A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1563-81. 



Falchines being the servants of the king, the Retors 

 durst not doe any thing in the matter, without the con- 

 sent of the king, because it was necessarie that the king 

 should knowe of such a matter. When the king had 

 knowledge thereof, he gave commaundement that the 

 malefactors should be kept untill his comming home, 

 and then he would duely minister justice, but the Cap- 

 taine of the Portugales would not deliver those men, 

 but rather set himselfe with all the rest in armes, and 

 went every day through the Citie marching with his 

 Drumme and ensignes displayd. For at that time the 

 Citie was emptie of men, by reason they were gone all 

 to the warres and in businesse of the king : in the 

 middest of this rumour wee came thither, and I thought 

 Great pride of it a Strange thing to see the Portugales use such in- 

 the Portugales. sQigj^^ie in another mans Citie. And I stoode in doubt 

 of that which came to passe, and would not unlade my 

 goods because that they were more sure in the shippe 

 then on the land, the greatest part of the lading was the 

 owners of the shippe, who was in Malacca, yet there 

 were diverse marchants there, but their goods were of 

 small importance, all those marchants tolde me that they 

 would not unlade any of their goods there, unlesse I 

 would unlade first, yet after they left my counsell and 

 followed their owne, and put their goods a lande and 

 lost every whit. The Rector with the customer sent for 

 mee, and demaunded why I put not my goods a lande, 

 and payed my custome as other men did } To whom 

 I answered, that I was a marchant that was newly come 

 thither, and seeing such disorder amongst the Portugales, 

 I doubted the losse of my goods which cost me very 

 deare, with the sweate of my face, and for this cause I 

 [II. i. 233.] was determined not to put my goods on lande, untill 

 such time as his honour would assure me in the name 

 of the king, that I should have no losse, and although 

 there came harme to the Portugales, that neither I nor 

 my goods should have any hurt, because I had neither 

 part nor any difference with them in this tumult : my 



416 



