ovalle's historical relation op chile. 203 



great power with the general, made up the whole bufinefs ; and the refult of the coun- 

 cil being to befiege the city of the Imperial, they immediately put it in execution. 



Their army took its poft three leagues from the Imperial ; which city, though it 

 had a good garrifon of brave men, was not neverthelefs prepared nor provided for a 

 liege with ammunition and viduals, becaufe the enemies would have taken it, if any 

 had been fent to it ; but the Queen of Heaven delivered them from this great danger. 

 The enemies drawing near the city, there arofe on a fudden a mighty ftorm of hail and 

 rain, with black clouds ; and their Epunamon appeared to them in the form of a ter- 

 rible dragon, cafting out fire at his mouth, and his tail curled up, bidding them make 

 halle, for the city was theirs, being unprovided : and that they fhould enter it, and 

 put to the fword all the chriilians, and fo difappeared : but as they were purfuing their 

 defign, animated by this oracle, on a fudden the heavens cleared up, and a very beau- 

 tiful woman appeared upon a bright cloud, and fhewing them a charming, but majeftic 

 and fevere countenance, took from them the pride and haughtinefs infpired into them 

 by their firft vifion, commanding them to return to their own homes, for God was refolved 

 to favour the chriftians ; and they obeyed immediately. To which the author who 

 reports this (lory adds, that the whole camp faw the apparition, which was on the 23d 

 of April, and that all agree in this. 



CHAP. XIX. — The City of the Conception is rebuilt; and Lautaro having taken it it 

 fecond Time, marches to take the City of St. J ago, where he dies. 



THE Spaniards being in fafety, began to think of returning to the Conception, and 

 rebuilding of it. To this end they raifed men at St. Jago, and with great difficulty 

 compafled their intention, making a good fortrefs within the city for their better fecurity. 

 The Indians of the neighbourhood, though they were in their hearts as averfe as any 

 others to be commanded by ftrangers, and to let them build cities in their territories, 

 diffembled neverthelefs at prefent, but in due time gave advice to Arauco, defiring help 

 to drive out thefe new comers, or make an end of them at once. Lautaro came to 

 them prefently with a good army ; and fome companies of Spaniards, which went out 

 to encounter him, were forced to retire to the fort they had made, in which they 

 defended themfelves as long as they were able to withfland the force of Lautaro ; 

 but at laft being overpowered, they were forced to retire a fecond time to the city 

 of St. Jago. Many Spaniards were loft, and Lautaro followed the purfuit, in which 

 many brave aftions were performed on both fides : among the reft, a famous Indian 

 captain, called Rengo, following three Spanifti captains who were retiring, called them 

 cowards, and faid a hundred infolent things to them, which moved one of them to 

 attack him at the paflage of a river ; but he fecured himfelf by choofmg a ftf-cng poft ; 

 fo the Spaniards went on to St. Jago, and Lautaro retreated to Arauco, where great re- 

 joicings were made for this new victory. 



The Indians renewed their meetings ; and being much elevated with their fuccefs, 

 they came to a refolution of not troubling themfelves with the lelfer cities, which they 

 reckoned as their own; but to attack the capital of St. Jago. Lautaro offered to un- 

 <iertake this enterprize ; and chufmg the moft warlike among them, he marched with 

 a powerful army. He pafled the rivers Biobio, Itata, Maule, and Mataquito ; near this 

 laft he raifed a fort to fecure his retreat, if need were, he being engaged far from his 

 own territories. 



D D a 



When 



