As A Compensation For The
Slaughter Of Our Men, He Is To Pay 4000 _Bahars_ Of Pepper, Equal To 12,
000 Quintals.
That the Moors shall not be allowed to trade there from any
place whatever, excepting only those who are natives of Calicut; and that
these even shall not be permitted to trade with Mecca.
That our king, if
so inclined, may build a fort at Calicut, and shall be supplied with a
sufficient quantity of stones, lime, and timber for that purpose by the
zamorin, paying for these on delivery. That the king of Calicut shall aid
and favour the Portuguese in all things, and that it shall be competent
for our king to appoint one of his own subjects to administer justice
among the Portuguese resident in that city, even with the power of life
and death, and without appeal to the zamorin. That when any of our people
shall revolt from or be disobedient to our commercial agent, they shall
immediately be delivered up to be judged by the aforesaid Portuguese
consul. If any captive Moors are detained, they shall all be delivered up
to our agent. That the two Milanese lapidaries, who had gone from Rome to
India, and who there acted as military engineers and shipbuilders in the
European fashion, to the disgrace of the Christian profession, and the
vast injury of the Christians, should be delivered up in chains to the
admiral of our fleet. That the kings or rajahs of Cochin and Cananore
shall be included in this treaty as co-allies, mutually sharing all
danger and advantages with the other contracting parties: So that if any
one shall take arms against any of the parties to this treaty, he shall
be declared an enemy to all the parties hereby confederated. If any of
the parties to this league shall act contrary to its stipulations, the
power of all the rest shall act against him, as a perfidious person, a
traitor, and an enemy to good faith; all the contracting parties using
their utmost to preserve the present peace and alliance inviolate. While
the Portuguese fleet might remain in the harbour of Calicut, all other
ships whatever were to be refused access, at least until after ours were
laden: But when there were sufficient goods for all who wanted them, then
all ships Were to be at liberty to load; provided always that the
accustomed prices should not be augmented, and expressly that the profit
to the venders should never exceed 8 per cent which was usual in that
port.
These are the conditions of peace and alliance which have been stipulated,
to the great honour and renown of our sovereign, as must be evident to
every one; as henceforwards he may not only be accounted sovereign of
India, but has imposed laws on Turkey and the prefect of Syria[2], since
by this treaty all access to the city of Calicut is debarred to their
traders. We do not even doubt that, in four years from hence, through the
vigorous measures of our king, our sailors may safely navigate to
Constantinople and Alexandria, the present most celebrated marts of
eastern commerce, and shall take signal vengeance on the Moors by whom
they have been infamously and frequently abused. For this purpose a fleet
of twelve sail was fitted out this year, which found the rajah of Cochin
expelled from his dominions, having fled for refuge from the hostilities
of the king of Calicut to a strong place in a certain island. The only
reason he could assign for the hostilities of the zamorin was, that,
faithful to his engagements, he refused to deliver our people to the king
of Calicut, and chose rather to live in exile than to betray his trust.
In this extremity, our fleet brought opportune aid to the friendly rajah,
and having landed troops for his assistance, they marched boldly against
the perfidious zamorin, routed his forces with great slaughter, and
triumphantly restored the rajah of Cochin to his dominions.
This kingdom is not far distant from the straits of the Red Sea, where
they have erected a very strong fortress[3], and are building another in
the mouth of the bay of Cochin, provided with all kinds of warlike
artillery, by which to repel the enemy, and to provide a safe station,
for our fleet; nor shall we recede from thence, however adverse the
natives may be to our remaining; and when the same shall be done in the
bay of Calicut, it will not then be difficult to defend these stations
and the adjoining coasts against all aggressors. Our ships which remained
in these seas last year made no small booty, as they took one morning
five ships bound from the kingdom of Cambaya for Mecca, the shrine of
Mahomet, in which they found 1000 _cantari_ or quintals of clean cloves,
besides a large quantity of the same spice not freed from the husk as is
usual with us. These ships had likewise castor and other perfumes of that
kind[4], sanders wood, amber, purified lac, and excessively fine linen,
and a large sum in gold and silver coin; insomuch that the value of this
prize exceeded 200,000 ducats.
Having thus informed you of the wealth of that country, which abounds in
almost every thing, we now proceed to relate that two of our ships above
mentioned have been cast away in a storm near the mouth of the Red Sea,
their commander Vincentius and above six hundred men having perished, but
the other two were saved[5]. Another vessel, which escaped that dreadful
tempest, was soon afterwards dashed to pieces against a rock; so that the
sea was covered with dead bodies and with rich merchandize of all kinds:
Thus, as the proverb says, wealth ill acquired is ill lost. Of all these
ships one small caravel only rode out the storm, and brought intelligence
of the destruction of the others.
We have now to inform you, that our king has given permission to all who
choose to proceed to India and to carry on trade, providing that he is
paid a quarter part[6] of all returns, and that they purchase from him
for the purpose such ships as he thinks proper, and the price of these
ships must be paid before setting out on the voyage; because, considering
the loss of ships which he has already sustained, he is desirous that
others should now bear the risk:
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