nder, which
is so characteristic of the difficulties which beset Albuquerque on
every side, and so illustrative of the impression formed by his
character, that it is worth quoting in full:--

'SIR,--We do this in writing, because by word of mouth we dare not,
as you always answer us so passionately; and for all that you, Sir,
have frequently told us that the King gives you no orders to take
counsel with us, yet this business is of so great an importance,
that we consider ourselves obliged to offer you our advice; did we
not do so, we should be worthy of punishment. Now, because this
war, in which you are now desirous of engaging, is very much
opposed to the interest of the King, our Lord, we consider that
your Excellency ought to weigh well, before entering upon it, how
little Cogeatar is to blame for objecting to have against all
reason to pay down in ready money 15,000 cruzados of revenue every
year, contrary to the honour of such a large city and kingdom; yet,
if notwithstanding all this, your {56} Excellency is determined to
prosecute the war, and break the peace and agreement which has been
made with him, it is our opinion that you ought not to do so; for
it would be more to the service of the King, our Lord, if we were
now to quit this city and temporize with Cogeatar, and in the
course of the year return in strength in order to subdue it, and
confirm our hold upon it, than to destroy it for ever. And if, in
spite of all we can say, your Excellency is bent upon entering into
this war, see you that it be with all the circumspection and
assurance that the fleet can command, in that it is more conducive
to the interest of our said Lord to obtain possession and not to
destroy the city now, since it can be destroyed at any time we
please; because, in case of your Excellency's landing in Ormuz or
at the city we are determined not to go with you, nor enter into
such a war, nor such designs, and that this may be known for
certain, and we be not able to deny it hereafter, we all sign our
names here: this day, the 5th of the month of January, 1508.

JOAO DA NOVA,
ANTONIO DO CAMPO,
AFFONSO LOPES DA COSTA,
FRANCISCO DE TAVORA,
MANOEL TELLES.'[2]

[Footnote 2: Albuquerque's _Commentaries_, vol. i. pp. 169, 170.]

It need hardly be said that Albuquerque refused to listen to this
remonstrance. Francisco de Tavora, whom he had pardoned and restored
to his