“We fought all day, and the upshot of it was, we captured four of their galleys, the admiral himself, and eight hundred prisoners.  Fortunately it is unnecessary for me to give your seignory the details of the fighting, as these can be furnished you by Messer Francisco Hammond, who will hand you these despatches.  He was a witness of the action on the Bonito, which had that morning arrived at Antium with some of the stores you despatched me.  I have selected this young gentleman as the bearer of these despatches, because it is to him I entirely owe it that I am not at the present moment a prisoner in Genoa, and to him the republic owes that we yesterday won a victory.

“I was attacked by Fieschi and by another galley, and, in spite of the weather, they cast grapnels on to my ship and boarded me.  I had already lost half of my crew by their missiles, and things were going very badly with us, when the Bonito came up to our assistance, and grappled with one of the galleys.  Her captain was killed, but Messer Hammond—­of whom Polani has so high an opinion that he had appointed him second in command—­led his men to my rescue.  They boarded the galley and slew those who remained on board, and then, crossing on to my ship, fell upon the rear of the Genoese who were pressing us backwards.  His sailors, undefended as they were by armour, fought like demons with their axes, and, led by Messer Hammond, cut their way through the enemy and joined me.

“This reinforcement gave fresh strength and spirit to my men, who had a minute before thought that all was lost.  Together we fell upon the Genoese, before they could recover from their surprise, beat them back into their admiral’s ship, and following them there forced them to surrender.  Messer Hammond fought by my side, and although but a lad in years, he showed himself a sturdy man-at-arms, and behaved with a coolness and bravery beyond praise.  I hereby recommend him to your gracious consideration, for assuredly to him it is due that it is I, and not Fieschi, who is writing to announce a victory.”

A murmur of surprise from the councillors greeted the reading of this portion of the letter.  When it was concluded, the doge was the first to speak.

“You have indeed deserved well of the republic, Messer Hammond, for we know that Admiral Pisani is not one to give undue praise, or to exaggerate in aught.

“This is news to me, signors, as well as to you, for in his narrative to me of the events of the fight, he passed over his own share in it, though Messer Polani, who accompanied him, did say that his ship had taken some part in the fight, and that the captain and twenty-seven men had been killed.

“Now, young sir, as the admiral has referred us to you for a detailed narrative of the battle, we will thank you to tell us all you witnessed, omitting no detail of the occurrences.”

Francis accordingly gave a full account of the action, and gave great praise to his crew for the valour with which they had fought against the heavy armed Genoese.  When he had concluded the doge said: