_ 168 _ landed on the following day he would have very few men to defend the city. Once the city was taken he as leader more than anyone else would receive the greater punishment, especially as he was hated by so many people. Though he wanted to negotiate and not accede to the demands of Afonso d’ Albuquerque, he also feared that everyone’s sorrow would turn against him. He thus put aside what he would have like to do for a future date and decided upon a different tactic. He summoned to the king’s headquarters all the leading men of the city to decide that they should do. He informed them of the message the king had sent to Afonso d’ Albuquerque in order to stop him from continuing his attack and of the reply Afonso de Albuquerque had sent. After much discussion they agreed that the king should accept Afonso d’ Albuquerque’s terms. Even though they thought subjection was equal to death, nevertheless while men were alive there was hope. It was better to await courtesy from those men than their fury. Furthermore, they knew from the experience about Afonso d’ Albuquerques men passing through the other lands of Ormuz, that all those who had capitulated had not been harmed. It was said that they were people who fought for the glory of victory rather than for posses-
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