_ 513 _ these rivers they may find someone who will accept it in exchange for pepper and money. If Your Lordship were to give orders to mount an attack on these rivers it should be by persons whom you greatly trust, and to whom he is to give orders that all the vessels found in these rivers be searched under the ballast that they find in them. Let Your Lordship order them to seize a small ship from this Strait. Even if they find nothing in it, they can find out from the sailors what the ship was carrying. If Your Lordship has to give orders to go to these rivers, it must be immediately and the people whom you order to do this have to proceed slowly and act honestly and speak the truth. In that way it may already be known who are the wicked and cursed men who do so much evil to everyone. Sir, just as the deed was great and the hard and wearisome life that the men had and suffered, lasted for so long in this tiring and risky action, it seemed to me a good idea to leave here to help with some preserves and quince jelly and other items that I am sending for the sick, all at our Lord the King's expense, as Your Lordship will see in a document that I am sending to you by Antonio Fernandes, the nephew of Antonio Fernandes your servant. If what he takes is little it is because the land is short of everything, especially of preserves, because little fruit
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy