The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c13.208

v1.c13.208

After this glorious victory Gil Fernandez at once opened pourparlers with Vitthala for the rescue of Captain Coutinho, his wife and children, the fifty soldiers of the garrison and the Jesuit Father Enrique Enriquez, who happened to be at Punney Kayal at the time of the combined invasion of Vitthala and Irapali. A hundred thousand fanams were demanded as a ransom for Captain Coutinho and his family. Gil Fernandez found himself unable to accede to this; so he sent a secret message (through a Muhammadan of great influence who was a very good friend of the Portuguese) to Rama Raya at Vijayanagara asking for the favour of the captive's liberty. An order finally came to Vitthala to hand over the captives to Gil Fernandez. This was done in Tuticorin; Vitthala however demanded from Captain Coutinho the sum of a thousand pardaos, which were partly given by the Christians of the Coast¹.