Thus setting out full of assurance and of joy, they arrived in four days at Pulo Cambylan, without having any news of the enemy, notwithstanding their endeavours to find him out.  The admiral, in obedience to the governor, was thinking to return; though the courage of his soldiers prompted them to pass beyond the bounds prescribed them, and to go in search of the barbarians into whatsoever corner of the world they were retired.  The admiral, I say, was disposed to have gone back, when the moon suddenly went into an eclipse.  It was one of the greatest which had ever been observed, and seemed to them to prognosticate the total defeat of the Mahometans.  But the same night there arose so violent a wind, that they were forced to stay upon their anchors for the space of three-and-twenty days successively.  Their provisions then beginning to grow short, and the wind not suffering them to turn to the coast of Malacca, they resolved on taking in fresh provisions at Tenasserim, towards the kingdom of Siam.

In the mean time, all things were in confusion at Malacca.  The hopes which Father Xavier had given the people, supported them for some few days.  But seeing a month was now expired, without any intelligence from the fleet, they believed it was either swallowed by the waves, or defeated by the Achenois, and that none had escaped to bring the news.  At the same time, the Saracens reported confidently, they had it from good hands, that the fleets had met, that the Achenois had cut in pieces all the Portuguese, and had sent the heads of their commanders as a present to their king.  This bruit was spread through all the town, and was daily strengthened after the rate of false rumours, which are full of tragical events.  The better to colour this report, they gave the circumstances of time and place, and the several actions of the battle.  The sorcerers and soothsayers were consulted by the Pagan women, whose husbands and sons were in the fleet; and they confirmed whatever was related in the town.  It came at last to a public rising against Xavier; and the governor himself was not wholly free from the popular contagion.

But Xavier, far from the least despondence in the promises of God, and of the knowledge he had given him concerning the condition of the fleet, with an erected countenance assured, they should suddenly see it return victorious.  Which notwithstanding, he continued frequent in his vows and prayers; and at the end of all his sermons, recommended to their devotions the happy return of their desired navy.  Their spirits were so much envenomed and prejudiced against him, that many of them treated him with injurious words; while he was rallied by the more moderate, who were not ashamed to say, his prayers might be of use for the souls of the soldiers, who were slain in fight, but were of little consequence to gain a battle which was lost.

Some fresh intelligence, which arrived from Sumatra, increased the disorders and consternation of the town.  The king of Bintan, son to that Mahomet, whom Albuquerque the Great had despoiled of the kingdom of Malacca, sought for nothing more than an opportunity of reconquering what his father had lost by force of arms.  Seeing the town now bare of soldiers, and hearing that the Achenois had beaten the Portuguese, he put to sea, with three hundred sail, and put in at the river of Muar, within six leagues of Malacca, towards the west.