The said pontiff, as soon as he saw the letter, sent a copy of it to Castilla and Portugal through the same friar.

King Don Manuel, your Majesty's grandfather, sent the celebrated answer to the pontiff, saying that he gave advice neither to the Apostolic See nor to the sacred council of cardinals; but what he answered (and he would do it with all his might) was to persecute Mahometans forever.

He added that the Holy Father was much to blame for the sultan's pride, since he did not gather and unite in peaceful alliance the Christian princes, who were divided by wars in their own interests, and were neglecting so common an interest as that of undoing the power of Moors and Turks.

He also answered that he understood his father and father-in-law, the Catholic king Don Fernando, to give the same answer.

As I have said before, the histories of Portugal are full of these old enmities.