To Prevent All This Danger, He Strongly Urged That The General
Should On No Account Go On Shore, But Should
Depute one of the captains,
or some other person in the fleet in his stead; alleging that commanders
in chief
Ought never to subject themselves to personal danger, unless in
cases of the most urgent necessity.
All the officers were of the same opinion. But the general answered, that
even if he were perfectly assured that his landing were to occasion his
instant death, he would not refrain from going to visit the king of
Calicut, to endeavour to settle amity and trade, and that he might
procure some spices and other commodities from the place, by means of
which their discovery of Calicut might be proved on their return into
Portugal: As otherwise, if we returned without any of the productions of
the Indies, their discovery would be discredited, and their honour and
veracity called in question. "Think not therefore," said he, "but I will
rather die, than leave it in hazard that the long time we have already
spent, and may yet employ, shall be lost, and others sent to ascertain
the truth of our discoveries, while envious persons may have it in their
power to discredit our services. Neither do I run into such hazard of
death, nor expose you to such dangers as you suppose; seeing that I am
going to a city inhabited by Christians, and to a king who wishes the
concourse of many merchants in his dominions, as the more of these that
frequent his port so much the greater must be his revenue from the
customs upon trade.
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