slaughter of them that the Spaniards believed that in the compass of eight Leagues round there was not an Indian that could appear Howsoever having bribed the Spies which the Spaniards entertained amongst them they succeeded in the most notable Plot that ever was designed by silly Barbarians for they with great quiet and silence encompassed every House with people sufficient to deal with those which were within for they were well advised of the numbers which dwelt in it and setting Guards at the entrance to every Street they assailed the unhappy City giving fire to the Houses and having seized on the Gates the Inhabitants could neither relieve one the other nor yet make their escape by flight so that in the space of two hours they had destroyed all the people by Fire and Sword and possessed themselves of the Fort and Guns in it there being no people within to defend it Those that were killed and taken were about four hundred Spaniards of Men Women and Children They sacked and plundered to the value of three hundred thousand Pieces of Eight nor did any thing remain which was not either burnt or laid desolate The Ships of Vallano Villarroel and of one D. Diego de Royas were let run a drift down the Stream to which some people made their escape by the means of Canoes which lay by the water side otherwise none had remained to have been the Messengers of this fatal News The Indians had been provoked to this cruelty in revenge of those people whom the Spaniards had slain in two late Incursions having sold their Wives and Children to Merchants who transported them into foreign Countries and so sensible were they of the slavery they had endured for fifty years past that though they had been baptized and entertained Priests to instruct them in the Christian Doctrine yet the first thing they did was to burn their Temples and with sacrilegious hands to throw the Images of Saints from the Altars Ten days after this unhappy fate the good Colonel Francisco del Campo arrived in the Port of this City with the succour of three hundred Men which the Governour of Peru had sent thither for the relief of that and the other distressed Cities It was his fortune to recover a Son and a Daughter of his which were both Children which being committed to the charge of his Sister-in-law had been taken and carried away captives when the City was sacked and laid desolate the miserable State of which when he saw he with great Rage and Resolution landed his Men marching with all expedition to relieve the Cities of Osorno Villarrica and the unhappy Ymperial from which places they had received no news in the space of a whole year but that they had endured a Siege of so long a time and were almost all famished and dead having no other sustenance than the Flesh of their dead Horses and when those failed of Cats and Dogs and the Skins of Beasts and this was all the Intelligence they had being brought to them by a Messenger who escaped down the River representing with Sighs and Tears the miserable condition of their people Wherefore the first thing that this Colonel designed after his landing was to relieve the City of Osorno for he was informed that the Enemy soon after the Destruction of Valdivia were gone thither with the like intent his success herein was accordingly prosperous for he raised the Siege and performed other Actions of happy consequence At the instant that I am writing this news is come that all the people in Ymperiall were starved with hunger after the Siege of a complete Year excepting twenty Men who to avoid Famine yielded themselves into the hands of the Enemy and thereby endured a greater misery than Death itself In Angol they killed four Souldiers but who they were is not yet known God Almighty have Mercy upon us From Santiago in Chili in the month of March 1600. All which Relation came as I have said in several Letters from Peru and the Kingdom of Chili which was a great calamity to that Countrey Moreover Father Diego de Alcobaça whom I have formerly mentioned in the Year 1601. amongst many other things relating to the Affairs of that Countrey writes me these very words concerning the Kingdom of Chili The condition of Chili is now become very unhappy for there is not an Indian but who can mount his Horse and dare encounter with his Launce the best Spanish Souldier that is and though we send every year Souldiers thither yet none of them return they have destroyed two Plantations of the Spaniards and having killed all the Men and destroyed every thing of use they carried their Wives and Children into Slavery and lately they killed the Governour Loyola from an Ambuscade who married the Daughter of D. Diego Sayrutipac who was an Inca and was departed from Villcapampa before you left these parts God in his mercy pardon the Sins of the dead and put an end to these Afflictions of the living Thus far are the words of Alcobaça which he writes me with many other sad stories which I purposely omit because they contain nothing but what is tragical and full of sorrow amongst which recounting the afflicted Estate of Arequepa he says that Wheat that Year was worth in that Countrey ten and eleven Ducats a Bushel and Mayz thirteen Moreover besides all that which we have already delivered concerning Arequepa they wrote farther that their calamities still continued having to contend with the extremities of the four Elements as appears at large by those Relations which the Jesuits have given to the General of their Order concerning the most remarkable Occurrences of Peru which happened in the Year 1602. And though those Letters say that their misfortunes were not at an end yet they farther add that greater were the Afflictions of the Kingdom of Chili which happened after the forementioned troubles the particulars of which were given me by Francisco de Castro who was born at Granada and in this Year 1604. is Prefect of the Schools of the sacred University of Cordova and Rhetorick Professour The Title of which together with the particulars is Verbatim in these words Of the Rebellion of the Araucans OF the thirteen Cities which were established in this Kingdom of Chili the Indians have destroyed six namely Valdivia Ymperial Angol Sancta Cruz Chillan and Conception They overthrew consumed and laid desolate their Houses and Habitations dishonoured and prophaned the Temples obscured the brightness of that Faith and Devotion which shined in those parts and what is worst this success hath encouraged and raised the Spirits of the Indians in that manner that they are grown bold and confident omitting no opportunity or advantage which may offer to rob and destroy our Cities and Monasteries with Fire and Sword. They have learned also many Arts and Strategems of War for that when they besieged the City of Osorno and compelled the Spaniards to retire within their works they
or clear Springs nor indeed was there any good Water near the City of Cozco When my Father after the War of Francisco Hernandez Giron in the Year 1555. and 56. was Governour of the City they then brought their Water from Ticatica which water was excellent good arising about a quarter of a League from the Town to the chief Market-place from whence as I hear they have now turned it by a Conduit pipe to the Square of St. Francisco and instead thereof they have brought another Fountain to that place of exquisite Water running with a plentifull stream CHAP. V. Of the manner how they Interred their Kings and that the Obsequies and Rites of Burial continued for the space of a whole Year THE Rites of Burial which they performed for their Kings were solemn and of long continuance In the first place they embalmed their Bodies with such rare Art that as we have said before in the year 1559. they were so firm and plump that they seemed to be living Flesh. Their Bowels were interred in a Temple which was situated in the Countrey called Tampu upon the Banks of a River below Yucay about five Leagues distant from the City of Cozco where were many stately Edifices of Stone Of which Pedro de Cieça speaking in the 94th Chapter of his Book saith that it was reported for certain how that in some places of the Palace or Temple of the Sun the Stones were joined or cramped with melted Gold which with the cement they used were well fixed and consolidated together When the Inca or some principal Curaca dyed the Servants who were his greatest Favourites and the Wives that were the most beloved by him did either kill themselves or offer themselves to be buried alive in the Tomb of their Masters that so they might accompany them into the other World and renew their immortal Services in the other Life which as their Religion taught them was a corporeal and not a spiritual Being whereby it may appear that what some Historians write relating to this matter namely that they killed the Servants after the death of their Masters is a mistake for that would have been a piece of Tyranny and Inhumanity above the capacity of humane Nature for under this pretence one Man might lawfully kill another and remove him out of the way who was hatefull to him or stood in opposition to his Designs or Interest The truth is they needed no Law or compulsion to enforce them to follow the Fate of their Master for when he was dead his Servants crouded so fast after him desiring death that the Magistrates were forced sometimes to interpose with their Authority and persuade them that for the present their Master had no need of more attendance but that in due time when they naturally yielded to their own Mortality it might then be seasonable enough for them to repair to their Services and Offices in the other World. The Bodies of their Kings after they were embalmed were seated before the Image of the Sun in the Temple at Cozco to whom they offered Sacrifices as to Demons or Men of Divine Race For the first month after the death of the Inca the whole City bewailed their loss with loud cries and lamentations and every Parish or quarter of the Town went out in their several Divisions into the fields carrying the Trophies of the Inca his Banners and Arms and Garments and whatsoever was to be buried in the grave with his Bowels with their sighs and lamentations they mentioned and repeated the mighty Acts that he had done in the Wars and the good Acts of Charity and Beneficence that he had shewed to them and their Neighbourhood After the end of the first month they then commemorated the Death of their Inca at the Full and New of the Moon and so continued till the end of the first Year when they concluded the solemnity with full pomp and state appointing Men and Women practised in the Art of Cries and Lamentations who like excellent Tragedians acted their parts of sorrow in the most formal and passionate manner imaginable singing the Acts of the dead King in sorrowfull Tones and Accents What we have said hitherto was the part onely of the Commonalty besides which the Court and Nobility performed the Obsequies with as much difference to those of the people as there was of Eminence in their condition and of Wealth and Politeness in the manner of their living What was practised in the City of this kind was also imitated in the Countries the respective Curacas stirring up the people to demonstrate by their outward gestures and actions their inward sorrow and passion for the death of their Inca. With these Cries and Lamentations they went to visit all the places within their Province where at any time their Inca had pitched his Camp or made his abode or residence though but for a night and there they all with loud Lamentations repeated the Favours and Honours and Benefits that he had performed for them in that place And thus much shall serve to have said touching the Funeral of the Incas in imitation of which something of this nature was performed in honour of their Caciques of which I remember to have seen some passages in the time of my infant Years for in the Province of the Quechuas I once saw a multitude of people gathered in a field to lament the Death of a Cacique carrying his Garments upon Poles in fashion of Banners or Ensignes my curiosity prompted me to ask them what all that noise and tumult meant to which they answered me that it was the Funeral Lamentation of Huamam-pallpa for so they called the deceased Cacique CHAP. VI. Of the General and Solemn Huntings which the Kings made in all parts of their Kingdom THE Kings of Peru enjoyed with their other parts of Greatness and State certain days appointed for Solemn and General Huntings called in their Tongue Chacu And herein it is to be observed that all sorts of Game were forbidden to be killed unless Partridges Pidgeons Doves or lesser Birds for the Service and Table onely of the Incas who were Governours or of the Curacas nor was thus much permitted neither but under a limited quantity and by command and order also of the Justice This prohibition was observed under the same penalties that all other observances of their Law were enjoined and herein they were rigorous and severe lest Men betaking themselves to the pleasure of the Field should delight in a continued course of sports and so neglect the necessary provisions and maintenance of their Families By which strict restraint the Game both of Birds and Beasts was so common and in abundance and tame that they entred even into their Houses where though they could not kill them yet howsoever they might affright and drive them out of their Fields and Pastures for that though the Inca was Master of the Game yet he loved his Subjects better than to have them
all the occurrences so particularly and truly as I am for those who come from thence give me informations of what hath past and some Friends who live upon the place constantly write to me from the Camp and give me as good intelligence as they are able for they knowing me to be a man of truth and delighted with a real and exact account of all successes do endeavour to gratifie my curiosity and affection to his Majesty's interest by faithfull and true informations which my zeal to the Crown settles and fixes in my memory c. The remainder of this Letter for brevity sake we omit as impertinent and little to our purpose for it reflects chiefly on the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez Vela and casts the blame of all the mischiefs past on his miscarriages and to justifie himself he says that all the Cities of that Empire chose him for their Agent-General in which capacity he was empowered by Commission from the Judges under the great Seal to drive out and expell Blasco Nunnez Vela from the limits of that Kingdom and that he acted nothing all that time but by their Warrant and by virtue of their commands With this Letter Paniagua was dispatched by Sea where we shall leave him for a while to discourse of other matters which intervened onely before we conclude this Chapter we must reflect a little on that passage of his Letter wherein he says that of that vast tract of Empire which he and his Kindred had acquired to the Crown not one Acre thereof was appropriated to his Family he means by inheritance for ever as the Lords in Spain hold their Lands which were granted to them by former Kings in reward of the Services they had done in the Wars against the Moors helping to subdue and drive them out of the Land for though Gonçalo Piçarro and Hernando Piçarro were seised of much Land with command over Indians yet they held them onely for their lives as did also the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro whose Estate was onely for Life and never descended to his Children CHAP. VI. The death of Alonso de Toro Diego Centeno and the other Captains come out of their Caves and places of retirement and appear for the service of his Majesty Gonçalo Piçarro sets all his Ships on fire and what was the saying of Carvajal thereupon FErnandez Paniagua having received his dispatches and departed Gonçalo Piçarro began to be troubled that he had received no advices or intelligences from Lorenço de Aldana either in relation to his Voyage or to the Fleet then at Panama nor of any other matter concerning Pedro de la Gasca so that he suspected something amiss in regard the time did well admit of a return Wherefore he dispatched Letters to Captain Pedro de Puelles his Deputy at Quitu and to Captain Mercadillo Governour of the City of St. Michael to Captain Porcel in Paccamurus and to Captain Diego de Mora at Truxillo advising them to be in a readiness in case he should have occasion to call upon them for their assistance which he believed would be very speedy but when the Messengers came to those places they found all the People already possessed with the news of a general Pardon and of the revocation of the late Ordinances for the President had taken care to disperse Copies in all parts upon publication of which there was a general defection in all places from Gonçalo Piçarro the like Message was also sent to Captain Antonio de Robles then in the City of Cozco to prepare and keep his People in a readiness to be employed in any future service which might offer this Message was sent to Antonio de Robles because Piçarro was informed that Diego Gonçales de Vargas with whom I had acquaintance had killed Captain Alonso de Toro who was Governour under him in that City the truth is the matter was sudden and neither contrived by him who killed him nor suspected by the person who was slain for Alonso de Toro was Son-in-law to Diego Gonçales and lodged in the same House together Alonso de Toro was of a proud cholerick disposition and very loud in his speech Diego Gonçales being in the Hall which was next to his Daughter's Apartment he heard Alonso de Toro scold and quarrel with his Daughter who was a very good and vertuous Wife and in his fury coming out into the Hall he met with his Father-in-law and fansying that he came to take part with his Daughter he presently brusled up to the good old man who was above sixty five years of age and with a loud voice gave him base and foul language but Gonçales de Vargas rather with intention to defend himself than with design to hurt his Son-in-law laid hold on an old Dagger which hung by a string at his side and drew it in his own defence with which Alonso de Toro being more provoked came up so close to the old Man that he received a wound from the Dagger which when De Vargas perceived and considered that there was now no other way he gave him three or four stabbs more in the Belly and then fled fearing lest de Toro should by his strength wrest the Dagger from him and kill him with it but he had strength onely to pursue him about fifty paces to the foot of the Stairs where he fell down and died This was the fate of poor Alonso de Toro which his own fury and cholerick disposition had brought upon him his Father-in-law being forced thereunto merely to save and defend himself Diego Gonçales was afterwards tried for the fact and acquitted and I knew him several years after he had a Son named Diego de Vargas who went to School with me whilst we learned to reade and write and were afterwards in our Latin we were also neighbours and lived next door but one to them when this unfortunate mischief happened After the death of Alonso de Toro the Corporation of the City made choice of Alonso de Hinojosa to be Governour and Captain thereof under Gonçalo Piçarro but he was soon superseded by Antonio de Robles who received a Commission for the place from Piçarro by which though Hinojosa esteemed himself much disobliged yet he dissembled his pleasure untill a fair opportunity offered to make known his resentments as will appear more plainly hereafter The Letters and Advices also of the arrival of the President were carried to Arequepa and to the City of Plate and flew over all Collao where many of those people were concealed who had been dispersed by Francisco de Carvajal when he pursued Diego Centeno This news caused great fermentation in the minds of the People and particularly an inhabitant of Arequepa called Diego Alvarez being then near the Sea-coast with nine or ten Companions made himself Captain of them and taking Colours of a Linen Cloth they went in search of Diego Centeno who had by this time quitted his Cave and gotten together about five men who
Mamacunas or Matrons to oversee them as those had which lived at Cozco and were governed by the same rules excepting that those who lived at Cozco were all of the true Royal Bloud and obliged to a perpetual Cloister and Virginity but these were Maids of all sorts and conditions provided that they were beautifull being not designed for Wives of the Sun but Concubines to the Inca. The same rigour of Law was practised against those who debauched and defiled the Women of the Inca as against those who became Adulterers with the Virgins espoused to the Sun for the crime being the same required the same punishment but as there was never any such offence committed so there was never any such severity executed but to confirm that there was such a Law we have the authority of Augustin de Carate who in the seventh Chapter of his second Book discoursing of the causes of the violent Death of Atahualpa hath these very words which I have copied out Verbatim being very much to our purpose And as saith he all the Allegations which were made hereupon were all pronounced by the Tongue of the same Filipillo he interpreted nothing but what made to his own purpose What might be the cause which moved him hereunto can never be certainly determined though it must be one of these two things either that this Indian entertained private Amours with one of the Wives of Atabaliba and expected by his death to enjoy her with more security which being come to the knowledge of Atabaliba he complained thereof to the Governour saying That he was more sensible of that misfortune than he was of his imprisonment and that no misery though accompanied with Death could touch him so nearly as this for that a common Indian of base extraction should esteem him at so mean a rate as to make him the subject of so high an affront in despight of that Law of their Countrey which assigned no less a punishment for it than that such offendour should be burnt alive with his Wives Fathers Children Brothers and all the rest of his Kindred nay the very Flocks and Herds of such an Adulterer were to be destroyed his Lands laid desolate and sowed with Salt his Trees eradicated from the very Roots his Houses demolished with many other inflictions of the like nature Thus far are the words of Augustin de Carate which serve to confirm what I have wrote concerning this matter and indeed I was pleased to have my words avouched by the testimony of this Spanish Cavalier For though other Historians mention this Law yet they onely say that it was with the Death of the Offendour omitting that of his Wife and Father and Relations and all the other Solemnities of this punishment whereby we may understand how grievous that offence was esteemed and how deeply that poor Inca Atahualpa resented it when in the Agony of his Heart he said That he felt it more than his Imprisonment and all other infelicities though attended with Death it self Those Women who had the honour to be extracted from these Houses for Concubines to the King were made uncapable of ever returning thither again but remained in the Court as Ladies and Attendants on the Queen untill such time as they were dismissed and licence given them to return into their own Countries where for ever afterwards they were provided with Houses and Revenue agreeable to their Quality and to the Dignity and Honour they had acquired by having been Mistresses to the Inca. Those who could not attain to this Honour were obliged to remain in their Cloister untill they were ancient and then had liberty either to continue till the time of their Death or to return to their own Countrey where they were treated with such respect as was due to the profession they had made CHAP. V. Of the Quality and Ornament of these Select Virgins and that they were not to be given unto any person whatsoever in Marriage THose Virgins which were dedicated or designed for the present King had the Title after his Death of Mothers to the Successour with the Addition also of Mamacuna which was a Name properly belonging to their Office which obliged them to teach and oversee the young Novices who were admitted for Concubines of the New Inca and treated by them as their Children and Daughters-in-law Every one of these Convents had its Governour or Superiour who was an Inca and whose business it was to provide all Necessaries for the use of these Wives of the Inca for though in reality they were but Concubines yet in respect and courtesie they gave them the Honourable title of Wives In every one of these Houses belonging to these Maidens separated for the use of the Inca all their Utensils and Services of the House were made of Gold and Silver as those were which belonged to the Wives of the Sun and to the famous Temple and as we shall hereafter declare to the Royal Palaces for indeed all the Gold and Silver and pretious Stones which were found and amassed in that great Empire were for the most part employed to no other use than to the Service and Adornment of the Temples of the Sun which were very numerous and of the Cloisters of those Virgins which were equally considerable and to embellish the Royal Palaces with agreeable pomp and magnificence the quantity consumed in the Services of Curacas and great Men was little and that chiefly in their Cups or drinking Vessels which was also limited and moderated according to such a degree of Weight and Number as the Inca was pleased to allow them there was also some small matter licensed for their Garments and Cloathing when the grand Festivals were celebrated It is a great errour and mistake of those who report that any of these separated Virgins might lawfully be given for Wives to the great Commanders and Captains by any favour or dispensation of the Inca for being once dedicated and consecrated for Wives of the Inca and admitted to that profession they were ever after rendred uncapable of so low a condescension as to own any other Husband for that were to prophane that Sacred Character whereby they were dedicated to the Inca and an injury to the Woman who thereby would be forced to renounce all the grandeur and privileges she enjoyed under the Reverend Title of one Married to the Inca that she might receive the less honourable condition of a private person And since it was a fundamental Law amongst them That none was to be injured much less ought any diminution to be offered to their Kings who as we have said were honoured and adored by them under the Notion of Gods. CHAP. VI. What Women those were whom the Inca presented and bestowed in Marriage THE truth is there were some Women of whom the Inca made Presents to such Curacas and Captains who by their Services had merited rewards from him but then these were but the Daughters of other Curacas which the Inca
them into those parts to which they were designed which being performed the Inca also returned to Tumpiz on other important occasions for whereas these Princes employed their whole time to business for the better government of their People they omitted nothing which might tend to their good and to the happiness of their living and therefore might most justly be stiled Lovers of the Poor and Guardians of their People So soon as the Inca was departed his Captains and Officers prepared also for their passage ordering Boats and Ferries for their transportations the which were provided by the Natives in so small a number as were not sufficient to carry above half the People at a time the which they purposely contrived that so being on the Water they might be able to master that Party and execute their Design which was to kill them all Wherefore one half being embarked together with their Luggage or Baggage which was great for it appertained for the most part to Incas of the Bloud who were near the Person of the King and therefore carried many changes of Apparel with them which were very fine These Traitors which conducted the Boats being come to such a place of the Sea where they had designed to execute their Treachery cut the Cords and Ropes which bound the Timbers and Planks of the Boats together which carried the Incas with which all the Captains and Souldiers being plunged in the Sea the Assassinates took up the Oars and the Arms belonging to them and therewith knocked them on the Head not suffering one of them to escape with his Life And though some of them endeavoured to save themselves by swimming for most of the Indians are very expert in that Art yet it availed them little for they were not suffered to come ashore by the People of the Coast who preyed upon them in such manner as the Maritime Creatures do upon those of the Land. In this manner these Islanders having gained their Victory and made themselves Masters of the Spoils which were very great they with much Joy and Triumph saluted one the other from Boat to Boat applauding the contrivance and success of their Design with which they were so elevated being an ignorant and sottish People that they believed they had now not onely secured their Liberty but were able also to make themselves Masters of the Empire With this vain opinion they returned to the Island and with like Dissimulation and Wickedness of Intention took aboard the residue of the Captains and Souldiers which remained for the second adventure whom having brought to the same place where the former Villany was perpetrated they acted the like on them and then returning home they completed their Villany by putting all the Governours and Ministers to death whom the Inca had left to doe Justice and to oversee the Revenue belonging to the Sun and to the Inca the which they acted with incomparable Cruelty and Disdain of the Royal Person of the Inca placing the Heads of the murthered at the Gates of their Temples and sacrificing their Hearts and Bloud to their Idols complying hereby with the Vows they had made to their Spirits and Devils in case they would favour and prosper their Attempt CHAP. VI. Of the Punishment which was inflicted upon these faithless Rebels THE sad news of this unhappy success being made known to Huayna Capac he received it with as deep a sense of trouble as the loss of so many Incas of the Bloud Royal and of Men experienced in War and Peace did require condoling much that their Bodies should be cast into the Sea to be the Food and Prey of Fish for which being full of sorrow he put himself into mourning Weeds which amongst them is a Clothing of a greyish colour called Vellori But the Anger and Indignation of the Inca soon overcame his sorrow for having assembled his People together and provided all things necessary he with the greatest Expedition imaginable passed into the rebellious Provinces upon the Main-land and with great facility subjected the Inhabitants who were a silly people without Counsel Policy or Military Art whereby to defend themselves From the Subjection of these people on the Main the Inca passed into the Island in his way whereunto he encountred a slight resistence on the Sea but so inconsiderable and weak that the Enemy was immediately overcome and yielded to Mercy Whereupon the Inca commanded all the principal Authours and Counsellours of this Design together with the Captains and Souldiers of chiefest note who were in any wise concerned in this Treason to be seized and brought before his Tribunal of Justice to whom one of the Generals made a grave Speech representing to them the deformity of their Wickedness aggravated with all the black circumstances that were possible for that whilst the Inca was studying their good and endeavouring to reclaim them from their bestial and brutish Life that they might enjoy a condition more agreeable to a rational Being that then they were contriving to disappoint his good Intentions by the worst and soulest Cruelties Wherefore since Justice was to be performed and that the Inca could not exercise that Clemency and Compassion which was natural to his Temper they were to prepare themselves to receive a punishment agreeable to their demerit upon which Sentence being passed it was executed with divers sorts of Death according as the Inca directed that it might have some conformity to that kind of Cruelty which they acted on the people of the Inca they threw some into the Sea with great weights to sink them to the bottom others they ran through the Body with their Lances and pitched them on Spears before the Gates of their Temples others were quartered after their Throats were cut others they killed with their own Weapons and others were hanged Pedro de Cieça having at large described the particulars of this Rebellion and the Revenge of it writes afterwards these Words In this manner many thousands of Indians were killed and destroyed with different sorts of death the principal Leaders of which Councils were either drowned or empaled And after Huayna Capac had done Justice upon these Offenders he commanded that this dismal story should be made the Subject of those Songs which were to be recited on their days and times of Calamity which they in dolefull Ditties composed in their Language and Proprieties of their Countrey After which the Inca attempted to make a Causey over the River Guayaquile which certainly was a great and magnificent work according to those remains which to this day appear of it but it was never finished according to the manner that he designed being called to this day the Pass of Guayna Capa all which being performed commands were given to obey the Governour who resided in the Fortress of Tumbez with other matters relating to Government and so the Inca departed from those Quarters Thus far are the Words of Pedro de Cieça CHAP. VII Of the Mutiny which
other Northward the choice of which being absolutely granted to Almagro he refused to accept either for seeing himself now in possession of the City and that his Competitour had condescended to all his Conditions he believed that such Compliance proceeded from a fear of loosing all his Government wherefore since Fortune had with displayed wings owned his Cause he was resolved to push it forward and try if he could become sole Monarch of all that Empire Thus Almagro being puffed up with Ambition and moved with Covetousness which are two unsatiable Affections of the Mind he would yield to no Agreement with the Marquis and Espinosa dying amidst the heat of these Debates nothing was concluded nor the Benefit of that Peace and happy Accommodation produced as might have been expected from the Prudence Judgment and moderation of that worthy Person who before his Death presaged the Ruine and Destruction of both the Governours And now Almagro to testifie to the World that he had not yielded to the Propositions of the Marquis he marched out of Cozco with an Army leaving Graviel de Rojas Governour in his stead with Commission to have a particular Eye and Regard over the Prisoners who with the first taken with Hernando Piçarro and those with Alonso de Alvarado did amount in all to the number of one hundred and fifty which were committed unto two several Prisons as we have already declared But in regard that Almagro durst not trust Hernando Piçarro in Prison lest he should make his Escape he took him with himself and marched by way of the Plains and having passed the Territories belonging to Cozco he entred into the Jurisdiction of los Reyes and came to the Valley of Chincha which is not much more than twenty Leagues distant from that City where in token of Livery and Seisin he founded a new Colony giving thereby a clear Evidence of his Intentions to become Master of both Governments And here for a while he pitched his Camp to see how the Marquis would take this Attempt giving him thereby to understand That in case he should be displeased with these his Proceedings that he was there ready to defie him and there expected him in the Field to decide the Controversie like a Souldier and a valiant Captain CHAP. XXXV The Marquis nominates Captains for the War. Gonzalo Piçarro makes his Escape out of Prison The Sentence given by the Umpires concerning the Government The Interview between the two Governours And the Liberty of Hernando Piçarro SO soon as the Marquis was returned to the City of los Reyes he began his Preparations for a War against Almagro his Drums were beat up for new Leavies and Advices were dispatched along the Coast of all matters which had passed Upon which the people flocked together in such numbers that having increased his Army very considerably he gave out his Commissions to Captains and other Officers Pedro de Valdivia and Antonio de Villalva were ordained Major-Generals the Son of Collonel Villalva was made Seargeant Major Peranzures Diego de Rojas and Alonso de Mercadillo were appointed Captains of Horse Diego de Urbino Native of Ordunna the Kinsman of John de Urbino was made Captain of Lanciers Nunno de Castro and Peter de Vergara who had been a Souldier in Flanders and brought with him from thence into the Indies a company of Musquetiers with Ammunition and necessaries agreeable thereunto were confirmed by Commission for Officers of that Militia These Commanders mustered eight hundred choice Souldiers viz. six hundred Foot and two hundred Horse with which Force the Marquis marched out of los Reyes to fight Almagro Whilst matters succeeded as we have related between the Marquis and Almagro the Prisoners which remained in Cozco were contriving the manner how to obtain their desired Liberty and in regard that the nature of civil Wars is such as that Mens Minds are easily corrupted and seduced to the contrary Fashion so on this occasion these wanted not Men who upon promise of Reward were persuaded to sell the Loyalty and Faith which they had sworn to Almagro and his Deputy Graviel de Rojas the price whereof was not paid in hand but on the bare Promise of Ganzalo Piçarro and Alonso de Alvarado with about fifty or sixty more who were then Prisoners in the Cassana the Persons who were privy to this escape were about forty in number and were the Guards of the Prison who having licence to go in and out to the Prisoners as occasion served they left them instruments to file off their Chains and Arms for their Defence and having other Souldiers with them in the Plot they provided them with Horses and other necessaries for their Flight The Prisoners and their Complices being in readiness to make their escape with the silence of the night it happened that some time before the matter was to be put in Execution that Graviel de Rojas as was his Custome every night came to visit the Prisoners where having opened the Doors he found the Prisoners loose and at Liberty and he himself taken for being encompassed by them all they told him plainly that either he must resolve to go with them or dye upon the place Graviel de Rojas seeing himself thus unexpectedly surprised and not being in any Capacity to make a Resistence consented to what they required and so in company with about an hundred Men he was forced with those who had taken him Prisoner together with those who revolted to the party of Francisco Piçarro having free passage by way of the Mountains for Almagro with his Forces was quartered in the Plains by the Sea-coast Some have malitiously reported that Graviel de Rojas was joined in the same Conspiracy with the others but that was a false Surmise for had he been really in that Plot he would not have left near an hundred Prisoners in the Fortress many of which were in the number of the first Conquerours such as Francisco de Villafuerte Alonso de Maçueta Mancio serra de Leguiçamo Diego de Maldovado Julio de Hojeda Tomas Vasque◠Diego de Truxillo and John de Pancorvo with whom I had acquaintance and were Persons of great Interest and Estates amongst the Indians in Cozco Besides which Garcilasso de la Vega Gomez de Tordoya and Peralvarez Holguin remained Prisoners all which to have taken with them would have been much to the benefit of the Conspiratours But this was the truth of the Matter The Marquis when he saw his Brother and his other Friends rejoiced exceedingly for he greatly feared that by the Malice and Rage of his Enemies they had been put to death and his people were greatly encouraged by these additional Forces Gonçalo Piçarro was made General of the Foot and Alonso de Alvarado of the Horse and so well was Gonçalo Piçarro beloved even by his Enemies that many quitted their Horses to serve on Foot onely to have the Honour to be one of his Souldiers Almagro having received intelligence
Fernandez Palentino adds as follows When news was brought to the Vice-king of these ill Successes he greatly resented them clearly now perceiving that his Affairs went cross and that the affections of the people were tainted with rebellion Howsoever that he might in some manner revenge the disloyalty of Captain Gançalo Diaz who had so ignominiously broken his faith and word with him and since he could not inflict a punishment on his person he caused the Colours or Ensign of his Company to be trailed along through the Market-place in the sight and view of the Captains Souldiers and of all the City and commanded the Serjeants and Ensign of the Company of Gonçalo Diaz and of all the other Companies to run the points of their Lances into his Colours and tear them in pieces in dishonour and to the ignominy of the absent Captain but Gomez Estacio who was Ensign to that Company and other the Associates who were to support the Colours were not a little netled at this Affront as if it had in some manner reflected upon themselves and more particularly Gomez Estacio found himself aggrieved because the Vice-king had commanded him to trail the Colours with his own hand and from that time he became disaffected to the Vice-king and a friend to the Cause and Party of Gonçalo Piçarro And though it be granted that many did approve the action of Gonçalo Diaz and did agree that the dishonour shewed to his Colours was but just and no more than what his infidelity deserved Howsoever they were well enough pleased to see the power of the Vice-king weakened whose ruine and down-fall they desired by the better fortune and success of Gonçalo Piçarro Thus did nothing thrive which the Vice-king acted but all turned to his prejudice of which he was sensible though he strove to conceal his inward trouble and put the best face upon it that he could Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez And now men who were disaffected began to blame the Council which was given to the Vice-king to send Gonçalo Diaz against his Father-in-law and as other Authours say it was much wondered that the Vice-king should be so much overseen as not to consider the inconvenience of engaging the Son-in-law against the Father between whom there had been no quarrel or ground of displeasure And in like manner reflecting on the concernment of Gomez Estacio Ensign of Gonçalo divers were of opinion that it was an Affront given him without any Cause and that it was improperly done to command him who had in no manner been engaged in the Treason of his Captain to be an Executioner of a disgrace which could not be acted without great reflexion on himself Thus did the hatred which men had conceived against the Vice-king turn all the actions he did to a bad interpretation CHAP. XII A Pardon and safe Conduct is given to Gaspar Rodriguez and his Friends His death and of divers others NOW to set forth what these Authours report of Gaspar Rodriguez whom Carate sometimes mentions by the name of Gaspar de Rojas we are to observe that he was a brother of the good Capain Perançures de Campo rotondo who was slain in the battel of Chupas and after his death he came to the inheritance and possession of his Indians which Vaca de Castro bestowed upon him by special Grant. This was the Gentleman who rashly and without consideration seized upon the Cannon which were at Huamanca and carried them to Cozco and was greatly engaged in the designs of Gonçalo Piçarro but observing that many of the principal Citizens who had taken part with Piçarro had relinquished his Cause and fled from him he also resolved to follow their example and revolt to the Vice-king but being conscious of his Crime in carrying away the Cannon he thought it best and most secure to obtain a Pardon for the same both as to life and estate before he trusted himself in the hands of the Vice-king whom he knew to be a man of a morose and severe disposition and one who would not spare him in case he fell into his hands without such a Precaution and to make his access and pardon the more easie by an appearance of some signal service he treated with some friends of his persuading them to pass over to the other party following the example of those other noble Citizens who had lately done the like and with them he so prevailed that they resolved on the point and as a preparation thereunto to demand their Pardon first and to receive a Protection or Letter of safe conduct freely to come and offer their service But whilst these Matters were in agitation Pedro de Puelles as the Authours report arrived very opportunely for had his coming been delayed but three days longer it is the general opinion that all the Army of Gonçalo Piçarro had of themselves been dispersed and disbanded Howsoever these new recruit did not alter and remove the intentions of Gaspar Rodriguez and his Companions from their former purpose in pursuance of which they communicated their design to a certain Priest a Native of Madrid called Baltasar de Loaysa with whom after I was acquainted in Madrid in the year 1563. I cannot say that I knew him before being very young though he knew me very well when I was a child being a friend of my father's and one who had a general acquaintance with all the noble families of that Empire Gaspar de Rodriguez and his friends treated with this Priest who was more fit for a Souldier than a Priest and persuaded him to take a journey in their behalf to Los Reyes and to obtain a Pardon for them with a Letter of Licence for their Security and with that occasion that he should give an account of the number of those who were come lately to join with Piçarro and of those who were gone off and to assure him that the Affairs of Piçarro stood on that uncertain foundation that so soon as he and his accomplices were gone off that all the other Forces of Gonçalo Piçarro would speedily disband With this Message Baltasar de Loaysa privately departed from the Camp of which so soon as Piçarro had notice he immediately sent after him to fetch him back but having taken a by-way out of the common road they missed of him and he got safe to Rimac where the good news he brought made him welcome to the Vice-king for the intention of Gaspar Rodriguez and his Companions was of great importance to him the joy whereof the Vice-king not being able to suppress and esteeming it necessary to be divulged for the encouragement of his people the secret took air and was made publick which being with all expedition wrote back to Gonçalo Piçarro Gaspar Rodriguez was seized with his Companions and were all afterwards put to death Howsoever before that was known Baltasar de Loaysa was dispatched with the Pardon and Letters of safe-conduct which he desired
of a Heart all their Ensigns and Colours were made new of divers colours and a new fashion came up by direction of Carvajal which I have not observed in any other Army for every Souldier to tye a knot of Ribbon of the colour of the Ensign of that Company to which he belonged within the plume of Feathers which he wore in his Hat and such as had no Feathers wore them in a bunch on their Hats by which every man was distinguished and known unto what Company he belonged onely Carvajal thought not fit to make new Colours but told his Souldiers that the old one was their honour under which having had great successes they might still hope to be fortunate and add new Victories to their ancient Glories And now Piçarro shewed himself open-handed to his Souldiers giving them large pay and money upon advance to some Captains he gave forty to some fifty or sixty thousand pieces of Eight for their Souldiers according to their numbers or as they were Horse or Foot which consequently required more expence He also bought all the Horses Mares and Mules he could find to mount his people for which he paid with ready money but for some as a certain Authour says he did not pay the reason for which was this Several Merchants of the City of Los Reyes listed themselves for Souldiers not to shew themselves Cowards or disaffected but after some days march growing weary they procured a discharge by surrender of their Horse and Arms and those who had neither gave money by way of compensation for Gonçalo Piçarro and his Officers thought not fit to constrain any man against his will knowing that prest men never made good Souldiers In this manner was the Army fitted and prepared with Weapons of War and now to strengthen the good Cause with Reasons and Arguments to please Piçarro Licenciado Cepeda carried with him a whole Library of Law-books out of which with the help of certain Lawyers who lived in those parts he drew up an Endictment of High Treason against the President Gasca and against Pedro de Hinojosa and all the other Captains for having betrayed the Fleet into the hands of the President And to make the business more formal Witnesses were examined and the treachery and robbery made by the Captains proved upon Oath and that Gasca had accepted of the Ships and appropriated them to his own use which cost Piçarro about a hundred thousand pieces of Eight upon this Process Sentence of Death was passed upon them all to be hanged drawn and quartered Cepeda was the first who signed the Sentence and desired Gonçalo Piçarro and all his Officers to subscribe it in like manner but when Cepeda came to Francisco Carvajal for his hand telling him that his firm was of great consequence Carvajal smiled and made a jest of the Sentence I warrant you said he so soon as this Writing is signed by this learned Council in the Law execution will immediately follow thereupon and the condemned persons dye upon the spot No Sir said Cepeda but it is good to have them sentenced by course of Law that when we take them execution may presently follow without delay or loss of time At which answer Carvajal laughed aloud As I am a Souldier said he I thought that so soon as I had signed the Sentence some certain blow of Thunder-bolt would have knocked them all dead on a sudden but if it be not so for my part I would not give a farthing for all your Sentence nor Subscriptions for had I them but here without such formalities I would find a way to execute your Sentence with more expedition to which he added many other pleasant Sayings to shew the impertinence of such a Sentence Licençiado Polo of whom we have formerly made mention was present at this Assembly where he gave some reasons against the Sentence the first was Because Gasca was a Priest and in Holy Orders and therefore no Sentence of Death could be passed upon him in that nature under pein of excommunication another reason was that this Sentence ought not to be precipitated in such manner because it might probably be hoped that some of those Captains who for fear of Hinojosa had betrayed their Ships to Gasca might yet repent of this action and return again to their duty whereas on the contrary they will become desperate if the door be shut and they excluded from Pardon by a Sentence Upon these reasons a stop was given to the Decree and the Writing signed by none but Cepeda CHAP. VIII Gonçalo Piçarro sends John de Acosta against Lorenço de Aldana Spyes are sent from both sides The death of Pedro de Puelles WHilst matters were thus in consultation and the Lawyers busied in drawing up their ridiculous and impertinent Process Gonçalo Piçarro received Advice that the four Ships under the command of Lorenço de Aldana and the other Captains were making their way towards the City of Los Reyes that they had already been at Truxillo and were sailing along the Coast whereupon he detached fifty Horsemen armed with Carbihes under the command of Captain John de Acosta to march to the Sea-shore and hinder them from taking Wood or Water or landing in any of the Ports John de Acosta proceeded as far as Truxillo but durst not stay above one day there for fear of Diego de Mora who was then in Cassamarca wherefore he returned again to the Sea-coast and lay in wait expecting to take some of Aldana's men in case any of them should adventure to come ashore Aldana on the other side had Spyes abroad who gave him notice of all the motions of John de Acosta upon knowledge of which he laid an ambush of a hundred Musketiers in a certain Wood through which Acosta was to pass but he receiving intelligence thereof turned another way and fell upon a party of those which Aldana had employed to fill water and cut wood of which he killed three or four and took as many Prisoners besides fourteen or fifteen of them who of their own accord revolted to his party and gave notice and caution of the Ambush And though the Forces of Aldana were much more in number yet they durst not adventure to rescue the Prisoners for they were all Foot and the Enemy Horse and their Powder not half so good nor their Guns so well fixed and the Countrey a deep and dead Sand. Acosta sent the persons which were taken to Piçarro who received them very kindly and furnished them with Arms Horses and Money they acquainted him with the ill condition of the Fleet how ill they were provided with men and victuals and most of their people being sick and diseased were put ashoar and some were dead and thrown into the Sea those that remained aboard were sickly and ill provided and wanted both Arms and Ammunition that they had received no late News of the President nor did they know where he was nor when he would come
writing at length coming to the Souldier before-mentioned and you Sir said he go to such a House which was far from the Chamber where he formerly quartered Sir replied the Souldier I desire to go to my old Landlord where I am well known No said Carvajal I would have you go to the place which I assign you but the Souldier would not be so answered saying that he had no need to change his quarters where he was so well entertained before and then Carvajal moving his head with great gravity I would have your Worship go said he to the place I have appointed for you where you will be very well treated and if you want any thing more my Lady Catalina Leyton will be near at hand to serve you and then the Souldier understanding that he should be well provided for accepted his offer and said no more The Head of Francisco de Carvajal being cut off was carried to the City of Los Reyes and there fixed upon the Gallows in the Market-place in company with the Head of Gonçalo Piçarro his Quarters with those of other Captains concerned in the same condemnation were set up in the four great Roads which lead to the City of Cozco And in regard that in Chap. 33. of the fourth Book we have promised to give an account of the poison with which the Indians of the Island of Barlovento did usually infect their Arrows by sticking them in the flesh of dead men I shall in confirmation thereof relate what I saw experienced on one of the Quarters of Carvajal which was hanged up in the High-way which leads to Collasuya which is to the South-ward of Cozco The thing was this One day being Sunday ten or twelve Boys of the same School with me whose Fathers were Spaniards and Mothers Indians all of us under the age of twelve years walking abroad to play we espied the Quarters of Carvajal in the Field at which we all cried let us go and see Carvajal and being come to the place we perceived that the Quarter hanging there was his Thigh very fat stinking and green with corruption Hereupon one of the Boys said that none of them durst go and touch him Some said yes some said no with which they divided into two parties but none durst come near it untill one Boy called Bartholomew Monedero more bold and unlucky than the rest How said he dare not I and with that ran and thrust his middle Finger clear through the Quarter upon which we all ran from him and cried Oh the stinking Rascal Oh the stinking Rogue Carvajal is coming to kill you for being so bold with him but the Boy ran down to the water washed his finger very well and rubbed it with dirt and so returned home the next day being Monday he came to the School with his Finger very much swelled and looked as if he wore the Thumb of a Glove upon it towards the evening his whole hand was swelled up to his very Wrist and next day being Tuesday the swelling was come up to his very Elbow so that he was then forced to tell his Father of it and confess how it came for remedy of which Physicians being called they bound a string very strait above the swelling and scarrified his Hand and Arm applying other Antidotes and Remedies thereunto notwithstanding which and all the care they could use the Boy was very near death and though at length he recovered yet it was four months afterwards before he could take a Pen in his hand to write And thus as the temper of Carvajal was virulent and malitious in his life-time so was his flesh noxious after his death and gives us an experiment in what manner the Indians empoisoned their Arrows CHAP. XLIII In what manner Piçarro was executed Of the Alms he desired might be given for his Soul after his death with some account of his disposition and natural parts AND now in the last place we are to give a relation of the dolefull end of Gonçalo Piçarro whom we left in confession all that day and untill noon of the next day untill the Officers were called to dinner but he refused to eat and remained alone untill the Confessour returned and so continued in confession untill it was very late in the mean time the Officers of Justice being impatient of delay were still going and coming to hasten the dispatch and one of the most grave and severe amongst them being troubled to see the time thus pass away cried out with a loud voice what will they never have done and bring forth this man at which saying all the Souldiers were much offended and uttered many scandalous and reviling words against him most of which though I well remember yet I am too modest to repeat them here or name the person for he retired without replying one word lest he should provoke the Souldiers to farther anger whose displeasure he much feared for what he had already expressed but presently afterwards Gonçalo Piçarro came forth and was set upon a Mule purposely provided for him he had his Cloak on and his hands loose though some Authours write that his hands were bound yet about the Mule's neck a halter was tied to comply with the formality of the Sentence in his hands he carried the Image of our Lady to whom he was greatly devoted praying her to intercede for his Soul. Being come half way to the place of Execution he desired a Crucifix which one of the Priests who attended him of which there being about ten or twelve gave into his hands which he exchanged for the Image of our Lady kissing first with great humility the hem of her Garment upon the Crucifix he fixed his eyes so steadily that he did not remove them from that object untill he came to the Scaffold which was purposely erected for his execution and being mounted thereupon he went to one side of it and from thence made his Speech to the Souldiers and Inhabitants of Peru who flocked from all parts thither few being absent unless those who had been of his party and were revolted from him and of them also some were present in disguises and not to be known and then he spake with a loud voice in this manner Ye know Gentlemen that my Brothers and I have gained this Empire and that many of you are possessed of Lands and Baronies which my Brother the Marquis conferred upon you and many of you here present have received them from me Moreover many of you owe me money which I have freely lent to you and others have received them as a gift and not as a debt I for my part dye poor and without any thing that not so much as the cloaths upon my back are my own but the sees belonging to the Executioner for the service he doth in cutting off my Head so that I have nothing to give for the good and benefit of my Soul. Wherefore I beseech you Gentlemen as many of you as owe me
money to bestow the same in Masses to be said for my Soul having full assurance in God through the meritorious bloud and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ his Son and with the assistence of your charity that he will pardon my Offences and receive me to Mercy And so Farewell Scarce had he ended his request for Charity before the Sighs and Groans of the People were loudly heard and many Tears were shed by all those who heard those dolefull and sad expressions Then Piçarro kneeled down before the Crucifix which was placed on a Table set upon the Scaffold Then came the Executioner John Enriquez to bind a Handkirchief about his Eyes but Piçarro desired him to forbear saying that there was no need of it and when he saw him draw his Hanger to cut off his Head he said Honest Jack doe thy Office handsomely meaning that he should doe his business at one blow and not in a mangling manner as some have done then said the Executioner I promise your Lordship that it shall be so done as you desire and having so said he lifted up his Beard with his left-hand being above a Span long and cut round as they used to wear them in those days and with a back-stroak cut off his Head at one blow as if he had sliced a leaf of Lettice and holding his Head in his hand the body remained some time before it fell And this was the end of this great Man. The Executioner would afterwards have stripped him but that Diego Centeno who was come to lay him in his Coffin redeemed his Cloaths by promising a recompense for them to the Executioner so his Corpse were carried to be interred at Cozco in his own Cloaths for want of a winding Sheet which none would bestow and were buried in a Convent of our Lady of the Merceds and in the same Chapel where lay the bodies of the two Diegoes de Almagro Father and Son whose Fates had been the same for they had been equally concerned in gaining the Countrey and all three were put to death and buried upon Charity and after all this as if there had wanted Earth or Land in the Countrey they were all three buried in the same Grave And that none of them might have cause to boast of his fortune above the other all their conditions were made equal and all three may be compared with that of Francisco Piçarro who was Brother of one and Companion of the other who was put to death as before related and buried afterwards upon Charity and thus may these four Brothers and Companions be compared and made equal in every thing So that now If a man soberly and impartially considers the course of this World he will see how well and in what manner it rewards those who serve in their generation since this was the recompence of those who gained and conquered the Empire called Peru. None of the three Authours make mention of the Charity which Piçarro begged at his death perhaps because they would not grieve the Readers with so melancholy a Story but for my part I write all things plainly and without any disguise The fury of the War being over the Inhabitants of the Empire caused Masses to be said in their respective Cities for the Soul of Gonçalo Piçarro both in compliance with what he requested of them at his death as also from a Principle of gratitude to him who had saved their liberties and laid down his life for the publick welfare His Head with that also of Francisco de Carvajal was carried to the City of Los Reyes which was built and founded by his Brother the Marquis And here being pitched upon Iron Spikes they were set upon a Gallows in the publick Market-place Gonçalo Piçarro and his four Brothers who have supplied us with matter for a long Discourse in this History were born in the City of Truxillo which is in the Province of Estremadura which we mention in honour thereunto for having produced such Heroick Sons who conquered the two Empires of the new World namely Mexico and Peru for Don Hernando Cortes Marquis Del Valle who subdued Mexico was also born at Medell which is a Town in Estremadura Also Vasco Nunnez de Valvoa who was the first Spaniard that discovered the South-Sea was a Native of Xerez de Badajoz and Don Pedro de Alvarado who after the Conquest of Mexico passed into Peru with eight hundred men of which Garçilasso de la Vega was one of the Captains and Gomez de Tordoya were Natives of Badajoz to which we may add Pedro Alvarez Holguin Hernando de Soto and Pedro del Barco his Companion with many other Gentlemen of the Families of Alvarado and Chaves and other persons of Quality engaged in the Conquest of those Kingdoms who were all or the most of them Natives of Estremadura and for that reason many Souldiers born in that Province following their Countrey-men of note were employed in that Enterprize wherefore in honour thereunto we ought not to cover the names of such Sons in obscurity who have signalized themselves to the World by such Heroick Actions Gonçalo Piçarro was of the name of the Piçarro's which is a Family of ancient bloud illustrious and well known over all Spain Don Hernando Cortes who was Marquis Del Valle was by the Mother-side of that Family called Donna Catalina Piçarro so that this Lineage is worthy of honour being entitled to the Conquest of two Empires Besides the Antiquity of this Family Gonçalo Piçarro and his Brothers were the Sons of Gonçalo Piçarro a Captain of the Guards in the Kingdom of Navarre which is an Office of great reputation in that Countrey for that all the Souldiers thereof are to be Gentlemen of ancient Families or such as have obtained this Honour by some great and heroick Action the which Office is of so great esteem that to my knowledge a Grandee of Spain called Don Alonso Fernandez de Cordoua and Figueroa Marquis De Priego Chief of the House of Aguilar availed himself much on the Honour of being Captain of Horse in the Kingdom of Navarre which Office he continued untill the day of his death and was much honoured by all the Souldiers of those parts Gonçalo Piçarro was a very comely person in the shape of his Body of a pleasing countenance of a confirmed health and one who could endure all hardships as hath been proved by this History He was an excellent Horseman in both Saddles either riding short or with long Stirrups he was an excellent Markes-man either with Gun or Cross-bow with a black-lead Pencil he could draw any thing in the Wall which he desired and was the most dexterous with his Lance of any man that ever passed into the new World of which many famous men of those times give testimony He was a great lover of good Horses and kept many of them in his Stables At the beginning of the Conquest he had two of a Chest-nut colour one of which
he called the Clown because he was not well shaped but very good for service the other he called Zaynillo Some Gentlemen of that time being in conversation together one of them who had been a Companion with Gonçalo Piçarro gave this Character of him which I heard from his own mouth When Gonçalo Piçarro said he was mounted on his Zaynillo he no more valued a Squadron of Indians than if they had been a swarm of Flies he was of a noble nature clear and sincere without malice fraud or designs he was a man of truth confident of his friend and of those whom he thought to be so which proved his ruine And because he was a man without cheats or fraud he was judged by Writers to be weak in his understanding but they doe him wrong for certainly he was of a clear head and naturally inclined to vertue and honour he was of an affable disposition and generally beloved both by friends and enemies and in short was endued with all the noble Qualities which become a great Person As to riches gained by his own industry we may properly say that he was Master of all the wealth of Peru which he possessed and governed for a long time and with so much justice and equity that the President did him the right to praise and commend his Government as we have before declared He conferred upon others great and large proportions of Land and jurisdiction over Indians that many of them amounted unto ten others to twenty and thirty thousand pieces of Eight of yearly revenue he was a very good Christian and zealously devoted to our Lady the Virgin Mary Mother of God as the President gave testimony in the Letter which he wrote He never denyed any thing which was asked for the sake of our Lady though of never so great an importance which being known to Francisco de Carvajal and his Officers when they had a mind to put any man to death they would never suffer his Petition to come to the ears of Piçarro lest they should ask a thing in the name of our Lady for whose sake he was resolved to deny nothing He was much beloved for his moral Vertues and military Exploits And though it was convenient for the Service of his Majesty to take away his life yet generally his death was lamented for the many Excellencies with which he was endued so that I never heard any that spake ill of him but all well and with great respect as became a Superiour And whereas Palentino saith that many gave their opinion and did earnestly insist that he should be quartered and his Limbs hanged up in the common high-ways leading to Cozco is a most false relation for never was any such thing either imagined or contrived for if ever any such thing had been intended it would certainly have been discoursed of in the times of peace and settlement as many other things were which were at first great Secrets and afterwards made known and divulged to all the World Nor indeed can it be believed that such a thing could be for all those of the Council excepting the President himself had many and great obligations to Gonçalo Piçarro having received signal honours and benefits from his hands and therefore it was not likely they would pass an infamous sentence against him though it was necessary for the service of his Majesty and the peace and quietness of the Empire that they should give their assent unto his death The End of the Fifth Book Royal Commentaries BOOK VI. CHAP. I. New Orders published by the President for suppressing Rebels The Offences which the Indians took to see Spaniards whipped The great Trouble the President had to answer the Demands of Pretenders and how he went from the City to make a Division of Lands NOR did the Troubles end here in this Empire called Peru nor were all the Insurrections suppressed by the Defeat of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Captains but rather were the Spirits of men more furiously inflamed than before as will appear by the sequel of this History for we must know that after the Victory obtained at Sacsahuana the President dispatched that very day to Cozco two of his Captains Hernando Mexia de Guzman and Martin de Robles with some Souldiers in whom they most confided to seise those of the Enemies Party who were fled thither after the Defeat and to prevent their own Souldiers from plundering or doing spoil in the City and from taking private revenge by bloud or otherwise under the pretence of Liberty of War as it was said some designed to doe The day following after the execution of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Associates the President raised his Camp from that famed field and marched towards the City which though but four leagues from thence yet he was two days on the way and in that time he detached a Party of trusty Souldiers under the command of Captain Alonso de Mendoça with Instructions to march into the Charcas and Potocsi and to seise and take the Captains which Gonçalo Piçarro had sent into those parts namely Francisco de Espinosa and Diego Carvajal the Gallant of whom we have formerly made mention and Licenciado Polo Hondegardo received a Commission to be Captain General of those Provinces with Orders to punish those who had favoured the Cause of Piçarro and likewise those who did not engage themselves in the service of his Majesty but stood neuters neither acting as Traytors nor professing themselves loyal and therefore were severely fined for their cowardise and want of duty With Licenciado Polo Captain Graviel de Rojas was also dispatched in quality of Treasurer for his Majesty to collect the Fifths and Tribute of the Royal revenue with the Fines which the Governour should inflict on Traytors and Neuters Out of which as Augustine Carate saith Book the seventh Chapter the eighth Licenciado Polo in a short time raised a million and two thousand pieces of Eight for that Graviel de Rojas dying on his journey to the Charcas Polo was forced to execute the Office of Treasurer in his stead And in the mean time whilst these things were acting in the Charcas the President remained in Cozco entertained with sumptuous Banquets and Sports to testifie the Joy they conceived for the late Successes and to see the Feast of Bulls and other Divertisements of like nature he had a Seat erected in the Court-yard of my Father's house on which occasion I had an opportunity to see his person as I have before mentioned And moreover he gave a Commission to Judge Andres de Cianca and to Major General Alonso de Alvarado to punish Rebels according to Law. Many Souldiers of note who had been of Piçarro's Party were hanged many quartered and above a hundred Spanish Souldiers whipped by four and six in company of which I was an eye-witness my self when being a Boy I went amongst the rest to see this punishment At which the Indians were greatly offended and wondred to
Antonio de Luxan called John Gonçales wrote a Letter to him giving him advice of the death of Don Sebastian of the imprisonment of Don Garcia and of the departure of John Ramon and others with intent to join with the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado This Letter was sent by a Janacuna which signifies an Indian Domestick Servant educated in a Family who are commonly the best Spies in the world and the Letter was made up in the soal of his Shoe to keep it from being intercepted by the Guards which were placed on the way where he was to pass herein he was counselled immediately to kill Egas de Guzman for that therewith all the Plots of those who were concerned in the death of Don Sebastian would be entirely overthrown so soon as Antonio de Luxan who had made himself chief Justice had received this Letter he immediately caused the Drum to beat for assembling the Souldiery in the Market-place where Egas de Guzman coming amongst the rest demanded the reason of that convention Antonio de Luxan to make trial whether this Letter were true or feigned and also to create a confidence of Egas de Guzman in him as his Friend he publickly produced the Letter in view of all those then present and asked whether that were the hand and firm of John Gonçales and when it was said that it was very like Gonçales's hand and that probably it was his and no others Egas de Guzman changed his countenance which shewed the inward trouble and apprehension of his mind Upon this certification and assurance of the death of Don Sebastian those who had before an intention to join with Egas de Guzman changed their minds and declared themselves Servants to his Majesty which was the design of Antonio de Luxan in publishing the Letter and also to make the Souldiers his instruments in killing Egas de Guzman as that paper advised upon reading whereof those present looked one upon the other and without speaking one word they understood each others meaning so that Antonio de Luxan and his party adventured to lay hands upon Egas de Guzman notwithstanding he had many that sided with him and set Gomez de Solis and Martin de Almendras at liberty and those very Chains and Irons with which they had been manacled they put upon Egas de Guzman and stripped off his Coat of Mail and gave it to Gomez de Solis and within the space of six hours Egas de Guzman notwithstanding all his courage and bravery was drawn and quartered together with another Companion of his called Diego de Vergara This effect had Gonçales's Letter in Potocsi and at the same time the Inhabitants of the City of Plate of which the principal persons were Basco Godinez Baltasar Velazquez and Gomez Hernandez the Lawyer having consulted with others of the same City they agreed all to march to Potocsi in a posture of War against Egas de Guzman not knowing as yet what had been the fate of that poor Gentleman Basco Godinez went General and Judge-Advocate of the Army which they so called though it scarce consisted of an hundred men and looked more like a training of Boys and a mock-show rather than an Army for to so few men they had two Captains of Foot and one of Horse with a Lieutenant-General and having marched about two leagues they received intelligence that Egas de Guzman was killed and the Town reduced to the service of the King upon which it was agreed that Basco Godinez should return again to the City of Plate and that Baltasar Velazquez and Gomez Hernandez with fifty select Souldiers should proceed forward to Potocsi and farther in pursuit of Gabriel de Pernia whom as we have said Egas de Guzman had sent with fifty five Souldiers to the City of Peace there to kill the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado But Gabriel de Pernia having with his people travelled several leagues received the news that John Ramon had disarmed Don Garcia upon which he declared for the Marshal and sent him word by Ordonno de Valencia that he was coming to serve him but he had not marched many leagues farther before his own Souldiers seised upon him and declared for Don Sebastian and with their Colours flying returned back again leaving Pernia with three other Companions to follow their own imaginations who accordingly joined themselves with the Marshal's party but the Souldiers returned back without Captain or Leader or Counsel either of themselves or others and travelled untill they received news of the death of Don Sebastian and then they proceeded as Palentino writes Chapter 21 in these words They pretended that the Ensign or Colours they carried were displayed in the name and for the service of his Majesty so that their Banner changed like the Weather-cock which turns to the part where the wind blows strongest and such was the loyalty of this people who always cried aloud may he live who overcomes so when they came to meet with Baltasar Velazquez the Ensign who carried the Colours with Pedro Xuares and two other Souldiers put themselves in the Front of all the rest and loaring their Colours three times resigned them up into the hands of Velazquez who immediately from thence dispatched Riba Martin and Martin Moneja to the City of Peace to signifie unto the Marshal that in regard the City of Plate was in quietness and peace and reduced to the obedience of his Majesty he was returning thither and carried with him Prisoners Alonso de Ariaça Francisco Arnao Pero Xuarez Alonso de Marquina Francisco Chaves the Moor and John Perez and when he came within a league and a half of the place be caused Francisco de Arnao to be executed and cut into four quarters and as he entred into the Town Alonso de Marquina was by his order drawn and quartered And the same night he entred into the Monastery of the Merceds and from thence drew out Pedro del Cotro and caused him to be hanged though upon his repentance for having had a hand in the death of the General he had admitted himself in the Convent and turned Friar Thus far Diego Hernandez But to abbreviate that which he discourses much more at large we say that Baltasar Velazquez delivered up the other Prisoners to Basco Godinez that so he who had made himself Chief Justice might bring them to their Trial or dispose of them as he should think fit that is that he might kill and destroy all such as had been privy to his plots and designs which he accordingly did and banished many into parts far remote from the City of Plate namely four five and six hundred leagues from thence he caused also Garci Tello de Vega to be quartered who was one of Sebastian's Captains and had been commissionated thereunto by Basco Godinez himself he also condemned another Souldier called Diego Perez to be disabled in both his Feet and afterwards to serve in the Galleys for a Galley-slave hath not much use of
greatest Gallant of them all My Father seeing him sit down with much Confidence said to him Diego de Madrid since thou art seated at the Table with these Gentlemen eat thy Dinner and welcome But come no more hither I charge you for he who yesterday would have cut off my head if he had been able and therewith have gained a Reward from his General is not company for me to day nor for these Gentlemen who are well-wishers to my Life and safety and devoted to his Majesties Service To which Mardid made answer Sir if you please to command me I will arise at this instant No said my Father I do not bid you rise now but if you have a mind so to do you may use your pleasure Hereupon the Smith arose and quickly departed leaving sufficient Subject of Discourse to the Guests and to admire and quarrel at his impudence Thus were the Souldiers of Hernandez hated and detested by all mankind for their Rebellion and Treason against his Majesty was not to be parellell'd in any Age whereby a company of pitiful Rascals pretended to deprive him of his Empire and to assassinate and murder all the Gentlemen of Estates that they might possess and inherit their Lands and Indians The Wife of Francisco Hernandez remained in the Power of Captain Ruybarba and his Sister in Law was committed to the care of John Rodriguez de Villa Lobos to carry her to Cozco and there to deliver her into the hands of her Kindred and Relations which was accordingly performed CHAP. XXIX The Major General Don Pedro de Portocarrero is sent in search of Francisco Hernandez Other two Captains are sent by another way whose Fortune it was to take the Rebel whom they carried to Los Reyes and entered with him into the City in manner of Triumph THe General Paulo de Meneses having sent the Prisoners he had taken to Cozco with the heads of those he had cut off and hearing no news of Hernandez himself he resolved to return and render an account to the Justices of what he had acted in this Expedition The Justices having routed and dispersed the Rebels marched to the Imperial City where they received intelligence that Hernandez was gone towards Los Reyes upon this advice they dispeeded Don Pedro Portocarrero the Lieutenant General in pursuit of him with 800 men by way of the Plains And two Captains who were come from the City of Huanacu with two Companies to serve his Majesty in this War were ordered to make search after the Rebels by way of the Mountains and that he might not escape either by one way or the other they had a Commission given them to execute speedy justice on all such as they should take The Captains who were John Tello and Michael de la Serva having eighty men under their command performed every thing according to the Instructions they had received And being come to the City of Hamanca they were informed that Hernandez was gone to Rimuc by way of the plains and according to that Intelligence they followed him and after a few days March they were advised that he was quartered about fifteen Leagues from them with 300 Souldiers of which 150 were Musqueteers The Captains not affrighted with his numbers continued their pursuit after him and the next day they were told by the Indians that they were only 200 and so daily the report of their numbers decreased until they were said to be no more than one hundred This variety of reports given by the Indians concerning the number of the Enemy had something of truth and foundation in it for Hernandez being fled his Souldiers dispersed themselves by twenty and thirty in a Company and at length came to meet together and form a body of about 200 men most of which had belonged to the Marshal but afterwards taking affection to Hernandez they followed his Fortune But in regard they were men running away and possessed with a fear of Enemies pursuing after them they were forced to hide themselves in Woods and Caves wanting all things necessary for their convenience and support so that when the King's Forces approached near to them they were not above one hundred in all For the Indians in the first report they gave of them accounted them to be more than they really were in the second relation they reckned those whom they found wandring on the way and in the last those who were met and joyned in a Body So we may believe that if Hernandez had not forsaken and abandoned his Souldiers he might still have conserved himself and them for it would have been very difficult to have taken or destroyed them The Captains being now about three Leagues distant from the Enemy dispatched away a Spaniard who was very diligent and nimble together with an Indian for his Guide to view the Enemy and bring certain intelligence of their strength The Spy having taken an exact survey of their numbers wrote a Letter advising that they might be 80 and no more Hereupon the Captains hastened their March all they were able until they came within sight of each other with Drums beating and Colours flying and attended with about eighty Indians whom the Curacas had sent for Service of the Spaniards The Rebels having discovered the Enemy coming upon them and feared to be surprized and surrounded by the Horse who were forty in all took up to the Mountain and sheltered themselves under some Rocks which served them for a Parapet or Fortification The Captains notwithstanding resolved to attack them in their strong holds trusting to a Band of 200 Indians ill armed who voluntarily and of their own accord were come in to them with intent to destroy the Rebels or Aucas as they called them who were the Pest and trouble of the Country The Captains being now within Musquet-shot of the Enemy four or five of them amongst which an Ensign to Hernandez was one came to them and instantly desired not to fire upon them for that without force or the death of any man they intended to yield themselves Prisoners and upon these terms they stood when about ten or twelve more came in and submitted tho' the Indians all the time pelted them with Stones until the Captains commanded them to desist After which all the Souldiers of Hernandez came in and surrendred themselves leaving him with 2 friends only namely with his Son-in-Law de Almaraz and a Gentleman of the Country of Estremadura called Gomez Suarez de Figueroa Francisco Hernandez finding himself thus abandoned and forsaken by all his Souldiers came forth with intent to be either killed or taken as the Enemy should think fit which when the Captains saw they approached near the Rock and with all their Men surrounded him to take him Prisoner the first that came near him were three noble Persons namely Stephen Sylvestre Gomez Arias de Avila and Hernando Pantoza The latter of which taking hold of Hernandez by the Helmet and he defending
this Gentleman did not pass into Peru we do not find his Name in List of the Vice-Kings which were transported into that great Kingdom In the mean time whilst these matters were transacting in the Court of Spain the Vice-King of Peru dispatched away his Son Don Garcia de Mendoça for Governour and Captain General of the kingdom of Chile which was become vacant by the Death of Geronimus de Alderete who died on his way thither of grief to think that 800 Persons perished in the Galeon by his fault and the fault of his Sister-in-Law for he knew well that if it had not been in consideration of him the Master of the Ship would not have given License to that Religious Woman to keep a Candle in her Cabin by night which was the destruction of the Vessel and of all those therein The advancement of Don Garcia de Mendoça to that Charge and Trust was pleasing to all those of Peru so that many Souldiers and Persons of Estates offered themselves freely to accompany him in that Expedition knowing that it would be a Service acceptable to his Majesty and to the Vice-King Santillian the Chief Judge of the Chancery was appointed Deputy Governour to Don Garcia and to direct and guide him and he was earnestly intreated to accept of this Office. Great preparations were made over all the Kingdom for this Journey of Armes Horses Cloaths and other Ornaments which cost very dear in this Country where all the Commodities of Spain are raised to a vast price The Vice-King also appointed three other Gentlemen of Quality for three several parts which were within that Conquest namely Gomez Arias John de Salinas and Anton de Aznayo every one of which was very stuâ—â—ous to discharge his Duty in his Office respectively Don Garcia de Mendoça being gone to his Government attended as we have said with a great number of Choice and Select Persons So soon as he was in the possession thereof he speedily designed the Conquest of the Indian Araucos who were become very insolent and proud by those Victories which they had gained over the Spaniards The first was that over Don Pedro de Valdivia which was followed by some others afterwards which are written in Verse by the Poets of those times which had been much more properly delivered in Prose for then we might have given Credit thereunto more than we can to the Fictions of Poetry The Governour having in a short time provided himself with all things necessary for the War entered into the rebelled Provinces with a number of brave Men Arms Amunition and Provisions for the Enemy had carried away every thing leaving the Country naked and without any Sustenance for an Army They had not entered very far into these parts but the Indians had fitted an Ambush for them and had composed a Vanguard of 5000 Indians with orders not to fight nor come within any danger of being forced by the Enemy to an engagement The Spaniards being informed by their Scouts and Spyes sent abroad that the Indians fled before them without any stop or stay in a setled place gave order to pursue them with all convenient speed and yet with such Caution as not to be entrapped by their Ambushes or Surprisals for the Governour at the time he first entered into that Country had been fore-warned by those who had been acquainted with the Stratagems which those People use in the War by skirmishing and flying to be always circumspect and doubtful of them Howsoever so eager was the Governour to pursue the Enemy in hopes totally to destroy them and by a bloody slaughter of them to discourage the rest from making farther opposition that he made little use of the Caution which was given him for leaving his Camp and Tents he followed the Enemy a whole day and a night and being removed at a good distance from thence out came the Indians from their holes and places where they had been hidden and seized on the Camp without any opposition and plundered and carried away all the Baggage and Necessaries belonging to the Army With the News hereof the Governour was forced to give over his chase and see to recover what the Enemy had plundered from him but it was too late for they were returned to their secret Holds and to the places where they had concealed their booty past all recovery The news of this success came to Peru almost as soon as that of the Governours arrival in the seat of his Government so that all the World wondered at this sudden accident and how in so short a time the Indians should be such Gainers and the Spaniards such Losers for they had lost all their Baggage even to their very Shirts and wearing Cloaths To repair this disaster the Vice-King sent away with all speed new Recruits of all things that were necessary in which he expended out of the King's Treasury vast sums of Gold and Silver at which People much murmured as Palentino saith meaning the first expence which was made when Don Garcia went to his Government of Chili but mentions not this second charge occasioned by the Robbery which the Indians had made upon him which was more displeasing than the former and moved People to say That the Vice-King for the sake of his Son had exhausted the Kings Exchequer of all the Treasure But as to what succeeded afterwards in the Kingdom of Chile we shall leave to other Writers and confine our selves to the Territories of Peru having expatiated our selves from thence no farther than only to touch on the departure of the Vice-Kings Son from thence and the death of Loyola Those who think fit to write the History of that Kingdom will find subject enough whereon to enlarge their Discourses on a War which hath continued already for fifty eight years between the Indians and Spaniards that is The Araucans rebelled towards the end of the year 1553 and now we are in the year 1611 and the Wars not as yet ended We might here recount the unhappy death of the Governour Francisco de Villagra with 200 Spaniards more which happened on that ridge of Mountains which hath ever since had the name of Villagra We might here also tell of the death of Major General John Rodulfo with 200 men with him whom they killed on the Bogg or Marsh of Puren I could wish to have been informed of the several particular successes of these Affairs and many greater which happened in this warlike Kingdom that I might have added them to this History But I do not doubt where People have been born with such Martial Spirits but that the same Countrey will produce in future Ages Sons of her own endued with a Spirit and Genius of Learning capable to write their own History And it shall be my Prayer to God That Knowledge and Learning may flourish in all that famous Kingdom CHAP. XIV The Heirs of those who were put to Death for siding with Francisco Hernandez Giron
in his Rebellions are restored to their Estates and Plantations Pedro de Orsua attempts the Conquest of the Amazons His End and Death with many others with him THE Vice-King Don Andres de Hortado seeing those men whom he had banished from Peru for demanding a Reward of their past Services now again returned with Pensions assigned on the Treasure of his Majesty and on the Chest of the three Keys he wondered much at the success not imagining by what interest it could have been procured for them but more strange it seemed to him to hear of the coming of a new Vice-King to succeed him in that Office. This change of Fortune caused him to change his Humour and convert much of that haughty and severe Spirit which was natural to him into a Gentleness and Lenity more becoming the Office of a great Minister and in this good temper he continued to the end of his life which was so extraordinary that those who observed it would say That if he had begun as he ended he would have proved the most admirable Governour that ever had been in the World. Thus when the Kingdom observed this great change in the Vice-King the Country in peace and quietness and the rigour of the Justices converted into an affable and complying Humour those who had been lately oppressed by the heavy Hand of Justice assumed the courage to demand satisfaction for the evils and damages they had sustained Accordingly the Sons and Heirs of those Citizens who had been executed for being engaged in the Rebellion of Hernandez made claims of their Estates laying before the Justices the Instruments of Pardon which had been given to their Fathers and so followed the suit that after several hearings and reviews of their Cause they obtained Sentence to have their Lands and Commands over Indians restored to them together with all other Consiscations of their Estates and thus did they obtain a restitution of their Indians which the Vice-King had divided and conferred on other Spaniards to increase and better their Estates At all which the Vice-King was in great trouble and perplexity For not only did he suffer the affront to have his own Orders repealed but also lay under an obligation of making satisfaction to those who were dispossessed by some other returns or equivalents to be made them All that hath been said in this matter I saw my self transacted in Cozco and the like passed in other Cities where the same rigour of Justice had been put in practice as namely in Huamanca Arequepa the Charcas and the New Plantation So soon as it was generally known that the aforesaid Sentence was repealed and that the Heirs were restored again to the possession of their Lands the Spaniards took a liberty to report That this course was taken without any order from his Majesty or direction from the Council of the Indies but meerly by the Power and arbitrary Will of the Vice-King intending by such severities to shew his Power and secure himself from all Mutinies and Conspiracies for the future But the Vice-King being now of another Humour and proceeding with that gentleness and good temper which we have before mentioned was pleased to grant unto a certain Gentleman of Worth and Virtue and of an agreeable Person named Pedro de Orsua a License to make a Conquest of the Country of the Amazons which runs along the River Marannon which is the same we have mentioned before where Francisco Orellana deserting Gonçalo Piçarro came into Spain and begged of his Majesty the aforesaid Conquest but he died in the way and never put his Enterprise into Action In pursuance of this Grant Pedro de Orsua went from Cozco to Quita to raise Souldiers who were willing to adventure on new Conquests For in Peru all the Lands were measured out and divided amongst the Antient Conquerours and men of Merit in that Empire He also gathered all the Arms and Provisions he was able to which the Citizens and Inhabitants of those Cities largely contributed by their Bounty and Liberality for so obliging was Pedro de Orsua in his carriage towards every one as engaged their Affections to render him all the Assistances and Services they were able Many Souldiers attended him from Cozco amongst which was one called Don Fernando de Guzman with whom I was acquainted he was lately come from Spain and there was another who had been an old Souldier called Lope de Aguire a fellow of an ill shapen Body and of worse Conditions and Practices as are described in a Book of the Elogies of Worthy and Illustrious persons written by John de Castellanos a Secular Priest who had a Benefice in the City of Tunja in the new Kingdom of Granada These Elogies though written in Verse are yet a true History and wherein he fills six Cantos with the expedition of Pedro de Orsua and how he marched with 500 men well armed and appointed together with a considerable body of Horse He also relates the manner of his death how he was killed by his own Souldiers and his most intimate Friends that they might enjoy a beautiful Lady whom Orsua carried for a Companion with him the which passion of Love hath been the ruin of many brave Captains in the World such as Hannibal and others The principal Actors in this Tragedy were Don Fernando de Guzman Lope de Aguire and Salduendo who were in love with this Lady besides several others whom this Author names who also farther relates That these Traytors set up Don Fernando for their King which Title he was so vain and foolish as to accept though he had no Kingdom to possess nor right to any thing but his own ill Fortune which soon followed him being killed by the same Friends who had promoted him to his Royal Dignity And then Aguire took upon himself the Government which he so well exercised that at several times he killed above 200 men he plundered the Island of Margarita where he committed most detestible Cruelties Thence he passed over to other Isles near adjacent where he was overcome by the Inhabitants but before he would yield himself he killed his own Daughter whom he brought with him for no other reason than that after he was dead she might not be called the Daughter of a Traytor This was the sum of all those Cruelties which indeed were most Diabolical and the beginning and ending of this whole Enterprise which commenced with so much Gallantry and mighty Preparations of which I was in part an Eye-witness CHAP. XV. The Count de Nieva is chosen Vice-King of Peru. He sends a Message to his Predecessor The Death of the Marquis of Cannete as also of the Count de Nieva Don Garcia de Mendoça returns to Spain The Lawyer Castro is appointed Governour of Peru. WHilst these matters were transacting in Peru and that Orsua and his Fellow adventurers with him were defeated upon the great River of the Amazons his Majesty King Philip the Second was mindful
to provide a New Governour for that Empire having in the place of that good Man Don Diego de Azevedo who lately dyed appointed Don Diego de Cunniga and Velasco Count de Nieva to succeed in the Office of Vice-King who dispatched his Affairs with such diligence that he departed from Spain in the Month of January 1560 and arrived in Peru in the Month of April following So soon as he came to Payta which is a Town within that Dominion he dispatched away a Servant of his with a short Letter to the Vice-King Don Andres Hurtado de Mendoça giving him advice of his arrival within the Dominions of Peru with Commission from his Majesty to govern that Country and that therefore he should desist from intermedling further in the Affairs thereof Don Andres Hurtado having received intelligence of the coming of this Messenger gave Orders to have him well received and treated all the Way of his Journey and being come to the City of Los Reyes he had there Honourable Lodgings provided for him with Presents in Jewels and Gold and Silver to the value of six and 7000 pieces of Eight and upwards But the Messenger lost all these upon a Pique and Exception which the Vice-King took at the Title of Lordship which was ordered to be given and not of Excellency the which he so highly resented and suffered the thoughts of being slighted and neglected by his Successor without Reason or Justice so far to run in his head that it strnck him into a deep Melancholly which so prevailed on his Spirits that being a Man of great Years and not able to struggle with the Disease he ended his days before the new Vice-King arrived at Los Reyes who also enjoyed not long the happiness he expected in his Government in which he had not been many Months Seated with the Solemnity used on such occasions before a strange Accident hastened his Death of which he was the Author and brought it upon himself But the manner of it being scandalous to relate we shall leave it as it is and proceed on to other particulars Don Garcia de Mendoça who was Governour of Chile having received intelligence of the death of his Father made such haste to return into Peru and thence to prepare for his Voyage into Spain that many people reported that he hastned away more out of fear of the Araucans than ont of a desire he had to assist at the Funeral of his Father And that with the like precipitation he quitted the Territories of Peru not to be subject to the Dominion of another At length he arrived in Spain where he continued until he returned with a Commission to be Governour of Peru where he imposed that Taxe on the Spaniards and Indians which is paid by them unto this day As to his other ways of gain his Contracts and Commerce we shall pass them all by being not within the compass of this History For my intention being only to write as far as to the Death of the Prince who was lawful Heir of that Empire second Brother of Don Diego Sayri Tupac of whose coming out of the Mountains his Baptism and Death we have already given a Narrative So that now we shall hasten to a conclusion of this History King Philip the Second having received advice of the unfortunate end of the Vice-King Don Diego de Cunniga was pleased to appoint the Lawyer Lope Garçia de Castro who was President of the Royal Council of the Indies to succeed in that Office of whom we have formerly made mention on occasion of the Pretensions which I had in Spain on score of my Father's Merit which he opposed This Lope Garçia de Castro being a Person of great Prudence and of that Talent of Wisdom which was required to Govern that Empire was dispatched suddenly away with Title of President and General Governour of all that Empire that so by his good Conduct those many Confusions might he composed and unhappy Accidents rectified which had been caused by the sudden Deaths of preceding Governours And indeed his Wisdom answered expectation for he governed those Kingdoms with such moderation and gentleness that he lived to return again into Spain in peace and quietness and to be placed in the same Chair of the Council in which he lived with much Honour and afterwards dyed like a good Christian. When my Friends understood that this great Person was returned to his Seat in the Supream Council of the Indies they advised me to renew my Pretensions to the right I had unto my Mother's Estate on score of my Father's Services and Merit For they were of Opinion that Castro having now seen and been acquainted with Peru which my Father had helped to Conquer and in which my Mother's Ancestors had a right of inheritance he might become my Advocate and change his mind in what he formerly argued against me But I having buried and laid aside all my pretensions and lost my hopes could not be perswaded to leave my Cell wherein I live with more Security Honour and Profit and where I have with God's Assistance had leisure to write this History which tho' it prove little to my Honour and Profit yet praised be God for all CHAP. XVI Don Francisco de Toledo is chosen Vice-King of Peru. The Causes which were alledged for prosecution of the Prince Inca Tupac Amaru And the imprisonment of that poor Prince DOn Francisco de Toledo second Son of the Family of Count de Oropeta succeeded Lope Garçia de Castro in the Government of Peru and was elected thereunto for his great Vertue and Christian Piety being so devout a Gentleman that every eight days he received the most Holy Sacrament He was sent to Peru with the Title of Vice-King and received at Los Reyes with the State and Solemnity agreeable thereunto and governed with that Gentleness and Moderation that no man could take occasion either to mutiny or rebel He had scarce been two years in the Government when he resolved to bring out from the Mountains of Villca pampa the Prince Tupac Amaru the Legitimate Heir to that Empire being the Son of Manco Inca and Brother of Don Diego Sayri Tupac of whom we have given a large Relation in this eight Book he was the lawful Heir because his Elder Brother left no Son but a Daughter only of whom we shall speak in due place The intention of the Vice-King in this matter was sincere and real and with no other design than after the Example of his Predecessor Don Andres Hurtado de Mendoça to advance his own Honour and Reputation by an action so generous and heroick as to reduce such a Prince to the Service of his Catholick Mejesty and to civilise him as it were by calling him from the Barbarity of those mountains where he lived like a Fugitive and a Salvage Person To bring this Design about the Vice-King acted according to the former methods and sent Messengers to him inviting him
importunate to know the cause and reason of his Melancholy at length with much adoe he made Answer that he had received information how that one of his Captains had killed his Brother Huascar in the Hands of those to whose Custody he had committed him the which he deeply resented for that he was his Elder Brother and his Father and though he detained him a Prisoner and under restraint yet it was not with any intention to doe him hurt but onely to secure him in such a capacity as might disenable him from making any Attempts on his Kingdom of Quitu which did not at all appertain unto him for that Province having been obtained by his Father's Conquests was conferred and bequeathed by Testament to himself being no part of the Inheritance which belonged to the Elder Son. In Answer hereunto the Governour bid him be of good chear and comfort for that Death was natural and common to all and that so soon as the Countrey was quiet and settled he would enquire into this Murther and punish those who should be found guilty of that great Crime Atabaliba observing that Marquis Piçarro was little concerned for the matter resolved to kill his Brother and accordingly his Commands were put into Execution with such speed that it was hard to distinguish whether Huascar was put to Death before or after the time that he testified his Sorrow in presence of Piçarro The fault of this unhappy accident is commonly objected against Hernando de Soto and Pedro del Barco for that they being Souldiers ought not to have been ignorant of the Duty and Respect they owe to the Commands of their General which are not to be dispensed with on any pretence or occasion whatsoever without express Order to the contrary The Indians report that when Huascar saw that there was no remedy but that he must dye he uttered these Words with great passion I have been Lord of this Countrey but for a short time but as to my Brother that Traitor by whose Command I that am his natural Lord am put to death he shall enjoy his Government for a much shorter time than I have done Wherefore when the Indians had heard that Atabaliba was afterwards put to death as shall be related in the following Chapter they believed Huascar to have been of the true and legitimate Progeny of the Sun who had illuminated him with a prophetick Spirit touching the Fate of his Brother And likewise Huascar farther declared that when his Father gave him his last farewell he enjoyned and commanded him That when a People or Nation which were white and had beards should invade his Dominions that he should labour to make a friendship with them for that they were to become Lords of that Kingdom Thus far are the Words of Augustine Carate For my part when I find the Spanish Writers to relate things fairly and with the truth and gravity of History I am more pleased to make use of their words verbatim than my own for as I am an Indian and not a Spaniard their words and expressions must be more proper than mine the which Rule we shall always observe unless it be where the Spanish Histories are defective and want Additions But to return unto the Relation which Augustin de Carate hath given It is to be noted that he briefly touches many particulars which we have more at large related in this our History as namely that which concerns the Tyranny the Craft and Dissimulation of Atahualpa when he proved the Mind of Francis Piçarro how and in what manner he would take the Death of Huascar for in reality had the Spaniard been as wary and as sagacious as was this Indian and had presently replied upon him and told him plainly that I know and am well assured that it was you that killed this Person and that therefore I shall inflict such punishment on you as your Crime deserves it is most certain that he would then have been better advised and never have adventured on this Murther of his Brother but when on the contrary he perceived an indifferency in the Governour who little suspected so much evil in a person of that simplicity he then took courage and resolution to put his wicked Intention into practice against the Inca his natural King which consummated all his other cruelties Nor did he onely put him to Death but killed him barbarously cutting his Flesh into slices and throwing them none knows where but the Indians report and believe that they ate his Flesh out of mere rage and malice against him Acosta saith that they burnt him And Carate mentions that the diligence and speed used in sending the Dispatches for his Death were not by the Posts but by Fires or Beacons which the Chasquis or Postmasters were ordered to make both by night and day for greater expedition when any matter required extraordinary haste In like manner this Authour touches on the Prognostication which Huayna Capac had left concerning the Invasion which the Spaniards were to make into those Countries and of which they were to become Masters He also farther proceeds and tells us that Hernando de Soto and Peter del Barco were not blameable for not remaining with Huascar as he desired and for not hearkening to the proposition he had made to them which imported three times the Treasure which his Brother had promised because in reality they did not understand him for otherwise no doubt but those Men whose business was neither Conquest nor their Embassy matter of War or Peace but onely to see that the Promise made by Atahualpa for his ransome were complied with would have readily embraced the more advantageous Offer of three times the value made by Huascar And thus these two Spaniards excuse and clear themselves from what was objected against them touching the Death of Huascar Thus this unhappy Inca the last of the Monarchs of that Empire fell and ended his Days having been a Spectator of all those Cruelties and Murthers which his Brother had exercised upon his Vassals Servants Uncles Brothers and Sons and as to his own Person had been used with such Hardships and Severity in Prison as were insupportable and which Diego Fernandez relates to have been in this manner The two Captains of Atabalipa returning to their Lord carried Huascar Prisoner with them to whom in their Journey they gave nothing but Urine to drink and no other Food to eat than Worms and other filthiness Whilst these things passed Francis Piçarro with other Christians his Companions entred the Countrey and took Atabalipa Prisoner in Caxamal Thus far are the Words of this Authour who in another place says that they killed Huascar in Andamarca and Atabalipa in Caxamarca that is Cassamarca which is the Countrey or Province of Frost for Cassa signifies Frost and Marca a Countrey likewise Andamarca ought to be wrote Anta Marca for Anta signifies Copper and Anta Marca the Copper Countrey CHAP. XXXIV Don Diego de Almagro comes
to Cassamarca and what Fears and Apprehensions Atahualpa conceived before his Death by Comets and Apparitions in the Heavens AFter the Death of poor Huascar which happened in the manner as before related Atahualpa did neither thereby obtain the liberty of his Person nor secure his Life but on the contrary in a few days afterwards orders were given to put him to death the manner of which is related by Augustin de Carate and Lopez de Gomara both which agree in the particulars of this passage as they doe in other matters of this History Heaven often punishes those who trust more in their own Plots and Artifices than in the ways of Reason and Justice for God suffers their Mischiefs and Contrivances to fall upon their own Heads an Instance of which we shall speedily give in the sequel of this History For now we must know That Don Diego de Almagro was departed from Panama on a very good Ship carrying with him fresh Men and good Supplies in order to a farther Conquest and his Enemies report that his Design was to advance farther to the Southward than Piçarro whose Government as yet was not extended more than two hundred Leagues to the South from the Equinoctial Line and that he intended to set up for himself and act on his own Foundation the which as is reported was discovered by the Secretary of Almagro to Piçarro whom his Master hanged for his Treachery But be it as it will this is certain that Almagro being on his way and receiving intelligence of the Imprisonment of Atahualpa and of the incredible Riches which he offered for his Ransome resolved to change his Design and to join himself with his victorious Companion for that according to Articles of Agreement between them one half of the Benefits and Profits appertained unto him Accordingly Almagro with his Souldiers arrived in Cassamarca greatly wondring to see those heaps of Gold and Silver which they had amassed together But in a short time afterwards the Souldiers of Piçarro plainly told the People of Almagro that in regard they had not been present at the taking of Atahualpa Prisoner no share of those Riches and Spoils belonged to them which were already gained nor no part of that which was wanting to reach the Line which Atahualpa had drawn and promised in payment of his Ransome Which when the Almagrians had heard and considering the largeness of the room believed that if all the Gold and Silver of the World were amassed together it would never arrive or reach to the height of the Line they presently cried out that the Inca should be killed so that they might receive their share of what should be collected after his Death These and the like reasons were sufficient to arraign and execute this great Prince Atahualpa who observing the Quarrels amongst the Spaniards and their incessant noise and wranglings he sadly suspected that the Fury of those Jars would at last turn to his destruction the which Fear and Apprehension was increased by the Oracles which were now become silent to all his Questions and Demands and by the reports which the Indians gave him of new Stars and Comets which appeared all which in times of less Extremity than the present were ever interpreted as bad Omens and signals and according to their superstitious Observations were esteemed to portend utter Destruction and Ruine But that which above all things appeared fatal to him was a certain great Comet of a darkish green colour little less in breadth than the Body of a Man and of a yard in length which shewed it self at night being much of the same size and shape as that which appeared before the Death of his Father Huayna Capac of which when Atahualpa had notice given him he was extremely troubled and desired the Spaniards to give him the leave and liberty to be brought forth that he might see it with his own Eyes which when he had done he was so struck with sadness and melancholy that as formerly he became sullen and silent and would entertain no converse with any Person whatsoever the reason of which when Piçarro had pressed very earnestly to know Atahualpa to satisfie him gave him this Answer Apu said he which is General I am now assured that the time of my Death approaches being certified thereof by the appearance of this Comet for that another of the like nature with this shewed it self not many days before the death of my Father and in regard that such Prodigies in the Heavens do always precede the Death of Kings and portend nothing but Calamities and the Subversion of Empires I cannot but imagine my self concerned being to leave my Kingdoms before I have enjoyed them Indeed when I saw my self first in Chains I thought there would be little distance between my Imprisonment and my Grave of which I am now fully certified by this Comet and now I have given you the real Cause of this my sadness The Governour to comfort him bid him be of good courage and not to trust or confide in such signals to which no Credit was to be given for that on the contrary he might shortly expect to be freed from his imprisonment and restored to his Kingdom Howsoever Atahualpa whose Faith was placed in the superstition of his Gentilism gave no belief to the assurance of Piçarro but remained in his Dumps and disconsolate as before Peter de Cieça in the 65th Chapter of his Book mentions the same concerning this Comet and tells us how superstitious those Indians were in these Astrological Observations Atahualpa giving entire credit to these Presages wholly sunk in his Courage and despaired of his Liberty not being able to put the thoughts of Deth out of his mind the which accordingly happened fifteen days after the appearance of the Comet as Cieça confirms in the aforesaid Chapter CHAP. XXXV Hernando Piçarro returns to Spain to give an Account of what had succeeded in Peru. THE Governour Don Francisco Piçarro not regarding the fears and apprehensions of Atahualpa was elated in his Hopes and Expectations by those favours which good fortune had cast upon him and resolving to follow and improve his success he judged it convenient and necessary to render an account to His Majesty of all matters which unto that time had occurred in Peru the which Intention being moved to Almagro his Companion and his Brothers it was agreed by them to dispatch Hernando Piçarro into Spain with Advices to His Majesty of what had happened that so their Services might be rewarded according to their Merit And in regard Hernando Piçarro was employed as a publick Person in behalf of the Commonalty or the whole Company it was ordered that so much should be taken out of the heaps which were already collected for the Ransome of Atahualpa as would serve to defray his Charges and moreover that he should carry with him the value of two hundred thousand Pieces of Eight in Gold and one hundred thousand in Silver
which was no sooner done but it was divulged over all the City as Carate reports whose authority we rather follow in these passages than any other because he was present at these transactions and thereupon the Citizens and other persons who were inclined and secretly well-affected to the Cause of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Party did really imagine that in case he were deserted by Gaspar Rodriguez and his Accomplices it would strike so great a damp to Gonçalo Piçarro and his Souldiers as would cause them to disperse and break up their Camp as despairing of their design and then the Vice-king would remain triumphant to execute his new Laws without any contradiction or restraint upon him to prevent which some of the Citizens and Souldiers resolved amongst themselves to send a party of light Horse after him hoping speedily to overtake him It was in the month of September 1544 when Loaysa with one person onely in his company called Hernando de Cavallos left the Town and the next night afterwards was pursued by twenty five light Horsemen the principal of which were Don Baltasar de Castilla the Son of Count Gomera Lorenço Mexia Rodrigo de Salazar well known for his crouch-back and was the person famous for taking Don Diego de Almagro Junior in Cozco there were also with them Diego de Carvajal surnamed the Gallant and Francisco de Escobedo Francisco de Carvacal Pedro Martin de Cicilia alias Pedro Martin de Don Benito with others to the number of twenty five all which company together travailed with so much expedition and diligence that in less than fourty Leagues distance from Los Reyes they overtook Loaysa and took all his papers and dispatches from him and sent them away by a Souldier who crossing the Countrey came by a shorter cut than the common road to the Camp of Piçarro and acquainted him with the whole matter who at first secretly communicated it to Francisco de Carvajal who was lately made his Major General in the place of Alonso de Poro who was fallen sick then he imparted it to other Captains and Persons of quality who were not privy nor concerned in the Confederacy and having considered of the matter amongst themselves they all generally agreed some from a principle of particular enmity others from envy others from covetousness fearing to lose their Indians and their Possessions that it was necessary for example unto others and to deter them from the like perfidiousness to punish this act of Treachery with the greatest severity and accordingly it was concluded amongst those who were unconcerned in this safe Conduct and Pardon to kill Gaspar de Rojas Philip de Gutierez the son of Alonso de Gutierez who was Treasurer to his Majesty and born at Madrid and also Arias Maldonado a Gentleman of Galicia who with Philip Gutierez had loitered two or three days Journey behind in Guamanga upon pretence of certain businesses to be done there in order to their Journey but during their stay at that place Gonçalo Piçarro dispeeded Pedro de Puelles with a party of Horse to take off their Heads but the execution of Gaspar Rodriguez was more difficult for he was then a Captain in the Field and actually at the head of almost two hundred Lances and being a person very rich of great interest and very popular they could not act their design publickly upon him and therefore they had recourse to this Strategeme Gonçalo Piçarro commanded an hundred and fifty Harquebusiers of Captain Cermenno's Company to be in a readiness and having given out to each of them private Arms and placed the Artillery in good order he called the Captains to come to him telling them that he had certain advices which he had lately received from Los Reyes to communicate to them And being all come and amongst the rest Gaspar Rodriguez Gonçalo Piçarro stept out of his Tent which was well guarded with Cannon and pretending as it were some other business in the mean time the Major-General Carvajal comes to Gaspar Rodriguez and laying his hand on the hilt of his Sword drew it out of the Scabbard advising him to call for a Priest and confess for that he was to die immediately Gaspar Rodriguez resisted a while pretending to be innocent and to clear himself of those accusations which were against him but that would not serve his turn for immediately they cut off his head The execution of these men terrified the whole Camp and more particularly those who were conscious to themselves of being Complices in the same Action for which those were put to death and these acts of severity were the more affrighting because they were the first which Gonçalo Piçarro had committed since the usurpation of his tyrannical Power Some few days afterwards Don Baltasar and his Comrades came to the Camp bringing Baltasar de Loaysa and Hernando Cavallos as we have said Prisoners but the day before he knew that they were to enter into the Camp he sent his Major General Carvajal before him with orders that wheresoever he met them he should put them to death but such was the good fortune of Loaysa and Cavallos that they mistaking their way the Major General was disappointed of his prize and the Prisoners were brought to the Camp where so many intercessours appeared in favour of the two Delinquents that Loaysa was released and sent away without any provision made for him but Hernando de Cavallos was continued and carried away with the rest of the Army Thus far is the account given by Carate in the fifth Book and the eleventh Chapter In fine they killed Gaspar Rodriguez and his Accomplices whose death was hastened and occasioned by their applications to the Vice-king for a Pardon and a safe Conduct which he and his adherents demanded for safety of their lives as Gomara confirms in the 164th Chapter of his Book The Vice-king's Pardon and a safe Conduct was general for all Piçarro Francisco de Carvajal Benito de Carvajal and some few others onely excepted at which Piçarro and his Major-General were so much offended that they immediately hanged up Gaspar Rodriguez Philip Gutierez with the rest which are the words of Gomara In this manner this poor Gentleman Gaspar Rodriguez de Campo Rotondo ended his days for being of an unquiet spirit he was neither well with those who were called Tyrants and Rebels nor with those who were esteemed for Loyalists CHAP. XIII Of the Death of Agent Yllen Suarez de Carvajal and of the great mutiny and disturbance he caused in Peru. DUring all these troubles and slaughters in the Camp of Gonçalo Piçarro there happened an accident sad and tragical in the City of Los Reyes which Gomara in the 159th Chapter of his Book relates to have been in this manner Lewis Garcia San Manes who was Postmaster in Xauxa brought certain Letters which were wrote in Cyphers by Benito de Carvajal to the Agent Yllen Suarez his Brother the Vice-king presently took a jealousie upon the
Cypher and a suspicion of the Agent 's faithfulness and shewing them to the Judges demanded their opinion whether they were not ground sufficient to put him to death to which the Judges replied that it were convenient first to know the contents of them Hereupon the Agent was called for who coming did not seem as they say to be startled or change his countenance though he was severely treated with sharp words but took the paper and read it without hesitation Doctour John Alvarez noting the words which he read the sum or substance of all the Cypher was the number of Souldiers that were with Piçarro and what his intentions were who were in his favour and who not and in fine declared that he would watch his opportunity to slip away and come to the service of the Vice-king so soon as he could disengage himself according to the Counsel which the Agent had given him After which the Key of the Cypher was called for and the matter being thereby disclosed it was found to agree with the interpretation given by the Agent and to verifie the truth thereof Benito Carvajal came to Lima two or three days after Blasco Nunnez was seised not knowing any thing of the death of the Agent Thus far are the words of Gomara Howsoever there still remained upon the mind of the Vice-king such a jealousie of the Agent that like an evil Spirit it still haunted and followed him never suffering him to be at rest untill at last the direfull effects thereof broke out in the very Chamber of the Vice-king where the Agent was assassinated without any cause or reason for it which struck a greater terrour into the minds of the people on this side than was the late consternation in the Camp of Gonçalo Piçarro so that neither Party was free from Tragedies of their own And particularly here happened out one the night following occasioned by the flight of Baltasar de Castilla and others afore-mentioned The three Authours report this History almost in the same manner and first we shall repeat what the Accountant Augustine Carate says upon this Subject and then we shall add that from the others which he hath omitted That which he relates in the eleventh Chapter of his fifth Book is as follows and herewith we will return to the Subject of our History Some few hours after Don Baltasar de Castilla and his Companions were departed from the City of Los Reyes in pursuit of Loaysa as is before-mentioned the matter was not so secretly carried but that it came to the knowledge of Captain Diego de Urbina who was Major-General to the Vice-king for he going his Rounds in the night through the City and calling at the Houses of some of these who were fled neither found them at home nor their Arms nor Horses nor the menial Indian Servants which belonged to them upon which suspecting what was faln out he directly went to the Vice-king's Lodgings who was then in Bed and told him that he had reason to believe that the greatest part of the people had deserted the City The Vice-king was greatly troubled as was reason at this report and arising from his Bed gave immediate order to sound an alarm and that every man should stand to his arms and calling his Captains gave them order to go from House to House and make enquiry who were absent that so he might be informed of the number of those who were departed And having accordingly made search and found that Diego de Carvajal Jeronimo de Carvajal and Francisco de Escobedo were missing who were Kinsmen of Agent Yllen Suarez de Carvajal it was instantly believed that he was engaged in the Plot and in favour of Gonçalo Piçarro for it could not be imagined that his Kinsmen could have acted herein without his consent or at least without his knowledge in regard they all lodged under the same Roof and onely had two different Door to each Apartment but for better assurance of what was suspected the Vice-king sent his Brother Vela Nunnez with a guard of Musquetiers to bring the Agent before him and he being in Bed they caused him to rise and dress himself and so carried him to the Lodgings of the Vice-king who having not slept all night was laid upon his Bed with his Arms on to take some little repose And the Agent being introduced by way of the Court-yard-gate those who were then present report that the Vice-king presently arose and said Is it so Traitour that thou hast sent away thy Kinsmen to serve Gonçalo Piçarro To which the Agent made answer I beseech your Lordship not to call me Traitour for in reality I am not so then replied the Vice-king I swear by God that thou art a Traitour to the King. I swear by God said the Agent I am as good a Servant to the King as your Lordship At which words the Vice-king became so enraged that coming in his fury to him he stabbed him in the breast with his Dagger though the Vice-king denied to have done it himself but that his Servants and Halbardiers of his Guard hearing how insolently he answered gave him so many wounds with their Halberts and Partisans that he dyed upon the place without so much time as to confess or speak one word And lest being a person generally well-beloved the manner of his death should cause some mutiny and disturbance amongst the Souldiers of which an hundred every night kept watch within the yard of the House the Vice-king gave order to have his Corpse conveyed away by a certain private Gallery leading to the Market-place where some few Indians and Negroes received it and buried it in a Church near thereunto without other Shroud or Winding-sheet than onely his own Scarlet Cloak which he usually wore Three days after which when the Judges seised on the person of the Vice-king as we shall relate hereafter one of the first things they laid to his charge was the death of the Agent and the Preamble to their Process was that being carried about midnight into the House of the Vice-king he never since that time appeared and it was proved that they had wounded and buried him So soon as this murther was made publick it occasioned much talk and murmuring in the Town for every one was assured that the Agent was a true Friend to the Vice-king and his Cause having been the chief Instrument to persuade the Town of Los Reyes to receive him against the sense and opinion of the major part of the Judges These matters happened out upon Sunday at night being the thirteenth day of September 1544. Thus far are the words of Carate which are confirmed also by Diego Fernandez who in the seventeenth Chapter of his Book adds this farther They conveyed says he his Corpse by a certain Gallery and buried them in a corner or nook of the great Church near adjoining thereunto but some few hours after that his anger grew cool and that the