It Is Not My Intention To Stay Long On Shore, So As
To Give Opportunity To The Moors To Complot Against Me; As I Propose Only
To Talk With The King And To Return In Three Days, By Which Time You May
Have Every Thing In Readiness For Our Departure.
If I should have the good
fortune, by the will of God, to establish trade and amity with the
King of
Calicut, I would not exchange the honour and credit of that transaction
for any treasure that could be given me; neither can the king of Calicut
settle this affair so well with any other person, as he will honour me the
more for being the captain-general of this fleet and the ambassador of our
king. Should any other go in my stead, the king might look upon himself as
slighted and insulted, under an idea that I do not esteem him worthy to be
visited by myself, or that I do not trust him on his word and assurance.
Besides, it is not possible for me to give sufficiently ample instructions
to any one I might send, to enable him to do what may be necessary under
every circumstance that may arise, as I myself might do. Even if it should
chance that they kill me, it were better this should happen in the
discharge of my duty, than that I should preserve my life by neglecting to
perform it. You, my friends, remain at sea in good ships:
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