not being continued, but with Orchyards and Gardens distinguished, meanely built, the Law so prouiding, onely the Kings House of Stone. This King at that time was chiefe of all the Princes adioyning both in wealth and power.
After three dayes, Gama conducted by the Catual, deliuered the King his Letter, and withall a Present, which the King seemed to contemne, but was excused by the vncertaintie of the Nauigation: neyther was any Present so good, as the friendship of such a Prince; from whom also if he expected profit, it should be effected by ships of Merchandize yerely trading thither. He desired, that his Kings Letters might not be interpreted by Saracens, forasmuch as he per∣ceiued by Monzaida, that they sought him a mischiefe. Monzaida interpreted the Letter, [ 10] and the King admonished him to be vigilant against Saracenicall fraudes: for which hee than∣ked him, and departed. These Mores consulted their ruine, and bribed the Courtiers to that end, traducing Gama also for a Pyrate and a Spie in shew of a Merchant, a sparke (if not timely quenched) likely soone to bring that whole State in combustion. This they did partly in ha∣tred of the Christian Name, and partly in feare of decaying their Trade, communicated thus to Portugalls. The King wearied with their importunities, fearing to lose their Customes, and feared by the examples of the Mores and Negros in Africa, with some exploits in the way, whose beggerie also he saw in their Kings contemptible Present, and their poore Merchandize, as if he had sent to some wilde Negro Prince; threatned with their departure to some other Prince, and to remoue their Staple thither with his manifest losse, perhaps their owne gayne; [ 20] yeelded to them, and sent the Catual to perswade Gama, with promise of all kindnesse, if hee would bring his ships neerer, and for securitie deliuer vp his sayles. But he writ to his brother, That if he saw him long detayned, to set sayle homewards: and after much contention, agrees to send on shore his Merchandize, with men to sell them, whereupon he is dismissed to his ship. He complayned to the King of the Catual, who gaue him faire promises, but caused his Mer∣chandize to be carryed to Calicut, where he said was better sale.
Gama was content, and euery day sent two or three together, to obserue the Citie, which yet receiued no offence. He desired of the King to leaue a Factor there: whereto the King ma∣king angry answere, made no reply, which caused further anger, and two of his men on shore to be committed to custodie, with their Wares. Which when he could not re-obtayne by in∣treatie, [ 30] hee set vpon the next ship which came thither, and tooke thence six principall men, and then put off further into the Sea. The King sent to him, saying, hee wondered much hee would apprehend his seruants, seeing hee detayned the two Portugals only, till hee had writ∣ten to King Emanuel, whom also the next day hee sent with Letters: but with-held the Wares for their Factor, if hee would send any, to dispose thereof. But Gama sayd hee would now leaue none, and would keepe the men till hee had his goods. The day after, Monzaida came to them, and told them, that hee had beene in danger of his life for their sakes, which hauing very hardly escaped, hee prayed to carry him with them to Portugall; which they did, and there hee became Christian. The King sent his Wares in seuen Boats; but Gama refused, and sayd hee would carry those Malabars into Portugall, to testifie how iniuriously the [ 40] King of Calicut had vsed him: and presently discharging his Ordenance, chased them away. The King was enraged, but his Nauie was at that season vnrigged, and in harbour. Yet he sent out threescore Merchants against them, which were by sudden tempest dispersed.
Gama from the next Port where hee could arriue, sent a Letter with good words to the King, by one of his Captiues seruants. There hee was assaulted by Timoia, a Pyrat, with eight ships, whereof hee tooke one well furnished, the rest fled. Hee went to Anchediva, to amend his ships, and there was saluted by a seruant of Zabaius, Lord of Goa, an Italian, who in the name of his Master offered him all kindnesse, if hee would goe thither. This man professed himselfe an Italian, captiued by Pyrates, and so brought to serue a Mahumetan in these parts. Gama perceiuing him wittie, but curious and busie, suspected and apprehended him, who be∣ing [ 50] tortured, confessed himselfe a Tartarian Iew, sent by Zabaius for a Spie, whom he carryed with him into Portugall, where hee was baptized, and proued seruiceable in many things to the King.
Thence hee now hasted his departure, and the time being vnseasonable, came slowly to Magadoxo, on the African shore: and because they were Mahumetans, sunke and spoyled their ships, and ruined a great part of their Walls. At Melinde hee was kindly entertained, and his men well refreshed: and within fiue dayes, for feare of Winter at the Cape, set sayle, with an Embassadour from Melinde to Portugall. Hee burnt, as vnfit for the Voyage, the ship of Paul Gama, hauing need of the Mariners to supply the other two.
On the seuen and twentieth of February hee came to an Island called Zanzibar, foure [ 60] and twentie miles from the Continent, where hee was well entertayned and refreshed of the Prince, though a More. Hee refreshed himselfe againe at Saint Blases watering, and on the fiue and twentieth of Aprill doubled the Cape. Thence to Saint Iago, where by tempest they were parted; Coelius the other Captaine next way to Lisbone, Gama to the Tercera, where his brother Paul died; and soone after, to Lisbone, in the yeere 1499.