_ 84 _ Besides, although the enemy seemed to be defeated, it was impossible for this to be the case, because it was quite clear that fewer of their men had been wounded than ours, Dom Lourenco’s captains therefore advised him that the safest thing would be to sink their ships, because the Portuguese needed to rest for the battle against Meliquias, Meliquias was bound to attack even if the Roumeliotes were defeated, for he would think that our men must be very tired, Dom Lourenco did not agree with this opinion, saying that there was no reason to sink such excellent ships as the enemy’s, and that it would be better to take them to his father (i.e., the Viceroy), who would be very pleased. Some agreed with him, and the ones who did not argue for a long time against it. Their advice was the wiser, and indeed if the ships had been sunk victory would have been on our side, and what later happened would have been averted. While the captains were engaged in this debate Meliquias sailed up the Chaul river, just before sunset. His fleet was flying all its flags, the dais were erected on its decks, and the musicians played the instruments of war, making a great deal of noise. Each pinnace carried between 30 and 40 fighting men, and three pieces of artillery, without firing a shot they came to the place from
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