_ 552 _ seeking no greater honour than being able to bring back to the King the gates of the cerame. He might let him capture the cerame and take the gates back to the King as this was what he came for and he wanted no more than the renown of having brought these gates back to Lisbon. However, he as Governor, was the one who would be carrying out the action and risking his life, as would all those who went with him, and who were prepared to die before him to have the honour of serving, being dedicated to serving with him in India. The Marshal would go back to Portugal with his men and the King would bestow favours on them and they would receive the credit and the honour that were due to him. Therefore, he should make every attempt to reach the cerame first and carry off the gates and then hand them over to the Marshal, since this was the Marshal’s sole aim. And to secure his honour he should show the all-powerful patent and repeat to the men that his honour should be observed on pain of death, although this was hardly necessary since it should be sufficient for His Highness, as Governor of India, to give the command. To this exhortation all added their voice and offered to die before the Governor. The Governor, being a clever man, heard them all out and replied that he was very grateful to
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