One Of
These Cannons Was Of Such Extraordinary Magnitude That It Shook The
Whole Island Every Time It Was Discharged, And It Was Managed With Much
Expertness By A Renegade Frenchman In The Service Of Zofar.
At this time
Don Ferdinand de Castro, son to the governor arrived with a
reinforcement.
Mascarenhas having expressed a desire of acquiring some
intelligence from the enemys camp, one Diego de Anaya Coutinno, a
gentleman of note and of great strength, put on a helmet with a sword by
his side and a spear in his hand, and let himself down from the wall
under night. He soon discovered two Moors at some distance from the
fort, one of whom he slew with his spear, and taking up the other in his
arms ran with him to the gate of the fort, calling out for admission,
and threw him in, to the great surprise and admiration of his
companions. Coutinno had borrowed a helmet, which he had engaged his
word to restore or die in its defence. It happened to fall off in the
scuffle, and he did not miss it till demanded, by its owner. He
immediately let himself down again from the wall to look for the helmet,
which he found and restored.
[Footnote 365: This second siege of Diu appears to have commenced about
the beginning of March 1545. - E.]
Shortly afterwards an extraordinary movement was observed in the
besieging army, of which Mascarenhas was desirous to know the cause. On
this account six men sallied out at night from the castle, and fell upon
an advanced party of sixty Moors, some of whom they killed; but the rest
awaking, and being joined by others, the Portuguese were forced to
retreat after losing two of their number; but the remaining four
brought in a prisoner along with them, who reported that the king of
Cambaya was arrived from Champanel with 10,000 horse, on purpose to
see the capture of the castle, which he was assured by Zofar must soon
fall.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 628 of 809
Words from 171185 to 171524
of 221361
