When the news of the glorious termination of the siege of Diu was received at Lisbon, the king sent out a greater fleet than usual to India, and honoured Don Juan with extraordinary favours for his good services.  Besides a present in money, he continued him in the government, raising his rank from governor-general to the dignity of viceroy, and appointed his son Don Alvaro admiral of the Indian seas.  But Don Juan was almost dead when these honours reached him, being sick of a disease which now-a-days kills no one, for even diseases die!  He was heart-broken by the cowardly behaviour of a Portuguese force that had been sent to Aden, and the rash conduct of his son at Xael, in both of which they had suffered severe losses.  Finding himself dying, he publicly asked pardon of many for having written against them to the king; and being unable to manage the affairs of government, he appointed a select council to supply his place.  Calling the members into his presence, he said “Though he neither hoped nor wished to live, yet it behoved him to be at some expence while he remained alive; and having no money, he entreated they would order him a small supply from the royal revenues, that he might not die for want.”  Then laying his hand on a missal, with his eyes lifted up to heaven, he solemnly swore, “That he had on no occasion converted the money belonging to the king, or to any other person, to his own use; and that he had never engaged in trade to increase his own fortune.”  He desired that this his solemn declaration might be recorded.  He soon afterwards expired in the arms of St Francis Xavier, on the 6th of June 1548, in the 48th year of his age.  All the treasure found in his private cabinet was three ryals and a bloody scourge.

Don Juan was an excellent scholar, being particularly skilled in Latin and the mathematics.  During his government of India he did not allow himself to be actuated by pride, as others had done before and after him, and always valued and promoted his officers for their merits.  He so much loved that every one should act becomingly, that seeing one day a fine suit of clothes on passing a tailors shop, and being told that it was intended for his son, he cut it in pieces, desiring some one to tell the young man to provide arms, not fine clothes.

SECTION V.

Transactions of the Portuguese in India, from 1548 to 1564, under several Governors,[369]

Immediately on the death of Don Juan the first patent of succession was opened, in which Don Juan Mascarenhas was named; but he had gone to Lisbon to seek the reward of his gallant defence of Diu, which he now missed.  The second named Don George Telo, who was also absent.  In the third, Gracia de Sa was nominated to the succession, an officer of much experience in the affairs of India.  Soon afterwards, he received an embassy from Adel Khan to solicit peace, which was concluded much to