Note 451 — III The Sixteenth Century [1502-80] (continued 2)

What he lacks in gravidade (cf. Dec. X. x. 14)—he is quite ready to admit that he writes toscamente (VII. iii. 3), singelamente, sem ornamento de palavras (VI. ii. 3), simplesmente, sem ornamento nem artificio de palavras (V. v. 6)—he makes good by directness as an eyewitness, de mais perto (IV. i. 7; cf. IV. x. 4 ad init.). When he had not himself been present he preferred the accounts of those who had, as Sousa Coutinho’s description of the siege of Diu (Commentarios) em estilo excellente e grave, e foi o melhor de todos, porque escreveo como testemunha de vista, V. iii. 2) or Miguel de Castanhoso’s copioso tratado (V. viii. 7). Among the traces of his close touch with reality are the popular romances, cantigas, adagios, which Barros would have deemed beneath the dignity of history.