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promised also amnesty for all past offences, oncondition of immediate return to allegiance.Hearing that Roldan was within five leagues ofSan Domingo with his band, he sent Pero Her-nandez Coronal, who had been appointed by thesovereigns alguazil mayor of the island, to exhorthim to obedience, promising him oblivion of thepast. He trusted that the representations of adiscreet and honourable man like Coronal, whohad been witness of the favour in which his brotherstood in Spain , would convince the rebels of thehopelessness of their course.
Roldan, however, conscious of his guilt, anddoubtful of the clemency of Don Bartholomew,feared to venture within his power; he deter-mined, also, to prevent his followers from commu-nicating with Coronal, lest they should be seducedfrom him by the promise of pardon. When thatemissary, therefore, approached the encampmentof the rebels, he was opposed in a narrow pass bya body of archers, with their cross-bows levelled.“ Halt there! traitor!” cried Roldan, “had you ar-rived eight days later, we should all have beenone # .”
* Herrera, decad. 1,1. iii., c. 8.