the whole Empire and added to his Religion many new Rites and Ceremonies and introduced many laudable Customs and new Laws tending to the better regulation of Moral life He ejected many of the Idols formerly Worshipped by his Subjects out of the Temples and forbad many barbarous and abominable customs in use amongst them And that he might shew himself as great a Captain and Souldier as he was a King and Priest he reformed the Militia instructing them in the Discipline of War and for encouragement of his Souldiery he established new favours and honours for those that should deserve them He also enlarged and beautified the great City of Cozco with sumptuous Buildings and supplied it with new Citizens and Inhabitants and particularly he erected a Palace for himself near those Schools which his Great Grandfather Roca had founded For which Magnificent actions and for his sweet and gentle disposition he was beloved and adored like another Jupiter He reigned fifty years and as some say seventy during all which time he lived in great peace and prosperity at the end of which he dyed being universally lamented by his Subjects having his place allotted to him amongst the Kings his Predecessors and enrolled in the List and Number of their Gods. He was embalmed according to the custome of their Countrey and his Obsequies performed with cries and sighs and sacrifices and other ceremonies of Funeral which continued for the space of a whole year He left the Universal inheritance of his Empire to his Eldest Son Yupanqui and his Wife and Sister Coya Anahuarque besides which he left above three hundred Sons and Daughters and that in all with legitimate and natural Children he made up the number of more than four hundred and yet the Indians esteem these but few considering they were the issue of so great and so good a Father The Spanish Historians confound the Names of this Father and Son in one denomination calling the Father Yupanqui and the Son Inca whereas Inca was the Royal Title as Augustus was to the Emperours The cause of this mistake amongst the Spaniards arises from the Indians themselves who having occasion to mention these two Kings say Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui which the Spaniards misunderstanding take to be one person and so confound the Father with the Son though in reality the Indians make great difference distinguishing this Yupanqui from his Father and others by the sirname of Tupac which is as much as to say resplendent in like manner they distinguish another Inca Yupanqui by the Father of Huayna Capac and another Tupanqui by the Grandfather of Huascar and so give some distinction to them all which I denote for better clearing the History to observing and intelligent Readers CHAP. XXXV Of the Schools which he founded and enlarged and of the Laws he made for good Government BLas Valera discoursing of this Inca hath these following words Viracocha being dead and placed by the Indians amongst the number of their Gods the Grand Titu his Son succeeded in his Throne by the Name of Manco Capac untill such time as his Father gave him the Name of Pachacutec which signifies as much as if they should call him the Reformer of the World the which Name was verified by the many famous Actions he performed and the many wise Sentences and Proverbs which he uttered the which were so excellent and renowned that having deserved that August Title the former Name began to be forgotten This Inca governed his Empire with that vigilance prudence and courage both in War and Peace that he not onely enlarged it towards all the four quarters of the World which they called Tavantinsuyu but strengthened and corroborated it by such excellent Laws and Statutes as were judged worthy to be confirmed by the Wisedom of our Catholick Kings those onely excepted which had respect to the Idolatrous Rites of their Religion and to the permissions of their Incestuous Marriages This Inca above all things amplified and endowed with Honours and Revenues those Schools which the Inca Rocca had first founded at Cozco He encreased the number of Masters and Teachers commanding that no Officer Captain or Souldier should be capable of any Honour Office or Dignity but he onely that could speak and who was knowing and skilfull in the Language of Cozco And that no person might plead excuse for his ignorance therein he ordained and appointed several Masters to teach that Tongue to all the Nobles and to others capable to serve in publick employment so that the Language of Cozco became the common and universal Tongue of all Peru However of late I know not how by negligence of Officers 't is almost lost and forgotten to the great damage and obstruction of the Gospel Such Indiansâ— as to these days retain that Language are much better civilized and more intelligent than those others who are as gross and corrupt in their Manners as they are in their Language It was this Pachacutec who prohibited all persons unless they were Princes and of the Bloud-Royal to wear Gold or Silver or pretious Stones or Feathers of divers colours or the fine sort of Goats Wool which they had learned to Weave with admirable Art. He commanded that upon the first days of the new Moon and other days of Festival they should go decently but not gaily dressed by which means he made moderate cloathing to become a fashion which to this day is observed by the Indians who are Tributaries and hath that good effect upon them that thereby they are freed from the danger of bad Arts which oftentimes necessitate Men to exercise unlawfull contrivances for the sake of fine cloathing and gay apparel Though indeed at present those Indians who are Servants to Spaniards or live amongst them are become greatly corrupt in that particular not valuing their honour or consciences in comparison with the gallantry and finery of their Apparel This Inca likewise enjoyned great temperance in Eating though he gave more liberty to the Commonalty as well as the Princes in the excess of Drink He ordained particular Officers to oversee and take notice of idle Persons and Vagabonds not suffering any person to want business or employment but to serve his Father or his Master so that Children of five or six years of Age were not excused from some employment and work agreeable to their years Even the lame and blind and dumb had some sort of work put into their hands the Old Men and Women were set to affright away the Crows and Birds from the Corn and thereby gained their Bread and Cloathing And lest Men by reason of continual labour and toil should become weary and their lives burthensome he provided that for their better ease they should have three Days of repose and divertisement in every Moon by which they accounted their Month He appointed three Fairs in every Month to be held at the end of every nine Days so that such as lived in the Villages might at the end
the Title of Capac which is Rich to Manco their first Inca they did not mean the Riches of Fortune but the Excellencies and Greatness of Mind they ever after appropriated this Title to the Capac Ayllu which is to the Royal Family and Princes of the Bloud so they attributed the Title of Capac to the Feast of Raymi which is the principal Festival of the Sun so also they called a Subject Capac Runa which is Subject and Vassal of the Rich meaning the Inca being never given to any other Lord though he were never so Rich or powerfull And so also this word Capac was given to any other thing which they would dignifie with relation to Royalty Amongst the many other Illustrious Qualities with which this Prince was endowed he had one by which he most particularly obliged his Subjects giving early Indications of his Vertue which merited the Name of Capac during the time he was Prince and which afterwards he conserved when he came to be sole Monarch The which particular quality was this That he never denied any Woman the grant of her Petition of whatsoever age quality or condition she were answering her according to her years for if she were elder than he he would say Mother what you desire shall be done If she were of equal years with him he would use the compellation of Sister if younger he would call her Daughter and say What thou askest shall be performed and to all Women generally he would lay his hand on their left shoulder in token of his favour and respect to them And this Magnanimity of mind he carried so even and constant that in matters of great importance he would condescend to the diminution of his own Right and Prerogative of his Majesty As we shall hereafter more at large discourse This Prince being now about twenty years of Age pursued his Wars gaining on the Kingdom by little and little ever treating with them and offering terms of Peace and Friendship But this barbarous Nation which went almost naked and was ignorant of Political Government would never give ear to proposals of Accommodation Tupac the Father observing the good Conduct of his Son committed the absolute Government of this War to his management and so returned to Cozco the important affairs of his Empire requiring his presence there The Prince in the mean time with the assistence of his Captains so well managed the War that in the space of three years he became absolute Master of the Kingdom of Quitu though some Indians of that Countrey say that he was five years but then they count the two years in which his Father was there in person attributing the Conquest of that Countrey to them both The gentleness and good-nature of the Father and Son was the cause of this long continuance of the War for had they vigorously proceeded with fire and sword they might soon have completed their Conquest but they willing to save the Bloud of the Natives pressed upon them as they retired and so won the Countrey by little and little though the Indians say that the War had continued longer had not the King of Quitu died at that time they say also that his Death was occasioned by grief for seeing himself in an unhappy condition devested of the greatest part of his Dominion and unable to defend the remainder and not daring to trust or confide in the Clemency of the Inca whom he believed he had provoked to that degree as never to obtain his pardon he died with the pressure of his great troubles and afflictions he being dead his Captains presently yielded themselves to the mercy of Huayna Capac who received them with obliging terms commanding them to be vested with Garments of the finest sort and presented them with other gifts which were most in esteem amongst the Indians treating also the more common sort of people with great kindness and friendship In short he performed all the generous Actions he was able to them to render his Clemency the more apparent and perspicuous to that stupid Nation And to oblige all that whole Countrey in general so soon as the War was ended he not onely made them Aqueducts to refresh and make fruitfull their Soil but also built a Temple there for the Sun and a House for the Select Virgins adorned with Riches and other Embellishments agreeable to the quality of those Edifices In performance of which those Indians had great advantage for their Countrey yielded much Gold which they had digged for the service of their own King and much more afterwards for the use of the Prince Huayna Capac because they found that they very much gratified his humour by Presents of that Metal his affection and covetousness of which transported him to such extremities of Oppression as were never before practised by Incan Kings which was the cause of the ruine of their Empire and occasion of all that misery which afterwards extinguished this Royal Family Huayna Capac leaving Quitu proceeded to another Province called Quillacenca which signifies a Nose of Iron because they boared the Bridge which passes between the Nostrils to hang a Jewel or a piece of Gold or Silver which reached to their Lips the Inca found these to be a sordid vile people almost all naked and full of Lice they had no Religion amongst them for they worshipped nothing unless it were the Flesh of some Animal of which they were so ravenous that wheresoever they found any carrion flesh of Horse or Mare or any thing else corrupted and stinking they would eat and devour it with the greatest pleasure and appetite in the World So that it is very probable that such a sort of Beasts as these were easily subdued and reduced to obedience From hence the Inca marched to another Nation called Pastu as vile and sordid as the former differing onely from them in this that they would by no means be persuaded to eat Flesh saying That they were not Dogs These being easily reduced to the obedience of the Inca Instructors were appointed for them to teach them the manner of living after the rational manner imposing on them the Tribute of Lice that so they might keep themselves clean and in health From Pastu they proceeded to another Province called Otavallu the Inhabitants whereof were much more Political and Warlike than the others These having made some little resistence against the Inca did soon yield finding that they were not able to defend themselves against that Potent Prince And having here made due provision to secure the Countrey the Inca proceeded to another Province called Caranque the people of which were most barbarous in their life and manners they adored Tygers and Lions and great Serpents offering the hearts and bloud of Men in their Sacrifices Making War upon their Neighbours onely for the sake of War and Enemies that they might have such as they might kill and eat At first they made great opposition against the Inca but being repulsed
manner seizing on the Inca and on all the Indian Men and Women who were in Company with him amongst which was his Wife two Sons and a Daughter returned with them in Triumph to Cozco to which place the Vice-King went so soon as he was informed of the imprisonment of this poor Prince CHAP. XVII Process is made and an Endictment drawn up against the Prince and against the Incas his Kindred of the Blood Royal As also against the Sons of Spaniards born of Indian Women though their Fathers had been the Conquerours of that Empire SO soon as they saw that the Prince was taken the Attorney General was ordered to draw up a Charge against him which was done according to the Articles before mentioned accusing him to have appointed and ordered his Servants and Vassals to infest the Roads and rob the Spanish Merchants as they passed upon their Lawful occasions declaring all those his Enemies who had made any League or Contract with the Incas his Ancestors or who lived or inhabited amongst the Spaniards And that at such a time and upon such a day he had entered into an agreement with the Caciques who were made Lords of Mannors and Commanders of Indians by Ancient Grants from his Ancestors to rise in Arms against the Spaniards and to kill as many of them as they were able In like manner an Accusation was brought against those who were born in that Country of Indian Mothers and Fathers who were Spaniards and Conquerours of that Empire Alledging against them that they had secretly agreed with the Prince Tupac Amaru and other Incas to make an Insurrection in the Kingdom Being moved thereunto out of a discontent that they who had been born of the Royal Blood of the Incas whose Mothers had been Daughters or Nieces or Cousin-Germans to the Incan Family and whose Fathers were Spaniards and of the first Conquerours who had gained great Fame and Reputation were yet so little considered that neither on score of the Natural Right of the Mother nor of the high Desert and Merit of the Father any thing was bestowed upon them but all was conferred on the Kindred and Rel â—lous of the present Governours whilst they were suffered to starve unless they would live on the Alms of Charitable people or Rob on the High-Way and so come to the Gallows Moreover it was charged upon the Prince That he had not discountenanced such persons as these but had received them into his Service upon promise that they would joyn with him and dye in the defence of his Cause All which being alledged in that Accusation which was drawn up against the Sons of Spaniards born of Indian Women they were all apprehended and as many of them as were of twenty years of Age and upwards being capable to bear Arms then residing in Cozco were clapped into Prison Some of them had the Question put to them under the Torment to extort a Confession from them of that for which they had no Proof or Evidence before Amidst this Mad rage and Tyrannical proceedings by Imprisonment and Torture an Indian Woman whose Son was condemned to the Question upon the Rack came to the Prison and with a loud Voice cryed out Son since thou art sentenced to the Torment suffer it bravely like a Man of Honour accuse no Man falsely and God will enable thee to bear it and reward thee for the Hazards and Labours which thy Father and his Companions have sustained to make this Country Christian and engraft the Natives thereof into the Bosom of the Church You brave Sons of the Conquerours how excellently have your Fathers been rewarded for gaining this Country when a Halter is the only Recompence and Inheritance purchased for their Childrenâ— These and many other things she uttered with a loud Voice exclaiming like a mad Woman about the Streets and calling God and the World to examine the Cause and judge those Innocents And if the Fate of them be determined said she and that they must dye let them also kill the Mothers who had the Sin upon them to bring them forth and who were so culpable as to deny their own Country and Relations for the sake of those Conquerours and joined with them in the Design of making this Empire subject to the Spaniards But the Pachacamac or the great God hath brought all these things justly upon the Mothers who for the sake of the Spaniards could so easily renounce their Inca their Caciques and Superiors And since she had passed this Sentence upon her self and in behalf of all the other Women in the same State and Condition with her and had pronounced them all guilty she desired that she might be the first to suffer and lead the way of Death and punishment to all the rest which if they were pleased to grant unto her God would reward this good work to them both in this and in the other World. These passionate expressions uttered with all the Violence her force would admit worked greatly upon the Mind of the Vice-King and diverted him from his intention to put them to death howsoever they were not acquitted hereby but procured for them a more lingring sort of Death which was Banishment into divers remote Parts of the New World unknown to their Fore-fathers So some of them were sent into the Kingdom of Chile and amongst the rest a Son of Pedro del Barco of whom I formely made mention to have been my School-Fellow and under the Guardianship of my Father Others of them were sent to the new Kingdom of Granada and to divers Isles of Barlovento and to Panama and Nicaragua Some of them also were sent into Spain and amongst them was John Arias Maldonado the Son of Diego Maldonado the Rich who remained under Banishment in Spain for the space of ten Years where I saw him and entertained him twice in my Lodging at a certain Village within the BiBishoprick of Cordona where I then lived and where he related to me many of those things which are here recounted After so long a time he obtained leave from the Supream Council of the Indies to return to Peru and had three years given him to dispatch his Business there and remit his effects into Spain where he was afterwards obliged to live and finish his days Being on his departure he with his Wife whom he had married at Madrid passed by the place where I lived and desired me to help him to some Furniture for his House for that he returned to his own Country poor and in want of all things I presently gave him all the Linnen I had with some pieces of Taffaty which I had made up after the Souldiers fashion intending them for Colours or Ensigns for a Foot Company The year before I had sent him to the Court a very good Horse which he desired of me which together with the other things I gave him might be worth 500 Ducats which he took so kindly that he said to me
was the Great Tupac Yupanqui who was great Grandson to Viracocha The third was Huayna Capac the Son of Tupac Yupanqui and Grandson of the Fourth Generation to Viracocha the two last were Men with gray Hairs yet did not seem so aged as Voracocha One of the Women was said to be the Body of the Queen Mama Runtu Wife of Viracocha the other of Coya Mama Occlo Mother of Huayna Capac and it is probable that they might be Husband and Wife considering that the Bodies were laid and found so close together and what is more strange these Bodies were more entire than the Mummies wanting neither Hair on the Head nor Eye-brows and even the very Eye-lashes were visible They were clothed with the same sort of Garments which they wore in their Life time the List or Wreath appeared about their Heads which was all the Badg or Ornament they shewed of their Royal Dignity The posture they were in was sitting after the manner of the Indians their Hands crossed on their Breasts with the right hand upon the left their Eyes cast downwards looking towards the Earth Acosta it seems had seen one of these Bodies of which discoursing in the 21st Chap. of his 6th Book saith That it was so well conserved by a certain sort of bituminous matter with which they embalmed it that it seemed to be alive the Eyes were so well counterfeited by a mixture of Gold that they seemed lively and natural I must confess that my want of Curiosity did not move me to make so narrow a scrutiny into this matter as I should have done had I believed that I should have had occasion to write of them for then I should not onely have viewed and considered the Bodies themselves more exactly but also have made enquiry of the Natives concerning the manner and receipt of this way of embalming which perhaps they might rather have imparted to me who am a Native and one of their Relations than to the Spaniards who are Strangers and Aliens to them unless perhaps the Art and Secret is lost amongst them as many other things are of the like nature For my part I could not discover any thing of this bituminous matter of which Acosta speaks though certainly there must have been some excellent Secret without which it was impossible to have conserved Bodies with their Flesh so plump and full as these were This Acosta treating farther of these Bodies in the 6th Chapter of his 5th Book hath these Words which follow In the first place saith he they had an Art to conserve the Bodies of their Kings and Great Men without stinking or corruption for the space of above two hundred Years in which manner the Bodies of the Inca-Kings were found at Cozco erected in their Chapels and Oratories where they were adored which the Marquess of Cannete when he was Vice-roy of the Indies caused to be removed from thence that he might abolish the Idolatrous Worship which they performed towards them and transported three or four of them to a place called the King's Town which appeared very strange and stupendious to the Spaniards to see Bodies after so many years so firm and sound as they were These are the Words of Acosta from whence I observe that these Bodies had been removed to the King's Town almost twenty years before he had a sight of them which being a hot and moist Air was more apt to taint and corrupt Flesh than the cold and dry Air of Cozco and yet notwithstanding he saith That twenty Years after their removal they were still firm and uncorrupt as formerly and appeared with such Life that they wanted onely Speech to make them seem to be living I am of opinion that the way to conserve Bodies is after they are dead to carry them to the Mountains of Snow where being well dried and congealed by the cold and all humours consumed and digested then afterwards to apply that bituminous matter which may plump up the Flesh and render it full and solid as the Living But I onely adventure on this conjecture from what I have seen the Indians doe when they have carried a piece of raw Flesh into the cold Mountains where after it hath been well dried by the Frost they have kept it as long as they pleased without salt or any other preservative and this was the manner which the Incas used for drying and keeping all the flesh Provisions which they carried for Food to maintain their Army I remember that I once touched a finger of Huayna Capac which seemed to me like a stick of wood and so light were these Bodies that an Indian could easily carry one of them in his Armes or on his Shoulders to the Houses of Spanish Gentlemen who desired to see them When they carried them through the Streets they covered them with white Linen and the Indians falling down on their knees before them sighed and wept shewing them all the reverence imaginable and some of the Spaniards also would take off their Caps and uncover their Heads to them as they passed in testimony of the respect they bore to the Bodies of Kings with which the Indians were so pleased and overjoyed that they knew not in what manner to express their thankfulness to them This is all that we have been able to deliver concerning the Actions of Viracocha in particular the other Monuments and Sayings of this famous King are lost for want of Letters and Learning to record them to posterity and have incurred the Fate of many famous Men whose glorious Exploits and Deeds have been buried in the Graves with them Onely Blas Valera reports one memorable Saying of this Viracocha which being often repeated by him was observed by three Incas who kept it in remembrance as also the Sayings of some other Kings which we shall hereafter specifie That which this Inca delivered had reference to the education of Children of which he was made the more sensible by that Severity and Disfavour with which he was treated by his Father in the time of his Minority his Saying was this That Parents are oftentimes the cause of ruine to their Children when either they educate them with such fondness that they never cross them in their Wills or desires but suffer them to act and doe whatsoever they please whereby they become so corrupt in the manners of their infancy that Vice grows ripe with them at the Years of Manhood Others on the contrary are so severe and cruel to their Children that they break the tenderness of their Spirits and affright them from learning discouraging them in that manner by menaces and lectures of a supercilious Pedant that their Wits are abased and despair of attaining to knowledge and vertue The way is to keep an indifferent mean between both by which Youth becomes valiant and hardy in War and wise and political in the time of Peace With which Blas Valera concludes the Reign of this Inca Viracocha Royal Commentaries BOOK VI. CHAP. I.
thus employed in reducing and instructing the Provinces before mentioned other Nations which are seated to the Westward of these bordering on the Confines of that Province which the Spaniards call Puerto Viejo or the Old Port sent their Ambassadours to the Inca with Presents beseeching him to receive them for his Subjects and Vassals and that he would be pleased to send them Captains and Teachers who might instruct them in the way of living in Societies and how to manure their Lands that they might live like Men and not like Beasts promising for themselves all loyalty and faithfulness Those that made the first motion to send this Embassy were of the Nation of Huancavillca The Inca gratiously received their Address commanding that satisfaction should be given them in all their desires and so Teachers were sent to instruct them in Religion and in the Laws and good Customs of the Inca Enginiers were also sent them to make Aqueducts and manure their Fields and reduce them into Societies But afterwards the ingratitude of this people was such that contemning the favours and promises which the Inca had made them they arose up against his people and barbarously murthered them all As Pedro de Cieça in his Observations reports which because it serves to confirm the particulars we have often repeated in this History touching the gentleness and good-nature of the Incas who were always ready to teach and instruct the Indians who submitted to their Dominion we have here inserted the Words of de Cieça that so what we have said concerning the Incas may also be confirmed by the authority of the Spanish Writers His Words are these which follow To return then to our purpose I say that I have heard from Old Indians who were Chiefs in the time of the Great Topa Inga Yupanque that some of his Captains with certain Troops which they had drawn out from those Garrisons which he maintained in divers Provinces of his Kingdom had by divers ways of management reduced much people to the friendship and service of the Inca the principal sort of which went with their Presents to the Province of Paltas to pay their respects of reverence and duty to the Inca who courteously received them with all affection bestowing on several of them rich pieces of Woollen made at Cozco And whereas the occasions of the Inca required his return to his principal Provinces where he was so much esteemed that they styled him Father and honoured him with Titles of Supreme Eminence And such was his affable disposition towards all that his Fame was great and his Memory perpetual But in regard the occasions of his Kingdom were so pressing that he could not stay and in Person visit those Indians he committed the care of that Government to certain Officers who were Natives of Cozco and whose charge it was to instruct them in the manner of living that they might become rational Creatures and live with some form and rule But these did not onely shut their Ears to necessary instructions and disdain the Orders which the Officers of Topa Inga prescribed for their living under Laws in good society and using laudable customs and ways to live such as Manuring their Lands and other matters which contribute to the happiness of of life But in return for such benefits which they ill understood they killed their Instructors not suffering one of them to live and escape and this villany they acted without any provocation or any oppression whereby they might deserve ill from them It is said that when the Inga Topa heard of this Massacre temporizing with the present state of his affairs he dissembled the matter not having opportunity at that time to revenge the Death of those Captains and Subjects Thus far are the Words of Pedro de Cieça with which he concludes his Chapter To which we add that the Inca having finished the Conquest of those Provinces returned again to Cozco to take some repose and divertisement after his great labours and cares in War. CHAP. VII The Inca conquers Quitu and sends to his Son the Prince Huayna Capac to come to him THE Inca Tupac after some few years of ease and peace re-assumed again the thoughts of War resolving to turn his Arms against the Kingdom of Quitu being a Countrey great and famous of 70 Leagues in length and 30 in breadth the Soil fruitfull and capable by good Husbandry of great improvement and benefit to the Inhabitants Wherefore providing an Army of forty thousand strong he marched to Tumipampa which borders on the Confines of that Kingdom sending thence the usual Summons to the King of Quitu who styled himself after the Name of his Countrey This Prince was of a barbarous and rude nature and consequently fierce and cholerick feared by his Neighbours for the great Power and Dominion he had over them Wherefore relying on his own force he confidently answered that he was Lord and Sovereign himself and would acknowledge no other nor receive Foreign Laws but gave such as he thought fit to his own Vassals nor would he forsake the Gods of his Ancestors which were wild beasts and great trees such as afforded them flesh and wood and other benefits necessary for the support of life The Inca having received this answer would not immediately break into Acts of Hostility endeavouring for awhile to try the effects of gentle allurements and moderate terms according to the rule and maxime of his Ancestors But this kind usage operated little on the affections of the people of Quitu who grew more proud and insolent by the condescentions of the Inca which was the cause that when the War broke out it continued many months and years during which time many Skirmishes and Battels happened with great slaughter and damage on both sides Tupac Inca Yupanqui perceiving that this War was likely to continue long sent for his Eldest Son and Heir the Prince Huayna Capac that so he might exercise and practise him in the War commanding him to bring a recruit of twelve thousand Men with him his Mother was called Mama Occlo Sister of his Father according to the custome of those Kings who always took the Eldest Sisters for their Wives The Spanish Historians say that Huayna Capac in the vulgar Language of that Family signifies a Rich Youth But it is certain that those Indians in giving their Names and Sirnames to their Kings observed as we have said other Elegancies and Phrases in Speech different from the common Language having ever some respect to those symptoms and appearances of Vertue which they observed eminent and hopefull in their Princes adding other August Titles agreeable to the Prowess and Illustrious Actions performed in their Manhood And so because this Prince demonstrated in his Youth clear evidences of a Royal and Magnanimous Soul they gave him the Name of Huayna Capac which signifies as much as a Youthfull Spirit invigorated with inclination to heroick and illustrious Atchievements For when they gave
the Court of Spain their Services were despised and vilified and that they were esteemed rather for Slaves than for Souldiers and Adventurers who deserved the Countrey and Riches they had Atchieved by their Industry and Valour But to appease them Francisco Piçarro told them that what they had gained by their Bravery and Virtue they deserved to enjoy and that they merited the same Franchises and Dignities as those who assisted the King Don Pelayo and his Successours to recover Spain out of the hands of the Moors and therefore he told his Brother that he was to seek and contrive some other expedient to satisfie the promise he had made to the Emperour for that none of them would willingly refund nor would he force any person to relinquish his right Then Hernando demanded so much per cent out of the Gold which was melted down by which he incurred the great displeasure and hatred of the people but that not being granted he went to Cozco and endeavoured to gain the good will of Mango Inca that by his favour he might procure a considerable quantity of Gold for the Emperour whose Coffers were greatly exhausted by the expence of his Coronation and by his Wars against the Turk before Vienna and by his Expedition against Tunis Thus far are the Words of Gomara with which he concludes that Chapter But we say that the Marquis sent his Brother to Cozco with Commission to be Governour there in his stead and with Instructions to be carefull to secure the Inca whilst he himself remained at los Reyes to people and increase that Plantation CHAP. XXIII The Means which Prince Manco Inca practised in order to his Restauration unto the Empire THE Prince Manco Inca being now a Prisoner in that Fortress which his Ancestours had built for ostentation of their Glory and as a Trophy of their Greatness little imagining that it should ever become a Prison for any of those descended from them did by his prudence and patience of mind endeavour to sweeten the bitterness of his Prison by caressing and treating the Spaniards both Commanders and Inferiours with gifts and presents not onely of Fruit Birds Flesh and other Provisions but likewise with Gold and Silver Emeralds and Torquoises And moreover his communication with them was so affable and obliging and with signs of so little regret and discontent for his Imprisonment that the Officers being well assured that he would not endeavour an escape gave him the liberty to walk freely within the Precincts of the Fortress During which time the Inca received intelligence that Hernando Piçarro was upon his Journey to Cozco to be Commander in Chief in that City upon which advice he made more urgent instances that he might have the liberty to live in one of his Houses within the City the which he easily obtained for he was so much in favour with the Spaniards that they refused him nothing of what he desired And this request the Inca more earnestly pressed at that time that Hernando at his coming might not find him a Prisoner and under that notion suspect him and cause him to pay his ransome and not give him credit or belief in any thing that he should promise In which particular we shall quote the testimony of Gomara and Carate who relate the matter almost in the same words Carate in the third Chapter of his third Book saith as follows Hernando Piçarro being arrived at Cozco made great Courtship to the Inca and though he treated him very kindly yet he always had an eye upon him We may believe that this extraordinary kindness was to introduce and usher in the Request he had to make him for some Gold both for the Emperour and himself Two Months after that Hernando arrived at Cozco the Inca desired leave of him that he might go into the Countrey of Jucaya where a certain Festival was celebrated whence he promised to bring him a Statue of Massy Gold which was made in representation of his Father Guaynacava and being on his Journey thither he then completed that which he had meditated ever since the departure of Almagro from Chili Thus far are the Words of Carate It is certain that the Inca did ask and obtain leave to go unto Yucaya which as we have formerly mentioned was the Garden of those Kings and about a League from thence near the River side was the place of their Sepulchres called Tampu where their Bowels were buried when taken out in order to embalm their Bodies and it is probable that the Statue of Gold which was to represent his Father might be placed there The Inca being at Yucaya on pretence of celebrating this Feast he summoned together some old Captains which remained of those belonging to his Father and others of principal note and at a full Assembly complained of the treachery and persidiousness of the Spaniards for not complying with the Articles and Capitulations which they had agreed and contracted with his Brother Titu Atauchi likewise of his Imprisonment under Irons and of the absence of the Captain-General who had twice when he was upon his departure promised to restore him to his Empire and had failed entertaining him onely with vain hopes and delusions Moreover he affirmed that though he was from the beginning sensible of the false and persidious intentions of the Spaniards yet he was willing to temporize and dissemble with them that so he might justifie himself before God and his people that he had been in no manner accessory to the breach of that peace which had been agreed between the Incas and the Spaniards that he well observed how the Spaniards divided the Lands of the Countrey amongst themselves both in Cozco Rimac and Tumpiz whereby it plainly appeared that they had no intention to restore unto him the Empire and that if he had dissembled compliance and contentment in all things towards the Spaniards it was with design to secure his own Person which without any occasion or offence they had imprisoned and cast into Irons Wherefore as loyal Subjects and faithfull Vassals he conjured them to give counsel to him their Prince in an enterprise of such grand importance for that his design was to vindicate his Right to the Empire by force of Arms hoping that neither the Pachacamac nor his Father the Sun would desert him in defence of his righteous cause For answer whereunto the Captains and Curacas made choice of one of the most Ancient amongst them to be Speaker and deliver the common Sentiments of them all thereupon who having first made his due Obeisance unto the Inca discoursed in this manner It never was Sir the Advice of your Council nor esteemed by them either secure or decent that your Majesty should commit your Person into the hands of Strangers or trust unto them for restitution of your Empire Howsoever they were willing to comply and concur with your Majesty's humour which they found inclining to the maintenance of that peace and concord
found guilty and condemned to dye during the time of which Trial the Indians having erected a Gallows for him he was brought forth to punishment and the Indians having in their own Language proclaimed his Crime were the Executioners also to hang him up which was a piece of Justice applauded by all who saw and heard of it But to return again to our History The Indians did not execute the design they had agreed which was to kill all the Spaniards after the Battel which they imagined might have been done after they were weakned by the common slaughter For God who intended by their means to propagate the Holy Gospel in those parts prevented that intention by dissention amongst the Indians themselves for that the Indians who were the Menial and Domestick Servants of the Spaniards being affected with a natural Loyalty to their Masters would not consent to the Massacre of them but rather judged themselves obliged to desend and fight for them for the remembrance of what was encharged them by Huayna Capac and Manco Inca occurred still to their mind by which they believed that an obligation lay on them to serve and obey the Spaniards Thus did the division between the Indian Servants and the others prevent the execution of their design from which also little success could have been expected considering that they had no Head or General to conduct them And if they had had one yet as Histories say the Indians who were on the side of the Conquerours would not well have accorded with those who were vanquished This Battel happened on the 6th of April 1538 which being on a Saturday which was the day after the Feast of Lazarus the Spaniards conceived a particular devotion for that Saint and in remembrance thereof built and dedicated a Church to him in those Plains where this Battel was fought and which was standing when I departed from thence Within this Church the Bodies of all those who were slain both of one side and the other were interred And though some alledge that the Battel happened on the 26th of April I cannot but believe that it was an Errour of the Printer who instead of 6 put down 26. Blas Valera describing the Grandure of the City of Cozco touches some particulars relating to this Battel and says That in those Plains there is a Church dedicated to St. Lazarus where for a long time lay interred the Bodies of those who were slain in that Fight Afterwards a Spaniard who was one of the Conquerours a Person both Noble and Religious was accustomed to resort frequently thither to pray for the Souls of those who were interred in that place And having continued this devotion for a long time at length he happened to hear sighs and deep groans from the Vaults of the Church and therewith appeared before him the Person of one of his friends which had been there slain but he said nothing more to him than onely to intreat him that he would continue his visits to that Church frequently at certain Hours both by Day and Night At first the Spaniard was possessed with great fear at the sight of this Apparition but at length being accustomed thereunto and encouraged by Admonitions and Directions from Father Andrew Lopez who was a Jesuit and his Confessour he continued his Devotions of Prayer not onely for his friend but for all those who were there buried without any concernment or distraction of mind exhorting likewise others to join with him both in their Prayers and Alms. And afterwards by the advice and example of this Person the Mestizos who were the Sons of Spaniards begotten on the Bodies of Indian Women did in the year 1581 transport the Bones of their Fathers from that place to the City of Cozco where they buried them in an Hospital and caused many Masses Alms and other pious Works to be celebrated and performed for them to which all the City concurring with a general Alacrity from that time forward the Vision ceased to appear Thus far are the Words of Blas Valera And now to complete the sum of all these Cruelties after this unhappy Battel there remains nothing more to be related than onely the Tragedy of Don Diego de Almagro himself the consequence of which was the total destruction of both the Governours with their Confidents and Abettours in which calamity the common Welfare of Peru was involved In which Relation both the Historians unanimously agree that is to say Carate in the 12th Chapter of his third Book and Gomara in Chapter 142 have these Words which are extracted verbatim in such manner as we have recited them in the following Chapter CHAP. XXXIX Of the Tragical Death of Don Diego de Almagro THis Victory being obtained and Almagro taken one side was enriched and the other impoverished which is the natural consequence of a Civil War waged between Citizens and Relations in Bloud and Consanguinity Fernando Piçarro immediately took possession of Cozco though not without much discontent and murmurings of the people for though he shared the spoils amongst them yet there not being sufficient to satisfie the expectations of every person Mutinies were feared to prevent which the Souldiers were employed on new Conquests and to make things more safe the friends of Almagro were joyned to the others without distinction And to take away farther cause or occasion of Faction and Mutiny Don Diego de Almagro Junior was sent a Prisoner to the City of los Reyes as to Almagro himself Process was made against him and a report was published that he together with his Son was to be sent Prisoner to los Reyes and thence into Spain But whereas it was commonly talked that Mesa and others intended to rescue him on the way which was a mere pretence to cloak the severity of their proceedings they sentenced him to Death The crimes laid to his charge were that he had entred Cozco by force of Arms that he had caused the effusion of much Spanish Bloud that he had entred into a secret Treaty with Mango Ynga against the Spaniards that he had given and prescribed Limits for Government and Jurisdiction without licence from the Emperour that he had broken all his Articles and Oaths that contrary to the Peace of their Sovereign Lord the King he had fought two Battels one at Abancay and the other at Salinas besides divers other Misdemeanours committed by him of lesser moment Almagro grievously resented the severity of this sentence and made such sad lamentations thereupon as were sufficient to draw Tears from the most obdurate heart And though he made his Appeal to the Emperour yet Fernando notwithstanding the importunities of many persons who earnestly urged him thereunto refused to admit of his Appeal All which not prevailing Almagro himself implored his mercy beseeching him to spare his life in consideration that when he himself was in his power he had not put him to death nor spilt the bloud of his Friends or Relations That he would
Fernandez Palentino adds as follows When news was brought to the Vice-king of these ill Successes he greatly resented them clearly now perceiving that his Affairs went cross and that the affections of the people were tainted with rebellion Howsoever that he might in some manner revenge the disloyalty of Captain Gançalo Diaz who had so ignominiously broken his faith and word with him and since he could not inflict a punishment on his person he caused the Colours or Ensign of his Company to be trailed along through the Market-place in the sight and view of the Captains Souldiers and of all the City and commanded the Serjeants and Ensign of the Company of Gonçalo Diaz and of all the other Companies to run the points of their Lances into his Colours and tear them in pieces in dishonour and to the ignominy of the absent Captain but Gomez Estacio who was Ensign to that Company and other the Associates who were to support the Colours were not a little netled at this Affront as if it had in some manner reflected upon themselves and more particularly Gomez Estacio found himself aggrieved because the Vice-king had commanded him to trail the Colours with his own hand and from that time he became disaffected to the Vice-king and a friend to the Cause and Party of Gonçalo Piçarro And though it be granted that many did approve the action of Gonçalo Diaz and did agree that the dishonour shewed to his Colours was but just and no more than what his infidelity deserved Howsoever they were well enough pleased to see the power of the Vice-king weakened whose ruine and down-fall they desired by the better fortune and success of Gonçalo Piçarro Thus did nothing thrive which the Vice-king acted but all turned to his prejudice of which he was sensible though he strove to conceal his inward trouble and put the best face upon it that he could Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez And now men who were disaffected began to blame the Council which was given to the Vice-king to send Gonçalo Diaz against his Father-in-law and as other Authours say it was much wondered that the Vice-king should be so much overseen as not to consider the inconvenience of engaging the Son-in-law against the Father between whom there had been no quarrel or ground of displeasure And in like manner reflecting on the concernment of Gomez Estacio Ensign of Gonçalo divers were of opinion that it was an Affront given him without any Cause and that it was improperly done to command him who had in no manner been engaged in the Treason of his Captain to be an Executioner of a disgrace which could not be acted without great reflexion on himself Thus did the hatred which men had conceived against the Vice-king turn all the actions he did to a bad interpretation CHAP. XII A Pardon and safe Conduct is given to Gaspar Rodriguez and his Friends His death and of divers others NOW to set forth what these Authours report of Gaspar Rodriguez whom Carate sometimes mentions by the name of Gaspar de Rojas we are to observe that he was a brother of the good Capain Perançures de Campo rotondo who was slain in the battel of Chupas and after his death he came to the inheritance and possession of his Indians which Vaca de Castro bestowed upon him by special Grant. This was the Gentleman who rashly and without consideration seized upon the Cannon which were at Huamanca and carried them to Cozco and was greatly engaged in the designs of Gonçalo Piçarro but observing that many of the principal Citizens who had taken part with Piçarro had relinquished his Cause and fled from him he also resolved to follow their example and revolt to the Vice-king but being conscious of his Crime in carrying away the Cannon he thought it best and most secure to obtain a Pardon for the same both as to life and estate before he trusted himself in the hands of the Vice-king whom he knew to be a man of a morose and severe disposition and one who would not spare him in case he fell into his hands without such a Precaution and to make his access and pardon the more easie by an appearance of some signal service he treated with some friends of his persuading them to pass over to the other party following the example of those other noble Citizens who had lately done the like and with them he so prevailed that they resolved on the point and as a preparation thereunto to demand their Pardon first and to receive a Protection or Letter of safe conduct freely to come and offer their service But whilst these Matters were in agitation Pedro de Puelles as the Authours report arrived very opportunely for had his coming been delayed but three days longer it is the general opinion that all the Army of Gonçalo Piçarro had of themselves been dispersed and disbanded Howsoever these new recruit did not alter and remove the intentions of Gaspar Rodriguez and his Companions from their former purpose in pursuance of which they communicated their design to a certain Priest a Native of Madrid called Baltasar de Loaysa with whom after I was acquainted in Madrid in the year 1563. I cannot say that I knew him before being very young though he knew me very well when I was a child being a friend of my father's and one who had a general acquaintance with all the noble families of that Empire Gaspar de Rodriguez and his friends treated with this Priest who was more fit for a Souldier than a Priest and persuaded him to take a journey in their behalf to Los Reyes and to obtain a Pardon for them with a Letter of Licence for their Security and with that occasion that he should give an account of the number of those who were come lately to join with Piçarro and of those who were gone off and to assure him that the Affairs of Piçarro stood on that uncertain foundation that so soon as he and his accomplices were gone off that all the other Forces of Gonçalo Piçarro would speedily disband With this Message Baltasar de Loaysa privately departed from the Camp of which so soon as Piçarro had notice he immediately sent after him to fetch him back but having taken a by-way out of the common road they missed of him and he got safe to Rimac where the good news he brought made him welcome to the Vice-king for the intention of Gaspar Rodriguez and his Companions was of great importance to him the joy whereof the Vice-king not being able to suppress and esteeming it necessary to be divulged for the encouragement of his people the secret took air and was made publick which being with all expedition wrote back to Gonçalo Piçarro Gaspar Rodriguez was seized with his Companions and were all afterwards put to death Howsoever before that was known Baltasar de Loaysa was dispatched with the Pardon and Letters of safe-conduct which he desired
upon the biggest of their Guns they imprest the word LIBERTIE which was the plausible name they gave for a pretence of their Rebellion These Guns which were made of hallowed and sanctified Metal did never do any service nor was any Man killed thereby as we shall see hereafter Besides this piece of Sacriledge this Lord Lieutenant committed several Robberies and Spoils upon the Estates of those who were fled and of those who were killed at the Battel of Chuquinca and had the reputation of being rich because they were better Husbands and not so prodigal as others who lived in that City and who as it was believed had many Bars of Silver in their possession Alvarado by his Industry and by threats and menaces affrighted the Indians into a discovery of two Pits which Alonso de Mesa had made in the Garden of his House from each of which they drew out sixty Bars of Silver every Bar being of the value of Three hundred Ducats I my self had the fortune to see them taken out for the House of Alonso de Mesa being in the middle of the Street where my Father's House is I went thither at the shout they made upon the discovery of so great a prize Some few days after they took away from the Indians belonging to John de Saavedra an hundred and fifty Sheep of that Countrey laden with three hundred Bars of Silver all of the same size and value with the others And now it was believed that the reason why this John de Saavedra would not fly out of the City the night on which Hernandez began his Rebellion as my Father and others would have perswaded him was to conceal and secure his great quantity of Silver which was the cause he lost both that and his Life with it These two parcels of Silver according to the usual valuation amounted unto a hundred twenty six thousand Castilian Ducats of three hundred seventy five Maravedis to each Ducat And though Palentino saith That Diego Ortiz de Guzman had some share in the loss thereof for my part I must say That I knew nothing of it nor did I ever hear that any other was concerned besides the two before mentioned CHAP. XXI Of the Robbery committed by Antonio Carrillo and of the manner of his Death The successes of Piedrahita at Arequepa the Victory which was obtained by means of the differences which arose there NOr had the Sargeant Major Carrillo been less notorious for his Robberies had his Life continued than were those before named for he sacked and plundered the new Plantation and the other Cities of the District of Collasuyu and in a very few days he plundered the Caciques of that Jurisdiction of the Tribute which they owed to their Masters and of other things which amounted to an incredible sum as Palentino Chap. 49. declares in these words Antonio Carrillo took the Collectors of the Monies belonging to Men who had Estates in that Country with all the Caciques and kept them Prisoners threatning them with Punishment and Death unless they delivered up the Moneys and Tributes belonging to their Masters from whom and from many Pits where Silver was buried in the Monastery of St. Francis and other parts within the City and without they robbed in the space of five days above the value of five hundred thousand pieces of Eight in Gold and Silver besides Wine and other things c. Thus far this Author All which was effected by the Directions and Contrivance of Francisco Bolonam who was well acquainted with all the secret concealments of those things and this Plunder and Robbery had proceeded farther had not the discoverer thereof by the checks of his own Conscience and by the perswasion of John Bazquez Governour of Chucuitu been instrumental to restore all the Plunder back again to the true Proprietors for he and other Comrades of his killed poor Antonio Carrillo with their Swords and Daggers in his own Chamber and reduced the City to the service of his Majesty as formerly it had been And in this manner the unfortunate Carrillo ended his days But the Major General John Piedrahita succeeded better in Arequepa than the Sargeant Major Carrillo had done by reason of the dispute and difference between the Governour of Arequepa and Captain Gomez de Solis whom the Justices had sent thither with Commission to Command in Chief all the Forces which were raised there against Hernandez At which the Governour took great offence esteeming himself a better Souldier and more experienced in the War than Gomez de Solis As Diego Hernandez relates Chap. 51. in these words When Gomez de Solis was departed from his Majesties Camp with his own Commission and another for his Ensign Vicencio de Monte the news of his coming was brought to the City before his arrival which caused many to prepare themselves to go forth and meet him but the Governour Gonçalo de Torre highly resenting to have another set over him declared That the Justices had no power in his Jurisdiction and consequently that Gomez de Solis was not authorized by sufficient warrant nor was any person capable of such Command whilst he was Governour in that City and thus publickly professing his dislike of this matter would not consent that any person should go forth to meet and receive him c. Thus far Diego de Hernandez Whilst these matters were in debate news was brought That John de Piedrahita was marching thither with a hundred and fifty Men of which a hundred were the most expert Musquetiers of any amongst all the Forces of Hernandez with affrightment of which all the Inhabitants ran into the Great Church carrying their Wives and Children and Housholdstuff along with them and fenced it about with a high Wall to hinder the entrance of the Enemy thereinto and at the corner of every Street they placed those few Musquetiers which they had in the Town to fire on the Enemy from the Windows and Loop-holes without being seen by them But in a Country where Civil-wars are there are always Factions and Parties and false Brethren by whose means Piedrahita received information of the Ambush which was laid for him wherefore altering his course he entered by another Street by way of the Bishop's House where he met with a small resistance but nothing considerable In the mean time came a Dominican Frier sent from Piedrahita who assured them That Piedrahita would not break with them but desired to maintain a Friendship and good Correspondence with them leaving the Souldiers of one side and the other free and at their own choice either to serve the King or to joyn with Hernandez as they were guided by their Inclinations only the surplusage of the Arms of which they had no use he desired might be surrendred up into his Hands Gomez de Solis would not accept of these Conditions it seeming an infamous action for him to resign Arms to an Enemy though such as were superfluous howsoever the next day
in his Rebellions are restored to their Estates and Plantations Pedro de Orsua attempts the Conquest of the Amazons His End and Death with many others with him THE Vice-King Don Andres de Hortado seeing those men whom he had banished from Peru for demanding a Reward of their past Services now again returned with Pensions assigned on the Treasure of his Majesty and on the Chest of the three Keys he wondered much at the success not imagining by what interest it could have been procured for them but more strange it seemed to him to hear of the coming of a new Vice-King to succeed him in that Office. This change of Fortune caused him to change his Humour and convert much of that haughty and severe Spirit which was natural to him into a Gentleness and Lenity more becoming the Office of a great Minister and in this good temper he continued to the end of his life which was so extraordinary that those who observed it would say That if he had begun as he ended he would have proved the most admirable Governour that ever had been in the World. Thus when the Kingdom observed this great change in the Vice-King the Country in peace and quietness and the rigour of the Justices converted into an affable and complying Humour those who had been lately oppressed by the heavy Hand of Justice assumed the courage to demand satisfaction for the evils and damages they had sustained Accordingly the Sons and Heirs of those Citizens who had been executed for being engaged in the Rebellion of Hernandez made claims of their Estates laying before the Justices the Instruments of Pardon which had been given to their Fathers and so followed the suit that after several hearings and reviews of their Cause they obtained Sentence to have their Lands and Commands over Indians restored to them together with all other Consiscations of their Estates and thus did they obtain a restitution of their Indians which the Vice-King had divided and conferred on other Spaniards to increase and better their Estates At all which the Vice-King was in great trouble and perplexity For not only did he suffer the affront to have his own Orders repealed but also lay under an obligation of making satisfaction to those who were dispossessed by some other returns or equivalents to be made them All that hath been said in this matter I saw my self transacted in Cozco and the like passed in other Cities where the same rigour of Justice had been put in practice as namely in Huamanca Arequepa the Charcas and the New Plantation So soon as it was generally known that the aforesaid Sentence was repealed and that the Heirs were restored again to the possession of their Lands the Spaniards took a liberty to report That this course was taken without any order from his Majesty or direction from the Council of the Indies but meerly by the Power and arbitrary Will of the Vice-King intending by such severities to shew his Power and secure himself from all Mutinies and Conspiracies for the future But the Vice-King being now of another Humour and proceeding with that gentleness and good temper which we have before mentioned was pleased to grant unto a certain Gentleman of Worth and Virtue and of an agreeable Person named Pedro de Orsua a License to make a Conquest of the Country of the Amazons which runs along the River Marannon which is the same we have mentioned before where Francisco Orellana deserting Gonçalo Piçarro came into Spain and begged of his Majesty the aforesaid Conquest but he died in the way and never put his Enterprise into Action In pursuance of this Grant Pedro de Orsua went from Cozco to Quita to raise Souldiers who were willing to adventure on new Conquests For in Peru all the Lands were measured out and divided amongst the Antient Conquerours and men of Merit in that Empire He also gathered all the Arms and Provisions he was able to which the Citizens and Inhabitants of those Cities largely contributed by their Bounty and Liberality for so obliging was Pedro de Orsua in his carriage towards every one as engaged their Affections to render him all the Assistances and Services they were able Many Souldiers attended him from Cozco amongst which was one called Don Fernando de Guzman with whom I was acquainted he was lately come from Spain and there was another who had been an old Souldier called Lope de Aguire a fellow of an ill shapen Body and of worse Conditions and Practices as are described in a Book of the Elogies of Worthy and Illustrious persons written by John de Castellanos a Secular Priest who had a Benefice in the City of Tunja in the new Kingdom of Granada These Elogies though written in Verse are yet a true History and wherein he fills six Cantos with the expedition of Pedro de Orsua and how he marched with 500 men well armed and appointed together with a considerable body of Horse He also relates the manner of his death how he was killed by his own Souldiers and his most intimate Friends that they might enjoy a beautiful Lady whom Orsua carried for a Companion with him the which passion of Love hath been the ruin of many brave Captains in the World such as Hannibal and others The principal Actors in this Tragedy were Don Fernando de Guzman Lope de Aguire and Salduendo who were in love with this Lady besides several others whom this Author names who also farther relates That these Traytors set up Don Fernando for their King which Title he was so vain and foolish as to accept though he had no Kingdom to possess nor right to any thing but his own ill Fortune which soon followed him being killed by the same Friends who had promoted him to his Royal Dignity And then Aguire took upon himself the Government which he so well exercised that at several times he killed above 200 men he plundered the Island of Margarita where he committed most detestible Cruelties Thence he passed over to other Isles near adjacent where he was overcome by the Inhabitants but before he would yield himself he killed his own Daughter whom he brought with him for no other reason than that after he was dead she might not be called the Daughter of a Traytor This was the sum of all those Cruelties which indeed were most Diabolical and the beginning and ending of this whole Enterprise which commenced with so much Gallantry and mighty Preparations of which I was in part an Eye-witness CHAP. XV. The Count de Nieva is chosen Vice-King of Peru. He sends a Message to his Predecessor The Death of the Marquis of Cannete as also of the Count de Nieva Don Garcia de Mendoça returns to Spain The Lawyer Castro is appointed Governour of Peru. WHilst these matters were transacting in Peru and that Orsua and his Fellow adventurers with him were defeated upon the great River of the Amazons his Majesty King Philip the Second was mindful
to provide a New Governour for that Empire having in the place of that good Man Don Diego de Azevedo who lately dyed appointed Don Diego de Cunniga and Velasco Count de Nieva to succeed in the Office of Vice-King who dispatched his Affairs with such diligence that he departed from Spain in the Month of January 1560 and arrived in Peru in the Month of April following So soon as he came to Payta which is a Town within that Dominion he dispatched away a Servant of his with a short Letter to the Vice-King Don Andres Hurtado de Mendoça giving him advice of his arrival within the Dominions of Peru with Commission from his Majesty to govern that Country and that therefore he should desist from intermedling further in the Affairs thereof Don Andres Hurtado having received intelligence of the coming of this Messenger gave Orders to have him well received and treated all the Way of his Journey and being come to the City of Los Reyes he had there Honourable Lodgings provided for him with Presents in Jewels and Gold and Silver to the value of six and 7000 pieces of Eight and upwards But the Messenger lost all these upon a Pique and Exception which the Vice-King took at the Title of Lordship which was ordered to be given and not of Excellency the which he so highly resented and suffered the thoughts of being slighted and neglected by his Successor without Reason or Justice so far to run in his head that it strnck him into a deep Melancholly which so prevailed on his Spirits that being a Man of great Years and not able to struggle with the Disease he ended his days before the new Vice-King arrived at Los Reyes who also enjoyed not long the happiness he expected in his Government in which he had not been many Months Seated with the Solemnity used on such occasions before a strange Accident hastened his Death of which he was the Author and brought it upon himself But the manner of it being scandalous to relate we shall leave it as it is and proceed on to other particulars Don Garcia de Mendoça who was Governour of Chile having received intelligence of the death of his Father made such haste to return into Peru and thence to prepare for his Voyage into Spain that many people reported that he hastned away more out of fear of the Araucans than ont of a desire he had to assist at the Funeral of his Father And that with the like precipitation he quitted the Territories of Peru not to be subject to the Dominion of another At length he arrived in Spain where he continued until he returned with a Commission to be Governour of Peru where he imposed that Taxe on the Spaniards and Indians which is paid by them unto this day As to his other ways of gain his Contracts and Commerce we shall pass them all by being not within the compass of this History For my intention being only to write as far as to the Death of the Prince who was lawful Heir of that Empire second Brother of Don Diego Sayri Tupac of whose coming out of the Mountains his Baptism and Death we have already given a Narrative So that now we shall hasten to a conclusion of this History King Philip the Second having received advice of the unfortunate end of the Vice-King Don Diego de Cunniga was pleased to appoint the Lawyer Lope Garçia de Castro who was President of the Royal Council of the Indies to succeed in that Office of whom we have formerly made mention on occasion of the Pretensions which I had in Spain on score of my Father's Merit which he opposed This Lope Garçia de Castro being a Person of great Prudence and of that Talent of Wisdom which was required to Govern that Empire was dispatched suddenly away with Title of President and General Governour of all that Empire that so by his good Conduct those many Confusions might he composed and unhappy Accidents rectified which had been caused by the sudden Deaths of preceding Governours And indeed his Wisdom answered expectation for he governed those Kingdoms with such moderation and gentleness that he lived to return again into Spain in peace and quietness and to be placed in the same Chair of the Council in which he lived with much Honour and afterwards dyed like a good Christian. When my Friends understood that this great Person was returned to his Seat in the Supream Council of the Indies they advised me to renew my Pretensions to the right I had unto my Mother's Estate on score of my Father's Services and Merit For they were of Opinion that Castro having now seen and been acquainted with Peru which my Father had helped to Conquer and in which my Mother's Ancestors had a right of inheritance he might become my Advocate and change his mind in what he formerly argued against me But I having buried and laid aside all my pretensions and lost my hopes could not be perswaded to leave my Cell wherein I live with more Security Honour and Profit and where I have with God's Assistance had leisure to write this History which tho' it prove little to my Honour and Profit yet praised be God for all CHAP. XVI Don Francisco de Toledo is chosen Vice-King of Peru. The Causes which were alledged for prosecution of the Prince Inca Tupac Amaru And the imprisonment of that poor Prince DOn Francisco de Toledo second Son of the Family of Count de Oropeta succeeded Lope Garçia de Castro in the Government of Peru and was elected thereunto for his great Vertue and Christian Piety being so devout a Gentleman that every eight days he received the most Holy Sacrament He was sent to Peru with the Title of Vice-King and received at Los Reyes with the State and Solemnity agreeable thereunto and governed with that Gentleness and Moderation that no man could take occasion either to mutiny or rebel He had scarce been two years in the Government when he resolved to bring out from the Mountains of Villca pampa the Prince Tupac Amaru the Legitimate Heir to that Empire being the Son of Manco Inca and Brother of Don Diego Sayri Tupac of whom we have given a large Relation in this eight Book he was the lawful Heir because his Elder Brother left no Son but a Daughter only of whom we shall speak in due place The intention of the Vice-King in this matter was sincere and real and with no other design than after the Example of his Predecessor Don Andres Hurtado de Mendoça to advance his own Honour and Reputation by an action so generous and heroick as to reduce such a Prince to the Service of his Catholick Mejesty and to civilise him as it were by calling him from the Barbarity of those mountains where he lived like a Fugitive and a Salvage Person To bring this Design about the Vice-King acted according to the former methods and sent Messengers to him inviting him