On the last day of December 1509, the fleet sailed—some twenty ships and sixteen hundred men, as well as twenty small boats from Cochin, carrying sailors familiar with the sea conditions at Calicut to help with disembarkation.
“There was seldom any element of surprise possible in military operations along the Malabar Coast. The samudri quickly got wind of the large fleet at Cochin and guessed its intentions. He sent an ambassador to sue for peace on the best terms he could. Whatever sympathy Albuquerque had for the overture—and he had good reason to trust this particular visitor—he had frankly to admit that the man had come too late. The ambassador was too frightened to return to Calicut with bad news. He elected to remain with the Portuguese. On the last day of December 1509, the fleet sailed—some twenty ships and sixteen hundred men, as well as twenty small boats from Cochin, carrying sailors familiar with the sea conditions at Calicut to help with disembarkation.”
