_ 168 _ period of three years, and this was the first work of conversion that they had performed. These Christians were so oppressed by the Moors and without cope of ever enjoying the favour or protection of Christians, that they refused to listen to them [the Franciscans] teaching and told them that they should go away and leave them alone, of they [the Christians of Socotra] would be very much worse treated than hitherto. They feared this for many days and would not listen to the father’s teaching. They assured them that they would never leave them unprotected, and that the Moors would go away. They began to be baptised and all of them were, and they learnt the prayers and the most essential elements of the faith. One of the friars returned to India to plead with the Governor to expel the Moors out for the time being he was unable to do so. The friar did not wish to return [to Socotra] because he had not succeeded in doing what he had come for. Another [friar] agreed to go; I do not know what he would be able to do. It would be a great sin if so many souls already won over to baptism and the faith were lost again. Your Highness should order the Governor not to leave these Christians unprotected, fifteen thousand sous not counting those who have down up; and that he must have those Moors expelled from there, which they are now apart
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