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. VII.

The Government of the Archbishop D. F. Alexius de Meneses, who was Gover∣nour from the Year 1607, till 1609.

1. DOn Martin Alfonso de Castra the Vice∣roy being dead, D. F. Alexius de Meneses Archbishop of Goa succeeded him in the Government, but not in the Title. About the beginning of his Government failed from Lisbon the three Ships, which were to have set out the Year before. After them followed two Galleons, and two small Ships, the two former were to remain in India.

2. The Hollanders now aimed at the Con∣quest of the Island of Moçambique. Our Fort there was commanded by D. Stephen de Ataide, who not long before had obtained of the Emperor of Monomotapa a Grant of all the Silver Mines in his Dominions, which are much richer than those of Asia, to the Crown of Portugal. The Motive of this Donation was, that we might assist him to subdue his Rebellious Subjects, which D. Ste∣phen performed, securing him in his Throne, and to us that great Gift, if we had known how to make use of it.

3. About the end of May, Paul Vercaden the Dutch Admiral anchored in the great

Port of Moçambique with 8 Ships well sto∣red, and carrying 1500 Men. In the Fort there were but 80 Men, a few and but indif∣ferent Pieces of Cannon, and that scarce fit for Service. Nevertheless D. Stephen lost no Courage, but posted his Men, whilst the Enemy invested the Place.

4. The Enemies Cannon-Balls flying very thick, kept the Walls bare of Men, so that a Colonel of theirs boldly rode about view∣ing our Works, till he was struck down dead with a Bullet. The Enemy carrying on their Approaches under the shelter of their Batte∣ries that continually played, our Men were forced to appear upon the Walls to oppose that Danger, and the Hollanders being tired, offered a Truce, which was accepted. While it lasted, they reproached the Portugu•…•…ses that they had degenerated from their an∣cient Valour, who, to convince them of the contrary, offered to fight 50 of them with only 25; which they refusing, it gave new Courage to the Besieged.

5. The Truce expiring, the Cannon on both sides began to play. The Enemy thought to take off the use of ours, by bring∣ing up to the Walls great Wooden Towers equal with our Pa•…•…apets. It was a dark stormy night when they began to advance, but our watchful Centinels perceiving it, so many Fireworks were heaped on them, they were forced to retire with some loss. Next night, notwithstanding all opposition, they were laid close to the Walls. Twenty five

Portugueses sallied with a Resolution to burn or break them, but succeeded not.

6. Being disappointed of that Design, they fall upon the Hollanders, who increased to 500, and killing many, those 25 retired without losing one, only some were woun∣ded. This Action seemed to have astonished the Enemy, for the next day they stirred not; nor after that for a whole week, thô they saw their Castles burnt. At last the Admiral sent Ataide a Letter, threatning to spoil all the Country about, unless he re∣deemed it from Ruin with a Sum of Mo∣ney.

7. Our Commander refused, and the Hol∣lander burnt down all that the Fire could lay hold of, so the Town and other Buildings pe∣rished. Next they cut down all the Woods, and then raised the Siege which had lasted two months; during which time, 13 of our Men were killed, and of theirs above 300. As they went over the Bar, one of their Ships was sunk by our Cannon. Scarce were they gone in the beginning of Iune, when three of our Ships from Portugal, under the com∣mand of D. Hierome Coutino, entred the Port. Not long after came in Peter Blens, about the end of Iuly, with 3 Holland Ships, and 2000 Men, which might have been our Ruin had they come sooner.

8. D. Hierome, having the best he could relieved the Place, was under Sail for India, when Blens came in, imagining Vercaden was by that time possess'd of the Fort. The

Portugueses undeceived him with some Can∣non Shot, to which he answered by landing his Men, and besieging the Fort as the other had done. The first day the Batteries played they spent above 300 great Shot, which laid one side open; and they might have entred, had they been as resolute to Assaul•…•…, as furious in making the Breach. The Damage received by Day, was repaired by night. Next morning 25 Men sallying killed 30, and returned without losing one, bringing in Arms, Drums, and Colours. One of these engaged with three of the Enemy well Armed, killed two, and put the other to flight.

9. A Frenchman and 4 Hollanders came to the Wall, begging to be protected as being Ca•…•…olicks Blens in a fury demands them of o•…•… Commander, who refused to deliver them, and he in revenge ties 6 Portugueses taken at his entrance into the Harbour, and shoots them to Death. One hundred and fifty more were in the same danger, who were taken out of a Galleon, which coming from Portugal, and knowing nothing of what had happened there, run into the midst of the Enemies Ships, and was burnt by them. D. Stephen chose rather to expose those Men to danger, than break Faith with those five he had taken into Protection. But Blens his Passion being over, he recalled the Sentence, raised the Siege, and setting Sail, put all the Portugueses he had taken ashore in the Island of St. George. The loss on both sides now, was much the same as

had been given and received before by Ver∣caden. Blens sailed out of the Port about the end of August.

10. While the Archbishop was Gover∣nour, two Squadrons sailed from Portugal for India. That of the Year 1608, shall be spoke of in the next Chapter, because it carried D. Iohn Pereyra Frojas Count de Feyra, who went Viceroy of India, but died by the way. The other of the same Year which arrived there in 1609, and carried Ruy Lo∣renço de Tavora to the same Command, shall be spoken of in the Chapter of Andrew Fur∣tado de Mendoca, who succeeded the Arch∣bishop. This Religious Man governed two Years and a half, and was the 38th Gover∣nour, the first of the Name, and sixth of the Sirname, and first Church-man that had that Post. He was of a middle Stature, white of Complexion, grey with Years, of a se∣rene Countenance which moved Respect, and took such care of his Servants, that many got Estates.