occupied first,
as must be admitted, by our ships--a fact well known everywhere,
as we believe you are aware--inasmuch as nothing else was ever heard
or known. The present declaration of the ambassadors was a complete
innovation, at which, and reasonably, we must express surprise, since
the fact was so well known that no one could pretend ignorance of it.

And, in proof thereof (to continue the above), our present possession,
which had been public and without any opposition by the said most
serene King of Portugal, was sufficient. And this possession of ours
had been continued with his knowledge, suffrance, and good grace,
and had been likewise known and suffered by the most serene King Don
Manuel, his father. It was now a cause for surprise, that, in an affair
of such moment, after such a long interval, and after two generations
had consented to it, the effort of obstruction and hindrance should
be made, as if it were a matter that had just arisen. It was declared
that whoever heard of it, believed it to be more for the purpose of
vexing and annoying us at this time, seeing our necessities and our so
just employment against the tyrants of Christendom, [176] than for the
purpose of obtaining justice. For until the present we would have been
able to have been advised of it, and to have informed ourselves, and
therefore we, on our part, possessed the good faith in the observance
and understanding of the said treaty, alleged by the said ambassadors.

Further, it could not be denied that Maluco had been found and taken
possession of first by us, a fact supposed and proved by our peaceful
and uninterrupted possession of it until now; and the contrary not
being proved legally, our intention in the past and present is inferred
and based upon this possession.

From the above it follows plainly that, inasmuch as we found and
took possession of Maluco, and hold and possess it at present, as is
quite evident that we do hold and possess it, if the said most serene
King of Portugal, our brother, claims it, as being of his conquest
and demarcation, he must petition us for it, and his representations
proving correct, he must accept it from us. Herein is the said treaty
obeyed to the letter, as the said ambassadors petition, and observed
with the good faith alleged by them.

And in case anything has been obtained in Maluco, or any information
has been acquired concerning Maluco, or any Portuguese has gone
thither, or is there now,