_ 216 _ and it was agreed that the permission should be given to him and that the man should be heard. After this message was delivered, João da Barca returned and informed the captain that the Pasha had instructed him to say that he was acutely aware of their plight. So, since the captain could not defend himself, he would spare all their lives and provide them with boats in which they could sail to India. The renegade painted the munificence of Piri Reis in glowing terms and insisted that there would be no going back on what he had promised. He also instructed him to tell them that if they did not wish to accept his terms, he would not lift the siege without taking the fort, in which no-one’s life would be spared. When this message was put to the Council by the captain and all the difficulties and shortages were explained, they all agreed after long debate that the captain, João de Lisboa should go with a Jesuit father, who was living there, to meet Piri Reis, and that they would all accept whatever they decided. Whereupon, they both went with Barca to the Pasha, who received them with great hospitality. He seated them next to him and told them that he wanted nothing more in that matter than the honour of the Grand Turk knowing
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