his Royal Council were of no avail when they said that it was inappropriate for him to marry such a woman as that, who was the wife of his vassal, just as it was for him to abandon marriages to such princesses, the daughters of kings, as he came across, specifically the daughters of the King of Aragon and the King of Castile, which would have been so honourable to him and profitable to the realm. Realizing that their counsel had no effect, they abandoned any further debate with him on the matter.

As for the people of the kingdom, they discussed this news severally in their townships and villages, gathering together in groups, as is their custom, casting blame on the king's counsellors and on the grandees of the land for allowing him to do what he had done, and adding that, as they had not told him what was the right thing to do, then it was best for the people to come together to go and tell him.

Among those who led the way in this undertaking were the people of Lisbon, where the king then was. Their discussions took their aims so far forward that after taking counsel together they agreed to tell him what they thought. They immediately elected as their leader and spokesman a tailor called Fernão Vasques, who was a sensible man and very suitable for the task. On a given day, there assembled some 3,000 of them, including artisans of all trades, as well as crossbowmen and foot soldiers. Bearing arms, they all headed for the palace where the king was staying and made a great hubbub as they debated the matter.