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. I.

The Second Government of the Viceroy D. Francis de Gama Count De Vidi∣gueyra, from the Year 1622, till 1627.

1. DON Francis de Gama Count De Vi∣digueyra having lest the Govern∣ment of India much hated, and affronted, always endeavoured to obtain that Com∣mand again; not to be revenged, as some said, but to satisfie the World he had not deserved that ill Usage. Twenty Years passed before he could obtain his Desire, which was upon the Accession to the Crown of Philip the Fourth of Spain, and Third of Portugal.

2. He sailed from Lisbon on the 18th of March with 4 Ships. Not long before him parted thence Sancho de Tovar & Silva with 2 Galleons and 2 Pinks. On the Coast of Tierra de Natal a flash of Lightning falling upon the Count's Ship, burnt the Colours, and did some harm, but killed no body. Under the Line two of his Ships left him, and arrived at Goa at the end of August. The third stayed behind him; it was thought they shunned his Company designedly.

3. About this time 6 Dutch Ships plied near the Islands of Angoxa, one of them pe∣rished in pursuit of a Portugues. The Vice∣roy standing for Moçambique, met the other five on the 22d of Iune. His other Ships had now joyned him, and there ensued a terrible Fight, which fell heaviest upon the Vice-Admiral, who was entirely disabled. The Viceroy and D. Francis Lobo rescued and brought him off. But the Ship being so much battered sunk, some Men and Mo∣ney were saved, and some fell into the Ene∣mies hands. Night coming on, the Viceroy and Lobo were drove upon the Sands, and their Ships lost; they saved what Goods, Rigging, Ammunition and Cannon they could, and fired the rest, that the Enemy might make no Advantage os it. The Viceroy shipped all the Goods, and what Men he could, aboard some Galliots, and arrived at Cochim. Gonzalo de Sequeyra was gone before with his Galleon to relieve Or∣muz, but came too late.

4. From Cochim he went to Goa, and ar∣rived there in September. His Enemies see∣ing him in that Post, were all terrified, fearing he now in Power would revenge the Affronts done to his Person, but he carried himself with more moderation than was ex∣pected. The Count thought of punishing Simon de Melo and Luis de Brito, as the most guilty of the shameful loss of Ormuz. Melo was fled over to the Moors, and Brito in Pri∣son; this was Beheaded, as was the other in Effigies.

5. Gonçalo de Sequeira, who was to have relieved Ormuz, stayed with his Galleon at Mascate, believing his Assistance necessary upon a Report that the Persians designed against that Place. Hearing the Enemy for∣tified at Soar in Arabia, he fitted out 7 Sail, and coming before it, expelled the Persians with much slaughter, and not without loss, because they defended it with more Valour than the Portuguezes had Ormuz. Goncalo de Sequeyra remained there, and again defeated the Enemy endeavouring to gain Mascate.

8. The Dutch, who had lain before the Bar of Goa, being gone towards Triquilimale, the Viceroy sent Constantine de Sa and Ruy Freyre with a Squadron to assist Sequeyra in the Sea of Ormuz. They chased an English Ship, which got away from them, and re∣turning to the Sea of Ormuz took two Ships of the Moors, putting them all to the Sword.

7. Three Galleots of Cochin defeated some Dutch and Pegu Ships at Paleacate. D. Francis Mascarennas, a Person of known Valour and Prudence, was sent to Command at Macao to oppose the Hollanders, and quiet the Disorders that were among the Citizens. The Divisions among the Laity being made up, there began others among the Clergy about the Government of that Cathedral for want of a Bishop.

8. Three Ships, three Galleons, and two Pinks, sailed from Lisbon for India. One of the Ships returning home, was lost at the mouth of Lisbon River, the Men and some Goods saved; another perished at Moçambique; the third on the Island St. Helena, part of her Loading being taken into the other Ships, the rest fetched away from Brasil. Two of the Galleons were also cast away at Moçam∣bique; and a Pink, through the unskilfulness of the Pilot, on the Coast of Arabia. In these Vessels were 5000 Men, whereof many died of Sickness, besides what perished by Shipwrack.

9. Now begins the Year 1624, famous for the Sufferings of Gativanda Queen of Dopoli at Xiras in Persia, and Cruelty of the King Xa Abas. But this having relation to the Religious of St. Augustin, who laboured much in the conversion of Asia, I will relate some Particulars of what they did in those Parts. They resided at Ormuz, where, a∣mong many others, the Heir of that Crown was converted, and took their Habit by the Name of F. Hierome Iaete, and afterwards

Preached with much Zeal. With him was Baptized D. Alfonso Nordim of the Blood Royal, and his Sister D^a. Philippa Morada.

10. The Fathers preached also with suc∣cess along the Skirts of Arabia Petrea. When Ormuz was lost, they went over to Baçora, a City subject to the Turk, below Babylon, on the Borders of Arabia Felix, with Orders from the Archbishop of Goa to endeavour chiefly the Reduction of the Armenian Schis∣maticks called Christians of St. Iohn, in the Kingdom of Bombareca, where F. Francis of the Presentation, and F. Matthias an English∣man, who died at Ormuz with a general Opinion of Sanctity, had been before, but with no success. After them F. Nicholas de la Vega, with the consent of the Turkish Bassa, erected there a House and Chapel.

11. F. Iohn de los Santos, and F. Ioseph of the Presentation, built a Church and Con∣vent, and many Schismaticks were reconci∣led to the Church. The Bassa gave them Power over all the Christians, Chaldeans, Nestorians, and Jews, and many Chaldeans were Baptized. Many Infidels, Arabs, Turks and Persians, resorted to the Convent, and some were converted. In the City and the Neighbourhood there are about 70000 Inha∣bitants, whereof about 5000 Christians of St. Iohn, so called, because they have a Tra∣dition, That their Forefathers were Bapti∣zed in the River Iordan by the Baptist.

12. The Portugueses, after the loss of Or∣muz, setled their Trade in this City, and founded a Seminary for Learning. The

Bassa very much countenanced the Religious, and seeing a Christian Soldier in love with a Moorish Woman, secured and delivered him up to them. They sent him to Mascate, she followed, was baptized, and married him. He consented that a Girl should be taken from her Mother, who seeing her go, fol∣lowed, and both were reconciled to the Church.

13. The first time Vespers were sung, a Drum going about to gather the Christians, all the Moors flocked thither, in so much that the Cacizes said, This was some particular Act of Divine Providence, and cried,

The World must be at an end.

14. These Religious first entred the Court of Ispahan in the time of King Sebastian, af∣terwards 5 Armenian Bishops, many Priests, and a multitude of People, submitted to the See of Rome. The King offered the Fathers 2000 Ducats a Year, which they refused, lest it should be thought they went to enrich themselves, not to plant Religion. They were afterwards Imprisoned by the Moors, ill Treated, and sent to Xiras, 100 Leagues di∣stant. The Governour of that Place sent them to the Convent with Fetters on their Feet, and Yoaks on their Necks. The Go∣vernour pretended the cause of their Impri∣sonment was, That Ruy Freyre had secured three Moors at Ormuz, and said, They should be set at liberty if those were restored. Brother Peter carried Advice hereof to Goa, and the Moors were released.

15. The Labours of these Fathers have been very succesful in Gorgistan or Georgia. The first that undertook that Mission was F. William of St. Augustin, who was well re∣ceived by the Georgians, but put to Death by the Sultan of Fabris, and was buried by the Armenian Religious of the Order of St. Do∣minick.

16. The King of Persia invading one of the Georgian Princes, he sent his Mother cal∣led Gativanda to Treat with him, who, after giving an ambiguous Answer, caused her on the way home to be apprehended, and car∣ried Prisoner to Xiras. This Lady was kept in Prison 11 Years, living always a most godly Life in Fasting and Penance; her greatest Grief was, to hear that some of the Captives of her Country wavered in the Faith.

17. The Religious coming at that time to Xiras, greatly comforted her. The King of Persia being solicited to release Gativanda, sent to advise her to turn Mahometan, other∣wise she must expect to endure the cruelest of Tortures. She desiring a little time to recollect herself, spent it in Prayer, and that ended, resolutely told the Officers, They might fulfill their Orders. They taking compassion, endeavoured to perswade, tel∣ling her, The Torments would be insuppor∣table, and she replied,

The Delay was the most grievous Torture.

18. Her Hands being tied, the Executio∣ners put on her Head a Copper Vessel made red hot, and tore her Cheeks and Breasts with burning Pinchers. Not a Sigh came

from her till she was stripped to the Waste to have her Breasts cut off, looking upon it more grievous to be naked, than to endure such unsupportable Pains. Her Feet were torn, and she then fainting, they cast all the Fire upon her. Seeing she neither died nor complained, the Executioners strangled her, after having suffered alone enough to pur∣chase many the Glory of Martyrdom.

19. Tamarascan, the Queen's Son, under∣standing the Death of his Mother, entred Persia in a rage, and obtained several Victo∣ries, in 3 Years slew above 70000 Persians. At length a Peace was concluded, and he restored to all he had lost.

20. Two of the Religious of St. Augustin travelled towards Georgia suffered great Ex∣tremities in vast Desarts, in some Places near perishing in Snow. At Emanenga in Arme∣nia they were entertained by the Religious of the Order of St. Dominick, who reside there.

21. At Ervan, the Metropolis of Arme∣nia, they were courteously received by the Patriarch in a Convent of 30 Religious of St. Basil, whose Office is long, being the whole Psalter every day, and Matins at mid∣night. That Prelate was a Man of a very austere Life, gave great Alms, redeemed Captives, repaired Churches, was a great Reformer of Manners, and suppressed Mar∣ried Priests. He was almost Adored by the Armenians, and hearkened to the Proposal of submiting to the See of Rome. Our Re∣ligious found him Preaching in a Church, but

as soon as he saw them, he took leave of the Auditory, and went to receive them, washed and kissed their Feet, telling the People. Those were the true Apostles of Christ.

22. At length our Religious entred Geor∣gia, were honourably received by the King, who refused to let them kiss his Hand, but made them sit; and knowing they carried the greatest part of his Mother's Body, de∣clared himself pleased above measure.

23. That day they dined with the King, the next with the Queen; she and her La∣dies went to receive the Body, and heard Mass with great attention. The King cau∣sed his Mother to be buried among the an∣cient Kings of Georgia. Speaking of the Pope, he said, He owned him as chief Pre∣late, and had always declared him such. Being presented with two Images of our Saviour and Blessed Lady, he said, He wor∣shipped them not because they were Idols, and only honoured Pictures. One of the Fathers reprehended him, and was going away, but he held by his Habit, kissed him, and begged Pardon, affirming, He knew not what he said.

24. Next day the King and Queen excu∣sed themselves to the Father, praying him not to depart, but to choose any Place in the Kingdom to build a Church and Monastery. He pitched upon the City Gori, which is seated in a Plain watered by two great Ri∣vers well stored with Fish. The Patriarch an ancient and venerable Person, with the

Bishops and other Clergy, thought they could never sufficiently encourage the new Foun∣dation. This happened about the end of the Year 1628.

25. To conclude, with these Religious they laboured as much as any in China, India, Persia, and Arabia. On the 17th of May, 1626, after Noon, at Bassora was seen a Cloud rising in the East in the form of a Half-Moon, the Horns whereof seemed to inclose that City. It appeared like Smoke and Ashes, and moved with a Noise that seemed to threaten Destruction. All the Country about for the space of half an hour was quite dark, then for two hours followed such a storm of Wind and Thunder, as ter∣rified all those People. The Turks and Per∣sians fled to the Christian Church, believing that the only safe place, and crying aloud, the former, Codá, Codá; the latter, Ala, Ala; that is, God, God, without remembring Mahomet.

26. In the Year 1627, the Enemy surpri∣zed a Ship of ours there, and killed all the Men but three, who being carried before Hazen Governour of Humo, he offered them their Lives if they would become Mahome∣tans. They answered, They were ready to die rather than do so. He caused them to be Beheaded on the 21st of December, 1628.

27. In Africk these Religious baptized the Prince of Melinde, who afterwards coming to the Crown acknowledged the Pope, wri∣ting a Letter to him in the Year 1627, which

he signed by the Name of D. Hierome Chin∣galia. This was the first King that received the Faith in those Parts, which might have spread more, had not the Portugueses by their Enormities obliged this Prince to fall off from them and the Faith, as shall be seen here∣after.