Having thus passed the winter at Goa, after my return from Sunda, when the season came round again my two companions and I resolved to be off and to take ship home.

The state of Goa was then as follows.

The viceroy was none other than the archbishop, whom Don Martin Alphonce de Castro, who died at Malacca, as already related, had left as governor in his absence, and he held that office for three years. One appointed by the viceroys or by election is called only Gouernador de la India, that is, Governor of India, and such was he; nevertheless, he was absolute in the absence of the other, and governed with great wisdom. But the enemies of the Portuguese, to wit, the Malabars, Hollanders, etc., glad to find they had to deal only with a man of the Church, took more courage, and daily made raids and prizes even at the very bars and roadsteads of the Portuguese ports. This archbishop, named Don Alexis de Mexiosa, would not have been in power so long, but that a viceroy was expected full soon from Portugal; and, indeed, the King of Spain, on hearing the news of the viceroy's death, had sent one out, by name the Count de la Fera, who, as I have elsewhere recorded, died on the Guinea coast.