_ 19 _ we wage ruthless war with fire, blood, death and cruelty, before we reach Ormuz, they will think that we are very powerful and will be afraid of us, and that will be a great help. I assure you that when you see Ormuz you will say that it would take a good Venetian armada to conquer it. We are only what we are, and Our Lord helps us with His mercy as it pleases Him; we have to use tricks and pretense, which will serve us better than anything else. As for you being the first into dangers and labors which will bring me so much honour, I say that as for being first into danger that is up to you, it is in your own hands; my place is restricted and only death can take it from me; and as for the honour that I shall win from your labors, the gift of the flag that you follow can give you far more, and you may be certain of rewards and increase of honour as each one deserves, where as for me the only reward of the war is in the voice of the people, who say Captain so and so won but the action was that of his gentlemen. They brought him fame believing that he won because he led well and attacked well; yet he does not lose all round because the people say So-and-so lost the battle but it was because of the weakness of his men, /798/ or because they were unwilling to fight according to their captain’s orders; because the voice of the people sees nothing. The Lord King
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