obeyed laying a Tax or Imposition on the People according to the numbers of those Indians they held and taking them away from others caused them all to be held as of the King. In this manner he passed through Piura and Truxillo proclaiming the new Laws as he went and causing them to be executed without admitting any Petition or Argument thereupon And though the Inhabitants alledged that this method of proceeding was not justifiable without hearing the Objections they had to produce unto the contrary and that the Laws were not to be enforced without knowledge of the Cause or publication of his Power or Commission in a Court of Judicature it being expresly signified by his Majesty that those new Laws were to be published in Court in presence of the Vice-king and four Judges Howsoever the Vice-king unmoved by any reasons or persuasions proceeded resolutely to execute them threatning those who refused to obey them the which struck great terrour and confusion into the minds of the People considering that the Laws were general and comprehensive of all sort of People without any qualification or restriction And herein this Vice-king was so positive that so soon as he was landed on the Coast of Peru he dispatched his Emissaries before him to the City of Los Reyes and to Cozco giving them to understand that he being arrived within those Dominions the whole power and authority as Vice-king devolved upon him and that thereupon the Commission and Command of Vaca de Castro was superseded Some few days before these advices were brought to the City of Los Reyes the whole tenure of the new Regulations dispatched from the King by Blasco Nunnez Vela were made known by the Copies which were dispersed in all places so that the Corporation of Los Reyes dispatched away the Advices thereof to Antonio de Ribera and John Alonso Palomino desiring them to make Vaca de Castro acquainted therewith but he was not ignorant before of all that passed for his Servant in Spain called James de Aller being informed of the new Statutes and Regulations speedily posted with them to his Master in Cozco so that he was informed of every particular before the Vice-king arrived Thus far is reported by the Writings of Fernandez de Palentino and generally all the Historians agree with him in the same Relation CHAP. II. Judge Vaca de Castro goes to the City of Los Reyes and discharges those who went with him upon the way The great noise and disturbance which the Execution of the new Laws occasioned and the mutinous words which the People uttered thereupon THE Governour Vaca de Castro having received information of the approach of the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez Vela and of the tenure of the Laws which he brought with him and that he put them in execution with all the vigour imaginable without hearing any man speak or admitting any Petition to the contrary he thought fit to secure his own interest and party by a due compliance with him in order whereunto he went to the City of Los Reyes there to receive him for Vice-king And though the Corporation of the City of Rimac sent their Emissaries Antonio de Ribera and John Alonso Palamino to him and also others from the City of Cozco and other parts persuading him not to goe in person to the Vice-king but rather to send a Message to him in the name of all the People desiring him to suspend the execution of the new Laws And whereas this Vice-king by reason of his rough and obstinate humour had rendred himself uncapable of Office by not giving ear to the complaints and aggrievances which his Majesty's good Subjects offered to him shewing nothing but fierceness in the execution of matters of the smallest moment they were generally of opinion that he should be rejected and not admitted to the Government and that in case Vaca de Castro would not concurr with them herein they did not doubt but to fix upon another person who should join with them in the opposition which they intended to make By this obstinacy and fierceness of the Vice-king all Peru was put into a flame and the humours of the people into a fermentation there was now no other talk or discourse over all Peru than of the new Laws the contents of which the Messengers of the Vice-king whom he had sent before to take up his quarters had openly divulged in all places and thereunto the rumour of the people as is common in such cases had aggravated the severity thereof the more to provoke and incense the people Hereupon Vaca de Castro prepared himself for his Journey to Los Reyes and being upon his departure from Cozco he was accompanied with a numerous Train of Citizens and Souldiers for being a person well beloved there would not have remained so much as one person in the City if he would have accepted of their attendance and being on his way he was met by Messengers from the Vice-king giving him to understand that his Commission for the Government was now superseded by his arrival in those parts and that he was to receive and acknowledge him for the chief Governour of that Countrey to all which Vaca de Castro chearfully submitted and desisted from exercising the power of his Office but before that time by a Writing under his hand he had bestowed and settled several Plantations of Indians on certain persons who had by their services and sufferings well deserved the favour and reward of his Majesty being such of whose merits he had been an eye-witness or at least had received sufficient Testimonials of their loyalty and good services before he came to the administration of the Government The Messengers which the Vice-king sent before to provide for his entertainment gave a relation in all places in what manner the new Laws were put in practice and how enforced how he had freed the Indians in Panama from their duty and vassalage to the Spaniards against whose will and in despight of whom he had embarked and sent them away to Peru how he had in Tumpiz St. Michael's and Truxillo laid a Tax upon some Lands and freed others and settled them all in Capite to be held of the King according to the rules prescribed by the new Laws without any consideration of difference or distinction of cases but made all things equal without admitting of provisoes or reservations or hearing what any man had to alledge but with an unshaken resolution pretended that so was his Majesty's pleasure The which so much enraged the people who accompanied Vaca de Castro that most of them returned back to Cozco without so much as taking their leave of the Governour pretending that they could not appear before a man so fierce and arbitrary without danger of being by him condemned to the Gallows Howsoever they gave out that when the Auditours and Justices came they would then appear to give in their plea and reasons against such proceedings yet in the
way as they travelled than what was of indifferent things and of the pleasantness and fruitfulness of that Valley When they came to the passage of the River he was met by the Garcidiaz de Arias who was elected Bishop of Quitoo who with the Dean and Chapter of that Church and the rest of the Clergy remained there in expectation of his coming and at their meeting there was much joy and chearfulness And proceeding farther untill he came near to the City he was met by the Jurats and Corporation of the City accompanied with the Citizens and principal Gentry thereof and as all the three Authours do agree in their report the Commissary of the King's Revenue named Yllen Suarez de Carvajal went forth in the head of them all and being the chief of the Corporation did in the name thereof offer an Oath to the Vice-king whereby he was to swear that he would maintain the Privileges Franchises and Immunities which the Conquerours and Inhabitants of Peru had received and did hold of his Majesty and that in the Courts of Justice he would receive their Petitions and give ear to the Reasons they should offer against the new Regulations The Vice-king would swear no otherwise than that he would perform all that which was conducing to the King's service and to the benefit of the Countrey at which many took exceptions and said that he swore with equivocations and what would admit of a double meaning Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez This Oath which the Vice-king took being onely in general terms and which might admit of such a sense as he himself would be pleased to put upon it was occasion of much discontent both to the Clergy and Laity so that all their mirth was dashed and every one turned sad and melancholy saying that nothing could be expected of good from such an Oath which rather administred just cause to fear and suspect that in a short time they should be dispossessed of their Indians and Estates which was a hard case for men of their age who were grown old and infirm by the labours and hardships they had sustained in their youth to gain and conquer that Empire Notwithstanding all which they conducted the Vice-king with great triumph into the City under a Canopy of Cloth of Gold supported by the chief Magistrates of the Town in their Gowns of crimson Sattin lined with white Damask the Bells of the Cathedral Church and of the Convents rang out and all sorts of musical Instruments resounded through the Streets which were adorned with green Boughs and triumphal Arches erected in various works and forms made of Rushes in which as we have said the Indians were very curious But yet so much sadness appeared in their countenances that all the solemnity seemed rather a performance of some Funeral Rites than triumph for receiving a Vice-king all their joy being forced and strained to cover an inward grief which lay heavy upon their spirits In this manner they went in Procession to the great Church where having adored the most holy Sacrament they conducted the Vice-king to the House of Don Francisco Piçarro where he and all his Family was lodged Some few days after which the Vice-king having notice of the great noise and stirs which were making in the Streets by those who were upon their return to Cozco with Vaca de Castro he presently suspected as Carate in the fifteenth Chapter of his third Book reports and with whom other Authours agree that Vaca de Castro had been the cause of all that noise and disturbance for which reason he ordered him to be seised and committed to prison and all his Estate to be sequestred The people of the City though they had no very great kindness for Vaca de Castro yet they petitioned the Vice-king in his behalf desiring him that since Vaca de Castro was one of his Majesty's Council and had been their Governour that he would not be so severe upon him as to commit him to the common Prison since that a person of his Quality though condemned the next day to loose his head might be secured in some decent and convenient Prison whereupon he was sent to the Town-house under bail of an hundred thousand Pieces of Eight in which Sum the Citizens of Lima had engaged for him With such rigorous courses as these the people being much disgusted many of them forsook the City privately departing by few in a company taking their way towards Cozco where the Vice-king had not as yet been received Thus far are the words of Carate the which is confirmed by Diego Fernandez almost in the same words to which he adds that Vaca de Castro remained a Prisoner in the common Gaol his words are these which follow Such as remained behind in the City often met in several Caballs and Counsels lamenting together the misery that was come upon the Land and the Inhabitants of it bidding adieu to all the Riches Liberty and Jurisdiction which they as Conquerours and Lords of Indians had gained and acquired which would be a means to unpeople the Countrey and to cause an abatement of the King's Customs and other parts of his Revenue and therefore they positively averred that it was impossible that the King's Commands could be executed herein or that ever there should be any new discoveries made or Trade and Commerce maintained for the future besides a thousand other inconveniences and damages which they alledged And with this fear and distraction of mind was every man possessed when some of the most principal persons pretending to make a visit to the Vice-king in hopes that he having proved and had some experience of the Constitution of the Countrey might be induced to alter his humour or at least render it more flexible and easie but so soon as any person touched on that string though with the greatest gentleness and submission imaginable he immediately put himself into a passion and by his authority forbade all farther discourse upon that point obviating all objections with the name of the King's pleasure and command which abrupt manner of treaty gave great discontent and excited in the minds of men rancour and malice against his person Some few days after the Vice-kings reception three of the Justices which remained behind with Doctour Carate who lay sick at Truxillo came then to Town upon whose arrival he immediately caused a Court to be called and appointed a place of Judicature to be erected in the House where he himself was lodged being the most convenient for his own accommodation as also because it was the most sumptuous Chamber in all the City He also ordered a stately reception to be made purposely for his Commission under the Great and Royal Seal which was put into a Case covered with Cloth of Gold and carried on a Horse decked with a Foot-cloth and Trappings of Tissue the which was at each end held up by Judges of the City clothed in Gowns of crimson
return again to the Court but retired my self into an obscure corner of solitude and poverty where as I declared in my Preamble to the History of Florida I passed a quiet and a peaceable life as a man loose and disengaged from the World and the mutability without hopes or great expectations and indeed I have no reason for it because the best part of my life is passed already and for the future God will provide as he hath hitherto done Pardon me this impertinent digression to which my troubles and oppressions have transported me for it may well be allowed to me who have wrote the Lives of so many men to relate some few passages of my own misfortunes But to return to what the aforesaid Authours have written concerning my Father I must confess that there is no reason for me to contradict the testimony of three such important Witnesses nor is it reasonable for me to expect that any one should yield entire credence to me who am a party in the case For my own part I am satisfied within my self that I have declared nothing but the truth and let other men judge as they please I am sufficiently contented that the character which they have given of my Father should pass for true and I do much avail and value my self on the honour of being the Son of so courageous resolute and valiant a Souldier as he who in the heat of a Battel so cruel and bloudy as is before repeated durst adventure as Historians write to alight from his Horse and spare him for his friend and amidst of much danger could bear that presence of mind as to help to set him on Horse-back And if this action gave a turn to the fortune of the day and obtained the Victory for Piçarro certainly there have been none or at least few of these examples in the World. These Trophies of Honour atchieved by my Father I gladly assume unto my self for the desire of honour is so natural to all men that even those who have no vertue or worthiness to boast of yet rather than want some little glitterings of imaginary honour will glory in that which is their shame but some may object and say that my Father acted against his Majesty's service To which I make answer that laying that matter aside the Action in it self was brave and merits a due honour and renown But to return to those who fled from the Battel amongst which the Bishop of Cozco was one and he having departed from Centeno without any regard to either side or concerning himself farther with them returned to his Cathedial Church but he was in too much haste to visit it or to make any stay there In company with him were Alonso de Hinojosa John Julio de Hojeda with about fourty other principal Citizens and Souldiers whom I saw in that City but yet cannot remember their Names except those three formerly mentioned The Bishop as I have intimated in another place lodged in my Father's house with about fourteen or fifteen more and next morning early they met in the lesser Square of the City near to the Convent of our Lady of the Merceds and thence they travelled and took the direct way to Los Reyes because they understood that John de la Torre pursued hard after them of whose success we shall speak in the following Chapter CHAP. XXIV The Proceedings of John de la Torre in Cozco and what was acted by other evil Ministers in other parts CAptain John de la Torre pursuing those who were fled from the Battel came to the City of Cozco where he executed his Justice on John Vasquez de Tapia who had been Mayor of the City for the King he likewise hanged his Collegue or Coassessour named Licenciado Martel These men lost their lives for want of due regard to themselves for they resting confident of Centeno's success against Piçarro acted with great zeal in the King 's service-against such as were of the disaffected Party and yet they took these matters into so little consideration that though they saw the Bishop fly away yet they resolved to stay by it and not quit the City untill John de la Torre came who made them pay for their errour and incogitancy with the loss of their lives but as to the common Souldiers he issued a Proclamation of Pardon to all those who would list themselves in his Company Then he gathered all the Arms he could and erected triumphal Arches and prepared all things with magnificence and oftentation for the reception of Piçarro who as he pretended was coming to that City to enjoy the fruits and happy consequences of his Victory And here he leavied money for payment of the Army and sent Officers to all parts round to bring in Provisions for their support Amongst these Pedro de Bustincia who was nobly descended and married to the Lady Beatriz Coya the legitimate Daughter of Huayna Capac was dispatched to the Province of Antahuylla which is a Countrey abounding with all sorts of Provisions on this service this Gentleman was employed as the most proper person because that out of respect to the Lady he had married the Caciques and their Subjects would with all readiness apply themselves and bring in what Provisions he should require but he was very unfortunate in this undertaking for it cost him his life and very inconsiderate to engage himself in danger which he might have excused and avoided As we shall find in the sequel Dionisio de Bovadilla was sent by Piçarro to the City of Plate with Instructions to bring what money he could raise out of Piçarro's own Estate or out of his Brother's together with what Tribute and Rent was due from the Indians to those whose Estates were confiscated for adhering to the King and having hereby raised great sums both of Gold and Silver he returned with all expedition to Gonçalo Piçarro whom he found in Cozco where he was well received for the service he had done in bringing so considerable a supply for payment of the Souldiers Diego de Carvajal surnamed The Gallant was employed to Arequepa with the like Commission but as Palentino Chap. 82. reports he treated many Women of that City very ill because their Husbands were said to be in the service of his Majesty and in confederacy with Diego Centeno plundering them of all they had even to their wearing Garments and it is farther said that he and one of his comrades called Antonio de Viezna ravished two Women who in rage and for shame of the affront took Mercury and poisoned themselves imitating the example of the chast Luoretia who on the like occasion destroyed herself But men from such Outrages as these deserve not the name of Gallant being such abominable Villains as want words to express their Iniquity for he that would be esteemed a Gallant ought not to derive that Title from his Attire or Dress but from his Words and Actions which challenge an esteem and
City which was all built of Timber came forth to encounter him in the way and met John de Bermejo fortified on the side of an Hill where they attacked him with great courage for being angry and ashamed of the late disgracefull usage they fought with the more bravery at the first assault it was not known which party had gained the advantage but at the second the Citizens fighting like desperate men and full of revenge overwhelmed their enemies with their numbers of White and Black men amongst which Bermejo and Salguero were both killed with about eighty more as many more were taken and carried away to the City where being put all together in an open yard the chief Bailiff of the Town whose name we shall not mention came in amongst them with two Negro Servants and with Daggers stabbed them to death whilst with loud out-cries they desired time for Confession Palentino saith that dying without Confession they were buried on the Sea-shore The news of this misfortune was soon brought to the hearing of Hernando de Contreras who upon the advice formerly given by Bermejo was upon his march back to Panama and considering himself now as a lost man and ruined he dismist his Souldiers advising every man to shift for himself and told them that their best way would be to make towards the Sea where his Brother Pedro de Contreras would receive them a-board a Ship and that he himself intended to take that way and so they dispersed every man shifting for himself some few days after which the King's Party going in pursuit of them over Mountains Boggs and wet places they found the Body of Hernando de Contreras drowned in a Morass the Head they cut off and carried it to Panama and though it was very much disfigured yet he was known by his Hat being of a singular fashion and by a Chain of Gold which he usually wore about his Neck His Brother Pedro de Contreras hearing this sad fate with the destruction and ruine of John de Bermejo and all his Companions attempted to make his escape by Sea but the Winds and Waters and all the Elements conspired against him to hinder his Ships from going out of Port wherefore he endeavoured to make his escape in little Boats not knowing where to go or fly in regard all the World was become his Enemy But the Inhabitants of the City armed out other Boats in chace of him with which they recovered their own and took also the Enemy's Ships Another Party appointed to follow those over the Mountains who had taken their way by Land took some of those belonging to Hernando but as to Pedro de Contreras no man knew what became of him though it was generally believed that he was killed by the Indians or devoured by Tygers or other wild Beasts of which there are great numbers in that Countrey for they never received news of him afterwards This was the end and issue of that wicked design of which no better success could be expected having commenced with the Murther of a Bishop and though some men would excuse this fact by laying a blame on the Bishop for his immoderate language whereby they were provoked to the performance of this outrageous Act yet certainly nothing can be alledged in excuse of this heinous and abominable Murther But at length they paid for all as before related CHAP. XIII The President recovers the Treasure he had lost He punishes the Offenders He arrives in Spain where he happily ends his days WHilst Licenciado Gasca was at Nombre de Dios he received news of the arrival of the Contreras and of the Robberies and Piracies they had committed in Panama he was much afflicted to consider that such a strange turn of fortune should be reserved for him at the conclusion of all his affairs and which a certain Authour says was the more surprising in regard it was never imagined nor possibly to be prevented by all the care and diligence that could have been contrived But now to hinder the farther progress of this evil he secured in the best manner he was able the Treasure which he had with him and then with what Forces he had and with the Auxiliaries of the Town he prepared to return to Panama to recover his lost Treasure and punish the Robbers and though he conceived little hopes of success supposing that they had been so wise as to have carried away their prize and provided for their own safety howsoever not to be wanting to his duty or to loose an opportunity as he had never done when offered he marched out of Nombre de Dios with such men and arms as could be provided on a sudden and in the first days journey he received intelligence of the happy success at Panama with the death of John de Bermejo and Salguero and of the flight of Hernando de Contreras over the Mountains and of his Brother by Sea with which the good President being comforted proceeded on his journey with great alacrity rendring thanks to Almighty God as Gomara saith for such a tide and current of happy fortune as would ever be recorded in future ages to his honour and fame c. The President entred into Panama with greater glory and triumph than ever the Emperours and Grandees of the World had done into their Capital Cities for that without arms or men counsel or advice and onely by the favour and air of his happy fortune he confounded his enemies who had given him a cruel and fatal blow had they not been fools and not ruined themselves by their own miscarriages In fine he recovered the Treasure which was lost requiring it from those to whose custody it was committed and thereby received an increase both of the Gold and of the Silver for in regard the Robbers had promiscuously seised on all the Treasure as well that which appertained to the King as to private men the President laid a Sequestration upon all in the name of his Majesty After which license was given to particular persons to make their demands and bring their proofs by assigning the Marks and Numbers which were upon the Bars of Silver and Ingots of Gold for it hath been an ancient custome amongst those who trade for Peru to stamp Marks and Numbers upon the Gold and Silver shipped for their respective accounts whereby in case of shipwreck or any other misfortune every man may know his own and demand it for himself and so those who certified their Marks and made proof that the several parcels demanded belonged to them had their goods restored to them but then such as could not lost their interest which was applied to the service of his Majesty And by this accident the President rather gained than lost for all things turn to the benefit of those who are favoured by fortune The Treasure being recovered the President entred upon examination of those who adventured to possess themselves of the Bars of Silver which Salguero
be trampled upon by those who had no authority over them For that the President Gasca having given him a Commission to make a new Conquest and that they were his Souldiers they knew no other power nor authority but his and that they esteemed themselves free and independent on the Jurisdiction of the Mayor or others And so far did this mutiny proceed that the Souldiers assembled together with their Arms in the house of Francisco Hernandez and on the other side the Mayor and Citizens cryed out to arm upon which the Inhabitants and their Relations with divers Souldiers who were not of the Faction and rich Merchants and others of Quality met in the Market-place with their Arms and drew up in a formed body In like manner the contrary Party drew up in their Captains Street being not far from the Market-place in which posture both sides continued two days and two nights being every moment ready to attack each other which had most certainly happened had not some more moderate men who were sensible of the late ruinous distractions interposed between them and addressed to the Mayor and Hernandez Giron desiring them to enter into a Treaty that things might be brought to a right understanding The chief men employed herein were Diego de Silva Diego de Maldonado the rich Garçilasso de la Vega Vasco de Guevara Antonio de Quinnones John de Berrio Jeronimo de Loaysa Martin de Meneses and Francisco Rodriguez de Villa fuerte who was the first of the thirteen that passed over the Line which Francisco Piçarro drew with the point of his Sword. With these several other Citizens joyned to persuade the Mayor to quiet this disturbance which would prove the destruction of the City and the whole Kingdom The like was alledged to Francisco Hernandez desiring him to consider that thereby he would forfeit the merit of all his former Services that he would destroy his design of Conquest whereby he was to gain honour and make his fortune At length it was agreed that he and the Mayor should meet in the great Church but the Souldiers of Hernandez Giron opposed it unless Hostages were first given for his safe return which was assented unto and four Citizens were delivered for security namely Garçilasso my Master Diego Maldonado Antonio de Quinnones and Diego Silva On these Conditions the two Chiefs met in the great Church where Francisco Hernandez carried himself so insolent and proud that the Mayor had laid hands on him had he not been restrained with the consideration of his friends who remained Hostages in the power of the Souldiers so that suppressing his anger what he could he suffered Francisco Hernandez to return to his House from whence he came again and towards the Evening met on the former Cautions given By which time Hernandez having better considered the unhappy consequences of that mutiny and having consulted with divers friends upon the case he became much more gentle and in a more flexible temper than before and in this good humour they broke up and adjourned until the day following by which time they should be enabled more deliberately to discuss their affairs Being accordingly met the usual forms of Protests and Acts were drawn up and the Preamble was agreed to the following Articles Namely That for the publick peace and quiet of the Land Francisco Hernandez should remove his Souldiers from the Town and should deliver up eight of those who had been the most insolent and mutinous amongst them into the hands of the Mayor of which number were those who had fired upon his Majesty's Troop without any cause or provocation And that he himself should goe in person to the Court of Justice to render an account of this late scandalous Mutiny and Riot This Agreement was solemnly sworn unto by both Parties and drawn up in Writing and the Mayor was to permit Hernandez to depart freely upon his own Paroll and Oath of Fealty to the King. After this Francisco Hernandez returned to his own House where he acquainted his Souldiers with the Agreement he had made but they were not pleased therewith but began to mutiny and if he had not appeased them with good words and promises they had fallen in upon the King's party the consequence of which would have been very destructive to the whole Kingdom for they were two hundred effective men desperate and of no fortunes having nothing to lose and on the other side there were above Eighty persons of Quality who had Lands and Estates and the rest were Merchants of great Riches But God was pleased to divert this fatal Mischief at the Prayers and Vows of religious Friars and secular Priests and devout Women for though the disturbance was more enflamed than before so that Watch and Centinels were set and they were all the night up with Arms in their hands yet in the morning when the Mayor saw that Hernandez had not drawn off his men he sent for him by a Warrant to appear before him But he supposing that his men would not suffer him to goe in case they were acquainted therewith slipt on his morning Gown and as if he intended to goe onely to the next neighbour he went directly to the house of the Mayor who presently took him and committed him to prison the news hereof being brought to his Souldiers they immediately dispersed and every man shifted for himself but the eight men who were impeached took Sanctuary in the Convent of St. Dominick and fortified themselves in the Steeple of the Church where they besieged them for several days but could not take them by reason that the passage was very narrow being built for a Tower in the time of the Inca's howsoever atlength they surrendred and were punished but not with that severe Justice which their rebellious practices did require and the Tower was demolished that it might not be made use of for the future on such like occasions CHAP. XV. John Alonso Palomino and Jeronimo Costilla fly from Cozco Francisco Hernandez Giron presents himself before the High Court of Justice is dismissed and returns to Cozco and he is married in Los Reyes The Relation of another Mutiny which happened in that City THE Souldiers being dispersed and Francis Hernandez Giron imprisoned the Mutiny was suppressed and all things quieted and therefore it was much wondered what should be the reason that moved Alonso Palomino and Jeronimo Costilla who had married two Sisters to escape out of the City the second night after all things were agreed nor do I know what reason Palentino had to say that this happened two years afterwards than which nothing can be more false which I can aver upon my own knowledge having been an eye-witness of what passed at that time in Cozco but true it is that these Gentlemen departed the City at mid-night without any cause or reason known for the fame If they had gone away three or four nights before when the City was in extreme danger some
an hundred of the richest and principal persons of that Countrey and many who had spent six and seven thousand pieces of Eight and other two three and four thousand pieces At the beginning of the Fight Hernandez gave order to his Serjeant Major Antonio Carillo to guard a narrow passage with eight or nine Horse to intercept such as should steal away out of cowardise and fly from the danger In the heat of all the Battel Albertos de Ordunna Standard-bearer General to Hernandez came running to them trailing his Colours on the ground and told them that they must shift for them selves for that their General was killed and their Forces defeated whereupon they all fled and travelled eight or nine leagues that night but the next day receiving intelligence from the Indians that the Marshal was routed and that Hernandez remained Conquerour they returned to their Camp with sufficient shame and reproach for their Cowardise though they pretended to have gone in pursuit of the Marshal's men of which many were fled by those ways and to countenance them herein and not to shame them Hernandez was pleased to own that he had given them Orders to pursue those who had taken their flight by those ways The Victory being thus gained by Francisco Hernandez his Lieutenant-General was desirous at the end of the Fight to shew himself brave and a Man of action though during the Battel he neither acquitted himself like an Officer nor as the meanest or lowest of the Souldiers but now to doe something when the Souldiers brought a Gentleman of Camora prisoner named Romero the Commissary who but four days before had conducted a thousand Indians laden with provisions to the Marshal's Camp as we have formerly mentioned of which when the Lieutenant was informed he sent an Emissary of his whom he used to employ upon such like Messages called Alonso Gonzales with Orders to put him to death before he was brought into the General 's presence well knowing that he would grant him his Pardon in case any intercession was made for him which the bloudy Hangman accordingly executed Then they brought another Prisoner before Hernandez called Pero Hernandez the Loyal having deserved that Surname of distinction for the service duty and fidelity to his Majesty having always been engaged on his side but in the War against Gonçalo Piçarro and also served in quality of a Captain under John Vazquez Coronado a Citizen of Mexico when the seven Cities were discovered as we have given a relation in our History of Florida And now also he was engaged in the Army of the Marshal against Francisco Hernandez he had also the Title of Loyal to distinguish him from other seditious and rebellious Subjects of the same name such as Pero Hernandez who was concerned in the Conspiracy of Musu with Diego de Rojas as we have already related This Pero Hernandez the Loyal as Palentino saith was a Taylor with which Francisco Hernandez reproached him after he had given him his Pardon at the instance and request of Christopher de Funes calling him pitifull rascally Taylor that should dare to rise from his Shopboard to erect a Standard in the name of his Majesty But this report of him was false for I knew him all the time that he was in Peru for he lodged and dieted in my Father's house for before he came into the Indies he had been a domestick Servant in the Illustrious and most Excellent Family of Feria from which by the blessing of God my Father is descended by a younger Son. Wherefore in regard this Pero Hernandez had been a Servant to that Family and a Vassal to those Lords and a Native of Oliva in the Kingdom of Valencia my Father was kind to him and treated him with as much respect as if he had been his own Brother and on the other side this Pero Hernandez behaved himself like an honest worthy person and kept his two Horses one of which he called Paxarillo or Sparrow for the swiftness of his running I knew this Horse very well and I had reason so to doe for with his Horse after the Wars with Hernandez were ended a strange accident full of danger befell me but by the mercifull providence of God I was preserved from death This very man Palentino says was a Taylor but it was a mistake of his and must have been some other man who was a Taylor and that set up a Standard in Cozco against Hernandez and not this Pero for during all the time of this War I remained at Cozco and then in case this Pero Hernandez who lodged in my Father's house had set up any Standard or Colours it could not have passed without my knowledge and therefore in this matter I may rather be credited than this Authour The Youth whom I mentioned in the twenty fifth Chapter of the second Book to have had an Infirmity in his Eyes and that by applying a certain medicinal Herb thereunto I recovered his Sight which was in danger to be lost was the Son of this honest Souldier and was born in my Father's house and now in this year 1611. he lives at Oliva in Valencia his Father's Countrey and is called Martin Loyal whom his Excellency the Duke of Feria and the Right Honourable the Marquis of Villanueva de Barca Rota do employ in their service whensoever they have occasion to buy Horses or breed them up to the Manage for he became an Excellent Horseman in dressing the Genet which was the Horse that gained and conquered our Countrey c. When Pero Hernandez the Loyal received the first Intelligence of the Rebellion of Hernandez Giron he was then in the Antis trading for the Herb called Cuca which with an Herb called Tunu yields a great Revenue to his Majesty And then leaving his employment like a loyal Subject to his King he went to the Marshal's Camp where he remained untill he was taken Prisoner at the Battel of Chuquynca and presented to Francisco Hernandez for a Person of Quality and one eminent for the many Services he had formerly acted in service of his Imperial Majesty for which reason Hernandez gave present order to have him executed and accordingly the Hangman ordering him to kneel down that he might put the Halter more conveniently about his Neck and it happening at the same time that a certain Souldier asking the Executioner some questions which whilst he turned about his Head to answer and was in discourse with the Souldier up rose this Pero and ran with such swiftness that a Horse could not have overtaken him and directly coming to the presence of Hernandez he cast himself at his Feet and embracing both his Legs he most earnestly prayed and begged his mercy this Petition of his was seconded by all then present and particularly Christopher de Funes a Citizen of Huamanca interceded for him saying that the poor Wretch had already tasted of death by the apprehensions he had conceived of it when the Halter was
the Will and Mercy of the Spaniards But finding the Inca resolute and determined to go saying that it was the Command of the Pachacamac and of his Father the Sun the Captains acquiesced and again had their recourse to the good and bad Omens and to consult with Birds and the Sky and the weather and seeing no unlucky appearances they closed with the desires of their Prince and all agreed to go with him to the City of Los Rayes On his Journey thither he was met by the Caciques and all the Indians of the Provinces through which he passed who entertained and feasted him and his Train in the best manner they were able But alas it was all performed with sadness by men who compared the present circumstances with the antient grandure of their Incas The Prince travelled in his Chair not made of Gold like that of his Ancestors but of less rich materials carried by three hundred Indians whom he brought with him and not by those who were subjected to the Spaniards Moreover by the Advice and Counsel of his Captains so soon as he had passed the Confines of his own Dominion he took off the coloured wreath which bound his Head lest that being a Badge and Signal of Soveraignty should give offence to the Spaniards as if he laid claim to the Dominions of which he was deprived In this manner did this Prince travel until he came to the City of Los Reyes where so soon as he was arrived he went to make his Complement and Visit to the Vice-King who as Palentino saith in these words was attending for him at his own House and when he came in he received him kindly and arose up to him and caused him to sit in a Chair equal with his By the Discourses which passed between them the Prince gave all the indications of a wise and prudent person and worthy to be accounted of that Line from whence he was descended Thus far this Author Two days afterwards the Archbishop of the City invited him to Dinner when by direction of the Chief Governours it was ordered That with the Desert or last Course the Archbishop Don Geronimo de Loaysa should deliver to the Prince the Instrument whereby his Pention and Allowance was settled supposing that being reached to him by such a hand it might serve to enhance the estimation of the Present But some who seldom speak well of any man reported that the Archbishop shewed himself officious in this matter in hopes by this Present to gain another from the Inca in Gold and Silver and Emerolds or such like fooleries But the Inca wisely returned a Mathematical demonstration to the Archbishop and the Guests invited thither sufficient to answer their Expectations for after the Cloth was taken away the Usher of the Hall brought the Instrument of Settlement which assigned a maintenance for support of the Inca and his Family in a great Bason of gilded Plate which when the Prince had heard and had understood the Contents thereof he gathered the end of the Carpet in his Hand which covered the Table and which was made of Velvet with a deep Fringe of Silk at the bottom and squeezing the folds hard with his Hand he held it up and said All this Cloth with the Furniture thereof was mine and now they pay me with a thread thereof for support of my self and my whole Family With which the Dinner and Entertainment ending the Archbishop and the Guests who were with him greatly wondered at the aptness of the comparison so well fitted to the present matter CHAP. XI The Prince Sayri Tupac returns to Cozco where he is feasted and entertained by his own People He and his Wife are baptized The name which he took The several Visits which he made in the City THE Prince having remained some days in the City of Los Reyes demanded leave of the Vice-King that he might go to Cozco which was granted to him with many offers of Services and Complements as formerly Being on his Journey he was met in the way and treated by his Indian Subjects as formerly And at his entrance into the City of Huamanca he was met by the Citizens of that place who entertained him Congratulating and Rejoycing with him for having left the Mountains and all accompanied him to the lodging which was provided for him The next day a certain Inhabitant of that City called Michael Astete came to make him a Visit and presented to him the coloured Wreath which he declared he had taken from the King Atabualpa in Cassamarca when he was made Prisoner by the Spaniards and that now he was glad of the occasion to restore it unto him as of right belonging to the Heir of that Empire The Prince outwardly seemed to receive it with many expressions of Thanks and it was said That he paid a good reward for it in Gold and Silver and Jewels But we may believe otherwise and that this Present was displeasing as the Prince often signified in secret and that it was abominable and odious to him for having belonged to Atahualpa For all the Kindred of the Prince were of opinion that the War Rebellion and Tyranny which Atahualpa made upon Huatcar the lawful King had been the cause of ruine and destruction of the whole Empire and for that reason that the Wreath ought to be burned which that Auca or Traytor had worn who had destroyed them and their Posterity This and much more on this Subject our Kindred related to my Mother when they came to Cozco and made her their Visits The Prince having passed Huamanca by easie Journies came at length to Cozco and lodged in the House of his Aunt Donna Beatriz which was on the back side of my Fathers dwelling to which place all those of the Royal Blood both men and women resorted to welcome him to the Imperial City and I my self went in the name of my Father to ask leave that he might personally come and pay his respects to him I found him then playing at a certain game used amongst the Indians of which I have given an account in the first part of these Commentaries I kissed his Hands and delivered my Message he commanded me to sit down and presently they brought two guilded Cups of that Liquor made of Mayz which scarce contained four ounces of Drink he took them both and with his own Hand he gave one of them to me he drank and I pledged him which as we have said is the custom of Civility amongst them This Ceremony being past he asked me Why I did not meet him at Villcapampa I answered him Inca as I am but a Youngman the Governours make no account of me to place me in such Ceremonies as these How replied the Inca I would rather have seen you than all the Friers and Fathers in Town though it were the Father in the Frock or he in the Surplice and tell my Aunt That I kiss her Hands and that she should not come
Barks of Trees and Skins of Beasts ... In short they were altogether savage making use of their Women as they accidentally met understanding no property or single enjoyment of them And now I pray observe me with due attention for I would not be troubled to make repetition of what I have said Our Father the Sun for this is the language of the Incas which is a title of Reverence and Respect which they always adjoin so often as they name the Sun for they avail themselves much of the Honour of being descended from him and his Name is so pretious that it is blasphemy for any and by Law he is to be stoned who dares to take this Name into his mouth who is not an Inca or descended from that Lineage Our Father the Sun said the Inca beholding Men such as before related took compassion of them and sent a Son and a Daughter of his own from Heaven to Earth to instruct our people in the knowledge of Our Father the Sun that so they might worship and adore him and esteem him for their God giving them Laws and Precepts whereunto they might conform their Lives like Men of Reason and Civility that they might live in Houses and Society learn to sow the Land cultivate Trees and Plants feed their Flocks and enjoy them and other Fruits of the Earth as rational Men and not as brute Beasts With these Orders and Instructions Our Father the Sun placed his two Children in the Lake Titicaca which is about eighty Leagues from hence giving them liberty to go and travell which way they pleased and that in what place soever they staid to eat or sleep they should strike a little wedge of Gold into the ground which he had given them being about half a yard long and two fingers thick and where with one stroke this wedge should sink into the Earth there should be the place of their Habitation and the Court unto which all People should resort Lastly he ordered them that when they should have reduced People to these Rules and Obedience that then they should conserve and maintain them with Reason Justice Piety Clemency and Gentleness performing all the good Offices of a pious Father towards those Children which he loves with tenderness and that in imitation of him and by his example who doeth good to all the World affording them light to perform their business and the actions of Life warming them when they are cold making their pastures and their seeds to grow their trees to fructifie and their flocks to increase watering their Lands with dew from above and in its season bestowing chearfull and favourable weather and to manifest his care of all things said I every day take a turn round the World to see and discover the necessities and wants of all things that so as the true Fomenter and Parent of them I may apply my self to their succour and redress Thus after my example and as my Children sent upon the Earth I would have you to imitate me and to instill such Doctrine into this People as may convert them from Beasts unto Men and from henceforth I constitute and ordain you Lords and Princes over this People that by your Instructions Reason and Government they may be conserved Thus Our Father the Sun having declared his pleasure to these his two Children he dispatched them from him and they taking their journey from Titicaca Northward at every place where they came to repose they tryed with their wedge to strike it in the ground but it took no place nor would it enter at length they came to a poor Inn or place to rest in about seven or eight Leagues Southward from this City which to this day is called Pacarec Tampu which is as much as to say the Shining or Enlightned Dormitory This is one of those Colonies which this Prince planted the Inhabitants whereof boast of this Name and Title which our Inca bestowed upon it from whence he and his Queen descended to the Valley of Cozco which was then onely a wild and barren Mountain CHAP. VIII The Foundation of the Imperial City of Cozco THE first stop proceeded the Inca which they made in this Valley was in the Desart called Huanacauti which is to the southward of this City and there they again struck their wedge of Gold into the Earth which received it with great facility and which sucked it in with so much ease that they saw it no more Then said the Inca to his Sister and Wife in this Valley Our Father the Sun hath commanded that we should stay and make our abode and in so doing we shall perform his Pleasure in pursuance whereof it is necessary that we now separate each from the other and take different ways that so we may assemble and draw the People to us in such manner as we may be able to preach and propagate the doctrine amongst them which he hath committed to us Accordingly our first Governours proceeded by divers ways from the Desart of Huanacauti to convocate the People which being the first place of which we had knowledge that they had hallowed by their Feet and from whence they went to doe good unto Men we have deservedly as is manifest erected a Temple wherein to adore and worship our Father the Sun and remember this good and benefit he hath done unto the World. Our Inca the Prince took his way northward and the Princess to the Southward and to all the Men and Women which they met in the wild thickets and uncultivated places they declared to them that their Father the Sun had sent them to be Teachers and Benefactours to those ââhabitants and to draw them from that rude and savage Life and to another method of living more agreeable to Reason and Humane Society and in farther pursuance of the Commands of their Father the Sun they came to gather them from those Mountains and rude places to more convenient Habitations where they might live in Humane Society and to assign them such food as was appropriated to Men and not to Beasts These and such like matters these Princes declared to those savages whom they found in Desarts and Mountains who beholding these two persons cloathed and adorned with such Habit as Our Father the Sun had vested them in and observing that their Ears were bored through for wearing Jewels and more large and open than usual that they might hear and receive the Complaints of the oppressed in which we also are like them who are of their Offspring and Family and that by the gentleness of their words and grace of their Countenance they manifested themselves to be Children of the Sun and such as were employed to assemble People into societies and political ways of living and to administer such sorts of food as were wholsome and appropriated to Humane Sustenance they were struck with such admiration of their figure and Persons and allured with the promises they made them that they gave
Children Afterwards in my riper years I took a more particular notice of their Laws and Policies comparing this new Government of the Spaniards with that of the Incas namely what were esteemed faults and trespasses and what severities and punishments were proportioned to the same they informed me also of the Methods which their Kings used in War and Peace how they treated their Vassals and what services they required from them They instructed me also in their Idolatries Ceremonies and Sacrifices teaching me to distinguish between their more solemn festivals and the ordinary holy-days and how they were to be observed and celebrated they told me also what was esteemed superstitious and of abuse in their Religion what Omens there were of good and bad luck in short there was nothing either relating to their Government or Manners of which they gave me not a distinct Account so that should I describe every matter received from them the particulars would be too large to be contained within the volume of this History Besides what I have heard I have been an Eye-witness for the most part of their Idolatrous Worship Feasts and other superstitious Customs which untill the twelvth or thirteenth year of my age were not wholly abolished amongst them For in regard I was born eight years after the Spaniards became Masters of my Countrey and that as I said I was educated amongst the Indians till I was twenty years old I had opportunity in all that time to observe and be well acquainted with their Customs besides all which so soon as I took a resolution to write this History I acquainted my Schoolfellows such as were taught the art of Grammar of this my intention desiring them to search into the Archives and Registers of their Countries and to send me the various successes of them the which purpose of mine they so well approved that every one most readily contributed to this work sending me the History of the Exploits and Actions of their respective Incas and is the same which the Spanish Historians relate on this Subject though not so particularly and largely as we have done And in regard the Beginning and Foundation of this History consists of the actions of this first Inca it will be very pertinent to this matter to particularise them distinctly that so we may not be obliged to repeat them in the Lives of his Successours who having a great value for his Person and Vertues made it their chief aim and intention to imitate the Humour Actions and Customs of this their first Prince Manco Capac so that we shall endeavour to represent the most important matters which he acted omitting things less pertinent and material And though many things herein contained may seem fabulous yet because they are such as the Indians make the Foundation of their History and of those greatnesses which the Spaniards do now in reality enjoy I cannot pass them by without injury and prejudice to the Beginning Progress and Period of this Monarchy Howsoever having sucked in a sincerity with my Milk I shall give a true Account of all that I heard and received from my Parents promising that neither favour nor affection to my People and Bloud shall encline me either to conceal the bad or beyond Reason applaud the good or natural Vertues of them for though Gentilism be such a Sea of Errours that every thing may be believed of it which is new and prodigious yet I shall deliver nothing but what the Spanish Historians have before intimated of those Kings and Countries and that I may not seem to obtrude any thing out of partiality to my Kindred I shall confine my self within the bounds of the Spanish Writers intending that these Papers shall serve for a Comment to theirs and to rectifie the Errours they have made as to Times Persons and Countries which indeed is no wonder if considering the little knowledge they have in the language they have been guilty of many mistakes relating to that People In fine whatsoever I shall relate of these People who were destroyed before they were known either in reference to their ancient Idolatry Government Laws and Customs it shall be clearly laid down without comparing it with divine or humane Histories or the Governments of our time because all comparisons are odious but rather leave those reflexions to the Reader who finding something of similitude herein to the stories of Holy Writ and to the Fables of Ancient Gentilism may apply them according to his own fancy and humour For my part I having been a natural Indian born and educated in Arms have little or no abilities or strength of my own and therefore have need of the favour and assistence of the Candid Reader CHAP. XI Of those People which the first Inca sent to inhabit divers Countries BUT to return now to the Inca Manco Capac After he had founded the City of Cozco and divided it into two parts as we have already declared he planted many other Colonies To the Eastward of this City he placed those People which now extend themselves over that tract of Land which runs to the River called Paucar tampu and thirteen several other Nations he seated on both sides of the Royal way called Antisuyu which for brevity sake we omit particularly to nominate being all or the most part of the Lineage or Tribe called Poques To the Westward in the space of eight Leagues in breadth and about nine or ten in length he planted thirty several Villages which spread themselves on one hand and the other as far as the Royal way of Cuntisuyu These People formed three different Nations namely Masca Chillqui Paperi To the North of this City were seated twenty Villages which were distinguished by four names viz. Mayu Cancu Chinchapucyu Rimac tampu the remainder of the People seated themselves in the pleasant valley of Sacsahuanna where the famous Battel was fought wherein Gonçalo Piçarro was taken Prisoner To the Southward of the City thirty eight or forty other Villages were planted eighteen of which were of the Nation of Ayarmarca and extended themselves on one side and the other of the Royal high way of Collasuyu for the space of thirty Leagues in length beginning from those parts which are overagainst the Salinas and reach within a little League of the City where that fatal Battel was fought of Don Diego of Almagro the Elder and Hernando Piçarro all the other Nations have five or six different denominations which are Quespicancha Muyna Urcos Quehuar Huaruc Cavinna This Nation of Cavinna boast themselves much of being descended from Parents who proceeded from a certain Lake where they report that the Souls of such who dye do enter and thence return again to animate other Bodies These People adored an Idol of a prodigious figure and offered a strange sort of Sacrifice to it but the Inca Manco Capac destroyed the Idol and abolished their rites and compelled them as he did all his other subjects to adore the
so soon as the first Salutations and Complements were ended she presently asked whether she had any Work for her or Service to command her for she carrying not her Work with her did seem to intimate that she pretended not to so much familiarity as to come onely for Converse but as an inferiour to demand wherein she might be esteemed usefull in her service The Palla to make a courteous return to this humble proffer would usually give her some of the same work which she or one of her Daughters was then working for to have put any thing else into her hand which her Maids were doing would have equalled her Visitant with them which in this manner was a Complement and a courteous preferring her to some degree of equality with her self and her Daughters Such was the courtesie and obliging carriage of one to the other for it was the design and fashion in that state for the Superiours to carry themselves with an affable and winning behaviour towards their inferiours and for them with all Modesty and Observance to honour and respect their superiour Magistrates and Rulers which was the common practice of all even from the Inca who was King to the meanest Peasant or Shepherd whom they called Llamamichec The Spanish Women which came afterwards to live at Cozco imitated this custome after the manner of the Indian Women carrying always their Work with them whensoever they came to make their Visits and this fashion was in use amongst them to their great commendation untill such time as Francisco Hernandez began his Civil War which as it introduced nothing but Tyranny and Cruelty so it abolished this laudable custome and discountenanced all vertuous and innocent practices I forgot to mention the great care they had in mending their Clothes in case they were broken by any accident as torn by a Nail or burnt with a coal of fire for then they presently derned it up again with their needle made of a Thorn and with thread of the same colour and bringing it again to the Loom they so neatly wove in the Thread that it could not be seen where the rent was made and in this matter they thought they had more wit than the Spaniards and would laugh at the patches they laid on their Clothes The truth is the Web which the Indians wove was different to the fabrick of Cloth which the Spaniards made and would not bear the same sort of mending It is also observable that the Fire-hearths which the Indians used to dress their meat in were a kind of Ovens made of clay bigger or less according to the Wealth or Estate of the Master the Fire vented it self at the mouth of these Ovens and on the top was a place for two or three Dishes in which they set them to stew and was so very a great convenience for their Cookery both in dressing their Meat well and saving their Wood that it seemed the most ingenious of all their contrivances and therefore it was strange that the Spaniards when they came in amongst them should despise and destroy this invention To avoid greater evils the Incas thought fit to permit common Whores to live amongst them but then they were not to remain in the City but in little Huts without in the Fields separate from all society that so by their conversation they might not have opportunity to corrupt other Women the Name they gave them was Pampayruna which signifies both their profession and place of residence Pampa is a Countrey or open place and Runa properly is a Person either Man or Woman so that these two words in composition are as much as one who lives alone in the Fields and as we say a Hedge-whore and that as the Fields are open so is her Body and embraces to receive any one who hath an appetite to come to her The Men treated these Women with all sort of contempt and scorn and the Women were not so much as to name them under penalty of incurring the same title and censure and of having their Heads publickly shorn of being stigmatized for infamous and divorc'd from their Husbands they never called them by other name than that of Pampayruna which is as much as Common Harlot CHAP. XV. The Inca Roca the sixth King subdues many Nations and amongst others the People of Chancas and Hancohuallo THE Father being dead his Son Inca Roca whose Name as Blas Valera says signifies prudent and considerate took upon him the Government binding his Head with the coloured Wreath and having accomplished the Solemnities of his Father's Funeral he made a progress into all parts of his Dominions to visit and settle and order what was there amiss in which Journey he passed the three first years of his Reign And then determining to proceed farther in his Conquests he ordered sufficient force to be levied and therewith passed on the side of Chinchasuyu which lyes Northerly from Cozco He commanded also that a Bridge should be made over the River Apurimac which is in the great Road from the City of Cozco to the King's Town for that he being now King it seemed too low and mean for him to transport his Army over the River on Floats as he had done when he was Prince being more Great and Royal to erect the fix'd convenience of a Bridge which for better uniting a correspondence with the Provinces lately conquered was now become almost necessary The Bridge being finished he departed from Cozco with an Army of twenty thousand Men under the Command of four Major-Generals ordering his Men to March three a-breast over this Bridge which being a new device and not before practised was Recorded to the Honour of his Memory Thence he proceeded to the Vale of Amancay or the Cowslip Vally because of the great quantities of them which grow in those parts this Flower is in the fashion of a Bell and in that Countrey are of a greenish colour smooth without Leaves and for their similitude with the Cowslip the Spaniards gave them that name From Amancay he took to the right hand towards the Mountain Cordillera which overtops the snowy desart and between that and the great Road he met some few people whom he reduced under his Dominion the which were called Tacmara and Quinnualla then he came to Cochacassa where he made some stay and aboad and from thence he proceeded to Curampa and without difficulty subdued that people because they were few in number from Curampa he came to the Province called Antahuaylla which is inhabited on both sides of the way for the space of sixteen or seventeen Leagues by a people both rich and warlike This Nation is called Chanca boasting themselves to be descended from one Leon whom they esteemed and adored for a God and at their great Festivals both before and after they were subdued by the Incas they carried twenty four Pictures in Procession painted after the manner of Hercules with a Lion's skin and a Man's head
desirous to conquer them by kindness than the severity of Arms. For those Indians confiding much in their own Numbers and Art of War did often incline to a breach and a defence of themselves but that the moderation of the Inca and his prudent conduct of affairs was such that with time he reduced them to his service and a willingness to receive his Laws and such Governours and Ministers as he was pleased to constitute over them and then afterwards with this success and victory he returned to Cozco In these two Provinces of Sulla and Utumsulla there were about thirty two years past some very rich Mines discovered of Silver and Quick-silver the latter of which is very usefull in Melting the Silver Ore. CHAP. XVI Of the Prince Yahuarhuacac and the Interpretation of his Name THE King Inca Roca having passed some Years in the quiet possession and government of his Kingdoms thought it fit to employ his Son and Heir named Yahuarhuacac in the entire Conquest of Antisuyu which lyes to the East of Cozco and not far from the City for on that side no great advance had been made since the time of the first Inca Manco Capac who had not proceeded farther than the River Paucartampu But before we proceed farther in the Relation of this Story it would be requisite to explain the signification of this long name of Yahuar-huacac and the reason which they had to give it to the Prince It is a Tale amongst the Indians that when he was a Child of three or four years old his Tears were bloud perhaps it was because he had some disease in his Eyes and that the bloud when he cried might fall from thence with his tears But it is a general belief amongst them that so soon as he came crying into the World his Tears were bloud It might likewise perhaps be that he brought something of the Matritial bloud with him on his Eyes which the superstitious Indians were ready to interpret for Tears but be the cause what it will they would not be persuaded out of this belief and on this supposition founded many of their Witcheries and Prognostications foretelling the anger and displeasure of his Father the Sun against him and that therefore he would be unfortunate and accursed The derivation therefore of his Name is evident from Yahuar to weep and Huacac This manner of Weeping must have been when he was a Child and not at Man's estate for then he was neither overcome nor taken Prisoner as some will have it for none of the Incas was ever so unfortunate untill the time of the wretched Huascar whom the Traytor Atahualpa his Bastard-brother took Prisoner as we shall relate in its due place if God Almighty gives us life and power to arrive so far in this our History Nor was he stoln away when he was an Infant as some Writers will have it for it is not probable that when Indians conceived generally such awe and veneration for their Incas and the Royal Bloud that any person should be found so profligate and daring as to steal the Prince and Heir to the Empire nor is it probable that the Tutors and Servants should be so remiss in their care and charge for such was the reverence that the Indians bore towards their Incas that the very imagination of such an attempt would have terrified them to that degree that they would have believed the very thought would have procured the vengeance of Heaven and caused the Earth to have opened and swallowed both them and their whole Families For as we have formerly said they Worshipped the Sun for their God and for his sake the Incas whom they accounted Children descended from him were adored with the same divine Honours These Tears of bloud which the Indians interpreted to be ominous and to be fore-runners of some dismal fate put me in mind of another superstitious fancy of theirs which they gathered from the motion and twinkling of the eyes for it was a common opinion both of the Incas and his Subjects that the Eyes did Prognosticate by their motion and twinkling either good or bad fortune for it was accounted good luck when the upper eye-lid of the left eye twinkled for they said that it foresaw matters of contentment and satisfaction but much more when the right eye-lid sparkled and twinkled that was a most excellent sign of all happiness and prosperity peace and plenty imaginable And to the contrary when the lower Curtain of the right eye trembled it betokened weeping and tears for some sad and unfortunate accident but if the lower part of the left eye moved it foretold nothing but woe and sorrow and such miseries as would produce nothing but grief and abundance of tears And such confidence and belief did they put in these symptoms that in case the lower eye-lashes did but so much as tremble they immediately put themselves into most violent passions of fear and weeping and in apprehension of what they feared they made themselves more miserable than if all the misfortunes of the World had already fallen upon them And then for the onely remedy of the ensuing evils they entertained another superstition more ridiculous than the former they would take the point of a Straw and wetting it with Spittle they would stick it beneath their eye and would then say comforting themselves that that blessed Straw which crossed their under eye-lid would stanch the tears which were to flow from their eyes and prevent the Evils which the tremblings did Prognosticate The like conjectures almost they made from a buzzing or singing in their Ears which I forbear to enlarge upon because it was not so remarkable and certain as that of the Eyes and both one and the other I can testifie because I have seen and heard their Lamentations on those occasions The King Inca Roca as we have said resolving to send his Son to conquer Antisuyu ordered an Army of fifteen thousand Souldiers to be raised under the Command of three Major-Generals whom he joined with him for Companions and Counsellours The Prince being well instructed in all matters proceeded with good success as far as the River Paucartampu and thence marched forwards to Challapampa where he reduced those few poor Indians which he found in those Quarters thence he passed to Pillcupata where he planted four Colonies with a sort of wandring and vagabond people From Pillcupata he travelled to Havisca and Tuna where the first Subjects of Chac-ras de Cuca submitted to the Dominion of the Incas and where great quantities of that Herb called Cuca grows the Inheritance of Havisca was afterwards given to my Lord and Father Garçilasso de Vega and he was pleased to bestow that Estate upon me for my life but I renounced and left it upon my going into Spain The passage into these Vallies where the Cuca grows is over that high Mountain called Canac-huay descending five Leagues almost perpendicular which makes a Man's head giddy to look
confine himself within those bounds on penalty of his highest displeasure in compliance to which severe admonition the Prince returned again to his retirement and the keeping of his Flocks Howsoever the Incas who were Counsellours and had the King's Ear and of a nature very superstitious and credulous especially of Dreams took this advertisement in another fashion than the King apprehended it telling him that such an Apparition as this was not to be slighted especially since it presented it self in the form of Viracocha who was Brother to the Inca and of Alliance to the Sun in whose name and behalf he brought this Message Nor was it credible that the Prince should be so much an Impostour as to dare to entitle the Sun to such an apparent forgery or delude the Inca his Father with a Lye and therefore that it were best to examine the matter more strictly and by Sacrificing to the Sun make judgment of the good or bad Omens and not neglect any care or diligence whatsoever in a matter of so high importance for to leave the matter neglected and slighted were to contemn the advice which the Sun had sent and his Messenger Viracocha and in short to add Errour unto Errours and Sins unto Sins Notwithstanding all which the Inca had conceived that prejudice against his Son that he could upon no terms admit the counsel which his Kindred gave him but rather termed the Vision he declared to be the effect of a wild and furious brain imagining by lyes and forgeries to bring his extravagant humour again into repute which was such an aggravation of his former folly that he deserved on this very score to be deprived of the inheritance and declared for ever uncapable of the Succession and that in the place of him some other of a more flexible and gentle temper worthy the title of being allied to the Sun should be ordained and proclaimed the true Heir in the place and stead of a revengefull merciless and tyrannical Prince and of one of a far different temper to that sweet and pleasant humour of his Ancestours which had been the most forcible Arms to win and overcome all the Nations they governed Moreover that in Wisedom they ought to provide against all Rebellions but not on the score or belief of the vain words of a wild fellow who ought to be punished and have his Head cut off for daring to break the limits assigned for his Banishment and profaning the Sacred Name of the Sun with a pretence so false and enthusiastick as this And therefore he charged them not to mention this matter farther nor so much as to name the Prince for that he had already determined in what manner to deal with him The Incas upon this Command of the King were silent and urged the matter no farther howsoever they could not forbear to revolve the thing in their minds as portending some sad and dismal disasters For the Indians were naturally addicted to Signs and Prognostications and especially if the King or the Prince or the High Priest who were esteemed Gods and Oracles had any Dream they were never at ease untill the Diviners or Magicians made the Interpretation in which they esteemed themselves so expert that they not onely pretended to interpret the Dream but also to declare what the Incas themselves had related short or mistaken in it CHAP. XXIII The Rebellion of the Chancas and of their Ancient exploits in War. THree Months after this Dream of the Prince Viracocha for so afterwards his Friends named him from the Vision he had seen a confused and uncertain rumour came of an Insurrection in the Provinces of Chincasuyu and that all the people were in Arms which is from Atahualla about forty Leagues Northward from Cozco through all the Countries to the farthest extent of the new Conquests This News had as yet no certain authour or ground being but whispered as in cases of like nature and though it agreed with the Dream of the Prince Viracocha and seemed an Accomplishment of the words of his Vision yet the King gave no heed or credit to it believing it to be a Canterbury tale or Stories of the way broached to revive the Dream of the Prince which seemed almost forgot and out of memory Some few days after the report became hotter than before and common in every Man's mouth though still uncertain and without any particulars for the Enemies had obstructed all the ways and passages in that manner that no intelligence should be carried and that the knowledge of their Rebellion might be first made known by appearance of their force before Cozco Howsoever at length certain and particular information was brought that the Nations called Chanca Uramarca Villca Uiusulla Hancohuallu and other Neighbouring Nations were all in Arms and having killed all the Governours and Officers of the Inca were now Marching with an Army of forty thousand Men against the City These Nations as we have said being all reduced by the power of the King Inca Roca rather out of fear than love had ever since suppressed their rancour and malice to the Incas with intention to own and testifie the same when occasion presented which now seemed fairly to offer it self in the time of this Inca Yahuar-huacac who being a Prince not addicted to War but rather intimidated by the apprehnsion and fear he conceived from his sinister Omen and being also moved with compassion of the hard usage and unnatural treatment which the Inca shewed towards the Prince his Son they judged it warrant and reason sufficient to revenge his cause in detestation of the base cowardise and tyranny of this mean-spirited and yet cruel Inca Wherefore with what expedition and secrecy they could they incited their Neighbours to rebell who being already well disposed in the matter they easily took fire and putting themselves in Arms and with a body of thirty thousand Men marched directly against the Imperial City of Cozco The principal Authours and Contrivers of this War besides other Lords were three principal Curacas of three great Provinces all comprehended under the common name of Chanca The first of these Lords was called Hancohuallu a Young Man of twenty six years of Age the second was Tumay Huaraca and the third Astu Huaraca the two last of which were Uncles and Brothers to Hanco-huallu The Ancestours of these three petty Kings before the times of the Incas waged a perpetual War with their Neighbouring Nations especially with the people called Quechua under which denomination five other great Provinces were contained For which reason and for the Tyranny and Oppression which they suffered from them the Quechuas were greatly pleased to accept and receive the Protection of the Incas And so on the contrary these petty Kings greatly resented the curb and power the Incas imposed upon them by restraining them in their Progress and Conquests rendring them in the place of absolute and sovereign Princes Tributaries and Vassals which they stomached
where one was the other was built by it This great care which the Incas took to have their Subjects incited in their Devotion was a farther endearment of them to their Kings for it made them not onely religious but gave them the privileges of Naturalization and being Citizens of the City of Cozco Besides these Temples he built Fortresses and Castles on the Frontiers and Royal Palaces in the Vallies and in the places of best Air and most delightfull situation and in those parts which were in the common Road and way at such distances as were most convenient for the Incas to take up their Lodgings and Residence when they travelled or marched with their Army He also built Magazines and Store-houses in every Province for the provision and maintenance of the People in years of Dearth and Famine He ordained many Laws and Statutes indulging to every People and Nation their own ancient Customs in such things as did not contradict or interfere with the Religion established or oppose the rules of common honesty by which gentleness the people lived without Tyranny or Compulsion not being sensible of any unpleasant alteration but such as tended to their good and benefit leading them from a bestial to a rational and moral Life which was the great design and intention of the Incas Having in this Visit and Travails spent three Years he returned again to Cozco where having passed some Months in joy and festivals he consulted with his Brother who was his chief Minister and others of his Council concerning the entire Conquest of the Provinces of Chinchasuyu for there were no other Countries on that side remaining to be subjected to their Dominion for on the other quarter towards Antisuyu bordering on the snowy Mountain there was nothing discovered besides Rocks and Precipices and inaccessible places The Inca Capac Yupanqui having so well acquitted himself with Prudence and Valour in his late Expedition it was resolved that he should again take upon himself the Command and Conduct of the Army and that his Nephew called Yupanqui who was Prince and Heir apparent a Youth of about sixteen Years old should accompany him in the War it being the custome for young Men of that Age to take up their Arms and make their first Campaign according to the Ceremony practised in Huaracu as we shall hereafter more particularly Discourse that so they being initiated and exercised in military Discipline and Arts might become experienced and valiant Captains in their more mature years To this intent fifty thousand Souldiers being levied and put in a posture of War the Uncle and Nephew marched with the Van which was one third of the Army towards the Province called Chucurpu which was the ultimate extent of the Empire on that side Thence were the usual Summons dispatched to the Inhabitants of the Province called Pincu who finding themselves in no condition to resist the power which marched against them and being well informed of the happiness of those people who became Vassals to the Inca they readily accepted the Propositions of Peace with this Complement That they rejoiced to receive the Blessings of the Inca's protection and to be numbred with those Subjects who were under his Dominion and Empire Thus the Incas entred that Province from whence they sent the like Summons to the Neighbouring Countries of which Huaras Piscopampâs and Cunchucu were the chief But these instead of following the example of Pincu unexpectedly took other counsels and confederating one with the other resolved to join in the common defence agreeing to send this Answer That they would rather dye than receive new Laws new Customs or a new Religion for they were so well satisfied with those Gods which they and their Ancestours had from all Ages served and adored that they had no need to change them for that specious shew of Religion by which the Inca had allured and deceived the Neighbouring Nations and usurped a Tyrannical Power and Dominion over them Having given this answer and knowing themselves unable to resist the Inca in open Field they retired to their strong holds and fast places being resolved to defend the narrow and difficult Passes and to that end with all diligence and care they Victualled their Camp making the best provisions they were able against a long siege CHAP. XIII The Inca subdues the Rebellious Provinces by Famine and Strategems of War. THE General Capac Yupanqui received without the least surprize this rude and obstinate Answer from his salvage Enemies for being a Person of great Prudence and Constancy he had learned how to bear with the same equality as well the good as unfortunate successes and not to be moved into passion by the wild and surly Answers of an untaught and immoral people But not to despise the weakness of an Enemy which was retired into their strong Holds he divided his Army into four Battalions each of which consisted of ten thousand Men commanding them to march towards the Fortresses of the Enemy but not to engage with them but onely to besiege and straiten them in such manner that at length being almost famished they might be compelled to a voluntary surrender and that he with the Prince would post himself in that advantageous station as to be ready on all occasions and emergencies to administer Succours where his assistence was required And lest the destruction which the Enemy had made of all provisions for sustenance of an Army should occasion great Famine and scarcity of all things necessary he commanded that the Neighbouring Provinces should bring supplies and administer a quantity of all provisions double to that proportion which was ordinarily appointed In this manner Capac Yupanqui being well provided a most cruel and desperate War began with great Mortality on both sides for the Enemy defended themselves and their strong holds with much bravery and courage and when they perceived the Incas cautious and backward to attack them they would then adventure to make their sallies every Party and Province of them endeavouring to out-vye each other and demonstrate its Valour by some signal action The Incas all this while remained on the defensive part resolving to straiten the Enemy by Famine and force them to a surrender by other inconveniencies of War and when they found any of the Women or Children belonging to the Enemy wandring in the Fields and Countrey which by reason of weakness or sickness were not able to keep company with their friends and relations the Incas took care of them nourished and caressed them fed them and cloathed them giving them assurances that their design was no other than to better their condition by good and reasonable Laws and Customs and not to tyrannize over their Persons or Liberties And then afterwards they gave and permitted them free and safe passage into the quarters of the Enemy and herein they acted with a kind of Military subtilty and policy knowing that the numbers of useless people were cumbersome to an
Conquests and vain Rodomontadoes of the Chinchas THE Inca much satisfied with this submission congratulated with the Curaca Chincha the happiness of the ensuing Peace whereby an end was put to the miseries of a bloudy War which was destructive to his people And speaking Kindly to this great Commander of the Yuncas assured him of pardon from his Brother the Emperour and because he perceived him to be much dejected and afflicted for his fault he encouraged him with many kind and obliging expressions telling him that the King his Brother was a gratious and mercifull Prince who never recalled to memory the enmity shewn him at first provided that having once submitted and acknowledged him for their Lord they did never afterwards return to their rebellion And as an evidence of favour and acceptance he commanded that Vestments should be given them of the finest sort and so all concluded in a mutual satisfaction These Indians of Chincha boast much of this resistence they had made against the Incas pretending that they repelled them twice because they reckoned the exchange of the first Army with the second to be a kind of retreat They report also that the Incas were many years before they could conquer them and that at length they submitted upon conditions and promises and that they were won rather by gifts and presents than subdued by force of Arms. Thus was the mild usage and treatment which the Incas shewed to them interpreted for a sign of their own Valour and Courage whenas in reality the power of the Incas was so great in those days that they could with facility have subdued them had they in earnest applied their Strength and Military Art in that Conquest but Men have liberty to talk of the Mighty Actions of former times and of their Ancestours without offence to any in the present Age. They report farther of themselves that before they were Subjects to the Inca they were of that power and Martial disposition that they made frequent Incursions into the Neighbouring Countries from whence they carried Spoils and Trophies of Victory that they were so dreadfull to those who inhabited the Mountains that those people for fear of them deserted their Countrey and that they often came as far as the Province of Colla. All which appears to be false because these Yuncas are naturally a sluggish and dull Nation and not given to labour or travel and therefore it is not probable that they would undertake a March of almost 200 Leagues through greater Provinces and more populous than their own And that which makes this report still more improbable is That the Yuncas being as we have said born in a very hot Countrey where it never Rains and where consequently the noise of Thunder is never heard are so affrighted with the sound and claps of it so often as they enter into the Hilly-Countries that with consternation and terrour they return into their own Climate and therefore it is not credible they should adventure into Mountains where the voice of Thunder is often heard and which their ignorance made so horrible and affrighting to them Whilst Yupanqui employed himself in Establishing the Government of Chincha and putting all things into the best order and posture he was able he gave intelligence to his Brother of the success of his proceedings desiring him to relieve the Army which remained then on Duty by exchange for another that so he might proceed in the entire conquest of the Yuncas And whilst he was thus setling the Government in Chincha and imposing new Laws and Customs on them Informations were brought him against certain persons guilty of Sodomy to which sin that Countrey was much addicted All which he took and condemned and burned alive commanding their Houses to be thrown down their Inheritances to be destroyed their Trees rooted up that so no steps or marks might appear of any thing which had been built or planted by the hands of Sodomites and that their memory as well as their actions might be abolished with them they destroyed both their Wives and Children which severity though it may seem unjust was yet an evidence of that abhorrence which the Incas conceived against this unnatural Crime Some time after this Conquest the Incan-Kings honoured and enobled this valley of Chincha with a famous Temple dedicated to the Sun with a House also for the Select Virgins it contained about thirty thousand souls being one of the most pleasant and delightfull Vallies of Peru. The Actions and Exploits of the Inca Pachacutec were many and various though his Conquests for the most part were performed in the same manner wherefore to divert the Reader with some varieties we shall now intermix our Discourse with two principal Festivals which the Incas celebrated with the greatest solemnities and then we shall return again to the Life and Atchievements of this King. CHAP. XX. Of the principal Festival of the Sun and in what manner they prepared themselves for the Celebration of it THE principal Festival was called Raymi which sounds or at leasts signifies as much with them as Pascha which with us in English is Easter amongst the four Festivals celebrated by the Incas in the City of Cozco which was the Metropolis of their Religion as Rome is to us none was observed with that solemnity as this which they called Yntip Raymi held in the month of June in honour of the Sun soon after the Summer Solstice and if they attributed this name of Raymi to any other Feast it was in reference or as it depended on this chief Festival This Solemnity was performed to the Sun under Notion of the Supreme Sole and Universal God by virtue of whose Heat and Light all living Creatures were generated and sustained At which also they commemorated their first Father Inca Manco Capac and Coya Mama Occlo his Wife and Sister owning and acknowledging them to be descended from the Sun and sent by him into the World for the common benefit of Mankind For which important Reasons this Festival being esteemed the most solemn all the principal Captains and Commanders of the Army and Curacas or Lords of Provinces assembled themselves at Cozco to celebrate this Feast not that it was of Precept or Injunction but out of mere Devotion to the Sun and respect to the Inca. In case any Curaca or Officer were hindred by Age or Infirmity or by any distant Employment in service of the Inca he then sent his Son or his Brother or some other Relation to assist at this Function in his Name and Place nor did the Inca esteem himself excused from this personal attendance unless the War or remote Visits of his Kingdoms obliged him to be absent At the first Ceremonies the King as High-Priest did always administer for though there was another High-Priest of the same legitimate Bloud being a Brother or Uncle of the Inca to whom it properly belonged at other times to officiate yet this being the chief of
his Provisions having left a sufficient force in Runahuanac marched forward into Huarcu where a cruel and bloudy War began for Chuquimancu having gathered all his Forces into a Body to the number of twenty thousand Men pretended with good Conduct and Strategems of War to defend his people and gain the reputation of a renowned Captain On the other side the Incas used all their Arts to subdue them with the least effusion of Bloud that was possible though in this War eight months time passed with many bloudy Skirmishes not to be avoided during which time the Incas relieved their Armies with three some say four exchanges of their forces and that the Enemy might despair of wearying them out and constrain them at length to remove their Camp they gave them sure evidences of their resolution to continue in that station untill their surrender for as a token that they lived at ease with all the conveniences of the City they called the Quarter of the Inca Cozco and to the parts about it where the Army was lodged they gave the name of the principal streets Pedro de Cieça says that this War continued above four years and that the Inca in that time founded a new City which he called by the name of Cozco but this Relation he pretends to have received from the Yuncas themselves who out of vain glory might be apt to magnifie the greatness of their Actions But the truth is the four years were no other than a relieving of the Army four times and the Foundation of a City was no other than the denomination of Cozco given to the Camp. By this time the Yuncas began to be sensible of Hunger and Famine which is the most cruel Enemy and that which abates and brings low the heat and resolution of the most proud and haughty Spirits but some time before that extreme Famine distressed them the Natives of Runahuanac had instantly petitioned their King Chuquimancu to submit to the Incas before it was too late and before their obstinacy had exasperated the mind of the Incas to give away their Houses Lands and Inheritances to their Neighbours of Chincha who were their mortal Enemies The people being apprehensive of these matters and finding their King obstinate in his resistence privately with-drew and fled from the Camp giving private intelligence to the Inca of the condition and want in the Enemies Army Chuquimancu growing now sensible of his Weakness and Distress and fearing to be wholly abandoned by his people and at length to fall without any conditions into the hands of the Incas began to shew himself inclinable to hearken to proposals of Peace whereupon calling a Council they resolved to go in Person and without Mediation of Ambassadours to humble themselves before the Incas and accordingly they proceeded to the Royal Quarters where casting themselves on their knees they begged Mercy and Pardon for their Offences declaring their readiness to acknowledge themselves Vassals to the Inca since it was the pleasure and determination of the Sun his Father to make him supreme Lord and Sovereign of the Universe The Incas both Uncle and Nephew courteously received them according to their usual Grace and Favour assuring them of pardon and having vested them with such Garments as were accustomary dispatched them with contentment and licence to return unto their own homes The Natives of these four Provinces like those of Chincha make great boastings of the wonderfull Prowess and Valour of their Ancestours whom the Incas were not able to subdue in less than four years War besides many other Stories of their mighty Deeds which we omit because they are not pertinent to our History Howsoever this is certain that the Incas esteemed it so great a work to have conquered the King Chuquimancu that as a Trophy of their Victory and in perpetual remembrance of the valiant Actions performed in this War both by their own people and by the Yuncas in their own defence they built a Fortress in the Valley of Huarcu which though it were of little compass yet it was a wonderfull and rare Work for that people being made with due Symmetry and according to the Rules of Fortification and for that Reason and for the situation of the place being built on the Sea shore it ought to be permitted to remain for an ancient plece of antiquity and indeed the work was so strong and durable as may last for many ages without any repair for when I passed by it in the Year 1560 it still shewed what it had been and which neither I not any other could behold without some resenting thoughts of this unconstant and transitory World. CHAP. XXX Of the Vallies of Pachacamac and Rimac and of their Idols THE King Chuquimancu being thus subdued and the Government established in his Countrey according to the Laws Rites and Customs practised and observed by the Subjects of the Inca. They passed forwards in farther pursuance of their Conquests over the Vallies of Pachacamac Rimac Chancay and Huaman which the Spaniards call the Baranca or Breach of Earth between two Hills all which four were under the Command and Dominion of a powerfull Ruler called Cuysmancu who also had the vanity to take upon himself the Title of King and though amongst the Indians they have not a word properly to express the name of King yet the term of Hatun Apu which is as much as a great Lord hath some affinity with that signification And as to these Vallies of Pachacamac and Rimac which I shall say once for all that the Spaniards by corruption of the last Word give it the name of Lima by which it is known to this day Now as we have said before so we must say again and as all the Spanish Historians write That the Kings of Peru did by the mere light of natural Reason attain to the knowledge of one God the Maker of all things whom they called Pachacamac and Sustainer of the Universe the which Doctrine was more ancient than the time of the Incas and which was dispersed through all their Kingdoms both before and after their Conquests They farther affirmed that he was invisible and because he would not suffer himself to be seen for that reason they did not build Temples to him nor offer him Sacrifices as they did to the Sun but onely adored him interiourly with profound Veneration in their Hearts as may appear by their outward gestures of bowing their Heads lifting up their eyes and opening their Arms whensoever his sacred Name came to be mentioned This Doctrine as we have said was everywhere dilated for so soon as any people was subjected to the Inca this Principle was instilled in case it had not taken place and root before But those who had chiefly admitted and received this Doctrine before the times of the Incas were the Ancestours of this King Cuysmancu who having built a Temple to Pachacamac did afterwards give the same Name to the Valley
Castle for that was then destroyed but from a House belonging to one of the Incas which was situated on the side of that Hill where the Castle was formerly built called Collcampata I saw also the four Indians run with their Lances and the common people shake their Cloaths with all the other vile and foolish practices as eating their Bread called Cancu and burning the Torches called Pancuncu For my part I had not the curiosity to sit up so late at night as to be present at their nocturnal Festival Howsoever I remember that I saw one of their Pancuncus lodged in the stream which runs through the Market-place and near to the House of my School-fellow John de Cellorico I remember to have seen many Indian Boys to have run from it but I being a Child of six or seven years old and not Catechised in their Religion nor knowing the cause remained unconcerned at the bundle of Straw not thinking it so terrible as did the Indians This Torch we now speak of was thrown into the stream which runs through the City and carried abroad according to the ancient institution for the Feast was not now observed with that strictness and veneration as it was in the times of their Kings for beginning now to become obsolete it was rather performed in remembrance of their ancient customs than out of an opinion of any effect or virtue of such a practice for there remained still some old superstitious fellows who refused Baptism and obstinately adhered to their ancient Gentilism In times of the Incas the Torches were carried out of the City and there cast into the River the water with which they washed their bodies though it were brought from other streams was yet to be poured into the River which runs from the City that so the evils which it washed might be carried far distant and by force of the current be lodged in the Sea. As we have before mentioned There was another Feast not publickly celebrated but kept in every private family and that began about the time after they had ended their Harvest and lodged their Fruits in their Store-houses called Pirva Their custome was to burn a small quantity of Tallow or Fat near the places where they had lodged their Stores as a sacrifice to the Sun the Nobles and rich people offered tame Conies which they call Coii giving thanks for the provisions of bread with which they were supplied for the sustenance of the whole year and praying that he would be pleased to bestow this blessing on those conservatories of their bread that they might keep them well and safe for the support and maintenance of humane life There were other Feasts which the Priests celebrated within the Temple of the Sun without any publick processions being the monthly sacrifices offered to the Sun but these were not to be compared with the solemnity of the other four principal Feasts which were like our Grand Festivals of Easter and Christmas and the like CHAP. VIII The Description of the Imperial City of Cozco THE Inca Manco Capac was Founder of this City of Cozco which the Spaniards have honoured with the continuance of its Name and Title calling it the great City of Cozco and Metropolis of all the Kingdoms and Provinces of Peru. And though they once called it the New Toledo yet the impropriety of it soon caused that Name to be disused For Cozco is not encompassed by a River as is Toledo nor like it in the situation the Houses being placed one above the other on the side of a Hill so high that it surveys from all parts a large and spatious Plain beneath it the Streets are very long and wide and the publick Market-places very great so that the Spaniards in general as also the publick Notaries and other Writers style it by no other Name than by its ancient Title for Cozco being like another Rome the Imperial Head of many Kingdoms and Provinces may equally deserve a title agreeable to its noble and generous Atchievements and likewise in some things be compared with Rome As first in that it was originally founded by its Kings Secondly in that it was the Head and Chief City of many Nations subjected to its Empire Thirdly in the Excellencies of its Laws which were many and wise and rarely tempered for the government of its people Fourthly in the qualities of the Men who were educated in Civil and Military Discipline and were civilized and freed from all barbarity in their manners Howsoever we may say that Rome had this advantage of Cozco that the knowledge of Letters had eternized the fame and honour of Rome and that its people were not more celebrated for the success of their Arms than they were illustrious and renowned for their Arts and Sciences when Poor Cozco hath had nothing but Memory and Tradition to deliver its great Actions and feats of Arms to posterity But Rome had the help of Historians to record its famous Deeds and was as much beholding to the Pen as to its Arms it being doubtfull whether great Heroes are more obliged to Writers who have transmitted the fame of their mighty Actions to all posterity or Writers are to the Noble Heroes for opening unto them so large a field of great and various Atchievements But this was not the fortune of our poor Countrey which though abounding with Men famous in Arms and in Intellectuals and capable of Sciences did yet for want of knowledge in Letters leave no other Monuments of their past actions but what Tradition hath conserved and transmitted in some few abrupt and scattered sentences from Fathers to their Children which also are in a great measure lost by the entrance or Invasion of a new people for where an Empire or Government hath had its period being overwhelmed by the power of a stronger Nation there also by natural consequence must the memory of Acts and Customs perish which have not been recorded by a skilfulness in Letters For my own part being moved with a warm desire and affection to conserve the poor remains of Antiquity in my own native Countrey I have adventured on this laborious Design of Discovery and of tracing the Footsteeps of the lost reliques of its forgotten Customs and Manners and therefore that this City of Cozco which was once the Metropolis of many Kingdoms and Nations may be revived and yet live in its ancient Fame I have resolved in this Chapter to make some Description of it as I have received it by Tradition and also as a true born and faithfull Son of that City to declare what I have seen of it with my own Eyes and in what state and condition it was in the Year 1570. when I departed thence specifying what ancient Names were still in use belonging to places and divisions of the City with what alterations were at that time made in the names of Parochial Churches and Streets which the Spaniards have built since their coming thither The King
the Northward there is another Street called Pichu which also was without the City and another beyond that called Quillipata and another great Street called Carmenta which is a proper Name without any signification and here passes the great Road to Chinchasuyu to the Eastward where the Street is that is called Huacapuncu or the Door of the Sanctuary because that Huaca amongst the many other significations which it hath signifies a Sanctuary Puncu is a Gate because that a stream of Water enters through that Street as by a gate to the chief Market-place of Cozco for though all the Streets and Lanes of the City were dedicated to the Use and Service of the Temple of the Sun and of the Select Virgins yet this passage or chanel by which this Water entred was in a particular manner esteemed sacred as also the place at which it ran out was called the Lion's Tail signifying that this City as it was holy in its Laws and Religion so it resembled a Lion in its valour and martial Exercises This Street of Huaca-puncu came at length to join with Collcampata so that we are now come to the place where we first began having finished the rounds of the City CHAP. IX That the City contained the Description of all the Empire THese four great Streets did correspond with the four Quarters of the Empire called Tahuantinsuyu ordained by Manco Capac the first Incan-King who intending to reduce those savage and barbarous Nations under his Sovereignty did command them to inhabit those Quarters which lay towards the places from whence they came so those who came from the East planted themselves on the East side of the Town those that came from the West on the West side so that at length they all seated themselves within the circle and compass designed for the City in their different Ranks and Situations The Curacas built their Houses as they found room when they first came to the Court for when one had finished his House another built close by him every one keeping the order and situation of his Province for if his Province lay to the Right-hand of his Neighbour's Province then he built to the Right if to the Left then to the Left if the Province lay to the backside of his Neighbour's dwelling then he raised his House there fronting towards his own Countrey so that taking a view of all the People and Nations inhabiting that City with their several Ranks and Situations it seemed like a survey of all the Empire or a Map comprehending in a plain Cosmographical Description all the circumference of Peru. Pedro de Cieça writing of the situation of Cozco speaks almost to the same purpose in the 93d Chapter of his Book in these words And whereas this City contained many Nations of divers Provinces and strange Countries such as the Indians of Chile Pasto Cannares Chachapoyas Guancas Collas and many other people before mentioned they were all disposed within the precincts of this City in their respective Quarters as they were assigned unto them by the order of their Governours having liberty to observe the Manners and Customs of their Fathers and the habit of their Countrey so that if a hundred thousand Men of these were assembled together every one would be distinguished by the attire of his Head and his Countrey and Lineage known to which he belonged Thus far are the Words of Pedro de Cieça This Distinction was made by the different attire on their Heads either of Feathers or Sashes wound about their Temples which every Province framed to its self and not by contrivance or order of the Incas onely their Kings commanded them to continue their Fashions to avoid confusion amongst the Nations which reach from Pasto to Chile which as our Authour aforesaid alledges was above one thousand three hundred Leagues In which manner all the Streets of this City were the Habitations of the Subjects onely assembled thither from all parts of the Empire and not of the Incas or those of the Bloud Royal who lived in the Suburbs of the City the which we shall lay down and describe in such manner as they were situated from North to South with all their Streets and vacant places and Palaces of their Kings and how and in what manner they were afterwards bestowed when they came to be divided by lot amongst the Spaniards From the Hill Sacsahuamam there runs a shallow stream of Water from North to South to the farther part of Pumapchupan where the City is divided from the Suburbs But more within the City there is a Street which lies North and South which is now called St. Austins descending from the Houses of the first Inca Manco Capac to the open square of Rimac-pampu there are three of four other Streets which cross from East to West through the large space which is between the Street and River where the Incas of the Bloud seated themselves according to their several Ayllus or Lineages for though they were all of the same Family and lineally descended from Manco Capac Howsoever being branched into several Lines they derived their Pedigrees from divers Kings saying that these descended from such an Inca those from another Inca and so of the rest of which the Spanish Historians not having conceived a true Notion delivered to us for a truth that such a Lineage was derived from such an Inca and that Lineage from another as if they had been of different Stocks and Families whenas in reality they all proceeded from the same original Being honoured with the Title of Capac Ayllu or the illustrious or august Lineage of the Bloud Royal. The Men of that Family were called by the name of Inca and the Women of Palla which implied a descendency from the bloud Royal. In my time those quarters descending from the upper part of the Street were inhabited by Rodrigo de Pineda Joan de Saavedra Diego Oitiz de Guzman Peter de los Rios with his Brother Diego de los Rios Geronimo Costillas Gaspar Jura but now these Houses are turned into the Convent of St. Austin as also the Habitations of Michel Sanchez John de Santa Cruz Alonso de Soto Gabriel Carrera and Diego de Trugillo who was one of the first Adventurers and one of those thirteen Companions who adhered to Don Francisco Piçarro as we shall relate in its due place Moreover there were Anton Ruiz de Guevara John de Salas who was Brother to the Archbishop of Sevil together with Valdes de Salas who was Inquisitor-General besides others which I cannot call to mind all which being great Commanders over the Indians had their shares and lots divided to them amongst those who were the second Adventurers in the conquest of Peru. Besides these there lived many Spaniards in this quarter who had no power over the Indians One of which Houses after my departure from Cozco was converted into a Monastery of Augustine-Friars We call those the first Conquerours who were of
the number of those one hundred and sixty that were Assistants of Don Francisco de Piçarro in the imprisonment of Atahualpa And those which we call the second Adventurers in this Conquest were those who came in with Don Diego de Almagro and Don Pedro de Alvarado both which parties were called Conquerours of Peru and no others and the second party did much honour to the first though they were fewer in number and of a meaner quality yet being the first and most forward in this adventurous Atchievement were honoured and esteemed by them as Partners in their Enterprises And now returning by the upper part of the Street of St. Austin to enter as we have said into the City where upon the top of all stands the Convent of St. Clare formerly the Dwelling of Alonso Dias who married the Daughter of the Governour Pedro Arias de Avila on the Right-hand of this Convent were many houses inhabited by Spaniards and amongst the rest Francisco de Barrientos had possessions which were afterwards alienated to John Alvarez Maldonado On the Right-hand lived Hernando Bachicao and after him John Alonso Palomino over against which to the South side was the Episcopal Palace formerly the House of John Balsa and after him of Francisco de Villacastin where now the Cathedral Church is situated having been once a wide and stately Hall which served for a Theatre in rainy Weather where Shows at their chief Festivals were represented It was anciently a part of the Palace belonging to the Inca Viracocha the Eighth King in my time there was no more remaining of it than this wide Hall which was so large that when the Spaniards first entred into the City they all lodged therein so as to be near and ready to afford assistence to each other in case of danger I remember that I once saw it when it was covered with Thatch though now changed into Tile On the North side of this great Church there is a Street with many Houses fronting towards the Market-place in which are Shops for Artificers and on the South side are Shops and Ware-houses belonging to the most rich and principal Merchants of the Town Behind the Church were the Houses of John de Berrio and of others whose Names I cannot remember Behind the chief Shops were the Houses of Diego Maldonado surnamed the rich because he was the most wealthy Person in all Peru being one of the first Conquerours of it In the time of the Incas that place was called Hatuncancha which signified the great or high Street having been anciently the Habitation of Inca Yupanqui On the South side of these Buildings of Diego Maldonado were the Houses of Francisco Hernandez Giron before which to the Southward also were the Houses of Antonio Altamirano one of the first Conquerours joining whereunto on the backside were the Houses of Francisco de Frias and Sebastian de Caçalla the which quarter of the Town was called Puca marca or the coloured Street anciently the Houses of the King Tupac Yupanqui There is another Street beyond this to the South side very long and wide the name of which I cannot call to mind where lived Alonso de Loaysa Martin de Meneses John de Figueroa D. Pedro Puerto Carrero Garcia de Melo Francisco Delgado besides many other Lords and Persons of Quality whose Names I do not remember Beyond this place to the Southward is the Square of Yntipampa or the Square of the Sun because it lies just before the Temple where those who were not of the degree of an Inca came to offer their Sacrifices being not lawfull for persons of less quality to enter within the Walls of the Temple there the Priests met and received them and presented them before the Image of the Sun whom they adored for God. That quarter wherein the Temple of the Sun was situated was called Coricancha or the Street of Gold Silver and pretious Stones of which there was great abundance as we have before declared within the Temple What now remains to speak of is the Suburbs of the City called Pumapchupan CHAP. X. Of the Situation of the Schools of the three Royal Palaces with the House of the Select Virgins NOw to finish our Discourse of the several Streets of the City we must return again to Huacapuncu or the Gate of the Sanctuary which lies North from the great Market-place from whence likewise issues another Street the name of which I cannot tell but may properly call it the Schools because that the King Inca Roca founded certain Schools in that place as we have already mentioned in his Life In the Indian Language they are called Yaca Huaci or the House of Learning where their Scholars or learned Men called Amautas or Philosophers and Haravec which are Poets had their place of abode being very much esteemed and had in honour by the People because they were Instructours and Teachers of youth and Tutours to those of the Royal Bloud Proceeding from these Schools to the Southward there are two other Streets which lead to the great Market-place where are two Royal Palaces of so great a compass that they took up all the one side of the Square One of these places which lies to the Eastward of the other was called Coracora which is as much as a large Court the which is confirmed by Pedro de Cieça who in the 92d Chapter of his Book saith That the King Roca ordered his Palace to be built there for the better convenience of the Schools whereto he often resorted to hear the Lectures of the Philosophers I have not observed any thing to remain of the Coracora it being all ruined and demolished in my time though when the City was first divided into shares amongst the Conquerours of it the Coracora was the Lot of Gonçalo Piçarro Brother of the Marquess Francisco Piçarro with whom I was well acquainted at Cozco after the Battel of Huarina and before that of Sacsahuana he was very kind and obliging to me for being but a Child of eight or nine years of age he treated me as if I had been his Son. The other Palace to the Eastward of Coracora was called Cassana or a thing of admiration as if it had been such a stupendious work that every one upon the sight of it must be transported with wonder and astonishment it had been the Habitation of the Inca Pachacutec great Grandson to the Inca Roca who in favour and for ornament to the Schools ordered his Palaces to be adjoining thereunto for the Schools were on the backside of those Palaces and were contiguous or joining one to the other without any other space or division between them The principal Gates and Front of the Schools opened to the Street and River but the Incas passed thither by the back way being delighted to hear the Philosophical Lectures and sometimes the Inca Pachacutec would be Reader himself and with the same occasion declare and publish the Laws and Statutes which he had
1555 and 56. Thus far the Buildings reached in those days what enlargements were made were added since The Gentlemen which we have named in this Treatise were all Persons of Quality and of Noble Bloud and famous for their Arms having vanquished and won that most rich Empire the greatest part of which I knew and of all those which I have named there were not ten with whom I had not a personal acquaintance CHAP. XII Of the two Gifts which the City contributed for Charitable Uses BEfore I treat of the Foundation of that Hospital and the Contributions given to it I shall first mention the charitable Gifts which the Citizens made to the Friars of St. Francis for buying the ground and body of the Church which they found already built to their hands when my Lord Garçilasso de la Vega was Governour of Cozco the matter was this These Friars as we have said having their Convent in Cassana made a demand I know not for what reason upon Juan Rodriguez de Villa Lobos for this Ground and Church in pursuance of which they preferred a Bill in the Chancery desiring that they might have possession of this Ground and Church paying unto this Juan Rodriguez so much Money as the Church and the Land about it should be valued or esteemed at being 22200 Ducats The Prior of their Franciscans was then F. Juan Gallegos a holy Man and one of a most Exemplary life and conversation by whose means payment was made of this Money in the House of my Father who gave possession thereof to the Friars delivering the price in Bars of Silver At which the standers-by much admiring being astonished to see so great a sum paid so readily and punctually at the time by such poor Friars the Prior made them this answer that they should not wonder at these Works of Heaven being produced by the mere charity of this City whose hearts God had touched and moved with such pious Zeal that I can assure you said he that on Monday of this Week we had not above 300. Ducats of this sum towards our payment and now we are but on Thursday morning when I am present before you with this great sum raised by the pious contributions of the Inhabitants of this City as well Gentlemen Souldiers as Lords of the Indians who for these two last nights came knocking at our Gates with Alms in their hands which they desired to bestow secretly with such frequent and continued course of pious Benefactors who called to the Porter to receive their Alms and Charity that we have not been able to take our rest or repose all which I heard that good Man speak in commendation of the liberality and charity of the City And now to speak farther of the Foundation of this Hospital we must know that this Godly Prior dying another succeeded in his place called Antonio de St. Michel a Person of a Noble Family of which Name also there was a great Divine in Salamanca who for his holy life and doctrine being a true Son and faithfull Follower of St. Francis was made Bishop of Chili where he lived with exemplary piety and godliness as the Kingdoms of Chili and Peru can testifie This holy Man in the second year of the three in which he lived a Bishop preaching every Sunday Wednesday and Friday in Lent according to his usual custome in the Cathedral Church of Cozco did upon a certain Sunday propose that an Hospital should be erected in that City for the Indians and that a Fraternity of Indians should be Super-intendents or Supervisors over it as the Spaniards were over theirs assuring them that the Spaniards had obligations towards the Indians in some manner which no Man could acquit himself of whether he were a Conquerour of them or not but by some such satisfaction for their debt And pursuing this discourse with most persuasive Arguments in all the Sermons of that Week on the Sunday he concluded after such a preparation made That the Governour and he would try what operation his Sermons had effected on them to which end they would go personally from house to house to demand their charitable contributions towards this pious Work admonishing them to shew themselves as large and open-hearted therein as they had been valiant and covetous to obtain the Empire Accordingly the Governour and the Prior took their Walk from house to house to gather the charitable Alms of the City coming at first to the Dwellings of those onely who were Masters of the Indians And at night when my Father Garçilasso returned home he commanded me to sum up the account of all the Collections which when I had done I found it to amount unto 28500 Pieces of Eight which makes 34200 Ducats the least that was given by any particular person was 500 Pieces of Eight which makes 600 Ducats there were some who gave a 1000 Pieces of Eight Thus much was the Collection made in one Evening and in the space of five hours onely other days they took to go from neighbour to neighbour every one giving so freely that in a few months the sum amounted to above a hundred thousand Ducats the which report being noised about in the Countrey and that an Hospital was therewith to be founded for the Natives many other contributions were added in the space of that year some being given by Last Will and Testament and some by devout and charitable persons in the time of their Life and Health so that the Work was chearfully begun the Native Indians within the Jurisdiction of the City concurring thereunto with all ready assistence being assured that the use and benefit thereof was intentionally designed for themselves Under the first Stone of the Foundation which was laid by my Father Garçilasso he put a Doblon of Gold being one of those with two Faces of Ferdinand and Isabel the King and Queen of Spain That sort of coin was rare in those days and especially in that Countrey and at that time where and when no Money either in Gold or other Metal was stamped for the Spanish Merchants did then bring their Commodities which they bartered or exchanged for Wares of the Countrey or sold for Silver or Gold but brought no Money coined into those parts I believe that the Doblon was brought thither for a curiosity and presented to my Father as a Medal and of the same opinion were all those who saw it for it passing from one to another the whole Corporation of the City then present at this Solemnity of laying the Foundation did all esteem it for a great curiosity being the first coined Money that had been seen in that Countrey and for that reason was worthily employed in that charitable Work. Diego Maldonado a Native of Salamanca sirnamed the Rich for the great Wealth that he had attained having formerly been Governour of the City laid under one of the Stones a Plate of Silver with his Arms engraven upon it and on this poor
Foundation was erected this rich Edifice which was afterwards endowed with many Indulgences and Pardons from the Popes for all those who should dye in it the which being made known to a certain Indian Woman of the Bloud-Royal with whom I was acquainted she finding her self sick desired to be carried into the Hospital to which her Friends not agreeing in consideration of the abilities she had to maintain her self howsoever she still persisted in her desires saying that it was not the cure of her Body that she designed but to enjoy and partake of those Indulgences which the Princes of the Church had given unto those who should dye in that Hospital for which reason she being carried thither refused to have her Bed laid in the Chambers of the sick but in a corner of the Church where she desired that her Grave might be opened near to her Bed which she covered with the Habit of St. Francis and desired to be buried in it then she called for the Wax-candles which she intended to have burnt at her Burial that they might be in a readiness And having received the Holy Sacrament and extreme Unction she lay four days after calling upon God and the Blessed Virgin and all the Celestial Court of Angels and then expired This godly end which this poor Indian Woman had made being generally known and talked of the two Corporations of the City both Spiritual and Temporal agreed to honour her Obsequies and Enterment with their presence the which being observed by other Indians who esteemed all their Nation and Lineage much favoured therein it was hoped that this might be a means to animate and encourage them to embrace at their Death the same advantages which the Christian Religion produces With which we shall conclude this discourse and pass on to the Life and Actions of this tenth King in whose Reign we have many particulars of great admiration CHAP. XIII Of the New Conquest which the Inca Yupanqui designed to make THE good Inca Yupanqui having bound his Temples with the coloured wreath and performed the Funeral Rites due to his Father the first thing he designed was to render himself pleasing and gratefull to his people by visiting the several Provinces and Kingdoms of his Empire which as we have said was esteemed by the Indians for the greatest grace and favour which the Inca could testifie towards his Subjects For being possessed with an opinion that the Incas were not of humane race but descended as Gods from their Father the Sun they could not but conceive and fansie great blessings to accompany so gratious a presence and we may believe that the Inca departing with these intentions was received in all parts by his Subjects with great joy and adoration The Inca having passed three years in this progress and visitation returned afterwards to the City where having consulted with his Counsel he resolved to undertake a brave and hazardous War towards the Antis on the East-side of Cozco for as yet the Confine of the Empire were bounded by a long ridge of Hills by which the snowy Mountain extended it self but being desirous to pass it and discover what People or Nation inhabited on the other side the way to pass was contrived by following the current of Waters which run through those Hills from West to East for that the tops and precipices of those Mountains by reason of the Snows were esteemed impassable The pretence for this War was grounded on the common and plausible colour of Religion the design of withdrawing them from their unhumane and barbarous customs and instructing them in the knowledge and religion which the Sun their Father had delivered and all Nations had received were always forcible arguments and infallible grounds for making their War just This desire and motives of seeing this Countrey were encreased by an ancient relation which the Ancestors of this Inca had received that the Nations on the other side of this Mountain were populous and the Lands fruitfull but that part thereof was inhabitable being nothing but Mountains Lakes Bogs and Marish Grounds And as a farther encouragement to this design there was a report that amongst those populous Nations the greatest and most considerable of them was called Musu and since by the Spaniards Moxos to which there is a passage by a great River which about the Antis to the East of the City is divided into many rivulets being five in number every one having its proper Name but afterwards on the other side of the Antis they meet together and falling into one stream make a great River called Amarumayu Where this River empties it self Northward into the Sea is not discovered it is probable that running Eastward and joyning with many other Rivers it comes at length to fall into that River which we call the River of Plate for the Spaniards when they first discovered that Countrey demanded of the Natives whether there was Silver in those parts they answered that in that Countrey there was none but that at the Head of that River was great abundance from whence the Spaniards give the Name of Plate to that River though there be no Silver Mines arising in that Countrey towards the mouth of that River which is esteemed so famous that it hath gained the renown of the second great River in the World after the Orellana The River of Plate is called in the Indian Tongue Parahuay though the great River above if that be it which joins with the River of Plate is named Amarumoyu all the other five Streams losing their proper Names when they join with this Mayu signifies a River and Amaru are those great Serpents which are nourished in those Countries of such bigness as we have before described forasmuch as these Serpents being compared with lesser Snakes do much exceed them so doth that River surpass the Brooks and lesser Streams CHAP. XIV The Successes of the Expedition into Musu untill the end of it IT being impossible to find a way into Musu over the inaccessible Mountains and through the Lakes and Bogs the King Yupanqui resolved to follow the course of the River though as yet not known or discovered in pursuance of which Order was given to cut down Timber and make Boats or Floats for transporting ten thousand Men with Provision sufficient for them the which were two years in preparing all which being built and made ready and the Souldiers raised and armed and the Victuals and Ammunition provided and the General and Officers named all which were Incas of the Royal Bloud they embarked in their Boats made capable to carry thirty or forty or fifty Men a piece Their Provisions they laid in the middle of the Boats raised about half a yard from the bottom to keep them from wet With this force and preparations they sculled down the Stream and in their passage had many difficult Rencounters and Battails with the Natives of Chunchu who inhabit on the Banks on one side and the other of that
being resolved neither to send other Proposals nor receive them CHAP. XX. Of the cruel Battel between the Incas and other Nations and of the first Spaniard who discovered Chili THE day following both Armies raising their Camps put themselves in order of Battel and began the Fight with great Courage and Resolution which continued that whole day with such equality of Fortune that it could not be discerned to which part the Victory most inclined many were slain and wounded on both sides untill the night divided them and caused them to retreat to their several Quarters The second and third days were alike bloudy one party contending for Liberty and the other for Honour The fourth day both sides were drawn up in their Camp expecting which should make the attempt and in this order they continued for the space of two days after and then they both drew off each side suspecting that the other had sent for more Succours requiring speedy Recruits The Purumaucans and their Allies thought that they had gained Credit enough in being able to withstand the invincible Power of the Incas and with this Reputation they returned to their own Countries proclaiming Victory and Triumph in all parts where they passed The Incas after due and mature consideration thought it not convenient to pursue after the Enemy but rather give way to their bestial Fury for a time howsoever the Debates hereupon were divers some were for pursuing the Enemy untill they had entirely subdued them but others of a more moderate temper were for following the mild and gentle Principles of the Incas not being over forward in the utter destruction of their Enemies At length it was agreed and concluded that they should preserve that which they had already gained making the River Maulli the utmost limit and bound of their Frontiers untill such time as they should receive new Orders and Instructions from the Inca. Of all which the King Yupanqui being advised gave directions that they should give a stop to the farther progression of their Conquests and attend to the improvement and cultivating of the Lands and Possessions they had gained with particular respect to the ease and benefit of the new Subjects that so the neighbouring people being allured by this good treatment might offer themselves to become Vassals to the Inca and in case the Nature of this people should be so dull and stupid as not to observe and distinguish between the happiness of an improved Life and their own Bestialities that then the loss would be theirs and redound more to their own hurt than to the prejudice of the Incas In compliance with this Command from the King they desisted from farther prosecution of their Conquests in Chili making the River Maulli the ultimate bounds of their Empire which they fortified with Castles and strong Garisons so that now their business was to administer Justice and improve the Incomes of the Sun all which was performed with great respect to the benefit of the Subjects who finding themselves obliged by such kind treatment did with great Zeal and Affection embrace the Government of the Incas and comply with their Laws Rites and Religion continuing constant in them untill such time as the Spaniards became Masters of their Countrey The first Spaniard that discovered Chili was Don Diego de Almagro but he did but just see it and afterwards return to Peris having sustained innumerable labours and endured great fatigues both in his journey thither and in his return the which enterprise was the cause of the general Revolt of all Peru and the original of that Discord and civil Dissention which happened afterwards between those two Governours and of the Death of the said Almagro being taken Prisoner at the Battel of Salinas and also of the Death of the Marquiss D. Francisco de Piçarro and of D. Diego de Almagro who was born of Spanish and Indian Bloud and who commanded in the Fight called the Battel of Chupas Of all which we shall God willing treat more at large in its due place The second person that entred into the Kingdom of Chili was the Governour Pedro de Valdivia who with a strong party both of Horse and Foot marched beyond the Dominions of the Incas making conquest of all before him the Colonies which he planted were thriving and prosperous though he himself unhappily fell by the hands of his own Subjects of the Province of Araucu which he having subdued made choice of for himself when the Lands were divided amongst the Conquerours This worthy person planted many Colonies and founded Cities with Spanish Inhabitants and amongst the rest that which after his own Name was called Valdivia in the Conquest of this Province he performed many and noble Exploits and afterwards governed it with great prudence and justice and had not onely been happy in himself but fortunate also to his people had not the boldness of an Indian who adventured to cut the thread of his life given a period to the expectation of many other blessings which his Wisedom and Conduct might have produced to his Subjects And in regard the Death of this Governour and General was in a manner without Example and that which was never practised by the Indians either before or since the Entrance of the Spaniards into that Countrey and what turned to their greater mischief I have thought fit to relate it in this place that so the Reader may be clearly informed of the particulars of that unhappy battel according to the first report which came of it to Peru soon after the Fight was ended and likewise what intelligence the second report gave of it for better understanding of which it will be necessary to begin from the original and cause of this whole matter CHAP. XXI Of the Rebellion of Chili against the Governour Valdivia THE possession and inheritance of the Kingdom of Chili falling to the share and lot of this Gentleman who was worthy of an Empire his fortune was to be Master also of that part which yielded him a yearly Tribute of a hundred thousand pieces of Gold But in regard the thirst of Gold encreases with the gains of it and that there is no end proposed to Wealth and Riches so the more this Governour amassed the more labour and hard usage he imposed on the Indians forcing them beyond their strength and abilities to which they had not been accustomed to labour and dig in the Mines to satiate that Avarice of his which was never to be satisfied The people of Araucu which were the Subjects of Valdivia not being able to support this Yoke of bondage and servitude joined themselves with others in confederacy and put themselves into open rebellion committing all the outrages and insolencies they were able upon the Spaniards The Governour Valdivia having intelligence hereof marched out with a hundred and fifty Horse despising the Indians as the Spaniards have always done on occasion of such-like revolts and mutinies of that people
side of the City In the first Wall which is to front the power and first shock of an Enemy though they are all of the same Work they have placed the greatest of their Stones which are of that stupendious bigness as are admired by all that see them For my part I am of opinion that those Stones were never digged out of any Quarry but were loose Rocks found in the Mountains which they took and fashioned to their purpose and laid them as they casually came to hand some being hollow others rough and others plain and smooth some were pointed at the corners others without in the mending and plaining of which they were not very curious by paring or cutting off the uneven parts of every Stone but rather filled up the hollow or vacant places with some other Stone which was as great or greater than the other and so supplied the inequalities of one Stone by some other which fitted to it for it seemed to have been their intention to have composed all the work with great Stones and not to have pieced it up with the adjuncts of less being a matter of greater State and Magnificence And this is what Acosta did much admire in the Work that the Stones of the Wall not being cut but worked without any Rule or compass were yet so well fitted as if they had been all polished and though the outward superficies of the Stone was rough and not smooth but remained in its natural fashion yet the joint by which it was incorporated with another was so well worked that nothing could be better fitted so that considering the rustical outside and the artificial junctures within it made in gross a noble and a stately Frontispiece A certain Priest born at Montilla who remained at Peru after I was come to Spain and where he also returned in a short time after speaking of this Fortress and of the prodigious Stones told me that before he saw them he could not believe the report was made of the mightiness of them and after he had seen them the Fame seemed less than they really were and considering by what power or art they were laid in that form he could not conclude or imagine other than that they were so disposed by some Enchantment or power of the Divel And really though the Indians had been provided with all the Engines and Arts which are common in our Countries yet still the difficulty will occur how the Art of Man was able to arrive to so great a work which exceeds all the Seven Wonders of the Universe We know that to make a Wall so long and broad as that of Babylon to erect a Colossus at Rhodes or the Pyramids in Egypt are easily contrived and completed by the force of multitudes and quantities of all materials such as Brick and Lime for making the Walls of Babylon Brass and Copper for casting the Colossus Stones and Mortar for raising a Pyramid in fine time and labour and numbers of People are able to effect and compass any thing of this nature but how the Indians without Engines should be able to carry and transport such vast Stones or Rocks from remote places up to the top of a Hill and without Tools polish and fit them for a Building is such a riddle as the wit of Man is not able to resolve but must have recourse to Enchantments and helps from the Devil in regard that evil Spirits entertained such familiarity with that people Every Wall of the Rampire had its Gate about the middle and every Gate had its Percullis of Stone of the length and breadth of the Gate which shut it The first Gate they called Tiupuncu which signifies the Gate of Gravel because the Soil thereabouts is gravelly and full of Sand which may be mixed with Mortar for they call Sand and Gravel Tiu and Ypuncu a Gate The next Gate of the second Rampire they called Acahuana for the Word Acahuana pronounced with an aspiration in the Throat was the Name of the Master-workman that made it The third Gate was called Viracocha Puncu being consecrated to their God Viracocha which was the Apparition before related which in a Dream revealed unto the Prince the Rebellion of the Chancas and for that reason they esteemed him the Defender and new Founder of their City of Cozco and called that Gate by his Name imploring the like Protection and Assistence in defence of that Fortress which he had formerly shewed in the safeguard of that City and of the whole Empire Between one Wall and the other there was a distance of about twenty five or thirty foot which was filled up with Earth to the top of the Wall but it is not certain whether this Earth was cast up by hand or whether it were from the rise of the Hill perhaps it might be by both and that what was wanting by the ascent might be supplied by the hand Every Rampire had its Breast-work under which they could fight with better shelter than if they had exposed themselves to the open force of the Enemy CHAP. XXIX Of the three great Towers of the chief Workmen employed in this Building and of the great Rock which rested in the way HAving passed these three Walls or Rampires we come to a long and narrow place where were three strong Towers built in a Triangle according to the situation of the place the chiefest of them was placed in the middle called Mayoc Marca which signifies the round Fortress in which springs a plentifull Fountain of excellent Water which was brought at a far distance under ground but where and from whence the Indians do not know for such Secrets as these were always reserved from common knowledge in the Breasts of the Inca and of his Council In that Tower the Kings had their Apartments when at any time they went up to recreate themselves in the Fortress the Walls of which instead of Tapestry were adorned with Gold and Silver inlaid with the shapes of Birds and Beasts which were excellently well counterfeited it was also furnished with its services of Plate and other moveables properly belonging to it as had all the other Royal Palaces The second Tower they called Paucar Marca and the third Sacllac Marca they were both square with many Chambers for lodging Souldiers belonging to the Garison they were often relieved and changed by their turns and were to be all Incas of privilege for other Nations were not capable of admission into that Fortress being esteemed a sacred place and consecrated to the Sun for exercise of Arms as the Temple was for Prayers and Sacrifice The Captain or Commander in Chief was to be of the true and legitimate Royal Bloud under whom were several Lieutenants and Officers ordained some for government of the Militia others were Purveyors and such as had care of the Provisions others were Armourers to furbiâh and cleanse the Arms and others had the care of the Wardrobe of keeping the Cloths and Shoes of
so miserable and mean-spirited that they fear they shall want Earth and Water and Air. Whence the Indians had a Proverb amongst them which the Spaniards afterwards allowed in their Language calling a Man Quillacu when they would denote a covetous person or any of a vile and sordid nature and these were those on whom the Inca imposed a Tax or Tribute of Lice that so they might oblige them thereby to pick and cleanse themselves not suffering their bodies to be devoured alive by this vermine Tupac Yupanqui and after him his Son Huayna Capac did greatly ennoble these Provinces of the Cannarians and that also which is called Tumipampa with these publick Edifices and Royal Palaces adorning the Walls of the Chambers with the Figures of Herbs and Plants and all living creatures represented in Gold and Silver the Doors of them were plated with Gold and studded with Emeralds Torquoises and other pretious Stones for those Indians made it their business to make them Presents of things of great ostentation and to please and flatter their humour adorned their Temples and Palaces with all the Treasure they were able to procure Pedro de Cieça in the 44th Chapter of his Book treating at large of the Richness wherewith their Temples and Royal Chambers were adorned in the Provinces belonging to the Cannarians as far as Tumipampa which the Spaniards miscall Tome-bamba by a mistake of letters he there says That besides these Riches there was an immense sum of Treasure laid up in Jars and Pots and other Utensils together with rich Robes and Vestments of Silver with curious stitches of which he touches in many passages of his History the which was so neat and curious the Gold being stitched or woven in less pieces than Seed-pearl and with such artificial work that the best Silver-smiths in Seville have asked me the manner how they were woven or sown so close that the seam could not be discerned a small piece of which work I brought into Spain and it was highly prized and esteemed Pedro de Cieça having discoursed at large of the Treasure of the Cannarian Provinces hath these words In short whatsoever I can utter or express of the Riches with which the Incas have adorned their Palaces will fall short of the true value of it and then speaking in particular of the Chambers and Temple of Tumipampa he saith That the Indians report that the greatest part of those Stones of which those Chambers and Temple were built were brought from the great City of Cozco by command of the King Huayna Capac and his Father Tupac the Great by force of Men who drew them with Cables which if so was very wonderfull considering the weight of the Stones and the great number of them and the distance of the way These are the very words of that Historian who by reason of the difficulty of that work seems to doubt the truth of that report which the Indians gave but for my part who am also an Indian and acquainted with the humour of my Countreymen I do declare my belief to be thus far of it it being probable that those Incan Kings who were always desirous to shew favour to their Subjects would also oblige them in the transportation of these Stones from Cozco which coming from thence were esteemed Sacred For if it were a favour to have a licence granted for building a Temple to the Sun in any principal Province because thereby the Inhabitants became Citizens of Cozco much more must it be to have the very Materials of it brought from the City it self by command of the Inca without other charge or labour to the Natives and not onely to have their Temple resemble that at Cozco but also to be the same with it in the substance Now the Indians to enjoy such a piece of grandeur which they esteemed to be God-like and Divine would omit all other Works to employ themselves in the carriage of these Stones over Rocks and craggy Mountains and to such a far distance as it is from Cozco to Tumipampa which is no less than 400 Leagues which none would believe but those who were employed in the work But as to the report which Pedro de Cieça received from the Indians who averred that the greatest part of those Stones of which the Temple and Palaces of that Countrey were composed were brought from Cozco was more to boast of the favour and honour which the Inca did them in giving out such a Command than to raise the glory of such a Work by a belief that the Stones were really brought from so far a distance And so much shall serve for what we have to say concerning the Greatness and Riches of those Royal Palaces and Temples of the Sun which were built in Tumipampa and in all parts of Peru. CHAP. VI. Of the Conquest of many other and great Provinces as far as the Confines of Quitu THE Inca having settled and established affairs in Canaris he returned to Cozco where he spent several years in the administration of good Government and other just actions appertaining to the Office of a Great King. But as it is natural to Puissant Princes to be ambitious and desirous to enlarge their Empire so likewise this Inca thought it not fit to lose longer time in a reposed life but to proceed in his Conquests to which end he raised a considerable Army with which he marched to the Confines of Tumipampa from whence beginning his Conquests he reduced many Provinces as far as the Borders of the Kingdom of Quitu which extend little less than 50 Leagues in length the chief places of which are Chanchan Moca Quesna Pumallacta which signifies the Countrey of Lions because they abound more in those parts than in the places thereabouts and are adored by the Inhabitants of Ticcampi Tiucassa Cayampi Urcollasu and others of less note for their Gods the which places being very thin of people were easily reduced and moreover the Lands are very barren and the people sottish without Lords or Government or Religion or Political Communication every one adored that for God which they most desired or rather they worshipped nothing living like brute beasts scattered and wandering in the Fields and Woods whom there was more trouble to instruct and inform with any kind of good manners than to overcome or reduce these they taught to make Cloths and Shoes and to Manure the Land for watering of which they made Aqueducts and Chanels for them In all these Provinces the Incas made large Roads and High-ways and Store-houses to lay up Provisions for sustenance of the Souldiery and Chambers for their Kings but would not honour so vile and servile a sort of Inhabitants with the beauty of Temples dedicated to the Sun or with the Houses of Select Virgins they being capable of little more than to keep themselves clean from Lice by obligation of that Tribute they were to pay in them Whilst the Inca Tupac Yupanqui was
vvhich I refer my self to divers Witnesses Other Incas and Pallas I knevv to the number of tvvo hundred vvhich vvere all of the Royal Bloud but of less note than those vvhich I formerly mentioned vvho vvere the immediate Sons of Huayna Capac My Mother vvas his Brothers Daughter vvhose Name vvas Huallpa Tupac Inca Yupanqui I vvas acquainted vvith one Son and tvvo Daughters of King Atahualpa one of them vvas called Angelina of vvhom the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro begat a Son called Francisco vvho vvhen vve vvere of the Age of eight or nine years vvas a great Antagonist and Competitor vvith me for running and leaping his Uncle vvas Gonçalo Piçarro This Marquis had also a Daughter called Francisca vvhich vvas very beautifull and Married aftervvards to his Uncle Hernando Piçarro her Father begat her upon a Daughter of Huayna Capac called Ynes Huallas Nusta vvho vvas aftervvards Married to Martin de Ampuero an Inhabitant of the City of los Reyes The Son of the Marquis and another of Gonçalo Piçarro coming into Spain dyed young to the great grief of those vvho knevv them being the hopefull Off-spring of such renovvned Fathers But as to the other Daughter of Atahualpa I may mistake her Name vvhich vvas either Beatriz or Isabel she Married vvith a Spaniard called Blas Gomera and Wedded a second time vvith a Gentleman who was of Spanish and Indian Bloud called Sanco de Rojas but his Son was called Francisco Atahualpa he was a very handsome Youth well shaped and of a lovely countenance as were all the other Incas and Pallas but he dyed young We shall shortly mention him on occasion of a Story which my old Uncle the Brother of my Mother told me when he related the Cruelties of Atahualpa There was another Son of Huayna Capac remaining with whom I was not acquainted he was called Manco Inca and was the lawfull Heir to the Empire for Huascar dyed without Issue Male of whom we shall make mention hereafter CHAP. XXXIX Of what farther Cruelty was used towards the Servants of the Court. BUT to return to the Cruelties of Atahualpa who not content with the death and slaughter of all the Royal Family together with the Lords Captains and Nobility proceeded to Massacre all the Servants of the Court who were Domesticks within the House of whose Function and several Ministeries we have given a particular in its place for these were not particular persons but whole Villages to whose care it belonged to provide Servants for the Court and to change and alter them according to their times of waiting with these also Atahualpa had a quarrel for the Relation they had to the Court as also because they bore the Name of Inca which was conferred on them by that privilege and favour which the first Inca Manco Capac conferred on them Upon these Atahualpa vented his Cruelties but with more exquisite torment on such who were more near Attendants on the Person of the King such as Porters Keepers of the Wardrobe and Jewels Butlers Cooks and the like with whose lives not contenting himself together with the bloud of their Wives and Children he proceeded to burn and destroy their Houses and Villages which they inhabited but such as were Servants at a farther distance such as Cleavers of Wood and Drawers of Water were more gently treated for some of those they decimated killing every tenth or fifth Man in some places every third Man so that all the Villages within six or seven Leagues of Cozco suffered a particular and extraordinary Persecution besides the general calamity in which the whole Empire was involved being filled in all places with Slaughter Fire Robberies Rapes and Violences with what other miseries and devastation the licence of an unbridled Souldiery can exercise upon a Nation Nor were the Cities and Towns which were remote from Cozco exempt from the like calamities for so soon as Atahualpa heard of the Imprisonment of Huascar he entred all the Countries which were bordering on his Frontiers with Fire and Sword and particularly that which is called Cannaris because at the beginning they refused to yield him Obedience In revenge for which so soon as he gained power he treated them with all the severity imaginable which Augustin Carate in the 15th Chapter of his Book expresses in these Words Coming into the Province of Cannaris he assassinated sixty thousand Men being they had made opposition against him and putting all to Fire and Sword he laid wholly waste the Plantation of Tumibamba which is situate in a Plain and watered with three streams and thence proceeding in his Conquests left not one Man alive of all those who defended themselves c. the like Francisco Lopez reports almost in the same Words But Peter de Cieça is more large in his Relation saying that the want of Men and the abundance of Women in his time belonging to the Province of Cannaris was the cause that in the Wars of the Spaniards the Writers thereof mentioned Indian Men for Indian Women for to them they gave Commands in the Army And in giving the reason for it he useth these Words in the 44th Chapter of his Book Some Indians tell us saith he that by reason of the great numbers of Women which remained after that Atabalipa had destroyed all the Men of this Province whom he unhumanely butchered and after he had routed and destroyed in the Countrey of Ambaro the Brother of Guascar called Antoco who was the Captain-General of that people and had put to death all the Men and Children of that Province coming with green Boughs and Palms in their hands to implore his Mercy yet not being moved with such a spectacle of compassion he with a cruel and severe countenance commanded his Captains and Souldiers to fall upon them and slay them all by which a miserable slaughter was made of multitudes of Males as we have related in the third Part of this History so those who are now living say that there are fifteen Women in that Countrey to one Man. Thus far are the Words of Peter de Cieça with which we shall end this unpleasing Story of the Cruelties of Atahualpa for the present and reassume the particulars again in their proper places And now occasionally upon these Cruelties I was put in mind of a Story of Don Francisco the Son of Atahualpa who dyed some Months before I went for Spain which is this The day after his Death very early in the Morning before his Burial those few Incas who were remaining made a visit to my Mother and amongst the rest came the Old Inca whom I have formerly mentioned who instead of condoling and saying I am sorry for your loss because the party deceased was my Mothers Brothers Son he said to my Mother I am glad that the Great Pachacamac or Maker of the Universe hath conserved you unto this day in which you have seen the end and destruction of all your Enemies adding many other expressions full of
inconveniencies of the Mountains that they were in no condition to make resistence Wherefore the Marquis hastned into the Plains and Almagro unto Cozco c Thus far Carate Almagro in the instructions given to his General ordered him not to fight but upon constraint for these two Governours had always inclinations to agree and not drive matters to the extremity of a breach as may be observed ever since their meeting at Cozco before Almagro departed for Chili when between themselves all the flames of difference were extinguished the like passed at Malla where as both the Historians agree they chearfully embraced each other with all the kindness and affection imaginable and discoursed of indifferent matters with pleasure and delight And this good correspondence continued untill wicked Incendiaries interposed who representing every action with an evil face incited and precipitated them to such destructive resolutions as were afterwards fatal and ruinous to them both Nor did these pernicious Counsellours reap any benefit thereby unto themselves but being involved in the same calamities were ensnared as is usual in their own devices But to proceed Carate in the 11th Chapter of his third Book hath these Words The Marquis remaining with his whole Army in the Plains just upon the turn of the Mountain he found that there was a great diversity of opinions amongst his Officers concerning the manner and way that they were to proceed at length it was resolved That Hernando Piçarro in quality of Lieutenant-General should march with the Army unto Cozco and that his Brother Gonçalo should be Commander in Chief and that being arrived there he should declare that his intention and design of that Expedition was in compliance with Justice to restore those Citizens to their Estates and Commands over the Indians who had been deprived and banished from thence by the force and usurpation of Almagro In this manner the Army proceeding on their march towards Cozco and the Marquis returning to the City of los Reyes Hernando Piçarro came at length near to Cozco where the Officers advised as most convenient to pitch their Camp in the Plains for that Night but Hernando was of a contrary opinion and would Quarter within the Mountain So soon as it was Day Orgonnos appeared in the Field with the Forces of Almagro drawn up in Battalia His Captains of Horse were Francis de Chaves John Tello Vincent de Guevara or rather Vasco de Guevara and Francis de Chaves was elder Brother to another of the same name who was an intimate and familiar friend to the Marquis On the side of the Mountain some Spaniards were drawn up with a great number of Indians who at that time served for Auxiliaries All the Friends and Servants of the Marquis who were Prisoners at Cozco were crouded into two Angles of the Fortress which being a Prison so strait as could not contain the number of the people some of them were pressed and crouded to death in the place The next Day in the Morning after Mass Gonçalo Piçarro with his Army descended into the Plain where they disposed their Troops into several Battalions and in that order marched towards the City intending to draw up his Men upon a Hill which over-topped the Castle upon supposition that Almagro discovering his force would scarce adventure to give him Battel which he desired to avoid knowing how much depended on the success thereof but Rodrigo Orgonnos having no such thoughts attended his coming in the open way with his Army and Artillery c. Thus far are the Words of Carate which are confirmed by Lopez de Gomara To which we shall add some things which these Authours have omitted and are worthy to be remembred and may serve for the more clear understanding of this History And as to the first which was the place where the Battel was fought we say it was an errour of those who relate it to have been on the Hill which over-looks the Fortress For certainly the Engagement was in that Plain which the Indians call Cachipampa which signifies the Field of Salt and is situate about a League distant to the Southward from the Fortress near to a pleasant Fountain of saltish Water of which the Inhabitants of the City and parts adjacent bringing the streams into several Salt-pans make great abundance of Salt And these Works of Salt lying between the City and the place-where the Fight was they called it the Battel of the Salinas Orgonnos drew up his Men into Battalia with intention to dye with his Sword in his hand And though the Enemy was much more strong than his Army both in Men and Arms yet having been a Souldier in Italy where he had seen much service and had vanquished in a single Combat a Cavalier who was a famous Commander he did not in the least droop in his courage or shew any inconstancy or fear of mind And being a stout Souldier he something resented and was heartily piqued at a Message which Hernando Piçarro had sent him two Days before because it appeared something like a challenge being to give him notice that he and a certain Companion would enter the Battel on Horse-back armed with Coats of Male over which they would wear a slashed Coat of Orange-coloured Velvet of which he thought fit to give him notice that in case he or any other had an intention to engage with him he might distinguish him by those Signals This Message Hernando was induced to send on the score of some Indignities which he remembred and resented ever since the time of his Imprisonment Orgonnos taking this for a challenge called Captain Pedro de Lerma to him whom he knew to be an Enemy to the Piçarros and one who ever since the business at Amancay had excluded himself from all possibility of reconciliation with them and told him saying Our Enemy is so confident of his Force that he already triumphs for his Victory giving us the signs by which we may know his Person Now in regard our Army is inferiour to his in Number though superiour in Courage and Bravery so that we have little hopes to subdue him howsoever let us at least ravish the enjoyment of Victory out of his hands nor suffer him whatsoever comes of it to see that joyfull day They are as they say two Companions so and so habited Let you and I Encounter them with such resolution as that they may be slain by our hands so shall we wipe off this affront and not dye unrevenged With this resolution they prepared themselves for the Battel which shortly ensued with great effusion of bloud and cruelty as will appear in the Chapters following CHAP. XXXVII Of the bloudy Battel of the Salinas ROdrigo Orgonnos to perform the part of a good Souldier put his Forces the next Morning very early into order of Battel his Infantry he reduced to one Battalion supported on each Wing by his Harquebusiers which were few in number and much less than those on
yet those of Potocsi were not discovered and confiscated to the use of Almagro all the Indians Riches and Wealth vvhich belonged to the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro vvhich amounted to a vast sum the like he did of the Plantations of Captain Diego de Rojas of Perançurez of Graviel de Rojas of Garçilasso de la Vega and of all other the Inhabitants of that Town whom he knew well affected to the party of Piçarro Another Messenger was sent into the Province of Chachapuyas which Alonso de Alvarado had kept in peace and quiet and who having seen and read the Declaration of Don Diego which promised great rewards to such as obeyed him and threatned such as opposed him he notwithstanding seized on the Messenger and persuaded a hundred that were with him to follow him and serve his Majesty to which they having yielded a chearfull assent he declared for the King and set up his Standard And though Almagro wrote him very kind Letters endeavouring to allure him to his party he refused all his Offers protesting that he would never own or acknowledge him for Governour untill such time as he had seen his Majesty's express Commission and Commands for the same which as he knew his Majesty would never grant so he did not doubt but with the help of God and the Valour of his Souldiers to revenge the bloud of the Marquis and punish the contempt which he had put on the Authority of his Majesty All which Alvarado adventured to say and act trusting to the advantage of the situation of that Countrey which as we have said in several places was very Mountainous by help of which he hoped to secure his small force untill such time as recruits and greater numbers of those who were Piçarrists could come in to joyn with him being well assured that all that party and the people inhabiting along the Coast would readily assist and serve the Emperour Where now we will leave them for a while to treat of others who followed the same course The Officers and Instruments of Almagro which were dispatched with his Commission to Cozco durst not proceed with the like rigour there as in other places for they well knew that as there were many well-affected persons in that City so those who were rich and principal Men there and had power over the Indians were all devoted to the service of his Majesty And that the contrary party consisted onely of some poor indigent Souldiers and such as were newly come into that Countrey who hoped by such disturbances and alterations to make their fortunes Those who were the Chief Justices at that time in the City were Diego de Silva whom we have formerly mentioned under the Name of the Son of Feliciano de Silva a Native of the City of Rodrigo together with Francis de Carvajal who afterwards was Major-General to Gonzalo Piçarro These persons having seen the Orders did not think fit to irritate the contrary party by a flat and down-right denial of all compliance but having consulted the Jurats and the Community of the City Council returned answer That in an Act of such great weight and importance it was necessary that Don Diego should send a more ample power than that which he had already done which seemed short and defective in many particulars upon tender of which they promised to receive him for their Governour But this was said not with any intention to comply but onely to amuse them and spin out time untill they could unite their forces which were for the most part dispersed in their possessions and employed in the Gold Mines of which most of the Inhabitants of that City of Cozco had some shares allotted to them CHAP. XI What the Inhabitants of Cozco acted in order to the King's Service What also was done in favour of Don Diego Vaca de Castro nominated in Spain for Judge to determine the quarrels and differences in Peru. GOmez de Tordoya who was principal Citizen and Chief of the Common Council of that Corporation was not then present when the Orders and Commission of Almagro were brought to Cozco having been in the Countrey for six or seven days to divertise himself with Hawking and other sports so soon as he had read the Letters which advised him of the Tragical Death of the Marquis for whom he conceived a particular esteem being his particular Friend and Confident he was much grieved and shrinking up his shoulders turned his head toward the Hawk he carried saying It is now more seasonable for us to prepare for a War with Fire and Sword than to attend to our sports and our Countrey recreations for being a judicious Man he well foresaw all those miseries and calamities cruel deaths and revolutions which would be the certain consequences of the late successes Hereupon he immediately returned to the City and not to give any occasion of jealousie or offence to the contrary party he came in by night and having discoursed with several of the Corporation he told them that it was necessary to convene the people of Arequepa of the Charcas and of the parts lying Southward from Cozco and to assemble the Spaniards which were dispersed about the Countries To which end he advised them to dispeed Messengers of which he offered himself for one This resolution being taken he departed that very night from Cozco and went in search of Captain Nunno de Castro who then resided at his Plantation which was about fifteen or twenty Leagues from the City where being arrived they both dispatched Messengers to Pedro de Ançures and to Garçilasso de la Vega and having informed them of the late successes they required them as good and loyal Subjects to repair to Cozco there to perform such Services as their duty to his Majesty required After these Messages were dispatched Gomez de Tordoya went in all haste to seek out for Captain Pedro Alvarez Holguin who with a hundred Spaniards was marched to the East of Collao to conquer the Indians of those parts who as yet had not been subdued and travelling with all diligence and haste at length he over-took him and gave him a relation of the Death of the Marquis and how Don Diego de Almagro pretended to govern the Empire Wherefore he desired him to take this business to heart and to interest himself so far in this service of God and the King as to become Captain and Chief Leader of the people who had joyned in this League and Association together and farther to oblige him he offered to serve under him in quality of the meanest of his Souldiers Pedro Alvarez being sensibly touched with the Justice of the cause and pleased with the Honour so freely offered to him accepted the Command and Charge and immediately set up a Standard for his Majesty sending Messengers to the Charcas and to Arequepa to publish his Declaration containing his Reasons and Intention of this War farther giving them to understand that he would march fair
the Elder To appease which and to examine the true state of all matters his Majesty was pleased to give Commission to Dr. Vaca de Castro one of His Privy Council to examine all matters concerning the Death of Don Diego de Almagro without making any alteration in the Power and Government of the Marquis but in case the Marquis should be dead before his Arrival then by a provisional Commission he was constituted Governour in his place This worthy Person for so his Actions shew him was a Native of the City of Leâ and of the Families of the Vacas de Castro and Quinnones which are noble Houses amongst many others which flourish in that Royal City Vaca de Castro embarked at Sevil for Peru and after many Difficulties and stormy Weather to which that Northern Sea is subject he arrived at Nombre de Dios much later than was expected from whence he went to Panama where he again embarked for Peru upon a Ship not so well provided for such a Voyage as was requisite especially since it was to execute a Commission of such great importance for the Ship being defective had not proceeded many Leagues on her Voyage before she was detained on the Coast by contrary Winds by force of which having lost one of her Anchors she was carried by the Current into that Bay which is called the Bay or Gulf of Gorgona which is a bad place and very hard for any Ship to get out which is bound to Peru. Wherefore Vaca de Castro encouraged the Mariners to use all the diligence they were able but finding all ineffectual and to little purpose he resolved to go by Land since he could not avail to go by Sea. But the Journey was long difficult and tedious by reason of the craggy Mountains the great Rivers and Desarts which they were to pass with want of those Provisions which were good and wholsome This long delay gave opportunity to Almagro to revenge the Death of his Father of which he was impatient seeing that the Justice which His Majesty had promised was so long deferred At length after various chances of a difficult Journey Judge Vaca de Castro came to the Frontiers of Quitu where Pedro de Puelles resided in Quality of Deputy to Gonzalo Piçarro So soon as he found himself within the Limits of his own Countrey and had been rightly informed of all matters which had passed in Peru and of the Practices and Designs of the several Factions he wrote unto all parts giving them advice of his Arrival and of the Commission he brought with him from His Majesty by virtue of which he required them to receive him for their Governour And whereas he had thereby a power to substitute other Officers he dispatched his Commissions to all the Cities of Peru constituting such Men Judges thereof who as he was informed were moderate Persons and not interested or engaged in either party CHAP. XII The People of Rimac and other parts receive Vaca de Castro for Governour Peralvarez and his Complices contrive a Strategeme of War against Almagro and join with Alonso de Alvarado AMongst the Commissions which Judge Vaca de Castro dispatched to several places that for the City of Los Reyes was directed to Friar Thomas de St. Martin Provincial of the Order of the Dominicans and to Francis de Barionuevo and to Geronimo de Aliaga giving them power and authority to superintend the Government of that City and of the parts thereunto belonging untill he himself arrived there in Person These Commissions were brought and delivered in the Convent of St. Dominick some few days after the departure of Almagro and in the absence also of the Father Provincial whom Almagro had carried with him to countenance his Enterprise with the presence of such a Person Howsoever the Mayor and Aldermen of the City assembled in the night and having opened the Commission they with common consent obeyed it and received Vaca de Castro for Governour of that Empire and Geronimo de Aliaga to be his Deputy as the Commission specified So soon as the Citizens had passed this Act they fled to Truxillo fearing the return of Almagro who as yet was not advanced so far on his march but that upon the News of this Revolution he was ready to have returned with full intent to avenge this sudden desertion on the City with Fire and Sword and other Cruelties but then fearing lest this delay should give an advantage to Alvarez Holguin he resolved to proceed and to pursue his Design which vvas of greatest importance Hovvsoever in the Execution thereof many cross and unfortunate Accidents occurred for so soon as it vvas knovvn in the Army that a Governour from His Majesty vvas arrived in the Countrey many of the principal Men revolted and deserted him amongst vvhich vvere the Father Provincial John de Saavedra the Agitant Yllen Suarez de Carvajal de Aguero and Gomez de Alvarado Hovvsoever in despight of all these discouragements Almagro resolutely pursued his Point and Design though to his great disappointment and prejudice his Lieutenant General John de Rada fell sick by reason of vvhich he vvas greatly confused vvithin himself vvhat course to take for in case he left him behind he vvas in danger of falling into the Hands of the Enemy nor did the Extremity of his Sickness admit of any motion hovvsoever for his sake he lessened his days journies and marched very softly knovving that his principal business vvas to overthrovv Alvarez Holguin Pedro Alvarez being informed that the Enemy vvas dravving near to vvhom his Force vvas much inferiour he thought it no vvise prudent to adventure the success of Affairs on the hazard of a Battel considering that the subsistence of his Army vvas of great importance to the Service of his Majesty vvherefore to supply that vvhich vvas vvanting in strength by some Strategeme of War it vvas agreed by a Council of War to detach a Body of tvventy choice Horse to serve for Scouts and to use all their endeavours to take some of the Souldiers of Almagro vvhich accordingly happened out for these Horse took three Spies belonging to the Enemy vvhich being brought to Alvarez he hanged up tvvo of them and the third he saved making him great promises of Revvard for the future and in hand bestovved on him three thousand Pesos of Gold conditionally that he should return to the Camp of Almagro and there persuade several of those vvhom he knevv to be vvell affected to him to revolt from Almagro and assist him in the Fight for that he designed the next day by tvvilight of the morning to assault the Army of Almagro on the East-side of the Camp vvhich by reason that it bordered on the Skirts of the snovvy Mountain he imagined vvould be the worst guarded and that therefore little or no provision would be made on that part against any Attempt And farther they gave him instructions to assure such Friends as should join herein of the
same Rewards and should be more amply repaid according to those great Services which thereby they would perform to the Emperour his King and Master and to secure the Souldier's Faith in this matter they tendered an Oath to him whereby they caused him to swear never to discover this secret to any person whatsoever saying that having esteemed him for a good Friend they had entrusted to him the greatest secret in the World. The Souldier returning told his Story how that his two Companions were hanged by the Enemy and he alone was saved and set at Liberty upon which Almagro reflecting a while imagined that some use was to be made of this Souldier who without any apparent reason was better treated than the other to discover which he seized on the Souldier and put him to the torment The Souldier being on the Rack confessed the secret committed to him and how Peralvarez designed to attack him on the Quarter which was next to the snowy Mountain by reason that that side being esteemed almost inaccessible would lie the most open and undefended By which Confession Almagro finding that the Souldier intended to act in a treacherous manner against him gave order to have him hanged Howsoever giving some credit to his Words he fortified that side of his Camp which bordered towards the snowy Mountain where for the space of three days he endured much cold howsoever by these means Alvarez got the start and marched at a good distance before him Almagro followed him for some Leagues but finding that it was impossible to overtake him he returned into the high Road which leads to Cozco Alvarez proceeding on the way he intended joined his Forces with those of Alonso de Alvarado at which meeting there was great joy and triumph because that the greatest number of them consisted of such as had entred that Countrey with Don Pedro de Alvarado which was the first original of Friendship and Association which was commenced between them These Forces being thus joined Letters were written by common consent to the Judge Vaca de Castro giving him to understand of all matters that were past and desiring him to hasten with speed to them for that his presence was necessary in that conjuncture for better countenance of their Affairs So soon as these Letters came to hand Castro de Vaca hastened to the City of Quitu to recruit his People with the Forces which were in that place When he came near Lorenzo de Aldana who was Lieutenant Governour for the Marquis in Quitu went forth to meet and receive him as did also Pedro de Puelles who was the Deputy of Gonzalo Piçarro and Captain Pedro de Vergara not to be faulty or remiss in paying the same respect though otherwise employed in the Conquest of that Province which is called Pacamuru and by the Spaniards Bracamoros went also to receive Judge Vaca de Castro and deserted the place which he had already fortified that he might be better enabled to defend himself and send his Forces against Almagro but before Vaca de Castro thought fit to leave Quitu he dispatched Pedro de Puelles before to Truxillo to make such provisions in that City and in the Countrey thereabouts as the War required He likewise dispatched orders to Gomez de Rojas a Native of Cuellar to repair with his Forces in all diligence to Cozco and there to persuade the People to receive him for Governour who accordingly made such speed that he arrived at Cozco before Almagro who was detained in his way by the sickness of John de Rada who dyed afterwards in that Province Gomez de Rojas was well received in Cozco and his Orders and Instructions obeyed and accordingly Castro was acknowledged for Governour for that City remained loyal and obedient to His Majesty in such manner as it had been left by Alvarez Holguin In the mean time Vaca de Castro departed from Quitu and went to Truxillo and by the way was met with many Noble Persons who had been dispersed about the Countries and by many Souldiers who being desirous to serve His Majesty went forth to receive him Pedro Alvarez and his people who then resided at Truxillo agreed to send two persons to meet him on the way and in the name of them and of the whole City to make tender of their Obedience and Service to him as Governour by Commission from His Majesty by which Title we shall distinguish him hereafter the Persons nominated for Envoyes on this occasion were Gomez de Tordoya and Garcilasso de la Vega with sight of whom the Governour was greatly rejoiced being much encouraged to see his party daily encrease to such numbers that when he entered Truxillo he brought with him above 200 Souldiers besides several which fled from Almagro amongst which the principal Persons were the Father Provincial Yllen Suarez de Carvajal Gomez de Alvarado John de Saavedra and Diego de Aguero Being arrived at Truxillo he was received with such solemnity as was due to a Governour that is in a military pomp with found of Drums and Trumpets and Vollies of Shot for as yet matters were in a state of War and not prepared for a reception according to the formalities of Peace CHAP. XIII The Governour makes choice of Captains Sends his Army before Provides all things necessary for the service of His Majesty Christopher de Sotelo is killed by Garcia de Alvarado and Garcia de Alvarado by Don Diego de Almagro PEdro Alvarez Holguin and his Captains and Souldiers who had professed Submission and Loyalty to the Governour in his absence did now upon his arrival testifie their actual Obedience by a publick Declaration in Writing under their hands and solemnly resign the Command and Power of the Army into his hands the Captains and Officers delivering up their Commissions and laying their Ensigns at his Feet the like was followed by the Governours and Justices of the City of Truxillo all which the Governour received in such manner as was fitting and renewed them again in the name of His Majesty confirming every person in his Office either Civil or Military respectively as before He gave six Commissions to Captains of Horse namely to Pedro Alvarez Holguin Alonso de Alvarado Pedro Anzures Gomez de Alvarado Garcilasso de la Vega and to Pedro de Puelles The Captains of Harquebusiers were Pedro de Vergara Nunno de Castro and John Velez de Guevara who was a Scholar as well as a Souldier and such a Mechanick that he directed the making all the Musquets for his own Company and was so active and industrious that he divided his time between Letters and Arms in such manner that both in this present state of Affairs as also on occasion of the Troubles caused by Goazalo Piçarro as we shall hereafter relate he was ordained and constituted in quality of a Judge so that all the morning untill noon he clothed himself in the Robes of a Lawyer in which he heard Causes and
by his bloud to make a sacrifice of Atonement to the Governour whereby to obtain pardon for himself and his Complices and having consulted hereupon with some of his Friends and Confidents the means agreed to compass this design was to invite Almagro to a solemn Banquet at which being present and without suspition in his House he might set upon him and kill him Accordingly an invitation was made unto Almagro who to avoid the appearance of all suspition and Jealousie relating to what he feared he accepted the Offer The day being come and he more confirmed in the certainty of what he formerly suspected feigned himself sick and much indisposed and unfit to be present at a Banquet And here Carate proceeds on his story and says Garcia de Alvarado finding himself disappointed after he had disposed and prepared all matters in order to the execution of his Design determined to go with a great Train of Friends to importune Almagro to accept the Invitation and being on his way thither he met with Martin Carillo and told him where he was going to which he made answer that in his opinion he did not doe well being assured that he would be there killed another Souldier also confirmed the same all which was not sufficient to dissuade him to the contrary so in he went to the Chamber where he found Almagro lying on his Bed having secretly conveyed certain armed Men into an inner Room So soon as Alvarado and his Complices came in Come my Lord said he arise and give not way to a little Indisposition it will be good for you to walk and divertise your self and though you eat but little yet your presence will chear up the Company and the other Guests Almagro told him that he would go and arising called for his Cloak for he was laid on the Bed in his Wastecoat with his Sword and Dagger and being about to go forth the People in the room went out first and just as Alvarado who was immediately before Almagro was ready to go out John de Rada who kept the door clapt it to on a sudden and then closing with Garcia de Alvarado You are my Prisoner said he with which Almagro drawing his Sword ran him through the Body saying You are not onely a Prisoner but a dead Man with which John Balsa Alonso de Saavedra Diego Mendez Brother of Rodrigo Orgonnos and others which lay concealed in the inner Room rushed forth and gave him so many wounds as deprived him of his Life The news hereof being reported abroad began to cause great Tumults in the City but Almagro appeased all with his presence so that the mischief proceeded no farther onely the Complices of Alvarado thereupon fled to the Governour Thus far Carate the which is confirmed by Lopez de Gomara The name of the Souldier which Carate says advised Alvarado not to goe was Augustine Salado And whereas it is said that John de Rada was he who shut the Door is a mistake and slip of the pen for as is before mentioned he dyed at Saussa but he who clapt the door to was Peter de Onnate for which piece of Service so opportunely performed Almagro made him his Lieutenant General CHAP. XIV Don Diego de Almagro marches forth to meet the Governour and Gonzalo Piçarro after having passed most incredible Difficulties finds his way out of the Cinnamon Countrey SOme days after that matters were quieted which had been put into a fermentation and disturbance by the Death of Alvarado Almagro resolved to proceed with his Army against the Governour Vaca de Castro who as he had received intelligence was departed from the City of Los Reyes to meet and fight him On which occasion Almagro resolved to give him to understand that he did not fear his Force esteeming himself the more formidable of the two for that his Souldiers being seven hundred Spaniards in number were all brave and stout fellows amongst which two hundred were Harquebusiers two hundred and fifty Pikemen and of them many armed with Halberds the rest consisted of two hundred and fifty Horsemen all armed with Coats of Mail and Back and Breast of Iron many of which were made by themselves and as Gomara saith in Chapter 149. were better Men and better armed than any of those belonging to the Armies either of his Father or of Piçarro Moreover he had a great Train of Artillery to which he trusted very much besides a number of Indians c. These are the Words of Gomara to which he farther adds That John Balsa was his General and Peter d'Onate his Lieutenant-General With these Souldiers and with these Provisions and Equipage Almagro marched to meet and give Battel to the Governour Vaca de Castro and having proceeded fifty Leagues he entred into the Province of Villca where he received information that the King's Army was thirty Leagues distant from thence But let us for a while make a digression from both these Parties and return to Gonzalo Piçarro whom with his Companions we left engolfed in the most inextricable Difficulties and Necessities which humane Nature was capable to sustain for they were to contend with deep and rapid Rivers with Bogs and moorish Grounds which were unpassable and were to travel over Mountains of incredible height on which grew Trees of an immense magnitude as Gomara in the end of his eighth Chapter reports upon the authority of Vicente Yanez Pinçon who was one of the Discoverers and who having related what had befaln him in those parts concludes at length with the strange Prodigies of that Countrey of which he gives a Narrative in these following Words The Discoverers brought with them the bark of certain Trees which seemed to be Cinnamon and the Skin of a Beast which put its young ones into its Breast and they related for a strange Story that they had seen Trees which sixteen Men could not fathome or encompass with their Armes c. But besides the many Difficulties with which Gonzalo Piçarro and his Companions were to struggle the most irresistible of all was Hunger that grievous and cruel Enemy of Man and Beast which hath been so fatal to both in that uninhabited Countrey We have said before that Gonzalo Piçarro resolved to return unto Peru and therefore leaving the River he took his way Northward and passed through Lands and Mountains no less difficult than the former being forced to open a way and path with Bills and Hatchets and to feed upon Herbs and Roots and wild Fruit which were so scarce that when any plenty thereof happened they esteemed themselves fortunate in that Days journey when they came to Lakes and moorish Grounds they carried their sick and infirm people on their Shoulders in which work none took more pains than Gonzalo Piçarro and his Captains who by their Example gave courage and chearfulness to all the rest In this manner they had travelled three hundred Leagues through all the Difficulties we have related and more than can
be expressed for who can fansie or imagine the Labours they had sustained in the Journey of four hundred Leagus outwards and in that of three hundred Leagues back and yet after all there was no prospect of an end though they had killed their Horses and eaten them one after another till they had made an end of all At first they eat their Grey-hounds Spannels and Mastiff-Dogs which as we have mentioned in our History of Florida were of great use and service to them in the Conquest of the Indies and of these they made their Delicacies so long as they lasted At length as Gomara saith Chapter 144. the Spaniards were ready to eat those which dyed according to the Custome of those barbarous Indians who inhabit those Mountains c. So soon as the Horse-flesh sailed which being divided amongst so great numbers was inconsiderable many Indians as well as Spaniards were starved with Hunger for the force of Herbs was not alone able to sustain Nature so that they began then to faint and droop so being forced to leave the Indians and Spaniards by three and four in a company abandoning them to the Woods and to the Mountains there to perish and dye without comfort in the same manner as we have related in the Journal of Garcilasso de la Vega where they were exposed to the like Misery not being able to travel and keep company with their Fellows But the want of Salt was none of their least needs for that in their Travels of four hundred Leagues as Carare saith in the 5th of his 4th Book they found not one grane thereof for the Countries being uninhabited they neither found any nor people to inform them what they used in the place thereof for want of which they became weak in their joints faint and scorbutick stinking and almost rotten alive in the same manner as we have related in the History of Florida where is demonstrated how much Salt is necessary for conservation of humane Life By reason of the continual Rains and moisture of the Earth their woollen Cloths and linen being always wet became rotten and dropped from their Bodies so that from the highest to the lowest every Man was naked and had no other covering than some few Leaves with which they hid their privy parts both before and behind And though that warm Climate did not require much clothing yet it had been a good Defence against the Thorns and Bushes of those rough Mountains over which they could make no other way than by Bills and Hatchets and yet the Briers and Brambles tore their Skins that they seemed all over raw and half flead So great and so unsupportable were the Miseries which Gonzalo Piçarro and his Companions endured for want of Food that the four thousand Indians which attended them in this Discovery perished with Famine and amongst them a certain Indian greatly beloved by Gonzalo Piçarro who took the Lances from the two Cavaliers as we have before related for which piece of bravery he was lamented by him with as much sense of Grief as if he had been his Brother as he often declared Likewise of the three hundred and forty Spaniards which entred on this Discovery two hundred and ten dyed besides the fifty which were carried away by Orellana Those eighty which remained alive after having passed three hundred Leagues of Mountain entred at length into a more open Countrey and a more dry Climate where they found Birds Deer and other wild Beasts which they killed with their Cross-bows and Guns by the help of a small quantity of their Powder which they had reserved Of the Skins of these Beasts they made themselves short Breeches onely sufficient to cover their Nakedness for they would not reach farther their Swords they carried without Scabbards all covered with rust and they walked barefoot and their Visages were become so black dry and withered that they scarce knew one the other in which condition they came at length to the Frontiers of Quitu where they kissed they Ground and returned Thanks to Almighty God who had delivered them out of so many and so imminent Dangers And being come now to a place of Food and sustenance they were so greedy thereof that they were forced to lay a restraint upon their Appetites and stint themselves to a certain proportion lest they should surfeit with excess some of them who were of a more weak Constitution and accustomed to Fastings and Abstinence were not able to endure repletion their Stomachs rejecting the Food and Nutriment administred to them And now approaching near to the City of Quitu they gave notice to the Inhabitants of their condition but the place being almost dispeopled by reason of the Wars raised by Almagro and by the absence of its principal Citizens and by the few Merchants which were therein they were so poor that all the Cloathing they could make was not sufficient to supply the wants of Piçarro and his company All the stock which the City could make being onely six Suits of Apparel contributed by several persons one brought a Cloak another a Coat another a Wastcoat another a pair of Breeches another a Hat and Shirts and all of several Pieces and Colours which served to cloath Gonzalo Piçarro and his other five principal Officers for it was impossible to provide sufficient furniture for them all In the whole Town there were onely twelve Horses left for all the rest were sent to the Wars in Service of his Majesty on these they laded Provisions and food for them and would have sent all the delicacies in the World had that place afforded them for Gonzalo Piçarro was the most beloved Man in Peru and indeed his Nature was so affable and his Deportment so obliging that he rendred himself acceptable to Strangers wheresoever he came and how much more to Friends and Companions Twelve of the most substantial Citizens were appointed to carry the Presents and therewith travelled thirty Leagues from the City before they met with Gonzalo Piçarro It is not to be imagined how much joy and satisfaction was expressed at this meeting accompanied with such a floud of tears upon rehearsal of the dolefull Story that it is hard to determine which passion either of joy or sorrow was the most prevalent for Piçarro and his Companions were transported with an Excess of joy and comfort to see themselves delivered from those dangers and miseries out of which they once believed it impossible to escape The Citizens on the other side grieved and lamented to see in what a miserable and squalid condition Gonzalo and his Friends returned and to hear the dolefull story of those who perished with Famine and in what manner they had left many of their Companions alive in the Mountains and exposed to dye with hunger But at length considering that there was no remedy for what was past they comforted each other drying up their Tears which little availed CHAP. XV. Gonzalo Piçarro being entred into
de Ulva and from thence proceeded to Veracruz and in a short time afterwards came to Mexico being received in his way thither by all People with that respect duty and joy as was due to his Quality and Commission But the People of Mexico being informed of the Rules and Instructions he brought with him resolved to goe forth and meet him at some short distance from the City not with Musick or Merriment but as Diego Fernandez reports clothed in Mourning and with such sadness and sorrow in their countenances as might testifie their resentments fears and apprehensions they conceived at his entrance into the Government Which Intention being made known to the Vice-king Don Antonio de Mendoça he presently endeavoured to prevent the same and to put the People into a better humour commanding them to receive him with Joy and Mirth and accordingly the Vice-king and Council with the Officers of State the Mayor and Aldermen of the City as also the Clergy with above 600 Gentlemen all richly adorned and well-armed went forth to receive him at half a League distance from the City The Vice-king and the Super-Intendent met and entertained each other with much complement and ceremonies and the like passed with all others and then he proceeded to the Monastery of St. Domingo at his entrance into which he was received by Father John Cumarrage of the Order of St. Francis Arch-bishop of Mexico and was conducted thither by the Vice-king who having seen him there in his Lodging he left him and committed him to his repose All which being thus far related by Diego Fernandez he proceeds to give us a description of the City of Mexico in these words If it may be lawfull for me who am an Indian and for that reason may seem partial to my own Countrey I should gladly repeat the words which he uses in honour of that great City which may be compared to the ancient greatness of Rome in its glory His words are these This great City of Mexico is situated in a plain and founded amidst the Waters like Venice and therefore for the better communication of the Inhabitants it is furnished with a great number of Bridges The Lake in which this City is built though it seems to be of one single Water yet in reality it consists of two which are of different natures the one is of a bitterish and brackish sort of Waters and the other of a sweet taste and wholesome for the body the Salt-water ebbs and flows but the Sweet-water doth not so but being of a higher situation falls into the Salt-water and the Salt-water on the contrary doth not arise so high as to damage the other The Salt-water Lake is about five Leagues broad and eight Leagues in length and the Sweet-water is much of the like dimension upon these Lakes about 200 thousand small Boats are emploied which the Natives call Acales and the Spaniards Canoes they are all made of one piece of Timber and are bigger or less according to the proportion of the Tree out of which they were hewen About this time this City contained 700 great and principal Palaces well built of Lime and Stone the which were not covered with Tile or Slate but made flat with a Tarras so that People might walk on the top The Streets are very commodious plain and streight and so wide that four Horsemen may be able to ride a-breast with their Lances and Targets without touching one the other The Town-house where the Tribunals of Justice are held hath nine several Courts or Yards within it together with a large Garden and a spacious place where they exercised their Sports called the Feasts of Bulls Within this House the Vice-king Don Antonio de Mendoça kept his Court and the Visitor or Super-Intendent Don Francisco Tello de Sandoval with three Judges and the Accountant General were conveniently lodged Within the Verge also of this Town-house the Royal Prison was contained and a House and Office for sounding Bells and Cannon as also the Mint for Coinage of Money Upon one side of this House the Street fronts which they call Tacuba and on the other side runs the Street of St. Francis and behind is the Street called the Chase all which are Principal Streets and on the Front of all is the open Place where they bait the Bulls and in fine this Palace is of that large Circumference that it answers to the eighty Gates belonging to the Houses of Principal Inhabitants of that City The Indians of this City live in two great Streets called St. Jago and Mexico the number of which are at this time reckoned to be 200 thousand The Avenues to this City are four one whereof is two Leagues in length and is that to the South-ward by which Hernando Cortes made his entry Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez to which this Authour adds That in those days there were 700 great capacious Houses he might mean rather 700 large Streets which may well be imagined if we take the Measures thereof by the proportion of that vast Palace wherein were contained the Vice-king's House the Visitors Apartments with the Lodgings of the Judges and other Officers of the Kingdom as also the Prison the Mint and the rooms wherein the Bells and Cannon were founded all and every of which Offices were so large that each of them of it self contained a whole Street which this Authour confirms in the Description he gives of this House saying That this House is so large that it answers to 80 great Gates belonging to the Houses of Principal Citizens In short we may positively affirm that this Imperial City of Mexico is certainly one of the chief if not the most considerable City in the World. The which I prove by the testimony of a Dutch Gentleman who having out of curiosity travailed to see the most famous Cities of the Old World did averre that out of curiosity onely to see Mexico he took a voyage into the new-found World and that besides the pleasure he took in the sight thereof he had gained 20 thousand Ducats in his Countrey upon several wagers he had made concerning the particulars he had related thereof to prove which a man was purposely sent to those parts But not to make too long a Digression upon this Subject we shall omit many particulars which he related to me hereof as also of his long Travails he made there and the many years he spent therein which to my best remembrance he told me were 14. Palentino reports that when the Vice-king went forth to meet and receive the Visitor or Super-Intendent he was accompanied with the Privy Council Judges and other Officers of State as also with the Mayor and Aldermen of the City and the Clergy together with 600 Gentlemen all very richly attired and well armed all which was no Romance nor more than the truth For besides other Grandeurs and pieces of Ostentation belonging to Mexico it is most certain that 't
such as became loyal and obedient Subjects To which Piçarro made answer that since they were well acquainted with the implacable spirit of the Vice-king who had often boasted that he brought a Commission with him to take off his head he could not but wonder that they should send him bound to the hands of the Executioner and with the glorious title of their Representative to stand with his hands in his pockets untill the other should cut his throat And therefore rather than go in such manner on this errant he would chuse to return unto his own house and retirement and there expect his fate than to anticipate his death by going to the place of execution The Citizens seeing the resolution of Piçarro and considering the reasons which he alledged could not but concurr with him in his opinion as reasonable and therefore permitted him to raise Men under notion onely of his Guard and to defend him as several Authours averr in his passage through those Mountains wherein the Prince Manco Inca had fortified himself And with this license and under this colour for raising Men he increased his numbers to four hundred men as Gomara saith both Horse and Foot and as some say to many more which when the City observed they began to repent them of their Election and Design which put on the face of a Rebellion rather than the humble guise of Petitioners against which way of proceedings many made their protests and particularly the three before named as Gomara reports Howsoever Gonçalo Piçarro pursuing his design wrote very instant and urging Letters unto all parts where Spaniards inhabited and not onely to the three Cities before mentioned but to the Plantations of Indians addressing himself to them all particularly with such endearing terms as might best affect them offering to them his Life and Fortune to spend in their Service either upon the present emergencies or upon any other occasion which should occurr for the future by which his design was no longer under a dubious sense or disguise but became clear and evident as the three Historians write for that he set up a claim and title to the sole Government of Peru by virtue of an ancient Patent from the Emperour to his Brother Francisco Piçarro constituting and appointing him chief Governour and after him whom he should nominate to succeed him during life so that the Government was given for two Lives as was also the distribution of Indians and those held by vassalage for two Lives according to the original Grants given to the first Conquerours CHAP. IX Gonçalo Piçarro having named and appointed his several Captains and Officers departs from Cozco The Vice-king in like manner assembles his People and appoints Captains and imprisons Vaca de Castro and other principal men of note and quality WITH this specious pretence Gonçalo Piçarro proceeded in raising Men so that now it seemed rather an open War than an Address by way of Petition for relief against Oppressions and to make his designs yet more manifest he sent Francisco de Almendras who was my Godfather into the great Road leading to the City of Los Reyes with a party of twenty Men besides Indians carefully to intercept all persons that passed not permitting any to travel thither either from Cozco or Rimac All the Gold and Silver which was in the King's Treasury he feised as also the Estates of persons deceased and Monies deposited which he took up by way of loan and to re-pay the same again with interest all which he made use of for payment of his Souldiers and carrying on his design The Cannon which Gaspar Rodriguez and his Companions transported from Huamanca to Cozco and which were many and very good he seised upon and took with him for his Train of Artillery for the supply of which he gave order to make great quantities of Gun-powder for compounding which they wanted not Salt-peter in abundance for in the parts near Cozco the best Salt-peter is digged in all that Kingdom The Captains named for his Army were Alonso de Toro Captain of Horse who had formerly been Major General to Don Pedro Porto Carrero Pedro Cermenno was appointed Captain of the Harquebusiers John Velez de Guevara and Diego Gumiel were made Captains of the Lances and Hernando Bachicao was made Master of the Ordnance of which there were twenty excellent Pieces Moreover Carate in the Fifth Chapter of his Eighth Book tells us that he provided both Ball and Powder and all sort of Ammunition necessary and required to his Cannon And having thus prepared every thing in order to his evil intent he then professed openly that he and his Brothers having discovered that great and vast Continent and by their Adventures Hazards and Atchievements reduced the same with the help and authority of his Majesty's Commission under his Royal Power in return whereof he had remitted vast quantities both of Gold and Silver to his Majesty's Exchequer as might evidently appear upon the List and Register And that whereas after the death of the Marquiss his Majesty was so far from settling the Government upon his Son or himself as was confirmed by the Letters Patents that in lieu thereof he sent to make seisure of their Estates from which no person is exempted who by one matter or the other is not concerned and brought within the compass of these Rules and new Regulations and to mend the matter an obstinate person one Blasco Nunnez Vela was employed to put them into execution who would neither receive Petitions nor hearken to Reason treating the people with injurious and severe terms as might be easily proved by good and sufficient Witnesses and likewise that he had sent a Commission to take off his Head who had never disserved his Majesty but on the contrary as was manifestly known had been loyal faithfull and a good Subject as was apparent to all the world For which reasons as aforesaid he was resolved with the consent and approbation of the City to make a Journey to Los Reyes there to complain in the publick place of Judicature of the aggrievances of his Majesty's good Subjects after which they would dispatch Messengers to the King in the name of the whole Kingdom to inform his Majesty of the truth of all that had passed with their humble offers for a redress not doubting but his Majesty would yield a gentle and a gratious ear thereunto and when they had performed this their duty and could receive no relief they would then contentedly acquiesce and with humble resignation submit unto his Majesty's pleasure And whereas they could not esteem themselves safe and secure from the designs and menaces of the Vice-king who was marching against them with a Body of Men they agreed that this their Plenipotentiary should likewise be attended with a Body of Men merely for the security of his Person and to remain onely on the defensive part And with this design onely and no other he exhorted the Souldiers
the Inhabitants he designed to transport the Citizens Wives by Sea in such Ships as were then in Port and the Souldiers were to march by Land along the Sea coast And for the City it self he resolved to dismantle it and demolish the Walls break down the Mills and carry all things away which might be for subsistence of the Enemy and drive the Indians from the Sea-coast into the in-land Countries supposing that Piçarro coming thither with his Army and finding no subsistence must either disband or his men perish The Vice-king having communicated these his Intentions to the Judges they boldly and openly opposed him telling him plainly that the Royal Courts of Judicature could not remove out of the City for that their Commissions from his Majesty obliged them to act in that place and therefore they desired to be excused if they refused to accompany his Lordship or to suffer their houses to be demolished Herewith an open quarrel arose between the Judges and the Vice-king declaring a different interest to each other the Inhabitants inclined to the side of the Judges in opposition to the Vice-king positively refusing to commit their Wives and Daughters into the hands of Seamen and Souldiers Hereupon the Vice-king arose from the conference he held with the Judges without any determination Howsoever as to his own person he resolved to embark himself and to go by Sea and that his Brother Vela Nunnez should march away by Land and in order thereunto he commanded Diego Alvarez Cuero as Carate reports in the eleventh Chapter of his fifth Book to guard the Children of Marquis Don Francisco Piâarro with a Party of Horse to the Sea-side and there to put them on board a ship together with Vaca de Castro after which he was to remain Admiral of the Fleet and to take charge of them as his Prisoners for he was jealous that Antonio de Ribera and his Wife who had the Guardian-ship of Don Gonçalo and his Brothers would convey them away But this matter created a new disturbance amongst the people and the Judges much disliked it especially Doctour Carate who made it his particular request to the Vice-king in behalf of the Lady Francisca that he would be pleased to cause her to be again returned ashoar for that being a young Maid marriageable beautifull and rich it was not decent and agreeable to her modesty to commit her into the hands of Seamen and Souldiers but nothing could avail with the Vice-king to dissuade him from his purpose for being ever obstinate in all his Resolutions he declared his Intentions were to retire and begon contrary to the opinion of all others Thus far Carate And now to abbreviate and sum up all that hath been said by the aforesaid Authours it is most certain that the Judges gave command to Martin de Robles though one of the Vice-king's Captains to make the Vice-king a Prisoner but he desiring to be excused by reason of the ill consequences which might ensue they assured him that it was for the Service of his Majesty and quiet of that whole Empire and a means to suppress all those Mutinies and Troubles which the ill Government of the Vice-king had caused Hereupon Martin de Robles proffered to doe it howsoever he required a Warrant under the hands and seals of the Judges for his security and discharge the which they readily granted and gave order to have it drawn up and kept as a Secret untill the design was ready to be put in execution And farther they forbad the Citizens and Inhabitants to obey the Vice-king in any of his Commands or to deliver up their Wives and Children to be transported or to leave and abandon their Houses requiring all persons of what quality or condition soever to be aiding and assisting to Martin de Robles in seizing the person of the Vice-king and deteining him prisoner for so his Majesty's service required it and the common good and welfare of the publick But whilst these Matters were contriving the people were distracted and in confusion not knowing which side or what course to take the duty and obedience which they owed to their Sovereign Lord the King inclined to take part with the Vice-king but when they considered their Interests and Estates of which they should be deprived in case the Vice-king should prevail they then resolved to adhere unto the Judges who opposed Blasco Nunnez in execution of the new Laws Thus did the people remain a whole day in suspence and the Vice-king to secure himself against the attempts which the Judges might make against him ordered his Captains and Souldiers to put themselves in a posture of defence in which they remained untill mid-night The Judges on the other side understanding that the Vice-king had ordered his Souldiers to stand to their Arms and that he had above four hundred men with him and fearing that it was with intention to seize and secure them they called many of their particular friends to their assistence but so few appeared that they esteemed their force unable to avail against the Vice-king and therefore they fortified themselves as well as they could in the House of Judge Cepeda with intention to defend themselves if they were assaulted Amidst this fear and consternation a certain person whom Gomara calls Francisco de Escobar a Native of Sahagun made a Speech to them and said What make we here Let us goe out in a body into the open Streets where we may dye fighting like men and not cooped up like hens c. To this bold Proposal they all agreed and the Judges in a desperate manner sallyed forth into the Market-place rather with design to deliver up themselves than with hopes to prevail howsoever matters succeeded much contrary to their expectation For the Vice-king who had for a long time untill the night came on remained in the Market-place was persuaded by his Friends and Captains to retire to his Lodgings which he had no sooner done but the Souldiers and Captains finding themselves freed from that awe and respect which his presence obliged them unto revolted with their Companies to take part with the Judges the first of which who led the way were Martin de Robles and Pedro de Vergara who were followed by others and so by others untill there was not one person remaining to keep guard at the gate of the Vice-king unless about a hundred Souldiers who remained within the house and of whom he had made choice for the Guard of his person CHAP. XV. The Imprisonment of the Vice-king and the various Successes which happened thereupon both by Sea and Land. THough the Judges had the good fortune to have the people revolt to their side and that every hour more came in to join with them yet howsoever they were somewhat wary how they made seizure of the person of the Vice-king for it was told them that he was actually in the Market-place with a good force and that he resolved to
all engaged in the conquest of that Kingdom their mutual concernment for each other was such as to favour one the other to their utmost power but others who would not trust themselves in the Town removed far from it and lived amongst the Indians the which proved the more secure course for thereby they saved their lives whilst many others were put to death by the cruelty of the advers Party And indeed this was the misfortune of Lewis de Ribera and of Antonio Alvarez and of twenty four or twenty five Gentlemen more who were all Inhabitants of the City of Plate which is about thirty Leagues distant from Los Reyes who came with design to serve the King and having passed and endured great hardships in their travails and difficulties to avoid falling into the hands of Piçarro and his people they came at length near to Los Reyes where they received the unwelcome News of the misfortunes of the Vice-king how and in what manner he was imprisoned embarked and sent to Sea with this sad intelligence they gave themselves for lost for neither durst they adventure into the City because all the Countrey had declared for Piçarro nor did they think it Prudence voluntarily to trust themselves in the power of the enemy Wherefore every one took his proper course and shifted for himself The like many other Gentlemen did who came to serve his Majesty under the Vice-king so that they were scattered and dispersed over all the Countrey And some not esteeming themselves safe in the Parts of Peru fled to the Mountains of Antis where they were famished or devoured by Tigers others were taken by the salvage Indians not as yet conquered and sacrificed to their Idols Thus men out of fear of falling into the hands of their Enemies precipitated themselves into desperate Courses esteeming Barbarians and wild Beasts to have more Bowels of compassion than Tyrants This direfull effect had the immoderate and ungoverned Passion of the Vice-king for had he been a man of any temper he had surmounted all his difficulties and had been defended by the powerfull succours of the Rich Noble and Persons of the greatest Interest who were the Flower of Cozco and the Charcas when on the contrary both he and his party were lost being exposed to the Cruelties of War and to the mercy of their Enemies who put many of them to death CHAP. XVIII Gonçalo Piçarro comes to the City of Los Reyes Several Citizens of note are put to death because the Judges delayed to proclaim Piçarro Governour AND now Piçarro taking short marches towards the City of Los Reyes by reason of the great Incumbrance of Cannon which he had with him came at length to the Province called Pariacaca where Augustin Carate was lately stopped and deteined and there called him before him to relate the Message which he brought to him which Carate in the thirteenth Chapter of his fifth Book declares in these words I said he knowing the danger I was in of my life did in the first place communicate the business I had in charge to Piçarro in private who afterwards causeâ me to be introduced into the Tent where all his Captains were assembled and there commanded me to declare that which I had before imparted unto him And Carate saith farther that being informed of the mind of Piçarro he made use of his Letters of Credence from the Judges to declare in their behalf and in their names many things tending to his Majesty's Service and for the good and benefit of the Countrey particularly that since the Vice-king was embarked and sent away whereby their desires were allowed and granted That they should make good unto his Majesty the Treasure which Blasco Nunnez Vela had consumed and spent as they had already made known by their Letters that a Pardon should be granted to the Citizens of Cozco who had revolted from his Camp to serve the Vice-kingâ which might easily be granted considering the Justice of their Cause And that Messengers should be sent to his Majesty to inform him of the state of Affairs and of all the passages which had occurred and to excuse whatsoever had passed with many other things of this nature To which Particulars no other Answer was given than that he should tell the Judges that for the good of the Countrey it was requisite to make Piçarro Governour thereof and when that was done they would then take such other Measures for the publick good as should be proposed by them and on the contrary in case of refusal they would give up the City of Los Reyes to be plundred and sacked by the Souldiery With this Answer Carate returned to the Judges who were troubled to receive a Message so contrary to their expectations and so plain and publick a Declaration of the mind of Piçarro whom they once believed to be better inclined and to have no other designs and pretensions than onely the expulsion of the Vice-king and the suspension of the new Laws wherefore in answer to this demand they returned a message to the Captains giving them to understand that having considered of their Proposals they knew not how to grant or treat on them unless they were delivered in writing according to the usual methods and way of proceedings in those matters When this matter was known all the Representatives of the several Cities which were going to the Camp returned back again and joining with those of other Corporations who were then assembled at Los Reyes gave in a Petition to the Judges sitting on the Bench desiring a concession of what was verbally required The Judges considered hereof as a matter of great concernment and dangerous for they had no Commission to warrant them in this Declaration nor had they liberty or power at that time to refuse it for Piçarro had made by this time a very near approach to the City and had possessed himself of all the ways and avenues thereunto so that in this strait and difficulty they resolved to consult with the persons of greatest power and authority in the City and to desire their opinion and concurrence with them a memorial whereof they sent to Friar Geronimo de Loaysa Archbishop of Los Reyes to Friar John Salano Archbishop of Cozco to Garcia Diaz Bishop of Quita to Friar Thomas de San Martin Provincial of the Dominicans and to Augustine Carate Accountant Treasurer and Comptroller of his Majesty's revenue desiring their opinion and sense in this matter of high concernment not that they were to seek or doubtfull in what could legally be done or required or that they were at liberty to grant or refuse what Gonçalo Piçarro and his Captains required but onely that these persons might bear their part in the burthen and become Witnesses that what they granted to Piçarro was extorted by force and not yielded by a voluntary consent Whilst these matters were debating Gonçalo Piçarro advanced within a quarter of a League of the City where he
pitched his Camp and planted his Batteries of Cannon and perceiving that they delayed to answer his Demands he sent the night following thirty Musquetiers under the command of one of his chief Officers unto the City who there seized upon twenty eight persons who came from Cozco and others against whom he had a quarrel for taking part with the Vice-king amongst which were Graviel de Rojas Garcilasso de la Vega Melchior Verdugo Dr. Carvajal and Peter del Barco Martin de Florencia Alonso de Carceres Peter de Manjaires Lewis de Leon Anthony Ruys de Guevara with several other persons of quality in that Countrey whom he committed to the common Prison of which taking the keys and possession they turned out the Alcade and took the whole power out of the hands of the Judges who were not able to contradict or withstand the Power which was against them for in the whole City there were not fifty men of the Sword for those Parties which once declared for the Vice-king and the Judges were now revolted to the Camp of Piçarro with which and with the men he brought with him he made up twelve hundred men all well equipped and armed in confidence of which force some of the Captains came to the City and plainly told the Judges that unless they speedily dispatched their business and proclaimed Piçarro Governour they would put all the City to Fire and Sword and that they should be the first with whom they would begin The Judges excused themselves asmuch as they were able saying That they had no power to doe any such thing whereupon Carvajal the Officer that was sent immediately took four persons of those who were committed to Prison three of which namely Peter de Barco Martin de Florencia and John de Saavedra and hanged them together on a Tree near to the City reproaching them with opprobrious and bitter language at the time of their death not giving to these three so much as half an hour's time to make their confession and prepare their fouls for death telling Peter del Barco particularly who was the last of the three which he hanged That in regard he had been a Captain and one of the Conquerours of that Countrey and was a person of quality and one of the richest in those parts he would grant him this privilege at his death to chuse which of the boughs he pleased for his gallows But to Lewis de Leon his Life was granted at the Intercession of a brother of his who was a Souldier in Piçarro's Army and who begged it as a special grace and favour unto him The Judges being terrified with this piece of Cruelty and fearing lest the like sentence should be executed on all the others who were then in prison and that the City should be given up for a prey to the Souldiery in case they deferred longer to perform their demands They with all earnestness sent to the persons to whose Counsels they had referred themselves in this matter that they should immediately give in their opinions whereupon every one nemine contradicente gave their Votes that the Government should be conferred on Gonçalo Piçarro which the Judges instantly made known to him surrendring up to him all the Power of that Province untill such time as his Majesty's pleasure should be known therein And hereupon they renounced their Commissions of hearing and determining Causes and resigned all into the Governours hands giving security to reside in the City and sit on the Bench and hear all Causes and Actions of complaint which should be brought before them Thus far Augustine de Carate And here we will cut short the Thread of this Discourse lest we should seem over tedious in this Chapter CHAP. XIX Gonçalo Piçarro is proclaimed Governour of Peru His Entry into the City of Los Reyes The death of Captain Gumiel The Citizens of Cozco are set at Liberty THE execution of Pedro del Barco Martin de Florencia and John de Saavedra made a great noise and was occasion of much discontent and murmurings both in the City and in the Camp for as Diego Fernandez de Carvajal reports in the twenty fifth Chapter of his Book the people apprehended that as Francisco de Carvajal had been so bloudy as to kill those three he would farther proceed in his Tragedy to the death of all the others who were imprisoned for the like cause for which reason many of the Citizens of Rimac and Captains and Souldiers of the Army made their Addresses to Gonçalo Piçarro beseeching him not to suffer the effusion of so much Noble Bloud and of persons who had been Instruments and engaged in the Conquest of the Empire for such an Act of Cruelty would render him odious to the whole World. Whereupon Gonçalo Piçarro who was a person of a tender and flexible nature gave immediately a very rich Medal and a Ring to be carried to Francisco Carvajal who well knew that both of them belonged to Piçarro to serve for a token and sign to him to desist from farther spilling of Bloud But as to the particulars of what is related farther concerning the death of those men whom Carvajal put to death I have learned from those who were then present that those Citizens were put to death solely by the will and authority of Carvajal without the order privity or knowledge of Gonçalo Piçarro For all the Commission which he had was this that he should goe and quiet the people for understanding that all the City being in great consternation were ready to abandon the place he sent him with Orders to pacifie them that they might rejoice at his Arrival Carvajal who well enough understood his meaning replied to him saying I promise your Lordship that I will so order Matters that they shall be obliged to goe forth and meet you to perform and make good his word according to the Martial way of expression he hanged the three men in the way where Piçarro was to pass which he called the meeting of him and said that this was the onely means to affright the Judges and the whole City and to hasten them in their Votes to proclaim Piçarro Governour as all the Representatives of the Kingdom desired But the truth is Gonçalo Piçarro was much troubled to understand of the death of these three persons whom he caused to be taken from the Trees before he passed that way declaring that he had no hand in that execution and that he neither commanded the same nor knew thereof And it is farther said by Diego Fernandez in the twenty fifth Chapter of his Book that the Decree proclaiming Gonçalo Piçarro Governour was generally pleasing both to the City and to the Army because it was the common opinion of all that in that conjuncture nothing could tend more to the settlement and quiet of the Kingdom than that And moreover it was believed that his Majesty would confirm him therein in consideration of the great services which his brother the
Marquis had performed to the Crown as also for other Causes which they alledged in favour and honour of Gonçalo Piçarro himself For now fortune being of his side the people began to speak favourably of him and he carrying himself with pretences of restoring to them their Liberty was generally cryed up and beloved of all and especially succeeding the Vice-king who was hated and detested by all mankind Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez After which Carate in the thirteenth Chapter of his Book proceeds and says The Instrument for constituting Piçarro Governour being passed he made his Entry into the City in State and triumph In the first place Captain Bachicao led the Van-guard with two and twenty Pieces of Cannon made for the field which were carried on the Shoulders of six thousand Indians as we have mentioned before with all the other train of Artillery and Ammunition thereunto belonging and as they marched they fired the Cannon in the Streets and for Guard to the Artillery thirty Musquetiers and fifty Gunners were appointed After which followed the Company under command of Captain Diego Gumiel which consisted of two hundred Pique-men after which followed Captain Guevara with a hundred and fifty Musquetiers and then came the Company of Pedro Cermenno consisting of two hundred Harquebusiers immediately after which followed Gonçalo Picarro himself with three Companies of Foot attending like Foot-men by his side and he mounted on a very fine Horse and cloathed with a Coat of Mail over which he wore a thin Coat of cloth of gold after him marched three Captains with their Troops of Horse in midst of which Don Pedro Porto Carrero supported the Royal Standard on his right hand Antonio Altamirano carried the Ensign of Cozco and on the left Pedro de Puelles carried the Colours in which the Arms of Piçarro were painted after which all the Cavalry followed armed in form and point of War. And in this order they marched to the house of Licenciado Carate where the other Judges were assembled which was a default on Carate's side for he ought rather to have received him in the place of publick Judicature but here Piçarro leaving his Forces drawn up in the open Market-place went up into the Chamber where the Judges attended and received him with due order and respect and having taken the Oath and given the Security which is usual he went to the Town-house where the Mayor Sheriffs and other Officers received him with the accustomary Solemnities and thence he went to his own Lodgings and in the mean time the Officers quartered the Souldiers both Horse and Foot in the private houses of the Citizens giving order that they should entertain them upon Free-quarter This entry of Piçarro into the City and his reception there happened towards the end of the month of October 1544 being forty days after the imprisonment of the Vice-king and from that time forward Piçarro attended wholly to the management of his martial Affairs and to matters relating thereunto leaving all civil Causes and proceedings in Law to the Judges who held their Courts in the House of the Treasurer Alonso Riquelme And then he sent to Cozco for his Deputy Alonso de Toro to Arequepa for Pedro de Tuentes to the Villa de Plata for Francisco de Almendras and to other Cities for the principal Governours thereof Thus far are the words of Augustine Carate To which Fernandez Palentino in the sixteenth Chapter of his Book adds and says That Diego Centeno having accompanied Gonçalo Piçarro in quality of Procuratour for the Town of Plate as far as Los Reyes he there found that Piçarro had preferred his great Friend Francisco de Almendras to be Captain and chief Justiciary of that Town and therefore he desired him to move Piçarro that he might be dismissed and go along with him to the Villa de la Plata because his House and Estate was in those parts which license being obtained they travelled together to the Charcas where some time afterwards when Diego Centeno declared for the King he surprised and killed him and though in excuse hereof it may be alledged that it was done for the King's service yet he can never wipe off that blot of Ingratitude for during the time of the Conquest when Diego Centeno came very young into the Countrey he was supported and provided for in all his necessities and in the time of his sickness by Francisco de Almendras who was a rich and a principal person of quality in those days and took the same care of him as if he had been his Son the which benefits and kindnesses Diego Centeno publickly owned and when they were in private he called him Father as Almendras called him Son and therefore he ought for ever to be branded with Ingratitude unless the publick concernment for his Prince be able to untie and abolish all other private obligations and endearments whatsoever Gonçalo Piçarro finding himself now invested in his Power and Government which he held both by virtue of the Royal Grant given to his Brother the Marquis in whose right he pretended thereunto and now by the consent and election of the Judges began to give out his own Commission to Officers both Military and Civil and to sit and hear Causes which he dispatched with great readiness administring Justice with Reputation and Authority to the contentment and satisfaction of the whole City but these smooth and chearfull proceedings were mixed with their troubles and misfortunes For Captain Diego Gumiel who untill this time had always shewed himself zealous and passionate in the cause of Piçarro began to alter his humour and speak against him because he had refused to grant him a piece of Land with a Command over Indians which he asked of him in behalf of a certain Friend of his and with that occasion he railed against the Judges saying that they had unjustly taken away the Government from the Son of Marquis Francisco Piçarro to whom it appertained by lawfull inheritance descended from his Father in virtue of a Grant from his Majesty to confer it upon one who had no right nor title thereunto and for that reason he declared that he would use his utmost endeavours that the Son of the Marquis might recover his own Inheritance Gumiel frankly discoursing at this rate without regard to the place where or the person to whom he vented his passion at length the reports thereof coming to the ears of Piçarro he gave his immediate Orders to his Major-General that he should examine this matter and take such course as might restrain the licentious Tongue of that Captain for the future It is certain that the meaning of Piçarro was not to put Gumiel to death though Carvajal put that interpretation upon it and having asked some questions about the matter and hearing them confirmed went directly to Gumiel's Lodgings where without more to doe he strangled him and drew his Body into the Market-place saying give way Gentlemen for
were so weary that upon the least appearance of any person who carried an authority from his Majesty they would be ready to joyn with him to cast off the yoke of that tyranny with which they were oppressed By which intelligence and many other things which the Souldiers said to him the Vice-king being encouraged resolved with the Forces he had with him to march from Quitu by the way of St. Michael's and made Diego de Ocampo chief Commander thereof who had from the very time that the Vice-king came to Tumbez adhered to his Party and assisted him with his Person and Estate supplying him with all things convenient and necessary for his service wherein he spent above forty thousand pieces of Eight In all these Adventures Licenciado Alvarez accompanied the Vice-king and held Courts with him by virtue of his Majesty's Commission by which it was provided that the Vice-king might hold Courts with the assistence of one Co-assessour untill such time as the other Judges should assemble and joyn with them and it was thus provided by that clause in cases of mortality or other accidents and in pursuance hereof he caused a new Seal to be delivered to John Leon one of the Justices of Lot Reyes whom the Marquis of Camarasa Lord High Chancellour of Caçorla or of the Indies had nominated and elected to be Chancellour of that Court wherein the Vice-king presided he being revolted to him from Piçarro so that all Commissions Warrants and Orders issued out from thence under the Name and Title of Don Carlos the Emperour with the Royal Seal affixed to them and countersigned by Alvarez so that now there being two Courts in Peru one at Los Reyes and the other with the Vice-king it frequently happened that two different Orders for the same business came to be served at the same time Thus far is related by Carate CHAP. XXIV Two Captains of Piçarro's Army kill three of those belonging to the Vice-king which is again revenged upon them Gonçalo Piçarro embarks for the City of Truxillo AUgustine Carate proceeding forward in the course of his History saith That when the Vice-king was ready to depart from Quitu he dispatched away his Son-in-law Diego Alvarez de Cuero into Spain to inform his Majesty of all Affairs that had passed desiring him to send him some Succours whereby he might be enabled to make War upon Gonçalo Piçarro and accordingly Cuero embarked on the same Fleet with Vaca de Castro and Doctour Texada as we have before declared In the mean time the Vice-king came to the City of St. Michael which is about an hundred and fifty leagues from Quitu where he resolved to remain untill such time as he received his Majesty's farther directions in these matters making use of his Majesty's Name and Authority in the style of all Letters and Orders which he issued and this place he judged most proper for his residence being advantageously situated in the common Road through which all people must go who come from Spain or other parts into Peru and is a Pass which cannot be avoided by such who travel with Horses or other Beasts of burthen so that by this constant concurrence or confluence of people his numbers every day increased The Inhabitants of this Town were all very loyal and well-affected to the Vice-king by which means and by their kind reception and entertainment his Souldiers increased to the number of five hundred Horse and Foot most of them indifferently well armed and such as wanted defensive Arms made Corslets of Iron and Coats of Bulls Skins well dried and pressed At the same time that Gonçalo Piçarro sent Captain Bachicao with his Brigantine to seise the Fleet of the Vice-king he also dispatched two of his Captains by Land called Gonçalo Diaz de Pinera and Jeronimo de Villegas to raise Souldiers in the Cities of Truxillo and St. Michael where they remained with a Body of eight hundred men untill such time as being alarm'd with the approach of the Vice-king they quitted their Posts and retreated within the Countrey and quartered in a Province called Collique which is about forty leagues distant from St. Michael from whence they gave intelligence to Piçarro of the Vice-king's march and the daily increase of his Army to which a stop ought speedily to be given before it proved too late And whilst these Captains resided at that place they had advice that the Vice-king had sent a Captain called John de Prereyra to the Province of Chachapoyas to raise what men that Countrey afforded and by reason that few Spaniards inhabited in those parts Piçarro's Captains did imagine that Prereyra and his men would remain secure and not dream of any danger in confidence of which they marched the very same way after them and one night seised on their Sentinels and falling on them as they were sleeping killed Prereyra and two other principal Captains whose Heads they cut off and then all those who were with them to the number of about sixty Horsemen revolted for fear and declaring for Gonçalo Piçarro returned with his Captains to their Quarters The Vice-king greatly troubled for this disgrace and misfortune resolved speedily to revenge it with the like return and accordingly sallied privately out from St. Michael's with about an hundred and fifty Horsemen and fell in upon the Quarters of the Captains Gonçalo Diaz and Villegas at Collique who having some few days before performed that late exploit rested secure from the apprehensions of any such return from their enemies The assault which was made upon them was so sudden that they had no time to provide for their defence or to put themselves in order to fight but every one shifted for himself as well as he could and so much were they scattered abroad that Gonçalo Diaz fled with very few into a Province of the Indians which was not conquered where they arose up against him and killed him Hernando de Alvarado incurred the like fate but Jeronimo de Villegas rallying his people marched into the Countrey as far as Truxillo whilst the Vice-king resided at St. Michael Gonçalo Piçarro having received advice of the defeat of his Captains and that the Vice-king daily increased in numbers of his men and strengthened in Arms and Ammunition for War concluded it necessary with all possible speed to destroy his Forces before greater aid came to him from Spain and other parts of the Indies which would be landed at Tumpiz or at the Ports thereabouts towards which places the Vice-king was drawing his Forces and in the mean time he endeavoured to intercept all Packets of Advice from Spain and from his Majesty the want of which would greatly discourage the minds of the enemy with this resolution he prepared all things for a Battel on the success of which he intended to hazard his fortune in case the enemy would stand to it and accordingly Orders were issued out to the Captains the Souldiers received their pay the Horse were
soever he should employ them And to keep this matter the more secret care was taken to intercept all correspondences and intelligence which might pass by the way to Cozco untill such time as he had made his full recruit of Men Horse Powder and other ammunition for War and yet notwithstanding all this care and caution it was impossible to hinder or obstruct the intelligence which by means of the Indian Messengers was dispatched to Cozco and a hundred Leagues farther to the Northward toward Los Reyes though Alonso de Toro who was an Officer belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro did all that he was able to intercept Advices and to that end had sent a hundred Men to possess the pass and obstruct all intelligence and the passage of the Vice-king towards Cozco And here it was that Alonso de Toro received the first news of the Insurrection of Diego Centeno and the death of Francisco de Almendras together with the number of Men and Horse and Ammunition and all other matters which untill that time had passed which the Indians in a particular manner related to him So soon as Alonso de Toro received these informations he immediately repaired to Cozco where having levied Men he persuaded the Citizens and Governours of the City to engage themselves in the Cause of Piçarro against Diego Centeno telling them that with the help and assistence of those Souldiers Horse and Arms which were then in the City he intended to go forth and fight him And moreover to justifie the righteousness of his Cause he told them that this Diego Centeno was a mere Impostor who had no right nor title nor authority on his side and that being moved onely by his own interest and private advantage with colour and pretence of his Majesty's service had inveigled many people to follow his Colours whenas in reality Gonçalo Piçarro was the onely true and lawfull Governour of those Kingdoms intending to keep them in quietness and peace and safety untill such time onely as that his Majesty should declare his sense and pleasure in these matters and therefore that the Insurrection made by Diego Centeno was not to be justified but rather opposed by all good men who wished well to the publick peace and security of the people And moreoverâ to justifie the Cause of Piçarro he admonished them to call to mind the Merits of Gonçalo Piçarro and the good Services he had done for all the people and Souldiers of the Empire by rescuing them from the execution of those new Laws and Regulations which would have proved their ruine to perform which he had adventured and exposed his person to the greatest dangers for no other reason than for the publick benefit and welfare of the people For it was manifest to all the World that if the late new Statutes and Regulations had taken place no Inhabitant could have enjoyed any Estate and so have been disabled from quartering Souldiers and consequently they could never have subsisted so that both one and the other had obligations on them to favour the Cause and Interest of Piçarro for as to what concerned himself he had never opposed his Majesty's Laws and Commands but in way of a Supplicant went with his Petition to the Vice-king but before he could come to him finding him to be imprisoned and banished by processes from the Court of Judicature he conceived he might justly set up his own title to be Governour during that vacancy And in case he did at any time act against the Vice-king it was by order and warrant from the Royal Court of Justice an evidence whereof they might see before their eyes if they were pleased to cast them on Licenciado Cepeda then present with Piçarro and was the most ancient Judge of that Court. Nor ought there to be any question whether the Judges as the case then stood were able to confer this Power upon him or not and if the matter be doubtfull men ought to expect his Majesty's determination therein and in the mean time acquiesce in the Government of Piçarro who hath given sufficient proofs of his great abilities to support the burthen of so important a Charge which he may justly challenge upon the score and merit of his brothers and himself who have gained the Empire with great labours and hazards of their lives and indeed none seems more fit and proper for that emploiment than himself who is acquainted with the Merits of all the Adventurers with him in the Conquest and accordingly knows in what manner to reward and gratifie every man according to his deserts which is impossible for others to doe who are Strangers and newly come from Spain With this and such kind of reasoning delivered in his fierce and angry manner of expression he caused himself to be obeyed for none daring to oppose or contradict him they all inclined to join with him against Diego Centeno Thus did Alonso de Toro raise Forces and appoint Captains over them and to mount his Men he took all the Horses in the City which belonged to persons that were aged and infirm so that in a short time he had gathered almost three hundred Men indifferently well armed and with them marched about six Leagues from Cozco towards the Southward where he remained for the space of twenty days for want of Intelligence of the Enemy's motion at length being impatient and fearing that he lost his time he marched forwards and came within twelve leagues of the place where Diego Centeno was quartered who having divided his Forces into two parts made a retreat howsoever Messengers with Propositions and Articles of peace passed between both Parties with intention if possible to bring matters to an accommodation but it soon appeared how great the difference was and what little hopes of composition by the peaceable way to Treaty Wherefore Alonso de Toro proceeded with intent to give battel to the Enemy but Diego Centeno and his Officers thought it not prudence to adventure so considerable a stake and a matter of that high moment wherein his Majesty's service was concerned to be decided by such a doubtfull event for if they were worsted they should be irrecoverably lost wherefore making a retreat and marching away they laded whole droves of Sheep with provisions of the Countrey and taking with them the Curacas or Lords of the Countrey they left all parts behind them desolate and without provisions or inhabitants for the distance of above fourty leagues round Howsoever Alonso de Toro pursued after them as far as to the City of Plate which is distant at least a hundred and eight leagues from Cozco but finding the Countries entirely dispeopled without sustenance or food by reason that the Curacas had caused all their Subjects to attend them on the part of Centeno and not being able to sustain themselves longer they resolved to return back again to Cozco in which march Alonso de Toro was to lead the Van with fifty Horse and Alonso de Mendoça was
to bring up the Rere and to cover the main Body in case they should be attacked by Diego Centeno and in this order they marched to Cozco where they all met CHAP. XXVIII Diego Centeno pursues after Alonso de Toro great Jealousies and Fears arise in the City of Los Reyes Lorenço de Aldana pacifies and suppresses them Gonçalo Piçarro sends his Major General Francisco de Carvajal into the Charcas with what happened in his way thither THE return of Alonso de Toro towards Cozco was speedily made known to Diego Centeno by the intelligence which the Indians brought him at which he much admired and conceived that this sudden turn from his late pursuit and division of his Forces into three parts must necessarily be caused by some extreme want defect or inability amongst his people in confidence whereof he detached fifty of his best and lightest Horse under the command of Captain Lope de Mendoça to pursue the Enemy and take up the straglers and such as remained in the Rere And accordingly Mendoça had the fortune to overtake about fifty Horsemen of them who were in the second detachment all which he dismounted and took their Horses and Arms from them though afterwards he restored them again upon promise to take their side and join with them which good success was obtained during the time that Alonso de Mendoça continued in the City of Plate Some Historians who favoured the Cause of Alonso de Toro say that he hanged several of them though the number is not specified After which Lope de Mendoça returned again to set upon Alonso de Mendoça for as yet he had not quitted the City of Plate but he having received advice of the late success took another way and so avoided him in the mean time Diego Centeno coming to the City of Plate it was agreed to continue there for some time that the people might have an opportunity to come in to them and make provision of Arms and necessaries of which they stood in need The unexpected return of Alonso de Toro to Cozco surprized all the City with great amazement and the rather because no just cause or reason appeared for such a disorderly retreat which had given courage to the Enemy that was low and a little before weak and affrighted to become bold and daring and to make an attack upon them All these successes were particularly known and discoursed at Los Reyes and in regard there were people of both parties in that place and such as favoured the side of the Vice-king talked publickly that they would goe forth and join with Diego Centeno to all which Lorenço de Aldana seeming to give little regard or to punish or suppress such who gave out these Discourses Gonçalo Piçarro concluded that he was one of that Plot and a Ringleader of that Faction With these apprehensions several persons went to Gonçalo Piçarro and gave him an account how freely people discoursed of his Affairs but when News came of the defeat of the Vice-king and his straitned and unhappy condition the hearts of that Party who declared for him began to sink and the Faction of Piçarro to rise and take courage so that the principal Inhabitants of that City thought they might not safely make their Complaints to Loreço de Aldana against certain ill-affected persons who daily uttered seditious words and reports to the disturbance of the City whom they offered particularly to name and bring their informations against them to the end that they might be punished by death or banishment as their Crimes deserved to which Lorenço de Aldana gave for answer that he was not informed of those matters before but that now he would severely punish them as the Law did direct The Informers encouraged with this Answer seised upon fifteen persons and brought them before the Chief Justice Peter Martin de Cecilia otherwise called Don Benito for he was called by both those names who would have put them on the wrack and passed sentence of condemnation on the least word of confession so passionately zealous he was for the Cause of Piçarro but Lorenço de Aldana who was a Man of much more moderation freed them from his hands and sent them to his own Lodgings on pretence of safer custody where having allowed them all things necessary he afterwards under pretence of banishment conveighed them away upon a Ship which he had provided for them and under the Seal of secrecy gave them assurances of his good intentions to which they formerly had not been strangers But the Party of Piçarro was not contented with this easie way of punishment but rather highly offended thereat and therefore represented Lorenço de Aldana unto Piçarro as a person inclined to the contrary Party but Piçarro seemed not willing to give ear thereunto either because he would not believe him to be other than his friend or that being so far distant from him as Quitu thought it imprudent to manifest his displeasure and resentments against a person so well beloved and generally esteemed by the people By this time the News of the Insurrection of Diego Centeno with what had succeeded in the Charcas was come to the knowledge of Gonçalo Piçarro who conceived it a matter of high importance and of a more dangerous consequence than the troubles at Los Reyes and therefore after consultation held with his Officers he gave an immediate Commission to Francisco Carvajal to go and suppress those commotions in which resolution the generality of all the Officers concurred as being the most brave and most experienced Captain of the Army though in reality being weary of his uneasie temper they were desirous to be rid of him that they might have the greater hand in the rule of affairs Thus Carvajal with a select number onely of twenty Horse in whom he reposed the greatest confidence departed from the Confines of Quitu and came to St. Michael's where outwardly he was received with high demonstrations of honour and respect from the People Howsoever he took six of the Chief Governours and having severely reproved them for their perfidy and falseness to Gonçalo Piçarro and for their affection and zeal to the Vice-king he told them that he resolved once to put all their City to fire and sword and not to leave one Man Woman or Child alive therein but considering that this was not an act of the generality or of the common people but onely of those who were their Heads and Rulers he therefore resolved to punish the fault and crime in them whom he esteemed to be the principal Instruments and having ordered them to make their Confession to the Priest he caused one of them who was a Clerk and had sealed the Warrants and Orders which the Vice-king had sent abroad to be executed but the others by the earnest Addresses and Solicitations of their Wives and other Relations escaped and by the Prayers of Friars and Priests who earnestly interceded in their favour obtained their
the obligations he hath to me for this Conquest and though oftentimes he would pretend to great obedience and resignation to his Majesty's pleasure yet at other times he would let fall words seditious and rebellious and at the instigation of his Captains he published his reasons setting forth his right and title to that Government And being now settled in the City of Quitu he passed his time in Festivals Sports and Banquets without minding the actions or proceedings of the Vice-king onely the discourses amongst themselves were that he would go to Spain by way of Cartagena others that he would pass up farther towards the Continent to raise Men and Arms and there expect his Majesty's further Instructions others were of opinion that he would remain in the Countrey of Popaya untill he received new Orders but it was generally believed that he would not stay long there or attempt any thing in those parts but be his design what it would it was concluded necessary to obstruct his passage to the Continent to which end Hernando Bachicao was remanded back again with his Fleet of which Pedro de Hinojosa Gentleman of his Bed-chamber was made Admiral with two hundred and fifty men under his command who departed with all expedition Moreover Rodrigo de Carvajal was dispatched with his Ship to Panama with a Pacquet of Letters from Gonçalo Piçarro desiring the Inhabitants of that City to favour his cause and designs assuring them that whatever Spoils and Insolencies Bachicao had committed on them were contrary to his will and pleasure and against his express command Rodrigo de Carvajal arrived accordingly within three leagues of Panama where he received intelligence that two Captains sent from the Vice-king were there the one called John de Guzman and the other John de Yllanez who were raising Forces to carry to the Province of Belalcaçar to recruit the Vice-king's Army therewith and that they had already listed about an hundred men and had prepared good quantities of Arms with five or six pieces of Cannon And though these men had been for some time in a readiness they were not sent away by reason that apprehending some attempts from Gonçalo Piçarro they thought fit to keep their people in reserve till they saw the danger over Howsoever Rodrigo de Carvajal adventured to send a Souldier privately into the City with Letters to certain Citizens who upon receipt thereof communicated them to the Officers of the Town who seised on the Souldier and by him understanding the design of Hinojosa put the City into Arms and sent two Brigantines to seise the Ship of Carvajal but he suspecting some ill intention against him by reason of the long absence of his Messenger set sail from thence and so the two Brigantines missing him returned back without success CHAP. XXXI Pedro de Hinojosa takes Vela Nunnez in his voyage The great Preparations which were made in Panama And how those Troubles were appeased THE Governour of Panama called Pedro de Casaos born at Seville went in haste to Nombre de Dios where he raised all the Men he was able with what Arms he could find both offensive and defensive which he carried with him to Panama to oppose Pedro de Hinojosa the like diligence was used by the two Captains of Piçarro between whom and Pedro de Casaos though there had formerly risen some Disputes and Contests about place or preference yet all agreed to chuse Casaos for Commander in chief Pedro de Hinojosa having dispatched Rodrigo de Carvajal proceeded on his Voyage to Panama enquiring along the Coast concerning the Vice-king and in the River and Port of St. John he put some Men ashoar to receive what Intelligence and News was there stirring who took ten Spaniards and brought them on board by one of whom they were given to understand that the Vice-king by reason of the long stay of two of his Captains John de Guzman and John de Yllanez in Panama had sent also his Brother Vela Nunnez thither to hasten the Recruits and to increase the numbers he sent great sums of Money out of the King's Treasury and delivered to him also the bastard Son of Gonçalo Piçarro and that Vela Nunnez had sent a Souldier before to discover what danger there was on the Coast whilst he remained a day's journey behind upon which Intelligence Hinojosa sent two Captains with different Parties by several ways both which had good success the first had the fortune to take Vela Nunnez and the other Rodrigo Mexia who was born in the City of Castin and with whom was Piçarro's Son and both of them got great booty and riches all which came very acceptable to Hinojosa who was much pleased with the taking of Vela Nunnez who might oppose and prevent his design in Panama and with the rescue of the Son of Gonçalo Piçarro whose freedom would be joyfull to his Father And encouraged with this happy success they sailed toward Panama and being near the Place Rodrigo de Carvajal came forth to meet them and gave them Intelligence of all Matters at Panama and how the City was prepared to oppose them Hinojosa was rather pleased than discouraged with this News and putting himself into a posture of War sailed forward untill on a day in the month of October which was in the year 1545. he came within sight of the City of Panama with a Fleet of eleven sail of Ships and a hundred and fifty Men aboard upon this appearance the City was in great consternation all Souldiers repaired to their Colours and Pedro de Casaos who was chief Officer had above five hundred Men under his command but the most of them were Merchants and the Officers such unexperienced Men in the War that few of them knew how to fire a Musquet and all of them unwilling to engage in fight especially against Men coming from Peru with whom having formerly been accostomed to deal in Traffick and Merchandize it seemed strange to contend with them at any other Weapon And moreover they considered that a great part of their Estates and effects were in Peru which would all be confiscated by Gonçalo Piçarro in case they should appear in Arms against his Forces Howsoever they formed and joined in several Bodies commanded by their respective Officers the chief of which were first Pedro de Casaos General then Arias de Azebedo who came afterwards over and lived at Cordoua where at this time some of his Grand-children inhabit Other Captains and Officers were John Fernandez de Reboledo Andren de Arayza with the Vice King's two Captains John de Guzman and John de Yllanez with several other Noble Persons then present who resolved to defend the City for the service of his Majesty and others being affrighted with the late Outrages and Insults of Bachicao were inclined to preserve themselves from the like Tyrannies which they feared from Hinojosa but he considering what sort of people he had to deal with landed two hundred
Men all old and veterane Souldiers well appointed and armed and fifty were left aboard for defence of their Ships And so he marched along the Coast being flanked with his Cannon carrying aboard the Boats belonging to the Ships much to the annoyance of the Enemy in case they should make an assault upon them He gave farther order aboard Ship that so soon as they should come to an Engagement that they should presently hang up Vela Nunnez and the other Prisoners which they had taken Pedro de Casaos seeing the resolution of Pedro de Hinojosa came out to meet him with intention either to overcome or dye and both Parties being come within Musquet shot each of other all the Clergy-men and Friars came out of the City carrying a Wood of Crosses before them which served for Banners and Colours and being all clad in mourning with sadness in their countenances cryed out with loud voices to Heaven and to the People for Peace and Concord amongst them saying Is it not a great shame and pity that you who are Christians and are come to preach the Gospel to Infidels should imbrue your hands in the bloud of each other to the common ruine and calamity of all These words being uttered with great out-cries and exclamations put both sides to a stand and to look each on the other untill the religious Troops interposed between both Parties and began to treat of a Truce and to create a right understanding Accordingly Hinojosa sent in his behalf Don Balthasar de Castilia Son of Count de Gomera and the People of Panama employed Don Pedro de Cabrera for their Agent both Natives of Seville It was pleaded in behalf of Hinojosa that no reason could be given why they should oppose his landing or free admittance into the City for that his message and business thither was to give satisfaction to the Inhabitants for the Tyrannies and Outrages which Bachicao had committed on them and to buy Cloths and Provisions of them for their Money and supply themselves with other necessaries for their Voyage That they had received strict Commands and Orders from Gonçalo Piçarro not to give them the least cause of offence nor to fight unless they were compelled thereunto And that so soon as they had made their provisions and re-fitted their Ships they would speedily depart in quest of the Vice-king and cause him to embark for Spain according to the Sentence which the Judges had given concerning him and thereby free the Countries from those fears and molestations which he had caused by rowling up and down in all quarters And in regard he was not in Panama they had no business which could detein them long there and therefore they entreated them not to force them to an engagement with them which according to the Command of Piçarro they would avoid by all means possible but in case they were forced to fight they would then doe their best not to be overcome On the other side it was alledged in behalf of the Governour Pedro de Casaos that his entry into their Countrey in that hostile manner could not be justified though it were given for granted that Gonçalo Piçarro had a right to the Government That Bachicao had given the same promises and made as fair pretences as he did and yet so soon as he had gotten possession he then committed all those spoils and murthers for which they pretend not to give satisfaction The Commissioners on both sides hearing these Allegations and being desirous to make an accommodation did agree that Hinojosa should be received ashoar and have free admittance and entertainment in the City for the space of thirty days with a guard of fifty Men for security of his person that his Fleet with the rest of his Souldiers should in the mean time sail to the Isles of Pearls and take with them Ship-carpenters and cut such Timber as should be usefull for repair of their Vessels and that at the end of thirty days they should return to Peru. These Articles being agreed unto by both Parties they were confirmed by Oath and Hostages given Pedro de Hinojosa accordingly came to the City with his fifty Men where he took a house and gave publick entertainment to all comers and goers and his People sported and treated friendly and familiarly with all the Inhabitants Augustine de Carate in the thirty second Chapter of his fifth Book saith for what we have farther to add in this matter is upon his Authority That three days had scarce passed before all those Souldiers who had been raised by the Captains John Guzman and John de Yllanez revolted for the most part to Hinojosa according to whose example the idle and vagrant persons of the City who were not Merchants and such as had no employment listed themselves Souldiers with Hinojosa intending for Peru so that the Captains of the Vice-king finding themselves forsaken by their men privately embarked with fourteen or fifteen men and sailed away In the mean time Hinojosa passed very peaceably without intermedling in the Government or matters of Justice or suffering his People to commit the least offence or give occasion of complaint to the People with these men he sent Don Pedro de Cabrera and Hernando Mexia de Guzman his Son-in-law to Nombre de Dios with Orders to keep that Port and intercept all Advices which should come as well from Spain as from other parts CHAP. XXXII Of the Actions of Melchior Verdugo in Truxillo Nicaragua and in Nombre de Dios and how he was forced to leave that City ABout the same time there happened an odd Accident in the City of Truxillo which gave great offence and raised the enmity and hatred of the People against the person who occasioned the same whose name was Melchior Verdugo to whom the Province of Cassamarca was appointed by lot a place famous for the imprisonment of the King Atahualpa and other remarkable Successes which have been mentioned before This person having been born in the City of Avila and Countrey-man to the Vice-king was desirous to signalize himself in doing something remarkable for his service the Vice-king before his imprisonment knowing of his Intensions gave him a large Commission to doe many things of high importance and particularly to destroy or dispeople the City of Los Reyes for which reason Melchior Verdugo and his adherents fell under the hatred and displeasure of Gonçalo Piçarro and of such as were of his Party Verdugo being informed hereof resolved to escape out of the Kingdom fearing to fall into the hands of Piçarro Howsoever being desirous to perform some Act extraordinary he engaged some Souldiers to him bought Arms secretly and made Musquet-shot Mannacles and Chains in his own house and so bold he was in his matters that his Neighbours and Companions were greatly offended thereat but fortune favoured his design for at that time a Ship arriving in the Port of Truxillo from Los Reyes he sent for the Master and
he sansied that Altamirano was pleased with the news of Centeno's success and that he of late carried himself coldly and unconcerned in the service of Piçarro which was cause enough for Carvajal to take away any man's life the Standard was afterwards conferred on Antonio de Ribera So soon as Acosta was returned he ordered him with three hundred men to fall upon Diego Centeno Martin de Olmos was appointed to command the Horse and Diego Gumiel the Foot with both which persons I was acquainted Martin de Almendras commanded the Pikes Martin de Alarcon carried the Standard Paez de Sotomayor was Lieutenant-General and John de Acosta was Commander in Chief These Forces were ordered to march to Cozco by way of the Mountains and in a few days afterwards to descend into the Plains and on all sides to make War upon Diego Centeno for above all men living he resented his carriage towards him and had most cause to complain of him because he had been the first and the most importunate of any to advise and persuade him to accept and take upon him the Title and Office of Procurator-General of that Kingdom and afterwards upon a report onely of a general Pardon and repeal of the late Ordinances whether true or false no man knows he poorly and meanly deserted that cause which he himself had owned and promoted so far untill he saw him nominated and chosen Governour of Peru the same complaint he made against all those who had been instruments of his advancement whom he hoped God would punish and avenge his cause against their falseness and treachery These and such like complaints Gonçalo Piçarro often uttered in the presence of his intimate Friends though in publick he carried it with good courage and a chearfull countenance as he ever did in all his troubles and difficulties which all Historians confess and report of him when they come to speak of his misfortunes To these ill successes Fortune yet added worse for when she begins once to shew her disfavours she contents not her self with a single mischief For now it happened in this unlucky conjuncture that Lorenço de Aldana came with his four Ships within fifteen leagues of Los Reyes and though he was ill provided with Men and Ammunition and was in want of all Provisions and things necessary yet he remained securely enough and well satisfied upon the news he received that Piçarro had burnt all his Ships which were in that Port upon which assurance he took courage and with confidence came boldly to the Port of Los Reyes not with intention to fight with any but onely to take up such persons who should escape and revolt from Piçarro and his Party The news of the arrival of these four Ships at Huaura from whence there was no means now left to remove them was resented as a common disgrace and dishonour to the whole Town but Gonçalo Picarro considering how his people fell daily from him and that there was a general defection in all parts thought it necessary to secure them to him by way of Religion which counsel was given him by the Lawyer Cepeda who formed an Oath of Fidelity to be administred to all people and thereupon the Citizens and Lords who had commands over the Indians and the principal Inhabitants in all Cities near and Captains and Souldiers were all summoned to take this Oath upon administration of which the Lawyer made a speech to the People telling them how great obligations they had to Piçarro for having sustained those labours and difficulties and endured Famine and Wars and passed through infinite dangers onely for their sakes to secure their Lives Liberties and Estates to them in which they were invested and now peaceably possessed by the favour of his Brother the Marquis Francisco Piçarro And to evidence unto the world the justice of his Cause he had dispatched Messengers to his Majesty with an impartial Narrative of all the transactions in these Countries but were intercepted by contrivance of the President who corrupting the Commanders of his Fleet deprived him of his own proper Ships which had cost him an immense Treasure and lastly had entred within his Dominions and dispersed seditious Papers in all parts of the Kingdom to debauch the minds of the People and seduce them from their affections towards him with intent to raise Wars in the Empire but that Piçarro for his part resolved to oppose them and he hoped that they would all joyn with him in defence of their Privileges and Estates well knowing that notwithstanding the fair pretences of the President he will so soon as he hath gained possession of the Countrey follow the Example of Blasco Nunnez Vela in execution of the late Ordinances and severely punish all such who shall oppose him wherefore to know and discover the mind of every man how he stood affected to him he desired every person freely and clearly to declare himself assuring them that he would force no man but leave them all to their own liberty either to return to their own Possessions or to go to the President as every one inclined but as for those who resolved to stay with him he expected an engagement from them never to desert or forsake his Cause or Interest upon the word of Gentlemen and under the sacred assurance of an Oath which should be administred to them according to the Christian Rites So soon as these words were ended they all cried out that they were resolved to dye with Piçarro and suffer a hundred deaths rather than abandon him in confirmation whereof they took the Oath and signed an Engagement to which a long Roll of hands were underwritten the Subscriptions were taken by Licenciado Cepeda who was the first that signed the List but Francisco de Carvajal who was a wise and a knowing man in the affairs of the world did often laugh and jest at these matters in private with his Friends and would say you shall see how these promises will be performed and what Conscience will be made of this solemn Oath and uttered likewise many other witty Sayings of which had a Collection been made perhaps they would have been esteemed the best Apothegms and the wisest Sentences in the world CHAP. XII Hostages are mutually sent from one side to the other in which much caution and subtilty was practised by both Parties Many principal men of Quality abandon and leave Gonçalo Piçarro TWO days after this Oath was administred the four Ships under the command of Lorenço de Aldana appeared in the Port of Los Reyes upon which the City was in a great Consternation and Piçarro ordered the Souldiers to put themselves into Arms and appear in the Market-place being then about the number of six hundred men but afterwards caused them all to draw up in the field where being in publick view it would be more difficult for any person to revolt or forsake his Colours the Camp was pitched about a League from the City and
those parts Howsoever the true design of Piçarro was discovered to Centeno by means of the Indians who by order of Don Christoval Paullu Inca of whom we have formerly made mention were very diligent and faithfull to acquaint Centeno with all the motions of his Enemies By these means Centeno being truly informed of the way and course which Piçarro intended to take marched forth to stop and interrupt him in his passage and thereby came so near each to the other that the Scouts met and called to each other and then returned to carry the advice So soon as Centeno received this intelligence of their near approach he put his people into a posture of defence and drew them out all night into form of Battel having been formerly well acquainted with the alarms and surprises which Piçarro had often given him in the night And yet for his care and vigilance Acosta made such an attempt upon him in the night with twenty Musquetiers as put all the Camp into confusion and the affrightment was so great that Carate saith in the second Chapter of his seventh Book that many of the Souldiers fled to their Tents and the people of Valdivia left their Pikes and shamefully ran away and that Acosta retreated again without the loss of one man. Thus far Carate What he farther adds concerning the people of Valdivia is this There was a certain Captain says he named Pedro de Valdivia who being in Chili received intelligence of the great stirs and troubles which were in Peru and to be the better informed thereof and perhaps to interest himself on one side or the other he came with many followers and failing along the Coast of Peru he received information of the ill condition of Piçarro and that the President Gusca was then in Sausa preparing to march against him whereupon Pedro de Valdivia resolved to go himself in Person to the President and to list himself with him in his Majesty's Service and to travel with the less Train he dismist his men and sent them to joyn with Centeno and these are those Valdivians who as Carate saith shamefully ran away The day following as is reported both Parties marched in sight of each other with their men drawn up in Battalia The Forces of Centeno as Lopez de Gomara reports were twelve hundred and twelve men strong Carate saith that they were something under a thousand Palentino calls them above nine hundred but for my part I have received it from very good hands that they were twelve hundred of which there were two hundred and sixty Horse a hundred and fifty Fire-locks and about eight hundred Pikes and Lances All the Infantry he drew up into one Body flanking the Lances with the Fire-locks though indeed the Flanks were very thin The Captains of Foot were John de Vargas Brother to Garçilasso de la Vega my Lord and Father Francisco de Retamoso Captain Negrul Captain Pantoja and Diego Lopez de Cuniga these five Captains with their Ensigns marched on the left Wing and in the Van of all about twenty paces distant from the rest of the Squadron These were immediately followed by eleven Files of the choicest men in the Squadron in nature of a Forlorne Hope After these came the Ensign bearers carrying their Colours and then followed the Lances and Pikemen interlined with the Musquetiers The right Wing of the Infantry was supported with three Troops of Horse whose Captains names were Pedro de los Rios a Native of Cordoua and of as noble descent as any in that City also Antonio de Ulloa born at Carceres a Gentleman of a very ancient Family and with them was joined Diego Alvarez born at Almendral who carried the Royal Standard Diego Centeno being then sick was not amongst the Troops nor present in the Battel but was carried up and down in a Chair giving orders and directions This Squadron consisting of a hundred and sixty Horse was commanded to charge the left Wing of the Enemy likewise Centeno flanked the left Wing of his Foot with ninety seven Horse which belonged to Arequepa and to the City of Plate whose Captains were Alonso de Mendoça and Jeronimo de Villegas and all commanded by the Major-General Luys de Ribera and the Serjeant-Major of this Army was Luys Garcia de Sant Mames On the other side the Lieutenant-General Francisco de Carvajal formed his Squadron with the flower and choicest men of the Militia of Peru and it was pity that such stout and excellent Souldiers did not take the right side and employ themselves in service of the King their Lord and Master this was the cause which moved Historians to write with such defamation of a man so experienced in War that he knew to a point how many Lances were requisite to give check-mate to a Party and had as much advantage over others in War as an expert Master at the Game of Chess hath over a young beginner or learner Accordingly with great art he drew up in Battalia his little Army of four hundred men upon the Plains of which eighty five were Horse sixty Pikes and Lances and about two hundred and fifty Fire-locks howsoever many Authours make Piçarro to have been of a greater force and Centeno of a far less perhaps to abate the glory of Francisco Carvajal in case he conquered Centeno but these Writers understood not the Secret nor found out the true cause of the Victory on one side and the defeat of the other which we shall speedily relate Carvajal drew up in admirable Order his small Squadron in an open Plain where were no Bushes nor any thing else to hinder the shot of his Harquebusiers the Captains of which were Diego Guillen and John de la Torre and Carvajal himself commanded his own Company composed of stout Souldiers and excellent Marks-men And though John de Acosta commanded at that time a Troop of Horse yet he changed that day with Captain Guevara for his Foot Company because Guevara was lame and could not fight otherwise than on Horse-back these four were Captains of Foot and Hernando Bachicao commanded sixty Lances and Pikes and both Wings were interlined with Harquebusiers on one side and the other Amongst the Captains of Horse Gonçalo Piçarro was bravely mounted and armed with a good Coat of Mail and over it a Coat of green Velvet which I have seen him wear and over all he had a loose Garment of crimson Velvet slashed on each hand of him were Licenciado Cepeda who was Captain of Horse and Bachiller Guevara Francisco de Carvajal was Commander in Chief of this whole Squadron of Horse and posted himself on the right Wing of the Foot not exactly joyning to them but advanced about fifty paces before that the Musquetiers might have the more room to play their shot for in them he reposed his greatest assurance of Victory Carvajal was armed like a Commander of Horse with Coat of Mail and Gantlet and a Head-piece which they call a
and triumph over his Enemies and never did he carry himself with that constancy of mind authority gravity and steadiness as he did that day when he was taken I was acquainted with all those three Gentlemen whom I have here mentioned but it is not reason to name any man but on occasion of some great action but they all afterwards became Citizens of Cozco and had the best quarters of that City assigned to them CHAP. XXXIX Of the Captains who were executed and how their Heads were sent into divers parts of that Kingdom TO the preceding Discourses we shall add this one of a different nature to all the rest There was a certain Souldier called Diego de Tapia whom I knew and of whom I have made mention in our History of Florida lib. 6. chap. 18. and who had been one of Carvajal's Souldiers and much esteemed by him because he was a good Souldier active and fit for business He was of little stature but well shaped and had revolted over to Carvajal before the Battel of Huarina this poor fellow coming to Carvajal wept and shed many tears with great tenderness alas Sir said he Father how much am I troubled to see you in this distress I wish to God that my life might satisfie for yours for it could never be better offered than for you Alas Sir how much am I grieved for you had you fled and made your escape with me it had fared otherwise with you To which Carvajal replied I do not doubt of the sorrow and sense you have of my condition and I am much obliged to you for the expressions you have made of your good will to me offering to exchange your life to purchase mine But tell me Brother Diego since we were such great and intimate Friends why thou didst not tell me of thy intention to be gone that we might have fled away together With which Answer the Standers-by were much pleased and laughed wondering to see such presence of mind and readiness of spirit in a man of his condition to reply so aptly on every thing that was said to him All this and much more passed between Carvajal and others on the very day of this Battel or rather a Defeat without a Battel But as to Gonçalo Piçarro he remained alone and no company admitted to see him because he so desired it unless Diego Centeno and six or seven principal Souldiers more who were set over him for his guard The day following Gonçalo Piçarro and his Lieutenant General with all the Captains taken were brought to Execution as Gomara relates chap. 187. and particularly nominates John de Acosta Francisco Maldonado John Velez de Guevara Dionisio de Bovadilla Gonçalo de Los Nidos and says that of the last of them they drew his Tongue out at the Nape of his Neck but he alledges no reason for it onely we may believe it was for treasonable words spoken against his Imperial Majesty all these and many others were hanged and though they were Gentlemen yet they lost their privilege by becoming Traytors and Rebels to their King After they were executed their Heads were cut off and sent into divers parts and Cities of the Countrey The Heads of John de Acosta and Francisco Maldonado were pitched upon Iron Spikes in the Market-place of Cozco which I saw there though Palentino chap. 92. saith that Acosta's Head was set up at Los Reyes the Head of Dionisio de Bovadilla and another with his was carried to Arequepa and thereby that which the good Lady Joan de Leyton presaged of this Bovadilla was accomplished saying when he carried the Head of Lope de Mendoça to be set up in that City that they should in a short time take that Head down and set up his in the place thereof The several Authours write that they hastned the execution of Goncalo Piçarro and of his Officers concerned with him with all expedition possible for they conceived that the Countrey could not be safe and in peace whilst they were living Piçarro received sentence to have his Head cut off for a Traytor his houses in Cozco demolished and the ground sowed with Salt and thereon a Pillar raised with this Inscription These are the Dwellings of that Traytor Gonçalo Piçarro c. All which I my self have seen performed and acted and those very houses razed to the ground which were once the lot of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Brothers when the Countrey was divided that place in the Indian Tongue was called Coracora which is as much as to say The Herb-garden Piçarro as we have said was deteined a Prisoner in the Tent of Captain Diego Centeno where they used him with the same respect as had been given him in the time of his greatest Prosperity all that day he would eat nothing though invited to it but walked up and down the whole day very pensive and full of thoughts After some hours in the night he called to Centeno and asked him whether he was secure for that night his meaning was whether they would kill him that night or let him live untill the next day for he was not ignorant that his Enemies thirsted after his bloud in such a manner that every hour seemed a year to them untill he was dispatched out of this World. Centeno answered that he might rest secure as to that howsoever his mind was unquiet he lay down after Mid-night and slept for about the space of an hour and then arising again he walked untill break of day and so soon as it was light he desired to have a Confessour with whom he remained untill Noon where we will leave him for awhile to entertain our selves with a Narrative of the manner how Carvajal behaved himself that day which in reality was not so wild and extravagant as one of our Authours reports it to have been but in a far different manner as I shall relate with great truth and impartiality Nor am I moved to speak favourably of him in respect to former benefits and engagements which I have received from him but rather the contrary for he designed to have killed my Father after the Battel of Huarina and sought for some pretences for it arising from jealousie and his own vain suspicions Howsoever an Historian ought to lay aside all prejudice and malice against any person nor speak out of favour or affection but clearly to relate matter of fact for information of posterity in after-Ages And accordingly I protest as a Christian that I have abreviated many particulars and omitted divers circumstances of things that I might not seem biassed towards any person or plainly to contradict the allegations of the aforesaid Authours and particularly Palentino who came late into this Countrey and took up many Fables which the common People reported for Truths according to the several Factions and Parties which they followed The things which I have said already and what I shall hereafter add more distinctly I took up at first in the time
or New-spain to enter into this Countrey or to possess any part or share thereof to your prejudice or disadvantage And since I protest that all which I say is true and that I have not been able to doe more for your service and advantage than what I have already done I earnestly entreat you to follow the example of God himself herein that is to accept of the real endeavours and good-will of the person and on this consideration let every one satisfie himself with his lot which though not so large perhaps as he expected yet it is as great as the division and thing would bear and less than the Distributor desired and which he will increase when enabled by any fortunate opportunity And now after all my travels and labours both by Sea and Land which I have sustained in this last period of my life I pretend to no other reward than the satisfaction of having acted according to that Talent which God hath given me by which I have discharged my conscience towards God as a Christian towards the King as a faithfull Subject and towards your selves as became a good neighbour and a true servant And indeed if you take not things and understand them in the same manner you ill requite the love and affection I bear you and the care and labours I have sustained for your interest considering that on my part there hath been no failure or omission to advance the same And since for the better settlement of the Courts of Judicature and the Affairs of Lima it is necessary for me to be there present I have desired the most Reverend Father in God the Arch-bishop to supply my presence with you in the City and in my name to offer to you what I can doe at present and what I shall be able to doe for the future And having not farther to add I beseech God that I may live to see you all in great prosperity and plenty and employed in his holy service as fully and as happily as you your selves desire Given at Guaynarima on the 18th day of August 1548. Subscribed Your Servant the Licenciado Gasca Besides this Letter and Instructions given to the Archbishop he gave it in charge to the Father Provincial Frier Thomas de San Martin that he should make a Sermon on the day of the Publication and therein exhort the Pretenders to be contented every man with his portion allotted and to deal with them in private and persuade them thereunto All which Hernandez Palentino writes more at large which we have abbreviated to avoid prolixity and tediousness to the Reader and is as followeth When it was known in Cozco that the President was retired privately to avoid the troublesome importunities of the People one Captain Pardaue being in discourse with other Captains on my Conscience said he this Madalena de la Cruz is retired some where privately to put an Harana upon us for in Peru they call that Harana when a man who hath lost his money at gaming plays some Trick or Sham to avoid payment And amongst other Nick-names given the President they called him Madalena de la Cruz which was as much as Cheater or Sorcerer and was the name of that Woman who was punished by the Officers of the Inquisition in Cordoua And the truth is the President not to hear such insolent Speeches as these retired from Cozco that he might have liberty to make the Distributions and removed farther from it when they were published as Palentino saith in the second Part and Chapter the first of his History in these words It was well known that the President absented himself from Cozco that he might not be present at the time when the Distribution of Lands was published for he was prudent and subtile and understood by good experience the nature of the Countrey and feared much the Insolences of the Souldiers and to hear their Complaints Oaths and Curses And indeed herein he was not deceived for when the Arch-bishop was arrived at Cozco where almost all the Inhabitants and Souldiers were assembled expecting to receive great proportions of Lands and Government they appeared quiet and orderly but so soon as the publication was made on the 24th of August being the Festival of Saint Bartholomew whereby finding themselves much disappointed of their hopes they began to curse and swear and to utter many seditious expressions against the President and his Government to that high degree that all things seemed to tend to mutiny and a new rebellion Hereupon they began to enter into Cabals and secret Consultations how in the first place they might kill the Judge Andres de Cianca and the Arch-bishop whom they esteemed the Authours of the Distributions The cause and ground of their fury and rage they alledged to be the allotment made of principal Places and Lands to those who had been the Followers and Abettors of Gonçalo Piçarro and who had favoured that party which had been in Arms against the King but the relation of these matters is more fully made by Francisco Lopez de Gomara Chap. 188. in these words The President said he went to Apurima twelve leagues distant from Cozco where he consulted with the Archbishop of Los Reyes and his Secretary Pero Lopez about the division of Lands which were to be made and distributed amongst several persons to the value of a million and a half of yearly rent with a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats in Gold which he had raised from divers who were in present possessionâ he married many rich Widows to such as had well served the King he increased the Revenue and Estate of others who were already possessed of Lands so than some had a yearly Revenue made up to them of a hundred thousand Ducats which was an Estate for a Prince if the Inheritance had been theirs but the Emperour would allow no other Estate but for life but he who had the greatest Estate assigned to him was Hinojosa Gasca himself went to Los Reyes to avoid the complaints curses and damning of the Souldiers and perhaps for fear of worse And to make publication of the Lands allotted and divided the Archbishop was sent to Cozco and to take those off to whom nothing was given a smooth Letter was wrote to nourish them with future hopes and expectations but the furious Souldiers were neither appeased with the air of smooth words nor the gentle exhortation of the Archbishop Some complained of Gasca for giving them nothing some because they had less alotted than what was expected and others because those who had dis-served the King had the greatest proportion swearing that they would accuse him before the Council of the Indies of which number were the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado and Melchior de Verdugo who afterwards drew up a formal accusation against him and presented it to the chief Baron of the Exchequer In short their whole discourse tended to Mutiny and Sedition the Archbishop and Judge Cianca Hinojosa
to the Souldiers by whom he was desirous to be esteemed a Favourer of their pretensions and reasons of complaint as will appear by the Answer he gave at his return to the Judge Cianca when he was brought before him For in excuse he alledged that he absented himself from the City that the Souldiers might not engage him in the Mutinies they intended and force him to be their General Upon which Allegation the Judge committed him to prison in the House of John de Saavedra who was one of the principal Citizens of Cozco and having made Process against him he remitted him to the farther censure of the President and suffered him to go upon his paroll and upon Oath taken that he would proceed directly and present himself before his Superiours Accordingly Hernandez went to the City of Los Reyes but was detained three months on the way because the President at first would not see him nor give him admittance into the City untill at length he received licence and the favour to kiss the President 's hand some days after which the President being desirous to comply with his Martial Spirit and to clear the Kingdom of a sort of insolent and mutinous Souldiers conferred the honour of a Commission on him impouring him to make a Conquest of the Chunâhus with the Title of Governour and Captain General of all that Countrey which he should conquer at his own cost and hazard excepting out of his Commission those Frontiers which bordered on his Conquest namely Cuzco the City of La Paz and the City of Plate Francisco Hernandez was much pleased with his Commission intending thereby to gain an opportunity to rebell against his Majesty which had been long in his mind and which he at length put in execution as we shall find by the sequel and in order thereunto he remained in Rimac untill such time as the President embarked for Spain as shall be declared hereafter During the time that the President was employed in the Valley of Apurimac in sharing unto every man his proportion and lot the Judge Cianca received intelligence that the Licençiado Polo who was sent to be Judge in the Charcas had taken Francisco de Espinosa and Diego de Carvajal the Gallant and sent them prisoners who were the two persons employed by Gonçalo Piçarro in Arequepa and the Charcas after the Battel of Huarina and there committed those disorders which we formerly mentioned but these men before they came to Cozco wrote a Letter to Diego Centeno intreating him to intercede for them and at least obtained so far a remission of their Crimes as might not extend unto life but unto banishment out of the Kingdom In answer hereunto Centeno replyed That he should gladly comply with their request in case the enormity of their Crimes were capable of so much mercy and could admit of excuse and alleviation before the Lords the Justices but since they had been so cruel as to burn seven Indians alive without any cause or provocation he feared that the Gate was shut to all mercy nor durst any Man appear with arguments of intercession in a cause so vile and dark as theirs Some few days after this Answer was given these Offenders were brought to Cozco where they were hanged and quartered and their Quarters disposed in several ways to the great satisfaction both of Indians and Spaniards who rejoiced to see a Cruelty so justly revenged CHAP. V. The Government of Chile is given to Pedro de Valdivia The Articles which his own People prefer against him and by what means he is freed by the President AMongst the many great Divisions and Distributions made by the President Gasca in the Valley of Apurimac the Government of the Kingdom of Chile was conferred on Pedro de Valdivia with Title of Governour and Captain General of that great Kingdom containing five hundred leagues in length and moreover he received a full Commission to divide the Countrey amongst the Adventurers and such as had deserved well of the Crown The benefit of which Commission Pedro de Valdivia enjoyed a long time with great prosperity and affluence of fortune untill his Riches became his snare and were the cause of his ruine together with a hundred and fifty Spanish Gentlemen more who were all slain with him as we have already related in the first part of this History in the Life of Inca Yupanqui and have there anticipated this Story which was memorable and worthy observation and inserted it out of its due place in regard the Successes of that Kingdom were impertinent to our purpose but the present passages belonging to the Dominion of Peru fall within the verge of our History and are the proper subject of our Discourse of which Diego Hernandez a Citizen of Palencia gives this account in one of his Chapters the Title of which is this That by the same humane Laws some men may be condemned and put to death and others guilty of the same Crime may be freed and acquitted The same Authour hath another Chapter number 94. the Title of which is this In what manner the President sent to take Pedro de Valdivia The Articles which the People of Chile preferred against him and in what manner the President brought him off It hath been already mentioned in this History how Pedro de Valdivia came out of Chile and how afterwards the President made him Commander of the Provinces he should conquer And to prepare himself for that undertaking Valdivia went from Câzco to the City of Los Reyes with intent to furnish himself there with all necessaries and what might be required for that Conquest And having raised his men of which some were of those who had been banished out of Peru and others condemned to the Gallies for having been concerned in the late Rebellion and having provided all other matters he caused them to embarque on some Ships which set sail from the Collao of Lima but Pedro de Valdivia went himself by Land to Arequepa And whereas at this time several Complaints were brought against him to the President accusing him to have carried with him several condemned persons and that many outrages were committed on the way by People who had his command and authority so to doe Orders were sent to Pedro de Hinojosa to intercept him in his way and by some dexterous management to bring him back to the President Pedro de Hinojosa accordingly met him and asked him civilly whether he would not return again to give satisfaction to the President for what was alledged against him which Valdivia refusing to doe Hinojosa accompanied him in a friendly manner for a whole day's journey when watching his opportunity he seised upon him with six Musquetiers and brought him back to the President by which time several of the Plaintiffs from whom Valdivia had taken the Gold as before mentioned were come from Chile and had preferred Articles in writing against him wherein they accused him for having taken the Gold
from them for having killed many persons unjustly and that he lead a dissolute life with a certain woman that he was in confederacy with Gonçalo Piçarro and went from Chile with design and intention to join with him besides many other treasonable things of which they impeached him and in conclusion they desired that he might be condemned to pay and return the Gold he had taken from them The President found himself much perplexed and straitned in this matter for in case he condemned Valdivia he absolutely destroyed his voyage which tended to the quiet and benefit of Peru by clearing the Countrey of so many leud and insolent Souldiers as were to accompany him And in case the taking away the Gold were proved upon him and he not compelled to make restitution it would be such a piece of injustice as would tend much to the disreputation of the President and make a great noise and out-cry in the Countrey And being in this strait a contrivance was made to avoid the restitution which was in this manner Before it was ordered that Copies should be given to Valdivia of the Accusation and Articles preferred against him or any summary information a rule was given that first a solemn Inquisition should be made in the Office of the names of all those persons who were concerned in the Bill against the Defendant the which was to be done in that slight manner that the reason for which it was required might not be discovered And when it appeared by the Bill that all the People of Chile were concerned as Plaintiffs and were all Parties and interested in the Demand none of them could lawfully be made a Witness or give legal testimony in their own Cause he then ordered that Valdivia should have a Copy of the Bill and give in a speedy Answer the which he accordingly did denying every thing that was alledged against him it then lay upon the Plaintiffs to prove all by their Witnesses The Cause coming to a tryal and no testimony produced besides that of the Parties interested the President proceeded ex officio to sentence in favour of Valdivia And though something was proved of his intention towards Gonçalo Piçarro yet the President declared that neither for that nor other matters he found sufficient reason to divert Valdivia from his intended Conquest howsoever he took security from him not to entertain any of those who were banished for their Rebellion And also that he would send a Judge upon the place to make a strict inquisition concerning the Gold and gave Valdivia particularly in charge to give satisfaction for the same which he promising to perform the suit was dismist and he permitted to proceed to Chile Thus far Palentino who therewith concludes this Chapter CHAP. VI. The unfortunate death of Diego Centeno in the Charcas and of Licenciado Carvajal in Cozco The foundation of the City of Peace the Courts of Judicature are setled in Los Reyes AFter that the President Gasca had finished the Distribution of Lands as he designed in Apurimac and was gone to Los Reyes the Inhabitants and chief Lords of Peru took their leaves of him in order to return to their own homes Cities and Places of aboad some to take possession of their new Estates and others to repair their old which were gone to ruine and decay by the miseries of the War. Amongst the rest Diego Centeno went to his Estate in the Village of Plate now called the City of Plate by reason of the vast quantities of Silver which they daily dig out of that Hill adjoining to it called Potocsi where his intention was to get what Silver and Gold he could and therewith transport himself into Spain to render an account unto his Majesty of all the Services he had done for his Imperial Crown which his Majesty taking into his gratious consideration might gratifie him with some reward which the President had omitted to doe for which neglect he esteemed himself highly affronted This resolution being discovered to some friends with whom he consulted his intention presently took air and was divulged through the whole Kingdom being wrote in all Letters and Papers of advice which greatly offended the Government to hear that a person so considerable as Centeno was preparing to carry his Complaints into Spain some of the great Officers then in power being jealous of his Design would have persuaded him not to goe on pretence of friendship to him but finding that they could not prevail they resolved on another course more certain and secure than the former which was this Some of the Neighbours thereabouts out of malice and some out of ignorance wrote a Letter to Diego Centeno desiring him to come to the City of Plate where they might consult amongst themselves concerning his Voyage into Spain and other matters of their own which they would recommend to be communicated by him to his Imperial Majesty Centeno accordingly prepared for his journey to the City which being known to his Indians they earnestly persuaded him not to goe having received some private intimation as they said from their familiar spirits of an intent to kill him but Centeno was the more resolved because he would shew how little he valued the superstitious witchcrafts and presages of the Indians Great was the joy which those who invited him shewed at his arrival but some Souldiers who had been his friends and companions at the time when he was pursued by Francisco de Carvajal and in the Battels of Huarina and Sacsahuana privately suggested their fears for his appearance there telling him that the prediction which his own Indian servants had made known to him the same was also confirmed by those of that City and signifieâ to their Masters the which his friends interpreted for a sinister omen though in reality there appeared no outward cause or reason to suspect it But Centeno carried the matter high and slighted the vain superstition of the Indians saying that their conversation was with the Devil who was the Father of Lyes and therefore no credence was to be given to their presages but a short time shewed the vanity of his confidence for having been four days in the City he was solemnly invited to an entertainment in the house of a certain Gentleman whose name it is not necessary to specifie here but onely to recount the matter of fact like an Historian without other reflexion seeing that the persons themselves are now in place where they have given an account of this action In short at this Banquet such a dose of poison was prepared and given to Centeno so privately and undiscovered without any present symptoms or torments in the Bowels as did his business and dispatched him in three days His death was greatly lamented by all sorts of People in the Kingdom for he was a Gentleman of much goodness and affable deportment which had gained him a general affection and esteem He had been concerned in all the exploits and atchievements of
that Countrey having been one of those who had entred with Don Pedro de Alvarado and engaged with him in the Conquest of the Empire the news of his death being come into Spain his Brother gave a relation of the manner of it to the Emperour Charles the Fifth and that he had left two natural Children a Son and a Daughter who were poor and destitute because the Estate which their Father had from the services of Indians ended with his death in consideration of which his Majesty gratiously conferred for a portion to the Daughter the sum of twelve thousand ducats of Castile and settled upon the Son Gaspar Centeno who was a School-fellow of mine an Estate of four thousand pieces of Eight of yearly rent to be paid out of his Majesty's Royal Treasure in the City of Plate I have heard that this Estate was made an inheritance for ever but I know not how to believe it because I did never hear that any Estate of inheritance was ever charged on the King's Treasury but for one Life or two at most Some few months after the death of Centeno Licenciado Carvajal came also to an unfortunate end in Cozco as we have hinted before by a fall from a high Window for without any respect to his Office as Judge they cut the Cords of the Ladder by which he came up and went down Many other men died and came to unfortunate ends in divers Cities of Peru by which Lands and Estates over Indians became void and places made for other Pretenders by which the President had opportunity to gratifie many who were aggrieved to have been left out of the last Division but men were not satisfied herewith but as discontented and complaining as before as will appear by what follows for every man fansied that his Services merited the whole Empire of Peru. Now in the mean time whilst these violent Deaths and Misfortunes happened in the City of Plate and in Cozco the President Gasca was intent to the repairs of the City of Los Reyes and to erect a new Court of Chancery there which continues to this day He also contrived ways to people the City of Peace As Diego Hernandez Palentino declares in the second Book of the first Part of his History in these words Don Jeronimo de Loaysa says he was dispatched away with this Letter which he was to carry to the City of Cozco and was that which the President wrote to the Souldiers who were left out of the distribution and had no Estate allotted to them as before mentioned which caused great disturbances as that of Francisco Hernandez whose rebellion proceeded from that cause alone The President Gasca departed from Guanarima and went to the City of Los Reyes and in his journey he gave a Commission to Alonso Mendoça to be Governour of the New Colony which was founded in Chuquiabo and called our Lady of Peace which name was given to it by the President because it was founded in the time of Peace after so much War which had harassed that Countrey and because it is the middle way between Arequepa and the Charcas which are a hundred and seventy leagues distant from each other and is also the mid-way between Cuzço and the Charcas being in like manner a hundred and seventy leagues and being the road between such considerable Cities it was conceived necessary to have a City founded there for the convenience of Travellers and to prevent Robberies and Violences which were committed in those parts And having ordered all things in this manner he proceeded in his journey to Los Reyes and made his Entry into that City on the seventeenth day of September being there received with all the signal demonstrations of joy that could be expressed with Sports and Dances Feasts and Revels The President entered with the Royal Seal before him to signifie his intention to erect a Court of Chancery in that City The Seal and the President had a rich Canopy over them the Seal was on the right hand inclosed in a rich Case and carried on a white Horse covered with a Foot-cloth of Tissue to the very ground and which was lead by the Reins by Lorenço de Aldana the Chief Justice and the Mule of the President was lead by Jeronimo de Silva the Mayor of the City Lorenço de Aldana and the other Officers who bore up the Sticks of the Canopy were clothed with Garments of Incarnation Sattin and went bare-headed The Guards who were appointed to attend the Seal and the President had Liveries bestowed on them at the cost of the City as had all the Dancers and Actors cloaths and properties given them of Silk with divers colours And the Dancers came forth in their several Orders representing the Cities and principal People of Peru every one repeating a Distich or two signifying the fidelity of their People towards the Emperour LIMA I am the City of Lime Who came the first in time All happiness to bring Unto our Lord the King. TRUXILLO I 'm called the City of Truxillo Who with true Loyalty Came with my men to serve his Majesty In like manner Pyura Quito Guanuco and the Chachapoyas also Guamanca Arequipa Cozco and the Charcas presented themselves before the President with Verses to the same substance as before which being all in Dogerel rithm were scarce worthy of a Translation into English and indeed the Authour is of the same opinion for he saith that they were so dull and insipid that they savoured more of Indian than Spanish composure But to return now to the Reasons which Palentino gives for the foundation of the City of Peace which we have already mentioned we cannot allow that the prevention of Robberies could be any motive or reason for the building of that City for such hath been the generosity of that Empire called Peru of which may be said what cannot be said of any other Kingdom of the World namely that from the Conquest thereof which was in the year 1531 to this very time which is towards the end of 1610 it was never known or heard that either publickly or privately any Robberies had been committed nor have any Merchants and Dealers ever been assaulted on the highway though they have been known to carry with them vast quantities of Gold and Silver over Desarts and Mountains for the space of three or four hundred leagues and have travelled with such security that they adventured to lye in the fields day and night without other defence or guard than their mere Tents which is a thing so commendable as is spoken of both in the Indies and in Spain greatly to the honour and praise of this Empire We mean that such security as this is in time of Peace and not in the time of War for then as we have said before there is nothing but spoil and robbery where Violence and arbitrary Power and not Law prevail CHAP. VII The Cares and Troubles which the President Gasca sustained How he
punished some People that were in a Mutiny With what Patience he endured several insolent Speeches of the Souldiers and how he pacified and satisfied the Pretenders THE Courts of Judicature being now established in the City of Los Reyes the President applied himself to order such matters as tended to the quiet and security of the Empire and appointed that the Gospel and Christian Doctrine should be taught and preached to the Natives He commanded also that a general survey should be made of all the Divisions which had been made and of the Tributes which the Indians were to pay to their Lords which were moderately imposed and registred so that it should not be in the power of the Lords at any time to raise that Rent or Tribute In which affair Licençiado Cianca one of his Majesty's Judges was employed and to that purpose he was sent to the City of Los Reyes having first suppressed a small mutiny caused at Cozco by the Divisions lately made and punished the Authours of them For he hanged a Souldier and banished three others but not to make any greater combustion he proceeded no farther in the Examination nor in the punishment But the President whose Maxim it was to govern with gentleness and moderation was pleased to take off the Sentence of Banishment and interdiction before it was demanded for considering the nature of the People and the just reason which most of them had to complain he thought it not convenient to be over severe and rigorous in his justice The Judge Cianca by order of the President appointed and substituted John de Saavedra to be Deputy in his Office who was a Gentleman of Noble birth born at Seville and had a considerable Estate in Indians alloted him in that City of Cozco Also the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado was by Commission from the President made Governour of the new Plantation and was especially to take care to People the City of Peace for at the beginning that City had both those Names and Alvarado had a particular interest to take care thereof because his Estate was adjoining thereunto At this time the People flocked from all parts of the Empire to the City of Los Reyes to kiss the President 's hands and return him thanks for the distributions he had allotted to them In like manner many principal Souldiers who had long served his Majesty came with their Address to demand a reward for their services and satisfaction for the late injury and injustice which was done them in that their Friends and Companions to whom pay was due were put to death for demanding the same and that Act of asking their Pay was interpreted as a piece of disobedience and treason against his Majesty At the same time came the News of the death of Diego Centeno Graviel de Rojas and of Licenciado Carvajal and of other Inhabitants deceased And though the President was sufficiently informed of their just demands and reasons of complaint yet the Souldiers with much importunity would lay their cases before him beseeching his Lordship with much passion that he would be pleased to cause a new review and inspection to be made into the late Divisions that some parts thereof might be clipt and lopt off from the excessive and exuberant allotments of some men and conferred upon them whereby they might be enabled to eat and not starve with hunger whilst those who served the late Rebel were plentifull and easie in their fortunes and died with extreme gluttony and luxury The same is confirmed by Gomara chap. 188. in these words Lastly saith he they resolved to desire the President to review the late Divisions made and to give them their share thereof or grant them Pensions and if not then they were resolved to take them by force c. Thus far Gomara The President was troubled and wearied out of his life with the importunities of so great a number of Pretenders every one of which was so opinionated of his own Merits that if in one day all the wealth of Peru had been vacated and to be distributed it would have been too little to answer the expectation of so much arrogancy and pride which appeared in these blustring Souldiers who exalted their merits above all expression Notwithstanding which the President by his prudence and dextrous management entertained them for a year and a half in that City without trouble or mutiny howsoever this sort of insolent Souldiers could not be so well contained within their bounds of moderation and duty but that sometimes they broke out into mutinies and rebellious Speeches all which as Historians say the good President sustained with great patience and moderation and thereby gained a greater Victory by subjecting his own passions than he had done by the Conquest of that whole Empire some particulars of which I have heard in that Countrey and others since I came into Spain the less provoking and insolent of which I will repeat here and omit the most insolent and abominable as not fit to be expressed The President being in perpetual trouble and unquietness caused by the daily importunities of the Pretenders thought fit to make use of a certain Captain whom I knew to ease him of the many solicitations and addresses which were made to him and therefore said Captain pray help me to undeceive this People and let them know that the King hath not wherewith to relieve them nor I to order or distribute to them To which the Captain made answer pray Sir undeceive them your self who have been the person that deceived them for for my part I know not what to say to them to which the President made no reply seeming not to have heard him Another Souldier of meaner degree desired him to reward his services Honest Souldier said the President have patience for I have not wherewith to doe it all being already divided and distribution made Sir replied the Souldier give me then that Cap of yours with which you have deceived so many and I shall esteem my self well rewarded therewith The President looking upon him said no more than Go your ways in God's name Another person who took upon himself the name and Title of a Captain though in reality he was not for I knew him well but he had an Estate given him with Service of Indians to the Value of seven or eight thousand pieces of Eight a year and he boldly required the President to better his Estate by some additions thereunto as he had done to many others who had not deserved half so much as he for I said he have been one of the first Discoverers and Conquerours of Chile And there hath no action of moment passed in all this Empire wherein I have not been concerned for service of his Majesty for which I deserve great rewards to which he added many arrogant Speeches and Bravadoes full of Vanity and Pride atlength the President being over-tyred and wearied therewith said to him Good Sir be gone you
Conjectures might have been made upon the reasons of their departure but going thus away without any reason assigned the whole City talked and made a thousand Conjectures thereupon especially when it was known that they had burnt the Bridges of Apurimac and Amancay which were to be repaired at the expence and labour of the poor Indians upon which all the Countrey was in a confusion and rumours were spread that Francisco Hernandez Giron was up in Arms at Cozco and was become a Rebel But in the second Insurrection he made Alonso Palomino gave him his reward by killing him at a Supper as we shall see hereafter but Jeronimo Costilla escaped being not present at the Invitation But to return again to the present Acts of Giron we say that his Souldiers being dispersed and the chief Incendiaries punished the Agreement was performed and executed and Giron was released upon his Paroll and solemn Oath given to goe to the City of Los Reyes and there to present himself before the Royal Court of Justice and give them an account of the late Actions Diego Maldonado the Rich having a particular friendship with him by reason of their neighbourhood for they lived the next street one to the other accompanied him on his journey as far as Antahuylla being fourty leagues from Cozco and with the same occasion Maldonado visited his Indians and Plantations he had in those parts but Palentino saith I know not upon what ground that Giron was delivered into the hands of the High Sheriff Maldonado and of Captain John Alonso Palomino who were obliged at their own cost and charge to provide twenty Musquetiers to carry him to Lima and for better security the Mayor made him take the Oath of Fidelity c. I cannot imagin where this Authour received this relation so contrary to all truth and which sounds so like a Romance or a Poetical Fiction But this is most certain that Giron came to the City of Los Reyes and there presented himself before the Royal Court of Justice where the Judges committed him to prison but many days had not passed before he was enlarged and the whole City assigned him for hiâ confinement and in a short time afterwards they took his own obligation and discharged him upon the terms he offered And here it is reported that he married with a very Noble Lady young vertuous and beautifull and unworthy of those sorrows and afflictions which her husband brought upon her by his second Rebellion as we shall see in the sequel of this History With her he returned to Cozco where for some days and months I cannot say years he remained quiet howsoever in the mean time he conversed with none but Souldiers avoiding as much as he could all society and communication with the Citizens atlength he brought an Action against one of the principal Members of the City about an Horse which he challenged to be his though in reality he had no title thereunto for the truth was he had lost him in the late Wars of Quito having been taken from him by a stout Souldier and as lawfull prize sold by him to a Citizen for a round sum of money which was witnessed by another Souldier who knew how he came by him Howsoever in regard the Souldier who sold him had followed Piçarro's Party the Horse was kept privately and unknown to any besides the Master himself but at length the Horse coming to be discovered the Citizen was contented to sell him to Giron at an under rate rather than to bring the Souldier into question who might have been hanged or sent to the gallies for the same so that this suit about the Horse served onely to shew his good-will and kindness towards his Companions and Equals who were Lords over Indians and enjoyed Estates for as I observed he never kept company or entertained communication with them but onely with Souldiers and with them he spent his whole time and employed his chief concernment as will appear some few days afterwards For certain Souldiers as stout and as mutinous as the others observing the little rigour and severity which was used against the insolence and mutinous behaviour of Francisco Giron and his Associates were encouraged to attempt the like Outrages but being few in number and without any Head that was considerable they resolved to find out one be he what he would and so publickly was this matter discoursed and treated that it became the common talk of all the City of Los Reyes and atlength the rumour was so far spread that it came to the Ears of the Mayor of Cozco who being thereupon requested to take cognizance of the Matter to examine the Plot and to punish the Offenders he excused himself saying that he was not to create more Enemies than those formerly who were Hernandez Giron and his Adherents and as for those Troubles then acting the incumbence lay on the Court of Justice to suppress and prevent them and in case they held themselves unconcerned he for his part would not intermeddle with Affairs which belonged to a superiour power Whilst these things were in agitation in the Countrey a certain Inhabitant of Cozco called Don John de Mendoça a Martial man and one kind to the Souldiery happened to come then to Town with intention rather to aggravate matters and incite others than to concern himself either one way or the other So soon as he came to the City he treated with the principal Complotters who were called Francisco de Miranda and Alonso de Barrionuevo who was then High Sheriff of the City and with Alonso Hernandez Melgarejo This Miranda told him that the Souldiers had with general consent chosen him for their Commander in Chief and Barrionuevo for his Lieutenant the which Mendoça discovered to certain Citizens who were his Friends advising them to avoid such danger from the Souldiery and to abandon the City but when he perceived that they slighted his Counsel he then travelled to the City of Los Reyes publishing all the way he went how that all Cozco was in an uproar and that the City had taken no notice of him either going or coming Palentino mentions the flight of Palomino and Jeronimo Costilla to have been at this time which had been two years before as we have noted it before CHAP. XVI The Justices send a new Mayor to Cozco who doth Justice upon the Mutiniers The Original of these Disturbances is here related UPON the rumour which Don John de Mendoça caused to be spread in the City of Los Reyes the Judges appointed the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado to be Mayor of Cozco giving him Commission to punish the insolent and mutinous Souldiers there and to hinder that growing Evil which for want of due correction was come to a degree unsupportable So soon as this new Officer was come to Cozco he apprehended some of the Souldiers who to save themselves had impeached a certain Citizen called Don Pedro Portocarrero And having well
Ethiopian and which will not be washed off again with any water untill it begins to wear away which it will doe in ten days time and then will wash off with the rine of that which gives the tincture In this manner they coloured this wretch Aguire and clothed him in poor habit like a Countrey Negroe and with this disguise they went out openly about noon day through the publick streets and Market-place with the Negroe Aguire marching before them with a Gun on his Shoulders and one of the Masters carried another before him on the Pomel of his Saddle and the other had a Hawk on his fist as if they had been going after their game and in this manner they went to the Hill called Carmenca which is the road to Los Reyes and is a great way thither through Streets and publick places from the house of Rodrigo de Pineda and at last they came to the out-guards of all where being asked for the Governour 's licence or pass-port he that carried the Hawk seeming to be troubled for this omission said to his Brother Pray stay for me here untill I goe and fetch a Licence or if you please to go softly before I shall quickly overtake you but he took little care for his pass-port since his Brother with his Neger was passed the Guards which being done they quickned their pace untill they had got themselves clear out of the Jurisdiction of Cozco which reaches fourty leagues in length And being come so far he bought a small Nag for Aguire and gave him some money in his purse and said to him Brother since I have accompanied you so far and brought you into a Countrey where you are free and out of danger you may goe now where you think fit for my part I can do no more for you shift for your self and with that he returned to Cozco and Aguire travelled to Huamanca where a Kinsman of his lived who was a Noble person and one of the richest Inhabitants of that City and was received by him as kindly as if he had been his own Son and was caressed and treated by him for many days and afterwards was sent away with all things necessary and convenient for him We shall conceal the name of this his Kinsman because it is not justifiable to receive and protect a person condemned or who stands outlawed by the Royal Justice This escape of Aguire was one of the strangest things that happened in those days considering the diligent search which was made for him by the Judge and the follies of Aguire after he had committed the Murther though they happened well and by his good fortune were the cause of his preservation for if he had taken refuge in a Convent of which there were but three in Town namely that of our Lady of the Seraphical St. Francis and of the Divine St. Dominick he had certainly been discovered and delivered to Justice but having thus escaped the Governour was not a little angry and ashamed to see his Justice eluded and the Offender placed out of reach of the Law. Howsoever he was praised by the bold and daring Souldiers who said that if there were many Aguires in the World who durst boldly adventure to vindicate their dishonours by such a revenge the Officers of Justice would not be so insolent and arbitrary as they now shew themselves CHAP. XIX Many Gentlemen of the Countrey goe to kiss the Hand of the Vice-king A particular Story of an impertinent Person A Mutiny in Los Reyes and how it was punished The death of the Vice-king and what Troubles happened after it WE have already touched something of the Entry of the good Vice-king Don Antonio de Mendoça into the City of Los Reyes where he lived but for a short time and that too with much anguish and infirmity of body which is rather to dye than to live so that his Government affords us little subject for Discourse When he came first into the City many Planters of the Countrey about came from all parts of the Empire from Quitu as far as the Charcas to kiss his hands and welcome him at his first arrival Amongst which there was one more kind than the rest and full of love and affectionate expressions and at the conclusion of all Sir said he God take from your days and add them unto mine Those said the Vice-king will be but few and ill ones The poor man recalling himself hereupon No Sir I mean that God would be pleased to take from my days and add them unto your Excellencies I understand your Complement replied the Vice-king Don't trouble your self for the mistake Howsoever the Story was quickly carried into the outward room where it occasioned much laughter Some few days after this a certain Captain whom we have formerly mentioned in this History came to the Vice-king pretending to give him some Informations for better Government of the Empire and amongst other things he said there was one Abuse necessary to be remedied the thing is this There are two Souldiers who lodge in such a place and goe always amongst the Indians with Guns in their hands and eat what they kill and destroy the whole Game of the Countrey they also make Powder and Bullets which is of ill example to the Kingdom for many times Troubles and Insurrections have ensued from such beginnings and therefore such men as these are to be punished or at least banished from Peru. The Vice-king asked him whether these men did treat the Indians ill or whether they sold them Powder and Bullets or committed any other Outrages No said the Captain Nothing more than what I tell your Lordship Then said the Vice-king these are not faults but actions rather to be encouraged for it is no offence for Spaniards to live amongst the Indians and to eat what they get themselves by hunting and to make Powder for their own use and not to sell but 't is rather commendable and such actions as are fit for other men to imitate Go your ways Sir in the name of God for I desire that neither you nor others should bring me such Tales as these for these men you complain of must be Saints seeing they live such innocent lives as you inform me And in this manner was the impertinency of this Captain requited With this gentle and easie manner did this Prince govern the Empire but my Countrey was not worthy so much goodness and therefore Heaven called him thither During the time of his Sickness the Justices commanded that the personal services of the Indians should be taken off and accordingly it was proclaimed in the City of Los Reyes in Cozco and other parts under such penalties and rigorous clauses as gave great offence and caused new seditions and mutinies amongst the People for which a chief Incendiary one Luys de Vargas was condemned and executed but the Examinations and Tryals proceeded no farther because it was found that several principal men were
and though they were all select and choice men yet they were so affrighted and distracted with the Villany they were going to act as if they had been to charge a formidable enemy whereas indeed they were going to kill a Gentleman who fearing and apprehending no evil gave easie access to all people In short they entring the House the first person they met was Alonso de Castro who was Deputy-Governour who seeing men come up in that tumultuous manner thought to qualifie them with good words and said Gentlemen what is the occasion of this commotion God save the King. Presently Don Sebastian drawing his Sword 't is not now seasonable said he for such treaties The Deputy seeing his Sword drawn turned his back and fled but a certain Souldier called Anselmo d'Ervias pursued him and ran him through with his Rapier and tucked him to the Wall with which the point of his Sword being bent when he would have given him a thrust or two more the Rapier would not enter which made the Souldier say what a tough hide this Dog Traitour hath but others coming in to his aid they soon dispatched him Then rushing into the Chamber of Pedro de Hinojosa they found him not there nor in any of the other Rooms of the House at which they were much troubled fearing lest he had made his escape whereupon two of them putting out their heads at the Window of the Street cried out the Tyrant is dead the Tyrant is dead which they said intending to call their own complotters to their assistence before the people of the City could come to the rescue of the General those who remained below in the yard searched for him in all private passages and entries of the House and at length a Souldier chanced to find him in a secret corner near the necessary Office and said in a jeering manner Sir I beseech your Worship to come forth for here is Don John de Castilla and other Cavaliers come to speak with you and kiss your hands The General hereupon coming forth in his morning Gown a Souldier called Gonçalo de Mata went boldly up to him and said Sir these Gentlemen are desirous to have you for their Lord their General and their Father as Palentino reports Chapter the twelfth in these words The General smiling as it were spake out aloud What me alas Gentlemen command me as you please to which Garci Tello de Vega made answer A curse light on you 't is now too late we have a good General already of Don Sebastian and with that run him thorough the Body to the very Hilt of his Sword with which he immediately fell to the ground and endeavouring to arise Antonio de Sepulveda and Anselmo de Hervias came in upon him and gave him two wounds more with which he cried out for a Confessour but he speedily expired by this time Don Garci Tello was come down and being told that the General was dead he bid them make sure work for the whole affair depended thereupon so Anselmo de Hervias returned to him who lay extended on the ground and gave him a good slash over the face with which he yielded up his last breath Then all the Assassinates gathering in a body came to the Market-place and cried out God save the King the Tyrant is dead which is the common language of Rebels in Peru and then they plundred the House and in a moment all was carried away c. Thus far Diego Hernandez But as to that great cut which they say Hervias gave him over the face it was not with a Sword but a dash with a slab of Silver which they had taken out of his Closet where he had heaped up so many as if they had been Tiles to cover a House with which giving him a blow here said he take thy fill of Riches for the sake of which thou didst break thy word and faith to us and wouldst not be our Commander according to thy promise The General being slain the Conspiratours ran out crying aloud Long live the King long live the King the covetous Tyrant is dead the breaker of his Faith. At the same instant Garci Tello de Guzman appeared with his fifteen Associates who dividing themselves into two parties ran to kill Paulo de Meneses and Martin de Robles with whom the Souldiery was highly displeased because having called them to their respective aids to joyn with them in their private quarrels one against the other as is before related was afterwards contented to make peace and be reconciled to the disappointment of the Souldiery who called it an Affront and a contrivance to fool them But Martin de Robles having timely notice brought him by an Indian Servant of all that had passed leaped out of his Bed in his Shirt and escaped Paulo de Meneses considering the insolency of the Souldiers and that it could not be long before it broke forth into open Outrages departed from the City that very night and went to a Countrey Seat not far from thence where having received information of all that had passed he immediately fled to more remote parts beyond the reach of their power The Souldiers not finding them plundered and robbed their houses of every thing that was in them and then went to the Market-place to join with Don Sebastian and because they had a quarrel with every man that had any Estate they seised upon Pedro Hernandez de Paniagua who was the person employed by the President Gasca to carry the Letters to Gonçalo Piçarro and for that Service had an Estate given him in the City of Plate they also apprehended John Ortez de Carate and Antonio Alvarez and all the Citizens that they could catch for so senseless were they and inapprehensive of the licencious Souldiers that they suspected nothing untill they were seised by them Polo the Lawyer having timely notice by an Indian Servant called Yacuna made his escape on horse-back The other Souldiers who were dispersed over the City flocked to the Market-place in a Body Then Tello de Vega surnamed the Blockhead took an Ensign or Colours from the Indians and set it up in the Market-place as Palentino saith and issued out Orders by beat of Drum that all Inhabitants and others upon pain of death should immediately repair thither and list themselves under that Standard and hereupon Rodrigo de Orellana leaving the Staff of his Authority at home though then Sheriff came and surrendred himself in like manner John Ramon and Gomez Hernandez the Lawyer did the same and as every one was listed they came in at one door of the Church and went out at the other so that the number taken amounted to a hundred and fifty two persons Then was Don Sebastian nominated for Captain General and Chief Justice and two days afterwards he caused the Citizens then in his custody to chuse him for their Mayor and Gomez Hernandez the Lawyer to be Recorder and John de Huarte was made Serjeant
Majesty And though these fellows had been Traitours more than twice or thrice to the King and false to their Friends as will appear by the Sentence which some few months afterwards was passed upon Godinez yet they cry up nothing now but duty and loyalty to the King. And here it is remarkable that from the Murther of the General Pedro Hinojosa to the death of Don Sebastian there was not above the space of five days between as Palentino writes for Hinojosa was killed on the sixth of March and Don Sebastian on the eleventh following in the year 1553. And now Basco Godinez and his Comrades having killed Sebastian they delivered John Ortiz de Carate and Pedro Hernandez Paniagua out of Prison and Chains and set them at liberty and told them that what they had acted was with intent to give them their freedom and to deliver the City from that total ruine and destruction which those Rebels and Traitours had plotted against it and also out of a principle of Loyalty to serve his Majesty And Vasco Godinez particularly said these words as are repeated by Palentino Chap. 17. Gentlemen for the love of God since you see that I have received a wound in my Hand be pleased to apply your selves to the Souldiery and encourage and exhort them to stand firm in their loyalty and service to his Majesty But when John Ortiz de Carate saw that all the Assassinates and Murtherers of the General were actually amongst the Souldiers and that the principal Ruffian and Villain called Hernando Guillada was a Captain he began to fear lest they should kill him to prevent which he cried out aloud that they should make Guillada their Captain and perhaps he thought it might be convenient so to be Thus far Palentino Those words of John Ortiz de Carate were wisely and seasonably spoken for 't is believed that they saved their lives thereby in the mean time Vasco Godinez went to have the wound of his Hand dressed of which he was more tender than of the life of Don Sebastian the same night he dispatched away six Musquetiers to guard the ways leading to Potocsi to intercept all Advices which might be sent hereof to Egas de Guzman and presently seised three of his Souldiers and before it was day he hanged them up for he knew that they were Villains who were acquainted with all his Plots Treacheries and Intrigues so soon as it was day he sent to call John Ortiz de Carate Pedro Hernandez Paniagua Antonio Alvarez and Martin Monge who were all Citizens and Free-men of the City besides which there were no others at that time and he told them with high commendations of his own merit the great danger he had incurred in killing the late Tyrant the service he had done his Majesty thereby and the particular benefit and happiness he had procured to them in particular and to the whole City in general And that now in return and recompence of so great and meritorious Services he desired nothing more of them than to be chosen Chief Justice of that City and the parts adjacent and to be nominated Captain General of the Forces since that Egas de Guzman was very strong and had many Souldiers with him in Potocsi and to maintain this degree and quality he desired to have the Manors of the General and those Vassalages of the Indians conferred upon him being now vacant by his death To which the Citizens made answer that they were not a number sufficient to agree upon such Elections and feared to run themselves into danger in case they did But John Ortiz apprehending lest Godinez should take this refusal in ill part answered more out of fear than affection that in case Gomez Hernandez who was a man learned in the Law would give his opinion that they might legally doe it that then they would readily comply with his desires to which the Lawyer gave his opinion readily and that they might doe it and much more in respect to the great merit and services of Godinez Hereupon a publick Notary was called and before him Godinez was nominated to be Lord Chief Justice and Captain-General of the Souldiery and for support of these great Dignities the Estate of the late General Pedro de Hinojosa was settled upon him which as we have said with the Mines of Silver yielded him two hundred thousand pieces of Eight of yearly rent an excellent and worthy reward for two such famous pieces of Treason and Murther which this Villain had contrived and woven purposely to wind himself into this great Estate which he was resolved to possess by any means or ways whatsoever And in like manner this honest Lawyer got himself into another allotment called Puna and to hold it in Custodiam untill it should be otherwise disposed Upon this passage Diego Hernandez saith as follows It is manifest that they intended to pay themselves and to sell at a good rate the power they had over the Souldiers and make advantage of the dread and terrour which the Citizens conceived of them who feared lest they should be more cruel towards them than Don Sebastian had been Thus far Diego Hernandez Then they nominated the Lawyer Gomez Hernandez to be Lieutenant-General of the Army and John Ortiz de Carate and Pedro del Castillo to be Captains of Foot this Election was made to signifie that they would not dispose of the military Offices arbitrarily but in such a manner as that the Citizens should have a share with them in the Government which they accepted more out of fear than good will towards the Cause or Persons with whom they were embarked Hereupon Proclamation was made that all people should obey Basco Godinez as General and Baltasar Velazquez as Major-General and six Souldiers were presently dispatched away to seise upon Don Garcia and the rest who were returned from the good employment they were sent about for killing the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado Baltasar Velazquez to shew the power of his Office caused two Souldiers of note to be drawn and quartered who brought Letters and Advices from Egas de Guzman at Potocsi to Don Sebastian de Castilla He sentenced another Souldier to be hanged called Francisco de Villalobos and two other Souldiers who were Friends to him to have their hands cut off but by the mediation of the other Souldiers a remission was granted to have onely one hand dismembred all which this good Major-general acted within the space of four hours after he was promoted to this honour The day following Martin de Robles Paulo de Meneses Diego de Almendras and Diego de Velazquez entred into the City having fled from the Souldiers who fought to take them together with several others of less note and esteem The which being known to Basco Godinez who kept his Bed in tenderness to his wound he sent to call John de Ortiz to him and desired him to persuade Paulo de Meneses Martin de Robles and the rest who were
his Feet thus did they contrive and meditate new ways of cruelty Then he dispatched Baltasar Velazquez with another Souldier of note called Pedro del Castillo to go to Lima there to publish and extoll the great services which Basco Godinez and they had done which are the words of Palentino who therewith concludes that Chapter Though Baltasar Velazquez by being absent in the Charcas escaped the punishment which Alonso de Alvarado had designed for him yet he could not avoid a more severe judgment which Heaven had prepared to bring him to his end The news of the Insurrection of Don Sebastian de Castillia ran like lightning through the whole Kingdom to the great trouble and consternation of those who had Estates in the Countrey for these were they who were likely to suffer by all wars and confusions which arise for not onely being Lords of Manors holding many Indians in vassalage they were upon all occasions of this nature put to a vast expence but likewise they held their lives by a hair or thread being ever in danger of being killed in those rebellious tumults by the Souldiers who gaped and longed after the enjoyment of their possessions So soon as this news came to the City of Cozco they put themselves into a posture of defence against the enemy and by consent of the Corporation they elected Diego Maldonado surnamed the Rich to be their General having formerly been the most ancient Governour of any in that City Garçilasso de la Vega and John de Saavedra were made Captains of Horse and John Julio de Hojeda Thomas Vazquez and Antonio de Quinnones and another Citizen whose name I have forgot were made Captains of Foot who presently applied themselves with all diligence to raise Souldiers and herein John Julio de Hojeda was so active that in five days time he marched into the Market-place with three hundred Souldiers after him all very well armed and accoutred which seemed strange in so short a time Three days after this making eight days in all with the former five news came of the death of Don Sebastian which put an end to the War for the present The like happened in the City of Los Reyes as Diego Hernandez mentions Chap. 22. in these words The Court of Justice received intelligence of all the revolutions and tempests which were arisen for at the end of March news came of the death of the General and of the rebellion of Don Sebastian six days after which came news that Egas Guzman was up in Arms in the quarters of Potocsi and in four days more advices were brought of the death and destruction of those rebellious Tyrants for which great rejoycing was made in the City of Lima. Thus far Diego Hernandez We shall now in the following Chapter relate what course and methods were used to bring these men to condign punishment CHAP. XXVIII The Royal Court of Justice constitutes the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado to sit Judge on the Trial of the Rebels Decrees and Orders were issued out by the Judge and others by the Souldiers The Imprisonment of Basco Godinez and of other Souldiers and Men of Estates THE days of joy and festival being past in the City of Los Reyes for the death of Don Sebastian de Castillia and the defeat and destruction of the Rebels in which Ordonno de Valencia whom Diego Hernandez often mentions in his History had proved a principal Instrument though he had acted a double part and been concerned on both sides Howsoever his good fortune guiding him to bring the first news of the death of Don Sebastian the Judges in reward thereof bestowed upon him a division of some Lands with vassalage of Indians in the City of Cozco to the value of five or six thousand pieces of Eight of yearly Revenue where I left him in the enjoyment of the same when I came for Spain But others failed in that design and gained a contrary reward being accused and endicted before a High Court of Justice of which the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado was constituted Lord Chancellour by Commission from the Lords Justices for that he being known to be an upright and a severe person was esteemed a proper Instrument to punish those many outrages murthers and violences which had been committed against God and contrary to the peace and quietness of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Fifth Emperour and King of Spain In like manner for Trial of Offenders in the Charcas John Fernandez the King's Attorney General was ordained and appointed to proceed against and judge those Delinquents Moreover another Commission was privately sealed whereby Alonso de Alvarado was ordained chief Governour and Justiciary of all those Provinces and Captain General of all the Forces with full power to raise Souldiers and to pay them and all necessary Expences of the War out of the Royal Treasury These Commissions were sent to Alvarado in the City of Peace by virtue of which he immediately applied himself to the trial and punishment of the Rebels and in order thereunto he dispatched several persons of entire confidence and integrity into divers parts to seise and apprehend such as had been guilty and were fled to avoid the course of Justice into private corners and concealments amongst the Indians One of those employed upon this message was called John de Henao who pursued them so hard as to search for them with Canoes or Indian Boats in certain little Islands within the Lake of Titicaca and to hunt them amongst the Osiers and Rushes which grew by the Banks of those Islands and having taken above twenty of the most malignant and culpable amongst them he delivered them into the hands of Pedro Enciso then Governour in Chucuytu who having first examined them and taken their Confessions he sent them with a safe Guard to the Marshal It being by this time made known over all the Charcas and Potocsi that the Marshal was by Commission constituted Judge of those Provinces divers Souldiers who were conscious of their own guilt advised Basco Godinez whose crimes they believed were too black to admit of Pardon to be wary and cautious of his own person and to raise Souldiers to resist the Marshal the which as Diego Hernandez says Chapter the twenty second they represented to him as a matter very easie to be effected and that he should cause it to be published abroad that the Marshal and Lorenço de Aldana and Gomez de Alvarado intended to raise Arms and in an arbitrary manner to tyrannize over the Countrey which being once fixed in the minds of the people he might have a very laudable pretence to kill them all which being done there could be none to oppose or confront him Howsoever Basco Godinez was of another opinion for depending much on the service he had done his Majesty in killing Don Sebastian de Castillia and upon the enmity which was between him and John Ramon who accused and complained of him for not standing firm to
Gentleman of Quality and one educated under so religious and good a Prince as the Vice-king Don Antonio de Mendoça should perform an action so odious and unpolitick as to tear a Petition subscribed by above eighty Lords of Vassals and Inhabitants of a City which was the Metropolis of all that Empire For if such a thing had been done it had not been strange be it said with all respect to his Royal Majesty if they had given him fifty stabbs with their Daggers as this Authour averrs saying that Francisco Hernandez Giron and his Associates had conspired so to doe either in the Town-house or in the Shop of a Publick Notary where the Governour used to hold his Court of Justice Thus far Palentino And because it is not reason that we should so positively contradict the Writings of this Authour which in many places may be taken up from vulgar Reports we shall therefore omit all farther computation and proceed according to the method of our History in the relation of what really passed in the City of Cozco where I was personally present and was an eye-witness of what was there transacted which was this The Offence taken at the Severity of Justice executed in the Charcas did seem to concern no other Citizen of Cozco than onely Francisco Hernandez Giron who kept no conversation or correspondence with the Inhabitants but with the Souldiers onely which was a sufficient indication of his evil Intentions And receiving informations that the Marshal made Enquiries after him and being conscious to himself of his own guilt he became wary of his own person and resolved speedily to break forth into open Rebellion To which end he entered into communication with some Souldiers who were his Friends being not above twelve or thirteen in number namely John Cobo Antonio Carrillo of whom we have made mention in the History of Florida Diego Gaviland and John Gaviland his brother Nunno Mendiola and Diego de Alvarado the Lawyer who availed himself more of his skill in War than in Law and indeed he had reason not to boast himself much of his Learning for he had never shewn any either in War or Peace these Souldiers though poor were yet honourable and of noble extraction Besides these he imparted his design to Francisco Hernandez and Thomas Vasquez who was a rich Citizen and a principal person of the Corporation and one of the first Conquerours when Atahualpa was a prisoner and with him he entred into a Discourse of these matters upon occasion of a quarrel which some few months before had arisen between this Thomas Vasquez and the Governour Gil. Ramirez de Avalos who out of passion rather than reason apprehended Vasquez and clapt him into the publick prison proceeding against him rather like a party than a Judge of which ill usage Vasquez had reason to complain since that to persons of his quality and ancient family it was usual to shew all honour and respect Francisco Hernandez taking hold of this disposition in Vasquez to revenge the injuries he had received easily prevailed upon him to accept the proposal and to engage himself to be of his party in like manner he drew another to join with him called John de Piedrahita a man of a mean fortune and one who for the most part of the year lived in the Countrey with his Indians he was also of an unquiet temper and so needed no great persuasion to be prevailed upon by Francisco Hernandez These two Citizens and another called Alonso Diaz engaged with Hernandez in the insurrection he made though Palentino names another called Rodrigo de Pineda but neither he nor others who went with him to the City of Los Reyes did join with Hernandez in his rebellion though they followed his party afterwards as will appear in this History rather out of fear than love or any interest whatsoever for they abandoned his party with the first opportunity that presented and revolted over to his Majesty's service which was the ruine and destruction of Hernandez Palentino having nominated without any distinction Citizens and Souldiers that were engaged in this conspiracy he says that they plotted to kill the Governour and raise a tumult in the City and over all the Kingdom but I am confident that this report was framed by a person who was ill affected to the Inhabitants of Peru for he never speaks of them but with a prejudice calling them Traytours and rebellious persons The truth is I am a native of that City and consequently a Son of that Empire and therefore it troubles me to hear my Contreymen so causlesly reproached with the terms of disloyalty who never offended his Royal Majesty nay they condemn them of rebellion or at best suspect them of treason who did the service to acquire to his Majesty a vast Empire and so wealthy as hath filled all the world with its riches For my part I protest in the faith of a Christian that I will speak the truth without any partiality or favour and will declare and plainly confess the truth of all the proceedings of Hernandez and where they are obscure confused or doubtfull I shall render them as plain and manifest as I am able Know then that Francisco Hernandez conspired with those whom we have before mentioned and with another Souldier called Bernardino de Robles and another called Alonso Gonçalez a man as vile and base in his extraction and manners as he was ugly in his person form and shape for he proved the bloudiest Villain in the World killing every one who stood in his way even those whom Hernandez had pardoned pretending that Execution was done before the pardon arrived His trade was before this rebellion broke out to keep Hogs in the valley of Sacsahuana which was in the Estate and Allotment of Hernandez from whence began that great friendship and dearness which was between them The rebellion being resolved it was agreed that it should break forth on the thirteenth of November in the year 1553. being the day when a marriage was to be celebrated between Alonso de Loaysa one of the richest and most principal Inhabitants of that City and Nephew to the Arch-bishop of Los Reyes and Donna Maria de Castrillia Niece to Baltasar de Castrillia Daughter to his Sister Donna Leonor de Bobadilla and of Nunno Tovar a Cavalier of Badajoz of whom we have made mention at large in our History of Florida And now in this following Chapter we will relate the beginning of this Rebellion which was so vexatious expensive and ruinous to this whole Empire CHAP. II. Francisco Hernandez raises a Rebellion in Cozco What happened in the night of this Rebellion Many Inhabitants fly from the City THE day of the Nuptials being come all the Citizens and their Wives dressed themselves in their best Apparel to honour the Wedding for on all such solemn occasions as this either of Festivals or days of mourning it was the custome amongst these Citizens to rejoice
a year with a great command over Indians what could others expect of less condition whereupon all the Citizens submitted to them esteeming their condition securest who were already fled and had made their escapes but the Assassinates grew more insolent and tyrannical than before CHAP. IV. Francisco Hernandez names and appoints a Lieutenant General and Captains for his Army Two Cities send Ambassadours to him The number of Citizens that were fled to Rimac HErnandez having by this time assembled about an hundred and fifty Souldiers belonging to the City and the parts adjacent he began to appoint Officers and Commanders and named Diego de Alvarado his Lawyer to be his Lieutenant General and Thomas Vazquez Francisco Nunnez and Rodrigo de Pineda to be Captains of Horse These two last being Citizens were much in favour and kindly treated by Hernandez ever since the beginning of the Rebellion and to oblige and engage them the more he conferred on them the Commands of Captains of Horse which they accepted rather out of Fear than out of affection to his cause or interest or expectation of benefit or honour from this preferment His Captains of Foot were John de Pedrahita Nunno Mendiola and Diego Gavilan Albertos de Ordunna was made Standard-bearer and Antonio Carillo Serjeant Major So every one respectively repaired to his Charge and Command to raise Souldiers for completing their Troops and Companies Their Ensigns and Colours were made very fine with Inscriptions and Mottoes on them all relating to Liberty so that their Army named themselves the Army of Liberty The report of this Insurrection being noised and bruted abroad in general without any particulars it was believed that all the City of Cozco had joined unanimously in the rebellion on which supposition the Cities of Huamanca and Arequepa sent their Ambassadours to Cozco desiring to be admitted into the League and Society with them and to be received into the protection of the Metropolis and Head-city of the Empire that so they might join together to represent their case to his Majesty which was very burthensome and oppressive by reason of those many grievous Ordinances which were daily sent them by the Judges The Ambassadour from Arequepa was called Valdecabras with whom I was acquainted though Palentino says he was a Frier called Andres de Talavera perhaps they might both be sent He that was sent from Huamanca was called Hernando del Tiemblo and both these Ambassadours were received by Hernandez Giron with much kindness and respect who began now to become proud of his cause and enterprise which appeared so popular that the whole Kingdom in a short time was ready to espouse and embrace it and farther to magnifie his Actions he published abroad that upon the News of what was acted at Cozco the people of the Charcas following the example thereof had killed the Marshal de Alvarado But so soon as the Cities of Huamanca and Arequepa were rightly informed that this Insurrection at Cozco was not raised by the Corporation or by and with the consent and counsel of the whole City but by the contrivance of a single person who being conscious of his past Crimes had raised this mutiny to secure himself from the punishment and how few and of what mean condition the Conspiratours were they altered their resolutions and opinions and with joynt consent prepared themselves to serve his Majesty as others had done in Cozco namely Garçilasso de la Vega Antonio de Quinnones Diego de los Rios Geronimo Costilla and Garci Sanchez de Figueroa my Father 's elder Brother who though he had no Estate given him was yet an old Souldier and one who well deserved of the Countrey these five Gentlemen escaped out of Cozco on the same night of the Rebellion the others which we shall name fled three four or five nights afterwards as opportunity presented so Basco de Guevara a Citizen and the two Eschalantes his Kinsmen escaped the second-night Alonso de Hinojosa and John de Pancorvo fled the fourth night and Alonso de Mesa the fifth night having stayed to conceal and secure his Silver which the Rebels afterwards discovered and converted to their own use as we shall relate hereafter My Master Garçilasso and his Companions proceeding on their journey met with Pero Lopez de Caçalla about nine leagues distant from the City where he lived upon his own Estate of whom we have made mention in the Ninth Book of the First Part of this History Chap. 26. and with him was his Brother Sebastian de Castilla who being informed how matters had passed at Cozco they resolved to accompany these other Gentlemen for the service of his Majesty The Wife of Pero de Lopez called Donna Francisca de Cunniga was of noble descent very handsome vertuous and discreet was unwilling to be left behind but desirous to accompany her Husband in that journey And though she was a tender Woman and of a weak constitution of Body yet she adventured to ride alone with a Side-saddle on a Mule and passed all the bad ways endured all the fatigues and held out as well as any one in the company And every night when they came to their Lodging she took care to provide Supper and Break-fast next morning with help of the Indians and directed the Indian Women in what manner to dress the Victuals all which I have heard those who kept her company discourse concerning this famous Lady These Gentlemen proceeding on their journey and being come to Curapampa about twenty leagues from the City they met Hernan Bravo de Laguna and Gasparo de Sotelo Citizens thereof who had some Lands and Indians in vassalage in those parts to whom having given a report of what had passed at Cozco they resolved to accompany with them as did many other Planters and Souldiers whom they met on the way untill they came to Huamanca the Inhabitants of which City did wonder much to see so many principal persons and men of quality there whose presence confirmed them in their first resolution to serve his Majesty in union with personages of so much honour as these so as many as could go at that time went and were followed by others as their conveniences served But to look a little backwards we forgot to say that when my Master Garçilasso and his Companions passed the Bridge at Apurimac they considered that many people out of Cozco and other parts were likely to follow them in service of his Majesty and therefore it would not be fit to hinder their passage by burning the Bridge for that were to deliver them into the hands of the Rebels wherefore they agreed to order two men to remain for Guards at the Bridge and to suffer all persons to pass who should come thither within the space of five or six days and then to set fire to it whereby they should travel more securely and free of fear from pursuits of the enemy which was accordingly performed so that those who came
with him for the safety of his life and freedom telling him that he was obliged to return thanks to Almighty God for this great deliverance to which the Souldier made answer and said that he rendred thanks to his Divine Majesty and to St. Peter and to St. Paul and to St. Francisco Hernandez Giron by whose merits and means he had been saved and that he could not doe less in acknowledgment thereof than to go and serve him the which he accordingly did as we shall see hereafter Besides this Souldier above forty more were delivered out of prison most of which would have been sentenced to dye and others at least condemned to row in the Gallies which was the best they could expect but those Citizens and Souldiers who were not so deeply concerned as others the Marshal was pleased to set at Liberty without any farther process but these prisoners refused to accept thereof but to be brought to their Tryal as Palentino saith Chapter the fortieth in these words Some of the Prisoners understanding that they were to be set at liberty without tryal refused to accept thereof without a sentence in their cause because they became liable thereby to be taken up again and punished when the Judges or their Enemies were desirous to accuse them wherefore to make dispatch in this matter he fined Gomez de Solis in five hundred pieces of Eight to be paid as Fees to his Keeper and Guards Martin de Almendras had the like Fine as also Martin de Robles others were condemned in two hundred a hundred fifty and twenty pieces of Eight proportioning the Fine according to the ability of the person rather than to the degree and quality of his Crime Thus far Diego Hernandez Moreover the Marshal gave order to provide Arms and to make Pikes in those Provinces where wood was plenty and to make Powder in case necessity should require Some few days afterwards came two Commands from the Justices the one suspending the execution of the Decrees formerly made for freeing the Indians from their personal services which was to last for the space of two years and to take off many other things which caused great Commotions and Disturbances amongst the Inhabitants and Souldiers of that Empire and had been as the Governours well knew the spring and original of those rebellions mutinies and factions which raged in the minds of the people the other Command was a Commission constituting the Marshal Captain General of the Forces raised against Francisco Hernandez and with an unlimited power to expend his Majesty's Treasure in this War as far as occasion should require and to borrow or take up money in case the Exchequer should fail By virtue hereof the Marshal appointed Captains both of Horse and Foot besides other Officers whom we shall name hereafter He designed to make Gomez de Alvarado his Lieutenant General but he refused it because another Gentleman who was brother to the Marshal's Wife pretended thereunto called Don Martin de Avendanno for whom the Wife made great instance and as it were compelled her Husband much against his own inclinations to conser it upon him and though he was a young man and of little or no experience he condescended thereunto rather than to raise War in his own Family He also dispatched Warrants and Orders to the Curacas to gather what provisions they were able and to appoint eight or nine thousand Indians to carry the baggage of the Army He sent also into several parts to raise Men Horse and Arms and to take up all the Slaves they could find And here we will leave them in these Preparations to see what becomes of Francisco Hernandez and what he is acting and carry on the business of both Parties as the method of History requires Whilst these things were in agitation in the City of Los Reyes and Potocsi Hernandez was not negligent of what concerned his interest but ordered Thomas Vazquez with a squadron of about fifty Souldiers well armed to march to the City of Arequepa and in his name to take the possession thereof and to treat peaceably with the Citizens letting them know that the Corporation of Cozco had made choice of him to be Captain General and chief Justiciary of all the Kingdom In like manner he sent Francisco Nunnez a Citizen of Cozco to Huamanca whom he had enticed by fair and flattering promises and with the Command of a Troop of Horse to be of his Party though in truth fear rather than all his favours induced him thereunto and with him John Gavilan was sent with fourty other Souldiers whose Orders and Instructions were the same with those of Thomas Vazquez and that moreover they should tell the City that though they had assured him already by their Ambassadours that they would join and correspond with him in all his designs yet for farther confirmation thereof he required them to call a Court to ratify their former engagement and to own and acknowledge him in that Sphere and Station wherein he acted The truth is Hernandez sent and employed these two Captains out of a design to give reputation to his cause by the specious colour of union between him and two Cities rather than from any expectation he had of bringing them over to his side and party for he was not ignorant that they had already retracted their former assurances and repented of the Offers they formerly made him Besides the Commissions and Instructions given to these Captains he delivered letters to them for particular persons who were men of power and interest in their Countrey also Letters from himself and from the City of Cozco to the Corporations of those Cities desiring them to join with them in this cause which was for the common good and welfare of the whole Empire He also caused the City of Cozco to write unto the City of Plate in the same manner and to the same effect as to the other Cities and Hernandez himself wrote Letters to many Planters in the Charcas and to the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado and to his Wife Donna Anna de Velasco the substance and Contents of which was so ridiculous as served onely for sport and laughter and were not thought worthy of an Answer He that hath the Curiosity to reade them may find them in the History of Diego de Hernandez Chap. 27. CHAP. VII The Justices nominate Officers for the War. The several Pretenders to the Command of Captain General Francisco Hernandez leaves Cozco and marches against the Justices NEWS coming to Los Reyes that Francisco Hernandez increased daily in men reputation and authority the Justices thought it time to appoint their Captains and Officers for the War. Paulo de Meneses was named for Lieutenant General and Don Antonio de Ribera Diego de Mora Melchior Verdugo a Knight of the habit of St. James and Don Pedro de Cabrera were made Captains of Horse but the two last refused this Preserment as too mean for men who had so
good an opinion of themselves as to believe they deserved to be made Generals of Armies greater than this The Captains of Foot were Rodrigo Ninno once condemned to the Gallies Lewis de Avalos Diego Lopez de Cenniga Lope Martin Lusitano Antonio de Luxan and Baltazar Velasquez who in the last rebellion of Don Sebastian de Castilla escaped from the Justice of the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado as hath been already mentioned Lope de Guaço was made Standard-bearer General and the Command of Horse refused by Melchior Verdugo was bestowed upon Pedro de Carate And Alonso de Carate a Citizen of Arequepa was also made Captain of Horse Francisco de Pinna was made Serjeant Major and Nicholas de Ribera Junior was made Captain of the Guards to the Justices with Title of Captain of the Guard to the Royal Seal which was as Palentino saith to disguise the Presumption of raising a Guard for themselves But when they came to make choice of a Captain General a great Tumult and Sedition arose by three Pretenders who were all men of Estates and Interest and each abetted by a considerable Party The Persons in nomination were Santillan one of his Majesty's Justices who had the best reputation of them all and was allyed to many of the Nobility who had gained the Empire and who appeared in favour of his Election The second who pretended thereunto was the Arch-bishop of Los Reyes called Don Geronimo de Loaysa but what reason should incite this religious Person who was of the Order of Preachers and Archbishop in the Church of God to be General of an Army against Christians is not known though Souldiers took the Boldness to assign the cause thereof to Ambition and Vanity of a Prelate whose duty it was to remain in his Church praying for the Peace of those Christians and for the Conversion of Insidels by preaching the Gospel rather than to appear a Fomenter of the civil War. The third Pretender was Dr. Saravia one of his Majesty's Justices of the same Tribunal who though he was sufficiently assured that he was never likely to carry his pretension yet out of opposition to Santillan and from a spirit of Emulation he was resolved to appear against him and finding his Party too weak then to join them with that of the Archbishop's In this suspense matters remained for several days without any determination untill atlength the Electors finding that time was lost in these quarrels to the hindrance of affairs and to the weakning of the authority of the Army they agreed as the best expedient to gratifie both parties to make choice of two Generals namely Santillan and the Archbishop of Los Reyes supposing thereby to have satisfied the desires of Doctour Saravia and his Party Whilst these things were in agitation News was brought to the Justices and Letters from the Citizens of Cozco giving an account of the numbers and qualities of the persons who were gone from thence to serve his Majesty But such was the jealousie and suspicion which the Justices entertained of every person and action in that rebellion that they even mistrusted each other and much more the advices and Intelligence which came from the quarters of the rebellious party wherefore they sent them word not to advance nearer to Los Reyes untill farther order But no sooner had they dispatched away the Messenger with this Command than they discovered their own Errour and began to consider how prejudicial it might prove to the service of his Majesty to reject and refuse admission to such principal persons who were coming to their Party and had chosen to abandon their Houses Wives and Children rather than to remain in the power and at the disposal of the Rebels wherefore they instantly dispeeded away another Messenger with a kind invitation to them signifying in the most obliging terms how acceptable their coming would be to the City and encharged the messenger to make such speed as to overtake the former and require of him his dispatches which he was to stifle that nothing of the Contents thereof might be known which being performed accordingly the Citizens of Cozco arrived at Los Reyes where they were received with all the kindness and respect imaginable The Election of Captains and Generals being at length made and agreed Orders were sent by the Judges to all the Cities of the Empire giving them to understand that Hernandez Giron was in actual rebellion to suppress which it was their duty to arme themselves and appear for service of his Majesty And a List was sent of the Names of all the Captains who were to command Horse and Foot in the several Plantations Moreover Proclamation was every where made of General Pardon to all those who had been engaged in the late Wars with Gonçalo Piçarro or Don Sebastian de Castilla provided that within such a time they came in for Service of his Majesty For it was well known that many of those people had concealed themselves amongst the Indians not daring to shew themselves in the Spanish Plantations It was farther thought necessary to secure the Seas for which Service Lope Martin was appointed to embark on a Galeon then in Port with fourty Souldiers and to fit and equippe what other Ships he could provide Lope Martin accordingly acted but his Command lasted not above eight days for he was too passionate and cholerick for such a charge which required a person of a more phlegmatick constitution and better temper Wherefore Geronimo de Silva was put into his place which he executed like a Gentleman and a Souldier well experienced in affairs both by Sea and Land and Lope Martin returned to his command of a Foot-company where we will leave him to declare the things were acting by Hernandez Giron Who now perceiving himself strong in men and in the increase of his forces to the number of four hundred who were come to him from divers parts besides those he had sent to Huamaca and Arequepa he resolved to march towards the City of Los Reyes to fight the Army of the Justices as he called it meaning that his Army was the Royal Army and raised for service of his Majesty And though he had above four hundred men with him well clothed armed and mounted yet it troubled him to observe that he was not backed and seconded by the concurrence and authority of the several Cities Towns and Villages for whose interest safety and honour he pretended to have raised that War But before he resolved on his march to Los Reyes he was considering with himself whether it were not better to proceed first against the Marshal whose party he looked upon to be weakest and ill affected to him by reason of the great rigour cruelty and severity he had lately exercised to the great scandal and displeasure of all sides and parties whom he had in some way or other disobliged by the death of their friends kindred or relations Upon which ground many persons skilfull
both in the affairs of War and the circumstances of those times were of opinion that in case Hernandez had in the first place attached the Marshal it had succeeded better for him in regard the best Governour in the World cannot rely on a discontented people the which Palentino confirms Chap. 60. in these words It was the misfortune of Hernandez that he did not proceed first to Potocsi rather than to Lima for certainly had he bent his course against the Marshal he had in all probability subjected those Provinces and conserved his men who would never have gon over to one so generally hated and abhorred by them as was ââââ Marshal though they did revolt afterwards when they came to Lima. Nor was it believed that the Marshal's men would have resisted or fought nor indeed weâe they provided for it because the Marshal had so many Enemies about him thââ all preparations for War moved slowly Thus far this Authour But God who governs all things would not permit Hernandez to take thâââ course which was best for him for then the evils and miseries he would haââ brought upon the people had been irreparable but being insatuated he resoâââ on a March to Lima as History relates leaving Alvarado the Lawyer his Lieutenant General in the City and to bring up the remainder of the forces because the â could not all go out together but before Hernandez left Cozco he very generousââ declared that he was willing to dismiss or discharge any person who was desireâ to remain behind and rather stay at home than adventure on that enterprise the which offer he made upon consideration that pressed or forced men could never be good and fast friends or such as he could rely upon in times of necessity â especially if such were Citizens and men of Estates who would draw many aâââ them in case of revolt Onely he importuned and almost forced Diego de Silva â accompany the Army presuming that his presence carried authority and would much animate and confirm the Souldiery Diego de Sylva complied accordingly rather out of fear than Love as appears in that the first opportunity he forsook his Party and fled to the enemy as we shall see hereafter So that now Hernandez had procured six friends who accompanied him out of Cozco three of which were Thomas Vazquez John de Piedrahita and Alonso Diaz who were all engaged with him in the night of the rebellion but the other three who were Francisco Nunnez Rodrigo de Pineda and Diego de Silva he obliged and engaged to him afterwards by fair words and promises and by preferments and offices the first to be Captain of Horse and the second of Foot. Eight days after Hernandez was marched out of Cozco he was followed by his Lieutenant General with 200 Souldiers more amongst which were 20 conducted thither some few days before by Francisco de Hinojosa who brought them from Contisuyo for the truth is all those who went under the name of Souldiers followed the Party of Hernandez Giron whom they esteemed their Protectour against the rigorous Decrees and Edicts of the Justices which were daily promulged and published to the damage and prejudice of the Souldiery Besides this Hinojosa came another Souldier from the parts of Arequepa called John de Vera de Mendoça who had been formerly of the King's party he was young and a Gentleman and very ambitious of the honour to be a Captain which being refused to him by the King's Ministers because of his youth he came over to Hernandez Giron with a companion of his called Mateo Sanchez whom he named his Ensign and both arrived at Cozco some few days before the departure of Hernandez from thence and to obtain this preferment for himself and his Comrade by the grace and favour of the General they came together into the Town Mateo Sanchez carrying a Towel on a Staff in resemblance of his Colours which he as Ensign was to carry But what was the Event of these matters we shall see in the following Chapter CHAP. VIII John de Vera de Mendoça revolts from Francisco Hernandez The People of Cozco go to seek out for the Marshal Sancho Duarte raises Men and calls himself General of them He is reproved by the Marshal Francisco Hernandez comes to Huamanca The Scouts of the two Camps meet ALvarado the Lieutenant overtook his General about eight leagues from the City of Cozco where he stayed untill he came up to him and then they all in a Body passed the River Apurimac and before night marched two leagues beyond it but were four days in passing the Bridge with their Men Horses Ammunition and Provisions During which time John de Vera de Mendoça considering that he had been already fifteen days in the Army and no preferment given him nor confirmation of the title of Captain which he so passionately desired he resolved to leave Hernandez and return to the King's party which appeared more like a Farse in a Comedy than the action of a Souldiery and for such we have inserted it in this place John de Vera agreed upon this design with four other young Souldiers like himself who with his Ensign made six in all and they that night passed the Bridge and afterwards burnt it to prevent any pursuit which might be made after them And entring into Cozco the night following they sounded an alarm which put all the City into a consternation and tumult fearing left the Rebels were returned with intention to doe them farther mischief so that none durst stir abroad or put his head out of doors that night But so soon as it was day being better informed that it was onely Captain John de Vera and his Followers who still carried his Colours flying the Citizens went out to him and agreed to go with him to find out the Marshal who they knew and were well assured was fortified with a strong Army John de Saavedra a principal Citizen was made their Chief and John de Vera de Mendoça would not be put by his Captain-ship nor march under any Banner but his own and though he came to the place where the Marshal was he had neither the fortune to better his Colours nor advance his Title but passed for a Boy more forward and confident than discreet Those at Cozco who met and agreed upon this design were about forty in number fifteen of which were Citizens who had command over Indians the rest were Merchants and Officers whom the Rebels had left behind as useless persons and these such as they were travelled towards Collao where the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado kept his head Quarters who having understood that many of the Citizens of Cozco were coming in search of him he sent them Advice and Orders by no means to pass out of the limits of his Jurisdiction but rather to expect him there for that he was moving on the way to meet them Sancho Duarte who was then Governour of the City of
might be presumed had provided to countermine and prevent that design In pursuance of this resolution Hernandez to prove and try the inclinations of his Souldiers told them plainly that he gave free liberty and license to any person whatsoever who was not satisfied with his cause to pass over to the contrary party but none took advantage of this permission unless some few mean and unserviceable sort of people whom the Lieutenant-General Alvarado stript of their Clothes and devested of their Arms and Horses before they departed And so Hernandez retreated out of Pachacamac in the best order he was able being moved thereunto more out of an apprehension he had that his people would desert him than any fear he conceived of danger from the enemy for it was evident that such was the confusion of Counsels in the Camp of the Justices by reason of many Rulers that nothing was determined and concluded in its due time and season As will appear by what follows CHAP. X. Francisco Hernandez retires with his Army In his Majesty's Camp is great Confusion by diversity of opinions A mutiny is raised in the City of Piura and how it was pacified FRancisco Hernandez according to his former resolution withdrew his Forces from Pachacamac in such haste that the Souldiers left behind them all things which were useless and cumbersome to them which were all taken away by the King's Party who upon retreat of the Enemy without order from their Commanders plundered every thing that remained Upon this alteration of affairs the Justices entered into consultation with the Field Officers and summoned unto the Council of War besides the Captains several Planters who were men of Estates in the Kingdom and were well experienced in the Affairs of that Countrey but in such variety of opinions there was great confusion every one persisting in his own persuasion pressed eagerly that his Counsel might be taken Atlength after long debates it was concluded that Paulo de Meneses with six hundred select men should pursue after Hernandez the next day the detachment being made the two Generals contradicted the resolution concluded at the Council of War and ordered that no more than a hundred men should be drawn out for that it would be too great a weakning to the Camp to be devested of the greatest number of the choicest men Howsoever the Justices remained constant to their first Resolves and again commanded that the detachment should be made of the six hundred men which was again contradicted by the two Generals who were of opinion that a hundred men were sufficient to keep the Enemy in Alarms and to receive such as were desirous to revolt Between these contradictory Orders Paulo de Meneses was greatly confused and much more troubled because he was not permitted to take with him those Comrades and Friends of his in whom he most confided to stand by him and who were desirous to keep him company And here we will leave them to declare those matters which passed at the same time in the City of St. Michael de Piura The Justices as we mentioned before had sent advices to all the Governours of the Kingdom concerning the rebellion of Hernandez and issued out their Orders and Warrants to raise and arm Souldiers to resist and destroy the Rebels The Governour of Piura called John Delgadillo gave his Commission to Francisco de Silva a Souldier of good fame and reputation who lived in that City with Instructions to leavy Souldiers in Tumpiz and along the coast and to bring with him as many as he could raise Francisco de Silva went accordingly and returned to Piura with a party of about twenty six or twenty seven Souldiers who having remained there about twelve or thirteen days without any care taken to provide them with Victuals or Lodging and being poor men and not able to maintain themselves they came to the Governour with their Captain Francisco de Silva and desired his Licence to goe to the City of Los Reyes to serve his Majesty The Governour being pressed by the Intreaties and Importunities of all the Citizens assented thereunto but the next day the Souldiers being drawn out and ready to march the Governour without any reason for it revoked his Licence and gave a positive Command that every one should repair to his quarters and neither go out from thence nor out of the City without farther order Francisco de Silva Hernandez and his companions finding that no entreaties could prevail on the Governour they resolved to kill him and plunder the City and then depart and offer their service to Hernandez Giron since they were denyed leave to serve his Majesty The matter was soon agreed and about twelve or thirteen of them well armed went into the Governour 's house and took him and killed a Justice of Peace of the lower rank and made seizure of Guns Head-pieces Swords Bucklers Lances Halbards with a great provision of Powder and then carrying forth the Royal Standard they proclaimed upon pain of death that every man should repair thereunto then they broke open the royal Treasury and carried all the money from thence the like they did to particular mens houses which they sacked and plundered not leaving any thing of value therein And it happening that a certain Souldier came at that time from Rimac being banished thence they caused him to report that Hernandez was marching with a very strong Army to Los Reyes and that all the Kingdom had declared for him and that the Justice Santillan himself with many of his Friends and Relations were passed over to that party besides a multitude of other Lyes which they caused him to report which served these poor Rascals for the present and pussed them up as full of vanity as if they had been truths and made them to cosider themselves no less than as Lords and Masters of all Peru and when this Souldier declared his intention to follow Hernandez they all became of the same mind and presently proceeded to join with him The Governour they carried with them in Chains and eight or nine Citizens and men of Estates besides with Collars of Iron about their Necks after the manner of Gally-slaves In this manner they travelled above fifty Leagues with all the boldness and insolence imaginable untill they came to Cassamarca where they met with two Spaniards who lived by their labour and honest dealings and from them they received true information of the state and condition of Hernandez Giron and how he fled and was pursued by the Justices and that it was credibly believed that at that very time he was defeated and killed With this News Francisco de Silva and his Companions were extremely dashed and confounded and began to bewail their sollies and to save themselves they designed to surprize some Ship if it were possible to make their escape The Governour and his Companions were now freed of their Chains and set at Liberty but extremely incommoded And the Rebels being about
about his Neck Francisco Hernandez at the importunity of so many friends rather than his own inclinations gave him his Pardon This particular passed in the manner before related for afterwards in the time of peace I have heard the Story repeated in my Father's house both in the presence and in the absence of this Pero Hernandez the Loyal whose escape out of the hands of the Rebels unto his Majesty's Camp we shall relate in its due place CHAP. XIX The great Trouble and Disturbance which the News of the loss of the Marshal caused in his Majesty's Camp. The means which the Justices took to repair this Loss The Disputes and Differences amongst the Officers whether the Army ought to march or not to march against the Rebels One of the Captains of the Rebels revolts to the King's Forces THE same rumour which at the Battel of Chuquinca affrighted Antonio de Carrillo Serjeant Major to Francisco Hernandez and Albertos de Ordunna and caused them to fly upon a groundless report that Hernandez was slain and which afterwards was contradicted and the truth divulged of the Victory he had gained the same rumour being spread amongst the Indians was related to the Spaniards who lived in the Countries thereabouts who taking the News upon Hear-say wrote it to the Justices with demands of a reward for their good tydings but it was not long before winged fame brought the true relation of the fatal overthrow of the Marshal and his Forces which raised great consternation and trouble in his Majesty's Army and came to that height that as Palentino saith Chap. 46. a Council was held amongst the three Justices without any reason or cause for it either to put the Justice Santillan to death or to send him Prisoner into Spain upon pretence that this Santillan had caused the loss of the Battel but Doctour Saravia differing from the rest in his opinion nothing was determined against him And indeed we are not to think it strange that men should imagine some foul play in this matter for this Victory of Hernandez was so contrary to the expectation of all men who had any knowledge in the Affairs of Peru that no man would believe but that the Marshal was betrayed and sold by his own people and consequently they pitched upon the persons whom they suspected and imagined to be the Contrivers of it And herein they so confidently stood and believed that if an Angel from Heaven had come and revealed the truth they would not have been persuaded into another belief untill they saw many of those whom they suspected of this Treachery and who were fled from the Battel to come to his Majesty's Camp for refuge showing the Wounds they received and the Marks of their ill treatment and then they were convinced of the Errour they had received and begun to entertain a good opinion of their faithfulness and loyalty so soon as the people were recovered from their amazement the Justices ordered Antonio de Quinnones a Citizen of Cozco with a party of sixty Musquetiers to march to the City of Huamanca for the defence thereof and to receive such as were fled thither from the Battel and to hinder the Enemy from taking any refreshments or succours from thence of which they might stand in need and so it happened accordingly for Hernandez sent Captain Cobo to the City for Provisions and Medicines to cure his wounded men but Cobo having intelligence that Antonio Quinnones was coming thither he retired from Huamanca without doing what he designed At this time two Letters were brought to the Justices from divers parts almost at the same instant one was from the Marshal de Alvarado complaining of his ill fortune and the refractariness of the People who would not obey his Orders nor follow his Directions the other was from Lorenço de Aldana which in very few words gave an account of the ill success of the Battel saying that it was done against the sense and opinion of all the principal Officers of the Army as Palentino writes Chap. 47. in these words Upon Monday last I wrote to your Lordship signifying what I then suspected and feared for I had no sooner concluded my Letter than Lucifer entered into the Marshal and moved him to resolve instantly to assault Hernandez in the Post where he had fortified himself against the sense and opinion of all his Officers and particularly against mine the which was performed with that disadvantage to us that Hernandez shot and killed our people and defeated us without moving out of the covert of his Fortification many of our principal men and persons of Quality are killed the precise number I cannot tell because the Marshal retired before Hernandez sallied out of his Fortification they say the Marshal is wounded but I am sure it was neither with fighting nor giving encouragement to his Souldiers c. Thus far Palentino The News of the loss which the Marshal sustained being now confirmed by all hands the Justices commanded that the Army should march and follow Hernandez and resolved that the Court of Justice should accompany the Army to give greater authority and reputation as Palentino saith to their Cause and Proceedings and to take off the murmurings of the Souldiery who perhaps might complain of the hardships they underwent whilst the Justices were solacing and enjoying themselves at home but Judge Altamirano opposed this resolution alledging that his Majesty having confined the Court of Judicature to Lima the Bench had no power or authority without the Precincts of that Jurisdiction nor ought they to remove from thence without express command from his Majesty But Doctour Saravia earnestly insisting that the Court was in this emergency obliged to move with the Army Altamirano positively declared that he was resolved not to stir for that the King had not given him a Commission to fight but to sit upon his Bench and there to judge such Causes as should be brought before him To which Doctour Saravia replyed that he would suspend him of his Office in case he followed not the Army and that he would send Orders to the Officers of the King's Treasury to stop the payment of his Salary and accordingly the fame was notified though afterwards it was made good by a particular Warrant from his Majesty Thus far Palentino After long Disputes of this kind it was at length determined that the three Justices viz. Doctour Saravia Judge Santillan and Mercado should attend the Royal Army and that Altamirano who had professed himself ignorant and unskilfull of Arms and would wage no other War than civil Pleadings at the Bar should remain in the City of Los Reyes in quality of Lord Chief Justice and that Diego de Mora a Citizen of Truxillo who as we have said brought a good company of Musquetiers to the Army was appointed Governour of the City and his Company given to another Captain called Pedro de Carate Things being ordered and disposed in this manner and a sufficient Guard
he condescended to the Articles and even begged for them because that night they had burnt some Houses of his though his Estate was chiefly in the Charcas with other principal Houses of that City And though they made a Truce for three days yet the Rebels broke it so soon as they heard that many of Gomez de Solis his Men were fled and the rest refused to fight upon which they were so encouraged that they attempted the Wall and Barracadoe which was made When Gomez de Solis and other Men of Estates who were with him perceived that their Men would not fight they fled and made their escape in the best manner they could leaving Piedrahita in possession of all the Riches and Wealth they had gathered with which the Enemy returned fully laden and successful to their Captain General Francisco Hernandez And though in the return above twenty of those Souldiers formerly belonging to the Marshal which Piedrahita carried with him fled away and left him yet he considered them as nothing being forced Men nor valuable in respect of that immense booty and spoils which they had taken in Gold Silver Jewels Arms and Horses Hernandez whom we left in the Fortress where he fought the Battel of Chuquinca having remained there a Moneth and a half for the sake of the wounded Men marched afterwards in the best manner he could to the Valley of Antahuailla being highly incensed against the Indians of the Charcas for daring to fight against him at the Battel of Chuquinca where they killed several of his Souldiers with Stones and Slings wherefore being come into those Provinces he gave orders to his Souldiers as well Negers as White-men to plunder the People and burn their Houses and to do them all the ruine and mischief they were able From Antahuailla Hernandez sent for his Wife and for the Wife of Thomas Vazquez for whom the Souldiers made a Solemn Reception and were so foolish and impudent as to stile Hernandez his Wife Queen of Peru. Having remained a few days in the Province of Antahuailla and there vented their Anger and Spleen against the Indians they marched towards Cozco and having intelligence that the Kings Forces were coming after them they passed the two Rivers of Amancay and Apurimac which Hernandez surveying and observing the many difficult passages which were there and places so naturally strong as might easily be defended against any Army which should assault him therein he would often say That in case he had not sent away his Major General Piedrahita with his choice Men he would have stay'd and given the Justices Battel in some of those strong and difficult passes Whilest Hernandez marched in this manner six Souldiers of note which formerly belonged to the Marshal adventured to run away in sight of the whole Army with their Horses Arms and other Conveniences Nor would Hernandez suffer them to be pursued for since they were no more than six in all he was contented to let them go rather than to adventure others to fetch them back lest they also should follow their example Those six Souldiers being come to his Majesties Camp informed them How that Hernandez was marching to Cozco with intention to proceed to the Collao Upon which intelligence the Justices gave order to the Army to march with all expedition and yet with such due caution and circumspection as was requisite though by reason of the many animosities and differences which arose amongst the principal Officers the progress of matters was much obstructed and his Majesties Service prejudiced and delay'd CHAP. XXII Francisco Hernandez dares not to adventure into Cozco he carries his Wife with him from thence FRancisco Hernandez passed all his Army over the River Apurimac by way of the Bridge to guard which he left one Valderravano with a Party of twenty Souldiers but not confiding in the Honesty or Conduct of the Man he sent two days afterwards John Gavilan to take that Charge and ordered Valderravano to follow him to his Head-quarters John Gavilan having the Guard of the Bridge committed to him he had scarce been there two days before the Van of his Majesties Army appeared upon sight of which not staying any longer or observing who they were or in what number he set fire to the Bridge and burnt it and afterwards returned to his Captain General with all expedition which Action as Palentino saith so much displeased Hernandez that he gave Gavilan very severe words for having so done Though I cannot imagine what reason he should have for it for since he had no intention as may be believed to return again by that way I know not what dammage his Party could receive thereby and it is very evident on the contrary that the enemy was damnified and forced to great trouble and difficulties in their passage over Hernandez marched by the Valley of Yucay to enjoy tho' but for 2 days the pleasures of that delightful Country and being come with his Army within a League of Cozco he turned off by the left hand being perswaded by the Astrologers Diviners or Prognosticators not to go thither saying that his entrance there would be unfortunate and prove his overthrow to evidence which they produced many Examples as well of Indian Captains as of Spaniards who had been defeated after their entrance into Cozco but they did not specifie those who had been successful of which we could give many particulars in case it were pertinent to our purpose In confirmation hereof Diego Hernandez chapters 32 and 45 names 4 Spaniards and a Moriscan Woman who were esteemed skilful in the Art of Necromancy and who gave out that they held a correspendence with a familiar Spirit which discovered to them all the secret counsels and actions which were resolved and which passed in his Majesties Camp which report served to keep many people so in awe that they durst neither adventure to fly nor act any thing to the prejudice of the Rebels lest the Devil should make a discovery of their intentions I my self saw a Letter which Hernandez wrote to Piedrahita at Cozco when orders were sent him to go to Arequepa as we said before And in that he tells him that he should not remove out of the City on such a day of the Week but on such a day and that his name of Juan was not to be written henceforward with an U. but with an O. of which nature were many other things in the Letter which I cannot so particularly remember as to deliver them in Writing only I can say that he was generally esteemed for a Cheat and an Imposter And by this sort of Conjuring and Tricks as is usual he hastned his own ruine and destruction as we shall see by the sequel The Well-wishers of Hernandez who were acquainted with the Correspondencies and Compacts which he had with Wizzards made it a question amongst themselves why he made no use of the Indians of the Country who were famous for Conjurations and Diabolical
he stood and so he fell backwards into the Water and sunk down and never appeared more though all possible care and diligence was used to recover him only about two years afterwards the Indians brought his Coat of Mail unto Cozco at the time when my Father was Chief Justice of the City The Command of his Foot Company was afterwards conferred on John Ramon though he had lately lost his former Company in Chuquinca The Army being come to the River of Apurimac received the news of this unhappy accident and also was informed That one of the Scouts named Francisco Menacho with about forty more of his Companions had passed the River and that he like a brave and resolute Souldier had shewed and led them the way which never any had attempted before and that he had boldly cast himself in at the place which is now called the Ford and that he had passed and repassed it several times whilest the Camp was marching thither the which rash and precipitate action in him gave boldness to the whole Army to follow his Example and to pass over without loss of time which would have caused great delay had they attended there until a Bridge could have been erected And for the better security of their Footmen with their Burdens and for the Indians who carried the Artillery the Horse were ordered to flank them on the side to break the force of the Currant by which means all the Footmen and Indians who were laden came safely to the other side without any loss or danger as Palentino confirms Chap. 50. And herein the Providence of God is much to be admired for though an Army passed then without danger yet since that time no single person hath adventured upon it nor durst any Man attempt to wade or ford it over And now being got to the other side they entered on a Mountainous and Rocky Way full of labour and difficulty and the second Day afterwards they came to Arimacrampu seven Leagues distant from the City And from thence they proceeded farther the very Night they came thither though the Officers were much disquieted and troubled to see the Orders given by one Party to be again presently Countermanded by others of a different Faction which was the cause that the Scouts and Van of the Kings Army and of Hernandez his Forces marched always in view each of the other for the Rebels seemed not to fly but to proceed on their way in an orderly manner as if they apprehended no danger from their Enemy in the Rear Thus at length they came to Sacsahuana four Leagues from the City from whence those who were Citizens of Cozco were desirous to be ordered abroad upon the Scout with which occasion they made a visit to their Wives and Children at home where they came about Noon and the same Day in the Morning Alvarado the Lieutenant General of the Rebels had departed thence That Night the Citizens would not lie in their own Houses lest the Enemy should return and surprize them but they contrived to lodge altogether with some few Souldiers which they had brought with them and fortified themselves in the House of John Pancoroo to which there was no entrance or access by any back passage but only by the Fore-gate of the principal Street and at the distance of seven or eight paces from the Gate they raised up a Breast-work with Loop-holes to shoot out at with their Musquets by which they could fire into three Streets one on the right hand and the other two on the side where they remained all night in security having placed their Centinels in all Avenues leading towards the House I was with them all the night and was sent three or four times with Messages to the Neighbours Houses The next day being in my Father's Court-yard about 3 a clock in the Afternoon I saw Pero Hernandez the Loyal come galloping in at our Gate on his Horse Paxarillo at which I was so over-joyed that without speaking to him I ran in to my Father to carry him the good news on notice of which my Father instantly ran to meet him and they both embraced with great kindness And Pero told him that the day before the Rebels marching something more than a League from the City he took an occasion on pretence of some necessities of Nature to go aside from them and taking towards the left hand of the way amongst some high Rocks he hid himself there for a while and then climbed up the Mountain whence seeing the Rebels at a distance he made his escape and was come thither After which he went with my Father to the King's Army and there served until the end of the War and then returned back again with my Lord Garçilasso into Cozco Of all which I was an Eye Witness and as such have given this faithful Relation CHAP. XXIV His Majesties Camp enters into Cozco and from thence marches forwards An account is given how the Indians carried the Train of Artillery on their Shoulders Part of the Amunition arrives at the Royal Army THE third day after the Citizens had made a visit to their Relations and Concernments in the City the Royal Camp made their Entry with the Troops and Companies in good order The Infantry drew up in the Chief Place or Square and the Horse skirmished with the Foot according to the Rules of Military Discipline and both charged each other with handsome Vollies and quick Fire for the Souldiers were become very ready and expert at their Arms. And though Palentino saith that Don Phelipe de Mendoça who was General of the Ordnance brought his great Guns into the Parade and fired them several times and that the Musquetiers marching the Round made several handsome Vollies but herein this Writer was much mistaken as he hath been in many other Passages for the Artillery could not be easily fixed and put in order so as to be used at every turn and unnecessary occasion for they were not drawn on their Carriages but carried on the Indians Shoulders and that with so much difficulty that to manage eleven pieces of Cannon only with their Carriages was the work of ten thousand Indians I my self saw them brought into Cozco and was then in the place when they were again carried out and the manner how they mannaged them was this Every piece of Ordnance was fastned to a large Beam of about forty foot in length under this were fixed several cross Bars about the bigness of a Mans Arm at two foot asunder and of about half a yard long on each side the Beam under which two Indians were placed one on one side and one on the other after the manner that the Palanquines are carried in Spain The burthen they carried was laid on their Shoulders close to their Necks where they wore a Pad or Pannel to keep them from galling with the weight and at every 200 paces they were relieved by a fresh Company And here we may
leave the Reader to consider with how much trouble and labour these poor Indians carried these weighty Burdens over those Rocky and Mountainous ways which are in my Country and over ascents and descents of three and four Leagues long and so steep that many Spaniards whom I have seen travelling have for ease of their Horses and Mules alighted off from their backs especially at a descent which are many times so steep that a man cannot sit in his Saddle but it will be on the horse-neck notwithstanding the Crupper which often breaks and such kind of way as this we have from Quitu to Cozco which are 500 Leagues distant but from Cozco to the Charcas the way is more pleasant being for the most part a plain Countrey And hereby we may understand that what Palentino saith concerning the Artillery which Felipe de Mendoça brought into the Parade and fired several times was rather to speak fine things as in a Romance and to embellish his History than that any such thing was really acted or put into practice as we have said before His Majesties Army marched cuâ and encamped about a League from the City where they continued about five days to put all things in a readiness and make Provisions of every thing they stood in need and until the Indians of the neighbouring Places could bring in the Victuals and Stores they had gathered there was need of Horse-Shoes and other Iron-works and before the one could be forged and the other got together time was required And this certainly was the reason that detained the Army so many days and not what our Author alledges Chapter the 50 th in these words The Camp saith he remained in the Salinas five or six days in expectation of Indians to carry the Baggage but they came not but rather several of them fled to their own Homes and because they belonged to Planters who had their Estates and Lands near to Cozco it was suspected that they were sent away by order of their Masters I am troubled to find this and such like Passages in the History of this Author which argues some kind of Passion or Pique he had against the Inhabitants of Cozco whom he frequently blames on all occasions in matters whereof they never were guilty And indeed it were more reasonable to believe that these Citizens and Men of Estates should contribute all they were able to put an end to this War rather than to do any act which might be a means to protract and hinder the final determination of it nor could it be to the advantage of the Citizens to be accessory to any Act such as sending away the Indians which might occasion the stay of the Army in parts so near the City from which they could not expect other than troubles perpetual molestations and damages to their Estates during all the time of their quarters in that place And moreover this Author seems to contradict himself in saying that the Army was detained in expectation of Indians to carry their Baggage and for want of them they could not proceed and then afterwards he saith that many of them fled away and yet the Army raised their Camp and departed without them But the truth of what passed in this particular was this That by order of the General many of the Indians who were appointed to carry Burdens were dismist by reason that the way afterwards being plain and without Rocks or Mountains or hollow Cavities they stood not in need of the Service of so many Indians as formerly and therefore discharged several of them as useless and cumbersom to the Camp. In fine the Army after five days stay departed from their Quarters near the City and marched in good Order and always in a readiness to engage the Enemy in case they should be attacked by them in any of those narrow passages which are between the City and Quequesana But the Rebels had another Game to play suffering them to pass quietly and undisturbed until they came to the People called Pucara about forty Leagues distant from Cozco only they found themselves something distressed for want of Provisions because the Negers who were Souldiers to the Rebels having divided themselves into two bands on both sides of the Road had droven all the Cattel away and taken all the Provisions with them that they could find leaving nothing behind for sabsistance of his Majesties Army And now the Scouts of both the parties met each with the other and yet no Skirmishes or Encounters passed between them only the Justices received Intelligence that the Rebel's Army expected them in Pucara with intention to give them Battel for at that time there were Fugitives from both Parties some of the King's Army flying to the Rebels and some of the Rebels to the Royalists so that by such an intercourse no Counsels or Designs could be concealed The Justices being on the march to Pucara sent away with all haste to have the Powder Ammuniton Match and Bullet to be brought to them which had been left behind in Antahuailla by the negligence of some Officers Howsoever by the care and diligence of Pedro de Cianca who was appointed for that Service such expedition was made that the Ammunition arrived at the Army in good time and the day before the Battel to the great satisfaction and encouragement of the Army CHAP. XXV The King's Army comes to the place where the Rebels had fortified themselves They encamp in a Plain and intrench several Skirmishes happen to the disadvantage of the King's Party THE Justices as they were on their march received the ill news of the unfortunate loss of Gomez de Solis in Arequepa at which though they were much troubled yet being that which could not be remedied they dissembled the resentment of it and proceeded on their way to Pucara where the Enemy had fortified themselves to great advantage in a place so situated and strong by Nature that they could not be attacked on any side it being encompassed about with a Mountain so steep and cragged that it was not passable without much difficulty and seemed to be a wall made by Hand and Art the entrance thereunto was very narrow with windings and turnings to the right and left but the lodgment therein was wide and capacious sufficient to receive their men and beasts with all the appurtenances belonging to their Camp. They had store of all Provisions and Ammunition for after so signal a Victory as that obtained at Chuquinca they could want nothing and moreover their bands of Negers or black Guard brought daily in such Provisions as they found in the neighbouring Parts On the other side his Majesties Camp was pitched in an open plain without any natural Fortification or defence and ill-provided either with Victuals or Ammunition as we have said howsoever not to lye open and exposed to the Enemy they intrenched in the best manner they were able casting up earth breast high round the Camp which was
other Processes of Justice made against the Rebels in punishment for the late War. Howsoe're the Governour Munnoz prosecuted his Predecessour in that Office and laid four Articles to his charge The first was That he sported after the Spanish manner and custome with Darts on horse-back which did not become the Justice of that Town That he went often abroad to make private Visits without the Rod of Justice in his hand which gave an occasion to many persons to despise and expose the honour of the Government to Contempt The third was that in Christmas ' time he gave leave to the Citizens and others to play at Cards and Dice in his House and that he himself plaid with them which did not become the gravity of a Governour And lastly that he had taken a Clerk who was not a Free-man of the City nor had observed the formality which the Law required in that case For answer unto which he replyed That as to the sport of throwing Darts it was a pastime which he had used all the days of his Life nor would he leave it off so long as he lived tho' he were placed in an Office of far higher Dignity and Honour than that in which he was constituted and invested To the second he said that sometimes he went without his Rod to the next Neighbour or house near at hand where he was familiarly acquainted and where he was sufficiently assured to receive no affront for want of the Badge or Ensign of his Authority That as to the Play and Gaming at Christmas it was very true that he did allow thereof in his own house and did himself play which prevented many differences and quarrels which might otherwise have arisen in other places amongst proud and angry persons As to the Clerk he said that he being no Lawyer himself did not so much regard the ability or the manner how he was qualified for that Office as his Fidelity and Truth and faithful administration of which all the City was ready to give Testimony Some other Articles were drawn up against Monjaraz but he being only Deputy-Governour could not be so highly charged as was the Governour himself And the truth is the faults of neither were fit to be mentioned only the new Judge was willing to have something to say but there neither being Crimes to punish nor Debts to pay all Actions were smoothed and no Processes further made CHAP. VI. The imprisonment and death of Martin de Robles and the reason for which he was executed WE have mentioned before how that Altamirano Judge of the Court of Chancery in the City of Los Reyes was sent Chief Justice to the City of Plate where so soon as he was possessed of his Government he apprehended Martin de Robles a Citizen of that Town and without any Indictment or Process made against him he hanged him up publickly in the open Market-place At which the people much lamented and were greatly offended because he was one of the most principal men of Quality in the whole Empire and so aged and bowed down with Years that he could not bear his own Sword girt to his side but was carried after him by an Indian Page who attended him But when the Reasons of his death were more fully known the offence thereat was much increased as Palentino mentions in these words following The Vice-King sent a Warrant to Judge Altamirano to put Martin de Robles to Death The Reasons for which he gave that sufficient proofs had been made before him the Vice-King how that this Martin de Robles having been in company with several persons should say these words Let us go to Lima and teach the Vice-King better manners than to write in such a rude Stile and with so little respect and formality as he uses These are the words of which he was accused tho' it is generally believed that he never said them nor ever gave any colour or ground for such an Accusation Some say that this rash Speech was not that which provoked the Vice-King against Martin de Robles but some other suggestions of having been accessary to the Imprisonment and death of Blasco Nunnez Vela Vice King of Peru. Thus far this Author in an obscure manner expresses this Passage which we shall endeavour to clear and explain more at large It is true that Martin de Robles did say some such words which were to be taken in another Sense For as we have said before when the Vice-King wrote Letters from Payta to the several Governours and Justices of the Empire giving them to understand the news of his arrival in that Country the Superscription of his Letters were in this manner To the Noble Lord of such a place And in the Letter he treated them with Thou which was the common Stile to what person of Quality soever the which manner of writing gave great offence over all Peru For in those days and a long time afterwards persons of Quality and such as were rich in that Country always used in Writing to their Servants the Title of Noble saying To the Noble and within the Letter they wrote sometimes in the second and sometimes in the third person according to his Condition and Office wherein he served and this Custom prevailed until such time as a Pragmatica came forth to regulate the Terms of Honour which were given But in regard the Letters from the Vice-King were in another Form and Stile they gave offence to such evil Men who were desirous of Change and disturbances and caused them with reflection on the present Vice-King to commend and praise the Civility of those who were formerly in the same power who in all their Letters used Terms of Respect according to the Quality and Merit of the person My Father Garçilasso being then Governour of Cozco received a Letter from the Vice-King with the same Title and Superscription which some asked him how he could brook or how he could endure such a neglect To which my Father made answer that he could bear it very well since that the Vice-King wrote to him not barely by the Name of Garçilasso de la Vega but with the addition of Governour of Cozco which shewed him to be his Officer and Minister under him and that very shortly they should see how the Vice-King would change the Form and Stile of the Superscription of his Letters to him Which accordingly happened for about eight days afterwards the Vice-King being at Rimac he wrote a Letter to my Father directed in this manner To the Right Worshipful Senior Garçilasso de la Vega c. and within he treated him with such Terms as might become an Elder Brother towards his younger at which those who saw it did much admire I have had both these Letters in my custody for at that time I served my Father in quality of his Clark and wrote all the Letters which he dispatched to several parts of the Empire and in like manner I gave the
Chapter of the 4 th Book of this 2 d. Part. The Infanta Donna Beatriz tho'it were for no other reason than to see her Nephew in that City and not with expectation of being restored to his Empire received with great readiness and good will the Command and Order of the Vice-King and in pursuance thereof dispatched away a Messenger attended with Indian Servants to the Mountains of Villca Pampa where the Inca made his residence the Messenger himself was also of the Blood-Royal to render the offer more specious and more easily accepted His Journey was long and much about and over bad ways by reason that the Bridges were broken down but at length coming to the Out-guards guards he was there detained until hiâ Message was signified to the Inca after which being admitted a Council was called of all the Captains and Governours who were Tutours to the Prince for he being in his Minority had not as we have said as yet bound his Head with the coloured Wreath The Captains having received this Message were jealous of the reality thereof though brought to them by a Kinsman And therefore not being over-hasty to give Credence thereunto another Messenger was dispatched to Cozco in behalf of the Inca to spy and discover what deceit and fraud might be under this specious overture for they did much distrust the sincerity of the Spaniards keeping still in memory the death of Atahualpa and othertheir faithless and treacherous practices And until the return of this Messenger and his Associates those sent from Cozco were detained as Hostages and Pledges for better security of the honest and due performances by the Spaniards The Messenger was farther instructed that after he had applied himself to the Infanta Donna Beatriz he should discourse farther on the business with the Governour of Cozco and other Persons who might secure them of their fears and from the apprehensions they had of false and faithless designs and should desire both of the Governour and Donna Beatriz to send unto John Sierra de Leguicamo her Son by Mancio Sierro de Leguicamo who was one of the first Conquerours to deal faithfully with them in this matter and give to them his real opinion whether they might trust without Scruple or doubt of the proposition and offer which was made to them The Governour and the Infanta were both pleased at the coming of this Messenger from the Inca and with him sent Letters to John Sierra that as he was a near Kinsman to the Inca he should deal clearly with him and assure him that there was no other design in the Invitation than to see him abroad and out of those Mountains to the great Joy and Contentment of all his Relations But whilst these matters were in treaty at Cozco the Vice-King being impatient to see an end of this Negotiation which he thought would be over-long and tedious by other hands dispatched away immediately from himself a Dominican Frier whom Palentino calls Melchior de Los Reyes and with him a Citizen of Cozco named John Betanços the Husband of Donna Angelina the Daughter of Inca Atahualpa of whom we have formerly made mention this John de Betanços pretended to be very skilful in the General Language of the Country for which reason and for the relation he had by his Wife to the Prince Sayri Tupac he was sent in company with the Frier to serve for an Interpreter and to explain the Letters and the Substance of the Embassie upon which they were employed These two Ambassadours in obedience to the Vice-Kings Commands made all the haste they were able and endevoured to get admittance to the Inca by way of the City of Huamanca which was the nearest Frontier of any to the entrance into the Mountains where the Inca made his place of Residence For which reason the Spaniards gave the name to that Town of St. John of the Frontier because it bordered near the aboad of the Incas and was when the Country was first conquered by the Spaniards possessed by them on St. John's day But they could by no means procure admittance by this way for the Indian Captains and Governours fearing lest the Spaniards should take them upon surprize and carry their Prince away from them had so cut off all the Avenues that no Person without their License could approach the place of their Habitation Wherefore the Frier and John de Betanços took a compass twenty Leagues farther by the high Road to try if they could get entrance by the way of Antahuaylla but here also they were disappointed All which being advised by the Indians to the Governour of Cozco he wrote a Letter to the Ambassadours that they should not labour farther to no purpose but should come to Cozco where they should find directions in what manner to proceed In the following Chapter we shall set forth at large what passed in this particular affair according to the Narrative of Palentino extracted verbatim from his own Words whereby we may observe with what Prudence and Caution the Indians proceeded in this affair and how prudently they governed their Artifices whereby to discover the Cheats and Frauds which the Spaniards concealed under their specious offers with many other things observable on the part of the Indians CHAP. IX The suspicion and fear which the Governours of the Prince conceived on occasion of the Message which the Christians sent to them The ways and diligence they used to secure themselves from these jealousies THis Author in the fourth Chapter of the third book of his History saith as follows The Frier and Betanços being come to Cozco it was ordered That they should remain behind whilst the Governour Munnoz and Donna Beatriz went before the Ambassadours with her Son John Sierra to the Inca. Which being so agreed the Frier and Betanços went out of the City three days before them pretending to stay and expect them on the road But to gain the honour of being the first Ambassadours advanced as far as the Bridge called Chuquichaca which borders on the Jurisdiction of the Inca And having with great difficulty passed the Bridge they were detained by the Indian Souldiers who kept watch and guard on that side and there kept without other hurt or damage done to them not suffering them to proceed forward nor return back again and so remained until the next day when John Sierra with the Ambassadours from the Inca came to them with ten other Indians who were sent to meet the Ambassadours In sine John Sierra and the Ambassadours were permitted to proceed but Betanços and the Frier were detained The Inca being informed that John Sierra was near at hand and also that a Frier and Betanços who were Ambassadours from the Vice-King were not far distant he dispeeded a Captain with 200 Indian Souldiers whom they called Caribdes and are of that sort who eat the Enemies which they take in the War to signifie to the Ambassadours that the Inca's pleasure was that they
was a dishonour and shame for Gentlemen of their Quality to buy and sell like Merchants and tho' the Steward acquainted them that the most noble Spaniards in that Country were used to trade with the Natives of the Country and to buy up their Commodities such as the Herb Cuca and Mayz and send them to the Mines of Plate at Potocsi for provisions to support the People which laboured there Which was no dishonour for the best Men to do and was not of the same nature and esteem with those who sate in Shops and measured out Cloth and Silks by the yard And if they thought it too mean also to deal like other persons of Quality they might act by their Indian Servants whose Industry and Faithfulness they might entrust with all confidence But they answered That they would upon no Terms whatsoever so far abase and degrade themselves for being Gentlemen they more esteemed their Gentility than all the Gold and Silver in Peru. The which Answer the Steward making known to his Master and how much the young Gentlemen stood on the Punctilio's of their Noble Blood their good Kinsman Lorenço de Aldana with much calmness made answer If these are such Gentlemen how come they so poor And if they are so poor how come they such Gentlemen So Aldana never troubled his Kinsmen nor himself farther to put them in a way of livelyhood but suffered them to pass meanly and in necessity as I have seen them tho' not so much as to want Diet or Cloathing For when they came from Arequepa to Cozco they lodged in the House of my Lord Garçilasso where they were provided with all things necessary and when they passed to other Cities the Houses of their Country-men of Estremadura were always open to them for in those days the very name of a Country-men was sufficient to make them as welcome as if they had been Sons or the nearest relation to a Family These four Gentlemen whom we have mentioned in this place were all of the Ancient Conquerours of Peru who dyed in their Beds of a natural Death the which we specifie as a thing rare and strange for as appears by the preceding History there is not an Example of any who have dyed in this manner but all have come to their Ends by violent deaths Wherefore these worthy Persons having been Conquerours and Planters of this Empire and dying in a Happy and Blessed manner were greatly lamented by the People for the singular Vertue Honour and Goodness with which they were endued Tho' there were no express Law of God which should command us to honour our Parents yet the Law of Nature teaches it to the most barbarous People of the World and inclines them to omit no occasion whereby to express the Duty and Respect they owe to them The which consideration incited by Divine and Humane Laws and even enstamped on the Hearts of Heathens obliges me to publish the Vertues of my Father after his Death which I had not opportunity to do during the time of his Life And that the Praises and Commendations which I attribute to my Father may not seem partial and proceeding from Affection I will here repeat an Elogium made by a Fryer of a devout and religious Life which he delivered after his death for the Comfort and Consolation of his Children and Friends and as an Example for other persons to imitate I should here name the good Man who wrote this Oration but he engaged me not to do it but to conceal him when I published the Writing and I wish I were not under that Engagement that by his Authority the praises of my Father might appear the more Authentick I shall omit the Exordium and the many Oratorical Flights and Colours he uses And as becomes an Historian I shall be very short in this pious Digression A Funeral Oration made by a Religious Person in Honour of Garçilasso de la Vega my Lord after his Death Reader THis Speech or Oration is filled with such Doxologies and Rodomontadoes after the Spanish manner as neither agree with the style of an Historian nor with the English humour unless I intended to expose my Spaniard and render him as fantastical as the vainest of his Country-men I have therefore thought fit to pass it by lest in straining our English above its key it should bear no harmony in consort with the Spanish Language and so we shall proceed unto CHAP. XIII Wherein is treated of those who for demanding a reward for their Services were banished into Spain and what Favour and Grace his Majesty bestowed upon them Don Garcia de Mendoça is sent Governour unto Chile and of the Skirmish he had there with the Indians BUT to return now to the Petitioners who for demanding a Reward in Lands for their past Services were as we have said banish'd into Spain they at length arrived there poor naked and almost famished And in this guise they presented themselves in the Court before the King Don Philip the Second which moved great Compassion in all those who were acquainted with their Story and how they had been banished and ill treated for doing their Duty and demanding a Reward of their Services But his Majesty was more gracious to them giving a Pension to as many of them as would return to the Indies out of his Royal Exchequer that they might have nothing to do with the Vice-King nor need to make Addresses or Petitions to him And as many of them as desired to remain in Spain he gratified with Allowances agreeable to their Condition that is with more or less according to their Services and so I found them provided for when I came into Spain which was some short time after these matters were transacted Their Money was assigned them upon the Custom-house at Sevile the least that any of them had was 480 Ducats of yearly Pension and as their Merits were so were their Allowances to 6 800 and a thousand to 1200 Ducats to remain Annuities to them for all the days of their Lives A while afterwards his Majesty being acquainted with the Discourses which were commonly made in the City of Los Reyes touching the hard usage of the banished Souldiers to prevent farther Mutinies there and other Disorders which might arise by reason of the Severity and Rigour of the Vice-King his Majesty was pleased to provide himself with another Governour for Peru named Don Diego de Azeuedo a Gentleman endued with all qualities of Vertue and Goodness from whom the Counts of Fuentes are descended But whilst he was preparing for his Voyage he died of a natural death to the great grief of all those of Peru who upon the news thereof much lamented themselves saying that they had not deserved a Vice-King so good and so qualified and therefore God had snatched him away from them into Heaven And this was the common saying as I have heard amongst the Grave and Wise Men of that Country But in regard
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
Manco Capac having considered all the conveniencies of Cozco that it was situated in a pleasant Valley in the midst of a Plain encompassed on all sides with high Mountains through which ran four delightfull streams which though they yielded not great plenty of Water yet were sufficient to refresh and make all those Lands fruitfull In the middle of this plain was a Fountain of brackish Water out of which they made quantities of Salt the Soil was fruitfull and the Air wholsome with which advantages the first Inca took a resolution of laying the Foundation of his City and as the Indians say by Order and Appointment of his Father the Sun signified by the discovery of a Wedge of Gold which was the mark and signal of that place where the Head and Seat of his Empire was to be founded The Climate is rather cold than hot but yet not in that extreme as to require Fires to keep them warm the Chambers or close Rooms are sufficient to defend the Inhabitants from the rigour of the Weather yet a pan of Coals may sometimes be usefull the Air is not so sharp but that the thin and lighter Clothing of the Summer may be sufficient nor so hot as to be incommodious with the Winter-garments the like may be said of the bedding for one Blanket may be a sufficient covering and if there were three t' were not cumbersome for so constant and equal is the Weather that there is little difference between the Winter and Summer being here as in all other temperate Climates the same moderation in all seasons of the Year The Air of Cozco being rather cold and dry than hot and moist is not subject to corruption so that Flesh being hanged up in a Room where the Windows are open on all sides will keep eight or fifteen or thirty nay to a hundred days without being mortified untill it is become dried like Mummy This I have seen my self tried and experimented with the Flesh of Cattel of that Countrey I know not whether the Flesh of Mutton brought from Spain will endure in the like manner for there was no experiment made thereof in my time by reason that the stock of the Spanish Sheep were not killed in my time but rather suffered to increase and breed The Climate of Cozco being in this manner inclining to cold breeds very few Flies and for biting and stinging Gnats there are none nor any other Insect that is troublesome or vexatious to the people of the City The first Houses and Habitations were built on the side of the Hill called Sacsahuamam which lies on the North-east side of the City on the top of which the Successours of this Inca erected the stately Fortress which the Spaniards so little esteemed nay so much scorned that they demolished it in a few days after they became Masters of the City This City was divided into two parts Hanan-Cozco and Hurin-Cozco which is the Upper and the Lower Town The Way or Road to Antisuyu which leads to the Eastward divided these two parts of Hanan-Cozco which lies to the North and Hurin which points to the South The first and principal Street was called Collcampata Collcam is a word of no signification with the Indians but Pata is as much as the degree or step of a Ladder or a Bench whereon to sit On the rising or turning of this Hill the Inca Manco Capac erected his Palace which afterwards was the possession of Paullu the Son of Huayna Capac I remember in my time to have seen a large and spatious Hall belonging to this House which still remained designed in former days for a place wherein to celebrate their principal Festivals in rainy Weather That Hall onely remained in being when I departed from Cozco but all the other Rooms which were conformable to the greatness of this were suffered to decay and fall into ruines without any repair Next in order we come to another Street called Canturpata which looks to the Eastward which signifies as much as the Gilliflower-walk for Cantur is a Flower not unlike our Gilliflower but of a different sort for before the Spaniards came into this Countrey there were no Gilliflowers onely this Cantur resembled very much the Brambles of Andalusia both in the Stalk Leaf and Shortness for the Thorns of it are very prickly which because they did much abound in that Walk they gave it the name of the Cantur-Walk Next we come to the Street called Pumacurcu or the Lion's Post because in that place many posts or stakes were driven into the Earth whereunto they tied their Lions which they presented to the Inca untill they had made them tame and gentle The next great Street was called Toco-cachi but I know not any reason for the composition of this word Toco signifying a Window and Cachi Salt which are words ill conjoined together unless they have some other signification of which I am ignorant in this Street the first Convent dedicated to St. Francis was built Turning a little from hence to the Southward you come to the Street called Munaycenca Muna signifies to love and Cenca the Nose or Nostrils I know not the reason or sense for this name but there must certainly be some superstitious meaning or occasion for it Hence proceeding on the same course we come to the Street called Rimac-pampa or place of Proclamation because that there all the Laws and Ordinances were published and proclaimed and thereunto the multitude flocked from all parts and places to hear and understand the Laws which were promulged Hence we come into the great Road which leads to Collasuyu and crosses Southward on the Street of Pumapchupan which signifies the Lion's Tail because that Street is very strait and narrow towards the end being bound in by two Streams which there fall into one and which being the most remote part of the Town was called the Lion's Tail perhaps because they kept their Lions and other fierce Creatures at that place To the Westward being about a mile from the farthermost Houses of the Town there was a Village containing about three hundred Souls which in the Year 1560. was thus far distant but now in this Year 1602. the Buildings are so increased that they reach up and join to this Village About a mile farther to the Westward there is another Street called Chaquillchaca the signification of which is improper by which the great Road passes to Cuntisuyu and near whereunto are two pipes of excellent Water which pass under ground but by whom they were laid or brought thither is unknown to the Indians for want of Writings or Records to transmit the memory of them to posterity Those pipes of Water were called Collquemachac huay or the Silver Snakes because the whiteness of the Water resembled Silver and Windings and the Meanders of the pipe were like the coiles and turnings of Serpents and they report also that the Streets of the City are extended as far as to Chaquillchaca Passing hence to
by no means the Battel should be deferred that day though they fought part of the night for that were to give courage to their Enemies and a check to the forward resolution of their own Army and might perhaps give time and occasion unto several of them to revolt unto Almagro Hereupon the Governour resolved immediately to give them Battel wishing he had had the power of Joshuah to command the Sun to stay his course Herewith the word was given to march directly against the Squadrons of Almagro who upon their first motion ordered his Cannon to play upon the Enemy and to startle them in the first onset but Francisco de Caravajal observing that if they kept a direct course upon the Enemy they should receive much damage from their Cannon which were many and very good directed them another way under the covert of a Hill But having passed this shelter into the open Field so that they remained exposed to the Enemy's Cannon Pedro de Candia who commanded the Artillery shot over them so that they received no damage which when Almagro saw and observed he immediately fell upon Pedro de Candia and killed him with his Lance upon the very Cannon and being full of rage and anger for this piece of treachery he leaped from his Horse and mounted on the nose of one of the Guns and with the weight of his body lored it in such manner as to make it bear on the Enemy and then ordering the Cannonier to give fire thereunto he placed his shot amidst the Squadron of Vaca de Castro which raking them from the Front to the Rere as Carate confirms in the 18th Chapter of his fourth Book and Gomara in Chap. 150. but do not say how many were slain thereby which were seventeen Men which unlucky shot had it been followed by others with the like success they had needed no other force but had secured the Victory according to the assurance which Suarez the Serjeant-Major had given but all was lost by that treachery which Pedro de Candia had acted For we must know that Captain Pedro having considered that Hernando Piçarro who was the Person that had affronted and injured him was imprisoned in Spain as we have formerly mentioned and that by reason of him had sided with the party of Chili And that the Marquis who by his Power and Greatness had much oppressed him was now dead he judged himself sufficiently revenged both of one and of the other And that now since there was a new Governour it was his best course to return unto the Obedience and Service of his Majesty that he might not utterly lose all the hopes and merit he had acquired by being useful in the Conquest of that Empire And on this Motive it was that he sent secret intelligence to the Governour not to fear the Cannon for he would so order it that he should not need to apprehend any damage or hurt from thence On confidence of which promise the Governour resolved not to delay the Battel though Pedro de Candia did not attain the end he designed CHAP. XVII The Relation of the cruel Battel of Chupas is continued A disagreement amongst the People of Almagro The Victory of the Governour and the Flight of Almagro THE Serjeant-Major and the other Captains of his Majesty observing what a Lane was made through their Squadron by the Enemy's shot and that their Foot was daunted therewith they presently clapt within the void place and caused their ranks to close up and without stop or any delay to make up directly upon the Enemy and to have no cause of retardment they left and deserted all their own train of Artillery The Captains of Almagro not well considering their case and advantage and as people not much used to such kind of emergencies observing the Enemy to advance upon them cried out with a loud voice Let not our Enemies gain honour by our cowardise they see us stand still as not daring to oppose them Let us to them let us to them for we are not able longer to endure this affront Herewith they forced Almagro to advance with his Squadron and with so little consideration that they made him to interpose between the Enemy and his own Cannon which when Serjeant-Major Suarez observed he went to Almagro and with a loud voice told him saying Sir had you kept the order which I directed and had followed my counsel you had been victorious but since you take measures from others you will lose the honour of this day and since your Lordship is not pleased to make me a Conquerour in your Camp I will make my way to it on the side of your Enemies And having repeated these words he set Spurs to his Horse and passed over to Vaca de Castro advising him immediately to close with the Enemy and to give them no time for that there was great disorder and confusion in their Counsels Vaca de Castro observing this good advice which Suarez had given him commanded his Forces to march directly up in face of the Enemy with which Francisco de Carvajal was so encouraged and assured of victory by reason of the unskilfulness of their Foes that he threw off his Coat of Male and his Head-piece and cast them on the ground telling his Souldiers That they should not be affrighted at the Cannon for that if he who was as fat and big as any two of them was not fearfull of them much less ought any of them who were but half the mark that he was At this time a certain Gentleman who was of Noble Bloud and rode with the Horse observing both sides within Musquet-shot and that there was no other remedy but that he must engage he on a sudden passed forth from the Squadron of the Governour and said Sirs I declare my self for the party of Chili for all the World knows that at the Battel of Salinas I was then on the side of Almagro the Elder and since I cannot now be for them there is no reason but that I should stand neuter and not be against them Herewith he sallied out of his rank and separated himself at some distance where a certain Priest remained called Hernando de Luque who was a Kinsman to that School-matter of Panama that was the Companion and Associate of Almagro and Piçarro With this Priest there was another Gentleman also who being sick was excused from the Fight but the retreat of this Gentleman was interpreted by all the Army to be an effect of down-right cowardise and that therefore he durst not engage on either side The Harquebusiers of Castro de Vaca would have fired upon him but the haste they were in prevented their intention and when they understood the reason for which he desired to stand a Neuter they then were willing to spare their shot I had once an acquaintance with him and left him alive in a certain City of Peru when I departed thence and I know and remember well his
Name though I think fit to conceal it in this place and onely recount the fact in general to the end that such a piece of cowardise may be hated and scorned by all Persons of Quality and Worthy Souldiers In short the Souldiers of Vaca de Castro made such haste that without much hurt they mounted the Hill where the Squadrons of Almagro were drawn up being much disordered and removed out of that good posture in which they were first placed Howsoever the Harquebusiers received them with such a Volley of Shot that they killed many of the Foot and wounded the Major General Gomez de Tordoya with three Bullets of which he dyed two days afterwards Nunno de Castro was also desperately wounded besides many others who were slain which being observed by Francisco de Carvajal he commanded the Horse to charge them for they were the chief Force to which he trusted being more in number than those of Almagro accordingly the Horse engaged and both sides maintained the Fight with such bravery that the Victory for a long time remained doubtfull Pedro Alvarez Holguin was killed with a Musquet-shot for being clothed in white and by his Colour and Habit known to all he became the common Mark every one aiming to hit so famous a Person On the other side the Infantry of Vaca de Castro charging the Enemy came valiantly up to the very Cannon which were now of no use in regard that by the ill discipline and disorder of Almagro's Commanders they had interposed their own Souldiers between their Cannon and the Enemy Howsoever both sides fought with such animosity and bravery that they continued fighting in the night which when it was so dark and obscure that they could not see each other they then made use of the words Chili and Pachacamac to make their distinctions whereby the Piçarrists and Almagrians knew their parties the greatest slaughter was amongst the Horse who after the use of their Lances coming to a closer Fight killed each other with their Swords and Pole-axes The success of this Battel being of high concernment animated both sides with a resolution to dye or gain the victory being well assured that as the Dominion of that Empire and the Riches depended on this Victory so being overthrown there remained no other reward for them but death or slavery It was now above two hours in the night and yet the Fight continued with equal slaughter being full four hours since it first began At length the Governour charged the left wing of the Enemy which was still entire and not as yet broken so that the Battel seemed to be again renewed Howsoever at length the Governour routed and defeated them with the loss of ten or twelve of his Guard amongst which were Captain Ximenez formerly a Merchant in Medina and Nunno Montalvo By this time both sides began to think themselves secure of Victory and yet still the Fight continued At length the Forces of Almagro seemed to grow faint which when he observed he put himself into the head of them and being seconded by those few which were his Life-guard he entred amidst the thickest of his Enemies with that valour and resolution that he performed Miracles by his own Person being desirous to be slain on the place but being unknown and well armed he escaped with his life and without a wound fighting bravely as Gomara reports of him in Chapter 150. And now Victory began to incline to the side of the Governour which when Almagro and his chief Officers observed they called out aloud and said I am such an one it was I who killed the Marquis and so they fought with fury and despair untill they were slain and cut in pieces Many of Almagro's people escaped by favour of a dark night having taken off their white Ribbons and placed the Colours of Vaca de Castro in their stead with which they supplied themselves from those who were slain on the other side Almagro himself seeing that there was no hopes of Victory left and that Death fled from him he escaped out of the Battel with six Companions namely Diego Mendez Bergan and John de Guzman and three others whose Names I have forgotten Thence he fled to Cozco where he met that Death which he could not receive from his Enemies by the hands of those Men whom he had there constituted in Offices of Justice and Military Employments For so soon as they understood that he had lost the day Rodrigo de Salazar who was a Native of Toledo and deputed by Almagro for his Governour in that place and Antonio Ruyz de Guevara who was Commissionated also by him to be chief Justiciary immediately laid hands on him and made him Prisoner and to consummate this cruelty they took those also who were his Companions and attended his Person To confirm which particular Carate in the 19th Chapter of his fourth Book hath these Words which follow Thus ended the Reign and Government of Don Diego de Almagro who was one day Commander in Chief of all Peru and the day following was seized by an Officer whom by his own Authority he had constituted chief Justiciary of Cozco This Battel was fought the 16th of September 1542. Thus far Carate and herewith he concludes the Chapter aforesaid This Victory was in part obtained about nine of the Clock at night but not completed for the noise of fighting and clashing of Arms was heard in several places of the Field And lest Almagro should again rally and in the Morning renew the Battel for as yet his flight and escape was not known the Governour commanded his Serjeant-Major to sound a retreat to his Army and put them again into a posture of Battel placing the Horse and Foot in their respective stations with Orders to stand to their Arms untill the Morning when the light would discover the state of their Victory Which being accordingly executed they continued on their Guard and in a readiness to receive whatsoever should occur CHAP. XVIII Wherein those Principal Commanders are named who were present at this Battel the Number that was slain the Punishment of the Rebels and the Death of Don Diego de Almagro THE Governour passed a great part of the Night in discourse to his Souldiers praising the courage and resolution which his Captains Cavaliers and Souldiers had shewed in that days Engagement he applauded and admired their bravery which they had made appear in the Service of his Majesty He then recounted some particular Actions performed by such and such naming them by their Names whereby he acknowledged the fidelity love and friendship which they had evidenced to the Memory of the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro for whose sake and in revenge of whose Death they had exposed their own lives to all the hazards and perils in the World. Nor did he omit to mention the bravery of Almagro whereby he had signalized himself to revenge the Death of his Father having therein performed above what could have
that they would keep Order and Military Discipline to avoid surprise and that he and the other Gentlemen who were his Associates would maintain and pay them as was reasonable in regard they were employed for conservation of their Lives and Estates And with such fair pretensions as these he persuaded the people to joyn with him in the justification he had made of his cause which being generally approved they freely offered their Services to defend him to the last drop of their bloud and in this manner he departed from Cozco attended with the Citizens and Inhabitants as before mentioned Thus far are the words of Carate With these preparations before-mentioned which amounted unto five hundred Souldiers and twenty thousand Indians to attend the Camp for twelve thousand onely were requisite to draw and manage the Cannon and Artillery Gonçalo Piçarro departed from Cozco to march unto the City of Los Reyes giving out that his design was no other than onely to petition and to treat and being marched as far as Sacsahuana being four leagues distant from the City we shall leave him there a while and return to the Vice-king to declare how matters passed between him and his Subjects in Los Reyes and other parts Though Blasco Nunnez Vela was settled in the seat of his Authority and received for Governour of that Empire yet he was uneasie and unable to relish the sweetness of Power by reason of those discontents and jealousies which the people conceived in execution of the new Rules of Regulation wherefore to secure his Person from any treasonable attempt and as a mark of his Authority and State he gave order to Captain Diego de Urbina to raise and arm fifty Archebusiers to be his Life-guard and attend his Person on all occasions as Gomara reports in the 158th Chapter of his Book And now none durst open his mouth to him for suspending the practice of the new Laws as Carate saith in the Fifth Chapter of the Fifth Book And though a Petition had been preferred to him in open Court from the Corporation of that City where it had been publickly debated yet he refused to hearken thereunto and though he plainly confessed himself that those Laws were prejudicial to the interest of the people and could not be put in execution without dis-service to his Majesty and that if those persons who formed and ordained them were here present and had observed the difficulties and inconveniences that attended them they would never have persuaded his Majesty to have constituted or enacted the same and that though for these reasons he was resolved to send his Commissioners together with theirs to supplicate his Majesty that he would be pleased to recall those Ordinances as inconsistent with the good of his People howsoever in the mean time he could not suspend the execution having Instructions and Commands from his Majesty to the contrary Thus far are the words of Carate who with other Writers proceeds in this manner During this time the Road from Cozco was so stopped that all intelligence was intercepted so that none was brought either by the Spaniards or Indian Messengers more than that Gonçalo Piçarro was come to Cozco where the people who were fled from Los Reyes and other parts flocked to him upon the news that there was like to be a Civil War. Whereupon the Vice-king and the Judges dispatched their Orders to the Citizens of Cozco giving them to understand that their duty was to receive Blasco Nunnez for their Vice-king and therefore those present Letters were to summon them to appear forthwith at Los Reyes with their Horse and Arms. And though these Orders were intercepted on the Road yet some Copies of them were brought to Cozco by some persons who came by by-ways the which so wrought upon several of the Citizens that they accordingly came and made their appearance at Los Reyes to serve the Vice-king as shall hereafter be declared Affairs standing upon these terms certain intelligence came to the Vice-king of all that had passed at Cozco which so alarm'd him that he gave immediate Orders to increase his Army to raise and maintain which having occasion for a good sum of Money he caused the Money being an hundred thousand Pieces of Eight laden by Castro de Vaca on board a Ship for account of his Majesty to be brought a-shore and employed for the use and service to his Army The persons to whom he gave Commissions of Captains to command the Horse were Alonso de Monte Major and Diego Alvarez de Cuero his Brother-in-law of the Infantry were Martin de Robles Paul de Meneses and Captain of the Arquebusiers was Gonçala Dias de Pinnera his Brother Vela Nunnez was made Captain General Diego de Urbina Lieutenant General and John de Aguire Sargeant Major His whole Army besides Natives consisted of six hundred Souldiers of which there were an hundred Horse two hundred Fire-arms and the rest were Pikes and Lances He caused great store of Fire-arms to be made some of Iron and some of Bell-mettle for he gave Orders to take down the Bells of the great Church and to cast them into Muskets he also made great quantities of Halberts And because he suspected the affection and reality of the peoples good will towards him he caused several false Alarms to be given that so he might try in what manner the Souldiers and People would behave themselves if occasion were And because he was jealous of the practices of Vaca de Castro with his Servants and others of his Party to whom he had given the liberty of the City under a confinement not to exceed the bounds thereof he one day about Dinner-time caused an Alarm to be given that Gonçalo Piçarro was near at hand and had entred the Market-place with his Army upon which occasion he gave Orders to Diego Alvarez de Cuero to seise on the Person of Vaca de Castro who with other Officers took also Don Pedro de Cabrera Hernan Mexia de Guzman his Brother-in-law as also Captain Lorenço de Aldana Melchior Ramirez and Baltasar Ramirez his Brother and carried them all together to the Sea-side and embarked them upon a Ship belonging to the Fleet commanded by Captain Jeronimo de Curbano a Native of Bilboa in a few days after which he set Lorenço de Aldana at liberty and banished Hernan Mexia to Panama and Melchior and Baltasar de Ramirez to Nicaragua but he continued Vaca de Castro in the Ship without making any Process by Law or legally laying any Fault or Crimes to their charges or receiving any information against them Thus far are the words of Augustine de Carate in the sixth Chapter of his Book CHAP. X. Two of the Inhabitants of Arequepa revolt to the Vice-king with two of the Ships belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro and the Citizens of Cozco desert his Army WHilst the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez was troubled with these thoughts and fears a lucky accident happened much to his
advantage and satisfaction for two persons which belonged to the City of Arequepa one of which was called Jeronimo de Serna and the other Alonso de Carceres seised upon the two Ships in that Port belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro which he had bought with his own money with intent to ship his Ammunition and Provisions thereupon and with them to be Master of those Seas which was of great and high concernment to him these two persons as we have said corrupted the Mariners and persuaded them to sail the Ships to Los Reyes where the Vice-king resided who received them with great joy and contentment for thereby perceiving that the Forces of his Enemy were wavering and enclining to his side he took it as a good Omen of his following success In the mean time it happened out in the Army of Gonçalo Piçarro which we left in Sacsahuana that the Citizens which belonged to Cozco reflecting within themselves upon the design in which they were engaged and considering how unbeseeming and improper a matter it was to petition for Justice with Arms in their hands which ought to be performed in a more humble and submissive manner it was agreed amongst the principal men amongst them as was before privately discoursed to desert the cause of Gonçalo Piçarro and return again to their own habitations The chief and leading men in this design were Graviel de Rojas Garçilasso de la Vega John de Saavedra Gomez de Rojas Jeronimo Costilla Pedro del Barco Martin de Florencia Jeronimo de Soria Gomez de Leon Doctour Carvajal Alonso Perez de Esquivel Pedro Piçarro and John Ramirez These are all particularly mentioned by the two Authours Carate and Diego Fernandez but besides these there were several others not named by them as John Julio de Hojeda Diego de Silva Thomas Bazquez Pedro Alonso Carrasco John de Pancorvo Alonso de Hinojosa Antonio de Quinnones Alonso de Loyasa Martin de Meneses Mancio Serra de Leguicamo Francisco de Villa Fuerta John de Figueroa Pedro de los Rios with his Brother Diego Alonso de Soto and Diego de Truxillo Gaspar Jara and others whose names I have forgotten who were in all about forty in number with many of which I had a personal acquaintance All these having deserted the cause of Gonçalo Piçarro returned to their own homes at Cozco where having provided themselves with such conveniences as were necessary for their Journey they with all diligence took their Journey to Arequepa with design to seise the two Ships belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro which they knew lay at that place and embark themselves thereon and sail to Los Reyes esteeming it for a great piece of service to the King and a means to ingratiate themselves with the Vice-king but herein they were disappointed for that the Captains Alonso de Carceres and Jeronimo de la Serna had forestalled them in their design having carried the Ships away to Los Reyes before their arrival And being thus disappointed of their hopes they considered of the securest way they were now to take to get to the Vice-king for they knew that Gonçalo Piçarro had stopped all the Roads and Passages over the Plains and Mountains wherefore they agreed to build a great Boat or Vessel and thereon to take their passage by Sea to Los Reyes the building of this Vessel took up forty days time to little purpose for the Carpenters being both unskilfull in building and the Timber green and unseasoned no sooner was the Vessel lanched and her Provisions laden upon her but the sunk down to the bottom in the very Harbour Wherefore finding that there was no other way now left them they resolved to hazard themselves on the Land which succeeded according to their desires for the Road being clear'd of their Enemies they arrived safe at Los Reyes but when they came thither they sound that the Vice-king was made a Prisoner and embarked and sent away into Spain As we shall understand more particularly in the sequel of this History This delay of forty days in building the Vessel was the cause of all the mischief which ensued for during that time the Vice-king was made a Prisoner which had otherwise been prevented had those Gentlemen opportunely arrived for had it been known that persons of that Quality had revolted from Piçarro and were come from Cozco to joyn with the Vice-king it would have brought so great aâreputation to his affairs that none would have dared to have touched the Vice-king or declared for the Party of Piçarro And as some Authours report the people seised on the Vice-king and put him on Ship-board onely out of fear to secure him from Gançalo Piçarro who they heard was on his march with intention to kill him But these Gentlemen of Cozco finding contrary to all expectation that the Vice-king was sent away every man shiâted for himself as well as he could some of which remaining in the City we shall have occasion to discourse of them hereafter On the other side Gonçalo Piçarro perceiving that those who were men of the greatest interest and power in the Army had relinquished his interest he gave himself over for lost and as the Historians report resolved to return to the Charcas or to retire into Chile with about fifty of the most faithfull of his Friends and Comrades who he was assured would stand by him to the last but whilst he was meditating of these matters Pedro de Puelles came to him and brought the news of the departure of the Vice-king which was so much to the advantage of Piçarro that he with new courage and triumph returned to Cozco The Indians which belonged to those who revolted he appropriated to his own service onely those who were in vassalage to Garçilasso de la Vega he bestowed on Pedro de Puelles and gave up his Houses to be plundred by the Souldiers one of which afterwards intended to have set fire to them having a fire-brand in his hand to that purpose and had certainly effected it had he not been prevented by another of a better and a more mild temper and disposition who said to him What hurt have these Houses done you if the Master were here we might revenge our selves upon him but what evil have these Walls deserved This word gave a stop to his intention and saved the House howsoever they plundred it from the top to the bottom not leaving any thing in it which was worth one farthing and turned out the Indian Servants both Men and Women charging them not to come within the Walls upon pain of death howsoever they permitted eight persons to remain therein nemely my Mother and Sister and a Maid-servant as also my self for my Mother would rather have died than have been without me and John de Alcobaça my Tutour with his Son Diego and his Brother and an Indian Maid which they would not deny me the service of John Alcobaça being a person of a good life and exemplary
this Work was the vanity of Bermejo and his Companions the Piçarrists who could not be contented with a less Prey than the person of the President Gasca himself for some desired to take a full revenge on him in lieu of the Pay and Reward he promised for the services they had done and others who were Piçarrists were become his inveterate Enemies on the score of the old quarrel and all cried out that they would make Dice of his Bones and Powder of his Flesh for said they he is so fine and subtile in all his dealings that certainly he cannot but make the best and the finest Gun-powder in the World But these men were deceived in their vain imaginations for though they did not seize the person of the President yet their revenge would have been more complete in sending him away without his Gold and Silver than if they had taken him alive and sacrificed him to their rage and fury CHAP. XII Of the leud Practices and Follies of the Contreras whereby they lost all the Treasure they had gained together with their Lives The diligence and good management which their Enemies used to bring them to condign Punishment BUT the good fortune of Licençiado Gasca which had accompanied him in all the successes before related and in the recovery of an Empire as great as Peru would not now leave him exposed to the Attempts of a leud and villanous sort of People for Providence still continuing her protection and favour to him suffered these wicked Wretches to be ensnared with their own Pride and Ignorance and those very men who had followed Francisco de Carvajal and had known and learned his Discipline and Art in War were so clouded in their understandings and reasons that they rashly precipitated themselves into death and destruction For in the first place after they had taken Panama and sacked and plundered the City they seized upon many of the principal men thereof amongst which were the Bishop and Treasurer to his Majesty as also Martin Ruyz de Marchena and the Sheriffs of the City and carried them away with intent to hang them upon the common Gallows which they had certainly done to the full satisfaction of John de Bermejo had not Hernando Contreras given a stop to the execution with which Bermejo being greatly enraged told him plainly that since he was pleased to appear in favour of his Enemies to the high discouragement of his friends it would be no wonder if his Enemies another day took their turn and hanged up him and all his Associates These words were a clear prediction of what happened in a short time afterwards For Hernando de Contreras took no other security from the Citizens for their quiet behaviour towards him than their bare Oath swearing that they would be as true and faithfull to him as if all the actions he had committed had tended to the service of God and of the King and to the benefit and advantage of the Citizens After which vain piece of confidence and folly they divided their Forces which in all consisted of no more than two hundred and fifty men into four Squadrons forty of which were remaining with Pedro de Contreras to guard the four Vessels which they brought with them and the other four they had taken in Port Salguero as we have said was sent with thirty men to the River of Chagre to take possession of the Silver which was robbed there Hernando de Conireras himself marched with forty Souldiers more by way of Capira to seise the President and sack Nombre de Dios both which exploits he thought very easie to be done by a surprise and John de Bermejo with an hundred and fifty men staid at Panama to keep and defend that City And besides these pieces of foolish management and miscarriages they were so inconsiderate as to entrust the merchandise which they had robbed in the hands of the Proprietors themselves and to other persons of reputation and note on security onely of Bonds under their hand-writing to yield them up to Hernando de Contreras when he should return from Nombre de Dios and so far were they transported with vain confidence that they looked upon themselves as Masters of all the new world And accordingly they gave out their Warrants to take up all Horses and Mules that could be found and to mount their Souldiers thereon and to go to the relief and assistence of Hernando de Contreras if occasion should be And with this Equipage Bermejo departed the City leaving it to it self and with as much assurance of faithfulness as if it had been his own House whereas on the contrary had they embarked all the Gold and Silver they had robbed upon their Ships together with the Jewels Merchandise and other Booty and had gone away themselves therewith they had totally destroyed and ruined the President and all his Adherents But they neither deserving so much good nor the President so much evil the wheel of fortune turned as we shall see by the sequel For so soon as it was day those who had escaped out by night whilst they were plundring the City one of which was Arias de Azevedo of whom the History makes mention dispatched away a Servant of his to Nombre de Dios to give intelligence to the President Gasca of all that the Rebels had done at Panama and though as yet the advice was imperfect yet it served to alarm the President in such manner as that neither he nor his People were totally unprovided On the other side the Inhabitants of the City whom John de Bermejo left with so much confidence and reposed that Trust in as to commit a great part of his spoil to their care and custody no sooner was his back turned than they assembled together rang out the Bells of the Town and fell to fortifying the City on the side towards the Sea and to secure the passage on the way of Capira in case the enemy should attack them on either side At the sound of the Bells all the neighbouring Inhabitants came in with their Arms being attended with their Negroes that in a short time between White men and Tawny they made up a force of above five hundred men all resolute to die in defence of the City Two of the Souldiers belonging to John de Bermejo who for want of Horses were left behind hearing the noise and confusion amongst the people fled away to give advice to their Commander how the City was in rebellion and again returned to the obedience of his Majesty Of which John de Bermejo sent immediate advice to Hernando de Contreras giving him to understand that he was going to Panama to cut those Traitours in pieces who had falsly violated their Oath and Faith to them and so he returned thither with confidence of becoming Master of it with as much ease as formerly but things happened out quite contrary to his expectation for the Citizens to prevent the burning of their