King Pedro hated procuresses and witches, so that as a result of the punishments he inflicted upon them there were very few women who had such occupations. When he was in Beira, he found out that one by the name of Helena had procured a woman for Admiral Lançarote Pessanha and that he had slept with her. Her name was Violante Vasques. The king had the procuress burnt immediately and gave orders for the admiral to be beheaded. Although the members of his Royal Council strove to save the admiral from his wrath, they could never convince the king to agree, so the admiral fled. He was exiled and put from him for a long time, losing his royal allowance and all his benefits, as well as his position. Not knowing how to remedy this situation, the admiral decided to send a message to the Doge and the Council of Commoners of Genoa asking them to write to the king on his behalf, requesting him to grant the favour of a pardon. On seeing the admiral's message, the Genoese wrote to the king asking him to set aside his wrath. The letter from Gabriele Adorno, the Doge of Genoa, and the elders of that city's Council of Commoners read as follows: