34 to take on water, of which they were in dire need, and then consider again and discuss what would be best to do next. D. Francisco Coutinho agreed with this, but although every effort was made to find a spy, it proved impossible because the enemy was very alert. When the four days had passed the shortages were so pressing that the decision to take the fleet to Khor Fakkan had to be carried out. But Nuno Alvares was so reluctant to leave the place that he remained there another ten days, harassing the enemy and continually firing at them. On 23rd February, the eve of St Mathew, the enemy set sail with fourteen ships, eleven of theirs and three Moorish ones. Nuno Alvares gave the signal for the fleet to weigh anchor and went out to meet them, trying to cut across their course so that they could not leave without fighting. They put off doing so that morning and afternoon, and by nightfall the weather had so deteriorated that all vessels of both fleets were in danger of going around simultaneously on the Persian coast. The weather improved when the day broke, our Commander assembled his fleet and the enemy his, and at midday both set off. The enemy tried to pass to windward under the prow of our flagship to follow their course, while the Commander maneuvered to bar the way, bringing the ship to in front, and sailing as close to the wind as he could. Because the galleon “Trindade” was badly damaged and the “San Salvador”, with his brother-in-law D. Sebastiao Lobo, and all others were in a bad state, his aim this time was to have the fleet in formation, rallying them all together. In view of the lack of officers, he
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