_ 194 _ refrained from coming to an agreement with Calicut fifteen years ago, and yet, until now, you have done your enemy very little damage by war. Even if the King of Cochin writes favourable reports about your factors and secretaries, beware of what they write to you. They pass on Portugal’s secrets and the instructions in your standing orders to the King of Cochin. If they come to me to do something that you commanded, they insinuate that you gave no such order. Furthermore, Sir, it is the Kings of Cannanore and Cochin who support Calicut. It is their naus that bring its supplies. Their naus sail with spices with your passes, to the port of Calicut and along this coast. It is my belief, Sir, that they keep it supplied so that you will continue to wage war against it with your fleets, and at your expense. Their ports are crowded with merchants and merchandise, so they wish to destroy Calicut by war. The King of Cochin, with thirty thousand nairs, and the King of Cannanore, with sixty thousand did not help to destroy Calicut because they wish this dispute to continue forever. The Moorish merchants of Cochin and Cannanore give aid, advice, bribes and gifts to the King of Cochin and to officials and captains of your fortresses, so that their
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