The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. VIII.

Continues the Government of D. Duarte de Meneses from the Year 1522, till the Year 1524, King John then reigning.

1. ANtony de Miranda de Azevedo was this year Commander of the Fort of Pacem, in the Island Sumatra. On the Western Coast of this Island are six Moor∣ish Kingdoms. The chief was that of Pedir, to which were subject those of Achem and Daga. But falling to War, that of Achem gained the Superiority. He of Pedir took the protection of our Fort against his ill

Fortune. D. Andres Enriquez then com∣manded it, sent to that Post from Portugal with D. Duarte de Meneses.

2. The Tyrant of Achem scoured the Sea and Land with a great Power, till coming to the City Pedir, he endeavoured to draw to his snare the King who had taken the Portugues Protection. To compass his Design, he prevailed with the Men of that City to write a Letter to the King, telling him he might safely come thither, his Ene∣my being already expelled, and that he might easily destroy him with the assistance of the Portuguses. He gave credit to the letter, desired the assistance of the Com∣mander, who gave him eighty Portugueses and two hundred Moors, commanded by his Brother D. Emanuel in small Vessels of Oars. The King marched along the Shore with above a thousand armed Elephants. He was received at Pedir with feigned Joy, and a Design to take him Prisoner that night, which was deferred to secure the Portugueses. The King being informed of the danger, next day fled with two Elephants and some Men. The Portugueses were left on the Shore exposed to the Enemies Darts and Arrows. D. Emanuel and thirty five of them were killed, the rest fled. With this loss D. Andres lost also the hopes of maintaining the Fort. He asked Provisions of Raphael Perestello, who was at Charigam, the chief Port of Bengala. Dominick Seixas was immediately sent with a Ship, who was stopped by thirty Portugueses, who were turned Pirates in that

Sea, commanded by Games Iago. Seixas landed at Tenacari to get Provisions, and one Brito making himself Captain of the Pyrats (Gago being dead) and flying with a Vessel that was laden in the Port, left Seixas and seventeen Portugueses ashore, who were afterwards Slaves in the Kingdom of Siam, Such is the Fate of those who trust them that have violated all human and divine Laws.

3. D. Andres advertised the Governor of the Condition he was in, desiring a Suc∣cessor to command the Fort, Lope de Azeve∣do was sent, to whom he would not deliver the Post through Covetousness of acquiring more, having already gained much there Azevedo returned to India. The King of Achem over-runs all that Country with Fire and Sword, enters the City Pacem with fifteen thousand Men, and summons D. An∣dres to quit the Fort. He after sustaining three Assaults to save the Riches he had there, withdraws, leaving the Command to his Brother-in law Ayres Coello, who cou∣ragiously took upon him this danger he saw the other shun. But the Sea forced back D. Andres to the danger he avoided.

4. D. Andres sailing for India, met Sebastian de Sousa, and Martin Correa, with two Ships bound for the Island Banda to load Spices. Sousa came from Madagascar, whither he was sent by King Emanuel to build a Fort in Port Matatane, which was not executed, because the Ship wherein were the Mate∣rials for the Work was cast away. These

two Captains hearing by D. Andres the Condition of Pacem, went directly to that Port. Ayres Coello had then stood a furious Assault with loss of a Post. The Enemy seeing this Relief, abated of their heat; and D. Andres after eight days resisting was forced back by the Weather. Above eight thousand Enemies one night encompassed the Fort, in which were three hundred and fifty Portugueses, some sick, some wounded, and all spent with labour and watching. With great silence they applied above seven hundred scaling Ladders, and mounted with great Shouts. The Dispute was hotly maintained on both sides, till some Ships being fired, gave light to each other, and to level our Cannon, which killed many of the Enemy and two Elephants. The morning discovered two thousand Men slain about the Fort, on our side only one Wo∣man killed by an Arrow in her Chamber. The remaining six thousand retired, leav∣ing half their scaling Ladders and Fire∣works. Nevertheless the Difficulties of maintaining the place considered, it was resolved in counsel to abandon the Fort, shipping all the Men and Goods, and then giving fire to the rest. The great Cannon were left full of Powder, that when the Fire reached them they might burst. Most of the Fort was destroyed, but the Enemy coming in saved some Cannon, which af∣terwards did us great harm. The Portugueses lost some Goods in shipping, and embar∣qued up to the Necks in Water with the

Fright, losing more Reputation by this Action than they had gained by the former. This they were more sensible of when they met at Sea a more powerful Relief sent by our Friend the King of Aru, who marched by Land with four thousand Men; and Lope de Azevedo, from whom D. Andres ill deserved it, embarqued at Malaca with Ammunition to come to his Succour. Se∣bastian Sousa prosecuted his Voyage to Ban∣da, and the Tyrant Achem followed the For∣tune which had raised him above his own Hopes.

5. At this time Martin Alfonso de Melo Coutino was gone for China, not knowing what had been done by the Portugueses at Quantung. He had four Ships, and two joined them by the way. They sent ashore for fresh Water, and returned with Blood, the Chineses being in Arms to receive them. This drew them to a Battel, in which most of the Portugueses perished, some drowned, some torn by the Cannon, and some taken, part whereof died miserably in the Prison at Quantung, and twenty three were cut in peices as Spies and Robbers, the last part of the Accusation being the truest. Martin Alphonso and Duarte Coello returned to India.

6. All things cannot be exactly related in order as they happened. Malaca was streightned by the King of Bintam, who sent a greater power against it, and George de Albuquerque what he could against him under the Command of D. Sancho Enriquez, whilst they prepared for a Sea-Fight there

arose a violent storm which destroyed se∣venty Portugueses, the whole being two hundred, the Remainder escaped. Let us see how Misfortunes when once they break out overflow.

7. Till now the King of Pam had been a Friend to our good Fortune, but at present seeing she favoured him he turned against us. George de Albuquerque (ignorant of this change) sent three Ships to his Port for Pro∣visions, where two of the Captains and his thirty Men were killed, the third flying this danger met it at Iava, he and all his Com∣pany perishing there. Simon de Abreu and Crew were killed in another Action, and in another D. Garcia Enriquez sent to hinder Provisions coming to Bintam, lost two Vessels.

8. At Surubaya in Iava ten or twelve Portugueses were killed. Sebastian Sousa and Martin Correa found Alfonso de Melo Iusarte in great danger at Banda, having offended the Inhabitants of Cantor through Covetous∣ness.

9. Such was the posture of Affairs at the Malucos, whilst these thing happened. An∣tony de Brito had put the Fort into a very good Condition, when two Bastard Sons of the late King of Ternate disagreeing, and the King of Tidore seeking revenge because the Portugueses had not built in his Island; he agrees with his Daughter the Queen Dowager of Ternate to carry on his Design, at the same time that she had consented to make war upon him. But all the Contri∣vance was discovered, the young King and

his Brothers brought to the Fort, and the Queen fled to the mountain. The War began, and Tidore was besieged. There George Pinto was killed with six Portugueses, and forty Seamen.

10. The Siege continuing, some places were assaulted. At Mariaco was a Fort on a high Ground well ga•…•…isoned, Martin Cor∣rea first, and after him Iohn Mendez en∣tered it with twenty Men. Leonel de Lima relieves them, and at last the Governor of Ternate, Bastard Son to the late King, coming on with his Men, the Tidores were put to flight, and most of them slain. Se∣veral other places being taken, the King of Tidore begged peace, which was not granted him. But because there now comes a Successor to D. Duarte de Meneses, let us take leave of him, he was of a ruddy Com∣plexion, his Beard black, his Cap, upper Ga•…•…nt and Breeches black, the Doublet Crimson, and the Linings. He governed three years, and was the fifth Governor.