The Dutch Landed Next Day In Force, On Which The
Spaniards Set Their Church On Fire And Fled; Having Four Of Their Men
Slain, While Two Of The Dutch Were Wounded.
They here found much
poultry, and took 500 sheep, with other spoil.
Learning at this place of
three Spanish ships fitted out in April expressly against them, the
admiral of which carried forty brass guns, and the whole manned by 1000
Spaniards, Spilbergen resolved to go in search of them at Conception and
Valparaiso, and afterwards on the coast of Arica. A farther squadron, of
similar force, was also said to be in preparation at Calao de Lima. In
consequence of this intelligence, the Dutch gunners were ordered to have
every thing in readiness for battle, rules of military discipline were
established, and each ship and every person received distinct orders for
conducting the expected battle, in which it was resolved to conquer or
die.
Sailing from the island of St Mary on the 1st June, 1615, they passed
not far from the town of Aurora,[93] where the Spaniards kept a
garrison of 500 men, which were continually disquieted by the
unconquered natives of Chili. On the 3d they came to the island of
Quinquirina, within which is the town of Conception, inhabited by many
Indians and about 200 Spaniards. The 12th they entered the safe and
commodious road of Valparaiso, in which was a Spanish ship, but which
was set on fire by its own mariners, who escaped on shore.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 239 of 825
Words from 64833 to 65085
of 224764
