_ 104 _ loading. Every day two Captains would do this, and he too would take his turn like the others so that everyone would be working equally. The Captains started arguing and discussing again, and the Captain-in-Chief dissembled and talked in a friendly way, which was worse. He wanted it all to end well, and when he realized that his mild approach was not succeeding he said to them “Sirs, I see that this work does not please you, for everything done unwillingly in the King’s service is a great labour, and it is because of this that you seek difficulties in this particular service, which all secure for him the lordship of this kingdom we have won for him. This will do done by building a very strong fortress in this city, which I can do without our men having to work, because all will be paid for with the King’s money, the two hundred thousand xerafins the King of Ormuz paid as the cost of this fleet. With the help of Our Lord I hope that the fortress can be completed with less than a half of that, and the rest I shall send to the Viceroy of pepper, and João da Nova will take it to him. In the meantime this fleet will be repaired, for it has need of it after so long at sea, and when the fortress is ready to defend itself and he ships in good order, I shall go with
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