_ 49 _ This was to the effect that when the Viceroy’s time was over, he would make him Governor of India, and then he would send him the letters patent. The Viceroy would have to learn of this and perhaps this offence might arouse some wish on the part of the Viceroy to continue as governor for longer, which was so important an office, and he would seek out and add other faults on account of which to send him back to Portugal to purge his offence before the King. This he might well do, and whatever the outcome, he would be losing time as Governor, and it would be lost forever. Realizing that this was the worst thing that could happen for him, after discussing it all with his nephew he decided not to go to India until the following year, which was 1508, when the Viceroy completed his three years. Then his letters patent would come, and the Viceroy would be powerless to harm him. So, taking into account all these things, which were well thought out, he remained in Socotra, and returned to Ormuz as I have told. The occasion of the letter which the Viceroy sent to the King of Ormuz was this: when João da Nova reached Cochin he appeared before the Viceroy in great distress, making serious complaints about Afonso d’ Albuqerque and the wrongs and mistakes he had committed in things he had done contrary to the service of God and the King, for
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