in y e midst of their Church they perceiued y t the same had a certain little roofe made much after y e manner of a tower y â— which was also builded of frée stone in a parte of this roofe ther was a dore made of wire by y â— which a maÌ„ might enter into it the going vp to the same tower was by a staire of stone within this tower which indéed was somewhat dark was inclosed in y t wall a certain Image y â— which our men beheld a far off for y t they would not suffer theÌ„ to go néere y â— same saieng y t ther was none y â— could go thether but thos y â— wer Cafres howbeit they made a signe to the Image naming y â— same our Lady giuing therby to vnderstaÌ„d that it was hir Image The Captain generall supposing the same to be true fell vpon his knées with y â— rest of y â— coÌ„pany making their praiers but one whose name was Iohn de Sala being in doubt whether y e same church wer of christians or not for y â— he saw so moÌ„strous Images painted on y â— wals as he fel on his knées said If this be y e diuel I worship god The Captaine Generall that heard him say so looking vppon him laughing The Catuall and his companie as they came before this Chappell did fall downe flat vppon the ground with their hands before them and this they did thrée times and afterward they arose and made their praiers standing ¶ How and after what sort the Captaine Generall was receiued in Calicut how hee tolde the king his message which he carried Cap. 17. FRom this place he went forward on his way vntill such time he came to Calicut and at the entering of the same they carried him w t the rest of his company to another Pagode lyke vnto that which he had séene before and when that he would haue entered into the Citie the people were so many as well of those that came forth of the same for to sée our men as also of those that went with him that for the multitude of them he could not goe in the stréets insomuch that the Generall meruailed to sée so many people and when as hée sawe himselfe to be there he gaue God great thankes for bringing him vnto that Citie most humbly desiring him so to guide him that he might returne to Portingale with his whole request desire After that he had gone awhile in that stréete into which he entered for that the people wer so many that he could not passe through it insomuch that those that did carry him vpon his Andor were driuen to go with the Catuall into a house Thether came to beare the Captaine Generall companie the Catualls brother who was a noble man and sent by the kings commaundement to accompanie him to the kings pallaice who also brought with him many Nayers and before them went manye Trumpets and Sagbuts vppon the which they went all sounding And also there was one Nayre which carried a Caléeuer which he shot of now then After y t the Captaine generall this noble man was thus ioyfully receiued they tooke their way straight to y e pallaice with a great noise y â— which those instruments the people together made which after y t the Catuals brother was come gaue place followed after them with as great obedience as if y e king had ben there in his owne person There went along with theÌ„ fully thrée thousand men with their wepons besids those y t stood vpon y e penthouses at their dores which wer wtout number The Captaine generall was very glad to sée how well he was receiued said vnto those y t he caried w t him with a mery couÌ„tenance how litle do they thinke in Portingale of this our gret receiuing with this they came to y e kings pallace an houre before y e Sun set The kings pallace leauing aside y t the same was made of earth was very great which séemed to be of a goodly building for y e great multitude of trées which did appeare betwéene y e houses these wer staÌ„ding in goodly gardeÌ„s in y e which wer plesaÌ„t flowrs swéet hearbs fouÌ„tains of water to recreate y e king wtall for y t he neuer goeth froÌ„ this pallace til y t he departeth from Calicut Out of this pallace there came suÌ„dry Caimales other noble men to receiue y e captain general which brought him to a certein gret court y t was right before y e gates froÌ„ thence they weÌ„t into 4. other seueral yards or courts At y e gate of each of which ther wer .x. porters which gates they passed w t giuing y e people many suÌ„dry blows which y e porters bestowed vpoÌ„ theÌ„ to make roome y t we might go in being come to y e last gate which was in y e house where the king himself was ther came forth an old little man which was Bramene Maior of y e kings house who imbraced the captaine general caried him in w t those y t wer with him Bramene Maior is the kings high Priest the chiefest of the religious meÌ„ of his gentility At this entring the people wonderfully pressed theÌ„selues to go in for that they see the king but by great chaunce as going but few times abroad out of his pallace wold therfore haue entered w t our meÌ„ to see him The multitude was so great y t there wer some of theÌ„ stifled as also ther had ben two of our meÌ„ so vsed if so be y â— they had not gone before it had smally profited to lay on y â— people w t their staues to y â— end to make more roome if so be ther had not ben many of theÌ„ hurt wherw t they gaue place y â— our meÌ„ might enter Moreouer those noble meÌ„ which did accompany the Captaine general at this third gate entred into the house wher the king was the which was very great all the same was coÌ„passed about w t seats made of timber one aboue y â— other as the Theatres are the floore of the same was al couered ouer w t gréene veluet the hangings about the wals were of silke of sundry colours The king himself was of colour brown of a great stature of good yeres he was lieng vpon his Estrado y â— which was couered ouer w t a cloth of white sâ—lke gold a rich estate ouer him Estrado is a seat made of boords On his head he had a night cap made much like vnto a salet after y â— old sort which was couered ouer w t stone pearle in his ears he ware iewels of y â— same sort He had vpoÌ„ him a iacket of fine cotten y e buttons wherof were of great pearle the butten holes were of gold thréed he had about his middle a white cloth made
Mylynde where hée staide to take in his water and to sée the king and from thence he kepte his course towarde the Indias and at the mount Dely he met with a ship of the Moores of Meca that was bound to Calycut which was taken by our men for that they did defende themselues verie stoutlye The shippe béeing rendered the Captaine Generall went a boorde the same where he commaunded to come before him the owners thereof and all the principallest Moores that were more there He willed them also to bring with them all such kinde of merchaundise as they had threatening them that if they did it not he woulde cause them to be throwen into the sea They aunswered him that they had nothing for that all theyr goods were in Calycut The Captaine Generall shewed himselfe to bée offended with that aunswere and did therefore commaunde one of them to be throwne into the sea bound hand and foot The others with the feare they had conceiued to sée this punishment did deliuer all that they had which was much and that very good merchaundise which was immediatly commaunded to be deliuered vnto Diego Hernando Correa that went for Factor to Coching and so he gaue order that the same should be carryed a boorde another shippe All the children which were a boorde the sayde shippe were carryed aboorde the Generall for that he had made promise to make them all Friers and to place them in our Ladyes Church of Belem as afterwarde he did The rest of the merchaundise which were of the meaner sorte and of small value hée gaue the spoyle of them to his men The shippe béeing vnladen of the goods commaundement was giuen to Steuen de la Gama to set the same a fire This was done after that the Moores were driuen vnder the Hatches to reuenge the death of those that were slaine in Calycut This shippe béeing sette a fire by the foresayde Steuen de la Gama and other two they leaped then into their Boates leauing the shippe burning The Moores that were within the same after that they perceyued the Shippe to burne did breake open the hatches by meanes whereof they were set at libertie and with the water the ship had within it did quench the fire The Captain Generall séeing this forthwith commaunded Steuen de la Gama to goe once more and laye the same aboorde to the which he went with sundry of his men with their wepons Howbeit the Moores did defende themselues as desperate men not fearing death Some there were of them that tooke firebrands and threw the same into one of the ships with determination to set the same a fire Others y ◠threw the like at their heads And for that the night drew on they left them there because the Captaine Generall was not of that minde they should remaine there in the darke for feare least the Moores should kill some of our men Howbeit he gaue commaundement that the foresaid shippe shoulde be watched that the Moores shoulde not runne to lande which was hard by The Moores all that night did nothing else but crie out to Mahoma to succour and deliuer them from vs. The dawning of the day béeing come the Captaine Generall commaunded once more that Steuen de la Gama with some of the Marriners of his shippe should goe and lay the Moores ship a boord and set the same a fire againe which was so done Now after that he hadde made the Moores to flie and to ioyne themselues in the poope of their ship fighting alwaies with them notwithstanding the which certeine of his Marriners and Gunners would not leaue them vntill such time the ship was halfe burnt When the Moores sawe the fire some there were that leaped into the sea with hatchets in their hands which they carried swimming with determination to kill all those that did pursue them with boats whom lyke wild men desperately bent they did set vppon Yet for all that there were many that were hurt for that they came néere to our boates side Howebeit the most parte of them was slaine and those that remained in the Shippe were drowned within the same for that the ship did sinke There were of them in all thrée hundred whereof there was not one that did escape and of our men there were some that were hurt How the Captaine Generall made peace and friendship with the king of Cananor and afterwarde departed toward Calycut Chap. 45. FRom hence went the Captaine Generall to Cananor and being come thether to an ankor he sent y e Embassador which he brought with him for the king who told him that he was come and that his desire was to speake with him The king héerevpon commaunded to be made a bridge of Timber which entered into the water as farre as it was possible The same was couered ouer with Carpets and other rich clothes and vpon it toward the lande side was framed a house lykewyse made of timber couered ouer as the bridge afore sayd which was made for the méeting of the king and the Captaine Generall The king beeing the first that was come came accompanyed with ten thousand Nayres and with many Trumpets and other instrumentes which went sounding and playeng before him After that the king was entered into this house there were placed the Nayres on the Bridge those that were appointed to receiue the Captaine Generall Who standing there anone came the Generall in his Boate accompanied with all the Boates of the fléete béeing richly couered ouer and set out with theyr Flagges besides that they carryed certeine Ordinaunce in the proer of theyr Boates. Also there were many Drummes and Trumpets with them and with shooting of the Ordinance the Captaine Generall disimbarked himselfe being accompanied with all his Captaines and with sundry of his men which went all armed fléet in his port or harbour by y e which he feared to receiue There were carried before him two great Basons of siluer and gilt which were to wash his hands in couered ouer with fine péeces of Corall and other fine things which they doe greatly estéeme in the Indias the Nayres viewing the same did meruaile to sée the delicatnesse of our men With this the king came as farre forth to receiue the captaine generall as the gate of his place where he imbraced him and afterwarde they returned together to the place from whence the king came forth where the Captaine generall had commaunded to be set a couple of chaires vpon the which although it was not the kings custome to sit yet he did at that time for the Captaine Generalls sake At this present was concluded the friendship betwéene the king of Portingale and him so that immediatly after that the Factorie was setled in Coching minding to doe the lyke in Cananor where as soone as the same was done he wold lade certeine of his shippes and after all this the Captaine Generall departed toward Calycut How the Captaine Generall came to
thence to Mombassa are seauentie seauen leagues they made way to goe thether and being then towards Euening they sawe a great Ilande scituated towards the North in which the Moores Pilots sayde there were two Townes one of Christians and the other of Moores as aforesayd Thus they sayd and inuented to the intent to bring our men in opinion and make them beléeue that there were in that Land and those Coasts many Christians In this sort our ships going vnder saile certayne dayes the ship called Saint Raphael by fortune one morning two houres before daye light came on ground vppon certaine shoells two leagues from the firme lande and as she strake on ground they within made signes to the other ships to take héede and beware wherevpon they shot by the shoells and came to an Ankor launching out their boats to giue succour to Paulo de la Gama Captaine in the Raphael and perceiuing when they came to the same that the water did ebbe the Generall was meruailous glad thereof for then he well knew that at the next floud the ship would be afloate againe so that now he lost the feare and iealousie he had conceiued vpon the doubt he had that she was lost Thus recomforted with the certaintie they saw of y â— safetie of the ship they foorthwith layed into the sea many ankers By this time it was daye lyght and after that it was a lowe water she then remained drye vpon the shore being a Sandie ground which was the cause she tooke no harme by striking vpon the same Our men placed their Ankers which were layd foorth right ouer against themselues and walked vpon the Sandes whilest the Ebbe endured So staieng for the floud and beholding and viewing that Ilande so farre as they coulde sée they gaue for name to those Sandes the Shoells of Saint Raphael in respect of the name the shippe there so hazarded did beare And to certayne great Ilandes and Hilles which were within the firme Land directly ouer against those shoells or sands they gaue the name of The Hills and Ilandes of Saint Raphael vpon the same consideration The shippe thus being drye our men sawe two boates and Moores of that Country in the same comming towards them to sée our shippes bringing manie swéete Orenges farre better then those of Portingale and gaue the same to our men saieng also to the Generall that in no wise hée should feare anye damage that coulde ensue to the shippe on grounde for that when it were full Sea she woulde then be on floate agayne so as at will and pleasure the same might passe on the intended voyage thereof with which speaches the Generall was very glad not onelye for the good comfort they gaue him but also in that they came in so good season and time opportune and therefore he gaue them certayne giftes which they accepted with manye thankes and certayne of them vnderstanding that our Fléete intended their Course to Mombassa they desired the Generall to carry them with him thether who graunted their requests permitted them to abide and remayne with him the others retourning from our Fléete to their Countrey And when it was a full Sea the shippe before on ground was afloat and so came off from the Sandes wherevpon the Captaine general returned and procéeded on his way with all his Fléete ¶ The description of the Iland and Citie of Mombassa and how the Captaine generall arriued there and what was the sequell that hapned him after he came thether Chap. 9. THe Generall following this voyage did vpon the Saterday béeing the seauenth day of Aprill about the going downe of the Sunne the same daye come to an Ankor without the Barre of the Iland of Mombassa which is harde by the firme lande and is verye plentie of victualls that is to saye Millyo Rice and Cattell as well great as lyttle but all well growne and fat chiefly their shéepe which be all without fayles Also they haue manye Hennes Moreouer the Ilande is verye pleasaunt hauing many Orchards wherein are planted and are growing great store of hearbes many sorts of fruites that is to saye Pomegranets Figges of the Indias Oreâ—ges both swéete and sower Lymons and Cidrons and in the same are manye excellent good waters In this Ilande there is a Citie bearing the selfe same name of the Ilande being in foure degrées on the South side it is a verye great Citie placed and scituated vppon an Hill which also is a Rocke wherevpon the Sea doth beate so that it cannot bée vndermined At the entering into the Protes or Heauen there is a Marke and at the enteraunce vppon the Barre there is planted or builded a lyttle Fort lowe and néere to the water The most parte of the houses in this Citie are builded with lyme and stone with the loftes thereof wrought with fine knottes of Plaister of Paris the stréetes therein are verye fayre They haue a King of themselues and the dwellers or inhabitaunts of the same are Moores whereof some bée white and some browne of coulour both men and women it appeareth they are good men on horsebacke They goe gallantly arayed especially the women which go apparelled in gownes of silke and be decked and garnished with Iewells of golde and precious stones In this Citie is great trade of all kindes of Marchandize There is also a good Harbour where alwayes are manye shippes lieng at Road and from the firme land commeth thether great plentie of Honnie Waxe and Iuorie the Captaine Generall thus come to the Barre of this Citie did not then enter foorthwith for that it was almost night when he came to an Ankor But he commaunded to put foorth the flagges and to toll their shippes reioycing and making great mirth for that their good fortune and hope they conceyued that in that Ilande there dwelled manye Christians and that the next daye they should heare Masse on the shore Moreouer they were greatly comforted as hauing such confidence that in this place they might and woulde cure and heale all such as were then sicke amongest them as in truth were almost all that were there present albeit in number but fewe for all the others were dead Yet such as remayned and had escaped the sicknesse and diseases past and were not dead of the great infirmities and troubles before in this voyage chaunced vnto them Being thus at an Ankor and the night almost approched our men saw about an hundred men in a great Barcke euery one of them hauing a Sworde and a Target who at their comming to our shippes woulde haue entered therein with all theyr weapons howbeit the Generall would not consent thereto neither permitted he anye more to enter then foure of them and those also without weapon declaring to them in their language that they shoulde pardon him since he was a straunger and therefore coulde not tell whom he might trust and vnto those whom he gaue license to enter aboorde his ship he gaue
araied withall his best apparell carrieng with him twelue of the most principall men of his shippes his brother onely except whom he left with charge of y e same The boates of each part being come néere together and the one making countenance of friendly salutation entertainment to the other the King then said to the Generall that he would speake with him in his owne boat of purpose to sée view him the better whervpon foorthwith he receiued him into his boat the King then giuing to the Generall as great honour curtesie as though he had also ben a King he very earnestly noted beheld him his men as a strange sight and matter to him and his people he required the Generall to tell him the name of his King and being tolde he commaunded the same to be then presently written he also inquired matter perticularly of him of his power whervnto the Generall aunswered and in euerye point satisfied his demaund declaring also for what cause y e king his master had sent him to discouer Calicut which was to haue from thence spices whereof in his dominion countrey was none And after he had thus talked with the King informed him somewhat of the same of the straights of y e red Sea the King then promised to him a Pilot to carry him to Calicut also very earnestly desired him to goe with him into his Citie there to take his pleasure solace himself in his Pallaice saieng it was néedfull necessary after so many troubles in so long a voyage sustained to vse some recreation and take some rest further then promising that if he would so do that afterward he in like manner would go with him to sée his ships make merry in the same whervnto the Generall aunswered that he had no license of the King his Master to go a shore therefore if he shuld varie from his Princes wil commaundement therein he shuld then giue an euill accompt of himselfe to which excuse the King replied saieng that if he shuld go to sée his ships what accompt should he then make to those of his Citie or what might they déeme adiudge of him therein yet notwithstanding he said y t it was a griefe to him y t he refused to go with him to his Citie which was shuld be at y e commandemēt of him of y e king his master to whom he wold send his Embassador or els write if he wold come y t way at his returne from Calicut The General yéelding thanks to the King promised him to returne y ◠way whilest they were thus talking there did send for those Moores which he had taken captiues and gaue them to the King saieng that if he could do him any further pleasure he would gladly doe the same with which gift the King was so content that he said he did more estéeme of the same then if he had giuen him such another Citie as that of Mylynde was Now hauing ended their talke and confirmed the friendship betwéene them the King then rowing amongst our ships and behelde the same with great pleasure and admiration out of which great store of shot of Ordinaunce passed wherewith they were greatlye delyghted all which time our Generall went with him to whom he declared that he neuer saw any men of whom he tooke so great pleasure as he did of those of Portingall whereof he woulde gladye haue some with him to helpe him in his warres which he hath sometime with his enimies for it well appeared they were men apt to offend their enimie and to abide and suffer any trauell or paine that should happen vnto them To which his speaches the Generall aunswered that if hée had experience of their doings he woulde then a great deale better lyke of them and further that they would helpe him if the King his Master would sende his ships of warre to Calicut as he doubted not but he would if it wer Gods good pleasure to permit the same to be discouered After the King had in this sort solaced himself he then desired the General that since he would not go with him to his Citie he shuld then let him haue two of his men to go and sée his Pallaice and for pledge of the same he would giue him his sonne and one of his chiefe Chaplaines the which they call Cacis wherevnto the Generall yéelded and appointed two of our men to go with the King who at his departure requested the Generall that the next day he would goe along in his boate hard by the shore where he shuld sée his horsmen running so they departed for that time the next day being Thursday the Captaine generall Nicholas Coello went in their boates armed along the shore the one somewhat distant from the other betwéene whom vpon the shore were many men on horsebacke skirmishing as our boats approched néere the shore there came certaine footemen downe certaine stayres of stone from the Kings house which was in sight where they tooke the King vp in a chaire and caried him verye néere to the Boate of the Generall to whom he spake verye louing wordes and once more requested him to enter vpon land and go to his Citie for that his father being a lame man was desirous to sée him and that whilest he should remaine on shoare both he and his children would enter and abide in his ships But our Generall fearing least vnder such sugred speach some bitter baite might lie couered did therfore still excuse himself for going on land alleadging hée must obey his Prince who gaue him no license or commission so to do at anie time And so taking his leaue of the king hée went a while hard by the ships of the Indias shooting off much Ordinaunce who when they sawe vs passe by lifted vp their hands saieng Christe Christe and that night with the kings license our men made them a great feast with much pastime also of Squibs Gunne shot and great and lowde cryes The Fléet thus lyeng in y e harbour there came vpon y e sundaie béeing the. 21. day of Aprill from the king a man that was in great credit with him to visite the Captaine Generall who at that instant was very sad and heauie for that it was then two daies since any man came to the Fléet from the Citie by reason whereof he feared least that the king were offended with him as taking occasion of offence for that he refused to go on shoare supposing also that he wold therevppon breake the peace and league made betwéene them for which he was sorrowfull especially since as yet he had no Pilots And when he sawe that he which was so great with the king did bring him no Pilots he then began to haue some iealousie and suspition of the king who being informed therof and knowing the Generall remained there for that cause did therefore forthwith send him
his lands possessions and dignities as he thought good and set euery necessary thing in order for establishing his determinate will and pleasure he then imbarked himselfe there wher now Calicut is builded and scituated and for that the King did there imbarke himself to go towards y e house of Meca y e Moores then took such deuotion towards that place that they and all their posteritie euer since that time hitherto would not nor yet will take any lading but out of that Port. And from that time afterward they came no more to the Port of Coulan as vsually they did before by meane and occasion whereof the same grew to ruine and was destroyed especially when Calicut was once builded and that many Moores came and inhabited the same For as they were Merchaunts of great dealings so came they thether and made there the greatest and richest Faire or Marte of all the Indias finding there all the Spices Drugs Nutmegs and all other things that could be wished as all kindes of precious stones pearles séede of pearle Muske Saunders Aguila fine Dishes of earth Laker gylted Coffers and all the fine things of the Chyna Gold Amber Waxe Iuorie fine and couâ—se cotten as well white as dyed in colours much rawe silke silke twisted and all kinde of linnen cloth of silke and golde and cloth of golde and cloth of tissew chamlets graine scarlets carpets of silke Copper Quicksiluer Vermilion Allome coralls Rose waters and all kinde of Conserues so that ther is no kinde of Merchandise of all the world which coulde be demaunded but it should be found there Moreouer it was very quiet for that it was scituated along the Coast the which lieth almost open and very daungerous it is inuironed set round about with many Orchards in which are many sorts of fruits of that lande and many hearbes and excellent waters Also they haue many Palme trées and other sorts of trées In this lande there is but small store of Rice which is ther a principall victuall as amongst vs our Wheate is but there commeth from other places great aboundaunce thereof as in like manner there doeth of other victualls The Citie is great and all the houses be of straw onely the houses of their Idolls Chappels and the Kings houses except which are of lyme and stone and couered with tyle for none but they are permitted by theyr lawes to haue anye other manner of building then with strawe It was inhabited by Gentiles of sundry sects and by Moores which were great Merchaunts and so rich that some of them had fiftie ships There is no such season of Winter but that there may lye in that Harbour sixe hundred shippes They haue there a shore whether they do cary them with small trauaile for that they be made without nailes sowed with ropes of Cayro and pitched vpon they haue no quiell but are flat bottomed ¶ Of what great power the King of Calicut is and of his vse and custome likewise of the other Kings of Malabar and how the Nayres do liue Chapter 14. FOr that this Citie was of so great a trade and also the Countrey round about so inhabited which increased so largelye the Kings rents it came to passe that he grew to be so rich of money and so mightie in power by multitude of people that in one daye he was able to leauie and make in a readinesse thirtie thousand fighting men and in thrée dayes space one hundred thousand They called him Samoryn which in theyr tongue is Emperour for so he was among the Kings of Malabar and there were no more but two beside him that is to say the King of Coulan and the King of Canauor For albeit the others were called Kings yet were they not so This King of Calycut was a Bramene as others his Predecessours also were which amongst the Malabars are Priests and for that it is a custome and auncient order obserued that all the Kings doe dye in one Pagode which is the house of praiers to their Idolls he is elected for that cause for alwayes in the same house there must be and is a King to serue those Idolles and when he that serueth there doeth dye then must the King that then raygneth and gouerneth leaue his Empire and goe serue in that place as the other did and into his place and Kingdome they elect and put an other that shall so succeede him And if anye of them that is in possession of the Kingdome refuse to goe into the Pagode the King that then serueth in the same béeing dead they will then inforce him thereto which so refuseth although it be against his will These Kings of Malabar be browne men and goe naked from the gyrdell vpwarde and from thence downewarde they be couered with cloath of silke and of Cotten sometime they put vppon them shorte gownes which they doe call Basus of silke or cloath of golde and of scarlet with very rich stones and especiallye the King of Calycut excelleth in those attires and Iewells They be shauen leauing vpon the vpper lip as the Turkes vse the hayre vnshauen They be serued but with small estate especiallye at theyr meate whereof they haue but lyttle But the King of Calycut is serued with greater Estate These Kings doe not marrie nor obserue the Lawe of marriage but yet they maye haue a Lemman of the house of the Nayres which amongest the Malabars are Gentlemen and shée hath hir house by hir self neere to the Pallaice They doe allowe hir so lyberallye for hir charges and maintenaunce that she maye haue plentifullye of all thinges to hir contentation vppon that Stypende assigned hyr And when any disliking is had of hir by them they may alwayes leaue hir and such children as they haue by hir be not taken or accompted for theyrs neither doe they inherite the Kingdome nor anye thing of theyrs After they be men they are had in no more estimation then that is incident vnto them from the mothers bloud and parentage Their brothers doe inherite if they haue any if not then their sisters children shall who doe not marry neither yet haue any certaintie of their husbands They bée very frée and at libertie to choose those of whom they lyke and be such as are best estéemed of They haue verye great rents allowed them and when anye of them come to the age of ten yeares for at that time they are to be knowen of men their kinred then doe sende forth out of this kingdome for a young man Nayre and presenting him with gifts earnestly request the same to take hir virginitie who then receiueth hir with great ioy and after she is thus vsed doth tye about hir necke a Iewell which she doth carry and weare alwayes during hir life as a thing in great estimation for a token of the libertie giuen hir by that act to do with hir bodie afterward for euer what she will for without this manner of
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
commaunded to beare howbeit the Pilots did not knowe the same notwithstanding they found that it stoode in the altitude of xxvii degrées they were so néere vnto lande that the Shippes laye with their beake heads close to the same But the Captaine generall would not consent that anye of his men shoulde goe a lande yet from their shippes they might easilye perceiue that the same was well inhabited for the great number of people they did sée there and yet of all those there came none to the water side to sée what we were After that he sawe that there was no hope to haue anye refreshing from thence hée did afterwarde procure the same from the Sea where there was great plentie of fish where our men was driuen to fish for it Afterwarde the Captaine generall commaunded to weye their Ankors and to followe his course so néere vnto the shore that he might well sée great numbers and store of sundrye beastes which fed along the Riuer that entred into the Sea and also they sawe many people Now going on that sort the Captaine generall did passe vnto Sofala with the which as yet the Pilot was not acquainted and being néere to the same he sawe two Ilandes and right ouer against one of them there was riding at an Ankor two Shippes which as soone as they had discouered our Fléete did beginne to flye awaye towarde the shore And for that the Captaine generall sawe that they fiedde he commaunded to followe them which was done in such sort that our men did ouertake them and tooke some of them prisoners for that they did not defende themselues and concerning the chiefest person that was in these Shippes the Captaine Generall was aduertised that he was the King of Mylyndes néere kinsman and was going from Sofala laden with Golde to Mylynde Who confessed that when they had descryed our Ships they receiued such a feare as though they shoulde bée taken and that therefore they did throwe the most part of theyr Golde into the Sea and they themselues ranne a lande After that all this was done y e Captaine general told him that he was very sory for theyr so great mischance losse in especially for so much as the King of Mylynde was in so great a credite with the King of Portingale his Master which is the occasion that all Portingales are and shall bée alwayes at his commaundement And hauing shewed vnto him great courtesie he commaunded the Shippes to be retourned with all the golde they hadde founde in the same The Moore asked of him whether he had brought with him any Witches that they might with words of inchantment fetch vp such golde as was throwen into the Sea To whom the Captaine generall made aunswere that the Christians doe beléeue in the true God who hath and doth defende them so that they doe not vse nor beléeue in witchcraft and therefore they do not vse the same Of this Moore the Captaine generall was aduertised that he hadde somewhat ouer runne Sofala and for that he would not returne backe he did at this time leaue it and hauing dispatched the Moore followed his course and on the xx of Iuly arriued at Monsanbique where he tooke in his water and a Pilot to carry him to the Ilande of Quiloa toward the which he directed his course running along the Coast In this his voyage he saw sundry profitable Ilands which were belonging to the King of Quiloa which as I haue declared is a great Prince and is Lord from the Cape De las correntes almost vnto Mombassa y e which is welnéere foure hundred leagues of Coast in the which there doe enter the two Ilands that I haue spoken of before ouer and besides Sofala and other sundry Townes vnto Monsanbique and from thence as many more vnto Mombassa with an infinit number of Ilandes that doth yéeld him great rents Notwithstanding as touching his estate it is but small for he is not able to make many men of warre his abode is alwayes in Quiloa in a certaine Ilande which is a hundred leagues beyonde Monsanbique in the Coast of Aethiopia néere to the firme lande the which is verye fertill of Orchardes and Woodes that beare sundry sorts of fruites there are excellent good waters and also they doe ripe great store of Miso and other seedes which they doe sow and there is bred vp in the same great store of small Cattell In those Seas there is great plentie of Fish and that verye good So that what with the victualls that they haue in the lande and what there commeth from other places of the firme land the Citie is plentifully prouided which citie is compassed about with faire gardens on the one side with the sea on the other which causeth the same to shew very pleasant it standeth in ix degrées to the South is also greate and full of people Their houses are made of lime stone in the which there are goodly chambers Their king is a Moore and so are the inhabitants the naturall people of the Countrie are a kinde of blacke people and those that are strangers are white their common language is Algarauia They doe apparell themselues very richly in especiall the women for they carry alwaies vpon them great store of iewels of gold They are great Merchants for their trade is of the gold that commeth from Sofala and from this citie it is dispearsed to all the Countrie of Arabia Felix other places and therfore there resort thether many merchaunts frō other places Ther are alwaies in this port many ships which lyeth alwayes a ground when they haue no néed of thē These ships haue no nailes but are sowed together w t ropes made of Cairo pitched ouer with wildincense for because as in all y t countrie there is no other kind of pitch The winter in this countrie doth begin in Aprill maketh an end in September The Captaine Generall béeing come to the harbour of this Citie and hauing obteined of the king a safe conduct that hée might send him a messenger did send vnto him Alonso Hurtado who went accompanied with seauen of the principals of their ships and that they might shew themselues in more countenaunce authoritie they went in their best apparell Béeing come before the king he represented vnto him the message which the Captaine Generall gaue him which was to signifie vnto him y t he was come thether with y e king of Portingale his Maisters fléete to settle a trade in y e citie to the same end had brought with him great store of merchandise y ◠were conuenient to be spent in y ◠country therfore he was desirous to talk with him therin howbeit y e king his maister did countermand him y t in any wise he shuld not leap a land but make the agréement a sea boord forasmuch as that is the auncient custome which the Captaines doe alwaies obserue in his coūtry
because y t if so be ther shuld chance any misfortūe to their general which is their head immediatly are cast away the rest that are vnder his gouernment To this the king made answere with a good countenance y t he was also desirous to see the Captaine Generall and to speak with him a sea boord since there was no other remedie Alonso Hurtado hauing receiued this answere made y e Captaine Generall priuie therof who y e next day after tarryed for y e king in his boat which was couered ouer set out with flags There did attend vpon him al the rest of y e Captaines in their boates at this present arriued there Sancho de Toar with other two ships The king thus being looked for at the length he came in an Almadia béeing well accompanied with sundrie Gentlemen in other boats lykewise furnished which also were set out with flags and had in them those that sounded vpon trumpets cornets Sagbuts which made a wonderfull great noise Now the king being come where the Captaine Generall was tarrieng for him all his ordinance went of in such sort with such a force that it made the sea to tremble wherwith the king and all his traine forsomuch as they were not accustomed vnto the same were greatly afeard As soone as the ordinaunce went of the king the Captaine General met that with great pleasure And after that the king of Portingales letter was read which was for y ◠setling of a trade in his citie he answered that he was contented therewith did agrée that the next day he should send Alonso Hurtado a land to tell him the sorts of the merchaundise that he had brought with him he wold giue him gold for y e same Vpon this agréement Alonso Hurtado was sent a land the next day following howbeit he found the king far from y e which was agréed vpō with y e captain general y e day before yelding therfore sundry excuses why he could not accōplish his promise in especial for y t he han no néed of his merchandise also for y t he beléeued that y e Captaine generall came thether to take his country from him This sodeine chance was for this cause forsomuch as he was a Moore and wée were christians it gréeued him to haue any conuersation or trade with vs. This being come to y e Captaine generalls knowledge he did as yet tarrye thrée or foure dayes to sée whether y ◠the king wold change any thing of his determination or not howbeit he did nothing alter his mind but rather had our men in iealousie fearing least that he shuld be driuen to do y ◠by force which he was loth to do therfore did fortifie himselfe with many men in a readinesse As soone as the Captaine Generall heard of his dealing he would spend no more time there but departed toward Milinde kéeping alwaies along the coast How the king of Milinde and the Captaine Generall met together and how hee departed afterwards toward Calicut Chap. 31. ON the second day of August he came to an ankor in the port of Mylinde where hée found riding at an ankor thrée ships of y e Moores y e which wer of y t Merchannts of the kingdome of Cambaya but he would not meddle with them although they were laden w t great riches because of y e king of Milinde Being come with al his fléet to an ankor he saluted y e citie w t all his ordinance The king with this sent to visit him sending also vnto him for a present both shéep ducks hens wtout all number besides sundrie sorts of fruits Then y ◠Captain general sent likewise to kisse his hands by one of his fléet also to signifie vnto him y t thether he was come by his Master y e king of Portingales cōmandement to know whether he had any need of this fléet to do him seruice wtall also to certifie him y ◠he had to deliuer vnto him a rich present with a letter the which y e King his master had likewise sent vnto him which he wold send whēsoeuer he wold cōmand y e same with this message y e king shewed himself to be wel pleased cōmanded the messenger to remaine with him that night with whom he talked and spent most part thereof in matters of Portingale And as soone as it was day the king sent by two principall Moores word vnto the Captaine Generall that he was very glad of his comming and also to knowe whether he had néede of anye thing in his countrie which he might commaund as his owne and make as much account thereof while he was there as if he were in Portingale considering the greate good will which hée doth owe vnto the king of Portingale and that in all his affaires he shuld make as much reckoning as of his owne home The Captaine Generall hauing well vnderstood the kings message vpon the same determined to send him the kings letter which hée had brought and also the present which was all the furniture of a Iennet horse which was also both rich gallant And hauing taken his counsel vpon y e same it was agréed vpon to send it and that Aries Correa should haue the cariage thereof forsomuch as hée was the factor of the whole Fleete and also for that hée went for Factor to the king of Calicut and that he should so goe accompanyed with the principalls of the Fléet besides the trumpetors that should goe alwaies sounding before him which was so done The king being informed of y e cōming of Aries Correa sent of the nobles of his Court to receiue him which might the more easilye bée done for that the kings pallaice was hard by the water side and going altogether there were certeine women which by the kings commaundement were tarryeng for their comming with perfuming pans in their hands out of the which there came so excellent a perfume that it did replenish the whole earth therewith And passing after this sorte by these women hée came to the kings pallaice who was sitting in his chaire of estate and accompanyed with many noble mē Gentlemen who also receiued Aries Correa with great honour and pleasure and also the present Afterward he gaue him the letter which was written on both sides on the one side was Portingale the other in the Arabian tongue which the king commanded forthwith to be read which both he and all the nobilitie were very gladde to heare And all they together with a lowde voice gaue God and Mahoma great thanks that they had permitted them to haue friendship w t so great a Prince as y e king of Portingale And also being very wel pleased with the furniture of the Ienet he requested Aries Correa to stay with him whilest the Fléete did there remaine which with the Captaine Generalls license he did during the three daies that he was with
Hurtado his request in giuing the pleadges that were demaunded which being come to the Captaine Generalls knowledge he began to make himselfe in a readinesse to goe and speake with the king and to remaine a land thrée or foure daies apointing in his place Sancho de Toar to whom he gaue commaundement that there shuld be made for those pleadges at their comming aboord good enterteinment and to looke well vnto them and not to deliuer them to any that should come to demaunde them although they came in his name On the xxviii daye of December the Captaine Generall put himselfe in his best apparell and carryed with him thirtie of the principall men of his Fléete which shoulde remaine with him a lande with others that were the kings seruauntes which shoulde attende vppon him as vpon the kings own person Hée commanded also to bée carryed with him all the furniture for his Chamber and Kitchin with his Cupboorde of Plate in the which there were many rich péeces of siluer gilted Nowe béeing with all these thinges in a readynesse to depart there came from the Citie sundry principall Nayres which were commaunded by the king to attende vppon the Captaine Generall accompanyed with manye men besides others that came sounding vppon Trumpets other vppon Sackbuts and other instrumentes The Captaine generall being informed that the King was tarrieng for him in a certaine Galerie which onelye for to receiue him in he had commaunded to be made harde by the water side tooke his boate and went toward the shore beeing accompanied with all the other boats of y e Fléete which went all in good order and set out with manye flagges and trumpets which being ioyned together as wel these as those that came from the Citie made a wonderfull noyse With this came those pledges aboord the Generalls ship into the which they were loath to enter vntill such time that y e Captaine generall did disimbarke himselfe a lande giuing therby to vnderstand that they wer afeard that they being once aboord he would returne againe into the Fléete and so take them for captiues They did stand so much vpon the same that Aries Correa was faine to tell them that without any suspition they might enter into the shippe forsomuch as the Captaine generall was not come thether for to deceiue the King but onely for to get his good will with this they were contented to goe aboorde yet it was with some feare that he would take them captiues In the meane while that we were about this the Captaine generall landed where there was tarrieng for him sundry Caymales and Pymacales and other principall Nayres being accompanied with many others And before that the Captaine generall coulde set his féete on the grounde he was taken vp and put in an Andor or chaire in the which he was carried to the Serame accompanied with the multitude aboue saide Being come to this place he entered into a certaine house where the King was whome he founde in this order The house was hanged ouer with Carpets or as they call them Alcatifas at the ende whereof there was a certaine place where the King was sitting made much lyke vnto a lyttle Chappell and ouer the Kings head did hang the cloth of Estate of vnshorne Crimson veluet and vnder him and about him were twentie cushions of silke The King himselfe was all naked sauing that about his middle he had a cloth made of Cotten which was white as snowe and wrought ouer with golde On his head he had a night cap of cloath of golde which was made of the fashion of an head péece or skull On his eares he had hanging certaine Iewelles of Diamonds Saphyres and Pearles of the which ther was two bigger then Walnuts On his armes from the elbow to the hande he had sundrye Bracelettes of Golde in the which there were precious Sones and that without number and of a wonderfull valewe Moreouer on his legs from the knées downward and on the fingers of his handes and the toes of his feete and especially on his great toe there was a ring in the which there was a Rubie so great and fine that it gaue such a light as was wonderfull amongst al which stones ther was a Diamond bigger then a great Beane But all this was nothing in comparison of his girdell which was made of Golde and Stone that the same was aboue all price and out of it there came such a resplendour or brightnes that it blinded mens eyes to looke vpon it There stoode harde by him a Chaire of Estate of golde and siluer wrought in the best manner full of precious stone and of the selfe same sort was the Andor in the which he was brought from his Pallaice which also stood there Also there were twentie Trumpets whereof seauentéene were of siluer and the other thrée of golde the mouthes whereof were finely wrought and set with stone Also ther was a Bason of golde in the which he did spit and certaine perfuming pans of siluer out of the which ther came an excellent smell And for estate sake ther wer lightned certain Lampes of Oyle which were after the Moores order the which were also made of siluer Sixe paces from the King stood his two brethren which were heires vnto the Kingdome after him and somewhat further off stood many Noble men they all standing vpright vppon theyr féete ¶ Of the meeting of the Captaine generall and the King of Calycut and how there was deliuered vnto him the Kings present which he brought and afterward what hapned Chap. 23. THe Captaine generall béeing entered into this place and viewing the Kings estate wold haue gone to kisse the Kings handes as it is commonly vsed amongst vs but for that he was enformed by those that stoode by that it was not the vse and custome amongst them he did it not Howbeit ther was a Chaire appointed him that was hard by the Princes seate in y ◠which the Captaine generall did sit that from thence he might declare his minde to the King which was the greatest honor that he could giue him Being set downe he deliuered his letter of credite which he brought from the King of Portingale written in the Arabian tongue which béeing read by the King y e Captaine generall also told his message the effect wherof was this That y e King of Portingale was desirous of his friendship to settle a Factorie in Calycut in the which there shoulde be sufficient of all kinde of Merchandize that should be spent there in trucke of the same or for ready mony he requested that he would let him haue sufficient lading of spices for those ships there The King shewed himselfe to be content with this Embassage aunswered the Captaine generall that he wold yéeld the King of Portingale out of his Citie all that he shoulde haue néede of While they two were in this talke came thether the present which the Captaine generall
you shall séeme in daunger or else runne awaie I woulde not blame you but to goe awaye before you haue seene any of these daungers or anye battaile fought I account the same either cowardise or else mallice You doe well know that in a manner yesterday how few Portingales did giue the ouerthrowe to thousands of our enimies which now also come to séeke vs out And if so be that you will alleadge that we were more in number then we are now indéede it is so for then we fought in open fielde where it was necessarie there should be many and nowe in a narrowe waye where a fewe shall doe as much as though were many more And since that I can fight as you haue well heard of the same for that I haue bene he that haue done most hurt to our enimies as the king of Coching is a good witnesse thereof I neuer meane to yéelde who shall loose more then you all if I be ouercome Haue ye therfore a sure hope in me and in those that remaine with mée and tarrie vntill such time you may sée the successe of all things that we doe looke for and since that your king doth tarrie why will ye goe your waie Remember that I and the others that doe remaine with me doe soiourne in the Indias so farre from our Countrie to defend the king of Coching and you that are his subiects and naturally borne in the Countrie Will you then forsake him and your countrie It were great shame for women so to doe much more for honest men as you are I doe desire you that you do not dishonour your selues nor yet doe to me so great an iniurie in hauing no confidence that I will defend you for I doe giue vnto you all my word that I will defend you frō a greater power then any the king of Calycut canne make For therefore and for this cause was I chosen and those that did appoint me to remaine in the Indias did know of the warres that the king of Calycut intended and what power he had in respect whereof I doe once againe request you to beléeue that the king of Calycut shall neuer set his foot in Coching Wherefore I desire you that none of you doe remoue for whosoeuer doth otherwise shall well vnderstand that if so be I may take him I will hang him and so I sweare by my lawe And moreouer I giue you to vnderstande that none of you all shall escape for héere in this port I doe minde to tarrie watching both day night Now therfore let euery one of you looke to that which shall behoue him and if so be you doe performe that which I haue requested you doe you then assure your selues to haue me for your friend and if not for your mortall enimie and more cruell then you would wish me to bée to the king of Calycut And therfore each of you speak plainly your mind what you will doe héerein This béeing spoken it gaue him occasion to encrease his cholar that without any consideration thereof hée did speak so lowde that the Moores with the same did double theyr feare that they had conceiued of him fearing indéede that immediatly he would haue hanged them all Wherfore presently they began to excuse themselues touching that hée charged them with all but he woulde not tarrie the hearing of the same to the intent to put them in greater feare but sent immediatly for his Ship causing it to be brought to an Ankor hard ouer against Coching besides one of the Caruells and two of the boates which he appointed forthwith to bée set in such order that there coulde none goe out of Coching by water but must néedes bée séene He had also many Paraos which he hadde caused too bée newly rigged with the which in the night he watched in the riuers which runne round about the citie Also at Sun-setting he would take all the boats that could carry men or stuffe and commaund the same to be brought a boorde his ship and to kéepe the watch and in the morning he returned them to their owners With this diligence they of Coching were so feared that there was none y ◠durst go forth without his lisence by meanes of those extremities vsed the Moores and Gentiles were quiet yet for all these troubles that the Captaine Generall had the most part of the night he would venture a land into Repelyn in the which he burnt townes killed men and tooke greate store of Cattell and Paraos and also did them sundrie other iniuries at the which the Moores of Coching much meruailed namely how he could suffer so great trauaile and therfore they gaue out that he was the diuell How the Captaine Generall made an entrie into Repelyn and also how he departed towardes the straights of Cambalan there to tarrie the king of Calicuts comming Chap. 66. AT this instant was the king of Coching aduertised that the king of Calicut was come to Repelin to gather his power together and so to go from thence to Coching by the straights of Cambalan After y e selfe same manner did Rodrigo Reinel write vnto him who lay as then very sicke and afterward dyed which the king of Calycut hearing commaunded to be taken all that he had This being knowne to the Moores of Coching that the king of Calycut was in Repelyn they wold haue giuen occasion to the townes men to haue runne away but there was none that durst venture to doe it for feare of the Captaine Generall Who after that he knew for certeintye of his béeing in Repelyn and that all men might vnderstand how little he did estéeme the king of Calycut and his power and armie of ships did one night set vpon a towne of the countrie of Repelyn at such houres when all were a sléepe and did set fire to the same And after that it was well kindled our men were knowne and immediatly there came many Naires as wel of the towne as also from other places thereabouts adioyning The Captaine Generall was forced to retire that with great daunger vnto his boats with fiue of his men hurt and of his enimies there were many slaine and hurt yet for all that those enimies that remained aliue followed him a good while And as our men returned toward Coching there were shot by them so many arrows which fell vpon their boates that their targets were all couered with the same This being knowne to the king of Coching that he was come to the Castle he went to visit him for that he accounted that enterprise for a great matter in especially the king of Calycut béeing there present who had in a readinesse so greate and mightie a power and so he saide At the which the Captaine Generall laughed and therewithall he tolde him that he woulde desire no more but that the King of Calicut would once come for that he woulde fight with him a battaile and then woulde be apparaunt
the valiantnesse of his men They of Coching béeing now all quiet as also the Captaine general hauing made vnto the principals an Oration he prepared his men in a readinesse for that he minded to depart to the straights of Cambalan And in the meane while he left in the shippe xxv men with the master which was called Diego Perrera whom he lefte for Captaine in his absence and also as well furnished with Ordinance and shot that they might defend themselues the better The names of those that tarried with him I do omit as also those that remained in the Castle Those that the Captaine Generall carried with him were to the number of xxiiii men and in one of the boats he appointed for Captaine him that went for Captaine in the Caruell Santa Maria whiles she was a rigging with xxii men The captaine Generall went in another boate in the which with himselfe there were one and twentie men Amongst them all their number was lxxiii men who all both those that were in the Caruell and those that were in the boats béeing all confessed and hauing receiued the Sacrament the Captaine Generall departed to the straights of Cambalan on the Fryday before Palmes Sunday being the xvi of Aprill 1504. Thus departing with great pleasure and with shooting of their Ordinaunce leaping and dauncing when they came ouer against Coching the Generall landed to talke with the king which was tarrieng for his cōming by the water side so heauie and so sadde that he coulde not hide the same The Captaine Generall making as though he vnderstood nothing of it said vnto him that thee they were all ready with great pleasure and good will to depart toward the passage to defend him from the king of Calicut whom they went to séeke out that he shoulde vnderstand that they had no feare of him The king smiled at these words as it were suspecting his good successe Notwithstanding he appointed him 500. Naires of fiue thousande which he had in armes of the which he named for Captaines Gandagora and Frangera which were ouerséers of his householde and Caymal de Palurta to whome hée gaue commaundement that they should obey the Captaine generall as his owne person This béeing done the king stoode and viewed all our Fléete who at that time shewed himselfe to be very heauie to sée how few we were in comparison of the great power of the king of Calicut and vppon the same tooke occasion to speake vnto the Captaine Generall saieng THere was represent vnto him the great danger which he feared might happen vnto him and that which chanced to himselfe this last yeare And therefore doe I desire thée quoth he to encourage thy selfe to doe that which thou art able and not to suffer thy heart to deceiue thée but to remember how much the king of Portingale shall loose in loosing thée and with those wordes his eyes stoode full of water which to sée the Captaine Generall was very sorie and sayd vnto him That better are a few and valiant then a great multitude and cowards And whether sayd hée our men be valiaunt or not your selfe haue well seene also how contrarywise it fareth with the enimies your selfe likewise haue had experience He inferred also howe in that place where hée minded to tarrie for his comming théere néeded but a fewe to defend him And therfore he praied him for to be content and therewith he departed and came to the passage of Cambalan two houres before day where finding no signe of the comming of the king of Calycut he went in the meane while and did set vpon a towne of the selfe same Ilande of the Caimalls where in the dawning of the day he arriued in the Harbour a long the which there was appointed 800. Nayres to kéep the same which were Archers and a few with their Caléeurs which were there tarying for him And although those with their calyuers and the residue with their arrowes shot of at our men in such maner that they séemed to shadow the Element yet with the paueices of our boates the which were made of boards of two fingers thicke much like vnto Targets or shields we did so defend them of that they wer driuen to row toward the land which was done for that those y t wer there shuld geue place y t our men might leap a land Then y e Captaine generall cōmanded his ordinance to be shot of with y ◠which they lept a land howbeit y e enemies returned vpon them therin shewed thēselues to be valiāt for y e space of an houre But afterward they fled apace many of thē in the conflict at y t presēt wer both slain and hurt at our mens hands But after that our men had set fire to the towne and the same was well kindled the captaine generall did retire going toward the passage in their way they toke and killed much cattell which they carryed with them and although the people of the countrey did defend themselues very wel yet our men being come to the passage of Cambalan the Caymall sent to make peace with the captaine generall with a certaine present which he would not receiue neither yet make peace with him for that he was an enemie vnto the king of Coching Whereupon the next day after the king of Calycut sent him word that he would geue him the battell and also that he was greatly offended that he had placed himselfe where he did minde to enter And moreouer it was tolde him that they did all affirme that the kinge of Calycut was like to geue him the ouerthrowe and to take him prisoner or els to kill him in the battell To the which the captaine generall answered that the selfe same hope he had to doe by the king the rather in honour of the daye which was a solemne feast amongest the Christians adding moreouer y t his wytchys had disappointed deceyued him much to promise him the victory in such a day Then a certaine Nayre which came with this Messenger hearing the Captaine generall say so answered him and that with a smiling countenaunce as though he had mocked him that there were very few men to doe y ◠which he spake of also y ◠the king of Calicuts men were so many y ◠they were sufficient to couer the whole earth the water Which if it be so how said he can they be ouercome With this answere y ◠Captaine generall was greatly offended for that he was thought to be one of the king of Calicuts Nayres he boxt him well willing him to bid the kings of Calicut reuenge the same With the which the others that came with the message were so greatly afraid that they neuer durst afterward auouch the king of Calicut That same euening the King of Coching sent to ayde the Captaine Generall with fiue hundred Nayres of the which he made no account nor of the others before for