way as they travelled than what was of indifferent things and of the pleasantness and fruitfulness of that Valley When they came to the passage of the River he was met by the Garcidiaz de Arias who was elected Bishop of Quitoo who with the Dean and Chapter of that Church and the rest of the Clergy remained there in expectation of his coming and at their meeting there was much joy and chearfulness And proceeding farther untill he came near to the City he was met by the Jurats and Corporation of the City accompanied with the Citizens and principal Gentry thereof and as all the three Authours do agree in their report the Commissary of the King's Revenue named Yllen Suarez de Carvajal went forth in the head of them all and being the chief of the Corporation did in the name thereof offer an Oath to the Vice-king whereby he was to swear that he would maintain the Privileges Franchises and Immunities which the Conquerours and Inhabitants of Peru had received and did hold of his Majesty and that in the Courts of Justice he would receive their Petitions and give ear to the Reasons they should offer against the new Regulations The Vice-king would swear no otherwise than that he would perform all that which was conducing to the King's service and to the benefit of the Countrey at which many took exceptions and said that he swore with equivocations and what would admit of a double meaning Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez This Oath which the Vice-king took being onely in general terms and which might admit of such a sense as he himself would be pleased to put upon it was occasion of much discontent both to the Clergy and Laity so that all their mirth was dashed and every one turned sad and melancholy saying that nothing could be expected of good from such an Oath which rather administred just cause to fear and suspect that in a short time they should be dispossessed of their Indians and Estates which was a hard case for men of their age who were grown old and infirm by the labours and hardships they had sustained in their youth to gain and conquer that Empire Notwithstanding all which they conducted the Vice-king with great triumph into the City under a Canopy of Cloth of Gold supported by the chief Magistrates of the Town in their Gowns of crimson Sattin lined with white Damask the Bells of the Cathedral Church and of the Convents rang out and all sorts of musical Instruments resounded through the Streets which were adorned with green Boughs and triumphal Arches erected in various works and forms made of Rushes in which as we have said the Indians were very curious But yet so much sadness appeared in their countenances that all the solemnity seemed rather a performance of some Funeral Rites than triumph for receiving a vice-Vice-king all their joy being forced and strained to cover an inward grief which lay heavy upon their spirits In this manner they went in Procession to the great Church where having adored the most holy Sacrament they conducted the vice-Vice-king to the House of Don Francisco Piçarro where he and all his Family was lodged Some few days after which the vice-Vice-king having notice of the great noise and stirs which were making in the Streets by those who were upon their return to Cozco with Vaca de Castro he presently suspected as Carate in the fifteenth Chapter of his third Book reports and with whom other Authours agree that Vaca de Castro had been the cause of all that noise and disturbance for which reason he ordered him to be seised and committed to prison and all his Estate to be sequestred The people of the City though they had no very great kindness for Vaca de Castro yet they petitioned the Vice-king in his behalf desiring him that since Vaca de Castro was one of his Majesty's Council and had been their Governour that he would not be so severe upon him as to commit him to the common Prison since that a person of his Quality though condemned the next day to loose his head might be secured in some decent and convenient Prison whereupon he was sent to the Town-house under bail of an hundred thousand Pieces of Eight in which Sum the Citizens of Lima had engaged for him With such rigorous courses as these the people being much disgusted many of them forsook the City privately departing by few in a company taking their way towards Cozco where the Vice-king had not as yet been received Thus far are the words of Carate the which is confirmed by Diego Fernandez almost in the same words to which he adds that Vaca de Castro remained a Prisoner in the common Gaol his words are these which follow Such as remained behind in the City often met in several Caballs and Counsels lamenting together the misery that was come upon the Land and the Inhabitants of it bidding adieu to all the Riches Liberty and Jurisdiction which they as Conquerours and Lords of Indians had gained and acquired which would be a means to unpeople the Countrey and to cause an abatement of the King's Customs and other parts of his Revenue and therefore they positively averred that it was impossible that the King's Commands could be executed herein or that ever there should be any new discoveries made or Trade and Commerce maintained for the future besides a thousand other inconveniences and damages which they alledged And with this fear and distraction of mind was every man possessed when some of the most principal persons pretending to make a visit to the Vice-king in hopes that he having proved and had some experience of the Constitution of the Countrey might be induced to alter his humour or at least render it more flexible and easie but so soon as any person touched on that string though with the greatest gentleness and submission imaginable he immediately put himself into a passion and by his authority forbade all farther discourse upon that point obviating all objections with the name of the King's pleasure and command which abrupt manner of treaty gave great discontent and excited in the minds of men rancour and malice against his person Some few days after the Vice-kings reception three of the Justices which remained behind with Doctour Carate who lay sick at Truxillo came then to Town upon whose arrival he immediately caused a Court to be called and appointed a place of Judicature to be erected in the House where he himself was lodged being the most convenient for his own accommodation as also because it was the most sumptuous Chamber in all the City He also ordered a stately reception to be made purposely for his Commission under the Great and Royal Seal which was put into a Case covered with Cloth of Gold and carried on a Horse decked with a Foot-cloth and Trappings of Tissue the which was at each end held up by Judges of the City clothed in Gowns of crimson
common to all but to apply their Art onely for medicining their Kings and Curacas and such as were lineally descended from them but the ordinary People cured one the other by such Medicines as were of common Report When sucking Infants were sick of any disease especially if it were a Fever or Calenture they washed them every morning in Urine and then wrapped them up giving them some of their own Water to drink At the Birth of their Children when the Midwife cut the string of the Navel they left it at least a finger in length which when it fell off from the Child of it self they conserved it carefully and on any occasion of indisposition of which a whiteness in the Mouth of the Child was their usual symptome they gave it to suck of this string which commonly proved an assured remedy What Reasons they had for these Secrets of Nature I know not nor did I ever ask I am sure they made no conjectures by the throbs of the Pulse much less by Urine having no other Symptoms of a Calenture than what appeared by the excessive heat and burnings of the Body Their Purges and bleedings were more commonly used when the Patient was but a little indisposed and was able to walk but not after he had yielded to the Disease for then they committed him onely to the strength of Nature and a regular Diet they never arrived to the knowledge of Clysters or to Unguents or Plasters the cold and shaking fit of a Quartan they called Chucchu the hot fit Rupar which is burning the which Indispositions they greatly feared by reason of the uneasiness they felt both by cold and heat CHAP. XIII Of their Medicinal Herbs and Physical Plants THey have a certain Tree which they call Mulli and the Spaniards Molle which sweats forth a kind of rasomy juice which hath a most sovereign quality for the cure of green Wounds the herb or shrub called Chillca being heated in an earthen pan hath done wonderfull effects on those who have been troubled with a pain in the joints and bones taken by cold they have a certain root like the root or Fibres of Grass but something grosser and fuller of knots the name of it I do not well remember which they make use of to strengthen the Teeth and fortify the Gums and in the preparing of it they roast it in the hot embers and when it is very hot they apply it to the Gums on each side of the mouth keeping it untill it is cold which is of great torment to the Patient for it scalds the mouth exceedingly This Remedy they apply in the Evening and next morning doe the like so that their Gums and Mouth look like roasted flesh and for two or three days are not able to chew or receive other nourishment than by a spoon afterwards the white flesh of the Gums which hath been cauterized in this manner begins to fall off and a new and well coloured sort of Gum strong and hard returns which fortified the Teeth closer and better than before I have several times seen this proved and being willing though without necessity to try it on my self I was so scalded at first that I had not the resolution afterwards to perfect the Experiment The herb or plant which the Spaniards call Tobacco and the Indians Sayri is of admirable use in many Diseases amongst them particularly being taken at the Nostrils in snuff serves to purge the Head and the other qualities and vertues of it are well known and esteemed in Spain so that they give it the name of Yerva sancta or the holy Herb. They had also the knowledge of another Herb of an excellent quality for the Eyes called Matecclu it hath but one stalk and that is covered with a single Leaf and no more and is like that which they call in Spain Abbats Ears and grows in winter upon the roofs of houses the Indians eat it raw having a pleasant relish when it is bruised they spirt some of the juice into the Eyes and at night when they go to bed they lay of the herb being bruised on the Eye-lids binding it on lest it should fall off and in one nights space it discusses all matter and disperses those mists which obscure the Eyes and offend the sight I my self have laid it on the Eye of a Youth which was so swelled and inflamed that it was started out of his Head the first night I applied it the Eye returned again to its place and the second time it was perfectly cured and the Youth hath since told me that he sees better with that Eye than the other and a Spaniard confidently assured me that he knew one who being absolutely blinded by a film or skin which covered his Eyes had by the mere application of this herb for two nights onely recovered his sight Those who had received this benefit by it did afterwards kiss the herb with great affection rendring thanks to Almighty God that he was pleased to bestow such a sovereign and blessed virtue on this herb for the good and use of Mankind The Indians who were my Relations used divers other herbs but the names and qualities of them I cannot remember The Indian Kings did never attain to the knowledge of compounded but onely of simple Medicines and seeing that in so necessary a study as that which conduces to the conservation of health they made so little a progress how can it be expected in matters less important and usefull such as Natural Philosophy and Astrology they should make any considerable improvement much less can we suppose them skillfull in Divinity who being wholly guided by sensible objects were never able to raise their Intellects to invisible and immaterial Beings more than what their Incas had taught them and included in that word of Pachacamac which signifies the Maker of this Universe Since which time the Spaniards have improved their Physical Science to a higher degree having discovered the secret virtues of many herbs growing in that hot Climate of which the Indians were ignorant and particularly that the Mayz which is Indian Wheat and of a substantial nutriment hath moreover a peculiar quality against the Collick and is an excellent Remedy for the Stone either in the Kidneys or the Bladder and clears all obstructions of Urine the knowledge hereof the Spaniards collected from the constitution and temperament of the body of the Indians for having observed that they were never subject to these distempers they concluded that the drink which they commonly used made of Mayz was the cause whereof the Spaniards making now divers Preparations have with good success experienced most admirable effects of it and the Indians have also of themselves made many Plasters and Balsams of it which they applied for Aches and other Pains CHAP. XIV Of the Geometry Geography Arithmetick and Musick known to the Indians THey had attained so much Geometry as served them for to measure out their
was the Great Tupac Yupanqui who was great Grandson to Viracocha The third was Huayna Capac the Son of Tupac Yupanqui and Grandson of the Fourth Generation to Viracocha the two last were Men with gray Hairs yet did not seem so aged as Voracocha One of the Women was said to be the Body of the Queen Mama Runtu Wife of Viracocha the other of Coya Mama Occlo Mother of Huayna Capac and it is probable that they might be Husband and Wife considering that the Bodies were laid and found so close together and what is more strange these Bodies were more entire than the Mummies wanting neither Hair on the Head nor Eye-brows and even the very Eye-lashes were visible They were clothed with the same sort of Garments which they wore in their Life time the List or Wreath appeared about their Heads which was all the Badg or Ornament they shewed of their Royal Dignity The posture they were in was sitting after the manner of the Indians their Hands crossed on their Breasts with the right hand upon the left their Eyes cast downwards looking towards the Earth Acosta it seems had seen one of these Bodies of which discoursing in the 21st Chap. of his 6th Book saith That it was so well conserved by a certain sort of bituminous matter with which they embalmed it that it seemed to be alive the Eyes were so well counterfeited by a mixture of Gold that they seemed lively and natural I must confess that my want of Curiosity did not move me to make so narrow a scrutiny into this matter as I should have done had I believed that I should have had occasion to write of them for then I should not onely have viewed and considered the Bodies themselves more exactly but also have made enquiry of the Natives concerning the manner and receipt of this way of embalming which perhaps they might rather have imparted to me who am a Native and one of their Relations than to the Spaniards who are Strangers and Aliens to them unless perhaps the Art and Secret is lost amongst them as many other things are of the like nature For my part I could not discover any thing of this bituminous matter of which Acosta speaks though certainly there must have been some excellent Secret without which it was impossible to have conserved Bodies with their Flesh so plump and full as these were This Acosta treating farther of these Bodies in the 6th Chapter of his 5th Book hath these Words which follow In the first place saith he they had an Art to conserve the Bodies of their Kings and Great Men without stinking or corruption for the space of above two hundred Years in which manner the Bodies of the Inca-Kings were found at Cozco erected in their Chapels and Oratories where they were adored which the Marquess of Cannete when he was Vice-roy of the Indies caused to be removed from thence that he might abolish the Idolatrous Worship which they performed towards them and transported three or four of them to a place called the King's Town which appeared very strange and stupendious to the Spaniards to see Bodies after so many years so firm and sound as they were These are the Words of Acosta from whence I observe that these Bodies had been removed to the King's Town almost twenty years before he had a sight of them which being a hot and moist Air was more apt to taint and corrupt Flesh than the cold and dry Air of Cozco and yet notwithstanding he saith That twenty Years after their removal they were still firm and uncorrupt as formerly and appeared with such Life that they wanted onely Speech to make them seem to be living I am of opinion that the way to conserve Bodies is after they are dead to carry them to the Mountains of Snow where being well dried and congealed by the cold and all humours consumed and digested then afterwards to apply that bituminous matter which may plump up the Flesh and render it full and solid as the Living But I onely adventure on this conjecture from what I have seen the Indians doe when they have carried a piece of raw Flesh into the cold Mountains where after it hath been well dried by the Frost they have kept it as long as they pleased without salt or any other preservative and this was the manner which the Incas used for drying and keeping all the flesh Provisions which they carried for Food to maintain their Army I remember that I once touched a finger of Huayna Capac which seemed to me like a stick of wood and so light were these Bodies that an Indian could easily carry one of them in his Armes or on his Shoulders to the Houses of Spanish Gentlemen who desired to see them When they carried them through the Streets they covered them with white Linen and the Indians falling down on their knees before them sighed and wept shewing them all the reverence imaginable and some of the Spaniards also would take off their Caps and uncover their Heads to them as they passed in testimony of the respect they bore to the Bodies of Kings with which the Indians were so pleased and overjoyed that they knew not in what manner to express their thankfulness to them This is all that we have been able to deliver concerning the Actions of Viracocha in particular the other Monuments and Sayings of this famous King are lost for want of Letters and Learning to record them to posterity and have incurred the Fate of many famous Men whose glorious Exploits and Deeds have been buried in the Graves with them Onely Blas Valera reports one memorable Saying of this Viracocha which being often repeated by him was observed by three Incas who kept it in remembrance as also the Sayings of some other Kings which we shall hereafter specifie That which this Inca delivered had reference to the education of Children of which he was made the more sensible by that Severity and Disfavour with which he was treated by his Father in the time of his Minority his Saying was this That Parents are oftentimes the cause of ruine to their Children when either they educate them with such fondness that they never cross them in their Wills or desires but suffer them to act and doe whatsoever they please whereby they become so corrupt in the manners of their infancy that Vice grows ripe with them at the Years of Manhood Others on the contrary are so severe and cruel to their Children that they break the tenderness of their Spirits and affright them from learning discouraging them in that manner by menaces and lectures of a supercilious Pedant that their Wits are abased and despair of attaining to knowledge and vertue The way is to keep an indifferent mean between both by which Youth becomes valiant and hardy in War and wise and political in the time of Peace With which Blas Valera concludes the Reign of this Inca Viracocha Royal Commentaries BOOK VI. CHAP. I.
consumed was almost incredible CHAP. IV. Of the great Halls and Rooms of State and other things belonging to the Court. IN many of the King's Palaces were long and spatious Galleries of about two hundred paces in length and about fifty or sixty in breadth wherein they often danced and celebrated their Feasts at those seasons of the year when the Rains and bad weather incommoded them in the open Air. I remember that in Cozco I saw four of these Galleries which when I was a Child were still in being and not ruined One of them was in Amarucancha Street where Hernando Piçarro then lived and is now the Jesuits College The other was in Cassana Street but now built and converted into Shops the Rent of which belonged to my School-fellow John de Cillorico Another was in Collcampata Alley where the Inca Paullu and his Son Don Carlos who also was my School-fellow had a Rent in Houses This Gallery was the least of all the four and the biggest was that of Cassana being capable to receive three thousand persons It is wonderfull to consider where it was possible for them to find Timbers so long and square as were fit for the Roofs of such Edifices The fourth Gallery is now turned into the Cathedral Church One thing is remarkable that the Indians of Peru in building their Houses did never raise one Story above another nor did they join one Room to another but always left some space or distance of one Chamber from the other and perhaps a whole Court-Yard or Quadrangle between unless sometimes to their large Halls they built at the corners some Closets or withdrawing Rooms for better convenience and in the Divisions they made of their several Offices they raised Walls of Apartment to keep them private one from the other It is farther also observable that when they had built the four Walls of Stone or Brick for a House or Chamber they erected Pillars or Posts in the middle of it for support of the Roof for they knew not how to cross their Beams or Rafters or how to fasten them with Nails or Wooden Pins but laid their Timbers loose upon the Walls fastning them onely to each other with Spart or Cords made of Straw or Rushes as strong as our Hempen Ropes These main Beams they crossed with Rafters fastning them one to the other on which they laid a covering of Straw so thick that the Thatch was a Yard deep extending its Eves above a Yard over the Walls so as to be a Pend-house to them to preserve them from the Rain I remember that in the Vally of Yucay I once saw one of these large Rooms which was about seventy Foot square covered in form of a Pyramid the Spire of which was twelve Rod high though the Walls were not above three having two little Chambers on each side This Building was not burnt by the Indians when they made their general Insurrection against the Spaniards for though they destroyed many other Houses of pleasure in that Vally the Ruines of which I have seen yet they spared this Structure out of respect to their Incas who had frequented this place being a large and open Square or Quadrangle which served for a wide and spatious Theatre whereon to represent their shows and sports at the times of their principal Festivals Besides the Walls of Stone they made also Walls of Clay which they formed in Cases or Moulds for that purpose mixing the Clay with Straw for better binding The Moulds they made as little or as large as they pleased in measure or proportion to the Wall the shortest were about a Yard long and about the sixth part of a Yard broad and of a like thickness which after they had well dried in the Sun they laid them one upon another in order and after that they had lain two or three Years under covering from the Sun and the Water so that they were fully dried they then used them in their Buildings as we do our Bricks cementing them with the same Clay well tempered and mixed with Straw They knew not how to make Mud-Walls nor did the Spaniards use other than Clay in making their Sun-burnt Bricks In case any of these great Houses which we have mentioned should by any accident have been burnt they did not build again upon the same Walls because as they said the Straw which strengthened and bound the Clay and made it firm and solid being consumed by the fire the Wall must necessarily be weakned and the Clay become loose and unable to bear the weight of the roof and covering which was laid upon it but this was but an erroneous conceit of theirs for I have seen and observed several of the Walls of those Houses which have been burnt that have remained firm and solid as before So Soon as the King happened to dye they presently locked the door of the Chamber where he did usually sleep with all the Ornaments and Riches of Gold and Silver which furnished it or were found therein at the time of his death and this Chamber was in this manner kept always locked that none should enter for that place being ever afterwards esteemed sacred was not to be prophaned by the Feet of any onely the room was without-side kept and maintained in good repair The like Ceremony was observed in the Chambers of all the other Royal Palaces where the Inca had reposed and slept though it had been but the space of one night as he travelled or in a journey where he passed And then immediately they fell to building other Chambers for the living Successour in place of those which had been shut up at the death of the late King. All the Vessels and Services of Gold and Silver which belonged to the former Inca such as Cups Jarres or Goblets of Gold in which he drank as also all the Dishes and Plates of his Kitchin with Cloths and Jewels appertaining to his Person were all buried and interred in the same Grave with him which absurdity proceeded from an opinion they had that the Inca would have occasion of such Utensils and Services in the next World. All the other Ornaments of Majesty and State which belonged to the Chambers Gardens Baths and the like were the Inheritance of the Successour and converted to his use and Service All the Wood and Water which was consumed in the Inca's Court at Cozco was brought thither by the People of the four Divisions called Tavantinsuyu being the Inhabitants nearest adjacent to the City that is within fifteen or twenty Leagues about The Water which they used for their beverage which in their Language they call Aca was a sort of heavy water and something brackish and indeed they did not much desire a sweet and light Water for they were of opinion it made them lean and would not stick by the ribs but easily corrupted in the Stomach for this reason the Indians not being curious in their Waters did not delight in fountains
the number of those one hundred and sixty that were Assistants of Don Francisco de Piçarro in the imprisonment of Atahualpa And those which we call the second Adventurers in this Conquest were those who came in with Don Diego de Almagro and Don Pedro de Alvarado both which parties were called Conquerours of Peru and no others and the second party did much honour to the first though they were fewer in number and of a meaner quality yet being the first and most forward in this adventurous Atchievement were honoured and esteemed by them as Partners in their Enterprises And now returning by the upper part of the Street of St. Austin to enter as we have said into the City where upon the top of all stands the Convent of St. Clare formerly the Dwelling of Alonso Dias who married the Daughter of the Governour Pedro Arias de Avila on the Right-hand of this Convent were many houses inhabited by Spaniards and amongst the rest Francisco de Barrientos had possessions which were afterwards alienated to John Alvarez Maldonado On the Right-hand lived Hernando Bachicao and after him John Alonso Palomino over against which to the South side was the Episcopal Palace formerly the House of John Balsa and after him of Francisco de Villacastin where now the Cathedral Church is situated having been once a wide and stately Hall which served for a Theatre in rainy Weather where Shows at their chief Festivals were represented It was anciently a part of the Palace belonging to the Inca Viracocha the Eighth King in my time there was no more remaining of it than this wide Hall which was so large that when the Spaniards first entred into the City they all lodged therein so as to be near and ready to afford assistence to each other in case of danger I remember that I once saw it when it was covered with Thatch though now changed into Tile On the North side of this great Church there is a Street with many Houses fronting towards the Market-place in which are Shops for Artificers and on the South side are Shops and Ware-houses belonging to the most rich and principal Merchants of the Town Behind the Church were the Houses of John de Berrio and of others whose Names I cannot remember Behind the chief Shops were the Houses of Diego Maldonado surnamed the rich because he was the most wealthy Person in all Peru being one of the first Conquerours of it In the time of the Incas that place was called Hatuncancha which signified the great or high Street having been anciently the Habitation of Inca Yupanqui On the South side of these Buildings of Diego Maldonado were the Houses of Francisco Hernandez Giron before which to the Southward also were the Houses of Antonio Altamirano one of the first Conquerours joining whereunto on the backside were the Houses of Francisco de Frias and Sebastian de Caçalla the which quarter of the Town was called Puca marca or the coloured Street anciently the Houses of the King Tupac Yupanqui There is another Street beyond this to the South side very long and wide the name of which I cannot call to mind where lived Alonso de Loaysa Martin de Meneses John de Figueroa D. Pedro Puerto Carrero Garcia de Melo Francisco Delgado besides many other Lords and Persons of Quality whose Names I do not remember Beyond this place to the Southward is the Square of Yntipampa or the Square of the Sun because it lies just before the Temple where those who were not of the degree of an Inca came to offer their Sacrifices being not lawfull for persons of less quality to enter within the Walls of the Temple there the Priests met and received them and presented them before the Image of the Sun whom they adored for God. That quarter wherein the Temple of the Sun was situated was called Coricancha or the Street of Gold Silver and pretious Stones of which there was great abundance as we have before declared within the Temple What now remains to speak of is the Suburbs of the City called Pumapchupan CHAP. X. Of the Situation of the Schools of the three Royal Palaces with the House of the Select Virgins NOw to finish our Discourse of the several Streets of the City we must return again to Huacapuncu or the Gate of the Sanctuary which lies North from the great Market-place from whence likewise issues another Street the name of which I cannot tell but may properly call it the Schools because that the King Inca Roca founded certain Schools in that place as we have already mentioned in his Life In the Indian Language they are called Yaca Huaci or the House of Learning where their Scholars or learned Men called Amautas or Philosophers and Haravec which are Poets had their place of abode being very much esteemed and had in honour by the People because they were Instructours and Teachers of youth and Tutours to those of the Royal Bloud Proceeding from these Schools to the Southward there are two other Streets which lead to the great Market-place where are two Royal Palaces of so great a compass that they took up all the one side of the Square One of these places which lies to the Eastward of the other was called Coracora which is as much as a large Court the which is confirmed by Pedro de Cieça who in the 92d Chapter of his Book saith That the King Roca ordered his Palace to be built there for the better convenience of the Schools whereto he often resorted to hear the Lectures of the Philosophers I have not observed any thing to remain of the Coracora it being all ruined and demolished in my time though when the City was first divided into shares amongst the Conquerours of it the Coracora was the Lot of Gonçalo Piçarro Brother of the Marquess Francisco Piçarro with whom I was well acquainted at Cozco after the Battel of Huarina and before that of Sacsahuana he was very kind and obliging to me for being but a Child of eight or nine years of age he treated me as if I had been his Son. The other Palace to the Eastward of Coracora was called Cassana or a thing of admiration as if it had been such a stupendious work that every one upon the sight of it must be transported with wonder and astonishment it had been the Habitation of the Inca Pachacutec great Grandson to the Inca Roca who in favour and for ornament to the Schools ordered his Palaces to be adjoining thereunto for the Schools were on the backside of those Palaces and were contiguous or joining one to the other without any other space or division between them The principal Gates and Front of the Schools opened to the Street and River but the Incas passed thither by the back way being delighted to hear the Philosophical Lectures and sometimes the Inca Pachacutec would be Reader himself and with the same occasion declare and publish the Laws and Statutes which he had
mixture of black they have long legs very beautifull and go always in couples or pairs but are in no great number CHAP. XX. Of Partridges Doves and other smaller Birds THere are two sorts of Partridges in my Countrey one is like our Hens which lay Eggs and these are found in the desarts which the Indians call Puna the other is lesser than our Partridge in Spain but the flesh is excellent good and more savoury than the greater kind they are both of a greyish colour their bill and feet being white they name them Yutu from the sound of the call which they make the lesser sort are of the same colour with our Quails onely that their beak is different to most Birds the Indians give Names according to the inarticulate voice or noise they make as we shall hereafter declare I know not whether the Partridges of Spain have been transported to Peru to make a breed of them in that part of the World They have Wood-Pigeons or Ring-Doves of the same colour and bigness as they are in Spain they call them Urpi House-Pigeons have been brought thither from Spain which the Indians call Castilla Urpi They have Turtles of the same colour and bigness as those in Spain if not something larger they call them Cocohuay from the noise they make which sounds something like it They have another sort of Turtle about the bigness of a Thrush or Lark and of the same colour they breed under the Eves of a House like our Sparrows and some of them in the Fields but those are few They have a sort of small Birds of a greyish colour which the Spaniards for the likeness of their colour call Sparrows but are different in their note for these sing sweetly and chirp not like the ordinary Sparrow the Indians call them Pariapichiu they breed in the Mud-walls of Houses or in Walls covered with Bushes and sometimes also in the Field They have another sort of small Bird which we call a Nightingale by reason of its reddish colour but differs in its note as much as white and black having that unpleasant sound that the ancient Indians esteemed it as unlucky as the croaking of a Raven They have another sort of small Birds of a blackish colour which the Spaniards call Swallows but they are rather Swifts than Swallows and come at their certain seasons they commonly lodge and make their nests in places where people do inhabit for my part I never saw either Swallows or Martens in the Hilly Countries of Peru. The Birds of the Plains are the same with ours but their Sea-fowl is much different They have neither Plover Heath-pouts nor Thrushes in that Countrey nor Cranes nor Bustards howsoever there may be others like them which I cannot remember In the Kingdom of Chili which was within the Dominions and Empire of the Incas there were Ostridges which the Indians call Suri but their Feathers were not so fine and curious as those of Africa their colours are commonly grey they take no high flight but making use of their Wings and Feet flutter along and run faster than a Horse The Spaniards run them sometimes down with their Horses but then two or three Horsemen chase them from one to another untill they are tired In Peru they have a sort of Starlings which fly in Flocks and are of a black and grey colour the Indians call them Chayna from the noise they make they have also several other sorts of Birds greater and lesser of which for the variety of them I am not able to give an account I remember that they have a kind of Kestrel or Wind-hover but of more spirit and courage than those which we have here for those will adventure to prey upon small Birds In the Plains of Yucay I once saw two Kestrels fly at a small Bird which they had pursued a great way and at last lodged her in a tall and thick Tree which is in that Plain I left that Tree standing when I departed from thence which the Indians in the time of their Gentilism held and esteemed for Sacred because their Kings did often sit under the shadow of it to see the divertisements and pastimes which were represented in those Plains These Kestrels following their natural sagacity combined against the poor Bird and one of them entered into the Tree whilst the other soared aloft being ready to take the Bird so soon as she adventured out When the Bird was forced out by the Kestrel in the Tree the other without stooped at her like a Hawk which the Bird avoiding returned again to the Tree to shelter her self then the Kestrel which was on the Wing entered in after her whilst the other took her place in the Air and thus they entered and sallied three or four times until at last the poor Bird adventured to fly towards a building where she sheltered her self within the hole of a Wall so little that the Kestrels could not enter and so escaped from being made a prey unto them All this time some Spaniards with great delight and curiosity observed the many shifts of these Creatures which nature had taught them to maintain and preserve themselves They have wild Bees in divers manners but such as are housed and hived at home they have none neither have the Spaniards taught the Indians as yet how to manage them Their wild Bees hive themselves and make their Honey in clefts and hollow places of the Rocks and hollow Trees the Bees which are in the cold Countries make little Honey because they want Flowers and odoriferous Herbs out of which to extract it and that little which they do make is bitter and the Wax black and of no use But in the warmer Countries and more temperate where the Climate yields good Herbs and odoriferous Flowers the Honey is excellent and white clean and very sweet This sort of Honey being carried into colder Countries candies and turns to a Sugar they highly esteem it not onely because it is wholsome food but also because it is medicinal and very wholsome CHAP. XXI Of the divers sorts of Parrots and how talkative they are PArrots breed and are found most commonly in the Mountains of Antis they are of divers sorts and sizes some being greater and some less the little ones are less than Thrushes and the great bigger than Kestrels there are some all over of the same colour others of great variety being green yellow blew and red especially those of the great kind which the Spaniards call Guacamayas which are of all colours especially their Tails which are long and the Feathers so fine that the Indians on the days of the Festivals adorn themselves with them from the beauty of which Feathers John Bocacio took his subject to frame the pleasant Novel of Friar Cipolla The Spaniards call these Parrots by divers names according to the difference of their size and bigness the least of all they name Periquillos those that are bigger they call
onely because they would have their Flocks and Herds be like those in Spain And so passionately was their fancy at the beginning inclined hereunto that in every thing they affected the Manners and Customs of Spain for which reason and not for any need a Spaniard carried a Mastiff Whelp that was not above a Month and a half old in a Wallet which he hanged at his Saddle-bow from Cozco to Los Reyes which is a hundred and twenty Leagues through a mountainous and craggy Countrey being every day troubled to find Milk for this Whelp the which I saw and can testifie having been a Companion with that Spaniard in the Journey who told me that he carried that Whelp for a present to his Father-in-law who was a Grasier being Master of great Flocks of Cattel and lived fifty or sixty Leagues on this side of Ciudad de los Reyes by whom he would be esteemed as a Jewel of mighty value These and greater pains have the Spaniards taken at the beginning to procure such Creatures as are used in Spain which afterwards they have neglected and conserved in little esteem CHAP. XXII Of Rats and to what Multitudes they have increased WE must speak something of the Rats which came over with the Spaniards for before their time there were none in the Countrey Françis Lopez de Gomara in his General History of the Indies which was not very faithfully wrote says that untill the time of Blasco Nunnez Vela Rats were not known in Peru but now they are in great numbers and of so great a proportion and size that no Cat dares to contend or deal with them Howsoever they are not as yet come so high as to the Hilly Countries by reason of the cold and Snows nor can they find covert or shelter under which they may convey themselves thither Howsoever they have great numbers of Mice which they call Ucucha In Nombre de Dios Panama and other Cities on the Coast of Peru they have such an infinite number of Rats that they are forced to destroy them with Poison of Rats-bane which they lay for them at a certain time of the year by agreement of all the Neighbourhood when proclamation is made that every House should lay its Arsnick for destruction of the Rats that so at this notice every person should be warned to cover their Provisions of meat and drink from the Rats and especially the water for so soon as the Rat hath taken his dose he presently runs to the water and therewith bursts and dyes and then every House lays its baits of Fruits of such things as Rats commonly eat which being empoisoned with Arsnick destroy them in infinite numbers When I arrived at Panama from Spain presently after the time that the poison had been laid I remember that one Evening as I walked by the Sea-side I found just at the brink of the water such quantities of dead Rats that they covered the ground for above a hundred Paces in length and above three or four in breadth And now upon occasion of this discourse concerning the infinite numbers of Rats I shall adventure to tell a strange Story of this kind upon the credit of a Noble Gentleman call'd Hernan Bravo de Laguna one who was Lord of Indians in Cozco and had the honour to be mentioned in the History of Peru the relation he made which he attests to have seen was this A Ship sailing from Panama to Los Reyes touched in the way upon the Coast at a Port called Trugillo where the whole Ships company agreed one day to go ashore and be merry leaving onely one sick Man aboard who by reason of his indisposition was not able to walk so far as from the Sea-side to the City which was two Leagues Nor need we here to wonder that they should leave their Ship so ill provided for in those Seas storms and tempests do seldom arise nor was there any fear of Pyrates or Enemies for as yet Sir Francis Drake had not opened the Navigation into those Seas Now so soon as the Rats perceived that the Ship was freed of its company they all sallied out to partake freely of the spoil where finding the sick Man upon the Deck they all joined to give him battel that they might kill and eat him the which hath oftentimes happened in these Voyages in which sick Men have over night been alive and next morning have been found dead in their beds with the flesh of their Faces Armes Legs and Thighs gâ—awn and torn from the bones In this manner this hungry crew would have dealt with our sick Man against whom they formed their Army and came to combat him who finding himself so hardly beset got up and taking a Spit from the Cook-room returned to his bed not to sleep but to watch and stand upon his guard which he did that whole day and the night following and the day after untill late in the Evening when his Companions returned to the Ship vvho having heard the Story gave credit to it vvhen they found behind his Bed and upon the Deck and in corners of the Ship so many of his Enemies slain which appeared upon account to be three hundred eighty and odd which he had killed with his Spit besides others which had been wounded The sick Man either out of fear or joy of his victory recovered his health being much pleased afterwards to recount the particulars of this success In divers places upon the Coast of Peru and in divers years untill 1572 and 73 there were great Destructions and even Plagues caused by the incredible multitudes of Rats and Mice which swarming over all the Land ate up the Seeds which were thrown into the ground as also the Fruit-trees which they pilled of their bark from the roots to the very buds and sprouts so that the Trees dying the Inhabitants were forced to make new Plantations in their places and feared that they should have been forced to abandon their Dwellings had not God in mercy caused that Plague to cease on a sudden when it was just at the extremity of destruction The particulars of which incredible damages we shall for brevity sake omit CHAP. XXIII Of their Hens and Pigeons WE come now in the next place to speak of Fowls of which few others have been transported into Peru unless Poultry such as Cocks and Hens and tame Pigeons or House-doves As for Stock-doves or Wood-Pigeons I know not whether any have been as yet brought thither As to Hens there is a certain Authour who writes that they were found in Peru before the time that the Spaniards conquered it and for proof thereof he alledges that the Indians have a proper Name for a Hen in their own Language which is Gualpa and for an Egg which is Ronto and that the Indians have the same propriety in their speech for a Coward whom they call a Hen or Hen-hearted as the Spaniards have To which Argument we shall give this satisfactory
Soul at that time and for several years afterwards I my self have been present at some which were said for him when I was there Whensoever any occasion was offered to make mention of him I have heard several Gentlemen remember him with great praise of his Goodness and Vertue and some of them specified and recounted the kindnesses and good offices he had shewn to them in particular And whereas he was very familiarly acquainted and conversant in my Father's house I have been an Ear-witness of divers passages relating to his good Nature and to the generosity of his great Soul One of which was this That in their Voyage to Peru his people suffered much for want of fresh Water so that when they came to Tumpiz they became very sickly and many of them were so weakned by the Calenture Fever by reason of the Thirst they had endured that they were not able to leave the Ship and Land on the shore Wherefore Alvarado himself landed from the Ship and provided them with Water and though he had suffered as much by Thirst as any of them yet he would not taste a drop of Water untill he was assured that the Sick had drank and all the Ships-company had been provided Many other generous Acts of this nature were related of this worthy Gentleman though Gomara in his Writings gives a different character of him which he must have received from some of those as there were many who were envious and emulous of his Vertues and Fortune And though it was impossible to suppress the fame of his Exploits and Adventures which were notorious to all the World yet at least they endeavoured to eclipse and disparage the glory of them Of which this Authour being sensible did in part excuse and clear himself of the falsity of those reports which were given and so concludes the 192d Chapter of his Book with these words He that doth well and is not praised lives amongst bad Neighbours c. And this he said because he knew that in all estates of Men there are some who are envious and slanderers and unworthy the society of good Men being inclined to speak a lye rather than to utter truth in commendations of another And now we shall return to the Affairs of Peru and to the Transactions therein since the departure of Don Pedro de Alvarado from thence CHAP. XVII Of the Foundation of the City de los Reyes and of the City of Truxillo SO soon as the Governour had dismissed Don Pedro de Alvarado he immediately gave notice thereof to his Partner Don Diego de Almagro then at Cozco and therewith sent a great number of those Gentlemen which came with Alvarado to be entertained in the Service of the Prince Manco Inca and his Brothers John and Gonçalo Piçarro desiring them to be serviceable to the Inca and kind to the Indians for in regard the Inca surrendred himself voluntarily and of his own accord he would not have him lose that confidence and affection which he had conceived of the Spaniards in the mean time the Governour remained in the Valley of Pachacamac with design to build a City near the Sea-coast for the better advantage of Trade and Commerce And having considered upon this matter with his friends he dispatched several persons experienced in Maritime affairs to discover on both sides where was the most convenient place for a Port or Harbour At length being informed that four Leagues to the North of Pachacamac there was a very safe Port right against the Valley of Rimac which when the Governour had viewed and surveyed he transplanted the people which had begun to settle a Colony in the Valley of Saussa which is thirty Leagues from Rimac within the Land unto that convenient place where he founded the City of los Reyes in the year 1534. But as to the precise year Authours differ very much for some make it sooner and others later and some will have it in the year 1530 leaving out the 4. But not to insist on these several opinions let us compare the times with the great and notable Actions which succeeded for it is most certain and therein all Authours agree that it was in the year 1525 when Piçarro Almagro and the School-master Hernando de Luca did first enter into Articles of their Triumvirate Three years afterwards were spent in the discovery before they arrived the first time at Tumpiz Two years farther passed before they could finish their Voyage into Spain to procure their commission to make a Conquest and before their return back to Panama with Ammunition and Provisions for such an undertaking In the year 1531 they invaded the Island Puna and also Tumpiz and in December of the same year they took Atahualpa Prisoner and in March following being the year 1532 he was put to Death in October following they entred into Cozco where the Governour resided untill April 1533 when news came of the Arrival of Alvarado and in September he departed from Cozco to meet him and pay him the Money according to agreement And about the beginning of the year 1534 being Twelfth-day or the Day of the Kings he laid the Foundation of that City and so called it la ciudad de los Reyes or the City of the Kings In remembrance of which he made the Arms of the City to be Three Crowns with a Star shining over them the Form or Model of it was very beautifull for the Market place was very wide and large unless perhaps it was too wide for the City the Streets also were wide and streight so that from every corner of them cross-ways the Fields may be seen on all sides On the North-side there is a River from which several Chanels are cut to water the Lands round about and to supply every House in the City with water This Town at a distance makes no good shew nor appears well because the Houses are not covered with Tile but thatched with a sort of Straw which that Countrey yields for in regard it never Rains in that Climate nor for many Leagues distant on either side along the Coast the coverings of the Houses are all made of a sort of Straw or Rushes which grow in that Countrey on which laying a kind of Mortar or Earth mixed with Straw two or three fingers thick it makes a good defence against the Heats of the Sun But as to the Buildings themselves both within and without they are good and commodious and they daily improve their Art in Architecture This Town is about two small Leagues distant from the Sea but as the report is the parts nearest to the Sea are best inhabited The Climate is hot and moist and much of the same temperament with that of Andaluzia the difference of which is onely that the Days there are not so long nor the Nights so short in July and August as they are here so that the Sun arising there more late and setting more early hath not time to heat and
the Victory which the Cannarian had gained for had it been a Spaniard the Dishonour had been much less but to be overcome by one of their own Indian Vassals was an Affront and Disgrace which could portend nothing but ill fortune and being a People naturally superstitious and terrified with the apprehension of such Omens they never afterwards attempted any thing of Moment during the remainder of the Siege nor did any thing remarkable succeed unless the unfortunate Death of that worthy John Piçarro as we shall hereafter relate So often as I call to mind these Miracles and several others which God was pleased to work in favour of the Christians both at the Siege of Cozco and of los Reyes as we shall see hereafter I cannot but wonder that the Historians should be so silent therein especially since they were so clear and evident to all the World having in my youth heard them reported both by Indians and Spaniards with great admiration in memory of which after the Siege they dedicated unto our Lady that Gallery wherein the Spaniards were quartered and where now the Cathedral Church is built called by the Name of St. Mary of the Assumption and Advocation and the City it self they dedicated to St. James of Spain to both which Saints Anniversary Days of Feasts are appointed in thankfull remembrance for the gratious Benefits received the which Festivals begin in the morning with a solemn Procession and Sermon and then High Mass is celebrated and lastly the Day is concluded with the Sport of Bulls and other Recreations In the Porch of this Church which leads to the Market-place the Picture of St. James is painted mounted on a White Horse with his Buckler on his Arme and a Serpentine Sword in his Hand with many Indians dead and wounded under his Feet which Picture when the Indians beheld they said that a Viracocha like this was he that destroyed us in the Market-place In the Year 1560 when I departed from Cozco to go into Spain the Picture was then fresh the Insurrection of the Inca began in the Year 1535. and ended in 1536. and I was born in the Year 1539. so that I might well be acquainted both with Indians and Spaniards who had been actually in those Wars and Witnesses of those Apparitions which we have declared and I my self for five Years together have always been present at the Sports and Pastimes of those Festivals for which Reasons from plain demonstration I cannot but wonder why Historians have been silent in these particulars unless it be that they would attribute unto the valour of the Spaniards all the Honour of those Days without making due return of thankfull acknowledgment unto God for the Victories so miraculously obtained Many days after I had wrote this Chapter turning over the Leaves of the Book of Acosta I met with some thing to this purpose in confirmation of the Miracles which our Lord Jesus Christ and his Mother the Virgin Mary Queen of the Angels had wrought in the New World in favour of our holy Faith and Religion which when I had read and found my own Reports confirmed by his Authority I cannot express the Joy I conceived by this happy concurrence For since the Delivery of truth is my chief Aim and Design I cannot but be greatly delighted when I find my Relations confirmed either in part or in whole by the Authority of other Historians for I hate the Character of being either a Flatterer or a fabulous Writer which to avoid I have thought fit to produce the Words of Acosta in the 27th Chapter of his 7th Book which are as followeth When the Spaniards were besieged in the City of Cozco and so closely pressed and straitned that without the Assistence of Heaven it was impossible for them to escape I have heard from very credible Persons that the Indians threw Fire on the Roof of that House where the Spaniards were lodged and where now the Cathedral Church is built and though the Covering of the House was a sort of Thatch which they call Chicho or rather Ychu and that the Fire was made with a rasimy kind of burning Wood yet it took no hold on that combustible matter for our Lady appearing from above kept a constant Guard over that place and immediately extinguished the Fire all which the Indians visibly saw and remained with astonishment All the Relations and Histories which are wrote on this Subject report for a certain truth that in divers Battels which the Spaniards fought in New Spain and in Peru the Indians plainly discovered in the Air a Cavalier mounted on a white Horse with a Sword in his Hand fighting for the Spaniards whence it is that in all parts of the West-Indies great Devotion and Honour is paid to that glorious Apostle St. James and at other times in several difficult Encounters the Image of our Lady hath presented it self from which Christians have received inexpressible Benefits and were all these Apparitions and Wonders of Heaven particularly described they would swell a Volume too large for this History c. Thus far are the Words of Acosta who reports that almost fourty years after these matters were transacted he made a Voyage into Peru where he received Information of all these particulars And having said thus much we will return again to our Spaniards who remaining under such propitious circumstances of the Divine Providence were enabled to become the Masters of an hundred New Worlds CHAP. XXVI The Spaniards gain the Fortress with the Death of the worthy John Piçarro IN the 5th Chapter of the 8th Book of the first part we there mentioned the Loyalty which the Natives of the Cannaris bore towards their Kings the Incas and we then promised to declare how that on occasion of the great Love and Friendship which one of that Nation professed towards the Spaniards all the others withdrew their Obedience and renounced their Allegiance to the Incas In the 37th Chapter of the 9th Book of the first part we described the great Loyalty of that People towards their Princes we are now to give an account of the reason for which the same was afterwards denied The Cause was this When the Indians after the Victory observed the many Favours and Honours which the Spaniards bestowed on the Person of the Cannarian who fought the duel they became so entirely affectionated and devoted to the Spaniards that they denied all farther Service and Duty to their own Inca and from that time became Spies Informers and Betrayers of the other Indians and in the very civil Wars which the Spaniards had one with the other even to the time of Francisco Hernandes Giron the Cannarians which lived in Cozco under the Command of this Don Francisco the Cannarian and were then very numerous served for Spies and Informers against the Indians and in all the civil Wars which the Spaniards waged one against the other to that very War of Hernandez Giron the Cannarians who
Captain Diego Gumiel who hath protested and sworn that he will never say the like things again And thus poor Gumiel ended his days having lost his life by the intemperance of his Tongue which hath been the ruine of many a man but good to none CHAP. XX. The Festivals and Rejoycings which were made for Gonçalo Piçarro A general Pardon given to all those who were fled away The place where Garçilasso de la Vega was retired and how he obtained his Pardon from Gonçalo Piçarro PIçarro and his Captains being swelled with the vanity and ostentation of being Governours and supreme Lords of Peru appointed days of Festival to celebrate their Triumphs after the manner of Spain as namely the sport of baiting Bulls throwing the Dart and Lotteries in which latter many drew ingenious Mottoes or Sayings and others scurrilous Sentences like Libels of which though I remember several yet I think it not convenient to repeat any of them in this place Upon the day of this solemn rejoycing orders were given to set those Gentlemen at liberty who were the Citizens of Cozco committed to Prison by Carvajal as we mentioned before Moreover he granted a general Pardon to those who were not as yet come in onely Licenciado Garvajal was excepted because he having been his intimate Friend had deserted him and also Garçilasso de la Vega as Diego Fernandez Palentino reports in Chap. 27th of his first Book as also Augustine de Carate but we must take leave to contradict these Authours who have failed in this particular passage of which we are able to give a more certain relation Gonçalo Piçarro gave especial order that no man should go out of the City without his license which Rodrigo Nunnez and Pedro de Prado demanding they were both put to death because they gave evil example and seemed to put jealousies and fears into the minds of the people and in this manner we see that there was no joy without a mixture of sorrow nor slaughters nor effusion of bloud without rejoycings which in Civil Wars take their turns and changes But to come to the particulars of what happened at that time in the City of Los Reyes we are to take notice how that at that time Francisco de Carvajal seised all the Citizens of Cozco who had deserted his cause excepting onely Garçilasso de la Vega who escaped by a mere accident as the Historians relate For that very night when Carvajal knocked at the door to come in and take him a certain Souldier went forth to open the door whose name was Hernando Perez Tablero a Native of the Town of Almendras in the Dukedom of Feria Foster-brother with Don Alonso de Vargas my Uncle by the Father's side This Hernando Perez who as well for being of the same Countrey being all of Estremennos as also on score of Relation for both he and his Father and Grandfather had been Servants unto mine and he at that time actually in service of Garçilasso de la Vega my Lord and Father knowing Francisco Carvajal by his voice without making any answer returned immediately to my Father and told him that Carvajal was at the Gate knocking to come in whereupon my Father made his escape out of the House as well as he could and fled to the Convent of St. Domingo where the Friars received and concealed him in a little private place where he remained for the space of fâ—â—â— months Carvajal having some intelligence that he was absconded in the Monastery and the rather suspecting it because it was near to his House took some Souldiers with him and searched every private place and corner that no place seemed to be undiscovered unless the whole House had been thrown down and herein they used all the diligence imaginable for Gonçalo Piçarro conceived all the malice and despight against him that was possible and therefore endeavoured to take him and put him to death for he often complained of him and said that they had been Comrades together in the conquest of Gollâ—o and the Charcas had eaten at the same Table and slept in the same Chamber together and by reason of such obligations he should never have deserted and denied his cause much less have been the Head of a Faction against him and a means to persuade others to forsake his Party Moreover Carvajal made four other searches after Garçilasso and at one time he lifted up the hanging on the side of the High Altar where was a nick or corner where they lodged the most Holy Sacrament and there was a poor Souldier hid and crouched up in a dark hole but Carvajal perceiving that it was not the person for whom he sought let down the Hanging again crying aloud the person is not here for whom we seek A while after came another of his Souldiers called Porras who being desirous to shew himself more diligent and officious than ordinary lifted up the Hanging of the High Altar and there discovered the poor Souldier whom Carvajal had purposely over-seen but Porras so soon as he espied him cried out here is the Traitour here is the Traitour Carvajal was troubled that he was found out but in regard he was a principal Leader of the Faction against Piçarro he could not do less than take notice of him and so drawing him forth from his retirement caused him to be confessed by the Friars of the Convent and then hanged him up but Porras did not escape the vengeance of Heaven for this Fact as we shall understand by the sequel As another time it happened out That Carvajal so unexpectedly came into the Monastery to make another search That Garçilasso de la Vega was altogether surprized not knowing where to retire but hastily ran into an empty Cell where was no Bed nor other furniture under which he might cover himself onely some Shelves of Books covered with a Curtain just fronting to the Door and a little distant from the Wall so that a man might creep between the Shelves and that and there my Father thrust and crouded himself Two or three of those who came to search this House came into this Cell and observing it be void and empty and believing that the Shelves were fastned to the Wall so that nothing could enter between they went out again saying he is not here Many of these hazardous Adventures my Father ran whilst Gonçalo Piçarro was at Los Reyes during which time his Friends of which he had many interceded for him with Gonçalo Piçarro to obtain his pardon and at length prevailed to have him pardoned as to his Life upon condition that he should not see him nor come into his presence saying that he ought not to be admitted thereunto who had violated all the Laws of Friendship Society and relation of Countrey-men but having thus far obtained his Pardon he came out of the Monastery and retired privately into a Chamber where he remained several days untill the importunity of Friends so far prevailed with
and though they were all select and choice men yet they were so affrighted and distracted with the Villany they were going to act as if they had been to charge a formidable enemy whereas indeed they were going to kill a Gentleman who fearing and apprehending no evil gave easie access to all people In short they entring the House the first person they met was Alonso de Castro who was Deputy-Governour who seeing men come up in that tumultuous manner thought to qualifie them with good words and said Gentlemen what is the occasion of this commotion God save the King. Presently Don Sebastian drawing his Sword 't is not now seasonable said he for such treaties The Deputy seeing his Sword drawn turned his back and fled but a certain Souldier called Anselmo d'Ervias pursued him and ran him through with his Rapier and tucked him to the Wall with which the point of his Sword being bent when he would have given him a thrust or two more the Rapier would not enter which made the Souldier say what a tough hide this Dog Traitour hath but others coming in to his aid they soon dispatched him Then rushing into the Chamber of Pedro de Hinojosa they found him not there nor in any of the other Rooms of the House at which they were much troubled fearing lest he had made his escape whereupon two of them putting out their heads at the Window of the Street cried out the Tyrant is dead the Tyrant is dead which they said intending to call their own complotters to their assistence before the people of the City could come to the rescue of the General those who remained below in the yard searched for him in all private passages and entries of the House and at length a Souldier chanced to find him in a secret corner near the necessary Office and said in a jeering manner Sir I beseech your Worship to come forth for here is Don John de Castilla and other Cavaliers come to speak with you and kiss your hands The General hereupon coming forth in his morning Gown a Souldier called Gonçalo de Mata went boldly up to him and said Sir these Gentlemen are desirous to have you for their Lord their General and their Father as Palentino reports Chapter the twelfth in these words The General smiling as it were spake out aloud What me alas Gentlemen command me as you please to which Garci Tello de Vega made answer A curse light on you 't is now too late we have a good General already of Don Sebastian and with that run him thorough the Body to the very Hilt of his Sword with which he immediately fell to the ground and endeavouring to arise Antonio de Sepulveda and Anselmo de Hervias came in upon him and gave him two wounds more with which he cried out for a Confessour but he speedily expired by this time Don Garci Tello was come down and being told that the General was dead he bid them make sure work for the whole affair depended thereupon so Anselmo de Hervias returned to him who lay extended on the ground and gave him a good slash over the face with which he yielded up his last breath Then all the Assassinates gathering in a body came to the Market-place and cried out God save the King the Tyrant is dead which is the common language of Rebels in Peru and then they plundred the House and in a moment all was carried away c. Thus far Diego Hernandez But as to that great cut which they say Hervias gave him over the face it was not with a Sword but a dash with a slab of Silver which they had taken out of his Closet where he had heaped up so many as if they had been Tiles to cover a House with which giving him a blow here said he take thy fill of Riches for the sake of which thou didst break thy word and faith to us and wouldst not be our Commander according to thy promise The General being slain the Conspiratours ran out crying aloud Long live the King long live the King the covetous Tyrant is dead the breaker of his Faith. At the same instant Garci Tello de Guzman appeared with his fifteen Associates who dividing themselves into two parties ran to kill Paulo de Meneses and Martin de Robles with whom the Souldiery was highly displeased because having called them to their respective aids to joyn with them in their private quarrels one against the other as is before related was afterwards contented to make peace and be reconciled to the disappointment of the Souldiery who called it an Affront and a contrivance to fool them But Martin de Robles having timely notice brought him by an Indian Servant of all that had passed leaped out of his Bed in his Shirt and escaped Paulo de Meneses considering the insolency of the Souldiers and that it could not be long before it broke forth into open Outrages departed from the City that very night and went to a Countrey Seat not far from thence where having received information of all that had passed he immediately fled to more remote parts beyond the reach of their power The Souldiers not finding them plundered and robbed their houses of every thing that was in them and then went to the Market-place to join with Don Sebastian and because they had a quarrel with every man that had any Estate they seised upon Pedro Hernandez de Paniagua who was the person employed by the President Gasca to carry the Letters to Gonçalo Piçarro and for that Service had an Estate given him in the City of Plate they also apprehended John Ortez de Carate and Antonio Alvarez and all the Citizens that they could catch for so senseless were they and inapprehensive of the licencious Souldiers that they suspected nothing untill they were seised by them Polo the Lawyer having timely notice by an Indian Servant called Yacuna made his escape on horse-back The other Souldiers who were dispersed over the City flocked to the Market-place in a Body Then Tello de Vega surnamed the Blockhead took an Ensign or Colours from the Indians and set it up in the Market-place as Palentino saith and issued out Orders by beat of Drum that all Inhabitants and others upon pain of death should immediately repair thither and list themselves under that Standard and hereupon Rodrigo de Orellana leaving the Staff of his Authority at home though then Sheriff came and surrendred himself in like manner John Ramon and Gomez Hernandez the Lawyer did the same and as every one was listed they came in at one door of the Church and went out at the other so that the number taken amounted to a hundred and fifty two persons Then was Don Sebastian nominated for Captain General and Chief Justice and two days afterwards he caused the Citizens then in his custody to chuse him for their Mayor and Gomez Hernandez the Lawyer to be Recorder and John de Huarte was made Serjeant
Major Hernando de Guillado and Garci Tello de Vega were made Captains and Pedro de Castillo Captain of the Artilery and Alvar Perez Payan Proveditor General Diego Perez was made High Sheriff and Bartholomew de Santa Ana his under Sheriff Thus far Palentino Rodrigo de Orellana took part with the Rebels rather out of fear than love the like did other Citizens and Souldiers of good reputation who were truly Loyal to his Majesty being forced thereunto by the greater power of the Rebels who had the Arms in their hands and resolved to kill all those who complied not with them CHAP. XXIV The Orders and Methods which Don Sebastian took in his Affairs Egas de Guzman is directed to make an Insurrection in Potocsi the several strange Revolutions which happened in that Town DON Sebastian himself made choice of one of his Souldiers in whom he had the greatest confidence called Diego Mendez to be Captain of his Guard and for better security of his person thirteen Souldiers were chosen to be listed therein being all esteemed stout Men and true and faithfull to him and yet when this poor Gentleman had occasion for them not one man would appear in his defence Another Souldier called Garçia de Baçan was sent with a small party to the Estate and Lands of Pedro de Hinojosa to seise his Slaves Horses and all other his Goods and Faculties with Orders to bring back with him those Souldiers who were dispersed abroad and lived amongst the Indians for want of clothing after the Spanish Fashion which was very dear for with the Indians any thing served and also Orders were given by Don Sebastian to bring Diego de Almendras a prisoner Other Souldiers were dispeeded away in pursuit of Polo the Lawyer but neither party had success for Polo passing by the place where Diego de Almendras lived gave him advice of the death of General Hinojosa whereupon Almendras getting as many of the Slaves belonging to Hinojosa together as he was able with seven of his Horses he fled away in company with Polo which soon carried him far enough away out of the reach of the rebellious Souldiers likewise Don Sebastian dispeeded away two Souldiers to the quarters of Potocsi to inform Egas de Guzman of all that had passed that he also might take up Arms as others had done These and all the Actions mentioned in the preceding Chapter with what else we shall touch upon hereafter were performed the very day that Pedro de Hinojosa was killed of which he endeavoured to send the first intelligence to all parts the Messengers whereof carried it with such speed to Potocsi that though it was seventeen leagues thither and a bad rocky way and a River to pass yet they arrived there the next morning by break of day so soon as Egas de Guzman received this news he assembled his Souldiers which he had formerly listed upon this occasion and with them and the two messengers which brought the news and without other Arms or Provisions than their Swords and Daggers and Cloaks to cover them they went immediately to the Houses of Gomez de Solis and Martin de Almendras Brother of Diego de Almendras and took them with great ease and carried them Prisoners to the Town-house where they laid them in Chains and lodged them in a Chamber with a secure Guard upon them Upon the report of this pleasing Action many Souldiers came in and joined with Egas de Guzman and presently went to the King's house where they seised his Treasurer Francisco de Ysafiga with his Accomptant Hernando de Alvarado and broke open the Royal Treasury from whence they robbed above a Million and a half of Silver and made immediate Proclamation that every man upon pain of Death should repair to the Market place to join with the Squadron Then did Guzman make choice of a Souldier called Antonio de Luxan to be Chief Justice or Recorder of the Town who so soon as he was in Office put the Accomptant Hernando de Alvarado to death upon an Accusation as Palentino saith that he had been in the Conspiracy with the General Pedro de Hinojosa to make a Rebellion in the Countrey Likewise Egas de Guzman dispatched away six or seven Souldiers to a Village called Porcu to get what Men Arms and Horses they could find in those parts At this time a certain Knight of the Order of St. John being amongst his Indian Vassals where he had a good Estate assigned him and hearing of the Murâ—â—er of Pedro de Hinojosa wrote a congratulatory Letter to Don Sebastian upon that subject wishing him much joy of his high promotion and desired him presently to send him twenty Musquetiers that he might go and take Gomez de Alvarado and Lorenço de Aldana who were his neighbours and to take away call jealousie and suspicion of the design he advised that the Souldiers should not be sent by the ordinary road but by private ways and untrodden paths for which good contrivance this good Gentleman paid afterwards to his cost The day following after the death of Hinojosa Baltasar de Velazquez and Basco Godinez came to the City who had been chief Instruments in that Mutiny and such as had contrived and fomented the Plot as will appear hereafter and which is confirmed by Palentino in these words Whilst Don Sebastian was preparing to receive them they both entred the Town Sebastian was over-joyed to see them and alighting from his Horse he met Godinez a foot and they both embraced with all the Ceremony of good correspondence Then said Basco Godinez to Sebastian Sir about five leagues from hence I first received the joyfull news of this glorious Action so much desired by me To which Don Sebastian taking off his hat made answer These Gentlemen here were pleased to make choice of me for their General which Charge I accepted until such time as you arrived here to ease me thereof which therefore now I renounce and willingly resign it into your hands But Basco Godinez refused to accept it saying that that Office could not be better supplied by any than by himself and that his endeavours tended wholly to see him advanced to that Dignity and Charge After which Complements they retired from the Company and discoursed together privately and apart After which Don Sebastian made Proclamation whereby Basco Godinez was declared Lieutenant General and that he should be obeyed accordingly by the Souldiery upon pein of death and Baltasar de Velazquez was made Captain of Horse Moreover Sebastian said to Godinez Sir it was impossible to have deferred this action untill your coming for if we had we had lost our opportunity but for the future we shall regulate our selves by your direction To which Godinez replied that neither then nor at any other time could he erre in such wise proceedings and that he hoped in God that those steps he had made with so much difficulty and hazard would tend to the happiness and settlement