_ 94 _ back, the Arabs bombarded the ship so heavily that they destroyed all its upper works. It was astonishing to see our men defending themselves against the multitude of the enemy, who were shooting so many arrows that they covered the sky. There was so much smoke from the ceaseless artillery fire that there was a fog, whilst the shouting on both sides was such that it seemed as if the whole world had gathered there. Mirocem, whose fleet had arrived, was astonished at our men’s bravery, and because they were also killing his own men, he wished to board them. But he was unable to do so because Dom Lourenco and his men prevented him, for they fought like men who wish to take revenge before they die, killing and wounding many of the enemy. And if the rest of our fleet had been able to join them that would have been the end of the Roumeliotes. During the combat, Dom Lourenco was wounded by a shell which blew off one of his thighs, causing him to fall. His men lifted him, greatly saddened by his sorry condition, and he urged them to fight on ordered a chair to be brought near the mast for him to sit on, and from where he urged them to fight. Then another shell hit his chest and killed him. The men at once carried him to the oven, where his valet, Lourenco Freire, threw himself upon him, weeping
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy