took from them to bestow in Marriage upon those who had deserved well from him which seemed a favour to them both unto the one that the Inca would vouchsafe to receive and prefer his Daughter and to the other that he was pleased to bestow her on him with his own hand being for that reason esteemed pretious for not so much the gift as the Donor being regarded rendred the least present from the Inca's hand equal to the highest treasure as if it had something of Divinity conferred with it Sometimes though but seldom the Incas preferred their natural Daughters of the Royal Bloud to the Curacas and Governours of Provinces for Wives as signals of his favour and as engagements to them to continue in their Loyalty of which sort the Inca having many to bestow abroad had no necessity to have recourse to those for a supply who were entred in the Sacred and Royal Foundations for that would have been a diminution to their exalted Degree a violation to their Religion and an impiety to mix divine race with prophane Bloud CHAP. VII Of other Women who conserved their Virginity and of Widows BEsides these Virgins who lived Recluses in Cloisters under the Vow of perpetual Chastity there were many other Women of Royal Bloud who lived in retirement and vowed to conserve their Virginity though with liberty to go abroad and visit their nearest Relations and assist the sick and Women in their Travels and to be present at the Ceremony of shaving when they gave a Name to their first-born These Women were held in great Esteem and Veneration for their Chastity and purity of their Lives giving them by way of Excellency or of some Vertue Divine the Title of Occlo which signifies something of supereminent Sanctity and this their Chastity was not pretended or feigned but true and real for if any falsity or hypocrisie were discovered in it they burnt them alive or threw them to the Lions to be devoured I remember that I knew one of these that was very ancient and had never been married which they called Occlo sometimes she visited my Mother and as I have heard she was her Aunt by the Grandfather I can say I am a witness of the great respect they bore towards her and especially my Mother who for her Relation Years and Vertue behaved her self towards her with all imaginable Reverence and Veneration Nor must we here omit the Modesty and Vertue of Widows in general who for the first Year of their Widowhood kept themselves retired and free from all conversation there being very few of those who had not Children that married again much less those who were provided with them did ever return to a second Marriage but lived with Continence and Chastity for which reason the Laws were favourable towards them commanding Labourers to plow and cultivate their Lands before those of the Curacas with many other privileges which the favour of the Inca indulged to them The truth is it was a disparagement for a Man who was not a Widower himself to marry with a Widow for as they said he lost I know not what quality and repute by such a condescension And this is what is most observable in reference to Virgins and Widows and modest Women CHAP. VIII Of their Marriages in general and how their Houses were governed IT will now be proper in this place for us to treat of their Marriages and how they were joined together in the Kingdoms and Provinces subjected to the Inca In order hereunto it is to be noted that every year or every two years the King commanded his Officers to take an account of such young Men and Maidens of his Lineage as were marriageable within the City of Cozco that so they might be matched together the Maidens were to be of eighteen to twenty years of age and the young Men from twenty to twenty four and upwards under which age they were not esteemed to be of years of consent for that it was necessary they should be of a ripe age and judgment to govern their Families which could not be done by Children in their minority At the Ceremonies of Matrimony the Inca stood between the two Persons and casting his Eyes upon them both he called the Man by his Name and then the Woman and taking their hands into his joined them together which being the bond of Matrimony the Function was performed and being by the Inca consigned to their Parents they went home to the House of the Bridegroom's Father where the Wedding was kept for four or six days with great rejoycing This was the manner and form of their legal Marriages which for the great Favour and Honour the Inca had performed in this Function were called in their Language the Incan Couple The King having in this manner matched those of his own Lineage then the next day following the Officers for this Employment joined the Neighbourhood of the City with respect to that Division which we have mentioned at the beginning of this History of the Upper and the Lower Cozco The Houses which were appointed for the Habitation of the new married Couples who were Incas concerning whom we treat at present were prepared by the Indians of those Provinces whose charge it was according to such provision as was made in that case All the Furniture and Utensils of the Houses were provided at the charge of the Parents every one of their Kindred giving them something towards House-keeping which was all the Ceremony or Sacrifice performed at that Solemnity and though many Spanish Historians report divers other barbarous Customs in use at Marriages it is for want of a distinct knowledge of the Rites of one Province from another for in those Provinces indeed which were remote from Cozco and where the Seigniority and Rule of the Incas had not as yet arrived there may have been many absurd and impious Ceremonies in use which since have been corrected and abolished by the more wise and refined Government of the Incas But as to the true Politicks of the Incas they observed no other Form of Marriage than this before recited according to which the Curacas in their Provinces and the Governours in their respective Divisions conformed their discipline and as Fathers and Lords of their Countrey practised it in the same manner as did the Inca. And though the Inca who was Governour was present at the Marriages which the Curaca solemnized yet it was not to interpose or diminish the Authority of the Curaca therein but onely to approve that in the name of the King which the Curaca had performed by virtue of the power he exercised over his own Vassals When the Commonalty or ordinary sort married the Community of the People were obliged to build and provide them Houses and the Parents to furnish them It was not lawfull for any to marry out of his own Province or People but as the Tribes of Israel they were obliged to match within their own
nor did they expect him for this whole year And though this was great good News to him yet when he considered the weakness of the four Ships then he began to be sensible of the evil Counsel which some of his Confidents had given him to burn his own five Ships and how much Francisco Carvajal was in the right when he condemned that counsel and said one of these five Ships was able to fight with all the other four which Aldana commanded After this Acosta sailed to the Port of Huaura where Palentino saith there is excellent good Salt and in such abundance as is sufficient to supply all Italy France and Spain Gonçalo Piçarro having received intelligence of what Acosta had performed at Los Reyes and what Diego de Mora had done at Truxillo he resolved to send Licenciado Carvajal with three hundred men under his command to hinder Acosta from landing his men or taking water or cutting wood and likewise to keep Diego de Mora in some awe and act other matters as occasion should serve Licenciado Carvajal having accordingly provided all things necessary for his march the Lieutenant General Carvajal gave a stop to his proceedings condemning the Counsell as not good for he was persuaded within himself that he would revolt with all his men to the other party that which hath fixed him said he so long with us was nothing but a desire to revenge the murther of his brother the Agent and now since that is over and the late Ordinances repealed and a general Pardon given for all Crimes past there is no doubt but he will pass over to the King's party with whom all his Kindred and Relations are engaged and are men of quality and eminent in their Offices nor can he forget how without any fault the halter was about his neck and the sentence ready to be executed John de Acosta was of the same mind and earnestly persuaded Piçarro not to send him upon which the design was altered and Acosta was sent in his place with the three hundred men formerly ordered for Licenciado Carvajal but when Acosta was on his march he observed a kind of backwardness in some of his Souldiers and an inclination to revolt unto the other party the which was verified by the flight of twelve Souldiers men of note and great reputation And some of his friends assured him whether true or false it is not certain that several others had the same intention and that the chief Leader of them was Lorenço Mexia de Figueroa the Conde de Gomera's Son-in-law on which information without farther proof or testimony he put him to death This Gentleman was married to Donna Leonor de Bobadilla the Widow of Nunno Jovar who was Lieutenant General to Governour Hernando de Soto in that enterprize which was designed for the Conquest of Florida as we have at large related in that History he left one Son and a Daughter called Maria Sarmiento who was married in Cozco to Alonso de Loaysa an Inhabitant of that City the very night that they were married happened the insurrection of Francisco Hernandez Giron as we shall relate God willing in its due place The Son was called Gonçalo Mexia de Figueroa a very hopefull youth he went with me to the Grammar School but he died very young to the grief of all those who were acquainted with him But let us leave Acosta upon his march and the others upon the coast to relate the disaster which befell Pedro de Puelles in Quitu for he having received advice that the late Ordinances were repealed and a general Pardon given for all Crimes and Treasons already past he resolved to accept the benefit of that gratious Proclamation and return to his allegiance and duty towards his Majesty and thereby renounce Piçarro and his Cause for whom and for which he had zealously engaged himself in former times To compass the Plot intended Pedro de Puelles made a solemn invitation to all his Souldiers and Captains and then amidst the entertainment he resolved to propose what was fit in order to his Majesty's service and for a motive thereunto he designed to make known to them that a general Pardon was granted and the late Ordinances repealed Pedro de Puelles had in private communicated this his intention to a certain Souldier of note called Diego de Urbina who also entrusted the secret to one Rodrigo de Salaçar a fellow as crooked in his conditions as in his body this Rodrigo esteeming the matter easie and already well prepared to take effect resolved that Pedro de Puelles should not have the honour to himself but that his Majesty and the President should own the signal service of reducing three hundred men to their allegiance solely to his management and valour This purpose of his he made known to four of his friends whose surnames were Bastida Firado Hermosilla and Morillo which were the names by which they were known giving them to understand what the intent of Pedro de Puelles was and therefore to wrest so signal a service out of his hands and appropriate it to their own merit he proposed to kill Pedro de Puelles to which they all assented and agreed as they accordingly did and went next morning being Sonday all five together to the house of Pedro de Puelles and sent him up word that Captain Salazar was come to make him a visit and to attend him to Church to hear Mass. Pedro de Puelles took the visit kindly from them and desired them to walk up into his chamber for he was not as yet out of bed It is reported that four of them entred in and that Rodrigo de Salazar remained at the door to see first how matters succeeded though some say he did goe in but I have heard the story related often in the manner before mentioned These four Villains killed Pedro de Puelles with their Swords and Daggers and then with Rodrigo de Salazar they ran out into the Market-place and declared for the King to which all the City inclined and concurred with the greatest cheerfulness in the World. CHAP. IX A Challenge is sent to Salazar to fight a Duell on occasion of the Murther of Pedro de Puelles Diego de Centeno fights with Pedro Maldonado and enters into Cozco ROdrigo de Salazar and his Complices having performed this Exploit went with all expedition to join with the President Gasca and happily met him in the Valley of Sausa where he received them with all the kindness imaginable and praised them highly for their Loyalty and Demonstrations of Allegiance to his Majesty which he took notice of and should be rewarded in its due season but Diego de Urbina who was a friend to Pedro de Puelles considered that the Discovery he had made of his Friend 's secret was the cause of his unhappy fate and that Rodrigo de Salazar enjoyed all that honour and applause which was justly due to his dead Friend wherefore
the imagination of man had not Alonso de Sanchez given the first light and conjecture to this discovery which Colon so readily improved that in 78 days he made his Voyage to the Isle of Guanatianico though he was detained some days at Gomera to take in Provisions CHAP. II. The derivation of the word Peru and how the Countrey came to be so called SInce we are to treat of the Countrey of Peru it will be requisite to enquire how it came to be so called in regard the Indians have no such word in their language to which end we must know That a certain Gentleman Native of Xerez called Barco Nunnez having in the year 1513 been the first Spaniard who discovered the Sea of Zur or the Pacifick Sea in reward thereof the Kings of Spain honoured him with the title of Admiral of those Seas and with the government of those Kingdoms and Countries which he should farther discover and conquer During those few years he lived after these Honours for his Son-in-law Pedro Arias de Avila being Governour in recompence of all his services cut off his head his great care was to discover and know what that Countrey was called which from Panama runs all along the coast of the Sea of Zur to which purpose he built three or four Vessels and employed them in several quarters to make their discoveries every one of which did afterwards return with relations of great tracts of land running along that coast one of which Vessels stretching farther than the others to the very Equinoctial line and sailing by the shore they espied an Indian as he was fishing at the mouth of a River of which there are many which in that Countrey fall into the Sea so soon as the Spaniards saw him they landed four of their men with all privacy imaginable such as could run and swim well that so he might not be able to escape them either by land or water Having so done they passed with their Ship as near as was possible before the Indian that whilst he amused himself with the strangeness of the object he might more easily be taken by the ambush which was laid for him the Indian beholding so unusual a sight as a Ship swimming with all her Sails on the Sea which he had never before seen or heard of his eyes were so fixed and his imagination so taken up with looking and considering what thing that was which offered it self to his sight that he was not sensible of the snare laid for him untill he found himself taken in the Armes of the Spaniards who with great joy and sport brought him to their Vessel the poor man was so amazed with the surprizal and to see the Spaniards with Beards and in a different habit to his and to find himself in a Ship and under Sails that it is no wonder if he laboured under the greatest consternation imaginable but the Spaniards using all kind means to treat and caress him he in a short time recovered himself from the distraction of his fear and then they asked him by signs and words what Countrey that was and how it was called The Indian by their motion and gestures knew that they asked him some question but could not understand what they demanded but answering readily lest they should doe him some hurt said Beru which was his own proper name and then added Pelu which was as much as to say if you ask me my name I am called Beru but if you ask me of the place where I was it is Pelu for that signifies a River in the Indian language from which time which was in the year 1515 the Spaniards have ever called this great and rich Countrey by the name of Peru other Historians corrupting the letters call it Piru instead of Peru and this place where this Indian was surprized we may certainly denote as the utmost border of that Dominion which was under the Jurisdiction and Conquest of those Kings which were called Incas and which was ever after named Peru from that very place which is over-against Quita to Charcas and is the principal Dominion of the Incas containing 700 Leagues in length although their Empire did reach as far as Chile which contains 500 Leagues more and is another most rich and fertile Kingdom CHAP. III. The Description of Peru with the Story of Peter Serrano THE four limits and borders of that Empire which the Incas possessed before the Spaniards invaded them were these To the North it was bounded with the River Ancarmaya which runs between the Confines of Quita and Passau and signifies in the common language of Peru the Azure River being situated almost perpendicularly under the Equinoctial line to the South its limits are confined by the River Mauli which runs East and West through the Kingdom of Chili before it comes to the Araucos which is 40 degrees of South latitude from the Equinoctial The distance between these two Rivers they account little less than 1300 Leagues by Land. That which is properly called Peru contains 750 Leagues in length reaching from the River Ancarmaya to the Chichas which is the farthermost Province of the Charcas and lyes North and South as also doth that which is called the Kingdom of Chilo which contains about 550 Leagues in length reckoning from the farthest part of the Province Chichas to the River Mauli To the East it is bordered by that Mountain which is inaccessible for men beast or fowls called the Cordillera because it is always covered with Snow and runs from St. Marta to the Straits of Magellan which the Indians call Ritirgu and is as much as the Countrey of Snow To the West it hath the Sea of Zur for its Confines running all along the coast to the Cape Passau which is under the Equinoctial and extends to the Mauli which also falls into the Sea of Zur from the East to the West the Kingdom is esteemed but narrow the broadest place of it being from the Province Mugupapa to the City Trugillo which is situated on the Sea-coast and contains 120 Leagues in breadth being in the narrowest place which is from the Port Arica to the Province called Laricossa about the space of 70 Leagues These are the four bounds of that Dominion which the Incas possessed the History of which we intend by divine assistence for to write But before we proceed forward it will be requisite to recount the Story of Peter Serrano for which we have place sufficient in this short Chapter Peter Serrano escaped from shipwreck by swimming to that desert Island which from him received its name being as he reported about two Leagues in compass and for so much it is laid down in the Waggoner which pricks three little Islands in the Cart with divers shallow places about them so that all Ships keep at a distance from them avoiding them with all possible care and circumspection It was Serrano's misfortune to be lost upon these places and to save
discourse with the Devil imagining that by such submission and resignation of their Persons they obliged their Familiar to hear and answer them And of this Idolatry I can give testimony because I have seen it with my own eyes All the Priests of the Sun in the City of Cozco were of the Bloud-Royal though for the inferiour Officers of it such others were assigned as had gained the privilege of being called Incas Their High Priest was either to be Brother or Uncle to their King or some other of nearest Bloud their Priests used no Vestments different from others In other Provinces those which were Natives or related to the Principal men were made Priests though the Chief Priest amongst them was an Inca that matters might bear some conformity with the Imperial City which rule was also observed in all Offices relating to War and Peace that so the Natives might have their share in the Government and not seem to be slighted or neglected They had also some Houses for Virgins which professed a perpetual Virginity where they ever remained Recluses of which and of the King's Concubines we shall have occasion hereafter to treat more at large All these Laws in Government and Rites in Religion they pretend for the greater authority of them to have received from their first Inca Manco Capac and that where Matters were imperfect it was left to his Successours to establish and complete For as they affirm that these Laws both in Religion and Government were derived from the Sun and inspired by him into his Children the Incas so it is hard to affirm to whom in particular such and such Laws were to be attributed CHAP. V. The Division of the Empire into four Parts and of the Registers kept by the Decurions and what their Office was THE Incas divided their Empire into four Parts which they called Tavantinsuyu and signifies the four Quarters of the Heavens viz. East West North and South The City of Cozco they esteemed the Point and Centre of all and in the Indian Language is as much as the Navel of the Earth for the Countrey of Peru being long and narrow in fashion of a Man's body and that City in the middle it may aptly be termed the Navel of that Empire To the Eastward they called the Countrey Antisuyu from the Province Anti which extends all along that great Mountain which runs through the snowy desert Eastward To the Westward they called the Countrey Cuntisuyu from that small Province which is called Cunti to the Northward lies the Province Chincha and to the Southward the Countrey Colla which extends it self to the Zur In these four Provinces are comprehended many great Countries and amongst the rest the Kingdom of Chile which contains about 600 Leagues in length towards the Zur and is within the Province of Colla and the Kingdom of Quita which is within the Division of Colla runs 400 Leagues to the Northward So that to name those Quarters is as much as to say East and West c. according to which the principal ways leading to the City were so called The Incas laid one method and rule in their Government as the best means to prevent all mischiefs and disorders which was this That of all the people in every place whether more or less a Register should be kept and a Division made of ten and ten over which one of the ten whom they called the Decurion was made Superiour over the other nine then every five Divisions of this nature had a Decurion over them to whom was committed the charge and care of fifty then over the two Divisions of fifty a Superiour Decurion was constituted to supervise a hundred so five Divisions of a hundred had their Captain which commanded five hundred and lastly ten Divisions had their General over a thousand for no Decurion had a greater number to govern or account for the charge of one thousand being esteemed a sufficient care for any that by his Under-Officers would undertake to account for his people and rule them well The Decurions of ten had a double duty incumbent on them one was with diligence and care to succour and sustain those which were under their Division giving an account to his Superiour Officer in case any of them should be in want or necessity of any thing as of Corn to sow or eat or Wool to cloath them or Materials to re-build their houses destroyed by fire or any other accident or should fall into any extremity whatsoever His other duty was to be Censor Morum or Monitor of their actions taking notice and giving information of the faults and irregularities of those under him which he was to report to his Superiour Officer who according to the nature of the Misdemeanour had the power of punishment howsoever the lower Officers had power to chastise the lesser defaults that so for every petty Misdemeanour they needed not to have recourse to the Superiour or General of them all whereby delays in Law-suits were avoided and long processes which tire and consume the people were speedily ended and litigious Causes and vexatious Actions determined without Appeals from one Judge to another and in case of publick differences between two Provinces they were always decided by the definitive sentence of one Justice which the Inca constituted by a special Commission What Officer soever either of higher or lower degree that was negligent or remiss in his duty incurred a penalty agreeable to the nature of his default If he administred not the assistence required or neglected to Indict an Offender though it were but the omission of one day without a lawfull excuse he was not onely liable to answer for his own default but to receive the punishment due to the crime of the Offendour And in regard every one of these Decurions had a Superiour over him who eyed and watched his actions they were all diligent in their duties and impartial in their justice no vagabonds or idle persons durst appear or trespasses were committed for the Accusation was readily brought in and the punishment was rigorous which in many small cases was even capital not so much for the sin it self as for the aggravation thereof being committed against the Word and Command of the Inca whom they respected as a God and though the Plaintiff or the injured person were willing to let fall his Suit and remit the penalty to the Offendour yet the course of the Law will still proceed imposing a punishment agreeable to the quality of the crime either death or stripes or banishment or the like In Families strict severity was observed to keep their Children within the rules of modesty and decent behaviour for there were Laws even against the ill manners of Children for whose miscarriages the Decurion as well as the Father was responsible So that the Children of the Indians who are naturally of a gentle and complying temper are educated in great awe and made modest by the correction and example
redemption and represented by the Indians with gracefull and proper action nor were they altogether strangers to this divertisement because in the times of the Incas they usually represented their own Stories in Dialogues and therefore more easily improved in that Art to which they were formerly inclined by a natural aptitude It is observable how well they Acted a Comedy made by a Jesuit in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary which he wrote in the Tongue Aymara which is different from the Language of Peru the Argument was on those words in the 3 d Chapter of Genesis where it is said I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and that she shall break thy Head c. This was Acted by Children and Young men in the Countrey called Sulli And at Potow they rehearsed a Dialogue which contained all the Particulars of our Faith at which about 12000 Indians were present At Cozco another Dialogue was recited of the Child Jesus at which were all the Nobles and People of the City assembled Another was recited in the City which is called the City of the Kings where the Lord Chancellour and all the Nobility were present together with an innumerable company of Indians the Argument of which was the Most Holy Sacrament composed in Spanish and the General Tongue of Peru which was repeated by the Indian Youth in Dialogues and pronounced with such grace and emphatical expression with such air and handsome gestures intermixed with Songs set to pleasant Tunes that the Spaniards were much contented and pleased to behold them and some shed tears for joy to see the ingenuity and good inclination of those poor Indians that ever after they conceived a better opinion of them considering them not to be blockish rude and filthy but docible gentle and capable of improvement When these Indian Youths desire to commit any thing to memory which is given them in writing they go to those Spaniards who are acquainted with letters desiring them to reade the first lines to them four or five times over untill they have learned them by heart and to fix them better in their memories they repeat every word often to themselves and mark it with Pebbles or little Granes of divers colours of about the bigness of Pease called by them Chuy which serve for helps to their Memories and such industry and care they use till at length they have perfectly overcome the difficulty and learned their part or lesson Those Spaniards to whom the Young Indians have recourse for their Learning how great soever they are do not yet disdain to teach and inform them giving them all the encouragement they are able So that these Indians though naturally dull of invention have yet an aptitude to imitate any thing which is proposed before them John Cuellas a Scholar who was a Native of Medina and Canon of the Cathedral of Cozco who taught the Grammar to the Children which were of Spanish and Indian Parents and to others of best quality in that City can give us the most clear testimony thereof For he was moved to perform this charitable Office at the intreaty and instance of the Scholars whose Masters and Tutours in exchange for better preferments had forsaken their Charge for though every Scholar gave ten pieces of Eight a Month for his Learning yet it was but little in respect of their small number which perhaps were not above 17 or 18 in the whole Town I knew one amongst them who was an Inca called Philip and was Pupil to a rich and honourable Priest named Father Peter Saâ—chez who observing the ingenuity of this Youth took pains to instruct him in his Studies in which he profited so well that he became as good a Grammarian as any that was of the Spanish and Indian Bloud The change of many Masters was a great obstruction to their Learning for every one of them having a different way of Teaching they began not from the rules and principles formerly taught them but made them to begin from their own methods and forget what they had before learned which was a great prejudice to their proceedings untill this good Canon undertook to instruct them in the Latin Grammar which he continued for the space of two years amidst the Tumults and Wars raised between D. Sebastian de Castilla and Francisco Hernandes Giron which were the cause of much bloud fire and destruction and were of that continuance that scarce was one fire extinguished before another flame broke forth At this time this Canon Cuellas observing the great docility of his Scholars and their inclinations to be improved in all Sciences and the want of able and industrious Masters to cultivate the minds of this people would cry out and say Oh Children what pity it is that I do not see a dozen of you Students in the University of Salamanca And indeed this good Canon had reason so to say because his attendance at the Choire took him off from the employment of Teaching his Scholars with such sedulity as to make them perfect in the Latin Tongue Howsoever the little improvements they made were good evidences of their natural wit and understanding which now in these days praised be God is much advanced by that abundance of Learning and light of Sciences which the Jesuits have introduced amongst them And so much shall suffice to have discoursed on this subject it being now time to return to the History of the Succession of the Incas and of their Conquests and great Actions Royal Commentaries BOOK III. CHAP. I. Mayta Capac the fourth Inca gains Tiahuanacu and what sort of Buildings were found there THE Inca Mayta Capac having performed the Ceremonies due to the Obsequies of his dead Father resolved to visit the remote parts of his Dominions and though he had already in the time of his Father travelled those Countries yet being then in his Minority and under the Tuition of his Parents and Counsellours he had not the opportunity to demonstrate the Excellency of his Vertues nor yet to be observed by his people as he was now being an absolute Prince Wherefore after the example of his Ancestours he honoured and satisfied the several Provinces of his Kingdom with the lustre of his Presence giving such testimonies of liberality courage and generous disposition to his Curacas and all other his Subjects that they remained with great admiration of his Royal Vertues and Abilities of mind Having accomplished this Visitation he re-assumed the design of enlarging his Dominions after the example of his Ancestours covering his ambition and covetousness under the specious pretence of reclaiming the Nations from their barbarity and vain superstitions to a more civilized life and to the true and religious worship and adoration of the Sun Accordingly he raised an Army and in the Spring following he began his march with twelve thousand Men under the Command of four Generals and their Inferiour Officers taking his way as far as that place where the Lake
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
of the Sun and after these two Offices were performed he departed from the City to see his Father who all this while conserved himself within the Straits of Muyna and in the same place where he had formerly left him The Inca Yahuar-Huacac received the Prince his Sun with all the expressions of joy and contentment imaginable congratulating his Success and victorious Archievements but yet his Countenance appeared so melancholy and reserved that he seemed thereby to testifie more of Emulation and Envy than of real Satisfaction for the shame and confusion he conceived in seeing his Son victorious seemed to upbraid his Cowardise nor can it well be determined whether the Envy of his Son's Honour or the sense he had for basely forsaking the Temple of the Sun or the fear of being deposed for his mean and pusillanimous Behaviour was most prevalent in his confused mind But certain it is that at this publick interview few words passed between them what afterwards happened in private is not certainly known but it is believed by the Indians that the whole Discourse was in reference to the Government which of the two should reign and which appeared by the sequel it being resolved between them that the Father having forsaken and abandoned the City was no more worthy to return unto it For Ambition and desire of Government is so prevalent in the minds of Princes that they are willing to take any pretext to cover their aspiring thoughts and indeed this imputation of Cowardise seemed the more plausible reason in that it was seconded by the suffrages of the people and the consent of the Court to which the Father condescended being constrained thereunto by force and by an abhorrence the naturally had to War especially to Civil Dissentions Upon which agreement the draught of a Palace was immediately designed and intended to be built between the Straits of Muyna and Quespicancha where was an excellent Air and pleasant Situation and easily improveable by Gardens and Orchards and all the Divertisements of Hunting Fishing and other Royal Pastimes being much advantaged therein by the benefit of the River Yucay into which many Streams and Brooks fall on the East-quarter of the House The Foundation of this House being laid some ruines of which do to this day remain the Prince returned to Cozco where he changed his yellow for the crimson Wreath and yet was contented that his Father should still conserve his Royalty in the colour of his Ribbon on condition that he renounced the substantial parts of Government for proud and ambitious Men can endure punctilio's and immaterial circumstances in others whilst Power and Greatness is reserved for themselves This Fabrick being completed it was furnished with all things necessary and such attendance allowed as was agreeable to the State and Magnificence of a King so that Yahuar-huacac found no difference in his living unless it were in being freed and eased from the Burthen of Government In this solitary manner this poor King passed the remainder of his unhappy days deposed from his Kingdom and confined to the Countrey having exchanged his condition with his Son who now lived and governed in the City whilst the Father lived an Exile in the fields having his Conversation with Beasts rather than Men. This unhappy Fortune as the Indians believe was the effect of that direfull Omen of weeping bloud but yet in their political reflexions on some passages they concluded that in case the Inca in the time of the obstinacy and perverseness of his Son had instead of a confinement to a Countrey Life given him a small Dose of that Poison which was in practice amongst the Tyrants and Magicians of that Empire he might easily have diverted that sad Fate which his Tears of Bloud portended But others better inclined to speak favourably of the Prince for though they could not wholly acquit him of Crime towards his Father yet they moderated it in some manner by alledging that his Father's Fate might have been worse in case his Enemies had prevailed for having forsaken the Protection of his City and Empire out of mere Cowardise it was some Happiness to have his Defaults repaired by the Valour of his Son under whom the Succession was secured and his own Life spared and defended Others speaking of the general Praise of their Kings said to this effect That this unhappy Inca had no thought or imagination of Poison for that all other his Predecessors having made it their business to prohibit the practice of it and destroy the use of it in the World he himself was ready to have checked any such motion within his own Mind in case either his Thoughts or persuasion of others had suggested such a remedy to him Others herein applauded the Religion and Generosity of the Incas who scorned to act that which their own Decrees had made unlawfull it being unseemly and beneath the Dignity of the Sun's Race to allow that in themselves which they had made illegal in their Subjects Many such Discourses and Reflexions passed on this matter according to every Man 's particular fancy and opinion with which we shall conclude our History of Yahuar-Huacac and not farther mention other particulars of his Life leaving him at his Countrey retirement to die with obscurity CHAP. XXI Of the word Viracocha and why they called the Spaniards by that Name BUT to return now to the Prince to whom they gave the Name of Viracocha by reason that the Vision which appeared to him in a Dream so called himself And in regard this Phantafm was described by the Prince to appear with a long Beard and Garments trailing on the ground which was a much different habit to the fashion of the Indians who naturally have little Hair in their Faces and by custome wear Coats not reaching farther than their knees so soon as they had a sight of the first Spaniards that invaded Peru and observed their long Beards and Garments which clothed all parts of their Bodies and that their first Action was to take and kill Atahualpa their Tyrant King who not long before had murthered Huascar the lawfull Heir and Successour and destroyed all those of the Royal Bloud which might endanger his Title to the Government without any regard to Age or Sex with many other Cruelties which we shall recount in their due place When I say they observed that the Spaniards revenged the Bloud of their Incas and punished the enormous Crimes they called to mind the Apparition Viracocha and comparing the punishment which he executed on the Chancas for their rebellion with the Justice which the Spaniards performed on Atahualpa in revenge of the Murthers he committed on the Royal Family they presently concluded that the God Viracocha was the Parent of the Spaniards for which reason they received and welcomed them to their Countrey and worshipped and adored them with the Name of Viracocha and hence it was that the Conquest of Peru became so easie that six Spaniards onely of
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
or precedent of so much cruelty unless it were in the case of the Chancas which happened in the Reign of the Inca Viracocha Perhaps the matter being well considered it might be a fore-runner of that grand rebellion and defection which was the destruction of the Empire and ruine of the Bloud-Royal as we shall now see in the sequel of this History CHAP. XII Huayna Capac makes his Son Atahualpa King of Quitu THE Inca Huayna Capac as we have before noted had by the Daughter of the King of Quitu who was Heir to that Kingdom a Son named Atahualpa who was a person of great understanding and of a quick wit and apprehension he was also of a subtile jealous and cautious temper naturally courageous and addicted to War of a good shape and gentile body with a pleasant Air in his mouth as have commonly all the Incas and Pallas which are Ladies These Endowments of mind and body were so pleasing to his Father that he loved him entirely and would have him always in company with him and would have made him his sole Heir and Successour to his Empire but that he could not disinherit his Eldest Son Huascar who claimed by Right of Primogeniture a title to all the Estate and Empire of his Father Howsoever as to the Kingdom of Quitu there seemed some colour of justice to dismember it from the Empire and confer it in right of his Mother on her Son Atahualpa the which being the desire and intention of Huayna Capac he sent for the Prince Huascar then at Cozco to come to him and in a full Assembly of his Captains and Curacas spake to his legitimate Son and Heir in this manner It is well known Prince that according to the ancient Custome and Canon of our Ancestours derived to us from our first Father Manco Capac this Kingdom of Quitu belongs to your Crown and Inheritance having ever been maintained for a rule unto this day that whatsoever Kingdoms or Provinces have been conquered have ever been annexed to the Imperial Crown of which Cozco is the chief City and Metropolis But in regard I bear so tender an affection towards your Brother Atahualpa that it would grieve me much to see him poor I could therefore wish you would consent to part with the Kingdom of Quitu that so I might bestow it upon him for though the Inheritance in right be yours yet considering that that Kingdom was the Patrimony of his Fathers and came by his Mother and that I have added many Countries and Provinces to your Patrimony you may the more easily condescend to my desires in this and so yielding Quitu to your Brother whose Vertues deserve a Royal condition your interest will be fortified and strengthened by the assistence of such an Associate who being endeared the more by this obligation will be able to recompence the favour and serve yoâ—â— in the Wars for the Conquest of many other Countries which are adjacent to your Frontiers and pay you for the release of this Kingdom by the acquisition of many more which if you think fit to grant I shall then depart with contentment out of this World when I go to rest with our Father the Sun. The Prince Huascar answered his Father with a chearfull frankness telling him that he was over-joyed of this opportunity wherein he might demonstrate his readiness to obey his Father the Inca in any thing which he might esteem for his service and that if it were necessary for the better accommodation of his Brother Atahualpa that he should release other Provinces provided it may be to give his Father satisfaction he would esteeming nothing so dear and valuable as his pleasure and contentment Huayma Capac having received this obliging Answer from his Son Huascar gave him leave to return to Cozco and then contrived the ways in what manner to settle his Son Atahualpa in the Kingdom of Quitu adding other Provinces to his Crown and Dignity he also bestowed upon him several of his Captains of best experience and furnished him with part of his Army and in short omitted nothing to render him great though it were to the prejudice of the Prince to whose right the whole Succession and Inheritance appertained And being a most tender and indulgent Father and passionate in the love of this Son he designed to be an Assistant to him in the Administration of all the affairs of his Kingdom during the time of his life the which resolution was taken both out of care and favour to his Son that so he might lay a good foundation to his Kingdom and also that he might the better keep the new Conquests lately made upon the Sea-coast and Inland Countries in subjection for the people there being warlike barbarous and bestial were ready upon all occasions to rebell and rise in Arms against the Government of the Inca For securing of which Peace it was the custome and practice of the Incas to transplant the people from one Province to another which was an approved course to make them quiet and peaceable and much more observant and submissive to their Kings as we have at large discoursed in those places where we have treated of Colonies called by them Mitmac CHAP. XIII Of the two famous and great Roads in Peru. IT were but justice to the Life and Memory of Huayna Capac if we mention those two great Roads which run North and South through the whole Kingdom of Peru because the making of them is attributed unto him One of them passes along by the Sea-coast and the other over the Mountains to the Inland Countries which Historians describe with high Enlargements though in reality the work exceeds the common fame And in regard I cannot pretend to lay them down with such exactness as some have done I shall therefore refer my self to their Relations and begin with Augustin Carate who in the 13th Chapter of his first Book speaking of the Original of the Incas hath these words In a due and orderly succession of these Incas there was one called Guaynacava which signifies a rich young Man who came to the Government and encreased and greatly enlarged his Dominions his business being chiefly to advance Justice and Reason he so far prevailed on the uncultivated understandings of that barbarous people that he seemed to have worked Miracles in political conversation having reduced them without the help of letters to Obedience and Rule and gained so far on the affection of his Vassals that for his service they readily applied their hands and their hearts to make and open a large Road in Peru which was so famous that we cannot in justice omit to mention and describe it in regard that amongst the seven Wonders of the World there was none made at greater expence and labour than this When this Guaynacava marched with his Army from Cozco to conquer the Province of Quitu which are about five hundred Leagues distant one from the other he suffered many
merchandise of those Grapes he might have sold them for four or five thousand Ducats For my part I did partake of those Grapes for my Father having made me the Messenger to carry them attended with two Pages I delivered to every principal House two large bunches of them CHAP. XXVI Of Wine and of the first Man that made it in Cozco and of the value of it ON the 21st of January 1570. being upon my departure for Spain I passed through the Plantation of Peter Lopez de Caçalla a Native of Llerena a place not far distant from Cozco he had been Secretary to the President of Gasca otherwise called Marcahuasi about nine Leagues from the City and there I met with a Portugal called Alfonso Vaez who was a great Husbandman and skilfull in Agriculture and a very honest Man he shewed me all his Ground and Plantations which were full of most rare and excellent Grapes but would not suffer me to gather one bunch of them which would have been very acceptable to a Traveller as I was and to one who loved them so well but he was not pleased to shew me so much kindness which when he perceived that I took notice of he told me plainly that I ought to pardon that piece of discourtesie for that his Master had encharged him not to meddle with so much as one Grape because he intended to make Wine of them as he afterwards did pressing them in a trough because he had no other convenience wherewith to tread or press them out and as a School-fellow of mine told me afterwards in Spain that this Peter Lopez de Caracalla resolved to gain the Jewel which Charles the 5th commanded to be given to the first Spaniard who from any of the Spanish Plantations should produce or be able to shew a certain quantity of Wheat Barley Wine or Oil the which this great Emperour and other Princes of glorious memory were pleased to hold forth as an encouragement to those who should well manure their Land that it might produce the Fruits of Spain which did not originally belong to that Countrey The quantity of Wheat or Barley which was required was about a Seame and of Wine and Oil about a hundred Weight of each which is four Arrobas of Spanish Measure and the Reward was to be of two pieces of Plate to the value of three hundred Ducats a piece the gain and lucre of which was not the chief motive that induced Pedro de Lopez de Caçalla to be thus industrious in his Plantations but rather the Glory and Honour he conceived of being renowned to posterity for being the first who made Wine from his own Vineyards near Cozco and thus much shall serve as to the first Wines which were made in my Countrey for other Cities of Peru such as Huamanca and Arequepa had them long before but they were a sweet sort of Haloca or Muscatel Wines Discoursing once in Cordova with a Canon or Prebend of Peru concerning these matters which we now relate he told me that he was acquainted in the Kingdom of Quitu with a certain Spaniard who was a very curious Person and one very skilfull in Husbandry especially in the manuring of Vineyards for he was the first that brought Vines from Rimac to Quitu and had planted a spatious Vineyard along the Banks of the River Mira which being under the Equinoctial Line is extremely hot and for the greater curiosity he shewed me twelve several Apartments one of which he pruned every month in the year and by that means had always fresh and ripe Grapes through all the months of the year In all parts of Peru they water their Vines because the Countrey is very hot and the Weather always of the same temperature so that when they would have their Vines produce their Fruit they afford them Water and vvhen not and that they vvould have the Sap fall to the root they vvith-hold the Water and aftervvards having cast their Leaves and again pruned them they open the Water-banks vvith vvhich the root being refreshed they spring and bud and produce their Fruit In the same manner it passes in some Vallies vvith the Mayz vvhere one surrovv is nevvly sovved vvhen another is half a foot high in grovvth and another is in the ear and ready to be reaped all vvhich is effected by the natural situation of the Climate vvhich makes no difference of Seasons and is indeed the effect of Nature rather than of Curiosity or any other good Husbandry In the Year 1560. vvhich vvas about the time that I departed from Cozco and some vvhile after it vvas not the custome to afford Wine at the Table upon any invitation of the Neighbours vvho vvere such as vvere Masters of Indians and common Guests unless one or so might require it for the sake of his Health being accounted a point of Luxury and Vice for any one to drink it for other cause than for necessity For vvhen the Spaniards laid their first foundations of this Empire they acted it vvith great sobriety and having began vvith hardship and temperance they easily continued a moderate and frugal Table so that their Guests vvhen invited vvould refuse Wine though it vvere offered them for they knew the price to be very dear being vvorth vvhen cheapest at least thirty Ducats the Arrove vvhich is but tvventy five pounds vveight and continued at the same price untill after the Wars of Francisco Hernandez Giron In the time of Gonçalo Piçarro and before it vvas vvorth from three hundred to five hundred Ducats the Arrove and in the Years 1554. and 55. the Vintage so generally failed through the vvhole Kingdom and such scarcity there vvas of it in the City of los Reyes that there vvas scarce sufficient for the Sacrament vvhich is celebrated in the Mass vvherefore the Archbishop D. Jeronimo de Loaysa ordered that half a Butt of Wine vvhich vvas found in a House should be conserved for the use and service of the Masses In such scarcity and want of Wine they remained for several Days and Months untill a ship arrived in that Port belonging to two Merchants of my acquaintance whom out of respect to their Noble Families I forbear to name importing two thousand Barrels of Wine part of which they sold at first for three hundred and sixty Ducats the Barrel and the latter parcel for no less than two hundred This account I received from a Master of one of the Vessels on which I embarked in my Voyage from los Royes to Panama for which reasons Wine is not commonly drank On a certain day a Gentleman who was Master of Indians invited another to dine with him who was Master of none and being in cheerfull conversation with five or six Spaniards more he desired a cup of Water to drink upon which the Master of the House sent him Wine but he refusing it said that he drank no Wine whereupon the Master replied that if it were so he should desire his
hundred thousand Franks and yet in the Year 1574. when Charles the 9th dyed the same Revenue was improved to fourteen Millions and the like proportion of increase was advanced in all other Kingdoms and Governments which Examples serve sufficiently to demonstrate in what manner all the World hath been enriched by the Treasures of Peru. And in regard that Our Spain hath been especially obliged to that Countrey by the vast effluxes of its Wealth from thence vve need not seek or borrovv proofs hereof from other Countries but onely consider our ovvn nor need vve to look many Ages back but onely from the time of King Ferdinand surnamed the Saint vvho regained Cordova and Seville of vvhom the General History of Spain written by Don Alonso the wise makes mention and tells us that Don Alonso the 9th King of Leon who was Father of King Fernand the Saint made War upon him and that his Son wrote him word that as an obedient Child he was resolved never to resist him and that he would gladly appease his Anger with any satisfaction that he should require of him to which Don Alonso replied That he required of him the payment of ten thousand Maravedis which he owed him which when he had performed he would then cease his Wars and enter into Amity with him The whole Copy of the Letter written at large we have omitted to recite for brevity sake onely we have thought fit to repeat the Answer which was wrote in this manner That the cause of his War was for the recovery of ten thousand Maravedis which the King Don Enriquez owed for the high way which he had made to Santivannez de la Mota and that paying this Money the Quarrel should end whereupon the King Fernando not being willing to wage War with his Father for ten thousand Maravedis presently made him satisfaction the which is related in the general Chronicle of Spain and in the particular Life of King Fernando About the same time a certain Knight who wore the red Cross as a badge of his Pilgrimage unto the Holy Land named Ruy Dias began to commit many insolences before his departure for which Offences divers complaints coming against him he was cited to appear before the Courts of Justice to make answer to those Accusations which were laid against him upon which summons Dias making his appearance at Villadolid where the Court then resided but being informed of the many complaints which were there formed against him he in a rage and fury departed thence without giving any Answer thereunto At which the King Fernando being highly displeased immediately by process of Law banished him the Countrey howsoever Dias maintained himself within his Castles and Fortresses untill such time that by Agreement with the King to pay him fourteen thousand Maravedis all matters were compounded and the Fortresses were consigned into the hands of the noble King Don Fernando The same History also makes mention of this following passage namely That when King Fernando had possession of one part onely and not of the entire Kingdom of Leon he left Mansilla and went to Leon which was the principal City of that Countrey where he was received with great joy and magnificent entertainment and there crowned King of Leon by the Bishop of that City and being in the presence of all the Nobles and Citizens seated in the Regal Throne Te Deum was solemnly sung with the common satisfaction and rejoycing of the people and from that time he had the Title of King of Castile and Leon both which Kingdoms were his lawfull Inheritance descended to him from Father and Mother for these two Kingdoms had formerly been divided and bestowed by the Emperour to his two Sons that is Castile to D. Sancho and Leon to Fernando and afterwards came to be again united together in the Noble Person of Don Fernando the third After this the Queen Teresa the Mother of Tancha and Dulce the Sisters of D. Fernando seeing that her Son was become Master of the whole Kingdom and that she was not able to make farther resistence against him she dispatched an Ambassadour to D. Fernando demanding some share and convenient subsistence which being granted was much displeasing to some degenerate Spirits who were in hopes of making a benefit to themselves by the Wars between Castile and Leon of which Embassy the Noble Lady Berengaria Mother of Fernando being informed she laboured much to bring matters to an accommodation being very apprehensive of the many Troubles and infinite Ruines which are caused by a Civil and intestine War and for that reason labouring on both sides she at length produced a Peace between her Son the King Fernando and his Sisters the Ladies Sancha and Dulce and prevailed with the King to stay at Leon whilst she made a visit to the Queen Teresa and her Daughters then residing at Valentia And then it was that Berengaria prevailed with Teresa and her Daughters to quit all their Title and Interest to the Kingdom of Leon in consideration of which King Fernando did oblige himself to give a yearly Annuity to each of these Sisters of thirty thousand Maravedis of Gold. To confirm this Agreement the King came to Benevente where he met his Sisters and there signed and sealed a Writing to them to pay them the thirty thousand Maravedis of Annuity making them Assignment on the places where to receive their Money which was afterwards the Foundation of a happy Peace After this King Fernando being married to Queen Joan he went in Progress to visit several parts of his Kingdom and being at Toledo he understood that Cordova and other remote Cities of his Kingdom were in great penury and distress for want of Provisions for supply of which he sent them twenty five thousand Maravedis to Cordova and the like sum to other Garrisons All which small sums are particularly recorded in the Chronicles which write of the Life of Don Fernando the Saint CHAP. IV. The Authour proceeds in his Discourse concerning the small quantity of Money which was in ancient days and how much there is now in these THE which Treatise being of the same nature with the preceding Chapter to avoid tediousness to the Reader we have thought fit to omit And so proceed unto the next Chapter CHAP. V. Shewing how little the Conquest of the new World cost unto the Kings of Castile BEing come now to our ultimate Argument to prove the small quantity of Money which was then in Spain before the time that the Conquest of my Countrey was effected we cannot give a more pregnant instance than by demonstrating how little the most rich Empire of Peru and all the new World not before known cost the Kings of Castile Francis Lopez in his General History of the Indies having recounted many remarkable passages we shall faithfully recite such of them as are most pertinent to our purpose as namely That Christopher Columbus treated with Henry the 7th King of England about
expressed by the chearfulness of his Countenance his Words and Gestures And at last turning to his own People he said to the same purpose as Atahualpa had done when he first saw Hernando Piçarro and Hernando de Soto These Men said he are the true Sons of our God Viracocha for so they resemble him in their Behaviour in their Beards and Habits and therefore do justly challenge all Duty and Service from us according to the Commands enjoined us by our Father Huayna Capac as appears by his last Will and Testament CHAP. XII The Inca demands Restitution of his Empire and what Answer was returned to him thereupon THese Discourses being ended the Spaniards mounted on Horseback and the Inca into his Chair then the Governour took the Left hand of the Inca and his Brothers and the other Captains and Souldiers marched in the front each Company by it self one Company was commanded to bring up the Rere and a Guard of twenty four foot-Souldiers were ordered to attend and march by the Chair of the Inca. Thus when the Indians found themselves to join in one Body with the Spaniards they were highly pleased to be so honoured and esteemed worthy to associate and to join company with those whom they adored for Gods. In this order they entred into the City with great Joy and Triumph the Inhabitants going forth to meet them with Dances and Songs composed in Praise of the Viracochas for the poor people were overjoyed to see their Inca and to understand that the true and lawfull Heir which had escaped from the Tyranny of Atahualpa was now to succeed into the Throne of his Ancestours The Street through which the Inca was to pass was covered with a sort of their Rushes and Canes and some triumphal Arches erected at a certain distance each from the other decked with Flowers after the Fashion which they used at the Triumphs of their Kings The Spaniards conducted the King to one of the Royal Palaces called Cassana situate in the Market-place fronting to the Colosseo belonging to the Jesuites where they left him highly pleased and big with expectation to be restored to his Empire for measuring the good Intentions of the Spaniards by the kind reception which they gave him the Inca and his Attendants were fully persuaded that the days were now returned in which they should enjoy the ancient Peace Quiet and Freedom which flourished in the time of their Incas So soon as the King was settled in his Lodgings the Officers delivered the Presents which they had brought to the Governour and his Viracochas who received them with so many Thanks and kind Words that the Indians were infinitely pleased and overjoyed at the gratefull acceptance of them This was the onely happy day crowned with Honour and Contentment that this poor Inca had ever known in all the course of his former Life for in the time of his Brother Atahualpa he remained under great persecutions flying from place to place in perpetual dread and fear and the remainder of his Days untill the time of his Death admitted of little more Consolation than the former as we shall see hereafter in the Sequel of this Story When the Inca had a little reposed himself in his Lodgings he sent to Francisco Chaves and his Companions letting them know that he was desirous to see and to be acquainted with them on the good report and character he had received from his People concerning them so soon as they were come he embraced them with all demonstration of kindness and having drank with them according to the custome of the Incas he told them besides many other kind expressions that their Actions shewed them to be the true Off-spring of the God Viracocha and Brethren of the Incas because they endeavoured to deliver Atahualpa from Death which worthy Act he would ever acknowledge and recompence desiring them to esteem him for their Brother considering that they were all descended from the same Race and Lineage of the Sun and then he presented them with Vessels of Gold and Silver and pretious Stones which he had brought apart for this Gentleman and his Companions which were taken so kindly that Chaves in the name of the rest returned his Complement and said that they were all Servants of his Highness and would evidence so much when occasion should offer and that what they had endeavoured for his Brother was onely in compliance with their Duty and Obligation and that if he doubted of their Reality they desired him to make a trial of their good-will and services for him Then the Inca embracing them again dismissed them highly satisfied with the Presents he had made them of Jewels and of Gold and Silver Turquoises and Emeralds Two days after his Arrival the Prince Manco Inca proposed to the Governour that he might be restored to his Empiré according to the Articles agreed between the Indians and the Spaniards and that a firm Peace and an Alliance might be made between them That Priests should be sent to preach and propagate the Law of the Christians unto the Indians as the Spaniards had themselves proposed and that for what concerned the Inca to perform he was ready to give his orders that they should be well received and treated with high Veneration and Esteem in all the principal Provinces of the Empire where they would find the People very docible and willing to be instructed in their Faith upon the assurance they had received from their Father Huayna Capac who at the time of his death did attest that the Law of the Christians was better than our own And whereas this their Father had by his last Will and Testament ordained that his People should obey and serve the Spaniards they were ready to comply with his Injunctions therein and to resign so much and what part of the Kingdom they should desire into their Hands To which the Governour returned this Answer That his Highness was welcome to his own Imperial City and that he should rest and take his Repose with quietness and security That he was very well pleased to know his Will and Pleasure that so he might give him a proof of his readiness to comply with his Desires And that as to the Capitulations which were agreed they were so just and reasonable that nothing could be objected against the performance of them After which some Discourse past but very short for want of an Interpreter The next day the Governour holding a Consultation with his Brothers and the rest of the Captains touching the demand which was made by the Inca several opinions arose upon the Debate but it being considered that the possession of the Kingdom had no other meaning than the binding of the Inca's Head with the coloured Wreath the Governour with his Attendants went to the House of the Inca and without farther Preface or long Oration desired him to take immediate possession of his Empire for had he been acquainted with the custome of his
engolfed in these immense Labours It seems that these renowned Persons who were born for great Actions and Aâ—chievements were also destinated to insuperable Difficulties and Misfortunes which pursued them to the ultimate point of their Lives which ended with the grief and compassion of all those who had the Honour of their Acquaintance For so it was that the Marquis having made a Division and shared out the Provinces of the Charcas to the Conquerours of that Kingdom and reformed and setled some things of importance in Cozco which the late Dissentions between his Party and that of Almagro had caused with which having left all things in Peace and Quietness he returned to the City of los Reyes to advance and encourage that new Colony We have mentioned formerly that Almagro the Younger was sent by Hernando Piçarro soon after the Execution of his Father to be kept Prisoner in that place where when the Marquis arrived he discovered that divers of the Almagrian Faction were frequently in company with him whom he fed and maintained out of the Estate which he enjoyed in right of his Father being a large Inheritance and Command over Indians the which Bounty he liberally dispensed to them because that their own Estates were forfeited and confiscated as it were for Treason and for their Loyalty and Affection to Almagro The Marquis who was of a noble and generous Nature endeavoured to gratifie those Gentlemen with Largesses and Summs of Money and to procure for them Offices and Employments in matters of Justice or about the King's Revenue But these Persons expecting that Vengeance and Punishment would befall the Piçarrists for that unjust Death and Bloud of Almagro and for those horrid Cruelties committed at the Battel of Salinas and after it refused all the Offers that were made them of Gratuity and Kindness that so neither their Malice nor Rancour might abate and be mollified which they had conceived against the Marquis and his Adherents nor that it might ever be objected against them that they had received or accepted Gifts from the adverse Party at the same time that they were contriving and plotting against them Thus did the Almagrians succour and assist each other rejecting all subsistence and Kindness from the Piçarrists notwithstanding the urgent and extreme necessities to which they were reduced The which being observed and considered by the Ministers and Counsellours of the Marquis they like ill Instruments advised him that since that party could not be won by fair means to any Terms of Friendship that he should compell them thereunto by want and necessity The Marquis though much against his own nature was persuaded to follow this rigorous and severe Advice of his Ministers and to take away the Estate of Almagro by which all the party had their subsistence so that not finding a support they might be compelled to depart from thence and seek their livelyhood in other Countries But this was much against the humour of the Marquis who naturally abhorred to doe any thing of severity or unkindness whatsoever But this Act instead of mollifying and subjecting the stiff nature of Almagro incensed him to a higher degree of Rage for Tyranny with unjust dealings operate little on the Minds of Men who esteem themselves innocent And so it was with the Almagrians who being reduced to a necessitous condition resolved not to abandon the City but instead thereof dispatched a Narrative in Writing of the state of their case to all places where any of those lived who were inclined and devoted to the Almagrian Party inviting them to repair to the City of los Reyes to abet their Party and to assist them in their pretensions This Faction was then become very considerable for besides those who had been actually engaged in the Battel there were divers other who had taken an Affection to that side as it commonly happens in Civil and intestine Discords Upon these Summons above two hundred Souldiers resorted to the City of Los Reyes from parts above three and four hundred Leagues remote who being joined in such numbers together took the Liberty to talk boldly and in a publick manner to arm themselves for untill then they were not permitted to carry any Weapons living in the nature of Prisoners The gentle Treatment which the Marquis used towards them encouraged them to higher Attempts and to treat of the manner how the Death of Don Diego de Almagro might be revenged by the Bloud of the Marquis for though Hernando Piçarro after his return from Spain was the great Incendiary and the real Authour of all those Evils that had hitherto ensued yet the Revenge for all was to refund on the Head of the Marquis But these private Cabals and Conspiracies were not contrived and carried on so secretly but that they were made known to the Counsellours of the Marquis who instantly urged him to disturb those Meetings and punish the Malecontents by taking off the Heads of the Chief Leaders and by banishment of the others before their Plot was ripe and become too strong to be suppressed Carate in the fourth fifth and sixth Books declares the matter to be thus The Marquis saith he remained so confident and secure being of a Disposition not inclined to Jealousie that in Reply unto what they advised he made Answer that there was no need to fear or apprehend Danger from Men in that poor and forlorn condition who had Difficulties sufficient in contending with Poverty Almagro and his Complices growing more confident by this Inadvertency and Goodness of the Marquis proceeded at length to that degree as to lay aside all respect towards his Person and not so much as to take off their Caps or make any other demonstration of Honour as he passed by them Thus far Carate And indeed such was the Want and Indigency they sustained that Almagro made a Consortship with seven Souldiers who lodged in the same Chamber together amongst which they had but one Cloak and that not new but old and patched with this Worshipfull Garment they took their turns to go abroad the others staying at home whilst the Cloak was employed and till it returned They also made a common Purse putting the Money which they gained at play or otherwise into the hands of John de Rada whom they made their Treasurer and common Steward to buy and dress their Victuals As was their Poverty such was their Boldness and Impudence which presumed on the good Nature and Gentleness of the Marquis so far as to act many shamefull things in affront to his Person amongst which one was this By night they fixed three Ropes on the Pillory which was erected in the Market-place one whereof they stretched and tied to the House of Antonio Picado Secretary to the Marquis another to the Window of Doctour Velazquez Chief Justice and the third to the House of Piçarro himself which was such a piece of Insolence as would have provoked any thing below the Patience of the Marquis
this they were obliged to no other Tribute or Service and of this nature my Father was possessed of three little Villages in the Valley of Cozco and in the parts adjacent the Inhabitants of Cozco held divers such like Cottages obliged to the use and service of the City And where it happened out that the lot fell to any person in places uninhabited they presently sent to the Head-quarters to be supplied with Indians in part of the Tribute due to them and accordingly the same was granted and the Indians which were allotted to them with great chearfulness and contentment followed and observed the imposition of their Masters so that when the President Gasca came and found this particular point so equally disposed and established he approved thereof and made no manner of alteration therein As to the third Precept which retrenched the Bishops Monasteries and Hospitals in those large proportions of services which former Governours had bestowed upon them over Indians It seemed neither injurious nor unreasonable wholly to take them away for that the Intention of the Governours was not to grant them for a longer time than they were impowred by his Majesties Commission which was only for two lives which being expired their right ceased and herein Monasteries Bishopricks and Hospitals though of perpetual durance yet could not pretend to a greater privilege than the Adventurers and Conquerours of those Empires The remaining part of this third and fourth Ordinance we shall declare hereafter in the place where we give a relation of the Complaints which those made who believed themselves injured and damnifyed thereby CHAP. XXI Of the Officers which were sent to Mexico and Peru to put these Laws into Execution And a Description of the Imperial City of Mexico WHen these Laws of the new Establishment came over It was farther ordered that the Court held at Panama should be dissolved and another new one erected in the confines of Guatimala and Nicaragua to which Court the whole Terra Firma or Continent was to be subjected It was farther ordained That another Court of Chancery should be erected in Peru consisting of four Judges and a President to whom the title should be given of Vice-king and Captain General And that a certain person should be sent unto New Spain with a power of Visitation to oversee the Government of the Vice-king and the Proceedings in the Court of Mexico and of the several Bishopricks and to take an account from the Officers of the Royal Revenue and of all the Justices of that Kingdom All which Regulations were issued forth with the aforementioned Ordinances which as formerly declared were fourty in number And whereas there resided in the Court of Spain many Indians from all parts divers Copies of these new Rules were translated sent-over and dispersed which all and every particular person inhabitants of those two Empires took out for his information being of general concernment but so displeasing were these new regulations to the generality of those People that in high discontent they caballed together and held publick meetings to contrive a remedy Some few days after the publication of these Orders his Imperial Majesty nominated Don Francisco Tello de Sandoval a Native of Seville who had been Inquisitor of Toledo to be his Visitor for which Office he judged him the most proper person he could chuse in consideration that he had formerly been a member of the Royal Council of the Indies and a person of great probity and prudence and for that reason was well worthy of the emploiment to see that the new Laws should be put in execution as well in New Spain as in other parts of the Empire and to that purpose that he should visit all places to see them actually performed and put into practice At the same time Blasco Nunnez Vela who was Surveyor General of the Forts of Castile was named President and Vice-king of the Kingdoms and Provinces of Peru concerning which matter Carate in the second Chapter of his fifth Book hath these words following The great experience his Majesty had of this Gentleman whom he had tryed and approved in other Governments of Countries and Cities namely in Malaga and Cuenca and having found that he was a Gentleman of great probity and rectitude executing impartial justice unto all men without respect to persons and that he was ever zealous for the Royal Interest and that with great courage he performed the King's Commands and without failure in any thing his Majesty therefore judged him worthy of this honourable emploiment Thus far are the words of Carate Moreover Don Diego de Cepeda a Native of Tordersillas who had been Judge in the Isles of the Canaries and Don Lison de Texada a Native of Logromo who had been Judge of the Marshal's Court held at Valladolid for deciding points of Honour and Don Alvarez who had been a Pleader or Advocate in the same Court with Don Pedro Ortez de Carate a Native of the City of Ordunna formerly Mayor of Segovla were all four put into Commission and appointed Officers in those parts Moreover Augustine de Carate who had been Secretary of the Privy-Council was appointed Auditor General of all the Accounts of those Kingdoms and Provinces and of that whole Continent To whom and to the persons above-mentioned these Rules and Orders above-mentioned were delivered with Command That so soon as the Courts were setled and established in the City of Los Reyes where his Majesty commanded they should be held the several Laws mentioned in the sequel of the Commissions should be observed and maintained without any violation Thus much is reported by Diego Fernandez in the second Chapter of his Book and the like also is mentioned by Augustine Carate almost in the same termes and that these Laws were issued out and dated in the month of April 1543. And now in the first place we will briefly relate the happy success of these matters in Mexico from whence we will proceed to Peru and there declare the sad and dolefull effects thereof which happened in that Kingdom as well to Spaniards as Indians In the month of November 1543. the Vice-king together with his Judges Ministers and Chief Super-Intendent Don Francisco Tello de Sandoval embarked at San Lucar upon a noble Fleet consisting of about 52 Sail of good and tall Ships and loosing from thence with a prosperous gale arrived in 12 days at the Islands of the Canaries from whence having taken some refreshments they pursued their voyage and then divided their Fleet those for New Spain steering their course to the right-hand and those for Peru unto the left where we will leave our Vice-king in prosecution of his voyage to relate the success of the Visitor or Super-Intendent in the Kingdom of Mexico And passing by the many particulars of his voyage which are mentioned by Diego Fernandez Paletino we shall say in short that in the month of Febr. 1544. he safely arrived in the Port of St. John
Sattin and one of them led the Horse by the Bridle the which was performed with the same solemnity as they used in Castile to receive the person of the King. So soon as the Court was sate they began to treat and enter upon business as well relating to Justice as Government and herein he thought to render himself the more popular by favouring the cause of the poor who generally are more pleased with revolutions and changes than the rich And now the Devil who designed the downfall and ruine of this pernicious and evil Vice-king began to disturb and disquiet all the Countrey which was so lately settled after the troubles of an intestine War the first commotion took its rise from an ill understanding between the Vice-king and the Judges and indeed of all the Kingdom for that the Vice-king resolving to carry on his work in putting the new Laws in execution he little regarded the Petitions and Addresses which were presented to him from the City of Los Reyes of Lima and other smaller Corporations Thus far are the words of Fernandez Palentino in the 10th Chapter of his Book And this Authour farther discoursing of the humour of this Vice-king and the shame the Devil owed him for being the cause of all those Commotions which were raised in the Countrey and also that he was the occasion of that discord which ruines Kingdoms and destroyes Empires and which particularly proceeded not onely to a quarrel between the Vice-king and the Conquerours of that Kingdom but also to such a mortal feud between him and the Judges as was not to be reconciled And indeed herein the Judges had much advantage for that they were men of great temper discreet and unbiassed who foreseeing the many inconveniencies which the rumour onely much more the execution of the new regulations would occasion dissuaded those rash proceedings wherein they were the more positive in consideration that this Kingdom which was scarcely appeased and settled since the late Wars and was still in agitation and commotion would never be able to support such extravagant oppressions which would certainly be the cause of the total ruine and destruction of that Empire These plain representations made to the Vice-king with intention and design onely if it had been possible to attemper his angry and froward disposition served to little purpose and effect for that his humour being wholly bent on his own obstinate resolutions he termed all those who concurred not with him in the same opinion rebellious to the King and enemies to himself And farther to widden these breaches he ordered the Judges to remove from his neighbourhood in the palace and to take other lodgings in other quarters for themselves All which and much more so inflamed the minds of both parties that sharp words and reparties frequently intervened between them Howsoever in regard the Judges for better administration of affairs were obliged to keep fair with the Vice-king they so concealed and dissembled their resentments that their passions were not publickly made known But because the resolution of the Vice-king to put in execution the new Laws became daily more and more apparent and manifest the Discontents and Quarrels arose daily to a higher degree and those who were injured and prejudiced thereby became uneasie and impatient And as Diego Fernandez in his 10th Chapter saith that the Judges considering the obstinate and inflexible humour of the Vice-king on one side to execute the new Regulations of the Emperour to whom by reason of the distance of the place no opportune or seasonable applications could be made for a moderation or redress and that on the other side in case they should condescend to be deprived of their Indians it would be very difficult to recover that vassalage again they were by these difficulties reduced to such a kind of Dilemma that they were all distracted and knew not which way to turn or resolve Nor was the people onely confused and unquieted by these thoughts but even the Vice-king found himself reduced to an inquietude and distraction of mind when he found the people mutinous and turmoiled with a thousand fancies and resolved to sacrifice their lives and fortunes rather than to submit tamely to their own destruction As hereafter we shall find by the success And thus far are the words of Palentino which we have extracted â— verbatim from his own Writings CHAP. VI. The secret quarrel concealed between the Vice-king and the Judges breaks out in publick Prince Manco Inca and the Spaniards who were with him write to the Vice-king NOR did the quarrel between the Vice-king and the Judges contain it self within the limits of private resentments but burst forth into the publick Streets and places of common Meetings the which calling into the mind of the Vice-king that Motto or Sentence which he had read in the Inn of Huaura belonging to Antonio Solar and which he believed was either wrote by himself or by his order for which cause as both Carate and Diego Fernandez report sending for him and discoursing with him in private and having given him some very severe terms and reprehensions he gave order to have the gates of the palace shut and calling his Chaplain to confess him with intent to have him hanged on one of the Pilasters of the Court-yard which leads towards the High-street But Antonio Solar refusing to confess his execution was suspended till such time as that his danger and case was divulged through the whole City upon the rumour of which the Arch-bishop and all the persons of quality came to intercede for a pardon or suspension of Justice and after great intercessions all that they could prevail was for one day's reprieve upon which he was committed to close imprisonment But the fury and impetuosity of this choler passing over he considered that it was not convenient to put him to death but rather to detein him in prison and accordingly he kept him under restraint without process of Law Endictment or any Accusation whatsoever for the space of two months untill such time as the Judges going on a Saturday to visit the prisons were desired by some of the friends of Antonio Solar to make their enquiry concerning the state of his affair with which though they were well enough acquainted before yet for form sake they asked him the cause and crime for which he stood committed to which he replied that he knew not any and then calling for the books of the prison to see what actions or process had been made against him and finding none and that the Keeper of the prison could assign no cause against him the Judges on the Monday following made a Report to the Vice-king that having visited the prison they found that Antonio Solar had been there committed and upon examination of the books no crime or cause was entered against him onely that he was there imprisoned by his order Wherefore in case no crime were laid to his charge his imprisonment was
in brief and imperfectly expressed he was moreover as to his extraction noble in his condition vertuous and generally beloved besides all which had he not been elected and appointed thereunto yet he had a right to this Office in respect to the Title he had of being the Protectour and Defender of all the Indians and Spaniards in that Kingdom Upon these Considerations general Letters were wrote from the Corporations of the four Cities to Gonçalo Piçarro who was then at his Plantation in the Charcas desiring him to come up to Cozco to consider with them what course was to be taken in this Conjuncture for the good and safety of the common welfare and to move him hereunto they acquainted him that he was most concerned of any in this affair for besides the loss of his Indians he was in danger of his Life for that the Vice-king had often said and declared that he could produce a Command from his Majesty to take off his head Piçarro having received these advices gathered what money he could make of his own Estate and of what belonged to his Brother Hernando Piçarro and with ten or twelve Friends in company travelled to Cozco where as Carate saith in the fourth Chapter of his fifth Book the whole City went forth to meet and welcome him being overjoyed at his coming and every day people fled from Los Reyes to the City of Cozco reporting sad stories of the practices of the Vice-king which served to enflame and stir up the minds of the People and Citizens to Sedition Many Meetings and Consultations were now held by the Magistrates of the Town where the Judges were assembled with the generality of the chief Citizens And coming to treat upon the matter how they were to treat and receive the Vice-king when he should come thither some were of opinion that they should not refuse to receive and entertain him but as to the new Statutes and Laws they should not be admitted untill they had by their Messengers represented their Case unto his Majesty and received his farther pleasure thereupon Others were of a contrary sense and said that having once admitted of those Laws and suffered themselves to be deprived of their Indians they should with much difficulty retrieve them again In fine It was agreed and resolved that Gonçalo Piçarro should be the person elected for the City of Cozco and that Diego Centeno who was constituted Plenipotentiary for the City of Plate should delegate his power to Piçarro whereby being authorized and endued with a general and common power from several Cities he might with greater confidence and assurance appear at the City of Los Reyes in presence of the Vice-king But before the matter was concluded there arose many debates upon the point whether Piçarro were to be attended with Souldiers and Guards for his person and after some dispute it was agreed that he ought to be guarded and defended with Souldiers for which many reasons were produced as first that the Vice-king had already beat up his Drums in Los Reyes and had declared that he would march against those who had seized the great Guns and carried them out of the Fort and punish them as Rebels to the King and moreover considering the morose and angry temper of the Vice-king who was inflexible in his humour and resolved never to admit the Addresses of those who petitioned for a suspension of the new Laws which he put in execution without the concurrence and assent of the Officers of the King's Court which was contrary to his Instructions from his Majesty And likewise considering what he had often declared that he had his Majesty's Command to cut off the head of Gonçalo Piçarro as an Actour and evil Instrument in the late unhappy Wars and a Conspiratour in the Murther of Don Diego and therefore they ought to appear open faced and defend themselves with Armes but others who were more moderate men would not allow that a Guard should be granted on the reasons aforesaid but rather on pretence that there was need and occasion thereof to defend the person of Piçarro on the way in his travails to Los Reyes being to pass a dangerous Countrey infested with Wars and Souldiers belonging to the Inca. But others who would speak more plainly and not mince the matter declared openly that the Souldiers were designed to defend their Agent or Messenger from the implacable spirit of the Vice-king who observing no Laws of justice or reason there could be no security for any man to treat with him And as to other proceedings by way of Witnesses and Informations little could be effected having to deal with Proctours and Clerks of his own who would confound all businesses and make them to turn according to his own will and pleasure so that being deprived of all ways of Law and Justice there was no other means left than to have recourse unto Arms and to repell force with force and that a Judge who availed himself on violence and on law was to be set at defiance and openly resisted The matter being thus resolved Gonçalo Piçarro set up his Standard to which the Citizens flocked in great numbers offering both their persons and estates and vowing to dye in maintenance of that quarrel Thus far are the words of Augustine Carate in the fourth Chapter of the fifth Book of his History of Peru. That which now follows are the words of Francis Lopez de Gomara in the 157th Chapter CHAP. VIII The Dissentions and Troubles are increased The four Cities write to Gonçalo Piçarro and elect him to be Procuratour or Agent General of all Peru. He raises men to march with him to the City of Los Reyes GOnçalo Piçarro living quietly and in retirement in the Charcas was so solicited by the constant Letters which came to him from particular persons who had attained to considerable estates that he was at length persuaded after Vaca de Castro was gone to Los Reyes to leave his dwelling and repair to Cozco Many of those who feared a deprivation both of their estates and vassalage of their Indians flocked to him which numbers were increased by many who affected novelty howsoever liberty was pretended and protection from the violent designs of Blasco Nunnez who refused to incline to reason to admit appeals or to hearken unto any addresses so that they were forced to have recourse to Arms and to make choice of Piçarro for their Chief whom they would follow and defend but Piçarro who was desirous to prove them and justifie himself told them that they would doe well to consider first what they did for to oppose the Commands and Ordinances of Regal Power though by way of Petition was to contradict the Authority of the Emperour himself That War was a matter of great moment and not lightly to be undertaken that the management was laborious and painfull and the success doubtfull that he could not gratifie their desires in things which were contrary and in
Chapter of his Book CHAP. XVII The Summons which the Judges sent to Gonçalo Piçarro and the misfortunes which befell those who deserted his Cause A Lvarez having set Sail and at Sea it was reported at Los Reyes that he and the Vice-king were agreed to which they gave the greater credit by some circumstances in his behaviour before he departed and more especially because he did not expect the dispatches which the Judges were preparing and which Carate had purposely delayed with pretence that they should be forwarded the day following This matter much troubled the Judges for that this Alvarez had been the chief promoter and instrument of the Vice-king's imprisonment and had been more concerned therein than any of the others but whilst they were doubtfull of the meaning and intention of Alvarez it was thought fit to send a message to Gonçalo Piçarro giving him information of what had succeeded and to require him by virtue of their Commission from the King whereby they were authorised and impowered to administer Justice and to order and command such things as tended to the peace and welfare of that Countrey that he should immediately disband his Army and repair to the City in regard they had already suspended the execution of the new Laws which was the sum of the Petition for which they came and had sent the Vice-king into Spain which was a point of higher satisfaction than they had demanded or pretended unto before wherefore in regard all matters were appeased they required him to come in a peaceable manner without an Army and in case he should desire to have a Guard for the security of his Person he might if he pleased come attended with fifteen or twenty Horse This command being dispatched away the Judges would have seconded it by some Citizens for the better countenance of the matter but there was none that would accept the Office apprehending some danger might be in it saying that they might be blamed by Gonçalo Piçarro and his Party for taking upon them such a message to them who pretended to come for the security of their Estates against such as in general were enemies to them Hereupon the Judges sent Instructions to Augustine Carate Accountant General of the Kingdom that he together in company with Don Antonio de Ribera an inhabitant of that City should go and signifie these matters for which he was authorised by the Credentials which were given him and accordingly they departed and travelled as far as the Valley of Xauxa where Gonçalo Piçarro was encamped who being already informed of the message which they brought which he knew would be unwelcome to his People for they apprehending that this message was brought with intention to disband them and thereby defeat them of the hopes they had to sack and plunder the City of Lima might probably thereupon fall into a mutiny to prevent which Jeronimo Villegas Captain of Piçarro's own Company was dispeeded away with thirty Musquetiers mounted on Horseback to intercept the messengers in their way and having met them coming they suffered Antonio de Ribera to proceed to the Camp but they stopped Augustine de Carate and took his dispatches from him and returned him back by the same way that he came as far as the Province of Pariacaca where they detained him Prisoner for the space of ten days with terrours and threats unless he desisted from farther prosecution of his Message and in this condition he remained untill such time as Gonçalo Piçarro arrived there with his Camp. Thus far are the words of Carate which are again confirmed by other Authours who proceed and say That those of the Corporation of the City of Los Reyes made choice of Don Antonio de Ribera and Augustine de Carate Accountant General because they were both men acceptable to Gonçalo Piçarro and the least suspected by him for that Don Antonio was as it were his Brother-in-law having married the Widow of Francisco Martin de Alcantara Brother to the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro and Carate was a Person who being a stranger in the Countrey had no engagements or obligations in any part of the Countrey for which cause as we said they suffered Don Antonio to pass by reason of his alliance but the Accountant Carate was stopped by them Thus much is confirmed by Diego Fernandez who adds farther in the twenty fourth Chapter of his Book That at the Council held by Gonçalo Piçarro and his Captains to consider of the Answer which was to be returned to the Message sent by the Judges they onely touched upon one point thereof to which Francisco de Carvajal like a great Officer and Souldier made this reply That whereas the Judges did require that Gonçalo Piçarro should come to them with a Guard onely of fifteen or twenty Horse they understood it to be so many in a Rank to which interpretation all the Captains in the Council agreed and concluded that it was necessary for the welfare of the Publick to create Gonçalo Piçarro chief Governour and in all other things they would comply with the Judges and that in case they should refuse to accept these Proposals they were resolved to put the City to Fire and Sword c. Thus far Diego Fernandez Palentino But now to return to Graviel de Rojas and Garcilasso de la Vega and other Inhabitants and Gentlemen of Cozco who deserted Gonçalo Piçarro and were fled to Arequepa whence not finding passage by Sea they travelled along by the Sea coast and being at length arrived at Los Reyes they found themselves much at a loss for that the Vice-king whose fortune they intended to follow was already taken and embarked by force for Spain and whereas the Judges had a chief hand in this Conspiracy against the Vice-king and thereby seemed rather to incline to the Faction of Gonçalo Piçarro than to Blasco Nunnez Vela they were resolved not to engage with them Though if we impartially consider of these matters we shall find that the intention of the Judges was not as ill Tongues scandalously reported but was to prevent worse and more dangerous consequences proceeding from the Vice-king who was abhorred and hated by all men of Estates and Interest in that Countrey against whom he came chiefly to put the new Laws in execution Howsoever these Gentlemen looking with a prejudicial eye upon those things which the Judges had acted refused to joyn with them whom they esteemed to be favourers of the cause of Piçarro And whereas no Party appeared to set up the Royal interest they knew not unto whom they might adhere for they found themselves in the power of their enemies not being able to escape from them either by Sea or Land for after the Vice-king's imprisonment all the Countrey declared for Piçarro but the greatest number of the contrary party remained in the City of Los Reyes not having any other place whereunto to repair others absconded themselves amongst their Friends and Relations for having been
the mean time Whilst Piçarro was arrived at the top of all his hopes and expected a confirmation in his Government and to be made perpetual Dictatour in that Empire he received Letters from Pedro de Hinojosa his General which gave him advice of the arrival of the President in those parts Piçarro and all his Captains were greatly surprized and troubled at this unexpected News and thereupon with some of the Citizens entred into consultation how and in what manner they were to behave themselves in this business the Debates were many and long and the opinions different to each other but at length they were reduced to two some were of opinion that either publickly or secretly the President was to be killed Others were of opinion that they should invite him to Peru where having discovered all his Papers Instructions and Commission that then they should endeavour to persuade or force him to concur with them and grant whatsoever they desired and in case they could not prevail it was but to put him off then with delays pretending that they had not power to conclude alone without the consent and concurrence of all the other Cities of that Kingdom with that of Los Reyes and in regard the Places and Cities were far distant each from the other there would be good cause of excuse and means to deferr the Assembly for two years And in the mean time the President would be deteined a Prisoner in the Island of Puna under a Guard of faithfull Souldiers who were to be carefull to intercept all Letters which he should write for information of his Majesty by default of which they might still continue under the notion of obedient and loyal Subjects Others were of opinion that the best and most expedite way was to cause him to return again into Spain and to persuade him thereunto with money and provisions for his voyage by which it would appear that they had treated him like a good Servant and Officer of his Majesty These Debates continued with great difference and heat for many days but at length it was by common consent agreed That Messengers should be sent from them to his Majesty to negotiate the Grant of such Particulars as were most conducing to the welfare of that Empire That they should give an account of all things which had been lately transacted and especially to insist in justification of their cause that they were compelled to the engagement of Quitu where the Vice-king was slain and in all their Discourses they were to charge the Vice-king as the Aggressour who had persued them through all places and at length forced them to kill him in their own defence And in fine the Prayer of their Petition was That his Majesty would be pleased to confer the Government of that Empire on Gonçalo Piçarro who by his own bravery and merit of his Relations had gained that Empire to the Crown and that farther he pretended a Title thereunto on the Commission his Majesty had given to his Brother to nominate a Successour thereunto after his death and in the mean time they desired that the President might be ordered to reside in Panama and not to proceed farther into Peru untill his Majesty should give new directions This matter being agreed upon Ambassadours were chosen who were to negotiate those great Points in Spain and to give the better countenance thereunto Don Tray Geronimo de Loaysa Arch-bishop of Los Reyes who was a great Prelate Father and Pastour of that City was entreated to accept of that Charge who being a Person of great esteem and interest in Spain it was presumed that he would be heard with the more favour the like also was desired of the Bishop of Santa Marta and Friar Thomas de St. Martin who was Provincial of the Order of St. Dominick and Lorenço de Aldana and Gomez de Solis were pitched upon to join with them in the Commission Money was ordered for their Voyage sufficient to defray all their charges and particularly it was ordered that Gomez de Solis who was chief Gentleman-usher to Gonçalo Piçarro should have thirty thousand pieces of Eight paid to him apart out of the which he was to give unto Pedro de Hinojosa so much as he judged necessary but as to Lorenço de Aldana he supposed that he had so many endearments towards him on account of his Countrey and mutual friendship which was between them that he did not doubt but that he would prove a faithfull correspondent and with all fidelity advise him of the accidents and successes of his Voyage but more particularly to acquaint him from Panama of the import and contents of the Commission and Instructions which the President had brought with him Accordingly these persons embarked in the month of October 1546. with Title of Ambassadours from the Empire of Peru unto his Majesty in whose Voyage nothing occurred worthy the Relation CHAP. IV. The Ambassadours arrive at Panama and both they and the People of that City revolt from Gonçalo Piçarro and deliver up their Fleet into the power of the President Paniagua comes to Los Reyes SO soon as the Ambassadours arrived at Panama Lorenço de Aldana went to take up his Lodgings with Pedro de Hinojosa and having first burnt the Commission and Instructions which he brought from Gonçalo Piçarro relating to matters which he had to act in Panama and Spain he made his Addresses to the President giving him in few words to understand his intentions and in a short time becoming better acquainted Aldana Hernan Mexia and Pedro de Hinojosa engaged to employ themselves in the Service of the President onely they pretended to make some difficulties for the first three days untill they had well digested their matter and then finding themselves all of an opinion they began to publish their intentions and on the fourth day they and all the Captains went to the President and professed their allegiance to his Majesty and in token thereof delivered up the whole Fleet into his possession and command together with the Arms Ammunition and Appurtenances thereunto belonging engaging upon Oath to doe homage to him and to serve and obey him in whatsoever he should command And in the mean time these Resolutions were kept as a Secret untill it was known how Gonçalo Piçarro received Paniagua and the message which he brought him The principal motives which incited these persons to revolt from Piçarro to the Service of his Majesty were impartially speaking the sense of true allegiance and duty which they owed to his Majesty In the next place it was secretly agreed that so soon as these Commotions were suppressed and the Countrey in peace and quietness that the Army should receive their full arrears of Pay the which was afterwards complied with in a more ample manner than they themselves had proposed of which we shall speak in its due place But nothing more prevailed and facilitated this matter than the Repeal of the late Ordinances and new
warlike people supposing that being then without the limits of Peru they might more easily obtain the benefit of the general Pardon by such new services And in case that Diego Centeno should interrupt them in their passage they then resolved to break through him and either overcome or dye though they knew that he had much the advantage in his numbers And departing from Arequepa with this design they came at length by the usual marches near to Huarina where the way leads to those Mountains Diego Centeno having constant Advices of the motion of Piçarro left his own quarters well fortified and burnt the Bridge which is made over the Channel whereby the Lake of Titicaca empties it self that he might give a stop to the Enemy's passage and trusting much to the courage and resolution of his Souldiers he resolved to engage him if possible in a Battel But Gonçalo Piçarro endeavouring on the contrary to avoid fighting sent a Messenger to Centeno with a Letter putting him in mind of the ancient friendship and confederacy between them when they conquered Collao and the Charcas and the many kindnesses and good offices he had done him both at that time and since and particularly that he had given him his life when he killed Jasper Rodriguez and Philip Gutierez for the very same Plot in which he was concerned for though he was in the List with the other Conspiratours and was well assured that he was one of the principal of them yet he granted him his Pardon against the opinion and sense of all his Friends He farther desired him to recall to mind that he that is Centeno had been one of the first and chief of those who promoted him to the Office of Procuratour-General of that Kingdom that he had followed him under that Character to the City of Los Reyes and had continued with him untill he saw him advanced to the Government of Peru wherefore forgetting all that was past he desired him to enter into a Treaty with him relating to matters which might tend to the common benefit of themselves and of all the Countrey and that he would accord with him in any reasonable Propositions as if he were his own Brother This Letter was sent by a Souldier called Francisco Vosso the Husband of Joanna of Leyton of whom we have formerly made mention who for his relation to Francisco de Carvajal was employed as a person of great trust and faithfulness Augustine Carate in the second Chapter of his seventh Book saith that this Souldier delivered the Letter to Diego Centeno and offered to serve him and at the same time advised him that Diego Alvarez Ensign of his own Company kept a correspondence with Piçarro but Centeno thought not fit to examine the matter or punish the Ensign because he had discovered to him all the particulars and assured him that the correspondence was carried on with design of service unto him Diego Centeno returned an Answer hereunto with great civility giving him to understand that he did gratefully acknowledge the many good offices which he had received from him in return whereof he did heartily advise and intreat him to take into serious consideration the true circumstances of the present Affairs and the gratious Declaration of his Majesty to pardon all past offences And in case therefore that he would come in and return to the Service of his Majesty he would promise to be his Advocate to intercede with the President in his behalf and that he might be confident to obtain all the advantageous and honourable conditions he could desire without hazard of his Life or Estate And he did farther assure him that he would be his Friend and his Associate in all matters whatsoever but those wherein his allegiance and duty towards his Prince were concerned These and the like complements he returned in answer to his Letter Thus far Augustine Carate CHAP. XVII Diego Centeno writes to the President giving him an account of these matters by the same Messenger which Piçarro had sent to him The President comes to Sausa where he meets Francisco Vosso CEnteno being well assured of the good will and affection which Vosso bore to his Majesty's Service by that free manner with which he offered it and by the discovery he made of the correspondence which the Ensign held with Piçarro he thought fit to send the very same Messenger to the President with Letters giving him a relation at large of all which had passed untill that time and how he had so environed Piçarro on all sides that he could not escape from him He acquainted him how strong he was and how weak Piçarro and that he hoped to overcome him without fighting He farther acquainted him with the Message brought to him by Francisco Vosso and for better confirmation he sent him the very Letter Moreover Centeno acquainted Vosso with the answer he had given to Gonçalo Piçarro and told him that he trusted him with that dispatch to carry it unto the President and to bear his charges in so long a Journey he gave him the value of a thousand pieces of Eight in Gold and farther directed him that after he had been a short time at Piçarro's Camp and had delivered his Letters and given a relation of all matters he should then buy the best Mule he could find to carry him with all speed possible to the President and in regard he was well acquainted with the state and condition of both Camps his directions were to inform the President with the circumstances of affairs on both sides in respect to the number of people and the manner how they were armed And because his business was now to act a double part he gave him a Grant in the name of his Majesty of certain Lands or Plantations in Arequepa which were vacant signed by his own hand desiring the President to confirm the same in reward of the Loyalty and Services of Francisco Vosso Accordingly Vosso returning again to Piçarro was ordered by him to acquaint Francisco de Carvajal with all the particulars of what he had seen and heard from Centeno because that Carvajal having been his intimate Friend and Patron he would no doubt freely open himself and declare whatsoever had passed between him and Centeno Carvajal examined him as to all matters and Vosso fully answered and satisfied him in every thing namely who were the Captains both of Horse and Foot and what was the number of his Souldiers and confessed that he had received the information from Centeno himself who was so free with him as to acquaint him with the substance of the Letter which he had wrote to Gonçalo Piçarro in answer of his confirming the same by word of mouth that he would be his Advocate with the President and intercede with him to pardon them both as to Life and Estate and would doe him all other good offices provided he would return to his allegiance and the duty he owed unto the King. Carvajal
see Spaniards inflict a chastisement so infamous as that on their own Nation for though they had seen many of them hanged yet they had seen none whipped untill that time And for the greater disgrace they caused them to ride upon Sheep which are Beasts of burthen in that Countrey and not on Horses or Mules and in that manner take their whipping after which they were condemned to the Gallies At that time the President caused a general Pardon to be proclaimed clearing and acquitting all such from fault and punishment who had come in and revolted to the Royal Standard at the Battel of Sacsahuana and absolved of all Crimes during the Rebellion of Gonçalo Piçarro though they had been guilty of the death of the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez Vela and other Ministers of his Majesty which Pardon did extend onely as to Life and criminal Matters reserving still a right unto the King to fine them as to Goods and to proceed against them in civil Cases for that Carate saith Book 7. Chap. 8. that Gonçalo Piçarro had made satisfaction for them by his own death And now since the Victory was gained and things reduced to peace and quietness the President found himself in much more trouble and with a greater weight of business on his Shoulders than in the time of War for that then the Officers concurred with him to support part of the Burthen but now in Peace he was singly engaged to sustain the Importunities and solicitations of above two thousand men who challenged Pay and Rewards for their past Services in which every one of the meanest sort pretended to so much merit that he thought he deserved the best Plantation in all Peru. And as to those persons who had really been serviceable and usefull to the President in the Wars they became infinitely troublesome and importunate in their Petitions so that the President to ease himself a little of these urgent addresses resolved to take a journey of about twelve leagues to the Valley of Apurimac to have more leisure at that distance to make the Divisions which were required of him and with him he took the Arch-bishop of Los Reyes for his Companion and also Pedro Lopez de Caçalla his Secretary and that he might not be interrupted in this business he commanded that neither Citizen nor Souldier nor any other person whatsoever should attend or follow him to that place Moreover he commanded That no Inhabitant of all Peru should return to his own home untill he had set out and allotted unto every man his Division by which continuance of the people in Cozco he imagined that he should secure the Commonalty from making any Mutinies or Insurrections but his chief design and care was to disperse the Souldiers in divers parts of the Kingdom and to employ them in new Conquests as had been the Maxim and Policy of those who first conquered this Empire but the President being obliged in haste to leave those Kingdoms had not time to disperse his Souldiers as was designed by which means new Troubles arose from Male-contents who thought they had reason to complain CHAP. II. The President having made the several Assignments of Land went privately to the City of Los Reyes And writes a Letter to those for whom no Provisions were made which caused great Disturbances amongst them THE President being retired into the Valley of Apurimac was employed there for the space of three months and more about dividing to every man his proportion of Lands during which time he received Addresses and Petitions from many persons setting forth their services and sufferings of which little or no notice was taken because that the scheme of all matters was already drawn and a repartition of the Lands was resolved upon and made amongst the principal Officers under the command of Pedro de Hinojosa as was capitulated and agreed when the Fleet belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro was surrendred to the President as is confirmed by the Historians of that time The President having made the Division on no better grounds nor with other measures than those which he and the Archbishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa who were both Strangers to the Countrey had contrived he went to the City of Los Reyes and ordered the Arch-bishop within ten or twelve days afterwards to repair to Cozco and then to publish the Distributions which he had gratiously made and in regard some were so unfortunate as to have no provisions made for them he wrote them a consolatory Letter signifying his hearty desires and his real intentions to gratify them as occasion should offer The Letter which he wrote to them was this extracted verbatim from the History of Palentino the Superscription whereof was this To the Right-noble and Right-worshipfull Lords and Gentlemen and Sons of Gentlemen who are Servants to his Majesty in Cozco Right-noble and Right-worshipfull SIRâ—S WHEREAS it often happens that men are so blinded with affection and love to their own Affairs that they oversee all others and cannot make free use of their reason to render thanks to those who have highly merited their gratefull acknowledgments I have resolved to write these lines to you whereby to justifie my self beseeching you to conserve them as a memorial in my behalf and to let them remain with you as a testimony of that esteem which I have already gained with you and which I promise to improve by the services I design for every one of you so long as I shall live in Peru or in any other parts whatsoever But not to insist on any private or particular service which I have rendred to any single person amongst you I shall onely say in general that I have not omitted any thing wherein I might have been instrumental to promote that service For I dare boldly say that in all the Wars made in Peru or out of it 't was never heard or seen that ever such vast charges were made in so short a time and expended on so few people and what Lands were vacant or without Proprietors I have divided amongst you with as much justice and equality as I have been able with consideration both day and night of every man's merit which hath been the measure and standard upon which I have proceeded and which shall ever be my rule so long as I stay in Peru and I shall be carefull to divide and dispense amongst you onely his Majesty's loyal Subjects according to your services and loyalty to the Crown whatsoever remains undisposed with exclusion of all others untill you are fully satisfied And that you may enjoy the sole benefit of this rich Countrey to your selves I will not onely endeavour to banish those out of it who have been actually in rebellion but such also who have stood Neuters and have not acted as you have done and that untill you are fully repaired and made easie in your fortunes I will not suffer any new Guests either out of Spain or the Continent or from Nicaragua Guatimala
desperate and without any hope q. â— Thus far Palentino The President with all speed left the Countrey not to hear and understand the Reproaches and Curses which would be given him and hastned as fast as was possible to Panama nor would he enterâ— into Port by the way to take refreshment having a perfect hatred and abhorrence to the Countrey with him he carried Licenciado Gâ— da prisoner who formerly had been one of his Majesty's Justices in those Kingdoms and Provinces and though the President had a sufficient power to hear and judge his cause yet in regard he had promulgedian-Act of Pardon to all people he was unwilling to call those faults into questionâ— which he had formerly forgiven and therefore remitted his case to the supreme Royal Council of the Indies And being come to Valladolid where the Courâ— then resided his cause was re-assumed and his faults opened with many aggravating circumstances of the Attorney General And though Gepeda in defence to himself alledged that the other Judges and he had acted all things with intention to serve his Majesty and with design to qualifie and abate the fury of seditious and inâ—tinousâ— men whose spirits were heated and put into fermentation by that indiscreet rigour which the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez used in execution of those new Laws which were the cause of all those Troubles which ensued but these Allegations availed little in his favour nor was it possible to prevent the sentence which was passed upon him to dye as a Traytor And though his friends and relations used all the interest they were able to gain his pardon yet seeing they could not avail for his life they then endeavoured to moderate the sentence that he might not dye as a Traytor and so his bloud be attainted to avoid which a contrivance was made with a dose of poison whereby he passed more easily and quietly into the next world before sentence was pronounced formally against him at the Tribunal of Justice All which was the common and publick discourse in Peru and which I heard afterwards confirmed in Spain by some Indians who happened to enter before me into discourse about the death of Licenciado Cepeda And it is farther said of Cepeda that he discoursing after the death of Gonçalo Piçarro of the successes of the late Affairs and of the sentence of death which passed upon himself and that he was condemned as a Traytor to have his Houses demolished and the ground thereof to be sowed with Salt and his Head to be fixed on a Spike of Iron that he should say he would maintain the cause of Gonçalo Piçarro to have been just and legal and that he was no Traytor to his Majesty and that he acted entirely for conservation of the Empire and that if he did not make this good he would pawn his Life and offer his Throat to the Knife provided he might have the Parliament of Paris or the University of Bolonia for his Judges or any other Court of Justice not subjected to the Imperial Dominion Dr. Gonçalo Yllescas in his Pontifical History speaks almost the same thing of Cepeda as before mentioned whose words are as followeth Amongst the many famous and renowned persons who were concerned in the Troubles of Peru there was one Licenciado Cepeda who acted a considerable part he was a Native of Tordesillas and one of the Judges who came over with the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez Vela It were not just to conceal his Name having been very active in his Majesty's service whilst he employed himself in that duty and afterwards being engaged with Gonçalo Piçarro he shared a great part in his illegal practices This Cepeda at the conclusion of all when both Armies were drawn up in the Field to give Battel revolted over to the Imperial Camp with some danger of his life for Piçarro sent to pursue him and he was left for dead upon a wet moorish piece of ground Though Gasca received him then with great signs of affection and good-will yet afterwards he brought him into Spain and caused him to be clapt up in the King's prison and was afterwards arraigned of High-treason Cepeda made so good a defence for himself and with so much reason for he knew very well the manner to defend his Cause that it was generally believed he would have been acquitted with much honour but dying of a sickness in the Prison at Valladolid his Cause was never determined I had once in my possession the reasons he produced in his own defence which indeed are so strong that whosoever reads them must necessarily acquit him and allow him to have been a true and faithfull servant to his Majesty He was more happy in the goods of mind than in those of fortune for though he had amassed vast Riches and acquired great Honours yet I have seen him much afflicted and necessitous in prison Thus far this Doctour who giving also a relation of the death of Count Pedro Navarro one of the most famous Captains of his time says almost the same that we have done of the death of Cepeda viz. That the Officer in whose custody he was being his great Friend did strangle him in prison to prevent an Attainder having gained all the Kingdom of Naples c. Thus fortune produces cases of the like nature over all the World that men comparing the miseries of others with their own may learn to compassionate each others sorrows The President Gasca arrived in fafety at the City of Panama with more than a million and a half of Gold and Silver which he carried into Spain for account of his Majesty besides as much more for private men who were passengers with him At that place a strange accident happened which Historians mention but in regard Augustine de Carate is more particular therein than any other Authour we shall make use of his relation touching the Execution of one of those new Ordinances or Laws which have made such a noise in the World and raised Mutinies and Rebellions in all quarters and therefore we shall in the first place repeat what he says of the beginning of this rebellion and then as to the Proceedings thereof we shall refer our selves to the other Authours as also for the quantities of Gold and Silver which were robbed by the Contreras who if they had contented themselves with the prey they had taken and had known how to secure it they had revenged the injuries they sustained with great advantage but the heat of youth transported them beyond the terms of moderation and being unexperienced in the art of War they lost all again together with their lives all which is specified by Augustine Carate in the seventh Book of his History of Peru Chap. 12. the Title of which is as followeth and which we make the eleventh of these our Commentaries CHAP. XI Of what happened to Hernando and Pedro de Contreras who were at Nicaragua and went in quest and pursuit of the President AT that time
seven years of age and he himself of above seventy by which means both Parties were reconciled and the Souldiers on both sides disappointed and jeared by Martin de Robles who was a witty pleasant man and would neither spare his friend nor his foe to lose his jest and would laugh to think what fools he had made of his friends and foes the Souldiers who were gaping to be employed in these quarrels Palentino speaking of this reconciliation in the Second Part of his Second Book hath these words In fine saith he after many Allegations and Replies and Answers made thereunto it was concluded as an expedient for all that Paulo de Meneses should marry with Donna Maria the Daughter of Martin de Robles though at that time of seven years of age onely and that her Father should oblige him that when she came to accomplish the years of twelve that then he should give to Paulo de Meneses thirty four thousand pieces of Eight for her Portion And with this Agreement Paulo de Meneses and Martin de Robles were reconciled and made perfect good friends which much troubled and disappointed the Souldiers who desired to fish in these muddy waters and to convert these private discords into publick Rebellion whereby every one figured to himself some great advantage and to be made some great Lord or Prince and to enjoy the sweetness of other mens Estates with the substance of what we have said this Authour fills five Chapters wherein is nothing but quarrel and dispute But this marriage lasted not long by reason of the inequality of age for Paulo de Meneses died some few years afterwards before he had consummated the marriage but the young Lady though not as yet twelve years old inherited the Estate and Indians of her Husband and as the Ladies of Don Pedro de Alvarado did use to say she changed her old Kettle for a new one for she married with a young Gentleman of about twenty years of age who was a Kinsman of the same Paulo de Meneses and thereby a kind of restauration or composition was made for that Estate This passage we have inserted a little out of its due place in regard it fell in with other stories of the same nature For not long before this agreement was made the General Pedro de Hinojosa arrived in the Charcas with the Office and charge of Governour and chief Justice of the City of Plate and the Provinces thereunto belonging where he found many of those Souldiers which he expected there who from the hopes they had received from the Promises he had made them in confused and general terms had made their rendezvous there and invited others to the same place and proved very troublesome to him because the Countrey afforded neither convenient quarters nor provisions necessary for them for which reason Hinojosa took occasion to reflect upon Martin de Robles and Paulo de Meneses as if their quarrels had drawn those numbers of Souldiers thither and so told them plainly that since their private disputes had invited such Guests they ought to provide necessaries for them and not suffer them to die with famine to which Martin de Robles made answer that many others were concerned in the encouragement which was given them to come thither and therefore that a general fault ought not to be attributed to them in particular meaning by General himself and that he was the cause of their coming for Martin de Robles was used to speak smartly and often with reflexion as we shall see hereafter Thus did every man make it his business to complain of others and to lay the miscarriages of Government to other mens charge nothing was quiet in the City of Plate or free from malevolent Tongues so that the most sober Inhabitants retired from the precincts of the City and betook themselves to the Countrey or to parts where their Estates lay to free themselves from the insolence and bold practices of the Souldiery who were come at length to that pass as to hold publick Meetings and to own their Cabals and to challenge the General with the word and promise he had given them to be their chief Leader and Commander so soon as he was come to the Charcas and that now they offered themselves being in a readiness to make an Insurrection and would no longer be delayed The General to entertain them with new hopes told them that he shortly expected a Commission from the High Court of Justice to enlarge their Conquests by a War which would afford them a good occasion to rise in Arms under colour of Authority With these and the like vain excuses and pretences he entertained the Souldiery being far from any resolution of compliance with them And though is true that being at Los Reyes he sometimes let fall some dubious expressions in general terms which the Souldiers interpreted for promises yet being now come into his Government and become Master of two hundred thousand pieces of Eight a year he was willing to sit quiet in the enjoyment of that fortune which he had already acquired and not to adventure again by a second Rebellion the loss of those riches which at the cost and ruine of another he had gained by the first The Souldiers observing this indifferency and coldness of the General consulted in what manner to carry on their Rebellion by another hand and accordingly it was agreed to kill Hinojosa and to set up Don Sebastian de Castilla for their Commander in Chief being at that time the most popular man of any the which design was treated so publickly that it was the common discourse of the whole Town and every one talked of it as a Plot ready to be put in execution wherefore several men of Estates and persons who were concerned for the peace and quietness of the Countrey informed the Governour Pedro de Hinojosa thereof and advised him to secure his own person and to drive these people out of the limits of his Jurisdiction before they took away his life and destroyed the Kingdom and particularly one Polo Ondegardo a Lawyer was very urgent with him upon this point and amongst other things told him that in case he would make him his Deputy but for one month he would secure his life to him which was in great danger and free the City from the fears of an Insurrection which these Gentlemen Souldiers were contriving to raise but the Governour reposed that confidence in his Wealth and in the power of his Office and in the Reputation which he had formerly gained that he made no account of what they said nor of what he saw with his own eyes CHAP. XXII The General receives informations of the Plot by divers other ways and means His bravery and courage and neglect to prevent it The Souldiers conspire to kill him THE Souldiers proceeding in their rebellious designs dispersed many Libels abroad some whereof were intimations to Don Sebastian de Castilla and other
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
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
being appointed for the Sea-coast the Royal Army marched to Huamanca on the way whereunto a Souldier of great reputation named John Chacon came to them having been formerly taken by the Rebels in the Rout at Villacori but having the credit and esteem of a good Officer Hernandez was very desirous to oblige him to be his friend and for that reason had given him the command of a Company of Musquetiers but John Chacon being a person of Loyal Principles to his Majesty secretly plotted with other friends to kill the Tyrant but as at that time there was no faith or honesty amongst that sort of People but that they sold and betrayed one the other as they could best make their Market so they discovered to Hernandez the Plot intended against him of which John Chacon having intimation he escaped before they could seize him and ran away in the sight of Hernandez and all his Souldiers howsoever in the way his Life was in great hazard for as we have said before the Indians having received Commands to kill all those who fled from the Battel they had certainly also killed Chacon had it not been for a Carbine he carried with him which he often presented at the Indians and thereby saved his Life howsoever he came wounded to the Royal Camp where he gave a large account of the State of Hernandez and his Forces and of what they intended and designed to act which information the Justices made use of for their better government and with much satisfaction they marched to Huamanca where we will leave them to relate what Francisco Hernandez was doing at the same time CHAP. XX. What Francisco Hernandez acted after the Battel He sends Officers to several parts of the Kingdom to plunder the Cities The quantity of Silver which they robbed from two Citizens at Cozco AFter the Battel Francisco Hernandez remained forty days within his Fortification both to please himself with the thoughts of Victory and to cure those of the King's Party who had received wounds in the Fight whom he caressed and treated as kindly as was possible to oblige them to remain his Friends of which many followed him untill the day of his overthrow during which time he dispatched his Lieutenant-General Alvarado to Cozco in pursuit of those who had escaped out of the Battel and likewise ordered his Serjeant-Major Antonio Carrillo to go to the City of Peace to Cucuito Potocsi and the City of Plate and to travel over all the Provinces to gather what Men Arms and Horses he could find that by such an employment he might divert and recover himself from the melancholy he had conceived for his late shamefull flight out of the Battel of Chuquinca and particularly he charged him to get what Gold and Silver he could find and also the Wine which was hidden for a certain Souldier lately of the Marshal's Army named Francisco Bolonna told him that he knew where a great quantity was concealed to bring which Antonio Carrillo with a party of twenty Souldiers taking Francisco Bolonna together with them was ordered abroad of which twenty Souldiers two onely were belonging to Hernandez and the rest had been the Marshal's men for which reason it was generally suspected and secretly whispered that Hernandez had sent his Serjeant-Major with these men to confound and destroy them and not to the end declared which accordingly happened as we shall see hereafter Likewise John de Piedrahita was sent to the City of Arequepa to provide what Men Horses and Arms he could find and upon this occasion he gave him the Title of his Major-General of the Army of Liberty for so Hernandez styled his Forces calling them Restorers of the People's Liberty And then to Alvarado he named him his Lord Lieutenant that with these swelling Titles these two great Officers might be encouraged with more pride and vain-glory to act the part they had undertaken According to Orders Alvarado went to Cozco in pursuit of those who had fled from the Battel at Chuquinca and the day before he entred into the City seven Souldiers of those formerly belonging to the Marshal came thither the chief of which was called John de Cardona and brought the sad news of the Marshal's defeat to the great grief and amazement of the whole City who could not believe it possible for such a ruinous fellow as Hernandez to gain such a Victory and being now affrighted with the cruelty of this Tyrant they resolved all to fly and abandon the City rather than to fall into his merciless hands Francisco Rodriguez de Villafuerte who was then High Constable gathered what people of the City he could together which with the seven Souldiers that were fled could scarce make up the number of forty men and with these he marched by the way of Collao some of these took up their lodging for the first night about a league and a half from the City of which the High Constable was one but others proceeded three or four leagues farther by which means they preserved themselves for this honest John de Cardona seeing the Constable take up his Quarters so near the Town he stole privately away from them and came to Cozco about midnight where he gave information to Alvarado where Villafuerte and about twenty others with him remained about a league and a half from the Town whereupon he commanded Alonso Gonçalez the Hangman General with a party of twenty men immediately to march forth and take Villafuerte and his Companions which was performed with that diligence that the next morning before eight a Clock Villafuerte and his Companions were all brought back to Cozco and delivered into the hands of the Lord Lieutenant Alvarado who intended to have put Villafuerte and several of those with him to death but in regard no crime could be laid to their charge the intercession of the Friends and Relations of Hernandez Giron in their behalf prevailed for them and obtained their Pardon Amongst the many Evils and Impieties which this Alvarado committed by order and direction of his General in this City of Cozco it was none of the least that in a Sacrilegious manner he robbed the Cathedral Church and the Monasteries of the Bells belonging to them For from the Convent of our Lady of the Merceds they took one of their two Bells from the Dominicans they did the like but from the Convent of St. Francis they took none because they had but one which at the earnest intreaty of the Friers they were perswaded to leave From the Cathedral out of five Bells they took only two and would have taken them all had not the Bishop with his Clergy appeared in their defence and thundered out his Curses and Excommunications against them for the Bells of the Cathedral were very great and had been blessed and consecrated by the Hands of the Bishop with Chrism and holy Oyl Of these four Bells they founded six pieces of Cannon one of which burst upon the tryal and
Church-men and Lawyers of that Kingdom had all generally been of his Opinion In fine he was brought forth to Justice at Noon day and drawn upon a Hurdle fastned to the Tail of a poor lean Jade with the Cryer going before and with a loud voice said This is the Justice which his Majesty and the Right Honourable Don Pedro Portocarrero Major General command to be executed on this Man who hath been a Traytor to the Royal Crown and Dignity and a Disturber of this Kingdom by vertue of which Authority his Head is to be cut off and fixed on the Gallows of this City his Houses are to be demolished and the Ground sowed with Salt and a Pillar of Marble thereon erected declaring the many Crimes of which he was Guilty Howsoever he died in a Christian manner expressing great Sorrow and Repentance for his Sins and the Evils and Mischiefs of which he had been the Author Thus far Palentino with which he Concludes this Chapter In fine Francisco Hernandez ended his Life as we have said his Head was fixed upon an Iron Spike and set on the Gallows on the right hand of that of Gonçalo Piçarro and Francisco de Carvajal his Houses at Cozco where he contrived his Rebellion were not demolished the Rebellion of Hernandez from the time that it first begun to the end thereof and till the day of his Death continued for the space of thirteen Months and some few days It is said that he was the Son of a Knight of the Habit of St. John his Wife afterwards entered her self a Nun in a Convent in the City of Los Reyes where she lived with Religious Devotion But about ten years afterwards a Gentleman called Gomez de Chaues a Native of the City of Rodrigo being much affected with the Vertue Goodness and Devotion of Donna Mencia de Almaraz the Widow of Hernandez desired to perform some Action whereby â—he might please and oblige her and supposing that none could be more acceptable than to take her Husband's Head from the Spike on which it was fixed he with another Friend brought a Ladder by night to the place where the Head was and not distinguishing the Head of Hernandez from those of Piçarro and Carvajal to be sure of the right they took them all three away together and buried them privately in a Convent And though the Justice made diligent enquiry after those who had committed this piece of Robbery yet no discovery was made thereof For in regard the sight of the Head of Piçarro was an Eye-soar to the People to whom his Memory was still grateful Inquisition was not made with such strictness as the Commands of the Officers required This Relation was given me by a Gentlemen who spent several years of his Life in Service of his Majesty in the Empires of Mexico and Peru his Name is Don Lewis de Cannaveral and now lives in the City of Cordoua Howsoever at the beginning of the year 1612 a Frier of the Seraphical Order of St. Francis who was a great Divine and born in Peru called Lewis Geronino de Ore discoursing of these Heads gave me another Relation and told me That in the Convent of St. Francis in the City of Los Reyes five Heads were there deposited he named Piçarro Carvajal and Hernandez Giron but for the other two he could not say whose they were Only that that Religious House kept them there in Deposite without Burial and that he was very desirous to know the Head of Carvajal having been a Man of great Fame and Reputation in that Kingdom I told him that he might have known that by the Inscription engraven on the Iron Grate on which the Head was fixed but he answered that the Heads were taken from the Iron Spike and laid promiscuously together All the difference between these two Relations is that the Friers of the Convent would not bury the Heads for fear of being concerned in the Robbery but only kept them in Deposite or Custody to be forth-coming in case they should be demanded by the course of Justice This Religious Frier travelled from Madrid to Cadiz by Order of his Superiours and Command of the Royal Council of the Indies to dispatch away twenty four Friers and to accompany them himself to the Kingdoms of Florida to preach the Gospel to those Gentiles I cannot say certainly whether he went with them or whether he returned after he had dispatched those Apostles He desired me to give him one of the Books I had wrote of the History of Florida And I presented him with three Copies thereof and four of these our Commentaries with which the Good Father was much pleased which he testified by the many thanks he gave me May his Divine Majesty prosper them in this undertaking to the intent that they may draw those poor Wretches out of the dark abyss of Idolatry to the knowledge and Service of the true God. And here it will not be from our purpose to relate the strange manner of the death of Captain Baltasar Velazquez so that Hernandez Giron may not go to his Grave alone and without some Company It happened some months after the former passages that Baltasar Velazquez residing in the City of Los Reyes and behaving himself like a brave young Captain he had two Imposthumes which broke out near his Groin which he out of bravery neglecting to Cure apply'd things to repel and drive them in not suffering them to operate and break outwardly which had been the only safe remedy but the Corruption festering within caused a Cancer in his Bowels with so much heat that he was almost roasted alive The Physitians not knowing what to apply gave him Vinegar to refresh him which served only to encrease his flame and to burn so violently that no Man was able to hold his Hand within a half yard distance from his Body And thus died this poor Captain leaving many Stories to the World of his brave Actions and Exploits to which a stop was put by a death so violent and miserable as this The Captains and Souldiers who pretended to places and rewards for their past services residing at that time at Cozco no sooner received intelligence of the imprisonment and death of Hernandez Giron than they immediately went to the Justices to demand Rewards for their past Services And being in the City of Los Reyes they with much importunity made their pretensions alledging that by reason of their expences during all the late War they had consumed all their substance and were become so poor that they had not wherewith to support their necessary charges and therefore it was but reason and equity to perform the Promise given them which was that so soon as the Rebbel was subdued they should be gratified in such manner as was equal That now the Rebbel was dead they expected a compliance for they had nothing more remaining than their pay which was little and the arrear as they accounted was very
inconsiderable The Justices made answer That it was not the part of Loyal Subjects to his Majesty to raise a Mutiny on the score of Reward and of Moneys due to them That they and all the World knew that a Vice-king was hourly expected from his Majesty with Commission to govern that Empire That it would be convenient to expect until that time lest his Excellency should be displeased with the Justices and the Souldiers for being Carvers to themselves of their own Wealth and Fortune Wherefore they desired their patience for three or four Months before which time it was impossible but a Vice-King must arive and in case within that time no news came thereof they would then by their own Authority proceed to make a division of Lands to them being very sensible of the want they must have of a subsistance and that in the mean time they were greatly troubled that they could not comply with their desires for the present And therefore since the time was so short they ought to expect the coming of the Vice-King and not suffer their impatience to disoblige him who would be ready to reward their expectation with greater plenty than was in their power and that a precipitation of their desires would cause them to lose that Reward which their Actions and Sufferings had long since deserved With these and such like Discourses the Justices moderated the violence of the Petitioners And it pleased God about six Months afterwards that news came of the coming of a Vice-King for whose reception all things were prepared and in the interim the Pretenders surceased their importunities in expectation of his Excellency who was the first that ever came to Peru with that honourable Character and Title The End of the Seventh Book Royal Commentaries BOOK VIII CHAP. I. How the Indians and Spaniards celebrated the Festival of the most Holy Sacrament at Cozco A relation of a quarrel which the Indians had on that occasion SInce the Method of History requires that every thing should be related in its due time and place we shall here at the beginning of this eight Book describe two particular passages which happened in Cozco after the Wars with Erancisco Hernandez were ended and before the arrival of the Vice-King whose Presence was instantly desired and expected in that Kingdom One of those Matters which according to this rule we are to mention is the pompous and solemn celebration of that Festival which We Catholicks call Corpus Christi performed in the City of Cozco After those Wars were ended which the Devil had raised to obstruct the increase and propagation of the Holy Gospel the last of which was that of Francisco Hernandez Giron and may God in his Mercy grant that it may still be the last and succeeded by no other of that Nature The Solemnity of that Festival is now observed with as much magnificence and perhaps with more than at that time For those Wars were concluded at the end of the year 1554 and we are now in the year 1611 from which time to this present in which we are writing this Chapter fifty seven years have passed of Peace and Tranquility My intention is only to write the Histories of those times and to leave the successes of the present to the labour of other Pens In those days there were about 80 Citizens or men of Estates in Cozco who were all Gentlemen of Noble Rank and Extraction for by the Name of Citizens we understand those who had Lands given them with Indians belonging thereunto subjected to them in vassalage Every one of these Gentlemen with great Curiosity adorned his Chair or Sedan which his Indian Vassals were to carry on the day of Festival the Ornaments thereof were Fringes and Embroideries of Silk and Gold and studded with Emerolds and other Precious Stones therein were placed the Image of our Lord or Lady or some other Saint or Saintess according to the devotion of the Spaniard or Indian whose care it was to dress up the Sedans which were something like those which the Co-fraternities use in Spain upon such Festivals The Caciques who lived in the parts adjacent to the City came thither to bear a part and share in the Solemnity attended with their Kindred and Nobility of their Provinces and attired in all the finery and gallantry with which they used to dress themselves at times of their own most Religious Feasts of which we have given a Narrative in the first part of these Commentaries every Sept or Linage carrying the Ensigns or Signals of their own Race and Families in which they take much pride and shew great ostentation Some of them came in the habit as Hercules is painted with the Lions Skin the Head of which served him for a Cap and this is the most honourable dress for they value themselves very much to be descended from a Lion Others appeared with great Wings extended at a large breadth like to Angels which they took from the Fowle called by them Cuntur which is much in esteem with them and from which they also glory to derive their descent Others were habited in Cloathes painted with Rivers Fountains Lakes Mountains Caves and the like having a Tradition amongst them that their Forefathers had their original from such places Others had strange devises with Gold and Silver and Coronets of Gold Some appeared like Monsters having their Hands like Claws or the Paws of Wild-beasts which they took in hunting Others feigned themselves to be Fools and Idiots endeavouring in all guises to please and divert their Kings and Governours Some would act the part of Riches and Grandure others personated Misery and Poverty and every Province assumed some thing that they thought might administer to divertisement and delight and which might serve to make up the solemnity of the Festival well knowing that variety was pleasing and contributed much to the satisfaction of the Mind By such Scenes and Representations as these with which the Indians did use to celebrate the Feasts of their own Kings did they now though with more ostentation appear and bear a part in shewing honour to the Most Holy Sacrament which is our true God Redeemer and Lord of all the which they performed with such Devotion and Sincerity as plainly demonstrated them to be a People freed from the Superstition and Vanity of their Gentilism The Clergy and Citizens were not wanting also to contribute their part to render this Festival the more great and glorious to which end a Scaffold was erected in the Yard leading to the Church on that side which fronts the Chief Market-place where the Most Holy Sacrament was exposed in a rich Circle of Gold and Silver The Officers of the Church placed themselves on the right-hand and those of the City on the left with them were several of those Incas which remained of the Royal Line to whom they gave a place of Precedence in token that that Empire was their Patrimony The Indians of the several
found very poor and necessitous but he could not bestow on them Lands with vassallage of Indians because the Natives of that Country had been all destroyed but he gave them Money and some Offices of benefit He made a Provision for Pedro de Orsua who was a very Noble Gentleman a great Souldier and Captain in the new Kingdom where he had performed many great exploits and Peopled a City named Pamplona but by the Severity and Injustice of a Judge who seized upon all his Estate Orsua was forced to fly and as John de Castallanos writes to take refuge in Nombre de Dios where the Vice-King Don Andres Hurtado de Mendoça met him and gave him a Commission to seek and suppress the Fugitive Negers called Cimarrones who lived in the Mountaines and robbed and pillaged all Merchants and Travellers who passed those ways murdering and wounding in a manner not sufferable so that there was no passing in less than twenty in a Company The number of these Negers increased daily for when any of them received the least hard word from his Master he presently forsook his Service having so good a Sanctuary and Receptacle to fly unto For this Enterprise and Design and to suppress these Negers Pedro de Orsua raised Men they were called Cimarrones which is a word proper to the Language of the Isle of Barlovento and to these Robbers several of the Souldiers of Hernandez Giron joyned being such as were banished and fled all which or as many of them as were concerned in this matter were pardoned by the Vice-King The Negers finding themselves hardly beset and distressed offered to treat and accept Articles of Accommodation which for quietness sake and for peace were granted to them and accordingly it was concluded That all those who had unto that time fled from their Masters should be Free-men and continue in their state of Freedom but for those who should for the future escape from their Masters the Cimarrones should be obliged to surrender them up again to their Patrons or pay the price demanded for them That a Neger Man or Woman being ill treated by their Master he or they paying the price which he or she or they cost the Master or Masters shall be obliged to set them at liberty That the Negers shall People and Inhabit that Countrey which they at present possess and shall live peaceably as good Common-wealths-men or Natives of the Country and not dispersed within the Mountains as formerly and that they shall have free Trade and Commerce with the Spaniards All which in order to Peace and Quietness was agreed and confirmed on one side and the other and the Negers gave Pledges and Hostages for security of the Peace Their King called Ballano delivered his own Person for a Hostage and his Subjects never redeeming him he was transported into Spain where he died Now in regard a little before the Vice-King began his Voyage a fatal accident happened to a Ship in the Ocean I have thought fit to insert it in this place as not altogether impertinent to this History Jeronimo de Alderete was sent from Chile into Spain on occasion of business in behalf of the Governour Pedro de Valdivia and during his Residence at the Court advice coming of the death of the Governour he Petitioned his Majesty for the place and obtained it And being ready to depart for Chile he took his Sister-in-Law with him an honest Vertuous person and one of those who are called Devout Women and with her he embarked on a Galeon where were 800 Persons and which was Admiral of six other Ships and sailed from Spain two Months before the Vice-King This Religious Woman being very devout desired leave from the Master of the Ship to keep a Candle in her Cabin by Night for reading her office to which the Master condescended considering it was for her Devotion and that she might pray for the whole Ship and also was Daughter-in-Law to the Governour Being at Sea and sailing with a fair wind it happened that a Physitian belonging to another Ship came aboard the Galeon to visit a Friend of his who was there and being old Acquaintance rejoyced to see each other Towards Evening the Physitian desirous to return aboard his own Ship was perswaded by his Friend to stay that Night with him for that the Weather was very fair and likely to continue and so the Boat was towed that night at the Stern of the Ship intending next morning to make use of it and return But it happened that that night this devout Woman being at her Prayers or rather fell asleep in the middle of her Office with her Candle lighted gave a fatal Example and Instance how dangerous it is on any occasion whatsoever to break the Rules and Orders of the Sea which are made for conservation of the Ship and those embarqued thereon one of which is That upon no pretence whatsoever any light shall be continued in the Ship by night unless it be that only which is placed in the Biddacle for the Compass or in the Lanthorn on the Poop For so it was that the Candle taking hold of the Timber of the Ship the flame broke out at the sides before it was discovered and burnt so violently that it was impossible to be quenched which when the Master perceived he ordered the Marriner who was at the Helm to draw up the Boat by the side wherein the Physitian had the day before come aboard and then went to the Governour Alderete and without any noise privately told him the misfortune of the Ship and so he and one of the two Sons he had aboard with the Governour and the Marriner steped into the Boat without calling or crying out to the others lest the People crouding into the Boat and every one endeavouring to save himself they should all be lost In this manner did the Master save his own life and as an expiation of his sin for breaking the Laws of the Sea which ought inviolably to be observed he sacrificed one of his Sons The Fire having such an abundance of matter administred to its nourishment such as Pitch and Tar increased so violently as soon awakened all the People in the Ship and being seen by the other Ships of the Fleet they came as near as they durst and put out their Boats to save as many of those as they could who should throw themselves into the Sea but the Fire coming to the Guns which were all shotted they discharged so fiercely that the Ships were forced for their safety to retire at a distance and suffer all the 800 persons then aboard to perish some being burnt and others drowned who for fear of the flames had thrown themselves into the Sea. The news of which was the occasion of great sorrow and lamentation over all Peru. Jeronimo de Alderete so soon as it was day got aboard one of his Ships and immediately commanded a Flag to be put out on the main
should declare the Message they brought unto his General Accordingly the first day passed in complement the General only bidding them welcome But the next day John Sierra being admitted to Audience he was severely reproved by the General for coming with the attendance of so many Christian Souldiers For which John Sierra excused himself saying That he brought them by the advice and order of the Governour of Cozco and his Aunt Donna Beatriz and then he declared to him the occasion for which he was sent and read to him the Letters from his Mother and the Governour with that also which the Vice-King had wrote to Donna Beatriz John Sierra having thus delivered his Message Betanços and the Frier were also called and admitted to the same place of whom they demanded the same questions to see what difference there was in the proposals which were made The Frier and Betanços produced the Writing of Pardon and declared the substance of the Embassy upon which they were employed and delivered the Present which the Vice-King sent to the Inca of several pieces of Velvet and Damask and two Cups of silver gilded together with other things of curiosity After which the General and Captains sent two Indians who had been present at all the discourse to give a relation to the Inca of the particulars which had passed which when the Inca had heard and thought well upon he gave answer That the Ambassadours should immediately return from whence they came with their Letters Act of Pardon and Presents for that he would not have to do with the Vice-King but remain free and independent of him as he had hitherto done But as John Sierra and the rest were departed orders were brought after them by two Indians that they should return immediately and appear before the Inca to give him and his Captains an account in person of the Embassy they had brought and being on their way and not above four Leagues from the Inca another Command was given that John Sierra should come alone and that the others should be dispeeded back with such convenient Provisions as were necessary for their journey The next day John Sierra was come within two Leagues of the Inca when he met a new Order to detain him two days longer before his admittance and in like manner Messengers were sent to cause Betanços and the Frier to return back to the Inca who at the end of two days sending for John Sierra he received him with such kindness and affection as was due to a near and principal Kinsman And John Sierra having expressed and explained the particulars of his Message in the best sense and words he was able the Inca seemed well satisfied and pleased with what he had delivered but in regard that being in his Minority and not master of himself nor having for want of years assumed the coloured Wreath it was necessary for him to refer all his Affairs and Treaties to the consideration of his Captains Which being done Frier Melchior de Los Reyes was also sent for and ordered to deliver the Embassy he had brought from the Vice-King which being accordingly signified the Offer was kindly understood and the presents accepted Howsoever it was ordered that the Frier and John Sierra should attend and expect an Answer after the Captains had consulted thereupon The debate being again re-assumed nothing was concluded but that more time was required to consult their Predictions and Oracles and to consider farther before they could come to a resolution And in the mean time not to detain John Sierra and the Frier any longer it was ordered that they should be dispatched away to Lima with two other Indian Captains who in the name of the Inca should attend the Vice-King and treat with him concerning the Pension and allowance which was to be given to the Inca in consideration that the Inheritance and Succession of those Kingdoms did by Right of Nature belong unto him Being in this manner dismist they travelled by the way of Andaguaylas to the City of Los Reyes where they arrived on St. Peters day in the month of June The Indian Captains having had Audience of the Vice-King and declared what they had to say in behalf of their Inca were kindly received by him and hospitably treated for the space of eight days during which time they were lodged in the City and had frequent conferences with the Vice-King touching the entertainment which was to be given the Inca for the maintenance of his Court and Equipage agreeable to his Dignity so as to be able to live peaceably amongst them paying Homage and Obedience to the King. The Vice-King having consulted this point with the Arch-Bishop and Judges it was agreed to give an allowance to the Inca of seventeen thousand pieces of Eight yearly in Money for maintenance of himself and Sons besides the Indians and Estate of Francisco Hernandez and to hold therewith the Valley of Yucay together with the Indians and Lands formerly belonging to Don Francisco Hernandez the Son of the Marquis With some Lands belonging to the Fortress of Cuzco which was assigned to him for his dwelling house and place wherein he was to keep his Indian Court. In confirmation and for security hereof an instrument was drawn up to settle this Allowance on the Inca provided that in the space of six Months after the date thereof which was the fifth of July the Inca should accept of those Conditions and leave his habitation in the Mountains and come and live amongst the Spaniards This Writing was delivered to John Sierra who was solely appointed to return therewith accompanied only with the two Indian Captains and by that time that he was come to the Indian Court the Inca had received the coloured Wreath and with great joy received the Letters and Writings from the Vice-King c. Thus far Diego Hernandez which I thought sit to extract verbatim from his own Writings that I might not seem to have enlarged on the Care and Cautions used by the Indians in their Treaty above the Sphere of their Capacities And now it will not be from our purpose to explain some passages which this Anthor hath touched upon in the preceeding discourse The first is concerning those Carives who he says did eat one the other in the time of War it is true that this was accustomary in the Empire of Mexico in the antient times of Heathenisme But in Peru it was never practised For as we have said in the first part the Incas made severe Laws against those who eat human Flesh And therefore we must understand this Author according to the custome of Mexico and not of Peru. The Revenue given to the Inca did not amount to 17000 pieces of Eight for as we have said before the Lands of Francisco Hernandez did not yield above ten thousand pieces of Eight per annum And as to what he says they gave him in the Valley of Yucay which was the Estate of the Son of
better Scholars in reading and Writing and be more expert in all sorts of musical Instruments than the Spaniards had they onely the advantage of being taught nor would they prove ill Scholars in the Latin Tongue And moreover they are not more ignorant in our Books than we are in the knowledge of theirs for though we have now lived amongst them and have had Conversation with them for seventy Years yet have not attained to the knowledge of their Knots nor the nature of their Accounts when they in a short time have attained to the knowledge of our Letters and Ciphers which are evidences of their Ingenuity and good capacity And as to their Memory they generally exceed the Spaniards having by their Knots and Joints of their Fingers figured several Common places out of which they do extract particulars in their due Order for the help and benefit of the Memory And what is more strange the same Knots serve for divers Passages and Arguments of History and giving them onely the Subject they will run on with a History as currently as a Reader can his Book which is an Art unto which no Spaniard as yet hath been able to attain nor know in what manner it is performed and are all good Arguments of the acute Judgment and great Memory of the Indians As to their Art in Military Affairs take all things in their due Circumstances the People of Peru are more expert than those of Europe for shew me the most brave and famous Captains of Spain or France on Foot without Horses without Armour without Lance Sword Pistol or other Fire-arms let them appear in their Shirts without Cloths with a Sling instead of a Girdle and their Heads covered with a Cap of Feathers or Garland of Flowers instead of a Head-piece or Steel Bergandine let them march with their bare Feet over Briers or Thorns let their Diet be Herbs and Roots of the Field carrying a piece of a Mat in their Left hands instead of a Buckler and in this manner let them enter the Field to blunt the Edges of Swords and Halbards and Pikes with three Forks and let them stand the Stone-slings the poisoned Arrows and the skilfull Archer which will hit the Eye or the Heart or anything if in this naked and simple condition they become Conquerours I will then say that they deserve the Fame and Reputation of valiant Captains above the Indians but in regard it is impossible to put the Europeans in this state and condition or to persuade them to the use of such Arms Customs or Habit so humanely speaking they will never make trial or essay to gain Victories with such tools or instruments And on the contrary were the Indians armed as are the Europeans trained up with the same Military Discipline and instructed in the Art of War both by Sea and Land they would be more invincible than the Turks Of the Truth hereof Experience is the best proof for whensoever the Spaniards and Indians were equal in their Arms the Spaniards were slain in great numbers as for Example in Puno of Mexico and long before that in other places for the truth is when the Spaniards have been laden and encumbred with their Arms and the Indians free and light the Spaniards have been often defeated in open Battel as in Quitu in Chachapuaya in Chaquisaca in Tucma in Cunti in Sausa in Parcus in Chili and other parts Wherefore in comparing the Valour and Prowess of the Spaniards with that of the Indians both of Mexico and Peru there can be no measure or trial made by the Success or Conquests by reason of the great inequality in their Arms and above all the Invention of Fire-arms was more terrible to them than all the rest and seems something more than what is humane or natural and in reality the Victories which have been obtained in most parts of the new World and especially in Peru were wonderfull Effects of Divine Providence and rather to be attributed to the Power of God in favour of the Gospel than to the Valour of the Spaniards But though we may compare the Europeans and the Asitiaticks together in the point of Arms yet we cannot admit of any Comparison between the Spaniards and the Indians as to the Art of War in which no doubt but the Spaniards have much the advantage But to let pass this point and compare Indians with Indians there is no doubt but the Incas and the People of Peru were much the better Souldiers of which they have given us sufficient Testimonies by the many Conquests they made over the many Countries they reduced to their Obedience and enjoyed nor were they signalized for their Valour of late Years onely as some People vainly imagine but for above five or six hundred Years past amongst which many Kings of them have been very powerfull namely Manco Capac Inca Roca Viracocha Inca Pachacutec and those descended from that Line to the great Huayna Capac who was Emperour besides many other Captains of the same Bloud of whom we have treated at large in other places Thus far are the Words of Blas Valera after which short digression let us return again to our Spaniards CHAP. XXXI Of the differences which arose between the Almagro's and the Piçarro's and of the Imprisonment of Hernando Piçarro SO soon as Almagro and Piçarro saw that the Inca had disbanded his Army and was fled and had left unto them free possession of the Empire they began then openly to discover their Passions and turn their Arms each against the other one affected to rule and govern absolutely alone and the other prepared to prevent and disappoint him of the Possession of that supreme Power which neither admits a Superiour nor a Rival Thus Almagro required Hernando Piçarro to surrender the City to him and leave him in free possession thereof pretending that it was the Part and Division which belonged to him and not to his Brother as not being comprehended within the two hundred Leagues of Land belonging to the Marquis which were to be measured and set out from the Equinoctial Southward along the Sea-coast according to the Capes and Points and Bays running by the Sea-shore but certainly Land was never measured in that manner or by other Lines than by the High-ways Howsoever the party of Almagro insisted on this point and would understand no other Measures than by the Sea-coast which if Piçarro had granted and condescended unto though His Majesty should have enlarged his Jurisdiction an hundred Leagues farther yet his Dominion would not have reached so far as los Reyes much less could it have extended unto Cozco Howsoever these groundless Reasons and Fancies had so far possessed the Mind of Almagro and his Party that they would suffer no Contradiction or hearken to any Arguments to the contrary but violently resolved to abandon the Kingdom of Chili and return to Peru and Cozco from whence afterwards so many Ruines and Mischiefs did ensue To
this Demand Hernando Piçarro made Answer that he did not command that City by virtue of his own Authority but by a Power derived from the Governour who was his Captain General to whom having made Oath never to surrender up that City into any other hands than his own he could neither perform the part of a Gentleman nor of a Souldier in case he should betray his Trust by such a base surrender which was an absolute Breach of his Oath but in case they would write to the Marquis and obtain his Order he would immediately yield all compliance to his Commands But waving that particular he insisted that the Imperial City belonged to his Brother and was comprehended within the Limits of his Jurisdiction for that the measures he propounded by Capes and Gulfs and Bays along the Sea-coast were mere fancies and fallacies and such as never were admitted amongst any rational Geographers for the turnings and windings of the Land will take up above half the extent of Ground as is manifest by experience of the doubling of the Lands onely from the Isle of Palmes to the Cape of St. Francis. Nor ought the Land to be measured by the High-ways which often turn and wind and are steep and oftentimes ascend three or four Leagues and then again descend as many more which upon a streight Line from one Hill to another will not make half a League But the Piçarros did not approve of this kind of Measure alledging that the Leagues were to be reckoned according to the Degrees of the Equinoctial as Mariners mete out by their Compasses the distances at Sea allowing to every Degree seventeen Leagues and an half in sailing plain North and South Now whereas there were not above eleven Degrees of South-latitude from the Equinoctial to the City of los Reyes which make not more than an hundred ninety two Leagues and an half and that to Cozco which stands in fourteen Degrees it will not make above two hundred forty five Leagues in all so that both Cities of los Reyes and Cozco were to be comprehended within the new Enlargement which His Majesty gave to Piçarro though the number of Leagues were not specified in that Grant. Hereunto the Party of Almagro replied that in case the distances were to be meted by the Heavens and not by the Land they were not to be taken North and South but East and West which gives Eighty Leagues to a Degree But in regard that neither side would agree to that Measure the matter as they said ought to be accommodated and forty nine Leagues allowed to a Degree and then the Jurisdiction of Piçarro would not reach farther than six Degrees from the Equinoctial yielding forty nine Leagues to every Degree now in case the Piçarros yielded to any of these three sorts of Measures neither Cozco nor los Reyes would be comprehended within his Jurisdiction In these Debates pro con many Days were spent which were oftentimes so warmly argued that had it not been for the Moderation and Discretion of Diego de Alvarado Uncle to the General Don Pedro de Alvarado and Gomez de Alvarado a Person of great worth they had proceeded to Arms and open violence he came in company with Almagro unto Chili and being sensible of the evil Consequences which a Breach or Misunderstanding of this nature between the Governours would produce he so laboured to beget a good correspondence between them that at length by consent of the major part it was agreed that Hernando should intimate to the Marquis his Brother the Demands and Pretensions of Almagro and that untill an Answer should be returned thereunto all matters should remain in suspence and Acts of Hostility should cease which accordingly was observed for some days but some Men of an unquiet humour who were desirous to disturb that Union and Friendship which was established between those two Companions suggested to Almagro that he had done ill and to the prejudice of his own right by referring the Title and Claim which he justly had by Grant from the Emperour to the Will and Pleasure of another That Hernando Piçarro had resolved what to doe before he wrote and that this pretence of Writing was onely to keep himself in his station so long as he could for it could not be expected that the Marquis should ever be contented to resign and quit the Imperial City of Cozco and that the Agreement which was made being without limitation of time might bind Almagro for ever in case Piçarro should not return an Answer thereunto Wherefore in regard his Claim to the Government of that City was clear and without dispute he was advised without farther Ceremonies or pause to take Possession thereof it not being probable that ever the contrary party should assent to the Surrender of a Jewel so rich and important as that City and therefore that he should look to his own Interest and not make delays in a matter which so much concerned him Almagro who had no need of Sparks to enflame the burning heat of Ambition which was smothered in his Mind immediately took Fire at these Incentives and embraced the Advices which were given him by his evil Companions for such Counsels as these are never projected by good Men Wherefore without farther Consultation with his wife and true Friends he rashly attempted the lodgings of Hernando and Gonçalo Piçarro and in a dark night and with armed Forces broke in upon them for the Guards were asleep and secure on confidence of the Truce which was so lately made howsoever the matter was not so covertly carried but that Intelligence was brought by one of Almagro's Men of the danger approaching the which Hernando Piçarro would not believe at first or conceive it possible that a Gentleman should so manifestly violate his Word and the Faith he had given but whilst Hernando was thus arguing a noise and combustion was heard without and then he that brought the News said Sir since you give no credit to what you hear with your Ears believe what you see with your Eyes for behold they are come Hereupon an Allarm was given to the Servants and People belonging to the Piçarros who instantly armed and ran to defend the Doors of the House which had been fortified and strongly barred as were all the Quarters of the City where the Spaniards lodged ever since the time that the Inca departed The Almagrians not finding a speedy Entrance set Fire to the House in several places Hereupon the Defendants giving themselves for lost opened the Doors and so Hernando and Gonçalo Piçarro with many of their Friends and Relations who were all of the Countrey of Estremenno or Estremadura vvere taken and put together into a strait Chamber of the Cassana which they made secure with bars and bolts of Iron Some evil Counsellours which loved to make and foment differences advised Almagro to kill Hernando Piçarro for that ever since the first time that he came from Spain they had