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. X.

The Government of the Vice-Roy Ruy Lorenço de Tavora, from the Year 1609, till 1612.

1. SCarce was Ruy Lorrenço de Tavora set∣led in the Government, when there came in 5 Ships from Portugal, which with the same number that carried him made 10, and consequently a great number of Men that went in them.

2. About the beginning of the Year were set out the usual Squadrons, but more nume∣rous and better manned than usual, by reason of the great Preparations before spoke of, and the Men that came newly. At

the same time came from Lisbon 3 Ships for India.

3. The greatest Action at this time was in Ceylon, where D. Hierome de Azevedo, who had that Command, went on with the usual Success that always attended him in that Post. He marched with 700 Portugueses and 25000 Lascarines (that is Chingala Sol∣diers) to assault the City Candea, and find∣ing by the way the Fort of Balane abandoned, left Antony de Costa Monteyro in it with two Companies. Then advancing to the River of Candea, and finding it well fortified, nevertheless he attempted to pass it, recei∣ving the Enemy's Fire, which for some time did no Execution. Yet our Men gave way till F. Gaspar de la Madalena, a Franciscan, ran into the River holding up a Crucifix and encouraging them, whereupon they charged and drove the Enemy from their Works, who fled to the Mountains abandoning the City, which was burnt, and such as could be overtaken slain.

4. This Success so thoroughly reconciled the King of Candea to us, that he admitted the Conversation of the Franciscans, and put his two Sons into their Hands to be bred Christians. Thus the Peace was concluded, and he writ to our King Philip to Compli∣ment him upon his accession to the Crown, testifying the great Affection he bore him, and desiring to be esteemed among the Princes of Asia, as one that most desired his Cor∣respondence.

5. The Moor Abdala Carima, Tanadar of Nizamaluco, who, besides his natural hatred to the Portugueses, was malicious on account that he had lost half a hand by them, disturb∣ed the Peace at Chaul. His Pretence was re∣ceiving his Prince's Revenue, wherein he pro∣ceeded with much Insolence; and we on our part bore much, rather than break into open War.

6. Our Commander, D.Francis Rolim, com∣plained to Nizamaluco, who answered with Threats, that he would fit out a Fleet, and that the Hollanders were already in that Sea. To be as good as his Word, he set out 30 Paraos, which robbed all that came in their way belonging to the Portugueses. The Ta∣nadar being thus backed, hearing that George Henrique was gone out to a Wood, he kill∣ed him, and took his Wife and two Daugh∣ters.

7. The People of Chaul pressed the Com∣mander to commence the War, he having no Orders from the Viceroy, and but few Men; yet sent out 16 Men with two Officers one Night, they found 30 Moors near the Pagod of Ramaçeyra, and killing half of them retired. Peter Cornejo with 30 Men fell upon the Village of Tal, killed the In∣habitants, burnt the Houses, and sunk two Vessels that were in the Port. Tho' this was a sufficient Revenge against the Tanadar, yet knowing some Men value not their Ho∣nour, whilst their Persons are untouched, it was thought fit to make him feel some part himself.

8. To this purpose D. Francis Rolim marched to Upper Chaul with 350 Men in three Bodies, one Commanded by him, ano∣ther by Michael de Abreu, and the third by Calleyros. Abreu entred first into a narrow Street which ended in a broad Place where the Enemy was drawn up, and with their first fire killed our Captain and two Soldiers. Rolim coming up, they made way into the broad Place, and revenged the Death of those three, with the slaughter of many Ene∣mies, the rest saving themselevs by flight. Thus they came to the Tanadar's House, which being forsaken by him was burnt; the same happened to a whole Street, where the Moors had renewed the Fight, firing out of the Houses. Marching out of the Town victorious, they killed all that had Life in the Fields, so that Town and Country were covered with dead Bodies.

9. At the end of this Year arrived at Goa three Ships from Portugal. In October sailed from Lisbon two Caravels, in November one Galleon, in which went Antony Pinto de Fon∣seca with the Title of Visitor and Prove∣ditor of the Forts in India, as if no Viceroy had been there; in December another Gal∣leon, in which went a Patent for D. Hierome de Azevedo, to succeed in that Govern∣ment.

10. The War being begun at Chaul, both Parties encreased, and several Skirmishes happened, in which the Portugueses always had the best, till D. Francis de Sotomayor came thither with the Northern Fleet,

and left there three Vessels. Being thus re∣inforced, our Men took the Field, and offer∣ed Battel to the Moors, who were also in∣creased. Antony Furtado de Mendoça advan∣cing too far with only two Men was killed, and the Portugues Body coming up worsted; for though they did great Execution, be∣ing drawn into an Ambush, Gonzalo de Abreu was killed, his Country-House lost, afterwards the War went on with less vi∣gour.

11. Whilst this happened at Chaul, Nuno de Cunna fought the English at Suratt with more valour and Success. He had four Gal∣leons well manned, but ill provided with Gunners, for they were ignorant and fear∣ful. He found in that Port a great English Ship and a Ketch, which had a short fight between the little Island of Iohn de Nova and the Bank called Baxo de la India, beyond the Cape of Good Hope, with two Ships of ours, of three that this year sailed from Lisbon for India, one whereof commanded by D. Luis de Gama making for Zocotora, was drove by a violent Storm between the Islands called Dos Hermanos, whence he got late to Goa, after losing four hundred Men; some by the Fatigue of the Sea, and others through the Miseries they endured in defence of the Ship, and the Cruelty of that barbarous People.

12. When the English, whose Ships were excellent Sailers, discovered our heavy Vessels, though they had cause to fear their number, they undervalued them by reason

of that fault. They presently ingaged us in the Evening, and fought till dark Night parted them, having killed 30 of our Men. As soon as Day appeared they fell to it a∣gain, and two of our Galleons running to Board the two English Vessels, were stuck on the Sands, there being too little Water for the Galleons. The Pink seeing them aground, kept firing its Cannon upon one till the Evening Tide brought it off. The great Ship kept the other two Galleons that were a float in play all that Day. The third day all the Galleons being afloat made up to board the Enemy, but they who relied on their Cannon and swiftness, made away to Castelese, a Bay of the Pyrats of Diu.

13. Luis de Brito who plied upon that Coast with some small Vessels gave advice to Cunna, that the English were in that Port. He sailed thither, and they fought two whole Days, in which time our Ships, by reason of their heaviness, could never board them; at length the English stood away, having put up black Colours in token their Captain was killed; they lost many Men, and slew many of ours. They made to Su∣ratt, Cunna followed; they left the Port, and Cunna returned to Goa, where then D. Hierome de Azevedo had been Governor two Months.

14. Some time before 5 Galiots set our for China and two Merchant Ships for Iapan, they all Wintered at Malaca, the Season be∣ing unfit to Sail. Provisions were very scarce

there, and the more now by the addition of those Men. Michael de Sousa sent out some Ships to get Provisions in the Neighbourhood. These met several Sail bound for Pam and Ior, laden with Spice and other Goods, which they took and brought to Malaca. Then sailed to Pam where the King of Ior was with a Fleet, and tho' at Peace with the Portugueses he went out of their way. Not far from Patane they took 8 Vessels richly laden, and returning with them to Malaca, that City was not only relieved, but enrich∣ed.

15. The Viceroy receiving Advice from Portugal, that a considerable Fleet was fit∣ting out in Holland, with a Design against Malaca, he sent Iames de Mendoça Furtado, with 8 Galliots to relieve it. Being under Sail for Pulobutum they were dispersed by a Storm in the Golph of Ceylon, but met again in that Port. Four of them sailed out be∣fore the Admiral and the others, and meet∣ing a Ship of Iava with seventy Men who traded in the Kingdom of Quedar, with which we were at War, attacked it, and were well received, having four Men killed and ten much wounded; but being provoked by this loss, they boarded the Vessel and kill∣ed all in her.

16. The Admiral Iames de Mendoça con∣tinued his Voyage to Malaca, whence he passed not without danger of the Sea to Pam, to bring thence some Princes of Borneo who were travelling.

16. Leaving those Princes at Malaca, Mendoça with Emannel Mascarennas, Com∣mander of that City, went over to the King∣dom of Pera, understanding that three great Ships of Guzarat's richly laden were in that Port, which lessened our Customs. Men∣doça had Fifteen Ships, he entred the River, which is so narrow, only two Ships can sail abreast. He boardest the first of the three Ships, and tho' the Enemy fought well, entred her, and they set fire to her, so she perished; the second Ship was easily taken; the third escaped thro' our own fault, for being too busie about the Plunder of the other; the Day was spent, and the Enemy stole away by Night. The Ship taken was brought to Malaca, it had 32 Guns and rich Lading. Iames de Mendoça Furtado re∣turned to Goa, where he found D. Hierome de Azevedo was then Viceroy. Ruy Lorenço de Tavora was Viceroy three Years, the 21th of that number, 41th Governor, and second of the Name and Sirname. He had more Inclination to Peace than War, which produced Concord with all the Kings of India, of Stature tall, his Complexion fair, aged, and a good Christian, a rare thing among Men of Quality.