_ 233 _ The matter was put to the Council and it was agreed that a substantial fleet should be sent to patrol the Strait of Ormuz and should retire to winter in that fortress for greater security, and that the Viceroy should return to Goa. With that decision, he immediately dispatched Dom Antonio, his nephew with twelve high-sided ships, of which five were galleons and seven were caravels, plus twenty oared vessels. The Viceroy gave Dom Antonio standing orders to patrol the Strait until April, and to withdraw to Ormuz, take over the fortress because D. Alvaro’s term was up, and hand over the fleet to Dom Diogo de Noronha, who was there. He was to sail in it until October and return to Goa. The Viceroy remained there waiting for the second message from Ormuz, and after close on a month, he received news that Pero Lopes da Sousa the captain of Diu, who was already sick when he left, had died. Because no captain had been appointed to that fortress, he entrusted it to Dom Diogo de Almeida, who complied, saying that he accepted that servitude because it was an opportunity to serve His Highness rather than his own advantage.
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