by an Enemy Before break of day in the morning the King's Forces came to the place where the Enemy was fortified and without any noise endeavoured to surprize them before they who were on the other side of the River Amancay could hear any thing of their approach but whilst they moved thus softly they were discovered by an Indian belonging to Hernandez who presently ran to his Master and told him that the Enemy was near at hand Francisco Hernandez immediately caused an Allarum to be sounded and disposed his people in such places as were most for their security and on both sides Vollies of Musquets were interchanged without damage unto either for they fired at a great distance About nine a clock the Marshal brought his whole Army in sight of Hernandez and then the skirmish was renewed with more heat and courage than good discipline for the Rebels having considered the situation of the place ordered and disposed their Souldiers to the most advantage It was no plain or open Countrey where they were to fight but amongst Bushes and Trees and great Rocks and Caves by which the River Amancay passes Hernandez his Souldiers divided themselves into several parties and places covered and sheltered with Trees and Bushes The Marshal's men boldly and openly descended from a Hill and being come within Musquet-shot every one to signalize himself the better told his Condition and his Name who and what he was The Ensign of John Ramon named Gonçalo de Mata came so near the Enemy as to call to them and cryed out aloud I am Mata I am Mata one of those who lay close in the Bushes perceiving him within Musquet-shot answered him I am a Matador a Matador or a Killer of him and with that let fly at him and shot him full in the Breast with which he fell dead to the ground the like happened to others of which many were killed and wounded without seeing who hurt them And though the Marshal re-inforced the detachment with fresh Forces so that the Skirmish continued untill three a clock in the afternoon in which above forty principal persons were killed and wounded yet no advantage was gained by this Engagement amongst these a young Gentleman of about eighteen years of age called Don Felipe Enriquez had the misfortune to be slain and was much lamented by both Armies and Captain Ayrenaga was wounded The King's party having sustained this loss in the Skirmish were not a little cooled in their courage and abated in their mettle During the Fight two Souldiers belonging to Hernandez revolted to the Marshal one of which was called Sancho de Vayona and one Souldier of the Marshal's passed over to Hernandez named de Bilbao of whom we have formerly made mention and how he declared that wheresoever he first saw Hernandez he would fly to his Party The Skirmish being ended and the Souldiers retired Palentino Chapter the forty fourth saith That the Marshal entered into consultation with Lorenço de Aldana Gomez de Alvarado Diego Maldonado Gomez de Solis and other principal persons in the Camp to whom he signifyed the great desire he had to engage the Rebels upon assurance that Bayona the Souldier who was just then come over from the Enemy had given him that for certain they would never stand a shock but turn their backs at the first charge but Lorenço de Aldana and Diego Maldonado being of another opinion took him aside and persuaded him to decline an Engagement and to have patience for a while since he had such manifest advantages over the Rebels both in men and in the ground where they were encamped and moreover all the Indians and all that Countrey were disposed to favour and serve him As to the Rebels they had no other refuge or fortification than those Rocks and Woods in which being kept in by the Indians and as it were besieged on all sides they must in a short time be compelled by famine to one of these two things either to abandon their fast places and then they will either disband or separate of themselves or be easily routed by us or the greatest part of them will pass over to us without hazarding the life of any of those Loyal Gentlemen who are engaged in this quarrel all which will easily be effected by standing still without action and onely keeping a good watch and ward in case the Enemy should make an attempt and especially upon that high point of Land which runs out upon the River and which oversees both Camps which pass if he could make good he would be better fortified and secured than the Enemy In this advice and opinion most of the principal Officers concurred onely Martin de Robles to whom the Marshal had given the Company which belonged to Diego de Almendras and some few others were of a contrary opinion and insisted much to give them battel howsoever Lorenço de Aldana was so earnest in the matter that the Marshal promised and gave him his word that he would not fight And upon this resolution he dispatched a Messenger away presently to the Camp of the Justices to send him some small Field-pieces with a recruit of Musquetiers to play upon that point of the broken part of the Mountain which the Enemy had possessed for that driving them out from thence they would either be forced to yield or else to fight their way in open field Thus far Palentino by which appears the great desire of the Marshal to engage the Rebels contrary to the opinion of all his Officers and to the great and weighty reasons alleged by them which Council not being followed occasioned the ruine and destruction which insued as will speedily appear in what follows CHAP. XVI John de Piedrahita alarms the Camp of the Marshal Rodrigo de Pineda comes over to the King's Party and persuades them to give the Enemy Battel The debates thereupon The Marshal resolves to engage SO soon as it was night John de Piedrahita with a party of thirty six Musquetiers divided into three Companies alarm'd the Marshal's Camp in three several quarters which was not much regarded by them and onely a few shot returned to shew that they were not asleep so soon as the day began to break Piedrahita retired without effecting any thing onely he thereby gave occasion to Rodrigo de Pineda a Citizen of Cozco and Captain of Horse upon pretence and colour of giving assistence to Piedrahita to make his escape to the Marshal of which Palentino gives this account So soon says he as Rodrigo de Pineda was come to the Marshal he assured him that many if not the greatest part of Hernandez his Souldiers would have made their escape had it not been for the strict watch which is always kept and that in the night when he came over he found the River shallow and easie to be forded upon this advice the Marshal presently called a Council of all the Captains and men of Interest and Estates then abiding in the
took from them to bestow in Marriage upon those who had deserved well from him which seemed a favour to them both unto the one that the Inca would vouchsafe to receive and prefer his Daughter and to the other that he was pleased to bestow her on him with his own hand being for that reason esteemed pretious for not so much the gift as the Donor being regarded rendred the least present from the Inca's hand equal to the highest treasure as if it had something of Divinity conferred with it Sometimes though but seldom the Incas preferred their natural Daughters of the Royal Bloud to the Curacas and Governours of Provinces for Wives as signals of his favour and as engagements to them to continue in their Loyalty of which sort the Inca having many to bestow abroad had no necessity to have recourse to those for a supply who were entred in the Sacred and Royal Foundations for that would have been a diminution to their exalted Degree a violation to their Religion and an impiety to mix divine race with prophane Bloud CHAP. VII Of other Women who conserved their Virginity and of Widows BEsides these Virgins who lived Recluses in Cloisters under the Vow of perpetual Chastity there were many other Women of Royal Bloud who lived in retirement and vowed to conserve their Virginity though with liberty to go abroad and visit their nearest Relations and assist the sick and Women in their Travels and to be present at the Ceremony of shaving when they gave a Name to their first-born These Women were held in great Esteem and Veneration for their Chastity and purity of their Lives giving them by way of Excellency or of some Vertue Divine the Title of Occlo which signifies something of supereminent Sanctity and this their Chastity was not pretended or feigned but true and real for if any falsity or hypocrisie were discovered in it they burnt them alive or threw them to the Lions to be devoured I remember that I knew one of these that was very ancient and had never been married which they called Occlo sometimes she visited my Mother and as I have heard she was her Aunt by the Grandfather I can say I am a witness of the great respect they bore towards her and especially my Mother who for her Relation Years and Vertue behaved her self towards her with all imaginable Reverence and Veneration Nor must we here omit the Modesty and Vertue of Widows in general who for the first Year of their Widowhood kept themselves retired and free from all conversation there being very few of those who had not Children that married again much less those who were provided with them did ever return to a second Marriage but lived with Continence and Chastity for which reason the Laws were favourable towards them commanding Labourers to plow and cultivate their Lands before those of the Curacas with many other privileges which the favour of the Inca indulged to them The truth is it was a disparagement for a Man who was not a Widower himself to marry with a Widow for as they said he lost I know not what quality and repute by such a condescension And this is what is most observable in reference to Virgins and Widows and modest Women CHAP. VIII Of their Marriages in general and how their Houses were governed IT will now be proper in this place for us to treat of their Marriages and how they were joined together in the Kingdoms and Provinces subjected to the Inca In order hereunto it is to be noted that every year or every two years the King commanded his Officers to take an account of such young Men and Maidens of his Lineage as were marriageable within the City of Cozco that so they might be matched together the Maidens were to be of eighteen to twenty years of age and the young Men from twenty to twenty four and upwards under which age they were not esteemed to be of years of consent for that it was necessary they should be of a ripe age and judgment to govern their Families which could not be done by Children in their minority At the Ceremonies of Matrimony the Inca stood between the two Persons and casting his Eyes upon them both he called the Man by his Name and then the Woman and taking their hands into his joined them together which being the bond of Matrimony the Function was performed and being by the Inca consigned to their Parents they went home to the House of the Bridegroom's Father where the Wedding was kept for four or six days with great rejoycing This was the manner and form of their legal Marriages which for the great Favour and Honour the Inca had performed in this Function were called in their Language the Incan Couple The King having in this manner matched those of his own Lineage then the next day following the Officers for this Employment joined the Neighbourhood of the City with respect to that Division which we have mentioned at the beginning of this History of the Upper and the Lower Cozco The Houses which were appointed for the Habitation of the new married Couples who were Incas concerning whom we treat at present were prepared by the Indians of those Provinces whose charge it was according to such provision as was made in that case All the Furniture and Utensils of the Houses were provided at the charge of the Parents every one of their Kindred giving them something towards House-keeping which was all the Ceremony or Sacrifice performed at that Solemnity and though many Spanish Historians report divers other barbarous Customs in use at Marriages it is for want of a distinct knowledge of the Rites of one Province from another for in those Provinces indeed which were remote from Cozco and where the Seigniority and Rule of the Incas had not as yet arrived there may have been many absurd and impious Ceremonies in use which since have been corrected and abolished by the more wise and refined Government of the Incas But as to the true Politicks of the Incas they observed no other Form of Marriage than this before recited according to which the Curacas in their Provinces and the Governours in their respective Divisions conformed their discipline and as Fathers and Lords of their Countrey practised it in the same manner as did the Inca. And though the Inca who was Governour was present at the Marriages which the Curaca solemnized yet it was not to interpose or diminish the Authority of the Curaca therein but onely to approve that in the name of the King which the Curaca had performed by virtue of the power he exercised over his own Vassals When the Commonalty or ordinary sort married the Community of the People were obliged to build and provide them Houses and the Parents to furnish them It was not lawfull for any to marry out of his own Province or People but as the Tribes of Israel they were obliged to match within their own
they had found and pitched upon they cast down all the rows of Stones above them to ten or twelve degrees above them untill they came to those which fitted their occasions In this manner they wholly overturned and destroyed the Majesty of that noble and stately building unworthy of such a Fate and which will ever remain an object of great compassion to all Beholders the Spaniards were so expedite in the destruction of it that in my time there remained onely some few ruines which we have formerly mentioned The three great Rampires of Rock are still remaining because the Stones are so vast and weighty as cannot be removed howsoever they have disordered some of them in hopes of finding that Chain or Cable of Gold which Huayna Capac made for they had some intimation that it was buried there The good King Inca Yupanqui who was the tenth of the Incas was the first Founder of this abused and injured Fortress though others will have it begun by his Father Pachacutec because he had left the first draught and model of it and had made Provisions of great quantities of Stone and Rocks for the Building besides which there were no other Materials The whole Work was fifty Years before it was completed not being finished untill the Reign of Huayna Capac nor then neither as the Indians report for that the great Rock which rested in the way was designed for additional Buildings to it but to this and many other Buildings in divers parts of the Empire a stop and disappointment was given by the Civil Wars which arose not long after between the two Brothers Huascar Inca and Atahualpa in whose time the Spaniards made their Invasion and then those Destructions and Ruines followed which are apparent at this Day Royal Commentaries BOOK VIII CHAP. I. The Conquest of the Province Huacrachucu and whence that Name was derived THE Great Tupac Inca Yupanqui whose Name of Tupac signifies Brightness and Splendour and indeed the greatness of his Atchievements deserve no less a Title so soon as his Father was dead took upon him the coloured Wreath and having complied with the Obsequies Rites and Funeral Ceremonies and Sacrifices due to the memory of deceased Kings in which he spent the first Year of his Reign he took a Progress into the several Kingdoms and Provinces of his Empire for it was the constant Custome of the young Heir so soon as he came to his Sovereignty to shew himself to his Subjects that they might both know and love his Person and that both the publick Counsellers in Provinces and particular Persons might have opportunities to represent their Aggrievances personally to the King whereby the Judges and Ministers of Justice might with more care perform their Duties fearing to tyranize and oppress the people Having in these Journies and Visitations passed four long years with which his people remained highly satisfied and contented he decreed that fourty thousand Men should be raised and put in Arms against the following Year that so he might proceed forward in the Conquests and Designs which his Ancestours had projected The great pretence on which the Incas did most avail themselves and that which best covered the Ambition they conceived for enlargement of the Empire was a Zeal towards the Welfare of the Indians whose unhumane and bestial Customs they desired to reform and improve to a more moral and political way of living and to a knowledge and worship of his Father the Sun whom they owned and proclaimed for their God. The Army being raised and all things put in order for this Design and a Governour appointed for Rule of the City the Inca took his march by way of Cassamarca intending to invade the Province of Chachapuya which as Blas Valera says signifies the Countrey of stout Men it lies Eastward from Cassamarca the Men being very valiant and the Women beautiful These Chachapuyas adored Serpents and worshipped the Bird Cuntur for their principal God on report of which the Inca Tupac Yupanqui was greatly moved to reduce this Province to his Empire being famous in several respects but the approach to it was difficult the situation being mountainous and craggy and the people of it above forty thousand in number These Chachapuyas bound a Sling about their head for the dress and ornament of it being thereby distinguished from other Nations the manner and fashion of their Sling was different from other Indians being the chief Arms which they used in the War as they were to the Ancient Mayorâ—ons But before they came to the Province of Chachapuya they were to pass through another called Huacrachucu which is very large and great but the situation mountainous and the people fierce They wear for a devise and distinction on their heads or rather did wear it for now all those fancies are confounded a black Binder of Wool stitched with white flies and instead of a Feather upon it they carried the point of a Horn of a Deer or Stag whence they had the Name of Huacrachucu which is the horned Caps for Chuâ—â— signifies the Sash about the head and Huaâ—a a Horn. This people before they were subdued by the Incas adored Serpents and in their Temples and Houses set up their figures for Idols to be worshipped This Province offering it self in the way to Chachapuya was first to be subdued and accordingly orders were given to the Army to attack it the Natives appeared in defence of their Countrey supposing it impregnable and not passable for an Army and therefore at all the difficult passes opposed the Enemy in which Skirmishes many were slain on both sides Which being observed by the Inca and his Council they considered that in case they proceeded in that rigorous and forcible manner the consequence would be of great damage to their own people and the total ruine and extirpation of their Enemies To prevent which having gained some strong and fast places they sent their Summons and Proposals of Peace and Friendship as was the custome of the Incas by which they made known to them that the intention and design of the Inca was to doe them good as had all his Ancestours done to the other Nations they had subdued and not to tyranize but to bring them greater benefit than he could expect from them That they would doe well to cast their eyes for example or other Nations whose Lands or Possessions they had not taken away but iâ—â—roved by Aqueducts and other benefits That they had permitted the Curacas to enjoy the same Government which they formerly had having no other design in all their Wars and Actions than to force Men to Adore the Sun and reform them from their inhumane and bestial customs These Propositions afforded great matter of debate to this people for though many were of opinion that they ought to accept the terms of the Inca and receive him for their Lord yet the younger sort who were more in number and of less experience opposed the
Francisco Carvajal Major General to Gonçalo Piçarro marches into the Charcas 721. The Character given of him 723. Carvajal continues â—his pursuit after Diego Centeno 724. His Cruelty 725. Cepeda the Judge accompanies Piçarro and fights more like a Souldier than a Lawyer 738. Centeno acts by Strategem of War against Francisco Carvajal 739. Francisco Carvajal kills Lope de Mendoça and enters into the Charcas 743. Sends his Head to Arequepa and how he suppressed a Mutiny 745 746. His gratitude in Arequepa to Corncjo 809. Carvajal writes to Piçarro to proclaim himself King and his Reasons for it 747 748. The Strategem used by him at Huarina 796 801. Centeno and his other Captains come out of their Caves and appear for his Majesty 769. He fights with Pedro de Maldonado and enters into Cozco 777. He is chosen Commander in chief 778. An Agreement is made between him and Alonso de Mendoça 779. He gives an Account to the President of a Message sent to him by Piçarro 792. He is overcome at the Battel of Huarina 798. and flyes 803. His unfortunate death in the Charcas 861. The Contrera's by their leud Practices and Follies lose the Treasure they had gotten with their Lives 873. Cepeda the Judge advises Piçarro to make a Peace with the President 812. Cepeda's death 870. A Challenge between Paulo de Meneses and Martin de Robles and how the Quarrel was taken up 890. Carvajal gives Counsel to Piçarro which is rejected 818. He persuades Gonçalo Piçarro not to march out of Cozco p. 825. He is taken and imprisoned 834. His Discourse with Gasca the â—â—endent 835. He is visited in Prison and his Discourses with those who visited him 836 837. What he said and did on the day of his death 840 841. His Cloaths and quaint Sayings 843. Other like Passages of Carvajal and what befell a Boy who touched one of his Quarters 845. Carvajal the Lawyer his unfortunate death at Cozco 861. Carrillo commits great Robberies and the manner of his death 954. Caâ—â—te a Marquis designed for Vice-king of Peru 981. He arrives there 984. He issues out Orders to prevent Mutinies 985. He puts Vazquez Picdrahita and Alonzo Diaz to death notwithstanding their Pardons 986. He banishes thirty seven men of those into Spain who make Demands for their late Services 989. He contrives means to bring the Inca who was Heir to the Empire out of the Mountains 991. He raises Horse and Foot for security of the Empire 1000. His Death 1007. Castro the Lawyer is appointed Governour of Peru. D. DIvision of their Flocks how and of other strange Beasts 146. Divinations made from their Sacrifices 221. Distinctions made between the Kings and other Inca's 231. Devils struck dumb by a Sacrament 465. Diego Centeno pursues Alonso de Toro 721. The Division of Lands the second time 869. Duels in the Charcas 888. E. EDucation of young Noble-men at Court 252. Emeralds vide Pearls The Embassy and Presents sent by the Inca's to the Spaniards 440. Embassadours sent to Atahualpa 443. The Speech and the Inca's Answer 446. They return again to their Companions 448. Executions done on several Captains belonging to Piçarro 837. Egas de Guzman a bold Fellow causes an Insurrection in Potocsi 896. What happened thereupon p. 903. He is drawn and quartered 904. F. THE manner of Fishing used by the Indians 80. The Festivals kept up when they tilled the Grounds dedicated to the Sun 133. Festivals to the Sun how celebrated 217 219. How at those Feasts they drank one to the other 223. The third Festival to the Sun 257. The fourth Festival 258. Feasts at night to purifie the City 260. Fruits and Trees of the largest Size 320. Fruits of Spain 392. Fowle wild and tame 334 326 337. Fish taken in the four great Rivers 338. Of Flax Asparagus c. 395. The Faithfulness of the Indians to their Masters 487. The Foundation of the City of Los Reyes and Truxillo 521. Festivals of Joy made for Gonçalo Piçarro 703. The Festival of the H. Sacrament celebrated at Cozco by Indians and Spaniards 977. G. THE Government of the ancient Inca's 8. Gold and Silver given to the Inca's not as tribute but in Presents 141. Of Gold and Silver 344. Giants in the Countrey of Manta 363. Garçilasso de la Vega and his Companions meet difficulties in discovering the Countrey of Buena Ventura 565. Gaspar Rodriguez and his Friends pardoned 685. He is killed 687. De la Gasca a Lawyer is chosen by the Emperour Charles the Fifth to reduce Peru 755. His Commission and Arrival at Nombre de Dios 757. Pedro de la Gasca hath the Title of President sends Hernan Mexia to quiet disturbances at Panama raised by Pedro de Hinojosa 759. Sends an Ambassadour to Gonçalo Piçarro 761. His Letter to him 764. He departs from Panama and goes to Tumpiz 772. He arrives there and issues out Orders 781. He comes to Sausa 792. He receives the ill News of the defeat of Centeno 811. His departure from Sausa and arrival at Antahuaylla 815. He comes to the River Apurimac and the Difficulties he found in the passage 823. Gasca the President marches towards Cozco p. 826. He publishes new Orders for the Suppression of Rebels 851. With what Difficulty he answers the Importunity of Pretenders 852. His Letter to them 853. He goes to Los Reyes and leaves Cozco ibid. His great Cares and Troubles he suppresses Mutinies his great Patience 863. He embarques for Spain 869. He recovers the Treasure he had lost 875. He arrives in Spain 876. Giron vide Hernandez A great Galeon with Eight hundred People therein how burned 982. H. OF their Handicraft-trades and Work p. 52. The High-priest his Name c. 90. Huswifery of the Women 112. Hanco-huallu the Valiant flies out of the Empire 177. Huntings how made 194 195. Of the Huanacu ibid. Huamachucu the good Curaca how reduced 207. Huacrachucu conquered by the Inca's 301. Huayna Capac's three Marriages His Father's Death and Sayings 316. A Chain of Gold made by Huayna Capac as big as a Cable 349. Huayna Capac his Valour 359. His Sayings relating to the Sun 365. He receives intelligence that the Spaniards sail along the Coast of Peru 371. His last Testament and Death 374. Horses and Mares how first bred in Peru and of the great Prices of them 376. Of Hens and Pigeons 385. Herbs for Gardens and other Herbs 393. Huascar raises Forces to resist his Brother Atabaliba 400. He demands Succour and Justice from the Spaniards 466. Huascar's death 469. Hinojosa named Pedro sails with a Fleet of Ships belonging to Piçarro unto Panama 726. Huarina vide Battel Hinojosa takes Vela Nunnez in his Voyage 728. He delivers the Fleet of Piçarro into the hands of the President Gasca 762. The great Estate given him 855. Hostages are sent between the President and Gonçalo Piçarro and the Caution used therein 783. Hernandez Giron greatly discontented and why p. 857. He receives a
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
Lands and make out limits and bounds to their several partitions but this was not done in an artificial manner but by their lines and small stones which they used in all their Accounts As to their Geography they knew how to decypher in colours the Model of every Nation with the distinct Provinces and how they were bounded I have seen an exact Map of Cozco with the parts adjacent and the four principal ways to it perfectly described in a sort of Mortar compounded with small stones and straw which delineated all the places both great and small with the broad Streets and narrow Lanes and Houses which were ancient and decayed and with the three streams running through it all which were described with great curiosity Moreover in this Draught the Hills and Valleys the turnings and windings of the Rivers were made to appear so plain that the best Cosmographer in the World could not have exceeded it The use of this Model was to inform the Visitors which they called Damian of the extent and division of the Countries whensoever they went by the King's Commission to survey the Province and number the people within the precincts of Cozco and other places this Model which I mention was made in Muyna which the Spaniards call now Mohina and is distant about five Leagues from the City of Cozco towards the Zur the which I had opportunity to observe being then present with the Visitors who went to number the Indians that inhabited the Division of Garçilasso de Vega My Lord and Master In Arithmetick they knew much and were skilled in a peculiar manner and nature in that Science for by certain knots of divers colours they summed up all the accounts of Tribute and Contributions belonging to the revenue of the Inca and thereby knew how to account and discount to subtract and to multiply but to proportion the respective Taxes on every Nation by way of division they performed it in another manner by granes of Mayz or Pebbles which served in the place of Counters And because it was necessary that Accounts should be kept of all charges relating to War and Peace that the People and the Flocks and Herds of Cattle should be numbred that the payment of Tributes and the like should be registred and noted there were certain Persons appointed for that work who made it their study and business to be ready and skilfull in Accounts and because perhaps one Person was appointed to keep the reckonings of three or four distinct things as Accountant General which seems difficult to be performed by the way of their threads and knots we shall discourse it hereafter more at large in what manner they distinguished their Accounts of divers businesses Of their Musick In Musick they arrived to a certain Harmony in which the Indians of Colla did more particularly excell having been the Inventors of a certain Pipe made of Canes glued together every one of which having a different Note of higher and lower in the manner of Organs made a pleasing Musick by the dissonancy of sounds the Treble Tenor and Basse exactly corresponding and answering each to other with these Pipes they often plaid in consort and made tolerable Musick though they wanted the Quavers Semiquavers Aires and many Voices which perfect the Harmony amongst us They had also other Pipes which were Flutes with four or five stops like the Pipes of Shepherds with these they played not in consort but singly and tuned them to Sonnets which they composed in meetre the Subject of which was love and the Passions which arise from the Favours or Displeasures of a Mistress These Musicians were Indians trained up in that art for divertisement of the Incas and the Curacas who were his Nobles which as rustical and barbarous as it was it was not common but acquired with great Industry and Study Every Song was set to its proper Tune for two Songs of different Subjects could not correspond with the same Aire by reason that the Musick which the Gallant made on his Flute was designed to express the satisfaction or discontent of his Mind which were not so intelligible perhaps by the words as by the melancholy or chearfulness of the Tune which he plaid A certain Spaniard one night late encountered an Indian Woman in the Streets of Cozco and would have brought her back to his Lodgings but she cryed out For God's sake Sir let me go for that Pipe which you hear in yonder Tower calls me with great Passion and I cannot rufuse the summons for Love constrains me to go that I may be his Wife and he my Husband The Songs which they composed of their Wars and grand Atchievements were never set to the Aires of their Flute being too grave and serious to be intermixed with the pleasures and softnesses of Love for those were onely sung at their principal Festivals when they commemorated their Victories and Triumphs When I came from Peru which was in the Year 1560. there were then five Indians residing at Cozco who were great Masters on the Flute and could play readily by book any Tune that was laid before them they belonged to one Juan Rodriguez who lived at a Village called Labos not far from the City and now at this time being the Year 1602. 't is reported That the Indians are so well improved in Musick that it was a common thing for a Man to sound divers kinds of Instruments but Vocal Musick was not so usual in my time perhaps because they did not much practise their Voices though the Mongrils or such as came of a mixture of Spanish and Indian bloud had the faculty to sing with a tunable and a sweet Voice CHAP. XV. The Poetry of the Inca's Amautas who were Philosophers and of the Haravec who were Poets THe Amautas who were Men of the best ingenuity amongst then invented Comedies and Tragedies which on their solemn Festivals they represented before their King and the Lords of his Court. The Actors were not Men of the common sort but Curacas or some of the young Nobility and Officers of the Souldiery because every one acted his own proper part the plot or argument of their Tragedies was to represent their military Exploits and the Triumphs Victories and Heroick Actions of their renowned Men and the subject or design of their Comedies was to demonstrate the manner of good Husbandry in cultivating and manuring their Fields and to shew the management of domestick Affairs with other familiar matters So soon as the Comedy was ended the Actors took their places according to their degrees and qualities These Plays were not made up with interludes of obscene and dishonest farses but such as were of serious entertainment composed of grave and acute sentences fitted to the place and auditory by whom the Actors were commonly rewarded with Jewels and other Presents according to their merit Their poetical Verses were composed in long and short Meetre fitted to amorous Subjects and the Tunes to which
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
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
with his Family into the Mountains of Antis where he suffered the fate of other Tyrannical Usurpers and there most miserably perished CHAP. V. Of two Skirmishes between the Indians and the Spaniards THE Governour Don Pedro de Piçarro and his fellow Souldiers which with the recruits that Almagro brought with him made up the number of about three hundred and fifty Spaniards marched carelesly towards Cozco and with such security as if they had no Enemy to encounter and as if the whole Kingdom had been their own travelling from one Town to another as in their own Countrey without fear or apprehension of any thing Carate in the 8th Chapter of his second Book touches on this particular and relates a brave Exploit performed by the Indian Captains as we shall see hereafter though he varies something from others in their Names The Inca Titu Atauchi Brother of Atahualpa seeing the King a Prisoner and his Ransome agreed travelled into divers parts of the Kingdom to collect all the Gold and Silver he was able that therewith he might purchase the freedom of his Brother and being returned as far as Cassamarca with vast riches in Gold and Silver he received news of the Death of his Brother and that the Spaniards were departed for Cozco and securely travelling on their way thither in no order or posture to receive an Enemy the which when Titu Atauchi had heard and considered he disburthened himself of his Riches and having gathered and joyned what forces he could in a Body he pursued the Spaniards as far as to the Province Huayllas and amongst the people called Tocto where with six thousand Men he made an assault upon the Spaniards and took eight of them Prisoners who were as yet in their Quarters amongst which was Sancho de Cuellar who was the Clerk that drew up the Indictment and Sentence of Death against Atahualpa Carate touches upon this passage and says it was Quizquiz that did this Exploit but he mistakes one for the other and makes no mention of any taken Whilst matters passed thus in Huayllas the Spaniards had another Skirmish with the Indians who were Commanded by Major-General Quizquiz one of the most famous Captains belonging to Atahualpa of whom we have already made mention For he having at Cozco received advice that his King was taken and made a Prisoner marched with his Squadron consisting of eleven or twelve thousand Men towards Cassamarca to endeavour either by fair or foul means the releasement of his Inca but meeting with the Spaniards on his march thither he engaged with them and fought a stout Battel which Historians relate in short and confusedly but much in favour of the Spaniards The truth of what passed is this Quizquiz having understood by his Scouts that the Spaniards were approaching and that they marched carelesly and without order he laid an Ambuscade within the Woods and Rocks and having ranged his Men in a half circle he attacqued them in the Rere with such bravery that four Spaniards were wounded and ten or twelve Indians their Servants were killed The Governour who marched in the Van-guard being Allarum'd at the surprize of his Rere detached two Captains of Horse for the succour and relief of them supposing that the Indians upon sight of the Horse would immediately run and be put to flight as formerly they had done in Cassamarca where they abandoned and forsook their King. So soon as the Horse came up to the Station of Quizquiz he made a feigned retreat to certain Rocks and Mountains where the Horse could not pass nor doe any service continuing still a defensive Fight as they retired entertaining the Spaniards with a Skirmish for the space of three hours by which time their Horses became faint and tired of which the Indians taking advantage sallied forth with that whole Body which by the Command and Conduct of Quizquiz were lodged within the Rocks and Mountains and assailed the Spaniards with such fury that they killed seventeen of them though a certain Historian mentions onely five or six besides some that were wounded and others taken Prisoners and the rest escaped by the swiftness of their Horses Of the Indians seventy were slain those that were taken were Francisco de Chaves who was one of the Chief Commanders Pedro Gonçales who was afterwards an Inhabitant of Truxillo Alonso de Alarcon Hernando de Haro Alonso de Hojeda who some years afterwards fell into so deep a melancholy that he lost his senses and understanding and died in Truxillo also Christopher de Horozco a Native of Seville John Diaz a Gentleman of Portugal besides several others of less account whose Names time hath abolished Alonso de Alarcon was taken by the fall of his Horse with which his Leg was broke short off at the Knee and though the bone was afterwards set by the Indians who took great care of him and of the others who were wounded yet he remained lame for ever after Quizquiz having gained this advantage like an experienced Captain would not stay untill the remainder of the Spanish Forces were come up but retreated with his people towards Cassamarca to meet with Titu Atauchi Brother of the late King who as he had heard was on his march And to cut his way as short as he could he passed a great River and then burnt the Bridge because it was made of Osiers that so the Spaniards might not be able to follow in the pursuit of them Having met with the Inca Atauchi they both agreed to return to Cassamarca there to consider of Affairs and to treat of those things which might conduce to the common good and welfare of the people and so accordingly they proceeded CHAP. VI. The Indians put Cuellar to Death and enter into Articles with the other Prisoners SO soon as the Inca Titu Atauchi and Quizquiz were entred into Cassamarca with the Spaniards their Prisoners they examined the Indians concerning the Death of their King Atahualpa and being informed that Cuellar had been Clerk and drawn up the Indictment and made all the Process against Atahualpa and had been present to see their King executed And being likewise informed that Francis de Chaves and Hernando de Haro and others then Prisoners had appeared in favour of Inca Atahualpa and that they interceded for his Life and Liberty with such heat and earnestness that they adventured their own lives in his cause Upon which full hearing and information of the matter Titu Atauchi and Quizquiz and the other Captains resolved that the Clerk Cuellar for his bold attempt on the Life of their King and for having notified the Sentence should be put to death in the same form and manner as their King was executed But as to the other Spaniards out of respect to Francis de Chaves and Hernando de Haro who had appeared in favour of their Inca order was given for their Cure and that they should be well treated and civilly used and that being recovered of their wounds they
those who leaped out of the Windows stood to it and joyned with their Masters 't is very probable they might have been able to have resisted and overcome them but when a mischief once comes with surprize it is hardly prevented by humane Counsels That Negro which Gomara says vvas killed by these Villains vvas one vvho hearing the busle came up the stairs to help his Master or to dye vvith him but vvhen he came to the door he understood that he vvas already killed vvherefore he intended to have locked and barred the door so as to have kept them in untill he could have called the Justice But as the Negro vvas shutting and fastning the doors one of the Assassinates happened to come out and guessing at the intention of the Negro sell upon him and stabbed him to death with his Dagger There were seven killed on the side of the Marquis amongst which the Servant of Chaves was one soon after which the saction of Almagro went out into the Market-place and published their Victory This was the fate of that good Marquis who perished rather by the negligence and obstinacy of his own People than by the power and strength of his Enemies Upon the news of his Death a great tumult was raised through the whole City some cried out they have wounded the King by the Death of the Marquis others with a loud voice proclaimed the Tyrant is dead and the Murther of Almagro revenged With this manner of noise and confusion many of these different parties both of one side and of the other ran out from their Houses to favour their respective Factions upon which quarrels and disputes several were killed and wounded but so soon as it was known that the Marquis was killed all his party retired and the point was decided Then those of Chili brought forth Don Diego Almagro Junior proclaiming him King of Peru. The tumult of that of that day being ceased he was sworn by the Corporation of that City to be Governour of that Countrey none daring to contradict or question whatsoever that prevailing party required In pursuance hereof the late Ministers and Officers of Justice were all displaced and others appointed in their steads The rich and powerfull Men were all imprisoned and those of any Estates in los Reyes which were ill affected were all seized and their Goods confiscated Then they took all the Fifths belonging to the King which being already gathered amounted to a vast sum In like manner all the Goods and Estates of such as were dead or absent and esteemed Malignants or ill affected were seized and converted to the use of their own party who being poor as we have before mentioned had need thereof to repair their fortunes John de Rada was the Person nominated for General John Tello de Guzman a Native of Seville and Francis de Chaves a near Kinsman of the other Francis de Chaves who was killed with the Marquis were made Captains for it is one of the essential miseries of Civil War for Brothers to fight against Brothers Likewise Christopher Sotelo received a Commission to be a Captain and others were nominated for other Offices At the news of these alterations all the idle Spaniards and Vagabonds which were void of employment in Peru came flocking to the City of los Reyes so that in a short time Almagro had composed an Army of more than eight hundred Men In confidence of which force he dispatched his Orders and Commands to Cozco and all the Cities of Peru namely to Arequepa to the Charcas and to all places along the Sea-coast of Truxillo and to the Inland Countries of the Chachapoyas to receive and acknowledge him for absolute Lord and Governour over all the Empire One or two Cities complied and obeyed rather out of fear than love because they had not power to make resistence against fifty Men which were sent against them but other Cities refused to submit as will presently appear It is a common phrase in the Language of Peru to say Up the Coast and down the Coast not that upon the Sea which is a Plain there can be Up or Down but it is a term used in the New Navigation in respect to the South-wind which always blows Trade or the same way in those Seas Panama lying to Lee-ward of Peru so on the contrary those who Sail from Panama to Peru must turn to Wind-ward which is as it were up-hill as the other is down John de Rada as we have said having had a great hand in the late Revolution took upon him to Issue out all Commissions in the Name of Almagro without communicating the sense or substance thereof to his other Companions who had been equally concerned with him in the Murther of the Marquis which was the cause of much spleen and malice amongst the principal Men so that they began to bandy amongst themselves and contrive ways in what manner to kill him The Plot being discovered Francisco de Chaves endured the Wrack and afterwards was hanged being the Ring-leader of this Conspiracy several others were likewise for the same cause put to death amongst which Antonio de Orihuela a Native of Salamanca was one though lately come from Spain having on the way from thence said that the party which now ruled were a company of Tyrants after which rash saying he was ill advised to adventure his life in their hands Garcia de Alvarado was one of those Officers whom Almagro employed to take possession of Towns and Plantations for his use and to levy Souldiers and to plunder Horses and to disarm all those of the contrary party who had command over Indians or any power being esteemed for Enemies to the Government Accordingly he went to Truxillo where he discharged Diego de Mora from being Judge of that place though he had been deputed in that Office by Don Diego de Almagro but having kept a correspondence with Alonso de Alvarado who was of the contrary faction he was esteemed for one disaffected and not fit for that employment In the City of St. Michel he put Francisco de Vozmediano and Hernando de Villegas to death besides other Outrages And in Huanucu he killed Alonso de Cabrera who had once been Steward to Francisco Piçarro because he had made a party to joyn together and fly to the King's Forces Another instrument or Officer they had procured named Diego Mendez who went to the Town of Plate in the Charcas which they found without people because they had all dispersed themselves by several ways to meet at Cozco and to declare for the King as will presently appear Howsoever Diego Mendez took great quantities of Gold in that Town which the Spaniards had with privity of the Indians hidden and concealed but such was the cowardise of that poor-spirited people that upon the least threat they immediately made a discovery Moreover he made a seizure of sixty thousand Pesos of refined Silver digged from the Mines of del Porco for as
been expected from his years not having passed above the Age of twenty Nor did he forbear to commend the Courage of several Captains of the contrary party who had carried themselves bravely in the Action of that day In a particular manner he took notice of the stout resolution and Military behaviour of Francisco de Carvajal who without fear either of the great or small Shot marched boldly at the head of his Men being ever intent and ready to apply his succour and relief where it was most required Of all which Actions the Governour was the best Judge and could give the best account of them in regard he was retired to a place from whence he could have a prospect of all that passed The principal Persons on his Majesty's side who signalized themselves in this Engagement were the Major-General Gomez de Tordoya the Agitant Yllen Suarez de Carvajal and his Brother Benito de Carvajal John Julio de Hojeda Thomas Vasquez Lorenço de Aldana John de Saavedra Francisco de Godoy Diego Maldonado who afterwards obtained the Sir-name of the Rich John de Salas Brother of the Arch-bishop of Sevile Alonso de Loaysa Brother of the Arch-bishop of los Reyes Geronimo de Loaysa John de Pancorvo Alonso Maçuela Martin de Meneses John de Figueroa Pedro Alonso Carrasco Diego de Truxillo Alonso de Soto Antonio de Quinnones and his Brother Suero de Quinnones and his Cousin Pedro de Quinnones who had been an old Souldier in Italy and were all three near in Kindred to the Governour Gaspar Jara Diego Ortiz de Guzman Garcia de Melo who lost his right hand in the Battel Pedro de los Rios a Native of Cordova Francisco de Ampuero Don Pedro Puertocarrero Pedro de Hinojosa John Alonso Palomino Don Gomez de Luna the Elder Brother of Garçilasso de la Vega Gomez de Alvarado Gaspar de Rojas Melchior Verdugo Lope de Mendoça Juan de Barbaran Miguel de la Serna Geronimo de Aliaga Nicolas de Ribera and Geronimo de Ribera who for distinction sake we have in the other part of this Book called Ribera Senior and Ribera Junior All which and many others whose Names we cannot call to mind did that day in the Battel signalize their Valour in an extraordinary manner for fighting in the front of their Companies most of them were wounded In short there was not one Man of note in all Peru as Gomara affirms but was engaged in the Battel of that day on his Majesty's side On the King's party three hundred Spaniards were slain many also were killed on the other though not so great a number the Battel was very bloudy the slaughter fell much upon the Captains of which most of them were killed four hundred were wounded of which most dyed with cold that night it happening to freeze very sharply These are the Words of Gomara and therewith he ends the 150th Chapter of his History Of Almagro's side two hundred were slain so that Gomara with much reason terms it a bloudy Battel for of fifteen hundred Men on both sides five hundred were slain and five hundred wounded of which last four hundred were of the King's side and but one hundred of Almagro's There was one of the King's Souldiers so cruel that after the Battel was ended he killed eleven of the Almagrians in cold bloud of which evil Act he made great boast saying that in such a place they had robbed him of eleven thousand pieces of Eight in revenge of which he had killed eleven of them Many other things of this nature passed that night and the reason why so many of those wounded were frozen to death was because the Indians finding them unable to help and defend themselves made bold to strip them of all their cloathing leaving them naked and exposed to the weather without regard to either side or party of which there could no distinction be made in the night and if there had yet the Indians whose business it was to pilfer would not have forborn on any small consideration or complement to either side Nor could the Conquerours for the present take that due care of their wounded because the Carriages with their Tents not being come up they were all forced to lodge in the open Air onely they made a shift to set up two Tents wherein they made an Accommodation for Gomez de Tordoya Pedro Ancures Gomez de Alvarado and Garçilasso de la Vega who were all mortally wounded others who had received some slighter hurts endured the open Air which caused their wounds so to smart that it was grievous to hear the groans sighs and cries which they uttered Nor did the Indians spare those who were fled out of the Battel taking the courage to pursue and assail Men in their flight so that they killed John Balsa on the way with ten or twelve others of his companions without any regard or respect to his Quality or Character of Captain-General in like manner they killed many other Spaniards who fled out of the Battel in divers parts But so soon as it was day the Governour sent abroad to bring in the wounded taking care to have their wounds dressed And as for the dead they buried them together in four or five large Graves which were made for them into which they cast them all without distinction excepting onely Pedro Alvarez Holguin and Gomez de Tordoya de Vargas with some other noble and principal Persons whom they carried to Huamanca and there celebrated their Funerals with what decency they were able Above a hundred Horse and fifty or sixty Foot fled from the Battel and escaped to the City of Huamanca but being pursued by those few who remained Masters of the Field were again defeated they yielding up their Horses and Arms upn conditions of Quarter for their lives And as that day they performed an Act of Charity in the burial of the Dead so likewise they performed an Act of Justice in punishment of the Offenders for having found the Bodies of Martin de Bilbao and Arbolacha and Hinojeros and Martin Carillo amongst the Dead who cried out in the Battel on purpose to be killed that they were the persons who had Assassinated the Marquis and though they were then cut in pieces yet according to a new form of Justice they were afterwards drawn and quartered the Cryer at the same time publishing their offence the like piece of Justice was executed on other insolent and rebellious persons The day following the Governour went to Huamancu where he understood that Captain Diego de Rojas had killed Captain John Tello de Guzman and Pedro d' Onnate who was Major-General to Almagro the punishment of other Offenders was referred by the Governour to Judge de la Gama who condemned all the principal Leaders of the Almagrian party to dye who were taken and imprisoned at Huamanca such as Diego de Hoces Antonio de Cardenas whose throats he caused to be cut and hanged John Perez Francisco
Cypher and a suspicion of the Agent 's faithfulness and shewing them to the Judges demanded their opinion whether they were not ground sufficient to put him to death to which the Judges replied that it were convenient first to know the contents of them Hereupon the Agent was called for who coming did not seem as they say to be startled or change his countenance though he was severely treated with sharp words but took the paper and read it without hesitation Doctour John Alvarez noting the words which he read the sum or substance of all the Cypher was the number of Souldiers that were with Piçarro and what his intentions were who were in his favour and who not and in fine declared that he would watch his opportunity to slip away and come to the service of the Vice-king so soon as he could disengage himself according to the Counsel which the Agent had given him After which the Key of the Cypher was called for and the matter being thereby disclosed it was found to agree with the interpretation given by the Agent and to verifie the truth thereof Benito Carvajal came to Lima two or three days after Blasco Nunnez was seised not knowing any thing of the death of the Agent Thus far are the words of Gomara Howsoever there still remained upon the mind of the Vice-king such a jealousie of the Agent that like an evil Spirit it still haunted and followed him never suffering him to be at rest untill at last the direfull effects thereof broke out in the very Chamber of the Vice-king where the Agent was assassinated without any cause or reason for it which struck a greater terrour into the minds of the people on this side than was the late consternation in the Camp of Gonçalo Piçarro so that neither Party was free from Tragedies of their own And particularly here happened out one the night following occasioned by the flight of Baltasar de Castilla and others afore-mentioned The three Authours report this History almost in the same manner and first we shall repeat what the Accountant Augustine Carate says upon this Subject and then we shall add that from the others which he hath omitted That which he relates in the eleventh Chapter of his fifth Book is as follows and herewith we will return to the Subject of our History Some few hours after Don Baltasar de Castilla and his Companions were departed from the City of Los Reyes in pursuit of Loaysa as is before-mentioned the matter was not so secretly carried but that it came to the knowledge of Captain Diego de Urbina who was Major-General to the Vice-king for he going his Rounds in the night through the City and calling at the Houses of some of these who were fled neither found them at home nor their Arms nor Horses nor the menial Indian Servants which belonged to them upon which suspecting what was faln out he directly went to the Vice-king's Lodgings who was then in Bed and told him that he had reason to believe that the greatest part of the people had deserted the City The Vice-king was greatly troubled as was reason at this report and arising from his Bed gave immediate order to sound an alarm and that every man should stand to his arms and calling his Captains gave them order to go from House to House and make enquiry who were absent that so he might be informed of the number of those who were departed And having accordingly made search and found that Diego de Carvajal Jeronimo de Carvajal and Francisco de Escobedo were missing who were Kinsmen of Agent Yllen Suarez de Carvajal it was instantly believed that he was engaged in the Plot and in favour of Gonçalo Piçarro for it could not be imagined that his Kinsmen could have acted herein without his consent or at least without his knowledge in regard they all lodged under the same Roof and onely had two different Door to each Apartment but for better assurance of what was suspected the Vice-king sent his Brother Vela Nunnez with a guard of Musquetiers to bring the Agent before him and he being in Bed they caused him to rise and dress himself and so carried him to the Lodgings of the Vice-king who having not slept all night was laid upon his Bed with his Arms on to take some little repose And the Agent being introduced by way of the Court-yard-gate those who were then present report that the Vice-king presently arose and said Is it so Traitour that thou hast sent away thy Kinsmen to serve Gonçalo Piçarro To which the Agent made answer I beseech your Lordship not to call me Traitour for in reality I am not so then replied the Vice-king I swear by God that thou art a Traitour to the King. I swear by God said the Agent I am as good a Servant to the King as your Lordship At which words the Vice-king became so enraged that coming in his fury to him he stabbed him in the breast with his Dagger though the Vice-king denied to have done it himself but that his Servants and Halbardiers of his Guard hearing how insolently he answered gave him so many wounds with their Halberts and Partisans that he dyed upon the place without so much time as to confess or speak one word And lest being a person generally well-beloved the manner of his death should cause some mutiny and disturbance amongst the Souldiers of which an hundred every night kept watch within the yard of the House the Vice-king gave order to have his Corpse conveyed away by a certain private Gallery leading to the Market-place where some few Indians and Negroes received it and buried it in a Church near thereunto without other Shroud or Winding-sheet than onely his own Scarlet Cloak which he usually wore Three days after which when the Judges seised on the person of the Vice-king as we shall relate hereafter one of the first things they laid to his charge was the death of the Agent and the Preamble to their Process was that being carried about midnight into the House of the Vice-king he never since that time appeared and it was proved that they had wounded and buried him So soon as this murther was made publick it occasioned much talk and murmuring in the Town for every one was assured that the Agent was a true Friend to the vice-Vice-king and his Cause having been the chief Instrument to persuade the Town of Los Reyes to receive him against the sense and opinion of the major part of the Judges These matters happened out upon Sunday at night being the thirteenth day of September 1544. Thus far are the words of Carate which are confirmed also by Diego Fernandez who in the seventeenth Chapter of his Book adds this farther They conveyed says he his Corpse by a certain Gallery and buried them in a corner or nook of the great Church near adjoining thereunto but some few hours after that his anger grew cool and that the
the Inhabitants he designed to transport the Citizens Wives by Sea in such Ships as were then in Port and the Souldiers were to march by Land along the Sea coast And for the City it self he resolved to dismantle it and demolish the Walls break down the Mills and carry all things away which might be for subsistence of the Enemy and drive the Indians from the Sea-coast into the in-land Countries supposing that Piçarro coming thither with his Army and finding no subsistence must either disband or his men perish The Vice-king having communicated these his Intentions to the Judges they boldly and openly opposed him telling him plainly that the Royal Courts of Judicature could not remove out of the City for that their Commissions from his Majesty obliged them to act in that place and therefore they desired to be excused if they refused to accompany his Lordship or to suffer their houses to be demolished Herewith an open quarrel arose between the Judges and the Vice-king declaring a different interest to each other the Inhabitants inclined to the side of the Judges in opposition to the Vice-king positively refusing to commit their Wives and Daughters into the hands of Seamen and Souldiers Hereupon the Vice-king arose from the conference he held with the Judges without any determination Howsoever as to his own person he resolved to embark himself and to go by Sea and that his Brother Vela Nunnez should march away by Land and in order thereunto he commanded Diego Alvarez Cuero as Carate reports in the eleventh Chapter of his fifth Book to guard the Children of Marquis Don Francisco Piâ—arro with a Party of Horse to the Sea-side and there to put them on board a ship together with Vaca de Castro after which he was to remain Admiral of the Fleet and to take charge of them as his Prisoners for he was jealous that Antonio de Ribera and his Wife who had the Guardian-ship of Don Gonçalo and his Brothers would convey them away But this matter created a new disturbance amongst the people and the Judges much disliked it especially Doctour Carate who made it his particular request to the vice-Vice-king in behalf of the Lady Francisca that he would be pleased to cause her to be again returned ashoar for that being a young Maid marriageable beautifull and rich it was not decent and agreeable to her modesty to commit her into the hands of Seamen and Souldiers but nothing could avail with the Vice-king to dissuade him from his purpose for being ever obstinate in all his Resolutions he declared his Intentions were to retire and begon contrary to the opinion of all others Thus far Carate And now to abbreviate and sum up all that hath been said by the aforesaid Authours it is most certain that the Judges gave command to Martin de Robles though one of the Vice-king's Captains to make the Vice-king a Prisoner but he desiring to be excused by reason of the ill consequences which might ensue they assured him that it was for the Service of his Majesty and quiet of that whole Empire and a means to suppress all those Mutinies and Troubles which the ill Government of the Vice-king had caused Hereupon Martin de Robles proffered to doe it howsoever he required a Warrant under the hands and seals of the Judges for his security and discharge the which they readily granted and gave order to have it drawn up and kept as a Secret untill the design was ready to be put in execution And farther they forbad the Citizens and Inhabitants to obey the Vice-king in any of his Commands or to deliver up their Wives and Children to be transported or to leave and abandon their Houses requiring all persons of what quality or condition soever to be aiding and assisting to Martin de Robles in seizing the person of the Vice-king and deteining him prisoner for so his Majesty's service required it and the common good and welfare of the publick But whilst these Matters were contriving the people were distracted and in confusion not knowing which side or what course to take the duty and obedience which they owed to their Sovereign Lord the King inclined to take part with the Vice-king but when they considered their Interests and Estates of which they should be deprived in case the Vice-king should prevail they then resolved to adhere unto the Judges who opposed Blasco Nunnez in execution of the new Laws Thus did the people remain a whole day in suspence and the Vice-king to secure himself against the attempts which the Judges might make against him ordered his Captains and Souldiers to put themselves in a posture of defence in which they remained untill mid-night The Judges on the other side understanding that the Vice-king had ordered his Souldiers to stand to their Arms and that he had above four hundred men with him and fearing that it was with intention to seize and secure them they called many of their particular friends to their assistence but so few appeared that they esteemed their force unable to avail against the Vice-king and therefore they fortified themselves as well as they could in the House of Judge Cepeda with intention to defend themselves if they were assaulted Amidst this fear and consternation a certain person whom Gomara calls Francisco de Escobar a Native of Sahagun made a Speech to them and said What make we here Let us goe out in a body into the open Streets where we may dye fighting like men and not cooped up like hens c. To this bold Proposal they all agreed and the Judges in a desperate manner sallyed forth into the Market-place rather with design to deliver up themselves than with hopes to prevail howsoever matters succeeded much contrary to their expectation For the Vice-king who had for a long time untill the night came on remained in the Market-place was persuaded by his Friends and Captains to retire to his Lodgings which he had no sooner done but the Souldiers and Captains finding themselves freed from that awe and respect which his presence obliged them unto revolted with their Companies to take part with the Judges the first of which who led the way were Martin de Robles and Pedro de Vergara who were followed by others and so by others untill there was not one person remaining to keep guard at the gate of the Vice-king unless about a hundred Souldiers who remained within the house and of whom he had made choice for the Guard of his person CHAP. XV. The Imprisonment of the Vice-king and the various Successes which happened thereupon both by Sea and Land. THough the Judges had the good fortune to have the people revolt to their side and that every hour more came in to join with them yet howsoever they were somewhat wary how they made seizure of the person of the Vice-king for it was told them that he was actually in the Market-place with a good force and that he resolved to
Marquis had performed to the Crown as also for other Causes which they alledged in favour and honour of Gonçalo Piçarro himself For now fortune being of his side the people began to speak favourably of him and he carrying himself with pretences of restoring to them their Liberty was generally cryed up and beloved of all and especially succeeding the Vice-king who was hated and detested by all mankind Thus far are the words of Diego Fernandez After which Carate in the thirteenth Chapter of his Book proceeds and says The Instrument for constituting Piçarro Governour being passed he made his Entry into the City in State and triumph In the first place Captain Bachicao led the Van-guard with two and twenty Pieces of Cannon made for the field which were carried on the Shoulders of six thousand Indians as we have mentioned before with all the other train of Artillery and Ammunition thereunto belonging and as they marched they fired the Cannon in the Streets and for Guard to the Artillery thirty Musquetiers and fifty Gunners were appointed After which followed the Company under command of Captain Diego Gumiel which consisted of two hundred Pique-men after which followed Captain Guevara with a hundred and fifty Musquetiers and then came the Company of Pedro Cermenno consisting of two hundred Harquebusiers immediately after which followed Gonçalo Picarro himself with three Companies of Foot attending like Foot-men by his side and he mounted on a very fine Horse and cloathed with a Coat of Mail over which he wore a thin Coat of cloth of gold after him marched three Captains with their Troops of Horse in midst of which Don Pedro Porto Carrero supported the Royal Standard on his right hand Antonio Altamirano carried the Ensign of Cozco and on the left Pedro de Puelles carried the Colours in which the Arms of Piçarro were painted after which all the Cavalry followed armed in form and point of War. And in this order they marched to the house of Licenciado Carate where the other Judges were assembled which was a default on Carate's side for he ought rather to have received him in the place of publick Judicature but here Piçarro leaving his Forces drawn up in the open Market-place went up into the Chamber where the Judges attended and received him with due order and respect and having taken the Oath and given the Security which is usual he went to the Town-house where the Mayor Sheriffs and other Officers received him with the accustomary Solemnities and thence he went to his own Lodgings and in the mean time the Officers quartered the Souldiers both Horse and Foot in the private houses of the Citizens giving order that they should entertain them upon Free-quarter This entry of Piçarro into the City and his reception there happened towards the end of the month of October 1544 being forty days after the imprisonment of the Vice-king and from that time forward Piçarro attended wholly to the management of his martial Affairs and to matters relating thereunto leaving all civil Causes and proceedings in Law to the Judges who held their Courts in the House of the Treasurer Alonso Riquelme And then he sent to Cozco for his Deputy Alonso de Toro to Arequepa for Pedro de Tuentes to the Villa de Plata for Francisco de Almendras and to other Cities for the principal Governours thereof Thus far are the words of Augustine Carate To which Fernandez Palentino in the sixteenth Chapter of his Book adds and says That Diego Centeno having accompanied Gonçalo Piçarro in quality of Procuratour for the Town of Plate as far as Los Reyes he there found that Piçarro had preferred his great Friend Francisco de Almendras to be Captain and chief Justiciary of that Town and therefore he desired him to move Piçarro that he might be dismissed and go along with him to the Villa de la Plata because his House and Estate was in those parts which license being obtained they travelled together to the Charcas where some time afterwards when Diego Centeno declared for the King he surprised and killed him and though in excuse hereof it may be alledged that it was done for the King's service yet he can never wipe off that blot of Ingratitude for during the time of the Conquest when Diego Centeno came very young into the Countrey he was supported and provided for in all his necessities and in the time of his sickness by Francisco de Almendras who was a rich and a principal person of quality in those days and took the same care of him as if he had been his Son the which benefits and kindnesses Diego Centeno publickly owned and when they were in private he called him Father as Almendras called him Son and therefore he ought for ever to be branded with Ingratitude unless the publick concernment for his Prince be able to untie and abolish all other private obligations and endearments whatsoever Gonçalo Piçarro finding himself now invested in his Power and Government which he held both by virtue of the Royal Grant given to his Brother the Marquis in whose right he pretended thereunto and now by the consent and election of the Judges began to give out his own Commission to Officers both Military and Civil and to sit and hear Causes which he dispatched with great readiness administring Justice with Reputation and Authority to the contentment and satisfaction of the whole City but these smooth and chearfull proceedings were mixed with their troubles and misfortunes For Captain Diego Gumiel who untill this time had always shewed himself zealous and passionate in the cause of Piçarro began to alter his humour and speak against him because he had refused to grant him a piece of Land with a Command over Indians which he asked of him in behalf of a certain Friend of his and with that occasion he railed against the Judges saying that they had unjustly taken away the Government from the Son of Marquis Francisco Piçarro to whom it appertained by lawfull inheritance descended from his Father in virtue of a Grant from his Majesty to confer it upon one who had no right nor title thereunto and for that reason he declared that he would use his utmost endeavours that the Son of the Marquis might recover his own Inheritance Gumiel frankly discoursing at this rate without regard to the place where or the person to whom he vented his passion at length the reports thereof coming to the ears of Piçarro he gave his immediate Orders to his Major-General that he should examine this matter and take such course as might restrain the licentious Tongue of that Captain for the future It is certain that the meaning of Piçarro was not to put Gumiel to death though Carvajal put that interpretation upon it and having asked some questions about the matter and hearing them confirmed went directly to Gumiel's Lodgings where without more to doe he strangled him and drew his Body into the Market-place saying give way Gentlemen for
so angry and disturbed at this affront and so ashamed to see himself disappointed of his expectation by the Strategeme of Officers much inferiour to him in the Art of War that he uttered not one word all that day unless it were to repair the losses and damage he had sustained nor would he eat any thing at supper that night saying that the affront he had received would serve him for many meals to come but after some hours in the night that his choler began to abate he opened his mind to his Officers in this manner Sirs said he In all the course of my military emploiment in Italy which continued for the space of fourty years I have seen many Retreats made by the King of France and another great Captain by Antonio de Leyna by Count Pedro Navarro by Mark Antonio Colona by Fabricio Colona and by many other famous Captains of my time as well Spaniards as Italians but in all my life I never saw such a Retreat made by this young Captain Which were the very words of Carvajal without adding thereunto or diminishing therefrom and were repeated to me by one who heard them The day following he pursued the Enemy with more vigour and courage than before so that in a short time overtaking him he every day fell in with him and seized some part of his Men Horse or Baggage so that after a pursuit of two hundred Leagues sometimes out of the common road and sometimes in he reduced Centeno to that low condition that he had not above eighty men remaining of all his numbers and those also harassed and tyred with long Marches and discouraged by reason that they knew not when nor where to find a place of refuge or repose wherefore it was agreed to march along the Coast to Arequepa and there if possible to embark and find a security on the Seas for those who had no shelter on the Land in order hereunto a Captain was sent before called Ribadeneyra to hire a Vessel for money or by surprize and bring her to Arequepa that thereon they might embark their Men and Baggage and so escape the danger which pursued them by good fortune Ribadeneyra met a Vessel bound for Chili which he and his companions with help of a Float silently surprized in the night without much difficulty and being well provided with Sea-men and all other necessaries brought her about to Arequepa there to take in Diego Centeno and his Souldiers as it was before agreed but it happened that Carvajal pressed so hard upon Centeno that he came to the Port sooner than the Vessel arrived there and now finding an Enemy just at his heels and no farther place of Retreat he resolved to disband all his people telling them that in regard Ribadeneyra did not appear nor that any Vessel did present in that Port whereon to make their escape he advised every man to shift for himself and to escape away by three or four or five or six in a company and being so dispersed it would be impossible so to pursue them but that most would escape their hands As to Centeno himself he abandoned all his companions and with one single person called Lewis de Ribera and one servant he betook himself to the Rocks and high Mountains and remained in a Cave for the space of almost eight months untill the President Gasca arrived in Peru during all which time he was maintained by a Curaca who lived in the Plantation of Michael Cornejo into whose Countrey it was his fortune to come where we shall leave him untill that time comes to pass Onely we must not omit to declare That from the time that Centeno did first set up a Standard for his Majesty Gonçalo Silvestre a Native of Ferrera de Alcantara of whom we have made mention in our History of Florida was always present with him and was an Actor in his exploits and a Sufferer in his perils Carvajal coming to Arequepa in pursuit of Centeno had there lost the track of his Enemies and so gave over the chase upon intelligence given that they were all dispersed and that every man shifted for himself the next morning by break of day Ribadeneyra appeared with his Vessel in the Port of which Carvajal being informed by one of those persons whom he had taken endeavoured to seize both him and his Ship but Ribadeneyra was so cautious that desiring to speak with some one or other whom he knew and seeing none come out or answer him he set Sail and left the Port. Carvajal was further advised that Lope de Mendoça with seven or eight others were fled up into the Countrey after whom he sent a Captain with twenty Musketiers who pursued them almost an hundred leagues untill they drove them within the Government and Countrey which was conquered by Captain Rojas from whence they returned again to render an account to Carvajal of all that had happened And after this defeat of Diego Centeno and that none of his men appeared he then marched to the City of Plate to collect such Moneys as belonged to Gonçalo Piçarro and to those who had denied a contribution But to return to Lope de Mendoça he escaped into the Government of Diego de Rojas who was one of those Captains to whom Vaca de Castro late Governour of Peru had given a Commission to make new Conquests after he had composed and pacified the many disturbances and commotions in Peru by the death of Don Diego de Almagro Junior And now in the following Chapter we shall shew what ensued hereupon CHAP. XXXVII The successes of Lope de Mendoça Of the manner how the Indians infuse poison into their Arrows and how Lope de Mendoça returned to Peru. THE design of Lope de Mendoça and his Companions was onely to conceal themselves within those high and rugged Mountains which are situated towards the Eastern part of Peru untill such time as the loud voice of the King should call them from thence and little imagining to meet Spaniards in that Countrey they unexpectedly fell into the company of Graviel Bermudez who was one of those who followed Diego de Rojas who with his fellow Souldiers had performed great exploits against the Indians in that Conquest and having sustained hunger tedious marches and many other hardships had proceeded in their discovery as far as to the River of Plate and to the Fortress which Sebastian Gaboto had built in that Countrey but Diego de Rojas who was their chief Commander being dead dissensions arising amongst them who should be the person to govern that little but victorious Army the discord was so highly carried on by the ambition of Pretenders that they killed each other and divided themselves into divers Parties as if they had no Enemy and could not better employ their Arms than against themselves The death of Diego de Rojas was caused by a poisoned Arrow which the Indians empoison with a sort of Herb which begins to operate within three
Cozco where he was gallant in his Habit and dressed up in Feathers as gay as a Peacock because every one respected him for his courage and bravery And here I must beg the Reader 's pardon for having descended thus far to trivial particulars having onely an intention hereby to confirm the truth of my Narrative by the Testimony of having been an Eye-witness to the foregoing Transactions CHAP. XXI The number of those who were killed and wounded on both sides with other particular Successes as also what was acted by Carvajal after the Battel THE escape of Guadramiros was after the Battel ended and after the Victory plainly appeared for Gonçalo Piçarro for on his side were slain about a hundred men of which seventy odd were Horsemen and about fifteen Foot besides those which were wounded amongst which were Captain Cepeda John de Acosta and Captain Diego Guillen On Centeno's side above three hundred and fifty were killed and amongst them their Major General and all the Captains of Foot with their Ensigns being the Flower of their Army and the choicest Men amongst them besides which Pedro de Los Rios Captain of Horse and Diego Alvarez who carried the Standard dyed on the place There were besides those that were slain three hundred and fifty wounded of which above an hundred and fifty dyed for want of able and experienced Chirurgeons and of Balsams Plasters and other Medicaments and the extreme colds of the Countrey contributed much thereunto for though that Countrey is within the Tropicks yet the Colds are often very intense by reason of the high Winds and lofty Mountains Gonçalo Piçarro followed the pursuit with seven or eight lamed Horses with which they entred the Tents of Centeno rather to own and publish the Victory than to offend the Enemy for as Gomara saith in Chapter 182. the Conquerours themselves were so ill treated that they were not able to pursue or offend the Enemy On one side where this Battel was fought in that great Plain was a long Bog or Marsh and about thirty or fourty paces broad but so shallow as would scarce serve to cover the Fetlocks of a Horse Before they came to this Bog one of Piçarro's Souldiers called to one of Centeno's whom he saw covered with bloud both he and his Horse Do you hear Sir said he Your Horse will fall presently at which saying Centeno's Souldier was much troubled because he trusted to make his escape by the goodness and strength of his Horse This person was Gonçalo Silvestre of whom we have formerly made mention and it was he from whom I received the Information of many of these Passages and he told me moreover that turning his face to the left-hand he saw Gonçalo Piçarro himself with some few of his men marching softly to Centeno's Tents crossing himself as he went and crying with a loud voice Jesus What a Victory is this Jesus What a Victory is this which he repeated many and many times A little before they came to the Bog a certain Souldier of Piçarro's side called Gonçalo de los Nidos overtook Gonçalo Silvestre whom Silvestre had a little before taken Prisoner and upon his asking Quarter and his Life he gave him his liberty without the least hurt done to him When Nidos knew that Silvestre was his Enemy he cryed out Kill that Traytor Kill that Traytor upon which Silvestre turned to him and calmly said Sir I beseech you let me alone to dye in peace for in the condition that I and my Horse are we cannot live many minutes without giving you the trouble to kill us No said he No Damne me Thou shalt dye by my hand Silvestre looking well upon him and finding him to be the man to whom he had newly given Quarter Good Sir said he be patient and use me with the like mercy that I shewed to you But Nidos roared out then louder and cryed Thou art the Rogue Damne me I am resolved for that very reason to kill thee and tear out thy Heart and throw it to the Dogs Silvestre told me that if this fellow had answered him in more moderate and civil terms he should certainly have yielded to be his Prisoner but finding him so ungratefull rude and barbarous he resolved to fight with him if his Horse were able to stand against him this discourse passed between them as they were wading over the Bog or Marsh which was no place for a Combat but so soon as they were over Silvestre spurred up his Horse to try his strength and mettle and finding him therewith to spring forward and answer the Spur as if he had received no hurt and throwing up his Head snorted out some of the bloud which issued from the wounds on his Nostrils on his Master's Clothes which when Silvestre perceived he rode away a gallop seeming to fly that he might draw the fellow farther from his Party accordingly Nidos pursued him crying out aloud The Traytor runs and The Coward runs but so soon as Silvestre had drawn him at a convenient distance from his Companions he returned upon him and gave him a stroke about the middle with a rusty Rapier which he had taken from a Neger in the Battel for he had broken the two Swords which he had brought with him that day into the Field for as the manner was for good Souldiers he came doubly armed that is with one Sword in the Scabbard by the side and another fastened to the Pommel of the Saddle Nidos was not wounded with the blow but onely being well affrighted ran away to his Party crying out They kill me They kill me for Cowards are always more valiant with their Tongues than with their hands Gonçalo Piçarro being an Eye-witness himself of whâ—â— had passed and of the Bravery of Silvestre sent Alonso de Herrera after him to persuade him with good words and fair terms to come in and yield that he might doe him honour and reward him for his Gallantry and Valour Alonso de Herrera hastened what he could after him but his Horse was so wounded that he could not put him out of his Trot and soon afterwards he dyed of his Wounds howsoever Herrera called after him to return swearing that if he would come back his Master the Governour would doe him more honour in one day than he should receive from the King in all the days of his life but Gonçalo Silvestre returned him no answer but spurred up his Horse and went away This Story I have heard from those of Piçarro's Party and likewise from Silvestre himself and on the report of both sides I relate it here Gonçalo Piçarro in pursuance of his Victory thought not fit to enter Centeno's Camp having understood that his Souldiers were in it already and were plundering the Tents in great heat and sury wherefore returning to his own Camp he found it had also been pillaged by Centeno's Souldiers at the time when they thought the Victory was theirs and that they had taken
when Pedro Arias Davila governed and discovered the Province of Nicaragua he married one of his Daughters called Donna Maria Pennalosa to Rodrigo de Contreras a Native of the City of Segovia a principal person and one of a great Estate there By the death of Pedro Arias the Government of that Province fell to Rodrigo de Contreras who having been nominated thereunto by his Father-in-law Pedro Arias and having deserved well for his Loyalty to the Crown his Majesty was pleased to confirm him therein by special Commission and accordingly he governed for some years untill a new Court of Judicature was erected in the City of Gracias de Dios which borders on the confines of Guatimala and then the new Justices did not onely deprive Rodrigo de Contreras of his Government but likewise putting in execution one of the new Laws before mentioned they acquitted all his Indians as well those which belonged to himself as those which came to him by his Wife from their duty and services as also those Indians which he had setled upon his Children during the time of his Office of which hard usage Rodrigo complaining petitioned for a redress in consideration of the many services which both his Father-in-law and all his family had performed to his Majesty but neither the King nor his Council thought fit to yield to his request but to maintain the new Law and approve what the Court had acted in that matter The Sons of Rodrigo de Contreras called Hernando and Pedro resented this agrievance with high indignation and being young men rassi and in the heat of their bloud resolved to rise in Arms and herein they found encouragement from one John Bermejo and other Souldiers his Companions who were come from Peru most of which were highly displeased and incensed against the President because for all the services they had done in the Wars against Gonçalo Piçarro he suffered them to starve and instead of making provision for them he highly rewarded those who had taken part with Piçarro and banished such as had served the King out of the Confines of Peru with these and the like Complaints they animated the two brothers to undertake some great enterprise persuading them that in case they could once get two or three hundred Souldiers they might adventure to invade Peru and moreover being already furnished with Shipping and all things requisite for Navigation they might with much ease transport their men thither where being landed they would soon be increased with all that party of men which the President Gasca had disobliged Having resolved on the matter they privately listed men and provided Arms and when they found themselves strong enough to resist the Officers of Justice they began to put their designs into execution and in the first place they fell upon the Bishop of the Province who having opposed their Father in all his negotiations they in revenge thereof caused certain Souldiers to enter his house and kill him as he was playing at Chess And then presently they set up their Standard and declared for Liberty calling their Army the Keepers of the Liberty Then they fitted such Ships out to Sea as were requisite and sailed into the South-sea with intention to expect the coming of the President and to take and rob him in his passage for they had received intelligence that he was on his voyage towards the main Land with all the treasure belonging to his Majesty Howsoever it seemed most adviseable to go first to Panama there to receive information of the state of Affairs and besides they were in a better post and station there to sail from thence to any part of Peru than from Nicaragua And having shipped about three hundred men they arrived at the Port of Panama where before they made a descent into the Town they informed themselves by some of the Inhabitants whom they had taken of all which had lately past and how the President was already landed with all the King's Treasure And now as if their good fortune â—â—d offered this great booty to their hand they expected untill night and then secretly entered the Port without any noise on confidence that the President was lodged in the City and lay secure apprehending no harm and therefore they doubted not but to surprize him without loss or hurt to themselves Thus far Augustine Carate And Gomara having almost said the same thing adds Chap. 193 That the Contreras got up all the Piçarrists who were fled from Gasca and other Fugitives and men of desperate fortunes and resolved to attempt some exploits to enrich themselves declaring that the Treasure and Dominion of Peru did by a lawfull Title belong to them as Grand-children descended from the Pedrarias de Avila who were in Partnership with Piçarro Almagro and Laques Though this was but a weak pretence yet it served the turn and brought in a great number of Villains and Miscreants to side with them and under this colour they committed much spoil and robbery and sufficiently enriched themselves had they known a mean and wherewith to be contented Thus far Gomara Now the whole Story is this The Contreras entered Panama by night and made there first attempt on the house of Doctour Robles In four Ships then in Port they took eight hundred thousand pieces of Eight some of which were for the King 's and some for account of private men in the Treasurer's house they seized upon six hundred thousand more which were ready to have been carried to Nombre de Dios as Gomara reports Chap. 193 And besides this quantity of Gold and Silver they robbed the Shops of many rich Merchants whence they plundred such vast quantities of commodities which came from Spain that they were troubled how to dispose of them or carry them away Moreover they sent one of their Companions called Salguero with a Party of Musquetiers by way of Las Cruzes to the River of Chayre upon intelligence that they had sent great quantities of Gold and Silver by that road to Nombre de Dios and Salguero overtook and seized seventy load of Silver which was not as yet shipped aboard being to the value of five hundred and seventy thousand Ducats all which they sent to Panama so that besides Merchandize Pearls Jewels and other Curiosities that they plundered they had seized almost two millions in Gold and Silver onely which belonged to the President and other Passengers who having not the least suspicion of Thieves or Robbers in that way carried part of their Gold and Silver with them and the rest they left at Panama to be brought after them to Nombre de Dios at seven or eight turns For as Gomara saith there belonged above three millions to the President and his Company But all this immense Riches and Wealth was quickly consumed by the follies and debaucheries of these young men according to the Proverb What was got upon the Devil's back was spent upon his belly And what helped forward to
both in the affairs of War and the circumstances of those times were of opinion that in case Hernandez had in the first place attached the Marshal it had succeeded better for him in regard the best Governour in the World cannot rely on a discontented people the which Palentino confirms Chap. 60. in these words It was the misfortune of Hernandez that he did not proceed first to Potocsi rather than to Lima for certainly had he bent his course against the Marshal he had in all probability subjected those Provinces and conserved his men who would never have gon over to one so generally hated and abhorred by them as was â—â—â—â— Marshal though they did revolt afterwards when they came to Lima. Nor was it believed that the Marshal's men would have resisted or fought nor indeed weâ—e they provided for it because the Marshal had so many Enemies about him thâ—â— all preparations for War moved slowly Thus far this Authour But God who governs all things would not permit Hernandez to take thâ—â—â— course which was best for him for then the evils and miseries he would haâ—â— brought upon the people had been irreparable but being insatuated he resoâ—â—â— on a March to Lima as History relates leaving Alvarado the Lawyer his Lieutenant General in the City and to bring up the remainder of the forces because the â— could not all go out together but before Hernandez left Cozco he very generousâ—â— declared that he was willing to dismiss or discharge any person who was desireâ— to remain behind and rather stay at home than adventure on that enterprise the which offer he made upon consideration that pressed or forced men could never be good and fast friends or such as he could rely upon in times of necessity â— especially if such were Citizens and men of Estates who would draw many aâ—â—â— them in case of revolt Onely he importuned and almost forced Diego de Silva â— accompany the Army presuming that his presence carried authority and would much animate and confirm the Souldiery Diego de Sylva complied accordingly rather out of fear than Love as appears in that the first opportunity he forsook his Party and fled to the enemy as we shall see hereafter So that now Hernandez had procured six friends who accompanied him out of Cozco three of which were Thomas Vazquez John de Piedrahita and Alonso Diaz who were all engaged with him in the night of the rebellion but the other three who were Francisco Nunnez Rodrigo de Pineda and Diego de Silva he obliged and engaged to him afterwards by fair words and promises and by preferments and offices the first to be Captain of Horse and the second of Foot. Eight days after Hernandez was marched out of Cozco he was followed by his Lieutenant General with 200 Souldiers more amongst which were 20 conducted thither some few days before by Francisco de Hinojosa who brought them from Contisuyo for the truth is all those who went under the name of Souldiers followed the Party of Hernandez Giron whom they esteemed their Protectour against the rigorous Decrees and Edicts of the Justices which were daily promulged and published to the damage and prejudice of the Souldiery Besides this Hinojosa came another Souldier from the parts of Arequepa called John de Vera de Mendoça who had been formerly of the King's party he was young and a Gentleman and very ambitious of the honour to be a Captain which being refused to him by the King's Ministers because of his youth he came over to Hernandez Giron with a companion of his called Mateo Sanchez whom he named his Ensign and both arrived at Cozco some few days before the departure of Hernandez from thence and to obtain this preferment for himself and his Comrade by the grace and favour of the General they came together into the Town Mateo Sanchez carrying a Towel on a Staff in resemblance of his Colours which he as Ensign was to carry But what was the Event of these matters we shall see in the following Chapter CHAP. VIII John de Vera de Mendoça revolts from Francisco Hernandez The People of Cozco go to seek out for the Marshal Sancho Duarte raises Men and calls himself General of them He is reproved by the Marshal Francisco Hernandez comes to Huamanca The Scouts of the two Camps meet ALvarado the Lieutenant overtook his General about eight leagues from the City of Cozco where he stayed untill he came up to him and then they all in a Body passed the River Apurimac and before night marched two leagues beyond it but were four days in passing the Bridge with their Men Horses Ammunition and Provisions During which time John de Vera de Mendoça considering that he had been already fifteen days in the Army and no preferment given him nor confirmation of the title of Captain which he so passionately desired he resolved to leave Hernandez and return to the King's party which appeared more like a Farse in a Comedy than the action of a Souldiery and for such we have inserted it in this place John de Vera agreed upon this design with four other young Souldiers like himself who with his Ensign made six in all and they that night passed the Bridge and afterwards burnt it to prevent any pursuit which might be made after them And entring into Cozco the night following they sounded an alarm which put all the City into a consternation and tumult fearing left the Rebels were returned with intention to doe them farther mischief so that none durst stir abroad or put his head out of doors that night But so soon as it was day being better informed that it was onely Captain John de Vera and his Followers who still carried his Colours flying the Citizens went out to him and agreed to go with him to find out the Marshal who they knew and were well assured was fortified with a strong Army John de Saavedra a principal Citizen was made their Chief and John de Vera de Mendoça would not be put by his Captain-ship nor march under any Banner but his own and though he came to the place where the Marshal was he had neither the fortune to better his Colours nor advance his Title but passed for a Boy more forward and confident than discreet Those at Cozco who met and agreed upon this design were about forty in number fifteen of which were Citizens who had command over Indians the rest were Merchants and Officers whom the Rebels had left behind as useless persons and these such as they were travelled towards Collao where the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado kept his head Quarters who having understood that many of the Citizens of Cozco were coming in search of him he sent them Advice and Orders by no means to pass out of the limits of his Jurisdiction but rather to expect him there for that he was moving on the way to meet them Sancho Duarte who was then Governour of the City of
that it would prove mortal in case it were closed up and healed By this resistance which the Rebels made they made good their retreat and returned to their strong Hold and greater had the slaughter been had they been intercepted in their passage thither And now Hernandez having not much reason to boast of his success abated greatly of his pride and haughtiness when he found that his Magick Spells failed and that he was deluded by the vanity of Prophesies in which he most confided Howsoever not to discourage his Souldiers he put a good face upon the matter but could not so well dissemble but that his melancholly was discovered through all his disguises This was the whole Action of this Battel and all that passed for Palentino saith that of the Justices side five or six were killed and about thirty wounded Of the Rebels about ten were killed and as many wounded The Prisoners which this Author says were 200 were such as had been Souldiers to the Marshal and who with this occasion returned again to their Duty but of Hernandez his Souldiers not above fifteen were made Prisoners Those who were killed and wounded in the King's Camp were for the most part killed and wounded by their own men for the night being dark as we said the Rear-guard commanded by Captain John Ramon firing at random to affright the Enemy happened to kill and wound their own People the which is evidenced by the Wounds they received which were all in their backs and hinder parts amongst which a Gentleman was slain called Suero de Quinnones Brother to Antonio de Quinnones a Citizen of Cozco and a Cousin German of his called Pedro de Quinnones was likewise wounded The day after the Battel nothing happened considerable on either side only towards night the King's Forces upon a report that the Rebels designed again to beat up their Camp drew out and put their Squadrons in posture of defence as they had done the Night before but the intelligence was false nor was there any ground for it for the unfortunate Hernandez was rather contriving within himself how he might fly and escape Death than of a manner how he might make another assault on the Enemy The third day after the Battel Hernandez to shew his Spirit and Courage gave orders to his Captains and Souldiers to draw out into the Field and skirmish with the Enemy and provoke them to an engagement but this bravade produced nothing of moment only it gave occasion to Thomas Vazquez with ten or twelve more of his Friends to revolt over to his Majesties Forces bringing with them a silver Helmet belonging to their Major General Piedrahita which he sent as a Token and Assurance of his intention also to leave the Rebels which he deferr'd for a while until he could decoy and bring more Companions with him The coming in of Thomas Vazquez and his Friends and the news they brought with them was extreamly welcome to the Justices and the whole Army who now began to look on the Rebels as totally overcome and an end put to all their Violences and Cruelties For this Thomas Vazquez was esteemed the principal and main support of all their Actions and one of greatest interest by whose failure it was expected that all their designs would come to ruine Hereupon those who sallied forth to skirmish made their retreat back to their Quarters And lest the Souldiers should be discouraged and become over sensible of the loss of Vazquez he made them this short Oration which we find in Palentino Chap. 55. in these words My Masters and Gentlemen I formerly acquainted you with the cause and reasons which induced me to commence this Enterprise which was grounded on the agrievances and oppressions under which this whole Kingdom groaned for both Citizens Planters and Souldiers had their Estates taken away and were deprived of the services and vassallage of their Indians without any remedy or course of Justice Those who were principally engaged in this Enterprize with me and complotted with me herein have abandoned me at the most critical time of any amongst which is this Thomas Vazquez But I beseech you not to be troubled for this his treacherous desertion of us for he is but a Man and no more I would not advise any person to trust to the Pardon they shall give him for the next day they may hang him with that about his neck Consider well therefore Gentlemen your present case for we have a better game to play than Thomas Vazquez and all those who revolted with him whom notwithstanding all their kindnesses and caresses to them at present they shall sentence to death and execute so soon as I come to fail and am subdued I am not troubled for my self being but a single man and if by my life I could rescue and save yours I would sacrifice it immediately for your preservation But I am well assured that whosoever escapes the Gallows will at least be condemned to perpetual slavery in the Gallies Consider therefore your condition and encourage one the other to consult your safeties by a valiant pursuance of our first Engagement Our case is not desperate but hopeful for having 500 men on our side 2000 against us can never hurt us unless we prove false to our selves See then to the main point and consider what will become of you if I miscarry These and many other things to this purpose were spoken by Hernandez to his Souldiers who notwithstanding all that was said could not but be sensible of the loss they sustained by the revolt of Vazquez c. Thus far Palentino That which Hernandez said concerning the Pardons That they would be hanged with them about their Necks was fulfilled with more certainty than all the Predictions and Prophesies in which he trusted for tho' neither Vazquez nor Piedrahita were hanged yet they were both strangled in the Prison notwithstanding their Pardons which they sued out of Chancery under the Great Seal and notwithstanding the Pleas they made that a Man having obtained his Pardon and not committed any offence afterwards ought not to suffer Death or any other Punishment Thus what Hernandez foretold of this matter was accomplished which we havingâ— anticipated out of its due place we shall not need to repeat or enlarge upon it hereafter CHAP. XXVIII Francisco Hernandez flyes away alone His Lieutenant General with a hundred men take another way They are pursued by Paulo de Meneses and are taken and brought to Justice NOtwithstanding all that Hernandez had said to his Souldiers he was yet so troubled and confused within himself for the loss of Vazquez that he resolved that very Night to run away and leave his Souldiers for suspition and jealousie had so seized on all the faculties of his Soul as to afflict him with all those torments which the Divine Ariosto describes in five Cantos of his Poem which caused him to believe that his own Souldiers would kill him in hopes by such
other Processes of Justice made against the Rebels in punishment for the late War. Howsoe're the Governour Munnoz prosecuted his Predecessour in that Office and laid four Articles to his charge The first was That he sported after the Spanish manner and custome with Darts on horse-back which did not become the Justice of that Town That he went often abroad to make private Visits without the Rod of Justice in his hand which gave an occasion to many persons to despise and expose the honour of the Government to Contempt The third was that in Christmas ' time he gave leave to the Citizens and others to play at Cards and Dice in his House and that he himself plaid with them which did not become the gravity of a Governour And lastly that he had taken a Clerk who was not a Free-man of the City nor had observed the formality which the Law required in that case For answer unto which he replyed That as to the sport of throwing Darts it was a pastime which he had used all the days of his Life nor would he leave it off so long as he lived tho' he were placed in an Office of far higher Dignity and Honour than that in which he was constituted and invested To the second he said that sometimes he went without his Rod to the next Neighbour or house near at hand where he was familiarly acquainted and where he was sufficiently assured to receive no affront for want of the Badge or Ensign of his Authority That as to the Play and Gaming at Christmas it was very true that he did allow thereof in his own house and did himself play which prevented many differences and quarrels which might otherwise have arisen in other places amongst proud and angry persons As to the Clerk he said that he being no Lawyer himself did not so much regard the ability or the manner how he was qualified for that Office as his Fidelity and Truth and faithful administration of which all the City was ready to give Testimony Some other Articles were drawn up against Monjaraz but he being only Deputy-Governour could not be so highly charged as was the Governour himself And the truth is the faults of neither were fit to be mentioned only the new Judge was willing to have something to say but there neither being Crimes to punish nor Debts to pay all Actions were smoothed and no Processes further made CHAP. VI. The imprisonment and death of Martin de Robles and the reason for which he was executed WE have mentioned before how that Altamirano Judge of the Court of Chancery in the City of Los Reyes was sent Chief Justice to the City of Plate where so soon as he was possessed of his Government he apprehended Martin de Robles a Citizen of that Town and without any Indictment or Process made against him he hanged him up publickly in the open Market-place At which the people much lamented and were greatly offended because he was one of the most principal men of Quality in the whole Empire and so aged and bowed down with Years that he could not bear his own Sword girt to his side but was carried after him by an Indian Page who attended him But when the Reasons of his death were more fully known the offence thereat was much increased as Palentino mentions in these words following The Vice-King sent a Warrant to Judge Altamirano to put Martin de Robles to Death The Reasons for which he gave that sufficient proofs had been made before him the Vice-King how that this Martin de Robles having been in company with several persons should say these words Let us go to Lima and teach the Vice-King better manners than to write in such a rude Stile and with so little respect and formality as he uses These are the words of which he was accused tho' it is generally believed that he never said them nor ever gave any colour or ground for such an Accusation Some say that this rash Speech was not that which provoked the Vice-King against Martin de Robles but some other suggestions of having been accessary to the Imprisonment and death of Blasco Nunnez Vela Vice King of Peru. Thus far this Author in an obscure manner expresses this Passage which we shall endeavour to clear and explain more at large It is true that Martin de Robles did say some such words which were to be taken in another Sense For as we have said before when the Vice-King wrote Letters from Payta to the several Governours and Justices of the Empire giving them to understand the news of his arrival in that Country the Superscription of his Letters were in this manner To the Noble Lord of such a place And in the Letter he treated them with Thou which was the common Stile to what person of Quality soever the which manner of writing gave great offence over all Peru For in those days and a long time afterwards persons of Quality and such as were rich in that Country always used in Writing to their Servants the Title of Noble saying To the Noble and within the Letter they wrote sometimes in the second and sometimes in the third person according to his Condition and Office wherein he served and this Custom prevailed until such time as a Pragmatica came forth to regulate the Terms of Honour which were given But in regard the Letters from the Vice-King were in another Form and Stile they gave offence to such evil Men who were desirous of Change and disturbances and caused them with reflection on the present Vice-King to commend and praise the Civility of those who were formerly in the same power who in all their Letters used Terms of Respect according to the Quality and Merit of the person My Father Garçilasso being then Governour of Cozco received a Letter from the Vice-King with the same Title and Superscription which some asked him how he could brook or how he could endure such a neglect To which my Father made answer that he could bear it very well since that the Vice-King wrote to him not barely by the Name of Garçilasso de la Vega but with the addition of Governour of Cozco which shewed him to be his Officer and Minister under him and that very shortly they should see how the Vice-King would change the Form and Stile of the Superscription of his Letters to him Which accordingly happened for about eight days afterwards the vice-Vice-King being at Rimac he wrote a Letter to my Father directed in this manner To the Right Worshipful Senior Garçilasso de la Vega c. and within he treated him with such Terms as might become an Elder Brother towards his younger at which those who saw it did much admire I have had both these Letters in my custody for at that time I served my Father in quality of his Clark and wrote all the Letters which he dispatched to several parts of the Empire and in like manner I gave the