_ 150 _ say something in front of them and Antonio de Sintra, who had replaced Gaspar Pereira as secretary, for the latter had stayed in Cochin. They went to the ship where the Viceroy was staying, and Afonso de Albuquerque reminded him of what he had said, namely that the king had recalled him and named Afonso de Albuquerque as Viceroy and commander-in- chief of India. The Viceroy replied that it was true that one of the chapters of the letter stated that the king thought it best if he returned to Portugal in the same year; however this was not the end of the matter, because the king had also sent the “St John”, which carried the remaining instructions if it arrived he would obey His Majesty’s orders. Thereupon, Afonso de Albuquerque gave his letter to Antonio de Sintra and told him to open it, according to what was written on the envelope, namely that it should be opened whenever Afonso de Albuquerque requested it. This was signed by the king, closed and sealed, Antonio de Sintra opened the letter, which named him as Viceroy, with the same salary of 6000,000 reis per year, of which 2000 cruzados should be spent on acquiring spices. After Antonio de Sintra had finished reading the letter, the Viceroy repeated what he had already said. Antonio de
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