The History of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea. Gomes Eannes de Zurara

whence came those Moorish captives.⁷⁶

      For no one could go there with an armed ship without the express permission of the Infant, as the King had granted him in the same charter in which he presented him with the Royal Fifth, as you have seen above.

And the first who interposed to beg for this license, was a squire, who had been brought up from early youth in the Household of the Infant and was now married and become Almoxarife^AG for the King in that town of Lagos.

      And because he was a man of great good sense, he understood well how the matter stood, and the profit that he would be able to gain by his expedition, if God guided him, so that he could arrive at that land.

      And when he had pondered well this plan, he began to speak of it with some of his friends, stirring them up to join him in that action.

      And this matter was not hard for him to compass; for that he was very well beloved in the place and the inhabitants were in general men of honour, always ready to exert themselves for a share in good things and especially in naval contests; because their town was on the coast and they were much more on shipboard than on land. So Lançarote prepared six armed caravels to carry out his purpose and spoke to the Infant about a license; saying that he begged he would grant it him that he might do him service, as well as obtain honour and profit for himself.

      And he gave him an account of the people that were going with him, and of the caravels that they were taking.

      And the Infant was very glad of this and at once commanded his banners to be made, with the Cross of the Order of Jesus Christ, one of which each caravel was to hoist.

AG A Collector of Taxes.