and Fernan Martines the interpretour Iohn de Sala which was afterward Treasurer of the house of the Indias c. So that with him in all they were thirtéene They appointed also that in his absence ther should remaine for Captaine generall his brother Also hée gaue commaundement that he shoulde not suffer any man to come aboord his ship and all those that were desirous to goe aboord to commaund them to remaine in their boate or Almadias Moreouer he left order with Nicholas Coello that he should come euery day with his boate as néere vnto y e shore as he could These things being setled the next day after being Mundaye the xxviij of May the Captaine generall did imbark himself with those twelue before rehearsed they all being apparailed in the best attire that they had their boates furnished with much ordinaunce flagges and trumpets which went alwaies sounding vntill such time y t y e Captaine general came to land whereas y e Catual was tarrieng for him being accompanied with 200 Nayres which attended ther continually besids many others y ◠wer not of that company besides many also y t were of y t towne The Captaine generall being disimbarked was ioyfully receiued of y r Catuall of y e others y t did accompany him as though they were very glad of his comming after y t he was thus receiued he was taken into an Andor which y ◠King of Calicut had sent to bring him vpon for y t in this countrey they are not accustomed to goe a horsebacke but in these Andors which are like vnto a horslitter sauing y t they are wtout any couer ouer them almost plaine y e sides therof are also very low Each of these Andors when they will occupie y e same are caried w t 4. men vpon their sholders which also doth run post w t thē at such time as y e king noble men do make any great iourny or if so be y t they wil go a great ground in a small time for they may trauell in y e same either sitting or lieng as they wil themselues Also ther go with these certain footmen which carie with them hats wherwith to couer those y ◠go in these Andors which they do call Bueys so that by this meanes they are kept from y ◠sunne the raine ther are also other Andors y ◠which haue ouer thē a cane bowed like vnto a hoope which for y ◠they are made very slight may easily carie those 2. men The Captaine generall being moūted in this Andor departed w t the Catuall who was carried in another Andor to a town called Capocate but all y e rest of the cōpany went afoote the people of the country was cōmaunded by the Catuall to carie all such apparel as our mē had brought vp w t thē which was ther redeliuered vnto thē being in Capocate they staid to refresh themselues where the Captaine generall being in one house the Catuall in another they did eate to al our men was giuen to eat sodden fish w t rice butter besides fruits of y e countrey which differ from ours very much yet they are very good The one sort of these is called Lacas and the other Mangas howbeit they haue figs also The water y t they did drinke was very excellent as good as any in Portingal Thus after they had eaten they went againe to imbark themselues for that they shuld go vp a riuer which from thence runneth into the sea the Captaine generall did imbarke himselfe with his company into 2. Almadias lieng the one close to the other which in y ◠countrey they did call Ensangada The Catuall w t his traine were imbarked in many others and the people that came to the riuers side to sée and view our men were without number for so much as that countrey is well inhabited And after that they had gone in this riuer about a league and that along the shores side they saw lieng a ground many great ships the Captaine generall with the Catuall being disimbarked did returne to their Andors and following their waye there resorted alwayes about them thousandes of people to sée them wherein they tooke such a felicitie that the very women also with their children hanging at theyr backes did not féele the waye they went in following to féed their eyes From this place which I haue made mention of the Catuall did carrie him vnto a certaine Pagode of their Idolls into which when they were entred he told him that the same was a Church of great deuotion which the Captaine generall beléeued to be true to be some church of the Christians therfore he gaue the more credit therevnto the rather for that he saw y t ouer the principall dore therof there hanged seuen little bells afore the same there was a pillour made of wier the which was as high as the mast of a ship vpon the top thereof there stoode a wether cock made likewise of wier This church was as great as a good Monestary and was made all of frée stone and couered or vauted ouer with bricke which gaue an outwarde shewe as though within side it shoulde be of verye faire workmanshippe Our Captaine was very glad to sée the same for that he thought himselfe to be among Christians and entering within this Church with the Catuall they were receiued by certaine men naked from the girdle vpwarde and from thence downe to the knée couered with certaine linnen cloth made of cotten with y ◠which their arme holes were couered also without any thing vpon their heads and vpon their left sholders they had certaine number of thrids which came vnder their right shoulders much like as the Priests were wont to weare their stoles héere amongst vs when they went to Masse These men are called Cafres and are Gentiles which serue in Malabar in their Pagodes who with a sprinkle tooke water out of a certaine fountaine threw the same vpon the Captaine generall vpon the Catuall and on the rest of the companye After all this they gaue them Saunders in pouder to cast the same vpon their heads as they did héere their Ashes as also they shuld do y e like vpon y e brawns of their armes but they could not do so by reason of their apparrel which they had on but yet they did not let to doe it on their heads so going about this Church they saw many Images painted vpon y ◠wal wherof some ther wer y ◠had great téeth which appeared to be so monstrous y t they were of an inch of length without their mouth Others ther wer y t had foure armes therwith wer so ill fauoured that they séemed to be very diuells y t which sight made our men stand in doubt whether the same wer a Church of Christians or no. Being come afore the Chappel which stood
of that countrie for that the hands and féete of so many of them and also their gums in such sorte did swell that they could not eate and the same so rotted that the stinke which came out of their mouthes was so great and pestiferous that none could abide the sauour therof with this pestilent infection sicknes our men were greatly discomfited many of them dyed thereof which also put the rest of the companie in greate feare and perplexitie of minde Yea and further would haue increased and aggrauated their griefes of bodye and sorrowes of minde were it not that one De Gama a man of good nature and condition had taken speciall care and vsed greate dilligence for the recouerye of their healths and putting them in comfort who continually visited the sicke and liberally departed vnto them such wholesome and medicinable things as for his owne bodye hée had prouided and carried with him through whose good counsell giuen great pains taken and franke distribution of that he had many of our men were recouerd which would otherwise haue died and all the rest thereby were greatly recomforted ¶ How the Captaine Generall with all his Fleete came to the Iland of Monsambicke Chap. 5. THe Fléet béeing furnished and prouided of all things necessarie the Captaine Generall then mindfull of his voyage departed thence vpon the Saturday béeing the 24. day of Februarie and the same day and al the night following for that he was incalmed and to auoide the shore made way into the sea and vppon Sunday by Euensong time our men discried thrée Ilands a Seaboord all of them being but little or small they were distant one from another foure leagues Two of them were replenished with great woords the third was plaine to arriue to these Ilands the Generall was not willing for that he sawe or coniectured no cause to occasion the same therefore he still kept the sea staieng comming to an ankor alwaies as the night approched which manner of course order he vsed and continued the space of sixe daies And vppon the thursday being the first day of March towards euening our men came within sight of foure Ilands whereof two were néere the shore and the other two a Seaboord for that they would not that night fall with them they stil kept the Sea minding to passe betwéene them as indéede they did Wherevpon the Captaine Generall determined commaunded that Nicholas Coello by reason his ship was lesse then the others shuld go first so going vpon the friday within a certein harbour which was betwéene y e maine land one of the Ilands the said Nicholas missed y e channell and ranne on ground which daunger when our other ships sawe comming after they did cast then about went backe and as they were returned they perceiued comming out of that Iland seauen or eight little boates vnder saile béeing distant from Nicholas Coello a good league At sight of those boates comming towards them Nicholas Coello and those which were with him tooke great pleasure for ioye gaue a great crye and at their repaire to them Coello and they went to the General and saluted him to whom the same Coello sayd How say you sir héere is an other kinde of people wherevnto the Generall answered that hée was very glad of that good Fortune and therewith commanded to let them go a Seaboord with their boates for that his meaning was to beare with them to that Ilande from whence they came and there to come to an Ankor of purpose to vnderstand what land that was whether amongest those people he might heare or haue anye newes or certeine intelligence of the Indias yet notwithstanding y e generals cōmandement they in their boats followed our ships alwaies making signes and calling to our men therein to stay and tarrie for them wherefore the Captaine Generall with the other Captaines came to an Ankor and so they in their boates approched néere and came to our Fléete And then by view of their persons it appeared they were men of a good stature and somewhat blacke They were apparelled in linnen cloth of Cotten welted with sundry colours some girdeled vnto their knées and others carried the same vpon their shoulders as cloaks and vpon their heads they weare a certeine kinde of tucks or kerchiefe somewhat wrought with silke and gold thrid They haue swoords and daggers as the Moores doe vse them in their boates they brought with them their instruments called Sagbuts These men being thus come to our ships they forthwith came a boord the same with great opinion of assuraunce euen as though they had knowne our men a long time and immediatlye began to be conuersant and very familiar with them vsing their speaches which they vttered in the language of Algarauia and would not be knowne they were Moores The Generall commaunded to giue them meate they did both eate and drinke with a good wil of whatsoeuer was giuen them And béeing asked at commaundement of the General by one Fernan Aluares who could speake y t language what land that was they answered that it apperteined to a great king which was before how that Iland was called Mōsambicke and the towne there full of Merchantes which haue traficke with the Moores of the Indias who bring thether siluer linnen cloth pepper ginger siluer ringes many pearles and rubie stones and that out of another Countrie which remained behinde they doe bring them golde Declaring further that if our men would enter into the Harbour there they would bring them thether and they shuld perceiue and sée the truth and more at large touching those thinges they then gaue information of The Generall hearing this entered into counsell with the other Captaines debating the matter thereof and argued whether it were good to enter the Harbour and sée if those things were of truth which those Moores had imparted to them and also there to take some Pilottes to carrye them further since they were nowe destitute of such Vppon which consultation it was there determined that Nicholas Coello shuld first make an assay proofe for enterance and sounding of the barre by reason his ship was the least of the Fléete which accordingly he forthwith did And so going to enter he went and touched the point of the Iland and therewith brake his helme howbeit through God his goodnesse he perished not there although he was in great daunger and hasard thereof for as he went vpon the point vnwares so with quicke spéede and good fortune he gote of the same Neuerthelesse he perceiued and found y ◠the barre was good to enter and therfore he came to an anker two crosbow shot from the towne scituated in that Iland which is in fiftéene degrées towards y ◠South it hath a very good harbour and also great plentie of the victuals of that countrie the houses of that towne be made of strawe and the dwellers therein
ceremonie they may not know any mā These Kings sometimes haue warres one with another they in their owne persons goe into the fieldes yea and if néed so require they also fight when they die they be caried out from their pallaice into a plain field wher they be burned with great quantitie of wood of sanders a swéet wood called Aguila At this burning are alwaies present all his brothers néerest kinred and al the noble men of the countrey And they make staye of him from burning after his death thrée daies that they all may repaire thether come together to sée and viewe whether he came to his death naturallye or whether he were killed for if he dyed by force of anye mans hande then are they bounde to take reuenge thereof After hée is burned and all the ashes buryed they doe all shaue themselues without leauing any hayre yea euen of the least childe that is a Gentile All of them in generall doe then cease from eating of Betele during the space of thirtéene daies and he that doth eate the same infringeth their law and therefore they wil cut his lips and that by iustice In all this time the prince which shall succéed doth not command nor gouerne which is done of purpose to sée whether in that time anye man will come to saie or obiect any thing against him These things and daies thus done and past the noble men of the Countrie doe cause him to bée sworne to all those lawes customs which were made by his predecessour and to pay all his debts Also that hée shall trauaile to recouer whatsoeuer things of his kingdome before were lost This oath he taketh hauing his swoorde in his lefte hande and in the right hande a Candle burning which hath a ring of golde vppon it which he toucheth with two of his fingers and so taketh his oath This being done they throwe or powre vpon him a few graines of Rice with many such other ceremonies in dooing whereof they say many prayers and he worshippeth then the Sunne three times which so done the Caymayles that be Lords by parentage doe immediatly holding the selfe same Candle sweare to be true subiects vnto him The thirtéene daies béeing ended they all then doe eate Betele againe and flesh and fish as before the king onely except who then taketh thought and sorroweth for the death of his predecessour whose manner of mourning is thus He must not by the space of one whole yeare eate any flesh or fish or yet Betele neither must he shaue his beard nor cut his nailes nor eate but once in a daie and must wash himselfe all his bodie ouer before he doe eate and praie certeine houres in the daye After the yeare is past and ended he then vseth a certeine ceremonie for the soule of the king his predecessour which is much like to our Dirge whereat are assembled an hundreth thousand persons at which time he giueth great almes when this ceremonie is finished they then confirme the Prince for inheritour of the kingdome and so all the people do depart The king of Calicut and all the other kings of Malabar haue one especiall man that hath the charge for administration of iustice and doth command is obeyed in all other matters of gouernement as amplie as the king himselfe The men of warre which the king of Calicut the other kings haue are Nayres which be all Gentlemen and are appointed to no other office or affaires but to fight when néede requireth They be all Gentiles and carrie their armour wherewith they fight themselues which is bowes arrowes speares daggers made like a hooke and targets and march with them very honourably and gallantly but they goe naked carrieng onely certeine linnen cloth of cotten painted with the which they couer themselues from the girdle to the knée they are bare footed and weare vppon their heads certeine towels They all liue by the king and by the noblemen of the countrie of whome they haue ordinarie stipends and allowaunce for their maintenaunce They doe so greatly estéeme and make account of theyr gentrie and of their cleanlinesse that they will not touch any husbandman neither permit any of them to come into their houses The husbandmen are bound when they goe in the stréetes to crie with a lowde voyce and saye Hoo they goe for if these Gentlemen doe come and bid them goe out of the way and they doe not obey their commaundement therein then may they kill them The king cannot make Gentlemen except they be of the stocke of Gentlemen They serue very well and faithfully with them of whome they haue their interteinment and vnder whose obeysaunce they liue not sparing by night nor daie anye opportunitie of time for shewe of their best indeauour in seruice of the same nor making anye account of meat or of theyr person or of sléepe whensoeuer their trauell or dilligence may take effect or purpose of well doing They haue so small charge and occasion of expence that with halfe a crowne a péece which is their ordinarie allowance for one moneth they may very well and sufficiently mainteine themselues and each of them a boye to serue him The Nayres by the law of the country cannot marry and for that cause they haue no children certain but those which they haue are begotten of Lemmans with which thrée or fowre of them do lie by accord agréement had and determined amongest themselues hauing one woman onelye to serue that purpose vnlesse any cause or quarrell growe amongest them and euerye one of them shall be with her a whole daie accompting from the one halfe of the daye present wherein he commeth to the other halfe of the day next following at which time he departeth from hers and then commeth another who continueth the lyke time Thus they passe ouer and spend their life time without care and trouble of wife and children They mainteine their lemmans verie well according to their degrées and birth And if any of them will at any time leaue and forsake her they may at their pleasure doe it and likewise she maye refuse anye of them at her will These women are all Gentlewomen for the Nayres amye not take anye Countrie women and they also doe not marrie And for that there bée so many men to one women they take not them for theyr children which bée begotten of her although the same bée lyke vnto them and therefore theyr brothers children doe inherit their lands and haue their goods This lawe that these Gentlemen shoulde not marrie the king ordeined and made for that they hauing no wiues nor children on whom they should haue care and fixe their loue might the better indure the warres and liue at more libertie to serue in the same And because they are Gentlemen and that they should be the more animated and incouraged to liue in that order and to serue well they be so priuiledged that none of them
two orders of Palme trées and other strong timber firmely set into the ground and yoked together with hoopes of yron and nayled with great nayles Betwéene the two orders of trées they were rampered vp with much earth sande and at the ende of each of these Corners wer builded bulwarks which were replenished with Ordinaunce Also there was cast about the same a Caue or Ditch which alwaies was full of water The next daye after that this Fort was ended there was made a solemne Procession in the which went the Vicar of this Forte who rarried in his hande a Crucifix vnder a Canapie which the Captaine 's caried ouer him sounding before the same their Trumpets with great ioye With this solemnitie they entred into y e Castle which the Vicar did blesse And by commaundement of the Captaines they caused the same to be called Manuel in perpetuall memory of the King Don Manuel vnto whom all those that made the same were subiects The Fort being blessed ther was a Masse sang at y e which ther was also a Sermon made by Frier Gaston wherein was made mention how much they were bound to giue God great thankes y t would permit and condescend that from so small a kingdome as that is of Portingale and lieng on the cape of the Occident there should goe Portingales to a land so farre of as are the Indias and to make there a fort amongst such a multitude of enimyes vnto the Catholike faith And that by the clemencie of God this should be but a beginning of many others Also he made mention how greatly bound they wer to y â— king of Coching for y e good seruice y â— héerin he had done to the king theyr souereigne which words béeing brought to y e king of Coching he reioyced therat very much gaue y e generals thanks for y e same After all this they returned followed their warres against all such as were enimies to the king of Coching and beset certeine townes which wer along the coast fiue leagues from Coching the rather for that they were aduertised by their spies that those Nayres that should kéepe the same were but few in number They carried with them for that place seauen hundred men and departed two houres before day notwithstanding it was nine of the clocke before they came thether in the which townes there were more then sixe thousand soules ouer besides children and such Naires as were there in garison which were thrée hundred and those all bowmen Alonso de Alburquerque with other of the Captaines leapt a land hard by the first towne Francisco de Alburquerque w t the others into the other towns which were a Fawlcon shot off In the first they tooke the enimies vpon a sodeme with the feare thereof they made them runne awaie for that immediatly as soone as they landed they set fire vnto them all Our men seeing the enimies to runne awaie went after them and in ouertaking them there were many slaine of them and after that they were wery of following them they destroied the countrie In the meane while the larome was raised and for that this Ilande was well inhabited there was assembled together well nigh sixe thousande Nayres which did set vpon our men at theyr imbarking so that they were in greate daunger in especiall Edwarto Pacheco which found not his boat wher he had left the famâ— They followed him so narrowlye that with their Bowes and arrowes there were of his men hurt to the number of eight although they defended themselues valiauntly and killed many of their enimies But for that the enimyes were so many in number they had beene worse handled if so bâ— those Captaines Generalls which were inbarked had not disimbarked themselues and â—â—â—coured them The enymies séeing this and hauing lost their hope to reuenge their iniuries more then that they had done did runne awaye leauing behinde them the 〈◊〉 well couered ouer with dead men which fell with their bowes and hand guns in theyr hands The enimies 〈◊〉 gone after this force our men did set a fire fiftéene Paraos which were a ground and tooke other seauen which were a floate and so departed going their way alwaies hallowing and crieng as who shuld say they 〈◊〉 them which thing gréeued the Lord of Repelyn whose Ilande that was considering howe all they found the same prouided And they fearing least our men would 〈◊〉 vpon another towne which stoode a league from the same vp the riuer he sent certeine Naires thether immediatly How the Captaines Generall returned to Repelyn and afterward went to 〈…〉 what Edwarte Pacheco did in those two 〈◊〉 Chap. 60. THe Captaines generall hauing knowledge of these townes to the end ther shuld remaine nothing of the Lords of Repelyn y â— were not destroied they determined so follow them victory And therfore y t selfe same night they departed but before they would so do they rested themselues till it was midnight hard by y e castle y t they might by the dawning of the day come to the town whether they minded to 〈◊〉 And for at y â— it was dark yet they departed at y â— time although y e one of them could not see the other And Alonso de Alburquerque being 〈◊〉 to remaine behinde he commanded his men row a apacâ— by y t meanes he was the first that came to the towne that a great deale before day And being weary with staieng for the rest of his companye he commaunded to set fire to the towne with intent to burne the same for that the enimies were vnprouided for his coÌ„ming he supposed he might therfore doe the same the better and so he did The enimies séeing the fire arose forthwith to quench the same which our men perceiuing did set vpon them slew some the others ranne their wayes Thus they did for that they were of a base kinde of people and poore and without weapons The Naires knowing that it was our men that had set y e fire came thether all such of them as were in garison within y e towne which were more then two thousand who being together did set vpon our men very desperatly insomuch that Alonso de Alburquerque with his men was driuen to retire for that they were no more then fortie of y e which ther was one slaine of the others there were some hurt with their arrowes They had all of them hardly escaped if so be that they had not retired which was done not without great trouble And yet he could not haue done so much if the boys of the ships which remained in their boats had not set fire to a Fawlcon for feare of the which as soone as the same was shot of the enimies aparted themselues By this time it was day light at the which came thether Francisco de Alburquerque who wheÌ„ he had knowledge what had past commaunded to be shot of all the ordinance
all his trust commanding them to go to Coching with some dissimulation and there to trauaile all that they could to kill the Captaine general and all such of our men as they could méete withall And as the Naires are men inconstant and cannot kéepe counsel longer then they are bethinking themselues therof therfore immediatly their intent was knowne to the Captaine general who from thence forward had a better regard to himselfe and vnto the rest of his companye then he had before And the better to take those Naires which came as Spyes thether he appointed thervnto two companies of y ◠Naires of Coching commaunding the one to k pe dilligentlye a long the foord and the other a long the riuer who watched by quarters both by day and night Whilest this dilligence was vsed the Captaine Generall had knowledge that this spy was a Naire of Coching and of the house or stocke of the Leeros who had attendant vppon him certeine Nayres that were straungers which appeared to bée lyke those of Calicut Nowe hauing certeine knowledge héereof he so hande the matter and in such order that forthwith hée tooke them all prisoners and béeing brought before him he commaunded them to bée cruellye whipped in the presence of those Naires of Coching and afterwarde to bée hanged The inhabitauntes of Coching séeing this requested the Captaine Generall to giue them some other punishment since that they were Nayres and not to shewe them so great extremitie but notwithstanding hée wold not graunt vnto anye other punishment for that they had deserued the same Then all his Captaines sayde vnto him that first and before all he should call to remembraunce the greate troubles that the King of Coching hadde susteined for the onelye mainteining of them and also howe much it woulde grieue him to heare saye that such were hanged in his Countrie without his consent Also it woulde giue an occasion for such noble men as were with him to saye that he is a king but for a while since that his iurisdiction is nowe taken from him And forasmuch as hetherto he had vsed him alwayes with reuerence they wished that nowe at the ende he woulde haue him in a greater estimation then euer hée hadde before The Captaine Generall hauing considered theyr reasons did allowe of theyr good councell héerein and caused those Naires to be sent for that were gone to execution of the which there were two halfe dead but those that were liuing hée sent to the king of Coching aduertising him how that they hadde deserued death and also the cause why hée hadde not commaunded them to bée hanged The King hearing this tooke the same in greate honour and estimation that they were sent him and especiall for that there were present sundrye of the noble men of his Countrie and of other places yea and Moores also of the chiefest that dwelt in Coching which did not lette to saye vnto the king to afrunt him withall that our men were they that commaunded and did not obeye But from hence foorthe the Captaine Generall hadde such intelligence that the subtile dealinges of the king of Calycut tooke very small effect against him How the king of Calicut of pure heauinesse for the ill successe he had in the warres did put himselfe into a Torcull and within a small time after came foorth therof chap. 73. IVne béeing now ended and the winter beginning to increase the Captaine generall thought that it woulde be some cause that the king of Calicut would not tarrie there long And therfore he was fully minded to set vpon him at the remouing of his camp for that by experience he knew the small valour of his enimies by such victories as he had gotten in times past which did therefore animate him the more therevnto thinking that at such a time he might doe him much harme And being in a readinesse to vncheine his Mastes he was presently informed that the king of Calicut was reforming a new his Castles and preparing in a readinesse a greater Fléete then euer he had before that hée might giue him therewith once more the battaile This was but a fléeing newes that was commaunded to be giuen out by the king of Calycut who did surmise that at the raising of his Campe which hée was minded to doe and to goe his waye the Captaine Generall woulde sette vppon him And therefore hée determined that his departure should be so secretlye done that no man shoulde knowe thereof but onelye Nabeadarin For this cause therefore he gaue out that hée woulde giue the battaile in the passage of Palurte and also in the Foorde both together to the ende the Captaine Generall might occupie himselfe in defending them both and hée himselfe the better steale awaye as hée didde but hée gotte nothing thereby more then hée hadde gotten before After all this on Saterday in the Euening which was Saint Iohns euen on which day they gaue out that they would giue the battaile there appeared the whole army of the enimyes as they were accustomed to shew themselues The Captaine Generall hoping of theyr comming did tarrye there all that night but in the morning he saw no likelyhood thereof and meruailing what that shoulde meane was informed by two Bramenes that the king of Calycut was gone with his whole power vnto Repelyn and that at that present hée was there For this newes hée was very sorrie but yet for all that hée entered that present daye into Repelyn where hée fought with many of his enimyes slewe and hurt a greate number and so returned to the passage where he remained yet certeine dayes to ensure Coching the better which was yet afeard of the King of Calycuts returning fearing that he would not leaue this passage Howbeit the Captaine Generall was well assured that he would not come there by reason hée was fallen into such reproch and shame in the sight of all men because of his great losses So that immediatly after that he had past the riuers of Repelyn he apparted himselfe with his noble men which had accompanied him in these warres and said vnto them with wéeping eyes in this manner following FOR a man that is without shame as I am it is not much to shedde these teares as I doe the heauinesse of my losse béeing such as fetcheth the same from my hearte with the which I am so troubled that since it is so that I cannot doe it in publike forte I will goe into some place where I may do the same without any body that may sée mée I haue also another griefe which troubleth mée verye sore ouer and besides my dishonour which is for that I am not able to rewarde you for all the greate good will and seruice you haue done mee in these warres the which I take for so greate a duetye that if so be that I might sée my selfe discharged of the same I should bée better contented then with the getting of Coching But since it is not Gods
Mores The king quarrelleth vvith the Captaine Generall The effect of y e king of Portingales Letters to the king of Calycut the Mores make a nevv conspiracie Dissimulation in y e Catuall The Catuals purpose opened The Generals vneffectuall excuse Gonsallo Peres sent back to the ships The generals constancye marueled at by the Catuall The effect of y e Generals letters vnto his brother His brothers aply deuises of the Mores to entise theÌ„ aland Their merchandize paide for by y e king him selfe Bontaybo vsed but not trusted The ende of y e vvinter in the Indias The kings aunsvvere vnto Diego Dias Diego Dias kept in prison Boies sent for spyes The king of Calicuts treson towards the Captaine generall Certaine Malabars stayed in exchange Yet 〈◊〉 deuices to slaye the Portingals from departing The effect of y e king of Calicuts letters Bontaibo vvilling to goe to Portingal Cinamon grovving AnsaÌ„dina forsaken of the inhabitants They repaire their ships Sugar Canes grovving there A notable couÌ„terfait discouered A kinde of boates so called A Moore christened Men stifled vvith the Sunne onely The Skurfe A vvofull mortalitie The Citie of Magadoxo The Raphaell burned The I le of Zenziber The preparation vnto y e second voiage The names of the Generalls Captaines Factors Friers sent to the Malabars A ievvell of great price OrnameÌ„ts made of Parrats feathers The couÌ„trey of Brasil discouered A Comet seene in the elemeÌ„t four ships sunke by tempest A vvoÌ„derful storme and great Seas They coÌ„e to Sofala The king of Quiloa a mightie Prince The descriptioÌ„ of the city of Quyloa Shippes vvithout nailes The meeting of y e king y e Captaine Generall A malitious ferfull More The kings message to y e Captaine Generall 〈…〉 The king of Calycuts message to y e Captaine Generall The king of Calicut maketh excuses vvhen he should deliuer pledges Pleadges are sent aboorde vvhich feare to be taken captiue The king of Calycuts state furniture The Captaine generall deliuereth his letters of credite to the king of Calicut The preseÌ„t vvhich y e generall brought with him Humaiâ—â— pity in 〈◊〉 Captaine generall tovvard faithlesse Infidells The pledges sent aboord The Captaine generall had good came to feare and hate the Moores A free house for the factory giueÌ„ to the king of Portingale by deede This ship for one in those coasts very vvel appointed The Moores yeelded vnto our men The Moores Oration against our men Proues that vvee vvere rather pirats then merchants why he requested our men to take the ship of Meca The king accused plainly of doblenes Nothing more acceptable to the Mores theÌ„ to quarell fall out vvith our men The Moores moued a tumult against our men The sauage fircenes of the Moores against our men Succour sent by y e Generall Captaine to the Factorie The king of Calicut vvas farre off from making a mendes Iust reuenge vvrought vpon the iniurious CalicuttaÌ„s The feare that the King of Calicut and the citizens were in Coching standeth in 9. degrees and the scituatioÌ„ therof A Moore baptised called Michael The king of Coching much inferior in vvealth state to y e king of Calycut The discriptioÌ„ state of GraÌ„galor Why the christians of y e Indias hath a Pope The manner of shauing their priests differing froÌ„ ours Negro friers professing chastitie A greate Fleete of enimies He maketh tovvard Portingale The discription of the tovvne of Cananor Drugs for the Pothecaries Euery quintall is 100. vveight A ship of the fleete cast avvay Diego Dias found at Capo Verde his voyage The IlaÌ„d of Sofala discouered The third Fleet that vvent froÌ„ Portingal to the Indias The order that the king gaue him concerning this voyage they take their voyage to the Indias The malitiousnesse of the Moores Euerye Quintall is a 100. vvaight The king of Calicut sent lxxx Paraos to fight with y e captain generall This flag was a sign request of peace they ariue safelye at Portingal The iiii voyage to the Indias 1502. He goeth first to Sofala to regrate their golde A house apointed for the Factory A ship of y e Moores of Meca taken Desperate minds in time of extremitie An embassadour set to y e king of Cananor The meeting of y e king and the Captaine Generall at Cananor 1502. The preseÌ„t vvhich the king of Portingale sent y e king of Cananor The Moores make him keepe no promise vvith the Capteine Generall nor feare his povver The king of Portingales present seÌ„t to the king of Coching The king of Coching present set to the king of Portingale This messeÌ„ger was one of his chief chaplaines The king of Calycuts letter to y e king of Coching The aunsvvere of the king of Coching to the king of Calycuts letter The reply to the king of Cochings letter The king of Cochings ansvvere to the reply Great friendship and constancie in an heatheÌ„ Prince A battaile by sea between our ships and the kings of Calicut A rich price takeÌ„ from the enimie The order that vvas giuen to Vincente Sodre at the departure of the Captaine generall froÌ„ Cananor They vvere dispersed by a tempest Both commons noble meÌ„ repine against theyr king and our men The Captain generall excuseth himselfe for deling on the lande This generall captaine had other matters of more profit in hand The king of Calicut signifieth the cause vvhy hee beginneth to make these vvarres against the king of Coching Heere this enterprise vvas vvell liked of by his noble men others The aunswere vvhich y â— prince made to y â— foresayde Oration The execution of y e pledges defended by the kings brother The Mores ouerthrovv the credit of y e kings brothers Oration The very sight of our men abhorred in Coching The aunsvvere vvhich the king of Coching made to the factor Fevve hauing the right on their side preuayle most times against nuÌ„bers that come in an euill cause The king of Cochings Oration to his noble men It is better to dye vvith honor then to lyue vvith the infamous name of a rude and lieng Prince The kings brother made general of the field and armie The king of Calycuts letter to y e king of Coching The aunsvvere which the king of Coching made to the foresaid letter The Calicutians repulsed froÌ„ passing ouer the Foorde IncoÌ„stancie â—n the king of Calycut noted A stout stomacke of a prince Treason practised against y e prince Naramuhim Prince Naramuhim and his povver ouerthrovvne Comfortable vvords of a prince The kings Oration made vnto his subiects about the losse of his kingdome Ouerthrovvs in vvar sent of God vnto princes for their of fences The inhabitants of Coching flye for feare of the king of Calicut The king of Coching is faine to flye and leaue his citie 1503 The familiaritie securitie of y e inhabitants of the Iland of Curia Muria The effect which the torment vvrought amongest their ships in that coast 1503. The
with the executing of my office with great trouble not onely of the body but also of the spirite made an end of this Booke with others the which I doe humbly offer vnto your Highnes whome God after manye and most fortunate yeares remayning in your place the Prince take and receiue you from the senurie of the earth vnto the ioyes of heauen Your Highnes most humble Orator Hernan Lopes de Castaneda ⧠How the King Don Joan the second of that name did send to seeke out by sea and by land the East India and of the newes that was brought him of the same Cap. 1. THIS King Don Ioan the second of that name of the Kings of Portingale the thirtéenth perceiuing that all the Spices Drugs Stones and other riches which came to Venice were brought out of a certaine Prouince of the East parte And as he was a Personage of an hautie stomacke and valiaunt minde so was he desirous to inlarge his Kingdome and increase the Christian faith and therefore he determined to discouer by Sea the Country from whence so great plentie of riches came that thereby his Subiects might be inriched and his Kingdome of Portingale enioy all such commodities as came from thence to Venice Moreouer to discouer the same Countrey he was the rather animated and enclined for that he was giuen to vnderstand that in the East India where Christians which were gouerned by a King of great power called Praesbiter Ioan with whom Don Ioan thought good to haue acquaintaunce and to know him by his Ambassadors and the rather for that he was reported to be a Christian Prince And therefore consulting with the Cosmographers of that time he gaue them in charge to procéede and goe forwarde by example of others which had sayled along the Coast of Guynee which Coast was before that time discouered by commaundement of the Prince his Vnckle Master of the Order of Christ who had sent for that purpose one Bartholome Dyas one of the Officers of his Storehouse in Lyshborne who did discouer that great monstrous Cape not knowen of our Auncestours which is now called the Cape of Buena esperansa And finding there matter of great terrour and daungers he passed beyond the same one hundred and fortie leagues where comming to a Riuer which he named Rio del infante from thence he retourned to Portingale In this voyage he gaue to the Ports Herbours and Riuers where he tooke in fresh water theyr names which at this present they doe retaine Likewise he erected there certaine markes with Crosses and with the roiall Armes of Portingale and the last that he erected was in a Rocke the which they named El pennol de la crus which standeth fiftéene leagues on this side the foresayde Riuer And from thence he retourned without hearing any newes or yet hauing any further intelligence of that India by reason all the Inhabitaunts along those Coasts bée almost a sauage and a wilde kinde of people and of coulour blacke This voyage and intelligence being intimated and reuealed to the King Don Ioan he foorthwith minded to 〈◊〉 couer that India by land albeit before that time he 〈…〉 and sent for the same discouerie intended 〈…〉 of the order of Saint Fraunces called Fryer 〈…〉 Lixbona by land in the company of a 〈…〉 two persons for want of the Arabian 〈…〉 trauaile those parts so that they went 〈…〉 Ierusalem from whence without 〈…〉 of that iourney they returned into Portingale The King neuerthelesse continuing to prosecute to effect his determination for discouerye of that India by lande did therevppon choose two of his owne seruauntes men of good knowledge and dilygent in whatsoeuer they were to be imployed the one called Pedro de Couillian borne in the saide Village and the other called Alonso de Payua borne in the Towne of Castil Blanco which did verye well vnderstande the language of Arabia to whome he tolde how that he had made choyce of them as of persons apt to execute his pretence which was to discouer by lande as well the Countrey of Presbiter Ioan as also that from whence the Drugges and Spices come to Venice Giuing them in charge and that earnestlye to make dilygent enquirye and gather certaine knowledge whether that from the Cape of Buena Esperansa forwarde there were anye Nauigation to the East India and that they shoulde set downe all thinges they founde necessarye to bée knowen or that they coulde by anye possible meane learne or gather of the same for certaintye Commaunding also a Sea Carde to bée giuen them which was taken out of a Maâ—pe of the whole worlde by a Maister of Arte called Calsadilla Bishoppe of Vyseu who was a good Astronomer Moreouer hée gaue them a Letter of credite whereby they might bée succoured and protected from and in daungers of death and in cases of necessitie and want of money in whatsoeuer Kingdomes and Countreyes theyr happe shoulde be to trauayle And for theyr charges hée commaunded to giue them foure hundreth Crownes out of the Chest of the Orcherd of Almeryn Of which summe they tooke as much as they déemed would suffice for theyr expence vntill they came to Valencia in Aragon putting the residue in the Baâ—cke of Bartelme Florentine to be deliuered them there and so he gaue them the blessing of God and his in the presence of the King Don Manuel who at that time was Duke of Vesa After this they departed from the Village of Santaren the seauenth day of May in the yeare of our Lord a thousand foure hundred foure score and seauen and came to Naples vpon Saint Iohns daye the same yeare from whence they were set forward on their way by Cosmo de Medicis sonnes and so went they from thence to the Rhoodes of which Religion wer then none other but Portingales And from the Rhoodes they went to Alexandria from thence to the Cayro as Merchaunts and from thence in the companie of certaine Moores of Feez and Tremencen they came to Toro which is a place that hath his harbour in the Straights of the red Sea in the Coast of Arabia at the foote of the Mountaine Sinay where they vnderstood mainie matters of the Indias and of the trade those places had out of the Straightes to Calicut and therevpon they trauailed to another place in the selfe same Sraightes of the Redde Sea ouer the Coaste of Aethiopia from whence they went to Edin And for that it was out of the waye to the Indies they parted companye and seuered themselues Alonso de Payua remained to go ouer by land to the Emperour of Aethiopia which is he whom we before haue named vpon errour Presbiter Ioan for the certaintie is this is he of whom Marco Paulo maketh mention in his booke who gouerneth all the Indies and whose Countrey ioyneth vnto the great Cam of Catayo where in a battaile betwéene them fought the saide Prester Ioan was vanquished and dyed And so thencefoorth finally ended
thence towards the Riuer called Ryo del infante vpon the Friday being the eight day of Nouember which was the Feast daye of the conception of our Lady and in sailing forward on their voyage ther arose so great a storme with a forewinde vpon the daye of Saint Luke that our whole Fléete did runne with there small sayles and that also verye low In this course they lost the company of Nicholas Coello howbeit the next night after they all met and ioyned together againe Now hauing past and sailed through this great storm or rather torment of wind which then was ceased the Captaine Generall vppon the sixtéenth daye of December did discouer lande which were certaine small Rockes being distaunt from the Harbour of Saint Blaze thréescore leagues and fiue leagues also from the other part of the Rocke called De la cruze where Bartholome Dyas did erect his last marke from which place to the Riuer Del Infante are fiftéene leagues This Countrey is very pleasant and sightly in viewe and in the same is great store of Cattell and the further our Fléete sayled on that Coast the better and higher the Trées were all which things our men might well perceiue and discerne by reason they went so néere the shore with their ships And vpon the Saterday they past hard by and within sight of the Rocke De la cruze and for that they were then come so far forward as the Riuer Del infante they were loath to passe the same and thereof taking counsell all the next night they went somewhat wide from the Coast with a fore-winde vntill Euensong time and then the Winde came to the East which was right against them wherefore the Captaine generall made to Seawarde going in such sort as sometime he kept the Sea and sometime droue towards the lande vntill the Tuesday being the twentith of December at the setting of the Sunne the winde then comming to the West which was a forewinde and whether to attayne to haue knowledge of the Lande they consulted all that night which were best to doe The next daye at tenne of the Clocke in the fore noone they came to the Rocke aforesayde which is thrée score leagues a stearne the place wherevnto they minded to goe This Rocke is the cause of the great Currents that are there and the selfe same daye the Fléete through passed the same Course with a great forewinde which had also indured them thrée or foure dayes and wherewith they ranne through those Currents which greatlye they feared and were in doubt to haue done These daungerous Currents thus safelye and happelye passed without losse or damage they all were very glad and ioyfull that theyr good Fortune was to haue passed the same in manner as Bartholome Dyas before that time had accordinglye done Wherefore the Captaine generall béeing animated and encouraged with this his great good lucke and Fortune and after thankes giuen to God for the same did then saye that hée verelye beléeued that it was Gods good will and pleasure that the Indias should be founde ¶ How the Captaine generall came to the Lande called La terra de la buena gente and after went to the Riuer called Ryo de las buenas sennales how hee brought theyr shippes on grounde and of the great sicknesse our people had after they arriued there Chap. 4. THus following their voyage they perceiued that vpon Christmas daye they had discouered along the Coast thrée score and tâ—nne leagues to the Eastward which was the waye he carryed with him in his Register and wherein the Indias are And héere the Fléete went along vpon the Sea without taking land so farre that they began to want and haue lacke of water for to drinke and were inforced to dresse their meate with salt water so that no man of that Fléete had then allowaunce of water to drinke more then one pinte a day Howbeit vpon the Friday being the eleuenth day of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord God 1498. drawing néere the lande they went out in their boates along the Coast to take view thereof and so passing by the same they saw many Nigroes with a great company of women all of them of great stature which went along the Sea side and when the Captain generall saw and perceiued that they showed themselues to bée a people flexible to ciuilitie and of a quiet disposition hée commaunded one of our men called Martin Alonso who coulde speake manye languages of the Nigroes and one other with him to leape out on Lande and to goe to them which immediatelye those two persons did and at theyr comming to the same blacke People they were of them verye well receyued and especiallye of the chiefe person or Gouernour of the same to whome our Generall viewing his and theyr manner of courtesie foorthwith sent a Iacket a payre of Hose and a Cappe beeing all redde and a Bracelet of Copper of which things he was very glad and rendered great thankes to the Generall for the same saieng that with a verye good will hée shoulde haue of gifte anye thing he would desire or had néede off that was to be had in his Countrey All which Martin Alonso vnderstanding theyr language tolde to the Generall who was verye ioyfull that by his interpretation those people and ours might of each other haue vnderstanding giuing also at that instant license to y e same Alonso one moe of our men to goe with those people for one night to their Towne at the request of the same gouernour who verie earnestly required the same The gouernour then apparelled himselfe with those Garments which the Generall gaue him and with great pleasure gaue commaundement to many of his chiefe men to goe before and receiue him when he came to their towne The people as they went viewed and beheld with greate pleasure and admiration those vestures which our General had giuen him clapping their hands for ioy thereof which manner of gladsome reioysing they vsed thrée or foure times before they came to their towne And after their entraunce therein they went round about the same to the end all the people and inhabitants thereof might sée and behold those giuen garments and straunge arraie Which béeing done the gouernour entered into his house where he commaunded Alonso and his companion to be well lodged and gaue to them for their supper a Hen euen such as ours bée and Pap made of Mylyo which is a kinde of graine of a yeolow coulour whereof also they make bread This night repaired many Nigroes to their lodging to sée them And the next daie after the gouernour sent them to their ships with certaine Nigroes of his loden with hens for the Captaine Generall who rendered thanks for the same and required by his interpretour those Nigroes to saie vnto their Gouernour that he now saw and perceiued him to be a noble man or king of that countrie forasmuch as the Generall and the rest
of our men in those fiue daies wherein they had houered vpon and viewed that Coast had no manner domage done or offered them and saw both many quiet and gentle people there also many noble men he gaue to this land an apt name calling it The Land of good people in the Towne where Martyn Alonso was theyr houses bée made all of strawe and verie well furnished within The owmen be more in number then the men for in the companie of fortie women there are no more but twentie men They carrie with them long bowes with arrowes and darts of yron and vpon their armes and legges they weare many braceléets of Copper and some péeces of them in their haires Also they carrie daggars the hafts or handles of Pewter and the sheathes of Iuorie so that it is manifest that they haue in that Countrie plentie of copper and tinne Moreouer they haue great store of Salt which they make of Salt water carrieng the same from the Sea side in gourds and putting it into certeine Caues where they make the Salt These kinde of people were so gladde of the linnen that our men carried with them and brought with them thether that they gaue for one shirt much Copper They also were so quiet amongest our men that they brought them water to their boates from a riuer which was two Crosbowe shotte from the place where our men tooke in the same which riuer they call Ryo de Cobio From this place our Fléete departed the fiftenth daye of Ianuarie and going vnder saile did discouer land of an other countrie which lyeth very lowe wherein were trées verie high and thicke and so procéeding forward they discouered or found a riuer which was verie open at the entering of the same And for that the Generall thought it necessarie to reknowledge or haue notice of that Countrie there to learne whether they might heare anye newes or intelligence of the Indias hée commaunded to come to an Ankor which was vpon the Thursday béeing seauen daies before the end of Ianuarie and the same night he with his brother Nicholas Coello entered the riuer and at the dawning of the daye did well perceiue the lande to bée lowe and couered with water hauing trées of great height and thicke loaden with sundrie sortes of fruites Our men then beholding the land which was verie pleasaunt they sawe also certeine boates at that present comming towardes them with men in the same whereof the Generall was very glad supposing vppon sight of those people and view of their countrie in that manner which argued they had some knowledge and experience of the Sea that therefore they were not farre of from the Indias or at leastwise could not then goe far but they should heare newes of the same when the people with their boates came néere to our Fléete our men perceiued they were all blacke people of good stature howbeit all naked sauing their priuie members which wer couered with little péeces of linnen made of Bomebast or Cotten they came neere and entered into our ships without any feare and in such sorte vsed themselues towardes our men as though they had ben of long acquaintance and familiaritie with them They were very well receiued of our people of the Fléet the Captaine Generall commanded the same and also that there shuld be giuen vnto them certeine little Bels other things he talked with them by signes for they did not vnderstand any of Martin Alonso his languages nor any other interpretour y t our men thē had After this their good interteinment they departed and as it séemed well liking of the same they and many others with them afterward returned in their boates to our ships bringing vnto them such victuals as their countrie yéeldeth They in appearance shewed themselues verie well contented with our men as they came by water so also did many others of those people repaire thether by land amongst them women of indifferent good beautie especially y ◠young maides which goe after the same sort that the men doe They haue in their lips thrée holes and in euery hole a péece of tinne which they estéeme as a thing very gallant and gaye They tooke with them certeine of our men to make merrie at a countrie towne there néere hand and where they fet water for our ships And after the thrée daies space that our Generall was in that riuer there came of curtesie two noble men of that countrie to visit him in their boates whose apparell was none other then of the rest sauing the péeces of lynnen wherewith they couered their members were farre greater then those the common sorte vsed and one of them ware vpon his head a tucke or kerchiefe wrought with silke and the other had a night cap of gréene Satten The Captaine Generall séeing those men somewhat addicted to cleanlinesse was verie glad thereof receiued them in curteous manner and commaunded to giue them meate and moreouer he gaue them apparell and certeine other things but it appeared by their countinaunces they smallye or nothing at all estéemed thereof Howbeit while they remained in our Shippes the Generall perceiued by tokens and signes which a young man that came with them then shewed that their countrie was farre of thence and that they had séene as great ships as ours were wherof he greatly reioysed and all our people in like manner as then verely hoping and thereby coniecturing that the Indias were néere to that place which their hope and coniecture was also farre the more augmented and confirmed for that after those noble men were gone to shore they sent to the Fléete certeine linnen cloth to sell which was made of Cotten vpon which also were certeine marks of Okar in respect of which good newes and intelligence héere found and likely to ensue the Captaine Generall gaue to this riuer a name calling it The Riuer of the good tokens or marks and caused there a marke to be erected calling the same San Raphael according with the name of the shippe wherein hée was and went that voyage And forasmuch as he perceiued by the signes of the young man that those noble men inhabited a Countrie farre thence and that they had séene shippes as greate as ours hée thereby and vppon other coniectures gathered that their Countrie was néere to the Indias and so consequently that the Indias was farre of from that riuer where our ships then lay wherefore consulting héereof it was by him and the other Captaines then determined vpon that all the shippes should be brought on ground which determination was executed accordinglye the same ships repaired dressed and trimmed in all points néedfull and necessarie In dooing whereof they spent and passed ouer two and thirtie daies in which time our men susteined and passed ouer great troubles and tormentes of minde by occasion of a sicknesse there happened amongest them which was thought to growe by meanes of the aire
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
his lands possessions and dignities as he thought good and set euery necessary thing in order for establishing his determinate will and pleasure he then imbarked himselfe there wher now Calicut is builded and scituated and for that the King did there imbarke himself to go towards y e house of Meca y e Moores then took such deuotion towards that place that they and all their posteritie euer since that time hitherto would not nor yet will take any lading but out of that Port. And from that time afterward they came no more to the Port of Coulan as vsually they did before by meane and occasion whereof the same grew to ruine and was destroyed especially when Calicut was once builded and that many Moores came and inhabited the same For as they were Merchaunts of great dealings so came they thether and made there the greatest and richest Faire or Marte of all the Indias finding there all the Spices Drugs Nutmegs and all other things that could be wished as all kindes of precious stones pearles séede of pearle Muske Saunders Aguila fine Dishes of earth Laker gylted Coffers and all the fine things of the Chyna Gold Amber Waxe Iuorie fine and couâ—se cotten as well white as dyed in colours much rawe silke silke twisted and all kinde of linnen cloth of silke and golde and cloth of golde and cloth of tissew chamlets graine scarlets carpets of silke Copper Quicksiluer Vermilion Allome coralls Rose waters and all kinde of Conserues so that ther is no kinde of Merchandise of all the world which coulde be demaunded but it should be found there Moreouer it was very quiet for that it was scituated along the Coast the which lieth almost open and very daungerous it is inuironed set round about with many Orchards in which are many sorts of fruits of that lande and many hearbes and excellent waters Also they haue many Palme trées and other sorts of trées In this lande there is but small store of Rice which is ther a principall victuall as amongst vs our Wheate is but there commeth from other places great aboundaunce thereof as in like manner there doeth of other victualls The Citie is great and all the houses be of straw onely the houses of their Idolls Chappels and the Kings houses except which are of lyme and stone and couered with tyle for none but they are permitted by theyr lawes to haue anye other manner of building then with strawe It was inhabited by Gentiles of sundry sects and by Moores which were great Merchaunts and so rich that some of them had fiftie ships There is no such season of Winter but that there may lye in that Harbour sixe hundred shippes They haue there a shore whether they do cary them with small trauaile for that they be made without nailes sowed with ropes of Cayro and pitched vpon they haue no quiell but are flat bottomed ¶ Of what great power the King of Calicut is and of his vse and custome likewise of the other Kings of Malabar and how the Nayres do liue Chapter 14. FOr that this Citie was of so great a trade and also the Countrey round about so inhabited which increased so largelye the Kings rents it came to passe that he grew to be so rich of money and so mightie in power by multitude of people that in one daye he was able to leauie and make in a readinesse thirtie thousand fighting men and in thrée dayes space one hundred thousand They called him Samoryn which in theyr tongue is Emperour for so he was among the Kings of Malabar and there were no more but two beside him that is to say the King of Coulan and the King of Canauor For albeit the others were called Kings yet were they not so This King of Calycut was a Bramene as others his Predecessours also were which amongst the Malabars are Priests and for that it is a custome and auncient order obserued that all the Kings doe dye in one Pagode which is the house of praiers to their Idolls he is elected for that cause for alwayes in the same house there must be and is a King to serue those Idolles and when he that serueth there doeth dye then must the King that then raygneth and gouerneth leaue his Empire and goe serue in that place as the other did and into his place and Kingdome they elect and put an other that shall so succeede him And if anye of them that is in possession of the Kingdome refuse to goe into the Pagode the King that then serueth in the same béeing dead they will then inforce him thereto which so refuseth although it be against his will These Kings of Malabar be browne men and goe naked from the gyrdell vpwarde and from thence downewarde they be couered with cloath of silke and of Cotten sometime they put vppon them shorte gownes which they doe call Basus of silke or cloath of golde and of scarlet with very rich stones and especiallye the King of Calycut excelleth in those attires and Iewells They be shauen leauing vpon the vpper lip as the Turkes vse the hayre vnshauen They be serued but with small estate especiallye at theyr meate whereof they haue but lyttle But the King of Calycut is serued with greater Estate These Kings doe not marrie nor obserue the Lawe of marriage but yet they maye haue a Lemman of the house of the Nayres which amongest the Malabars are Gentlemen and shée hath hir house by hir self neere to the Pallaice They doe allowe hir so lyberallye for hir charges and maintenaunce that she maye haue plentifullye of all thinges to hir contentation vppon that Stypende assigned hyr And when any disliking is had of hir by them they may alwayes leaue hir and such children as they haue by hir be not taken or accompted for theyrs neither doe they inherite the Kingdome nor anye thing of theyrs After they be men they are had in no more estimation then that is incident vnto them from the mothers bloud and parentage Their brothers doe inherite if they haue any if not then their sisters children shall who doe not marry neither yet haue any certaintie of their husbands They bée very frée and at libertie to choose those of whom they lyke and be such as are best estéemed of They haue verye great rents allowed them and when anye of them come to the age of ten yeares for at that time they are to be knowen of men their kinred then doe sende forth out of this kingdome for a young man Nayre and presenting him with gifts earnestly request the same to take hir virginitie who then receiueth hir with great ioy and after she is thus vsed doth tye about hir necke a Iewell which she doth carry and weare alwayes during hir life as a thing in great estimation for a token of the libertie giuen hir by that act to do with hir bodie afterward for euer what she will for without this manner of
25. AFter that the Captaine Generall was thus informed he would tarrie there no longer but immediatlye came to an Ankor at the Ilande of Ansandina the which was distaunt from thence as it were two Gunne shotte where it was tolde him there was excellent swéete water This Iland is but little and but a league of from the firme land There are in the same many woods and also two conduit heads made of frée stone of excellent sweete water the which are springs and do rise ther wherof one is sixe foote déepe Also in the sea about the sayde Iland is great store of fish Before that the Moores did vse to traficke to the Indias the same was inhabited by Gentiles in the which there were goodly buildings in especiall their Pagodes was a goodly thing And after that the Moores which came from the red sea began to saile that way they resorted thether alwayes to take in their water and wood and did so abuse the inhabitants that they could not wel abide the same so that they left their dwellings ther but before their going away they plucked downe almost all their Pagods so that they left nothing standing but the verye Chappell the lyke they did to all other their buildings yet for all that these Gentiles that wer of the firme land which belong to the king of Narsingas had to this Pagode such deuotion that from thence they would goe sundry times to make in the same their praiers vnto thrée black stones that were lieng in the middest of the said Chappell The Iland is called Ansandina which in the Malabars language is called the â—iue Ilandes for that rounde about the same there lye the other foure The Captaine Generall hauing come to an Ankor sent Nicholas Coello with his companye to discouer the same who founde it according as afore is declared and a goodlye place or grounde where they might newe graue their ships And for that the Captaine Generall had a great course to run and also for that he knew not when to finde so conuenient a place he consulted with the other Captaines to bring their shippes there a ground The first ship that they brought there a grounde was the Shippe the which they called Berâ—â—o And whilest they were thus occupyed there came many people to sell them victualls At which time there came two small Brickentines that hadde out theyr Standerds and Flagges in the toppes of theyr Mastes and within them theyr Trumpettes and Drumnies wherevppon they came playeng at theyr pleasure In these Brickentines there came manye men and they all at the Oare and along the shoare side there were other fiue which came to succour them if they shoulde haue anye néede The Captaine Generall after that hée hadde fight of them had warning giuen him by the Malabars to beware of them for that they were rouers and vnder a couloure of peace did robbe all that they coulde take And after that hée was entered into his shippe hée perceiued that hée might haue taken them if so bée that hée woulde haue consented to lette them to come aboorde him but hée woulde not agrée to the same And therefore as soone as they came within Gunne shotte commaunded all theyr Ordinaunce to be shot at them from those two shippes that were a floate They fearing this shotte gaue out a lowde voice crieng Tambarane Tambarane for so they doe call God and with this often shooting they fledde theyr way Nicholas Coello béeing as then in his Boate went after them alwayes shooting his Ordinaunce who pursued them so farre that the Captaine Generall was driuen to put vp his Flagge for a signe hée shoulde retourne and so he did The next daye after the Captaine Generall with all his men béeing a land working vpon the ship called Berrio there came in two litle Paraos to the number of twelue men of the Countrie the which in their apparel séemed to bée of some countenaunce who brought for a present a bundell of Sugar Canes and immediately as soone as they had deliuered the same they asked license to goe aboord and to sée the ships for that they neuer saw any before The Captaine generall was greatly offended with this their request for by that he feared least that they were spies and whilest they were in this talke there came thether other two Paraos with as many more men Those that came first séeing that the Captaine generall was somewhat growen in cholar did will those that came afterward not to come a lande but to returne againe The ship Berrio being made in a redinesse afterward that the Generalls ship was brought a ground to be new rigged and hauing a lande about hir all the other Captaines there came a man in a little Parao who séemed to be of the age of fortie yeares and not of that Countrey for that he had vpon him a Sabaco of fine Cotten which reached downe to his héeles and about his head a toocke or towell which also couered part of his face and at his gyrdell a Fawâ—â—in or Skeyne And assoone as he leapt a lande he went immediately to imbrace the Captaine generall as one that had séene him or knowen him before and after the selfe same sort he vsed the other Captaines telling them that he was a Christian and borne in Italy and that hée was brought into that Countrey of a childe and that his dwelling was with a Noble man that was a Moore called Sabayo the which was Lord of a certaine Iland called Goa lieng about twelue leagues from thence and had forty thousand horsemen within the sayd Iland And for that his habitation was amongst the Moores he obserued their lawe howbeit it was but for an outward shew but inwardly in his soule he was a Christian and being in Sabayos house it was tolde him that there was come by Sea to Calycut certaine men in ships whereof there was neuer séene y e like in the Indias and that there were none that vnderstoode their language and also that their bodies were couered ouer with cloathes And when he had vnderstanding of the same he immediatelye iudged them to be Frangnes for so they do call those that are Christians in that Countrey and for that he was desirous to sée them had therefore asked lycense of Sabayo saieng that if so be that he woulde not giue him license to goe and sée them that he knewe verye well that he should dye with very thought and anger by reason whereof he gaue him license by whome hée sent them word that if so be that there were in his Countrey anye thing y t they had néede of they shuld haue the same in especiall shippes and victualles And moreouer if they woulde come and dwell in his Countrey he would be very gladde thereof and would giue both them and theirs sufficient lyuing with the which they should liue very honourably After that he had ended thus his talke the Captaine generall asked him perticularly for
be deliuered by order And going in this necessitie and also with fowle weather the people began to fall sicke a disease in their gums as they did in the riuer De buenas Sennalâ—s when as they went to Calicut also their armes and legs did swell besides other swellings which did rise in their bodyes by reason of a pestilent stinking humour which did cast them into a laske and of this new infirmitie there dyed to the number of thirtie persons And after that they began once to die and had continued this kinde of weather vppon the Seas ther arose such a feare amongst those that did remain aliue that they fared in the same as it were men amazed and beléeued verely that they should neuer goe from thence for that as they thought this kinde of weather was alwayes durable there and that the same was the cause that it indured so long The Masters and Pilots of the Fléete were of the lyke opinion which made the rest beléeue it the sooner that by this meanes the crye of all those that were there as well of them that were sicke as of the other was great saieng that since the weather would not serue them to goe from thence yet they requested him not to be an occasion of their death but rather consent to retourne vnto Calycut or els to some other place in the Indias and béeing ther to receiue what God shuld appoint them rather then to dye in those seas of to terrible diseases for which ther was no likelihoode of any remedie in especiall hauing lacke of all other things as of victuals and water which as then they began to want by reason that by their long continuaunce in the said place was all spent The Captaine generall séeing the great feare that his men were in and for to animate them the more sayd vnto them all on this sorte requesting them to be content and not to beléeue that such weather as was there coursed by them on that sorte was alwayes lyke to continue for if so bée that it were so then there woulde be no Nauigation from the Goulph to the Strayghtes of Meca nor to Mylynde nor yet from anye other place by the which they shoulde passe And that it was not vnpossible but that they might somewhat digresse from their right course and therefore they met with these calmes and windes which they indured yet those he saide should haue an ende and with the same their troubles will lykewise ende But for all this the Marriners woulde not beléeue him for that in this trouble they had continued foure monethes and also that there were dead of theyr fellowes thirtie persons so that there were so fewe of them remayning that there was not to euery ship sixtéene persons left to gouerne the same and of them there were some that were verye sicke of the disease aboue sayde By this meanes they fell into such a desperation by reason that they thought they shoulde goe no further and as they doe affirme that Paulo de la Gama and Nicholas Coello béeing both of them Captaines made agréement each of them in theyr Shippes to the other that if so bée that there woulde come anye Winde by the which they might retourne into the Indias that then they woulde surelye doe so Béeing thus determined vppon a sodayne there came a fresh gale of Winde with the which the Fléete might goe forwarde and with the same in sixteene dayes they came within sight of lande béeing on a Wednesday the seconde of Februarye at the which the Marriners reioyced in such sort that by meanes of the same they had forgotten theyr troubles and daungers that they were past and gaue vnto God great thankes for all his gracious benefites And when that they hadde sight of the Lande they founde themselues so néere vnto it that the Captaine generall gaue commaundement to cast about into the Sea so much as might bée thought sufficient for to staye vntill the morning the which béeing come they went foorthwith for to reknowledge the Lande and for to sée where they were for that as now there was none that knewe the same although that one of the Moores sayde that they hadde then taken theyr Course directlye towardes Monsanbique which standeth betwéene certaine Ilandes standing ouer against them thrée hundred leagues of the shore whereas the people of the same Countrey are continually sicke of the same disease that our men were The morning being come he went to reknowledge the land and came before a goodly great Citie which was walled round about and within the same very faire and high houses and in the midst of the same there was a great Pallaice which stood very high and séemed to be of a goodly building all this they saw very well out of their ships This Citie is called Magadoxo which standeth at the ende of the said goulfe in the Coast of Aethiopia a hundred thirtéene leagues from Mylynde the scituation whereof I shall declare héereafter And for that the Captaine generall knew the same to bée a Citie of Moores when as hée went along the Coast hée commaunded to shoote of manye péeces of Ordinaunce and also for that he coulde not tell how farre hée was from Mylynde from thence forward he stayed in the night because he would not passe the same Foorthwith on Saturday being the fifth of Februarie lieng ouer against a village of the Moores which they call Pate being a hundred and thrée leagues from Magadoxo there came from thence eight Terradas which is a certaine kinde of Boates of that Countrey being all full of Souldiours and made theyr waye straight towarde our Fléete fromwhence we shot so many péeces of Ordinaunce that they thought themselues happy to haue escaped by running awaye Howbeit our men did not followe them for lacke of winde The next Mundaye following the Generall arriued at Mylynde and béeing there the King sent to visite the Captaine Generall with sundrye fresh victualls sending him word also how glad hée was of his comming The Generall aunswered him againe by Fernan Martines by whome hée sent him a Present and for because of those that were sicke whome hée was desirous to haue cured hée tarryed there fiue dayes in the which time there died of them many At this present by the kings license he caused to be set a land a marke in token of friendship And after that he had prouided himselfe of victuals he departed on a wednesday in the morning béeing the xvii of Februarie with an Embassadour whome the king did sende to the king of Portingale for a perpetuall confirmation of friendshippe betwéene them Of the death of the Captaine Generalls brother and of the burning of one of the ships called Saint Raphael also how he arriued in Portingale and of the honour the king gaue him at their meeting cap. 27. NOw for that the Captaine Generall had not men inough to gouerne the whole Fléete he thought good and
with the which they make fethered hats night caps which are very gallant Some of our men y t went to sée their townes do declare y e the same is a goodly country fertill of woods w t great store of goodly waters plentie of fruits that ther is gathered in y e same gret quantitie of cotten And for y t this country is y t which we cal Brasil which to all men is common I will not speake of y â— same further but only y t in viii daies that y â— Captaine generall staid ther was séene a fish which y e sea did cast a land y t was greater then any Tonel of y e bredth of two of theÌ„ howbeit he was round y â— head eyes were much like vnto a hogs his cares like vnto an Elephants he had no téeth but vnder his belly he had two issues his taile was thrée quarters of a yard in breadth as much in length his skinne was lyke vnto a Hogges skinne which was a finger thicke In this Ilande the Captaine generall commaunded to be erected a high Crosse of stone and therfore he gaue the same to name La tierra de Santa Crus From hence he sent a Caruell which he brought foorth with him for the same purpose with letters vnto the King his Lorde of all that which had chaunced him vnto this place and how that he had left there two bannished men of those twentie the which he carried with him to the ende they might better enforme themselues what Countrey that same was and whether it were a firme lande as it did appeare vnto them all by the great distance of the Coast that they had found and because of the great voyage which he had taken in hande to make he could not send to know perfectly With this Caruel he sent a man of that Countrey for a shew by what kinde of people the same was inhabited This Caruell being departed the next day after being the second day of May the Captain generall departed with all his Fléete bearing his course toward the Cape Buena espeâ—ansa the which was from thence almost 1200. leagues which is a great and fearfull gulph to passe by reason of the great windes which doe course in those partes most of the time And being vnder sayle in the same on the xii of Maye there appeared in the Element a great Comet with hir beames the which came out of the Orient and for the space of x. dayes did alwayes appeare as well in the night as in the daye alwayes inlarging his beames On Saterday being the xxiii of May there came amongst all the Fléete such a storme from the Northeast that all the Fléete was faine to take in their sayles hauing the Seas very high mingled with pretie showers of raine And for that the same storme was afterwarde somewhat abated they brought themselues vnder their forefailes againe and at night the winde being altogether calme such ships as wer left behind did spred out also their sprit saile to ouertake those y t went before And going by after windes following their course by the South the Sunday being the xxiiii of May the winde beganne to increase which was the occasion that the Captaine generall commanded their sailes to be taken in and to fardle vp their sprits sailes the which being done the like did all the other Captaines and going on this sort on Sunday betwéene x. and xi of the clocke of the day did begin to ariue in the Northwest a spowte with the which the winde calmed in such sorte that the sailes did beate against the Mast and the Pilots being not as yet acquainted with the secret signification of a spowte for that they had not trauayled those Seas thought the same to bée a signe of faire weather and of great calmes by reason whereof they neuer made any kinde of alteration in anye thing appertaining to their sayles Vpon this on a Sundaye there came such a winde and so furious that then they had no time to amayne and take in theyr sayles by reason whereof there were foure Shippes sunke without escaping one person of them all and of one of these was Captayne one Bartholomew Dias The other seauen remayned halfe full of water which they had taken in which lykewise had sunke if so be that parte of theyr sayles had not bene torne And after that the winde verred to the Southwest they bare with the same the which was so great that they were driuen to roue all that daye and the next night following without sailes so that the one could not sée the other howsoeuer as yet the returne of any other wind was not come they were driuen to such daunger that they thought thereby they should loose their liues forsomuch as the rest of the Fléete was so cast away before their eyes wherewith they were stroken into a very great pensiuenesse The next day the winde being somewhat incalmed with the same the Fléete did ioyne themselues together againe and immediatly after the winde came to the East and Northeast which was so great that it made the Seas to goe higher then euer they did before and so the same endured the space of xx dayes and all this time the shippes laye a hull although they proued fiue times to hoyse vp their sayles as aforesaid Now the Seas went so high to all theyr iudgements they thought it vnpossible for the shippes to escape for ouer and besides that by the working of them it was thought that sometime they did hoyse vp theyr shippes aboue the Element and other times when the shippes began to descend they fell as it were downe a monstrous hill that they feared they should be all swallowed vp in the Intralles of the Earth In the daye the water was of the colour of pitch and in the night of fire The tackling with the other furniture of the Shippes with the great force of the winde made such a terrible noyse and was so fearefull to heare that the same is incredible to be beléeued but by those onelye that endured and passed the same with the force of this the Fléete was separated into sundry places The Captaine Generall bare vp with Symon de Myranda and Pedro de Tayde whether the winde would carry them all the others went at Gods mercie Of the meeting of the King of Quiloa the Captaine generall at which time there was set downe a Trade and Factorie and how the King repented himselfe of the same afterward Cap. 30. AFter that the Captaine Generall had past with parte of his Fléete these great stormes didde finde himselfe to haue doubled the Cape without anye sight of the same hauing in his company no more then two Shippes which bare alwayes vp with him And the Lorde hauing vsed alwaies towardes them his wonderfull great mercie he came within sight of the lande the sixtéenth day of Iuly towarde the which he
was come to Panane thether also came presentlye sundry noble men his subiects and others his friends whome he had sent for to aide and succour him in this enterprise Others there were that came before they were sent for For as soone they heard that the warres were begun and that for our sakes that remained in Coching of the which they were all glad hoping therby to hunt vs out of the Indias therfore they came with the better good wil to séeke the destruction of the king of Coching There were also of his owne subiects that arose against him and some of his nobilitye as the Caimall of Chirapipill and hée of Cambalane and also he of the greate Iland which is ouer against Coching who carryed with them all the power that they were able to make And béeing come into the presence of the king of Calycut he spake vnto them all IF that good workes doe engender friendshippe amongest men then I and you for my sake and generally all the Malabars ought to beare the same greatly vnto the Moores for that it is well knowne that it is sixe hundred yeare since they came into the Prouince of Malabar and in all this time yea to this daie there was neuer anie that euer receiued at theyr handes anye hurt or losse But hauing no sooner receiued straungers newly come into anye of our Countries immediatlye we receiue losse by them wheresoeuer they doe beginne to settle theyr trade But the Moores doe trade with the people with all friendship and loue as ought to doe one naturall neighbour with an other by whose meanes the Countrey hath béene alwayes well prouided of much victualls and merchaundise which hath béene a cause to enrich our Townes and that our rents are greatly increased in especiall within this our Citie For whilest the Moores are héere resident they haue made the same the greatest mart Towne that is in all the Indias For this cause I am bounde in conscience and haue greate reason to fauour them and to mislyke of the christians which to my greate hinderaunce yea and against my good will settle in my lande more for to take the same and to destroye mée then to bring mée anye profite or gaines as the Moores doe hauing giuen of themselues greate shewes and signes thereof within these few daies that they were héere as in taking of my Captaine Generall and my Embassadour prisoners in making of new lawes in my Citie to lade their shippes first and before the Moores shuld lade And vpon this they tooke an occasion to staye a certeine Shippe of the Moores which was the cause that the Moores did as you doe heare and as I maye iudge by the sequeale thereof was so ordeined of God for theyr pride of the which hée was in no fault Yet this notwithstanding they burnt ten of my shippes which lay within my harbour After all this they with theyr Ordinance destroyed my Citye so that I was driuen to runne awaye out of my pallaice Not contented with this they burnt me other two shippes which they woulde not haue done if so be that they had come to settle a trade But first of all since they found themselues agréeued they shoulde haue come and made theyr complaint to mée of the Moores and tarryed till I had punished them and not to doe as they haue done by which it was apparant that they are théeues and no Merchants as they name themselues to be that vnder this coulour they might conquere the whole Countrie Which things the king of Coching would neuer vnderstand nor giue credit vnto although I sent him worde And being as he is my subiect wel vnderstanding what they had done vnto mée yet he would not but receiue them giue them lading for their ships and now he hath giuen them a factorie I sending him word and praieng him many times that he wold not consent therevnto For this cause therfore I haue sent for you that you should ioyne your selues And also to request you to tell me your opinions whether I haue reason to reuenge my selfe or no This determination to them all séemed verie good and they praised his purposed intent but principally the Lord of Repelyn forsomuch as hée was a greate enimie to the king of Coching for that he had vsurped an Iland of his called Arraul also of the selfe same opinion were other principall Moores But against this his pretended iourney spake the kings brother called Nambeadarin which was the onely heire to the Kingdome after the death of his brother who immediatlye in the presence of them all sayde THE kindred that is betwéene thée and mée beside sundrie other thinges may certifie thée that I do desire more thine honour and profit then anye that bée héere present and therefore my councell ought to be of a more efficacie then anye others For as they are not so greatlye bound to giue thée the same as I am so as it appeareth they doe feede thy humour and councell thée according to thy will since thou art desirous to accept it and not according to good reason which thou hast to leaue it But if so bée that they without flatterye and thou without passion wouldest iudge or weigh the cause of these Christians thou shouldest finde that vnto this present time they haue giuen thée no cause but that they should be well receiued into thy Countrie and so into all the Prouince of Malabar and not to hunt them foorth lyke théeues which they cannot bée called although they were present And forasmuch as from all the places of the worlde men doe resorte hether and assemble themselues to buye those Merchaundise which they haue not in theyr Countryes and bring those hether which we haue not héere In the same sorte come these Christians and as the custome is of Merchauntes they brought thée in their kings behalfe the richest present that thou diddest yet euer receiue And besides theyr merchandise they brought much Golde and siluer made in coine which they doe not vse to bring which come to make warres And if so bée they hadde come in anye such sorte they woulde not haue dissimuled the running awaye that the Pleadges offered vnto them whome thou doest call Embassadours that were kepte in Prison for that theyr Captaine was a Lande But they reconciling themselues vnto thée went and tooke the shippe at thy request in the which was the greate Elephant and afterward did present thée therwith and with all that the same ship carried besides those that are théeues doe not vse so to doe nor yet paye so well nor vse so much truth as they did for all the time that they were in Calycut there was none that did complaine of them but onely the Moores which they did for that they are their enimies and being mooued with enuy to sée them pertakers of their profite did accuse them that they hadde taken greate store of Pepper from the owners against theyr wills they
and how the Apostle Saint Thomas came thether and there was martyred and Alonso de Alburquerque went and laded there and in what place did settle a Factorye Chap. 62. IMmediatly after this was the king of Calicut aduertised of the losse of those â—araos and also of all the successe that our men had in those wars for the knowledge wherof he vsed all diligence in respect of the great desire he had to turne vs out of the Indias for that naturally they could not abide vs. And fearing least that we shuld take their countrie from them they were so much the more desirous to hunt vs away This thing they procured with great instance and also were the occasion that we should haue no Pepper Making this account that if so be that we should goe without the same vnto Portingale it would be the occasion that we would not retourne againe to the Indias By this meanes therfore we were driuen to prouide for the Fléete in their riuers and that with such a number of men that we could neuer haue aboue a 1200. quintall of Pepper of 4000. Bahares that the Merchants had promised and yet this we got with great shot of Ordinaunce and hurt of our men and with infinit shedding of bloud of the enimies In the ende the king of Calycut found the meanes by merchants his friends to perswade with the merchants of Coching to giue to the Captaine general no more pepper excusing themselues with the warres Which thing was done in such sort that neither with the request of the king of Coching neither with anye gifte that was giuen them by Francisco de Alburquerque hée coulde moue or perswade them to giue them anye more Pepper Now the hope of our men for hauing the same anye more in Coching béeing past Alonso de Alburquerque with Pedro de Tayde and Antonio del Campo were driuen to séeke for the same at the citie of Coulan which they did the sooner for that they knew that the gouernours of y â— Towne were desirous of our factorie the which was offered to Pedro Aluares Cabrall and the Lorde Admerall Those that thus went thether were fully bent to make warres against them if so be that they woulde not giue them lading for theyr ships Alonso de Alburquerque béeing departed from Coching with certaine Captaines came into the port of the Citie of Coulan the which standeth twelue leagues from Coching and from Comarin xxiiii the which is beyond the same bearing toward the South This Citie as 〈◊〉 saye before that Calycut was builded was the principall of the Poruince of Malabar and the greatest and most principallest Port of all that Coast Notwithstanding as yet their houses be both greate and fayre and so are also theyr Pagodes and Chappell 's comparable to these of Calycut Their harbour or hauen is verie good they are well prouided of all sortes of victualls the people are in condition lyke vnto those of Calicut The inhabitants are Malabars Gentiles and Moores and the Moores are verie rich and greate merchauntes in especially since the warres beganne betwéene Calycut and vs for many merchauntes of Calycut lefte the same and nowe dwell there They doe trade in Coromandyll Ceilan in the Ilands of Maldyua Bengala Pegu â—â—matia and in Malaea The king of this countrie is Lorde of a greate Kingdome wherin are many great Cities and rich which haue belonging vnto them sundrye goodlye harbours by reason whereof his customes are great and for that cause they are riche of Treasure and are able to make a greate power of men of warre which are for the moste parte men but of lyttle stature He hath alwayes in his gard thrée hundred women which doe vse bowes and are very perfect in the skill of shooting They haue about their breasts certaine bands of lynnen of silke with the which they doe binde them so harde that they are no hinderaunce vnto them in their shooting This king hath for y e most part of his 〈◊〉 war with the king of Narsinga which is a great trouble vnto him He doth continually or for the most part remain◠〈◊〉 a Citie the which they doe call Calle The Gouernours of Coulan are as it were Aldermen in the which there is a certaine Church which y e Apostle Saint Thomas builded comming thether to preach the Catholike faith by reason wherof there were great numbers that turned Christians as well of the Gentiles as otherwise so that of them there are procéeded from generation to generation the number of twelue thousand householders that are scattered abroad in the Country wher they haue their Churches The King of Coulan séeing how many were daylye conuerted and the daunger thereof did banish him out of his Countrey who being thus gone went to a Citie called Malapur lyeng along that Coast and is parcell of the Kingdome of Narsingas And yet being there for y t he was so followed by y â— Gentiles and by y e Christians of Coulan did apart himselfe to y e Mountains wher they affirme y t he dyed from thence he was brought to be buried in Coulan in a vante y t was made in the foresaide Church This Church is now ouergrowen with bâ—shes and woodes for that the Citie is disinhabited onely there remaineth a poore Moore which doeth kéepe the same for that there are no Christians néere vnto it and there he liueth vppon the almes of all those y t commeth thether in Pilgrimage aswell of Christians as of the Gentiles for y e Moores doth not let to giue their almes likewise vnto him for that he was buried in their Countrey Alonso de Alburquerque being come to the harbor of this citie the Gouernours hauing knowledge therof they came to visite him a boord his ship where within the same there was setled a peace y â— which was made vpon condition that we should haue our Factory in the Citie also should haue as much lading of spices and other commodities as would lade presently those ships the which immediatly they went about to prouide In the meane while that our men were there and whilest that the one ship tooke in his lading the other two kept abroad in the sea to watch all such as past by from other places and those that they could discrie were brought some with their good wills and others there were brought against their wills to speake with Alonso de Alburquerque and to shew him obedience as to a Captaine general of y e king of Portingales He offered no hurt to any but onely to the Moores of the red sea for all such of them as he tooke he would cause their ships first to be ransacked and afterward to be burnt in reuenge of that they had done to Pedro Aluares Cabrall of the which those of Coulan were greatly afraid The house for the Factorie béeing finished and the shippes laden Alonso de Alburquerque lefte there for Factor one Antonio de Sala
in readinesse certein fireworkes y â— therwith they might burne y â— caruells if they could not burne y e same y â— then with these castles they might lay the said Caruel aboord As soone as the dwellers inhabitants of Coching heard of these castles they were therwith grealy afeard least y t the enimyes would take Coching with that did make themselues in a redinesse to flie from thence for the which the king of Coching was very sad supposing y â— indéed with these Castles his enimies wold take his country from him After this certeine of the inhabitants of Coching went to y e Captaine generall to aske him whether he was able with his caruells to defend himselfe from these castles Whervppon the Captaine answered askt of them wherefore they demanded y â— question séeing y â— they did well know that from a greater power then this he had made them flie with broken heads so he doubted not but he would doe againe With this answere y e inhabitants of Coching were fully satisfied so minded not to remoue themselues from thence vntill such time the battell were fought The Captaine general for to encourage them the more commaunded before them all to pitch a long staffe in the ground the which was made sharp at y â— one end The same amongst the Malabars is called Caluete vpon y e which they do execute iustice of death vnto the poorest or vilest people of the country insomuch y â— if they say to a Naire Naire Caluete they take the same for a greater reproch then any other This Caluete being pitched on this sort the Captaine generall did then sweare to spit vpon the same the king of Calicut if so be that he did fight with him so forthwith he commaunded in dispraise of the king of Calicut y â— all his men should say with a lowd voice Samurin Caluete At this sight the inhabitants meruailed to sée y e stoutnesse of y â— Captaine so minded to remaine kéep the towne But for all this the Captaine Generall was inwardly moued in spirit for feare y t indéed they wold lay his caruels a boord that for lacke of men Howbeit y e better to defend them from y e same he commanded to be made a certeine Caniso y e which was made w t certeine masts of ships ioyned the one to the other bound with great bolts and hoops of yron These masts wer of eight fathom of length as many of breadth were placed from y â— Caruels a good stones throw And for y â— the eb nor yet the floud should carry y e same away ther wer laid out sixe great ankors thrée of them vpon the floud the other vpon the eb y â— made the same the surer And for that the Caruels should remaine so high as y â— castles one Peter Rafâ—l considering these deuises deuised also to encounter with the height of those castles to make certeine turrets of halfe masts which were set vpright and made fast a boord the caruell in the which turrets seuen or eight men might fight at plesure in each of them This being done one morning before day ther came to visit the Captain general the king of Coching of whose coÌ„ming the Captaine was very glad for y t he had heard how fearfull he was therfore he gaue him a good countenance yet for all this the king could dissemble no loÌ„ger but presently his eies did run downe with water with y t he embraced the Captaine general coÌ„manded those noble men y t came with him to do y e like which was done with so sorrowfull a countenance as though it were y â— last time y t they should méet Afterward y e king did apart himself with y t captaine some of our men as a man out of his wits said vnto him The King of Calycut hath a great power and we are but few and that without any hope that I haue to defend Coching or any of my people who besides are ready to runne away if thou be ouercome And since that I am vndone I request thée that thou doe prouide for thine owne safetie whilst thou hast time for that afterwards I doubt thou shalt not haue the same and therewith as though he were stopped in the throte he spake no more The Captaine generall shewing himselfe to be angrye with this speach aunswered him somewhat with cholar asking him what weaknesse or cowardnesse he had séene in him that he should will him to prouide for his safetie And further said that there or in what place soeuer he was he was most assured to defend himselfe from the King of Calicut and also doubted not but to giue him the ouerthrow notwithstanding the great power he brought And diddest not thou tell me quod he all these times past that God did fight for the Portingales but now how dost thou doubt of the same I haue a hope in God that to morow thou shalt sée the King of Calycut put in that Caluete and of this I doe not doubt if he doe tarry me neither yet thou oughtest to haue any doubt if thou wouldest thinke vpon the victories that God hath giuen me so oftentimes the King of Calycut hauing the same aduantage that now he hath This thou oughtest to beléeue and not that which the Moores of Coching do tell thée for y t they all doe not loue vs neither yet the alteration of the Nayres should make thée apalde which are afeard of euery puffe of winde Repent thy selfe therefore of that thou hast told me and dispaire not but returne with good courage to Coching and there also to comfort and harten thy people shew thy selfe strengthened stay thy subiects from going away and let me alone with this Passage for I will giue thée a good accompt thereof The King minding not to encrease his cholar did shew himselfe recomforted with his words and comfortable answere trusting that we would defend the Passage according to the valyaunt mindes he had founde in vs and in our Captaine generall which he did affirme without any doubt of the defence thereof The Nayre and all the people of Coching vpon their alteration and determination they made for their departing beléeuing yet that our men should be ouerthrowen did therevpon prouoke the Moores to runne awaye but yet neuerthelesse they would not ¶ How the King of Calycut did giue the Battaile vnto the Captaine generall with his castells ow they were all ouerthrowen cap. 71. THe King of Coching being departed the Captaine generall went to his Caruell shewing himselfe grieued greatly to sée the King so faint hearted the which might bée the occasion that Coching might be disinhabited which he feared very much and being desirous to suppe with his men thether came Lorenso Moreno with those of the Factorie with whom he was accustomed to come for as I haue said there was neuer any found
pleasure that I shoulde get the victorie ouer it which hath procured my dishonour so is it not his pleasure and will that I possesse the state of a king any longer but rather for the amending of my sinnes will ende my lyfe in this Torcull where I meane to continue vntill such time that God hath taken awaye this hatred which hée hath conceiued against mée And from this time forward you may dispose of your selues and do what you shall thinke best with my countrie and subiectes I doe not offer you my person forsomuch as béeing a man so vnfortunate as I am it shall not stand with your credite to require his companye and with this speach hée ended his talke But the Princes and Noble men woulde somewhat haue comforted him and withdrawne him from this his determination but it could not preuaile for that he had fully bent himselfe to the contrary and so with certeine of his Chaplaines he entered into this Torcull Now his mother hauing knowledge that he was there shée sent him word that for this his sodeine determination she remained as heauie and with as sorrowfull a heart as might bée Informing him moreouer that through this sodeine chaunce there hath risen in Calycut a great alteration for that from thence are gone and now are ready to go many sundrie merchants and also that the citie is become wonderfully vnprouided of victualls with the greate feare the inhabitants are in of the Christians which is the occasion ther are no victualls brought thether But no perswasion she sayd could withdrawe him from these wars with the Christians which from the beginning of the same was a great griefe vnto her willing him also that in no case he shoulde returne vnto Calycut vntill he might doe the same with his credit which was cleane lost alreadie And therefore shée counsailed him a while to forbeare vntill such time he did recouer it againe and that with victorie yea rather to loose all then to returne without it With this message the Kings heauinesse increased greatlye and he sent immediatelye for his Brother to whome being come he gaue him charge of the gouernment of his kingdome But after that he came out of the foresaid Torcull it was restored vnto him againe ¶ How there came sundry Kings Princes of the Countrey to demaund peace of the Captaine generall also how there came vnto Coching many Moores of Calycut to inhabite there Chap. 74. ALL these Kings and Noble men which came to serue y e king of Calicut after that he had placed himselfe in the Torcul remained a few dayes in Repelyn tarrieng to sée whether he did repent himselfe of that which he had done or not and perceiuing y e contrary each of them repaired toward their Countreyes whereof the most part of them laye there along the water side And forsomuch as the Winter began to increase and they fearing least the Captaine generall would ouercome them all hauing now lost the hope they had to defend themselues now as before time Therefore they minded to procure as much as they could to be friends and in peace with the Captaine generall For the which intent as Mediatour for the same purpose they sent to the King of Coching whom for that his condition and nature was very good without calling to remembraunce the iniuries that were past which they had done vnto him did vndertake to do the same Sending them immediatly a safeconduct for their safe comming vnto Coching from whence he went in their company to visit the Captaine generall whom at their méeting he earnestly requested to receiue them as his friendes who aunswered that for his sake he would so doe Diuers other Princes also there were that coulde not come but yet notwithstanding they sent vnto him their Embassadours to conclude this peace likewise Also sundrye Moores of Calycut that were great Merchants to the ende they might quietly vse their trade forsooke Calycut came to dwell at Coching with the consent of the Captaine generall Others there were that went to Cananor and Coulan so that the great Trade that was before in Calycut began sodainly to fall And for that the Moores of Calycut began in this sorte to inhabite in Coching therefore the Captaine generall wold not leaue this passage as also for that there came manye sundry times Paraos from Calycut into the riuers to kéep the same by Nabeadarins commaundement Howbeit the Captaine generall met with them and fought with them and hurt many of his enimies Moreouer he oftentimes entered into the Lord of Repelyns Countrey to take Cattell for his prouision fought with many of his enimies vpon whom he made great slaughter One daye by chaunce our men met with certaine Tones of the enimies the which were in a certaine standing water and carried them away into the riuers and made with the enimies a valyant and stout skirmish in the which was slaine the greatest parte of them and not one of our men hurt After all this the Lorde of Repelyn became the Captaine generalls friende and came to visite him and brought him for a Present a great quantitie of Pepper which he had in his Countrey ¶ How Lope Suares de Menesis departed for the Indias for captaine generall of the Fleete that went in the yeare of our Lorde a 1504. and what more past or euer he came to Ansadina cap. 75. IN the yeare of our Lorde 1504. the king of Portingale hauing certeine knowledge that the king of Calycut continued as yet in the warres did therfore send to succour our men with a Fléete of twelue great shippes and appointed for Generall of the same a Gentleman called Lope Suares de Menesis who in the time of king Don Iohn the second had bene Captaine in the Mina The Captaines of the Fléet were these following Pedro de Mendosa Lionel Cotinuo Tristim de la Silua Lope Mendus de Vascon Cele Lope de Abreo Philipe de Castro Alonso Lopes de Castro Alonso Lopes de la Cocts Pero Alonso de Aguylar Vasco de la Siluero Vasco Caruallo Pedro Dynes de Sutunell All these were Gentlemen borne and some were made Gentlemen by seruice These also carryed with them many valiant souldiers who being imbarked and the Captaine Generall dispatched did depart from Lishborne the .xxii. of Aprill in the selfe same yeare and continuing theyr voiage on the second day of May they found themselues right in their course to Cape Verde Then y ◠Captaine generall hauing héere all y ◠Fléete together caused his Captaines Maisters and Pilots to assemble themselues vnto whome he spake in sence following Willing them to call to remembraunce howe lately they had departed from Portingale for which cause it was requisite that they were circumspect and diligent and not to fall into such disorders and extremities as hetherto they haue done for not looking euery man vnto his charge and not to