38 three smallest ones, which were used as patachos, had twenty cannons. This is the number carried by most of our galleons2, who were short of bombardiers or seamen who could act as such. The enemy were very strong, fighting between spits of land, with the help and support of three Persian fortresses to which they could withdraw between engagements, and which incited them against us, and provided them with everything they needed. Our fleet had nothing for repairs and refreshment, all the outstanding fighters were lost in the first battle, and when the men were exhausted by fighting all day, they had to spend the night mending sails and rigging and putting splints on the masts. In spite of all this work they fought bravely, provoking, and obliging the enemy to do the same, driving them to flight and then pursuing them, ruining their self-respect and the reputation they had won throughout the East, killing many of them and wrecking their ships, all of which gave our men experience and improve their morale. As a result, to add to the success of our fleet, the enemy did not attack Muscat, as had certainly been their intention as soon as they had picked up the silk at Gombroon and raised the blockade of Ormuz. Furthermore, they did not split up to pillage, and they lost the monsoon they needed to fulfil their obligations, which must have caused loss and damage to their interests, which would surely have been enhanced if our fleet had not put them in disarray. What more could be done to sustain the effect of our fleet? If it could re-form and make repairs with the same speed with
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