saythe That Socrates speakyng to the Athenienses sayd it is holden for trouth that your cittie in time past did resist an innumerable number of enemies which came froÌ„ y e Sea called Mare Athlanticum who had taken and enioyed the most parte of all Europe and Asia For at that time that strayght was Nauigable hauyng not far from y e mouthe an Ilande which began neare vnto the Pillers of Hercules whiche was reported to bee greater then Asia Africa and ioyntly from the same was contractacion in bying sellyng with other Ilandes which Ilands had conference with the fyrme and continent lande which stoode in frent of them who were neyghbours vnto the true sea For that Sea with reason might be called the certayne and true Sea and the lande continent and fyrmeâ—â—his mutche writeth Plato He also affyrmeth that .9000 yeares before the writyng hereof the Sea encreased with so mightie a power of water in those parties that in one day and one night this great Ilande suncke and all the people perished and that afterward the same sea remayned full of sandes and shallowes so that â—hereby neuer after any mought passe vnto the other Ilandes nor fyrme lande All those which write vpon Plato affirme and hold opinion that this Hystorie was true so that the most of them especially Marsilius Ficinus and Plantinus wil not admit the meanyng to be Alegoricall although many others iudge the contrarie as the same Marsilius referreth vpon the anotations vpon Thimeum But where he speaketh of the .9000 yeres it seemeth not a fabulus argument for accordynge to Eudoxus those yeres were to be vnderstood accordynge to the Egiptians accompt where euery monthe was accompted one whole yere and not accordynge to y e course of the Sunne so that .9000 monthes maketh .750 yeres Likewise it is almost a demonstration to geue credit to the oppinion touchyng this Iland consydering that all the Historiagraphersâ— and Cosmographers that wrote of olde time do cal the Sea where y â— Iland suncke Mathanticum reseruinge the name which it had when it was land Than presupposyng that the Hystorie is true who can deny that this Ilande Athlantica began from the streight of Gibraltar or not far from Cadiz and extended into the greate gulfe where as well North and South as East and West is a greater space then the scituation of all Asia and Africa The Ilands wherof the text maketh mencion seemeth to be Espaniola Cuba Iamaica and the residew which stande in that Comarke The firme landes whiche is sayd to stande in frent of the said Ilands doth appere by reason to be the same firme land which now is called after the same name and al the other prouinces wher vnto it is continent which beginnynge from the straight of Magalanez doth contayne runnyng Northward the lande of Peru the Prouince of Popayan Castillia del oro Beragua Nicaragua Guatimalla Nueua Hispania the seuen citties Florida Bacallaos and the said lande runneth along from thence Norward vntill it come to ioygne almost with Norway In the which without doubt is more grounde then as yet throughout all the world is inhabited or at least was knowen before the discouery of this countrey This matter doth not cause any great dificultie that the Romaines and other nations which in time past inioyed the Land of Spayne had not discouered this countrey It is to be thought y t the roughnes of those Seas in those dayes did disturbe and hinder the Nauigation So that this Lande may well bee called the firme and continent Land wherof Plato writeth which doth agree with all the tokens and signes which hee giueth of the other cheefely wherin hee affirmeth that it lyeth infrent of the South Sea Then forasmuch as hath beene sayled in our daies in the sayd South Sea doth appere that in respect of the bredth and greatnes of the sayde South Sea all the Mediterraneum Sea and as much as is knowen of the Occean vulgarly called the Northen Sea are Riuers in comparison of the other Then all this approued true the signes tokens and wordes of Plato do therwith accord so that there is no doubt or difficultie in the first passage into Peru of innumerable people as well from the great Iland Atlantica as also from other Ilandes from which Ilandes they vsed to sayle and also out of the firme Land they might passe into Peru And if in this pointe should seeme any difficultie yet it is to bee credited that by the South Sea they had vse and knowledge of Nauigation by contraction and traficke which they had with this great Iland where the text declareth that they had great aboundance of Shippes yea and Roades and harbors made by force of hande for their conseruacion where nature wanted This is as much as may be gathered touching this matter which is not small for a thing of such antiquitie without light cheefely that in all the Prouinces and Countrey of Peru were founde no kinde of Letters or Writinge to conserue the remembrance of things past nor yet the pictures or paynting which serued in the new Spayne for Letters sauing only certayne stringes of diuerse colours full of knots so that by those knots and distance betweene them was an account kepte amonge that people but maruailous strange to be vnderstood as hereafter in this History shalbe declared Therfore I may saye with Horatius Si quid nouicti restius istis candidus imperti si non vis vtere mecum And as concerning the Discouery of this newe countrey the wordes of Seneca doth fit which he set out in his Medea Tragedy Venient annis saecula seris Quibus Oceanus vincula rerum Laxet nouosque typhis detegat orbes Atque ingens pateat tellus Nec sit terris vltima thyle Besides the oppinion of Plato at this day are to be seene the Ilands of Asorez Canarie Madera and Ilandes of Cabo Verde with wonderfull shallowes and Sande lyinge farre out into the mayne Sea which are thought to haue bin part of the sayd Iland Athlantica This History doth also set forth the dutie and royall seruice of the Subiect to his Prince and how Mutynies are iustly punished And likewise last of all how blood is punished with blood and the highe waye to Honour is great paine and daunger of lyfe And I for my parte Gentle Reader desire no more for my paynes but that thou wilte as willingly accept my trauaile as I with good will do offer the same Farewell THE HISTORY OF THE Discouery and Conquest of the Prouince of Peru and of the warres and other notable thinges which there happened ¶ Of the notice of Peru and how the discouery was begon Chap. 1. IN the yeare of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 1525. in the Cittie of Panama which standeth scituated on the border of the South Sea in the Prouince of firme Land called Castillia del oro dwelt thrée Gentilmen among whom was sundrye times conference concerninge the vnderstandinge which they had
THE DISCOVERIE AND CONQVEST of the Prouinces of PERV and the Nauigation in the South Sea along that Coast. And also of the ritche Mines of POTOSI THE RICHE MINES OF POTOSI ¶ Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones Febru 6. 1581. The strange and delectable History of the discouerie and Conquest of the Prouinces of Peru in the South Sea And of the notable things which there are found and also of the bloudie ciuill vvarres vvhich there happened for gouernment Written in foure bookes by Augustine Sarate Auditor for the Emperour his Maiestie in the same prouinces and firme land And also of the ritche Mines of Potosi Translated out of the Spanish tongue by T. Nicholas Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones dwelling ouer against the Fawlcon by Holburne bridge 1581. TO THE RIGHT HOnourable Maister Thomas Wilson Doctor of the Ciuill Lawe and one of the principall Secretaries to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie TVllius and Caius Plinius wrote that neither Posie nor Rethoricke seemed sweete or delectable without the ornament of eloquence Yet an Historie of whatsoeuer sorte it be written dooth please and delight because men may thereby knowe the successe of things happened to the knowledge whereof the nature of man is bent yea the tale of a Plowman is sometime delightfull to the hearer especiallie when any new thing is discouered And where the stile of this historie in our English tongue is not nor at the least I cā not polish as learned mē might require Yet the troth and pith of the matter vttered in plaine sort shall suffice giuing licence as much as in me lieth to whosoeuer that will take the paines to write it ouer againe to beautifie the same as to him or them shall seeme conuenient as often times hath happened among the Greeke and Latine Historiographers and Translators The Author of this woorke right honorable was a Gentleman of woorshipful stocke or linage he was highlie esteemed of the Emperour Charles the fift vnto whose Maiestie he was sometime Secretarie in his roiall counsel of iustice and afterward ordained Auditor of accompts of the reuenues appertaining to his Maiestie in the Prouinces of Peru and firme lande This well minded Gentleman after the writing of this Historie feared the publishing hereof for two principall causes The one least the discendent of such as had committed things not woorthie of praise would conceaue some euill oppinion of him or els the issue of the vertuous and noble sort would iudge the praise and commendations of their progenitors sufficiently set foorth according to their deserts In consideration whereof he called to remembraunce the oppinion of Horatius which was that no Historie should come to light vntill nine yeares were fullie past after the action thereof This oppinion liked him not but rather thought it more cōuenient that Histories◠woorthie of writing should abide in scilēce for the space of lxxxx yeeres thinking that in so manie yeares space the linage and ofspring of the one sort might consume and the race of the noble and vertuous to be contented vvith the commendation of their Auncestors The Kinge of Spaine that now is hauing perused the originall Copie of this Historie requested mine Author to publish the same in Printe and in accomplishment of his Maiesties commaundemēt he hath so doone And the Englishing of foure bookes of his worke I most humbly here present vnto your Honor. I may at this day God be praised boldlie write that where the Spanish and Portingall Naciōs dare glorie of their discoueries Nauigacions with great commendations of their Captaines Colon Vasco dela Gama Magalanez Hernando Cortez Don Francisco Pisarro Don Diego de Almagro Now may our most gracious Queen most iustly cōpare withall the Princes of the world both for discouery nauigacion The Discouery of the Portingall East India was atchiued in 26. moneths the West India in shorter space Magalanez returned not to manifest his dooinges But our valyant and noble minded Captaine Maister Francis Drake in his Nauigation was occupied more or nighe three yeares In which time he sayled and attained to the knowledge of the East and West course which none at any time had euer atchiued His paineful trauaile and maruailous Nauigation was not obtayned with white handes perfumed gloues daintie fare or softe lodging no no Honour is not gotten with pleasures quiet mindes For the sweet Roses groweth among Thornes yet the ignorant will iudge that perpetuall Fame and heauenly Felicitie is a thinge to be gotten with facilitie and ease But if the poore Sayler should sit as Iudge I am sure that hee would say how extreame hunger thyrst hard lodging vpon Hatches foule garmentes blustryng stormes of winde with Hayle Snowe bitter colde Thunder Lightning and continuall perill of life leadeth the hie pathway to the Court of eternall Fame The honour of our good Captayne and company lieth not in my Pen to set out accordingly therfore I remit the same to sutche as hereafter shall iustly sette foorth his paynes and trauell My humble sute is to beseech your Honour to accept this woorke into your patronage and the Almightie graunt your harts desire Your honours at commaundment Thomas Nicholas TO THE READER THe doubt which hath ben held gentle Readers vpon the verefiyng by what way it was possible to passe into the Prouinces of Peru I meane for the people whiche of antiquitie there first inhabited But to satisfie that doubt seemeth sufficient the aucthoritie and opinion of the diuine Plato who in brief maketh rehersal thereof in his booke intituled Thimeum otherwise called the nature thinges and afterwarde in another booke or Dialogue more at large proceeding on forward after his Thimeum called Atlanticum where hee treateth of an Historye which the Egiptians set forth in praise and commendation of the Athenienses saying that in times paste they were of such power that they ouercame and atchiued victory against certayne Kinges and an infinite number of men of warre which came by Sea from a great Iland called Insula Atlantica which had Origen at Hercules Pillers and was accounted greater then al Asia and Africa wherin was contayned tenne Kingdomes the which Neptunus deuided amonge his ten Sonnes but to the eldest called Atlas hee gaue the greatest Kingdome He also writeth of many other memorable thīgs as also of the customes and ritches of this great Iland but especially of a famous temple which was built in the principall Citie the walles and roofes wherof were wainscotted with plate of golde siluer and latton and other many particularities which are longe to rehearce as originally may be seen where they are written at large Many of whiche customes and ceremonies at this day wee haue seen in Peru. From this Iland they sayle to other great Ilands which stand on the farder side therof nere adioynyng to the firm or continent lande beyond the which is the sea called the brode or true Sea The formall words of Plato in the beginninge of Thimeum
of the thing which was ment to be signified so that in euerye Prouince were Offycers who had the charge to keepe the thinges in memorie with those coardes which were called Quippo Camayos so that many publique houses were found full of those coardes and the saide officers could by them easily declare any matter concerning their effecte although it had beene of many yeres paâ—t Of the people and things that are beyonde the Equinoctiall line towarde the Meridian along the sea Coast. Cap. 6. BEyonde the Equinoctiall line towarde the Meridian standeth an Iland 12. leagues distant from the towne of Boio neere adioyâ—ing to the firme land The which Ilande is called Puma and hath in it aboundance of sundrie sortes of beastes and store of deere and much fresh fish in swete waters In time past this Iland was replenished with people and maintained warres with all the townes about their frontiers but principallye they were enemies to the inhabitants of Tumbez which standeth 12. leagues distant from them They were lords of many Raffes for their nauigation these Raffes were made of long light poules bound one vpon another so that alwayes those which were placed vppermost were odde as ordinarily fiue seuen or nine and the middle powle was longer then the rest as a Ruther to guyde the Raffe and thereon sate the rower so that the raffe is made like an open hand euen as one finger is longer then another And on the toppe are plankes layde to kepe soldiers or passengers from wetting There are Raffes that 50. men and 3. horses may wel be carryed on them They vse for them as wel sayles as oares the Indians are very good Marryners for such kinde of vessels although it hath happened that when Spaniards haue sailed on those Raffes the Indians suttlely haue vndone the ropes wherewith the timber was bound together and so ech peece sodenly to separate froÌ„ other By meanes whereof many Christians haue peryshed and the Indians saued them selues vpon the powles withoâ—t any other thing to succour them by reason that they can swim exceeding well Their chiefe weapons for the warres were slinges clubbes and hatchets made of siluer and copper They had many speares or Iauelings with the sharpe poynts of them made of base golde Both the men and women vsed to were many iewels and ringes of golde Their ordinarie vessell was wrought and made of siluer and golde The Lorde of that Ilande was greatly feared among his people hee was also exceeding ielious of his wiues in so much that all those seruitours which attend vppon them had their noses cut of and likewise their genitall members In another litle Iland adioyning to the same they found a house and a gardeine plot or orchard within the same hauing litle trees and plantes therâ—in made of siluer and gold Ouer against this Iland in the firme land were certaine Townes the which by displeasure taken by the Lord of Peru he commaunded that aswell men as wemen should haue all their vpper teeth drawen out of which toothlesse people vntil this day are some liuing Proceeding forward beyond Tumbez toward the Meridian for the space of 500 leagues along the coast and ten leagues into the mayne there neuex rayneth thundreth or falleth any lightning or thunderbolt But passing the sayd ten leagues within the mayne land distant from the sea it both rayneth and thundreth haue both winter and summer in their due seasons in the same maner as is in Spaine But when it is winter in the mountaynes then is it summer on the sea coast and thâ— like contrariwise So that the leâ—gth of that coast which is already discouered of the land of Peru which taketh his beginning and is accompted from the citie of Pasto vnto the Prouince of Chili is one thousand eight hundred leagues as large as the leagues of Castillia and throughout the sayd Countrey lieth a long mountayne or ridge of hilles very troublesome to passe which in some places doth stand distant from the sea 15. yea and 20. leagues and in some places the branches of that mouÌ„taine approacheth nere the sea brim So that all which as yet is discouered of Peru is to be vnderstand by two names that is to say all the ground betweene the mountaines and the sea is called plaines and all the rest is called mountaines The plaines are drie and the most part sands for as before is declared there it neuer rayneth nor yet hath there bene founde any spring or fountaine sauing nere the sea side are 4. or 5. aqueys or cesterns the water wherof is saltish But the people doe prouide themselues of water of the Riuers which descend out of the mountaines The cause of those riuers is the thawing of the snow and rayne which commeth from the sayd hilles where very fewe naturall springes are found These riuers are distant one from another some 10. and some 15. and 20 leagues but the most ordinarie are of seuen and eight leagues so that commonly the trauelers doo appointe their iorneys accordingly to come vnto their fresh water Some of these riuers are a league broade and some lesse according to the disposition of the ground Along those Riuer sides are faire prospectes of trees and fruites ground conuenient for the Indians to sowe their â—orne called Maiz. After the Spaniards began to inhabite this contrey they sowed wheate all the saide plaine grounde they vsed to water with sâ—ewces conueyed out of the Ryuers in which arte they haue great experience and industry the beauty of those Riuers with Trees and fruites aforesaid grow along the said Riuers euen from the Seaâ— vnto the Mountaines those Riuers comming from the â—illes discendinge with such vehemency that the Spanyardes could not passe them on Horsebacke especially the Riuer called Sancta and many others so that those which iorney in those Playnes they keepe all along the Sea coaste but in the Winter season it is daungerous trauailinge that coaste by reason of the excéedinge great currantes of those Riuers that the waye is not vadeable on Horsebacke but only on Raffes or els with a bundell of Gourdes which they vse to binde before their breasts and vnder their armes and an Indian Pilot goeth before swimmyng to leade the way The grounde alonge these Riuers is excéeding fruitefull as wée haue declared where Wheat Maiz groweth in abouÌ„dance without respecting any time of sowing These Indians dwell not in houses but their abidyng is vnder Trées and shadowes made for the purpose Their women were garments made of Cotton woll like vnto gownes which come downe to their féete The men were shirtes downe to the knées and certein Mantels vpon the same although their attire is after one sorte they differ in the attire of their heads accordynge to the vse of euery countrey some vse their haire bounde vp with laces of woll some with one lace and other with many laces of sundry colours so there is
Mines It is wel fortified by reason that it standeth high and is compassed with a marueylous deepe valley wherein is a Riuer that runneth almost in circuite of the hill where the Towne standeth The Marshall Alonso de Aluarado was the first that did inhahite this Prouince vnto whom it was commended Beyond this prouince about 60. leagues standeth another Towne of Christians called Guanuco which was buylt by the commaundement of the Licensiat Vaca de Castro who named it Leon because hee him selfe was borne in the citie of Leon in Spayne This towne is well prouided of victuals and is thought to be aboundaÌ„t of Mines especially towarde that parte which Prince Inga holdeth y e people wherof were occupied in warres in the Prouince called Andes as hereafter shal be declared So that beyond this place there is not in the Mountaine any village of Christians vntil you come to Guamâ—nga which was named Saint Ihon de Victoria standeth distant from Guanuco sixtie leagues This village is but meanly inhabited of ChristiaÌ„s but it is thought that it wil be better if the Prince Inga cease from his warres who hath vsurped a great part of the best ground thereunto belonging and specially where the best Mines are and greatest quantitie of the rich herbe called Coca From this Towne of Guamanga vnto the citie of Cusco is distance 80. leagues In the which are many plots of Rocky and troublesome way to passe which causeth great perill vnto y e wayfaring men The citie of Cusco before the Christians comming thyther was the chiefest seat court of the Indian kings of all the whole Prouince so that from that princely citie was gouerned and ruled all those countreis and Prouinces here before declared and hereafter shalbe declared To this citie al the Cascikes or noble men resorted from all places of the Empire to bring their tributes appertaining to the Prince as also to deale about particular affayres and to demaund iustice in their suites one with another In all the whole dominions of that countrey there was not any place of habitacion that had the Maiestie or manner of a cittie but onely Cusco where was a fayre Fortresse wrought of square stones which were so huge and great that it was a wonder how they were brought thither by Indian strength of men without helpe of Oxen Muyles or other Beastes and yet there are some one stone that tenne yoake of Oxen could not with their strength mooue them from the place from whence they were brought and the houses wherin the christians dwell in at this day are the very same that the Indians made for their owne dwellinge so that some of those houses are repaired and other increased of the same fashion The cittie was deuided into foure partes in such order that all such as came thither to dwel or to lodge in Kinge Inga commaunded that they should lodge or inhabite in the streat which lay toward the place froÌ„ whence they came Those which came from the South parte were called collasmo by the name of a Towne called collao and hee which came from the North was called chinchasuyo by reason of a Prouince which lay that way called Chincha which is now appertaininge to the Emperour and is vnhabited and nothing worth and in this manner they name accordingly the other two partes which lyeth East and West Andesuyo and Condesuyo â— so y t no Indian might dwell or lodge in any other streat but only in that streat which lay towarde the place from whence hee came vpon a great penalty All the countrey neare adioyning to the cittie is excéeding plentifull of all kinde of victuals and exceedinge healthfull for it is approued that any sound man of body that commeth into this countrey doth long continue in health It is inuironed with many ritch Mines of golde out of the which hath bene gathered the infinite summe which vntill this day hath beene brought into Spayne although now since the discouery of the Mines of Potosi they leaue the gold mines and worke in those siluer Mines because therein they finde a greater gaine then in the golde workes and also is gotten with lesse danger both of Indians and christians which deale in those affaires From the citie of cusco to the Towne called Villa de Plata which staÌ„deth in the Prouince of charcas are 150. leagues and more and in the midway standeth a great prouince in the plaine called collao which is about fiftie leagues long The principalsâ— part thereof is called Chiquito which now appertaineth to his Maiestie And being so great a peece of ground vnhabited of christians the Licensiat Dela Gasca in Anno .45 commaunded to buylt a village in the prouince of Collao This town called Villa de Plata is a place of extreme colde none like vnto it in al the mountaines by meane of which colde there are few dwellers but those which abide there are marueilous ritch and those few inhabitants of this towne abide the most parte of the yere in the mines which are in the circuite of Porco and Potosi as hereafter shalbe declared From Villa de Plata entringe inwarde to the maine on the left hand Eastward was discouered by commaundement of the Licensiat Vaca de Castro who sent for that purpose captaine Diâ—go de Roâ—as and Philip Gutierez to the Prouince which now is called by the name of Diego de Rojas and is reported to be a good and holesome countrey aboundant of al necessary victuall howbeit the tresure of Mines expected was not there found for which consideration captaine Domingo de Italia and his companions came into Peru in anno 49. so that in conclusion they trauailed all the Lande that is between the South Sea and the Northe Sea at the time when they wente vp the Ryuer of Plate in discouery of the Northen coast This is the scituation of all the Lande discouered inhabited throughout the Prouince of Peru toward the South Sea presupposing the Discouery along y e South coast without entry into the Mayne because in the discouery of the Mayne the certaintie is not yet knowen by reason of the troublesome and perrilous wayes that leadeth y e course both with colde double cragged Hilles destitute of victuals and al comfort for man yet neuerthelesse the Spanyardes would not haue feared these great perrils if they had not doubted the gayne of treasure which they thought was not to bee had in that proceedinge Of the opinion which the Indians had concerning their creation and other thinges Chap. 10. WHere as the Indians had no kinde of writing as before is declared they knew not the Origen of their creation nor yet the ende which the Worlde had at the time of Noes Fludde But accordinge to the iudgemente and heresay of their Auncestors from time to time These people helde opinion that out of the partes of Sepâ—enâ—â—ion came a man that had neither bone nor ioynt and when hee went any whither
Barrio made answere to Guascar that they could not leaue of from y e iorney which they had in hand but with al spéede possible they meant to returne and then they would solicite his suite and request and so departed and procéeded on their iorney which was y e only cause of Guascars death and also the losse of al the said wonderful treasure for the captaines which carryed him prisoner gaue intelligence by poast to Atabaliba of all the talke had betwéene the Spanyards and Guascar But Atabaliba considered with him selfe that if this matter should come in question before the Gouernour aswell for that Guascaer had iustice on his side as also for the great aboundance of gold by his brother offred knowing also y e great loue affection that the Spaniards bare to the goldeÌ„ mettall he feared by these meanes that y e kingdome should be geuen to his brother yea and so it might fall out that for y e causes aforsaid he might be slain to put all matter out of question therfore he determined to kil his said brother yet he feared y e enterprise because he had heard say that y e christians had a law among theÌ„ that whosoeuer did kill any of their nation should therefore also be killed And thereupon he deuised to proue the Gouernours minde in that case the which he put in vre with great industry and on a day he fayned great sorrow with teares and sobbinge and would neither eate nor drinke nor speake with anye man although the Gouernour did earnestly enportune him to declare the causeâ— At the length hee began to say that hée had vnderstood and receiued newes how a Captaine of his séeinge him Prisoner had slayne his Brother Guascar the which was no small greefe for him for hée loued him not onely because he was his elder Brother but rather hée held him in stead of a father and although hee was the occassion to take him prisoner it was not to the intente to hurte his person nor yet to vsurpe his kingdome but only that hée should permit him to inioye his Prouince of Quito which his Father had giuen vnto him after that hée had conquered it which Prouince was also out of the dominion of Cusco The Gouernour hearinge his sorrowfull complaint comforted him and bid him bée of good cheare sayinge moreouer that death was a thing natural and when the Countrey should bee quieted of all dissencions then hee would make informacion to know who they were which consented and procured his Brothers death and punish them accordingly When Atabaliba perceiued that the Gouernour tooke the matter so slightly hée then fully determined to execute the thing which hée had deuised and sente priuily to the Captaines who had the kéepinge of Guascar expresse commission to kill him which was forthwith committed with such speede that it was neuer certainly knowen whither hée was slayne in the time that Atabaliba made his fained mourninge or afterwarde of which euill successe the principall fault was laide to Captaine Soto and Pedro de Barrio who were so presise in their determined iorney to Cusco The Indians doth reporte than when Guascar saw that hée should die hee said I haue béene a small while Lord of this Land and lesse shalbe the traytour my Brother by whose commaundement I now must die beeing his naturall Prince the which his words were well remembred for when they saw Atabaliba slaine as in this nexte Chapter shalbe declared they called to remembrance his wordes and said verely that Guascar was a Prophet childe of the Sunne consideringe how his wordes came to passe hee also sayd that when his Father departed froÌ„ him hee warned him that wheÌ„ a white people bearded should come into that Countrey that hee should submit him selfe vnto them because said hee they shalbe Lords ouer this Countrey although this thy Fathers Prophesie seemed strange yet through the industry of the Diuel it might be knowen for so much it happenâ—d before Guaynacaua died The Lord Marques went conquering along the coast of Peru and also when he abode in Caxamalca hee sente his Brother Hernando Pisarro with certayne Horsemen to discouer the Countrey who proceeded till hee came to Pachacama which standeth in the Prouince of Guamacucho where hee met with a Brother of Atabaliba called Illescaes who brought more theÌ„ 300000 poyzes of Golde towarde the raunsome of his Brother beside a great quantitie of Plate who after hee had passed many daungerous wayes and perrilous Bridges was come to Pachacama hee there had intelligence how a Captaine of Atabaliba called Cilicuchima abode in the Prouince of Xauxa with a great Armie which might be about fortie leagues from that place vnto whoÌ„ he sent requiring him to come vnto him but the Indian Captayne denied his request wherupon Hernando Pisarro determined to goe talke with him although his men coÌ„mended not his enterprise to bee so bolde to put him selfe in his enemies power who was a man of great might but in fine when Pisarro had spoken with him and through his perswasioÌ„ the Indian Captaine discharged his men and went personally with him to Caxamalca to sée his Lord Atabaliba but when hée should enter into the place where hée was hee put of his Shooes and tooke vpon his shoulders the present which they were wont to present him withall and with sorrowfull countenance the teares droppinge from his eyes hée sayd O mighty Prince if I had been with you at the time of your apprehencion the Christians had now possessed your person Atabaliba answered that it was Gods iudgement that hee should be Prisoner and also to be taken with so smal a company of straungers But said hee the principall occasion was the flight of my Captaine Ruminagui with 5000. men in whom I put my onely trust How Atabaliba was slayne and the occasion was layde to his charge how he went about to murder the Christians and how Don Diego de Almagro came into Peru the second time Chap. 7. THe Lord Marques Piâ—arro Gouernour béeinge in the Prouince of Poâ—chos before hee came to Caxamalca as before is declared he receiued a priuye Letter without firme which afterward was knowen to come froÌ„ the Secretary of Don Diego de Almagro froÌ„ Panama wherin was giuen to vnderstand how Don Diego had builte a great Ship with the intent that with the same others he ment with al his power to passe personally into Peru to intercept the Gouernoure procéedinges and to place possesse the best soyle in all the Land to his vse which ground did lye beyonde the Limittes discouered by the Marques the which according to a prouision receiued from the Emperour did contayne from the Equinoctiall Lyne forward 250 Leagues directly North and South This Letter the Gouernour kept in secreat and would make none of his fréendes priuye therunto but yet hee beléeued and it was true that Don Diego de Almagro had taken shippinge accordinge to the tenour
had no vnderstanding But when Villaoma could not bring his purpose to effect at Charcas he came flying to Cusco And when Don Diego was entred into the Countrey of Chili Philip the Interpreter who was priuie to all the conspiracie fled likewise howbeit hee was taken by certaine Spanyardes that followed him and aswel for this treason as the other that he committed in Quito the Gouernour commaunded his body to be cut in quarters who at the time of his death confessed that hee was the only cause of the vniust death of Atabaliba only to haue his wife at his commaundement as before hath béene rehearsed And as Don Diego was occupied in the conquest of Chili a seruant of his named Iuan de Herrada ouertooke him he it was that his said master had left in the citie of the kings to gather more soldyars for his seruice in the discouery who brought vnto him a prouision which Hernando Pisarro had brought out of Spayne for him by vertue of the which the Emperour had made him Gouernour of one hundred Leagues of ground beyonde the borders and limits of the iurisdiction and gouernment of Don Francisco Pisarro the which office and gouernmente was called in the letters patentes new Toledo for the Precincte of Don Francisco his Iurisdiction was named new Castile But now Don Diego iudging that the cittie of Cusco did fall within the compasse of his Regiment without any respect of his former othe which hee so solemnly had made hee determined to cease and leaue of the discouery which hee had in hand and to returne to take into his possession the Citie of Cusco Of the troubles which Don Diego de Almagro passed in his iorney toward Chili and of some other particularities of that countrey Chap. 2. GReate were the troubles which Don Diego and his company passed in the iorney toward Chili aswel with hunger and thirst as also with encounter of Indians which were mightie great men of groweth Also there were in some places excéeding good archers who were clothed in Zeale skinnes But the extreeme colde did much annoy them aswell the bitter sharpe aire as the frost and snow also the passage ouer the mountaines which were couered with snow where it hapned that a captaine called Ruydias who followed Don Diego de Almagro had many of his men and horses frozen to death for neither their apparrel nor armour could resist the excéeding sharpnes of the aire which did so vehemently penetrate and fréese them The extremitie of this cold was such that at the end of fiue moneths when Don Diego returned toward cusco he found some of his coÌ„pany which had followed outward frozen to death standing on their feete leaning vpon the Rockes and holding their horse bridels in their hands and their horses likewise frozen to death as fresh without corruption as though at that instant they had dyed The carcases of which horses was a great reliefe for his men at his said returne for want of other victualles and after they were past the extremitie of cold theÌ„ came they into such a wildernes without any kinde of habitation where they stoode in as great a néede of water to drinke so that their chiefe remedy was to carrye with them from the snowy hilles shéepes skinnes full of water in such sort that euery liue sheepe carryed on his backe the Skinne of an other dead Sheepe full of water Among diuerse properties which the Shéepe of Peru haue one is the strength of their ordinarye burden is halfe a hundred waight and many times thrée quarters of a hundred being laden vpon them as Cammels vse to carry their ladinge and are in makinge much like vnto Cammels sauing that they want the knop on the backe The Spanyardes hath now brought them â—o such purpose that they will carrye a man also in a rode Saddell foure or fiue leagues a day and when they feele theÌ„ selues weary they vse to lye downe and will not rise againe although they should bee beaten neuer so much or lifted vp with strength vpon their feete yet they will not goe one â—oote further except they bee vnladen And it happeneth often times that whan any rideth vpon them and they feelinge them selues weary they then lifte vp their heades and looketh vpon him that spurreth them and casteth out of their mouthes a thing of an exceeding euill sauor which is though to be of the foode which lieth in their stomackes They are beastes of great commoditie and their wooll is in euery respect as fine as silke especially one sorte or kinde of them called Palos their â—éedinge is very small chéefely such as labor whose ordinary meate is Maiz also they drinke very seldome that is to say once in foure or fiue daies the flesh of them is passing good and in euery respecte as good or rather better then the Sheepe in Castile of this kinde of flesh all the countrey is aboundantly prouided and in euery Citie and towne it is the principallest flesh in the Shambles although at the first comming thither of the Spanyardes they vsed no shambles for why euery one had cattayle of his owne and whan one Neighbour killed any sort of Beast his other neighbors might haue therof what they would require In certaine places of Chili were many Abstruses in the Plaines so that when they were disposed to hunte them the Spanyards would ride pâ—st after them very seldome could ouertake any although their flight was on their féete runninge and hoppinge and although their bodies were hugie and waighty yet with their leapes a good horse runninge neuer so swifte could very seldome out runne them There are also many running Riuers which runneth in the day season at night not a whit which is a thinge to be noted and especially among them that vnderstand not the reason therof which is that in the day time the sun melteth the snow and Ise of the mountaines so that the water that commeth from those high hilles in the day maketh great Riuers and at night all remaineth frozen againe But after we passe 500. leagues alâ—ng the coast come into 30. degrées on y e other side of the Equinoctial toward the Southward there is plenty of rayne and also al windes as ordinarily do blow as it doth in Spaine and other places Eastward All the countrey of Chili is inhabited and hath aswel plaine ground as mountaines and by reason of many crekes and bayes which are in the sea coast of this lande so that sayliâ—ge North and South requireth sundry windes Chili standeth in 40. degrees as is saide North and South from the Cittie of the Kinges till you passe to the saide 40. degrees in altitude the countrey is very temperate and hath Winter and Sommer in due season accordinge to the qualitie of Castile and their North Starre is in comparison like vnto ours sauinge alwayes hee is accompanied with a litle white clowde this starre according to Astronomers opinion is
called Pole Antartike and hath also not farre from him the crosse starres with other three more that followeth him in their order and moouinge so that there are seuen starres y t attendeth on that North star which differ not much from ours which the sayd Astronomers call Triton sauing that the fourth which are toward the South standeth crosse wise and are ioyned nearer togeather than ours our North star also is cleane out of sight within 200. leagues of Panama comming directly vnder y e Equinoctiall Line where at one instant is easely seen both those Tritons or north starres Artike Antartike although a great space from the Pole Antartike séemeth most playne the foure crosse starres by the moouinge wherof the Sea faringe men do kéepe their reckoninge whan they come to 30. degrees then all the other three starres serue for their purpose In this countrey of Chili the daye differeth from the night and the night from the day according to the course of the yeare as it doth in Spayne although not by the same times In the Lande of Peru and in the Prouince of Tierra firme and also in al other places there adioyninge to the Equinoctiall the day and night is equall throughout all the yeare and if at any time in the cittie of the Kinges the daye or night increase or diminishe it is so small a thing that it can not easely be decerned The Indians of Chili goe apparelled like vnto the Indians of Peru both men and wemen are of a good iesture and féede ordinarily of such meates as those of Peru. Beyond Chili 38. degrées from the Line are two greate men of power which maintaine alwayes war the one against the other and eche of them is of power to bringe into the Féelde 200000 men of war the one was named Leuchengorma which is Lord of an Iland which standeth two leagues from the firme land dedicated to his Idols in which Iland standeth a great Temple wherunto appertained 2000 Preestes The Indians of this Leuchengorma informed the Spanyardes that 50. leagues beyond that place between two Riuers was a great Prouince all inhabited with wemen which consente not to haue any sorte of men among them except a certaine time conuenient for generacion and then if any happen to bee with a childe and bring forth men children they are after certaine yeares sent to their fathers and the daughters which they likewise beare remaineth with them these wemen also are in subiection to Leuchengorma The Quéene of these wemen is called Guayboymilla which in their language is as much to say as Heauen of Golde because the reporte was that great quantitie of gold groweth there therof they make exceeding ritch cloth of all their coÌ„modities they paye tribute to Leuchengorma And although oftentimes y e Spanyards hath had notice of this countrey yet they neuer tooke y e discouery in hande because Don Diego would not abide to inhabit in y e coast also sithence that time Pedro de Valdiuia was sent to inhabit y e couÌ„trey who could not bring his desire of furniture to passe coÌ„uenient for y e voiage although he hath inhabited 33. degrées beyoÌ„d the Equinoctial Southward also perfect knowledge of habitacion was knowen to bee vnto 40. degrées alonge that coast especiallye one shippe which Don Gabriell de Carauajall Bishop of Plazensia sent in discouery which had passed through the Strayght of Magalanes who from the said straite came sayling along that coast Norward vntil he arriued at the port of the city of y e kings and before the coÌ„minge of this ship there was no memory of Rats found in all Peru so that it seemeth that y e first broode of Rats came out of that ship sithens that time al the citties in Peru are replenished with aboundance it is thought that among chests and fardels of marchandize they were carried from place to place wherupon the Indians do name them Ococha which is to say a verminâ— comen out of the sea Of the returne of Hernando Pisarro into Peru and of the dispatch which he brought with him and of the rebellion of the Indians Cap. 3. AFter that Don Diego de Almagro was departed from Cusco Hernando Pisarro came froÌ„ Spayne hauing receiued at y e Emperors hand greate fauoure who also made him knight of the order of S. Iames He also brought for his brother Don Francisco prorogation for certain leagues of ground in his gouernment And also the prouisioÌ„ which hath béene spoken of for the gouermeÌ„t of Don Diego de Almagro At this instant Mango Inga Lord of Peru was prisoner in Cusco for the conspiracie which he had wrought against the Christians with his brother Paulo Inga and Villaoma Almagro wrote vnto Iohn Pisarro requesâ—ing him to set theÌ„ at libertie because he was loth that Hernando Pisarro should finde them prisoners at his comming to Cusco at which time Iohn Pisarro was in the conquest of Collao and at the sight of his letter they were discharged out of pryson When Hernando Pisarro was come to Cusco he became a singular good freend to Inga and vsed hym verie curteously notwithstandyng he had alwaies regarde to attende vnto hym It was thought that this freendship was to the intent to craue some golde of hym for his Maiestie or els for hym self So that after twoo monethes that he was come to Cusco Inga besought hym to graunt vnto hym leaue to goe vnto Yncaya to celebrate a certaine feast and in consideration of his courtesie he promised to bryng vnto hym an Image of golde whiche was made in remembraunce of his Father Guaynacaua bothe in proportion and likenesse the coueteous desire of gold caused Hernando Pisarro to grauÌ„t his request And when he was comen to Yncaya he put in vre the conspiracie whiche he had pretended since the tyme that D. Diego de Almagro departed from Chili so findyng hym self at the place where he required to bee He began to murder certaine Miners that wrought in the gold Mines and other housdand men whiche were in the fieldes he also sent one of his Captaines with a greate nomber of his people to take the Fortresse of Cusco the whiche his commaundement was doen accordyngly so that in sixe daies the Spanyards could scarcely winne the Fortresse againe and at the winnyng thereof Ihon Pisarro was slaine in the night season with a stone whiche strake hym on the heade so that by the meane of an other wound whiche he had on his head he could not suffer his head peece his death was bewailed throughout the lande And certainly the losse of his persone was greate because he was a valliant manne and well experimented in the warres of that countrey and singularly beloued of all men When Inga had intelligence of the death of Ihon Pisarro he came with all his power vpon the citie besieged it for the space of eight Monethes and more and at euery full Moone he assaulted the Citie
one attired him selfe according to his possiblitie This countrey where the Zinamon groweth standeth vnder the Equinoctiall Lyne euen as the Ilandes of Maluco doth which also bringeth forth Zinamon which ordinarily is spente in Spayne and in other orientall partes How the inhabitantes of Chili began to conspire The Marques death Chap. 6. WHen Hernando Pisarro executed Don Diego de Almagro in the citie of Cusco hee sente a Sonne of his which he had begotteÌ„ of an Indian Woman to the citie of y e Kings whose name was also Don Diego de Almagro who was a vertuous younge man of great courage and well brought vp his chéefe exercise was to ride a horse well both after the Genet vse and warlike order in the which facultie hee prooued a gallaunt Horsman hee could also write and reade exceedinge well his Schoolemayster and Tutor was a Gentleman called Iuan de Herrada who had likewise the gouernment of his person The Father of this young man commended his Sonne vnto this man Now whan he was in the citie of the Kinges with his Pupill hee vsed greate conuersacion with such as he thought meete to bee of his parcialitie who were such as went waÌ„dring vp and downe in the Countrey without a guide as men lefte succourlesse and ouercome and none woulde entertaine them because they were with Don Diego de Almagro at the time of his ouerthrow Now Iuan de Herrada callinge to remembrance how Hernando Pisarro was gone into Spayne and his brother Gonsalo likewise gone into the countrey of Zinamon in discouery and hée also beeinge set at libertie by the Marques for vntill this time hee was as a Prisoner So that now the younge man and his Tutor began to prepare armour and other furniture of War in a readines meaning to reuenge his Fathers death the destruction which was made in his Fathers armie the remembrance wherof was as yet very fresh in minde although the Marques often times procured to haue them for his faithfull fréends but yet he could neuer bring his desire to effect wherupon hee tooke occasion to take from them certain Indians of seruice thinking by that meane they should not haue wherwithall to maintaine such as daily came vnto them but his pretence auayled not for they were so knitte togeather in league of freendship that all which they possessed was a thing common among them that which was gotten by play or stealth they brought to Iuan de Herrada his House as a common stocke to maintayne him withall so that dailye they multiplyed and furnished them selues with Armour yet not withstandinge there were many of the Marques freendes that gaue him warninge of their dooinge But hee not regarding their counsayle beeing a man of a gentle nature and condicion answered them saying that they should not encrease the sorrowe of the ouerthrowen men Alas quoth hee their greefe is great ynough to see themselues poore ouercomen and almost of all men abhorred Don Diego de Almagro and his companye beeinge assured of the playne meaninge of the Marques they became euery daye more shamelesse then other yea they letted not the cheefest of them to passe by the Marques in the streate without any submission or reuerence dooinge vnto him and also on a night they had tyed three Halters on the Picot which is a Piller wheron they vse to doo execution of hanginge in the Market place of euery cittie The one of those Halters was set towarde the Marques house and another towarde the house of his Liuetenant and the thirde toward the house of his Secretary Yet the Marques dissimuled all these dooinges excusinge them as men ouercome and without shame and therfore they vsed such practises But these longe sufferings made them a great deale the bolder so that from two hundred leagues distante came diuersâ— of the parcialitie which were tofore banished amonge whom they absolâ—tely conspired the Marques death and to bee Lorde of the Landeâ— as afterward followed Yet they stayed somewhat y e longer in the execution of their determination onely to heare some newes because they had vnderstanding that Captaine Diego de Aluarado â— was gone into Spayne to accuse Hernando Pisarro of his former proceedinges and how Hernando was for his offence apprehended and the cause earnestly followed they had also intelligence how his Maiestie had prouided the Lycenciat Vaca de Castro to come into Peru to make informacion of all the former successe but not to punishe the offences with such rygor as they expected Wherevpon leauing all delaies aside they foorthwith determined to execute their intended purpose although they had a great desire to se what Vaca de Castro woulde do saying that if this new Iudge do not as soone as hée commeth apprehend and put to death the Marquez that then they would murther them bothe together and for to haue more assured aduertisement they sent Don Alonso de Monte Mayor towarde Tumbez others in his companie Because there were certayn shippes arriued which came from Panama who brought newes how Vaca de Castro was preparyng his viage into Peru. Afterwarde it happened that when Vaca de Castro had inbarked him selfe in Panama the currant of the Sea being contrary draue him in sutch sorte to Léeward that he was forced to come on lande at the Ilande of Gorgona and to passe vp the Riuer of Sainct Iohn and by good happe came into the gouernacion of Benalcasar and from thence passed by lande into Peru as hereafter more particuler shalbe declared The men of Chili séeyng the delay in the comyng of Vaca de Castro they suspected that by their owne delay of their pretence intelligence might be geuen to him of their doynge and thereby bee an occasion of the losinge of all their liues So that they now were agréed to execute theyr intente as in this chapter folowinge shalbe declared How the Marquez his friendes gaue him a speciall warnyng of the order of the conspiracie of his death Chap. 7. IT was openly knowen in the Cittie of the Kinges how the men of Chili had conspyred the Marques his death many of his fréends giuing him warning thereof vnto whome he made aunswer saying that their heads should kéepe his so y t in fine he was carelesse of his enimies in such wise that oftentymes he would goe out of the Cittie to certayne Milles that he had a making with only his Lacky 〈◊〉 â—ttend vpoÌ„ him And to such as demaunded of him wâ—â— he had not a Garde to wayte vpon him he would say that he would not that men should thinke that he stoode in feare of the Lycenciate Vaca de Castro who was comming for to be Iudge against him Wherupon the men of Chili blewe abroade that Vaca de Castro was dead séeing that the Marquesse stood in such securitie of him selfe So that on a daye Iuan de Herrada went to visite him at his house with certayne of his parcialitie and founde him in his Garden where after certayne wordes