In a letter dated Thomar, March 21, 1507, and signed by Antonio Carneiro, the King’s chief secretary,[490] Vasco da Gama, the Admiral of India, is informed that within thirty days after date he must withdraw from the town of Sines, with his wife and the whole of his household, and that neither himself, nor his wife, nor his household can be permitted to return to that town, or its precincts, except by permission of the Master [of the Order of São Thiago and Aviz], In case any of them should enter the town without such permission, they will render themselves liable to a fine of fifty cruzados, beyond which they will incur the punishment deserved by those who refuse obedience to the orders of their King and Lord. In a postcript the King orders, moreover, that the same penalty shall be incurred if Vasco da Gama continue the buildings he has commenced. (This Royal Edict was presented on June 26, 1507, at the office of the Master of the Order at S. Thiago de Cacem, by one João da Gama,[491] and ordered to be placed in the Archives of the Order). 8.—_Tavira, November 18, 1508._[492] The King authorises Luiz d’Arca to surrender his Alcaideriamór of Villafranca de Xira[493] to the Admiral of India (Vasco da Gama). 9.—_Lisbon, November 19, 1511._[494] The King orders the authorities (“judges”) of the Order of S. Thiago to afford the receiver appointed by the Admiral every facility for collecting the revenues assigned him in the towns of S. Thiago de Cacem, Sines and Villanova de Milfontes. 10.—_Lisbon, June 1, 1513._[494] The King informs all whom it may concern that in consideration of the merits and very great services of Dom Vasco da Gama, it pleases him to order that no freights be charged upon merchandise forwarded to the Admiral from India, whether sent by royal or private ships, the expenses, in the latter case, being charged to the India House. This privilege is not to extend to certain spices reserved for the Crown. 11.—_Lisbon, August 22, 1515._[495] The King authorises the Admiral to send with each fleet sailing to India a person to attend to his business, this person to draw pay as a man-at-arms. 12.—_Lisbon, August 29, 1515._[496] 1). Manuel, having quoted _in extenso_ the conditions of a pension of 400,000 reis granted on February 4, 1504, orders that one-half this pension shall be paid in future out of the revenues of the town of Niza,[497] and the other out of the salt-tax, as before. 13.—_Lisbon, August 17, 1518._[498]