The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16

by John Dryden

All unanimously answered, "That they would fight it out to death; and should be happy to die in defence of their religion." Deza, animated by this their answer, posted himself advantageously on the river, so as to be able from thence to fall upon the enemy, without endangering his little fleet, to be encompassed by their numbers.

The Achenois no sooner were informed by their brigantine of the Portuguese navy, than they put themselves into a condition of attacking it. They were not only insolent by reason of their strength, but provoked also by the late affront they had received in their brigantines; so that, full of fury, without the least balancing of the matter, they set sail with all their navy, excepting only two vessels, and two hundred land soldiers, which were left in guard of two thousand slaves, and all their booty. Having the wind for them, and coming down the river, they were carried with such swiftness, that Deza was hardly got aboard the admiral, when he heard their drums, and their yelling shouts, which re-echoed from the shores and neighbouring mountains. They were divided into ten squadrons, and each of them composed of six vessels, excepting only the first, which consisted but of four, but those the strongest of the fleet. The admiral, on which the king of Pedir was on board, was in the first squadron, and with him were three Turkish gallions.

That fury, which transported the barbarians, caused them, at the first sight of the Portuguese navy, to discharge against it their whole artillery; but they aimed so ill, that they did them little or no mischief. Immediately after, the two admirals met, and stemmed each other. They engaged on either side with so much resolution, that the advantage was not seen, till a shot was made from the vessel of John Soarez, and out of the cannon called the camel It took place so justly, that Soora's vessel sunk to rights. The three gallions which were in front with him, on the same time, immediately changed their order, and left off fighting, to save their general, and the principal lords of his retinue. But these gallions, which were across the stream, and took up half the breadth of it, stopped their own vessels, which followed file by file; insomuch, that those of the second rank striking against the first, and those of the third against the second, they fell foul on each other, with a terrible confusion.

The Portuguese seeing the army of the enemy, on a heap together, without being able to disengage their ships, encompassed them, and battered them with their cannon. They discharged every tier, three rounds successively, and so to purpose, that they sunk nine great ships, and disabled almost all the rest. Then four of the Portuguese foysts set upon six Mahometans, which the cannon had used more favourably than the rest; the soldiers boarded them with their swords in their hands, and calling on the name of Jesus, in less than half an hour they destroyed above 2000 men. The fright and the disorder of the enemy was redoubled, at the sight of this slaughter, and at the thundering of the guns, which did such dreadful execution; insomuch, that the Achenois leaped into the river of their own accord, chusing rather to die in that manner, than by the hands of the Christians.

Their general being taken up, when he was just drowning, and drawing new courage from despair, endeavoured to have heartened up the remainder of those who were about him. But having himself received a musket-shot, he lost all manner of resolution, and made away with only two vessels. The five hundred gentlemen Orobalans were either slain or drowned, with all the Janisaries. None escaped, but those who followed Soora in his flight. On the side of the Christians there were twenty-six slain, of whom four only were Portuguese by nation The spoil was great; for, besides the two guard-ships which came into the power of the conquerors, and wherein was all the pillage which the enemy had gained, they took at least forty-five vessels, which might again be made serviceable. There was found amongst the spoils a prodigious quantity of Saracen and Turkish arms; 300 pieces of cannon of all sorts; and, what was yet more pleasing, sixty-two pieces of ordnance, whereon were graven the arms of Portugal, and which had been lost in divers wars, returned at length to the possession of their lawful lord and owner.

The king of Parlez no sooner had notice of the enemy's defeat, than, issuing out of the woods where he lay concealed, he came with 500 men, and fell upon the workmen, who, by Soora's orders, were building a fortress, and on the soldiers appointed for their guard. Having cut them in pieces, he went to visit Captain Deza, and congratulated the valour of the Portuguese, and their success. He owned the preservation of his kingdom to their arms; and offered, by way of acknowledgment, a yearly tribute to the king of Portugal.

Deza immediately ordered a frigate to carry the news of his victory to Malacca; but it was fully known in that city, with all its circumstances, before the frigate was sent off, and thus it happened.

Father Xavier, preaching in the great church, betwixt nine and ten of the clock on Sunday morning, which was the 4th of January, according to the old calendar, at the same time when the two fleets were actually engaged, stopped short on the sudden, and appeared transported out of himself, so manifest a change appeared, both in his countenance, and his whole person. Having somewhat recovered himself, instead of following his discourse, inspired with a divine impulse, he declared to his audience the encounter, and shock of the two navies, but in a mysterious and figurative manner.

The assembly, not comprehending their preacher's meaning, were of opinion that he was distracted; still as the fight grew warmer, and the engagement came to be more close, he seemed to be more and more inflamed, with all the motions of a man inspired, and speaking still prophetically. At the length, fixing his eyes on the crucifix that was before him, he said, with tears in his eyes, accompanied with sighs, but with an audible and distinct voice, "Ah Jesus, thou God of my soul, and Father of all mercies, I most humbly implore thee, by the merits of thy sacred passion, not to forsake those who fight thy battle!" After these words, he hung down his head, as overwearied, and leaned upon his pulpit, without farther speaking. Having continued in that posture for some time, he sprung up, on the sudden, and said aloud, with all the motions of joy, which he could not master, "My brethren, Jesus Christ has vanquished for you. At this moment, while I am speaking, the soldiers of his blessed name have completed their victory, by the entire defeat of the enemy's navy. They have made a great slaughter, and we have lost but four of our Portuguese. You shall receive the news of it on Friday next, and may shortly expect the return of your victorious fleet."

How incredible soever this appeared, yet Melo, and the principal persons of the town there present, gave credit to it, without the least scruple; considering the manner of his speaking, and his air, which had somewhat of divine in it, and bore the testimony of its truth. Yet the wives and mothers of the absent soldiers, apprehending still it might be false, and fearing the more, the more they desired it should be true, the Father assembled them all in the afternoon, at the church of our Lady del Monte, and there repeated so distinctly the whole series of what he had said in the morning, that they durst no longer doubt of it.