fpect: Almeed thought it extremely unfafe to aim at ftormming cities; fince by dividing their ftrength this would cer tainly weaken the Portuguefe; it was therefore his opinion, that our people ought to keep at fea; for if they had the fuperiority there, they would have all India under their command. The fea was Almeed's only concern, and if there was only one safe station where the fhips might winter, this alone he thought would be fufficient; for he thought it impoffible that fuch reinforcements could be fent every year from Portugal, as were neceffary to garrifon the forts. And he concluded it to be almoft a crime for any one to venture upon a scheme in this manner, to divide the Portuguese; who when united in one body, would always ftrike terror into their enemies. • Albuquerque had more unbounded hopes; he not only had an eye to their prefent fecurity, but alfo planned in his mind the foundation of a grand and lafting empire in the eaft. Nor did he think the fending every year large quantities of fpices to Portugal, was an affair fo worthy of his attention, as that of enlarging and fixing the fovereignty of Emmanuel. And as they could not have fupplies but at fo great a distance, he therefore refolved to plant colonies of the Portuguese in many parts of India, that in procefs of time they might be able to levy armies in that country. He thought a dominion at fea alone would be very infufficient, for one ftorm might deftroy their whole force; whereas if they were masters by land, this would likewife fecure their power at fea; for if any misfortune fhould happen to their fleet, they would then be enabled to repair it, and would quickly recover their naval ftrength: That it would alfo be extremely dangerous for the fleet to be fhut up in one station in a country, where perhaps the foil being barren, was unable to support an army in winter quarters. Thofe perfons, therefore, who thought Cochin or Cananor the only forts then belonging to the Portuguese in these parts, would be fufficient for them amidft fuch a number of enemies, fo bent on their deftruction, feemed to him to have very little regard to futurity; fince one ftation, though never fo ftrong, would avail little, unless they could fend fupplies from many quarters. The taking poffeffion therefore of many places was, in his opinion, not to weaken, but enlarge the naval power: for, if they had many ftations and retreats, the fleet would then go to fea with lefs danger, and they would have a greater quantity of materials for building or refitting Rz their their fhips. In fhort, as Abuquerque had in his view the perpetual poffeffion of India, he therefore refolved to procure wives for the Portuguese, in order to raife an offspring, that by this means they might in time have fuch a recourfe in India, as not to depend entirely on the fupplies fent from Portugal, who, (or rather which) in the course of such long and dangerous voyages, were often cut off by distempers, or fwallowed up in the waves. • The wisdom and forefight of this great man was certainly extremely ferviceable to the Portuguefe; the happy effects of which appeared many years after his death. For when Solyman the Grand Turk, fent the governour of Egypt with a formidable fleet to drive the Portuguese from India, he befieged the citadel of Dio; and notwithstanding he met with a very warm reception, and was vigorously opposed by our people, yet he continued the fiege many days, with great vigour; nor would he have defifted from the attempt fo foon, had he not been informed, that a powerful squadron was coming from Goa. Nor would the king of Cambaya, who at another time, with an army of Turks, befieged the fame place for fix months, have been fo eafily overthrown by John de Caftro, then viceroy of India, had it not been owing to the numerous and timely fupplies fent from Goa; for this colony became in time fo great and numerous, that it could raise armies, and fend forth fleets. This arofe entirely from the prudent management of Albuquerque, who took fo much pains to raife fuch a foundation as could not be easily shaken. He took feveral women captives in India: These he treated with the highest respect; and having initiated them in the Chriftian religion, he gave them in marriage to his foldiers, to whom he allotted fettlements in the ifland of Goa, and endeavoured to make these marriages happy by all manner of favour and encouragement. He was no lefs affiduous in ftrengthening the fortifications, and fettling every thing which might tend to the order and establishment of the government. In a word, his fame spread far and near'; fo that embassadors came to him from most of the princes in India. Some brought their tribute, others came to fue for peace and friendship, and all of them profeffed their attachment to Emmanuel. Albuquerque detained them fome time at Goa; for he was willing they fhould behold the fortifications of the city, the formidable fleet, and all his grand ftructures, that being ftruck with the magnificence of his works, they might remain faithful to Emmanuel. 3 Emmanuel. They beheld Albuquerque with a kind of veneration; fome admiring his majestic dignity, whilft others were no lefs taken with his civility and polite behaviour. This refort of embaffadors, and concourfe of perfons of diftinction, formed an appearance of a court at Goa, equal to that of the greatest monarch. Zabaim Idalcam, indeed, formed many fchemes for retaking the ifland, and even attempted to invade it with a confiderable army; but was repulfed with lofs and shame." If the reduction and fettlement of Goa are proofs of Albuquerque's valour and prudence; if his reception of the Indian embaffadors, fhews his policy and princely fpirit; the following inftance of feverity, equally displays his ability as a viceroy, and how well he knew to fupport his authority. Diego Mendez Vafconcelo, who had the command of four men of war, no fooner came to an anchor in the port of Goa, than he delivered Albuquerque a letter from Emmanuel; wherein his majesty ordered the viceroy to give Vasconcelo all the affiftance in his power to enable him to pursue his voyage to Malacca. A general council was immediately beld, and it was the opinion of every one, that nothing was to be preferr'd to the war of Goa, and that Vasconcelo ought to be prefent at an affair of fo much importance; to which this admiral confented. When Goa was taken, and every thing fully fettled, Vasconcelo waited on Albuquerque, and after recounting his late fervices, defired he would order a fleet to be got ready, that according to his instructions he might fail for Malacca. Albuquerque endeavoured by all poffible means to diffuade him from this expedition; telling him, it was not only dangerous, but little advantage could be reaped from it. Befides, that he himself intended to fail against the Sultan's fleet, and it would be extremely dangerous, at the fame time, to venture upon two fuch bold undertakings: Nor could he furnish him with a fufficient number of ships to carry on the expedition against Malacca. He therefore earneftly entreated and conjured Vafconcelo to fail along with him, and as foon as the war was finished he might return to Portugal with fuch marks of honour and diftinction, as his high merit deferved. • Vafconcelo received this anfwer with the higheft indignation, complaining that he was impofed on in the groffeft manner. However, fince he met with fo bad a requital of his fervices, he declared he would ftill go to Malacca, notwithstanding all their oppofition. Albuquerque finding him not to be worked on by entreaty, thought to deter him by menaces; R 3 menaces; and declared he would punish with the utmoft feverity, all thofe who dared to quit the harbour without his leave. But notwithstanding all these threats, Vafconcela with fome more officers weighed anchor, and failed in the night. As foon as the viceroy was informed of this, he dispatched fome of his galleys and long-boats, with a detachment of men, to order Vafconcelo and those who accompanied him to return; and upon refufal, to fink their fhips. Thefe accordingly followed with great expedition; and Vafconcelo not complying, they began to batter his hip with great fury. They brought down her main fail yard, killed two of the failors, and threatened to deftroy every foul on board, if Vasconcelo did not immediately return to the harbour. Thus forced by neceffity, he at laft returned to Goa, where he was put under confinement. A council of war being held upon this occafion, it was refolved he should be fent to Portugal in fetters. One of the officers, who had been extremely active in this affair, and had fhewn an extraordinary contempt of Albuquerque's orders, was condemned to have his head ftruck off. The reft of the officers were ordered to be hanged. Two of them accordingly fuffered death, and the others would have undergone the Jike fate, had they not been faved by the interceffion of the king of Narfingua and Cambaya's embaffadors. He accordingly gave them their lives, but deprived them of their commiflions, and fent them home to Portugal. After the affairs of Goa were fettled, and the island fortified with a ftrong garrifon, Albuquerque failed against the Sultan's fleet towards Arabia; but the wind continuing contrary, it was refolved to give over this expedition, and proceed for Malacca; whither he arrived on the first of July 1511. Malacca is fituated at the mouth of a fmall river, in the peninfula to which it gives name. It was at that time one of the most celebrated eaftern marts, being in length about four miles, but its breadth inconfiderable. The river divided it into two parts, which were joined by a bridge. The walls and buildings of the town were extremely elegant; the people were of a tawny complexion, and very much civilized in their manners and way of living, and their language was much efteemed for its fweetnefs. The prince of this city and country round it, was formerly tributary to the king of Siam, but had then for fome time maintained his independency, partly by force of arms, and partly by bribing the king of Siam's minifters. The "The king of Malacca, being a bigotted Mahometan, had maffacred fome Portuguese belonging to Admiral Sequeire, a few years before, who had failed thither with five large fhips, in order to establish a trade with the Malaccans. Some of them likewife had been detained prifoners, and it was to take vengeance for this infult, that Albuquerque was now come with a fleet of twenty three large fhips. Next day after his arrival, Mahomet, for that was the king of Malacca's name, fent deputies to the viceroy, in order to clear himself of the mischief done to the Portuguefe. Albuquerque made anfwer, that if the king was fincere, and really difapproved of the unjuft treatment of Sequeire and his men, he expected his majefty would fet the Portuguese in his cuftody at liberty, and make reftitution of the goods taken from them. To this the king replying in an evafive manner, Albuquerque formed and took the city, after a bloody and vigorous defence on the part of the enemy. The plunder was confiderable, Emmanuel's fhare, which was only one fifth, amounting to two hundred thoufand ducats; befide three thousand brafs and iron cannon. • Albuquerque, in order to fecure this new acquifition, built a ftrong fort; and, by his wife regulations, induced great numbers of people to flock into the city. He made laws for their government, and coined money of gold, filver and tin, with the arms of Emmanuel upon them. This he fettled as the current coin, and affixed a fevere punishment on those who should make use of any other. Whilft these things were tranfacting at Malacca, the Portuguese settlement of Goa was reduced to the last extremity, being attacked by one of Zabaim's generals, with a numerous army. However, they found means to hold out, and at last even to diftrefs the enemy; who were entirely driven out of the island on the arrival of Albuquerque from Malacca, who concluded a peace with Zabaim Idalcam. Soon after this Albuquerque likewife made peace with the Zamorin of Calicut, who allowed the Portuguese to build a fort; which being finished, the viceroy fet fail for the red fea, having first appointed Peter Mafcaregn governor of Goa, as he had Roderick Brittio governor of Malacca, at his departure from that city.' Thefe atchievements bring down the history to Book IX. which with the remaining three, is equally full of no less daring, tho' not quite fo glorious performances, as the conquefts of Goa and Malacca. But of these we have not even room to give an abftract, and fhall therefore content ourfelves R 4 |