Storia do Mogor 338.20.5

338.20.5

At this time an old man advised the commander of a fort upon a height to fire his guns and knock down the church, whereby some of the Arabs would be killed, while the rest would be slain by those who were in wait for them outside it. But as it is their habit to act contrary to any good advice given them, the captain declined, expressing his scruples about injuring a church. Just then another body of Arabs who were waiting outside the walls became aware of the commotion within the city. Laying hold of their swords, they entered. Those who were watching at the church forsook their post and ran to bar the way to the new assailants. In the interval those inside the church sallied forth and attacked them in the rear. Hence the Portuguese soldiers were caught between two bodies of Arabs, and were all killed, and the place lost. It happened that there was in this fortress a Portuguese prisoner, a criminal, who had relations, and many friars were his friends. All these made frantic efforts to obtain an order for his deliverance from the governor. He refused. Seeing no other course open, they all assembled, the friars carrying crucifixes, and entreated him for the love of God to pardon the man's life. This, too, was without effect. They then had recourse to the slave woman Luiza, who by a few words obtained the pardon. Nothing less than such disaster could be expected from such a governor and his government.