OV^ALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 20i 



Spaniards, they having no fire-arms to ufe in the like manner : they (hew in this their 

 invincible courage, and undifturbed bravery, by which they make to themfelves a de- 

 fence of their own enemies ; for being once mingled with them, they cannot offend 

 them, without deftroying, at the fame time, their oVn people. 



The fight on both fides was bravely maintained, Lautaro relieving and encouraging 

 his men, as Villagran did his, both of them doing the parts both of general and foldier, and 

 expofing themfelves to the greateft danger. He that fignalized his valour moft on our 

 fide, was the famous Captain Pedro Olmos de Aquillera, killing with his own hand 

 four of the chiefs of the Indians. Our army was encouraged with his valour, which 

 he inherited from that noble family fo fpread in Andalufia : he was feconded by the 

 Bernales Pantoias, Alvarados, and many others, who performed wonders in this battle, 

 which was long contefted, very bloody, and in fufpenfe to the laft. The enemy was 

 much fuperior in ftrength to our forces, and, therefore,* the viftory began to incline to 

 their fide ; for though Villagran the general, and fome others, would rather have chofe 

 to die there with honour, than turn their backs, yet the greateft part judging that there 

 was no honour loft in a vigorous retreat, and that it would be raftmefs to perfift in fo 

 defperate a cafe, they began to retire, fighting and defending themfelves ; but the 

 enemy, elevated with this fuccefs, foUowjed clofe, and having knocked Villagran off 

 his horfe, they had made an end of him, if he had not vahantly defended himfelf till 

 thirteen of his men came to his relief. 



Thefe famous commanders did not obtain lefs glory in this retreat, than if they had 

 gained a vi6lory ; for the enemy following them for fix leagues together, being a hun- 

 dred to one, and having feized upon moft of the paffes, and the numbers ftill increaf- 

 ing, yet the Spaniards made a noble defence, and killed many of them. Thofe who 

 efcaped from this engagement, came with the fad news of the ill fuccefs to the city of 

 the Conception, which fet all the inhabitants in an uproar, mingled with lamentations 

 and cries, every one being in fome meafure concerned in the calamity ; for between 

 Spaniards and friendly Indians, there died in this engagement two thoufand five hun- 

 dred. One would have thought the day of judgment had been come, to fee the con- 

 fufion that was in the city upon this news j one laments the death of his father, another 

 of her huft)and ; fome cry for their fons, fome for their brothers ; the women wring 

 their hands, pull off their hair, fill the air with lamentable cries ; the children cling to 

 their parents, afking for their loft fathers, which is more grievous to them than 

 daggers. In the midft of thefe horrors, night came on, in which no one could fhut 

 their eyes, for the memory of their misfortunes keeps the foul attentive, without any 

 confolation. 



CHAP. XVII. — Lautaro facks the City of the Conception ; and Caupolican bejieges 

 the City of the Imperial, which is defended by the Queen of Heaven, 



MISFORTUNES feldom come alone; and fo it happened to this afflided city, 

 which, inftead of receiving comfort from the approaching day, no fooner did it appear, 

 when the noife of drums and trumpets gave a warm alarm of the enemies being at hand. 

 Here the confufion increafed ; for now the concern was not for the lofs of others, but 

 for every one's own fafety, the danger was threatening them fo immediately : there was 

 nothing but diforder, no counfel nor refolution being to be found in the wifeft : they 

 could not defend themfelves, becaufe they were fo overpowered in numbers by the 

 enemy ; and the retreat, though neceffary, was difficult, becaufe of the approach of 



VOL. XIV. D D the 



