\VORKS I-SSlJED In" 
Ube lbaRlurt $ocietr. 
--0--
THE CHRONICLE 
THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST 
OF GUINEA. 
VOL I. 
No. XCV. 
THE CHRONICLE 
OF THE 
DISCOVERY 
ANI! 
CONQUEST 'OF GUINEA. 
WRl'l'TEN BY 
GOMES EANNES DE AZU RAI-(A; 
v 
NO\·V FIRST DONE INTO ENGL ISH 
CHARLES RA YMO:-<D BEAZLEY, M.A., F.R.G.S., 
L.ITY. rr.LLOII' 01' ~I};RTO~ COtL&GR, OXPORD; CORRY..SI'O)\D I);'O :Ilr.~nllm 
0.' nn; LISRO~" OE09RAI'IlIC,\L SOCI!::TY; 
EDGAR PRESTAGE, B.A.OxON., 
I\~IOUT 01' TII~. ~[O::;T X081.I:: I'ORTIlGUKSf. OHDY-R 01' ii, TIII.IUO; COJ(R~I'O)\I)JS(l 
TU~: r.UIHOX GIlOOR.lrllleAL ::>Oen;TY, P.TC. 
VOL. I 
(C HAPTERS I-XL). 
~[1~ ,111 EnlrobUrllolI 011 Ibr iLiff club mm.trlfmgs of tbr Q1'brOlllrTrr. 
LONDON: 
PRINTED FOR THE HAKLliYT SOCIETY, 
~, LINCOLN'S INN FI ELDS, W.C, 
-n_ -
-.. 
,0 
,,"-' L r>J-:. . ~, '~ 
¢" )1 
~~EO . 
-
TO 
HIS MOST FAITHFUL MAJESTY 
DOM CARLOS 1°, 
KING OF PORTUGAL AND THE ALGARVES, 
THIS WORK IS BY PERMISSION 
DEDICATED. 
(,~\}J t:04.J~ 
... i .r. ~  
COUNCIL 
THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY, 
-, 
S IR CLF.MEN'TS l\'rARKIIA~f. K.C.R.. F.R.S .• Pres. R.C.S., PRF.SlDENT. 
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD ST ANI.E\' 01<' ALOER L EY, VICF.-PRES IDENT. 
SIR A. \,VOLl.ASTON FR.\l\'"S, K.C.B.. F.R.S., VWE-PRESIDENT. 
C. RAYMOND REA!;!.EY, ESQ., ;'o,'I.A. 
:\£tLLER CHiUSTY, r~Q. 
COI.ON~:I. G. EARL ('IIURCH. 
Till!: RICHT HON. GEORGE N. CURWN, M, P. 
ALBERT GR.W, ESQ. 
Till!: RIGHT HON. LoIW I IAWKESBL'RY. 
J":PWARO HE ,\WQOD, ESQ., ;'0.1..,\, 
AnMIR,\L SIR .\"'TII07'<\' H. HOSKINS. K.C.B. 
REAR-ADMIR.\/, ALBERT H. MARh:H.,\:-'r. 
A. P. i\IAL'OSI.AY, ESQ. 
F.. DF:UIAR l\ IORG"\N, EsQ. 
C.\l>T.\lN N.\'I' I1.\ N, R ,E. 
ADMIRAL SIR E. OMMANNEY, C B., F.R.S. 
CUTHR~:RT E. PEIi:K , ESQ. 
E. G. RAYEN'STEIN, EsQ. 
COUTTS TROTI'F.R, EsQ. 
RE,\R·.\OMIRAI. \v. ). L. \\'HARTON, C.B., R.N. 
\VILUAM FOSTER, Esq., HonQrary SecrrJnry'. 
ED ITORS'. PREFACE. 
D H E /oliow;"g ,,,,,,1'';00 of A,,," 
'.' rara's CIl1'omde of lite .Discover}' 
. and Conquest 0./ GUUlea IS the first 
. ~ complete English version that has 
. 
1 . " - appeared of the chief con tem-
porary authority for the life-work of Prince Henry 
of Portuga1) surnamed t11e Navigator; and we may 
remind members of the Hakluyt S'ociety, and 
other readers, that we have but lately passed 
the fifth centenary of the Prince's birth (March 
4th, 1394). 
The first volume includes about half of the text, 
together with an [ntroduction on the Life and 
\"'ritings of Awrara> which it is hoped ",ill be found 
more exhaustive and accurate than any previous 
notice of the historian. 
In the second volume (which is due for the year 
(897) will be g-iven the rest of the Chronicle, ",ith 
EDITOH ..... • PRJ- l \( ) . 
an Introduction ,)n the Ceogral'hical lli e<1\ er ie 
of the Portuguese, and Prine" H "nr)'s share in the 
same. It will also contain notes (0, the explana-
lion of historical and other qu tions <lfi 'in", out of 
cert~ill passages in (he (ext of b,\{b ,·oluml;.!. To 
illus!rrm: the condition of geographical kno\ded" 
in the period CO\ en'd b~ th.: pre en\ inSI"lmelll II, 
hay.: included four reproductions of cOlllo:mp(lnf~ 
(Of almost comemporary) mil's (lj \fri'L-:t,lc, 
cor<lin~ (" Ih" Laurentian POflolan0 of 135 I in 
the \ledice,an Librar) ill Florcnc". This i the 
most f('m rkable of all the l'ortolani of the fuur-
teenth cenrur Its outline of \\. and S .•\ (rica. 
nd mor" panicularly ils ug"t,StiOIl of Ihe bend 
(th (;uinea 03!. is 'urprisingl) ncar th" Ifluh. 
e\ en .lS a gll"", in a eh Irt made one hundred .tnd 
thin\ ·Ii\ c ) cars hefore lhe Cal''' eli Good 1 lope 
'HlS first rountk,1. (~) 1': -W. \.(rica. th Cnn.lr) 
Isles. ·te. eordll1g to Ihe design ell lh,· \ dleti til 
hrethn n 1'i i. Ill, in '30,. (.,1 rll,' same ce .nl-
in .. to th" a{alan Map of 1375 ill the Hjblin{~'(lue 
at ion ale at Paris. The illt-fior of •\ Cri I is filh-d 
With fant \Sue pielllr,~ o( nall',' lrih • tlw b,),\t· 
I. .a d of 11\<'n off lapc Rojador ill ,I 'c"ft"1n< ~ \\I . 
o{ (h(" mill' p<'o\);.bh n pr, ,nls the .nala" ~ -
pin""..,; ,,( Ih,,) If 134 • who l! '" 1\ a '" in li' •• re h 
of rill' Ri,' 'r IIC Gold' this III I' <:OIl1I11<'I11'lf.1[, <. 
(~) Ih< SIUll. \\ illl c.-ft.,in ollh'r pans Cl he \\ o,.1d. 
ICCOrc\t'lg to \n.1r<.'3 lli nco in 1436. [II th. SU<-
ce~din ,olulllt. We hop \0 nHer SOllle ill ustfll I il)l1' 
EDITORS' PREFACE. XI 
of the cartography of Prince Henry's later' years, 
as well as a likeness of the Prince himself, either 
fronl the Paris portrait (MSS. Port. 4 I, fol. 5 6is) or 
from the statue at Belem. 'lATe had expected to be 
ab'le to furnish our readers with a copy of the por-
trait of the Prince from the important oil-painting 
on board preserved in a corridor of the extinct 
monastery adjoining the Church of S. Vicente de 
F6ra in Lisbon, but the. photograph, which was 
taken by Senhor Camacho with the permission of 
His Eminence the Cardinal Patriarch, proved un-
satisfactory, owing to the position of the picture and 
want of sufficient light. 
vi' e may add that a considerable part of the 
Paris manuscript of the Chronicle of G"inea has 
been collated for the present edition with the printed 
text as published by Santarem, and the result proves 
the accuracy of the latter. 
We have to thank Senhor Jayme Batalha Reis, 
who has looked through the present version as far 
as the end of vol. i, and has kindly offered many 
suggestions, Among other Portuguese scholars 
who have been of service to us, we would especially 
mention Dr. Xavier da Cunha, of the Bibliotheca 
National, Lisbon; Senhor Jose Basto, of the 
Torre do Tomb,), and General Brito Rebello. In 
a lesser degree we owe our acknowledgments to 
D, Carolina l'vlich,ielis de Vasconcellos and Dr. 
Theophilo Braga, the chief authoriti es on all that 
pertains to Portuguese literature, as well as to the 
low: Cnnsdlwiro J. P. dL Oli""ira 'I L.nin" wh .. s(: 
untimely death rubbed his Column .. I' her foremost 
man of letters. 
L. R H. 
E. P 
/ 
THE LIFE AND WRITINGS 
OF AZURARA. 
LIFE. 
"Lidar scm descanco parece ter sido 0 mOlO d'Azurara", 
VIEIRA OK ;\'IEYRELLl::S. 
HE materials at hand for a study 
of the life and work of the second 
great Portuguese Chronicler are. 
considering the age in which he 
lived and the position he held, 
somewhat disappointing, and no 
one of his countrymen has been at the pains to 
work them. up satisfactorily. They naturally fall 
into three divisions-his own writings, documents 
directly relating to his life or merely signed by him 
in his official capacity, and the witness of historians. 
There exists but one contemporary description of 
Azurara, that by Mattheus de Pisano, author of the 
Latin history of the Capture of Ceuta, though this is 
supplemented by the contents of two letters addressed 
to the Chronicler by Alfonso V and the Constable 
D. Pedro respectively, as well as by what can 
b 
II 
b~ gleaned from document,lr) sources anJ from 
. \wr.lr.1 himsl'lf. I n [he next century-the 16th 
some a. si,tance mOl)' be deri,ed (rllm (h" tradi-
(ion pr' 'n'"d br Barros, rh" hist<lrian o( the 
I ndies, as also from his critical juJgmelHs rog"lher 
\\ ilh (hose of Damilhl de Coes, the Cunnus H llm"ni:1 
and friend of Erasmu.. The." are all in d sense 
primar~ au{horilie', while (he lither \\ h" hal < 
discourseJ uf. or inci" ,nt,lIly 111 'l1linllCd him dr<' hut 
secondary. namely. '\i ()inu .\nlouio, Jnrgc l ... rdo~I\. 
narho "I :'Ilachadn, J<>:iu Pedro RiI. 'irll, the \'i~c"tll1t 
de ,.tnt If 'm, Ale, andre IlcrcuLIJlll. \'i"ir" <I" 
:'II .~ rd"'s. I nnoc 'lIei<l da -' ih ", S<ll 'W do' Rcis, ,lIld 
or "(~OJnc...:s ~\l1nt: • \\.tS 
un of 10:\0 Eanncs de \zurara. "l --ani H) uf 
r I on ,1IId <. oimltr..l. hut, bc, ont! thc' fact of this 
IMI rnll), \Ie knOll not hill;! of hi' fadl< r, ,tnd "nl> 
"} ollj,'clur' is II 1'0 sihle Itl .lrr;n'.11 till: nam, of 
hi moth r ,.,. \I ill h,·re.,fler "I'I"',r II, is, ,id 10 
h, I, conw "f 1 oot! (,lInil), on till' ground <If his 
admi slon illto Ihe On"'r of hnsl 
•\  \\ ilh '(', cr.tl utili r \'ortugues<, Ill< Jl <If kllers, 
I'le .... 1":<:li,,' } ..... 'r. ,(.\ ",.tra', birth ,"1l1 d, ,nh .trl" 
Ullkl1(l\\ n.t .lll(1 HYu luc,\litH.'''\ di'put lht. hnnullf of 
'n lh~ ('" r III 11 tI~ (,utlt, h 'n. h~ It lUln~ If .. (~t)ln~ 
1.. .m \.: de IUM\n 
Itarro wnunlt hdott ISS', ';1\", .. I knu" IlIlt 11o" Ion h(.; 
\cd , , I, III I 11\ It eh • 
'01' AZURARA. III 
having g iven him to the world; but there seems 
little doubt that this "bonus Grammaticus, nobilis 
Asirologus, et magnus Historiographus," as his 
friend Pisano calls him,' was born in the town of his 
name, in the Province of Minho, at the very com-
mencement of the 15th century. I n proof of this it 
should be stated that Azurara expressly declares 
in his Chronica de Ceuta, which was finished in 
1450, that he had not passtld "the three first ages 
of man" when he wrote it! 
The dispute as to his birthplace between the 
Azurara in Minho and the Azurara in Beira' is not 
easy to settle, but tradition favours the former, and 
until the end of the last century no writer had 
venLured to doubt that the ancient town at the mO\1th 
of the River Ave, which received its first charter, or 
. "foral", from the Count D. Henrique in 1102 or 
1107, was the early home of the Chronicler.' Such 
evidence as exists in favour of the latter place is 
1 "De Bello Septensi," p. 27 (in the Ineditos de His/oria Portlt-
gtte::.a, vol. i, Lisbon, 1790). 
2 Ckronica de Celt/a, ch. 23. 
:3 This place is in Beira Alta, twelve kilometres east of Vizeu, 
famous (iuter alia) for the great picture of St. Peter as Pope, 
lately reproduced by the Arundel Society. 
4. The first to mention Azurara's birthplace was Soares de Brito 
(born 16r 1, died ,1669), who, in his Theatrum Lusitallice Litlera-
riulIl, p. 547, says: ({ Gomes Anes de Azurara ex oppido, sieuti 
fertur, cognomine in Diocesi Portucalensi," voicing the tradition 
of his time (MS. u of the Lisbon National Library, dated ]645). 
~ 
The first who suggested Beira in place of Minho seems to have 
been Correa da Serra, editor of the IJleditos, ibig., vol. ii, p. 209 . 
b 2 
iv TilE LlH' \ND \\RITI (is 
slight, consi ,ting- only of inferences drawn from 
a ducument, dated . \ugust 23rd, f4S4, in which 
AfI'on '0 \' grants certain privileges to two inhabi-
tant ' or Castello Branco, who were accustomed to 
collec t the Chronicler's rents and bring- them to 
Lisbon, Fr<'m this it h.ls been argued by such able 
rities .IS \ 'ieira de :'I!eyrelles and Rodriguez 
d'. he" ,do that these rent mu't ha\'e issued out of 
famil) pr pert)' 'itu,lIe at the .\zurara in Beira, 
which happens to ue in the di,trict of Castello 
B .... mev. and hence tha[ the hronicler " ;is a native 
of II ira r,llh", lb,1Il of illinho, ' The conclusion 
<.-em' fdr-fetched. to ';\) the le,LSt, for it i just a 
likd) that the. C' t\lO l11<'n \\ 'r' ,'g';n l ' 1~1f a benefice, 
or .. commend,,' . al \ ic.1ins. in lhe "Ull<.; district. 
\\ hi h ,\zur,lf.1 1'''5 . cd at the li me lhi' g-r.Ull " .IS 
In.ull. 
' I h, e,lrl li~' of th . Chronidc'r is ,II most ,I blank. 
L' nlil th ) c,lr \,150, in \\ hich 11<' \\ role his first 
riou -hroni I<-. though nOlo l'erh,II'.', hi' first book. 
\I e h. .. c littl" b,') ond the me.lnre in{ornl.ltion, 'up-
plied h) :'I1.lllheus de Pisano. tlMl he bq,:.lIll0 ,tud) 
D" AZURARA. v 
late-" dum matur<e jam <etatis esset"-and that he 
had passed his youth without acquiring the rudiments 
of knowledge-" nul1am litteram didicisset"'-to 
which some later authorities have added-he spent 
his early years in the pursuit of arms, a statement 
likely enough to be true. I t seems probable that he 
obtained a post in the Royal Library during the brief 
and luckless reign of D. Duarte ([433-[438), or 
shortly afterwards, as assistant to the Chronicler 
Fernao Lopes, whom he succeeded, for he was 
actually in charge of it early in the reign of 
Affonso \T, in 1452, and finished the Cltronz"ca de 
Gui1lt in that place in 1453. 
Tradition has it that he entered the Order of 
Christ as a young- man, for he came to be Com-
mander therein, a position only obtainable at that 
_ time by regular service in the Order, and by 
seniority; but the natu re of these services, and the 
advancement which Azurara gained by them, can-
not precisely be determined; because the early 
private records of the Order, together with the roll 
of its Knights, have been lost. those that exist only 
reaching back to the commencement of the 16th 
century.' This Order was founded by King Diniz 
in 1319, on the suppression of the Templars, and it 
inherited most, if not all, their houses and goods 
throughout Portugal. Its members were bound by 
the three monastic vows of chastity, poverty, and 
1 De Bello Septellsi} p. 27. 
i So sa)" COTre~ <\~ Serr~-rl/f(filp-" vol· ii , p, 0°7, 
II TJIF Ull .\~rl \\I·ITI~(." 
obedience, which prel';\iled in ,\zor,lr,,', time, 
ahhough -ommanders and Knighr~ "f (he Order 
\\ er' at a later pt:riod allowed to marr)', bj' g rant of 
1")1''' \\cxand",r \'1 I Th" Commander were 
bound to conf", and communicate f,)ur times in the 
}' "tr, 10 rc iI' d<tilr the H ours of Our Lilly, to han; 
four )1 .L'sl!s said annually for deceased m'mj,ers, 
and (0 fa."1 on Frida~s, as well as "n tht: d.l)s 
ordain"d by dw hur 'h, ;,1c-mbership of tht: Urclcr 
\\.1' an honour re erl'ed for '\ obles, Knights, •. ,,,\ 
'1uirc', fre,' {rom t,lin in th"ir birth ,'r ,,,her 
imp"dim 'nt: while the StatUles din: tl,d .t number 
of ell'luiri's to be made I'Lf,'re a . ndidate' \I.IS 
atimined. on, Ix:in~." .ts h,· [,orn in Ia\l (ul wedlock? 
.1 question "ur 'brnnicl'r could po' 'illl) no! b,n" 
.n "cr"el in the dlirmatil.' lit- 'ide, this, "spirants 
"er,' r''<Juired to be knight 'd hdort.: the.r .Idm;"i"n, 
Ind then to profe's. ,\ gi ft of Oil' or mill' .. 
'c"tunnlt'od.1S I nr l~nl'fio,: .. ((,110\\ l·d ill due (our ... e. 
hut , til prl!\ 'Ill til<' •• bust: of plllr,tltu,' \I hich thu 
cr"pt in, Pup' PillS \ ,.ftl'f\1 .rd. d, r''l'li Ih.ll n<l 
I"night 'hollid hold lIlor, th,'11 onl! C'''lllmCnli.t. .111<1 
lhi hl \\ .. l~ to \ iSH ~lllc(l~t 011((, in l'\ 'n three ~ c...lrs. 
11ll" i niRht po's<' s,'d m IIt\ pril ikgc'" Ill<' 1Il'''t 
n Illthl" h'ln;.! lhtll. in )'''Ih l i\ il ~lI\d rimin,tl c.''''("s. 
th , I\< r,. l l'llll't (r"l11 tht: juri dictioll <II' th,. ]{<I).t\ 
"urt,. •l t1d sui>j{' I oni) In th", of t1wir Ordn. 
OF AZURARA. VII 
which had all the old prerogatives of those of the 
Temple a,nd Ca]a,trava, together with such, as had 
been granted it by name.' 
According to one authority, Azurara began his 
career as author in the reign of D. Duarte by compil-
ing a detailed catalogue of the Miracles of the Holy 
Constable, Nun' Alvares Pereira.' The MS., which 
is said to have existed in the Carmo Convent in 
Lisbon as late as 1745, has disappeared, but the 
substance of this curious work may still be read in 
Santa Anna's Chronica dos Carmaeiitas, together 
with a number of contgmporary popular songs about 
the Constable, extracted from MSS. left by 
Azurara' 
More than ten years now elapse without any men-
tion of Azurara's name, and we hear of him for the £irst 
time, definitely, in 1450. On lVlarch 25th of that year 
he finished at Silves, in the Algarve, his Clzronicle of 
the Siege and Capture of Ceuta, an event that took 
place in 1415, and formed the first of a long line of 
Portuguese expeditions, and the starting-point in 
their career of foreign conquest. Fernao Lopes, the 
F roissart of his country, and the father of Portuguese 
1 D ejimcois e Estatlftos dos Cavalldrus e Freires da 01'dem de 
JI/: S. Jesu Cristo com a historia da origem &> pritlcipio della. 
Lisbon, 1628. 
2 D. Carolina Michaelis de Vasconcellos, however, is of opinion 
that this, and the popular songs hereafter referred to, are pious 
frauds, invented in the first half of the seventeenth century to 
form materials for the canonisation of Nun' Alvares. 
S Chr(mica dos Carl1laelitas) vol. i, pp. 469, 486. Lisbon) 1745 
\111 THr LH l \XU \ytOT! '(.' 
histurr. \\,., still alive at the time ,\,."';1111 IITOte this 
1\ urk. but had beconw [Ot) old and weak to carryon 
his history of the r 19-n of ] oao I, to which it is a 
:>l·gUt:!. •\ fler paring" tribm 111 Lupes ,IS a man 
o( .. rare knowletlge and ~r ill autho rilY " i \zurara 
tells us lhill A ffoosn \' ortl<.:rccl him to conlinue the 
wt)rk, that ~he deed (J 0, () [ mig-hl n"l 1 e 
for 'otten. and thi he did. culling- hi in~ rmarion 
from eye-witncsses as \I ell as (rom d<,cUlllei1Ls. "ith 
{har honest} aod zeal \I hich a rc his {WO O1,)St 
promin<:nt r~ature as an hi ·lOr1.tn. Il e be.~.ln the' 
Chrom(!, 1\ hieb 1\<15 printed n coni >, and th.u in 
(he' I 71h celllUI\ -thin\ -four ycar 'lftl'r the aptu rc 
01 C uta. ,:"., in the autumn of 14·j(). Illd condud"d 
it, as the )a"t chapter S{HC , on 711ar<,h ~5lh, 1..J50. 
It ""s. (h"re(on-_ \ rill en in the shon pac.., <)f ,lb"Ul 
stI'en tllonths, which says lllnocl'!l i • sC'em: \I \·11· 
ni ... h in fedihl", considt'rin~ h(>\\ tldih..,ral<:h and 
circlIffispl' til his{ori~, III r<: compiled in lhl)" llot; s.· 
rhe nan.ltil, i . \I illl .1 ("II l''' "In jon:. (ull and l I l'll 
mllllllt;'. 
:1ft r. 
PI , lot. "'., q' 
OF AZURARA. ix 
\Ve know not the precise date at which Azurara 
had begun to apply himself to the study of letters, 
and he makes no allusion wha.tsoever, in his 
writings, to his early life; but it is clear, from the 
Ch1'onica de Ce1tta, that his self-training had been 
lengthy, and his range of study wide'" In the 
Preface to this, his first literary essay still ex isting-, 
he quotes from many books of the Old and New 
Testament, as well as from Aristotle, St. Gregory, 
St. Anselm, and Avicenna; while in the body of the 
work he compares the siege of Ceuta to that of 
Troy, talks of "Giovanni Boccaccio, a poet that was 
·born at Florence", mentions the Conde L1tca1lor, and 
wanders off into philosophical musings that forcibly 
recall passages of the L eal Conselhei1'o of D. Duarte, 
and prove him to hal'e been no tyro in the learn-
ing of the age. He was equally well versed in 
. astrology, in which be believed firmly, as in history, 
and of the latter he says: " I that wrote this history 
have read most of the Chronicles and historical 
works.'" To understand how this was possible, it 
must be remembered that the Portuguese Court, in 
the first half of the I 5th century, was an important 
literary centre, and that Jo ao I and his sons, besides 
being themselves authors of books, possessed 
libraries among the most complete in Europe.' The 
1 Pisano testifies of Azurara, (( scientire cupiditate ftagravit".-
De Bello SePteJlSf~ p. 27. 2 Clzro'llica de Cellta, ch. 38. 
S Vide Theophilo Braga, HlStoria da Ul1iversidade de Coilllbra, 
Lisbon, r892, vol. i, ch. 4, [or the catalogues Qr these libr~ries and 
an ilcCO~l1t of the books they contain«,!, 
TIlE 11l1'\,\D \\R1TI'i(,S 
a,musphore of learn in., that h· brt;,lthcd made 
. \l.ur"rn ,,-hat he Wa!;, and ir explains the: ascend· 
enc ' he gained. as ., pure man of letters. \ er (he 
mind uf I\/looso V. 
Three lear dap eel bQtween the writing f his 
second and third hooks. and tll<'re ca n he linle 
doubt lilal .\zurara spellt this I eriod partl - in the 
I' ~ aT Library and panly 1tmong ,he ,\ rchi \'C • 
w'bieh \Hlre then bousell in the C. de of S. Jo r~(' in 
I isbon, continuing his stud) ()[ diu history of his 
own and (ofci'l?,'o countries in th" chronicles and 
do umems tho." places coomilled. 
'orne time in the }",ar '452 lh, Km..,:, who ""'$ 
then in Lisbon. charg<.·d him widl the book \\hich 
'-UIlSlilutcS his chi f ,itlc to l'am· o"iog to ,h" 
impQfl,tOC of its slIP; Ct, and the hi torical tidelil), 
and litera.. skill that distinguish it pres llU1Wnt. 
mUll ", th· el" 1/; a t!e Guille, or, i\ it mi~ht be 
c •l ied. th Ltjc 111ft! T/ ,,1· .I Frilf( H",,), tn,' 
\ tI i, aJ r l'rom the subscript "t find it \las 
"nll<.:1l in til H,O} •• 1 Uhnlf}, ·tnd finished there (111 
l<hrUQn r8th. '453 \ u'''''''' ,;<:m it t" the King', 
Ii\ l <la, aft<.:r,ulrds," ith a Idler" hi h h.s fortu-
lIille" been pres. F\ ,,,I. sine il sho\\ .. hm' Cri'l1<1h ;1I1t! 
e ,n famihar \\en the rdations suhsi ling b 'l\' <.:<.:n 
the Ill. ,lIId h(1\\ t\WS( II r, nninl.linClI h~ 'feg"l. r 
,urr 'sp'llroenc" II . apI"'>! rs th'll \ I ("'ISO h"d \I rg cJ 
\,urara. to ,htain all the inror-mlltion I,ossihlc ah"UI 
th, li(, 1IIe1 \\ork of 11, Illnri'Ju'. ,\l.d. thi <1",1<'. ttl 
II rill as b. I h, cotllt .. ,II, ~illg .1 <Ii tUln of l'ulh, 
lh.ll it ufh c.;th not (Of l man to do 1 ~110J lhjng, 
OF AZURARA. Xl 
but rather to do it well". Then the letter proceeds, 
add ressing the King: "For it seemed to you that it 
would be wrong if some example of such a saintly 
and "irtuous life were not to remain , not only for the 
sake of the Princes who after your time should 
possess these realms, but also for all others of the 
world who might become acquainted with his history, 
by reason of which his countrymen might have cause 
to Imow his sepukhre, and perpetuate Divine 
Sacrifices for the increase o( his glory, and foreigners 
might keep his name before their eyes, to the great 
praise of his memory.'" 
The following is a summary of the contents of the 
Chronicle :-
Azurara begins (Chapter r) by some reflections on 
well-doing and gratitude, the conclusion to which he 
illustrates by quotations, and then goes on to tell the 
origin of his work, which lay in the King's desire 
that the great and very notable deeds of D. Henrique 
should be remembered, and that there should be an 
authorised memorial of him, even as there was in 
Spain of the Cid, and in Portugal itself of the Holy 
Constable, Nun' Alvarez Pereira.' The Chronicler 
justifies his task by summing up the profits that had 
1 This letter defines the scope of the book, which was not 
meant to be a general hi::.tory of the ;portuguese expeditions and 
discoveries. It is printed in Santarem's edition of the Cilrollim 
de GuiJlc, and precedes his Introduction. 
2 This charming old chronic!e of the life of the noblest and 
most sympathetic figure in Portuguese annals was written anuny-
mously, and first printed in 1526. 
-'II Till IIII- \~J) \\I'ril\( ..... 
accru"d frum Ihe I'riIK<.:'< efTorts tir. th", Ih" <;ah 'a· 
lion of Lilt' ,ouls of lh" cal'ril(,s taken bl' the 
Porrug-u~s~ in their ,'xl'editi'"b: sccondl) , the 
b~nctil \I hich lheir st:r\'ic<;, brought l<) their c.lplOrs : 
and lhirdly, the honour ac,]uired by [h<.: fdth"rland in 
lh~ con'luest of such dislant lcrrilori<:, and nUlllerOllS 
L'llcmit". 
hapI"r II C(lnslsts o( a long "Illi nll)St cloqllent 
inl'ocaliol1 In I), I !enrique;, and a cec;lal o( his 
m,lO;fold g:ood dc,' (Is to all sort' and CO:1<iil;oIlS of 
1ll'l1 and his mighl) .1ccoml'lishml'IHS, .\zur.lr.l 
pre 'ellls Ih"m to 1I. I III a p'lOor,lIn,l. and his simJlk. 
direct l.ln~U~l~c fCV l!il I c\ lill(-, lhoug:h unconscious. 
anisl in l\tlrd , 
Il.IJll<'r III dcal .. \lilh Lip ,lI\e" In n( n Iienri· 
'Iut!. nd IMI'I<r 1\ describe: lh' nMn himsdf. 
, cnn t IIll III adl ersil) ,lilt! humbl' in pro, p<'ril)" 
hi' .IPI (".\lOln('<, b.luit , alld manner o( li(", all \I jth 
milch (nrc, .of dlClIon, 
In h.lpl('c \ "" h,\I c an ,lCCOLInt oo( til<' ('arl)' 
lif, (If I), Ilenri']ue, If his Pr<lWl' 'S at th ' capture of 
('''lIt,I, II1d ducing iI' IC'):' 11\ all<' \[oor,', "ilh his 
fnlllk s .1, Illil on I .ln~I<'" , "hi h reslIll«1 in til<' 
C.II'"V tl (If lh. II,," Inf,lI\l. II is I',,'pling "I 
:'Ila,!.-ir I mel (llh 'C i 1.lI1d, in •• Ihc'):1'l al ()"',In "'"'I", 
.\nO pn l'nt't II tht '" Hhcfill~ th.lt ended in th~ 
halll "f \11. rrol" ir" .1rL r< I~'rr d to, ,,< al<() his 
,., ,rn," hip of lh, (lr(kr 01 ( hri I Ill.! lh,' serl'ic,'s 
hl nnd'lnd lo nlitiotl h\ thc.'("!"l tinn.lnd(·IHlt)\\-
Ill. III of church,s Illd I'rof('sso,-i,oI ch"irs, TIll' 
,h"!,l"" I1U wilh.\ tl< rlI'lIC1Il of lil<' 1'<11\ 1\ of til<' 
.01' AZURARA. Xll1 
Infant at Cape St. Vincent, "there where both the 
seas meet i" combat, that is to say, the great Ocean 
sea with the Mediterranean sea", a place designed 
by the Prince to be a great mercantile centre, and a 
safe harbour for ships from East and \;1,1 est. 
In Chapter VI, Azurara returns to his laudations 
of the Infant, whom he apostrophises thus: "I know 
that the seas and lands are full of your praises, for 
that you, by numberless voyages, have joined the 
East to the 'West, in order "that the peoples mig'ht 
learn to exchang€ their riches"; and he winds up 
with some remarks on "distributive justice", the 
non-exercise of which had been attributed to D. 
Henrique as a fault by some of his contemporaries. 
Chapter VII is occupied with a recital of the 
reasons that impelled the Infant to send out his 
expeditions. They were shortly as follows. First 
. and foremost, pure zeal for knowledge; secondly, 
commercial considerations; thirdly, his desire to 
ascertain the extent of the iVloorish power in Africa; 
fourthly, his wish to find some Christian King in 
those parts who would assist in warring down the 
Moors; and last but not least, his purpose to extend 
the Faith. To these reasons Azurara, quite 
characteristically, adds a sixth, which he calls the 
root from which they all proceeded-the influence of 
the heavenly bodies, and he essays to prove it by 
the Prince's horoscope, 
The narrative of the expeditions really begins in 
Chapter VllI, which opens with an account of the 
reasons why no ship had hitherto dared to pass 
,\1\ Tin' LTl-E \XD Wl'lTI;\C .... 
"P" Bojador. som" of (hem being: at fir ( si"hr ,,$ 
sensihle as orher are abslInl. Th<! [ears of rhe 
mario rs pre"e'Hcd for twel",; rcar the realisation 
of their ma tcr's wish, and (or so long' the annual 
"a ag s \Yen.: nel'er carried beyond the terrible 
cal e. 
hapler IX rdates ho\l' at length, in 1434, Cape 
Bojador was doubled br Gil Paon s, a squire of 
D. 1I enrique, and hO\I. On a sec mJ '0) ll€" "i th 
one \ffooso -;onctah,cz lialdaY,I. Eannes r<:ad,,,d the 
\ng<a dos RuilO, 1ft} I~gu' be) and it. 
I n the neXI haprL'f x lhlda) a passe one 
hundred and I \\ "Ill) 1e."1.gu's beyond -al'(, Bojador 
\0 th· [\;0 d Ouro, and a shan ,,'a) be) ond: hut 
failing to tak,' an) captiv<!S. II lh· Prince I'ished 
hilll to do, he loads hi ship with tbe skin of sea-
C lIves and retUrns to l'onuga.1 in 14 '6. 
'hapter ,lis a shan Olle, and InLr 'Iy t Ii (h U 
t"r three } <:<11'5, I"',, from 1437 to 14~O, th> ,'o'-"'g';' 
"'''fI' imcrrupled b) til, a{\'lirs of lh~ Kin~d<.ll1l, 
IIthi h n .". luirct! all th" IltlellUOII of n, Ilenr,que, 
rh,Sl' alfaih weI" dw death of I l. T} uilrIL. and the 
:.tru gIL thaI fol\o\\cd bC(W~t!f\ 111<' ()uc'~n, suppof\eJ 
b) a "mall s c(jon o( til<' nobks. :1l1d lh" IManl 1 
l' dro, h.(.'k d \" Llshon and th· p""l'k ;I.S'" whol .. 
0\ or tb" 'Iuestion of til" Reg< nel .1Ild the 0ducatiol1 
of 111\ loullg I'ing \ Cf,\nSti. 
lhapl rs 'I lind 'Ill I'd (C' h"w \ntam Con~"I­
\'{ look the! first .lpllv<!S, and h"" J\ lLJiil Tri tam 
\\ .-Ilt to P' Il nnen. 
In hal'l('< 1\ \zurar.\ d'\l'lb 011 tlw delight 
/ 
OF AZURARA. xv 
D. Henrique must have felt at the sight of the 
captives, though he opines that they themselves 
recei~ed the greater benefit: "for, although their 
bodies might be in some subjection, it were a small 
thing in comparison with their souls, that would now 
possess true liberty for evermore." 
Chapter xv contains an account of the embassy 
sent to the Holy Father by D. Henrique to obtain 
"a share of the treasures Of Holy Church for the 
salvation of the souls of those who in the labours of 
this conquest should meet their end." The Pope, 
Eugenius IV, granted a plenary indulgence, on the 
usual conditions, to all who took part in the war 
against the l'vIoors under the banner of the Order of 
Christ; and D. Pedro, the Regent, made D. Henrique 
a present of the King's fifth to defray the heavy 
expenses he had incurred by the expeditions. 
In Chapter XV! Antam Gon~alvez obtains the 
Infant's leave for another voyage, and is charged to 
collect information about the Indies and the land of 
Prester John. H e receives 'ten negroes, in exchange 
for two Moors whom he had previously taken, 
together with some gold dust, and then returns 
home. 
I n Chapter XVll N uno T ristam goes as far as 
Arguim Island and makes some captures; this In 
the year 1443. 
Chapter XVllI begins the 1'elation of the first 
expedition on a large scale, and the first that sprang 
from private enterprise-namely, that of Lan~arote 
and his six caravels from Lagos. Azurara takes the. 
t1pporlUllity to inse rt h<.:n:: a shari but interesting 
sk ' fch of the chang· that had mken place in public 
opinion with referenc> to these "0) ages, I n the be-
ginnin,;. rhe} w 'r' dt: ri"d by rhe "reat nor a whit 
less linn b) the populace, but rhe as urancc of com-
mercial proh l had no\\ anI erred ell<, dispraiser . and 
the voyage uf Lan<;arote ga" e a mn,{iGle proof of it. 
fht next six 'hapl <': I's ("I" tu ",,1\) rdate the 
doings or this expedition, II hich oded in the 
capture of t \0 hundred and thin) -l1ve nati"es, 
h tpler x\, which rr "'II of th<.: eli,i ion of 
rhe caplin!s at Lagos. is the mo,>t plllheric ill the 
book, 'loti ant of the most pOll edul h) I i nue of the 
simpk realism {the narnuil e, 
hart'T X\ I gi'<!S a lucid summary o( tbe 
afler-II\'<' uf the capo I es. and their gradu.,1 but 
complete absorpli n ililo the mas or Iht people. 
elMl'l r \ IJ narrates th' ill-fated exreditiol1 
o( CUII'ialo de 'illlr-t ~1l1 his de llh !lear the Rio 
d'Our,,; while. in til .. nun. ,hurar.l r -rers Ill<! dC i-
"'111 ttl the hea" nly bod i",. , ;jlld ell',I\\ S '\ 1'1'O(,l.lhl<: 
I, sson from it. "hi h he di, ides illtn Se\ '11 hl!,I(.\s, 
(or the b<.:11 'Ill of poster;t) , 
Chal't r rx ontains a hon nOli c or I 
\0 ng' und "nakcll h) \Ilt,un (~()Il<;dn'z, GOIl1t'/. 
Pir'z ,\lId I )iq;n , \ {(OIlSO to th· Rio J' )"r,l, "hich 
had n" fc" lilt, 
eli.ll'le.. xx ,h·,ls "illl the I<');):gl! o( \JUIlO 
1 ri,,(.un. win passe J til<' (unhl!st point hitiwrtn 
,11 en' fcd •• 1Ilt! r",\Chcd " ,,1.1(' 11<' Il;(m'd l',tillldr. 
\ ur.l .. a u:·mrl'!'!ios(,~ hims(.lf tlll,'lhh:: to gl\(,.' mOl"t,; 
f 
OF AZURARA. XVII 
details about this expedition, "because Nuno 
Tristam was already dead at the time King 
Afforiso ordered this Croronicle to be written "-a 
statement which proves that he did not rely only 
on documents for the facts he related, but was 
careful to glean ;:,s much as possible from the 
actors therein. 
Chapter XXXI tells how Dinis Dyaz sailed 
straight to Guinea without. once shortening sail, 
and roow he was the first to penetrate so far, and 
take captives in those parts. He pushed on to 
Cape Verde, and, though he brought back but 
little spoil, he was well received by the Infant, 
who preferred discoveries to mere commercial 
profits. 
Chapters XXXII to X:O:XVI recite the expedi-
tion of Antam Gon~al vez, Garcia Homem and 
Diego Affonso to Cape BranGO, Arguim Island 
and Cape Resgate, where, besides trafficking, they 
took on board a squire, Joham Fernandez; who had 
stayed full seven months at the Rio d'Ouro, among 
the natives, to acquire for the Infant a knowledge 
of the country and its products. 
Azurara refers in Chapter XXXII to A~o 
Cerveira, whose history of the Portuguese discoveries 
o-;:;t'i;e African coast, now lost, was used by him in 
the compilation of this Chronicle; and in the next 
chapter he employs one of those rhetorical peri-
phrases of which his other works afford many an 
example, though they are rather scarce in this his 
masterpiece in point of style. 
\,\111 TifF L1I'F \}':l) '\RITI:\v. . 
Ch"pIl'rS X "II 10 XL\ III r"blt: Ihe doing, of 
Ihl lirst l'''l'edition from Lisbon. which \Va, under 
Ih,· command of Gon,alo i'ach"co. and penctratt:d 
III Guint:a. Or the land of the 'egrocs, Ih" result 
being a large number o( enpli"es. seemingly the 
hi ·f object it had in yie", 
-h. (llerS XLIX to LXYll contain th" aels of the 
gn·.11 expedition of fourteen sail II hich s"t out 
(rom L 19O: in 1-145. undl'f till' le.ld,'r,hip of 
L'n<;aroll" for the purp05c of I'uni,hing till' \[oors 
on th' Island of Tider and a\ "ngin;! Gon ail> d~ 
mIra, In all IlIent)-six ship I"ft Portugal thaI 
\"t' .r. bing tht' larg"st numher that had pl>rhaps 
l'\'"r sailed dOli n tnl' \ \' ':Iern sid' of th, D .• rk 
QOUOclll ~ll (lI1L' ll111<', 
\fler ,. compli hin,,!: Ihelr objecl some rt lllrI1l'd 
hOlll<. bm uthc'rs, mort' bold, dett·nninl·d 10 l'"plnr 
furtht:r """uth, if perchance the) might lind the 
1'1\e:rof >.:ilc and the 1\'rrc·stn.,J l'ar. • di,e, .\rri\ 'in;::-
at Ihe: . ene T •• I Ih"" Ihought Ihe) h.ld I~'und Ihe 
0, lit (II til<' '("Rn",:. and \\ 'Ill IHI further. .\ 
IIriou description of til<' \ ik. ;1Ilt! its 1''''' e:r 
a cording- til 1..,,\cronntl'l( rs., f WlllS lht suhjecl of 
l h.lp!"rs t I .1Ild I XII, "hert· ,\wr.1l'.1 1"1> '",IIe-, lcd 
.111 Ihe I .ll'llin" .lnd I'l'rul.tinn of Ihe \nci 'nb and 
\I, di .• \ .ll <Ill I h, 'Iu, 'I ion 
l·h.qllcr I \ til lo I \ dl' (rihC' lhl' dnin ... !"s elf 
Ih< rem,linin ships th,"l I, II I'lInllg-.,J in I II,. Inel 
rt Idh' Ih'-SClills on Ii)l' ,lnaric.,'s ,lnt! lhl' \(ri .... tll 
CO;! l "nel thl' \ o~.t 'l of Zeln ns c.lr,n·d In <.. II Il 
\1,<>10,. Ih, III!'dwsI pili Il I )<1 !',."h,,1 
, 
OF AZURARA. XIX 
Chapters LXXVI and LXXVII contain valuable 
notes on the life of the peoples south of Cape 
Bojador. together with an account of the travels of 
Jo ham Fernandez, the first E Ufopean to penetrate 
far into the interior of Africa. 
I n Chapter LXX\'III Azurara adds up the sum of 
the African voyages, and finds that up to 1446 
fifty-one caravels had sai led to those parts, one 
of which had passed four hu.pdred and fifty leagues 
beyond Cape Bojador. 
Chapters LXXIX to LXXXII are taken up by a 
description' of the Canary Islands, while Chapter 
LXXXIII deals with the discovery and peopling of 
the lVIadeir:,s and Azores1 
Chapter LXXXIV tells how D. Henrique obtained 
from the Regent a charter, similar to the one he 
had previously secured in the case of Guinea. to 
the effect (inter alia) that no one was to go to 
the Canaries, either for war or merchandise, without 
his leave; and the following chapter (LXXXV) relates 
a descent on the Island of Palma. 
In Chapter LXXXVI Azurara narrates in feeling 
terms the death of the gallant Nuno Tristam in 
Guinea-land. 
In Chapter LXXXVII we read how Alvaro 
Fernandez sai led down the African coast past 
, Azurara's laconism with reference to the history of the 
discovery ef the Madeiras and Azores is really regrettable. In 
many respects his narrative needs to be supplemented from other 
sources. 
C 2 
xx TIll'. LIFE A:'''f, \\RITr~Gs 
:,i"rra Leone. and more than one hundred and ten 
leagues bcl'ond Cape \ 'erde. 
~haptcr I "XXX\ III describes the \'ol'age of another 
La)!,,, fleet of nin' Ma\'cls to the Rio Crande, 
"hile the n 'xt 6\ e chapters (I."XX\lX-\CIIl) relate 
thm of GOtnt;l Pirc" to tht; Rio d'Ouro in 1.t~6. 
- hapt"rs \u\ and \CI are d '\oled to the 
trafficking venture of lht.: year IHi. the unhapp)' 
fate of the Scandinavian \';tllarte, and an espedili"n 
to the fishe,-ie off the, \ngra do~ Ru) ''os. 
rn  ~ha pt(;rs XC\! und Xc \ II ,\llIrara "inds up 
his nMF'lti\c, endin" with th' \'<~ar 144K The 
capti,· .' brou)!ht (0 l'<'rLugal dc),," t,) that date by 
Ih, \ari,llIs \0) a~crs nllmucr<.:d. according to his 
csllJllalL', qZi, "lhc ~rlal·r pan of "h01l1 Were 
turned Into the true IMth of , ";t(ion "; and this 
h<.: count a' tilL greatest of th' I nf,lIll\ .~I,)ri<'s. 
and th ' most \' 'Llu.\I;": fruit o( his li(e"'l1g dfons. 
II • then :lnn une's his intention to \I nte ., "'cond 
pan of th" hroni k, dealing with the final portion 
or 11. Ilcnriqut: ,york \ purl'"S' which to our 
ll"'n\~ st loss ht: n'\ ' r carric'c\ Otlt 'tnd conelud," 
h) ~[\ in thanks tCl th" 11I"~'l!d rrinit) "" th .. 
cnlnpkllr,,' of h" l" k. 
I"l'h.," (111.,,1:1(<1 t/( (,/l1I1( h. . ts Jll;ln~ ft;\lul"l· .... ill 
c<>1111l1on "ilh (h It "f "Ut.1. hUl "" th" 1\ hoi it 
fe ' ... tls " ,k>idt'tI ,1\" .nCl· "' 1'0\\"<:,.. !'Ill' tyk, 
though ,I[ tim"s r,llh"r rhettlri .d. is ~"IlC'r;\lI) pl •• in 
lIld ~cil , t·\ to r .tndll)tJll ri~ill~ In :1. trUl' (,·Joquellce. 
\\ hilt tlh' n.\rr.llin-' P(Jrtlflll' ,\n: Yivid. pictllrl'Scjlll', 
.. ,nd nflt 11 m,l,l.'Sli( 111 Lilt'll' \ VI') simpli It). tlther 
, 
OF AZURARA. XXl 
chapters bristle with quotations, and show a more 
extensive range of reading and a knowledge truly 
encycJop<edic. All the plililosophy, the geography, 
the history, and even the astrology of the age is 
called illto requisition to support an argument or 
illustrate a point. 
But to return to our subject-the Life of the 
Chronicler. 
On ] une 6th, T454, Azura.a received the reward 
of his past services, being appo inted Keeper of the 
Royal Archives (Guarda 1\16r da T orre do Tombo), 
at the instance of, and in succession to, Fernao 
Lopes. It is probable that the office of Chief 
Chronicler (Chronista-M6r) was conferred on him 
at the same time and implied in the grant, though 
it is not verbally mentioned there, since in the 
document next referred to he is actually named 
Chronicler! The King, in his letter of appointment, 
after reciting' that Fernao Lopes is very old and 
weak, so that he cannot well serve nis office, says 
he confides in Gomez Eanes de Zurara, Knight 
Commander of the Order of Christ, "by the long 
education (criarollt) we have g iven him and the ser-
vice we are receiving and expect to rece ive at his 
hands", and therefore g rants him the post to hole! 
1 The offices of Chief Chronicler) Keeper of the Royal Archive~ 
and Royal Libr~rian were, as a rule, held by the same individual 
and conferred at the same time, as in the case of Ruy de Pina, 
but }-\zurara had the position of Royal Librarian for at least two 
years before he obtained the others, namely from 1452, as already 
mentioned (p. v). 
Till III I .'~P \\1{'ITI:\'CS 
in the sallH: malllH..'r. and" ith th,· .... allle rights and 
protirs as lIl!n' l'n.i,,)('d U) his I'n'dl'cessor t11C'rci n.t 
I r is nolicl: ,hie lh,'l . \ IUr.,r" had already "brain<::d 
a" t)IllITwnda" hclllng-ing tu (he l)rder of Christ, 
and, dhhf)u~h its nallle is 1101 gi\'L'n hefe. we know 
frum "nod"'r ,,)t,rn' il ""IS lhal or .\Ie,lin,. a place 
situ;)ll ill lhl! I'rO\ inl . "f Bl'ira (I\"i"a) "nd Dislricl 
or lasldl" Hrilnn>. thl! \.1I11t" of IIhieh ;n 160S 
.\lI)(lUI\l. d l<) one hundred and t; 'lir miln·;" Thl' 
sour ·c rd~'rrL"d lt~ IS a document, d,ll('d Ju l~ 
qlh. q' 1. which ,ails .\ m.,I'.' .. Commander of 
\k.,ill ••l Ild ".\lIlhor "r lh,· IIUL,t.I .. deld, or Ollr 
n',llm " ..l I1d Illellli,,,,, lhal Iw had ,lln'.,d, ,It lhal 
l illl<' l'h.,rg" 01 lh ' HU'al I. i!>rar). 11,' ,ljljlears 
to h.l\ t" t' ('rci~t'd lhb offill.. "ith (.'tetiit. lh()u~h 
SllIllt'"h.llles stricti, Ih.lll ",Iuld I}(l" I.e OHlsillc.:n.:d 
neel' ~'n, lor P'''ll1n ,n ll( hill) in thi~ conllt'ctiun 
. h,c hihlioth ""\lll . \Ifnllsi 'lliinli, lUjU. nlr.\ln gl!"it. 
Ir<:IHh' £lisp". Uil Lllt]Ul orl).1\ il, lHllnt.: ... qut.' ... criptura ... 
Rl':~1\1 priu ("Ou(u,.t mirum III Illodlllll dig .......... it. So: 
il"'l digl ~il ul c~,! quihu ... Rl gi ~ (cteri... Rl'gni 
pro('loribus opus l!-o{. lllllfl':-otim disn.'rn.lI11ur. \ irtlS 
nin' l f\ldilCl 1I1l1ln( "."nillil .IltlUt O uimi() l"h.lrit.lli ... 
lIllnn l nmph- u t It qlllhll, \It 1U"'il'l j"'!-o('IH (,"\ 
J'( gt 1 bil,liolhec:'l lih!"". i P,ll"("h,tnt, lillt'lltl"f (.'Ilm 
l\1nl.1\I1'" 13tH lilt ' Chl"t)lli<i(Or rl'u·j\('ll \l'l 
, 
OF AZURARA. XXIII 
another advancement in the year 1454. From a 
document bearing date the 4th August it appears 
that he was then liviflg in a house belonging to the 
King near the Palace in Lisbon which needed some 
repairs. Affonso V therefore granted him leave to 
layout ten milreis upon it, and to make a cistern, 
with a proviso tha t h€ and his hei rs might continue 
to inhabit the house and use it as their own, until 
the sum so expended should be repaid out of the 
Royal Treasury. In this licence Azurara is dubbed 
"Commander of Pinheiro Grande and Granja 
d'Ulmeiro, Our Chronicler, and Keeper of the 
Archives ".' These two Commendas belonged to 
the Order of Christ, and were probably conferred 
upon him in this same year, though the deed of 
grant has not come down to us. 
Pinheiro Grande is situate in the province of 
Estremadura and Archbishopric of Lisbon, and its 
ancient Commenda belonged to the Templars down 
to the year 13J!, and from 1319 to the present 
century to the Order of Christ. I n the Statutes of 
the latter Order, published in 16 28, it is stated to 
have been worth 550 milreis for many years-" ha 
muitos annos".' Granja d'Ulmeiro is a small place 
in the Bishopric of Coimbra, and the same Statutes 
give the value of its Commenda, called of St. Gabriel, 
at 150 milreis, " in the year 1582".' 
1 Eslremadura, Iiv. VII, fl. 255. Torre do Tombo. 
2 D¢IIl[oes t: Estatutos, etc., p. 236. 
S Ibid., p. 263. The si tuations of these Comrnendas are taken 
from Portugal A IIligo e Jl;/o(ierno, Lisbon 18'7 3, and~ fol·lowing years. 
Till r II-F' \:\n \\'f<lTt~I.c;, 
Bcside< rhese t\\U Commend" , Azurara still con· 
rinued to hold thar of, \1 ains, as we It".arn from the 
do limen( ,\Iread)' rererr d ro, granring certailf 
privilege ro hi agents in a,,(dlo Branco, and 
dated rhe 13rd or the ame month .Ind year , The 
rev'nue of th'se three ommenda ', 109-ether with 
his oi11ci.11 lar)" mll'r hal'e 'ufiirt:d (0 nuke of him 
a w '.L1th), m"n, (or ir should be rcmcl1lben:d (ha t rhe 
pur hasing po\\'!!r of (ht mil rei \\ as then nearl~ i" 
rimes grearer (hiln a l (he present day, H, 'eems, 
ho\\ el'cr. ro hil' . r 'Iinqui 'hed the ben -lice of, \ kains 
shonly a(terward:, for i( do's n t appear again 
.lmong his (id ", and h -ne >forth he i <)nl) credir·d 
with {he other {WO, 
I n till' auo\ '.mentloned doclIm 'nt of pri\'ikg' of 
.\ug'lIst ~ rd, 1454, af(cr r,' iling th · sen'i es 
r,'ndered (0 \ zurara hy Guar 1;( . \ ire and \ (omss,) 
( .u"rei'l l<l ·mplo) th· antiqu,' :I'ellin,.: muierc ' r_ 
01 stello Brall <), in ollt'nin.., his ruHs and 
brin,;ing lhem (0 I i'bon, tlw I,ing- g rants tl1l'1n 
immUlllt) (rom being (or l,d into the 'n 'ie' o( ,' i(her 
him« If. lh· In(ants. or Ih ' 10e;\1 alnh, riti s of the 
.Ii met in which they li,e Ihl'ir hous"s. (,liars, 
and l •• ul 'S .Ire not ttl h' taken rrom th <!m to lodge 
otlwr .1~liIlSl th 'ir \\ ill. 'lilt! they .\Fl' to ,·njo) this 
fr""dom as long l. th,·, contillu, (0 h of 1I c' to the 
( hronid 'r \ 
\\ hl'n II<' I '''' he.lr <,( \ lllr.1 r.\ hl' is aCling III 
hI olficlal,.ll'acill.1S KCTIl<'r 01 (he !{<lI'.tI ArchiH". 
I Clllt1u: ./. n "i1W(I I. h\ ',R I I J. rorr~ do 10mho. 
f 
OF AZURARA. xxv 
I t seems that the people of Miranda had lost the 
" foral " given th@1TI by King Diniz in 1324, and 
required · a copy of it, which Azurara made and 
handed to them On the 16th February 1456.' This 
is the first of a series of certificates (certidoes) signed 
by the Chronicler that has come down to us, and the 
issuing of these and similar documents appears to 
have been one of his chief duties as Royal Arch ivist. 
But Azurara was too valuable a man to be allowed 
to spend his whole time and' energy in the routine 
work of an office; and so we find that when the 
King had reig ned twenty years or more, which would 
be in or about 1458, he commissioned him to relate 
the history of Ceuta under the Governorship of 
D. Pedro de Menezes, to whom the city had been 
entrusted on its capture.' The story runs, that for 
some time Jo ao I was unable to meet with anyone 
who would undertake th~ responsibility of guard ing 
the new conquest, and, word of this having been 
brought to D. Pedro while he was playing at 
" Ch6ca", he a t once hastened into the King's 
presence, and said he would engage to hold the city 
against the whole strength of Africa with the olive-
wood crook he had just been wield ing.' Be this 
I Cay. 15, :Ma~o 13, No. 21. Torre do Tombo. Azurara is 
here described as "Commander of Pinheiro Grande and Cranja 
d'Ulmeiro, OUf Chronicler and Keeper" (of the Records). 
~ CIITollica do COllde D. Pedro de jv-fel1eses, ch. T . 
3 {( Choca" is an old-fashioned Portuguese game played with a 
stout staff and ball . The incident is referred to by Camoens in 
Eclo~lIe J; in the lines beginning, "Emquanto do segura azam-
bugeyro", etc. 
\,XVI TifF I IFF \ND \\ f'ITI:s'C .... 
incid('nr tnw or not, c..,rrain il i, Ihal n, Pedro de 
\Ient:tes ~lIcce .. d .. d in mainrainin~ C<:LJta. despile all 
r1w <:flclns o( th<: \["ors to ""pel him; and his 
achi..,I't'mc'ms. as chronicled by ,\wrara. form by 
them, e"'e~ suffici,'Jll grollnd (or \ffonso's commis-
.... lun, But dn( cher n'clSon. no dnull{, inHlH:nced the 
Kin~. ,lilt! th'lt II ,( Ih' slIp".:me iml'Clnance attached 
ttl lhl l'c)sst.'· inn of the old ci{~·. lIS pu",itiun as the 
kt,) nf the '>traib en.lbk-d tI", l'elrlug'lIt' 'e In hinder 
Ih, \loori h cof, airs rrom raidin~ lh<: .\Ig.tr"c. and. 
,ll the same lim,. 10 help the Chrisli'ln C.llI"! by 
"1l.lCks,1O till' 1.1 I reli, elf \["h.II11I11<:d.1I1 pml<:r in 
lh, I' nn ul ... Ih, kingdom of Cn'n.l<la, ,\<I<l"d to 
1111', il C 11<]11<: 'I 11.1 hailed." lh, lirst step ill the 
f',lli Ilion of tI!.It dwn,ll<'d ilk.II ... n \Irican Empir<: 
()r bl'sitlcs bl"in~ .t gn.:at tr«ldin~ n'l1tfc Clod the 
·lcl~.ll of \1.llIrildnit, it fonned.J \\edge dri\l.'n 
into thl.' h .lrt uf the..' Infidel. :1nd .1 fitlin:--:, (rlt\\ n {o 
thl. truj.!' .... l( of l \ en lClllllril . \\ hil h. commencing-
un Ihe Illufrnll 01 th, b.lld" of Ih, (,u.ld.tI,'I,·, h.ld 
l"lllkd h) Ihl (,:t.lhli hnll'1ll ,,( lhe (r<lss in lh' lal1d 
of thl 'fcSU'l1t Ill(' tid, h.ld turtled .II l,lSl .lOcI 
for e\ t.:r. clild dh Cn\llic II\('Hlar(h~ \\oJ" cl\ l'n~l'd. 
\ ur.lra. \\ ho nn ph \ inll (In:l inll" hc.ld IWd\ l d 
him elf .• r<.: Id) \\ rllef, compi"''' Ih,' Chrllllha do 
un,I, D, ! .1'0 ,f. )1,11(', r mort sl<lwll. em in ... : 
",mull. to til' (. • I th.ll hi, 1l1'1I ,,(he i.Ii dUli," kl"pt 
him from til" Olin his" hok timl t(l til<' \\ "fk. :tnd 
the I hl'oni<l,' \\.1 no! tilli h"lulltii '-Il)-, 
111 tllI')\c"n \1,11 of l,.J-StlCllI1Tt'dlht·hr·(.\frir.ln 
I'<dlllon of \Itnns/) \ . "ith It r<,,,lt, thl" r Il'tu'" 
OF AZURARA. XXVII 
of Alcacer. This event was probably the immedi"te 
Cause of the writing of the Chronicle, because the 
record of his reign shows how the ~(ing cared more 
for African expansion than maritime expeditions, 
and how, like the old-time cavalier that he was, he 
preferred a land~war with the Moors to the seem-
iJ'gly theoretical, or at least distant, advantages to 
be gained by voyages of discovery. In '460 D. 
Hen.rique died, leaving- the fruit of his ceaseless 
endeavours to be plucked by other hands; since it 
was not until '498, when Vasco da Gama cast anchor 
offCalicut, that the Infan t' s expeditions came to the ir 
legitimate conclusion, and a century of efforts received 
their reward. 
But if Azurara possessed many of the higher 
qualities of an historian, he was by no means 
devoid of shortcon;lings; and two incidents, now to 
be related. form serious blots on his character as 
a Chronicler and a man. 
In '459 the Cortes met in Lisbon" and the 
Deputies of the People requested that a reform 
should be carried out in the Torre do Tombo, 0" 
Archive Office. They complained that the mass 
of old Reg isters which it was necessary to search 
in order to obtain copies of the documents existing 
there, together with the profitless prolixity of many 
of them, had long proved a source of g rea t expense; 
and they therefore beg'ged tha t such as were deemed 
of importance might be transcribed and the rest 
destroyed. This petition met with the King's 
approval. and Azurara charged' himsel f with its 
e~e utian, a task which seemingly occupied the 
rem<linder or his life. · He acted II ith a zeal 
\\"orth) of barbarou rime. , and the memory of 
rhe deStrl)CI; n [Q which he condemned documents 
of the hig hest hi tori al importance has been pre-
served bl' tradirion, and his proscription is still 
"POk<.:t1 o f. H c !~ppca r [Q have been unconscious 
of lhe harm he did, (or he I r('fa e'S each o( the 
new Rewsler om piled hI ' hirn (rom the old II ith 
an ace unt of hi IHlnd ill ork. True it L [hat 
Harro praise , \ Z[lra l"lt fOf these R eg-i [<:[5. bur in 
rcslil)' the) are onl)' .. dl), imperfect a.bstract ". ,\. 
one II riler call them. far (il )' tin \\ lilde light on 
the period [0 II hich th y re la te. and ,,·ere. b stdes. 
ell<' ;IUS" af th 10 s of their origina ls. fortun a tely, 
h<)\~e, er. som' record es' p<!d the gen(tral de.lruc-
flO .... for it happen<.'<1 thaI cc'nain ~r unicipaliries bad 
Ilr<",ioush (Illain«! Iran Cril'lS of the 010 'r pre ious. 
II hil . olhers (h ll'lii.~tc:d In dupliC~te in the A rchiv" , 
unkn{)" n tn nnyon'e. ~n1~ h) li~hl during' the adrni-
niSlrarion of moth.er Cuard,l- 111M' The authorities 
uf the 'It) or ]lor{ ,,1\1"llk<l k!<llc (r m . \f(an () V, 
I l):lnlC':"\"o.rl~ b'll H r.:(orm4,.,d" the Rttgi~h"rs of the r\.:ig-ns oj 
r-edro 11 P 1 c:nun,dn, .1(.1. f. ;.nd n. nUarte; tlnd J. P. Ril\eiro, 
who gt c ... 3: mlnUl(.~:t Gunt or lOU ~t.·u~ o( \h,(; M.~ R .. -gistl!:r~ :'lJlld o( 
\tUt:U";l $ COlnf1lbtton. wmd" up Ihu~ "~urh I. ... tht st..lll! of thl 
( h mcdl,,) hoob 'Of t.b~· lo'arly r 'Ins dO,\\f) to thol of .\«un.$(\ \. 
omc ~ !'inU in tUclfoftgin.',lr'tWniut(ln, \\hitt· Qthc.;r, j:N rL'for-med 
or r..uht r d~5tro\,~I. h\; Come; K'tn~h~'" dt: /ur:1r.1.· tfflll trM< 
lu"u:fII"us fdr I a Jlill, n~ Jq fi.\:d! "dt"h~, p. 171. 1.rsi)(')1l, 1 SIt'}. 
A".,1#'.$ 1I"r1It'~''''$ ( C Ilmi'(jn. No. I , ~'4tUnda ~l!rH.'-, r· 34; 
;tnu] P Rit~lro, Jf('ll(trf~1J ... 'l.If!Uffliftu, ~I(" .. p. n . 
QF .IZURARA. XXIX 
on the 23rd March [447, to have copies made of all 
the documents in the Torre do Tombo which related 
to them in any way, and these were furnished on 
December 25th, 1453, when Lopes was still Keeper 
of the Archives. 
But Azurara was guilty of a yet graver delin-
quency than his destruction of the old Registers, 
and a charge of forgery must be brought against 
him. A detailed account of this affair may be 
read iI, the judgment of the Cas a de Supplica~ao, 
delivered on January 12th, [479, from which it 
appears that a dispute had arisen between the 
Order of Christ and some inhabitants of Punhete 
(lver rights claimed by the former in the River 
Zezere, a tributary of the Tagus. The Order 
based its claim on certai n documen ts, one being 
of the reign of D. Fernando, and said to have 
been extracted from the Torre do Tombo, in 
which that monarch purported to confer on the 
Order of Christ jurisdiction over the towns of 
Pombal, Soure, Castello Branco and others, to the 
practical exclusion of his own authority therein. J 
'vVhen a copy of this pretended grant was pro-
duced in support of the contention, Azurara's 
successor in the Archives, Affonso d'Obidos, 
received instructions to produce the Register of 
D. Fernando for the purpose of comparison, and 
to bring the scribes engaged in the Archive Office 
1 There is a reference to this claim of the Order in tht: 
D4fmf'o'b' e EslallltoJ, etc'l p. 201, :lJ1d to its defeat. 
with him: whereul'on the ~rant w~s fe)unt! at the end 
of the Register in a different writing from the rest 
of Ihe bonk. '\ either d'Obido" nor the scribe who 
had copied out the Re"isll'r, could say how it came 
lhl're, or II'ho had ins 'ned it. and the latter declared 
lhal no "Ieh gr.lI11 cxi ted in thc nld hook from 
\I hich he had Ir,lnscribed the pre,enl nne, On 
furthcr ',.Imination the pretended grant prm'ed 
l<1 he in the band\\ ritin~ of "Comez Eannt's, 
-It.'ric ',1 it Sel"\';lIll llf \zur:lra. and it must han-
heen fnutiulendy in 'erred in tb" ({"gislL'r afn.:r the 
1.lller h,\(1 he.: 'n hound up. ()n rill' c1i. l'<l\'('r~ nf lhis 
lcl uf for~cr~ • .ilJd~m(;nt '\Ll~, of (our e. g-i"cn 
\~lill'S.l the Ordt.·r. ~\nd it \\ ~\ ({}rtullatc (()( ou r 
<.. hrnnick·r th.ll Ihe ,,{ience he had C:eHlltnilll'd in ilS 
IIlll'l'l' ts rem,lined lIndiscm<'rt'd ulllil ,,(ll'" his tlcalh 
Iriou h L'Il()ul-!h, in thl.' ...,; Ille.. \('.lr .\ urara '\ltlS 
r(.\\clrdc..d 1n ,-1 IWI) 'Inll. f'he :..!ranl d.lt(·d fr\ll1l 
inlr,l. .\ugusl 71h, 145<), run a follo\\ s: .. I )orn 
,\tfoll Co. tt lei .tli 10" hOI)1 lhl. 1 'ller Clf "urs ,h,11I 
COllte "l m d,c.. kno" 11 th,u, con ... id(.·rill~ the l11~ln~ 
M'f\ ICes \\{ h;1\(' r<"c j,cd .ltld ('''1' 'Cl hereafter l<) 
rc..cci\ l' froll' (,Olllt'l 1:.lIll'S de.. Zur.tr,l. ('ollll1l:lndt'r 
I h~ Jud menl 01 th C I :'I dl 'UPph(".lC; 0 I ptlnl I HI ~~/~,,( h\ 
1 I l{lbcl1'O h m I" I, lOtios PlfUlll l\.C.1l rlli ..: lll, III the 
Ion do 10011ho 
OF .\ZURARA. xxxi 
of the Order of Christ, Our Chronicler and Keeper 
of our Archives, and wishing to do him favour, we 
are pleased to give him a pension of twelve white 
milreis from the 1st day of January next, which 
amount he has had of us up to the present time. " 1 
I t would appear from the last line that this doc~­
ment is rather the confinnation of an old grant than 
the gift of something new, but it has been interpreted 
to mean that Azurara had been receiving the money 
from the King's privy purse, and was. henceforth to 
have it out of the public treasury. There can be no 
dispute that the recipien t merited the gift for his 
past literary services, which were an earnest of the 
work he was to accomplish in the future, and the 
value of the latter will presently appear. 
We possess the copy of one certificate issued by 
the Chronicler in the follo'wing year, together with 
the record of another, their respective dates being 
June 27th and October 22nd, 1460. The former , 
dated from Lisbon, was granted in answer to the 
petition of the inhabitants of Nogueira, who felt 
uncertain about the dues they were bound to pay 
the Bishop of Coimbra ;' the latter is mentioned by 
J. P. Ribeiro, but seems to have disappeared from 
the Torre do Tombo. 
In 1461 there occurred an event, simple enough 
on its face, but one which Azurara's biographers 
1 Chanco de D. Affollso V, liv. xxxi) ft. 76v". Torre do Tombo. 
For the significat ion and value of these II white milreis ", sec 
Damiao de Goes) CllroJlien de D. ;lfanoei, ch. I. 
2 Estremadura, liv. 11 . fl. 279. Torre do Tornbo. 
\:\XII 
hm e rc~arded as tht' mystcry of his life, or else 
employed as a IIcapun whercwith to smite their 
h'r,) hi adoption by " aria Eannes, I n the king's 
e'lIllirmation "~f this, daled fro111 E\'<>r'I, February 6th, 
loft> I we arc told that .. :\laria E.lIl1le', a Lisbon 
t.lIlner ctln idering the 10\ c and friendship that 
Johanc ailncs d;tzllrar~l. cr "t"hile Cannn of E\"llr;.\ 
,Ind 'oimhra, had .",,'ay, sholl n to her mother, " aria 
\ in:Illl'. as II ell d to her. elf <lnd her husband, and 
till' many ir<l<,d deed' ,h,' herself had n."cei,'cd at his 
hands, h ,in;.! his ~",khild and friend, and considering 
Ih. I she h.ld n(1 children "nd II ,IS no longer of an 
a;:e 10 h;1\ ' a III , .1I1d ,110 Ih I""e "nd friendship 
,IlL' had {cit (,'I' ('OO\'l Lallnes d.tzllrara, <!\'er since 
his I:tthcr', death. <lnd Ih· ,en ices 11<' had render·d 
her dwr 'by .Idupled him ,IS her all and heir to 
SlI cn:d to hl r re.,l «Ind PL'L oll~ll propern", including 
htf counln hOll' ,Il \ alb"111. III Ih, Rihalejo, .md 
"hI"'" he I'" ,'s,d In th, 1'.lri. h o( s, Julia" in 
I i hOIl' I tI h ", Ih, ,ull.l,'" e of Ihis doculllent. 
0\ ef Ih, l'Xpl,1I1,1l101l of II hieh 'OI1H: e'"ltro",'rs) has 
Ilk -II pl., '. hee III , "C the social gulf Ih,ll s('paraled 
Ih< I'anie 10 It I he IfUl' 111mi, e f"f the .Idopti,'n . 
•\  hllH l'ohol" l~()dri .. .!IH.l (!".\Zl" edt). w()uld Sl'<.~m 
to h~1\ ( bn n t ht ( i. lLnCL llt (11)(, Ill'.lr relationship 
h"I,,«n \(.11';,\ i'.IIIII' .. 11d tilt' 'hf,)lIicler IInich il 
\\,l nol' 'I" dl<.:1ll to disch., , hOI whcth,'r this 
opillion (lnd ,\(u'pLlIl\" Of 110. lheft." is 1lL""lthing ll) 
J.' /I Itji 
IT!.. do IIIUlIN. 
OF AZURARA. xxxiii 
justify the old view which regarded the grant as a 
proof of Azmara's avarice and unscrupulousness: 
since, on the contrary, the preamble reveals a lively 
sense of gratitude in the clonor for real benefits con-
ferred by the donee. If, however, the above theory be 
worked out, the most plausible conclusion to arrive 
at is, either that Maria Eannes and Gomes Eannes de 
Azurara were brother and sister, both being children 
of the Canon and Maria Vicente, or that the 
Chronicler was half-brother -,to Maria Eannes, i.e., 
had the same father but not the same mother. It 
seems at least a fair inference to draw from the 
wording that the Canon and Maria Vicente were of 
a similar age, and the same may be said of the other 
pair, because at this time the Chronicler would count 
"early sixty years, and mis benefactress could not IDe 
much less, seeing that all possibility of her bearing 
children had passed by. Either of these hypotheses 
would account for the name Eannes being common 
to the lady and Azurara. The Canon would then 
have left his property between his two children, and 
as Maria Eannes was childless, it would be natural 
for her to bequeath her share of her father's property 
to her brother. But be this as it may, we know 
from an independent source that Azurara had a 
sister, for she is mentioned in the letter which 
Affonso V wrote him whilst he was living in Africa 
and engaged on histoncal investigations. The fact, 
recorded by Pisano, that the Chronicler began his 
studies relatively late in life, unless it be ascribed to 
his adoption of a military career at first, seems to 
d 
Till LHL \~'ll \\"1,lTI~GS 
how that he had passed his early years under a 
cloud, and thac his father, frolll one cause or another, 
lacked (h~ pOll er to provide him with an education 
at the custOmar) age, I cis, howe\'er, impossible to 
proceetl beyond conjecture, and since the maner 
C<1I1nOt laim to be one of hisLOrical moment, we ma), 
l"'I\'c il unso!n::t! without much regret. 
On June 14th, q03, ,\l.Ufanl i~suetl a certificate 
of document' in th ' T elrre do T OmOl) relating LO 
i;lI1d oC on' D, I'edrel d ' a tro,' while) et another 
proof of lhe influenc' he po"s<.:, s"d with his ro)'a! 
lila l 'r is l{forded by t\\ l) grants, ddtcd r 'specti\'eiy 
June nne! and 2"rd or th · 'une rear B) the first 
of thes ' (h" officl: of .I ud"e of Exci e in [he town of 
.\!maJ', \\as 'oof<.:rr·d on a <!n ain I'ero J',\!mada, 
scrn'lll of .omes Eann ' , and the grant i expr,·$s<.:d 
t I>c made a t the latter' rl'qu' t, fh e second 
appoints th' S;lnl<: indi\'idual .I udge Inti Stl ward (If 
thc old-di gers al ,\di~a, ncar tlHU tOwn' 
I he CI.·/O"i(1 d, />, ["dro ,it' .I1m,::(", \I hich had 
1><: 'II onHllen,,,d h) ,\ 7.ur;tr,. III elf all<)lIt th ' lear 
It"S. ,q' finish ,<loll -"t. John the Ilapti.t's En', 
Jun· '3rd, 1,63• •I L his C.)n\l11l11(h of Pinheir.) 
, I he onSUl:llof tin HUlk-one bdUJ\~!<> lO the f.Hnuu~ no\<.::b~l, 
cahar 1~.1 d~ (,.luclfQ wbo~1,; \\1((,,: ll,UIn!\ d\:~c<.,:nt from thi..., de 
l 3. ,roo 1loubllc olher of III . (hromcl r":-. Ccnt41cJl¢:i, the ~'()fl 
t(,;n~ or .1l ka \ 11\(; dalc; o( \\ hi, h would fiU up .,<,1111\.. of tht: 
gall 1ft hI blography ..n  In I'r"~'h: hand~, ~llhoUl 311)" f1;.,,(-l'rd ('II 
IhC::lf I UC telnatntul:h (.ou.ht:r In ,hl' r une.' dQ Tombo or l,:l~e\\hcrc. 
to tlw Pf{;'" nl .1' Hrjn{t\o trtcmioo:. (lilt,.' suc::'h in Ill!> 
Jf, Hrlr:hhl J.uSlt,J1ttl. l,"1UUl:t.1 ".IIIe.\ p. li7. ll:-;lxH). IC1,5O-
I 1\ I de I'. . Iffi", (I I. ful. t)-I. r01l1.: (.h.l I"«.nnbl) 
OF AZUN.ARA. XXx,v 
Grande. I t relates the his tory of Ceuta, from the 
capture of the city in 1415 until the dea th of D . 
Pedro de Menezes, the first governor, in 1437, and 
gives evidence of the author's progress in historical 
methods l 'Nhile it contains. less moralising and 
more matter ·than any of his previous works, at th l;: 
same time he appears surer of his own powers, and 
no longer feel s the same need of supporting eve ry 
remark by a citation. Of course this Chronicle has 
not as deep an interest for us as that of Guinea, but 
this is due to the subject, not to any shortcomings in 
the narrator, whose contemporaries were probably of 
a different opinion, for m::" l )' of them looked askance 
a t the voyages of discovery, though there were few 
that doubted the importance of the possession of 
Cl;:uta. 
Azurara confesses that he felt a t first somewhat 
diffident of putting pen to paper, so marvellous 
seemed the deeds he was called on to relate; and he 
would never have persevered with his task had he 
learnt them on hearsay evidence, or from the mouths 
of one or two witnesses; but he found their truth 
confirmed on a perusal of the official reports sent to 
the King from Ceuta, and this encouraged him to 
proceed. He appears to have been assisted in his 
task by D. Pedro himself c1uring his lifetime,' and to 
have written out the book twice. whil e his impar-
1 Affonso V ordered Pisano to write the Clu'OIude in Latin) as 
he had previously done with the Capture of Ceuta. -Cllrollica 
do COllde D. Pedro de 1}!lellezes, ch. 1. The MS. is now lost. 
, Ibid., ch. 64. 
rill 1111 \ :'\1 1 " I, ITI"I . ... 
lial ity and the a re he took 10 arrin~ at the truth 
a rc c\'c r~'when: \'i , ible l nf enurse he cannot abstain 
ail()g"c: ther ffU Ill c iralion ', and these have an inte fest 
(\s showing the Illt:il ·\.Ir " of his litc.; rary kno\\ ledge: 
\I il ness h i " men tion II f I hnl"" [) i"illrl COIJIIJINiia, 
inu tla P is[oia .Intl FI! , Book ~(. l lJIll d!s, which he 
,lScribe ll)" Vasco Lobeir", \I ho lin ,d in the lilll<! of 
n, F l'rnantlo",-
Fl)r thrc.:t: ~ ea rs con lcmpur.tf) rl!(.'nrds are ilcnt 
n'''I'L' ting' til<! ' hw l1Ickr, 'lilt! il is nul until 1406 
tlMI h' ',Imes h~f'lre II. <\~"a i n, ()II june I Ilh of 
lh.ll Y(.' ir, J) P -dro, l" in~ nf . \ rAg<lIl , "Ion l)f him 
wh,) W,IS Re!.!' 'n! 11\ Ih ' minoritl of ,\ffo nso \ ', a nd 
fell at \I(arroh,·ir.t, \\ rOl' , \ zu r,l ra a short hut 
I,\lniIta r ;)lIto!.!'r,lph " 'ller \I hi h affords ancl[ iw r 
proof of Ihe il1111n.lll' rela lion" Ih.1l ", isl ,d be l\\ CL' I\ 
the lhronid 'r ~ln(1 thl' ~rca( pt'r'lon;:tgl'~ 0( the .lgc.:. 
In Ihi klIer, \I hi h is ill rt" IH,nse 10 onl se lll 
hI . \ zunra, I) Pedrn ,Itld ress<' hi m ,I " fri cnd ", 
fl ((/ r:-; lO his ., old kindn\.:s~ ;l nd , \\ \,;l' l n,l tllrc", anll 
~'O(.'S on tll "lCC 'I't his ofkr lo kl.:l·P him infllnnl'd o f 
th · pr0J,4I'(,s ' ,)f l ', l 'llh in Pnrl llgcli. ti e then t.\k l'~ 
'I" Hi. 1 ./. (4 "./f n, P lint J( II H c, eh .. , ! and ..\ I he.; 
nd ( h.  .3 d n I,; fK ru I, (or It ho\\ hm\ (ull)' \ rur;)r.' 
rC :lh c llhe dlfli( U)lIc ofm 111 lonan 13 k 
1111/ . ch, b\ 1111 I 'hI,. tit l rlfcrl,;nn in ,,11 hh:r.UUh'IQ 
the :tUlhon.h,p of Ihe Ilml'lUS rom.\Il( I,. 
Il 1't-<lfo, /ils, ,,:1 ,\ eli tlU~UI hl'1..1 IU-"':I, and Ie.;' hlln the 
\1 f'lUi of m'llianA uldu: (.'(llh,11 1.11Htm 11.11\1 ,\hieh In.l, b,,' 
d" nhc.-d 1 1111 \'-'1\ or 1 )(:tr\ In thl "1,;1\111 ul.t It i tr.Ul" IIlx'd 
f,,, J In Ilr I lwoplul<;, IIr.lsa, III III I' 1<1\ 1""II.i'III " ~. 
PI' ,hi-Itt£), ""nU, l il 
OF AZUR.'\RA. XXXVll 
the Chronicler into his confidence, and complains of 
the difficulties of his position as King of Aragon-
difficulties which were aggravated by an illness that 
ended in his death less than a month after he had 
penned this epistle l 
On Jt 1ly 27th, 1467, in answer to a petition of 
the inhabitants, Azurara issued a certificate' of the 
"foral" of Azere (Azar), virtute officii, and on the 
very next day he met with another piece of good 
fortune. From the deed of g rant it appears that, 
some ninety years prev iously, a certain Gon~alo 
Estevez of Cintra had died, after having built a 
chapel in honour of St. Clare in the Church of St. 
Mary Magdalen, in Lisbon, where he desired to be 
buried, and had left his property with the condition 
annexed that masses should be regularly said 
there. This condition, the document goes on 
to declare, had been broken by his heirs for about 
seventy years, in spite of judgments obtained against 
them, and many had died excommunicate because 
of their neglect and disobedience. Finally, the 
goods had been cleclared forfeit to the Crown, 
1 The letter was first published in the Panorama for 1841, at 
p. 336. General Brito Rebello c;.rgues that the date 1406 is 
impossible, and should read 1466, or possibly 1460. The former 
has here been adopted. Other mistakes occur in the letter, as 
printed in the Panorama, besides that of date. Some of its 
expressions are ambiguous, and the subscript" From Aviz ", an 
evident addition to the original, may be put down to the copyist, 
who, knowing D. Pedro to be Master of Aviz, concluded that the 
letter was written from there, though the contents disprove it. 
2 Ga\', 8, Ma~o I, No. 17. Torre do Tornbo. 
\\\'"111 
and lhe\ \\ t.'rt.; nll\\ granted oul [0 Azurara. on 
cunuilioll Ihal Ill' ,hnuld I'l"m'id,' (or til<" mas,,'s 
~'nd g"t..'nt'r.dly carr~ nut the in'·arllclions contained 
in the II iii "f lh· fOllnder,' \ :.:ifl of this nature 
\\"01 consiJl.'n.!t..i.m t.'\lrtl.ordinarr grace in those 
d .• l", ,lI1d it aft;".d, clear "\'id"nc" lhat lhe 
'hronickr slUod high in the w\ ,II r<'gMI!. 
In. \ugllst "l thiS ,lnlc )"Ctlr . \zurara \\ t..:nt [0 
• \(rica, .lI1d, to l'~pbin tilL .inurnc~·, sonw inlroduc-
ton rClllclrks ~\I" needed, nn fl'tl1rnin~ frolH the 
!ruilk" \frican e~l'c.:diliul1 of q6~, the King had 
IIntn'n to him (rom . \\'eiro, II ith instructions [0 
!c',II'e ,all hi, 01 hl'r <I<'cul','liuns II hich lhl' -h r"nicler 
n.UI .. II " sure, us II en: \'en illll"'rtant .lnt! profitable 
10 hiS countr) men and forth II iLll tn cnlicc! "nd put 
in II rilill!.,. Ihe de .I, u( P. I )U,lrt' d" \1 elll z,'s, 1..1<: 
'pl.lin u( \1(acl'r.' I his DUMII' II,IS til< nalural 
on uf I), Pedro. the henl o( \lurara's 1,lSt [" l(lk : 
.'lld h, h,ld llwrill'<1 Illuch from \ ffullsn \ (lir his 
long In.! f"ilhful ,,'n ICI'S ,II \1c.III'r. end.ng lIith th" 
,Icrift , h,' h"d I1hld, of hi~ 0\\ n li~' to "" I thaI of 
lht.. l 'IIl~. durtng' t fl'(llIlIhli S,lnn" ~\gain:-·a the \I()ors 
1\ lhl. ((lst n.lItll'(.l ,(',If.  
. \ 1.( (on, . \ zurclLl he it;\lt d to make.\ ~t.lrl l1n 
.l('(~ounl of his" UlHlIlofn.l "l\ Il' .lnd sm,dl klll)\\-
I«I~, " and lhr.lUgh 1<-.11' of h"'lil.· nilici"l1 : ind,'",J. 
OF AZURARA. xxxix 
under the latter head he says, with a touch of bitter-
ness, "there are so many watching me, that I have 
hardly put pen in hand before they begin to damn 
my work.'" But his obligations to, and regard for, 
the King caused him to pluck up courage, and 
proceed with a task which occupied some three 
or four years of his time. I n order to secure the 
best information possible, he considered tbat be 
ought to visit Africa, because some of the dwellers 
in and about Alcacer were the chief actors in the 
drama he was called upon ·to write, and wquld be 
likely to have a clearer recollection of events than the 
courtiers in Portugal; and also because he wisbed 
to view tbe district whicb had been the scene of the 
struggle, and learn the disposition of the land, the 
Moorish method of fighting, and the tactics employed 
against them by the Portuguese. He confesses that 
he would bave gone to Ceuta before writing the 
C/wonica de D . Pedro, but tbe King refused to give 
permission, considering that his services were more 
needed inside than outside the realm. Even after 
he had resolved on the present visit, the King 
detained him a wbole year, until fully convinced 
how necessary it was, if bis commands were to be 
satisfactorily carried out.' Finally, in August 1467, 
Azurara crossed the Straits to Alcacer. where he 
stayed for twelve months, occupied in studying the 
district and taking put in the various excursions 
into Moorish territory that were made by D. 
1 Ibid.) ch. I. 2 Ibid. ) ch. 2. 
xl TIlE LIFE A)."I) \\kITI:\I;s 
Henrique, son of D, Duarte de :'I l enezes, who, 
(0 sati f)' him anti aitl his \\'ork, u ed even to 
change rhe plan of opera rions and go to some 
spor rhe hroniclcr de ired to inspecr. 1 \\ 'ith 
an impartiality rar enough at that time, Azuram 
LOok care to obtain information from the :'I[oors 
lhemsel"es, both from such as \'isitetl ,\leacer and 
fCl>o) tho e he met \\ hen accompanying- D, Henrique 
to treat of mallt!rs with the inhabitants of rhe 
n 'i~hbouring places' 
The 'h ronicle, ",hi h is at once a life of I), 
I )u,me tie ;\[en 'Z<:s anti a history of ,\1 accr, sup-
pi l11<:nt th.1l of hi fath'r I). Pedro dt! :'I[eneze,. 
anti 'trries th' hi wr)' or tht! Portu~uesc in \' orrh 
\(rica down (0 146+ \\'c ha\ 'n<) rt! ord ,,( when it 
\\ tS finished, but th ' ) ear I +M, seems th· probable 
datt·, [t is, ir not the l11<l't important, ) ,t the long-est, 
," it pr",ed to h' tht: last, or th ' ,\lIth",', historic.ti 
\\ork~, and ust him Illor' labour than any of its 
predecessors. but, Ihrough sol11,; misch.lI1 .. no Cl)m' 
pit-I< ~I S, ',ist" all ha\'ing man\' and g-rC;lt lacun,t·, 
.t \\ ill hereafter "pl'c.lr It (lrt!:;ent~ the peculiarities 
ommoll to .tli . \ 7.urar.\': wrilill,l:."" the :amc fond-
fl .... for ,-)unl.nions. and thl' S~t11H:' reliance on 
.lslrnlo~y lS t', plic .. lli\"l: ()( ch~lr<lct Ir. \moog- lhl' 
Illor' inter<' tinl-! of th· forlller, I><-',ides t1w'c from 
th' I;Lssics ao,l the j. :ulwrs, Me his r"fenOnct'S 1<) 
Jnhao Flam 'nel's ~Ioss 011 I bntl. \\ iCt.'nl1<1. '\II1l'rtliS 
\1.\J{1111 , alld till' \1 .,r'l\lIS of '-"llllill.lI1.l, Speakill,-!, 
,/ltd., ("h. J. I d .. (h. 60. 
OF AZURAI{A . xli 
of this Chronicle, Goes notes and condemns the 
" superfluous abundance and wealth of poetical and 
rhetorical words" that are employed here and 
elsewhere by its author, 
During Azurara's stay at Alcacer the King ad-
dressed him an autograph letter dated November 
nnd, 1467 (?), which affords a striking proof of 
Affonso's superior mind, as well as of the esteem in 
which he held men of letters. He begins by saying 
that he has received the Chronicler's letter,! and 
rejoices he is well, as he had feared the contrary, 
owing to his long silence, and proceeds :-
"It is not without reason that men of your profession 
should be prized and honoured; for, next after the Princes 
and Captains who achieve deeds worth remembering, they 
that record them, when those are dead, deserve much 
praise.. .. What would have become of the deeds of 
Rome if Livy had not written · them; what of Alexander's 
without a Quintus Curtius j of those of Troy without a 
Homer; of Ccesar's without a Lucan? .. .. Many are they 
that devote themselves to the exercise of arms, but few to 
the art of Oratory. Since, then, you are well instructed in 
this art, and nature has given you a large share· of it, with 
much reason ought I and the chiefs of my Realm and the 
Captains thereof to consider any benefit bestowed on you 
as well employed." 
Affonso then goes on to praise Azurara for having 
voluntarily exiled himself in his service, and says 
he would not have him stay in Africa any longer 
than he pleases, and winds up as follows :-
1 Azurara seems to have corresponded frequently with Affonso 
V; cr. Cilronica de Cuint, eh. 7. 
xlii 
I< I count it -:'I.~ :t ;;;cfvice that yOll ",ish for news of my 
heallh, :lIi<.L thanks be to God, I am well in bodr as in 
other r peets, though on the sea of this \vorld one is 
cOI"l.stantir buffeted b)' itl' ,,.:awes, espccirally as we are all 
on tbat plank since rhe "rlIt .h,l''' reck, <0 that no one is 
nrc until he rca'Chc" the true hn\'cn that cannot be seen 
',c pt after thi lire, to \I hich mal' it please God to con-
ducr us when IT~ think it rime, for I rc i sailor and pilot. 
and with ut r I im no man may el''Itc:r there. . . I ha\ c not 
a painting of myself that I call send )"ou nOli; but, plcase 
Gad" ) Oll \~ i1I sec the original, some time," hich will plea c 
\ ou motu. '~I 
II -rclIlano trul)' sa)"~ of thi 'pj,tle:" Had it 
been from one brother ro an, rh.:r, the lang lJag-e 
could not \\ ·Il have b<:"n O){) I' , affable and arfee-
lioniH''': !JUl, more than thi, it pro\ es Lb"t 
POfllllVlI "lIS alw".1 or mQSl I'urop<'an nation of 
lhal age 111 Poss('ssing a K il1<' who could "alue 
the pen" highl .1' the. word. 
II t:ncl'fonh lilll· or nothing: IS knm' n of the life 
of \1.lInlra, <:~Cc'Pl from th <"nific;llc'S 11<' is~ued In 
tlw Cl.luose of his offici'll dUli ... 
On ilIay 2 lh, '46i\, 011 of \I\<'s,> do Ulllents W;lS 
il'.lI ," (mm til<" rorr<' d" Tombn, ;"HI sl,;n"" b,':\ 
sub (ltLlLe, \\ ilh the ,tal 'menl that lh, Chrc)f)icicl' 
\I." li\iI1", at \\ ;tc·r. on (he s rvict' and 11\' 
0111111;"\11.1 of til<' King. If,' prohahl) rc'lumt'd to 
I fhc t~u'Cr I prtnh'tl Ut the Iii ,Ii', $. \ o\. IH, p.,.}, \ccording 
to \J '",dte there an: l" () COlli< ~ ,,( j tn \I ~ :\10. ",05 of I h(;:' 
(ollubrn nt\c,:rsi(\ I ib,.l'f\ \ ide; /"rliluf", \01. h 
('PH "1.4, \01. \1 p. '4- I, bon. ISSb, 
OF AZURARA. xliii 
Lisbon to fin ish the Ch,ronica de D, Dua,-te de 
M81lez<s in the autumn of this year. 
On October 22nd, 1470, Azurara gave a certificate 
of the Charter of Moreyra, In their petition for 
the same, the inhabitants allege that their copy-is so 
written, and in such Latin, that they cannot under-
stand it ; and they furth er wish to know how much 
of the present money they must pay fo r the three 
mealhas mentioned in the original as payable for 
the carriag-e of bread and _w ine-a, question which 
Azurara seems to have experienced some diffi culty 
in answering. l 
On April 20th, 1471 , be issued a s imila r certincate 
to the dwellers in S, Joao de Rey,' In this same 
year took place Affonso's third African campaign, 
which resulted in the cap ture of T ang ier, Arzila and 
A nafe, 
On September 5th, 147 2. in answer to a petition 
of the inhabitants of Cascaes, the Chronicler handed 
them a copy of the Charter of Cintra, in which 
district Cascaes is situate,' and on December 5th in 
the same year he issued copies of documents affecting-
the liberti es of the Order of Christ and the couto, or 
" liberty", of Gordam,' 
I Ma~o 7 de Foraes Antigos, NO.3. Torre do Tombo. 
2 :~da~o 3 de Foraes Antigos, No. S. Torre do Tombo. 
S Mac;o I de Foraes Antigos, No. IT. Torre do Tombo. 
4 Armario I'l, :Ma~o 6, NO.5. Torre do Tombo. It is worthy 
of note that the Eytor de Sousa, here referred to, is the same 
person that appears in the judgment of the Casa de Supplicac;ao 
of January 19th, 14i 9, as representing the Order of Christ, 
Till- IIH' AN'[) \\1:I1T"C'" 
Tbi lam:r i tbe last existing- ducument signed 
b)' ,\zurara, tbougb be appears to b'1\'e given 
anoth'r errifieale on )\ugus t '7th, '-173, nea rly a 
),<;ar 't(n: r, rdaling tel the furged grant o( 0, 
Fernantlo ro th ' Ord 'r of hrist, as melllioned by 
J" ao Petlro Ribei,,'" 
There i' no 'I'idence to show when the Chrnnicier 
died, and rradition elll the point l'ar,eS, The oldest 
authori ty lI,ho refer, t it is Dami,io de ")es, and, 
ite nrding to him, \ zura ra li,,: tI ome years after 
'-1;2, li e n 'I er married, and 11<1 ueceetletl in 
his P()'l at lbe Telrr!! do Tombo by ,\fron o.\nnes 
d'( bidus; but lhe chart 'r o( thi ' man', appointment 
h" been 10 ' t, and his fir t r ' e)rdcd enifi ale only 
bears date :,[ar h .1 ' 't, q 7" ,s 
\Ve hal'c nOli (oll,)\I('d tbe lif, of. \ urara tel' hI 
'tcp, and C'n him hunoured (or hIS talent' b) hIs 
COIll 'mpurari '5, and r,'" a rd 'd for hi s ' n'ict: ' tll 
KlIlg ,lnd OlltHrI by nUlnt'rous lll'nef~LCtiun,' \\', 
J .J/~ 1 rMJ ./11111 nlltt1<. p. 11 
I Padre )0 e H.1)JI11. in r.5 o( hi. Prolo lie to th\; Cltr m .. } 
tit! R~ n Ptirll of J.crn.o lope ( J 1 hon, 17(1), sl.11\;S thl1 
\ umrJ obl.3ml,."<I, the po illo" of III tlllll;lrg.tdllr dJ. C.lSJ. dl..) 
( nel, or Judge or \ l'pC.:11 of the (i\ll Court, un thl.: .It,Jlhonh of 
(h. 5.1 o( l'in:\'5 Chi ( Hi (f J, n ... lffi fISh 1', WhKh 1l\t:nHOO:-. .\ 
c(.:TUUn (:omcl h.'1nt :'t hold'n~ the otnCl' In qu :-.tion and b~l1\t.: 
c.:llt 011 . n e.:l11ba ,\0 "(nc.,. but.J .10 ]le.;dro Rlhc.:lro, in ~. . ol. jy, 
I :ut :, of hi /JiHtrl.t (S Clrr .",. '(io(h I Cn/t.ru, ni:-.st'rtJ.\~'o 
\ I. pro\'(..'S con lu I,dy Ih:11 UJpm I. 10 t;Tfor, ~\I\J lh.11 the.; 
Iud c h.1d no C'Qnnl."<tlon IllIh hb n.'H1h :tkl.' the.: ( 'hr<mltkr 
O~- AZU RARA. xlv 
have also seen him on intimate terms with the Royal 
Family, and corresponding regularly with some of 
its members, as well as acquainted with the leaders 
of the explorations and tlue learned men of the time, 
and must conclude that this was chiefly due to his 
literary attainments and genial character. It is 
therefore pleasarnt to be able to record that, in our 
day, Portugal has marked her appreciation of him, as 
a man and a writer, by a statue, whilst recognising 
that his works form his gre"test and most durable 
monument. In the Pra~a de Luiz de Camoes in 
Lisbon there ri ses a noble statue of the " Prince of 
Spanish Poets"" surrounded by eight of the most 
distinguished men of letters and action of the 
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, his predecessors 
and contemporaries, and among them is a life-size 
figure of Gomez Eannes de Azurara. 2 
CRITICAL REMARKS. 
Azurara belongs to the line of Portuguese 
Chroniclers who rendered illustrious the fifteenth 
and sixteenth centuries, a line that began with 
Fernao Lopes and culminated in Damiao de Goes 
1 The word U Spanish" is here used, in its correct sense, to in-
clude all the peoples 01 the Peninsula. So the Archbishop of 
Braga bears the title U Primaz das Hespanhasl>, denoting his 
primacy over both Spain and Portugal. 
2 No portrait of Azurara exists, and his s ignatures form the 
only relic of him that we possess. 
TilE I.IJ.I:. _\'11 \\KIT!:\I .... 
and Jo ao d, Barros, borh o f whom lI'e re almosr 
hisrorians in the modern Sense of rhe rerm, and at 
the same time ma ter of prose srrle, H e is indeed 
dll! connecting link be[ween [he chronicler and [he 
hi -tnrian, be[\I een [he ~[cJia.:I'al writers and [hose 
of the Renai san " for, II hile he ['0 esses much o( 
the sYlllpathetic ingenuou n . 'S of Lopes, yet he 
cannot r 'si ' [ displaying- hi, erudirion and taiclus by 
quotations and philosophical r 'flections, as guain[ 'L~ 
rhe\ arc ofren Unlh!,e, ar)'. pro\'in~ thal he \I rore 
under rhl' influence of that wal'e of ftlreign litcralllre 
which had '\I cpt in \I ith lhe ne\l monMch)" 
Three literal') t 'ndencie may be said to hal'c 
pr 'I ailed in POrLu",,1 during the firteenth celllury -
,ir til'. a monolllania '(Ir classical It:arning , secundl). 
an incn:ascJ tast", (or th", medi.l'\'al r PICS and prolSe 
Rl\l1lal\c<:,,~, du", to the Cngli 'h intluenc<; lh.\! had 
Ilwreti with ue'l\ Philippa, daughter of time-
s~n'il1,~ J orC"lnCcL-t<.!f. lhoulTh il Il\USl be.." n'lrwl1,ocrcd 
rh.1l .llIIad" d( Calf/'}, lhe Illost falllous r<)llIance 
,,( the ;\fiddle . \gcs, lias ompiled in the pn.:-
cding c'lltur) and hI a I'onugu' , h.lnd, .Ind 
lastl) , III .Idmiralloll for "I'alll~h poctry, which h.ld 
made wnnd,'rflll slrides SIIl<' th· grl.ll Ita lians. 
I till! ' ,tlld l'l'trardl. h,ld bl'cnm' kllOIl 11 in the 
I'cllinsul.L I n phil", ol'h). \ ri totl', .IS '''pounded 
hy \t"'rrne" \\ ,IS tilt' hi"f ;lmhurit) . \wrar,l (ails 
hllll .. til . I'hilosol'hl'l''' '1.lld (olio" ill .., ! him Fgidius 
,UHJ Pn.lro Ili~p;tJl(l. lh e.. P(H·lll~U '_l' POll(': ,llld 
schol..... ·njo) t'd th" II iti('st i"!lm',, 'c, 1'I,ItOllic 
I'hil"'Cll'h) II ,J> i"u-o<lll 'd .It ,I much 1.ller p'riod, 
f 
OF AZURARA. xlvi 
chieAy through the medium of Italian poetry, and it 
never took root. 
To the reader of Azurara's writings, it often seems 
as though the author were overburdened by his 
knowledge, which was in truth very extensive, if at 
times somewhat superficial; and the Chronicles bear 
witness to the fact that Portugal had not remained 
foreign to the literary impulse of the Renaissance. 
Besides citations from many Daoks of the Bible, the 
following classical writers appear in his pages:-
H erodotus, Homer, H esiod, Aristotle, C<esar, Livy, 
Cicero, Sallust, Valerius Maximus, Pliny, Lucan, 
the two Senecas, Vegetius, Ovid, J osephus and 
Ptolemy. Among early Christian and media;va 
authors he mentions Orosi us, St. Gregory, Isidore 
of Seville, Lucas of Tuy, the Arabic astronomer 
Alfragan, Gualter, Marco Polo, Roderick of Toledo, 
Egidius, St. Jerome, Albertus Magnus, St. Bernard, 
St. Chrysostom, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, 
and Peter Lombard; while he has heard the 
legend of the voyages of St. Brendam and knows 
the author of the Amadis de Gatda. He was 
acquainted with the Chronicles and Romances of 
the chief European nations,' and had studied the 
best I talian and Spanish authors. Added to this, he 
had mastered the geographical system of the 
Ancients,' together with their astrology, and his 
knowledg·e of the latter probably came from the 
I Cllronica de D. P edro de lJ1enezu, ch. 63, and CllYOnica de 
Ceu.la, ch. 38. :1 Cltrollica de GU.ill&, chs. 61 and 62. 
iamous O/,IIS Quadnpartitum "i Pt<;!emy. Although 
h~ obUlined his "duC4ti"n in the time of D. Duarte, 
(,f carly in the r,,'gn (i \ (f',no<' \', an age which 
had ceased to belil':\'e if! sd(:real inJlucnces. as 
appears (com the Leal COJlstllu:ir" his wririn s 
show that he pos,c.ssed a (""'Ot faith in astf<Jlogy 
as explain;ncr t'Je charactE:r nd acts as weI[ as 
;:,O\eruing the d.', tinies of man, \'arious 'Jpinion; 
ha\ e been emiu• . i about his >1) Ie; frof while such a 
~ood jud, e as Goes condemn> his 'a'lliquated Wor J 
and pr.)J;:.; reasQninO' (uJl 01 m,;tapho" or figure::s 
thal are 'lut I pl:J.c· iI' the hit lrica.! 'l) I" ' Barros 
~pe-...ks of h' • de r st} k thal 1O ,,:(her "ith his 
d·li".:1lce n:::nu, red h'm worthy Ji tho.: c)ffice he held, 
But perhap~ lh", rn (ptnipicuous crtj~ism rbertcon 
is thal f rrea dil S'r "ho de; lart:S 1\ :th 
r, f.:rcnce l.O th.. )p. ion, )W>t C.'l' I '- . Both rna) 
,ell b.: ri bt. r tb,. st)lo.: 01 G IT' Lannes "n ( 
un·f.)"" and s. ems thl \\ork of l\\ 
rule bi 
'nu \1'1(,$ If ! md} OIl) w) in a 
natur, h.ld 
me... fr 1'1 hi, il'1matlJro.: 
\ "f) def" Is lr' (interest 110\\ 
OF AZURARA. xlix 
for they give an idea of the learning and taste of 
that age."l And, in spite of all his pedantry, 
Azurara rises at times to a true eloquence, some of 
his pa;:;es being equal to the best in Portuguese 
prose. The grandeur of chapte r ii of the Cltronz"ca 
de Gltintf, and the heartfelt pity of Chapter xxv, 
which relates the div;sion of the captives, prove 
conclusively that he could accommodate the style 
to the subject like all writers worthy the name. 
Had he lived a century later, he would have certainly 
been placed in the fi rst rank of Portuguese prosists ; 
while, as it is, his antiquated and a t times inAated 
language has gone far to prevent him from being 
appreciated, or even read, by any save the studious.' 
As an historian he had an un bounded respect for 
authority, on his own conf.ession, and the speeches 
he puts in the mouths of his heroes remind the 
reader at times of L ivy. and make it clear that he 
was writing under the immediate influence of 
classical models' The historical importance of his 
Chronicles is of the first order. They are contem-
porary with the events they relate. and contain the 
history of the Portuguese expeditions to and rule in 
Mauritania from the rc;ign of Jo ao I down to that 
of Affonso V, and furnish a complete account of all 
the voyages of discovery along the African Coast, 
1 IJleditos, vol. ii, p. 210. 
2 Compare the remarks on Azurara's style by Sotel'o dos Reis 
in his Curso da iitterafura Portllgllez(l e Bra-;ileira, lvb.ranhao, 
1866, vol. I, li\=ao xiv. 
;j cr. Chronim de Cell/II, ch. I, 
T il E L I F}-~ A,,"n WR IT l i\G:-\ 
due to th ini timil'c of D. H cnrique, unt il I H il . True, 
rh> Chroll/ca de Gllinc omits to mention some othe r 
I'o)'agcs that were the result of prh'ate enterpri,e, 
for. \zurara wrote it in the capaci t), of hmn icler to 
rhe King and as a pane),Tyric o f the Prince, and 
ne l'('[ intended to relate disco\'c ries unconnected 
with his hero and with the land thaI giles his book 
its title, The Chroniea tI" (;,I/II« must. of course, 
alwa)'s take r,mk d.S \zurara', masterpiece. r I \\'a 
the first book written by 11 EUf<lpean on the lands 
somh of ape Bojador, and it re'lores to U., in g reat 
pan, the lost work of 'en 'ira entitled a f-ft~<lor)' 0/ 
the Porillguestl Conqllcsl.( 011 Ih,' Coad 0/ A/i'lc(/, on 
\I hich it is founded, besides making up for the 
regretlabl' disappearan e of lhe nal.ll archi,'cs o( 
Ihe c'lrly (>c·nod o( nlo<k'rn <Ii 'col·ery . 
•\ lUr.lrn's credibilit) as a narrator is both unqlle,-
tioned lind unqucstiol1.,ble, for his posilion t'n,lbkd 
him to "et at the truth, and he look pains to re ord 
nothing but the trulh, thert'll} ,,[(wing' himself a 
genuine discipk o( hi' maSlc'r, Fernao l.op~, lI e 
\I a' 1110\ <..d , as ,l ruk, neither by human respect nor 
by !,"U) jl.'.doll ics, .ttl" accuracy SL'cll1' "itb him to 
have alllounl,·t! to a passion.' So lrlllhful was he 
Ih~l he pr'~ 'rr ,d ttl k:.\IIe lil' rel;lli,lI1 ,'f (act 
ill ompkl' ralher til ttl lell of th<.:111 \I ilhout haying-
t \lan)' pa.: 5.1gc (<<1m bis 'hronkh.:s nught bl' dleO to JIron .' 
t'u~ bUl the lollo\\lng will :»ufiicc. Clu 'It d ,1( ("(,ltd, {h~. I, :, 
J -'t 51, 8J. 91, and 95. ,I'1omN ,f, (,.I'" I eh. ,30. ('hrNfi 1 J. 
D. I cj, ,,-/' Jf. n ~.I. d\. t I a.nd Hk. 11. <. h. 18 CI" m,i, -, .Ie 1>. 
n",a"'~ ,II! J/cn us, <. h. . l .lI\d <lo. 
, 
OF" AZURAR.\. Ii 
received exact information from eye-witnesses. He 
was quite conscious of what he calls his "want of 
polish and small knowledge ", and his humility is 
shown by the declaratiqn that he only regarded the 
C/wonz'ca de Guz'ne as material for some future 
historian who would perpetuate the great deeds of 
D. Henrique in "a loftier and clearer style"l 
His attitude towards the Moors, those hereditary 
enemies of Portugal, was only what we should 
expect, for, while he is strictly impartial in distri-
buting praise and blame to them equally with 
Christians, he leaves us in no doubt on which 
side his sympathies lay. In the C/wonz'ca de Guz'ne, 
for example, after descanting on the universal praise 
of the Infant's life and work, he admits that '" 
discordant note in the general chorus was struck 
by the Moors whom the Prince had warred with 
and slain, or, to quote his own words, "Some 
other voices, very contrary to those I have until 
now described, sounded in my ears, for which I 
should have felt a great pity, had I not seen them 
to come from men outside our Law".j 
It has been already noted that Azurara, though 
he wrote under the very shadow of the Palace, was 
anything but a flatterer of the great; indeed, he 
has been accused by some of insisting too much 
on the defects in his heroes.' On the other hand, 
1 Cllrollica de Guillt, ch. 6. :l Ibid", ch. 2" 
3 The Azorean scholar, Dr. J. T. Soares de Sousa, calls Azurara 
{( a clever courtier rather than a severe and impartial historian)) 
(quoted by Dr. Theophilo Braga, in his Ht"Jtoria. da Universiriadc 
e 2 
Iii 
it must b ' confes cd that he hail'S a marked par-
lialil)", if not a blind admiratiun, (or D. Henrique in 
the C/I)"(Jllirn rU Crlll11 as well as in the Ch,-ollica de 
(;/lil/ ,. In the fanne r he attribute to the Pr,nce 
the ~hief pan in the caplure of th" cit)", while in 
lbe Imt e.! r he.! ~holl' him elf e\'"r read)' to defend 
hIm from hi_- di~prai e rs, <l nd t<\ c0l1l"ict of fooli 11-
llesS <\ut of lhei r ,\ \\·n moulh. the oppon"nts of 
lh· "orag-' t)( di o,"er). ;\a). more, he even 
lind· ,til ",planation f,)f D . H 'nrique.! 5 I)(;glect to 
de~-nd hi· brolher P 'dm from h ·ing don· ll) death 
.11 .\I(arrob 'ir.I, negle t which is hard to explain 
"ari. rdcroril)" and mu. l remain a blot on the Prince·, 
I:"r ram' Hut this bias m.l)" readi l)· be accounted 
(or hi Ih, f'lel lhal \ wr.:u·a pa sed much of hi 
lime III dose imin);!,) \\ ilh 1 . II nrique, and dre\\ 
a :r".n part or the informa lion (or his Chronicles 
or ("lHa .'nd ~uin ," (rom th.ll SlIlIT(" i> 'sides 
\\ hich he .\n hardly be hl,"ned (or the I,)\·e he 
fell ,111<1 displ.l) cd (or a gr 'a t .lIld good llhUl, the 
inili;}lor .lntl hc..:ro of l1"1odern dis 0\ \.:ry. 
Fin.llh, \\ hile no S,'!"I0U crili,· \\ auld admit 
\ ur,lr.l "idun lhl' ci rde of gre.lt hisLorians. fe\\ 
\'otdd dlslune his litlt· to h · f).tllled a g-n.:.H 
I hrunickr. I h Il h, \I a .1 I ,"orio\l' .111.1 lruthful 
\\ rIl< r h" 1M).!' 11M!.." eI,'.,r, Iha l he could l<!11 a 
,,111(\1, stor) \ i\ i<ll) Il,'~, dl cllll.l U ,III) ,"ld lhat he 
Olf AZURARA. lii i 
had at times flashes of inspiration, the Clwonica de 
Cuim! attests, though, even bearing this work i" 
mind, it is easy to perceive his inferiority in the 
matter of style to Fernao Lopes, a point constantly 
insisted on by Portuguese critics. In a wQrd, if, as 
Southey said, Lopes is "beyond all comparison the 
best Chronicler of any age or Ration ", it may well be 
that Azurara, " notwithstanding aR occasional dis-
play of pedantry, is equal i" merit to any Chronicler, 
except his unequalled predecessor " 1 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
The following is a list of Azurara's works in the 
order in which they were written :-
(a) "M[LAGRES DO SANTO CONDEST ABRE D. NUNO 
ALVRES PERE[RA." 
This volume, of doubtful authenticity, which was 
never printed, has now been lost. Senhor Oliveira 
Martins was unable to find a trace of it when 
engaged on his recently-published life of the Holy 
Constable,' and suggests that it may have perished, 
along with so many other literary treasures, in [755, 
during the Great Earthquake. Jorge Cardoso, in 
his Agiotogico Lttsitano; quotes a passage from 
1 Quarterly Revit!1.(J, May 1809, p. 288. 
~ A. Vhia de l\'1m' Alvares. Lisbon, 1893. 
3 Tom. iii, p. 217, ed. Lisbon, 1666. Barbosa ivlachado 
mentions the MS. on the authority of Cardoso.-Vide Bibliotlleca 
LusitaJla, tom. ii, art. on Azurara. 
TIIV !.IFF .\)In \\KITlXC<; 
,\zuraf'a'S work, and Santa ,\nna gives the sub-
stance of i[ In his Cnrolliea nos CarmaelitaJ, 
expres I) decJarin~ [hat he had seen the original 
\[ S" which was [hen presen'ed among- the Archi\'cs 
,)f the armo Convent' 
(I»" IJRONK\ nFL-RFI D, .I0A\I nE BO.\-
'IE \IORIA F. DelS REVs tiE P.IRTVl• . \L () lJFCI\IO. 
T' rceir.l parte ~n1 que C ontem a lomatla de 
eut:l," omposla por Gom -z Eanncs D'Azurara 
-hl'onistd \Ior Jestes Reyno, & impressa na lin-
~uag "n1 antisra. Enl Lisb()a on1 toda~ a." licen<;<'ls 
n 'cessaria , _\ ell ta d' ;\ntonio Ah-arez, ImpressOJ' 
J -I-r·i \ S, 16+4, PI, x- 2 '3 (01. Such is the (1I1l 
titl,' of th ... Chro1l1rr1 dr Cotta as gi,on in the one 
,lOti on[) puhlish -d "dition, 
1'o[k", illg: dw hr,lnici' t:ol1le ,ICCc)Un ts o( th,' 
d ',nh o( K mg' Jo all ,\11.1 th' Iran lalion o( his b,)d), 
to I atllha. ""tract,·d from the Chrolliro dt f), 
!);,,(r/c . •I S \\ dl ,I - 1 10[1), \\ ilh transl.nilln, o( the 
l'pit.IJlh on Ill ' tom!., .\nt! lhen his will .Ind ,I g-t'ner,Ii 
Inde\ \1'->,', of this Chronicle e,ist in tilt' Hiblin-
tllt'C,' 1\ Ilional in LishoIl,.lntl in the rmTl' dn Tombo, 
I'h lorllll'l' pl.le' ",,,lllills ,I ,!t'ft't:ti\" one, d.lIing 
from th,' nwldk "f th, loth c,'nllifl, ,I< well as cIne 
of th "conti part of lh, "'Illt' I't'I"iod ,\[ll'arl'lIll), 
<\Illpl"tl. I"h ' I"ller 1>0.I"t' '\ \I~, (An, 3M) "f 
tht. 15th ((.'IHur). III I~lq. .; (' (olin, written on paper ill 
n,eI .\11<1 hl.lch. \\ hich deri, ,'s iIl1I'"n,lllc,' frolll its 
1 ("'It,· HI (,.1 (,rm 1 liI,I\, \ 01. 1, lip. ';{Hl anJ 4S6. I 1,1>0n, 
Ii 5· 
OF AZURARA. Iv 
early date, and exhibits a text practically identi-
cal with that of the book described above; while of 
the others, one may be attributed to the 16th 
century and two to the 17th. The Oporto Muni-
cipal Library has an 18th-century MS. of this 
Chronicle.' 
(c) "CHRONICA DO DESCOBRIMENTO E CONQUISTA 
DE GUIN];, escrita por mandado de EI-Rei D. Affonso 
V. sob a direc~a(') scientifica, e segundo as instruc~oes 
do illustre Infante D. Henrique pelo Chronista 
Gomez Eannes de Azurara; fielmente trasladada 
do Manuscripto original contemporaneo, que se 
conserva na Bibliotheca Real de Pariz, e dada 
pela primeira vez a luz per diligencia do Visconde 
de Carreira, Enviado Extraordinario e Ministro 
Plenipotentiario de S. Majestade Fidelissima na 
corte da Fran~a; precedida de uma Introduc~ao e 
illustrada com algumas notas pelo V isconde de 
Santarem .. e seguida d'um Glossario das 
palavras e phrases antiquadas e obsoletas." Paris, 
1841. Fo!. pp. XXV-474, with frontispiece portrait 
of D. Henrique from this same MS. 
The letter which Azurara addressed to King 
1 There doubtless exist many other MSS. of Azurara'sChronicles, 
besides those mentioned in this notice, both in public libraries 
and private collections. Most of those described here are in 
Lisbon, and neither the Royal Library at the Ajuda nor the rich 
collection at Evora appear to contain a single specimen. Gallardo 
srates that D. Pedro Portocarrero y Guzman, Patriarch of the 
Indies, the catalogue of whose library was printed at Madnd in 
1703, possessed a signed :MS. of the Cllrollica de emta. 
Ivi 
,\Honso \ ', when he fOr'\\urded lhe Chronicle, 's 
printed in facsimile and jJGecedes the Introduction. 
fhere are three sepanlJ() impressions or this 
Ch" nicle--one on parch m e11L, of \\ hich th<t Biblio-
toe u j adonal in Lisbon possess,,, a cop)" a nother 
on large paper. both of [hese bdng folio size. and a 
third on slTlali paper oelaYO size. 
Two earl, i\[ S. of ,he Chronicle exist: one, \' r)' 
handsome and p ·rfeet, in the Peu'is l\ aliona! Ubrar)', 
from \\ hieh the primed edition" as made; and the 
olher, bearing date 1506. in lh" 1\0) aJ and ;-\aliomt! 
Lihf'll) at i\lunieh. The latter belonged to Valentino 
Fernandes. a ,erman primer, cSlabli. hed in Lisbon 
frolll th", end of the r 5(h cenlUl)' [0 past the middle 
of the 16th. II ho owned man)' i\ISS. llf great \ <lItle, 
which han' been studied b) Schmeller in hi,;: Ud" r 
"0/011' Rrllolf(lc Alcmd "ltd $, ill': Sa/JIIl1!1II1t: 
,011 ,VOC;,,.,r/tI,1I !tOtr dt,: Elltdcr/.-III!r:411 ultd Bail--
1111ff'" d.,. Porlll1f" S<lf ;11 ,I.frike/ 1111'/ _lsi'lI bis 
11111 ja/;n 15°<. The imprint o( lhis l'SSa) is 1845, 
I'hc ilhlllich !II s, is an abrRlgm'nL; mall)' of the 
rlwlorical passaR' s, eh. i. and lll'.u-Iv (he who1<: (If 
eh. iii-\ ii, being ol11iu 'd, \ 'akillim [i(,Tll;tl1ti,.S. 
\\ ho u'lLllscrihc,d, if I1\' did I1nl COin pi I. . , thi sum-
l1lilr\. which h' tillish.:d on '\o\'l'mber 14th, 150ll. 
com"" tlc<'s his dl'll'l,'rs al lh "jgl1lh of lh,; Paris 
M '>., and rl'duc~s til\' origill ,) nUJI1b" .. of chapters 
(n>l11 ninety-seven 10 sixI) -l\'ln, 
rhe t<.;Xt of til<' Paris [\1::.. ""'l11s 10 11;1\ ' h<:c'1l 
,I;I<kd In at solne IUl,'r lime, ,1I1d, al .111)' ,'all', is 'l<1l 
In Iht: SIal,· in whi h ,\wmr,l left il in '453. Ih.: 
I 
OF AZURARA. lvii 
year the Chronicle was finished, because certailq 
passages speak of D. Henriqlie as though already 
deceased, while he only died in 1460.1 Innocencio 
thinks Azurara emended his work after the Prince's 
death, and inserted some reflections on his life and 
moral qualities, without continuing the narrative, or 
passing the limit he had at first marked out, namely 
1448. 
The history of the MS., and the discovery in 
1837 by the Lusophile, Ferdinand Denis, of the 
Paris copy, together with a description thereof, is 
related by the Viscount de Santarem in his Intro-
ductiorI, and deserves perusal.' Fragments of the 
Chronicle were known to Barros, who incorporated 
them in his As£a, but Goes never saw it at all, and 
it would seem to have disappeared from Portugal 
in the 16th century.' Frei Luiz de Sousa, the 
great Dominican prose writer, met with a MS. 
copy at Valencia, in the possession of the Duke 
of Calabria, one of whose ancestors, 'a King of 
Naples, had received it, he was informed, from 
D. Henrique himself.' Vie know from another 
1 cr. Chrollica de GUillt, ch. 5. 
2 Cltrotlictl de Guint, p. xii, and compare the art. on Azurara 
in the Dicclolzario Universal Porttlguez, and Innocencio da Silva, 
Dicciollario Bibliographico Porluguez, yol. ix, p. 245. 
3 Barros, Asia, Dec. I, liv. ii, ch. I, and Goes, Citrollica do 
Principe D. Jollo, ch. 6. 
-4 Historia de S. DomiJlgos, p. I, Ii\". vi, ch. IS. Santarem 
suggests that Affonso V sent it to his uncle, Affonso the Magni~ 
ficent of Naples, by his ambassador" :tvIartin Mendes de Berredo, 
h'iii TilE LIf E :\~[I WlUT J i\G~ 
our e that thi, ~I S. wa still in S pain a t the 
beg-inning of (he lasl century. htlt how it reached 
il pr'scnr r'sting-pla e, the l\ ational L ibrary in 
1 ari', remains a lll),stcry. 
d) .. HI'''''I( \ n()C""D~ D. I'I'I'IW(OE \IEXFZFs) 
<llllinuada ,t;1 tomada de Cepta, " qual mandou 
r 1- Rl'y n . ,\l1onso \ de -le nome, e do, R"ys de 
Portugal ;\: 11. 'scr 'p,,-,r." Such is the title of lhis 
-hronid", "hi h was ptlblihed in \',,1. I r of the 
111<'dilos, and runs from pag-e 2 I 3 w the ,'nd, I ( is 
t1wr' pre "ded hy an I mroduclion of six pages, 
d, '1ling with the lif" nnd work of .\wrara, from 
the pen of the erudite ,\bllnde CO'T':" da _ erra 
I here e. 1St' ,I \ ,dude s :'II -, "f thi 'hronicle in 
til<' Ilibliothec:t 1\. li,'n,tl in I.ishon ,If the ·nd of 
Ih· l71h "I1l11f\, ,tlHI anoth,r "'Iuall) dl'\'oid of 
ilHt'fl t in the h,tdemia d,l: Scieneias, :I I r, 
l)u,lritch r"cl'ntl) oa'red on for "lIe, 1 \\ hich 
dcri\ c. importalln' iron) hd\'ing- hlTIl cc..)pied froln 
cluulh or o( llrl) C.l.lll'" and was kind l·noug-h (0 
s<.:nd It for ollr in.l'l' I;on. It i a small foIi,), 
he 111lifulh "rill'n on pap"r, cOIH.lining ,6.j !e,I\'l'S 
"ilh lhin)·on, lines to the lli'.":'. ,Int! lIas tran-
, rih· I fr,ull \ \1 " on [lMdlllh'1ll ,f 233 f,.lios in 
I ing-I' ,,11l111 11, "hich h,ld bl en llself lini,h",1 in 
l.i ball 011 .Il1h 2ph, 14jO, hI .1 .., \0 (,,)Il "h·..,z, till' 
hCh\ n t tS3 ltd I.l;i I hut Ihl~ (.wnot III Itlollnlcd \\llh the 
hel that ('(rl.lIn 1'.1 ~~L III Ihl.: l hrolll( Il .IPI"- Ir to h.IH l.k:.-ell 
',nU n ftn III dl3th or I), Hc..:nnqul 
I {aut \It: \;0 14 /i It flu. dlll'/'.,II', Il hru3n IS{J,. 
f 
OF AZURARA. lix 
Gm"!' The copy belonging to Mr. Quaritch has 
some marginal notes without value, and must, to 
judge from the writing, have been made in Portugal 
at the very beginning of the 17th century, or, as he 
says, about 1620. The text is the same as that 
printed in the Ineditos. 
(e) "CHRONICA DO CONDE D. DUARTE DE 
MENEZES." 
This was published for the first time in Vol. I II 
of the Ineditos, and has there no separate title page, 
but the heading ",f the first chapter reads as follows; 
-" Comecasse a Historia, que fala dos feitos que 
fez 0 Illustre ernul' nobre Cavaleiro Dom Duarte 
de Menezes, Conde que foi de Viana, Alferes Del-
Rey e Capitao por elle na Villa Dalcacer em Affrica. 
A qual foi primeiramente ajuntada e escripta per 
Gomez Eames de Zurara, professo Cavalleiro, e 
Comendador na Ordem de Christus, Chronista do 
mesmo Senhor Rey, e Guardador m6r do Tombo de 
seus Regnos. ' J 
All the MSS. of this Chronicle are defective, and 
we know from the Royal Censor that they were in 
the same state as early as the reign of Dom Sebastiao. 
In fact, more than a third of the work has disap-
peared, and is represented by lacun~. The Biblio-
theca National in Lisbon has three, the Torre do 
Tombo two, and the Bibliotheca da Academia Real 
das Sciencias one MS. of this Chronicle; all show 
the same gaps. The only MS. of value is one (No. 
520) in the Torre do Tombo, dating from the end 
of the 15th century, written on parchment, with the 
Lx Tin LlFE\~I' \YRITt"GS 
headings to Ihe hapter in red and black. and an 
illuminated Iirie-pag". [I mu t be pronounced a 
fine specimen "f caligraphy, and, Ihough incomplete 
lik' the r I, i otherwise in good condition. 
The \\'r iling- anribulcd to ,\zurara con iSI of Ihe 
follo\\Lng '-
U) A IIROXIClE OF D. Du TE. 
Th're cems LO be liul' doubt that ,\meara wrote 
some 'or( of a hronicle r this King which has 
not be 'n pn.!sen·ed The 'hronicle we posses 
~O' under lhc nan\c of Ruy d .. Pina. bUl, according-
l<) Go '5. it was hq,:-un by [<'<:rnao l.opes, continued 
hl' \zur.tra, and unly finished by Pina' Barros is 
more ·xplicit, for be not only stale that .\wrara 
,'ompilcd the 'hronicle in que tion, but add Ihat it 
"as appropriated by Ru de Pina, who succl:l',kd 
hll11 in the post of -hronista ~l'lr ,\zurara himcelf 
do's not hell' liS mllch w a . olullon "f the pr,)ol·m. 
In the CI/Jollictl d,. (;111111 he r ,fer< twice to it ome-
what \'a TU ·1)" om in ;lnoth 'r pl:icC mention it quit· 
c1e'lri) as his 0" n \I ork, liwlI;,!h in th ' futllre tense.' 
\;,!'.1II1, in the Cnrol/ira d. C"tfa ther' i· a il1lilar 
n'f,'r 'nc,' to it, "Is,) in the fULUr' t 'ns ',' L' nsati -
f.\ lOr) .L< this ie, \I <' mllst p 'rforre I", 'o!Hent \I ith 
I (,11.1' nt• • f j" n. ,I/.J MI, qU.lft.\ p:utc ch. ,l8. 
I Allf'. t>c I, Ii, II, (;h. ::. 
("'"111ft 1 i" GII", eh$. 1. 5• .1 1HI M\. 
• ('Jj, "u" J. cut", <.:h. :1, and t'I. CIII.,,,,.tl J( 1>, /)1,,''-/, Jj' 
.11011' (I, eh. ;!-t. 
OF AZURARA. lxi 
it 111 default of any better information. It seems 
most unlikely that Affonso V would have employed 
the Chronicler on the lives of great nobles like Pedro 
and Duarte de Menezes, who, after all, were but 
private persons, without providing, in some way, for 
a history of his father to be written. All we can 
say is, that Azurara probably collected the material 
and possibly made a first draft-although it is notice-
able that he nowhere spe-aks of the Chronicle as 
finished, but always as something that is to be done 
-then came Ruy de Pina and put it into shape, for 
the style is certainly his, and, while more smooth, is 
far less characteristic than the quaint rhetorical 
sentences of Azurara. 
(g") A CHRONICLE OF KING AFFONSO V. 
Both Barros and Goes agree that Azurara wrote 
a Chronicle of this monarch, and carried it down to 
the death of D . Pedro in the year 1449, and that 
it was finished by Ruy de Pina, under whose name 
it appears! More than this, Barb0sa Machado 
actually cites it, as though it existed in his day, 
thus-Chronica del Rey D. Affonso V, ate a morte 
do In/ante D. Pedro; lot. M s.' I t is true that, in the 
Clwo1lica de D. Pedro de 1Il{enezes, Azurara declares 
that, in spite of entreaties, the King would never 
allow him to write a history of his reign; but this 
1 Asia, Dec. 1, liv. ii, ch. 2, and Cltyollica de D. Malloei, quarta 
parte, ch. 38. Goes says, too, that Azurara related the taking of 
Arzilla, which happened in 1470. 
:! Bib/jot/uta L1t~'ilalla, vol. ii, art. on Azurara. 
Ixii TlIF' LIFE . \~.:I} WRITI\:( ;:--
was In 1463, a l1d \ffonso mar well ha\'(; entrusted 
him with the work in la te r r ea r, and another 
passage of lhe same ' hmnicle ee l11 s to imply it,' 
lhoug h Pina , while confessing thal he \l'as not the 
fi rs t !O receil'e a COllll11i ' ' iol1 for rhe ' hronicie of 
K ing A ffon 0, d"cia r " rhal he found il unculll-
me need' I f We ".(l11lne arefull) ' lh" fir ' r 12-+ 
hapler of Pina's hrunick, II e 'ha ll at firsl ighl 
con lude (h" ideas It) bdong ro\zurara a nd lhe 
phra "nlo),'y 10 S'[HIUr of Pina. Such prnminencl' 
is gil'en !O rhe aClS and characler of lh~ Regenr 
lhal lhe work mighl wdl ha l'e horne hi s n;lI1>c . 
• lOti hI.! is l real ,d wirh a fefll'11l 1'<;l1l' r:1 lio l1 and 
a Ion: which Illig-Ill nalLlrall y he ' peCled from 
.\zurara, who musl hal ' knOll 11 him intimald ) , as 
he cerrainl) kl1ell' his son, bu t II hich C<lu ld hardl: 
U' lookl'd for in a liller wri t 'r, , \ ,:-nin, 11. Il 1'nriquc's 
neg-Iecl uf his urulher, a neglec I which matle . \Ifar-
rob 'ir,( pussible, is r"pr ·h 'ndetl in I 'rms [hal bring 
10 mil1d the slern .lIlti impani.d \ zu r,lra rarher lhan 
his more mOuth-lang-lie I SUCCl',.-"r, II hilc. curi,)u, lr 
el1ough, lhe incident is not lll llC lwd 1)11 in hapl 'r 
c, Itl', undoubll'dl) lhl' work "r I' in,(, where the 
c1Mraclcr or till" P rin C' is summed up ,.her hi: dea th 
,lIld r 'cc'ill's unmi, ed prai,. On till' orh"r hand. ir 
1 CIlia,,; (I tit 0. I'IIt" d( JIcH .st'.\. d\ . 1, ~~ and jUfl"," II, 
ch. J6· nnd comp.'ltc his r (crl,;l1( c 10 dll' C~r lII(fl (;crfzl in thl: 
(1tronll..1 J( D. IJllfIIl tit Jfnu;.('s, ehs. J oS. 11 I , I J5, I ., .:, .111..1 
145. ~ ,,<:11 ,15 ll1 lhe ("I'iI. NI," ill' (,11m. eh. s. 
" Prologue to Ih· el" n/d' J, j J. IJjimsfJ I ' (Ill lit " \ ~)l. I , 
p. lO'), 
r 
OF AZURARA. lxiii 
must be remembered that D . Henrique's behaviour 
to his brother Pedro at the last is referred to in the 
Cltro1zica de Guint as a proof of his loyalty under 
difficult circumstances, and this fact certainly tells 
against Azurara's authorship of the Chronicle under 
consideration, though hardly enough of itself to 
discredit the express statements of Barros and 
Goes. To sum up. While it is certain that 
Azurara never wrote a complete Chronicle of 
Affonso V, for the good reason that he prede-
ceased the King, it is impossible in the present 
state of our knowledge to measure his share in the 
first part, with which alone he has been credited, 
although one cannot help inclining to the opinion 
that the Chronicle as it stands is substantially the 
work of Ruy de Pina. 
(It) A ROo[ANCE OF CmVALRY, in three MS. 
volumes, existing in the Lisbon National Library. 
The title of the First Volume runs :-" Chronica 
do Invicto D. Duardos de Bertania, Princepe de 
Ingalaterra, filho de Palmeiry, e da Princeza 
Polinarda, do qual se conta seus estremados feitos 
em armas, e purissilTIOS alTIOreS, com outros de 
outros cavalleiros que em seu tempo concorreriio. 
Composta por Henrrique Frusto: Chronista ingres, 
e tresladada em Portugues por Gomes Ennes de 
Zurara que fes a Chronica del Rey Dom AFon~o 
Henrriques de Portugal, achada de novo entre seus 
papeis." 
There are three MS. copies of this volume which 
differ somewhat inter se, the earliest dating from the 
TIIF LlI"f: .\\"1' \\f'ITI\"(,:-. 
secolld hal f of Ihe I jth cenlur), Two of these 
opi " contain eig-ht) chaplers, dll' other but S(;\"(~nt)", 
Sl.', They ar\; mark ,J respecti"el\' l' n II in 
lhe Lisbon ;\alional Library. ~ I~II I II I~ 
The la t, all ISlh-century :'I[~" though substan-
tially the same II ork as lhe til 0 form"r ones, bears a 
JifferelH tide'" 'hronie.! d\; l'rimablo, Emperauor 
de Grecia. I'rimc.ra Parte. Lm que ,e cllnta d;L' 
fac;'lllhas que obrou 0 Princepe 1>, l) lIardo , e os 
mais l'rinccpe que com clle 'e criado na Ilha 
Pt.'rigol;l do .. '" abin I }a.liartc " ll' (:OOlPO Ilion i~ 
allribuled to .. (;uiIhernH! pru,lO, ,\ utor I Iybernio", 
and the fHlnlC' of \zlIr.\ra dot.': nol t;.lppc.ar as trans-
1.llor, ,me", il11is!' 'flO ['.lchorro" h"illg named as 
Ihe COP} .st, 
I'he Second \ "Iume b 'ars the tid, " Sl'~ftdil 
p,lne tI.l crUllIe •• do PrinceI''' lltllll I )lIardos, COIll-
IJ('-"l~l pur 11l'llnqut rrllsLll (' Lr ·SlfUI.ldcl pur (~tlnh'l 
I lies n.u,urar... lUI ......"  d,l prim, in Pdft"," II 
cont uns ei;:::ht\, s. ch.'ptt'rs alld .s Ill:trkcd t', 
L'Il(krll<"th the title .s \\ riltell in ., IlolI.ng- I I 
h.llltt "P"ti( SS(' ('nc .dt. rnar c"'l I scg-ullcicl IMrtl.! d.t 
('hro/llC<' do I'rlllC< Ill' l!cUll I )II.lI'.!", I , <"Ill 
\Ie",. ~ I .I .. (llltubrn d" o:;Q" .,"d si):!lll'd \I ilh 
till ('l' lhln' 
I h,' I'hird \ .. lUll" Is h<.:.ulcd ' l ,r,,'.r,1 p.ll'lt: 
d., Chronic. rio I'rtIlC"IK 110m I lu, rdos", 'lIllll"lSt .. 
!,oT I I ,'nrriqu,' I'rlllo,' tl'<'sl."bd., p"r I ;O!lll: Ell,"', 
<i.l1!urara l\lICloJ"( '" d.l I"'. (" "\. P.trll Il hel';; lhirt~-
Ii\< Ch.'pI,r', .lIld ,nd, .Ibru!'th II III Irk " 
.\11 th .. ",>" d, "tI .. .! tI"", .r. "I nt, 
I 
OF AZURARf\, !xv 
tively recent date, written on paper and of folio size. ' 
A certain want of connection appears between Parts 
I and II, but this is not so as regards Parts II and 
Ill. A very unpoetica! Sonnet closes Cha,pter XI. 
of the last Part, and, s ince it is not referred to in the 
text and its languag'e is modern, may possibly have 
been interpolated. From the form it cannot be 
earlier than 1526 or 1530, while a competent judge 
holds it to have been probably composed after [550. 
From a cursory examination of the Chronicle 
under consid~ration , it would seem to be neither (I) 
a transla tion from the English, nor yet (2) by the 
hand of Azurara, as a lleged, but an original compo-
sition by some anonymous writer. The value of the 
first statement may be estimated by remembering 
how Cervantes declared he had copied D. Quixote 
from the Cide Hamete Benengeli ; and, again, how 
J oao de Barros introd uced his Clarimmldo as a 
\'ersion from the Hungarian ; in any case, no such 
early Eng-lish or Irish Chronicle r as ·Frusto or 
Frost (?) can be shown to have existed. The 
Cycle of the Round Table, and other British 
Romances of Chivalry, which we re known in 
Portug-al early in the 14th century, became more 
popular after the ma rriage of D . J oao I with D. 
Philippa of Lancaster, and this accounts for the 
ascription to a l1 E ng lish origin; while Azurara's 
I I Dr. T'heophilo Braga mentions another MS. of the whole 
Chronicle, in a single volume of 644 folios, as being in private 
hands. The name of the English (?) Chronicler is there. spelt 
" Hcn rique Fn.uste".-/lJllfldi~- d~ Gall/a, p. 196 1/. Porto, I 8j 3 . 
.f 
THE LILt. \~t, WRITr~l .... 
kn \\ ledge or such oooks. as disp1lfC" in his 
"anous hrouicles. explain hOI\' thi story of a 
01) Ihical D. Duartc arne to be fathered on him. 
The considerations that \\ "igb most aga inst ,\zurara's 
authorship o( the J\[ -. are thos' of date and tylc. 
h has been already pro\(:d that he died in or about 
LhL ) ear 14i 3, so that, as uming Ill" work to be hIS, 
ir must ba," been'" rinen al least 11 fore that dare, 
or e\ en much earli0r, sa) before '454; since it cannot 
b presumed tlnl he would hal e time fur such an 
essa) after his appoinunent as Cbief Chroni k:r of 
Portugal and Ro)aJ Archili t. Perhap' he would 
ha' c lacked the inclination as well, at least jUdg-in r 
from the disdainful [One of his reference L the 
.itlUuiis do- (;(lll/e in the Chrolll(t1 Ii<- D . .!'ulro ,/.: 
,/J/"uc cS. j 0\\, the first of the I'allllerin seri" to 
which our ?lIS. ccrtainl\ b"!olll,,'S the I'allll,rh' a.' 
Olt,'a. \\ as onl) primed in 15 I 1 ; C\l.llthou"b uOIh it 
and its ~,:quel, .!'rilllll/, Oil, mOl) ha,'c .·iSted in \lS. 
in the 15th <l1lur) , <ltlLempor.lr) literature In no 
record of the fact !I$ in th" case of Amed;", and th r<: 
is nothing to (,\\ our the supposition. Hut. apa.rt 
(rom this, 'perusal oC the first ( "'\< chapt r - o( Part t 
of the pre ellt ilL., Inti ('sl'eciali) tht: "I' 'ning lin<:-' 
of hapll'''' I, ",ill COI\\'; 'lC , must rC'<lders, withOllt 
further prou(, that it i 1l00hin,.: < Is< thatl ;.\ cun· 
tinuation of thl! !'"Im, /, 1/ d". ;"lrlatcrla <If 
l 'rlll is"" d, ,\1 ora,,;,' (or it Ilo( <>111) takc:s up 
OF AZURARA. 
the story where lVloraes had left off, but expressly 
refers to the Palmeirim on more than one occasion.' 
Now, the book of Moraes was only written about 
the year 1543. so that, as far as the dates go, they 
are enough of themselves to decide the question of 
Azurara's authorship in the negative. To C0me to 
the question of style-that of the MS. has nothing 
to correspond with the rhetorical expressions and 
the quotations, and none of the idioms, peculiar to 
Azurara; nor does it belong- to the 15th century, but 
rather to the middle or latter part of the 16th, despite 
the sl igh t a rchaic atmosphere, shown more especially 
in the orthography, that h,mg-s about Part I, and 
ever and anon calls to mind the Saudades of Ber-
nardim Ribeiro. The phrase "achada de novo 
entre seus papeis", on the title-page of the Romance, 
evidences nothing, although it is alleged, as already 
mentioned, that Azurara left MSS. behind hill! 
wh ich we re explored in the last century by Padre 
Jose Pereira de Sant' Anna. ' 
EDGAR PRESTAGE. 
I< CHILTERN", BOWDON, 
Da)1 of Camoens' Death, 1895-
1 Vide Part I, ehs. I, 4, 6, l7, and 37. 
2 Compare, on this quest ion, the following studies ;-Opusclilo 
aterca do Palmeirim de Inglaterra e do StU auctor, by NL O. 
:r...rendes. Lisbon, 1860. Discurso soore eI Pa//JIeirim de lng/a· 
lerray Sll verdadero aulor, by N. D. de Benjumea. Lisbon, 1875. 
Versudl iiber dw Ritterromall PalJlleirim de Illg/aterra, by 
D. Carolina 1Iichaelis de Vasconcellos. Ha11t\ 1883_ 
"UTI- The L'It"~anl :is-natun! of .\lurara. with its 
fiourishc and general un)atcncs~. a \\ lK)c1t. ttl of which 
apPC',rs belo\\, \\" copie<1 by m)' friend the Yi cuunt de 
C 1 lilho, on or the poet. from an ori~illal lh)cument in 
the Torn.: do Tombo. rhe writing. It "ill be ob,t:(\ cei, i ... 
clear .Hld flrm, ,\ ('h,lrd.Cleri lic of all the (hr,_.nich.:r' ... 
Ig-Ildturc , \\ hieh c. isl lO the number of sume half·dolt:n 
IIllht.: lorrl; F I' 
j r J(;\\(£~ ~4--1~ "-- -.., 
S 
f 
AZU RARA'S CHRON ICL E 
OF THE 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF 
GUINEA. 
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
ERE beginneth the Chronicle in wh ich 
are set down all the notable deeds 
that were achieved in the Conquest 
of Guinea, written by command of 
the most high and revered Prince and 
most virtuous Lord the Infant Don 
Henry, Duke of Viseu and Lord of 
Covilham, Ruler and Governor of the Chivalry 'of the Order 
of Jesus Christ. The which Chronicle was coll~cted into 
this vol ume by com mand of the most high and excellen t 
Prince, and most powerful Lord the King Don Affonso 
the Fifth of Portugal. 
CHAPTER I. 
\Vhich is the Prologue, wherein the Author sheweth what will be his 
purpose in this \ Vork. 
\VE are commonly taught by experience, that all well-
doing requireth gratitude. And even though the benefactor 
doth not covet it for himself, yet he should desire it, that 
B 
A7.UR.\RA'S CHRONICLE OF TilE 
the recipient may not suffer dishonour where the giyc:r 
hath l).{;quircd "irtuous merit And such a special com-
munion is there between these two acts, to wit, gh·jng and 
tnanl,.":iog, that the hrst requireth the second by way of 
obligation. And did not the former "xist, it would 
not be possible ror tbere to be gratitude ,n tlJe world. 
"11erefore. Saint Thomas,t wl,o ,,,as the most clear teacher' 
among the Doctors of Theology, saitl, in the second book 
of the sccond part of his work, in the IOSth section, that 
cI'cr)' action returnetll by nature to the cause (rom which it 
Rrst proceeded. Tberefore. since tbe gil'cr j the cbief cause 
of the benefit reech cd by the otiter, it is rcqui,itc, b,' the 
ordinance of Xaturc. tbat the good be doth should com" 
back to him in the shape of a filling gratitude. And by 
this return we are enabled to understand the natural like-
ness oot\\ccn tbe \lorks of :\ature and those that gh'c moral 
aid, for all lhings bring about a proper rollin>, <tafl ing 
(rom. commencement anJ progressing till in ~hc end Lhey 
lICcomplish the rccompencc we speak of A nd. in proof of 
thi ,Solomon saiLh in the book of Ecc\c-iastcs, t hat the 
sun "'5 til o"er lhe earth, and, ha\'ing ~ndrck-d all thing<. 
rclUmelh 10 wbore it first appean:d. The ri",r also 
proceed from the seal and ceasing not their course, ar~ 
conlinuall), returning 0 it. \ like tiling bappenclh in the 
mural order, for all good that cometh from a . enerotls "ill, 
doth run a straight course ullli! it arm e 3.\ the tilting 
recipient. and then a (terw:ttd. it rei umeth nal urally tn tbe 
placc "here the gcnero.it) allo,,,x) it to b~E:in • and '!lch a 
rettlrn b.-ingetl! abou! O. .t  "He! union 1)<)\\\"0", those th'l 
do good .111d (hose that r< ci cit, ,f" hieh Tull) peake!h 
whcn he salth tha.t no ~rvjcc IS more: tlC'C\.::, "tfy t h.tH 
: 
DISCOVERV AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 
gratitude, in order that the good may r€turn to him who 
gave it. 
And in that the most high and excellent Prince and 
most mighty Lord, the King Don Affonso the Vth (who 
at the time 0f the wdting of this book reigned in Portugal, 
by the grace of God, whose:! reign may God in his mercy 
increase in length and in virtues), in that tile, I say, saw and 
kncw the great and very notable deeds of the Lord Infant 
Don Henry, Duke of Vlseu and Lord of Covilham, who 
was his highly-valued and beloved uncle, and in that thc 
said deeds appeared to hint so noteworthy among the many 
actions of Christian princes in this world-it seemed to him 
a wrong thing not to have some authentic memorial of 
the same before the minds of men. And this most of all 
because of the great servic€s which the said Lord had ever 
rendered to past kings, and the great benefits which by 
his efforts the PrinceJs c(')uo,trymen had r€ceived. 
For these reasons the King ba,de me engage in this work 
with all diligence, for although great part of his other 
actions are scattered through the Chronicles of the Kings 
of his day, as, for instance, \Vhal he did when the King 
Don] ohn, his father, went to take Ceuta,2 and vvhen on his 
own account he went with his brothers and many other 
great lords to raise the siege of the aforesaid town, and 
afterwards when in the reign and by the command of the 
King Don Edward of glorious memory, he attacked Tan-
gicr, where were done many very notable deeds, which are 
mentioned in his history, yet all that followeth was 
done by his ordinance* and mandate, not without great 
cxpense and trouble, "'all \vhich is truly to be set down 
to his account. For though in all kingdoms men com-
pile general Chronicles of their Kings, they do not fail 
* I.e., all that follows in this book was done by Henry.>s ordinance, 
etc. 
B 2 
IZL'J:AR.I' CIIROl>I('L£ m TilE 
.1<0 to \I rite separatel), or the dc'Cds or some or those 
Kings' \'tl.'sn\s, wherever the ~rL'atncss of the samc is 
notable enough to warrant such especial mention-as w~ 
don> in France in the case or Duke John, Lord or Lan-
~am,3 and in Castille in the matter or the deeds or the 
Lid Ruy niaz,' and in our own king-dam in the 3toryof 
the ount \~ unah'an:z Pereira a And with this Royal 
Prince!'> ou~ht LO be not a little contented, for ~ much the 
more is their honour CX;\lLcJ as they ha\'c scigniory o\'cr 
great or and more excellent persons; for no Prince can be 
grCM. unlc:s he rule O\'cr great men; nOr rich, unlc:s he 
rule ol'er the IIc311hy. ror thi Cluse said the lirtuous 
Roman Fabricius, that he would rather be lord o\'cr those. 
II ho bad gold, than ha\ e gold him,clr. 
flut bcc.u<e the said deeds were written by many and 
,'arious persons, so the n .". Cord o( them is \'a.riou.-Iy written, 
in mall)' part. \no our Lord the 'King, C'onsidcrin~ that 
it ",\ not cOIwcnicnt (or the prOCc.fs of onc flilly COI1-
quc. . t· \ll.It it should Oc rccQuntctl in many \\.1~ ,alth ugh 
they all conlri\.Jute to nne rC!'!ouJt. order:d me to \\ ork at 
the wriling ~nd ordering of the hi. tory in this yolume ~o 
tlMt those \\ ho r",~d might ha\'C~ the more p~rkct kno"lcdgc. 
;\ nd liMt \\ C may return the beut.·fit he confcrr d all us by 
gratitude to him from \\ hom w<; I c.:cc...~i\'cd it, 3s I began to 
"ct un h .1l the comm1.:IlCl'mCIH of this ch;'lptl'r." c \\ ill 
follow the .lInp1c <J( th;'it hoi) Jlroph<':l ~Io .. c". \\ ho, 
d iring not to kt the I oplc <>r br,lel ( q,ct the good that 
(~od had ~hc\\ n thetl't, often Col11l11.tl1tkd the rc'(.:ircrs to 
\\ritc thcm lIpon their hC:ll'b, ., .. III :'\ book that !'>h(.lUhJ 
eli pia)" to those who consioen.:d it \\ hat W.l'\ \HiUen therein, 
l'urthcr. ccing that th(.· r lU(;mhr,UlCc of injuric ... j ... tender.  
. md that the good dec i i ..... oon forgotten, tho .. c that 
.1mc .tflcl+ t;l up !ii n lh:ll .. twuhl be.: b .... ting', 011 \\ hich 
.. Sill h 1 Ih.lt ,( (,utOe- I t I a{lt r 'To t' 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF. GUINEA. 
people might look and remember the benefits they had 
received in time past. And so likewise it is written of 
Joshua; that God bade him take twelve great stones fmm 
the midst of the river Jordan, and ca,rry them to where the 
camp was pitched, after all ham crossed. For this was 
done in order that they should he in remembrance of the 
wondcrful mira,l. which God had wrought in presence of 
the people, when he parted the waters, so that rhose which 
came from above stGod up in a heap and did not flow out 
towards the sides) while those which were ·below f!0wed on 
until the river was dry. But some; considerinR that even by 
such signs it was not always perfectly well known what 
had been done (just as we see that the Pillars of Hercules' 
do not signify clearly to all who see them that they were 
placed there as a memorial of his Conquest of Spain), 
began the custom of writing what could not otherwise be 
long remembered. And in proof of this it is related in the 
book of Queen Esther, that King Ahasuerus kept a record 
of all the notable services that had been rendered to him, 
and that at certain times he caused this record to be read, 
that he might reward the authors of those services. So) 
too, the King Don Ramiro, df>:siring that the men of Spain 
should not allow themselves to forget the great aId that the 
blessed apostle Saint James had given them, when he 
delivered them from the power of the Moors, and promised 
to be our helper in all our battles with the Infidel, caused 
to be written the story of that event in the privileges that 
he granted the Church of Santiago,' that is to say, in pro-
viding for the entertainme-ot of the poor)-privileges which 
that Church now receives from every part of Spain where 
Christians then lived. 
Now this care that the ancients showed ought 'to be a 
custom of to-day, and inasmuch as our memory is weaker 
than theirs was, and less mindful of the good that it 
receiveth, so much the more careful should we be to keep 
6 .\ZUR.\IL \ S CIJR0:-11c Lf o r TlJE 
c' r before us the benents bestowed on us by olhers, since 
\\c ca.nnot afibrd to forget them ",j lho ut ma nifest injury to 
ours"h cs. And bocatls we r ceil cd of God g reat benefit 
in the dcc<l~ hereinafter rGcorded. In tlu e ways--Rrs tly, by 
the many' soul. that 11,,, c been alread ), ,0\ cd, and yet" ill 
be sa, 00, of the lineage of our capm'us: secondly, b)' the 
great bencilt \\" all of us rec";ve from the said actions; 
thirdl}', by till' great honour that OUr realm is. no\, gaining 
ill many parts b, ubjccting to it elf so br"at a PO'"'' of 
enemies, and so far from ollr 0,. n land-for aU these 
rca50ns we ,v{ll put tJlis hi.to,y \n remembra.nce to the 
praise of God, and to the glorious memory of our aforesaid 
Lord, and lO the honour of .... an)' g ,cod ' <'r\'ants Qr hi>. 
and other \\ orth:~ pc"rsons of OUI' country \\ ho toiled man -
(uU), "I tbe doing of the aforesaid actions. Finall) • 
1l~'Cau " our 'IUd (hronicl" is espoci",lI) dedic",oo to thiS 
Lord,· Ict tl:I b!:g/n at once to speak of his habits and (illS 
\lrlue", and of It' appc .• rancc ..I so, 111 accordance '\'lth the 
ClI:lotom of \ ariou:; authors of credtt \\ ho~c d\loni I We 
have secn 
Tb'C .\o(hQ :, fl~"O(aHon. 
o THOU I>dnc. liule l,,~> than dl\ inc J I be-cech tit) 
... ac:rl.-d \ rtu to bc:ar \\ ith all ("aticncc the hOrlC()nl.in~s or 
Illy too darin pel1, that \\ould atl I1lpl so lort)· a subject" 
i 'he ICC ulltin of '") ,·i .. tu U5 d"cd \\orlh, of ,0 m ll< h 
I 1'1. I'af the eternal duration ot th",c thy ,,(Ol iol", If 
'h" end of In) allemp! be profit ,uk, "m ",~lt t il ) 
flln lnd brln gH,ll honour to tIl) mClIlor). li'i\ illg .\ 
I I u 1 rd It 'at r(' d Lord .unl 0 n, I~ ,.1 ,,(lUI I,; 
II 1 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 7 
useful lesson to all those princes that shall follow thine 
example. !or of a certaointy it is not without cause that I 
ask pardon of thy virtues, knowing my insufficiency to 
compass such a tas~, and that I have more just reason to 
expect blame for doing less than I ought, than [or saying 
over much. Thy glory, thy praises, thy fame, so fill my 
ears and employ my eyes that I know not well where to 
begin. I hear the prayers of the innocent souls of those 
barbarous peoples, almost infinite in· number, whose ancient 
race since ·the beginning of the world hath never seen the 
divine light, but who are now by (hy genius, by thy infinite 
expense, and by thy great labours, brought into the true 
path of salvation, washed in the waters of baptism, anointed 
with the holy oil, and freed from that wretched abode of 
theirs, knowing at this present what darkness lay concealed 
under the semblance of light in the days of their ancestors, 
I will not ~)' with what filial piety, as they contemplate 
the di\'ine power, they are ever-praying for a reward' to thy 
great merits-for that is a matter which cannot be denied 
by him \\'ho hath well considex:-ed the sentences of St. 
Thomas and St. Gregory8 on the know'ledge possessed by 
spirits concerning those who have been, or are, profitable 
to them in this world, I see those Garamantes,9 those 
Ethiopians, who live under the shadow of IVIount Caucasus, 
black in colour, because of living just opposite to the full 
height of the sun's rays-for he, being in the head of 
Capricorn, shineth on them with wondrous heat, as is shown 
by his movements from the centre of his eccentric, or, in 
another way, by the nearness of these people to the torrid 
zone,-I see the Indians of the greater and the lesser 
India,lo all alike in colour, who call upon me to write of thy 
gifts of money and of raiment, of the passing of thy ships, 
and of thy hospitality-which those received who, either 
to visit the Apostle,ll or to sec the beauty of the world, 
came to the ends of our Spain. And those dwellers on 
AZliIUI(.\·S CIlROXICLE 01 Tllr 
the :\ ile. whose mliltilUde- possess the lands o( that 
ancient and \>cllcra blc city of Thcbc.,.l~ they, too, astonish 
me, (or I see them clothed in thr li,'cr),. and their bodies, 
that had nCH!r known a co\"cring, now carrying robes of 
varied colour I while the necks of their women arc adorned 
with jC\\ cis of gold anu sih"cr in rich workmanship. But 
what has caused this save the munificence of thine expenses 
and the labours of Ih)' :-;cn·itor~. ;0.1.:1 in morivn by thy 
beneficent will, by the which tholl ha. .. t transported to the 
ends of the East lhings created in the \,"cst? Yet not c\ en 
the p",),crs and the cries o( these people •• thou~h th,y 
\\ crc many. were of such price a. ... the acclamations I heard 
fruIn the grenlncs' of the Germans, from the courtc5Y of 
th,' I'rench, from the \'alour o( the Englbh. and (rom the 
nisdom of the Italia.n:,l' cric~- that \\t.:rc accompanioo by 
ulhcrs of din~rs IHltion: and language!', all renU\\ ned by 
linea I'C and virtues. Oh lhou~ sa) the.c, who <.:nLt..:rcst the 
I.,brrinth of uch great glory. \I h~' dO>l thou busy lhy,df 
(.lu1r with the n lions or lhe.: East? ·peak lo U:'. (If \\C 
If;l\CrSC lhe land and cncirdc the -jrcumf4.;rcncl..: uf the 
I',. nh. and kllo\\ the Courts. of Princes nd the hou~c". .. of 
gre'll lords. Kit,,\\, that thou \\ ,It no! find anoth"r that 
C.lIl equa.l the c '(ellene) of the fame of thi, !nail, if lh()u 
judge,l br a jU,l \\eight o( .,11 lhat I 'nains to a t:rc"t 
pun(e.. \\ ilh rc:t....,on may t thou (all him :1 temple of all 
the \ inucs. But how pl.lillli\"C.! do I flno the I"":oplc of our 
n."toll bc'<lu!:tC 1 pl~tcc the lC:;limonic of some! other race 
before lhclr::-.. 1'or here in Portug.d I 1nt.:l.!t \\ ith grc(ll hx<.i$, 
prddt • noble I \\ ido" I..-d ladle I k oi- lu!'t {If lhe.: Onkr.- !If 
'hi\'tlr) I )ta~l rs ,mel lloctor of the hol~ f.lith. \\ ith m.-tny 
gfildu.H (Jf '\"cry :-clcn(:c,) (lung ~(hol.t r :" companic:-- (I f 
·sqUiiC:~. and men of noble hl"<.;cdl11g- I " ilh mcchullic:-- and all 
untold multlludc (Jf the people ,,\nd ~om~ (If the. 1,.' sh~'\\ 
me to\\n .1I1d c:t tic t other, \ illabt. .1I1d flc.:ld~: oth{"I~ 
II h lJencflcc : othel C1(al ,llld \\1..:.111h) f;lfl1l!'lo; vtitc.:r:, 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 9 
country houses and estates and liberties; others charters [or 
pensions and for marriages; others gold and silver, money 
and cloth; others health in their bodies and deliverance 
from perils which they have gained by means of thee; 
others countless servants both male and female; \vhilc 
others there are that tell me of monasteries and churches 
that thou didst repair and rebuild, and of the great and 
rich ornaments that thou didst offer in many holy places. 
Others, again, pointed out to me the marks of the chains 
they bore in the captivity from which thou didst rescue 
them. What shall I say of the ·needy beggars that I see 
before me laden with alms I And of the great multitude of 
friars of every order that shew me the garments with which 
thou didst clothe their bodies, and the abundance of food 
with which thou didst satisfy their necessities? I had 
already made an end of this chapter, had I not descried 
the appro~h of a multitude of ships with tall sails laden 
from the islands thou didst people in the great Ocean Sea,!' 
which called on me to wait for them, as they longed to 
prove that they ought not to be omit ted from this register. 
And they displayed before me their great cattle-stalls, the 
valleys full of sugar cane f,,'m which they carried store to 
distribute throughout the world: they brought also as 
witnesses to their great prosperity all the dwclters in the 
kingdom of the Algarve.!' Ask, said they, whether these 
people ever knew what it was to have abundance of bread 
1,lntil OUf Prince peopled the uninhabited isles, where no 
dwelling existed save that of wild beasts. Next they 
shewed me great rows of beehives full of swarms of 
bees) from which great cargoes of wax and honey are 
carried to our realm j and besides these, lofty houses 
towering to the skYl which have been and are being 
built with wood from lhose parts. But why should I 
mention the multitude of things that were told me in thy 
praise, though all of them were things that I could write 
10 AZUIUR.\' CIlROXICLE OF TllE 
,,-itltout injuring tile truth? Let me tell ho,,' there !lOW 
sounded in my ears some oth.er \'olces very contrary to 
these I have recounted hitherto: voices for which I shotIld 
have felt great compassion had T not discovered them (0 
be tile cries of those ourside our la\\" For there addressed 
IllO countless soI/!s of Moors, both on this side the Straits, 
and also beyond,llI of \I'bom Illany bad dIed by thy lance 
in tho cruel war thou hast CI er wagc-d al,,,,inst them. ,\ nJ 
others presented themselves before mc loaded" Ith cbains, 
their countenances pitiable to behold, rncn \\ ho \lere 
captured by til} ships through the strength of d,e bodies 
of thy nlssals; but in these I noticed that the)' complained 
not so much of the ill fortune that ol'ertook them at tbe 
end as of their fate In earlier life, that is, of tbe seducti,,, 
"ITor in "hieb tbou fal~ schismatic Mohammed" left them. 
And so 1 conclude my preface, begging Lhat If thy great 
,'irtucs, if the ""cellence or til}' great and noble deeds, 
sufi'er an)' 10 •• by mr ignorance and rudeness, thy magna-
Ilnnou~ greatness rnA}' vouchsafe to look on my fault "~th 
a I ropitiO~ COIUltonance. 
CIIAJ'TRR II 1. 
10 \\ 'U b \\c recount the dt,; ceDt of the Infant Don llcnry. 
T"'Q r aooll mOl'" me 10 speak in tbis chapter of the descent 
oflhi nobl prine,,- rir,t or all, becallse th" long COUf>tH.f 
a drivelh out of the m<:lnory the ,,:ry kno", ledge ,,[ past 
thn which \\ould be altogctherdimrncrll!.Od Itidtk·" Crom 
our cy \\ ere tl\~> not. to be rcprcsenh. -. d hefore u in writing. 
And inee 1 ha.vc determined 10 write fOf the n.:pn.;:scI'Hif1 
of this prcsent time (0 tho. that come ~rler. I OU b ht not 
to p.a; b)' '" lienee the g:lory o( ~o lIobl<: ~t dC~(,:t,;l1l .1. our 
Prince~, illt:c this book must InJcc.:J be .J \\ nrk pb.cl:J 
DlSCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. II 
by itself. For it may happen that those who read through 
this may not knO\\1 anything of other writings. 
But this digression must needs be brief, that I may not 
be drawn a\>vay far from my projected task. 
And the second reason* is that we may not attribute the 
whole of such great virtues to one man only, but may 
rathe( give some part to his ancestors, for it is certain 
that nobility of lineage, being well observed by one that 
hath sprung from such a stock-for the sake, as 'often 
happencth, of avoiding shame, ~r in some way of acquir-
ing virtue-constraineth a man to shew courage, and 
strengtheneth his heart to endure greater toils. 
Therefore you must know that the King Don John, who 
was the tenth King of Portugg.l, the same that was victor 
in the great battle of Aljubarrota and took the very noble 
city of Ceuta, in the land of Africa, was espoused to 
Donna Philippa, daughter of the Duke of Lancaster, and 
sister of the King Don Henr), of England, b)' whom 
he had six lawful children, to wit, five princes, and one 
princess, who was afterwards Duchess of Burgundy,IS Some 
others, who died while still very young, 1 omit to mention, 
And of these children Prince Henry was the third, so that 
with the ancestry he had, both on his father's and his 
mother's side, the lilleage of this royal prince embraced the 
most noble and loft), in Christendom. Now this same 
Prince Henry was also brother of the King Don Edward 
and uncle of the King Don Affonso, the kings who, after 
the death of the King Don John, reigned in Portugal. 
But this, as 1 said, I touch on briefly, because if I were 
to declare things more fully I should meet with many 
matters of which any single one duly followed up, as would 
be necessary, must needs cause so great a delay that I 
should be late in returning to my first commencement. 
* 1.1:., for undl!rtaking Prince Henry 's genealogy. 
AZL;({AR.\' LHRO~lCLI:: OF TilE 
CIL\PTER 1\', 
\\lnch ... peakclh of the habits or the InCml Don Henry. 
;I[E EE~IETI! [ should be writing overmuch i( r were to 
recount (ully all the particulars that some historics arC 
accustomcJ to relate about those Princes to \\ hom the)' 
addressed their writing-so For in writing of thdr deeds 
they commenced by telling of thc .ction o( their ),outh, 
through their desire to ex.alt their \·irtues. And though it 
rna)' be presumed that author' of ,uch sufficienc), would 
not do aught without a dear and sufficient rea,on, I shall 
for the pre:ent Jcpart from their course, as r kno\\' that it 
would be a work but hule needed in I his place. :\ or do I 
c"ell purpose to make a long tale about the I Il(ant" bodily 
presence, Cor many in thi: world h;1\"c had Ceatures right 
well proportioned. and ),et for lheir di,honcst "iceS ha"e 
got bTfcal harm to thcir fair iame. 0, thoug-h it be 
nothing Inorc, let it suffic<! wh~ t the philosopher I\! s:aith 
concerning this, that personal beaut) is not a pcrfl:ct good. 
Therefore, returning to m)W ))ubjcct, let me :--ay tha.t this 
IIoblc Prince \\-as o( a good height Jnd stOUl (rallle, big and 
lrong of limh, the hair o( hi:; he:. d ~omcwhal crect, with a 
colour naturally (atr, but which bO" constant toil and exposure 
had bc<:omc dark. J lis c.'pn':'$sion at lirsl :-.ight insl)irc!ti fear 
in tho e who did not koo\\ him, allLl \\ hen '\ ruth, though 
uc:h time were r.'lrc, his counlenance "as harsh. ~lrenglh 
of heart .ln~1 kC:CI'U1C. of mind 'H~re in hin. . to a "cry 
<':-,cdlcln dcgrc", and be) ond comll.\ra~ 1Il he was ambitious 
or Behi ving gn.:al and )o(tr dc~d.. j\:cilhcr luxury nQr 
,\\arice 'n:' found J home \\ithin hi!" l)n;a~l, for .h to the 
fonner he W;l :0 temperate tlloll all his life W.h p;t"'~cJ in 
pure t clM~1I1r, ant.! :is .\ \ II-gin the I..:~nlh rc.;cl!i,l.;(.\ him ,It 
hI> dedth a;:ain to h<<,elf. .\nJ "hal call I ',I)' o( hi, 
I 
DISCOYERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. J 3 
greatness, except that it was pre-eminent among all the 
princes of the earth? He was indeed the uncrown,ed 
prince, whose court was full of more numerous and more 
noble vassals of his own rearing than any other. His 
palace was a school of hospitality for all the good and 
high-born of the realm, and still more for strangers; and 
the fame of it causecl there to be a great increase in his 
expenses: for commonly there were to be found in his 
presence men from various nations so different from our 
own, that it was a marvel to weU-nigh all our people: and 
none of that great muJ:titude could go a\vay without some 
guerdon from the Prince. All his days were passed in 
the greatest toil, for of a surety among all the nations of 
mankind there was no one qJao who was a sterner master 
to himself. It would be hard to tell how many nights he 
passed in the whieh his eyes knew no sleep; and his body 
was so transfQ.pned by the use of abstinence t'hat it s~emed . 
as if Don Henry had made its nature to be different from 
that of Qther men. Such was the length of his toil and so 
rigorous was it, that as the poets have feigned that Atlas 
the giant held up the heavens upon his shoulders, for the 
great knowledge that was in him concerning the move-
ments of the heavenly bodies, so the people of our 
kingdom had a proverb, that the great labours of this our 
Prince "conquered.the heights of rhe mountains," that is to 
say, the matters that seemed impossible to other men, by 
his continual energy, were made to appear light and easy. 
The Infint was a man of great wisdom and authority, 
very disGreet and of good memory, but in some matters a 
little tardy, whether it were from the influence of phlegm 
in his nature, or from the choice of his will, directed to 
some certain end not known of men: His bearing was 
calm and dignified, his speech and address gentle. He 
was constant in adversity, humble in prosperity. Of a 
surety no Sovereign ever had a vassal of such station, or 
.\ZUR~\R .\'~ C IlRO~lCLr:: Of TTlF 
(>\,6n of one far lower than hi$, nl'ho belt! him in greater 
obedience am.! re, aeclle" thaD be showed (0 the kings \\' 110 
in his do)'s reigned in Portugal, and c'peciaHy to the K in~ 
Don Affonso, in the commencement of his reign, as in his 
Chronicle'" )·ou ma), learn more at length. Xc,"cr ,,'as 
batred known in him, nor ill·wiJl 10\' atds an), howe, Cf 
great thc \\ rong he might have done him; and so great 
\\as hi:i benignity in this matter that wiscacrco; reproached 
him II' \\ 'lilting in distribut;"" justice. though in all other 
maltcrs he held the rightful mean 
And tbi' they said bec"usc he left tl"puni 'h"'\ some of 
III 'cnants \\ho descrted him in the siege of rangier, 
\' hieh wa~ the most perilous affair in \\ hidl he e\'er MOod 
I rore or arter, ' not onl)' becoming reconciled to them. but 
c'ven granhnll: tb. .m  bon urablc 3'd,'.ncement 0\ cr and 
abole others who had :ened him well; the which, ill (hc 
judgment of men, \l'as far from their deserts. \l1d Ihis is 
th onl)' horteomi" of his that I b.", to rccord. \nd 
beean I'ullr ommm,dclh that an author hould reason, 
ill the m Iter of hi "ritinl{, n (rill, appcarctl\ to him in 
the ixth chaptef of th, " rk I ,hall dedare Ill) elf male 
fully on thi ," that I may appTO\'C m) ,elf a trmhful \I. iter 
rhe IlIf.lI1t drank \\ inc onl) for a \ CI'\ small 1'a, t of his 
iiI''. and that ill hi, )outh. pul nftef\\'l\r!1 he ab,tained 
l'nUh:l) from it. He ah\ayo; shc\\cd r<.:3t dcnltion to the 
pubhc alTairs of the<e klllg<iom • to.lin, re,ltl), (or their 
xl ad, ,,,,cement, ,..,d much he de" htex! in tite t.i,tI 
of '\ 1\ { " for th pro"t "r all. thOlI"h 1\ ilh grt'at 
to • f h, 011)1 nb t.H\ c \n I '0 h kCl:nl\' clljO) ,'d 
the Inhouf (( <lrm!l,. and ~ .. pC'ci.'\IJ) ,1 ,Ul~l the cnc 1111<,;" of 
Ih h I) (ailh." hil 11 "e hed pC.1 c with all <..'1"i,lbo<, 
Tltu II ,\:I 10\'('" h) •• 11 "I,ke, {"f he I1hltl him,d( u,eful 
to nU and hmd't:fcd no one, t h ans\h.:1 S \H.'It.' .(hl a).'S 
I • on tin I tnt o( dl Inlmll\ {J 111: 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. IS 
gentle, and therewith he shewed great honour to the 
standing of everyone who came to him, without any 
lessening of his own estate. A base or unchaste word was 
never heard to issue from his mouth. 
He was very obedient to all the commands of Holy 
Church, and heard all its offices with great devotion; aye 
and caused the same to be celebrated in his chapel, with 
110 less splendour and ceremony than they could have had 
in the College of any Cathedral Church. And so he held 
all sacred tJ1ings in great reverence and treated the 
ministers of the same with honou~) and bestowed on them 
favours and largess. 'Nell-nigh one-half of the year he 
spent in fasting, and the hands of the poor never went 
away empty from his presence. Of a surety I kAow not 
how to find any prince so Catholic and religious, that I 
could say as much of him. His heart never knew what 
fear \vas, save the fear of sin ; and since from chaste habits 
and virtuous actions spring great and lofty deeds, I vvill 
collect in this next chapter all the notable things which 
were performed by him for the service of God and the 
honour of the Kingdom. 
CHAPTER V. 
In whi.ch the Chronicler speaketh briefly of the notable matt~rs which 
the lnfant performed for the service of God and the honour of 
the Kingdom. 
\¥HERE could this chapter begin better than in speaking 
o f that most glorious conquest of the great city of Ceuta, 
of which famous victory the heavens felt the glory and the 
earth the benefit. For it seemeth to me a great glory, for 
the sacred college of the Celestial V irtues,'" that all those 
110ly sacrifices and blessed ceremonies should have been 
celebrated in praise of Christ our Lord ill that city from 
16 \Zl,;R.\RA' CIlROXlLl.E OF TilE 
that day e\'cn until no\\', and by his grace C\'cr shall be 
celebrated. .'\ nd as to the profit of our world from this 
achievement, East and \\'est alike are good ",itnesses 
thereof, since their peoples can now exchange their goods, 
without an)' great peril of merchandi e-for of a suret), no 
one can den)" that Ceuta is the key of all the ~[editerranean 
sea. I n the ",hieh conquest the Prince wa captain of a 
vcry great and powerful fleet, and like a brave knight 
fought and toiled in person on the dar whcn it was taken 
from the ~[oor<; and under his command were the Count 
of Rarcdlos, lhe King's bastard, and Don Fernando, Lord 
of Bragan7.a, hi- nephew, and Gon~alo \-a<que7. Coutinho, 
~ great and powerful noble, and many other lords and 
gentlemen with all their men-at-arms, and others who joined 
lhe ",id /leel from lhe three districts of the Heira, and the 
Tral-os-:'Ifonte· and the Entre Douro-c-:'Ilinho." :'\011· the 
lir:t Ro)'al ·aptain who took posse sian b)' the II ails of 
Ceuta was this ~ame of whom r \\Tile, and hi~ square 
b.'\nncr was the first that entered the gales of the Cil). 
from whose shadow he wa: IIC'·cr far ofT himself On that 
dar tbc blows he dealt out wcre conspicuous beyond those 
of all other men, since for the space of nte hours he nc\"er 
.tnpped fighting, and neither thc heat, thou~h it lias yer)' 
Rreat. nor the amount of his toil, were able to make him 
rellre and take any re l. And in this space of timc, the 
Prince, with (our \\ho ;'\ccompanic.:d him, made a \"aliant 
stand. For a< to lhc others who ,hould ha\c followed in 
his company, ~om<: were 'cattcrcJ through that \"ast it)', 
and others \\erc nol ;\blc to join him by rl.;;)son of a ~atc 
throu h which the 1! lfant \\ ith the. :Jid four companions 
had pa cd logelh r with the ~loon~, which gate was 
guarded by other ,[oors on the lop of ,he ,\all. So (or about 
two hour.; the Prince and hi - friends hc.'le anollH'r lZ,lle. 
"hieh I" beyond thnt one" hieh t lIlCts hetwc1..'n the two 
C!lil.' in a lurn of the \\all under Ih1..' sh:tdo\\' of the a~tlc, 
f 
OISCO\,ERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. '7 
which gate is now called that of Fernandafonso. And to 
this had retired the greater part of the Moors who had tied 
out of lbe other town from the side of Almina just where the 
city was entered, but in the end, despite the great multitude 
of the enemy, they shut that gate. And whether their toil 
were idle or no could well be seen by those who had fallen 
and lay dead there, stretched out along that ground . In 
that city of Ceuta was the Infant knighted, together with 
his brothers, by his father's hand, with great honour, on the 
day of the consecration of the Cathedral Church. And 
the capture was on a Thursday, tIle 21st day of the month 
of August, in the year of Christ 1415. And immediately 
on the return of the King Don John to his kingdom, he 
made this honoured prince a duke, with the seignory there-
of, in a place of the province of the Algarve.26 And after-
wards at the end of three years there came against Ceuta 
a great power of Moors, who were reckoned at a later time 
by the King's Ransomers of Captives to be IOOpOO strong-
for there were present the people of the Kings of Fez and 
of Granada and of Tunis and of ~'Iarocco and of Bugya," 
with many engines of war and much artillery, with the 
which they thought to take the aforesaid city, encircling it 
by sea and land. Then the Infant was very diligent in 
succouring it with two of his brothers, that is to sa)' the 
I nfant Don John and the Count of Barcellos, who was 
afterwards Duke of Braganza, with many lords and 
gentlemen and with the aid of a great flotilla; and after 
killing many of the Moors and delivering the city, he 
repaired it and returned again very honourably to 
Portugal. Yet he was not well content with his victory, 
because the chance of taking the town of Gibraltar, for 
which he had made preparation, did not offer itself to 
him.28 The chief reason of his being thus hindered was the 
roughness of the winter, which was just then beginning; 
for although the sea at that time is dangerous everywhere, 
c 
18 AZURARA' CTlRO"ICLE OF TilE 
it i milch mora so at lhat very part because of the great 
currents that afC there, He also fitted out a very great 
armada against the Canar)' r lands,'" to shew tbe nati\'es 
there the wa)" of the holr raith, 
:\~in, whilc the Kin[ Don Edward" a reigning, by 
his order he passed O\'cr a third time ioto ,-\(rica, \I'hen he 
besieged the cit)' of Tangicf, and went for nineteen Icagut:s 
\\ ith banners flying- tJlrough the land of hi' enemies, and 
then reaintained the leaguer for (\\ 0 and twcnty dars. in 
\\ hicb time were achic\-co m:lll)' fcats "orthy of glorious 
rcm(:mbrancc. not without great 'Jaughkr of the enemy, 
as in the hislory of the kingdom you can learn more 
fully, 
He gO\'crned Ceuta, b}' command of the king, his fatber, 
brother and nephew." for 11I'c and thirty years, with ,uch 
pre\'ision that the crown of tbe kingdom nc\'cr, utTered }" 5 
of honour through an)' deCault of his: but at l~,t, b.ocau,e 
of his great burden', he left lhe ""id go,'crument to the 
King Don l,.ffonso. a( the beginning of his rei~n," ~[orc­
o,'cr from UIC time tbal Ceuta was taken he al" ays kept 
armed ships at sea to guard against (he infidels. \l'h then 
made wry g,,:at ha\'oc upon the coasts both on this side 
the: straits and bcrond; <0 lhat lhe fear of hi' \'essels k"pt 
in security all the .bores of our Spain and tbe greater part 
of tbe mercbant whe tradet.! bel\\c"n l~a't and \\ est" 
,\Iso he e used (0 be peopled in the great ca of 
ccan 'h'e i I,md" \, hich emnraced a goodly number of 
people: at the lime: of the \lritm" of this book. and 
espc.:ially \r.tdcira. .lIul fr m I'us ilc. as ""ll a, (he 
thers, oUr countr)" drc \ l.lrge :upphes of ,\ heat, sug~u, 
\\4', hol1<.,"'· .lnd \\001.1, anti many other thin~s. from 
\\hich not oul), our 0\\ n peop1e but also foreigners ha\c 
gained and arc gainJllI; gre,tl profit. \bo the Illfant 
• Jnhn. I d\\ uJ lnd \!Ton 'to 
f 
mSCOVERY AND eONQ1,IEST OF GUINEA. 19 
Don Henry was with the king Don Affonso his nephew, 
in that army he collected against the Infant Don Pedro, 
from which followed the battle of Alfarrobeira, where 
the aforesaid Don Pedro was killed and the Count of 
Avranches who was with him, and all their host defeated,SS 
And there, if my understanding suffice for the matter, 
I may truly say that the loyalty of men of all times was 
as nothi'lg in comparison of his. Further, although his 
services· did not occasion him such great labours as those 
I have mentioned, yet of a certainty the circumstances of 
the matter gave to them a lustre and a grandeur that 
exceeded all else: and of these I leave a fuller account to 
the general history of the Kingdom. 
Don Henry also made very great benefactions to the 
Order of Christ, of which he was ruler and governor by 
the ·authority of the Holy Father, for he bestowed upon it 
all the spiritual ties of the islandst and in the kingdom 
he made purchases of lands (from which he created new 
comma~deries)J as well as of houses and estates, \vhich he 
annexed to the said Order. And in the Mother-Convent of 
the Order he built two very fair cloisters and one high choir, 
with many rich ornaments, which he presented for sacred 
uses." And for that he had a great devotion to the Virgin 
1\1ary, he built in her honour a very'devout house of prayer, 
one league from Lisbon, near the sea, at Restello, under the 
title of St. Mary of Belem. And in Pombal and in Soure, he 
built two very notable churches. Also, he bequeathed many 
noble houses to the City of Lisbon, being pleased to give his 
protection for the greater honour of the holy Scriptures; 
and he ordained a yearly grant of ten marks of silver to 
the Chair of Theology for ever. And in the same way he 
gave to his chapel of St. Mary of Victory seven marks of 
yearly revenne.35 But I know not for the present if there is 
* In this battle. In his jurisdiction. 
e 2 
20 AIL'R.\RA'S CflROX rCLE OF Til E 
to be an increase in the e grants after his death , for, at the 
time that King Afronso ordered this book to be wri tten 
he was ret a!i\'c, of an age little Ie s than sixty years, so 
that I annot make an end of his benefactions, for1 as his 
mind was great and e,'cr intent on noble actions, I am 
SUre that his members mal' indeed grow weaker with the 
lapse of lime, but his will can nc,'Cr be too poor both to 
undertakc and to finish a multitudc of good deeds, so long 
as his soul and body are united together. And this mar 
\\'cll be uncier,tood by those that saw him rcad)' to go 
to Ccuta'" and almo·t cmbarkcd on shipboard with that 
intent-to end his life there, toiling in arms (or the honour 
of the Kingdom and the exaltation of the I loll' Faith. 
For in this cause he e,'cr had a dcsire to finish his da)'s: 
ret he desi ted from carrying OUt his purpose for this time, 
because the King age ed with his Council in hindering the 
"oragc, thou~h he h3d predollsl), given him 1ea,·c. And 
though the chief cause of thi> be not known to mDst men . 
some wiseac.r .10, who were flot member of the Chief 
ouncil, perceil'cd lhat the reason was a.s follow the Lord 
King. like a man of great di 'cretion, considering the great 
things to be performed at home, ordered him to remain, 
that he might gi"e him,:I' his uncle and c<pecial friend 
and most notable sen'ant, the principal part in searching 
out the r medics (or these troubles. Hut it m.ltereth not 
much, whNher this \\'as the cause of his remailling Or 
whether it was some other rca.son out ide Our knowledge: 
I t it suffice that b) this action you may s e what \\ as the 
d,ier part or his li~ ,. purpose, and this is \\ hat 1 ought in 
I ';bon to set forth .fter \\ hat I ha,,, aid. .And among 
tho... a lions of th Prince's· there arc mal1) othel"s of 
no lillie grandeur, \\ ilh \\ hie'h another m311, who had not 
.Jtuincd to the 'xcdlcncy of thi'S hc..:r<l, might wt:ll be 
r 
DlSCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINI::A. 21 
content, but in this history 1 omit them, in order not to 
depart from what I promised at first to write of. Not that 
1 would keep silence altoge~her concerning them, for in the 
general chronicle of the Kingdom I intend to touch on 
each in its own place. And because I began this chapter 
witlr the taking of a city,* I would fain end it with 
an aCC0unt of that noble town which our Prince caused 
them to build on Cape St. Vincent, at the place where both 
seas meet, to wit, the great Ocean sea and the Mediter-
ranean 'Sea. But of the perfections of that town it is not 
possible to speak here at large, because when this book 
was written there were only the walls standing, though of 
great strength, with a few houses-yet work was going on 
in it continually. According to the common belief, the 
Infant purposed to make of it an especial mart town for 
merchants. And this was to the end that all ships that 
passed from the East to the West, should be able to take 
their bearings and to get provisions and pilots there, as at 
Cadiz-which last is very far from being as good a port as 
this, for here ships can get shelter against every wi nd 
(except one that we in this Kingdom call the cross-wind), 
and in the same way they can go out with ev~ry wind, 
whenever tne seaman willeth it. lVloreover, I have heard 
say that when this city was begun, the Genoese offered a 
great price for it; and they, as you know, are not men 
that spend their money without some certain hope of gain. 
And though some have called the said town by other 
names, 1 believe its proper onc, according to the intention 
of its founder, was that o f " the Infant's town ", for he him-
self so named it, both by word of mouth and by writing." 
* Ceuta. 
.\/L·R.\RA'~ CIIRO:-.' ICLE OF THE 
CI!:\PTER n. 
In "hleb tbe .\uthor, ,\ho 'i.cueth in order thi!lo history, s.aith something 
or \\ hat be purpo:..c.:th concerning the virtues of tbe Infant Don 
Henry, 
Sue II were the drtllcs and habits of this great and glorious 
Prince, cvc!n as ),ou ha\'c heard in the rObt few chapters, in 
which r have :pokon as well as [ II as able, but certainly 
not as the matter dcsen'LxI of me. for as ~'t. Jl~ romc laycth 
it down, smitH ,\it: c:tllnol handle t.;rc.:at subject!:. :\nd if 
it be true, a' ,- allust . aith, that gredt praise was given to 
those \\"ho performed the famous aC lion: in the history of 
,\thel1s, as far - the brilliant and ~Iorious talents of her 
ubtle author' lIere able br words to prai>c and exal t 
lhcffi1 it wa - g,rcat boldnes' in me. who an'} only worth)" to 
name myself" di ciple of each one of the'e ancien ts, to 
undertake. 0 hi~h a charge. 
But whereas it i "'lid. that obedience is better than 
s:tcritiCI..', it.' mClh to me th~lt I do nol dC~t.:rn! =:.0 grC"at a 
bl.,mc. •i ncc r h,,·c onl)' fulhlled \I hat II as commanded 
me Hut I ndthcr ckmand nor J\,;~irc tl13.t my work 
hould be placcd ucforc the public, for it is not of so 
pr ious .l IMturc a to merit that it bt! prcscn'co in 
.l \o\\(,"r oJ' lemple. as the l\ thcnians prc~c..r\'<.'d the ~lincna 
"r I'hidia ,the Iib"IrC to 1\ it of the odde', Palla>, which for 
th (;."c<;lIcncr ot II bc~lUt~· \\a ... pl.lceo 11 high for the 
beller \ i(.;\\ (I( all IIlcn,.1 aith the PhilO~tlphcr in the 
I th book Cif hi /-,llla, in th<.· ( 'hapt(."r on \\·i~dom .SI,l 
I' "thor I IIi h that this book of mil'" mar be profitable as 
to it (orm, in ord r tha.t in the future.; cu\oth<.'r \~ ork more 
adcqulllC t<) thl: uhi~cl 11M) be COIl .. tl u t<.:d out of it, and 
on thal m.i) uOi c (or the In\. rit. lIf :-0 gf<:at a prince; 
for '- Illinl) "hamc \\ ill dcscc.:nd on 0111 the mastcr$, all 
the doctors, .111 the I.n\) f::.o th.lt h.l\(.; rClc.:i\·cd in~lruction 
DISCOVERY AND GONQUEST OF GUINEA. 23 
through his beneficence, if among so many there should 
not be found one willing to perpetuate his admirable deeds 
in a loftier and nobler style. 
But as it may happen thai nhe recompense of gratitude, 
as I often perce-ive) may not be swift to follow or may 
very quickly cease altogether, let it please you to receive 
what in the past chapters of this work I have said of the 
Prince's habits and virtuous acts, and what more in the 
future I shall have to say-not according to that which 
the excellence of the work requi[eth, but according to the 
rudeness and ignorance of the Author. And these matters 
you may well believe are more truthfully written than 
easily collected together. 
But before entering fully upon the substance of my 
history, I wish . to say a little of my intention to amend 
somewhat in the things where aforetime I was found wanting, 
to the praise of this great and glorious duke. And thou, 
great Valerius,40 who with such constant study, dids£ 
occupy thyself in gathering and putting together in a 
history the powers and virtues of the noble and ex-
cellent lords of thy city, of a surety I dare say that 
among so malJlY renowned men, thou couldst not, in the 
highest degree, speak of another like him, for although 
thou wast able to assign certain grades of virtue to each 
one of thy heroes, yet thou wast not able to unite all these 
merits in one single body, as I am able to gather and join 
them together in the life of this Prince. 
Where couldst thou find one so religious, one so catholic, 
one so prudent, one of so good counsel, one so temperate 
in all his actions. Where couldst thou light on such 
magnanimity, such frankness, such humanity, such courage, 
to support so great and so many toils as his ?-for of a 
surety there "vas not a man of his time who would have 
dared to continue in the practice of such severity of life. 
Oh how often did rhe sun find him on its rising seated in 
AI.LI'.\It.\', ("IIRO\:f( LE Of- Tllr 
(he same plnce 1\ here it had left him the day beforc, 
watching throug hoUl the eifel<: of the night sc;ason without 
taking any rC.. l ;l~ surrounded by people "r ,ariolls natiol"l.'\, 
not without profit to evcf), one or them that s(locI by. For 
he tDOk no .mall deliglll in finding the means to profit 
aU. "\ \ herc CGulll you nnt! another human body lhal would 
endure lhe toil he underwent in arm I a tOIl th;t.l was but 
scantl)'dimin;shcd in lhclilhco(pcacc? Cortainly J bolicl'c 
th.t If Cortitude could be depict 'd, it \I ould cncollnter ib 
true (orm in ht:s face and member", (or he did not prO\ e 
himsurr ~lroog in om.e m"ttlers- only, bot in aU AnJ" hat 
courage, ,~hal cuduranc \ could be greater than that of Ihe 
man \\'ho is ,iclor OH!I" him:. ., df' Yt.:t he cndun.:d hunger 
and thir t 3:j well. a malter almost p;:tsl belief. 
ilUI "h.lt Romulus, or \fanliu, Turquatu', or Iloratiu, 
lod < CC1uld.t tho\! prefer to the might or tll .. Prince' 
j'crchnncc thou I\(JUld~t bring hitber lh}' Coesar, "hom by 
th)' \\'ord lhou ha I >ct up a a god, and an example of good 
mor.lI,a"d hOAesiIUe: who.tthcfl \lilt thou 00 "itlt :'!arcu, 
1 ulhu"'i and with I .uca.n," ho in so man)' pl:lc~:, coi'1fc.. .. ~ that 
he corrupted himself b)' c"rnal d"Csire~ and olncr \.jt;t!~, to 
the gn'at diminishmg of bi p .... ise~" II ho \\o,rld 11(,[ rcar 
to camp.lre him. elf with this Our pnncc, ... ecing- how tha.t 
the 'o\crcfRn l)ondfT, dc,u ~dnt!:"'id of the 1101), ChUITh. and 
the Fmpt'rot of CcrrJ'tt1uy,:.t~ 'Hil :\s the Kings o( CJ-.;till<! 
.IIlU l f1gland, when infQrm'd I..)f hi:"! gn:,lt '·'ftue .• bc-~gt..'d 
hun to Lx.: cnpvrin or thelf lrllli "":j ~o And t tl \\ hilt ~,JI)<1n \\(.' 
;, sign more ju. th- the! Tlt III of relicit, and f,!<)od forwnc 
lhan to l11 vjflues and habIt '. OJ to wh:lt cmplr("s .111<1 
rf he c,m h<.' ghcn grC:':Ht:r honour th.-'tIl to hilS glcat n:nJ 
< c!'llent dCl d I 
o (o1tunatt-' prince) honour of our KlIlgdoO"\, \\ h>at ~Olglc 
t!1fng \\.h {h~ft· in th> life \\ hirch ~h(,.·) \\ 1'10 ['II nl"C' th(.'~ 
flU ht to IM'\ hr in tlt.ml(,.> "hitt mOIn<.'flt o( lIr~ time "," 
U.lUC-U )1 ~'t)od (h::r.;o, r empty oi IJI.u .. t I I l.Ull id\.t" ho\\ 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 25 
thou didst welcome all, how thou didst listen to all; how 
thou didst pass the greater part of thy days and nights 
arnOl1!?; such great care~, that many might be profited. 
vVherefore I know that lands and seas are full of those 
that praise thee, for by thy continual voyagings thou hast 
joined the East with the West, in order that the nations 
might learn to exohange their riches. And in truth, though 
I have said many things about thee, many more remain 
for me to say. 
But before I end this chapter I believe that it beseemeth 
me, of necessity, to show what I think about that matter 
on which I touched-to wit, distributive justice-so as not 
to pass it by without some declaration of my mind, as I 
promised before. And certainly that was a beautiful 
ordinance that Tully made upon this matter, for it standeth 
to reason that the verdict of the historian should have 
greater authority upon that matter of which he treateth 
than any other person, because he enquireth about the truth 
of things with greater care: Now this duty· will be either 
that of martial correction or of humanity and clemency. If 
it be an affair of correction or martial justice, it is impossible 
to excuse shortcomings, for we read in the histories of the 
Romans that the fathers slew their sons for such faults, and 
made other very bloody executions: but, contrariwise, on the 
side of clemency and humanity, this must needs be praised 
as a great virtue, since its third part, according to Seneca, 
lieth in reconciling familiars to oneself; yet the extreme of 
both these two things is of doubtful merit, to wit, whether 
one should prefer discipline to clemency or clemency to 
discipline:13 
But under correction of him who better understandeth it, 
I say it appeareth to me that the better part of the matter 
should take precedence of the other part of less value, and 
11- Of ~hc\\"illg distributive justice. 
,\ZI.R,\RA': CHRO:\ICLE or TIlE 
considering the particular case and thc circumstances of 
the lime and how no correction could bring about amend-
ment,· we ought to gh'c prai"c rather than blamc to the 
r nfant for his conduct, inasmuch as it shewelh a liberal 
heart to offer kindness to those whom one might with good 
rcason have denied, 
.\nd be tbis as it mar, let not these matters, most 
excellent prince, cem serious unto thec, for it was not so 
much my intent to praise thy dceds as to praise thee, For 
tbe wicked do many deeds \l'orthy of praise, but no man 
should be prais~'Il save he who is truly good in himself, 
\\'here i the man whose drtucs arc not off"t!ndcJ by some 
accretion of "ices? (crt.linly r am not one to \\ rite or say 
it of th<'C, 0 Prince. for one "ho hath a place prepared 
among be celestial throncs cannot rcc,;,·c offence from the 
deeds be did on earlh, though to some ther appear \\ orthy 
of blame; for one may quote the:. "ing of Saint 'hr)' 'o<tom, 
that there is nothing so hoh", but that an c"il-minded 
interpr I r there f can find something to • spc<sc-" 
o how fc\\ here be, as said ·CllCC:l. in hiS 6r ..... t tragcdr,U 
\\ ho tllm to ~I "ccount the time of their life Or c,'cr 
think upon it. br \ it)'. But "f a surety thou, 0 prince, 
\\ a t never of the number of the~c men, !>incc by thy 
r:lorious and lofty deed' . nd cruel ufferin;.:<, thou did,t add 
to thyself, ,lIllOll cT many princes of mo!"t cxccll 'tll dionily, an 
eternal. ud und) ing memory, ;tnd, "hal is of mon.; \ :tlue, a 
heaven I) throne, as I piou I)' belie," l) C rtunate I,-ing<, 
"hu .lftcr hi dealh h,lll po, "lht..' ro\-al St.::lt of his 
anee'tor . I beg rou .,1\\ I)'S to kc 'p the scpulchr' of this 
(!rc1.t am.! noule duke 11\ ) our spcci.l tnl mbr::tnc ..... incc 
the plcndour of his \ irtuc doth r()fln .1 ~rc.::at I art uf your 
honour lor \ ril)' the cla.m.ltion .\lul the Pl~\h.ls \\ hich 
I lell ) ou of him, \\ "fC n tin' cnh:d br n'l~ m, Il wit. but 
.. I on lh 1 Ion 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 27 
are as it were the living voices of his virtues and his great 
merits, which would be of great profit to ev€ry one of you, 
if you could keep them whole and sound in your thought, 
not desiring that I had related them more briefly, sinc;e it 
would 1;>e a trouble to find his like among the men of our 
time. 
CHAPTER VII. 
In ,~'hich five reasons appear why the Lord Infant was moved to 
command the search fot the lands of Guinea. 
\VE imagine that we know a matter when we are acquainted 
with the doer of it and the end for which he did it. And 
since in former chapters we have set forth the Lord Infant 
as the chief actor in these things, giving as clear an under-
standing of him as we could, it is meet that in this present 
chapter we should know his purpose in doing them. And 
you should note well that the noble spirit of this Prince, by 
a sort of natural constrai.nt, was ever urging him both to I 
begin and to carry out very great deeds. For which r<tasoo, 
. after the taking of Ceuta he always kept ships well arme¥d :-" ,~ 
agai~st the Infidel, both for war) and because he h.ad als9. ,!:::..;:. -0 
a Wish to know the land that lay~ond the des.o 
Canary and that Cape cal~d~jad2r, for that up to h' 
~ neither by wri~ nor by the memory of man, was 
known with any certainty the nature of the land beyond 
that Cape. Some said indeed that Saint Brandan had ~'<'-<> 
passed that way; and there was another tale of t\VO galleys (2+ ~ I ~ 
roundingthe Cape, which never returncd.~6 But this doth 
not appear at all likely to be true, for it is not to be pre-
sumed that if tbe said galleys went there, some other ships 
would not have endeavoured tG learn what voyage they 
had made. And because the said Lord Infant wished to t~ 
know the truth of this)-since it seemed to him that if he or Ic-----
some other lord did not endeavour to gain that knowledge, I 
\/URAR \'5 ( ll RO:":![l [ COP' T ill': 
no mariner$ or r'l1t..,;rclulI'lt would 1,;\ C!r dare to attempt it-
(ror it i denr IIlut noM or ill m Clor trouble themselves to 
~ai1 to ;l pl~ce wh rc IhC're i-.; not a sure and c rtain hope or 
__ I'rolh)-and.~ ing .~I,o lhnt no olher prince took any pains 
il) this maUer, he "t:nt out his OWI'I ~hirs against t ho-c 
I'(lrts, 10 11I"'c In ni,~st c",r!flint)" or the,,, aiL And to thi 
he ",n, stirred up b) hi' I.c31 for the scn icc or God ,,,,d or 
the King Ed\\ ard hi, Lord and brotile,. IIho th " reigned. 
,\od this ",os the Rrst r"'.on of his action. 
rhe second (cason \\ 3. thal if thet c chai'lccd to be in 
thollO jaud., some I p"llItiol'\ of Christian:. or .01TI0 h"·CllS. 
into ",[,iell [twookl be po sible 10 sail without peril. man)' 
kincl» or merchandise' migbl be I rought 10 this rcalm, 1\ hkh 
wou'd find II ready markct, ~ nd r a~n. bl)' !<IQ, !xcau ... c no 
"Iher pcople "'( til 'sc paris traded ";Ih them, nor pH 
people of any other that were known; ;u"Id aho the pro-
ducl of thi, realm mighl b~ l. ken there, \\ hkh traffic 
lIoult! bring great proAt 1o our countrymen. 
The- thtrd fc1k~n \\ a!' thal, as it \\ as ~ajd tint the PO\\(,'f 
of the Moor. in lh.! land 01 i\(lira \, ns I r)' much greater 
lhml \\:1S ammonl)'" ~uppos d:' and llt;ll ther were IlU 
l lid Ii.ln amollg them. nor an) other race of mell; and 
becau c e\en' wist: 11l~1n is oblig'd by J\;:\tural rnn.lcncc V'l 
\Ii b for;) kno\\le<igc of til 1'0\\ cr of hb 011"1>1) ; tuerefore 
the "',lid LOid ltt(,ant exerted him~cU to au ... e thi~ to be 
(ull .. ' disco\t"n..~t, and to ronk~ ,t kno" n JctermlllJ.tdy ho\\ 
rar the po""r of Iho'" infidel. eXlcndw. 
rhe rourth rc,l 'on '\3.. lx"ca,u during the one al"ld thirty 
)1.';u:t Hut he land \\.\fred \lgitin~t the- fdooN~ he ha1:.i n("\'l~r 
found ;\ <.. hn lmn ktflJ.!:l nor a lorJ outside this land,,, ho 
for tb.e- ICt\<, (If oor 1.ord J<;~u h.ri t woulitl ah! him in the 
.... tid \\.'1' rh rc(olc he ~ough( to kn(lW If tht"rc \\t..'r~ i.n 
lhobC Jllft 11.11" l'hd linn pdJl:C(,~'. in whom tilt' ch.lrity ,\])<.1 
the 10\(' 01 t'hri t \V.'~:o.O il'~railk'd Ihat they \\ould .lid him 
,t am l thooc CI1\;Uli;c;!'t ul the (,lith. 
r 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 29 
The fifth reason was his great desire to make increase in1(; G. t.<"'e 
the faith of our Lord] esus Christ and to bring to him all 
the souls that should be saved,-understanding that an the 
mystery of the Inoarnation, Death, and Passion of our Lord ~_, 
Jesus Christ was for this sole end-~e...siliatian_oh~' 
~-whom the said Lord Infant by his travail and 
spending would faih briflg into the true path. For he 
perceived that no better offering could be made unto the 
Lord than this; for if God promised to return one hundred 
goods for one) we may justly 'believe th·at for such great 
benefits, that is to say for so many souls as were saved by 
the efforts of this Lord, he will have so many hundreds of1" " . 
guerclons in the kingdom of God, by which his spirit may ., 
be glorified after this life in the celestial realm. For I tha~ 
wrote this, history saw so many men and women o£ those 
parts turned to the holy faith, that even if the Infant had 
been a heathen, their prayers would have been enough t 
have obtained his salvation. - And not only did I see the 
first captives, but their children and grandchildren as true 
Christians as if the Divine grace breathed in them and 
imparted to lhem a clear knowledge of itself. 
But over and above these five reasons I have a sixth that 
would seem to be the root from which all the' others pro- fu.. ~ 6-
ceeded: and this is the inclination of the heavenly wheels. C ,I ( 
For, as I wrote not many days agQ in a letter I sent to the 
Lord King, that although it be \-vritten that the wise man 
shall be Lord of the stars, and that the courses of the 
planets (according to the true estimate of the holy doctors) 
cannot cause the good man to stumble; yet it is manifest 
that they are bodies ordained in the secret Gounsels of our 
Lord God and run by a fixed measure, appointed to 
different ends, which are revealed to men by his grace, 
through whose influence bodies of the Im·ver order are 
inclined to certain passions. And if it be a fact, speaking 
as a Catholic, that the contrary predestinations of the 
30 ,\ZVRAI<A'S CHROX ICLE OF TilE 
wheels of he3\'cn can be avoided by natural jud!!ment with 
the a:d of a certain di\'ine grace, much morc docs it stand 
to rca -on that those who arc predestined to good fortune, 
by the help of this same grace, \lill not on I)' follow thei r 
course but c\'cn add a far greater increase to thcmseh'c5:. 
BlIt here r wish to tell )'ou how b)' the constraint of [he 
influence of nature this glorious Prince was inclined to 
those actions of his. And that was becau!:'c his ascc;ndcnt 
W~lS Aries, which is the house of )hrs and exaltation of 
the sun, anti his lord in the :Xlth hOll,e, in com pan)' of 
the sun. ..\nd lx..">C:1U 'C the said )fars was in :\quariu,;;. 
which i, tbe house of ,'aturn, and in the mansion of hope, 
it signi6~-d that this Lord should toil a t high and might)' 
conquc l ~, especially in seeking out thing-' that were hidden 
from other mcn and secret. according to the nature of 
'atum, in whose houce he is, ,\nd the fact of his being 
':lccomp.1.nicd by the sun. as r ~aid. and the sun being in 
the house of J upitcr, igni6cd that all his traffick and his 
conquests \\ ould be loyally earned out, according to the 
good pleasure of hi' king ,.nd lord,' 
'II \l'TER \ ' 111. 
"q) Up' h. d rtf 1 Imh to Q.1.red to!).,\ lx") ont C:lpC l~pd[lT. 
So the Infant, mo\cd b) thc~c rca .. ons, \\hich ~·ou han! 
already heard, began to make rcad,- hi, ships and his 
people 1$ th need of the C:1"<: required, but this much )"ou 
Ill:!)' learn, th It altholt h he ~cnl out rnany timc~, not only 
ordinarr men, but su(h" b) their c. p('ricncc.! in great 
dc..'"CCJ of "ar \\ere of foremo t !lame in the profc .... :-ion of 
~rln. I ~ cl there \\ as not one \\ ho dared to pl!i"; th.tt ~ ape 
of Hoj d r ."\ntl learn nlxml the I.Iud lx:yond it. :l' th(.· 
Infant wi hed. \110 to say the truth lhi 'j \\ ,\S !lot fr(..l1l1 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 31 
......u..  ft'l...r 
-co-w-a-r-d-ice or want of good will. but from the novelty of the ~ ~thing and the wide-spread and ancient rumour about this~ ~ -
 
Cape, that had been cherished by the mariners of Spain from 
generation to generation. And although this proved to be 
deceitful, yet since the hazarding of this aUempt seemed to 
threaten the last evil of all, . there was great doubt as to 
who would be the first to risk his life in such a venture; 1.d-1 ~ ~ 
H~ are we, !!:.eE .said, to pass the bound~ur fathe!§., Pe.r..- . 
s~or what profit can result t9 the Infant from ~ T<  
eerdition - of our souls_ as wejl as oCQur bodie~-for of a 
truth b!:- daring any further. w.e shall become wilful 
murderers of ourselves? Have there I'1Ot been in S~in 
crt"heGrinces . a~~ ~ ~ovetous perchanc;e of this -
honour as the Infant? For certainly it cannot be presumed 
th;.t among so many noble men who did such great and 
lofty deeds for the glory of their memory, there had not 
been one to dare this deed. But being satisfied of the 
peril, and seeing no hope of honour or profit, they left off I 
the attempt. For, said the marin.ers, ~..!!lll.ch is clear,) !c. c 
that beyond this Cape there is no race of men nor place of p 
i[;habitants; no; is the- la-nd le-ss- s-an-dy-  than- t-he deserts of 1 ----:" 
Libya, where there is no _water, no tree, no green herb-
and thes ea so shal!,9w t.h.& a ";hol~ league fr0m la~d it 
is only a fathom deepJ_ while the currents are so terrible 
that no ship having oncepassed the Cape, will ever be able 
t;return.49 -
Therefore our forefathers never attempted to pass it: 
and of a surety their knowledge of the lands beyond was I,- 
not a little dark, as they knew not how to set them down i 
on the charts, by which man controls all the seas that 
can be navigated. Now what sort of a ship's captain would 
he be who, with such doubts placed before him by those 
to whom he might reasonably yield credence and authority) 
and with such certain prospect of death before his eyes, 
could venture the trial of such a bold feat as that? 0 thou 
All R.-\I{. \';-., llll~O' I CLE 0,- TilE 
\ 'irgin Themis, sailh our :\uthor, who among the ninc 
~lll"cs uf Mount Parnassus didst possess the especial right of 
scarching out the :ccr~ts of .\pnllo's ca'·c, [ doubt whether 
thy fcars ,,"ere as great at putting lhy feet on that sacred 
table where.: the dh·inc rc\·c1ations afflicted thee little less 
than ucalh. a' the terrors of the c mariners of ours, 
threatened not only by fcar but b~' ih shadow, whose great 
d(.'Ccit wa' the cau .... c of \cry grc:lt expenses, For during 
hH~hc reo\(: the InCant continued steauily at this labour of 
hi • ordering out hi· ship. .. every year to tho .... (' parts, not 
without great 10 .. of rcn..~nuc. and nl'n~'r finding any \\ ho 
dar xl to m.lke that pa: '.,g Y ct they did not return 
\\ hollr without honour, (or a'S :l.tl ;1tonemcnt for their 
f.lilurc to c.\rrr out mor" fullr their Lord's wishC't "orne 
made de 'CCl\l~ upon the co:t:ts o( Gr:tnada and other" 
\0)\\ 1 .llon the Le\',lnl ·ca., \\ helc they took ~Ic:"t 
booty of the Inhttd .. , \\ith which the}" I'C1UrnCu to lhl! 
Kingdom ,"cry honour. bh 10 
ell \I'TEl< IX. 
0\\ the Inf.lIlt ,tlw.\) rei, l'd home :thall) '\ 'th great 
l)"l.ticll c th "hom he l\.ld (Ill 0U1 1 .1" ...... "pt.tllh of hi~ 
hip. m SC.lf h of th.u I.mti. ill" (,'r upbr,~idinb tlh.'ttl \\ ith 
their frultu " but with SrlClllU \ounh;n.lOl..C li,tc.'ninJ.! h) 
the: tOrr of the cH'nh {It their \U\ ,tJ.,;l.. ~i\ 1Ilg' them ,uch 
I ." .t"t .1 h \\.1 " III h I-"! I \ .. to t hI. sc "ho en cd him 
"dl, t1ld then uthn .. ,Ut.hug th(, In hal..k t ',Hdl ,t:...lIll nr 
ti4 llilt hing lh("r pich'd 1l\I,.'I\ lIf 1\1, 11011 t;h(lhl, \\ Ith tht.'ll' 
)11" \\c1l ttlrlll Iw-<l, m.lklll III II .. \II Ilt hi' ,h.llj." to 
orSCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 33 
them, with promise of greater guerdons, if they added any-
thing to the voyage that those before them had made, all 
to the intent that he might arrive at some comprehension 
of that difficulty. And at last, after twelve years, the 
I nfant armed a "barcha" and gave it to Gil Eannes, one of 
his squires, whom he afterwards knighted and cared for 
right nobly. And he followed the course that others had 
taken; but touched by the self-same terror,Sl he only went as 
far as the Canary Islands, where he took some captives and 
returned to the Kingdom. Now this was in the year of 
Jesus Christ 1433, and in the ne';t year the Infant made 
ready the same vessel, and calling Gil Eannes apart, charged 
him earnestly to strain every nerve to pass that Cape, and 
even if he could do nothing else on that voyage, yet he\ l. 
should consider that to be enough. «You cannot find", said 
the Infant, "a peril so great that the hope of reward will not 
he greater) and in truth I wonder much at the notion you 
have all taken on so uncertain a matter-for even if these .1' 
things that are reported had any authority, however small, 
I would not blame you, but you tell me only the opinions 
of four mariners, who come but from the Flanders trade 
or from some other ports that are very commonly sailed to, 
and know nothing of the needle or sailing-chart.52 . Go forth, 
then, and heed none of their words, but make your voyage 
straightway, inasmuch as with the grace of God you can-
not but gain from this journey honour and profit." The 
Infant was a man of very great authority, so that his 
admonitions, mild though they were, had much effect on 
the serious-minded. And so it appeared by the deed of this 
man, for he, after these words, resolved not to return to the 
presence of his Lord without assured tidings of that for which 
he was sent. And as he purposed, so he performed-for in 
that voyage he doubled the Cape, despising all danger, and 
found the lands beyond quite contrary to what he, like 
others, had expected. And although the matter was a 
D 
IZl'RAR.I'S CIIROXICLE OF TIlE 
small one in itself, ),et on account of its daring it was 
reckoned great-for if the fi"t man II'ho reached the 
Cape had passed it, there would not ha\'c been so much 
praise and thank' bestowed on him, but even as the danger 
of the alfair put all others into the greater fear, so the 
accompli 'hing of it brought the greater honour to this man. 
But whether or no the success of Gil Eanncs gained for 
him an) genuine glor)' rna)' be pcrceil'ed br the ,,'ords that 
the Infant spoke to him before his 'taning: and his 
'perience all hi rcturn was ,'crr clear on this point, for 
he was' exceeding "ell reech'ed, not without a profitable 
incrca""C of honour l1nJ pOS 'cssiolls. .-\nd then it wa....:; he 
rdated to the I nfant hall' the wbole matter had gone, 
telling him how he ha(1 ordered til" boat to be put out and 
had gone in to the . hare \\ ithoUl finding either people or 
.ign- of h.lbitation. .\nd. ince, my lord, .;;.aid Gil Eanncs, 
I thought tho I I ought tn bring >(>me token nf the land 
since I \\a: on it. I gathcr~'<I the-" herb \\hich r here 
pre nl to YOUf grace t lh~ \\ hlth we in lhi, countrr ca II 
Poses f ."aint :'I1.lf\'. Then •• fter he IMd nil shed 
J:,h mg an account of his vora~1! to that p.lrt, the Infant 
,HI 1 a .. barinel' tn be m:ltlc r ally, in \\ hieh he ",cnt 
out \lfonse (,onphez Bald,,) a, his cupb<.tr<T, and Gil 
, .11111("5 as. \\cli \\ ith his" o.;11'ch,\', ordering hUll to rdurn 
there \\jlh hi c(lInpanioll. \nd ~ in fad th,,:y did, I'a.sing 
fifty league, b<) ond the ( , pe, "h,rc the, found the land 
\\ ithoul (1\\ ·Jltng . but ~he\\ itl:-. (ootmark... of men and 
clmel And then, either bccatJ .. c they \\1.:1('" "'0 ort.icrc..:d, r 
from ncce sit\', the) r 'lurnt:d \\"nh lhi· intdligcnct.:, \\ ilhout 
dum ;\ugtu d L 'Hlrlh ITcofdmg 
I 
DISCOVERY AND CON<iUEST OF GUINEA. 35 
CHAPTER X. 
How Alfonso Gon~lvez Baldaya reached the Rio d'Ouro. 
"As you have found traces of men and camels", said the 
Infant to Baldaya, "it is evident that the inhabited region 
cannot be far off; or perchance they are people who cross 
with their merchandise to some seaport with a secure 
anchorage for ships to load in, for since there are people, 
they must of necessity depend upon what the sea brings 
them, and especially upon fish, however bestial they may 
be. Much more so the inland tribes. Therefore I intend 
to send you there again, in that same 'barinel', both tna~ 
you may do me service and increase your honour, and t 
this end I order you to go as far as you can and try to gai 
an interpreter from among those people, capturing som6 
one from whom you can obtain _some tidings of the land--+ 
for according to my purpose, it will not be a small gain if 
we can get someone to give us news of this sort." The ship 
was soon .ready to sail, and Affonso Gon~alvez departed 
with great desire to do the Infant's will. And sailing on 
their way they passed seventy leagues beyond \\!here they 
had been before, a space of 120 leagues beyond the Cape 
of Bojador, and found an estuary, as of a river of some I~I' 
s ize, in the which were many good anchorages.M And the ~c 
entering in of this water ran eight leagues within the land, 
and in this they anchored. And because among the things. 
he had brought, Affonso Gon~alvez had two horses, whicr 
were given him by the Infant to mount two youths upon, 
he nOVl had the horses put on shore, and before anyone 
else disembarked, he ordered the youths to ride on those 
horses, and go up country as far as they could, looking 
about carefully on every side for villages, or people travel-
ling by some path. And to cause them and their horses 
the less fatigue, he told them to take no arms of defence, 
D2 
Ai-URAR.o\'S CIIRO:-lfCLE OF TnE 
but only thei r lances and swords, where\ltith to attack , if 
needed. For if the)' came on people who t ried to ca pture 
them, their best remedy wou ld be in their horses' feet , 
unless they found one man alone of II hom they might 
make use without danger. 
Xo,," in the performing of tbis action the youth hewed 
clearly what sort of men ther would prol·c. For although 
ther werC so far distant from their o~\~n country and knew 
not what kind of people, or hoI\' man)" they would find, 
not to peak of thc dread of lI'i1d bea,'ts, wh se fearful 
sllado" might \I ell hal'. alarmed them, con idering their 
youth (for the)' I" re not either of tilem mOre than seventeen 
rears of age • yet putting aU Uli aside, the)' set out boldly 
and followed the course of the rh'cr for the pace of 'even 
league", whcr the), found nineteen men all banded together 
without any other arms of offence or defence, but onlr a se-
gai. :\nd as soon as lhe }'ouths saw them, ther attacked 
tbem with great courage. But lhat unknown company, 
although so man)' in number, dared not meet tbem on the 
level, but rather (or .ecurit)' retired to some rocks, " hence 
ther fought with the rOUlh' for a good pace. And during 
Ihe fiftht one of those youth "as wounded in tIle foot, and 
although the wound \\'as slight, it did not r~m"in unal'enged , 
for they \\ounded one of the enemy likewise. Alld the)' 
kept on 6ghting until the sun began to "il'l! warning of 
night,on "ltid, account they "ent back to their ship. And 
I am .ure that tbe injuric.< of that combat would not ha\'e 
been so ,mall, If the enemy had remained upon the open 
ground, Two things I eon ider ill this place, <3ith he who 
wrote thi. history \nd first, \\ hat II' ould be the (ane> in 
the mind of those men .It "iccing 5uch a no\·cJtj I to wit, 
1\\0 ueh daring youths, o( colour ;u,d ~'"turcs ,0 foreign to 
them; \\ hat could they think h,ld broll"ht them there, .,. • 
a.nd on hor, back. Wllh lance ,111d S\\ ord"S, arnb thal some 
of th m had ItCU!'r II;, II f :t ... HI l\' r \H"el) llMt thei r 
DISCOVERV AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 37 
hearts lI'ere not so faint, but that they would have displayed 
greater bravery against our meo, had it not b~en for the 
wonderment that was caused by the novelty of the thing. 
Secondly I consider the daring of these two youths, who I' 
were in a strange land, so far from the succour of their 
companions, and yet \vere bold enough to attack such a 
number, whose power of fighting was so uncertain to 
them. One of the youths, I kne\V in after time as a noble l 
gentleman, very valiant in the profession of arms, and he 
was called Hector Homem: the same you will find in the 
Chronicle of the Kingdom well 'proved by great deeds. 
The name of the other \Vas Diego Lopez d'Almeida, also a 
gentleman and a man of good presence, as I have learnt 
from some that kne\V him. So they held on their journey 
to the ship, as we have related, and reached it about dawn 
and took a little repose. And as soon as it was light, 
Affonso GoosaJvez had the boat made ready, and putting 
~elf and some of his people-into it, followed the course 
of that river,sending the youths on horseback along by the 
land, till he reached the place where the Moors had been 
found the other day, intending to fight with them and 
capture some; but their toil was in vain, for so great was 
the alarm that, although the youths had retreated, th} ... 
natives were possessed with a great fear and departed, 
leaving behind them the greater part of their poor belong-
ings, with the which Affonso Gon~alvez loaded his boat as 
a witness of his toil. And seeing that it would not profit 
to pursue any further, he returned to the ship. And 1\ 
because he saw on a bank at the entrance of the river a 
great multitude of sea-wolves, the which by the estimate of 
some were about 5,000, he caused his men to kill as many 
as they could, and with their skins he loaded his ship-for, 
either because they were very easy to kill, or because the 
bent of our men was towards such an action, they made 
among those wolves a very great slaughter. 
,\Zl'R\RA', CIlRO);ICLL OF TilE 
But with all this Aff"onso GOIl"akcz was nut sat isfied, 
because he had not taken one of tho e " Ioors, so going on 
beyond thi fo r a space of fift), leagues to sCe if hc could 
make capti\'e some man, woman, or child, by which to 
satisf)" thc ,nil of his Lord, he camc to a point, where stood 
a~ock "hicJL from a distance was like a galle),. And 
for this rcason they called that port from that da)' fon ,'ard 
lhe" Port of the Gall£)'" And there the)' went on land, 
"her be)' found some nets, "hich the), took on board. 
~·\nd here )"ou may note a new matt<.:r, new I sa)' to us 
who Ii\tc in this ~-pajn, that the thread of :ho ends was 
of tbe bark of a tr«!, so well filted for such a usc that 
without an}' other tanning or admixture of fiax, it could 
be \\,O\'en right e"cellcntl)" and net. made of It, with all 
other (ordage:.6 e 
,\nd sO Alfonso GOIl~ah·c1. turned back to Portug:ll, 
without any certain knowledge as to \\ hether lho~c men 
\\('"rc "\tour: ur Gentiles, or as to \\ h;.'lt life ur manner of 
laving they had. And this. \\ <t::. In th«.: year of Jesus Christ 
1430 . 
1l1.\PTER \:1. 
the yc.:.\fS th.H f 110\\· \,"c diJ not find anything note.;. 
\\orthy to r cord. Tille it i: thal tht;;l'c \\cnl to those 
pa.rt t w() hip, ·.\(:h 111 it turn, but one.: turned back on 
account of '(Jntr.1f~ \Hathcr ,Uld the lither \\cut llflly to 
the I"io U Ouro fCJT the kin::. 3rtd oil nf tho ... c ",ci:l-woh<..", 
,-md lo.tdlllJ.! :1 Colt '0 lIf lhC'~ u:lurnl"l to Portu;;al \nd 
in th.ll ~c.trt p;l e.:d (l\Cr Olll' 1111bl Inf.lIlt 1)~)f1 Ilcllry 
llltu Itlllgi r. for \\ hich n:a nn he ~f,,'lll Iln 1110re .... hi\ I .... 
• I .1.41;(1 '0 II~I t I ~ ~., 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 39 
to lhat land. And in the year 1438 departed out of this ("I-
world the very virtuous Don Ed ward on the_ 9.th_<lL.S.ep-
tern berT in Thomar, on whose death there followed very 
great discords in the Idngdom.6 'i 
Arid in these troubles the presence of the Infant was SO{ 
{'<l c '" 
necessary, ~~tt~l~n forgot himself, 
t~e~ the perils and travail .~ which the 
realm \V~ And it was so that the King Don Affonso, 
\vho ordered the writing of this history, was at the age of six, 
and h~d to be tutored and protected, he and his realm, by 
governors; and about the auth0rity of these there followed 
great contentions, in which the Infant Don Henry toiled 
much for peace and a good settlement of affairs, as you 
may find more at length in the Chronicle of the reign of 
this King Don Affonso.68 And so it was that in those years 
there went no ships beyond that Cape, for the reasons that '¥ 
we have said. True it is that in the year 1440 there armed 
themselves tv.,ro caravels to go to that land, but because. u,;.1 t 
they had hap that was contrary, we do not tell further of 
their voyage. 
CHAPTER XII. 
How Antam Gon~al"ez brought back the first Captives. 
THlNK I can now take some sort of pleasure in the 
narrating of this history, because I find something where-
with to satisfy the desire of our Prince; the which desire 
was so much the greate-r as the matters for which he had 
toiled so long were now more within his view. And so in 
this chapter I wish to present some novelty in his toilsome 
seed-time of preparation. 
Kow it was so that in this year 144f, when the affairs 
of this realm were somewhat more settled though Ilot 
\/l R.\n..\\. t III{O~Jc '-I OF T Il l 
f"lIy 'l"ictCd, that the In fant armed ,I lillie ,h'l', of the 
\\ hleh he m.tdc (i~plain onc :\ntam Gnll\~d\'l:1.. hi ... cham-
I.x:rltlin, and ,t \ I.. r~' )'oun(:' m,ln, clntl the end of that 
\'o)'a~(' \\,;1..; oone oth(:r, .1\.curolllg to Illy Lord\: command-
ml'IH. but tu hip.t ,,-,trgo of tht, ... kllls anti uil of tho ... c ~c.:a­
"ol\" ~s 01 "llIch \\ ' IM\ c 'Itoken in prc\'ious ch:tptcrs, 
IhH it (.BlIlat Lx: doubted th.H tilt' I !lrant ga\ I..: him thl! 
,l ne dl.lr~c lh.lt hl Ior.l\ C to utlh:f'. hut ,I the il!-!C I..,f this 
t.'pl.tin \\.H "cah.tr, .tnd hi .IlUhnll{) but :-.hght, :-.0 the 
Prlllc' uldl.'r \\\:It; Ie 
hup\'" lIf re ult Ie!; t onlilk'lll 
But \\ h II hl' hit t ,l\"cumpli ht.."'tl 1\1 \ fI~.I e, 3' I.u ;1'" 
\.Ollcc.:rm:d Ou.: (.hlcl prllt of hi ur Ill'. \nt.tnl (';{'l1\a!\'l;l 
l.dk I to hlln \ If. 111 '-' (,(ltcrr . .1 ll{Jthc.: I ~Io()m pf the 
t;htl1Wcr,.\\ho\\., \\Ith hlln .ultl .tll the: nth.:r .. tiMt \\t,;re 
111 the.: hip, hung (lUc.: and l\HIll' III .1I1, ,lIld spoke.: to them 
UTnt:thmg-
01 (lUI 'xMJ \\,11 
\\ nl II Il k IIIto III pll: l OJ '- Jlht :l.~ \\ .lIc.:. h,n tIl~ dt.ITlc..~ 
U h m.lI 1\"1 C' \1ll1 In 1lllth I ,hll·k \\l ought hi 
1. hour the mOT{ lrtnuou h to d(hll\'(. mClhin~ !H~l this 
.1 1\ \\.t lht It lid upon u ,,' lhalgt. b~ the,; Inrant 
OUt 100d 0 lll\\ J.ur .1 lhlllh" Ii \\(ould h II \\\,. "hn 
h t (' ')01(' to lhl~ l.1T1d lor t cargo 01 ut.h pett\' nlt. .~ r(h.lI1· 
d, ,\\Cle to fllCC't \\ IIh tl,< '( tI lu,k t<) hring- till" Ii!" .. , 
( II'"\'( lH (Ort tlw 1.1 t (lr nUl PIIlIU \ntl now I will 
tel \0\1 (If In\ thou!:ht tllt\t I ma\ len:nc )our .tlhlcl..' 
Ih 1 'n I "HuM I lin J:<l III \ ~II tIll 1)(:\( IIIJ.:h\ \\Ilh 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF Gl:f,!N';A.;_ 41 
business), and prove a part of this land along the river, to 
see if I find any inhabitants; for I think we of right 0ught 
to meet with some, since 'tis certain therc_ _ ¥..ueople here .. tr"1 ~~ 
who traffic with camels and other animals that be_ar their _ ,,_ 
freig~owt~of these men must chiefly be to ~(... 
the-seaboard; and since they have as yet no knowledge 
of us, their gathering cannot be too large for us to try their 
strength; and, if God grant us to encounfer them, the very 
least part of our victory will be the capture of one Qf 
them, with the whiGh the Infant will feel flO small content, \: 
getting knowledge b;i.-..that means of what kind are the ~~-... 
other dwellers of this land And as to our reward, you can 
estimate what It will be by the great expenses and toll hel 
has undertaken in years past, only for thIS end." "See what 
you do", replied the others, t< for since you are our captain 
we needs must obey your orders, not as Antam Gon~alvez 
but as our lord; for you must understand that we who are iG- 1_1-' 
he,e, of the Household of the Infant our lord, have both the 
will ~ desir€ to serve hlln, even to the laying down of our 
lives in the event of the last danger. But we think your 
purpose to be good, if only you will introduce no other 
novelty to if.lcrease the peril, which would be little to the 
service of our lord." And finally they determined to do his 
bidding, and follow him as far as they could make their way. 
And as soon as it was night Antam Gon~alvcz chose nine L 
men v,rho seemed to him most fitted for the undertaking, and ,\.."-
made his voyage with them as he had before determined. 
And 'when they were about a league distant from the sea 
they came on a path which they kept, thinking some man 
or woman might come by there whom they could capture j 
but it happened otherwise; so Antam Goncralvez asked the 
others to consent to go forward and follow out his purpose; 
for, as they had already come so far, it would not do to 
return to tbe ship in vain like that. And the others being 
content they departed thence) and) journeying through 
,IZL:IUIU'" ~IIR()XI~tE 01 TilE 
lh~( inner land for the space of three leagues, the)' found 
the foolmar!.;. of mcn and) ouths, the number of whom, 
according lO lhei r c timate, would he: from fort)' to fifty, 
and these led the opposi te way rrom where Our men werc 
going, The heat W85 ,'cr)' intense. and .0 by reasOIl of 
this and of the toil they had undergone in \I'atehll1g by 
night and traldling thus on fOOl, and also becau.e of lhe 
\\a.ntofwat r.or \\b:'ich th r. was J1on'C, ,\ntalT'l Gonttalvc7. 
pcrcC'1\'cd their w ·arinc .. s that it wns already, cry great, as 
he could casll) ,Iudg [rom his 0\\'11 .,,/Tering., So he said, 
" My friend$, there i nOlhing more 10 do here; our toil 
is gn:at, \\hile the profit to ari~c from ~ Ilo",ng up this 
pntb me<eemeth small, for til's" men ar~ Ira' dlillg 10 
the place \\ bcncc we ha\l com,\ and OUr best cour. . c.: 
1\ auld be to turn back loward. tllem, and perchance, on 
their re(lIrn, sOl\le will >epara!< lllelM I "s. or mal' I:>e, \\'0 
,hall come up Will, (bem \\ hen the)' arc laid do\\ n to rcst, 
and then, if "I) attaek (bern 11I,(iI),. pcra<henturc the)· "ill 
nee, and, if Ihe)' Ilc.:, ,,""COliC there \\ill be le<' >lliCt, 
\\ hom" c can I"l' hold of according to our inlen t , or rna) 
Ix our lllck "ill be (1\ on beller, and \\c shaUIl"d f"u(lecn 
or tiftc n of them, of "hom we ,hall mak' 3 more profit-
able be t)' i\ ow thi advice wa~ nol 'u\.":h as \0 gh' ('; rise 
(0 an) \\ .vering in the "ill of those men for ench 
tic ired th. '. lt \cry lhm \nd, n..'turnlng lo\\ard - th<!' sea. 
\\ hen they hnd gune a hOft p~\rt (J( the \\a)", they ".lW 
a tlftke,d mOn fon'O,~ing .l C'an,d, \dth t"o as:-;co:aj~ '11 his 
hand, and .b oUr men p\lt ucd hun [h ~rc was not OI)C who 
(elt aughl of hi~ gre,,1 (,lligu<, HUI tho,,!:h he \\ a$ eml) 
one, l)lld :t\, thu ulh~rs th.lt they \un' tlhmy i. yct he had 
:t mil'ld to pro\'e lh<-hC ;trm of l'lb right "uTlhily and 
llL"gafl to de('Cnd him. df 31$ b~~~t he CQuhl \ .... h~\\' in'!;!. a 
bolder (Inut than his ~tr ngth \\,lnanh:d. HHl \('folhn 
(rll(cnc ... \\oullticd him \\I\h .l j.I\, ..' hll l .llld thl .... put the 
J or in u~h f(,·.tf th t J\:c.: thl C\, "ttl\:\ 11 h~ s arms Ilk..: ~l 
, 
DISCOVERY AND COKQUEST OF GUINEA. 43 
ccaten thing. And after they had captured him, to their I 
110 small delight, and had gone on furtiher, they espied, on 
the top. of a hill, the company whose tracks they wer~ e-.~/) Ii~ 
following, and their captive pertained to the number ofe. rc. t.Z 
these. And they failed not to reach them through any o.f-/. , 
lack of will, but the sun was now low, and they wearied, so \-.."'--i k'1 
they determined to returN to their ship, considering that \ 4 
such enterprise might bring greater injury than profit. 
And, as they were going on their war, they saw a black 
Mooress come along (who was slave of those on the hill), 
and though some of our men were in favour of letting her 
pass to avoid a fresh skirmish, to which the enemy did not 
invite them,-for, since they were in sight and their number 
more than doubled ours, they could not be of such faint 
hearts' as to allow a chattel of theirs to be thus carried off: 
-despite this, Antam Gonc;alvez bade them go at her j 
for if (he said) they scorned that encounter, it might make 
their foes pluck up courage . against them. And now you (v 
see how the word of a captain prevaileth among men used 1T...Jl--J ,~ 
to obey; for, following his will, they seized the ~s. ~~_c.. ,C,J<. ).-\0.-
And those on the hill had a mind to come to the rescue, fC 
but when they perceived our people ready to receive them, 
they not only retreated to their former position, but de- ~ '" f-t 
parted elsewhere, turning their backs to their enemies. 
And so let us here leave Antam Gonc;alvez to rest, con- l.J...-/st 
sidering this Chapter as finished, and in the following one 
\ve will knight him right honourably. 
AZL'I<AR,\' CIIRO XI CLE OF Til E 
HAI'TER XI II , 
J 10\\ :\ uno TriSolam reached t he spot 1\ here Anlam Gontjah'ez was, 
and how he: dubbed him knight. 
FOR that the phiiosopb,>r..saith,' that the beginning is t \l'O 
part' of the ;hole matter," lI'e ought to gh'e great praise to 
this noble ),outh, for thi' deed of his, undertaken wi th so 
great boldne,,; lor since he was the first \\ ho made booty 
in thi' con que ,t, he dc'en'eth ad,',otage o,'er and abo,'c 
all the others who in after time tra"ailed in this matter, 
For the cu tom \\a.s among the Romans, a, .·aint :\ugust:ne 
S lith in the book that he made J)( Ciz i/lllt' D( i, and as 
Titu: l.i\'ius also 'oi h in his Dend,'s, that all tho,e who 
truck the fir t blo\\' in ballks or "ere the first to enter 
intr> fans or to leap ioto !'i.hip.;;. were gr. Iltcd in return a 
hi ,her incrca c of honour, which they bore on the day of 
trmmph in If,.·.limon~ of their ralour, ~ V ..-ius. lelklh us 
Intire in c.iclail, in the .'ummarr that he made of Roman 
hi loryOl \nd ~o let :\nlam Gonc;ah(,;z rec«.:i\c hi~ kni~ht ­
hood, a' we purpose to de:cribe in thi dl:tptC'r, and after 
thiS we" ill gl\C him (ornmandcflc, III the Order of Christ 
who habit he a(lcn\,ards a"umcd), m,'king him the 
pri\·:tle 'ecrctarr to thl great 3nd noble prince. \nd for 
the rem 'mbr'lICe of hi, honour, kt him be ati,fiL-cl t hat he 
b in'cribt.~1 III thiS \olume, .. ,ho'(.' tenor \\ill for c'"cr. '0 
Ion a.;;; writing cndurcth among ant'n, 1.)(..; .1. \\ itnt.:!'5 of hi 
c~c"lIcncC' 
\ow rou l1\u ... l know that "unf~ Trbtam. a ) outhfu l 
knibln, ,'cry '·:lli.lIlt ~\nd ardent. \\ ho h.ld b(.;cn brought up 
from carl) bo) hood in (he I nf~nt's privy chamber, arri,'ed 
at lilolt , ry pl.lcc "h fC ,\ a... \ntam (~()n~ah el, and 
brought \, jth him .In ,\1"lllcd c.,r~\\ d. "Ith the.' sp(.;cial com -
mand of III l..ord, that he ... huuld lM.'"'s beyond the Port of 
the (,. lIe),,:\ r.lf.h he could, :tnd th.lt h<! .huuld bC':-.t ir him-
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 45 
self as well to capture some of the people of the country, \" t~ 
as best he ~nd he, pursuing his voyage, now arrived r 
at the place where Antam Gon~alvez was. And you can ~ I )..<. 
well imagine how great was the joy of these two, being (.l 
natives of the same Kingdom and brought up in one and -
the self-same Court, to meet again at so great a distance 
from their own land. But leaving out of this account the 
words we may suppose they would use-the one in asking 
for news of his lord, and of his friends and acquaintances; 
the other in his desire to know of!he booty-Nunc Tristam )-l.v-.-( -: 
said, that an Arab whom he had brought with him there, L 
and who was a servant of the Infant his lord, should speak 
with one of those captives, to see if he understood their l 
.I anguage, an. d that, if they could understand one another~ 
it would be of great pmfit tokno,,,-all the s.ta1,,-aod e.,,\' 
ditions o~f that land. And so all thre 
0f them spoke,· but their language was very different L':<' ~i.J..(,f 
from that of the others, so that they were not able to [' 
understand one another. But as soon as Nuno Tristam 
perceived that he was not able to learn more of the manner 
of that land, than what Antam Gonc;alvez had told him, he ~ 
was eager to depart, but that emulation whic~~S61 
praised in gallant youths, tormented his heart in such (\ 
manner that he wished first of all to see whether he could 
not do something of more account before the eyes of his 
fellows. H How is it right", said he to those of his com-
pany/ U that \\'e should allow these men to go on their 
way back to Portugal, without first shewing them some 
part of our labour? Of a surety, I say to you, that as 
far as it concerneth me, I trow I should receive disgrace, 
holding the order of knighthood as I do, if. I gained hereJ (' 
~oty richer than this, EY which the Lord Infant may 
.. f.e., Nuno Tristam, Antam GonlYalvez, and the Arab interpreter 
all questioned the capti\'Cs, but the latter could not understand them. 
.\Zl'R.\IL\'S C IIRO~rcl.F' OF TIIF 
gain ",olne fir ::; t-fruits of a rccompence for the great expense 
he has incurred ." 
Thereupon he caused /Intam Gon~a"'ez to be called, 
and the principal men whom he brought with him , that he 
might sho\\" them his mind. "You·', ~aid he, .. my friend 
,'\ntam Gon~"'cz, arc not ignorant of the will of the Infant 
Our Lord, and )'OU know th at to ex<'Cute this pu rpose of 
his he hath incurred man)' and great expenses, and yet up 
till no\\. for a :pace of fifteen year:, he hath toiled in vain 
in thL~ part of the \\orId, ne\~cr being able t9 arri\'c at any 
certaint), a' to the people of th i' land, under what law 
or lord<hip they do lil'Co And although )'OU are carrying 
off these two capti\"t!:S. and by their means the Infant may 
come to knoll' somctl,ing about thi' folk, j'et that doth not 
prel cnt \\ h" is still beller, namel)" for U' to carry off 
m.lI,," marc: (or, be:ides the knowl<'dgc \I hich the l,ord 
I "('lOt \I ill gain by their mean', profit \I ill al$o accrue to 
him h~' thelf s~n·ic~ or ran "om. "·hcrcfllrc. it !-'ccmcth to 
me tlMt lie :hould do \\'ell to act .(ter this ma nner fhat 
t ' to ar in thi night now (ollowing-. \ ou --hould choose 
ten of your men and I ,1n(llhcr tcon of mine from the best 
\\ hieh ea.ch of u rna,' 1M' I.' .lIla let u ... then g-o togelher 
and seck tho. c "hOln ,'ou h.l\ C fou~ \ nd since) au s...1.y 
thal. judging (rom the fil:htill~ rOll had" itb..1h!J!'l, they 
\\ere not Inore than t\\enty men fit for batth.." and the rcst 
\\Omen and boys., \\~ ought to C:lJllurc them aH n .: ry 
quickl) .. \l1d e\en if \\c do n(ll moect \\llh the \ cry S.am~ 
that ou cncount red, nevertheless \\c shaH surcl~' lind 
()lhcr~, br mean: f whom" 1.~.JIl rnal.:c as good a booty, 
or pcrhap CH'n bettcr." 
.' I cannol \\cllbc.llc\(:\ '(,.~pli C ...\ l1t:\m <;ol\l\ah'cl," that 
our c 'pedition in -,>c.lfch of tho~c \\ (' found Ix fore, will 
h.l\C ol"r SUI' lesult, (ur the 1'1.1((,,' i .... ,til onc grt.:.tt hare 
hill, ill the \\hieh there I no hcm l or hut whctc O JlI..: cuuld 
(.111,) they \\ould lod· 1.'1 ,lilt! llh.' mOI· ... (1 "inc' \\t! .... n\ tht.:1ll 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 47 
turn again like men that had come there from another 
part. And what seemeth to me worst of all is that those 
~ will have forewarned all the others, and, peradventure, 
when we think to capture them we may ourselves become 
their booty. But consider this well, and where we have 
been in a manner victorious, let us not return to suffer 
loss.·' 
Yet, although this counsel of Antam Gon<Jalvez was 
good, according to the circumstances of the affair; and 
although Nuna Tristam was not unwilling to fall in with 
it; there were there two squires, i~ whom these reasons did 
not suffice to oppose their desire of doing brave deeds. 
Gon<;allo de Sin tr;uvas the name of one of these-and of 
his valour you will know more fully in the progress of this 
history; the other was Diego Afies ~e Valla~s, a squire, 
valiant in boa~weTr prov~ in many great perils. And-
these two persuaded the Council to depart from the advice 
which Antam Gon~alvez had~ given, in this 'way, that as 
soon as it was night, they set out accordi~Cl· ~--' <Sof '" 
that Nuno Tristam gave at first. And so It chanced that §i!: 
in the night they came to where the natives lay scattered 
in two encampments, oither the same that Antam Gon-
<;alvez had found before. or other like it. The distance 
between the encampments was but small, and our men 
divided themselves into three parties, in order that they 
might the better hit upon them. For they had not yet 
any certain knowledge of the place where they lay, but 
only a perception of them; as you see the like things 
are perceived much I more readily by night than by 
day. A nd when our men had come nigh to them, they \ 
attacked them very lustily, shouting_ at the top of their 
voices, (' Portugal >J and" ~ntiago>J; 62 the fright of \;."hich so 
abashed~nemy, that it threw them all into disorder. 
~ \Yhom my pe:>p!e fell in with. 
AZURAR A' CII RO NICLE OF Til E 
And so, a ll in con fu sion, the)' began to fly without any 
order Or careful n s. Except indecd that the men made 
some how of defending them 'cl\"es with thei r assegais (for 
lhe)' knew not the u e of any other weapon), especially one 
of them, who fought face to face with ;\uno Tristam, 
defending himself till he received his death~And besides 
thi- one, whom :-;uno T ri ta m lew by himsel f, the ot!'ers 
killed three and took ten prisoner~, what of men, women 
and boys. ..\nd it is not to be doubted that the\" would 
baH) 'lain and taken man)' more, if the)' had all fallen on 
together at tbe first onslaught. But among those who were 
taken there was one greater than the rcst. who was called 
.\dabu, and was said to be a noble, and he she\\'cd in 
IUS countenance light well that he held the pre-eminence 
of nobili!)' 0\' r Lbe others. ~o\\', among those ten \I ho 
I 'aid were with ;\uno TrLtam, was one Gomez Vin~c, 
3 )'outh of good famil)". brought up in the !;;fant's house· 
hold, \I ho . b,,\\ L'<I in this bat tic what his \"alour was like 
to be in aftcr lime, for which in the rc!~mlt be \\a.~ honour-
abl)" advanced. Whcn the action \\a.- thus accomplished, 
as "c h.l\"(: dc ... cribcd,.1.11 Illet together, l:\"cn a$ they" ere 
in the fight, and began to request of . \ntam Gon~ahel, 
that he houl<l be made a knight. nut he. appraising his 
toil at (ar Ie ~ lh.lll they did, ans\\cn.-d that it was not 
right that he (or so small a sc.,'n'ic; ..,  ~h('luld recei\'c ~\') ~n::at 
an honour, and one too that was more than hi age did 
warrant Of hi o\\'n (rcc will he ~,id he would IlC\'c,~r ha\'c 
ii, c. cept \\"hvn he had accompli 'hed gr<3tcr deed, than 
these. \' et ;It 1.1. t h\' the exce:~i, c entreaties of the rest. 
and bcc.u.c 'uno Tristam "c!"ech'ed it was right, he h~d 
t make \nl m t~QI~:!.b:s.Z cl knight. lhough it "as ag,ain:-.[ 
ho \\ tll, and (or thi r a-on th) calkd that place 
h I1ccforth, "the I' )rt o( the La lKr" \nd ,0 he.; \\ as 
the first knight lIMl \\ .lS made ill tho c pJ.rt:ot. Then those 
cnptain returncJ to the hop ,,"c.l b.de tlMt .\rab 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 49 
& 
whom Nuno Tristam had brought with him, to speak 11<.(... \> 
with those Moors· but they were not able to understand 
him, because !2.~ hll1g~age of these people was not 
Moorish, but Azane~ of Sahara, for so they name e· L 
that land. But the fl\le, f in that he was of better breedo.- /- e 
ing than the othe~esJ so had he seen more things ~ C..c. .. 
and better than they; and had been to other lands where 
he had learned the Moorish tongue;64 'forasmuch as he I~ .... /. 
understood that Arab and answered to whatever matter 
was asked of him by the same. And the further to try the 
people of the land and to have of them more certain know- _ 
.1. 
ledge, they put that Arab on shore, and one of the Moorish ~~ ~ 
women whom they had taken captive; who were to say to 
the others, that if they wished to come and speak to them "" 
about the ransom of some of those whom they had taken 
prisoners, or about traffick in merchandise, they might do t~te.. 
so. And at the end of two days there came to that place 
about ISO Moors on foot and- thirty-five on horses and 
c'amels, bringing the Moorish slave with them. And 
although outwardly they seemed to be a ~t~ 
barbarous and bestial, yet was there not wanting in them 
-something of as~ wherewith th;Y sought -~n;nare 
th-;;;:- enemies. For- only three of them appeared on the 
shore, and the rest lay in ambush. to the end that our men, 
being unaware of their treachery. might land, when theYi& ) L' 
who lay hid could seize them, which thing they might 
have done by sheer force of numbers) if our men had been 
a whit less cautious than they. But the Moors, perceiving 
that their wiles were discovered by us-because they saw 
that the men in the boat turned about on seeing that the 
slave did not appear-revealed - their dissembling tricks 
and all came into sight on the shore) hurling stones and 
making gestures. t And there they also displayed that 
* Their prisoners. t Adabu. t Of defiance. 
E 
All IURA', CHRO~ICLE OF THE 
i\rab wbo had been sent [0 them, held as one whom ther 
wi ·hed to keep in the subjection of a captive. And 
Ih e called out to them that they should be on their 
guard again t those people; for (he), would not have 
lome Lbere, "xcept to take them at a disad\'3n(age if 
they could. Thereupon our men turned back to the ships, 
where ther made their parlition of the capti,"es, according 
to the lot of c>eh, and the other ~Ioors betook themsoh·es 
to thdr encampments, taking the \rab ,,·ith them" And 
\ntam Gon~ah·ez, because he had now loaded hi< ship with 
cargo, as (he I nfant had commanded, relur,led to Portugal, 
and '\uno Trislam went on hi \\a.y. .. to fulfil his orders, as 
we h,,·o :ald before lbat he had received commandment. 
But after the de'lanure of .-\nt"" Gon~ah-cl, seeing 
lhat his car,,·c1 needed repair, he cau:ed lhcm to beacb 
her, where he careened . nd mended her as far as wa~ 
needful, keeping hl" lIdes as if he had been in front of 
J.bbon harbour," al which boldncs of his there "as 
much man·d. \nd pursuing his ,oyage, he pa"s,'(j the 
PorI of the Galle,', and ""ll on till he came to a Cape 
"hich he call d Cape Branco,"" here his men landed to 
sec if the" could make any capture 
1\u( although (he), found l.,ccs of men and e'cn some 
Inc, f they no\\ took conn,d to return, pcrcddng that for 
that lime they" ould not be "ble to ad"anlage themselvcs 
above their fir t achievement. 
CII.\I'TI R '\ 1\', 
Ho\\ \nLlm (,onC;3h r, nd .tflerw.ams :\uno Tn tam, C3me beCore 
thl' In(ant \\llh lhen boo1 
I L,\ 
J\'f me. c-cnKlh 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 5 l 
that [ behold before my eyes that pleasure o f his, of what 
kind it would be. For just in so far as things are more 
desired, and more numerous and heavy labours are under-
gone for them, so much the g reater d elight do they bring 
with them when a man obtaineth them. 0 holy prince, 
peradventure thy pleasure and delight might have some 
sem blance of covetousness, at receiving the knowledge of 
such a sum of riches, even as great as those thou didst 
expend to arrive at that result? And now, seeing the 
beginnings of some recompenseJ may we not think thou 
didst feel joy, not so much for the number of the captives 
taken, as for the hope thou didst conceive of the others 
thou couldst take? 
But of a surety it was not in thy noble heart to set store 
by such small wealth! And justly I may call it small, in 
comparison of thy greatness j ,vithout which thou wast not 
able, and knewest not how, to begin or fin ish any part of thy 
deeds. But thy joy was solely fI'om that one holy purpose 0~,ll;L~ S'"" 
thine to seek salvation for the lost souls of the heathen, as I ' 
have already said in the vIlth Chapter of this work. An 
in the light of this it seemed to thee, when thou sawest those 
captives brought into thy presence, that the expense and 
trouble thou hadst undergone was nothing: such was thy 
pleasure in beholding them. And yet the greater benefiLIY.'!S..1 
~·s, ,for though their bo~es were~n ow ..!?ro u~ into_ some (~SL: 
subjection, that was a small matter in comparison of their 
Souls, \~h would now possess true freedom for eve~._ 
Kntam Gom;aivez was the -nrst-W-coine with hi; part of 
the booty, and then arrived Nuno Tristam, whose present 
reception and future reward ans\\'cred to the toil he had 
undergone; just as a fruitful soil with but li ttle sowing 
answereth the husbandman, when for however small a part 
it receiveth, it g iveth back a great increase of fruit. 
E 2 
52 AZI;RARA'S CHRON ICLE OF TilE 
CHAPTER X\·. 
How Ihe Infa.nt Don Henry scnt his emb.-lssy to the Hoi)' Father, 
3nd of the :lns" er that he hnd. 
A LTHOUGH the language of tho e capti\'es could not be 
understood by an)' of the other Moors who were in this 
kingdom, either as freemen Or capti,'cs, it sufficed, for a 
beginning, that the noble whom .\ntam Gon~akez had 
brought could recount for the understanding of the Infant 
a \'er)' great part of the matters of that land where the a fore· 
said noble dwelt ~-\nd considering how it was llcce sary 
that he hould often send hi' ships, manned with his people, 
I \\' here of nece. -ity the)' would ha"e to fight with those I infidels, he determinL-d at once to end an emba"), to the 
I Holy Father, (0 ask of him (0 make a partition with himself of the (rca ures o( Hoi), 'hurch, (or the salvation 
I of the soul- of those who in the loils o( that conquest should 
I meet their end. 
And on thi cmba '.)' he sent an honourable ca\'alier o( 
the Order of hrisl. c:tlled Fernam Lopez d'.\ze, edo, a 
tn, n of great coun 'el and authorit)" on account o( which 
he had been made Chief Commander in the same Order 
and was o( the oune.1 ,.f the King and the In(ant 
lie had it in char~c also to ask from the upreme 
J ontilT olher thing~ of great importance. a' (or instance 
the indulg nec' of 't. \tar)' of A (rica, in euta to\\'n, With 
many other graces that" ere to Lx: rcquc~tcd of the }lope, 
the true (orm o( wh.ch )'Ou can find in the general histor), 
o( the kingdom. 
,\nd as for that part of the bu<ine% that nc dcth lo be 
r :corded here, the ))01) I'alher wa>, r)' glad lo grant him 
')uch .l grace as he \\ a r -quc"tcd , as ) ou m.1Y .s<.~ more 
rul~y in this lr.tnscripl o( hi lett or, "hich \\"c have ~ct down 
here for )'our beller understanding. 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUE$T OF GUINEA. 53 
II Eugenius the Bishop,67 servant of the servants of God, etc. 
For an abiding memorial and remembrance. As, without any 
merit of ours 'we have the authority 06 J esus Christ our Lord, 
who refused not to be sacrificed as the price of human salvation, 
by continual care we strive for those things that may destroy the 
errors and wickednesses of the infidels and by which the souls of 
good and Catholic Christians may the more speedily come to 
Salvation j 
"And as it hath now been signified to us by our beloved son 
and noble baron Henry, ~~, and Govemor in 5 iritual 
and temporals of the Knighthood of the O'Tder of Christ, rhat 
confiding firmly in the aid of God, for the destruction and 
confusion of the lv100f5 and enemies of Christ, and for the 
exaltation of the Catholic faith, he purposeth to go in person, U,-1" 'Ci l ..o 
with his men at arms, to toose lands that are held by them, and c.. f L- t ' 
to guide his army against them j And howbeit that, for the time 
he is not personally in the field) yet as the knights and brethren 
of the said order, with all other faithful Christians, purpose to 
make war under the banner of the said order against the said 
Moors and other enemies of the .faith-to the intent that these 
faithful Christians may bestir their minds with the greater fervour 
to the aforesaid war-
II We now do concede and grant, by apostolic authority and by 
the tenor of these present letters, to each and all of those who 
shall be engaged in the said war, Complete forgiveness of all 
their sins, of which they shall be truly penitent at heart and have 
made confession by their mouth. 
"And let no one break. or contradict this letter of mandate, 
and whoever presumeth to do so let him lie under the curse of 
the Almighty God and of the Dlessed Apostles St. Peter and 
St. Paul. Given, etc. lJ 
Also the Infant Don Pedro, who at that time ruled the 
Kingdom in the name of the King, gave the Infant his 11-"+-:' 
brother a charter by which he granted him the whole of ,,,,-
the Fifth that appertained to the King and this on account "3 1<> 'I" 
of the great expenses he had incurred in the matter. ..j-C f.--L 
And considering how b/ I bIrd- alone the dis€overies 
'* The Infant Henr),. 
54 .\ZL'R. \R.\':-' LIIRO~H.:LE O~ TilE 
were cntcrpriscd and made, not without great troub!c 
and expense, he granted him moreo\"cr this right, that nO 
one should be able to go~· \\ithout his license and 
especial mandatc.(i,." 
C IIAPTER XYI 
Ho\\, Ant:1m Gon :th'e1 '~enl to mtlkc lhe: first r:ln~Onl. 
,\ .. you know that naturally every pri .. oner dcsircth to lie 
free, which desire is"'311 the lrOnt;Cr in :\ man of higher 
rc1." n or nobility whom fortune has condcmncJ to li\-c in 
uhjcction to another, so then noble of \\ hom we ha\"c 
already 'pokCIl, Sl."e..-1I1g lums.clf held III capli\ it)' alth(,)u~h 
he \\ a~ "ery gently treated, f:rcallr dc~ired to be [n.:c, a.nd 
o(ten asked ,\nt.lm ,on ,lYez to toke him back to his 
country. where he dcclared he would gi,'c (or himsel f five 
or six lIlack ~looL and 31 0 he ,aid that there were 
among the other capli\'c~ two youths for whom a like 
ran m would be gi\cn 
,\nd here ),ou mu 1 note thal lhc:-c bl:\ck ... \h.'rc :\[00f5 
like the.: albeN. though their sIan:", in accordance \\ ith 
r ancient cuslom, \\ hich 1 4( Jicve' to h:\\ c hct!1l bccau .... (,; (If 
tbe ursc which, after the 1 h..: luge. . .l,"oah laid upon his !'on 
I olil1." cUhing him in this \\ ay lh. t 1\1~ race shoulc..l be! 
ubJcct to all the other race o( tbe world. 
\nd (rom Ius r.lt!c lh, ... c bl:lck are Jc.-;cendt:d, as \\ rotc 
the \rchbi hop 1>on l'odcrk of l oledo. ,lid J o>q,lll1s in 
/ h.. book on the: '/II/III";,'IlX 0/ ,,,, Jr.,'", and "'alter, 
\dth other 3ulhors "ho 1M"'! spokt"n of the gCIl~raliolls 
of '\.o"h. from lhc time o( hi. going out uf the ~ \rk.N 
The: \\ ill o( \ nt.1m C;on~.d\'~z to ,eturn to that land, (or 
• 1(1 lhe IH;\ fund p.:IIU 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUiNEA. 55 
desire of the ransom and profit he would get, was not so 
great as his desire to serve the Infant his lord-and there-
fore he asked leave to go on this journey, saying, that 
(forasmuch as he perceived the great desire his Grace hadl j<,~ 
to know part of that land) if that were not sufficient whic~ 
he had ascertained from tha~l1~,* that he should give 
him license to go and ransom him and the other captive 
youths with him. 
For as the Moor told him, the least t!iey would give "~'?~~'"' 
them would be ten Moors, and)t was better to save te 
souls t~ee-for though they were~, yet had th- /' r;,l,' 
s.ouls like the others, ~~~ ,~~~ /:!:2lii ~Z thc:se blacks were I_ \Lo-- + 
~~?f the lineage of1he MoorsJ but were Gentiles, and so br\:1-1..~ 
the better to bring into the path of salvation.71 fH"t· o..l 
2. A 
Also he said that the blacks could give him news of landj q-~ 1':' 
much further distant, and he promised that when he spoke ,,¥ ,. :,... l . 
about the traffic with the natives, he would find means to [,;~ ....... " c. (.' 
learn as much news as possible. 
The Infant answered all this and said that he was! 1---
obliged by his offer, and that he not only desired to have O.b" 
knowledge of that land, but also of the Indies, and of the 
land of Prester John, if he could" 
AtU-.l...... - -=<1' u...'i 
Antam Gon~alvez made ready to go with his captives, 
and beginning his voyage, met with so great a tempestI f \.cr- _c...l 
that he had to return again to Lisbon, whence he set out. T'(>_ 
And there happened to be there a gentleman of the 
Household of the Emperor of Germany, who had attached 
himself to the Household of the Infant with the intention 
~oin~ ~~, where he desired to be made a knight, 
but not without first doing so much for his own honour, as 
meri ted such a rev·lard. 
His namewas Balthasar, and certainly, as we understand, GSevl'S"t-l<. .. his heart did not fail him in following out his good purpose ;-U-' e
__ 0F l I 
"'I- Adahu. t ~[ohammcdans proper.. ~ t- • 
c,~ 
AZURAR,\'S CIIRO~ILI.L Q) T HE 
f.,r with great honollr he recei\cd his knighthood, first 
performing very notable dceds "'ith his own right hand, as 
you may read at greater length in the history of thc 
Ki ngdom. 
And he said many times that he much desired, beforc 
he left that land of Portugal, to see a great tempest, 
that he might speak of it to those \\ho had never seen 
one. 
*\nd certainly his fortune wa.; no niggard in accom-
pli hing his wish, for he happened to be \\'ith Antam 
Gon~alvcll 8S We baxc aid. seeking to 0 and .see that 
, before he I~ft~' and the temp",t \las so great 
that it W3.S a man'c! they escaped destruction. H owe\'cr 
they returned again La the "orage. and arriving at the 
boundaries of that land \\'here the ran:om bad to be madc, 
the)' resch'cd to put on hore that :'I!oori:b noble, that he 
might go and m~k rc dr his ransom at th;P~e \I'hcre 
he had agre:d to meet Antom Gon~aket again. 
The ~loor was 'erl' \\ell clad in garments gi"," him by 
the rn fant, who consider~-d that, for the c. 'cellencc of Ill' 
nobilit). thaI he had 3Ix\\'" the other>, If he recched benefits, 
he would be able 10 be of profit to nis benefactor' by 
<:lIcouraging hi Owl1 ~'Ople and bringing them to traffic. 
nut (1' ~ n a,,; he w:t.s (r:-c. b forgot \cr) qukklr all about 
) his promi"",', on the sccurilr o( \I hi'h ,\ntam Gon~ah'el 
had tru l:d him, thinking that the nobility he di pla)'~cl 
would be th clue( hindrance o( 3n ' br< ach o( (,lith on his 
p:lrt, but his d~"(cit thene -forth \I "rned aU our men no! 
to lru lone:: of that race c.·c pl under the: most certain 
!k.~Uril)·. 
And no\\' ,\ntam (jon~aJ\'(!,. enlerlng Ih~f)..:Qur' • 
with hi ship Cor, pace o( (our Ie.) ues, dropped anchor, 
.1nd \\~ilcd for C\t;1l cla)!'I without getting ,\ m ':"3gl~ from 
DISCOVERV AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 57 
any, or a glimpse of one single inhabitant of that land; 
but on the eighth day there arrived a Moor seated on a 
white camel, and another with him, who gave a message 
that they should await the others who would come and 
make the ransom, and that on the next day they would 
appear, as in fact they did. ~~..l..r <. '" 
And it was very clear that those J!-.ouths* were in great t ~ t 1,,-
honour among them, for a good hundred Moors, male 
and female, were joined in their ransom, and Antam Gon- i ~ rUt. 
<.(alvez received for his two caetives, ten blacks, ~cL,..Ckf'--'" 
female, [rom various countries-one Martin Fernandez, the '~~~Cc_' 
Infant's Alfaqueque,t managing the business between the C7-t I'I 
parties.73 
And it was clear that the said Martin had great know-
l~sh tongue.,{<: 1I:e Eas under§too~_i'n;'?ng 
these people, where the other~, who was Moor by 
nation, could only find one person to understand him. 
And besides the blacks that Antam Gon~alvez received 
in that ransom, he got also a little gold dust and a shield 
of ox-hide, and a number of ostrich eggs, so that one day 
there were served up at the Infant's table three dishes of 
the same, as fresh and as good as though they had been '4 . (.1... .. 
the eggs of any other domestic fowls. And ,ve may well 
presume that there was no othet Christian prince in this 
~ of Christendom, \~O had _dishes like t~c;,_ upon his 
table. 
And according to the account of those Moors there were 
merchants in that part, who t·raded in that gold,74 which it 
seemed was found am0ng them; but the Moorish noble 
never returned to fulfil his promise, neither did he remember 
the benefits he had received. 
And by thus losing him, Antam Gon,alvez learnt to be 
cautious where before he was not. And returning to the 
'* Our capt1ves. t Ransomer of captives. 
58 .\ZL'!(.\R.\·S (IIRO~l( LE or TIlE 
I nfant, hiS lord, hc rcccilcd his rCllard, and so did thc 
German kniglll, who aftl.:rw.1rus rcturnet.1 to his own land 
10 great honour, and with no small largess from the Infant. 
CI1.\PTI·R X\'II 
110\\ • 'uno Tnjl;\nt \\cot to Ihesland of G..:!t. 3nd o( the :-,.toors 
th.ll he tool . 
... 0 the c matters weOt on incrca iog little by little, anti 
people took courage \0 follo\\ lha' loutc~"vmc to "cr\"c,othelS 
to .1It honour other, with the hope of profit although 
c~lch l)( thc:-oc two lhinR~ bringcth the other with it: that is, in 
scrdnR they profited thcm:ooch'cs and incrca ... cd their honollr 
as Hell \nd in the y<.:ar orChrisl, 14H tht: In(ant caU"L·J 
another Cell a\'e' to u(; armed, and bade cnlbark in it that 
noble knight. :\ uno rrL tam, \\ ith ~1l'lC olhcr I,eoplc, and 
pr;ll ipal'}' tho'c of Ius 0\\11 hou:chold, .\nd pursuing-
thclr \Oy.lgC. the.:) .ul"!n:d .ll Lapc Branco.  
. \nd tn ing to go further, they p.1 :-oed thc ":'aid Cape 
about lwcnt) ·6\1: lc:tgu~ , and.:tw .t lillIe i lalld~ the 
name (If ,duch thc~' •• rten\, rd found to bl".r l~ctc .\110 
from lhl L Innd lhcy now .-.\W that l,\I.:nlr. . thc C,ltl('l.·SI m.ldt: 
o( \\ Oftt.i, had ~cl out ,md in them n number of people, but 
nil nnke..d, not so much ~ r lhe m::ro of S\, ,mmin~ in the 
\\ .1tCI,.1 for lhelr ancient cu'tom 
,\ncl the)' j Hlme,"L" in SULh \I i c that the) h"d th ir 
bothe ..I. In the C.1110~ and their Ie..' in the" ,-\ter, and u'c..:d 
thc...--sc I help th III til: their 10" Ing- .15 If the~ ha.d been ("lar~) 
,md III ~ach lxiii( there \\ en.:: lhrcc {"It four 'of the natln,:s. 
\nd IJcllu (hi \\a:;.1. mattlr \,hcIC (,lUI" Inel1 h.t<J had :-.() 
Illll c 'prrICl1C~ when thl') ".l\\ them froll\ a di~t.\IlCl" 
• \1 UII11 
/ 
D1SCO\'ER\, AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 59 
they thought they were birds that were moving so j and 
though they were rather different in size, yet they thought 
it might well be that they were birds, in a p"art of thev,orld ) 
where other marvels greater than ~vere ~aid to ~~ 
But as soon as they percei ved that they were men, then 
were their hearts clothed with a new joy; and most of all 
because they saw them so placed that they were well able to 
take them. But they were not able to make a large boot~ 
because of the smallness of their boat: for when they had)-<.~ ~ 
hauled fourteen captives into it,. with the seven men of the 
caravel who made up the crew, the boat was so loaded 
that it could hold no more, 
And it booted not to return, for such terror had come 
upon our adversaries, and they were so quick in taking 
flight, that before they arrived at the island, some had 
{ p'~rished,* and the others escape.d. But in achieving this 
'capture they experienced two contrary feelings: first of 
all, the pleasure they had was very great to see them- \ r< -t-. 
selves thus masters of their booty, of which they could 
make profit, and with so small a risk; but on the other 
side the.y had no little grief, in that their boat was so 
small that they were not able to take such a cargo as they ,"- \'-'-
desired, But yet they arrived at the island and captured ? 
I\.. 
fifteen other .Moors. 
And very ncar this island they discovc:-red another, in ... 
which there were an infinity of royal herons j which appeared 1'-"- _ ...J  
to go there to breed, as in fact they did, and with these our l 
men found great refreshment. And so Nuno Tristam 
returned ,with his booty, so much more merrily, th,a n at the 1& ~" ~ 
first, as It had the advantage of being greatg _than the 
{£rmer, and had been wall further off; and also because he 
had no companion with whom he \vould have to make an 
equal division of the same. 
* By drowning. 
60 AZI:R.\R. \ " C II RO~ [(LE OF Til E 
The reception and reward which the Infan t ga"e him [ 
~mit to ": ritc down here, ror I think it superfluous to repeat 
It every time. 
\ 
CH. PTER \:\" 11 1. 
lIow L1nc;a.rOte required Ikense (rom tbe Infant lO go with his ships 
to CUllle.3. 
IO F a truth the condition of the people, as Li\")' aith, is ueh that men arc alwars found to asperse great action., 
c 'pccially at (he begmning; and it appearelll to me that 
II  this is through not hadng knowledge of the results, for the man o£ faint hearl, \\ hen he sccth the ba e and tart of great 
c"enL', ahnys thinketh them more formidable than they 
really are. and because his 'pint j. not sufficient (or the 
accomplLhmcOl of the e deed, he bearetn along" ith him 
a \ err natural doubt II hether they are capable of bell1g 
performed. . nd thi, appe"cth to be \'er)" well prO"Cd b}' 
he deed, of our prince. For at the beginning of the 
c .Ionisation of tnc i land', pc-ople murmured as greatly as 
if he were spending 'orne part of their property on it: and 
basing their doubt, upon this, the)" gos,ipped about it until 
they decl.ro I hi \lork was :tbsolutcly impossible, and 
judgod that it could nn r be accomplI hed at all. nut 
• fter the 1n f. • nt began to people th e i land and to ,hcw 
lhcse ~rson ho\\" lhey ct)uld profit by the new disco\"t~rcd 
and I ,lnd a.flcr the fruit. of tho:--e countrlcs began to apPl,,;ar 
in ['ortuC,,1 in (,,, greater abulld, nce, then those who had 
Oeclt for(;mosl in compl.lil1t J.;rcw quid, and with soft \·oices 
pmised \lhat (ho) had >0 loudly and pubhcl)" decried. 
And jll t the .Imc Ihe)' dId in the commencement of 
till conquc.; l I for tn the nr:-.t YC:lr, . .. cein~ the great equip. 
mcnt thilt the In{;uH In ..l dc, with . u h g-rc.ll expense. the~c 
f 
DISCOVERV AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 61 
busybodies left off attending to their own affairs, and (9 \'1-">< ~ '. 
occupied themselves in discussing what they understoo(~c.-o E' ...... ''l:! 
very little about; and the more slowly the results came in ~ 
of the Infant's undertaking, the more loudly did they blame \.- \, ~ 
it. And the worst of it was that besicles what the vulgar I'c' J' 
said among themselves, peepJe 0f more importance talked ~ (€.. ; "'-
about it in a mocking manner, declaring that no pr0fit-k , '(<.-r~r 
would result from all thi·s toil and exp,ense . . I ~ ro.t f (, ('-l l 
But when they saw the first M~o;~"C-:Ph~~S 8ro~~ht"<f\ -0~:;"" 
hom~) and the second cargo ~_that followed these, they N ,,,coTo 
became already somewhat doubtful about the opinion they ~ " 
had at first expressed; and altogether renounced it wh~n 
they saw the third consignment that Nunc Tristam brought~c{ Cr..~ 
home, captured in so short a time, and with so little trouble ; ~ 
and constrained by necessity, they confessed their mistake, 
considering themselves foolish f0r not havin.g know~ it~~~ C 
before. And so they were forced to turn theIr blame lntQ 't _ ,I 
public praise j for they said- it was plain the Infant was _ ..!>,+ 
another Alexander; and their covetousness now began to (,. _'1-U... 
wax greater. And, as they saw the hGuses of Gthers full -+l\ --(. 
to overflowing of male and female slaves, and their property 
increasing, they thought about the whole matter, and 
began to talk among themselves. M: ~ (' I 
And because that after coming back from 1?ngier, thep~t r; f I !I} ( 
Infant usuallt< rem"ined always in the kingdom of Algar~lJt<lf.e§ 
by reason o.(hi:f ~~w; which he was then havingouilt, and f 
because the booty that his captains brought back was 
discharged aLLagos, therefore the people of that place 
were the first to move the Infant to give the", license to ;, 
go to that land whence came those Moorish captives." i~-J: e..t -
For no one could go there with an armed ship without I"", ' 
the express permission of the Infant, as the King had])#"t ~ 
granted him in the same charter in which he presented him ~""'A!\'C 
with the Royal Fifth, as you have seen above. 
And the first who interposed to beg for .this license, was 
\ZlJR.\I'. \ ' CHRO:-:ICLE OF TilE 
a sq uire, who had been brought up from early routh in the 
1 louschold of the Infant and was now married and become 
.\Imoxarife · for the King in thaI town of Lagos. 
And because he was a man of great good sense, he 
understood well hal\' the matter stood, and the profit that 
Ih e would be able to gain by hi - expedition, if God guided him, so that he could arrive at tb at land. 
\ And when he had pondered well this plan, he began to 
speak or it witb some of hi friends, stirring them up to 
join him in that action . 
. \nel this matter was not hartl for him to compass; for 
that he was Yer)' well belo\·cd in the place and the inhabi-
l.tots "ere in general men of honour. always rcady to exert 
themsel\'es for il hare in good things and especially in 
n 1\ al contC5LS. because their town was on the coast and 
they were much more on slupboard than on land. So 
l..an~al'ote prepared six aimed caravel: to carr)' out his 
purpose and poke t the Jnfanl about a license; sa~ ing 
that he Ix.-ggcd he would grant it hun that he migh t do 
Jum . crdcc, a<> \\ ell ol obt~lin honour and profit fur 
111m if. 
And he (l"d\·e hIm an account of the people that were 
gOing with him, and of the car€lvcJ- that Lhc\" "ere taking. 
And the: Infanl \\a \"en gl,.d of this <I"d at once C0111-
manded his b.1nncr~ tu be m.tde, \\ ilh the eros of the 
Order of Jesus Chri t, (Inc (If \\hich c.lch car.:wc!1 \\as to 
hoist. 
• \ Culh:ctol of 1'.. \:s. 
, 
DISCOVERY A"ND GONQUEST OF GUINEA. 63 
CHAPTER XIX. 
,,,-Tho weTe the Captains of the other Caravels, and of the first booty 
that they made. 
THE chief captaiN, as we have said, was Lan<;arGte; the 
second was Gil Eannes, whom w€ have noticed as the first 
to pass the Cape of Bojador; besides these, there were 
there-Stevam AffonsQ a noble man, who afterwards died 
in the Canary islands, Rodrigo_Alvar€z, lohn Di<!Z.,. a ship-
owner, andj,Q!1n Bernald~z, all ~f whom together \",ere very 
well prepared for the expedition." 
And pursuing their voyage, they arrived at the Isle of 
:::,~eroE~ on the eve of Corpus Christi Dav, where they 
t-( ." rested a little and refreshed themselves on the multitude of 
...-' ...".".t ;) young birds that they found there, for it was the breeding 
~~ <t season. 
Then they took counsel about their intended actions and 
Lancrarote began to set forth his reasons in this manner :-Cr-
"My friendsge".~a~e( left our land to do service~ .~.cC. 
and to th~ who may expect from us with 
good reason some performance to his advantage; both from 
the bringing up that some of us have had of him; and 
because we are men of such a kind that very shame should 
force us to do more and greater things than any who came 
here before. For with s£h-atl~et,""it~~d be matter for 
great shame to turn back iO'l'OiTugal without a worthy J ~ 
~ And because the Infant hath learnt, by some of 
those Moors whom..fjNuno Tri~brought home, that in the 
Island of Naar, whichLfi~cfo~ere are little less than 
'-;00 souls; it seemeth good to me therefore that Ivlartin 
Vicente and Gil Vasquez, who have already been by it and 
S""een wh~iC1leth, should go with these boats, and with 
those men only \\rho can row, against one side of the island, 
and that if they can find it, the)' should return quickly 
AZURARA', CIIRO)lICLE OF TIIF: 
along the coast until they reach 1I , for we, God willing, 
will set saiJ \6cry early in the morning and go towards the 
island; so that on their returning we hall be 0 near as to 
be able to hear the news the), bring and take coun .1 as to 
wh:lt it bcho"es us to do." 
Lan~arote, as [ aid, was a man of great good sense, as 
all those with him knew well: so that the)' did not care to 
examine his reasonsi but all exclaimed with one voicc, that 
it was \'cl')~ good lI'hat he had said.  
. nd so these two captains made read)' to go (orth-
with, and' ther took with them thi(t):..mcn, to wit, ix 
in( each boat, anJ set out from lhe)sl!nd where they were, 
about sunset. :\nd ~wing all that night, the)' arri,'ed 
about daybreak at the islan..!!.. tbat the)' sought. A nd as 
soon as the)' recogniled it by the signs that the Moors 
had told them 0(, the)' hugged the shore (or orne way 
until they arrived, as it grew light, at a settlement of 
~Ioors, which wa, clo e to the beach; where \I ere collected 
logether all the people o( the island. .-\nd sccing this, our 
men stopped for a while to consult what lhe)' ought to do, 
·\nd ther ,\ erc brc:ally in a.-trait oct\\ i~t two courses, 
for the) did not know II hether lhe)' :hould relurn to the 
caravel:, as lheir chief capl:tin had ordcrc..'"<i them, or whether 
ther .hould at once attack the settlement (hat \\'as so ncar, 
.-\nd while Ihe)" Were still undetermined, each one think-
ing for him df, )Ianin Yicente arose and said "Of a suret.", 
our doub(~ gin: us food for thought. fOf, if we tran:-ogress 
the order of OUI cap ,lin, we shall (all into a mistake, and 
all the more so if :lny d~lInage or d lUger were to come upon 
us, (or then il \I ould be an <>co:., lon, nnt on I)' o( loss In 
ours I\'cs, but o( our bing ,'er)' badl~ reputed. n the 
otht-'r hand. we ha\c come hefe chu;·t1y to procure an int~r­
I ·ter lhrough whom the Inf.lIll our l ord may get l1e"s o( 
hi land. ....1  mntter he gre.HI)" dc-:-'l1"c~_ .,~ all of you kno\\. 
But now \\c arc Ml ncar this .. cttlem nt th3l, ;'is it j, 
: 
DISCOI'ERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 65 
already morning, we shall not be able to get off to the 
caravels without being discovered, and if discovered we 
cannot hope, after that, to obtain an ~teD?ret~5 r:h:~?; for 
these Moors will all have fled on to the continent, which as 
you see is close by-aye, and not omly'the inhabitants of 
.Qlis1ia~ but also those of the other islands near at hand, 
being at once warned and prepared by these from" here~ 
And so our journey will bring in but small profit, and 
the Infant our Lord, for this. turn, will not have what he 
desireth from this land. But it 'lPpeareth to me, and this 
is my counsel, if you agree, that we attack the IVloors whilst 
they are unprepared; because they will be conquered by 
the disunion that will prevail amongst them through our 
arrival, and, though \ve gain nothing there save an inter-
preter, we should be contented with that. And as for dis-
obeying our ~P't~'j&ts · or'd<:!2. provided God assist us to do 
something good, as I hope He will, it should not be reckoned 
against us, and, even if it be, \ve shall be lightly pardoned 
for two reasons. First, because if we do not fight it is cer- ""r 
tain that our coming here will be all in vain; and the 'cle;{gn '. 
~
of the Infant our Lord will fail by reason of our being dis-
covered; and secondly) because,although we are commanded 
to return we are not forbidden~t. Arid to fight 
seemeth to me to be reasonable i for we are here thirty in 
number, and the Moors, as you have heard, are only 170 
or 180 all told, of whom fifty or sixty should be fighting 
men; and so, if it seem good to you, let us not delay any 
longer, for the day is coming on quickly enough, and, if we 
delay) our expedition and purpose will be of little avail 
indeed. 1!J 
jtll o.ar~plie that his counsel was very good, and that they 
would go forward at once. And when all this reasoning 
was done, they looked towards the settlement and saw that 
the :Moors, with their women and children, were already 
coming as quickly as they could out of their dwellings, 
F 
A/l"RARA'S CIIIHP,ICLE elF TilE 
because lhe)' had caught sight o( their enemies. But they. 
shouting out " t James", ...... t. George", "Portugal", at 
once attacked them, killing and taking all ther could . 
Then might you sec mothers for ... aking their children, 
and husoond:i their wh'es, each :>lri\'ing to escape as best 
\ he could 'orne drowned thcmselves in the \\atcr ; othcrs 
thought 10 escape br hiding under thei r huts; others sto\\"ed 
theIr children am()n~ the sea-weed, \\ here our men found 
them a(tcr\\ ards, hoping lher would thus c~cape notice. 
\nd at last ollr Lord God, \I ho gi'dh a reward (or 
cver), goo<l deed, willed that (or the tuil tl.ey h,o under· 
gone in hi sen icc, ther should that da~ uctain de tory 
o\'cr their enemies, as wel1 as :1. guerdon and a payment ((.r 
I "II their Ibour and expcn. e (r they took capti,'c o( 
I those :"\1 oor.· , \\hu \\ith men, women. and children, 10 ;, 
besides tho"c th"t perished dnd were killed. .\no \I hen 
thc baltic \\ as o'·cr. all praised God (or the gre"t mercy 
that he had :hc\\ 11 hcm, in that he had w"led to i,"e them 
~uch Ll victory .lnd with ° Liule damage to thcm:-:eh C".  
•\  nd ." soon as th<)" had thclr capti. . e: put ,,,eel) in their 
boat • and other' secure!), tied on land l>eouse the boab 
\,ere ma.1I and tI'c\" \\ere not abll" tu ~tore so ma.n~ in 
them ill once, tl C\' cnt a man to be :to far a.s po. :ible along 
the shore, t.) ><.'C if he could get" hI o( the cara, cis. lie 
ct out at once and olle full k.l!!lJC (f om the pLcc where 
the others" ere :staying, he hacJ ~ighl o( the car.lvcl .... comllli-. . 
(or I. ..l n~r >le. he had promised. haJ ~lartcd a~ ~oon as, 
It "'jl clawn 'ow the :..cout put . \, hite cn~ig-n on his 
pike. and bel'll' n tv make sign. til the c. ra,· b \\ ith it, and 
thcy as soon a theye pied him, dlHctcd their cour~c t('l 
th.lt I Mt \\hcrc th -r "the ign.ll. \nd on their \\.1)" 
thc\ li~htctl on l ch;mncl thruugh "hieh the boat .... cuuld 
c.l,iI) go to the Island.ancl (onln'llh the, laull(het.l 01 :--m.111 
lM'Ml tht'\' h.ld, .lIId p1l1l\(1 to bud to helr tI1<: Ile,,~. 
\\1" '1 \\,1 told them u'u\ "hit h\ I' C" (II " ,\I t, th It: 
: 
DISCOvERY AND CONQUEST OF CUINEA. 67 
awaited them. And he said also that they ought to land 
and help them to bring off to the caravels th0se captives 
who re'mained on shore under guard of seven men, who 
were staying with them on the island. For the other boats 
were alr~ady coming along the shore with the other Moors 
they were carrying. 
And when Lanc:farote, with those squires and brave men 
that were '''rth him, had received the like news of the Rood 
success that God had granted to those few that went to the 
island; and saw that they had en·terprised so great a deed; 
and that God had been pleased that they should bring it 
to such a pass; they were all very joyful, praising loudly 
the Lord God for that he had deigned to give such help to 
such a handful of his Christian people. 
But to the man who asketh me if their pleasure at the 
affair was altogether sincere, and without being in S€lme way 
feigned, even though slightly, I _would say II nay"-for those 
on whom God hath bestowed stout and lofty hearts, cannot 
feel really contented if they are not present at every brave 
deed they reasonably can meet with; nor are such altogether 
without that envy which, in a like case, is not one 0f the 
chief vices, but may rather be named a virtue, if.it rest on 
a sound reason, as with..zood men and true. 
After the Moorislf1>risoners had all been transferred 
from the boats to the caravels, some of our Christian folk 
were left to watch them and the rest landed, and went 
over the- l1 ra:ifd, until they found the others under guard of the seven men <Df wh0m we have spoken before. And 
when they had collected all their prisoners together, it 
was already late) for in that land there is a difference in WG.""<.-~ ( 
the length of days from ours; and the deed was all the 
greater, by reason of the distance of the caravels from the 
scene of· action and of the great number of the Moors. ,Cfr--
Then our men rested and enjoyed themselves as their 
share of the toil required. But Lant;arote did not forget to 
F 2 
GS \ZlJR.\R.\' CJlH.U~ l lLE Of TilE 
\ learn fr..Q!!L the i\roori ~~\\"hat it \\'as his duty 
to learn, about the place in which he: was no\\' staying 
Ia nd its opportunitie' , and he ascertained o f them by his 
interpreter, that all about there were other inhabited 
i,land,', where ther would be able to make large captures 
with little trouble, 
\nd so, taking counsel about (his, th~r determined to go 
and seck the said islands,"!.' 
CII \I'TER XX 
Ho\\ he) \\ I'nt 1 . the island of flger, torI of the \It <Irs th.u the)' 
took. 
n,' the ne,'t da)", which was Froda)', they made ready 
their bt1<ll!', . nlee the Caf~\\ els had to slar \\ here they" ere, 
.tIld put in them ,111 the pr{wi -ions they nceded for 1\\0 
d;1rS only, as they (lid not intend making a more protracted 
absence from the ships. ,\bout thirlY men embarked in 
the be ls, namely. L:ln~arotc and the other captaills of 
the eara,el ,,1I1d with them squilcs and good men lhat 
wcre there \nd the)" look \\ ilh them two of tho.;.c 
:<'100<- whom they had taken captin', for they had told 
th m lhal lt the 1 I nel or Tiger.'" w hid, was five lea uc' 
off there \\ .1~;l <:llicment o( .\Ioon; cont.lining about 150 
in ... 11. .. \nd a soon a' It \\ as morning. lhc.:), took their 
Icpnrturc, commending thcmseh s all ttl t;od n.:ry 
tic 'alit h, .nel b"l:glllg fv' grace lhat II c would so gUide 
h m in their '\ ar. that lie mi~ ht Lx: sen cd and His holy 
( ,Itholic failh ", alt«1. And the) weIll on Ullli\thc)' came 
to the ,lid i.l.mo of I iccr, and .1' ... oon ilS they h.ld leaped 
on hor the ~J )Of they brought \\ Ith tht'rn blllth.-d theln to 
tt'cmC'lIt \\ hrrc It HI hcClllll th :\il r", ~.I It le,\ 1 the 
rClhr IMlt CI( Iho .. e- Ih.lt ","IC' 11l1he iSI.Uhi. 
lllSCOVERY AliD CONQUEST OF GUIN':A. 69 
But when they came to it they found it empty, because 
for some days) as they learnt afterwards, that place had 
been deserted. Then fearing that their Moor was lying to 
them (in order to get them into some place far from there, 
where they would find such a force of Moors that they 
would perchance suffer loss), they took counsel on what 
they ought to do. And before they had determined any-
thing, they began to beat the MOOT, and to threaten him\ ~*-L.... 
to make 111m speak the truth. But he said that he would 
bring them to a place where t~e Moors werc, and that if 
they went at night, they would be able to take or to kill 
the greater part of them: but by day, as they were going 
then, they could not reach there ~thout being' seen; and, 
as soon as they were perceived, t~~Y· could place them:-
~ "I-'-..QCl-_.~ 
selves in safety, if they did not dare to fight with them* 
On the Moor saying this, it was not believed by all, but 
some said that it would be well to return to the ships, and 
there to agree on what they ought to do; others said that 
at all events they ought to go forward and seek for that 
settlement to which the Moor affirmed that he knew well 
how to guide them; because in re~son that iii~JcIto ught 
not to have more fighting men on it than the other isle 
of Naar, where they had already made their first booty; 
for it was not so great nor so convenient for a large settle-
ment. 
Thus they were arguing, each for his own view and not 
agreeing on any final resolution for their action, when Gil "'-
....E. anne~, a good knight and valiant, of whom we have spoken ~t \ ~, 
in another place, answered and said: "I see well that the '-
delay in agreeing on what we ought to do in this matter 
(of which we should have good hope with the grace and 
favour of our Lord J~sus Christ), may cause us some 
if. "The), ') of course are U the I\-[oors "; " them II the Christians. 
t Tiger. 
;0 
hilldrallC(: anu ~mall profit, in that all division, espec i all~' 
among people so rew in number as we areJ jg \'cry weaken· 
ing, and m.y bring about our -ruin, with little honou r to 
ollrsel\'es and littleen'lce to God and the In fant our 
Lord, \\'herefore I advise that with this ~[oor should 
go rourteen or fHlct!n men, to,\ anl ~ that part where he 
saith that the "Ioors arc, till the: scc the !tcttlement or 
certain place of their abode, and as soon as they ha, 'e 
scc!n it, that they. hould relurn to where al1 the others are 
waiting. wlthout stirring until the return or the \·anguard . 
.And then "ith the grace of t;od. that we should all set out 
together and go to_seek them. J\no in r(.;a"Wn there ought 
not to be so man)' men of \\ ar :.b there were in the isle of 
.l,U. thal we ought not to conquer them III fight, with the 
aul or our Lord )00, in whom i~ all our succour. who by 
II i, grace ,"useth the fc,,' to conquer and the !;reater 
number to be O\'crcOmc by the less. But no\\' ir ~'ou a.rc 
. atisncd \\ilh \\h\\l 1 ha\"!.: ·aid . \\e ought not to delar to 
r. II to \\ (lrk I 
, \ll \\ere \cry content wit 1 hi ... s cech, :a.~·ing th:tt it W3:; 
'cr)' I:ood and that they:hould at once do a, Gil E.nnes 
.aid. 
o . ' lUce lOU '111', a1d Lan\.lrote. "agrc(,; in thi~ counsel of 
(;i) l~al\nc!o, I ,'ould \\ i -h to go ,\ 11h tho!-'c who arc to 
sc.uch for the >culement: ,IOJ I think that it will be well 
for (;iI Fannc to lJ"" ilh '011 others :lnd to guard the 
boo LS, llHtt you ma.)' :-.uccour u" if the m.ltler c lmeth to 
such a p:t So.1 to rcquirc it ..J lld ho"c\cT it be. 1 a·k him-
to rclll. III here' 
And ."though lril I, .lIln(" r lu .. cd .t1 fir. t to rc:main, ~ ct 
Hlg -hp\\ lh rt"quc'Il be .tme a command ~inc he..: who 
"",de: ,t \\ .lS hi captain. and c ·rf..~ially a ... all the others 
agrcc;d in this n.; IUC 1. (;II Fanncs h.\d in ;1Ily ca .. e to star: 
c. I tnne. 
I 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 
anti Lan~arote, with fourteen or fifteen men, went off ()...-I--A;;; c~ 
towards the spot where the Moor was guiding them. 
And when .they were already half a league from where 4-<-1:: 
the others were staying, t hey saw nine natives, male and q tl"l. tI.: 
female, marching along, with ten or twelve asses laden with t--\,.\ l 
turtles, who were a00ut to pass over to the island of Tiger, ~ 
which was a league from them, for at low water it is possible \.l......t.L... 
to cross from one to the other on foot. And as soon as 
they saw them, they ran to them, and without any defence 
availing them in aught, they took them ail, except one who 
turned and fled to give ne\.vs to the others that were in the 
village. And as soon as they had taken these Vrlsonei-s, ~ 
they dispatched them to where Gil Eannes was stati0ned ; 
Lan~arote sending him word to put a guard over those 
Moors, and that he should follow after them and bring all 
the men he had there, adding that he thought they would 
find some people with whom to fight. '1" ,I ~.-
And as soon as the captives reachea ' them,- they bound 
them tightly a nd placing them in the boats, left with 
them one man only on guard and at once started after 
Lan~arote, following steadily upon his track, till they 
arrived where Lan<;arote was with his men . 
N ow after ~ taking of th9'_ Moors, whom they had sent 
to the boats, th~~C~m~n t l~ad g~ne on where the l'vloor 
guided them, and arrived at a village from which the 
inhabitants had all departed, being warned by the Moor 
who had escaped when the bthers were taken. --
And then they sawall the people that were in the island, 
standing on an islet to which they had passed over in their 
canoes: but the Christians were not able to get at them, 
save by swimming; and they did not dare to retreat, 
lest it should give courage to the enemy, who were many 
more in number than they were. And so they waited till 
If Gil Eannes1 men. t I.(. ) Lan~arOle'$ first party. 
-, 
1-
all their other men had come up;' and seeing that el'cn 
wben united, the)' would not be able to do the enem), any 
barm, by reason : of the inlet that \\'a' between tbem, the)' 
determined to return to their boats, which \\'cre t\\'o full 
leagues aI[, 
And on their reLOrn, the,' entered th~'nd searched 
it thorough I)', to see if the), could find ao) thing in the 
hOU es. . \nd in 5;earching the:. . lightc--d on sc,·en Or eigbt 
~Ioorish women. ",hom they took '\"lth tbem, gi~lOg thanks 
to God for their good (ortune, \\ hien they had obtained 
through his grace: and so the)' turned !homsch'cs to their 
\ boats. \\ I\",h ther rcached about ,,",set time, And thel' 
rested and en.toyed themselves that night,like men that had 
toiled har<1 in the day. 
CHAPTER \:':1. 
1 low the,. lllll~rotc anti the uth<:I", f'etun1l.:d In llnnr l>Cab to T bel, 
and: o( the ~loors lhat tbey (ook. 
\I.Ti!(I{.'GtI tbe lI"C<lbity of (he Oll:l\t obhll""d them to 
_pend it chietly in Ic~ping, ~'Ct ulcir will \I ere so bent 
upon (his ell rile that their thoughts nel'cr left what la)-
befo", tbem. \nd ><) tbey (ook C<lUll cl ... to \I hat th~y 
.hould do n (he n '. '\ da) and agreed. aiter man)' I'<'.a.$0'" 
g'''''" which I omit in ardor not t make 100 lonG' a 
~to" ' Ibal tbejl .I\ould go in til boat And attack th~ 
....l liement before morning. For it ,. I~ry likel)" the)" 
said, that the 1100rs, had,,!: ,cen our Ntreat. will think tl,at 
we "enl In)' like metl in desr",-i, of being abl. . to catcb 
them. :ind, thinking :>0. \\ ill return to their CIlCamr'ltllent .. 
r 
DISCOVER\, AND CONQUEST OJ' GUINEA. 73 
and not only would their return profit us, but also the 
!::>ecurity with which they are able to repose. 
And this counsel being settled, they set off in the night, 
rowing their boats along the wast. And at the first dawn 
they disembarked a,nd attacked the village, but they found 
no one there j for t he Moors, as soon as th€y saw their 
enemies retreat on the previous day, came to the village 
but would not sleep in it, anm went and stayed a quarter of. 
a league distant, near a ford by which they passed to Tiger. 
And \vhe\il. the Christians saw tl1at they found nothing in 
the village, they returned to th'-ir boats and coasted along 
that island on th€: other side of Tiger, and ordered fifteen 
men to march along the land and look if they could see 
any Moors, or find any trace of them. And on their "vay 
they saw the Moors flying as fast as they could; for they 
had already caught sight of them, and at once all our men . _ \ I< ~" 
leaped on shore and began to run after them. But as \'I " 
yet they could not overtake --the :!Vlcor men, but only the 
women and little children, not able to run so fast, of whom.  
they caught seventeen or eighteen. 
And one of the boats, in which was John Bernaldez, 
and which was among the sma.llest in the fleet, was coasting 
the island, and they who were in this boat saw some q .... 
twenty canoes passing over to Tiger, in which we're Moorish 
men and women, great and small, in each one four or five. 
And "",ith this sight they were exceeding glad, at the first 
view of it, but afterwards they were still more grieve~(' ~ t ~ \ 
thereat. The pleasure they had was in seeing the profit and 
honour that now offered, which was the end for which they 
had come there: but the-y had great sorrow when they saw 
that their boat was so small that they could only take in a 
fcw. But with their slender oarage they followed after as 
f~st as could, till they were among the canoes; and, moved 
with pity, although thcy were heaL hen \\'ho were going 
in the boats, they sOllgh. t to kill but few of them. But it 
;.\ 
is not to be doubted that man),. who in their terror forsook 
thcir boats, pcrishccl in thc sca, 
A no somc o( them our men le(t on the rig-ht, and others 
on the le(t, and going Into the middle among them all, the)' 
chose the smallc .. t or them, b("cau .. c Ihey could get more of 
these inLO their boal, of whom they took (ourteen ; so that 
those who were captured in those two day', apa.rt from 
some who were killed, were in all forty·cight. 
And (or thi' good boot)', and all the grace that God had 
ho\\'n them in tho'c da),s, the), rendered Him much prai,e 
\ (or lIis guidance and the gre't victory lie had gil en them 
o\,er the enemies o( the faith, And \\'ith the will ,nd p.ur, 
po 'e to toil till more in 11 i: en'ice, the)' embarked again 
\
III thear boats and returned to their :hip_', which were lYIll[.!" 
fi\'e league otT. \nd here, (Ill their arri\ al, they fl..'pnsed 
them ch .~. as men who "cede() it much, (or they had toiled 
enough. BUl their rc.'pltt.- "a. . not long, for lhat \cry 
night they took coun cl ul \\ hal they ought to do ne\:t, as 
men \\ ho . lron: lo make U'C of tllnc, \\ hile they thought 
t"at the OPllO<tunil) offered (or doing their bU'inc", 
(11,\1'1'11' ,':\11 
or the re.. . on Ih t (>11 J'..ann~ ,j\t", and ho\\ lhey \\("Ilt 10 Ti~el, 
:lnd of the I n that Ihe • ( k. 
FtlR,\ ,tU II as) un 'l'e well that in council '\!h;re many 
l.lke pari. there is ah\ d\ S. much l.llklllt.; ....0  in di~cu~ ... illh 
l"ho'l t m,lHer each 01\<." ckclalC._'tf hi 1111nd but at 1.1)\ {~il I ,llln a ked them all to be. ilellt (or, a pace, ,I lid th<,) all "be, d \\ ith ,1 good \I ill Th n he be 1,11110 re.} (In \\ Ith them In thl. \\ Ie" Fnctlds 
1I.tI hrOlhc,'" • tn(' CUllllh the \\ ill or ,'ou :111 Arc f( .Id) for 
'!iomc lJl,I\(" u.:liol1, .wd 1\1 I (,\11<,:) bCL.HI C lht"lC' I" lln 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUII\L\.. 75 
talk of repose among you nor of returning to our country; 
but rather I see that each and all of you wish and require p,-cf_-\ 
to toil and labour for the common honour and profit. \ 
But where we do not agree is in that we do not clearly 
know to what ,part we ought to go in search of the afore- ~~« 'C( 
said toil, to do service to God and the Jnfant Gllr T Qrd 
And forasmuch as we are so near the isle of Tiger, as 
you all know, and in this there is so great a power of 
Moors, as these prisoners we have taken tell us ;-and as 
under the command of the Inf~nt our Lord, it is ordered 
us that we shall not meddle with it without great caution!. .S .... 
and that we are only to. .s~e if we ·can in any wise learn ¢ \-' 
abQut the people that are in th~ ~nd~nd whether their 
power is such ;5 is said ;-therefore I say that we should do 
well to go to it, and it may be [hat our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who always aideth those who do well, will ordain that we 
shall light upon some one there who may interpret for us; 
and alth(~)Ugh we accomPf-.:..s. .l\~ "o more than to see how many 
people there are in the~nd, yet it will profit us after-
wards; for the Infant our Lord will be able, knowing thel C-
power of the same, to send a fleet fit to cope with it 
and crews to match, who will be able to fight with all the 
lVIoors of the island and conquer it; which will "be of great 
service to God and to himself. And therefore let us go 
to it and land, but let us not wander far from the shore; 
for of a surety, if their numbers are great, when they see 
we are but few, and that we will not wander from the 
shore, they will discover themselves; and if we see what 
people they are it may please our Lord God, when we are 
not concerned at aught else,· to shew us some grace we do 
not think o( " 
{~. 
All considered as good what Gil Eannes said, and on 
the next day at dawn full thirty men started in the boats, 
"" E'\CC pl hi s sen ice. 
\ZCR.\R,\·~ tIlROX!tLE OJ' T H E 
and the others remained to clean the ir ships, t hat the), might 
be ready-; and ~o it \\'3 ... agreed that they should start on 
their \'oyagc home to Portugal a~ soon as those returned 
\\'ho had just started for the i.land. 
They arrived at Tig(·r at mid-day, and twenty men 
landed. while the other ten ~taycd in the boats; and the 
former went about halr a Icag--uc di tant from the shore and 
const.1otly cxplorod those places that ,eemed to them 
suitable for any people to lie in ; and afto", 'rds thoy took 
their station on a hillock and be~n to look cardull)" O\'er 
lhe island. .\nd a - lhe)' were tanding thU5, ther c~picd 
t\\·o \Ioors coming in their direction, who saw them not, 
or perad\'enturc thought that they were ~ome of the 
~Ioor. of the i:land, The,c they made for and captured, 
;tnd in ta.king them they" aw rurther off. ten ~loor~ comin;;!. 
with fifteen or twenty 1 -es laden with 6 .. h. Some n( our 
men made for them, and although they put lhemsclve::. on 
'heir defence, it plea>'Cd our Lord God tbat this their 
defence .\·.,i1ed little for lhe)' were pUl to rout and fled 
orne to one side .Uld other' to another, :tncJ so the 
'lui tian captur d them aB . 
.-\nd \\hile ther \\ere there. IWO men WCllt further on in 
front. to ec if they could de:-.cry ;tnybod) eh.c; and the~' !oi3\\" 
tn3n)' ,:\roors, who made for them:) hard a~ they could. 
J he two men turned and (1<..-0, and ga\c lhi.- news to the 
others \\ ho \\erc wnh the Pi boner'i, telling lhem to fly a .... 
fa t:l the,· could. f<lT lh.lt a great I)()\\er (If \IO<..r~ "as 
C nllng upon them, "0 the)" m.lde 011,111 lo,;cther towards 
the b at ,taking their ~apt\cs "ith them, and the ~loo" 
came aft r them .h \\ell ,1'S the\" (. mid l\nd then it 
plc.,sed our l.ord (,od \\ ho ~ucco\lrclh th ~c who g-o ill 
I J I en'lce III their d.1Ilgcr ... ~1fhj loil that t he: Chdsliall~ 
hauld I oleh the hOlt: beforc the ;"Ioors (..;lIl'1c up \\ jllt 
1 n:IUI 
: 
J)]SCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 77 
them; but before they had all got safely into their boats, 
the Moors were already among them, and fought with 
them; and only with sore troub.le did the Christians gain 
their boats. All of our men in that retreat showed their 
good qualities and their brave and ardent hearts; so that it 
would be difficult to distinguish who did best. But 
Lan~arote and a squire of the Infant, named Martin Vaz, 
were the last who got into the boats. 
N ow the lVloors were about 300 fighting men, who 
showed well that fhey meant to ,defend their land. Many 
of them were wounded during the retreat of the Christians; 
but of the Christians, by the mercy of God, not one was 
wounded. to speak of. And as soon as they had got into 
their boats with their prisoners, they started , for the spot 
where they had left the caravels, although night had 
already fallen. 
CHAPTER XXIlI. 
How they went to Cape Branco, and of what they did there. 
THEN on board it was determined that next day they ~, 
should start for Cape Branco. The which matter, as soon .:{ 
it was dawn, lheyp~t1n~';;;;~~ion, making sail for the said 
Cape, where they arrived after two days, and sume landed 
at once-about twenty or twenty-five men-to see whaf '-
the land was like; and when they were a little distance 
from where they landed, they saw a number of lVloors go 
by. fishing. And though they appeared to them to be 
rather great in number, they had a mind to attempt that: 
matter by themselves, without acquainting those who were 
in. the ships with their project; and they made after them. 
And the :l\Ioors) on seeing them, began to fly ; but when 
they saw they were so fe\\- in number, they awaited them 
\Ll,;R,IJ(A'S (HROXICJ.E lIF TilE 
as men II'ho desired to fight, in the hope of "ictor)" The 
Christians reached them, and the battl~ began, without any 
one shcwing to his cncm}' any signs of fear; and at last He 
from II hom as saith St. J ame cometh dOll'n e,'ery good 
thing, and II'ho had already gi,'cn our men such a good 
beginning and middle, as hath been said, was pleased that 
on {he end;~ they should have a complcte victory o\'er their 
4ncmie-, and tbat their li,'es should be sa,'cd and their 
honours increased, for after a little skirmish the ~[oors 
began to get the ,,'or't of it, each Aring as best he could, 
and the 'hristians, following them a long distance, took 
fourteen of tb 'm captive. besides tho« that died; and so 
with lhis VIctory. a.IllJ filled with grc'tt joy, they returned 
to their ship. And if their fortune was good against their 
enemies, it \\ a' not less good in the refre: hmcnt they bad 
afterwards, for the), had tbere man)' 'els and croll'fish,' 
II hich they found in tbe nets that the \Ioors had thrown 
alit. 
Then Lan,.rote. a a man who did not forget his fir<t 
purpose, said h~ lhought Il \\ loll. before ther departed from 
tl\.lt pine', thaI 'ome lIIen ,-hould go .lIon!; the land and 
"ce if they could nnt) any nath'e ~e:llkmcnls; and at once 
fh c set out, and lighted 011 J: settlem nt, and rc.::turned to 
teU Lan~.trOle ~I\d the oth rs. HOI although I hey set off 
vcry' ~peedily.lhcir journey was fruitlc!<>s. (or the .;\Ioors had 
c,lught il:lll of the first party, and ficu at once from that 
place, a thaI thoy ani) found one girl, who had tayed 
le"ping in the, illagc, II hom the,' took '\lth them, and 
telurning to the caf.web, nl:ldc..' ;til for Portugal. 
· .1Ined .. (I~r their bioI( \; lin, 
f 
mSCOVERY AND COKQUEST OF CUINEA. 79 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
How the caravels arrived at Lagos, and of the account that Lanc;arote 
gave to the Infant. 
THE caravels arrived at Lagos, whence they had set Qut, 
having excellent weather for their voyage, for fortune v{as 
not less gracious to them in the serenity of the 'weather 
than it had boen to them before in the capture of their 
booty. ~./ fk.- ,C.' ,. . "', \ 
And from Lagos tne news· reached the Infant, \\'ho 
happened to have arrived there a few hours before, from 
other parts where he had been for some days. And 
as you see that people are desirous of knowledge, some 
endeavoured to get near the shore; and others put them-
selves into the boats they found moored along the beach, 
and went to welcome their_ relations and friends; so 
that in a short time the news of their good fortune was 
well known, and all were much rejoiced at it. And for 
that day it sufficed for those who had led the enterprize to 
kiss the hand of the Infant their Lord, and to give him a 
short account of their exploits: after which they took their 
rest, as men who had come to their fatherland and their 
own homes; and you may guess what would be their joy 
among their wives an@ children. 
And next day Lan~arote, as -he who had taken the main 
charge of the expedition, said to the Infant: "My Lord, 
your grace well knoweth that you have to receive the fifth 
of these Moors, and of all that we have gained in that land, 
whither you sent us for the service of God and of yourself. 
I f And now these Moors, because of the long time we have 
been at sea; as well as for the great sorrow that you must 
consider they have at heart, at seeing themselves away 
'* Of their arri val. 
So AZl'RARA'S CHIW :\[CLE en TilE 
from the land o f their birth, and placed in capti"it)", without 
ha"ing a n)' understanding o f what their end is to be ;-and 
moreover because (he), ha,'c not been accustomed to a life on 
shipboard-for all these reasons are poorl)' and out of con -
dition; wherefore it seemeth to me tha t it would be well to 
order them to be taken out of the cara,'els at dawn, and to 
be placed in U,at field which lies out ide the cit)" gate, and 
there to be di"idcd into fiyc parts, according to custom: 
allli tl};!t )'our Grace should come there and choose one of 
thc'c parts. whicllC'"Cr }'OU prefer." 
The I n(ant said that he was well pleased, and on the 
nc.·t dar "cry carly, Lancrarote bade the rn a ters of the 
cara,'els that thc)' :hould put out t he caplives, and take 
them to that field, "here they were to make the divisions, 
,I he had 'aid alroad), But before the), did an), thing el. e 
in that mauer, ther look as an offering the! best of those 
;\loor5 to the Church of that place; and another lillie 
\loor, \\ho ,,({emar": became a friar of 51. Francis, lhe)' 
sent to : t. Yinccnt do Cabot "'4l where he Ih cd e\ er after 
J .lS a l ;trholic ~h'; ti:lIl, without h.\\ ing understanding 
or pl~rccption o( .tll\" other law than that true and holr Ja\\ 
111 which all \\ c ehn tian hope (or our salvation, And 
the :II oar of thaI caplure were in number! 15, 
(11.\l'TEI' X_-'" 
\\ he m (he \uthnf reo! on('th solllc\\h:u canc('mmE: ,he pit)' In-spilcd 
b) tbe ClpU eland (ho\\ thc <11\1 Ion \\.1 nt,lde. 
n,TIIOI h 'a\<'lIly I',llher who '\llh J'h) powerful hand, 
\\ ithout alteration of I"hy dh'inc (""'enec-, govern st all the 
inhl11tc cumpany of Thy t loly Ily ~ulcl (..'ontrollc!o>t all 
the re\ lution IIi hi(.!hcr worlds, di\'ided into nine 
til .t Ie: 
f 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 81 
spheres, making the duration of ages long or short ac-
cording as it plea"eth Thee-I pray Thee that my tears 
may not wrong my conscience; for it is not their religion 
but their humanity that make~h mine to weep in pity for 
their sufferings. And if the brute animals, with ~heir bestial 
feelings, by a natural instinct understand the sufferings 
of their own kind, what wouldst Thou have my human 
nature to do on seeing before my eyes that miserable com-
pany, and remembering that they too are of the generation 
of the sons of Adam? 81 • 
On the next clay, which was the 8th of the month of 
August, very early in the morning, by reason of the heat, 
the seamen began to make ready their boats, and to take 
out those captives, and carry them 011 shore, as they were 
commanded. And these, placed all together in that field, 
were a marvellous sight i for amongst them were some white 
enough, fair to look upon, and well proportioned; others 
were less white like mulattoes; others again were as black 
as Ethiops, and so ugly, both in features and in body, as 
almost to appear (to those who saw them) the images of a 
lower hemisphere. But what heart could be so hard as not 
to be pierced with piteous feeling to see that company? 
For some kept their heads low and their faces bathed in 
tears, looking one upon another; others stood groaning 
very dolorously, looking up to the height of heaven, fixing 
their eyes upon it, crying out loudly, as if asking help of 
the Father of Nature; others struck their faces with the 
palms of their hands, throwing themselves at full length 
upon the ground; others made their lamentations in the 
manner of a dirge, after the custom of their country. 
A,.,nd though we could not understand the words of their 
language, the sound of it right well accorded with the 
measure of their sadness. But to increase their sufferings 
still more, the~'e now arrived those who had charge of the 
divis ion of the captives, and who began to separate one 
from ano ber, in order to mal"" an equal partition of tbe 
fifths; and then was it needful to part fathers from SOilS. 
husbands from wi v"', br ,th"" from brothers. .:\0 respect 
was shewn either to friends or rciado!'5. but each rei. where 
his 1,,( look him. 
o jlO.ver(ul fortune. th:l with thy ",heets doest and 
undoest, compassing the matters of lhi, world as pleaseth 
thee, do thou at least put before the eyes of that miserable 
race some urderstanuing of matters to cv ..... e J L.U they may 
fc:;cet\"e some consa at'on in he midst of theu ;:,orear sorrQW', 
And) ou ho are bu r in mal< n; th. . t d' ',' n of the 
capo 6, look .m pi') upor so much miser] , and see h w 
th~' cling )nc to th other, so that \'OU can hard y separa.te 
hem. 
no h, could finish "at partftion withOllt ,'cry great 
;;hem in re .art thl> 
: 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 83 
favours) as a man who sought to gain but small treasure 
from his share; for of the forty-six souls that fell to him 
as his fifth, he made a very speedy partition of these;* 
for his chief riches lay int his purpose; for he reflected 
with great pleasure upon the salvation of those souls that 
before were lost. 
And certainly his expectation was not in vain; for, as we 
said before, as soon as they understood our Janguli.ge they 
turned Christians with very little ado j and I who put 
together this history into this volume, saw in the town of 
Lagos boys and girls (the children and grandchildren of 
those first captives, born in this land) as good and true 
Christians as if they had directly descended, from the 
beginning of the dispensation of Christ, from those who 
were fi r5t baptised. 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
How the Infant Don Henry m.ade Lanc;arote a Knight. 
ALTHOUGH the sorrow of those captives was for the 
present very great, especially after the partition was 
finished and each one took his own share aside (while 
some sold their captives, the which they took to other 
districts); and although it chanced that among the 
prisoners the father often remained in Lagos, while the 
mother was taken to Lishon, and the children to another 
part (in which partition their sorrow doubled the first 
grief)-),ct this sorrow was less felt among those who 
happened to remain in company. For as saith the 
'* Among others. t The accomplishment of: 
Li 2 
AZl'RAIU'S CIIRO);[CLF. OF TI l E 
text,S:!: the wretched nnd a consolation in haying com -
rades in misfortune, But from thi time forth the)' 
began to llcquire some kno\\'lcdgc of our count,)" in 
\\'bich tbe\' IDund great abundance, and our men began 
to reat tbem with great r" our. For as our people did 
not find them hardened in the belief of the nther "(oar, ; 
and .aw 11m, tbc) came in liMO the 1311' of Christ witb a 
good \\ ill; the)' made no difference bet\l'ceq tbem and their 
free 'en anB, born in our o,,·0 country; but those whom 
tbe}' took "hile >till roung, he) caused to be instrllcted 
in mechanical art, and those" hom the)' sa" fitted (or 
managing propert)'; the)' set free and mal lied to wOmen 
II'ho were nathcs of the land;t making lI'ith them a 
di rision of their property, as if they bad been besto\\ ed on 
lhose \\'ho mal'ried Lhem b)' the \\ ill of their OWI1 fathers, 
and ror the merits of tlleir servico the)' ",ore bOUlld to 
act in a like Ill.nner, Yea, .. nd some widows of good 
fllmily ,,110 houSb' some ,,( these fcmale slaves, either 
adopted th\!m or left lh\!m a portion of tbeir es ate b,' \\ ill ; 
o thllt ill dIe future ~he)' married ri ht 1\ ell' treatin; them 
as entireh rree. uffice it lhat 1 neVer sa\, one of tlh:se 
slaves PUt in iral1s like olher caplhe<, arld sea,'coly all)' 
oue \\ 110 dId not turn Christian and \\ as not "er,- gemly 
trented 
And I h.1\'o been asked b)' tll<'ir lords to the baptisms 
."d marriages of such; at "hleb th"),, \\'ho e sla,,,, thel' 
\lere hefore, Illadc no less .olemnity than i the) had bee" 
(heir c\uldrell or relations. 
And a their lot 1\ as no\\' quite II>· conlr ry of "hat 
\ it had been ; since before they b"d Ih cd in perdition of soul 
\ ~nd bod) I o( their ~outsl 111 that they \, re yet pagans, 
witholl't tbe d~arncss alld tbe Ii ht or the hal\' i:'tilh ' and 
nf theil bodies, in that til 'Y Ii, c'(l like b,'asls, \\'lth"UI any 
] 
• 11 t btl t; n.tlll\e ., llf I 'or u d. 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 85 
custom of reasonable beings-for they had no knowledge 
of bread or wine, and they were without the covering of 
clothes, or the lodgment of houses; and \vorse than all, 
through the great ignorance that \vas in them, in that 
they had no understanding of good, but only knew how 
to live in a bestial sloth. 
But as soon as they began to come to this land, and 
men gave them prepared food and coverings for their 
bodies, their bellies began to swell, and for a time they 
were ill; until they were accustomed to the nature of the 
country; but some of them were so made that they were 
not able to endure it and died, but as Christians. 
N ow there were four things in the~e captives that were 
very different from the condition of the other fvIoors who 
were taken prisoners from this part. First, that after they 
had come to this land of Portugal, they never morc tried 
to fly, but rather in tim!! [orgo.t all about their own country, 
as soon as they began to taste the good things of this one; 
secondly, that they were very loyal and obedient sen'ants, 
without malice; thirdly, that they were not so inclined to 
lechery as the others; fourthly, that after they began to use 
clothing they were for the most part very fond. of display, 
so that they took great delight in robes of showy colours, 
and such lVas their love of finery, that they picked up the . 
rags that fell from the coats of the other people of the 
country and sewed them on to their garments, taking 
great pleasure in these, as though it were matter of some 
greater perfection. And what was still better) as I have 
already said, they turned themselves with a good will into 
the path of the true faith; in the which after they had 
entered, they received true belief) and in thi.s same they 
died. And now reflect what a guerdon should be that of 
the Infant in the presence or the Lord God; for thus 
bringing to true salvation, not only those, but many 
others) whom you will find in this history later on. 
'6 .\/cRAP.-\', 1IlRo;..r LE OF TIlE 
'0\\ "hen the partition was thus accomplished. the 
captains of the other car-wels came to thc I n(ant, and with 
them some noblemen of his housc, and said to him: ., Sirc, 
in that you know the great toil that Lansarotc, rour ."cn·ant, 
hath undergone in this action just achic\'cd, and with what 
diligence he e!rected it, by the which God hath gi\en us so 
good a \'ictor), as you h;we seen; and ,,1so 3S he is a man of 
gocxl lmcag-c, who dc,er\'clh e\"(!ry good. we beg your grace 
IIMt (or his reward, )'OU would be minded to knight him 
with) our o\\'n hand. incc you sec that (or C\·CTY n:asun 
he dc~r\"(:lh this. hunour. 31'ld even if he had not dc~c.::r\"cd 
it ~o \\ell ~lid those capt:tin ... of the cara\c).. I \\(: think 
it would be an injury to Us a he" as uur captain-
ceneral, and laboured ,0 much Ix:(urc our ") c< , If he did 
n.H receive: for it _'olne honour upe-rior to that" hich he 
had before, being an upright mall and your sen alit, as 
\\ c.: han! :aid." 
The Infant an.wercd thaI it "lensed him I:rcatiy; and 
thai be Ide. he n a much obliged for thdr h"'inC ,,,ked it 
of 111m; for b) II the) ga\c c.'ample to Ihe other. that 
might de ire to act a captains of brave mcn, and toil for 
their honour 
And '0 forthwilh he made r .anc,lrote a knight, gilinl: hIm 
a rich ~ucf"don. ac~ordlng a.:- hi' de; 'l'rls ;tnt.! hb cxcdlc.'ncc 
n ..' <luin. ". t.1. And to the othl'r ]cadr.;f. 3Lo he Gil\"(: incrca .... (.:u 
ad\'.tIl(cmcnt. SO th.ll bc.:!'oiucs their fir-t profit lilt:) cou-
idered their laoour ri!;ht nell l>< to\\\d. 
DISCOVERV AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. ~7 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
How the Infant ordered GOI1s:allo de Sintra to go lo Guinea, and 
how he was killed. 
IT would he an ugly thing in prosecuting our history, if we 
did not write the rr.isfortunes of GUl' people, as well as thei{ /,.4 reI 
successes; for TullyS3 saith in his b00ks, that ,\mong th 
great charges that arc laid upon the historian, he ough 
chiefly to remember that of writing the truth, and when he 
writeth the truth he should not diminish it in aught. And 
of a surety· he not only doth his duty, but is a cause of 
much profit; for it oft happeneth that men receive great 
warnings by the misfortunes of their fellows. And the 
ancient sages said: H Blessed is the man who gaineth ad-
monishment by the evils of others."8,i 
But you must know tha,t this Gon<;allo de Sintra, Of? l 
whom at present we intend to speak, was a squire brought '1{~·~ 
up from earl)' youth in the Infant's household-indeed I 
believe he had been his equerry. And because he was a ?.;..~.1 
man who had a good stature of body and a high courage,~ I-: 
the lnfant greatly increased him; ever laying upon him the !' e! 
charge of great and honourable matters. 
And some time after Lan~arote's return, the Infant 
caused a caravel to be arm:.::d; and gave it in charge of 
Gon~allo de Sintra as captain, admonishing him, before his 
start, that he should go straight to Guinea, and for nothing 
whateve,,-should fail of this. 
And kk~ pUfsmng- his voyage, arrived at Cape Branco; 4(..... 
and like a man envious of obtaining fame, and desiring to 
win for himself advantages rJ;,ove the others,t he began to 
talk of going to the isle of1A1~im, which was now very 
nea .... them; where he thought that with little trouble 
* If he so act. t \Vho had preceded him on this \Va}·. 
AZUI'AI'A" CIII<OXI{;LE OF TilE 
he could make some prisoners. The others began to 
c,)utradicl tlHs; saying. that he ought not to do anyth ing 
of this sort; for. in meddling with an)' such matter, he 
would work ~\\'O edls: to \\ it, fir:t in going beyond the 
command of the Infant; second I)" in tarrying there aod 
I wasting the rime without any profit but they should rather .tile\' said make their way strain-ht to Guinea 
the land of' the ~c'groc., But he, like a m:n \\'h~ 
( iln ited to Inakc his end there, 'aid that the detention 
,,,Quid be only short; and that in these matters the in-
junctions of lords \\'erc not dh, 3p~ to be strictly attended 
to. and so at once he ga,"c command to the mariners that 
the)' .hould make Lhetr II ,,)' to the said isle. ,-\od it 
.Ippcarcth that .urh in by night1 they "'CIC pcrcei\'c:d, so 
lhat when they l.llllh.::J in the mt)rning they only found one 
girl, II hom ther took to their ship, ,\nd thence they went 
uK to (ulother i. land, thal licth ncar there I where the)' 
caught one woman. being Ji 'CO\'Cfl:J in ju l the same war 
\\hen ll'c\ ~lrrhed there 
'ow llonc;al c de ,-intra took \\ith him an \7.aneg:ue 
00) as an interpreter \\ ho ahcad~ kl1C'\\' a great deal of 
our )<lnguttgc, .1Ilri \\hom the Inf.u'll had ghcn into his 
1ch:\fge, commandlllg him to keep a l-!ooJ \\atch o\"C:r him. BUl It app ':treth that there was lack of good J.<.h is("'rnent 
among tho c \\ ho hi\d the charge of hlln, ,nd principally 
on the part of the captain, \\hose care should h,l\<.:' been ,1I1 
the gre.ltcr J'ur the boy, ~king for a 1I,t.lble time and 
plilce. C Ifled one night from ;tl1long them, and joiol.:d 
tho C lhn:l1cr on the i~I.U1d, to whum he b'l\"C information 
or all th.ll he knew ,1llOut their enemies 
\lId .1 th£lugh the) knc\\ \\'ho he \\J. ,) cl they were !'l,ot 
S Iii aU\I cd.t to Ix:hc\c .t11l!l.lt he .lid ... trughl\\ l\'. but 
\(l ht lin ccrt tilll) .f th • truth, Oil of th 'm lind Itt Ik to 
\\Ith r.aI c di imul.tlloll \1 t 1e C.U.l\·c! • ",.tlllng (Jut (1(1111 
tlu: hOle th.lllhe\ huuld llke him til lto.ud,lor hl; -"u1I1"'oht 
I 
DISCOVERY AND COKQUEST OF GUINEA. 89 
to go with them to Portugal. And afterwards when he was 
among our men he ~11ade his signs to them; ~o shew that on 
account of the great longing and regret that he had for his 
relations and friends, who 'vvere now in this realm of 
Portugal, he did not kFlQW how to live exc€pt among them; 
and that bJl God, let his life be what it might, he w.auld 
be very content to endure it, if only he f:Ol:lld have sight ef 
them and intercourse with them again. And the others, 
like men very little en their guard against his devices, \v€re 
exce~dingly pleased with him ...;  though some there wefe 
who said they were not at all .content with his coming GO 
board, for it looked like treaohery to them. And because 
of the speech of these they put some guard over the Moor, 
though it was but a small OI'le. But on the second night 
the 1\1 001' took greater care to escape than th~y to guar.d 
him; and made his way out of the caravel so soFtly that: he 
was never perceived by our ~eople; atJd in truth they had 
pretty well forgotten all about him. But when his escape 
was known next day, everyone saw that they had been 
much deceived; and said at once to the Captain that all 
these signs were against their making any booty in that 
land « For look/' said they, "how we have bce.n discovered 
in both islands whither we have gone; how the youth has 
escape~ us; how one Moor by himself has come to 
befool us. Of a surety "ve are not the men to accomplish 
any great action." 
"Then," said Gon~allo de Sintra, II may I perish in these 
islands; for I will never depart hence till I have performed 
some exploit s? signal that never shall olle like me, nor 
yet a nobler, come here and accomplish a greater deed or 
perform it better than I." "( ,'+it 0 ,L S-
The others howe\'er contended strongly "vith him, that 
he should not make any further delay (since the danger was 
so well understood), and said t~lat he should pursue his 
\'oyage s traight away. For in doing what the Infant bade 
AZ\:R.\KA' CIlKON !CLE OF THE 
him he would be doing his dut)'; and in an)' other \\'a )' he 
\\'ould rail into error, especially seeing ho\\' manifest \I ere 
the chances of his ruin. 
But neither did the-e reasons pre"ail, nor man)' others 
that were spoken for his advisement; for in spite of thcln 
he "l<..-ercd the cara\'el towards the isle of >\aar; and as the 
islands arc all ncar one to another, and ~ors arc able 
to mo\'cquicklr about in their canoes, .111 in that island were 
at once ad"i -cd or his approach. Gon~allo de -intra, in 
his desire of honour as \\'ell as profit, bade them launch 
his boat. and cmbarh-d in it \\'ith t\\,eh'c men, the best of 
hi, compan),. and a little before midnight he left the boat 
and began to \\ alk along the island' and, a it appearcth. 
the tide h.ld already passed the ebb, and \\'as no\\' beginning 
to Oow somewhat. ."\ nd there they came upon 3. creek, 
which they pas:cd o,"cr ca ily cnouh"h. and likewise another 
ncar it. But bcc-1use Gonpllo de - intra and the rest of hi 
comp." . lI1Y did not all kno\\ how to ."wim. they determined 
to wait a IiUle. and sec ho\\ far thc tide would ri e, so that 
if by chance it rO!'oC 0 much that they would hax!! to return, 
vet the)" \\Quld be nCJ..r at hand tCJ (fOSS. And durin" the 
I,,), that the)' made Ihere, morning camc on, and either 
beelU c the)' lept or because thc) did nOI und.IStand 
the c.'tent of the \\~-llcr. \\hen dawn came they percdn::J 
lhal they \\ ould not be able \\ ilh uch cn:->e to retrace 
their step. , bccau. c the lidl: \\ as no\\ nearly at the fuJI, 
and the cR-ck had become I", 'e and dcep_ '0 it \\'as 
III e ~"\r)' (or them to r 'In.tin thclc till the \\ :\lcr should 
(.tli some\\ hal and gi\c them a bclll"r Ch;UlCC for their 
I ~l t c. HHJ III this they 'Ilent t\\O (lr three hour.s uf the 
day Without seeking t.o mo\c from there 
,\nd the ~foors (I hough Ihc)' \\\' Ih<m "-< oon as it 
\\.1 dol.\\ n), like men \\ ho Wt'fl.· ,drl.'.hl\' prq an.' . d for it, did 
nlll 'ttempt for.t lonb t mc..- tn .lltack them. hoping t h.lt 
tlu:), \\ould comc up flU ther into the l.Uuntry, ",(.1 that 
: 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 91 
they might seize them more readily; but after they fully 
perceived their intention they fell upon them all together, as 
upon·a vanquished party. And as in the fight they were 
very unequally matched (for the enemy were 200 in number 
and our men but twelve, without , hope of succour), they 
were very easily overcome, 
There was killed Gon~allo de Sintra, not in truth like a 
man who had forgotten his courage, but inflicting great 
injury upon his enemies, till his strength could aid him no 
more. and he had to make hi' end. And of the others there 
perished seven-to wit, two yo~ths of the Infant's House-
hold, one whom they called Lopo Caldeira and another Lopo 
d'Alvellos, and an equerry who was named George, and one 
Alvaro Gon~alvez Pillito and three sailors. And in truth 
I wish to make no difference between them, for they all 
died fighting, without one of them turning back a foot; and 
although the youths of the Household and the equerry knew 
how to swim and so to escape, yet they would never 
abandon their captain, but bravely received burial around 
him. May God receive the soul that He created, and 
the nature that came forth from Him, for it is His very 
own! 
The five survivors returned to their caravel,' and shortly 
made sail for the Kingdom; * fOJ· after such a loss they had 
no inducement to do anything else, or to push on further,t 
as had been commanded them before.8-l 
• Portugal. t To the South . 
CH.-\PTER X:-;YHr. 
(,{the .reasons that the-Author gzlO'elh (. T!l"id"""ios as 1:0 the·'l ..-h 
of Go!Hj.<illo de ;-;-'ltra 
h; the C\'cnt recorded in the last chap er there sremeth to 
me a great mys ery contaj ... oo, for I Imo\\ not whethl:.r it 
came about from the spint of CO\..,lousness Or from the 
wish t) render service or from the d~"""JTe til gain honour. 
H """'cr since the penl was so m j(e§t, a,-l might 
ha'e Ix...,!' ave ide<! on that >ecasion - mat ; ar :a~ had 
\\' ing t ""'''''11 ad;~ I <b< d ~t (,f a 
certainty the \\ beel , of de;tin~' bad so rdained 'c and 
r~at he r apl" ,nted purpose b inded his reas< n so that 
be kne\\ not the I 's that \\ u d be bls. For .th >ugb 
t .\u:ustine d th "ntc mao_ and h<.~. \\ rds rc r()-. 
lut ng the pr.,QhtinaUon of ee est .11 in/lu<mces. ~'et 
mcthl11ks in other pl"ces I find 3uth "ties t the <no-
lr u'} , as r r "" .. mpl. J b. \ h sa'~h tha, G 'hath paced 
..'  lass, and m ny bes de> 
, that I 
But 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 93 
case of Jufius Cresar; for although he gained very glorious Zv.I",-
victories, and made subject to the Roman power France, U P 
Brittany, England, Spain, and Germany, yet, because he 
overpassed the space of five years (which was the limit 
marked out for him in which to conquer his enemies), the 
honour he ought to have received was denied and taken 
from him, and for no other reason save that he had trans-
g ressed h is orders. And Vegetius, in the fourth book, le~e)w 
De re Mll£tal'l, rclateth how Aurelius the Consul would 
have his son serve among the (oat soldiers because he had 
gone beyond his commands. And again, St. A ug ustine in 
the fifth book of the City of God, telleth of Torquatus that 
he slew his son, although victorious, for having fought 
against his orders.s6 
The second thing is that upon captured hostages and 
interpreters from a foreign land a special guard should ever 
be placed to keep v{atch over them with great caution. 
And the ill results that lately followed from a neglect of 
this are evident. 
The third thi ng is that when an enemy throweth in his 
lot* with the Captain the latter ought not to trust him, but 
should rather keep a diligent look-out, and hold his coming 
as suspicious until the final victory be won .. For from a 
like cause was lost the ~attle of Cann", (as Titus Livius 
writeth in his book on the S-;;;;~dt War), that is because the 
Romans refused to be forewarned by those of the enemy 
who came over to them.S7 
The fourth is that we should hearken to the counsel of 
those who are in our own company and give us profitable 
advice; for, saith the Holy Spirit) there is safety in a 
multitude of counsels. And so the sage in the Book of 
\i\' isdom doth admonish all men to take cbunsel-where he 
saith) in the sixth of Ecclesiasticus, II List, my son, and lake 
* Lit., himself. t I'unic. 
AZl'R.\R.\' CIIROi\'ICLE OF TilE 
thou counscl alwa)" For c"cry wj"e man docth his actions 
with addcc," ~Iorco\"(!r, ~cncca lay~th it do"~n in his 
Treatise on the Virtues that c\"cry go\'crnor , be he Prince 
or Prince's Captain, should be careful to take coun 'e! o( 
the things he hath to do ;-" Re~.'"rd c\·cr)'thing that rna)' 
chance to happen and re\'ol\·c it in 'hy hcart, and let nothing 
come as a 'urpri~c but rather han! it well prodded against, 
(or the wl'e man ne\·cr saitll I did not think this \\ould 
comr to pa:s, and this i' OcCrtUSC he is not in doubt, but cx-
pecte,h it, and conjecture,h nnt, but rather aucndcth to the 
rca on of all thing'; (or when the beginnin~ of an affair 
i' pcrcei\ cd, the end and cg:rcs'i shoukl C\'cr be watchcc..l." ...... 
And fi(thl)", that when ollr enemies ha\'c certain intdli~ 
g-cncc of our power l.nd intention' "c 'hould beware much 
of in,·adlOg thl~ir land. [or a Capt.tin's chief duty as re~ard­
dh his enemy i' to conceal (rom them his (orce; and the 
contrary Ic.tdeth on1r to hiS own dcstrucllon and lh;lt of his 
men. .\nd:o lIannibal ever ordained his ambushc. with 
. uch 'Skill that hi: foc!'o might nevcr think hi' slrenglh to 
be gr ater th,lI' it appeared ior the moment. 
:i ·thlv, thlll \\ e ·hould take much care not to be dis-
co\"crc 1 on 1 coa .... t "herc \\C \\ould make an inro;ld. ..\nd 
e.·llCricnc boweth c 'ampl ... ot lhb c\en'da)" to tho~c who 
keep .trilled .. hip" on the ,,':1. .\nd J.!reatly til) I man"cllh;tt 
b'on diu de ·lntra,.1 mall \\ho had o(\time .... 'ailed in ships 
uf thl'" \rm.ttl,. b) his lord' comm.tnd ;\nd b;ld takt.:n 
a part in ,"en' £;rcat o\dl011~, lxlih on the coa 'l of Gran.Ida 
a a III (cut.l, \' .. l. not more )1\ hi guard .It uch J. time 
\,d the ..c\(:nth ondu I n I dr<l\\ (101\1 the abo\"(~ 
c\ ent' th,lt no man \\ ho CdlUwt !'o\\ ill1 ... lwultl CT(IS .. ri ... in~ 
",Iter in .1 hn tile COUnll) I C:"\t. pl .\1 tht.: tillle (or him h_1 
find thal it Ihllh ebbed ;1\\:1) on hi ... rdurn, 
Such then .tTe the m,IU r 1 h.1\"C h:td to write for your 
\\\rlling. and henceforth I "I') l.lkc up ah~un lh~ thn.'ad (If 
In\' nan:UIVe. 
DISCOVERV AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 95 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
How Antam Gonc;alvez and G()1nez Pirez and Diego Alfonso 
went to rhe Rio d'Ouro. 
IN that year the Infant bade Antam Gonc;alvezcthat noble 
knight of whom we have already spoken, to sail in mne 
caravel and Gomez Pirez, master of the Royal Galley in 
another: and this man went by command of the Infant 
Don Pedro, who at that time governed the kingdom in the 
name of the King. And at dle same time there was .\c 
another caravel with them, in which sailed one Diego ~<.-r" 
Affonso, a servant of the Infant Don Henry: and all these I.~c 
commanders went jointly to see if they could bring the - ",t 
Moors of that part to treat of merchandise. ~&--' ~. 
And they had much talk with them and obtained great 
sureties by means of the Moors whom the Infant sent 
there to see if with the aforesaid pretence they could guide 
them into the way of salvation. But they were not able to 
accomplish aught or do business with them, except in the 
matter of one negro. 
And so they turned back without achieving any more; 
except that they brought with them one old Mbor, who of 
his own free will wished to come and see the Infant) from 
whum he received great rewards, according to his quality, 
and who afterward sent him back to his own c0untry. 
But I am not so much surprised at the coming of this man 
as of a squire who went with Antam Gon~alvez, called 
John Fernandez; who of his own free will decided to 
j!ay in that land of Guinea, only to see the country and 
bring the news of it to the Infant when he should chance 
to return. But of the travels of this squire and of his 
excellent qualities I leave the account to another place. 
.\ZURARA'S CIlROXrCLE OF THE 
CHAPTER XXX, 
Hon' . 'ano TnSlam went to Tim. and of (he )'Joors that be LOok 
capth·~ there. 
FOR a. be ter I,!,,(jerstanding of the matter that now 
happened, \\e ",ill here tell how l'\uno Tristam, of whom 
"e have already spoken, nrst sal\' the land of the 
l'\egroes, And it was so, that being <cot in a cara'el, 
by order of the tnrant, to those parts, he went straight 
to dlQSC isl'lI\d< "llere they' had becn already. :-\aw these 
"ere then left desolate, for tbe inhabitants, perc idng the 
damage they were reeeh'ing, had forsaken tbeir land and 
betaken themselves for a time to olber i<lands, of ",hid, 
tbey presu m:d mat their cn"mit:< Ilad no knowl~dg'" 
.. 'eeing th.~t this is so," said ~lIno Tristam, ' and that \\'e 
can find no boot~· in lbe<e i.lands, my wish is to proceed 
. far Illi I can, till 1 come to [be land of the :-\ egroes 
(or you kno\\' well," said be, • tile desire which the r", 
~ant OUr Lord hath in this matt'll' and \\e canoot cmploJ' ur tim' bettor than in d"ing what we kno" \l'ill most least: him," AU ... id thi \\'8.$ \\'ell, and that it should be his busines< t drrtlCl them. for tbe)' \\ere ~dy for allY emcrg ncr, as 
men \\ho P"s'c.~.od no other good thing C.'< pt ell" (a\OUr 
of that lord" 1\0 ent them there. And I ber proceeded so rar 
lhat Ihe)' passed thaI land and sa\\' a country very diIT"rent 
from lhat (orm"r·"n~-(or that "a',r and u~lI"tI,a,,() 
<JU'nc (nlt.;" ,tiliQ" a c.o\U"Hr}' wb.Cfi! t.here was no \utt\.:f-
"mr" tIllS lither land Ihe~ "" to he co, crod \\ ~ palms 
and olhc~ccl1 and bcilUliful l(ceS, ulld It was e\"en so 
"i h all the "lams thereof. I :\11110 Tristam here caused 
hi. ship" boat ('0 be launched, \I ilh (he intllJltiol') of l"l\d-
III fl Ott 
DISCOVERY A1<D CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 97 
ing where he s~w certain men who appeared to be very 
willing to speak with them. 
And with this Nuno Tristam had been very content, if 
the roughness of the sea had permitted his boat to reach JC.-~ 
the land; but the \"laves were huge and perilous withal, so L r- JL. 
that he was forced to return to his ship and to make sail, to 
escape the distemperature of the wind, which was very { 
contrary. But N uno Tristam said, that although he was 
driven away from the point where stood those who would 
fain speak with him, he well understood that they were 
of the company of the Negroes. 
And so Nuno Tristam, forced back by contrary weather, 
arrived with his caravel nigh to those islands where 
Lan~arote in earlier time had made his booty; but he went 
on to the mainland, where he landed to see if he also could 
make a capture. ''oJ 
And he went there several nights before he was able to\ . -\<. ( 
secure anyth.ing;. ttll he captu. red one Moor, already old, '""'C:--I· 0 
who by signs told him of the whereabouts of a settlement. & 
about two leagues from there. But the distance might just 
as weU have been greater, for Nuno Tristam, with the 
delay he had made before accomplishing any capture, would 
equally have adventured it. But the Moor was not able to 
tell him how many were' the dwellers in that settlement 
towards which he was guiding them; Of, to speak more 
accurately, they could neither have asked nor yet have 
understood him;* and this, it appears to me, should have 
put our men in some fear, because they knew not what the 
enemy's numbers might be; but, where there is enongh 
or good will, determinatiuns are never closely examined. 
And in the night following that in which ~he Moof was J-I i~ 
discovered, they attacked thPsl,tItte~ut'they did not 
capture there more than twenty-one persons; and we do 
"* His repl y_ 
II 
·\ll·R.\I\. \ ' CIIRONICLE OF TIlE 
not find any record whether there were an}" bors or women 
among the c tWt..·nt),·onc, nor how man)' men Xuno Tristam 
took with him, nor i( he had to do any fighting there 
belore making his capture. :\or could II e find out about 
these matters, bl,.'Cau~e \""uno Tri tam was already dead at 
he time when King Don Alfonso commanded this history 
to be writtcn.~ 
. \nd sO we lea\'e this matter thus without saying an)' 
morc. 
IL\PTER XXXI. 
110\\ UinlS lJiat \\cnl to the I:md o( the \;l'g-ro '-, .l.nd o( the C:'lplh~; 
th.lt he look. 
THFRE was in Li,bon a noble 'quire,lI'ho had been a 
. en'alll o( the King Don Jol\ii{il1e grandfa ther o( the king 
Don Alfonso. and father of thi' ,~if\uOUS prince ,. who was 
called Dini. Dial, 
,\nd he hearing news of thalland.t.lOd ho\\ the cara\c" 
\\ ere alrc d)' sailin so rar tram (hi' c ,;1 -( ~: and al .. o 
bcc!lu e he was a man dcsirou' of sct.:ing new thing$ and 
of trying hi :.ren th 'lhhough he was no,," settled in 
that til) ': which i~ one of the noblest in Spain, with 
profitable offices which had been gi\cn him in reward (or 
his n-iccs). now went ncvcrlhclcs~ to the In fant Don 
J !cnn' to be~ him (0 d patch him to I h,11 land. r or 
con idcring th.u he w.)S :l .. en"ant of hi father, a.nd that 
all hi, rise \\a< Ihrou!:h him. ~nd that he had both the 
ourage and tbe youth to . en-c: him withal, he had no 
mind to let his life slip awa), in the plca"Hrc~ of rcpo~c. 
The IMan! Ihllnked him for his liood will, nnd had" 
ciira,cI .lrmcd and cut read.\ (or the .lfor~sJid Dinis Dial 
t (I( (;U1f,. a 
II Il()l I 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 99 
to go and accomplish his purpose. And he, leaving (D 
Portugal wit,h his company, never lowered sail till he had \..-\lA--
passed the land of the Moors and arrived in the land of \-J<- \ <- ~ 
the blacks, that is called Guinea. ~~'" ,'" 
0t.A nd although we have already several times in the course r-~ -\ this history, called Guinea that other land to which 
C L.-'''!!i r 
t e first- went, we give not this common name to both e,......... ...... 
beca'Use the' country is all one; for some of the lands are 
very different from others, and very far apart, as we shall 
distinguish further on at a co~venient place.9s And as "1' < t-' t. 
the caravel was voyaging along that sea, those ~ , 
saw it and marvelled much at the sight, for it seemeth they ..:€_ \ 
had never seen or heard speak of the like; and some of ~ \:)'-._ 
them supposed it to be a fish, while others thought it to be ~. -\- , 
a phantom, and others again said it might be a bird that 
ran so on its journey over that sea. And after reasoning 
thus concerning the novelty, four of them were bold enough 
to inform themselves concerning this doubt; and S0 got 
into a small boat made out of one hollo~.~ 
wi!lJ.out.an.}d:l1Lng else being added thereto. 
Now this I think must have been a kind of ~ 
like to some that are in use on the rapids of the Monde~ 
and the illere in which the labourers cross 'when they are 
obliged to dQ so in the depth of winter. And they came a 
good way out towards where the caravel was pursuing its 
course; and those in her could ,not restrain themselves from 
appearing on deck. But when the negroes saw that those 
in the ship were men, they made haste to Aee as best 
they could; and though the caravel . followed after them, 
the wa.u.t 9f a sufficient wind prevented their capture. 
And as theyt went further on, they met with other boats, 
whose crews,5eeing ours to be men, were alarmed at the 
novelty of the sight; and moved by fear they sought to 
.. Explorers. t Our men . 
H 2 
100 AZL"R,\R,\''; CIIRO~ [CLE or T ilE 
flee, eacb and all; but becau e our mcn had a bettcr 
opportunit), than hefore, they caplurP.d four of them, and 
these were the first (0 be taken bj' ehnstians In their 
!0\\ n  land, and there IS no chronicle or hi tor), that rclateth aught to the contrar)," And for certain thh; wa...; no small honour for our Prince, \\ hose might)' po\\er was thus sufficient to command 
peoples :0 far from our kingdom, making boot)' among 
(he neigl!l>ours of (he land of Egypt: and Dinis Diaz 
ought to 'hare in tbis honour, for he was the fir t who by 
his command) captured Moors in that land, And no\\' 
~cd 011 till he arriYcd at a great cape, to which the)' 
ga \'C (he na me of ape \ . erde.''' 
And it i. said mar'tbe)' met there \\'ith man)' people. 
but it is. not related in what \\'3y they met with them; 
\ \1 h,·ther OIN: men saw them from the sea wllile on board 
\ their ship. or whcthcrt as ther were mO\-jog aboul in their 
lIittle boa(<, bus) with (heir fishing. I t is enough thaI they 
I did not captur(.· any more on lhi' "orage; c"Xcept that it i 
said Ihe)' landed on an island where lhey found many 
co.~lS and birds, \\ith which lher greatly refreshed them-
s"h'cs; It ~ .1'0 said lhal Ibey (ound many things there 
different (rom thi. land of our:, as will l;.: rclatcd further 
n. \nd thence the)' turn ..-. d back to l.!!:is KmJ!(kun , and 
although their boot)' was "ot so great as those that had 
arrhcd in tile pa-st, the Infant thouCht it I'ery great indeed 
since It came (rod! that lalld. A"d so he ga l to Dini 
Dial and hi~ companions great rc:" ards on a,-c(~unt of it. 
.. The Princ'C: . + n",:, "ere ~ighl d.  
DISCGI'EIH' AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 101 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
How Antam Gon<;:alvez, Garcia Homem, and Diego Affonso, set 
out for Cape Branco. 
IT would be well that we should now return ~ that squire ... ~, 
who in the past year remained at the Rio d'Ouro, as we 11:: 
have said already. 
And his service was of especial merit, and is worthy of 
great remembranee. For, as. often as I consider it, I 
marvel much at the same. And what shall I say of a 
single man, who had never been in that land (and there 
was not nor had there been any other whom he knew 
or of whom he had heard), willing thus to stay among a 
race little less than savage, whose nature and wiles he 
knew not? 
Let me consider with what a countenance he would 
first appear before them, and for what end he would say 
he was remaining, or how he would be able to arrange with 
them about food and other things for his use. It is true 
that he had already been a captive among the other Moors, 
and in this part of the !Vlediterranean Sea, where he 
acquired a knowledge of their language j but "I know not 
if it would serve him among these. Antam Gon~alvez 
who had left him there, remembering his story, spoke 
to the Infant about him in thi~ wjse :-
<( Your Highness knoweth how John Fernandez, y our 
squir~ stayed at the Rio d'Ouro, to learn all he could 
about tltat l~nd, small things as well as great, to inform 
you o~e, even as he knew was your desire j and you 
know how many months he hath been there, for your 
service. Now, if your grace is willing to send me to 
fetch him away, and some other ships with me, I Will ) 
labour for YOlfr service so that, besides bringing back this 
squire, all the expense of this our voyage may be cO\"ered 
IO.=! .\zCR.n:. \', LlIkO~lCU, eH TilE 
a ... wcll.l> .\nd ),Oll mu .. t be: \\ell a\\arc in thc ca"c of a 
man filled \\ ith such dc:irc for these matter,'· how bitter 
It \\'ould be to he.lr ",lIch a request.to <... - ---
The ship, were quickly reaoy, and of these ;\ntam 
Gonc;ah'c7 \\ as cnic( captain, taking in his company 
~ TT~m allo_I:>3-0~'n, -en'ants of the Infant, 
~'s )'OU ha\'l~ heard cI,,(.·\\ here, \nd Ihc:"'c twot rccei\'cd 
charl!c of the other t\\O car:wcl., bUl all under the com· 
mand of the chief captain. 
\0\\ the hips, un .. cUing aU I, Wl'nt first to \'ictual at 
(he ~ladei"iI , b<..'Causc of the great ,uppli<', that were 
tl~ :\nd thence they ,lgreetl to p"sh on 'traight for 
l ape IIr.,",co, and in C,I e by all)' hap they ,hould be 
,-parilled, the) "erc I1c\'crthclc to ~tccr for the ",aid 
cape. .\nd tlte \\c.,ther taking its accu tamed cOll~-~e, 
.hat I chan1img q-;'ick~\' frolll Gir to fou~d ,on;;;tj~~s 
too from foullO fair th""re aro~c uch a tempe -t O\t..'r them 
J that III .1 vcr) . hort tllne lhc:~' lhou6 hl the) \\ ere 10 l, and 
they separatcd one (rom the: other. for each of lho'e 
I Cdl't.tlll thought. J'udf,ing b,' hi' 0\\ n grc.lt labour, tiMl his 
I· ' 
companUlll' Illu .. t be much greater, and "0 on th .... account 
I'r<: uml"tl he \\alti lo~t ••\ nd the opinions \\l:'I<: '0 many in 
,Ieh c.,.,,,d, .hat the), coulo h,\I'<1l) d~'Cid" on ,n)' 'cllle<! 
l'l)Ur~l' 
BUl at lit t they dc.~idcd\ -ach one (or In.., part, to go 
tflight on \\,i.h .he \'0) age to the plac~ that the) had nil 
pre\ iuutiily dClcrmllled on. c.l.ch dunking that tl) himself 
"done Ill'llertaincd .111 thot ell.lrgc.'; (. .- ar they fdt \"cry 
doubtful (,f their p.utncr. . reachlJl~ thl:re, believing that 
the be t tl\lnl: that < , .. 10 h,l\'e 1h1I'pcn d to thun '1<, .. 1<1 be 
their I'f;\urn to Portugal but it sertlng thal their .. hip" n.:ck 
W~ much more li"( I) So the) \\:<:l1t on \\ ith .. tanding-
thc,r fa.c, \\,i.h gr ',II bodil), toil ,\"d no Ie, 'crr'" of 
\. "1 11C: Inl nl + Ilomcm nd \/TQna.o. 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 103 
mind, till it pleased God that the sea should abate some-
what of its first fury and return to its former calmness, 
as was nec(!ssary for their voyage. Diego Affonso, who 
first reached · Cape Branco, caused to be erected on land ¥\: \\- . c. 0 
a great cross of wooLthat his partners, in case they \ 
s~ come after him, not having passed it already, ~rtd< • 
might know that he was going on before them. And ""''-
with such firmness was that cross set up, that it lasted 
there many y€ars afterwards, anG even now, I am told, yet 
standeth there. A nd right welt might anyone of another 
country marvel, who should chance;t' tf:; ~~ that .coast, 
and should see among the Moors s'Cich a symbol, wIthout 
knowing anything of our ships, that t~ey \vere sailing in 
that part of the world. 
Great was the delight of each one of the other captains, 
when they came to that spot and untderstood that their 
partners were in front. Diego Affonso did not wish to 
make any stop near tlhe Cape, considering that if the 
others came there they could soon find him; and that 
since he was not certain of their coming) he ought to 
push on and do \vhat he could to make some booty i so 
that the time might not be lost without ~his winning 
some honour and profit while it lasted. I do' not care to 
mention certain matters of the voyage of these people,lIt 
which I found written by one Affonso Cerveir~ who first ftji 
sought to set in oteer this hi~tory;{i'f fa; ~inc; they brought "->.; I 
no result it serveth no g;,;-d pu;pose to waste time over I~,' tr 
them, and so to weary the good will of my readers 
and make them tired of my history; all the more as I 
possess the matter to adorn my work and render it very 
pleasing. 
The caravels having joined one another again, the 
captains very gladly met in their boats, each one proud to 
* Of Diego Af(onso's. 
IQ-t \ltR.\IL\'::' gIRO~ICI.L or TilE 
speak of 1\ hat he bad just passed tbrough witll so much 
toil and ,crror. -
A,nd beeall c Antam Gonya)"ez was the last to arrin" 
and the otbe," had to gO\'em them>eI,"e. by his commands, 
they told him h"" tbe), had already landed sC"cral times, 
but bad not been able to captlire an}"thing to bring them 
profit; and" hat was ",orse, t1l;!t tbe :l100rs had fled from 
them, and that as they had been discO\1!red they relt it 
would be of little usc returning there again. 
CHAPTER X. ·XU!. 
How lhco)' "enl {,0I) Ergm,'* hland, and of tbe )fQt\f:S ~hcr tool: 
lh¢rt.  
.. J l T a much'" ,;aid \"tam Gon~ah'e' "as the- beginning 
of OUr' orage "as troubled, 0 much [ hope lhat our cnding 
\\ ill be tbe betler ;"li'if.ting ill (bitt God who b~' II.s m~rc)' 
bath united Us h\?r<! and sa,'('tj us (rom '0 I:""at a .langer. 
" Wherefore", said he .. as ),ou perce;' c that by) ,ur land-
ing the Moor here aTe i,lI for wafll,-d, ) <'U know \I dl thal 
further on from here j. ,~" island" hidl i- called.trJ::iD1, 
Mool1l thnt we cnn ma~c captive,. o( I ldl )"011 Ihi'. f<>r 1 
and then" I Irus\' if \I' go by night" c shall lI.;h! 01\ < ,me 
do not int':lld undertake all) maUta'r "ithout : <,ur 
counsel. . 
And not onll did the captain- >3' llul thi, I'ka.cd 
them, but"'" d d til" others also In II ho,,", prcs<'nce all had 
Ix-cn poken, " ho m.ld" haslc Ih.lt there mighl he 1\0 
~fe.lt dday in pe.rfofluinR thiS. \uti .t~· .'o ..'. 0{) .l:-.. the ~un 
bcf;.tn to '"de the •. Iy. of hi. brighIlICS:. aud th" twili,;h' 
or night filled the <Ii,. ",.th its ob,eu. . ity, lhn ""''' all "ad\' 
DISCOYERY AND CUNQUEST OF Gt;I~EA. 105 
in their boats; taking with them as many Piofle cyi they 
saw would be wanted for their defence; ....e. actlt-aptajn '3) f 
putting another in charge of his caravel in place of himself, -
with orders that as soon as morn)p~1?t~e,~L they should 
come and look for them by the~And so the 
men in the boats set off, as had been ordere<!,and a little 
after midnight they arrived at the ~1'd island; on which 
they landed and made straight for the native settlement, 
but they only found there one blackamoor and his 
daughter, whom they carried of(. 
And the Moor by signs made them understand that, if 
they went to the mainland, they \vould find a settlement of 
lVloors on the sea shore, showing them himself the way to 
the spot. And upon this, they decided to rest there the 
whole of the following day, for their deed could not be 
performed except by their arriving at night; and so they 
spent the day, partly in sleep, partly in eating and 
drinking; and especially did they delight themselves in 
the goodness of the water, for of this there was great 
abundance to be found there. And when nig:ht ca~e'h 
they started again, rowing briskly to Fh_e point ' which thlf' 
Moor had indicated to them by signs bel are. And 
this was a marvellous thing; that as soon as one of the 
natives was captured, he took a delight in shewing to 
the enemy, not only his neighbours and friends, but 
even his wife and children. And so pursuing their way, 
some of them became doubtful of that project; thinking 
that they were going with too little advisement; in that 
they did not know how great was the number of our 
enemies, nor how they were equipped for defence. But 
the words of these men did not have much effect j 
because when the wills of men are eager for such deeds 
as these, they do not often wait to take counsel. And 
arri\·ing at tJle mainland far on in the night, they put 
the l\Ioor in front of them as their guide; but, through 
AZt;R,\IU', CIIROSll'LE OF TilE 
their difficulty in not being able to understand him, they 
delayed so much, that when morning dawned, they were 
>till a g reat way distant from the " illage, 
.\nd the ~I O<),-'. r~ng IIp about dawn had sight of ~ 
where they were coming-. ilnd like men without heart and 
dcprh cod of hope. the), began to fir, e,'crr one wbere he 
percci,'ed he could best ta ke refuge, lea"ing behind goods, 
wi,"cs and children, as men who pcrcch"cd that they had 
quite enough to do to sa\e their OW11 live!' . 
. \nd our people, who were obserying them, when the)' 
:aw them (lee thus, rcjoic(!d somewhat at being sa fe from 
the peril \\ hicb the)' had looked for before; yet on account 
of the loss which the) ,aw the)' would ,ulfer by the flight of 
them, the)' could not be ,cry glad. Hut thi thought had 
not tllnc to he \\ ell con:idcfL'Ci in their mind~. for though 
the) \\cre wearied. it \\ ciS not pcrccptiblc in the cour$C of 
their racc, for ju, t a' briskly and with as muclt good will 
did they ha!lotC!n on. a: at olher limes they had done; ri 'ing 
(rom their bc..·d:::. and seeking to pro\'c their cunning in the 
fields hard b) tho, e t \\ ns where they bad be..,n brought 
ul', \ nd it \\ e'l al'l'oarcd \I itb \\ hat good \\ ill thc), did it 
in the capture of the,. booty; for thoul:h they had 'ighted 
it 0 (.u off, .1, \\C ha\c ~aid, and the: enemy \'ere rested 
and used to th!ll bU'-I""Ss, ),et thc)' took ll\cnt)"-fi,c of them. 
But agile .lbo\' :111 on that day \\as one l..:lwrcncc: Diaz, 
" dweller in _ etu\ (11, \\ ho was a sen ilnt o( the Prince, for 
he b) himscJ( .done took ~c\'en of tho. natiH':s pri~oner·. 
~\l1d the tOli \\a by no one: much fct:".lrdcd In cornpari~on 
o( the plc:l::iurc \\ ilh whkh thc~ \\cut .tlollf:! the Shc.1rc to 
. :ck the c.!ran;b. (or it \\ a., thr\:\.: da., ~ since the), had left 
tlwm. 
DISCOVERY AND COKQUEST OF GUIKEA. 107 
CHAPTER XXXIV. 
How John Fernandez came to ~he caravels. 
JOHN F.ERNANDEZ- had no,,, been seven months dwelling 
in that cQuntry,9S a nd it seemeth clear, according to reasoo, 
that at the time Antam Gon,alvez left him he must ha,·e 
settled to return for him, or to beg the Infant to despatch 
some other, who could take him off in this way. And 
after) ohn Fernandez perceived that the caravels had had 
time enough to return from Portugal, he came down many 
times to that shore to see if he could have sight of an)' 
of them. And I can well believe that this was his 
principal care. 
And it happened that those \\'ho remained in the G:arave!s, 
seeking to fulfil the orders of their chief c:;aptains, made 
sail to the Isle of Ergim (of which it appeared that they 
had no knowledge), and passed on and went cruising up and 
down for two days until they carne to another land beyond. 
And a little more than an hour after they had cast anchor, 
they saw a man who stood on the land over against them. 
Quickly one caravel made ready to go anq see who it 
could be; and making sail toward him it was not able to 
go as far in as it wished} because the wind was off the 
land. And John Fernandez, seeing the hindrance that the 
caravel received} resolved to go along the shore} either 
hoping that the ship's boats would be there, or for some 
other reason j and so went a little way, till he saw the boats 
that were coming in search of their ships. And 'when he 
shouted towards ..." here they were coming} the others were 
very glad} thinking that he was some :Moor who came to 
them of his own will to treat about the ransom of some 
one of these captives; but when they understood his 
speech} and h.e named himself for what he was} they were 
yet much more glad j so that they hastened toward~ him 
lOS .Vl'R.\R \'S U1RO:\!CU: OF THE 
the qui.:ker. .'\nJ J con>idee. sahh our author, wbat must 
h-iH'c been [he appe:trancl! of tbat noble ~quirc-, brought up 
a< he had been "pc'n the food you kno\\, to \I'it, bread 
,\I,d" ille '\ltd ftcsll "nd other things skil!ull} prepared. 
after h\"ing seven m()ltth .. 10 thi~ la-::..hl )11. where he could 
eat nothing ,xcel" fish and tbe mi:k of camels-rot I 
belie\'\! there atc no ooller canle in lhat pan-anG 
drinking brackish \\ aler, and nOt 100 much 0" lh. ."  a·J 
lh iog in ,. burnin.. hot ilnd sand) land \\ thOut an)' 
Jdi"hl<- O)'c people who li\e in aU lhe ,,\lcetnc,. ,)f 
Spani.h \ alk) s, \\ ho \I lien yon chance to ,l1iss any part vi 
your accustomed maintc-nanre in the houses f the loru 
Wllh "horn yc Ii\ ,\\iIIlet no-~hin~ c'se b be,\.rd f.:>r ~ ur 
~OInplaint!'i lOOk, If \ 011 \\ ill. upon th~ suffering' c.f t't:.'S 
man, autl rou \\.11 find him \\\.)rth} to 'le cl gr-c3t e::x:aml ~ 
(or 'UI) one "ho "I.hetlt 10 d the \\ ill 0 his Lord b, 
sc.:f\ ink btlll. \ud we others who pcrcban~ last. \'n'te 
da, IU m~"nr moulhs b,. t."llm.nland I..lf Ute Churcll. 
t r salisfaiCuon Q( our pen.mee. or ., nt.:ur of .... n e 
h: ti\ .ll or the t.. hun:h, It 1t be ~u~h t at \\~ Ust (; .• t 
,..", up a th t d." to sa,,· 
\, nuld en Ure 
'''' 
t hI tlr!>t nt ulan 
In t.t 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 109 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
How Antam Gow;:alvez went) to make the ransom. 
IF I marvelled before at the endurance of John Fernandez 
(to wit, his living in that Jand and @nduring what I have 
said), .little less do I marvel at the affection which those 
who dwelt there came to fe€l for him. And albeit that his 
affability was very great towards all other people, I "vas It" 
astonished it c0uld exist towards. these, or hO\:I,r it could be 
so felt and returned by such savages; for I am assured that 
when he parted from the men among whom he had lived 
those seven months, many of them wept ""ith regretful 
thought . But why do I say so, when I know that we are 
~l sons of Adam, composed of the same elements, and th;; 
we all receIve a soul as reasonable beings? True it is that, 
in some bodies, the instruments are not so gQod for pro-
ducing virtues as they are in ~thersJ to whom God by H is 
grace hath granted such power} and when men lack the first 
principle's on which the higher ones depend, they lead a life ft':' ~ 
little less than bestial. For into three modes is the life of 
men divided, as saith the Philosopher. The first are those 
who live in contemplation, leaving on one side all other 
worldly matters and only occupying themselves in praying 
and contemplating, and those he calls demi-gods. And 
the second are those who liv€ in cities, improving their 
estates and trading one ,."jth another. And the third are 
those who live in the deserts, removed from all conversa-
tion,* who, because they have not perfectly the use of 
reason, live as the beasts live; like those who after the 
Division of Tongues (which by the will of our Lord God 
was made in the Tower of Ba~lon), spread themselves 
through the world and settled ~ without incf<tasing 
'* Of men. ... In the deserts. 
110 .(\Zt:R.\RA" CHRO:\ICLE OF TilE 
anr part of their fir.t stock of knowledge. But ret these 
last ha\'c their pa sions like other reasonable creatures; as 
100'e, hate, hope, fear, and the other twel"e \l'hich all of us 
naturally have; the which each one of us setteth in use 
more or less. according to the grace he hath of God, for as 
St. Paul hath aid: God is He who workelh in us the 
ful61ment of IIis will. And by these primal passions I hold 
that these men were mo\,ed to the love of .lQbn Fernandez, 
for \I hieh reason they henceforth fclt sorrow at his depar-
ture. Aod it would be vcr)' fitting to speak a little upon 
these passlon~, and in whal \'Fay they are uni\'ersal in all 
mco, but r fear to prolong mr stor)" and to wearr )'our 
goodwill b)' lengthening out m)' ,,-ord , "ven though all 
\lould be proliIable." '0 let us lea"e tbe long conferences 
that there might be among lbose on board the cara"els at 
the coming of John Fernandez, and let U onl), tell ho\\' he 
.aid to Antan> Gon~ah-e, that there was hard by there a 
noble called. \hude ~lcymam. and that he wished to traffic 
with them in the matt<T of some black' whom he had taken; 
and of 'hos . \ntam Gon~alvcl was very glad, and put on 
shore the .amsJ.ghn.l:crnand~.\l:ho in a short time br ught 
a great number of that people there. And, af,er settling the 
malter of ho.tages, \ntam Gon~alvel receinxl t,,·o :lloors 
as security, .,td he on his ide g3n~ t\\O otber. of lhose 
that he had with him. ~\nd those twO, who were 0 gi\,(~ll 
011 the part of ,\It!am Gon~ahel while tbe exchang~.s were 
being m Ide, \\ere taken to tile telll' of the ~(oor<, \\ here 
\\.ts .'l ,'cry great numbc;r of J\loori:!'ooh women, and those 
,lmong the he I of Ihat land. 
;\. 0\\ It h;lpPc!U<.''(t that tbe ~I OOr~ r~liscd an uproar among 
thcmSt. h C!\, for \\ hieh reason th 'r "c.mt out of their d\\'ell-
illes ~l g-ood \\a)' on to th plair'!. \nd lhc~loorbh \\omen, 
looking upon those 1\\\.1 h()sta~:<\, thought t try them, 
she\\ ing a vcry gn,::tl dC!'tire of lying \\ ith them: and tho .. ;.c 
\\ho thought lh In ch'cs he"t (,\\'(lun;('i shewed tIWIn-;ch"(.!--s 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST QF GUINEA. I I I 
right willingly as naked as when they first c. . me out of the 
bellies of their mothers, and so made them other signs 
sufficiently unchaste. But seeing that th~the"ts'. were 
more concerned at the terror they felt (thinkIng that the 
tumult of those Moors was warily raised in order chiefly to 
cause them injury), the women nevertheless persevered in 
their unchaste purpo~e, making them signs of great seeu rity, 
and asking them, as could be understood by their gestures, 
that they should I'erform what they sought. But whether 
this was attemFted with deceit, 0T whether it was only the 
wickedness of their nature that'urged them fo this, let it be 
the business of eaGh one to settle as he thinks best. Great 
confidence was shown by those Moors in their trafficking, 
for, in speaking about the:ir matters, many came boldly on 
to the ships, bringing their ,"va men with them, v.rho above 
all desired to see that noy1ty. t ~L-:R'" 
And \-vhen thi~let \ ~~lud~d his bargaining, he 
received some thing;-;hich pl€ascd him most among those 
tendered to him by our men (though they were really small I 
and of little valuc)~ and he ga\~e us for the same ning2 
negroes and a littl~O A nd upon the end of 
this same bargaining, one squire who dwelt ~I\ the isle 
of Madeira required of Antam Gon9alvez that' he should 
knight him; because, as I believe, he was of great age 
and had some lineage of nobility; and, having a sufficient 
wealth, he wished to acquire an honourable title for his 
sepulchre. He ,;vas called Fernam Taavares, and that 
place was known from henceforth by the name of the 
~ape of the RansomlOl 
Welt wouI? lrna~ed me to speak sGlmewhat in 
this chapter of the things that John Fernandez saw and 
learnt in that land; but it is necessary that I should bring 
the action of those three Garavels to an end; and afterwards 
* Our men. t Of the ships. ! Ahude Meymam. 
IT:! \lUR.\IL\'::, CHJ.:.OX I CLF OF TnT' 
\\'hen I find time I will tell ),ou of all, that [ rna)' pursue 
mr story in the order that scemeth best to me, 
","ow the ~Ioors ha,'ing Icft that place. and the caravels 
sailing OOt those men of ours who were working the sails 
saw ncar the shore some :!oo camels, with certain :\1oor5 
"ho followed them, And because they seemed to be vcr)' 
ncar I he)' went towards them right briskly; but those ~ [oors. 
seeing thcmsclve< pressed by the others, jumped up lightly 
upon the camels and ned upon them, Hut the camel were 
mort! in number than the men, for which rCa.~on some 
stayed on the spot where they were, and of these our men 
killc'Ci (ort)', and the others fled and escaped, 
-\nd so the caravels going on, came nigb to the i51and of 
~1l ha,'e said already there were many 
Moors, and seeing ncar the shore where ther were, some 
houses. and \\ ishing to know if the), could lind an),thing 
Ihere,lhe) landed And percei\'ing that all "as desolate, 
lhey had a mind 10 go further inland, where the)' <~\\' t\\'O 
~toon". "ho were coming in their din.'"Cli()n~ and OUr mcn, 
an,'IOU' to take them, contended (or them. But Antam 
G(ln~;ol\'ez, being advised of their deceit, understood b)' 
their coulltcnan(""e lhat that movement of theirs was for the 
purpo:;c of some ambush; (Of, as to such confidcncl: shew" 
b~ two men against so many, any man of judgm<.:nt could 
undcr:.land lhat it wa" to c!,,'ar some stratagem. 
.. ,.0" .dd \nlam GOl'lrra1n:z to t\\ 0 or his men, .. a 
little \\3) inland signing to thcm whither they were to 
proccc- j • and ) ou \\ ill see the trcachcr~' of thc!->c dO:;-s..1I 
\nd "'0, a~ the (hristi.nts a(h anced from the side of 
the shore, the: ~((){}r~ caine out ;l&all1l.t them ~ 3110 Mint.! 
ncar, thei' hurled their spc<u· .... and the Christj.an~ ri:l.!l 
"ftcr them 1111 Ilwl' (nme In ,he place tll.1t had bc'Cn 
""Irked out for them l.x.'forc, and so turnt.'1.i UJd\.. ..\nJ 
• I. 11~c.r. 
DlSCOYERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. I J 3 
as our men began to retire to the ships the ambuscade 
was discovered; and those who were of it very 500n 
came down upon the shore, so that, if our people had not 
retired thus sharply, they could not have escaped from 
these without very great loss. For the Moors, per-
ceiving their advantage, shewed clearly enough their 
desire, entering into the water as far as they could; 
whence, had they not been kept at a distance by the 
cross-bows) they would have followed still, even by swim-
ming, in order to accomplish th~ir desire of injuring 9ur 
mell. 
CHAPTER XXXVI. 
How they took the Moors at Cape Branco. 
(< LET us return'\ said Antam Goncralvez," to Cape Branco, 
for I have heard say that on the side opp~e sunset 
there is a village, in which we could find some people of 
whom we could make booty, if we took it suddenly and 
by surprise." All said that this was good counsel, and 
that they should put it in action at once; and) for this 
thirty-eight men were set apart) who were most" ready for 
the service, and they landed and \vent to the village 
straightway, at the beginning of the night, but found 
nothing in it. tI Then said some of them) it would be 
well for us to return to our boats and row as far as we 
may along the land, till we see morning; and as soon as 
that shall happen, we will land and go towards those Moors 
to hold the passage of the Cape; because they needs must 
go along the said Cape before they can retreat into the 
upland. And as they have with them women and children, 
they will be forced to rest part of the night, and though 
they travel continually, they cannot go so fast as to prevent 
us from passing them." And in this counsel they were all 
1 
.Ul'R 'R.\'~ CHRO"rCLf: OF THE: 
agreed, and rowing all the night without taking any rest 
(because in sueh places and tunes slothfulness is the greatest 
cause o( loss. the night came to its end, And wben the 
clearness of the day was beginning, t\\"cnty~eight of them 
landed. for the others stared to guard the boats, And 
those tbat "'<)re on land \\"ellt on, rill ther arri.-.,d at a 
certa:n hl.,h place, from win.;h th"y percc!,'oo the)' could 
keep a good \\atch o\'er all rhe parts round about; and 
<.-oncealing thcmseh"CS as well as they could on account of 
the rising of the ~un. they· SP~\ ~[oou t:oming to\\'"ards 
them, men and \\omen, with their boys and girl,;, in an 
!ie,'enty or elglll),. as they' reckoned, • nd \, ith ut any 
further speech or counsel they rushed out among them, 
shouting out their accu.tomed cries, "St. Gc'Org6', 
.. J>ortul!.",I' '\Qd at thetr attack the ~[oors were so 
dism3) cd Ihal mo t of them at once <ou ht relief in 
Right, and onlr seve" or elgbt 'tood on their defence. of 
\I hom there '\0\\ rell dead at th" first charge Ihn..-e or four 
And the,,, bClng despatched, there \\'3 tl.O more toil of 
Rgbt. al)O only he I' no kll<l\\ himself light of roo! thought 
be had .m)' remed} (or 1\;" life, bOl our men did not stand 
idle, fc.r I( their enemie. tuok Car to run me) did not for 
their part I.n thcmsel\'c rest: for at -ucll a lime toil of the 
kInd that tbe) "nclen,e"t is true rest (or the conquero~ 
And sO Ih"~ captul'\.-d in aU nl't)'-l'h e, \I hom tber took with 
them to the boa ( the" 10' I \\ ill not speak, bt.'Cau>e 
reason \\ill lei 1 you "hat it mU'1 ha\c been, bOlh of IhMe 
who look the caplives and of til olh~rs Oil board the 
c:amHet .... t "hen the~ C,tnle \t'1th lheir tlri ,e. ...\nd a.fter 
11th captu," lhe) agrc\-d to turn tack 10 the kin ..d om , • 
both bee"u"" they percei\cd that the,' could ac-complbh 
no more to th. ... profit in thaI p..n, md especial!) bt.'<:au;;e 
r the defic:ienq of \ ictu,\I~ 1'", theN wa., not ~notlgh 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. II5 
to last ~Ily long time for them and for the ~oners they 
had with them; and all the more as the ~'ay* was long, 
and they knew not ,:vhat kind of a voyage they would have. 
Wherefore they guided their ca ravels towards Portugal, 
making straight for Lisbon, where they arrived quite 
content with their booty. But who would not take 
pleasure at seeing the multitude of people that ran out 
to see those caravels? for as soon as they had lowered 
their sails, the officers who collected the royal dues1Q::I took 
boats from the shore to fin'a ol;!t whence the ships came 
and what they brought; and as soon as they returned and 
,the news passed from one to another, in a short time there 
was such a multitude in tht: caravels that they were nearly 
swamped, Nor were there less on th€. next day, when they 
took the captives out of the ships and wi~hed to convey 
them to a palace of the Infant, a good way distant from 
~ the~ For from all the other parts of the city 
they flocked on to those streets by which they had to COll-
vey them. Of a surety,saith the author of this histor)", 
imany of those I spoke of at first, who murmured over the commencement of this action, might well rebuke them-selves now, for there was no one there who wo.uld be then cOllnted as of that number. And the noise of the people 
was so great, praising the great.virtues of the Infant (when 
they saw them take the captives in bonds along those 
streets), that if anyone had dared to speak in the contrary 
sense he would very soon have found it well to recant. 
But perchance it would have availed him little, for the 
populace (and most of all in a time of excitement) but 
, '\ rarely pardoneth him \\ ho contradicteth what it willeth to 
hold established. Nor doth it appear to me that there could 
be a man of such evil condition that he could spea k against 
so manifest a good, from which followed such great profits,105 
'* H ome. 
I 2 
116 AZt.:R_\R.\'S CIIRO"ICLF (\F THE 
The rnfant was then in the district of \tiseu, from which 
he sent to recci,'e his fifth: and, of those \\'ho remained, the 
captains made a sale in the cit)', from which all reeci,-ed 
gTeat advantage. 
lTl.\I'TER );'\\:\-" 
Ho\\' the c.u;,,, el o( (-;onC;310 P:lcheco anti I H'\ other ships \\('m l<l 
the i:.lc of Ergiln.  
•A , - the tOIl'O of Li:bon i-the most noble in the Kingelom 
or Portugal. 50 like\\ isc its inhabilants (if we reckon the 
most for all are the nobkst and ha\'e the largest properties. 
:\nd let no one be :0 -imple a to take this word in a 
\\ rang sensc, and think thal th'~ nobili t~· is specially to be 
found in them* more th.ln in lhc·,e of olher cities and 
towns-for the Fidal!:,os and men of high famil), are 
noble \\'hercsoc:nlr they be found-onl) I -peak !:cnerally, 
becau~e 'b P:tulo \~ 'rgcryo .said, in the instruction that 
he ga'-c tn the ),ollth of the gently, the 'plcn.. d our of 
the great Cit)' i. a largc part of 1I0bilil» ,\nd the),,'" 
,eeiog before their e),e: \I hat wealth those -hips brou!:ht 
home. acquirc..'{i iu so hor t :l time, and wilh such ~afcty, 
con.idercd, ome of them. hOIl the), could get a part of 
that pr fit ,. . 
.\0\\, there wa!l in th:l.l city a squire of noble linca::!,e. 
II Illeh he I",d nnt oiled a Icg.lnfeth goodn6' and "alnur, 
callcel Gonplo Pache , who \\'a olle of the Infant's 
COUfllnd W;1'" High Trca"'U1"¢f of (<.:tlt:\., a mJn of grCJl 
\\calth and one who :1.1\\".1)' k<.:pt "h ips a.t "ca against the 
cllemic" of the Kingdom,I07 And it t;cmcth thal he COI1-
idcr<.-d of thi matter, ,uld wrote at once to the I nfal'll to 
• (It I. t>c-n 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. I r 7 
permit him to arm a fine caravel, which he had lately han 
built for his service; and the same allowance he asked I'ur 
two other caravels which sought to accompany him. He 
had little delay or hindrance in getting the licence he 
desired, and much less in making ready the matters that 
'-( were necessary for the armament. Then Gon~alo Pacheco 
made captain of his caravel one Dinis Eanes de Graa, 
n~.pt;hr.w of his wife in the first degree, and a squire of the 
~~gent's ;. and in the other caravels went their owners, 
t; wit, ~ Assayer .of the Mint, and Mafaldo, 
a dweller in Setuval; and they, hoisting on their ships 
the banners of the Order of Christ, made their way towards 
Cape Branco.los ·~I1ey agieed all together 
not to go to the village, which stood one league from the 
Cape, by reason of the writing they found (which Antam 
GOIl<;alvez had placed there), in which he advised those who 
should pass by that place not to take the trouble of going 
against that village with any "hope of profit, because he had 
been in it and found it empty. And they agreed to go and 
look for another, \vhich was two leagues from there; and in 
the result they came to it and found it likewise empty. 
But there chanced to be in that company among those 
who went to that villag-e, one John Gon~aJvez' a--Gallician, 
who was a pilot, and had alr~ been in that land with 
A ntam Gon~alvez, when he had returned there this last 
time to search for John Fernandez; and it appeareth that 
as soon as he reached Lisbon he had joined their company. 
"And now," said that John Gon<;ah'ez," you may make a 
great profit in this business if you will follow my counsel; 
because I have faith in God that He will g ive us a prize 
worth having; for I have already been in this land and seen 
how the others acted who had a better knowledge of it.!> 
Ali said with one voice that they were very content and 
• D. Pedro. 
II~ \/t t':"\I('\'~ ( 1II{ONI{! /" <.11- 1111' 
I1Ml lh~W ltldnkcJ r'!im lUuch, and that he shuuld sa)' at 
ullCU what he thought best. .. You ktlo\l'," sAid he, t, that 
tht-' \..:antvl+~ ill \\ hi.C'h Uicgn \«un~o and (yarein llUlT'H.;m 
C;lI1lC, wc:nl un along this C<1.lst (rightening the i\loors before 
.\nuua Ciollf{alvl'l I Acbed it. .\nd when i\ntam G011,alvez 
nrri\'c..'d he ttgt(.cd \\ ith them to g-o to l'::rgim, ~md when 
they C.\Ole lh(.·rc.lht'Is.land'(.'r~ were nlrcady prcparl.-d; ,,,,,hen.:· 
rore thev Ilil ftt,,1 a\\ I), and tliereo"l), rcmail1<:<1 one of them, 
\\ ith one.: ),foorish ~irl hi .. tl,augl)lc-r, whom lhey broughl to 
Portugal \nd \\c .·a.w the hQl1~ on the island.\\hich\vcrc 
(Ipnbl of haWing a "cn' large number of pc·opl", nnd it 
\\ a~ 1'\ idont that (he ).[()OI"S had l)1ll~ Just. Clout. and ','c 
w<'nl (orth nnd calt\:ht I" enl) ·the of them. \nd I belie,'c 
llMt ~inct.· \\C \\:(."rt' .... 0 reC~lllt~ in lhi i.l~ll1'd the ~'dOOfS 
will not no\\ bt.. lC'ad~' and on the \\atch (or thh ~~ar. 
and", will haH' retllln<:<1 ", the i<lllnd , and if you follow 
m~ guid.1n\,' .. with th1.· g-racC' of G<'Kt. r shall kno\\ ho\\' l O 
t.lkt.' you In a Illact:' \\ hen,' I imagin\: they arc; and ir \\'~ light 
ul"'" them th boot)' "",,"ol hut 1\, good." " Ih)w <1U1 ,[ 
be," nns\\cn.'d sorn~," that the Aloofs should so quicklr tc-
tlln' to a pia c ,,',,' ''' the) kilO" Ihe, hove hee" looked (.,. 
l~forc ') For th.lt whICh ~ ou arc U!f\, ~ur~ or must be 
much mort.- doubtful to u .... and that 1~ the hre\1t~ of th~ 
lime which \"0" l1lakt, the principal c"usc kW tbdr re\un~, 
,\nd "hieh .. ee-m~ to us t' '.\ct1r the l'Cmll ar\', b('\.'all~t" (heir 
~u pldon, ~inC<.· it is ... 0 mUllif~st .... hould not t;i\'c them a 
"l.'n e of s("cu'fit) .... 0 soon n '\C, l rthelc ", the -captains did 
not \\ j",h to hC.lf fln, mor' H·(""ollin~. but .h men ~elllcd in 
their fir't l oun,,~'. c()mmA.ndt'd t.o Ilunch the bo(\b frl'IU 
th'(' hlp'" ,md mc1.de thctllst:i\'(; s n: ;\d~ with th~' Crews th~v 
thnu ht li) he l"'l<"Ct"' ar~ : .tIld bl.:C,lUSl it had ;l1read,' been 
0ltlfl,in~d ,unon lht:m thAt ('a'ch C.'\pLl'l1 s.houl'l..ll~'.\n.d in tun), 
tlll'10t (\,11 upon ;'\l,tf. . ltto (1.11 thl"'l'~ll(diti(.m, ,\lid tht.' ('th(.:r~ 
• t U In O(kl ume, 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 119 
stayed in their caravels. And, moreover, th~l were ?iIJ .com. 
manded that no one should disobey the order of the pilot, IJ- ~C<. L.;c.... 
from whom I have said before that they cccived c0uIlsei. -l 
And they rowed their boats so that about midn ight they 
were in t he harbour of that~sl1na, close to the settlement; 
and, leaping on shore, M.:Caldo said that they should con -
sider how it was still deep night, and that they were so 
near to the place that, if they attacked it at th is time, by 
reason of the darkness many would be able to escape; or 
that .p erchance they were rest ing outside at a distance from 
there, not having got over their former frigAt; and therefore 
his counsel ':vas to surround the viilage, and, as day was 
breaking, to attack it. Mafaldo was a man who was well 
accustomed to this business, for he had been many times 
in the Moorish traffic; so that all considered his advice very 
profitable. 
And so, in going to place themseh'es where they had be-
fore agreed on, they lighted on a road which ran from the 
village to a fountain; and they stood a little while waiting~\ 
there; and upon this they saw a girl com ing for water, v.lho V 
was quickly taken, and likewise a Moor (who shortly after -
came along the same path), whom they asked by siglfs if 
there were there many people, and he ans\yered in the 
same way that there were not more than se\'en. "Since 
th is is 50/' said IVlafaldo, !, there i" no reason for us to wait 
any longer for the morning, but let liS make for them, for 
with so few we have no need of so many cautions." And 
in a word, the village was quickly encompassed and those 
seven were all captured. And Mafaldo at once took aside 
one of them and began to ask him (as well as he could, for 
a man who had no other interpreter) \,there were the other 1""-
Moors of that island? And the Moor made signs that\ 
they were on terra firma, INhere they had gone in the fear 
they had of the Christians; and he offered himself at once to 
gu ide them to the spot, for they lay near to the sea. And 
120 AlURAR.\'· CIlRONICLE Of THE 
"laraldo1 When he learnt thi~, came and !=ipokc with his 
company; asking them if the), thought \\'ell to go in search 
of tho c i\! oors? .\ud because wh<.:rc there arc many heads 
there arc man)' judgment-, certain doubt< began to appear 
<ullong them: 'lome . aring that such an expedition was 
\'crr qlle~tionablc, becau e the ~r oar could not say. nor 
the)" under:tand, the number of the :llour>; and ",·en if he 
lid rell it, thar he would peak it treacherousl)", with rhe 
intention or takin them among sllch a number that they 
could not el the \1(:tO") o\er them, u Then," .. .lid ~lafaldo. 
"if in c,·cl")· maller rou wish to ,eck for difficulties, the), 
will nc''Cr fail rou, and if ,n uch deed, ) au will go to the 
\cr) cnd of thdr rCit~On, latc or ncver will you perform 
,lnylhing I\Qt.\blc. Let U' go, with God's aid," "aid he. "and 
Slut ICl our courag:e fail, for He \\ ill be with u, to-day of 
lIi· merc),' ..\ 11 the rc·t agreed that it \\." better to >tart 
at once; and the) left there CI ht )Ioar:;, and \\ ith them 
-'x l1l~n to guard thcm; and look \\ ith th, m the man who 
had lir:l lold them "here the others lay, .\nd it chanced 
Lhat une o( the ei!;ht that had ix'en Ielt rhere ",caped from 
our tn(m \\ho \\cn.: f;!u.trding him, ilnd pa.$~cd o\"cr to the 
,".llnla"u in.1 ca.noe to gi\ c nc\\ ... to the others who loy 
there in cha ... c of \\ bom the Christian:-. \\(':rc sl:lrll.:d . and 
related to them how he 'lI1d the rc,[ of the dght had been 
madc pn oners. nut he knew not to ad\'isc them of 
an) IIl.IlIer that pcrt.in~"tl to their hun. (or it appearL'<l 
th.ll he did !lot pc.:rc:ci\t· \\ hal \\.1 C(lmlt1~ upon them; and 
lhhou h the other. .. \\ l rc :::-ric\'cd .ll the news, lhc~ :-.up-
I'ortld 1\ ,,,th the 1","enCe ,,,th \\ hich mcn bear the 
lrouhlc uf their fellow. ,I ~\nd ... o th~) let thcm~e)n!"s rc!-t 
.ll1d bl: .1S) , d.nd th.1\ man with then). .\nd after the:: 
(hnshan cnh:red the bO.ll lhc..:~"d out at once 111 the 
mgl.t fur the point \d\lch the \lour h.ld shewn them, and 
pi ccd<.:d th pace 01 \\\0 Ic.lglll.·:-' •.t Ild landlllg- lht,)' 
fltllu\\I,... . 1 tlu: \J 11' to lh'l' pl.\u.· \\ hul' lit." ... ho\\(,;d thl:nl: 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 121 
by his signs, that they were nigh at hand. And there they 
all halted, sending on one of them who was called Diego 
Gil, who was to see if he could find any trace of the people; 
and he went on until he saw the houses; and approaching 
nearer, he heard at'l infant cry. 
CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
How Mafaldo took forty-six Moors. 
DIEGO GIL was not sloth ful in returning and telling his 
news to the others, and they agreed that it was best to 
wait there for the morning; for, in the island (as they said), 
by reason of the darkness of the night, many of the natives 
could escape,-for such was their boldness that they had no 
doubt of the capture of these people. And so they stayed 
on, waiting until near the dawn, ,vhich to most of them 
seemed a delay more than was reasonable, such was their 
desire of getting to the end of that action. And oft-times it 
happeneth in other parts (where through necessity men 
have to wat~h) that when that hour cometh they cannot bear 
up without sleeping, so much arc they oppre~sed by sleep. 
Hut it was not so with these, for there was not one who 
was not very su re of himself against such an event. And 
Mafaldo (on whose care that action most depended), as soon 
as he saw the time had come for departure began to speak to 
them thus: H Friends, the time is near in which we have to 
finish that for which we have toiled so hard in this part of 
the night. But we arc in an enemy's land, where we know 
not if we have to deal with many or \\ ith few. \~rhcrefore 
r call upon you to remember your honour, and each one of 
),Oll to act bravely, and not to faint in the execution of this 
dc·cd. And now/' said hc) II let us go on our way, for God 
\\ill be with us." 
AZt"R.\R.\·~ CHRONTCLE OF THE 
The spaee was but short from lI' here the ellem), lay, and 
the}'. seeing thcmsclv~ surrounded, b~gal1 to run out or 
Ehetr hULS; and~ like men more full of I error than of courage, 
put aU tbeir hope in Right. A nd at last they took capti_e 
of tbem forty-six, besides orne" ho were killed at the first 
shock. A nd though the action" as not one of aoy g reat 
danger, "e "ill not omlt to ghe the advantage oflabour to 
those who behaved tbe best, and \\'ho "ould not have 
sho,,"o less strength in [he 6ght (11ad it happened), ho\\ e,'cr 
groat it migbt ha"e been. l\0 "', besides 1[.£aldo (\I'ho was 
captain), DIego Gil, and Alvaro \Tasquez and Gil Eannes, 
(but not that kni;:ht of whom" e spoke before, toiled man-
fully, as men \\"bo show<-'<l "ell Lba the)' Were fit (or greater 
deeds 'han tbil;. nd so II", booty or that night was Mtr-
three :\JoorLih prisoners"· 
ell \1' rEt{ :; .. L·. 
Ho\\ thQ~ h-mdcd.1O tber I me, ad (the lb. lhtu the~' did. 
\\ 1£ can" ell undcr land. from the hap of lh~sc men, that 
the gl..,ater pan of the aClions achieved in this world are 
"'ore ubJ""'t to (ommO) (ha" to n ••s on. And" hat man In 
I"s raght jud ment could trust H) the motiOn> (If the head. 
or the signs or the hands, 1\ hich a Moor made him) 
~tighl it not chance. too, that tbat ~Ioor, (or th.: purpose 
or getting (re<:. 0" perchance t<il gel ,ellg<!ance over hi· 
en,.",ies, lIould .how them one thing for another, and 
(under pretence or bringing them to • place" here, on hi< 
show;" our peopl~ might e.'pec! to "in a '"ic""rylshould 
lead them huo the mIddle or such" hosl of rucs that th 'J' 
"ould e CApe liltle Ie».< than dea<l? Ccrtainh' 110 jud:;m("l1t 
;n the '\Todd G. .u ld dunk (he '''''trar) \ ," ) belle,,, til 1l 
the chilCf cau c of thu:tc mailers lit) ill the un<i'erllotandillg 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. J 23 
that our men already had of these people,· perceiving 
their cunning to be but small in this part of the world. 111 
So Mafaldo arrived with his booty, where he had su<;h 
a reception from the other captains as the presence of the 
booty, gained by his toil, required of them. And making 
an end of recounting his joyful victory, he sa id he thought 
they ought to ask each one of the Moors they brought 
wiLh them if, peradventure, beyond that settlement where 
they were taken, there was any other in which they could 
make any booty? A nd after. getting the consent of all, 
he took aside one of those Moors in order to put him the 
aforesaid question; and he answered that there was.t And 
they were already so much emboldened, that they waited 
not to ask if the enemy \\'ere many or few , or how many 
fighting men they numbered, or any of the other matters 
which it was fitting for them to ask in such a case. But 
like men who had fully determined upon their action, they 
started off the same afternoon, where by the signs of that 
IVIoor they were guided to a village, at which on their 
arrival they found nothing they could make booty of. 
And when they threatened the iVIoor for thi£, he made 
them understand that, as the people were not there, they 
must be in another settlement not very (ar from this. 
But here they only found one old Moor in the last infir-
mity; and seeing him thus at the point of death they left 
him there to make his end; not wishing to molest that little 
part of life that from his appearance was left him. And 
as: it appeareth, the 1Vloors, having already perceived the 
Christians to be among them, had left that village and 
moved off to another part of the country. And so our 
people who were there took counsel not to go further on, 
because it seemed to be a toil without hope of profit; but 
they agreed to return there: in the future, presuming that 
• .\ Ioors. t Such a settlemenl.  
124 ,\ze 'UK,\'s eli KO"TCLE O~ THE 
the ~foors, knowing of their coming and departure, would 
feel ecurc and return to their huts. But that ,,'as not 
~o, for the ~loors that time went a very long way off; 
"here the)' still felt fearful of being sought out, e,'en 
thou~h they were sa di-::;.tant. True it i that our men 
(following their coun el as alrcad)' taken) wcnt to their 
caravel', from which they again rc,urned to the "illage; 
and seeing the)' ould not find anything, but on ly that 
~l oor \\'hom the)' had left before, It now seemed bdter 
to them to take him with them, \\'ell might that 
po)r man curse hiS fortune, that in so -hart a time it 
rC\'oked hi~ first sentence, conforming so many wilh-. on 
cach occaSIon re, .rdin the fate of hi' happiness. And 
other lime: al .... o our men went on ... hore, but the}' found 
nothing 01 any pr06t, and so returned to their ships. 
(II \I'TFR ,'1-. 
110\ \h II \ l qU<"1 took hc $C\CU \Ioc:rs. 
(,1{1-" \ r doubt "ere 'pread in the counsel of our men by 
the c.tUtion and pr "patCdflC~ s that they pcrccin:d in lhe! 
.\{oor, of th.u land; cllld they no\\ sa\\ it would be necc.:;-
'arr to ~ck other p3rts, ill whkh lhere ,,"as no knowledge 
of the r ,. .r i,·al. \nd <OIne :aid that it "ould be well to 
go to Tider,- bccau'c lher knt:\\ there ,,"ere many \f oor ... 
there Other >aid tlMl th 'ir going to that pMt \\ould be 
hurtful, bccd.u,,-c thefr enemy was .... 0 numerous that th e 
tighung would be 'WI' unequal. and to .ntcmpt ,"ch d 
In.tlter \\auld be nothing but all insane boldne:-.:,. Fnr, 
hcif1~ "0 (c\\ a lh y wcr', such .1n .llt'mpt "oule! appc.lf 
• I II~ r 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA, 125 
monstrous to any prudent person; when the injury would 
not only be the loss of their bodies, but shame before the 
presence of the living a5 welL Others again 5aid that they 
should push on; and if, perchance, they could make no booty 
in the land of the Moors, that they should go to the land 
of the Negroes; for it would be a great disgrace to them to 
return with such small results from places where the others 
had gained their fill of riches. This saying was praised by 
all; and so they set out thence, and, going on their voyage 
for a space of thirty-five leag!les beyond Tider,' all three 
caravels waited for one anoth'er, and the captains sJPoke 
among themselves. And they agreed that it would be 
well to send some people out to see if it was a land 
where they could make any gain, And taking out the 
boats from the ships, Alvaro Vasquez, that squire of the 
] nfant's, said that it seemed to ~im it would be well to 
order two or three men to go out on one side, and as many 
others on another, to see if they could get any sight 01' 
knowledge of the Moors; by whom at least they might 
understand who lived in that- land, that they might come 
and warn the others who had to attack them. All agreed 
in that counsel, and selected four scouts for each side, 
among whom Alvaro Vasquez was one; and each party 
following their path to the end, the former came to a place 
where were some nets, which the Moors had only just left, 
And Alvaro Vasquez with the others went on so far that at 
night they came upon a track of 1\100rs; and do not 
wonder because r say If at night",-for perchance you think 
it doubtful if they could tell such a track in the darkness 
of the night. Wherefore you must understand that in that 
country there is no rain as here in Portugal, nor is the lower 
sky overclouded as we see it in these vVestern parts; and 
besides the brightness of the moon (when there is one), the 
lit i. e., Tiger. 
"ZllR \IU', ( IIRO~ICLE OF THE 
stars of themsehes gi¥c so much light that it is easy for 
one man to recognise another) even though they be a little 
space apart. So lhat track was found; yet, because ther 
52'\' no reason to put reliance in it, they ~~ould not ret lHn 
to their captains until they had a marc certain understand -
ing of the malter. ,\nd so going on} th¢y came where the 
Moors la)" .,Id saw them so close that they telt the)' COil Id 
not tUrn baek witbout belllg perceived. There(nre the)' 
wcnr ror the lIIoors Wilh a rush; and with their accustomed 
cries leapt among them, bdog twel"e in number. And 
such ,,"-" their" di.may mat they did not look at the !\JImber 
or their enem)" but like conquered people began to fiec; 
though thi "'''-'' of little 'cn'ice to tbem, for only t\\ a 
"''''''p"d, ",hlle tlvee "<1ro killed and seV0n taken. nd 
thus, returning to their ships. OUf mrel1 'I: eTe receh-ed as 
those wllo desen cd honour (or their toil and bra,'cry; for 
altilongh we ,,,,ite .ome part of 'heir desert, we hI! e not 
done so as per(cctl~' I!.S Ihey petfurn\~'<1 it, for the kno\\'. 
ledge of II. thing can never be so proper by its likeness as 
",hen it i. knowll b)· itself. and yet historian, to avoid 
prolhdtl', often summaritc things (hat "ollld be far greater 
i( these "ere rci.,l<ci in their true "liect5.m 
The captaincy for tbat turn was in the hands o( Din;' 
hanna., Il' we have said aJ,."adj', and he ook aside one 
of tho,,, Moo. ... to kilO\\, if there weI an)' othcr peoplc in 
that land And the :.roor an"""rcd by iglls thaI there 
,"3., no other ",dement ncar there, bUI ollly a ,iIlagG v<!y)' 
rar di lanl (rom thaI part, it> \\·hich there \\ re man)- people, 
bUI fe\\ of tbem "'en of wac. ":\0\\ we shall ",ake small 
profit b)' our coming here," said bini: F .. nne. La hi com· 
Pili'll', "i( we are not ....a -.l) (0 endllre bod;l) tOils; and though 
this vill.,1:" be.<l {<lr di.tant a.; tl\i< :'Iloor mak~ll\ me to 
understand, [ hauld think it would be wdl r"r u< to go to 
" h Th~ir I tdel (0 Ihe \too 
DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF GUINEA. 127 
it, for all the amount of our gain dependeth on our labour. " 
All agreed to go, in any case, where some profit could be 
got; and taking that Moor for their guide, they went on a 
space of three leagues, till they arrived at that village which 
the Moor had named to them hefore. But they found there 
nothing by which they could get any profit, for the Moors 
had already removed far off. So they returned again, 'not 
without great weariness; for what they felt most sorely, 
after going through such great toil, was the finding of 
nothing that they had sought. 
LONDON: 
PRI).:TED AT TilE BEDFORD PRESS, 20 Al'\D ZI , BliDFORoamn', STRAXD. W.C. 
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THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY, established in 1846, has for its object the printing of rare or unpublished Voyages and 
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Books of this class are of the highest interest and value to students 
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i\lore than ninety volumes have now been issued by the Society. 
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\ It I (of \\ I\.; III prrlMmtlon, 8'1\('n at p.I~(' 9. Th~ S rl"t:try 
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I-The Observat.lons of Sir Richard Hawkins . Knt., 
In his Voyage into the South St:a in I593. Reprinted from the edilion of 
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r First Edition oul 0/ pri1lt. Su No. 57.) Essuedfor 1848. 
2-SeJect Letters of Columbus, 
With Original Documents relating to the Discovery of the New ''''''orld. Trans-
lated and Ediled by R. I-I. MAJOR, Esq. 
(First Edition out 0/ pr;'~/. Sec N'o . 43.) ( 1847.) /SSlft'djor l8i9· 
3-The Discoverie of the Empire of Guiana, 
By Sir Walter Raleigh, Knt. Edited by SIR RUHERT H . .sCH U:\I BURGK, 
P hil. D . (1848.) 
(Out of pr;7lI.) ISStud (or 1850. 
4-511' Francis Drake ):lis Voyage, 1595. 
By Thom:ls i\raynarde. tugelher with the Spanish Accoullt of Drake's altao..:k 
on Puerto Rico. Edited by W . D. COOLEY, Esq, (1849) 
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5-Narratives of Early Voyages to the North-West, 
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(Outofprmt. j /sStft!dfor I8s r. 
6- The Hlstol'le of Trava ile Into Virginia Britannia. 
Ex pre..o;sing the Cosmogrnphie and Commoditie:> of the Country, together with 
the manners and cllstoms of the people, collected by \Yilliam Strachey, Gent, 
the first Secretary of the Colony. Edited by R. H. f\IAJOR, Esq. ( 1849) 
(alit ofprinl.) Imud/or 1851. 
7- Dlvers Voyages touching the Discovery of America 
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a - A Collection of Documents on Japan. 
W ith a Comment.'uy by THOMAS RUNDALL. ESQ, (1850.\ 
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9-The Discovery and Conquest of Florida. 
By Don Ferdinanda de Soto, Translated out of Portuguese by Richard 
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10 - Notes upon Russia. 
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in the yean; ISIi and 1';'26. Two Volumes. Transiatl':d and Edited by 
R. H. NIA}OR. Esq. Vol. I. (1851.) 
(OuloJpriuI') lmudfbr 1853, 
I I - Tho Gaotrr8phy of Hud.so n ·s Bay. 
Being tbe Remark-so( Captnin W. eonu.. in many YO)3ge~ to Lhat 1000liry, 
bel\\et.n lhe ),etu"li 1;17 Md ti$l. WiUt Eur:a.cfA (rom tbe Log (If Captain 
'liddlO::lon on his YOyo.gt: (or th~ Dl-.co\·d)" of the \'orth·\\est l')assnge. in 
1I.\1.~. "Furuacc;"'In JHI·'. Edited by JOH\ BAkkOW, Esq., F.R.S., 
F. ...\ . I S:..) Is.. /I,d 1 T 1854-
12.-Nol.es upon RussIA. 
"oL 'l. ( ISp..  ) 
IS Tht"eo VO)'1\(eS by lb6 NorLh- Bast.. 
TD\\arW. uth:l».nd hiM, underuken b) the DUl'h Ul the yean. 159 .... 1.'09:' 
.ad 1!o1)6. wilh weir Dwx.ner;.· o( 'plubc~n, weir I'C' deuC1: often f1lolUh~ in 
XO\1l)4 Zemlu, and their safe:: n:lum in 1"0 rleD 1><, L.... };) tierrit t.lc \ eer. 
Editcc.1 by C. T. HEt\.E.l.sq .• Ph.H., I-s. . \. <tbS3-) 
(FirJI EJiliNI. ul4J tnlt!. .}N y,. 54 .. ) J utd f r 1 55. 
1. .... 6 Tha MinOr» OJ lb Great. nnd MIa-My Kingdom 01 China ftnd 
lhu SIt.u.edon Thdr-eor. 
~:.rir~~'t~n t;!l~~ l~:''i:'~ GlD~~~ b~~n~~ o~~~ ~tc;;tr~~~\~~: 
l1Mt.. Wllh on Jnlrodut;lI n b,- I\... lJ. \tAJOk. 1- Mt- t \ Its. (I 53-S4') 
I " lfi r ,S55· 
18 Tho WOI"ld ancompa~..,ed b)' Sir Pru-neh Drake. 
:::;::.tI~I~'~;:U~O~~1 1~ ~t;:lctto i,c:::!::. ~~n ~'~~I~~~% ~ 
t:.d.ucd by W S. \\. \!\l ,1' I., 't.A. ( l bH·,) 
I fi ISS6. 
17· Tho Hbc.or)" or tho TarlAJ'l Conq,ue.rot'!. ,"ito subdued China. 
)-I'OPllh~ JO~nch fthe I',('C t)'l)rlCllII", I(aS. rlmu1~tcd.4Dd.I.dilcd h\ the 
1:-.\ LOt' 1.::.1.1. Mtil>tt. '\Ilb an lutroducllon b~'l-L It. ~'A.IOII., l . it '51. 
JUT 11."50, 
19 A caUr:ellon of' Earb Doeum nh Olt plubcrilf:n and Gf"(tl'nlwd. 
l-Atitcd by AUAM WtUlt, l. . \l6S$-) 
, r 18Si. 
10 Th \'o)'Q of Sir H l'lro)' Mlddl Ion l4 81lnlAm Ilnd lha MIJuco 1'Soland$;. 
I-'romthc"nU"c;:l-ltion (1006. hill b)OOLl"o C( "l\tf . (1~5~·~ 
J J , I~Si. 
:0 Ruuh' Rt lh Clint) or the Sixteenlh Ct:ntur)'. 
C(""I n I.h •• 1 he Ruac UNum 1\\-eUlh b, TIt. (.lles 1 "e(. he and Sir 
Jerome 11 he)'. 1 n\-.=I, I- lied b\ l A. Bo:-..o, 1 . (I :56.) 
J.. I 51>. 
l' nHI TMi'\.t.. of Glro1tuno 8 .. fu·onl In Amerlca, In j &4~·". 
TrlllUl.lrn and l-:dited. by ADNI""!. \\ II .. ).(\ II, J. K •. , 1,.:--_ \. (lSi·) 
1,.:.(: , I~S . 
Jktn~ • COIln:LI n o( ,unW\C' of \ 0\ to 1 a tn. the «ntuh l'tec('dil1~ 
the f'onugu~~ d \C'n' of' tl.c <. ~ of (jood Hoi'<'; (rGnt l.aun, 1'C'Dl.1.II. 
l\UQWa, ~mllt.:th.n Sourua. l:dit d hy R. 11. ~I Ok, 1. !ill. (I '57·) 
I ,t./ , l 59. 
:U Nil.rraLhc or a \10 .• ~ to lh~ WC"l Ind.l~ Ilnd M~:a;lco. 
'nlh(') ..... $9'1.160). \\Ilb ,. Jban lilu '~UCI II) :"al1HI <.h.'l.mptaill. 
·1".Il.t.h~ frol t til" ngu\aJ nd unp,,1 11 h<d '1.1nU\Ct1pl. \\llb A III ~-aplll..::.\1 
UC:C"ld lc b) ·\tt t \\IUII1U (1:"59-) I ."J/." I 'S,}. 
24-Expeditlons Into the Valley ot the Amazons 
During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: containing the Journey of 
Gonzalo Pizarro, from the Royal Commentaries of Garcilasso Inca de la Vega; 
the Voyage of Francisco de Orellana, from the General History of Herrera j 
and the Voyage of Cristoval de Acuna. T ranslated and Edited by CLEMENTS 
1\.. l\fAKKII A:- r, Esq. (1859.) Issuedfoy 1860. 
25 -Early Indications of Australia. 
A Collection of Documents shewing the Early Discoveries of Australia to the 
time of Captain Cook. Edited by R. H. MAJOR, Esq. (1859. ) 
Issued for 1860. 
26-The Embassy of Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo to the Court of Tlmout'. 1403-6. 
Translated and EditeCi. by CLEMENI'S R. l\'IARKHAM, Esq. (1859. ) 
fssu(d /01' ,86 I. 
27-Henry Hudson the Navigator. 
The Original Document!> in which his catcer is recorded. Edited by GEORGE 
ASHER, E sq., LL.D. (1860.) /.mud/o, 1861 . 
28-The Expedition of Ursua a nd Aguirre. 
In search of EI Dorado and Omagua, A.D. 1560·6t. Translated Irom the 
"Sexta f\olicia Historialt: 1l o( Fray Pedro Simon, by \\T. BULL,\ERT. Esq. ; 
with an Introdllction by C U ;MENTS R. MARKHAM, Esq. ( 186 1. ) 
Issutd for , 86 2. 
29-The Life and Acts of Don Alonzo Enriquez de Guzman. 
Tran~lated and Edited by CLEMENTS R. MARKHA1>I, Esq. (1862.) 
Issued/or 1862. 
30-DlscoverJes of the World 
From their first onginalunto the ycarof our Lord 155S. By Antonio Calvano. 
Reprinted, with the original P ortuguese text, and edited by VICE·A01>IIR,\L 
BETHUN~. C. J3. (1862. ) Iwwlf(ly,863· 
3 1-Marvels described by Friar Jordanus, 
From a parchment manuscript o( the Fourteenth Century, in L~tin. Edited 
by COLONEL H. YULE, C.B. (1863.) /sS1udj(ly ,863· 
32-The Travels of Ludovico di Varthemn 
Tn .syria, Ambia, Persia, India, etc. , during the Sixteenth Century. Translated 
by J. \-V INTER JON~S, Esq., F.S. A., and Edited by the J{R.V. GEORG E 
PERCY oADG\£R. (1863.) Imudfor 1864. 
33-The Travels of Cieza de Leon In 1532-50 
From the Gulf of D arien to the City 0f La. Plata, contained in the first part of 
hiS Chronicle of Pent (Antwerp, 155+). Translated and Edited by CLEMENTS 
R. MARKHAM, Esq. ( 1864.) Imudfor 1864. 
34-The Narrative of Pascual de Andagoya. 
Cont~ining the earliest notice of Peril. Translated and Edited by CLEMENTS 
R. ~TARKHAM, Esq . ( 1865.) Isuudjo1" 1865. 
35~The Coasts of East Africa and Malabar 
In the beginning of the Sixteenth Century. bv Duarte Barbosa. Tmllslated 
from an carly Spanish manuscript by tht;! HON. HENRY STANLEY. (1866. ) 
IsstUdfor 1865. 
36-37-Cathay a nd the W ay Thither. 
A Collection of ~1l minor notices of China, p re\'ious lo the Sixleenlh 
(,;cnwry. Tl:i\nslt\ted \\nd Edited by COLONEl. H. YVLE, C.B. Two Vols 
(1866.) 1,."",( Ivr 1866, 
G 
38-TM Threo VO)'ng-as of SIt' M'(lI"t,ln Frobisher. 
Wilh n Sci Inion Irun LcUeJ'l> 110\\ In we . bu' P:lPt.'T lIffil1!. l,.di. b~ 
lhu,·An"IlIL\L COLL1~SUN. L.R. ( 1867.) 
Imud f ' rUt · 
3.1) Tha Pldlhll)l~Q li\nnd&, 
~ttlilucetl. , Sil\m,l Cambodia... .1 ttpm.Md Chjlb1. • 31 lIIe eh~~ or I he 16th Cenl,.Ul)·, 
8y An10nin Ie ~ldfl..1ft" "rMlldo.• . ed, f'WID Ih'e "p:\n~sh, ",tl, Noh.:-., by 
lh~ LOKU • TA1".L.}-.\' or ;\\derley. {186S I Imud low 1S68. 
-to-ThO Filth Lelter of lfnrnftn C-OJltes 
TQ the Emperor Cbarles. Y., containing ~n .r\CCOUQt of hia Expedllioo 10 
Honduras. 1ft 15''S·26. Translated from dh': 5P1Ulilm by fhJ' PA'SCCA.L 01.: 
GA\'ANCOS. (I tiS.) Is IIdfM rS6 . 
-}.oJ Th BayrU Comuu)oUsl'hg' of t"G Yn aruo. 
B)' IbC1 \'uca Gnn:il dr: In \'ega.. Tnuud 1«& ud F..dhecl. by J.,.E\fK~1"S 
R.. M A4tK".A~t~ f~ Vol. t~ (1869) /<0111 f /11,.. 146g . 
..f.~" -Tho Th'r'CO VoyaP!i: I)f \la.uo do. GlUUB., 
.~nd bb Vit:letO)IOJt)\ ff"OlI1 til )...enda. . do. lnditl"O( C:t!<Jl:1¥ \".Ofl'e&; -a.ecompanied 
b)' riglnd docu I uta. TnllL.ltated -.nd fAited. by tbe J..QRJ) :)l'Al"t.F:" 
of \lderle)'. (tS6g..) J HI.'; /I"r tS6q . 
.f3 S@It'(lL Lallers or ChrlStoPbar< Columbu~. 
\, hh olh r ONgtlllJ1 Uocumelt f'dlWng LO hu. Four YO)~ to lhe X~W 
\\ rid. !'r.m In,ed 400 ..: clued b}' R It ~f.'jttRt Elf. ::md Ednion (-.ce 
!\: l.}. (,814.) l$SUd for IS,O.  
.fl4- lU\i\4p)1 or t-ho Imtlm$ o.rn'4 SeYl'!1tl.s of '(i)min. 
ny ."ttllI .. ]hn R4i1"t f "1 A,n. 66l·IS54. Jl'I:lmoh~-ed from t.1'i~ original 
J\ ble; nd Ed lot, ',nb ,\ ca"unuadon (the IH.MOry dowlJ 1'0 18}>O., by th~ 
lh.' G8U h l'ERe\' BAnGF.'k. (I 7J.) /slUr.( fir 1.:)70. 
+6 The nO)'Al Commoht;ftl"h:.$ Qf the YnC$.S. 
\ I.~. OS:I} /s1t.J,DTI71. 
4U-ih(s Ca..tuuioo, 
Or bnok or th« C nq~~ I and "!ri~t tlNl ttl the C1nanub ill W¢ feu 1'4°2, 
hy M I'C' Jnn dt' ltdhcncou,,~ KL a:.,.~ by Pierr.c: BoUlier au'li Jdll 
II:' rtne.r. Tru Iddt Illld l-:dUII:d ''1' R. IJ MAJOR, lSsq hSll.l 
b.'lJd~1 ,t. 
-4r'1' Rqporu on -lb~ Dl'iiCOV()t:')' or Poru, 
1·f ..... I'.t~ludl-:.dttdb) .U..  MltNltt 1t. J."k"ltA!ll.l ,C.B. , S]2.) 
InurJ lIr d~i:l· 
4., A." .... th ~ of tho B:'"~ I:lJ1d lAw:. or Lh YnClUO. 
T~ I l;ted "'tid [, llled b) <"1 \11 'TS H.. ~l"1t}OtA\J.}' .. <;.JI .. F.R.S. 
(,873 , /,.-Jpi' Hii2. 
7 
52-The First Voyage Round the World by lItagellan. 
Tran~hted from the Accounts of Pigafetta. and other conlt!mporary writers, 
Edited by LORD STANI.EY of Alderley. (r874.) 
/wud for 1874· 
53-The Commentaries of the Great Afonso Dalboquerque, 
Second VIceroy of India. Trar.s:.",led fror:':. the Portuguf::>1;: .b.ditioll 01 1774. 
and Enited by WALTER DE GRA~ BIRCH, Esq., J;<-'.R.S.L. Vol. 1. (1875.) 
Issuedfor 1875-
54- Three Voyages to the North-East. 
Second EdItion of Gerrit de Veer's Three Voyages to the NOrlb-Ea~t by 
Barents. Edited by Lieut, KOUI.EMANS BEYN1!:N, of the Royal Dutch Navy. 
(1876.) fs.uud lor 1876. 
55-The Commentaries ot the Great Afonso Dalboquerque. 
Vol. 2. {1877.} Iwud lor 1875, 
56-The Voyages of Sir James Lancaster. 
With Abstracts of Journals of Voyages preserved in the India Office, and the 
Voyage of Captain John Knight to seek the N.W. Passage. Edited by 
CI.EMENTS R, MARKHAM, Esq" C. S" F,R.S. (18n.) 
Issuedjor ,877. 
57-The Observations of SIr Richard Hawkins, Knt. , 
In his Voyage into the South Sea in 1593. with the Voyages of bis grand· 
father William, his (ather SiT John, and. his cousin \VIJliam Hawkins. 
Second Edition (see No. I), . Edited by CLEMENTS R, MARKHAM, Esq., 
C.B., F.R.S. (1878.) /SHud jor 1877 . 
58-The Bondage and Travels of Johann SchHtberger, 
From his capture at the bu.ttle of Nlcopolis in 1396 Lv IllS escdpe and return 
to Europe in 1427. Translated by Commander J. BVCHAN TI!LFE", }{.N.; 
with Notes by Professor B. BRUUN. (1879.) 
Issued jor r878. 
59- The Voyages and Works of John Davis the Navigator. 
Edited by Captain ALBKRT H. MARKHAM, R.N. (r880.) {mud lor 1878. 
The Map of the World, A.D. 1600. 
Called by Sbakspere "The New Map, with the Augmenration of the Indies." 
To illustrate the Voyages of John Davis. {1880.l Issuedfor 18i8. 
60-61-The Natural and Moral History of the Indles. 
By Father Joseph de Acosta. Reprinted from lhe Euglish 1 'ranslated Edition 
of Edward Grimston, 1604; and Edited by CLEME~ns R. MARKHAM, Esq ., 
C.B., F.R.S. Two Vols. (1880.) /mudfor r879, 
Ma.p of Peru. 
To Illustrate Nos. 33, 41,45.60, and 61. ( , 880.) 
lssuedfor 1879. 
62- The Commentaries of the Great Afonso DalboQuerQue. 
Vol. 3. (1880.) /smi!d jor 1880. 
63- The Voyuges of William Baffin, 1612-1622. 
Edited by CLI!:i\1I!:NT~ 1<.. MARKHAM, Esq. , C.B'J F. K.S. (188l.) 
/sstl((l flu 1880. 
64-Narratlve of the Portuguese Embassy to Abyssinia 
During the years 1520'1527. By Father FranCISCO Alvarez. Trallslated and 
Edited by LORD STANLEY of Alderley. (I88r.) IssuedfoT 1881. 
65-The History of the Bermudas 01' Somer Islands. 
Attributed to Caplaill Nathanid BUller. Edilt:d by General Sir J. HENRY 
LEFROY, R.A., K.C.M.G. (1882.) Issued./or 188 1. 
66-61 The Diu)' of RtehANI Coeks. 
C:ape ~leTchnl in the English "!lClory in J3.p2n. 16 15- 16.22.. Edited by 
(-IW:ARD ~IAU' I. TII .. MPSO ..... Esq. T\l'o \'ols. (ISS]. 
I Iud "'r IS, 2. 
SS-The Seeond PAN of rho Chl"Onlalo of Peru. 
n)' Pedro de t:iel.!l de- Leon. Tntn 1.led and Edited h)' Ct.RMnn R. 
~rARKIIA\I. E I" en., F.R.', ISS3. I >.'1f1f)'·ISS3. 
89- The CoQ)mcntAricl> of Lhe Great Afonso D8.lboque.rque. 
\"QI, 4. (I '.J) h I. I J '3. 
'i().71 Tho Vo 1('(101 John HUHrhen \"IJl Lln~~hou!n LO the Easl Indies.. 
1 I uM Englis.n rrnnslal&on 01 15~. The" , J ~ ~ ·,uinml". hi 
nplill (the-Eat Fdllr y:\ 1110RCOKI' Kua aLLi'b.l).,C.Ll:: 
fUtd '\b',)' \ TI U of l'U'eCll (I. S.) I lrUf, r r ' '+ 
15 The Dlar) of WlillflTn HI.'"fiR • ["Q. 
\ I n I \111 I I I (roll I II heJl'ct"ord cole (I •. ) 
Iss,,"-dfi·r r~ 
,. The DIAr)' or wtUlA.m "\Mla~ ". th a. 
\ I l. I, II. \ ul l·" Cl f ,l nl uhh 1 I J' .... Nt.. de. (1:»9-) 
IIN'14r l 1\. 
82-83- The Voyage of Fl'an~ois beguat 
To Rodriguez, Mauritius, Jant, and the Cape of Good Hope. Edited by 
Captain PASF IELD OLlVI£R. T wo Vols. ( 1891.) 
Issuedfor 1890. 
84-85-The Travels of Piet ro della Valle to India. 
From the Old English Translation of 1664, by G. Havers. Edited by 
EDWARD GREY, Esq. Two Vols . (1892.) Is.ruedfor 189 1. 
86-The J our nal of Chr istopher Columbus 
During his First Voyage (1492-93), and Documents relating to the Voyages 
of John Cahot and G:\spar Corte Real. Translated and Edited by C 1.EMEt'l T S 
K. l\'fARKHMI, Esq., C.B., F .R.S. (1893.) ISS1rtdfor 1892. 
87-Early Voyages and Travels in the Levant. 
1.-The Diary of l\lastel'Thomas Dallam, ' 599-1 600. n.-Extract'> from the 
Diaries of Dr. J ohn Covel, ,670-1 679. \'\lith some Account of the Levant 
Company of Turkey ).Ierchants. Edited by J. THEODORE RENT, Esq., 
F.S. A., F. R.y.S. (1893.) Issued for 1892. 
S8-89-Voyages of Captain Luke Foxe a nd Ca ptain Thomas James 
Tn Sc:\rch of a North-West Passage, in 1631-32: with Narrati\'es of E:ulier 
N.-\\'. Voyages. Etlited by Mn.LER CH1tISTY, Esq ., F.L.S. Two Vols. 
(1894.) issu(d fl»' 1893. 
90-The Lebters of Amerigo Vespuccl 
And other Documents relating to his Career. Translatt:d and Edited by 
CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, Esq" C.B., F.R.S. (1894.) 
ISSII!!tI jor J 894. 
9 1- The Voyage of Pedro Sarmiento to the SLralt of Magellan, 1579-80. 
Trnnslatcd and Edited, with Tilustrati"e Documents and Int roduction, by 
CLeME~TS R. i\[,·\RKH,\:-'I, I'st., C.R, F.R.S. (1895.) 
Issu.;d for 1894 
92-93-94-The History a nd Description of Afr ica, 
And of the Notable Things Therein Contained. The Travels of Leo Africanw; 
the Moor, from the English translation of John Por)' ([600). Edited bv 
ROBERT BROWN, Esq., M.}\., Ph.D. Three Vols. (1896.) .; 
Issued for 1895. 
95- The Discovery and Conquest of Gulnea, 
Written by Gomes Eannes ell! Azurara. Translated and Edited by C. RH'~ION D 
BEAZI.EY, Esq., i\I.A., F.RG.S., and EDGAR PRESTAGE, Esq., B.A. 
\-01. I. (1896.) ISS/uti for 1896. 
OTHER WORKS UNDERTAKEN BY EDITORS. 
T he True History of the Conquest of New Spain, by Bernal Diaz. Translated 
from the Spanish, and Edited by Vice-Admiral LIN DESAV BRINE. 
A Reprint of 17th Century Books on Seamanship and Sea Matters in General. 
Edited, with Notesandan Introduction, by H_ I-IALLlDAVSPARLll\G, Esq. 
IIiSloire de 1;\ Grande Isle Madagascar, par Ie Sieur De Flacourt, 1661. 
Translated and Edited by Captain S. P,\$F!ELD OLIVER. 
Raleigh's Empire of Gui,lIla. Second Edition (!':ee No, 3). Edited, with 
Notes, etc., by EVERARD F. 1M THURN, Esq. 
The Voyages of Cada most o, the Venetian, along the \Vest Coast of Africa, in 
the years 1455 and 1456. Trttnslated from the earliest Italian text of 
'507, and Edited by II. VULE OLDHAM, Esq., 11.A., .f.I{.G.S. 
Jens Munk's Voyage to Hudson's Bay, transI~ted from the Danish: with the 
Voyages of James IIall to Greenland, 1605.6. Edited by MILI.ER 
CHRISTY, Esq., a.nd C. A. GOSCH, Esq. 
The Topographia Christiana of Cosmns TndtcoplCllstes, ,Edite(l by 1- W, 
MCc..;RlNPLe, Esq" M,A" M.R,A.S, 
10 
The \ o}1l).4C: of the l::arl uf Cumbi..'r1ruuJ, (roUi lhe li.e..:uro I'TC14red by 
ordcl df lhl: Counle' of I'cml,ruke. Edilc.."C'I I.o)' \\ I .t. c.;IlA \ BIRCH. 
Uq., F . • " . 
T he " oY:lReo( A h-:uod-= \ fcnd... .r a:.. to the Snlomon l J.a!1 III 1568. Ed ited 
by CH.~kLkS \I. \\'OOllt'UKP, E.sq. 
De uet Ii ommeotAriu!io de lmpeno 'I~i \l ogoli ( 1631 ). Tr:m~lnted 
and Edited b , ' Sir K ()I'£ k L t r UIIRI PG I!., K L. I . 1-:' , M. A. 
The \ O)-..tg1:S o( WiJloughb) and Chn.nccUor 10 the While.. .. , lith ...,me 
aC/COunt of the earhw t imcn:'OuT"d ht' twrtn F ngla.n<l and R\l..L"1.. 
kCl,rinled (rom lIaklu~1' \·O)~. "'Ilh :o...otes and Inlroduclion b) 
E. DELlu.. R \IOR'; \'. E.sq. 
Th Journal of Sit ThoUl&.')' duriug hi .. Em~ to India.. t 6J S' JQ. 
E.dited b) \\ 1111 HI f :"1 R, F "IL\' 
Ur. John fr')cr .... · Yo .\..x:ounl of F Sl Indill mel J' l'Sl 1698.. t:diled bv 
\ktltt It. T. l'oI.l"GU, 1·'SIlI. .. 
The F IJCCiiltOD or lIernan III II ndura..1< in I 515<!:6. : ccood Ed.ition 
( 40). \dth ;\ddt."'d nm,lIC"L Tr:m61,\ted and l'rlilcd h\ .t . l' 
\1 ,V 1l.'riL..\. y. l::sq. 
Th Ldh:t f he'In.  I Udla \ allc (rom reoo.'t,.s:c T ran!oll\led and h illed h} l'.,I'T\.1 \:ATlI \'. R.i-'. 
TIle \ O} .(' f 'It Rubtn Uuelle') to the \\ esl 1ndi and ( ;UlDla in 15<)4, 
Edited. trom _'lOUIe \1:-', JS in the British 'I USCtInl , t>) t. oo. F 
\\ \II, tiR. Fl. 'I. \.. I .. , \ .. \ ~laJ\l 1\...: pcr r 'Ian"~ripb. 
WORKS SUGGESTED FOR PUBLICATION, 
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JournAl of the J Uil lJoidcn In Tibet. 
'I r21"el {J- nAI RubruquI!to., 
Tn\;d of the brother 'ht'rln 10 P~:ii~ 
The Tra\ of KaJph "It~ in Indll..!lnd nurm&, 15. J..qJ . 
LAWS OF THE HA.KLUYT SOCIETY, 
L I ST OF MEMBERS 
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Brown. ArtIlllr "'. \Y., E::.q., 6, Sussex·sqUl~re, Hyde Park, '\Y. 
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Foreign Office (The). 
Foreign Office of Germany, Berlin. 
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Foster, 'Villiam. Esq., Bordeau, Holly-road, Waustead. 
Franks, Sir A. Wollaston, K.C.B., F.R.S., F .S.A., British Museum. W,C. 
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Hoskins, Admiral Sir Anthony H., KG.B., Ii, :Montagu-square, W. 
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Kelvin, Lord, F.R.S., LL.D., The Uni"er~ity, Glasgow. 
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Kleinseich, :M., National Library, Paris (2 C()pie,~). 
Lee, Henry, E!:Iq., 22, St. John's·grove, CI"Oydon. 
Leeds Libnl-ry. 
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