Directly that the great Afonso Dalboquerque had withdrawn with all his forces to the fortress, he commanded the captains to take up their positions in stockades on the wall, with the intention of fortifying himself therein and defending himself from the Hidalcão until he could get reinforcements from Cochim, for which he had determined to send. And in order to make up his mind thoroughly as to what course of action he should pursue, he called a meeting of the captains and told them that now that the Hidalcão had made good his entrance into the island and was now in possession of the city, owing to every one's fault, a good opportunity presented itself for them to retrieve the loss they had sustained by reason of the carelessness they had shewn in the matter, in maintaining this fortress. For in addition to its great natural strength,—it would not yield even to Rhodes itself in that respect,—there were therein a thousand Portuguese, against whom, if they defended themselves valiantly, all the power that the Hidalcão could possibly bring to bear would not be sufficient to force an entry, and meanwhile he would send for assistance from Cochim.