“Thank God, we seem to have time,” the butler sighed with relief. He walked around the table again and ordered the servants to straighten the chairs. Then, he excused everyone and had 10 servants from the adjacent hall enter. These servants were more qualified in serving and were specially trained in court manners. It would be their job to serve the royal family members during the morning meal.
The butler again went to the window, crossed himself, and said, “Thank God,” as he saw members of the royal family leaving the palace chapel. Shortly after that, the door opened widely, and Duke Pedro, his wife, Duchess Isabella of Urgell,9 a prince, four infantes10, and three infantas appeared on the threshold.
With a broad smile, the butler approached the incoming monarchs. He bowed and said in a monotonous tone, “I ask your royal highnesses and your lordships to the table.”
The servants, dressed in elegantly starched clothes, immediately approached the carved oak chairs and bowed. Holding on to the high backs of the chairs with one hand and with beautiful movements of the other, they indicated to each family member to take their places according to position and age.
Duke Pedro was the guardian of his nephew, Prince Afonso,11 who was to become the king of Portugal in a year and a half on his coming of age. Pedro was the second son of the late King of Portugal, João the Great.12 After João’s death, the throne was inherited by Pedro’s older brother, Edward I.13 He ruled Portugal for only five years until he died of the plague at 46.
After Edward’s death, his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aragon,14 was denied the regency15 of her minor son, and Pedro temporarily inherited the throne.
He was elected the trustee of the king’s two minor sons, Prince Afonso and infante Fernando.16 The rules of the Portuguese court say a prince who reached 14 (the age of majority) had the right to rule.
After Duchess Isabella took her place at the table, the duke sat to her right. The seat next to the duke belonged to 12-year-old Prince Afonso. Afonso’s brother, 11-year-old Infante Fernando, sat next to him. The duke and duchess’s children held the following places: infantes Pedro,17 João,18 James19 and infantas Isabella,20 Beatrice,21 and Philippa.22
After everyone took his or her seat, the duke told the butler, who looked sickly, to leave. Then, he announced: “Now let’s praise God for all that he has given us.” Pointing to the decorations on the table, he uttered a short prayer: “Bless us, O Lord, for these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, and grant that all people have their daily bread. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.”