First as to the Portuguese ships: in ordinary course three or four at most go out every year; these are the carracks, called by them naos “de voyage”, which are sent out with the intention that they shall return if they can. On extraordinary occasions, when the King of Spain wishes to send out an armada, or a viceroy out of the season, or some particular despatch, he sends other middle-sized ships, such as Biscay galions, French, Flemish, or English ships, or caravels; none of these ever returns to Portugal, except there should be need to bring some special intelligence out of the usual seasons; in such cases they despatch a caravel or other middle-sized ship. If peradventure the carracks leaving Portugal for Goa fail to arrive safely there or at some other Indian port, some Biscay galions are sent home laden with pepper and other goods. These galions are of 700 or 800 tons burthen or thereabouts, and are well equipped for war, and good sailers, better even than the carracks.

The carracks are all built at Lisbon, and not elsewhere, by reason of the harbour there, which is very suitable and convenient for shipment, more so than any other; this is by reason as well of the presence there of the officers and superintendents of these voyages, as of the goods, the utensils (or, as they are called, the “apparel”), the provisions (which they call “matelotage”), and the other commodities and necessaries.