_ 196 _ see what good will come of it because it is an expensive enterprise requiring a lot of manpower. I do not know if it will pay us because the merit and honour of the conquistadores depends on the profitability of their undertaking. If the venture becomes too expensive it will all have been in vain. I think that the tributes you made the King of Ormuz pay His Majesty he should be unable to continue to pay because it is said he has been paying tribute to the great Sufi of Persia and another King by whose goodwill water, food and merchandise were allowed to pass through to Ormuz. If he did not pay them this tribute, they would make difficulties for him as they know of his friendship with us. I remind you of these things and ask you to think honestly about all this and get counsel from people you trust. It is better to fulfill a duty than to do things for our own glory. Please also make note that for the past two years no ships have been sent here as was previously the custom so that many of our ships are having to be used as transport for collecting various necessities. You can imagine how different it would be if we had more ships.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy