By the persuasion of Elankol and the Moors, the zamorin reluctantly consented to try the event of another battle:  And, the castles being repaired, a fresh assault was made both by land and water, with many more men and vessels than before.  This battle continued longer than the other, and the enemy was overthrown with far greater loss than they had ever received before.  In consequence of this new victory, the inhabitants of Cochin became quite confident in their security from the power of their enemies; and the rajah, who had hitherto been in much dread of the event, became quite elated.  He now came to visit Pacheco in a chair of state, with far more splendour than he had ever assumed since the commencement of the war.  When this was told in the enemies camp, the chiefs urged the zamorin to a fresh attack, lest the rajah of Cochin might hold him in contempt.  He desired them to cease their evil counsels, from which he had already sustained great loss, and which would still lead him into greater danger; but to leave him to consider what was best to be done for revenge against his enemies.

The zamorin gave orders to some of his naires in whom he reposed great confidence, that they should go to Cochin on some false pretence, and endeavour to assassinate the general of the Portuguese and such of his men as they could meet with.  But the naires are an inconsiderate people unable to keep any of their affairs secret, so that this shameful device became immediately known to Pacheco, who appointed two companies of the Cochin naires to keep strict watch for these spies; one company at the ford, and the other along the river, waiting by turns day and night.  By this means these spies were detected and made prisoners.  The chief spy was a naire of Cochin, of the family or stock of the Lecros who had certain other naires attending upon him, who were strangers.  On being brought before him, he ordered them to be all cruelly whipt and then to be hanged.  The Cochin naires remonstrated against this punishment, because they were naires whose customs did not allow of this mode of execution; but he would not listen to their arguments, saying that their treachery richly merited to be so punished.  The Portuguese officers represented to him the great troubles which the rajah of Cochin had endured for giving protection to their nation, and how much this action might displease him, when he was informed of naires having been put to death in his dominions without his authority.  Besides, that this might give occasion to some of those about the rajah, who were known to be already unfriendly to the Portuguese, to insinuate that the captain-general had usurped the authority from the rajah, and might in that way wean his affections from them.  Pacheco was convinced by these arguments that he had acted wrong, and immediately sent to countermand the execution.  Two of them were already half-dead; but those who were still living, he sent to