The voyages and adventures of Fernand Mendez Pinto, a Portugal, during his travels for the space of one and twenty years in the Kingdoms of Ethiopia, China, Tartaria, Cauchinchina, Calaminham, Siam, Pegu, Japan, and a great part of the East-Indiaes with a relation and description of most of the places thereof, their religion, laws, riches, customs, and government in time of peace and war : where he five times suffered shipwrack, was sixteen times sold, and thirteen times made a slave / written originally by himself in the Portugal tongue and dedicated to the Majesty of Philip King of Spain ; done into English by H.C. Gent.

CHAP. V. Gonçallo vaz Coutinho's Treaty with the Queen of Onor; his assaulting of a Turkish Galley, and that which hapned unto us as we were upon our return to Goa. (Book 5)

OU•• Fleet making a stand upon the discharging of our peal of Ordnance,* 1.1 the General Gon∣çallo vaz Coutinho sent Bento Castanho, a very discreet and eloquent man, to the Queen of Onor, to present her with a Letter from the Vice-roy, and to tell her that he was come to complain of her, for that she had sworn a peace and amity with the King of Portugal, and yet suffered the Turks, mortal enemies to the Portugals, to abide in her Ports. Hereunto she re∣turned this answer; That both himself and his company were very welcome, that she greatly esteemed of them, because they were Vassals to the King of Portugal, and as touching that he said of the peace which she had with the King, and his Governors, it was most true, and that she desired to maintain it as long as she lived: For that which he said of the Turks, she took her God to witness how much against her will she had received and suffered them in her Ports, but that finding her self too weak for to resist such powerful enemies, she was constrain∣ed to dissemble, which she would never have done had she been furnished with sufficient forces; furthermore, to clear her self the better unto them, she offered both her power and people for to r••p••l them out of her Ports, and whereas he had brought men enough to chace them thence, she requested him to do it, wherein she would assist him all that possibly she could, which she confirmed with oaths, swearing by the golden Sandals of the Soveraign God whom she adored: To this speech she added, that she should be as well pleased if God would give him the victory over them, as if the King of Narsingu••, whose slave she was, should set her at the table with his wife. Gonçallo vaz Coutinho having received this Embassage, and other complements from the Qu••en, though he had little hope of any performance on her part, yet did he wisely dissem∣ble it. Afterwards being fully informed by the people of the Country of the Turks intention, of the place where they were, and what they did at that instant, he called a Councel thereupon, and having throughly debated and considered all things, it was unanimously concluded, that both for the King of Portugal their Masters honor, and his own, it was expedient to set upon this Galley, either for to take, or fire it, wherein it was hoped that God, for whose glory we ••ought, would be assisting to us against those enemies of his holy Faith. This resolution being made, and signed by us all, he entered some two faulcons shot within the River, where he had

s••••rc•• anchored, when as a little Boat, which they call an Almadia, came aboard us, with a Brachman that spake very good Portugu••ze: This man delivered a message from the Queen unto our Captain, whereby she earnestly desired him, that for the Vice-roys sake he would de∣si•••• from the enterprize he had undertaken, and not to assault the Turks any manner of way, w••ich, said she, could not be done without great disadvantage, for that she had been adver∣tised by her Spies, that they had fortified themselves with a good Trench, which they had cast up near the place where they had moored their Galley, in regard whereof it seemed to her al∣most impossible for him with no more Forces then he had to be able to prevail in so great an at∣tempt: wherefore she took her God to witness how much she was troubled with the fear she was in lest some mis-fortune should betide him. Hereunto our Captain returned an answer full of wisdom and cour••••sie, saying, that he kissed her Highness hands for the extraordinary favor she did him in giving him so good advice: but as for his Combat with the Turks he could not follow her counsel, and therefore would proceed in his determination, it being always the cu∣stom of the Portugals not to enquire whether their Enemies were few, or many, since the more they were, the more should be their loss, and the greater his profit and honor. Thus was the Brachman dismissed, our Captain bestowing on him a piece of green Chamlet, and an Hat li••ed with red Sattin, wherewith he returned very well contented.

* 1.2The Brachman dismist, Gonçallo vaz Coutinho resolved to fight with the Turks, but before h•• proceeded any further he was advertised by Spies what stratagems the Enemy would use a∣gainst us, and that the precedent night by the favor of the Queen they had moored up the Gal∣ley, and by it raised up a platform, whereupon they had flanked five and twenty Pieces of Ord∣nance, but all that stayed him not from advancing towards the Enemy; Seeing himself then within a Cannon shot of them, he went out of his Foist, and with fourscore men only landed, the rest which he had brought with him from Goa for this enterprize, being but an hundred more, he left for the guard of the Foists. So after he had set his men in Battel array, he march∣ed couragiously against his adversaries, who perceiving us making towards them valiantly re∣solved to defend themselves, to which end they sallied some five and twenty or thirty paces out of their Trenches, where the fight began on either side with such fury, that in less then a quar∣ter of an hour five and forty lay dead in the place, amongst the which there was not above eight of ours; Hereupon our General, not contented with this first charge, gave them a second, by means whereof i•• pleased God to make them turn their backs, in such sort that they retired pell-••ell, as men routed and in fear of death: Mean while we pursued them to their very Tren••hes, where they turned upon us, and m••de head anew, in the heat hereof we were so far engaged and intangled together, that we knocked one another with the pummels of our swords; Mean while our Foists arrived, which were come along by the shore to succor us, and accord∣ingly they discharged all their Ordnance upon our Enemies, to such good purpose, as they kill∣ed eleven or twelve of the valiantest Ianizaries, which wore green Turbants, as a mark of their Nobility. The death of these so terrified the rest, that they presently forsook the field, by means whereof we had leasure to set the Galley on fire upon the express command of our Ge∣neral Gonçallo, so that having cast into her five pots of powder, the fire took hold on her with such violence, as it was apparant it could not be long before she were utterly consumed, for the mast and sail yards were all of a flame, had not the Turks, knowing the danger she was in, most couragiously quenched the fire; but we labo••ed all that possibly we could to hinder them from it, and to make good that we had so bravely begun, which the enemies perceiving, as their last refuge they gave fire to a great Piece of Ordnance, which charged with stones, and other shot, killed six of ours, whereof the principal was Diego vas Coutinho, the Generals son, besides a dozen others were hurt, that put us quite in disorder; Whereupon the Enemies finding how they had spoiled us, fell to shouting in sign of Victory, and to rendring of thanks to their Mahomet; at the naming of this their false Prophet, whom they invoked, our Gene∣ral the better to encourage his Soldiers, Fellows in arms, said he, seeing these Dogs call upon the Devil to ayd them, let us pray unto our Saviour Iesus Christ to assist us. This said, we once more assaulted the Trench, which the Enemies no sooner perceived, but they craft••y turned their backs, and took their flight towards the Galley, but they were instantly followed by some of ours, who within a while made themselves Masters of all their Trenches, in the mean time the Infidel•• gave fire to a secret myne, which they had made a little within their Trenches, and blew up six of our Portugals, and eight Slaves, maiming many others besides; Now the smoak was such and so thick, as we could hardly discern one another, in regard

whereof our General, fearing least some greater loss then the former should befall him, re∣treated to the water side, carrying along with him both the dead bodies, and all the hurt men, and so went where his Foists lay, into the which every one being imbarqued, we returned with strength of rowing to the place from whence we came, where with extream sorrow he caused the slain to be interred, and all that were hurt to be drest, which were a very great number.

The same day that was so fatal to us, a list being taken of all the surviving Soldiers,* 1.3 that so it might be known how many had been lost in the l••st fight upon assaulting of the Trench, we found that of fourscore which we were, there was fifteen slain, fifty four hurt, and nine quite maimed for ever: The rest of the day, and the night following, we kept very good watch to avoyd all surprizes of the Enemy. As soon as the next morning appeared, there came an Embassador from the Queen of Onor to the General Gonçallo, with a Present of Hens, Chickens, and new layd Eggs for the relief of our sick men; Now though we had great need of those things, yet in stead of receiving our General utterly refused them, and shewing himself very much dis∣pleased with the Queen he could not forbear lashing out some words, that were a little more harsher then was requisite; saying, that the Vice-roy should ere long be advertised of the bad Offices she had rendred the King of Portugal, and how much he was obliged to pay her that debt, when occasion should serve: Further he bid him tell her, that for an assurance of that which he said, he had left his son dead and buried in her Land, together with the other Portu∣gals, who had been miserably slaughtered through her practises, by assisting the Turks against them: and in a word, that he would thank her more fully another time for the Present she had sent, the better to dissemble what she had executed against him, for which he would one day return her a recompence according to her merit.

The Embassador, very much terrified with this speech, departed; and being come to the Queen his Mistress, he so throughly represented Gonçallo's answer unto her, as she greatly doubted that this Galley would be an occasion of the loss of her Kingdom; wherefore to decline so great a mischief she thought it necessary to seek by all means possible to maintain the League with our General, to which end she assembled her Councel, by whose advice she dispatched another Embassador unto him, who was a Brachman, a grave and reverent personage, and her nearest kinsman. At his arrival where our Foists lay, our General gave him very good enter∣tainment, and after the ordinary ceremonies and complements the Brachman having demand∣ed permission to deliver his Embassage; Signior, said he to our Governor, if you will give me audience, I will declare the cause of my coming hither from the Queen of Onor my Mi∣stress. Hereunto Gonçallo replyed, That Embassadors had always assurance for their per∣sons, and permission freely to deliver the particulars of their Embassy, so that he might boldly say what he would. The Brachman having thanked him, Verily, continued he, I am not able to express unto you, how sensible the Queen my Mistress is of the death of your son, and of those other Portugals, that were yesterday slain in the fight; And without lying I swear un∣to you by her life, and by this string of a Brachman that I wear, the mark of my Priestly dig∣nity, and only proper to those which are of that profession, wherein I have been exercised from my youth, that she was so exceedingly afflicted at the notice of your disaster, and the un∣luckie success of your conflict, as she could not have been more vexed if she had been made to eat Cows flesh (which is the greatest sin committed amongst us) at the principal gate of the Temple, where her father is interred: Whereby you may judg, Signior, what a share she bears of your sorrow. But since there is no remedy for things done, she desireth, and very instantly beseecheth you to confirm the Peace unto her anew which other Governers have al∣ways granted her heretofore; Whereunto she the rather intreats you, because she knows of what power you are with the Vice-roy: Now that confirmed unto her, she assures you, and faithfully promiseth, within four days to burn the Galley, that hath put you to so much pain, and turn the Turks out of the limits of her Kingdom, which is all that she can do, and which you may be most confident she will not fail to execute accordingly.

Our General knowing of what importance this affair was,* 1.4 presently accepted of the Brach∣mans offer, and told him that he was contented that the League should be renewed betwixt them, according whereunto it was instantly published on either part with all the ceremonies accustomed in such cases; Thereupon the Brachman returned to the Queen, who afterwards labored all she could to make good her word; But because Gonçallo could not stay the four days, which she had demanded, in regard of the extream danger he should thereby have exposed

our hurt men unto, he resolved to be gone, and so the same day after dinner we departed; Howbeit he first left one, nam••d Georgio Neogueyra, there, with express order exactly to observe all that was done concerning that affair, and thereof to give certain intelligence to the Vice-roy, as the Queen her self had requested.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 1.
• * 1.2

  §. 2.
• * 1.3

  §. 3.
• * 1.4

  §. 4.