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.

Continues the Government of the Viceroy D. Hierome de Azevedo, in the Year 1615.

1. IN the Year 1608 we gave an account of the prodigious rise of Sebastian Gon∣zales Tibao, who of a poor seller of Salt in a small Barque the Year 1605, in that of 1608 was become an absolute Sovereign without dependance on any Prince what∣soever. It is now time to show the end of such Monsters. This base Man being lift∣ed to that height, the steps by which he ascended being Treachery and Ingratitude, he now found it was no longer possible to

support his Power without some conside∣rable Succour.

2. This Man, who in his Prosperity forgot to submit himself to the Viceroy, now see∣ing the probability of falling, acquaints him with the Danger he is in. He proposes like an absolute Prince, That if the Viceroy will effectually support him, he will become Tri∣butary to Portugal, with the acknowledgment of a Galleon loaden with Rice, to be deli∣vered Yearly at Goa or Malaca. He urged, all had been done by him was to revenge the Murder of the Portugueses slaughtered by the King of Arracam in Banguel of Dianga; and (to gain the Viceroy by the hope of Profit) hinted, that the vast Treasure of that King might be taken. This last so blinded the Viceroy, that in stead of abhor∣ring the Villanies of that Wretch, he resol∣ved to assist him, contrary to all Human and Divine Laws.

3. For this Expedition, the Viceroy fitted out 14 of the largest Galliots, one Flyboat, and a Pink, and gave the Command of them to D. Francis de Meneses Roxo, who had go∣verned Ceylon. He sailed from Goa about the middle of September well manned and equipped, but not without much forebo∣ding of an unfortunate Event; for as the Viceroy only weighed the prospect of Gain, the People considered the injustice of the Enterprize.

4. On the 3d of October D. Franc•…•… arri∣ved at Arracam, the chief Port and Resi∣dence of that King, he had before sent a

Galliot with Advice of his coming to Seba∣stian Gonzales at Sundi•…•…a. His Instructions being opened before all the Captains, they contained, that he should enter that King∣dom without expecting Sebastian Gonzalez. It was more reasonable that man should have been expected, as who knew the Coun∣try, and their manner of Fight, besides the Forces he was to bring; but God had de∣creed the Ruin of that vile Wretch, and of that unjust Succour. On the 15th of Octo∣ber, they discovered coming down the Ri∣ver a Fleet so numerous, they could not see the end of it. The foremost was a Dutch Pink, and many Hollanders commanded other Vessels. All that could be discoverd appea∣red full of Men, and well equipped, an ill sight for 15 little Ships that expected them; neither were they now 15, for one was gone to Sundiva; the Pink was in pursuit of a Ship that fled, and another was gone to fetch the Pink.

5. The Dutch Pink fired the first Gun, and then the Fight began furiously, our Gal∣liots advancing without any dread of that vast Fleet. Four Galliots got before the others, and in an instant their Captains and many Soldiers were killed, yet the rest were no way dismayed, and the other eight came up, darkening the day with Smoak, notwith∣standing the repeated flashes of Fire. Ma∣ny of the Enemy were drowned, overset∣ting their Vessels through haste to fly from us. The Fight lasted from morning till evening, when the Enemy drew off, think∣ing

some Relief was coming to us, having discovered the Galliot that went to seek the Pink, which they could not find. We lost 25 Men of Note, besides others.

6. Next morning the Pink came up, aboard him the wounded Men were carried, and such as he had fit for Service taken out. D. Francis resolved to lie at the mouth of the River till Sebastian Gonzalez came to joyn him, and then again attack the Enemy. At length Gonzalez came with 50 Sail well man∣ned and equipped, and hearing what was done, railed against the Viceroy for giving such Orders, and against D. Francis for obey∣ing them. About the middle of November they sailed up the River, discovered the Ene∣mies vast Fleet riding in a safe Place, and resolved to attack it. D. Francis took half Gonzalez his Ships, and gave him half those he brought, so they made two equal Squa∣drons. They divided themselves and fell on on both sides, firing upon those Vessels they could reach, but none of them advanced. The King from the Shore encouraged his Men, causing the Heads of some that fled to be set upon Spears for a Terror to the rest.

7. Scarce had our Men time to breath, when a great part of that vast Fleet came down upon them divided into 3 Squadrons. This was at Noon, when the heat of the Sun scorched. Sebastian Gonzalez put to flight those that attacked him; our Pink did as much with the Hollander. D. Francis recei∣ved and did much harm. The Advantage

was visible on our side, till about Sun-setting our Admiral D. Francis was killed by two Musket-Balls, one in the Forehead, the other in the left Eye. A Signal given on Board his Galliot, caused Sebastian Gonzalez to cease •…•…ollowing his good Fortune, and the Tide ebbing, the Fleets parted; but Gaspar de Abren's Galeot being left among the Ene∣my, all her Men were slain, and the Vessel torn in pieces; yet Abreu was brought off by Antony Carvallo mortally wounded, and lived some days after.

8. Our Fleet being come back to the mouth of the River, care was taken of the Woun∣ded, and above 200 Dead were buried in the Sea. The Body of D. Francis was embal∣med. D. Luis de Azevedo the Vice-Admiral succeeded in the Command. They all sailed over to Sundiva, and D. Luis with his Squa∣dron thence to Goa, notwithstanding Seba∣stian Gonzales for his own security laboured all he could to keep him there. Not long after the King of Arracam falling upon him in his Island, took it, and reduced him to his former miserable condition; so his Sove∣reignty passed like a Shadow, his Pride was humbled, and his Villanies punished. Our Fleet on their return burnt some Ships of the Moors, laden with Provisions, upon the Coast of Paliacate and St. Thomas. But Iohn Gomez Paez fighting with others, had his Galliot blown up, and few Men were sa∣ved.