The first booke of the historie of the discouerie and conquest of the East Indias, enterprised by the Portingales, in their daungerous nauigations, in the time of King Don Iohn, the second of that name VVhich historie conteineth much varietie of matter, very profitable for all nauigators, and not vnpleasaunt to the readers. Set foorth in the Portingale language, by Hernan Lopes de Castaneda. And now translated into English, by N.L. Gentleman. — Historia do descobrimento e conquista da India pelos Portugueses. Book 1. English

The first booke of the historie of the discouerie and conquest of the East Indias, enterprised by the Portingales, in their daungerous nauigations, in the time of King Don Iohn, the second of that name VVhich historie conteineth much varietie of matter, very profitable for all nauigators, and not vnpleasaunt to the readers. Set foorth in the Portingale language, by Hernan Lopes de Castaneda. And now translated into English, by N.L. Gentleman. — Historia do descobrimento e conquista da India pelos Portugueses. Book 1. English

Table of contents

Title page

❧To the right Worshipfull Sir Fraunces Drake, Knight, N. L. G. wiſheth all proſperitie.

¶TO THE MOST HIGH and mightie Prince our King and fouereigne, Don Iohn, the third of that name, king of Portingale, and of the Algarues, &c.

§

❧How the King Don Joan the ſecond of that name, did ſend to ſeeke out by ſea and by land the Eaſt India, and of the newes that was brought him of the ſame. Cap. 1.

¶How King Don Manuel the firſt of that name, prepared after the deceaſe of King Don Ioan, to diſcouer the Indias by one Vaſco de la Gama, and by other Captaines, and howe they departed from Lyſhborne. Chap. 2.

¶How the Captaine generall doubled the Cape of Buena eſperansa, and what hapned vntill they paſſed the Riuer called El Ryo del Infante. Cap. 3.

¶How the Captaine generall came to the Lande, called, La terra de la buena gente, and after went to the Riuer, called, Ryo de las buenas ſennales: how hee brought theyr ſhippes on grounde, and of the great ſickneſſe our people had after they arriued there. Chap. 4.

¶How the Captaine Generall with all his Fleete, came to the Iland of Monſambicke. Chap. 5.

¶How the Captaine Generall entered into the harbour of Monſambicke, and how the gouernour there, came to viſit him at his ſhips, making peace with him, and gaue him two Pilottes to carry him to Calicut, verely ſuppoſing our people to be Turkes. Chap. 6.

¶How the Gouernour of Monſambicke, vnderſtanding that our Fleete was neither of the Turkes nor yet Moores, would haue taken and killed them, and how the Captaine generall vnderſtood thereof: and what further than followed. Cap. 7.

Hovv the Captaine Generall after his departure from Monſambicke, went tovvards the citie of Quiola, hovv hee loſt himſelfe going to rhe Iland of Mombaſſa, & how the ſhip called S. Raphael ſtroke vpon the Flats, the vvhich novv haue the ſame name. Cap. 8.

¶The deſcription of the Iland and Citie of Mombaſſa, and how the Captaine generall arriued there, and what was the ſequell that hapned him after he came thether. Chap. 9.

¶Heerein is contayned matter of the Citie of Mylinde, and how the Captaine generall came thether. Chap. 10.

¶How the Captaine Generall ſent a Moore in meſſage to Mylynde, and what aunſwere the King made him. Cap. 11.

¶How the King of Mylynde viſited the Captaine generall, and made peace with him, giuing him a Pilot to carry him to Calycut. Cap. 12.

¶How the Captaine Generall departed from Mylynde, came to Calicut, and of what greatneſſe and nobleneſſe that citie is. Cap. 13.

¶Of what great power the King of Calicut is, and of his vſe and cuſtome: likewiſe of the other Kings of Malabar, and how the Nayres do liue. Chapter. 14.

¶How the Captaine generall ſent one of his baniſhed men to Calycut, and how a Moore of Tunis came and ſpake with him, by whoſe meanes he ſent a meſſenger to the King of Calycut, and how he returned anſwere to the Generall. cap. 15.

How the king of Calicut ſent for the Captaine Generall and after what ſort he was carried to Calicut. Cap. 16.

¶How and after what ſort the Captaine Generall was receiued in Calicut, & how hee tolde the king his meſſage which he carried. Cap. 17.

How the Captaine Generall was minded to ſende a preſent to the king, but his company would not conſent to the ſame, & how the Moores began to bring the Captaine generall out of credit with the king. cap. 18.

¶How the Captaine generall returning ſpake with the King of Calycut, & how he gaue him licenſe to returne vnto his ſhips. Chap. 19.

¶How the Captaine generall hauing l•cenſe of the King to go to his ſhips, was ſtaid by the Catuall in Pandarane. Chap. 20.

¶How the Catuall was contented that the Captaine Generall ſhould goe to his ſhips, & after that what chaunced. cap. 21.

¶How the Captaine generall being deſirous to retourne toward Portingale, ſent to demaunde lycenſe of the King to haue a Factor and a Scriuener, with ſuch Merchaunts as he thought good: & how the King cauſed the meſſenger with one other, that was found a ſhoare to be craried to priſon. Chap. 22.

¶How the Captaine generall ſeeing the delayes wer made for that the Factor with the Scriuenor came not, did bring himſelfe in a readines as though he would depart immediately, wherevpon without any further delay, the King ſent them away, and what els happened. Chap. 23.

Of the departure of the Captaine Generall from Calycut towarde Portingale, and what further happened vnto him being in the Iland Anſandina. Cap. 22.

How the Captaine Generall went to Anſandina to take in water, & alſo how he toke there a Moore priſoner, which was ſeruant to the Lord of the Iland of Goa called Sabayo, the which was taken for a ſpie. cap. 25.

¶How the Captaine generall went forwarde on his Voyage towarde Mylynde, and of the great troubles he paſt, vntill ſuch time as he came thether. Chap. 26.

Of the death of the Captaine Generalls brother, and of the burning of one of the ſhips called Saint Raphael, & alſo how he arriued in Portingale, and of the honour the king gaue him at their meeting. cap. 27.

How the king of Portingale did nominate A Pedro al Verez Cabral for Captaine Generall of a Fleete towarde Calicut, for to ſettle there a factorie, and of his departure from Liſhborne. Chap. 28.

¶How the Captaine generall came vnto Braſill, and afterward how there was loſt foure ſhips of the Fleete. Chap. 29.

Of the meeting of the King of Quiloa & the Captaine generall, at which time there was ſet downe a Trade and Factorie, and how the King repented himſelfe of the ſame afterward. Cap. 30.

How the king of Milinde and the Captaine Generall met together, and how hee departed afterwards toward Calicut. Chap. 31.

How the Captaine Generall arriued at Calycut, and how the king ſent to viſit him a boord his ſhip, and alſo how afterward he came a land for to ſee him, and of his receiuing there. Cap. 22.

¶Of the meeting of the Captaine generall, and the King of Calycut and how there was deliuered vnto him the Kings preſent which he brought, and afterward what hapned. Chap. 23.

¶How at the requeſt of the King of Calycut, the Captaine Generall ſent to take a ſhippe of the Moores, and alſo after what ſort the ſame was taken. Cap. 24.

Of the Oration which the Moores made to the king, concerning the enterteining of our men, and what aunſwere there was made, & alſo pollicie vſed againſt them. Chap. 25.

How the Moores that dwelled in Calycut by meanes of the Factor & countenance they had at the kings hand, did ſet vpon the Factorye, where was ſlaine in defence there of the Factor with other of his company. Cap. 36.

¶How the Captaine generall ſlewe the moſt parte of thoſe Moores that were aboorde the ten great ſhips, and then commanded them to be ſet a fire, & alſo of the great deſtruction which he brought vpon the citie in reuenge of the death of thoſe that were ſlaine therein. Cap. 37.

¶How the Captaine generall arriued at the harbour adioyning to the citie of Coching, & ther he concluded a peace betweene him & the King, & afterward began to lade his ſhips. Cap. 37.

Hovv the Captaine General being at Coching, ther came vnto him a Prieſt vvhich vvas an Indian and a chriſtian, from the citie of Grangalor, to go vvith him to Portingale, and alſo vvhat els he tolde him of the chriſtians of this citie. Chap. 39

Of the great Fleet of ſhips that was ſent out of Calicut to fight with the Captaine Generall, and what was the cauſe that ours did not ſight with them. And alſo of his departure from Coching toward Portingale, and how in his way he was driuen to Cananor. Chap. 40.

¶What had chaunced to the Captaine generall vntill ſuch time that hee arriued at Monſanbique. and from thence to Liſhborne, and how Sancho de Toar, did diſcouer the Ilande of Sofala. Chap. 41.

¶How Iohn de la Nueu• went for Captaine general of the third Fleet that was ſent to the Indias, & what hee did after his arriuall there, & how from thence he returned toward Portingale. Chap. 42.

¶How Vaſco de la Gama retourned for Captaine generall to the Indias with a Fleete of ſhips, and what hee did till he came to Quiloa. Chap. 43.

How the Captaine Generall did take a ſhip of the Moores of Meca, at the mount Dely, & what chaunced vnto him thereby. chap. 44.

How the Captaine Generall made peace and friendſhip with the king of Cananor, and afterwarde departed toward Calycut. Chap. 45.

How the Captaine Generall came to the port of Calycut, and what hee did there. Chap. 46.

How the Captaine Generall came to Coching, and what he did there, & alſo how the king of Calycut ſent to traine him thether, for that there hee would traiterouſly haue taken him, and laſt of all he wrote a Letter to the king of Coching. Chap. 47.

How the Moores were the principall doers heerein, that mooued the King to write concerning that matter by one of his Chaplaines to the King of Coching after this manner.

Of the battaile that was fought betweene the Fleet of Calycut and the captaine generall, as hee was going toward Cananor: & how Vincente Sodre, Pedro Raphael, and Diego Pieres tooke two of thoſe ſhips, & how the Captaine generall departed toward Portingale. Chap. 49.

Of the newes that were giuen out in Coching, how the king of Calycut put himſelfe in a readineſſe for the warres, and how Vincente Sodre wold not ſuccour him, but went to the cape of Quardafum. Chap. 50.

How the king of Calicut ſignified vnto his noble men, & all ſuch as did aſsiſt him, the cauſes why he made this warre againſt the king of Coching. And how the Prince Nabeadarni was hee, that onely ſpake againſt the ſame. chap. 50.

¶Of the great feare that our men were in, leaſt the King of Coching would haue deliuered them to the King of Calycut. Cap. 52.

¶How the Prince of Calycut made offer ſundrye times to enter into the Iland of Coching, by this Foord, and how he was reſiſted by the Prince of Coching. Chap. 53.

How Naramuhin Prince of Coching, was ſlaine by treaſon, which the King of Calycut practiſed: and alſo how the King of Coching receiued the ouerthrowe, and was driuen to go to Vaypin for ſuccour, and caried with him all our men. Chap. 54.

How Vincente Sodre and Blas Sodre were caſt awaie at Curia Muria, and what the other Captaines did afterward. chap. 55.

How Franciſco de Alburquerque, and Alonſo de Alburquerque departed to the Indias, for two captaines generalls of two fleetes: and how they arriued at Coching, & did after their comming reſtore the king of Coching to his kingdome. chap. 56.

How Franciſco de Alburquerque began the warres againſt all thoſe that were enimies to the king of Coching: and how the Caymall of the Ilande of Charanaypin was ſlaine. Chap. 57.

¶Of the warres which Franciſco de Alburquerque began to make againſt the Lord of Repelyn: and how by the King of Cochings licenſe, a Caſtle was begun to be made called Manuel. Chap. 58.

¶How the Fort of Coching was made an ende off: and how Franciſco de Alburquerque and Alonſo de Alburquerque retourned againe vppon the Lord of Repelyn. Chap. 59.

How the Captaines Generall returned to Repelyn, and afterward went to 〈…〉 what Edwarte Pacheco did in thoſe two 〈◊〉. Chap. 60.

What the captaine Generall had done going for a Tone laden with pepper, and how Edwarto Pacheco did put to flight 34. Paraos. chap. 6•.

¶Heere is contained the ſcituation of the Citie of Coulan, and how the Apoſtle Saint Thomas came thether, and there was martyred: and Alonſo de Alburquerque went and laded there, and in what place did ſettle a Factorye. Chap. 62.

How the Captaine Generall departed for Portingale, and how he left in the Indias for Captaine Generall Edwarte Pacheco. Chap. 63.

¶How Edwarte Pacheco behaued himſelfe in Cananor, and in his courſe toward Coching: and what elſe he paſt with the king at his arriual. chap. 64.

How the Moores of Coching prepared to go from thence: and how the captaine Generall ſtayde certeine of them that they ſhould not departe, and what more he did. chap. 65.

How the Captaine Generall made an entrie into Repelyn, and alſo how he departed towardes the ſtraights of Cambalan, there to tarrie the king of Calicuts comming. Chap. 66.

How the king of Calycut gaue battaile vnto the Captaine Generall in the ſtraights of Cambalan, and how he had the ouerthrow. chap. 67.

How the king of Calicut ſeeing the ill ſucceſſe that hee had in the warres, did enter into councell to leaue the ſame. Chap. 68.

Hovv the councell of the prince Nabeadarin vvas gainſaid, & hovv a certein Moore of Calicut did inuent the making of certein caſtles of timber, vvith the which they might lay the caruels abord. ca. 69▪

Of the great alteration there was in Coching, about theſe Caſtles, and what pollicie the Captaine found to defend the Caruell from them. Chap. 70.

¶How the King of Calycut did giue the Battaile vnto the Captaine generall with his caſtells, & ow they were all ouerthrowen. cap. 71.

Of the counſell which the king of Calycut tooke of his brother, and how hee was gaine-ſaide: and alſo by what pollicie & meanes the king of Calycut ſought to kill the Captaine generall. chap. 72.

How the king of Calicut of pure heauineſſe for the ill ſucceſſe he had in the warres, did put himſelfe into a Torcull, and within a ſmall time after came foorth therof. chap. 73.

¶How there came ſundry Kings & Princes of the Countrey to demaund peace of the Captaine generall: & alſo how there came vnto Coching many Moores of Calycut, to inhabite there. Chap. 74.

¶How Lope Suares de Meneſis departed for the Indias for captaine generall of the Fleete that went in the yeare of our Lorde, a 1504. and what more paſt or euer he came to Anſadina. cap. 75.

¶Howe the Captaine generall came to Cananor, and ſpake with the King: and how the Gouernour of Calycut, woulde haue made peace with him, howbeit he woulde not conſent therevnto. Chap. 76.

Of the great deſtruction which the Captaine generall made in Calycut, and how he came vnto Coching. chap. 77.

How Edwarte Pacheco departed from Coulan vnto Coching: and how the Captaine Generall did ſet vppon Grangalor, and what he did there. Chap. 78.

¶How the King of Tanor ſent for ſuccour to the Captaine generall; which he ſent him. Cap. 79.

¶How the Captaine generall fought in Pandarane with ſeuenteene great ſhips of the Moores, and how he ouercame them and burned them. Chap. 79.

Of the ſafe arriuall of the Captaine Generall at Liſhborne, and of the great honour the king Don Manuel gaue to Edwarte Pacheco. chap. 80.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

¶The firſt Booke OF THE HISTOrie of the Diſcouerie and Conqueſt of the Eaſt Indias, enterpriſed by the Portingales, in their daungerous Nauigations, in the time of King Don Iohn, the ſecond of that name.

VVhich Hiſtorie conteineth much varietie of matter, very profitable for all Nauigators, and not vnpleaſaunt to the Readers.

Set foorth in the Portingale language, by Hernan Lopes de Caſtaneda.

AND NOW TRANSlated into Engliſh, by N. L. Gentleman.

¶Imprinted at London, by Thomas Eaſt. 1582.

❧To the right Worshipfull Sir Fraunces Drake, Knight, N. L. G. wiſheth all proſperitie.

[Page]

[Page]

THey haue an auncient cuſtome in Perſia (the which is alſo obſerued throughout all Aſia) that none will enterpriſe to viſit the king, noble man, or perticularly any other perſon of countenance, but he carieth with him ſome thing to preſent him with all worthy of thanks, the which is not onely done in token of great humilitie & obedience, but alſo of a zealous loue & friendly affection to their ſuperiours & wel willers. So I (Right worſhipfull following this Perſian preſident) hauing taken vpon me this ſimple tranſlation out of the Porti [...]gale tongue, into our Engliſh language, am bold to preſent & dedicate the ſame vnto you as a ſignification of my entire good will. The hiſtory conteineth the diſcouerie and Conqueſt of the Eaſt Indias, made by ſundry worthy Captaines of the Portingales, in the time of king Don Manuel, & of the king Don Iohn the ſecond of that name, with the diſcription, not onely of the country, but alſo of euery harbor apperteining to euery place whervnto they came, & of the great reſiſtance they found in the ſame, by reſon wherof there was ſundry great battels many times fought, & likewiſe of the commodities & riches that euery of theſe places doth yeeld. And for that I know your worſhip, with great perill & daunger haue paſt thoſe monſtrous & bottomeleſſe ſeas, am therfore the more encouraged to deſire & pray your worſhips patronage & defence therof, requeſting you with all to pardon thoſe imperfections, which I acknowledge to be very many, [Page] & ſo much the more by reaſon of my long & many yeares continuaunce in foreine countries. Howbeit I hope to haue truly obſerued the literall ſence & full effect of the hiſtory, as the Author ſetteth it forth, which if it may pleaſe you to peruſe & accept in good part, I ſhalbe greatly emboldened to proceede & publiſh alſo the ſecond & third booke, which I am aſſured will neither be vnpleaſant nor vnprofitable to the readers. Thus alwaies wiſhing your good worſhip ſuch proſperous continuance and like fortunate ſucceſſe as God hath hetherto ſent you in your daungerous trauaile & affayres, and as maye euerye waye content your owne heartes deſire, doe euen ſo take my leaue.

From London the fift of March. 1582.

¶Your worſhips alwayes to commaund, Nicholas Lichefield, Gentleman.

¶TO THE MOST HIGH and mightie Prince our King and fouereigne, Don Iohn, the third of that name, king of Portingale, and of the Algarues, &c.

[Page]

IT hath ſéemed to me ſo ſtraunge and waightie a thing (moſt high & mightie Prince our king and Souereigne) to vndertake to write of the moſt worthy and valyaunt acts which the Portingales haue enterpriſed in the diſcouery and conqueſt of the Indias, that oftentimes I thought to giue ouer and relinquiſh the ſame, but as the attempt and dooing thereof was principally taken in hande for the glorye of Almightye God, and to conuert thoſe barbarous Nations to the Chriſtian Faith, and the great honour of your highneſſe, wherein God gaue them (by his Omnipotent power, fauour and mercye (ſuch fortunate ſucceſſe in the atchieuing of thoſe famous actes, without whoſe great prouidence it coulde neuer haue béene performed or brought to paſſe. And therefore doe hope and altogether comfort my ſelfe with the ayde and aſſiſtaunce of his diuine goodneſſe in publiſhing the ſame by writing, yéelding the glorie thereof onely to his celeſtiall Godhead, and the [Page] praiſe tereſtriall vnto your excellent highneſſe, and to that famous and moſt happie king, Don Manuel your Father. And although the ſame be well knowne and ſpread abroad ouer all the worlde, yet it cannot be ſo perfectlye publiſhed vnleſſe it bée ſet forth in writing. For by this meanes the memorie thereof will indure for euer, becauſe that the writings will alwayes ſhew the ſame to bée preſent. Like as it doth continue thoſe actes of the Gréeks, and of the Romanes, the which long ſince is paſt ſo many yeares. And therefore they lyke wiſe men, perceiuing the ſame to be true, did trauaile all that was poſſible to leaue the memorie thereof by writing, and noting that the worthineſſe of the ſame did conſiſt much in the eloquence of the writer, did therefore chooſe ſuch excellent learned men as thoſe were that wrote the ſame, béeing thereto aided with much fauour and helpe, of others that were nothing inferior vnto theyr own, & poſſible were far greater, but for that the ſame did not remaine in writing, there is no memorie thereof, euen as thoſe of the Aſſyrians, of the Medes, of the Perſians, of the Affricans againſt the Romanes, of the Sweuians againſt Iulius Caeſar, of the Spaniards againſt the Moores in the recouerye of their Countrey of Spayne. Principallye of thoſe inuincible and holye Kinges of Portingale your aunceſtours, the King Don Alonſo Henriques, the King Don Sancho his ſonne, the King Don Alonſo, the which did gettte the Kingdome of Portingale, and of the Algarues, in the which conqueſt there was wonderfull greate actes done, and that by force of Armes. Of all the which almoſt there hath remayned no memorie of that there ſhoulde haue béene, yea, thoſe matters of the Indyas, the which was done but yeſterdaye, there is no man that hath the ſame in memorye more then foure perſonnes, ſo that if they had dyed, all the ſame hadde ended with them, the which woulde haue béene imputed to theyr greate ſhame and rebuke.

[Page] And I hauing a regarde, and partlye a remorſe to ſée this loſſe, did therefore determine my ſelfe to note of thoſe notable actes, the which your ſubiects hath done in the diſcouerie and Conqueſt of the Indias, of whoſe valiauntneſſe there is none of theyr progenitours of any age or antiquitie that euer did excéede them, no, nor yet were equall with them. For leauing a ſide the Conqueſt of the Semyrian of Cyro, Pirhus, and of other barbarous, all (the which was nothing in compariſon of this) and take amongeſt them alſo that great Alexander the which was ſo feared and wondred at throughout all the world, ſince that the Indias is frequented by the Portingales: theyr dooings are no more meruailed at, then a dead Lyon in reſpect of one aliue, for the Conqueſt of Alexander was all by lande, and againſt people that were ſmallie accuſtomed or trayned in the feates of warres, hée alwayes going in his roiall perſon, but this of the Indias was done by ſea, and that by your Captaines, béeing vpon the ſame a whole yeare, and eight monethes, and at the leaſt ſixe monethes, not along or néere any coaſt, but by the bottomeleſſe and great Ocean Sea, and departing from the lymites of the Occident, and bearing ſayle alwayes towarde the Cape De las Playas, or ſuch lyke, without diſcouering or ſéeing any other thing, but onelye the heauens and water, going round about all the Spheare, a matter neuer before attempted by anye mortall man, nor yet almoſt imagined by anye, to put the ſame in practiſe, and they hauing paſt greate hunger, thirſt and other infirmityes, beſides that euerye day with thoſe furious ſtormes and raines, in daunger a thouſand times of their liues. And as I ſay, they hauing paſt thoſe feares and daungerous troubles by ſea, yet after theyr arriual into the Indias, found thēſelues in great and cruell battells, (not with men that did ſight onely with their Bowes, Arrowes, and Speares,) as they didde in Alexanders time, but with ſuch as were ſtout & of a hauty ſtomacke, and with men that were experienced in the wars, [Page] of the which kinde of people there is not onely in the Indias, but as farre as we can vnderſtand, there is of the like in Aſia, and beſides theyr accuſtomed weapons (the which are many and good) yet they haue Ordinaunce, Caléeuers, and many fire-workes more plentie then the Portingales had, ſo that the power of theſe men was alwaies ſo greate, that the force of king Poro with whome Alexander did fight, was not comparable, yet notwithſtanding the Portingales did giue them continually the ouerthrow, although theyr ſtrength was but ſmall, yet they neuer left the warres, as Alexander did. And leauing off to declare of the Gréekes and of theyr actes, and now to come to the Romanes, who with theyr huge armye, and with theyr greate Fléete, the which ſéemed to couer the whole Sea, thought to conqueſt the whole worlde, yet they neuer durſt aduenture by Sea further then the redde Sea, neyther yet the greateſt of their famous victoryes, did or was euer lyke vnto the leaſt of thoſe battayles that was done by our men in the Indyas, in the which it is ſo well knowne, moſt inuincible Prince, the greate proſperitye of the King your Father and you, ſo that without moouing of your ſelfe out of your pallaice, was diſcouered and conquered by your Captaines, the which neuer Princes could by themſelues conquere or diſcouer, ſo that there was neuer Conqueſt of the Barbarous, nor of the Grecians, nor of the Latyniſts, the which was of lyke difficultie as this hath béene, neyther yet Kinges nor Captaines, of none of all theſe Nations, was ſo equall in force nor yet in valyauntneſſe as thoſe of your Father, and of yours, the which is manifeſtly declared by the diſcourſe of the hiſtorie following.

And touching theyr greate actes which they dydde worthelye fulfill and bring to paſſe, wée muſt verelye beléeue that it was Gods good will and pleaſure, that thoſe Barbarous, béeing diſcouered with theyr vaine Idolls, and with the falſe ſect of Mahomet, ſhoulde ioyne [Page] themſelues with the Catholike faith, and to be as it wer in one Corall, and vnder one Paſtour or Shepheard, as at this preſent the great multitude that héereby are increaſed to the Chriſtian Religion, is a manifeſt teſtimonie and witneſſe thereof. After which great exploytes, your Highnes gaue commandement that the Chriſtian doctrine of the Brotherhood of the company of Ieſus ſhould be there inſtructed & taught them, of the which your Highneſſe hath had ſo ſpeciall a care like a moſt godlye and Chriſtian Prince, that not onely you were the firſt that commaunded the ſame to be brought from Rome, for that they might bée the better inſtructed in all their Kingdomes, but alſo doeth maintaine vpon your owne charges in this holy companye the multitudes that doeth daylye ſubmit themſelues to the ſame. As we doe ſée in the ſumptuous Colledge of Coimbro, where to ennoble and augment the honor of your kingdomes, you haue erected and founded an Vniuerſitie: where, with the charges that is daylye done there, and with your countenaunce together, it is hoped, that the ſame may be accounted amongſt the floriſhing Vniuerſities of all Europe: whereas there is maintained alſo vpon your charges manye Colledges of the order of poore begging Friers, and others of like profeſſion, for like as the reformation that was there made was profitable to them all: ſo he commaunded, that there ſhould be many Diuines for to declare the Euangelycall law, which your Highnes is not onely at this charges with religious men, but alſo with temporall men, for as there is many of your ſubiects that doth defend ye ſtate Republike or Common welth, and doth inlarge the ſame with their armour, ſo ther are others that doth beautifie the ſame with learning. Theſe heroycall vertues of your Highneſſe being ſo well knowen vnto me, forſomuch as this Booke, beſides others that I haue made, hath ſome taſt or kindred of learning, doth incourage me the more to ſet them foorth, for that as I ſay, there may remaine a perpetuall memorye of ſo notable actes as ſo many Gentlemen and Knights of [Page] the Portingales your ſubiects hath done, the which hath benefited me very much, my being in the Indias, where I trauayled with my Father, who by your Highnes commaundement was ſent thether to ſerue as a Iudge. And for that I ſpent all my youth in learning, and gaue my ſelfe greatly in reading of auncient Hiſtories, and hauing ſéene and read a great part thereof, did then immediately procure to know and with all diligence did my beſt indeauour to vnderſtand what had bene done in the Diſcouerie of the Indias, and in the Conqueſt of the ſame, by the Portingales, with the intent as aforeſayde, which was to make the ſame knowen, and common to all men: by meanes whereof, and through the inſtructions of ſundry Gentlemen and Captaines, many things came to my knowledge, by ſuch perſons as were then and there preſent, as well in the counſayle for the prouiſion for that which ſhould be done, as alſo in the execution thereof, and otherwiſe by many letters and pamphlets, the which were written by men of great credite, and lykewiſe examined as ſufficient witneſſes for better credite of the worke. Moreouer, I did not onely vſe this dilygence in the Indias, but after my comming to Portingale didde the lyke. For as thoſe matters the which I meant to write of, were many and of ſundrye orders, ſo it was neceſſarye to enforme my ſelfe of the ſame by manye: and beſide that thoſe that gaue me this inſtructions wer ſworn, yet I was licenſed to preſent them as witneſſes. There were of them that I ſought in the moſt part of Portingale: for what with the great trauell of my perſon, and expences of my goodes, for that they were ſeperated in ſundry parts, and in this I haue ſpent the moſt part of my lyfe, forſomuch as this was my onely recreation, hauing ioyned together all theſe informations, ſince my being in the Vniuerſitie of Coimbro, in your Highnes ſeruice, at ſuch time as I found my ſelfe not occupied with the executing of my office, with great trouble (not onely of the body, but alſo of the ſpirite) made an end of this Booke with others, the which I doe humbly offer [Page] vnto your Highnes, whome God (after manye and moſt fortunate yeares, remayning in your place the Prince) take and receiue you from the ſenurie of the earth, vnto the ioyes of heauen.

Your Highnes moſt humble Orator, Hernan Lopes de Caſtaneda.

§

❧How the King Don Joan the ſecond of that name, did ſend to ſeeke out by ſea and by land the Eaſt India, and of the newes that was brought him of the ſame. Cap. 1.

[Page]

[Page]

THIS King Don Ioan the ſecond of that name, & of the Kings of Portingale, the thirtéenth, perceiuing that all the Spices, Drugs, Stones, and other riches, which came to Venice, were brought out of a certaine Prouince of the Eaſt parte: And as he was a Perſonage of an hautie ſtomacke and valiaunt minde, ſo was he deſirous to inlarge his Kingdome, and increaſe the Chriſtian faith, and therefore he determined to diſcouer by Sea, the Country, from whence ſo great plentie of riches came, that thereby his Subiects might be inriched, and his Kingdome of Portingale enioy all ſuch commodities as came from thence to Venice. Moreouer, to diſcouer the ſame Countrey, he was the rather animated and enclined, for that he was giuen to vnderſtand, that in the Eaſt India, where Chriſtians, which were gouerned by a King of great power called Praesbiter [Page]Ioan, with whom Don Ioan thought good to haue acquaintaunce, and to know him by his Ambaſſadors, and the rather for that he was reported to be a Chriſtian Prince: And therefore conſulting with the Coſmographers of that time, he gaue them in charge to procéede and goe forwarde by example of others, which had ſayled along the Coaſt of Guynee, which Coaſt was before that time diſcouered by commaundement of the Prince his Vnckle,The order of Chriſt in Portingale giuē vnto Noble men & Gentlemen & to ſome that are made knights. Maſter of the Order of Chriſt, who had ſent for that purpoſe, one Bartholome Dyas, one of the Officers of his Storehouſe in Lyſhborne, who did diſcouer that great & monſtrous Cape, not knowen of our Aunceſtours, which is now called the Cape of Buena eſperansa: And finding there matter of great terrour and daungers, he paſſed beyond the ſame, one hundred and fortie leagues, where, comming to a Riuer, which he named Rio del infante, from thence he retourned to Portingale. In this voyage, he gaue to the Ports, Herbours, and Riuers, where he tooke in freſh water, theyr names, which at this preſent they doe retaine. Likewiſe, he erected there certaine markes with Croſſes, and with the roiall Armes of Portingale, and the laſt that he erected, was in a Rocke, the which they named, El pennol de la crus, which ſtandeth fiftéene leagues on this ſide the foreſayde Riuer. And from thence he retourned without hearing any newes, or yet hauing any further intelligence of that India, by reaſon all the Inhabitaunts along thoſe Coaſts bée almoſt a ſauage and a wilde kinde of people, and of coulour blacke.

This voyage and intelligence, being intimated and reuealed to the King Don Ioan, he foorthwith minded to [...] couer that India by land, albeit before that time he [...] and ſent for the ſame diſcouerie intended, [...] of the order of Saint Fraunces, called Fryer [...] Lixbona, by land, in the company of a [...] two perſons, for want of the Arabian [...] trauaile thoſe parts, ſo that they went [...] Ieruſalem, from whence without [...] of [Page] that iourney, they returned into Portingale.

The King neuertheleſſe continuing to proſecute to effect his determination for diſcouerye of that India by lande,Another iorney by lande attempted. did therevppon chooſe two of his owne ſeruauntes, men of good knowledge, and dilygent in whatſoeuer they were to be imployed, the one called Pedro de Couillian, borne in the ſaide Village, and the other called Alonſo de Payua, borne in the Towne of Caſtil Blanco, which did verye well vnderſtande the language of Arabia, to whome he tolde how that he had made choyce of them, as of perſons apt to execute his pretence, which was to diſcouer by lande as well the Countrey of Presbiter Ioan, as alſo that, from whence the Drugges and Spices come to Venice: Giuing them in charge, and that earneſtlye to make dilygent enquirye; and gather certaine knowledge whether that from the Cape of Buena Eſperansa forwarde there were anye Nauigation to the Eaſt India, and that they ſhoulde ſet downe all thinges they founde neceſſarye to bée knowen, or that they coulde by anye poſſible meane learne or gather of the ſame for certaintye: Commaunding alſo a Sea Carde to bée giuen them, which was taken out of a Ma [...]pe of the whole worlde, by a Maiſter of Arte, called Calſadilla, Biſhoppe of Vyſeu, who was a good Aſtronomer.

Moreouer, hée gaue them a Letter of credite, whereby they might bée ſuccoured and protected from, and in, daungers of death, and in caſes of neceſſitie and want of money, in whatſoeuer Kingdomes and Countreyes theyr happe ſhoulde be to trauayle. And for theyr charges, hée commaunded to giue them foure hundreth Crownes out of the Cheſt of the Orcherd of Almeryn: Of which ſumme, they tooke as much as they déemed would ſuffice for theyr expence, vntill they came to Valencia in Aragon, putting the reſidue in the Ba [...]cke of Bartelme Florentine to be deliuered them there: and ſo he gaue them the bleſſing of God and his, in the preſence of the King [Page] Don Manuel, who at that time was Duke of Veſa.

After this they departed from the Village of Santaren the ſeauenth day of May, in the yeare of our Lord, a thouſand foure hundred foure ſcore and ſeauen, and came to Naples vpon Saint Iohns daye the ſame yeare, from whence they were ſet forward on their way, by Coſmo de Medicis ſonnes, and ſo went they from thence to the Rhoodes, of which Religion, wer then none other but Portingales. And from the Rhoodes they went to Alexandria, from thence to the Cayro, as Merchaunts, and from thence in the companie of certaine Moores of Feez, and Tremencen, they came to Toro, which is a place that hath his harbour in the Straights of the red Sea in the Coaſt of Arabia, at the foote of the Mountaine Sinay, where they vnderſtood mainie matters of the Indias, and of the trade thoſe places had out of the Straightes to Calicut: and therevpon they trauailed to another place in the ſelfe ſame Sraightes of the Redde Sea, ouer the Coaſte of Aethiopia, from whence they went to Edin: And for that it was out of the waye to the Indies, they parted companye and ſeuered themſelues: Alonſo de Payua remained to go ouer by land to the Emperour of Aethiopia, Presbiter Ioan by errour, is the verye Emperour of Aethiopia. which is he, whom we before haue named vpon errour Presbiter Ioan: for the certaintie is, this is he of whom Marco Paulo maketh mention in his booke, who gouerneth all the Indies, and whoſe Countrey ioyneth vnto the great Cam of Catayo, where in a battaile betwéene them fought, the ſaide Preſter Ioan was vanquiſhed and dyed. And ſo thencefoorth finally ended his Kingdome, ſo that in theſe dayes, there is in trueth none of that name or race that raigneth or gouerneth. It is to be vnderſtoode, that Alonſo de payua did verely beléeue, that this Emperour of Aethiopia, was this ſuppoſed Presbiter Ioan, by reaſon he was informed and had intelligence that the ſame Emperour was a Chriſtian, and the People of his Kingdome were alſo Chriſtians, as héereafter I ſhall declare, when occaſion ſhall ſerue.

[Page] For which cauſe, I am in opinion, y• Alonſo did depart towards his Court, taking order and determining with Pedro de Couillian, that at a time appointed they ſhuld méet in the great Cayro: This conference and determination betwéene them ſo had and accorded vpon, Pedro de Couillian went towards the Indies in a ſhippe of the Moores of Cananor, and béeing come to the Indies, he went to the towne of Calicut, and to the Ilands of Goa, where hée gathered perfect information & intelligence of the ſpices which they haue in the Indies, and of the commodities which come from other places, and of the lyke ſorte of Townes which were ther in the Indies, of all which he ſet downe the names in the Card he carried with him, albeit ill written. And after he had ſéene thoſe places, he went to Sofala, where he gathered knowledge of the great Iland of San Laurenſo, which the Moores doe call La yſla de la Luna: And ſéeing the people of Sofala, to be blacke as thoſe of Guynee are, he therevpon ſurmiſed that all that coaſt was ſubdued, and that they might goe by Sea to the Indias, and therefore returning thence, he went to Ormuſe, and ſo to Cayro, where hée vnderſtoode that Alonſo de Payua was dead: And béeing deſirous to returne to Portingale, by chaunce hée mette with two Iewes of Spaine, the one called Raby Abraham, borne in Veſa, the other Ioſeph, borne in Lamego: Theſe after the departure of Pedro Couillian and Alonſo de Payua, from Portingale, tolde the King Don Ioan, that they had béene in the Cayro, & vnderſtoode there much newes of Ormuſe, and of theyr tract had with and into the Indies: Wherevpon the King ſent letters by Raby Abraham to Pedro Couillian, and to Alonſo de Payua, declaring that his pleaſure was, they ſhoulde retourne in the companie of thoſe Iewes, if they had ſéene all thoſe thinges, whereof hée gaue them charge and commaundement, at their departure: if not, that then they ſhoulde ſende by thoſe Iewes a declaration, and true reporte what they had ſéene, and had intelligence of: And moreouer that they ſhoulde procure to atteine to the ſight [Page] of Presbiter Ioan, and alſo ſhewe and informe what they coulde concerning Ormuſe to Raby Abraham for that hée had ſworne by his lawe neuer to retourne to Portingale, vnleſſe hée firſt ſawe the ſame: Vppon receipte of which letters and meſſage, Pedro de Couillian his purpoſe of retourning to Portingale was then ſtayed: And therefore he forthwith diſpatched Ioſeph with letters to the King, his Lorde and Maiſter, wherein hée related and fully declared in euery reſpect what hée had ſéene in the Indias, and of Sofala: and lykewiſe hée ſent the Carde in which all the Townes names were put downe, that hée had ſéene: Informing alſo the King Don Ioan, that the Emperour of Aethiopia is hée who is ſuppoſed to bée ye Presbiter Ioan: But I am of opinion, that in Portingale remaineth this name of Emperour of Aethiopia, for that in his kingdome hée is not called by the name of Preſter Ioan, as I will heereafter declare: When Ioſeph was departed, Pedro de Couillian, with Raby Abraham, went towards Ormuſe, and thence to the ſtraights of the red ſea, and hauing ſhewed to the ſame Raby thoſe places and ſcituation therof, Pedro Couillian then ſent him to Portingale, with letters to the king, importing what hée ſhewed him, and how that hée himſelfe was determined to make his voyage to Presbiter Ioan, and after this purſuing that his intent accordinglye, he came to the preſence of ye Emperour, that then ther reigned and gouerned, whoſe name was Alexander, of whome hée was verye well receiued,The king of Portingales letters deliuered to the Emperour of Aethiopia and when hée had preſented vnto him the letters of the king Don Ioan, he accepted the ſame verye ioyfully, in that they came from a Chriſtian Prince ſo farre diſtaunt from his Countrie: Howbeit hée gaue to the ſame little credite, and yet neuertheleſſe hée gaue vnto Pedro de Couillian, great honour and gifts: and when hée was in readyneſſe to departe thence, and expected liſence for the ſame, which hée had requeſted, and ſhould haue béene graunted him, the Emperour then deceaſed: after whome ſuccéeded in the Empire another named Nahu, hée coulde not by him bée lycenſed to depart thence, neither [Page] yet of his ſonne Dauid, who was Emperour alſo, and ſuccéeded Nahu: ſo that Pedro de Couillian, remayned in that Countrie, and neuer after returned into Portingale, neyther yet the King Don Ioan euer hearde or vnderſtoode more of him, and therefore ſuppoſed him to bée dead. Onely there remaineth the information of his trauailes, which hée had ſette downe and written in the letters which the Iewes carryed: After this came to Liſhborne a Frier out of the Countrie of Presbiter Ioan, to whome the king ſhewed great curteſie, and vpon whoſe reporte, and great relation made of that countrie, the king then determined to procéede in, and follow the diſcouering of the Indias by Sea, and therefore hée commaunded two little Shippes to bée made, committing the charge of that preparation, and appointing for ouerſéer or ſurueiour of the Timber then cut for that purpoſe, one Ioan de Braganca his ſeruaunt borne in the woodes, in a village called Daluor, and was brought to Liſhborne to the houſe of the Myna, in the yeare of our Lord a thouſande foure hundred nintie fiue, the fiue and twentie daye of October in the ſame yeare: and afterward did ſuccéede in that Kingdome, the moſt high king of glorious memorye Don Manuel, by whome alſo it appeared that he was there elected by diuine prouidence for diſcouery of thoſe Countries and Prouinces, whereby the Chriſtian faith is ſo greatly increaſed and inlarged, & the róyall houſe of Portingale ſo mightely honoured, and the ſubiectes of the ſame ſo plenteouſly enriched.

¶How King Don Manuel the firſt of that name, prepared after the deceaſe of King Don Ioan, to diſcouer the Indias by one Vaſco de la Gama, and by other Captaines, and howe they departed from Lyſhborne. Chap. 2.

[Page] THE King Don Ioan béeing dead, Don Manuel then ſuccéeded him, in whome appeared a higher ſtomacke, and more valyauntneſſe of minde (for atteining of things impreagnable & making triall, and executing matters that paſſed common capacitie of man, and aboue the retch of naturall knowledge) then was in Alexander the greate. Don Manuel now come to the crowne, and earneſtly minded & bent to proſecute that which his predeceſſour Don Ioan had begun, for diſcouering of the Indias, and being therein greatly furthered by ſuch matter, order, and intelligence, as he found, and were left by the late king for Nauigation to thoſe farre countries: he then commaunded that Fernan Lorenſo, Treaſurer of the houſe of the Myna, ſhould cauſe to be made and prepared of the timber which was bought in king Iohns time, two ſhippes, wherevnto after they were finiſhed, he gaue the names, to the one, the Angel Gabriel, being of an hundred and twentie tunne: and to the other Saint Raphael, a ſhippe of one hundred tunne. And to goe in the companie of theſe ſhips, the King then bought of a Pilot that was borne in Lagus, called Berrio, a Caruell of fiftie tunne, which had and bare the ſelfe name of the Pilot: Moreouer he bought a ſhip of two hundred tunne, of one Ayres Correa. Theſe Shippes thus made readie and prepared, and the king then being in Monte mayor the new, with his firſt wife the Quéene, Dō na Izabel, in the yeare a thouſand foure hundreth nintie ſeuen, he then gaue the chiefe Captaine ſhippe of this voyage vnto the Indias to Vaſco de la Gama his ſeruaunt, who alſo before was ſeruaunt to Don Ioan, & borne in the towne of Synis, a harbour towne in the fields of Dorricke. The ſame was a man experimented in matters of the Sea, and of Nauigation, wherein he had done to this kingdome great ſeruice. And foraſmuch as he was a man of greate courage and valure, and therefore very apt and likely to atteine and atchieue the end, y• was by the king deſired, the king then accordingly in preſēce of many noble perſonages, to his great [Page] praiſe, and no leſſe incouragement, commaunded him, when he gaue him the charge of that iourney, earneſtly alſo requiring him, to aunſwere and ſatiſfie the expectation and credit he had conceiued of him and repoſed in him, which if he did, he would then very largely reward that his indeauour, and trauell, and ſo liberally deale towardes him, as he ſhoulde finde himſelfe ſatiſfied for that his dilligence and ſeruice imployed: and for ſome proofe of thoſe princely and louing ſpeaches, he then beganne to make performaunce of parte thereof, at that verye inſtant, giuing him an Encommenda, with money to put himſelfe in a readineſſe for that voiage: And for to goe with him, the king alſo diſpatched one Paulo de la Gama, brother to the Captaine Generall, and one Nicholas Coello, both of them the kings ſeruants, and men méete and apt for whatſoeuer matter of enterpriſe or cauſe of valiauntneſſe: Moreouer he appointed one Bartholome Dyas, to goe with them in a Caruell to the Myna: And for that in the ſhips of warre, ſufficient victualls for the people in the ſame, could not be carried further then to a place called Saint Blaze, where they muſt of courſe take in freſh water, the king gaue commaundement that the ſhippe of Ayres Correa ſhould goe loaden with victuals vnto that place in the companie of the Fléet, and there to take out the ſame, and then to burne the ſaid Ship. The Captaine Generall thus informed, and diſpatched, departed with the other Captaines from the Kings court, towardes Liſhborne, The number of perſōs in this voyage. where the ſhips being in a readineſſe, he imbarked his companie, béeing one hundred fortie and eight perſons, in Belen, one league from Liſhborne, vpon the Saturday being the eight day of Iulye, in the yeare of our Lorde God, a thouſand foure hundred nintie and ſeauen. At which imbarking all the religious men of our Ladie Church in Belen, which is a Moneſtrarie of Saint Hierome, went in Proceſſion bare footed, and in their cowles with waxe Candles in their hands praieng, and the moſt part of the people of Liſhborne with them, al of them wéeping and pitieng thoſe that ſo imbarked themſelues, ſuppoſing they ſhuld all die in that [Page] ſo aduentrous and daungerous voiage, as in déede the p reſumption and common opinion thereof was greate, and no leſſe to be adiudged of The Generall and other his Captaines with their people ſo imbarked; and by the multitude and companie then preſent, commended to God and good fortune, they forthwith made ſaile and departed: The Captaine Generall went in the Ship called Saint Gabriel, hauing Pilot for ye ſame, one Pedro de Alanquer, which was Pilot with Bartholome Dyas, when he went to diſcouer ye riuer called El ryo del ynfante: The brother of the Captaine generall, went in the ſhip called S. Raphael: Nicholas Coello went in the Caruell Berrio, & one Gonſalo Gomes, ſeruaunt to the Captaine generall, went for Captaine of the ſhip that carried their victuals. Thus being ſet forward and vnder ſaile, the Captaine generall commaunded, that if by any happe whatſoeuer, they ſhould bée ſeuered and looſe each other, they ſhuld euery one make, and kéepe, their roote or courſe to Cabo Verde, where they would ioyne themſelues together againe. And ſo following their voiage, they came within eight dayes after to the ſight of the Ilandes of the Canaries, from whence going ouer againſt the Riuer called Ryo de Oro, the night did growe ſo darke, and ſuch great tempeſt and ſtorme roſe as they loſt each other, and therefore they retourned their courſe towardes Cabo Verde, and Paulo de la Gama, Nicholas Coello, Bartholome Dyas, and Gonſalo Gomes, hauing met, and after eight daies failing together, they came to ſight of their Captaine Generall, vpon the wedneſdaye in the Euening, and ſaluting him with many ſhot of ordinaunce, and with ſound of Trumpets, they ſpake vnto him, each of them heartely reioyſing, and thanking God for their ſafe méeting, and good fortune in this their firſt brunt of daunger and perill: The next day béeing the twenteth day of Iuly, the Captaine general with all his Fléet, attained vnto the Ilands of Sancty Ago: wher cōming to anker in y• play de Santa Maria, they remained there ſeuen daies, taking in ſuch water as they had néed of, & repairing the yards of their ſhips and other [Page] harmes they had receiued in the ſtorme paſt. Tewſday being the third day of Auguſt, the Captaine Generall departed thence, following his courſe to the Eaſt, but firſt before his departure he tooke his leaue of Bartholome Dyas, Bartholome Dyas returneth into Portingale who returned into Portingale: And going towarde the Cape of Buena Eſperansa, with all the ſhips of his companie, hée entered the goulfe into the Sea, and from thence ſailed all Auguſt, September, and October, in which time they ſuſteined many and great tempeſts, or rather torments of outragious windes and raine, ſo that they expected nothing but preſent death, which ſtill was repreſented before them by view of the manifolde daungers and perills, they preſently then ſawe, and whereof they were forced to abide the euenture: Béeing thus perplexed, God of his diuine goodneſſe recomforted them, for vpon the ſaturdaye, being the fourth day of Nouember at nine of the clocke in the fore-noone, they ſawe land, whereat they greatly reioyſed, and all the Captaines béeing together, they then ſaluted the Generall, all of them apparelled in their beſt araie, and hauing decked and garniſhed their ſhippes with Flagges accordingly, they drew néere the land as the generall had commaunded, who was deſirous to haue landed: Howbeit for that they did not know the land, he commaunded them to caſt about a ſea boord, and ſo they paſſed along by the ſame vntill tewſdaie following, at what time they came to perfect viewe and ſight of the land, perceiuing the ſame to lye lowe, and that there was a great bay, which as it was a conuenient place for the ſhips, ſo he commanded them to fall to an anker there, of purpoſe to take in water: And afterward they named it the Iland of Sancta Haelena. Deſcription of the people & manners of Saint Helens Iland. The people of the countrie within the ſaid Iland, as our men afterward found the ſame: bée lyttle men, ill fauoured in the face, and of colour blacke: and when they did ſpeake, it was in ſuch manner as though they did alwayes ſigh, theyr apparell is of beaſtes ſkinnes made after the manner of the French Cloakes, they truſte vp and hide theyr members in certeine Caſes made of woode verye well wrought.

[Page] They haue for armes or weapons certaine ſtaues of an Oke trée bathed or toaſted with fire, at the endes whereof are hornes of beaſts, ſomwhat burnt or hardened with fire, alſo ſeruing them for ſwoords, and wherewith they do hurt their enimie. Theſe people doe mainteine themſelues with rootes of hearbes, with Sea Woulfes, and Whale fiſh, of which the countrie there hath great plentie, and likewiſe of ſea crowes, and ſea mewes: Alſo they doe eate of beaſtes, which they call Gazelas, and of doues, and other beaſts and birds which they haue in the land: They kéepe alſo dogs as thoſe ben of Portingale, barking after the ſame manner: The Generall thus lyeng at Anker, commaunded to goe rounde about the Ilande, to ſée if there were anie riuer of ſwéete water, and finding none, he then ſent Nicholas Coello in his boate along the coaſt to ſéeke out water, which he found fowre leagues of from thence, the which he named Sancty Ago, from whence the whole Fléete prouided themſelues of freſh water. The next day the Generall and the other Captaines, and ſome of their companie went a ſhore, intending to ſée and view what manner of people they were, that inhabited that countrie or land, and whether they coulde informe him how farre from thence the Cape of Buena Eſperansa was, which he knew not, neither was the head or chiefe Pilot of that voyage of any certeintie which it was, for that in the voyage, wherein hée went before with Bartholome Dyas, he departed in the morning from the Cape into the Sea, and paſt the ſame in the night, with a forewinde, and at his firſt going, came not néere the Shore: By reaſon wherof he did not know the land, notwithſtanding, hée coniectured and déemed it not aboue thirtie leagues diſtaunt from thence at the vttermoſt: The Generall being diſimbarked and come to land, and walking there he ouertooke a man, one of the inhabitaunts of the ſame, who was going to gather honny at the foote of a buſh, where the Bées made the ſame without anie hiue, with this man, ye general returned vnto his ſhip, right well contented, thinking he had gotten by him an interpreter, but it happened not ſo for ther [Page] was not any of that company could vnderſtand him: The Generall commaunded to giue him meate, and he did both eate and drinke of all that was giuen him, and when they ſaw he vnderſtood none of their languages, nor any of them had any vnderſtanding of his, he was the next daye ſet vppon the ſhore well apparelled, from whence he went as it appeared, amongſt others his countrey men, for that y• next day then following, (vpon ſhew of himſelfe to them) there came about the number of fiftéene of his Countrey men, where our ſhips were: At ſight of which the Captaine generall went to lande, carrieng with him Spice, Golde, and Pearle, to make triall, whether thoſe people had any knowledge of the ſame, or of any part thereof: but by the lyttle eſtimation they ſeemed to make of thoſe things, it appeared they had no knowledge of the ſame. Then they gaue them bells, little rings of tinne, and counters, and of theſe things they wer very glad, and from thence forward vnto the next Saterday following, very many of them repayred to our Fléete, and thoſe people ſo returning to their Townes, one of our men deſirous to ſée the ſame, and to viewe the order and manner of their liues, craued then licence of the Generall to goe with them, whoſe petition, albeit he was verye vnwilling to condeſcend vnto, yet vanquiſhed by importunitie, he graunted the ſame. Fernan Veloſo (for ſo was his name that was licenſed) then going in their company, they tooke a Sea Woulfe, which they roſted at the foote of a hill, and ſupped altogethers:Treaſon by theſe men imagined againſt ours. after which it then appeared, that they of that Countrey had armed themſelues, and practiſed treaſon againſt our men: for ſo ſoone as they had ſupped, they cauſed Fernan Veloſo, to returne to our Fléete againe, which was hard by, and when he was departed from them, they followed and came after him a little and a little, the manner whereof, Fernan eſpieng & fearing, he therefore haſted to the water ſide, and hailed to our ſhips: The Generall then being at ſupper, and hearing that call, and looking out to landward, ſawe thoſe ſauage people comming after him, and preſently imagined they meant him harme, [Page] and therefore foorthwith he commaunded the whole Fléete to put themſelues in battaile araye, and he himſelfe with certaine others, went to landward without anye weapons, déeming verely that thoſe blacke men meant him no harme, nor would offer anye force: and indéede when they ſawe our boates comming to the ſhoreward, they began to runne away, with a great clamour and outcrie, and ſo did manye others alſo which lay ſecretly hidden amongſt certeine buſhes there, which policie they vſed to traine our men the rather to lande, for when ours were diſimbarked and landed, they then returned and furiouſly ſet vpon them, ſhooting their darts, and vſing their other weapons in ſuch ſort, as they inforced our men to retire to their boates and imbarke themſelues, and that in haſt, taking with them Fernan Veloso, which being done, the Negroes retourned to theyr townes, hauing hurt the Captaine generall & thrée others, who afterward remaining in that road foure dayes, coulde not ſée any moe of thoſe people, and therefore could not vſe any reuenge, for the damage they had done them.

¶How the Captaine generall doubled the Cape of Buena eſperansa, and what hapned vntill they paſſed the Riuer called El Ryo del Infante. Cap. 3.

THE Fléete hauing taken in freſh water and fleſh which they néeded, the Generall and the reſt then departed thence vpon the Thurſday being the ſixtéenth daye of Nouember, in the forenoone of the ſame daye, making their waye into the Sea, with a South ſouthweſt winde, and vpon the Saterdaye then next following in the euening, he came within ſight of the Cape of Buena eſperansa, and for that the winde was contrarye, as being then Southweſt, and the Cape lyeng Northeaſt Southeaſt, hée made his retourne into the Seawarde, [Page] whileſt the daye did indure, and when the night came, hée caſt about towards the ſhore, and ſo in that order he ſayled vntill the Wenſdaye following, which was the twentith day of Nouember in which time he doubled the Cape: And going along the Coaſt with a fore winde, he paſſed with great pleaſure of ſundry paſtimes, and in ſounding of the trumpets in all their ſhips, chiefly hauing their whole confidence in God, by whoſe diuine furtherance, they hoped to finde out, and attaine to that which they ſought for: So paſſing in this ſort along that Coaſt, they ſawe vppon the land great ſtore of Cattell, whereof ſome were large, ſome ſmall, but all of them were growen and fat: Howbeit ther appeared to them no Townes within this lande, by reaſon that along thoſe Coaſts ther are none ſcituated: but further within the ſame, there be Townes and Villages inhabited, the houſes whereof are all of earth couered with ſtrawe. The people are of colour ſomewhat blacke, and be apparailed as thoſe of the Countrey of Sancta Helena, ſpeaking the ſelfe ſame language, and vſing the ſelfe ſame ſorte of darts, with ſome other weapons alſo for their defence, and anoyaunce of their enimie. This Countrey is verye pleaſaunt with Trées and Waters, and ioyning to this Cape on the South ſide, there is a great Harbour, which reacheth into the Lande ſixe leagues, and at the entering it containeth well as much more. The Cape of Buena eſperansa béeing thus doubled, the Captaine Generall foorthwith vpon the Sundaye after,The vvatering of S. Blaze which was Saint Katherins day, came to the Watering of Saynt Blaze, which is thrée ſcore leagues beyonde the Cape, béeing a verie great Baye, and paſſing good for all Windes, except onelye the North winde. The people héere are ſomewhat blacke of coulour, they couer themſelues with ſkinnes, they fight with Dartes of woode toſted or hardened in the fire, and vſe for Swoordes, Hornes and Bones of Beaſtes, and alſo they vſe Stones to defende themſelues agaynſt theyr Enimies. In this Lande bée manye Elephauntes and great, alſo Oxen manye both large of [Page] ſtature, and very fat, whereof ſome haue no hornes: and vpon the fatteſt and faireſt of the ſame, the people do vſe to ride, ſadling them with pannells ſtuffed with the ſtrawe of Rye, as the manner is in Spayne, and vpon the ſame they put a certaine frame of woode, and ſo vſe it as a ſaddle to ride vppon, putting through the noſes of ſuch of them as they will ſell, a péece of woode, of that kinde whereof they make their arrowes. In this Harbour thrée Croſſebow ſhot from the ſhore,Sea vvolfs moſt firce & terrible beaſts within the Sea, lieth a Rocke, in the which there be many Sea Woulfes, which are as large in bignes as great Beares, they be terrible, hauing great and long téeth, alſo ſo wilde and fierce, that they do forcible ſet vpon men: their ſkinnes be ſo hard that no ſpeare can pearce the ſame, albeit it be forced vpon it with great ſtrength and valure: they are like vnto Lions, and their little ones crye like young Goates, there be ſo many of them in y• Rocke, that when our men went thether of pleaſure one day, they ſaw of them at that inſtant, the number of thrée thouſand little and great. In this Rocke alſo be many Stares, which are as great as Duckes, but they doe not flye, by reaſon they haue no feathers in their wings, and they braye lyke vnto an Aſſe. The Captaine Generall being come to this Port or Baye, and lieng at Anker there, cauſed the ſhippes which carried their victualls, to be diſcharged thereof, and beſtowed the ſame in the others, commaunding thoſe Veſſells to be then burned, as it was ordained and commaunded by the King in that behalfe. In doing whereof, & other things alſo which were neceſſarye and néedfull to be looked vnto, and foreſéene, for their more ſafetie in the reſt of their voyage, they remained ten dayes in that place, where, vpon the Friday next after the Captaine generall and the reſt had ariued, ther appeared vnto them, about the number of foure ſcore and ten men of that Countrey, ſome along vppon the landes, and ſome vpon the top of their Mountaines, which when the Generall ſawe, he and other the Captaines went to the ſhore ward, and all the company of the ſhippes went armed in their boates, carrieng ordinaunce with them, as [Page] fearing the lyke chaunce y• happened to them in the Ilande of Sancta Helena, the Boates then drawing neere to the ſhore, the Generall threw on lande little belles, which the Negroes tooke vp, and ſome of them came ſo neere vnto him, that he gaue them the bells into their owne handes, whereat he wonderfully meruailed, for that Bartholome Dyas had informed before, that when he was there, they did run away, and wold not be allured to come ſo néere view. The Generall therfore finding & perceiuing contrary to his expectation, the gentleneſſe of thoſe blacke people, hée then leapt out on lande with his men, making exchaunge of certaine red night caps with the Negroes for Bracelets of Iuory which they had, and ſo for that time departed. The Saterday next after came to the number of two hundreth blacke men: and more, ſome little, ſome great, bringing with them twelue Oxen and foure ſhéepe, and as our men went on ſhore, they began to play vpon foure Flutes accordingly with foure ſundry voyces, the Muſicke whereof ſounded very well, which the Generall hearing, commaunded the trumpets to ſound, and ſo they daunced with our men. In this paſtime and feaſting, and in buying their Oxen and ſhéepe, that daye paſſed ouer, and in the ſelfe ſame ſort, vpon the Sunday following, [...]un [...]ry of the ſame, and many moe with them as well men as women, came againe bringing with them many Kine, and hauing ſolde one Oxe, our men ſaw certaine little Nigroes, which were hidden in certayne buſhes, who had with them the weapons of the greater ſort of men: wherein our men coniectured, that ſome treaſon was ment to them, and therfore the Generall commanded our people to retire to another place, which was of more ſecuritie, and thoſe blacke men went all along the ſhore directlye againſt our boates, vntill they came to the place where ours diſimbarked themſelues, and went vppon the lande in armour. The Nigroes then ioyned themſelues as though they intended to fight, which the Generall perceiuing, and not wilyng to doe them anye harme, did then retyre, imbarking himſelfe, and for to feare them, commanded [Page] two braſſe péeces of Ordinaunce to be ſhot off, whereat they were amazed,The little Nigroes made more afeard then hurt and ranne away without any order, leauing their weapons behinde them. After this, the Captaine generall, cauſed to be carried on the ſhore, a certaine marke or Piller, with the King of Portingales Armes, and a Croſſe, which being there ſet and erected, the Nigroes pulled downe the ſame our men yet being there. Theſe dayes thus paſſed ouer, the Captaine generall with the reſt of the Fléete departed thence towards the Riuer called, Ryo del infante, vpon the Friday being the eight day of Nouember, which was the Feaſt daye of the conception of our Lady, and in ſailing forward on their voyage, ther aroſe ſo great a ſtorme with a forewinde, vpon the daye of Saint Luke, that our whole Fléete did runne with there ſmall ſayles, and that alſo verye low. In this courſe they loſt the company of Nicholas Coello, howbeit the next night after they all met, and ioyned together againe. Now hauing paſt and ſailed through this great ſtorm, or rather torment of wind, which then was ceaſed, the Captaine Generall, vppon the ſixtéenth daye of December did diſcouer lande, which were certaine ſmall Rockes, being diſtaunt from the Harbour of Saint Blaze thréeſcore leagues, and fiue leagues alſo from the other part of the Rocke called De la cruze, where Bartholome Dyas did erect his laſt marke: from which place to the Riuer Del Infante are fiftéene leagues. This Countrey is very pleaſant and ſightly in viewe, and in the ſame is great ſtore of Cattell, and the further our Fléete ſayled on that Coaſt, the better and higher the Trées were, all which things our men might well perceiue and diſcerne, by reaſon they went ſo néere the ſhore with their ſhips. And vpon the Saterday they paſt hard by, and within ſight of the Rocke De la cruze, and for that they were then come ſo far forward as the Riuer Del infante, they were loath to paſſe the ſame, and thereof taking counſell all the next night, they went ſomewhat wide from the Coaſt, with a forewinde, vntill Euenſong time, and then the Winde came to the Eaſt, which was right againſt them, wherefore the [Page] Captaine generall made to Seawarde, going in ſuch ſort, as ſometime he kept the Sea, and ſometime droue towards the lande, vntill the Tueſday being the twentith of December, at the ſetting of the Sunne, the winde then comming to the Weſt, which was a forewinde, and whether to attayne to haue knowledge of the Lande they conſulted all that night, which were beſt to doe. The next daye at tenne of the Clocke in the fore noone, they came to the Rocke aforeſayde, which is thrée ſcore leagues a ſtearne the place, wherevnto they minded to goe.

This Rocke, is the cauſe of the great Currents that are there, and the ſelfe ſame daye the Fléete through paſſed the ſame Courſe, with a great forewinde, which had alſo indured them thrée or foure dayes, and wherewith they ranne through thoſe Currents, which greatlye they feared,They ſafely paſſed the dāgerous currents and were in doubt to haue done. Theſe daungerous Currents, thus ſafelye and happelye paſſed without loſſe or damage, they all were very glad and ioyfull, that theyr good Fortune was to haue paſſed the ſame in manner as Bartholome Dyas before that time had accordinglye done. Wherefore the Captaine generall, béeing animated and encouraged with this his great good lucke and Fortune, and after thankes giuen to God for the ſame, did then ſaye, that hée verelye beléeued, that it was Gods good will and pleaſure that the Indias ſhould be founde.

¶How the Captaine generall came to the Lande, called, La terra de la buena gente, and after went to the Riuer, called, Ryo de las buenas ſennales: how hee brought theyr ſhippes on grounde, and of the great ſickneſſe our people had after they arriued there. Chap. 4.

[Page] THus following their voyage, they perceiued that vpon Chriſtmas daye, they had diſcouered along the Coaſt, thrée ſcore and t [...]nne leagues to the Eaſtward, which was the waye he carryed with him in his Regiſter, and wherein the Indias are: And héere the Fléete went along vpon the Sea, without taking land, ſo farre, that they began to want, and haue lacke of water for to drinke, and were inforced to dreſſe their meate with ſalt water, ſo that no man of that Fléete had then allowaunce of water to drinke, more then one pinte a day. Howbeit vpon the Friday being the eleuenth day of Ianuary, in the yeare of our Lord God. 1498. drawing néere the lande, they went out in their boates along the Coaſt to take view thereof, and ſo paſſing by the ſame, they ſaw many Nigroes with a great company of women, all of them of great ſtature, which went along the Sea ſide, and when the Captain generall ſaw and perceiued, that they ſhowed themſelues to bée a people, flexible to ciuilitie, and of a quiet diſpoſition, hée commaunded one of our men called Martin Alonſo, who coulde ſpeake manye languages of the Nigroes, and one other with him, to leape out on Lande, and to goe to them, which immediatelye thoſe two perſons did: and at theyr comming to the ſame blacke People, they were of them verye well receyued, and eſpeciallye of the chiefe perſon or Gouernour of the ſame, to whome, our Generall viewing his and theyr manner of courteſie,A revvard ſent by ye Generall to a Nigro. foorthwith ſent a Iacket, a payre of Hoſe, and a Cappe, beeing all redde, and a Bracelet of Copper, of which things he was very glad, and rendered great thankes to the Generall for the ſame, ſaieng: that with a verye good will, hée ſhoulde haue of gifte, anye thing he would deſire or had néede off, that was to be had in his Countrey. All which, Martin Alonſo, vnderſtanding theyr language tolde to the Generall, who was verye ioyfull that [Page] by his interpretation, thoſe people and ours might of each other haue vnderſtanding, giuing alſo at that inſtant licenſe to ye ſame Alonſo & one moe of our men to goe with thoſe people for one night to their Towne, at the requeſt of the ſame gouernour, who verie earneſtly required the ſame. The gouernour then apparelled himſelfe with thoſe Garments which the Generall gaue him, and with great pleaſure gaue commaundement to many of his chiefe men to goe before and receiue him when he came to their towne: The people as they went viewed and beheld with greate pleaſure and admiration thoſe veſtures which our General had giuen him, clapping their hands for ioy thereof, which manner of gladſome reioyſing, they vſed thrée or foure times, before they came to their towne: And after their entraunce therein, they went round about the ſame, to the end all the people and inhabitants thereof, might ſée and behold thoſe giuen garments and ſtraunge arraie: Which béeing done, the gouernour entered into his houſe where he commaunded Alonſo and his companion to be well lodged, and gaue to them for their ſupper a Hen euen ſuch as ours bée, and Pap made of Mylyo, which is a kinde of graine of a yeolow coulour, whereof alſo they make bread: This night repaired many Nigroes to their lodging to ſée them: And the next daie after the gouernour ſent them to their ſhips with certaine Nigroes of his loden with hens, for the Captaine Generall, who rendered thanks for the ſame, and required by his interpretour, thoſe Nigroes, to ſaie vnto their Gouernour, that he now ſaw and perceiued him to be a noble man, or king of that countrie, & foraſmuch as the Generall, and the reſt of our men in thoſe fiue daies wherein they had houered vpon and viewed that Coaſt had no manner domage done or offered them: and ſaw both many quiet and gentle people there, & alſo many noble men, he gaue to this land an apt name, calling it, The Land of good people, in the Towne where Martyn Alonſo was, theyr houſes bée made all of ſtrawe, and verie well furniſhed within: The owmen be more in number, then the men: [Page] for in the companie of fortie women there are no more but twentie men: They carrie with them long bowes with arrowes and darts of yron, and vpon their armes and legges they weare many braceléets of Copper, and ſome péeces of them in their haires. Alſo they carrie daggars, the hafts or handles of Pewter, and the ſheathes of Iuorie, ſo that it is manifeſt, that they haue in that Countrie plentie of copper and tinne: Moreouer they haue great ſtore of Salt, which they make of Salt water, carrieng the ſame from the Sea ſide in gourds, and putting it into certeine Caues where they make the Salt: Theſe kinde of people were ſo gladde of the linnen that our men carried with them, and brought with them thether, that they gaue for one ſhirt much Copper. They alſo were ſo quiet amongeſt our men, that they brought them water to their boates from a riuer which was two Croſbowe ſhotte from the place where our men tooke in the ſame, which riuer they call Ryo de Cobio: From this place our Fléete departed the fiftenth daye of Ianuarie,A nevv land diſcouered of curteous Moores and going vnder ſaile, did diſcouer land of an other countrie which lyeth very lowe, wherein were trées verie high and thicke, and ſo procéeding forward they diſcouered or found a riuer which was verie open at the entering of the ſame: And for that the Generall thought it neceſſarie to reknowledge or haue notice of that Countrie, & there to learne whether they might heare anye newes or intelligence of the Indias, hée commaunded to come to an Ankor, which was vpon the Thurſday, béeing ſeauen daies before the end of Ianuarie, and the ſame night he with his brother Nicholas Coello entered the riuer, and at the dawning of the daye, did well perceiue the lande to bée lowe and couered with water, hauing trées of great height, and thicke loaden with ſundrie ſortes of fruites: Our men then beholding the land, which was verie pleaſaunt, they ſawe alſo certeine boates, at that preſent comming towardes them, with men in the ſame, whereof the Generall was very glad, ſuppoſing vppon ſight of thoſe people and view of their countrie, in that manner, which argued they had ſome [Page] knowledge and experience of the Sea, that therefore they were not farre of from the Indias, or at leaſtwiſe could not then goe far, but they ſhould heare newes of the ſame: when the people with their boates came néere to our Fléete, our men perceiued they were all blacke people, of good ſtature, howbeit all naked, ſauing their priuie members, which wer couered, with little péeces of linnen made of Bomebaſt or Cotten, they came neere and entered into our ſhips without any feare, and in ſuch ſorte vſed themſelues towardes our men, as though they had ben of long acquaintance and familiaritie with them: They were very well receiued of our people of the Fléet, the Captaine Generall commanded the ſame, and alſo that there ſhuld be giuen vnto them certeine little Bels & other things, & he talked with them by ſignes, for they did not vnderſtand any of Martin Alonſo his languages, nor any other interpretour yt our men thē had: After this their good interteinment they departed, and as it ſéemed well liking of the ſame, they and many others with them afterward returned in their boates to our ſhips, bringing vnto them ſuch victuals as their countrie yéeldeth: They in appearance ſhewed themſelues verie well contented with our men, & as they came by water, ſo alſo did many others of thoſe people repaire thether by land, & amongſt them women of indifferent good beautie, eſpecially y• young maides, which goe after the ſame ſort, that the men doe: They haue in their lips thrée holes, and in euery hole a péece of tinne, which they eſtéeme as a thing very gallant and gaye: They tooke with them certeine of our men to make merrie at a countrie towne there néere hand, and where they fet water for our ſhips. And after the thrée daies ſpace that our Generall was in that riuer,Tke curteſie & apparel of the noble mē of this Countrie. there came of curteſie two noble men of that countrie to viſit him in their boates, whoſe apparell was none other, then of the reſt, ſauing the péeces of lynnen wherewith they couered their members, were farre greater, then thoſe the common ſorte vſed, and one of them ware vpon his head a tucke or kerchiefe wrought with ſilke, and the other had a night cap of gréene Satten. [Page] The Captaine Generall ſéeing thoſe men ſomewhat addicted to cleanlineſſe was verie glad thereof, receiued them in curteous manner, and commaunded to giue them meate, and moreouer he gaue them apparell and certeine other things, but it appeared by their countinaunces they ſmallye or nothing at all eſtéemed thereof: Howbeit while they remained in our Shippes, the Generall perceiued by tokens and ſignes which a young man that came with them then ſhewed, that their countrie was farre of thence, and that they had ſéene as great ſhips as ours were, wherof he greatly reioyſed, and all our people in like manner as then verely hoping and thereby coniecturing, that the Indias were néere to that place: which their hope and coniecture, was alſo farre the more augmented and confirmed, for that after thoſe noble men were gone to ſhore, they ſent to the Fléete, certeine linnen cloth to ſell, which was made of Cotten, vpon which alſo were certeine marks of Okar, in reſpect of which good newes, and intelligence héere found, and likely to enſue, the Captaine Generall gaue to this riuer a name, calling it, The Riuer of the good tokens or marks, and cauſed there a marke to be erected, calling the ſame San Raphael, according with the name of the ſhippe wherein hée was, and went that voyage. And foraſmuch as he perceiued by the ſignes of the young man, that thoſe noble men inhabited a Countrie farre thence, and that they had ſéene ſhippes as greate as ours, hée thereby and vppon other coniectures gathered, that their Countrie was néere to the Indias, and ſo conſequently that the Indias was farre of from that riuer where our ſhips then lay: wherefore conſulting héereof, it was by him and the other Captaines then determined vpon, that all the ſhippes ſhould be brought on ground, which determination was executed accordinglye, & the ſame ſhips repaired, dreſſed, and trimmed in all points néedfull and neceſſarie: In dooing whereof they ſpent and paſſed ouer two and thirtie daies,This ſicknes is called the Scurfe in which time our men ſuſteined and paſſed ouer great troubles and tormentes of minde, by occaſion of a ſickneſſe there happened amongeſt [Page] them, which was thought to growe by meanes of the aire of that countrie, for that the hands and féete of ſo many of them, and alſo their gums in ſuch ſorte did ſwell, that they could not eate, and the ſame ſo rotted, that the ſtinke which came out of their mouthes was ſo great and peſtiferous, that none could abide the ſauour therof, with this peſtilent infection & ſicknes our men were greatly diſcomfited, & many of them dyed thereof, which alſo put the reſt of the companie in greate feare and perplexitie of minde: Yea, and further would haue increaſed and aggrauated their griefes of bodye and ſorrowes of minde, were it not that one De Gama a man of good nature and condition had taken ſpeciall care and vſed greate dilligence, for the recouerye of their healths, and putting them in comfort: who continually viſited the ſicke, and liberally departed vnto them ſuch wholeſome and medicinable things, as for his owne bodye hée had prouided, and carried with him, through whoſe good counſell giuen, great pains taken, and franke diſtribution of that he had, many of our men were recouerd, which would otherwiſe haue died, and all the reſt thereby were greatly recomforted.

¶How the Captaine Generall with all his Fleete, came to the Iland of Monſambicke. Chap. 5.

THe Fléet béeing furniſhed and prouided of all things neceſſarie, the Captaine Generall then mindfull of his voyage, departed thence, vpon the Saturday, béeing the 24. day of Februarie,three ſmal Ilands diſcouered not vvorth the entering. and the ſame day, and al the night following, for that he was incalmed and to auoide the ſhore, made way into the ſea: and vppon Sunday by Euenſong time, our men diſcried thrée Ilands a Seaboord, all of them being but little or ſmall, they were diſtant one from another foure leagues: Two of them were repleniſhed with great woords, & the third was plaine, to arriue to theſe Ilands the Generall was not willing, for [Page] that he ſawe or coniectured no cauſe to occaſion the ſame, & therefore he ſtill kept the ſea, ſtaieng & comming to an ankor alwaies as the night approched, which manner of courſe & order he vſed and continued the ſpace of ſixe daies: And vppon the thurſday being the firſt day of March towards euening, our men came within ſight of foure Ilands, whereof two were néere the ſhore, and the other two a Seaboord, & for that they would not that night fall with them, they ſtil kept the Sea, minding to paſſe betwéene them, as indéede they did: Wherevpon the Captaine Generall determined & commaunded that Nicholas Coello, by reaſon his ſhip was leſſe then the others, ſhuld go firſt, & ſo going vpon the friday within a certein harbour, which was betwéene ye maine land & one of the Ilands, the ſaid Nicholas miſſed ye channell, and ranne on ground, which daunger when our other ſhips ſawe comming after, they did caſt then about, & went backe, and as they were returned, they perceiued comming out of that Iland, ſeauen or eight little boates vnder ſaile, béeing diſtant from Nicholas Coello a good league: At ſight of thoſe boates comming towards them, Nicholas Coello and thoſe which were with him tooke great pleaſure, & for ioye gaue a great crye, and at their repaire to them Coello and they went to the General and ſaluted him, to whom the ſame Coello ſayd: How ſay you ſir, héere is an other kinde of people: wherevnto the Generall anſwered, that hée was very glad of that good Fortune, and therewith commanded to let them go a Seaboord with their boates, for that his meaning was to beare with them to that Ilande from whence they came, and there to come to an Ankor, of purpoſe to vnderſtand what land that was, & whether amongeſt thoſe people, he might heare or haue anye newes or certeine intelligence of the Indias: yet notwithſtanding ye generals cōmandement, they in their boats followed our ſhips, alwaies making ſignes and calling to our men, therein to ſtay and tarrie for them, wherefore the Captaine Generall, with the other Captaines came to an Ankor, and ſo they in their boates approched néere, and came to our Fléete: And [Page] then by view of their perſons it appeared they were men of a good ſtature and ſomewhat blacke. They were apparelled in linnen cloth of Cotten, welted with ſundry colours, ſome girdeled vnto their knées, and others carried the ſame vpon their ſhoulders as cloaks, and vpon their heads they weare a certeine kinde of tucks or kerchiefe ſomewhat wrought with ſilke and gold thrid. They haue ſwoords and daggers as the Moores doe vſe them, in their boates they brought with them their inſtruments called Sagbuts. Theſe men being thus come to our ſhips, they forthwith came a boord the ſame with great opinion of aſſuraunce, euen as though they had knowne our men a long time, and immediatlye began to be conuerſant, and very familiar with them, vſing their ſpeaches which they vttered in the language of Algarauia, and would not be knowne they were Moores: The Generall commaunded to giue them meate, & they did both eate and drinke with a good wil, of whatſoeuer was giuen them: And béeing aſked at commaundement of the General by one Fernan Aluares (who could ſpeake yt language) what land that was, they anſwered that it apperteined to a great king which was before,The Iland of Monſā bick, vvith the tovvn of Merchandiſe. & how that Iland was called Mō ſambicke, and the towne there full of Merchantes, which haue traficke with the Moores of the Indias, who bring thether ſiluer, linnen cloth, pepper, ginger, ſiluer ringes, many pearles, and rubie ſtones, and that out of another Countrie, which remained behinde, they doe bring them golde: Declaring further that if our men would enter into the Harbour there, they would bring them thether, and they ſhuld perceiue and ſée the truth, and more at large, touching thoſe thinges they then gaue information of: The Generall hearing this, entered into counſell with the other Captaines, debating the matter thereof, and argued whether it were good to enter the Harbour, and ſée if thoſe things were of truth, which thoſe Moores had imparted to them, and alſo there to take ſome Pilottes to carrye them further, ſince they were nowe deſtitute of ſuch: Vppon which conſultation, it was there determined, [Page] that Nicholas Coello ſhuld firſt make an aſſay & proofe for enterance and ſounding of the barre, by reaſon his ſhip was the leaſt of the Fléete: which accordingly he forthwith did. And ſo going to enter he went and touched the point of the Iland, and therewith brake his helme, howbeit through God his goodneſſe, he periſhed not there although he was in great daunger and haſard thereof, for as he went vpon the point vnwares, ſo with quicke ſpéede and good fortune he gote of the ſame: Neuertheleſſe he perceiued and found y• the barre was good to enter, and therfore he came to an anker, two croſbow ſhot from the towne ſcituated in that Iland, which is in fiftéene degrées towards y• South, it hath a very good harbour, and alſo great plentie of the victuals of that countrie, the houſes of that towne be made of ſtrawe, and the dwellers therein are Moores, which trade to Sofala in great ſhips,Cayro is the caske orrind of a nut they haue in y• India called Caco, and vvith the ſame theſe ropes are made that haue no decks nor nailes, but are ſowed with Cayro, and their ſailes are of mats made of the leafe of a palme trée: ſome of them doe carrie with them compaſſes of Geane by which they doe gouerne, & they be ſquare, they haue alſo Seacards: with theſe Moores, the Moores of Indias haue traficke, and with thoſe from the red ſea, by reaſon of the golde they haue there.

When they ſawe our men, they ſuppoſed them to bée Turks, by reaſon of the knowledge they had of the Turks countrie, through intelligence of the Moores which dwel in the red ſea, they which were firſt in our ſhips went & tolde their Xeque (for ſo they call him alwaies that is gouernour of the towne) which was there for the king of Quiloa, vnder whoſe obeiſance this Iland was.

¶How the Captaine Generall entered into the harbour of Monſambicke, and how the gouernour there, came to viſit him at his ſhips, making peace with him, and gaue him two Pilottes to carry him to Calicut, verely ſuppoſing our people to be Turkes. Chap. 6.

[Page] THe Xeque or Gouernor hauing knowledge of our comming, and that Nicholas Coello was come to an Anker in the Harbour, he verelye beléeued that they were Turkes or Moores of ſome other place, and therfore foorthwith he came and viſited him in his ſhips, accompanied with many apparelled in ſilke, whome Nicholas Coello receiued with great courteſie: but foraſmuch as he nor any of his ſhip could ſpeake their language, the Gouernour tarried not long, howbeit Coello vnderſtoode very well, that the Gouernour déemed them to bée Moores, and therefore he gaue him a red Cappe, whereof hée made no accompt, he gaue him allſo certaine blacke beades, which he carried away in his handes, both which were giuen and taken for token of aſſurance betwéene them: and when he ſhould depart from our ſhip, he required by ſignes of Nicholas Coello to haue his boat to carrie him to lande, who gladly graunted the ſame, and ſent therewith certaine of our men, which the Gouernour at his returne to lande, carried with him to his houſe, feaſting and banketting them with Dates and other things, and ſent by them to Nicholas Coello: a pot of Dates preſerued, wherewith he feaſted the Captaine Generall and his brother, after they had entered the Harbour.

The Gouernour now perceiuing the reſt of our ſhippes arriued in the Harbour,Our men taken for Turks, by the Mores of Monſambicke immediately ſent to viſite them, beléeuing they were Turkes, and preſented them with many pleaſant & delicate meates, demaunding alſo licenſe to come and viſite them himſelfe. The Captaine generall retourned for preſents to him againe, certaine red hats, ſhort gownes, corrall, baſons of braſſe, little hawkes bells, and many other things, all which (as the meſſenger reported, that carryed the ſame) he nothing eſtéemed, aſking for what purpoſe thoſe things were good, and demaunding why the Captaine ſent him not Scarlet, as the thing which he chiefly deſired. Notwithſtanding he came and viſited the Captaine Generall who hauing knowledge of his comming, commaunded the [Page] ſhips to put out their flagges, and to toll the ſame. Likewiſe he ordered, that all our ſicke and diſeaſed men, ſhoulde be hid and not come in ſight, and that to his ſhippe ſhoulde be ſent from the reſt of the ſhippes, all thoſe that were not ſicke, whom he cauſed ſecretly to be put in armour, of purpoſe to be in a readines if the Moores offered anye force, or ſought to betraye them.The Gouernor cō meth abootd, & the diſcriptiō of his perſon and attire This preperation made, the Gouernour came accompanied with manie men, all very well apparelled in ſilke, bringing with them many trumpets of Iuorie, and alſo other inſtruments, ſtill plaieng vppon the ſame: he was a man of a good ſtature and leane, he brought vpon him as it were a ſhirt of linnen cloath, which came downe to his héeles, and vpon the ſame, the lyke of veluet of Meca, hauing vpon his head a cappe of ſilke of many colours, and trimmed with golde, at his girdle, he ware a ſword and dagger, and vpon his féete ſhooes of ſilke. The Captaine generall receiued him at the entrance of the ſhip, carrieng him from thence, in that part of the ſhip, where the ſame was couered ouer and trimmed in the beſt manner it might then be, and many of his people with him, the reſt remaining that came with him in their beates. The Gouernour thus being receiued into the ſhip, the Generall deſired him to take no offence in that he ſent to him no Scarlet, ſince in truth he brought none with him: onely he declared that he had in his ſhips, but ſuch Merchaundiſe, as he would giue and beſtow for victualls, when his men ſhould want the ſame: and that he went in this order, only of intent to find out & diſcouer the Indias, by commandement of a great & mightie King whoſe ſeruaunt he was. All which things the Generall tolde him by the mouth of Fernan Martin, who was the Interpretour betwéene them: and then commaunded to giue them ſuch banketting meates, and wine as were carried in the ſhippe, whereof he did both eate and drinke verye well, and ſo in lyke manner did the other, who came with him, all which were likewiſe feaſted. And as the Gouernour remayned after this, a very friend to the Generall, ſo alſo did his people make much, and extende [Page] great frindſhip to our men. He aſked of our Generall, whether they came from the Turkes Countrey, for that as he had heard ſaye, the people of the ſame are white as ours were, requeſting alſo to haue a ſight of their Countrey bowes, and of the bookes of theyr Lawes: Wherevnto our Generall aunſwered, that hée and his Companye were not of the Turkes Countrey, but that they were of a great Kingdome, which confined vppon the ſame, and as touching theyr bowes and weaponnes, hée ſhoulde with verye good will ſée them: But as for the Bookes of theyr Lawes, they had none there with them, for to carrye the ſame, were to no purpoſe, ſince vppon the Sea, they néeded not the vſe thereof. Then were brought before him certaine Croſſebowes, which alſo in his preſence were bent and ſhot off, whereat hée greatly meruayled. They alſo produced to ſight and viewe of him certaine harneſſes or armours, whereat he alſo meruailed much.

By occaſion of this méeting and feaſting, the Captaine Generall had notice and intellygence, that from thence to Calycut were nine hundred leagues, and that it was verye néedefull and neceſſarye for him to take a Pilot of this Countrey, to conduct him and his Companye, by reaſon they ſhoulde finde manye ſhoells in theyr Courſe thether: and alſo that along the Coaſt there are manye Cities: Moreouer hée vnderſtoode then, that Presbiter Ioan was farre from thence within the Countrey.

Now ſince it was ſo expedient to haue a Pilot, the Generall then requeſted to haue two ſuch of the Gouernour, who graunted and made promiſe of the ſame, vppon condition that our men ſhoulde well vſe and content them: Of theſe Pilots ſo promiſed, our men were glad, for that if one of them ſhoulde happe to dye, the other yet might remayne and ſerue theyr purpoſe, and for that conſideration, our Generall required a couple. After this time, the Gouernour once more came to viſit the General, bringing with him both the Pilottes he had made promiſe of, [Page] to each of which was giuen thirtie Crownes and a coate, euery Crowne worth in money, fiue ſhillings, with this condition, and from that day forward, that when the one of them would goe to ſhore, the other ſhould remaine in ſhip, for that our men would alwaies haue one of them on ſhipboord, whileſt they remained in Harbour.

¶How the Gouernour of Monſambicke, vnderſtanding that our Fleete was neither of the Turkes nor yet Moores, would haue taken and killed them, and how the Captaine generall vnderſtood thereof: and what further than followed. Cap. 7.

THeſe méetings and ſpeaches thus had, for aſſuraunce of friendſhip betwéene them, & the concourſe of them being ended, and the Gouernour departed, yet then immediately after appeared, that thoſe Moores hauing had ſuch company and long talke with our men had gathered and come to knowledge that they were Chriſtians,The Moores withdravv ther good wils knovving that vve vvere Chtiſtians wherevpon all former good will and friendſhip of the Moores, was now couerted into wrath and furie, for they practiſed meanes to kill our men, and ſo to take the ſhips. The Gouernour had thereof conſulted and made prouiſion, for execution of their miſcheuous enterpriſe, which had bene likely to haue taken place, and ſorted to a ſorrowfull hap and euent, had not the Almightie of his diuine goodneſſe, moued the heart of one of the Moores, which was receiued for Pilot to diſcouer the ſame to the Captaine generall, who fearing leaſt thoſe Infidells ſhould ſodainlye indaunger him and his, for that they were manie in number, and with him were but a ſmall companye, did therefore determine to remaine no longer in that harbour. And ſo vpon the Saterday, being the tenth daye of March, & ſeuen dayes after his arriuall there, he departed thence, and went with his ſhips into the Sea, and came to an Ankor harde by an [Page] Ilande in the ſame, which was one league from that of Monſambicke, and this was done, to purpoſe, that vppon Sunday, they would heare Maſſe on lande, confe [...] themſelues, and receiue the Sacrament, which ſince [...] comming from Lixborne they had not done. After our ſhippes wer thus at an Anker, the Captain general then perceiuing the ſame to be in place of aſſurance ſo as the Moores ſhould not burne them, (whereof before he was greatly afrayde) which now by their remooue was preuented and put out of doubt, he then determined to retourne to Monſambicke in his boate, to demaund the other Pilot that remayned on lande at their comming thence: and ſo leauing his brother with the Fléete in order and readineſſe to come and ſuccour him, if he ſhould ſée him in daunger, he departed towardes Monſambicke carrieng with him Nicholas Coello in his boate and the other Pilot Moore. Going in this ſort, they ſaw how there came bearing right with his boate, ſixe boates with many armed Moores, hauing long bowes & arrowes, and alſo ſhieldes and ſpeares, who when they ſawe our men, beganne then to call vnto them, willing them to come to the harbour of their Towne. The Pilot Moore tolde the Generall what they meant by their ſignes and tokens they made, and gaue him counſell to retourne thether, for that otherwiſe the Gouernour woulde not delyuer the other Pilot which remained on the ſhore, at which his ſpeach, the General was very angry, ſuppoſing he gaue that counſell, to the ende at their comming néere the ſhore, hée might eſcape and runne away, and therefore commaunded him to priſon, and cauſed foorthwith to ſhoote at theyr boats with their Ordinaunce, which ſhot when Paulo de la Gama heard, and beléeuing it had bene ſome further matter of daungers to the General, then the cauſe thereof was indéed, he immediately came forwarde with the ſhip called Berrio vnder ſaile, which when the Nigroes perceiued, they fied, & made away with great haſt, and ſo faſt that the Captaine generall could not ouertake them, & therfore he returned with his brother to the other ſhips where they lay at Ankor. [Page] The next day the Generall, with all his men went on land, heard Maſſe, and receiued the Sacrament very deuoutlye, being the night before confeſſed: which being done, they all went aboord their ſhips, and made ſayle the ſame day. The Generall perceiuing no hope to remaine for recouerie of the other Pilot, which was on ſhore in Monſambicke, gaue them commaundement to releaſe him that was in the ſhip committed to priſon, (as before you haue heard, whome they carried with thē on their voyage.The other Moore Pilot in reuēge practiſeth treaſō againſt the fleete This Pilot minded to be reuenged vpon y• Generall, in ſtomacke of his impriſonment, determined to cary thē to y• Iland Quiloa, which was peopled all with Moores, and as it ſéemed, meant to informe the King of that place, that our ſhippes were of the Chriſtians, of purpoſe thereby to occaſion him to kill and deſtroy them all: and therefore ſubtillie to ſhaddowe his wicked intent, he willed and perſwaded the Captaine generall, not to trouble himſelfe with the want of the other Pilot, for that he would carrie him to a great Iland, which was from thence one hundreth leagues, and inhabited as it were the one halfe by the Moores, and the other by Chriſtians, which alwaies were at wars the one with the other, from whence alſo he might furniſh himſelfe with Pilots to carry him to Calycut: But as the Captaine generall had good liking of thoſe ſpeaches, ſo yet gaue he no great credite to the man, neuertheleſſe he did promiſe him great giftes, if he did carrie him to that Countrey: and ſo went forward on his voyage with a ſmall winde. The Tueſdaye after, being within ſight of lande from whence he departed, hée was incalmed, which did indure Tueſdaye and Wenſdaye, the next night after with an Eaſterly wind being but ſmal, he made way, and went into the Sea, and vpon Thurſday in the morning, founde himſelfe and all the Fléete, foure leagues backe behinde Monſambicke, & ſo going vntill the Euening the ſame day, came then to an Anker hard to that Iland, where the Sunday next following he heard Maſſe. The winde thus being contrary to his purpoſe of Nauigation, he therefore remained in that place eight daies to wait [Page] for ſuch gale thereof as would ſerue to put him forward on his iourney: In which time repaired to our ſhips a white Moore which was a Miniſter of the Moores of Monſ [...]mbicke, A vvhite Moore repaireth to our ſhips. who comming on boord the ſhip of the Generall, declared that the Gouernour of the ſame Towne greatlye did repent him of the breach of peace & friendſhip he had made with him, & that he would gladly renew the ſame againe & confirme it, & ſo remaine a friend. To whom the Generall returned aunſwere by that meſſenger to this effect, that he would make no peace with the Gouernour, neither would he be his friend, vntill ſuch time as he did ſend to him his Pilot whom he had hired and payed, with this aunſwere, the Miniſter departed, and neuer came againe. The Captaine generall thus ſtaieng ſtill there, and expecting the winde, there came to him after the Minſter was gone, a certaine Moore, who brought his Sonne with him being a boye, and aſked the Generall whether he woulde carrye them in his ſhips with him to the Citie of Mylynde, which he ſhould finde in the courſe he ſhoulde kéepe towards Calycut: Declaring that he would gladly goe with him, and returne to his Countrey which was néere to Meca, from whence he came as a Pilot, in a ſhip to Monſambicke, and therewith aduertiſed the Generall, not to tarry vppon any aunſwere, from the Gouernour, who he was aſſured would make no peace with him, for that he was a Chriſtian. The Captaine was verye gladde of the comming of this Moore, for by him hée déemed, to gather ſufficient matter of information and intellygence of the Strayghtes of the Redde Sea, and alſo of the Townes that lye and be ſcituated along the Coaſt, by the which he muſt ſayle to Mylynde, and therefore he commaunded to receyue the ſame Moore and his Sonne into his Shippe, and by reaſon it was then ſomewhat late, and that they had no ſtore of water, the Generall with the other Captaines determined to enter into the Harbour of Monſambicke, to take in there ſo much as they néeded, appointing alſo there ſhoulde be great watch, for [Page] preuention of the Moores, leaſt that they ſhould by anye deuice ſet on fire the ſhips. Vpon this determination and being prepared accordingly, they procéeded and entered the harbour on thurſday, and when the night was come, they launched out their boates to go with them for water, for the Pilot of Monſambicke informed the Generall, that it was within the firme lande, offering to bring him to the ſame. Wherevpon taking the Pilot with him, he departed about midnight to goe thether, hauing Nicholas Coello in his cō pany, and leauing Paulo de la gama in charge of the ſhips. Being come to the place where the Pilot informed the water to be, it could not ſo be found, for he no doubt, went more to make eſcape and runne awaye, then to perfourme what before he promiſed, but whether that he was amazed with imagination of eſcape, and ſo could not finde it, or that of mallice (ſince he could not run away) he would not finde it, he cauſed them to ſpend that night without attaining the purpoſe of their repaire thether, wherefore the day light appearing, and ſéeing they could not finde the water, the Generall would remaine no longer, hauing but a ſmall company of men with him ther, and fearing leaſt the Moores wold ſet vpon him, did therefore determine to goe to his ſhips, of purpoſe to fetch more men, and ſo if néed were to fight with his enimies, knowing alſo he ſhould farre better finde the water by day then by night. So hauing bene at his ſhips, and there furniſhed his boates with more force of men and armour, he retourned to ſhore ward againe, carrieng with him the Pilot of Monſambicke, and hauing alſo Nicholas Coello in his companye as before to take in water. And when they drew néere to the ſame, the Pilot ſéeing that hée by no meane or deuice coulde runne awaye, did then foorthwith ſhew them the water, which was harde by the ſhore ſide, where alſo then were in ſight the number of twentie Moores ſkirmiſhing with their dartes, and ſhowing as though they were appointed there for the purpoſe and wold defende the water againſt ſuch as would enterprice to fetch or take any thereof. [Page] The manner whereof when our Generall ſawe, he cauſed to be ſhot off, thrée gunnes to force them to auoide & giue place in that grounde,The Moores runne away at the cracke of the ordinaunce ſo as our men might leape forth of their boates and land without reſiſtance: The Moores amazed & afrighted with cracke and ſhot of ye Ordinance, ran away and hid themſelues in certein buſhes, and ſo our men quietly landed and tooke in freſh water, and a little before ye ſunne ſet arriued at their ſhips, where they found the companie there diſquieted in minde, for that a Nigroe of Iohn Cambrayes, Pilot to Paulo de la Gama, was that day run away to the Moores, wherof when the General vnderſtood, he was very ſad and ſorrowfull for the ſame, ſince he was a Chriſtian: Vppon the griefe and ſorrow héereof he remained there Fridaie following: Vpon the Saturday, béeing the xxiiii daye of March, and the euen of the Annunciation of our Lady, early in the morning appeared vpon the ſhoore ſide a Moore right ouer againſt the Fléete, who cried out with alowde and ſhrill voice, ſaieng, that if our men wold haue wate, they ſhould nowe come for the ſame thether, where they ſhould finde ſuch as would inforce them to returne. The Captaine Generall perceiuing how ſmall account they made of him, remembring alſo the iniury done him in not deliuering the Pilot, and therwith hauing freſh in memorie the loſſe and running away of the Nigoe, his Pilots ſeruant, did therevpon grow into ſome cholar, and ſo determined to ſhoote of the ordinaunce of his ſhips, into the towne of his enimies, thereby to be reuenged vpon the ſame for the iniuries done him, by the inhabitants thereof, and this his determination, he imparted to his Captaines, who hauing liking of the ſame, yéelded therevnto, and immediatly imbarked themſelues in their boates, arming the ſame with ſuch men as they had, and ſo comming before the towne, and againſt the ſame, there were Moores along the ſhore, which had made a pale of boords ſo thicke, that our men could not perceiue who was behinde the ſame. And betwéene that pale or defence and the ſea, vppon the ſhore there was one hundreth Moores, armed with Targets, [Page] ſhields, darts, bowes, arrows, & ſlings, who ſo ſoone as our boates came wtin compaſſe or reatch of their ſlings, began to ſend forth of the ſame ſtones at our men, who immediatly anſwered them again with ſhot of Ordinance, through meanes whereof they left the waters ſide, retiring within their impaled defence, which was preſently after beaten downe with our ordenance, & the enimies running to their towne, left behinde them two of their companie ſlaine in that place: the defence thus broken downe, and the ſame all carried away, the Captaine Generall with his men returned to dinner, in which time it was ſtraunge to ſee howe the Moores ran awaie by land from that towne to another, with y• feare they had of our men, and from thence they went by water to another place, which was on the other ſide. After dinner our men went with their Captains to ſee whether they could take any Moores, verely beleeuing that by taking of ſome, they ſhuld for the ſame haue reſtitution of Cambraies Nigro that was runne away as you haue heard before: And moreouer they thought to recouer two Indians which the Pilot Moore tolde the General were captiues in Monſambicke. In this iourney onely Paulo de la Gama did take foure Moores in a boate. And although ther were other boats wherin many Moores were, yet could not they be taken, for making haſt to the ſhore, & atteining the ſame, they ran away, leauing their boats as a pray to our men, who found in ye ſame much linnen cloth made of cotten, & alſo books of their lawes of Mahoma, which the Generall commanded to bee ſafely kept: And albeit he went that day along and before the town in his boate, as other his Captaines did in like manner in theirs, yet could not they procure anie talke or ſpeach with anye of the Moores of the towne, and to goe on ſhoare he durſt not, for that he had but few men in number with him, wherefore for that time hee departed thence: and the next day retourned to ſhoare to take in water, which without anye reſiſtaunce was done. Nowe beeing without all hope to recouer the Nigro and the two Indians, the generall then determined to depart without them, howbeit before his departure, he ment to viſit the town of Monſambick, & the dwellers therein, with ſome ſufficient reuenge, by ſending to the ſame ſuch meſſengers, as thereby they might deeme him their mortall enimy, through the offence they had giuen him,the tovvn of Monſā bick battered from the Fleete wherefore vpon the munday following hee went before the towne of the Moores with his Ordinaunce, and ſhooting into the ſame, deſtroied it in ſuch ſorte as the people thereof were inforced to abandon the ſame, and flye into an Ilande within the country. And ſo vpon the Tewſday being the xxvii. daie of March, our Fleet wayed Ankor & departed from the Towne of Monſambicke, & ſo in going forwarde came to an Ankor hard by two little rocks of Saint George, for ſo they named it after they came thether, where they remained, for that the [Page] winde was contrarie to their purpoſe: Neuertheleſſe hauing, after a ſmall winde they departed, howbeit the ſame was ſo ſmall, and the currents there ſo great that they were caſt backward.

Hovv the Captaine Generall after his departure from Monſambicke, went tovvards the citie of Quiola, hovv hee loſt himſelfe going to rhe Iland of Mombaſſa, & how the ſhip called S. Raphael ſtroke vpon the Flats, the vvhich novv haue the ſame name. Cap. 8.

THe Captaine Generall following his voiage, and being very glad, that they had found, that one of the foure Moores which Paulo de la Gama toke in the boate was a Pilolt, & could carry them to Calicut, vpon the Sunday being the firſt daye of Aprill, came to certeine Ilands which were very neere to the ſhore, to the firſt whereof they gaue a name, calling it the Ilande of the Aſotado, The Iland of aſotado & vvhy ſo called which they ſo named, for that they there did whippe the Pilot Moore of Monſambicke, by commaundement of the Generall, as well for that he had told them thoſe Ilands were firme land, as alſo before that he wold not ſhew the Generall the water at Monſambick in the night when they fought for the ſame as before is declared: and therefore now taking him with the lie, as informed of thoſe Ilands, y• Generall was very angrie with this Pilot, ſuppoſing as it was likly, that he did carrie them thether, of intent the ſhips ſhould be caſt away amongſt the ſame: The Moore being cruellye whipped confeſſed y• indeed he did cary & train them thether of purpoſe they ſhuld there haue periſhed, and bene caſt vpon the daungers and rockes of the Ilands: Theſe Ilands were ſo manye and ſo neere together ſcituated, that they coulde hardlye bee diſcerned one from another, which when the Generall perceiued, he made into the Seaward, and vpon the Fridaye which was the fourth daye of Aprill, made his way to the Northweſt, & before the noone tide of the ſame, had ſight of a g [...]eat land, and of two Ilandes neere to the ſame, about which, were many ſhoe [...]s: now being come nere to y• ſhore, y• pilots Moores did recknowledge y• ſame, howbeit they ſaid y• the Iland of the chriſtians is that of Quiloa, which was behind or a ſterne vs 3. leagues, wherwith the generall was much grieued, beleeuing y• certeinly they were Chriſtians as the Pilots had informed him, and that they had willingly loſt their courſe, for that the ſhippes ſhould not arriue at that place. The Pilottes ſhaddowing their treaſon made ſhew of a [Page] reaſonable excuſe, ſaieng, that as the winde was greate, ſo were the currents ſwift, by reaſon whereof the ſhippes had further made ſaile then they thought for: But the truth was indéede, that they more ſorrowed their miſſing and paſſing by the Iland where they informed to be Chriſtians, then did our Captaine Generall: For they were verely in hope to haue ben reuenged ther, vpon our men by death of them all: But GOD beholding the daunger and perill meant towards them, of his diuine goodneſſe and mercye deliuered them from the ſame, and that by a great miracle: For if our men had gone thether, not one of them had eſcaped with lyfe, ſince the Generall hauing ſuch a beliefe & opinion, that there were Chriſtians in that Iland (as the Pilot had tolde him) would no doubt haue gone preſently on land at his arriuall there, and ſo thereby runne headlong into a place where he and his people ſhould haue bene put to ſlaughter: The Generall thus ſorrowing the miſſe of that Iland, for that he ſuppoſed there to haue found Chriſtians, and the Pilots Moores in chafe with themſelues for that they had miſſed their courſe thether for purpoſe afore ſaid, it was then on each part determined, to goe back and aſſaie to finde the ſame: neuertheleſſe although they earneſtly bent themſelues to attaine vnto that deſired Ilande, and ſpent that daye in trauell to winne their purpoſe therein, yet coulde they not preuaile thereto: For ſtill the winde was ſo contrarie, and the currents ſo great, as doe what they could, they failed of their wills, and were put off from arriuall there, which no doubte was done by Gods prouidence, and of his méere fauour and goodneſſe towards our men: as not willing they ſhould receiue anie daunger, or ſuſteine crueltie, or loſſe of lyfe, amongeſt thoſe Infidels, and therefore miraculouſly he preſerued our people from the effect and ſequele of the malice of thoſe two Pilots of the Moores of Monſambicke, which had imagined in their mindes, and trauailed to bring to finall and execution their diuelliſh intent: The Captaine generall and the other Captaines thus toſſing vp and downe, to and fro, as well with their ſhips, as alſo in their [Page] mindes, determined to beare towards the Ilande of Mombaſſa, Another deuiſe of the Mores to deſtroy our men vvithall in which as thoſe two Pilots gaue information, wer two Townes, peopled and inhabited as well with Moores as Chriſtians: (which inſtructions theſe Pilots gaue, to the intent to deceiue our men, and to traine them thether, of purpoſe there to kill them, for that in déede that Ilande was altogether and whollye inhabited by Moores, as in lyke manner all that Coaſte is,) and therefore vnderſtanding that from thence to Mombaſſa are ſeauentie ſeauen leagues, they made way to goe thether, and being then towards Euening, they ſawe a great Ilande ſcituated towards the North, in which the Moores Pilots ſayde there were two Townes, one of Chriſtians, and the other of Moores, as aforeſayd. Thus they ſayd and inuented to the intent to bring our men in opinion, and make them beléeue that there were in that Land, and thoſe Coaſts many Chriſtians. In this ſort our ſhips going vnder ſaile, certayne dayes, the ſhip called Saint Raphael by fortune one morning two houres before daye light, came on ground vppon certaine ſhoells, two leagues from the firme lande, and as ſhe ſtrake on ground, they within made ſignes to the other ſhips to take héede and beware, wherevpon they ſhot by the ſhoells and came to an Ankor, launching out their boats to giue ſuccour to Paulo de la Gama Captaine in the Raphael, and perceiuing when they came to the ſame, that the water did ebbe, the Generall was meruailous glad thereof, for then he well knew, that at the next floud the ſhip would be afloate againe, ſo that now he loſt the feare and iealouſie he had conceiued, vpon the doubt he had that ſhe was loſt. Thus recomforted with the certaintie they ſaw of y• ſafetie of the ſhip, they foorthwith layed into the ſea many ankers. By this time it was daye lyght, and after that it was a lowe water, ſhe then remained drye vpon the ſhore being a Sandie ground, which was the cauſe ſhe tooke no harme, by ſtriking vpon the ſame. Our men placed their Ankers which were layd foorth right ouer againſt themſelues, and walked vpon the Sandes whileſt the Ebbe endured. [Page] So ſtaieng for the floud, and beholding and viewing that Ilande,The ſhoels of S. Raphael. ſo farre as they coulde ſée, they gaue for name to thoſe Sandes, the Shoells of Saint Raphael, in reſpect of the name, the ſhippe there ſo hazarded did beare. And to certayne great Ilandes and Hilles which were within the firme Land, directly ouer againſt thoſe ſhoells or ſands, they gaue the name of The Hills and Ilandes of Saint Raphael, vpon the ſame conſideration.

The ſhippe thus being drye, our men ſawe two boates, and Moores of that Country in the ſame comming towards them, to ſée our ſhippes, bringing manie ſwéete Orenges, farre better then thoſe of Portingale, and gaue the ſame to our men, ſaieng alſo to the Generall, that in no wiſe hée ſhould feare anye damage that coulde enſue to the ſhippe on grounde, for that when it were full Sea, ſhe woulde then be on floate agayne, ſo as at will and pleaſure the ſame might paſſe on the intended voyage thereof, with which ſpeaches the Generall was very glad not onelye for the good comfort they gaue him, but alſo in that they came in ſo good ſeaſon and time opportune, and therefore he gaue them certayne giftes, which they accepted with manye thankes, and certayne of them vnderſtanding that our Fléete intended their Courſe to Mombaſſa, they deſired the Generall to carry them with him thether, who graunted their requeſts, permitted them to abide and remayne with him, the others retourning from our Fléete to their Countrey. And when it was a full Sea, the ſhippe before on ground was afloat, and ſo came off from the Sandes, wherevpon the Captaine general returned, and procéeded on his way, with all his Fléete.

¶The deſcription of the Iland and Citie of Mombaſſa, and how the Captaine generall arriued there, and what was the ſequell that hapned him after he came thether. Chap. 9.

[Page]

THe Generall following this voyage, did vpon the Saterday béeing the ſeauenth day of Aprill, about the going downe of the Sunne the ſame daye come to an Ankor without the Barre of the Iland of Mombaſſa, which is harde by the firme lande, and is verye plentie of victualls, that is to ſaye, Millyo, Rice, and Cattell, as well great as lyttle, but all well growne and fat, chiefly their ſhéepe, which be all without fayles. Alſo they haue manye Hennes: Moreouer, the Ilande is verye pleaſaunt, hauing many Orchards, wherein are planted and are growing, great ſtore of hearbes, & many ſorts of fruites: that is to ſaye, Pomegranets, Figges of the Indias, Ore [...]ges both ſwéete and ſower, Lymons, and Cidrons, and in the ſame are manye excellent good waters. In this Ilande there is a Citie, bearing the ſelfe ſame name of the Ilande, being in foure degrées on the South ſide, it is a verye great Citie, placed and ſcituated vppon an Hill, which alſo is a Rocke, wherevpon the Sea doth beate, ſo that it cannot bée vndermined.

At the entering into the Protes or Heauen there is a Marke: and at the enteraunce vppon the Barre, there is planted or builded a lyttle Fort, lowe and néere to the water. The moſt parte of the houſes in this Citie, are builded with lyme and ſtone, with the loftes thereof wrought with fine knottes of Plaiſter of Paris, the ſtréetes therein are verye fayre. They haue a King of themſelues, and the dwellers or inhabitaunts of the ſame are Moores, whereof ſome bée white, and ſome browne of coulour, both men and women: it appeareth they are good men on horſebacke. [Page] They goe gallantly arayed, eſpecially the women, which go apparelled in gownes of ſilke, and be decked and garniſhed with Iewells of golde and precious ſtones. In this Citie is great trade of all kindes of Marchandize. There is alſo a good Harbour, where alwayes are manye ſhippes lieng at Road, and from the firme land commeth thether great plentie of Honnie, Waxe and Iuorie, the Captaine Generall thus come to the Barre of this Citie, did not then enter foorthwith, for that it was almoſt night when he came to an Ankor. But he commaunded to put foorth the flagges, and to toll their ſhippes, reioycing and making great mirth, for that their good fortune, and hope they conceyued, that in that Ilande there dwelled manye Chriſtians, and that the next daye they ſhould heare Maſſe on the ſhore. Moreouer they were greatly comforted, as hauing ſuch confidence, that in this place they might and woulde cure and heale all ſuch as were then ſicke amongeſt them, as in truth were, almoſt all that were there preſent, albeit in number but fewe, for all the others were dead. Yet ſuch as remayned and had eſcaped the ſickneſſe and diſeaſes paſt, and were not dead of the great infirmities and troubles before in this voyage chaunced vnto them. Being thus at an Ankor, and the night almoſt approched, our men ſaw about an hundred men in a great Barcke, euery one of them hauing a Sworde and a Target, who at their comming to our ſhippes, woulde haue entered therein with all theyr weapons: howbeit the Generall would not conſent thereto, neither permitted he anye more to enter then foure of them, and thoſe alſo without weapon, declaring to them in their language that they ſhoulde pardon him ſince he was a ſtraunger,Certaine of the inhabitants of this city came aboorde the ſhip. and therefore coulde not tell whom he might truſt, and vnto thoſe whom he gaue licenſe to enter aboorde his ſhip, he gaue good and gentle entertainment, banketting the ſame with ſuch Conſerues as they had, (whereof thoſe Moores did well eate) willing them not to déeme euill of him, for his denyall of theyr enteraunce in manner aforeſayde, where-vnto they aunſwered, that theyr [Page] comming then was to ſée him as a rare and new thing in that their countrie, and that he ſhoulde not meruaile to ſee them bring theyr weapons, ſince it was the cuſtome & vſe of the ſame to carrie them as well in peace as in the time of warre: alſo they further declared vnto the generall, that the king of Mombaſſa did vnderſtand of his comming, and for that it was ſo néere night, he had not then ſent to viſit him, howbeit the next day he would, and that as he was glad of his arriuall there, ſo alſo would he be more glad to ſee him, yea, and to giue him ſpices to load his ſhips, furthermore, they informed him that there were many Chriſtians, which liued by themſelues in that Iland: wherevpon the General was not onely ioyfull, but alſo fullye perſwaded that their report thereof was true and vnfeined, ſince the ſame was agréeable, and accorded with the information and talke of the two Pilottes, neuertheleſſe he carried ſome ſparke of iealouſie in his head and for all their faire ſpeaches and ſugured talke, he wiſely imagined y• thoſe Moores, came to ſée whether they might, by anie traine take one of our ſhips, wherein he geſſed vpon the truth, for certeinly their comming then was onely for that purpoſe, as afterward it was made apparant. For moſt true it was y• the king of Mombaſſa did know and had perfect intelligence that we were Chriſtians, and alſo what we had done in Monſambicke, & therefore he practiſed meanes to be reuenged of vs,Svvete practiſes of ſowre treaſon. by taking our ſhips and killing of vs, wherefore proſecuting his wicked intent therein, the next daie following, which was Palme ſundaie, he ſent to our Generall certeine white Moores, which declared to him y• their king was very glad of his comming thether, and that if he wold come into his harbour, he would liberally giue him all things he ſtoode in néede off, and for aſſurance of the ſame he ſent him a ring, a ſhéepe, and many ſwéete Orenges, Cidrons, and Sugar canes, giuing alſo theſe Moores inſtructions to tell him further, that they were Chriſtians, and that in the Iland were many chriſtened people: All which they did in ſuch ſorte counterfai [...]e, and with ſo great and déepe diſſimulation, that [Page] our men thought verely they were Chriſtians: wherefore the Generall receiued them very well, and gaue them certeine giftes, ſending to the King greate thankes for his gentle and liberall offer, ſaieng further, that the next day he woulde come néerer in: Hée ſent alſo to the King a braunch of Corall verye fine, and for more aſſuraunce to confirme the ſame, he ſent with thoſe Moores two of our men, which were baniſhed perſons, and were carried of purpoſe to bée aduentured in ſuch like reſpect of daunger, or to be lefte and putte on ſhore in ſuch places, where it ſhoulde be thought good to vnderſtande ſomewhat, and then to returne and be taken in againe, when our men and the two Moores were gone: and come to the ſhore, there met them a multitude of people to ſée them, all which went with them and viewed them, euen to the kings Pallace, where our men béeing entered, they paſſed through thrée doores before they came where the king was, at each of which there was a Porter attending, hauing euerye one of them a ſwoorde in his hand. They found the King but in ſmall eſtate, neuertheleſſe hée receiued them verye well, and commaunded that in the ſelfe ſame companie of the Moores with whome they came, they ſhould be ſhewed the Citie, and carried about the ſame in going and viewing whereof, they ſawe in the ſtréetes many men Priſoners & in yrons, but becauſe our men vnderſtoode not their language, nor they had any vnderſtanding of ours, there was no queſtion demaunded by our two meſſengers, what Priſoners thoſe were, howbeit they beléeued the ſame to bée Chriſtians, for that our Generall was informed by the two Pilottes, and the Kinges meſſengers, (as you haue before hearde) that there were in that Ilande ſuch Chriſtians, which alſo had warres with the Moores.

Moreouer they carryed our men to the Merchauntes houſe of the Indias, Merch̄ts of the Indias vvhich are Chriſtians which were Chriſtians, who hauing information that ours alſo were people Chriſtened, ſhewed themſelues to be ioyfull thereof, both imbracing and banketting them, ſhewing them painted in a Paper, the figure [Page] of the holy Ghoſt, the which they did worſhippe, and before them made their Prayers vppon theyr knées, and that with ſuch a counteuaunce, and ſhew of greate deuotion, as though they were ſuch men inwardlye indéede, as in appearaunce outwardlye they then pretented, and made ſhewe off: Furthermore, the Moores then tolde our men by ſignes, that manye other Chriſtians as thoſe were, did dwell in another place farre from thence, and therefore they would not carrie them thether: howbeit they ſayde, that after our Captaine Generall were come into the Porte or Harbour, they ſhoulde goe and ſée them. All theſe thinges thoſe wilie people, ſhewed and imparted to our men, of purpoſe to deceiue them and to allure them to come within that Porte, where they were determined to deſtroy and kill them all.

After they had ſéene the Citie, they were then brought to the preſence of the King, who commaunded to ſhew them Pepper, Ginger, Cloaues, and Wheate, giuing them of euerye ſorte thereof ſome portion to be carryed and ſhewed the Generall, and ſent him worde by his meſſenger, that of all thoſe commodities he hadde greate ſtore, and woulde giue him his loading if that hée woulde. Alſo that he had Golde, and Siluer, Amber, Waxe, Iuorye, and other riches, in ſo greate plentie, that hée ſhoulde haue and finde there when hée woulde for leſſe valour and priſes, then in anie other place.

This Meſſage was brought to our Captaine Generall vppon Mundaye, who hauing ſéene the Spices, and hearing of the Kinges promiſe, to furniſhe him the ſame, and to lade him therewith, was meruailous gladde of that offer, and ſo much the rather, was hée confirmed in opinion of good lucke, for that our two baniſhed men, hadde gathered ſuch intelligence, and made him ſo full and good declaration of the People, Citie, and Lande there, and chiefelye of the two Chriſtians, they founde in the Houſe of the Merchauntes of the Indias.

[Page] Wherefore he & his Captaines immediatly aduiſed themſelues thereof, and ſo entering into counſel for the ſame, it was by them thought good, to come within the port, and to accept the offer of Spices, and afterwarde to goe on theyr voiage to Calicut, where if they could not haue the like, they would remaine content, with that they ſhould haue in this place, and thus hauing concluded vppon theſe pointes, they determined to enter into the harbour the next daie: in this meane while came certeine Moores to our ſhips with ſo great quietneſſe, and humilitie, and with ſuch ſhew and appearance of friendlineſſe and loue, as though they had ben of long acquaintance and familiaritie with our men: The next day following in the morning, y• floud being come, the Generall commanded to take vp their Ankors, minding to enter the harbour, but God not willing that he and the reſt ſhould enter into that preſent miſchiefe,God ſent them fatherly checks to keepe thē frō vtter deſtructiō nor to ende theyr liues in that place (as the Moores had determined they ſhuld haue done,) did therefore cauſe and prouide the meane that preuented that perill, and wrought their ſafetie: For when the Generalls ſhip had wayed her Ankor, and was going to enter the port, ſhe ſtrake vpon a ſhoel that was aſterne the ſame, which hap when he perceiued, and fearing hée ſhould caſt himſelfe away, he then forthwith commanded, to let fall his Ankor, & in like ſort did the other Captaines alſo: which chance when the Moores that were in the ſhips ſawe, & that the Generall was come to an ankor, they then imagined that during that daye, they ſhoulde not gette the Fléete into the harbour, and therefore they ran to theyr boate, which they had on the ſhips ſide to goe to the Citie, at which inſtant alſo the Pilots of Monſambicke, falling a ſtearne the Admirall, tooke the water, and thoſe of the boate tooke them in and carried them away with them, although the Generall called vnto them, requiring them to bring backe, and deliuer them to him againe: But when he ſawe they would not ſo doe, then he apparantlye perceiued that ther was an euill meaning in their King and them, towards him and his, and that it was his great goodneſſe and [Page] fauour to giue him cauſe of ſtaye, by happening vppon that ſhoell, thereby to preſerue him from their treaſon imagined, and put in practiſe: Thus hauing declared to all his company, the opinion he conceiued of that which then before their eyes was done, and appeared to be deuiſed and wrought againſt them, he then commaunded the night beeing come, to giue ſome torments or torture, to two of the Moores, which he brought captiues with them from Monſambicke, thereby to ſée whether they had practiſed any treſon, and to inforce them to open and diſcloſe the ſame: which commaundement being obſerued, and put in execution, by heating and dropping of bacon vppon their fleſh, they immediately confeſſed, they had conſpired treaſon, and that the Pilots tooke the Sea, as fearing the ſame had ben diſcloſed: wherevpon the Generall, altogether altered his minde and purpoſe of going into that Harbour. Neuertheleſſe being vnquiet and greatly gréeued at their falſhood, he was deſirous to vſe lyke torture to another Moore captiue alſo: to make tryall whether he were of counſell and in conſort with the reſt.

But this Moore perceiuing preparation made for that purpoſe, did caſt himſelfe his hands being bound, into the ſea, as in lyke manner another of them did, before it was daye light. The ſecrecie of the miſchiefe prepared, being thus come to apparaunt view, and ſo diſcouered, the Generall gaue great thankes to God, by whoſe only goodneſſe, he and his company were delyuered from imminent death and ſlaughter amongſt thoſe Infidells, and therefore in contemplation and thankes giuing for the ſame, he and his company béeing aboord the Admirall, ſayd the Salue Regina. After this being mindfull of their ſafetie, and fearing leaſt the Moores would attempt ſome matter againſt them in the night time, they therefore ordained ſtrong and diligent watch, commaunding euerye man to watch armed: And héere by the way is to be noted one thing, and that to bee meruayled at, which is this: That when our men came firſt before the Towne of Mombaſſa, all ſuch amongeſt [Page] them as then were ſicke, (which indéede were many) began then preſently to be whole: ſo that in this time of theyr great neceſſitie, and daunger, they felt and found themſelues ſound and ſtrong, which as it was paſt all hope and expectation of man, and farre aboue the common courſe of Nature, and operation of the ſame, ſo the more liuely it appeared to be the meruailous and ſupernaturall worke of God, and therefore miraculouſly done at this inſtant time of neceſſitie, when his diuine power was to be ſéene and extended, for the preſeruation of that poore diſtreſſed number, which then had their onely affiaunce in him. The watch thus prepared and ſet for that night, it fortuned that thoſe which watched in the ſhippe Berrio, felt the gabell of the ſame wagging, whereat an Ankor lay into the Sea, and at the firſt they adiudged that the gabell had bene wagged or ſhaken by a kinde of Fiſh called a Tunnie whereof many were there about which be very great and good meate,Tunnie good meate & plentifull in the coaſt of Mōbaſſa. but giuing better and more attentiue eare thereto, they then perceiued that their enimies were at the ſame, who in truth did ſwimme about the gabell, and were cutting of it with their woodkniues or fawchings, and hoping or rather verely knowing, that perfourming their enterpriſe thereof the ſhippe would runne a ſhore, and ſo both ſhe and our men in the ſame be caſt away and taken: For by any other deuiſe they coulde not accompliſh their willes, and therefore they practiſed this meane. Howbeit our men hauing diſcryed whereabout they were, preuented them, by crieng out and calling to the other ſhippes, ſhowing what was in dooing, and willing them alſo to beware and looke to the ſame, wherevpon they of the ſhippe Raphael, came preſentlye to their ſuccour and reſcew, finding ſome of their enimies amongſt the cheines of the tacklings of their formaſt, who perceiuing how they were diſcouered, ſodainly caſt themſelues vnder water, and with the others that were cutting the gabell of the ſhippe Berrio, fledde away ſwimming to certaine boates, which they had lyeng ſomewhat farre off, wherein (as our men afterward vnderſtoode) were many [Page] Moores, who taking them in, rowed faſt awaye, and ſo retourned to the Citie. The Wenſday and Thurſday following, our Fléete ſtill remained there, about which in y• night time came the enimies in boates, which alwayes lay harde by the ſhore, from which ſome of them did ſwimme of purpoſe to eſpie, if by any meane they could cut a ſunder the gabells of the Ankors, but our men obſerued and kept ſuch diligent and warie watch, that they could not preuaile, neuertheleſſe our men were greatlye troubled, and put in feare of burning their ſhippes. For truly it was to be meruayled at, that the Moores came not about the ſame in ſuch ſhippes as they had, which if they had done, it had bene then lykely by all coniecture of man, that they ſhould haue deſtroyed and killed vs all. It was coniectured that they béeing in feare of the Ordinaunce in our ſhippes, durſt not giue attempt to ſet vppon the ſame by force, but whatſouer cauſe appeared in our ſightes to bée a lette in that reſpect to them: It was moſt certayne in déede, that it was God his good will and fauour, to put their hearts in feare to deale with vs in anye forceable manner, whereby we might be preſerued from the crueltie intended towardes vs.

¶Heerein is contayned matter of the Citie of Mylinde, and how the Captaine generall came thether. Chap. 10.

THe Captaine generall did willingly tarrie & remaine before Mombaſſa, the two daies as before is declared, of purpoſe to ſée if he could haue from thence two Pilots to cary him to Calicut, for that without them it was verye hard for him to goe thether, [Page] ſince our Pilots had no knowledge of that Countrey. But when he ſawe he coulde not haue anye there, he departed thence vpon Friday in the morning with a ſmall winde, and at the comming ouer the Barre, he lefte behinde him one of his Ankors, for his men were ſo wearied with bringing and hailing vp the reſt, that they coulde not waye vp the ſame, which afterward being found ther by the Mores, was carried to the Citie, and placed harde by the Kings Pallaice, and remained there at what time Don Franco de Almeyda was the firſt Lord Preſident of the Indias: who when he tooke the ſame towne from the Moores, found this Ankor there, as I ſhall declare in the ſecond Booke of this preſent Treatiſe. Being thus departed from Mom. baſſa and paſſing on their voyage, eight leagues beyonde the ſame, the Generall and his Fléete, through lacke of winde, came to an Ankor hard by the land in the night, and in the dawning of the daye, they diſcouered two Sambucos (which are little Pinnacies) vnder the lye, thrée leagues from the Fléete a Sea boord, which when the Generall ſawe, and being deſirous to haue ſome Pilots to carrie him to Calycut, he ſuppoſed he might be ſped of ſuch to ſerue his turne, if he could take thoſe ſmall boates or Pinnacies, and therfore waying his Ankors, he and the other Captaines went towards them, and purſued the ſame vntil Euenſong time, at which inſtant the Generall tooke one of them, but the other ranne alande, from whence before it came. In this Pinnace which was ſo taken, were ſeauentéene Moores, amongſt which was one olde Moore, who ſéemed to be Maſter of the reſt, hauing with him a young woman that was his wife:Among the Mores alſo olde men vſe to marrie yoūg vvomen. In the ſame alſo was found great ſtore of ſiluer and golde, and ſome victualles. The Captaine not ſtayeng vppon this occaſion, foorthwith went forwarde, and in the ſelfe ſame daye with his whole Fléete came harde by Mylynde, which is eightéene leagues from Mombaſſa, and in thrée degrées to the Southwarde it hath no good Harbour, for that it is almoſt an open Roade, but there is a certain Piere or recife wheron the ſea doth beat, [Page] which is the cauſe why the ſhips doe ride far from y• ſhore: This Citie ſtandeth in a broad field along the Sea ſide, & round about the ſame are many Palme trées, with many other ſorts of trées, which all the yeare grow gréene: Alſo many Gardens and Orchards,The beautiful ſcituation of Mylynde, vvith the pleaſantnes of the ſoile, and fruits. repleniſhed with all kind of hearbes and fruits, and very faire fountaines of good waters in the ſame: But principally their Orenges excel, which are not onely very great, but alſo very ſweet and pleaſant in taſt: They haue alſo great ſtore and plentie of victuals, as Mylyo and Ryſe, Cattell both greate and ſmall, alſo great ſtore of Hennes, which bee very fat and good cheape. The Citie is great, hauing in the ſame faire ſtréets, & many faire houſes of lime and ſtone, builded with many lofts, with their windowes and tarriſis made of Lime & earth: The naturall people of that Countrie are blacke, and of good proportion of bodie, with curled haire, the ſtraungers which reſort thether & make their abode there, are Moores of Arabia which doe gouerne themſelues very well & commendably, eſpecially the Gentlemen, who from the girdle vpward goe naked, and from the ſame downeward doe couer themſelues with ſilke, and with very fine cotten cloth, and others with ſhort Cloakes made of Cotten after the olde faſhion, the which they doe weare to couer their arms pits: and vpon their heads, they weare a certeine manner of Cloth wrought with ſilke and golde. They weare alſo rich Daggers with great taſſels of ſilke, of many colours, and ſwoords very well garniſhed: They be all left handed, and carrie with them alwaies bows and arrowes, for they vſe the paſtime of ſhooting, & be great good Archers. Moreouer, they account themſelues to be good horſemen, although there be a common ſaieng or ſpeach vſed by the inhabitants in the coaſts thereaboutes: The men on horſebacke of Mombaſſa: and the women of Mylynde: for as in Mombaſſa be very good horſemen, ſo in Mylynde are very faire women, which goe richly apparelled: In this Citie alſo dwel many Gentiles of the kingdome of Cambaya, which is in the Indias: and thoſe are greate merchants vſing tract [Page] or traficke for golde, whereof there is ſome in that Countrie, as in like manner ther is Amber greace, Iuory, Pitch, and Waxe, all which they giue in exchaunge to ſuch as come from Cambaya for Copper, Quickſiluer, and Cloth of Cotten, and that the one and the other hath gaines therof: The king of this Citie is a Moore, and is ſerued with farre greater eſtate then the other kings which remaine behinde▪ Mylynde like a city of Portingale The Generall being come ouer againſt this Citie did reioyce in his heart very much, and ſo likewiſe did all the reſt of the Fléete, for that they now ſawe, a Citie lyke vnto thoſe of Portingale, and therefore they rendered moſt heartie and humble thankes to God, for their good and ſafe arriuall there: And being deſirous to haue ſome Pilottes to carrie them to Calicut, the Generall commaunded to come to an Ankor, minding to aſſay if he coulde by anye meanes obteine ſuch there as might ſerue for that purpoſe: For vntill this time, he could not know of the Moores hée had taken, whether amongeſt them were any Pilots, who albeit they were offered torments, ſtill anſwered and ſaid, there were none of them ſkilfull in that reſpect.

¶How the Captaine Generall ſent a Moore in meſſage to Mylynde, and what aunſwere the King made him. Cap. 11.

THE next day after being Eaſter euen, the old Moore which was taken Captiue, with the reſt in the Pinnace, tolde the Generall that in Mylynde were foure ſhips of the Chriſtian Indias, promiſing alſo that if he would licenſe him, and the other Moores to goe to land, he would giue him for his reſgat, Chriſtian Pilots, and moreouer wold furniſh him with all things he had néede off. The Generall being well pleaſed with the ſpeaches, and offer of this olde Moore, commaunded to wey theyr Ankors, and ſo remoued and came to an Ankor within [Page] in halfe a league of the Citie. But from thence there came no bodie to our Fléete, for they feared and were in doubt that our men would take them captiue, and beſides they knew by the Pinnace which the Generall tooke, that wee were Chriſtians, beléeuing alſo that our Shippes were Shippes of warre: All which the Generall ſuppoſing they coniectured: hée therefore vppon the Mundaye in the morning commaunded the olde Moore to a certeine ſhelfe lyeng ouer againſt the Citie, and there to leaue him, from whence he déemed they woulde fetch him, as indéede they did, for when our Boate was gone from thence, there came from the ſhoare a boat for the Moore, & ſo caried him awaye preſently to the King, to whome the Moore declared on the behalfe of the Generall what hée requeſted to haue, and further that hée deſired to be at peace with him, in reſpect of his noble perſonage, whereof hée had heard greate good reporte, hoping alſo that it was God his great good will & pleaſure that the Indias ſhould bée diſcouered, which the rather by his aide & furtherance might be accompliſhed. The king hearing and receiuing in fauourable part the meſſage, and meſſenger, was alſo verie gladde thereof, and forthwith retourned the Moore in a Boate, ſending with him one of his owne ſeruauntes, and a Prieſt by whome hée ſent the Captaine Generall worde, that he was verye willing to conclude a peace betwéene them, and that hée woulde giue him ſuch Pilottes,A preſent ſent to ye Captaine Generall from the king of Mylynde as he woulde deſire, with whatſoeuer beſides he had néede of, and by theſe meſſengers were preſented to the Generall, from the King thrée Shéepe, many Orenges, and Sugar Canes, which he receiued in thankfull wiſe, & by the ſelfe ſame meſſenger, returned anſwere to the king their Maiſter, that he graunted vnto, and accepted of the peace moued and offered betwéene them, and was and woulde be readie to confirme the ſame. Moreouer hée ſaide vnto them, that the next daye, hée would enter into their Harbour, and that the King ſhoulde vnderſtande that hee came from, and is ſubiecte to a greate King, vppon the Cape of the Occident, who [Page] was deſirous to know where the Citie of Calicut ſtoode, & had ſent him to finde out and diſcouer the ſame, commaunding him alſo, to make peace with all kings and Princes, vpon whoſe territories in his waie, he ſhould hap to come and arriue, which would be willing to haue the ſame with him: and further tolde them that it was now two yeares ſince he came from his Countrie, and that the king his Maiſter was ſuch a worthy and puiſſaunt Prince, as the king their Maiſter would be gladde to knowe him for his friend: Thus hauing talked and diſcourſed with them to effect aforeſaid, hée then diſmiſſing them, ſending by the ſame for a Preſent a Hat, (which in that time was vſed) and two braunches of Corall, thrée baſons of Braſſe, certeine little Bells, and two Scarffes to the king. The next daie after, being the ſecond after Eaſter daie, the Captaine Generall came néere to the Citie, whereof the king hauing knowledge, did immediatly ſend to viſite him, in more honourable ſorte: for hearing how farre of he was come, and what he ſought, he adiudged the king of Portingale to bée a Prince of a great ſtomack, and the General to be a worthy ſubiect in obeyeng to hazard himſelfe, in ſo daungerous and long a iourney Alſo hée conceiued greate pleaſure in his heart that he ſhoulde ſée ſuch people, as had ſo long time trauailed vpon the ſea, and ſo deſirous to ſée our men, he ſent word to the Generall, that the next day following, he would in his own perſon viſite him, and that their méeting ſhould be vpon the water, and therewith ſent him ſixe ſhéepe, and ſtore of Cloues, Ginger, Pepper, and Nutmegs. This meſſage thus declared, the Captaine Generall yéelded to the kings determination, and therevpon did enter néerer, and came to an Ankor, harde to the foure ſhippes of the Indias, (whereof the olde Moore tolde him before.) The Owners then hauing knowledge that our ſhippes came from a Chriſtian Countrie, and that we were Chriſtians, did immediatly come to viſite our Generall, who at that inſtant was in the ſhip of Paulo de la Gama: Theſe men are browne of coulour, but they are of good ſtature & well [Page] proportioned:The deſcriptiō of their perſons and attire that inhabite this coū trey and Citie. They goe apparelled in long white gownes made of cotten, they haue great beards, & the hayre of their heades is long lyke vnto womens, and pleited vnder theyr toockes, which they weare on theyr heades. The Generall at theyr repaire to him, receiued them verye well, aſking them firſt whether they were Chriſtians, by an Interpretour he had that could ſpeake the Algarauia tongue, wherof they had ſome vnderſtanding, ſaieng that it was not their proper language, howbeit they yet had ſome knowledge therof, by occaſion of the trade and talke they vſually haue with ye Moores, of whom they aduiſed him to beware, and not haue ouer farre truſt and confidence in thoſe of Mylynde, leaſt that the ſequell of their inwarde meaning, were farre contrarie to their outwarde ſhewe. The Generall determining of himſelfe to make tryall, whether they were Chriſtians or not, or had anye knowledge of God, commaunded to bring forth a Table, wherein was painted the picture of our Ladie at what time ſhe wept, in which alſo were the pictures of ſome of the Apoſtles, and ſhewed the ſame to the Indians, not telling them what it was: which they ſawe, they fell preſently downe vpon the ground, worſhipping that Repreſentation, and prayed a while, whereof our Generall was verye ioyfull, and then demaunded whether they were of the Citie of Calycut, wherevnto they aunſwered, No: howbeit they ſayd they were of another Citie, further off called Grangalor, but of Calicut they could not ſay or informe any thing. And from this time, ſo long as our Fléete remayned there, they dayly came to the ſhippe of Paulo de la gama, to make their prayers before that Table, and did offer to the Images in the ſame, Pepper, and other things. Theſe Indians did eate no Béefe, as we were informed of them.

¶How the King of Mylynde viſited the Captaine generall, and made peace with him, giuing him a Pilot to carry him to Calycut. Cap. 12.

[Page]

THe laſt day of the eight after Eaſter, dinner being done, the King of Mylynde came in a great boate hard to our Fléete, apparelled in a Caſſocke of Crimſon Damaſke, lined with gréene ſatten, hauing vpon his head a rich towell. He was ſitting in a chaire, ſuch as was vſed in olde time, very well made and wrought with wire, being in ſight very faire, and in the ſame was a cuſhion of ſilke, and another like vnto that hard by him, which was couered with a hat of Crimſon ſatten. There ſtood hard by him as his Page, an olde man, who carried a very rich ſword, the ſcabered wherof was ſiluer: he brought with him manye Shagbuts, and two Flutes of Iuorie, which were eight ſpans of length each of them, they were very well wrought, and vppon the ſame they played by a little hole that is in the midſt thereof, agréeing and according well with the ſhagbuts. There came with the King, about the number of twentie Moores Gentlemen all richly apparelled. The King now being come néere to the ſhips, the Captaine generall came forth to méete him in his boat well trimmed and ſet out with all his flagges, and he himſelfe comely araied, withall his beſt apparell, carrieng with him twelue of the moſt principall men of his ſhippes, his brother onely except, whom he left with charge of ye ſame. The boates of each part being come néere together,The meeting of the king of Mylind and the Captaine generall. and the one making countenance of friendly ſalutation & entertainment to the other, the King then ſaid to the Generall, that he would ſpeake with him in his owne boat, of purpoſe to ſée & view him the better, whervpon foorthwith he receiued him into his boat, the King then giuing to the Generall as great honour & curteſie as though he had alſo ben a King: he very earneſtly noted & beheld him & his men, as a ſtrange ſight and matter to him and his people: he required the Generall to tell him the name of his King, and being tolde, he [Page] commaunded the ſame to be then preſently written: he alſo inquired matter perticularly of him, & of his power, whervnto the Generall aunſwered, and in euerye point ſatiſfied his demaund, declaring alſo for what cauſe ye king his maſter had ſent him to diſcouer Calicut, which was to haue from thence ſpices, whereof in his dominion & countrey was none. And after he had thus talked with the King & informed him ſomewhat of the ſame & of the ſtraights of ye red Sea, the King then promiſed to him a Pilot to carry him to Calicut, & alſo very earneſtly deſired him to goe with him into his Citie, there to take his pleaſure, & ſolace himſelf in his Pallaice, ſaieng it was néedfull & neceſſary, after ſo many troubles, in ſo long a voyage ſuſtained, to vſe ſome recreation, and take ſome reſt: further then promiſing, that if he would ſo do, that afterward he in like manner would go with him to ſée his ſhips, & make merry in the ſame, whervnto the Generall aunſwered, that he had no licenſe of the King his Maſter to go a ſhore, & therefore if he ſhuld varie from his Princes wil & commaundement therein, he ſhuld then giue an euill accompt of himſelfe, to which excuſe the King replied, ſaieng, that if he ſhuld go to ſée his ſhips, what accompt ſhould he then make to thoſe of his Citie, or what might they déeme & adiudge of him therein: yet notwithſtanding he ſaid, yt it was a griefe to him yt he refuſed to go with him to his Citie, which was & ſhuld be at ye commandemēt of him & of ye king his maſter, to whom he wold ſend his Embaſſador or els write, if he wold come yt way at his returne from Calicut. The General yéelding thanks to the King, promiſed him to returne y• way, & whileſt they were thus talking there, did ſend for thoſe Moores, which he had taken captiues, and gaue them to the King, ſaieng that if he could do him any further pleaſure, he would gladly doe the ſame: with which gift the King was ſo content, that he ſaid, he did more eſtéeme of the ſame, then if he had giuen him ſuch another Citie as that of Mylynde was. Now hauing ended their talke and confirmed the friendſhip betwéene them, the King then rowing amongſt our ſhips, [Page] and behelde the ſame, with great pleaſure and admiration▪ out of which great ſtore of ſhot of Ordinaunce paſſed, wherewith they were greatlye delyghted, all which time our Generall went with him, to whom he declared, that he neuer ſaw any men of whom he tooke ſo great pleaſure, as he did of thoſe of Portingall, whereof he woulde gladye haue ſome with him, to helpe him in his warres, which he hath ſometime with his enimies: for it well appeared they were men apt to offend their enimie, and to abide and ſuffer any trauell or paine, that ſhould happen vnto them. To which his ſpeaches the Generall aunſwered, that if hée had experience of their doings, he woulde then a great deale better lyke of them, and further that they would helpe him, if the King his Maſter would ſende his ſhips of warre to Calicut, as he doubted not but he would, if it wer Gods good pleaſure to permit the ſame to be diſcouered. After the King had in this ſort ſolaced himſelf, he then deſired the General, that ſince he would not go with him to his Citie, he ſhuld then let him haue two of his men to go and ſée his Pallaice, and for pledge of the ſame, he would giue him his ſonne, and one of his chiefe Chaplaines, the which they call Cacis, wherevnto the Generall yéelded and appointed two of our men to go with the King, who at his departure, requeſted the Generall that the next day he would goe along in his boate hard by the ſhore, where he ſhuld ſée his horſmen running, & ſo they departed for that time, the next day being Thurſday, the Captaine generall & Nicholas Coello, went in their boates armed along the ſhore, the one ſomewhat diſtant from the other, betwéene whom vpon the ſhore were many men on horſebacke ſkirmiſhing, & as our boats approched néere the ſhore, there came certaine footemen downe certaine ſtayres of ſtone from the Kings houſe, which was in ſight, where they tooke the King vp in a chaire, and caried him verye néere to the Boate of the Generall, to whom he ſpake verye louing wordes, and once more requeſted him to enter vpon land, and go to his Citie, for that his father being a lame man, was deſirous to ſée him, and [Page] that whileſt he ſhould remaine on ſhoare,The Generall vvould not conſent to go on lād at Mylynde both he and his children would enter and abide in his ſhips. But our Generall, fearing leaſt vnder ſuch ſugred ſpeach ſome bitter baite might lie couered, did therfore ſtill excuſe himſelf for going on land, alleadging hée muſt obey his Prince, who gaue him no licenſe or commiſſion ſo to do at anie time. And ſo taking his leaue of the king, hée went a while hard by the ſhips of the Indias, ſhooting off much Ordinaunce, who when they ſawe vs paſſe by lifted vp their hands, ſaieng: Chriſte, Chriſte, and that night with the kings licenſe our men made them a great feaſt, with much paſtime alſo of Squibs, Gunne ſhot, and great and lowde cryes. The Fléet thus lyeng in ye harbour, there came vpon ye ſundaie béeing the. 21. day of Aprill, from the king, a man that was in great credit with him, to viſite the Captaine Generall, who at that inſtant was very ſad and heauie: for that it was then two daies ſince any man came to the Fléet from the Citie, by reaſon whereof he feared leaſt that the king were offended with him, as taking occaſion of offence, for that he refuſed to go on ſhoare, ſuppoſing alſo that he wold therevppon, breake the peace and league made betwéene them, for which he was ſorrowfull, eſpecially ſince as yet he had no Pilots. And when he ſawe, that he which was ſo great with the king, did bring him no Pilots, he then began to haue ſome iealouſie, and ſuſpition of the king, who being informed therof, and knowing the Generall remained there for that cauſe, did therefore forthwith ſend him a Pilot, a Gentile (called in their language Goſarate) whoſe name was Canaca, making excuſe that hée had not ſent him ſooner, and ſo the king and the Generall remained friends, and continued the peace before concluded vpon betwéene them.

¶How the Captaine Generall departed from Mylynde, came to Calicut, and of what greatneſſe and nobleneſſe that citie is. Cap. 13.

[Page] THE Captaine Generall béeing thus prouided of all things neceſſarie for his voyage, departed from Mylynde towards Calicut vpon the Tewſday, being the 22. day of Aprill, and from thence he began to cut ouer a goulfe, which is of ſeauen hundreth and fiftie leagues, for the land there doth make a certeine great valley, which doth runne along the coaſt from the North to the South, and our voiage in demaunding of Calicut, lay to the Eaſtward, in following whereof the next Sunday our men ſawe the North, which a long time before they had not ſéene, and alſo they ſawe the South, of which good fortune they thanked God, in that it repreſented as then to them winter of the Indias, & where alwaies in that goulfe are great ſtormes, they now found none, but rather faire weather: The Fridaye being the .xvii. daye of May, and xxiii. daies next after their departing from Mylynde (in which time they had ſéene no land) they then diſcouered & came to ſight of land.They wer 23. dayes, & ſavve no lād after theyr departure from Mylinde. And the Fléete béeing viii. leagues of ſeaboord from the ſhoare: the land ſéemed high: their Pilot whoſe name was Canaca, did as then let fall the Plommet, & found fortie fiue fathom, wherevpon to auoide and apart himſelfe from that coaſt, he made his way to the Southeaſt, & vppon the Saterday he made to landward, howbeit he ranne not ſo néere the ſame as he might certainly knowe it, but he perceiued by ſmall ſhowres of raine, which fell as they made towards land, y• they were on the coaſt of ye Indias, for y• at y• preſent time of ye yere, y• winter is euer in thoſe Indias. The ſunday, being ye xx. day of May the Pilot ſawe certeine high hils, which were ouer the Citie of Calicut, and came ſo néere to land, that he did reknowledge the ſame, and with great ioy and pleaſure, demaunded of the Generall Albrycias, ſaieng that this was the land, which he and his companie ſo greatly deſired to ſée, and come to. The General repleniſhed with ioy of that good fortune▪ gaue Canaca his demaund, & forthwith went to praier, ſaieng the Salue, wherein they gaue God greate [Page] thanks, for this their happie and ſafe arriuall vppon that coaſt, and in ſight of the place, which they ſo earneſtly longed for to ſée, when praier was done they made great ioy, and feaſted on ſhipboord, and the ſelfe ſame daie in the euening, the Generall came to an Ankor two leagues from Calicut, The Fleet arriueth at Calicut & the maner of the people there and immediatly came certeine people of that land in fowre boates called Almaydyas, to our Fléete, to vnderſtand what ſhips theſe were, hauing neuer before ſéene any of that making, come to that coſt: Theſe people came all naked, ſauing that their members were couered, with little péeces of linnen cloath: they are browne people. At their comming to vs ſome of them entered into the Generalls ſhippe, and albeit the Pilot Goſerate, tolde him that they were Fiſhermen, a poore kinde of people (for ſo they call all ſuch as bee poore men in the Indias) yet hée receyued them all well, and commaunded his men to buye of their Fiſh, which they brought with them: And hauing ſome talke with them, he did vnderſtand that, that towne was not Calicut, for it was they ſaid further off, & offered to carrie our Fléete thether: Wherevpon the Generall required them ſo to doe, and therewith departed thence, and were brought by thoſe Fiſhermen to Calicut, which is a Citie ſcituated on the Coaſt of Malabar, which is a Prouince of the ſecond Indias, that hath his beginning in the Mount Dely, and endeth at the end of Comory, which is in lentgh thréeſcore leagues and one, and fiftéene in breadth: All the Countrie lyeth lowe, and is apt to be couered with water: Ther be many Ilandes in the ſame, & it doth enter into the Sea Indico: There is a verie high hill which diuideth the limits betwéene them, and a great kingdome called Narſinga: The Indians do report that this land of Malabar in olde time was maine Sea, and ran as far as ye hill where now the Ilands of Maldiua are, which were then firme land, & did couer & diſcouer ye other of Malabar, in which are many and pleaſaunt Cities, & thoſe alſo very rich, by reaſon of ye trade they haue principaly with thē of Calicut, which in riches & vice doth excel al in our time, [Page] whoſe foundation was on this ſort: This Prouince of Malabar was in the olde time gouerned altogether by one king, who made his aboade in the Citie of Conlan, and in the laſt kings daies of this land (whoſe name was Saranaperimal, and died ſixe hundreth yeares agone) the Moores of Meca diſcouered the Indias, and came to the Prouince of Malabar, the inhabitaunts wherof then were Gentiles, and the king himſelfe was a Gentile: From the time of the comming of theſe Moores, they beganne to account, the yeares as we account, from ye birth of our Lord God: And after they came thether, they grew into ſuch familyaritie with this king, and hée entered into ſuch conference & good opinion of their lawes, that he renounced the manner of religion of his owne Countrie, and minded thence forth to imbrace theirs, and the loue and liking he had of this ſect of Mahomet ſo déepely tooke roote, and entered into his heart, that he determined to goe and ende his lyfe, in the houſe of Meca: Thus béeing reſolued, for the loue he bare to that ſect, to abandon and leaue his kingdome for euer, and goe with them, before his departure he imparted to his kinred,The firſt & ſtrange inſtitutiō of the kingdōe of Calicut. and diuided amongeſt them all his Lordſhips, and territories, and hauing diſtributed and giuen the ſame ſo farre forth, that there remained to him no more but xii. leagues of his Countrie, which laye néere to the ſhoare, where he meant to imbarke himſelfe, the which was neuer before inhabited, & therfore he then gaue ye ſame to a coſin of his, which then ſerued him as his Page: commaunding y• the ſame circuit ſhold be inhabited in perpetuall memorie, of his imbarking there: To the ſame his kinſman hée alſo gaue, his ſwoord, & a towell after the Moriſco ſort, as things apperteining and incident to the eſtate, & gaue commaundement to all the Gentlemen to whom he had giuen all the reſt of his lands, that they ſhould be obedient & true ſubiects vnto him, and to take him for theyr Emperour, (the kings of Conlan and Canamor onely except) whome alſo he commaunded and charged, & likewiſe al the others, that they nor no other Lordes ſhoulde coine money in the [Page] Prouince of Malabar, but onely the King of Calycut. So hauing thus beſtowed and giuen his lands, poſſeſſions and dignities, as he thought good, and ſet euery neceſſary thing in order, for eſtabliſhing his determinate will and pleaſure, he then imbarked himſelfe there, wher now Calicut is builded and ſcituated, and for that the King did there imbarke himſelf to go towards ye houſe of Meca, ye Moores then took ſuch deuotion towards that place, that they and all their poſteritie euer ſince that time hitherto would not, nor yet will take any lading but out of that Port. And from that time afterward, they came no more to the Port of Coulan, as vſually they did before, by meane and occaſion whereof, the ſame grew to ruine, and was deſtroyed, eſpecially when Calicut was once builded, and that many Moores came and inhabited the ſame. For as they were Merchaunts of great dealings, ſo came they thether, and made there the greateſt and richeſt Faire or Marte of all the Indias, finding there all the Spices, Drugs, Nutmegs, and all other things that could be wiſhed, as all kindes of precious ſtones, pearles, & ſéede of pearle,Laker is a kinde of gum that procedeth of the Ant. Muſke, Saunders, Aguila, fine Diſhes of earth, Laker, gylted Coffers, and all the fine things of the Chyna, Gold, Amber, Waxe, Iuorie, fine and cou [...]ſe cotten, as well white as dyed in colours, much rawe ſilke, & ſilke twiſted, and all kinde of linnen cloth of ſilke, and golde, and cloth of golde, and cloth of tiſſew, chamlets, graine, ſcarlets, carpets of ſilke, Copper, Quickſiluer, Vermilion, Allome, coralls, Roſe waters, and all kinde of Conſerues, ſo that ther is no kinde of Merchandiſe of all the world, which coulde be demaunded, but it ſhould be found there. Moreouer, it was very quiet, for that it was ſcituated along the Coaſt, the which lieth almoſt open, and very daungerous: it is inuironed & ſet round about with many Orchards, in which are many ſorts of fruits of that lande, and many hearbes, and excellent waters. Alſo they haue many Palme trées, and other ſorts of trées. In this lande there is but ſmall ſtore of Rice, which is ther a principall victuall, as amongſt vs our Wheate is, but there commeth from other places [Page] great aboundaunce thereof, as in like manner there doeth of other victualls. The Citie is great, and all the houſes be of ſtraw, (onely the houſes of their Idolls, Chappels, and the Kings houſes except) which are of lyme and ſtone, and couered with tyle, for none but they are permitted by theyr lawes to haue anye other manner of building then with ſtrawe. It was inhabited by Gentiles of ſundry ſects, and by Moores which were great Merchaunts, and ſo rich, that ſome of them had fiftie ſhips. There is no ſuch ſeaſon of Winter, but that there may lye in that Harbour ſixe hundred ſhippes. They haue there a ſhore whether they do cary them with ſmall trauaile, for that they be made without nailes, ſowed with ropes of Cayro, and pitched vpon, they haue no quiell, but are flat bottomed.

¶Of what great power the King of Calicut is, and of his vſe and cuſtome: likewiſe of the other Kings of Malabar, and how the Nayres do liue. Chapter. 14.

FOr that this Citie was of ſo great a trade, and alſo the Countrey round about, ſo inhabited, which increaſed ſo largelye the Kings rents, it came to paſſe, that he grew to be ſo rich of money, and ſo mightie in power by multitude of people, that in one daye he was able to leauie and make in a readineſſe thirtie thouſand fighting men, and in thrée dayes ſpace, one hundred thouſand. They called him Samoryn, which in theyr tongue is Emperour, for ſo he was among the Kings of Malabar, and there were no more but two beſide him: that is to ſay the King of Coulan and the King of Canauor: For albeit the others were called Kings, yet were they not ſo.

[Page] This King of Calycut was a Bramene, The election and ſuce [...]isiō of the kings of Calicut. as others his Predeceſſours alſo were, which amongſt the Malabars are Prieſts, and for that it is a cuſtome and auncient order obſerued, that all the Kings doe dye in one Pagode, which is the houſe of praiers to their Idolls, he is elected for that cauſe, for alwayes in the ſame houſe there muſt be and is, a King to ſerue thoſe Idolles, and when he that ſerueth there doeth dye, then muſt the King that then raygneth and gouerneth, leaue his Empire, and goe ſerue in that place as the other did, and into his place and Kingdome, they elect and put an other, that ſhall ſo ſucceede him.

And if anye of them that is in poſſeſſion of the Kingdome, refuſe to goe into the Pagode, (the King that then ſerueth in the ſame béeing dead) they will then inforce him thereto which ſo refuſeth, although it be againſt his will. Theſe Kings of Malabar be browne men, and goe naked from the gyrdell vpwarde, and from thence downewarde, they be couered with cloath of ſilke and of Cotten: ſometime they put vppon them ſhorte gownes, which they doe call Baſus of ſilke or cloath of golde, and of ſcarlet with very rich ſtones: and eſpeciallye the King of Calycut excelleth in thoſe attires and Iewells. They be ſhauen, leauing vpon the vpper lip as the Turkes vſe, the hayre vnſhauen. They be ſerued but with ſmall eſtate, eſpeciallye at theyr meate, whereof they haue but lyttle: But the King of Calycut is ſerued, with greater Eſtate.

Theſe Kings doe not marrie, nor obſerue the Lawe of marriage,the kings Lemman vvith hir ſtate and allovvāce but yet they maye haue a Lemman of the houſe of the Nayres, which amongeſt the Malabars are Gentlemen, and ſhée hath hir houſe by hir ſelf, neere to the Pallaice. They doe allowe hir ſo lyberallye for hir charges and maintenaunce, that ſhe maye haue plentifullye of all thinges to hir contentation, vppon that Stypende aſſigned hyr.

And when any diſliking is had of hir by them, they may [Page] alwayes leaue hir and ſuch children as they haue by hir, be not taken or accompted for theyrs, neither doe they inherite the Kingdome, nor anye thing of theyrs.

After they be men, they are had in no more eſtimation, then that is incident vnto them from the mothers bloud and parentage. Their brothers doe inherite if they haue any, if not, then their ſiſters children ſhall, who doe not marry, neither yet haue any certaintie of their huſbands. They bée very frée and at libertie, to chooſe thoſe of whom they lyke, and be ſuch as are beſt eſtéemed of. They haue verye great rents allowed them: and when anye of them come to the age of ten yeares, (for at that time they are to be knowen of men) their kinred then doe ſende forth out of this kingdome, for a young man Nayre, and preſenting him with gifts, earneſtly requeſt the ſame to take hir virginitie, who then receiueth hir with great ioy, and after ſhe is thus vſed, doth tye about hir necke a Iewell, which ſhe doth carry and weare alwayes during hir life, as a thing in great eſtimation, & for a token of the libertie giuen hir by that act, to do with hir bodie afterward for euer, what ſhe will: for without this manner of ceremonie, they may not know any mā. Theſe Kings ſometimes haue warres one with another, & they in their owne perſons goe into the fieldes, yea, and if néed ſo require, they alſo fight: when they die, they be caried out from their pallaice into a plain field, wher they be burned with great quantitie of wood of ſanders & a ſwéet wood called Aguila. At this burning are alwaies preſent all his brothers, & néereſt kinred, and al the noble men of the countrey. And they make ſtaye of him from burning after his death thrée daies, that they all may repaire thether & come together, to ſée and viewe whether he came to his death naturallye, or whether he were killed: for if he dyed by force of anye mans hande, then are they bounde to take reuenge thereof.

After hée is burned, and all the aſhes buryed, they doe all ſhaue themſelues without leauing any hayre, yea, euen of the leaſt childe that is a Gentile. [Page] All of them in generall doe then ceaſe from eating of Betele, during the ſpace of thirtéene daies, and he that doth eate the ſame infringeth their law, and therefore they wil cut his lips, and that by iuſtice: In all this time, the prince which ſhall ſuccéed doth not command nor gouerne, which is done of purpoſe, to ſée whether in that time anye man will come to ſaie or obiect any thing againſt him. Theſe things and daies, thus done and paſt, the noble men of the Countrie doe cauſe him to bée ſworne, to all thoſe lawes & cuſtoms, which were made by his predeceſſour, and to pay all his debts: Alſo that hée ſhall trauaile to recouer whatſoeuer things of his kingdome before were loſt: This oath he taketh hauing his ſwoorde in his lefte hande, and in the right hande a Candle burning, which hath a ring of golde vppon it, which he toucheth with two of his fingers, and ſo taketh his oath. This being done, they throwe or powre vpon him a few graines of Rice, with many ſuch other ceremonies, in dooing whereof they ſay many prayers, and he worſhippeth then the Sunne, three times, which ſo done, the Caymayles, that be Lords by parentage doe immediatly holding the ſelfe ſame Candle, ſweare to be true ſubiects vnto him.

The thirtéene daies béeing ended, they all then doe eate Betele againe, and fleſh and fiſh as before, the king onely except, who then taketh thought and ſorroweth for the death of his predeceſſour: whoſe manner of mourning is thus: He muſt not by the ſpace of one whole yeare, eate any fleſh or fiſh, or yet Betele, neither muſt he ſhaue his beard, nor cut his nailes, nor eate but once in a daie, and muſt waſh himſelfe all his bodie ouer, before he doe eate, and praie certeine houres in the daye: After the yeare is paſt and ended, he then vſeth a certeine ceremonie for the ſoule of the king his predeceſſour, which is much like to our Dirge, whereat are aſſembled an hundreth thouſand perſons, at which time he giueth great almes, when this ceremonie is finiſhed, they then confirme the Prince for inheritour of the kingdome, and ſo all the people do depart. [Page] The king of Calicut and all the other kings of Malabar, haue one eſpeciall man that hath the charge for adminiſtration of iuſtice, and doth command & is obeyed in all other matters of gouernement as amplie as the king himſelfe.Naires, & vvhat theyr degree, office, & calling is. The men of warre which the king of Calicut & the other kings haue, are Nayres, which be all Gentlemen, and are appointed to no other office or affaires, but to fight when néede requireth. They be all Gentiles, and carrie their armour wherewith they fight themſelues, which is bowes, arrowes, ſpeares, daggers made like a hooke, and targets, and march with them very honourably and gallantly, but they goe naked, carrieng onely certeine linnen cloth of cotten painted, with the which they couer themſelues from the girdle to the knée, they are bare footed: and weare vppon their heads certeine towels. They all liue by the king, and by the noblemen of the countrie, of whome they haue ordinarie ſtipends and allowaunce for their maintenaunce: They doe ſo greatly eſtéeme and make account of theyr gentrie, and of their cleanlineſſe, that they will not touch any huſbandman, neither permit any of them to come into their houſes. The huſbandmen are bound when they goe in the ſtréetes to crie with a lowde voyce, and ſaye, Hoo they goe, for if theſe Gentlemen doe come, and bid them goe out of the way, and they doe not obey their commaundement therein: then may they kill them: The king cannot make Gentlemen, except they be of the ſtocke of Gentlemen. They ſerue very well and faithfully, with them of whome they haue their interteinment, and vnder whoſe obeyſaunce they liue, not ſparing by night nor daie, anye opportunitie of time for ſhewe of their beſt indeauour in ſeruice of the ſame, nor making anye account of meat or of theyr perſon or of ſléepe, whenſoeuer their trauell or dilligence, may take effect or purpoſe of well doing. They haue ſo ſmall charge and occaſion of expence, that with halfe a crowne a péece (which is their ordinarie allowance for one moneth) they may very well and ſufficiently, mainteine themſelues, and each of them a boye to ſerue him. [Page] The Nayres by the law of the country, cannot marry, and for that cauſe they haue no children certain, but thoſe which they haue are begotten of Lemmans, with which thrée or fowre of them do lie, by accord & agréement had and determined amongeſt themſelues, hauing one woman onelye to ſerue that purpoſe, vnleſſe any cauſe or quarrell growe amongeſt them, and euerye one of them ſhall be with her a whole daie, accompting from the one halfe of the daye preſent wherein he commeth, to the other halfe of the day next following, at which time he departeth from hers, and then commeth another, who continueth the lyke time: Thus they paſſe ouer and ſpend their life time without care and trouble of wife and children: They mainteine their lemmans verie well according to their degrées and birth. And if any of them will at any time leaue and forſake her, they may at their pleaſure doe it, and likewiſe ſhe maye refuſe anye of them at her will. Theſe women are all Gentlewomen, for the Nayres amye not take anye Countrie women, and they alſo doe not marrie: And for that there bée ſo many men to one women, they take not them for theyr children which bée begotten of her, although the ſame bée lyke vnto them: and therefore theyr brothers children, doe inherit their lands, and haue their goods: This lawe that theſe Gentlemen ſhoulde not marrie, the king ordeined and made, for that they hauing no wiues nor children, on whom they ſhould haue care and fixe their loue, might the better indure the warres, and liue at more libertie to ſerue in the ſame.

And becauſe they are Gentlemen, and that they ſhould be the more animated and incouraged to liue in that order,The Calicutiās kill no kine for they vvorſhip them. and to ſerue well, they be ſo priuiledged, that none of them can be impriſoned for any cauſe, nor be put to death by any meane of ordinarie iuſtice: Howbeit when one of them doth▪ kill another, or elſe doth kill a Cowe, (which amongſt them is taken for a greate ſinne, for that they worſhippe them) or ſléepe or eate with a countrie woman, or ſpeake euill of the king. [Page] Then will the king, hauing true information of any of theſe offences, giue out his warrant in writing vnder his owne hand, directed to one Nayre, commaunding him therby, that he with two or thrée other, doe forthwith kill the Nayre, that hath ſo offended and ſinned contrarie to the Law: By vertue of which warrant, they hew and cut him with their ſwoords, whereſoeuer they doe finde him, and when he is dead, they hang vpon him the kings writing, to the end that all men may know and vnderſtand wherefore they killed him: Theſe Nayres cannot take their weapons, nor enter into any combat, before they be armed knights: when they atteine to the age of ſeauen yeares, they bée forthwith ſet to learne to play at all weapons; & to the ende they ſhould bée very perfect, their Maiſters doe hale and wreſt the ioyntes of their armes, and afterward they teache them their fence ſuch as bée apt for the ſame: The weaponnes that are moſt vſed amongeſt them be Swoords and Targets. The Maiſters which teach them, be graduats in the weapons which they teach, and they bée called in their language Panycaes. They be reuerenced amongeſt the Nayres, & euery ſcholler of theirs whatſoeuer, although he be olde, or if hée be a great noble man, ſhall at all times when he ſéeth him, doe to him reuerence and worſhip, and this by lawe is ordeined: and further all of them are bound to take at their hands a leſſon two monthes in euery yeare, during theyr liues: By reaſon whereof they be very perfect and ſkilful in theyr weapons, and for that cauſe they greatly eſtéeme of themſelues.

When any of them will be an armed knight, hée then goeth well accompanied with all his kinred and friends, & preſenteth himſelfe before the king, to whome he firſt offereth thréeſcore Fannons of golde, which is a certeine kinde of money amounting to the value of thrée crownes. Whervpon the king doth immediatly aſke him, whether he will kéepe and obſerue the order and cuſtome of the Nayres? Wherevnto he aunſwereth and ſaith, yea. Then hée commaundeth to put about him a ſwoorde, and laieng his right [Page] hand vpon his head, ſaith certaine words as though he wold pray ouer him, which he vttereth ſo [...] as none can heare the ſame. Afterward he imbraceth him, ſaieng in his language theſe words folowing, which in our tongue, doth ſignifie or meane: Haue a regard to keepe theſe Bra [...]es and their Kine. This being done, the Nayre doth fall down and worſhip the King, and from thence forth he remaineth made Knight. Theſe Nayres when they yéelde themſelues to liue and ſerue any King or Noble man, they binde themſelues to dye with him, and for him: which bond they doe ſo well obſerue and inuiolably kéepe, that if their Maſter in any warre or otherwiſe be ſlaine, they will fight vntill they are killed, which hath done the ſame acte, and if at that inſtant they cannot accompliſh their wills, for that they were not preſent at the déede doing, then will they goe afterward and ſéeke them out, and neuer leaue them till they be killed by ſome manner of deuiſe. They be great ſouthſayers, they haue good dayes and bad dayes, they worſhip the Sun, the Moone, the fire, and the Kine, and the firſt that they do méet in going forth of their houſe in the morning: they doe eaſily beléeue whatſoeuer vanitie. The Diuell is oftentimes in them,their god or the diuell is many times in them. but they ſay it is one of their Gods or Pagodes, for ſo they call him: but whoſoeuer or whatſoeuer it be, it inforceth them to vtter terrible words & ſpeaches, which the King doth beléeue. And the Nayre in whome the Diuell is ſo entred, goeth with a naked ſword before the King, altogether quaking & trembling, giuing himſelf cuts & wounds ſaieng, I am ſuch a God, and I am come to tell thée ſuch a thing, & in this manner he vſeth himſelfe, crieng out lyke a mad man: and if the King make any doubt of that he ſaith & doth not preſently giue credite to his ſpeache, then doth he rore & ſend forth greater cryes & giue himſelfe greater cuts, vntill ſuch time the King doe beléeue him. There be other linages of people of ye Malabars, which are of diuers ſects & cuſtomes, whereof to ſpeake were ouer tedious, & too long to declare: all which doe obaye thoſe Kings, (the Moores onely except) which by reaſon of the great cuſtomes they [Page] paye for their Merchandiſe, are in great eſtimation among them.

¶How the Captaine generall ſent one of his baniſhed men to Calycut, and how a Moore of Tunis came and ſpake with him, by whoſe meanes he ſent a meſſenger to the King of Calycut, and how he returned anſwere to the Generall. cap. 15.

THe Captaine generall being come to an Ankor without the Barre or Recife of Calycut, he ſent one of his baniſhed men in the ſelfe ſame Almaydes or boats which they brought thether, for two reſpects: the one to ſée what Countrey it was: the other to make tryall how we ſhould be receiued, becauſe we wer Chriſtians, beléeuing alſo y• the people there wer chriſtened: & when this baniſhed man was landed, ther came immediatly a great number of people to ſée him as a ſtranger: they aſked of the Malabars which went with him, what he was? Who aunſwered, that they déemed him to be a Moore, and that he came with thoſe which are in the thrée ſhippes they doe ſée without the Barre at Ankor. Whereof they of Calycut greatly meruailed, for that his apparrell was far different from that which the Moores y• come from y• ſtraights, doe vſe to weare. Thus flocked about him much people, & ſome that had the Algarauia tongue, ſpake vnto him, but he hauing no vnderſtanding thereof could not nor did make any aunſwere or ſpeaches vnto them, at which alſo they in like manner greatly meruailed, for that being a Moore (as they déemed) he did not vnderſtand the Algarauia language: Neuertheleſſe going with him in this manner, and verelye yet beléeuing he was a Moore, they caried him to the houſe of two Moores,Bontaybo a More of Barbarie, dvvelling in Calicut which were naturally borne in Tunys in Barbarie, and were then come to dwell in Calicut. To whom being brought, one of them whoſe name was Bontaybo could ſpeake the Spaniſh tongue, & did well knowe [Page] the Portingals as he ſaid afterward, hauing ſéene them in Tunys in the time of ye King Don Ioan in the ſhip called Lareyna which the ſame King ſent thether manye times to ſéeke for ſuch things as he and his ſubiects hadde néede of. And as ſoone as the baniſhed man was entered into their houſe, the Moore ſpake vnto him and ſayd: I giue thee to the Diuell, who brought thee hether, which words was vttered in ye Spaniſh tongue. And after he aſked him what way he had gone and trauailed, that he was come to this place: wherevnto the baniſhed man aunſwered & told him, ſhewing alſo, how many ſhips the Generall had ther, wherat Bontaybo meruailed, and wondred how they could come by Sea thether. Then he aſked him what they ſought ſo farre off? And he aunſwered that they came to ſéeke Chriſtians and ſpices. Moreouer Bontaibo aſked why ye Kings of Fraunce and Spaine, & the Duke of Venice did not alſo ſende thether? Whereto the baniſhed man made aunſwere, that [...] ye King of Portingale would not giue his conſent they ſhould ſo doe: Bontaybo replieng thereto, ſayde, that he did well & wiſely therein. Thus hauing talked a while, he gaue him very good entertainment, and commaunded to giue him certaine Cakes, made of the flower of Wheate, which the Malabars do call Apes, and with the ſame honnie. After be had well eaten, Bontaybo aduiſed him to go to the ſhips, & ſaid he would goe with him, (as indéede he did) to ſee ye Captaine generall. And being come to the Admirall which was then entered, Bontaybo then began to ſay to the General in Spaniſh: Good lucke, good lucke, many Rubies, many Emeraulds: thou art bound to giue great thankes to God, for that he hath brought thée where there is all kinde and ſorts of ſpices, ſtones, and all the riches of the worlde.

When they hearde him ſo ſaye, they all meruayled greatlye thereat, for they before woulde not haue beléeued, that there hadde béene anye man ſo farre off from Portingale, that coulde vnderſtande theyr language.

Wherefore with wéeping teares which they then plentifully [Page] ſhed for ioye and pleaſure they had conceiued, as well for the ſame, as alſo for their ſafe and happie arriuall there, they then gaue to God moſt humble and heartie thankes through whoſe onely fauour, good will, and pleaſure, that good lucke and great good benefite, had happened to them. And then the Generall imbraced Bontaybo, and cauſed him to ſit downe by him, aſking him if he were a Chriſtian, and how he came to Calicut? For aunſwere whereto y• Moore told him of whence he was, and what he was, and how he came to Calicut by the way of Cayro, alſo he ſhewed him by what meanes he came to knowledge of Portingals, and that alwaies he had bene a friend to them, for that in all reſpects & at all times, their doings & manners appeared to him to be good and worthy of friendſhip. Finally he ſayde, that as he had in time paſt bene a friend to them, ſo would he now at this preſent continue his good will, and was ready and would be to doe all that in him was to pleaſure & further them, and the effect of their purpoſe in comming thether. The Captaine generall gaue him great thankes, and promiſed to recompence him very liberally in reſpect of that his good will, and for any pleaſure or friendſhip he ſhoulde thenceforth ſhew to him and his company, he ſhuld be wel aſſured to be thankfully conſidered of. Declaring alſo that he was the moſt ioyfull man of all the world to finde him there, and to haue him for a friend and an ayde, verely beléeuing that God had ſent him thether, to giue an ende to the enterpriſe of the voyage, which he ſo deſired in diſcouering of thoſe Indias, and had entered into, and paſſed through ſo many daungers by long tract of time to attaine vnto the ſame, and now notwithſtanding his arriual ther, he thought to haue but ſmall fruite of his trauaile, without his helpe & friendly furtheraunce.

Then he requeſted him to declare, what manner of man the King of Calycut was, and whether he thought he would receiue him with good wil as an Embaſſadour from the King of Portingale.

[...] Bontaybo aunſwered, that the King of Calycut, [Page] was a very good man and of an honourable diſpoſition,The king of Calicuts greateſt reuenue riſeth by cuſtōe of Merchandiſe. and that he no doubt would receiue him gladly, for Embaſſadour, from a ſtraunge king, eſpecially if his comming were to ſettle and intreate for eſtabliſhment of tract or trade of merchaundiſe in Calicut, and had brought with him anye kinde of Merchaundiſe for that purpoſe: For (ſaid Bontaibo) as there doth grow great aduauntage and profit by cuſtome thereof to the king, ſo is the ſame indéede the verye principall rents or reuenewes he hath for his mainteynaunce: Moreouer he informed the Generall that the king at that inſtant was in a certaine village fiue leagues from Calicut, ſcituated along the coaſt, named Panane, whether he aduiſed him to ſend vnto him, & to declare of his arriuall and comming thether. The Generall very well liking of the ſpeaches and aduiſe of Bontaybo, did therefore giue vnto him certeine gifts, and ſent with him two of his men in meſſage to the king of Calicut, Certeine meſſēgers ſent by ye Captaine generall to ye king of Calicut requeſting Bontaybo to direct them on their waye to Panane, which he accordingly did. Theſe meſſengers being nowe come before the king, one of them whoſe name was Fernan Martyn, by an interpretour which he had, declared vnto him, that he came from his Captaine who is arriued in the port of Calicut with certeine ſhippes, ‘and is come thether from the king of Portingale, of purpoſe to bring him letters, which the ſame Captaine is readie to come and preſent vnto him, if it ſo ſtoode with his good liking and pleaſure, whereof to vnderſtand he then had ſent him, and his fellowe there preſent. The king hearing this meſſage, commaunded before he would make aunſwere thereto, to giue to each of them a certeine péece of lynnen cloth made of Cotten,’ and two of ſilke whith were very good, and euen ſuch wherewith he was accuſtomed to girdle himſelfe: And after theſe péeces were ſo giuen them, he then demanded of Fernan Martyn, what king that was which hadde ſent him thoſe letters, and how farre from thence his kingdome was, wherevnto Fernan aunſwered and fully informed him touching that demaund, declaring alſo that he was [Page] a Chriſtian prince, & that all thoſe whom he had ſent were chriſtians, hauing paſt many troubles and daungers vpon the ſea, before their arriuall there at Calicut. The king hearing all the diſcourſe of their voiage (wherof Fernan Martynes ſomwhat at large informed him) did greatly maruell at the ſame, & ſhewed himſelfe to be right glad, y• a Prince of ſo great a power as the king of Portingale was, & being alſo a chriſtian, would ſend an Ambaſſadour to him: And therefore he ſent word to the Generall that he and his cō panie were hartelye welcome into his Countrie, requiring him to bring his ſhips to an ankor néere, to a village named Padarane (which is ſomwhat beneath the place where they firſt came to an ankor) being a far better harbour then that of Calicut, which is an open roade & very dangerous for the ſhips: And appointed that from thence, the General ſhuld go by land to Calicut, wher he wold be to ſpeak with him: And therwt he ſent a Pilot, who conuaied the ſhips to the port of the ſame village, howbeit when he had conducted them to the bar thereof, the Generall woulde not enter ſo far within the ſame, as y• Pilot would gladly haue had him to haue done, fearing indéed that ſome thing might afterward happen to his preiudice, if he ſhuld giue ouer farre credit to thoſe people, & came within the compaſſe of anye their forces, wherein he dealt very aduiſedly and wiſely, preuented ſuch iniury as was offered him.

How the king of Calicut ſent for the Captaine Generall and after what ſort he was carried to Calicut. Cap. 16.

THe Captaine being come néere to this harbour, his diſpatch was ſent him from y• Catuall of Calicut, in ye which there was ſignified y• he was come to Pandarane, by the kings commaundement, with other noble men, for to beare him company vnto Calicut, and therefore he might at all times when y• it ſhould [Page] pleaſe him, diſimbarke himſelf: But for y• the day was paſt y• Captaine General excuſed himſelfe as at y• preſent, & alſo y• he would firſt take counſell of his Captaines, & other the principall of his Fléet, touching his landing, who being all ioyned together, ſaid vnto them, y• he minded to go to ſée y• king of Calicut, & to ſettle there a trade, and perpetuall friendſhip. Againſt the which his going, his brother repugned, alleadging y• it was not conuenient y• he ſhuld ſo doe. For albeit y• they were chriſtians,Moores mortall enimies to chriſtians▪ yet y• ther were amongſt them many Moores, which were to be feared leaſt thy wold procure his deſtruction, ſince that they were his mortall enimies. For when that they doe remember how thoſe of Monſambicke and Mombaſſa, for onely paſſing by theyr ports, would haue killed them all: What ſhould they looke for, of thoſe of Calicut, knowing that they will mixture themſelues with you & yours: quoth he, you ſéeking to haue the trade where they haue the ſame, & ſo to diminiſh this their profit and gaine? He tolde him therefore that it is the ſooner to be beléeued, that they wold procure with all their force poſſible to deſtroy him, yea, although they knew that the beginning and end of the ſame did depend vppon his death, and that therefore there woulde not lacke wayes to put the ſame deuice in execution, who being once dead, for all the griefe the king ſhoulde take therewith, yet hée could not raiſe him againe to lyfe. And that ſo much the more they béeing as it were naturall inhabitauntes there, and he a méere ſtraunger.

Moreouer who doth know what the king doth paſſe for his death, and what ſhall become of them all after the ſame is procured.Princes & Generalls ought to be eareful of their perſons in reſpect of their place and charge. And if ſo be that they ſhuld be caſt away altogether, then were all theyr trauaile loſt. To excuſe all this, and that they might remaine vppon this good aſſuraunce, it were very good ſayd hée, that hée did not goe a ſhoare, but that hee did ſende one of them, or ſome other, who might doe that which he ſhoulde doe, for thoſe that are Captaines in eſpeciallye Generalls ſhoulde not aduenture themſelues in ſuch daungers, but where there were [Page] ſuch great neceſſitie, that they coulde not otherwiſe excuſe themſelues. Of this minde were all the reſt of the companie, vnto whome the Captaine Generall aunſwered, that although he knew or did vnderſtand yt by his comming it were preſent death vnto him, yet he woulde not let but goe and viſit the King of Calicut, and the rather to ſée whether he would ſettle a friendſhip and trade there, and to haue out of his Citie, Spices and other commodities, for that the ſame (at our arriuall in Portingale) might repreſent as a witneſſe the diſcouerie of Calicut. For if ſo be that at the end of ſo long a time God did returne vs thether without: then ſaid he, it would be hard to be beléeued that wée had diſcouered Calicut: And our credit and honour woulde ſtand in ſuſpence or ballance, vntill ſuch time there ſhould come perſons of credit from thence, that ſhoulde declare that to bée true which we had affirmed. Therefore doe you not thinke but yt I had rather die then ſuffer ſo long time, as we haue ſpent, and are lyke to ſpend, and others ſhall come to diſcouer ye truth of our ſeruice: ſo that in the meane while, thoſe that are enuious, ſhould iudge our trauaile as it ſhuld pleaſe them, certeinly I had rather die then to tarrie vpon the ſame: Much more friends I doe not aduenture my ſelfe to ſo great a daunger of death as you do ſurmiſe, neither yet that they ſhould remaine in ſo great danger, as you doe preſuppoſe, for I goe to a Countrie where there are Chriſtians and to talke with a king, which is deſirous that vnto his Citie ſhould come many Merchants, for the profit that doth ariſe thereby vnto him: for the more Merchants that do reſort vnto it, the more wil be his profit. I doe not goe thether to ſtay there many daies that the Moores ſhall haue any ſuch time to vſe anye treaſon againſt me. And for ſo much as I doe minde to talke with the king it ſhall haue an end, and that within thrée dayes▪ and in this time you may be in a readineſſe: And as touching the honour and credit that I ſhall get by making or eſtabliſhing this trade, if it pleaſe God that he doe accept the ſame I will not giue it for any treaſure. And the king [Page] can ſettle the ſame with no other better then with me, for that he will eſtéeme me, and beare ſome reuerence towards me, being once knowen vnto him that I am the Captaine generall of this Fléete, and the King of Portingales Embaſſadour, rather then with any other perſon whatſoeuer. Furthermore whoſoeuer he be that ſhall goe in my ſteede, the King will thinke himſelfe to be mockt, or that I do not eſteeme him, as one that is worthy that I ſhoulde goe to ſpeake with him, or els that I doe not truſt him on his word. Beſides all this, I cannot giue ſo large inſtructions to him that I ſhould ſend thether, that he might doe in all things which is néedfull as much as I my ſelfe: and if ſo be that for my ſinnes he ſhoulde kill me, or take me as a priſoner, it were a great deale better for me that ther ſhuld chaunce to me all this for doing of my duetie, then to remaine alyue, and not to doe the ſame. And you my friendes remaining in the Sea and in good ſhips,The Generall determined to goe to Calicut as ſoone as you ſhal heare that any of theſe things ſhall chaunce vnto me, get you hence, and carrie newes of this our diſcouerie, and as touching this, let there be no farther talke, for that I by the grace of God will goe to Calicut to ſée the King. When that his determination was perceiued, they all aſſented that they were contented with his going: and therevpon they appointed him twelue of his men to goe with him, that is to ſay, Diego Dias his Secretarie and Fernan Martines the interpretour, Iohn de Sala, which was afterward Treaſurer of the houſe of the Indias. &c. So that with him in all they were thirtéene. They appointed alſo that in his abſence ther ſhould remaine for Captaine generall his brother. Alſo hée gaue commaundement that he ſhoulde not ſuffer any man to come aboord his ſhip, and all thoſe that were deſirous to goe aboord to commaund them to remaine in their boate or Almadias. Moreouer he left order with Nicholas Coello, that he ſhould come euery day with his boate as néere vnto ye ſhore as he could. Theſe things being ſetled, the next day after being Mundaye, the xxviij. of May, the Captaine generall did imbark himſelf with thoſe twelue before rehearſed, [Page] they all being apparailed in the beſt attire that they had, & their boates furniſhed with much ordinaunce, flagges, and trumpets, which went alwaies ſounding, vntill ſuch time yt ye Captaine general came to land, whereas ye Catual was tarrieng for him, being accompanied with 200 Nayres, which attended ther continually: beſids many others y• wer not of that company, & beſides many alſo, yt were of yt towne. The Captaine generall being diſimbarked,The Captaine Generall goeth a lād. was ioyfully receiued of yr Catuall, & of ye others yt did accompany him, as though they were very glad of his comming, & after yt he was thus receiued, he was taken into an Andor, which y• King of Calicut had ſent to bring him vpon, for yt in this countrey they are not accuſtomed to goe a horſebacke, but in theſe Andors, which are like vnto a horſlitter, ſauing yt they are wtout any couer ouer them, & almoſt plaine, ye ſides therof are alſo very low. Each of theſe Andors, when they will occupie ye ſame, are caried wt 4. men vpon their ſholders, which alſo doth run poſt wt thē, at ſuch time as ye king & noble men do make any great iourny, or if ſo be yt they wil go a great ground in a ſmall time: for they may trauell in ye ſame either ſitting or lieng, as they wil themſelues. Alſo ther go with theſe certain footmen, which carie with them hats, wherwith to couer thoſe y• go in theſe Andors, which they do call Bueys, ſo that by this meanes, they are kept from y• ſunne & the raine, ther are alſo other Andors, y• which haue ouer thē a cane bowed like vnto a hoope, which for y• they are made very ſlight, may eaſily carie thoſe 2. men. The Captaine generall being moū ted in this Andor, departed wt the Catuall, who was carried in another Andor, to a town called Capocate, but all ye reſt of the cōpany went afoote, the people of the country was cō maunded by the Catuall to carie all ſuch apparel as our mē had brought vp wt thē, which was ther redeliuered vnto thē, & being in Capocate, they ſtaid to refreſh themſelues: where the Captaine generall being in one houſe & the Catuall in another they did eate,the fruits of Calicut & to al our men was giuen to eat ſodden fiſh, wt rice & butter, beſides fruits of ye countrey, which differ from ours very much, yet they are very good. The one [Page] ſort of theſe is called Lacas, and the other Mangas, howbeit they haue figs alſo. The water yt they did drinke, was very excellent, as good as any in Portingal. Thus after they had eaten, they went againe to imbark themſelues, for that they ſhuld go vp a riuer, which from thence runneth into the ſea: the Captaine generall did imbarke himſelfe with his company into 2. Almadias, lieng the one cloſe to the other, which in y• countrey they did call Enſangada. The Catuall wt his traine were imbarked in many others, and the people that came to the riuers ſide to ſée and view our men were without number, for ſo much as that countrey is well inhabited. And after that they had gone in this riuer about a league, and that along the ſhores ſide, they ſaw lieng a ground many great ſhips, the Captaine generall with the Catuall being diſimbarked, did returne to their Andors, and following their waye, there reſorted alwayes about them thouſandes of people to ſée them, wherein they tooke ſuch a felicitie that the very women alſo with their children hanging at theyr backes, did not féele the waye they went in, following to féed their eyes. From this place which I haue made mention of, the Catuall did carrie him vnto a certaine Pagode of their Idolls, into which when they were entred, he told him that the ſame was a Church of great deuotion, which the Captaine generall beléeued to be true, & to be ſome church of the Chriſtians, & therfore he gaue the more credit therevnto, the rather for that he ſaw yt ouer the principall dore therof, there hanged ſeuen little bells, & afore the ſame there was a pillour made of wier, the which was as high as the maſt of a ſhip, vpon the top thereof there ſtoode a wether cock, made likewiſe of wier. This church was as great as a good Moneſtary, and was made all of frée ſtone, and couered or vauted ouer with bricke, which gaue an outwarde ſhewe, as though within ſide it ſhoulde be of verye faire workmanſhippe. Our Captaine was very glad to ſée the ſame, for that he thought himſelfe to be among Chriſtians, and entering within this Church with the Catuall, they were receiued by certaine men, naked from the girdle vpwarde, [Page] and from thence downe to the knée, couered with certaine linnen cloth made of cotten, with y• which their arme holes were couered alſo, without any thing vpon their heads, and vpon their left ſholders they had certaine number of thrids, which came vnder their right ſhoulders, much like as the Prieſts were wont to weare their ſtoles héere amongſt vs, when they went to Maſſe. Theſe men are called Cafres and are Gentiles, which ſerue in Malabar in their Pagodes, who with a ſprinkle tooke water out of a certaine fountaine & threw the ſame vpon the Captaine generall & vpon the Catuall and on the reſt of the companye.Holy vvater of Calicut After all this they gaue them Saunders in pouder to caſt the ſame vpon their heads as they did héere their Aſhes,Holy aſhes. & as alſo they ſhuld do ye like vpon ye brawns of their armes, but they could not do ſo, by reaſon of their apparrel which they had on, but yet they did not let to doe it on their heads: ſo going about this Church, they ſaw many Images painted vpon y• wal, wherof ſome ther wer y• had great téeth, which appeared to be ſo monſtrous yt they were of an inch of length without their mouth. Others ther wer yt had foure armes, & therwith wer ſo ill fauoured, that they ſéemed to be very diuells, yt which ſight made our men ſtand in doubt, whether the ſame wer a Church of Chriſtians or no. Being come afore the Chappel which ſtood in ye midſt of their Church, they perceiued yt the ſame had a certain little roofe, made much after ye manner of a tower, y• which was alſo builded of frée ſtone, & in a parte of this roofe ther was a dore made of wire, by y• which a mā might enter into it: the going vp to the ſame tower, was by a ſtaire of ſtone: within this tower, which indéed was ſomewhat dark, was incloſed in yt wall a certain Image y• which our men beheld a far off, for yt they would not ſuffer thē to go néere y• ſame,The Generall decerued, cō mitteth Idolatry vvith the Diuell. ſaieng yt ther was none y• could go thether, but thoſ y• wer Cafres, howbeit they made a ſigne to the Image, naming y• ſame our Lady, giuing therby to vnderſtād that it was hir Image. The Captain generall ſuppoſing the ſame to be true, fell vpon his knées, with y• reſt of y• cōpany making their praiers: but one whoſe name was Iohn de Sala, [Page] being in doubt whether ye ſame church wer of chriſtians or not, for y• he ſaw ſo mōſtrous Images painted on y• wals, as he fel on his knées ſaid, If this be ye diuel, I worſhip god. The Captaine Generall that heard him ſay ſo, looking vppon him laughing. The Catuall and his companie as they came before this Chappell, did fall downe flat vppon the ground with their hands before them, and this they did thrée times, and afterward they aroſe and made their praiers ſtanding.

¶How and after what ſort the Captaine Generall was receiued in Calicut, & how hee tolde the king his meſſage which he carried. Cap. 17.

FRom this place he went forward on his way, vntill ſuch time he came to Calicut, and at the entering of the ſame, they carried him wt the reſt of his company to another Pagode, lyke vnto that which he had ſéene before, and when that he would haue entered into the Citie, the people were ſo many, as well of thoſe that came forth of the ſame for to ſée our men, as alſo of thoſe that went with him, that for the multitude of them, he could not goe in the ſtréets, inſomuch that the Generall meruailed to ſée ſo many people: and when as hée ſawe himſelfe to be there, he gaue God great thankes, for bringing him vnto that Citie, moſt humbly deſiring him, ſo to guide him, that he might returne to Portingale, with his whole requeſt & deſire. After that he had gone awhile in that ſtréete, into which he entered, for that the people wer ſo many that he could not paſſe through it, inſomuch that thoſe that did carry him vpon his Andor, were driuen to go with the Catuall into a houſe. Thether came to beare the Captaine Generall companie, the Catualls brother who was a noble man, and ſent by the kings commaundement to accompanie him to the kings pallaice, who alſo brought with him many Nayers, and before them went manye Trumpets and Sagbuts, vppon the which they went all [Page] ſounding. And alſo there was one Nayre which carried a Caléeuer which he ſhot of, now & then. After yt the Captaine generall & this noble man was thus ioyfully receiued, they tooke their way ſtraight to ye pallaice, with a great noiſe, y• which thoſe inſtruments & the people together made, which after yt the Catuals brother was come, gaue place & followed after them, with as great obedience as if ye king had ben there in his owne perſon. There went along with thē fully thrée thouſand men with their wepons, beſids thoſe yt ſtood vpon ye penthouſes, & at their dores, which wer wtout number. The Captaine generall was very glad to ſée how well he was receiued, & ſaid vnto thoſe yt he caried wt him, with a mery coūtenance, how litle do they thinke in Portingale of this our gret receiuing, & with this they came to ye kings pallace an houre before ye Sun ſet. The kings pallace (leauing aſide yt the ſame was made of earth) was very great,The deſcriptiō of the kings pallaice, which ſéemed to be of a goodly building, for ye great multitude of trées which did appeare betwéene ye houſes, & theſe wer ſtāding in goodly gardēs, in ye which wer pleſāt flowrs, ſwéet hearbs, & foūtains of water to recreate ye king wtall, for yt he neuer goeth frō this pallace til yt he departeth from Calicut. Out of this pallace there came ſūdry Caimales, & other noble men to receiue ye captain general, which brought him to a certein gret court yt was right before ye gates, & frō thence they wēt into 4. other ſeueral yards or courts. At ye gate of each of which, ther wer .x. porters, which gates they paſſed wt giuing ye people many & ſūdry blows, which ye porters beſtowed vpō thē to make roome, yt we might go in: & being come to ye laſt gate which was in ye houſe where the king himſelf was, ther came forth an old little man, which was Bramene Maior of ye kings houſe, who imbraced the captaine general, & caried him in wt thoſe yt wer with him. Bramene Maior is the kings high Prieſt, & the chiefeſt of the religious mē of his gentility. At this entring the people wonderfully preſſed thēſelues to go in, for that they ſee the king but by great chaunce, as going but few times abroad out of his pallace, & wold therfore haue entered wt our mē to ſee him. The multitude was ſo great yt there wer ſome of [Page] thē ſtifled, as alſo ther had ben two of our mē ſo vſed, if ſo be y• they had not gone before, & it had ſmally profited to lay on y• people wt their ſtaues to y• end to make more roome, if ſo be ther had not ben many of thē hurt, wherwt they gaue place y• our mē might enter. Moreouer thoſe noble mē which did accompany the Captaine general, at this third gate entred into the houſe wher the king was, the which was very great: all the ſame was cōpaſſed about wt ſeats made of timber,The deſcription of y• kings preſence chamber. one aboue y• other as the Theatres are: the floore of the ſame was al couered ouer wt gréene veluet, & the hangings about the wals were of ſilke of ſundry colours. The king himſelf was of colour brown, & of a great ſtature & of good yeres, he was lieng vpon his Eſtrado y• which was couered ouer wt a cloth of white ſ [...]lke & gold & a rich eſtate ouer him, Eſtrado is a ſeat made of boords. On his head he had a night cap, made much like vnto a ſalet, after y• old ſort which was couered ouer wt ſtone & pearle, & in his ears he ware iewels of y• ſame ſort. He had vpō him a iacket of fine cotten, ye buttons wherof were of great pearle, & the butten holes were of gold thréed, he had about his middle a white cloth made of y• forſaid cottē, y• which reched down vnto his knées, y• fingers of his hāds & toes wer ful of rings of gold, in ye which were ſet very fine ſtone, & on his armes & legs many bracelets of golde: hard to this Eſtrado, there was a certein yewer y• which had a high foot wrought al of gold, & is of y• making of ye Flanders cups, & that plaine, albeit they are greater & not ſo déepe:the kings Vitele. in this was ye Vitele which the king doth chaw in his mouth, wt ſalt & Areca, which is an apple no bigger thē a nut in Conſerua. This is eatē in all ye Indias, for y• the ſame doth make a good breth, drieth y• ſtomack & killeth y• thirſt, which being chawed in péeces hée throweth y• ſame out of his mouth, & taketh another. And for yt the king ſhuld not ſwallow y• ſame downe, there is prepared a veſſel of gold for him to ſpit in, which is as big or litle bigger thē a diſh, hauing a foot alſo of gold. Alſo he hath a fountaine of gold which is ful of water wherwt hée waſheth his mouth, when he had made an end of chawing this Vitele which he is accuſtomed to take.

[Page] This Vitele is miniſtred vnto him by an olde man which ſtandeth hard by the Eſtrado, all the others that are in this place holde their left hands afore their mouths, to the end their breath ſhould not come where the king is, who taketh the ſame for great diſcurteſie, to ſpit or to ſ [...]nieſe, & therefore there is none that breatheth afore the king. The Captaine General being come into this houſe, made reuerence to the king, after the vſe of the Countrie, which is to ſtoope or bowe downe thrée times, lifting vp his hands as one that praiſeth God. The king immediatly made ſignes vnto him as willing him to drawe néere vnto him, and commaunded him to ſit downe in one of thoſe ſeates which I haue ſpoken of, who being thus ſet, the reſt of his men did enter and made him the lyke reuerence, whom the king commaunded likewiſe to ſit down right ouer againſt him, and that there ſhould be giuen them water for their hands, that they might with the ſame refreſh themſelues ſince they were very hot, for although it was winter yet it was hot. After yt they had waſhed their hands, he commaunded to be giuen them Figges and Iacas to eate, and that forthwith, which they did receiue with a good will. The king was very glad to ſée them eate, who was very earneſt in looking vpon them, and did laugh thereat. Afterward hée tooke occaſion to talke with the old man that miniſtred vnto him this Vitele, The cuſtome in drinking. and in the meane time our men did cal for water, for that they were a thirſt, the which was giuen them to drinke by an Yewer of golde, and when our men did vnderſtand ye order of their drinking was to hold their cup of height ouer their mouths, for y• the Malabars do take the ſame for an iniurie to touch ye cup with their lips, they did therfore hold the ſame ouer their mouth, in that order that part of the water fell into their throates & made ſome of them to cough, & vnto others it fell beſides their mouths, and vpon their faces, which did runne downe vppon theyr breaſts. All this the king was very gladde to ſée, who looking towards the Captaine Generall, ſpake vnto him by an interpretour, willing him to ſpeak vnto thoſe that were [Page] there, & to tell them his pleaſure, & likewiſe to report vnto him of theirs, with this the Captaine General was nothing contented, for yt he thought the ſame a diſgracing vnto him, & anſwered by ye interpretor yt he was the king of Portingales Ambaſſadour, which was a mighty king, & that the chriſtian princes did not vſe to receiue their imbaſſage by a third perſon, but by themſelues, & that before very few, & thoſe yt were of great credit. And for that he did accuſtome the ſame order in ye other countries from whence he came, he wold not therfore vtter his imbaſſage but only vnto ye king himſelf, vnto which the king anſwered yt he liked wel therof, & that it ſhuld be ſo obſerued, & immediatly he commaunded the Captaine Generall & Fernan Martines to be carried vnto another chamber which was adorned with ye like eſtate as the other was, & as wel hanged, & after yt the Captaine general was ther, y• king came thether alſo, but our men remained where they wer firſt, & this was about the Sun ſet. The king as ſoone as he was come into this chamber went to his Eſtrado, there came no more with him but his interpretor & the Bramene Mayor, & the olde man which doth alwayes giue this Vitele vnto ye king,The meſſage that vvas ſent to ye king of Calicut from ye king of Portingal & controler of his houſe. The king & they being ther together, he aſked of ye captain general of what part of ye world he was & what he wold haue: whervnto he anſwered, that he was an Ambaſſadour of a chriſtian king of ye Occident part, & of a kingdome called Portingale, beſides many others, inſomuch yt he is of a great power both in poſſeſſions & people, & much more in riches, & all other things neceſſarie, more then any other king of thoſe parts, & hath ſo ben for ye ſpace of theſe lx. yeres, ſo y• thoſe yt haue ben kings his predeceſſours, hauing the fame brought vnto them, how y• in the Indias there, were chriſtian kings & great noble men, in eſpeciall ye king of Calicut, they were moued the rather to ſend to diſcouer ye ſame by their Captaines, & to make friendſhip with the king of y• country, & to take them for brothers as reaſon doth bind the king his Maiſter now to do, & to viſit them by his Ambaſſadors, not yt he hath any néed of their [Page] riches, for that in his owne countries of golde & ſiluer and other things of great value, he hath more therof then néede did require. And as for thoſe Captaines whom he did ſend vnto this diſcouerie, they haue gone in the ſame a yeare or two, vntill ſuch time as they haue conſumed their victuals and without finding of that which they ſought for, haue returned to Portingale, & haue in vaine ſpent great ſums of money. But the king Don Manuel which reigneth as now, & is deſirous to make an end of this enterpriſe, which was begun ſo long time agone, for that to them ther ſhuld not lack ſufficient victuals, as there did vnto the others before, did therfore giue him thrée ſhippes that were laden therwith, commaunding him not to returne to Portingale without the diſcouery of that king of the chriſtians which is Lord of Calicut. And if ſo be yt he ſhuld returne without bringing him relation therof, he would then commaund his head to be cut off. And further he willed him y• if ſo be y• he ſhould chaunce to arriue at the place where the king was, to deliuer him two letters, which he wold preſent vnto him the next day, for yt it was then ſomwhat late. And alſo that he ſhould tell him that he was his friend & brother, requeſting him that ſince that he doth ſend ſo far of to ſéeke him out, that in recompence thereof he would accept of his kindred, and friendſhip, and alſo that he woulde ſend him his Ambaſſadour for the better confirmation of the ſame, and yt frō thence forth they wold viſit one the other with their embaſſadours, as it is accuſtomed amongſt chriſtian kings. The king ſhewed himſelfe to bée well pleaſed with this Embaſſage,An Ambaſſadour promiſed from Calicut. for he tolde the Captaine Generall that hée was very well welcome. And ſince that the king of Portingale would be his friend & brother, he would be the like vnto him, and vpon the ſame wold ſend him his Embaſſadour, which thing the Captaine Generall did deſire moſt earneſtly, for that he durſt not ſhew himſelfe afore ye king his Maſter wtout him. The king did therfore promiſe him ſo to do, & that forthwith, he wold diſpatch him thether. After y• he was deſirous to know ye whole eſtate of ye king of [Page] Portingale perticularly, & how far of yt countrie laye from Calicut, & how long he had ben vpon that voiage. And for yt part of the night was well ſpent, ye king willed him to retire, demaunding of him firſt, whether he would goe lye amongſt the Moores or amongſt the Chriſtians, who anſwered that he wold lye with neither of them, but alone, & by himſelf. The king vpon his anſwere commanded a certein Moore which was his factor to go & accompany ye Captaine general, & cōmanded to giue him al things yt wer neceſſary.

How the Captaine Generall was minded to ſende a preſent to the king, but his company would not conſent to the ſame, & how the Moores began to bring the Captaine generall out of credit with the king. cap. 18.

THe Captaine generall being diſpatched to go toward his lodging (although yt foure houres of the night were paſt) the Catual & the others y• had accompanied him before, did now the like, & they all going afoot, ther fell ſuch raine, that ye ſtréets ran full therof, & therefore he was driuen to cōmaund ſome of his men to carry him vpon their backs, (not for the water only) but for y• it would be late or euer y• he could come to his lodging, with this ye Captaine general was ſo angry, y• he complained vpon ye kings Factor, demaunding whether he meant to carry him about the citie all ye night or not, who anſwered yt he could do no otherwiſe, for yt ye city was great & ſcattered, & ſo he carried him to his owne houſe, to reſt himſelfe a while. And afterward he gaue him a horſe, vpon ye which he might ride. And for yt this horſe was wt out a ſaddle, ye Captaine wold not accept the offer, ſaieng, ye yet rather he wold go a foot, & ſo he went vntill ſuch time he came to his lodging, where thoſe y• did accompany him, left him in a good lodging. And before his comming, his men had brought thether his ſtuffe, where ye Captaine generall hauing reſted himſelfe, & being in great ioy to ſée ſo good beginning of his buſineſſe, determined on the next day being Tewſdaie, to ſend a preſent to the king. [Page] And for that he knew he could not ſend the ſame, but that the Factor and the Catuall ſhould haue the ouerſight therof, did therefore ſende for them that they might haue the view thereof,A preſent for ye king of Calicut. who béeing come, he ſhewed the ſame vnto them, which was foure Capi [...]ſis of graine, and ſixe hattes, foure braunches of Gorall, twelue Almaſares, a fardell of Braſſe, in the which there were ſeauen péeces, a Cheſt of Sugar, two Barrels of Oile, & two of honnie. The Factor and the Catuall hauing ſéene theſe parcels, began to laugh therat, ſaieng, that ye ſame was nothing to preſent the king withall, for that the pooreſt Merchant that commeth to his port doth giue him much more then the ſame, wiſhing him that ſince he would néeds giue him a preſent, to ſende him ſome golde, for that the king woulde not accept any other thing. At this their anſwere the Captaine general was offended, & ſo he ſhewed himſelfe to be, ſaieng, that if ſo be he were a Merchaunt or that his comming thether were to trade, he would then haue brought him golde: But he was no Merchaunt but an Ambaſſadour, which was the cauſe he brought none with him, & that this which he doth now ſend to ye king of Calicut, is his own goods, & not ye king his Maiſters, who for that he did not certeinly know that hée ſhould haue met with the king of Calicut, did therfore giue him nothing to preſent him withal: but at his next returne knowing for certeintie that he ſhall finde him, the king his Maiſter will ſend him golde, ſiluer, & other rich things. To this they anſwered and ſayd that it might be ſo, howbeit it was accuſtomed in that countrie, ye whatſoeuer ſtranger he be that doth come & ſpeake with the king, he ſendeth hm a preſent, which is according to ye greatnes of his eſtate. Vnto which the Captaine generall did reply, ſaieng yt it was good yt their cuſtome ſhuld be kept, & that for the preſeruatiō of the ſame, he did make him this preſent, which is of no greater value, for the cauſe aboue ſaid: And therefore he deſired them to ſuffer him to carrie the ſame to the king, which if ſo be yt they would not let him doe that, then hée would ſend the ſame backe to his ſhippes againe. [Page] They aunſwered him that immediately he might ſo do, as he laſt determined, for that they would not conſent that the ſame ſhould be carried to the King. With this aunſwere the Captaine generall was very angry, and ſaid vnto them, that ſince they would not conſent that he ſhould ſende that preſent to the King, he would therefore go himſelfe & ſpeak with him, and would now returne to his ſhips. This was his meaning, to enforme the King what had paſt about this preſent. They ſaid yt it was well done ſo to do, but for ſo much as they ſhould remaine with him in the Court a good while, it were for them very neceſſary to goe about a little buſineſſe in the meane ſpace, which they will go to doe, and immediately retourne to goe with him, ſince that the King wold not be pleaſed that he ſhuld go without them: for ſo much as he was a ſtraunger, and for that there were many Moores in the Citie. The Captaine generall giuing credite to their words concerning their retourne, immediately aunſwered them that he would tarry for their comming:Treaſon conſpired againſt the fleete but they did not returne all that daye, for that they were enimies to the Captaine generall, by reaſon of the Moores, who were his enimies alſo, and had receiued newes what he had done in Monſambicke, and of the taking of the Sambuco in Mylynde, and that we were Chriſtians, and that our comming was to diſcouer Calicut. Bontaybo alſo told the Moores, that Spices were eſtéemed in Portingale very much, and that as he iudged they wer not come to diſcouer Calycut, but to ſettle there a trade, and to carrie Spices into their Countrey, in the which there is of all ſorts of Merchaunts that come to Calycut by the way of the ſtraights, and great ſtore of golde and ſiluer, and hauing the Trade ſetled there, woulde redowne vnto the King great profite thereby. To the which words the Moores gaue great eare, and made their reckoning vpon Bontaybos ſpeach, and allowed the ſame: That we being Chriſtians and once come to ſettle a Trade in Calycut, their commoditie then would fall of the price they were at, and ſo would abate the moſt part of their gaine. About this they layed their heads together, [Page] to worke all meanes they could poſſible with the king, to take the Captaine generall priſoner, and to commaunde his ſhips to be taken alſo, and to kill all our men, and this the rather, for that in no wiſe they ſhould retourne to Portingale, to carry newes of Calicut. And héerevpon they ioyned thoſe that were in credit with the King, and went vnto him, and one in the name of them all, ſaid vnto the king: That he ſhoulde not deceiue himſelfe with our men,the Mores oratiō to the king for that the Captaine Generall was no Embaſſadour but a théefe, that went to rob, which they knew for moſt certaine by their Factors, which had certified them, that aſſoone as we were come to Monſambicke, wher the Xeque went to viſite the Captaine generall aboord his ſhippe, and ſent him preſents, and eſtabliſhed with him friendſhip, and alſo giuing him a Pilot to carrie him to Calicut, whether he ſaid that he would goe. He after this ſhot his Ordinaunce at the towne, with the which he killed of his Subiects, and tooke certaine Sambucos laden with Merchaunts, and handeled both him and his like vnto Enimies. And being departed from thence to Mombaſſa, likewiſe vnder ye color of friendſhip, ſaieng that he was bound towarde Calicut, the King therevpon tooke occaſion to ſend to viſite the Captaine generall aboord his ſhip, requeſting him to enter into his harbour, who being determined ſo to doe, whether that it was for that he ſaw within the ſame many ſhips, or yt he thought he could not make his partie good, did flye away ſo faſt, that he left one of his Ankors behinde him: and from thence alſo the Pilot ran away, which he caried from Monſambicle, for the ill lyfe which he lead with him, with whipping of him, and putting of him vnto other puniſhment. And being departed from Mombaſſa, and come néere vnto Mylynde, did take perforce a Sambuco laden with Moores, of ye which there were ſome that dyed in the battaile, & others that are yet aliue remaining captiues. And for that thoſe that were captiues willed him to carry them to Mylynde, ſaieng, that there they woulde giue him a newe Pilot to carrye him to Calycut, by that meanes onely he came thether. And hauing [Page] there by the King of Mylynde bene receiued very well, yet the Captaine generall would no more come a lande, fearing the hurts which he had done, and taking the Moore priſoner which the King had ſent to viſit him, and would not delyuer him, vntill ſuch time that he had a Pilot ſent him. Wher by it might well be conſidered, that if ſo be that he were an Embaſſadour and were come to maintaine peace, he would neuer haue vſed thoſe diſorders, but wold haue brought the King a preſent with him. Of this his demeanour, we giue thée to vnderſtand, as our dutie bindeth vs, that now thou maiſt doe as thou ſhalt thinke good therein.The king remaineth doubt full vvhat to doe. With this newes the king remained amazed, and told the Moores that he would determine himſelfe what ſhall be thought moſt conuenient: they ſéeing this, thought the ſame not to be the waye to cauſe the King to doe as they would haue him, and did afterward tell the Catuall thereof, who was in great credite with the King, requeſting him to perſwade with the King, not to receiue any ſuch Embaſſage as that was, and the cauſe thereof the rather was, that he tooke this preſent for ſo ſmall a valew. With this the Catuall went immediately to the King, who told him what the Moores had ſaid, to whom the Catuall gaue counſaile, to doe as the Moores had requeſted him: immediately the King began to change his countenaunce againſt the Captaine generall, but not ſo much as the ſame might be perceiued. But as ſoone as the Moores had knowledge by the Catuall concerning the preſent that the Captaine generall would haue ſent to ye King, and that he would not conſent therevnto, the Moores tooke occaſion to go to ye Generalls lodging with a fained friendſhip offering themſelues to inſtruct him what he ſhould beſt doe,The fained friendſhippe of the Mores and talking with him they ſayd, that in that Country it was accuſtomed that thoſe the which came from other places about buſineſſe with the King, ſhoulde bring him a Preſent, and therefore it were good that hée did ſende him one. The Captaine Generall béeing offended with that iniurye they hadde offered him, and that the Catuall and the Kings Factour would not conſent therevnto, [Page] did vpon the ſame take occaſion to ſhew them thoſe péeces, the which he was minded for to ſend, who hauing ſéene the ſame, they ſaide to the Generall, that the Catuall and the Factor had great reaſon to be offended thereat, for that the ſame was not a preſent for to be ſent to a King, neyther would they wiſh him to ſend it, for that it would be iudged that by the ſending thereof he did mocke the King: All this they tolde him, and as they ſaid as friends, in ſhewing him their minde. Bontaybo told him alſo in the ſame manner, meruailing what was the cauſe he brought no other things, ſince there was plentie of all things in Portingale [...] But the Captaine generall excuſed himſelfe, ſaieng: that he was not certaine that he ſhould come to Calycut.

¶How the Captaine generall returning ſpake with the King of Calycut, & how he gaue him licenſe to returne vnto his ſhips. Chap. 19.

ALL this daye the Captaine generall was greatly offended, for that the Catuall & the Factor were not returned, ſo that he was once determined to goe to the Court with out them, yet he thought beſt to tarry till the next daye, on which in the afternoone they came, with whome he ſhewed himſelfe to be offended for their long tarrieng. But they did aunſwere him touching that matter nothing at all, but talked of other things, and ſo went with him to the Court. And for that the King was ſomewhat chaunged, as I haue ſaid, againſt the Captaine Generall, he did not commaund him to come into his preſence in thrée houres after his comming to the Courſie, and then commaundement was giuen ther ſhould come no more in with the Embaſſadour but two of his owne men, with the which he was offended, for y• he thought the ſame ſeperating from his men, was not meant well, did therfore [Page] carry with him Fernan Martines, and one Diego Dias, ſhe which was his Secretary. Being come where the King was, he did not receiue him ſo well as at the firſt time, but ſaid vnto him with a ſeuere countenaunce, that he had tarried for him all the day before, and he came not. The Captaine generall aunſwered, that he did deferre his comming, for that he found himſelfe weary by reſon of the long way, for he was very loath to tell him the cauſe why he ſtaid, for that he woulde not giue the King occaſion to talke of the preſent that he would haue ſent him: But it did well appeare that the Catuall and the Factor would not haue hindred the ſending of the ſame vnto the King, but for yt they well knew, he would haue made ſmall account thereof. And alſo they muſt of force haue told him that they had ſeene the ſame. Neuertheleſſe it coulde not be excuſed, but that the King ſpake vnto the Captaine generall thereof immediately ſaieng:The king quarrelleth vvith the Captaine Generall. how that he had tolde him that he was belonging to a great and rich King, and yet he brought no preſent from him, but an Embaſſage of friendſhip onelye, and therefore he could not tell what friendſhip he woulde haue with him, ſince that he did ſend him nothing. Vnto this the Captaine generall did aunſwere, that there was no maruel that he did bring him nothing, for that he came not in aſſuraunce that he ſhould méete with him. But now ſince that he hath ſéene him he ſhould well perceiue what his King & Maſter will héereafter ſende him, if ſo be that God wil giue him leaue to carry newes of this his diſcouery. And if ſo be that he will giue credite to his Letters which hée did bring with him, he ſhall then ſée what the King doeth ſend him word of. The King in ſtéede of demaunding his Letters, aſked him whether the King his Maſter did ſende him to diſcouer ſtones or men, and if ſo be that he did ſend him to diſcouer men, how doth it chaunce then that hée ſent him no preſent. And ſince that it is manifeſt that hée had brought him nothing, he ſayd as then that it was told him that he had a Sancta Maria in golde, requeſting of him the ſame.

[Page] The Captaine generall was partly aſhamed to ſée the King ſo altered, for that he had not brought him a preſent. And now moreouer to demaund without all honeſtie that Image. To whom he aunſwered, that the Sancta Maria, which they tolde him of, was made of woode, and gylded ouer and not of Maſſie golde. And although that it were (yet would he not depart therewith) forſomuch as the ſame had preſerued him in the Sea, and had brought the ſame from his Countrey. The King did not reply vpon this anſwere, but demaunded thoſe Letters the which the King had ſent him: whereof the one was in the Portingale tongue, the other in the Arabian language. Theſe he tolde him were ſent in this order, for that the King his Maſter did not know whether of theſe two languages was vnderſtoode in his Countrey. Wherefore he deſired that ſince the Portingale language was not vnderſtood in his Countrey but the Arabian, and that there were Chriſtians of the Indias that did vnderſtand the ſame, one of thoſe might read his Letter, and the rather for that the Moores are enimies to the Chriſtians, of whom he was afeard, leaſt that they ſhould chaunge the ſenſe thereof. The King commaunded them ſo to bée read: howbeit there could be founde no Indian that coulde read the ſame, or at the leaſt would ſhew himſelfe that hée could read them. The Captaine generall ſéeing that there was no other remedy, but y• the Moores muſt néeds read the ſame, was driuen then to requeſt the King, that Bontaybo might be one of them. This was done, for yt as he thought he would ſpeake and vſe more truth then the others, for the acquaintaunce they had with him. The King commaunded the ſame to be read by other thrée, who hauing read ye ſame firſt of all to themſelues,The effect of ye king of Portingales Letters to the king of Calycut & afterward with a loude voyce declared to the King the effect thereof, the which was, That as ſoone as the King of Portingale had knowledge, yt he was one of the mightieſt Princes of all the Indias, & a Chriſtian, he was deſirous to haue a trade & a friendſhip with him, for that he might haue out of his Countrey, Spices, the which he hath in great plentie, for which there commeth diuers [Page] from many places of the world thether to buy ye ſame. And therefore if ſo be he will giue him licenſe to ſende for the ſame, that then he wil ſend vnto him from his kingdome many things which he hath not in his, as his Captaine generall and Embaſſadour will tell him. And if ſo bée that with thoſe things he were not pleaſed, he will ſende him money both of golde and ſiluer to buy them withall, & how that as well of his Merchaundize as of the money, yt Captaine generall could ſhew him part. The King hearing this, as he was deſirous that for the increaſe of his rents there ſhould come many Merchaunts vnto Calycut, ſhewed himſelf to be wel pleaſed with this letter, & alſo made vnto the Captaine generall a better countenaunce then he did before, & aſked him what Merchaundize ther were in Portingale. He named many, ſhewing how that of all he had brought with him part, and alſo of their money, requeſting him licenſe to goe aboord for the ſame, and in the meane while he wold leaue in his lodging foure or fiue of his men. The King giuing more credite to that which he ſpake, then to that the Moores had told him, ſaid vnto him, yt he might go in a good houre, & carie his men with him, for there was no neceſſitie that they ſhould remaine a lande, & that he ſhould bring his Merchandize, & ſell them as well as he could. With this lycenſe he remained well content, for (as he ſaw ye King make him at the firſt an ill countenance) ſo he thought yt he wold not haue giuen him ye ſame, & with this licenſe he went firſt to his lodging, being by ye Kings commandement accompanied with the Catuall: and forſomuch as that daye was all ſpent, he would, not goe aboord that night.

¶How the Captaine generall hauing l [...]cenſe of the King to go to his ſhips, was ſtaid by the Catuall in Pandarane. Chap. 20.

THe next daye after, which was the laſt daye of Maye, the Catuall ſent to the Captaine generall a Horſe, howbeit without anye furniture to the ſame, vpon which hée might goe to Pandarane: And for that the Horſe came after that order, he woulde [Page] not accept his offer, but rather requeſted him for one of his Andors, the which he ſent him immediately, and on the ſame he went to Pandarane, and all his men came after him on foote. There went to beare him company many Nayres, the Catuall did remaine in Calicut, and when the Moores had notice that he ſhould there ſtaye, and that the Captaine generall was gone towards his ſhips, ſuppoſing that he went for altogether, were ſore amazed therewith, wherevpon the Moores tooke occaſion to goe to the Catuall,the Mores make a nevv conſpiracie. with large offers of money to purſue the Captaine generall, and vnder a fained pretence to lay hands vpon him and to take him priſoner, for that they would finde occaſion to kill him: and he by this meanes ſhoulde remaine in no fault thereof at all. And albeit that the King would puniſh him forſomuch as he did kéepe him priſoner, yet they would not feare but to get him his pardon. With this bribe and promiſe he did depart immediately, and went in ſuch haſt after him, that hée paſt by our men which did remaine behinde the Captaine generall, for that they were not able to goe much, by reaſon of the heate. The Catuall hauing ouertaken the Captaine generall, aſked him why he did make ſo much haſt, or wher he wer now running away: this was ſpoken by ſignes, y• which the Captaine generall did vnderſtand, who aunſwered him alſo by ſignes that he did runne away to flye the heat. And being come to Pandarane, for that his men as yet did not appeare, the Captaine generall tolde the Catuall that hée would not goe into the village, vntill his men were come, and there he tarried for them in a houſe, wherein he reſted himſelfe from the raine: howbeit they came not vntill it was almoſt Sunne ſet, for ſo long he did tarry for them becauſe they had loſt their waye. But after that they were come, the Captine generall tolde them, that then it was not time to leaue him, whereas if ſo be that they hadde come ſooner, hée hadde bene as then in his Shippe.

Wherevppon, immediatelye hée did demaunde of the Catuall a Boate or Pinnace for to goe aboorde in, who for that hée pretended an other thing, aunſwered [Page] him, that it was verye late, and that the ſhippes did ride farre, and going in the night he might miſſe them, and therfore that it were a great deale better to tarie vntill ye next day. To ye which the Captaine generall made him a plaine anſwere, that if ſo be that he would not giue him an Almadias or Pinnace, he woulde immediatly returne to the king & complain vpon him, forſomuch as the king had ſent him to his ſhips, and he would ſéeme to ſtay him, which was very ill done, ſince that he was a Chriſtian as they were. This was ſpoken with ſuch a coulour as if he wold haue returned to Calicut. Diſſimulation in ye Catuall The Catuall for to diſſemble with him the more, did make him a countenance as though he would giue him thirtie Almadias, if he woulde haue ſo many. Howbeit he tolde him that he did counſell him for the beſt, and to remaine. But if ſo be that he would goe he was contented therewith. Thus on one parte he ſent to ſéeke out Almadias or Pinnaces, and on the other part commaunded the owners of the ſame to hide themſelues out of the way becauſe they ſhuld not deliuer the ſame. In the meane ſeaſon while they went to ſéeke thoſe Pinnaces, the Captaine Generall went along the water ſide, and for that he had an euill ſuſpition of their dealing, for that which they had done to him in Calicut, he commaunded Gonſallo Peres, a Marriner, with other two of his men, to go before as faſt as they could, & ſée if they could finde Nicholas Coello wt his boats to wil him to kéepe himſelf out of the way, forſomuch as he was afeard leaſt yt the Catual wold ſend to take his boats, with all thoſe that were with him in the ſame, Gonſallo Peres with the other went about that buſineſſe whileſt the Catuall went in the meane ſeaſon ſo leaſerly to prouide for this boat, that the night drew on, ſo that it was thrée houres within night ere he coulde heare of any thing what hée had done, and what for that & alſo to tarrye the comming of thoſe that went to Nicholas Coello, the Captaine Generall was the willinger to ſtay there that night. After that the Catuall had placed the Generall in a Moores houſe, tolde him that he woulde [Page] goe to ſéeke out Gonſallo Peres, & the other two that went with him. Howbeit he came not backe till it was the morning. And as ſoone as the Captaine Generall had fight of him, immediatly he required a boate for to goe in vnto his ſhippes. But as ſoone as the Catuall heard him, he then ſpake vnto his Nayres that were there preſent in his language, who afterward willed the Captaine Generall to cō maunde his ſhips to be brought néere vnto the ſhoare, and that being done he ſhoulde haue licenſe to goe his waye, with this the Captaine Generall was ſomewhat afearde, howbeit he aunſwered him with a ſtout ſtomacke, that as long as he was on land, he would commaund no ſuch matter to be done, forſomuch as then his brother woulde iudge him to remaine in priſon, and that he did commaunde the ſame to be done more for feare then any thing els, whervpon he wold immediatly depart toward Portingal, without him.

To this the Catuall made anſwere with the others that were with him,The Catuals purpoſe opened. ſpeaking with a ſtoutneſſe, that if ſo be that he would not doe that which was willed him to doe, y• then they will not let him go a boord. To the which ſhewing himſelfe to be therewith offended, he made anſwere that if ſo be that they would not let him go, that then he wold returne to the king of Calicut, and make his complaint, who if then he would ſtey him in his countris, y• then he would be verie glad to dwel in the ſame. The Catuall therevpon willed him ſo to do, & to goe to the king to make his complaint, but yet for all his ſaieng he would not conſent thervnto, for that he had commaunded the doores of his lodging to be kept ſhut, placing within the ſame ſundry Nayres with their weapons. And if ſo that any of our men ſhould goe forth, there were appointed many of the enmyes to withſtand them. Neuertheleſſe it was Gods pleaſure that the Catuall durſt not venture to kill the Captaine Generall, nor yet any of his men for all that the Moores hadde bribed him with a great ſumme of money, and for all that hée was in great credit with the king, for hée ſtoode in ſuch a [Page] feare thereof, that he durſt not doe it.

Tho cauſe why he required the ſhippes to be brought to the ſhoare ſide was, for that they being there, the Moores might the better laye the ſame a boorde, and ſo take them and kill all thoſe that were within them, which thing for that it did ſo manifeſtly appeare to the Captaine General, he would not commaund the Shippes to bée brought anye néerer. And alſo for that the ſame was ſo appareaunt vnto the others of his men that were with him. They gaue him counſaile not to deale therein. The Catuall ſéeing that he would not commaunde thoſe Shippes to bée brought néere the ſhoare, and for that there was no cauſe to ſtaye him or offer him any wrong, and ſéeing that hée could not kill him, did then beginne to requeſt him to bring his Sailes and the Rudder of the Shippes a lande. With that the Captaine Generall beganne to laugh, ſayeng, that he would neither doe the one, nor yet the other, ſince that the king did giue him frée licenſe to goe without any condition.

And therefore hée willed him to doe what he would, and how that of all the iniuryes which hée had offered him, the king ſhoulde bée made priuie, who he knewe woulde doe him iuſtice, but yet for all this, both hée and his remayned in ſome feare of ſuſpect, although they did not outwardly ſhew the ſame.

At length the Captaine Generall with the reſt feigning themſelues to be an hungred,The Generals vneffectuall excuſe. and that they were vnprouided of victualls, did requeſt him that ſome of his men might goe to prouide the ſame, and hée woulde remaine alone, but for all that the Catuall woulde not agrée therevnto. Nowe our men béeing in feare to ſée themſelues in ſuch a daunger. Then came Gonſallo Peres, ſuppoſing that the Captaine Generall had ben at his liberty, and that they were tarrieng for him and the others, who tolde him that hée hadde mette with Nicholas Coello, and with the others which tarryed for him with theyr Boates a lande.

[Page] This newes being brought to the Captaine Generall, hée was afeard leaſt the Catuall ſhould know thereof, which if he had knowne indéed he would haue ſent Pinnaces and many men in them,Gonſallo Peres ſent back to the ſhips for to haue taken them. Therefore did he procure by all the meanes he could, that Gonſallo Peres ſhoulde ſecretlye returne, from thence vnto their ſhippes, and put themſelues in good order. And alſo that he ſhould goe with them and informe them in what caſe he doth remaine. Nicholas Coello hauing receiued this diſpatch, did forthwith depart, and that in haſt, and immediatly after he was departed, the Catuall was aduertiſed thereof, who ſent after him ſundrie Pinnaces well appointed, but yet they could not ouertake him, and therefore they returned againe vnto the Catuall. Then the Catuall after that they were come did once more requeſt the Captaine Generall to write vnto his brother to bring the ſhippes néere to the lande, but he could not perſwade the Captaine Generall ſo to doe, ſaieng that if he ſhould doe it, yet his brother would not conſent therevnto, and although he would, yet he knew that the companye would not. To this the Catuall did replye, that he ſhoulde not make him beléeue that, forſomuch as he did well know that all things ſhould be done as he would commaund. Howbeit the Captaine Generall wold write no ſuch letter; for that he was afeard of the bringing of the ſhips ſo néere the ſhoare, for the cauſes aboue mentioned.

¶How the Catuall was contented that the Captaine Generall ſhould goe to his ſhips, & after that what chaunced. cap. 21.

AFter this ſorte they ſpent that day, in the which our men remained in great feare, forſomuch as in the night they were put in a great yarde that was vnderfoote layed with Brick, and compaſſed about with walls, & alſo had to kéepe them far more [Page] men then they had in the day. Then the Captaine Generall perceiued by the countenance of his men y• they feared leaſt they ſhuld be departed ye one from ye other yt next day after, as he himſelfe ſuſpected the lyke, although he gaue no outward ſhew thereof, but rather had a confidence, that as ſoone as the king of Calicut had knowledge after what ſorte they were ſtayed, would commaunde them to be releaſed, for that he did neuer vſe with him double dealing, it was thought that the Catuall did ſtaye the Captaine Generall after this order,The generals conſtancye marueled at by the Catuall becauſe he ſhould giue him ſome reward. And for that he would giue as it were no outwarde ſhew that he was offended, he would néeds come to ſupper to him that night, at the which they hadde both Rice and Hens, which he commaunded to be bought the day before. The Catuall did much meruaile to ſée how little they did paſſe for their cloſe kéeping, after that ſort, and of the great conſtancie of the Captaine Generall, that he woulde not commaund thoſe ſhippes to be brought néere to the ſhoare, nor yet condeſcended to any of the other his requeſt. And for that hée thought that it was but a follye to kéepe him priſoner, thereby the rather to conſtraine him to doe it, it was Gods pleaſure to put him in the head to ſette him at lybertie, for feare leaſt that the king ſhoulde knowe thereof, for that he gaue him frée lybertie to goe to his ſhippes. The next day which was Saterday the ſecond of Iune, hée then tolde him, that ſince he had certified the king that he would bring his Merchandiſe a land, he ſhould command the ſame to be brought. For it was a cuſtome that whatſoeuer Merchants did come to Calicut, he ſhould immediatly vpon the ſame command his Merchandiſe to be brought a land and his men alſo, and they not to returne vnto their ſhips, vntill ſuch time that they had ſolde the ſame, notwithſtanding as ſoone as the Merchandiſe were come, he would then let him go aboord his ſhips. And although his wordes were with the Captaine Generall of ſmall credite to ſend vnto his brother a certeine diſpatch for them, yet he did not lette to tell him, that immediatly he would ſende for them, if ſo [Page] be that they wold giue him Almadias or pinnaces, in the which the ſame might be brought, for that his brother woulde not conſent that his boates ſhould come a lande, vntill ſuch time that hée were there himſelf, with this the Catuall was content for that he thought to make himſelf poſſeſſour of the Merchandiſe, hauing a ſpeciall hope that they were of a great value, as the Captaine Generall had tolde him.

Then he diſpatched two of his men with a letter vnto his brother,The effect of ye Generals letters vnto his brother. in the which he had made relation after what ſorte hée did remaine. And that he had no other iniury offered him, but that he kept his lodging. And for any thing elſe hée was very well, willing him that hée ſhould ſende him part of the Merchaundiſe to content the Catuall withall, that he might let him depart. And after that hée had receiued the ſame, if then hée would not let him go, he would then beléeue that hée did kéepe him priſoner, by the King of Calicuts commaundement, who hée knew would not commaund the ſame, except it were to take his ſhippes, which hée would not doe, but hauing time to arme his owne Fléet, & ſo to ſet vppon them, wherefore hée aduertiſed them that if ſo bée were not ſet at liberty, immediatly after y• the Merchandiſe were landed, that then they ſhould not remaine there any longer, but goe their wayes toward Portingale, & informe the king his Maiſter what had chaunced vnto him, and alſo what hee had done, that there might not bée loſt a Countrie of ſo greate a profite for Portingale as that was, and alſo to tell him after what ſort that hée did remaine there, and what confidence hée hadde in his highneſſe that he would ſend him ſuch a Fléete of ſhips and men, that by the ſame hée doth hope to be ſette at lybertie, béeing aſſured that as nowe they woulde not kill him.

He that carried theſe letters béeing come to Paulo de la Gama, did deliuer them vnto him, giuing vnto him large inſtructions of all that which they had paſt, ſince they did departe. Nowe Paulo de la Gama hauing ſéene this Letter [Page] which was ſent him from the Captaine General,His brothers aply did ſend immediatlye the merchaundiſe with an aunſwere to this Letter, in the whſch hée ſayde, that GOD would not permit him to retourne to Portingale without his companye. And if ſo bée that their enimyes would not ſette him at lyberty, that then hée did hope in GOD that hée woulde ſtrengthen thoſe fewe that remained in the Fléet, with whome and with the Ordinance that they haue, hée woulde come and ſet him at lyberty, and of this hée might make full accompt, and of no other thing.

The Merchaundiſe béeing landed, the Captaine General did deliuer the ſame vnto the Catual, and alſo to Diego Dyas whome he lefte for▪ Factour of the ſame, and to Aluora de Braga the Scriuenor, who remained in a houſe which the Catuall had ſought out for them. In this ſpace the Captaine Generall made himſelfe in a readyneſſe to goe aboorde his ſhippes, but firſt the Catuall did reforme, and make himſelfe friendes with him.

After that hée was a boorde, hée would ſend no more Merchaundiſe a lande, vntill ſuch time hée heard newes the ſame were ſolde, neyther yet would goe anye more a lande, becauſe hée would runne in no ſuch daunger, with this the Moores were grieuouſly offended, for that they thought that if ſo be that he would come a land, that there they might doe him more hurte then a Seaboorde.

And for that they woulde the rather ſo do, they beganne to make a mocke at the merchandiſe which he had left a land. Alſo they wrought all the means they could to hinder their ſales therof, ſaieng yt they wer litle or nothing worth. Of al this ye Captain general was informed,deuiſes of the Mores to entiſe thē aland. & for y• as he thought the king knew nothing of all theſe things, neither yet what diſcurteſie the Catuall had offered him, & for that he ſhould vnderſtand the cauſe why the Captaine Generall did not returne a land, neither yet wold ſend any more merchandiſe, he did therfore ſend him word within fiue dayes after hy his Factour of all that they hadde done vnto him, and alſo what iniurye the Moores hadde ſhewed him, [Page] touching their Merchants, promiſing notwithſtanding, that he would not let to be at his commaundement with all the whole Fléet. Then the king ſeemed to be very greatly offended for that which they had done to ye Captaine general, inſomuch as he had ſent him vnto his ſhippes. But for all that the Catuall went vnpuniſhed, although he ſent the Captaine Generall worde, that he would puniſh thoſe that had ſo vſed him, which out of doubt were naughtie chriſtians, ſo that it did well appeare that it grieued him verye much to heare thereof. And as touching the Merchaundiſe he promiſed to ſende thether ſuch as ſhoulde buye the ſame, as hée did indéede ſeauen or eyght Merchauntes, which are Gentiles Guſarates, and with his Factour hée ſent a Nayre, which was a principall honeſt man, to the intent hée might remaine in the Factorye with the Factour, to whome hée gaue commaundement diligentlye to beware that there ſhoulde not come any Moores to kill him.

But for becauſe that this was done but vnder couloure that the Moores ſhoulde not ſéeme to ſubborne the Merchauntes, they bought nothing, but rather did abate the price, of the which the Moores were verye gladde, and ſaid, that nowe it did well appeare that they were not alone that woulde not buye of theyr Merchaundiſe, yet for all that ther durſt come no Moore to the Factorie, they once hauing notice that there was placed a Nayre by the kinges commaundement. And if ſo be that before they did not abide or loue vs, they ten times worſe loued vs afterwarde, ſo that whenſoeuer any of our men ſhould come a land, they receiued the ſame as an iniurie done vnto them, ſpitting on the ground, ſaieng: Portingale, Portingale. But our men which vnderſtoode their meaning did laugh thereat, to the ende thereby they might ſée howe little they did eſtéeme their doinges, for ſo the Captaine Generall commaunded them to doe. Nowe perceiuing that there was none that would buy of the Merchants, he ſuppoſed the cauſe to be for that they lay in a place where there were no Merchaunts.

And therfore ſuppoſing that if ſo be that they were in Calicut, [Page] where other Merchants are, he ſhould ſell the better, did therfore [...]ue ye King of Calicut by a meſſenger for licenſe to ſend the ſame,Their merchandize paide for by ye king him ſelfe which he gaue immediately, and commanded the Catuall to ſée the ſame brought forthwith, & to ſuch as ſhould carrie them, to ſée them paid at his owne coſtes and charges, for that he would not that any thing of ye king of Portingales, ſhuld be at any charges in his Country, and ſo it was done: but for all this the Captaine generall wold neuer come more a lande, for that which the Catuall hadde done vnto him, and for that Bontaybo which came to ſée him manye times, did giue him counſaile ſo to doe, for that the King was moueable, and therefore it was poſſible that the Moores would alter his minde, for the great credite that they were of with him. But the Captaine general was very warie, and becauſe that he was a Moore,Bontaybo vſed, but not truſted. he would not much truſt him, neither yet woulde giue him account what he was minded to doe: yet for that he would ſéeme to haue him in ſome reputation that he ſhould bring him alwayes newes of that which did paſſe on ſhoare, he departed with him both money and other rewards.

¶How the Captaine generall being deſirous to retourne toward Portingale, ſent to demaunde lycenſe of the King to haue a Factor and a Scriuener, with ſuch Merchaunts as he thought good: & how the King cauſed the meſſenger with one other, that was found a ſhoare to be craried to priſon. Chap. 22.

THe Merchaunts being brought to Calicut, the Captaine generall therewith gaue all his men licenſe to goe and ſée the Citie of Calycut, & to buye ther what they thought good, ſo that there went out of each ſhippe euery day a man, and thoſe being returned, there went immediately others. And as they went on this [Page] order, they were carried to the Gentiles houſes wher they had good chéere, and alſo when occaſion ſerued might haue among them good lodging. The like courteſie they did receiue in Calicut, beſides they did report vnto our men of all ſuch things as they had, and after the ſelfe ſame manner, our men did beſtow amongſt them part of that they caried, which were bracelets of Braſſe & of Copper, Pewter, and apparell, which they carried to ſell in Calicut, or anye other place, where they might goe as quiet as in Liſhborne. From the lande there went aboord both Fiſher men & Gentiles to ſell their Fiſh, Co [...]os and Hennes, which they gaue in trucke of biſket and for ready money. Others ther wer that went thether with their children, who carried nothing with them to ſell, but only their going was to ſée our ſhips. The Captaine generall was very glad of their comming, & commanded to giue them meate: this he did for to increaſe the friendſhip betwéene the King of Calicut & them. After this order, the ſhips wer neuer without ſome, & thoſe yt wer there, remained till ſuch time that night drew on, and then they were bid to goe their waye. After this ſort they ſpent their time till it was the x. day of Auguſt, the which was the beginning of the ſeaſon wherin they might depart from the Coaſt of the Indias, The ende of ye vvinter in the Indias. and alſo for that as then their winter did make an end. The Captaine generall perceiuing the quietneſſe of the people and Countrey, and the familyaritie they vſed with our men, and how quietly they went in Calicut, without receiuing either hurt of the Moores or of the Nayres, did credibly beléeue that this came to paſſe, for that the King of Calycut would haue peace and friendſhip with the King his Maſter, was the occaſion that almoſt in thrée moneths that our men had trade in Calycut they did receiue no manner hurt, either of the Moores or of the Nayres. Hée did therfore determine to eſtabliſh the Factorie which was there, with all ſuch Merchandize as he had lefte at that preſent (although the leaſt parte thereof was ſolde) for that there was now layde a good foundation or ground worke, for the next voyage when it ſhuld pleaſe the King his Maſter [Page] to ſende againe, and if it might pleaſe God to giue him life, that he might bring him newes of this Diſcouerie, ſo that it ſhould not be néedfull to make any new conſent or agréement for the Factorie. And by the counſaile of his Captaines and of the other Principalls of his ſhips, he ſent vnto the King of Calicut a preſent, of ſkarfes of ſundry coulours, of ſilkes, Coralls and other things, which was caried vnto him by Diego Dias, deſiring the King to pardon him, for that he was ſo bold as to ſend him that preſent, conſidedering he did the ſame for no other purpoſe, but onelye to ſhew what ſeruitour he was of his, who is and will bée alwayes at his commandement, which was the occaſion that he ſent it, and not for that he thought that things of ſo ſmal valew, were of ſufficient dignitie, for to repreſent a King withall of ſo great a power as he was. And if ſo be that he had in his cuſtodie, that which he might eſtéeme or think to be of a more worthie price, he would ſende it with a better good will. And for that the time now drew néere ye he determined to depart, he ordained for the ſame, and alſo if ſo bée that he did minde to ſend any Embaſſadour to the King his Maſter to confirme the amitie or friendſhip betwéen them, he deſired him to commaund him to be in a readineſſe, for that he had a confidence that as touching that which he had agréed vpon with his highneſſe, as alſo preſuming on ye gifts which he had receiued at his hands, yt he might as he was deſirous, leaue in Calicut that Factor with his Scriuenor & the Merchandize which he had left, not onely for a witnes of a perpetuall peace & friendſhip ſetled ther with his highnes, but alſo for a teſtimony of the truth of his Embaſſage, & of that which ye King his Maſter ſhuld ſend héerafter, as ſoone as he had news of him, & alſo for confirmatiō of his diſcouery & to get ſome credit in Portingale, he did therfore ſend to kiſſe his hands, requeſting him to ſend to ye king his maſter one Bahar of cinamon, & another of cloues, & another of ſome other ſpices, & as ſoone as ye factor did make any redy mony of his wares, he ſhuld pay for ye ſame, forſomuch as at y• preſent he had not wherewith to paye. After that Diego Dias [Page] had receiued his meſſage, there paſt foure dayes afore the King would conſent that he ſhould come in his preſence, although that he went euery day vnto his Pallaice. After that he had commanded him to come into his preſence, he viewed how and after what ſort he came laden, and therevpon aſked him with a frowning countenaunce, what it was that he would haue: but Diego Dias at that time was afearde, that he would commaund him to be killed. But after that he had told him his meſſage and would haue deliuered him the preſent, he would not ſée it, but commaunded it to be deliuered to his Factor. The aunſwere that he gaue touching the Captaine generall was, that ſince he would néedes goe his waye,The kings aunſvvere vnto Diego Dias. he might ſo doe: but firſt or that he doe depart, he muſt giue him 600. Seraſynes, for ſo it was the cuſtome of the Countrey. Diego Dias being returned with this preſent, was accompanied by manye Nayres, which he ſéeing, thought it to be for the beſt: but as ſoone as he was come to the Factorie,Diego Dias kept in priſon, they remained at the dore, and woulde not conſent, that he or any other ſhoulde come forth. And after this proclamation was made in all the Citie, that vpon pain of death there ſhould goe aboord our Fléete no boate or Almadias: but yet notwithſtanding all this Bontaybo went, and gaue warning to the Captaine generall in ſecrete, not to goe a lande, nor conſent that any of his ſhould goe: for that he knew for moſt certaine by the Moores, that if ſo be that he or they ſhoulde ſo doe, the King would commaunde theyr heads to be ſtroken off. And as touching all his faire words and good entertainment, which he had ſhewed him vnto that preſent, as alſo to giue him a houſe in the which his Merchandize might be layd, as alſo the good entertainment that our men had, was but méere diſſimulation, and to the ende, he might haue taken him a lande with them, & ſo haue commaunded them all to be killed, which was wrought by the induſtrie of the Moores onely, which had made the King beléeue, that they were théeues and went a rouing, and that he came not vnto his Harbour, but to ſteale ſuch Merchandize as ſhould be brought to the Citie, and alſo to eſpie the [Page] Countrey, and after to come with a great Fléete for to inuade the ſame. In the ſelfe ſame order was the Captaine generall informed by two Malabars, which are Gentiles, being therefore now in a ſtudie what was beſt to be done, hauing this aduertiſement for moſt certaine, as ſoone as it was night, there came aboorde the Generalls ſhip, a ſlaue of the colour blacke, which was naturally borne in Guynee, & belonged vnto Diego Dias and alſo was a Chriſtian, and had the Portingall tongue very well, who tolde him that Diego Dias and Aluoro de Braga did remain in priſon, & what aunſwere the King of Calycut had made to his meſſage, & what he had commaunded to be done with his preſent, and alſo what Proclamations there were made: Diego Dias, for that he thought good to giue him knowledge of yt which had paſt, had bribed a Fiſher man to carrie this meſſenger, and that in the night ſeaſon that he might not be knowen. After that the Captaine generall had heard all this, he was much offended therewith: howbeit, for that hée woulde ſée the end thereof, would not depart, but did let paſſe that day, to ſée whether that any would come aboord him. The nexte day which was Wedneſdaye,Boies ſent for ſpyes being the xv. of Auguſt, there came one onlyPinnace or Almadia aboord the General, in the which were foure boyes, which brought fine precious ſtones to ſell, and for that they came after ſuch ſort he tooke them to be ſpies, and that their comming was for no other purpoſe but to ſée what they did: and by this meanes hée thought he might vnderſtand in what reputation they were with the King. This was the occaſion the Captaine generall did receiue them with as good a countenaunce as he did before, giuing them nothing to vnderſtand yt he knew of the impriſonment of Diego Dias, and wold not therefore laye hand vpon thoſe, but vpon ſuch as ſhoulde come afterward (which as he thought ſhould be of more credite) vntill ſuch time as he had recouered thoſe that were impriſoned.

Vnto thoſe alſo he wrote a Letter by thoſe Boyes, with fained words, ſaieng that he did vnderſtande of theyr impriſonment: this was done in ſuch order, that if ſo be this [Page] letter ſhould haue come to any other mens hands, they could not haue vnderſtood the ſame. Theſe Boyes did deliuer vnto him this letter, who afterward told the king what great entertainment they had at the Captaine generalls hands, which made him to beléeue that he knewe nothing of the impriſonment of his men, whereof he was very glad & did retourne and ſend aboord others, and thoſe that ſhoulde goe had warning giuen them not to diſcloſe,The king of Calicuts treſon towards the Captaine generall. that the Factour with the others did remaine priſoners. This was done by pollicie, for that he made this reckoning to deceiue the Captaine generall on this ſort, vntill ſuch time that he was able to ſende a Fléete of ſhips vpon him, or til that the ſhips of Meca, ſhould come and take him. On this ſort went the Malabars aboord, vnto whom the Captaine generall made a good countenaunce, and commaunded them to be entertained very well: all this he did for yt he ſaw none worth the ſtaieng. On the Sunday next, there came ſixe principal Malabars, with other fiftéene which waited vpon them, in another Pinace. And for that the Captain generall thought that for thoſe the King would ſend him his Factor and his Scriuenour, he laid hands vpon them all, onely he lefte two Mariners in a pinace, by whom he ſent a letter to the kings Factors,Certaine Malabars ſtayed in exchange written in the Malabars tongue, in the which he demaunded for the Factor and his Scriuenor, & then he wold ſend thoſe which he had ſtaid. The kings factor hauing peruſed this letter, he enformed ye king of y• which had paſt, who cōmaunded, the Factor & Scriuenor to be brought home to his houſe as priſoners, that he might from thence ſend for them, and to diſſemble therewith as though he knewe nothing of their impriſonment, & ſo cauſe them to be ſent from thence to the Captaine generall, for that he might ſend him thoſe Malabars which he had detained, whoſe wiues made exclamation for the impriſonment of their huſbands. And therefore the King was the more willinger to ſet our men at libertie, who afterward remained a while in the Kings Factors houſe.

¶How the Captaine generall ſeeing the delayes wer made for that the Factor with the Scriuenor came not, did bring himſelfe in a readines as though he would depart immediately, wherevpon without any further delay, the King ſent them away, and what els happened. Chap. 23.

[Page] THe captain general ſéeing yt they came not, determined to proue whether yt with ſhewing himſelf as though he wold depart immediatly, they wold thē ſend them to him, did therfore on wedneſday, being the xxiii. of Auguſt commaund to wey his Ankor, & to bring himſelfe vnder ſaile. And for that the winde was contrary he was driuen to come to an Ankor foure leagues from Calicut, riding in an open road, and there they remained till the next Saterday, to ſée whether they would ſende their priſoners. And perceiuing no likelihood thereof, he went yet further into the Sea, ſo far, that he ſcarcely could deſcry any land, & being at an Ankor for lack of winde, there came thether a boat wt certain Malabars, which told ye Captaine generall yt their comming was to ſéeke him out, & to tel him y• Diego Dias with ye others, wer in ye kings pallaice, whom he minded to ſend aboord,Yet [...] deuices to ſlaye the Portingals from departing which thing to be true they would bind thēſelues yt as ye next day they ſhould be brought. And ye cauſe why they brought thē not as then, was for that they thought they ſhuld not ouertake him. Now for yt they ſawe not yt Malabars yt the Generall kept as priſoners, thought yt they were all dead. This craftie dealing was for no other purpoſe, but to dally with ye Captaine general, & to ſtay him with thoſe words, that the King might in the meane while prepare in Calicut an armie of ſhips to ſet vpon him and to tarry for the ſhips of Meca, to ioyne with his Fléete. After this the Captaine generall commaunded thoſe of the towne, to goe their way and not to retourne without his men, or els their letters, for if ſo be they did he would ſink them wt his ordinance. And alſo if immediately they did not returne with an anſwere, yt then he would cut off the heads of thoſe which he had taken. With this aunſwere, thoſe of the [Page] towne did departe, and immediatelye as ſoone as they had winde, he made ſayle, and bearing along the Coaſt, came to Ankor at the Sunne ſet ouer againſt Calycut.

The next daye our men deſcryed comming ſeauen Almadias, which came aboord the Captaine generalls ſhip, in the one whereof came Diego Dias and Aluoro de Braga, and in the others there came many others of the countrey, howbeit, there were none that durſt enter within their ſhips, but did put Diego Dias and Aluoro de Braga in his owne boate which they had at their ſtearne, and afterwarde they themſelues fell further off, tarrieng for the Captaine Generalls aunſwere. To whom Diego Dias ſaid, That as ſoone as the King of Calicut knew that he was gone, he ſent for him from his Factors houſe and ſhewed himſelfe ioyfull, as one that knew nothing of his impriſonment, and aſked him what was the occaſion that the Captaine Generall tooke thoſe men which he doth kéepe as priſoners, who afterward tolde him the cauſe: wherevpon the King made aunſwere, that it was well done. He aſked him alſo whether that his Factor had demaunded at his hands any thing of gift, ſpeaking againſt his owne Factor which was there preſent, for that he knew wel inough yt it was not long ago, ſince he cō maunded one other to be killed, for taking certain bribes of Merchaunt ſcraungers. After all this, he willed him to tell the Captaine generall that he ſhould ſend him ye ſtone which he promiſed him to be ſet in the Countrey, vpon the which there is a Croſſe and the royall Armes of Portingale, and alſo to know of him whether he be content to leaue Diego Dias for Factor in Calicut, and with the ſame he ſent him a letter for the King of Portingale, which was confirmed and ſigned by the King, and written by Diego Dias and with this Letter, he ſent Aluoro de Braga. The Captaine generall tooke this Letter, which was written in a certaine Leafe of a Palme Trée, vpon the which they doe vſe to write matters, that ſhall indure a long time, the effect whereof was this.

[Page] Vaſco de la Gama, a Gentleman of thy houſe came to my Countrie,The effect of ye king of Calicuts letters. of whoſe comming I was very glad. In my Countrie there is great ſtore of Cinamon, Cloaues, and Pepper, and precious ſtones. That which I am deſirous to haue out of thy Countrie, is Siluer, Gold, Corall, & Skarlet. The Captaine Generall for that he ſawe the king to vſe no truth, woulde not aunſwere for all his offers, but therewith ſent him all ſuch as he hadde ſtayed that were Nayres, and for all the others, he ſent him word, he would not ſend them, vntill ſuch time that he ſent him all ſuch merchaundiſe as he had taken of his. Notwithſtanding hée ſent him the ſtone he ſent for, & with this anſwere departed thoſe that brought Diego Dyas aboord. The next day there came a boord Bontaybo who tolde the Captaine Generall that he came ſo ſodeinly away from Calicut for that the Catuall by the kings commaundement had taken from him all that he euer had, ſaieng that he was a chriſtian, and that his comming to Calicut ouer land was by the king of Portingales commaundement onely to bée his ſpie. Other matters there were which he told him of, and that the ſame came by the Moores procurement, the which he knew wel, that as they tooke his goods, ſo they meant to do him ſome ſhrewd turne in his perſon, if ſo bée that they coulde haue taken him, and therefore he came his way before. The Captaine Generall was very glad of his comming, and tolde him that hée would carry him to Portingale, and that there he ſhuld recouer all his goods with the double,Bontaibo vvilling to goe to Portingal beſides other rewards that the king his Maiſter would giue him. He commaunded alſo that in his ſhip there ſhould be prepared him a principall good cabine. After this about tenne of the clocke, there came a boorde the Captaine Generall thrée Pinnaces laden with men, and vpon certeine of their ſeates or benches, there was layd certeine Skarfs, as who ſhould ſay, there came part of theyr Merchaundiſe. And after theſe there came other foure one after another. And as touching thoſe thrée that brought thoſe Skarfes, they tolde the Captaine Generall that there came all theyr Merchandiſe [Page] which they would put in his boate, and therefore they willed him to bring thether thoſe Malabars which he had priſoners, and that there they woulde fetch them. The Captaine Generall perceiuing that this was but a fetche, did will them to goe their waye, for that hée woulde haue none of theyr Merchaundiſe but thoſe Malabars to carrye to Portingale, as witneſſes of his diſcouerie.

And if ſo be that God of his diuine goodneſſe doe giue him lyfe, hée woulde very ſhortly retourne to Calicut, and then they ſhoulde well knowe whether that thoſe Chriſtians were théeues or not, as the Moores hadde made the king of Calycut beléeue, and therefore that was the cauſe why hée did them ſo manifeſt wrong. This béeing done hée commaunded to ſhoote of many péeces of Ordinaunce, with the feare thereof they ranne theyr waye.

And if ſo hée that the kings ſhippes had bene in a readyneſſe and a floate, they had ſent them againſt the Captanie Generall, but they were haled vp for becauſe of the Winter, which was to bée beléeued to haue béene the handye worke of GOD, that our Shippes ſhoulde bée there at this ſeaſon, for that they might eſcape and carrye newes of the diſcouerye of this Countrye, to reſtore in the ſame the holye Catholike Faith, otherwiſe if it had ben Summer he woulde haue hadde his Fléete in a readineſſe, the which was great, and ſo haue taken vs all, and by this meanes there hadde bene none lefte to haue carryed newes to Portingale.

Of the departure of the Captaine Generall from Calycut towarde Portingale, and what further happened vnto him being in the Iland Anſandina. Cap. 22.

[Page] ALthough that the Captaine Generall reioyſed very much for that hée had diſcouered Calicut, yet he was not fully ſatiſfied therwith altogether, for that the king had conceiued againſt him great diſpleaſure, & by this meanes as he iudged the next fléet that the king his maiſter, ſhould ſend, would run in great daunger. Howbeit perceiuing that it lay not in his power to do any more, he was therfore contented onely with the diſcouery, and to haue knowne the Indias, & of their nauigation, & what was commodious for the Countrie, and to haue brought with him from thence examples of the ſpices, drugs, and precious ſtones, as alſo of all other thinges that were within the ſame citie. And hauing there no more to doe, he departed, carrieng with him thoſe Malabars which he had taken, for that by them he hoped to haue ſome agréement made with the king of Calicut at the returne of anye other Fléet. The Thurſday after his departure, being in ralme a league of from Calicut, there came towarde him to ye number of lx. Tonys full of Souldiers, by the which the king of Calicut thought to haue taken them, who ſéeing them comming commaunded his ordinaunce to be ſhot of at them, & that oftentimes, and if he had not done ſo, they would haue put him in greate daunger for that they followed him an houre and a halfe. And by reaſon of a ſhowre of raine which came vpon a ſodeine, the Captaine Generall was driuen a ſea boord with all his Fléete, & in the meane while the enimies fledde their waye, and bearing his courſe towards Mylinde in great calmes, & that along the coaſt, thought good & conuenient although ye king of Calicut had abuſed him ſundry waies, that for the neceſſitie y• thoſe that ſhould returne to Calicut, ſhould haue of his friendſhip and fauour to receiue from thence theyr lading of Spices, to vſe as it were ſome friendſhip with them, ſince that the king would be gladde thereof, in eſpeciall being exalted, did therefore write vnto him a letter in the Arabian [Page] tongue, which was penned in that language by Bontaybo, in the which he did craue pardon for the carrieng awaye of thoſe Malabars with him, which was done for no other intent then that they ſhoulde be as witneſſes of that the which he had diſcouered, as before hée had ſent him worde. And for that he lefte no Factorie in Calycut (the which he was ſorrie for) was for feare leaſt that the Moores ſhoulde kill him, which was alſo the occaſion that he was not often times a land. Yet for all that he did not leaue, but woulde bée alwayes at his commaundement, ſince that the king, his Maiſter would be gladde of his friendſhippe, and alſo foorthwith woulde ſende him in his Fléete greate abundaunce of all ſuch merchaundiſe as he doth demaund for, by the trade, that from hence forth hée ſhoulde haue with the Portingales in his Citie, would redound vnto him great profit. This letter was deliuered vnto one of the Malabars to carry the ſame a land to the place where it was cōmāded to be deliuered. And afterward he knew yt the ſame was deliuered to ye king of Calicut. Then ye Captaine general going forward in his courſe, & that along the coaſt, on the next Thurſday after, he fell amongſt certeine rocks, with all his Fléete, and from one of them that was inhabited there came forth ſundry Pinnaces with men, within the ſame to ſell them Fiſh, and other victualls. The Captaine Generall did receiue them very curteouſly, who commaunded to giue them both ſhirts and other things, of the which they were verye gladde, wherevpon he tooke occaſion to aſke them whether they woulde be content that there ſhoulde be erected a marke with a croſſe in the ſame, with the royall armes of Portingale, in token that the Portingals are theyr friends. And they aunſwered that they were contented, and thereby they well knew that we were chriſtians, and ſo was the marke placed, and ſince that time it is called El Padron de Sancta Maria. Now to this day by the foreſaid name the rocke is called. From hence as ſoone as the night drew on and that the winde began to blow of the ſhoare, the Captaine Generall made ſaile, and kéeping alwayes [Page] along the coaſte on the Thurſdaie after, béeing the 19. of September hée fell with a goodly high lande, and harde to the ſame there laye ſixe little Ilandes, and there he came to an Ankor, and going a lande to take in water did there finde a young man, which did demaund, concerning the Captaine Generall, whether he were a Moore or a Chriſtian, they aunſwered him that hée was a chriſtian. This he did as it was thought with feare, leaſt that they ſhould haue killed him, forſomuch as in that place there were no chriſtians. This young man did carrie our men within a certeine riuer, & ſhewed them moſt excellent water the which iſſued out betwéene certeine rocks, and ſo: his paines they gaue him a red night cap. The next morning following there came from the land foure others in a ſmall boate a boord the Captaine Generall, which brought with them to ſell many gourds and Cowcombers, and they wer demaunded by the Generall whether there were in that Countrie any Cinamon or Pepper. They aunſwered that there was nothing but Cinamon, and for that he was deſirous to ſée the ſame,Cinamon grovving. he ſent with them two of his men, the which at their return brought wt them two gréene boughs of certeine trées which they doe take to be the ſame, reporting that thereof, there was a great groue, howbeit the ſame was wilde. And at their retourne there came with them more then 20. of that Countrie men, which brought to ſell hens, gourds, & Cowes milke. Alſo they requeſted the Captaine Generall to ſend with them certeine of his men, for that ſhortly after, they ſhould retourne with greate ſtore of drie Cinamon, Hogges, and Hennes, but for all their great offers, he would let none of his men goe, for that hée feared leaſt the ſame was ſome treaſon. The next daye after before dinner, our men going a lande to cut woode ſomewhat farre of, from the place where they were, fell on a ſoddeine vppon two Boates, the which laye harde by the ſhoare ſide.

The Captaine Generall woulde not immediatlye procure to knowe what they were, till it was after Dinner, [Page] for then he thought to know the ſame. And being in a redineſſe to depart, did firſt commaund one of his Marriners to go vp to the top, to ſée whether that he could diſcry any other veſſels a ſea boord or not, who being there tolde him that he had ſight of eight great ſhips which wer incalmed, with this newes he left his going to ſée the others, & put himſelfe in a readineſſe, the winde was in ſuch ſort that it might ſerue them both, & as they came within two leagues of our Fléete, the Captaine Generall made toward them. The enimies perceiuing that, did immediatly flye toward the ſhoare▪ And they bearing after this ſorte, was broken the Rudder of one of the ſame, by reaſon whereof thoſe that were within the ſhip were forced to go in their boats toward the lande. Nicholas Coello who was next to this ſhip, went immediatly and layde the ſame aboord, thinking indéede to finde in it ſome greate ſhore of riches, howbeit there was nothing els but Cocos and Melaſus, which is a certeine kinde of Sugar made of Palmes or Date trées. Alſo he founde therein manye bowes, arrowes, ſwoordes, ſpeares and targats, and the other ſeauen ranne themſelues a ground, and for that our men could not come néere vnto them with their ſhips, they followed them in their boats, and from thence did beate them with their ordinaunce, ſo that their enimyes were driuen to leaue their ſhippes, and béeing yet the next day at an Ankor, there came vnto him ſeauen men of the country in an Almadias, who tolde him that thoſe eight ſhips were of Calicut, the which the king had ſent for to take him, as by thoſe that fled away they vnderſtood.

How the Captaine Generall went to Anſandina to take in water, & alſo how he toke there a Moore priſoner, which was ſeruant to the Lord of the Iland of Goa called Sabayo, the which was taken for a ſpie. cap. 25.

[Page] AFter that the Captaine Generall was thus informed, he would tarrie there no longer, but immediatlye came to an Ankor at the Ilande of Anſandina, the which was diſtaunt from thence as it were two Gunne ſhotte, where it was tolde him, there was excellent ſwéete water. This Iland is but little, and but a league of from the firme land. There are in the ſame many woods, and alſo two conduit heads, made of frée ſtone of excellent ſweete water, the which are ſprings and do riſe ther, wherof one is ſixe foote déepe. Alſo in the ſea about the ſayde Iland is great ſtore of fiſh. Before that the Moores did vſe to traficke to the Indias, the ſame was inhabited by Gentiles,Anſādina forſaken of the inhabitants in the which there were goodly buildings, in eſpeciall their Pagodes was a goodly thing. And after that the Moores which came from the red ſea began to ſaile that way, they reſorted thether alwayes to take in their water and wood, and did ſo abuſe the inhabitants that they could not wel abide the ſame, ſo that they left their dwellings ther, but before their going away, they plucked downe almoſt all their Pagods▪ ſo that they left nothing ſtanding but the verye Chappell, the lyke they did to all other their buildings, yet for all that theſe Gentiles that wer of the firme land, which belong to the king of Narſingas, had to this Pagode ſuch deuotion that from thence they would goe ſundry times to make in the ſame their praiers vnto thrée black ſtones that were lieng in the middeſt of the ſaid Chappell.

The Iland is called Anſandina which in the Malabars language is called the [...]iue Ilandes, for that rounde about the ſame there lye the other foure. The Captaine Generall hauing come to an Ankor, ſent Nicholas Coello with his companye to diſcouer the ſame, who founde it according as afore is declared, and a goodlye place or grounde, where they might newe [Page] graue their ſhips. And for that the Captaine Generall had a great courſe to run, and alſo for that he knew not when to finde ſo conuenient a place, he conſulted with the other Captaines to bring their ſhippes there a ground. The firſt ſhip that they brought there a grounde,They repaire their ſhips. was the Shippe the which they called Ber [...]o. And whileſt they were thus occupyed, there came many people to ſell them victualls. At which time there came two ſmall Brickentines that hadde out theyr Standerds, and Flagges in the toppes of theyr Maſtes, and within them theyr Trumpettes and Drumnies, wherevppon they came playeng, at theyr pleaſure. In theſe Brickentines there came manye men, and they all at the Oare, and along the ſhoare ſide there were other fiue which came to ſuccour them if they ſhoulde haue anye néede.

The Captaine Generall after that hée hadde fight of them, had warning giuen him by the Malabars to beware of them, for that they were rouers, and vnder a couloure of peace, did robbe all that they coulde take. And after that hée was entered into his ſhippe, hée perceiued that hée might haue taken them if ſo bée that hée woulde haue conſented to lette them to come aboorde him, but hée woulde not agrée to the ſame. And therefore as ſoone as they came within Gunne ſhotte, commaunded all theyr Ordinaunce to be ſhot at them from thoſe two ſhippes that were a floate. They fearing this ſhotte, gaue out a lowde voice crieng, Tambarane, Tambarane, for ſo they doe call God, and with this often ſhooting they fledde theyr way.

Nicholas Coello béeing as then in his Boate, went after them alwayes ſhooting his Ordinaunce, who purſued them ſo farre that the Captaine Generall was driuen to put vp his Flagge for a ſigne hée ſhoulde retourne, and ſo he did.

The next daye after the Captaine Generall with all his men béeing a land, working vpon the ſhip called Berrio, there came in two litle Paraos to the number of twelue men of the Countrie, the which in their apparel ſéemed to bée of [Page] ſome countenaunce,Sugar Canes grovving there. who brought for a preſent a bundell of Sugar Canes, and immediately as ſoone as they had deliuered the ſame, they aſked licenſe to goe aboord and to ſée the ſhips, for that they neuer ſaw any before. The Captaine generall was greatly offended with this their requeſt, for by that he feared leaſt that they were ſpies: and whileſt they were in this talke, there came thether other two Paraos, with as many more men. Thoſe that came firſt, ſéeing that the Captaine generall was ſomewhat growen in cholar, did will thoſe that came afterward, not to come a lande but to returne againe. The ſhip Berrio being made in a redineſſe, & afterward that the Generalls ſhip was brought a ground to be new rigged, and hauing a lande about hir, all the other Captaines, there came a man in a little Parao, who ſéemed to be of the age of fortie yeares, and not of that Countrey, for that he had vpon him a Sabaco of fine Cotten, which reached downe to his héeles, and about his head a toocke or towell, which alſo couered part of his face, and at his gyrdell a Faw [...]in or Skeyne. And aſſoone as he leapt a lande, he went immediately to imbrace the Captaine generall as one that had ſéene him or knowen him before, and after the ſelfe ſame ſort he vſed the other Captaines, telling them that he was a Chriſtian, and borne in Italy, and that hée was brought into that Countrey of a childe, and that his dwelling was with a Noble man that was a Moore, called Sabayo the which was Lord of a certaine Iland called Goa, lieng about twelue leagues from thence, and had forty thouſand horſemen within the ſayd Iland. And for that his habitation was amongſt the Moores, he obſerued their lawe, howbeit it was but for an outward ſhew, but inwardly in his ſoule he was a Chriſtian: and being in Sabayos houſe it was tolde him, that there was come by Sea to Calycut certaine men in ſhips, whereof there was neuer ſéene ye like in the Indias, and that there were none that vnderſtoode their language, and alſo that their bodies were couered ouer with cloathes. And when he had vnderſtanding of the ſame, he immediatelye iudged them to be Frangnes, for ſo [Page] they do call thoſe that are Chriſtians in that Countrey, and for that he was deſirous to ſée them, had therefore aſked lycenſe of Sabayo, ſaieng that if ſo be that he woulde not giue him licenſe to goe and ſée them, that he knewe verye well that he ſhould dye with very thought and anger: by reaſon whereof he gaue him licenſe, by whome hée ſent them word, that if ſo be that there were in his Countrey anye thing yt they had néede of, they ſhuld haue the ſame, in eſpeciall ſhippes and victualles. And moreouer, if they woulde come and dwell in his Countrey, he would be very gladde thereof, and would giue both them and theirs ſufficient lyuing, with the which they ſhould liue very honourably.

After that he had ended thus his talke, the Captaine generall aſked him perticularly for the Countrey of Sabayo, and other things: Wherevppon he requeſted of the Captaine generall a chéefe for to ſende to a companion of his, which remained in the firme Lande, for that it was agréed betwéene them, that if ſo be that he were well entertained, that he woulde ſende vnto him a token in ſigne thereof. This kinde of dealing made the Captaine generall ſuſpect him, notwithſtanding, he commaunded a chéefe to be giuen him, and alſo two newe loaues, the which he ſent to his companion as aforeſaide, and he remained alwayes talking with the Captaine Generall: His talke was ſo much, that ſome time hée diſcouered himſelfe to bée a ſpye.

Paulo de la Gama, which noted the ſame, aſked of certaine countrey men what hée was, and they vp and tolde him, that he was a Rouer, and that he had laide aboorde other Shippes, which had bene there brought a grounde before that time. The Captaine Generall béeing thereof informed, commaunded him to be carried aboorde his ſhippe, which was then a grounde, and there he commaunded him to bee well whipped to confeſſe, whether that all or anye parte of the ſame was true that hée had tolde him, and alſo what he meant by his comming thether, and whether he were a Moore or a Chriſtian, who [Page] aunſwered that he was a Chriſtian as he had ſaid before, al the reſt he denied, & therefore the General ſought one other more cruell torment then whipping, which was by hanging of him vp by his members by a pulley, to hoiſt him vp and downe: and by the great paine which he ſuffered there, he requeſted to be let downe, for that as their he would tell him the truth:A notable coūterfait diſcouered and being come downe, he declared that hée was a ſpie, and was ſent thether, to diſcouer how manye men the Captaine generall had, and what weapons, forſomuch as he was ill beloued along all that Coaſt, becauſe he was a Chriſtian.A kinde of boates ſo called And that there were manyr Atalayas or Foyſts placed in euery Baye or Kricke to ſet vpon him: howbeit they durſt not vntill ſuch time as there came thether other fortie great Veſſells, which were a making in a readineſſe for to ioyne with thoſe that are armed, and ſo to ſet vpon him, and to take him: and therefore in the meane ſpace he was ſent to knowe what he ſayd, he affirmed alſo, that he knewe not certainelye, when thoſe fortie ſayle woulde come. This much he declared after that he had receiued thrée or foure torments: all the reſt they vnderſtood by coniectures, forſomuch as he did not perticularlye declare the ſame.

The Captaine generall ſéeing that he would declare no more, was contented with the aduice he had giuen him, and commaunded him to priſon vnder the hatches, for to carrie with him vnto Portingale: alſo to be cured verye well, and to giue him ſome refreſhing of victualles. Afterward he tolde him that he did not minde to kéepe him priſoner to haue him as his Captiue, but to carie him vnto the King his Maſter, to the ende he might tell him ſome newes of the Indias, knowing verye well that he would rewarde him. Now the Captaine generall hauing knowledge of the comming of his enimies, would therefore tarrie no longer then whileſt his ſhip was new dreſſing, the which was done in ten dayes.

At this inſtaunt the Captaine generall was offered for the ſhippe, the which ſhippe he had taken of the eight, that [Page] did ſet vpon him a thouſand Fanons, but he wold not take it, ſaieng that he wold not ſell any thing yt was his enimies, but commaunded the ſame to be burnt. The Captaine Generalls ſhip being ready and the water being taken in, hée immediately departed vpon the fifth daye of October, and going a Sea boord, about a two hundred leagues from thaf Iland, then the Moore which he caried with him as priſoner, ſeeing there was no other remedie, ſaid, that now he would tell him the truth how that indéede he did dwell with the Sabayo, to whom word was brought that the Captain generall went wandring vpon the Seas, as one that knewe not where he was, and therefore there was in preparing a great Fléete for to take him. The Sabayo hauing notice thereof, commaunded him to goe thether to viſite him, and to marke how they went, and alſo to ſée whether that hée could bring them to Goa, which if ſo be that he could bring to paſſe, he would as then laye hand vpon them, for that the fame went that they were valyaunt, and ſo meant to kéepe them to make warres againſt other Kings his next neighbours. Theſe newes the Captaine Generall was glad to heare of, and gaue him from thenceforth better entertainment, & allowed him both apparell and alſo money, & afterward he was made a Chriſtian, to whom he gaue for name Gaſpar, A Moore chriſtened in honour of one of the thrée Kings, called Magus of that name, and for that the Captaine generall was his God father, he gaue him the title of his ſurname, and ſo euer after he was called Gaſpar de la Gamas.

¶How the Captaine generall went forwarde on his Voyage towarde Mylynde, and of the great troubles he paſt, vntill ſuch time as he came thether. Chap. 26.

[Page] FOllowing from hence his courſe towards Mylynde, whether hee was minded to returne to take in there an Embaſſadour, he went alwayes in cruell ſtormes, which the Captaine generall continually indured, vntil ſuch time he had entred the goulfe, & hauing alwayes the winde right againſt him, it was the occaſion that the ſhippes made but ſmall way, and therefore it was the longer time before he entered the gulfe. But after that he was entered within the ſame, he was again troubled with great calmes, which on the Sea is very troubleſome, not only for the gouerning of their ſhips, but alſo with the heat, which is more hurtfull vpon the ſea, then vpon the land, for that ther is no couering to defend the Sunne,Men ſtifled vvith the Sunne onely. whereon with the ſame only men are ſtiffeled vp, as hath bene ſéene in the voyage toward the Indias. And as I ſay the winde hauing courſing thus with the heates, the ſpace of many dayes together, did afterward returne and breake vp in contrary windes to go forward, and very good to goe backward. But the Captaine generall being loath to go backward, wold yet rather tarie ther wher he was, as indéed he did. And when he perceiued that the winde was ſo great and the Seas went ſo high, that there was no tarrieng for him with his ſhippes, then was he driuen of force to kéepe the Seas, ſometime on this boord, and ſometime that; ſo that both he and his men paſſed great troubles, by reaſon they all had inough to doe to gouerne their ſhips. And hoping that after ſo great ſtormes there would come faire weather, were driuen once more to pray for thoſe great calmes which they had before. And when they ſawe that this weather was like to endure many dayes, and that their water beganne to fayle them, was the occaſion that the Captaine Generall commaunded the ſame to be deliuered by order.

[Page] And going in this neceſſitie, and alſo with fowle weather, the people began to fall ſicke a diſeaſe in their gums, as they did in the riuer, De buenas Sennal [...]s, when as they went to Calicut, The Skurfe. & alſo their armes and legs did ſwell, beſides other ſwellings which did riſe in their bodyes, by reaſon of a peſtilent ſtinking humour, which did caſt them into a laſke, and of this new infirmitie, there dyed to the number of thirtie perſons. And after that they began once to die, and had continued this kinde of weather vppon the Seas, ther aroſe ſuch a feare amongſt thoſe that did remain aliue, that they fared in the ſame, as it were men amazed, and beléeued verely that they ſhould neuer goe from thence, for that as they thought this kinde of weather was alwayes durable there, and that the ſame was the cauſe that it indured ſo long. The Maſters and Pilots of the Fléete were of the lyke opinion, which made the reſt beléeue it the ſooner, that by this meanes the crye of all thoſe that were there, as well of them that were ſicke as of the other, was great, ſaieng that ſince the weather would not ſerue them to goe from thence, yet they requeſted him not to be an occaſion of their death, but rather conſent to retourne vnto Calycut, or els to ſome other place in the Indias, and béeing ther, to receiue what God ſhuld appoint them, rather then to dye in thoſe ſeas of to terrible diſeaſes, for which ther was no likelihoode of any remedie, in eſpeciall hauing lacke of all other things, as of victuals and water, which as then they began to want, by reaſon that by their long continuaunce in the ſaid place was all ſpent. The Captaine generall ſéeing the great feare that his men were in, and for to animate them the more, ſayd vnto them all on this ſorte, requeſting them to be content, and not to beléeue that ſuch weather as was there courſed by them on that ſorte, was alwayes lyke to continue, for if ſo bée that it were ſo, then there woulde be no Nauigation from the Goulph to the Strayghtes of Meca, nor to Mylynde, nor yet from anye other place, by the which they ſhoulde paſſe: And that it was not vnpoſſible, but that they might ſomewhat digreſſe from [Page] their right courſe, and therefore they met with theſe calmes and windes which they indured, yet thoſe he ſaide ſhould haue an ende, and with the ſame, their troubles will lykewiſe ende.

But for all this, the Marriners woulde not beléeue him, for that in this trouble they had continued foure monethes, and alſo that there were dead of theyr fellowes, thirtie perſons: ſo that there were ſo fewe of them remayning,A vvofull mortalitie that there was not to euery ſhip ſixtéene perſons left to gouerne the ſame: and of them there were ſome, that were verye ſicke of the diſeaſe aboue ſayde. By this meanes they fell into ſuch a deſperation, by reaſon that they thought they ſhoulde goe no further, and as they doe affirme, that Paulo de la Gama, and Nicholas Coello, béeing both of them Captaines made agréement each of them in theyr Shippes to the other, that if ſo bée that there woulde come anye Winde, by the which they might retourne into the Indias, that then they woulde ſurelye doe ſo.

Béeing thus determined, vppon a ſodayne there came a freſh gale of Winde, with the which the Fléete might goe forwarde, and with the ſame in ſixteene dayes they came within ſight of lande, béeing on a Wedneſday the ſeconde of Februarye: at the which the Marriners reioyced in ſuch ſort that by meanes of the ſame, they had forgotten theyr troubles and daungers that they were paſt, and gaue vnto God great thankes for all his gracious benefites.

And when that they hadde ſight of the Lande, they founde themſelues ſo néere vnto it, that the Captaine generall gaue commaundement to caſt about into the Sea, ſo much as might bée thought ſufficient for to ſtaye vntill the morning, the which béeing come, they went foorthwith for to reknowledge the Lande, and for to ſée where they were, for that as now there was none that knewe the ſame, although that one of the Moores ſayde, that they hadde then taken theyr Courſe directlye towardes [Page] Monſanbique, which ſtandeth betwéene certaine Ilandes, ſtanding ouer againſt them, thrée hundred leagues of the ſhore, whereas the people of the ſame Countrey are continually ſicke of the ſame diſeaſe, that our men were. The morning being come he went to reknowledge the land, and came before a goodly great Citie, which was walled round about and within the ſame, very faire and high houſes, and in the midſt of the ſame there was a great Pallaice, which ſtood very high, and ſéemed to be of a goodly building, all this they ſaw very well out of their ſhips. This Citie is called Magadoxo, The Citie of Magadoxo. which ſtandeth at the ende of the ſaid goulfe in the Coaſt of Aethiopia, a hundred & thirtéene leagues from Mylynde, the ſcituation whereof I ſhall declare héereafter. And for that the Captaine generall knew the ſame to bée a Citie of Moores, when as hée went along the Coaſt, hée commaunded to ſhoote of manye péeces of Ordinaunce, and alſo for that he coulde not tell how farre hée was from Mylynde, from thence forward he ſtayed in the night, becauſe he would not paſſe the ſame. Foorthwith, on Saturday being the fifth of Februarie, lieng ouer againſt a village of the Moores, which they call Pate, being a hundred and thrée leagues from Magadoxo, there came from thence eight Terradas which is a certaine kinde of Boates of that Countrey, being all full of Souldiours, and made theyr waye ſtraight towarde our Fléete, fromwhence we ſhot ſo many péeces of Ordinaunce, that they thought themſelues happy to haue eſcaped by running awaye. Howbeit our men did not followe them for lacke of winde. The next Mundaye following, the Generall arriued at Mylynde, and béeing there, the King ſent to viſite the Captaine Generall with ſundrye freſh victualls, ſending him word alſo, how glad hée was of his comming. The Generall aunſwered him againe, by Fernan Martines, by whome hée ſent him a Preſent: and for becauſe of thoſe that were ſicke, whome hée was deſirous to haue cured, hée tarryed there fiue dayes, in the which time, there died of them many. [Page] At this preſent by the kings licenſe, he cauſed to be ſet a land a marke, in token of friendſhip. And after that he had prouided himſelfe of victuals, he departed on a wedneſday in the morning, béeing the xvii. of Februarie, with an Embaſſadour whome the king did ſende, to the king of Portingale, for a perpetuall confirmation of friendſhippe betwéene them.

Of the death of the Captaine Generalls brother, and of the burning of one of the ſhips called Saint Raphael, & alſo how he arriued in Portingale, and of the honour the king gaue him at their meeting. cap. 27.

NOw for that the Captaine Generall had not men inough to gouerne the whole Fléete, he thought good and that by the aduiſe of the other Captaines, to burne one of thoſe ſhippes, and that the ſame ſhould be Saint Raphael, which they determined to doe the rather, forſomuch as the ſame was al open, and they had not brought him a grounde as they did the others, and alſo determined to burne the ſame vppon the ſhoels of Saint Raphael, The Raphaell burned. vnto which place they came on the Sunday following, where (what for taking in of her furniture, as alſo for burning the ſame) he ſpent fiue daies, and during that time from a village the which is called Tangata, there were brought to ſell many hens. This béeing done the Captaine Generall departed, hauing with him in his ſhippe his brother called Paulo de la Gama, and on the .xx. of Februarie he found himſelfe with onely Nicholas Coello in the Iland of Zenziber, The Ile of Zenziber. which ſtandeth in the altitude of ſixe degrées, lieng but ten leagues from the firme land. This Iland is verye greate with the other two that ſtandeth néere vnto it, whereof the one is called Pemba, and the other Mofya, and are verye fertill, and haue in them great ſtore of victualls. Their groues are of Orenge [Page] trées, which bringeth forth goodly Orenges. They are inhabited by Moores, which are but a weake kinde of people, and they haue but ſmall ſtore of weapons, howbeit they goe very well apparelled, in ſilke and fine cloath made of Cotten, the which they doe buye in Mombaſſa, of Merchants of Cambayo. The women haue ſtore of iewells of golde from Sofala, and of ſiluer from the Iland of Saint Larence. They are merchants & their trade is in the firme land, and thether they do carry victuals to ſell in litle boats. Each of theſe Ilands hath a king of himſelfe, the which alſo doe obſerue Mahomets lawe as all the reſt of the ſubiectes doe.

As ſoone as the king of Zenziber hearde that the Captaine Generall was there arriued, he ſent to viſit him and ſent him great preſents of the fruits of the country, requeſting him of his friendſhip, to the which he agréed. After all this he departed on the firſt of March, and came to an Ankor before the Ilands of Saint George in Monſanbique, and the next day after he ſent a marke to be erected within that Ilande, where at his going thether he heard Maſſe, & without any conuerſation with thoſe of Monſanbique he departed. And on the third of March he came to the Iland of Saint Blaſe, where he ſtayed to take in his water, and to victuall himſelfe of Sea woulfes, and of Solitarius, which they ſalted to eate whileſt they were on the ſea, and for the ſame they gaue God great thanks. After that they were departed from thence (being once before putte back with weſterly winds) which blew right againſt them, God of his goodnes ſent them ſo proſperous a winde, that on the twentith of March, they hadde doubled the Cape of Buena Eſperansa with great pleaſure, forſomuch as all thoſe that came thether were all in health and verie ſtrong, and as they thought were all in good liking to arriue at Liſhborne.

And finding héere a colde Winde which endured well twentye dayes, did ſet them in a good forwardneſſe towarde the Ilande of Santiago, which by theyr Sea cardes [Page] was by the Pilots we known not to bée at the vttermoſt a hundred leagues from thence. Some there were that thought themſelues to bée with the ſame, but it was not ſo.

Héere that goodly and fayre winde did faile them, and forſomuch as the Captaine Generall would néedes knowe where that he was, (for that hée coulde not tell) by reaſon there fell certeine ſhowres which came from the landewarde, he commaunded to make as much waye as they coulde poſſible. And going after this ſorte, on Thurſdaye being the xxv. of Aprill, he commaunded the Pilot to let fall his Plommet, who founde that they were in xxv. fathome.

Yet in all that daye, ſailing and kéeping the ſelfe ſame courſe, the leaſt water that they came to, was at xx. fathome, and therefore the Pilottes iudged themſelues to bée vppon the ſhoels Del zio Grands. All the reſt of this voyage perticularlye what aduentures the Captaine Generall did paſſe, vntill ſuch time as he came to the Ilande of Santiago, I coulde not come to the knowledge thereof, but only how that as they went néere to the ſame, Nicholas Coello to carry the king newes of this diſcouerie, did on a certeine night a parte himſelfe from the Captaine Generall, and followed his courſe vnto Portingale, where hée arriued at a place called Caſcais on the x. of Iuly, in the yeare of our Lorde God. 1499. who informed the king of all that the Captaine Generall hadde paſt in the diſcouery of the Indias, and of the commodytyes that he had brought with him from thence. Of whoſe diſcouery the king was ſo gladde to heare of, and that they might trade into the Indias by ſea, as when he was proclaimed king of the kingdomes of Portingale. Now after that the Captaine Generall founde miſſing Nicholas Coello hée went forwarde on his courſe towarde the Ilande of Santiago, for becauſe his Brother was verye ſicke of a Tyſſicke, and alſo for that his Shippe made but ſmall waye, for that ſhée was all open, and therefore hée [Page] did fraight there a Caruell which he found there for to carrye him to Portingale before that he ſhould dye, who left there Iohn de Sala for Captaine of his ſhip as I ſayd before, who as ſoone as the ſhip was new rigged, had charge to bring the ſame to Portingale, from the which place the Generall departed, with his brother in the Caruell, whoſe infirmitie did dayly increaſe, in ſuch ſort that the Captaine Generall was driuen to beare with the Iland of the Terceras. And béeing there arriued, commaunded that his brother might be brought a lande, where he was ſo cruellye handled with his diſeaſe that he dyed thereof, who at his end ſhewed himſelfe to be a good and perfect chriſtian, and a very honeſt Gentleman. After that he was dead and buried, the Captaine Generall departed toward Portingale, who came to Belen in the moneth of September, in the ſelfe ſame yere. 1499. being two yere & two moneths paſt after his departure frō Liſhborne, with 108. men & of them came backe but fiftie aliue, which conſidering theyr great trauaile and trouble that they had paſt, was verye much. After that the Captaine Generall had giuen God greate thanks for that he had eſcaped ſo many great daungers, he ſent word of his arriuall vnto the king of Portigale, who for the great pleaſure that he receiued of his comming ſent Don Diego de la Silua de Meneſis, Lord of Portugalete, with many other Gentlemen to receiue him as they did, & brought him vnto ye court wt an excéeding great number of people, that came thether to ſée ſo new & rare a matter, as that was of ye Captaine General, not onely for that hée had done, but alſo for that they tooke him for dead: béeing come to the kings preſence, his highneſſe gaue him ſo great an honour as ſuch a one deſerued, who by the diſcouerie of the Indias, did giue ſo great a glorie vnto the eternall God, and honour and profit to the crowne and kingdome of Portingale, and a perpetuall fame to all the world. Afterward he made him knight, & to him and to his heires for euer he gaue for armes the royal armes of Portingal, & alſo to ſet at the foote of the Scutchin two Does the which they call [Page] Gamas. Alſo he gaue him towarde this his liuing thrée hundred thouſand Ceis a yeare, the which may be worth of our money 200. pound a yeare, and this to be paied out of the tiths of the fiſh in the village of Sinis. Moreouer hée promiſed him to make him Lord of the ſaid village, forſomuch as he was borne there. And vntill ſuch time that he could giue him ye ſame, he allowed him a thouſand crowns a yeare, the which he did well perfourme, from that time forwarde, and after that he had receiued the poſſeſſion therof, he did paſſe it ouer vnto the houſe appointed, for the contraction of the Indias. Moreouer he graunted him that after the trade of the Indias was ſetteled or eſtabliſhed, that then he might lade for his own account to the ſum of. 200. Duckats in ſpices, & that without paieng for the ſame any cuſtome at all. Alſo he gaue him other poſſeſſions & rents and a bill of remembraunce to make him Lorde. As for Nicholas Coello, he made him a Gentleman of his houſe, and gaue him poſſeſſions, and did allowe him ſome recompence toward his charges. The king himſelfe with this new diſcouerie did increaſe his titles with a newe and a famous ſtile, of Lorde of the conqueſt and nauigation of Aethiopia, Arabia, Perſia, and of the Indias.

How the king of Portingale did nominate A Pedro al Verez Cabral for Captaine Generall of a Fleete towarde Calicut, for to ſettle there a factorie, and of his departure from Liſhborne. Chap. 28.

BEing certainlye knowne to the king of Portingale, The preparation vnto ye ſecond voiage. that from his kingdome there is a nauigation to the Indias, and alſo of the innumerable riches, that there are in thoſe parts among the Gentiles, ſundrye Chriſtians, did therfore determine to proſecute and followe the diſcouerye of the ſame, giuing all praiſe and lande vnto the eternall God, for his great benefits [Page] that he hath beſtowed vpon him, to let him be the firſt that hath diſcouered this new worlde, the which hath alwayes beene ſo cloſe vpon the Sea, that there hath béene none in all Europe that durſt aduenture that waye. But hée not remembring the trouble of his ſpirite, neyther yet the ſpending of his treaſure, nor the daunger of his ſubiects, woulde neuertheleſſe take this moſt famous enterpriſe in hande, for that there might bée in the Indias publyſhed the Euangelicall lawe, to the ende that thoſe kinde of loſt people, might receiue the ſame, as alſo for the increaſing, not onelye of his owne treaſure, but generallye the benefite of all his ſubiects.

And that the ſame might take the better effect, hée determined to giue the attempt (if it were poſſible) to ſettle a Factorye in Calycut by gentleneſſe, for as hée once vnderſtoode that the dwellers in the ſame were inclined to trade, he thought that after this ſort there wold grow betweene them and vs conuerſation, and ſo a friendſhippe, the which might bée an occaſion that they woulde incline themſelues to heare the worde of God preached. And béeing thus fullye determined, hée commaunded to bée in a readineſſe againſt the next yeare following, a Fléete of ten ſhippes and two Caruells, which ſhoulde goe well laden with all ſuch thinges as Vaſco de la Gama ſhoulde informe him to bée ſpent in Calycut. Alſo there went others towarde Sofala and Quyloa, where alſo hée commaunded certeine Factoryes to bée ſetteled, not onelye for the golde which they haue there, but alſo that theyr ſhippes might alwayes touch there. And concerning ſuch as ſhoulde bée appointed for Calycut, The names of the Generalls Captaines, & Factors. he named for Captaine Generall of this Fléet, a Gentleman called Pedro Aluares Cabral, who came of an honourable houſe of the Cabralls, and for his pettie Captaine, a Gentleman called Sancho de Toar. The names of the other Captaines as manye as I knewe were theſe, Nicholas Coello, Don Luis continuo, Simon de Myſeranda, Simon Leyton, Bartholome Dyas, who diſcouered the Cape Bu [...]na Eſperanſa, Dyego Dyas, [Page] his brother, yt which went before for purſer with Vaſco de la Gama. Thoſe that wer Captaines of ye Caruels were one Pedro de Taide, and Vaſco de la Siluera, and for Factor of the whole Fléete, was one Aries Correa, who lykewyſe ſhould remaine for Factor in Calycut, and for his clarkes there were appointed one named Gonſalo Gyl Barbasa, & Pedro vas Caninon. Of this Fléete there ſhoulde remaine and ſtaie with the Merchants and Merchaundiſe in Sofala two ſhips, and with the ſame ſhoulde contineu for Factor one called Loriſo Hurdato. In this Fléet ther went. 1500. men. The Articles which the Captaine Generall carryed in his inſtructions, beſides thoſe of the ſetling of the Factory was, yt if ſo he yt the king of Calycut would not quietly conſēt, or giue ſufficient lading, for thoſe ſhips which he caried nor conſent to haue the factorie ſetled there: That then he ſhould make him moſt cruell war, for the iniury which he ſhewed vnto Vaſco de la Gama. And if ſo bée that the Factorie might be quietly ſettled, then he ſhould requeſt the king in ſecret that he doe not conſent in Calycut, or in anye other of his harbours belonging to his kingdome, any of the Moores of Meca to remaine ther, forſomuch as hée would ſend him from hence forth all ſuch Merchaundiſe as they doe bring, and that farre better cheap then they doe ſell the ſame. Moreouer, that in theyr waye they doe touch at Milinde to ſet ther a land the Embaſſador, which Vaſco de la Gama brought from thence, and to ſende the king a preſent. Alſo the king did ſend with the Fléete fiue Friers of the order of Saint Fraunces, of whome went for Vicar, a Frier called Fraij Henrique, the which was afterward Biſhop of Siebta, Friers ſent to the Malabars. and he to remaine in the Factorie, to preach the Catholike faith vnto the Malabars.

The Fléet beeing diſpatched, the king in perſon on Sunday being the .viii. of March went to heare Maſſe at the Monaſterie of Belem, going thether in Proceſſion, hauing the Captaine Generall, the which heard Maſſe with him, within the curten, for on that ſort, he ment to giue honour to ſuch as did ſerue him in ſuch daungerous affaires as this was.

[Page] The Maſſe was ſaid after the Portingale order, and at the ſame there was a Sermon made by Don Diego Ortis, who was then Biſhoppe of Vyſe [...], who gaue great praiſe vnto the Captaine Generall for accepting the ſaide voiage at the kings hands, ſince that therby he did not onely ſerue the king, who is his temporall Lord, but alſo the eternall God, who is ſpirituall. And alſo that euery one might wel know that none of all the nobles, the which are ſo highlye commended as well in the Grecian hiſtories as in the Latine and barbarous, was equall vnto the Captaine Generall in taking vpon him this voyage. And further he gaue him other greate prayſes for the which hée was enuyed at, the Maſſe béeing ended, there was a Banner which had the royall armes of Portingale, vpon the ſame deliuered vnto the Biſhoppe, who after that hée had bleſſed the ſame, the king with his owne hand did deliuer it vnto the Captaine Generall, for to beſtowe it in his maine toppe. And after that hée had receiued the ſame,A ievvell of great price. he tooke at the Biſhops hands a bonnet or night cap the which the Pope had bleſt, and ſent for a great iewell, and with his owne hands did put the ſame on the Captaine Generalls head, ſayeng that he did preſent vnto him a iewell the which he did much eſtéeme. And afterward that the Biſhop had giuen him his bleſſing, the king with the ſame did accompanie him to the water ſide, where the Captaine generall with al the Captaines of the fléete tooke their leaue of the king, and did kiſſe his hands, and the king gaue them Gods bleſſing & his, with the which they went all a boorde, from whence they ſhot off all the ordinance that was in the Fléete, the which made a wonderfull noiſe. The king béeing returned to Liſhborne, for that the Fléete could not that daye depart, by reaſon of the weather. The next daye which was the ninth of March, in the yeare of our Lorde. 1500. hauing a ſufficient good gale of winde, with the which the Fléete might goe out of the Riuer. The Captaine Generall did then make a ſigne that the reſt of the Fléete ſhoulde weye their Ankors, the which immediatlye they [Page] did begin with great diligence and triumph that the Marriners made. And when it was eight of the clocke in y• morning the whole Fléete hauing wayed, did then begin to cut and ſpread their ſayles with a great pleaſure, and crie ſaieng altogether, Buen viage, that is to ſay, A luckie and proſperous voyage. After all this they beganne all to be ioyfull, euery man to vſe his ſeuerall office, the Gouernour in the midſt of the ſhip, haling the maine ſhéetes, with the Capſteine. The Mariners and ſhip boyes, ſome in the forecaſtell haling bollings, braces, and Martnets: other belying the ſhéetes both great and ſmall, and alſo ſeruing in trimming the ſayles, and others the nettings and foretop ſayles, other ſome vering the truſſes and alſo beleying braſes and toppe ſayles ſhéetes, and coyling euery ſort of ropes. It was wonderfull to ſée ſuch a number of diuerſities of offices, in ſo ſmall a roome, as is the bredth and length of a ſhip. All the Fléete being vnder ſayle, departed that daye without anye ſtay by a quarter winde, and béeing with the ſame vnder ſayle, on the xiiij. of March, they came within the ſight of the Canar [...]as, and on the xxij. of the ſame moneth, they paſt by the Iland called Santiago, and on the xxiiii. of the ſame moneth, they loſt the company of one of their ſhips, of the which went for Captaine one Vaſco de Tayde, who was Captaine of the Fléete alſo, although he neuer declared the ſame, the which neuer after was ſeene.

¶How the Captaine generall came vnto Braſill, and afterward how there was loſt foure ſhips of the Fleete. Chap. 29.

THis ſhip being thus gone, the Captaine generall tarried for the ſame two dayes, and on the xxiiii. of Aprill they did deſ [...]ry land, of the which they were verye glad, not only for that they had diſcouered the ſame, but becauſe that the Pilots ſuppoſed the [Page] ſame to be ſome other land, that Vaſco de la Gama had not diſcouered, for that it ſtoode to the Eaſt, and immediatly the Captaine Generall commaunded his Maſter to goe in his ſmall boate and to ſée what kinde of people were thoſe that dwolt in the ſayd Countrey, who retourned with an aunſwere, ſaieng, that the ſame lande was a goodly fayre and fertill Countrey, in the which there were great ſtore of wordes, and that there walked many men along the water ſides with this newes, the Captaine generall came to an Ankor, & ſent once more his Maſter with great dilygence to enforme himſelfe of the Countrey and of their dwellings, and found that the people were of colour ſomewhat blacke, and men well proportioned, howbeit they went all naked, hauing both bowes and arrowes. But when night was come, there fell ſo great a ſtorme that the Captaine generall with all the reſt of the Fléete, were faine to wey theyr Ankors, and runne along the Coaſt, vntill ſuch time as they found a good Port, in the which they came to an Ankor, vnto the which the Captaine generall did giue for name, Puerto Seguro, forſomuch as the ſame ſerued for all wethers. Héere our men tooke two men of that Countrry, the which went in an [...] who were brought before the Captaine generall, that he might informe himſelfe what Country that was, which could not be known notwithſtanding, forſomuch as there was none in all the fléete that could vnderſtand them, by any tokens or ſignes. The Captaine general ſéeing yt ther was no meanes for to informe himſelfe by thē, cōmanding to giue them apparell, yt the others might be deſirous to bring thē victuals to ſel, wt other things which they had in their country, & with this they went their way, wt great ioy of yt Captain generals gift. And when they wer come a land amongſt their cōpanions, & they perceiued their good entertainment, did aduenture to come to conferre with our men. The Captaine general finding himſelf indifferently in this country, did determine to take in freſh water to cō fort his men wtall, for yt he knew not when he ſhuld chance wt like opportunitie. And for yt God might ye rather and thē, [Page] he commanded on ye next day, which was on Eaſter wéeke, a Maſſe ſhuld be ſaid a land, yt which was ſo done wt great ſolemnitie & that vnder a pauillion, in which ther was made a Sermon by Fraij Henrique, Doctor of Diuinitie. And whileſt y• diuine ſeruice was a celebrating, there aſſembled many of ye country people together, which ſhewed thēſelues to be very merry wt plaieng & leaping which they made, beſides their ſounding vpon cornets, horns, & other inſtrumēts. After Maſſe was ended, & that ye Captaine generall was going a ſhip boord, theſe people went wt him vntil he tooke his boat, ſinging & making a thouſand manner of paſtimes: this day after dinner, y• Captaine general gaue our men licenſe to go a land to buy & ſell wt them, which they did, & in truck of paper & cloth, they gaue them parrats, & other ſundry ſort of birds, which were all very faire, whereof they haue great abundance,Ornamēts made of Parrats feathers. with the which they make fethered hats & night caps, which are very gallant. Some of our men yt went to ſée their townes do declare ye the ſame is a goodly country & fertill of woods, wt great ſtore of goodly waters, & plentie of fruits, & that ther is gathered in ye ſame gret quantitie of cotten.The coū trey of Braſil diſcouered And for yt this country is yt which we cal Braſil, which to all men is common, I will not ſpeake of y• ſame further, but only yt in viii. daies that y• Captaine generall ſtaid ther, was ſéene a fiſh which ye ſea did caſt a land, yt was greater then any Tonel, & of ye bredth of two of thē, howbeit he was round: y• head & eyes were much like vnto a hogs, his cares like vnto an Elephants, he had no téeth, but vnder his belly he had two iſſues, his taile was thrée quarters of a yard in breadth, & as much in length, his ſkinne, was lyke vnto a Hogges ſkinne, which was a finger thicke. In this Ilande the Captaine generall commaunded to be erected a high Croſſe of ſtone, and therfore he gaue the ſame to name La tierra de Santa Crus. From hence he ſent a Caruell which he brought foorth with him for the ſame purpoſe, with letters vnto the King his Lorde, of all that which had chaunced him vnto this place, and how that he had left there two banniſhed men of thoſe twentie, the which [Page] he carried with him, to the ende they might better enforme themſelues what Countrey that ſame was, and whether it were a firme lande, as it did appeare vnto them, all, by the great diſtance of the Coaſt that they had found, and becauſe of the great voyage which he had taken in hande to make, he could not ſend to know perfectly. With this Caruel he ſent a man of that Countrey for a ſhew, by what kinde of people the ſame was inhabited. This Caruell being departed, the next day after being the ſecond day of May, the Captain generall departed with all his Fléete, bearing his courſe toward the Cape Buena eſpe [...]anſa, the which was from thence almoſt 1200. leagues, which is a great and fearfull gulph to paſſe, by reaſon of the great windes which doe courſe in thoſe partes, moſt of the time. And being vnder ſayle in the ſame, on the xii. of Maye there appeared in the Element a great Comet with hir beames,A Comet ſeene in the elemēt the which came out of the Orient, and for the ſpace of x. dayes did alwayes appeare as well in the night as in the daye, alwayes inlarging his beames. On Saterday being the xxiii. of May, there came amongſt all the Fléete ſuch a ſtorme from the Northeaſt, that all the Fléete was faine to take in their ſayles, hauing the Seas very high mingled with pretie ſhowers of raine And for that the ſame ſtorme was afterwarde ſomewhat abated, they brought themſelues vnder their forefailes againe, and at night the winde being altogether calme, ſuch ſhips as wer left behind, did ſpred out alſo their ſprit ſaile, to ouertake thoſe yt went before. And going by after windes, & following their courſe by the South, the Sunday being the xxiiii. of May, the winde beganne to increaſe, which was the occaſion that the Captaine generall commanded their ſailes to be taken in, and to fardle vp their ſprits ſailes, the which being done, the like did all the other Captaines, and going on this ſort on Sunday, betwéene x. and xi. of the clocke of the day, did begin to ariue in the Northweſt a ſpowte, with the which the winde calmed in ſuch ſorte, that the ſailes did beate againſt the Maſt, and the Pilots being (not as yet acquainted with the ſecret ſignification of a ſpowte) for that [Page] they had not trauayled thoſe Seas, thought the ſame to bée a ſigne of faire weather, and of great calmes: by reaſon whereof, they neuer made any kinde of alteration in anye thing, appertaining to their ſayles. Vpon this on a Sundaye, there came ſuch a winde and ſo furious, that then they had no time to amayne and take in theyr ſayles, by reaſon whereof, there were foure Shippes ſunke without eſcaping one perſon of them all,four ſhips ſunke by tempeſt, and of one of theſe was Captayne one Bartholomew Dias. The other ſeauen remayned halfe full of water, which they had taken in, which lykewiſe had ſunke, if ſo be that parte of theyr ſayles had not bene torne.

And after that the winde verred to the Southweſt they bare with the ſame, the which was ſo great that they were driuen to roue all that daye and the next night following without ſailes, ſo that the one could not ſée the other, & howſoeuer as yet the returne of any other wind was not come, they were driuen to ſuch daunger that they thought thereby they ſhould looſe their liues, forſomuch as the reſt of the Fléete was ſo caſt away before their eyes, wherewith they were ſtroken into a very great penſiueneſſe. The next day the winde being ſomewhat incalmed, with the ſame the Fléete did ioyne themſelues together againe, and immediatly after, the winde came to the Eaſt and Northeaſt, which was ſo great that it made the Seas to goe higher then euer they did before,A vvōderful ſtorme and great Seas. and ſo the ſame endured the ſpace of xx. dayes: and all this time the ſhippes laye a hull, although they proued fiue times to hoyſe vp their ſayles, as aforeſaid. Now the Seas went ſo high to all theyr iudgements, they thought it vnpoſſible for the ſhippes to eſcape: for ouer and beſides that, by the working of them it was thought, that ſometime they did hoyſe vp theyr ſhippes aboue the Element, and other times when the ſhippes began to deſcend, they fell as it were downe a monſtrous hill, that they feared they ſhould be all ſwallowed vp in the Intralles of the Earth.

In the daye the water was of the colour of pitch, and [Page] in the night of fire. The tackling with the other furniture of the Shippes, with the great force of the winde, made ſuch a terrible noyſe, and was ſo fearefull to heare, that the ſame is incredible to be beléeued, but by thoſe onelye that endured and paſſed the ſame, with the force of this, the Fléete was ſeparated into ſundry places. The Captaine Generall bare vp with Symon de Myranda, and Pedro de Tayde, whether the winde would carry them: all the others went at Gods mercie.

Of the meeting of the King of Quiloa & the Captaine generall, at which time there was ſet downe a Trade and Factorie, and how the King repented himſelfe of the ſame afterward. Cap. 30.

AFter that the Captaine Generall had paſt with parte of his Fléete, theſe great ſtormes didde finde himſelfe to haue doubled the Cape, without anye ſight of the ſame, hauing in his company no more then two Shippes, which bare alwayes vp with him. And the Lorde hauing vſed alwaies towardes them his wonderfull great mercie, he came within ſight of the lande the ſixtéenth day of Iuly, towarde the which he commaunded to beare, howbeit the Pilots did not knowe the ſame, notwithſtanding they found that it ſtoode in the altitude of xxvii. degrées, they were ſo néere vnto lande, that the Shippes laye with their beake heads cloſe to the ſame. But the Captaine generall would not conſent that anye of his men ſhoulde goe a lande: yet from their ſhippes they might eaſilye perceiue, that the ſame was well inhabited, [Page] for the great number of people they did ſée there, and yet of all thoſe there came none to the water ſide, to ſée what we were.

After that he ſawe that there was no hope to haue anye refreſhing from thence, hée did afterwarde procure the ſame from the Sea, where there was great plentie of fiſh, where our men was driuen to fiſh for it. Afterwarde the Captaine generall commaunded to weye their Ankors, and to followe his courſe, ſo néere vnto the ſhore, that he might well ſée great numbers and ſtore of ſundrye beaſtes, which fed along the Riuer, that entred into the Sea, and alſo they ſawe many people.

Now going on that ſort,They cōe to Sofala the Captaine generall did paſſe vnto Sofala, with the which as yet the Pilot was not acquainted, and being néere to the ſame, he ſawe two Ilandes and right ouer againſt one of them there was riding at an Ankor two Shippes, which as ſoone as they had diſcouered our Fléete, did beginne to flye awaye towarde the ſhore. And for that the Captaine generall ſawe that they fiedde, he commaunded to followe them, which was done in ſuch ſort that our men did ouertake them, and tooke ſome of them priſoners, for that they did not defende themſelues, and concerning the chiefeſt perſon that was in theſe Shippes, the Captaine Generall was aduertiſed that he was the King of Mylyndes néere kinſman, and was going from Sofala laden with Golde to Mylynde. Who confeſſed, that when they had deſcryed our Ships, they receiued ſuch a feare, as though they ſhoulde bée taken, and that therefore they did throwe the moſt part of theyr Golde into the Sea, and they themſelues ranne a lande.

After that all this was done, ye Captaine general told him that he was very ſory for theyr ſo great miſchance & loſſe, in eſpecially for ſo much as the King of Mylynde was in ſo great a credite with the King of Portingale his Maſter, which is the occaſion, that all Portingales are and ſhall bée alwayes at his commaundement. And hauing ſhewed [Page] vnto him great courteſie, he commaunded the Shippes to be retourned with all the golde they hadde founde in the ſame.

The Moore aſked of him whether he had brought with him any Witches, that they might with words of inchantment fetch vp ſuch golde as was throwen into the Sea. To whom the Captaine generall made aunſwere, that the Chriſtians doe beléeue in the true God, who hath and doth defende them ſo, that they doe not vſe nor beléeue in witchcraft, and therefore they do not vſe the ſame. Of this Moore the Captaine generall was aduertiſed, that he hadde ſomewhat ouer runne Sofala, and for that he would not returne backe, he did at this time leaue it, and hauing diſpatched the Moore, followed his courſe, and on the xx. of Iuly arriued at Monſanbique, where he tooke in his water, and a Pilot to carry him to the Ilande of Quiloa, toward the which he directed his courſe, running along the Coaſt. In this his voyage he ſaw ſundry profitable Ilands which were belonging to the King of Quiloa, The king of Quiloa a mightie Prince. which as I haue declared is a great Prince, and is Lord from the Cape De las correntes, almoſt vnto Mombaſſa, ye which is welnéere foure hundred leagues of Coaſt, in the which there doe enter the two Ilands that I haue ſpoken of before, ouer and beſides Sofala, and other ſundry Townes vnto Monſanbique, and from thence as many more vnto Mombaſſa, with an infinit number of Ilandes, that doth yéeld him great rents. Notwithſtanding as touching his eſtate it is but ſmall, for he is not able to make many men of warre: his abode is alwayes in Quiloa, in a certaine Ilande, which is a hundred leagues beyonde. Monſanbique in the Coaſt of Aethiopia, néere to the firme lande, the which is verye fertill of Orchardes, and Woodes, that beare ſundry ſorts of fruites, there are excellent good waters, and alſo they doe ripe great ſtore of Miſo, and other ſeedes which they doe ſow, and there is bred vp in the ſame great ſtore of ſmall Cattell. In thoſe Seas there is great plentie of Fiſh, and that verye good. So that what with the victualls that they haue in the lande, [Page] and what there commeth from other places of the firme land,The deſcriptiō of the city of Quyloa. the Citie is plentifully prouided, which citie is compaſſed about with faire gardens on the one ſide, & with the ſea on the other, which cauſeth the ſame to ſhew very pleaſant, it ſtandeth in ix. degrées to the South, & is alſo greate and full of people. Their houſes are made of lime & ſtone, in the which there are goodly chambers. Their king is a Moore, and ſo are the inhabitants, the naturall people of the Countrie are a kinde of blacke people, and thoſe that are ſtrangers are white, their common language is Algarauia. They doe apparell themſelues very richly, in eſpeciall the women, for they carry alwaies vpon them great ſtore of iewels of gold. They are great Merchants, for their trade is of the gold that commeth from Sofala, and from this citie it is diſpearſed to all the Countrie of Arabia Felix, & other places, and therfore there reſort thether many merchaunts frō other places. Ther are alwaies in this port many ſhips which lyeth alwayes a ground when they haue no néed of thē.Shippes vvithout nailes. Theſe ſhips haue no nailes, but are ſowed together wt ropes made of Cairo, & pitched ouer with wildincenſe, for becauſe as in all yt countrie there is no other kind of pitch. The winter in this countrie doth begin in Aprill, & maketh an end in September. The Captaine Generall béeing come to the harbour of this Citie, and hauing obteined of the king a ſafe conduct that hée might ſend him a meſſenger, did ſend vnto him Alonſo Hurtado, who went accompanied with ſeauen of the principals of their ſhips, and that they might ſhew themſelues in more countenaunce & authoritie, they went in their beſt apparell. Béeing come before the king, he repreſented vnto him the meſſage which the Captaine Generall gaue him, which was to ſignifie vnto him yt he was come thether with ye king of Portingale his Maiſters fléete, to ſettle a trade in ye citie, & to the ſame end had brought with him great ſtore of merchandiſe y• were conuenient to be ſpent in y• country, & therfore he was deſirous to talk with him therin, howbeit ye king his maiſter did countermand him yt in any wiſe he ſhuld not leap a [Page] land, but make the agréement a ſea boord, foraſmuch as that is the auncient cuſtome which the Captaines doe alwaies obſerue in his coūtry, becauſe yt if ſo be ther ſhuld chance any miſfortūe to their general, which is their head, immediatly are caſt away the reſt that are vnder his gouernment. To this the king made anſwere with a good countenance, yt he was alſo deſirous to ſee the Captaine Generall, and to ſpeak with him a ſea boord, ſince there was no other remedie, Alonſo Hurtado hauing receiued this anſwere, made ye Captaine Generall priuie therof, who ye next day after tarryed for ye king in his boat, which was couered ouer & ſet out with flags. There did attend vpon him al the reſt of ye Captaines in their boates, & at this preſent arriued there, Sancho de Toar with other two ſhips. The king thus being looked for, at the length he came in an Almadia, béeing well accompanied with ſundrie Gentlemen in other boats, lykewiſe furniſhed, which alſo were ſet out with flags, and had in them thoſe that ſounded vpon trumpets & cornets, & Sagbuts, which made a wonderfull great noiſe. Now the king being come where the Captaine Generall was tarrieng for him, all his ordinance went of in ſuch ſort & with ſuch a force, that it made the ſea to tremble, wherwith the king and all his traine, forſomuch as they were not accuſtomed vnto the ſame,The meeting of ye king & ye Captaine Generall. were greatly afeard. As ſoone as the ordinaunce went of, the king & the Captaine General met, & that with great pleaſure. And after that the king of Portingales letter was read, which was for y• ſetling of a trade in his citie, he anſwered that he was contented therewith, & did agrée that the next day he ſhould ſend Alonſo Hurtado a land, to tell him the ſorts of the merchaundiſe that he had brought with him, & he wold giue him gold for ye ſame. Vpon this agréement Alonſo Hurtado was ſent a land the next day following, howbeit he found the king far from ye which was agréed vpō with ye captain general ye day before, yelding therfore ſundry excuſes,A malitious & ferfull More▪ why he could not accōpliſh his promiſe, in eſpecial for yt he han no néed of his merchandiſe, & alſo for yt he beléeued that ye Captaine generall came [Page] thether to take his country from him. This ſodeine chance was for this cauſe, forſomuch as he was a Moore, and wée were chriſtians, it gréeued him to haue any conuerſation or trade with vs. This being come to ye Captaine generalls knowledge, he did as yet tarrye thrée or foure dayes, to ſée whether y• the king wold change any thing of his determination or not, howbeit he did nothing alter his mind, but rather had our men in iealouſie, fearing leaſt that he ſhuld be driuen to do y• by force, which he was loth to do, & therfore did fortifie himſelfe with many men in a readineſſe. As ſoone as the Captaine Generall heard of his dealing, he would ſpend no more time there, but departed toward Milinde, kéeping alwaies along the coaſt.

How the king of Milinde and the Captaine Generall met together, and how hee departed afterwards toward Calicut. Chap. 31.

ON the ſecond day of Auguſt, he came to an ankor in the port of Mylinde, where hée found riding at an ankor thrée ſhips of ye Moores ye which wer of yt Merchannts of the kingdome of Cambaya, but he would not meddle with them, although they were laden wt great riches, becauſe of ye king of Milinde. Being come with al his fléet to an ankor, he ſaluted ye citie wt all his ordinance. The king with this ſent to viſit him, ſending alſo vnto him for a preſent, both ſhéep, ducks, & hens, wtout all number, beſides ſundrie ſorts of fruits. Then y• Captain general ſent likewiſe to kiſſe his hands, by one of his fléet, & alſo to ſignifie vnto him, yt thether he was come by his Maſter ye king of Portingales cōmandement, to know whether he had any need of this fléet to do him ſeruice wtall, & alſo to certifie him, y• he had to deliuer vnto him a rich preſent, with a letter, the which ye King his maſter had likewiſe ſent vnto him, which he wold ſend whēſoeuer he wold cōmand ye ſame, with this meſſage ye king ſhewed himſelf to be wel pleaſed, & cōmanded the meſſenger to remaine with him that night, with whom he talked and ſpent moſt part thereof in matters of Portingale. [Page] And as ſoone as it was day the king ſent by two principall Moores word vnto the Captaine Generall,The kings meſſage to ye Captaine Generall. that he was very glad of his comming, and alſo to knowe whether he had néede of anye thing in his countrie which he might commaund as his owne, and make as much account thereof, while he was there, as if he were in Portingale, conſidering the greate good will which hée doth owe vnto the king of Portingale, and that in all his affaires he ſhuld make as much reckoning as of his owne home. The Captaine Generall hauing well vnderſtood the kings meſſage, vpon the ſame determined to ſend him the kings letter, which hée had brought, and alſo the preſent, which was all the furniture of a Iennet horſe, which was alſo both rich & gallant. And hauing taken his counſel vpon ye ſame, it was agréed vpon to ſend it, and that Aries Correa ſhould haue the cariage thereof, forſomuch as hée was the factor of the whole Fleete, and alſo for that hée went for Factor to the king of Calicut, and that he ſhould ſo goe accompanyed with the principalls of the Fléet, beſides the trumpetors, that ſhould goe alwaies ſounding before him, which was ſo done. The king being informed of ye cōming of Aries Correa, ſent of the nobles of his Court to receiue him, which might the more eaſilye bée done, for that the kings pallaice was hard by the water ſide, and going altogether, there were certeine women which by the kings commaundement were tarryeng for their comming, with perfuming pans in their hands, out of the which there came ſo excellent a perfume, that it did repleniſh the whole earth therewith And paſſing after this ſorte by theſe women, hée came to the kings pallaice, who was ſitting in his chaire of eſtate, and accompanyed with many noble mē & Gentlemen, who alſo receiued Aries Correa with great honour and pleaſure, and alſo the preſent. Afterward he gaue him the letter which was written on both ſides, on the one ſide was Portingale, the other in the Arabian tongue, which the king commanded forthwith to be read, which both he and all the nobilitie were very gladde to heare. And all they together with a lowde [Page] voice gaue God and Mahoma great thanks that they had permitted them to haue friendſhip wt ſo great a Prince as ye king of Portingale. And alſo being very wel pleaſed with the furniture of the Ienet, he requeſted Aries Correa to ſtay with him, whileſt the Fléete did there remaine, which with the Captaine Generalls licenſe he did, & during the three daies that he was with him, almoſt he ſpent his time in no other thing, but to knowe the vſe & cuſtome of the king of Portingale, & of the order of his gouernment, & alſo perticularly as though yt he did remember no other matter all y• time, & being deſirous to ſee ye Captain general, did procure with as much diligēce as he could to haue him a land, & to bring him to his pallaice, notwithſtanding he made his excuſe, ſaieng, yt the king his maſter had commanded him not to come a land in any port, with this anſwere ye king was driuen to encounter with him vpon the water, who would néeds go as far as ye water ſide on horſback, with y• furniture of a Ienet yt the king of Portingale had ſent him. And for yt in his country he had none yt could tel ye order therof, he requeſted one of our men to do ſo much. And when the king had all things in a redines, ther wer tarrieng for him certein of ye principals, at ye foot of a ſtaire, & amongſt them ther was brought a liue ſhéep, which whileſt ye king was cōming down, they did open as he was aliue, & after yt they had taken out his guts & bowels, they laid y• ſame vnder ye horſe féet. The king being now on horſbacke he went alſo with his horſe vpon ye ſhéepe, [...] which is a kinde of ceremony y• the witches ther do vſe. After yt he had thus troden vpon the ſhéepe, he went toward ye water ſide, with all his company after him a foot, ſaieng wt a lowd voice certein words of witchcraft. And after this ſort he met with the Captaine Generall vpon ye water, where he deliuered him a Pilot to carrie him to Calycut. Heere there were lefte with the king two of thoſe baniſhed men that they might enforme themſelues of the countrie, as farre as in their ſtrength, one of thoſe was called afterwarde Machado, who after that hée had gotten the Arabian language, went by lande [Page] vnto the ſtraights, and from thence vnto the kingdome of Cambaya, from whence he did paſſe to Balagarte, and did there ſettle himſelfe, with the Sabayo, that was Lorde of Goa, ſaieng, that he was a Moore, and for the ſame, he was taken in all that Countrie, this his trauell was very profitable to Alonſo de Albu [...]querque, as you ſhall perceiue héereafter.

How the Captaine Generall arriued at Calycut, and how the king ſent to viſit him a boord his ſhip, and alſo how afterward he came a land for to ſee him, and of his receiuing there. Cap. 22.

THe Captaine Generall béeing returned to his ſhips, departed toward Calycut, being the 7. day of Auguſt, & on the 20. he came to Anſadina, wher he ſtaied certeine daies for the comming of the ſhippes of Meca, with intent to ſet vpon thē if ſo be yt they came thether. And whileſt they were there, they did confeſſe themſelues, and afterward did receiue the Sacrament, And they ſéeing that there came no ſhips, departed toward Calycut, and on the 13. of September he came to an ankor within a league of the ſame. And immediatly there came certeine Almadias toward our fléete,The king of Calycuts meſſage to ye Captaine Generall. to ſell victuals, & alſo there came certein Nayres of ye moſt principall belonging to y• king of Calicut, with a certeine Guzarate merchant, by whom ye king ſent word vnto ye Captaine General, y• there could not haue happened a better thing vnto him then to vnderſtand yt he was come vnto his port, & that hée could not do him no better pleaſure thē to command him, if ther were any thing in his citie yt he had néed of, & he would accompliſh ye ſame with great good wil: whervnto y• Captaine generall made anſwere with great thanks, & ſéeing wt what good will y• king ſent to viſit him, he brought himſelf to an ankor néere vnto ye citie, alwaies ſhooting of his ordinance, with ye which he did ſalute thē, which was ſo great a wonder [Page] to the dwellers, that thoſe that were Gentiles ſaid, that againſt vs there were no reſiſtaunce. The next daye following by the conſent of the Captaines of the Fléete, the Captaine Generall ſent by one whoſe name was Gaſpar, to demaund a ſafe conduct of the king for to ſend a meſſenger vnto him, ſending alſo with the ſaide Gaſpar thoſe foure Malabars that Don Vaſco de la gama had carried from Calicut. Theſe went all apparelled in a gallant ſort, after the Portingales order, whom all the citie came forth to ſée, who meruailed to beholde them to returne ſo well, which was the cauſe that they were ſo well pleaſed with our men, & that they were had in ſo great reputation. But forſomuch as theſe were but fiſher men the king woulde not ſée thē, although he was glad to vnderſtand after what ſorte they returned, & commaunded yt the ſaid Gaſpar ſhuld be brought before him, whome he receiued very well. And after that he knew wherfore he came, aunſwered him, that whoſoeuer of our men would come a lande, might without any feare at all. This anſwere béeing come to ye Captaine Generalls eares, he ſent preſently vnto the king Alonſo Hurtado, to ſignifie vnto him yt the ſaid fléet belonged to the king of Portingale, of the which he went for Captaine Generall, and that his comming thether was for no other purpoſe but onely to ſettle wt him a trade & friendſhip, for the which it was conuenient for him, to talke with him. Howbeit hée ſayde, the king his Maiſter hadde commaunded him, that he ſhoulde not doe it, without he might for the aſſurance of his perſon, receiue ſome pledges to remaine in the ſhippes whileſt hée was a lande with the king, and that the one of thoſe pleadges ſhould be the Catuall of Calicut, The king of Calicut maketh excuſes vvhen he ſhould deliuer pledges and Araxamenoca, the which is one of the principalleſt Nayres: And another there went with Alonſo Hurtado, one that coulde ſpeake the language, which ſhoulde declare vnto the king the effect of the meſſage.

The king béeing héereof informed meruailed much to heare that the Captaine general did demand thoſe pledges, [Page] which he did excuſe to giue, forſomuch as they were ſickly & olde, howbeit he ſaid he would giue others that coulde better abide the branneſſe of the ſea. But afterwards hée did inſiſt very much, not to giue any pleadges at all, forſomuch as thoſe that were Moores were verye ſorrie to ſée our men in Calycut, and gaue the king counſell to ſende none, for that in giuing of any he might wel iudge therin y• the Captaine Generall had but little confidence in him, and by this meanes he ſhould remaine diſhonoured. Yet for al this Alonſo Hurtado did ſtill inſiſt in his demaunde. In this encountrie they ſpent thrée daies. At the end the king hauing a deſire to haue a trade ſetled with ours, for the benefit that might redound vnto him by the ſame, did conſent to Alonſo Hurtado his requeſt, in giuing the pleadges that were demaunded, which being come to the Captaine Generalls knowledge, he began to make himſelfe in a readineſſe to goe and ſpeake with the king, and to remaine a land thrée or foure daies, apointing in his place Sancho de Toar, to whom he gaue commaundement that there ſhuld be made for thoſe pleadges at their comming aboord good enterteinment, and to looke well vnto them, and not to deliuer them to any that ſhould come to demaunde them, although they came in his name.

On the xxviii. daye of December the Captaine Generall put himſelfe in his beſt apparell, and carryed with him thirtie of the principall men of his Fléete, which ſhoulde remaine with him a lande, with others that were the kings ſeruauntes, which ſhoulde attende vppon him as vpon the kings own perſon. Hée commanded alſo to bée carryed with him all the furniture for his Chamber and Kitchin, with his Cupboorde of Plate, in the which there were many rich péeces of ſiluer gilted.

Nowe béeing with all theſe thinges in a readyneſſe to depart, there came from the Citie ſundry principall Nayres, which were commaunded by the king to attende vppon the Captaine Generall, accompanyed with manye men, beſides others that came ſounding vppon Trumpets, [Page] other vppon Sackbuts and other inſtrumentes. The Captaine generall being informed that the King was tarrieng for him in a certaine Galerie, which onelye for to receiue him in, he had commaunded to be made harde by the water ſide, tooke his boate and went toward the ſhore, beeing accompanied with all the other boats of ye Fléete, which went all in good order, and ſet out with manye flagges and trumpets, which being ioyned together as wel theſe as thoſe that came from the Citie, made a wonderfull noyſe. With this came thoſe pledges aboord the Generalls ſhip,Pleadges are ſent aboorde, vvhich feare to be taken captiue. into the which they were loath to enter, vntill ſuch time that ye Captaine generall did diſimbarke himſelfe a lande, giuing therby to vnderſtand that they wer afeard that they being once aboord, he would returne againe into the Fléete, and ſo take them for captiues. They did ſtand ſo much vpon the ſame, that Aries Correa was faine to tell them, that without any ſuſpition they might enter into the ſhippe, forſomuch as the Captaine generall was not come thether for to deceiue the King, but onely for to get his good will, with this they were contented, to goe aboorde, yet it was with ſome feare, that he would take them captiues. In the meane while that we were about this the Captaine generall landed, where there was tarrieng for him ſundry Caymales and Pymacales, and other principall Nayres, being accompanied with many others. And before that the Captaine generall coulde ſet his féete on the grounde, he was taken vp, and put in an Andor or chaire, in the which he was carried to the Serame, accompanied with the multitude aboue ſaide. Being come to this place, he entered into a certaine houſe where the King was, whome he founde in this order. The houſe was hanged ouer with Carpets, or as they call them Alcatifas, at the ende whereof, there was a certaine place where the King was ſitting,The king of Calycuts ſtate & furniture. made much lyke vnto a lyttle Chappell, and ouer the Kings head did hang the cloth of Eſtate, of vnſhorne Crimſon veluet, and vnder him and about him, were twentie cuſhions of ſilke. The King himſelfe was all naked, ſauing that about his middle he had a cloth [Page] made of Cotten, which was white as ſnowe, and wrought ouer with golde. On his head he had a night cap of cloath of golde, which was made of the faſhion of an head péece or ſkull. On his eares he had hanging certaine Iewelles, of Diamonds, Saphyres and Pearles, of the which ther was two bigger then Walnuts. On his armes from the elbow to the hande he had ſundrye Bracelettes of Golde, in the which there were precious Sones, and that without number, and of a wonderfull valewe. Moreouer on his legs from the knées downward, and on the fingers of his handes, and the toes of his feete, and eſpecially on his great toe, there was a ring, in the which there was a Rubie ſo great and fine, that it gaue ſuch a light as was wonderfull: amongſt al which ſtones, ther was a Diamond bigger then a great Beane. But all this was nothing in compariſon of his girdell, which was made of Golde and Stone that the ſame was aboue all price, and out of it there came ſuch a reſplendour or brightnes, that it blinded mens eyes to looke vpon it.

There ſtoode harde by him a Chaire of Eſtate of golde and ſiluer, wrought in the beſt manner, full of precious ſtone, and of the ſelfe ſame ſort was the Andor in the which he was brought from his Pallaice, which alſo ſtood there, Alſo there were twentie Trumpets, whereof ſeauentéene were of ſiluer, and the other thrée of golde, the mouthes whereof, were finely wrought and ſet with ſtone. Alſo ther was a Baſon of golde in the which he did ſpit, and certaine perfuming pans of ſiluer, out of the which, ther came an excellent ſmell. And for eſtate ſake ther wer lightned certain Lampes of Oyle, which were after the Moores order, the which were alſo made of ſiluer. Sixe paces from the King, ſtood his two brethren, which were heires vnto the Kingdome after him, and ſomewhat further off ſtood many Noble men, they all ſtanding vpright vppon theyr féete.

¶Of the meeting of the Captaine generall, and the King of Calycut and how there was deliuered vnto him the Kings preſent which he brought, and afterward what hapned. Chap. 23.

[Page]

THe Captaine generall béeing entered into this place, and viewing the Kings eſtate, wold haue gone to kiſſe the Kings handes, as it is commonly vſed amongſt vs: but for that he was enformed by thoſe that ſtoode by, that it was not the vſe and cuſtome amongſt them, he did it not. Howbeit ther was a Chaire appointed him that was hard by the Princes ſeate, in y• which the Captaine generall did ſit, that from thence he might declare his minde to the King, which was the greateſt honor that he could giue him.The Captaine generall deliuereth his letters of credite to the king of Calicut Being ſet downe, he deliuered his letter of credite, which he brought from the King of Portingale, written in the Arabian tongue which béeing read by the King, ye Captaine generall alſo told his meſſage, the effect wherof was this, That ye King of Portingale was deſirous of his friendſhip, & to ſettle a Factorie in Calycut, in the which there ſhoulde be ſufficient of all kinde of Merchandize that ſhould be ſpent there, & in trucke of the ſame, or for ready mony, he requeſted that he would let him haue ſufficient lading of ſpices for thoſe ſhips there. The King ſhewed himſelfe to be content with this Embaſſage, & aunſwered the Captaine generall that he wold yéeld the King of Portingale out of his Citie, all that he ſhoulde haue néede of.The preſēt vvhich ye generall brought with him▪ While they two were in this talke, came thether the preſent which the Captaine generall had brought, in the which wer theſe péeces, a Baſon of ſiluer and gylt wrought, a fountaine to the ſame, a Cuppe with his couer gylt, of the ſame worke, two Maſſes of ſiluer, foure Cuſhions, two of them of cloath of golde, and other two of Crimſon Veluet vnſhorne, a Cloath of Eſtate of Golde, being welted and garded with the ſelfe ſame Golde, and of [Page] Crimſon veluet a verye fine Carpet, two clothes of Arras, the which were very rich, the one with figures, and the other with gréene workes. Of this preſent, and of the Embaſſage which the Captaine generall had done vnto him, as it appered, the King was very glad, and tolde the Captaine generall that he might goe to his lodging to reſt himſelfe, or els to his ſhips as he would himſelfe, for that he thought neceſſary to ſend for his Pledges, which are Gentlemen and daintely brought vp, and could not awaye with the Sea, to tarry there longer. And whileſt they were ther, he was aſſured, that they would neither eate nor drinke for ſuch was their cuſtome. And if fo be that the Captaine generall wold goe to his ſhips, and come the next day againe, to make full agréement and conſent about the order of the trade in Calicut, he would then ſend thoſe Pledges againe. The Captaine generall hauing good confidence in thoſe his wordes, went to his ſhips, leauing behinde him with his ſtuffe, Alonſo Hurtado with other ſeauen. And being at the water ſide ready to departe, a ſeruaunt of one of thoſe Pleadges, went before aboord in a ſmall Pinnace, and tolde them that the Captaine generall did retourne aboorde, this meſſenger was ſent by the commaundement of the Clearke and Controller of the Kings houſe, as who ſhoulde ſaye, to giue them counſayle to come their waye, which they did, as ſoone as they heard what the ſlaue had tolde them in their language, and with that they leapt into the Sea, thinking to take that Pinace in the which the ſlaue went. As ſoone as Aries Correa ſaw this, he leapt into his owne boate, which was harde by the ſhips ſide with certaine of his Marriners and rowing with force tooke two of the Pledges, and alſo thrée or foure of thoſe that wore in the Pinace, the other fled and carried the Catuall with them, which was alſo one of the Pledges. This being concluded, the Captaine generall came aboord, who after that he had knowen what had paſſed, becauſe that thoſe Pledges the which he had in his cuſtodie, ſhould not returne and [...] their waye, he commaunded them to be put vnder the hatches of his ſhip, and [Page] afterward ſent to complain to the King of that which they had done, laieng all the fault vpon the Clarke Controller. Alſo he ſent worde after what ſort they remained in his ſhip, promiſing, that if ſo be yt he wold ſend him his ſtuffe, & ſuch of his men as remained a land, he would immediatly ſende thoſe Pleadges which he had: and for that it was night, there was no more at that time done. The next daye following, the King came to the water ſide, accompanyed [...] xii. thouſand men, and ſent with the Captaine General [...] ſtuffe and men, to the number of thirtie Almadias, for that they might returne with thoſe Pledges that did remaine aboord, howbeit for all that they were ſo many, yet there durſt none of them come néere the ſhips, for the feare they ſtoode in of our men, which remained in the Fléete, leaſt they wold take them, and ſo they returned with the ſame againe to land. The Captaine Generall ſéeing the feare that they ſtood in of his Fléete, ſent the next daye in certaine of his owne boates thoſe Pledges that he had in cuſtodie, commaunding that they ſhould goe and ſée them deliuered ſomwhat aloofe of from the fléet, that brought him his men and ſtuffe. And while they were deliuering the ſame, Araxamenoca which was the eldeſt of the Pledges, leaped into the water vppon a ſodaine, with intent to runne away, but for all that he could not eſcape, forſomuch as our men caught handefaſt of him. The other that remained, whileſt our men were thus buſied fled lykewiſe. The lyke did Alonfo Hurtado practiſe with fiue of thoſe that wer with him. The Captaine generall meruailed to ſee how little honeſtie or truth they vſed, did therefore commaund Araxameno [...]a to be well looked vnto. And being thrée dayes paſt, and yet the King not ſending for him, he had pittie to ſee him that in ſo many dayes he had eaten nothing,Humai [...] pity in [...] Captaine generall tovvard faithleſſe Infidells▪ and thervpon he ſent him to the King, alſo he ſent ſundry weapons which were taken of his mens, and requeſted him to ſend the other two of his men that were yet a land, which the King did ſende, béeing moued therevnto, more for ſhame then otherwiſe, for that he had broken his word & promiſe. Now being thrée dayes [Page] paſt, and there came no kinde of aunſwere vnto the Captaine generall, thereby he had ſufficient tryall or vnderſtanding how variable he was, and therefore he woulde tarrye no longer for his aunſwere, but ſent vnto him to knowe whether he wold make an end of the agréement yt was begun betwéene them, and for the concluſion of the ſame hée would ſende Aries Correa which came with him for Factor. Howbeit for the better aſſuraunce therof, he willed him to ſend him certaine Pledges. This meſſage was ſent [...] King by a certaine Gentleman called Franciſco Correa, which did offer himſelf to carry the ſame, when all the reſt of the Fléete was afeard, leaſt that the King woulde take him priſoner, or command him to be ſlaine. To this meſſage ye king made anſwere yt he was well pleaſed to agrée to haue the Trade ſetled, and that he ſhoulde ſende vnto him Aries Correa about the ſame or whom els he ſhould thinke good. But firſt of all he tolde him that he woulde ſende two Nephewes of one Goſarate, The pledges ſent aboord. which is a great rich Merchaunt, for pledges, which indéed was ſo done. After that thoſe pledges were entred, immediately departed toward the land Aries Correa, to whom the King commaunded to be giuen a faire houſe to lye and reſt himſelfe and to lay his Merchandize in, which he brought with him, which houſe belonged to Goſarate, who was Grandfather to thoſe two Pledges, that the king had ſent. But he commanded that foraſmuch as Aries Correa, was yet not well knowen in the Countrey nor acquainted with their orders & prices how he might ſel his Merchandize, nor yet what the buyer ſhuld giue, to inſtruct him therein. But he did not ſo, but rather cleane contrarye, foraſmuch as he was a friend to ye Moores of Meca, which were great enimies vnto our men, not onelye for that they were Chriſtians, but for feare leaſt that for our cauſe they ſhuld looſe part of ther credit which they had in Calicut, by meanes wherof they tooke their Merchandize for what price ſo euer they would themſelues. And alſo for the feare they conceiued of them many times, the Gentiles durſt not come out of their dores.

[Page] They knew alſo that hauing our Factory ſetteled there, they ſhould be great looſers, not onely in their Merchandize, which would be in valew leſſe worth, as alſo in their [...] ces, Drugs & precious ſtones, which would be more worth & better eſtéemed. And that was the cauſe that alwaies. Aries Correa was ouerthwarted in all things yt he went about to buy, with offring more then he did for the ſame, after yt the price was by any of ours made, then euer they did before, ſo yt by this meanes alwayes he was forced to pay the deerer for his drugs & ſpices. And if ſo be that at any time he would ſpeake with ye King, they did trauell all yt they could, that ſome of them might be alwayes preſent to withſtand & ſpeak againſt him in all things. They did not this onely thē ſelues, but found meanes alſo by Sam [...]cide, which was Admirall of the Sea of Calicut, & a naturall Moore, yt he ſhould not conſent yt thoſe yt remained in ye Factory wt Aries Correa ſhuld go aboord ye Fléete, & moreouer if any ſhip would preſume to come néere to yt ſhore, not to cōſent yt it ſhuld return, ſaieng,The Captaine generall had good came to feare and hate the Moores yt the King had giuen ſuch cōmandement The Captaine generall being aduertiſed of all this, & ſuppoſing the ſame to be of a ſuſpition of treaſon, commanded to wey and bring himſelfe vnder ſaile to goe out of that harbour, and there to enter into councell with his Captaines what were beſt for him to do, for that he was afeard leſt whileſt yt hée remained in that harbour he might be ſet vpon by ye king of Calicuts Fléete, & ſo be troubled. The King after yr the knew what the Captaine generall had done, & that he minded to go his way, demaunded of Aries Correa the cauſe why he went out of his harbour, who aunſwered him that he did not know certainely, wherfore without it were for the iniuries which the Moores had done vnto him, & ſo told him ye whole order, for that he knew the ſame. The King vpon this willed him to ſend againe for the Captaine generall, who immediately after that he knew, what the king had ſaid, returned, & the King forthwith commanded that the Moores ſhuld not from thenceforth vſe anye ſuch villany. He alſo tooke awaye the Goſarate from the companye of Aries Correa, [Page] vnto whom he gaue charge to inſtruct him in the order of the Countrey, and did put in his place another which was a very honeſt man, and a friend of ours, (although he were a Moore) whoſe name was Coſebequin. This man was alſo in Calicut of good credite, and the head of all the Moores of the Countrey, that were naturally borne there, which were alwayes in controuerſie with the Moores of the Cayro, and of the Straights of Meca, of the which the Admirall was head. Alſo the King gaue commaundement, that to the end our Merchaunts which were in the Factorie might ſell the better, and alſo buye theyr Spices at the better hande, and with quietneſſe, they ſhould remooue theyr Factorie to a houſe of Coſebequin, A free houſe for the factory giuē to the king of Portingale by deede the which ſtoode harde by the water ſide. And of this houſe, a gifte was giuen to the King of Protingale for euer by writing, the Copie whereof, forſomuch as the Captaine generall ſhould carry it with him, was incloſed in a Tablet of golde, to the which the King did ſet to his firme and ſeale, alſo the Kings pleaſure was, that vpon the top of the houſe there ſhould be ſet a flagge, with the royall armes of Portingale, that all men might knowe, that the ſame was his. Which after that the Captaine general had knowledge of, he ſent vnto the King great thanks for the ſame, and from that time forwarde they had indifferent good ſales by the helpe of Coſebequm, who did aide them therein. As ſoone as thoſe of the Countrey had vnderſtanding that our Factorye was by the King ſo fauoured, they lykewiſe did the lyke. Afterward our men might goe whereſoeuer they would without any moleſtation, and as ſure as they might in Liſhborne. So the friendſhippe betwéene them and our men, was afterward very good.

¶How at the requeſt of the King of Calycut, the Captaine Generall ſent to take a ſhippe of the Moores, and alſo after what ſort the ſame was taken. Cap. 24.

[Page] WHileſt this friendſhip continued betwéene our men and the Citie, and they béeing in ſo great a friendſhip and concord one with another, on the next ſaterday following there did appeare to thoſe of Calycut, a greate ſhip of the Moores, which was far off, going from Coching toward Cambaya. And as ſoone as ye ſame was diſcryed, the king ſent worde to the Captaine Generall, requeſting him that for his ſake he would ſend to take the ſame ſhip, for ouer and beſides that, there were in the ſame certeine Elephantes, yet was there one which excéeded them all, the which he woulde haue bought. And although he had offred for him more then he was worth, yet he would not ſell him. Albeit the owner was a dweller in Coching, and therefore he moſt earneſtly requeſted him to ſend to take the ſayd ſhippe, forſomuch as it did ſo highlye touch his honour and credit: vnto his requeſt, the Captaine Generall made aunſwere that he would doe it with a good will, although that he was informed that the ſayd ſhippe was great, and that there were within it very many men both Marriners and ſouldiers, and that the ſame could not bée taken without ſome loſſe of men, and therefore it was requiſite that he conſented that his men might kill thoſe y• were in the ſhip, wherevnto the king agréed. This béeing concluded, the Captaine Generall commaunded that Pedro de Tayde with his Caruell, ſhoulde goe take the foreſayd ſhip, and that there ſhould goe with him a young Gentleman called Edwarte Pacheco, which was thought to bée a valiant ſouldier, and with theſe there was a 60. men. The king alſo ſent certeine Moores in the Caruel, that they alſo might view the order of their fighting. The Caruell béeing vnder ſaile gaue chace vnto the ſhippe till it was night, which being come, they loſt ſight of the ſame, and going a long the coaſt all the quarter of the Moone, they ſawe where he was riding at Ankor, and then Edwarto Pacheco commaunded to beare with him, and found thoſe Moores [Page] with their weapons in a readineſſe to defend themſelues withall, howbeit as they were hoiſing vp theyr Sayles, they eaſily iudged the ſame to be of 600. tun,This ſhip for one in thoſe coaſts very vvel appointed. and that within it there were 300. fighting men, the moſt parte whereof were bowe men, Edwarto Pacheco woulde not laye the ſame a boorde, for that he was commaunded to the contrarie, but to ſinke him if it were poſſible. And hauing brought him vnder his lye, he commaunded to amaine. The Moores making as it were a mocke of the ſame, gaue a lowd crye and plaide vppon their Inſtruments, and after this they ſhotte off certeine Ordinaunce which they had, and manye arrowes, making therewith a ſhew of readineſſe that they were in. They were anſwered by our men with ſhot, of the which there chaunced a Pellette to ſtrike harde vnder the boſſome of the ſhippe betwéene winde and water, where there was made a hole by the which there entered a great quantitye of water. After this they ſhotte againe, with the which there were many of them ſlaine & hurt, & the other trembled with the feare they had of our Ordinaunce, with this they bare toward the baye of Canonor, the which was harde by, where there were riding at an Ankor foure ſhips of the Moores, amongeſt them hée came to an Ankor. Now béeing within the ſayd Baye, arriued alſo with the Caruell Edwarto Pacheco, who commaunded his Ordinaunce to be ſhotte at them, and with the ſame had taken them all, if ſo be that there had not come certeine Paraos of the Moores to ſuccour them, the which were in the porte, and as they were fighting the night came on, which was the cauſe that al thoſe Paraos were not by him deſtroied. In al theſe encounters there was no more then nine hurt of our men, which was done by their arrowes.

Night béeing come, Edwarto Pacheco brought himſelfe forth of the Baye and came to Ankor harde by an Ilande, for that hée was there more ſurer then in the Bay, whereas they might haue ſette his ſhippe on fire. And although that it were contrarye to his commiſſion, yet for all that hée retourned in the morning, and ioyned himſelfe [Page] with his enimyes, who as ſoone as it was daye, woulde haue ranne theyr waye, and as they beganne to make ſayle, hée entered vppon them in the Baye, ſhooting of his Ordinaunce, with the which hée ſtrake the ſaide Shippe,The Moores yeelded vnto our men. and by this meanes they yéelded, with this thoſe of Cananor that were ſtanding at the water ſide, were verye ſore agréeued and woulde haue come to ſuccour them, who after that Edwarto Pacheco beganne to diſpend his Ordinaunce amongeſt them; ranne lykewiſe theyr wayes.

This béeing done, hée went towarde Calycut, to the which harbour hée arriued the next daye, where the King came to the water ſide to ſée the ſhippe, for that they tooke the ſame for a miracle, and gaue our men great praiſes. The Captaine Generall commaunded the ſhippe to bée deliuered vnto the king with ſeauen Elephaunts that were within the ſame, which were worth in Calycut thirtye thouſand crownes, ouer and beſides this, there was found in it great ſtore of merchaundiſe, beſides thoſe men whom hée tooke captiues. Alſo hée ſent the king word that hée néeded not to meruaile that ſo ſmall a Caruell as that was could take ſuch a great ſhippe, for that in matters of greater waight he woulde be at his commaundement, for the which hée ſent him great thanks, and praied him to ſende vnto him thoſe men that had done ſo notable an act, whom he did receiue very well, and with great honour, and gaue them great gifts, in eſpeciall to Edwarto Pacheco. Some affirme that after that the king had ſéene this famous act that our men had done being ſo few, he had them from thence forth in ſome feare, & was deſirous to ſée them diſpatched out of his countrie, & therefore did conſent vnto that treaſon, of the which I will ſpeake of héereafter.

Of the Oration which the Moores made to the king, concerning the enterteining of our men, and what aunſwere there was made, & alſo pollicie vſed againſt them. Chap. 25.

[Page] WIth the taking of this ſhip the Moores of Calicut were greatly afrighted in minde, and ſore offended with y• king for that he made ſo great account of our men, which as they thought was done to reuenge their iniuryes, and for the hatred or enuye they had conceiued againſt vs, though indéede the king made more account of our men then he did of them. By this meanes as they thought, it was no other but to prouoke them to leaue his Countrie, in eſpeciall for as much as our men brought them ſuch great ſtore of Merchandiſe, and as much as they did, and brought as great ſtore of ſpices as they did: Therefore they determined to make vnto the king an Oration concerning the ſame matter. And being ioyned together ſpake in the name of them all, one on this ſort.

EMparather of all the Malabars, The Moores Oration againſt our men. nothing leſſe mightie then the mightieſt king of the Indias, & moſt fearefull amongeſt thoſe that are feared of all the Princes of the ſame. We cannot but meruaile much that thou hauing theſe two qualyties, wouldeſt imbaſe thy ſelfe to receiue into thy Countrie theſe y• are enimyes to thy law, & ſtraungers to the cuſtomes of thy kingdome, & laſt of al, doe rather appeare to be rouers then merchants. If thou doeſt receiue them for want of ſuch as ſhoulde bring vnto the Citie thoſe kindes of merchaundiſe that they do bring, or elſe carrie away thoſe kinde of Spices that they are deſirous of, we would then allowe thereof. But there are too many that doth the ſame, and men that thou haſt knowne of a long time, and by the long continuance of them art acquainted with their fidelitie, which haue encreaſed ſo much thy rents, that therof we are a good witneſſe. But thou hauing forgotten all this, wouldeſt receiue thoſe whom thou diddeſt not knowe, and doeſt fauour them ſo much, that amongeſt ſo many, and ſuch a multitude of good ſubiectes as thou haſt, wouldeſt make choice of them, that they ſhoulde reuenge thy iniuries, as though thine owne ſubiects were not ſufficient men to doe the ſame. By which déede thou [Page] doeſt abaſe thy power ſo much, that we for very ſhame, & for that we are bound of duetie to bring it into thy memorie. For if ſo be yt thou well conſider what it is to make thē reuengers of thy iniuries, & giue them in reſpect thereof ſo great honour, it is as it were to ſhewe them plainly a certeine kinde of weakneſſe which indéed is not in thy ſubiects, but rather doeſt bolden them to make ſmall account of thée, & ſo afterward to do that which we doe well know they will do, which is to rob from all merchants that commeth towards thy ports, to deſtroy thy country, & at length to take the Citie, which is the end of their comming into theſe parts, & not to looke for ſpices, and this is moſt true, that from their countrie vnto this is almoſt fiue thouſand leagues by ſea, with returnes and ſtormes that the ſame voyage hath, ouer and beſides the great daunger of the voiage, & the charges of the making of their great ſhippes, and furniſhing the ſame with ordinance, beſides the ſtrengthening of them with men, much more all this béeing wel noted, it is plaine that for all their greate gaines which they might haue by their ſpices in Portingale, their loſſes would be greater,Proues that vvee vvere rather pirats then merchants. in comming ſo far for them, which is a manifeſt proofe that they are rather pirats then merchants, which come into the country to rob and take thy citie, as they will do, if ſo be they do place themſelues once within the ſame. And when they ſhal poſſeſſe the ſame houſe which thou diddeſt giue them for a factorie, they will make there a fort, from whence they will make thée wars, when thou ſhalt thinke leaſt of it, which thing will come to paſſe, and now the rather, ſince that thou doeſt commaunde the ſame to be made by thy ſubiectes. But this as we ſaie wee doe bring to thy memorie more for the good will which we doe owe to thee, then for any profit we doe looke for. And if it fortune that thou wilt not remember vs, there are other cities in Malabar where we maye make our habitation, whether for our ſakes will be brought all ſtore of ſpices. Ouer and beſides all this, the loyaltie which we doe owe vnto thée doth make vs to feare more the loſſe of thy eſtate, [Page] then to [...] for our owne profit.

As ſoone as the Moore had made an end of his Oration, the king did gratifie them all very much, and tolde them that he woulde haue a ſpeciall care of all that which they had remembred him of, and how in the ſelfe ſame ſorte hée ſuppoſed y• matter indeed wold come to paſſe.why he requeſted our men to take the ſhip of Meca. The occaſion that the king tooke to requeſt the Generall to ſend to take that ſhip▪ was to ſee the experience of their valiant minds, & alſo why he did conſent to ye lading of their ſhips, was to the end there might remaine in the countrie their monye which they brought to buie merchaundiſe withall, according as he did to ſuch merchants as come into his port. Alſo at the laſt he did promiſe that he woulde not forſake them for any ſtraunger. Yet for all this, the Moores did not remaine fully ſatiſfied, becauſe the king did not command vs to depart out of the citie of Calycut, and not ſuffer our men to trade ther any longer, for that was the principalleſt thing that they did pretende. Howbeit they woulde not let but entermeddle in all our matters, eſpeciall in the buieng of our Spices, which they did openly buye, and ſent them ſecretly vnto other places. This was done with a determinatiō, for yt they could not away with our men, but wold reſiſt them, our men béeing thus reſiſted might then haue occaſion the better to defend themſelues, & ſo by this meanes they would reuenge their quarrels openly by fighting with our men. This they had great deſire to do, thinking to deſtroy our men openly, for that they were manye more in number then ours were, they hoped that when this matter was once begun, that then the king wold take their parts. Alſo they wrought by all meanes poſſible to haue the common ſorte of people on their ſide, inciting them againſt our men, with matters which they made them beléeue that our men had done againſt them.

How the Moores that dwelled in Calycut by meanes of the Factor & countenance they had at the kings hand, did ſet vpon the Factorye, where was ſlaine in defence there of the Factor with other of his company. Cap. 36.

[Page]

BY meanes of this ſubtile dealing of the Moores, there paſt thrée moneths before the Factor could get any ſpices more then hée had, to lade two ſhips withall: which was a great griefe to the Captaine Generall, forſomuch as thereby he perceiued verye well that the friendſhip of the king was not ſteadfaſt, but that he was a lyar, and a man that vſed no truth at all. And if ſo be that he had not tarried there ſo long time as he did, fearing that in no other porte hée ſhould finde ſufficient lading for his ſhippes, he would haue fallen out with him, and ſo haue gone to ſome other place. But foraſmuch as he hadde bene there at ſo greate charges, he diſſimuled therewith onely to ſée whether with his good will he might lade there or no. The Captaine Generall ſéeing that all thinges were but delayes, ſent vnto the king, requeſting him to remember thoſe promiſes he hadde made vnto the Factour, that within twentye dayes he woulde deliuer ſufficient lading for the whole Fléete, and that nowe there were thrée moneths paſt, and yet there was no more laden then two ſhippes.The king accuſed plainly of doblenes. The occaſion whereof he did not knowe, and therefore he was the willinger to ſuffer the ſame, and that with great patience, hoping alwayes that he wold giue order for the lading of the reſt of the Fléet. But now he ſawe howe all things went, and knew that it was impoſſible to make an ende thereof.

For although he had promiſed that his Fléete ſhould be the firſt that ſhould be laden before any other ſtraungers, [Page] and that he was enformed for moſt certeine, yt the Moores had bought for a leſſe price great ſtore of Spices, and ſent the ſame to other places, whether they would, he therefore requeſted him yet to haue him in his remembrance, yt now it was time for him to depart towards Portingale, deſiring him to diſpa [...]h him as he hadde promiſed. The King as ſoone as he had heard what the meſſenger ſayd, did ſhewe as in an outward appearance greatly meruailing that our ſhips remained yet vnladen, and aunſwered that hée was very [...] therefore, and that he could not beléeue that the Moores contrarie to his commaundement had bought ſpices vnder a coulour, and ſent the ſame a boorde ſome other ſhip whether it pleaſed them, he hauing giuen commaundement to the contrarie, namely, that the Moores ſhould not buie any ſpices in hugger [...]gger. Affirming that if it bée ſo they had ſo deceiued him, he woulde puniſh them therefore. Vpon this immediatly he gaue commaundement to take thoſe ſhippes that were laden with Spices, with condition that they ſhoulde pay for the ſame the price that the Moores had bought at.Nothing more acceptable to the Mores thē to quarell & fall out vvith our men, The newes was brought forthwith vnto the Moores, and as there was nothing more acceptable vnto them, then to haue occaſion to fall out with our men, ſo therefore did one of the principall Moores beginne to lade his ſhippe firſt, and that openlye with all ſortes of Spices and Drugges. And for that cholar might the more increaſe in our men, to take thoſe ſpices, hée found meanes that certeine Moores which the Factor tooke to bée his verye friends, and alſo certeine Gentiles, ſhoulde make him beléeue that if ſo be that hée did not ſend to take that ſhip, that was a lading, that then he could not haue lading ſufficent for the Fléete.

The Factor gaue credit vnto this report, and therevpon ſent worde to the Captaine Generall, what the Moores and Gentiles had tolde him, and that he thought their ſayeng to be true. And therefore ſince the king of Calicut had giuen him licenſe to take all ſuch Spices as the Moores had laden, hée might the better nowe take that Shippe. [Page] Howbeit the Captaine general was loath to deale therwith for all the Kings licenſe, for he knew him to be an inconſtant man, and waying alſo the great credit, that the Mores were in with him, he was afeard leaſt that after they had taken the ſaid ſhippe, the Moores through the Kings fauour would riſe againſt them. And this was the aunſwere that was ſent to the Factor: yet for all that he did require him once more to take that ſhip, ſaieng, that if he did not, that then the King ſhuld be in hazarde to looſe ſuch Merchandize as he had ther: neuertheleſſe the Captaine general wold not meddle therewith, and yéelding for that his determination ſufficient reaſon to the contrary. But the Factor on ye other part ceaſed not to make vnto him ſundry requeſts, and proteſtations, that he ſhould paye all ſuch loſſes and damages, as ſhould hap vpon the King of Portingales Merchaundize, by his defaults, for that he woulde not deale with the ſayde ſhip. Thus ſince he ſaw there was no other remedie, he cō ſented therevnto, although it were againſt his will: & therfore the xvi. day of December, the Captaine generall ſent word to thoſe that were aboord ye ſhip, that was thus laden by the Moores, by the order which was ſent him from the King of Calicut, to commaund them to depart, and for aſmuch as they made but little reckoning thereof he ſent the next daye all his boates to bring hir within the harbour. After that this report came to the owner of the ſhips knowledge, they made the Moores priuie héereof, whereof they were very glad, for that by this meanes there was offered vnto them occaſion to fall out with our men. Héerevppon, they began in a furious outrage,The Moores moued a tumult againſt our men. running out of their dores like madde men, complaining vpon vs and our people, by meanes whereof, they were tumulteouſly moued, and framed great outcryes and larums, and alwayes againſt our men. And after that they had thus done, they ranne to the King, with whom went the owner of the ſhip, complaining alſo vpon our men for the detaining of his ſhip, ſaieng that our men had bought and laden much more ſpices & drugs, then that the Merchaundize came vnto which they hadde [Page] brought with them, howbeit their pride was ſuch, that they were content with nothing; but as Théeues and Pirates would haue all. At this inſtant came the Moores, which did before helpe him very much, declaring many things againſt our men, & how much the King was in fault, for ſuffering them within this Citie, requeſting him moſt earneſtlye to giue them licenſe to reuenge their loſſe, which they had receiued. The King as he was inconſtant and without anye fidelitie, did graunt them the ſame. As ſoone as the Moores had obtained their requeſt,The ſauage fircenes of the Moores againſt our men. they came their waye from the King, and tooke their weapons, and with a ſauage fiercenes, lyke wilde beaſts, ranne into the Citie in flockes towarde the Factorie, which was compaſſed about like a Caſtle, with the wall of the height of a man on horſebacke, in the which were lxx. Portingales amongſt whom was Fryer Henrick with his cōpany of Friers. Ther wer amongſt our men no more weapons then 8. Croſſebowes, all ye reſt had nothing but ſwords & clokes, as ſoone as they knew of ye enimies cō ming, they ran to the gates of the Factory, & when ye they ſaw they were ſo few, they iudged them to be ſome quarellers that came thether for the ſame purpoſe, & therefore wer minded to defend their gates, with their cloakes & rapie [...]s only: but afterward their power increaſed ſo much vpō our men, that by reaſon of their arrowes and ſpeares, they could not indure ther any longer: then y• Factor commanded their gates to be ſhut vp, ſuppoſing that from the wal they wold driue their enimies from thence, & at the very ſhutting vp of the gates, there were ſeuen of the enimies ſlaine, ye which gates could not be ſhut without great daunger, alwayes fighting valiantly. In this conflict, ther wer of our men many hurt, & foure ſlaine: howbeit as well thoſe ye wer hurt as thoſe y• wer in health, went vp vpon ye wal of ye Factory, for to defend their enimies from thence with their croſſebowes. Howbeit the multitude of them at that preſent was ſo great that they made ſhewe as if they had bene in number foure thouſande. There came alſo to aide them ſundrye Nayres, which all of them together, began to ſet vpon thoſe that wer [Page] in the Factorie, hoping thereby to enter. Aries Correa ſéeing ye it was impoſſible for him to defend it any lōger without ſome aide from the ſhips, and for to giue them to vnderſtand of their troubles, there was diſplaide a flagge in the top of the Factorie: and as ſoone as the ſame was diſcryed by the Captaine generall, he ſuſpected it in himſelfe to be that which indéede it was, for the which ſodaine chance he was very ſorrowfull, for that as then he was but newly let bloud,Succour ſent by ye Generall Captaine to the Factorie. and ſicke in his bed, and therefore he could not go himſelfe to ſuccour them: howbeit he ſent Sancho de Toar, to ſupply his roome, with all the Fléetes boats, which went with ſuch men as they had, but to reſiſt ſuch a number as there was of their enimies, they were very few, which Sancho de Toar perceiuing, durſt not diſimbarke himſelfe, neither yet come too néere the ſhore leaſt that the enimies ſhuld come in their Almadias and Tonys, and ſo take them, alſo that they could not hurt them, they laye ſo farre off from the ſhore: but they from thence could diſcerne how valyantly our men did defende themſelues and there entring, although the number of their enimies did alwayes increaſe, for ſo it was néedful for ye great flaughter, yt our men made of thē, from ouer ye wall. Notwithſtanding by meanes therof their fury did ſo increaſe, yt they cauſed to be brought certain [...] to ouerthrow part of ye wall wtall, which were ſo great, that our men could not by any meanes defend the ſame, being ſo few and ſo many hurt, with the enimies arrowes and ſpeares, which came from them as thicke, as though it had rained arrowes. But perceiuing once the enimie began to enter, they would not tarrie there any longer, but went forth of the Factorye, by a dore that opened toward the water ſide, where they made reckoning to ſaue themſelues with their boats. But ye enimies followed them alwaies ſo narrowly, hurting and killing them, that in this conflict Aries Correa was ſlaine, ſo that there were lacking fiftie of our men, betwéene thoſe that were dead and taken captiues, twentie onely eſcaped, which tooke the water, but thoſe were ſore hurt, amongſt whome was a Frayer called [Page] Fryer Henricke, and a ſon of the ſaid Aries Correa, which was but eleuen yeares of age, who is yet aliue and is called Antonio Correa, and ſince that time hath done in the Indias, and in other places notable acts of Armes, as in the fourth booke I ſhall declare. Thoſe that did eſcape, wer taken into our boates, and carried to the Fléete.

¶How the Captaine generall ſlewe the moſt parte of thoſe Moores that were aboorde the ten great ſhips, and then commanded them to be ſet a fire, & alſo of the great deſtruction which he brought vpon the citie in reuenge of the death of thoſe that were ſlaine therein. Cap. 37.

AFter that theſe newes were brought to the Captaine generall, he was not onely very ſorrowfull for the death of thoſe that were ſlaine, but alſo to ſée how little preuailed the preſent which he gaue vnto the King of Calicut, as alſo the taking of the ſhip, in the which was the Elephant, & now thrée moneths were paſt that he had bene there, and yet had laden no more then two ſhips, nor yet could tell when to lade the reſt, fearing alſo leaſt in Coching he ſhoulde not be well accepted, for taking of the ſhip in the which was the Elephant. And further waying with himſelfe, how little or none occaſion at all there was giuen to vſe ſuch treaſon againſt our men, he did therefore determine to reuenge himſelfe vpon ye King of Calycut, if ſo be that he did not vſe ſome excuſe for that which was paſt, wherevnto if he would willingly yéelde, then would he be content,The king of Calicut vvas farre off from making a mendes. ſo that he might ther haue his lading. But the King of Calycut was farre off from the matter, for he was very glad of that which ye Moores had done, and commaunded all ſuch Merchaundize to be taken, as were within the Factorie, the which wer well worth foure [Page] thouſand duckets, & alſo take all ſuch of ours as wer found aliue for captiues, although they were hurt, of the which there were foure that died. After all this, the Captaine generall ſéeing that in all that daye the King of Calicut ſent no meſſenger to excuſe himſelfe of the fact, he put the matter in queſtion, wheras it was determined that he forthwith ſhuld reuenge thoſe iniuries that were paſt, for feare leaſtif he ſhould delay ſo to doe, that then the King might haue time to arme his Fléete, which would not then be ſo eaſelye done. This being determined our men put themſelues in a readineſſe, to lay aboord x. great ſhips, which lay in y• harbor full of Moores: theſe at the firſt would haue defended themſelues,Iuſt reuenge vvrought vpon the iniurious Calicuttās yet for all yt our men did ioyne with them, & fought with them ſo valyantly, that they brake their order, killing many of them, and of thoſe that remained ſome leaped into the water and were drowned, others hid themſelues in their ſhips, and other were taken aliue, whom the Captaine generall commaunded to priſon, that they might afterwarde ſerue for Mariners in the Fléet. The ſhips being thus come into our mens poſſeſſion, they found within the ſame ſome Spices and other Merchaundize which were hidden within them: alſo they found thrée Elephants, which the Captaine generall commaunded to be killed and ſalted for their victualls, he commaunded alſo thoſe Moores that were ſlaine to be told, and there was found of them 600. The ſhips being diſcharged of all that they had, they wer ſet a fire before all the Citie, in the ſight of many that came to the water ſide to ſuccor them, whom being Moores, as they were comming in their Almadias, our men encountered and fought with them, but they durſt not goe forward for feare of the ordinaunce. This was a wonder to thoſe of the Citie, to ſée ten ſhips burnt together. The King alſo was ſory therefore for that he could not ſend to ſuccour them. But if that which was done this day was a wonder to the enimies to behold, then ye next day was much more to be meruailed at, for the Captaine generall not being contented with the burning of theſe ſhips commaunded his ſhips in the night to be brought [Page] as néere the ſhore as he could, the one ſomewhat ſeparated from the other. They had alſo their boats before them, that they might reach the moſt part of the Citie. As ſoone as the morning began to appeare, immediately all the great Ordinaunce went off amongſt their houſes, which after that the enimies had ſéene, and how néere our ſhips lay to the ſhore, they began to ſhoote at thē with ſmal péeces which they had without hurting any of our men, howbeit of our ordinance, for that the enimies came running in flockes, there was no péece that miſt, and by that meanes there were manye that fell, and the others that drew towards the Citie, where our ordinaunce alſo had made a great deſtruction, as well in the Temples of their Gods, as in their dwelling houſes. The feare was ſo great amongſt the Citizens,The feare that the King of Calicut and the citizens were in. that the King of Calycut himſelfe was driuen to leaue his Pallaice, and to goe out of the Citie, for that our men went thether to ſéeke him out with their pellets, ſo that hard at his héeles they killed a Nayre, which was a noble man, and ouerthrewe part of the Kings Pallaice. This deſtruction dured no more but this daye: and whileſt it was a doing, there appeared two ſhips yt wer comming to the harbor, which as ſoone as they had diſcried vs, went their way, & therefore this fight ceaſed. The Captain generall made after thē wt al his fléet to Panderane, which is a Port not far off, where there was other ſeuen néere to the land ready to ſuccour them, in which there came a multitude of Moores to defend them, and for that our ſhips could not come néere vnto the ſhore, they lefte them. And the Captaine generall contenting himſelfe with that which he had done in Calycut, for that it was verye late to make his voyage toward Portingal, went toward Coching, & ther concluded a peace, to ſée whether he might lade ther, for yt he well knew it, that ther was more Pepper then in Calicut.

¶How the Captaine generall arriued at the harbour adioyning to the citie of Coching, & ther he concluded a peace betweene him & the King, & afterward began to lade his ſhips. Cap. 37.

[Page] GOing vnder ſaile along by this citie, ye Captaine generall tooke two ſhips of y• Moores, which after that they had diſcried our ſhips, bare as néere the ſhore as they coulde, for feare of our ſhips, but our men tooke them and when they were diſcharged of certayne Rice which they carried, the Generall cauſed them to be ſet a fire, and ſo following his courſe he ariued at Coching the xx. of December, which ſtandeth in the Prouince of Malabar, xix. leagues from that parte of Calycut, going into the South,Coching ſtandeth in 9. degrees, and the ſcituatiō therof. and being in ix. degrées toward the North. The ſcituation therof is along the riuer, in the which the Sea doth enter, by meanes whereof the Citie ſtandeth as it were in an Ilande and that verye ſtrong, for that there is no comming to it, but by certaine wayes. It hath belonging vnto it, a goodly great and a ſure Port, which lyeth before the mouth of this riuer. The land round about is watry and low, and made into Ilands: they haue ſmal ſtore of victuals, but for all that thoſe which they haue is very freſh. This Citie is buylded much after the manner of Calycut, and is inhabited by Gentiles and ſundry Moores ſtrangers, which are come thether from manye places, and are great Merchaunts, amongſt whom there are two that haue fiftie ſhippes a péece.

In this Countrey is great ſtore of Pepper, and the moſt parte that they haue in Calycut commeth from thence. But foraſmuch as in Calycut there are more ſtore of Merchaunts which come from other places, therefore the ſame is richer then Coching. The King is a Gentile, and is of the behauiour and propertie of the King of Calycut: howbeit he is verye poore, by reaſon his Countrey is but ſmall, neither can he commaund any money to be coined in his Citie.

The Kings of Coching are in great ſubiection to the Kings of Calicut, for as often as ther chanceth a new king to [Page] ſuccéede in Calycut, he immediately goeth to Coching, and diſpoſſeſſeth him that hath the ſame, of the whole kingdome and taketh poſſeſſion himſelfe therof, ſo that by this meanes it lyeth in his hands, whether he will reſtore that King to the crowne againe or not. Alſo the King of Coching is bound to aide and accompany the King of Calycut in battaile againſt any other King, alſo he is bounde to dye in the religion of the King of Calicut. The Captaine generall, being come to this harbour, did there let fall his Ankor, for that he was afearde to ſend Gaſpar with a meſſage to the king, leaſt he would runne awaye, he chooſed rather to ſend one whoſe name was Michael Iogue, which although hée were a Gentile & a ſtraunger, yet he came vnto our Fléete, with intent to turne Chriſtian, ſaieng that he would goe for Portingale: wherevpon the Captaine generall tooke occaſion to baptize him,A Moore baptiſed & called Michael. and gaue him the name of Michael, & for his ſurname as he was called before. By this man he ſent to ye king of Coching his meſſage, certifieng him of all that they had paſt in Calicut, & alſo y• the Captain generall had brought wt him great ſtore of Merchandize to giue in trucke for ſuch commodities as there were in Coching, with the which if ſo be that the King wer not contented, that then he would buy the ſame for ready mony, wherof he had brought with him great ſtore, and therefore his requeſt was that in trucke of his merchandize, or for his ready money he would giue him lading for foure ſhips. The anſwere that the king made to this meſſenger, was, That he was very glad of his comming to this his Port, for that he was wel informed of his ſtrength and valiantneſſe, and therfore he eſtéemed them all the better, as héereafter he ſhould well perceiue. And as for ſuch Spices as he had there, he would giue him ye ſame in trucke of his Merchaundize y• he had brought with him from Portingale, or els for money as he ſhould thinke beſt. And alſo that without any feare he might ſend a land whom he ſhould thinke good to prouide the ſaid lading, & for the aſſurance of ſuch as ſhuld trauel about ye ſame he ſent him 2. of y• principal Naires in pledge, vpō cōditiō yt euery day he ſhuld [Page] chaunge them and take others, for that all ſuch as did féede a ſea boorde, could not come anye more in the kings preſence. The Captaine Generall was well contented therewith, who had the ſending of thoſe pleadges ſo quietly a boord, for a good beginning, and therfore he ſent immediatly for Factor of this lading Gonſallo Gilbarboſa, which was ſent before with Aries Correa, and for his Scriuenor he ſent Larenco Moreno, and for Interpretour one called Maderade Alcuſia. Alſo the Captaine Generall commaunded to be deliuered vnto them and to ſerue them in all kinde of affaires, foure baniſhed men.

The king hauing notice of the comming of the Factor a land, ſent to receiue him the Rogedor of the Citie, who went accompanyed with many noble men of the Courte, who brought them before the king. This king euen as his rents did farre differ in value from the king of Calycuts, ſo he did alſo differ very much in his eſtate, not onely for ye furniture of his perſon, but alſo of the place in the which he was in. For there appeared nothing elſe but the verye bare walls. The king himſelfe was ſitting within certeine grates, made much lyke a Theatre, with the which the whole houſe was compaſſed aboute,The king of Coching much inferior in vvealth & ſtate to ye king of Calycut. and there was attending vppon him verie few men. The Factor béeing come before the king, did preſent vnto him a preſent which the Captaine Generall ſent him, which was a Baſon of ſiluer to waſh his hands in, full of Saforne, and a greate Ewer of ſiluer full of roſe water, beſides certeine braunches of Corall, this preſent the king receiued very ioyfulfully, giuing vnto the Captaine Generall great thanks for the ſame, and after that he had talked a while with the factor, and with Larenco Moreno, he commaunded them to be lodged, and ſo there remained thoſe thrée a land, beſides the other foure baniſhed men. But the Captaine Generall would not conſent there ſhould remaine a land anye more, for he iudged that the fewer ther remained a land, the fewer would be loſt if ſo be that there ſhould chaunce the lyke miſfortune to that which did in Calycut. Howbeit that was [Page] farre vnlike, for yt the king of Coching ſéemed to be a man inclined to vertue & all the loialtie in the world, which wel appeared in his fauour, & in the vſing of our men, & in the diſpatch he made for the lading of our ſhips with ſpices, & in the commanding of helpe to be giuen by thoſe of y• countrie, which they did ſo willingly and with ſo great a zeale, that the ſame ſéemed to be ordeined of God, that the trade might be brought from Calycut to Coching, & that his holy Catholike faith might increaſe in the Indias, as ye ſame did, beſides the eſtate of ye king of Portingale, which might increaſe alſo in riches as the ſame hath done.

Hovv the Captaine General being at Coching, ther came vnto him a Prieſt vvhich vvas an Indian and a chriſtian, from the citie of Grangalor, to go vvith him to Portingale, and alſo vvhat els he tolde him of the chriſtians of this citie. Chap. 39

THe Captaine Generall béeing in this citie & laden, there came vnto him two Indians which as they ſaid were chriſtians, & naturally borne in ye citie of Grangalor, which is hard by Coching, theſe were brothers, & were deſirous to go to Portingale, & frō thence to Rome to ſée the Pope, & afterward to Ieruſalem to viſit ye holy ſepulchre. And being demanded by ye Captaine generall what city y• Grangalor was, & whether the ſame was only inhabited by chriſtians, & alſo whether they do eſtéeme ye chriſtiā order of y• Gréeks, or of ye church of Rome: one of thē made anſwere, y• Grangalor was a gret city in ye prouince of Malabar, ſtāding wtin ye coūtry at ye end of a riuer which cōpaſſeth ye ſame, by ſome parts ye inhabitāts therof, ſaith he, are both Gētiles & chriſtiās, alſo ther dwel amōgſt thē many Iewes which are ſmally eſtéemed of, ther are alſo many ſtrangers amongſt thē,The diſcriptiō & ſtate of Grāgalor. which are merchants of Surria, of Aegipt, of Perſia, & Arabia, by reaſon of ye great ſtore of pepper which is there gathered, this citie hath a king amongſt thēſelues, vnto whō al ſuch chriſtians as dwel wtin this citie do pay certein tribute, & theſe dwel by thēſelues, where they haue their church made after our order, ſauing they haue not in thē any Images of ſaints, but only certein croſſes: they do not vſe bels, but when ye prieſts would haue [Page] thē come to diuine ſeruice, thē they do obſerue y• order of y• Gréeks. The chriſtiās haue their Popes which haue 12. cardinals, & two patriaks, & many Biſhops & Archbiſhops, all which do reſide in Armenia, for thether go ye biſhops of Grā galor to receiue their dignity, he himſelf had ben ther wt a biſhop which ye pope did conſecrate, & he himſelf receiued at his hands, orders of prieſthood, & euen ſo he is accuſtomed to do vnto al others y• are chriſtians in y• Indias, & in Caitaio & alſo he is called catholike, & their Tonſura is made wt a croſſe. Of thoſe two patriarks which they haue, yt one remaineth in ye Indias, & ye other in Caitaio, & as for y• biſhops they are repoſed in cities,Why the chriſtians of ye Indias hath a Pope. as is thought cōuenient. The cauſe why they haue a pope in thoſe parts hath ben as is thought by thē, for yt in S. Peters time he being in Antioch, ther aroſe a great ſciſme of Simon Magus, which was ye occaſiō y• he was called to Rome to ouerthrow ye ſame, & to help ye chriſtians which wer in great trouble: and ſéeing y• he muſt depart frō Antioch, & for yt the church of y• orient ſhuld not remaine wtout a ſhepheard, he appointed a vicar to gouern, who, S. Peter being dead, ſhuld remaine for pope, & thoſe y• ſuccéeded him ſhuld alwaies aſſiſt him in Armenia, but after ye Moores entred into Suria & Aſia, & for ye Armenia remained alwaies in the chriſtian faith: the Chriſtians did therfore chuſe to gouerne it by 12. cardinals. Marco Paulo doth alſo make mentiō of this catholike pope, wher he writeth of this Armenia, in which he declareth there are two orders of Chriſtians: the one of thoſe are Neſtorians, the other Iacobites, The manner of ſhauing their prieſts differing frō ours. their pope is alſo named Iacobite, & is hée whō they cal ye catholike Ioſeph. Moreouer he told ye Captaine general y• in Grangalor are prieſts whoſe crowns are not ſhauen as ours are, but onely in ye midſt of their heads they leaue certein haires, al y• reſt is ſhauen, & alſo they haue deacons & ſubdeacons. They conſecrate wt leuened bread & with wine made of raiſons, for they haue no other in y• coū try. Their childrē are not baptiſed vntil xl. daies after their birth, without they be ſickly. Thoſe y• are chriſtians do cō feſſe thēſelues as we do, they receiue y• ſacrament & bury ye dead as we doe. [Page] They doe not vſe the holy Oyle, but in ſtéede of the ſame they doe bleſſe them, & when that any die, they gather many of themſelues together, and for the ſpace of viii. daies, they doe eate abundantly, and afterward they celebrate the obſequies of the dead. They make their teſtament before they dy, & thoſe y• do not ſo, [...]he next heire ſhal inherit their lands and goods, & if ſo be that the huſband die firſt, the wife ſhal haue her dowrie, on condition that ſhe ſhall not marrie in one whole yeare after, when that they enter in their churches, they take holy water. Their opinion is that there are ſowre Euangeliſts, whoſe writings they haue in great veneration. They faſt the Lent and the Aduent with greate ſolempnitie, and take regard not to breake the ſame, during this time they doe exerciſe themſelues in praier, & on Eaſter euen they neither doe eate nor drinke any thing till the next day. They doe vſe to heare Sermons on holy Friday at night, they obſerue the day of the reſurrection with great ſolempnitie, with the two other daies following, and alſo the ſunday next following, for that Saint Thomas on that day did put his hands into Chriſts ſide, they do kéepe it with great ſolempnitie, acknowledging thereby that the ſame was no fantaſie or dreame. Alſo they kéepe holy with great deuotion the Aſcention day & Trinitie Sunday, & the Aſſumption of our lady, hir birth, & Candlemas day, & Chriſtmas day, & all the Apoſtles & Sundaies, as wel the Chriſtians as ye Gentiles. And they with great deuotion kéep y• firſt day of Iuly in the honour of S. Thomas, they could yéelde no reaſon or cauſe why they doe obſerue that daie. They haue Fryers of Negroes which doe liue very chaſtly. Alſo there are Nunnes of the ſame order.Negro friers profeſſing chaſtitie. Their Prieſts doe liu [...] verye chaſtly, for if ſo be that they doe not ſo, they are depriued from celebrating. There can be no ſeperating of the man and woman, but well or ill they muſt liue together till death doe ſeparate them. They receiue the Sacrament thrée times in the yeare, they haue amongſt them greate Doctours, and open ſchooles, in the which are read the Prophets: and alſo there were in times paſt olde auncient doctors [Page] doctors, which haue left the Scriptures of the olde & newe Teſtament well expounded or interpreted. Their apparell is after the order of ye Moores. They haue their day which they do call I [...]tercalor, which is of 40. ho [...]s. They know how the day paſſeth away by the Sun, & the night by the ſtars, for they haue no clocks. The Captaine generall was very glad of the companye of this Ioſeph & his brother to carry them to Portingale, for whom he commanded a good cabine ſhould be giuen them in his ſhip.

Of the great Fleet of ſhips that was ſent out of Calicut to fight with the Captaine Generall, and what was the cauſe that ours did not ſight with them. And alſo of his departure from Coching toward Portingale, and how in his way he was driuen to Cananor. Chap. 40.

THe Captaine Generall being in this harbour, ther came vnto him a meſſenger frō the king of Cananor, & alſo from the king of Coula [...] (they both being great princes) in y• kingdome of Malabar, requeſting him to come to their ports or harbours, for yt they would giue him ſufficient lading for his ſhips, better cheape then in Coching, with verye many other offers of friendſhip. To whom he made anſwere by a meſſenger that he ſent, yéelding vnto them moſt hearty thanks, certifieng them y• at this preſent he could not go to lade at their ports, for that he had begun to take in the ſame already at Coching, A greate Fleete of enimies. notwithſtanding at his next retourne he wold do ſo, immediatly after yt he had laden his ſhips, there was ſéene a ſea boord a fléete of 25. great ſhips, beſides other ſmall veſſels. And ye king of Coching hauing notice therof, ſent word forthwith to the Captaine Generall, yt there was in that fléet xv. thouſand fighting men which came onely to none other purpoſe, but to ſéeke him out, and therefore if ſo bée [Page] that he ſhould haue any néed of men, to ſend him word, & he would prouide him therof. The Captaine Generall anſwered, that as yet he had no ſuch néede, for that with thoſe few that hée had with him, he truſted in God, to giue them to vnderſtand, what ill councell they had taken, to come & ſéeke him out, for that hée had well experimented theyr ſtrength. Truth it was the Generall beléeued ſteadfaſtlye, as hée hadde ſpoken, in reſpect of that which hée before had paſt in the harbour or porte of Calycut. Firſt with ten great ſhippes which hée founde there, as alſo with certeine that were there a grounde. And although the enymyes were ſcouring vp and downe in the Sea, yet therby it was apparaunt that they durſt not come to the place where hée was, by a league, for all that they ſhewed themſelues to be ſet in order to fight. The Captaine Generall perceiuing theyr intent, cauſed to wey Ankor, and hauing his Sailes ſpread abroade, departed with all his Fléete towarde his enimyes, in the which there went thoſe Pleadges Malabars, which the King of Coching hadde giuen vnto him. Howbeit his determination was, to retourne againe to Coching, and ſo to deliuer them. And going after this ſorte, there fell vppon them on a ſodayne ſuch a greate ſtorme which came with a contrarye winde, that hée was faine to retourne and to come to an Ankor againe, ſo that hée coulde not beare with his enymies.

The next daye following which was the tenth daye of Ianuarye. 1501. the winde came about in ſuch ſorte and ſo large, that the one Fléete might laye the other aboorde. The Captaine Generall beeing deſirous thereof, founde vppon a ſodeine miſſing one of his greate Shippes, in the which went Sancho de Toar, vnto whome it did well appeare, by reaſon it was night, that he had forgotten himſelfe. And for becauſe that next vnto this ſhippe, this was the principalleſt of all the Fléete, in the which were placed the chiefeſt men, it was not thought good to fight without him, the tather for that in [Page] the others he hadde but fewe men, and of them the moſt parte were ſicke, and of the enymyes were ſo manye as the king of Coching had ſent him worde.

And as the winde was proſperous to goe forwarde on his voyage towarde Portingale, He maketh tovvard Portingale. and verye ſcant to retourne toward Coching, hee departed, making his courſe into the Sea with his whole Fléete. After whome the whole Fléete of the enimies followed, all that daye till it was night, and then they loſt theyr companye, and ſo retourned. Thus going in his courſe, he beganne to comfort thoſe Nayres which were deliuered vnto him for Pleadges, with manye pleaſaunt tales, the which was the cauſe that they fell to theyr meate, béeing thrée dayes there, & had eaten nothing of fiue daies of theyr ſailing, and vpon the xv. of Ianuarie, he came within ſight of Cananor, which lyeth flat north from Coching, and is in the coaſt of Malabar, xxxi. leagues from Coching.

Cananor is a greate citie,The diſcription of the tovvne of Cananor. conſiſting of houſes made of Earth, and couered ouer with broade ſtone or [...]ate, there are in this Citie many Moores that are great merchants, which trade in all kinde of merchaundiſe. There is adioyning vnto this Citie a goodly Baie, but there is in this Coaſt no great ſtore of Pepper, no more then doth ſerue their owne turnes. Howbeit they haue greate ſtore of Ginger,Drugs for the Pothecaries. Cardamomon, Tamarindos, Mirabolanos, Canyfiſtola, and ſuch lyke. There belong vnto this Citie certeine pooles of water, wherein there do bréed Lagartos, the which are lyke vnto the Crocodiles that are in the riuer of Nilo, which are ſo great that they doe eate men, if ſo be that they maye come by them. Their heads are great, and they haue two orders of téeth, their breath is as ſwéet as muſke, and their bodies are couered ouer with ſhels. Alſo about this citie there are in buſhes great adders, which are very full of poiſon, ſo that with their breath onely they do kill men: alſo there are Bats ſo great as kites, which in their heads doe ſéeme much like vnto a Foxe, hauing ſuch manner of téeth alſo.

[Page] Theſe the Gentiles doe féede vpon, for that they are pleaſant and ſwéete. They haue moreouer in this Citie plentie both of fiſh, fleſh, & fruits, & as for rice y• commeth vnto thē from other places. The king is a Gentile, and a Bramene, hée is counted to be one of the thrée of the prouince of Malabar, but he is not ſo rich nor of ſo great a power as is the king of Calycut, nor yet as the king of Coulan. Vnto this harbour arriued the Captaine General, and came to an ankor, (not onelye for that the king had requeſted him ſo to doe) but alſo for that he minded to take in there ſome Cinamon, whereof hée had none yet a boorde, ſo that there hée tooke in 400. Quintalls,Euery quintall is 100. vveight. and might haue had much more, but he would not take it, wherefore it was thought that he wanted money: wherevpon the king tooke occaſion to ſend him word, that if ſo be the lacke of money were the cauſe that he tooke no more thereof, or any other ſpices, hée was then much to blame, for that hée woulde truſt him with much more if néede ſo required, vntill hée returned backe againe, hée or any other. Hée was the willinger to ſend him this offer, for that he knewe the true dealing of the Portingale, and howe well they mainteined theyr promiſe: and for that hée did beare vs ſo greate good will, the Captaine Generall made him aunſwere, giuing him greate good thankes for the lyberall offers hée hadde made him: promiſing that if hée liued, hée woulde enforme the king his maiſter of the greate good will that hee doth beare him. And once this, hée maye bée aſſured to haue him alwayes for his friende. After this was deliuered vnto him an Embaſſadour, whome the king of Cananor ſent to the king of Portingale to increaſe a further friendſhip betwéene them.

¶What had chaunced to the Captaine generall vntill ſuch time that hee arriued at Monſanbique. and from thence to Liſhborne, and how Sancho de Toar, did diſcouer the Ilande of Sofala. Chap. 41.

[Page]

IN the middes of that goulfe, and on the laſt day of Ianuary, he tooke a great ſhip, richly laden with Merchandiſe, and perceiuing that it belonged to the King of Cambaya, he would not meddle therewith, but rather ſent him word that his comming to the Indias was not to make warres with any, but if ſo be that he minded ſo to doe, it ſhall be with the King of Calycut, for that he had broken the peace he had made with him: onely out of that ſhip he tooke a Pilot, for to ſafeconduct him, till he had paſt the gulfe. And he being in the ſame vnder ſaile, on a certaine night, which was the xii. of February, they loſt the ſhip of Sancho de Toar, which in a ſtorme, that roſe ſodainly vpon them,A ſhip of the fleete caſt avvay being hard by the ſhore ſide, violentlye they ranne vpon it, by meanes whereof, there was kindled in the ſame a great fire, ſo that nothing was ſaued, but onely the men. Following their courſe in this tempeſt, they paſt by Mylynde, onely for that they could not take harbor there, nor on any other land but only Monſanbique, which he tooke in his waye, as well for the want they had of water, as alſo to new rig their ſhips, for yt they went all open.

In the meane while he ſent Sancho de Toar, to diſcouer Sofala, and from thence to retourne towarde Portingale, with relation thereof. The ſhippes béeing all in a readineſſe, they returned toward the Cape Buena eſperansa, and ther by reaſon of another great ſtorme, that ouertooke them, there was ſhot out of a ſhip a great péece of Ordinaunce, which ſhip was neuer ſéene after in all that voyage. After ſo many great and cruell ſtormes, and other great daungers, which are innumerable to write of, he paſt the foreſaid Cape, the xxii. of May, which fell on Whitſundaye, [Page] and ſo following their courſe, came to an Ankor at Cabo Verde, Diego Dias found at Capo Verde, & his voyage. where he found Diego Dias (whoſe company he had loſt before, when as he went toward the Indias) who was driuen into the red Sea, where he did winter, and loſt his boate, and where alſo dyed the moſt part of his men, and for that his Pilot durſt not venture to carry them to the Indias, did return toward Portingale. And ſo after that he came out of the red Sea, what with hunger, thirſt, and othe diſeaſes, all his men were conſumed ſauing ſeauen perſons: wherein God of his great goodneſſe ſhewed a miracle, forſomuch as in many dayes before, they were not able to gouerne their ſailes, for that they were ſo féeble and weake. The Captain generall ſéeing that ther came no more ſhips, departed towards Liſhborne, wherevnto he came the laſt daye of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord 1501. And after that he was arriued, in came the ſhip, which ſhot off the péece of Ordinaunce in the ſtorme, before that he doubled the Cape Buena eſperansa, and after him came alſo Sancho de Toar, who went to diſcouer Sofala, and made relation thereof to be a ſmall Iland,The Ilād of Sofala diſcouered. ſtanding hard to the firme lande, and that it was inhabited by blacke men, which are called Ca [...]res, and that out of the firme lande there commeth much golde, where, as they ſay, there are mynes thereof. And for that cauſe there goe out of the Indias thether many Moores, that receiue the ſame in trucke of Merchandize of ſmall valew. Moreouer he brought with him a Moore, which was giuen him in pawne of one of his men, which he ſent into ye firme land for to view the ſame. This Moore gaue large information thereof, as héereafter I ſhall declare. With this laſt ſhip there did returne vnto Portingale, of twelue that went for the Indias, onely ſixe: the other ſixe were loſt.

¶How Iohn de la Nueu [...] went for Captaine general of the third Fleet that was ſent to the Indias, & what hee did after his arriuall there, & how from thence he returned toward Portingale. Chap. 42.

[Page] IN this yeare of our Lord 1501. the King of Portingale ſuppoſing that all contention and ſtrife in Calycut was finiſhed,The third Fleet that vvent frō Portingal to the Indias & that ye trade was ſetled as well there as in Quiloa and Sofala, and for that he had ſent the ſelfe ſame yeare for that purpoſe one Pedro Aluares: therefore he thought beſt not to ſend any more then 3. ſhips & a Caruell, of ye which two caried Merchandize to Sofala, & the other two to Calycut. Of this Fléete he made Generall one called Ioan de la Nueua, born in Galyzia, & this charge was giuen him, for yt he was accōpted to be a valyant Gentleman: moreouer, Franciſco de Nauoys, Diego, Barboſo, & Hernando de la pyna, war appointed for his captains. Ther went in this Fléet no more then lxxx. men. That which the king had giuen him in commandement to do, was this, that in his way he ſhould touch at the Ilande of S. Blaze. The order that the king gaue him concerning this voyage. And being come thether, if it ſhould to chaunce, that he ſhoulde finde miſſing any of his ſhips, that then he ſhould there remaine ten dayes, and from thence he ſhould depart toward Sofala, and being there, if ſo be that ther were ſetled a Factorie, to diſcharge the Merchandize the which were appointed for that place. From the which he might haue recourſe vnto the Indias. And if ſo be that he found not all thing ſo, that then he ſhould trauell with all diligence, and as much as in him lay, to ſettle the ſame before he ſhould goe from thence: which being finiſhed, that then he ſhould leaue for Factor of that place Aluoro de Braga, with all ſuch Merchandize as wer appointed, which went in the Caruell. Frō thence he ſhuld go for Quiloa, & after yt he had bene ther, he ſhuld kéepe his right courſe toward Calicut. And if ſo bée that he ſhuld finde ther as yet Pedro Aluares, to know whether he ſtand in any néed of him, & that he ſhuld obey him as his general, & wil him to ſettle a factory in Sofala, if it were not done alredy. This general being departed frō Liſhborn, he came ſafely to ye Iland of S. Blaze, wherin a branch of a trée was foūd a ſhoe, & in ye ſame was a letter which made mention, ye Pedro de Tayde captain of ye fléet of Pedro Aluares[Page]Cabral, which was hound to Portingale was paſt by, and ſo making further relation what had chanced vnto him in Calycut, and of the good entertainment they had in Coching, where as then did remaine ſome of our men, and alſo how the King of Cananor ſhewed himſelfe very curteous. This as it appeared, was written by Pedro de Tayde, to aduertiſe all ſuch Captaines as ſhould paſſe by to Calycut. The Captaine generall with the other Captaines peruſing this letter, did then determine, yt it was not requiſit, to leaue the Caruell in Sofala, for that they had but few men, which was not aboue foure ſcore. And with this they thought it conuenient to go to Quiloa, where they founde a baniſhed man, whom Pedro Aluares had left there, who likewiſe informed the Generall, what Pedro Aluares had paſt in Calicut, the which he had learned of certaine Moores, and alſo of the ſhips that he had loſt. From thence he went to Mylinde, where he talked with the King, which tolde him as much more as the baniſhed man had done. And hauing the ſame for certaine,they take their voyage to the Indias. he went ouer to the Coaſt of the Indias, to the which he came in Nouember, and fell to an Ankor in Anſadina, where he thought conuenient to take in his water. And being there arriued, there came in vpon a ſodaine, ſeauen great ſhippes of Cambaya, which were bounde into the Straights. The Moores wold haue fought with our fléete, but our ordinaunce was the cauſe that they durſt not laye vs aboord, and ſo they went their way. After this, the Captaine generall departed to Cananor: where he talked with the King, which certified him of that which had likewiſe paſt in Calycut with Pedro Aluares, and what he had done, and how he offered him lading for thoſe ſhips which he had brought with him. Alſo he certified him, how deſirous hée was to be at the King of Portingales commaundement: yet for all theſe faire words, the Captaine generall woulde not take in there any lading, vntill ſuch time he had ben at Coching with the Factor, toward which place he departed, and in his way he tooke a ſhip which appertained vnto ye Moores of Calycut, the which defended hir ſelfe very valyauntlye, [Page] but afterward he commaunded to ſet the ſame a fire. And being ariued at Coching, the Factor with the reſt of his cō pany went to viſite the Captaine generall aboorde his ſhip, who told him that the King was greatly offended with Pedro Aluares, for yt he went his way without ſpeking with him, & for carrieng away his pledges: yet this notwithſtanding, both he & the reſt of his company wer alwayes curteouſly entertained. In ye night they wer brought into his pallaice, yt there they might remaine: & if ſo be yt in ye day they wer any thing deſirous to walk abroad, then they wer tended vpon by certain of his Nayres, which were commanded to attend vpon them, & kéepe them company for feare of the Moores,The malitiouſneſſe of the Moores. for that they did not loue them, but rather were deſirous to kill them, inſomuch, that before they went to the Pallaice, they did one night ſet fire to the houſe, wherein they did lye: whereof the King hauing knowledge, from thence foorth he had them to his Pallaice, and ſo commaunded from that time forwarde the Nayres to take a care of them. Moreouer, he was told what ill ſales he ſhoulde finde there of ſuch Merchaundize as he had brought, for that the Moores had perſwaded the Merchaunts of the Countrey to giue lyttle for the ſame: and alſo aduiſed thoſe that ſell the Pepper and other Spices, that they ſhould not ſell the ſame but for ready money, and not in trucke of Merchaundize: & therefore they tolde him that if ſo be he had brought no money to buye their Spices withall, that then he ſhould make no reckoning of the ſame. And therefore for that the Generall had brought none, he would tarrie there no longer, but returned to Cananor, to take in there his lading, where the King was ſo great a friend to the King of Portingale, that when he vnderſtood, that he had brought no money, he remained his ſuretie for a thouſand Quintall of Pepper, & for fiftie of Ginger,Euerye Quintall is a 100. vvaight. & for foure hundred & fiftie Quintall of Cinamon: beſides ſome linnen cloath, which is made of Algadon, vntill ſuch time he had made ſales of all ſuch Merchandize as he had brought with him, which he had lefte in Cananor, in the hands of a Factor & two Scriuenors, and ſo [Page] from thence he ſhould returne with the firſt winde, y• which as then did begin to blow, and therefore he would tarry no longer. To the intent therefore they ſhuld not depart without their lading, he ſhewed the Captaine generall this pleaſure. The Captaine generall ſeeing this his curteous dealing, did commend vnto his cuſtodie certaine of his men, the which he left with him, for that he had ſent with Pedro Aluares Cabral Embaſſadors to Portingale. This lading béeing taken in, then on the xv. of December, ther did appeare in the Sea lxxx. Paraos, which were paſt the Mount Dely. Whereof the King hauing knowledge, he ſent word immediately to the Captaine generall, that thoſe were the Fléete of Calycut, that came onely to ſet vpon him, and therefore it were good he ſhuld command his men to diſimbark themſelues & their ordinance:The king of Calicut ſent lxxx. Paraos to fight with ye captain generall vnto which ye captain general made aunſwere, that he would not ſo doe. For if ſo be that the enimies came with that intent, he had a hope in God yt he ſhould be able to defend himſelfe: and with that he put himſelfe in a readineſſe. The next day following, which was the xvi. day of December, before y• dawning of y• day, ther was come into the Bay to the number of 100. ſhips and Paraos, which wer all full of Moores, béeing ſent of purpoſe, for that the King of Calicut was informed, that they were there taking in of their lading, ſo that he thought by that meanes that neither ſhip nor man ſhould eſcape, and therefore they lay as they did about the Baye. As ſoone as the Captaine generall had viewed them, he remoued from the place wher he was at an Ankor, and brought himſelfe into the middes of the Baye, leauing order with his ſhips, that they ſhould lay on loād with their ordinaunce which they had, with the which he commaunded them foorthwith to begin to ſhoot off: which was done in ſuch ſort, that they did neuer ceaſe. And if ſo be that he had not done ſo, doubtleſſe the enimies wold haue laid their ſhips aboord, by reaſon there were ſo manye: So that it was vnpoſſible for him to eſcape, if God of his goodneſſe had not fauoured him, and prouided by his mercie, that the enimies brought no Ordinaunce with them. [Page] Wherefore they were the bolder to diſpend amongſt them their ſhot, with the which there were many very ſore hurt, ouer and beſides great numbers that were ſlaine, and their ſhips and Paraos ſunke, for they durſt not venter to lay our ſhips aboord, nor yet had killed or hurt any of our men. The fight dured vntill ſuch time it was Sunne ſet, then the enimies helde vp a flagge. But, for that he feared they meant thereby ſome deceipt, he did not leaue off ſhooting: for otherwiſe they might haue thought he had ſo done, for yt he was wearied, or els for feare. But it was nothing ſo, for they did it for the deſire they had of peace, in reſpect of the hurt and loſſe of their men,This flag was a ſign & requeſt of peace. which they had receiued at our mens hands, whereby they were driuen to ſuch neceſſitie, that if ſo be that the winde had ſerued, they had hoyſed vp theyr ſayles and gone theyr way, and therefore they kept vp their flagge. The Captaine generall perceiuing their meaning, (and for that the moſt part of his Ordinaunce was broken, with the continuall ſhooting thereof, did anſwere them with another flagge, which was done by the councell and conſent of the other Captaines: and immediatelye vppon the ſame, they ſent a Moore, which came in a ſmall Boate vnto him, whoſe meſſage was, to demand peace till the next day, which was by him graunted, with this condition, that they ſhould tarrie no longer in the Baye, but go into the open Sea, & ſo they did. The generall (although ye wind was partly againſt him) made likewiſe his courſe into the Sea, although it wer troubleſome vnto him. The Moores could not doe the lyke, for their ſhippes and Paraos can beare no ſayle but with a forewinde. Yet for all the trouble that was paſt, the Generall came to an Ankor hard by them, and for all that he vſed in the night a great and vigilant watch, by the which they hearde the enimies rowing in their boates towardes our Fléete, yet before that they were knowen, they wer almoſt vpon him: their intent as it was preſuppoſed, was to ſet our Fléete a fire. The Captaine Generall fearing this, commaunded to vyere more of the Cabells, that he might bée the farther off from them.

[Page] And perceiuing that the enimies did yet followe them, he then commanded a péece to be ſhot of at them, with y• which they were afeard, & ſo went their way: & as ye wind came of the ſhore ſomwhat faire, they hoyſed vp their ſailes, and followed their courſe toward Calicut. The Captaine generall gaue God great thanks, yt he had ſo deliuered him from his enimies, & ſo taking his leaue of the King of Cananor, departed toward Portingale, they ariue ſafelye at Portingal where he arriued in ſafetie with all his ſhips. After that he was departed, there came to Cananor one of his men, called Gonſallo Pixoto, which was taken in Calicut for Captiue, whome the King ſent with a meſſenger to the Captaine generall. The effect thereof was, excuſing himſelfe of all that was done vnto Pedro Aluares, and further alſo what hurt he had done vnto his Fléete in Cananor. Moreouer, he offered him, if ſo be that he would come to Calycut, to giue him his full lading of Spices, and ſufficient Pledges for the aſſuraunce of the ſame.

¶How Vaſco de la Gama retourned for Captaine generall to the Indias with a Fleete of ſhips, and what hee did till he came to Quiloa. Chap. 43.

THe King of Portingale hauing great deſire to reuenge,The iiii. voyage to the Indias 1502. the iniuries & treaſon that the king of Calicut had done vnto his ſeruants, did therefore cauſe to be made in a readines a great Fléete of ſhips, with the which he did determine to make warres againſt him. And hauing giuen the charge thereof to Pedro Aluares Cabral, did vpon certaine iuſt conſiderations take the ſame from him againe, and in his ſtéed appointed for Generall, Don Vaſco de la Gama, who departed from Liſhborne, the third of March, in the yeare of our Lord 1502. and had the charge of thirtéene great Ships and two Caruells, of the which beſides himſelfe went for Captaines Pedro Alonſo de Aquilar, Philipe de [...]aſtro, Don Luys Cotīnuo, Franco de Conya, Pedro de Tayde, Vaſco Caruallo, Vincēte Sodre, [Page] and Blas Sodre, couſin germaines to the Captaine general, Gil Hernand, couſin to Larenco de la Mina, Iuan Lopes Pereſtrelo, Rodrigo de Caſteneda, Rodrigo de Abreo and of the caruells, Pedro Raphael & Diego Peres. They carryed alſo a Caruell vnwrought, which they ſhoulde make an ende of in Monſanbique, of the which there ſhoulde goe for Captaine one called Hernand Rodrignes Badarſas: beſides this xv. ſaile ther remained making in a redines other fiue ſhips, of the which there ſhould go for Captaine generall, one Steuen de la Gama, who departed the fift day of May, next after following. After that the Captaine generall had doubled the Cape of Buena Eſperansa with his whole fléete, béeing at the furtheſt end of the currents, hée ſent the ſame to Monſanbique, to remaine there whileſt hée went to Sofala, according as he was commaunded by the king. He carried in his companie foure of the ſmalleſt ſhippes of the whole Fléete. His going thether was not onely to ſée the ſcituation of the ſame,He goeth firſt to Sofala to regrate their golde. and to ſée whether there were any place conuenient there for to make a fort, but alſo for to regrate their gold, and this was done in xxv. dayes. The frindſhip betwéene the king of Sofala and him, was agréed vpon, and that he might from thence forth ſettle the factorie there. After that this was ended, there paſſed betwéens them ſundrie preſents from the one to the other. And hauing concluded, the Captaine generall departed from thence, and retourned to Monſanbique, and in going out of the riuer there was loſt one of the ſhips, but the men were all ſaued. Being arriued at Monſanbique he immediatly renewed with the gouernour the olde friendſhip which in times paſt had bene betwéene them, and by his condeſent was left there a factor, which was deliuered vnto him with other more of our men, which remained in the Factorie for no other purpoſe but to prouide alwaies victualls for ſuch Fléetes as ſhould touch there,A houſe apointed for the Factory. either going or comming from the Indias. This béeing finiſhed, & hauing made an end of the Caruell with all his ordinance placed, he departed toward Quiloa, with intent to bring [Page] him to be tributarie to the king of Portingale, the order whereof he carryed with him in his Regiſter, which hée meant to put in execution, by reaſon of the euill interteinment he gaue to Pedro de Aluares Cabrall. And beeing come to this harbour or port, the king went to viſit him, a ſeaboord, which hée did onely for the feare that he was in, for the iniurie which he had done to Pedro Aluares. After that he was come thether, there arriued alſo Steuen de la Gama, that came with other fiue ſhips, which he departed withall out of Portingale. Now when the Captaine Generall eſtéemed the king but for a lyar, and had got him a ſeaboorde, he would not truſt him on his promiſe any further, but did immediatly threaten him, that if ſo be that hée would not pay tribute to the king of Portingale, he would commaund him to priſon, vnder the hatches of his ſhippe. With the feare héereof, he promiſed to giue him yéerely two thouſand Miticaes of gold, and for the aſſurance of the paiment thereof, he gaue in pledge a principall Moore, whome they doe call Mafamede Aleones, one whome he hated, for that he was a feard leaſt he wold take the kingdome from him, for that he himſelfe hadde vſurped the ſame from the right king. After that he ſawe himſelfe at libertie, and in the citie, he woulde not according to his promiſe ſend his tribute, but rather hoped that the Captaine Generall wold haue cauſed the pleadge to be killed, by reaſon whereof he ſhould be ridde of an enimie. But the Moore, ſéeing that the tribute came not, was faine to pay the ſame himſelfe, and therevpon the Captaine Generall did deliuer him.

How the Captaine Generall did take a ſhip of the Moores of Meca, at the mount Dely, & what chaunced vnto him thereby. chap. 44.

THis being done, the Captaine Generall, went forward on his voyage, toward Mylynde, where hée ſtaide to take in his water, and to ſée the king: and [Page] from thence he kepte his courſe towarde the Indias, and at the mount Dely, A ſhip of ye Moores of Meca taken. he met with a ſhip of the Moores of Meca, that was bound to Calycut, which was taken by our men, for that they did defende themſelues verie ſtoutlye.

The ſhippe béeing rendered, the Captaine Generall went a boorde the ſame, where he commaunded to come before him the owners thereof, and all the principalleſt Moores that were more there. He willed them alſo to bring with them all ſuch kinde of merchaundiſe as they had, threatening them that if they did it not, he woulde cauſe them to be throwen into the ſea. They aunſwered him that they had nothing, for that all theyr goods were in Calycut. The Captaine Generall ſhewed himſelfe to bée offended with that aunſwere, and did therefore commaunde one of them to be throwne into the ſea, bound hand and foot. The others with the feare they had conceiued to ſée this puniſhment, did deliuer all that they had, which was much, and that very good merchaundiſe, which was immediatly commaunded to be deliuered vnto Diego Hernando Correa, that went for Factor to Coching, and ſo he gaue order that the ſame ſhould be carryed a boorde another ſhippe.

All the children which were a boorde the ſayde ſhippe, were carryed aboorde the Generall, for that he had made promiſe to make them all Friers, and to place them in our Ladyes Church of Belem, as afterwarde he did. The reſt of the merchaundiſe which were of the meaner ſorte, and of ſmall value, hée gaue the ſpoyle of them to his men. The ſhippe béeing vnladen of the goods, commaundement was giuen to Steuen de la Gama, to ſet the ſame a fire. This was done after that the Moores were driuen vnder the Hatches, to reuenge the death of thoſe that were ſlaine in Calycut.

This ſhippe béeing ſette a fire, by the foreſayde Steuen de la Gama, and other two, they leaped then into their Boates, leauing the ſhippe burning. The Moores that were within the ſame, after that they perceyued [Page] the Shippe to burne, did breake open the hatches: by meanes whereof they were ſet at libertie: and with the water the ſhip had within it did quench the fire. The Captain Generall ſéeing this, forthwith commaunded Steuen de la Gama to goe once more, and laye the ſame aboorde, to the which he went with ſundry of his men, with their wepons. Howbeit the Moores did defende themſelues as deſperate men,Deſperate minds in time of extremitie. not fearing death. Some there were of them that tooke firebrands and threw the ſame into one of the ſhips, with determination to ſet the ſame a fire. Others y• threw the like at their heads. And for that the night drew on, they left them there, becauſe the Captaine Generall was not of that minde, they ſhould remaine there in the darke, for feare leaſt the Moores ſhould kill ſome of our men. Howbeit he gaue commaundement, that the foreſaid ſhippe ſhoulde be watched, that the Moores ſhoulde not runne to lande, which was hard by. The Moores all that night did nothing elſe but crie out to Mahoma to ſuccour and deliuer them from vs. The dawning of the day béeing come, the Captaine Generall commaunded once more that Steuen de la Gama with ſome of the Marriners of his ſhippe ſhould goe and lay the Moores ſhip a boord, and ſet the ſame a fire againe, which was ſo done. Now after that he hadde made the Moores to flie and to ioyne themſelues in the poope of their ſhip, fighting alwaies with them, notwithſtanding the which, certeine of his Marriners and Gunners would not leaue them vntill ſuch time the ſhip was halfe burnt. When the Moores ſawe the fire, ſome there were that leaped into the ſea with hatchets in their hands, which they carried ſwimming, with determination to kill all thoſe that did purſue them with boats, whom lyke wild men deſperately bent they did ſet vppon. Yet for all that there were many that were hurt, for that they came néere to our boates ſide. Howebeit the moſt parte of them was ſlaine, and thoſe that remained in the Shippe were drowned, within the ſame, for that the ſhip did ſinke. There were of them in all thrée hundred, whereof there was not [Page] one that did eſcape: and of our men there were ſome that were hurt.

How the Captaine Generall made peace and friendſhip with the king of Cananor, and afterwarde departed toward Calycut. Chap. 45.

FRom hence went the Captaine Generall to Cananor, An embaſſadour ſet to ye king of Cananor. and being come thether to an ankor, he ſent ye Embaſſador which he brought with him for the king, who told him that he was come, and that his deſire was to ſpeake with him. The king héerevpon commaunded to be made a bridge of Timber, which entered into the water as farre as it was poſſible. The ſame was couered ouer with Carpets, and other rich clothes, and vpon it toward the lande ſide, was framed a houſe lykewyſe made of timber,The meeting of ye king and the Captaine Generall at Cananor 1502. couered ouer as the bridge afore ſayd, which was made for the méeting of the king and the Captaine Generall. The king beeing the firſt that was come, came accompanyed with ten thouſand Nayres, and with many Trumpets, and other inſtrumentes, which went ſounding and playeng before him. After that the king was entered into this houſe, there were placed the Nayres on the Bridge, thoſe that were appointed to receiue the Captaine Generall. Who ſtanding there, anone came the Generall in his Boate accompanied with all the Boates of the fléete, béeing richly couered ouer and ſet out with theyr Flagges, beſides that, they carryed certeine Ordinaunce in the proer of theyr Boates. Alſo there were many Drummes and Trumpets with them, and with ſhooting of the Ordinance the Captaine Generall diſimbarked himſelfe, being accompanied with all his Captaines, and with ſundry of his men, which went all armed. [Page] fléet in his port or harbour, by ye which he feared to receiue There were carried before him two great Baſons of ſiluer and gilt, which were to waſh his hands in, couered ouer with fine péeces of Corall, and other fine things which they doe greatly eſtéeme in the Indias. the Nayres viewing the ſame, did meruaile to ſée the delicatneſſe of our men.

With this the king came as farre forth to receiue the captaine generall as the gate of his place,The preſēt vvhich the king of Portingale ſent ye king of Cananor. where he imbraced him, and afterwarde they returned together to the place from whence the king came forth, where the Captaine generall had commaunded to be ſet a couple of chaires, vpon the which, although it was not the kings cuſtome to ſit, yet he did at that time for the Captaine Generalls ſake. At this preſent was concluded the friendſhip betwéene the king of Portingale and him, ſo that immediatly after that the Factorie was ſetled in Coching, minding to doe the lyke in Cananor, where as ſoone as the ſame was done, he wold lade certeine of his ſhippes, and after all this the Captaine Generall departed toward Calycut.

How the Captaine Generall came to the port of Calycut, and what hee did there. Chap. 46.

FRom hence the Captaine Generall béeing come to the harbour of Calycut, afore they were knowne, did take certaine Paraos in the which were to the number of fiftye Malabars, that could not eſcape. The Captaine Generall would not at the firſt comming doe the citie any hurt with his ordinaunce, vntill ſuch time he hadde ſéene whether the king woulde ſend [Page] him any meſſenger or not. And tarrieng for the ſame, there came a boorde him, a boate with a Flag in the ſame, in the which there was a Frier of the order of Saint Fraunces, whome after that our men had ſight of him, they iudged to be one of thoſe that were in the company of Aries Correa, & remained captiue. This frier being entred into the ſhip, ſaid Deo gracias, by the ſame he was knowne to be a Moore, howbeit to excuſe himſelfe he ſaid that he came after that ſort, that they might the rather conſent vnto his comming a boorde, being ſent with a meſſage from the king to the Captaine Generall, about the ſetteling of a trade in Calicut. Vnto this the Captaine generall made aunſwere, commaunding him not to ſpeake thereof, vntill ſuch time the king had ſatiſfied him for all that he had taken in the Factory, when he conſented to the death of Aries Correa, and the others that were with him. In this matter they ſpent three daies with meſſages to & fro, without anye concluſion, for that the Moores did withſtande the ſame.

The Captaine general perceiuing yt all theſe delaies were but lies to ſpend the time, he ſent him then word that hée minded not to tarrie for anſwere any longer then noone, & the ſame to be with effect, and to complie with him, or elſe he would make him moſt cruell warre, with fire & ſwoord, and that forthwith he wold begin it vpon ſuch his ſubiects as he had taken priſoners. And becauſe the king ſhould not thinke them to be words onely, he commaunded to bring him a running glaſſe of an houre, and therevppon he tolde the Moore that went with the meſſage, that of thoſe Glaſſes there ſhould runne ſo many,The Moores make him keepe no promiſe vvith the Capteine Generall, nor feare his povver and as ſoone as they were ended, without any further delay he would commaund all that to be done, which he had ſent him word off. But all this could not moue the king to performe anye thing that he had promiſed, he was ſo inconſtant and giuen to change, with euerye vaine ſaieng of the Moores: and the outward ſhew that hée made of peace, was but feigned, by reaſon of the feare hée had conceiued in himſelfe, to ſée ſo greate a [Page] fléet in his port or harbour, by the which he feared to receiue great loſſe, whereof the Moores did aſſure him the contrarye, which was the occaſion that he kepte no promiſe. Vpon this the Captaine generall as ſoone as the time was come, commaunded to bée ſhotte off a péece, which was the ſigne he gaue to the other Captaines, to commaund thoſe Malabars to bée hanged, which were departed amongſt the Fléete. After that they were executed, he commaunded their féete and handes to bée out off, which were throwne into a Parao and ſent a ſhoare with two Boates well armed, and a Letter for the king of Calycut written in the Arabian tongue, in ye which hée ſignified vnto him yt in ſuch manner, he would paye him for all his faigned lyes which he had ſpoken vnto this preſent. And as for his kinges goods, which he did deteine in his hands, he woulde recouer them a hundred folde. After all this, he gaue commandement, that in the night there ſhuld be brought thrée ſhips as néere to the ſhoare as they could, that the next day without ceaſing there ſhould be ſhot all the great Ordinaunce that they had at the Citie, with the which there was great hurt done, beſides the kings houſe which was ouerthrown therewith, and ſundrie other houſes of the principall inhabitaunts. This being done, he departed towarde Coching, leauing to kéepe that Coaſt ſixe ſhippes which were well appointed, of the which was named for Captaine Generall one called Vincente Sodre, to remaine with them in the Indias, that therewith he might goe and diſcouer the ſtraights of Meca, and the coaſt of Cambaia.

How the Captaine Generall came to Coching, and what he did there, & alſo how the king of Calycut ſent to traine him thether, for that there hee would traiterouſly haue taken him, and laſt of all he wrote a Letter to the king of Coching. Chap. 47.

[Page] THe Captaine generall béeing come to the Port or Harbour of Coching, when y• king had notice thereof, hée ſent him before hee came a land, certaine Pleadges to remaine in the ſhip for his aſſurance. And afterward he came in perſon and met him. In this viſitation the King did delyuer vnto him Steuen Gyl, with all the others that remained in his Countrey, and in recompence of that, the Captaine generall deliuered him a letter, which the King of Portingale had ſent him, rendring vnto him moſt hartie thankes, for the good will he alwaies ſhewed to Pedro Aluares Cabral: and that he was well pleaſed and contented, to haue a Factory ſetteled in Coching. Alſo there was deliuered vnto him a Preſent,The king of Portingales preſent ſēt to the king of Coching. which ye King his Maſter had ſent him: which was a rich Crowne of gold, full of Iewells, a Cholar of golde all inameld, two Fountaines of ſiluer wrought, two Arras clothes of Imagery worke, a coſtly Pauilion, a péece of crimſon Satten, and another of Sendall, all which ye King did receiue with great pleaſure. And for yt he vnderſtood not wherefore euery of theſe things ſerued, he requeſted to be informed of the ſame. And therefore the Captaine generall commaunded the Pauilion or Tent to be armed, in the which was concluded a further peace. Alſo he gaue him a houſe to ſettle therein the Factorie. Moreouer, the price was agréed vpon, how he would deliuer the Spices & Drugs that were gathered in his country: of all theſe things ther was a contract made & ſet down, which was confirmed by the King. And for a further aſſurance therof, the King of Coching, ſent to the King of Portingale a Preſent,The king of Coching preſent ſet to the king of Portingale. which was two Bracelets of golde, ſet with ſtones, a towell which the Moores doe vſe of cloath of ſiluer, which was two yeards & a halfe of length, two great péeces of linnen Cloth, which they doe call Bengala, made of Cotten wooll, which was excellent fine, a ſtone of the bignes of a walnut, which they doe take out of the head of a beaſt: they call the ſame in the Indias, Bulgoldolf, of the which [Page] there are but few found, and theſe are good againſt all poyſon. The houſe in the which they determined to ſettle their Factorie being graunted, poſſeſſion thereof was immediately taken by Diego Hernandus, and other two which were Notaries: the one was called Lorenso Moreno, & the other Aluoro vas with others. Whiles the Captaine generalls ſhip was taking in of his lading, there came a meſſenger from the King of Calycut vnto him, ſieng: that if ſo bée that he would retourne to Calycut, he woulde reſtore vnto him all that had bene taken from him, and that he ſhoulde ſettle a Trade there. The Captaine generall, after that hée had conſidered vpon the meſſage,This meſſēger was one of his chief chaplaines. commaunded the meſſenger to priſon, for this intent, to reuenge himſelfe on him, if ſo be that the King did lye, ſince he had ſo oftentimes deceiued him. And being now determined to goe towarde Calycut, which was more to ſée whether that he coulde recouer the Merchaundize that were taken, then for anye hope hée had of the Kings friendſhip, would for that cauſe go alone, leauing behinde him for his Lieuetenaunt, Steuen de la Gama. The Captaines that remained were ſore againſt his going alone, and eſpecially after that ſort, for feare of miſchaunce: yet he would not be perſwaded but to goe, ſaieng that along that Coaſt there was Vincente Sodre with the other ſhips, that were appointed to remaine in the Indias: and if ſo be that he were driuen to any neceſſitie, hée would ioyne with them. As ſoone as the king was informed that he was come to Calycut, he ſent him immediatly word, that the next day he would comply with him for all ſuch goods, as had bene taken from Pedro Aluares, and afterwarde hée would renue the Trade, and ſettle the Factorie. But contrarie to theſe his wordes, as ſoone as he had knowledge that the Captaine generall was come alone, vpon a ſodayne he commaunded to be made in a readineſſe xxxiiii. Paraos, with intent to ſet vpon him, & ſo to take him if it were poſſible. And indéed with ſuch a ſodaine came vpon him, that to eſcape them, he was fain to cut one of his Cables, which he had out, and ſo made ſaile. And as the winde was of the [Page] land, he went ſomewhat further off from thoſe Paraos, yet for all that they did not giue him ouer, but alwaies followed him with ſuch a vehemencie, that hadde it not bene for Vincente Sodre and the others which kept along yt Coaſt, he had bene taken, but yet at length they were fame to run their way. Being thus eſcaped, he retourned to Coching, & as ſoone as he came thether he commanded the meſſenger to be hanged, whom the King of Calycut had ſent vnto him: for the which déed hée remained greatly afrighted, when the ſame came to his knowledge. But ſéeing now that by no means he could take him, he determined then to proue, whether he could perſwade the King of Coching to giue him no lading, and alſo not to conſent to any Factory for him in his Countrey.

How the Moores were the principall doers heerein, that mooued the King to write concerning that matter by one of his Chaplaines to the King of Coching after this manner.

I Doe vnderſtand that thou fauoureſt Chriſtians,The king of Calycuts letter to ye king of Coching and that thou haſt receiued them into thy Citie, & there doſt giue them both lading & victualls. It is poſſible thou doſt not foreſée what daūger may inſue therof, & alſo how much thou doſt diſpleſure me. ‘I do requeſt thée yt thou remember what great friends we haue ben till this preſent, & now thou doſt procure my diſpleaſure, in eſpeciall for ſo ſmall a matter, as is ye maintaining of thoſe Chriſtians, which are théeues, yt accuſtome to rob in other mens Countries. From henceforth my requeſt is, yt thou do not receiue them, neither yet giue them ſpices: in the which thou ſhalt not onely ſhew me pleaſure, but alſo binde me to requit thy good will in what thou ſhalt command. I wil not now further requeſt ye ſame, for I beléeue thou wilt do it wt out further intretie, as I wold for thée in any matter of importance.’ This letter being peruſed by the king of Coching, who was honeſt & true in al his delings, he was not moued [Page] therewith, but aunſwered the King of Calycut, after this ſort.

I Cannot well tell how it can be done,The aunſvvere of the king of Coching to the king of Calycuts letter being a matter of ſo great a waight, as is to put out of my Citie thoſe Chriſtians, hauing receiued them vpon my word: and to do it ſo eaſily as thou doeſt write. I will neuer requeſt thée of anye ſuch matter, at the deſire of the Moores of Meca, neither yet vpon the inſtaunce of no other Merchauntes, that are Traders to Calycut. In receiuing theſe Chriſtians, ‘and giuing them lading for their ſhips, I do beléeue that neither to thée nor any other, I doe offence: ſince that it is a cuſtome we haue amongſt vs, to ſell our Merchandize to thoſe that will buy them, and to fauour thoſe Merchaunts, which doe reſort vnto our Countrey. Theſe Chriſtians came to ſéeke me out farre off, and for that cauſe I did receiue them, & promiſed to defend them. They are no théeues as thou doſt tearme them, for they bring great ſums of money, in golde and ſiluer, and Merchaundize, wherewith they do trade▪ Then friendſhip I doe and will obſerue, dooing therein but my dutie, and ſo oughteſt thou to doe, and otherwiſe I will not take thée to be my friend: neither yet oughteſt thou or any other be agréeued or offended withall, for that which I doe, is to inrich my Citie.’

With this aunſwere the King of Calycut was ſore offended: whereby hée tooke occaſion to write this letter following.

IT grieueth me very much,The reply to the king of Cochings letter. the hatred or enuie thou haſt conceiued againſt me, for that thereby I do perceiue thou wilt leaue my friendſhippe for thoſe Chriſtians ſake, which I take for my great enimies, & ought to be the cauſe that thou ſhouldeſt accept them after the ſame ſort. ‘Once more therefore I doe returne to deſire thée, that thou wilt neither receiue them, nor yet giue them their lading for their ſhips. For if ſo be thou wilt not be perſwaded, to the contrary, but rather meaneſt to proſecute thine intent, then [Page] I take God to my Iudge, and from henceforth I doe proteſt, that I am not in fault of the damage that will growe vnto thée thereof.’

The King of Coching hauing receiued this letter, laughed at it, ſaieng to his Chaplaine that was the bringer therof, that he would doe nothing for feare, but that which hée minded to doe ſhould be vpon requeſt, and ſo aunſwered to this letter.

I Haue ſéene thy meſſage,The king of Cochings anſvvere to the reply. which ſoundeth as it were threatenings. God who alwaies reſiſteth pride, doth fauour him that hath Iuſtice & equitie on his ſide. Since thou art my friend, do not requeſt me ſo an abhominable and vnlawfull a requeſt, as is to vſe treaſon, eſpeciall amongſt Kings, and if there be any other thing that grieueth thée, ‘and is not hurtfull to mine honour, I will doe it, yea, although it wer to my loſſe, which I doe not eſtéeme in compariſon of mine honour. I doe truſt that thou wilt take this aunſwere in good part, and preuent the death of men, and the deſtruction of thy Countrey. But if ſo be notwithſtanding, thou wilt maintaine thine opinion,’ God doth well knowe & perceiue that héereof I am in no fault.

The King of Calycut perceiuing that the King of Coching, did ſtand ſo much vpon his reputation, and wold not doe that which he had requeſted him, did then determine, (the Captain generall being once departing) to ſet vpon him by the waye, and vtterly to deſtroy him, againſt whome he commaunded to be made in a readines, a Fléet of xxix. great ſhips, that they might encounter with him vpon the Sea, at his departure toward Portingale, ſuppoſing, that foraſmuch as they went laden, he ſhould be the better able to do them the more harme.

Of the battaile that was fought betweene the Fleet of Calycut and the captaine generall, as hee was going toward Cananor: & how Vincente Sodre, Pedro Raphael, and Diego Pieres tooke two of thoſe ſhips, & how the Captaine generall departed toward Portingale. Chap. 49.

[Page] OF all theſe letters and meſſages, the King of Coching woulde neuer make the Captaine generall priuie, vntill ſuch time that he was ready to depart, and then he tolde him, which before he was loth to doe. And for that he ſhould not conceiue and thinke him to be ſo vaine as to alter his minde to doe as the King of Calycut would haue him:Great friendſhip and conſtancie in an heathē Prince. he did therefore ſhewe himſelfe to be ſo conſtant, and ſuch a friend of the king of Portingales, that for his ſake he woulde aduenture to looſe his Citie if it were néede. For this the Captaine generall gaue him great thankes, ſaieng, that the King his Maſter would neuer forget that good will: and in his name he promiſed to fauour and ſuccour him in ſuch ſort, that he ſhoulde not onely haue his kingdome in great aſſuraunce, but alſo that he would ayde him to conquere others. He willed him alſo not to feare thoſe Letters that the King of Calicut hadde ſent him, for that they were nothing els but to put him in feare, and bring him to be a traitor as he was, being therefore ſo deſtroyed, and that from henceforth there ſhoulde bée made ſuch cruell wars againſt him, ye he ſhuld haue inough to doe to defend himſelfe, much leſſe to make warres againſt others. All this he tolde him, for the ſuccour of thoſe ſhips which ſhould remaine in the Indias.

Theſe wordes were ſpoken afore many of his Nayres, of the which the King was verye gladde that they heard them. And for that we had knowledge that in reſpect of the friendſhip that they had with the Moores, they were verye ſorye that we had the Factory graunted in Coching. Therefore the Captaine Generall promiſed vnto the King that from Cananor hée woulde forthwith ſende him thether a Fléete of ſhips, from whence he was minded to departe.

[Page] Now after that he had laden his ten ſhippes, and was a Sea boorde, thrée leagues from Pandarane, he had knowledge of the nine and twentie great ſhippes of the Moores, that went to ſéeke him out. And as ſoone as he had ſight of them, he conſulted with his Captaines to fight with them, vpon whom with the winde that did begin to blowe, they did beare.

This being agréed vppon,A battaile by ſea between our ſhips, and the kings of Calicut the Generall began to beare toward the Enimies. Vincente Sodre, Pedro Raphael, and Diego Pieres, for that theyr ſhips were great ſaylers, went before them all, and theſe were the firſt that did giue the onſet vpon two of the chiefeſt ſhips. Vincente Sodre, fought with the one alone, and Pedro Raphael, and Diego Pieres with the other. Their méeting was with ſuch a valyaunt minde, that out of both the Enimyes ſhippes there leapt many into the Sea. The fight indured no longer, but vntill ſuch time the Captaine generall with the other ſhippes drewe néere, who did alwayes ſhoote off at them. In the meane while the reſt of the Enimies did beare all that they could towarde the ſhoare. The Captaine generall for feare of the loſſe of ſome of his ſhippes, would not followe, the rather for that they were all laden: Howbeit, our men leapte into theyr boates, and there fought with thoſe that were ſwimming in the water, and ſlewe them all: the which were néere to the number of thrée hundred perſons.

After this the Captaine Generall commaunded to diſcharge theyr Shippes, which were taken, in the which was founde ſtore of rich Merchaundize:A rich price takē from the enimie. and amongeſt the ſame theſe péeces following: Sixe great Tynages of fine Earth, which they doe call Porcelanas, and the ſame is verye coſtlye, as by experience thereof we do ſée in Portingale: foure great Guyndes of ſiluer, with certaine perfuming Pannes of ſiluer: alſo they there founde, certayne Baſons of ſiluer and gylte, in the which they doe vſe to ſpit. But that which excéeded the reſt, was an Idoll of Golde, which weighed thirtie pounde waight, with a [Page] monſtrous face and for his eyes he had two verye fine Emerauldes: a Veſtement of beaten golde, wrought and ſet with fine ſtone, the which veſtement belonged vnto this Idoll, with a Carbuncle or Rubie in his breaſt as bigge as a Croſado, which gaue as great a lyght as it had bene a fire. The ſhips being ſet a fire, ye Captaine general departed toward Cananor, wher he was with the King, who gaue him a houſe for the Factorie, the poſſeſſion whereof was taken by Gonſallo Gill Barboſa, who was appointed for Factor, and by Sebaſtian Aluares, and Diego Godino, Notaries, and by the Interpretour, called Edwarte Barboſo, and ſundry others, in all to the number of twentie, of all whom the King tooke charge vpon him, with all that was in the Factorie: and bound himſelfe to lade from thenceforth all the King of Portingales ſhips of Spices, that they ſhould at any time haue néed of, and this at a certaine price which was immediately named. The Captaine generall did enter into the like bonds in the name of the King of Portingale, to defend him from all thoſe that ſhoulde make him warres for this cauſe. Alſo the King of Cananor did the lyke, and to remaine the King of Cochings friend, and not to helpe nor aide any that ſhould come againſt him, vpon paine that wée ſhould make him warres: and of all this, there were ſufficient,The order that vvas giuen to Vincente Sodre, at the departure of the Captaine generall frō Cananor. great and lawfull writings made on all parts. After this, the Captain generall ſent Vincente Sodre to go along the Coaſt, and to kéepe the ſame vntill Februarie. And if in the meane while there were any newes or knowledge of any lykelihood of warres, betwéene the King of Coching & the King of Calycut, that then he ſhoulde Winter there in Coching: but if not, that then he ſhould go to the ſtraights of the red Sea, to take ſuch ſhips of Meca, as doe paſſe to the Indias.

This being diſpatched, and thoſe thrée ſhippes laden with that they ſhould haue, they departed toward Portingale with thirtéene ſhippes, the twentith daye of December, in the yeare of our Lord 1503. and ſo arriued with all their ſhips at Monſanbique.

[Page] And for that the ſhip that Steuen de la Gama went in had a great leake, he commaunded the ſame to be vnladen and brought a ground, and after that ſhe was newlye rigged, they departed. And within ſeauen dayes after, there fell a great leake in the ſhip yt Lewis Cotine was in, & for that it was in ſuch a place that they could not come by it, they were therefore driuen with all the Fléete to retourne to Monſanbique, to new rigge the ſame. Now the winde was ſcant, they were faine to remaine in a certeine créeke, vntill ſhe was finiſhed, and afterwarde they retourned to their voyage,They vvere diſperſed by a tempeſt and at the Cape of the Correntes they were ſo ouertaken with ſtormes which came ſodeinly, and with ſuch a force vpon them, and that againſt them, that they were forced to ſtay there with all the Fléete. The ſhip that Steuen de la Gama went in did beare vp onely with her fore ſaile, and his ſprit Saile all to torne, by reaſon wherof he loſt the companie of the whole Fléete, and was no more ſéene. And within ſixe dayes after that the Captaine Generall arriued at Liſhborne, ſhée came in alſo with her Maſt broken. This ſtorme being paſt from this Cape of the Currents, the Captaine Generall followed his courſe toward Liſhborne, where he arriued the firſt day of September. All the noble men of the Court went as farre as Caſcaes to receiue and accompanie him till he came to the king. He had going before him his Page, which carryed a Baſon of ſiluer, within the ſame was layde all the tribute which the king of Quiloa had paide. Béeing come where the king was, his grace honourably receiued him, according as he did deſerue, who had done him ſo great ſeruice, as it was to diſcouer the Indias, and to leaue ſetled Factoryes in Coching, and in Cananor, which things muſt néeds redound vnto the king to moſt certeine gaine and profit, beſides the great fame and honour which he got therby, in being the firſt king that had ſent to diſcouer the Eaſt partes, whereof he might make conqueſt, if ſo be that it pleaſed him. So in ſatiſfaction the king made him Admerall of the Indias, and alſo gaue him the title of Lord of Vydeguero, [Page] which was his owne.

Of the newes that were giuen out in Coching, how the king of Calycut put himſelfe in a readineſſe for the warres, and how Vincente Sodre wold not ſuccour him, but went to the cape of Quardafum. Chap. 50.

AS ſoone as the king had knowledge that ye Captaine general was departed toward Portingale, he immediatly determined to put his warres in execution, which he had ſignified to ye king of Coching before. And ſo he marched toward the village of Panane, where he beganne to ioyne his power, which was immediatly knowne vnto all thoſe of Coching, for that it was not far of. Wherfore the dwellers there were wonderfully afeard, ſaieng, that they had cauſe ſo to be, for that the king of Coching did all things contrarie to iuſtice and equitie. And ſince he did the ſame vnto thoſe that are of his ſect, and all moſt naturally borne with him, why ſhould he not doe the like vnto the chriſtians which are our enimies? And for that God doth well perceiue the iuſt quarrell the king of Calycut hath to make him warres, that he will therefore aide and ſuccour him therein,Both commons & noble mē repine againſt theyr king and our men. vpon the charges of thoſe that are innocents thereof. This they did not onelye tell our men, but alſo in euery place they railed at them, and endeauoured to procure as much hurt as they coulde againſt them.

Some of them alſo that were in credite with the king, and ought vs no great good will, did openlye ſaye, that if ſo bée that the king of Calycut did come with a greater power then they hadde, they would immediatlye deliuer [Page] our men vnto him, ſince the warres were begunne in reſpect of vs and for our ſakes, they did put in hazarde the loſſe of their kingdome. The king meruailing much of the boldneſſe of his ſubiects, aunſwered them with louing wordes, ſaieng that they had offended him verie ſore with theyr vaine ſpeach, aſſuring them, that if ſo bee that the king of Calycut woulde come and ſéeke him out, yet hée woulde notwithſtanding defende himſelfe, onely for that hée well knoweth, that God will fauour him, for his iuſt dealing in defending thoſe chriſtians, as he had taken vppon him to doe. But for all this his ſubiects coulde not bée well pacified, whereof ſome were deſirous to ſet vppon our men, but yet they durſt not, for that the king had allowed them a gard to attend vppon them, and alſo appointed a ſtrong place for their lodging. Vpon this, there came newes that Vincente Sodre was come to Coching, who had left greate hurt done along the coaſt of Calicut, both by water and by land.

Of whoſe comming all our men were very glad, for that they were before in great daunger. But the Factor perceiuing that they came not a land, ſent the Captaine generall word by Laurenco Moreno, the certeintie they heard of the warres, which the king of Calycut was minded to make vppon the king of Coching, and where hée was at that preſent in a readineſſe for the ſame.The Captain generall excuſeth himſelfe for deling on the lande. Requeſting him on his behalfe, and requiring him in the name of the king of Portingale, that he woulde forthwith diſimbarke himſelfe, for that with his béeing in Coching they were certein they ſhould remaine conquerours, yéelding ſufficient reaſon for the ſame, & otherwiſe that they were in greate daunger. The Generall aunſwered, that he was appointed for Captaine Generall of the Sea, and not of the lande, and did therefore remaine in the Indias, onelye to kéepe the ſeas.

Neuertheleſſe if ſo bée that the king of Calycut had prepared his warres againſt the king of Coching, by ſea, he would haue defended him, but ſince it was by lande, [Page] he had nothing to doe withall, but to ſuffer the king to defend himſelfe, for that he would depart to diſcouer the redde Sea. The Factor vpon this determinate anſwere, did once more ſend vnto him, requiring him on Gods behalfe, and the king of Portingales that he would not leaue them ſo, for that the king of Cochings power was but ſmall to defend himſelfe withall, in theſe warres againſt the king of Calicut, who had begun the ſame onely and for none other cauſe, but to deſtroy our Factorie. And therfore he as Captaine Generall of the king of Portingale, This generall captaine had other matters of more profit in hand. was bound for to defend him, and that this was the principall cauſe why he remained in the Indias. But for all this the General would not tarrie, and ſo he departed with the reſt of his Fléet toward the Cape de Quardafum, where he did well knowe that he ſhoulde take ſundrye rich priſes. This was that which he did better remember, then to ſtay and defend the king of Coching or the king of Portingales Factorie.

How the king of Calicut ſignified vnto his noble men, & all ſuch as did aſsiſt him, the cauſes why he made this warre againſt the king of Coching. And how the Prince Nabeadarni was hee, that onely ſpake againſt the ſame. chap. 50.

AFter that the king of Calycut was come to Panane, thether alſo came preſentlye ſundry noble men his ſubiects and others his friends whome he had ſent for to aide and ſuccour him in this enterpriſe. Others there were that came before they were ſent for: For as ſoone they heard that the warres were begun, and that for our ſakes that remained in Coching (of the which they were all glad) hoping therby to hunt vs out of the Indias, & therfore they came with the better good wil to ſéeke the deſtruction of the king of Coching. There were alſo of his owne ſubiects that aroſe againſt him, and ſome [Page] of his nobilitye, as the Caimall of Chirapipill, and hée of Cambalane, and alſo he of the greate Iland which is ouer againſt Coching, who carryed with them all the power that they were able to make. And béeing come into the preſence of the king of Calycut, he ſpake vnto them all.

IF that good workes doe engender friendſhippe,The king of Calicut ſignifieth the cauſe vvhy hee beginneth to make theſe vvarres againſt the king of Coching. amongeſt men, then I, and you for my ſake, and generally all the Malabars ought to beare the ſame greatly vnto the Moores, for that it is well knowne, that it is ſixe hundred yeare ſince they came into the Prouince of Malabar, and in all this time, yea, to this daie, there was neuer anie that euer receiued at theyr handes anye hurt or loſſe. But hauing no ſooner receiued ſtraungers newly come into anye of our Countries, immediatlye we receiue loſſe by them, whereſoeuer they doe beginne to ſettle theyr trade. But the Moores doe trade with the people with all friendſhip, and loue, ‘as ought to doe one naturall neighbour with an other, by whoſe meanes the Countrey hath béene alwayes well prouided of much victualls and merchaundiſe, which hath béene a cauſe to enrich our Townes; and that our rents are greatly increaſed, in eſpeciall within this our Citie. For whileſt the Moores are héere reſident, they haue made the ſame the greateſt mart Towne that is in all the Indias.’

‘For this cauſe I am bounde in conſcience, and haue greate reaſon to fauour them, and to miſlyke of the chriſtians which to my greate hinderaunce, yea, and againſt my good will, ſettle in my lande, more for to take the ſame, and to deſtroye mée, then to bring mée anye profite or gaines as the Moores doe, hauing giuen of themſelues greate ſhewes and ſignes thereof within theſe few daies, that they were héere: as in taking of my Captaine Generall, and my Embaſſadour priſoners, in making of new lawes in my Citie, to lade their ſhippes firſt, and before the Moores ſhuld lade. And vpon this they tooke an occaſion to ſtaye a certeine Shippe of the Moores, which was the [Page] cauſe, that the Moores did as you doe heare, and as I maye iudge by the ſequeale thereof, was ſo ordeined of God for theyr pride, of the which hée was in no fault. Yet this notwithſtanding, they burnt ten of my ſhippes which lay within my harbour.’

‘After all this, they with theyr Ordinance deſtroyed my Citye, ſo that I was driuen to runne awaye out of my pallaice. Not contented with this, they burnt me other two ſhippes, which they woulde not haue done if ſo be that they had come to ſettle a trade. But firſt of all ſince they found themſelues agréeued, they ſhoulde haue come and made theyr complaint to mée of the Moores, and tarryed till I had puniſhed them, and not to doe as they haue done, by which it was apparant, that they are théeues and no Merchants, as they name themſelues to be, that vnder this coulour, they might conquere the whole Countrie. Which things the king of Coching would neuer vnderſtand nor giue credit vnto, although I ſent him worde. And being as he is, my ſubiect, & wel vnderſtanding what they had done vnto mée, yet he would not but receiue them, & giue them lading for their ſhips, and now he hath giuen them a factorie, I ſending him word and praieng him many times that he wold not conſent therevnto. For this cauſe therfore I haue ſent for you, that you ſhould ioyne your ſelues. And alſo to requeſt you to tell me your opinions, whether I haue reaſon to reuenge my ſelfe or no?’

This determination to them all ſéemed verie good,Heere this enterpriſe vvas vvell liked of by his noble men & others▪ and they praiſed his purpoſed intent, but principally the Lord of Repelyn, forſomuch as hée was a greate enimie to the king of Coching, for that he had vſurped an Iland of his called Arraul: alſo of the ſelfe ſame opinion were other principall Moores. But againſt this his pretended iourney ſpake the kings brother called Nambeadarin, which was the onely heire to the Kingdome after the death of his brother: who immediatlye in the preſence of them all ſayde.

[Page] THE kindred that is betwéene thée and mée,The aunſwere vvhich y• prince made to y• foreſayde Oration. beſide ſundrie other thinges, may certifie thée that I do deſire more thine honour and profit, then anye that bée héere preſent, and therefore my councell ought to be of a more efficacie then anye others. For as they are not ſo greatlye bound to giue thée the ſame as I am, ‘ſo as it appeareth they doe feede thy humour, and councell thée according to thy will, ſince thou art deſirous to accept it, and not according to good reaſon, which thou haſt to leaue it. But if ſo bée that they without flatterye, and thou without paſſion, wouldeſt iudge or weigh the cauſe of theſe Chriſtians, thou ſhouldeſt finde, that vnto this preſent time they haue giuen thée no cauſe, but that they ſhould be well receiued into thy Countrie, and ſo into all the Prouince of Malabar, and not to hunt them foorth lyke théeues, which they cannot bée called, although they were preſent. And foraſmuch as from all the places of the worlde, men doe reſorte hether, and aſſemble themſelues to buye thoſe Merchaundiſe which they haue not in theyr Countryes, and bring thoſe hether which we haue not héere.’

‘In the ſame ſorte come theſe Chriſtians, and as the cuſtome is of Merchauntes, they brought thée in their kings behalfe, the richeſt preſent that thou diddeſt yet euer receiue. And beſides theyr merchandiſe they brought much Golde and ſiluer made in coine, which they doe not vſe to bring which come to make warres. And if ſo bée they hadde come in anye ſuch ſorte, they woulde not haue diſſimuled the running awaye that the Pleadges offered vnto them whome thou doeſt call Embaſſadours, that were kepte in Priſon, for that theyr Captaine was a Lande.’

‘But they reconciling themſelues vnto thée, went and tooke the ſhippe at thy requeſt in the which was the greate Elephant, and afterward did preſent thée therwith, and with all that the ſame ſhip carried: beſides, thoſe that are théeues [Page] doe not vſe ſo to doe, nor yet paye ſo well, nor vſe ſo much truth as they did, for all the time that they were in Calycut, there was none that did complaine of them, but onely the Moores, which they did, for that they are their enimies, and being mooued with enuy to ſée them pertakers of their profite, did accuſe them that they hadde taken greate ſtore of Pepper from the owners againſt theyr wills, they themſelues béeing thoſe that vſe the ſame, and for that the Chriſtians ſhoulde not benefite themſelues by lading of theyr ſhips. And foraſmuch as this was ſo apparant, thou gaueſt them licenſe to take theyr fraight, by the which licenſe, the Captaine ſent to the ſhippe of the Moores, which was laden, and they béeing in all the whole fault, did yet notwithſtanding riſe againſt them. Theſe men then haue done as it is well knowne to the world, and yet for all this as quiet men ought to doe, they tarryed all one daye to ſée whether thou woldeſt excuſe thy ſelfe. But they ſéeing that there came none from thée,’ they did then put in execution the reuenge,The execution of ye pledges defended by the kings brother not traiterouſly as the Moores doe, which went not to defend the ſhips, although now they ſpeake with a ſtout ſtomacke, and councell thée to make theſe warres againſt the king of Coching, for that he did receiue them into his Citie, where no iuſt cauſe is at all. For his receiuing of them, it is not to be iudged that it is to hinder thée: ‘but he receiued them as he would anye other merchaunt that would haue come to his harbour. After the ſelfe ſame ſort did the king of Cananor, and the king of Goulan deale with them, who would not haue admitted them if they had knowne them to bée théeues. If thou bée minded to baniſh them out of the Indias, and for this cauſe art determined to make warre againſt the king of Coching: it is requiſite alſo thou make warre againſt the king of Cananor, for from thence they may doe that which thou feareſt they wil from Coching. But I will not let to tell thée, that thou doeſt aduenture thy ſelfe againſt him. For that as thou thinkeſt he is of leſſe power then the king of Cananor.’

[Page] Theſe words were ſpoken by Nambeadarin, with ſuch a ſtomacke and ſo lyberally to the King, that they were by him well taken: In one reſpect, for that he was a very valyaunt Gentleman, and in another, for that he was with him in great credit and authoritie. And for this cauſe they hadde him in great reputation: Inſomuch, that if the Moores and Caymayles had not ſhewed themſelues verye ſtout againſt him, the King woulde not haue gone forward with his enterpriſe to make wars againſt the King of Coching. The Mores ouerthrovv the credit of ye kings brothers Oration. Howbeit, they ſtood vppon their reputation ſo much, that they thought it would be a great imbaſing to their credite, in eſpecially hauing aſſembled ſo great a power as the King had done, and not to goe forward, or at the leaſt to do ſome what afore they did retourne. By meanes whereof, it was poſſible, that the King of Coching hearing of theyr comming, would now doe that for feare, which hée would not otherwiſe doe before, béeing prayed. After all this, the King of Calycut would néedes know of his Witches, what daye was good to march forward in with his Armie, who appointed him a fortunate one, and promiſed him the victory againſt the King of Coching, and that as yet there would come vnto him more men. With this certainetie, which the Witches had comforted the King withall, which he much truſted vpon, he departed toward the Countrey of Repelyn, which is foure leagues from Coching.

¶Of the great feare that our men were in, leaſt the King of Coching would haue deliuered them to the King of Calycut. Cap. 52.

OF all this, whatſoeuer hadde paſt, was the King of Coching aduertiſed, by ſundry eſpyes which he had in the Campe of ye king of Calycut: and therefore he ſtoode ſomewhat in feare of him, for that he hadde not ſufficient men to defend himſelfe, foraſmuch as all thoſe that he hoped had fauoured him, were tourned againſt [Page] him: yea, euen thoſe that were his owne ſubiectes, whome if he hadde on his ſide, he had bene ſure to haue giuen the King of Calycut the ouerthrow. Therefore, for that he had but few men, he was greatly afeard thereof, and the rather,The very ſight of our men abhorred in Coching for that of thoſe there, the moſt part ſerued him againſt their will, in eſpecially they that were dwellers in Coching, which did abhorre ye very ſight of our men, where vpon they openly ſpake it, that it were good that the King of Coching ſhould deliuer our men to the king of Calycut, or els that he put them out of Coching, and ſo he might acquite himſelfe of theſe warres. Moreouer, there were many of the inhabitants of Coching, that ranne their wayes, and left their houſes, and all for feare of this warre. Our men alſo on the other parte were gretly afearde to ſée this tumult, which gaue them occaſion to waye the daunger that they wer in, for all that the king did warrant them. Wherfore the Factor fearing the ſucceſſe thereof, procured lycenſe of the King to goe to Cananor, hoping that there, they ſhould be very quiet, vntill ſuch time the fléete ſhould come from Portingale, thinking that the King by this meanes, ſhould breake vp thoſe warres, that were pretended againſt him, and alſo his Subiectes be the better contented therewith.

But at thoſe words the King ſéemed to be in heauines,The aunſvvere vvhich the king of Coching made to the factor & tolde the Factor, that now it appeared very well, that he had but ſmall confidence in him, that he would aſke him licenſe to depart, and therfore he told him he would giue him none: but rather requeſted him earneſtly not to haue any ſuch miſtruſt, for he there gaue him his worde, and it ſtoode him ſo much vpon his credite, in preſeruing them all alyue, that he would rather looſe his Kingdome and lyfe withall, then delyuer them to the King of Calycut, or to other that ſhould doe them any harme. And if ſo be that his euill Fortune were ſo great that he ſhould looſe Coching, yet there would not lacke a place of ſufficient ſtrength to ſende them vnto, vntill the comming of the next Fléete from Portingale to the Indias.

[Page] And although ſayd he, the king of Calycut ſhoulde come with a great power, yet for all that he is not aſſured of the victory: for it is ſéene many times that few with valyant hearts,Fevve hauing the right on their ſide, preuayle moſt times againſt nūbers that come in an euill cauſe. doe giue the ouerthrowe vnto great numbers without ſtrength: much more hauing as I haue, Iuſtice & equitie on my ſide. And therefore he willed them to be quyet, & to pray vnto their God to giue him ye victory. With theſe words, knowing well that the King did ſpeake them with a louing minde, our men remained ſomewhat eaſed of the feare wherein they were, and would haue kiſſed his hands, but he would not ſuffer them ſo to doe, nor yet woulde agrée that they ſhould helpe him in his warres, which they did offer him to do, but aunſwered them, that he would not place them in anye ſuch daungerous place, for that it ſtoode vpon his credite ſo much to kéepe them alyue. And for that they ſhould remaine as witneſſes, how much he did trauell to ſaue their lyues, therefore from thencefoorth he committed the kéeping of them vnto certayne Nayres, ſuch as he had a confidence in.

And that this mutenie might ceaſe, and they from thence foorth not haue anye occaſion to murmure againſt our men, he commaunded to be called afore him all his Noble men, ſuch as were with him, and alſo certaine of the principall Nayres, which were the occaſion of all this trouble, & ſpake vnto them after this manner.

I Cannot but be verye heauie,The king of Cochings Oration to his noble men. to ſée ſo lyttle truth remayne in you: For I meruayle nothing at all at the ruſticall ſorte of men, whome oftentimes their pouertie enforceth to vſe all kinde of villanye. But of you, I doe greatlye meruayle that are Nayres, that haue bene alwaies true in your dealyngs, that you now would haue me break my worde and promiſe, ‘that I haue alreadye giuen to the Captayne Generall, concerning theſe Chriſtians, which was to kéepe his men to the vttermoſt of my power, and to looke that no man ſhoulde doe them anye harme or vyolence, but alwayes for to haue as good a regarde [Page] vnto them as vnto mine owne naturall ſubiects. And therefore he left them in this my Citie, which was done alſo by your conſents. And ſince you doe perceiue, that the King of Calycut hath a fewe more men then I, ye would perſwade me to doe contarry to my promiſe: ſo that if I were of ſo ill a nature as you would haue me to be, then ought you of all other to abhorre me, and crye out vpon me. Be ye héerein your owne Iudges, If you remained with anye other King vpon his word, would you allow that as well done in him, which you would haue me doe, by theſe Chriſtians? In eſpeciall, counting him as we account of this man, for our enimy, hauing none occaſion ſo to be, as the King of Calicut: and I your King, hauing no occaſion to deliuer you, as I haue none to delyuer theſe Chriſtians? Which, ſince it is ſo, what is the councell that ye minde to giue me héerin,’ that may not be reprhended in another? If it be for that you are afeard of the King of Calycut, It is better to dye vvith honor, then to lyue vvith the infamous name of a rude and lieng Prince. then know this, that it were better to dye an honourable death then to liue with diſhonour, then which there cannot happen greater to mée, then to breake my word, nor yet more infamie vnto you, then to be ſubiects to a ruſticall and a falſe King, in eſpeciall againſt theſe Chriſtians, who haue brought me ſo great profite as they haue done. And as for the King of Calycut, hée well knoweth that if he wold haue conſented that the Factorie might haue bene ſetteled in his Citie, he might haue ‘kept them in his Countrey. But now becauſe they are gone he mooueth theſe warres, the rather, for that hée well knoweth my power is but ſmall, and therfore mindeth to reuenge on me the loſſe he hath receiued. If his meaning be none other, then to hunt theſe Chriſtians out of the Indias, and to fight with him, whoſoeuer receiueth them into his Countrey, why then doth he not beginne his warres firſt with the King of Cananor? But that is not the occaſion onely, but the enuie which he hath to ſée me benefited, and for that with his pride he ſuppoſeth, that I am not able to reſiſt him. All this doe I very well vnderſtand, and moreouer I doe receiue comfort in preſeruing of theſe Chriſtians, [Page] hoping in God, that he therefore will giue me the victory againſt him. And as touching you that are my friends, I pray you therefore to ſtand to me.’

Now all that were preſent héereby, ſéeing this his determination, meruailed greatlye at his conſtancie, and craued pardon at his hands for the feare they found themſelues to be in before, promiſing all of them to lyue and dye in his ſeruice: for the which he gaue them heartie thankes. Immediately after this, he commaunded the Factor to be called with the reſt of our men, vnto whom he tolde all what he had done, and in their preſence named for Captaine generall,The kings brother made general of the field, and armie▪ the Prince Naramuhin his brother, and next inheritor to the Crowne, & commaunded euery man to obey him, in as ample manner, as his owne perſon. His charge was ſet downe, that he ſhould march forward with fiue thouſande fiue hundred Nayres, & entrench himſelfe hard by the Foord, by which waye he knew for moſt certaine, that the King of Calycut was determined to enter into yt Iland of Coching: whereas at an Ebbe, the water commeth vp but to the knées.

¶How the Prince of Calycut made offer ſundrye times to enter into the Iland of Coching, by this Foord, and how he was reſiſted by the Prince of Coching. Chap. 53.

NOw the King of Calycut hauing notice, that Naramuhin had pitched his royall Armie hard by this Foord, to reſiſt thereby his entraunce into Coching, he was ſomewhat feared therewith: in eſpeciall for that hée knew the foreſaid Prince, to be one of the valianteſt Gentlemen, that was accompted off in all that Prouince of Malabar, & the moſt fortunate in wars. Somewhat therefore for this feare, more then for anye good will that he ought to the King of Coching, to vſe any kinde of courteſie towards him, he ſent him this letter.

[Page] I Haue trauailed as much as I could to excuſe this war with thée,The king of Calycuts letter to ye king of Coching▪ if ſo be that thou woldeſt temper thy pride, & doe y• which I haue requeſted thée, being as it is, ſo iuſt, neceſſary and profitable vnto vs all. And for that this our falling out might goe no further, I giue thée to vnderſtande, ‘that I am come to Repelyn with a great power for to enter thy Country, & there to take thoſe Chriſtians which are with thée, withall their Merchandize: yet notwithſtanding, I will firſt aduertiſe thee, that my deſire is, that thou doe ſende them vnto me, which if thou wilt doe, then will I forget the enuie and hatred I haue conceiued againſt thée for that which is paſt, whereas otherwiſe, I haue promiſed to take thy Countrey from thée, & put all thoſe that are dwellers there,’ to the ſword.

Although now the King of Coching had very great lack of men, and did well perceiue that it might come ſo to paſſe, as the King of Calycut had written vnto him. Neuertheleſſe, he neuer meant to moue his determination, but did aunſwere after this manner.

IF thou hadſt demaunded of me after a ciuill order,The aunſvvere which the king of Coching made to the foreſaid letter▪ & with louing wordes, that which thou doeſt commaund with ſo great a pride, I would not haue indged thée of leſſe valour, then that thou thinkeſt I might take thée to be off: For where there is wiſedome or ſtrength, there is no diſcurteſie ſhewed by meanes of ill bringing vp. Theſe be things that God is not pleaſed withall: neither yet haue I ſo offended him, that I ſhould conſent ſo much to my loſſe, ‘or think that the victory ſhould not be mine and theſe valyant mens that are with me. Thou ſhalt be welcome with all thy pride, and I verely beléeue, that with theſe few which I haue, ouer and beſide my iuſt quarrell, ſhall ſuffice to defend me from thée, and other mine enimies. Thou ſhalt neuer finde mée ſo weake, that I will doe anye thing with ſuch ſhame as thou demaundeſt. And if ſo be, that thou haſt vſed to accuſtome thy ſelfe to ſuch deceiptes, ſo it is: I did neuer vſe [Page] the ſame, nether yet will I accuſtome my ſelfe ſo to doe. Touching the Chriſtians, or any part of their goods, make thou no reckoning, for that I doe minde to defende the ſame. Therefore to bée ſhort, ſende me no more meſſengers.’

With this aunſwere was the King of Calycut ſo offended, that he ſware he woulde deſtroye all, and reuenge himſelfe vppon the King of Coching. And therefore foorthwith hée departed from Repelyn the laſt daye of March, and entered into the Lande of the King of Coching, in the which he did no hurt, for that the Lordes of that ſoyle were all in his fauour. And on the ſeconde daye of Aprill, beeing come néere vnto this Foorde where Naramuhin was intrenched,The Calicutians repulſed frō paſsing ouer the Foorde. ſome of the King of Calycuts Captaynes had great hope through the multitude of theyr men which they had with them, to giue the onſet, with determination to paſſe the Foorde: but it was ſo manfullye defended, that they retired with the loſſe of many.

Whervpon the King of Calycut tooke this for an ill beginning: but for all that, after that hée had pitched his Campe, he ſent the next daye the Lorde of Repelyn with as manye more men as there was the daye before, and ſundrye Paraos by water, ſuppoſing that then he woulde paſſe ouer this Foorde. But it chaunced farre otherwiſe, and they miſt at that time of theyr purpoſe, for that Naramuhin as yet did valyauntlye defende the ſame with a ſtout courage.

At this preſent, were with him Laurenſo Moreno, with other more our men, which ſhewed themſelues lyke valyaunt Gentlemen, as before time they hadde done in diuers other Battayles, which the aforeſayde Prince Naramuhin hadde with his Enimies, in the which hée had alwayes the victorye,Incōſtancie [...]n the king of Calycut noted. with the loſſe of many of their men. When the King of Calycut perceiued his loſſe, and béeing now, as hée euer was, inconſtant and fearefull, hée euen repented himſelfe, that euer hée did beginne theſe warres.

[Page] For he thought that immediately vpon his comming to this Foord, he ſhould haue paſſed the ſame. Wherefore he ſent againe another meſſenger to the King of Coching, that hée foorthwith ſhould ſend vnto him thoſe Chriſtians: who anſwered, that ſince he would not delyuer them before time, when as he had occaſion ſomwhat to feare his power, what ſhall he thinke he would doe now, when he hath the aduantage? But he aduertiſed him to looke well vnto himſelfe, for that now he would not be contented onely with defending his Countrey,A ſtout ſtomacke of a prince▪ but hoped to giue him ye ouerthrow: which indéed had taken effect, if ſo be that his vntrue ſubiects, had not forſaken him. With this aunſwere the King of Calycut remained in ſome feare, and indéed without any hope of victory, if ſo be that it had not bene for his owne ſouldiers, which gaue him councell to ſend to ouerun certaine townes of Coching, which lay hard thereabouts, he would haue left the warres. Which had the ſooner bene finiſhed, if Naramuhin had not bene driuen to ſend to ſuccour thoſe Townes, with ſome of his men. The king thought ye by this meanes remaining there but with the fewer, his ſtrength ſhoulde be thereby diminiſhed.

But this pollicie was preuented by Naramuhin, who had a meruailous forecaſt to foreſée ſuch innouations. And for all this he furniſhed all places, where it was requiſite, in ſuch ſort, as though himſelfe had bene there preſent. And notwithſtanding all this, the King of Calycut loſt manye of his men.

How Naramuhin Prince of Coching, was ſlaine by treaſon, which the King of Calycut practiſed: and alſo how the King of Coching receiued the ouerthrowe, and was driuen to go to Vaypin for ſuccour, and caried with him all our men. Chap. 54.

[Page] THE king of Calicut ſéeing that his Captains could not paſſe through that forde to encounter with Naramuhyn, he forthwith practiſed how he might paſſe the ſame by ſome pollicie.Treaſon practiſed againſt ye prince Naramuhim▪ For the which intent he ſecretly vſed conference with the paye maiſter of thoſe Nayres which Naramuhyn had in his campe, and agreed vpon this, that there ſhould be no paiment ſent to the Campe, as before he was wont to ſend daily, but that they ſhould go to Coching to receiue the ſame there. And for his reward that he ſhould conſent thervnto, he ſent him a great preſent. By this meanes therefore Naramuhyn remaining alone and vnfurniſhed, his enimyes might paſſe the ſayd ford the better. This being agréed vpon, the payemaiſter according to his promiſe, ſent worde to the Captaine, that all ſuch Nayres as were in wages with the king of Coching, ſhould come and fetch their wages, for that hée could not ſend it them as before time. The Nayres hauing licenſe of Naramuhym, he charged them to retourne afore day, who promiſed him ſo to doe, howbeit they coulde not come, for that their paiment was delaied, till it was broad day: and thus whileſt they were in Coching, the king of Calicut entered the ford with his whole power both by lande and by ſea, and with much ordinance, and the whileſt that Naramuhim remained thus alone, the king of Calicuts power grew to be greater then euer it was before. Then gaue he the onſet, at the which Naramuhin was driuen to retire vnto certeine Palme trées, where ioyned vnto him all his men that he had left, he caſt them into one ſquadron, which being as they were but few, did oftentimes break the aray of their enimies, with the which there were many ſlaine. But as Naramuhins power was but ſmall,Prince Naramuhim and his povver ouerthrovvne. ſo they were compaſſed round about. And after that he had done manye notable acts, he was ouerthrowne, both he and two couſins of his which ther alſo very valiant gentlemen, with ſundry others. Thus was he and all his ſlaine which remained in [Page] the field. The king of Calycut would not followe the chaſe of thoſe that ranne awaie, for that it was night, for ſo long the battaile indured. Ther were many of the enimies ſlaine alſo.

This newes béeing brought to the king of Coching, hée was therewith a while as it were beſide himſelfe, and almoſt of euery man taken for dead, in eſpecial of our men that were preſent. Thoſe Nayres that were our mens kéepers made no account of them, for that they had inough to doe to ſuccour the king. When this ouerthrow was ſpread abroade, partly for the ill will which they ought our men, they ſayde that they were the cauſe of Naramuhins death and the others, & that the king was not able to deliuer them from death. With this, the king returned to himſelfe, and began to wéepe, and ſpake ſundry wordes, which our men did not vnderſtand,Comfortable vvords of a prince▪ for that his remembrance was as it were taken from him, ſo that being hard by him; hée ſawe vs not, but at length he aſked for vs, with that our men drew néere toward him, who made vs alſo to wéepe, onely to ſée him in that agonie. And being fully come vnto himſelfe, he willed them in anye caſe not to feare, neither yet to doubt that this miſchance ſhould haue any ſuch power, as to make him chaunge from that which he hadde alwayes promiſed. For which words they would haue kiſſed his hands, but he would not conſent therevnto, and hearing the ſturre that his men made againſt ours, he ſayd vnto them.

NOw that Fortune doth ſhew her ſelfe froward againſt me,The kings Oration made vnto his ſubiects about the loſſe of his kingdome. I had thought that as true friends and louing ſubiects ye wold haue trauelled to giue me héerein ſome comfort. But ye are deſirous to followe and ſerue the king of Calycut, which as often as I doe remember, it doubleth my paine for the death of the Prince my brother, and my Couſins, and ſince you alſo are againſt the Chriſtians, ‘whome I haue ſo oftentimes in commended vnto you, you doe well knowe, that it will bée much more griefe [Page] vnto mée, that they at your handes ſhoulde receiue anye hurt (then I haue alreadie receiued for the death of my kinſmen, ſince they lyke true ſubiectes dyed in my defence) and you are deſirous to perſecute thoſe whome I haue receiued vnder my protection, and ſuch as remaine with mée for my comfort. It were a harde matter for me to perſwade my ſelfe that this ouerthrowe happened vnto mée, for dooing vnto theſe men as I ought to doe. Doe you not iudge ſo, for I will not beléeue that they were the cauſe, neither yet for that I doe fauour them, therefore God doth fauour the king of Calycut againſt mée.Ouerthrovvs in vvar ſent of God vnto princes for their of fences. It is not ſo, but for that I haue offended him otherwiſe: I am very glad that there hath béene this occaſion giuen, that I might receiue condigne puniſhment, and that the King of Calicut might bée the onelye executor of his iuſtice. And that alſo for all other offences that I haue done, I might bée puniſhed by him in ſéeking my deſtruction, the rather for that I doe kéepe my promiſe with theſe Chriſtians, in eſpeciall béeing as wée bée, ſo much bounde vnto them. Therefore weie well this cauſe, and let it not ſinke into your mindes, that for vſings clemencie to theſe Chriſtians, and for defending them I receiue this puniſhment, neither yet that the King of Calycut hath power to ouerthrowe my power which I canne make, and deſtroye me altogether, although that nowe hée driueth mée out of Coching.’

‘The Fléete of the Chriſtians will not tarrye long, and then the Generall will reſtore vnto mée againe my Kingdome. In the meane ſpace lette vs goe to the Ilande of Vaypin, which is ſtrong, and for that the Winter is at hande, I truſt in God wée ſhall eſcape the King of Calicut. And ſince my loſſe is farre more then yours, I comfort my ſelfe with this, requeſting you to doe the lyke, &: not to be an occaſion to renue my troubles with this your mutinie.’

They ſéeing the greate conſtancie of theyr King,‘[Page] meruailed much thereat, and immediatlye did quiet themſelues and promiſed him that they would do that which hée had commaunded, and ſo they did. The conſtancie of ye king was ſo great, that whereas once more the king of Calycut ſent him word, that if ſo be that he would deliuer our men vnto him, he would preſently leaue the warres, yet he wold not conſent therevnto, but ſent him word againe, that ſince that he had gotten the victorie more by treaſon, then by valiantneſſe, for if ſo be that valure had bene vſed, his brother and couſins had not died, but they were betraied by thoſe that faine would kill him alſo. He did not paſſe for Coching it ſelfe, but hoped that thoſe Chriſtians which he looked for euery day, who reſtore him vnto it again, & likewiſe reuēge his quarrell. This aunſwere being come to the king of Calycut, he commaunded to deſtroye the whole countrie with fire and ſwoord, which commaundement being once known, the feare was ſo great amongſt the inhabitants of Coching that the moſt part of them ranne away,The inhabitants of Coching flye for feare of the king of Calicut▪ & with them went two Milaneſis, which were Lapidaries, that remained with the Factor, which vpon the King of Portingale commaundement were brought thether by Vaſco de la Gama: the one of theſe was called Ioan Marya, and the other Pedro Antonio. Thoſe did diſcouer vnto the king of Calycut the feare that the dwellers of Coching were in of him, & how that dayly they came awaie. They alſo did offer the king to make him ordinance, and afterward they made him ſome as it ſhall appeare in the ſequeale of the hiſtorie. The king of Calycut made verie much of this Milaneſis, & gaue them greate rewards, to the ende therby he might winne them to make him more ordinance: and hauing certein knowledge, how few people were left in Coching, & what feare thoſe that remained were in, and how few men the king had to defend himſelfe, he put his men in a readineſſe to take the ſame.’ The king of Coching carrieng ſome of our men in his companie, went to méet with the king of Calycut, wheras that daie he behaued himſelfe that it was wonder to ſée. Neuertheleſſe for all that the enimies being verye many, [Page] and the king ſomewhat hurt, he was faine to retire, and for that he durſt not tarrie another battaile, he therefore repaired vnto another Iland called Vaypin, The king of Coching is faine to flye and leaue his citie. which is right ouer againſt Coching, and is verie ſtrong, to the which he carried with him all our men, and all the Factorie, ſo that there was nothing loſt. The Citie béeing thus diſinhabited, the king of Calycut commaunded the ſame to be ſetts a fire. After this he ſent his men to enter the Ilande of Vaypin, which for that our men and others did defend it with greate valour, and for that the Winter was at hand, and ſtormes of foule weather did beginne, the king of Calycut was driuen of force to giue ouer, and to leaue the warres, and ſo went to Grangalor, with determination to returne vpon the ſame Ilande at the ſpring. For the which cauſe he commaunded to be made manye trenches about Coching, and left many of his men to kéepe the ſame.

How Vincente Sodre and Blas Sodre were caſt awaie at Curia Muria, and what the other Captaines did afterward. chap. 55.

VIncente Sodre with his Fléete béeing departed from the harbour of Coching, without hauing any reſpect to ſuccour the king, or thoſe that remained in the Factorie, but woulde needes goe towarde the kingdome of Cambaia, to take ſuch rich ſhips of the Moores as come from ye red ſea to Calycut. Vpon the ſame coaſt he tooke by y• helpe of other Captains fiue ſhips, in the which onely in ready money there was found two hundred thouſand Perdaos. The moſt part of the Moores wer ſlaine in the battaile, and their ſhips burnt. From thence he kept his courſe toward certein Ilands called Curia Muria, which ſtood a ſeaboord the Cape of Quardafum, where hée thought good to bring his ſhips a ground, which were all open. [Page] He arriued there the twentéeth of Aprill in the yere of our Lord.1503 The familiaritie & ſecuritie of ye inhabitants of the Iland of Curia Muria. 1503. And although all thoſe Ilandes were greatlye inhabited by the Moores, yet he would venture a land, ye rather for that the dwellers in that Iland were no men of war, ſo that with the onely feare they ſtoode in of our men, they gaue them good interteinment, ſelling vnto them ſuch victualls as they had, and did conuerſe in their companie.

Vincente Sodre hauing brought a Caruell a grounde, therevpon the Moores tooke occaſion to tell him, that in the moneth of Maye, there came alwayes ſuch a torment or ſtorme out of the North, that no ſhips doe remaine there, but are driuen a lande. And therefore ſuch as knowe the ſame, doe immediatly auoide the daunger, willing him likewiſe ſo to doe, and to remoue himſelfe on the other ſide of the Ilande, which will be a defence for them, and when the ſtorme is paſt they may returne without feare. But he not making account of their words, but rather iudging yt they meant to do him ſome diſpleaſure, wold not go from thence but aunſwered them that their ſhips had Ankors of wood, that they were driuen ſo a ſhore, but his were of yron: and for all that the Moores could perſwade him, he wold neuer be remoued. Yet Pedro Raphael, Hernan Rodrigues Badarſas, The effect which the torment vvrought amongeſt their ſhips in that coaſt. and Diego Pierres would not tarrie, but on the laſt day of Aprill they went their waie, and as for Vincente Sodre and his brother, they remained. And when the torment came and began to blow, their ſhips were driuen on ſhore, for all their Ankors, and were torne in péeces, in the which there were many men ſlaine. Amongſt theſe ther died the two brethren, and of the ſhips was nothing ſaued, but onely the Captaines that remoued with the Caruell that was brought a ground. The loſſe of the two brothers was iudged to come by the handie worke of God, for their ſins, and for not fauouring the king of Coching, & for leauing the Factour with the Factorie of the king of Portingale in ſo greate a daunger. And therefore thoſe that were ſaued returned toward Coching to ſuccour our men, if happely they had any ſuch néed.

[Page] Amongeſt themſelues they appointed for Captaine Generall Pedro de Tayde, and ſo they made ſaile at the entering of Maie. And for that the Winter of the Indias was come, they paſſed greate ſtormes, whereby they ſawe themſelues ſundry times in great danger. And for that they could not fall with Coching, therfore they were driuen to winter in Anſadina. Thrée or foure dayes after their cō ming thether, there came thether alſo a ſhippe from Portingale, of the which was captaine a gentleman called Antonio delcimpo, who departed alone after Don Vaſco dela Gama: his tarrieng was ſo long by reaſon yt his pilot died, by meanes whereof he was driuen to kéep the coaſt, ſo that with great trouble & danger he arriued at Anſadina, wher he was driuen to winter, where alſo they ſuſteined great neceſſitie for lacke of victualls.

How Franciſco de Alburquerque, and Alonſo de Alburquerque departed to the Indias, for two captaines generalls of two fleetes: and how they arriued at Coching, & did after their comming reſtore the king of Coching to his kingdome. chap. 56.

IN the yeare of our Lord.1503. 1503. the king of Portingale ſuppoſing that the Admiral had left ſetled the Factorie quietly in Coching & Cananor, The iiii. voiage frō Portingal to the Indias. & that he ſhould haue no ſuch néed as to ſend any great fléet. Therfore he determined to ſend but ſixe ſhips, imparted vnto two Captaines generalls. Of the firſt there he named for Captaine general a gentleman called Alonſo de Alburquerque, which afterward was gouernour of ye Indias, as héereafter I ſhall declare in the third booke. Theſe were his Captaines, one called Edwarto Pacheco, of whom I ſpake before, & Hernan Martines Maſcarennas, who they ſaid died in the voiage to Gordo. Of the other thrée he appointed for Captaine general one Franciſco de Alburquerque, couſin to ye other Alonſo Alburquerque. Theſe following wer his Captaines, Nicholas Coello, one yt was in ye diſcouery of the Indias, and Pedro Vas de la Vega. [Page] This Fléete departed fiftéene daies after Alonſo de Albuquerque, and ſo as well the one as the other, paſſed in their voyage great ſtormes, in the which was loſt Pedro vas de Lauega, Franciſco de Albuquerque, which departed laſt of all, came firſt, and before Alonſo de Albuquerque, who brought with him Nicholas Coello to Anſadina, who came thether in the month of Auguſt, where as yet he found Pedro de Taide with their Captaines, which were forced to winter ther. And hauing certeine knowledge of the warres that were publiſhed betwéene the king of Calicut and the king of Coching, and all about our men, they went immediatly with all the Fléete, which was of ſixe ſailes to Cananor, for that he would enforme himſelfe the better thereof, and what had paſſed in Coching. At theyr arriuall in Cananor our men were verye glad of theyr comming. The king of Cananor himſelfe reioyſed ſo much, that he went to viſite the Captaine generall a ſea boord, and told him all what perticularly had happened to the king of Coching, and where the king was.

As ſoone as he knew all this, he immediatly departed toward Coching, to the which place he came on Saterdaie at night, being the ſecond day of September in the ſelfe ſame yeare. As ſoone as his comming was knowne to the king of Coching, ther was great reioyſing at the ſame, not onely of the king & our men,The king of Coching reioyceth at the comming of the Portingale fleete. but of all the dwellers in Coching. There were ſundrye that at his comming did ſo reioyce, that they plaied vpon ſundrie ſorts of inſtruments, in token thereof. All thoſe that were in theyr trenches by the king of Calycuts commaundement, viewing this great ioye and mirth, and perceiuing wherfore it was, as ſoone as the night came, ranne their waie to Grangalor, for ſo the king of Calycut had commaunded them to doe, who alſo knewe of their comming by the waye of Cananor. Immediatlye on Sundaie in the morning, Franciſco de Albuquerque came to an Ankor at the entering of the riuer of Coching. The king hearing of his arriuall, alſo ſent to viſite him by the Factor.

[Page] On the Munday morning, Franciſco de Alburquerque hauing left his ſhips in good order, tooke his boates, being very well armed, and went in the ſame vnto Vaypin, & caried with him alſo two Caruells to ſuccour him, if there ſhould come any Paraos from Calycut. As he went ſomewhat far off from the Caruells, came after him Edwarte Pachece, who ſuſpecting wherevpon he went, leapt into his boat with ſome of his men, which came after him, with ſuch haſt, hee made with his rowing, that he ouertooke him before he came to Vaypin, where the King of Coching was tarrieng for him along the water ſide, with as many men as went with him to the Iland.The king of Coching ioyfully be holdeth the return of ye Portingale Fleete. The pleaſure was ſo great of theyr méeting, that as ſoone as the King of Coching had ſight of our boates, he began to crye out ſaieng: Portingale, Portingale, and all thoſe that were with him did the lyke. Our men alſo out of their boates did aunſwere after the ſelfe ſame manner, ſaieng: Coching, Coching, in deſpite of the King of Calycut. As Franciſco de Albuquerque did leape a land, the King of Coching was there ready, and tooke him in his armes, with the teares in his eyes, for excéeding ioye, ſaying: that his deſire was to lyue no longer, but to ſee himſelfe reſtored to Coching, that his Subiectes might well perceiue, how much he was bound to paſſe ſo great troubles as hée had paſt, & all for to ſerue the King of Portingale. In whoſe name, the Captaine generall gaue him great thankes, with promiſe to reuenge his quarrell vpon his enimies. And for his part he gaue him ten thouſand crownes to ſpend, during the time that he did not receiue his rents, and this money was taken out of the Coffer he carried: which gift ye king of Coching eſtéemed very much, for that he was very poore. Alſo his ſubiects iudged this to be done right liberally as it was noted amongſt them all:Liberalytie vvinneth the hearts of the moſt barbarous & vnfriēdly people▪ and from thencefoorth they thought all to be well beſtowed, that the King had done for our men. Foorthwith they carried the King to Coching, where he entered with great glorye, beſides the reioycing which his ſubiects made: and from thenceforth all our men, were amongſt them well eſtéemed. Now it was not long [Page] after that the newes how that the King was retourned to Coching, was brought to the King of Calycuts cares, and of the money that the Captaine generall had giuen him: who ſeeing that there was likelyhood of wars, ſent certain Caymales into his Countrey to defend the ſame, for that it ioyned vnto the kingdome of Coching.

How Franciſco de Alburquerque began the warres againſt all thoſe that were enimies to the king of Coching: and how the Caymall of the Ilande of Charanaypin was ſlaine. Chap. 57.

THe King of Coching being put in his poſſeſion, Franciſco de Albuerquerque tooke his leaue of him: His entent was, that yet afore night he would partly reuenge himſelfe vpon his enimies. And ſo he went to the Iland which is ouer againſt Coching. Now as the inhabitants thereof were ſomewhat forgetful, and thought not that as that daye he woulde retourne, ſo therefore did our men ſet vppon them before they were aware, and that vpon ſuch a ſodaine, that there were ſlaine of them a great number, and ſundry of their Townes ſet a fire, and afterward they imbarked themſelues without receiuing any harme. And Franciſco de Alburquerque going toward his Fléete, met with the King, and tolde him what he had done. The next day after, he returned to the ſame Iland, to deſtroy it altogether. He caried with him to y• number of ſixe hundred men, for ſo many he had, with thoſe that he found in the other two ſhips, and there went with him al his Captaines: The Caymall of that Ilande was tarrieng for him along the water ſide, with two thouſand Nayres, wherof the moſt part were bow men, y• others had ſpeares, ſwords, and targets. They did all they coulde to kéepe our men from landing, which they did without receiuing anye hurt: and they being galled ſore with our Croſſebowes, were driuen away.

[Page] Our men followed them vnto the other ſide of the Ilande with ſo ſtout a ſtomacke,The Caymal & [...] povver, put to flight by the Portingale [...]. that they had no other remedie but to take the water, leauing behinde them many of their companye ſlaine and hurte. And our men not hauing with whom to fight, did ſet fire to all the Townes y• were in the Ilande, ſo that the whole Iland was deſtroyed. The next day following, Eranciſco de Alburquerque went to another Iland called Charanaipin, which was belonging to a Caymall, ſubiect to the king of Coching, who ſerued in al theſe warres with the King of Calycut. Concerning whom by certaine ſpyes that the King of Coching had in that Iland, he vnderſtood that he had made himſelfe in a readines, to defend himſelfe againſt the Captaine generall, hauing redie in armes thrée thouſand Nayres of the which were ſeauen [...] and fortie with ſhot, besides all their houſes [...] with ſundry trenches round about. Alſo he had by [...] certeine Paraos with Ordinance in the ſame, which the king of Calycut had giuen him▪ Theſe wer a [...]oat in a certaine harbor, where our men pretended to diſimbarke themſelues: which were there placed, that they ſhoulde reſiſt our comming into that place, if that it were poſſible. About this place there was great ſtore of boates, all furniſhed with Ordinance: but the enimies at the length, were driuen to runne away, ſo that our men remained quietly in the harbour, where there ſtood in the water, yea, euen vp to their girdles a great number, alwaies [...] our landing,The great valiencye of the Moores, in reſiſting theyr enimies landing. throwing at vs both ſtones, and ſp [...]res, and ſhooting off their arrowes in great plentie. But as one as our Ordinaunce began to go off, then they deſperat [...]ly began to run away and giue place. Howbeit, they [...], did ſo ioyne themſelues together, & that in ſuch ſort they gaue our men inough to do to diſimbarke themſelues for that the ſame was ſo valiantly by them reſiſted.

And for all that our men could doe, they woulde reuer leaue their olde altogether, but by a [...]wordf [...] and a lyttle they retired themſelues to their Palme trée or to haue amongſt them ſuccour: and there what with the hinderance [Page] that our men found by thoſe trées, they defended themſelues a ſmall time. But afterward they ranne awaye, and that without order, ſo that our men followed them to the vttermoſt, in eſpeciall the Conſtable of Franciſco de Alburquerque, whom they call Pedro de lares, who found himſelfe alone with thrée Nayres which came toward him. The one of theſe ſhot an arrow, which ſtrake him in the breaſt, and for that he wore a breaſt plate, it did him no harme. And as the Nayre looſed off his arrow, went off lykewiſe his ſhot, and ſtrake the Nayre in the breaſt, ſo that he ouerthrewe him, and afterward ſhot off another péece vpon one of the others that remained, and killed him alſo. By the third he himſelfe was hurte in the legge with a certaine weapon, which they doe call a Gomya, and with the ſame hée that hurt him would haue run awaye, but at length this Pedro lares, killed him with his ſword. Thus all the enimies béeing put to flight, Franciſco de Alburquerque did then determine to march toward the Caymalls houſe, wher he had gathered together all his force, which was ſomewhat ſtrong by rea [...]on of certaine trenches that he had made about the ſame. The Captaines were diuided on both ſides of the Iland, and each of them had their men with them, and in the middes of the Iland were placed thoſe of Coching. In this order they went all burning and ſpoylyng ſuch Townes as there were, and that without any reſiſtaunce. Going in this order, there came certaine Paraos from Calycut on that ſide of the Ilande which Edwarte Pachecho had the charge off, who for yt they were many in number did leape a land, & encounter with ye foreſaid Edwarte Pachecho, & had giuen him the ouerthrowe, (if Franciſco de Alburquerque had not bene) who came thether with thoſe that he had in charge. And for that he found greater reſiſtaunce in his Enimyes, then he looked for, and alſo being ſomewhat afearde leaſt the Caymall would haue come thether to ſuccour the reſt, which if he had ſo done, would haue put him in daunger: he therefore commanded▪ Nicholas Coello to take with him Antonio del Campo and Pedro de Tayde, and to ſet vpon [Page] the Caymals houſe,The Caymal ſlaine in defending his houſe valyauntlye▪ who was there ſlaine in defending himſelfe valyantly. At that time manye more of his companye were both ſlaine and hurt, the houſe was lykewiſe ſpoyled and ranſakt: of our men were hurt eightéene, and one onely ſlaine. In the meane while that this was a doing, Franciſco de Alburquerque and Edwarto Pacheco, did put to flight thoſe of the fléete of Calycut, many of them lieng along the water ſide ſorely hurt and ſlaine, the others hadde inough to doe to imbarke themſelues in their Paraos, in the which afterward they fled away. And in remembraunce of ſo great a victory as this was,Knights made after a valiant victorie. Franciſco de Alburquerque made certaine Knights, for that through their manhood the victory was obtained, for of thrée thouſand Nayres the Caymall had, the leaſt part eſcaped: and the Iland was all deſtroyed with fire and ſword: and thus after this ſorte was the King of Coching well reuenged ouer his enimies.

¶Of the warres which Franciſco de Alburquerque began to make againſt the Lord of Repelyn: and how by the King of Cochings licenſe, a Caſtle was begun to be made called Manuel. Chap. 58.

ALl this being ended, then determined Franciſco de Alburquerque to make wars againſt the Lord of Repelyn. And to begin the ſame, he departed with his other Captaines in the night toward a towne of his which is foure leagues from Coching, whether he came the next day about eight of the clocke. To receiue him, there were placed along ye water ſide welny two thouſand Nayres, of the which ther were fiue hundred bowmen. Our men being come within a Baſe ſhot of the land, began to ſhoote off in ſuch ſort, that the enimies were driuen to giue place, and retire vnto their Palme trées, who being there, did tarie the comming of Franciſco de Alburquerque. [Page] He being diſimbarked, with the reſt of his company did giue the onſet vpon the enimies, hauing Nicholas Coello with his men in the forward, and after him marched the reſt of the Captaines. At the firſt meeting were ſome of our men hurt with them [...] which they ſhot ſtanding behinde their Palme trees, which to them were a very good bulwarke. Our men, ſéeing that as they were, and hauing thoſe trees for their defence, they could not make them to remoue, did then remoue themſelues, and got on the one ſide of them, ſhooting at them with their Croſſebowes and Caléeuers with the which there were ſome ſlaine, and the reſt fled away vnto their Townes, after whom our men followed ſo eagerly, that there was made a great ſlaughter, yea, farre greater then in the fieldes, for that there they were ſperpeled & héere they tooke them altogether in their ſtréets, where they might the better deale with them. The Towne being left alone, was immediately ſet a fire, the ſpoyle therof was giuen to thoſe Nayres of Coching which went with him: this rewarde Franciſco de Alburquerque gaue vnto them, that they ſhoulde not thinke his comming into the Indias, was to robbe any man, but rather to reuenge ſuch iniuries, as were ſhewed to the King of Coching.

Now at his returne with this victory, he was ioyfullye receiued at the Kings handes,The king of Coching thinketh him ſelfe ſufficiently reuenged of his enimies. who requeſted him, not to trouble himſelfe any farther, for that he iudged himſelfe to be well reuenged. But he aunſwered him, that although his highnes was ſatiſfied, yet he was not ſatiſfied, but requeſted him to giue him yet for her licenſe, for yt he accounted it not any pains to fight in his ſeruice. Howbeit he ſéeing yt the king was contented, did then aſke him licenſe to buyld a Fort of timber, foraſmuch as after that he wer gone for Portingale, there might remaine the Kinges Factor [...]eſure and without feare, and all ſuch as ſhoulde be lefte in the ſame. And this he declared to be the greateſt ſeruice he coulde doe to the King his Maſter, to conſent therevnto.

To this requeſt the King aunſwered, that his deſire [Page] was to ſerue the King of Portingale, Heere the king of Coching g [...]ue licenſe to Franciſco Alburquerque to build a Fort in Coching. with a greater matter then that was, for that he muſt needes confeſſe, that by his meanes, he was reſtored vnto his Kingdome of Coching againe. And therefore he willed him to make the ſame, and what els he would: and if that néede were, he woulde commaund it for to bée made at his owne coſt and charge.

This licenſe being graunted, with the conſent of the other Captaines, it was thought good the ſame to be made harde by the riuer of Coching, right ouer againſt the Citie within the lande, for that there it was thought moſt ſureſt, and from thence they might beſt reſiſt the comming of the King of Calicuts Fléete. And for that they had neither lime, ſtone, ſande, nor anye other neceſſaries therevnto, hee was driuen to make the Caſtle of timber, which the King commaunded to be cut in great plentie, as well Palme trées, as of other timber. He ſent alſo many of his men for the furtherance of the worke, ſaieng, that he would not haue anye of our men to labour, for that as yet the troubles were ſufficient that they had ſuſtained in the warres paſt. But for all that, the Captaine generall wold not let, but cauſe them to worke.

The Captaynes were de [...]ded with theyr men, and beganne theyr worke the ſixe and twentith of September, in the ſelfe ſame yeare 150 [...]. It was a great pleaſure to ſée, with what diligence our men did labour: inſomuch, that it was ſayde there, that there were no ſuch men in the worlde againe, as ours were, for that they ſerued for all aſſ [...]yes.

¶How the Fort of Coching was made an ende off: and how Franciſco de Alburquerque and Alonſo de Alburquerque retourned againe vppon the Lord of Repelyn. Chap. 59.

[Page] FOure dayes after that the Forte was begun, came thether Alonſo de Alburquer (que), who by meanes of the great ſtormes & other foule weather, coulde not come ſooner: notwithſtanding he brought all his men with him in health, of the which, Franciſco de Alburquerque was very glad, and immediately departed a péece of the Fort to be made by his men, and hy this his comming, the Fort was made an ende off in a ſhort time:A deſcription and comendatiō of the Forte of Coching. which being as it was, made of timber, was as ſtrong & faire as though it had bene made of lyme and ſtone. It was builded ſquare, and within the walls from the one ſide to the other, it was ſquare euery way nine fathome. The walls were made of two orders of Palme trées and other ſtrong timber, firmely ſet into the ground, and yoked together with hoopes of yron, and nayled with great nayles. Betwéene the two orders of trées, they were rampered vp with much earth & ſande, and at the ende of each of theſe Corners, wer builded bulwarks, which were repleniſhed with Ordinaunce. Alſo there was caſt about the ſame a Caue or Ditch, which alwaies was full of water. The next daye after that this Fort was ended, there was made a ſolemne Proceſſion, in the which, went the Vicar of this Forte, who rarried in his hande a Crucifix vnder a Canapie, which the Captaines caried ouer him, ſounding before the ſame their Trumpets, with great ioye. With this ſolemnitie they entred into ye Caſtle, which the Vicar did bleſſe. And by commaundement of the Captaines, they cauſed the ſame to be called Manuel, in perpetuall memory of the King Don Manuel, vnto whom all thoſe that made the ſame were ſubiects. The Fort being bleſſed, ther was a Maſſe ſang, at ye which ther was alſo a Sermon made by Frier Gaſton, wherein was made mention how much they were bound to giue God great thankes, yt would [Page] permit and condeſcend, that from ſo ſmall a kingdome as that is of Portingale, and lieng on the cape of the Occident, there ſhould goe Portingales to a land ſo farre of, as are the Indias, and to make there a fort amongſt ſuch a multitude of enimyes vnto the Catholike faith. And that by the clemencie of God, this ſhould be but a beginning of many others. Alſo he made mention how greatly bound they wer to y• king of Coching, for ye good ſeruice y• héerin he had done to the king theyr ſouereigne: which words béeing brought to ye king of Coching, They followe the vvars farther for ye king of Coching [...] reuenge. he reioyced therat very much, & gaue ye generals thanks for ye ſame. After all this they returned & followed their warres againſt all ſuch as were enimies to the king of Coching, and beſet certeine townes which wer along the coaſt, fiue leagues from Coching, the rather for that they were aduertiſed by their ſpies, that thoſe Nayres that ſhould kéepe the ſame, were but few in number. They carried with them for that place ſeauen hundred men, and departed two houres before day, notwithſtanding it was nine of the clocke before they came thether, in the which townes there were more then ſixe thouſand ſoules, ouer & beſides children, and ſuch Naires as were there in gariſon, which were thrée hundred, and thoſe all bowmen, Alonſo de Alburquerque, with other of the Captaines leapt a land hard by the firſt towne: & Franciſco de Alburquerque wt the others into the other towns, which were a Fawlcon ſhot off. In the firſt they tooke the enimies vpon a ſodeme, with the feare thereof they made them runne awaie, for that immediatly as ſoone as they landed, they ſet fire vnto them all.

Our men ſeeing the enimies to runne awaie, went after them,At the alarome ſoū ded, the force of ye Moores increaſeth▪ and in ouertaking them there were many ſlaine of them, and after that they were wery of following them, they deſtroied the countrie. In the meane while the larome was raiſed, and for that this Ilande was well inhabited, there was aſſembled together well nigh ſixe thouſande Nayres, which did ſet vpon our men at theyr imbarking, ſo that they were in greate daunger, in eſpeciall Edwarto Pacheco, [Page] which found not his boat wher he had left the fam [...]. They followed him ſo narrowlye, that with their Bowes and arrowes there were of his men hurt to the number of eight, although they defended themſelues valiauntly, and killed many of their enimies. But for that the enimyes were ſo many in number, they had beene worſe handled, if ſo b [...] thoſe Captaines Generalls which were inbarked, had not diſimbarked themſelues and [...]coured them. The enymies ſéeing this, and hauing loſt their hope to reuenge their iniuries, more then that they had done, did runne awaye, leauing behinde them the [...] well couered ouer▪ with dead men, which fell: with their bowes and hand guns in theyr hands. The enimies [...] gone after this force, our men did ſet a fire fiftéene, Paraos, which were a ground, and tooke other ſeauen which were a floate, and ſo departed, going their way alwaies hallowing and crieng, as who ſhuld ſay, they [...] them, which thing gréeued the Lord of Repelyn, whoſe Ilande that was▪ conſidering howe all they found the ſame prouided. And they fearing leaſt our men would [...] vpon another towne, which ſtoode a league from the ſame vp the riuer, he ſent certeine Naires thether immediatly.

How the Captaines Generall returned to Repelyn, and afterward went to [...] what Edwarte Pacheco did in thoſe two [...]. Chap. 60.

THe Captaines generall hauing knowledge of theſe townes, & to the end ther ſhuld remaine nothing of the Lords of Repelyn y• were not deſtroied▪ they determined ſo follow them victory. And therfore yt ſelfe ſame night they departed, but before they would ſo do, they reſted themſelues till it was midnight▪ hard by ye caſtle, yt they might by the dawning of the day come to the town whether they minded to [...]. And for at y• it was dark, yet they departed at y• time, although ye one of them could not ſee the other. And Alonſo de Alburquerque being [...] [Page] to remaine behinde▪ The readineſſe and forvvardnes of Alonſo de Alburquerque. he commanded his men row a apac [...], & by yt meanes he was the firſt that came to the towne, & that a great deale before day. And being weary with ſtaieng for the reſt of his companye, he commaunded to ſet fire to the towne, with intent to burne the ſame: & for that the enimies were vnprouided for his cōming, he ſuppoſed he might therfore doe the ſame the better, and ſo he did. The enimies ſéeing the fire, aroſe forthwith to quench the ſame, which our men perceiuing, did ſet vpon them, & ſlew ſome, & the others ranne their wayes. Thus they did for that they were of a baſe kinde of people and poore, and without weapons. The Naires knowing that it was our men that had ſet ye fire,A baſe minded & cowardiſe kinde of people▪ came thether all ſuch of them as were in gariſon within ye towne, which were more then two thouſand, who being together, did ſet vpon our men very deſperatly, inſomuch that Alonſo de Alburquerque with his men, was driuen to retire, for that they were no more then fortie, of ye which ther was one ſlaine, & of the others there were ſome hurt with their arrowes They had all of them hardly eſcaped, if ſo be that they had not retired, which was done not without great trouble. And yet he could not haue done ſo much if the boys of the ſhips which remained in their boats, had not ſet fire to a Fawlcon, for feare of the which, as ſoone as the ſame was ſhot of the enimies aparted themſelues. By this time it was day light, at the which came thether Franciſco de Alburquerque, who whē he had knowledge what had paſt, commaunded to be ſhot of all the ordinance that the boats carried, which made the enimies to flie from the ſhoare. Whileſt they were thus doing, Edwarte Pacheco did determine to leape a land, ſomwhat farther of from the others, & going forth to doe ſo, he found ther many Naires wt theyr weapons, which had paſt by a narrow way, to ye intent to ſuccour their felows. As ſoone as he had ſight of thē, he commanded to bring his boat hard to ye ſtreight, where wt his ordinance he did hinder and keepe that paſſage. Then immediatly came thether our men, which forthwith did, leape a land, & ſetting vpō their enimies, inforced thē to rū away: [Page] and for that they knew not the countrie they followed them not,The enimies tovvne ſet on fire▪ but did ſet fire to the towne. Then Edwarto Pacheco, & Pedro de Taide did part themſelues with their men to go and burne another Towne which ſtoode a little aboue the [...]ther, and in the way they met with eightéene Paraos, all armed, of the king of Calycuts, which they did put to flight, and the towne being burnt, as they before had determined, they returned to their Generalls. And for that it was ſomwhat rath for to returne, they went to the Iland of Cambalan▪ minding to deſtroie ye ſame, for that the Caimall was enimie to the king of Coching, where they burnt a greate towne. From thence Edwarto Pacheco, with ſixe Paraos of Coching, went to burne another towne, but before they could accompliſh the ſame, they fought a good while with their enimies, of the which there were ſome ſlaine. The Towne being ſet a fire, he retourned with his men, of the which were ſeauen hurt, and béeing retyred, he fought with thirtéene Paraos of Calicut, which he did ouercome with the helpe of Pedro de Tayde, & Antonio del campo, which came thether at that inſtant. The enimies being retired into a certeine créeke, there went after them Edwarto Pacheco, and was the cauſe that one of thoſe Paraos ran a ground; and ſo he tooke the ſame, and in the meane while the others went their waie. And for that our men that rowed were wearyed, they went not therefore after them, but returned vnto their Captaines generall, with whome they went to Coching. They returne frō purſuing theyr enimies▪ And giuing the king an account of that which they had done, hée yéelded himſelfe ſufficiently contented with reuenge of his enimies, and prayed them to giue ouer the warres.

What the captaine Generall had done going for a Tone laden with pepper, and how Edwarto Pacheco did put to flight 34. Paraos. chap. 6 [...].

[Page] NOw by reaſon of theſe foreſaid wars, there was none that durſt bring one graine of Pepper to ſell at the Factorie. Neither yet durſt the merchants goe to ſeeke the ſame out, and for all that they were able, they could not get more then thrée hundred Bahares. And ſo they ſent word to the generalls, willing them to ſend for it, being nine leagues of from Coching, y• which they immediatly did, béeing accompanied with all the other Captaines of the Fléete, for that they ſhoulde goe for the ſame amongſt all their enimyes. And becauſe they woulde not be knowne, they departed in the night, and in their way Edwarte Pacheco did deſtroy an whole▪ Ilande, where hee with onely thoſe of his owne companie fought with ſixe thouſand of his enimies, & the Generalls did in the meane while put to ſlight xxxiiii. Paraos. This béeing done, Edwarte Pacheco and Antonio del campo, went and deſtroied a great towne in the firme land, fighting with, & putting to ſlight two thouſand Naires, of the which ther were many ſlaine and hurt, and of our men not one. With this victorie they returned to their Captaines Generall, who ſent immediatly for the pepper, which was but a lyttle way of, and being night, themſelues did depart toward Coching, from whence they were minded to ſend the Tone which carried the pepper, laden with merchandiſe to giue in truck of the ſame. And for that it might goe the ſurer, Edwarte Pacheco was ſent with other thrée Captaines, who carried each of them fiftie men a péece, & of Coching therwent 500. Paraos▪ Edwarte Pacheco being departed, did paſſe the foreſaid ſtraight before it was day, & therfore he was not ſeens, & being broad day did paſſe by the mouth of a [...],The valiant [...] of Edvvarte Pacheco▪ where ther were bow men without number, y• which ſhot at our men with their arrowes. And if ſo be y• our boates had not ben paueic [...]d or fenced with their ſhields a targets, our men had receiued great hurt, for that the riuer was but narow, ſo ye with their arrows they might reach them▪ Edwarte Pacheco [Page] ſéeing that they were ioyned all together, and iudging that on that ſort they might do them ſome harme, commanded immediatly one of the Captaines to kéepe y• Tone, and he with the other two, & alſo thoſe of Coching did determinatly come with ye proers of their boats a land, where there were two thouſand men of the enimies, amongſt the which he commaunded the Fawlkons to be ſhotte off, the which did ſo enter amongeſt them all, that with the ſame there were many torne in péeces, ſo that it made the reſidue to retire from the water ſide, & there remained place inough for our men to diſimbarke themſelues without daunger, & ſo they did. And as the moſt part of them carried handguns, ſo they did ſet vpon them with the better ſtomacke. The enimies for all that gaue no place, but ſhot of their arrowes, which were ſo many in number, that it was thought that one met in the aire with another. The ſkirmiſh was valiantly handled of the one ſide,An hot & valiant ſkirmiſh. and of the other, which in ſuch ſort indured a quarter of an houre, yet notwithſtanding, the enimie at length did runne away, and left of their company many ſlaine, the cauſe whereof was, for that they brought no weapons to offend their enimies withall. Then our men purſued them to a village, out of the which there iſſued many Naires, which ioyning thēſelues with thoſe y• fled away, returned vpon our men with ſuch a ſtomacke that they ran in great daunger, for that there were of the enimies wel néere ſixe thouſand men. A great multitude of thoſe yt were ther, did then as much as they could to go betwéene the riuer and our men, but to reſiſt them that they ſhould not ſo doe, and to kill them all, our men defended themſelues, and repelled them with greate difficultie. And as the riuer was thus defended, ſo they ran into the ſame, in the which they ſhewed themſelues to be valiant. And when they drew néere to thoſe that were in their boates, they ſeparated themſelues into two ſeuerall places, leauing one broad way, that our men might the better imbark themſelues, ſtanding without the daunger of their Ordinaunce, with the feare of the which the enimyes did ſuffer our men [Page] to imbarke themſelues, whereat there was none either ſlaine or hurt, which ſéemed to be a miracle.

¶Heere is contained the ſcituation of the Citie of Coulan, and how the Apoſtle Saint Thomas came thether, and there was martyred: and Alonſo de Alburquerque went and laded there, and in what place did ſettle a Factorye. Chap. 62.

IMmediatly after this was the king of Calicut aduertiſed of the loſſe of thoſe [...]araos, and alſo of all the ſucceſſe that our men had in thoſe wars, for the knowledge wherof he vſed all diligence, in reſpect of the great deſire he had to turne vs out of the Indias, for that naturally they could not abide vs. And fearing leaſt that we ſhuld take their countrie from them,Why the Indias wer moſt earneſt to hunt our men out of their Countrie▪ they were ſo much the more deſirous to hunt vs away. This thing they procured with great inſtance, and alſo were the occaſion that we ſhould haue no Pepper. Making this account, that if ſo be that we ſhould goe without the ſame vnto Portingale, it would be the occaſion, that we would not retourne againe to the Indias. By this meanes therfore we were driuen to prouide for the Fléete in their riuers, and that with ſuch a number of men, that we could neuer haue aboue a 1200. quintall of Pepper, of 4000. Bahares, that the Merchants had promiſed, and yet this we got with great ſhot of Ordinaunce, and hurt of our men, and with infinit ſhedding of bloud of the enimies.

In the ende, the king of Calycut found the meanes by merchants his friends to perſwade with the merchants of Coching, to giue to the Captaine general no more pepper, excuſing themſelues with the warres. Which thing was done in ſuch ſort, that neither with the requeſt of the king of Coching, neither with anye gifte that was giuen them by Franciſco de Alburquerque, hée coulde moue [Page] or perſwade them to giue them anye more Pepper. Now the hope of our men for hauing the ſame anye more in Coching béeing paſt, Alonſo de Alburquerque with Pedro de Tayde, and Antonio del Campo, were driuen to ſéeke for the ſame at the citie of Coulan, which they did the ſooner, for that they knew that the gouernours of y• Towne were deſirous of our factorie, the which was offered to Pedro Aluares Cabrall, and the Lorde Admerall. Thoſe that thus went thether, were fully bent to make warres againſt them, if ſo be that they woulde not giue them lading for theyr ſhips. Alonſo de Alburquerque béeing departed from Coching with certaine Captaines, came into the port of the Citie of Coulan, the which ſtandeth twelue leagues from Coching, and from Comarin xxiiii. the which is beyond the ſame, bearing toward the South.

This Citie (as [...] ſaye) before that Calycut was builded,The diſcriptiō of the citie of Coulā. was the principall of the Poruince of Malabar, and the greateſt and moſt principalleſt Port of all that Coaſt. Notwithſtanding, as yet their houſes be both greate and fayre, and ſo are alſo theyr Pagodes and Chappells comparable to theſe of Calycut. Their harbour or hauen is verie good, they are well prouided of all ſortes of victualls, the people are in condition lyke vnto thoſe of Calicut. The inhabitants are Malabars, Gentiles, and Moores, and the Moores are verie rich and greate merchauntes, in eſpecially ſince the warres beganne betwéene Calycut and vs, for many merchauntes of Calycut lefte the ſame, and nowe dwell there. They doe trade in Coromandyll, Ceilan, in the Ilands of Maldyua, Bengala, Pegu, [...]matia, and in Malaea.

The king of this countrie is Lorde of a greate Kingdome, wherin are many great Cities and rich, which haue belonging vnto them ſundrye goodlye harbours, by reaſon whereof his cuſtomes are great, and for that cauſe they are riche of Treaſure, and are able to make a greate power of men of warre▪ which are for the moſte parte men but of lyttle ſtature. He hath alwayes in his [Page] gard, thrée hundred women, which doe vſe bowes, and are very perfect in the ſkill of ſhooting.A gard of vvomen vvith bovves & arrovves. They haue about their breaſts certaine bands of lynnen & of ſilke, with the which they doe binde them ſo harde, that they are no hinderaunce vnto them in their ſhooting. This king hath for ye moſt part of his [...], war with the king of Narſinga, which is a great trouble vnto him. He doth continually or for the moſt part remain [...] [...] a Citie, the which they doe call Calle. The Gouernours of Coulan are as it were Aldermen, in the which, there is a certaine Church, which ye Apoſtle Saint Thomas builded▪ comming thether to preach the Catholike faith, by reaſon wherof, there were great numbers that turned Chriſtians, as well of the Gentiles, as otherwiſe, ſo that of them there are procéeded from generation to generation the number of twelue thouſand houſeholders, that are ſcattered abroad in the Country wher they haue their Churches. The King of Coulan ſéeing how many were daylye conuerted, and the daunger thereof, did baniſh him out of his Countrey, who being thus gone, went to a Citie called Malapur, lyeng along that Coaſt, and is parcell of the Kingdome of Narſingas. And yet being there, for yt he was ſo followed by y• Gentiles and by ye Chriſtians of Coulan, did apart himſelfe to ye Mountains,S. Thomas baniſhed ye country▪ wher they affirme yt he dyed, & from thence he was brought to be buried in Coulan, in a vante yt was made in the foreſaide Church. This Church is now ouergrowen, with b [...]ſhes and woodes, for that the Citie is diſinhabited, onely there remaineth a poore Moore, which doeth kéepe the ſame, for that there are no Chriſtians néere vnto it: and there he liueth vppon the almes of all thoſe yt commeth thether in Pilgrimage, aſwell of Chriſtians as of the Gentiles, for ye Moores doth not let to giue their almes likewiſe vnto him, for that he was buried in their Countrey. Alonſo de Alburquerque being come to the harbor of this citie, & the Gouernours hauing knowledge therof, they came to viſite him a boord his ſhip, where within the ſame there was ſetled a peace, y• which was made vpon condition, that we ſhould haue our Factory in the Citie, & alſo ſhould haue [Page] as much lading of ſpices and other commodities,The conditions of the peace made vvith the inhabitāts of this Citie. as would lade preſently thoſe ſhips, the which immediatly they went about to prouide. In the meane while that our men were there, and whileſt that the one ſhip tooke in his lading, the other two kept abroad in the ſea, to watch all ſuch as paſt by from other places and thoſe that they could diſcrie, were brought, ſome with their good wills, and others there were brought againſt their wills, to ſpeake with Alonſo de Alburquerque, and to ſhew him obedience as to a Captaine general of ye king of Portingales. He offered no hurt to any, but onely to the Moores of the red ſea: for all ſuch of them as he tooke, he would cauſe their ſhips firſt to be ranſacked, and afterward to be burnt, in reuenge of that they had done to Pedro Aluares Cabrall, of the which thoſe of Coulan were greatly afraid. The houſe for the Factorie béeing finiſhed, and the ſhippes laden, Alonſo de Alburquerque lefte there for Factor, one Antonio de Sala, with two ſcriueners, the one called Rodrigo Aranſo, and the other Loparabelo: and for interpretour one called Madera, and two Friers for Chaplaines, with others, the which in all were xx. And ſo leauing them in peace, he departed toward Coching.

How the Captaine Generall departed for Portingale, and how he left in the Indias for Captaine Generall Edwarte Pacheco. Chap. 63.

ALL theſe things remaining in this order, there was ſent a meſſenger to Franciſco de Alburquerque from Coſebiquin, a Moore of Calicut, which was a greate friend of ours, as I haue before declared, ſignifieng that the king of Calicut was determined to ſet vppon Coching, immediatly after he was gone to Portingale, and ſo take the ſame, and to fortifie it in ſuch ſorte, [Page] that he might defend the entering into the harbour, whatſoeuer armie ſhould come. And for the furtheraunce of this enterpriſe, he had gotten the good will of all the nobilitye of Malabar, and that alſo for certeintie it was bruited, that the king of Cananor and the king of Coulan would ſecretly aide him. Ouer and beſides all this, that the Merchauntes Moores did offer him great helpes toward the ſame. After the ſelfe ſame ſorte, did Franciſco Reynel write vnto him a fewe dayes after, and how that the king of Calycut was preparing of ſouldiers, beſides that hée had commanded much ordinaunce to be made, and that the Moores of Coching were greatly in his fauour, and therfore he did aduertiſe him not to truſt much vnto them: within two daies after the receipt of theſe letteres, the king of Coching wēt to viſit Franciſco de Alburquerque, and after the ſame manner told him that which he had learned of certeine Bramenes that came from Calycut, and willed him to beware & to foreſée what daunger he was in to loſe Coching, if ſo be that ther did remaine no armie of defence for that purpoſe. Laieng further before him, how many daungers he had bene in for the mainteinaunce of our friendſhip, and for that cauſe his owne ſubiects had riſen againſt him, and that nowe they minded to doe the like. Yet notwithſtanding he had ſuch a hope in our men, and our helpe, that he deſired none other ſuccour for to defend him from his enimyes, whereof he praied him not to ſay him nay.

VNto this,The generals cōfortable aunſvvere vnto ye king of Coching. Franciſco de Alburquerque, aunſwered him, that if ſo be that he did well knowe whether hée hadde gotten, by ſuch loſſes as hée hadde receiued, for the fauour which he had ſhewed vnto our men, he would receiue other greater loſſes if it were poſſible. For ſetting a ſide the great renoune and fame which he hadde gotten of a true and valiaunt Prince, ‘hée hadde alſo recouered for a friende the king of Portingale, which is Lorde of ſuch ſubiects as hée hath ſéene, who alſo are his to obeye and ſerue him in all thing, when néede ſhould require. [Page] And farther, that they would with ſmall trouble make him Lord of greater cities then Coching, and that alſo he might beléeue, that euen as they did reſtore him vnto his eſtate, euen ſo they would conſerue him in the ſame. And although that there were made with the King of Calycut the greateſt peace that could be, yet he ſayde he had ſo ſmall a confidence in his dooings, that he would not leaue him without an armie of ſhips, before that he departed from the Indias, for that he did well know, how little truth that King vſed. And if ſo be, that vntil this time he had diſſembled with him, it was onely to ſée whether by this meanes he might lade his ſhips, for otherwiſe he could not do it, in eſpeciall ye time being as it is ſo néere ſpent.’

With this aunſwere, the King was ſatiſfied: and ſince that Franciſco de Alburquerque could haue no more Pepper then that he had, which was but a ſmall quantitie, hée determined to depart toward Portingale, but firſt he would nominate him that ſhould remaine in the Indias for Captaine generall, that the King of Coching ſhould vnderſtand the ſame. And for that he knew, that he that was appoynted, would thinke it very dangerous to remaine there, with ſo few men as he was able to leaue him, he durſt commit it to none of his Captaines. Howbeit after that he had offered the ſame to them all, and they were not willing to accept it,Edwarte Pacheco apointed Captaine generall for the Indias▪ laſt of all he gaue the gouernment to Edwarte Pachecho, who did accept it with a great good will, more for to ſerue God and his king, then for any profite he knewe that hée ſhould get in remaining in the Indias.

And when it was once ſpread abroad & knowne to the king of Coching, that Edwarte Pacheco was he that was appointed, he was well pleaſed therewith, for that he hadde heard before of his valour. This being concluded vppon, Franciſco de Alburquerque made ſaile, carrieng with him all the reſt of the Fléete. But firſt he gaue the king to vnderſtand that he did carry the ſame no further then to Cananor, for becauſe of the Fléete of Calycut, which might encounter with him, and ſo worke him ſome diſpleaſure in his [Page] Port, where he minded to ſtay (as he did) procuring the lybertie of Rodrigo Reynel and the others that were there. This determination being knowen to the King of Calycut, he ſent him word, that it were not requiſite that hée ſhould haue him away, but rather offered him, if ſo be that he would tarrie, to giue him the Pepper that he had promiſed to delyuer. But hearing this, he ſuppoſed that he gaue the ſame out, that Rodrigo Reynel with the others, ſhould be the more deſirous to remaine in the Indias. At this inſtaunt came in Alonſo de Alburquerque which retourned from Coulan, and the time being ſpent, he would not tarrye there any longer, but with the reſt went toward Cananor. And being there arriued, there came a letter from Rodrigo Reynel, in the which he wrote vnto him, that the King of Calycut was certainly bent to ſet vpon Coching, immediately after that he were gone. And that all thoſe diſſimulations which he did vſe in offering to giue him Pepper, was but for feare he had conceiued that he would haue burnt his ſhips, which were as then in his harbour. This newes the Captaine generall kept cloſe to himſelfe, that the ſame ſhuld not come to ye eares of Edwarte Pacheco, vnto whom was lefte the ſhippe in the which he went, and two Caruells, of the which were Captaines Pedro Raphael and Diego Pieres, beſides a ſhippe boate.

Alſo they lefte him foure ſcore and tenne men, and thoſe whole, that were néedfull, for all the reſt were ſicke. Alſo, there was left him, the moſt parte of the Ordinaunce, with the moſt parte of the munition that they were able to ſpare. Now being knowen to them all, of the great power that the King of Calycut had in a readineſſe, they did then meruayle, that Edwarte Pacheco would accept the ſame, in eſpecially, for that he remayned with ſo ſmall a Fléete. Some therefore there were that gaue out and ſayde, God haue mercie vpon Edwarte Pacheco, and thoſe that doe remayne with him: ſuppoſing that in very déede, he ſhoulde not eſcape.

And although theſe words were ſpoken within his hearing, [Page] hearing, yet for all that he would not but tarrie. The Captaine Generall béeing diſpatched, did depart towardes Portingale, the laſt of Ianuarye, in the yeare of our Lorde 1504.1504▪

The firſt that made ſaile was Alonſo de Alburquerque, They depart from the Indias and ſaile tovvardes Portingal▪ Franciſco de Alburquerque, and Nicholas Coello that departed afterwarde, were caſt awaye, Pedro de Taide was driuen to Quyloa, and entering vppon the Barre, his Shippe was there caſt awaye, with the moſt parte of his men, by meanes whereof hée went to Monſanbique in a Zanbuco, where afterwarde hée dyed. Hée lefte there a Letter written of all his ſucceſſe, and alſo declaring in what eſtate the Indias did remaine, which hée commaunded to bée deliuered to any Captaine that ſhould come thether from Portingale.

Alonſo de Alburquerque, and Antonio del Campo came to Liſhborne the thrée and twentéeth of Auguſt, in the yeare aboue ſayde, and tolde the King of the eſtate of the Indias, who alſo preſented him with foure hundred weight of the greate ſéede of Pearles, which is called Alhofer or Ragges, and with 144. pounde weight of great Pearle, of greate eſtimation, and eight Oyſters, in the which the ſame do grow: and alſo a Diamond Tablet, the which was as bigge as a greate Beane, beſides many other iewells, and alſo two horſes out of Perſia, the which were great runners.

¶How Edwarte Pacheco behaued himſelfe in Cananor, and in his courſe toward Coching: and what elſe he paſt with the king at his arriual. chap. 64.

FRanciſco de Alburquerque béeing departed towardes Portingale, Edwarte Pacheco which remained for Captaine Generall in the Indias, hauing a while ſtayed [Page] in Cananor to take in there his victualles, brought himſelfe vnder ſayle, and came to an Ankor without the point of Cananor, and from thence hée ſent Pedro Raphaell to goe a long the Coaſt, and to cauſe all ſuch Shippes as he coulde diſcrye to beare with the Captaine, and to reknowledge him for their Generall. At this inſtaunt was Diego Pieres a newe rigging of his Caruell in Coching. And all theſe Shippes that were brought before the Generall, gaue an account whether they were bounde, and what they carryed, and alſo of whence they were. And if ſo bee that hée founde anye Pepper, hée woulde take the ſame, as hée did from ſome other ſhippes that were bound to Calycut, in the which order hée vſed ſuch rigour, that afterwarde hée was feared of all men.

Whileſt hée was thus at an Ankor, there came vppon him in the night a Fléete of twentye and fiue Saile of Shippes, which vppon a ſodeine made him to coniecture that they were of Calycut. And ſéeing himſelfe in ſuch daunger, hée commaunded to let ſlippe their Gabells by theyr Halſis, for that vppon ſuch a ſodeine they coulde not weye theyr Ankors with theyr Capſteines, and with the ſame he cut and made his courſe into the Sea, to bring himſelfe in the winde of thoſe Sayles, vppon whome hee commaunded to ſhoote off all his Ordinaunce. And as they were ſhippes laden with Rice, ſo ranne they their waye as faſt as they coulde. Some there were that ranne a grounde, and more hurt had bene done, had it not béene for a greate ſhip of the Moores that came in their company,A valiant ſkirmiſh vvith an hot ſhip of the Moores. in the which were well néere to the number of 400. Moores, that were of the kingdome of Cananor. Theſe thinking that they might take our ſhippe, came ſodeinly vppon them, alwaies ſhooting of their arrowes, and we aunſwering them likewiſe with our Ordinaunce. This ſkirmiſh continued till it was almoſt day, and then they tolde what they were. After that Edwarte Pacheco had thus well beaten him with his Ordinaunce, with the which were nine of his men ſlaine, beſides many that were hurt, they tolde what they were.

[Page] And for that there durſt not paſſe anye Ship by for feare that they ſhuld be taken, the Captaine Generall departed towards Coching, and in the waye he fought with certeine ſhips of the Moores, ſome he burnt, and others hée tooke, beſide thoſe that were ſunke. Thus with greate victorie hée arriued at Coching, and landed at the Caſtle, where he vnſterſtoode by the Factour, that the newes of the preparation that the king of Calycut had made for the warres was moſt true, and that the king of Coching ſtood in greate feare thereof, for that the Moores that were inhabitantes of Coching, were againſt their king for the mainteining of theſe warres againſt the king of Calycut. The next day following the Captaine Generall went to viſite the king of Coching, carrieng his boats with him well armed and fenced, with certeine paueiſes made of Boordes, and ſette with Flagges, beſides certeine Ordinaunce which they had in the ſame, with the which he ſhewed himſelfe to be verye ioyfull, the rather that the king might take occaſion to be merrie: who after that he vnderſtoode how ſmall a fleete there was left to defend his countrie withall, he could not bée but verye penſatiue,What great feare ye king of Coching vvas put into by his traiterous ſubiects. and ſayde vnto the Captaine Generall, that the Moores of Coching hadde tolde him that hée did not remaine in the Indias to defende him from the king of Calycuts power, but to gather together the Merchaundiſe that were in the Factorye in Coching, and in the Factors cuſtodie, with all thoſe that were there, and ſo to carry them all to Cananor and Coulan.

And therefore hée earneſtlye requeſted him to tell him if it were ſo or not, for hée did thinke the ſame to be true, by reaſon that there was lefte ſo ſmall a Fléete. Which the rather alſo made him to doubt that hee would not tarrie to fight with the king of Calycuts power, but woulde doe as the Moores hadde tolde him, wherefore hée prayed him to aduertiſe him of the truth thereof, for that if it were ſo, hée might in time ſéeke his reuenge, although as then hée ſhould hardlye finde the ſame, ſince he had no further helpe. [Page] The Captaine Generall perceiuing the diſtruſt that the king had, was offended therewith, and aunſwered him, ſaieng.

I Doe much meruaile of thée (conſidering that thou haſt ſo great experience of the fidelitie of the Portingales) that thou doeſt aſke me whether I doe remaine for ſo traiterous an act,The aunſvvere vvhich the Captaine Generall made to ye king of Coching. as this is, that in ſuch a time I ſhould do as the Moores haue told thée, & thou wilt beléeue them, knowing that they are ſo greatly our enimies. Thinking that thou vnderſtanding of this, ſhouldeſt not bring in queſtion ſuch a matter out of all reaſon. ‘And if ſo be that Franciſco de Alburquerque would haue done any ſuch thing, it had bene a great deale better that he with all his Captains had done it, and not haue left me alone to do the ſame, & to runne in daunger, and to méete on the ſeas with ſo great a fléet of the kings of Calicut, for them to ſet vpon mée only. And if it were ſo that I ſhould haue remained for to haue done ſo foule a déede, yet I would haue tolde thée thereof, that I had ſo meant to doe, for that I was afearde of the king of Calycuts power. But for that I doe take thée to be a man indued with reaſon, I did ſuppoſe that thou wouldeſt not haue thought ill thereof. For otherwiſe thoſe béeing warned thereof, it might haue bene very profitable vnto thée, to haue remained frée from the enuie and mallice of the king of Calicut. Which thing if ſo be that the Moores had conſidered of, they would not haue tolde thée ſo great a fable. Beleeue me, if they could haue done thée a greater iniurie, they would haue done it, for the good will thou doeſt beare vnto vs. This I doe knowe very well, but let not that trouble thée. For although thou doeſt looſe them, and all the reſt of thy ſubiectes, yet thou doeſt recouer me, and as many Portingales as héere remaine, who all will die in thy ſeruice if it were néede, for that is the onely cauſe wée did remaine in the Indias, and in eſpecially: for there was no man that bound me therevnto, if ſo be y• I wold not, but only the fidelitye & truth which thou haſt alwaies vſed towards [Page] our men vntill ſuch time as thou diddeſt looſe Coching, and diddeſt ſée the ſame burnt. For the which cauſe thou oughteſt to eſtéeme the better of thy ſelfe, for thereby thou haſt exalted thy fame through all the Countrie, and therfore thy name wil remaine for euer, which is the greateſt treaſure that kings canne leaue behinde them, and the onely thing that all men doe ſéeke for. And beléeue me, when the king of Calycut did firſt ſet fire to Coching, the ſame was his deſtruction, which was afterwarde well reuenged vppon thine enimies by the Portingales, & ſo thou ſhalt now bée as well defended by them. And although thou doeſt thinke vs to bée fewe and a ſmall Fléete, yet I doe promiſe thée, that very ſhortly we will ſéeme to bée verye many by our valyantneſſe.’ And I hope in God that we ſhall ſo defend whatſoeuer ſtraight or paſſage the king of Calycut ſhall enter into,A fevv valiant men are better thē many more naked and cowardly▪ where aſſuredly we will tarry and not remoue our ſelues from thence, neither night nor daye, and for the paſſages that are ſtraight, our armie is inough, and therefore it ſkilleth not, there remaine no more for the riuers, for that theſe are ſufficient. And ſince that they choſe me to remaine, ‘beléeue certeinly that they did well knowe they left him that ſhal excuſe thée of thy trauaile, and of the wearieng of thy men. And therefore be thou merrie and reſolue thy ſelfe (that by Gods grace) it ſhall not happen now vnto thée as héeretofore it didde, when thou diddeſt looſe Coching: for I and theſe that doe remaine with me ſhall take vppon vs the whole charge and daunger of the warres.’

How the Moores of Coching prepared to go from thence: and how the captaine Generall ſtayde certeine of them that they ſhould not departe, and what more he did. chap. 65.

[Page] THe king being with this, ſomwhat eaſed & recomforted, touching that the Moores had told him, the Captaine general went to ſée the ſtreights, & to fortifie them, which had great néede thereof. But they all were wel furniſhed, ſauing onely the foord, which he commanded to be fortified with ſtakes, that ther might enter no veſſells of the enimies. In the meane time he was aduertiſed by a Letter from Rodrigo Reynel, that a principall Moore of Coching, and beſides diuerſe others, did procure all that they could to leaue the citie, that ye king might remaine alone, & that thervpon this Moore hath come twice to ſpeake with the king of Calycut in his owne behalfe, and in the name of the others. This newes troubled the Captaine Generall a while, howbeit to diſappoint them of their ſuttle dealing, and that the ſame ſhoulde take no effect, hée thought it neceſſarie to execute this principall Moore, that the others might conceiue ſome feare thereof. This béeing knowne to the king of Coching, he woulde not conſent therevnto, thinking that if ſo be that he were executed, the others would make a mutenie immediatly, and then there ſhuld be no victualls brought into the citie, for that thoſe did prouide the citie therewith in trucke of their merchandiſe, and therefore he thought beſt to diſſemble with them all. The Captaine Generall ſéeing that the king woulde not conſent therevnto, tolde him that he woulde talke with the Moores himſelfe, and that he had thought to vſe ſome policie that none of them ſhould depart out of the citie. But firſt he commaunded all his owne men to obeye him in all ſuch occaſions as ſhould be néedfull or requiſite, which commandement the king alſo gaue out amongſt his ſubiect: this being done, the Captaine general went with forty of his men to Coching, to the houſe of this principall Moore called Belinamacar, who dwelt hard by the riuer ſide, requeſting him to ſend for certeine Moores which he did name, for y• he wold conſult with them vpon a certeine matter which did concerne them all.

[Page] To whom the Moores came immediatly, for that they wer afeard of him, and when hée ſawe them all, he ſaide vnto them.

I Did ſend for you all,The generals Oration to the Mores cō cerning his abode in the Indias. honeſt Merchants, that you ſhoulde vnderſtand, wherfore and for what cauſe I remained in the Indias, for that it is poſſible that all you do not know. Some there be that doe report that I do remaine to gather together the Factorie, and ſo to carrie the ſame to Coulan, and to Cananor: but that you may vnderſtand it is not ſo, I will therefore tell you the truth. I doe remaine for no other purpoſe but onely to kéepe Coching, ‘and if ſo be that it were néedfull or requiſite, to die my ſelfe, and all thoſe that doe remaine with me, in your defence, in preſeruing you from the king of Calycut. And this ſhall be manifeſt vnto him, if ſo bée that he doe come, for I promiſe you all, that I will méet with him in the way of Cambalan, wheras it is tolde me he will enter, and if ſo be there he dare fight with me, I will not doubt but to take him priſoner, and carrie him with me into Portingale. Wherefore vntill ſuch time, as you doe not ſée any thing to the contrarie, I earneſtly requeſt you that you doe not goe from Coching, for that I heare that you are minded to goe from thence, & that you doe allure the reſidue of the inhabitants with you, for as you are the chiefeſt and principalls, ſo all the common ſort of people doth follow you. Now I meruaile much y• being men of ſo gret wiſdome as you are, you wil leaue your houſes in the which you were borne, & the country wherein you haue dwelt ſo many yeres, not for feare of any thing that you haue ſéene, but onely of that which you heare, which thing for women to doe were verye ill,’ much more for you that are men.Hovv fevv Portingals haue vanquiſhed thouſāds of therr enimies. But if ſo be that you would go, when you ſhall ſéeme in daunger, or elſe runne awaie, I woulde not blame you, but to goe awaye before you haue ſeene any of theſe daungers, or anye battaile fought, I account the ſame, either cowardiſe, or elſe mallice. You doe well know, that in a manner yeſterday, how few Portingales did [Page] giue the ouerthrowe to thouſands of our enimies, ‘which now alſo come to ſéeke vs out. And if ſo be that you will alleadge, that we were more in number then we are now, indéede it is ſo, for then we fought in open fielde, where it was neceſſarie there ſhould be many: and nowe in a narrowe waye, where a fewe ſhall doe as much as though were many more. And ſince that I can fight, as you haue well heard of the ſame, for that I haue bene he that haue done moſt hurt to our enimies (as the king of Coching is a good witneſſe thereof) I neuer meane to yéelde, who ſhall looſe more then you all, if I be ouercome. Haue ye therfore a ſure hope in me, and in thoſe that remaine with mée, and tarrie vntill ſuch time you may ſée the ſucceſſe of all things that we doe looke for, and ſince that your king doth tarrie, why will ye goe your waie? Remember that I and the others that doe remaine with me, doe ſoiourne in the Indias ſo farre from our Countrie, to defend the king of Coching, and you that are his ſubiects and naturally borne in the Countrie. Will you then forſake him and your countrie? It were great ſhame for women ſo to doe, much more for honeſt men as you are. I doe deſire you that you do not diſhonour your ſelues, nor yet doe to me ſo great an iniurie, in hauing no confidence that I will defend you: for I doe giue vnto you all my word, that I will defend you frō a greater power then any the king of Calycut canne make. For therefore and for this cauſe was I choſen, and thoſe that did appoint me to remaine in the Indias, did know of the warres that the king of Calycut intended, and what power he had, in reſpect whereof I doe once againe requeſt you,An hard thretning but polytike and neceſſary. to beléeue that the king of Calycut ſhall neuer ſet his foot in Coching. Wherefore I deſire you that none of you doe remoue, for whoſoeuer doth otherwiſe ſhall well vnderſtand, that if ſo be I may take him I will hang him, and ſo I ſweare by my lawe. And moreouer I giue you to vnderſtande, that none of you all ſhall eſcape, for héere in this port I doe minde to tarrie, watching both day & night. Now therfore let euery one of you looke to that which ſhall [Page] behoue him, and if ſo be you doe performe that which I haue requeſted you, doe you then aſſure your ſelues to haue me for your friend, and if not, for your mortall enimie, and more cruell then you would wiſh me to bée to the king of Calycut. And therfore each of you, ſpeak plainly your mind what you will doe héerein.’

This béeing ſpoken, it gaue him occaſion to encreaſe his cholar, that without any conſideration thereof, hée did ſpeak ſo lowde, that the Moores with the ſame did double theyr feare, that they had conceiued of him, fearing indéede that immediatly he would haue hanged them all. Wherfore preſently they began to excuſe themſelues, touching that hée charged them with all, but he woulde not tarrie the hearing of the ſame, to the intent to put them in greater feare, but ſent immediatly for his Ship, cauſing it to be brought to an Ankor, hard ouer againſt Coching, beſides one of the Caruells, and two of the boates, which he appointed forthwith to bée ſet in ſuch order, that there coulde none goe out of Coching by water, but muſt néedes bée ſéene.

He had alſo many Paraos, which he hadde cauſed too bée newly rigged, with the which in the night, he watched in the riuers, which runne round about the citie. Alſo at Sunſetting he would take all the boats that could carry men or ſtuffe, and commaund the ſame to be brought a boorde his ſhip, and to kéepe the watch, and in the morning he returned them to their owners. With this diligence they of Coching were ſo feared, that there was none y• durſt go forth without his liſence, & by meanes of thoſe extremities vſed, the Moores and Gentiles were quiet, yet for all theſe troubles that the Captaine Generall had, the moſt part of the night he would venture a land into Repelyn, in the which he burnt townes, killed men, and tooke greate ſtore of Cattell and Paraos, and alſo did them ſundrie other iniuries, at the which the Moores of Coching much meruailed,they cal ye Captaine Generall a Diuell. namely, how he could ſuffer ſo great trauaile, and therfore they gaue out, that he was the diuell.

How the Captaine Generall made an entrie into Repelyn, and alſo how he departed towardes the ſtraights of Cambalan, there to tarrie the king of Calicuts comming. Chap. 66.

[Page]

AT this inſtant was the king of Coching aduertiſed that the king of Calicut was come to Repelin, to gather his power together, and ſo to go from thence to Coching by the ſtraights of Cambalan. After ye ſelfe ſame manner did Rodrigo Reinel, write vnto him, who lay as then very ſicke, and afterward dyed, which the king of Calycut hearing, commaunded to be taken all that he had. This being knowne to the Moores of Coching that the king of Calycut was in Repelyn, they wold haue giuen occaſion to the townes men to haue runne away, but there was none that durſt venture to doe it, for feare of the Captaine Generall. Who after that he knew for certeintye of his béeing in Repelyn, and that all men might vnderſtand how little he did eſtéeme the king of Calycut and his power, and armie of ſhips, did one night ſet vpon a towne of the countrie of Repelyn, at ſuch houres when all were a ſléepe, and did ſet fire to the ſame. And after that it was well kindled, our men were knowne, and immediatly there came many Naires,The captaine generall & his men inforced to retire vnto theyr boates. as wel of the towne, as alſo from other places thereabouts adioyning. The Captaine Generall was forced to retire, & that with great daunger, vnto his boats, with fiue of his men hurt, and of his enimies there were many ſlaine and hurt, & yet for all that, thoſe enimies that remained aliue, followed him a good while. And as our men returned toward Coching, there were ſhot by them ſo many arrows which fell vpon their boates, that their targets were all couered with the ſame.

This being knowne to the king of Coching, that he was come to the Caſtle, he went to viſit him, for that he accounted [Page] that enterpriſe for a great matter, in eſpecially the king of Calycut béeing there preſent, who had in a readineſſe ſo greate and mightie a power, and ſo he ſaide. At the which the Captaine Generall laughed, and therewithall he tolde him that he woulde deſire no more but that the King of Calicut would once come, for that he woulde fight with him a battaile, and then woulde be apparaunt the valiantneſſe of his men. They of Coching béeing now all quiet, as alſo the Captaine general hauing made vnto the principals an Oration, he prepared his men in a readineſſe for that he minded to depart to the ſtraights of Cambalan. And in the meane while he left in the ſhippe xxv. men with the maſter, which was called Diego Perrera, whom he lefte for Captaine in his abſence, and alſo as well furniſhed with Ordinance and ſhot, that they might defend themſelues the better. The names of thoſe that tarried with him I do omit, as alſo thoſe that remained in the Caſtle. Thoſe that the Captaine Generall carried with him, were to the number of xxiiii. men: and in one of the boats he appointed for Captaine, him that went for Captaine in the Caruell Santa Maria, whiles ſhe was a rigging, with xxii. men. The captaine Generall went in another boate, in the which with himſelfe there were one and twentie men. Amongſt them all their number was lxxiii. men, who all both thoſe that were in the Caruell, and thoſe that were in the boats, béeing all confeſſed, and hauing receiued the Sacrament, the Captaine Generall departed to the ſtraights of Cambalan, 1504▪ on the Fryday before Palmes Sunday, being the xvi. of Aprill. 1504.Theſe words the Captaine Generall ſpeake vnto ye king at his departure to vvards the paſſage. Thus departing with great pleaſure, and with ſhooting of their Ordinaunce, leaping, and dauncing, when they came ouer againſt Coching, the Generall landed to talke with the king, which was tarrieng for his cōming by the water ſide, ſo heauie and ſo ſadde, that he coulde not hide the ſame. The Captaine Generall making as though he vnderſtood nothing of it, ſaid vnto him: that thee they were all ready with great pleaſure and good will, to depart toward the paſſage, to defend him from the king of Calicut, [Page] whom they went to ſéeke out, that he ſhoulde vnderſtand that they had no feare of him. The king ſmiled at theſe words, as it were ſuſpecting his good ſucceſſe. Notwithſtanding, he appointed him 500. Naires (of fiue thouſande which he had in armes) of the which he named for Captaines, Gandagora, and Frangera, which were ouerſéers of his houſeholde, and Caymal de Palurta, to whome hée gaue commaundement that they ſhould obey the Captaine generall as his owne perſon. This béeing done, the king ſtoode and viewed all our Fléete, who at that time ſhewed himſelfe to be very heauie, to ſée how few we were in compariſon of the great power of the king of Calicut, and vppon the ſame tooke occaſion to ſpeake vnto the Captaine Generall, ſaieng.

THere was repreſent vnto him the great danger which he feared might happen vnto him,the vvords of ye king of Coching to the captaine generall. and that which chanced to himſelfe this laſt yeare. And therefore doe I deſire thée, quoth he, to encourage thy ſelfe to doe that which thou art able, and not to ſuffer thy heart to deceiue thée, but to remember how much the king of Portingale ſhall looſe in looſing thée: and with thoſe wordes his eyes ſtoode full of water, which to ſée, the Captaine Generall was very ſorie, and ſayd vnto him.The annſvvere the captaine generall made to ye king of Coching.

That better are a few and valiant, then a great multitude and cowards. And whether (ſayd hée) our men be valiaunt or not, your ſelfe haue well ſeene, & alſo how contrarywiſe it fareth with the enimies, your ſelfe likewiſe haue had experience. He inferred alſo howe in that place where hée minded to tarrie for his comming, ‘théere néeded but a fewe to defend him.’ And therfore he praied him for to be content, and therewith he departed, and came to the paſſage of Cambalan, two houres before day, where finding no ſigne of the comming of the king of Calycut, he went in the meane while, and did ſet vpon a towne of the ſelfe ſame Ilande of the Caimalls, where in the dawning of the day he arriued in the Harbour, a long the which there was appointed. 800. Nayres to kéep the ſame, which were Archers, and [Page] a few with their Caléeurs, which were there tarying for him. And although thoſe with their calyuers, and the reſidue with their arrowes, ſhot of at our men, in ſuch maner that they ſéemed to ſhadow the Element, yet with the paueices of our boates, the which were made of boards of two fingers thicke, much like vnto Targets or ſhields, we did ſo defend them of, that they wer driuen to row toward the land, which was done for that thoſe yt wer there ſhuld geue place, yt our men might leap a land. Then ye Captaine generall cōmanded his ordinance to be ſhot of, with y• which they lept a land: howbeit, ye enemies returned vpon them, & therin ſhewed thēſelues to be valiāt, for ye ſpace of an houre. But afterward they fled apace, & many of thē in the conflict, at yt preſēt wer both ſlain and hurt at our mens hands. But after that our men had ſet fire to the towne, and the ſame was well kindled, the captaine generall did retire, & going toward the paſſage, in their way they toke and killed much cattell which they carryed with them: and although the people of the countrey did defend themſelues very wel, yet our men being come to the paſſage of Cambalan, the Caymall ſent to make peace with the captaine generall, with a certaine preſent, which he would not receiue, neither yet make peace with him, for that he was an enemie vnto the king of Coching. Whereupon the next day after, the king of Calycut ſent him word that he would geue him the battell,Heere the battell vvas offered by the king of Calicut vnto the captaine Generall. and alſo that he was greatly offended that he had placed himſelfe where he did minde to enter. And moreouer, it was tolde him that they did all affirme, that the kinge of Calycut was like to geue him the ouerthrowe and to take him priſoner, or els to kill him in the battell.

To the which the captaine generall anſwered, that the ſelfe ſame hope he had to doe by the king, the rather in honour of the daye, which was a ſolemne feaſt amongeſt the Chriſtians, adding moreouer yt his wytchys had diſappointed & deceyued him much, to promiſe him the victory in ſuch a day. Then a certaine Nayre which came with this Meſſenger, hearing the Captaine generall ſay ſo, anſwered [Page] him, and that with a ſmiling countenaunce, as though he had mocked him, that there were very few men to doe y• which he ſpake of: & alſo y• the king of Calicuts men were ſo many, y• they were ſufficient to couer the whole earth & the water. Which if it be ſo, how (ſaid he) can they be ouercome. With this anſwere y• Captaine generall was greatly offended, & for that he was thought to be one of the king of Calicuts Nayres, he boxt him well, willing him to bid the kings of Calicut reuenge the ſame. With the which the others that came with the meſſage, were ſo greatly afraid, that they neuer durſt afterward auouch the king of Calicut.

That ſame euening the King of Coching ſent to ayde the Captaine Generall with fiue hundred Nayres, of the which he made no account, nor of the others before, for that he knew they would all run away. In our men, next vnder God, hée had his confidence and whole truſte, who all that night made greate feaſte, that the kinge of Calicut might vnderſtande that they did not feare him, but rather ſhewed great forwardnes to geue him y• battell, of the which ye Captaine general was very glad. And therfore before it was day,The captaine generals words ſpoken vnto his mē. he ſpake vnto al his men in this mā ner. Maſters and my friends, for the great content that I doe finde in you. I doe for moſt certain prognoſticate the great gift yt God in his ſeruice wil geue vnto vs this day. And I doe beleue for moſt certaine, ‘that as God hath geuē vs ſtomacke (being ſo few as we are) to dare tary & abide ſo many thouſands of men as there are of our enemies: ſo he will geue vs force and ſtrength to reſiſt them, & herein wil ſhew his great power, & as it were a miracle ſo greate as this is, in ye exalting of his holy faith: and in his holye name I do deſire you, that you wil ſo beleue, for yt without this hope, although we were as many as the enemies are, and they as few as wee bee, yet all our ſtrength were nothing, and being in this hope, all the multitude of the enemies will ſéeme vnto vs but few to ouer come: for they doe iudge vs to be many more then wee are, their feare is ſuch. And this alſo you may beleeue, that if their [Page] comming as at this day with their great preſumption bée, for that they are many, hauing moſt aſſured hope to take vs, yet they will haue a feare from hence forth, ſo that theyr ſpirits will be broken, to ſet vpon vs any more, which thing if they did, it would be more for feare of the king of Calycut, then for any good zeale they haue vnto him. And therefore I pray you remember, that with this confidence you muſt fight, and God ſhall giue you the victorie, and that with honour of all the Portingales, and a perpetuall fame amongeſt the ſtraungers, and deſerts before our king, that he may reward you for the ſame, wherby you ſhall the better mainteine your ſelues all the dayes of your life.’

Vnto theſe words they all aunſwered, that in the battell he ſhoulde well ſée how well they did remember his ſpeach. And immedialy they fell vpon their knées and ſung the Salue regina in tune, & afterward an Aue Maria with a lowde voice. At this preſent came Larenco Moreno from the Caſtle, who brought with him foure of his Caléeuer men, for they would néeds exerciſe themſelues in this battell. The Captaine Generall was very glad of their comming, for that they were very valiant.

How the king of Calycut gaue battaile vnto the Captaine Generall in the ſtraights of Cambalan, and how he had the ouerthrow. chap. 67.

THis night by the perſwaſion of the Italian runagates, the king of Calycut commaunded to be made a plat-forme or ſ [...]once, on the which there might be placed fiue péeces of Ordinaunce, the which might ſtand right ouer againſt wher the Captaine Generall was, that from thence they might ſhoote off their ordinaunce, at what time they meant to giue the onſet, and for that the ſtraightneſſe of the paſſage was a daunger vnto him. So on Palmes ſunday the king of Calycut marched forward, with xlvii. thouſand men, the which were [Page] as wel of the Naires as of the Moores: beſides that he went accompanied with the king & Caimalls, which were come vnto him, to aide and ſuccour him, not onelye with their owne perſons, but alſo with their men. That is to ſay, the king of Tanor with foure thouſand Nayres:The kings and Caimals that aſsiſt the king of Calicut againſt the Portingales. the king of Bybar, and of Curran, which is hard by the Mountaines of Narſinga, with twelue thouſand Nayres: the king of Cotogataco, which ſtandeth betweene Cananor and Calicut, hard by the Mountaines, with eightéene thouſand Naires: The king of Cur [...]a, which is betwéene Panane and Grangalor, with thrée thouſand Naires: Alſo Nabeadarin, which was Prince of Calycut and Namboa his brother, and the king of Calycut himſelfe, who had a great number, which for that they were many, I doe not rehearſe. The ſortes of inſtruments that they had for the wars were ſo many and diuerſe, that when they began to play vpon the ſame, it was thought that heauen and earth woulde ioyne together. Ouer & beſides the great multitude of the people, the which did couer the whole earth. Thoſe that went in the vangard, as ſoone as they came to their ſetling, did giue fire to theyr ordinance, which as they lay néere to the Caruel, ſo it appered partly a miracle, that there was no péece that did hurt it. Howbeit our Ordinance béeing ſhot off, did all light full amongſt the enimies, and killed many of them, although it was before day, the which vntill Sunne did riſe, were in diſcharging out of the Caruell, aboue xxx. péeces.

After all this, the whole Fléete of the enimies beganne to come out of the riuers of Repelyn, which were 169. Foyſtes, that is to ſay, thrée ſcore and ſixe Paraos, the which hadde theyr defence of ſackes of Cotten, which deuiſe was giuen them by the Italians, that our Ordinaunce ſhoulde not hurt their men.

Each of theyr boates or Paraos had two péeces of Ordinaunce in them, and fiue and twentie men, of the which there were fiue in euery Parao that had their Caléeuers, and all the reſt were bow men.

Alſo there were twentie of theſe Foyſts, all cheined together, [Page] for to ſet vpon the Caruell. Alſo there were liii. Catures, beſide thirtie greate Barks, each of theſe hadde his péece of Ordinaunce, and ſixtéene men, which ſerued in him with ſundry kindes of weapons.

Beſides all theſe armed veſſells, there went other furniſhed with men, which béeing all together, it ſeemed that the whole riuer was couered ouer, in the which Fléet were well néere x. thouſand men, and of this fléete was Admerall Nabeadarin, and for Vice Admerall the Lorde of Repelyn. Certeinly to ſee them altogether vpon the water and lande, was a greate terrour, all of them béeing halfe naked, ſome of coulour blacke, and others of a darke Tawnye. And vppon their weapons the Sunne did ſo gliſter, that they appeared as though they had béene ſwoordes, and newly ground, and ſo lykewiſe did their targets, the which were of ſundrie coulours, and ſhewed very gallant. And for that our men ſhould ſtand in the more feare of them, they gaue out great cries and laroms. After this they beganne to ſound vppon their inſtrumentes of warre, which noyſe contynued alwayes, nowe after one ſorte, and then after another.

Our men bearing amongſt ſuch a multitude, and béeing in theyr Caruell and theyr boates, coulde ſcarcelye bée diſcerned, for with the Fléete, they occupyed almoſt all the paſſage, by meanes of ropes they gaue the one the other, which ropes were wounde about with cheynes, that they ſhould not cut them a ſunder. And after that they hadde done this, commaundement was giuen, to giue fire to the Ordinaunce, with the which the enimyes were receiued.The Naires of Coching do all run avvay▪

At this inſtaunt thoſe Nayres that were of Coching did all runne awaye, onely Grandagora and Frangora remained for that they were in the Caruell: otherwiſe they woulde haue gone as the others did, which had bene no matter, but that they ſhould ſée how valiantly our men defended themſelues in the battell, into the which they went in a great heate.

[Page] The Ordinaunce went off ſo often, and lykewiſe the ſmall ſhot, that there was none that coulde ſee one another, for the ſmoake of the ſame. The Caruell and the Boates did ſo flame in fire, and did ſo cruelly handle the enimyes at the firſt entering, that there were torne in péeces ſome of their Paraos, and manye of their men ſlaine and hurt, without any of ours hurt, or ſtanding in any daunger therof at all. By this time, the enimyes were come, within the throwe of a Dart. Howbeit, as they were many, and that without order, the one did hurt and hinder the other, ſo that they could not fight. Yet notwithſtanding, the xxv. Paraos that went before, did trouble our men very much with theyr Ordinaunce which they had, for that they went cheined together.

Our men being wearied and hurt, and the battaile hauing endured a good while, the Captaine Generall commaunded a Saker to bee ſhotte at them,The enimies vtterly diſcomfited, doe run their vvaye. the which till that time had not béene ſhot at the enimies. And after that the ſame was twice diſcharged, they all fledde, and for that they laye very thicke together, it did immediatlye ſinke foure of them, and with that they were all ouercome, and ſo they ran theyr waye. The reſidue of the Paraos which did continue in the battaile, were eightéene ſunke, and thirtéene fledde awaye, the reſidue gaue place, in the which there were of the enimyes greate numbers ſlaine and hurt.

After all this came the Vize Admerall called the Lord of Repelyn, with another ſquadron, and gaue a proud onſet, ſo did the king of Calycut giue the lyke vpon the land. This battaile was farre more vehement then the firſt, in the which were manye more of the enimyes ſlaine, then before, as appeared by the water which was of the coulour of bloud. Yet for all this, the Lorde of Repelyn made lowde outeryes, commaunding them to laye the Caruell aboorde, but for all that they durſt not venture to doe it, but rather were deſirous to goe theyr waye, as they alſo that were a land did the like.

[Page] It was now at this preſent paſt Euenſong, from the time the battell did firſt beginne, in the which were of the enymies ſlaine, not onely by land, but alſo by water. 350. men, which were knowne, beſides others, the which were aboue a thouſand: and of our men there were ſome hurt, but none ſlaine. And although theyr pellets were made of caſt yron, yet they did no more hurt, then a ſtone béeing throwne. Howbeit, our defences were all torne in péeces, and one of our boates alſo, neuertheleſſe, not in ſuch ſorte, but that it might bée new rigged before that it was night.

How the king of Calicut ſeeing the ill ſucceſſe that hee had in the warres, did enter into councell to leaue the ſame. Chap. 68.

THoſe kings and noble men which came to ſuccour and aide the king of Calicut, perceiuing that he was thus ouerthrowne, and that with great loſſe both of his men & veſſells, although his power were great, and ours but very ſmal, & that the captain Generall neuer made any reckoning of the king of Calicut nor of his force, but for al that did ouerrun the Countrie, & deſtroyed it, ſome there were of them that made a greate wonder thereat, & ſayd that our God did fight for vs, whervpon they loſt all the hope they had for euer to giue vs the ouerthrowe, and from thence forth they had themſelues in no reputation, but rather were very ſorie that it was their euill hap to come in the aide of the king of Calycut. Thoſe that did moſt repent themſelues of their comming, wer ſubiects to the king of Coching, for that their countries were ſcituated along the riuers, which did put them in the more feare of the Captaine Generall, that he wold ſet fire to their townes & houſes, or otherwiſe deſtroie them. And for that cauſe, they determined to leaue the king of Calycut, & wold make no more wars againſt our men, more thē that which was paſt alreadie.

[Page] And vpon this condition, they returned to the king of Coching, with whom they reconcyled themſelues, and thoſe that did thus were, one called Marugata, Muta Caymal, and his brother, and Couſins, who immediatly after the battaile, did ſo ſecretly depart from the kinge of Calicuts Campe, from whence they went to the Iland of Vaypin, to ſtay there, till they might ſee their time, as I haue ſayd. But when the king of Calicut had knowledge that they were gone,The king of Calicut much blameth his captaines for being ouerthrovvne by ſo fevv▪ and alſo vnderſtoode where they were become, he was very ſory therefore, which alſo was the occaſion that he renewed all his griefe, that hee had conceyued for his ouerthrow, which he had receyued at our mens hands, that were ſo few. Wherupon he tooke occaſion to rebuke his captaines, ſaying, that they were good for nothing, and that through their defaulte our men continued and kept theſe paſſages. And if ſo he, that they had had any ſhame, they would or this time haue dryuen them from thence, in eſpecially hauing geuen ſo often the enterpriſe to paſſe the ſame. Then thoſe two Italians that were preſente, did replie vnto the king, that although our men had done moſt valiantly, yet that which they did was like vnto the dedes of deſperate men. Notwithſtanding, that they were not able to defende themſelues long, from ſuch a power as his was, in eſpecially, not hoping to haue any ſuccour. And therefore they willed him to ſet vpon them often times, for by that meanes it was poſſible to take them. Some alſo of thoſe kinges and noble men that came to ſuccoure the king, and that were deſirous of warres, did confirme that which the Italians had ſaide before, addinge moreouer, that God doth permitte his enemies ſometime to haue the victorie, for a more greater loſſe vnto them, and therefore it were good ſaide they, that he followed his friends counſell, and prooued their ſtedfaſtneſſe. And although it were ſo, that he had not the victorie immediatelye, yet hee ſhould not therefore diſpaire. The king finding himſelfe ſomewhat vexed in minde with thoſe wordes, aunſwered them ſaying. Although that eche of you is ſo valiant, that [Page] it appeareth vnto you,the kings aunſvvere vnto this aduice. a ſmall matter to ouercome thoſe Chriſtians, yet I am not ſo obſtinate to thinke the ſame. Howbeit I ſuppoſe yet, that you doe ſée in me no ſuch a feare, ‘that thereby you might iudge it néedefull, to ſtrengthen me with thoſe words. For what can you tell me in this caſe, that you may ſatiſfie me withall? For if ſo bee, that you will conſider as much as I doe, you would ſoone know, how great an acte this is, that you doe make ſo little accompt off. I doe not take it in vs for ſo great a victorie in ouercomming theſe Chriſtians, but rather in them, in defending themſelues from vs, as they haue done. Wher in it hath well appeared,’ No doubt but God doeth fight for his ſeruants▪ that their God did fight for them.

And will you ſée how it is ſo? You maye well conſider, that our men are many, and that they haue bene valyant in the warres paſt, it hath well appeared in many and great battailes, wherein I haue ouercome mine enimies, ‘as you do all well know. But ſince they haue fought with theſe Chriſtians, they ſéeme to be (not as they were) nor durſt giue the onſet vpon them, for the feare they haue conceiued. And certainly, as farre as I can learne, and alſo all thoſe that are of a good iudgement, we ought to beléeue, that thoſe workes are rather of God, then of man. For who is he that would not be afeard of them, wel perceiuing that all others are? I meane not onely the King of Cochings ſubiects which came to ſuccour vs, who haue repented themſelues thereof, but alſo manye other of our friends, which in the beginning of theſe wars did alſo aide vs.’

‘And farther, I am enformed by ſome, that they haue now offered their friendſhip vnto the King of Coching. Which thing, if it be true, it is for that they haue loſt the hope they had of any victory on our part, as well for that which is paſt, as alſo reputing how lyttle time there is now lefte of the Summer, and alſo for that in the Winter they cannot remayne anye time to continue in the Fieldes, becauſe of the great ſtormes and raine, which would then be.’

[Page] ‘And in the ende of the winter, then will there come the Fléete from Portingale, which will doe vs as much harme as the fléete did the laſt yere, and ſo I ſhall neuer bée out of vnfortunate miſchiefes, but thus in the end I ſhall be vtterly deſtroyed.’

‘All this ſhall be that I ſhall gette, with the loſſe of the friendſhip of the Chriſtians. And it is poſſible that for theyr cauſes the Pagodes will not aide nor helpe me as they haue done before time. For although you tell me,’ that they doe permit ſometime their friendes to ſuffer perſecution for their profit,God chaſticeth mē ſometime for theyr trial ſomtime for their offences. do you not thinke the ſame alſo to happen for their offences, as it is well knowne this doth for mine. What then ſhall néede any further exhortations, to cauſe me to doe as you would haue me, and to ſuffer perſecution for my wealth, ſince I doe vnderſtand what the ſame meaneth: and for the preſeruing of mine eſtate, it is requiſite and needfull to haue friendſhippe with the Chriſtians, ‘if ſo be that you be alſo of the ſame minde, for that we are all equall in the loſſe, and alſo in the gaines.’

For this talke of the kings, they were all ſorrie that had giuen him counſell to go forward in theſe wars, ſince that they perceiued that his intent was to leaue the ſame, and haue friendſhip with the Captaine Generall. Theſe therefore would forthwith haue aunſwered, but the Prince Nabeadarin didde preuent them, who was ſorrie for theſe warres commenſed, and ſpake thus looking vppon them all.

SInce the king doth aſke vs counſell what is beſt to be done in this matter,The Princes Oration vnto the King & Nobles aſſembled▪ which ſtandeth him ſo much vppon, I as one that moſt of all am gréeued with this loſſe, and moſt deſirous of his profite, will therefore bée the firſt that ſhall ſhewe heerein my minde, and what I doe thinke thereof. ‘In that which you ſaye, that oftentimes the Pagodes in the time of the perſecutions that we do receiue [Page] will commaund vs to doe that which they will haue vs, ſo we ought to vnderſtande them, although therefore in theſe warres it appeareth that it goeth very euill with vs, and in this they doe ſhew how much they are our frends, truely I doe beleue the ſame, the rather for that we ought not to beleue them that would haue a matter done without reaſon, as it were to geue vs the victorie againſt thoſe Chriſtians, and power to deſtroy the king of Coching, vnto whom we haue done very much hurt, killynge the laſte yeare his Princes and almoſt all his men, ſetting of Coching a fire, and deſtroying his countrey, from whence we hunted him away, with his great diſcredite, diſpoſſed him of his kingdome & ſubiects, ſo that al they for the feare they had of vs did leaue him, yea his own frendes forſooke him, & went againſt him, & all for our ſake. And aboue all theſe euils the which he did not deſerue, for yt he was not in any fault, we would yet procéed further, vtterly to deſtroy him. What hath he done? Did hee procure to take anye mans countrey from him? No. In friendſhip did he vſe himſelfe traiterouſly? Neither. Did he commaunde the Marchantes that they ſhould not come to Calicut? Neither, Did he thē ſome worſe thing ſince he did nothing of theſe? Nothing at all. What then? forſooth for yt he did receiue into his countrey the Chriſtians which being driuen out of Calicut, went to ſéeke him out, as he was deſirous to encreaſe and enpeople his Citie, and to augment hys eſtate and riches: Shall we therefore deſtroy him being our friend, as an enemie? With this right doe the Pagodes helpe vs to take the honor, riches and credite from the right owner? It cannot be ſo, for that they be righteous and iuſt, and therfore they will not help vs agaynſt thoſe Chriſtians which were ſlayne, robbed, and thruſt out of Calicut, and were there receiued vnder ſafeconduct from the king, comminge to his porte before any others, and not geuing cauſe wherfore they ſhould receiue ſo many iniuries. If wee doe it for that they laide hande vpon a Shippe of the Moores, there is no reaſon why, for that the Kinge commaunded [Page] them to ſtay the ſame: And if he had ben aduiſed by al men as he was by me, the Moores ſhould haue paid for that they ha done & that very well, for & if they had ben puniſhed, it wold wel haue appered, yt the king had ben in no fault of yt which they had done. And this had bene ſufficient to haue confirmed the friendſhip of the Chriſtians with him, & this alſo would haue bene a cauſe ſufficient, to haue kept them in Calicut from going to Coching, to haue there ſetteled a trade, whom the King through euill councell hath trauayled ſo much to take them, as though they were théeues that had robbed him of his owne, they being ſo good, ſo gentle, ſo valyant as we ſée,Amongſt other vertues grate fulnes cō mended. and beſides ſo gratefull of the benefite they doe receiue. For the receiuing of them as ye King of Mylinde did, they gaue ouer two ſhips laden with gold, the which they had taken from a Couſin of his. If theſe men were Théeues, as the Moores doe ſay they are, thoſe were prices not to be left. You know how rich a Preſent they brought to the King, and what ritch merchandiſe they brought, and how much golde and ſiluer. Thoſe fiſhermen which they did carrie away naked, did retourne againe all apparailed. If then we were friends, how ſurely ſhould we liue: & what profit ſhould the King haue, if we had amitie with them. I do not ſpeak of ye ſhip yt carried y• Elephants which was giuen him: when all y• priſes did paſſe by theſe théeues hands, the which they left. Theſe were ſeruices to be thankfully receiued, giuing occaſion to vs to gratifie thē in like ſort, and to be glad to haue them for our friends, & ſince we did put them awaye when they had néede of vs, now that we haue néede of them, let it not be thought euil, to conclude a peace with them, for that the wars we make againſt them, we make the ſame againſt our ſelues. They are vpon the Sea of more power then we are, as you may well ſée the ſame by the long time they haue defended this paſſage, and with what power of men, and alſo what deſtruction they haue brought vppon vs, and are like to doe, ſince that our Countrey lyeth néere to the water ſide, and that with our owne loſſe, we haue well ſéene the truth. [Page] Therfore let it go no further, but let vs ſéeke ſome remedie to haue a peace concluded amongſt vs: for if we haue not, ye port or harbour of Calicut wil be vtterly vndone, & the king wil be like to looſe all his rents. This doth concerne him more then al y• friendſhip of ye Moores, which haue no other reſpect but only to their owne profit, & not to the kings, & theſe be they that go giue councell to make theſe warres.’

Hovv the councell of the prince Nabeadarin vvas gainſaid, & hovv a certein Moore of Calicut did inuent the making of certein caſtles of timber, vvith the which they might lay the caruels abord. ca. 69▪

THe king of Calicut all this while gaue great eare to y• which ye prince his brother had ſaid, & immediatly anſwered yt he was in y• fault, as touching y• which was paſt, & had repented himſelfe to haue taken ye enterpriſe in hand. And therfore he deſired them al, to enter into councel with his brother, & to take ſome good order for y• cōcluding of peace wt vs: which was not wel thought of by y• Lord of Repelin, for yt he was cōfederate with ye Moores to hinder ye ſame,The Lord of Repe [...]ns aunſvvere to the prince in the [...] houſe. & after yt the king had ended his talke, he ſpake in this manner following According as y• Malabars are cōſtant, ſo I do well beléeue, yt frō hence forth they wil not haue thée in any reputation, if thou ſhuldeſt do as thou ſaiſt, for yt they would impute y• ſame rather to cowardnes, then to any reuelatiō or forewarning of ye Pagodes. This is a matter not wel to be thought of, much leſſe thē to be ſpokē of amongſt perſons of honor as héere are, ‘& with ſo great a power, with hope of many more if there were néed: for al ye noble men of y• Malabars are redy for ye ſame, hauing great cōfidence in thy valiantneſſe, & therfore did chooſe thee to be head of this war. And now, wilt thou leaue ye ſame without receiuing any hurt in thy perſon, with yt which thou mighteſt excuſe the ſame, not to die in thy demaund. But returning whole, & with many of thine whole, what wil they ſay but yt for ye feare of ſo few ſtrangers thou giueſt ouer y• thou haſt begun wt ſo great a heat, & that thou runneſt away not being ouercome? With this thou ſhalt looſe thy credit y• thou haddeſt with all men, which ſince it is ſo, were thou not better die, then to liue diſhonored? I maruel much yt the prince [Page] did not conſider this, which is y• principal matter yt he ſhuld make rekoning of, as one yt doth eſteeme thine honor, I yt do alſo eſtéeme ye ſame, do not councel ye king to giue ouer the wars, although I ſhould ſée ye Pagodes cōmand thee, for rather death is to be wiſhed, then ſuch obediēce. Go forwards therfore in theſe wars,’ for ſo ye Pagodes wold haue thée do, & do not contrary vnto this aduiſe.The diſſimul [...]ng vvorfs of ye Moores to ye King. The Moores yr wer preſent hearing al this talk, which was to their contēt, did further ye ſame as much as in thē lay, ſetting forward ye king, praiſing him to be inuincible, laieng before him y• infamy he ſhuld incur, if he did leaue y• wars: they offred him moreouer their perſons & goods towards ye ſame, alleadging ye increaſing of his rents with their trade, plenty of victuals in his city with their being there, declaring alſo y• old friendſhip they haue had with him, & how they were become naturall inhabitants of his country, with many other things, vnto y• which ye king wold not anſwere, neither yet his brother, for yt al thoſe kings & Lords did help ye Moores aduiſe, & ſo it was concluded yt the wars ſhuld go forward. And for y• it had gone with ye king ſo euill in y• foord, they found a new inuention to lay the caruels a boord, which a certeine Moore of Repelin made called [...], who had ben a trauailer, & ſeene ſundry inuentions deuiſed. And for y• cauſe hauing a pregnant wit, he inuēted a caſtle to be made of timber, built vpon two boats or lighters, placing two beames croſſewiſe ouer ye forepart of the ſaid boats, & the ſterne or poope of ye boats to be as broad as ye caſtle long, yt which caſtle was made ſquare, & vpon thoſe beams were other placed, ſo high as as a chāber from a hall, & in euery ſquare were quarters of timber thick ſet together, of ye height of a lance, or little leſſe, mortaſed in ye ſaid beams, & nailed with great yron nails, & in ye bodies of ye quarters of timber wer holes made, through ye which went bars of yron. ſo y• to ſight the caſtle ſéemed a ſtrong thing. In this caſtle might. 40. men be wel placed, beſides certein péeces of ordinance, ſo that in this wiſe this caſtle might paſſe ye riuers, & wt grapuls ioyn wt ye caruels, which being dōe ye king deſired ye ſight therof, & whē he had ſeen ye ſame, did not only praiſe his wit, but alſo [Page] rewarded him very largely, and by the ſame paterne commaunded other ſeauen to be made, that vpon them the Caruells might diſpend their times, & occupie themſelues, thinking that euen ſo it would be.

Of the great alteration there was in Coching, about theſe Caſtles, and what pollicie the Captaine found to defend the Caruell from them. Chap. 70.

IMmediatly after, was the Captaine generall aduertiſed by eſpies that he had ſent of theſe caſtles, and that the enimies were alſo making in readineſſe certein fireworkes, y• therwith they might burne y• caruells, & if they could not burne ye ſame, y• then with theſe caſtles, they might lay the ſaid Caruel aboord: As ſoone as the dwellers & inhabitants of Coching heard of theſe caſtles, they were therwith grealy afeard, leaſt yt the enimyes would take Coching, & with that did make themſelues in a redineſſe to flie from thence, for the which the king of Coching was very ſad, ſuppoſing y• indéed with theſe Caſtles, his enimies wold take his country from him. After this, certeine of the inhabitants of Coching went to ye Captaine generall, to aſke him whether he was able with his caruells to defend himſelfe from theſe caſtles. Whervppon the Captaine anſwered & aſkt of them, wherefore they demanded y• queſtion, ſéeing y• they did well know, that from a greater power then this, he had made them flie with broken heads, & ſo he doubted not, but he would doe againe. With this anſwere, ye inhabitants of Coching were fully ſatiſfied, & ſo minded not to remoue themſelues from thence, vntill ſuch time the battell were fought. The Captaine general for to encourage them the more,A Caluete, and vvhat the meaning thereof is. commaunded before them all to pitch a long ſtaffe in the ground, the which was made ſharp at y• one end. The ſame amongſt the Malabars is called Caluete, vpon ye which they do execute iuſtice of death: vnto the [Page] pooreſt or vileſt people of the country: inſomuch y• if they ſay to a Naire, Naire Caluete, they take the ſame for a greater reproch then any other. This Caluete being pitched on this ſort, the Captaine generall did then ſweare, to ſpit vpon the ſame the king of Calicut, if ſo be that he did fight with him, & ſo forthwith he commaunded in diſpraiſe of the king of Calicut, y• all his men ſhould ſay with a lowd voice, Samurin Caluete. At this ſight the inhabitants meruailed to ſée ye ſtoutneſſe of y• Captaine, & ſo minded to remaine & kéep the towne. But for all this, the Captaine Generall was inwardly moued in ſpirit, for feare yt indéed they wold lay his caruels a boord, & that for lacke of men. Howbeit ye better to defend them from ye ſame, he commanded to be made a certeine Caniſo, ye which was made wt certeine maſts of ſhips, ioyned the one to the other, & bound with great bolts and hoops of yron Theſe maſts wer of eight fathom of length, & as many of breadth, & were placed from y• Caruels a good ſtones throw. And for y• the eb nor yet the floud ſhould carry ye ſame away, ther wer laid out ſixe great ankors, thrée of them vpon the floud, & the other vpon the eb, y• made the ſame the ſurer. And for that the Caruels ſhould remaine ſo high as y• caſtles, one Peter Raf [...]l conſidering theſe deuiſes, deuiſed alſo to encounter with the height of thoſe caſtles, to make certeine turrets of halfe maſts, which were ſet vpright, and made faſt a boord the caruell, in the which turrets ſeuen or eight men might fight at pleſure in each of them. This being done, one morning before day ther came to viſit the Captain general the king of Coching, of whoſe cōming the Captaine was very glad, for yt he had heard how fearfull he was, & therfore he gaue him a good countenance, yet for all this, the king could diſſemble no lōger, but preſently his eies did run downe with water, & with yt he embraced the Captaine general, & cōmanded thoſe noble men yt came with him to do ye like, which was done with ſo ſorrowfull a countenance, as though it were y• laſt time yt they ſhould méet. Afterward ye king did apart himſelf with yt captaine & ſome of our men, & as a man out of his wits, ſaid vnto him. [Page] The King of Calycut hath a great power,The king of Cochings vvords to the Captaine generall. and we are but few, and that without any hope that I haue to defend Coching, or any of my people, who beſides are ready to runne away if thou be ouercome. And ſince that I am vndone, I requeſt thée, that thou doe prouide for thine owne ſafetie, whilſt thou haſt time, for that afterwards, I doubt thou ſhalt not haue the ſame: and therewith, as though he were ſtopped in the throte, he ſpake no more.

The Captaine generall ſhewing himſelfe to be angrye with this ſpeach,The aunſvver that the captain generall made to the King of Coching. aunſwered him ſomewhat with cholar, aſking him what weakneſſe or cowardneſſe he had ſéene in him, that he ſhould will him to prouide for his ſafetie? And further ſaid, that there or in what place ſoeuer he was, he was moſt aſſured to defend himſelfe from the King of Calicut, and alſo doubted not but to giue him the ouerthrow, notwithſtanding the great power he brought. ‘And diddeſt not thou tell me (quod he) all theſe times paſt, that God did fight for the Portingales, but now how doſt thou doubt of the ſame? I haue a hope in God, that to morow thou ſhalt ſée the King of Calycut put in that Caluete, and of this I doe not doubt, if he doe tarry me, neither yet thou oughteſt to haue any doubt, if thou wouldeſt thinke vpon the victories that God hath giuen me ſo oftentimes, the King of Calycut hauing the ſame aduantage that now he hath. This thou oughteſt to beléeue, and not that which the Moores of Coching do tell thée, for yt they all doe not loue vs, neither yet the alteration of the Nayres ſhould make thée apalde, which are afeard of euery puffe of winde. Repent thy ſelfe therefore of that thou haſt told me, and diſpaire not, but returne with good courage to Coching, and there alſo to comfort and harten thy people, ſhew thy ſelfe ſtrengthened, & ſtay thy ſubiects from going away, and let me alone with this Paſſage, for I will giue thée a good accompt thereof.’

‘The King minding not to encreaſe his cholar,’ did ſhew himſelfe recomforted with his words and comfortable anſwere, truſting that we would defend the Paſſage, according to the valyaunt mindes he had founde in vs, and in [Page] our Captaine generall: which he did affirme without any doubt of the defence thereof. The Nayre, and all the people of Coching, vpon their alteration and determination, they made for their departing, beléeuing yet that our men ſhould be ouerthrowen, did therevpon prouoke the Moores to runne awaye, but yet neuertheleſſe they would not.

¶How the King of Calycut did giue the Battaile vnto the Captaine generall with his caſtells, & ow they were all ouerthrowen. cap. 71.

THe King of Coching being departed, the Captaine generall went to his Caruell, ſhewing himſelfe grieued greatly, to ſée the King ſo faint hearted, the which might bée the occaſion that Coching might be diſinhabited, which he feared very much: and being deſirous to ſuppe with his men, thether came Lorenſo Moreno, with thoſe of the Factorie, with whom he was accuſtomed to come, for (as I haue ſaid) there was neuer any found in the battel of our men, that the enimies could ouercome: The Supper being done, they went to reſt themſelues till midnight, and being confeſſed and abſolued by the Vicar, the Captaine generall ſaid vnto them.

MAſters and my friends,The Captain generals Oration to his company▪ I am very merie & glad that you doe remember the principall thing, which is your ſoules, for that I doe well knowe, that with this remembrance God will haue vs in his high & glorious memorie, to giue vs the victory againſt our enimies, not onely for the ſatiſfaction of our troubles,‘but alſo for the increaſing of his holy and Catholike faith and that the King of Coching and his people might vnderſtand, that our God is a true God, and mightie aboue all mighties, and that hée doeth not fayle thoſe which doe put theyr confidence and truſt in his name. As for the King of Coching, you did well ſée him yeſterdaye howe ſadde and heauie’ [Page] ‘and without hope he went away [...] in the victory, which God I doubt not hath promiſed vs, making ſure account, that we were all loſt, and vtterly caſt awaye, perſwading me withall▪ that I ſhuld in time prouide for mine owne ſafetie. Surely I did neuer finde in him ſo much feare, nor yet ſo great cowardneſſe, the occaſion therof was, that they heard that the power of the king of Calicut was much greater then it was before. And although it were ſo great as they doe thinke, yet farre greater without al compariſon is our God, and that haue you well ſeene in the helps paſt that he hath ſent vs, and euen ſo now do I hope that he will likewiſe helpe vs and ſend vs the victory. And with this hope let vs aſſuredly truſt to ouercome the enimyes, for he will maintaine the honour that wée haue gotten, and from hence forth will ſo encreaſe the ſame, that we ſhould remaine in this worlde for lightes of valiaunt men, and for the ſame be ſo feared in the Indias, that neither the king of Calicut nor any elſe will dare ſet vpon vs: and the honour being gotten, we ſhall be aſſured of reſt for the troubles we haue had.’

As he had ended they ſayd all, that without the victorye they would not liue.Mē make warres to the intēt to liue in peace. And at this time which was two houres after midnight, ſome of the Ordinaunce of the fléete of the king of Calycut beganne to diſcharge, making theyr way towards the Captaine Generall: and the king himſelfe went by land, being accompanied with more then thirtie thouſand men, with his field péeces, as his vſe was, and with great hope ye he ſhould giue vs the ouerthrow, & with this double pride, much more then he euer had, he came forward. The Lord of Repelyn marched before with certeine men that ſhould make rampyres of earth in the point of Arr [...]l, for a defence for our enimyes in the battell. He brought with him great noiſes & cries, with great pleaſure and dauncing, the which the Captaine generall didde heare, and went verie ſecretly a lande, and placed himſelfe in the very point where the enimies ſhuld come, the which [Page] he did defend that the enimies ſhould not make there any rampyers, about the which our men killed ſome of them. This being knowne to the king of Calicut, that the Captaine Generall came thether to méete with him, hée commaunded his ſouldiers with a ſtout ſtomacke to ſet vppon him and take him aliue, the better to reuenge himſelfe on him at his pleaſure. About this there was a great ſkirmiſh and many of the enimies were ſlaine without taking of the Captaine Generall, neither yet could they make theyr rampiers. As the morning came on which was the Aſcention day, the other Fléete did appeare, y• which was not far off, and by this, the Captaine generall was retired vnto his boates, but it was with great trouble, becauſe of the great multitude of the enimies which came vpon him: howbeit he imbarked both himſelfe and his men without lacking any of them, but there were of the enimies many ſlaine and hurt. The point béeing now cléere & vnfurniſhed, the enimies came and placed themſelues there, and then they began to ſhoote off their Ordinaunce at vs, to the which wée did aunſwere with ours, dooing them great hurt therewith, for that all our ſhot went amongſt the enimies, where they lay open, and our men were well fenced, therefore their ordinaunce could doe vs no hurt.The king of Calicut being in danger ſendeth for ſuccor to ye reſt of his fleete. The king of Calicut ſéeing this, ſent word to his Fléete that they ſhould rowe a pace, and come to helpe and deliuer him from the daunger and feare that our men did put him in. The Fléete being come, it was a fearefull ſight to beholde them, for that there was driuen before them certeine raffes, the which went alwaies burning, with intent to ſet the Caruells on fire, and after them an hundred and ten Paraos full of men & ordinance, & many of them cheined together, and after them a hundred Catures in the ſame manner, and foure ſcore Tonis de coxia ancha, and in each of them thirtie men, beſides theyr ordinaunce, and the eight caſtles in kéeping of theſe, the which ſtoode hard by the point, for that the ebbe was not as yet altogether entered. The enimies came with great clamor, making great laromes and cries, and plaieng vpon inſtruments, [Page] accounting vs as ouercome already, and with this, they ſhot off ſo many péeces of Ordinance as it was wonderfull to ſee, and with their fagots which they brought before them burning, they drew very neere to the Canizo, which was placed before the Caruells, and therefore they could not come to ſet the Caruels a fire, neither any other of all the Fléete. Wherefore, all thoſe that went before, did ioyne with the Caniz [...], and therewith did giue vs battaile, & without all doubt they had cloſed with vs at this time, if this defence had not bene. In this ſodaine fight which was very great, the battel indured a good while, vntill ſuch time the ebbe came on, and at this time the enimies receiued great hurt, not onely in their Fregates that were torne in péeces and ſunke, but alſo many of their men that were ſlaine and hurte. The Ebbe being come, the Paraos with their Caſtles did put off from the poynt, and to the ende they ſhould goe the ſwifter, they were rowed with boats. Theſe came right towards the Caruells, and in the greateſt of them all went fortie fighting men, and in the other of the middle ſort in each of them fine and thirtie, and in the leſſer ſort thirtie men. All theſe were bowmen & ſhot, and beſides that they did carrie Ordinaunce, and ſtoode all abroad, which did ſhewe ſo terrible and monſtrous a front, as was fearful to be ſéene, the rather being ſo great a fléet, in compariſon of our ſmall power to defend them, we hauing but two Caruells & two boats▪ But this was ye day wherein God did well ſhew, the great regard he had to preſerue vs, for that neither the ſight of ſo many men, and ſo many ſorts of wayes whereby they had compaſſed and beſet vs, neither yet ſuch a Fléete, that was ſo great and mightye, with the fearefull cryes that the Enimies did make, nor the terrible thundering of the Ordinance, could any wayes diſcourage or make vs afeard. The greater of the Caſtles being come hard to this defence, did then ſhoote off all his ordinance at the Caruels, & the Captaine generall commaunded to ſhoote at the ſame with a Saker, the which cauſed the ſaid Caſtle to ſtand wauering, but yet did [Page] them little harme, neither yet with another péece that they ſhot off foorthwith, with the which Captaine generall was ſo ſad,The praier of a diſtreſſed minde in the bitterneſſe of heart. that he lifted vp his eyes vnto heauen, ſaieng: Lord, doe not retourne my ſinnes to my face at this time, and this he ſaid with ſuch a loude voyce, that ſome there were that heard the ſame. In the meane while came the other Paraos, which did ſet themſelues right equal with the firſt, & with the comming of theſe, the battell did increaſe more and more very ſtoutly on all parts. Their arrowes came ſo thicke, which made ſo great a ſhadow, that ſometimes ther appeared neither heauen nor earth, with y• great ſmoke of their Ordinaunce. The Captaine generall did tourne, and commaund to ſhoote at the great Caſtle the Saker againe, & as with y• other ſhot paſt, they had ſomwhat ſhaken their yron works which were not very ſtrong, ſo with the ſame ſhot they preſently brake, & after yt the yron workes were thus broken, ſome of their beams being likewiſe caried away, with certeine of their men ſlaine, with y• ſame our men gaue a great cry, & the Captaine general falling down on his knées, gaue God great thankes, & returning to ſhoot the Saker againe, did carrie away another row of beams, with many more ſlaine and hurt, and the Ordinaunce being ſhotte off againe, it was all torne in péeces in a ſmall ſpace, and ſo the enimies went with their Caſtle further of, but the others remayned there fighting very ſtoutly. And after this, both parts endured more trouble all the day folowing, then in all the battells that were paſt: but in the ende, we did ſo much hurt vnto their Caſtles, and ſunke and rent ſo many of their Paraos in péeces, y• the enimies could not abide the ſame, & therfore they ſhrank thence. The fight did endure till euenſong time, & began in y• morning: of the enimies wer many ſlain, as afterward was ſéene in y• water, & of vs none, nor any hurt, but only bruſed with a ſhot which went through ye Admiral, ye bullet went among many that were there, but they receiued no harme.

The Captaine generall ſéeing the enimies went their waye, followed them in their Boates, and ſuch Paraos [Page] as he had, ſhooting alwayes at thoſe that were vppon the point Ar [...]aul, with the king, and with the force of their Ordinaunce made them runne away, leauing behinde them ſlaine thrée hundred and thirtie men. This béeing done, he then returned to his Caruells, where that euening came to viſit him the Prince of Coching in the behalfe of the king, who ſent to excuſe himſelfe that he could not come to viſit him in his owne perſon. But he ſent him againe word, that he wold receiue no diſcharge, vntill ſuch time he knew his heuines was paſt, but praied him frō hence forth to beléeue better in God, for that the daungerous daye of the Caſtles was paſt, and he remained in the paſſage as he did before, all ſafe, and in readineſſe to ſerue him. The ſelfe ſame daie came to viſit him certeine noble men, of thoſe that were of the king of Cochings ſide, with whome there was made great triumph for this victorie: and likewiſe there went to ſée him many Moores Merchants which brought him great preſents, ſuppoſing to get of him thereby great friendſhip. He receiued them very gently, praieng them to be true ſubiects to the king of Coching, for thereby they ſhould finde him aſſured at any time whenſoeuer he might ſtand them in any ſtéede, wherevpon they faithfully promiſed ſo to do, & to binde them the more, he made them very great chéere. Alſo the next day in the morning the king of Coching came to viſit him, who imbraced him with as great gladneſſe as could be deuiſed, ſaieng that he did wel performe ye which he had promiſed, in giuing the king of Calycut the ouerthrowe. But vnto this he anſwered, that he had not performed all his promiſe, ſince that he did not put him on the Caluete, but he was not in fault thereof, for that the king kept himſelfe alwayes farre from him. He declared alſo to the king diuerſe other matters of pleaſure, which the king anſwered in like manner, praiſing very much his valiantnes, & that he had wel ſéene ye God did fight for vs, aſking of him forgiueneſſe for ye diſtruſt he had in him, & how greatly he was bound to ſuccour him, declaring alſo that the affaires of Portingale were very great, and confeſſing lykewiſe [Page] that he through his worthineſſe had made him king. After this victorie the inhabitants of Coching did caſt off the feare they had of the king of Calycut, in ſuch ſort, that neuer from thence forth they ſtoode in anye dread of him, neither yet made account of his habilitye.

Of the counſell which the king of Calycut tooke of his brother, and how hee was gaine-ſaide: and alſo by what pollicie & meanes the king of Calycut ſought to kill the Captaine generall. chap. 72.

THE king remained greatly aſhamed and very ſad, for that at the ſame time he could not ouerthrowe the Captaine Generall, the rather becauſe he neuer accounted any thing more certeine, then to ouer come him in that conflict, becauſe of the Caſtles which he had prepared for his confuſion. And now leauing a ſide all hope euer to haue the victorie, he deſired to haue with vs no more warres, and therefore he called before him into his tents, all thoſe kings and noble men that came to helpe him, and ſayd thus vnto them.

YOV doe well ſée how little our power profiteth vs againſt theſe men,The king of Calicuts oration vnto his noble men. and how little our pollicies preuaileth ſince they doe not regard vs, and would neuer giue ouer the paſſage, notwithſtanding the greate power we had againſt them. The like account alſo they make of vs in their feaſts, and paſtimes when we goe againſt them, ‘as though wee were the fewer, and they the more, and as though the land which they are in were theirs, & we were the Chriſtians, whereby it appeareth, they alwayes make account of the victorie for certeine, which either they obteine by witchcrafts, or elſe their God doth fight for them, which cannot bée otherwiſe, conſidering the great victories they haue had [Page] againſt vs, and the greate hurt that we haue receiued of them. Wherefore I ſuppoſe that God would it ſhould be ſo, for the litle iuſtice yt is obſerued in theſe wars, as hath wel appered in the beginning of the ſame. And if I had ben wel aduiſed, it ſhuld not haue gone ſo farre forward, but in the end I am in the fault, and not they, and ſince it is ſo, wée haue therin no right cauſe, neither canne gette any thing by our ſtrength. Let vs therfore giue it ouer, & deſire no more to haue Coching, for that God doth fauour theſe men, ſince wel you ſée, there is no power in the Indias that can offend vs ſo long, we being ſo ſtrong, but theſe dogs, of whom I am afraid, yt they will ſubdue the Indias, according to the acts that they haue done, and the credit that they haue gotten, eſpecially in Malabar. And that this miſhap may go no further, I thinke it ſhoulde be conuenient to procure theyr friendſhip, & alſo it is time to get vs away, for y• the winter commeth on, & the riuers do increaſe, & theſe men do ouerrun all: and this is certeine, ye if the wars indure, they will come hether & inforce vs to depart with our loſſe & diſhonor.’ Now y• firſt that he aſked councell of what was neceſſary to be done, was his brother Nabeadarin, who being angry with the king that he wold neuer follow his councel, & leaue the warres, ſaide: that now he knewe to his coſt what he had told him of vs: & ſince in time he woulde not know it, he aſked him what it ſhuld now profit him for his honour and credit, ſince y• then when opportunitie ſerued he refuſed his councell, but now he willed him to do what he ſhuld thinke good, for he could not do amiſſe. The king béeing ſomwhat broken of his pride, (calling him brother) ſaid that now there was no time to aunſwere him after ſuch ſort, but to tell him his opinion what he thought beſt. The prince anſwered y• we were venterous,The counſell that the king of Calicuts brother gaue him touching the making of peace with the captaine generall. & alwaies remained ſo aſſured of the victory, vpon our experienced ſtrength and good fortune, albeit our power were much leſſe, ſo ye he greatly doubted we would none of his friendſhip. And for thée to offer ye ſame, ſaid he to ye king, & they to refuſe it, wold be no leſſe diſhonor vnto thée, then the often ouerthrows y• thou [Page] haſt receiued. And ſince by thy profered friendſhip, we cannot get ſo much as we ſhould looſe if they refuſe y• ſame, it were beſt therefore not to procure it, but to defer it, & make peace with the Captaine general that commeth y• next yere from Portingale, who conſidering howe little the wars will profit him, ‘& not being aſſured of good ſucceſſe therein, will be the gladder to make peace with thée, & therfore that it may not be thought that we run awaye for feare, let vs ſtay & not depart, vntill ſuch time it ſhuld be thought, that ye neceſſitie of the winter did inforce vs hence, & then may we wel talke of peace, when poſſible the Captaine general wil willingly accept the ſame, doubting that his good fortune may chaunge. And to prouoke & giue occaſion the rather to haue his friendſhip, let vs giue him no more battels in the meane time, ſince it ſerueth to no purpoſe, but to the great loſſe and confuſion of our men.’

This councell of Nabeadarin was reproued by the kings and noble men which were there then aſſembled, & eſpecially of the Lord of Repelyn, which ſaid that the king ought not to goe away, neither for the greatneſſe of the winter that ſhould come, nor yet for the ioſſe of his men, but rather to continue, giuing vs manye battailes, vntill ſuch time he did take vs, and not onely procured the deſtruction of vs in Coching, but alſo of thoſe that were in Cananor and Coulan. And that immediatly it were expedient they ſent men of credit with letters to affirme, that they had boorded our Caruells with their Caſtles,A ſubtile deuice by meanes of a lye to haue brought our mē to deſtructiō but it toke no effect▪ and had alſo ſlaine vs all, and taken our ſayd Caruells, and therefore that they ſhould kill all thoſe that were there, as they had promiſed. To the ſame effect therefore the king did write immediatly and the Moores alſo, but there was no credite giuen to the ſame, for that there was other newes ſent before, and therefore the laſt was taken for falſe. Neuertheleſſe for all that, by the induſtry of the Moores the which did dwel in thoſe two towns, our men were in great danger, and durſt not come out of theyr Factoryes, and in Coulan there was one ſlaine, but in the other places none, [Page] for afterward meſſengers were ſent from Calycut to the Gentiles, that our men were aliue, and what wée had done. For which cauſe the king of Calycut was aunſwered that they would not kill our men, vntill ſuch time the Captaine Generall was taken, and that he had firſt giuen him the ouerthrowe, which béeing done, they would conclude with him. This béeing come to the knowledge of the Lorde of Repelyn, both he and the Moores did perſwade the king to fight another battell with the Captaine Generall, the which he would willingly not haue done, for that he was wearyed in his ſpirit, but he could not withſtand them, and therefore commaunded the ſame to bée giuen both by Sea and lande. But in it he had lyke ſucceſſe as before, ſo that more through the importunate deſire of the Moores then of his owne will, he gaue in his owne perſon another battell with his Caſtles, with many more men and veſſells then in the other before. This battell endured longer then the other, in which alſo the enimyes were ouercome, and receiued farre greater loſſe then euer they did before. With this victorye that we had gotten, the inhabitaunts of Coching remained ſure from all their enimies, and ſo likewiſe did the king, whom afterward came to viſite the Captaine generall, being brought in a chaire, with farre greater eſtate then euer he came before, ſince the firſt beginning of all the warres. This being knowne in the campe of the enimies, the kings and noble men that were with the king of Calicut, tooke occaſion to ſay vnto him that he ſhoulde not conſent, in eſpecially hauing ſuch a greate power as he hadde there preſent,An aunſvvere vvhich ye king of Calicut made vnto certein noble mē ▪ that the king of Coching ſhould haue him in ſo ſmall reputation, as thereby to iudge himſelfe frée from him, & out of his danger. To the which the king of Calicut made anſwere, ye the king of Coching had great reſon to do that which he had done, in eſpecially knowing his greate power and camp, and yet perceiuing that he could not giue him the ouerthrowe. And ſince that his euill fortune was ſuch, he deſired them not to wiſh him to go forward in theſe wars, for that he knewe well and was fully perſwaded, [Page] that continuing the ſame, he ſhoulde alwayes receiue the loſſe, and run daily into greater danger, as by the feare thereof it was apparaunt. And therefore he requeſted them all to let him alone by himſelfe, who ſo béeing, did imagine againe what courſe he might beſt take to reuenge himſelfe.

And after that he came aboord, he called for certeine of his Nayres, in whom he had repoſed all his truſt, commanding them to go to Coching with ſome diſſimulation, and there to trauaile all that they could to kill the Captaine general, and all ſuch of our men as they could méete withall. And as the Naires are men inconſtant, and cannot kéepe counſel longer then they are bethinking themſelues therof, therfore immediatly their intent was knowne to the Captaine general, who from thence forward had a better regard to himſelfe, and vnto the reſt of his companye then he had before. And the better to take thoſe Naires which came as Spyes thether, he appointed thervnto two companies of y• Naires of Coching, commaunding the one to k▪pe dilligentlye a long the foord, and the other a long the riuer, who watched by quarters both by day and night. Whileſt this dilligence was vſed, the Captaine Generall had knowledge that this ſpy was a Naire of Coching, and of the houſe or ſtocke of the Leeros, who had attendant vppon him certeine Nayres that were ſtraungers, which appeared to bée lyke thoſe of Calicut.

Nowe hauing certeine knowledge héereof, he ſo hande the matter, and in ſuch order, that forthwith hée tooke them all priſoners, and béeing brought before him, he commaunded them to bée cruellye whipped in the preſence of thoſe Naires of Coching, and afterwarde to bée hanged. The inhabitauntes of Coching ſéeing this, requeſted the Captaine Generall to giue them ſome other puniſhment ſince that they were Nayres, and not to ſhewe them ſo great extremitie, but notwithſtanding hée wold not graunt vnto anye other puniſhment, for that they had deſerued the ſame.

[Page] Then all his Captaines ſayde vnto him,The Oration of certeine captains vnto their generall for his better aduiſe in adminiſtration of iuſtice. that firſt and before all he ſhould call to remembraunce, the greate troubles that the King of Coching hadde ſuſteined for the onelye mainteining of them, and alſo howe much it woulde grieue him to heare ſaye, that ſuch were hanged in his Countrie without his conſent.

Alſo it woulde giue an occaſion for ſuch noble men as were with him, to ſaye that he is a king but for a while, ſince that his iuriſdiction is nowe taken from him. And foraſmuch as hetherto he had vſed him alwayes with reuerence, they wiſhed that nowe at the ende he woulde haue him in a greater eſtimation then euer hée hadde before.

The Captaine Generall hauing conſidered theyr reaſons, did allowe of theyr good councell héerein, and cauſed thoſe Naires to be ſent for, that were gone to execution, of the which there were two halfe dead, but thoſe that were liuing hée ſent to the king of Coching, aduertiſing him how that they hadde deſerued death, and alſo the cauſe why hée hadde not commaunded them to bée hanged.

The King hearing this, tooke the ſame in greate honour and eſtimation, that they were ſent him, and eſpeciall for that there were preſent ſundrye of the noble men of his Countrie, and of other places, yea, and Moores alſo, of the chiefeſt that dwelt in Coching, which did not lette to ſaye vnto the king to afrunt him withall, that our men were they that commaunded and did not obeye.

But from hence foorthe the Captaine Generall hadde ſuch intelligence, that the ſubtile dealinges of the king of Calycut, tooke very ſmall effect againſt him.

How the king of Calicut of pure heauineſſe for the ill ſucceſſe he had in the warres, did put himſelfe into a Torcull, and within a ſmall time after came foorth therof. chap. 73.

[Page]

IVne béeing now ended, and the winter beginning to increaſe, the Captaine generall thought that it woulde be ſome cauſe that the king of Calicut would not tarrie there long. And therfore he was fully minded to ſet vpon him at the remouing of his camp, for that by experience he knew the ſmall valour of his enimies, by ſuch victories as he had gotten in times paſt, which did therefore animate him the more therevnto, thinking that at ſuch a time he might doe him much harme. And being in a readineſſe to vncheine his Maſtes, he was preſently informed that the king of Calicut was reforming a new his Caſtles, and preparing in a readineſſe a greater Fléete then euer he had before, that hée might giue him therewith once more the battaile.A falſe alarome giuē forth by ye Calicutians to terrifie the Portingals vvith all. This was but a fléeing newes that was commaunded to be giuen out by the king of Calycut, who did ſurmiſe that at the raiſing of his Campe, which hée was minded to doe, and to goe his waye, the Captaine Generall woulde ſette vppon him.

And therefore hée determined, that his departure ſhould be ſo ſecretlye done, that no man ſhoulde knowe thereof but onelye Nabeadarin. For this cauſe therefore he gaue out, that hée woulde giue the battaile in the paſſage of Palurte, and alſo in the Foorde both together, to the ende the Captaine Generall might occupie himſelfe in defending them both, and hée himſelfe the better ſteale awaye, as hée didde: but hée gotte nothing thereby, more then hée hadde gotten before.

[Page] After all this, on Saterday in the Euening, which was Saint Iohns euen, on which day they gaue out, that they would giue the battaile, there appeared the whole army of the enimyes as they were accuſtomed to ſhew themſelues. The Captaine Generall hoping of theyr comming, did tarrye there all that night, but in the morning he ſaw no likelyhood thereof, and meruailing what that ſhoulde meane, was informed by two Bramenes that the king of Calycut was gone with his whole power vnto Repelyn, and that at that preſent hée was there.

For this newes hée was very ſorrie, but yet for all that hée entered that preſent daye into Repelyn, where hée fought with many of his enimyes, ſlewe and hurt a greate number, and ſo returned to the paſſage, where he remained yet certeine dayes to enſure Coching the better, which was yet afeard of the King of Calycuts returning, fearing that he would not leaue this paſſage. Howbeit the Captaine Generall was well aſſured that he would not come there, by reaſon hée was fallen into ſuch reproch and ſhame, in the ſight of all men, becauſe of his great loſſes. So that immediatly after that he had paſt the riuers of Repelyn, he apparted himſelfe with his noble men which had accompanied him in theſe warres, and ſaid vnto them with wéeping eyes in this manner following.

FOR a man that is without ſhame,the kings Oration, made to ſuch princes & noble mē as came to aide him in theſe vvarres. as I am, it is not much to ſhedde theſe teares as I doe, the heauineſſe of my loſſe béeing ſuch, as fetcheth the ſame from my hearte, with the which I am ſo troubled, that ſince it is ſo, that I cannot doe it in publike forte, I will goe into ſome place where I may do the ſame without any body that may ſée mée. I haue alſo another griefe which troubleth mée verye ſore, ouer and beſides my diſhonour, which is, for ‘that I am not able to rewarde you for all the greate good will and ſeruice you haue done mee in theſe warres, the which I take for ſo greate a duetye, that if ſo be that I might ſée my ſelfe diſcharged of the ſame, I ſhould bée [Page] better contented, then with the getting of Coching. But ſince it is not Gods pleaſure that I ſhoulde get the victorie ouer it, which hath procured my diſhonour, ſo is it not his pleaſure and will that I poſſeſſe the ſtate of a king any longer, but rather for the amending of my ſinnes will ende my lyfe in this Torcull,’ A Torcull is as much as vvith vs an hermitage, or ſuch lyke pore kind of ſolitary relgious place▪ where I meane to continue vntill ſuch time that God hath taken awaye this hatred, which hée hath conceiued againſt mée. And from this time forward you may diſpoſe of your ſelues, and do what you ſhall thinke beſt with my countrie and ſubiectes. I doe not offer you my perſon, forſomuch as béeing a man ſo vnfortunate as I am, it ſhall not ſtand with your credite to require his companye, and with this ſpeach hée ended his talke.

But the Princes and Noble men woulde ſomewhat haue comforted him, and withdrawne him from this his determination, but it could not preuaile, for that he had fully bent himſelfe to the contrary, and ſo with certeine of his Chaplaines he entered into this Torcull.

Now his mother hauing knowledge that he was there, ſhée ſent him word, that for this his ſodeine determination ſhe remained as heauie and with as ſorrowfull a heart as might bée.The Mothers meſſage to ye King of Calycut, being in the Torcull. Informing him moreouer, that through this ſodeine chaunce, there hath riſen in Calycut a great alteration, for that from thence are gone and now are ready to go many & ſundrie merchants, and alſo that the citie is become wonderfully vnprouided of victualls, with the greate feare the inhabitants are in of the Chriſtians: which is the occaſion ther are no victualls brought thether. But no perſwaſion ſhe ſayd,Wher credit is impaired, it is better to lurke then to runne abroad vvith diſhonour. could withdrawe him from theſe wars with the Chriſtians, which from the beginning of the ſame was a great griefe vnto her: willing him alſo that in no caſe he ſhoulde returne vnto Calycut, vntill he might doe the ſame with his credit, which was cleane loſt alreadie. And therefore ſhée counſailed him a while to forbeare, vntill ſuch time he did recouer it againe, and that with victorie, yea, & rather to looſe all then to returne without it. [Page] With this meſſage the Kings heauineſſe increaſed greatlye, and he ſent immediatelye for his Brother, to whome being come, he gaue him charge of the gouernment of his kingdome. But after that he came out of the foreſaid Torcull, it was reſtored vnto him againe.

¶How there came ſundry Kings & Princes of the Countrey to demaund peace of the Captaine generall: & alſo how there came vnto Coching many Moores of Calycut, to inhabite there. Chap. 74.

ALL theſe Kings and Noble men, which came to ſerue ye king of Calicut (after that he had placed himſelfe in the Torcul) remained a few dayes in Repelyn, tarrieng to ſée whether he did repent himſelfe of that which he had done, or not: and perceiuing ye contrary, each of them repaired toward their Countreyes, whereof the moſt part of them laye there along the water ſide. And forſomuch as the Winter began to increaſe, and they fearing leaſt the Captaine generall would ouercome them all, hauing now loſt the hope they had to defend themſelues now as before time. Therefore they minded to procure as much as they could,the goodnes of the King of Cochings nature noted in being a meane to procure▪ to be friends and in peace with the Captaine generall. For the which intent as Mediatour for the ſame purpoſe, they ſent to the King of Coching, whom for that his condition and nature was very good; & without calling to remembraunce the iniuries that were paſt, which they had done vnto him, did vndertake to do the ſame. Sending them immediatly a ſafeconduct for their ſafe comming vnto Coching, from whence he went in their company to viſit the Captaine generall, whom at their méeting, he earneſtly requeſted [Page] to receiue them as his friendes,peace for his enimies. who aunſwered, that for his ſake he would ſo doe. Diuers other Princes alſo there were, that coulde not come, but yet notwithſtanding they ſent vnto him their Embaſſadours to conclude this peace likewiſe. Alſo ſundrye Moores of Calycut that were great Merchants, to the ende they might quietly vſe their trade, forſooke Calycut, & came to dwell at Coching, with the conſent of the Captaine generall. Others there were that went to Cananor and Coulan, ſo that the great Trade that was before in Calycut began ſodainly to fall. And for that the Moores of Calycut began in this ſorte to inhabite in Coching, therefore the Captaine generall wold not leaue this paſſage, as alſo for that there came manye & ſundry times Paraos from Calycut into the riuers to kéep the ſame, by Nabeadarins commaundement. Howbeit the Captaine generall met with them and fought with them, and hurt many of his enimies. Moreouer, he oftentimes entered into the Lord of Repelyns Countrey to take Cattell for his prouiſion, & fought with many of his enimies, vpon whom he made great ſlaughter. One daye by chaunce our men met with certaine Tones of the enimies, the which were in a certaine ſtanding water, and carried them away into the riuers, and made with the enimies a valyant and ſtout ſkirmiſh, in the which was ſlaine the greateſt parte of them, and not one of our men hurt.

After all this,The Lord of Repelin, is alſo reconciled vnto the captain generall. the Lorde of Repelyn became the Captaine generalls friende, and came to viſite him, and brought him for a Preſent a great quantitie of Pepper, which he had in his Countrey.

¶How Lope Suares de Meneſis departed for the Indias for captaine generall of the Fleete that went in the yeare of our Lorde, a 1504. and what more paſt or euer he came to Anſadina. cap. 75.

[Page] IN the yeare of our Lorde. 1504. the king of Portingale hauing certeine knowledge,1504. that the king of Calycut continued as yet in the warres,The fifte voiage to the Indias made by ye Portingales▪ did therfore ſend to ſuccour our men with a Fléete of twelue great ſhippes, and appointed for Generall of the ſame, a Gentleman called Lope Suares de Meneſis, who in the time of king Don Iohn the ſecond, had bene Captaine in the Mina. The Captaines of the Fléet were theſe following.

Pedro de Mendoſa, Lionel Cotinuo, Triſtim de la Silua, Lope Mendus, de Vaſcon Cele, Lope de Abreo, Philipe de Caſtro, Alonſo Lopes de Caſtro, Alonſo Lopes de la Cocts, Pero Alonſo, de Aguylar, Vaſco de la Siluero, Vaſco Caruallo, Pedro Dynes de Sutunell. All theſe were Gentlemen borne, and ſome were made Gentlemen by ſeruice. Theſe alſo carryed with them many valiant ſouldiers, who being imbarked, and the Captaine Generall diſpatched, did depart from Liſhborne the .xxii. of Aprill in the ſelfe ſame yeare, and continuing theyr voiage on the ſecond day of May, they found themſelues right in their courſe to Cape Verde. The Captain generals oration vvhith he made to his captaines, maſters and Pilots. Then y• Captaine generall hauing héere all y• Fléete together, cauſed his Captaines, Maiſters, and Pilots, to aſſemble themſelues, vnto whome he ſpake in ſence following. Willing them to call to remembraunce howe lately they had departed from Portingale, for which cauſe it was requiſite that they were circumſpect and diligent, and not to fall into ſuch diſorders and extremities as hetherto they haue done, for not looking euery man vnto his charge, and not to ſuffer one ſhip leye the other a boorde, as they haue done alreadie, whereby they ranne all into greate daunger. Alſo there were others he ſaid, that had no regard to kéepe theyr right courſe, but vnaduiſedly there were ſome that would go before, and others come after, and others by the winde, by meanes of which diſorder they might haue [Page] caſt away themſelues. And the better to auoid theſe daungers, and to kéepe the Fléete in good order, he did ſet down certaine rules in writing by his Scriuenor, and firmed therevnto his name, with the names of the other Captaines, which they ſhould obſerue and kéepe.

Inprimis,Orders that vvere giuen to euery captain, Maſter and Pilot, to keepe the ſame in their voyage. That all the Fléete, as ſoone as it is night, ſhall follow his courſe, remaining alwayes a ſterne the Generall: and that no ſhip ſhall carry other light, then onely that which is in the Bytoke, and within the Captaines cabin. Alſo, that the Maſters and Pilots kéep their watch, and that they haue a good regard, that one ſhip doe not lay the other a boord, and that they do all aunſwere, when the Admirall doth make any ſigne.

Item, That as ſoone as it is day, they doe come and ſalute their Generall, and that in the night they doe not go before him.The penalty laid vppon the breach of theſe cō maundements. He that doeth not obſerue theſe commaundements, ſhall paye ten Crownes, and be kept in priſon, vntill they arriue there, and that without wages. And for that there was ſome Maſters and Pilots very neglygent, by whoſe default one ſhip did lay the other a boord, he commaunded to remoue them from one ſhip to another: and by this diligence that was thus vſed, euery man had a regard therevnto, and the Fléete went in good order, & neuer after ranne in any daunger. Thus going on their courſe in the month of Iune, and iudging themſelues ouer againſt the Cape Buena ſpuransa, there fell vpon them a meruailous great ſtorme of winde, with the which all the Fléete ranne two dayes and two nights without ſayles, ſo yt they were in great daunger to haue bene all caſt away, the wether being ſo darke and cloſe, that it ſéemed rather night, then day.

Theſe two dayes béeing paſt, they ſaw certaine ſignes of lande, the which as it did appeare, could not bée farre off, and for that cauſe was the weather ſo cloſe. After that they had diſcryed ye ſame, & were come néere thervnto, then theſe ſignes appeared the greater. And therefore the Captaine generall commaunded, that out of his ſhippe there [Page] ſhould be ſhot two péeces of Ordinaunce, that the others might after the ſame manner aunſwere with the like, and the better kéepe companie the one with the other. This ſtorme being paſt, they founde miſſing the ſhip of Lope Mendez. And the Captaine generall ſéeing that he hadde loſt the ſight thereof did not let to goe forwarde on his courſe.

And ſo, within certaine dayes through the neglygence of the Officers, one ſhippe layde the other a boorde, and gaue therewith ſo great a blow vpon the how of ye other, that with the ſame there was opened ſo great a hole,A great leake giuē vnto one of ye ſhips through negligēce of the ſailers▪ that they might ſée through the ſhippe verye well, by the which hole there entered ſuch aboundaunce of water vppon a ſodayne, that ſhe was almoſt ſunke. The Captaine generall bare with the ſame ſhippe immediately, and came ſo néere them that they might well heare him, and the great comforte he gaue them, willyng them not to bée a fearde, but to goe forwarde in ſtopping the leake, without feare to be loſt, for that he was there to ſuccour them with his men, which he did ſende in his Boats not fearing the Seas, that went ſo high, nor the daunger that they were in.

And for all that the Mariners of the ſhip did ſo work, that or euer it was night the leake was halfe ſtopped: yet that they might end y• reſt that remayned to doe, the Captaine generall commaunded to be made a ſign by the ſame ſhippe, that the other Captaynes might come and ſuccour him, if there were any ſuch néede. The wether being ye next daye ſomewhat calme,The leak ſtopped, and the daunger thereof paſt, they ſayle forvvard▪ the leake was wholly ended, the which was ſtopped with certaine hides nayled therevnto, and pitched vpon.

This daunger béeing paſt, without anye other miſchaunce, woorth the writing, they arriued at Monſanbique on Saynt Iames daye, where the Gouernour receiued him verye well, and ſent him great refreſhing of freſh victualls, and the Letter that Pedro de Tayde had [Page] lefte there for him before hée dyed, as I haue ſayd before.

Who vnderſtanding by the ſame, of the warres that the King of Calycut had begunne agaynſt our men, didde as ſoone as the ſhippe was rigged, and made in a readineſſe, which they had brought a grounde for the ſame purpoſe, he departed towarde Mylynde, béeing the firſt of Auguſt. And immediatelye after his arriuall there, the King ſent to viſite him by one of his principall Moores,Certaine Portingales ſent vnto the Captain generall for a preſent. by whome hée ſent for a Preſent ſixtéene of our men, the which did eſcape out of the ſhip that Pedro de Tayde was Captaine of.

Within two dayes after this, hée departed toward the Indias, and ſo came to Anſadina, where hée founde two Gentlemen, the one called Antonyo de Saldanua, and the other Ruy Lorenso, which were Captaines of two ſhippes, and were in groat feare, ſuppoſing that our Fléet had bene of the Rumes. Then Antonyo de Saldanua, informed largelye the Captaine generall how he departed the laſt yeare from Portingale for Vice admirall, with Ruy Lorenso, being giuen him in commiſſion to go & diſcouer the red Sea with the Countreyes adiacent. And how that in doublyng the Cape, they were verye ſorelye troubled with a ſtorme, which was the onelye cauſe of the ſeparating the one of them from the companye of the other. But Ruy Lorenso as he kept his courſe after their ſeperation, met by chaunce in the way to Sofala, with a certaine ſhip of the Moores being laden with much golde, the which hée tooke: & afterward that he had taken the ſpoyle of the ſame, hée lefte the Hull in kéeping at Mylynde. Antonyo de Saldanua went to Quardafum, where he tooke many great and excéeding rich prices, without entering at all into the Straights: and from thence he went into the Indias.

And for that he came not to Anſadina before it was the Winter, he was therefore driuen to tarry there with Ruy Lorenso, who hauing paſſed many dangers, came afterward [Page] thether, where hée paſt great troubles, for lacke of victualls.

¶Howe the Captaine generall came to Cananor, and ſpake with the King: and how the Gouernour of Calycut, woulde haue made peace with him, howbeit he woulde not conſent therevnto. Chap. 76.

THe Captaine generall béeing héere, came thether vnto him Lope Mendez de Vaſcon celis, who had loſt the companye of his Generall, with the foule wether paſt. And immediately after that he was come, the Captaine generall made him preſt, for his departure towarde Cananor, where he arriued the firſt daye of September. There the Factor enformed him of the warres of Calycut, and how that he with his other fellowes that remained in Cananor, had ſéene themſelues oftentimes in daunger of death.

The next daye after his comming thether,The Captain generall goeth a land to viſite the king of Cananor. he woulde néedes goe a lande to viſite the King of Cananor. All the Captaines of the Fléete he carried in his company to attende vppon him with theyr Boates, the which were ſet foorth with theyr Flagges and Ordinaunce to the vttermoſt, and the men apparayled in the beſt apparayle that they had. And as for the Boate in the which the Captayne generall went, it was couered ouer and beſet with Carpettes in the beſt manner,The ſtate which the Captaine generall kept at his going to viſite ye king of Cananor. vppon the which ſtoode his Chayre, the which was made of vnſhorne Crimſon Veluet, and at his féete there were ſet two very faire Cuſhions of the ſame. His Dublet was alſo made of Satten, beeing of ſundrye coulours, the which was wrought Diamond wiſe.

And moreouer, his hoſe were made after the ſame ſorte, and his Shooes were lykewiſe made of blacke [Page] Veluet, which were all beſet with Aglets of golde, and his Cap couered ouer with Buttons ſutable to the ſame: his night gowne was made of blacke Veluet, after the French vſe laced about, with laſe of golde, his Dagger and Rapyer which his page held, were hafted with pure golde, and his cheine came thrée times about his necke, the links wherof were all enameled, and at the ſame he hadde hanging his Whiſtle of golde of the lyke worke. There went before him his two Lackyes, appareled as himſelf, and ſixe trumpetters with their Flagges of ſilke. He had alſo with him certeine wind inſtruments, vpon the which they went plaieng, which were carryed in a little Boate hard by him, and in the ſame was carried alſo a preſent for the king of Cananor, which the king of Portingale ſent vnto him.The preſēt vvhich ye king of Portingal ſent to the king of Cananor. This preſent was ſixe beds of fine holand, with two great pillowes and pillowbéers to the ſame, all wrought with gold. Two Couertors or Carpets of Crimſin Veluet vnſhorne, which on the vttermoſt ſide were all quilted ouer, and had vpon the ſame thrée gards of cloth of golde, which in the middeſt was a ſpanne in breadth, and in the other places of thrée fingers. The bedſtéede was all guilted ouer, the which had Curteines of Crimoſin Satten, with Fringe made of golde thréed. As ſoone as the Captaine Generall did put of from his ſhippes, all the Fléete began to ſhoote off. Afterwards the Trumpettes did ſound, and the Drums play. After this was ended, then the Organs went, and neuer ceaſed, till they came to the water ſide, where ther were great multitudes of Moores and Gentiles, which came thether onely to ſée the Captaine Generall. Who as ſoone as he had diſimbarked himſelfe,The king of Cananors brauery and ſtate at his meting vvith the captaine generall▪ entered into a certeine houſe, the which the king had cauſed to be made for the ſame purpoſe hard by the water ſide, in the which the bedſtead with the whole furniture apperteining was ſet vp, and hard by the ſame there was a place appointed for y• captain generall to ſit down on. When the king of Cananor came, he brought before him thrée Elephants armed, as though they ſhoulde fight, and after them there came a ſquadron of thrée thouſand [Page] Naires, with their weapons, which was ſwoordes, targets, and ſpeares. Alſo there came another ſquadron of two thouſand bowe men. Laſt of all came the king himſelfe ſitting in a chaire, the which was verie rich. When he was come to this Sarame, the ordinance of all the Fléet was ſhot off. The Captaine Generall thereby perceiuing the king to bée at hande, went forth as farre as the doore to receiue him. And after that they had imbraced each other, he preſented him with the bed, vnto the which the king did go immediatly, and lay downe vpon the ſame. The Captaine Generall ſéeing that, ſate downe in his place appointed, and there they conferred together for the ſpace of two houres. In the meane while a graye hounde of the Captaine Generalls would haue ſet vpon one of the Elephants, and becauſe hée was holden, he therefore barked and plunged in ſuch ſort, that there was none that could heare, by reaſon of the noiſe they made, neither yet there was anye able to holde him, which was the occaſion the king and the Captaine generall were ſo little time together. After this méeting, there came vnto the Captaine Generall a Moore from Calycut, with whom there was alſo in companie a Portingale boy, which brought a letter from ſuch of our men as remained then captiues, from the time of Pedro Aluares Cabrals being there, who told him by word of mouth, that the king of Calycut was ſo broken in minde with the warres that hée had with Edwarte Pacheco, that with pure heauineſſe hée put himſelfe into a Torcull, ſequeſtring himſelfe from all the world.

And that there were many Moores Merchaunts ſo earneſtly bent to followe theyr trade,The Mores for ſake Calicut, & goe els vvhere to dvvell▪ that they haue left Calicut, and are gone to dwell in other places, by reaſon wherof, there is in Calycut greate neceſſitie of victualls. And therefore that the King of Calycut, the Prince, the Aldermen, and all the dwellers of Calicut are deſirous to make peace, and are determined to ſend vnto him about the ſame. And gaue our men lycenſe to write thereof to the Captaine Generall, the which they ſo did, not onely about [Page] their requeſt, but alſo to deſire him to releaſe them out of captiuitie.

The Captaine Generall ſéeing and peruſing this Letter, woulde haue aunſwered the ſame, but the Boy would not conſent therevnto, ſaieng that of force he muſt néedes returne with the Moore, for that they gaue him no further lycenſe, but to bring this Letter, vppon condition that if hée did not retourne, they woulde cutte off the heades of all thoſe his fellowes that remayned for Captiues in Calycut. Wherefore the Captaine Generall ſent them anſwere by worde of mouth, that as touching his going to Coching, it would be ſhortlye, where hée woulde come to an Ankor as néere as hée coulde to Calycut, paſſing by the ſame: and then they might take an occaſion to come theyr waye towarde the Fléete, either ſwimming or in Boates.

This theyr going without yrons about the Citie,He vvold haue thē to eſcape frō their keepers, & come ſvvimming vnto him▪ was the occaſion that the Captaine Generall gaue them this councell, although hée knewe that they were kepte with a gard of Naires, and alſo that they ſlept in the kings houſe. After all this, he departed towarde Calycut, whether hée came on Saterdaye, the ſeauenth of September, and as ſoone as hée came to an Ankor, there repayred vnto him the Boye, which brought him ye letter to Cananor, and with him came a Moore Seruaunt to Coſebyquin, who brought the Captaine Generall a preſent from ye Gouernours of the citie of Calicut, on whoſe behalfe they ſayd, that if ſo bée hée woulde ſend vnto Coſebyquin a ſafe conducte, that then hée would come and ſpeake with him, and trade for a peace.

Wherevnto he aunſwered, that he woulde not accepte theyr preſent, nor anye other thing, vntill ſuch time the peace was concluded vpon: and as for Coſebyquin, he might come vnto him without anye feare, as a ſeruaunt of the king of Portingales. Alſo priuelye hée ſent our men word that they ſhould indeuour as much as they could to runne away. [Page] This aunſwere being knowne to the gouernours, they ſent immediatly Coſebyquin with two captiue Portingales to the Captaine Generall, beléeuing moſt certeinlye, that by this meanes they ſhuld prouoke vs to make the peace, which they ſent to demaunde by the foreſaide Coſebyquin. Praieng him alſo to tarrie thrée or foure dayes,Two tvvo Italian rū agates iuſtly required by the Captaine generall to be deliuered. which they ſuppoſed woulde be the longeſt time that the king woulde tarry, for that they had ſent to call him, and knowing verie well, that he would doe all that they would require him. But he gaue them for ful anſwere, that vntil ſuch time they deliuered vnto him the two Italian runagates that wer in Calicut, he would not agrée to any thing, which béeing deliuered, he would then doe what he thought good, but he ſent them word nothing of y• captiues, for that he thought that at anie time they might runne their waye. But as ſoone as the Italians had knowledge,A craftye deuiſe of the Italians to haue the captiues cloſelye kept for the aſſurance of thēſelues. that the Captaine generall did demaund them, they then ſurmiſed that if ſo be, the captiues went not with yrons, they would runne awaye, and ſo gaue notice therof vnto the gouernours of the Citie, how that the Captaine Generall, if yt he might haue them wold make peace, yea, and with ſuch conditions as the king himſelfe would require, for that they were men of a good eſtimation, ſo that the Captaine Generall would not forgo them for any price.

The Aldermen giuing credite vnto this, waxed ſomewhat colde in ſpeaking any further of peace, but kept the Captiues from thence forth, in ſuch ſort that they coulde not runne away. And ſo they remained vntill the comming of the Vizeroye Don Franciſco de Almeda, & in the meane time ſome there were that did run awaye, and others that died of great infirmities.

Of the great deſtruction which the Captaine generall made in Calycut, and how he came vnto Coching. chap. 77.

[Page] THE Captaine Generall perceiuing that the gouernours did conclude nothing, and themſelues were without hope to haue the captiues, he bent himſelfe determinatly to reuenge himſelfe with ſhooting off his ordinaunce both night and day at the Citie, during the which time, he ſpoiled the ſame wonderfully, and ouerthrew the kings houſe and part of their Pagodes, with many other of their houſes. He ſlew alſo ſundry men that came to the water ſide, wherevnto he laye ſomewhat néere with ſeuen of his ſmall ſhips. Moreouer he had lieng a long the ſhore all their boats, in the which were both men and ordinance. This being done, he departed toward Coching, wher he ariued on Saterday being the xiii. day of September. All this day he kept himſelfe a boord, and thether came our men to viſit him. On the next day, he diſimbarked himſelfe hard by the caſtle in like order as he did at Cananor, where the king of Coching was tarrieng for him, and there receiued him with great pleaſure. And after that he had imbraced him, they went hand in hand to the hall, in the which there was a ſeate of eſtate,Embaſſadors are to keepe theyr eſtates for the honor of theyr Princes that ſende them. whervpon was ſet a chaire. And for that the king did ſit lowe according to his order, ye Captaine generall commaunded to place the chaire ſomewhat further off from the kings ſeate, in the which he ſat downe alſo. But all thoſe that were preſent were greatly offended with him, for that he did not ſit vpon his chaire of eſtate by the king, to whome he deliuered a Letter from the king of Portingale, in the which were rendered vnto him greate thankes, for the fauour he had ſhewed vnto his ſubiectes, with many other gratulations. Vnto the which the king aunſwered, that for all ſuch matters he was fully ſatiſfied with the good ſeruice that Edwarte Pacheco had done vnto him.

The next daye after, the Captaine Generall ſent him a great ſum of money, the which the king of Portingale did beſtowe vpon him, for that he knew he was but poore.

[Page] After all this, he commaunded Pedro de Mendoſa, and Vaſco Caruallo to goe with theyr ſhips to kéepe the coaſt of Calycut, that they might take all ſuch ſhips of ye Moores as were laden with Spices: and alſo he ſent Alonſo Lopes de la Cocta, and Peralonſo de Aguylar, and Lyonel Cotinuo, and Ruy de Abren, to goe and receiue in theyr lading at Coulan, for that he knew ther was ſpice in abundaunce.

Moreouer he commaunded Triſtim de la Silua, to goe to Grangalor, betwéene the riuers, with foure boates armed,They met vvith ſpices better cheap, & nerer hād then at Grāgalor. of purpoſe to fight there with certeine Paraos of Calycut, the which were there armed. So Triſtim de la Silua ſhot at ſome of them, and alſo at certeine Nayres, the which iſſued out from certeine pointes of the lande, and ſo without comming to Grangalor, he tooke a ſhip laden with Pepper, with the which he returned to Coching, where hée did lade with the other Captaines, which was done very quietly: and there was ſuch great ſtore of ſpices, that there was none then néeded.

How Edwarte Pacheco departed from Coulan vnto Coching: and how the Captaine Generall did ſet vppon Grangalor, and what he did there. Chap. 78.

EDwarte Pacheco béeing come from the coaſt of Coulan, as ſoone as he had ſight of the Captaines, the which the Captaine generall had ſent, and for that he ſhuld haue no more to doe after his arriuall at Coching, ſince there was come another Captaine Generall, did depart toward Coching the xxii. of October, and kéeping his courſe, had ſight of a ſhip a farre off in the Sea, toward the which he made all that day, & part of the night, and this ſhip was driuen into Coulan▪ where [Page] hauing talke with the ſame, he did vnderſtand that he was one of the confederates the which came from Coromandil. And immediatlye after were ſéene other thrée ſhippes of Calycut, towarde the which he made his courſe, and kepte a long the coaſt with the winde of the ſhoare. In the morning he went into the Sea, and there he ſawe a Saile▪ the which fled away from him in ſuch ſort, yt til it was toward the euening he could not ouertake the ſame, but hard to the lande,A ſhip of Calicut taken & caried away▪ with the which he fought a good while, for that it had many men that did defend themſelues, but at the ende hée made them amaine. The ſhippe béeing yéelded, our men did enter the ſame by Edwarte Pachecos commaundement, and there were brought a lande certeine of theyr men, the reſt he commaunded to be kept priſoners and in yrons, a boord his ſhip.

And hauing knowledge that this was one of the thrée of Calicut, the which he went to ſéeke out, hée put in the ſame two of our men to kéepe and carrye it with him. When hée was come right ouer againſt Comorin, there fell vppon him on a ſodeine ſuch a hurling Winde, that thereby hée was brought in great hazard to be caſt away.

This béeing paſt, came to an Ankor within a league of the ſhore, and there remained all that night, in the which there ranne away well néere thirtie Moores, of the which were twelue taken againe with his Boate. After this, hée went vp and downe, wauering in the winde, tarryeng for the reſt of the ſhippes, and ſéeing that they came not, nor yet heard no more newes of them, he carryed the foreſayde ſhippe with him to Coulan. After that hée had delyuered the ſhip to the Factor, with all ſuch merchandiſe as he had, the which wer many and rich, he departed toward Coching, where after his comming the ſhips of the Fléete went to lading. And likewiſe the others béeing come that were a lading in other places, then the Captaine generall did enter in councell, whether that they thought good that he ſhould ſet vpon Grangalor or not, foraſmuch as it held on the king of Calycuts ſide, and was enimie to the king of Coching. [Page] And now alſo the king of Calicut was come forth of the Torcull to Calycut, The king of Calicut is novve come forth of ye Torcul & taketh ye gouernement vppon him. and had in the riuers his Captaine generall with foure ſcore Paraos, and fiftie ſhippes, and by lande had appointed Nabeadarin with a greate number of men.

And foraſmuch as it was ſpread abroade, that the Captaine Generall did depart towarde Portingale, the king of Calycut was minded to returne and renewe the warres. Now the Captaine generall béeing determined and aduiſed by all the Captaines to ſet vppon Grangalor, he departed one night with xv. boates, the which were armed with paueyſes, and with fiue and twentie Paraos from Coching, repleniſhed with Ordinaunce. Alſo with theſe there went a Caruell, ſo that in the whole there were welnigh a thouſande of our men, with whom there went alſo as manye Nayres of Coching. In the morning before it was daye, hée came to Palypuerto, for hée durſt venture no further, for that the Boates went verye heauie laden with theyr furniture, by reaſon wherof they could not paſſe the ſhoells that were there.

At this place there came againſt him the Prince with eight hundred Nayres, and after this ſort, ſome there were of them that went by lande, and ſome by water. Thus they departed toward Grangalor, where the king of Calycuts Captaine generall was, in two new ſhips, the which were cheined together full of Ordinaunce and men, and the moſt of them bowe men. And a ſtearne theſe ſhippes, and on both their ſides were theſe Paraos with many men alſo.

The Captaine Generall of the enimies had in his company two of his ſonnes, which wer accounted for to be very valyaunt Gentlemen. Our Fléete béeing come, the Ordinaunce beganne to goe off on both partes. Triſtim de la Silua, Alonſo de la cocta, Vaſco caruallo, Peralonſo de Aguylar, and Antonio de S [...]dania, which went in the Vangarde▪ didde cloſe with the two ſhips, with the which they fought a while.

[Page] Theſe ſhips being boorded,The Captaine generall of the enimies and his tvvo ſons ſlaine. were immediately yéelded, béeing firſt of all ſlaine, the Captaine generall and both his ſonnes, the which fought very valyantlye, and alſo manye others, for that in this place was all the force of the Battaile. And as touching the Paraos that the other Captains did ſet vpon, there was but little to doe, forſomuch that as ſoone as they ſaw their ſhips boorded they fled their waye. Wherevpon commaundement was giuen by the Captain generall, that all our men ſhould diſimbarke themſelues, of whom the firſt fiue Captains were they that gaue the firſt onſet vpon Nambeadarin, who offered to reſiſt, with certaine Nayres which he had in his retinue: with whome our men did fight with ſo valyant a minde, that they made theyr enimies to runne awaye. Then our men following the chaſe did ſet fire to certeine houſes, beſide all y• Towne which was diſpoiled both by the Moores and Gentiles, the which did well know, that our men would come vpon thē, as alſo did Nambeadarin and his men, which fled awaye along the water ſide. Edwarte Pacheco, and the Factour Diego Hernando Correa, with the other Captaines didde diſimbarke themſelues in another place, who immediately began to ſet a fire the Citie. The Captaine generall in the meane while remained along the water ſide to keepe his men from ſcattering. Then the Chriſtians that dwelt in this Citie, and that were hidden amongſt the houſes, when they ſaw the Towne all in a fire, came out from where they were hidden, crieng with a loude voyce, and requeſting them not to kill them for that they were Chriſtians. And ſome of them ther wer, y• ſent preſently to the Captaine generall, to pray him that for Gods ſake hée woulde commaund the fire to be quenched, for that they ſhoulde els burne certaine Churches of our Ladie and of the Apoſtles which were in the Citie, as alſo their poore houſes, y• which were mingled with the houſes of the Gentiles and Moores.The fire commanded to be quenched for ye pore chriſtians takes that dvvelt there▪ Then for their ſakes, the Generall commaunded the fire immediately to be quenched, although that many of theyr houſes were burnt, which for that they were made of timber, [Page] did burne quickly. The fire being quenched, our men fel to ranſaking of the houſes of the Moores, among whom there were many which before time had dwelt in Calicut. Moreouer, the two ſhippes with their Paraos that were in the water were likewiſe burnt, beſides other thrée yt were a land. This conflict yet continuing, there came thether the Prince of Coching, who told the Captaine Generall, that Nambeadaryn was not far off with his power, who was determined to returne to the Citie, after that he was departed. Then the Captaines procured licenſe of the Captaine Generall that he would ſuffer them to goe ſéeke him out, & ſo they did. But as ſoone as the enimies had ſight of them, they ran their way as faſt as they could. The Captaine generall ſéeing this, did returne, & wold haue ſet vpon another Towne the which was not farre off, but for that the Prince of Coching requeſted him to the contrary,After a valiant exploit, the Captaine Generall maketh knights in recōpence of theyr vertue. for that the one halfe of the ſame was his, and that it was vnpoſſible to deſtroy the one halfe without the other: and alſo for that the King of Calycuts ſubiects were ready to ſubmit themſelues vnto him, praying him to defend them. Then the Captaine generall entered into the Citie, & did ther make certain Knights, and afterward returned to the Forte, to the which the King of Coching came to viſit him.

¶How the King of Tanor ſent for ſuccour to the Captaine generall; which he ſent him. Cap. 79.

AFter two or thrée daies paſt that the Captaine generall was in the Caſtle, there came thether vnto him an Embaſſadour from ye King of Tanor, who is next neighbour to the King of Calicut, who ſpake vnto him in this order, on y• king his maſters behalfe,An embaſſador ſent to the captain generall from the king of Tanor, vvho made the Oration folovving. That whereas, héerto he had bene a friend to the King of Calicut, and did alwaies aid him in all ſuch wars as he had made againſt Edwarte Pacheco, now ſince [Page] he is come out of the Torcull, preſuming on his great power, and hauing encreaſed or rather doubled his pride, doth in recompence of his good ſeruice, make warres vpon him. And therefore hauing knowledge that the King of Calicut was minded to ſet forwarde and to ſuccour the Citie of Grangalor, and that his Captaine generall was marching toward the ſame, he did aſſemble 4000. Nayres, which he placed in certaine ſtraights, ‘by the which ye king of Calicut ſhuld paſſe, & at his comming did ſet vpon his whole campe & ouerthrew the ſame, with the death of 2000. of his men, which was the cauſe yt he came not to ſuccour the citie of Grangalor, but with this loſſe returned to Calicut. Wherefore hauing done this exployt, he remaineth in feare, leaſt he wil come and ſet vpon him. And therfore his requeſt is, that the Captaine generall will ſuccour him, ſince moſt hū bly he doth demaund ye ſame: which if he will doe, he will promiſe him to be true ſubiect to ye king of Portingale. To this Embaſſage ye General aunſwered, yt he was wel content to accept him for ye kings ſubiect,’ & to ſend Pedro Raphael with his Caruell, in ye which were an 100. men, the moſt whereof were Croſſebowmen, & ſhot. It was a great chance, yt the ſame daye our men came to Tanor, thether came alſo ye king of Calicut by land with his whole camp, & gaue to ye king of Tanor battell,The king of Calycuts vvhol povver ouerthrovven at Tanor, by ye king therof, & the Portingales▪ in which through ye valor of our men he was ouerthrowen, & many of his ſlaine. And for this ſuccor yt the Generall ſent thether, the king of Tanor remained ſubiect to y• king of Portingale. With this ouerthrow ye king of Calicut continued in great feare, & in leſſe credit with ye Moores, then he had with ye victories that Edwarte Pacheco had gottē againſt him, becauſe thoſe wars wer made with ſtrangers, but this with ye king of Tanor, who is his neighbor. Which thing was ye cauſe, yr all ſuch Moores, as dwelt in Calicut & Grangalor conceiued now ſo great a miſliking to trade toward Meca, yt they determined to return to their coūtries: & for this cauſe, they laded xvii. great ſhips in Pandarane, fortifieng them to defend thēſelues from our men ye better, & to offend thē, if they ſhuld come. [Page] Alſo there were many Paraos and Tones, lykewiſe a lading as faſt as they could plye it.

¶How the Captaine generall fought in Pandarane with ſeuenteene great ſhips of the Moores, and how he ouercame them and burned them. Chap. 79.

THe Captaine generall perceiuing that of force he muſt néedes returne, with all ſuch ſhips as were laden, by counſaile of the Captaines, and for ſecuritie of the King of Coching and of the Fort there, did therefore appoint and leaue in Coching a Captaine generall, with whom he left a ſhip and two Caruels, the one of Pedro Raphael, and the other of Diego Pieres. This Captaine was a Gentleman called Manuel telez de Vaſconcelos, whom the Captaine generall did preſent to the King of Coching, who had a great deale more deſire, that Edwarte Pacheco ſhould haue remained, for his good ſeruice, and affection he bare him, as I haue ſayd. Howbeit notwithſtanding,the effect of the vvordes, which the King of Coching ſpake to Edvvarte Pacheco at his departure. he durſt not demaund his tarrieng at the Captaine generalls hands, forſomuch as he was of a very ill condition. Edwarte Pacheco hauing knowledge of his going for Portingale, purpoſed firſt ere that he departed, to ſpeake with the King of Coching, the which he ſo did. For whoſe departure the King remained very ſorrowfull, requeſting him to tarrie if ſo be it were poſſible in the Indias, and not to leaue him, for that as yet he did not think himſelfe ſure from the King of Calicut, and alſo he tolde him that he remembred that he had promiſed him ſundry times not to goe away,The aunſwere that Edvvarte Pacheco, gaue to y• king of Coching▪ vntill ſuch time he had made him King of Calicut, and ſince as yet he had not the poſſeſſion of the ſame, he deſired him not to leaue him. Edwarte Pacheco aunſwered him, that he left him now in a good time, hauing his Countrey verye quiet, forſomuch as the King of Calycut hath bene and now is abated ſo greatly of his [Page] pride, that he néeded not to ſtande in no feare of him anye more. For ſufficient proofe whereof was, if none other thing, that now he ſawe the Moores of Meca to go theyr way from Calycut as men deſperate for the loſſe of their trade. Alſo that his going for Portingale was not but to returne, and then to ſerue him for a longer time, and more at his pleaſure. With this aunſwere the King was ſomwhat ſatiſfied, and with the teares in his eyes deſired him to pardon him, for that he did not giue him all that was his deſire,The good vvill of a thankfull minde is much more vvorth thē many gifts▪ in recompence of the ſeruice he had done for him, in conſideration that he was ſo poore, as he did well knowe. Howbeit he intreated him, that of his Pepper which hée had, he would take what he woulde. But Edwarte Pacheco would haue nothing, ſaieng, that he did truſt in God, that when he retourned to Coching, hée ſhould finde him very rich, & in his proſperitie, and then he would receiue reward of him. And with this he departed, the King with all his ſubiects remaining verye heauie for his departure. Moreouer, the King wrote vnto the king of Portingale of all Edwarte Pacheco ſucceſſes in the warres, and what he had done for him. After this the Captain gerall departed toward Cananor, the xxvi. of September, carieng in his companye thoſe Captaines which ſhoulde remaine in the Indias. His good wil & intent was, to come to an Ankor in the harbour of Panane, and there to viſite the King of Tanor. But by reaſon of the ill weather they had, and their naughtie Pilots they could not reach y• ſame, but were driuen to Calycut and Pandarane. And from thence he commaunded Pedro Raphael and Diego Pieres to go before the Fléete, and to looke out, whether they could ſee any ſhips of the Moores. Being ariued at Pandarane, & bearing along the Coaſt with a ſmall winde, there came vpon them x. Paros of the xvii. ſhips that were ther a lading. Our men hauing ſight of them, began forthwith to ſhoote at them with their ordinaunce. The other Captayns being a Sea boord, and hearing the ſound of the ordinance, did returne, and bare as cloſe by the winde as they could. [Page] And hauing ſight of the ſhips of the Moores to be a ground, came to Cananor by the Captaine generalls commaundement, who immediately entered into counſaile, in ye which it was determined by the whole conſent of his Captains, that they ſhuld fight with thoſe Moores, and that they ſhuld goe in their boates, for that their ſhips could not come néere vnto them, by reaſon they were within the Barre. And for that the enimies were many, that therefore they ſhould do what they could to cloſe with the ſhips, the which as ſoone as they had done, they ſhuld ſet the ſame a fire. This being appointed, the Captaine general with all ye other Captains of the Fléete, did imbarke themſelues in their boates, the which were in all xv. in the which all the ſouldiers of the Fléete did imbarke themſelues, and that with a great courage for that they went to fight with their enimies.The great prouiſion of the Moores againſt ſo fevv ſmall boates. Theſe Moores as I ſayd, had their ſhips within the Barre, lyeng one cloſe by another, with their ſtearnes toward the land, and in the moſt part of them wer many ſouldiers, ye which were men of coulour white. Their weapon were bowes and arrowes, and alſo they had much ordinaunce. And on the land, at the entering of the barre were placed two péeces of ordinaunce vpon a ſmall bulwarke which they had made. Our men bearing néere to this barre, had ſight of the Captaine generall, and how the Caruells were ſomewhat farre off the ſhore, and that they came not, for that ye wind was but ſmall, and therefore were perforce driuen to returne backe for them, & to bring them by force of the oare within the Barre, for to ſuccour their boates. The other Captaines (although they ſaw him returne) went forward by force of the oare, and at the entering of the Barre, the Pellets fell as though it had rayned amongſt them. But for all this they entered, ſhooting of all their Ordinaunce. But as their enimies were farre more then they, ſo theyr arrowes were without number. And for that our men by reaſon they wer ſomwhat low vnder their ſhips, wer open without any defence, therefore did they receiue great hurt, not onely by their ordinance, but alſo by their arrowes. [Page] Héere as it appeared, was all the force of the battaile: and for all the ſtoutneſſe that was ſhewed by the enimies, yet our men entred into the middes of all the multitude of the ſhot, by force of the oare, in ſuch ſort yt it appered as though the boats did flye,It had ben better to haue called vppon God to haue ſuccoured them in that extremytye, the men crying out S. Iames, S. Iames, & with yt they laid thoſe ſhips aboord: ye firſt yt laid any ſhip aboord was Triſtim de la Silua, as ſoone as he was within the bar. And as ye men of this ſhip were many, ſo they did ſhoote ſuch abundance of arrows & threw ſo many ſtones, yt they made our men put off, who béeing off did immediately cloſe with another, in y• which for that there wer not ſo many, they boorded the ſame in deſpite of the Moores for all their ſtoutnes, in ye which wer ſome of them ſlaine, & thoſe that remained aliue leapt for feare into the water & ſwam away. About ye ſame time yt Triſtim de la Silua had layde this ſhip a boord, Alonſo de la cocta did the like vnto another, which he tooke to be ye Admirall, of ye which a Turke was Captaine with all his company, which were manye. And at the boording of this ſhip, were throwen ſuch a multitude of ſtones and darts, that it was a wonder to ſée. It chaunced that before our men came to this ſhip, the enimies ſhooting at them with a péece, ye which was lieng vpō the vpper decke, with ye recoyling it rent out a péece of the ſhip ſide, ſo yt ther was made ſo great a hole, & the enimies not regarding it, thought it more néedfull to ſuccor yt fore-part of their ſhip. And when our boat came hard a boord ye ſame ſide where this hole was, our men did enter by the ſame. The firſt that entered, was Alonſo Lopes Maſter, & another Aluoro Lopes, who was ye things ſeruant, & is now towne Clarke in Santaren, with [...] others. Theſe altogether with thoſe yt came afterward ſo fought with their enimies, that in the ſame conflict there were many ſlaine, others hid themſelues vnder the hatches, & alſo others lept into ye water, at ye which time the moſt part of them were drowned, for that they wer laden with ſhirts of male. Immediatelye one Pero Alonſo de Aguylar layde another ſhip a boord, hauing in his company Lyonel Cotinuo, and [Page] alſo Edwarte Pacheco, Vaſco Caruallo, Antonyo de Saldano, and Ruy Lorenso, who all behaued themſelues very valyauntly.The Mores for feare leap into the ſea, & drovvne thēſelues. And as ſoone as they had taken this ſhip, they immediately ſet the ſame a fire, and it tooke the ſame very furiouſly, ſo that thereby their enemies were ſo excéedingly afeard, that the moſt part of them leapt into the water and drowned themſelues. While this was a doing, thether came the Captayne generall, with the Caruells, and béeing entered within the Barre, he lefte them. Then one of the péeces that were on the lande was ſhot off with a pellet, which ſtrake the Caruell of Pedro Raphael in ſuch ſort, & in ſuch a place, that with the ſame were thrée of his men ſlaine and ten ſore hurt, and for lacke of winde, the floude carried him vnder the forecaſtle of a ſhip, of thoſe that wer not as yet layd aboord, the which had many men. And for that the ſhippe was higher then the Caruell, who had the ſame vnder his ſprit ſaile, therefore the enimies did enter, and handeled our men very ill, for that they altogether did ſet vpon them. Alſo there was another péece ſhot, with the which the Maſter of the ſhip was ſlain, being at the helme gouerning the Caruell, which being thus left at randon, before that there came any other to the helme, the Caruell fell vpon certaine Rockes, where ſhe remained till the battaile was ended. The Captaine generall viewing the danger that Pedro Raphael was in, commaunded him to bée ſuccoured, and ſo it was done. Then our men entering into the Caruell, the which was full of Moores, they behaued themſelues ſo valyantly,Here vvas a great ſlaughter of the Portingals in reſpect of other battailes ſought. that they made them flye awaye, but notwithſtanding all our men that were within ye Caruell were ſore hurt. In the meane ſpace, all the ſhips of the enimies were burnt, and this alſo at the laſt, in the which was burnt great ſtore of Merchaundiſe, for that the ſame was laden. Which was done the rather, for that vpon the land there were many of the enimies which wer aſſembled together. And for that of our men there were many hurt, the Captain generall came his way with all his Captains toward their ſhips, where he found that there were ſlaine [Page] of our men xxv. and hurt an hundred and xxvii. men. But for all this the victorie was great. For ouer and beſides the burning of the ſhippes with all their riches, the which was much, the Captaine generall was giuen to vnderſtand by the Moores of Cananor, (to the which place from thence he went) that ther were ſlaine in this battell two thouſand men. With this ſpoyle the king of Calicut remained ſo ill contented, that frō that time for a good while after, he could not reſtore himſelf, for that his loſſe was great, beſides that the Moores went from Calycut, by reaſon whereof there was ſo great neceſſitie & lacke of victuals there, that the citie remained almoſt vninhabited.

Of the ſafe arriuall of the Captaine Generall at Liſhborne, and of the great honour the king Don Manuel gaue to Edwarte Pacheco. chap. 80.

THe next day after, the which was the firſt day of Ianuarie, the Captaine Generall departed toward Cananor, for that there hée went to take in the reſt of his lading. And being there arriued, the Factor gaue him to vnderſtand of the great victory that he had gotten in Pandarane, and how the Moores were very penſiue for the ſame, ſuſpecting that from thence forth all our men might remaine in the Indias, The [...] ber of ſhips and men, vvhich vvere left in the Indias vvith Manuel Telez the Captain generall▪ and that without feare. For as their pride was before this victore great, ſo theyr pretence was alwayes thought to be, to kill both the Factor, and all thoſe that remained with him. The like tale alſo did the king of Cananor alwayes tell. The Captaine Generall béeing readie to departe, before his going he made an Oration vnto Manuel Telez, and thoſe that remained with him touching that which they ſhould doe, laieng before them the great ſeruice that Edwarte Pacheco had done, and therefore he woulde giue him no greater a Fléete then Franciſco de Alburquerque left, and an hundred fighting men in it. But after that he was departed, [Page] there were in the Indias no more warres, for that the king of Calycut remained as in caſe aforeſaid. The Captaine generall being departed from Cananor toward Portingale, he ariued at Mylinde the firſt day of September, where without comming a land, he ſent Antonio de Saldanua to ye citie, for many rich priſes which he had left there, & had taken before at the Cape Quarda [...]um, where he went toward the Indias. And from thence he directed his courſe toward Quiloa, to recouer ther y• kings tribute which ye king wold not pay. From thence he departed the tenth day of Februarye, without chauncing vnto him any thing worth the writing, arriued at Liſhborne the 22. day of Iune. 1525. with two ſhips more then he carried out with him,1525. when he went toward the Indias. All theſe were laden with great ſtore of riches, for the which the king Don Manuel gaue him great honour,Indeede this Edvvarte Pacheco vvel deſerued great honor & cō mendaciō for his ſeruice▪ and the like he did to Edwarte Pacheco, after yt he vnderſtood what good ſeruice he had done him in the Indias, & how by his meanes the Factorie was there mainteined, & alſo the credit of his power. And for that all men ſhuld haue knowledge of ſo notable ſeruice, immediatly vpon thurſday next after the Captaine generals arriuall, was commaunded to be made a ſolempne Proceſſion, as they vſe on Corpus Chriſti day, in the which he went from ye high church, vnto Santo Domingus, carieng with him Edwarte Pacheco. In this Church there was a Sermon, made by the Biſhop of Vizew called Don Diego Ortis, who brought in by order, all that Edwarte Pacheco had done in the warres againſt the king of Calycut. This feaſt was not onely kept in Liſhborne, but alſo in Algaruy, & in all the cities & notable towns of Portingale, which was ſo done by the kings commaundement. Moreouer, he wrote of the ſame vnto the Pope, by Don Ioan Sutill, which was then Biſhop of Sa [...]in, who had the carriage of thoſe letters. Beſides y•, he ſent the ſame to many chriſtian Princes, yt they might know of thoſe notable acts & victories, being ſuch a thing, as within theſe our dayes no prince hath done ye like for his ſubiects.

FINIS.

§

[Page]

❧Imprinted at London by Thomas Eaſt, dwelling betweene Paules Wharſe and Baynards Caſtle. 1582.

Information about this book

Title statement

The first booke of the historie of the discouerie and conquest of the East Indias, enterprised by the Portingales, in their daungerous nauigations, in the time of King Don Iohn, the second of that name VVhich historie conteineth much varietie of matter, very profitable for all nauigators, and not vnpleasaunt to the readers. Set foorth in the Portingale language, by Hernan Lopes de Castaneda. And now translated into English, by N.L. Gentleman.Historia do descobrimento e conquista da India pelos Portugueses. Book 1. English

Castanheda, Fernão Lopes de, d. 1559.

Edition statement

1582

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A68413

ID [STC]

STC 16806

ID [STC]

ESTC S108825

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99844479

ID [PROQUEST]

99844479

ID [VID]

9295

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A68413)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 9295)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 407:02, 407:03)

Source

— The first booke of the historie of the discouerie and conquest of the East Indias, enterprised by the Portingales, in their daungerous nauigations, in the time of King Don Iohn, the second of that name VVhich historie conteineth much varietie of matter, very profitable for all nauigators, and not vnpleasaunt to the readers. Set foorth in the Portingale language, by Hernan Lopes de Castaneda. And now translated into English, by N.L. Gentleman., Historia do descobrimento e conquista da India pelos Portugueses. Book 1. English, Castanheda, Fernão Lopes de, d. 1559., Lichefield, Nicholas..

Extent

[6], 164 leaves

By Thomas East,. Imprinted at London :: 1582.. (Translator's dedication signed "Nicholas Lichefild". Variant 1: dedication signed "Nicholas Lichefield, Gentleman".) (A translation of book 1 of: Castanheda, Ferñao Lopes de. Historia do descobrimento e conquista da India pelos Portugueses.) (Running title reads: The conquest of the East India.) (With a final colophon leaf.) (First word, 2D1v, "There". Variant 2: first word is "fléet"; this line belongs at the top of 2D2v, and is there supplied with a slip-cancel.) (Reproductions of the originals in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.) (Both copies appear at reel 407.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.