ABSTRACT
While the great Afonso Dalboquerque was ready on the bank with all his men to embark, a Moor descended from the mountains with a little white flag, and came up safely to him, and begged on the part of the rulers, since God had given him the city, and he had gained it like a brave cavalier, that he would be content to have killed their wives and children, and not burn the houses or the ships. Afonso Dalboquerque replied that for his part he was very sorry to see so noble a city destroyed, but it was their own fault, for they had broken the agreement which they had made with him, relying on the people who had come in from the interior, and, since this was so, they had no reason to demand anything of him; but if they desired to ransom the place, 82ships, and supplies yet remaining there, they might send him before noon next day ten thousand xerafins 1 of gold, and if they did not send the money by that time, he promised them he would leave nothing but dust and ashes, and that the people, whom they had on the mountains within sight of the place, might bear them news of its destruction. When the appointed hour was passed, he ordered the city to be set on fire, wherein were burned many provisions, and thirty-four ships in all, large and small, many fishing barks, and an arsenal full of every requisite for shipbuilding; and he ordered three gunners with axes to cut the supports of the mosque, which was a very large and beautiful edifice, the greater part of it being built of timber finely carved, and the upper part of stucco. When the supports had been cut through, and the gunners were about to go out, the building came down all at once upon them, so that Afonso Dalboquerque gave them up for dead; but, thanks to Our Lord, they came forth alive and sound, without a wound or a bruise, just as they stood when cutting the supports of the mosque. Our people were frightened, and when they saw them gave many thanks to Our Lord for that miracle which he had done for them, and set fire to the mosque, which was burned, so that nothing remained of it. Now, as our people had many Moors, men and women, prisoners, whom they did not expect to have any need of, and could not carry away, Afonso Dalboquerque gave orders that their ears and noses should be cut off, and that they should then be liberated. He then collected all his men, and went round the city to collect some soldiers who were wandering about at random for plunder, and came back to the beach to embark. As soon as the Moors, who were on the mountains, perceived that our people were about to gather themselves together, they began to 83descend, and Afonso Dalboquerque, observing their descent, remained where he was on the beach, with his flag flying for a good while, to see what they were about to do. When the Moors saw that he remained quiet, they came on more slowly. And our people, thanking God for the victory he had vouchsafed them, returned to the ships with great pleasure and contentment, firing frequently out of joy. And the Moors, noticing that our people were gone on board, descended the mountains in great haste, to see whether they could put out the fire which was raging in the city; but its fierceness was such that they dared not go in to quench it, being caused by the quantity of oil and molasses in all the houses.
