ABSTRACT
Inasmuch as the great Afonso Dalboquerque desired that there should be no delay in this affair, he determined forthwith to come to a final arrangement with the Moors, saying to them that as they were minded to become vassals of the King of Portugal, and put themselves under his orders, he was about to send them a flag of his royal arms, to be set up on the highest tower as a sign that they were his vassals; so it was necessary for them to go on shore, and tell the Alcaide and rulers of the place to come to the beach, with all the population, to receive it, and he would cause it to be taken thither. The Moors went away with this message, and Afonso Dalboquerque ordered Francisco de Tavora 89and Afonso Lopez da Costa to make ready their boats with gay flags flying, and their men equipped in the best armour they had, to escort the flag which was to go in his ship’s boat; and he told D. Antonio de Noronha, his nephew, to prepare himself to accompany the flag to shore, and Jorge Barreto de Crasto, and Aires de Sousa Chichorro, and Duarte de Sousa de Portalegre, to bear it, with five men well appointed accompanying them, and João Estão, scrivener to the fleet, to make a note of everything that was done: and he instructed the captains that the persons who were to bear the flag were not to go on shore until certain Moors had been received into the boats as hostages, and that nobody was to enter the fortress except those whom he had ordered to take possession of it. When all this was arranged, the captains took their leave, and on reaching the land, they asked for six Moors to be detained in the boats, who were immediately delivered up; then Jorge Barreto, with the others of his company, disembarked, and the Alcaide and rulers, who were waiting on the beach with all the populace, received the flag with great delight, and began to march, the Alcaide of the fortress going in front, in very rich apparel, with a Turkish sword in his belt and a staff in his hand, clearing the way and striking the people, who were in crowds, on this side and that. When they arrived at the castle gate, Duarte de Sousa and the rest above-mentioned entered with the flag, and went and set it up on the highest tower, and when it was seen by the men on board the ships, they saluted it with all their artillery. And João Estão took possession of the castle for the King of Portugal, and closed the gates, without leaving any one in it, and a notarial account of all the proceedings was drawn up. This finished, all embarked again and released the Moors detained as hostages.
