About noon on the 29th of June 1571, the Nizam gave the signal of assault, when the whole of his men and elephants moved forwards with horrible cries and a prodigious noise of warlike instruments.  The Portuguese were drawn up in their several posts to defend the ruined works, and Don Francisco Mascarenhas, the commander in chief[380], placed himself opposite the Nizam with a body of reserve to relieve the posts wherever he might see necessary.  The day was darkened with smoke, and alternately lighted up with flames.  The slaughter and confusion was great on both sides.  Some of the colours of the enemy were planted on the works, but were soon taken or thrown down along with those who had set them up.  The elephants were made drunk by the nayres who conducted them that they might be the fiercer; but being burnt and wounded, many of them ran madly about the field.  One that was much valued by the Nizam, having his housings all in flames, plunged into the sea and swam over the bar, where he was killed by a cannon ball from one of the Portuguese vessels.  The Moors continued the assault till night, unable to gain possession of any of the works, and then drew off, after losing above 3000 men, among whom were many officers of note.  On the side of the Portuguese eight gentleman were slain and a small number of private soldiers.

[Footnote 380:  At the commencement of this siege, according to De Faria, Luis Ferreyra de Andrada commanded in Chaul; and Mascarenhas is said to have brought a reinforcement of 600 men; it would now appear that he had assumed the command.—­E.]

Next day the Moors asked leave to bury their dead, and a truce was granted for that purpose.  While employed in removing their dead, some of the Moors asked the Portuguese, What woman it was that went before them in the fight, and if she were alive? One of the Portuguese answered, Certainly she was alive for she was immortal! On this the Moors observed that it must have been the Lady Marian, for so they call the blessed Virgin.  Many of them declared that they saw her at the house of Lorenzo de Brito, and that she was so bright that she blinded them.  Some of them even went to see her image in the churches of Chaul, where they were converted and remained in the town.  The Nizam was now seriously disposed for peace, and the Portuguese commander equally so, yet neither wished to make the first overture.  At length however advances were made and a treaty set on foot.  Farete Khan and Azaf Khan were commissioners from the Nizam, while Pedro de Silva and Antonio de Teyva were deputed by the Portuguese commander in chief, and Francisco Mascarenhas by the captain of the city.  Accordingly a league offensive and defensive was concluded in the name of the Nizam and the king of Portugal, which was celebrated by great rejoicings on both sides and the interchange of rich presents.  This however might easily have been accomplished without the effusion of so much blood.  The Nizam now raised his camp and returned to his own dominions.