_ 517 _ this favour that He was pleased to grant Your Lordship. Many thanks should be given to Him for His infinite mercy and He should receive these from the most fortunate man in the world, but He should not be reminded of the death of children, relatives or friends, nor should a comparison be made about the size of that victory and the honours that He withdrew. I am extremely angry when I consider the favour that Our Lord granted to all of us and the danger in which India was placed. Your Lordship must forgive me and take into consideration that what I wrote to you was out of sequence, making it difficult for you to understand. I confess that I feel neither pleased nor happy, nor do I recall how many relatives and friends of mine were killed in that battle, nor do I remember anything at all except the favour that Our Lord granted us. Francisco de Almeida wrote to me that Your Lordship had taken him with you. I am very grateful to you for the favour of letting him accompany you, because I am now sure Your Lordship knows about me, and that when it is a question of serving Your Highness I take no account of either life or property. If I previously wanted to leave this castle, I now want to more than ever, so as to be able to
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