_ 95 _ Rex Morado at once wrote here all this to the Captain who sent out a fleet with Dom Francisco d' Almeida as Captain in Chief, a charge he had often had in many fleets, and both in the taking of Catifa as in this siege he has saved very well Your Highness and merits that some favour be shown him. As soon as the fleet arrived to Catifa the Arabians attacked the Turks, and slew them all for us, numbering a hundred and sixty, and captured their Captain who is called Morado Beque, and Catifa remained in the power of Rex Morado who holds it still. Fidalgos such as Dom Francisco there should be in this fortress to give food to the men who are with them, and whereas this appears to me to be of greater service to Your Highness, do I dare to write it. Being about to conclude this letter there came to me word from Queixome where Barba Negra is with his fleet, that a message had arrived from the Baxa of Baçorá by which he was ordered not to stir from the place, for he would send him men in order to again besiege this fortress, I do not know whether this will be so, nor whether Barba Negra will wait for this. We are quite ready here to receive them and defend this fortress. May God increase the Life and Royal estate of Your Highness.
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