The king left that spot and went to spend the night at Lezíria da Condessa, which is situated below Santarém, and where they came across many cattle. This brought immense relief to those in charge of the encampment, as their stock of provisions was very low. Next day, passing close to Muge, the king crossed the Tagus, took the road to Lisbon and set up camp near the bridge that lies beyond Cartaxo. However, there was [still] a shortage of supplies throughout the camp, so much so that a horse was exchanged for five loaves of bread. While the constable was sitting eating, with five loaves on his table (that being all he had left in his bread store), there arrived five English knights, loudly complaining that they were starving and that they wished to drink with him. He answered that he was happy for them to do so, gave orders for water to be brought for [them to wash] their hands, and bade them sit down. However, they refused to sit down, preferring to drink standing up. Each one of them took his loaf and ate it, as well as swallowing four draughts each before they went on their way. Laughing and highly amused, the Constable was left without any bread and on that occasion ate his meat without it.

The king next travelled to Alenquer, which was defended by Vasco Peres de Camões. He was a former vassal of the King of Portugal, as we mentioned. Camp was pitched in the market gardens by the riverside, at a good distance from the town, and where there sometimes took place well-fought skirmishes between those from the town and those from the encampment. It was from there that forage parties went forth into the area around Alenquer and Torres Vedras to look for supplies.

In these circumstances it was decided that the king should remain there assembling the troops that were due to join him from Lisbon. When once he had them with him, he would go back to Santarém with them, and then on to Abrantes. Meanwhile, the constable would go into the Alentejo to muster as many forces as possible and then head back to Abrantes, where the king would be awaiting him.