125 - How the galleys of Portugal fought with those of Castile, and how those of Portugal were defeated

Summary

When the Castilian galleys saw that the leading twelve Portuguese vessels gave signs of wanting to fight with them, they were quite happy to go and confront them, as they saw that the advantages the Portuguese previously held over them for such a conflict were now theirs because, whilst at first Portugal had five galleys more than them, there were now an extra five for the Castilians.

But who could fail to be surprised at such an unusually foolhardy action which any sensible person would heavily condemn? There was the count with an advantage and the help of other galleys so much at the ready: yet with deranged courage, in his eagerness to gain honour, he gave away his advantage and helped his enemies! It cannot be denied that both sides would face an enormous task to defend their honour by fighting on equal terms, let alone by letting the others gain such an advantage over them. This was certainly no act of courage but rather a show of the count's foolish arrogance, like that of a man who had never been in such a situation before, and who paid no heed to anyone's warning or advice. So it was that, without further attempt at order or any other proper arrangement, the count had his galley row against the Castilian galleys and told the others to do as he did.

The admiral of Castile, Fernán Sánchez, a more knowledgeable and wiser man in such matters, having been in similar exploits, brought all his galleys into an even line of battle, with his galley in the middle. When the galleys came closer to those of the enemy, each Castilian galley grappled with a Portuguese counterpart, and two galleys from each side moved away by falling back and giving their help wherever necessary. The two sides attacked each other resolutely as best they could but, at the rate of two against one, Portugal’s galleys began to be overcome. However, some were boarded three times, and three times they ousted their enemies; but when one galley was overcome, the Castilians left it anchored and rowed stoutly against another. That is how they defeated them all.

When the other galleys that were lifting the nets saw how they were fighting, they rowed towards them to offer help, but when they reached them they were already nearly all defeated.