guese, besides many
other excellent weapons. The power of these men, against whom the
subjects of your highness had to contend, was infinitely greater than
that of King Porus, against whom Alexander had to encounter; yet the
Portuguese, though few in number, uniformly had the victory, and never
retired from the war as was done by Alexander.

Leaving the actions of the Greeks, and considering what was performed
by the Romans with their innumerable armies and vast fleets, which
seemed to cover the face of the sea, and by means of which they
thought to have conquered the whole earth. Yet they never adventured
beyond the Red Sea; neither was the greatest of their famous victories
comparable to those battles which have been fought by our men in India;
in which, most invincible prince, the great prosperity of your father
and you is well known. As, without moving from your palace,
discoveries and conquests have been achieved by your captains, more
extensive than ever were discovered or conquered by any prince in
person. There never was any conquest, either by the Barbarians, Greeks,
or Romans, of any thing like equal difficulty with this of India;
neither any kings or captains of any of these nations equal in valour
and conduct to those of your father and yourself, as will manifestly
appear from the whole tenor of the following history.

The great actions which the subjects of your highness have worthily
accomplished, must be deemed to have been permitted and appointed by
the providence of God; that so those barbarians, with their vain idols,
and the false sectaries of Mahomet, might be brought into the catholic
faith, as at this time great numbers have been added to the Christian
religion. For, since these great exploits, your highness, as a most
godly and Christian prince, hath taken especial care, and hath given
command that the Christian doctrine of the _brotherhood of the company
of Jesus_ should be taught in India, which you ordered to be brought
from Rome, and have always supported at your expence. Thus likewise,
you have erected, and founded the noble and sumptuous university of
Coimbra, to augment the honour and reputation of your kingdom; where,
besides many divines and colleges of poor begging friars to expound
the evangelical law, there are temporal men also to instruct those of