_ 206 _ Viceroy of India, 1591-1597 In 1590 he was chosen as Viceroy of India by Philip II for the second time, because the appointment in 1588 did not come into effect due to the change of monarch. Before accepting, he asked the Archduke Cardinal D. Alberto, Governor of Portugal, for three days to consider the nomination, which were granted, and he was able to talk to the King in Madrid. He sailed on 13 April 1590 with five carracks. With him on the carrack “Bom Jesus” was the future historian of the Jesuit Order, Sebastião Goncalves. The weather was stormy and the fleet was held up at Belem until 7 May. He asked Cardinal Alberto for permission to lighten the carracks and to leave useless men and boys shore. By this means a great deal of supplies and water were saved. During the voyage he was host to all the noblemen, he appointed the watches, placed guard on the ovens, organized the sickbay staf. They crossed the Equator on 7 June, but as it was impossible to go beyond the Cape of Santo Agostinho (in Brazil), the carracks returned to Portugal. In spite of this, the Viceroy continued his voyage. Many fell sick and many died. When they had rounded the Cape of Good Hope on 20 August, they took the outer route, without entering the Mozambique channel, because of the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy