173. were very many and gives an account of that passage in these words Francisco de Carvajal and Pedro de Puelles wrote a Letter to Piçarro to give himself the Title of King and by that means to excuse the sending of Ambassadours to the Emperour and in lieu thereof to provide good Horses Armour Shot and Arms which were the best Advocates for justification of his Cause and that he should apply those fifths and rents and duties which Cobos without deserving any part thereof had carried away unto his own use some were of opinion not to yield the Countrey unto the King but upon terms that he should grant likewise unto them the inheritance of their Lands others said that they would make a King as they thought fit as had been practised in Spain when Pelayo and Garci Ximenez were set up Others said that unless the Government of Peru were given to Piçarro and his Brother Hernando Piçarro set at liberty they would call in the very Turks to their assistence And all of them concurred in that general opinion that the Countrey was their own and that they might make a Division thereof amongst themselves in regard they had won it by conquest and at the expence of their own bloud Thus far Gomara which Fernandez Palentino confirms in the thirteenth Chapter of his second Book in these words which I have extracted from thence These Actions being ended they marched to the City of Los Reyes discoursing on the way of the methods which were now to be pursued Some were of opinion that the King would overlook all things that were past and confirm Gonçalo Piçarro in the Government others more impudently said that it was no matter whether the King did approve of things or not for that his Commands would find little effect or compliance in those parts Licenciado Cepeda who was desirous to flatter and please Piçarro in all things approved of the saying of Hernando Bachicao and others that all the Kingdom and Dominion of Peru did by right and by just claim belong unto him to prove which he produced many examples whereby it appeared that many Kingdoms Provinces and Countreys which at first were gained by force of Arms were afterward conserved and after a long tract of time were esteemed the hereditary Possessions and devolved to posterity by an undeniable Title witness the Kingdom of Navarre and the reason form and manner how these Kings were anointed which he compared with the circumstances of Piçarro and then he concluded that never was any King upon the face of the Earth who at the beginning had ever a more fair and clear Title to a Kingdom than Gonçalo Piçarro had unto his all which Piçarro heard with great attention and delight for besides that humane nature is naturally ambitious of power and government his affections were also for want of due consideration let loose to the immoderate desires thereof for he was a man naturally of a dull capacity and knew not how to write or read and therefore made not those reflexions on the consequences of things as thinking-men usually do And in regard that Cepeda was a learned and a well read man and esteemed for his judgment and knowledge every one approved his sayings and none did contradict or question any thing that was said by him for this matter was the whole subject of their discourse at all times when they were in conversation together Thus far Palentino We have formerly mentioned what is reported by Gomara concerning the duties which Cobos took without deserving or doing any thing for them the truth of which matter stands thus His Imperial Majesty was pleased to grant unto his Secretary Francisco de Cobos one and a half per Centum upon all the Gold and Silver which was brought to the Mint and Treasury of his Majesty where the Fifths were deducted for the use and benefit of the King but then Cobos was to be at the whole charge to find Coals for melting and to provide say-Say-masters to refine and assay the Gold and Silver to pay the Minters and in fine to desray all charges and expences thereof whatsoever which were so great that the Secretary would rather have been a Loser than a Gainer thereby but in regard that every one who went to pay his Fifths might the better make up his accounts and know how much he was to pay and how much remained to him the manner was to bring the Gold and Silver ready melted refined and assayed by the King's Assay-master at the proper cost and expence of the person to whom it belonged by which means Cobos did not perform his obligation which he had given and for that reason Gomara saith that he took duties which he had not deserved CHAP. XLI Gonçalo Piçarro declares his duty and allegiance to the King he departs from Quitu and goes to Truxillo and Los Reyes and the great joy was made at his coming BUT notwithstanding all this discourse and persuasion Gonçalo Piçarro from a principle of Loyalty to his Sovereign could not resolve to take upon himself the Title of King and more especially because he could not but believe that his Majesty would confirm him in the Government of Peru in consideration that he and his Brothers had done great Services having by the Conquest of that Kingdom annexed it to the Imperial Crown and by virtue of the Commission given to his Brother the Marquis he was to hold that Government during his life with liberty to name a Successour after his death and that his Brother had accordingly nominated him Then as to his proceedings and successes against the Vice-king he supposed that his vigorous and unreasonable proceedings in execution of the new Laws might easily justifie his Actions For that the Vice-king refused to hear the Addresses and Petitions which were made to him by the whole Kingdom and for that reason he was chosen and elected by the unanimous consent of all the People to represent their complaints and aggrievances which he had rejected and absolutely refused to receive Then as to the imprisonment of the Vice-king and designing to embark and send him away for Spain it was not done by him but by the Judges upon these considerations which he meditated within himself Piçarro flattered himself with high expectations that he should not onely obtain pardon from the King but a new confirmation and settlement of the Kingdom of Peru upon him thus men of Arms and great Souldiers take false measures of their merits and the rewards which they expect for them But in regard Gonçalo Piçarro did not accept of the offer which his friends made him his refusal was interpreted as the effect of a weak understanding and not proceeding from a principle of loyalty towards his Prince and perhaps upon this ground it was That all Historians in the character they give of him represent him as a person of a weak understanding though in reality those who have been familiarly acquainted with him
dangerously wounded three of the Russians But in regard there were so many to one and that he was above the Age of sixty five Years he began to grow faint so that one of the Villains making a Pass at him ran him through the Throat with which falling to the Ground he cried out with a loud voice for a Confessour but time not being given for Confession he made a Cross with his Right Hand which clapping to his mouth he kissed it and so expired his last Breath so dyed that famous Don Francisco Piçarro the most renowned amongst the Worthies who hath so much enriched and made great and still by the Riches and Treasure he hath acquired continues greatness and Riches to the Crown of Spain and to all the World as appears by what hath been already declared and what is manifested by the effects in these our days And yet not withstanding all this vast Treasure and Greatness he died poor and forsaken having no Friend so much as to wind him in a sheet or lay him in his Grave by which it may appear that all the favour and prosperity which Fortune had been bestowing on him during the whole course of his Life was snatched away on a sudden in less than the space of one hour To confirm which Carate in the 8th Chapter of his 4th Book hath these Words In this manner he resigned his Soul unto God and with the Marquis two of his Pages were killed of the Faction of Chili four were killed besides others that were dangerously wounded So soon as this news was spread through the Town above two hundred Men appeared in favour of Don Diego de Almagro which though armed and in a readiness yet durst not declare themselves untill they saw how the matter succeeded and then they dispersed themselves over all parts of the City seizing and disarming those whom they believed to be well affected to the party of Piçarro The Assassinates having done their work came out of the House with their Swords drawn and bloudy and John de Rada causing Almagro to mount on Horse-black conducted him through the City proclaiming him Governour over all Peru and sole King thereof Then they plundered the Houses of the Marquis and his Brother and of Antonio Picado and caused the Corporation of the City to receive Don Diego for Governour by virtue of that Capitulation and Charter signed by his Majesty at the time of the first Discovery of these Countries whereby the Government of the new Toledo was granted to Almagro and his Heirs or to such Person of Persons as he should assign After which they put several to Death whom they knew to be Servants and Dependants on the Marquis which caused great Cries through the whole City the Women weeping and wailing to see their Husbands murthered and their Houses plundered All which time none durst touch the Body of the Marquis to bestow decent Burial thereupon unless some few Negroes who rather dragged than carried it to the Church untill John de Barbaran and his Wife who were inhabitants of Truxillo and had been Servants to the Marquis having first obtained leave of Almagro buried him and his Brother in such decent manner as they were able The which they were forced to perform with such haste that they had scarce time to cloth his Body with the Habit of St. Jago of which Order he was a Knight and to put on his Spurs before they were told that those of Chili were coming in great haste to cut off his Head and to place it on the Gallows So that Barbaran was forced to slubber over the Funeral and Offices for the dead with great haste defraying the Charges of the Torches and other Duties at his own Expence And having laid the Body in the Grave they immediately endeavoured to secure his Sons who lay privately concealed for the party of Chili were now become Masters of the whole City Hence we may learn the variety of Fortune in this World if we consider in how short a time a Gentleman was brought to nothing who had discovered and governed and possessed such a vast Extent and Tract of Land and Kingdoms and had bestowed a greater Revenue and Riches on others than the most powerfull Prince in the World was able to have done and how in a moment he was made to perish without time given him to confess and prepare for his Soul or settle his Estate and that he should be assassinated by the Hands of twelve Men onely at Noon-day and in the midst of his City where the Inhabitants were all his Servants and Creatures Kinsmen and Souldiers and all had eaten of his Bread and subsisted by his Bounty and after this that none should dare to come unto his Succour but rather fly from him and abandon his House And moreover that his Burial should be so obscure that of all the Riches and Greatness he possessed there should not be left so much as to defray the Charge of the Wax-Candles and other Expences of his Funeral the which and other Circumstances preceding his Death by which as we have specified he would take no warning are so strange as can be attributed to no other cause than to the unsearchable Judgments of Almighty God. Thus far are the Words of Carate In which place he makes a comparison between the Death and Burial of Almagro and this of Piçarro the circumstances of whose Life and Death were in all things agreeable They were companions and had sworn Friendship and entred into Articles to gain and conquer that Empire and it is strange to consider with what equality Fortune balanced the course of their Lives and the circumstances of their Deaths As the same Carate reports in the Chapter following Many Years after saith he that the Wars were ceased in that Kingdom the Bones of this brave and worthy Gentleman were taken up out of the Grave and with such decent Solemnity as became them were put into a Coffin and interred in a Vault of the Cathedral Church on the Right-hand of the High Altar Where it remained in the Year 1560. when I came for Spain The Death of the Marquis happened on the 26th of June in the Year 1541. Carate who was a good Historian imitated the method of the great Plutarch comparing the Lives of these two famous Heroes who were unhappy Spaniards and ill rewarded by the World. Howsoever he judges them so worthy that he could never express sufficient wherewith to exalt their Praises and comparing their Lives Customs and Death together fills a whole Chapter with that Subject which is the 9th of the 4th Book which being transferred into these our Commentaries shall serve for the 8th Chapter of the 3d Book of our Second Part the Words whereof verbatim are these CHAP. VIII Of the Actions and Qualities of the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro and the Lord Deputy Don Diego de Almagro IN regard that the Discovery and Conquest of this Province which is the Subject
and proportioned 157. Titles of Honour how conferred 229. Tobacco 327. Tumbiz surrenders to the Inca's 352. The Treasure which the Spaniards sound in Cozco 501. John de la Torre his Riches and how gained 753. His proceedings at Cozco 807. Alonso de Toro his death 769. New Troubles in Peru 866. Don Francisco de Toledo is chosen Vice-king of Peru 1008. He returns to Spain where he is severely reproved by his Catholick Majesty 1016. His Death 1017. V. OF Virgins dedicated to the Sun 99. and of their Rules and Emploiment 100 102 103 104. Of the Vicuna 195. Inca Viracocha appears to the eldest Son of Yahuarhuacac 125. Inca Viracocha receives intelligence of the Enemies March 158. And the bloudy Battel which followed 160. Viracocha bestows Gratuities on his Souldiers 163. Pursues his Conquest and returns to Cozco sees his Father takes on himself the Government which his Father resigns to him 164 165. Of the word Viracocha and why the Spaniards were called by that Name 167. The Inca Viracocha gives order for building a Temple in memory of his Uncle Viracocha who appeared to him 169. Viracocha gives a Name to his eldest Son and prophesies concerning the Invasion of the Spaniards p. 180. His Death 182. The Vallies of Pachacamac and Rimac and their Idols 234. Valdivia killed with his men by the Indians of Chili 288. Other ill Successes 289. Valdivia the City how destroyed 290. Of the Vine and who first planted the Grape 388. Vicente Valverde a Frier makes a Speech to Atahualpa 449 450 451. The difficulty to interpret the Speech 450. Vaca de Castro received for Governour by the People of Rimac 626. His good Government 645. He goes to Los Reyes 659. He is imprisoned 667. He makes his escape 707. He comes to Spain 709. Verdugo his Actions in Truxillo Nicaragua and Nombre de Dios 730. Vela Nunnez brother to the late Vice-king his death by John de la Torre and how 753. Pedro de Valdivia is made Governour of Chile 859. His own People prefer Articles against him 860. Vasco Godinez is set up by the Souldiers for their General after the Death of Don Sebastian de Castilla 900. He puts Don Garcia Tello de Guzman to death 902. Vasco Godinez and several of his Souldiers are imprisoned 906. and is put to death 908. W. WHoredom how punished and how permitted 114. Wild Beasts as Lions Bears Tigers Apes Monkies c. 332. Of their Wheat 387. Of Wine and the first man that made it in Cozco 389. W. CApac Yupanqui fifth Monarch 68. His Conquest designed 272. Ya-huarhuacac Prince his Name whence derived 117. He is the seventh King his Fears and Conquests and the Disgrace of his eldest Son 123. Yucay the Valley described 179. Yauqu his Conquests 210 212. Yupanqui Inca his Retirement and quiet Life untill his death 293. Yllen Suarez de Carvajal Agent is put to Death 689. The Jealousie the Vice-king conceived of him 688. THE END Royal Commentaries BOOK I. CHAP. I. How the New World was Discovered ABOUT the Year 1484 a certain Pilot Native of Helva in the County of Niebla called Alonso Sanchez usually Traded in a small Vessel from Spain to the Canaries and there Lading the Commodities of that Countrey sailed to the Maderas and thence freighted with Sugar and Conserves returned home into Spain this was his constant course and trafick when in one of these Voyages meeting with a most violent Tempest and not able to bear sail he was forced to put before the Wind for the space of 28 or 29 days not knowing where or whither he went for in all that time he was not able to take an observation of the height of the Sun and so grievous was the storm that the Mariners could with no convenience either eat or sleep At length after so many long and teadious days the Wind abating they found themselves near an Island which it was is not certainly known but it is believed to have been St. Domingo because that lyes just West from the Canaries whence a storm at East had driven the Ship which is the more strange because the Easterly Winds seldom blow hard in those Seas and rather make fair weather than tempestuous But God who is all-sufficient intending to bestow his mercies can make causes produce effects contrary to their nature as when he drew water from the Rock and cured the blind with Clay in like manner his immense goodness and compassion designing to transmit the light of the true Gospel into the new World made use of these unusual means to convert them from the Idolatry of Gentilism and from their foolish and dark superstitions as shall be related in the sequel of this History The Master landing on the shore observed the height of the Sun and so noted particularly in writing what he had seen and what had happened in this Voyage out and home and having supplied himself with fresh water and wood he put to Sea again but having not well observed his course thither his way to return was the more difficult and made his Voyage so long that he began to want both water and provisions which being added to their former sufferings the people fell sick and died in that manner that of 17 persons which came out of Spain there remained but five onely alive when they arrived at the Terceras of which the Master was one These came all to lodge at the House of that famous Genoese called Christopher Colon because they knew him to be a great Seaman and Cosmographer and one who made Sea-carts to sail by and for this reason he received them with much kindness and treated them with all things necessary that so he might learn from them the particulars which occurred and the discoveries they had made in this laborious Voyage but in regard they brought a languishing distemper with them caused by their Sufferings at Sea and of which they could not be recovered by the kind usage of Colon they all happened to dye in his house leaving their labours for his inheritance the which he improved with such readiness of mind that he underwent more and greater than they in regard that they lasted longer and at length he so well succeeded in his enterprize that he bestowed the New World with all its riches upon Spain and therefore deservedly obtained this Motto to be inscribed on his Armes To Castile and to Leon The New World was given by Colon. In this manner the New World was first discovered for which greatness Spain is beholding to that little Village of Helva which produced such a Son as gave Colon information of things not seen or known before the which secrets like a prudent person he concealed till under assurances of silence he first disclosed them to such persons of authority about the Catholick Kings as were to be assistant and usefull to him in his design which could never have been laid or chalked out by the art of Cosmography or
redemption and represented by the Indians with gracefull and proper action nor were they altogether strangers to this divertisement because in the times of the Incas they usually represented their own Stories in Dialogues and therefore more easily improved in that Art to which they were formerly inclined by a natural aptitude It is observable how well they Acted a Comedy made by a Jesuit in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary which he wrote in the Tongue Aymara which is different from the Language of Peru the Argument was on those words in the 3 d Chapter of Genesis where it is said I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and that she shall break thy Head c. This was Acted by Children and Young men in the Countrey called Sulli And at Potow they rehearsed a Dialogue which contained all the Particulars of our Faith at which about 12000 Indians were present At Cozco another Dialogue was recited of the Child Jesus at which were all the Nobles and People of the City assembled Another was recited in the City which is called the City of the Kings where the Lord Chancellour and all the Nobility were present together with an innumerable company of Indians the Argument of which was the Most Holy Sacrament composed in Spanish and the General Tongue of Peru which was repeated by the Indian Youth in Dialogues and pronounced with such grace and emphatical expression with such air and handsome gestures intermixed with Songs set to pleasant Tunes that the Spaniards were much contented and pleased to behold them and some shed tears for joy to see the ingenuity and good inclination of those poor Indians that ever after they conceived a better opinion of them considering them not to be blockish rude and filthy but docible gentle and capable of improvement When these Indian Youths desire to commit any thing to memory which is given them in writing they go to those Spaniards who are acquainted with letters desiring them to reade the first lines to them four or five times over untill they have learned them by heart and to fix them better in their memories they repeat every word often to themselves and mark it with Pebbles or little Granes of divers colours of about the bigness of Pease called by them Chuy which serve for helps to their Memories and such industry and care they use till at length they have perfectly overcome the difficulty and learned their part or lesson Those Spaniards to whom the Young Indians have recourse for their Learning how great soever they are do not yet disdain to teach and inform them giving them all the encouragement they are able So that these Indians though naturally dull of invention have yet an aptitude to imitate any thing which is proposed before them John Cuellas a Scholar who was a Native of Medina and Canon of the Cathedral of Cozco who taught the Grammar to the Children which were of Spanish and Indian Parents and to others of best quality in that City can give us the most clear testimony thereof For he was moved to perform this charitable Office at the intreaty and instance of the Scholars whose Masters and Tutours in exchange for better preferments had forsaken their Charge for though every Scholar gave ten pieces of Eight a Month for his Learning yet it was but little in respect of their small number which perhaps were not above 17 or 18 in the whole Town I knew one amongst them who was an Inca called Philip and was Pupil to a rich and honourable Priest named Father Peter Saâ—chez who observing the ingenuity of this Youth took pains to instruct him in his Studies in which he profited so well that he became as good a Grammarian as any that was of the Spanish and Indian Bloud The change of many Masters was a great obstruction to their Learning for every one of them having a different way of Teaching they began not from the rules and principles formerly taught them but made them to begin from their own methods and forget what they had before learned which was a great prejudice to their proceedings untill this good Canon undertook to instruct them in the Latin Grammar which he continued for the space of two years amidst the Tumults and Wars raised between D. Sebastian de Castilla and Francisco Hernandes Giron which were the cause of much bloud fire and destruction and were of that continuance that scarce was one fire extinguished before another flame broke forth At this time this Canon Cuellas observing the great docility of his Scholars and their inclinations to be improved in all Sciences and the want of able and industrious Masters to cultivate the minds of this people would cry out and say Oh Children what pity it is that I do not see a dozen of you Students in the University of Salamanca And indeed this good Canon had reason so to say because his attendance at the Choire took him off from the employment of Teaching his Scholars with such sedulity as to make them perfect in the Latin Tongue Howsoever the little improvements they made were good evidences of their natural wit and understanding which now in these days praised be God is much advanced by that abundance of Learning and light of Sciences which the Jesuits have introduced amongst them And so much shall suffice to have discoursed on this subject it being now time to return to the History of the Succession of the Incas and of their Conquests and great Actions Royal Commentaries BOOK III. CHAP. I. Mayta Capac the fourth Inca gains Tiahuanacu and what sort of Buildings were found there THE Inca Mayta Capac having performed the Ceremonies due to the Obsequies of his dead Father resolved to visit the remote parts of his Dominions and though he had already in the time of his Father travelled those Countries yet being then in his Minority and under the Tuition of his Parents and Counsellours he had not the opportunity to demonstrate the Excellency of his Vertues nor yet to be observed by his people as he was now being an absolute Prince Wherefore after the example of his Ancestours he honoured and satisfied the several Provinces of his Kingdom with the lustre of his Presence giving such testimonies of liberality courage and generous disposition to his Curacas and all other his Subjects that they remained with great admiration of his Royal Vertues and Abilities of mind Having accomplished this Visitation he re-assumed the design of enlarging his Dominions after the example of his Ancestours covering his ambition and covetousness under the specious pretence of reclaiming the Nations from their barbarity and vain superstitions to a more civilized life and to the true and religious worship and adoration of the Sun Accordingly he raised an Army and in the Spring following he began his march with twelve thousand Men under the Command of four Generals and their Inferiour Officers taking his way as far as that place where the Lake
as may arise for the future The Inca accordingly sent them Women with their Children sufficient for two Colonies one of which they planted at the foot of the Mountain where the Fortress was built which they called Cuchuna after the name of the Mountain and the other Moquehua which People are distant five Leagues one from the other and the Provinces conserve still their denomination being within the Jurisdiction of Collisuyu Whilst these Commanders were busied in regulating these People and giving orders for their instruction in Religion and Laws they came to understand that these Indians were notoriously skilled in the arts of poisoning which upon every occasion of offence they administred to their Adversaries the which was not so deadly as to kill presently but with time reduced the body to a languishing and macerated condition such as were of so strong a Constitution as to resist the Poison and live were yet rendred loathsome by botches and boils which broke from their Bodies and became overspread with a white Leprosie nor did it onely affect their Bodies but their Minds also making them fools or stupid or else mad and raving which were all pleasant effects to the revengefull adversaries though nothing could be more grievous and heavy to their Parents and Relations The Captains being informed of this evil which was amongst this People gave advice thereof unto the Inca who thereupon immediately commanded that whosoever should be found guilty of that Crime should be burnt alive that no reliques or memory should remain of them This Law of the Inca was so joyfully received by the Natives that they themselves gave information against the Criminals and readily with their own hands executed the Sentence burning not onely the Offenders but whatsoever moveables also were found in their Houses which they demolished and laid level with the ground With them also they burnt their Flocks and Herds rooted up the Trees which they had planted and destroyed every thing that they possessed lest the evil and pestilence of the Master should adhere unto or infect the Inheritance The which punishment and severity in its execution so affrighted the Natives that they never after durst more attempt this wickedness during the time of the Incas though so soon as the Spaniards came amongst them they revived this evil again which till then was out of use and forgotten The Captains having in this manner settled their Plantations and reformed this abuse by the rigorous punishment of the Delinquents they returned to Cozco to render a more large account to the Inca of their Negotiations who gratiously received them and gratified their good Services with due Rewards CHAP. V. The Inca gains three Provinces and conquers after a bloudy Battel AFter some years Mayta Capac resolved to make another sally abroad for the Conquest of new Provinces for the Covetousness and Ambition of the Inca increased with his Dominions and Success Wherefore having raised his Army and supplied them with sufficient Provisions they marched towards Pucara of Umasuyu which were the most remote or last People which his Grand-Father or as some will have it his Father had reduced From Pucara he bended his course Eastward to that Province which they call Llaricassa where the Natives surrendred themselves without resistence being much contented to receive the Inca for their Lord and Master Then he proceeded to the Province called Sancavan which submitted with the like readiness and facility for the Fame of the Inca being now spread over all Countries and the great Honours atchieved by the Father and Grand-Father of this Prince being the common discourse so moved the Nations in all adjacent parts that with unanimous consent they ran to embrace those conditions of Vassalage which the Inca should impose upon them These two Provinces are about fifty Leagues in length and about twenty at one place and thirty another in breadth and are both populous and abounding with Cattle The Inca having given orders for instructing the Natives in the doctrine of his Idolatrous Religion and regulated the civil Affairs passed forwards to the Province of Pacassa where he encountred no opposition or contest in Battel but every thing fell down before him with such Obedience and Veneration as was agreeable to one whose birth and descent was from the Sun. This Province is part of that which we have already mentioned to have been reduced by Lloque Yupanqui so that now by the Father and Son this Countrey which contained many People was entirely subjected Hence entering upon the Royal Way of Umasuyu they marched towards that People which to this day is called by the name of Huaychu where they received intelligence that a great number of People were assembled in a Body to oppose him in his passage the which report rather hastened than retarded the march of the Inca in pursuite of his Enemies whom he first encountred at Huychu where they appeared in defence of a pass on that River so called and were about thirteen or fourteen thousand in number all of them Indians bearing arms and though they were of divers Nations yet they called themselves by the common appellation of Colla. The Inca according to his usual Method sent frequent Messages to the Enemy offering them terms of Peace and Friendship which were all rejected by them and interpreted to be effects of fear and thence took such encouragements that they daily became more inflexible and at length so daring and impudent as to attack the very Royal Quarters of the Inca notwithstanding which the Inca persisted with such patience in his forbearance that his Souldiers began to murmur and say That it was no longer tolerable to permit those Barbarians to insult over the Majesty of him who was descended from the Sun nor could their insolence be longer supported without losing that Reputation which they had formerly acquired Howsoever the Inca endeavoured to moderate the displeasure of his People by telling them that it had been the custome of his Ancestours and the Command of his Father the Sun whose design was to doe good unto the Indians to save their Lives and advance their wellfare and not break immediately into War and Bloud but rather to expect with patience and see whether they would come to any sight or knowledge of that good which was designed for them With such fair words as these the Inca for some days restrained the fury of his Captains from engaging with the Enemy untill one day being importuned by his Souldiers and moved by the insolence of his Enemies who pressed hard upon him he gave order to put his Army in Array and provide for a Battel The Incas who greatly desired to fight readily entred the Field and the Enemy who had often provoked them to an Engagement as willingly joined so that the Fight began and was maintained on both sides with great heat and courage one part as they imagined contending for their Liberty resolving to submit to none though he were of the Race and
other poor and disabled People in which good works he passed all the remainder of his days his Reign having continued for thirty Years as is said but the truth is there is so little credit to be given to Reports of this nature where are no Registers or Letters that we know not what to believe in the Case onely this is certain that he dyed full of Honour and Trophies having acquired a great name both in War and Peace and being much beloved and honoured His Death was lamented with sincere grief by all which according to the Custome of the Incas continued for the space of a full Year His Eldest Son Capac Yupanqui born of his Wife Mama Cuca he left his Universal Heir of all besides whom also he left other Sons and Daughters as well such as were legitimate as such as were termed illegitimate CHAP. X. Capac Yupanqui the fifth Monarch reduces many Provinces in the Division of Contisuyu THE Inca Capac Yupanqui the interpretation of whose Name we have already declared amongst the proper Names of his Ancestors after the death of his Father bound his Head with the coloured Wreath in token of his entrance into the possession of his patrimonial Inheritance and having performed the Obsequies of his Father's Interment he immediately took a Journey through all parts of his Dominions making enquiry into the Behaviour and Lives of his Officers and in what manner Justice was administred amongst them In this Progress he passed two years and then returned to Cozco where he commanded that Souldiers should be levied and Provisions made for the following Year intending to extend his Conquests into those parts of Contisuyu which lie Eastward from Cozco where he was informed that there were many and great Provinces and abounding with People For the more easie passage to those parts he ordered another bridge to be made over the great River of Apurimac at that place which is called Huacachaca below Accha which was accordingly performed with all diligence surpassing the former bridge in length and breadth because the River was wider in those parts In this manner the Inca departed from Cozco attended with twenty thousand Men of War and being come to the bridge which was about eight Leagues from the City through a rough and asperous way three Leagues of which are a steep descent to the River though in height it may not be perpendicular above half a League and the ascent on the other side may likewise contain about three Leagues farther Having passed the bridge and this difficult way they entred into the pleasant Countrey of Yanahuara which at that time contained thirty Nations what those People were taken and how numerous we have no certain account onely we are assured that the Inhabitants on that side called Piti so soon as they heard of the approach of the Inca came forth to meet him both Men and Women old and young and with Songs and Musick Acclamations and all things that might testifie their Joy they received him for their King vowing all Obedience and Vassalage to his Person The Inca on the other side received them with a gratious Eye bestowing on them such Vests or Garments as were in the mode and fashion of his Court Of this kind treatment the Piti sent advice to their Neighbours being of the same Nation with them of Yanahuara giving them to understand that the Inca had taken up his aboad amongst them and that they had received him for their Lord and Master according to which example of the Piti the Curacas of divers Nations came likewise in and submitted themselves The Inca received them all with his accustomed goodness and as an evidence of his greater favour he was desirous to shew himself to his People and visit their Countrey which contained about twenty Leagues in length and about fifteen in breadth From this Province of Yanahuara he passed into another called Aymara between which two there is a space of ground wholly desolate and unpeopled of about fifteen Leagues over On the other side of this desart a great number of People were gathered into a body within a certain inclosed ground called Mucansa to stop the passage of the Inca and entrance into their Countrey which contains thirty Leagues in length and fifteen in breadth and is rich in Mines of Gold Silver and Lead and abounds in Cattle and People and consisted of at least eighty Nations before they were reduced to the Obedience of the Inca. At the Foot of this Inclosure the Inca commanded his Army to encamp so as to cut the Enemy off from all supplies who being barbarous and ignorant of War had dispeopled all the Countrey and gathered them into one body not considering that by this means they were cooped up on all sides and hemmed in as it were in a Cage The Inca continued several days in this manner with an unwillingness to attack them inviting them to submission with all fair terms and proposals of Peace and offering no other violence to them than to hinder them from provisions and sustenance that so what Reason and Argument could not effect Famine and Hunger might enforce In this resolute condition the Indians remained for the space of a whole month untill being constrained by the necessities of Famine they sent Messengers to the Inca giving him to understand that they were ready to receive him for their King and adore him as the true Off-spring of the Sun conditionally that he on the Faith and Word of his Divine Progeny promise that so soon as they shall have yielded themselves to him he will conquer and subject under his Imperial Command the neighbouring Province of Umasuyu which being a numerous and warlike People living upon Rapine and Spoil did make frequent incursions to the very doors of their Houses eating up their provisions and pastures and committing many other mischiefs and outrages for which injuries they had often made War upon them which ended in bloud and confusion on the one side and the other and when at length Peace was made and terms of accommodation agreed on they suddenly broke out again into new violences not considering the Faith and Promises they had given Wherefore if he pleased to avenge them of these Enemies and restrain their incursions on them for the future they would yield and acknowledge him for their Prince and Lord. To this Proposal the Inca made answer by one of his Captains That the design of his coming into those parts had no other aim than to relieve the oppressed and reclaim the barbarous Nations from that bestial manner of living whereto they were accustomed and that he might instruct them in the Laws of Reason and Morality which he had received from his Father the Sun but as to the avenging them of their Enemies for the injustice and injuries they had done them it was the Office and Duty of the Inca to perform howsoever it became not them to impose conditions on the Inca who was
so soon as the first Salutations and Complements were ended she presently asked whether she had any Work for her or Service to command her for she carrying not her Work with her did seem to intimate that she pretended not to so much familiarity as to come onely for Converse but as an inferiour to demand wherein she might be esteemed usefull in her service The Palla to make a courteous return to this humble proffer would usually give her some of the same work which she or one of her Daughters was then working for to have put any thing else into her hand which her Maids were doing would have equalled her Visitant with them which in this manner was a Complement and a courteous preferring her to some degree of equality with her self and her Daughters Such was the courtesie and obliging carriage of one to the other for it was the design and fashion in that state for the Superiours to carry themselves with an affable and winning behaviour towards their inferiours and for them with all Modesty and Observance to honour and respect their superiour Magistrates and Rulers which was the common practice of all even from the Inca who was King to the meanest Peasant or Shepherd whom they called Llamamichec The Spanish Women which came afterwards to live at Cozco imitated this custome after the manner of the Indian Women carrying always their Work with them whensoever they came to make their Visits and this fashion was in use amongst them to their great commendation untill such time as Francisco Hernandez began his Civil War which as it introduced nothing but Tyranny and Cruelty so it abolished this laudable custome and discountenanced all vertuous and innocent practices I forgot to mention the great care they had in mending their Clothes in case they were broken by any accident as torn by a Nail or burnt with a coal of fire for then they presently derned it up again with their needle made of a Thorn and with thread of the same colour and bringing it again to the Loom they so neatly wove in the Thread that it could not be seen where the rent was made and in this matter they thought they had more wit than the Spaniards and would laugh at the patches they laid on their Clothes The truth is the Web which the Indians wove was different to the fabrick of Cloth which the Spaniards made and would not bear the same sort of mending It is also observable that the Fire-hearths which the Indians used to dress their meat in were a kind of Ovens made of clay bigger or less according to the Wealth or Estate of the Master the Fire vented it self at the mouth of these Ovens and on the top was a place for two or three Dishes in which they set them to stew and was so very a great convenience for their Cookery both in dressing their Meat well and saving their Wood that it seemed the most ingenious of all their contrivances and therefore it was strange that the Spaniards when they came in amongst them should despise and destroy this invention To avoid greater evils the Incas thought fit to permit common Whores to live amongst them but then they were not to remain in the City but in little Huts without in the Fields separate from all society that so by their conversation they might not have opportunity to corrupt other Women the Name they gave them was Pampayruna which signifies both their profession and place of residence Pampa is a Countrey or open place and Runa properly is a Person either Man or Woman so that these two words in composition are as much as one who lives alone in the Fields and as we say a Hedge-whore and that as the Fields are open so is her Body and embraces to receive any one who hath an appetite to come to her The Men treated these Women with all sort of contempt and scorn and the Women were not so much as to name them under penalty of incurring the same title and censure and of having their Heads publickly shorn of being stigmatized for infamous and divorc'd from their Husbands they never called them by other name than that of Pampayruna which is as much as Common Harlot CHAP. XV. The Inca Roca the sixth King subdues many Nations and amongst others the People of Chancas and Hancohuallo THE Father being dead his Son Inca Roca whose Name as Blas Valera says signifies prudent and considerate took upon him the Government binding his Head with the coloured Wreath and having accomplished the Solemnities of his Father's Funeral he made a progress into all parts of his Dominions to visit and settle and order what was there amiss in which Journey he passed the three first years of his Reign And then determining to proceed farther in his Conquests he ordered sufficient force to be levied and therewith passed on the side of Chinchasuyu which lyes Northerly from Cozco He commanded also that a Bridge should be made over the River Apurimac which is in the great Road from the City of Cozco to the King's Town for that he being now King it seemed too low and mean for him to transport his Army over the River on Floats as he had done when he was Prince being more Great and Royal to erect the fix'd convenience of a Bridge which for better uniting a correspondence with the Provinces lately conquered was now become almost necessary The Bridge being finished he departed from Cozco with an Army of twenty thousand Men under the Command of four Major-Generals ordering his Men to March three a-breast over this Bridge which being a new device and not before practised was Recorded to the Honour of his Memory Thence he proceeded to the Vale of Amancay or the Cowslip Vally because of the great quantities of them which grow in those parts this Flower is in the fashion of a Bell and in that Countrey are of a greenish colour smooth without Leaves and for their similitude with the Cowslip the Spaniards gave them that name From Amancay he took to the right hand towards the Mountain Cordillera which overtops the snowy desart and between that and the great Road he met some few people whom he reduced under his Dominion the which were called Tacmara and Quinnualla then he came to Cochacassa where he made some stay and aboad and from thence he proceeded to Curampa and without difficulty subdued that people because they were few in number from Curampa he came to the Province called Antahuaylla which is inhabited on both sides of the way for the space of sixteen or seventeen Leagues by a people both rich and warlike This Nation is called Chanca boasting themselves to be descended from one Leon whom they esteemed and adored for a God and at their great Festivals both before and after they were subdued by the Incas they carried twenty four Pictures in Procession painted after the manner of Hercules with a Lion's skin and a Man's head
the whole Empire and added to his Religion many new Rites and Ceremonies and introduced many laudable Customs and new Laws tending to the better regulation of Moral life He ejected many of the Idols formerly Worshipped by his Subjects out of the Temples and forbad many barbarous and abominable customs in use amongst them And that he might shew himself as great a Captain and Souldier as he was a King and Priest he reformed the Militia instructing them in the Discipline of War and for encouragement of his Souldiery he established new favours and honours for those that should deserve them He also enlarged and beautified the great City of Cozco with sumptuous Buildings and supplied it with new Citizens and Inhabitants and particularly he erected a Palace for himself near those Schools which his Great Grandfather Roca had founded For which Magnificent actions and for his sweet and gentle disposition he was beloved and adored like another Jupiter He reigned fifty years and as some say seventy during all which time he lived in great peace and prosperity at the end of which he dyed being universally lamented by his Subjects having his place allotted to him amongst the Kings his Predecessors and enrolled in the List and Number of their Gods. He was embalmed according to the custome of their Countrey and his Obsequies performed with cries and sighs and sacrifices and other ceremonies of Funeral which continued for the space of a whole year He left the Universal inheritance of his Empire to his Eldest Son Yupanqui and his Wife and Sister Coya Anahuarque besides which he left above three hundred Sons and Daughters and that in all with legitimate and natural Children he made up the number of more than four hundred and yet the Indians esteem these but few considering they were the issue of so great and so good a Father The Spanish Historians confound the Names of this Father and Son in one denomination calling the Father Yupanqui and the Son Inca whereas Inca was the Royal Title as Augustus was to the Emperours The cause of this mistake amongst the Spaniards arises from the Indians themselves who having occasion to mention these two Kings say Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui which the Spaniards misunderstanding take to be one person and so confound the Father with the Son though in reality the Indians make great difference distinguishing this Yupanqui from his Father and others by the sirname of Tupac which is as much as to say resplendent in like manner they distinguish another Inca Yupanqui by the Father of Huayna Capac and another Tupanqui by the Grandfather of Huascar and so give some distinction to them all which I denote for better clearing the History to observing and intelligent Readers CHAP. XXXV Of the Schools which he founded and enlarged and of the Laws he made for good Government BLas Valera discoursing of this Inca hath these following words Viracocha being dead and placed by the Indians amongst the number of their Gods the Grand Titu his Son succeeded in his Throne by the Name of Manco Capac untill such time as his Father gave him the Name of Pachacutec which signifies as much as if they should call him the Reformer of the World the which Name was verified by the many famous Actions he performed and the many wise Sentences and Proverbs which he uttered the which were so excellent and renowned that having deserved that August Title the former Name began to be forgotten This Inca governed his Empire with that vigilance prudence and courage both in War and Peace that he not onely enlarged it towards all the four quarters of the World which they called Tavantinsuyu but strengthened and corroborated it by such excellent Laws and Statutes as were judged worthy to be confirmed by the Wisedom of our Catholick Kings those onely excepted which had respect to the Idolatrous Rites of their Religion and to the permissions of their Incestuous Marriages This Inca above all things amplified and endowed with Honours and Revenues those Schools which the Inca Rocca had first founded at Cozco He encreased the number of Masters and Teachers commanding that no Officer Captain or Souldier should be capable of any Honour Office or Dignity but he onely that could speak and who was knowing and skilfull in the Language of Cozco And that no person might plead excuse for his ignorance therein he ordained and appointed several Masters to teach that Tongue to all the Nobles and to others capable to serve in publick employment so that the Language of Cozco became the common and universal Tongue of all Peru However of late I know not how by negligence of Officers 't is almost lost and forgotten to the great damage and obstruction of the Gospel Such Indiansâ— as to these days retain that Language are much better civilized and more intelligent than those others who are as gross and corrupt in their Manners as they are in their Language It was this Pachacutec who prohibited all persons unless they were Princes and of the Bloud-Royal to wear Gold or Silver or pretious Stones or Feathers of divers colours or the fine sort of Goats Wool which they had learned to Weave with admirable Art. He commanded that upon the first days of the new Moon and other days of Festival they should go decently but not gaily dressed by which means he made moderate cloathing to become a fashion which to this day is observed by the Indians who are Tributaries and hath that good effect upon them that thereby they are freed from the danger of bad Arts which oftentimes necessitate Men to exercise unlawfull contrivances for the sake of fine cloathing and gay apparel Though indeed at present those Indians who are Servants to Spaniards or live amongst them are become greatly corrupt in that particular not valuing their honour or consciences in comparison with the gallantry and finery of their Apparel This Inca likewise enjoyned great temperance in Eating though he gave more liberty to the Commonalty as well as the Princes in the excess of Drink He ordained particular Officers to oversee and take notice of idle Persons and Vagabonds not suffering any person to want business or employment but to serve his Father or his Master so that Children of five or six years of Age were not excused from some employment and work agreeable to their years Even the lame and blind and dumb had some sort of work put into their hands the Old Men and Women were set to affright away the Crows and Birds from the Corn and thereby gained their Bread and Cloathing And lest Men by reason of continual labour and toil should become weary and their lives burthensome he provided that for their better ease they should have three Days of repose and divertisement in every Moon by which they accounted their Month He appointed three Fairs in every Month to be held at the end of every nine Days so that such as lived in the Villages might at the end
other Fruits in exchange for their Coca Thus far are the Words of Pedro de Cieça extracted verbatim from his Original Writings Moreover they transplanted the people sometimes on other occasions when having subdued some warlike and stubborn Nation which being remote from Cozco might be apt to rebell then in such case of suspicion or jealousie to prevent all danger of Mutinies their practice was to transplant the people from their own soil to some other Countrey nearer and within the reach of the Inca where finding themselves encompassed with loyal Subjects and friends to the Government more easily submitted their Necks to the Yoke and so become faithfull against their own Inclinations When any of these Exchanges were made of Colonies they were always accompanied with some of those whom the first Inca Manco Capac had honoured with the Title of being Incas by privilege and these were such as were appointed to govern and instruct the others The title of these Incas was an honour to all those whom they accompanied so that they were much more honoured and respected by the neighbouring and adjacent People The Colonies which were thus transplanted were called by the common Name of Mumac Another piece of their policy much conducing to the regular Government of their Empire was a Command and an Injunction laid upon all their Vassals obliging them to learn the Language of the Court which to this day is called the common or universal Tongue for the teaching of which certain Masters who were Incas by privilege were appointed and ordained to instruct the People in it besides which the Incas had a Court-language appropriated to themselves which being esteemed the holy and divine Speech was not to be prophaned by vulgar Tongues This as they write me from Peru is entirely lost for the Empire of the Incas being ruined their Language ran the common fate of their other Regalities The Reasons why the Incan-Kings did command that one common Language should be used was for two respects first to avoid the multitude of Interpreters which would be necessary for understanding the variety of Languages spoken within the Jurisdiction of that great Empire And in the next place the Incas entertained a particular satisfaction when they could speak their own words unto their Subjects and not be beholding to the Tongue of another believing also that their Subjects with much more chearfulness received the gratious Speeches of their Prince from his own mouth than when they were conveyed to them by the breath of their Officers but the chief Reason and Ground of this policy was in reference to foreign Nations who for want of common Speech and Dialect were subject to misunderstandings whence Enmities and cruel Wars arose amongst them for appeasing which and reconciling their Affections nothing seemed more probably conducing than a communication in speech whereby all Misunderstandings might be obviated and the People be induced to love each other as if they were of the same Family and Parentage With this artifice the Incas reconciled different Nations in a strict alliance who had before been divided in their Idolatry Customs and Manners of Living and so effectual hath this Expedient been that Nations who have hated each other have thereby been allured into amity and friendship by it The which good effect being observed by many Countries who had not as yet attained the happiness of being Subjects to this Empire was a means to invite them to the Study of this general Language of Cozco the which they having learned and thereby Nations of different Tongues understanding each other their Affections were reconciled by it being from mortal Enemies become Confederates and Allies Howsoever by this new Government of the Spaniards many of the Nations who affected the Cozcan Tongue have now forgotten it the which Blas Valera confirms in these words It was the Command says he of the Incas that all Nations should speak the same Language though now in these days by whose fault I know not the same hath been lost and forgotten in many Provinces the which hath proved a great interruption to the spreading of the Gospel which hath much increased in the adjacent parts of Cozco where that Tongue is used and where that people are much more civil and docible than in other parts These are the words of Blas Valera to which he adds in another Chapter That the general Language of Peru ought not to be lost but rather taught and kept up by practice amongst the people so that the Preachers of the Gospel may have but one Tongue to learn and not be forced for every Province to study a different Speech which would be a task and labour not to be overcome CHAP. II. That the Great Lords of Provinces sent their Eldest Sons to be educated in the Court of the Incas and their Reasons for it THE Incan-Kings enjoined all the Lords of their Vassals to send their eldest Sons to be educated at their Court that so they might imbibe certain good Principles of Learning and Religion in their tender years and being accustomed to a conversation and familiarity with the Incas might contract a friendship and an affection for their Persons and Government and these were called Mumac which is as much as Domesticks or of the Family Moreover it shewed the Grandeur of the Court to be frequented by the Presence and Service of all the young Heirs to those Kingdoms States and Provinces which depended on that Empire by which means the Language of the Court became more general and common being learned with ease and pleasure for it being the custome for the Sons of all Great Men to take their turns of waiting at Court they could not fail of attaining some words and smatches of the Court Language the which when they returned to their respective Countries they made use of in all companies being proud to shew what Courtiers they were and how much refined in thier Manners and Words having learned the Tongue of the Divine Family the which created an Emulation in others to attain that Tongue also for which their Neighbours and Acquaintance were so much admired And having also by the help of this Tongue an introduction to the Conversation and Familiarity of the Chief Officers of Justice and Managers of the Revenue of the Sun and of the Inca every one did so labour to obtain the advantage of this Tongue that without the instruction of Masters they with great ease and almost insensibly attained unto it by which means it came to be so generally spread in all parts that for the compass of almost one thousand three hundred Leagues it became the onely Tongue in use and esteem Besides the Honour and Grandeur that this Court received by the presence and attendance of so many noble Heirs another benefit did thence accrue by being a means to secure the Empire from Mutinies and Rebellion for so long as the young Heirs were at the Court they were like so many Pledges and
Vice-kings and Governours would be pleased to renew the Commands and Rules given in this case by the ancient Incas obliging the Sons descended from the Line of the old Masters to reassume the Authority formerly given them for teaching and propagating this general Tongue they would easily reduce them to a knowledge thereof I remember a Priest and Doctor of the Canon-law a person very pious and truly desirous to doe good to the Souls of the Indians did with great Diligence and Industry learn himself the Cozcan Tongue which having attained he became very importunate with the Indians to learn it also in compliance with whose desires many of them applying themselves thereunto did in little more time than a year become perfect Masters of it and to speak it as readily as their Mother-Tongue whereby this Priest found so facile an introduction into the Ears of this people that he easily instilled the Fundamentals and Principles of the Christian Faith into their Minds and Hearts and if one single person was able by his sole diligence and endeavours to incline the minds of this people to a compliance with his desires how much more might the authority of the Bishops and Vice-Kings be prevalent and successfull amongst them and how easily might these Indians by the help of this general Tongue be taught and governed with much gentleness and lenity from the utmost parts of Quitu to the Countrey of the Chiches to evince which more clearly it is observable that the Incas dispatched all their judicial Acts by the help of a few Judges whereas now in the very same Countries three hundred Spaniards who are Corregidores are not able to pass and perform the Causes relating to private Justice all which difficulty is caused by the loss of the common Language the which is much to be lamented considering it is a Tongue easily obtained as may appear by the many Priests who in a short time have made themselves Masters of it In Chuquiapu as I have been informed there was a certain Priest Doctor in Divinity who had so great a detestation of this Tongue that he had no patience to hear it spoken being of opinion that it was so difficult as not to be attained by the greatest Industry It happened that before the time that a College of Jesuits was erected in that Countrey a certain Priest came thither with intention to reside there for some days to preach unto the Indians publickly in the general Language The Priest who so much nauseated that Tongue resolved notwithstanding for curiosity sake to be present at the Sermon and having observed that he quoted many places of Scripture and that the Indians heard him with great attention took some kind of liking to the Tongue so that presently after the Sermon he asked the Priest how it was possible for such divine and mysterious sayings to be expressed in words so barbarous as those to which the Priest answered that the thing was very possible for that the Language was so copious and easie to be learned that if he would apply his Mind to it he might in the space of four or five months attain to a perfect knowledge of it by which being encouraged and moved with a desire of doing good to the Souls of the poor Indians he promised all diligence and application of Mind in the study of that Tongue in which after the labour of six months he became so great a proficient that he was able to hear the Confessions of the Indians and to preach to them to his own great comfort and their advantage CHAP. IV. Of the great Usefulness of this Language HAving thus made appear the facility of this Language and how easily our Spaniards who go from hence attain unto it with how much more readiness must the native Indians of Peru arrive at the knowledge of it for though the people be of different Nations yet their Language hath some affinity and similitude together differing onely in some Words Dialects and Accents so that we see how the common Indians who frequent the City de los Reyes and of Cozco the City de la Plata and the Mines of Potocchi being forced to gain their Bread and Clothing with the sweat of their Brows onely by Conversation and Commerce with the other Indians without any rules or precepts given to them have in a few months been perfect Masters of the Cozcan-Language to which they have added this farther advantage that when they have returned to their own Countries again they have seemed more polished refined and accomplished beyond the rank of the other Indians and for that reason were greatly esteemed and admired by Neighbours which when the Jesuits had observed who lived amongst the People of Sulli whose Inhabitants are all Aymaraes or Philosophers they concluded that the learning of this Language was of a particular advantage to the Indians and an improvement equal with that which the learning of Latin is to us the which also is confirmed by the opinion of Priests Judges and Officers who have had or entertained any Converse or Communication with this people for they have found them more just and honest in their dealings more docible in spiritual matters more acute and intelligent in their understandings and in short more civil and less barbarous and more like Men and Citizens than the other witness the Indians Of Puquinas Collas Urus Yuncas and other Nations who with the change of their Language have put off all their turpitude of Manners and elevated their Souls to more sublime thoughts which before were immersed in sense and reached no farther than the mere sagacity of Brutes But the aptitude and disposition which the Indians gain thereby towards the receiving the Doctrine of the Catholick Faith is a consideration above all others for it is certain that this Speech of Cozco is so copious and full of words fit to express the Mysteries of divine things that the Preachers are pleased to exspatiate in their Discourses with excellent Flowers of Rhetorick and Elegancies which are made intelligible to the Indians by the knowledge of this Tongue which hath opened a door for entrance of the Gospel with great benefit and efficacy And though the Miracles of Divine Grace have evidenced themselves by other means amongst the rude Indians of Uriquillas and the fierce and barbarous Chirihuanas yet God who is most commonly pleased to work by ordinary means hath generally made use of this Tongue to convey the knowledge and instructions of the Gospel for as the Incan Kings by the help of this common Language which they with great care and diligence instilled into the Minds of their people did propagate the Law which the light of Nature taught them so also ought we with the same care and diligence endeavour to continue this excellent method as the most expedite means to inculcate the mysteries of the Gospel and therefore it is great pity and much to be lamented that our Christian Governour who omit no
being resolved neither to send other Proposals nor receive them CHAP. XX. Of the cruel Battel between the Incas and other Nations and of the first Spaniard who discovered Chili THE day following both Armies raising their Camps put themselves in order of Battel and began the Fight with great Courage and Resolution which continued that whole day with such equality of Fortune that it could not be discerned to which part the Victory most inclined many were slain and wounded on both sides untill the night divided them and caused them to retreat to their several Quarters The second and third days were alike bloudy one party contending for Liberty and the other for Honour The fourth day both sides were drawn up in their Camp expecting which should make the attempt and in this order they continued for the space of two days after and then they both drew off each side suspecting that the other had sent for more Succours requiring speedy Recruits The Purumaucans and their Allies thought that they had gained Credit enough in being able to withstand the invincible Power of the Incas and with this Reputation they returned to their own Countries proclaiming Victory and Triumph in all parts where they passed The Incas after due and mature consideration thought it not convenient to pursue after the Enemy but rather give way to their bestial Fury for a time howsoever the Debates hereupon were divers some were for pursuing the Enemy untill they had entirely subdued them but others of a more moderate temper were for following the mild and gentle Principles of the Incas not being over forward in the utter destruction of their Enemies At length it was agreed and concluded that they should preserve that which they had already gained making the River Maulli the utmost limit and bound of their Frontiers untill such time as they should receive new Orders and Instructions from the Inca. Of all which the King Yupanqui being advised gave directions that they should give a stop to the farther progression of their Conquests and attend to the improvement and cultivating of the Lands and Possessions they had gained with particular respect to the ease and benefit of the new Subjects that so the neighbouring people being allured by this good treatment might offer themselves to become Vassals to the Inca and in case the Nature of this people should be so dull and stupid as not to observe and distinguish between the happiness of an improved Life and their own Bestialities that then the loss would be theirs and redound more to their own hurt than to the prejudice of the Incas In compliance with this Command from the King they desisted from farther prosecution of their Conquests in Chili making the River Maulli the ultimate bounds of their Empire which they fortified with Castles and strong Garisons so that now their business was to administer Justice and improve the Incomes of the Sun all which was performed with great respect to the benefit of the Subjects who finding themselves obliged by such kind treatment did with great Zeal and Affection embrace the Government of the Incas and comply with their Laws Rites and Religion continuing constant in them untill such time as the Spaniards became Masters of their Countrey The first Spaniard that discovered Chili was Don Diego de Almagro but he did but just see it and afterwards return to Peris having sustained innumerable labours and endured great fatigues both in his journey thither and in his return the which enterprise was the cause of the general Revolt of all Peru and the original of that Discord and civil Dissention which happened afterwards between those two Governours and of the Death of the said Almagro being taken Prisoner at the Battel of Salinas and also of the Death of the Marquiss D. Francisco de Piçarro and of D. Diego de Almagro who was born of Spanish and Indian Bloud and who commanded in the Fight called the Battel of Chupas Of all which we shall God willing treat more at large in its due place The second person that entred into the Kingdom of Chili was the Governour Pedro de Valdivia who with a strong party both of Horse and Foot marched beyond the Dominions of the Incas making conquest of all before him the Colonies which he planted were thriving and prosperous though he himself unhappily fell by the hands of his own Subjects of the Province of Araucu which he having subdued made choice of for himself when the Lands were divided amongst the Conquerours This worthy person planted many Colonies and founded Cities with Spanish Inhabitants and amongst the rest that which after his own Name was called Valdivia in the Conquest of this Province he performed many and noble Exploits and afterwards governed it with great prudence and justice and had not onely been happy in himself but fortunate also to his people had not the boldness of an Indian who adventured to cut the thread of his life given a period to the expectation of many other blessings which his Wisedom and Conduct might have produced to his Subjects And in regard the Death of this Governour and General was in a manner without Example and that which was never practised by the Indians either before or since the Entrance of the Spaniards into that Countrey and what turned to their greater mischief I have thought fit to relate it in this place that so the Reader may be clearly informed of the particulars of that unhappy battel according to the first report which came of it to Peru soon after the Fight was ended and likewise what intelligence the second report gave of it for better understanding of which it will be necessary to begin from the original and cause of this whole matter CHAP. XXI Of the Rebellion of Chili against the Governour Valdivia THE possession and inheritance of the Kingdom of Chili falling to the share and lot of this Gentleman who was worthy of an Empire his fortune was to be Master also of that part which yielded him a yearly Tribute of a hundred thousand pieces of Gold But in regard the thirst of Gold encreases with the gains of it and that there is no end proposed to Wealth and Riches so the more this Governour amassed the more labour and hard usage he imposed on the Indians forcing them beyond their strength and abilities to which they had not been accustomed to labour and dig in the Mines to satiate that Avarice of his which was never to be satisfied The people of Araucu which were the Subjects of Valdivia not being able to support this Yoke of bondage and servitude joined themselves with others in confederacy and put themselves into open rebellion committing all the outrages and insolencies they were able upon the Spaniards The Governour Valdivia having intelligence hereof marched out with a hundred and fifty Horse despising the Indians as the Spaniards have always done on occasion of such-like revolts and mutinies of that people
wild Huanacu and Vicanna though it was not so mortal amongst them because they belonged to colder Countries and did not herd in such droves as the tame Cattel This Murrain also extended it self to the very Foxes and affected them in so cruel a manner that as I remember in the Year 1548. when Gonçalo Piçarro was at Cozco and victorious after the Battel of Huarina I saw a great many Foxes which were seized with this Plague come into the City by night and in the morning were found dead in the Streets having great boils on their Backs from Head to Tail which were caused by this Plague amongst Beasts The Indians who were very superstitious in matters of this nature did from hence prognosticate the Death of Piçarro which accordingly ensued in a short time afterwards When this Murrain first began amongst the Cattel they applied many Remedies which served rather to encrease than abate the evil amongst which one was to kill or bury alive one of the kind which was infected as Acosta mentions in his 4th Book but in regard the evil encreased so fast that neither the Indians nor Spaniards knew in what manner to give a stop to it they at length made a trial how it might be done by fire or cauterizing then they tried to cure it by preparations of Mercury and Sulphur and Hogs-grease but all proved too violent Remedies so that the Cattel dyed the more speedily by them At length after many experiments made they found none better than to anoint the parts where the Scab arose with Hogs-grease melted and warm taking great care to observe if the Scratches began on their Legs and then to anoint them for the Murrain seized them first there before it spread it self into the upper parts This was the best remedy they found yet served for little untill the evil influences were over which were the causes of it And by reason of the great benefit which they found by this Grease they very much esteemed of Hogs though for the numbers of them they were cheap and yielded no great price It is observable that this general Plague upon almost all sorts of Cattel did not yet touch the wilder Animals such as Stags and Fallow-Deer because perhaps they were of another temper I remember that in Cozco they made choice of St. Antonio for their Saint and Protectour against this Murrain for which cause they solemnize a Festival to him every year Though this sort of Cattel be great and large as we have said and the Journies long which they travell yet they put their Masters to no charge either in their Meat or Shoeing or Stable nor in their Pack-saddles or Girts or Cruppers or Stays or other Utensils which our Carriers use for when they come to the end of their days journey they onely throw off their burthen and send them to feed on the Grass which the Land affords being at no charge either of Straw or Corn though they would gladly eat Corn if their Masters would be so kind as to bestow it upon them Then as to their shoeing there is no need of it for besides that they are cloven footed they have a kind of a callous or spungy matter on their Feet without a Hoof. Then for their Pack-saddles they have no need of them because they have so much wool on their Backs as serves in the place of a Saddle and keeps the burthen fast and close which the Masters of them take care to lade in such manner as that it may lie even and well poised and not touch so far as to gaul the Withers nor have they need of a Surcingle which our Carriers use for the Beast wearing no Pack-saddle all Girts or Cords may rub off the Flesh howsoever many of them travelling in a Drove were tied one to the other having 20 or 25 beasts running loose so as to ease and change the Burthens of those which were tired The Merchants in travelling carried their Tents with them which they pitched in the Fields wheresoever they found it convenient to lodge and repose and there unloaded their Merchandize so that they never entred into Villages or Towns because too much time and labour would be lost to put their Cattel to Grass and then to go and fetch them up In their Journey from Cozco to Potocchi in going and returning they are commonly four months besides the time that they are detained at the place for traffick and packing up their Merchandize One of this sort of Sheep which was of the best kind was worth in Cozco eighteen Ducats and one of the more ordinary twelve or thirteen The chief Merchandize brought from that City was Cuca and Garments for the Indians All that I have before spoken I have seen and observed with my own Eyes but how things have been ordered since my departure I know not I have traded with many of them for this commodity as the Merchants went and came and I am assured that some of these Travellers have sold a Basket of this Cuca for above thirty Pieces of Eight weighty Money And notwithstanding the value of their Commodities and that these Caravans or Droves of Sheep returned with thirty forty fifty and an hundred thousand Pieces of Eight yet such was the security of those Countries and the little danger they had of Thieves or Robbers that they lodged and slept in the open Fields without other Guards or Defence than their own The like security and confidence did Men use in their dealings and Merchandize as also in payment of their Rents or Loans of Money making no Conveyance or Writing or Obligation besides their mere Word which they kept and observed so punctually that when a Spaniard had lost Money by Play he would say to the Winner Tell such a one that the Money which he ows me he should pay to you in satisfaction of what you won of me at Cards These Words were esteemed as sufficient as a Bill of Exchange for such was the Innocence and the simplicity of those Countries that no scruple was made in giving all belief and credence thereunto and this was so common that whether the Person were a Merchant or a Souldier or a Lord of Indians his Word would pass and he was credited in every thing that he uttered and such was the security of the ways that it seemed the golden Age wherein was no fraud nor violence amongst Mankind And as I understand it continues still so in those Countries In times of Peace when all Wars were ceased many Nobles and Gentlemen having no employment thought it no diminution to their Honour rather than to remain idle to travell frequently to Potocchi and trade in Cuca and other Indian Commodities but then it was not esteemed honourable to sell or buy them by parcels but by the whole sale nor yet to deal in Spanish Commodities or to sell by the yard or open a Shop Howsoever many of them were pleased to travell with their Commodities it not
besides those which we have mentioned in the third Book and fifteenth Chapter of our History of Florida which are found in many parts of that great Kingdom particularly in that rich Temple of the Province called Cofachiqui the 18 Mark weight of Pearl besides the two Chests which Acosta mentions to have been brought for the King's account were all choice Pearls and such as at several times were called out by the Indians and set apart for the King's use and service to whom a fifth part belonged of all the Pearls which were taken and accordingly delivered into the Royal Wardrobe from whence they were given out for adorning a Manto and Petticoat for the Image of our Lady of Guadalupe embroderying a whole Suit such as the dress of her Head Frontlers Surcoat hanging Sleeves and hem of her Garments all with the finest sort of Pearl set in Diamond-work the House or Chair of State made for this Image which were usually of a darkish colour were now covered with Rubies and Emeralds set in Gold by which it was apparent by whose command and at whose charge those Artists worked and to whose service the Catholick King did dedicate so great a Treasure which was immense and beyond the abilities and magnificence of any other than his onely who was Emperour of the Indies But to compute and rightly to calculate the Riches of this Monarch we ought to reade the fourth Book of Acosta wherein are such strange discoveries of things in the New World as are almost incredible Amongst which I have been an eye-witness my self at Sevil in the year 1579 where I saw a Pearl which a Gentleman called Don Diego de Temez brought from Panama and designed for King Philip the Second the Pearl was about the bigness of a Wallnut and roundness of a Pigeon's Egg it was valued in the Indies at twelve thousand Pieces of Eight which make fourteen thousand four hundred Ducats Jacomo de Treco of Milan an excellent Artist and Jeweler to his Catholick Majesty esteemed it at fourteen thirty fifty and sometimes at a hundred thousand Ducats that is that it had no price for in regard there was none like it in the World and that there was none with which it might be compared it was not capable of any estimation In Sevil many went to see it for a sight giving it the Name of the Foreigner A certain Italian Gentleman at that time went about that City and bought up all the choicest Pearls he could find for account of a Great Lord in Italy when having purchased a String or Chain of the best yet being compared and laid by the Foreigner they seemed like so many little pebles of the Brook. Those that knew and were acquainted with Pearls and pretious Stones did aver that it weighed 24 Quilats above any other that was ever known but what that means I am not skilfull enough to interpret The Proprietor of this Pearl said that a little Neger Boy which was not worth above a 100 Ryals fished the shell wherein it was contained out of the water which was so cragged and promised so little outwardly that they were going to cast it again into the Sea but yielding unexpectedly so great a profit to the Master he was pleased in reward for the benefit to give liberty to the Slave and in honour to the Master on whom fortune had bestowed so great a Treasure the Inhabitants of Panama were pleased to make him their High Constable the Pearl was never polished because the Master would never consent that it should be touched unless it were to bore a hole through it for they never attempt to alter the fashion or shapes of them but string them as they come from the shells so that some of them come out very round others long others flat others round of one side and flat on the other but those vvhich are in fashion of a Pear are most esteemed because they are not common When a Merchant hath got one of this shape he presently enquires and makes search for another vvhich is like it for being vvell matched they rise double in their price so that vvhen a Pearl being single is valued at a hundred Ducats being afterwards vvell matched vvith another doth presently double its price and both give a value to each other because they are made the more fit for Chains and Neck-laces for vvhich they are principally designed Pearl is of a nature vvhich vvill admit of no polishing being composed of a certain shell or tunicle vvhich covers it and vvhich decays vvith time losing much of its lustre and brightness vvhich it had at first hovvsoever vvhen they take off the upper coat or tunicle of the decayed part that vvhich is under appears as oriental as it did at first but yet vvith great damage to the Pearl being considerably lessened at least one third of its bigness Hovvsoever the best sort of Pearls do never decay and may be excepted from this general rule CHAP. XXIV Of Gold and Silver SPain it self is a sufficient witness of the Gold and Silver which comes from Peru considering that for the twenty five years last past besides what hath been formerly carried there hath been every year transported twelve or thirteen Millions according to Register besides that which hath passed without account There is Gold found in all the parts of Peru some more and some less generally in every Province It is found on the top or surface of the Earth carried by streams and currents and washed down by great flouds of Rain which the Indians gather and put into water separating it from the Earth as the Silver-smiths do the filings which fall in their shops That which is found in this manner is called Gold in dust because it is like filings some of which are indifferently big and about the fashion of a Mellon-seed some are round and others of an oval form all the Gold of Peru is about eighteen or twenty Quilats more or less in goodness onely that which comes from the Mines of Callauaya or Callahuaya is of the finest sort being twenty four Quilats and better as I have been informed by some Gold-smiths in Spain In the year 1556 there was digged out of the veins of a Rock in the Mines of Callahuaya a piece of Gold Ore of the bigness of a Man's head in colour like the Lungs of a living creature and indeed did something resemble it in the shape having certain Persorations through it from one end to the other in all which holes there appeared little kernels of Gold as if melted Gold had been dropped into them some of them being outwardly in knobs and others more inward Those that understood the nature of Mines were of opinion that had that piece of Ore been suffered to remain it would all with time have been turned into perfect Gold. In Cozco the Spaniards looked upon it as strange and unusual and the Indians called it Huaco as they did every thing which was
wonderfull and worthy of admiration the which word also was used by them when any thing was abominable or detestable in its kind The Master of this piece of Ore determined to carry it with him into Spain and present it to King Philip the Second as a curiosity greatly to be esteemed But I was informed by those who were in the same Fleet with him that the Ship in which that person embarked was cast away and that he was drowned and all his treasure with much more perished with him The Silver is digged with much more labour than Gold and refined with much more charge and difficulty There are many Mines in divers parts of Peru but none like those of Potosi the which were discovered in the year 1545 being about fourteen years after the Spaniards first possessed that Countrey as appears by the Record The Mountain in which these Mines arise is called Potosi but why it is so named I cannot tell unless it hath some signification in the proper Language of that Countrey for in the general Speech of Peru it hath none It is situated in the midst of a Plain in form of a Sugar-loaf is about the compass of a League at the bottom and a quarter of a League towards the top it is round and very pleasant to behold standing alone and single in a Plain which Nature hath adorned and beautified having added comeliness to that fame which its Riches hath made renowned and esteemed in the World. Some Mornings it appears with a cap of Snow the Climate thereabouts being something cold That Mountain in the division which was first made fell to the share of Gançalo Piçarro and afterwards to Pedro Hinojosa as we shall hereafter declare in case we may be so free as to bring to light some hidden and secret practices contrived in the times of War which Historians do often omit fearing to disparage the Actions of great Men and thereby create enmity and displeasure to themselves Acosta in his fourth Book writes at large of Gold and Silver and Quick-silver of which every day there are Mines discovered in that Empire so that I shall not need to write of them onely I shall mention some few remarkable things concerning those Metals and how the Indians melted and founded them before the Spaniards found out the use of Quick-silver and refer the Reader to satisfie his curiosity to that History of Acosta in which he writes of all these Metals and particularly of the Nature of Quick-silver at large 'T is observable that the Mines of the Mountain Potosi were first discovered by certain Indians who were Servants to Spaniards called in their Language Yanacuna who under the seal of friendship and promise of secrecy kept it concealed for some time enjoying to themselves the benefit of the first discovery but finding the Riches immense and difficult to be hidden they could not or would not conceal the intimation thereof from their Masters who opening the first vein of Ore found passage to a greater Treasure Amongst those Spaniards to whom this booty and fortunate lot happened there was one called Gonçalo Bernal who was afterwards Steward to Pedro de Hinojosa this Man discoursing some short time after the discovery of this Mine with Diego Centeno a Gentleman of Quality and other Noble persons concerning the rich and spreading veins of this Mountain declared it to be his opinion that in case this Mine were digged and the Silver melted which it would produce that Silver would become more common and less valuable than Iron The which assertion I have seen made good in the years 1554 and 55 when in the War of Francisco Hernandez Giron an Iron Horse-shoe was worth five Pieces of Eight or six Ducats and a Shoe for a Mule rated at four Pieces of Eight and two Nails for shoing valued at a Tomin or fifty five Maravedis I have seen a pair of Buskins or Spatterlashes sold at thirty six Ducats a Quire of Paper for four Ducats an Ell of Valentia Cloth dyed in grane at sixty Ducats and according to this rate all the fine Cloths made of Sigovia Wool their Silks Linen and other Merchandises of Spain were estimated but the War was the cause of this dearness because in the space of two years that it continued there arrived no Ships in Peru with the Commodities of Spain Moreover the great abundance of Silver which those Mines yielded caused it to be cheap and of no esteem that a Basket of Cuca came to be worth thirty six Ducats and a Bushel of Wheat valued at twenty four or twenty five Ducats at like rates they sold their Mayz and all their commodities for Shoes and Cloathing and their Wine also was sold at excessive prizes untill such time as it came to be imported in greater quantities And though this Countrey be rich and abounding with Gold Silver and pretious Stones yet the Natives are the most poor and miserable people in all the World. CHAP. XXV Of Quick-silver and how they melted their Ore before they discovered that Mineral WE have in the foregoing part of this History signified that the Incan Kings had a knowledge of Quick-silver but were unacquainted with the Nature or Use of it and onely admired the lively and quick motions of it howsoever having observed some certain noxious qualities and effects it produced such as stupefactions palsies and tremblings of the Nerves the Kings whose chief care was the safety of their people for which reason one of their Titles was Lovers of the Poor did absolutely forbid their Subjects to use or meddle with it and they being possessed with an apprehension of its noxious qualities abhorred it to that degree as not to think it worthy of their thought or word so that they had no name for Quick-silver unless they have coined one for it since the Spaniards in the year 1567 made a discovery of it and if they had any before they had certainly forgot it as Men are liable to doe who have no knowledge or practice of letters That which the Incas used and permitted to their Subjects was a sort of Earth of a pure Vermilion-colour beyond expression found in dust within the Mines of Quick-silver the Indians call it Ychma that which Acosta calls Llimpi is of a Purple-colour and extracted from other Mines for in those Countries they have Earth of all colours which serve us for Painting But as to this curious Crimson with which the Indians are so much affected it is also forbidden to be extracted without licence lest the people venturing themselves far into the Caverns of the Earth in the search of it should prejudice their healths and endanger their lives and therefore the use of it is forbidden to the common people and onely permitted to Ladies of the Royal Bloud Men never use it nor Women in years but such onely as are young and handsome who do not lay it upon their Cheeks as our Women do in Spain but onely draw it
in streaks about the breadth of a straw from the corners of their Eyes to their Temples and in this manner it seemed very becoming Other Fucus or Painting than this with Ychma the Pallas or great Ladies did not use nor was it their adornment of every days dress but onely then when they would appear fine and well dressed upon the days of the principal Feasts when they always washed their Faces very clean as also did all the common people But the truth is those Women who did much avail themselves of their beauty and clearness of their skin would for conservation thereof lay a sort of white stuff like Milk upon it of what they made it for my part I cannot tell but there they let it stick and remain for the space of nine days at the end of which being well dried like a scurf on the skin they would then take it off and the complexion would remain much more bright and clear than before But as to the Ychma the Prohibition that was made against extracting of it caused it to be scarce and of little use And whereas a certain Authour says that the Indians did usually paint their faces in the Wars and at their Festivals it is a gross mistake though perhaps some Nations might doe it which were esteemed the most salvage and barbarous And now we are to declare how they melted their Silver before they found the use of Quick-silver the manner was this Near to the Mountain Potocchi or Potocsi which is all one there is another Mountain in the same form and shape but not so great nor so high called by the Indians Huayna Potocsi or the Potocsi the Junior as if they were Father and Son. The Silver for the most part is extracted from Hutun Potocsi or the Elder Potocsi in melting of which they at first found great difficulty for not being able to make it run it burnt away or evaporated in smoak of which the Indians could not penetrate the cause nor discover a remedy But as necessity and covetousness make Men ingenious and contriving so particularly the Indians were infinitely industrious to find out some way to Melt their Gold and Silver at length after many experiments they happened to try the melting of a baser sort of Metal which the lesser Potocsi produced consisting for the most part of Lead mixed with Silver the which yielding more easily melted and run and this being put into the Melting-pots together with the fine Silver and Gold would immediately cause them to melt and dissolve for which reason the Indians gave it the Name of Curuchec which signifies any thing that dissolves In the melting of which Metals they observed a certain proportion of this courser sort for to so much Silver they put such a quantity of this Curuchec according as time and experience had informed their judgments for all sorts of Silver were not of the same fineness though digged and extracted from the same vein so that according to the quality and richness of the Metal the quantity of Curuchec was to be applied The Silver being thus mixed with more fusible Metal they melted it down in Earthen or Clay-pots or Crysobles which they carried from place to place But in regard they had no use of Bellows to make the heat of their fire more intense nor yet used Copper Pipes which we have formerly mentioned wherewith to blow the fire it often happened that they could not possibly cause their Silver to melt of which the Indians not being able to comprehend the reason did at length conclude that it must be a natural blast of Wind which must doe this work But then if the Wind were too strong it would blow away the Coles and cool the Metal so that a temperate and easie gale was requisite To procure which their custome was to go upon the Hills by night observing how the Winds sate and there placed their Melting-pots at such a height higher or lower according as they perceived the force of the Wind. It was a pleasant sight in those days to see eight ten twelve or fifteen thousand of these Fires burning all at the same time upon the sides of these Mountains ranged in order one by the other The first Melting of the Ore was made in this manner on the Mountains but then the second time they founded it again in their Houses blowing the fire as we have said with the Pipes of Copper when they made separation of their Lead from their Silver For in regard the Indians had not the knowledge of all those inventions which the Spaniards have attained in the Art of separating Gold and Silver and Lead performed by Aqua fortis and other Ingredients their way was by often Melting to burn out the Lead and so refine By which we may observe that the Indians had some knowledge of refining the Silver of Potosi before the discovery of Quick-silver and still conserve that Art though not so commonly or frequently known amongst them as formerly The Masters and Owners of the Mines perceiving that by this way of Melting by natural Winds their Goods and Riches were divided and much embezelled by being dispersed into several hands wherefore to remedy this inconvenience they employed Day-labourers who were Indians to dig and extract the Metal and then the Spaniards themselves melted down their own Silver whereas before the Indians having extracted the Ore for every hundred weight thereof agreed and stipulated with their Masters to return them such a quantity of Silver By this good husbandry and by the improvements they had made in the Art of Melting they made great Bellows which being placed at a distance would blow their fires into an extremity of flame But this neither proving a ready way they made an Engine with Wheels carried about with Sails like a Wind-mill or turned by Horses which fanned and blowed the fire with great violence Nor did this neither doe the work so that the Spaniards despairing of the success of their inventions made use of those which the Indians had framed and contrived and so things continued for 22 years untill the year 1567 when by the wit and industry of a certain Portugal named Henrique Garces a great plenty of Quick-silver was discovered in the Province of Huanca surnamed Villca which signifies Greatness or Eminence I know not for what reason unless it be for the great abundance of Quick-silver which that Countrey yielded which is so necessary in the founding of Metals that without it there is great waste and consumption and which hath been so usefull that eight thousand Quintals of it have every year been spent in the service of his Majesty and yet notwithstanding this great plenty of Quick-silver which was discovered the Spaniards were for some time ignorant of the use which might be made thereof in the more easie extracting of their Silver nor had they for the space of four years after any good Assay-Master untill the year 1571 when a certain
them into those parts to which they were designed which being performed the Inca also returned to Tumpiz on other important occasions for whereas these Princes employed their whole time to business for the better government of their People they omitted nothing which might tend to their good and to the happiness of their living and therefore might most justly be stiled Lovers of the Poor and Guardians of their People So soon as the Inca was departed his Captains and Officers prepared also for their passage ordering Boats and Ferries for their transportations the which were provided by the Natives in so small a number as were not sufficient to carry above half the People at a time the which they purposely contrived that so being on the Water they might be able to master that Party and execute their Design which was to kill them all Wherefore one half being embarked together with their Luggage or Baggage which was great for it appertained for the most part to Incas of the Bloud who were near the Person of the King and therefore carried many changes of Apparel with them which were very fine These Traitors which conducted the Boats being come to such a place of the Sea where they had designed to execute their Treachery cut the Cords and Ropes which bound the Timbers and Planks of the Boats together which carried the Incas with which all the Captains and Souldiers being plunged in the Sea the Assassinates took up the Oars and the Arms belonging to them and therewith knocked them on the Head not suffering one of them to escape with his Life And though some of them endeavoured to save themselves by swimming for most of the Indians are very expert in that Art yet it availed them little for they were not suffered to come ashore by the People of the Coast who preyed upon them in such manner as the Maritime Creatures do upon those of the Land. In this manner these Islanders having gained their Victory and made themselves Masters of the Spoils which were very great they with much Joy and Triumph saluted one the other from Boat to Boat applauding the contrivance and success of their Design with which they were so elevated being an ignorant and sottish People that they believed they had now not onely secured their Liberty but were able also to make themselves Masters of the Empire With this vain opinion they returned to the Island and with like Dissimulation and Wickedness of Intention took aboard the residue of the Captains and Souldiers which remained for the second adventure whom having brought to the same place where the former Villany was perpetrated they acted the like on them and then returning home they completed their Villany by putting all the Governours and Ministers to death whom the Inca had left to doe Justice and to oversee the Revenue belonging to the Sun and to the Inca the which they acted with incomparable Cruelty and Disdain of the Royal Person of the Inca placing the Heads of the murthered at the Gates of their Temples and sacrificing their Hearts and Bloud to their Idols complying hereby with the Vows they had made to their Spirits and Devils in case they would favour and prosper their Attempt CHAP. VI. Of the Punishment which was inflicted upon these faithless Rebels THE sad news of this unhappy success being made known to Huayna Capac he received it with as deep a sense of trouble as the loss of so many Incas of the Bloud Royal and of Men experienced in War and Peace did require condoling much that their Bodies should be cast into the Sea to be the Food and Prey of Fish for which being full of sorrow he put himself into mourning Weeds which amongst them is a Clothing of a greyish colour called Vellori But the Anger and Indignation of the Inca soon overcame his sorrow for having assembled his People together and provided all things necessary he with the greatest Expedition imaginable passed into the rebellious Provinces upon the Main-land and with great facility subjected the Inhabitants who were a silly people without Counsel Policy or Military Art whereby to defend themselves From the Subjection of these people on the Main the Inca passed into the Island in his way whereunto he encountred a slight resistence on the Sea but so inconsiderable and weak that the Enemy was immediately overcome and yielded to Mercy Whereupon the Inca commanded all the principal Authours and Counsellours of this Design together with the Captains and Souldiers of chiefest note who were in any wise concerned in this Treason to be seized and brought before his Tribunal of Justice to whom one of the Generals made a grave Speech representing to them the deformity of their Wickedness aggravated with all the black circumstances that were possible for that whilst the Inca was studying their good and endeavouring to reclaim them from their bestial and brutish Life that they might enjoy a condition more agreeable to a rational Being that then they were contriving to disappoint his good Intentions by the worst and soulest Cruelties Wherefore since Justice was to be performed and that the Inca could not exercise that Clemency and Compassion which was natural to his Temper they were to prepare themselves to receive a punishment agreeable to their demerit upon which Sentence being passed it was executed with divers sorts of Death according as the Inca directed that it might have some conformity to that kind of Cruelty which they acted on the people of the Inca they threw some into the Sea with great weights to sink them to the bottom others they ran through the Body with their Lances and pitched them on Spears before the Gates of their Temples others were quartered after their Throats were cut others they killed with their own Weapons and others were hanged Pedro de Cieça having at large described the particulars of this Rebellion and the Revenge of it writes afterwards these Words In this manner many thousands of Indians were killed and destroyed with different sorts of death the principal Leaders of which Councils were either drowned or empaled And after Huayna Capac had done Justice upon these Offenders he commanded that this dismal story should be made the Subject of those Songs which were to be recited on their days and times of Calamity which they in dolefull Ditties composed in their Language and Proprieties of their Countrey After which the Inca attempted to make a Causey over the River Guayaquile which certainly was a great and magnificent work according to those remains which to this day appear of it but it was never finished according to the manner that he designed being called to this day the Pass of Guayna Capa all which being performed commands were given to obey the Governour who resided in the Fortress of Tumbez with other matters relating to Government and so the Inca departed from those Quarters Thus far are the Words of Pedro de Cieça CHAP. VII Of the Mutiny which
and natural temper Reflect I beseech you on your Title of Huacchacuyac which is a Lover of the Poor and a Deliverer of the Distressed the which generous Quality you cannot exercise at a more seasonable time when you may manifestly evidence to all the World the compassion you have for humane frailty Remember Sir that your Father conquered this People which though unworthy such a Patron are yet your own and therefore let not your Fury so far transport you in the punishment of this People and in the unprofitable effusion of their Bloud which may blemish your ancient Praises and eclipse the bright character you have of being descended from the Sun your Father Consider that how much the greater the crime is which you pardon so much the more will your Clemency and Piety bee exalted and admired and the memory of your Ancestours be rendred more pretious and glorious by the proof and exercise of this Vertue which they have derived unto you Wherefore my Petition is that you would vouchsafe to receive this People unto pardon and if not that at least since I am a Native of this Province you would vent your Anger and Revenge first upon me and thereby doe me that grace and favour that I may not live to behold the entire Destruction of my People The Matron having uttered these Words was silent and then all the other Women that were with her lifted up their Voices and Cries repeating often the Titles of the Inca saying O thou Child of the Sun thou Lover of the Distressed thou Great Huaina Capac have pity on us and pardon our Fathers our Husbands our Brothers and our Children The Inca herewith was struck dumb for a while considering the Reasons which Mamacuna had given him which being seconded by the Cries and Tears and Sighs of the Indian Women the Anger of the Inca began to moderate and assuage with which going towards his Mother-in-law he raised her from the ground and then said to her Well dost thou deserve to be called Mamanchic or the common Mother he would have said the Mother of me and thy people since thou hast been so provident as to foresee the Miseries which were coming and to provide that remedy against them which was agreeable to my Honour and the Glory of my Father's Memory For which I most heartily thank thee being assured that is case I had given way to my rage I had to morrow repented the actions of this day Well hast thou performed the office of a Mother towards thy people in redeeming their lives from destruction in which since thou hast been so successfull whatsoever thou hast desired of me shall be accomplished and consider if there be any thing else which thou wouldst require of me return therefore with happiness to thy people pardon them in my name and offer them what other grace and favour thou seest convenient And for the better assurance of this my pardon take with thee the four Incas who are your Sons and my Brothers without other attendance than their own Mâ—nial Servants to whom I shall give no other Commission than onely to settle them in peace under a good and wholsome Government Which being said the Inca returned with his whole Army commanding them to march along the Coast in prosecution of his first design The Chachapuyas by this gratious Act of Clemency being convinced of their errour became afterwards most loyal Subjects to the Inca and in remembrance and gratitude for such high and sublime generosity they hallowed and esteemed that place Sacred where this discourse had passed between the Inca and his Mother-in-law fencing it about that for ever after neither Man nor Beast nor yet the Fowls of the Air should set their foot or tread that Sacred place For security of which they encompassed it about with three Walls the first was of Stone rarely polished with all its Cornishes the second was of rough and rustick Stone for better security of that within and the third was of Clay or Sun-burnt Bricks for defence of the other two being more exposed to the weather Of which some Reliques and Ruines still remain and might have endured for many Ages had not the Covetousness of the New-come Guests overthrown those Edifices in the Quest of Riches CHAP. VIII Of the Gods and Customs of the Nation of Manta of their Subjection together with many other Barbarous Nations HUayna Capac having fitted and prepared his Camp in order to the Conquest he had formerly designed along the Sea-coast he arrived at the Confines of that Province which was called Manta within the jurisdiction of which lyes that Harbour which the Spaniards do now call Puerto Viejo or the Old Haven the reason of which Name we have already given at the beginning of this History The Natives of this Countrey and all the Inhabitants for many Leagues on the Sea-side Northward observed the same Customs and the same Idolatrous Religion Worshipping the Sea and Fish of which there was great abundance serving them both for food and for Gods They also adored Lions and Tygers and Serpents of incredible bigness and other creeping creatures as they best fansied But above all in the Valley of Manta which was the Metropolis or chief place of all that Countrey they Worshipped an Emerald of a prodigious bigness being not much less than the Egg of an Ostrich At their principal Festivals they exposed it to publick view so that the Indians came far and near to Worship it and offer Sacrifices to it bringing Presents of lesser Emeralds the Priests and the Cacique of Manta telling the people that the Offerings of the lesser Emeralds which were the Children and Off-spring of this great One were the most pleasing and acceptable Sacrifice that they could make to this Goddess the which doctrine being inculcated into the people by the covetousness of the Priests was the occasion that vast numbers of Emeralds were amassed together in this place where they were afterwards found by Don Pedro de Alvarado and his Companions of which Garçilasso de la Vega my Master was one when they were employed in the Conquest of Peru but they being unskilfull Lapidaries were of opinion that these Stones if they were true and not Glass could never be broken and therefore in the trial of them broke the greatest part of them with Hammers upon an Anvil But the great one which was their Goddess was conveyed away by the Indians in such manner so soon as they understood that the Spaniards had invaded their Countrey that with all the diligence and menaces which could be used it could never be recovered as also other vast and immense treasures which have been lost and embezled in that Countrey The Natives of Manta and the parts adjacent and especially those that live along the Coast though we must exempt the Serranos who inhabit within the Land did use and profess openly and without shame that abominable vice of Sodomy and were more addicted to it than
or set any price upon him but in case it happened by the Master's Death or his departure for Spain that a Horse was set to sale the price was four five or six thousand pieces of Eight In the Year 1554. when the Mareschal Don Alonso â—â— Alvarado went in pursuit of Francisco Hernandez de Giron which was before the Battel of Chuquinca A Negro Boy leading a very hansome Horse in his Hand well managed a certain rich Gentleman casting his Eyes upon him and being much taken with him said to the Owner of him Sir for the Boy and Horse as they now are I will give you ten thousand pieces of Eight which is as much as twelve thousand Ducats but the Owner refused the Offer telling him that he had occasion for the Horse to charge upon in the next Battel which was shortly expected the issue of which was that the Horse vvas killed and the Master mortally vvounded But that vvhich is observable herein is this that he vvho vvould have bought the Horse vvas rich having a considerable Colony of Indians in the Countrey of the Charcas and the Ovvner vvas a famous Souldier vvho to signalize himself in that day of Battel refused to sell his Horse at any rate though never so advantageous I knew them both to be Gentlemen and Persons of Noble Quality But since that time the price of Horses is much abated in Peru because the breed is much increased so that a good Horse may be vvorth three or four hundred Pieces of Eight and an ordinary Jade may be sold at tvventy or thirty The Indians are very commonly fearfull of an Horse for when they see him gallop or run in any Street where they chance to meet him they are so affrighted that they think they can never croud near enough to the Wall to avoid him fearing lest he should run over them and trample them under foot wherefore when they meet a Horse in the Streets they will cross the Street three or four times from one side to the other and being so scared as it were out of their Wits they have run blindly as I have seen into the very way of the Horse whom they have endeavoured to avoid and have never thought themselves out of danger unless they could get a Spaniard to stand before them nor would that guard neither acquit them from all fear and though now by custome and conversation the dread of them is not so great yet never could any Indian be persuaded to take upon him the Trade of a Blacksmith because he would not be concerned in shooing Horses though in all works of Metal they are excellent Artists And though the Spaniards have bred up some Indian Boys and taught them to dress and curry Horses yet I never knew or saw an Indian that durst adventure to mount upon their Backs if any of them were so bold as to lead a Horse by the Bridle it was some tame gentle Jade as quiet as a Mule for indeed that which scared the Indians most was to find most of the Horses wanton and skittish for as yet the Spaniards did neither use them to the Martingale nor to covers or as they are called Spectacles for their Eyes which was a great neglect and was the cause of much more labour and trouble to the Master in the breaking and managery of them for these Horses are of that docible and tractable Nature that with good dressing and management they will in every thing incline to the will and pleasure of the Master At the beginning when the Conquest was first made in Peru the Indians believed that the Man and the Horse were all of one piece or the same Creature fansying like the Poets that they were Centaures They tell me now that some Indians have adventured to shoe Horses but that there are very few so hardy And having said thus much concerning Horses let us now proceed to give an account of what other things were not found in my Countrey CHAP. XVII Of their Cows and Oxen. IT is believed that Cows were brought into Peru presently after the Conquest which soon increased and multiplied in those numbers that they supplied all the Kingdom the same also is probable of the Hogs and Goats for I remember to have seen numbers of them in Cozco when I was a Child It cannot be expected that a price should be set for a Cow in the first beginning when the Spaniards planted themselves they being brought over onely for breed but afterwards by increasing they became common and were sold at moderate rates The first Man in Cozco that was Master of Cows was Antonio de Altamirano the Father of two Sons Peter and Francis which he had by an Indian Woman and were my School-fellows and both dyed young to the great sorrow of the whole City by reason of the great hopes and expectation was of their Understanding and Vertue The first Oxen that I ever saw at plough were in the Valley of Cozco about the Year 1550 belonging to John Rodriguez de Villalobos they were in all but three one they called Chaparro another Naranco and the third Castillo I was carried to see this sight with great numbers of Indians who flocked from all parts with astonishment and wonder to see this prodigious Novelty which I amongst the rest did much admire They said that the Spaniards who were drones and would not work themselves had made these great Animals labour and doe that work which they ought to have performed themselves I have reason to remember these particulars for when I was Boy and plaid the Truant to see the Oxen Plough it cost me two dozen of good stripes one half of which I received from my Father and the other dozen from my Schoolmaster the piece of land which they ploughed was a very pleasant field which is situated a little higher than that ground where now the Convent of St. Francis is built the which part of the Convent where the Body of the Church stands was erected at the charge and cost of the aforesaid John Rodriguez de Villalobos and dedicated by him to St. Lazarus to whom he was greatly devoted the remainder of the Church the Franciscan Friars purchased with the two pieces of Land some years after for when the Oxen ploughed there was no House or Buildings there either belonging to Spaniards or Indians as we have at large declared in that part where we make a description of the City and situation of Cozco The Ploughmen that tilled the Land were Indians and the Oxen were taught and broken to the Yoke in a certain Inclosure without the City and then when they had learned their work they were brought to Cozco where they had as many Spectators and Admirers that day as had the Triumphs at Rome in its mightiest grandeur When Cows were first brought to the Market one might be worth two hundred Pieces of Eight but afterwards as they increased and became more common they fell by degrees to
first they planted themselves in the New World for then they never scrupled the giving any price for the things which came from Spain that they might eat them or breed them as if they had been so necessary to humane life that no subsistence could be without them In the year 1560 a good Hog was worth ten Pieces of Eight at Cozco and now may be had for six or seven and were it not for the Lard which they say is good to cure the Scab or Murrain to which the Cattel in that Countrey are much subject they would be much cheaper And also the Spaniards for want of Oil in those Countries have licence to dress their Meat with it on Fridays and in Lent. The Sows in Peru are strangely fruitfull for in the year 1558 I remember to have seen in the Market of Peru two Sows with thirty two Pigs each of them having brought forth sixteen Pigs at one farrowing and when I saw them they might be of a Month old and yet they were so fat and slick that one would wonder how it were possible for the Dams to maintain and suckle so many of them in such good plight and condition The Indians give the Name of Cuchi to the Hogs which is a word they have framed from Coche Coche which the Spaniards utter when they speak to their Hogs CHAP. XX. Of Sheep and Tame Cats THE Sheep of Castile which we call so to distinguish them from those of Peru to which the Spaniards improperly give the Name of Sheep since they are neither like them in shape nor colour nor any thing else as we have shewn in its due place These Sheep I say of Castile I know not when they were first imported into Peru nor by whom the first that I ever saw were in the Fields about Cozco in the year 1556 and were then sold one with another at the rate of forty Pieces of Eight a head and some of the prime sort at fifty and were bought then both for love and money as the Goats at first were In the year 1560 when I departed from Cozco Mutton was not as yet sold in the Shambles by weight but since by Letters from thence dated in the year 1590 they write me that a Sheep was then sold in the Market for eight Ryals of Eight or ten at most and in eight years time since Sheep are fallen to four Ducats a head and under and now at present are so common and in such numbers that they are worth very little for an Ewe commonly brings forth two at a time and often three their Wool also is produced in that quantity that it is of little value and is not worth above three or four Ryals a quarter of a hundred I know not if they have learned as yet to make Weathers of them There are no Wolves in those Countries nor ever were nor will they be thought worthy to be transported thither unless they were more profitable and better conditioned Nor had the Indians House-Cats before the coming in of the Spaniards though now they have them and call them Micitu which is a word they have framed from the Spaniards whom they have heard to call them Miz Miz. This I say to rectifie the mistake of some Spaniards who were of opinion that the Indians had Cats before the time that the Spaniards came amongst them because they had in their Language a proper Name for them And in like manner a certain Historian argues that they had Hens before the time of the Spaniards because they gave them the Name of Gualpu And this would seem a most convincing Argument to such who know not the deduction or occasion on which this Name of Gualpa was given which indeed is not Gualpa but Atahualpa and hereon depends a most pleasant Story which we shall recount when we come to treat of Tame Fowl which were not in Peru before the time of the Spaniards CHAP. XXI Of Conies and Dogs of Game NOR had they Wild or Tame Rabbets as we have in Spain for they have been brought thither since I departed from Peru The first that brought them to Cozco was one of the Clergy called Andrew Lopez born in the Estremadura but in what Village or Town I know not This Priest brought over a Buck and a Doe in a Cage and in passing over a stream which is about sixteen Leagues distant from Cozco and runs through the Countrey of Chinchapuyu where the Estate of my Lord and Father Garçilasso de la Vega lyes it happened out that whilst the Indian which carried them had set down the Cage to rest himself and eat a bit of bread that the Doe escaped out through a hole of the Cage where one of the Rods was broken and ran out amongst the Rocks and Mountains and amongst the Willows and Osiers which grow by the banks of the River the Doe being then big with Young brought forth a great many which being conserved afterwards by the care of the Indians have increased to that degree that they have made a Warren and now cover the ground with their Numbers From thence they have stocked other Grounds in many parts the Land being barren and the Grass short they have thriven so well as to become of a larger size than ours as have also other Conies which have been brought from Spain into other parts It was the fortune of that Coney to get loose in a temperate Climate which was neither over hot nor very cold but as they spread farther up the River the Countrey grows cooler untill at length they come to places of perpetual Snows Such as took their downwards as the stream runs those were subject to greater heats untill they came to the River Apurimac which is the hottest Climate of all Peru. This Story of the Conies was told me by an Indian of my Countrey who knowing that I was writing the History of Peru gave me this information for the truth of which I refer my self to the banks of that River which if they be so well stocked with Conies as he relates it may serve for an undeniable proof In the Kingdom of Quitu there are Conies like those in Spain onely they are less and of a darker colour having a black streak along the top of their backs in every thing else they are like the Rabbets we have in Spain they have no Hares nor do I know whether they have brought any thither as yet The Dogs of game or of good race such as we have formerly mentioned were not in Peru untill the Spaniards brought them thither Mastiffs were the last of any transported to those parts by reason that having no Wolves nor other beasts of prey which might hurt their Cattel they had no need of such Dogs for their defence or guard Howsoever when they were come thither such as were Masters of great Flocks and Herds would not want or be without them not that they had any need or occasion for them but
onely because they would have their Flocks and Herds be like those in Spain And so passionately was their fancy at the beginning inclined hereunto that in every thing they affected the Manners and Customs of Spain for which reason and not for any need a Spaniard carried a Mastiff Whelp that was not above a Month and a half old in a Wallet which he hanged at his Saddle-bow from Cozco to Los Reyes which is a hundred and twenty Leagues through a mountainous and craggy Countrey being every day troubled to find Milk for this Whelp the which I saw and can testifie having been a Companion with that Spaniard in the Journey who told me that he carried that Whelp for a present to his Father-in-law who was a Grasier being Master of great Flocks of Cattel and lived fifty or sixty Leagues on this side of Ciudad de los Reyes by whom he would be esteemed as a Jewel of mighty value These and greater pains have the Spaniards taken at the beginning to procure such Creatures as are used in Spain which afterwards they have neglected and conserved in little esteem CHAP. XXII Of Rats and to what Multitudes they have increased WE must speak something of the Rats which came over with the Spaniards for before their time there were none in the Countrey Françis Lopez de Gomara in his General History of the Indies which was not very faithfully wrote says that untill the time of Blasco Nunnez Vela Rats were not known in Peru but now they are in great numbers and of so great a proportion and size that no Cat dares to contend or deal with them Howsoever they are not as yet come so high as to the Hilly Countries by reason of the cold and Snows nor can they find covert or shelter under which they may convey themselves thither Howsoever they have great numbers of Mice which they call Ucucha In Nombre de Dios Panama and other Cities on the Coast of Peru they have such an infinite number of Rats that they are forced to destroy them with Poison of Rats-bane which they lay for them at a certain time of the year by agreement of all the Neighbourhood when proclamation is made that every House should lay its Arsnick for destruction of the Rats that so at this notice every person should be warned to cover their Provisions of meat and drink from the Rats and especially the water for so soon as the Rat hath taken his dose he presently runs to the water and therewith bursts and dyes and then every House lays its baits of Fruits of such things as Rats commonly eat which being empoisoned with Arsnick destroy them in infinite numbers When I arrived at Panama from Spain presently after the time that the poison had been laid I remember that one Evening as I walked by the Sea-side I found just at the brink of the water such quantities of dead Rats that they covered the ground for above a hundred Paces in length and above three or four in breadth And now upon occasion of this discourse concerning the infinite numbers of Rats I shall adventure to tell a strange Story of this kind upon the credit of a Noble Gentleman call'd Hernan Bravo de Laguna one who was Lord of Indians in Cozco and had the honour to be mentioned in the History of Peru the relation he made which he attests to have seen was this A Ship sailing from Panama to Los Reyes touched in the way upon the Coast at a Port called Trugillo where the whole Ships company agreed one day to go ashore and be merry leaving onely one sick Man aboard who by reason of his indisposition was not able to walk so far as from the Sea-side to the City which was two Leagues Nor need we here to wonder that they should leave their Ship so ill provided for in those Seas storms and tempests do seldom arise nor was there any fear of Pyrates or Enemies for as yet Sir Francis Drake had not opened the Navigation into those Seas Now so soon as the Rats perceived that the Ship was freed of its company they all sallied out to partake freely of the spoil where finding the sick Man upon the Deck they all joined to give him battel that they might kill and eat him the which hath oftentimes happened in these Voyages in which sick Men have over night been alive and next morning have been found dead in their beds with the flesh of their Faces Armes Legs and Thighs gâ—awn and torn from the bones In this manner this hungry crew would have dealt with our sick Man against whom they formed their Army and came to combat him who finding himself so hardly beset got up and taking a Spit from the Cook-room returned to his bed not to sleep but to watch and stand upon his guard which he did that whole day and the night following and the day after untill late in the Evening when his Companions returned to the Ship vvho having heard the Story gave credit to it vvhen they found behind his Bed and upon the Deck and in corners of the Ship so many of his Enemies slain which appeared upon account to be three hundred eighty and odd which he had killed with his Spit besides others which had been wounded The sick Man either out of fear or joy of his victory recovered his health being much pleased afterwards to recount the particulars of this success In divers places upon the Coast of Peru and in divers years untill 1572 and 73 there were great Destructions and even Plagues caused by the incredible multitudes of Rats and Mice which swarming over all the Land ate up the Seeds which were thrown into the ground as also the Fruit-trees which they pilled of their bark from the roots to the very buds and sprouts so that the Trees dying the Inhabitants were forced to make new Plantations in their places and feared that they should have been forced to abandon their Dwellings had not God in mercy caused that Plague to cease on a sudden when it was just at the extremity of destruction The particulars of which incredible damages we shall for brevity sake omit CHAP. XXIII Of their Hens and Pigeons WE come now in the next place to speak of Fowls of which few others have been transported into Peru unless Poultry such as Cocks and Hens and tame Pigeons or House-doves As for Stock-doves or Wood-Pigeons I know not whether any have been as yet brought thither As to Hens there is a certain Authour who writes that they were found in Peru before the time that the Spaniards conquered it and for proof thereof he alledges that the Indians have a proper Name for a Hen in their own Language which is Gualpa and for an Egg which is Ronto and that the Indians have the same propriety in their speech for a Coward whom they call a Hen or Hen-hearted as the Spaniards have To which Argument we shall give this satisfactory
ours but take a root which produces Melons for many Years and are cut and pruned at the Seasons like a Tree which is a thing that never happened in any part of Spain c. Thus far are the Words of Acosta upon whose Authority I adventure with much confidence to report the great fruitfulness of this Countrey and how wonderfully at the beginning the Fruits of Spain thrived and increased to an incredible greatness to which also I shall add another Excellency which Acosta mentions which is that the Melons did all prove good provided that time were given them to ripen which gives a farther indication of the fertility of this Soil And in regard the first Melons which were seen in the parts adjacent to los Reyes gave occasion to a pleasant story which we shall not omit in this place because it is a farther evidence of the ancient simplicity of the Indians which is this A certain Inhabitant of the City of los Reyes who was one of the first Conquerours and a Person of Noble Bloud named Antonio Solar having a Plantation in Pachacamac about four Leagues distant from the City maintained a Spaniard for his Baily to oversee and manure his land who sent two Indians laden with five Melons apiece being ten in all to his Master that he might taste the fruit of his ground and therewith sent a Letter in one of the Baskets telling them that in case they ate any of them that Paper would discover it With this charge they departed and being half a days Journey on their way they sate down to rest and repose themselves during which stay one said to the other Let us taste of this Fruit which we carry to our Master but the other made some scruple saying The Paper will discover all as our Steward told us but the other replied that if they threw the Paper behind the Hedge it could not see them nor arise up in witness against them which contrivance pleased the Companion and the Paper being laid aside they cut the Melon and devoured it For the Indians at first not understanding the Mystery of Letters imagined that Papers were Messengers to whom the Spaniards had declared their minds and spoken those words which were delivered to them and that they were as Spies to tell whatsoever they saw in the way where they travelled and therefore when they fell to their treat they laid the Paper behind a bank that it might not see them As they travelled on their Journey he that carried the five Melons said to him that had the four if we go with this odd number our Master will suspect that we have eaten one and therefore let us eat another to make them equal this witty Counsel pleased well and so by agreement they sate down and ate the other And being now come to their Master they presented him with eight Melons onely who reading the Letter asked them what was become of the other two Mellons for that the Letter specified ten No Sir said they the Steward gave us but eight Why do you lie said Antonio Solar for the Paper speaks of ten Wherewith the poor Fellows became so affrighted and confused that they knew not what to reply but onely to confess the truth saying that with great reason the Spaniards were called Viracocha since they were able to penetrate into such hidden Secrets A Story of the like nature Gomara relates to have happened in the Island of Cuba when it was at first possessed by the Spaniards and indeed it is no wonder that the same ignorance should be common in all parts of the new World for the simplicity of the Indians was such as that whatsoever was new and not seen to them before could never enter into their capacities and onely served to fill them with wonder and admiration for whatsoever they observed to be extraordinary in the Spaniards such as running on Horseback breaking Oxen to the Yoke and ploughing the ground with them making Mills and building Arches for Bridges shooting with Guns and killing at an hundred and two hundred paces and the like were all such miracles to them as could not be effected by other means than some Divine Power and for that reason they called the Spaniards Gods as they did in the evidence which the Paper gave against them CHAP. XXX Of Flax Asparagus Visnagas with which they cleanse Teeth and Anniseeds NOR was there Flax in Peru at first but Donna Catalina de Retes who was a Native of St. Lucar and Mother-in-law to Francis de Villafuerte a noble and religious Lady and one of the first Nuns of the Convent of St. Clare in Cozco expected in the Year 1560. to receive some Flax Seed from Spain to sow in that Countrey together with Looms and Instruments to spin and weave Linen for their Houses but in the Year that I departed from Peru I cannot say that those things were as yet brought but since I came from thence I have heard that considerable quantities of Linen are made there though I cannot avouch how great Spinsters the Spanish Women have been nor how good Huswives my Countrey Women are for I did never see them spin Linen though I have seen them sow and weave Cotton and fine Wool which the Indian Women span with great curiosity though they combed it with their Fingers for want of Cards wherewith to card it and therefore they may be excused if they be not as yet become such excellent Spinsters of Linen as our Spanish Houswives are But to return to our former Discourse relating to the great esteem which the Fruits and Commodities of Spain had gained in the Indies at first when the Spaniards had newly planted themselves in Peru I remember that in the Year 1555. or 56 Garçia de Melo who was then Treasurer for his Majesty in Cozco sent to my Lord Garçilasso de la Vega a present of three Asparagus where he had them or where they grew is not known onely he desired him to accept and eat that curiosity of Spanish Fruit the Asparagus were very fair ones two of which were as big as a middle Finger and the third of a yard long the other was thicker but shorter but all of them so tender that they were easily broken My Father that he might doe the greater honour to this Spanish Plant ordered that the Asparagus should be boiled on a Pan of Coals in his own Chamber in presence of seven or eight Gentlemen who were at Supper with him When the Asparagus were boiled and a sauce for them made with Oil and Vinegar Garçilasso divided the two largest among the Guests at his Table and the third he took wholly to himself desiring them to pardon him for that time if he carved himself the largest portion of the Spanish Fruits In this manner the Asparagus were eaten with great chear and mirth as if the Phenix had been to be divided amongst them and though I served then at the Table yet nothing thereof
acquaintance or communication with the Officers of His Majesties Royal Exchequer yet at length by the friendship which I gained with John de Morales a Native of Madrid who was a very honest and intelligent Gentleman I procured some account of the King's Revenue with which he was pleased to oblige me for the better advance of this History which I now write the which was so difficult a work to him that he kept me three months before he could satisfie me therein and at last he delivered me this following account which I have extracted verbatim from his own Paper Your Worship was pleased to desire of me that to serve a particular occasion of yours I would set down in writing the rents and value of all his Majesties Revenue the which is a business so difficult that I cannot summ within any tolerable compass of certainty And indeed though the King hath desired it and commanded it to be given in for the better direction and measures of his Council of the Treasury and ordered all to be put into a Book yet that work is not as yet begun nor do we know when it will be begun much less when it will be ended for there are such vast Rises and Falls such Advances and Abatements that nothing can be delivered with any certainty every thing running in such different chanels as is impossible to reduce them to any coherence of method but in the bulk or lump we may affirm that the Revenue of the King is a prodigious Mass of Wealth and Treasure Thus far are the Words of Morales which we have willingly alledged in confirmation of the truth of what we have said being desirous not to write any thing but that which we can avouch on good ground and authority And for farther proof of this difficulty and how hard a thing it is to sum up the Revenue of this King of Spain now Emperour of the new World I shall produce the Testimony of John Botero a great and an universal Historian who after he had made a calculate of the Revenue of the King of China and of the Rents which Galizia Asturias and Portugal anciently yielded to the Roman Empire with what was the Revenue of the Kings of Navarre France the Emperour Poland England Duke of Lorrain King of Scotland Swedeland and Gothland as also what was the Income of the House of Austria of the King of Narsinga the Neriffe of Egypt and of the Gran Signor yet coming to the Revenue of our King of Spain he is there silent for which I can render no other reason than because this Authour coming to this Account he found himself so plunged and immersed therein that he durst not adventure to fathom the same not having as I imagine numbers sufficient to sum up the Tribute of his many Kingdoms and with them the immense Riches imported from Peru. And in confirmation of the great Treasure with which Peru hath enriched all the World I have this farther Testimony to offer from the most Reverend Father Don Paulo de Laguna who was President of the Council of his Majesty's Exchequer and afterwards President of the Council of the Indies and Vice-king of the New World and in the Year 1603. was elected Bishop of Cordova this great Person discoursing one day with his Confessour and others concerning the immense Riches of Peru did confidently affirm that from one Mountain onely of Peru there had been transported into Spain untill the Year 1602. two hundred Millions of Pieces of Eight which had been registred and that at least one hundred Millions more had been imported without Register And I can farther add said he that twenty five Millions in Gold and Silver have been brought into Spain by one Fleet in my time The Standers-by hearing this answered We could never believe it my Lord but that we receive it from so authentick an Authour as your Lordship What I say replied the Bishop I know for a certain truth and moreover I assure you that all the Kings of Spain joined together from King Pelayo to these times have not been Masters of so much Money as King Philip the 2d hath been After which testimony from so great a person we shall not need to add or require farther proofs for what we have alledged But such as look on the Riches of Peru with more than a common Eye are of opinion that they have rather been hurtfull than good or beneficial to Mankind for that Riches have been the cause of Vice and not of Vertue having inclined the Nature of Men to Pride and Ambition to Gluttony and Luxury for enjoying an affluence of Fortune they have given themselves up to Sloth and Effeminacy becoming neither fit for Government in the times of Peace nor yet for Hardship and Labour in the times of War employing their whole thoughts and time in contriving new Dishes and Liquours to please their Appetite and fantastical Fashions for their Clothing in which they are arrived to that height of extravagance that they scarce know what to wear and are come to that undecency of Dress that their Habit is more correspondent to Women than to Men. And as the Rents of the Rich have been raised to maintain the Lusts and riotous Living of great Persons so have the Poor been oppressed and reduced to Rags and Famine to support the Pride and Luxury of their Landlords And the truth is the Poor are become much more poor than formerly for the quantity of Money being increased which is all accumulated into the Coffers of the Rich hath enhansed the price of Provisions and Commodities to that degree that the Poor starve by the abundance of the Rich and though the Rich have a plenty of Money and may out of their great stores enlarge their Charities towards the Poor yet their Alms do not answer the price of Provisions which the plenty of Money hath raised in the World so in short they conclude that the Riches of the new World not having increased the Provisions necessary for the support of humane Life but rather served to make them dear and Men effeminate having enfeebled them in their Bodies and Understandings and debauched them in their Habits and Customs of living the generality of Mankind is become much worse and less contented and having been formidable and dreaded in ancient times by all the World are now rendred mean and effeminate by the corruption of their Riches Now as to these two Opinions I leave every one free to follow that which seems best to him For I being a party and biassed by affection to my own Countrey dare neither pretend to favour that which applauds the grandeur and glory which Peru hath brought to Spain nor yet oppose the other lest I should seem partial and too affectionate to my own Cause And so we shall proceed and take the thread of our History passing by divine favour through the beginning middle and end of this famous Triumvirate We say then that
acquainted at Cozco and who had there a Division of Lands planted with Indians Also Don Francis Piçarro did promise to renounce his Title of Lord Lieutenant to Don Diego and to beseech His Majesty that he vvould be pleased to confer that Honour upon him With vvhich Don Diego being appeased he gave almost a thousand Ducats in Gold to his Companion vvith all the Victuals Arms and Horses vvhich he had provided together vvith tvvo Ships to transport them CHAP. XV. Of the great Hardships the Spaniards endured in their Voyage from Panama to Tumpiz DOn Francisco Piçarro with his four Brothers together with his Men and Horse which were as many as his Ships could contain set Sail from Panama with intention not to touch any where untill they came to the Countrey of Tumpiz but the Southerly Winds always blowing in that Sea which were contrary to the course they steered they were forced to land a hundred Leagues short of Tumpiz so that sending their Ships back again to Panama they resolved to march all the way by Land esteeming it much easier than to turn to Windward for so many Leagues But in their Journey by Land they suffered much more than they would have done by the contrary Winds by Sea for entring into a barren Countrey void of all Victuals and Provisions they endured hunger and want of all things and the way being long and tedious over Mountains and Rocks and their passage stopped by wide Rivers they contrived to pass them with Floats which they made of Timber and Canes and Rushes which they fastned together and with large Goards which they bound one to the other The chief Guide and Pilot over these Ferries was Don Francisco himself who was well acquainted and experienced in matters of this nature the which he sustained with so much courage and patience that for better example to his Companions he would carry the sick and tired persons on his own shoulders over Brooks and Fords which might be waded over After all these difficulties they came at length to that Province which they call Coaqui where they found plenty of Provisions and many Emeralds of the finest sort of which they broke many for being not skilfull Jewellers they had an opinion that the true Emeralds would not break and therefore for a trial they proved them with Hammers upon the Anvil The like they afterwards did in Tumpiz where they broke many Emeralds of three or four thousand Ducats price But not onely these Spaniards fell into this errour but likewise others who afterwards came to this Countrey under the Command of the Lord Lieutenant Don Pedro de Alvarado who destroyed many Emeralds and Turquoises of an inestimable value But besides these disastures the people of Piçarro were afflicted with a loathsome disease which at first appeared with a swelling on their Heads and Faces like Warts and on several parts of their Body but afterwards when they came to a maturity they were of the colour of ripe Figs and about the bigness of them hanging down as it were by a string from whence great quantities of bloud issued the which were not onely loathsome but very sore and it was very ugly to behold such filthy Warts or Wens appearing on their Foreheads Eye-brows Noses and Ears for which they knew no remedy or cure But this disease was not so mortal but that many of them who were seized with this distemper recovered though several dyed and though the disease was Epidemical to the Natives of Peru yet it was not so to the Spaniards many of which escaped the Evil. Many years after that time I saw three or four Spaniards at Cozco who lay ill of that distemper but they recovered and it may be attributed to some bad influence which was transient for since that time that sickness hath not been known With all these Labours Diseases and Death of his Companions Don Francisco was not dismayed always shewing himself as forward to adventure himself first in dangers as he was carefull in the cure of his Friends and Souldiers To Panama he sent twenty four or twenty five thousand Ducats of Gold to supply Don Diego de Almagro with Money that so he might be enabled to furnish those necessary succours of which they had occasion part of which Gold he gained by War and part by the ransome of such whom he had taken Captives Thus proceeding forwards to Tumpiz he overtook another party of Spaniards who being moved with the report and fame of the mighty Riches of Peru came from Nicaragua to that Countrey their Captains or Leaders were Sebastian de Belalcacar and John Fernandez with which happy rencounter Piçarro was highly pleased by reason that his own numbers were esteemed insufficient for that Conquest Sebastian de Belalcaçar was by the Name of his Family properly called Moyano but he rather chose to take his Appellation from his Countrey he was a Twin of three that is two Sons and one Daughter born at the same Birth His Brother was called Favian Garcia Moyano and his Sister Anastasia they were both valiant and courageous as was their elder Brother and especially the Sister This Relation I received from a Friar of the Order of St. Francis who himself was a Native of Belalcaçar and was well acquainted with the whole Family of Sebastian de Belalcaçar The which Relation this Friar the more willingly gave me because he knew that I was Writing this History wherein I was glad to relate the extraordinary Birth of this famous Souldier CHAP. XVI The Spaniards make themselves Masters of Tumpiz and the Island of Puna DOn Francisco Piçarro being well recruited with Spanish Souldiers adventured on the Conquest of Puna where Fame would have it that there was much Gold and Silver and great Riches to this Island which was twelve Leagues within the Sea they passed over on Floats with great hazard and being arrived on the Land they had many Battels with the Natives who killed four Spaniards and wounded divers others amongst which was Hernando Piçarro who received a hurt on his Knee but the Spaniards prevailed with great slaughter on the Indians and with that Victory gained great spoils of Gold Silver and Cloths which they immediately divided amongst themselves before the people which Hernando de Soto brought from Nicaragua could come up to them for he had been dispatched from that place by Almagro to carry Succours of Men and Horse to Piçarro Of which booty Soto having received advice he made such haste that he arrived with them at the time when they were removing their Camp thence Piçarro being re-inforced with these supplies thought himself strong enough to adventure on Tumpiz and first to ingratiate himself with the Inhabitants he sent them by the hands of three Spaniards in quality of Ambassadours a Present of six hundred of their own Countreymen whom he had taken Captives in the Island of Puna in expectation by such an atonement and piece of generosity to gain peace and
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
Apparition Thus did the Indians judge of those Spaniards who were cruel and ill natured to them calling them Cupay which is the Name they give to the Devil but on the contrary such as were gentle kind and compassionate towards them they not onely confirmed their former Titles which they had given them but added thereunto such other compellations as they attributed to their Kings as Yntipchurin Child of the Sun Hanc-chacuay a Lover of the poor and when they would higher exalt the Goodness and Vertue of those Spaniards who treated them kindly they called them the Sons of God which when they would express in Spanish for the Name of God which is Dios they would pronounce it Tius because the Letter D. is not in the Indian Language So Tiuspachurin is with them the Son of God though in these times by learning the Spanish Tongue they are come to a better pronunciation Such Honour and Veneration did these poor Indians shew at the beginning to those Spaniards who were compassionate and good natured towards them and the like respect do they still bear towards the Clergy as well as to the Seculars in whom they observe the brightness of Vertue to shine with Humility and Gentleness without Avarice or Luxury for the Indians are naturally of a good disposition very meek and humble cordial to their Benefactours and gratefull for the least favour or good they receive The which natural proneness to make acknowledgments for good Offices done they derived from the ancient Customs of their Kings whose Studies were for the publick wellfare of their People by which they merited all those Names and Surnames of Renown which were attributed by their People to them CHAP. XLI Of the Faithfulness which the Indians of Peru shewed unto the Spaniards when taken by them in the War. THE Indians of Peru held this Maxime or Principle That if any yielded himself or having been taken by a Spaniard in the War he was thereby become his absolute Slave and esteemed him by whom he was taken to be his Idol and his God and that he ought to honour and revere him for such and to obey serve and be faithfull to him unto the death and not to deny him either for the sake of his Countrey Parents Wife or Children Upon this Principle they preferred the Wellfare of a Spaniard who was their Master before all other considerations whatsoever and would sell or betray their own Family if their Master required it and that it were necessary or conducing to his Service by which means the Spaniards never wanted Spies nor Intelligence of whatsoever passed amongst the Indians which was of great use to them in the Subjection and Conquest of that Countrey for they believed it to be a real duty in them to be obedient unto those to whom they had yielded themselves Captives and therefore would engage in fight on their Masters side against their own Countreymen and Relations as if they were their mortal Enemies When some Spanish Troops in their March had taken some Indian Captives and that the Commanders would share them amongst the Souldiers according as every Man wanted a Servant the Indian would refuse to acknowledge any other for his Master than him onely to whom he had yielded himself and when they were told that it was the Rule of War to divide equal shares to every Souldier and that he who was already provided was to permit his Companion to be equally accommodated The Indian answered that he would obey on condition that when the Christian to whom he was allotted had taken another Captive that he might have the liberty to return to his Master to whom he had first submitted the like Fidelity the Women also professed Three Indians taken in this manner I left in the House of my Father and Lord Garçilasso de la Vega one of which was called Alli which is as much as to say Good he was taken in a Battel of which there were many in Collao after the Indians had made their general Insurrection in one of which this Alli fought like a very stout Souldier and having engaged far with some few Persons he took no care to save himself untill he saw all his Companions put to flight and hardly pursued by the Spaniards and having then little hopes of safety or refuge he laid himself amongst the dead to which posture he had opportunity to compose himself by the darkness of the night and casting away his Shirt he wallowed in the bloud of the slain that so he might seem to be one of them The Spaniards returning from the pursuit unto their Camp in several Companies three or four of them happened to pass that way where this Indian lay counterfeiting the dead Man and whilst they vvere vievving the dead my Lord and Master Garçilasso de la Vega observed one of them to pant and dravv his Breath vvhereupon he vvent near him and touched him vvith the point of his Spear to try if he had sense and vvere living so soon as the Indian felt the prick he immediately started up and cried for quarter fearing that there vvas nothing less than Death for him After vvhich he remained in the Service of my Father vvith that Fidelity and Subjection vvhich vve have already expressed being desirous to evidence the same on all occasions He vvas aftervvards baptized calling himself John and his Wife Isabel. Royal Commentaries BOOK II. CHAP. I. Don Pedro de Alvarado goes to the Conquest of Peru. THE Fame of the great Atchievements in Peru and the Riches thereof was now spread in all parts with such Renown that as Lopez de Gomara in the 26th Chapter of his Book reports the Spaniards crowded in such numbers to take a share of the Gold that Panama Nicaragua Quahutemallan Cartagena and other Plantations and Islands were almost dispeopled and left desolate Amongst the rest Admiral Don Pedro de Alvarado one of the most famous and renowned Captains of that age being not contented with the Glory and Riches he had acquired by the Conquest of the Empire of Mexico Utlatlan and Quahutemallan resolved to augment his Greatness by his attempts upon Peru. To which end he obtained a Commission from the Emperour Charles the fifth to conquer plant and govern all that Countrey which he should gain at such a number of Leagues distant from the Jurisdiction and Conquests of Francisco de Piçarro For this Enterprise he made Levies of many stout Fellows and moreover many Gentlemen of Quality from all parts of Spain offered their Services especially those of Estremennos because Don Pedro himself was a Native of Badajoz This noble Person amongst his many other Excellencies of Nature was endued with such nimbleness and activity of Body that thereby he saved his own Life when the Marquiss del Valle was forced to make a retreat from Mexico for the Indians having broken the Bridge over which the Spaniards were to pass This Don Pedro with the help of a Lance which he carried
tempted them to a condition of starving both with cold and hunger Thus far are the Words of Gomara and then Carate proceeds and says Thus did they travel without hope or comfort or power to succour one the other for it happened that a Spaniard who carried his Wife and two little Children with him finding them so tired and weary that they could travel no farther nor himself able to carry them he sate down with them to take some repose during which time they were all frozen to death and though the Man could have escaped yet such was his compassion to his Wife and Children that he would rather perish with them than forsake them in that condition With such labour and difficulty as this they passed the snowy Mountain rejoycing much when they had got over to the other side Thus far are the Words of Carate in the 9th Chapter of his second Book And here we may condole this unhappy fate that the first Spanish Woman which came to Peru should thus most miserably perish As to the five hundred Men which these Authours account to have been with Alvarado I have been informed from several that were with him that they were no less than eight hundred Spaniards perhaps they might be no more than five hundred that came from Nicaragua and that when they were landed in Peru other recruits might join with them so that in the Plains of Rivecpampa where Alvarado and Diego de Almagro entered into Articles of Confederacy together they might arise to the number of eight hundred But another Historian makes a difference of three years time between these matters but that is not much to our purpose As to the Canes in which they found the Water called Ypa they are commonly as big as a Man's leg or thigh though the end of them is not thicker than the finger of a Man's hand they grow in no other than in hot Countries where they make use of them to Thatch their Houses The information they had of the Water was from the people of the Countrey who guided them to the Canes some of which contained six Gallons of Water and some more according to the bigness of them which is proportionable to their height Augustine Carate in the 10th Chapter of his second Book writing the Journal of this Don Pedro de Alvarado gives this description of the Canes In this Journey saith he they endured much hunger and greater thirst for such was their want of Water that had they not met with Groves or Thickets of Canes which yielded good and wholsome Water they had all perished These Canes are commonly about the bigness of a Man's leg every knot of which contained about a quart of Water having a natural propriety to imbibe or suck in the nightly Dews which fall from the Heavens besides which there was no Water nor Springs in that dry Countrey and herewith Don Pedro refreshed both his Men and Horses Thus far Augustine Carate gives us an account of General Don Pedro de Alvarado where we shall leave him for a while and return to the Spaniards and Indians which we left in Cassamarca CHAP. III. How the Body of Atahualpa was carried to Quitu and of the Treason of Rumminavi SO soon as Don Francisco Piçarro and Don Diego de Almagro had buried Atahualpa they travelled to Cozco visiting in their way thither that very rich Temple which was situated in the Valley of Pachacamac from whence they carried away all the Gold and Silver which Hernando Piçarro had left behind not having been able to take it with him From thence they proceeded to Cozco in which Journey though they had many steep and craggy Mountains many swift Torrents and deep Rivers to pass yet they met no very great difficulty but that onely which we shall hereafter relate And thus leaving them on their way let us return to the General Challcuchima and other Captains of Atahualpa who joyned themselves with the Nobles of the Court and other principal persons who remained in Cassamarca So soon as the Spaniards were departed from that Province on their Journey to Cozco the Indians took up the Body of their King and according to his Command transported it to Quitu where they interred it with such decency as became the Burial of a Prince and yet with such little pomp as was agreeable to a conquered people that had yielded to the subjection of a foreign and stranger Nation Rumminavi seemed the most forward of any both to receive the Body of the King and to Embalm it though already corrupted and tending to putrefaction and in the mean time he secretly made Levies and prepared a way to set up himself in the Government dissembling all respect and obedience to Quilliscacha the Brother of Atahualpa and that he might try in what manner his mind stood affected to Rule and Dominion he persuaded him to bind his head with a coloured Wreath if he were desirous to revenge the Death of his Brother All which Rumminavi uttered with design to blind the understanding of Quilliscacha and cover his plots and evil intentions untill he could bring his affairs to maturity but to this persuasion Quilliscacha refused to hearken saying That the Spaniards would not easily quit their Empire and in case they would yet there were so many Sons of Huayna Capac surviving who were ready to lay their claim to the Government and had a better right and title to it than himself that some or other of them would adventure to assume the Government and that the people would appear in vindication of the just title and cause of the undoubted Heir for whose sufferings by the late unhappy Wars and Miseries they had a true sense and compassion This prudent and cautious Answer of Quilliscacha did not alter the sinister designs and intentions of Rumminavi for being both a Tyrant and Barbarous he resolved to proceed and set up his own interest telling his familiar friends in their private discourses with him that according to the Practices and Examples which he had seen the right to Rule and Govern belonged to the strongest for that he who could wrest the Power into his own hands and kill his Master as Atahualpa had Murthered his Brother and as the Spaniards had Atahualpa the same had title sufficient to constitute himself Chief and Supreme Lord. Rumminavi remaining firm in this principle and resolute in this design made great preparations to receive Atahualpa assembling the people together under pretence of performing the funeral Obsequies of their late Inca the which Solemnity though formerly continued for the course of a year was now concluded within the space of fifteen days At the end of which Rumminavi judging not fit to let pass so fair an opportunity whereby to compass his designs for that fortune having put into his hands all those whom he intended to kill as namely the Sons and Brother of Atahualpa the chief Captain Challcuchima with many other Captains and Lords
in this particular yet the Devil who is the common enemy of Mankind endeavoured by all his wiles and artifices to obstruct the conversion of those Indians the which in a great measure he effected by the aid and assistence of his diligent Ministers the seven mortal Sins which being in those times of liberty let loose greatly prevailed committing all those outrageous Villanies which might bring a disrepute on the profession of the Gospel Hence arose those Wars which in a short time after were waged between the Indians and the Spaniards occasioned by persidiousness and non-performance of the Articles for that Pride would not stoop nor consent to a restitution of the Kingdom to his proper and lawfull Master Afterwards Anger prevailed and raised War between the two Companions Piçarro and Almagro which being maintained by Envy and Emulation one not supporting the greater power of the other continued untill both of them perished in a competition for Authority for Almagro was killed by the Brother of Piçarro and so was Piçarro slain by the Son of Almagro These Wars were followed by others between that good Governour Vaca de Castro with whom I was acquainted at Madrid in the year 1562 and Don Diego de Almagro Junior for Pride which is the Mother of Dissention was so prevalent in the mind of this Youth that having neither a Spirit to submit to his Lord and Sovereign nor Power to maintain his Dominion he perished in his folly Soon after Covetousness and Tyranny raised a War between the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez Vela and Gonçalo Piçarro the which in a few years after was followed by Stirs and Combustions between Don Sebastian de Castilla and Francisco Hernandez Giron occasioned by Gluttony and Luxury All which Wars succeeding one after the other for the space of twenty five years were raised by the malice and contrivance of the Devil as we shall demonstrate in their due place and were great obstructions to the propagation of the Gospel for by reason of continual disturbances neither the Priests could freely Preach nor had the Infidels leisure nor convenience to receive the Doctrine of Faith being under the continual amazements of Fire and Sword and other miseries in which the Indians had a greater share than the Spaniards being oppressed by both sides and compelled to supply both Camps with Provisions and carry the burthens for them on their shoulders with wonderfull patience and labour of which I my self have in part been an Eye-witness CHAP. VII Of the Entrance of the Spaniards into Cozco and of the great Treasure which they found there SO soon as the Inca Titu Atauchi had dispeeded Francisco de Chaves and his Companions with the aforesaid Capitulations he sent an Express Messenger to Inca Manco Capac who was his Brother by the Father's side with advice of the Articles agreed and of all particulars which had passed that so being well informed of all matters he might be provided to act and treat with the Spaniards The General Quizquiz sent in like manner to advise him that he should by no means disband his Army but rather increase it untill such time as he had wholly concluded and setled matters with the Spaniards lest being secure and over confident of their kindness he should fall into the same snare and run into the same fate which his Brother Atahualpa had already suffered With these Informations and Advices the Indians sent their humble Submissions to Manco Inca acknowledging him for their Supreme Lord and King for though they had been Enemies to him whilst he stood in competition with his Brother Atahualpa yet that difference being now ended by his Death all was reconciled it being agreed at a Council of War that the Empire should be restored to that person unto whom the Succession did by lawfull Inheritance appertain And on this foundation they resolved to unite their forces for Expulsion of the Spaniards in case they could not live in amity with them believing themselves much more formidable by this concord and union than when they were divided into several Factions and Parties The Prince Manco Inca received the Advices of his Brother and the Addresses of Quizquiz with much joy being much pleased to find that those who were his late Enemies were now reconciled and joyned with him in his just claim and title to the Empire And herein he was the more satisfied to understand that the Spaniards concurred in the like intentions having on all occasions openly declared their inclinations to right and justice Upon which presumption the Inca adventured to apply himself to the Spaniards to demand Peace and Friendship and in a simple and sincere manner to require the Government and Dominion over his Kingdom according to the Capitulations which his Brother Titu Atauchi had sent to him And here we shall leave him for a while in his preparations for such an Address untill its due time and place and return to our Francisco Piçarro who being better advised by the late damage which his people had sustained from Titu Atauchi did now march with more caution and less security than before so that they met no considerable Encounters unless a few flying Skirmishes near the City of Cozco from whence the Inhabitants sallied out to defend a Pass but making a feeble and poor resistence they hastily fled to their Houses from whence carrying away their Wives and Children and what Stock and Goods they could collect they retired into the Mountains being greatly affrighted with the reports of what had succeeded in Cassamarca for that Countrey having been subject to the power of Atahualpa made some resistence being desirous if possible to revenge the Death of their Prince Gomara treating of this particular passage hath these words The next day the Spaniards entred into Cozco without any opposition and presently they fell at work some to unrip the Gold and Silver from the Walls of the Temple others to dig up the Jewels and Vessels of Plate which were buried with the Dead others pillaged and rifled the Idols and sacked the Houses and the Fortress where still great quantities of Gold and Silver were conserved which had been there amassed and laid up by Guayna Capac In short there was more Gold and Silver found in this City and in the parts about it than what was produced at Caxamalca by the ransome of Atabaliba Howsoever the particular share belonging to every individual person did not amount unto so much as the former Dividend by reason that the number was greater which was to partake thereof nor was the second fame so loud as the first which published the Triumph of Riches with the Imprisonment of a King. A certain Spaniard entering into a Vault found there an entire Sepulchre of Silver so thick and massy that it was worth fifty thousand pieces of Eight others had the fortune to find such as were of less value for it was the custome of rich Men of those Countries to be buried in this manner
that day which was very bloudy The Spaniards hereupon returned to the City and the Indians to their Quarter and Rendezvous where the Countrey flocking in they quickly made a Body of sixty thousand Indians under Command of their General Titu Yupanqui called by Carate Tiço Yupangui and by Gomara Tizoyo and with this force they pitched their Camp near the City having the River between to keep and defend them from the Spanish Horse There they offered Sacrifices and returned thanks to the Sun for having as they imagined given them an advantage over the Spaniards and caused them to retreat into their City and to give over the Fight The Historians who write of these matters say that the Indians offered their Sacrifices in thanks for deliverance from their dangers and farther they add that they continually skirmished with the Spaniards and not with the Indians who took part with the Spaniards scorning as it were to engage and fight against their own Vassals after they had had the Honour to fight with the Viracochas and though daily Encounters passed between them of little or no damage to the Spaniards because on the Plains the Horse had great advantage and could hem in and encompass the Indians on all sides yet the continual Allarums which were given the Spaniards both by Night and Day kept them still watchfull and tired them out with constant labour Moreover they suffered much for want of Provisions though they received some supplies from the Indians who were their Menial Servants and would every Night as they had practised at the Siege of Cozco go forth into the Enemy's Camp where pretending that they had revolted from their Masters would return back with Provisions and with intelligence of all the designs and intentions of the Enemy which was of great use to them for that when the Indians made any Attack upon them they were always in a readiness to receive them and it was by advice from them that Diego de Aguero and many others who had Plantations near los Reyes were not surprized before they had time by help of their Horses to secure their retreat within the Walls of the City But besides these humane Assistences God was pleased to work Miracles at that Siege in favour of the Christians as he had formerly done in that of Cozco for that the River to which they trusted much for their safety and was their best defence was the occasion of ruine and turned to their entire destruction for during the time of the Siege the Waters swelled above the banks so that whensoever they passed over to the Spaniards or were forced to return they received a loss for that being often put to flight many with fear cast themselves into the Waters and were drowned and yet this River was not so deep as many others are in that Countrey being commonly shallow unless in the Winter when the falls of the Land-waters make great Flouds howsoever the Spaniards made nothing to pass and re-pass it at their pleasure which when the Indians observed they concluded that the very Elements fought against them and were reconciled to the party of the Viracochas and that the Pachacamac who is the God which sustains the Universe had forsaken their Cause and favoured the Enemy Farther they considered that so soon as they saw the Viracochas drawn up in the Field their hearts failed them and that though they were a thousand to one yet they durst not engage with them all which were clear evidences that the great Creatour of the World did interest himself in favour of the cause and quarrel of the Spaniards The Indians being affected with these Apprehensions and with a clear manifestation of the Miracles of God they every day abated in their Courage and became so cowed and disheartned that from that time afterwards they attempted nothing of any moment and though they continued their Camp on the side of the River it was rather in obedience to their Commanders than in hopes of performing any thing to the ruine of their Enemies and the good of themselves In the mean time the Indian Domestick Servants gave intelligence to their Masters of all that was discoursed and designed in the Camp of the Indians and the Spaniards being sensible of the great Miracles which God wrought for them and that their Enemies observed the same they returned thanks for all those Wonders comparing their deliverance by means of this River to that which the Children of Israel received from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. And in regard their greatest Battels and Victories succeeded on the banks of this River they conceived a most especial devotion for the Blessed St. Christopher calling unto remembrance all the Wonders which are recorded of that Saint and which are painted commonly in Churches to describe and set forth the Miracles which God performed in the River by means of that Saint and afterwards in all their Battels and Skirmishes they invoked the Name of St. Christopher equally with that of St. James And after this Siege they called those Hills in which the Indians kept their Head-quarters the Mountains of St. Christopher because they were so near that nothing but the River parted them and the City and were the places where the Spaniards put an end to the War having entirely subjected and conquered the Indians CHAP. XXIX The Flight of Villac Umu Philip the Interpreter punished The Prince Manco Inca leaves his Empire and remains an Exile in foreign parts WE have in the foregoing Chapters declared how that Prince Manco Inca sent Messengers into Chili to advise his Brother Paullu and the High Priest Villac Umu of his Design to kill and destroy all the Spaniards that were in Peru as being the onely means thereby to recover his Empire desiring them to take the same course with Almagro and his People who were in those parts Now we must know that this Intimation was brought to Chili before Almagro was departed thence howsoever Paullu having consulted with his Friends did conclude and agree that they were not then in a condition to fight the Spaniards in regard that having lost above ten thousand Indians by Colds and Snow in passing the Mountains as we have formerly mentioned their Force was much decreased and not capable to oppose the Spaniards in open Field and that such was the Vigilancy of the Enemy as well by night as by day being always on the Guard that there was little hopes to take an advantage on them by surprise wherefore it was thought most convenient to dissemble their Discontents with a colour of Service and Fidelity to the Spaniards untill a more fit opportunity did happen for execution of their Design in order whereunto Paullu and Villac Umu being then together in Tacama which is a Countrey of Peru distinct from the Desarts of Chili as we have mentioned in the 22d Chapter of this Book they agreed that the High Priest should leave the Spaniards and be gone but that Paullu should
then manifestly appeared when with wonderfull patience he received the news of the Death of his Brother and of his other Kindred and of the Confiscation of his Lands and Possessions which belonged to him besides the vast expence he was put to both in Prison and to maintain his Law-suits This was all the World gave him in reward for his great and mighty Actions and for the innumerable difficulties he sustained to aid and assist his Brother the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro in the Conquest of Peru performing as he always did the Office of Captain-General with which we will conclude this second Book returning thanks unto Almighty God who hath brought us so far as to this period Royal Commentaries BOOK III. CHAP. I. Of the Conquest of the Charcas and of other Battels between the Indians and the Spaniards BY the Death of Almagro and the Absence of Hernando Piçarro all the management of the Conquest and the weight of the Government of Peru was charged on the shoulders of Marquis Piçarro to whom God had given a sufficient talent of Wisedom to support the care both of one and the other had not evil Counsellours interposed to the disturbance and confusion of every thing for the Captains as we have mentioned in the preceding Book being dispeeded away and amused with new Conquests the Land was at rest and quiet amongst which Commanders Gonzalo Piçarro Brother to the Marquis was sent to conquer the Collao and the Charcas and people distant about two hundred Leagues to the Southward of Cozco with him the greatest part of those Cavaliers were sent who came in with Don Pedro de Alvarado to gain new Countries for those already subdued were onely such as were Dependances on the Cities of Cozco and los Reyes which together with all the Vallies along the Sea-coast as far as Tumpiz were divided amongst the first Conquerours who had had a hand in the Imprisonment of Atahualpa Wherefore it was necessary to enlarge those Conquests that out of them provision might be made for the second Adventurers who entred in with D. Diego de Almagro and Pedro de Alvarado Gonzalo Piçarro entred on the Collao with a good number of stout and valiant Men at first the Indians made little opposition but afterwards when they found them well entred into the Charcas and at a hundred and fifty Leagues distance from Cozco they then plied them close and frequently engaged them in Battels in which there were losses on both sides and the Indians aimed chiefly at their Horses for they were of opinion that if they could kill them and force the Men to fight on Foot they should have much the advantage and over-power them with their Multitudes At length it happened that after a bloudy Fight in which many were killed on both sides that the Spaniards gained the Victory To prosecute which on all sides several parties took divers ways and amongst the rest three Companions agreed to go with Gonzalo Piçarro One of which was Garçilasso de la Vega another John de Figueroa and the third Gaspar Jara all which had Commands over Indians in that Town which is now called the City of Plate and in the Indian Tongue Chuquisaca and afterwards they improved their Fortunes by Possessions in the City of Cozco where it was my Fortune to have acquaintance with them These four walking softly over a Plain to ease their Horses which were much tired with the Labours of the last Engagement and being at some distance from the place where the Battel was fought they discovered on the side of a little Hill below seven Indian Gentlemen all armed with their Bows and Arrows going to join with the Indian Army and very gallant with their Plumes of Feathers and other Ornaments So soon as they saw the Spaniards they put themselves into Rank at ten or twelve paces distant each from the other with design to divide the Enemy that they might come apart and not in a Body together The Spaniards made signs to them that they were Friends and would not fight with them but notwithstanding the Indians prepared their Arms and would not accept of their Friendship so that both sides engaged with great Courage and Resolution The Spaniards as they report themselves say that they were ashamed of the inequality of this match that four Cavaliers such as they were well armed and mounted on their Horses with Lances in their Hands should engage with seven Indians on Foot and naked without defensive Arms who notwithstanding refused not to fight with as much courage as if their Breasts had been covered with Steel assisting and helping each other with much Bravery That Indian who had none to encounter him always helped him that was engaged and so alternatively came in to the succour each of other sometimes cross and sometimes behind according to the Order and Method agreed amongst them so that for the most part two Indians fought with one Spaniard At length after a long Skirmish that every Spaniard had killed his Indian and one of them was in pursuit of a single Indian who as he was flying took up a Stone which he threw and hit the Beaver of his Head-piece which covered his Face with such force as half stunn'd him and had killed him outright had it not been for that piece of Armour howsoever notwithstanding the Blow the Spaniard made an end of this Indian and killed him also The other two Indians fled and escaped for the Spaniards were not very eager to pursue them considering that their Horses had been much tired and harassed with this second as well as with the first Encounter so that they thought it neither honourable nor worth their pains to kill the two surviving Indians After the Skirmish was over the four Companions staid a while to examine themselves and to know what hurt each Man had received and upon Enquiry they found that three of them were wounded and that two of these three had received three Wounds apiece though slight ones and the fourth had his Horse wounded with an Arrow the which hurt was many Days in healing according as he who was Master of the Horse related it to me in this manner All four of us said he were wounded but I most grievously of any because I was more sensible of the hurt which my Horse received than if I had been wounded my self by reason of the great want I had of him I remember when I was a Child the great lamentation the Spaniards made for their Horses and would rather have been wounded themselves than their Horses and in like manner this Gentleman was troubled for this misfortune In fine these four returned to the Army and acquainted their Companions that the Engagement which they had had with the seven Indians that day was more dangerous than the great fight with six or seven thousand of them Several other Skirmishes passed the same day of the like nature one of which was that which we have recounted
would not be deterred by Thunder Lightning or other Evidences of God's Wrath. But to return to our business in hand Francisco de Orellana found some Provisions amongst the Inhabitants on the River below who because they were fierce and wild and that the Women came forth with their Husbands to fight they gave it the name of the River of Amazons the which Term served to raise the Honour of this Atchievement and to induce the Emperour to bestow the Government thereof upon Orellana Proceeding yet farther down this River they found other Indians more civil or at least less brutish than the others who received them amicably and with good Welcome admiring to behold the Brigantine and Men so strangely habited but they treated them kindly and furnished them with as much Provision as they had occasion to use The Spaniards remained in this place for some days where they built another Brigantine for they were very much straitned for room in the first and having fitted themselves as well as they were able they adventured out to Sea and having sailed two hundred Leagues as the Sea-chart sets it down they arrived at the Island of the Holy Trinity after having passed so many Difficulties as before related and escaped such Dangers in the River as that they often gave themselves over to be Shipwrecked and lost At this Island Orellana bought a Ship with which he sailed into Spain where he requested His Majesty's Commission for the Conquest and Government of that Countrey To make this Enterprise appear with greater Reputation he alledged that it was a Countrey abounding with Gold Silver and Pretious Stones and in Testimony thereof he produced the Riches which he had brought with him His Majesty having accordingly granted the Request he made for the Government of vvhat he should there conquer Orellana made Levies of five hundred Souldiers the greatest part of vvhich vvere brisk young Gentlemen and principal Persons of Honour vvith vvhich he embarqued at St. Lucar but he dying in the Voyage his followers dispersed and disposed of themselves in divers parts And here was an end of this Design which found a success agreeable to the evil beginnings of it And now let us return to Gonzalo Piçarro and see what becomes of him whom we left in such sad Distress After Francisco de Orellana was dispeeded away with the Brigantine he built ten or twelve Canoes and other Floats wherewith to pass from one side of the River to the other so often as their Progress was interrupted by the impassable Mountains as at other times they had contrived and so they proceeded forwards in hopes to meet the Brigantine which they had dispatched for Provisions and to bring them Relief having met no other Enemy than Hunger in all these Travels At the end of two Months they arrived at that Point where the two Rivers met and where they expected to have found their Brigantine laden with Provisions which by reason as they imagined of the swiftness of the Current was not able to return to them And here it was that they found themselves deceived and to have lost all hopes of any possibility of escaping out of that Hell of a Countrey for we can give it no better Term where they had suffered such Difficulties and such grievous Miseries without prospect of deliverance from thence and here at the Conjunction of these two Rivers they found the poor honest Hernan Sanchas de Vargas who with constancy of Mind and on Principles of Honour like the true Son of a Gentleman endured with great Resolution Famine and all the Miseries to which he was exposed rather than violate his Faith and was contented to remain in that solitude that he might render an Account of the perfidious Faith of Orellana and of his villanous Designs all which was strange to Piçarro who much admired that there should be such Men in the World whose Actions should be so different to their Professions and unanswerable to the hopes which were conceived of them and with this News the Captains and Souldiers became so dismayed that they seemed to be reduced to the utmost point of Despair The General who conceived greater Disquiet and Torment of Mind than the others yet putting a good face upon the matter cheared them all up and encouraged them with hopes of better Fortune telling them that they ought like Spaniards to bear with equality of Mind these Labours and yet greater if any thing could be worse that the more Danger the more Honour and the greater would their Renown be in Histories which should declare their Adventures to future Ages That since it was their Fortune to become the Conquerours of that Empire that they should act like Men whom the Divine Providence had chosen for the accomplishment of so great a work The Souldiers observing such chearfulness in their Captain General who had more cause to resent those Evils than any other took Heart and Courage and proceeded on their Voyage by the Banks of the River sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other according to the turnings and windings of the Land. But we cannot express the great Difficulty there was to carry the Horses upon the Floats for there still remained about one hundred and fifty of their number which they had brought from Quitu In like manner almost two thousand Indians were still alive which came with them from Peru who like Sons served their Masters with such Faithfulness and Affection as was admirable for in their great extremities of Hunger they brought them Herbs and Roots and wild Fruit with Toads Snakes and other kinds of Insects which were found in those Mountains all which went down with them and were digested by the Spaniards with a good Stomach for without them they could not have subsisted CHAP. V. Gonzalo Piçarro considers of returning to Quitu and those of Chili plot and contrive how they may kill the Marquis IN this Misery and Want they proceeded another hundred Leagues down the River without appearance or hopes of finding a better Countrey every place seeming worse and more barren than the other all which being considered and debated by the General and Captains they agreed to return again to Quitu if it were possible for now they were at a distance of four hundred Leagues from thence But in regard it was impossible for them to return against the Force of the Stream they resolved to take another way by the North side of the River for they had observed in their coming that there were not so many bogs and Lakes and moorish places on that side as on that by which they came So now entring within the Mountains and making their way with Bill and Hatchet which custome would have made less grievous had good nutriment presented to corroborate and sustain their Nature in it but we must leave them amidst these Difficulties to return to the Marquis Don Francisco Piçarro and see what Accidents befell him whilst his Brother was
same Rewards and should be more amply repaid according to those great Services which thereby they would perform to the Emperour his King and Master and to secure the Souldier's Faith in this matter they tendered an Oath to him whereby they caused him to swear never to discover this secret to any person whatsoever saying that having esteemed him for a good Friend they had entrusted to him the greatest secret in the World. The Souldier returning told his Story how that his two Companions were hanged by the Enemy and he alone was saved and set at Liberty upon which Almagro reflecting a while imagined that some use was to be made of this Souldier who without any apparent reason was better treated than the other to discover which he seized on the Souldier and put him to the torment The Souldier being on the Rack confessed the secret committed to him and how Peralvarez designed to attack him on the Quarter which was next to the snowy Mountain by reason that that side being esteemed almost inaccessible would lie the most open and undefended By which Confession Almagro finding that the Souldier intended to act in a treacherous manner against him gave order to have him hanged Howsoever giving some credit to his Words he fortified that side of his Camp which bordered towards the snowy Mountain where for the space of three days he endured much cold howsoever by these means Alvarez got the start and marched at a good distance before him Almagro followed him for some Leagues but finding that it was impossible to overtake him he returned into the high Road which leads to Cozco Alvarez proceeding on the way he intended joined his Forces with those of Alonso de Alvarado at which meeting there was great joy and triumph because that the greatest number of them consisted of such as had entred that Countrey with Don Pedro de Alvarado which was the first original of Friendship and Association which was commenced between them These Forces being thus joined Letters were written by common consent to the Judge Vaca de Castro giving him to understand of all matters that were past and desiring him to hasten with speed to them for that his presence was necessary in that conjuncture for better countenance of their Affairs So soon as these Letters came to hand Castro de Vaca hastened to the City of Quitu to recruit his People with the Forces which were in that place When he came near Lorenzo de Aldana who was Lieutenant Governour for the Marquis in Quitu went forth to meet and receive him as did also Pedro de Puelles who was the Deputy of Gonzalo Piçarro and Captain Pedro de Vergara not to be faulty or remiss in paying the same respect though otherwise employed in the Conquest of that Province which is called Pacamuru and by the Spaniards Bracamoros went also to receive Judge Vaca de Castro and deserted the place which he had already fortified that he might be better enabled to defend himself and send his Forces against Almagro but before Vaca de Castro thought fit to leave Quitu he dispatched Pedro de Puelles before to Truxillo to make such provisions in that City and in the Countrey thereabouts as the War required He likewise dispatched orders to Gomez de Rojas a Native of Cuellar to repair with his Forces in all diligence to Cozco and there to persuade the People to receive him for Governour who accordingly made such speed that he arrived at Cozco before Almagro who was detained in his way by the sickness of John de Rada who dyed afterwards in that Province Gomez de Rojas was well received in Cozco and his Orders and Instructions obeyed and accordingly Castro was acknowledged for Governour for that City remained loyal and obedient to His Majesty in such manner as it had been left by Alvarez Holguin In the mean time Vaca de Castro departed from Quitu and went to Truxillo and by the way was met with many Noble Persons who had been dispersed about the Countries and by many Souldiers who being desirous to serve His Majesty went forth to receive him Pedro Alvarez and his people who then resided at Truxillo agreed to send two persons to meet him on the way and in the name of them and of the whole City to make tender of their Obedience and Service to him as Governour by Commission from His Majesty by which Title we shall distinguish him hereafter the Persons nominated for Envoyes on this occasion were Gomez de Tordoya and Garcilasso de la Vega with sight of whom the Governour was greatly rejoiced being much encouraged to see his party daily encrease to such numbers that when he entered Truxillo he brought with him above 200 Souldiers besides several which fled from Almagro amongst which the principal Persons were the Father Provincial Yllen Suarez de Carvajal Gomez de Alvarado John de Saavedra and Diego de Aguero Being arrived at Truxillo he was received with such solemnity as was due to a Governour that is in a military pomp with found of Drums and Trumpets and Vollies of Shot for as yet matters were in a state of War and not prepared for a reception according to the formalities of Peace CHAP. XIII The Governour makes choice of Captains Sends his Army before Provides all things necessary for the service of His Majesty Christopher de Sotelo is killed by Garcia de Alvarado and Garcia de Alvarado by Don Diego de Almagro PEdro Alvarez Holguin and his Captains and Souldiers who had professed Submission and Loyalty to the Governour in his absence did now upon his arrival testifie their actual Obedience by a publick Declaration in Writing under their hands and solemnly resign the Command and Power of the Army into his hands the Captains and Officers delivering up their Commissions and laying their Ensigns at his Feet the like was followed by the Governours and Justices of the City of Truxillo all which the Governour received in such manner as was fitting and renewed them again in the name of His Majesty confirming every person in his Office either Civil or Military respectively as before He gave six Commissions to Captains of Horse namely to Pedro Alvarez Holguin Alonso de Alvarado Pedro Anzures Gomez de Alvarado Garcilasso de la Vega and to Pedro de Puelles The Captains of Harquebusiers were Pedro de Vergara Nunno de Castro and John Velez de Guevara who was a Scholar as well as a Souldier and such a Mechanick that he directed the making all the Musquets for his own Company and was so active and industrious that he divided his time between Letters and Arms in such manner that both in this present state of Affairs as also on occasion of the Troubles caused by Goazalo Piçarro as we shall hereafter relate he was ordained and constituted in quality of a Judge so that all the morning untill noon he clothed himself in the Robes of a Lawyer in which he heard Causes and
advantage and satisfaction for two persons which belonged to the City of Arequepa one of which was called Jeronimo de Serna and the other Alonso de Carceres seised upon the two Ships in that Port belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro which he had bought with his own money with intent to ship his Ammunition and Provisions thereupon and with them to be Master of those Seas which was of great and high concernment to him these two persons as we have said corrupted the Mariners and persuaded them to sail the Ships to Los Reyes where the Vice-king resided who received them with great joy and contentment for thereby perceiving that the Forces of his Enemy were wavering and enclining to his side he took it as a good Omen of his following success In the mean time it happened out in the Army of Gonçalo Piçarro which we left in Sacsahuana that the Citizens which belonged to Cozco reflecting within themselves upon the design in which they were engaged and considering how unbeseeming and improper a matter it was to petition for Justice with Arms in their hands which ought to be performed in a more humble and submissive manner it was agreed amongst the principal men amongst them as was before privately discoursed to desert the cause of Gonçalo Piçarro and return again to their own habitations The chief and leading men in this design were Graviel de Rojas Garçilasso de la Vega John de Saavedra Gomez de Rojas Jeronimo Costilla Pedro del Barco Martin de Florencia Jeronimo de Soria Gomez de Leon Doctour Carvajal Alonso Perez de Esquivel Pedro Piçarro and John Ramirez These are all particularly mentioned by the two Authours Carate and Diego Fernandez but besides these there were several others not named by them as John Julio de Hojeda Diego de Silva Thomas Bazquez Pedro Alonso Carrasco John de Pancorvo Alonso de Hinojosa Antonio de Quinnones Alonso de Loyasa Martin de Meneses Mancio Serra de Leguicamo Francisco de Villa Fuerta John de Figueroa Pedro de los Rios with his Brother Diego Alonso de Soto and Diego de Truxillo Gaspar Jara and others whose names I have forgotten who were in all about forty in number with many of which I had a personal acquaintance All these having deserted the cause of Gonçalo Piçarro returned to their own homes at Cozco where having provided themselves with such conveniences as were necessary for their Journey they with all diligence took their Journey to Arequepa with design to seise the two Ships belonging to Gonçalo Piçarro which they knew lay at that place and embark themselves thereon and sail to Los Reyes esteeming it for a great piece of service to the King and a means to ingratiate themselves with the Vice-king but herein they were disappointed for that the Captains Alonso de Carceres and Jeronimo de la Serna had forestalled them in their design having carried the Ships away to Los Reyes before their arrival And being thus disappointed of their hopes they considered of the securest way they were now to take to get to the Vice-king for they knew that Gonçalo Piçarro had stopped all the Roads and Passages over the Plains and Mountains wherefore they agreed to build a great Boat or Vessel and thereon to take their passage by Sea to Los Reyes the building of this Vessel took up forty days time to little purpose for the Carpenters being both unskilfull in building and the Timber green and unseasoned no sooner was the Vessel lanched and her Provisions laden upon her but the sunk down to the bottom in the very Harbour Wherefore finding that there was no other way now left them they resolved to hazard themselves on the Land which succeeded according to their desires for the Road being clear'd of their Enemies they arrived safe at Los Reyes but when they came thither they sound that the Vice-king was made a Prisoner and embarked and sent away into Spain As we shall understand more particularly in the sequel of this History This delay of forty days in building the Vessel was the cause of all the mischief which ensued for during that time the Vice-king was made a Prisoner which had otherwise been prevented had those Gentlemen opportunely arrived for had it been known that persons of that Quality had revolted from Piçarro and were come from Cozco to joyn with the Vice-king it would have brought so great aâ—reputation to his affairs that none would have dared to have touched the Vice-king or declared for the Party of Piçarro And as some Authours report the people seised on the Vice-king and put him on Ship-board onely out of fear to secure him from Gançalo Piçarro who they heard was on his march with intention to kill him But these Gentlemen of Cozco finding contrary to all expectation that the Vice-king was sent away every man shiâ—ted for himself as well as he could some of which remaining in the City we shall have occasion to discourse of them hereafter On the other side Gonçalo Piçarro perceiving that those who were men of the greatest interest and power in the Army had relinquished his interest he gave himself over for lost and as the Historians report resolved to return to the Charcas or to retire into Chile with about fifty of the most faithfull of his Friends and Comrades who he was assured would stand by him to the last but whilst he was meditating of these matters Pedro de Puelles came to him and brought the news of the departure of the Vice-king which was so much to the advantage of Piçarro that he with new courage and triumph returned to Cozco The Indians which belonged to those who revolted he appropriated to his own service onely those who were in vassalage to Garçilasso de la Vega he bestowed on Pedro de Puelles and gave up his Houses to be plundred by the Souldiers one of which afterwards intended to have set fire to them having a fire-brand in his hand to that purpose and had certainly effected it had he not been prevented by another of a better and a more mild temper and disposition who said to him What hurt have these Houses done you if the Master were here we might revenge our selves upon him but what evil have these Walls deserved This word gave a stop to his intention and saved the House howsoever they plundred it from the top to the bottom not leaving any thing in it which was worth one farthing and turned out the Indian Servants both Men and Women charging them not to come within the Walls upon pain of death howsoever they permitted eight persons to remain therein nemely my Mother and Sister and a Maid-servant as also my self for my Mother would rather have died than have been without me and John de Alcobaça my Tutour with his Son Diego and his Brother and an Indian Maid which they would not deny me the service of John Alcobaça being a person of a good life and exemplary
precincts of their Jurisdiction To which Bachicao made answer That in case he came attended with his Souldiers it was onely with intent to guard himself from the attempts of the Vice-king without other design to the damage or prejudice of their Countrey for that his Commission was onely to transport Doctour Texada one of his Majesty's Justices into Spain who by Instructions received from the Courts of Judicature was sent to render an account to his Majesty of all Matters which had passed of late in Peru and that he would onely set him on shoar there to refresh himself for a while and make such Provisions as were necessary for his Voyage Upon this assurance admission was given him into the City but so soon as he arrived two Ships which were then in the Port made sail into the Sea but one of them was chased by the Brigantine and being taken was brought back and both the Master and his Mate hanged at the Yard-arm which much offended the Town and put them into a great consternation but it was now too late to defend themselves or repent of their folly in trusting their estates and lives to the mercy of Bachicao who was now entered the City and there being no hopes of timely relief from Captain John Guzman who was raising men for assistance of the Vice-king which men afterwards revolted to Bachicao who also seized on the Cannon which Vaca de Castro had brought thither with the Ship on which he made his escape Thus did Bachicao tyrannize over the people seizing their estates with an arbitrary power for none durst to assert a right and title to what he possessed in contradiction to his will and pleasure and during the time of his aboad here he publickly put two of his Captains to death who conspired against him and moreover he acted other pieces of like severity by virtue of his own absolute authority causing the Cryers to proclaim openly before those whom he put to death So is the will and command of Captain Hernando Bachicao At this time Vaca de Castro was at Panama where having intelligence that Bachicao was coming he fled to Nombre de Dios and embarked for Spain in the North-sea as did also Diego Alvarez Cueto and Jeronimo Curbano who were Ambassadours from the Vice-king likewise at the same Port Doctour Texada and Francisco Maldonado took shipping for Spain and sailed friendly together though of three several Factions Doctour Texada dyed in the Voyage in the Chanel of Bahama but Francisco Maldonado and Diego Alvarez arrived safe in Spain and immediately took post for Germany to render an account to his Majesty respectively of the Affairs committed to their charge Vaca de Castro touched at the Isles of Terçeras and thence sailed to Lisbon from whence he travailed to the Court for he thought it not safe to goe by the way of Seville where the Brothers and Relations of John Tello de Guzman lived whom as we said before he had caused to be put to death after the overthrow of Diego Almagro the younger being arrived at the Court he was by Order of the Council of the Indies confined to his House and an Accusation brought against him after which he was imprisoned in the Fort of Arevalo for the space of five years during which time his cause was depending After which they appointed him a House in Simancas and thence as the Court removed they assigned him the Village of Pinto and the bounds thereof for his confinement untill his business was fully determined Thus far are the words of the Accountant General Augustine de Carate And here he breaks off without telling us farther what sentence was given in his case because he had ended his History before that time And indeed by reason of the malicious informations and calumnies of his Enemies which were all false the determination of his cause was protracted for a long time at which he was not much troubled because he knew that at length he should come off with the honour and reputation of a good Minister and Governour of that Empire which accordingly succeeded for he was restored to his former place in the Royal Council of Castile from which he was so long kept out that when he came to be restored he was then the most ancient Member of all that Council and in this condition I found him when I was at the Court of Madrid in the year 1561. And besides this favour of his restauration he had other rewards given him in recompence for his hard usages and services performed in Peru in conservation of the Imperial Authority and to his Son Don Antonio Vaca de Castro who also was a Knight of the Habit of St. Jago as his Father was there was a Rent given him of twenty thousand pieces of Eight out of such Lots or Divisions as he should chuse and esteem of that value I remember to have seen this Gentleman at Nombre de Dios as he passed in the Retinue of the Count de Nieva who was sent for Vice-king of that Kingdom in the year 1560. and went then to take possession of that Estate which was the reward of his Father who to speak without flattery or partiality was generally reputed to have been the best Governour that ever had passed into those parts as is agreed by all the three Historians in the characters which they give of him there being not one ill action for which they blame him And now let us return again to Peru and relate what the Vice-king Blasco Nunnez was contriving all this time The Vice-king being retired as Carate reports in the sixteenth Chapter of his Book with about an hundred and fifty men at the time that Bachicao surprised the Ships in Tumbez he marched with them as far as the City of Quitu where he was chearfully received and his Souldiers re-inforced to the number of about two hundred men resolving to remain in that Countrey which yielded plenty of provisions for the subsistence of his men untill such time as he received farther Orders and Instructions from his Majesty And taking good information of all things that passed from Diego Alvarez de Cuero he kept strong Guards and Spies on all the high Roads to inform himself of all the actions that Gonçalo Piçarro was doing though it is three hundred leagues distant from Los Reyes to Quitu during which time four Souldiers who were dissatisfied upon some occasion with Piçarro stoal a Boat and coasted all along the shore from Los Reyes by the help of their Oars untill they came to a shore which was the nearest Sea to Quitu where being arrived they informed the Vice-king of all passages how the People of Los Reyes and other places were discontented with the Government of Piçarro and with the tyranny which he used towards them ejecting some out of their Houses and Estates imposing Souldiers on free-quarter upon them and other burthens which they were not able to support of which they
those parts Howsoever the true design of Piçarro was discovered to Centeno by means of the Indians who by order of Don Christoval Paullu Inca of whom we have formerly made mention were very diligent and faithfull to acquaint Centeno with all the motions of his Enemies By these means Centeno being truly informed of the way and course which Piçarro intended to take marched forth to stop and interrupt him in his passage and thereby came so near each to the other that the Scouts met and called to each other and then returned to carry the advice So soon as Centeno received this intelligence of their near approach he put his people into a posture of defence and drew them out all night into form of Battel having been formerly well acquainted with the alarms and surprises which Piçarro had often given him in the night And yet for his care and vigilance Acosta made such an attempt upon him in the night with twenty Musquetiers as put all the Camp into confusion and the affrightment was so great that Carate saith in the second Chapter of his seventh Book that many of the Souldiers fled to their Tents and the people of Valdivia left their Pikes and shamefully ran away and that Acosta retreated again without the loss of one man. Thus far Carate What he farther adds concerning the people of Valdivia is this There was a certain Captain says he named Pedro de Valdivia who being in Chili received intelligence of the great stirs and troubles which were in Peru and to be the better informed thereof and perhaps to interest himself on one side or the other he came with many followers and failing along the Coast of Peru he received information of the ill condition of Piçarro and that the President Gusca was then in Sausa preparing to march against him whereupon Pedro de Valdivia resolved to go himself in Person to the President and to list himself with him in his Majesty's Service and to travel with the less Train he dismist his men and sent them to joyn with Centeno and these are those Valdivians who as Carate saith shamefully ran away The day following as is reported both Parties marched in sight of each other with their men drawn up in Battalia The Forces of Centeno as Lopez de Gomara reports were twelve hundred and twelve men strong Carate saith that they were something under a thousand Palentino calls them above nine hundred but for my part I have received it from very good hands that they were twelve hundred of which there were two hundred and sixty Horse a hundred and fifty Fire-locks and about eight hundred Pikes and Lances All the Infantry he drew up into one Body flanking the Lances with the Fire-locks though indeed the Flanks were very thin The Captains of Foot were John de Vargas Brother to Garçilasso de la Vega my Lord and Father Francisco de Retamoso Captain Negrul Captain Pantoja and Diego Lopez de Cuniga these five Captains with their Ensigns marched on the left Wing and in the Van of all about twenty paces distant from the rest of the Squadron These were immediately followed by eleven Files of the choicest men in the Squadron in nature of a Forlorne Hope After these came the Ensign bearers carrying their Colours and then followed the Lances and Pikemen interlined with the Musquetiers The right Wing of the Infantry was supported with three Troops of Horse whose Captains names were Pedro de los Rios a Native of Cordoua and of as noble descent as any in that City also Antonio de Ulloa born at Carceres a Gentleman of a very ancient Family and with them was joined Diego Alvarez born at Almendral who carried the Royal Standard Diego Centeno being then sick was not amongst the Troops nor present in the Battel but was carried up and down in a Chair giving orders and directions This Squadron consisting of a hundred and sixty Horse was commanded to charge the left Wing of the Enemy likewise Centeno flanked the left Wing of his Foot with ninety seven Horse which belonged to Arequepa and to the City of Plate whose Captains were Alonso de Mendoça and Jeronimo de Villegas and all commanded by the Major-General Luys de Ribera and the Serjeant-Major of this Army was Luys Garcia de Sant Mames On the other side the Lieutenant-General Francisco de Carvajal formed his Squadron with the flower and choicest men of the Militia of Peru and it was pity that such stout and excellent Souldiers did not take the right side and employ themselves in service of the King their Lord and Master this was the cause which moved Historians to write with such defamation of a man so experienced in War that he knew to a point how many Lances were requisite to give check-mate to a Party and had as much advantage over others in War as an expert Master at the Game of Chess hath over a young beginner or learner Accordingly with great art he drew up in Battalia his little Army of four hundred men upon the Plains of which eighty five were Horse sixty Pikes and Lances and about two hundred and fifty Fire-locks howsoever many Authours make Piçarro to have been of a greater force and Centeno of a far less perhaps to abate the glory of Francisco Carvajal in case he conquered Centeno but these Writers understood not the Secret nor found out the true cause of the Victory on one side and the defeat of the other which we shall speedily relate Carvajal drew up in admirable Order his small Squadron in an open Plain where were no Bushes nor any thing else to hinder the shot of his Harquebusiers the Captains of which were Diego Guillen and John de la Torre and Carvajal himself commanded his own Company composed of stout Souldiers and excellent Marks-men And though John de Acosta commanded at that time a Troop of Horse yet he changed that day with Captain Guevara for his Foot Company because Guevara was lame and could not fight otherwise than on Horse-back these four were Captains of Foot and Hernando Bachicao commanded sixty Lances and Pikes and both Wings were interlined with Harquebusiers on one side and the other Amongst the Captains of Horse Gonçalo Piçarro was bravely mounted and armed with a good Coat of Mail and over it a Coat of green Velvet which I have seen him wear and over all he had a loose Garment of crimson Velvet slashed on each hand of him were Licenciado Cepeda who was Captain of Horse and Bachiller Guevara Francisco de Carvajal was Commander in Chief of this whole Squadron of Horse and posted himself on the right Wing of the Foot not exactly joyning to them but advanced about fifty paces before that the Musquetiers might have the more room to play their shot for in them he reposed his greatest assurance of Victory Carvajal was armed like a Commander of Horse with Coat of Mail and Gantlet and a Head-piece which they call a
the President Gasca was in the Valley of Sausa which was in his way yet he thought not fit to go thither but wrote a Letter to him by the Father Biscayner to excuse his non-attendance being forced to go first to the City of Los Reyes to provide himself with such necessaries as were requisite for his own person and agreeable to the quality of that Office and Dignity in which he had served And here we will leave him at Los Reyes to speak of Francisco de Carvajal who was wandring about the Countrey in search as Authours say of Don Fray John Solano Bishop of Cozco against whom he was highly incensed saying that whereas he ought to have been in the Church praying unto God for the peace of Christians he was turned Souldier and was become a chief Officer in the Army of Diego Centeno but being not found nor known where he was he hanged up a Brother of his called Ximenez and a certain Friar who was a companion to the Bishop and so proceeded on his march to Arequepa where we will leave him also to tell what became of those who fled from the Battel that by the short relation we make thereof the Reader may imagine the sad and miserable condition of those who fled from the Battel wounded and ill treated without Victuals or Chirurgeons nor so much as a Cottage or Shed to cover themselves that night against the excessive colds which are constant in those Desarts which is most terrible and grievous to consider Gonçalo Silvestre having thus escaped out of the hands of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Souldiers went directly to his Tent where the first thing he demanded of his Indians was the Budget in which they put the Instruments for shoing their Horses for it was the custome then and many years after for every Spaniard to be prepared to shoe his own Horse in case he should cast a shoe on the Road and accordingly every one carried with him when he travelled a Pouch or Budget containing about two hundred Nails and four Shoes well fitted with Hammer and Pinchers and Shaver to pare the Hoofs and indeed it was necessary to go so provided in regard there were no Smiths Forges in the way nor in any places but where Spaniards inhabited which were commonly sixty leagues distant from each other and the ways being rugged and rocky it was necessary for every Horse-man to go so provided though now I am informed that in these days that convenience is found every where and that in every Inn maintained by Spaniards there is a Smith's Forge for accommodation of Travellers Howsoever I am sure that I learned something by that ancient custome for I knew how to shoe my Father's Horses and to let them bloud when occasion offered for this reason Silvestre calling for these Instruments and for a Scarlet Cloak dyed in Grain which was the habit of Persons of Quality he departed thence leaving his Indians sad and melancholy and complaining that he gave no belief to them when they fore-told this unhappy misfortune which if he had done they might have saved and secured all their goods Thus left he his Indians without any care or provision made for them and on the way he saw great numbers of people flying away as well Spaniards as Indians not knowing which way to go but as fortune directed them Amongst these about a little more than a quarter of a league from the Camp he overtook a Spaniard that was wounded riding on a small Nagg he had several wounds but one especially on the Reins of his Back so that he could not sit upright but lay along with his Face on the Horses Neck an Indian Woman walked by his Horses side her left hand she laid on his wound and in her right she had a stick to switch up the Horse and said to her Master pray doe what you can to get out of the hands of these Traitours and Rebels and do not fear that I will ever leave you untill I see you again safe and sound but Silvestre got before him and overtook divers others shifting for themselves as well as they could By that time that he had got a little more than three leagues from the Camp he left the common way and got into a by path where was a Hole or Pit covered with Bushes and green Grass which was all the Provender he could give that night to his Horse but for himself he had neither Supper nor Bed in this place he alighted and unbitted his Horse who was so hungry that in a short time he left neither Grass nor Bush but ate all up which Silvestre was so pleased to see that the good fare his Horse found served him also in the place of a Supper About two hours after above twenty Spaniards some wounded and others sound came to the same place with as many Indians who were very serviceable to them at that time for they lighted them up a Candle and divided the Mayz amongst them which they carried for their own provision The poor wounded men knew not what to doe sighing and groaning with the pain of their wounds amongst them there was one man who between himself and his Horse had twenty three wounds great and small But God provided for them in this great extremity for as they were sitting they espied an Indian carrying a Hamper made of Straw in form of a Chest to him they went and opened the Hamper in hopes to have found provisions but there proved to be nothing but tallow Candles which this Indian on supposition of better booty had robbed from the Tents for the Spaniards in such Hampers as those which are very light and portable usually carry provisions and accommodations for their Journies The Indians seeing the Candles told their Masters that they were able to cure the wounded with the Tallow mixed with the dung of Cattel of which there is great store in that Countrey which having dried and beaten to a powder they heated it with the grease and made it as hot as they could well endure it and first having probed the depth of the wounds with some Bodkins which the Spaniards carried with them they poured it into them and this served for a Balsame which not onely stenched Bloud but healed the Sores without other remedies which was recounted afterwards as a mercy of God and a miracle of Divine Providence to that Party which in their extremity had found so sovereign a cure presently after mid-night they began again to travel dividing into several parties that the Enemy might not be induced to pursue them on the report of many gotten into a Body About fifteen days afterwards Gonçalo Silvestre met with the Spaniard who was wounded with his Indian Woman and found him well and sound in a Village of Indians where were about fifteen or twenty Houses for she had carried him thither amongst her own Friends and Relations where they cured him and entertained him with what provisions
same fate with Donna Maria Calderon as before mentioned for as there was the same similitude in their indiscreet and passionate words so it was thought fit that they should be equalled in the punishment and accordingly he was strangled and his Body publickly exposed Pedro de la Gasca President of his Imperial Majesty having summoned all the Captains and Souldiers who were in Quitu Cassamarca Rimac and other parts and who accordingly appeared at the Rendezvous and having ordered the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado as we have hinted before to goe to the City of Los Reyes to raise Men and to provide Horse and Arms and Money and Spanish Cloth for the use of the Army and to bring the Guns from the Ships all which being accomplished and sufficient Ammunition and Victuals provided it was determined that the Camp should remove from Sausa to meet Gonçalo Piçarro and Officers were appointed for better Government of the Army as the three Historians agree and particularly Carate in the fourth Chapter of his seventh Book hath these words The Camp was ordered saith he in this manner Pedro Alonso de Hinojosa continued in the Office of General as was agreed when he first surrendred up the Fleet at Panama The Mareschal Alonso Alvarado was made Lieutenant General Licenciado Benito de Carvajal Standard Bearer General and Pedro de Villa-vicencio was made Serjeant Major The Captains of Horse were Don Pedro Cabrera Gomez de Alvarado John de Saavedra Diego de Mora Francisco Hernandez Rodrigo de Salazar and Alonso de Mendoça Captains of Foot were Don Baltasar de Castilla Paulo de Meneses Hernando Mexia de Guzman John Alonso Palomino Gomez de Solis Francisco Mosquera Don Hernando de Cardenas Admiral Andagoya Francisco de Olmos Gomez Darias Captain Porcel Captain Pardavel and Captain Serna Captain Graviel de Rojas was made Master of the Ordnance In company with the President were the Arch-bishop of Los Reyes the Bishops of Cozco and Quitu and Father Thomas de San Martin Provincial of St. Dominick's Order with many other Friars and Priests At the last Muster there were listed seven hundred Musquetiers five hundred Pike-men and four hundred Horsemen the which number increased to a thousand nine hundred by that time that they arrived at Xaquixaguava and so the Camp removed from Xauxa on the twenty ninth of December in the year 1547. and marched in good order towards the City of Cozco and endeavoured to find some shallow place where they might with the least danger foard over the River of Avancay Thus far Augustine Carate so that besides the four principal Officers viz. the General Lieutenant General Standard-bearer and Serjeant Major there were seven Captains of Horse and thirteen of Foot besides the Master of the Ordnance who were all Noble and persons of Quality most of which I knew and with these Officers and Forces the President removed his Camp from Sausa to find the Enemy and came to Huamanca where being great want of Provisions they were forced to proceed forward in all haste to the Province of Antahuaylla with intention to winter there being a Countrey as we have said before abounding with all sorts of Provisions At this place the President with his whole Army made some stay in expectation of the coming of the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado who brought new Recruits commanded by their own Captains and were as Augustine Carate reports about three hundred men of whom we shall speak more in the following Chapter CHAP. XXIX Of the Captains and principal Men of Quality and Souldiers who came to Antahuaylla to serve his Majesty And the great joy there was at their Arrival THE President quartered his Army in Antahuaylla for above the space of three months during which time the People flocked in to him from all parts amongst them was Alonso de Mendoça who escaped from the Battel of Huarina whom we forgot to mention in the due place and was preferred to the Command of Captain of Horse About a month and a half after the President entered into Antahuaylla the Mareschal Alonso de Alvarado came thither with a hundred Souldiers bringing the Cannon with him with part of the Money Arms and Spanish Cloths the remainder he left behind and was afterwards brought by the Accountant John de Carceres by which the necessities of the Souldiers were abundantly supplied In like manner the Licenciado Pedro Ramirez Judge of the Court at Nicaragua came thither with about twelve Horsemen in his company having left about a hundred and twenty Foot-souldiers on their march thither who came in about eight days after The Admiral Belalçacar came in thither also with about twenty Horse in his Company having travelled four hundred leagues Captain Diego Centeno brought in thirty Horse of those who had escaped from the Battel of Huarina and met together on the road one of which was his dear Companion Gonçalo Silvestre and Partner in all his misfortunes Besides those here named were many other Souldiers of less note and same who in all made up a Body of three hundred men The President rejoiced much to see his Army so much increased and courageous and to consist of men who came from far Countries to serve his Majesty and particularly he was pleased to see Diego Centeno who was a person of loyal Principles and endued with excellent parts both of body and mind for he was much a Gentleman and a most comely Person The last who came to the Army was Pedro de Valdivia Governour of Chile with about eight men on Horse-back In praise of whom Palentino hath spoken very fine things And Carate in the fifth Chapter of his seventh Book useth these words The President having removed his Camp from the Valley of Sausa Pedro de Valdivia who was Governour in the Province of Chile came in to his assistence This Valdivia came by Sea to Los Reyes with intention to furnish himself there with men and ammunition cloathing and other necessaries for the total subjection of that Countrey but being landed there and understanding the state of the troubles then in transaction both he and his men resolved to employ themselves in this War and accordingly with great quantities of Money which they brought with them they took the direct way towards the President to whom the person of Valdivia was of great use and reputation for though many rich Men and other principal Captains had followed the President before Valdivia appeared yet no person was esteemed so experienced in War as he and whose Art and Skilfulness in Military discipline might be opposed to the Strategems and Contrivances of Francisco de Carvajal to whose Government and Industry Gonçalo Piçarro had been beholding for many of his Successes and more particularly in the late Battel of Huarina against Diego Centeno so that the President 's whole Army was affrighted and remained in apprehension of this person untill they recovered their spirits and courage by the coming of Valdivia Thus far
have hanged him but to be the better assured thereof he invited him to dinner and then to make an experiment whether he was a Friar or not he ordered his Servants to give him drink in a Cup something bigger than ordinary to try if he took it with both hands or with one and seeing that he took it with both hands he became assured that he was a Friar and so called to him Drink it up Father drink it up for it will give you life meaning that if he had not drank it in that manner he should have been confirmed in his supposition and would most certainly have hanged him Carvajal having one of his greatest enemies in his power and intending to hang him the Prisoner asked him in a kind of menacing way what reason he had to put him to death and said Sir Pray tell me plainly what reason you have to kill me Oh said Carvajal I understand you well you are desirous to be esteemed a Martyr and lay your death at my door Know then that I hang you for being a loyal Servant to his Majesty go your ways then and take your reward for your faithfulness and allegiance and with that he sent him to the Gallows Carvajal travelling in Collao met with a Merchant who had employed about fourteen or fifteen thousand pieces of Eight in Merchandise which he had brought from Spain to Panama and said to him Brother according to the custome of War all these goods belong properly to me The Merchant who was a cunning fellow fitted and ready for such replies as suited best with Souldiers and his humour answered him chearfully Sir Whether War or Peace this Merchandise is yours for we are Partners and in the name of both of us I traded at Panama and intended to have divided the gains between us and in token thereof I have brought with me from Panama two Barrels of red Wine and two dozen of Iron Shoes and Nails for your Mules for in those times as we have before mentioned every Shoe for Horse or Mule was worth a Mark in Silver which having said he sent for the Wine and Horse-shoes and in the mean time produced the Writing of Partnership between them Carvajal received the Wine and the Horse-shoes very kindly and to shew how well he accepted them he gave him Commission to be a Captain with a Warrant requiring the Indians to serve him upon the way and to furnish him with necessaries for his Journey and farther commanded that no Merchant in Potocsi should open his Shop or sell any thing untill his Partner had cleared his hands of all his Merchandise The Merchant proud of these favours went his way and sold his Goods at the rates he pleased and having gained above thirty thousand pieces of Eight he returned to Carvajal and to secure himself of his savour he told him that he had gained eight thousand pieces of Eight in Partnership with him and that four thousand which was the moiety thereof belonged to him Carvajal to make his Souldiers merry began to speak in the Merchant's phrase and style and told him that he could not be satisfied with a general account untill he saw his Book The Merchant readily drew it out and read the several parcels as Imprimis for so many pieces of Cloth of Gold Item so many pieces of Sattin so many of Velvet so many of Damask so many fine Cloaths of Sigovia Wool so many pieces of fine Holland and Cambrick and so several of them with their prices which he brought from Spain the last parcel of all was three dozen of Combs which amounted to so much Carvajal was silent untill he came to this parcel and then he cried out hold hold reade that parcel once again which when he had done he turned about to his Souldiers and said Do not you think Gentlemen that he charges me over much in this parcel of Combs The Souldiers laughed heartily to hear him stop at this matter of the Combs and to pass by all the grosser sums preceding Thus was the Partnership dissolved and Carvajal having taken his share of the gains dispatched away his Partner well treated and favoured by him as he did all those who brought him any benefit This passage or some other very like it a certain Authour relates in a different manner which was this Carvajal pursuing after Diego Centeno happened one day to take three of his Souldiers two of which being the most considerable he hanged up presently and coming to the third he found him to be a stranger and a native of Greece called Master Francisco and pretended to be a Chirurgeon though in reality he knew nothing of that Profession and this fellow as the greatest Miscreant of the three he ordered should be hanged on the highest Gibbet Francisco hearing this Sentence said to him Sir Why will you trouble your self to hang such a pitifull Rascal as I am who am not worth the hanging and who have never given you any cause of offence and Sir I may be usefull to you in curing your wounds being a Chirurgeon by my profession Well said he go thy ways and I pardon thee for whatsoever thou hast already done or shalt doe for the future on condition that thou cure my Mules for I am sure thou art more a Farrier than a Doctour Master Francisco having got free by these means in a few months time afterwards he made his escape and served Diego Centeno and after the Battel of Huarina being again taken Carvajal ordered that he should be hanged but Master Francisco desired his Worship's excuse for that at such a time he had pardoned him both for what was past and what should be hereafter and hereof I challenge your paroll as becomes the honour of a Souldier which I know you highly esteem The Devil take thee said Carvajal and dost thou remember this now I 'll keep my Promise go look after my Mules and run away as often as thou wilt if all the enemies of my Lord the Governour were like thee we should soon be Friends The story of Master Francisco is told of a certain Priest in the same manner onely with change of Persons In his pursuit after Diego Centeno he took three persons of those which he called Weavers or Trimmers who as their necessities urged them ran from one side to another and of this sort of people he pardoned none but hanged as many of them as he could catch and having hanged two of them the third thinking to plead something for his pardon told him that he had been his Servant and had eaten often of his Bread his meaning was that often times as a Souldier he had eaten with him at his Table Cursed said Carvajal be that Bread which hath been so ill employed and turning to the Executioner take me this Gentleman and hang him up on the highest branch of yonder Tree having had the honour to eat of my Bread. And lest this Chapter should be over long
he called the Clown because he was not well shaped but very good for service the other he called Zaynillo Some Gentlemen of that time being in conversation together one of them who had been a Companion with Gonçalo Piçarro gave this Character of him which I heard from his own mouth When Gonçalo Piçarro said he was mounted on his Zaynillo he no more valued a Squadron of Indians than if they had been a swarm of Flies he was of a noble nature clear and sincere without malice fraud or designs he was a man of truth confident of his friend and of those whom he thought to be so which proved his ruine And because he was a man without cheats or fraud he was judged by Writers to be weak in his understanding but they doe him wrong for certainly he was of a clear head and naturally inclined to vertue and honour he was of an affable disposition and generally beloved both by friends and enemies and in short was endued with all the noble Qualities which become a great Person As to riches gained by his own industry we may properly say that he was Master of all the wealth of Peru which he possessed and governed for a long time and with so much justice and equity that the President did him the right to praise and commend his Government as we have before declared He conferred upon others great and large proportions of Land and jurisdiction over Indians that many of them amounted unto ten others to twenty and thirty thousand pieces of Eight of yearly revenue he was a very good Christian and zealously devoted to our Lady the Virgin Mary Mother of God as the President gave testimony in the Letter which he wrote He never denyed any thing which was asked for the sake of our Lady though of never so great an importance which being known to Francisco de Carvajal and his Officers when they had a mind to put any man to death they would never suffer his Petition to come to the ears of Piçarro lest they should ask a thing in the name of our Lady for whose sake he was resolved to deny nothing He was much beloved for his moral Vertues and military Exploits And though it was convenient for the Service of his Majesty to take away his life yet generally his death was lamented for the many Excellencies with which he was endued so that I never heard any that spake ill of him but all well and with great respect as became a Superiour And whereas Palentino saith that many gave their opinion and did earnestly insist that he should be quartered and his Limbs hanged up in the common high-ways leading to Cozco is a most false relation for never was any such thing either imagined or contrived for if ever any such thing had been intended it would certainly have been discoursed of in the times of peace and settlement as many other things were which were at first great Secrets and afterwards made known and divulged to all the World Nor indeed can it be believed that such a thing could be for all those of the Council excepting the President himself had many and great obligations to Gonçalo Piçarro having received signal honours and benefits from his hands and therefore it was not likely they would pass an infamous sentence against him though it was necessary for the service of his Majesty and the peace and quietness of the Empire that they should give their assent unto his death The End of the Fifth Book Royal Commentaries BOOK VI. CHAP. I. New Orders published by the President for suppressing Rebels The Offences which the Indians took to see Spaniards whipped The great Trouble the President had to answer the Demands of Pretenders and how he went from the City to make a Division of Lands NOR did the Troubles end here in this Empire called Peru nor were all the Insurrections suppressed by the Defeat of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Captains but rather were the Spirits of men more furiously inflamed than before as will appear by the sequel of this History for we must know that after the Victory obtained at Sacsahuana the President dispatched that very day to Cozco two of his Captains Hernando Mexia de Guzman and Martin de Robles with some Souldiers in whom they most confided to seise those of the Enemies Party who were fled thither after the Defeat and to prevent their own Souldiers from plundering or doing spoil in the City and from taking private revenge by bloud or otherwise under the pretence of Liberty of War as it was said some designed to doe The day following after the execution of Gonçalo Piçarro and his Associates the President raised his Camp from that famed field and marched towards the City which though but four leagues from thence yet he was two days on the way and in that time he detached a Party of trusty Souldiers under the command of Captain Alonso de Mendoça with Instructions to march into the Charcas and Potocsi and to seise and take the Captains which Gonçalo Piçarro had sent into those parts namely Francisco de Espinosa and Diego Carvajal the Gallant of whom we have formerly made mention and Licenciado Polo Hondegardo received a Commission to be Captain General of those Provinces with Orders to punish those who had favoured the Cause of Piçarro and likewise those who did not engage themselves in the service of his Majesty but stood neuters neither acting as Traytors nor professing themselves loyal and therefore were severely fined for their cowardise and want of duty With Licenciado Polo Captain Graviel de Rojas was also dispatched in quality of Treasurer for his Majesty to collect the Fifths and Tribute of the Royal revenue with the Fines which the Governour should inflict on Traytors and Neuters Out of which as Augustine Carate saith Book the seventh Chapter the eighth Licenciado Polo in a short time raised a million and two thousand pieces of Eight for that Graviel de Rojas dying on his journey to the Charcas Polo was forced to execute the Office of Treasurer in his stead And in the mean time whilst these things were acting in the Charcas the President remained in Cozco entertained with sumptuous Banquets and Sports to testifie the Joy they conceived for the late Successes and to see the Feast of Bulls and other Divertisements of like nature he had a Seat erected in the Court-yard of my Father's house on which occasion I had an opportunity to see his person as I have before mentioned And moreover he gave a Commission to Judge Andres de Cianca and to Major General Alonso de Alvarado to punish Rebels according to Law. Many Souldiers of note who had been of Piçarro's Party were hanged many quartered and above a hundred Spanish Souldiers whipped by four and six in company of which I was an eye-witness my self when being a Boy I went amongst the rest to see this punishment At which the Indians were greatly offended and wondred to
be trampled upon by those who had no authority over them For that the President Gasca having given him a Commission to make a new Conquest and that they were his Souldiers they knew no other power nor authority but his and that they esteemed themselves free and independent on the Jurisdiction of the Mayor or others And so far did this mutiny proceed that the Souldiers assembled together with their Arms in the house of Francisco Hernandez and on the other side the Mayor and Citizens cryed out to arm upon which the Inhabitants and their Relations with divers Souldiers who were not of the Faction and rich Merchants and others of Quality met in the Market-place with their Arms and drew up in a formed body In like manner the contrary Party drew up in their Captains Street being not far from the Market-place in which posture both sides continued two days and two nights being every moment ready to attack each other which had most certainly happened had not some more moderate men who were sensible of the late ruinous distractions interposed between them and addressed to the Mayor and Hernandez Giron desiring them to enter into a Treaty that things might be brought to a right understanding The chief men employed herein were Diego de Silva Diego de Maldonado the rich Garçilasso de la Vega Vasco de Guevara Antonio de Quinnones John de Berrio Jeronimo de Loaysa Martin de Meneses and Francisco Rodriguez de Villa fuerte who was the first of the thirteen that passed over the Line which Francisco Piçarro drew with the point of his Sword. With these several other Citizens joyned to persuade the Mayor to quiet this disturbance which would prove the destruction of the City and the whole Kingdom The like was alledged to Francisco Hernandez desiring him to consider that thereby he would forfeit the merit of all his former Services that he would destroy his design of Conquest whereby he was to gain honour and make his fortune At length it was agreed that he and the Mayor should meet in the great Church but the Souldiers of Hernandez Giron opposed it unless Hostages were first given for his safe return which was assented unto and four Citizens were delivered for security namely Garçilasso my Master Diego Maldonado Antonio de Quinnones and Diego Silva On these Conditions the two Chiefs met in the great Church where Francisco Hernandez carried himself so insolent and proud that the Mayor had laid hands on him had he not been restrained with the consideration of his friends who remained Hostages in the power of the Souldiers so that suppressing his anger what he could he suffered Francisco Hernandez to return to his House from whence he came again and towards the Evening met on the former Cautions given By which time Hernandez having better considered the unhappy consequences of that mutiny and having consulted with divers friends upon the case he became much more gentle and in a more flexible temper than before and in this good humour they broke up and adjourned until the day following by which time they should be enabled more deliberately to discuss their affairs Being accordingly met the usual forms of Protests and Acts were drawn up and the Preamble was agreed to the following Articles Namely That for the publick peace and quiet of the Land Francisco Hernandez should remove his Souldiers from the Town and should deliver up eight of those who had been the most insolent and mutinous amongst them into the hands of the Mayor of which number were those who had fired upon his Majesty's Troop without any cause or provocation And that he himself should goe in person to the Court of Justice to render an account of this late scandalous Mutiny and Riot This Agreement was solemnly sworn unto by both Parties and drawn up in Writing and the Mayor was to permit Hernandez to depart freely upon his own Paroll and Oath of Fealty to the King. After this Francisco Hernandez returned to his own House where he acquainted his Souldiers with the Agreement he had made but they were not pleased therewith but began to mutiny and if he had not appeased them with good words and promises they had fallen in upon the King's party the consequence of which would have been very destructive to the whole Kingdom for they were two hundred effective men desperate and of no fortunes having nothing to lose and on the other side there were above Eighty persons of Quality who had Lands and Estates and the rest were Merchants of great Riches But God was pleased to divert this fatal Mischief at the Prayers and Vows of religious Friars and secular Priests and devout Women for though the disturbance was more enflamed than before so that Watch and Centinels were set and they were all the night up with Arms in their hands yet in the morning when the Mayor saw that Hernandez had not drawn off his men he sent for him by a Warrant to appear before him But he supposing that his men would not suffer him to goe in case they were acquainted therewith slipt on his morning Gown and as if he intended to goe onely to the next neighbour he went directly to the house of the Mayor who presently took him and committed him to prison the news hereof being brought to his Souldiers they immediately dispersed and every man shifted for himself but the eight men who were impeached took Sanctuary in the Convent of St. Dominick and fortified themselves in the Steeple of the Church where they besieged them for several days but could not take them by reason that the passage was very narrow being built for a Tower in the time of the Inca's howsoever atlength they surrendred and were punished but not with that severe Justice which their rebellious practices did require and the Tower was demolished that it might not be made use of for the future on such like occasions CHAP. XV. John Alonso Palomino and Jeronimo Costilla fly from Cozco Francisco Hernandez Giron presents himself before the High Court of Justice is dismissed and returns to Cozco and he is married in Los Reyes The Relation of another Mutiny which happened in that City THE Souldiers being dispersed and Francis Hernandez Giron imprisoned the Mutiny was suppressed and all things quieted and therefore it was much wondered what should be the reason that moved Alonso Palomino and Jeronimo Costilla who had married two Sisters to escape out of the City the second night after all things were agreed nor do I know what reason Palentino had to say that this happened two years afterwards than which nothing can be more false which I can aver upon my own knowledge having been an eye-witness of what passed at that time in Cozco but true it is that these Gentlemen departed the City at mid-night without any cause or reason known for the fame If they had gone away three or four nights before when the City was in extreme danger some
Ethiopian and which will not be washed off again with any water untill it begins to wear away which it will doe in ten days time and then will wash off with the rine of that which gives the tincture In this manner they coloured this wretch Aguire and clothed him in poor habit like a Countrey Negroe and with this disguise they went out openly about noon day through the publick streets and Market-place with the Negroe Aguire marching before them with a Gun on his Shoulders and one of the Masters carried another before him on the Pomel of his Saddle and the other had a Hawk on his fist as if they had been going after their game and in this manner they went to the Hill called Carmenca which is the road to Los Reyes and is a great way thither through Streets and publick places from the house of Rodrigo de Pineda and at last they came to the out-guards of all where being asked for the Governour 's licence or pass-port he that carried the Hawk seeming to be troubled for this omission said to his Brother Pray stay for me here untill I goe and fetch a Licence or if you please to go softly before I shall quickly overtake you but he took little care for his pass-port since his Brother with his Neger was passed the Guards which being done they quickned their pace untill they had got themselves clear out of the Jurisdiction of Cozco which reaches fourty leagues in length And being come so far he bought a small Nag for Aguire and gave him some money in his purse and said to him Brother since I have accompanied you so far and brought you into a Countrey where you are free and out of danger you may goe now where you think fit for my part I can do no more for you shift for your self and with that he returned to Cozco and Aguire travelled to Huamanca where a Kinsman of his lived who was a Noble person and one of the richest Inhabitants of that City and was received by him as kindly as if he had been his own Son and was caressed and treated by him for many days and afterwards was sent away with all things necessary and convenient for him We shall conceal the name of this his Kinsman because it is not justifiable to receive and protect a person condemned or who stands outlawed by the Royal Justice This escape of Aguire was one of the strangest things that happened in those days considering the diligent search which was made for him by the Judge and the follies of Aguire after he had committed the Murther though they happened well and by his good fortune were the cause of his preservation for if he had taken refuge in a Convent of which there were but three in Town namely that of our Lady of the Seraphical St. Francis and of the Divine St. Dominick he had certainly been discovered and delivered to Justice but having thus escaped the Governour was not a little angry and ashamed to see his Justice eluded and the Offender placed out of reach of the Law. Howsoever he was praised by the bold and daring Souldiers who said that if there were many Aguires in the World who durst boldly adventure to vindicate their dishonours by such a revenge the Officers of Justice would not be so insolent and arbitrary as they now shew themselves CHAP. XIX Many Gentlemen of the Countrey goe to kiss the Hand of the Vice-king A particular Story of an impertinent Person A Mutiny in Los Reyes and how it was punished The death of the Vice-king and what Troubles happened after it WE have already touched something of the Entry of the good Vice-king Don Antonio de Mendoça into the City of Los Reyes where he lived but for a short time and that too with much anguish and infirmity of body which is rather to dye than to live so that his Government affords us little subject for Discourse When he came first into the City many Planters of the Countrey about came from all parts of the Empire from Quitu as far as the Charcas to kiss his hands and welcome him at his first arrival Amongst which there was one more kind than the rest and full of love and affectionate expressions and at the conclusion of all Sir said he God take from your days and add them unto mine Those said the Vice-king will be but few and ill ones The poor man recalling himself hereupon No Sir I mean that God would be pleased to take from my days and add them unto your Excellencies I understand your Complement replied the Vice-king Don't trouble your self for the mistake Howsoever the Story was quickly carried into the outward room where it occasioned much laughter Some few days after this a certain Captain whom we have formerly mentioned in this History came to the Vice-king pretending to give him some Informations for better Government of the Empire and amongst other things he said there was one Abuse necessary to be remedied the thing is this There are two Souldiers who lodge in such a place and goe always amongst the Indians with Guns in their hands and eat what they kill and destroy the whole Game of the Countrey they also make Powder and Bullets which is of ill example to the Kingdom for many times Troubles and Insurrections have ensued from such beginnings and therefore such men as these are to be punished or at least banished from Peru. The Vice-king asked him whether these men did treat the Indians ill or whether they sold them Powder and Bullets or committed any other Outrages No said the Captain Nothing more than what I tell your Lordship Then said the Vice-king these are not faults but actions rather to be encouraged for it is no offence for Spaniards to live amongst the Indians and to eat what they get themselves by hunting and to make Powder for their own use and not to sell but 't is rather commendable and such actions as are fit for other men to imitate Go your ways Sir in the name of God for I desire that neither you nor others should bring me such Tales as these for these men you complain of must be Saints seeing they live such innocent lives as you inform me And in this manner was the impertinency of this Captain requited With this gentle and easie manner did this Prince govern the Empire but my Countrey was not worthy so much goodness and therefore Heaven called him thither During the time of his Sickness the Justices commanded that the personal services of the Indians should be taken off and accordingly it was proclaimed in the City of Los Reyes in Cozco and other parts under such penalties and rigorous clauses as gave great offence and caused new seditions and mutinies amongst the People for which a chief Incendiary one Luys de Vargas was condemned and executed but the Examinations and Tryals proceeded no farther because it was found that several principal men were
a Counsel the Officers by a Royal Mandate discharged the two Generals of their Commands and conferred the Office of Commander in Chief upon Paulo de Meneses and constituted Pedro Portocarrero his Lieutenant-General which likewise caused murmurings and discontent in the whole Camp and men talked loudly that it was a shame and reproach to them to make choice of an unlucky fellow who but the other day had lost a Battel and had rather deserved ignominy and punishment for his ill conduct and to be debased to the meanest Souldier in the Field than to be raised to the highest dignity and place of command Howsoever the election was confirmed and the resolution notified to the two Generals who made some demur thereupon but they were over-ruled and forced to submit and farther it was agreed to pursue the Rebels with eight hundred men and for better expedition to march without Baggage or other incumbrance but this determination met with delays like the rest so that it was not put in execution till three days afterwards For the Justice Santillan being upon his return to Los Reyes was attended on his way with a numerous train of Friends and Relations to the number of about an hundred and fifty persons to the great diminution of their Forces and discomposure of their affairs of which Santillan being made sensible by one of his Friends who told him that the taking many men from the Army would look like a Rebellion and give his Adversaries occasion to pretend that he was jealous of his safety and suspicious of Plots and designs against him he presently apprehended the inconveniences and dismist his Friends and Kindred desiring them to return to the service of his Majesty in the Army which was much more necessary than their attendance upon him which they accordingly performed so that Santillan entred into Los Reyes with no greater attendance than of his own Servants By this time Hernandez was come to Nanasca being about sixty leagues distant from Los Reyes to which place he had marched without let or hindrance whatsoever for such had been the confusion and difference in his Majesty's Camp that nothing could proceed to his hurt or interruption and for his better advantage and information of every thing the Justices gave ear to the proposal of one who was a Serjeant in the King's Army and had been a Souldier in the Plot and Conspiracy of Diego de Rojas who offered to adventure into the enemy's Camp in the habit of an Indian and to bring them from thence a true information of the state of their affairs The Justices assenting hereunto gave him free license so that he as a false and treacherous Spie went over to Hernandez and told him that he had clothed himself in that habit to pass more easily to his Army for that in the King's Camp there were such quarrels and discords amongst the Officers and discontents amongst the Souldiers who had no will or courage to fight that nothing but destruction could be the end and issue thereof and for that reason out of a principle of self preservation he resolved to save himself in his service Moreover he reported that the Justices were much troubled and confused upon the news they had received that the City of St. Michael de Piura was in Rebellion against his Majesty and had declared themselves for Hernandez Giron and that a certain Captain named Pedro de Orsna was coming from the New Kingdom with many men in favour also of Hernandez all which being of great encouragement to his people he caused them for better credit thereof to be declared by publick out-cry But to qualifie this news a little he told them that the Marshal was coming from the Charcas with a powerfull force of twelve hundred men but they charged the Spie to make this report or at least to moderate it and say that he came with no more than six hundred men lest it should prove too great a discouragement to the Souldiers At the same time letters were intercepted from the Camp of the Justices conveyed by an Indian directed to a Souldier for which both of them were hanged though the Souldier after he had endured the torment twice would make no confession and that after his death in the Collar of his doublet a Parchment was found with a Pardon from the Justices for Thomas Vazquez The which Pardon was presently published by Hernandez with Assurances in the name of the Justices of great Rewards and of Lands with Services of Indians to whomsoever should kill Hernandez and other principal persons who were about him But before the Defeat given at Villacori Francisco Hernandez had raised a Company of Negroes consisting of about an hundred and fifty black fellows which they had taken out of the several Plantations Villages and Colonies which they had plundered to which he afterwards added above three hundred Ethiopian Souldiers and to encourage them the better he formed them into Companies distinct from the others Of these he ordained a Captain General called Mr. John who was an excellent Carpenter for I was well acquainted with him and had been a Slave to Antonio Altamirano as I have formerly mentioned Their Lieutenant was Master Antonio to whom a principal Souldier of the King's Camp had surrendered his Arms it is not fit to name him though I was well acquainted with him the report whereof coming into Spain caused a Gentleman who had lived in the Indies and was acquainted with this Souldier to send him a Sword and a Dagger handsomely gilt more in scorn to upbraid his Cowardise than on the score or in token of friendship which occasioned much discourse after the Wars were at an end Besides these chief Officers he appointed their Captains and gave them leave to make choice of their Ensigns Serjeants Corporals Drummers and Pipers and make their own Colours All which the Negroes performed very handsomely which was a means to allure and invite many of that sort from the King's Camp who seeing their Relations and Kindred so highly honoured and advanced in the Camp of Hernandez were induced to follow their example and so were engaged against their Masters during all the time of this War. The Rebels made great use of these Souldiers whom they sent abroad with a small party of Spaniards to forage and gather provisions which the poor Indians in fear and dread of them and to rescue themselves their Wives and Children from their Cruelties did readily administer and supply them with which afterwards was the cause of great famine and distress in the Countrey CHAP. XIV The Marshal makes choice of Captains for his Army He comes to Cozco and marches against Francisco Hernandez The unfortunate death of Captain Diego de Almendras IN the mean time whilst matters were thus transacted in Cozco Rimac and Villacori the Marshal Alonso de Alvarado who was in the Kingdom and Provinces of the Charcas remained not idle or unactive for as we have said before he
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
or bigness or nimbleness which they omitted to carry and present with their Offerings of Silver and Gold that so by this way of Homage and Duty they might acknowledge him the supreme and universal Lord of all and testify the zeal and affection they bore to his Service CHAP. VIII How this Tribute was conserved and laid up and how it was expended and in what Service WE are come now to enquire in what manner this Tribute was conserved in what it was expended and what account was given of it and herein it is to be observed that there were three Treasuries in the whole Kingdom wherein they amassed and kept the Tributes and publick Profits In every Province whether it were great or small there were always two Magazines or Storehouses in one of which they laid up corn and provisions for support of the Natives against years of scarcity or famine in the other all the Profits and Benefits belonging to the Sun and the Inca were laid up besides which they had other smaller Store-houses built upon the King's High-way about three or four Leagues one from the other which the Spaniards make use of at present for Inns and Lodgings when they travell All the Estate of the Sun and the Inca which lay within fifty Leagues about the City of Cozco was all brought thither for maintenance and support of the Court that so the Inca might not onely have a sufficient plenty for himself and Family but likewise to bestow in Rewards and Presents to his Captains and Curacas and to entertain and treat them But some part of the Revenue which belonged to the Sun and which was within the aforesaid limits of fifty Leagues was separated and laid up apart for the common benefit of the People What Revenue was coming in from other places more remote without the compass of the fifty Leagues was laid up in the King's Store-houses which he had in every Province and from thence it was transported to the places which were built on the common Road for receiving Provisions Arms Cloths Shoes and all necessaries for an Army that so in all parts they might readily be supplied whensoever they marched unto any of the four quarters of the World which the Indians called Tavantinsuyu These Store-houses being thus as we have said provided were able to supply and furnish an Army with whatsoever they needed so that in their march they neither lay upon free quarter nor burthened the People nor might any Souldier rob or vex the Inhabitants upon pain of Death Pedro de Cieça in the 60th Chapter of his Book speaking of the great Roads hath these Words The Incas had great and large Store-houses wherein they stowed and laid up all their Ammunition and Provisions of War in which they were so carefull that they never failed to make due and large Provisions and in failure thereof the Officer encharged was severely punished and consequently the Army being thus well provided no person was permitted to break into the Fields or Houses of the Indians though the damage were never so inconsiderable under less than a capital punishment Thus far are the Words of Pedro de Cieça and the reason of this severity was grounded on the sufficient maintenance which the Souldiers received who were thus well provided for by the People on condition that they might be secured from their violence and outrages and thus as the Magazines in the Roads were emptied by the Souldiers in their March so they were again replenished and supplied by the Provincial Stores Augustin de Carate discoursing of the great Roads or the King's High-Ways as we shall hereafter have occasion to mention more at large doth in the 14th Chapter of his first Book say That besides these common Store-houses on the Roads Guaynacava gave command for building in all the mountainous Countries large and capacious Houses able to receive him and his Court and all his Army and to be seated at the distance of a days march one from the other In the plains also he built others of the like capacious Form but those were situated more remote one from the other being at eight or ten or perhaps fifteen or twenty Leagues asunder according as the Rivers or conveniences of Water happened and these Houses were called Tombos where the Indians laid up such quantities and stores of Arms and other necessaries for an Army that every one of them was sufficient to cloath and arme and feed twenty or thirty thousand Men with the Provisions contained within it self and yet the Army though it was numerous was yet well accoutred with all sorts of Weapons such as Pikes Halberts Clubs and Pole-Axes made of Silver and Copper and some of them of Gold having sharp points and some of them hardened by the fire besides Slings and Darts thrown by hand Thus far are the Words of Augustin Carate touching the Provisions lodged in the Roads for accomodation of the Army If the King were at any time put unto excessive charge in his Wars so that his Revenue could not reach the expence then in that case it was lawfull for the Inca as universal Heir to his Father the Sun to make use of his Riches and Revenue and that whensoever the Wars were finished the overplus which remained of such Provisions were carefully laid up in the respective Store-houses for support and maintenance of the People in Years of Famine and Scarcity in which such care was taken that the Inca himself judged it an Employment fit to be supervised by his own particular regard and inspection The Priests in all parts of the Empire were maintained at the charges of the Sun that is whilst they were actually employed in the Service of the Temple for they attended by Weeks according to their turns but when they were at home and out of waiting they then sed and maintained themselves from the fruits of those grounds which were equally divided to them with other People by which and the like Parsimony used in expending the Revenue of the Sun his Stores were always great and plentifull and sufficient to assist and succour the Inca as his necessities and urgencies did require CHAP. IX That the People were supplied with Clothing and that no Beggars were allowed amongst them AS by this good Order and Method the Souldiery was well provided with Clothing so with the like care every two years a certain proportion of Wool was distributed to the Commonalty and to the Curacas in general wherewith to make Garments for themselves their Wives and their Families and it was the Office of the Decurions to see and render an account to the Superiour Officers how far this Wool was employed to the uses unto which it was designed The Indians were generally very poor in Cattel and the Curacas themselves for the most part were Masters of so few as were not sufficient for supply of themselves and their Families whereas on the other side the Sun and the Inca had such vast Flocks and
Herds as were almost innumerable The Indians report that when the Spaniards came first in amongst them their flocks of Cattel were greater than their Pastures could feed and I have heard from my Father and others who lived in his time that the Spaniards made great Destruction of the Cattel as we shall hereafter have occasion more largely to relate In the hot Countries they gave them Cottons to spin for the clothing of themselves and Families so that every one having a sufficiency of Food and Raiment none could properly be termed poor nor could any be forced to beg because his Necessities were supplied it is true that none could be called rich if Riches be placed in affluence and abundance for as none wanted so noon had more than his Needs required What we have declared at large is confirmed by Acosta in a few words who in the 15th Chapter of his 6th Book speaking of Peru hath this passage At the seasons they shore their Cattel and then divided unto every one sufficient for him to spin and weave for his own and the clothing of his House and Family and how diligent he was in his work and how well he complied with his Task was carefully inspected by an Officer appointed for that Affair what Wool or Cotton remained after such Division was laid up in the common Storehouses which was performed with that good Husbandry that they were found full when the Spaniards entred their Countrey And herein no thinking Man can without due reflexion admire and wonder at the Providence of this People and their political Government for though they had not been refined with the pure Doctrine of the Christian Religion nor yet had been taught the Rules of a Monastical Life yet they had learned that point which we call perfection how and in what manner to provide all necessaries both for the King and his People without appropriating any thing to a particular possession And thus Acosta ends this 15th Chapter which he entitles The Revenue and Tribute of the Inca. In another Chapter following discoursing there of the Offices held by the Indians he touches many points which we have already declared and which we shall have occasion to speak of more at large hereafter he hath farther these express words The Indians of Peru had this Rule and Maxime amongst them that it was necessary to teach their Children so soon as they were capable those works which were conducing to humane Life for in regard they had no Trades amongst them such as Shoemakers Weavers and the like whose Profession it was to make Shoes and Clothing for others as well as themselves but every one applyed himself to make and provide that of which he had need and occasion so that all knowing how to weave and sow provided themselves with Garments out of the Wool which the Inca distributed to them Every one knew how to plow and manure his Land without putting himself to the charge of Labourers every one was a Carpenter and Mason and was able to build his own House especially the Women were the most ingenious and diligent of any for being bred up and educated in hardship and toil contributed much to the assistence of their Husbands in all their labours But those Professions and Arts which were not common and which did not so properly belong to the necessity of Humane Life such as Silversmiths Painters Potters Boatmen Accountants and Pipers had their particular Masters and Professours but the ordinary and necessary Works were taught and practised in every Family every one doing his own business did not hire or pay another for it but made his own Cloaths and Shoes sowed his own Fields and gathered in his own Harvest And this as it was the ancient custome amongst them so it hath continued even to this day wherein they seem to have imitated the Lives of the Ancient Monks as the Fathers of the Church have delivered them to us The truth is they are a people neither covetous nor luxurious by nature that in reality were the life they lead a point of free-will rather than necessity or chosen for the sake of Mortification certainly these people would be rarely well disposed to receive the Doctrine of the Gospel which is an enemy to pride and covetousness and luxurious living though the Preachers up of these Graces unto the Indians do not always live according to those Precepts which they deliver in their Pulpits And then soon after he adds That it was an Established Law amongst them that no Man should change the Habit and Fashion of his Countrey though he altered his Habitation out of one Province into another the observance of which Rule the Inca enjoined with great severity as a matter of importance in relation to the Government Thus far are the words of Acosta To which I shall add that the Indians wonder much to see the Spaniards so frequently change their Habits and attribute it to their pride presumption and wantonness of their humour In the Year 1560 when I departed from Peru it was not the custome for any to beg or ask Alms for where-ever I travelled in that Countrey I never observed any Man or Woman to beg unless it were an Old Woman which I knew at Cozco called Isabel and she neither had no great necessity onely she was delighted to Gossip from house to house and like a Gypsie with her Jests and Tricks persuaded the Neighbours to be kind to her Howsoever the Indians detested her way of living and in token of their abhorrence thereof would reprove her with words and then spit on the ground which was a kind of reproach and for that reason this Woman would never beg of the Indians but onely of the Spaniards and because at that time in my Countrey there was no Money coined they gave her Mayz which was the chief thing she desired and if she found this come freely she would beg a little Flesh and then some of their Drink and then with her Tricks and Jests she would get some of their Cuca which is that pretious Plant so much in esteem amongst the Indians and which they commonly carry in their Mouths and thus she passed a merry and wanton life but detestable to her Neighbours Nor were the Incas amongst their other Charities forgetfull of the conveniencies for Travellers but in all the great Roads built Houses or Inns for them which they called Corpahuaci where they were provided with Victuals and other necessaries for their Journies out of the Royal Stores which were laid up in every Province and in case any Traveller fell sick in the way he was there attended and care taken of him in a better manner perhaps than at his own home But the truth is no person Travelled for his curiosity or pleasure or business but for the service and by order of the King or his Curacas when they had occasion to dispatch Messengers such as Captains for the War or other Officers for conservation of