_ 29 _ Melo has been captain here he has done such harm to the kingdom that most of the merchants have left the kingdom. I would say that, everything considered, it will take fifteen years to put right, although from the manner in which Cristóváo de Mendonca the present captain is governing and ruling this kingdom. I hope in God that it will return to the noble state it was before. This is certain, because from the day that Cristóvão de Mendonca arrived, it can be seen that many merchants, hearing of his just dealings, return to the city every day. No captain who has ever come to this country to serve Ormuz has served me in the way this one serves me. I know that Your Highness has given him this fortress for four years. I would be grateful if Your Highness would grant him another four years and also send him the means to finish setting the kingdom right, for it has great need of it, so great was the harm done. Sir, you will know that Cristóvão de Mendonca asked me for some of my houses which lie between my palace and the fortress, telling me that it was necessary to pull them down to make a ditch around your fortress and also an open space, explaining that it was to serve Your Highness. I ordered that he should have all he was asking since it was for Your Highness, without putting any obstacle in his way.
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