text:  To supply the deficiencies of the Turkish marine which had been almost ruined by the repeated naval victories of the Venetians an overture was made to the English ambassador Lord Winchilsea for permission to hire the services of a number of British vessels; but this strange request being evaded the expedition was postponed for a year while every nerve was strained in the building and equipment of galleys; and at length in the autumn of 1666 the fleet set sail from Monembasia in the Morea under the command of the Capitan-pasha Mustafa surnamed _Kaplan_ or the Tiger the brother-in-law of Kiuprili and anchored off Canea in the beginning of November