_ 51 _ between two Martinhos, but that if he considered himself a monkey [bogio], he was the ape [mono]. Others say that he wrote this to him from Cochin when he was about to sail for Portugal the following year, 1544. To return to the Secretary, he began to deal with the matters concerning the King, having interviews with him in the presence of the Captain and the Guazil. He proposed that he should cede to the King of Portugal the entire revenue of the customs house as that was the best way to discharge his obligations and free himself of debt and in order to avoid being engulfed in further debts which he could not pay and had no means of paying; and that the King of Portugal would take into account his expenses and costs, because the Governor did not mean to despoil him of everything. He said enough on these lines for the King to concede all he asked, saying that he was a vassal of the King of Portugal to whom everything belonged, since he possessed that kingdom as his gift which he could take it from him whenever he wished. He reminded him he had nothing else with which to pay mocarrias to the neighbouring kings, and pensions and quarters allowances, and the fidalgos and servants of his household.
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