CHAPTER XXVII

Summary

At length, when I had been in Brazil for the space of two months, and was longing to return to Portugal, three brave and gallant Portuguese gentlemen, who bore me much affection, promised to get me on board with them. These three gentlemen were a certain Don Fernando de Sylva de Menaissa (who had been, as I have already said, general of the galiots of the North at Goa), and his two brothers-in-law, who had been on board the same ship with me, the one having been captain and governor of the island and fortress of Tidore, when the Hollanders took it (and they hold it still); the other, being younger, had only had command of a galiot.

During the voyage these three lords had often given me testimony of their great affection, and all the way from Goa to Brazil had frequently assisted me in little ways, such as with clothes and wine, and many a time had we foregathered for a chat. And even in Brazil I considered myself as one of their household, their house being open to me at all hours, when I cared to go there.