Mamacunas or Matrons to oversee them as those had which lived at Cozco and were governed by the same rules excepting that those who lived at Cozco were all of the true Royal Bloud and obliged to a perpetual Cloister and Virginity but these were Maids of all sorts and conditions provided that they were beautifull being not designed for Wives of the Sun but Concubines to the Inca. The same rigour of Law was practised against those who debauched and defiled the Women of the Inca as against those who became Adulterers with the Virgins espoused to the Sun for the crime being the same required the same punishment but as there was never any such offence committed so there was never any such severity executed but to confirm that there was such a Law we have the authority of Augustin de Carate who in the seventh Chapter of his second Book discoursing of the causes of the violent Death of Atahualpa hath these very words which I have copied out Verbatim being very much to our purpose And as saith he all the Allegations which were made hereupon were all pronounced by the Tongue of the same Filipillo he interpreted nothing but what made to his own purpose What might be the cause which moved him hereunto can never be certainly determined though it must be one of these two things either that this Indian entertained private Amours with one of the Wives of Atabaliba and expected by his death to enjoy her with more security which being come to the knowledge of Atabaliba he complained thereof to the Governour saying That he was more sensible of that misfortune than he was of his imprisonment and that no misery though accompanied with Death could touch him so nearly as this for that a common Indian of base extraction should esteem him at so mean a rate as to make him the subject of so high an affront in despight of that Law of their Countrey which assigned no less a punishment for it than that such offendour should be burnt alive with his Wives Fathers Children Brothers and all the rest of his Kindred nay the very Flocks and Herds of such an Adulterer were to be destroyed his Lands laid desolate and sowed with Salt his Trees eradicated from the very Roots his Houses demolished with many other inflictions of the like nature Thus far are the words of Augustin de Carate which serve to confirm what I have wrote concerning this matter and indeed I was pleased to have my words avouched by the testimony of this Spanish Cavalier For though other Historians mention this Law yet they onely say that it was with the Death of the Offendour omitting that of his Wife and Father and Relations and all the other Solemnities of this punishment whereby we may understand how grievous that offence was esteemed and how deeply that poor Inca Atahualpa resented it when in the Agony of his Heart he said That he felt it more than his Imprisonment and all other infelicities though attended with Death it self Those Women who had the honour to be extracted from these Houses for Concubines to the King were made uncapable of ever returning thither again but remained in the Court as Ladies and Attendants on the Queen untill such time as they were dismissed and licence given them to return into their own Countries where for ever afterwards they were provided with Houses and Revenue agreeable to their Quality and to the Dignity and Honour they had acquired by having been Mistresses to the Inca. Those who could not attain to this Honour were obliged to remain in their Cloister untill they were ancient and then had liberty either to continue till the time of their Death or to return to their own Countrey where they were treated with such respect as was due to the profession they had made CHAP. V. Of the Quality and Ornament of these Select Virgins and that they were not to be given unto any person whatsoever in Marriage THose Virgins which were dedicated or designed for the present King had the Title after his Death of Mothers to the Successour with the Addition also of Mamacuna which was a Name properly belonging to their Office which obliged them to teach and oversee the young Novices who were admitted for Concubines of the New Inca and treated by them as their Children and Daughters-in-law Every one of these Convents had its Governour or Superiour who was an Inca and whose business it was to provide all Necessaries for the use of these Wives of the Inca for though in reality they were but Concubines yet in respect and courtesie they gave them the Honourable title of Wives In every one of these Houses belonging to these Maidens separated for the use of the Inca all their Utensils and Services of the House were made of Gold and Silver as those were which belonged to the Wives of the Sun and to the famous Temple and as we shall hereafter declare to the Royal Palaces for indeed all the Gold and Silver and pretious Stones which were found and amassed in that great Empire were for the most part employed to no other use than to the Service and Adornment of the Temples of the Sun which were very numerous and of the Cloisters of those Virgins which were equally considerable and to embellish the Royal Palaces with agreeable pomp and magnificence the quantity consumed in the Services of Curacas and great Men was little and that chiefly in their Cups or drinking Vessels which was also limited and moderated according to such a degree of Weight and Number as the Inca was pleased to allow them there was also some small matter licensed for their Garments and Cloathing when the grand Festivals were celebrated It is a great errour and mistake of those who report that any of these separated Virgins might lawfully be given for Wives to the great Commanders and Captains by any favour or dispensation of the Inca for being once dedicated and consecrated for Wives of the Inca and admitted to that profession they were ever after rendred uncapable of so low a condescension as to own any other Husband for that were to prophane that Sacred Character whereby they were dedicated to the Inca and an injury to the Woman who thereby would be forced to renounce all the grandeur and privileges she enjoyed under the Reverend Title of one Married to the Inca that she might receive the less honourable condition of a private person And since it was a fundamental Law amongst them That none was to be injured much less ought any diminution to be offered to their Kings who as we have said were honoured and adored by them under the Notion of Gods. CHAP. VI. What Women those were whom the Inca presented and bestowed in Marriage THE truth is there were some Women of whom the Inca made Presents to such Curacas and Captains who by their Services had merited rewards from him but then these were but the Daughters of other Curacas which the Inca
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
besides those which we have mentioned in the third Book and fifteenth Chapter of our History of Florida which are found in many parts of that great Kingdom particularly in that rich Temple of the Province called Cofachiqui the 18 Mark weight of Pearl besides the two Chests which Acosta mentions to have been brought for the King's account were all choice Pearls and such as at several times were called out by the Indians and set apart for the King's use and service to whom a fifth part belonged of all the Pearls which were taken and accordingly delivered into the Royal Wardrobe from whence they were given out for adorning a Manto and Petticoat for the Image of our Lady of Guadalupe embroderying a whole Suit such as the dress of her Head Frontlers Surcoat hanging Sleeves and hem of her Garments all with the finest sort of Pearl set in Diamond-work the House or Chair of State made for this Image which were usually of a darkish colour were now covered with Rubies and Emeralds set in Gold by which it was apparent by whose command and at whose charge those Artists worked and to whose service the Catholick King did dedicate so great a Treasure which was immense and beyond the abilities and magnificence of any other than his onely who was Emperour of the Indies But to compute and rightly to calculate the Riches of this Monarch we ought to reade the fourth Book of Acosta wherein are such strange discoveries of things in the New World as are almost incredible Amongst which I have been an eye-witness my self at Sevil in the year 1579 where I saw a Pearl which a Gentleman called Don Diego de Temez brought from Panama and designed for King Philip the Second the Pearl was about the bigness of a Wallnut and roundness of a Pigeon's Egg it was valued in the Indies at twelve thousand Pieces of Eight which make fourteen thousand four hundred Ducats Jacomo de Treco of Milan an excellent Artist and Jeweler to his Catholick Majesty esteemed it at fourteen thirty fifty and sometimes at a hundred thousand Ducats that is that it had no price for in regard there was none like it in the World and that there was none with which it might be compared it was not capable of any estimation In Sevil many went to see it for a sight giving it the Name of the Foreigner A certain Italian Gentleman at that time went about that City and bought up all the choicest Pearls he could find for account of a Great Lord in Italy when having purchased a String or Chain of the best yet being compared and laid by the Foreigner they seemed like so many little pebles of the Brook. Those that knew and were acquainted with Pearls and pretious Stones did aver that it weighed 24 Quilats above any other that was ever known but what that means I am not skilfull enough to interpret The Proprietor of this Pearl said that a little Neger Boy which was not worth above a 100 Ryals fished the shell wherein it was contained out of the water which was so cragged and promised so little outwardly that they were going to cast it again into the Sea but yielding unexpectedly so great a profit to the Master he was pleased in reward for the benefit to give liberty to the Slave and in honour to the Master on whom fortune had bestowed so great a Treasure the Inhabitants of Panama were pleased to make him their High Constable the Pearl was never polished because the Master would never consent that it should be touched unless it were to bore a hole through it for they never attempt to alter the fashion or shapes of them but string them as they come from the shells so that some of them come out very round others long others flat others round of one side and flat on the other but those vvhich are in fashion of a Pear are most esteemed because they are not common When a Merchant hath got one of this shape he presently enquires and makes search for another vvhich is like it for being vvell matched they rise double in their price so that vvhen a Pearl being single is valued at a hundred Ducats being afterwards vvell matched vvith another doth presently double its price and both give a value to each other because they are made the more fit for Chains and Neck-laces for vvhich they are principally designed Pearl is of a nature vvhich vvill admit of no polishing being composed of a certain shell or tunicle vvhich covers it and vvhich decays vvith time losing much of its lustre and brightness vvhich it had at first hovvsoever vvhen they take off the upper coat or tunicle of the decayed part that vvhich is under appears as oriental as it did at first but yet vvith great damage to the Pearl being considerably lessened at least one third of its bigness Hovvsoever the best sort of Pearls do never decay and may be excepted from this general rule CHAP. XXIV Of Gold and Silver SPain it self is a sufficient witness of the Gold and Silver which comes from Peru considering that for the twenty five years last past besides what hath been formerly carried there hath been every year transported twelve or thirteen Millions according to Register besides that which hath passed without account There is Gold found in all the parts of Peru some more and some less generally in every Province It is found on the top or surface of the Earth carried by streams and currents and washed down by great flouds of Rain which the Indians gather and put into water separating it from the Earth as the Silver-smiths do the filings which fall in their shops That which is found in this manner is called Gold in dust because it is like filings some of which are indifferently big and about the fashion of a Mellon-seed some are round and others of an oval form all the Gold of Peru is about eighteen or twenty Quilats more or less in goodness onely that which comes from the Mines of Callauaya or Callahuaya is of the finest sort being twenty four Quilats and better as I have been informed by some Gold-smiths in Spain In the year 1556 there was digged out of the veins of a Rock in the Mines of Callahuaya a piece of Gold Ore of the bigness of a Man's head in colour like the Lungs of a living creature and indeed did something resemble it in the shape having certain Persorations through it from one end to the other in all which holes there appeared little kernels of Gold as if melted Gold had been dropped into them some of them being outwardly in knobs and others more inward Those that understood the nature of Mines were of opinion that had that piece of Ore been suffered to remain it would all with time have been turned into perfect Gold. In Cozco the Spaniards looked upon it as strange and unusual and the Indians called it Huaco as they did every thing which was
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
entire credence to their words adored them as Children of the Sun and obeyed them as their Princes And these poor wretches relating these matters one to the other the fame thereof so encreased that great numbers both of Men and Women flocked together being willing to follow to what place soever they should guide them Thus great multitudes of People being assembled together the Princes gave order that Provision should be made of such fruits as the Earth produced for their sustenance lest being scattered abroad to gain their food the main body should be divided and the numbers diminished others in the mean time were employed in building houses of which the Prince gave them a model and form In this manner our Imperial City began to be peopled being divided into two parts one of which was called Hanan Cozco which is as much as the Upper Cozco and the other Hurin Cozco which is the Lower Cozco those which were assembled under the King were of the Upper Town and those under the Queen were of the Lower Not that this difference was made out of any respect to Superiority for that they were to be Brothers and Children of the same Father and Mother and in the same equality of Fortune but onely it served to distinguish the followers of the King from those of the Queen and to remain for an everlasting Memorial of their first Beginning and Original with this difference onely that the Upper Cozco should be as the Elder and the Lower as the younger Children And this is the reason that in all our Empire this diversity of lineage hath remained being ever since distinguished into Hanan Ayllu and Hurin Ayllu which is the upper and the lower Lineage and Hanan Suyu and Hurin Suyu which is the upper and the lower Tribe The City being thus Peopled Our Inca taught his Subjects those Labours which appertained unto the Men as to plough and sow the Land with divers sorts of Seeds which were usefull and for food to which end he instructed them how to make Ploughs and Harrows and other Instruments fit and necessary for that purpose he shewed them also the way of cutting chanels for the Water which now runs through this Valley of Cozco and to make Shoes for their Feet On the other side the Queen instructed the Women in good Huswifery as how to spin and weave Cotton and wool and to make garments for their Husbands their Children and themselves with other Offices appertaining to the House In sum nothing was omitted conducing to humane Wellfare which the King did not teach his Men and the Queen her Women making them both their Scholars and their Subjects CHAP. IX The Actions of the first Indian King called Manco Capac THese Indians being in this manner reduced looked on themselves much bettered in condition and with singular acknowledgments of the benefits received and with great joy and satisfaction travelled through the Rocks and Thickets to communicate the happy news of those Children of the Sun who for the common good of all appeared on the Earth recounting the great good and benefits they had received from them and to gain belief amongst them they shewed them their new Habit and Cloathing and Diet and that they lived in Houses and in political Society This relation induced this wild People to see those wonders of which being fully satisfied by their own Eyes they ranged themselves amongst the rest to learn and obey and thus one calling and inviting the other the fame spread far and near and the people increased in such manner that in the first six or seven years the Inca had composed an Army fit for War and having taught them how to make Bows and Arrows and Lances and such Weapons as we use to this day they were not onely capable to defend but also to offend an Enemy and to compell those by force whose bestial nature detained from Humane Association And that I may not be tedious in the relation of what this Our first Inca acted you must know that he reduced all Eastward as far as the River called Paucartampu and eighty Leagues Westward to the great River called Apurimac and to the Southward nine Leagues to Quequesana To these several quarters Our Inca sent out particular Colonies to the largest a hundred Families and to the lesser according to their capacity These are the beginnings of this our City and of this our rich and famous Empire which your Father and his Adherents have despoiled us of These were our first Incas and Kings in the first ages of the World from whom the succeeding Princes and we our selves are descended but how many years it may be since our Father the Sun sent his Offspring amongst us I am not able precisely to declare because my Memory may fail me in it but I imagine they may be about 400 Years This our Inca was named Manco Capac and his Queen Coya Mama of Huaco who were as I have said Brethren of the Sun and Moon And thus having at large satisfied the request you made to me in relation of which that I might not incline you to sadness I abstained from venting tears at my Eyes which notwithstanding drop with bloud on my Heart caused by that inward grief I feel to see our Incas and their Empire ruined and destroyed This large Relation of the Original of our Kings I received from that Inca which was my Mothers Brother from whom I requested it and which I have caused faithfully to be translated out of the Indian into the Spanish Tongue which though it be not written with such Majesty of words as the Inca spake it nor with that significancy of termes as that Language bears nor so large and particular to avoid tediousness as it was delivered to me howsoever it may serve to give sufficient light to the nature and knowledge of this our History Many other things of like sort though of no great moment this Inca often recounted in his Visits and Discourses he made me the which I shall declare in their due places being now troubled that I made no farther enquiries into other matters for which I have room here to place them with good authority CHAP. X. Wherein the Authour alledges the Authority he hath for the Truth of his History HAving thus laid the first Foundation whereon to build our History though as to the Original of our Kings of Peru it may seem something fabulous it now follows that we proceed forward to relate in what manner the Indians were reduced and conquered enlarging the particulars which the Inca gave me with divers other additions concerning the Natural Indians and their Kings which the first Inca Manco Capac reduced under his Government with whom I was educated and conversed untill I arrived to the age of twenty years during which time I became informed of all the particulars concerning which I write for in my youth they related these stories to me as Nurses doe tales or fables to their
play whence that Proverb came as Acosta says Play for the Sun before the Day breaks Sometime after which the Common-Council of the City taking notice how much this Son or Member of theirs was given to play and how much he lost thought fit as the best expedient to wean him from that Vice to chuse him Alcalde or Chief Justice in Ordinary for the space of a year In execution of which employment he applied himself with so much diligence and care in the discharge of his trust that being a Gentleman of excellent parts he took not a Card in hand for the whole year following the City observing this his active diligence continued him in Office for a year longer and afterwards kept him constantly employed in one publick charge or other so that this Macio Serra difusing his course of Gaming came at length to abhor it calling to mind the many dangers troubles and inconveniences to which it had betrayed him which serves as a pregnant example to demonstrate to us how much idleness contributes to Vice and employment unto Vertue But to return to our History we say that a Calculate may in some measure be made of the Riches of that City when an Image of Gold of that proportion and value fell to the lot and share of one single person On each side of this Image the Bodies of the dead Incas were placed embalmed with such rare Art we know not how that they seemed still living their postures were sitting on Chairs of Gold erected on those very Frames of Gold on which they usually sate when they were alive their Faces were turned towards the people onely Huayna Capac as if he had merited a supereminence over all the others was places with his Face towards the Figure of the Sun as if he had been the most beloved and greatest Favourite of all his Race and indeed his Vertues and Royal Endowments which appeared in him from his Infancy were such as procured for him a degree above the rest and a place amongst the Gods which they adored These Bodies with what Treasure they were able the Indians concealed in such secret Vaults that none of them came to appear untill this year of 1559 when the Licenciado Polo made a discovery of five of them three whereof were Kings and the other two were Queens The principal Gate opened to the North as it is at present besides which there were several other small Doors for better convenience of the Temple all which were lined on the inside with Plates of Gold as also the Jambs or Posts of the Doors On the top of the Temple without on the highest Wall was a large Circle of Gold in form of a Crown of above a Yard in breadth which encompassed the whole Temple CHAP. XXI Of the Cloisters of the Temple and of the several Chambers of the Moon and Stars Thunder and Lightning and of the Rain-bow FRom the Temple there is a passage into the Cloisters which are encompassed with four Walls one of which is the Wall of the Temple the top of this Cloister is spread with a Cieling of Gold of about a Yard in breadth and was the Ornament and Crown aloft but the Spaniards afterwards despoiled the Roof of the Gold and in place and memory thereof laid a Cieling of white Plaster the which when I departed thence was still white and fresh and the Walls sound and standings as formerly The Provost or Master of this Cloister had five large Chambers square allowed him for his Lodgings not contiguous or joyning one to the other but separate and apart being covered in form of a Pyramid and which made the other three Walls of the Cloister One of these square Chambers was dedicated to the Moon whom they styled the Wife of the Sun and therefore was nearest to the principal Chapel of the Temple all the sides within as also the Doors were Plated with Silver for the better correspondence and resemblance with the colour of the Moon whose Image was also erected in Silver with the face of a Woman and placed in the same manner as that of the Sun. Into this Chamber they did usually enter to make their visits to the Moon and recommend themselves to her favour for that she being the Sister the Wife of the Sun was consequently the Mother of the Incas and of all their generation wherefore they called her Mamaquilla which signifies as much as Mother-Moon to whom they offered Sacrifices as they did to the Sun. On each side of this Image they placed the Bodies of the dead Queens according to their Order and Seniority Onely Mama Ocllo who was the Mother of Huayna Capac had the chief place being seated nearest and with her face just opposite to the Moon in regard that having been the Mother of a Son so excellent and famous did seem to have merited the primary place of Honour The Chamber next hereunto was dedicated to Venus the Evening-Star and the other seven Stars and to all the other Stars in general The Star Venus they called Chasca which is as much as to say long and curled Locks they named this Star the Page of the Sun because it always attended on him going sometimes before and sometimes after him for the seven Stars they entertained a particular respect because of the strangeness of their position and their equal proportion These Stars they fansied to be the Attendants and Hand-maids to the Moon and for that reason they lodged them in the Lobby or Chamber next to her that so they might be near and the place more commodious for their service for they were of opinion that the Stars were Attendants belonging to the Court of the Moon and not of the Sun because they appeared in the Night onely and vanished so soon as the Morning dawned and the Sun arose This Chamber had its Walls and Doors all plated with Silver like that of the Moon the Roof was painted like a Starry Sky full of Stars of the greater and lesser Magnitude The next Chamber hereunto was dedicated to the Lightning Thunder and Thunder-bolt which three they comprehended under one common Name of Yllapa and the distinction of them was denoted by the Adjunct Verb As for example when they say Did you see the Yllapa then they mean Lightning or did you hear the Yllapa then it is Thunder or did you see where the Yllapa fell or the damage it did then they understand the Thunder-bolt All which they did not esteem for Gods but regarded them as Servants of the Sun as the Ancients did who fansied the Thunderbolt to be the Arms of Jupiter and for that reason they allotted them Lodgings in the Temple of the Sun the which were adorned all over with Gold howsoever they formed no Statue or Representation of them because they knew not how to decypher any Similitude or Hieroglyphick to express them This triple signification of Yllapa the Spanish Historians have not understood for if they had they
Lineage and Nation and excepting onely Sisters they joined promiscuously together like Sheep of the same flock so that the People of a Province were not allied onely by Nation but by Kindred and Bloud By which it appears that it was not lawfull for any to change his Countrey or Habitation or pass the limits of his Division or Decurion but to keep himself close to his People and Families for in regard the Assemblies within the Community were obliged to build the Houses of the new married it was their own duty to conserve them in Repair and not to wander without the Barrier and Confines of their Parentage CHAP. IX That the Prince who was Heir apparent was to marry his own Sister and the reasons which they gave for it HAving now declared the manner in general and the way how the common Indians married we shall in the next place proceed to treat of the Marriage of the Prince who was Heir apparent In explanation of which it is to be noted that it was the most ancient Custome and fundamental Law of those Kings that the Prince who was Heir should marry with her that was his own Sister by Father and Mother and she onely was capable of being his Legitimate Wife whom they called Coya which is as much as Queen or Empress and the Eldest Son of these two was allowed for the true and lawfull Heir of the Kingdom The Original of this Law and Custome was derived from the first Inca Manco Capac and his Wife Mama Occlo Huaco who feigning themselves to be the Children and descended from the Sun and to be Brother and Sister it was therefore concluded by all the Indians who perfectly believed this Story that by the example of these two the same Rule was to be observed in the succession of all future Ages and this they confirmed by another Example of the Sun and Moon themselves who being Brother and Sister were joined in Marriage and therefore this served for an undeniable Authority and Argument to prove the Legality of such a Marriage by an instance so convincing as that of these Deities Yet for want of such Issue female the Prince might then marry with the nearest of Kindred such as his Cousin-German or Aunt who for want of Heirs male were capable of inheriting the Crown according to the Custome in Spain For want of Heirs male by the first Sister the Prince might marry with the second or third and so on untill he met with one that produced such issue and this Rite was punctually observed and maintained to be legal from the example of the Sun and Moon and of the first Inca and his Sister and from that Rule which enjoined them to keep the Streams of Royal Bloud pure and unmixed left they should incur the impiety of mixing Divine Bloud with Humane Race And because the right of this Inheritance came as well by the Mother as the Father the same could not be conserved unless they both concurred to make an Heir with an undoubted Title Hereunto they added farther that the Majesty of the Queen could not be communicated to any other unto whom it did not appertain by Nature for that her Conjunction and Union with the King could not render her capable of such a Character which was to be worshipped and adored in the place of a Deity for that were to commit Idolatry by giving Divine Worship to a Humane Creature Besides the lawfull Queen those Kings might have many Concubines both of their own Kindred to the fourth Degree and also of Strangers but the Children by them were observed with different degrees of respect the Sons by the Kinswomen were esteemed legitimate having no mixture of common Bloud which quality was ever esteemed with high Veneration when those by Strangers were accounted Bastards and though they had some respect shewn them above that of common degree yet it was not with such exteriour and interiour Devotion as to those of purer Bloud who were accounted Gods when these were onely honoured as Men. So that the King had three sorts of Children one by his Sister and Wife who were legitimate and capable of the Succession another sort was by his Kinswomen of the same Bloud and a third by Strangers who were reputed Natural and Bastard-Sons CHAP. X. Of the different manners of inheriting Estates FOR want of Issue male by the legitimate Wife the Law then was that the Eldest of the true bloud should succeed as it happened in the case of Manco Inca a Huascar as we shall hereafter make appear in its due place for in no wife it would be permitted that a Bastard should inherit and for want of lawfull Sons of the bloud the Inheritance fell to the next of Kindred provided he were truly descended by Father and Mother By reason of this Law Atahualpa destroyed the whole Race of the true and Royal Bloud both Men and Women as we shall relate in its due place for he being a Bastard and therefore uncapable to inherit made way to his usurped Kingdom by the death of the lawfull Heirs lest one of them remaining alive should recover it again from his Power All those of the Bloud married together to the fourth Degree that so the Generation of them might multiply to great numbers onely the eldest Sister was reserved for the King it not being lawfull for any to take her besides himself The eldest Son always inherited the Kingdom for a series of twelve Kings who succeeded without interruption untill the Spaniards invaded them Howsoever amongst the Curacas or Lords over Vassals a different Rule and Custome was observed for in some Provinces the Eldest Son succeeded in others the most beloved and esteemed for his Vertue and Affability was the qualification required of which the People being Judges the Government seemed rather Elective than Hereditary This Law was a curb to the Sons of the Curacas restraining them from Tyranny and an obligation to be vertuous for in regard the Disposal of the Inheritance depended on the pleasure of the People the Sons contended in kindness towards their Subjects and every one laboured to render himself by his Valour and Gentleness the most beloved and acceptable to the People In some Provinces the Sons inherited according to their Birth as when the Father dyed the Eldest Son succeeded then the second then the third and so forward and when all the Brothers were extinct the Inheritance fell to the Eldest Son of the Eldest Brother and so successively so that hence appears the mistake of a certain Spanish Historian who says that it was the common Custome of all Peru that the Brothers of the King should gradually succeed one after the other and that all of them being dead then the Kingdom ascended again to the Eldest Son of the eldest Brother which Errour proceeded from a misunderstanding of the true difference between the manner of inheriting by Incas and Curacas For though the Incas did reduce and subdue many Provinces
and suppressed untill this season in which they esteemed it convenient to vent their hatred And in regard that the life of all designs is speedy execution and that now they were to surprize the Inca unprovided of Men and power of Resistence they did not doubt but by one single Victory to render themselves Masters again not onely of their ancient Enemies but of all the Empire of the Incas With these probable hopes and expectations of successes they invited all their Neighbours as well those that were Subjects to the Inca as those that were not to partake with them in the design and reward of the enterprize the which appeared fair and promising in this present conjuncture To these Summons the Indians easily yielded expecting great advantages and depending on the great renown and fame in War which the Ancient bravery of the Chancas had acquired And having constituted Hanco-huallu their Captain-General and the two Brothers Major-Generals with other Curacas for Colonels and Officers they marched directly with resolution to Summon and make demand of the City of Cozco CHAP. XXIV The Inca abandons the City and the Prince succours it SO soon as the Inca Yahuar-huacac understood the certainty of this News and of the approach of the Enemy he was affrighted and terrified within himself for it seemed a surprize to him to understand of a rebellion for as yet no such thing had ever happened in the Provinces during the lenity of that Government which the Incas had exercised from the time of Manco Capac to those very days under the security of which and out of the hatred he conceived to his Son to whom he could not allow the honour of divine revelation he neither would give credit to the dream nor hearken to the advice or counsel of his kindred but having blinded his understanding with passion and prejudice he found himself ensnared in inextricable difficulties having neither time to levy a force sufficient to encounter his Enemies nor a Garrison in readiness to defend the City untill other relief or succour could be administred Wherefore in these doubts he resolved to give way to the Torrent of his Enemies rage and retire towards Collasuyu where he promised to himself security of life and defence from the Loyalty and Valour of that people With this intention and design he departed from Cozco with a retinue of such Incas as were able to follow him and came to the Straits of Mayna about five Leagues Northward from the City towards the Sea of Zur and there posted himself on the top Mountain from whence he could survey the Enemies Camp and descry what they acted in the way as they passed The King having thus abandoned Cozco the City was exposed to open violence none daring to propose much less act in the defence of it every one endeavouring to shift for himself and save his life in the best manner he was able Of these Fugitives some repaired to the Prince Viracocha informing him of the Rebellion of Chincasuyu and of the flight of his Father and that there was no possibility in so short time and warning to withstand or make head against the Enemy The Prince deeply resenting this sad news of the flight of his Father and the nakedness of the City commanded those who brought him the advice and those few Shepherds that were with him that they should immediately repair to the City and order those that they should find there and as many as they should meet in the ways that they should with such Arms as they had and with as much speed as they could possibly repair to the Inca their Lord and Master giving them likewise to understand that it was his intention so to doe and that this was his Order and Special Command to them Having issued out this advice the Prince Viracocha proceeded in Quest of his Father and without visiting the City he took a short cut and losing no time overtook him in the Straits of Muyna from whence he was not as yet departed and being covered over with sweat and dust holding a Lance in his hand which he had casually taken up on the way he presented himself before the King and with a grave and melancholy countenance he thus addressed his Speech to him How is it Inca that upon a report whether true or false is uncertain of some few of your Subjects risen in Rebellion you should abandon your City and Court and fly before an Enemy not as yet seen nor appearing How can you yield and resign the Temple of the Sun your Father into the power of your Enemies to be polluted by their Prophane and unhallowed feet giving them thereby liberty to return to their ancient Abominations and there offer again their detestable Sacrifices of Men Women and Children with other unhumane and unnatural actions from which your Ancestours had reformed them What account shall we be able to render of the charge committed to us for guard and defence of those Virgins dedicated to the Sun if we abandon and leave them to the brutality and lusts of our Enemies And what benefit shall we get by saving our lives with the loss of our honour and admission of all the evils and mischiefs imaginable For my part I shall never assent unto it but rather appear singly before the face of my Enemies and lose my life in opposing their entrance into Cozco rather than live to see the desolation of that City and those abominable practices committed in that Sacred and Imperial Court which the Sun and his Children had founded Wherefore let such as have courage follow me and I shall shew them how to exchange an infamous and loathsome Life for a noble and honourable Death Having said thus much with deep sense and heat of spirit he took his way towards the City without losing so much time as to eat or drink The Incas of the Bloud who untill now had accompanied the King and with them his own Brothers Cousins and nearest Relations to the number of above 4000 Men returned and followed the Prince so that onely some few old and impotent Men remained with the King As many as they met in the way they marched and those also who were scattered abroad in the Countrey they called and summoned unto them giving them to understand that the Prince Viracocha was returned to the City with intention to defend that and the Temple of his Father the Sun with the last drop of his bloud With this news which was soon spread over all places the Indians were so encouraged the presence of the Prince giving countenance to the resolution that they all unanimously returned to the City intending there to dye with great alacrity and chearfulness with their Prince who evidenced so much resolution and courage in their defence In this manner and with these thoughts he entred the City and from thence immediately taking the direct road towards Chincasuyu which was the Pass by which the Enemy marched he
1555 and 56. Thus far the Buildings reached in those days what enlargements were made were added since The Gentlemen which we have named in this Treatise were all Persons of Quality and of Noble Bloud and famous for their Arms having vanquished and won that most rich Empire the greatest part of which I knew and of all those which I have named there were not ten with whom I had not a personal acquaintance CHAP. XII Of the two Gifts which the City contributed for Charitable Uses BEfore I treat of the Foundation of that Hospital and the Contributions given to it I shall first mention the charitable Gifts which the Citizens made to the Friars of St. Francis for buying the ground and body of the Church which they found already built to their hands when my Lord Garçilasso de la Vega was Governour of Cozco the matter was this These Friars as we have said having their Convent in Cassana made a demand I know not for what reason upon Juan Rodriguez de Villa Lobos for this Ground and Church in pursuance of which they preferred a Bill in the Chancery desiring that they might have possession of this Ground and Church paying unto this Juan Rodriguez so much Money as the Church and the Land about it should be valued or esteemed at being 22200 Ducats The Prior of their Franciscans was then F. Juan Gallegos a holy Man and one of a most Exemplary life and conversation by whose means payment was made of this Money in the House of my Father who gave possession thereof to the Friars delivering the price in Bars of Silver At which the standers-by much admiring being astonished to see so great a sum paid so readily and punctually at the time by such poor Friars the Prior made them this answer that they should not wonder at these Works of Heaven being produced by the mere charity of this City whose hearts God had touched and moved with such pious Zeal that I can assure you said he that on Monday of this Week we had not above 300. Ducats of this sum towards our payment and now we are but on Thursday morning when I am present before you with this great sum raised by the pious contributions of the Inhabitants of this City as well Gentlemen Souldiers as Lords of the Indians who for these two last nights came knocking at our Gates with Alms in their hands which they desired to bestow secretly with such frequent and continued course of pious Benefactors who called to the Porter to receive their Alms and Charity that we have not been able to take our rest or repose all which I heard that good Man speak in commendation of the liberality and charity of the City And now to speak farther of the Foundation of this Hospital we must know that this Godly Prior dying another succeeded in his place called Antonio de St. Michel a Person of a Noble Family of which Name also there was a great Divine in Salamanca who for his holy life and doctrine being a true Son and faithfull Follower of St. Francis was made Bishop of Chili where he lived with exemplary piety and godliness as the Kingdoms of Chili and Peru can testifie This holy Man in the second year of the three in which he lived a Bishop preaching every Sunday Wednesday and Friday in Lent according to his usual custome in the Cathedral Church of Cozco did upon a certain Sunday propose that an Hospital should be erected in that City for the Indians and that a Fraternity of Indians should be Super-intendents or Supervisors over it as the Spaniards were over theirs assuring them that the Spaniards had obligations towards the Indians in some manner which no Man could acquit himself of whether he were a Conquerour of them or not but by some such satisfaction for their debt And pursuing this discourse with most persuasive Arguments in all the Sermons of that Week on the Sunday he concluded after such a preparation made That the Governour and he would try what operation his Sermons had effected on them to which end they would go personally from house to house to demand their charitable contributions towards this pious Work admonishing them to shew themselves as large and open-hearted therein as they had been valiant and covetous to obtain the Empire Accordingly the Governour and the Prior took their Walk from house to house to gather the charitable Alms of the City coming at first to the Dwellings of those onely who were Masters of the Indians And at night when my Father Garçilasso returned home he commanded me to sum up the account of all the Collections which when I had done I found it to amount unto 28500 Pieces of Eight which makes 34200 Ducats the least that was given by any particular person was 500 Pieces of Eight which makes 600 Ducats there were some who gave a 1000 Pieces of Eight Thus much was the Collection made in one Evening and in the space of five hours onely other days they took to go from neighbour to neighbour every one giving so freely that in a few months the sum amounted to above a hundred thousand Ducats the which report being noised about in the Countrey and that an Hospital was therewith to be founded for the Natives many other contributions were added in the space of that year some being given by Last Will and Testament and some by devout and charitable persons in the time of their Life and Health so that the Work was chearfully begun the Native Indians within the Jurisdiction of the City concurring thereunto with all ready assistence being assured that the use and benefit thereof was intentionally designed for themselves Under the first Stone of the Foundation which was laid by my Father Garçilasso he put a Doblon of Gold being one of those with two Faces of Ferdinand and Isabel the King and Queen of Spain That sort of coin was rare in those days and especially in that Countrey and at that time where and when no Money either in Gold or other Metal was stamped for the Spanish Merchants did then bring their Commodities which they bartered or exchanged for Wares of the Countrey or sold for Silver or Gold but brought no Money coined into those parts I believe that the Doblon was brought thither for a curiosity and presented to my Father as a Medal and of the same opinion were all those who saw it for it passing from one to another the whole Corporation of the City then present at this Solemnity of laying the Foundation did all esteem it for a great curiosity being the first coined Money that had been seen in that Countrey and for that reason was worthily employed in that charitable Work. Diego Maldonado a Native of Salamanca sirnamed the Rich for the great Wealth that he had attained having formerly been Governour of the City laid under one of the Stones a Plate of Silver with his Arms engraven upon it and on this poor
hundred thousand Franks and yet in the Year 1574. when Charles the 9th dyed the same Revenue was improved to fourteen Millions and the like proportion of increase was advanced in all other Kingdoms and Governments which Examples serve sufficiently to demonstrate in what manner all the World hath been enriched by the Treasures of Peru. And in regard that Our Spain hath been especially obliged to that Countrey by the vast effluxes of its Wealth from thence vve need not seek or borrovv proofs hereof from other Countries but onely consider our ovvn nor need vve to look many Ages back but onely from the time of King Ferdinand surnamed the Saint vvho regained Cordova and Seville of vvhom the General History of Spain written by Don Alonso the wise makes mention and tells us that Don Alonso the 9th King of Leon who was Father of King Fernand the Saint made War upon him and that his Son wrote him word that as an obedient Child he was resolved never to resist him and that he would gladly appease his Anger with any satisfaction that he should require of him to which Don Alonso replied That he required of him the payment of ten thousand Maravedis which he owed him which when he had performed he would then cease his Wars and enter into Amity with him The whole Copy of the Letter written at large we have omitted to recite for brevity sake onely we have thought fit to repeat the Answer which was wrote in this manner That the cause of his War was for the recovery of ten thousand Maravedis which the King Don Enriquez owed for the high way which he had made to Santivannez de la Mota and that paying this Money the Quarrel should end whereupon the King Fernando not being willing to wage War with his Father for ten thousand Maravedis presently made him satisfaction the which is related in the general Chronicle of Spain and in the particular Life of King Fernando About the same time a certain Knight who wore the red Cross as a badge of his Pilgrimage unto the Holy Land named Ruy Dias began to commit many insolences before his departure for which Offences divers complaints coming against him he was cited to appear before the Courts of Justice to make answer to those Accusations which were laid against him upon which summons Dias making his appearance at Villadolid where the Court then resided but being informed of the many complaints which were there formed against him he in a rage and fury departed thence without giving any Answer thereunto At which the King Fernando being highly displeased immediately by process of Law banished him the Countrey howsoever Dias maintained himself within his Castles and Fortresses untill such time that by Agreement with the King to pay him fourteen thousand Maravedis all matters were compounded and the Fortresses were consigned into the hands of the noble King Don Fernando The same History also makes mention of this following passage namely That when King Fernando had possession of one part onely and not of the entire Kingdom of Leon he left Mansilla and went to Leon which was the principal City of that Countrey where he was received with great joy and magnificent entertainment and there crowned King of Leon by the Bishop of that City and being in the presence of all the Nobles and Citizens seated in the Regal Throne Te Deum was solemnly sung with the common satisfaction and rejoycing of the people and from that time he had the Title of King of Castile and Leon both which Kingdoms were his lawfull Inheritance descended to him from Father and Mother for these two Kingdoms had formerly been divided and bestowed by the Emperour to his two Sons that is Castile to D. Sancho and Leon to Fernando and afterwards came to be again united together in the Noble Person of Don Fernando the third After this the Queen Teresa the Mother of Tancha and Dulce the Sisters of D. Fernando seeing that her Son was become Master of the whole Kingdom and that she was not able to make farther resistence against him she dispatched an Ambassadour to D. Fernando demanding some share and convenient subsistence which being granted was much displeasing to some degenerate Spirits who were in hopes of making a benefit to themselves by the Wars between Castile and Leon of which Embassy the Noble Lady Berengaria Mother of Fernando being informed she laboured much to bring matters to an accommodation being very apprehensive of the many Troubles and infinite Ruines which are caused by a Civil and intestine War and for that reason labouring on both sides she at length produced a Peace between her Son the King Fernando and his Sisters the Ladies Sancha and Dulce and prevailed with the King to stay at Leon whilst she made a visit to the Queen Teresa and her Daughters then residing at Valentia And then it was that Berengaria prevailed with Teresa and her Daughters to quit all their Title and Interest to the Kingdom of Leon in consideration of which King Fernando did oblige himself to give a yearly Annuity to each of these Sisters of thirty thousand Maravedis of Gold. To confirm this Agreement the King came to Benevente where he met his Sisters and there signed and sealed a Writing to them to pay them the thirty thousand Maravedis of Annuity making them Assignment on the places where to receive their Money which was afterwards the Foundation of a happy Peace After this King Fernando being married to Queen Joan he went in Progress to visit several parts of his Kingdom and being at Toledo he understood that Cordova and other remote Cities of his Kingdom were in great penury and distress for want of Provisions for supply of which he sent them twenty five thousand Maravedis to Cordova and the like sum to other Garrisons All which small sums are particularly recorded in the Chronicles which write of the Life of Don Fernando the Saint CHAP. IV. The Authour proceeds in his Discourse concerning the small quantity of Money which was in ancient days and how much there is now in these THE which Treatise being of the same nature with the preceding Chapter to avoid tediousness to the Reader we have thought fit to omit And so proceed unto the next Chapter CHAP. V. Shewing how little the Conquest of the new World cost unto the Kings of Castile BEing come now to our ultimate Argument to prove the small quantity of Money which was then in Spain before the time that the Conquest of my Countrey was effected we cannot give a more pregnant instance than by demonstrating how little the most rich Empire of Peru and all the new World not before known cost the Kings of Castile Francis Lopez in his General History of the Indies having recounted many remarkable passages we shall faithfully recite such of them as are most pertinent to our purpose as namely That Christopher Columbus treated with Henry the 7th King of England about
the Discovery of the Indies as also with Alfonso the 5th King of Portugal with the Dukes of Medina Sidonia and Medina Celi who not receiving with good approbation the Proposals made them Friar John Perez and Friar Francis de la Rabida which last was the King's Cosmographer encouraged him to make his Applications to the Court of Spain where they believed his Propositions might find a gratious reception By these means Columbus was introduced into the Court of Castile in the Year 1486. where he delivered his Proposals and Petition to Fernando and Isabella King and Queen of Spain but they being embroiled at that time in their Wars against the Moors in the Countrey of Granada had little leisure to convert their thoughts to Projects of this nature And Columbus being but a stranger and poor in habit and without other Credit or Interest than that of a poor Friar whom they would neither vouchsafe to lend an Ear unto much less to believe was the cause of great Discouragement and Affliction to Columbus Onely Alonso de Quintanilla who was Auditor General gave him his Diet at his Caterer's House taking great pleasure to hear him discourse and promise high Matters and Riches which were to be fetched from unknown Countries and therefore to keep up his Spirits he gave him hopes one day to prevail with his Catholick Majesty in his behalf the which he accordingly effected for him by introducing him first to the knowledge of Cardinal de Mendoça Archbishop of Toledo who had a great power and authority both with the King and Queen of Spain This Noble Person having maturely examined and considered of the Proposals which Columbus made procured him an Audience with the King to whom at first his Propositions seemed vain Projects and without foundation howsoever he received good Words and hopes of a favourable dispatch so soon as the War with Granada should be concluded With this Answer Columbus conceived some satisfaction and began to be esteemed in the Court for untill that time the Courtiers turned all his Project into ridicule and derided it as a Dream or a melancholy fancy Granada being at length taken Columbus renewed his Negotiation with such success that he obtained his Demand and a Commission to go into the new World for Gold Silver Pretious Stones and other rich and valuable Commodities and to receive and take unto himself the twelfth part of all such Riches Royalties and Rents which he should discover and acquire in those unknown Countries without Damage or Prejudice howsoever to the Right which the King of Portugal pretends to those parts All which Articles of Agreement were made granted and concluded at Granada on the 30th of April in the year when that City was taken and subdued and confirmed in virtue of the holy Faith and with all the Privileges and Graces of the Royal Favour but in regard the King had no Money wherewith to furnish Columbus on this expedition Lewis de St. Angel Clerk of the Exchequer lent six Millions of Maravedis to him which make the sum of sixteen thousand Ducats And now here are two things particularly observable one of which is that with so small a sum as this all the Riches of the Indies accrued to the Royal Crown of Castile That so soon as the Conquest over the Moors was perfected the Wars with whom had continued for the space of eight hundred years the Conquest over the Indians was begun that so it may appear how zealous the Spaniards have ever been to exercise and employ their Arms against the Enemies of the Faith of Christ. By which it appears that by the continued and constant solicitations which Columbus used at the Court for the space of seven or eight years before he could procure his dispatch together with the help of sixteen thousand Ducats all Spain and the whole World hath been enriched And having now treated of the Royal Assent we shall descend to more common and particular matters to evidence the truth of this whole History CHAP. VI. The Value of common things before the Conquest of Peru. WHerein the Authour enlarging himself by particular instances at how cheap a rate all things were valued in Spain in the same manner as in the 2d 3d and 4th Chapters we have for brevity sake thought fit to omit and for better divertisement to the Reader we proceed to CHAP. VII Wherein two Opinions are declared concerning the Riches of Peru and the beginning of that Conquest HAving already described to what sum the Revenue of Spain did amount in former times it would now be very satisfactory if we could give an account to what a value it is amounted and improved in these days but I must confess that that would prove too difficult a work for me who have no interest or communication with the Officers of the Royal Exchequer nor such intimacy with them as to obtain so great a favour from any of them and indeed I am persuaded that if I had yet the vast quantities of Riches which pass through their Hands are almost incomprehensible and such as they cannot number how much less am I insufficient for this matter who have no skill or knowledge of that Wealth or as I may use our own Saying who know not what colour Flower or Meal bears Onely this we may aver as a matter clear and manifest that all the charge and expence for equipping out the Fleet against England in the Year 1588. was all charged on the Wealth of Peru besides which Philip the 2d King of Castile received eight Millions of Ducats from thence in the space of six years besides all other branches of his Royal Revenue the which sum was commanded afterwards to be paid in the term of every three years It is farther manifest and apparent that soon after Philip the third came to the Crown that the Kingdom offered another increase of his Revenue to eighteen Millions payable in the space of six years the which continues to these times besides all other Rents and Duties paid to the Crown By these and other particular instances before mentioned we may collect and imagine the great improvement hath been in the King's Revenue the several branches of which being much more various than those of private Estates and there having in every one of those branches been a considerable advance and improvement the sum thereof is become so prodigious and vast as can scarce be valued by the Skill of our Arithmetick By which we may conclude that if that Man is to be esteemed poor who can value his Riches Pauperis est numerare pecus how much must we be plunged in our account when we come to reckon and sum up the Revenue of that Monarch in the circumference of whose Territories as Cosmographers describe the Sun never sets All which Riches and Grandeur are to be attributed to the success and labours of this our Triumvirate And though it be true what we have said before that we had little
to his people that they should neither hurt nor offend the Spaniards though they should take or kill their King himself On which passage Blas Valera takes occasion to say That as God by the presence of Queen Esther mollified the Spirit of King Ahasuerus so by means of the Holy Cross which the good Friar Valverde held in his hand he charmed the Spirit of this Cholerick and Warlike Prince Atahualpa not onely to a degree of gentleness and quiet temper but even to an entire submission and humble resignation the which we ought to attribute to a Miracle of the divine Mercy for God designing to reduce this people to a knowledge of the true Doctrine of the Holy Gospel was pleased by this and other miraculous instances which we shall find scattered in divers places of this History to operate on the Spirits of this barbarous people Some Writers blame Friar Valverde for this disorder saying that he moved the Spaniards thereunto and encouraged them to lay hands on their Weapons requiring them to doe justice and take revenge for the affront which the King had given them by throwing the Book on the ground which the Friar had put into his hand and some say this could not be the cause for that neither the Friar delivered a Book into the hands of the King nor did he receive it But the truth of all was this Friar Valverde startled at a sudden out-cry of the Indians arose up on a sudden from the seat on which he sate discoursing with the King and running in haste his Book and the Cross which he held in his hand fell on the ground and then catching them up again he ran with speed crying to his Companions that they should offer no hurt to the Indians for that Atahualpa was kind and well affected towards them and that he observed by his Answers and demands his good intentions to satisfie them in all matters according to his capacity but the noise and out-cry of the people was such that the voice of the Friar was not heard amongst them And here it is to be noted that it is not true what some Historians report of Atahualpa that he should say You believe that Christ is God and that he died I adore the Sun and the Moon which are immortal And who taught you that your God created the Heaven and the Earth To which Valverde made answer This Book hath taught it to us Then the King took it in his hand and opening the Leaves laid it to his Ear and not hearing it speak to him he threw it upon the ground Upon which they say that the Friar starting up ran to his Companions crying out that the Gospel was despised and trampled under foot Justice and Revenge upon those who contemn our Law and refuse our Friendship In like manner it is fabulous what they write of the Inca that he should say that he was free and owed not Tribute to any for that he knew no King superiour to himself I should be glad to be a friend to the Emperour who hath evidenced his Power and Greatness in sending Armies into Countries so remote but as to what you mention of Obedience to the Pope I cannot understand the Reasons which should oblige me to a subjection unto him For he who pretends to transfer another's right unto his friends and commands me to quit and renounce the Kingdom which I hold by Inheritance to I know not whom shews himself a Man of little understanding and less justice And as to the change of my Religion of which I am in my conscience satisfied and believe to be Holy it would be dishonourable and a folly in me to question the truth thereof which by ancient tradition and undoubted testimony hath been approved by my Ancestours All which I say was false and framed by the mistakes and flattery of Writers for Atahualpa never questioned the right of paying Tribute but onely insisted on the Reasons why and wherefore it was due and expected from him which demands or questions put the Indians into a combustion The Commander in chief of the Spaniards and Captains under him sent notwithstanding the former relation which they had forged unto the Emperour and forbid all people under severe penalties to make any other report or narrative of what had passed in this particular the truth of which is as I have related it and which may be proved not onely by the Historical or Hyeroglyphical Knots of the Province of Cassamarca but by the testimony of several of those Conquerours who were then present at those transactions Blas Valera saith That one of them was his own Father from whom he hath often heard it confirmed In short we say that 5000 Indians were killed that day 3500 of which were slain with the Sword the rest were old and infirm Men and Women and Children which were trampled and trodden under foot for an innumerable number of all Ages and both Sexes were gathered together to see the Solemnity of this strange and unheard-of Embassy Moreover a great number of Indians perished under the Ruines of a Wall which fell by force of the violent crouds of people which pressed under the shelter of it Two days after this defeat the Cross was found in the same place where Friar Valverde had let it fall for no Indian durst approach near it because perhaps it was like that which the Indians adored in Tumpiz believing that there was some Divinity or mysterious Power in that piece of Wood and being ignorant of the Religion of Christ our Lord they asked pardon for those offences by which they had provoked him to anger And now the Indians began to call to mind the ancient Prophecy delivered by Tradition from their Inca Viracocha whereby he not onely foretells the change of their Laws People and Government but also that their superstitions and religious Rites and Ceremonies should be consumed and perish by fire And in regard they were ignorant of the time when these things were to be accomplished whether now or hereafter both the King and his People were strook with such astonishment that they knew not what to determine nor did they resolve on any thing either defensive to themselves or offensive to the Spaniards onely they considered and worshipped them as Gods and Messengers of the Great Viracocha whom they adored under this denomination and belief Thus far this Relation is extracted out of the Papers of Blas Valera which I shall willingly quote hereafter in several parts of this following History for he was not onely a religious Man but one very curious in finding out the truth and sincere in laying down matters as they really were acted in which he was not satisfied by his Enquiries from Spaniards but likewise took his Informations from the Indians themselves For which reason wheresoever I find any thing of his tending to our purpose I shall quote them as authentick for their authority and in the mean time cannot but much
lament his lost leaves and scattered fragments CHAP. XXVI The Authour compares his own Writings with the Histories of Spaniards NOW to compare what we have said with the Writings of Spanish Historians we say that the Discourse of Friar Valverde and the Answer of Atahualpa are delivered very brief and in few words in all the printed Histories For the truth is the General and Captains were not very sincere or faithfull in the Narrative they gave of passages which occurred for to put the best gloss and colour they could on their actions they left out all their cruel and unjustifiable proceedings and added whatsoever they judged to have the best appearance What we have alledged concerning Atahualpa how that he ordered his Subjects to resist the Spaniards is confirmed by the authority of several Historians and particularly by Lopez de Gomara who in the 113th Chapter of his Book hath these Words It is very observable saith he that though the Indians came all armed yet not a Man lifted up his hand because the word of Command was not given nor the Signal shewed for Fight as was agreed in case that matters so required for it is probable the surprize was so sudden and the affrightment so great by the sound of the Trumpets the Vollies of the Musquets and roaring of the Cannon the rushing of the Horses and clattering of Armour things so unknown to these poor people as distracted them and put them besides their understandings and reason And a little farther he adds Great numbers of them perished because they did not fight whilst ours killed them with their Daggers slashing and stabbing them for Friar Valverde advised them not to use their Swords lest in that service they should be either blunted or broken Thus far are the Words of Gomara the which is likewise confirmed by other Authours who report that the Indians fled so soon as they saw their King taken Prisoner and that Atahualpa commanded them not to resist the Spaniards The which we may attribute to a Miracle of God's Providence who was pleased to conserve the Christians and not suffer them to perish whom he had designed to preach the Gospel For if the Inca had not commanded them not to fight certainly they would never have endured to see their Prince overthrown and taken for having Weapons in their hands they would rather have died all in his defence than have suffered 160 Spaniards whom they were able to have subdued with stones to commit such Outrages upon them instead whereof there was not one Spaniard either killed or wounded unless it were Francisco de Piçarro who received a little hurt in his hand by one of his own people as he went to seize Atahualpa The truth is the Indians did not fight because they held every Command of their Inca to be a part of their Religion and of the divine Law though it were to the loss of their Lives and Estates And as to what Historians report of Friar Valverde that he himself used his Weapons and encouraged the Souldiers to kill and destroy the Indians and stab them with Daggers to save their Swords and conserve them to another opportunity is a false report of those who wrote these passages into Spain where they might easily at 3000 Leagues distance obtrude what stories they pleased on the minds of Men for otherwise it is not to be imagined that a religious Friar a good Catholick and a Divine would utter such outragious words of Cruelty which became a Nero rather than a Person of his Coat and Profession and one who deserved the Dignity of a Bishop in that he died by the hands of the Indians for preaching the Catholick Faith Which having said let us return to the Series of our History CHAP. XXVII How the Spaniards took the king Atahualpa THE Spanish Horse sallying forth attacked the Squadrons of the Indians and ran them through with their Lances without any opposition and at the same time D. Francisco Piçarro and his Infantry assailed Atahualpa with all their fury for they imagined that in case they could once make themselves Master of that Jewel which was the King they should soon gain all the Treasures of Peru but the Indians with great numbers encompassing the Kings's Chair did not offend the Spaniards but onely endeavoured to defend and cover their King from hurt and mischief Howsoever the Spaniards wounded them on all sides and lanced them through the sides though they defended not themselves onely interposed their bodies between the King and the Spaniards in fine with much slaughter they opened their way to the King the first that came up to him was D. Francisco Piçarro who laying hold on his Vestments fell with him to the ground though some Historians say that he took him by the Locks which were very long but that was a mistake for the Incas wear very short Hair. In short the Spaniards having overthrown Atahualpa they took him Prisoner In confirmation of which truth Gomara hath these words There was not one Spaniard either killed or wounded onely Francisco Piçarro received a small hurt in his hand by a blow of one of his own Souldiers who strook at Atahualpa to knock him down whence it is reported that it was not Piçarro but another which took the King Prisoner With which Words Gomara ends his 113th Chapter Now to add unto his History what he hatly omitted as we have declared we would we aver that this Souldier was called Michael Astere who afterwards lived in the City of Huamanca where he possessed some Lands and commanded over the Indians When Atahualpa was fallen this Souldier took off the coloured Wreath which encircled his Temples the which was as his Crown or Laurel of Royalty and kept it for his prize which gave occasion for the report that Atahualpa was taken Prisoner by the Souldier and not by Piçarro but be the matter how it will since both vvere so near together and the thing doubtfull the Honour ought to be given to the chief Commander Hovvsoever Michael Astere kept the coloured Wreath by him untill the year 1557 vvhen he bestovved it on the Inca Sayritupac vvho then deserted the Mountains to vvhich he vvas retired as shall be related in its due place The Indians seeing their King taken and the Spaniards still pursuing them with wounds and slaughter staid no longer but all put themselves to flight but not being able to make their escape by the way for the Horse had possessed themselves of that pass they made towards a certain Wall built of freezed Stone in the time of the Great Inca Pachacutec when he had conquered Cassamarca and being in great multitudes and many hands they over turned above a hundred paces of the Wall and climbed over the Ruines over which the Horse not being able to follow them they escaped into the Plains And here a certain Authour saith that the Stones of these Walls were more tender and compassionate than the hearts of the Spaniards
expressed by the chearfulness of his Countenance his Words and Gestures And at last turning to his own People he said to the same purpose as Atahualpa had done when he first saw Hernando Piçarro and Hernando de Soto These Men said he are the true Sons of our God Viracocha for so they resemble him in their Behaviour in their Beards and Habits and therefore do justly challenge all Duty and Service from us according to the Commands enjoined us by our Father Huayna Capac as appears by his last Will and Testament CHAP. XII The Inca demands Restitution of his Empire and what Answer was returned to him thereupon THese Discourses being ended the Spaniards mounted on Horseback and the Inca into his Chair then the Governour took the Left hand of the Inca and his Brothers and the other Captains and Souldiers marched in the front each Company by it self one Company was commanded to bring up the Rere and a Guard of twenty four foot-Souldiers were ordered to attend and march by the Chair of the Inca. Thus when the Indians found themselves to join in one Body with the Spaniards they were highly pleased to be so honoured and esteemed worthy to associate and to join company with those whom they adored for Gods. In this order they entred into the City with great Joy and Triumph the Inhabitants going forth to meet them with Dances and Songs composed in Praise of the Viracochas for the poor people were overjoyed to see their Inca and to understand that the true and lawfull Heir which had escaped from the Tyranny of Atahualpa was now to succeed into the Throne of his Ancestours The Street through which the Inca was to pass was covered with a sort of their Rushes and Canes and some triumphal Arches erected at a certain distance each from the other decked with Flowers after the Fashion which they used at the Triumphs of their Kings The Spaniards conducted the King to one of the Royal Palaces called Cassana situate in the Market-place fronting to the Colosseo belonging to the Jesuites where they left him highly pleased and big with expectation to be restored to his Empire for measuring the good Intentions of the Spaniards by the kind reception which they gave him the Inca and his Attendants were fully persuaded that the days were now returned in which they should enjoy the ancient Peace Quiet and Freedom which flourished in the time of their Incas So soon as the King was settled in his Lodgings the Officers delivered the Presents which they had brought to the Governour and his Viracochas who received them with so many Thanks and kind Words that the Indians were infinitely pleased and overjoyed at the gratefull acceptance of them This was the onely happy day crowned with Honour and Contentment that this poor Inca had ever known in all the course of his former Life for in the time of his Brother Atahualpa he remained under great persecutions flying from place to place in perpetual dread and fear and the remainder of his Days untill the time of his Death admitted of little more Consolation than the former as we shall see hereafter in the Sequel of this Story When the Inca had a little reposed himself in his Lodgings he sent to Francisco Chaves and his Companions letting them know that he was desirous to see and to be acquainted with them on the good report and character he had received from his People concerning them so soon as they were come he embraced them with all demonstration of kindness and having drank with them according to the custome of the Incas he told them besides many other kind expressions that their Actions shewed them to be the true Off-spring of the God Viracocha and Brethren of the Incas because they endeavoured to deliver Atahualpa from Death which worthy Act he would ever acknowledge and recompence desiring them to esteem him for their Brother considering that they were all descended from the same Race and Lineage of the Sun and then he presented them with Vessels of Gold and Silver and pretious Stones which he had brought apart for this Gentleman and his Companions which were taken so kindly that Chaves in the name of the rest returned his Complement and said that they were all Servants of his Highness and would evidence so much when occasion should offer and that what they had endeavoured for his Brother was onely in compliance with their Duty and Obligation and that if he doubted of their Reality they desired him to make a trial of their good-will and services for him Then the Inca embracing them again dismissed them highly satisfied with the Presents he had made them of Jewels and of Gold and Silver Turquoises and Emeralds Two days after his Arrival the Prince Manco Inca proposed to the Governour that he might be restored to his Empiré according to the Articles agreed between the Indians and the Spaniards and that a firm Peace and an Alliance might be made between them That Priests should be sent to preach and propagate the Law of the Christians unto the Indians as the Spaniards had themselves proposed and that for what concerned the Inca to perform he was ready to give his orders that they should be well received and treated with high Veneration and Esteem in all the principal Provinces of the Empire where they would find the People very docible and willing to be instructed in their Faith upon the assurance they had received from their Father Huayna Capac who at the time of his death did attest that the Law of the Christians was better than our own And whereas this their Father had by his last Will and Testament ordained that his People should obey and serve the Spaniards they were ready to comply with his Injunctions therein and to resign so much and what part of the Kingdom they should desire into their Hands To which the Governour returned this Answer That his Highness was welcome to his own Imperial City and that he should rest and take his Repose with quietness and security That he was very well pleased to know his Will and Pleasure that so he might give him a proof of his readiness to comply with his Desires And that as to the Capitulations which were agreed they were so just and reasonable that nothing could be objected against the performance of them After which some Discourse past but very short for want of an Interpreter The next day the Governour holding a Consultation with his Brothers and the rest of the Captains touching the demand which was made by the Inca several opinions arose upon the Debate but it being considered that the possession of the Kingdom had no other meaning than the binding of the Inca's Head with the coloured Wreath the Governour with his Attendants went to the House of the Inca and without farther Preface or long Oration desired him to take immediate possession of his Empire for had he been acquainted with the custome of his
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-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-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
Carvajal utter with much passion and vehemence and was as good as his word as well to Friars as others according to the report of all Historians for such as he took who had revolted from him he punished with the utmost cruelty and torment but those who were onely Prisoners of War and had kept their side he used well and with some kindness endeavouring to bring them over to his own Party And now we shall leave Carvajal in his pursuit of Diego Centeno and return to Gonçalo Piçarro who was also in the pursuit of the Vice-king at the same time and almost in the same days CHAP. XXX Gonçalo Piçarro pursues the Vice-king so close that at length he drove him out of Peru. Pedro de Hinojosa sails to Panama with a Fleet of Ships belonging to Piçarro WE have before mentioned how that the Vice-king marched into Quitu and that Piçarro pursued him at the heels though his Souldiers were not less weary nor wanting of provisions than the others but rather more because the Vice-king marching before carried away all the provisions of the Countrey wheresoever they came howsoever so eager was Piçarro and so much concerned to put an end to these labours that he continued his pursuit day and night as Carate reports in the twenty ninth Chapter of his fifth Book in these words Gonçalo Piçarro pursued the Vice-king from the City of St. Michael's which was the place from whence he made his retreat as far as the City of Quitu which are an hundred and fifty leagues distant from each other and so hotly did he carry on this work that there was scarce a day but they saw each other and the Scouts often discoursed together and to be in greater readiness their Horses remained always sadled but if either Party was more vigilant than the other it was the Vice-king's for his men slept always in their Clothes holding their Horses by the Halter without Tents or Horse-clothes to cover them but necessity made them ingenious and taught them a remedy in that sandy Countrey where were no Trees to shelter them which was this So soon as they came to the place where they intended to quarter that night they filled certain Baggs or Sacks which they carried with them with Sand and having made a great hole they threw them in and covered them with Sand which they troad and trampled on and made it very firm so that the Horses could lie thereupon with much ease But besides all this both Armies suffered much for want of provisions and especially Piçarro's men who came in the pursuit for the vice-Vice-king wheresoever he passed raised all the Indians of the Countrey and the Caciques or Governours and took them with him that so the Enemy coming after might find all places dispeopled and unprovided and such was the great haste which the Vice-king made that he took with him eight or ten of the best Horse which could be procured in that Countrey which were led by Indians and in case any of his Horses happened to be tired on the way he maimed or disabled him in such manner that the Enemy could make no use of him And now in the way Captain Bachicao returned from the Voyage which we formerly mentioned and joyned with Gonçalo Piçarro bringing a recruit of three hundred and fifty Men twenty Ships and good store of Cannon and sailing along the coast which is nearest to Quitu he landed his Men in a place not far from the Forces of Piçarro with which additional auxiliaries Piçarro's Army amounted to eight hundred men of which many were principal persons of quality and note as well Inhabitants as Souldiers who came in with such frankness as no story can parallel under the Government of a Tyrant and an Usurper In that Province all Provisions were very plentifull and therein not long before they had discovered several rich Veins of Gold out of which the Spaniards whose lots fell there raised vast sums which they refused to yield to Piçarro and also denied the fifths to his Majesty or to be accountable for the Treasures of dead persons And here it was that Piçarro received intelligence that the Vice-king was advanced forty leagues from Quitu and was entred into a certain Town called Pasto within the Government of Benalcaçar And here he resolved to pursue him to that place which he accordingly did without delay or interruption for Gonçalo Piçarro staid but very little in Quitu and having overtaken the Enemy several skirmishes happened between parties on each side in that place which is called the Hot River And the Vice-king having advice that Piçarro was near at hand he quitted Pasto in great haste and marched up into the Countrey untill he came to the City of Popayan and Piçarro having still pursued him for twenty eight leagues farther where finding a desart and desolate Countrey and want of all provisions he resolved to return again to Quitu which he accordingly did after he had pursued the Vice-king for so long a time and through such a vast tract of Land as is before mentioned and we may confidently averr that from the City of Plate from which he first began his March to the City of Pasto are seven hundred leagues so long as may be computed to make a thousand of our ordinary leagues of Castile c. Thus far are the words of Carate to which other Historians add That the Vice-king having passed the River of Hot Waters did imagine that his Enemies would have remained satisfied therewith and desisted from all farther pursuit considering that they had driven him out of Peru and from the confines of their Jurisdiction and that now he should remain in peace and quiet untill some good opportunity should offer for his better advantage but he had not long pleased himself with these thoughts and scarce ended his discourse with his Captains concerning them before some Parties of Piçarro's Army appeared to them descending a Hill towards the River with the same haste and fury that they had formerly practised at which surprise the Vice-king lifted up his hands to Heaven and cried aloud and said Is it possible or will it ever be believed in Ages to come That men pretending to be Spaniards should pursue the Royal Standard of their King as they have done for the space of four hundred leagues as it is from the City of Los Reyes to this place and then raising his Camp with speed he proceeded forward that his Enemies might have no time to repose but Piçarro proceeded no farther but as we have said returned to Quitu where as Carate reports he became so elated with pride by reason of his many prosperous successes that his insolence became insupportable and then out of the fulness of his heart he would vent many bold sayings derogatory to the honour and Majesty of his King The King said he will be obliged whether he will or not to grant me the Government of Peru for he is sensible of
then Piçarro turning his face to John de Acosta said Brother John what shall we doe Acosta presuming on his valour more than on his own discretion answered Sir let us fight and dye like old Romans No said Piçarro it is better to dye like Christians Gomara upon this occasion Chap. 186 saith than his words were like a good Christian and a valiant Man for he judged it more honourable to surrender than to dye for that he had never turned his back to his Enemy c. And he adds farther that Piçarro still kept himself in a very excellent garb mounted on a brave Horse of a Chesnut colour he was armed with a Coat of Mail and over it a Wastcoat of Sattin well beaten with many doubles and on his Head he wore a Helmet and Bever of Gold c. Augustine Carate says that the Coat which he wore over his Arms was of an incarnation Velvet covered almost all over with bosses of Gold and that he said to John de Acosta since all people are going over to the King I also am going likewise c. Having said this he proceeded to the Royal Camp with those Captains who were contented to follow him namely John de Acosta Maldonado John Velez de Guevara and as he was going in this manner he met with Pedro de Villavicencio whom he observing to be well attended asked who he was and understanding that he was the Serjeant Major he said to him I am Gonçalo Piçarro and am going to render my self to the Emperour having said this he yielded up to him his Dagger which he carried in his hand for that as Carate saith he had broken and spent his Lance upon his own people which fled from him Villavicencio was very proud of this his good fortune and with many fair words returned him thanks for the great favour he had done him and therefore in complement would neither require his Sword nor his Dagger which was girt about him which was of considerable value the Hilt being all of beaten Gold proceeding a little farther he met with Diego Centeno who said my Lord I am heartily sorrow to see your Lordship in this condition Gonçalo Piçarro smiled hereat a little and replied Captain Centeno there is nothing to be said more upon this matter my business is finished to day to morrow you your selves will lament my fall and without interchanging more words he was carried directly to the President 's Quarters who received him in such manner as the three Authours agree whose words we will faithfully repeat Carate Book the seventh Chapter the seventh saith And so he was carried before the President between whom some speeches passing which were judged to be bold and seditious he was committed to the custody of Diego Centeno c. Gomara Chapter 186. saith Villavicencio being proud of such a Prisoner conducted him forthwith to the presence of Gasca who amongst many other questions asked of him whether he thought he had done well in raising War against the Emperour to which Piçarro replied Sir I and my Brothers gained this Countrey at our own cost and expence and therefore I thought it no crime to aspire unto the Government having his Majesty's word and Commission for it Gasca in anger twice commanded that he should be taken from his presence and the custody of him was committed to the charge of Diego Centeno who petitioned for the same Palentino Chap. 90th relates the discourse which passed on this occasion as follows Gonçalo Piçarro saith he was carried before the President and being alighted from his Horse he made his humble obeisance to him the President laid his faults before him and would have comforted him but Piçarro continuing still inflexible and obstinate answered That it was he who had gained that Countrey and putting a smooth gloss on his actions endeavoured to justifie whatsoever he had done which so provoked the President that he retorted very severely upon him in presence of many standers-by and told him plainly that whatsoever he could pretend had not sufficient force to cause him to swerve from the duty he owed to his Prince much less to become ungratefull and obdurate for granting that his Majesty had conferred the favour and honour on his Brother the Marquis to govern this Countrey yet considering that thereby he had raised both him and his Brothers from a mean and poor to a rich and high condition and advanced him from the dunghill to a considerable degree it ought to be so owned and acknowledged especially since in the discovery of that Countrey there was nothing due to him it is true his Brother might pretend to some merit therein but he understood so well the favours his Majesty had conferred upon him as to esteem himself obliged for ever to continue loyal and within the terms of duty and respect Piçarro would have made some reply but the President commanded the Marshal to take him away and deliver him into the custody of Diego Centeno Thus far Palentino and with him the other two Authours agree but all of them are so short in the relation they give of this matter that we think it necessary to recount the story more particularly as it passed which was this When Gonçalo Piçarro came to the place where the President was he found him alone with the Marshall for the other Commanders ashamed to see him whom they had denied and sold retired at some distance from them the ceremonies of respect which were made passed on Horseback for Piçarro did not alight seeing that every man kept himself on his Saddle as did also the President and the first thing he asked him was Whether he thought he had done well in raising the Countrey against the Emperour and making himself Governour thereof contrary to his Majesty's will and pleasure and in killing his Vice-king in a pitch'd Battel To which he made answer that he had never made himself Governour but was raised thereunto by the Judges who at the request and desire of all the Cities of the Kingdom had given him a Commission in pursuance and confirmation of that Act of Grace which his Majesty had conferred on his Brother the Marquis impowering him to nominate a person to succeed him after his life and that it was manifest and notoriously known to all the world that he was the person nominated by his Brother and that having gained the Kingdom it was but just that he should be made Governour of it And as to the Vice-king he was advised by the Judges as a thing lawfull and tending to the quietness and peace of the Empire and to his Majesty's service to drive out a person from amongst them who was so little fit and qualified for Government and as to his death he was not concerned in it but he having oppressed the people and put many to death without either Reason or Law was in revenge thereof killed by those whose Kindred Friends and Relations were murthered by him If those
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