The king, in his great satisfaction at what the Jew had told him, gave great praise to our Lord for having granted him the so great favour of so important an affair as the discovery of the navigation to India in the commencement of his reign: the which had not been granted to any other king of Christendom, and during so long a time had been reserved for him: and with great trust in our Lord, he followed his chief inclination and desire, which was all for His holy service. He immediately gave orders for the finishing of the three ships which were begun, and that they should be made the strongest built that was possible. So much diligence was employed in this, that in a short time they were completed and launched in the sea, and equipped with everything. The king ordered the sailors who had gone with Janifante, who were good workmen, to serve in this labour of the caravels, and to supply the ships with double tackle and sets of sails, and artillery and munitions in great abundance: above all, provisions with which the ships were to be filled, with many preserves, and perfumed waters, and in each ship, all the articles of an apothecary's shop for the sick, a master, and a priest for confession.