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quarters of Narvaez, and Salvatierra, in a lofty temple. Having tlms 

 arranged his troops and inftrudted his captains, he addreffed us in a few 

 words, faying, he well knew that the army of Narvaez was four times 

 more numerous than ours, but that they were not accuftomed to arms, 

 and many of them were ill; he therefore trufted, that, attacking them 

 thus unexpectedly, God would give the vidory to us, who were his 

 faithful fervants, and that next to divine affiftance, we were to rely on 

 our own courage, and the ftrength of our arms ; that now was the hour 

 of trial, and that at worft it was preferable to die with glory. 



One circumflance has fbruck me fince, which is, that he never 

 once faid or infinuated to us that fuch or fuch perfons in the army of 

 Narvaez were our friends; and in fo doing he a6led like a wife captain, 

 making us rely entirely on our own exertions, and ufe them to the ut- 

 moft, without exped:ing any other affiftance or fupport. Our three de- 

 tachments were now formed, and the captains at the head of each, they 

 and the foldiers mutually encouraging each other. Our captain, Pi- 

 zarro, explained to us how we were to rufli in upon the guns with our 

 lances at the charge, and that immediately on getting them in our pof- 

 feffion, the artillery men who were attached to his company fhould point 

 and fire them againft the quarters of Narvaez. 



What would we not have given for defenfive armour on this night I 

 A morion, a helmet, or a breajflplate, would have fetched any monejf. 

 Our counterfign was Spiritu fanto, Spiritu fanto. That of Narvaez was 

 Santa Maria, Santa Maria. 



As Captain Sandoval and I were always intimate friends, he at this 

 time called me afide, and made me promife him that after the capture 

 of the guns if I remained alive, [ would feek out and attach myfelf to 

 him for the reft of the engagement. Thefe things being arranged, we 

 remained with empty ftomachs, lefledling on what was before us, and 

 waiting for the orders to march. I was ftationed centinel at an advan- 

 ced poft, and had not been there long when a patrole came to me, and 



alked 



