_ 214 _ cloves or any other source which may be closer to hand. You must write to this city that you think it right that they agree to pay a sum of three cruzados in every one hundred pardaos on all the merchandize that each despatched in this customs house, for oil, tallow and provisioning of the said armada and to be able to be ready and equipped. With this they will not be restless when there is so much to be carried out. The aldermen themselves should have charge of it so that it is better provided for, and the money would be handed over to them to spend according to your orders and they would place twenty locally married men as captains of twenty of these ships, which Your Highness would concede because there are many locally married nobles and gentlemen who have been long in war whom the governors themselves have to choose in time of need. The city would present the twenty captains with this honour, and they would have charge of the armada without Your Highness incurring expenses. Summary of pp. 189-90 Grant, Your Highness, that the Council may give a licence to any nao they wish to go to the island of Madagascar, which would be obligated to bring back eighty
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