to keep peace and friendship with me, as is incumbent
upon Christians and vassals of sovereigns so closely
connected and related. This I do in order that
no statement or calumny for breaking the said peace
may be uttered against me. And, regarding what
he says in the rejoinder to my second reply, namely,
that I refused to show the instructions which I bear,
his grace knows perfectly well that I have offered
many times to show him the same, and that nothing
was sent by him. And to do everything possible
on my own part, and to make my cause a just one, I
send to him enclosed herewith those clauses of my
instructions bearing upon the present business, which
were copied from the original, and signed and approved
by the chief notary of this camp, in order that they
might be produced as witness and proof, at anytime
or place whatever; besides this, his grace will be
allowed, if he so desire, to send some person here
to see them collated with the original. Throughout
these instructions is evident and deducible the Christian
spirit, greatness, rectitude, and kindness of his
majesty King Don Felipe, as well as the moderation
which he orders to be maintained wherever we should
fall in with Portuguese—which is very different
in its nature from what is essayed and planned against
me and the vassals of his majesty. It will be
seen, moreover, how just is his majesty’s cause,
and, in his royal name, our own. Therefore, in
the name of God omnipotent, our Lord and of his majesty,
I beg and summon his grace once, twice, thrice, and
as many more times as I am bound by law—not
to consent to or permit any wrong or injury to be done,
directly or indirectly, by evasions, or in any other
manner whatsoever, in order that Christian blood may
not be shed without cause or occasion, to the great
displeasure of God and of the princes our sovereigns.
For my intention was not to do any harm to any one;
but rather I offer to pay all and any damage which
may result from my stay here; and I declare that,
if he do the contrary, then all the deaths, damages,
losses, and interests shall fall upon his head and
responsibility, and that he shall be obliged to pay
and make satisfaction for the same. Moreover,
I protest, as much as the rights of his majesty and
our own make it incumbent upon me, to demand, allege,
and protest, and, although it be not declared or specified
here, I do allege, demand, and protest therein, as
many times as the law and my duty require. And
I do not admit the protestations and condemnations
which are contained in his summons and protest; and
I request that this response shall likewise be read,
shown, and made known to all the captains of his fleet,
together with the clauses of my instructions, in order
that they may see our justification; and, having seen
it, comport themselves as Christians—so
that God our Lord, and our princes, may be better
served, without shedding Christian blood; and that
the other injuries and difficulties which, in the opposite