pass but Ixora commanding her to give it way the Wind flying the more impetuous for having been detained tore up a Mountain which falling into the Sea formed the Island Ceylon Other Islands are encompassed with Seas they call of Sugar Milk Butter and sweet-Sweet-Water Happy the Sailers that could find such pleasant Seas 6. The Bases or Grounds of the Elements are of several matters that of the Earth of Copper that of the Water of Silver that of the Fire of Gold that of the Air of a Pretious Stone that of Heaven of another Stone of more value They are Gods and move on the first waits the Bird Anam on the second Guereram on the third a Cart on the fourth an Ox on the fifth a Horse 7. There are seven large Subterranean dwellings called Padalas where live People who have no other light but that of certain bright Stones which Snakes have in their Foreheads One Day of ours is a Year in Heaven and one of our Years Three hundred and sixty five there The Days of the Week as among us take their names from the Planets and one of them is a Festival They believe the transmigration of Souls 8. The God Givem or Ixora is of the colour of Milk besides the usual two he has one Eye in the Forehead which being of Fire consumes all things his Body of such a length that Brama though he endeavoured it could never find the beginning or end of it The other Brother Vistnu who is God of the Transmutations converted himself into a Hog and turned up the Earth with his snout but could never find his Feet He is so thick that the Snake that girts the World cannot encompass one of his Arms â—…e has Sixteen Hands all employed with Deer Chairs a Guitar a Bell a Bason a Trident a Rope a Hook an Ax Fire a Drum Beads a Staff a Wheel a Snake on his Forehead a horned Moon his Apparel skins of Beasts laid down with Snakes he has two Wifes the Goddess of the Water and Chati who has already dyed One and twenty times and because every time she dies he puts one of her Bones upon his Neck he now wears One and twenty Bones there Having shared his Body with his Wife and she hers with him he is halfe Man halfe Woman his care is to finish all things Bramâ—… to Create and Vistnu's to govern them 9. The God Ixora lives in Calaya a most delicious Mountain for Woods Gardens Fountains Birds and Nymphs among them there is nothing but Harmony The desert parts of it are inhabited by Riâ—…is Hermits much esteemed for sanctity in a private and most pretious Tabernacle is the Silver Rose with two Musical white Nymphs and among them the Linga or Eternal God placed on a Lion of inestimable value and invisible 10. Brama and Vistnu envying Ixoras's greatness set themselves against him he said if they could find his beginning or end they should be his Superiors Vistnu looked for his Feet and Brama and for his Head the first was deterred by a Snake the second disswaded by Roses he brib'd them to testifie he had seen his Head which they did Vistnu sensible of the fraud turn'd them into Beasts and cut off one of his Heads of his Blood sprang a Man with Five hundred Heads and One thousand Hands Ixora did penance for this crime and travelling came to a place where they threw several Beasts at him he catched â—…ead them and cloathed himself with their Skins being over-powered Vistnu came to his Aid in the shape of a beautiful Maid and his Enemies were astonished at her form Ixora having to do with her a Son was born Ixora and Vistnu differed about whom it should belong too and a Heavenly Spirit reconciled them taking it to himself He bred him an expert Archer and kept him as his guard against Sagatracavaxem the Giant of Five hundred Heads and One thousand Hands sprung from Bramas Head cut off by Ixora This pilgrimage of Ixora gave the Original to the Pilgrims called Iogues who wander about living upon Charity wearing Periwigs and strewed with Ashes 11. Ixora has four Children the first has the Face of an Elephant the second of a Monkey the third is Superbenia with six Faces and twelve Arms the fourth a young Woman called Patracali The Father and his Wife Chati converted into Elephants begot a Son with an Elephant's Head and four Arms he is wonderful big and rides on a Mouse The first fruits of all that is sowed are offered to him 12. The Bramones who are the Masters of their Ceremonies abstain from Fish Flesh Eggs and Wine of other things they Eat and Drink without measure they celebrate the Aniversaries of their Dead with great Banquets they are so much afraid of the Moon on the fourth Day after the full that they shun seeing even the reflection of her in the Water 13. Chati washing her self in the time of her courses produced a Man Her Husband cut of his Head which rowling to the foot of his Mountain Calaya brought forth the Tree on which grow the Coco's which therefore have the resemblance of Eyes Nose and Mouth But the Wife complaining Ixora cut of an Elephants Head and put it to the Body which remained Man and Elephant Then both converting themselves into Monkeys begot one but she ashamed to bring it forth desired the Wind to translate it to another Womb and it was removed to that of the Wife of the Heavenly Spirits She was delivered of and Ixora gave him great power calling him Anuman This is the Reason the Indians adore Monkeys 14. Patracali Ixoras's Daughter is black she has eight Faces and sixteen Arms great round Eyes Hogs Teeth two Elephants for pendants she is cloathed with Snakes her Hair like the Peacocks Tails has several things in her hands particularly Arms the Devil Medala waits on her she seeing her Father could not overcome the Giant Daridabaxada Conquered him by Policy Ixora to deliver her from Enemies sent her to live invisible among Men. At Sea she overcame some Fishermen and landed at Coulam and marryed the Prince of Coulett who being falsly accused of stealing the Queen of Pande's Bracelets was impaled Patracali brought him to Life caused Sacrifice to he offered to him and thus freed from the bands of wedlock remained a Virgin 15. Ixora in a passion threw his Wig on the ground which became an Armed fierce Man who cut off the Head of Lecxaprazava King of the Peringales and the Hand of the God of Fire and the Sun's Teeth Ixora put on a Goats-head upon Lecxaprazava's Shouldiers instead of his own CHAP. II. The Metamorphoses or Transformations 1. THE God Vistnu is black he has four Hands and always lies sleeping on his back in the Sea of Milk yet so he governs the whole World his Bed is the Snake Ananta which has five Heads on four he lays his Hands on the other his Head the Snake asked him in case she had
detained by Order of the Governour and finding himself Prisoner left seven of the twelve he had brought as Hostages He complained but to no effect the faithful Moor Moncayde solliciting for him with all possible diligence Gama being abroad and finding no fair means could prevail to have his men restored having called a Council it was resolved to apply force accordingly he sent out after some Fishermen and took twenty of them Immediately he let fly his Sails making shew of departing that they might send to stay him And accordingly it succeeded for the King informed of the reason why his Subjects were taken ordered the seven Portugueses to be exchanged for them and sent the Answer for our King and excused the treachery of his People The fortunate Gama steers homeward the Moor Moncayde came voluntarily with him and some of the Prisoners by force who were not restor'd it being thought convenient to bring some to shew promising them they should return 11. As he was leaving the Sea of Calicut sixty Vessels full of Armed Men set upon and pressed him but the Cannon being well played they went off Sailing along in sight of Land he set up the Cross of St. Mary in an Island between Baranor and Baticale which thence took name with admiration of the Inhabitants This was the sixth and last he set up this Voyage they were St. Raphael in the River Bons Sinays St. George at Mozambique St. Stephen at Melinde and St. Gabriel at Calicut Whilst he was erecting the last Cross he writ a Letter to the Zamori or King of Calicut by the hand of Moncayde and sent it by a Fisherman of that place In this Letter he excuses himself for carrying away those Prisoners which he did not in satisfaction of the Merchandise taken from him but as an earnest that he would return with them when he had shewed them to his Prince and they informed him of the state of their Country and that in recompence he would bring a perfect account of Spain In this Voyage he discovered 1200 Leagues drawing a strait Line from the River del Infante found by Bartholomew Diaz to the Port of Calicut for in sailing it is much more Here he found the Island the People of Canara call Anchediva near the Continent it is small well shaded with Trees of a wholsom Air and has good Water Anche or Ange singnifies Five and Diva Islands there being so many but the Chief has carried the Name He was here careening his Ships taking water and some respite when a Pirat attacked him with eight small Vessels so linked and covered with Boughs that they looked like a small floating Island He was somewhat surprized at first sight but perceiving the danger that approached under those Leaves he attacked it and having put to flight seven took one Vessel The Name of this Pirat was Timoja we shall hear of him hereafter The Prince of Goa by means of a Jew endeavoured to draw Gama to his ruin the Jew from shoar making signs with a Cross who being taken aboard and put upon the Wrack confessed he was sent with an ill design and repenting was baptized and called Gaspar de Gama Some of the men died whilst they were sailing acroâ—…s the Great Gulph between India and the Coast of Melinde He Anchored in sight of the Town of Magadoxa which stands on an open Coast but is beautiful and strong Not far from thence came out against him eight Boats well manned but were soon repulsed He came to Melinde and was received by that King as a Friend Being again under sail the Ship St. Raphael struck and was lost leaving that Name to those Sands The men were saved by the other two Ships and they parted by a Storm near Cabo Verde Nicholas Câ—…ello arrived at Lisbon believing his Commander was there before him but he was burying his Brother Paul de Gama in the Island Tercera Soon after he came up the Tagus having been out two Years and almost two Months He carried out 160 men and returned only with 55. They were all rewarded by the King Vasco de Gama had the priviledge of being called Don annexed to his Family to his Arms was added part of the Kings he had the Title of Admiral of the Eastern Seas 3000 Ducats yearly and afterwards the Title of Count Vidigueyra Nicholas Coello was made a Fidalgo which is Noble and had a 100 Ducats a year 12. Prince Henry the First Author of thefe Discoveries had built a Chappel on the Banks of the River a League below Lisbon for the conveniency of Sailers In the same place now did King Emanuel erect a stately Church to the same intent and with the same name it had before to wit Our Lady of Bethlehem placing the Statue of the Prince over the Great Gate his own and the Queens over the lesser This is a Monastery of the Order of St. Hierom and for its security was built in the Water a strong Tower called St. Vincent not great but sightly CHAP. V. Conquests under King Emanuel from the Year 1500 till the Year 1502. 1. THere were Publick Thansgivings through the Kingdom for the good success of this Voyage to these succeeded Feasts and Joyful Entertainments And all mens expectation being raised with the glory of the Action and hope of ensuing Profit it was consulted how to prosecute what was begun and resolved that according to the disposition they had found in the People of those Countries there was more need of Force than Intreaty in order whereunto thirteen Vesses of several sizes were fitted and Peter Alvarez Cabral was named Admiral On the 8th of March the King delivered with his own hand to the Admiral the Flag of the Cross. The Shoar was covered with People who flocked to see the Fleet sail It contained 1200 Men 8 Franciscan Friers 8 Chaplains and a Chaplain Major The substance of their Instructions was to begin by Preaching and if that failed to proceed to the decision of the Sword 2. Twelve days the Fleet sailed with a fair Gale but at Cape Verde a Storm arose and one of the Vessels returned to Lisbon In 10 degrees of South Latitude they saw a Tawny People with lank Hair and flat Faces They fled from our Men till halting all together upon â—…n eminence they were spoke to in several Languages and by Signs but all in vain The Fleet passed on and Anchored upon Easter Eve in a Port they called Seguro or Safe because it proved so to them The People being affable our Men landed and set up an Altar under a Tree where there was Mass said and a Sermon preached to which those Heathens were present with wonderful attention The Admiral sent a Vessel to advertise the King of this discovery and erected a Cross on a great Tree calling the Country Santa Cruz or Holy Cross. He also left there two Portugueses to enquire into the Customs Language and Product of the Country This is that large
transparent From letters they proceed to composition such as are approved of are Printed every 3 Years and learners study them There are no Universities every Master reaches all that is requisite for a man to know as well in learning as manners and behaviour The Disciples of quality never go any where without the Master there are many Schools for the common sort but no Master can take more Schollars than he can teach himself for he is not to trust to another Their Days of recreation are the first 15 in the Year and some others but few in the 5th and 7th Moon The Masters that serve in great Houses Eat at their patrons Table 2. They have large and stately Halls richly adorned where they examine students whereof there are great numbers in every City and Town but chiefly in the Metropolis of Provinces where they take their Degrees These buildings for the most part are all of the same form some bigger than others but all large the greatest of our Pallaces is not equal to the least of them in every one is an infinite number of little rooms where such as are to be examined compose each by himself with a Soldier to attend him that the more learned may not help the ignorant The Hall of Quantung which is the least has 6000 of these Cels and the number of students is greater 3. There attend all the time of the examination Prefidents Magistrates Examiners Clerks and all sorts of Trades and all that are there are maintained ind yet and lodging the whole time upon the publick charge The Order and disposition of all things is much to be admired formerly Gentlemen were not admitted to take any degree because not imployed in the Government but they perceiving that only the learned rose obtained though with difficulty to be admitted to both such as are any way infamous cannot take a degree The degrees are 3 answerable to oâ—… of Batchelor Master of Arts and Doctor the Chancellor goes about the Townâ—…â—…d Cities to examine the first the second is done in the Metropolis of each Province once in 3 Years in each of these Acts there are above 7000 students and above 1500 take the degree of Master of Arts. The Doctors are only made at Court on a sudden a Bricklayer or Taylor is set up in state the marks of this dignity are given them and are a Cap Gown Tassels and Boots all put on with much Ceremony The King defrays the whole charge and every one that takes this degree stands him in 1000 Ducats 4. Of those that go to the Court to take their degree 350 are admitted to that of Doctors the marks of that honour except the Boots which are the same in all differ very much in the value besides those mentioned they have a girdle they wear them all in the employments they get and the last is still richer as they â—…e preferred There is another examination at which the King used to be present now a Colao supplies his place after it they go to salute the King who is on his Throne and gives with his own hand a premium to each of the three first presented the first of the 3 is superior over all the others and has a particular name as has the second and third this is so great an honour that soon after the whole Kingdom knows them by those names and their degree of honour is equal to our Dukes Out of the 350 are chosen 25 who have Pallaces assigned them and are subject to the Colao that is president of the great College of him they learn the speculative part of Government Hence they are preferred to employments superior to Viceroy ships only such as are of that College are admitted to the supream dignity of Colao when one of these 25 Doctors is made a Mandarin especially if he be one of the three presented by the King there is erected to him in his own Country a triumphal Arch all of Marble and very stately with his name on the front 5. Nothing can be said distinctly of their Sciences because in reality they know no distinction Three of their Kings were the masters of the â—…oral and Speculative learning under myâ—…ical numbers and Symbols they were also the Legislators Above 1000 Years before Christ two other Kings composed the book called Yequim being a comment upon those Symbols then followed Philosophers like the Stoicks The most famous Confucius composed 9 Books which are esteem'd chiefly 5 of them like our Holy writ many Doctors comment upon them he flourished 500 Years before Christ and aimed at the Reformation of Mankind and is held in veneration as the universal Master and a Saint with Temples dedicated to him The Government of the City where he was born remains in his Family the immediate successor has the title revenue and state of a Duke they are all as soon as born held in great veneration 6. The 5 principal Books are Yequim that treats of natural Philosophy fate and predictions the second Xoquim of Chronology the third Xiquim Poetically discourses of the Nature of things and Human Affections the fourth Liquin of Divine Worship the fifth Chunâ—…icu Examples of good and bad Kings There are 4 other Books of the same Author and another called Mencu that treat of Physicks and Morals out of these is taken a subject for the compositions of such as are examined there are also 9 Books of Comments upon those but only one of them is established by Law 7. They consider 3 principal objects in the World Heaven Earth and Man and accordingly their learning is divided into 3 Sciences that of Heaven treats of the Original of all things that of the Earth of its position product and variety that of Man of his manners and affections to whom they ascribe 5 Moral Virtues Piety Justice Policy Prudence and Felicity respecting 5 Orders of Persons in the Common-wealth Father and Son Husband and Wife King and Subject elder and younger Brother and friends among themselves 8. They have rules of Grammar understand Rhetorick are well skilled in Arithmetick and have knowledge of Geometry but know nothing of Dialectica and Algebra Astronomy is a profession only allowed to two Persons to study one in each Court and they leave it hereditary to their Sons they reckon 5 Elements Water Metal Fire Wood and Earth and appropiate to them as many Planets Mercury Venus Mars Iupiter Saturn The Zodiack they divide into 24 Signs the Year into 12 Moons and 354 Days making a Bissextile every three Years of 13 Moons and 383 Days it begins with the next Moon to the 5th of February Their Musick consists all of one sound the Bonzes sing after the manner of our plain Song their Instruments are of several sorts for the most part noisy and some like ours such as are played upon strings have them of Silk 9. Poetry was always much esteemed in China all that was published of this sort used to be sent to the
somewhat in general of India whereof much relates to the greatest Part of Asia Those Heathens have a Book they believe in and esteem as we do the Holy Scripture It is writ in Verse as they say that understand it pleasing and ingenious but it seems strange to us there should be any Harmony in Verses composed of Seventy-five Syllables for so many an Author say they contain 10. They believe in one God Creator of all Things yet allow other increated Gods that there is Heaven and Hell and that the Souls of such as die in Sin go into Beasts and stay there till being purged they go to Eternal Rest. They esteem Cows as properest for this Transmigration When one is dying they bring one to him and put the Tail into his Hand that when his Soul departs it may be near the Door it is to enter at 11. They allow no Free Will and some are of Opinion That the Souls return from Hell into other Bodies till they merit Heaven and that there is an indifferent Place without Reward or Punishment for such as live indifferently The Sins they esteem most hainous are Murder Theft Drinking of Wine taking away another Man's Wife The First is wiped off with Pilgrimages the second with Alms the third with Fasting and the fourth with Sacrifices some are of Men the greatest of Cows Some will lie down under the Wheels of the heavy Carts of their Idols which crush them to peices Others wear irons with Spikes that run into them Others hang themselves on a Hook and there sing Verses to their Idols 12. They maintain Hospitals where they look after sick Birds and Beasts and send Men abroad to bring them in but have no Comâ—…assion for Men saying Those Afflictions are sent them for their Sins There are Men employed to buy Birds or other Creatures only to restore them to their Liberty They believe God has five Regents that govern the World and every one of them a Wife those are called Xadaxivam Rudra Maescura Visnu and Brabema the Wives Humani Parvadi Maenomadi Lacami and Exarasvadi The first governs the first Heaven where are all the Planets the second the Fire the third the Air the fourth the Water the fifth the Earth Brahema Visnu and Rudra are the Chief and form a Body with three Heads called Mahamurte signifying the three Chiefs Hence it is inferred the Indians had some knowledge though imperfect of the Blessed Trinity 13. They are much addicted to Witchcraft and Superstition and believe there are Fourteen Worlds and that this we live in is an Image of that in Heaven Their several Families touch not one another not eat together Tradesmen cannot marry out of their own Trade The most renowned Families among them are the Raja's an ingenuous People that rather lose their Lives than their Arms in Battle The Bramenes who contend for Precedence with the Raja's The Chatines which are the richest Merchants The Bâ—…lalas or Country People held in such esteem that Kings marry their Daughters to them saying They are the Publick Substance From these four Roots â—…pring One hundred ninety-six Branches divided into Valangas that is of the Right-hand and Elanges of the Left but none of these are honoured as the other four 14. Let us say somewhat of the Christians of St. Thomas Four Leagues from Cochim on the Malabar Coast is the City Cranganor almost encompassed by a River inhabited by Christians Gentiles Mahometans and Iews The whole Kingdom takes Name from the City it has a great Trade is frequented by Merchants from Siria Egypt Persia and Arabia by reason of the plenty of Pepper brought thither At the arrival of the Portugueses in India it was governed in the form of a Commonwealth but subject to Zamori whom they cast off seeing him weakned by our Arms. 15. Their Heathen Rites are the same with those of the other Malabars The Christians called of St. Thomas who inhabit from this Câ—…ty to Coromandel and Meliapor the place where that Apostle was buried have Churches like ours in Europe on the Altars and Walls Crosses painted but no other Images no Bells the People meet on Sundays to hear Sermons and other Service Their head Bishop resides in Chaldea has twelve Cardinals two Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates and Fathers 16. The Priests are shorn in the form of a Cross they consecrate leavened Bread and Wine made of Rasins for want of other Baptize after Forty Days unless there be danger of Death instead of extream Unction the Priests bless the Sick use Holy Water bury after our manner the Relations and Friends eat together eight Days while the Ceremonies last If there be no Will the next of Kin inherits the Widows recover their Portion but forfeit it if they Marry within a Year 17. They have all our Holy Scripture in Hebrew and Caldaick with Expositions which they Read in Schools their Divines interpret it well chiefly the Prophets which they study most They observe the same Lent and Advent as we do Oâ—… the Eve of the Resurrection they neither eat nor drink and keep that Day with great Solemnity as also the Sunday of Pastor Bonus in remembrance that on that Day St. Thomas felt our Saviour's side they observe our very Festivals as Sundays the Feasts of our Lord Lady and Apostles and have the same Bissextile or Leap Year as the Latines Both they and the Gentiles keep the Feast of the Apostle on the first Day of Iune There are Monasteries of Monks and Nuns cloathed in black and religiously observe their Rules The Priests observe conjugal Chastity and marry not a second time There is no Divorce allowed beween Man and Wife 18. In the Year 1544 came to Cochim Iacob a Caldean Bishop of Cranganor where being dangerously sick he sent for the Treasurer Peter de Sequeyra and told him Necessity had obliged him to pawn two Copper-Plates with Characters engraven on them which were Original Grants and Privileges bestowed on the Apostle St. Thomas by the Sovereigns of those Countries when he Preached there that he desired him to release them least they should be lost if he died for if he lived he would take them out himself This Prelate found the only way to lose them in trusting the Portugueses for Sequeyra paid the Two hundred Royals they were pawned for put them into the Treasury and they were never more heard of 19. The Governor Martin Alfonso de Sousa after long search for some Body that could understand them had found a retired Jew on the Mountain who said they were writ in the Caldean Malabar and Arabian Languages and the Substance of them was That the Prince then Reigning of his free Gift granted to Thomas at Cranganor such a Parcel of Ground to build a Church for the Maintenance whereof he assigned the Fifths of Merchandize 20. Very much might be said of the Island Ceylon but I will only add a little to what is already said About five hundred Years
of them D. Alvaro the Governours Son sent with Supplies seemed to sail in opposition to the Seas and Winds through Storms almost incredible Yet they all arrived at Baçaim and Antony Moniz Barreto with 8 Gentlemen got first into Diu who though so few by their Bravery were no small comfort to the besieged One of these called Michael Darnide a Man of prodigious Strength Barreto refusing to take him into his Boat leaped into the Water with his Musquet in his Mouth and swam after him so he was obliged to take him up 6. Next came Luis de Melo Mendoça with nine Men then D. George and D. Duarte de Meneses with seventeen after them D. Antony de Ataide and Francis Guillerme with fifty each and lastly Ruy Freyre Factor of Chaul with Twenty four All together fell upon the Enemy then possessed of some of our Works and among them the Bastion Santiago The Dispute was hot yet the Enemy set up their Colours on the Walls Antony Moniz Barreto made good his Post with only two Souldiers and was going to quench his Flames in the Water but one of the two who was in the same condition detained him and both did things worthy admiration Antony Correa sallied out with Twenty Men to discover the Enemy and saw Twelve Moors sitting about a Fire he exhorted his Men to fall upon them but they seeing him go on fled however he went on thinking to take one that might give Intelligence He fell on and behaved himself bravely yet he was taken and carried to Rumecan who Examined him about the posture the Fort was in which being then very miserable he represented so powerful as drove him into despair and moved him to cause the unfortunate Prisoner to be dragged through the Streets and his Head cut off which was set upon a Pole next day in sight of the Fort. 7. The Enemy had now lost Five thousand Men the Besieged Two hundred and had not so many more left and not above half them able to do Duty when D. Alvaro arrives with the Supplies which consisted of Four hundred Men and a sufficient quantity of Ammunition having by the way taken a Ship of Cambaya richly laden The Joy of this Relief was soon allayed for the Souldiers that came with D. Alvaro fearing the Mines proposed to meet the Enemy in open Field But the Governour prudently refusing they broke out into open Mutiny in contempt of all Military Discipline scarce known or at least not respected by the Portugues Nation D. Iohn seeing himself in danger of perishing in the Fort by his own Men chose rather to dye in the Field among the Enemies He sallied with almost Five hundred Men in three Bodies At one heat they gained the Enemies advanced Post forcing them to retire to their Works Those who insolently forced their Commander to this Extravagancy stood heartless at the Foot of the Trenches seeing others mount who had said less D. Iohn seeing them in this posture cried out Whether it was thus they had promised to fight Where was now that Boldness that obliged him to come into the Field Where the Threats that they would fight the Enemy without him Behold your Commander you accused of Cowardize calls you to the danger And who is there follows me of those that would have led me hither Within the Walls you were fierce and now in the Field timorous Your Courage suits with your Tongues for those who said much always acted little They ashamed to be thus justly upbraided took Heart and mounted The whole Army came down upon them and the Portugueses having done wonders were forced to retire in disorder This was the time the Enemy had possessed himself of the Fort had not Mascarenas with his Prudence and Valour prevented Mojatecan who with Five thousand attempted to enter and was valiantly opposed by Luis de Sousa in St. Thomas's Bulwark Threescore Men were lost in this Action D. Alvaro de Castro was mortally Wounded in the Head This was the fruit of that insolent Disobedience 8. The Moors had taken the Cannon of the Bastion Santiago when Vasco de Cuna and Luis de Almeyda brought a fresh Relief The latter immediately went out with Payo Rodriguez and Peter Alfonso in three Caravels and as soon returned with two great Ships of Meca and some other Vessels whose Loading was worth Fifty thousand Ducats At the Yard-Arms hung many Moors whose Heads were then cut off as was the Captains who was a Janizary and offered Three thousand Ducats for his Ransom CHAP. III. Continues the Siege of Diu the Governour D. John de Castro comes in Person to its Relief 1. NOw begins the Month of November and the Siege had lasted eight Months when the Governour D. Iohn de Castro covers the Sea with a great Fleet of all sorts of Vessels for the Relief of Diu. All Goa admired the Constancy wherewith he received the News of the Death of his Son D. Fernando for though he highly resented it he dissembled his Grief and dressing himself gayer than ordinary went in Procession to give God Thanks That Diu was still in the possession of the Portugueses and then went to a publick Feast which is an Imitation of a Fight wherein they use Canes instead of Lances 2. The Fleet consisted of above Ninety Sail besides three of the Ships that then came from Portugal and several Gentlemen that came in them went in other Vessels 3. The Governour being come to Baçaim waited the coming up of the Vessels that were scattered and the mean while sent D. Emanuel de Lima to scour the Coast. On the Coast of Damam he took several Ships and cutting the Moors that were in them in pieces threw them into the Mouths of the Rivers that the Tide carrying them up they might strike a Terrour in all that Coast. Entring the River of Suratt after a vigorous Resistance made he destroyed all that belonged to the Town called Of the Ethiopians The same was done at the City Ansote not far distant without sparing Beauty the finest Women of the Bramens and Baneans being slaughtered So in other Neighbouring Towns and then D. Emanuel withdrew leaving an Universal Terrour all along that Shoar 4. The Fleet appearing in the Sea of Diu the Enemy stood amazed though they had just then received a supply of Five thousand fresh Men sent by the King The Governour went privately into the Fort and afterwards Landed his Men. He proposed in Council Whether it was fit presently to march out and fight the Enemy The Question was debated till the Experienced Garcia de Sa put an end to it saying They â—…ught to fight They marched in this order D. Iohn Mascarenas Commander of the Fort led the Van consisting of Five hundred Men D. Alvaro led as many Don Emanuel de Lima the like number The Governour led the rest which were One thousand and a Body of Indians Among the Men were some Portugues Women in mens Cloaths to assist the
sent the year before by King Emanuel entered not upon the Government till the twenty second of Ianuary of this year King Iohn III. being on the Throne whose Father died the thirteenth of December foregoing He brought with him twelve Ships Having taken the Government and sent the Commanders to their Posts he began to feel the effects of his Predecessors putting Portugues Officers into the Custom-House of Ormuz He received advice the Moors had taken Arms killed some Men and besieged the Fort. D. Luis his Brother was immediately sent with relief and Simon de Andre made Commander of Chaul who began his Charge with taking two Turkish Gallies and a Victory in Dabul which reduced that City to pay Tribute Melique Az. terrified with this Success and the arrival of D. Luis of whose Actions in Africk he was informed withdrew his Vessels from before Chaul 2. The Cause of D. Luis his going to Ormuz was the Insurrection which was occasioned by the avarice of the Portugues Officers there Iames Lopez had placed them there against his Will in Obedience to the King's Commands and at the persuasion of Men who loved Novelties and said the reason the Tribute of Ormuz was not well paid was that the Officers cheated the King to prevent which it was convenient to place Portugueses in their stead To the avarice used by the Portugueses was added the Violence they offered to the persons and honor of those people forcing their Daughters and Wives from them D. Garcia Coutino then commanded that Fort with whom that King conferred about sending a Present and Embassy to our King to obviate the Inconveniences that Innovation produced This Means was prevented and so it broke out to the great loss of the Portugueses For sudddenly by night they were attacked by Sea and Land with Fire and Sword at Ormuz Baharem Mascate Curiate and Soar by private Order from the King and above one hundred and twenty of them killed Ruy Boto was put to great Torments by the Moors in defence of the Faith At morning some of our Men died endeavouring to relieve others All things being disposed the best the time would permit and the Ships secured under the shelter of the Fort D. Garcia sent advice to the Governor Mean while he was besieged had two Vessels burnt and feared Hunger and Thirst. Tristan Vaz de Vega and Manuel de Sousa received advice hereof at Mascate and prepared to carry Relief Tristan Vaz arrived first and made his way to the Fort through one hundred and sixty Sail that lay before it Two days after appeared Manuel de Sousa's Ship at an anchor two Leagues off It was dangerous for the Fort to relieve him and dangerous for all if he was not relieved Tristan Vaz with his Ship ventured to his Aid through the hundred and sixty Sail of Enemies eighty of them pursued him making way with full Sails and Manuel de Sousa thinking him an Enemy did some harm till undeceived he was taken into the Ship The King of Ormuz in a rage lays a heap of Gold on one side and a heap of Womens Attire on the other the one for such as should take Tristan and Emanuel Prisoners the other â—…or such as behaved themselves not couragiously Some being covetous of the Reward and others fearful of the Disgrace they manned one hundred and thirty Vessels and set upon that one which through Showers of Bullets and Arrows made its way to the Fort and brought new Life to the besieged with the Relief it had on Board 3. The King of Ormuz began to despair of shaking off the Portugues Yoke and fearing the punishment of his Revolt executed one more grievous upon himself than he could have received from those he had offended He resolved to quit the City and go over to the Island Queixome which lies fifteen Leagues in length close to the Perâ—… Shoar and three Leagues from Ormuz is fruitful but not healthy Privately he commanded all the Inhabitants to follow him and then barbarously set fire to that beautiful City which was four Days and Nights burning And yet some Gentlemen from our Fort held intelligence with the King advising how he should behave himself with the next Governour to be restored and this they did in hopes to be inriched by him Our Men tho astonished at this brutal Action were delivered from the danger of the Siege and going out to see if any thing were left in the City only found Water in Cisterns and Fire in all the Houses Soon after came in a Ship from India with Provisions and another with Ammunition 4. D. Luis de Meneses sent by the Goververnor his Brother to Ormuz did nothing of Note by the way but arrived at the Town of Soar with ten Sail. This Town they destroyed with Fire and Sword and then gave it to Xecâ—… Hozem to hold of the King of Portugal Mean while his own Favourites murdered the King of Ormuz at Queixome and crowned Mamud Xa a Youth of thirteen years of Age Son to the late King 5. D. Luis arrived at Queixome and after several Designs that took no effect came to aâ—… Treaty with the new King It was agreed that the King should return to Ormuz that he should pay the former Tribute of twenty thousand Xeraphins and the Arrears due that the Portugues Commanders should not meddle with the Government of his City and to conclude all that King sent D. Luis a Present of Pearls Gold Jewels and Silks for our King and another for himself which he accepted not but to be sent with the other as was publickly done Then D. Luis dispatched three Ships for Goa which were to take lading there for Portugal One of them perished in a violent storm on the Coast of Mascate D. Luis followed soon after and came to Goa 6. He found the Governor his Brother and all the City in Tears for the Death of King Emanuel the News whereof was brought by one of three Ships that came from Portugal this year whereof two had wintered at Mozambique The Goverâ—…or went over to Cochin to dispatch the trading Ships for Portugal and other parts At this time D. Pedro de Castro was not idle at Mozambique for being informed by Iohn de Mata who commanded that Fort that the Island Querimba and the adjacent denied the Tribute to those of Zanzibar and Pemba whereby they were disabled from paying theirs to us he went to Querimba with an hundred Men and after a shaâ—…p Fight burnt the City and obliged the Lord of it to pay the Tribute the others terrified by this Example submitted At his return he wasi n great danger by Storms and Hunger and his Cousin D. Christopher killed by the Blacks who defended the Fruit of certain Trees which our Men were carried to taste by Hunger not Curiosity D. Diego de Melo went now with him to Goa D. Pedro's Ship being at an Anchor in that Port suddenly sunk down right being very old whereby it
were this Year very strong in those Seas One of the 3 Galleons was cast away near Sancham 60 Leagues from Macao the Sea then running so high that it drowned several Towns There were above 200 Men in that Vessel whereof about 60 Portugueses and 80 others escaped They chose Gonzalo Machado a noted Souldier to command them and having the good Fortune to be well treated cloathed and fed by the Chineses came to a City where they were so nobly entertained they had almost forgot the end of their Voyage Their common Food was three Pullets a day each they were feasted on the River in stately Boats like Palaces with several Apartments and garnished with Gold In fine on their way thence to Macao they were attended as if they had been Chinese Colaos or Mandarines At the Inns they were treated with a sort of Food most pleasant and delicious which afterwards they were informed was made of Toads and Worms What chiefly they admired after this Journey was the Chastity of the Chinese Women for tho' they are beautiful and Beauty be inclined to Wantonness and though our Men were long among them and familiarly entertained yet they could never by any means prevail with any of them to yield to their Desires At Macao they found the other two Galleons which had escaped the Storm having more Sea room 11. Near the end of this Year Luis de Brito Melo entred the Port of Goa from Cruizing in the Sea of Diu and brought with him a rich Ship of the Mogol's that came from Meca He took her off of Suratt after a vigorous resistance in which he lost some Men and was forced to send to Ruy Freyre for aid This provoked the Mogol to Besiege Damam and destroy the Country about it The King of Decan did the same about Chaul and Bacaim at the Instigation of the Mogol who thought to drive us out of Asia 12. A Letter writ by D. Luis de Gama from Ormuz with more Passion than Discretion moved the Persians on the other side to gather 300 Barques in order to take the Port of Bandel and stop the Course of the Water that goes to Ormuz Ferdinand de Silva Admiral of that Sea went to quell them and as he ingaged his Powder taking fire was blown up D. Nunno Alvarez Pereyra succeeded him who drove them away with such slaughter that the Xa of Persia excused himself to the viceroy saying that attempt was made only by the Sultan of Lara 13. Francis Lopez Calleyros brought into Malaca a Dutch Pink that had taken a rich Portugues Ship The News of the Hollanders taking that Prize was the occasion of his setting out in a Ship of his own with 28 Soldiers 14. This Year expired with great dissatisfaction in India tho' the like had happened other times for the Ships from Portugal which were expected with impatience the better to oppose the English and Hollanders were forced back to Lisbon after having been five Months abroad they were four 15. D. Hierome de Almeyda returning to Portugal with the Ships of the last Year in the Bay of St. Helena met four mighty Holland Ships They sought with much equal Courage and Loss The Dutch Admiral was sunk and ours beginning to take fire Emanuel de Prado Magallanes rowled himself upon it till he quenched it For this Action the Command of the Fort of Mascate was given him with the Privilege of leaving it to whom he pleased in his Will We shall see him hereafter serve well and die valiantly in fight CHAP. III. Continues the Government of D. Hierome de Azevedo in the Year 1614. 1. THE King of Ova grown Proud with his success against the Portugueses at Siriam resolved to conquer all the neighbouring Princes He caused himself to be Crowned at Bagou and by the Conduct of his Brother with 50000 Men was soon Master of the Kingdom of Tavay This General moves to Tenasarim and Besieges it by Sea and Land Christopher Rabelo who had fled from his House at Cochim for some Crimes durst attack his Fleet of 500 Sail with only 40 Portugueses and 70 Slaves in 4 Galliots and put it to flight after burning many Vessels and killing 2000 Men. 2. The King of Siam to whom that Town belonged for joy of this Action highly honoured the Victorious Portugueses and offered them leave to build a Fort in any part of his Kingdom they would chuse to this intent sending for Iames de Mendoça Furtado who was in that Sea with a Squadron and offering him the Title of an Earl with a suitable Revenue but there being too much then on our hands these offers could not be accepted of Furtado in his way to Maâ—… destroyed the Towns of Queda and Paâ—… with Fire and Sword 3. D. Iames de Vasconcelos sailed from Gao with the Squadron for the North consisting of 17 Sail he had orders to take in D. Emanuel de Azevedo at Chaul and carry him to Diu being appointed Commander of that Place By the way landing at the River Sifardam in Melique's Lands he destroyed a Town abandoned by the Inhabitants 4. Azevedo being come to Diu. seized on the Goods of his Predecessor Sebastian de Macedo for the Money he was indebted to the King Next he resolved to fall upon the People of Por for the Damage the Trade of Diu sustained by their means Gaspar de Melo Sampayo was sent with a Squadron to this Expedition who came before that City 40 Leagues distant with much difficulty because our Vessels could go but one at a time up a narrow Creek that leads to it and the Enemy pour'd in showers of Bullets and Arrows from the Shore and from the Bastions killing 18 of our Men. The Walls were scaled on the one side whilst our Men entred at a Breach on the other notwithstanding the vigorous opposition of 4000 resolute Enemies whereof many were slain the rest fled some into the Fields and others to a Fort standing in the middle of the Town 5. Those in the Fort offered Forty thousand Crowns if we would not batter the Place It was denied they attacked to no purpose and our Men forced to depart with double dissatisfaction for refusing the offer and suffering the repulse The City was plundered 1000 killed and 300 taken the Houses then fired being full of Perfumes cast a delightful smell 6. Iames de Vasconcelos from Diu sailed with 9 Ships to the mouth of the River of Agaçaim where 16 Paraos of Malabars set upon him Without the Loss of one Man he slew many took several Prisoners and all the Paraos Vasconcelos himself took one of them thinking their Commander Porcasse had been in it but that Honour fell to Michael Ferran de Castellobranco 7. Ruy Freyre de Andrade went from Damam to Chaul to succeed in that Command to D. Emanuel de Azevedo who was gone to that of Diu. He was ordered by the Viceroy only to secure himself within the Walls and not attempt