“There hath been such ancient friendship between the Portuguese and English nations, that, considering the present war at this place, we ought to come to a mutual good understanding.  From what I see of the mines made by the Persians, by which one of my bulwarks is already won, I am of opinion these could not have been constructed without your aid.  Wherefore, I request you would be the means of procuring peace for me with the Persians, if the same may be done with your and their good pleasure, yet so that I may not lose my credit, nor you fail to gain honour.  Thus, not else, our Lord keep you,” &c.

   Simon de Mela Pereira.

“This castle is so hard pressed, that the Persians demand us to surrender by capitulation, but which we will not consent to:  For, when reduced to that necessity, we will call upon your worships for that purpose, as it were not reasonable for us to capitulate with the infidels when you are present.  We hold it more humane to deliver our innocent women, and other unnecessary people, to the rigour of our own weapons, than to the clemency of the Persians; and that you might know this our purpose, I have written these lines to accompany the letter from our captain.  What else you may wish to know, you may learn from the bearer of these letters, to whom you may give the same credit as to myself.  And so God keep your worships,” &c.

   Luis de Brito Dar.

   Dated 1st May, 1622.[310]

Taking these letters into consideration, and commiserating their situation as Christians, it was resolved to give them a favourable answer, which was done accordingly in a letter to the Captain Simon de Mela, offering to become an intermedium for procuring them such conditions from the Persians as might save the lives of the Christians who still remained in the castle, which we had in our power to warrant, and were willing to shew them such farther courtesy as might tend to their relief, as far as we could see.  We desired him therefore to put his demands in writing, and send them to us as soon as possible.  A similar answer was written to the almirante, and with these the two messengers were sent back to the castle in one of our own boats.  They soon returned with other letters from the captain and almirante, saying, “That they left themselves entirely in our hands, the necessity of their situation not allowing time for farther writing, lest the Persians might in the mean while break in and put them all to the sword.”

[Footnote 310:  The 1st of May, new style, was the 21st April, old style; the difference being then ten days.—­E.]