the contrary side which was the cause that he lost the day The Captains of the Foot were Christopher de Sotelo Hernando de Alvarado John de Moscoso and Diego de Salinas The Horse were divided into two Squadrons the one Commanded by John Tello and Vasco de Guevara and the other by Francis de Chaves and Ruy Dias Orgonnos being Commander in Chief did not oblige himself to any particular rank being to be present and assisting at every action of the Field and designed with his companion Pedro de Lerma to seek for Hernando de Piçarro and fight with him His Artillery he planted on one side of the Squadrons where it might most annoy the Enemy before them was a stream of Water which ran through all those Plains and a Moorish sort of plashy ground which made the Access of the Enemy to them to be something difficult On the other side Pedro de Valdivia who was Major-General and Antonio de Campo sergeant-Sergeant-Major disposed their Forces in the same order as might answer that of Rodrigo Orgonnos Their Battalion of Foot was flanked on each Wing with good numbers of Harquebusiers who were those that did the work and gained the Victory of that day Their Horse were drawn up into two Squadrons of a hundred in each against those of Orgonnos Hernando Piçarro with his Companion Francisco de Barahona were in the Front of one of the Squadrons of Horse and Alonso de Alvarado at the Head of the other and Gonzalo Piçarro as General of the Infantry resolved to fight on Foot. In which order marching against the Almagrians they resolutely passed both the stream of Water and the Moor without any opposition of the Enemy for they had given them first such a Volly of small shot as had very much disordered them and put them into that confusion that they might easily be routed for both Horse and Foot retreated from their ground to avoid the shot of the Harquebusiers which when Orgonnos observed he doubted much of the Victory and gave order for the Artillery to play upon them which succeeded so well that one shot carried off a whole rank of five Men at once which so dismayed the Enemy that had four or five in the like manner followed they might have defeated that whole Squadron But Gonzalo Piçarro and his major-Major-General Valdivia appearing in the Front forced the Souldiers forwards and commanded them to charge the Enemy's Pikes with their Copper shot for as the Souldiers of Almagro were more numerous in their Pikes so those of Piçarro availed themselves most of their Harquebusiers and aimed much to defeat their Pikes that their Horse might afterwards charge them with less danger And so accordingly it succeeded for as Carate and Gomara relate fifty of their Pikes were broken with two Vollies of shot The Copper Bullets for information of those who have never seen them are cast in a common Mould like others They take a third or a fourth part of Iron-wire and at each end of this Wire they make a little hook for a link and put the end of the two Hooks into the middle of the Mould Then to divide the Mould into two parts they separate it with leaf of Copper or Iron as thin as Paper then they pour in the melted Lead which incorporates it self with the links of Iron and divides the Bullet in two parts fastned with the Iron links Then when they ram them into the Gun they joyn them like one Bullet and when they are shot out they spread themselves to the length of the Chain and cut all before them By these means as the Historians say they did great execution upon the Pikes for without this invention they could never have done half this mischief Howsoever they did not aim at the Pikemen themselves but at their Pikes that they might shew what they were able to do and what advantage they had over them in their Arms. This invention of Chain-bullets was brought from Flanders to Peru by Pedro de Vergara with the Guns which were made for them I remember to have seen some of them in my own Countrey and in Spain I have seen them and made them and there I was acquainted with a Gentleman called Alonso de Loaysa a Native of Truxillo who was wounded in that Battel having his lower jaw with his teeth and gums carried away with one of those Bullets he was the Father of Francisco Loaysa who lives this day at Cozco and is one of those few Sons of the Conquerours which remain and enjoy the inheritance and portion divided to their Fathers and according to this form I have seen others like these made for Cannon But to return to our Story of the Battel Rodrigo de Orgonnos and his Comrade Pedro de Lerma observing the great execution which the Harquebusiers made upon their people charged the Squadron of Horse commanded by Hernando Piçarro hoping to find and kill him which was the ultimate end of their expectation for they perceived that the Victory began to incline to the side of their Enemies and setting themselves just in the Front of Hernando and his Companion whom they distinguished and knew by their Coats of Incarnation-Velvet they charged them with great bravery and resolution Orgonnos who carried his Lance in its Rest full-butt against Francisco de Barabona happened to direct it right upon the Beaver which covered his face which being made of a mixture between Silver and Copper opened with the blow and gave passage to the Lance which ran into his head with which falling to the ground Orgonnos proceeded forward and ran another with his Lance into the breast and then laying his hand to his Sword he had performed Miracles in his own Person but that an unlucky Chain or Partridge-shot from the Harquebusiers strook him in the forehead with which he lost both his sight and force Pedro de Lerma and Hernando Piçarro encountred each other with their Lances but being mounted on Gennets they fixed them not in the Rests but in another manner which was this At that time and long after during all the time of the Civil Wars the Spaniards made certain Cases or Holsters of Leather which were fastned to the bow of the Saddle and reached to the neck of the Horse and then putting the end of the Lance into the Holster they brought it under the Arme like a Rest. In this manner passed many brave Combats between the Spaniards in Peru for the Encounters or Justs were with all the force both of Man and Horse but all this needed not against the Indians whose Skins were â—ierced with a more easie stroke of the Arme. We have judged fit to give this account of the offensive and defensive Arms of my Countrey for the better understanding of what is hereafter to be treated But to return unto the Combat between Hernando Piçarro and Pedro de Lerma it happened in this manner The Lances of both the Duellists being very long
those parts Howsoever the true design of Piçarro was discovered to Centeno by means of the Indians who by order of Don Christoval Paullu Inca of whom we have formerly made mention were very diligent and faithfull to acquaint Centeno with all the motions of his Enemies By these means Centeno being truly informed of the way and course which Piçarro intended to take marched forth to stop and interrupt him in his passage and thereby came so near each to the other that the Scouts met and called to each other and then returned to carry the advice So soon as Centeno received this intelligence of their near approach he put his people into a posture of defence and drew them out all night into form of Battel having been formerly well acquainted with the alarms and surprises which Piçarro had often given him in the night And yet for his care and vigilance Acosta made such an attempt upon him in the night with twenty Musquetiers as put all the Camp into confusion and the affrightment was so great that Carate saith in the second Chapter of his seventh Book that many of the Souldiers fled to their Tents and the people of Valdivia left their Pikes and shamefully ran away and that Acosta retreated again without the loss of one man. Thus far Carate What he farther adds concerning the people of Valdivia is this There was a certain Captain says he named Pedro de Valdivia who being in Chili received intelligence of the great stirs and troubles which were in Peru and to be the better informed thereof and perhaps to interest himself on one side or the other he came with many followers and failing along the Coast of Peru he received information of the ill condition of Piçarro and that the President Gusca was then in Sausa preparing to march against him whereupon Pedro de Valdivia resolved to go himself in Person to the President and to list himself with him in his Majesty's Service and to travel with the less Train he dismist his men and sent them to joyn with Centeno and these are those Valdivians who as Carate saith shamefully ran away The day following as is reported both Parties marched in sight of each other with their men drawn up in Battalia The Forces of Centeno as Lopez de Gomara reports were twelve hundred and twelve men strong Carate saith that they were something under a thousand Palentino calls them above nine hundred but for my part I have received it from very good hands that they were twelve hundred of which there were two hundred and sixty Horse a hundred and fifty Fire-locks and about eight hundred Pikes and Lances All the Infantry he drew up into one Body flanking the Lances with the Fire-locks though indeed the Flanks were very thin The Captains of Foot were John de Vargas Brother to Garçilasso de la Vega my Lord and Father Francisco de Retamoso Captain Negrul Captain Pantoja and Diego Lopez de Cuniga these five Captains with their Ensigns marched on the left Wing and in the Van of all about twenty paces distant from the rest of the Squadron These were immediately followed by eleven Files of the choicest men in the Squadron in nature of a Forlorne Hope After these came the Ensign bearers carrying their Colours and then followed the Lances and Pikemen interlined with the Musquetiers The right Wing of the Infantry was supported with three Troops of Horse whose Captains names were Pedro de los Rios a Native of Cordoua and of as noble descent as any in that City also Antonio de Ulloa born at Carceres a Gentleman of a very ancient Family and with them was joined Diego Alvarez born at Almendral who carried the Royal Standard Diego Centeno being then sick was not amongst the Troops nor present in the Battel but was carried up and down in a Chair giving orders and directions This Squadron consisting of a hundred and sixty Horse was commanded to charge the left Wing of the Enemy likewise Centeno flanked the left Wing of his Foot with ninety seven Horse which belonged to Arequepa and to the City of Plate whose Captains were Alonso de Mendoça and Jeronimo de Villegas and all commanded by the major-Major-General Luys de Ribera and the serjeant-Serjeant-Major of this Army was Luys Garcia de Sant Mames On the other side the Lieutenant-General Francisco de Carvajal formed his Squadron with the flower and choicest men of the Militia of Peru and it was pity that such stout and excellent Souldiers did not take the right side and employ themselves in service of the King their Lord and Master this was the cause which moved Historians to write with such defamation of a man so experienced in War that he knew to a point how many Lances were requisite to give check-mate to a Party and had as much advantage over others in War as an expert Master at the Game of Chess hath over a young beginner or learner Accordingly with great art he drew up in Battalia his little Army of four hundred men upon the Plains of which eighty five were Horse sixty Pikes and Lances and about two hundred and fifty Fire-locks howsoever many Authours make Piçarro to have been of a greater force and Centeno of a far less perhaps to abate the glory of Francisco Carvajal in case he conquered Centeno but these Writers understood not the Secret nor found out the true cause of the Victory on one side and the defeat of the other which we shall speedily relate Carvajal drew up in admirable Order his small Squadron in an open Plain where were no Bushes nor any thing else to hinder the shot of his Harquebusiers the Captains of which were Diego Guillen and John de la Torre and Carvajal himself commanded his own Company composed of stout Souldiers and excellent Marks-men And though John de Acosta commanded at that time a Troop of Horse yet he changed that day with Captain Guevara for his Foot Company because Guevara was lame and could not fight otherwise than on Horse-back these four were Captains of Foot and Hernando Bachicao commanded sixty Lances and Pikes and both Wings were interlined with Harquebusiers on one side and the other Amongst the Captains of Horse Gonçalo Piçarro was bravely mounted and armed with a good Coat of Mail and over it a Coat of green Velvet which I have seen him wear and over all he had a loose Garment of crimson Velvet slashed on each hand of him were Licenciado Cepeda who was Captain of Horse and Bachiller Guevara Francisco de Carvajal was Commander in Chief of this whole Squadron of Horse and posted himself on the right Wing of the Foot not exactly joyning to them but advanced about fifty paces before that the Musquetiers might have the more room to play their shot for in them he reposed his greatest assurance of Victory Carvajal was armed like a Commander of Horse with Coat of Mail and Gantlet and a Head-piece which they call a
same fate with Donna Maria Calderon as before mentioned for as there was the same similitude in their indiscreet and passionate words so it was thought fit that they should be equalled in the punishment and accordingly he was strangled and his Body publickly exposed Pedro de la Gasca President of his Imperial Majesty having summoned all the Captains and Souldiers who were in Quitu Cassamarca Rimac and other parts and who accordingly appeared at the Rendezvous and having ordered the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado as we have hinted before to goe to the City of Los Reyes to raise Men and to provide Horse and Arms and Money and Spanish Cloth for the use of the Army and to bring the Guns from the Ships all which being accomplished and sufficient Ammunition and Victuals provided it was determined that the Camp should remove from Sausa to meet Gonçalo Piçarro and Officers were appointed for better Government of the Army as the three Historians agree and particularly Carate in the fourth Chapter of his seventh Book hath these words The Camp was ordered saith he in this manner Pedro Alonso de Hinojosa continued in the Office of General as was agreed when he first surrendred up the Fleet at Panama The Mareschal Alonso Alvarado was made Lieutenant General Licenciado Benito de Carvajal Standard Bearer General and Pedro de Villa-vicencio was made Serjeant Major The Captains of Horse were Don Pedro Cabrera Gomez de Alvarado John de Saavedra Diego de Mora Francisco Hernandez Rodrigo de Salazar and Alonso de Mendoça Captains of Foot were Don Baltasar de Castilla Paulo de Meneses Hernando Mexia de Guzman John Alonso Palomino Gomez de Solis Francisco Mosquera Don Hernando de Cardenas Admiral Andagoya Francisco de Olmos Gomez Darias Captain Porcel Captain Pardavel and Captain Serna Captain Graviel de Rojas was made Master of the Ordnance In company with the President were the Arch-bishop of Los Reyes the Bishops of Cozco and Quitu and Father Thomas de San Martin Provincial of St. Dominick's Order with many other Friars and Priests At the last Muster there were listed seven hundred Musquetiers five hundred Pike-men and four hundred Horsemen the which number increased to a thousand nine hundred by that time that they arrived at Xaquixaguava and so the Camp removed from Xauxa on the twenty ninth of December in the year 1547. and marched in good order towards the City of Cozco and endeavoured to find some shallow place where they might with the least danger foard over the River of Avancay Thus far Augustine Carate so that besides the four principal Officers viz. the General Lieutenant General Standard-bearer and Serjeant Major there were seven Captains of Horse and thirteen of Foot besides the Master of the Ordnance who were all Noble and persons of Quality most of which I knew and with these Officers and Forces the President removed his Camp from Sausa to find the Enemy and came to Huamanca where being great want of Provisions they were forced to proceed forward in all haste to the Province of Antahuaylla with intention to winter there being a Countrey as we have said before abounding with all sorts of Provisions At this place the President with his whole Army made some stay in expectation of the coming of the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado who brought new Recruits commanded by their own Captains and were as Augustine Carate reports about three hundred men of whom we shall speak more in the following Chapter CHAP. XXIX Of the Captains and principal Men of Quality and Souldiers who came to Antahuaylla to serve his Majesty And the great joy there was at their Arrival THE President quartered his Army in Antahuaylla for above the space of three months during which time the People flocked in to him from all parts amongst them was Alonso de Mendoça who escaped from the Battel of Huarina whom we forgot to mention in the due place and was preferred to the Command of Captain of Horse About a month and a half after the President entered into Antahuaylla the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado came thither with a hundred Souldiers bringing the Cannon with him with part of the Money Arms and Spanish Cloths the remainder he left behind and was afterwards brought by the Accountant John de Carceres by which the necessities of the Souldiers were abundantly supplied In like manner the Licenciado Pedro Ramirez Judge of the Court at Nicaragua came thither with about twelve Horsemen in his company having left about a hundred and twenty Foot-souldiers on their march thither who came in about eight days after The Admiral Belalçacar came in thither also with about twenty Horse in his Company having travelled four hundred leagues Captain Diego Centeno brought in thirty Horse of those who had escaped from the Battel of Huarina and met together on the road one of which was his dear Companion Gonçalo Silvestre and Partner in all his misfortunes Besides those here named were many other Souldiers of less note and same who in all made up a Body of three hundred men The President rejoiced much to see his Army so much increased and courageous and to consist of men who came from far Countries to serve his Majesty and particularly he was pleased to see Diego Centeno who was a person of loyal Principles and endued with excellent parts both of body and mind for he was much a Gentleman and a most comely Person The last who came to the Army was Pedro de Valdivia Governour of Chile with about eight men on Horse-back In praise of whom Palentino hath spoken very fine things And Carate in the fifth Chapter of his seventh Book useth these words The President having removed his Camp from the Valley of Sausa Pedro de Valdivia who was Governour in the Province of Chile came in to his assistence This Valdivia came by Sea to Los Reyes with intention to furnish himself there with men and ammunition cloathing and other necessaries for the total subjection of that Countrey but being landed there and understanding the state of the troubles then in transaction both he and his men resolved to employ themselves in this War and accordingly with great quantities of Money which they brought with them they took the direct way towards the President to whom the person of Valdivia was of great use and reputation for though many rich Men and other principal Captains had followed the President before Valdivia appeared yet no person was esteemed so experienced in War as he and whose Art and Skilfulness in Military discipline might be opposed to the Strategems and Contrivances of Francisco de Carvajal to whose Government and Industry Gonçalo Piçarro had been beholding for many of his Successes and more particularly in the late Battel of Huarina against Diego Centeno so that the President 's whole Army was affrighted and remained in apprehension of this person untill they recovered their spirits and courage by the coming of Valdivia Thus far
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
Serna and Gaspar Gil who were two Captains of his kept a private correspondence with Piçarro he caused them to be run through with a Lance though it is said for certain that they were not guilty at least Piçarro never received Letters from them and about the same time also and upon the like suspicion he caused Rodrigo de Ocampo to be stabbed with a Dagger though he was innocent of that Treason of which he was suspected and in reality deserved highly from him having adhered faithfully to him in all his Troubles And being come to Quitu he gave Orders to Licenciado Alvarez to hang up Gomez Estacio and Alvaro de Carvajal who were Citizens of Guayaquil pretending that they had a Conspiracy to take away his life c. Thus far Gomara This great effusion of Bloud and Slaughter gave much cause of offence to the people of Peru who every where spoke against the Vice-king and his Cause saying that he was not a man to be dealt with who thus upon every light occasion or the least suspicion could put men to death and therefore many fell off from his party and denyed him the assistence they otherwise designed him for fear of incurring the like fate with others But now leaving the Vice-king in Quitu and Gonçalo Piçarro in pursuit of him we shall relate the successes of those Affairs which passed in the Kingdom of Quitu with what happened in the Province of the Charcas which are Countreys above seven hundred Leagues distant each from the other and are the utmost confines of Peru which is wonderfull to consider that these quarrels should extend so far as to influence Affairs at so far a distance CHAP. XXVII The death of Francisco de Almendras The Insurrection of Diego Centeno The Opposition which Alonso de Toro made against it and the defeat he gave him WE have already mentioned how that many of the Inhabitants of the City of Plate whom the Vice-king had summoned to come in to his assistence were actually on their way to him but hearing of his Imprisonment they returned to their own homes We have also said That Gonçalo Piçarro had sent Francisco de Almendras with Commission to be his Deputy knowing him to be a person truely zealous and affectionate to his Cause and indeed he shewed himself really so to be for having information that a principal Gentleman of that place called Don Gomez de Luna should say in his house that it was impossible but that one day the Emperour would reign in Peru he presently took him and clapt him up in the common prison with a strong Guard upon him but the Corporation of the City made several Addresses in his behalf which were rejected by Francisco de Almendras with some kind of ill language which a certain person taking notice of boldly replyed that if he would not release him they would at which Almendras though highly offended concealed his displeasure for a while and at midnight went in person to the prison and there strangled Don Gomez and drawing his body to the Market-place cut off his Head and there left the Corpse The Inhabitants were so greatly offended hereat as Carate in the 5th Chap. of his 20th Book relates that the sense thereof was general and esteemed to be a common concernment and particularly one called Diego Centeno who was a Native of the City Rodrigo took it much to heart having had a particular friendship for Gomez And though this Centeno followed the party of Piçarro when he made his first Insurrection and followed him from Cozco to Los Reyes having great interest in the Army and a Plenipotentiary for the Province of the Charcas yet afterwards discovering the evil designs and intentions of Piçarro he obtained leave from him to return to his own estate and his Command over Indians where he quietly resided untill such time as this unhappy death of Gomez fell out which first moved him to use the best means he was able to free the Lives and Estates of that people from the oppression and tyranny of Francisco de Almendras in order whereunto he communicated his design to the principal Inhabitants of that Countrey namely Lope de Mendoça Alonso Perez de Esquivel Alonso de Camargo Hernan Nunnez de Sagura Lope de Mendiera John Ortiz de Carate his Brother with other persons in whom he reposed a confidence who being assembled together they agreed that the onely way was to kill Francisco de Almendras which accordingly they put in execution one Sunday morning at his own house stabbing him in divers places just as he was going forth to hear Mass and being not quite dead they drew him out into the Market-place and there cut off his Head. Not was there much fear that any great tumult would follow hereupon amongst the people because Almendras was generally hated and ill spoken of in all parts In his place Diego Centeno was named Captain General who also gave Commissions to several other Captains both of Horse and Foot and with great diligence raised Men and provided Arms and other things necessary for War and to hinder all intelligence from coming to the Enemy he set Watches and Guards upon the ways And moreover he sent Lope de Mendoça to Arequepa to seize if possible upon Pedro de Fuentes who remained there with Character of Lieutenant Governour to Gonçalo Piçarro but this matter was not carried so covertly but de Fuentes received timely Advices thereof by means of the Indians who were in the Charcas upon which he abandoned the City and Lope de Mendoça entred therein and possessed himself of the People Arms Horses with what Money he could find and so he returned to joyn with Diego Centeno who was then at the Villa de Plata and there they made up a Body of two hundred and fifty Men well armed and appointed in all respects And being now assembled together Diego Centeno made them a long Discourse of all matters which had passed from the beginning of the Troubles untill that time he condemned the proceedings of Gonçalo Piçarro putting them in mind of the many Slaughters he was guilty and of the Bloud he spilt of those who pretended to doe service to the King and now by menaces and force of Arms he had caused himself to be styled Governour of that Empire and that he had possessed himself not onely of his Majesty's revenue but of the Estates of particular Men from whom he had taken away their Indian plantations and appropriated them to himself and that he had encouraged men to speak things in derogation of his Majesty's Authority to which he added many other things which he objected against Piçarro and in the conclusion he put them in mind of the duty which good Subjects ought to bear towards their Prince and the danger of denying their allegiance the which reasons Diego Centeno urged so home that the people unanimously agreed thereunto and frankly offered to follow his Commands in what enterprize
and give me leave not to believe you for it is impossible you should be without Bullets The Souldier finding himself thus urged in truth Sir said he upon the word of a Souldier I have but three◠Oh Sir answered Carvajal did not I tell you that your Worship being the man you were taken for could not be without Bullets and therefore I desire you to lend me one of your three to bestow upon another and then kill me to day a Bird with one of the two remaining and a man with the other on the day of the Fight and then I will require you to shoot no more By this saying Carvajal would give us to understand that if every Musquetier could but kill his man the Victory would be secure and certain But howsoever he largely supplied the Souldier with Ammunition and Arms as he did all the others who had occasion of Powder and Bullet in this pleasant manner he treated with his Friends but when he came to deal with his Enemies he treated them at another rate with all gravity caution and reservedness required Another quaint saying of his was expressed to his Musquetiers in sight of the Enemy when he advised them to level their Arms from the Girdle downwards and not from the Breast to the Head upwards For look you Gentlemen said he Bullets are apt to rise and that which misses though but two Fingers breadth is lost and cannot doe execution but that which flies low and grazes ten paces off may yet have some effect And in case you wound your Enemy either in the Thighs or Legs he must fall and become disabled when on the contrary a man may receive a shot either in his Arm or Body unless the wound be mortal he may yet continue fighting Upon this ground and for this reason he ordered his Musquetiers not to fire above a hundred paces distant from the Enemy which as Carate saith did such cruel and terrible execution that in the first ranks of Captains and Ensigns and in the eleven files which were in the Van before them these remained not ten men found all being killed or wounded which was a sad case and much to be lamented In like manner these Shot gauled the Horse very much of which Alonso de Mendoça and Jeronimo de Villegas were Captains so that ten or twelve of the Cavaliers were dismounted and amongst them was one Carrera whom we have formerly mentioned One of the Colonels named Luys de Ribera considering that in case the Horsemen were detached by degrees and ordered to charge the Foot they would all be killed one after the other before they could be able to come up to the Enemy and therefore Orders were given that they should charge Piçarro's Horse who seeing the Enemy coming upon them kept their ground and stirred not one step forward as the Lieutenant General had directed that the Musquetiers might not lose their Shot nor advantage of their Vollies as the Enemy came up to them but when he saw that Centeno's Horse had passed the right wing of the Foot he then advanced thirty paces forward to receive the charge of the Enemy Centeno's Horse riding upon a full trot over-bore Piçarro's Horse and trampled and trod them under foot as if they had been so many Sheep so that as Historians agree and I with them Men and Horse were overthrown and scarce ten Men of all their numbers remained who were not dismounted One of these thus hardly beset was Gonçalo Piçarro himself who being single and divided from his Company hastened up to join with his Foot. But being known by three Cavaliers of chief note they fell upon him with intent to kill him or take him prisoner one of them was called Francisco de Vlloa another Michael de Vergara and the other Gonçalo Silvestre This latter assailed Piçarro on the right side Vergara on the left and Vlloa joined with Vergara These two came up so closely to Piçarro that they gave him many Stabs under the Ribs but good Arms defended him Michael de Vergara made a loud Out◠cry and said This Traytor Piçarro is my prize and my prisoner In this manner they all four pursued him till he came up to the Foot but the Horse on which Gonçalo Silvestre rode most troubled and endangered him for being a nimble Horse and in a full carriere he came so close up to him that Silvestre took hold of the Horse's pectoral and stopped him in his course which when Piçarro perceived he turned about his body to him and with a short Cutlace which was hanged with a Ribon on the wrist of his right hand he gave three Cuts upon his Horse one of which lighted upon his Nose and cut off his Lips so as the Teeth were laid bare upon one side another Cut he gave him over the Nostrils and the third took him over the hollow of his right eye though without hurt to his sight And this Piçarro performed with so little concernment as if he had been engaged in sports of the Ring or other Feats of Arms. And this very story I heard from Gonçalo Silvestre himself who often amongst other particulars of this Battel recounted this passage and the same I have heard confirmed by divers others And that all four of them pursued him up to his body of the Foot. CHAP. XX. The Story of the cruel Battel of Huarina is farther continued several Feats of Arms performed therein The Victory is gained by Piçarro WHEN the Souldiers saw him coming they knew him to be Piçarro and charged with their Pikes to receive and defend him Silvestre perceiving that he had not wounded Piçarro with all the Stabs he had given him on his sides he stopped his hand and gave a Cut on the Blade-bone of his Horse's Shoulder but the wound was so inconsiderable that after these matters had passed and the Wars were at an end this particular was scarce judged worthy to be mentioned lest it should accuse his Arm of faintness and want of strength but this small wound was again returned by Piçarro's Souldiers who sallying forth to kill those who pursued him wounded Silvestre's Horse in the head with a Lance which made him rise up on end and then another with his Lance ran Silvestre himself through both his Arms the Horse with the smart of his Wounds floundred and tumbled on all four with the force of which the head of the Lance broke off in his Arms but howsoever the Horse bounsing up carried off his Master with more danger than what is here expressed But Michael de Vergara was more unfortunate for he in the heat of his Fury fansying that the Traytor Piçarro was his prisoner pursued him within three or four files of the Enemy where they knocked him down and cut both him and his horse into pieces Nor did Francisco de Vlloa succeed better for as he was turning his horse to escape a Musquetier clapt the nose of his Gun on the reins of his Back
to Hernandez and had given him advice of their design to surprize him in the night wherefore they changed their resolution and ordered their Souldiers to march unto a place called Villacori about five Leagues distant from their former quarters leaving thirty of their best Horse behind for a rere Guard and to give intelligence of what passed in those parts Lope Martin with three other Companions offered himself for this service and posted himself on a high Hill which surveyed the River Yca from whence he might discover and observe the motion of the Enemy But as Lope Martin with his three Companions were on the Hill they were discovered by a certain Indian of Cannari belonging to Hernandez from the lower parts which are full of thickets and trees of which he immediately carried the Intelligence to his Captain upon which advice Hernandez with his Souldiers encompassed the Hill on all sides so that it was impossible for any of them to escape for though Lope Martin could see at a distance yet by reason of the thickets and bushes he could discover nothing that was near at hand nor could he see when any passed the River Yca which runs just under the mountain I remember that having had occasion once to pass that way with some Companions of mine we had the curiosity to go up to the top of the Hill to see the place where Lope de Martin was surprized which indeed is such a situation that an enemy cannot be discryed untill he just appears close at hand and so it happened to Lope de Martin and his three Companions who fell unexpectedly into the hands of a Party sent from Hernandez without possibility to escape being all four taken And whereas it was not known which was Lope de Martin a certain Moor of Barbary who had been a servant to Alonso de Alvarado who was Brother-in-law to Thomas Vazquez they having married two Sisters chanced to know him and told those that carried him that they ought to look well to their Prisoner who was Lope de Martin The Souldiers triumphing with so great a prize carried him with much joy to Hernandez Giron who refused to see him but calling to remembrance how that Loçana one of his Captains was hanged by Altamirano the Judge Advocate he instantly passed sentence on Lope de Martin and upon one of his Companions that had formerly deserted him and caused them both to be executed without farther delay Lope Martin was beheaded and his Head pitched upon the point of a Lance was carried for a Trophy to Villacori as we shall presently relate And thus Lope Martin ended his days who was one of the first Conquerours of that Empire and concerned in the imprisonment of Atahualpa and one of the Chief Citizens of Cozco CHAP. XII The Justices send recruits to Paulo de Meneses Francisco Hernandez returns upon him and defeats him The death of Michael Cornejo The faithfulness of a Horse to his Master PAulo de Meneses going as we have said before in pursuit of Hernandez wrote to the Justice Santillan and to Don Geronimo de Loaysa Archbishop of Los Reyes who were the Generals of the Army advising them that the Enemy was very strong and that his Forces were weak and therefore he desired them to send him recruits without delay not doubting but to defeat the Rebels in that expedition The Generals with all readiness complyed with his desires and sent him a hundred men well armed and provided amongst which were divers Citizens of Cozco Huamanca and Arequepa who made such haste in their march that they arrived at Villacori some time before Paulo de Meneses himself came thither to the encouragement and satisfaction of both Parties at their meeting They were well informed that the Enemies quarters were not above five Leagues distant and that Lope de Martin and his three Companions were upon the watch and remained for Centinels attending the motion of the Enemy With which News they confidently reposed and remained in security without fear or suspicion of danger which was an errour in the Captains who in War ought ever to apprehend the worst and provide against the surprise of an enemy though distant and far removed for example of which we shall lay before them the present misfortune For Francisco Hernandez having been informed from Lope Martin and his Companions of the quarters and condition of Paulo de Meneses he presently put his Forces in order to march against him with all possible diligence and herein fortune favoured him very much for though one of Martin Lope's Companions had made his escape yet he was so affrighted with the apprehensions of death that he hid himself in a Cave and had not power to go forward with this information to Paulo Meneses which was of the highest importance to him for want of which on confidence of such vigilant Sentinels as Lope Martin and his Companions both he and his Souldiers reposed securely without fear or suspicion of any surprise About break of day in the morning a certain Souldier who went out of the Camp to gather a little Mayz in those Fields heard on a sudden the noise of people coming towards him and looking about him espied a party of about thirty Horse which Hernandez had sent for the Van-guard to amuse the enemy and entertain them with skirmishing untill the rest of his Forces were come up to their assistence The Souldier immediately ran in with the advice and gave the alarm but Paulo de Meneses supposing that the enemy was not more numerous than what the Souldier reported them to be he kept his ground and would not retreat untill seeing the enemy very near and appearing on the Sands and himself almost surrounded with Forces far greater than his own he then gave orders to make a retreat with all speed whilst he in person defended the Rere against the enemies attempt in which many were killed and wounded on one side and the other and in this manner they continued fighting and skirmishing the greatest part of the day untill the whole Force of Hernandez was come up and then the confusion was great as well amongst those who pursued as those that fled not being able by reason of the noise and dust to distinguish one from the other this pursuit continued for the space of three leagues in which Captain d◠Avalos with five or six more were wounded and about fourteen or fifteen were killed and amongst them Michael de Cornejo a very honest man and a Citizen of Arequepa and one of the first Conquerours to whom Francisco de Carvajal Lieutenant-General to Gonçalo Piçarro made many acknowledgments of friendship for the kindness and generosity he had shewn him as we have formerly mentioned His death was occasioned by the Borgonion he wore having the Visard close shut down whereby and with the dust raised by those who pursued and those who fled and by the violent heat which is always in those Valleys he was stifled and suffocated
Hernandez to spare Randona and grant him his Life To which he assented and in token thereof sent his Gloves by the Messenger who carried the Pardon Alonso Gonçalez having intimation that the Act of Grace was coming he enter'd into the Tent and charged the Priest to make an end of his Work for he would not stay longer whereupon the Father hastning the Absolution so soon as it was ended Gonçalez cut off his Head with a great Knife which having done he went out of the Tent saying That he had made good the word of this little Marquess who had promised the Justices to bring the Head of an Enemy or to leave his own with them and causing his Body to be drawn out it was exposed to publick view to the great trouble of many of the Spectators but more especially to the sorrow of his Friends in the King's Camp when the news thereof was made known to them This Randona as we have said was a rash Souldier more Couragious than Wise his Horse was very good but he used him ill being always on his back shewing how well he could prance and carvet which was the reason as Palentino saith that he fail'd him when he had most use of his Service We may see also how wise he was to tell the Enemy what he had promised to the Justices upon which the Executioner General Alonso Gonçalez took occasion to exercise his Cruelty Palentino on these passages proceeds and says That the Justices sent several Pardons to particular Persons by the hands of Negers and Indian Domestick Servants who continually passed between both Camps carrying intelligence from one to the other all which were brought to Hernandez who caused them to be publickly cryed and with Scorn and Contempt declared as insignificant and of no value Moreover they cut off the Hands and Noses of those who brought them and tyed them about their Necks and in that manner returned them to the King's Camp again Thus far this Author and therewith he concludes this Chapter CHAP. XXVI The treacherous practices of some false Souldiers Piedrahita gives an Allarm to the King's Army Hernandez resolves to give Battel to the Justices and in what manner it was prevented by them SUch Affronts as these were daily offered to his Majesties Camp during all the time that Francisco Hernandez was lodged in Pucara For scarce a day passed without some remarkable disadvantage to the King's Forces who continually lost Men Horses and Arms For many of the Souldiers being of a Mutinous and Seditious temper and false and perfidious in their dealings did oftentimes appear to go forth and skirmish and with that occasion yielded themselves Prisoners and called for Quarter to the Enemy saying I submit and surrender my self together with my Arms And this was the subtle design of these Souldiers to save themselves for in case the King overcame they had to alledge That they were taken Prisoners by the Rebels and if the Rebels were victorious they could plead and say That they had revolted to them and had contributed to the fortune of the Day The Justices suspecting this piece of policy amongst the crafty Souldiers they gave Orders forbidding all Skirmishes for the future and all Communications and Conferences with the Enemy though on pretence of Kindred Friendship or Alliance for that no good effects did ever result from such Interviews Francisco Hernandez observing that an end was put to the Skirmishes and Conferences between the Souldiers he gave Orders to his Major General Captain John de Piedrahita to allarm the Kings Camp thinking thereby to provoke them to fight and with eighty Musqueteers to assail them by Night and gave them particularly in charge to observe with what readiness and vigilance they were received by the Enemy and with such Allarms they intended constantly to molest and disturb them until in this manner harrassing the Souldiers they should with watchfulness and continual Duty tire them out and defeat them Piedrahita accordingly allarmed the Enemy with his Souldiers as far as he durst adventure but to little effect nor did the Kings Forces return any answer seeing that all was but a Bravade without any real Design to engage howsoever Piedrahita returned to Hernandez boasting much of the great Actions he had done and how he found the Enemies Camp without Guards or Centinels and sleeping with such security that in case he had had but two hundred and fifty Musqueteers with him he should not have doubted but to have defeated the Enemy and have taken the Justices and all their Captains Prisoners Besides which he vapoured and told many other Stories of the like nature as is the custom of Bravadoes who talk more than they do and though Piedrahita was an eminent Captain in this Rebellion and had been successful in many Encounters yet in this last he did nothing more than what we have mentioned and talked more than what he had acted Francisco Hernandez founding himself much upon the Reports he had received from his Major General conceiving them all to be true and also upon the Informations which were given him by certain Souldiers who were revolted from the Kings party unto his did really believe that the Kings Camp was in great want of Powder Match and all sorts of Ammunitions in confidence of which he resolved one of those Nights to attack the Enemy seeing that they designed not to assault him within his Fortifications which he interpreted to be such a piece of Cowardise and lowness of Spirit in the Enemy that he esteemed them already his own and conquered by him Hereupon he called his Captains to a Council of War laying before them the state of the Enemies Camp with the Circumstances of it and his Opinion to attack them desiring their Concurrence with him assuring them of Victory not only because the Enemy was weak and discouraged but also from certain Predictions which Wise-Men had foretold of these matters which he termed Prophecies though they deserved no better name than of Witchcrafts and Sorceries The Captains however were of a different Opinion and said That there was no necessity of engaging the Enemy and that their business was only to remain quiet and on the defensive part which they could easily do being well fortified in a place inaccessible to an Enemy and provided with all things necessary for their subsistance when on the contrary the Enemy laboured under great wants of Victuals and Ammunition And in case they desired to reduce them to greater extremities they had nothing to do but to march away to the Charcas where having seized all the Silver of the Country and therewith paid the Souldiery they might afterwards march along the Coast by the Sea side to the City of Los Reyes which they would find open to them and without Souldiers or Garrison to defend it Moreover the Enemy wanting Horses and Beasts of Burden and Iron to Shoe them with were not in a condition to make a pursuit after them and in
case they did they might easily worst them whensoever they made Head to oppose them And since that by this method things had succeeded well it were not good to change the course of their proceedings lest therewith they should change and alter the Current of their Fortune An Example whereof they had seen and proved by the Enemies success at Chuquinca How confident â—aid they were they of Victory and with what heat and courage did they assail us and how on a sudden were they overthrown and defeated Notwithstanding all this Discourse Hernandez declared his Resolution to beat up the Enemies Quarters that Night with the force of all his Army and that he would never turn his Back to the Justices for some Wise Old Woman had foretold good success to him in that place wherefore he intreated them all not to contradict or oppose him in this matter but to prepare themselves for that night's Enterprise Thus ending the Consultation the Captains arose very much discontented and out of humour seeing such a Resolution taken as was contrary to the common Opinion of all the Officers of the Army and which was so full of hazard and danger that they seemed rather to be led forth to Slaughter than to the doubtful chance of War And though the General observed sadness and a cloud on the Brow of all his Captains yet depending on his Sorceries and Enchantments nothing could alter the Resolution he had taken but Orders were given to prepare for an Assault after Midnight about setting of the Moon and because it would be then dark every one was to be cloathed in White to distinguish themselves from the Enemy After Sun-set a Muster was taken of all the Souldiers whereby two Souldiers appeared to be wanting who formerly belonged to the Marshal and were suspected to be revolted over to the King's Party but some who were willing to please Hernandez did aver that they were informed by Indians That one of those missing who was the most considerable of the two was seen and met on his way towards the Charcas and the other of less account was a Man so silly and without Sense that the Justices would never give credit to any Report he should make them These Stories were sufficient to satisfie Hernandez who with an unparallelled temerity gave orders for all things to be in a readiness against the hour appointed The two Souldiers who were fled came though late to his Majesties Camp where they gave intelligence of the intention of the Enemy to attack them that Night in two Bodies for perceiving that they did not attempt them within their Fortification they resolved themselves to be the first Assailants The Justices Officers and Counsellors who were of the most Ancient Conquerours of Peru and who by long experience in War were become great Souldiers were of Opinion that it was better to salley out of their Intrenchment and to draw up their Forces in the open Field rather than to fight within their Trenches which were strait and filled with Tents Mules and Indians which would be incumbrances and obstructions in the time of Battel And though many things were urged against this design saying That Cowards and Men of little Courage would fight better under the shelter of a Mud-wall than in open Field yet by Gods Mercy and Providence the first Resolution prevailed and both Horse and Foot were drawn forth into the Plain which formed a very handsome Squadron well furnished and provided with Musqueteers and lined with Pikes and Halberds and eleven pieces of great and heavy Cannon CHAP. XXVII Francisco Hernandez proceeds forth to Battel He misses of his design and retreats back again to his Camp. Thomas Vazquez revolts over to the King's Party Hernandez the Rebel declares a Prediction which was made concerning himself THE time being come that the Rebel calculated to be the auspicious hour he sallied out of his Fortress with 800 Foot of which as Palentino says 600 were Musqueteers and the rest Pike-men his Horse were few and not exceeding thirty in all His Neger Souldiers or black Guard to the number of 250 he sent by another way joining about seventy Spaniards with them to lead them on and to govern and direct them in what they had to do But in these they reposed no great Confidence intending them only to divert and amuse the Enemy who in the Night could not distinguish the difference of one from the other The Orders were that these Negers should assail the Justices in the Front and Hernandez in the Rear and in this manner they silently marched towards his Majesties Camp with their Matches and Lights covered In like manner the King's Squadrons were all drawn up in posture of battel and remained quietly and without noise with their Fires covered The black Guard came first to the Intrenchment before Hernandez where finding no resistance they entred in and killed all the Indians Horses and Mules which they found there together with five or six Spanish Souldiers who out of Cowardise had left the Army and hid themselves within the Intrenchment Hernandez coming afterwards fired a whole volly of shot into the Fortification without receiving any return from thence but finding that the King's Party fired all their Musquets upon them with their whole Train of Artillery from another place they were much amazed in regard that contrary to their expectation the Enemy had quitted their Intrenchments and drawn up in open Field Howsoever no great hurt was done on either side for the Night being very dark every one shot at random and without any aim Had these Vollies of above 1300 shot passed by day and so near each to other it had been impossible but that the Fields should have been covered with the Bodies of the slain The Rebel perceiving that he was disappointed of his design gave himself over for lost and so retreated back to his Fortification in the best order that he could Howsoever he could not retire in such manner but that 200 of his men forsook him who formely belonged to the Marshal and who now making use of this occasion to escape threw down their Arms and revolted to the Justices In the mean time the King's Forces would have pursued the Enemy in their flight but were countermanded by their General and other Officers who ordered that no man should stir out of his Rank but should keep his ground the which Rule was happily observed for a Party of Horse perceiving that the Enemy intended not to fight sallied out upon them to obstruct their retreat in which Action a Cornet of Horse was killed and three Citizens of Cozco were wounded namely Diego de Silva Antonio Ruyz de Guerara and Diego Maldonado the Rich the Wound of this last was never cured to the day of his death which happened to be eleven or twelve years afterwards for it was always kept open by the advice of Chyrurgeons and Physicians who were of opinion that the nature of the Wound was such
11. Officers how invested in their Emploiments 151. Oracles consulted 354. Olive-plants first brought into Peru 391. Francisco de Orellana leaves his Companions and sails into Spain to demand the Government of the Conquest of Canela 605. Orsua attempts the Conquest of the Amazons His end and death 1006. P. PEru described 3. divided into four parts 32. The Physick and Medicines used by Indians 45 46. Poetry and Philosophy of the Amautas p. 49. The Punishment of those who used Poison 59. Of Idle People 137. The Pinguin Bird called Parihuana 67. The Palaces of the Inca's ornament and furniture 185. Made of Gold and Silver 187. Paintings used by the Indian Women 346. Posts how dispatched and settled 196. Pachacutec Son to Viracocha succeeds and visits several parts of the Empire subdues several Provinces 202 205. His Edifices and Laws 204. And his wise sayings 246. Of the Platane or Pine-Apple 324. Pearls Emeralds and Turquoises 341. The People of Puna massacre the Captains of Huayna Capac 356. Punishment is inflicted on them 357. Peru conquered with little Cost to the King of Castile 422. Peter de Candia informs his Companions of all he had seen 434. Francisco Piçarro forsaken by his Souldiers 428. Proceeds on his Conquest 430. How he and thirteen Companions arrive in Peru 431. He makes a voyage into Spain 435. Hernando Piçarro travels to Pachacamac 462. and returns to Spain 473. Francisco Piçarro made a Marquis 537. John Piçarro killed in taking the Fort of Cozco 549. Hernando Piçarro imprisoned 563. He is set at liberty 576. Gonçalo Piçarro escapes out of prison ibid. Hernando Piçarro marches against Don Diego de Almagro 580. He goes into Spain and is there imprisoned 593. Marquis Piçarro divides the Kingdom and Gonçalo Piçarro is sent to the Conquest of Canela 600. The great hardship he undergoes 602. He considers how he may return to Quitu 608. The Spaniards of Chili conspire against Marquis Piçarro and put him to death 610 613. Piçarro and Almagro compared 615. Piçarro's excellent qualities 619. Gonçalo Piçarro after having passed most incredible difficulties finds his way out of the Cinnamon Countrey 631. He enters into Quitu and offers his Service to the Governour 634. He is chosen Agent General of Peru 675. Gonçalo Piçarro having appointed his Captains departs from Cozco 677. Pedro de Puelles revolts to Gonçalo Piçarro 683. His Death 775. Gonçalo Piçarro is summoned by the Judges to appear 697. He comes to Los Reyes 699. He puts many to death because they refuse to proclaim him Governour p. 700. Gonçalo Piçarro is declared Governour of Peru 701. He enters into Los Reyes 702. He nominates Messengers for Spain 705. He embarks for the City of Truxillo 712. Two of his Captains kill three of those belonging to the Vice-king ibid. Gonçalo Piçarro makes great Preparations to pass a Desart 714. He drives the Vice-king out of Peru 726. He sets all his own Ships on Fire 771. At Panama great Preparations are made and troubles appeased 728 729. Poison how infused by the Indians into their Arrows 741. Piçarro refuses the Title of King and professes Allegiance to his Majesty and goes to Los Reyes 750 751. His behaviour towards the People 752. Panama and the People there revolt from Piçarro 762. Paniagua comes to Los Reyes 763. His private Instructions and Piçarro's Answer 767. Gonçalo Piçarro sends Acosta against Centeno and administers an Oath of Fidelity to his Souldiers 781. He comes to Huarina 791. He resolves to give Battel 794. He gains a Victory against Centeno 800. He enters into Cozco 813. He draws up his Army in the Valley of Sacsahuana 827. His Protestations and Offers to the President 828. He is totally defeated in the Valley of Sacsahuana 832. Surrenders himself 833. Of the manner how he was put to death of the Alms he gave for his Soul also an Account of his Disposition and Nature 847 848 849. The City of Peace founded 862. Potocsi much disturbed by an Insurrection there 896. Potosi the Mountain where the Mines of Silver are 344. The two Mountains of Potocsi the bigger and the less 346. Many Troubles there and many brave men put to death 904 905. Piedrahita alarms the Marshal's Camp 943. His success at Arequepa 953. He again alarms the King's Army 963. He is put to death 986. Pretenders to the Office of Captain General in the War against Hernandez Giron 924. Pineda revolts to the King's Party and perswades them to engage with the Enemy 944. Q. OF Quick-silver and how melted their Ore before they discovered that Mineral 345 346. Quizquiz slain by his own Souldiers 524. The Quarrel between the Vice-king and the Judges breaks out in publick 670. R. IN ca Rocca the Prince reduces many Provinces 84. Inca Rocca the Sixth King succeeds and subdues many Nations 114. His Laws and Schools founded in Cozco 122. Four famous Rivers 338. Of Rats and to what multitudes they have increased 384. The Riches of Peru with two Opinions thereupon 424. The Riches which the Spaniards divided amongst themselves out of what they took for Atahualpa's Ransome 484. Rumminavi his Treason 494. He buries the select Virgins alive 496. Revolts made from Piçarro by Martin de Robles 785. Licenciado Carvajal Graviel de Rojas c. 787. Captains and Souldiers revolted from John de Acosta 790. At Sacsahuana 830 831. Martin de Robles imprisoned and put to death 987. John de Vera Mendoça revolts from Hernandez Giron Los Reyes declares for the King 788. Great Disturbances there 789. Rodrigo de Ninno entrusted to carry some persons condemned to the Gallies into Spain 867 868. And how he freed himself from a Pirate ibid. S. SErrano the Story of him 3. The Sacrifices to the Sun 31 92. Sinchi Roca second King 36. Sciences known to the Indians 48. Sodoâ—y how punished 73 202. Of Schools founded by Pachacutec 244. Situation of the Schools and House of the select Virgins 266. The Spaniards sail along the coast of Peru 371. Of Sheep and tame Cats 382. Sugar Canes 392. Spain poor in money before the Conquest of Peru 420. The Spaniards of Noble Quality who undertake the Conquest of Peru 417. They endure great Hardships in their Voyage from Panama to Tumpiz 437. They make themselves Masters of Tumpiz 438. The Spaniards break Peace with the Indians and kill them without cause p. 456. Sotelo is killed by Garcia de Alvarado Salazar is challenged to fight a Duel for having murthered Pedro de Puelles 777. Don Sebastian de Castilla and his Associates kill the Governour Pedro de Hinojosa and his Lieutenant Alonso de Castro 894. The Orders and Methods he took in his Affairs 896. Don Sebastian sends Souldiers to kill the Marshal 898. And is murthered by his own Souldiers 899. T. TItles given by the Inca to his Family 18. The Temple of the Sun described 87. The Tribute given to the Inca 137. The Tribute how expended 142. The Tribute how paid 155. How imposed
World commanding them to use compassion and mercy and to receive the Rebellious Indians unto pardon for which reason the Prince did not onely confer upon them their Lives as a gift but restore them also to their Estates and Dwellings and their Curacas to their Dominion and Government though the crimes they had committed deserved no less than Death conditionally that for the future they behave themselves as good Subjects lest by a second offence they provoke the Sun to avenge the first and cause the Earth to open its bowels and swallow them alive After this Lecture the Curacas with profound humility acknowledged the favour promising all Loyalty Duty and Obedience for the future After this Victory the Inca Viracocha immediately dispatched away three Expresses One of them was sent to the Temple of the Sun to inform him of the good news of this Victory which by his aid and succour they had obtained for though they esteemed the Sun for a God yet in all respects they treated him as a Man and as one who had need of intelligence and information of matters which succeeded besides which they formed other gross conceptions of him as to drink to him and that he might pledge them again on their Festival-days they filled a Golden Cup with Liquour which they set in a part of the Temple which was most open to the Sun-beams and what was exhaled by that heat they judged to be drank up by the Sun they also set meat for him to eat and when any novelty occurred they sent him the advices of it by Messengers and when they were victorious they returned him Thanks for their Successes In pursuance of this ancient custome the Prince Viracocha sent advice to the Sun of this his Victory and commanded the Priests that having recalled those others which for fear were fled away they should join together in offering new Sacrifices with Praises and Thanksgivings to the Sun. Another Messenger he dispatched to the House of the Select Virgins giving them to understand that by means of their Prayers and Intercessions the Sun had bestowed that Favour and Victory upon him A third Messenger whom they call Chasqui he dispeeded to his Father the Inca giving him the particulars of all the late Successes desiring him to continue in the same station where he was untill he should in person present himself before him CHAP. XX. The Prince pursues his Conquest returns to Cozco sees his Father and dispossesses him of his Empire HAving made these dispatches he selected six thousand Souldiers to accompany him in the pursuit of his Enemies the rest of his Army he disbanded giving them licence to return unto their own homes the Body which he reserved was commanded besides other inferiour Officers by two major-Major-Generals who were his Uncles and with this Force two days after the Battel he marched in the pursuit of his Enemies not with intention to treat them ill but to cure them of their fears assuring them of pardon for their late Offence so that as many as they overtook in case they were wounded he ordered them to be cured and such as were whole and sound he treated them with gentleness and kind usage sending likewise Messengers to the respective Provinces and People to assure them of the pardon and favour of the Inca and that he was coming in person to give them farther testimonies thereof Having by these pre-advices comforted and encouraged the people he marched with great expedition and being come to the Province of Antahuaylla which belongs to the Chancas all the Women and Children assembled together and came forth to meet him and carrying green branches in their hands went crying O thou undoubted Child of the Sun who art the Lover and Favourer of the Poor have compassion upon us and pardon us The Prince received these people with grace and favour telling them that it was not they but their Fathers and Husbands who were guilty of the crime and that even them also he had pardoned for their actual Rebellion and to assure them hereof and confirm them in this belief he was come in person to pronounce their pardon with his own mouth He ordered likewise that they should give them such provisions as their necessities required treating them with all civility and affection imaginable and that especial care should be taken of the Widows and Orphans of those who were slain in the Battel of Yahuar Pampa In this manner he over-ran all the revolted Provinces constituting his Governours with sufficient Guards over them and made such expedition that in a months time as the Indians report who count their Months by their Moons he finished his march and returned again to his City of Cozco The Indians as well those who were loyal as those who had rebelled were wonderfully surprized with this strange gentleness of the Prince whose Humour and Disposition being sowre and severe promised nothing but Revenge and Destruction to the last drop of his Enemies bloud but finding his Nature otherwise changed they concluded that the command of the Sun had altered his Disposition and reduced him to the natural temper of his Fore-fathers But the truth is that Ambition and thirst of Honour which makes great changes in the minds of Men had so miraculously operated on his rough and hard temper that his Nature seemed entirely to be altered and to have put on that gentle and sweet humour which was Royal and natural to his Family This being done the Inca Viracocha made his entry into Cozco on foot that he might appear more a Souldier than a King he descended thither by the way of Caramenta and in triumphant manner being encompassed by his Souldiers and on each hand supported by his two Uncles that were Major-Generals causing the prisoners to be conducted behind with great joy and loud acclamations he was received into the City The grave Incas aged and stricken in years came forth to meet him and with due reverence having saluted and adored him and acknowledged him for a true Child of the Sun entred amongst the ranks of the Souldiery to partake of the glory of this Triumph adding farther this complement to their Courtship That they wished themselves youthfull again for no other reason than that they might be Souldiers and serve in the Wars under his fortunate and auspicious Conduct His Mother also Coya Mama Chic-ya with her Women and others nearly allied in Bloud to the Prince being attended also with a multitude of Pallas or Ladies went forth with Songs and Dancings to meet and receive him some embraced him others wiped off the sweat from his Brows others swept the dust from his Feet strewing the ways with Flowers and odoriferous Herbs in which joyfull and solemn manner the Prince first visited the Temple of the Sun in which making his entry on his bare Feet according to their usual custome he returned thanks for the Victory which his Father the Sun had given him Then he visited the Select Virgins Wives
where one was the other was built by it This great care which the Incas took to have their Subjects incited in their Devotion was a farther endearment of them to their Kings for it made them not onely religious but gave them the privileges of Naturalization and being Citizens of the City of Cozco Besides these Temples he built Fortresses and Castles on the Frontiers and Royal Palaces in the Vallies and in the places of best Air and most delightfull situation and in those parts which were in the common Road and way at such distances as were most convenient for the Incas to take up their Lodgings and Residence when they travelled or marched with their Army He also built Magazines and Store-houses in every Province for the provision and maintenance of the People in years of Dearth and Famine He ordained many Laws and Statutes indulging to every People and Nation their own ancient Customs in such things as did not contradict or interfere with the Religion established or oppose the rules of common honesty by which gentleness the people lived without Tyranny or Compulsion not being sensible of any unpleasant alteration but such as tended to their good and benefit leading them from a bestial to a rational and moral Life which was the great design and intention of the Incas Having in this Visit and Travails spent three Years he returned again to Cozco where having passed some Months in joy and festivals he consulted with his Brother who was his chief Minister and others of his Council concerning the entire Conquest of the Provinces of Chinchasuyu for there were no other Countries on that side remaining to be subjected to their Dominion for on the other quarter towards Antisuyu bordering on the snowy Mountain there was nothing discovered besides Rocks and Precipices and inaccessible places The Inca Capac Yupanqui having so well acquitted himself with Prudence and Valour in his late Expedition it was resolved that he should again take upon himself the Command and Conduct of the Army and that his Nephew called Yupanqui who was Prince and Heir apparent a Youth of about sixteen Years old should accompany him in the War it being the custome for young Men of that Age to take up their Arms and make their first Campaign according to the Ceremony practised in Huaracu as we shall hereafter more particularly Discourse that so they being initiated and exercised in military Discipline and Arts might become experienced and valiant Captains in their more mature years To this intent fifty thousand Souldiers being levied and put in a posture of War the Uncle and Nephew marched with the Van which was one third of the Army towards the Province called Chucurpu which was the ultimate extent of the Empire on that side Thence were the usual Summons dispatched to the Inhabitants of the Province called Pincu who finding themselves in no condition to resist the power which marched against them and being well informed of the happiness of those people who became Vassals to the Inca they readily accepted the Propositions of Peace with this Complement That they rejoiced to receive the Blessings of the Inca's protection and to be numbred with those Subjects who were under his Dominion and Empire Thus the Incas entred that Province from whence they sent the like Summons to the Neighbouring Countries of which Huaras Piscopampâ—s and Cunchucu were the chief But these instead of following the example of Pincu unexpectedly took other counsels and confederating one with the other resolved to join in the common defence agreeing to send this Answer That they would rather dye than receive new Laws new Customs or a new Religion for they were so well satisfied with those Gods which they and their Ancestours had from all Ages served and adored that they had no need to change them for that specious shew of Religion by which the Inca had allured and deceived the Neighbouring Nations and usurped a Tyrannical Power and Dominion over them Having given this answer and knowing themselves unable to resist the Inca in open Field they retired to their strong holds and fast places being resolved to defend the narrow and difficult Passes and to that end with all diligence and care they Victualled their Camp making the best provisions they were able against a long siege CHAP. XIII The Inca subdues the Rebellious Provinces by Famine and Strategems of War. THE General Capac Yupanqui received without the least surprize this rude and obstinate Answer from his salvage Enemies for being a Person of great Prudence and Constancy he had learned how to bear with the same equality as well the good as unfortunate successes and not to be moved into passion by the wild and surly Answers of an untaught and immoral people But not to despise the weakness of an Enemy which was retired into their strong Holds he divided his Army into four Battalions each of which consisted of ten thousand Men commanding them to march towards the Fortresses of the Enemy but not to engage with them but onely to besiege and straiten them in such manner that at length being almost famished they might be compelled to a voluntary surrender and that he with the Prince would post himself in that advantageous station as to be ready on all occasions and emergencies to administer Succours where his assistence was required And lest the destruction which the Enemy had made of all provisions for sustenance of an Army should occasion great Famine and scarcity of all things necessary he commanded that the Neighbouring Provinces should bring supplies and administer a quantity of all provisions double to that proportion which was ordinarily appointed In this manner Capac Yupanqui being well provided a most cruel and desperate War began with great Mortality on both sides for the Enemy defended themselves and their strong holds with much bravery and courage and when they perceived the Incas cautious and backward to attack them they would then adventure to make their sallies every Party and Province of them endeavouring to out-vye each other and demonstrate its Valour by some signal action The Incas all this while remained on the defensive part resolving to straiten the Enemy by Famine and force them to a surrender by other inconveniencies of War and when they found any of the Women or Children belonging to the Enemy wandring in the Fields and Countrey which by reason of weakness or sickness were not able to keep company with their friends and relations the Incas took care of them nourished and caressed them fed them and cloathed them giving them assurances that their design was no other than to better their condition by good and reasonable Laws and Customs and not to tyrannize over their Persons or Liberties And then afterwards they gave and permitted them free and safe passage into the quarters of the Enemy and herein they acted with a kind of Military subtilty and policy knowing that the numbers of useless people were cumbersome to an
Countrey and the Incas to enlarge and advance their Dominion During these many days of Skirmishes and Defiance the Incas did not omit their invitations and persuasions to prefer terms of Peace before the cruelties and extremities of War but all to little purpose for the Yuncas continuing obstinate in their resolutions and being of opinion that the heat of the Sun would at length constrain the Enemy accustomed to a more moderate climate to relinquish their design refused all propositions of Peace rather shewing themselves every day more averse and rebellious on confidence of these hopes and expectations Notwithstanding which the Incas still maintaining the ancient principles and constant practice of gentleness and moderation did not take the advantage they might have done on many occasions to the destruction of their Enemies but rather endeavoured to weary them out and by long patience work them into a more pliable temper for continuation of which at the end of two Months the Army which was appointed to relieve the other was commanded with all diligence to march and take the place of those who had preceded them before the heat of the Countrey had produced Calentures amongst them or any other diseases incident to the bodies of Men unaccustomed to excess of heat The Officers hastning the March of the Army with all expedition possible they arrived in a few days at Chincha where the General Yupanqui stayed to receive them and dismiss the former Army which he ordered to be lodged and quartered in such Neighbouring places as to be near and ready to relieve the Guards another time if the obstinacy of the Enemy should protract and delay the accomplishment of their subjection The Prince departed with the Army which was relieved for better security and conservation of his health The War being renewed by exchange of Forces the General besieged and straitned them as close as he was able destroying their Harvest and Fruits and hindering all Provisions from coming to their Camp He also cut off their Chanels of Water so that they could not refresh their Fruits and Plantations every thing being burnt and scorched up but what they had already reaped and gathered in and this was the greatest misery that afflicted the Yuncas whose Countrey being exceeding hot was not capable to produce any Fruit but what was watered every three or four Days The Yuncas grew now more sensible of their lost condition for finding their streams of Water to be cut off and themselves straitned in the narrowness of their quarters and being disappointed of the hope and expectation they once conceived that the Heat of the Countrey and the ill Air would constrain the Incas to quit and abandon it and on the contrary perceiving the policy of their Government that by relieving and exchanging their Guards they were enabled to continue the War they began to abate something of their pride and confidence but were not as yet so humbled as readily to submit without trying the utmost extremity For in this posture of War they persisted for the space of two Months longer refusing all proposals of Peace though tendred to them every eight Days by the Incas and opposing them with Arms in their hands in despight of Famine and Sword and all the inconveniences of War imploring in the mean time with earnest devotion and vows the assistence of their God Chincha Camac to whom the Women especially directed their prayers and with tears and sacrifices begged his protection and deliverance of them It is observable that the Indians of this famous Valley of Chincha adored an Idol which they called Chincha Camac fashioned after the form of Pachacamac or the unknown God whom as we have said before the Incas spiritually or mentally adored for they taking notice that the Inhabitants of the Neighbouring Valley had erected an Idol named Pachacamac which signifies the Sustainer of the Universe and dedicated a Temple to it did after their example mould another Idol after similitude of the former giving it the Name of Chinchacamac or the Sustainer or Protector of Chincha for the other denomination being Universal seemed in their fancy of such a vast extent that the God who had so great an employment as the care and conservation of the Universe could not be at leisure to defend them or think so narrow a corner as Chincha worthy his trouble or concernment wherefore that they might gain a more peculiar Deity and such as they might appropriate to themselves they figured a Chincha camac or a Domestick God by whose favour and power they promised to themselves succour and deliverance from their Enemies The Incas all this while patiently endured the teadiousness of this War and the obstinacy of their Enemies who could not as yet provoke them to destroy them utterly though policy of War and necessity compelled them to straiten and distress them as far as they were able At length Capac Yupanqui having observed the obstinate resolution of the Enemy and that he lost both time and reputation by a teadious attendance on their pertinacious humour and considering that this gentleness and mercy towards the Enemy might be converted into a cruelty towards his own Subjects in case that long delays and protraction of time should produce a sickness in the Camp as was much to be feared from the violent Heats and unwholsome Air Wherefore to avoid and prevent this danger he dispatched a Messenger to them acquainting them in express terms that having already complied with the compassionate and tender Instructions of his Brother the Inca by his long forbearance of them he sent now to let them know that he gave them eight days to yield and surrender themselves in which space of time in case they submitted they should then be pardoned and received to mercy and if they refused that they should no longer expect compassion or quarter for that he was resolved to put them all to the Sword and people their Countrey again with a new Colony and Nation more wise and obedient to the Inca which message being delivered he ordered the Heralds to return without attending for an answer The Yuncas being terrified with this positive message apprehended that the just rage of the Incas might reasonably transport them to an execution thereof for that the Incas having received such bad returns for all the pity and gentleness they had shewn towards them no other forbearance could be now expected and consulting their present state of famine and want and other incommodities of War they took a resolution to send their Ambassadours to the Inca to implore his pardon and that he would vouchsafe to receive them for his Subjects promising to exchange the rebellion and obstinacy they had used into a faithfull and loyal Obedience to the Inca the day following the Curaca accompanied with his Kindred and Nobles went to kiss the hands of the Inca and personally make tender of their Duty and Obedience CHAP. XIX Of the Ancient
makes the summ greater by 194330 Ducats than what is before mentioned In those former times such great summs seemed incredible because they were not known though now they create no great Wonder since it is manifest that for these thirty years past there have been imported ten or twelve Millions every year in the River of Guadalquivir the which my Countrey having sent as an Offering to Spain and all the old World hath thereby been more profitable to Strangers than kind and natural to her own Children Gomara in the 118th Chap. of his Book speaking of this Ransome hath these Words Francisco Piçarro sent the fifth part of his Spoils together with a Relation of his Successes by his Brother Hernando unto the Emperour and with him returned many of the Souldiers very rich with twenty thirty and forty thousand Ducats a Man. In short they brought away almost all the Gold filling the Bank of Seville with Money and the World with the fame and discourse thereof and with desires of that enterprise Thus far are the Words of Gomara It is well known that those who returned were sixty in number The Governour shared to his Companion 120000 Ducats being so much as appertained to him out of his proportion To Hernando de Luque the Schoolmaster nothing was divided because it was known that he being already failed could be no farther usefull so that Historians have no occasion to make other mention concerning him CHAP. XXXIX Of the Discourses which the Spaniards made upon these Affairs BY the Death of these two Brother-Kings or rather Enemies Huascar and Atahualpa the Spaniards became absolute Lords and Masters of both their Kingdoms there being none remaining to defend the People or make head against them for the race of the Incas being almost extinct the Indians were like Sheep without a Shepherd having none to govern them either in Peace or War and besides the Civil and intestine Discords between the Factions of Huascar and Atahualpa were become irreconcileable so that both Parties being desirous to gratifie the Spaniards made them the Instruments of each other's Revenge Moreover those Captains who were of Atahualpa's party were divided amongst themselves for some of them made head against the Spaniards as we shall see hereafter and others disbanded the Armies under their Command with intention to set up an Inca of their own choice supposing that he would be more kind and indulgent to them than a strange Prince the Person whom they elected was Paullu the Son of Huayna Capac being one of those who had made his escape from the Cruelty of Atahualpa The Person who had the principal hand in this Election was the Major General Quizquiz who was in Cuntisuyu when the News came of the Imprisonment of Atahualpa and until that time had been an Enemy to Paullu But urgent and violent necessities cause Men to stoop unto mean and low Actions and more especially Tyrants and Men of poor and base Souls who finding themselves sinking regard neither Honour nor Conscience but onely such means as tend to their own vile and mischievous Designs Quizquiz was an Officer of Atahualpa and a stout and an experienced Souldier To Paullu they gave the coloured Wreath but he received no satisfaction in that Royal Signal because he knew that the lawfull Inheritance belonged to Manco Inca and not to himself which when Quizquiz observed and that Paullu was cold and not desirous of the Government he then set up for himself resolving to contend with his own Force and Prowess and accordingly having raised an Army he marched towards Cazco to know what was become of his King Atahualpa upon which March we shall leave him untill we come to the time and place of his Actions The Spaniards observing with what Honour and Adoration they were generally received by the Indians and that according to the report made them by the six Spaniards who went on Discovery all Veneration and Service was paid to them they often entertained familiar Discourses one with the other on that Subject making various Reflexions on the causes thereof as the fancy of every Man did suggest Some would attribute the success of all to their own Prowess and Valour for that the Indians seeing them so stout and resolute believed them to be invincible and so out of mere fear and terrour submitted and yielded and framing a thousand Rodomontado's of their own Conduct and Courage searched not for any cause beyond themselves not reflected on the Prophecies of Huayna Capac which foretold the coming of the Spaniards into their Countrey who should destroy their Idolatry and their Empire and out of this superstitious Belief yielded all up without resistance Howsoever there were some more considerate than the rest who being zealous for the service of God and for the propagation of the Christian Faith attributed all their Successes to the miraculous Operations of God in favour to the propagation of the Gospel that so the Faithfull as well as Infidels beholding them with wonderfull attention the one might be thereby induced to receive the Faith with readiness and love and the others be encouraged to preach it with fervour and charity towards their Neighbours and with due respect towards God who hath shewed them such great and miraculous works And indeed we may aver it for a truth that it could be no less than miraculous That a Spaniard or two should travell alone two or three hundred Leagues in an Enemies Countrey and be carried through it on Mens Shoulders and all Respect and Adoration paid to them as if they had been Gods whenas they might have thrown them over some Bridge or down some precipice or by other means have easily destroyed them is a conservation above all humane Wisedom and Direction and ought to be solely attributed to the Divine Providence by such as profess themselves good Christians and Preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Others improving this consideration and Argument farther did some times in presence of the Governour discourse to this effect That in regard Atahualpa had received Baptism it had been more conducing to the quiet of that Kingdom and propagation of the Catholick Faith to have conserved him alive and paid him all Honour and Respect requiring of him that since he himself was become a Christian that he should publish an Edict in favour of that Religion commanding all his Subjects and Vassals within a certain time to be baptized certainly this course would have been extremely prevalent for three or four most pungent Reasons every one of which singly might have been sufficient to have converted the whole Nation how much more when they all concurred together As first The Command of the Inca to which in the most trivial matters Obedience is yielded as to the Law of God how much more would it be in the Case of Religion delivered by those whom they in their own Minds esteemed to be Gods. Secondly the Natural Obedience which they always yielded to their Incas
Revenge of the Murther he had committed on his King and all his Family that at present the Prince Manco Inca the lawfull Heir was in their Hands and Custody and treated by them with all imaginable Respect and Honour and with Promises of being restored unto his Empire and to the Height and Grandeur of Majesty in expectation of which all Indians were obliged to assist and serve them the better to engage them unto a performance of their Promise to the Inca And farther they informed them that these were Men descended from their Father the Sun and for that Reason they called them Incas and owned them for Kindred and Relations with the Name of their God Viracocha And in regard their General was Brother and Associate with him that resided at Cozco the Services and Kindnesses which were shewed to one would be accepted by the other and that the greatest Presents and best Treatment that could be given them would be much Gold and Silver and pretious Stones for they loved those things very much and since their Countrey yielded nothing besides Gold they would doe well to gather as much of it as they could and present it to the Spaniards who would not onely kindly accept it but the Prince Manco Inca would likewise esteem himself very well served by those Gifts Upon this Information the Indians of Copayapu were infinitely rejoiced with the Hopes to see their Inca restored to his Empire so that the same day they amassed together above the value of two hundred thousand Ducats in Vessels of Gold the which having been designed for the accustomary Presents which were due to their Incas were reserved untill that time for so soon as News came to Chili of the Wars between Huascar and Atahualpa the Incas who were the Captains and ruled that Kingdom desisted from their Services and from making Presents to the Inca untill such time as the Controversie about the Government was decided Paullu having amassed the Gold carried it to Almagro and presented it to him in the Name of his Brother Manco Inca and of all the Kingdom of Chili which much rejoiced and encouraged Almagro and his Souldiers to see that a small People in so short a time was able to provide such a quantity of Gold which was a clear evidence of the Riches of that Countrey When Almagro saw the Gold he smiled and heartily thanked Paullu telling him that such Gifts as these were so acceptable to him as would oblige him for the future as they did at present to make him such gratefull returns as would be much to his advantage Paullu perceiving that these Presents extorted kind Words and Promises from Almagro all which he believed endeavoured more and more to oblige him with Presents of that nature and accordingly sent to the Villages and inhabited Vallies which were thereunto adjoining to bring in all the Gold they had conserved for the Incas for that he had occasion thereof to make Presents unto the Viracochas who were Brothers to the Inca. Upon the Orders the Indians in a few days brought in three hundred thousand Ducats of Gold over and above the former quantity and laid them before Almagro which when he saw he hugged himself with the thoughts of that rich Countrey which was faln to his Lot the which esteeming now for his own in gratitude to his happy Fortune he became munificent in a high degree both to acquire Honour and Fame of which he was very ambitious and to gain the Good-will and Affection of his Souldiers and Companions which that he might procure he in presence of them all took out the Obligations and Bonds which every one of them both before and on occasion of this Enterprise had given him which amounted unto above an hundred thousand Ducats the which he tore and cancelled one after the other telling those who were bound to him in those Papers That he remitted and made Presents to them of their Debts wishing that the Summs had been greater that he might have had occasion to have obliged them farther and to those who were not indebted to him he gave Money to defray their Charges and make such Provisions as were then necessary with which Liberality all the Souldiers were greatly satisfied and pleased Lopez de Gomara in the 142d Chapter of his Book says That this act of Liberality was a piece of Magnificence rather of a Prince than of a Souldier yet when he dyed there was not any who would cover him with a rag of Cloth at the place where he was beheaded c. CHAP. XXI New Pretensions obstruct the Conquest of Chili Almagro designs to return unto Peru and the Reasons why ALmagro having reposed a while and refreshed himself his Men and his Horses after the Hardship sustained in the late Conquests he then consulted of the Way and Method how to subdue the other Vallies and Provinces of the Kingdom of Chili which were not subject to the Dominion of the Inca for those that were upon appearance of Paullu Brother of their King needed no other force to render them obedient wherefore Almagro communicated unto Paullu his Intentions who considering that such Conquests would be Enlargements of his Brother's Empire readily assented and in order to that Design drew out from the Garrisons and places of Defence all the Force that were in them and issued out his Commands for making Provisions and bringing them to the Camp which having done he accompanied Almagro to the Conquest of the Provinces of Purumauca Antulli Pincâ— Canqui and the Parts adjacent as far as to the Province of Araueu In this Enterprise they had many Skirmishes with the Natives who behaved themselves valiantly and like Souldiers being in a signal manner dexterous in their Bows and Arrows with which they would shoot with admirable aim but the particulars thereof we shall not relate nor yet the Battels onely in general that they were very bloudy and stoutly fought because we must hasten to our History of Peru. In short therefore though the Enemies made good resistence yet the Spaniards gained upon them with happy Success by the Assistence and Good-will of Paullu and his Indians But these happy and prosperous proceedings were soon obstructed by Discord which always blowed the Flames of Feuds and Dissention between these two famous Brothers which were never quenched untill both of them were consumed as will appear in the sequel of this History Thus Almagro proceeding in a prosperous course of Victory though at the expence of Spanish and Indian Bloud at the end of five Months from the time that he entred Chili Recruits of an hundred Men were brought to him under the Command and Conduct of Ruis Dias and John de Herrada who as we have said were appointed to remain in Cozco to make Levies of Men and send him Succours Their passage was over the same Mountains and by the same way that Almagro had traversed before and though it happened at a better season of the Year that
the Elder To appease which and to examine the true state of all matters his Majesty was pleased to give Commission to Dr. Vaca de Castro one of His Privy Council to examine all matters concerning the Death of Don Diego de Almagro without making any alteration in the Power and Government of the Marquis but in case the Marquis should be dead before his Arrival then by a provisional Commission he was constituted Governour in his place This worthy Person for so his Actions shew him was a Native of the City of Le◠and of the Families of the Vacas de Castro and Quinnones which are noble Houses amongst many others which flourish in that Royal City Vaca de Castro embarked at Sevil for Peru and after many Difficulties and stormy Weather to which that Northern Sea is subject he arrived at Nombre de Dios much later than was expected from whence he went to Panama where he again embarked for Peru upon a Ship not so well provided for such a Voyage as was requisite especially since it was to execute a Commission of such great importance for the Ship being defective had not proceeded many Leagues on her Voyage before she was detained on the Coast by contrary Winds by force of which having lost one of her Anchors she was carried by the Current into that Bay which is called the Bay or Gulf of Gorgona which is a bad place and very hard for any Ship to get out which is bound to Peru. Wherefore Vaca de Castro encouraged the Mariners to use all the diligence they were able but finding all ineffectual and to little purpose he resolved to go by Land since he could not avail to go by Sea. But the Journey was long difficult and tedious by reason of the craggy Mountains the great Rivers and Desarts which they were to pass with want of those Provisions which were good and wholsome This long delay gave opportunity to Almagro to revenge the Death of his Father of which he was impatient seeing that the Justice which His Majesty had promised was so long deferred At length after various chances of a difficult Journey Judge Vaca de Castro came to the Frontiers of Quitu where Pedro de Puelles resided in Quality of Deputy to Gonzalo Piçarro So soon as he found himself within the Limits of his own Countrey and had been rightly informed of all matters which had passed in Peru and of the Practices and Designs of the several Factions he wrote unto all parts giving them advice of his Arrival and of the Commission he brought with him from His Majesty by virtue of which he required them to receive him for their Governour And whereas he had thereby a power to substitute other Officers he dispatched his Commissions to all the Cities of Peru constituting such Men Judges thereof who as he was informed were moderate Persons and not interested or engaged in either party CHAP. XII The People of Rimac and other parts receive Vaca de Castro for Governour Peralvarez and his Complices contrive a Strategeme of War against Almagro and join with Alonso de Alvarado AMongst the Commissions which Judge Vaca de Castro dispatched to several places that for the City of Los Reyes was directed to Friar Thomas de St. Martin Provincial of the Order of the Dominicans and to Francis de Barionuevo and to Geronimo de Aliaga giving them power and authority to superintend the Government of that City and of the parts thereunto belonging untill he himself arrived there in Person These Commissions were brought and delivered in the Convent of St. Dominick some few days after the departure of Almagro and in the absence also of the Father Provincial whom Almagro had carried with him to countenance his Enterprise with the presence of such a Person Howsoever the Mayor and Aldermen of the City assembled in the night and having opened the Commission they with common consent obeyed it and received Vaca de Castro for Governour of that Empire and Geronimo de Aliaga to be his Deputy as the Commission specified So soon as the Citizens had passed this Act they fled to Truxillo fearing the return of Almagro who as yet was not advanced so far on his march but that upon the News of this Revolution he was ready to have returned with full intent to avenge this sudden desertion on the City with Fire and Sword and other Cruelties but then fearing lest this delay should give an advantage to Alvarez Holguin he resolved to proceed and to pursue his Design which vvas of greatest importance Hovvsoever in the Execution thereof many cross and unfortunate Accidents occurred for so soon as it vvas knovvn in the Army that a Governour from His Majesty vvas arrived in the Countrey many of the principal Men revolted and deserted him amongst vvhich vvere the Father Provincial John de Saavedra the Agitant Yllen Suarez de Carvajal de Aguero and Gomez de Alvarado Hovvsoever in despight of all these discouragements Almagro resolutely pursued his Point and Design though to his great disappointment and prejudice his Lieutenant General John de Rada fell sick by reason of vvhich he vvas greatly confused vvithin himself vvhat course to take for in case he left him behind he vvas in danger of falling into the Hands of the Enemy nor did the Extremity of his Sickness admit of any motion hovvsoever for his sake he lessened his days journies and marched very softly knovving that his principal business vvas to overthrovv Alvarez Holguin Pedro Alvarez being informed that the Enemy vvas dravving near to vvhom his Force vvas much inferiour he thought it no vvise prudent to adventure the success of Affairs on the hazard of a Battel considering that the subsistence of his Army vvas of great importance to the Service of his Majesty vvherefore to supply that vvhich vvas vvanting in strength by some Strategeme of War it vvas agreed by a Council of War to detach a Body of tvventy choice Horse to serve for Scouts and to use all their endeavours to take some of the Souldiers of Almagro vvhich accordingly happened out for these Horse took three Spies belonging to the Enemy vvhich being brought to Alvarez he hanged up tvvo of them and the third he saved making him great promises of Revvard for the future and in hand bestovved on him three thousand Pesos of Gold conditionally that he should return to the Camp of Almagro and there persuade several of those vvhom he knevv to be vvell affected to him to revolt from Almagro and assist him in the Fight for that he designed the next day by tvvilight of the morning to assault the Army of Almagro on the East-side of the Camp vvhich by reason that it bordered on the Skirts of the snovvy Mountain he imagined vvould be the worst guarded and that therefore little or no provision would be made on that part against any Attempt And farther they gave him instructions to assure such Friends as should join herein of the
by no means the Battel should be deferred that day though they fought part of the night for that were to give courage to their Enemies and a check to the forward resolution of their own Army and might perhaps give time and occasion unto several of them to revolt unto Almagro Hereupon the Governour resolved immediately to give them Battel wishing he had had the power of Joshuah to command the Sun to stay his course Herewith the word was given to march directly against the Squadrons of Almagro who upon their first motion ordered his Cannon to play upon the Enemy and to startle them in the first onset but Francisco de Caravajal observing that if they kept a direct course upon the Enemy they should receive much damage from their Cannon which were many and very good directed them another way under the covert of a Hill But having passed this shelter into the open Field so that they remained exposed to the Enemy's Cannon Pedro de Candia who commanded the Artillery shot over them so that they received no damage which when Almagro saw and observed he immediately fell upon Pedro de Candia and killed him with his Lance upon the very Cannon and being full of rage and anger for this piece of treachery he leaped from his Horse and mounted on the nose of one of the Guns and with the weight of his body lored it in such manner as to make it bear on the Enemy and then ordering the Cannonier to give fire thereunto he placed his shot amidst the Squadron of Vaca de Castro which raking them from the Front to the Rere as Carate confirms in the 18th Chapter of his fourth Book and Gomara in Chap. 150. but do not say how many were slain thereby which were seventeen Men which unlucky shot had it been followed by others with the like success they had needed no other force but had secured the Victory according to the assurance which Suarez the Serjeant-Major had given but all was lost by that treachery which Pedro de Candia had acted For we must know that Captain Pedro having considered that Hernando Piçarro who was the Person that had affronted and injured him was imprisoned in Spain as we have formerly mentioned and that by reason of him had sided with the party of Chili And that the Marquis who by his Power and Greatness had much oppressed him was now dead he judged himself sufficiently revenged both of one and of the other And that now since there was a new Governour it was his best course to return unto the Obedience and Service of his Majesty that he might not utterly lose all the hopes and merit he had acquired by being useful in the Conquest of that Empire And on this Motive it was that he sent secret intelligence to the Governour not to fear the Cannon for he would so order it that he should not need to apprehend any damage or hurt from thence On confidence of which promise the Governour resolved not to delay the Battel though Pedro de Candia did not attain the end he designed CHAP. XVII The Relation of the cruel Battel of Chupas is continued A disagreement amongst the People of Almagro The Victory of the Governour and the Flight of Almagro THE Serjeant-Major and the other Captains of his Majesty observing what a Lane was made through their Squadron by the Enemy's shot and that their Foot was daunted therewith they presently clapt within the void place and caused their ranks to close up and without stop or any delay to make up directly upon the Enemy and to have no cause of retardment they left and deserted all their own train of Artillery The Captains of Almagro not well considering their case and advantage and as people not much used to such kind of emergencies observing the Enemy to advance upon them cried out with a loud voice Let not our Enemies gain honour by our cowardise they see us stand still as not daring to oppose them Let us to them let us to them for we are not able longer to endure this affront Herewith they forced Almagro to advance with his Squadron and with so little consideration that they made him to interpose between the Enemy and his own Cannon which when serjeant-Serjeant-Major Suarez observed he went to Almagro and with a loud voice told him saying Sir had you kept the order which I directed and had followed my counsel you had been victorious but since you take measures from others you will lose the honour of this day and since your Lordship is not pleased to make me a Conquerour in your Camp I will make my way to it on the side of your Enemies And having repeated these words he set Spurs to his Horse and passed over to Vaca de Castro advising him immediately to close with the Enemy and to give them no time for that there was great disorder and confusion in their Counsels Vaca de Castro observing this good advice which Suarez had given him commanded his Forces to march directly up in face of the Enemy with which Francisco de Carvajal was so encouraged and assured of victory by reason of the unskilfulness of their Foes that he threw off his Coat of Male and his Head-piece and cast them on the ground telling his Souldiers That they should not be affrighted at the Cannon for that if he who was as fat and big as any two of them was not fearfull of them much less ought any of them who were but half the mark that he was At this time a certain Gentleman who was of Noble Bloud and rode with the Horse observing both sides within Musquet-shot and that there was no other remedy but that he must engage he on a sudden passed forth from the Squadron of the Governour and said Sirs I declare my self for the party of Chili for all the World knows that at the Battel of Salinas I was then on the side of Almagro the Elder and since I cannot now be for them there is no reason but that I should stand neuter and not be against them Herewith he sallied out of his rank and separated himself at some distance where a certain Priest remained called Hernando de Luque who was a Kinsman to that School-matter of Panama that was the Companion and Associate of Almagro and Piçarro With this Priest there was another Gentleman also who being sick was excused from the Fight but the retreat of this Gentleman was interpreted by all the Army to be an effect of down-right cowardise and that therefore he durst not engage on either side The Harquebusiers of Castro de Vaca would have fired upon him but the haste they were in prevented their intention and when they understood the reason for which he desired to stand a Neuter they then were willing to spare their shot I had once an acquaintance with him and left him alive in a certain City of Peru when I departed thence and I know and remember well his
Chapter of his Book CHAP. XVII The Summons which the Judges sent to Gonçalo Piçarro and the misfortunes which befell those who deserted his Cause A Lvarez having set Sail and at Sea it was reported at Los Reyes that he and the Vice-king were agreed to which they gave the greater credit by some circumstances in his behaviour before he departed and more especially because he did not expect the dispatches which the Judges were preparing and which Carate had purposely delayed with pretence that they should be forwarded the day following This matter much troubled the Judges for that this Alvarez had been the chief promoter and instrument of the Vice-king's imprisonment and had been more concerned therein than any of the others but whilst they were doubtfull of the meaning and intention of Alvarez it was thought fit to send a message to Gonçalo Piçarro giving him information of what had succeeded and to require him by virtue of their Commission from the King whereby they were authorised and impowered to administer Justice and to order and command such things as tended to the peace and welfare of that Countrey that he should immediately disband his Army and repair to the City in regard they had already suspended the execution of the new Laws which was the sum of the Petition for which they came and had sent the Vice-king into Spain which was a point of higher satisfaction than they had demanded or pretended unto before wherefore in regard all matters were appeased they required him to come in a peaceable manner without an Army and in case he should desire to have a Guard for the security of his Person he might if he pleased come attended with fifteen or twenty Horse This command being dispatched away the Judges would have seconded it by some Citizens for the better countenance of the matter but there was none that would accept the Office apprehending some danger might be in it saying that they might be blamed by Gonçalo Piçarro and his Party for taking upon them such a message to them who pretended to come for the security of their Estates against such as in general were enemies to them Hereupon the Judges sent Instructions to Augustine Carate Accountant General of the Kingdom that he together in company with Don Antonio de Ribera an inhabitant of that City should go and signifie these matters for which he was authorised by the Credentials which were given him and accordingly they departed and travelled as far as the Valley of Xauxa where Gonçalo Piçarro was encamped who being already informed of the message which they brought which he knew would be unwelcome to his People for they apprehending that this message was brought with intention to disband them and thereby defeat them of the hopes they had to sack and plunder the City of Lima might probably thereupon fall into a mutiny to prevent which Jeronimo Villegas Captain of Piçarro's own Company was dispeeded away with thirty Musquetiers mounted on Horseback to intercept the messengers in their way and having met them coming they suffered Antonio de Ribera to proceed to the Camp but they stopped Augustine de Carate and took his dispatches from him and returned him back by the same way that he came as far as the Province of Pariacaca where they detained him Prisoner for the space of ten days with terrours and threats unless he desisted from farther prosecution of his Message and in this condition he remained untill such time as Gonçalo Piçarro arrived there with his Camp. Thus far are the words of Carate which are again confirmed by other Authours who proceed and say That those of the Corporation of the City of Los Reyes made choice of Don Antonio de Ribera and Augustine de Carate Accountant General because they were both men acceptable to Gonçalo Piçarro and the least suspected by him for that Don Antonio was as it were his Brother-in-law having married the Widow of Francisco Martin de Alcantara Brother to the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro and Carate was a Person who being a stranger in the Countrey had no engagements or obligations in any part of the Countrey for which cause as we said they suffered Don Antonio to pass by reason of his alliance but the Accountant Carate was stopped by them Thus much is confirmed by Diego Fernandez who adds farther in the twenty fourth Chapter of his Book That at the Council held by Gonçalo Piçarro and his Captains to consider of the Answer which was to be returned to the Message sent by the Judges they onely touched upon one point thereof to which Francisco de Carvajal like a great Officer and Souldier made this reply That whereas the Judges did require that Gonçalo Piçarro should come to them with a Guard onely of fifteen or twenty Horse they understood it to be so many in a Rank to which interpretation all the Captains in the Council agreed and concluded that it was necessary for the welfare of the Publick to create Gonçalo Piçarro chief Governour and in all other things they would comply with the Judges and that in case they should refuse to accept these Proposals they were resolved to put the City to Fire and Sword c. Thus far Diego Fernandez Palentino But now to return to Graviel de Rojas and Garcilasso de la Vega and other Inhabitants and Gentlemen of Cozco who deserted Gonçalo Piçarro and were fled to Arequepa whence not finding passage by Sea they travelled along by the Sea coast and being at length arrived at Los Reyes they found themselves much at a loss for that the Vice-king whose fortune they intended to follow was already taken and embarked by force for Spain and whereas the Judges had a chief hand in this Conspiracy against the Vice-king and thereby seemed rather to incline to the Faction of Gonçalo Piçarro than to Blasco Nunnez Vela they were resolved not to engage with them Though if we impartially consider of these matters we shall find that the intention of the Judges was not as ill Tongues scandalously reported but was to prevent worse and more dangerous consequences proceeding from the Vice-king who was abhorred and hated by all men of Estates and Interest in that Countrey against whom he came chiefly to put the new Laws in execution Howsoever these Gentlemen looking with a prejudicial eye upon those things which the Judges had acted refused to joyn with them whom they esteemed to be favourers of the cause of Piçarro And whereas no Party appeared to set up the Royal interest they knew not unto whom they might adhere for they found themselves in the power of their enemies not being able to escape from them either by Sea or Land for after the Vice-king's imprisonment all the Countrey declared for Piçarro but the greatest number of the contrary party remained in the City of Los Reyes not having any other place whereunto to repair others absconded themselves amongst their Friends and Relations for having been
precincts of their Jurisdiction To which Bachicao made answer That in case he came attended with his Souldiers it was onely with intent to guard himself from the attempts of the Vice-king without other design to the damage or prejudice of their Countrey for that his Commission was onely to transport Doctour Texada one of his Majesty's Justices into Spain who by Instructions received from the Courts of Judicature was sent to render an account to his Majesty of all Matters which had passed of late in Peru and that he would onely set him on shoar there to refresh himself for a while and make such Provisions as were necessary for his Voyage Upon this assurance admission was given him into the City but so soon as he arrived two Ships which were then in the Port made sail into the Sea but one of them was chased by the Brigantine and being taken was brought back and both the Master and his Mate hanged at the Yard-arm which much offended the Town and put them into a great consternation but it was now too late to defend themselves or repent of their folly in trusting their estates and lives to the mercy of Bachicao who was now entered the City and there being no hopes of timely relief from Captain John Guzman who was raising men for assistance of the Vice-king which men afterwards revolted to Bachicao who also seized on the Cannon which Vaca de Castro had brought thither with the Ship on which he made his escape Thus did Bachicao tyrannize over the people seizing their estates with an arbitrary power for none durst to assert a right and title to what he possessed in contradiction to his will and pleasure and during the time of his aboad here he publickly put two of his Captains to death who conspired against him and moreover he acted other pieces of like severity by virtue of his own absolute authority causing the Cryers to proclaim openly before those whom he put to death So is the will and command of Captain Hernando Bachicao At this time Vaca de Castro was at Panama where having intelligence that Bachicao was coming he fled to Nombre de Dios and embarked for Spain in the North-sea as did also Diego Alvarez Cueto and Jeronimo Curbano who were Ambassadours from the Vice-king likewise at the same Port Doctour Texada and Francisco Maldonado took shipping for Spain and sailed friendly together though of three several Factions Doctour Texada dyed in the Voyage in the Chanel of Bahama but Francisco Maldonado and Diego Alvarez arrived safe in Spain and immediately took post for Germany to render an account to his Majesty respectively of the Affairs committed to their charge Vaca de Castro touched at the Isles of Terçeras and thence sailed to Lisbon from whence he travailed to the Court for he thought it not safe to goe by the way of Seville where the Brothers and Relations of John Tello de Guzman lived whom as we said before he had caused to be put to death after the overthrow of Diego Almagro the younger being arrived at the Court he was by Order of the Council of the Indies confined to his House and an Accusation brought against him after which he was imprisoned in the Fort of Arevalo for the space of five years during which time his cause was depending After which they appointed him a House in Simancas and thence as the Court removed they assigned him the Village of Pinto and the bounds thereof for his confinement untill his business was fully determined Thus far are the words of the Accountant General Augustine de Carate And here he breaks off without telling us farther what sentence was given in his case because he had ended his History before that time And indeed by reason of the malicious informations and calumnies of his Enemies which were all false the determination of his cause was protracted for a long time at which he was not much troubled because he knew that at length he should come off with the honour and reputation of a good Minister and Governour of that Empire which accordingly succeeded for he was restored to his former place in the Royal Council of Castile from which he was so long kept out that when he came to be restored he was then the most ancient Member of all that Council and in this condition I found him when I was at the Court of Madrid in the year 1561. And besides this favour of his restauration he had other rewards given him in recompence for his hard usages and services performed in Peru in conservation of the Imperial Authority and to his Son Don Antonio Vaca de Castro who also was a Knight of the Habit of St. Jago as his Father was there was a Rent given him of twenty thousand pieces of Eight out of such Lots or Divisions as he should chuse and esteem of that value I remember to have seen this Gentleman at Nombre de Dios as he passed in the Retinue of the Count de Nieva who was sent for Vice-king of that Kingdom in the year 1560. and went then to take possession of that Estate which was the reward of his Father who to speak without flattery or partiality was generally reputed to have been the best Governour that ever had passed into those parts as is agreed by all the three Historians in the characters which they give of him there being not one ill action for which they blame him And now let us return again to Peru and relate what the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez was contriving all this time The Vice-king being retired as Carate reports in the sixteenth Chapter of his Book with about an hundred and fifty men at the time that Bachicao surprised the Ships in Tumbez he marched with them as far as the City of Quitu where he was chearfully received and his Souldiers re-inforced to the number of about two hundred men resolving to remain in that Countrey which yielded plenty of provisions for the subsistence of his men untill such time as he received farther Orders and Instructions from his Majesty And taking good information of all things that passed from Diego Alvarez de Cuero he kept strong Guards and Spies on all the high Roads to inform himself of all the actions that Gonçalo Piçarro was doing though it is three hundred leagues distant from Los Reyes to Quitu during which time four Souldiers who were dissatisfied upon some occasion with Piçarro stoal a Boat and coasted all along the shore from Los Reyes by the help of their Oars untill they came to a shore which was the nearest Sea to Quitu where being arrived they informed the Vice-king of all passages how the People of Los Reyes and other places were discontented with the Government of Piçarro and with the tyranny which he used towards them ejecting some out of their Houses and Estates imposing Souldiers on free-quarter upon them and other burthens which they were not able to support of which they
a man's death for the Libels which were cast abroad which none would own or justifie served howsoever to create jealousies in the mind of the Vice-king and made him afraid of his own People not knowing whom to trust of those who were about him And though it is certain that neither Gonçalo Piçarro as all Authours agree did ever give order to kill the Vice-king or that the Vice-king did plot in the like nature against Piçarro yet in all Civil Wars jealousies and fears are natural to the minds of men And thus Gonçalo Piçarro having pursued the Vice-king through Mountains Desarts and uninhabited places without provisions or refreshments for we may believe that the Vice-king carried all away with him he came at length to a Province called Ayahuaca where he stay'd to refresh his men who were much tired and harassed with their hard marches in want of all things necessary so that here they gave over the pursuit of the Enemy who were so far advanced before them that it was impossible to overtake them And having refreshed his men in Ayahuaca as well as he could he marched away in good order by the same way that the Vice-king had passed where in the way they picked up some of the Vice-king's people who were tired and not able by weakness to follow his Camp and others who out of some discontent had deserted his Party but as to the Vice-king with such as were with him he pursued his march towards the City of Quitu which is situated in a Countrey plentifull of all provisions for refreshment of his men who were much tired and weakned for want of necessary Food After some little repose and refreshment taken Piçarro continued his pursuit though by his long stay he was far cast behind howsoever as he passed he took several of the Vice-king's men who lagged in the rere which he refused to entertain in his service either because he was suspicious of them or because he had more men than provisions and needed no additional forces against the weakness of his Enemy but such as he took of them he sent away either to Truxillo Los Reyes or any other part according to every man's choice but men of note and quality he hanged up The people who were thus permitted to return unto their homes reported all things where they passed in favour of the Vice-king and in disparagement of Piçarro whom they represented as cruel and tyrannical which most persons believed because they esteemed the cause of the Vice-king to be just and loyal And whereas the people who reside in that Province are more desirous of news and changes than in other places because they are Souldiers which are idle and give themselves to no business or employment and therefore entertain discourses of State Affairs with much variety and pleasure in their talk And on the contrary Citizens and men of business are averse from the War because they are harassed therewith and subjected to the insolence of Souldiers and though they intermeddle not in Affairs yet they are liable upon every little occasion to be questioned by him who Governs and be put to death that their Estates being confiscated he may gratifie his Followers and Faction with them and therefore having these fears every one talked and discoursed of news These rumours were so common and loud that they came to the ears of Piçarro and his Rulers in their respective Jurisdictions to suppress which reports in all places and more especially at Los Reyes where the greatest confluence of people was many were hanged by Warrant from an ordinary Justice called Pedro Martin de Cicilia who was very zealous in the cause of Gonçalo Piçarro and for the success of his Affairs For as to Lorenço de Aldana who was his chief Deputy there he was cautious and wary how he intermeddled in matters for which he might be called into question in case the tide of Affairs should turn but behaved himself with that moderation as prevented the effusion of bloud and confiscation of Estates and for the whole time of his Government he kept things in such order that though he acted by Commission under Piçarro yet he never did any thing partial or against Law in his favour but rather protected those who were inclined to the Vice-king's Party who being sensible of his favour flocked from other Provinces to take refuge under him of which the Zealots for Piçarro taking particular notice especially the High Constable of the City called Christopher de Burgos testified great displeasure thereupon for which Lorenço de Aldana severely reproved him and gave him very hard words publickly before the people and on farther provocation clapt him into Prison Of all which though Gonçalo Piçarro received certain intelligence yet he dissembled the matter judging that being far distant it would not be convenient to revoke his Commission because he was strong in Souldiers which were with him and had gained the affections and good will of the people in that City Thus far are the words of Augustine Carate CHAP. XXVI Gonçalo Piçarro still continuing to pursue the Vice-king both Armies sustain great famine and hardship in their march The violent death of the Vice-king's Major General and Captains GOnçalo Piçarro still continuing to pursue the Vice-king resolved totally to defeat his whole Force and accordingly for better expedition detached about fifty select Horsemen under the command of Francisco de Carvajal to fall in upon the rere of the Enemy whilst himself followed the main body of the Army On the other side he sent Orders to Hernando Bachicao who was then on the Coast to leave his Ships at Tumpiz under a good Guard and to march with what Forces he had to join with his at Quitu And having given these Orders he continued the pursuit giving courage and spirit to Carvajal who knew that he should be well seconded in a very short time In the mean time the Vice-king encouraged his people and having marched eight Leagues in one day they disposed themselves to rest supposing that they were got far out of the reach of their Enemies but Francisco de Carvajal who slept not fell into their quarters about four hours in the night and gave them the first allarum with his own Trumpet The Vice-king immediately arose and rallying his people together as well as he could drew them into a posture of defence and so marched away Carvajal following close upon their heels took some of the Foot who lagged in the rere but so soon as it was day that they could take a view of each other the Vice-king perceiving the small number drew out his men to give them battel and divided his Body consisting of a hundred and fifty men into two divisions or squadrons but Carvajal not being willing to engage on such disadvantages sounded a Retreat upon which the Vice-king drew off his men and proceeded on his march but alas with little comfort for his men were perishing with travail and
famine and their Horses so saint for want of grass and provender that they were not fit for a march wherefore the Vice king commiserating the condition of his men told them that if any one of them were desirous to remain behind he freely gave them their discharge but not a man of them accepted thereof but said that they would rather die with him than desert him so they marched day and night without sleep or repose or sustenance or any refreshment In the mean time intelligence was given to Gonçalo Piçarro of what had passed between the Vice-king and Carvajal of which some who were Enemies to Carvajal made use to disparage his Conduct saying that it was in his power to have defeated the whole force of the Enemy at that time having surprized them as they were sleeping and at rest and I find that some Historians object this matter against him as a point of neglect but I who knew the person of the man am of another opinion and have heard from many well experienced in the War that since the time of Julius Caesar there hath not been a greater Souldier than he the truth is and so all Historians report that the Vice-king being a hundred and fifty to fifty that is three to one it was prudence in him not to adventure on such a disadvantageous undertaking but rather to make a Bridge of Silver for desperate men to escape over Moreover some say he had no Commission to engage or to hazard his men but in military matters it is hard to censure great Captains who better understand the secret of their affairs than Strangers can do Howsoever the matter was Gonçalo Piçarro reinforced him with two hundred men more which he sent under the command of Licenciado Carvajal by which auxiliary force they allarum'd and pursued the Vice-king untill he came to the Province and people called Ayahuaca seizing every day some of their Men Horses and Baggage so that by the time he came to Ayahuaca he had scarce eighty Men remaining of all his number howsoever he proceeded forward to Quitu where he hoped to find Provision for his Men. In the like straits also was the Army of Piçarro who being almost famished with hunger were forced to kill and eat their Horses for want of sustenance and indeed were in greater necessities than the Vice-king's Souldiers because Blasco Nunnez wheresoever he came destroyed every thing which he thought might be of benefit to the Enemy which followed him In this pursuit the principal that were taken were put to death by Carvajal namely Montoya an Inhabitant of Piura Brizenno of Puerto Veiejo Raphael Vela and one Baltaçar And farther to re-inforce Carvajal sixty Horse were sent under the command of Captain John Acosta consisting of the most select and choice Souldiers that were in his Army by which the Vice-king was straitned to the last extremity which Diego Fernandez in the fourty first Chapter of his Book expresses in these words Thus did the Vice-king says he march day and night with the small remainder of his Forces and finding no other provisions in many places than onely a few Herbs and Roots did often in despair and fury curse the Countrey and the day in which he entred into it and the people who were sent to him from Spain that had so basely deserted and betrayed him but John de Acosta who was lately come and his Men fresh pressed him so hard that he came close to him a little before his arrival at his quarters of Calva where coming something late and having marched hard he thought he had time enough to take some little repose But John de Acosta beating up his quarters about break of day fell upon the Front with such a surprize that he took many of their Men and Baggage onely the Vice-king had time to make his escape with about seventy of his best Horse After which John de Acosta made a retreat and returned to the main Body supposing that there was little more to be done upon the Enemy By which means the poor Vice-king tyred and famished came to the Province and his quarters in Calva And in regard two of his Captains namely Jeronimo de la Serna and Gaspar Gil advanced with their Companies and Colours before him he fansied that they went with intention to possess a certain pass on the way which when he was at Piura he had sent before and caused to be made of Timber with great labour upon a thick rock hanging over a river near Jambo Blanco in the Province of Amboca which being broken down would require some time to repair and having a suspicion that these Men went before to possess this Pass and by such a piece of service to reconcile themselves with Piçarro he resolved to prevent them by taking away their lives and accordingly he put it in execution causing their throats to be cut during the little space of leisure which the Enemy had given him so that now marching with a little more ease and security than before he came at length to Tomebamba where having taken up his quarters he executed another piece of cruelty on his Major General Rodrigo de Ocampo for though untill that time he had esteemed him to be his intimate and fast friend yet the like melancholy fancy of suspicion and jealousie entering into his head as did of the other two Captains he incurred the same destiny as they did though they had followed and attended him in all his misfortunes The death of these persons caused various Discourses and Judgements in Peru some condemning and others excusing the Vice-king therein From Tomebamba Blasco Nunnez proceeded till he came to Quitu without interruption and without that want and scarcity under which he formerly laboured And having in his way to Quitu received informations against Francisco de Olmos that he and others who came from Puerto Viejo had been the Authours of false reports to the disservice of his Majesty he no sooner came to the City but he examined the truth of those informations which were brought against those who came from Puerto Viejo the which being proved he consulted the matter with Licenciado Alvarez and then immediately executed Justice upon them cutting off the heads of some and hanging others under the Notion of Traytors to the King amongst those who suffered were Alvaro de Carvajal Captain Hojeda and Gomez Estacio but upon farther proof of the innocence of Francisco de Olmos he spared his life Thus far is related by Diego Fernandez Palentino but Lopez de Gomarra in chap. 168. writing of the death of those Captains gives us this account which is extracted verbatim out of his Book in these words Piçarro sent John de Acosta with sixty light Horsemen in pursuit of Blasco Nunnez to engage him or force him to a hasty retreat accordingly he marched to Tomebamba with fear and trouble and in want of all things and having a suspicion that Jeronimo de la
countenance he could upon the matter and made them a short Speech in this manner That Successes of this nature were usual and common over all the world and were incident to War and that these things were intended for the good of God's People who were to give thanks to his Divine Majesty for having granted to Piçarro a Victory with intent to bring greater mischiefs on his head and that having filled up the measure of his iniquity his ruine and downfall would be the greater And to obtain this great blessing he advised every Officer to be vigilant and diligent in his station and to order and dispose all things in such a method and readiness as might enable them to contend with such an Enemy He added farther that there was no need for him to move and incite Cavaliers so well experienced in War as they were to actions of bravery and to martial exploits for that he was to follow their example and take their counsel and advice in matters of greatest importance In fine he told them that he was well assured that they would direct every thing in the best manner to the Service of his Majesty who would gratifie their fidelity with rewards agreeable to their merits and make them Lords of that whole Empire Having ended this Discourse he ordered the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado to go to Rimac to bring thence the Forces which remained there as also the Guns from the Ships and other Ammunition which came from Spain together with what Money Arms and Horses and other provisions for War which he could find at that place He farther ordered that all Artificers and other Workmen should act and labour with all diligence in their several employments namely in making Musquets and Fire-arms Gun-powder Bullets Pikes Helmets Croslets c. all which the Indians made of Copper with great ingenuity and the Artificers applied themselves thereunto with great alacrity and Art being chief Masters and excellent Workmen in their respective Trades Likewise Captain Alonso Mercadillo was dispatched away to Huamanca and after him Martin Lope Lusâ—aâ—â— with fifty men to seise the passage towards Cozco and succour such of Centeno's men who were wandring and dispersed in those parts And here we shall leave the President in his preparations to speak of Gonçalo Piçarro whom we left in the field of Huarina where that famous Battel happened CHAP. XXVII Licenciado Cepeda and others advise Piçarro to make an Agreement and Peace with the President His Answer thereunto The death of Hernando Bachicao Piçarro makes his entry into Cozco GOncalo Piçarro having performed the last office to the dead he resolved to march towards Cozco but he was forced to defer it for several days by reason of the wounded men who were not in a condition to travel and at length they marched very easie and short Journies whilst they were thus on their way Licenciado Cepeda put Piçarro in mind of a promise he had made him some days past to enter into a Treaty with the President Gasca whensoever any seasonable and convenient opportunity should happen which might induce the President to admit of some fair and moderate terms of this opinion with Cepeda there being divers others the matter was debated at a general Council of Officers who for the greatest part were inclinable to peace and accommodation and urged Piçarro so earnestly thereunto that he became very angry and displeased with their importunities as is confirmed by Gomara Chap. 183. in these words In Pucaran some hard words passed between Piçarro and Cepeda touching a Treaty with Gasca for Cepeda urged that it was very seasonable to enter into Articles and put him in mind of his promise given him at Arequepa but Piçarro being carried away with the opinion of others and the air of his late fortune denied that the time was convenient for that propositions for peace would argue weakness and fear which would cause many to leave their Colours and fly to the Enemy and discourage those Friends who were then actually with Gasca of those who were of the opinion of Cepeda Garçilasso de Vega was one Thus far Gomara But Piçarro rejected this Counsel which was good and wholsome and took that which was given him by young and raâ—â— men such as John de Acosta Hernando Bachicao John de la Torre and others who being puffed up with their late success at the Battel of Huanina thought themselves invincible and would hearken to no Proposals or Articles less than an entire surrender to them of the whole Empire of Peru. Two days after this Consultation the lieutenant-Lieutenant-General Francisco de Carvajal returned from his Journey to Arequepa and two days afterwards he hanged up Hernando Bachicao for having at the Battel of Huarina passed over to the Enemy's side And though Carvajal was not ignorant of this fact on the same day when it was done yet he deferred this punishment untill a fitter season not thinking it fit to interrupt the joy of that signal Victory by the sadness which the death of so ancient a Captain and so zealous for the cause as was Hernando Bachicao would cause At length after a long Journey caused by short marches for the sake of these who were wounded Piçarro and his Souldiers arrived at Cozco Captain John de la Torre had prepared to make for him a solemn entry under triumphal Arches which he had erected over the Streets and adorned them with Flowers of various colours after the Indian manner in the times of their Incaes The first that led the way were the Infantry with their Banners displayed marching three by three in a Rank every Captain at the head of his Company then followed the Horse in the like order after which and that the Souldiers were lodged in their quarters followed Piçarro himself attended onely by his own Servants and the Inhabitants who accompanied him for he thought it not convenient to be introduced by his Souldiers lest it should seem as if he gloried in an entire Victory over his Enemies and made a Triumph before Conquest As he entred all the Bells of the Cathedral and Convents were rang out and the Indians of the City being drawn up in the Streets and publick places of the City gave loud acclamations as he passed calling him Inca and giving him those other titles of Majesty which they used to bestow on their own natural Kings in days of triumph the which was performed by order and direction of John de la Torre The Trumpets also sounded with Violins and other Instruments of Musick in which Piçarro much delighted and had excellent good of that kind The first place he entred was the Church of our Lady of the Merceds where he adored the most Holy Sacrament and the Image of the Virgin his Mother and our Lady From thence he walked on foot to his Lodging which was provided for him at the House of one of his chief Officers called Alonso de Toro which is situate over against
was to be given at such an hour in the night they were extremely fearfull lest it should cause some great disorder for if the late false alarm had put them into the confusion before mentioned what could they imagine would be the effects of a true alarm caused by a surprise in the night but by the negligence and unactive spirit of John de Acosta none of these matters were put in action but all the methods and rules failed which was objected to Gonçalo Piçarro as a failure in his conduct as Augustine Carate Book the seventh Chapter the fourth intimates where speaking of the Squadron which the President formed of Indians and Negroes he adds farther That when John de Acosta sent his Spyes to survey the number of the Enemy's Camp and receiving a report that they were very numerous he durst not engage with them but returned again for a greater force by which over-sight and default the President gained time to finish his Bridge and transport his Souldiers And here it is that Piçarro was much blamed for his conduct for had he placed onely a hundred men at each of these Passes it had been impossible for the Enemy to have made good their way over the Water with which saying Carate ends that Chapter And indeed he had much reason for this Assertion for certainly that passage is so difficult and horrid as cannot be expressed or described When John de Acosta understood by his Scouts that he was not far from the descent of that ill way he advanced with six Horsemen to take a view of the Enemy and finding that they had already possessed themselves of the top of the Mountain and were so very numerous he durst not engage with them the truth is they deceived him much in their numbers and made him believe they were many more than in reality they were for as Historians say they mounted their Indians and Negroes on Horses and Mules and put Lances and Partisans into their hands and drew them up into a martial posture and that the Enemy might not discover the quality of this Rabble they placed three or four Files of Spaniards in the Front well appointed and armed to cover the Negroes and Indians in their disguise and then of the Infantry they formed another Squadron of the like condition The Historians add farther that Acosta to amuse Piçarro and make him believe that he would doe something sent for a recruit of three hundred Musquetiers but he having not acted according to any of those Rules which Carvajal had given him the design was lost and when the Recruits came to him finding himself unable to engage with the President he retreated to Cozco without any action to give an account to Piçarro of what had passed and that the President approached near unto the City CHAP. XXXIII Gonçalo Piçarro publishes his Orders for the Army to march out of Cozco Carvajal dissuades him from it and puts him in mind of a Prophecy relating to his life The President marches towards Cozco The Enemy goes forth to meet him THE design of John de Acosta failing Piçarro resolved to march forth and meet the Enemy and give him Battel for having formerly had success against Indians and Spaniards he took the greater confidence to adventure all his fortunes on the hazard of War. In order hereunto he made Proclamation that in four days time every man should put himself in a readiness to march to Sacsahuana being four leagues from the City but Piçarro having made this publication without the knowledge or privity of his lieutenant-Lieutenant-General Carvajal was much troubled at it and told him that it was by no means proper or agreeable to the welfare of his affairs to go forth to meet the Enemy for that was to ease the Enemy of a trouble and take it upon himself I beseech you Sir said he to believe me in this matter and leave the conduct of in to me To which Piçarro answered that at Sacsahuana he had made choice of a spot of Land very advantageous for him and where the Enemy could onely attack him in the Front and that he doubted not to gain a Victory with his Cannon onely Sir replied Carvajal in this Countrey we cannot miss every where of strong and fast places and I know particularly if you will be pleased to leave it unto me to chuse you such a place where you may be assured of Victory My meaning is that whereas you design to march four leagues to meet the Enemy that you rather change your course to the contrary way and expect their coming at Orcos about five leagues from hence on the other side which if you are pleased to doel you shall then see the trouble and confusion this farther march of five leagues will cause amongst the Enemy and the difficulties they will have to pursue you And then having leisure to survey the ground you may make choice of the most advantageous situation to give Battel And I do again and again beseech you to retreat back rather that proceed forward to meet the Enemy the which I would persuade you unto though there were nothing more in it than merely what some judicial Astrologers have prognosticated concerning your life namely that such a year you shall run a great hazard to lose it but in case you then escape you shall live long in great happiness and prosperity The year which threatens your life according to their presages is almost expired for not many months or weeks remain before that time detemines which I would therefore advise you to protract by a handsome retreat from the Enemy this I say that you may neither have cause to complain of your own rashness nor your Friends and well-wishers to lament your want of consideration in making too slight an account of such predictions for though there be no certainty in judicial Astrology yet at least it will be good to spend out the time if possible to see whether such presages prove true or false I am well assured that the Enemy cannot force you to fight and perhaps there may be many reasons which may persuade you to avoid it untill some greater advantage offers than at present appears Why should we adventure that which we may easily avoid in case we intend to travel from one Countrey to another with pleasure and ease whist the Enemy in pursuit of us endure all the inconveniences of a long march and hardships which famine and want must bring upon them and in this manner we may spin out the time untill the bad influences are past which threaten you and till the days return which the Astrologers assure you will be more propitious Piçarro answered in few words that he was resolved not to make a retreat either far or near it not being consistent with his honour and reputation but to follow his fortune and expect the Enemy at Sacsahuana and be his destiny what it would he determined to give the Enemy Battel at that
place without regard either to the Moon or Stars Herewith the discourse ended at which Carvajal was greatly troubled and complained amongst his friends and familiar acquaintance that his Lord the Governour resolved upon a most pernicious course especially in this critical time of his life which was more dangerous than any other in this opinion all others did concur and were much afflicted to see him thus resolute and without regard to his safety or condition to deliver up himself as it were into the hands of his Enemies there was no doubt but he was a man of great understanding and therefore we may attribute this violent transport to the influence of the Stars which carried him beyond his reason and caused him as it were to offer the Knife to his own Throat and reject the reasonable counsel of his major-Major-General But we must return again to the President and often change our hands from one party to the other The passage being now made free and open by the retreat of John de Acosta the Royal Army had liberty to march without fear or danger of an Enemy but by reason of the great incumbrances of Cannon Ammunition and Provisions four days were spent before they could clear themselves out of that uneasie passage of which three days were required to march from the River to the top of the Mountain where the Army was drawn up from which place the President gave command to march the Army with great order howsoever the ways were so narrow and rugged and the Baggage so great that the Officers could not observe that rule they desired and notwithstanding all their endeavours the longest march they could make in a day was not above two leagues and sometimes but one and then perhaps they were forced to stay a day or two untill the Rere could come up In the mean time Gonçalo Piçarro hastned his Men out of Cozco and to march unto Sacsahuana where he designed to expect the Enemy and give them Battel His Captains were all young and stout and such as depended most upon their own bravery and courage in confidence of which they chearfully hastned out of Cozco to anticipate the day which should make them Lords and Masters of all Peru. But Carvajal and those of his opinion who were the most sober and considerate were very unwilling to meet the Enemy not having men in whom they could put any confidence for amongst their own Party were three hundred of those Souldiers which belonged to Diego Cemeno who had been lately overcome and many of them as yet not cured of their wounds and therefore in reason ought to be esteemed for such who desired their overthrow and destruction or at least would run away in the day of Battel and discourage those who were faithfull Friends to Piçarro These considerations administred just cause of fear and danger to divert which Carvajal often turned to dissuade Piçarro from that fatal Counsel which would inevitably betray him to a loss of his life estate honour and every thing that was dear unto him But so God ordained it as those of the contrary party said that Piçarro having completed the measure of his iniquity was blindly carried to receive the punishment he deserved The which obstinacy so displeased several of his people that they purposed to have lest him if possibly they could and I can confidently aver that after the Battel of Sacsahuana and when all things were quieted I have heard some principal Officers who belonged to Piçarro say that if he had followed the advice and counsel of his Major General they would never have left him but have died with him for they esteemed Carvajal as an Oracle and entertained such an esteem of his knowledge and experience in War that they doubted not of the success in all matters where his counsel was followed But Piçarro persisting in his fatal resolution marched out of Cozco towards the latter end of March in the year 1548 and in two days came to Sacsahuana being greatly hindred by his Carriages Artillery and Baggage for he was well furnished with all provisions for War so as not to want any thing in case the Enemy should stay or linger in their coming And though as we have said this action was contrary to the sense and opinion of most men yet finding Piçarro fixed and resolute in his determination none durst to dissuade or endeavour to alter his mind and in regard these men evidently saw that he went positively to sacrifice himself and them to manifest destruction every man began to provide for his own inteterest and safety and to abandon Piçarro whom they saw plainly offering up himself to death in the most flourishing station of his life being in the two and fourtieth year of his age during which time he had been victorious in all the Battels he fought either against Indians or Spaniards and had not above six months before obtained that famous Victory at Huarina which gave him a character above any in this new World all which fortunes and successes were changed and buried in the Valley of Sacsahuana CHAP. XXXIV The two Armies meet in Sacsahuana Gonçalo Piçarro shews a diffidence of those Souldiers which belonged to Diego Centeno and the expectation the President had that those men should revolt to his side The Offers and Protestations which were made by Piçarro The Answer given by Gasca It is resolved to decide the Difference by Battel The Order of the Royal Army GOnçalo Piçarro drew up his Army in a certain place of that Valley having a River behind not very broad and a craggy Mountain and both so met together that the situation was naturally strong and covered the Army on all quarters in such manner that it could not be attacked in the rere nor on either side but on the front onely This River towards the Mountain is fortified with great Water-galls caused by the streams which fall from above between which and the River Piçarro pitched his Tents leaving the Plain between the Water-galls and Mountain free and open for drawing up the Army The President as we have said making short marches arrived in this Valley three days after Piçarro and three days passed with small skirmishes and piqueering between small parties which were of no great moment by which time all the Imperial Army was come up The Armies faced one the other for two days afterwards without engaging all which time Piçarro and his Captains kept a strict eye and watch on their Souldiers that none of them should run over to the President And now one would think that a Commander who voluntarily marched to meet his Enemy should have great confidence in the fidelity of his Souldiers and not doe as Piçarro who too late began to distrust Centeno's men of which there were no less than three hundred in the Army and began to approve the Counsel of Carvajal who persuaded him long since to dismiss those men of whom there being no assurance they were
of all things And so turning to the Company then present he said that since they had not killed the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado 't was well he was not present at the late action and that if he had been acquainted therewith before he had been so far advanced on his way he would have returned and have killed the said Alonso de Alvarado And that a matter of this importance might not be omitted Don Sebastian called a Council at which were present Basco Godinez Baltasar Velazquez Hernando Guillada John Ramon Gomez Hernandez the Lawyer Diego de Avalos Pedro del Castillo and Don Garci Tello besides divers others Basco Godinez undertook the design and to command the party employed thereupon but Don Sebastian said that he had promised it already to John Ramon And it was agreed that twenty five Souldiers be drawn out for that exploit and that they should be commanded by John Ramon and Don Garcia with Orders to take and possess themselves of the City of la Paz Basco Godinez said that the enterprise would be easie and that he would write to John de Vargas and Martin de Olmos to be assistent therein Thus far Diego Hernandez CHAP. XXV Don Sebastian and his Officers send Captains and Souldiers to kill the Mareschal John Ramon commands the Party and disarms Don Garcia and those who sided with him upon which News the very Souldiers who had advanced Don Sebastian did then murther him THE same Authour Hernandez proceeding in the History Chapter the fifteenth saith as follows They then took the Names and made a List of all those who were to goe and fitted and prepared them against the next day being Wednesday furnishing them with Arms and mounting them on Beasts to carry them On Wednesday before noon they accordingly began their march namely John Ramon Don Garci Tello Gomez Mogollon Gonçalo de Mata Francisco de Annanasco Almansa Hernando de Soria Pedro de Castro Mateo de Castanneda Campo Frio de Carvajal John Nieto Pedro Francisco de Solis Baltasar de Escobedo Diego Maldonado Pedro de Marguia Rodrigo de Arevalo Antonio Altamirano Lucena and Hermosilla who were no sooner out of Town but Basco Godinez gave immediate advice to Egas de Guzman of their departure desiring him to send some recruits from the place of his aboad to John Ramon and Don Garcia The Letter which he wrote was to this effect Brother of mine and of my heart Our General hath dispeeded our Brother Don Garcia and John Ramon to the new Colony or Plantation to seise on the person of the good Mareschal who being taken or killed there will be an end of our Troubles for we shall then neither meet with Enemies nor Opposition but the way will be open and easie to our Victories On this design twenty five brave Cavaliers are employed of such Valour that I durst engage them against all mankind Wherefore Brother of mine fit and prepare your self with such Arms as you can get and send some Forces from your quarters to join with those which are sent from our General who told me and so 't is my Opinion that it will he a very acceptable service It is the general sense of all men here that you demonstrated great tenderness of spirit when you spared the life of Gomez de Solis the Clemency you shewed was something extraordinary but not so great as common same would make it to be So soon as Egas de Guzman had received this Letter Orders were taken to dispatch away fifty five men for the assistence of Ramon of which Gabriel de Pernia was Captain and Alonso de Ariaça was Ensign their Instructions were to march as far as the new Plantation there to join with John Ramon accordingly these Men were put into a readiness and marched away with flying Colours in the number of these were Ordonno de Valencia Diego de Tapia the Squint-eyed Francisco de Chaves the Moor John de Cepeda Francisco Pacheco Pero Hernandez one of the Conspirators Alonso Marquina Pedro de Venavides John Marquez Luys de Estrada Melchor Pacho Antonio de Avila with others who completed the number of fifty five Souldiers Thus far are the words of Diego Hernandez The Rebellion being now made publick and openly declared those very Souldiers who plotted the Design and had made Don Sebastian de Castilla the Head and General thereof did now conspire against him and caballed and contrived together how they might kill and destroy him whom but the other day they had engaged in their Treason and as it were compelled him to be their General and Commander in Chief but so the Fate was and it was commonly practised by the Souldiers in that Empire ever since the Wars of Gonçalo Piçarro to raise some Tyrant or other to be their Leader and then presently to renounce him and kill him and pretend all for his Majesty's service and in recompence thereof to demand some great Estate and Lands to be given and settled upon them John de Ramon who with Don Garcia was appointed chief Captain of the Forces which were to march to the City of la Paz there to kill as hath been said the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado was no sooner departed from the City of Plate than he began to enter into Treaty with some Friends that it would be good policy to renounce the Cause of Don Garcia and Don Sebastian and to declare themselves for his Majesty against all Rebels And whereas the humour of the Souldiers was generally inclined hereunto the Proposal took very well amongst them so that they marched away with this good intention And as Don Garcia was upon the way he received intelligence of the Design and Plot of Ramon which was not strange because it was usual for them to sell one the other but he took little care of his person and slighted the information for being a young man and of little experience and unskilfull in military affairs he formed vain considerations within himself which failed him in the end and not so much as acquainting his Friends with the Advices he had received he proceeded on his way till he fell into those Snares which with due circumspection might have been avoided John Ramon in his second day's march received intelligence that Don Garcia was acquainted with his Design for those People plaid a double Game and carried News and Informations to all Sides and Parties Wherefore John Ramon thought it time to make short work and so presently disarmed five of the principal Souldiers which belonged to Don Garcia and took away their Horses from them and hastning with what speed they could after Don Garcia who was advanced before them they soon overtook him and his Companions who were four persons and disarmed them of their Lances and Musquets and dismounted them from their Horses but not to put a farther affront on them they devested them not of the privilege of Souldiers to wear their Swords girt about them Don Garcia being sorry that he
might be presumed had provided to countermine and prevent that design In pursuance of this resolution Hernandez to prove and try the inclinations of his Souldiers told them plainly that he gave free liberty and license to any person whatsoever who was not satisfied with his cause to pass over to the contrary party but none took advantage of this permission unless some few mean and unserviceable sort of people whom the Lieutenant-General Alvarado stript of their Clothes and devested of their Arms and Horses before they departed And so Hernandez retreated out of Pachacamac in the best order he was able being moved thereunto more out of an apprehension he had that his people would desert him than any fear he conceived of danger from the enemy for it was evident that such was the confusion of Counsels in the Camp of the Justices by reason of many Rulers that nothing was determined and concluded in its due time and season As will appear by what follows CHAP. X. Francisco Hernandez retires with his Army In his Majesty's Camp is great Confusion by diversity of opinions A mutiny is raised in the City of Piura and how it was pacified FRancisco Hernandez according to his former resolution withdrew his Forces from Pachacamac in such haste that the Souldiers left behind them all things which were useless and cumbersome to them which were all taken away by the King's Party who upon retreat of the Enemy without order from their Commanders plundered every thing that remained Upon this alteration of affairs the Justices entered into consultation with the Field Officers and summoned unto the Council of War besides the Captains several Planters who were men of Estates in the Kingdom and were well experienced in the Affairs of that Countrey but in such variety of opinions there was great confusion every one persisting in his own persuasion pressed eagerly that his Counsel might be taken Atlength after long debates it was concluded that Paulo de Meneses with six hundred select men should pursue after Hernandez the next day the detachment being made the two Generals contradicted the resolution concluded at the Council of War and ordered that no more than a hundred men should be drawn out for that it would be too great a weakning to the Camp to be devested of the greatest number of the choicest men Howsoever the Justices remained constant to their first Resolves and again commanded that the detachment should be made of the six hundred men which was again contradicted by the two Generals who were of opinion that a hundred men were sufficient to keep the Enemy in Alarms and to receive such as were desirous to revolt Between these contradictory Orders Paulo de Meneses was greatly confused and much more troubled because he was not permitted to take with him those Comrades and Friends of his in whom he most confided to stand by him and who were desirous to keep him company And here we will leave them to declare those matters which passed at the same time in the City of St. Michael de Piura The Justices as we mentioned before had sent advices to all the Governours of the Kingdom concerning the rebellion of Hernandez and issued out their Orders and Warrants to raise and arm Souldiers to resist and destroy the Rebels The Governour of Piura called John Delgadillo gave his Commission to Francisco de Silva a Souldier of good fame and reputation who lived in that City with Instructions to leavy Souldiers in Tumpiz and along the coast and to bring with him as many as he could raise Francisco de Silva went accordingly and returned to Piura with a party of about twenty six or twenty seven Souldiers who having remained there about twelve or thirteen days without any care taken to provide them with Victuals or Lodging and being poor men and not able to maintain themselves they came to the Governour with their Captain Francisco de Silva and desired his Licence to goe to the City of Los Reyes to serve his Majesty The Governour being pressed by the Intreaties and Importunities of all the Citizens assented thereunto but the next day the Souldiers being drawn out and ready to march the Governour without any reason for it revoked his Licence and gave a positive Command that every one should repair to his quarters and neither go out from thence nor out of the City without farther order Francisco de Silva Hernandez and his companions finding that no entreaties could prevail on the Governour they resolved to kill him and plunder the City and then depart and offer their service to Hernandez Giron since they were denyed leave to serve his Majesty The matter was soon agreed and about twelve or thirteen of them well armed went into the Governour 's house and took him and killed a Justice of Peace of the lower rank and made seizure of Guns Head-pieces Swords Bucklers Lances Halbards with a great provision of Powder and then carrying forth the Royal Standard they proclaimed upon pain of death that every man should repair thereunto then they broke open the royal Treasury and carried all the money from thence the like they did to particular mens houses which they sacked and plundered not leaving any thing of value therein And it happening that a certain Souldier came at that time from Rimac being banished thence they caused him to report that Hernandez was marching with a very strong Army to Los Reyes and that all the Kingdom had declared for him and that the Justice Santillan himself with many of his Friends and Relations were passed over to that party besides a multitude of other Lyes which they caused him to report which served these poor Rascals for the present and pussed them up as full of vanity as if they had been truths and made them to cosider themselves no less than as Lords and Masters of all Peru and when this Souldier declared his intention to follow Hernandez they all became of the same mind and presently proceeded to join with him The Governour they carried with them in Chains and eight or nine Citizens and men of Estates besides with Collars of Iron about their Necks after the manner of Gally-slaves In this manner they travelled above fifty Leagues with all the boldness and insolence imaginable untill they came to Cassamarca where they met with two Spaniards who lived by their labour and honest dealings and from them they received true information of the state and condition of Hernandez Giron and how he fled and was pursued by the Justices and that it was credibly believed that at that very time he was defeated and killed With this News Francisco de Silva and his Companions were extremely dashed and confounded and began to bewail their sollies and to save themselves they designed to surprize some Ship if it were possible to make their escape The Governour and his Companions were now freed of their Chains and set at Liberty but extremely incommoded And the Rebels being about
He was much lamented by all that knew him being a person of great goodness and honour as appears by the entertainment and reception he gave to Francisco de Carvajal his Wife and Family when he found them in the Market-place of Arequepa destitute of Lodging or Money or Friends to entertain them Notwithstanding this success which the Rebels had in pursuit of their enemies who fled before them yet their loss was greater by the revolt of many of their own Souldiers to the King's party which caused them to give over the pursuit and sound a retreat lest the example of those who fled should be the cause of a general mutiny and defection amongst their Forces John Rodriguez de Villalobos a Citizen of Cozco was one of those who revolted that day from Hernandez whom though he had endeavoured to engage to him by the marriage of his Wife's Sister yet the loyalty he owed to his Prince was of greater prevalency with him than the bond and tie of alliance but Hernandez seemed to make light of his desertion swearing in contempt and disdain of him that he was more troubled for a Sword he carried with him than he was for his person or any other concernment relating to him And farther to shew his confidence and the assurance he had to prevail he again publickly declared that he gave free liberty to any man who was weary of his service to pass over to the side of the Justices for he pretended not to entertain forced and pressed Souldiers but willing and faithfull Friends As to Paulo de Meneses himself he left his Souldiers and fled to Chincha which Palentino testifies in these words When Paulo de Meneses says he saw that his Souldiers fled and that his Body of Horse ran away in full carriere he turned out of the way and passed through a sandy Countrey towards the River Pisco and with three other Companions who followed him came to Chincha c. Thus far this Authour As the Rebels returned from the pursuit they gathered up all the Arms Coats Cloaks and other things of burthen which the King's party had scattered in the way and thrown from their Horses and Mules to ease them in their flight like those who are in a storm at Sea throw their Goods and Lading over Board to save their Vessel and their Lives And such was the fortune of these Royalists who but even now being in a condition to threaten their enemies with a total destruction were in the next moment forced to flight and entirely defeated In this place it will be no great digression from our purpose to relate a story concerning the faithfulness of an Horse which I knew towards his Master because it is rare and curious and because such accidents as this seldom happen in the world In this Battel of Spurs as we may call it there was a certain Gentleman engaged of his Majesty's party called John Julio de Hogeda as Citizen of Cozco and one of the first Conquerours of that Empire who amongst other Horses which he kept was mounted that day at Villacori upon one with black spots and running full speed as Palentino saith Hogeda fell from his Horse which seeing his Master on the ground gave a stop amidst three hundred other Horses and Beasts of burthen and would not stir untill his Master got up again and was mounted on his back which faithfulness of an irrational Beast saved the life of his Master and may be recounted for a story without example unless it were another of the like nature performed by the same Horse of which I my self was a witness at Cozco where after the War was ended certain Gentlemen exercising their Horses after the Genet fashion as they usually did in the common course every Sunday it happened that a School-fellow of mine of mongrel race whose Father was a Spaniard and his Mother an Indian called Pedro de Altamirano Son of Antonio de Altamirano one of the first Conquerours being mounted on this Horse and running full speed by a Window on his left hand he espied a fair young Lady looking out from the House belonging to Alonso de Mesa the sight of whom caused him to forget his race and at the next course having the Window on his right hand he turned his head two or three times to see the beauty of the Lady The third time passing the same place the Horse being sensible that his Rider checked him in his carriere he strained harder than before to gain the Race but the young Gallant being more intent on the beauty of his Mistress than the Government of his Horse he leaned too much on one side and fell to the ground which when the Horse perceived he gave a stop in his full speed and staid without moving untill the Gallant arose and again mounted upon him and then he continued his course to the great admiration of those who were present All which I my self saw from a Gallery of my Father's House the which action may serve to confirm the truth of the former unto those who had not the faith to believe it at the first And so we shall return to the Army of the Justices where we shall find nothing but animosities and troubles and changes of Officers and places of Trust. CHAP. XIII The Justices deprive the two Generals of their Office. Francisco Hernandez comes to Nanasca A Spie carries the news of the many changes The Rebels compose an Army of Negroes SUch were the quarrels and dissensions in his Majesty's Camp between the two Generals that the Captains and Souldiers were scandalized thereat and troubled to see on all occasions things diversly and contrarily disposed The Generals being informed of these complaints and murmurings of the Souldiery were persuaded at the instance of several principal persons to dine one day together in order whereunto with much intreaty they brought the Justice Santillan from his quarters two leagues off where he was retired to a meeting with the Archbishop and after Dinner they were made Friends to the great satisfaction as Palentino saith of the whole Army The same day towards Evening news was brought to the Camp of the defeat and rout given at Villacori at which they much admired having according to their best intelligence received daily advice that Paulo de Meneses was much stronger than the enemy The Justices Captains and other Officers were highly sensible of the loss they sustained by this defeat and found by experience that the original of that and other misfortunes proceeded from the discord and misunderstanding of the two Generals to the great disgrace and discouragement of the Imperial Army And though they endeavoured as much as was possible to palliate this loss saying that those who came over from the enemy made reparation for the numbers of those who were killed yet they could not digest the loss of reputation which the Royal Army sustained by the contrariety of their opinions and opposite commands and therefore calling
de Alvarado continuing his March entered upon the Desarts of Parihuanacocha where by reason of the bad and craggy ways and tempestuous weather or the unhealthfulness of the Climate above sixty of their best Horse dyed though they were led by hand and well covered with Clothing without any reason given for the same the Grooms said that they were taken with a shortness of breath like Horses that are broken winded at which all people wondered but none knew the reason onely the Indians esteemed it ominous and to be a forerunner of ill success Diego Hernandez Chap. 42. speaking of this passage saith as follows When the Marshal was come unto Chumbibilcas and had there provided himself with all things necessary for his Camp he adventured to pass the desart of Parinacocha which is about 32 leagues over which was so full of boggs and morish places snow and rocky asperous passages and so many broken cliffs and water-galls that many Horses perished in that desolate Land which seemed at that time to be a corner of Hell where was nothing but misery and famine c. Thus far this Authour whose Authority we have brought to confirm the truth of what we have before alledged The Marshal left Captain Sancho Dugarte in Parihuanacocha sick of a Flux or Dissentery of which in a few days afterwards he dyed the Army still proceeding in their march the Scouts happened to take one of the Scouts belonging to Hernandez and to save his life they reported that he voluntarily was coming to serve his Majesty and from him the Marshal was informed that Francisco Hernandez was not above twenty leagues distant from that place for which reason he kept his people on the Watch not to be surprized or to have their quarters beaten up in the night When the Army was about two days march from Parihuanacocha a bold action was performed by a certain Negro which alarum'd the Army and was this Captain Diego de Almendras according to his usual Custome did often separate from the Army to shoot wild Beasts of which there were very many in those Desarts and being in this manner one day upon the ramble it was his fortune to meet amidst those rocks with a Negro belonging to Serjeant Major Villavicencio who had run away and whom Almendras would have bound and brought back to his Master The Neger stood still as if he would have submitted but so soon as Almendras came near him thinking to bind his hands with match the Negro stooped down and catched hold of the Ankles of his Leggs and running his Head against his Breast threw him backwards and then with his own Dagger and Sword he gave him so many Wounds that he left him dead After which the Negro fled to the rest of his Kindred and Relations who were with Hernandez and having recounted to them this brave exploit by which he made his escape they all rejoyced and gloried in the action every one boasting of it as if it had been done by himself A young man of mongrel race half Spaniard and half Indian being with Almendras and seeing his Master on the ground and ill treated in that manner took the Negro by the Shoulders to free his Master from him but Almendras being sensible that he was mortally wounded called to the youth to fly before he was killed by the Negro and such was the Cry and Groans he made as gave an allaarum to all the Army he was afterwards carried to Parihuana to be there cured but he dyed in his way thither such was the end of this poor Gentleman who lost his Life in hunting after another man's Negro the which unhappy accident both Indians and Spaniards interpreted as an ill omen of their future Successes CHAP. XVI The Marshal receives intelligence of the Enemy He sends some Forces against them A Skirmish happens between the two Parties The general opinion of the Officers to decline fighting with the Rebels THE day following after this unhappy misfortune befallen Captain Almendras the Marshal receiving advice that the Enemy was not far distant he marched eight leagues farther with his Army and then made a strong detachment which was required to hasten with all expedition and to carry no other baggage or incumbrance than onely Provisions for three days and in this manner as Palentino saith they passed a desart Countrey full of marshes and boggs and deep with Snows and that night they lodged in the open Air without Tents or other covering and having travelled eight leagues farther the next day they came very weary to a People called Guallaripa where they received News that Francisco Hernandez had departed thence three days before and was then at Chuquinga about four leagues distant from them where he staid to refresh his Army which was greatly tyred and discomposed by the Fatigues of a long march over mountainous and desolate Countries At this time the Commissary Romero and Garica de Melo came to the Marshal with a thousand Indians that were Souldiers bringing Provisions and Ammunition to him from the Province of Andaguaylas from them he received a relation of all matters concerning Hernandez and how he had strangled Diego Orihuel a Native of Salamanca having taken him as he was coming to the Marshal's Camp to serve his Majesty Thus far Palentino The Marshal having certain intelligence that the Enemy was near he greatly desired to engage with them and therefore resolved to detach two Captains with a hundred and fifty choice Musquetiers who early in the Morning were to give the Enemy an Allarum and receive such as would pass over to his Majesty's service But the Captains and other persons of quality and interest who were well informed of the strength of the place wherein Hernandez was encamped would have disâ—uaded the Marshal from the design giving him very good reasons why it was not fit or safe to attempt the Enemy within their Fortifications or to hazard the loss of an hundred and fifty of the choicest Musquetiers in the whole Army on whose success the fortune of the day depended but the Marshal replyed that he himself would follow them in the rere and succour them with the whole Army and second them so warmly with his Troops that the Enemy should be able to prevail little on them and so he instantly desired licence of the Captains to draw out from their Companies a hundred and fifty choice Musquetiers which he committed to the command and charge of his Lieutenant General and of Captain John Ramon with Directions to approach as near to the Enemy as was possible The Captains accordingly about midnight marched out with this detachment and about three hours afterwards the Marshal followed them with the whole Army Hernandez who was well advised of the near approach of a severe and incensed Enemy was vigilant not to be surprized unawares and having his forces always in a posture of defence he kept Guards on the Avenues which were but two where it was possible to be attacked
Camp and having repeated to them all that Pineda had acquainted him with he told them plainly that he was resolved to fight the enemy delivering his reasons for the same but still many of the Council opposed this opinion persisting that it was not safe to make an attempt on a Fortification with so much disadvantage when the Marshal saw that he was opposed by so many principal persons he desired Pineda to repeat himself before them all what he had before declared and what was his opinion concerning the state of Hernandez his Camp and how and in what manner he believed they would act Then Pineda told them that the Forces which Hernandez had might amount unto three hundred and eighty men of which two hundred and twenty were Musquetiers but all ill provided and most of them inclined to desert him and revolt to the Marshal and that he might have about a thousand Horses and Beasts of Burthen And as to what he believed of the state of Hernandez he was of opinion that they would march away that night if not prevented being affrighted and forced thereunto for want of provisions That in case they did march away the pursuit after them through craggy and mountainous Countries would be very difficult and ruinous to the Army as well as destructive to the Kingdom and that the passage over the River was easie and the way open to make an assault Hereupon the Marshal declared positively his resolution that day to engage the enemy and that he would not suffer them to escape out of his hands as they had formerly done from the Justices and prevent them from doing any farther mischief than what they had already committed and that to follow and pursue after them could not be done without hardship damage and suffering of the whole Army but some made answer and replied hereunto that whilst Hernandez remained in that fast ground it were more secure to let him escape from thence that to attempt him in that Fortification for that it was probable that having abandoned that place his Forces would disband of themselves without hazarding the life of one Souldier but the Marshal was not satisfied with this answer and said that it was not correspondent to his duty nor sutable to the honour of so many brave Cavaliers and good Souldiers as were there present to suffer those Rebels to range and wander up and down robbing and spoiling the Countrey without controll and therefore he declared himself resolved in despight of all opposition to give the enemy Battel Herewith many of the principal Captains who were present at this Consultation in the Marshal's Tent went out from thence much displeased and dissatisfied and particularly Gomez de Alvarado said Come since we must die let us go for I am sure it will be my fortune to be killed Thus far are the words of Palentino When the Council was risen several of the Inhabitants of Cozco and of the Charcas being men of Estates to the number of about thirty returned again to the Marshal amongst which were Lorenço de Aldana John de Saavedra Diego Maldonado Gomez Alvarado Pero Hernandez Paniagua Polo the Lawyer John Ortis de Carate Alonso de Loaysa John de Salas the Agitant Martin de Meneses Garcia de Melo John de Berrio Anton Ruyz de Guevara Gonçalo de Soto Diego de Truxillo all of them Adventurers in the conquest of Peru who taking the Marshal aside did earnestly entreat him to retract his determination concerning the Battel that he would consider of the situation of the place wherein the enemy was posted which was very strong and that his own was equal to it and as advantageously seated as theirs that he should observe and remember what Rodrigo de Pineda assured him of the scarcity and want of all Provisions in the Camp of Hernandez by reason of which they would be forced to quit their quarters there in the space of three days that he should expect untill the end of that time and see the issue after which he might consider farther and take such measures as should then seem most advantageous and convenient and in the mean time the enemy remained there before them and could not take a flight through the air but on the land onely on which they might be intercepted and obstructed in their passage by orders and instructions sent to the Indians whenas on the contrary it could not but prove destructive to attack the Enemy in so difficult a station it was well known that the event of War hath been always doubtfull and that to play such a desperate game was to deliver up their Souldiers to slaughter and to stand still untill they were all killed by the shot of the Enemy That he should consider the state of his own Forces which were in a much more happy condition than the Enemy for they neither wanted Provisions nor the attendance of Indians nor other necessaries to conserve them in the Camp. That the onely game they had now to play was to stand still and that then a Victory would follow of course without loss or hazard of his men and that it was not good to adventure without some cogent reasons the loss of what they had already gained The Marshal not reflecting or calling to mind that on the same River a Battel of the nature of this was lost as before related answered with some choler that he had well considered all these particulars but that it corresponded not with his duty nor was it reasonable or sutable to their reputation to suffer such a company of pitifull Rebels to march away with such boldness and insolence and every night to alarm him in his Camp which not being able to support any longer he was resolved to fight them that very day not doubting but that before Sun-setting he should kill and cut in pieces three hundred of their men wherefore he conjured them to talk no more of declining the Battel but that every one should repair to his charge and command and acquit himself of his duty upon penalty of being proceeded against as Traitours and disobedient to the command of their General There was now no farther place for Answers and Replies the Die was cast and the resolution fixed which caused many of the principal men to depart with a heavy heart and to discourse amongst themselves that the Marshal was prodigal of the lives of his Souldiers for if he looked upon them as his Friends his Kindred or Sons he would not expose them in that manner to be destroyed and slaughtered by the Enemy But what could be said more it was their misfortune and unhappiness to be subjected to the command of a passionate and an inflexible General who would not be persuaded to accept of a Victory which was offered to him but rather yield it to his Enemy at the expence of their lives and fortunes this and much more was expressed lamenting their condition and presaging as it were that ruine which ensued
he stood and so he fell backwards into the Water and sunk down and never appeared more though all possible care and diligence was used to recover him only about two years afterwards the Indians brought his Coat of Mail unto Cozco at the time when my Father was Chief Justice of the City The Command of his Foot Company was afterwards conferred on John Ramon though he had lately lost his former Company in Chuquinca The Army being come to the River of Apurimac received the news of this unhappy accident and also was informed That one of the Scouts named Francisco Menacho with about forty more of his Companions had passed the River and that he like a brave and resolute Souldier had shewed and led them the way which never any had attempted before and that he had boldly cast himself in at the place which is now called the Ford and that he had passed and repassed it several times whilest the Camp was marching thither the which rash and precipitate action in him gave boldness to the whole Army to follow his Example and to pass over without loss of time which would have caused great delay had they attended there until a Bridge could have been erected And for the better security of their Footmen with their Burdens and for the Indians who carried the Artillery the Horse were ordered to flank them on the side to break the force of the Currant by which means all the Footmen and Indians who were laden came safely to the other side without any loss or danger as Palentino confirms Chap. 50. And herein the Providence of God is much to be admired for though an Army passed then without danger yet since that time no single person hath adventured upon it nor durst any Man attempt to wade or ford it over And now being got to the other side they entered on a Mountainous and Rocky Way full of labour and difficulty and the second Day afterwards they came to Arimacrampu seven Leagues distant from the City And from thence they proceeded farther the very Night they came thither though the Officers were much disquieted and troubled to see the Orders given by one Party to be again presently Countermanded by others of a different Faction which was the cause that the Scouts and Van of the Kings Army and of Hernandez his Forces marched always in view each of the other for the Rebels seemed not to fly but to proceed on their way in an orderly manner as if they apprehended no danger from their Enemy in the Rear Thus at length they came to Sacsahuana four Leagues from the City from whence those who were Citizens of Cozco were desirous to be ordered abroad upon the Scout with which occasion they made a visit to their Wives and Children at home where they came about Noon and the same Day in the Morning Alvarado the Lieutenant General of the Rebels had departed thence That Night the Citizens would not lie in their own Houses lest the Enemy should return and surprize them but they contrived to lodge altogether with some few Souldiers which they had brought with them and fortified themselves in the House of John Pancoroo to which there was no entrance or access by any back passage but only by the Fore-gate of the principal Street and at the distance of seven or eight paces from the Gate they raised up a Breast-work with Loop-holes to shoot out at with their Musquets by which they could fire into three Streets one on the right hand and the other two on the side where they remained all night in security having placed their Centinels in all Avenues leading towards the House I was with them all the night and was sent three or four times with Messages to the Neighbours Houses The next day being in my Father's Court-yard about 3 a clock in the Afternoon I saw Pero Hernandez the Loyal come galloping in at our Gate on his Horse Paxarillo at which I was so over-joyed that without speaking to him I ran in to my Father to carry him the good news on notice of which my Father instantly ran to meet him and they both embraced with great kindness And Pero told him that the day before the Rebels marching something more than a League from the City he took an occasion on pretence of some necessities of Nature to go aside from them and taking towards the left hand of the way amongst some high Rocks he hid himself there for a while and then climbed up the Mountain whence seeing the Rebels at a distance he made his escape and was come thither After which he went with my Father to the King's Army and there served until the end of the War and then returned back again with my Lord Garçilasso into Cozco Of all which I was an Eye Witness and as such have given this faithful Relation CHAP. XXIV His Majesties Camp enters into Cozco and from thence marches forwards An account is given how the Indians carried the Train of Artillery on their Shoulders Part of the Amunition arrives at the Royal Army THE third day after the Citizens had made a visit to their Relations and Concernments in the City the Royal Camp made their Entry with the Troops and Companies in good order The Infantry drew up in the Chief Place or Square and the Horse skirmished with the Foot according to the Rules of Military Discipline and both charged each other with handsome Vollies and quick Fire for the Souldiers were become very ready and expert at their Arms. And though Palentino saith that Don Phelipe de Mendoça who was General of the Ordnance brought his great Guns into the Parade and fired them several times and that the Musquetiers marching the Round made several handsome Vollies but herein this Writer was much mistaken as he hath been in many other Passages for the Artillery could not be easily fixed and put in order so as to be used at every turn and unnecessary occasion for they were not drawn on their Carriages but carried on the Indians Shoulders and that with so much difficulty that to manage eleven pieces of Cannon only with their Carriages was the work of ten thousand Indians I my self saw them brought into Cozco and was then in the place when they were again carried out and the manner how they mannaged them was this Every piece of Ordnance was fastned to a large Beam of about forty foot in length under this were fixed several cross Bars about the bigness of a Mans Arm at two foot asunder and of about half a yard long on each side the Beam under which two Indians were placed one on one side and one on the other after the manner that the Palanquines are carried in Spain The burthen they carried was laid on their Shoulders close to their Necks where they wore a Pad or Pannel to keep them from galling with the weight and at every 200 paces they were relieved by a fresh Company And here we may
that it would prove mortal in case it were closed up and healed By this resistance which the Rebels made they made good their retreat and returned to their strong Hold and greater had the slaughter been had they been intercepted in their passage thither And now Hernandez having not much reason to boast of his success abated greatly of his pride and haughtiness when he found that his Magick Spells failed and that he was deluded by the vanity of Prophesies in which he most confided Howsoever not to discourage his Souldiers he put a good face upon the matter but could not so well dissemble but that his melancholly was discovered through all his disguises This was the whole Action of this Battel and all that passed for Palentino saith that of the Justices side five or six were killed and about thirty wounded Of the Rebels about ten were killed and as many wounded The Prisoners which this Author says were 200 were such as had been Souldiers to the Marshal and who with this occasion returned again to their Duty but of Hernandez his Souldiers not above fifteen were made Prisoners Those who were killed and wounded in the King's Camp were for the most part killed and wounded by their own men for the night being dark as we said the Rear-guard commanded by Captain John Ramon firing at random to affright the Enemy happened to kill and wound their own People the which is evidenced by the Wounds they received which were all in their backs and hinder parts amongst which a Gentleman was slain called Suero de Quinnones Brother to Antonio de Quinnones a Citizen of Cozco and a Cousin German of his called Pedro de Quinnones was likewise wounded The day after the Battel nothing happened considerable on either side only towards night the King's Forces upon a report that the Rebels designed again to beat up their Camp drew out and put their Squadrons in posture of defence as they had done the Night before but the intelligence was false nor was there any ground for it for the unfortunate Hernandez was rather contriving within himself how he might fly and escape Death than of a manner how he might make another assault on the Enemy The third day after the Battel Hernandez to shew his Spirit and Courage gave orders to his Captains and Souldiers to draw out into the Field and skirmish with the Enemy and provoke them to an engagement but this bravade produced nothing of moment only it gave occasion to Thomas Vazquez with ten or twelve more of his Friends to revolt over to his Majesties Forces bringing with them a silver Helmet belonging to their Major General Piedrahita which he sent as a Token and Assurance of his intention also to leave the Rebels which he deferr'd for a while until he could decoy and bring more Companions with him The coming in of Thomas Vazquez and his Friends and the news they brought with them was extreamly welcome to the Justices and the whole Army who now began to look on the Rebels as totally overcome and an end put to all their Violences and Cruelties For this Thomas Vazquez was esteemed the principal and main support of all their Actions and one of greatest interest by whose failure it was expected that all their designs would come to ruine Hereupon those who sallied forth to skirmish made their retreat back to their Quarters And lest the Souldiers should be discouraged and become over sensible of the loss of Vazquez he made them this short Oration which we find in Palentino Chap. 55. in these words My Masters and Gentlemen I formerly acquainted you with the cause and reasons which induced me to commence this Enterprise which was grounded on the agrievances and oppressions under which this whole Kingdom groaned for both Citizens Planters and Souldiers had their Estates taken away and were deprived of the services and vassallage of their Indians without any remedy or course of Justice Those who were principally engaged in this Enterprize with me and complotted with me herein have abandoned me at the most critical time of any amongst which is this Thomas Vazquez But I beseech you not to be troubled for this his treacherous desertion of us for he is but a Man and no more I would not advise any person to trust to the Pardon they shall give him for the next day they may hang him with that about his neck Consider well therefore Gentlemen your present case for we have a better game to play than Thomas Vazquez and all those who revolted with him whom notwithstanding all their kindnesses and caresses to them at present they shall sentence to death and execute so soon as I come to fail and am subdued I am not troubled for my self being but a single man and if by my life I could rescue and save yours I would sacrifice it immediately for your preservation But I am well assured that whosoever escapes the Gallows will at least be condemned to perpetual slavery in the Gallies Consider therefore your condition and encourage one the other to consult your safeties by a valiant pursuance of our first Engagement Our case is not desperate but hopeful for having 500 men on our side 2000 against us can never hurt us unless we prove false to our selves See then to the main point and consider what will become of you if I miscarry These and many other things to this purpose were spoken by Hernandez to his Souldiers who notwithstanding all that was said could not but be sensible of the loss they sustained by the revolt of Vazquez c. Thus far Palentino That which Hernandez said concerning the Pardons That they would be hanged with them about their Necks was fulfilled with more certainty than all the Predictions and Prophesies in which he trusted for tho' neither Vazquez nor Piedrahita were hanged yet they were both strangled in the Prison notwithstanding their Pardons which they sued out of Chancery under the Great Seal and notwithstanding the Pleas they made that a Man having obtained his Pardon and not committed any offence afterwards ought not to suffer Death or any other Punishment Thus what Hernandez foretold of this matter was accomplished which we havingâ— anticipated out of its due place we shall not need to repeat or enlarge upon it hereafter CHAP. XXVIII Francisco Hernandez flyes away alone His Lieutenant General with a hundred men take another way They are pursued by Paulo de Meneses and are taken and brought to Justice NOtwithstanding all that Hernandez had said to his Souldiers he was yet so troubled and confused within himself for the loss of Vazquez that he resolved that very Night to run away and leave his Souldiers for suspition and jealousie had so seized on all the faculties of his Soul as to afflict him with all those torments which the Divine Ariosto describes in five Cantos of his Poem which caused him to believe that his own Souldiers would kill him in hopes by such
manner seizing on the Inca and on all the Indian Men and Women who were in Company with him amongst which was his Wife two Sons and a Daughter returned with them in Triumph to Cozco to which place the Vice-King went so soon as he was informed of the imprisonment of this poor Prince CHAP. XVII Process is made and an Endictment drawn up against the Prince and against the Incas his Kindred of the Blood Royal As also against the Sons of Spaniards born of Indian Women though their Fathers had been the Conquerours of that Empire SO soon as they saw that the Prince was taken the Attorney General was ordered to draw up a Charge against him which was done according to the Articles before mentioned accusing him to have appointed and ordered his Servants and Vassals to infest the Roads and rob the Spanish Merchants as they passed upon their Lawful occasions declaring all those his Enemies who had made any League or Contract with the Incas his Ancestors or who lived or inhabited amongst the Spaniards And that at such a time and upon such a day he had entered into an agreement with the Caciques who were made Lords of Mannors and Commanders of Indians by Ancient Grants from his Ancestors to rise in Arms against the Spaniards and to kill as many of them as they were able In like manner an Accusation was brought against those who were born in that Country of Indian Mothers and Fathers who were Spaniards and Conquerours of that Empire Alledging against them that they had secretly agreed with the Prince Tupac Amaru and other Incas to make an Insurrection in the Kingdom Being moved thereunto out of a discontent that they who had been born of the Royal Blood of the Incas whose Mothers had been Daughters or Nieces or Cousin-Germans to the Incan Family and whose Fathers were Spaniards and of the first Conquerours who had gained great Fame and Reputation were yet so little considered that neither on score of the Natural Right of the Mother nor of the high Desert and Merit of the Father any thing was bestowed upon them but all was conferred on the Kindred and Rel â—lous of the present Governours whilst they were suffered to starve unless they would live on the Alms of Charitable people or Rob on the High-Way and so come to the Gallows Moreover it was charged upon the Prince That he had not discountenanced such persons as these but had received them into his Service upon promise that they would joyn with him and dye in the defence of his Cause All which being alledged in that Accusation which was drawn up against the Sons of Spaniards born of Indian Women they were all apprehended and as many of them as were of twenty years of Age and upwards being capable to bear Arms then residing in Cozco were clapped into Prison Some of them had the Question put to them under the Torment to extort a Confession from them of that for which they had no Proof or Evidence before Amidst this Mad rage and Tyrannical proceedings by Imprisonment and Torture an Indian Woman whose Son was condemned to the Question upon the Rack came to the Prison and with a loud Voice cryed out Son since thou art sentenced to the Torment suffer it bravely like a Man of Honour accuse no Man falsely and God will enable thee to bear it and reward thee for the Hazards and Labours which thy Father and his Companions have sustained to make this Country Christian and engraft the Natives thereof into the Bosom of the Church You brave Sons of the Conquerours how excellently have your Fathers been rewarded for gaining this Country when a Halter is the only Recompence and Inheritance purchased for their Childrenâ— These and many other things she uttered with a loud Voice exclaiming like a mad Woman about the Streets and calling God and the World to examine the Cause and judge those Innocents And if the Fate of them be determined said she and that they must dye let them also kill the Mothers who had the Sin upon them to bring them forth and who were so culpable as to deny their own Country and Relations for the sake of those Conquerours and joined with them in the Design of making this Empire subject to the Spaniards But the Pachacamac or the great God hath brought all these things justly upon the Mothers who for the sake of the Spaniards could so easily renounce their Inca their Caciques and Superiors And since she had passed this Sentence upon her self and in behalf of all the other Women in the same State and Condition with her and had pronounced them all guilty she desired that she might be the first to suffer and lead the way of Death and punishment to all the rest which if they were pleased to grant unto her God would reward this good work to them both in this and in the other World. These passionate expressions uttered with all the Violence her force would admit worked greatly upon the Mind of the Vice-King and diverted him from his intention to put them to death howsoever they were not acquitted hereby but procured for them a more lingring sort of Death which was Banishment into divers remote Parts of the New World unknown to their Fore-fathers So some of them were sent into the Kingdom of Chile and amongst the rest a Son of Pedro del Barco of whom I formely made mention to have been my School-Fellow and under the Guardianship of my Father Others of them were sent to the new Kingdom of Granada and to divers Isles of Barlovento and to Panama and Nicaragua Some of them also were sent into Spain and amongst them was John Arias Maldonado the Son of Diego Maldonado the Rich who remained under Banishment in Spain for the space of ten Years where I saw him and entertained him twice in my Lodging at a certain Village within the BiBishoprick of Cordona where I then lived and where he related to me many of those things which are here recounted After so long a time he obtained leave from the Supream Council of the Indies to return to Peru and had three years given him to dispatch his Business there and remit his effects into Spain where he was afterwards obliged to live and finish his days Being on his departure he with his Wife whom he had married at Madrid passed by the place where I lived and desired me to help him to some Furniture for his House for that he returned to his own Country poor and in want of all things I presently gave him all the Linnen I had with some pieces of Taffaty which I had made up after the Souldiers fashion intending them for Colours or Ensigns for a Foot Company The year before I had sent him to the Court a very good Horse which he desired of me which together with the other things I gave him might be worth 500 Ducats which he took so kindly that he said to me