_ 72 _ Furthermore, we have few people Ieft who can fight, as some have died, some are sick, and some perished in the ship of João da Sïlveira, my nephew, together with the Malabar Indians who would have given us great help with their bows and arrows. And these few fighting men must be shared out in order to guard the fleet, because the enemy fleet is not entirely burnt. Thus, as so few men are left for an attack on the city, we shall do nothing. If what I fear were to happen, we might lose India, because the Kings would lose their fear and rise against our fortresses, which are important for the state of the King, my master. To burn the gallies of the Sultan is nothing (and to take this city perhaps less) because if the Sultan's ships were at sea they would be ours. If we do not take the city, we lose nothing, as being so far from India it is impossible to maintain it, and it seems to me very bad to take risks with our men on something we will have to leave. When he had finished saying this the first to speak were Goncalo Coutinho and Afonso Lopez da Costa, without giving any reasons they simply said that no one had seen more things than the governor nor was anyone more diligent. As the King knew this, he had confidence in him
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