_ 106 _ however many Rumes there may be in India, that they will depart full of gold, and that they will not care a straw for our service, and for this reason am I grieved to see our fleet dismembered at a time when we are as we are, and when it behoves us to keep it together, and well repaired for what may occur. India is exhausted of artillery for our fleet, because here in Cochin there has come no more than fourteen or fifteen large foists and there are not sufficient for the galleon which needs thirty five large bombards, all the other large ships have no more than two camels or perhaps three, Therefore Senhor, it behoves for Your Highness to succor with artillery now more than ever; the vessels mustered together here by the Captain-in-Chief number some thirty, and with foists and galleys he may be able to collect together up to forty, the men that we have, Senhor, in my opinion, come to above two thousand eight hundred men for active work; the forces of the fortresses, independently that the greater portions in canaille, are Ratinhos and lay people; should Your Highness send out men, let them be of good stock, albeit that they may cost more, and these we are here. Senhor, I trust in Our Lord that He will accord us a glorious victory so that Your Highness may have India in
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy