Short answers, pulled from the story.
Bernardim Ribeiro was born in 1482 within the village of Torrão located in the Alentejo region. His family fled to Castile after his father Damião Ribeiro faced severe consequences for involvement in a conspiracy against King John II during 1484.
The king sent Bernardim Ribeiro to the University of Lisbon where he studied law from 1506 until 1512. Upon obtaining his degree in law the king appointed him secretary and bestowed upon him the habit of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword.
It was alleged that Bernardim Ribeiro's conduct caused a scandal which led the king to deprive him of his office and exile him. This followed events involving his cousin Dona Joana Zagalo who went into seclusion in the convent of St Clare at Estremoz in 1521.
Bernardim Ribeiro wrote Mensagem da Pastora Aónia while traveling widely across Italy starting early in 1522. The work related the story of his unfortunate passion while personifying himself under the anagram Bimnarder and Dona Inês under Aonia.
Bernardim Ribeiro died in 1552 at All Saints Hospital in Lisbon after suffering a long illness about 1534. He could not fulfill the duties of his office so in 1549 the king bestowed upon him a pension for his support.