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838 DE CHASTE’S VOYAGE TO TERCERA,
clofe to them, feven or eight hundred mufqueteers and arquibufiers were advancing
to take poffeffion of a fpring; thefe the commander determined upon charging, on
coming up; which he effected with fuch {pirit with the four hundred men he com-
manded, that he repulfed them, and drove them back to a fmall mountain, at the foot
of which was the army in order of battle. More than four hundred Spaniards were
killed by wounds of the {word and halbert, and the Maitre de Camp, and du Mayet
having rallied round the commander, the poffeflion of the mountain was much dif-
puted; and gained and loft four or five times, the commander being, at laft obliged to
fall back, on account of the extreme inequality, there not being, at moft, more than
five hundred French, of which, already, a great number were either killed or wound-
ed: the other foldiers, feeing the check they received, loft their courage; as well they
had had fuch bad fare from the firft appearance of the army, and were fo much ha-
rafled with the diftance and quicknefs of the march they had made, in view of oppo-
fing the defcent; fome having come one, fome two, and fome three leagues, the heat
of the weather being fo great, as to caufe a number to faint by the way. The com-
mander refolved on regaining the before-mentioned mountain, and formed a battallion
of his remaining men, attacked and drove the Spaniards from it, determined rather
to die, than lofe again a fingle foot of ground; his brave men being jealous of the
fate of their companions and friends, whom they faw expiring at their feet, and pay
their debt of nature, fatisfied within themfelves that a fimilar lot awaited them ; feeing,
as well, that the Portuguefe abandoned them, who formed their greateft force; and
without whom, the commander preferved the mountain until night. From this may
be judged, whether the French, in pofleflion of the advantages which the enemy en-
joyed, would have been driven out in fuch a maaner. I do not mean, however, to
infinuate that there were not, in the Spanifh army, a number of brave men and old
foldiers; but, in good truth, they are prudent and cautious in their conduct; and
knowing the nature of the French, who charge the firft whether weak or ftrong, they let
this fume evaporate; which they cannot conftrain without immentfe lofs to themfelves.
In the evening, and after all thefe engagements, the count arrived with a thoufand
Portuguefe, and three or four hundred cows ; and aflured the commander, that the
Portuguefe would fight with them, and that it would be advantageous ; for on a for-
mer landing of five or fix hundred Spaniards on the ifland, they were defeated by the
cows, which had been enraged by goading. ‘The commander in anfwer obferved,
that fuch a manner of fighting was difhonourable ; that it belonged only to ruftics and
villains to ufe fuch meafures : that as well, they might do them more injury than benefit,
if they were to turn on them, rather than attack the enemy; and that it would have
been much more reputable of him to have been prefent at the landing and the battle,
as he had promifed, and his duty engaged him fo have been, than to invent a cow-defence:
that he was the caufe of the lofs of the ifland, and the ruin of the French; but as the
fault was committed, that he faw no other remedy, than for him, withthem, to meet
an honourable death, rather than fuffer the cruelty which it was ufual for the Spaniards
to inflict ; for fome time back on the French, as well in Florida, as on the occafion of the
voyage, and battle of Monf. Strofly, and in other places, where they had broken their
promifes, and caufed feveral French gentleman to be executed by the hands of the
common hangman. The count, convicted of cowardice, confefled he was wrong ;
but that he could not go out to battle, begging the commander to excufe him, faying
that God had deprived him of all ftrength and underftanding ; but affuring him he
would make the Portuguefe go, whom he had brought with him, and that they fhould
4 die
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