him Ferdinando Gomez with a Present of double the value of that he had received He was to give an account of what had been done at Ormuz He was well received and brought a favourable Answer 6. It requires a larger History to give an account of the Affairs and Kings of Persia. Let it suffice to say that the Valiant Prince Reigning at this time was embroiled in War with the Turk which was one cause of sending this Embassie hoping to make an advantage of our Arms against his Enemy 7. Whilst the Fort was building or rather finishing Albuquerque persuaded the King it was for the safety of the City to put all their Cannon into the Fort pretending thereby to secure them against their Enemies but in reality to disable them from offending him Security is a Powerful Argument where there is Fear The King and his Governours though with some reluctancy consented to all was demanded The Command of the Fort was given to Peter de Albuquerque So was that Rich and Powerful Kingdom brought under the Portugues subjection rather to the advantage than detriment of its Natural Kings more oppressed before by the tyranny of their Ministers than by the Tribute they afterwards paid Besides the security it enjoyed being protected by our Arms but that Liberty is sweeter than all other Conveniencies 8. These Affairs settled Albuquerque applied himself to dispatch the Trading Ships homeward-bound He sent to this purpose his Nephew Don Garcia de Noronha with most of the Fleet to Cochin staying behind himself to conclude such affairs as required his Presence Soon after he fell sick and the Disease increasing was persuaded for the recovery of his health to go to India which he consented to to the great grief of the King who looked upon him as a Father By the way he met the News that there were arrived in India 12 Ships from Portugal who brought Orders for him to return home Lope Soarez who Commanded them being appointed his Successor hearing this he cried out Lope Soarez Governour of India this is he it could be no other Dâ—… Iames Mendez and Iames Pereyra whom I sent Prisoners for hainous Crimes return the one Governour of Cochin the other Secretary It is time for me to take Sanctuary in the Church for I have incurred the Kings displeasure for his Subjects sakes and the Subjects anger for the King's sake Old Man fly to the Church it concerns your Honour you should die and you never omitted any thing that concerned your Honour Then lifting his Eyes and Hands to Heaven gave God thanks a Governour came so opportunely not doubting he should die He was seized with a profound Melancholy and arrived at Dabul almost in the Arms of Death and there writ these last Lines to the King This is Sir the last Letter which I write to your Highness now under the Pangs of Death of many that I writ full of Life because mine was then free from the Confusion of the last Hour and employed in your Service I left in that Kingdom a Son called Blas de Albuquerque I beg your Highness will make him as great as my Service deserves As to the Affairs of India it will answer for it self and me Upon the Bar of Goa which he called his Land of Promise he gave up the Ghost on the 16th of December in the 63d year of his Age in his Perfect Senses and like a Good Christian. He was buried in a Chappel built by himself at the City Gate and called Sennora de la Sierra or Our Lady of the Mountain He was Second Son to Gonçalo de Albuquerque Lord of Villaverde and of Donna Leonor de Meneses Daughter of Alvaro Gonzales de Atayde first Count of Atouguia He had been Master of the Horse to King Iohn the Second Of a moderate Stature his Countenance pleasing and venerable by the Beard which reached below his Girdle to which he wore it knotted that and his Complexion very White his Picture shews his Breeches Doubleâ—… Cloak Cap and Coif all Black with Gold Trimming the Wastcoat striped with Green Velvet with small Spots like Studs It was doubted whether he was a better Man or Officer When Angry his Looks somewhat Terrible when Merry Pleasant and Witty He was twice before Ormuz twice before Goa and twice before Malaca three Famous Islands and Kingdoms in Asia whereof he gloriously Triumphed 9. After a long resistance made by the People of Goa his Bones were brought to Lisbon and buried in the Church of Our Lady of Grace He was the first had the Title of Governour of India as Don Francisco de Almeyda the first of Viceroy End of the Second Part of the First Tome THE PORTUGUES ASIA TOM II. PART III. CHAP. I. The Government of the Viceroy D. Anton. de Noronna from the Year 1564 till 1568 in the Reign of King Sebastian 1. WE concluded the Second Part with the Arrival at Goa of the Viceroy D'Anton de Noronna His good Service in India preferred him to the command of Ormur and his wise Conduct there to the Government of India 2. With him went four Ships and he was received with a general Satisfaction He immediately sent Relief to Cananor which was Besieged giving the Command of the Land to D. Antony de Noronna and that of the Sâ—…a to Gonçalo Pereyra Marramaque with a good Fleet. D. Francis Mascarenas who was there with a Squadron before deliver'd it to him and went away to his Command of Moçambique This was occasion'd by that Morish Woman spoke of in the end of Iohn de Mendoça his Government 3. Peter de Silva and Meneses had the command of seven Ships given him to secure the Boats that brought Provisions to Goa whereof their was a scarcity About the River Cannaroto he lost sight of three of his Ships by stress of Weather and after found them encreased to six for the three had met and taken as many of the Malabars and were sailing after their Admiral Returning to the Place where they were dispersed between the Islands and the Continent they met the More Murimuja with seventeen Paraos well provided to meet all dangers He instantly made to our Ships and after the discharge of Cannon on both sides they boarded and having received some damage the Portugueses sunk two and took five one of them being Murimujas who was kill'd the others flying were pursued to the River Pudepatan where three Paraos and above fifty Almadies or great Boats came to their Relief Ouâ—… Cannon repulsed them and they run up the River Of the Enemy five hundred were killed and three Portuguses 4. The Viceroy being in care for Cananor sent thither D. Paul de Lima Pereyra with four Ships Being at Anchor in the Bay of Bateâ—…ala the Malabar Pyrat Canatali came upon him with seven Paraos loaded with Booty taken on the Northern Coast. Paul seeing him come sets out to meet him After the usual Salutes with their Cannon Canatale with three
found in him such an affection to our People and Religion that he sent with him to Portugal some Sons of his Chief Men desiring they should be baptized and being made Christians returned and with them Ministers to instruct them in the Faith They were baptized at Beja where the King and Queen were Godfather and Godmother to the chief of them and he called D. Iohn his Heathen Name being Zacuta the same was done by the Nobility with the others whose Names and Sirnames they took Betwixt the Fort of St. George and Congo is the Kingdom of Benin The King hereof covetous of the advantages he saw others reap by our Trade feigned he would be converted and desired Priests for his instruction but they being sent the design was discovered and so the effect ceased but not the covetousness for those Heathens bought Christned Slaves and we with the same avarice sold them after being baptized knowing their new Masters would again make them fall into Idolatry This lasted till the Religious King Iohn the Third forbid it though to his great loss but God who gives an hundred for one to requite him ordered that another Gold Mine should be discovered below that of St. George whence much more was gathered without a Crime than had been before by that so scandalous a Trafick 4. King Iohn was informed by the Benin Embassador who came to desire the Priests should be sent them that 250 Leagues beyond them was the most powerful Prince of all those Countries called Ogane by whom the Kings of Benin for their security were confirmed receiving of him a Staff with a Head and a Cross like that of Malta all of Brass curiously wrought An Embassador went with Rich Presents to solicit these Ensigns of Royalty who never saw Ogane because he speaks from behind Curtains but at their departure shews a Foot in token that he grants their Request Our King imagined this Prince might be he that is vulgarly called Prester Iohn by comparing these Formalities with what he had heard reported of him He fitted out three Ships commanded by Bartholomew Dias he set up a Cross in 24 degrees of South Latitude 120 Leagues beyond the other Discoverers in Sierra Parda He sailed in sight of the Bay they called de los Vaqueros or of Herdsmen because of the many Cows they saw there beyond this they touched at the small Island Santa Cruz or Holy Cross so called from one he set up 25 Leagues farther they came into the mouth of a River which they called del Infante the Sirname of the second Captain who was the first that saw it Being about returning they discovered that so many Ages unknown Promontory which they called Tormentoso or Stormy because of a great Tempest they met with there but our King gave it the name of Cabo de Buena Esperança or Cape of Good Hope for the great hopes it gave of discovering the Indies There was set up the Cross St. Philip. The two first Ships coasting along met the third with only three men aboard having lost it nine Months before with nine Men in it then With meer joy of seeing the others a strange but not unheard of death one of the three died the other six had been killed by the Blacks With various fortune observing the discovered Country they arrived in their own the extent of Land till then found out being 750 Leagues 5. Whilst these Discoverers conquered the difficulties of the Seas Peter de Covillam and Alfonso de Payva travelled by Land who came first to Naples then to Rodes to Alexandria Grand Cair then with a Caravan of Moors to Toro on the Coasts of Arabia Here they parted Payva towards India and Covillam for Aethiopia having appointed a time when to meet again at Grand Cair Covillam went to Cananor Calecut and Goa famous Cities in the East passed thence to Zofala in Aethiopia then to Aden at the Mouth of the Red Sea on the side of Arabia and at last to Grand Cair where he found his Companion had died After these had been sent out two Jews Rabbi Abraham of Beja and Ioseph of Lamego Covillam sent back the latter to inform the King of his success with the other he embarqued for Ormuz where having observed what was most remarkable he left the Jew to follow the Caravans of Aleppo and returning to the Red Sea came to discover the Court of Prester Iohn who detained him there as a Spie But while he was detained travelled from Rome Luke Mark an Aethiopian Priest sent by Prester Iohn to our King This Priest's information revived the Kings hopes and desires and he was sent back with an Account of what means had been used to settle a Correspondence and Projects for the perfecting of it 6. Before Luke Mark parted from Portugal was arrived Bemoi Prince of Ialof He came with State and was received accordingly being conducted to Court by Don Francisco Coutinno Count of Marialva His strangeness did not cause so much admiration as he conceived of the Majesty and Grandeur with which the King received him under his Royal Canopy This was the cause of his coming Biran who reigned in Ialof giving himself up to all manner of Vice resigned the Kingdom to his Brother Bemoi with the reputation of delivering it to a Person in all respects worthy of the Royal-dignity But Cibitah the elder Brother envious of Bemoi's happiness kills Biran and seizing the Government makes War upon Bemoi who with the assistance of Gonzalo Coello sent by King Iohn made some resistance This relief was sent him by reason of the hopes he gave of receiving the Faith But it being suspected he only designed to make use of the Portugues assistance the Captain was ordered to leave him which was a great grief to Bemoi He gave such excuses for not being presently baptized as seemed sufficient and losing soon after a Battle he went to Portugal to seek a more favourable turn of Fortune 7. It was no small part of his Fortune to be received by so great a Prince but above all to the hopes of Eternal Happiness being soon after baptized by the name of Iohn which he took from the King who was Godfather Next day he gave him Arms Purpure a Cross Or within an Orle of Portugal He in return did homage to the King for all the Lands he should be possessed of Twenty four Gentlemen of his Retinue were baptized with him There was great rejoycing our People shewing their grandeur in such divertisements as were most in use then and Bemoi with his Retinue giving a view of their Activity in Riding Alighting and Mounting upon a Speed standing upright on the Saddle Galloping and some in their Career took up Stones off the Ground and much more worthy admiration The King furnished him with twenty Caravels well manned and armed as well to forward his Restoration as to build a Fort on the River Zanaga 8. The Province of Ialof lies between
against those Confederates since they could not be brought to a Peace 2. The Weather being seasonable the King of Pimienta took the Field at Bardela wth 10000 Nayres the King of Cochin did the same with his Men and 600 Portugueses Commanded by the rash Francis de Sylva Captain of that Fort. The Armies being drawn up in sight the King of Pimienta at the Request of Sylva gave him a Meeting between them Sylva pressed for an Accommodation which the King condescending to upon reasonable Terms was broke off by our Captain who having more natural Strength than natural Reason acted more like a Brute than a Man The Armies charged each other Couragiously and the King of Pimienta was carried off Wounded and died before he knew the event of the Battle His Men fled and were pursued into their City with great slaughter the Royal Palace was fired which among them is the hainousest Affront whereupon they Rallied and fell upon the Victors with such Fury that they obliged them to retire in great disorder Sylva discharged some few that stood by him and rushing into the thickest of the Enemies was killed Above fifty Portugueses were lost here which abundantly countervailed for our Victory 3. Five thousand Nayres all sworn to Revenge the death of their King or dye entred the Country of Cochim killing many and forcing others to fly to the Fort. The Commander of the Fort Henry de Sousa marced out and finding them engaged with the Indians who fought desperately killed Five hundred Two strange and contrary Accidents hapned upon this occasion One was a Man that lay dying arose and taking a Lance did great Execution among the Enemies and perfectly recovered his health The other a Man in perfect health who fell down dead with the Fright 4. All the Joy of this Success vanished at the sight of Zamori who came attended by the Princes of Malabar with 140000 Men. He Encamped with 100000 at Chembe ordering those Princes who were eighteen in number and among them the King of Tanor lately so fond of us and our Religion with the other 40000 whereof 5000 had devoted themselves to pass over into the Island Bardela Our Governour upon the first Advice prepared to meet this Storm He sent before Emanuel de Sousa Sepulveda with four Ships and Orders That having joyned those that were at Cochim he should shut up those Princes in the Island till he came being resolved to follow at his Heels Sepulveda did his part and the Governour his for he sailed immediately the Cities of Goa Chaul and Baçaim furnishing what they had offered for the Expedition against the Turks which came to nothing The Fleet consisted of above 100 Sail and almost 4000 Landmen The first Execution was at Tiracole where many Houses Ships and Goods were burnt Coulete suffered the same Fate after a vigorous Resistance which cost the Lives of many of them and sixteen of ours At Panane the same and we lost eight 5. Our Governour Landed at Cochim and found that King with Forty thousand Men he had himself Six thousand Two thousand having joyned him there The Island being beset and Signal given to fall on those within began to waive a white Flag for a Parley It was concluded those eighteen Princes should put themselves into the Governours hands upon promise of Life He finding they delayed resolved to fight them the next day but was hindred by a great Flood yet he concluded he might put his design in execution the day after But what security is there in human Felicity Cabral was almost in possession of one of the most glorious Actions that had been seen in India when the sudden Arrival of the Vice-Roy D. Alfonso de Noronha ravished this Honour from him noâ—… suffering him to proceed nor concluding himself what was so well begun On the contrary he suffered all those Princes to escape with their whole Army 6. St. Francis Xaverius seeing how many great Enterprizes were disappointed through the malice or Envy of the Governours wrote a Letter to the King acquainting him therewith and advising to punish such Miscarriages with severity whereby they might for the future be prevented But Ministers serve as they please Saints advise well and Princes Eyes are never opened Commonly the want of due Punishment is the cause of publick Calamities 7. Whilst George Cabral was at Cochim waiting to embarque in the Ships that were bound to Portugal one Night about the middle of February there was a Report That Eight thousand sworn Nayres would enter the City Cabral run to the Gates with Emanuel de Sousa Sepulveda in order to march out and meet them at Break of Day but was hindred by the Council of the City He stayed with a competent Number of Men to guard the Town and sent Sepulveda with Fifteen hundred Portugueses and the Natives They found those desperate Men in a Neighbouring Town acting all that Rage and Malice could suggest They Charged them the Fight was very desperate fifty Portugueses were slain and above a Thousand of the Amouco's or devoted Nayres the rest fled 8. Let us see what was done during this time by the Captains sent by the Governour to several parts The King of Cota had asked Succour against his Brother Madune Pandar King of Ceitavaca who endeavoured to expel him his Kingdom he offered in requital for the Relief to pay a greater Tribute than before Caralea Pandar Prince of Candea not following the Example of his Father who was bent against the Religious Men who made him a Christian desired to be Baptized and fled with the Priests to a Fort from whence he sent to beg the Governour 's assistance Both these places being in the Island Ceylon he sent thither D. George de Castro with six hundred Men. Madune scarce saw him when he raised the Siege he had laid to Cota where his Brother was The King of Cota and D. George followed him and he so fortified the Passes they were forced in some places to fight their way through showers of Bullets Stones and Arrows with some loss of Men and no small slaughter of the Enemy Being come in sight of the City Madune met them and there ensued a bloody Battle desperately fought on both sides At length Madune was obliged to â—…y to the Mountains and leave his Brother in possession of that great City singularly adorned by a Pagod of wonderful magnificence The Plunder was very considerable Madune implored his Brother's Mercy who had little reason to shew him any yet did and left him possessed of his Kingdom 9. D. George did not meet with the like success at Candea whither he went after this Victory The Enemy came unexpectedly upon him with Forty thousand Men in a narrow Pass whence he could not escape and killed Eight hundred of his Men half of them Portugueses He got away with more grief for this Loss than honour by the late Victory For it is certain we are more sensibly grieved at
intermedled not because they were both Subjects to Portugal in the end he of Cochim had the better Those of Cranganor committing some Outrages Iohn Pereyra chastized and reduced them 13. The Vice-Roy was now preparing to make War upon the King of Iafanatapan and Lord of the Island Manar because he persecuted the Christians and had usurped that Crown from his Brother who fled to Goa and was Baptized by the Name of Alfonso He Landed near the City Iafanapatan with 1200 Men forcing the Prince to retire who with 2000 opposed him The Portugeses entred at a large Street in which were some Pieces of Cannon which killed N. Sardina Ensign to Luis de Melo Iohn Pessoa took up the Colours and marched up to the Canon Luis de Melo and D. Philip de Meneses were both Wounded 14. The Vice Roy came on and six or seven Men were killed about him The Prince coming down another Street made some resistance but to no effect Night coming on the King retired to his Palace and not thinking himself safe there set fire to it and withdrew to a Fort a League off Thus the Vice-Roy was left possessed of that beautiful City He marched after the King who thinking that Fort too weak was fled farther off D. Constantin took possession of it and sent several parties to pursue the King the first of them Commanded by Luis de Melo the Achilles of those times They pursued him till he cried for Mercy and to purchase an Accommodation offered to restore the Treasure taken from Tribuls Pandar and his Mother-in-Law Wife to the King of Cota to pay an Acknowledgment to the Crown of Portugal and give up the Island Manar The Vice-Roy accepted the Conditions considering how difficult it was wholly to deprive him of that Crown and restore it to his Brother though he had never so much right 15. Fortune is as quick in over-turning as bestowing her Favours Whilst the Conditions were putting in execution the Natives falling upon the Portugueses who were secure in their Submission killed many The Vice-Roy escaped narrowly and got aboard the Fleet whence he sent D. Antony de Noronha with 400 Men to relieve the Fort where Ferdinand de Sousa was and had killed many of the Natives in defence of it They two being joyned made themselves way and marched to the Shoar carrying all that was in the Fort and killing all that opposed them The Vice-Roy thus succesful at first and afterwards unfortunate set Sail carrying with him the Prince given as an Hostage for performance of the Articles of Peace He sailed to the Island Manar where he built a Fort and translated thither the Inhabitants of Punicale to redeem them from the Tyranny of that Nayque who would fleece them Emanuel Rodriguez Coutinho was left to Command there and with him some Franciscans and Jesuits all satisfied with the equal distribution the Vice-Roy made of all things Then he sent Balthasar Guedez de Sousa to Command in chief in Ceylon and with him the King of Cota his Grandmother and Kindred whom the King of Iafanatapan had delivered to him being one of the Conditions of that unfortunate Treaty CHAP. XVI The End of the Government of the Vice-Roy D. Constantin 1. AMong the Treasure lately taken from the King of Iafanatapan was an Idol adored throughout all the Coast of Asia and so highly esteemed by all those Princes particularly the King of Pegu that he every year sent Embassadours with rich Presents to get a Print of it This so much worshipped Relick was nothing but a Tooth of a white Monkey Some say the rarity of the Colour was the cause of his being so much admired as the King of Siam's white Elephant Others affirm besides his Whiteness he came into such esteem by finding out the Wife of an ancient Indian King that was run away from him and had been sought for through all parts to no purpose the King loving her beyond expression The King in requital made much of the Beast while it lived and after its death erected Altars to it Others are of Opinion it was a Mans not a Monkeys Tooth and perhaps the Man had the same Employ as the Monkey for all was no better than Pimping a great step to Preferment with Princes However it was the King of Pegu hearing our Vice-Roy had the Tooth sent to offer him 300000 Ducats for it and it was not doubted his Zeal would extend to give a Million if the Bargain were well drove Most of the Portugueses were for taking the Mony and some wished they might be employed in carrying the Tooth to Pegu not doubting but they should gather a Treasure by shewing it by the way 2. The Vice-Roy doubtful whether he should accept or reject the Offer and to throw the blame of either Resolution from himself had a meeting of the Chief of the Clergy and Laity where the Question was discussed long and with much heat The Resolution was That the Tooth should not be sold but consumed to Asâ—…s The Vice-Roy accordingly in the presence of them all caused it to be beaten to dust in a Mortar and then burnt All men at that time seemed to applaud the Act but not long after two Teeth being set up instead of that one as shall be related in the Government of D. Antony de Noronha they as much condemned and railed at it 3. D. George de Meneses Baroche at this time did much in Ceylon in defence of the King of Cota against his Brother Madune D. George was hard to please because he loved to endure hardship he hearing one Morning in his Galley a Souldier asking an â—…on for Breakfast said to him What do you 〈◊〉 for Dainties There is no provision in this Store but Powder and Ball. A good Example for our Times when a Portugues lords half a Galleon with Hen-Coops and 〈◊〉 of Sweet-Meats 4. This Severity in D. George caused some Souldiers to desert to Cota he went to bring them back and at his return found that George de Melo his Lieutenant â—…d fallen upon the Enemy so successfullâ—… that he cut off a number of them Baroche envious of this Honour attacked them in another place and killed 200 and with the same heat run up a River after Madune till a Cannon Ball kilâ—…g 20 of his Seamen at once he retired a â—…e Then matching by Land after Raju 〈◊〉 Son who had above 3000 Men â—…h him put him to flight killing 150 without losing one Man The Enemy fortified himself in a convenient place and D. George going on to attack him was told there was no Powder then says he Load your Muskets with Sand. He advanced unfortunately for what with an Ambush and what with the assistance of the Elephants he lost above 70 Men. D. George was in danger of being killed by an Elephant had not Pâ—…dralvarez Freyre fortunately shot it He retired in such a Rage for this ill success that he bit the Sand perhaps because it had not
Province of America called Brazill for the abundance of that Wood which it produces and hither had he been drove by Storms Having left this Port on the 12th of May he saw a Comet stretching its Tail to the Cape of Good Hope which vanished in eight days and was the forerunner of a terrible Storm insomuch that the day growing dark they could not see each other or hear with the horrid noise of the Winds 20 days this Tempest lasted and swallowed four Ships The Admiral arrived with only six Ships of all his Fleet upon the 16th of Iuly on the Coast of Zofala He chased two Ships the one was stranded the other taken they belonged to Moors and came from the Mine of Zofala commanded by Xeque Foteyma The Admiral treated him courteously restoring all that was taken because he was Uncle to the King of Melinde who deserved well of the Portugueses for the kind Offices Vasco de Gama had received of him in time of need Having quitted the Moor he arrived at Mozambique on the 20th of Iuly where he refitted and held on his Voyage 3. Coasting along he came to an Anchor before the antient and noble City Quiloa Abraham a Man renowed among his People and rich with the Trade of Zofala then reigned there The Admiral sent him word he had important Affairs to communicate to him from our King The Answer was that he should come ashoar and he would hear him He replied That according to his Instructions it was not permitted him to land unless to fight such as refused the Friendship of Portugal but that in respect to such a Prince he would meet him in a Boat in the middle of that Bay This Answer was surprising and Fear wrought more than Kindness Several Boats were set out on both sides richly adorned and filled with Musick Our Commander proposed Amity Trade and Religion The Moor gave good words but disguised ill designs This known a Councel was held the Resolution was to go on leaving the Revenge for a fitter opportunity and thus they arrived at Melinde the second of August where they were received with all kindness not only upon account of the Friendship established with Vasco de Gama but also for the Generosity wherewith Xeque Foteyma had been treated They visited and presented each other Ours which was considerable was carried by the Factor Ayres Correa together with a Letter from our King writ in Arabick which was so highly prised by that King that to the end he might keep the Bearer ashoar that night he sent the Admiral the Ring whereon was his Seal the greatest security of those Kings He told how much he was infested by the King of Monbaça for having admitted our Friendship renewed and confirmed it with words and actions Soon after our Ships sailed having taken in two Guzarat Pilots and set ashoar two Men in order to discover Prester Iohn's Country the antient desire of our Princes 4. On St. Bartholomew Eve they reached Anchediva The Vessels were wash'd and tallow'd they watered and dealt with the People by signs and left them satisfied Then they stood over for Calicut and discovered it the 17th of September The Natives beheld us with Pleasure and Admiration our Cannon was fired for joy but struck a terror into the People on the Shoar who fled Ayres Correa who had this employment at Melinde went to advertise the King Zamori He setled the manner how the King and Admiral should meet which was done with much circumspection There were given as Hostages for the safety of the Admiral and such as should land with him six of the Kings principal Ministers of the Family of the Bramenes whose Names he brought from Portugal by the advice of Moncayde The Prisoners that Vasco de Gama took were also returned in performance of what he had writ to Zamori and that they might give an account of what they had seen in Portugal 5. The Embassie was delivered with much state it tending only to the settling Peace and Commerce After much delay proceeding from Jealousie Peace was concluded and sworn to and a House in the Town with much difficulty granted for the conveniency of Trade Ayres Correa took possion of it with sixty able Men. The Merchants of Meca obstructed our getting lading complaint was made to the King but no redress 6. The cause of it was the enmity between two Moorish Governours one of the Sea the other of the Land Affairs the first called Coje Bequi the other Coje Cemireci This last was offended that our Factor had made greater application to the other than to him and contrived to be revenged as follows He was informed there sailed from Cochin a City distant about 30 Leagues a very great Ship of Ceylon bound for Cambaya with Elephants who must pass before us He therefore told the Factor that the King having desired one of those Beasts was refused it by the Owners that if our Men would take the Ship they would oblige the King forward their own business and possess themselves of a great quantity of Spice which the Merchants of Meca had there His design was that we should receive damage in the attempt that Ship being of great bulk and to this purpose gave notice to the Owners that they might be the better provided and in case that did not succeed at least hereby we should disoblige the Merchants of Cochin The Admiral sent after the Ship Peter de Ataide in the St. Peter who gave her chase she made no account of our Vessel till some of our Balls reaching her she bore upon us pouring in her shot then made away and was pursued and taken out of the Bay of Cananor There were aboard seven Elephants whereof one was killed by a Cannon Ball and eaten by our men This contrivance was of advantage to discover the Author to terrifie the King seeing such a Vessel taken by one that was not above the sixth part of her bulk and to gain the Friendship of the King of Cochin for the Admiral discovering the fraud restored the Ship to the Owners making satisfaction for the damage Here it was that Duarte Pacheco Pereyra gave the first marks of that Heroick Valour which after made him renowned in all the World 7. This evil design turned to our advantage but not the next for the Ships having been there three Months there were but two laden and at a dear rate and the Factor suspecting that the Ships of Meca laded by night which hindred ours complained to the King who ordered him to make Prize of such Boats They entred and found nothing for it was a contrivance of the Moors to incense the People against the Portugueses and so it fell out for the attempt being divulged the Rabble rises in search of the Factor and his Company whereof they suddenly slew forty the others with five Franciscan Fryers escaped that Storm The Admiral before the blood of those slain was cool in a rage burnt fifteen great
two Galleys succeeded which took two of the Enemy having put all their men to the Sword Mean while the Cannon was furiously plaid on both sides Don Lorenzo seemed to have the upper-hand when Melique Az Lord of Diu came with a great number of small Vessels well manned to the assistance of Mir Hozem Don Lorenço sent two Galleys and three Caravels to hinder the approach of that Relief They executed it so effectually they obliged him to fly to another place for shelter and the Fight continued till Night parted them each striving to conceal his loss from the other The Portugues Captains met in Council the Result that it was a rashness to persist in that enterprize Melique Az being so near with that powerful assistance that it was convenient to take the open Sea either in order to escape or to fight with less disadvantage Don Lorenço remembring the anger of his Father for not fighting the Fleet of Calicut in the River Dabul and fearing his retreat might be termed a fearful flight resolutely expected the Morning only making some motion to save the Ships of Cochin that were in great danger Melique Az imagining this motion was in order fly lanched out from his retreat not at all daunted to see many of his Vessels torn in pieces by our Cannon and Charges briskly then Don Lorenço's Ship running foul of some Stakes that were drove in the River made so much water there was no preventing her sinking though Don Lorenço laboured indefatigably till a Ball broke his Thigh and ordering himself to be set against the Main Mast where he stood encouraging his men till another Ball broke his Back The Body was thrown under Deck and followed down by Laurence Freyre Gato his Page who bewailed him with Tears of Blood as well as Water being shot through the Eye with an Arrow After a vigorous resistance the Moors entred the Ship and found the Page by his Masters Body who rising to defend it killed as many as covered it and then died upon them The Ship sunk at last Of above 100 men that were with Don Lorenço only 19 escaped in all the Ships were lost 140 of the Enemy 600. 9. The other Captains got to Cochin where the Viceroy was with the News of his Sons death which he received with a wonderful resolution The numbers of men slain and taken being yet doubtful he endeavoured by all means to get some intelligence and at that time received a Letter from Melique Az. This Man born in Slavery and descended of the Heretick Christians of Roxia rose by degrees to that height wherein he was then placed The Principal Action that advanced him was that a Kite flying over the King of Cambaya dunged upon his Head whereat in a Passion he said I would give all I am worth that Bird were killed Melique Az who was a most expert Archer no sooner heard this but he let fly an Arrow which brought down the Kite The King rewarded this Action so bountifully that Melique Az came to be made Lord of Diu a most Famous City which being seated on a triangular Peninsula joyned to the Continent by a very smal Istmus is commonly reputed an Island This man endeavoured politickly to secure himself at one time both with the King of Cambaya and the Portugueses whose Power he feared and hated for the damage they brought to the Trade of Din. And to this effect he assisted Mir Hozem sent the 19 Prisoners to the King of Cambaya and writ to the Viceroy condoling the death of his Son extolling his Bravery and offering to ransom the Prisoners Thus he endeavoured to appease the Wrath he knew he had provoked by assisting Mir Hozem which was the Cause of all our Loss CHAP. III. Conquests under King Emanuel the Year 1508 and 1509. A continuation of the Government of the Viceroy Don Francisco de Ameyda and Exploits of Alfonso de Albuquerque 1. THIS same year 1508 about the beginning of April sailed from Lisbon 17 Ships which being all separated by bad Weather at length met at Mozambique except one that was cast away on the Islands of Tristan de Cunna these Ships with those of the foregoing year came together to India and added Courage to our People to resist their Enemies The King ordered that Don Francisco de Almeyda should resign the Government to Alfonso de Albuquerque and return home in one of the Trading Ships But he suspended the execution of this Order because already engaged in taking revenge of Mir Hozem Albuquerque pressed him to obey the Order Don Francisco excused himself saying the Ships were gone and that he had in hand that enterprize upon the Rumes or Turks who had killed his Son The other answered there were more Ships ready to sail and he would undertake to drive the Turks out of India Almeyda replied that he had taken up the Sword and had never resigned it to another to revenge his Wrongs Albuquerque offended hereat went to Cochin and this was the beginning of some mens protracting the time of their Command and others pressing them to quit wherein these two Illustrious Men discovered much of Human Frailty 2. Precedent to this were the Actions of Albuquerque at Ormuz and Zocotora where he wintered and relieved the Portugues who were there oppressed by Famine To this effect he went himself with his Ship to Cape Guardafu and sent Francis de Tavorâ—… towards Melinde and two Vessels to Cape Fum to make prize of some Ships for their Provisions they all found what they sought and so put a stop to the growing Evil. He then resolved for Ormuz though too weak to effect what he intended yet at least to sound the designs of that King and his Friend Coje Atar By the way he resolved to be revenged on Calayate for injuries done to some Portugueses This Town is seated beyond Cape Siagro called also Cape Rosalgate at the Mouth of the Persian Gulf. On the Back of it is a Mountain which has only some Passes that open a Communication to the Neighbouring Country One of these Passes is just opposite to the Town through which is managed most of the Trade of that Province of the Arabs call Ayaman because as they say first inhabited by Name which signifies Plenty or Abundance a Son of Lot and this Land is full of Populous Cities Fruitful and of great Trade Albuquerque no sooner arrived but he landed and entred the Town some of the Inhabitants flying to the Mountains and others being slain in the Streets Albuquerque staid there three Nights upon one of which 1000 Moors entred the Town by surprize and did much hurt but our men gathering killed many put the rest to flight and burnt all the place They got great quantity of Provisions which was most of the Booty and arrived at Ormuz the 13th of September Alfonso de Albuquerque presently advertised the King and Coje Atar of his arrival and they answered that as for the Tribute of 15000
where being well entertained by that King he rebelled against him and was again cast out by the King of Siam and so forced to wander about Malaca a just punishment for his ingratitude He having increased the new Colony gave it the name of his Fortune for Malaca in that Language signifies a Banished Man The first King of Malaca was Xaque Darxa or as another Author says Raal Sabu Son of Paramisora subject to him of Siam from whom his Successors revolted The Country of Malaca is subject to Inundations full of thick Woods stored with hurtful and dangerous Creatures chiefly Tigers which obliges many people to pass the Nights on the tops of high Trees because they fetch them off the low ones with a leap The Men are couragious the Women wanton The Trade of the East and West make Malaca most Rich and Populous Mahomet reigned at this time against whom the King of Siam had sent an Army of 40000 men most whereof perished by sundry accidents and partly by the treachery of Mahomet which he practised with Iames Lopez de Siqueira but now came Albuquerque to revenge them all Mohomet feared the reward of his baseness and therefore brought to his aid the King of Pam with a great Force and had now 30000 men and 8000 pieces of Cannon and yet his fear was greater than his preparations 2. Albuquerque sailing from Cochin by the way he took five Ships of the Moors bound for Malaca off of Ceylon The King of Pedir in the Island Sumatra sent some Moors to visit him and with Iohn de Viegas one of the Portugueses left behind by Siqueira who with others flying from Slavery arrived at Pedir The same was done by the King of Paçem Neboada Beeguea of the Principals of the Treachery of Malaca was fled from Pedir and being beaten and taken at Sea by Ayres Pereyra to the general astonishment of all that beheld him he shed not one drop of Blood though pierced with several mortal Wounds but scarce had they taken off his Arm a Bracelet of Bone when the Blood gushed out The Indians discovered the Secret saying it was the Bone of a Beast that breeds in Iava which has that virtue it was esteemed a great Prize and brought to Albuquerque Next they met a Vessel with 300 Moors so resolute Albuquerque was forced to come up himself to take it not without some danger In this Vessel was Geniall the rightful King of Paçem banished by the tyranny of the present Possessor Three other Vessels were taken soon after whereof one gave intelligence of the affairs of Malaca in which Port our Fleet anchored on the 1st of Iuly with much noise of Warlike Instruments and Cannon terrifying all the People that covered the Shoar for the guilt of what they had before acted made then sensible what this Fleet was designed for there being no surer foreteller of their punishment to wicked men than their own Conscience 3. Next day came a Gallant Moor with a deceitful Message from the King to Albuquerque He received him with great state the greatest was that of his Person and Venerable Beard which had never been cut since he was at Ormuz he saying it should never be cut till he sat to that purpose upon the Back of Coje Atar so it grew to such a length that he knotted it to his Girdle He treated the Moor courteously whose Message contained that if he came for Merchandize it was ready The Answer was That the Merchandize he sought for were some Portugueses that were in the City ever since Siqueira went away that having got them he would let the King know what more he demanded of the King and City The Moor at his return spread the terror of this Answer and it was generally agreed to buy off that danger by restoring the Portugueses and paying a sum of Mony Prince Alodim and his Brother-in-law the King of Pam prevented the executing this and made ready to defend themselves Albuquerque began some military execution whereupon the King restored the Captives Other Messages were sent by the King in order to appease Albuquerque who answered That he offered him Peace upon condition he permitted him instantly to raise a Fort there and repayed the Charge of his and Siqueira coming to that Port since his Falshood had been the cause of all the damage sustained and that he must immediately return an answer whether he chose Peace or War The King desired an Accommodation but his Son and the King of Pam opposed it At last they all made the necessary preparations to repel the danger 4. On the Eve of St. Iames the Apostle the Signal was given for landing with great Shouts and noise of Guns immediately the Portugueses leap ashoar and mix with the Enemy The hottest of the dispute was about gaining and maintaing the Bridge which Albuquerque had undertaken himself and was vigorously defended till the Enemies pressed leaped into the River where many were killed and many drowned The Prince and King of Pam bravely withstood another party of ours that would make their way to the Bridge King Mahomet came out on a bulky Elephant with two more carrying Castles on their Backs whence flew a great number of Darts Our men attacking the Beasts so wounded them that they fled trampling their own men and making way for ours to joyn those at the Bridge Albuquerque then fortified himself there and because much harm was done with poisoned Arrows from the tops of neighbouring Houses he caused them to be burnt Albuquerque bestowing great Praises on his Captains for their Valour and perceiving they were scorched with the heat and faint for want of Meat retired with them to the Ships about Night where ten died of poisoned Arrows The Enemies loss was not known The King of Pam went away on pretence of bringing a recruit but returned not 5. Whilst Albuquerque rested in his Ships refreshing his men the King harrased his undermining the Streets to blow us up and covering them with poisoned Thorns that might gore us at coming in he planted more Artillery in many places and secured the Bridge Albuquerque sent Antony de Abreu in a Vessel well manned to gain it from the Bridge flew Showers of Bullets and Deniz Fernandez de Melo seeing him near killed endeavoured to carry him off to the Ships to be dressed but he with wonderful constancy said Though I have neither strength to Fight nor voice to Command I have still life to keep my Post. Floats of Wildfire were drove along the River to burn the Vessel and no remedy to prevent it till Albuquerque effected it by gaining the Bridge then the Vessel had liberty to act Our Commander enters the City through Showers of Bullets Arrows and Darts Understanding the danger of the Mines which were in a broad Street he took another way and gained the Mosque and at last with vast slaughter of the Enemy took entire possession of the City having with him in this Action only 800
with one Galleon to relieve the Fort was caâ—… away on the Sands Solocos Another in which D. Alvaro was going away after resigning that Command to Nunno was beat to pieces in the Harbor The great Ship of Lionel de Brito came when there was no Fort thereÌ„ and was lost afterwards Other Supplies a great deal of Cannon much Merchandise and Ammunition and above 2000 Men design'd thither perish'd all by lamentable disasters The Murderer of that innocent King was stabbed by the People of Iava rather as Executioners of God's Justice than Enemies to the Portugueses Gonçalo Pereyra Marramaque who consented to the Murder died for meer Grief of so many Misfortunes as he sailed for Amboina and was cast into the Sea 11. In â—…ine our Dominion in that Island came to a dishonourable Period for those who had so insolently treated the Ternatenses were forced to beg their Lives of them delivering up the Fort to the King who treated them better than they deserved 12. The King entring the Fort protested before the Portugueses he did not take possession of it for himself but in trust for the King of Portugal and would deliver it to whoever he should appoint as soon as the Murder of his Father was punish'd I believe they never demanded the Fort becausâ—… they would not oblige themselves to do Justice This was the second Place we lost after this manner in Asia The loss of this Place was not punished as that of Chale the Câ—…ime being the same only with this difference that the Tears of the Women extorted the one and the Perswasions of Jesuits the other The arrival of that Ship with sufficient Supplies was a testimony of the Guilt But both places being lost for want of Relief they ought rather to have been Executed who did not relieve than they that surrendred them It was a good answer of the King of Persia to a Portugues Ambassador when asking How many Governours of India the King had beheaded the Ambassador said None Then replied the King The Dominion of the Portugueses in India will not last long 13. Our Affairs at Amboina were not in much better a posture for though Sancho de Vasconcelos did more than could be expected of his force yet it was less than was requisite it was but rising and falling He defeated two Fleets of Ternate killed their Commanders and Cachil Tidore the People of Amboina slew Maladam and many more and eat them for they use to eat those they kill in the Church By his Order Alexander de Mattos destroyed the Island Iamam but at length the Natives killed him and all his Men but afterwards D. Henry Unkle to the King of Tidore coming with Two hundred and fifty Men slew Two thousand of them Two Natives of those Islands as big as Giants killed with their own hands the one above Twenty the other above Thirty Men. San ho returned again and entred the same Town 14. The People of Amboina designed privately to Murder Sancho de Vasconcelos He suspecting that Ruy de Sousa a new Convert and the principal Man of Rosanive was the Author of that Conspiracy sent friendly for and then secured him by the advice of some Portugueses not without the help of the Jesuits believing it was for the better and they ruined all For Sousa escaping out of Prison did what he never had design'd joining our Enemy and killing a good number of our Men which put our Affairs into a desperate Posture 15. This Year F. Peter de Alfaro with three Companions entred the City of Quantung and perceiving he did not profit much there returned to Macao where he built the Church He was a Spaniard and seem'd to foresce that what belong'd now to the Portugueses only would soon belong to his Nation A token of his Sanctity is that perishing by Shipwrack he was afterwards found on the Shore upon his Knees 16. This Year concludes with the arrival of four Ships from Portugal Since there is no Account to be found of what our Governor acted the next Year till D. Iames de Meneses succeeded him let his Government end here and I will go over to the Relation of what was done these very Years in Monomotapa by the Governour Francis Barreto and his Successour Vasco Fernandez Homem Antony Moniz Barreto was a Man deserving of that Post he obtained though he got it not fairly and was one of the best Governors of India the Twenty-sixth of that Number and Second of the Name and Sirname CHAP. XV. The Government of Francis Barreto in Monomotapa beginning in the Year 1569 in the Reign of King Sebastian 1. SInce by reason of the Disagreement between Antony Moniz Barreto and the Viceroy D. Antony de Norronna and D. Leonis Pereyra the Government of Malaca one of the three into which that Dominion was divided took no effect let us go over to the other of Monomotapa which was erected though it lasted not long When Francis Barreto returned to Portugal after having been Governor of India he was appointed Admiral of the Gallies He exercised this Command at the time of that memorable Action of Pennon by which he gain'd great Reputation Being come back to Lisbon and the King resolv'd to make that Division of Governments he named him for Monomotapa with the additional Title of Conqueror of the Mines there The great inducement to this Conquest was the Information and Experience of the vast quantity of Gold found particularly at Manica in the Kingdom of Bocaranga 2. The Doubt was whether it were proper for a Man who had been Governour of all our Dominions in Asia and this Southern Part of Africk to accept of this which was the least considerable part into which it was divided but the danger and difficulty of it made amends for the greatness Three things prevailed with him to accept of it the first that he was poor the second that he thought it no lessening to take a less Command in Obedience to his Prince and the third that it was allowed him in case the Viceroy and he met at Sea their Power should be equal in all respects 3. In fine Francis Barreto submitted to his King's Command and the Desires of his Country and sailed from Lisbon in April 1569 as Captain General and Governor of that Conquest with three Ships He carried One thousand Landmen and might have had more if the Vessels could have contained them for the noise of Gold drowned the thoughts of danger and nothing raises Men like the thoughts of gain Among these were many Gentlemen and old African Soldiers Being come to Moçambique he went to subdue the King of Pate who was revolted from us 4. Barreto had Orders not to undertake any thing without the Advice of Francis de Monclaros a Jesuit who was the cause of the ill Success of this Enterprize So great an Error it is to subject a Soldier to a religious Man So indiscreet a Presumption for a religious Man to
like manner was put to flight above Six thousand Cafres were slain and two of our Men and the Governor was sorced to alight and lead his Men the City was entered without opposition being abandoned our Men entrench'd and in the Morning discovered an Army as great as both the former the Cafres were again routed and beg'd peace in the King's name The Governor received the Messenger with such Majesty that he was astonished and could not speak being come to himself and having delivered his Message Barreto promised he would see the King and mat ters should be adjusted 5. The next Day our Men marched and incamped in a convenient place where Embassadors came from the King to treat of Peace It happened one of our Camels broke loose and came so near the Governor that he stoped him till they came up that were in pursuit of him â—…e Cafres having never seen such a Beast admired it stopped at the Governor thinking it some submission it made to him and began to ask some questions He making his advantage of their ignorance told them he had many of those Beasts that only fed upon Man's flesh and having devoured all that were killed that Beast came from the rest to desire he would not make Peace because they would come to want Food they astonished hereat earnestly intreated him he would desire the Camels to be satisfied with good Beef and they would instantly bring them a great number He granted their request and marched on He was in great distress for Provision when news came his presence was required at Mocambique He gave the Command of the Forces to Vasco and departedâ—… The cause was this 6. Antony Pereyra Brandam who at the Molucos had committed Crimes that deserved the severest punishment in Portugal was condemned to banishment into Africk he desired the Governor he might be permitted to go with him to Monomotapa he did it and being come to Moçambique gave him the Command of that Fort. Brandam though Eighty Years of Age and under such obligations resolved to secure himself in the Fort and defame Francis Barreto with false informations sent to the King the Original Papers fell into the Governor's Hands who being come to Moçambique showed them to him and he falling down and kissing his Feet begg'd Pardon Barreto lifted up and forgave him then giving the Command of the Fort to Laurence Godino returned to prosecute his design 7. Our Governor being come to the Fort of Sena F. Monclaros came out in a great rage to tell him he should desist from that Conquest with which he had imposed upon the King that no more Men might be lost for he should be answerable to God for what had and should die It was most certain Barreto was not the promoter of that Conquest and Monclaros was in fault for all the miscarriage that had been committed Barreto took this insolence so much to Heart that he died within two Days without any other Sickness breathing out his Soul in sighs Doubtless the Jesuit had more to answer for his death than he for the miscarriages the Jesuit was guilty of 8. King Sebastian much resented this loss and particularly expressed it by the honourable Reception he made to his Body when brought to Lisbon So this great Man having escaped so many Bullets among the Indians so many Darts and Arrows among the Cafres and the Malice of a Villain fell by the Words of a religious Man CHAP. XVII The Government of Vasco Fernandez Homem in Monomotapa in the Reign of King Sebastian 1. THE Governor Francis Barreto being dead an order of the King 's found among his Papers was opened by which Vasco Fernândez Homem his Major was appointed to succeed him The Perswasions of F. Monclaros who now disliked the Conquest so far prevailed with him that forgetting his Duty he returned to Moçambique There some understanding Persons and chiefly Francis Pinto Pimentel his Kinsman represented this Affair in such manner to him that he returned to Monomotapa Being now delivered of that religious Man who went away to Portugal he set out by the way of Zofala as Francis Barreto would have done that being the properest Road for the Design in hand He marched directly towards the Mines of Manchica of the Kingdom Chicanga bordering by the Inland with that of Quiteyve the next in Power to Monomotapa With him was the same number of Men and sorts of Instruments his Predecessor had To oblige the King of Quiteyve he Complemented and sent him Presents and tho' these are the most efficacious means to make all things easie that Prince grew so jealous of these Solicitations that he received all very coldly 2. The Governor not making much account of his Answer marched into his Kingdom Several Bodies of Cafres attempted to stop his Passage but were routed with great slaughter The King seeing he did not prevail by force of Arms had recourse to Policy He caused all the People and Provisions to be withdrawn from the Towns and Country so that our Men suffered extream want till they came to Zimbaoe his Court whence he was fled and had fortified himself in inaccessible Mountains Vasco burnt the City and marched on to Chicanga the King whereof rather through fear than love received him with exterior signs of Affection and gave him free passage to the Mines Our Men marched to them many believing they should gather Gold by handfuls but seeing the Natives with much difficulty gather'd but little in a long time and not being expert at that work and that to make any thing of it more Men and Materials were requisite they return'd the way they came and parted Friends with that King 3. Though they obtained not what was sought this way yet the ease wherewith they came to the place designed evinced how great an Error it was to impose F. Monclaros as Director to the late Governor who only to follow his own extravagant Humour lead him a way so dangerous and tedious Vasco returned to Quiteyve and that King did now for fear what he refused before permitting the Portugueses to march to the Mines of Maninnas only upon condition they should pay him Twenty Crowns yearly Vasco passed thence to the Kingdom of Chicova bordering upon Monomotapa to the Norward along the Inland The cause of undertaking this March was the Account he had of rich Silver Mines Having encamped he ask the Cafres for the Mines and they seeing it was in vain to resist and fearing the discovery of the Mines would be their Ruine scattering some Ore far enough from the Mines shewed it telling them there they were 4. By this means the Cafres got time to escape for our Men giving credit to them let them go perhaps not desiring they should see what Treasure they got The Governor caused all round about to be dug and after much labour it was no wonder he did not find what was not there Provision growing scarce and finding no Fruit of his Labour he
could be more brave nothing more honourable 7. The King came from Champanel with Ten thousand Horse to see as Coje Zofar said that place taken This caused an extraordinary Motion in the Army and D. Iohn desired to know the cause of it Six of our Men sallied out at Night and fell among sixty Moors who were all asleep whereof they killed some and the rest waking at the Noise as also some that were not far off our Men were forced to retire leaving two dead the four brought a Prisoner with them who informed our Commander of what he desired This Action incensed the King and Coje Zofar so that they renewed the fury of their Batteries and did much harm The Renegado Frenchman was struck dead by a chance Dart and the Gunner who succeeded him being Ignorant did more harm to his own Party than to us which was some Revenge All the Neighbourhood resounded with the Noise of the Cannon and Cries of dying Men when a Bullet of ours falling in the Kings Tent sprinkled him with the Blood of one of his Favourites who was near him and beaten to pieces This so terrified the King that he instantly fled leaving the Command of the Horse to Iuzarcan a Valiant Ethiopian 8. Coje Zofar pressed the Besieged and there was great slaughter and destruction on both sides the more visible and dangerous in the Fort by reason of its little Compass and the small number of Men. Mascarenas appeared wherever there was danger as hoping to gain no less Honour than Antony de Silveyra had done there a few years before He was no less Fortunate in couragous Women for those that were in the Fort encouraged the Men assisted and relieved them at the work And when the Turks entred the Walls one of them hearing they were got into a House run in with a Spear and fought till Mascarenas came and put them all to the Sword 9. Coje Zofar omitted nothing that could be devised to fill the Ditches and lay open the Fort. All industry was used on our side to repair the Breaches The prime Gentry did the Duties of private Souldiers and Masons the Walls and Bastions were ruined at Night and repaired by Morning Coje Zofar was astonished to see all he destroyed restored Coming on in a Rage with fresh Men a Cannon Ball took off his Head and right Hand whereon he leaned it Thus he fulfilled his Mothers Prediction who being at Otranto still persuaded him to be reconciled to the Church and perceiving she prevailed not superscribed her Letters to him thus To Coje Zofar my Son at the Gates of Hell His Son Rumecan succeeded him as well in Wickedness as the ardent desire of taking that Fort. He took upon him his Father's Command and inherited his Fortune Our Commander was obliged to send fresh Advice to the Governour at Goa and the Captains of the Neighbouring places A Priest was the Messenger who run very great danger the Sea at that time being scarce Navigable But then Portugal had some Decij and some Reguli Now it has only the grief of wanting them CHAP. II. Continues the Government of D. John de Castro and Siege of Diu. 1. RUmecan now gives a General Assault he and Iuzarcan attack the Bastions of St. Iohn and St. Thomas where they found a most vigorous Resistance and so many were killed that the Defendants seemed rather a raging Plague than Men. Yet at length Valour was forced to give way to Numbers and the Enemy mounted St. Thomas's Bastion But Despair administring Fury rather than Valour the few Portugueses rush upon the multitude of Enemies and making a wonderful slaughter throw headlong from the Wall such as had escaped the Sword so that the Dead lay in heaps 2. Rumecan thinking Mahomets displeasure was the cause of this Misfortune spent this Night in Prayers and Processions In the Morning thinking he had attoned he renewed the Assault After mounting the two Bastions he was forced to retire having lost almost Two thousand Men and among them the Ethiopian Iuzarcan General of the Horse An Uncle of his of the same Name succeeded him In this Action seven Portugueses were lost Several other Assaults were given with like Success In one of these the Fire was so close and furious that several who were clad in Cotton which soon took flame ran and dipt themselves in the Water and so returned to their Posts Those who wore Skins escaped better Our Commander taking notice of this caused some gilt Leather wherewith his Rooms were hung to be made into Coats for the Souldiers Another time D. Iohn and D. Peter de Almeyda with One hundred Men sallied to destroy a Mount raised by the Enemy to over-look the Fort and effected it killing Three hundred Moors Martin Botello another time went out with Ten Men to take some Body to give Intelligence and falling upon Eighteen put them to flight all except a bold Nubij who standing all the Eleven wrestled with Botello and he finding it hard to overcome him whilst he could touch the ground with his Feet like another Hercules with Anseus ran with him in his Arms to the Fort. 3. The Attacks were still renewed the Defendants spent with Labour and above all with Hunger feeding even upon nauseous Vermin A Crow taken upon the dead Bodies was a Dâ—…nty for the Sick and sold for five Crowns the Ammunition was almost spent and now the Enemy gives a hot Assault with fresh Men Ten thousand having newly joyned them They entred St. Iohn's Bastion and retired Scarce had they left it when it blew up and in it 73 of our Men ten whereof came down alive Iames de Sotomayer fell into the Fort with a Spear in his hand a Souldier in the same manner fell among the Enemies and was killed by them It was no Fable that Armed Men were seen in the Air this bout Our Captain Mascarenas foreseeing the danger had ordered them to quit the Bastion but one Reynoso protested he would accuse them of Cowardize if they did The one Commanded prudently the other Advised couragiously yet was guilty of Disobedience 4. Thirteen thousand of the Enemy attack the Breach they had made only five Souldiers withstood them till Mascarenas came with fifteen more The Women assisted the Men and ran even to brave Death The Priest who was returned from carrying the Advice to the Neighbouring places appeared encouraging all with a Crucifix lifted on high The Actions done here were incredible but Night coming on the Enemy retired having lost Three hundred Men. Mascarenas spent all the Night in repairing the Damages received 5. The Enemy daily renewed their Attacks with the same success and held out by means of their vast Numbers Rumecan fell again to Mining and pierced the very Rocks that stood in his way but met not with such success as he had done the time before for D. Iohn perceiving his Work countermined it and it flew all back upon the Besiegers killing many
to her Father at such time as great Rewards were proposed to such as should discover him The Father-in-Law delivered him up to the King who cut off his Head 12. The King not throughly satisfied with the People of Pegu built not far from it another great and strong City Then he marched with an Army of 1600000 Men and over-run many Neighbouring Kingdoms But another Rebellion breaking out at Pegu the Queen was forced to fly to the Castle chiefly relying upon 39 Portugueses who defended her till the King came and vanquished the Rebels Then the King sent an Officer to bring those Men who had defended the Queen to his presence He brought him some Moors of Note but the King knowing the Portugueses were the Men said in Anger I sent you for Men and you bring me Cowards Go bring me Men. The Portugueses being brought he bid them ask whatever Reward they would and they with the Surprize doubting the King loaded them with Riches Praises and Honours 13. Now were the Inhabitants of the City Chincheo the second Portugues Colony in China in a flourishing condition and seemed to have forgot the sad Fate of Liampo destroyed through their Wickedness and Avarice Ayres Coello de Sousa came thither to be Judge of the Orphans and Proveditor for the Dead his Intention being to rob the Living and Dead his Countrymen and Strangers He committed many Villanies to lay hold of 12000 Ducats belonging to an Armenian Christian who died there and 8000 more of some Chinese Merchants upon pretence they belonged to the dead Man These and other Insolencies provoked the Chineses to do as they had done at Liampo to wit to raze the Town and destroy all the Inhabitants Only Thirty escaped of Five hundred Portugueses that lived there These and some others they gathered went over to the Island Lampazau and afterwards in the Year 1557 obtained of the Chineses that of Gaoxam where they built the City now called Macao as shall be seen in its place 14. Our Governour studying some Means to relieve the great Wants of the Souldiers was suddenly snatched away by Death about the beginning of Iuly He was much regretted for his Prudence Affability and Integrity for being Seventy years of Age and having born considerable Offices he was forced to give all he had to Match two Daughters and yet the best part of their Portions was their Beauty and that He was their Father He had a graceful Presence a comly Countenance always Smiling without lessening his Gravity For it is not necessary to be like a Statue to appear like a God He was of the first Quality of his Country His Beard very white and full falling upon his Breast Governed a Year and a Month and was the 15th in that Rank the second of the Name and first of the Sirname CHAP. VII The Government of George Cabral from the Year 1549 till the Year 1550 in the Reign of King JOHN the Third 1. THE Patents of Succession being opened there was found in the first George Cabral a Gentleman by Birth and of known Worth who not long before was gone to take possession of the Command of Baçaim He received the News with small signs of Joy an ill token for him that expected the Recompence of carrying it But he being a generous Man did not lessen the Reward It was not want of desire to Govern that made him dissatisfied but that he feared another coming soon from Portugal to succeed him he should lose the great Advantages he might have made of the Command he was in and which he was to hold four Years With him was his Wife D. Lucretia Fiallo who had double Pretensions to be vain as a Woman and as a Beauty and had now a third in the News of being Wife to the Governour of India so she laughed to see her Husband doubt whether he should receive what was offered 2. Cabral revolved a thousand Thoughts with himself not knowing whether to admit or refuse the Government and these Cares so disturbed him that he could not Rest at Night His Wife finding him so dubious and fearing to be disappointed of the Pride of sitting though never so short a time in the Throne of India took him one Night to task and using all Arts of an ambitious Womans Tongue and the Allurements of that place prevailed with him to lay aside all Doubt and accept of the Honour offered which he had seemed averse to and which she so ardently desired 3. He admired her efficacy in Persuading no less powerful in the beauty of her Language than that of her Person Though he always thought her a Woman of Sense for Beauty and Folly are not always inseparable yet he could not but conclude the desire of Greatness is a great matter of Eloquence Who could resist a resolute Beauty Had it been to draw on Mankind another Universal sin he must have been an Adam to that Eve much more to accept of a Command for which he was sufficiently qualified In fine The New Governour sailed to Goa in this only Governed by his Wife for India might vie with her in the desire of seeing him possess that Throne many years For Cabral deserved to have been long continued in that Post and India was obliged to his Wife for the short time he held it Women are not always hurtful But in those days there were some Beautiful and Gay without being quite Mad. 4. At our Governours coming from Cochin there was not a right Understanding between that King and him because he ordered Francis de Silva to attemp to Plunder the Pagod of Palurte which was disappointed and he lost three Portugueses and the Loss had been greater but that the King was then absent This was the Cause that three Ships set out for Portugal late and ill Laden Now came the News That above 100 Sail were fitting out at Suez to transport Turks into India The Governour applied himself to provide for such a Storm he acquainted the Chief of our Towns Goa offered much Chaul 30 Sail Bazaim 20. Whilst these Preparations were making F. Antony Criminal an Italian Jesuit preaching at Cape Comori received the Crown of Martyrdom at the hands of a multitude of the King of Bisnagar's Subjects who assaulted him as he Preached He was run through with three Lances and then his Head cut off King Iohn was so mightily delighted with this Exploit that he immediately sent Advice to Baltasar de Faria his Embassadour at Rome to communicate it to the Pope who received it with due applause CHAP. VIII Continues the Government of George Cabral 1. ZAmori and the King of Pimienta were joyned in a League against him of Cochin which threatned that State with dangerous consequences The Governour set out to prevent them with a Fleet of 90 Sail but returned to Goa without doing any thing because the Season was unfit He only consulted with the King of Cochin about the manner of carrying on the War
person of his Nephew who tho younger was of the Blood Royal of the Kings of Quiloa Nuno rightly judged that none better merited a Crown than he that coveted it not and reserved his Answer till he saw the Event of the Enterprize He set out with eight hundred Men and Mahomet with sixty and as many with Cide Bubac the King's Nephew the other had proposed to be King 5. As he drew near there met him the Lord of Otondo a neighbouring Town offering to accompany him with a well furnished Vessel being admitted shewing Silver Chains upon his Legs he said He wore them in remembrance that he had been wrongfully imprisoned by that King and had swore never to take them off till revenged that all the motive his Enemy had to use him so was for his affection to the Portugueses tho be never was so happy as to serve them The King of Monbaça knowing Cuna's Design prepared planting Guns on a Bulwark that kept the mouth of the River and bringing six hundred expert and resolute Archers into the City Nuno entred the River through Showers of Bullets that flew from the Bulwark which killed some Men and battered some Vessels Yet he anchored the Evening near the City all the Night the Enemy poured Arrows upon the Fleet which answered with their Cannon Day appearing the Attack began and Peter Vaz Brother to Nuno driving all before him was the first who set up the Portugues Colours in the highest place of the City which being seen far off the Ships began to celebrate the Victory Many Moors were killed the rest left the City D. Ferdinand de Lima was suddenly clasped by a stout Moor but his own Men coming in the Moor was slain fulfilling a Vow he had made to the King's Neece whom he loved For this Woman going out with others said to him Are these the brave men of Monbaça who suffer their Wives and Children to lose the City and go for refuge to the Cafres And he answered Since you affront me thus I swear by the Love I bear you before two days those who love shall weep for me and you if you value me shall not see me to reward my Love He fulfilled his Vow as did many more not one Portuguese was lost 6. The City was plundered twenty great pieces of Cannon taken D Ferdinand de Lima going to secure the Bulwark some Moors issued out of a Wood did harm for a few of our Men died of their poisoned Arrows Many of the Enemy were afterwards slain Hither came News of some of Cuna's Fleet who had been separated from him Nuno the better to secure and people the City which was great sent to Melinde whence presently came a Nephew of that King with five hundred Men many of Quality and he of Montangue with two hundred By this means the Natives were drove out of the Island tho Hunger afterwards forced back many The King of Monbaça sensible of his Ruin sent a Man of Note to treat of an Accommodaâ—…ion with Nuno offering to become Tributary and pay a Ransom for the City They came to Agreement 8. The King presently began the Payment and as soon fell off finding the Portugueses sickened and died Two hundred were already dead among them some Gentlemen and Peter Vaz de Cuna This and other Misfortunes pressed the disposing of the City The King of Melinde's Sons durst not undertake to maintain it without a number of Portugueses which could not be afforded after such a loss Nuno consumed the City to Ashes and returned to Melinde bringing with him those who were left before at Zanzibar and other places who joined him after the City was taken 9. At Melinde he left eighty sick Men to be carried to India by Tristan Homem who afterwards with them defended that King against him of Monbaça who sought to revenge there the harm done him by the Portugueses In May the Governor began to visit the neighbouring Places to Ormuz making Proclamation That all persons who had any Cause of Complaint against Portugueses should appear before him Many appeared with much Cause and the Offenders were obliged to make restitution to the great astonishment of the Moors not used to see such Justice executed At Ormuz he made a solemn Entry which being unusual was much admired by those People 10. He found that Raez Xarafo great Guazil or rather Tyrant over that King tho restored by Lope Vaz was not clear of those great Crimes he stood accused of The chief were Rapin and Murder and the Circumstances such that King Iohn had sent after Nuno de Cuna Emanuel de Macedo with Orders independent of the Government to take and bring him to Portugal They both had a Hand in securing him Nuno visited the King and gave him Letters from ours He qualified the King's Displeasure for imprisoning Xarafo and his fear for his own Offences received his Excuse and took leave The King presented him with rich Jewels Pieces of Cloth of Gold Silks and a stately Horse with fine Furniture after the Persian manner Nuno refused to accept but seeing the King was affronted at it received it in his King's Name The Gentlemen with him received rich Gifts 11. Nuno made some Inquiry into Xarafo's Crimes and sent him to Portugal The King for the Murder of Mahomet was sentenced to pay forty thousand Xeraphins over and above the sixty thousand he paid yearly It is true this Crime served only as a pretence to overload him with this Tribute being the third part of the Revenue of Ormuz Raez Xarafo tho guilty of heinous Offences carried enough Riches with him to purchase Favour in Portugal and be restored to his Employ 12. Whilst the Governor was thus employed at Ormuz Belchior Tavarez de Sousa came thither he had been to assist the King of Baçora with forty Men against him of Gizaira He was the first Portuguese that went up the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates Baçora is thirty Leagues from the mouth of these Rivers in thirty degrees somewhat more of Northern Latitude It is a new Foundation in memory of the ancient Baçora eight Leagues distant from it the Ruins whereof are still to be seen and in the opinion of a person of Judgment who did see them are twice as big as Grand Caire The Island Gizaira is formed by the two Rivers Tigris whose Springs are in Curdi of the greater Armenia and Euphrates whose Fountains are in Turkomania The Circuit of it forty Leagues it contains forty thousand Archers 13. The King of Baçora had received Sousa with State and Joy in a Court of his Palace so large that it contained two thousand Men without any Throng Next day gave him an account of his Condition desiring he would either bring the King of Gizaira to an honorable Peace or recover some Forts he had taken from him The King of Baçora set out with two hundred Dalacas or large Barques in them were five thousand Men six hundred whereof were Musqueteers seven
King Badur at his arrival almost despoiled of his Crown They expected no answer but suddenly Solyman Aga invaded those Lands with almost six thousand Men. They began to hinder the carrying Provisions to Goa D. Iohn Pereyra who then commanded sent to advertise Solymam of the Injustice of his Undertaking but he gave no ear to it and killed some Portugueses not without receiving considerable damage He besieged Christopher de Figueredo in the Fort of Mandor to whose relief came Iordan de Freytas with some Men sent by D. Iohn so the Turk raised the Siege and fled as far as Margam 11. Don Iohn marched at the heels of Freitas and being at Maâ—…dor the Aga sent him word he came not to make war but to receive the Rents of those Lands the Answer was That he should march off within an hour and half Don Iohn followed the Messenger to force the Turk in case he obeyed not but finding he did retired 12. Solyman halted at Ponda from whence he made fresh Instances to D. Iohn to resign those Lands to Hidalcan He answered he acknowledged him not as his Minister and prepared for War He built the Fort of Rachol where some Blood was spilt Solyman endeavouring to obstruct it who lost three thousand Men about Bailim and Singuizar slain by the Gentils assisted by two hundred Portugueses Iordan de Freytas with fifty Men routed the Turk Sarnabose sent by Solyman with five hundred Emanuel Vasconcelos razed a Bulwark the Enemy was making in the Pass of Borii and burnt some Houses Solyman advances as far as Margam Pereyra went to meet him with five hundred Portugueses and seven hundred Canaras The Fight began the Canaras and some Portugueses gave way terrified with strange Fire-works made by a Witch who in Man's Cloaths sought to revenge the Death of her Husband Pereyra seeing this Disorder advanced crying out Let who will follow me for I hope with the help of God to overcome the Enemy All following his Example Solyman quitted the Field having lost eight hundred Men on our side not one was killed The Booty was considerable 13. Mean while Açadacam attempted to recover these same Lands but met no great success for Hidalcam endeavoured thus to divert him while he gained his City of Bilgam where his Riches lay At length they agreed and Açadacam designed again to attempt the Dependences of Goa He proceeded not with Vigor being conscious Nuno had by his advice possessed himself of them and because he had lately received a Message from him after his Return from Diu. Yet in conclusion he marched as far as Ponda with twenty thousand Men. 14. From that place he sent a Letter of Hidalcam to Cuna demanding those Lands The Answer was He held them by consent of Açadacam that if he desired war the Portugueses were not backward and that he could not restore them or raze the Fort of Rachol without his King's Consent Açadacam fearing his Master would take his City acted not much on this side So there happened no considerable Action 15. Now the Answer of Hidalcam was brought containing That since Açadacam was the Cause of his taking those Lands he would stand by what should be agreed between them Both coveâ—…ing the same thing for themselves they came to no agreement Cuna relieved Vasco Fernandez who was in some distress and they put the Enemy to flight Hearing the Enemy appeared now in greater Numbers he sent Don Iohn Pereyra with one hundred and thirty Horse six hundred Portugues Foot and one thousand Canaras commanded by Crisna an honest Pagan They found the Enemy at the Foot of a Mountain and attacked them with such Vigor they presently fled their Commander and many more were slain on our side only four 16. Açadacam after these Losses desired a Conference with Nuno de Cuna but it succeeded not so the Inroads were continued chiefly about Rachol where our Cannon killed some Winter expiring Nuno began to act more vigorously He sent Antony de Silveyra to the Continent with two hundred Canara Horse and seventeen hundred Portugues Foot Antony went three Leagues up the Country making great havock and killing three hundred Moors and two considerable Officers with loss of eight Portugueses Mean while Gonzalo Vaz Coutinho destroyed the Coast of Dabul and thence brought to Goa many Vessels taken and three hundred Prisoners and abundance of Provisions which encreased the Joy of the other Victories and relieved the City distressed for want 17. The Clamours of that ruined People and a Letter from Nuno de Cuna coming to Hidalcan he ordered Açadacam to desist He obeyed not but to justifie his refusal sent him a Present of a stately Horse and Cymiter set with Jewels Hidalcan going to take off a piece of Silk in which the Cymiter was wrapped was hindered by his Mother who caused a Page to unfold it he instantly fell down dead as did two Men who were ordered to mount the Horse Such was the Poison the Present carried Then the Queen looking upon her Son said Behold your Father's Murderer For it was believed he had been poisoned The Governor perceiving that Açadacam did not desist sent Gonzalo Vaz Coutino with thirty Vessels and three hundred Men half Canaras who burnt the Town of Ponda and many Ships and returned with three hundred Prisoners Azadacam in a rage marched towards Rachol and opposite to it began to erect a Fort called Bori to obstruct our Sailing up the River of that Name and notwithstanding our opposition put it into such condition it appeared formidable Nuno de Cuna sent a fresh Supply to hinder this Work and they assaulting it with more courage than conduct four hundred of them were slain and forty taken whereof one appearing naked before Açadacam he took off part of his own Garment to cover him saying The Portugueses were not to be so used This Loss caused the demolishing the Fort of Rachol which the Governor ordered Peter de Faria to execute Nuno de Cuna's presence was required at Diu and he fearing to leave Goa in danger concluded a Peace with Açadacam This was rather a Truce than Peace for neither desisted from his pretensions unless Açadacam did by going away from Ponda 18. Whilst these things were in agitation at Goa the King of Calicut marched to Cranganor upon pretence of visiting those parts as their Emperor but in reality to destroy the Portugueses induced thereto by King Badur Thence he designed to pass to Vaipaim which being suspicious Peter Vaz commanding at Cochin endeavoured to prevent striving withall to avoid affronting him or being faulty in his Duty Having made provision by Sea and Land he desired the King to desist from that Design The King gave no ear to him but sent many Ships to clear the Passage but they failed above a thousand of their Men being slain and much damage received by Vincent de Fonseca's Artillery which guarded that Pass many more flying with precipitation were drowned This happened near the
the Coast of Arabia as far as Aden that they might all be informed of the true Causes of this Accident and that the Jealousies caused by the King's death might be allayed 9. For the greater satisfaction of the publick Nuno ordered the Mahometans should have the free Exercise of their Religion and Laws and that the Constitutions made by Badur should be observed as if he were present All Pensions or Salaries allowed by him were continued Among many that resorted to reap the Benefit of this unexpected Liberality was a Moor of Bengala who by authentick Informations was found to be three hundred and twenty years of Age. He was seen long after as shall be said when we speak of his death or vanishing He had at this time two Sons one ninety the other twelve years old His Beard and Teeth had fallen and grown again four or five times To appearance he seemed about sixty years of Age. Of person indifferent rather little than tall neither fat nor very lean He said that being one day in his first Century looking to his Cattle on the Bank of a River there appeared to him a Man cloathed in Grey girt with a Cord with Wounds in his Hands and Feet praying him to carry him over upon his Shoulders And that having done it he told him That as a Reward for that Act of Charity he should continue in the same disposition of Body till he saw him again The Portugueses after this coming into India and he into one of their Churches and seeing the Image of S. Francis cryed out with surprize This is this is the Man I carried over the River so many years ago This was the cause why Badur maintained him and why now Nuno de Cuna continued his Allowance 10. Mir Mahomet Zaman descended from the Kings of Delhi who had reigned in Cambaya hearing the death of Badur went to visit the Queen Mother at Novanaguer She fearing he came to rob her would not see him Zaman had no such intention then but came to offer her his Service and to revenge the death of the Son She thinking she was not secure there resolved to remove and he offended at her Contempt lay in wait for her with two thousand Horse and robbed her of all that was of Value which amounted to above two millions of Gold and gathering above five thousand Men was by them proclaimed King of Guzarate and with this Title entered Novanaguer Hence he sent to Nuno de Cuna acquainting him with the posture of his Affairs his Title to the Crown and desiring his Assistance in requital for which he offered the Portugueses all the Coast from Mangalor to Beth the Town of Damam as far as Baçaim the Royal Country-House of Novanaguer and other advantageous Conditions Nuno admitted them and caused him to be proclaimed King in the Mosque of Diu at the same time advising him to raise Forces and disperse the other Pretenders Zaman fearing the Advice was deceitful lay still and found the ill Consequence for the People set up Mahomet Nephew to the deceased and prepared to fall upon Zamam at Novanoguer but delayed the Execution because Cuna was so near At this time arrived five Ships from Portugal 11. The Governor being gone as the Princes of Guazarate desired the better to maintain Mahomets Title two of them marched towards Zamam with sixty thousand Men they corrupted most of his Officers He being sensible of it ordered his Friends to carry about them as much Gold and Jewels as they could to serve them in their flight Those who were corrupted did not fight the others did wonders particularly Zamam who fled to Omaum King of the Mogols of whom he received the Kingdom of Bengala The Conquerors called Antony de Silveyra Commander of Diu to an account for the King's death and being satisfied of the Causes proposed a Peace but refusing the Conditions granted by Zamam broke off Cuna hearing this News made ready to return to Diu dispatching the homeward bound trading Ships and sending Martin Alfonso de Sousa with forty Ships to guard the Coasts of Malabar 12. The greatest Enemies the Portugueses found in India were the Moors inhabiting from Chaul to C. Comori the space of 200 Leagues who had flocked hither in great numbers for the great Riches of the Sea in Pearls and vast Trade of all those Ports Pate Marcar a powerful Moor of Cochin offended that the Portugueses had taken some of his Vessels went over to Calicut the better to annoy them with the assistance of that King There he was furnished with above fifty Ships two thousand Men and four hundred Pieces of Cannon to go to the assistance of Madune Pandar against his Brother the King of Ceylon our Ally At Coulam he found a great Portuguese Ship lading with Pepper he beset her and after a sharp Engagement was forced to retire having killed the Captain of her Farther on he took a Ship and killed all that were in it Beyond C. Comori he destroyed a Town of the Christians Martin Alfonso hearing of this pursues and running up a River with only nineteen Barques offers him battel but he refused and got off It looked like a rashness to follow further so Martin returned to Cochin in order to set out again better provided 13. He set out with twenty three Vessels all to row and four hundred Men. At Beadala he met Pate Marcar careening in order to go over to Ceylon Pate seeing Alfonso gathered seven thousand Men and Alfonso with his four hundred resolved to fight him He ordered Gaspar de Lemos with seven Barges to stay till he gave the signal with a Cannon and then to come up with all the greatest noise he could to divert the Enemy on that side while he attacked them on the other A Piece being fired without order Lemos thinking it was the Signal came up and was killed with others before Martin Alfonso could relieve him At last he came and revenged the death of those killing above seven hundred of the Enemy and putting the rest to flight whereby he remained Master of the Sea and Field Thirty Portugueses were lost Among the Portugues Slaves here set at liberty was a Woman who was Mistress to one of them loaded with Chains who could not be prevailed upon by Threats nor Promises to renounce her Faith but with great Constancy much to be admired in such a Woman encouraged the Slaves to continue firm in the Faith in contempt of all Tortures The chief party of the Booty consisted of twenty three Barques four hundred Cannon fifteen hundred Musquets and many Prisoners This happened on the fifteenth of February Martin de Ayala was sent to the Governor in a Catur or Barge with fifteen Men who meeting near Chale a Galliot with two hundred Malabars fought them so long till both sides desisted through weariness Ayala being recovered found he had but four Men left alive and with them prosecuted his Voyage 14. Martin Alfonso
sailed over victorious to Columbo the King of which place was besieged by his Brother Madune Pandar who at first thought our Fleet had been that of Pate coming to his assistance But hearing the Ruin of it raised the Siege and made Peace Martin and his Officers honored and presented by the King sailed to Cochin from whence they again set out to scour the Coast. Off of Mount Delii they met six Paraos and took five of them A little farther they had the like Success with seventeen others Next day they took six and a Ship laden with Provisions Six thousand Pardaos were offered Martin for the Ransom of one Moor and he chose rather to hang him for an Example Being ordered by the Governor to Diu because a great Fleet of Turks was expected he forced ashore by the way a great Gallion of theirs and loaded his small Vessels with the Riches were in it Thus Martin Alfonso struck a Terror into all the Enemies and purchased us great security for some time 15. D. Emanuel de Meneses was gone about this time Embassador to Xael and was there imprisoned by that King with all the Portugueses who were in the Town Soâ—… base and insolent Spirits were the Cause of this Action The King had favourably received some Portugueses in his Port but they being a loose People required his Kindness with Injuries One of these among others had robbed the King 's own Cousin and after other Tortures hung him and two other persons of Note by the private Parts to make them discover their Treasure Gonzalo Vaz committed another Robbery Alvaro Madera being kindly entertained by an honest Moor forced his Wife from him One Godino had the Honor to treat the King at his House and payed it with calling him Drunkard Others took a Ship belonging to his Subjects and impudently came to sell it in his Port. These and other Villanies had been acted when D. Emanuel de Meneses came with seventy Men to settle a Peace He was ignorant of what had happened and suspected it the less being well treated by the King He was lodged and then beset the Moors killing all the Portugueses about the Town A just Punishment for such Extravagances The King sent for D. Emanuel to Court he went with seventy Men but was admitted with only one and received very civilly but detained a Prisoner as were all the seventy except Godino whose Head was cut off in the presence of the King For Insolencences committed upon Royal Persons admit no delay of punishment Of the seventy he sent thirty as a Present to the Turk to purchase his Favour thinking he had by this Action lost the Portugueses Among the thirty was Madera who making his Escape from Constantinople carried the News to Portugal of the Turkish Fleet that was fitting at Suez to invade India This Advice caused the King to send continual Succors and immediately he dispatched five Ships 16. Nuno de Cuna hearing what had happened at Xael ordered D. Ferdinand de Limâ—… who was going to command at Ormuz by the way to conclude a peace with that King He did it the Peace was sworn and D. Manuel de Meneses with those who were still there restored Nuno being satisfied the Turks were not coming as the Mooâ—… gave out to terrifie him began that vast Cistern which is there of such bigness that being twenty five Spans deep each Span contains a thousand Pipes of Water This he provided against a long Siege and added new Fortifications Having given all the necessary Orders in this place he sailed to Goa CHAP. IX Continues still the Government of Nuno de Cuna the same Year 1538 in the Reign of King John the Third 1. LET us now turn a while to the Bay of Bengala into which falls the famous River Ganges by two mouths This River has its springs in the mountains of great Tartary from whence it runs to the Southward near 600 Leagues and divides India into two paâ—…ts Intra extra Gangem On the mouth that falls into the Sea to the Eastward is the City Chatigam on that to the Westward Satigam The Ganges runs through the middle of the Kingdom of Bengala to which were subject on the East those of Caor Comataii Sirote Codovoscam Cou and Tipora but these two last joining together threw off the Subjection on the West of the River Cospetir whose Plain is overflowed by Ganges as Egypt by the Nile conquered by the Patanas The Heathens here say that God granted these particular Prerogatives or Blessings to five Kingdoms To that of Bengala infinite numbers or Foot to Orixa Elephants to Bisnagar People skilled in Sword and Buckler to Delhi abundance of Towns and to Cou innumerable Horses The Country of Bengala lying between twenty two and twenty six degrees of Northern Latitude and being very well watered is most fruitful and produces many sorts of Fruit some like that of Spain Sugar and long Pepper abundance of Cattel and foul infinite quantities of Cotten which they work the Curiosity of their Quilts is extraordinary The Natives are Heathens and Men of no Courage but false and treacherous that it may appear all the World over Cowardize and Treachery go together The King is Heir to all Men. The principal City Gouro seated on the Banks of Ganges three Leagues in length containing one million and two hundred thonsand Families and well fortified along the streets which are wide and streight Rows of Trees to shade the People which sometimes is in such numbers that some are trod to death 2. About fifty years before the Portugueses discovered India came â—…o Gouro an Arabian Mahometan who growing rich and powerful obtained the then King of Bengala a Victory over the King of Orixa The King besides other Rewards made him Captain of his Guard and he ingratefully killed the King usurped the Kingdom and left the Inheritance thereof to the Moors that succeeded They observe no Rule of Inheritance from Father to Son but even Slaves sometimes obtain it by killing their Master and whoever holds it three days they look upon as established by Divine Providence Thus it fell out that in forty years space they had thirteen Kings successively At the time when Martin Alfonso de Melo Iusarte was prisoner to Mahomet Xiath that King who tyrannically held the Crown kept his Court at Gouro in great apprehension of being deposed but with such state that only his Women amounted to the number of ten thousand Martin and the others who were Prisoners with him obtained him success against the Patanas with whom he was at War 3. Martin and his Fellows obtained their Liberty by the means of Coje Sabadim a rich Moor who promised iâ—… Nuno de Cuna would carry him to Ormuz he would contrive the King of Portugal should have a Fort in the Port of Chatigam The Governor earnest upon this important Affair granted all he demanded and sent thither Martin Alfonso with two hundred Men in five Vessels The
gave them the Port of Siriam at the mouth of the River of the same Name that runs within a League of Bagou the Court of the Kings of Pegu. This Grant was obtained of the King for the Portugueses by Philip de Brito Nicote who most ingratefully proved false to that Prince that had raised him from a vile Collier to his Favour and Esteem The manner was thus 9. Xilimixa confiding in Nicote was by him perswaded to erect a Custom-house at the mouth of that River for the encrease of his Revenue and his design was to seize upon it and build a Fort there to give footing to the Portugueses for the Conquest of that Kingdom The King who suspected not the Design having finished the Work put it into the Hands of one Bannadala who fortified himself and suffered no Portugues to enter there except F. Belchior de la Luz a Dominican Nicote seeing that Design fail resolved to carry it on by other means before the Works were too far advanced 10. He had with him three Portugues Officers viz. Iohn de Oliva Paul del Rego and Salvador Ribeyro with 50 Men these he order'd to surprise the Fort and turn out Bannadala not doubting but his great Credit with Xilimixa would bear him out in it 11. The three Captains so well performed Nicote's Orders that they gained the Name of Founders of the Portugues Dominion in that Kingdom and Ribeyro was like to carry the whole Fame of this Action some affirming he was the real Author of it 12. Bannadala who foresaw the Designs of the Portugueses contrived to expel them thence at the same time that Riberio thought to surprise him Banadala provided many flaming Carts guarded by 600 Men which advancing by night took such effect that the Portugueses were obliged to quit their Factory but flying thence attacked Bannadala's â—…ort with such fury that having left many Men he was glad to retire to an Island not far distant where he fortified himself gathering 1000 Men and securing the Treasure of the Pagod of Digan to maintain them The King being informed hereof was much offended and resolved to relieve Banadala but was dissuaded by the false Nicote who put him in mind he favoured a Sacrilegious Robber and offered to compose Matters with the Portugueses He went thither and ordered Things to his own mind so that the Work still advanced under the Portugueses 13. Nicote seeing the Fort in a good posture went to Coa in order to deliver it up to the Viceroy and thence facilitate the Conquest of his Master's Kingdom perswading him at the same time his Journey was to bring Succours wherewith he might become Emperour of all Bengala He perswaded every one of the Neighbouring Princes If he would joyn with the Viceroy he might easily be King of Pegu. Some of them sent Embassadors to this effect along with him Scarce was Nicote gone when the King being sensible of his oversight sent down the River a Fleet with 6000 Men under the command of Banadala 14. Coming down towards the Fort they were met by 3 Vessels with only 30 Portugueses commanded by Salvador Ribeyro who in a little time without losing one Man killed many took 40 Ships and put the rest to flight The King joyning him of Pram beset the place with 1200 Sail by Water and 40000 Men by Land Ribeyro understanding they observed no Order boldly fell upon them with his handful of Men and killing the General put that whole Army to the rout 15. Bannadala gathering 8000 Foot of this scattered Army sate down the third time before the Fort lodging his Men in good order and furiously battering the Place till in the dead of night he ventured to give a fierce Assault Our Men bravely opposing killed above 1000 which were seen the next morning to fill up the Ditch 16. The Enemy continued the Siege eight months Some of our Men deserted yet Ribeyro was no way dismayed but encouraged those that had stayed with him and to take from them all hope of Escape burnt the Vessels that were in the Port. The Viceroy Ayres de Saldanna hearing of these Proceedings sent considerable Succours and many covetous of Honour or Profit voluntarily resorted thither so that the Commander finding himself 800 strong resolved to attack the Enemy in his Works He put this Design in execution with much Conduct and Bravery and was received with no less till at length Banadala was forced to fly 3 Leagues without looking back and then stood to see all the Works he had raised in a Year burnt The Portugueses thinking this Success had secured their Affairs in Pegu dispersed every Man to make his own advantage so that there remained with the Captains only 200 that had been sent by the Viceroy 17. The Enemy returns the fourth time with many moving Castles and several sorts of Fireworks The Fort was reduced to a dangerous condition when a fiery Meteor so frighted the Besiegers that they fled leaving their Castles behind which were soon fired by our Men. Lastly the Victory we obtained over King Massinga in the Province of Camelan killing him and doing great harm both by Sea and Land produced the Security we so much sought after For those People finding us not only Victorious but Courteous followed us so that in few days we had above 20000 of them These Men considering the Success of Philip de Brito Nicote and his natural good Temper which occasioned their calling him Changa that is Good Man proclaimed him King of Pegu. Salvador Ribeyro accepted of the Crown in his Name he being then absent and this perhaps might be the cause it was thought in Spain it was he that was proclaimed 18. Nicote afterwards received the Kingdom in the Name of his Prince as a Loyal Subject and was the first of our Men that rose to that pitch of Fortune in Asia Roderick Alvarez de Sequeyra succeeded him in the Command of the Fort who bravely defended it till it accidentally took fire and only the bare Walls of it were left standing 19. Mean while Nicote sollicited for Succours to carry thither which were not hard to be obtained for the Viceroy seeing his great Riches and the prospect he had of more married him to a Niece he had born in Goa of a Iava-Woman and for her sake could deny him nothing He gave him the Title of Commander of Siriam and General of the Conquest of Pegu and Succours in 6 Ships Being come to Siriam he repaired the Fort built a Church and sent a rich Present to the King of Arracam who had sent to compliment him upon his arrival 20. He ordered the Affairs of the Custom-house according to the Viceroy's Instructions obliging all Vessels that traded on the Coast of Pegu to make their Entries there Some of the Coast of Coromandel refused to obey against them he sent D. Francis de Moura with 6 Sail who discharged himself well and took on the Coast of Tanazarim 2 Ships of
expelled This was done by the assistance of Vincent Ribeyro a Portugues who lived at Visapor and had much interest with the Favourite 21. At Baçaim Luis de Brito Melo and D. Iohn de Almada Admiral of the Diu Squadron joyned Antony Pinto de Fonseca Commander of that place resolving to force the Enemies Camp They made up 1500 Men and marched toward the Enemy who had 1000 Horse and 1500 Foot well intrenched Our design was to surprize them but they had intelligence from some Portugueses in the City nevertheless their Trenches were forced with the loss of 6 or 7 of our Men and not above 500 of the Enemy escaped This Victory secured the Inhabitants of that Country and the Island of Salsete who had suffered much during the two last Years 22. Zamori possessed himself of the Kingdom of Upper Granganer which was of dangerous consequence to our Town of the same Name which he always coveted having an Eye upon a Pagod where the ancient Emperors of Malabar used to be Crowned This Neighbourhood became the more dangerous for that the little King of Paru a small Island relying on his Friendshop with Zamori had began the War in the Rivers between Cochim and Paliporto The King of Cochim not without cause offended at the Portugueses underhand kindled this Fire The Viceroy sent D. Lope de Almeyda with one Galley and ten Ships to relieve Cananor He came upon the King of Paru who terrified thereat concluded a Peace Only the King of Cochim and Zamori now remained an Embassy and Presents were sent to the latter both which he admitted but nothing was concluded 23. At this time arrived at Goa 4 Ships from Portugal five came thence but one was lost within two Leagues of Melinde Of 3000 Soldiers that were shipped aboard these Vessels not half the number came to India the rest dying by the way which was a great loss by reason of the want of Men there was there having so many Enemies upon them and because these same Ships should have come the Year before and were forced back to Lisbon Three Ships homeward bound had yet worse fortune for one was cast away at the Maldivy Islands another in which were all the Men of the former at the Island Fayal where above 200 Men perished the third arrived at Lisbon 24. The Viceroy with that small Recruit resolved to go in Person to the North to meet our European Enemies the English and Hollanders who were strong in these Seas he sent before D. Emanuel de Azevedo with 22 Sail who at Suratte joyned the two Squadrons under Luis de Brito and D. Iohn de Almada They landed and destroyed the Lands of Cifandam and Diva the Towns of Baroche and Goga were plundered and burnt as were six great Ships in that Bay Hence they sailed to the City Patane the Inhabitants whereof terrified by the Flames of Goga fled to the Woods so the Town was fired without any opposition 25. Mean while the Viceroy set out with 7 Galleons that in which he was so large it carried with ease 230 Men at Arms the 30 all Gentlemen There were besides two Pinks one Galley one Caravel and five other Vessels In all which were 1400 Portugueses and much Artillery but unskilful Gunners CHAP. IV. Continues the Government of D. Hierome de Azevedo 1. THE chief Design of this Squadron which at Suratte joyned those three under Azevedo Brito and Almeyda was to destroy four English Ships that lay in that Port. These Preparations seemed too great for such an Enterprize but the Event proved the contrary Being come in sight of the English the Viceroy ordered the two Pinks the Caravel and other smaller Vessels to lay aboard one of the Ships which was separated from the others Having all grappled and almost entred her the other three coming up beat them off The first three of our Vessels having taken fire endeavouring to burn that of the Enemy perished and the English escaped All this day was spent without any Success on our side and the next nothing was done because the Ships lay in a hole where only one of our Galleons could come at them at once and so might be one by one disabled by the Enemies Cannon Some said this was only a pretence of those who had no mind to come at them It was attempted to burn them with Fireships but without success 2. The Viceroy perceiving he only lost his Time there sailed to Diu to send thence Relief to Ormuz having received Advice from D. Luis de Gama Commander of that Place that the Fort of Comoran was besieged by a Persian Captain of Xirav with 14000 Men by Sea and Land This Siege was laid by order of Abas Xa of Persia on account that Gama did not pay him certain Duties due to the King of Lara and the Persian was now possessed of that Kingdom He was glad of this pretence of taking Arms as desiring to possess himself of Ormuz towards which he thought the Fort of Comoron was a good step Nor did he miss his aim for no sooner did the ancient Men of Ormuz hear that Fort was delivered but they concluded this lost D. Luis sent some Succour which hastened the Surrender because one half of it was cut off and the rest returned Andrew de Quadros commanded at Comoran he had but few Men and less Cannon for always our Aim was at trade and was forced to surrender upon Conditions which the Enemy never observed This was done when the Relief of 9 Sail sent by the Viceroy arrived under the command of Michael de Sousa Pimentel who having nothing to do there and to shun the Distasts that happened between him and D. Luis de Gama went away to Mascate 3. The Viceroy returning with his Fleet from Diu discovered the 4 English Ships a great way from Surat making all the sail they could and standing to the Southward He made the best of his way and in the afternoon came up alone within Cannon-shot of one of them because his Galleon was a better Sailer than the rest of the Fleet. His Gunner offered to sink her with two 40 Pounders many opposed it representing the other 3 Ships would come upon him and the Fleet being out of sight the Galleon would be lost which would be a great discredit besides the Damage at such a time when the Government was so poor The Viceroy submitted to their Opinions without obliging them to give it under their hands thinking they would never deny it which they did when he was accused for not doing what the Gunner proposed The English returned Thanks for this kindness firing their Cannon without Ball. 4. The Ships that this Year went from Portugal carried Orders to the Viceroy to sell all Commands and Employments that would yield Money there being no other means than to supply the Wants of that Government This was put in execution and much resented for three Reasons one That it had never been
made towards the Enemy who not regarding them stood in for Malaca Our Galleons being ill manned because many of the Men were fled to the Woods it was found expedient to take those out of the Galliots who were of try'd Valour Thus they prepared for Battel which the Enemy accepted drawn up in the form of a half Moon This happened on a Sunday in the Afternoon about the middle of November 7. The Admiral and D. Iohn de Silveyra's Galleons were boarded Ant. Rodrigues de Gamboa with his Galliot came to assist Silveyra his Brother-in-Law but the Galliot taking fire fired the Galleon and both perished There were 50 Men in them 20 of them died and the other 30 were taken The Admiral Miranda was three times boarded and tho' he had but few Men still cleared the Decks killing numbers of the Enemy and sinking some of their Galleys Ships were fired on both sides and the labour to quench them was great especially on our side The fight lasted till midnight the flaming Ships and other fires lighted of purpose by the King affording them light 8. In fine the Admiral 's Galleon during this time was attacked by the whole Fleet 14 times fired 18 and as often quenched Men wrapped in wet Blankets rowling themselves in the fire Miranda being struck down by a great Splinter a Soldier cried out he was killed but he instantly arose saying I am not dead here I am alive fight couragiously my brave Lions for Heaven promises us a glorious Victory The 3 Galleons were in a Line at about a Musket shot distance from each other and for want of Wind the 2 could not come up to succour the Admiral against whom the Enemy bent all his Force Could they have come up the Enemy had been utterly ruined for they were so disabled that they retired towards Bancales 9. Day appearing and the Enemy gone our Galleons thought to pursue them but could not Their Loss was computed to 20000 Men and 50 Sail of all Sorts Iames de Mendoça Silva being upon discovery with his small Vessels found the King had sent out his Boats for Water he fell in among them and took them all and 200 Prisoners The King after this loss asked the Prisoners he had taken whether an Embassy to treat of their Liberty would be acceptable at Malaca and being by them assured it would he writ to the Admiral and Commander of the Town affirming our Ships had attacked him without cause when he was going only to subdue his rebellious Subjects expressing concern for the loss of our Galleon and Galliot offering to restore the Prisoners without Ransom if they sent for them This King being very subtle and false it was not fit to give two much Credit to him yet his Ambassadors were well received and it was answered that the King's Designs not being known it could not but he believed he designed against Malaca They sent him all his Subjects taken by Iames de Mendoça and a good Present thanking him for the offer of restoring the Portugueses and desiring he would deliver them to him that carried the others The King being under sail when our Messenger came to him said he would answer after he had treated him as became a Portugues Ambassador He had rather have taken his answer there being suspicious of the King but was forced to follow The King being come home received the Embassy friendly and a Month after dispatched him well satisfied with the Prisoners 10. The reason why as was before hinted the 3 Galleons could not pursue the Achem Fleet was because they had advice that 8 Holland Ships were sailing towards Malaca Mendoça was of opinion to repair to the City for the security thereof but Miranda was for pursuing the Enemy and having destroyed them they might retire to Polubutum or Gale which would have ruined the Achem Fleet and saved our Galleons which were destroyed afterwards by the Hollanders These drawing near Ferdinand de Costa was for securing the Galleons at Gale Miranda for fighting and Furtado advised to draw the Galleons close to the little Island so that the Hollanders might not pass between them and the Land so they might do the more Execution bringing all their Cannon over to one side This Opinion being approved of was scarce put in Execution when the 8 Ships appeared and made at them Every Ship exceeded each of our Galleons in number of Men and Cannon able Seamen and Gunners The order of drawing under the Island was so ill executed that the Hollanders took the Post ours aimed at 11. The Battel began and continued all that day with equal Loss Next day one of Galleons after losing 3 Captains and being torn to pieces even with the superficies of the Water was quitted by those Men that were left The 3d day only 10 Men being left in another Galleon they fired it and got ashore The Admiral Miranda would defend himself tho' wounded in the Leg with only 6 but they and a Jesuit by force carried him into the Island leaving the Galleon on fire About 200 Men were lost in them all The loss of the Hollanders was considerable but being Masters of the Sea they sailed to the Mouth of the Streight to intercept the Ships that were expected from China till understanding that D. Iohn de Silva Governor of Malina was coming that way with his Fleet they quitted that Sea which was no small comfort after so great a Loss 12. Francis de Miranda Enriquez went to Goa where he walked upon Crutches by reason of the hurt received in his Legs when he fought the Hollanders However he was brought to a Tryal for not sailing directly for Manila according to his Instructions or not retiring where they might have been secured In the Conclusion he was cleared and having behaved himself so bravely it was but reason he should 13. D. Iohn de Silva being informed that the four Galleons could not go to Manila did all that could be expected of a good Commander to join us in order to suppress the Hollanders He sent Ammunition to our Fleet aâ—… Malaca and advice for our Ships to avoid falling into the Enemies hands But all failed the advice by the ill Conduct of him that carried it and the Ammunition because our Galleons were lost when it came Without knowing hereof he put to Sea with 10 strong Galleons the product of his great Care and Industry Eight days after his departure 6 Holland Ships came to the Bay of Maribeles and were the first of that Nation that passed the Streights of Magellan Had D. Iohn set out 10 days sooner he had taken the 8 Ships that defeated Francis de Miranda and 10 Days later those other 6. Ships On the Sea of Pulatinam he found the Galleon commanded by Captain Antony Homen de Azevedo and the Plate Ship coming from China Having passed the Streight of Singapura he left the Galleons with his Vice-Admiral and with two Galleys he had went himself and
4000 Ducats for the King and Prince They set out in the beginning of February and being forced to water at the Island Del Cisne or The Swan they saw three Ships sunk at the mouth of a River Our Men landing found 2 leagues from the Shore 20 Hollanders guarding the Goods they had saved They made some opposition but being overcome Freyre carried them to his Pink with a great quantity of Clove Pepper Arms Ammunition and Provision then fired all that was left The Hollanders said They came from the Molucco Islands with a Pass from their Admiral Lawrence Ales. 11. Freyre coming into Port St. Lucas the two Jesuits came to him both sick affirming it was impossible to live there and that those who had been left with them were dead The Captain sent the King the Letters he had for him and a Present by his Nephew D Hierome's Servants The King in return sent 100 fat Oxen much Fowl Honey and 6 Slaves but would not come himself and it was found that his Son D. Andrew fell off from the Faith into Mahometanism The Sadio's and Fansayrâ—…'s are Mahometan Cafres and love the liberty of having many Wives The King was a Fansayrâ—… and now designed to destroy Freyre by Treachery The cause of this Change was a Chingala Slave to the Jesuits who running away from them perswaded the King the Portugueses would deprive him of his Kingdom and undertook to destroy them Many Cafres coming to the Shore to this purpose began a Fray giving F. Almeyda a cuff then Stones and Darts began to fly but our Bullets also flying some were killed and their Quarters hung upon the Trees for an Example and one of their Towns was burnt 12. Emanuel Freyre carried away with him the King's Nephew D. Hierome and a Brother of his taken in the Skirmish with the Cafres who was converted and died at Goa All the Jesuits agreed to desist from that Mission and depart with the Captain though he opposed them and came to Goa where the Viceroy not allowing their weak Excuses much condemned their remisness in that Affair 13. Towards the end of this Year arrived in India D. Iohn Coutinno Count de Redondo who was to succeed the Viceroy D. Hierome de Azevedo and of whom we shall next treat D. Hierome returned to Portugal in the same Ship that had carried the Count and no sooner anchored at Lisbon but he was made Prisoner and put into the Dungeon of the Castle He was disrespectfully treated after a long Imprisonment had a Hearing and then again was worse used The chief Crime laid to his Charge was not fighting the Hollanders 14. He was so rich at his entring upon the Government that Nunno de Cunna telling him after all his Misfortunes he was still worth 4 or 500000 Ducats he answered I am worth that in Cattle Notwithstanding all this Riches he died poor in Prison and the King got nothing by it His Liberality was so great he gave the value of several thousand Ducats in one Present of Curiosities at Ceylon He was of the Ancient and Noble Family of Azevedo a Soldier of Valour and wise Commander and zealous Viceroy 15. But it is not amiss to observe that though this Gentleman could not justly Suffer for the Crimes laid to his Charge yet these his Misfortunes were a Judgment from the Hand of GOD for his extraordinary Cruelty In the height of his Success in Câ—…ylon he forced Mothers to cast their Children between Mill-stones and having seen them ground to Mash they were afterwards Beâ—…eaded 16. He caused the Soldiers to take up Children on the Points of their Pikes and hearing them cry bid them hark how those Cocks crowed Playing upon the likeness of the Names those People being called Gala's and Cocks in Portugues Galo's He caused many Men to be cast off the Bridge of Mâ—…vana for the Souldiers to see the Crocodils devour them And those Creatures were so used to this Food that at a Whistle they would lift their Heads above Water 17. D. Hierome was of a middle Stature thick and swarthy his under Lip hanging and always moist a certain Token of Cruelty He was reduced to such Extremity in Prison that the Society of Iesus maintained and after his Death decently buried him He held the Government almost five Years and was one of them who best deserved it Of Viceroys he is the 22th of Governors the 42th the 1st of the Name and Sirname CHAP. XV. The Government of the Viceroy D. John Coutinno Count de Rodendo from the Year 1617 till 1619. 1. THis Year sailed from Lisbon D. Iohn Coutinno Count de Rodondo with sour Ships one whereof was forced back from the Line During his Government which lasted not two Years compleat there happened wonderful Prodigies Storms Dearths and other Judgments I will give an account of the most remarkable dividing that from what relates to his Government which shall be first spoke of 2. The War continued at Mangalor where Salvador Ribeyro Marinno commanded who being assisted by D. Iames Coutinno Commander in Chief of Malabar took the Field against 11000 Natives and destroyed many with the loss of 6 Men. The little King of that Banguel or District who was our Friend not able to maintain it against his Enemy Bentacanayque made it over to us to defend it Antony de Saldanna was left to command there afterwards D. Francis de Meneses de Bacaim was sent to his assistance with an allowance of 4000 Crowns for now the Wages were grown greater than the Employments The Men landing in disorder the Moors who lost no advantage slew some but the others forming themselves put them to flight For some time they were kept under by 300 Portugueses and 1000 Indians 3. Soon after another Skirmish happening with the Canara's the Plain was covered with the dead Bodies In August the Viceroy sent thither Francis de Miranda Enriquez with 8 sail and by the end of the same Month 4000 of the Enemy were slain with the loss of 800 Portugueses Miranda having taken a rich Ship of the Queen of Olala coming from Meca gave her occasion to assist our Enemy with a good Body of Men they besieged our Fort of Banguel burnt the Town and hereupon followed so sharp an Engagement that though many of the Enemy were slaughtered it was with such loss on our side we had no cause to rejoice Miranda thought to have taken the Fort of Olala by Storm but was repulsed The beginning of the next Year was more unfortunate for Bentacanayque with 12000 Canara's falling upon Luis de Brito Melo who carried Succors and D. Francis de Miranda killed them both with 180 Portugueses and above 60 Slaves The day after the News of this Disaster came to Goa there was found a Lampoon upon the Viceroy the Secretary the Surveyor of the Revenue and the Chancellor laying that and other Misfortunes to their Charge 4. It has been related how Ruy de Melo and
clove Men with Axes like Trees opened the Wombs of Women and put in their Children snatched from their Arms. These are impieties unworthy a Christian yet sometimes excused in War 4. Oliveyra finding himself thus strong took the Field slew a multitude of the Enemies and gave them a total overthrow Scarce had they breathed after this Victory when the Prince of Remancor appeared with his Army but Teyxera suddenly falling upon him made such havock he was glad to cast himself at Teyxeyra's feet who received him with great Courtesie They returned to give Thanks for this Victory in Our Lady's Church where the Religious at the Door offering Oliveyra a Palm he said it was due to Teyxeyra and caused it to be given to him Both deserved but he doubly who refused once for conquering his Enemies another for overcoming himself in not accepting it A wonderful Victory in our Age. 5. The Arache D. Luis escaped his Wife and Children were taken she in despair slew her self whilst he perswaded the Nayque of Tanjaor he might make himself King of Iafanapatan He raised 2000 Badagaes and gave the Command of them to Chem Nayque that King of the Carcas who not long before assisted Chingali Oliveyra was strong in Our Lady's Church but in November met the Enemy The fight being desperate with some loss on our side he advanced to encourage the Men the Enemy knowing him seven of them attack him and one of them struck a Spear through his Mouth out at his Throat yet he recovering killed two of them the others fled 6. The Enemy retired to their Trenches Oliveyra being reinforced by 1000 Men from Ceylon assaults them kills many and took many more yet after all he ransomed 1500 taken by the Chingalaes and set them at Liberty The Nayque still coveting that Crown raised more Badagaes Oliveyra sent three Captains with their Companies to suppress him they slew so many without losing one Man that being weary of killing they returned with 1000 Heads 7. The Prince Son to the late King of Iafanapatan who had escaped the Tyranny of Chingali being in the Hands of the Franciscans was baptized together with his Mother and many Nobles and Commoners and at last making over his Claim to that Kingdom to the King of Portugal took the Habit of that Order by the Name of F. Constantine of Christ. 8. Chingali who was taken some time before was sent to Goa with his Wife there condemned to Death and being first converted to the Faith made a most happy end His Wife following the Example given by him was baptized by the Name of Margaret of Austria and retiring to the House of the Converts in that City led a Life that may be an Example to all ancient Christians 9. I think I have not specified the cause of these Troubles which was thus Para Raja Cheygra Pandara made Governor and King of Iafanapatan when Andrew Furtado slew the former King wore that Crown 28 Years and hoping the Viceroy would confirm his Choice named a Son of the deceased to succeed him who being but 7 Years of Age he ordered his Brother Areaquerari Pandara should govern till he was of Age him Changali Cumara murdered to usurp the Crown After that he slew many others whereupon the People mutinying reduced him to great Streights till being succoured by a number of Badagaes raised by the Nayque of Tangaor and commanded by the King of the Carcas they came to a Battel wherein Changali being victorious secured the Crown for some time This Tyrant not content that the Portugueses winked at his bad Title refused to pay them the usual Tribute which was the Cause why Oliveyra fell upon and took him as has been related 10. Abas Xa King of Persia being bent upon possessing himself of the Island and Kingdom of Ormus Camberbeque Cam of Lara began to undertake it on pretence an ancient Tribute was not paid him which he never had since Alfonso de Albuquerque entred that Place He hindred the Trade and secured several Portugues Merchants and seeing we did not agree with him about the Trade of his Silks he settled it with Iames King of England concluding a League with him for the taking of Ormuz Ray Freyre de Andrade who came the Year before from Lisbon with 5 Galleons to cruize on that Sea sent to Goa for Succour but could not obtain it tho' he only desired 4 small Vessels 11. Nevertheless Freyre fights the English and worsts them The Arabs joining with the Persians had taken Iulfar and Dola which caused great scarcity of Water at Ormuz where there is none but what is brought from abroad Freyre went over to forward the building a new Fort at Queixome and by his Absence the Fleet before weak was much impaired Then came two Galleons from Goa commanded by D. Emanuel de Azevedo and D. Iohn de Silveyra an Enemy to Freyre they were ill manned and scarce of Ammunitions and brought Instructions that curbed the Power of the Admiral 12. Being now strong at Quixome he scoured that Coast where were burnt 400 Sail and the Towns of Boami Camir Congâ—… Astan and Doçar at Niquilay he took and destroyed four Ships and above 80 great Barques The Persians assisted by the English furiously batter'd the Fort at Queixome yet Freyre carried on his Work and assisted the Arabs that continued firm to us When Freyre was somewhat streightned the two Captains that came with the Galleons to his assistance from Goa left him 13. This Year sailed from Lisbon for India 4 Ships under the Command of Nunno Alvarez Botello There came also two Pinks one for Malaca the other for Moçambiqus and two Ships more under Iacome de Morales Sarmiento who was to be General at Moçambique during the War about the Mines of Monomotapa as if he were like to last as long as the War 14. The Ships that came from Portugal under the Command of Botello returned the next Year and with them two more built at Goa with the Men and Loadings of two others one left in India as unfit for the Voyage the other lost at Mombaça In one of these two Ships called the Conception was a Hermit who whilst they Winter'd at St. Helena stole away and being asked why he left the Company said He had rather stay in that desert Island than to go see the Misfortune that Ship would soon fall into Being come to the Island Tercera they found Orders there to make the Lat. of 39 Deg. where they would find D. Antony de Ataide Admiral of Portugal They obeyed but missing of him one Morning at the Mouth of Tagus they met 15 or 16 Sail of Turks Our Ship was ill manned had but few Guns and her Steeridge full of Bails 15. The Turks having powred in their broad-sides boarded the Ship killing 20 Portugueses of 140 that were in her most of them sick yet the Enemy receiving great damage entred with 400 Men who were all slain save 8 or 9 that
dispute 10. The time being come they must return to Siranagar the King would not permit them to depart till they swore they would return and then he promised they should have liberty to Preach and he would build them a Church being much pleased with a Picture they left him of our Lady with our Saviour sleeping in her Arms. The Fathers returned acccording to promise and the King in pursuance of his built the Church with great joy and was afterwards Baptized with the Queen notwithstanding the Lama's for their private Ends did all they could to oppose it The Fathers understood by Merchants who came from China that it was 60 Days Journey distant from that Court travelling through the Kingdom of Usanguâ—… 40 Days Journey from the same Court and thence 20 to China That there were two great Kingdoms where the Cross was much used That Cathay is not a Kingdom but a great City and Metropolis of a Province subject to the Grand Sopo very near China Hence perhaps some gave China the name of Cathay Perhaps this Empire of Tibet is that of Prester Iohn so much spoken of and not Ethiopia as was believed But let us return to India 11. In April 4. Malabar Parao's took a Portugues Ship carrying the Men into slavery under Arcolo a King of the Country opposite to the Place where the famous Fort of Cunnale once stood Among the Prisoners were two Franciscans one whereof proved so acceptable to the King that he was the cause of settling a firm Peace between him and the Viceroy 12. Two Ships arrived from Lisbon which returning home the next Year were lost with the whole Portugues Fleet upon the Coast of France in a terrible Storm and was the greatest Loss Portugal sustained since the time of King Sebastian 13. There being nothing remarkable this Year in India let us see what the Carmelites did in Persia where they got footing in the Year 1604. They soon erected several Convents and confirmed the Armenians who were in danger of falling from the Faith terrified with the Persecution raised by the King of Persia. F. Basil of St. Francis was very successful among those called of Saint Iohn about Bassora In the short space of six Months he Preached in the difficult Persian Arabian and Turkish Languages as if he had part of the gift of Languages peculiar to the Apostles and gained such Reputation that many neighbouring Princes permitted him to Preach and build Churches in their Dominions 14. F. Iohn Thadeus and F. Peter of Saint Thomas went to the City Xiras being sent for by the Sultan thereof where they converted some Mahometans others gave them their Doubts in Writing to be sent to Rome assuring if they were satisfied in those Points there would be no need of Preaching to convert them Veâ—…taviet Moses an Armenian Bishop acknowledged his Error in denying the Supremacy of the Church of Rome and promised to perswade all her Diocess to acknowledge it In fine these Fathers have laboured with great Profit and Success 15. Three Ships sailed this Year from Lisbon to India one of them at his return on this side the Cape Good Hope fought twice with three Dutch Ships and came off with Honour 16. Nunno Alvarez Botello sailing with his Galleons for Mascate there arose such a terrible Storm that it parted all his Company from him and he had much difficulty to perswade his Men in despair to work The Tempest ceasing their Provisions fell snort there was but one Pipe of Water for 500 Men and no Land near where they might be supplied Some died with Thirst others running mad leaped over-board After a Fortnight spent in this miserable Condition they discovered the Land of Rozalgatâ—… always fatal to the Portugueses The Men cried to go ashore but Nunno with fair words and kindness disswaded them and coming to Teve they were relieved without danger 17. Off Surat Nunno discovered six Dutch Ships he gave them câ—…ace but lost them He sailed to Bombaim to refit a Galleon and thence to the Bar of Diu. An English and Dutch Squadron both consisting of 17 Sail sailed to Bombaim thinking to find him there They battered the Fort and mâ—…ting no Opposition burnt the poor Towns along the Coast. A Dutch Captain entring the Church of Our Lady of Hope with his Sword cut to pieces a great Crucifix and burnt part of it He had soon after the Reward of this Barbarity his Ship being burnt by Ruy Freyre and he with all the Men slain Nunno hearing of this Action begged the Crucifix of the Rector vowing to carry it always with him till he had revenged the Wrong or died in the Execution of it So it fell out as will be seen hereafter 18. The King of Achem fitted out a Fleet of 35 Galleys against Malaca D. Francis Coutinno with 16. Sail burnt 34 of them killing or taking 3000 Men and bringing off 800 pieces of Cannon 19. On the 17th of Iune 4 Dutch Ships came before the Port of Macao designing to fall upon the Fleet was ready to sail for Iapan The King's Revenue being low our Commander could act nothing against them some rich Men undertook it in Merchant Ships They fitted out five and boarding the Enemy's Admiral burnt her killing 37 Men taking 50 24 pieces of Cannon a quantity of Ball some Money and much Provisions The other 3 fled 20. Ferdinand de Sousa commanded at Angola and after defending it against two Dutch Squadrons fortified the Coast the space of half a League raising 4 Works planted with Cannon and cast up a Trench at the Bar of Corimba which secured it against any attempt Zinga Queen of Angola went with a great Power to Besiege the Garrison of Ambaça but Iohn Carreyro sending a Company of Portugueses to assist that Lord who was our Friend the Queen was defeated A Body of Men marching to her aid was met by nine Portugueses with a number of Blacks who fled at first sight the nine Portugueses fought till their Pouder was spent and two being killed the other seven were taken which was no small Satisfaction to the Queen and many of the Blacks who before were our Friends hereupon became Neuters 21. Soon after the Queen was defeated and deposed and her Brother Airiquibange Crowned King being become a Christian as did many Persons of Note by his means At Congo the City Salvador was taken by the Prince of Sunne who killing the King placed in his stead D. Ambrose of the same Blood Royal. He proved a wise and religious Prince 22. The beginning of this Year went from Portugal for India but one Ship and a Pink. The latter as it return'd was burnt by the Dutch and the Men made Prisoners But in November 3 Ships more set sail The Viceroy returned to Portugal in the first Ship having resigned the Government to D. F. Luis de Brito Bishop of Cochim by reason D. Francis Mascarennas appointed to succeed him was gone to Spain The Count this second