This Blinded The
Viceroy, Who Immediately Fitted Out 14 Of The Largest Galliots With A
Fliboat And A Pink, And Sent Them To Aracan Under The Command Of
Francisco De Menezes Roxo, Who Had Formerly Commanded In Ceylon.
Roxo
sailed from Goa about the middle of September 1615.
On the 2d of October
he arrived at Aracan, the chief port and residence of the king, having
detached a galleon to Sundiva to give notice to Gonzalez of his
arrival and intentions. Having opened his instructions in presence of
all the captains, they directed him to proceed against Aracan without
waiting for Gonzalez; which was highly improper, as that man knew the
country and was acquainted with their manner of fighting, besides that
the force he was able to bring was of importance. But God confounded
their councils, having decreed the ruin of that vile wretch, and of the
unjust succours that were now sent to his aid.
On the 15th of October, the Aracan fleet was observed coming down the
river to attack, so numerous that they could not be counted. The
foremost vessel was a Dutch pink, and many of the other vessels were
commanded by Hollanders. All that could be seen appeared full of men
well armed and equipped, and seemed a prodigious overmatch for the small
number the Portuguese had to oppose them, as besides the galliot sent to
Sundiva another had been dispatched in search of the pink, so that only
12 galliots remained and the fliboat.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 801 of 809
Words from 218960 to 219210
of 221361
