Still retaining a strong desire to possess himself of Malacca, so many years the grand object of Achinese ambition, he imprisoned the ambassador then at his court, and made extraordinary preparations for the siege, which he designed to undertake in person.  The laksamana or commander in chief (who had effected all the king’s late conquests) attempted to oppose this resolution; but the maharaja, willing to flatter his master’s propensity, undertook to put him in possession of the city and had the command of the fleet given to him, as the other had of the land forces.  The king set out on the expedition with a fleet of two hundred and fifty sail (forty-seven of them not less than a hundred feet in the keel), in which were twenty thousand men well appointed, and a great train of artillery.  After being some time on board, with his family and retinue as usual, he determined, on account of an ill omen that was observed, to return to the shore.  The generals, proceeding without him, soon arrived before Malacca.  Having landed their men they made a judicious disposition, and began the attack with much courage and military skill.  The Portuguese were obliged to abandon several of their posts, one of which, after a defence of fifty days, was levelled with the ground, and from its ruins strong works were raised by the laksamana.  The maharaja had seized another post advantageously situated.  From their several camps they had lines of communication, and the boats on the river were stationed in such a manner that the place was completely invested.  Matters were in this posture when a force of two thousand men came to the assistance of the besieged from the king of Pahang, and likewise five sail of Portuguese vessels from the coast of Coromandel; but all was insufficient to remove so powerful an enemy, although by that time they had lost four thousand of their troops in the different attacks and skirmishes.  In the latter end of the year a fleet of thirty sail of ships, large and small, under the command of Nunno Alvarez Botello, having on board nine hundred European soldiers, appeared off Malacca, and blocked up the fleet of Achin in a river about three miles from the town.  This entirely altered the complexion of affairs.  The besiegers retired from their advanced works and hastened to the defence of their galleys, erecting batteries by the side of the river.  The maharaja being summoned to surrender returned a civil but resolute answer.  In the night, endeavouring to make his escape with the smaller vessels through the midst of the Portuguese, he was repulsed and wounded.  Next day the whole force of the Achinese dropped down the stream with a design to fight their way, but after an engagement of two hours their principal galley, named the Terror of the World, was boarded and taken, after losing five hundred men of seven which she carried.  Many other vessels were afterwards captured or sunk.  The laksamana hung out a white flag and sent to treat with Nunno, but, some difficulty arising about the