ABSTRACT
The agreement having been thus concluded, the king sent to ask Afonso Dalboquerque for a flag to place upon his palace in sign of peace and friendship; but, as there was no flag in the fleet which could be sent, he ordered the factor to go on shore and prepare one of white satin with a cross of Christus. And when it was finished, he sent word to the king by João Estão, that the flag was ready, and he might order Cogeatar and Rexnordim, 1 and the governors and officials of the city, and all the populace, to come down to the edge of the water to receive it with great rejoicings. He requested, too, that on that day no one should be permitted to work in the city, and that order should be given to get ready horses for the use of the captains, fidalgos, and servants of the king; and he told João Estão that when he had given this message to the king, he should make a hasty visit to the ships, and acquaint everybody that they were to come on board the flagship, to start thence with their boats very well equipped, and that he should tell the masters to deck out the ships with gay flags, and to see that the constables of the gunners gave directions for loading all the artillery, and, as soon as the flag reached land, to give the order to fire. He also commanded Jorge Barreto de Crasto to make himself ready to carry the flag.
