that he should make all haste possible and that onely by giving the Enemy a true alarm without farther action they should overcome and defeat them And as to his saying that though all the Devils in Hell should help them c. it was to express the diligence and expedition the Enemy would use in framing the Bridge the which was the usual form and manner which this great Captain used in expressing his mind CHAP. XXXII The President comes to the River of Apurimac The difficulties and dangers they find in the passage John de Acosta defends the Pass The little caxe and ill Conduct he shewed in all this action NOtwithstanding all the haste and diligence the President and his Captains could make they could not reach the Bridge that night but were forced to stop two leagues short by reason that it was dark but so soon as the Moon arose they began their Journey again being forced to walk a great part thereof on foot by reason of the ruggedness of the way About eight a Clock in the morning they arrived at the Bridge and with all the diligence they could use they could not lay the first Stranne before noon The second was fitted and laid about seven a Clock in the evening over which they cast boughs and thin boards fastned together with split Canes About ten a Clock at night the first Ranks began to pass and some few Souldiers were ferried over in a float hewed out of a piece of Wood which they call Maguey which is very light and something like those Goards or Calabaças which grow in those Countries and may be as thick as a man's Leg these Boats are drawn with Cords from one side of the River to the other The Horses swam over with great danger of being drowned for on the sides of the River there being no place made for them to enter in gently they forced and plunged them in from the side of the Bank ' where the stream was so rapid that it carried them down and cast them against the Rocks where meeting with whirlepools they were turned quite round and therein as Carate reports Book the second Chapter the fifth above sixty Horse were drowned and many others were lamed And though that Countrey was not a place for Horses to fight in by reason of the Rocks and mountainous ways yet they hastned over with all diligence possible lest the Enemy should surprise them before they had finished their passage And indeed there was good ground to apprehead the coming of the Enemy for the passage was very dangerous in the time of War which Carvajal so well knew that he desired no other advantage over the Enemy than that And indeed the difficulties of that River are such and the Mountains on each side are so rocky and high that they are at least two leagues perpendicular in height the which I can attest having seen them my self And therefore it was not without reason that Carvajal demanded this employment for himself and when he was denied that he complained of his hard fortune being well assured in case they would have intrusted the management of this action unto him to have returned with Victory for he knew and was acquainted with the difficulty of the passage at Cotapampa By means of the great diligence which was used half the Army was passed over by midnight The first that were over putting themselves into the best order they could began to climb the Mountain being desirous to possess themselves of the top before the Enemies were come which was the greatest danger they feared for having seised that Pass they might secure the way and facilitate the ascent of the whole Army Those in the Van having gotten half way up the Mountain a false alarm was given no man knows how nor from whence which caused such a general consternation and confusion that many of those who were not as yet passed over both Horse and Foot ran away as if they had been pursued and so general was the affrightment and terrour that the Captains Porcel and Pardane and Gabriel Rojas Captain of the Ordnance and divers other Souldiers of note who were in the Rere Guards and in the main Body seeing with what confusion and disorder the Souldiers were put into flight said one to another if this alarm be true we shall all be lost and defeated this night But as good fortune would have it the alarm proving false the disturbance and noise was quieted and those that fled rallied again and every one made the best of his way that he could Those who were in the Van and were the first to climb the Mountain were likewise struck with the same terrour and ran away with their Arms but the alarm appearing to be false they proceeded on their way and came to the Fountain before break of day which was the place where John de Acosta was to have lain in wait for them had he observed the Orders of Francisco de Carvajal in performance of which the whole fortune and success of that day depended Those who came to the Fountain having quenched their thirst with those pleasant Waters proceeded on their way and having got to the top of the Mountain they put themselves into a Body but they were so few and those without any Commander that fifty men might easily have defeated them howsoever in a short time after their numbers increased for the General Pedro de Hinojosa and the Governour Pedro de Valdivia who had passed the Bridge and remained at the foot of the Mountain animated the Men and encouraged them to make good their ascent The other half of the Army being affrighted with the late alarm did not pass the Bridge with their Ordnance untill nine a Clock in the morning which having done they marched after their companions with all diligence imaginable and here we will leave them to see what was become of John de Acosta who was departed from Cozco to hinder the Enemy from passing the River This Captain having received his Instructions and Dispatches from the Lieutenant-General departed from the City with two hundred Musquetiers mounted on Horse-back and thirty Lances all choice men and having marched the first four leagues he there staid and lodged all night contrary to the orders and directions which had been given him and so negligent and careless he seemed to be that two of his Souldiers took an opportunity to leave him and give advice unto the Enemy of his coming The next morning about seven a Clock he began his march again and that day another of his Souldiers ran away called John Nunnez de Prado a Native of Badajoz who gave intelligence of the distance the Enemy was from them and of the Orders given by Carvajal which were so exact and regular that every thing was measured by hours and leagues which gave the President and his Captains some thoughts and apprehension of matters which were to succeed for when they understood that an alarm
in his hand to whom Hernandez ordered the same thing as he had done to Vazquez so that all the Citizens who were engaged in this Conspiracy were onely three namely Thomas Vazquez John de Pedrahita and Alonso Diaz for he that was with Vazquez was a stranger and no Citizen though soon afterwards several others came and joyned with them more out of fear than affection as plainly appears for they all left and deserted them with the first occasion which presented These poor Rebels finding themselves few in number and that none came in to their assistence went directly to the Prisons and opened the doors to recruit their numbers and marched directly with them to the Market-place where they remained untill break of day and then they found that all the Forces they could make did not amount to above forty men And though Palentino makes a long and formal story of this business and tells us that they ran about the Streets crying out Liberty Liberty and that they produced great stores of Pikes and Musquets and set up a Standard and that Hernandez made Proclamation that all people upon pain of death should come in to their party and that Lights were set up in the Streets and Guards placed to prevent the escape of any person whatsoever I say notwithstanding that nothing passed more that night than what is before related for I being then a boy had the Liberty to run about and was an eye-witness of all that passed for these people being so few in number could neither set up Lights nor appoint Watches and Guards in all parts of the City which was above a League in Compass The next day they went to the Governour 's Lodgings where they examined his Closet and Papers amongst which as they report were found above eighteen several Orders of the Justices all tending to the damage and prejudice of the Citizens namely that they should free and acquit the Indians of all personal Services that none of them should be compelled to labour in the Mines nor to receive or quarter Souldiers nor to maintain them either secretly or in publick all which were Inventions to raise Mutinies and incite the Souldiery to join with them The third day after this Rebellion Hernandez was employed in making Visits to the principal Citizens at their own homes and amongst the rest coming to my Father's House where I and my Mother-in-law were onely present he told us amongst other things that what he had done was for the publick good and well-fare of all the Souldiers Citizens and Planters of the whole Empire That the supreme Charge and Super-intendency of all these matters he reserved not for himself but to bestow it on some other who best deserved it And he desired my Mother to prevail with my Father not longer to conceal himself but to meet him and the rest of his Associates in the Market-place to consult and order matters at a time when the difficulty of affairs required his assistence The like Discourses he used in other Houses where he made his Visits believing that those who did not appear had absconded themselves not imagining that they were fled to Los Reyes but when my Mother-in-law assured him that since the Wedding-night she had not seen my Father nor had he entred into his House which my Mother affirming with all the Oaths and Asseverations she could make she desired him in case he believed her not to make search in all the parts and corners of the House he then was convinced and said that he wondered at it and so cutting off all farther discourse he took his leave and went to visit other Houses where he found the same verified as in this place For the truth is they did not all fly away the same night but four or five nights after as they found convenient for having no Guards in the Streets nor at the Gates every one escaped without much difficulty About eight days after this Rebellion was begun one Bernardino de Robles a bold and lude fellow informed Hernandez Giron that Baltasar de Castillia and John de Carceres the Accountant were preparing to make their Escape and carry with them divers others and that all their wrought Plate and other moveables they had secured in a Monastery which so soon as Hernandez understood he presently called for his Lawyer Diego de Alvarado and ordered him to examine the matter and punish the Offenders according to their demerit The Lawyer required no great Formality in the Process or of Witnesses to give their Testimonies for he owed an old grudge to Baltasar de Castillia on the score of a quarrel which about two months before happened between them in the chief Market-place of the City in which it was the fortune of both of them to be wounded which the Lawyer not esteeming a sufficient satisfaction was angry that he had not killed him for as we have said he presumed more on his Weapon than on his Learning and now having an opportunity to vent his Anger with Colour of Authority he exercised his Commission with all Severity upon innocent men who as report goes were not guilty of the least offence for the same night that he received his Warrant he went directly to the Houses of those who were accused and allotted them a short time not sufficient to make their Confession and then delivered them into the hands of the Hang-man John Enriquez to be strangled who was the same Executioner who had beheaded Gonçalo Piçarro and hanged and quartered his Captains and Lieutenant General The next day after this Rebellion of Hernandez had broken out this Bloudy Rogue shewed himself openly in the Market-place with bundles of Halters about him and all the Instruments of death and torment presuming that there would now be work for him and employment for a man of his Office he also drew out his brought Sword to cut off Heads but he payed afterwards for this presumption as we shall find by the sequel Howsoever in the mean time he laid hands on these two poor Gentlemen and strangled them in a moment after which he stripped Don Baltasar and left him as naked as he was born but he suffered John Carceres to remain in his Shirt perhaps because his Linen was not so fine as was Baltasar's then he drew their Bodies into the Market-place and laid them at the foot of the Gallows where I saw them about nine a Clock that night It is reported that Francisco Hernandez did the next day reprove his Lawyer for being so hasty in his execution of Justice before he had communicated the matter first to him but this was onely a feigned pretence to gain esteem and credit with the People but secretly he was pleased with it observing the terrour and consternation this action had operated in the minds of the People for since they had not spared his Majesty's Accountant nor one of his Captains in the late Wars who had a revenue of fifty thousand Ducats
take an omen of good or bad and know whether the Sacrifice had been acceptable to the Idol then they burnt the Entrails and ate the Flesh themselves with great joy and festivity though it were of their own Child or other Relation of the same bloud Blas Valera a certain Authour who in loose Papers wrote of the Indies describes those Nations by distinguishing the former from the latter ages and saith That those who live in Antis eat Mens Flesh and are more brutish than the Beasts themselves for they know neither God nor Law nor Vertue nor have they Idols or any Worship unless sometimes when the Devil presents himself to them in the form of a Serpent or other Animal they then adore and worship him When they take any in the War if he be an ordinary Fellow they quarter him and divide him to be eaten by their Wives Children and Servants or perhaps sell him to the Shambles but if he be of Quality or Noble they call their Wives and Children together and like Officers of the Devil they strip him of his garments and tye him to a stake and then alive as he is they cut him with Knives and sharp Stones paring off slices from the more fleshy parts as from the Buttocks Calves of the Legs and the brawny places of the Arme then with the Bloud they sprinkle the principal Men and Women and the remainder they drink and eat the Flesh as fast as they can before it is half broiled lest the miserable Wretch should dye before he hath seen his flesh devoured and intombed in their bowels The Women more cruel and inhumane than the Men wet the nipples of their Breasts with the bloud that so the Infants which suck them may take a share of the Sacrifice All this is performed by way of a religious Offering with mirth and triumph till the Man expires and then they complete the Feast in devouring all the remainder of his Flesh and Bowels eating it with silence and reverence as sacred and partaking of a Deity If in execution of all this torment the Patient was observed to sigh and groan or make any distorted faces then they broak his Bones and with contempt threw them into the fields and waters but if he appeared stout and enduring the anguish and pains without shrinking at them then his Bones and Sinews were dryed in the Sun and lodged on the tops of the highest Hills where they were deified and Sacrifices offered to them Such are the Idols and manner of living of these Brutes because the Government of the Incas was never received into their Countrey nor hath it any Power there at this day This Generation of Men came out from the parts about Mexico and spread themselves from Panama and Darien over all those great mountains which run as far as the new Kingdom of Granada and on the other side as far as the Cape of St. Martha All which particulars we have received from Father Blas Valera who in the Narrative he gives of their Lives and Manners much more aggravates their diabolical Practices than by any thing we have here related But other Indians less cruel and of a more mild Nature though they mingled humane Bloud with their Sacrifices yet they did it not with the death of any but drew it from Veins of the Arme or Leg or from the Nostrils in case of pains in the Head and from other parts as the nature or solemnity of the Sacrifice required Others offered Sheep and Lambs Conies Partridges and all sorts of Fowl Herbs and the Cocar-Nut so much in esteem amongst them with their Mayz which is a sort of Wheat as also Pulse Annise and Cummin and sweet Woods which rendred a perfume the which were severally sacrificed according to the nature of the Deity they adored And thus much shall be sufficient to have been delivered concerning their Sacrifices and Gods of the Ancient Gentilism CHAP. V. Of the Government Diet and Cloathing of the Ancient Indians THese People were as barbarous in their manner of living in their Houses and Habitations as they were in the Worship of their Gods and Sacrifices such of them as observed any thing of a Political Government lived in a kind of Society having houses near together placed without order of Streets or Passages appearing rather like Pens or Sheepfolds than humane Habitations Others by reason of the Wars and Variances amongst themselves lived on Rocks and Mountains and places inaccessible for their Enemies others dwelt in little Cottages scattered over the fields and vallies and every one feared himself as well as he thought convenient for commodiousness of Victuals and Water whether it were in Caves under ground or in the hollow of Trees the necessities rather than the conveniences of living being provided for and of this sort of People there are some yet remaining about the Cape of Passau as the Chirihuanas and other Nations whom the Incas have conquered and who still continue their ancient barbarity and savage manners and these are the most difficult of any to be reduced to the subjection of the Spaniards or the Christian Religion for having never had Learning or scarce Language sufficient to understand each other they live like Beasts without Communication Friendship or Commerce Those amongst them who had most of Understanding or of a Spirit most daring took the privilege to Rule and govern the others whom he treated as his Slaves with such Tyranny and Cruelty that he made use of their Wives and Daughters at his pleasure all things being confounded with War and Ruine In some Provinces they flead the Captives taken in War and with their Skins covered their Drums thinking with the sound of them to affright their Enemies for their opinion was that when their Kindred heard the rumbling noise of those Drums they would be immediately seized with fear and put to flight For the most part they lived by Robberies and the Spoils each of other the stronger preying upon the weaker was the cause of several petty Kings some of which perhaps being of a more gentle nature than others and who treated their Subjects with less rigour and cruelty were for that reason adored by them for Gods framing to themselves some representation of Divinity in the good actions of such men who had some allays in their cruel and tyrannical Government In other parts they lived without Lords or order of a Common-wealth but like so many Sheep passed together in all simplicity not that Vertue moderated their malice but their stupidity and ignorance made them senseless and uncapable of good or evil Their manner of Cloathing or covering their Bodies were in some Countries as immodest as they were ridiculous their Diet also was so foul and barbarous that we who know better may wonder at the beastiality In the hot Countries which were most fruitfull they sowed little or nothing but contented themselves with Herbs and Roots and wild Fruits and with that which the Earth
The other Hall appertained to the Houses of Inca Pachacutec called Cass-ava The third Hall was belonging to the Edifice of Huayna Capac which they called Amarucancha where now the Jesuites have their College And moreover they preserved a handsome round Capolo which was built on the Front of these Houses all the other Buildings were burnt and not so much as one left standing To burn the House of the Inca Viracocha where the Spaniards were quartered the stoutest and most valiant Indians were chosen who stormed it with great Fury and shooting their Arrows at far distance set it on fire and entirely consumed it The great Hall thereof which is now the Cathedral and then a Chapel where the Christians said Mass was by the Providence of God defended from the Fire and though innumerable Arrows carrying Fire were shot into it and began to burn it in several parts yet in a miraculous manner it quenched of it self as if Water in flouds had been thrown upon it And this was one of the Miracles which God wrought for us to make way for the Propagation of the Gospel in that City where certainly is now settled the most devout and religious society of Men that is in all the New World both for Spaniards and Indians Hernando Piçarro and his two Brothers with their Souldiers which in all did not make above two hundred which was an inconsiderable number against so mighty a Force kept close in a Body and like good Souldiers were always upon the Guard placing their Centinels at every Avenue and Watchmen upon the Tower. As oft as the Noise of the Indians allarm'd them they stood to their Arms and bridled their Horses of which every night thirty stood ready sadled to make Sallies on the Enemy and survey their Force When they had discovered their great multitude but not as yet the Weapons they carried wherewith to offend the Horse which were the Creatures they most dreaded they resolved to retreat into the Market-place which being wide and spacious was much more advantageous for receiving the Enemy than in the narrow Streets And being there drawn up in Battalia the Body of Infantry consisting of one hundred and twenty Men was placed in the middle flanked on each side with the Horse not being above Eighty in all of which two Troops of twenty in a Troop were placed in the Van and two Troops of the like number were drawn up in the Rere so that they might charge the Enemy on whatsoever side they should be attacked by them The Indians seeing the Spaniards in a Body assaulted them on every part with great fury intending to over-run them in an instant but the Horse sallying out upon them made stout resistance and fought with them untill Break of Day when the Indians again reinforced the Battel and rained showers of Arrows upon them with Vollies of Stones discharged from their Slings howsoever the Horse which is wonderfull to consider revenged themselves upon them with their Lances killing in every onset an hundred and fifty or two hundred Indians by reason that they neither carried defensive Arms nor used Pikes to keep off the Horse though they were armed with them for not being used to fight against Cavalry but onely Foot to Foot and naked Men against naked Men the Spaniards by their Horse and Armour prevailed over the Indians with great Slaughter who hoped notwithstanding by their numbers to become Conquerours in the end In this posture of War the Indians continued for the space of seventeen Days to straiten and besiege the Spaniards in the Market-place of Cozco not permitting them to sally forth during which time as well by night as by Day the Spaniards continued in their Ranks and Squadrons to be in a readiness against the Enemy and as often as they went to drink they were forced to go in Companies to the Stream which runs through the Streets of the City and to search into the Ruines of the Houses which were burnt for Mayz which was the onely Food they had to sustain them but Provender for their Horses was more wanting than Victuals for themselves howsoever they found some Provision for support both of one and the other though much damaged by the Fire which Hunger and Necessity made passable On which particular Carate reports as followeth In this manner the Inca attempted Cozco with all his Force and besieged it for eight Months and at every Full of the Moon he stormed the Spaniards on all sides but Hernando Piçarro and his Brothers vvith many Gentlemen and Captains that vvere vvithin the City made stout resistance and repulsed the Indians vvith great Valour in vvhich Actions those vvhich vvere most signalized vvere Gabriel de Rojas Hernan Ponce de Leon Don Alonso Enriquez and the Treasurer Riquelme vvith many others all vvhich with their Souldiers behaved themselves vvith Courage and Bravery and none of them unbracing their Armour either by day or night fighting like desperate Men vvho had given all over for lost for having received intelligence that the Governour and all the Spaniards vvere cut off and slain by the Indians vvho had made a general Insurrection in all parts they expected no Relief or Succour but from God nor Safety but in their ovvn Arms though they killed and vvounded the Indians very much and daily diminished their numbers Thus far are the Words of Carate vvho briefly relates the great Danger and the many Straits to vvhich these Conquerours vvere reduced in this Siege vvherein though they used all the diligence imaginable to provide themselves vvith Food yet all had not sufficed to free them from Famine had not their Indian Servants vvho lived vvith them in their Houses like good and faithfull Friends supplied their vvants for by day they passed over to the Enemy in vvhom to beget a Confidence of them they seemed to fight against the Spaniaards and by night they returned to them laden vvith Provisions all vvhich is confirmed by the Testimony of Gomara and Carate though that and the other Enterprises of the Inca are touched onely in short by them vvho are silent also in the account of those Miracles vvhich our Lord Jesus Christ vvorked at Cozco in favour of the Spaniards where was most danger and where the Indians spent the fierceness of their Fury And indeed the Danger was so great that in the first eleven or twelve Days of the Siege the Spaniards were so harassed and tired out as well Horse as Foot by the continual Skirmishes in which they were engaged and for want of Provisions that they were reduced to the last extremity for by this time thirty Christians were killed and almost all wounded without Remedies or Salves for their Cure so that in a few days not being able longer to hold out they all expected to perish having no hopes of Relief or Succour from other places or means than onely from Heaven to which they lifted up their Cries and offered their daily Prayers begging the Mercy and
to depart with the others so taking their March by way of the Plains as far as Nanasca to avoid the bad and difficult passages they came to the beautifull Valley of Pachacamac where about four Leagues distant from los Reyes they were engaged in a bloudy Battel against the Indians who were still in Arms and in a Body notwithstanding that their Prince was retired into the Mountains and had until that time always beaten the Succours which had been sent to Cozco and with that encouragement adventured to engage with Alonso de Alvarado fighting a long time with much bravery but being now in the open Field without the covert and defence of Woods and Mountains where the Horse could doe service many of the Indians were slain but in the craggy and woody Mountains they did much mischief to the Spaniards killing eleven of them and seven Horses From thence Alonso de Alvarado marched forward and to make the more haste they travelled by Day against the advice and persuasion of the Indians who assured them that it was a matter most pernitious to their health to travel over those sandy Desarts by Day for that whilst the Sun reflected in its full violence on them the Heats were insupportable and that unless they carried Water with them the people would dye with thirst But this advice given by the Indians to march by Night was not regarded by the Spaniards who imagined that they gave that counsel out of good will and favour to their Incas and therefore threatned to kill them in case they did not hasten their Journey The poor Indians who were humble and obedient submitted to their pleasure and having travelled a whole day untill an hour after Sun-setting both they and the Spaniards found themselves in great distress for want of Water and more especially the Indians who having carried Burthens all the day above five hundred of them perished with heat and thirst The Spanish Foot had incurred the like fate but that the Horse understanding that a River was not far distant ran thither and brought Water which refreshed them in their great extremity the which report Augustine Carate confirms in the sixth Chapter of his third Book as may appear in these Words following Alonso de Alvarado passing on his Journey to Cozco over a sandy Desart sustained such want of Water that above five hundred of his Indians who carried Burthens were choaked with thirst and had not the Horse ran in haste to a River and brought thence in certain Vessels some Water for refreshment of the Spanish Foot it is believed that they had all perished Thus far are the Words of Carate For want of those Indians who died with thirst they were forced to stay some Days untill they were supplied with others to carry their Burthens And not to incur again the like necessity they left the way of the Desart and took up by the Mountains where they joyned with other two hundred Men seventy of which were Horse and the rest Foot which the Marquis had sent under Command of Gomez de Tordoya de Vargas a near Kinsman to Garçilasso de la Vega to recruit the Forces under Alonso de Alvarado which consisted to five hundred Spaniards All which as they marched through those mountainous and fast Countries had many Skirmishes at every pass with the Indians but being well advised by frequent misfortunes of this nature they marched warily and with due care to avoid the like snares and unhappy successes At length they came to the Bridge called Rumicacha which is as much as to say the Stone-bridge which being a difficult pass the Indians did all they were able to give a stop to the Enemy at that place and many other Avenues they guarded with Souldiers to gain which the Spaniards made a Detachment of about forty or fifty Musquetiers with a great number of those Indians whom they had taken up for Servants and which were to guide the Spaniards whilst the Musquetiers guarded the rere until the whole Body had escaped the danger of those close and difficult passages At the Bridge an innumerable Company of Indians crouded on the Spaniards and fought valiantly the Battel continued several hours but at last the Indians were forced to give way with great slaughter for the Musquetiers of which there were one hundred galled them very much and were those onely who gained the Victory for in those inclosures the Horse were able to doe no service howsoever the Spaniards lost twenty eight Men and nine Horses besides many of their Indian Servants As Gomara in the 138th Chapter relates in these Words Alvarado marched without any interruption with his five hundred Spaniards untill he came to Lumichaca where is a Stone-bridge but there he met with great numbers of Indians who thought to cut off all the Christians or at least disperse them But Alvarado and his Souldiers though encompassed on all sides with Enemies fought with that Valour and Conduct that they over-threw them with a great slaughter but this Victory cost the lives of many Spaniards and of many Indians who were friends and came to serve and assist them c. From Rumichaca Alonso de Alvarado proceeded forwards skirmishing with the Indians at every turn where the Passes were narrow and difficult and though they conceived little hopes to overcome them howsoever it was some satisfaction to them to disturb them in their March and though the Indians being now beaten out of the Field durst not engage in a pitched Battel as they had formerly done yet they continued their frequent Skirmishes with loss and damage on one side and the other And having marched twenty Leagues farther unto the Bridge of Amancay Alonso de Alvarado received intelligence from the Indians that the Inca was fled and retired into the Mountains that Hernando de Piçarro was imprisoned that John de Piçarro was dead with many others during the last Siege besides several other particulars which had happened to all which Alvarado had been a stranger untill that time But now upon this advice it was judged most safe not to proceed farther untill they had received new Orders from the Marquis to whom they gave a true information of the state of all affairs and lest in the mean time Almagro should make an attempt upon them they fortified themselves and provided for a Siege Almagro hearing that Alonso de Alvarado was with his Forces come as far as the Bridge of Amancay dispatched a Message to him by Diego de Alvarado and eight other Cavaliers of the best Quality then with him and in a peaceable and civil manner gave him to understand that the title and claim he laid to that Government was very manifest and plain by the Commission he had received from his Majesty and therefore he exhorted him to return in peace and if not he protested against him for all the Bloud Miseries and Damages which should follow This Message being delivered Alonso de Alvarado seized on those
game Some days passing that the Marquis paid not the Money the Winner took the confidence to ask him for it and being afterwards troubled with the importunity the Marquis forbad him to ask any more for that he was resolved never to pay him To which Palomares replied If your Lordship be resolved never to pay me what made you quarrel and be so angry the other day when you lost The Marquis was so well pleased with the Answer that he gave order he should be immediately paid He would play at al Games and with all sorts of Persons and when he knew any one to be necessitous and wanting he would invite him to play with him with intention and purpose to lose to him thinking it a more noble and generous way to relieve a person in want than by direct Alms which to a haughty Spaniard is a kind of an affront but when he gains by advantage of play he not onely rejoyces in the gain but triumphs in the Honour of being a better Gamester than the Marquis and to receive his Money rather as a due than given as a favour When he bowled with such persons as these he would either cast short or beyond that the other might win And when he plaid at Cards at which his Game was commonly Primera he would often vye with his worst Cards and if he had the fortune to have Flush or Primera he would shuffle up his Cards and not shew them seeming to be angry or displeased at his ill luck by such ways as these he gained himself so much good-will and affection as were due to his Worthy and Heroick Merits Gomara treating of the Death of this Prince nay more than a Prince for in reality I know no title upon Earth sufficient to express the Grandure and Merits of this Hero saith that which follows in the Chapter 145. He was the Bastard Son of Gonzalo Piçarro Captain in Navarre was born at Truxillo and laid in the Church Porch he sucked a Sow for several days till another Nurse was provided for him Afterwards his Father acknowledged him and employed him in keeping Hogs so that he was never educated in any learning One day it happened that the Flies did so bite the Hogs that they all ran away and were lost upon which he durst not return home again for fear but attended some Travellers to Sevil from whence he embarked himself for the Indies and being arrived at St. Domingo he went with Alonso de Hojeda to Urana and with Vasco Nunnez de Balboa to discover the Sea of Sur and thence with Pedrarias to Panama at length he discovered and conquered that Countrey which they call Peru c. which are the very Words of this Authour Upon which one might make if it were lawfull many reflexions both in reference to him who wrote it as well as to him who related it for if the things had been true yet it had not been convenient or decent to report such mean and low things of a Gentleman whose Triumphs and great Actions he had wrote with such wonder and applause much less was it fit to mention them seeing that they were doubtfull and admitted onely of a probability I would know of him who gave this relation how he came to the knowledge of such particulars which related to the Birth of a poor child that was exposed in the Porch of a Church and was suckled by a Beast for want of a better Nurse When things of this nature happen to the Sons of great Kings and Princes it is difficult to learn the particular circumstances thereof how much less of a poor boy thrown at a Church door And then to say after he was acknowledged by his Father that he was sent to keep Swine must be a piece of envy and malice and nothing else for 't is not probable that such a principal person as Gonzalo Piçarro Captain of his Majesty's Troops in Navarre should send his Son after he had acknowledged him to keep Swine Nor is it probable that the Flies should take the Hogs in such manner as to make them stray where they could never more be found and therefore that he durst not return home for fear To confute which I have particularly enquired of some Paisants or Countrey people whose business it was to breed up Hogs whether the Fly doth bite them at any time in such manner as to cause them to stray abroad and they have generally assured me that such a thing cannot be But Envy in Countries where parties and factions prevail doth often raise reports of this nature to eclipse the glory of Worthy Men for finding they are not able to deny or darken the lustre of their mighty Actions which are manifest and apparent to all the World as were those of the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro they feign and invent some mean passages relating to their Birth and Education which being obscure are not easily refuted The truth of all is this The Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro who was Conquerour and Governour of that great Empire called Peru was the Natural Son of his Father and Mother and acknowledged by them at the instant of his Birth Afterwards his Father Captain Gonzalo Piçarro Married her who was Mother to our Marquis and one by extraction of an ancient Family of Christians unto a certain Countrey Farmer of good repute called Goodman such a one of Alcantara by whom he had a Son named Francisco Martin de Alcantara whom Gomara saith was the half Brother to the Marquis Piçarro and was killed with the Marquis as we have before declared Wherefore I conclude that though such reports as these should have something of probable truth in them yet they ought not to be related to the prejudice of such a Prince whose fame may be equalized with those of highest renown And since we are not able to extoll his praises to that degree which they deserve we must refer the defect of our Expressions to be supplied by his own Acts and Conquests which speak themselves And so we shall pass forward in our History CHAP. X. Don Diego de Almagro Administers an Oath of Allegiance to all Officers causing them to swear Fealty to him as Governour of Peru and sends his Warrants into divers parts of the Kingdom which are opposed and resisted THE Marquis being thus slain as before related caused chiefly by the over-confidence of Francisco de Chaves for had he shut the doors as he was ordered the Marquis and such as were with him might have had time to have armed themselves whilst the Assassinates were employed in breaking open the doors and perhaps in that manner they might have prevailed over their Enemies For if the Marquis and his Brother and two Pages were able without their defensive Arms to kill four of those Russians as some Authours report besides those who were wounded by them what may we imagine they would have done had they been in a readiness and well appointed And had
Cozco where he was gallant in his Habit and dressed up in Feathers as gay as a Peacock because every one respected him for his courage and bravery And here I must beg the Reader 's pardon for having descended thus far to trivial particulars having onely an intention hereby to confirm the truth of my Narrative by the Testimony of having been an Eye-witness to the foregoing Transactions CHAP. XXI The number of those who were killed and wounded on both sides with other particular Successes as also what was acted by Carvajal after the Battel THE escape of Guadramiros was after the Battel ended and after the Victory plainly appeared for Gonçalo Piçarro for on his side were slain about a hundred men of which seventy odd were Horsemen and about fifteen Foot besides those which were wounded amongst which were Captain Cepeda John de Acosta and Captain Diego Guillen On Centeno's side above three hundred and fifty were killed and amongst them their Major General and all the Captains of Foot with their Ensigns being the Flower of their Army and the choicest Men amongst them besides which Pedro de Los Rios Captain of Horse and Diego Alvarez who carried the Standard dyed on the place There were besides those that were slain three hundred and fifty wounded of which above an hundred and fifty dyed for want of able and experienced Chirurgeons and of Balsams Plasters and other Medicaments and the extreme colds of the Countrey contributed much thereunto for though that Countrey is within the Tropicks yet the Colds are often very intense by reason of the high Winds and lofty Mountains Gonçalo Piçarro followed the pursuit with seven or eight lamed Horses with which they entred the Tents of Centeno rather to own and publish the Victory than to offend the Enemy for as Gomara saith in Chapter 182. the Conquerours themselves were so ill treated that they were not able to pursue or offend the Enemy On one side where this Battel was fought in that great Plain was a long Bog or Marsh and about thirty or fourty paces broad but so shallow as would scarce serve to cover the Fetlocks of a Horse Before they came to this Bog one of Piçarro's Souldiers called to one of Centeno's whom he saw covered with bloud both he and his Horse Do you hear Sir said he Your Horse will fall presently at which saying Centeno's Souldier was much troubled because he trusted to make his escape by the goodness and strength of his Horse This person was Gonçalo Silvestre of whom we have formerly made mention and it was he from whom I received the Information of many of these Passages and he told me moreover that turning his face to the left-hand he saw Gonçalo Piçarro himself with some few of his men marching softly to Centeno's Tents crossing himself as he went and crying with a loud voice Jesus What a Victory is this Jesus What a Victory is this which he repeated many and many times A little before they came to the Bog a certain Souldier of Piçarro's side called Gonçalo de los Nidos overtook Gonçalo Silvestre whom Silvestre had a little before taken Prisoner and upon his asking Quarter and his Life he gave him his liberty without the least hurt done to him When Nidos knew that Silvestre was his Enemy he cryed out Kill that Traytor Kill that Traytor upon which Silvestre turned to him and calmly said Sir I beseech you let me alone to dye in peace for in the condition that I and my Horse are we cannot live many minutes without giving you the trouble to kill us No said he No Damne me Thou shalt dye by my hand Silvestre looking well upon him and finding him to be the man to whom he had newly given Quarter Good Sir said he be patient and use me with the like mercy that I shewed to you But Nidos roared out then louder and cryed Thou art the Rogue Damne me I am resolved for that very reason to kill thee and tear out thy Heart and throw it to the Dogs Silvestre told me that if this fellow had answered him in more moderate and civil terms he should certainly have yielded to be his Prisoner but finding him so ungratefull rude and barbarous he resolved to fight with him if his Horse were able to stand against him this discourse passed between them as they were wading over the Bog or Marsh which was no place for a Combat but so soon as they were over Silvestre spurred up his Horse to try his strength and mettle and finding him therewith to spring forward and answer the Spur as if he had received no hurt and throwing up his Head snorted out some of the bloud which issued from the wounds on his Nostrils on his Master's Clothes which when Silvestre perceived he rode away a gallop seeming to fly that he might draw the fellow farther from his Party accordingly Nidos pursued him crying out aloud The Traytor runs and The Coward runs but so soon as Silvestre had drawn him at a convenient distance from his Companions he returned upon him and gave him a stroke about the middle with a rusty Rapier which he had taken from a Neger in the Battel for he had broken the two Swords which he had brought with him that day into the Field for as the manner was for good Souldiers he came doubly armed that is with one Sword in the Scabbard by the side and another fastened to the Pommel of the Saddle Nidos was not wounded with the blow but onely being well affrighted ran away to his Party crying out They kill me They kill me for Cowards are always more valiant with their Tongues than with their hands Gonçalo Piçarro being an Eye-witness himself of whâ—â— had passed and of the Bravery of Silvestre sent Alonso de Herrera after him to persuade him with good words and fair terms to come in and yield that he might doe him honour and reward him for his Gallantry and Valour Alonso de Herrera hastened what he could after him but his Horse was so wounded that he could not put him out of his Trot and soon afterwards he dyed of his Wounds howsoever Herrera called after him to return swearing that if he would come back his Master the Governour would doe him more honour in one day than he should receive from the King in all the days of his life but Gonçalo Silvestre returned him no answer but spurred up his Horse and went away This Story I have heard from those of Piçarro's Party and likewise from Silvestre himself and on the report of both sides I relate it here Gonçalo Piçarro in pursuance of his Victory thought not fit to enter Centeno's Camp having understood that his Souldiers were in it already and were plundering the Tents in great heat and sury wherefore returning to his own Camp he found it had also been pillaged by Centeno's Souldiers at the time when they thought the Victory was theirs and that they had taken
place without regard either to the Moon or Stars Herewith the discourse ended at which Carvajal was greatly troubled and complained amongst his friends and familiar acquaintance that his Lord the Governour resolved upon a most pernicious course especially in this critical time of his life which was more dangerous than any other in this opinion all others did concur and were much afflicted to see him thus resolute and without regard to his safety or condition to deliver up himself as it were into the hands of his Enemies there was no doubt but he was a man of great understanding and therefore we may attribute this violent transport to the influence of the Stars which carried him beyond his reason and caused him as it were to offer the Knife to his own Throat and reject the reasonable counsel of his Major-General But we must return again to the President and often change our hands from one party to the other The passage being now made free and open by the retreat of John de Acosta the Royal Army had liberty to march without fear or danger of an Enemy but by reason of the great incumbrances of Cannon Ammunition and Provisions four days were spent before they could clear themselves out of that uneasie passage of which three days were required to march from the River to the top of the Mountain where the Army was drawn up from which place the President gave command to march the Army with great order howsoever the ways were so narrow and rugged and the Baggage so great that the Officers could not observe that rule they desired and notwithstanding all their endeavours the longest march they could make in a day was not above two leagues and sometimes but one and then perhaps they were forced to stay a day or two untill the Rere could come up In the mean time Gonçalo Piçarro hastned his Men out of Cozco and to march unto Sacsahuana where he designed to expect the Enemy and give them Battel His Captains were all young and stout and such as depended most upon their own bravery and courage in confidence of which they chearfully hastned out of Cozco to anticipate the day which should make them Lords and Masters of all Peru. But Carvajal and those of his opinion who were the most sober and considerate were very unwilling to meet the Enemy not having men in whom they could put any confidence for amongst their own Party were three hundred of those Souldiers which belonged to Diego Cemeno who had been lately overcome and many of them as yet not cured of their wounds and therefore in reason ought to be esteemed for such who desired their overthrow and destruction or at least would run away in the day of Battel and discourage those who were faithfull Friends to Piçarro These considerations administred just cause of fear and danger to divert which Carvajal often turned to dissuade Piçarro from that fatal Counsel which would inevitably betray him to a loss of his life estate honour and every thing that was dear unto him But so God ordained it as those of the contrary party said that Piçarro having completed the measure of his iniquity was blindly carried to receive the punishment he deserved The which obstinacy so displeased several of his people that they purposed to have lest him if possibly they could and I can confidently aver that after the Battel of Sacsahuana and when all things were quieted I have heard some principal Officers who belonged to Piçarro say that if he had followed the advice and counsel of his Major General they would never have left him but have died with him for they esteemed Carvajal as an Oracle and entertained such an esteem of his knowledge and experience in War that they doubted not of the success in all matters where his counsel was followed But Piçarro persisting in his fatal resolution marched out of Cozco towards the latter end of March in the year 1548 and in two days came to Sacsahuana being greatly hindred by his Carriages Artillery and Baggage for he was well furnished with all provisions for War so as not to want any thing in case the Enemy should stay or linger in their coming And though as we have said this action was contrary to the sense and opinion of most men yet finding Piçarro fixed and resolute in his determination none durst to dissuade or endeavour to alter his mind and in regard these men evidently saw that he went positively to sacrifice himself and them to manifest destruction every man began to provide for his own inteterest and safety and to abandon Piçarro whom they saw plainly offering up himself to death in the most flourishing station of his life being in the two and fourtieth year of his age during which time he had been victorious in all the Battels he fought either against Indians or Spaniards and had not above six months before obtained that famous Victory at Huarina which gave him a character above any in this new World all which fortunes and successes were changed and buried in the Valley of Sacsahuana CHAP. XXXIV The two Armies meet in Sacsahuana Gonçalo Piçarro shews a diffidence of those Souldiers which belonged to Diego Centeno and the expectation the President had that those men should revolt to his side The Offers and Protestations which were made by Piçarro The Answer given by Gasca It is resolved to decide the Difference by Battel The Order of the Royal Army GOnçalo Piçarro drew up his Army in a certain place of that Valley having a River behind not very broad and a craggy Mountain and both so met together that the situation was naturally strong and covered the Army on all quarters in such manner that it could not be attacked in the rere nor on either side but on the front onely This River towards the Mountain is fortified with great Water-galls caused by the streams which fall from above between which and the River Piçarro pitched his Tents leaving the Plain between the Water-galls and Mountain free and open for drawing up the Army The President as we have said making short marches arrived in this Valley three days after Piçarro and three days passed with small skirmishes and piqueering between small parties which were of no great moment by which time all the Imperial Army was come up The Armies faced one the other for two days afterwards without engaging all which time Piçarro and his Captains kept a strict eye and watch on their Souldiers that none of them should run over to the President And now one would think that a Commander who voluntarily marched to meet his Enemy should have great confidence in the fidelity of his Souldiers and not doe as Piçarro who too late began to distrust Centeno's men of which there were no less than three hundred in the Army and began to approve the Counsel of Carvajal who persuaded him long since to dismiss those men of whom there being no assurance they were
unfit to be entrusted with so great a concernment wherein Estate Life and Honour did consist This particular is also noted by Lopez do Gomara Chap. 186. in these words Piçarro says he marched out with above a thousand Spaniards of which two hundred were Horse and five hundred and fifty Musquetiers but he was very doubtfull of four hundred who had served under the command of Centeno which caused him to keep a strict guard over them and to kill some of them with Lances who attempted to make an escape c. Thus far this Authour But on the contrary The President remained with assurance of the faithfulness of those who revolted over to his Party particularly as that Authour reports in the same Chapter which is very long he was well satisfied in the Promise which Licenciado Cepeda sent him by Friar Antonio de Castro of the Order of Preachers who was Prior at that time of Arequepa that in case Piçarro came not to terms of agreement with him he was resolved upon breaking off the Treaty to pass over to the Emperour's Service With this assurance the President held a Consultation with his Captains whether it were best immediately to engage or decline Fighting for some time And though they were all of opinion that to avoid the effusion of bloud it were better to forbear yet considering the necessities they should be speedily forced into for want of Provisions and of Wood and more especially of Water which they brought from far whilst the Enemy was abundantly supplied therewith it was resolved to engage the next day lest these inconveniences happening by such delays the Souldiers being enforced by hunger should run to the Enemy but on the same Piçarro sent some Articles and Protests to the President as the same Authour expresses in these words Piçarro sent two Priests one after another to require Gasca to shew to him in writing his Commission and Command of the Emperour and that in case it did appear in the original writing that his Majesty did enjoin him to leave the Government he was ready to yield all obedience thereunto to resign up his Power and to abandon the Countrey But in case he refused so to doe he then declared that he was resolved to give him battel protesting against him for all the bloud and miseries which should thence ensue Gasca being informed that these Priests had been dealing with Hinojosa and others to subvert them from their duty he caused them to be deteined and sent word to Piçarro that he was ready to grant free Pardon to him and all his Followers adding how great honour he had gained in being the principal instrument to procure a revocation of the late Ordinances which would now be completed in case he would accept of the grace and favour of his Majesty and enter into the number of his faithfull Servants that all those who were engaged on his side would have eternal obligations to him for obtaining a Pardon for them and putting them into a condition of safety and riches without the hazard of Battel wherein they may be slain or be taken Prisoners to receive the punishment of their Rebellion But all these words were wind and they might as well be preached in the Desart to the Woods and Rocks as to minds so obstinately inclined or to desperate men and such as believed themselves invincible and truth is their Camp was well fortified by the situation of the place and was well furnished with all Provisions and attended by the services of Indians Thus far are the very words of Gomara And whereas he says that the Indians were very serviceable to them is most true for generally the Indians served Gonçalo Piçarro with more affection than others by reason that he was one of the first Conquerours whom they called Children of the Sun and Brothers to their Kings the Inca's and therefore gave them the title of Inca's and particularly they bore a singular love and respect to Gonçalo Piçarro for being the Brother of the Marquis Francisco Piçarro they bewailed his death with much tenderness and compassion The night before it was resolved to give the Enemy Battel John de Acosta was appointed to attack them with a body of four hundred men in which he was the more forward in hopes to recover the Credit he had lost in the late Design by his miscarriage in which he was taxed of negligence and want of knowledge in War and it was well known how much Carvajal lamented his misfortune by being denyed the conduct of that Affair whereby he hoped to have crowned all his former Actions and consummated the glorious exploits of his old age But whilst John de Acosta was just ready to make an Attempt of Surprise upon the Enemy news was brought that one of Centeno's Souldiers was fled to the other Party whereby fearing that the design was discovered that resolution was laid aside much to the satisfaction of Piçarro who was of opinion that his advantage was greater in a full engagement with the whole Body than to skirmish and fight in small parties and thus much Gomara confirms and says that Piçarro told Acosta that there was no need to adventure his person where the Victory was secure and already certain And indeed the confidence of Piçarro and his Officers was grounded on a belief that every individual Souldier would fight as valiantly as themselves which certainly if they had it would have gained them the Victory but their errour soon appeared for neither did those who were reputed valiant fight like such nor men of less esteem shew themselves cowards The Advice which the Souldier brought who fled from Piçarro that John de Acosta was designing to surprize them and beat up their quarters caused the President to draw out his men and put them into array in which posture they continued the whole night and endured so much cold as the Historians Gomara and Carate write that they were not able to hold their weapons in their hands But so soon as it was day being the ninth of April 1548. the King's Army drew farther out into the open field and into a larger quarter than the night before The Infantry were all joined in a Body conducted by their respective Captains and supported on each hand with wings of Musquetiers and flanked on the left with two hundred Horse whose Captains were Diego de Mora John de Saavedra Rodrigo de Salazar and Francisco Hernandez Giron whom Carate calls Aldana on the right were the Captains Gomez de Alvarado Don Pedro Cabrera and Alonso Mercadillo with other two hundred Horse appointed to defend the Royal Standard which was carried by the Licenciado Carvajal in the same rank with these Captains On the right hand of these at some distance from them Captain Alonso de Mendoça and Diego de Centeno were ranked with sixty Horse under their command all which or the greatest part of them consisted of those who escaped from the Battel of Huarina who would
since to the day that I left that Countrey but this new sort of hoosing was at that time very dangerous to the Master being particularly noted and known thereby for he no sooner began to run towards the Enemy but he was known and pursued by Pedro Martin de Don Benito mounted upon a large Horse thin and lean but in good breath and as I remember he was of a bayish colour and so swift that he ran three foot for the other's one and so fetched upon him that he came up with Cepeda just as he entred upon the wet ground which was near the President 's Camp and there he gave his Horse such a stroke with his Lance on the hinder parts that he bote him down into the mire and gave another wound to Cepeda in the right Thigh and had certainly killed him had not four Cavaliers under the command of Alonso de Mendoça placed there on such occasions come in to his rescue Had not the Horse been overcharged with the weight of his Bull 's Leather he had certainly out-run and escaped the Lance of Pedro Martin de Don Benito who was mounted on an old lean Jade and having performed this piece of bravery he returned again to the main Body of his Forces but Licenciado Cepeda being relieved by the timely succours which came to his assistence he was taken out of the mire into which he was fallen and conducted to kiss the President 's Hand who received him with great joy and as Gomara saith kissed him on the Cheek looking upon him for so considerable a person as that by his desertion Piçarro was overcome Thus far Gomara After his example many other Souldiers both Horse and Foot came flocking in from all sides amongst them was Martin de Arvieto of whom we formerly made mention in the Battel of Huarina and promised to relate several things of him of which this particular shall serve for one He was well mounted on an excellent Horse carrying his Lance in his Wrest which sort of Weapon began to be out of use in those days this Martin Arvieto was accompanied by a Souldier called Pedro de Arenas born at Colmenar de Arenas he was little of stature but a neat nimble fellow and esteemed honest and a good Souldier he was mounted on a pretty dapper Mare of a brown Bay with white streaks but small and fit for the Master and was more proper to ride about the streets than for an engagement in Battel and because Arvieto had taken him under his protection he held his Horse in with a stiff hand that he might not leave his Companion which Pedro Martin observing who had already run four or five Footmen thorough with his Lance immediately pursued after them Martin de Arvieto who led the way passed easily over the moorish ground but Arenas's Mare floundred in it and after two or three plunges she threw her Rider into the mire and dirt and the girts of the Saddle broke Arvietoâ—â—ing â—â—ing about and seeing his Comrade in the dirt interposed between him and Martin de Don Benito which when Benito saw and that Arvieto intended to fight him he stopped his Horse and stood still whereupon Martin de Arvieto called upon him and said Adâ—e Rascal and let us try which of us hath sucked the better milkâ— but Benito accepted not the challenge but returned again to his companions Pedro Martin made many of these fallies and at last a shot took him on the right hand with which his Lance falling he came to Piçarro without it and told him Sir I am now disabled and unfit farther for your service and thereupon he retired into the Rere of the Horse During which time all the Souldiers that could as â—ell Horse as Foot fled over to the Royal Camp which when Francisco de Carvajal saw and that by reason of Piçarro's obstinacy who persisted still in his own humour all was brought to destruction and ruine he began to sing with a loud voice Thus Mother doth the wind carry away my hâ—rs two by two and in this manner continued singing and jesting upon those who rejected his counsel untill there was not one man remaining At length the right Wing of Musquetiers pretending unto great Faith and Loyalty deâ—â—ed leave to be detached from the rest of the Body to skirmish with the Enemy which being admitted and they drawn out so soon as they found themselves at some distance off they all set to running and came over to the President which when he and his Officers observed they resolved to decline fighting in expectation that in a very short time all the Forces of Piçarro would come over to them the which accordingly succeeded for a party of thirty Horse being drawn out to pursue the Foot followed the same example and surrendred themselves likewise to the President in like manner forty Musquetiers of the left Wing took the same way without any pursuit made after them for marching off in a Body they often faced about intending to defend themselves in case they should meet any opposition And moreover by this time Alonso de Mendoça and Diego Centeno with a party of sixty Horse had placed themselves between the Enemy and the Bog to succour such as should make their escape Carvajal all this time continued his Song roaring it out aloud as he saw the parties run away The Pike-men finding themselves naked and forsaken on both sides by their Musquetiers and no possibility for them to make their flight upon pretence of skirmish with the Enemy all on a sudden threw down their Arms and fled by several ways which put an end to all Piçarro's Forces This was the success of the Battel of Sacsahuana if so it may be called a Battel in which there was neither blow with a Sword nor push with a Lance nor Musquet shot of Enemy against Enemy nor nothing more than what is before related and so sudden was the destruction of Piçarro that if we should enlarge thereupon it would take up more time in the reading than there was in the transaction thereof On Piçarro's side as Gomara reports ten or twelve were killed all which dyed by the hand of Pedro Martin de Don Benito and other Officers in pursuit of the Fugitives but by the Forces of the President not a man was slain though Historians say both Parties were within shot of each other and whole Vollies were interchanged yet it is certain they were above five hundred paces distant each from the other On the other side but one was unluckily killed by the mischance of a shot from his Companion CHAP. XXXVI Gonçalo Piçarro surrenders himself judging it less dishonourable so to doe than to turn his back and fly The discourse which passed between the President and him The imprisonment of Francisco de Carvajal THE Pikemen having thrown down their Arms Gonçalo Piçarro and his Captains were surprised with a strange astonishment being an Act contrary to all expectation And
saw him at Cozco where he was received with great solemnity under triumphal Arches with Dances and appearance of the Gentlemen who in several Troops road before him to the great Church and thence conducted him to the Lodgings provided for him eight days after he had been there they provided for him a Feast of Bulls and of darting Canes on Horseback which was the most magnificent of any that ever had been before or since in that City for the Liveries were all of Velvet of divers colours and most of them embroidered I remember that the Liveries of my Father and his Companions were made of black Velvet and upon the upper Cassock were two borders of yellow Velvet about a span distance from each other with this Motto between Plus Ultra and adjoining hereunto were three Pillars with Crowns upon them made of yellow Velvet as were the Borders and all interwoven with a twist of Gold and blue Silk which looked very handsomely Other Liveries there were very rich and chargeable which I cannot remember so well as to describe them but these of my Fathers having been made in the House remain still in my memory The attendants of John Julio de Hogeda and Thomas Vasquez and John de Pancorvo and Francisco Rodriguez de Villa-fuerte who were all four Conquerours in the first Adventure were clothed in Liveries of black Velvet striped with divers flowers and leaves made of crimson and white Velvet On their Heads they wore Turbants embroidered with Pearls and Esmerods and other pretious Stones valued at three hundred thousand pieces of Eight which amount to above three hundred and seventy thousand Ducats of Castile and all the other Liveries were rich like these Don Francisco beheld this Gallantry and Sports from a Balcony belonging to my Father's House where I had opportunity to take notice of his person from hence he proceeded to the Cities of La Paz and La Plata and to Potocsi where he received a full relation of those Mines of Silver and of all other matters which were worthy his Majesty's information In his return he came by the City of Arequepa and along the Sea-coast as far as the City of Los Reyes in all which progress he travelled above six hundred and fifty leagues and brought with him the Mountain of Potocsi delineated and exactly drawn and painted with the Mines of Silver as also other Mountains Valleys and immense Cavities which are found in that Countrey of a strange form and figure Being returned to the City of Los reyes his Father dispatched him away for Spain with these Draughts of the Countrey and a true relation of the state of affairs there He departed from Los Reyes as Palentino saith in May 1552. where we will leave him to recount a particular accident which happened at that time in Cozco when Alonso de Alvarado was Mayor or chief Governour thereof and known to be a bold man and an impartial Justiciary the matter was this About four years before this time a party of Souldiers consisting of two hundred men marched out of the City of Potocsi towards the Kingdom of Tucman which the Spaniards call Tucuman most of which contrary to the positive Orders of the Justices were served by Indians to carry their burthens and baggage for them The chief Governour of that place called Licençiado Esquivel with whom I was acquainted went out of the Town to view the several Companies of Souldiers as they marched and having suffered all of them to pass with the Indians who carried their luggage he seised on the last man called Aguire because he had two Indians laden with his goods and for this fault some few days afterwards he sentenced him to receive two hundred stripes because he had neither Gold nor Silver to redeem the penalty laid on him by his Sentence Hereupon Aguire made all the Friends he could to the Governour to have his punishment remitted but being not able to prevail he desired that he might rather be hanged than whipped saying that though he were a Gentleman and might stand upon that privilege yet he would wave that also howsoever he thought fit to let him know that he was the Brother of a Gentleman who in his Countrey had an Estate with Vassalage of Indians But all this availed little with the Judge for though being out of Office he was a man of an easie temper and a tractable disposition yet oftentimes Honours and places of Power change the humour of some men and so it did with this Judge who became more severe by these applications so that he immediately commanded the Executioner to bring the Ass and execute the Sentence which accordingly was done and Aguire mounted thereupon The principal men of the Town considering the unreasonable severity of the Judge went and intreated him to remit or suspend the Sentence and prevailed on him rather by importunity than argument to deferr the execution for eight days But when they came to the Prison with this Warrant they found Aguire already stript and mounted on his Ass who when he understood that the Sentence was onely suspended for eight days he rejected the favour and said All my endeavours have been to keep my self from mounting this Beast and from the shame of being seen naked but since things are come thus far let the Sentence proceed which will be less than the fears and apprehensions I shall have in these eight days ensuing besides I shall not need to give farther trouble to Friends to intercede in my behalf which is likely to be as ineffectual as what hath already passed And having said this the Ass was whipped forward and he ran the gantlet according to the Sentence to the great displeasure and regret both of Spaniards and Indians who were troubled to see a Gentleman on so slight a cause dishonoured by a punishment not agreeing to his Quality howsoever he avenged himself afterwards according to the Law of Honour practised in this World. CHAP. XVIII The revenge which Aguire took for this affront The diligence used by the Governour of Cozco to take Aguire the manner how he made his escape AFter this Aguire could not be persuaded to pursue his design of the Conquest though the Inhabitants of Potocsi offered to have assisted him with all things necessary thereunto but he excused himself saying That after such a shame as this death was his onely remedy and consolation which he would endeavour to obtain as soon as possible under this melancholy he remained in Peru untill the time in which the Office of Esquivel expired and then he always like a desperate man pursued and followed him watching an opportunity to kill him and wipe off the shame of the late affront Esquivel being informed of this desperate resolution by his Friends endeavoured to avoid his Enemy and took a journey of three or four hundred leagues from him supposing that Aguire would not pursue him at such a distance but the farther Esquivel fled the more
He was much lamented by all that knew him being a person of great goodness and honour as appears by the entertainment and reception he gave to Francisco de Carvajal his Wife and Family when he found them in the Market-place of Arequepa destitute of Lodging or Money or Friends to entertain them Notwithstanding this success which the Rebels had in pursuit of their enemies who fled before them yet their loss was greater by the revolt of many of their own Souldiers to the King's party which caused them to give over the pursuit and sound a retreat lest the example of those who fled should be the cause of a general mutiny and defection amongst their Forces John Rodriguez de Villalobos a Citizen of Cozco was one of those who revolted that day from Hernandez whom though he had endeavoured to engage to him by the marriage of his Wife's Sister yet the loyalty he owed to his Prince was of greater prevalency with him than the bond and tie of alliance but Hernandez seemed to make light of his desertion swearing in contempt and disdain of him that he was more troubled for a Sword he carried with him than he was for his person or any other concernment relating to him And farther to shew his confidence and the assurance he had to prevail he again publickly declared that he gave free liberty to any man who was weary of his service to pass over to the side of the Justices for he pretended not to entertain forced and pressed Souldiers but willing and faithfull Friends As to Paulo de Meneses himself he left his Souldiers and fled to Chincha which Palentino testifies in these words When Paulo de Meneses says he saw that his Souldiers fled and that his Body of Horse ran away in full carriere he turned out of the way and passed through a sandy Countrey towards the River Pisco and with three other Companions who followed him came to Chincha c. Thus far this Authour As the Rebels returned from the pursuit they gathered up all the Arms Coats Cloaks and other things of burthen which the King's party had scattered in the way and thrown from their Horses and Mules to ease them in their flight like those who are in a storm at Sea throw their Goods and Lading over Board to save their Vessel and their Lives And such was the fortune of these Royalists who but even now being in a condition to threaten their enemies with a total destruction were in the next moment forced to flight and entirely defeated In this place it will be no great digression from our purpose to relate a story concerning the faithfulness of an Horse which I knew towards his Master because it is rare and curious and because such accidents as this seldom happen in the world In this Battel of Spurs as we may call it there was a certain Gentleman engaged of his Majesty's party called John Julio de Hogeda as Citizen of Cozco and one of the first Conquerours of that Empire who amongst other Horses which he kept was mounted that day at Villacori upon one with black spots and running full speed as Palentino saith Hogeda fell from his Horse which seeing his Master on the ground gave a stop amidst three hundred other Horses and Beasts of burthen and would not stir untill his Master got up again and was mounted on his back which faithfulness of an irrational Beast saved the life of his Master and may be recounted for a story without example unless it were another of the like nature performed by the same Horse of which I my self was a witness at Cozco where after the War was ended certain Gentlemen exercising their Horses after the Genet fashion as they usually did in the common course every Sunday it happened that a School-fellow of mine of mongrel race whose Father was a Spaniard and his Mother an Indian called Pedro de Altamirano Son of Antonio de Altamirano one of the first Conquerours being mounted on this Horse and running full speed by a Window on his left hand he espied a fair young Lady looking out from the House belonging to Alonso de Mesa the sight of whom caused him to forget his race and at the next course having the Window on his right hand he turned his head two or three times to see the beauty of the Lady The third time passing the same place the Horse being sensible that his Rider checked him in his carriere he strained harder than before to gain the Race but the young Gallant being more intent on the beauty of his Mistress than the Government of his Horse he leaned too much on one side and fell to the ground which when the Horse perceived he gave a stop in his full speed and staid without moving untill the Gallant arose and again mounted upon him and then he continued his course to the great admiration of those who were present All which I my self saw from a Gallery of my Father's House the which action may serve to confirm the truth of the former unto those who had not the faith to believe it at the first And so we shall return to the Army of the Justices where we shall find nothing but animosities and troubles and changes of Officers and places of Trust. CHAP. XIII The Justices deprive the two Generals of their Office. Francisco Hernandez comes to Nanasca A Spie carries the news of the many changes The Rebels compose an Army of Negroes SUch were the quarrels and dissensions in his Majesty's Camp between the two Generals that the Captains and Souldiers were scandalized thereat and troubled to see on all occasions things diversly and contrarily disposed The Generals being informed of these complaints and murmurings of the Souldiery were persuaded at the instance of several principal persons to dine one day together in order whereunto with much intreaty they brought the Justice Santillan from his quarters two leagues off where he was retired to a meeting with the Archbishop and after Dinner they were made Friends to the great satisfaction as Palentino saith of the whole Army The same day towards Evening news was brought to the Camp of the defeat and rout given at Villacori at which they much admired having according to their best intelligence received daily advice that Paulo de Meneses was much stronger than the enemy The Justices Captains and other Officers were highly sensible of the loss they sustained by this defeat and found by experience that the original of that and other misfortunes proceeded from the discord and misunderstanding of the two Generals to the great disgrace and discouragement of the Imperial Army And though they endeavoured as much as was possible to palliate this loss saying that those who came over from the enemy made reparation for the numbers of those who were killed yet they could not digest the loss of reputation which the Royal Army sustained by the contrariety of their opinions and opposite commands and therefore calling
de Alvarado continuing his March entered upon the Desarts of Parihuanacocha where by reason of the bad and craggy ways and tempestuous weather or the unhealthfulness of the Climate above sixty of their best Horse dyed though they were led by hand and well covered with Clothing without any reason given for the same the Grooms said that they were taken with a shortness of breath like Horses that are broken winded at which all people wondered but none knew the reason onely the Indians esteemed it ominous and to be a forerunner of ill success Diego Hernandez Chap. 42. speaking of this passage saith as follows When the Marshal was come unto Chumbibilcas and had there provided himself with all things necessary for his Camp he adventured to pass the desart of Parinacocha which is about 32 leagues over which was so full of boggs and morish places snow and rocky asperous passages and so many broken cliffs and water-galls that many Horses perished in that desolate Land which seemed at that time to be a corner of Hell where was nothing but misery and famine c. Thus far this Authour whose Authority we have brought to confirm the truth of what we have before alledged The Marshal left Captain Sancho Dugarte in Parihuanacocha sick of a Flux or Dissentery of which in a few days afterwards he dyed the Army still proceeding in their march the Scouts happened to take one of the Scouts belonging to Hernandez and to save his life they reported that he voluntarily was coming to serve his Majesty and from him the Marshal was informed that Francisco Hernandez was not above twenty leagues distant from that place for which reason he kept his people on the Watch not to be surprized or to have their quarters beaten up in the night When the Army was about two days march from Parihuanacocha a bold action was performed by a certain Negro which alarum'd the Army and was this Captain Diego de Almendras according to his usual Custome did often separate from the Army to shoot wild Beasts of which there were very many in those Desarts and being in this manner one day upon the ramble it was his fortune to meet amidst those rocks with a Negro belonging to Serjeant Major Villavicencio who had run away and whom Almendras would have bound and brought back to his Master The Neger stood still as if he would have submitted but so soon as Almendras came near him thinking to bind his hands with match the Negro stooped down and catched hold of the Ankles of his Leggs and running his Head against his Breast threw him backwards and then with his own Dagger and Sword he gave him so many Wounds that he left him dead After which the Negro fled to the rest of his Kindred and Relations who were with Hernandez and having recounted to them this brave exploit by which he made his escape they all rejoyced and gloried in the action every one boasting of it as if it had been done by himself A young man of mongrel race half Spaniard and half Indian being with Almendras and seeing his Master on the ground and ill treated in that manner took the Negro by the Shoulders to free his Master from him but Almendras being sensible that he was mortally wounded called to the youth to fly before he was killed by the Negro and such was the Cry and Groans he made as gave an allaarum to all the Army he was afterwards carried to Parihuana to be there cured but he dyed in his way thither such was the end of this poor Gentleman who lost his Life in hunting after another man's Negro the which unhappy accident both Indians and Spaniards interpreted as an ill omen of their future Successes CHAP. XVI The Marshal receives intelligence of the Enemy He sends some Forces against them A Skirmish happens between the two Parties The general opinion of the Officers to decline fighting with the Rebels THE day following after this unhappy misfortune befallen Captain Almendras the Marshal receiving advice that the Enemy was not far distant he marched eight leagues farther with his Army and then made a strong detachment which was required to hasten with all expedition and to carry no other baggage or incumbrance than onely Provisions for three days and in this manner as Palentino saith they passed a desart Countrey full of marshes and boggs and deep with Snows and that night they lodged in the open Air without Tents or other covering and having travelled eight leagues farther the next day they came very weary to a People called Guallaripa where they received News that Francisco Hernandez had departed thence three days before and was then at Chuquinga about four leagues distant from them where he staid to refresh his Army which was greatly tyred and discomposed by the Fatigues of a long march over mountainous and desolate Countries At this time the Commissary Romero and Garica de Melo came to the Marshal with a thousand Indians that were Souldiers bringing Provisions and Ammunition to him from the Province of Andaguaylas from them he received a relation of all matters concerning Hernandez and how he had strangled Diego Orihuel a Native of Salamanca having taken him as he was coming to the Marshal's Camp to serve his Majesty Thus far Palentino The Marshal having certain intelligence that the Enemy was near he greatly desired to engage with them and therefore resolved to detach two Captains with a hundred and fifty choice Musquetiers who early in the Morning were to give the Enemy an Allarum and receive such as would pass over to his Majesty's service But the Captains and other persons of quality and interest who were well informed of the strength of the place wherein Hernandez was encamped would have disâ—uaded the Marshal from the design giving him very good reasons why it was not fit or safe to attempt the Enemy within their Fortifications or to hazard the loss of an hundred and fifty of the choicest Musquetiers in the whole Army on whose success the fortune of the day depended but the Marshal replyed that he himself would follow them in the rere and succour them with the whole Army and second them so warmly with his Troops that the Enemy should be able to prevail little on them and so he instantly desired licence of the Captains to draw out from their Companies a hundred and fifty choice Musquetiers which he committed to the command and charge of his Lieutenant General and of Captain John Ramon with Directions to approach as near to the Enemy as was possible The Captains accordingly about midnight marched out with this detachment and about three hours afterwards the Marshal followed them with the whole Army Hernandez who was well advised of the near approach of a severe and incensed Enemy was vigilant not to be surprized unawares and having his forces always in a posture of defence he kept Guards on the Avenues which were but two where it was possible to be attacked
he stood and so he fell backwards into the Water and sunk down and never appeared more though all possible care and diligence was used to recover him only about two years afterwards the Indians brought his Coat of Mail unto Cozco at the time when my Father was Chief Justice of the City The Command of his Foot Company was afterwards conferred on John Ramon though he had lately lost his former Company in Chuquinca The Army being come to the River of Apurimac received the news of this unhappy accident and also was informed That one of the Scouts named Francisco Menacho with about forty more of his Companions had passed the River and that he like a brave and resolute Souldier had shewed and led them the way which never any had attempted before and that he had boldly cast himself in at the place which is now called the Ford and that he had passed and repassed it several times whilest the Camp was marching thither the which rash and precipitate action in him gave boldness to the whole Army to follow his Example and to pass over without loss of time which would have caused great delay had they attended there until a Bridge could have been erected And for the better security of their Footmen with their Burdens and for the Indians who carried the Artillery the Horse were ordered to flank them on the side to break the force of the Currant by which means all the Footmen and Indians who were laden came safely to the other side without any loss or danger as Palentino confirms Chap. 50. And herein the Providence of God is much to be admired for though an Army passed then without danger yet since that time no single person hath adventured upon it nor durst any Man attempt to wade or ford it over And now being got to the other side they entered on a Mountainous and Rocky Way full of labour and difficulty and the second Day afterwards they came to Arimacrampu seven Leagues distant from the City And from thence they proceeded farther the very Night they came thither though the Officers were much disquieted and troubled to see the Orders given by one Party to be again presently Countermanded by others of a different Faction which was the cause that the Scouts and Van of the Kings Army and of Hernandez his Forces marched always in view each of the other for the Rebels seemed not to fly but to proceed on their way in an orderly manner as if they apprehended no danger from their Enemy in the Rear Thus at length they came to Sacsahuana four Leagues from the City from whence those who were Citizens of Cozco were desirous to be ordered abroad upon the Scout with which occasion they made a visit to their Wives and Children at home where they came about Noon and the same Day in the Morning Alvarado the Lieutenant General of the Rebels had departed thence That Night the Citizens would not lie in their own Houses lest the Enemy should return and surprize them but they contrived to lodge altogether with some few Souldiers which they had brought with them and fortified themselves in the House of John Pancoroo to which there was no entrance or access by any back passage but only by the Fore-gate of the principal Street and at the distance of seven or eight paces from the Gate they raised up a Breast-work with Loop-holes to shoot out at with their Musquets by which they could fire into three Streets one on the right hand and the other two on the side where they remained all night in security having placed their Centinels in all Avenues leading towards the House I was with them all the night and was sent three or four times with Messages to the Neighbours Houses The next day being in my Father's Court-yard about 3 a clock in the Afternoon I saw Pero Hernandez the Loyal come galloping in at our Gate on his Horse Paxarillo at which I was so over-joyed that without speaking to him I ran in to my Father to carry him the good news on notice of which my Father instantly ran to meet him and they both embraced with great kindness And Pero told him that the day before the Rebels marching something more than a League from the City he took an occasion on pretence of some necessities of Nature to go aside from them and taking towards the left hand of the way amongst some high Rocks he hid himself there for a while and then climbed up the Mountain whence seeing the Rebels at a distance he made his escape and was come thither After which he went with my Father to the King's Army and there served until the end of the War and then returned back again with my Lord Garçilasso into Cozco Of all which I was an Eye Witness and as such have given this faithful Relation CHAP. XXIV His Majesties Camp enters into Cozco and from thence marches forwards An account is given how the Indians carried the Train of Artillery on their Shoulders Part of the Amunition arrives at the Royal Army THE third day after the Citizens had made a visit to their Relations and Concernments in the City the Royal Camp made their Entry with the Troops and Companies in good order The Infantry drew up in the Chief Place or Square and the Horse skirmished with the Foot according to the Rules of Military Discipline and both charged each other with handsome Vollies and quick Fire for the Souldiers were become very ready and expert at their Arms. And though Palentino saith that Don Phelipe de Mendoça who was General of the Ordnance brought his great Guns into the Parade and fired them several times and that the Musquetiers marching the Round made several handsome Vollies but herein this Writer was much mistaken as he hath been in many other Passages for the Artillery could not be easily fixed and put in order so as to be used at every turn and unnecessary occasion for they were not drawn on their Carriages but carried on the Indians Shoulders and that with so much difficulty that to manage eleven pieces of Cannon only with their Carriages was the work of ten thousand Indians I my self saw them brought into Cozco and was then in the place when they were again carried out and the manner how they mannaged them was this Every piece of Ordnance was fastned to a large Beam of about forty foot in length under this were fixed several cross Bars about the bigness of a Mans Arm at two foot asunder and of about half a yard long on each side the Beam under which two Indians were placed one on one side and one on the other after the manner that the Palanquines are carried in Spain The burthen they carried was laid on their Shoulders close to their Necks where they wore a Pad or Pannel to keep them from galling with the weight and at every 200 paces they were relieved by a fresh Company And here we may