_ 53 _ decision that because of the great friendship, agreement and obligation that exists between myself and my Lord, whose greatness reaches to the heavens and whose power extends over the whole earth, whose state equals that of the King of China, victor in all human wars, great king of justice, greater than all the kings in the world, key to the treasure of the earth, which is virtue and nobility, exemplar of the art of ruling, purified by all the seas of the kingdom, builder of the inhabited cities, casket which contains the beautiful and precious emerald, lofty bulwark and defender of all, sun of justice and truth, clear spring which sustains the purity of the earth whether peopled or desert, hope in the one God and trusting in Him, the high emperor Dom João, whom God preserve in his kingdom tranquil and in peace, and may his wealth ever remedy the poverty of the world. Through my good fortune, I have won his protection and am embraced in his shadow, to reap my cherished fruit watered with the water of his grace. I am sure that the beneficence of my Lord the high King of Portugal is with me and has established me in great hope. For all these reasons, I understand that I am obliged to comply with his interests and to place at his service my kingdom and my treasury and all else; to have the noble
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