Gil Vicente’s first performance seems to have been a voluntary act, a source of surprise and admiration. And from that night of 7 June 1502, when the birth of what would become King João III was celebrated with a play – Visitação – Gil Vicente would benefit from, or adapt to, the common means of European artistic production at the time, specifically commissioning. A little over six months later, on commission from Queen Leonor, he presented a new play – Pastoril Castelhano – to celebrate Christmas.