_ 71 _ We took care to search the sea, and found their fleet grounded, with the Mamelukes on land as you see. I know this from Dom Afonso de Meneses and Dinis Fernandes de Melo; because I sent them to sound the channels that are there for entering the part. They told me that they form a loop and are so narrow that our gallies seeking to enter would only be able to do so in single file, their sides always in the face of enemy artillery. Before we gained Iand they could kill us all and send our ships to the bottom, whilst we could not inflict any damage on them, since our artillery would not be able to fire, being all mounted in the bows. I have instructions from the King my master, not to fight on land where a sea battle is not possible. However, trusting in Our Lord to aid us. I would have wished to fight the Mamelukes on land, if it were not for the very great danger in the entry to the port in which we could have all been lost. Regarding this, and not regarding the disgust we feel at not doing battle let none of you talk as some reckless ones do, that we should fight as we are here....Because although we came here with that purpose there is no point in it if we are going to be defeated, and cause no loss to the enemy whereas they can even kill us before reaching land.
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