Captaine Generall he did not commaund him to come into his presence in thrée houres after his comming to the Coursie and then commaundement was giuen ther should come no more in with the Embassadour but two of his owne men with the which he was offended for y â— he thought the same seperating from his men was not meant well did therfore carry with him Fernan Martines and one Diego Dias she which was his Secretary Being come where the King was he did not receiue him so well as at the first time but said vnto him with a seuere countenaunce that he had tarried for him all the day before and he came not The Captaine generall aunswered that he did deferre his comming for that he found himselfe weary by reson of the long way for he was very loath to tell him the cause why he staid for that he woulde not giue the King occasion to talke of the present that he would haue sent him But it did well appeare that the Catuall and the Factor would not haue hindred the sending of the same vnto the King but for y t they well knew he would haue made small account thereof And also they must of force haue told him that they had seene the same Neuerthelesse it coulde not be excused but that the King spake vnto the Captaine generall thereof immediately saieng how that he had tolde him that he was belonging to a great and rich King and yet he brought no present from him but an Embassage of friendship onelye and therefore he could not tell what friendship he woulde haue with him since that he did send him nothing Vnto this the Captaine generall did aunswere that there was no maruel that he did bring him nothing for that he came not in assuraunce that he should méete with him But now since that he hath séene him he should well perceiue what his King Master will héereafter sende him if so be that God wil giue him leaue to carry newes of this his discouery And if so be that he will giue credite to his Letters which hée did bring with him he shall then sée what the King doeth send him word of The King in stéede of demaunding his Letters asked him whether the King his Master did sende him to discouer stones or men and if so be that he did send him to discouer men how doth it chaunce then that hée sent him no present And since that it is manifest that hée had brought him nothing he sayd as then that it was told him that he had a Sancta Maria in golde requesting of him the same The Captaine generall was partly ashamed to sée the King so altered for that he had not brought him a present And now moreouer to demaund without all honestie that Image To whom he aunswered that the Sancta Maria which they tolde him of was made of woode and gylded ouer and not of Massie golde And although that it were yet would he not depart therewith forsomuch as the same had preserued him in the Sea and had brought the same from his Countrey The King did not reply vpon this answere but demaunded those Letters the which the King had sent him whereof the one was in the Portingale tongue the other in the Arabian language These he tolde him were sent in this order for that the King his Master did not know whether of these two languages was vnderstoode in his Countrey Wherefore he desired that since the Portingale language was not vnderstood in his Countrey but the Arabian and that there were Christians of the Indias that did vnderstand the same one of those might read his Letter and the rather for that the Moores are enimies to the Christians of whom he was afeard least that they should chaunge the sense thereof The King commaunded them so to bée read howbeit there could be founde no Indian that coulde read the same or at the least would shew himselfe that hée could read them The Captaine generall séeing that there was no other remedy but y â— the Moores must néeds read the same was driuen then to request the King that Bontaybo might be one of them This was done for y t as he thought he would speake and vse more truth then the others for the acquaintaunce they had with him The King commaunded the same to be read by other thrée who hauing read y e same first of all to themselues afterward with a loude voyce declared to the King the effect thereof the which was That as soone as the King of Portingale had knowledge y t he was one of the mightiest Princes of all the Indias a Christian he was desirous to haue a trade a friendship with him for that he might haue out of his Countrey Spices the which he hath in great plentie for which there commeth diuers from many places of the world thether to buy y e same And therefore if so be he will giue him license to sende for the same that then he wil send vnto him from his kingdome many things which he hath not in his as his Captaine generall and Embassadour will tell him And if so bée that with those things he were not pleased he will sende him money both of golde and siluer to buy them withall how that as well of his Merchaundize as of the money y t Captaine generall could shew him part The King hearing this as he was desirous that for the increase of his rents there should come many Merchaunts vnto Calycut shewed himself to be wel pleased with this letter also made vnto the Captaine generall a better countenaunce then he did before asked him what Merchaundize ther were in Portingale He named many shewing how that of all he had brought with him part and also of their money requesting him license to goe aboord for the same and in the meane while he wold leaue in his lodging foure or fiue of his men The King giuing more credite to that which he spake then to that the Moores had told him said vnto him y t he might go in a good houre carie his men with him for there was no necessitie that they should remaine a lande that he should bring his Merchandize sell them as well as he could With this lycense he remained well content for as he saw y e King make him at the first an ill countenance so he thought y t he wold not haue giuen him y e same with this license he went first to his lodging being by y e Kings commandement accompanied with the Catuall and forsomuch as that daye was all spent he would not goe aboord that night ¶ How the Captaine generall hauing lâ—cense of the King to go to his ships was staid by the Catuall in Pandarane Chap. 20. THe next daye after which was the last daye of Maye the Catuall sent to the Captaine generall a Horse howbeit without anye furniture to the same vpon which hée might
a Pilot a Gentile called in their language Gosarate whose name was Canaca making excuse that hée had not sent him sooner and so the king and the Generall remained friends and continued the peace before concluded vpon betwéene them ¶ How the Captaine Generall departed from Mylynde came to Calicut and of what greatnesse and noblenesse that citie is Cap. 13. THE Captaine Generall béeing thus prouided of all things necessarie for his voyage departed from Mylynde towards Calicut vpon the Tewsday being the 22. day of Aprill and from thence he began to cut ouer a goulfe which is of seauen hundreth and fiftie leagues for the land there doth make a certeine great valley which doth runne along the coast from the North to the South and our voiage in demaunding of Calicut lay to the Eastward in following whereof the next Sunday our men sawe the North which a long time before they had not séene and also they sawe the South of which good fortune they thanked God in that it represented as then to them winter of the Indias where alwaies in that goulfe are great stormes they now found none but rather faire weather The Fridaye being the .xvii. daye of May and xxiii daies next after their departing from Mylynde in which time they had séene no land they then discouered came to sight of land And the Fléete béeing viii leagues of seaboord from the shoare the land séemed high their Pilot whose name was Canaca did as then let fall the Plommet found fortie fiue fathom wherevpon to auoide and apart himselfe from that coast he made his way to the Southeast vppon the Saterday he made to landward howbeit he ranne not so néere the same as he might certainly knowe it but he perceiued by small showres of raine which fell as they made towards land y ◠they were on the coast of y e Indias for y ◠at y ◠present time of y e yere y ◠winter is euer in those Indias The sunday being y e xx day of May the Pilot sawe certeine high hils which were ouer the Citie of Calicut and came so néere to land that he did reknowledge the same and with great ioy and pleasure demaunded of the Generall Albrycias saieng that this was the land which he and his companie so greatly desired to sée and come to The General replenished with ioy of that good fortune gaue Canaca his demaund forthwith went to praier saieng the Salue wherein they gaue God greate thanks for this their happie and safe arriuall vppon that coast and in sight of the place which they so earnestly longed for to sée when praier was done they made great ioy and feasted on shipboord and the selfe same daie in the euening the Generall came to an Ankor two leagues from Calicut and immediatly came certeine people of that land in fowre boates called Almaydyas to our Fléete to vnderstand what ships these were hauing neuer before séene any of that making come to that cost These people came all naked sauing that their members were couered with little péeces of linnen cloath they are browne people At their comming to vs some of them entered into the Generalls shippe and albeit the Pilot Goserate tolde him that they were Fishermen a poore kinde of people for so they call all such as bee poore men in the Indias yet hée receyued them all well and commaunded his men to buye of their Fish which they brought with them And hauing some talke with them he did vnderstand that that towne was not Calicut for it was they said further off offered to carrie our Fléete thether Wherevpon the Generall required them so to doe and therewith departed thence and were brought by those Fishermen to Calicut which is a Citie scituated on the Coast of Malabar which is a Prouince of the second Indias that hath his beginning in the Mount Dely and endeth at the end of Comory which is in lentgh thréescore leagues and one and fiftéene in breadth All the Countrie lyeth lowe and is apt to be couered with water Ther be many Ilandes in the same it doth enter into the Sea Indico There is a verie high hill which diuideth the limits betwéene them and a great kingdome called Narsinga The Indians do report that this land of Malabar in olde time was maine Sea and ran as far as y e hill where now the Ilands of Maldiua are which were then firme land did couer discouer y e other of Malabar in which are many and pleasaunt Cities those also very rich by reason of y e trade they haue principaly with thē of Calicut which in riches vice doth excel al in our time whose foundation was on this sort This Prouince of Malabar was in the olde time gouerned altogether by one king who made his aboade in the Citie of Conlan and in the last kings daies of this land whose name was Saranaperimal and died sixe hundreth yeares agone the Moores of Meca discouered the Indias and came to the Prouince of Malabar the inhabitaunts wherof then were Gentiles and the king himselfe was a Gentile From the time of the comming of these Moores they beganne to account the yeares as we account from y e birth of our Lord God And after they came thether they grew into such familyaritie with this king and hée entered into such conference good opinion of their lawes that he renounced the manner of religion of his owne Countrie and minded thence forth to imbrace theirs and the loue and liking he had of this sect of Mahomet so déepely tooke roote and entered into his heart that he determined to goe and ende his lyfe in the house of Meca Thus béeing resolued for the loue he bare to that sect to abandon and leaue his kingdome for euer and goe with them before his departure he imparted to his kinred and diuided amongest them all his Lordships and territories and hauing distributed and giuen the same so farre forth that there remained to him no more but xii leagues of his Countrie which laye néere to the shoare where he meant to imbarke himselfe the which was neuer before inhabited therfore he then gaue y e same to a cosin of his which then serued him as his Page commaunding y ◠the same circuit shold be inhabited in perpetuall memorie of his imbarking there To the same his kinsman hée also gaue his swoord a towell after the Morisco sort as things apperteining and incident to the estate gaue commaundement to all the Gentlemen to whom he had giuen all the rest of his lands that they should be obedient true subiects vnto him and to take him for theyr Emperour the kings of Conlan and Canamor onely except whome also he commaunded and charged likewise al the others that they nor no other Lordes shoulde coine money in the Prouince of Malabar but onely the King of Calycut So hauing thus bestowed and giuen
to buye ther what they thought good so that there went out of each shippe euery day a man and those being returned there went immediately others And as they went on this order they were carried to the Gentiles houses wher they had good chéere and also when occasion serued might haue among them good lodging The like courtesie they did receiue in Calicut besides they did report vnto our men of all such things as they had and after the selfe same manner our men did bestow amongst them part of that they caried which were bracelets of Brasse of Copper Pewter and apparell which they carried to sell in Calicut or anye other place where they might goe as quiet as in Lishborne From the lande there went aboord both Fisher men Gentiles to sell their Fish Coâ—os and Hennes which they gaue in trucke of bisket and for ready money Others ther wer that went thether with their children who carried nothing with them to sell but only their going was to sée our ships The Captaine generall was very glad of their comming commanded to giue them meate this he did for to increase the friendship betwéene the King of Calicut them After this order the ships wer neuer without some those y t wer there remained till such time that night drew on and then they were bid to goe their waye After this sort they spent their time till it was the x. day of August the which was the beginning of the season wherin they might depart from the Coast of the Indias and also for that as then their winter did make an end The Captaine generall perceiuing the quietnesse of the people and Countrey and the familyaritie they vsed with our men and how quietly they went in Calicut without receiuing either hurt of the Moores or of the Nayres did credibly beléeue that this came to passe for that the King of Calycut would haue peace and friendship with the King his Master was the occasion that almost in thrée moneths that our men had trade in Calycut they did receiue no manner hurt either of the Moores or of the Nayres Hée did therfore determine to establish the Factorie which was there with all such Merchandize as he had lefte at that present although the least parte thereof was solde for that there was now layde a good foundation or ground worke for the next voyage when it shuld please the King his Master to sende againe and if it might please God to giue him life that he might bring him newes of this Discouerie so that it should not be néedfull to make any new consent or agréement for the Factorie And by the counsaile of his Captaines and of the other Principalls of his ships he sent vnto the King of Calicut a present of skarfes of sundry coulours of silkes Coralls and other things which was caried vnto him by Diego Dias desiring the King to pardon him for that he was so bold as to send him that present considedering he did the same for no other purpose but onelye to shew what seruitour he was of his who is and will bée alwayes at his commandement which was the occasion that he sent it and not for that he thought that things of so smal valew were of sufficient dignitie for to represent a King withall of so great a power as he was And if so be that he had in his custodie that which he might estéeme or think to be of a more worthie price he would sende it with a better good will And for that the time now drew néere y e he determined to depart he ordained for the same and also if so bée that he did minde to send any Embassadour to the King his Master to confirme the amitie or friendship betwéen them he desired him to commaund him to be in a readinesse for that he had a confidence that as touching that which he had agréed vpon with his highnesse as also presuming on y e gifts which he had receiued at his hands y t he might as he was desirous leaue in Calicut that Factor with his Scriuenor the Merchandize which he had left not onely for a witnes of a perpetuall peace friendship setled ther with his highnes but also for a testimony of the truth of his Embassage of that which y e King his Master shuld send héerafter as soone as he had news of him also for confirmatioÌ„ of his discouery to get some credit in Portingale he did therfore send to kisse his hands requesting him to send to y e king his master one Bahar of cinamon another of cloues another of some other spices as soone as y e factor did make any redy mony of his wares he shuld pay for y e same forsomuch as at y â— present he had not wherewith to paye After that Diego Dias had receiued his message there past foure dayes afore the King would consent that he should come in his presence although that he went euery day vnto his Pallaice After that he had commanded him to come into his presence he viewed how and after what sort he came laden and therevpon asked him with a frowning countenaunce what it was that he would haue but Diego Dias at that time was afearde that he would commaund him to be killed But after that he had told him his message and would haue deliuered him the present he would not sée it but commaunded it to be deliuered to his Factor The aunswere that he gaue touching the Captaine generall was that since he would néedes goe his waye he might so doe but first or that he doe depart he must giue him 600. Serasynes for so it was the custome of the Countrey Diego Dias being returned with this present was accompanied by manye Nayres which he séeing thought it to be for the best but as soone as he was come to the Factorie they remained at the dore and woulde not consent that he or any other shoulde come forth And after this proclamation was made in all the Citie that vpon pain of death there should goe aboord our Fléete no boate or Almadias but yet notwithstanding all this Bontaybo went and gaue warning to the Captaine generall in secrete not to goe a lande nor consent that any of his should goe for that he knew for most certaine by the Moores that if so be that he or they shoulde so doe the King would commaunde theyr heads to be stroken off And as touching all his faire words and good entertainment which he had shewed him vnto that present as also to giue him a house in the which his Merchandize might be layd as also the good entertainment that our men had was but méere dissimulation and to the ende he might haue taken him a lande with them so haue commaunded them all to be killed which was wrought by the industrie of the Moores onely which had made the King beléeue that they were théeues
temporall Lord but also the eternall God who is spirituall And also that euery one might wel know that none of all the nobles the which are so highlye commended as well in the Grecian histories as in the Latine and barbarous was equall vnto the Captaine Generall in taking vpon him this voyage And further he gaue him other greate prayses for the which hée was enuyed at the Masse béeing ended there was a Banner which had the royall armes of Portingale vpon the same deliuered vnto the Bishoppe who after that hée had blessed the same the king with his owne hand did deliuer it vnto the Captaine Generall for to bestowe it in his maine toppe And after that hée had receiued the same he tooke at the Bishops hands a bonnet or night cap the which the Pope had blest and sent for a great iewell and with his owne hands did put the same on the Captaine Generalls head sayeng that he did present vnto him a iewell the which he did much estéeme And afterward that the Bishop had giuen him his blessing the king with the same did accompanie him to the water side where the Captaine generall with al the Captaines of the fléete tooke their leaue of the king and did kisse his hands and the king gaue them Gods blessing his with the which they went all a boorde from whence they shot off all the ordinance that was in the Fléete the which made a wonderfull noise The king béeing returned to Lishborne for that the Fléete could not that daye depart by reason of the weather The next daye which was the ninth of March in the yeare of our Lorde 1500. hauing a sufficient good gale of winde with the which the Fléete might goe out of the Riuer The Captaine Generall did then make a signe that the rest of the Fléete shoulde weye their Ankors the which immediatlye they did begin with great diligence and triumph that the Marriners made And when it was eight of the clocke in y â— morning the whole Fléete hauing wayed did then begin to cut and spread their sayles with a great pleasure and crie saieng altogether Buen viage that is to say A luckie and prosperous voyage After all this they beganne all to be ioyfull euery man to vse his seuerall office the Gouernour in the midst of the ship haling the maine shéetes with the Capsteine The Mariners and ship boyes some in the forecastell haling bollings braces and Martnets other belying the shéetes both great and small and also seruing in trimming the sayles and others the nettings and foretop sayles other some vering the trusses and also beleying brases and toppe sayles shéetes and coyling euery sort of ropes It was wonderfull to sée such a number of diuersities of offices in so small a roome as is the bredth and length of a ship All the Fléete being vnder sayle departed that daye without anye stay by a quarter winde and béeing with the same vnder sayle on the xiiij of March they came within the sight of the Canarâ—as and on the xxij of the same moneth they past by the Iland called Santiago and on the xxiiii of the same moneth they lost the company of one of their ships of the which went for Captaine one Vasco de Tayde who was Captaine of the Fléete also although he neuer declared the same the which neuer after was seene ¶ How the Captaine generall came vnto Brasill and afterward how there was lost foure ships of the Fleete Chap. 29. THis ship being thus gone the Captaine generall tarried for the same two dayes and on the xxiiii of Aprill they did desâ—ry land of the which they were verye glad not only for that they had discouered the same but because that the Pilots supposed the same to be some other land that Vasco de la Gama had not discouered for that it stoode to the East and immediatly the Captaine Generall commaunded his Master to goe in his small boate and to sée what kinde of people were those that dwolt in the sayd Countrey who retourned with an aunswere saieng that the same lande was a goodly fayre and fertill Countrey in the which there were great store of wordes and that there walked many men along the water sides with this newes the Captaine generall came to an Ankor sent once more his Master with great dilygence to enforme himselfe of the Countrey and of their dwellings and found that the people were of colour somewhat blacke and men well proportioned howbeit they went all naked hauing both bowes and arrowes But when night was come there fell so great a storme that the Captaine generall with all the rest of the Fléete were faine to wey theyr Ankors and runne along the Coast vntill such time as they found a good Port in the which they came to an Ankor vnto the which the Captaine generall did giue for name Puerto Seguro forsomuch as the same serued for all wethers Héere our men tooke two men of that Countrry the which went in an 〈◊〉 who were brought before the Captaine generall that he might informe himselfe what Country that was which could not be known notwithstanding forsomuch as there was none in all the fléete that could vnderstand them by any tokens or signes The Captaine general séeing y t ther was no meanes for to informe himselfe by theÌ„ coÌ„manding to giue them apparell y t the others might be desirous to bring theÌ„ victuals to sel w t other things which they had in their country with this they went their way w t great ioy of y t Captain generals gift And when they wer come a land amongst their coÌ„panions they perceiued their good entertainment did aduenture to come to conferre with our men The Captaine general finding himself indifferently in this country did determine to take in fresh water to coÌ„fort his men wtall for y t he knew not when he shuld chance w t like opportunitie And for y t God might y e rather and theÌ„ he commanded on y e next day which was on Easter wéeke a Masse shuld be said a land y t which was so done w t great solemnitie that vnder a pauillion in which ther was made a Sermon by Fraij Henrique Doctor of Diuinitie And whilest y â— diuine seruice was a celebrating there assembled many of y e country people together which shewed theÌ„selues to be very merry w t plaieng leaping which they made besides their sounding vpon cornets horns other instrumeÌ„ts After Masse was ended that y e Captaine generall was going a ship boord these people went w t him vntil he tooke his boat singing making a thousand manner of pastimes this day after dinner y â— Captaine general gaue our men license to go a land to buy sell w t them which they did in truck of paper cloth they gaue them parrats other sundry sort of birds which were all very faire whereof they haue great abundance
him almost he spent his time in no other thing but to knowe the vse custome of the king of Portingale of the order of his gouernment also perticularly as though y t he did remember no other matter all y â— time being desirous to see y e Captain general did procure with as much diligeÌ„ce as he could to haue him a land to bring him to his pallaice notwithstanding he made his excuse saieng y t the king his master had commanded him not to come a land in any port with this answere y e king was driuen to encounter with him vpon the water who would néeds go as far as y e water side on horsback with y â— furniture of a Ienet y t the king of Portingale had sent him And for y t in his country he had none y t could tel y e order therof he requested one of our men to do so much And when the king had all things in a redines ther wer tarrieng for him certein of y e principals at y e foot of a staire amongst them ther was brought a liue shéep which whilest y e king was coÌ„ming down they did open as he was aliue after y t they had taken out his guts bowels they laid y â— same vnder y e horse féet The king being now on horsbacke he went also with his horse vpon y e shéepe which is a kinde of ceremony y â— the witches ther do vse After y t he had thus troden vpon the shéepe he went toward y e water side with all his company after him a foot saieng w t a lowd voice certein words of witchcraft And after this sort he met with the Captaine Generall vpon y e water where he deliuered him a Pilot to carrie him to Calycut Heere there were lefte with the king two of those banished men that they might enforme themselues of the countrie as farre as in their strength one of those was called afterwarde Machado who after that hée had gotten the Arabian language went by lande vnto the straights and from thence vnto the kingdome of Cambaya from whence he did passe to Balagarte and did there settle himselfe with the Sabayo that was Lorde of Goa saieng that he was a Moore and for the same he was taken in all that Countrie this his trauell was very profitable to Alonso de Albuâ—querque as you shall perceiue héereafter How the Captaine Generall arriued at Calycut and how the king sent to visit him a boord his ship and also how afterward he came a land for to see him and of his receiuing there Cap. 22. THe Captaine Generall béeing returned to his ships departed toward Calycut being the 7. day of August on the 20. he came to Ansadina wher he staied certeine daies for the comming of the shippes of Meca with intent to set vpon theÌ„ if so be y t they came thether And whilest they were there they did confesse themselues and afterward did receiue the Sacrament And they séeing that there came no ships departed toward Calycut and on the 13. of September he came to an ankor within a league of the same And immediatly there came certeine Almadias toward our fléete to sell victuals also there came certein Nayres of y e most principall belonging to y â— king of Calicut with a certeine Guzarate merchant by whom y e king sent word vnto y e Captaine General y â— there could not haue happened a better thing vnto him then to vnderstand y t he was come vnto his port that hée could not do him no better pleasure theÌ„ to command him if ther were any thing in his citie y t he had néed of he would accomplish y e same with great good wil whervnto y â— Captaine generall made answere with great thanks séeing w t what good will y â— king sent to visit him he brought himself to an ankor néere vnto y e citie alwaies shooting of his ordinance with y e which he did salute theÌ„ which was so great a wonder to the dwellers that those that were Gentiles said that against vs there were no resistaunce The next daye following by the consent of the Captaines of the Fléete the Captaine Generall sent by one whose name was Gaspar to demaund a safe conduct of the king for to send a messenger vnto him sending also with the saide Gaspar those foure Malabars that Don Vasco de la gama had carried from Calicut These went all apparelled in a gallant sort after the Portingales order whom all the citie came forth to sée who meruailed to beholde them to returne so well which was the cause that they were so well pleased with our men that they were had in so great reputation But forsomuch as these were but fisher men the king woulde not sée theÌ„ although he was glad to vnderstand after what sorte they returned commaunded y t the said Gaspar shuld be brought before him whome he receiued very well And after that he knew wherfore he came aunswered him that whosoeuer of our men would come a lande might without any feare at all This answere béeing come to y e Captaine Generalls eares he sent presently vnto the king Alonso Hurtado to signifie vnto him y t the said fléet belonged to the king of Portingale of the which he went for Captaine Generall and that his comming thether was for no other purpose but onely to settle w t him a trade friendship for the which it was conuenient for him to talke with him Howbeit hée sayde the king his Maister hadde commaunded him that he shoulde not doe it without he might for the assurance of his person receiue some pledges to remaine in the shippes whilest hée was a lande with the king and that the one of those pleadges should be the Catuall of Calicut and Araxamenoca the which is one of the principallest Nayres And another there went with Alonso Hurtado one that coulde speake the language which shoulde declare vnto the king the effect of the message The king béeing héereof informed meruailed much to heare that the Captaine general did demand those pledges which he did excuse to giue forsomuch as they were sickly olde howbeit he said he would giue others that coulde better abide the brannesse of the sea But afterwards hée did insist very much not to giue any pleadges at all forsomuch as those that were Moores were verye sorrie to sée our men in Calycut and gaue the king counsell to sende none for that in giuing of any he might wel iudge therin y â— the Captaine Generall had but little confidence in him and by this meanes he should remaine dishonoured Yet for al this Alonso Hurtado did still insist in his demaunde In this encountrie they spent thrée daies At the end the king hauing a desire to haue a trade setled with ours for the benefit that might redound vnto him by the same did consent to Alonso
messenger from the King of Calycut vnto him sieng that if so bée that he would retourne to Calycut he woulde restore vnto him all that had bene taken from him and that he shoulde settle a Trade there The Captaine generall after that hée had considered vpon the message commaunded the messenger to prison for this intent to reuenge himselfe on him if so be that the King did lye since he had so oftentimes deceiued him And being now determined to goe towarde Calycut which was more to sée whether that he coulde recouer the Merchaundize that were taken then for anye hope hée had of the Kings friendship would for that cause go alone leauing behinde him for his Lieuetenaunt Steuen de la Gama The Captaines that remained were sore against his going alone and especially after that sort for feare of mischaunce yet he would not be perswaded but to goe saieng that along that Coast there was Vincente Sodre with the other ships that were appointed to remaine in the Indias and if so be that he were driuen to any necessitie hée would ioyne with them As soone as the king was informed that he was come to Calycut he sent him immediatly word that the next day he would comply with him for all such goods as had bene taken from Pedro Aluares and afterwarde hée would renue the Trade and settle the Factorie But contrarie to these his wordes as soone as he had knowledge that the Captaine generall was come alone vpon a sodayne he commaunded to be made in a readinesse xxxiiii Paraos with intent to set vpon him so to take him if it were possible And indéed with such a sodaine came vpon him that to escape them he was fain to cut one of his Cables which he had out and so made saile And as the winde was of the land he went somewhat further off from those Paraos yet for all that they did not giue him ouer but alwaies followed him with such a vehemencie that hadde it not bene for Vincente Sodre and the others which kept along y t Coast he had bene taken but yet at length they were fame to run their way Being thus escaped he retourned to Coching as soone as he came thether he commanded the messenger to be hanged whom the King of Calycut had sent vnto him for the which déed hée remained greatly afrighted when the same came to his knowledge But séeing now that by no means he could take him he determined then to proue whether he could perswade the King of Coching to giue him no lading and also not to consent to any Factory for him in his Countrey How the Moores were the principall doers heerein that mooued the King to write concerning that matter by one of his Chaplaines to the King of Coching after this manner I Doe vnderstand that thou fauourest Christians and that thou hast receiued them into thy Citie there dost giue them both lading victualls It is possible thou dost not foresée what daūger may insue therof also how much thou dost displesure me I do request thée y t thou remember what great friends we haue ben till this present now thou dost procure my displeasure in especiall for so small a matter as is y e maintaining of those Christians which are théeues y t accustome to rob in other mens Countries From henceforth my request is y t thou do not receiue them neither yet giue them spices in the which thou shalt not onely shew me pleasure but also binde me to requit thy good will in what thou shalt command I wil not now further request y e same for I beléeue thou wilt do it w t out further intretie as I wold for thée in any matter of importance This letter being perused by the king of Coching who was honest true in al his delings he was not moued therewith but aunswered the King of Calycut after this sort I Cannot well tell how it can be done being a matter of so great a waight as is to put out of my Citie those Christians hauing receiued them vpon my word and to do it so easily as thou doest write I will neuer request thée of anye such matter at the desire of the Moores of Meca neither yet vpon the instaunce of no other Merchauntes that are Traders to Calycut In receiuing these Christians and giuing them lading for their ships I do beléeue that neither to thée nor any other I doe offence since that it is a custome we haue amongst vs to sell our Merchandize to those that will buy them and to fauour those Merchaunts which doe resort vnto our Countrey These Christians came to séeke me out farre off and for that cause I did receiue them promised to defend them They are no théeues as thou dost tearme them for they bring great sums of money in golde and siluer and Merchaundize wherewith they do trade Then friendship I doe and will obserue dooing therein but my dutie and so oughtest thou to doe and otherwise I will not take thée to be my friend neither yet oughtest thou or any other be agréeued or offended withall for that which I doe is to inrich my Citie With this aunswere the King of Calycut was sore offended whereby hée tooke occasion to write this letter following IT grieueth me very much the hatred or enuie thou hast conceiued against me for that thereby I do perceiue thou wilt leaue my friendshippe for those Christians sake which I take for my great enimies ought to be the cause that thou shouldest accept them after the same sort Once more therefore I doe returne to desire thée that thou wilt neither receiue them nor yet giue them their lading for their ships For if so be thou wilt not be perswaded to the contrary but rather meanest to prosecute thine intent then I take God to my Iudge and from henceforth I doe protest that I am not in fault of the damage that will growe vnto thée thereof The King of Coching hauing receiued this letter laughed at it saieng to his Chaplaine that was the bringer therof that he would doe nothing for feare but that which hée minded to doe should be vpon request and so aunswered to this letter I Haue séene thy message which soundeth as it were threatenings God who alwaies resisteth pride doth fauour him that hath Iustice equitie on his side Since thou art my friend do not request me so an abhominable and vnlawfull a request as is to vse treason especiall amongst Kings and if there be any other thing that grieueth thée and is not hurtfull to mine honour I will doe it yea although it wer to my losse which I doe not estéeme in comparison of mine honour I doe trust that thou wilt take this aunswere in good part and preuent the death of men and the destruction of thy Countrey But if so be notwithstanding thou wilt maintaine thine opinion God doth well knowe perceiue that
fully come vnto himselfe he willed them in anye case not to feare neither yet to doubt that this mischance should haue any such power as to make him chaunge from that which he hadde alwayes promised For which words they would haue kissed his hands but he would not consent therevnto and hearing the sturre that his men made against ours he sayd vnto them NOw that Fortune doth shew her selfe froward against me I had thought that as true friends and louing subiects ye wold haue trauelled to giue me héerein some comfort But ye are desirous to followe and serue the king of Calycut which as often as I doe remember it doubleth my paine for the death of the Prince my brother and my Cousins and since you also are against the Christians whome I haue so oftentimes in commended vnto you you doe well knowe that it will bée much more griefe vnto mée that they at your handes shoulde receiue anye hurt then I haue alreadie receiued for the death of my kinsmen since they lyke true subiectes dyed in my defence and you are desirous to persecute those whome I haue receiued vnder my protection and such as remaine with mée for my comfort It were a harde matter for me to perswade my selfe that this ouerthrowe happened vnto mée for dooing vnto these men as I ought to doe Doe you not iudge so for I will not beléeue that they were the cause neither yet for that I doe fauour them therefore God doth fauour the king of Calycut against mée It is not so but for that I haue offended him otherwise I am very glad that there hath béene this occasion giuen that I might receiue condigne punishment and that the King of Calicut might bée the onelye executor of his iustice And that also for all other offences that I haue done I might bée punished by him in séeking my destruction the rather for that I doe kéepe my promise with these Christians in especiall béeing as wée bée so much bounde vnto them Therefore weie well this cause and let it not sinke into your mindes that for vsings clemencie to these Christians and for defending them I receiue this punishment neither yet that the King of Calycut hath power to ouerthrowe my power which I canne make and destroye me altogether although that nowe hée driueth mée out of Coching The Fléete of the Christians will not tarrye long and then the Generall will restore vnto mée againe my Kingdome In the meane space lette vs goe to the Ilande of Vaypin which is strong and for that the Winter is at hande I trust in God wée shall escape the King of Calicut And since my losse is farre more then yours I comfort my selfe with this requesting you to doe the lyke not to be an occasion to renue my troubles with this your mutinie They séeing the greate constancie of theyr King meruailed much thereat and immediatlye did quiet themselues and promised him that they would do that which hée had commaunded and so they did The constancie of y e king was so great that whereas once more the king of Calycut sent him word that if so be that he would deliuer our men vnto him he would presently leaue the warres yet he wold not consent therevnto but sent him word againe that since that he had gotten the victorie more by treason then by valiantnesse for if so be that valure had bene vsed his brother and cousins had not died but they were betraied by those that faine would kill him also He did not passe for Coching it selfe but hoped that those Christians which he looked for euery day who restore him vnto it again likewise reuēge his quarrell This aunswere being come to the king of Calycut he commaunded to destroye the whole countrie with fire and swoord which commaundement being once known the feare was so great amongst the inhabitants of Coching that the most part of them ranne away with them went two Milanesis which were Lapidaries that remained with the Factor which vpon the King of Portingale commaundement were brought thether by Vasco de la Gama the one of these was called Ioan Marya and the other Pedro Antonio Those did discouer vnto the king of Calycut the feare that the dwellers of Coching were in of him how that dayly they came awaie They also did offer the king to make him ordinance and afterward they made him some as it shall appeare in the sequeale of the historie The king of Calycut made verie much of this Milanesis gaue them greate rewards to the ende therby he might winne them to make him more ordinance and hauing certein knowledge how few people were left in Coching what feare those that remained were in and how few men the king had to defend himselfe he put his men in a readinesse to take the same The king of Coching carrieng some of our men in his companie went to méet with the king of Calycut wheras that daie he behaued himselfe that it was wonder to sée Neuerthelesse for all that the enimies being verye many and the king somewhat hurt he was faine to retire and for that he durst not tarrie another battaile he therefore repaired vnto another Iland called Vaypin which is right ouer against Coching and is verie strong to the which he carried with him all our men and all the Factorie so that there was nothing lost The Citie béeing thus disinhabited the king of Calycut commaunded the same to be setts a fire After this he sent his men to enter the Ilande of Vaypin which for that our men and others did defend it with greate valour and for that the Winter was at hand and stormes of foule weather did beginne the king of Calycut was driuen of force to giue ouer and to leaue the warres and so went to Grangalor with determination to returne vpon the same Ilande at the spring For the which cause he commaunded to be made manye trenches about Coching and left many of his men to kéepe the same How Vincente Sodre and Blas Sodre were cast awaie at Curia Muria and what the other Captaines did afterward chap. 55. VIncente Sodre with his Fléete béeing departed from the harbour of Coching without hauing any respect to succour the king or those that remained in the Factorie but woulde needes goe towarde the kingdome of Cambaia to take such rich ships of the Moores as come from y e red sea to Calycut Vpon the same coast he tooke by y ◠helpe of other Captains fiue ships in the which onely in ready money there was found two hundred thousand Perdaos The most part of the Moores wer slaine in the battaile and their ships burnt From thence he kept his course toward certein Ilands called Curia Muria which stood a seaboord the Cape of Quardafum where hée thought good to bring his ships a ground which were all open He arriued there the twentéeth of Aprill in the yere of our Lord.