so being increased by fifty
men; they were in all two hundred and thirty Portuguese. The fleet went
out of port the 25th of October, with strict orders from the general not
to pass beyond the Pulo Cambylan, which is the farthest bounds of the
kingdom of Malacca on the west. His reason was, that since they were so
much inferior in strength to the enemy, who vastly outnumbered them in
men and shipping, their glory consisted in driving them from off their
coasts, and not in farther pursuit of them: That what hope soever we have
in God, yet it becomes us not to tempt him, because heaven is not
accustomed to give a blessing to rashness and presumption.

Thus setting out full of assurance and of joy, they arrived in four days
at Pulo Cambylan, without having any news of the enemy, notwithstanding
their endeavours to find him out. The admiral, in obedience to the
governor, was thinking to return; though the courage of his soldiers
prompted them to pass beyond the bounds prescribed them, and to go in
search of the barbarians into whatsoever corner of the world they were
retired. The admiral, I say, was disposed to have gone back, when the
moon suddenly went into an eclipse. It was one of the greatest which had
ever been observed, and seemed to them to prognosticate the total defeat
of the Mahometans. But the same night there arose so violent a wind, that
they were forced to stay upon their anchors for the space of
three-and-twenty days successively. Their provisions then beginning to
grow short, and the wind not suffering them to turn to the coast of
Malacca, they resolved on taking in fresh provisions at Tenasserim,
towards the kingdom of Siam.

In the mean time, all things were in confusion at Malacca. The hopes
which Father Xavier had given the people, supported them for some few
days. But seeing a month was now expired, without any intelligence from
the fleet, they believed it was either swallowed by the waves, or
defeated by the Achenois, and that none had escaped to bring the news. At
the same time, the Saracens reported confidently, they had it from good
hands, that the fleets had met, that the Achenois had cut in pieces all
the Portuguese, and had sent the heads of their commanders as a present
to their king. This bruit was spread through all the town, and was daily
strengthened after the rate of false rumours, which are full of tragical
events. The better to colour this report, they gave the circumstances of
time and