We had seen them in time for the halberdiers to extend their pikes, and the musketeers to be down amid the grass.

So the Spaniards had a warm reception, and four of them fell in this attack.

We were superior in numbers, and their captain led them back to the ditch in good order.
There they halted, for their duty was probably to detain us and then have us cut down by a larger body.

We were too weak to drive them from their position, but when the east began to brighten and they still did not come forward, the captain advanced towards them with the drummer, bearing a white flag, and shouted to them in Italian, which he had learned to speak a little in Italy, that he wished the Castilian gentlemen good-morning, and if there was any officer with a sense of honor among them, let him come forth and meet a captain who wished to cross swords with him.

He pledged his word, that his men would look on at the duel without taking any share in it, no matter what the result might be.