_ 144 _ could go to India. This war would not be an unjust one because in past times they always paid tribute to the kings of Ormuz. The Turks would not dare to come to this country if they know that we are masters of Arabia. What is needed to capture [Amman] and all Arabia are four or five hundred Portuguese and two thousand Persian bowmen and three or four thousand Arabs. He assures Your Lordship that with these men it would be possible to go right through Arabia as far as Aden without anyone being able to defend it. The Guazil was asking Your Lordship for the loan of ten thousand pardaos from the customs house here, and would repay it afterwards, plus two hundred leques of tribute for our lord the King. The favour I am now requesting from Your Lordship is that you lend the Guazil and myself fifteen thousand pardaos, which we would guarantee the factor to repay them within a year. With these fifteen thousand pardaos and five more that the Guazil would raise from his family and the same that I would pay, and the King will contribute all the rice that he receives as revenue, and five thousand more pardaos from the revenues of the Kingdom, we have calculated that there will be more than enough money to carry out this undertaking. Besides my deserving that Your Lordship favour me because I am your servant, it must be observed that all the honour won in this matter is yours, and that
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