It is characteristic of cowards to affect courage when they meet no
opposition or do not fear resistance; the enemy did not encounter
this in the ranch of Antipolo, whither he went when he emerged
from the mountains and hollows in which he had taken refuge from
our attacks and the slaughter which he could not make among our
troops. For the latter were marching accompanied by the governor,
who was desirous of catching the enemy in the flat country that he
might offer them battle there, when they would not be able to avail
themselves of the ruggedness of the mountains or the depth of the
ravines; the armies faced each other, now ready to come to blows, and
the enemy were almost surrounded by our troops on all sides. Although
without realizing how little they could depend upon their hands, they
trusted to their feet; they now placed their main defense in flight,
burning the village and church of Baras--valiant for only such acts
of cowardice. Our men kept at the heels of the enemy, although it was
one of the greatest hardships of this war to have to march so long
through very rough roads amid the inclemencies of heat and rain. The
insurgents pursued the route toward the village of Tamar, whither also
our army proceeded, in order to compel them to give battle, or else to
harass and disturb them by never allowing them opportunity to have any
rest. Our men reached the flat top of a hill, and halted on the summit,
without having any knowledge of the enemy--who were so near that even
their voices could soon be heard. When our men perceived the enemy,
and saw how few they were (for at that time they did not number two
thousand), they began to surround the Sangleys in order to attack them;
and the battle began with such fury that the enemy, in desperation,
came close to the mouths of the Spanish arquebuses. Our men defended
themselves valiantly, at little cost to themselves but with much
loss to the enemy; since, although the battle began with great risk
[to us] on account of their multitude, our weapons were well plied
on both sides [of them]. When the enemy had attacked our position and
would have gained the advantage, Don Rodrigo de Guillestegui arrived,
whom the governor had sent with a company of horsemen and five hundred
Indians, sounding the alarm to them through the rearguard. At the sound
of the drums, and when the enemy saw themselves attacked on both sides,
and knew that the rest of our army (which had been absent) was there,
they already used their weapons with less spirit; and, their hopes of
gaining the victory being dashed, they began to retreat, so as not
to give it to our men--but with much loss of their own--and as they
were in a place where the cavalry could range freely. The damage that
they received was much greater [than what they inflicted], and was
sufficient to enable those of their number who had more prudence to
urge more strenuously, from that time on, negotiations for peace--of
which they had begun to talk a few days before, but with little,
if any, effect.