_ 70 _ Patriarch of Ethiopia(A)and his companions and to learn about them. And although the voyage was very dangerous, on account of the many robbers and pirates at sea, as the Father had written to me not to be afraid,(B) that Our Lord would be with me, I embarked with a Brother(C) whom I took with me, but had to come back into harbour because of the weather. I embarked later in another vessel which was not good, trusting in the words of my Father Superior, who was sending me for God. I crossed to Diu to the great wonder of those who saw me there, because only on one day did I see the robbers, but the Fathers and Brothers of this College, from whom I took my leave, with tears and prayers I believe reached Our Lord in their prayers for me. I reached Diu, where I lodged at the hospital and House of Mercy(D) as we did not have a house inside the fortress, and the Captain(E) provided me with food and the necessaries. (A) D. Andrés of Oviedo. (B) This letter, being his orders from Valignano, is lost. (C) His name is unknown to me. (D) Concerning the House of Mercy in Diu see Wicki: Die Bruderschaft der «Misericordia» in Portugiesisch Indien 91-92: Documenta Indica Vol. III 713, Vol. IV 120-21. (E) On 10 May 1572 in Lisbon Dom Pedro de Meneses was granted the captaincy of Diu; on 23 February in Evora it was granted to Aires de Sousa (RIBEIRO, Registo I nn 786, 795). The latter never held the
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