Storia do Mogor 293: Letter of the Bishop of San Thome to the Governor of Madras.

293

Sir,
As I have received precise information that your lordship is resolved to send two ships to this port to bombard the town and destroy it, I have decided to prepare the present letter and send it to your lordship with the enclosed protest.
I demand first of all most humbly of your lordship that you may be pleased to desist from this intention, because the traders of this place do not deserve such treatment. They have behaved on all occasions as trusty friends, and have always displayed marks of gratitude for the kind acts done to them by your lordship.
Furthermore, if your lordship will not desist, I deliver to him the enclosed protest in the name of the King of Portugal, to whom this town belongs. Your lordship must not be offended at this protest, for it is founded on justice and on our rights, and not intended to break off the friendship and regard owing by me to your lordship. For this reason I hope that you will receive it with the same civility with which I present it to your lordship, whom God have in His holy keeping.
At San Thome this 22nd of February, 1702.
Your most humble servant and friend, The Bishop of Meliapur.