_ 218 _ he will find no hiding-place anywhere; and our commander decreed that neither our castle nor our garrison would help any such offenders. When the Island had been subdued (which, Most Holy Father, was our greatest desire), and once a very strong garrison of our men had been put in place, under an excellent and very active leader, part of the fleet was left in a convenient position in those seas. The rest, well prepared with a great number of weapons and soldiers, sailed towards India according to orders, capturing and burning many Saracen ships on the way. Such an enormous amount of booty of all kinds was captured, that the majority of cloth and other goods was thrown into the sea because it could not be transported, and our men were able to pass from ship to ship, with dry feet, by walking on it. Then, proceeding to India, our men burned many ships, captured in Saracen towns and ports, where they had been driven by fear, although they were protected by great defences, and the enemy were vanquished only after a great struggle. Our men who have now arrived back confirm that the Saracens, who came out from the Persian and Arabian Sea following the departure of our men from India, have told them what must be foremost in the prayers of the Holy Sea and of Your Holiness.
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