_ 19 _ four Moorish oared vessels that the Captain-in-Chief had ordered to be kept near his ship, all well-equipped, and he told them that they could circle the city all night to see what they could find. They went and they seized two almadias in each of which there were jars of water being taken to the city, and captured six Moors in them, the others escaping overboard and swimming under water, and they also took thirteen Moors who were making for the mainland swimming with planks, risking death at sea rather than suffer thirst. Then they returned to the Captain-in-Chief, who learned from the Moors that the city was in desperate straits from hunger and thirst, and that every night people from the city, including women and children, went to the King’s palace crying and shouting about their sufferings, and cursing Khwaja Attar who had caused so much harm by not handing over four sailors. This happened every night, and by day they shouted the same in the streets. The King was very angry and sad that there was such devastation in the city, and he summoned his council, and they agreed to sue for peace. They sent the Armenian, Khwaja Bairam, and the Macsum, the chief Muslim of the city, to the Captain-in-Chief’s ship in an almadia with a white flag, and when they came before /863/ the Captain-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy