willed him y â— if so be y â— 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 y t 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 y t froÌ„ 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 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 y e king his Master wtout him The king did therfore promise him so to do that forthwith he wold dispatch him thether After y â— he was desirous to know y e whole estate of y e king of Portingale perticularly how far of y t countrie laye from Calicut how long he had ben vpon that voiage And for y t part of the night was well spent y e 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 y e Captaine general coÌ„manded to giue him al things y t 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 y t foure houres of the night were past the Catual the others y â— had accompanied him before did now the like they all going afoot ther fell such raine that y e stréets ran full therof therefore he was driuen to coÌ„maund some of his men to carry him vpon their backs not for the water only but for y â— it would be late or euer y â— he could come to his lodging with this y e Captaine general was so angry y â— he complained vpon y e kings Factor demaunding whether he meant to carry him about the citie all y e night or not who answered y t he could do no otherwise for y t y e 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 y e which he might ride And for y t this horse was wtout a saddle y e Captaine wold not accept the offer saieng y e yet rather he wold go a foot so he went vntill such time he came to his lodging where those y â— did accompany him left him in a good lodging And before his comming his men had brought thether his stuffe where y e 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 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 who béeing come he shewed the same vnto them which was foure Capiâ—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 y e 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 y e king of Calicut is his own goods not y e 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 y e whatsoeuer stranger he be that doth come speake with the king he sendeth hm a present which is according to y e greatnes of his estate Vnto which the Captaine generall did reply saieng y t it was good y t their custome shuld be kept that for the preseruatioÌ„ 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 y t they would not let him doe that then hée would send the same backe to his shippes againe 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 y t 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 but they did not
of Malabar staÌ„ding wtin y e couÌ„try at y e end of a riuer which coÌ„passeth y e same by some parts y e inhabitaÌ„ts therof saith he are both GeÌ„tiles christiaÌ„s also ther dwel amoÌ„gst theÌ„ many Iewes which are smally estéemed of ther are also many strangers amongst theÌ„ which are merchants of Surria of Aegipt of Persia Arabia by reason of y e great store of pepper which is there gathered this citie hath a king amongst theÌ„selues vnto whoÌ„ al such christians as dwel wtin this citie do pay certein tribute these dwel by theÌ„selues where they haue their church made after our order sauing they haue not in theÌ„ any Images of saints but only certein crosses they do not vse bels but when y e priests would haue theÌ„ come to diuine seruice theÌ„ they do obserue y â— order of y â— Gréeks The christiaÌ„s haue their Popes which haue 12. cardinals two patriaks many Bishops Archbishops all which do reside in Armenia for thether go y e bishops of GraÌ„galor to receiue their dignity he himself had ben ther w t a bishop which y e pope did consecrate he himself receiued at his hands orders of priesthood euen so he is accustomed to do vnto al others y â— are christians in y â— Indias in Caitaio also he is called catholike their Tonsura is made w t a crosse Of those two patriarks which they haue y t one remaineth in y e Indias y e other in Caitaio as for y â— bishops they are reposed in cities as is thought coÌ„uenient The cause why they haue a pope in those parts hath ben as is thought by theÌ„ for y t in S. Peters time he being in Antioch ther arose a great scisme of Simon Magus which was y e occasioÌ„ y â— he was called to Rome to ouerthrow y e same to help y e christians which wer in great trouble and séeing y â— he must depart froÌ„ Antioch for y t the church of y â— orient shuld not remaine wtout a shepheard he appointed a vicar to gouern who S. Peter being dead shuld remaine for pope those y â— succéeded him shuld alwaies assist him in Armenia but after y e Moores entred into Suria Asia for y e Armenia remained alwaies in the christian faith the Christians did therfore chuse to gouerne it by 12. cardinals Marco Paulo doth also make mentioÌ„ 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 their pope is also named Iacobite is hée whoÌ„ they cal y e catholike Ioseph Moreouer he told y e Captaine general y â— in Grangalor are priests whose crowns are not shauen as ours are but onely in y e midst of their heads they leaue certein haires al y â— rest is shauen also they haue deacons subdeacons They consecrate w t leuened bread with wine made of raisons for they haue no other in y â— couÌ„try Their childreÌ„ are not baptised vntil xl daies after their birth without they be sickly Those y â— are christians do coÌ„fesse theÌ„selues as we do they receiue y â— sacrament bury y e dead as we doe 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 â— do not so â—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 y e Gentiles And they with great deuotion kéep y â— 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 Their Priests doe liuâ— 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 doctors which haue left the Scriptures of the olde newe Testament well expounded or interpreted Their apparell is after the order of y e Moores They haue their day which they do call Iâ—tercalor which is of 40. hoâ—â—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 froÌ„ the king of Cananor also from the king of Coulaâ— they both being great princes in y â— kingdome of Malabar requesting him to come to their ports or harbours for y t 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 â— at this present he could not go to lade at their ports for that he
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 Then all his Captaines sayde vnto him 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. 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 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 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 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 better contented then with the getting of Coching But since it is not Gods
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 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 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 Braâ—â—â—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 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 y e 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 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 â— 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 â— come from y â— 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 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 the Portingals as he said afterward hauing séene them in Tunys in the time of y e 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
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 y t he did remember no other matter all y â— time being desirous to see y e Captain general did procure with as much diligeÌ„ce as he could to haue him a land to bring him to his pallaice notwithstanding he made his excuse saieng y t the king his master had commanded him not to come a land in any port with this answere y e king was driuen to encounter with him vpon the water who would néeds go as far as y e water side on horsback with y â— furniture of a Ienet y t the king of Portingale had sent him And for y t in his country he had none y t could tel y e 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 y e principals at y e foot of a staire amongst them ther was brought a liue shéep which whilest y e king was coÌ„ming down they did open as he was aliue after y t they had taken out his guts bowels they laid y â— same vnder y e horse féet The king being now on horsbacke he went also with his horse vpon y e shéepe which is a kinde of ceremony y â— the witches ther do vse After y t he had thus troden vpon the shéepe he went toward y e water side with all his company after him a foot saieng w t a lowd voice certein words of witchcraft And after this sort he met with the Captaine Generall vpon y e 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 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 Albuâ—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 theÌ„ if so be y t 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 to sell victuals also there came certein Nayres of y e most principall belonging to y â— king of Calicut with a certeine Guzarate merchant by whom y e king sent word vnto y e Captaine General y â— there could not haue happened a better thing vnto him then to vnderstand y t he was come vnto his port that hée could not do him no better pleasure theÌ„ to command him if ther were any thing in his citie y t he had néed of he would accomplish y e same with great good wil whervnto y â— Captaine generall made answere with great thanks séeing w t what good will y â— king sent to visit him he brought himself to an ankor néere vnto y e citie alwaies shooting of his ordinance with y e which he did salute theÌ„ which was so great a wonder 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 theÌ„ although he was glad to vnderstand after what sorte they returned commaunded y t 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 y e Captaine Generalls eares he sent presently vnto the king Alonso Hurtado to signifie vnto him y t 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 w t 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 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 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 â— 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
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. 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 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 y e 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 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 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 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 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 y e 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 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 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
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 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 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 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 y e 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 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 for that of those there the most part serued him against their will in especially they that were dwellers in Coching which did abhorre y e 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 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 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 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 y e 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
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 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 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. 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 y e 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 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 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 But if so be that you would go when
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
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 y e same The boates of each part being come néere together 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 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 y e 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 y e 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 y t it was a griefe to him y t he refused to go with him to his Citie which was shuld be at y e commandemēt of him of y e king his master to whom he wold send his Embassador or els write if he wold come y t 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 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 that whilest he should remaine on shoare 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 y e harbour there came vpon y e 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
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 y e house of Meca y e 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 Muske Saunders Aguila fine Dishes of earth Laker gylted Coffers and all the fine things of the Chyna Gold Amber Waxe Iuorie fine and couâ—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 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 This King of Calycut was a Bramene 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 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 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
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 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 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 y e 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 y t 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 y e 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 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 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 y e King and that he would not consent therevnto the Moores tooke occasion to go to y e Generalls lodging with a fained friendship offering themselues to instruct him what he should best doe 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 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 â— he thought the same seperating from his men was not meant well did therfore 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 y t 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 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 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 â— 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 y t 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 y e same first of all to themselues 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 y t 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 from many places of the world thether to buy y e 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 y t 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 y t 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 y e King make him at the first an ill countenance so he thought y t he wold not haue giuen him y e same with this license he went first to his lodging being by y e 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 lâ—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
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 â— 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 which was sent him from the Captaine General 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 y t they wer litle or nothing worth Of al this y e Captain general was informed for y â— 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 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 y e 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 where other Merchants are he should sell the better did therfore â—â—ue y e King of Calicut by a messenger for license to send the same 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 y e 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 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
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 y t it was not long ago since he cōmaunded 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 y e 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 Vasco de la Gama a Gentleman of thy house came to my Countrie 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 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 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. 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 y e 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
because y t 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 y t 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 y e Captaine Generall priuie therof who y e next day after tarryed for y e king in his boat which was couered ouer set out with flags There did attend vpon him al the rest of y e 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 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 y e same Vpon this agréement Alonso Hurtado was sent a land the next day following howbeit he found the king far from y e which was agréed vpō with y e captain general y e day before yelding therfore sundry excuses why he could not accōplish his promise in especial for y t he han no néed of his merchandise also for y t he beléeued that y e Captaine generall came 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 y e 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 y e Moores y e which wer of y t Merchannts of the kingdome of Cambaya but he would not meddle with them although they were laden w t great riches because of y e king of Milinde Being come with al his fléet to an ankor he saluted y e citie w t 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 y t thether he was come by his Master y e 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 y e King his master had likewise sent vnto him which he wold send whēsoeuer he wold cōmand y e same with this message y e 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 And as soone as it was day the king sent by two principall Moores word vnto the 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 y e 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 y e 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 voice gaue God and Mahoma great thanks that they had permitted them to haue friendship w t so great a Prince as y e 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
come out of their dores 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 â—â—â—â—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 y t he went about to buy with offring more then he did for the same after y t the price was by any of ours made then euer they did before so y t 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 y e King they did trauell all y t they could that some of them might be alwayes present to withstand speak against him in all things They did not this onely theÌ„selues but found meanes also by Samâ—cide which was Admirall of the Sea of Calicut a naturall Moore y t he should not consent y t those y t remained in y e Factory w t Aries Correa shuld go aboord y e Fléete moreouer if any ship would presume to come néere to y t shore not to coÌ„sent y t it shuld return saieng y t the King had giuen such coÌ„mandement 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 y t hée remained in that harbour he might be set vpon by y e king of Calicuts Fléete so be troubled The King after y r 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 y e 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 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 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. 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 y e 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 â— 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 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 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
And hauing the same for certaine 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 y e Moores of Calycut the which defended hir selfe very valyauntlye but afterward he commaunded to set the same a fire And being ariued at Coching the Factor with the rest of his cōpany went to visite the Captaine generall aboorde his ship who told him that the King was greatly offended with Pedro Aluares for y t 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 y e night they wer brought into his pallaice y t there they might remaine if so be y t in y e 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 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 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 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 vnto which y e 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 y t 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 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 y t 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 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
newlye rigged they departed And within seauen dayes after there fell a great leake in the ship y t 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 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 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 y e Captaine general was departed toward Portingale he immediatly determined to put his warres in execution which he had signified to y e 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 THE kindred that is betwéene thée and mée 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 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
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 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 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 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 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 but hoped to giue him y e 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 y e 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 y e 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 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 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 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 y e 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 He arriued there the twentéeth of Aprill in the yere of our Lord.
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 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 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 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 Sun-setting 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 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. 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 y e 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 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 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 Ordinaunce with the which the enimyes were receiued 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 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 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 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 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 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 it appeareth vnto you 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 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 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 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 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 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 y t 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 y t 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 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 y t the king had ben in no fault of y t 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 and besides so gratefull of the benefite they doe receiue For the receiuing of them as y e 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
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 y t 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 y e 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 alwaies remained so assured of the victory vpon our experienced strength and good fortune albeit our power were much lesse so y e he greatly doubted we would none of his friendship And for thée to offer y e same said he to y e king they to refuse it wold be no lesse dishonor vnto thée then the often ouerthrows y ◠thou 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 y e 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 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 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 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 y e 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 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
Mores The king quarrelleth vvith the Captaine Generall The effect of y e king of Portingales Letters to the king of Calycut the Mores make a nevv conspiracie Dissimulation in y e Catuall The Catuals purpose opened The Generals vneffectuall excuse Gonsallo Peres sent back to the ships The generals constancye marueled at by the Catuall The effect of y e Generals letters vnto his brother His brothers aply deuises of the Mores to entise theÌ„ aland Their merchandize paide for by y e king him selfe Bontaybo vsed but not trusted The ende of y e vvinter in the Indias The kings aunsvvere vnto Diego Dias Diego Dias kept in prison Boies sent for spyes The king of Calicuts treson towards the Captaine generall Certaine Malabars stayed in exchange Yet 〈◊〉 deuices to slaye the Portingals from departing The effect of y e king of Calicuts letters Bontaibo vvilling to goe to Portingal Cinamon grovving AnsaÌ„dina forsaken of the inhabitants They repaire their ships Sugar Canes grovving there A notable couÌ„terfait discouered A kinde of boates so called A Moore christened Men stifled vvith the Sunne onely The Skurfe A vvofull mortalitie The Citie of Magadoxo The Raphaell burned The I le of Zenziber The preparation vnto y e second voiage The names of the Generalls Captaines Factors Friers sent to the Malabars A ievvell of great price OrnameÌ„ts made of Parrats feathers The couÌ„trey of Brasil discouered A Comet seene in the elemeÌ„t four ships sunke by tempest A vvoÌ„derful storme and great Seas They coÌ„e to Sofala The king of Quiloa a mightie Prince The descriptioÌ„ of the city of Quyloa Shippes vvithout nailes The meeting of y e king y e Captaine Generall A malitious ferfull More The kings message to y e Captaine Generall 〈…〉 The king of Calycuts message to y e Captaine Generall The king of Calicut maketh excuses vvhen he should deliuer pledges Pleadges are sent aboorde vvhich feare to be taken captiue The king of Calycuts state furniture The Captaine generall deliuereth his letters of credite to the king of Calicut The preseÌ„t vvhich y e generall brought with him Humaiâ—â— pity in 〈◊〉 Captaine generall tovvard faithlesse Infidells The pledges sent aboord The Captaine generall had good came to feare and hate the Moores A free house for the factory giueÌ„ to the king of Portingale by deede This ship for one in those coasts very vvel appointed The Moores yeelded vnto our men The Moores Oration against our men Proues that vvee vvere rather pirats then merchants why he requested our men to take the ship of Meca The king accused plainly of doblenes Nothing more acceptable to the Mores theÌ„ to quarell fall out vvith our men The Moores moued a tumult against our men The sauage fircenes of the Moores against our men Succour sent by y e Generall Captaine to the Factorie The king of Calicut vvas farre off from making a mendes Iust reuenge vvrought vpon the iniurious CalicuttaÌ„s The feare that the King of Calicut and the citizens were in Coching standeth in 9. degrees and the scituatioÌ„ therof A Moore baptised called Michael The king of Coching much inferior in vvealth state to y e king of Calycut The discriptioÌ„ state of GraÌ„galor Why the christians of y e Indias hath a Pope The manner of shauing their priests differing froÌ„ ours Negro friers professing chastitie A greate Fleete of enimies He maketh tovvard Portingale The discription of the tovvne of Cananor Drugs for the Pothecaries Euery quintall is 100. vveight A ship of the fleete cast avvay Diego Dias found at Capo Verde his voyage The IlaÌ„d of Sofala discouered The third Fleet that vvent froÌ„ Portingal to the Indias The order that the king gaue him concerning this voyage they take their voyage to the Indias The malitiousnesse of the Moores Euerye Quintall is a 100. vvaight The king of Calicut sent lxxx Paraos to fight with y e captain generall This flag was a sign request of peace they ariue safelye at Portingal The iiii voyage to the Indias 1502. He goeth first to Sofala to regrate their golde A house apointed for the Factory A ship of y e Moores of Meca taken Desperate minds in time of extremitie An embassadour set to y e king of Cananor The meeting of y e king and the Captaine Generall at Cananor 1502. The preseÌ„t vvhich the king of Portingale sent y e king of Cananor The Moores make him keepe no promise vvith the Capteine Generall nor feare his povver The king of Portingales present seÌ„t to the king of Coching The king of Coching present set to the king of Portingale This messeÌ„ger was one of his chief chaplaines The king of Calycuts letter to y e king of Coching The aunsvvere of the king of Coching to the king of Calycuts letter The reply to the king of Cochings letter The king of Cochings ansvvere to the reply Great friendship and constancie in an heatheÌ„ Prince A battaile by sea between our ships and the kings of Calicut A rich price takeÌ„ from the enimie The order that vvas giuen to Vincente Sodre at the departure of the Captaine generall froÌ„ Cananor They vvere dispersed by a tempest Both commons noble meÌ„ repine against theyr king and our men The Captain generall excuseth himselfe for deling on the lande This generall captaine had other matters of more profit in hand The king of Calicut signifieth the cause vvhy hee beginneth to make these vvarres against the king of Coching Heere this enterprise vvas vvell liked of by his noble men others The aunswere vvhich y â— prince made to y â— foresayde Oration The execution of y e pledges defended by the kings brother The Mores ouerthrovv the credit of y e kings brothers Oration The very sight of our men abhorred in Coching The aunsvvere vvhich the king of Coching made to the factor Fevve hauing the right on their side preuayle most times against nuÌ„bers that come in an euill cause The king of Cochings Oration to his noble men It is better to dye vvith honor then to lyue vvith the infamous name of a rude and lieng Prince The kings brother made general of the field and armie The king of Calycuts letter to y e king of Coching The aunsvvere which the king of Coching made to the foresaid letter The Calicutians repulsed froÌ„ passing ouer the Foorde IncoÌ„stancie â—n the king of Calycut noted A stout stomacke of a prince Treason practised against y e prince Naramuhim Prince Naramuhim and his povver ouerthrovvne Comfortable vvords of a prince The kings Oration made vnto his subiects about the losse of his kingdome Ouerthrovvs in vvar sent of God vnto princes for their of fences The inhabitants of Coching flye for feare of the king of Calicut The king of Coching is faine to flye and leaue his citie 1503 The familiaritie securitie of y e inhabitants of the Iland of Curia Muria The effect which the torment vvrought amongest their ships in that coast 1503. The
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. 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 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 y e Indias for y ◠at y ◠present time of y e yere y ◠winter is euer in those Indias The sunday being y e 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 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 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 y e hill where now the Ilands of Maldiua are which were then firme land did couer discouer y e other of Malabar in which are many and pleasaunt Cities those also very rich by reason of y e trade they haue principaly with thē of Calicut which in riches vice doth excel al in our time 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 y e 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 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 y e 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 Prouince of Malabar but onely the King of Calycut So hauing thus bestowed and giuen