_ 237 _ These qualities bestow upon you the ability to achieve what others cannot do. The letters you received during this time from His Majesty will contribute to the confirmation of this, letters full of good will and confidence. Because of this he entrusts you with all that concerns watchfulness over the acts of the Turk. He divulged to you the secret cipher, which no one but the Viceroys knew hitherto. He charged you with the special task of giving him general information every year about the affairs of India, and to communicate the necessary items on every one of these affairs to the Viceroy. In fact he is telling you that he firmly believes that, when your time comes to an end, you will leave everything in such a condition that all that the new Captain who succeeds you will have to do is imitate you in everything you have done. This has always been the most difficult task left by Matias de Albuquerque to his successors, i.e. little to do in their responsibilities. The great example to follow, of which they may complain, with no less justice, is that of Alexander, who, when he contemplated the great deeds of his father, was saddened, saying that he left him nothing to do, not valuing the states and treasures which in this way his father had accumulated for him, he felt the
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