Best is on November 27 advised by his men on shore that a squadron of four Portuguese ships is sailing up to attack him.

The Portuguese ships (four great galleons and some twenty-six oared barks) arrive on the 28th, and anchor outside the roadstead placing the English vessels between themselves and the town.

A skirmish takes place between the two navies on the 29th without much damage to either side.

Best, in Dragon, sails at daylight on the 30th through the four larger Portuguese ships, running three of them aground, and is joined by Hosiander on the other side.

The Portuguese manage to get the three galleons refloated.

At nine PM this evening, in an attempt to set the English ships alight, a bark is sent towards them as a fire ship, but the English watch is alert, and the bark is sunk by cannon fire with the loss of eight lives.

A standoff remains until ...