ion of building a fortress within it, for so
it appeared to all to be necessary; and after having captured it, I
was unwilling to let slip the possession of it, yet, because ye all
advised me to do so, I left it and withdrew; but being now ready,
as you see, to put my hands upon it again once more, I learned that
you had already changed your opinion: now this cannot be because
the Moors have destroyed the best part of us, but on account of
{103} my sins, which merit the failure of accomplishing this
undertaking in the way that I had desired. And, inasmuch as my will
and determination is, so long as I am Governor of India, neither to
fight nor to hazard men on land, except in those parts wherein I
shall build a fortress to maintain them, as I have already told you
before this, I desire you earnestly, of your goodness, although you
all have already agreed upon what is to be done, to freely give me
again your opinions in writing as to what I ought to do; for,
inasmuch as I have to give an account of these matters, and a
justification of my proceedings to the King Dom Manoel, our Lord, I
am unwilling to be left alone to bear the blame of them; and
although there be many reasons which I could allege in favour of
our taking this city and building a fortress therein to maintain
possession of it, two only will I mention to you on this occasion
as tending to point out wherefore you ought not to turn back from
what you have agreed upon.

'The first is the great service which we shall perform to Our Lord
in casting the Moors out of this country, and quenching the fire of
this sect of Muhammad so that it may never burst out again
hereafter; and I am so sanguine as to hope for this from our
undertaking, that if we can only achieve the task before us, it
will result in the Moors resigning India altogether to our rule,
for the greater part of them--or perhaps all of them--live upon the
trade of this country, and are become great and rich, and lords of
extensive treasures. It is, too, well worthy of belief that as the
King of Malacca, who has already once been discomfited and had
proof of our strength, with no hope of obtaining any succour from
any other quarter--sixteen days having already elapsed since this
took place--makes no endeavour to negotiate with us for the
security of his estate, Our Lord is blinding his judgment and
hardening his heart, and desires