CHAPTER VI
TIRANT RETURNS TO CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE GREEK EMPIRE IS COMPLETELY RESTORED
Finally the huge army embarked and sailed for Sicily,
where it was joined by King Philip with his forces. Within
a few days the expedition arrived near Constantinople,
the port of which was blockaded by the Moorish fleet.
The army could not land until the hostile ships were
dispersed or captured. Tirant's fleet attacked the
enemy at break of day, coming upon them so suddenly
that they could not make a strong resistance. Some
Moors leaped into the water and succeeded in reaching
the shore, but all those who remained on the vessels
were slain. Tirant took possession of all the boats of
the enemy. The troops of the sultan and the Grand
Turk were on the shore ready to attack the Christians
if these should attempt to land, so Tirant took his whole
fleet, together with the captured vessels, out to sea,
and when darkness fell he turned about, came back,
and landed at a very advantageous point only four
leagues distant from the Moorish army. The next day
the Moors saw themselves surrounded by an army vastly
superior to their own in numbers. The sultan and the
Grand Turk were in a quandary. Finally, they decided
to send ambassadors to Tirant to propose a treaty
of peace for a hundred and one years. In order to obtain
such a peace, they were willing to restore all the cities,
towns, and castles that they had conquered, and liberate
all prisoners. Tirant convened his council to consider
the proposal, and it was decided to refer the matter to
His Imperial Majesty. The affair was important, and
