4000003871

BooK

VII.

Royal

Commentaries.

CH A P.

XVI.

John

de Piedrahita

alarms the Camp of the Marfhal. _

Ro~

drigo de Pineda

comes over to the lúng's Party; and per-–

fuades them to give the Enemy Battel. The debates there–

upon. The M,11Jhal refolves to engage:.

O foon as it was night

'/ohn de Piedrahita

with a party of thirty

ftx

Mufquetiers

dlvided into three Companies alarm'd the Marfhal's Camp io three feveral

quarters ; which was not much regarded by them, and onely a few fhot returned

fhew that they were not aíleep :

foon as the day began to break

Piedrahita

retired without effe

ding a

ny thing, onely he thereby gave occafion to

Rodrigo

Pineda,

a Citizen of

Coz.ca

and Captain of Horfe, upon pretence and colour of

gi–

ving affiíl:ence

Piedrahita,

make his efcape to the Marfhal; of which

Palen-

94~

tino

gives this account :

_ ·

So foon, fays he, as

Rodrigo de Pineda

was come

the Marfhal, he aífured him,

tbat man

if not che greateíl: pare of

Hernandez:-

bis Souldiers would have made

their eícape had it not been for the firiét watch which is always kept, and that in

che night when he carne over, he found the River fhallow and eafie to be forded :

upon this advice, the Maríhal prefent)y called a Council of ali the Captains and

mén of Intereíl: and Eíl:ates then abiding in the Camp, and, having repeated to

rhem al! that

Pineda

had acquainted him with, he told them plainly, that he was

ref:olved to" fight tbe enemy, delivering bis reafons for the fame: but füll many of

the Council oppofed this opinion, perfül:ing, that it was not

fafe fo

make ao at–

tempt on a Fortification with

much difadvamage : when the Marfhal faw that

he was oppofed by

many principal perfons, he defüed

Pineda

repeat himfelf

before them ali what he had before declared, and whac was his opinioo concerning

the {hte of

Hernandez:-

bis Camp

and how and in what manner he believed

they

would aét. Tben

Pineda

rold them, tbat che Forces which

Hernandez.

had, might

amount unto three hundred and eighcy men, of which two hundred and tweocy

were Mufquetiers, but all

ill

provided, and moíl: of them inclined to defert him,'

and revolt coche Marfhal; and chat he rnight have about a thoufand Horfes and

Beafis of Burthen. And as to what he believed of the íl:ate of

Hermmde;;:;,,

he was

of opinion, that they would march away that night if not prevented, being af–

frig!-ited, and forced chereunto for wanc of provifions : That in cafe they did

march away, che purfuit after them, through craggy and mountainous Countries,

would be very difficult and ruinous to the Army, as well as deíl:ruél:ive to the

Kingdom : and that the paílage over the River was eafie, ánd the way open to

make an affault. Hereupon che Marfhal declared pofitively his refolution that

day to engage che enemy; and that he would not fuffer them to efcape out ofhis

harids as they had formerly done from the Jufüces; and prevent them from do–

ing any farther mifchief thari whac tHey had already commicted ; and tbat to fol–

low and purfue after them could not be done without hardfhip, damage and fuf- –

fering of rhe whole Army : bur fome made anfwer and replied hereunto, thac

whilíl:

Hernandez.

remained in thac faíl: ground, it were more fecure to lec him

efcape from chence than to attempt him in that Fortification ; for that it was pro–

bable, that having abandoned chat place, his Forces would disband of the'mfelves,

wichout hazarding the life of one Souldier : bue the Marfhal was not facisfied ·

with chis anfwer, and faid, chat ic was not correfpondent to bis duty, nor futable

to the honour of fo many brave Cavaliers and good1Souldiers as were there pre–

fent, to fuffer thofe Rebels

range and wander rip and clown robbing apd

poiling·

the Coumrey withouc controll, and therefore he declared himfelf refolved in de–

fpight of all oppofüion

-to

give the enemy Battel. Herewith many of che princi–

pal Captains who were prefent at chis Confultation in the Maríhal's Tent,

wem

out from thence much difpleaíed and diílatisfied _; ..and particularly

Gomez:- de Alva–

rado

íaid, Come, fince we mufi die, lec us go, for I

fure it will be my fortuné

killed,

Thus

far

are the words

Palentino:

Wheri