APPEARANCE OF ANDREA DORIA, AND ATTACK OF KHAIR-AD-DIN.
When the infidel nations could no longer navigate the seas, and there was no safety along their coasts, the king of Spain called a council to determine what measures were to be adopted against Barbarossa.[26] (Barbarossa in Italian signifies one with a red beard.) Andrea Doria, one of the most valiant admirals of Spain, taking his hat in his hand, said, if the king of France would give him twenty of his galleys he would venture to attack Barbarossa. Spain had at this time concluded peace with France, and accordingly sent thither an ambassador to request the galleys. France, in order to preserve the peace, complied, and the galleys, together with the Spanish fleet, were given to Andrea, who with a complete army on board, sailed for Algiers. Khair-ad-din, on the other hand, equipped thirty-five ships at Algiers, and invited Senan Reis from Jarba, who fitted out seven vessels, and joined him. Khair-ad-din Beg had hoped to meet Andrea at Majorca; and in anticipation of this had fortified the castle of Sharshal, which he filled with Mudagils. But Andrea suddenly changed his course, and early one morning came upon Sharshal with forty ships, and landed his men. As they were about to commence their work of destruction, the Moslems came out of the castle, and after a fierce engagement, put the infidels to flight. Before they could reach their ships four hundred fell by the sword, and six hundred and forty were made prisoners. The rest got on board, and made their escape. When Khair-ad-din arrived he put all the captives in chains. Among these was Andrea’s steward, from whom they ascertained that his master was bound for Genoa, there to obtain a reinforcement of troops. Khair-ad-din therefore immediately sailed for that quarter; and having ascertained in the vicinity of Marseilles that Andrea had on his way passed near to that place, he went to an island about thirty miles from thence, and lay off there ten days. Here they took a vessel that was passing by laden with cheeses from Majorca, which had previously been taken near Toulon, a celebrated French port not far from Marseilles; but through the negligence of the warriors on board the goletta stationed there as a guard-ship by Khair-ad-din, the captain made his escape with his own ship and four others, and gave information respecting Khair-ad-din. The captain then returned to the fortress, whilst Khair-ad-din turned towards the Genoese coasts, and early next morning attacked a castle on the coast, which he succeeded in capturing, and took the inhabitants prisoners. In the harbour he found twenty-two ships; all of which he burnt, and demolished the castle. He then directed his course towards Genoa; but was driven back by a storm to the island off which he had formerly been lying; and here he remained until the storm had subsided.