m resolved to meet
him in Cambalan, by which way it is said he means to invade you; and, if
he has the boldness to meet me, I hope to make him prisoner and to carry
him with me into Portugal. I am informed that you intend to go away from
Cochin, and to induce the rest of the inhabitants among whom you are the
chiefs, to do the same; but I am astonished men of your wisdom should
leave the country in which you were born, and where you have dwelt so
many years, from fear of vain reports. Such conduct were even disgraceful
for women, and is therefore much more so for you who are men of wisdom
and experience. If you should be disposed to remove from hence when you
shall actually be in danger, I should hardly blame you: But to do so
before that danger is apparent, and even before a single battle has been
fought, must proceed either from cowardice or treachery. You all well
know, that only a very short while ago, a very small number of our
Portuguese defeated thousands of those same enemies who now threaten to
invade us. You may allege that we were then more in number than now,
which was assuredly the case. But we then fought in the open field, where
numbers were necessary; and we now propose only to fight in narrow passes,
in which a small number will suffice as well as a multitude. You already
know that I can fight, as it is I who have done the greatest injury to
the enemy in the late war, which the rajah can well vouch. As for me I
shall never yield, and I have more to lose, being overcome, than any of
you. Put your trust therefore in me and my troops, and remain where you
are till you see the event of our defence. Your sovereign remains in his
port, and wherefore should you go away? I and the Portuguese who are with
me, remain in this far distant country to defend your king, and you who
are his natural born subjects: Should you then desert him and your
country, you would disgrace yourselves and dishonour me, by refusing to
repose confidence in my promise to defend you against the zamorin and all
his power, were it even greater than it is. Wherefore, I strictly enjoin
that none of you shall remove from Cochin, and I swear by all that is
holy in our faith, that whoever is detected in the attempt shall be
instantly hanged. It is my determined purpose to remain here, and to have
the port strictly watched day and night that none of you may escape. Let
every one of you, therefore, look well to his conduct, and be assured, if
you d