saythe That Socrates speakyng to the Athenienses sayd it is holden for trouth that your cittie in time past did resist an innumerable number of enemies which came froÌ„ y e Sea called Mare Athlanticum who had taken and enioyed the most parte of all Europe and Asia For at that time that strayght was Nauigable hauyng not far from y e mouthe an Ilande which began neare vnto the Pillers of Hercules whiche was reported to bee greater then Asia Africa and ioyntly from the same was contractacion in bying sellyng with other Ilandes which Ilands had conference with the fyrme and continent lande which stoode in frent of them who were neyghbours vnto the true sea For that Sea with reason might be called the certayne and true Sea and the lande continent and fyrmeâ—â—his mutche writeth Plato He also affyrmeth that .9000 yeares before the writyng hereof the Sea encreased with so mightie a power of water in those parties that in one day and one night this great Ilande suncke and all the people perished and that afterward the same sea remayned full of sandes and shallowes so that â—hereby neuer after any mought passe vnto the other Ilandes nor fyrme lande All those which write vpon Plato affirme and hold opinion that this Hystorie was true so that the most of them especially Marsilius Ficinus and Plantinus wil not admit the meanyng to be Alegoricall although many others iudge the contrarie as the same Marsilius referreth vpon the anotations vpon Thimeum But where he speaketh of the .9000 yeres it seemeth not a fabulus argument for accordynge to Eudoxus those yeres were to be vnderstood accordynge to the Egiptians accompt where euery monthe was accompted one whole yere and not accordynge to y e course of the Sunne so that .9000 monthes maketh .750 yeres Likewise it is almost a demonstration to geue credit to the oppinion touchyng this Iland consydering that all the Historiagraphersâ— and Cosmographers that wrote of olde time do cal the Sea where y â— Iland suncke Mathanticum reseruinge the name which it had when it was land Than presupposyng that the Hystorie is true who can deny that this Ilande Athlantica began from the streight of Gibraltar or not far from Cadiz and extended into the greate gulfe where as well North and South as East and West is a greater space then the scituation of all Asia and Africa The Ilands wherof the text maketh mencion seemeth to be Espaniola Cuba Iamaica and the residew which stande in that Comarke The firme landes whiche is sayd to stande in frent of the said Ilands doth appere by reason to be the same firme land which now is called after the same name and al the other prouinces wher vnto it is continent which beginnynge from the straight of Magalanez doth contayne runnyng Northward the lande of Peru the Prouince of Popayan Castillia del oro Beragua Nicaragua Guatimalla Nueua Hispania the seuen citties Florida Bacallaos and the said lande runneth along from thence Norward vntill it come to ioygne almost with Norway In the which without doubt is more grounde then as yet throughout all the world is inhabited or at least was knowen before the discouery of this countrey This matter doth not cause any great dificultie that the Romaines and other nations which in time past inioyed the Land of Spayne had not discouered this countrey It is to be thought y t the roughnes of those Seas in those dayes did disturbe and hinder the Nauigation So that this Lande may well bee called the firme and continent Land wherof Plato writeth which doth agree with all the tokens and signes which hee giueth of the other cheefely wherin hee affirmeth that it lyeth infrent of the South Sea Then forasmuch as hath beene sayled in our daies in the sayd South Sea doth appere that in respect of the bredth and greatnes of the sayde South Sea all the Mediterraneum Sea and as much as is knowen of the Occean vulgarly called the Northen Sea are Riuers in comparison of the other Then all this approued true the signes tokens and wordes of Plato do therwith accord so that there is no doubt or difficultie in the first passage into Peru of innumerable people as well from the great Iland Atlantica as also from other Ilandes from which Ilandes they vsed to sayle and also out of the firme Land they might passe into Peru And if in this pointe should seeme any difficultie yet it is to bee credited that by the South Sea they had vse and knowledge of Nauigation by contraction and traficke which they had with this great Iland where the text declareth that they had great aboundance of Shippes yea and Roades and harbors made by force of hande for their conseruacion where nature wanted This is as much as may be gathered touching this matter which is not small for a thing of such antiquitie without light cheefely that in all the Prouinces and Countrey of Peru were founde no kinde of Letters or Writinge to conserue the remembrance of things past nor yet the pictures or paynting which serued in the new Spayne for Letters sauing only certayne stringes of diuerse colours full of knots so that by those knots and distance betweene them was an account kepte amonge that people but maruailous strange to be vnderstood as hereafter in this History shalbe declared Therfore I may saye with Horatius Si quid nouicti restius istis candidus imperti si non vis vtere mecum And as concerning the Discouery of this newe countrey the wordes of Seneca doth fit which he set out in his Medea Tragedy Venient annis saecula seris Quibus Oceanus vincula rerum Laxet nouosque typhis detegat orbes Atque ingens pateat tellus Nec sit terris vltima thyle Besides the oppinion of Plato at this day are to be seene the Ilands of Asorez Canarie Madera and Ilandes of Cabo Verde with wonderfull shallowes and Sande lyinge farre out into the mayne Sea which are thought to haue bin part of the sayd Iland Athlantica This History doth also set forth the dutie and royall seruice of the Subiect to his Prince and how Mutynies are iustly punished And likewise last of all how blood is punished with blood and the highe waye to Honour is great paine and daunger of lyfe And I for my parte Gentle Reader desire no more for my paynes but that thou wilte as willingly accept my trauaile as I with good will do offer the same Farewell THE HISTORY OF THE Discouery and Conquest of the Prouince of Peru and of the warres and other notable thinges which there happened ¶ Of the notice of Peru and how the discouery was begon Chap. 1. IN the yeare of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 1525. in the Cittie of Panama which standeth scituated on the border of the South Sea in the Prouince of firme Land called Castillia del oro dwelt thrée Gentilmen among whom was sundrye times conference concerninge the vnderstandinge which they had
Citie of the Kyngs it happened that many Indians who were seruauntes to the Spanyardes called Yanaconas serued the Indians of the warres in the daie season for wages and at night came to their supper and lodgyng with their maisters ¶ How the Marques sent into diuers parties to requier succour and how Captaine Alonso de Aluarado came to aide hym Chap. 6. THe Lorde Marques seyng suche a greate noÌ„ber of Indian enemies in redinesse for the besiging of the citie of the Kinges he then thought assuredly that Hernando Pisâ—rro and all his companie in Cusco were slain and that the insurrection and rebellioÌ„ was generall through the lande thinkyng also that Don Diego had the like successe in Chili And because the Indians should not thinke that with feare he kept his Nauie of shipps to flie in them when neede should require And also that the Spanyardes should not haue hope of succour to repaire to the saied shippes to escape out of the lande and by that meane to fight with lesse courage then manhoode should require he commaunded the shippes to bee sent from thence to Panama He sent also messengers to the Uiceroye of the newe Spaine and to all the Christian gouernours of all the Indies crauyng their fauor and helpe aduertisyng theÌ„ of the great danger that he was in Signifiyng the same with woordes not of suche courage as he was wont to shewe in other â—hynges But it should seeme that his so doyng was through the peâ—swation of some faint harted persone whiche councelled hym so to doe He sent likewise to his lieutenant of Trugillio coÌ„maunding hym to leaue the Citie without people and to embarke their wiues children and goodes in a ship which he sent for that purpose that thei might be conuayed to the firm laâ—â—e and he with all the rest of the citezens to come with their horses and armor to aide him Because he thought assuredly that the Indian enemies would come and spoâ—le their Citie and he not able to defende them So that he iudged the surest waie to bee to ioyne them selues together in one bodie yet he required that their coÌ„ming should be in secret WheÌ„ thinhabitaÌ„tes of Trugillio were ready to depart towardes the Marques came thither Captain Alonso de Aluarado with all his companie who was come froÌ„ the discouerie of Chachapoyas beyng also sent for by the Marques and hauyng lefte a certaine companie of men of warre in the Citie of Trugilio for the sauegarde of the same thei came al together to the Citie of the Kynges to aide the Marques who louyngly entertained them And incontinent made Alonso de Aluarade captaine generall in lue of Pedro de Lerma who vntill that tyme had enioyed that office yet the vnplacyng of hym was so greeuous vnto hym that afterward it caused Mutynie as in place and tyme shalbe declared When the Marques sawe him self so well prouided of men and other â—urniture necessarie he determined to succour where moste neede should require Whervpon he sent captaine Alonso de Aluarado with 300. Spanyardes footemen and horsemen to discrie the couÌ„trey who proceding on his iourney about 4 leagues from the citie in Pachacama he had a sharpe battaile with the Indians of whom he had the victorie and slue many of theÌ„ this doen he tooke the waie toward Cusco in whiche iourney passyng through the countrey vnhabited he suffered great penurie and onely for waÌ„t of water died aboue 500 of his Indians with thirst who were labourers and caried his bagage and if the light horsemen had not been who roade by poste with certain vessells for water whiche was the meane to saue the liues of a greate nomber mo of the footemen whiche were all in danger of the same ende As he in this maner proceded forward he ouertooke in the Prouince of Xauxa Gomes de Tordâ—ya naturall de Villa Nueua de Barca Rota who had in his companie 200 footemen and horsemen so that thei were now in nomber 500 men with whom Alonso de Aluerado tooke his waie to the bridge called Lumjchaca where the IndiaÌ„s had enuironed them on euery side hauyng their battaile together the Christians had the victorie yet thei ceassed not skirmishyng vntill thei came to the bridge called Aban cay where Alonso de Aluarado had vnderstanding of the imprisonment of Hernando Gonsalo Pisarro and of all the affaires which passed in Cusco so that he determined to procede no further vntil he should haue further Commission from the Marques When DoÌ„ Diego de Almagro had notice of the coÌ„myng of Alonso de Aluarado he sent vnto hym Diego de Aluarado with other seuen horsemen to notifie vnto hym the prouision graunted by the Emperor Who at their commyng Alonso de Aluarado tooke them prisoners saiyng that the Lorde Marques ought to be cited with their prouisions not he who was no partie for suche matters But when Don Diego sawe that his messengers returned not againe fearyng least Alonso de Aluarado ment to enter into Cusco by some other waie About xv daies after he came with his whole power determinyng to set vpon Aluarado because he vnderstandyng how Pedro de Lerma had practised a Mutinie for to passe vnto him with 80 men and when Don Diego drewe nigh to Aluarado his scoute toke prisoner Pedro Aluarez Holguin who was a light horsman to Aluarado who hauing intelligence of his imprisonment was minded likewise to appreheÌ„de Pedro de Lerma vpon suspition who fled from him the same night carriyng with hym the fines of all those whiche had promised their faithe and freendship to Don Diego On a night Don Diego came to the bridge hauyng knowledge how Gomes de Tordoya and a sonne of the Coronel Vilalua were tariyng his commyng who had sent ouer at a shallow place many of the men whiche were of the coÌ„spiracie with Pedro de Lerma who were encoraged to passe the water without feare It was manifestly knoweÌ„ that some of the conspirators who watched that night had stolne aboue fiftie Lances whiche thei brought awaie with them So that when Alonso de Aluarado was minded to haue attempted the battaile he founde the conspirators missyng and many moe of his men whiche went to seeke their Lances that were stollen from them in the night watch were also wanting by meane wherof Don Diego obtained the victorie without bloudsheding sauing that Rodrigo Orgonios had his téeth broken with the stripe of a stone Now wheÌ„ the spoile was deuided Aluarado taken prisoner Don Diego retuâ—ned to Cusco where he shewed some bitternes of crueltie to his prisoners yea and so exalted him self in pride that he letted not to saie that in short space he would not leaue one of the name of Pisarro to stuÌ„ble at in all the dominion of Peru. He said also that the Marques might goe rule emong the Manglarez whiche dwell vnder the Equinoctiall line if he liâ—t to gouerne How the lorde Marques tooke his iourney to Cusco to succour his brethren
follow ye this pathe which will bring you to a countrey ful of townes and villages replenished with abouÌ„dance of victuals but this aduice was found to be false for they found the same countrey which they so highly commended to be barren vnhabited and absolutely without any succour vntill they came to the villages of Coca which standeth neare vnto a great riuer where Gonsalo Pâ—sarro had béen before his comming to Sumaco and there rested for the space of sixe wéekes abiding the comminge of his coÌ„panion the Lorde of that place submitted him selfe to his fréendship from thence they trauailed all togeather along y e riuer side downward vntil they found a narrow gloâ—e where they made a Bridge to passe ouer although the water was of 200. fadom déepe had a mighty great fall downewarde which fall made a maruailous strange noyse which sounded was heard more theÌ„ sixe leagues from the place certaine daies iorney from this passage they found that the riuer ran circuite so y t they came to a narrow place y t was litle more then 20. foote brode where also was another like fall ech side garnished with hard Rocke so that for the space of 50. leagues they found no conuenient passage but at this place were a number of Indians attended their coÌ„ming to resist them But yet the Hargabusiers made the passage cleare forced the Indians to giue place in the meane while they made a bridge of timber and passed ouer all the army in safetie In this forme they iorneyed through a great wildernes of MouÌ„taine vntil they came to y e countrey called Guema which was somewhat plaine but replenished with many bogs brookes in which place they were driuen to great extremity of victuals and through want were forced to liue with siluester fruits vntil they came to another couÌ„trey where they found some succor of food the soyle indifferently inhabited these people were cloathed in garments made of cotten wool but in al the other couÌ„treyes which they had trauailed y e people weÌ„t naked which was either through y e great heat which they haue coÌ„tinually or els through pouerty as they haue not wherwith to buy apparrel they also vsed the forepart of their priuy members to be tied with a string of â—otten wool betwixt their legs made fast at their girdling the wemeÌ„ had certain rags to couer their secrets but no other kinde of clothing In this place Gonsalo Pisarro commaunded a certayne vessel called a Uergantine to be made for to carry their fardage other necessaries downe the riuer likewise their sicke men and also for his owne persoÌ„ because that in some places the countrey was so full of bogs that they could not iorney The buildinge of this Uergantine was very troublesome for they were forced to make a Forge for their Iron worke in the which they also profited with the horseshooes of the dead horses for want of other iron they made also coles to serue the turne In these workes Gonsalo Pisarro permitted none of his coÌ„pany to bee vnoccupied from the eldest to the yongest he himselfe y e first at al assaults aswel with the axe as with the hammer in stéed of pitch they vsed the gum which distilled fâ—om certaine trées in steed of Aucom they toke old Mantels of the Indians some of the Spanyards shirts which were rotteÌ„ through the great wet which they had passed so that euery one was contributar with such things as he might spare In this order the vessell was finished and launched into the riuer al their fardage laden they made also certain Canoas to go in coÌ„pany with the Uergantine How Francisco de Alerano fled with the Vergantine and into what misery they were driuen by want thereof Chap. 4. WHen Gonsalo Pisarro had finished the Uergantine he thought that all his trouble was at an end and with this new vessel to discouer all y e land whereupon he continued his iorney all the force of his armie trauayled by land through y e bogs keeping along the ryuer side in which way they passed through many deserts of mountaines and Cane fieldes making their way by force of hand with their swordes hatchets and axes and when they might not pas on the one side of the Riuer the Uergantine caryed them ouer to the other side so that alwayes at night the Landmen and watermen lodged together When Gonsalo Pisarro considered how they had trauailed aboue 200. leagues downe along the riuer found no prouision of victual but only siluester fruites some rootes he commaunded one of his Captaines called Fraâ—cisco de Orellana y t with 50. men he should goe before to discouer the Riuer and to séeke victuals with commission that if he should happen to finde any that then he should therewith loade the Uergantine leauinge the fardage which was aboorde at the méeting of two great Riuers of which he had vnderstandinge to bee of 80. leagues distant also that he should leaue two Canoas at certaine Riuers which crossed ouer to the intent that with them he might passe his men ouer When Orellana had taken his leaue he departed shortly after found the currant of such force that in short time hee came to the méetinge of the two great Riuers without finding any kinde of sustenance and also considering what way he had made in thrée daies he found that in a whole yere if was not possible to returne that way agayne by reason of the vehemency of the great currant wherupon he determined to procéed downe y e riuer euen whither fortune should lead him although he iudged it a thing more coÌ„uenient to abide there yet notwithstanding he procéeded on and toke likewise the Canoas w t him although some of his company required him to abide their generals order coÌ„ming especially Father Gaespar de Carauajall who was their preacher because he insisted more then the residue the captaine vsed him very vncurteously as wel in word as déede and with wil or nil he procéeded on his enterprise makinge some entries into y e land where he fought with such Indians as would haue resisted him many times they came to encounter with him in the Riuer with their Canoas with whom they coulde not fight at will because the Uergantine was so full of men that one disturbed another In a certaine countrey where he found place conuenient he abode and buylt another Uergantine For the Indians of this soile came and submitted theÌ„selues vnto him and also prouided him both of victuals and al other things necessary in another prouince forward he â—ought with y e Indians obtained victory against them of whoÌ„ he had intelligence that certaine iorneys from thence within y e mayne was a countrey in y â— which dwelt none but wemen who were valiant and defended themselues against their Comarcans With this aduertisement he procâ—eded on his way without finding
obtained of Peru wherupon they agréede to procéed on the discouery of the same and therupon laid all their goods into stocke of company The first and principallest of them was called Don Francisco Pisarro who was borne in a Cittie of Spayne called Trugillio The seconde was named Don Diego de Almagro natural of the Towne of Mallagon whose stocke or lynage could not vnto this day be perfecâ—ly knowen yet some doth holde opinion that hée was found at the Church doore in his swadling clothes after that hee was newly borne The thirde was a Préest called Fernando de Luque And where these thrée were the richest and principallest men in that Countrey they determined to encrease their ritches also to serue herein his Maiesty the Emperour Charles the fifth wherupon they concluded to take in hande to discouer by the South Sea the Easterly coast of the firme Lande towarde those places which afterward were named Peru So that after they had obtained licence of y e Gouernour who at that instant then gouerned for his Maiesty called Pedro Arias de Auila Don Francisco Pisarro arriued and rigged forth a Shippe wherin hee himself tooke shipping as Captaine General with 114. men in his company and so procéeded on the Uoyage and in short space hee discouered a smal and poore Prouince fiftie Leagues distant from the Cittie of Panama the which hee named Peru and afterward called the whole Countrey of the same name which was discouered for the space of 1200. Leagues And procéeding forward hee found another Land which the Spanyards named the burnt Towne where the Indians of that place held them cruell warre and slew many of his men so that he was forced to retire sore wouÌ„ded to the Countrey of Chinchama In this meane season Don Diego de Almagro who aboad at home had prepared another ship and therin tooke shipping with 70. Spanyardes and with them proceeded to seeke Don Francisco Pisarro sayling along the Coast til hée came to the Riuer which hee named the Riuer of S. Ihon which standeth 100. Leagues distant from Panama And findinge him not hee returned to the burnt Towne and there had vnderstanding of his beeing there where hee also came a score but the Indians encouraged with the victory and expulsion of Don Francisco did like wise valyantly resist his entry yea and also put him and his company to the woorse in so much that they entred a Forte where the Spanyards defended them selues through the ouersight of those which had the charge of that part of the Fortresse by meane wherof they put the Spanyardes to flight and also with a stripe put out one of the eyes of Don Diego by reason wherof they were forced to flee and to retire to the Sea side to take Shippinge agayne and from thence sayled along the Coast of firme Land vntill hee arriued at Chinchama where he found Don Francisco wiâ—h whom after long communicacion and refreshing of themselues they gathered togeather about 200. Spâ—nyardes aâ—d so proceeded againe vpon the discouery with two Shippes and 3. Canoas which were small Uessels built like vnto Troughes In which Nauigacion they passed many and great troubles by reason the Coaste is lowe and full of Marrish ground and replenished with great Lizarts which the Indians call Caymanes and are Beastes which breede in the mouthes of those Riuers which are so great that commonly they are of 20. yea 25 foote long Their property is aswel to refresh themselues on the Land as in the Water but if any of them can laye holde vpon Man or Beast in the Water their strength is such that they carry theÌ„ vnder water where as they deuoure and consume them But cheefely they smell a Dogge a farre off and they laye their Egges on the Land a great number togeather where they breede but among the Sandes they are slow of their creepinge after they haue hatched they leade their Younge to the Water in the which their natural properties they may bee compared to the Crocodilles of Nilo they also suffer much honger for their feedinge when they want meate is the fruite of a Trée called Maugle wherof are many in those Riuers which are of harde Timber highe and straight in groweth and grow in salte water which is not onely salte but also bitter But the opinion is that those Beastes vse to eate of that Fruite when other feeding fayleth they eate also Fish In all this Coast the Grayne called Maiz groweth not In this sorte they went rowinge with their Canoas against the currant of the Sea which alwayes runneth Northward and their way was Southward and in this Nauigacion all along the Coaste the Indians assaulted them accordinge to the custome of their Warres thundering out cryes and noyse callinge them banished men with haire on their faces yea such as were bred of y e scuÌ„ of the Sea without any other Origen or Linage because the Sea had brought them thither demaunding also why they wente like Uacabondes wandringe the World it should appeare saide they that you are ydle persons and haue not wherin to imploy your selues because you abide in no place to labour and till the ground And wheras many of their men and Captaines were slaine by thesâ— Indians aswel by hunger as other wise Don Diego determined to returne to Panama for mo men the which his determinacion he performed and had from thence 80 men so that with them and the residew that remained aliue they arriued at the Land called Carame which was without the dominion of the Mauglares and a Countrey aboundant of meate but meanely inhabited The Indians of y e Countrey which were men of War had their Chéekes full of holes wherin were placed Pearles of Golde and findinge this place so fruitfulâ— they abode there vntill Don Diego de Almagro returned agayne to Panama for more men But in this meane while Don Francisco Pisarro returned abiding the coÌ„ming of his companion in a litle Iland which stoode neare vnto the Mayne called Insula de Gallo wheras hée stood in néede of all thinges necessary How Don Francisco Pisarro abode in the Iland of Gorgona and how with the small company of men which hee had remayninge hee sayled till hee passed the Equinoctiall Chap. 2. WHen Don Diego de Almagro returned to Panama for succour he found that his Maiestie had prouided for gouernment of the same Cittie a Gentilman of Cordoua called Pedro de los Rios who staid his procéeding personally because those which remained in the Iland of Gallo had sente secretly to this new Gouernour to intreate that hée should not permit any moe men to dy in that daungerous Iorney without any profit wheras tosore others of their Nacion had ended their dayes and that it might please him to coÌ„maund them also to returne In consideracion wherof Pedro de los Rios sente his Deputie with especiall commaundement that all such as were willing might safely retuâ—ne to Panama without daunger and
the heade is shauen and the haire somewhat long on the sides They delight much to weare Iewels of Golde in their eares and Nostrilles and also Emralds which are onely found in those partes But those Indians would neuer discouer the Mynes or vaines of them although it is certainly beléeued that there is their Origen because they finde in their earthen Uessel many small stones sticking in the sides They vse about their legges and armes Braâ—lets of Bedestones of Golde Plate and Turkies and small Periwincles shelles both white and red and they permit not any kinde of brauery to their Women This Countrey is excéeding hot and apt to infirmitie chéefely a kinde of Poxe which are very venemous and bréed in the face and other places of the body rooted deepe which are in manner of worse quality then the French Poxe In this Prouince they haue their ydolatrous Temples with their doores to the East warde with Curtains of a clothe made of Cotten Wooll In euery Temple were two Images made of the bignesse and likenes of blacke Goates before the which they vsed alwayes to burne a kinde of wood of a maruailous swéet smell The Trees of this odiferous wood growe in thâ—t â—â—untrey by incision of the Barke they distill a maruailous swéete lycor wherwith if any annoynt a dead bodye the carkas corrupteth not There are also in the Temples Images of the figure of great Serpents which they adore worship besides these Idols euery of those people had a perticuler God according to his trade and office which they also worshipped The Fishermen had the â—ogge Fishe called Tiburon in great veneracion and the Raungers or Hunters had likewise their God accordinge to y e game which they most estéemed and in like manner euery sort of people accordingly But in some Temples in the Uillages called Pasao they vsed to haue hanging on the Pillers of the Temple the dead carkases of Men and Children sacrificed or els their skinnes tanned in such order that the euill smel or sauour was taken away Also their skulles were in suche manner placed but first with a certayn coction they were dressed y t they were shrunken to the smalenesse of a mans fist and than nayled on thâ— saide Pillers or Walles of the Temple This Countrey of his owne nature or property is dry although there it raineth daily there are few runninge Waters which are swéete so that their chéefe drinke is of Welles or of water preserued in Cesternes which they call Aqueyes Their Houses or buildings are of great Canes which there doth grow The Golde which there is found is base and of few Oarets there is also small quantity of fruit Their Nauigation is with Canoas made out of the bodyes of Trees as is afore declared and also vpon Raffes of Timber All the Sea coaste is full replenished with Fishe and greate aboundance of Whales In some Townes of this Prouince called Caraque they had vpon their Temple doores the Images or figures of men cloathed like the vestment of a Deacon Of the vaynes of Pitche which are at the Cape called Destahelena and of the Gyants which in time past inhabited there Chap. 5. NEare vnto this Prouince is a poynt or cape of Land which the Spanyardes named Destahelena which lieth into the Sea where are found certaine springes of Pitche or Tarre and it serueth for the same purpose for Ships Not far from the saâ—â— Cape the Indians of that countrey doth affirme that somtime dwelt certaine Gyantes who were of maruailous great stature in comparison to foure times the bignesse of a meane man of stature but they knew not from whence their Origen was yet their foode and maintenance was like vnto theirs but only Fish was their principall food because their cheefe delight was in fishinge and their Boates were raffes of Timber which each of them vsed seuerally of their owne proper because these raffes were made of such manner that they could not well carry moe then one of those Gyantes Their chéefe pleasure was when any had taken any greate Fish because thereby their store was the better for each of them would easely eate more then thirtie Indians they vsed no kinde of cloathing because of the dificultie to make their Garmentes These Gyants were exceedinge crewell for without any cause they slew many of the poore Indians by mean wherof they were much feared The Spanyards saw in the Porte called Puerto Viejo two Images of those Gyantes the one of a man and the other of a Woman There is a certaine kinde of Cronicle or remembrance among those Indians which was left vnto them by their fore Fathers of sundry particularities of those Gyantes especially of their consummation They also held opinion how a younge man came downe from Heauen shyning like the Sunne fought with those Giants throwing flames of fier at them with suche vehemency that the tokens and signes therof remained in the hard stone and as yet said they vntil this daye the same doth remaine at which time they wente retyringe to a Ualley where hee made a finall ende of them But notwithstandinge these Indians tale no perfect credit was giuen vnto the circumstance therof vntil the Captaine Ihon de Holmos was appointed Lieâ—tenant of the Gouernour in the Port called Puerto Viejo in Anno 1543. who beeinge informed of those antiquities â—â—mmaunded certaine of his men to digge in that Ualley where they found maruailous great Ribbes and other bones which if they â—ad not ioyned with the skuls it would haue béene thought vncredible they should haue beene mennes bones so that the matter béeing throughly examined the Indiâ—ns opinion concerning such Gyantes was trew and some of the Téethe found in those skulles were sent to diuerse places of Peru some of the sayde Teethe which were there found were of thrée fingers broad oâ—â—â—ure fingers longe which was reported by witnesse of sight who were men of credit of the Spanish Nacion By records also that sort of People were knowen to be offenders in the sin against Nature called Zodomy by reason wherof the Iustice deuine permitted them no longer to liue but rather the Almighty sente his Angell to consume them as in Zodom and other places Aswel in this point as all other antiquities which is knowen and found in Peru the only difficultie is to be presupposed which is in the verefying thereof becausâ— that the Naturals of that Countrey knew neither wryting nor reading nor yet certaine pictures which the Indians of new Spayne vsed in lue of bookes so that their recordes or registers did chiefly consist in memory from one to another But their accompts or recknings of time were made vpon a string or coard made of cottoÌ„ woolle which the Indians called Quippos on the which they kept their reconing by making of knots on those coardes with a difference ascending from one to ten so vpwards accordingly And alwaies the coard was of the coloure
of the thing which was ment to be signified so that in euerye Prouince were Offycers who had the charge to keepe the thinges in memorie with those coardes which were called Quippo Camayos so that many publique houses were found full of those coardes and the saide officers could by them easily declare any matter concerning their effecte although it had beene of many yeres paâ—t Of the people and things that are beyonde the Equinoctiall line towarde the Meridian along the sea Coast. Cap. 6. BEyonde the Equinoctiall line towarde the Meridian standeth an Iland 12. leagues distant from the towne of Boio neere adioyâ—ing to the firme land The which Ilande is called Puma and hath in it aboundance of sundrie sortes of beastes and store of deere and much fresh fish in swete waters In time past this Iland was replenished with people and maintained warres with all the townes about their frontiers but principallye they were enemies to the inhabitants of Tumbez which standeth 12. leagues distant from them They were lords of many Raffes for their nauigation these Raffes were made of long light poules bound one vpon another so that alwayes those which were placed vppermost were odde as ordinarily fiue seuen or nine and the middle powle was longer then the rest as a Ruther to guyde the Raffe and thereon sate the rower so that the raffe is made like an open hand euen as one finger is longer then another And on the toppe are plankes layde to kepe soldiers or passengers from wetting There are Raffes that 50. men and 3. horses may wel be carryed on them They vse for them as wel sayles as oares the Indians are very good Marryners for such kinde of vessels although it hath happened that when Spaniards haue sailed on those Raffes the Indians suttlely haue vndone the ropes wherewith the timber was bound together and so ech peece sodenly to separate froÌ„ other By meanes whereof many Christians haue peryshed and the Indians saued them selues vpon the powles withoâ—t any other thing to succour them by reason that they can swim exceeding well Their chiefe weapons for the warres were slinges clubbes and hatchets made of siluer and copper They had many speares or Iauelings with the sharpe poynts of them made of base golde Both the men and women vsed to were many iewels and ringes of golde Their ordinarie vessell was wrought and made of siluer and golde The Lorde of that Ilande was greatly feared among his people hee was also exceeding ielious of his wiues in so much that all those seruitours which attend vppon them had their noses cut of and likewise their genitall members In another litle Iland adioyning to the same they found a house and a gardeine plot or orchard within the same hauing litle trees and plantes therâ—in made of siluer and gold Ouer against this Iland in the firme land were certaine Townes the which by displeasure taken by the Lord of Peru he commaunded that aswell men as wemen should haue all their vpper teeth drawen out of which toothlesse people vntil this day are some liuing Proceeding forward beyond Tumbez toward the Meridian for the space of 500 leagues along the coast and ten leagues into the mayne there neuex rayneth thundreth or falleth any lightning or thunderbolt But passing the sayd ten leagues within the mayne land distant from the sea it both rayneth and thundreth haue both winter and summer in their due seasons in the same maner as is in Spaine But when it is winter in the mountaynes then is it summer on the sea coast and thâ— like contrariwise So that the leâ—gth of that coast which is already discouered of the land of Peru which taketh his beginning and is accompted from the citie of Pasto vnto the Prouince of Chili is one thousand eight hundred leagues as large as the leagues of Castillia and throughout the sayd Countrey lieth a long mountayne or ridge of hilles very troublesome to passe which in some places doth stand distant from the sea 15. yea and 20. leagues and in some places the branches of that mouÌ„taine approacheth nere the sea brim So that all which as yet is discouered of Peru is to be vnderstand by two names that is to say all the ground betweene the mountaines and the sea is called plaines and all the rest is called mountaines The plaines are drie and the most part sands for as before is declared there it neuer rayneth nor yet hath there bene founde any spring or fountaine sauing nere the sea side are 4. or 5. aqueys or cesterns the water wherof is saltish But the people doe prouide themselues of water of the Riuers which descend out of the mountaines The cause of those riuers is the thawing of the snow and rayne which commeth from the sayd hilles where very fewe naturall springes are found These riuers are distant one from another some 10. and some 15. and 20 leagues but the most ordinarie are of seuen and eight leagues so that commonly the trauelers doo appointe their iorneys accordingly to come vnto their fresh water Some of these riuers are a league broade and some lesse according to the disposition of the ground Along those Riuer sides are faire prospectes of trees and fruites ground conuenient for the Indians to sowe their â—orne called Maiz. After the Spaniards began to inhabite this contrey they sowed wheate all the saide plaine grounde they vsed to water with sâ—ewces conueyed out of the Ryuers in which arte they haue great experience and industry the beauty of those Riuers with Trees and fruites aforesaid grow along the said Riuers euen from the Seaâ— vnto the Mountaines those Riuers comming from the â—illes discendinge with such vehemency that the Spanyardes could not passe them on Horsebacke especially the Riuer called Sancta and many others so that those which iorney in those Playnes they keepe all along the Sea coaste but in the Winter season it is daungerous trauailinge that coaste by reason of the excéedinge great currantes of those Riuers that the waye is not vadeable on Horsebacke but only on Raffes or els with a bundell of Gourdes which they vse to binde before their breasts and vnder their armes and an Indian Pilot goeth before swimmyng to leade the way The grounde alonge these Riuers is excéeding fruitefull as wée haue declared where Wheat Maiz groweth in abouÌ„dance without respecting any time of sowing These Indians dwell not in houses but their abidyng is vnder Trées and shadowes made for the purpose Their women were garments made of Cotton woll like vnto gownes which come downe to their féete The men were shirtes downe to the knées and certein Mantels vpon the same although their attire is after one sorte they differ in the attire of their heads accordynge to the vse of euery countrey some vse their haire bounde vp with laces of woll some with one lace and other with many laces of sundry colours so there is
none but hath some deuice in his hed and in euery Prouince of a seuerall kinde All the Indians of the Playnes are deuided into three sortes the one are called Yngas another sorte are called Tallanes the thirde Mochicas in euery Prouince they differ in spéeche notwithstandinge the Noble men called Casâ—ikes besides their natural spéeche doo all generally vnderstande the language of the Cittie of Cusco because the Kinge of Peru called Guaynacaua Father of King Atabaliba thought it a base thinge y t his Subiectes especially noble men should talke with him by interpreters whervpon hee commaunded that all the Cascikes of his Countrey and dominions and their Brethren and kinsemen should sende their Children to serue and attende on the Kinge in his Court vnder the colour to learne the courtly spéeche but cheefely the Kinges intente was to assure his countrey with the principall men of his Kingdome in hauinge their children in pledge But bee it as it will by this meanes it came to passeâ— that all the Nobilitie of his Lande vnderstoode and could speake the language vsed in Court as in Flaunders the Gentilmen others speake the Frenche tongue so that in conclusion any Spanyarde that attained to the Cusco spéech mought wel passe throughout the dominions of Peru aswell in the Playnes as in the Mountaynes to vnderstand and to be vnderstood among the chéefest Of the ordinary Windes which blow in the Plaines and the cause of drynesse Chap. 7. WIth great reason those which reade this History may stande in doubt of the cause why it rayneth not in the Playnes of Peru as before is specified for by euident tokens should bee thought that those thinges could not bee true by reason of the growen Riuers which fal into the Sea and commonly engender moysture vapors comming out of the Mountaynes hauing their beginning of the continuall Snow which there abideth wherof relation is made before yea and the sayd Hilles neuer want clowdy weather intermixed with rayne The natural reasoÌ„ therof found out by such as diligently haue sought the secret therof which is that in all those Playnes and Sea coast all the whole yeare bloweth one only Winde which the Mariners call Siluestre which runneth alonge that coast with such force that the Cloudes and Uapors haue no rest in those playnes nor Sea coast to come vnto the region of the ayer and from the high Mountaines The cloudes and vapors do shew like another Heauenâ— so those which are beneathe in the Playnes and abouâ— them agayne it is as cleare as Christall and this onely winde also causeth the Seagate or Currant to runne alwaies Northward although some men are of another opinion which is that where the South sea commeth to fall into the mouth of the straight of Magalanus beeinge there so narrowe and excéedeth not the bredth of two Leagues so that the greate power of the water can not there haue yssue and also their encounteringe with the Northen Sea which likewise disturbeth his passage so that of force it maketh reflection and recoyle backeward and so forceth the Currant toward the North. And here riseth another inconuenience which is y t the NauigatioÌ„ from Panama to Peru is with such difficultie because the winde is alwayes contrary and also the most part of the yeare y e Currant likewise so that y e Saylers do sayle continually by the bowlinge against the fury of y e winde or else it were not possible to sayle that Coast. All along the coast of Peru are great number of fishe and many Zeale fishes From the Riuer of Tumbez forward are found none of those great Lizartes of which we haue spoken But some holde opinion the cause is that the countrey forward is more temperate and those beastes are louers of heate but the most certaine reason is because the Riuers thereabout are of a more swifter currant and suffereth them not to bréede for their ordinarie breeding is in the calme places of Riuers Now at this day in all the length of the playnes are Uillages and Townes of Christians and fiue Cities the first is called Puerto Viejo which staÌ„deth very nere vnto the Equinoctiall This Citie hath but fewe inhabitants because the countrey is poore and apt for diseases yet there are some mines of Emraldes as is before declared Fifteene leagues with in the mayne is another citie called saint Mighel which in the Indian spech they call Pura This is a pleasant soyle and fruitefull but no mines of golde nor plate This place is apte for sore eyes and few or none that passeth that way escapeth that disease Threescore leagues forward along the coast standeth another citie in a valley called Trugillio and is distant from the sea two leagues The porte or harbor belonging to this citie is perillous This citie is placed in a plaine plot nere vnto a Riuer side and is aboundantly prouided of wheate Maiz and cattell It is also exceeding wel built there are in this citie aboue thrée hundred housholds of Spaniards Foure score Leagues forward standeth another Cittie two Leagues distant from a Porte of the Sea which is an excellent good Roade for Shippes it is scituated in a Ualley called Lyma and named the Cittie of the Kings because the day of Epiphany it was begun to inhabite it is placed in a plaine ground neare vnto a mighty Riuer The Countrey there about is plentifull of Corne many sortes of fruites and cattell the building of this Cittie is such that all the streates doo méete in a faire large place from the which a man may see through euery streat into the Féeldes the dwelling is maruailous healthfull because it standeth in a temperate Climat and not vexed throughout the yeare with neither heate nor colde extreamely The hoatest season of the yeare is more temperate then in Spayne for in the time of their heate in Lyma which is in SoÌ„mer there falleth euery morninge a swéete Dew which is nothing hurtful to mans health but rather profitable for such as haue the head ache vse to wash their heads with the Dewe water and therwith finde great ease All Spanish fruit groweth and prospereth wel in this Soyle especially Orenges Sidrons Lemons Figges Powngarnardes and Uines wherof had béene there aboundance if the alteracions in the Land had not disturbed their plantinge for experience hath shewed that the very Kernell of the Grape hath perduced faire Uynes There groweth also greate store of Pot earbes such as ordinarily grow in Spayne euery house hath belonging vnto it a litle runninge water or Brooke brought in by conueyance of slewce which water is sufficient to driue a mill although along the Riuer side they haue their common milles where the Spaniards grinde their corne This citie is iudged the most pleasant dwelling in all the land because the porte and roade for shippes maketh the Citie to be of great contractation for MarchaÌ„ts So that the people of all Cities Townes and
contayne .15 and 16â— palmes or spannes from the point of whinge to whinge these Buytres féede vpon Zeales when they come on Lande to sléepe and refresh them selues than come the Buytres and season some on the feete and some on the tayle and lay such holde on him that hee cannot stirre whilest other plucke out his eyes and then they féede on the carkas there is another sort of foule called Alcatraces which are like vnto Hens although much excéeding in greatnes for his throat will holde three gallons of corne of those all along the coast of the South Sea are aboundance at the leaste for the space of two thousand leagues and more the chiâ—fe feeding of these foules are fâ—â—h They haue also another marueylous propertie which is They will smell the carkas of a dead man a farre of so that they wil enter thirty and forty leagues into the land to séeke the dead bodies The flesh of these foules are of a marueylous euil smell and â—ath happened that some for want of foode haue eaten of them whereof they haue dyed as of a rancke poyson Here before is declared how in these mountaines there rayneth hayleth and snoweth and in fine extreme in colde yet notwithstanding from those high hilles are valleyes descending so deepe that it may be thought incredible to some to speake thereof In which valâ—eys the heate also is marueylous and there groweth a certeine herbe called Coca which the Indians doe estéeme more then golde or siluer the leaues whereof are like vntâ— Zumake the vertue of this herbe knowen by experieÌ„ce is that any hauing of those leaues in his mouth hath neuer hunger nor thirst In some places of those mountaines are no trées at all so that wayfaring men which passe that way vse to make their fire of turâ—es which they finde excéeding good for that purpose There are also vaynes of earth of sundrie coloures and vaynes of golde and Plate wherof the Indians had vnderstandinge and coulde melte the same better and with lesse coste than the Christians they also vsed in the high hilles to make litle Fornaces with their mouthes toward the Meridian wheras the winde most ordinary doth blow and then they lay in the same Fornaces the mettal with Shéepes doung coales so that the winde doth kindle the fier and the mettal melteth and cindreth the Golde and Siluer and yet vnto this day is seene the great aboundance of Siluer which in this sort is molten in the Mynes of Potosi which coulde not otherwise bee wrought with Bellowes so y t the Indians are the chéefe melters with their small furnaces which they cal Guayras in their Language and is as much as to saye as winde because the winde doth kindle their Fornaces This countrey is so fruitful that it yéeldeth for one bushell of Wheate sowen 150. yea and sometime 200. and an hundred for one is ordenary although they haue no Ploughes to till the ground but vse to turne it vp with shouels and so the Indians vse to sow and likewise they make holes in the ground with a woodden Pin and put therin Wheat in such sorte as they vse to set Beanes in Spayne All kinde of Gardaine carbes prospereth excéedingly the Indians foode is chéefely boyled Maiz and toastedâ— in lue of bread and Deare â—lesh dried also drye fishe and sundry kindes of Rootes which they call Iuca and Aâ—is Amotes Papas and such like with many kinde of earbes They also vse a certaine kinde of Beueredge in stead of Wine which they make of Maiz the manner is they lay their Maiz in water in certaine earthen Uessels which they keepe vnder earth and there it voyleth and besides the whole Maiz they put therunto a certaine quantity of ground Maiz the which one Neighbour lendeth to another as wee vse to lende Leuen for Bread They hold opinion y t the standing water maketh better and more stronger beueredge than the running water This drinke is commonly called Chicha in the Ilande Language and in the Peru spéeche it is called Acisa of this drinke there is both white and red according to the colour of y e graine wherof it is made But it is of greater force then any Wine to ouercome the braine to make drunkardes but yet notwithstandinge if the Indians may haue Spanish Wine they would not care for their owne naturall drinke They vse also another sorte of drinke made of a small fruite which grow vpon certaine Trees called Molles this drinke is not so precious as the Chicha ¶ Of the Citties of Christians which are in the Mountaines of Peru. Chap. 9. IN the Mountaines of Peru are sundry places of habitacion of Christians which begin at the Cittie of Quito which standeth foure degrees beyond the Equinoctiall this Cittie in times past was a pleasante thinge and plentifull of corne and cattell and in the yeare of 1544. and 45. there was discouered ritch Mynes of Gold wherupoÌ„ the Cittie began to inlarge his bowndes with inhabitants and flourished vntill the fury of the cruell warres among the Spanyardes begon which was the cause that the most parte of all the Cittizens were slayne by the handes of Gonsalo Pisarro and his Captaines because they did both fauour serue the Uize-roy Blasco Nunez Vela all the time that he there aboade as hereafter perticularly shalbe declared From this Cittie is no poblation of Christians in the Mountaines vntill you come to the Prouince of the Bracamoros which was discouered by Captaine Ihon Porsell and Captaine Vergara who built there certaine Uillages to the intent that from thence they ment to discoâ—er forwardes But these Uillages came to ruine because Gonsalo Pisarro toke those Captaines and their men to ayde him in his Warres This Discouery was first taken in hande by the order and consent of the lycenciat Vaca de Castro who was gouernour of that Prouince aâ—d sent Captayne Porsell by the coast of Saint Mighell and farther vp into the Mayne hee sent Vergara by the Prouince of the Chachapoyas thinking that they should haue made their entries by seuerall places although it so happened that both the sayd Captaynes met in their iorney and fell to discorde about their Discouery concerning to which of them it should appertaine so that they were both sente for by the Gouernour Vaca de Castro to pacifie and take order in the causes of their contencion so that they were of the first Captaynes that were at the beginninge of the Warres in the Cittie of the Kinges in the seruice of the Uice-roy and after that the sayd Uice-roy was taken prisoner they abode with Gonsalo Pisarro and left of their procéeding in the Discouery This discoâ—ery reached 160. leagues from the Citie of Quito along the mountaines so that other 80. leagues forward standeth the Prouince called Chicapoyas wheâ—e is a Towne of Christians intituled Leuanto and is a fruitfull soyle for all kinde of victuall and hath also reasonable rich
which endured with fire and sword the space of 15. dayes in reuenge of the three Spaniards which the Indians had so trayterously sacrificed in recompence of the libertie which the Gouernour gaue them in the Iland of Puna The Cascike of Tumbez séeing the great hurt done vnto them yealded himselfe and in token of submission he presented to the Gouernour certaine gold siluer TheÌ„ he procéeded on his discouery with the most part of his company leauing the residue with his Maiesties Auditour Antonio Nauarro the Treasorer Alonzo Râ—quelme and iorneyed til he came to the riuer of Poechos which stoode 30. Leagues distant from Tumbez and obtayned peace with all the Cascikes and Townes which were on the borders of that Riuer He also discouered the port of Payta which was accounted the best harbor in al y e coast To this place came messengers to the gouernour from Cusco from the Prince Guascar geuing him to vnderstaÌ„d the rebellion of his brother Atabaliba who as yet was not appreheÌ„ded as before hath bene declared crauing at his hands succour and defence against his sayd brother With these ioyful newes the Gouernor sent his brother Hernando Pisarro back againe to Tumbez to bring away w t him all the remainder of his coÌ„pany which had abode behinde when he had so done he inhabited w t them in y e Citie of S. Mighel which sometime was a town of Indians called Tangarara scituated on y e Riuer side of Chira not far from the sea where was an excéeding good harbor for the shippes which came from Panama hauing here deuided their gold plate which was presented in this Coast vnto them The gouernour prouided forward leauinge certaine of his men for Citizens of y e new citty tooke his way towarde y e Prouince of Caxamalca because hée had intelligence how Atabaliba was there How the Gouernour came to Caxamalca and what there happened Chap. 4. IN this iorney to Caxamalca the Gouernor and his armie passed great extremitie of thirst in a desert without habitatioÌ„ of 20â— leagues loÌ„g where was neither trée bush nor water but only al sandy ground very hot At the end of 20. Leagues he came into the Prouince of Motupe where he found fresh pleasant Ualleys replenished w t many Uillages where hee well refreshed his army with y e great aboundance of victualâ— which he there found and as he went from thence asceÌ„ding into the mountaines he met w t a messenger which came from Atabaliba who brought vnto him for a preseÌ„t a paire of paynted Shooes and a payre of hand ruffes of golde beseeching him that when he shoulde come before his Prince Atabaliba to weare those Shooes on his féete and also to weare the ruffs accordingly to thentent that he might be knowen by those tokens The Gouernour receiued thankefully the present promised that he would fulfill his request and moreouer that he should certifie Atabaliba that his comming was not to offeÌ„d him if notorious wrong were not offered vnto him Because sayd he the Emperour king of Castile who sent me hither commaunded that I should not attempt to displease any without reason With this answere the messenger departed and the Gouernour likewise followed with great foresight that no enemy should disturbe his passage When he came to Caxamalca he met with another Messenger which came to aduertise him that he should not take vp his lodging without expresse coÌ„maundement from Atabaliba To this ambassage y e Gouernour made no answere but rather toke vp his lodging according as he thought good And than he sent captaine Soto with twentie horâ—men wel trimmed to Atabaliba his Campe which stoode one League distant from the Gouerâ—ours lodging to signifie vnto him the arryuall of his Generall When Captaine Soto came in sight of Atabaliba he set spurres to his horse as though he would haue run against an armed man which brauery did not a litle amase the poore Indians who with all hast fled out of his way But for their labour Atabaliba commaunded them to he slayne and would geue Soto no answere of his embassage vntill Fernando Pisarro came who the Gouernour sente after Soto with another company of horsemen but he tolde his minde to one of gis noble Cascikes and the Cascike declared his saying to the interpreter and the Interpreter to Soto But to Hernando Pisarro hee spake personally by the mouth of the only Interpreter Unto whom Pisarro sayd that his brother the Gouernour came from the Emperour his Maiestie and to know his royall will he only desired that it might please him to signifie whether hee might freely come vnto his presence to be accepted as his fréend Unto whom Atabaliba answered y t hee would freendly accept his offer so that hee would returne the golde and plate which since the entrance into his land he had taken from his Indian subiectes and also that forthwith he would depart his countrey and dominions and to take order with him in these causes he ment the next day to meete him at a certaine place called Tambo de Caxamalca When Hernando Pisarro had receaued this answere he beheld the great number of tents which were in the Campe of Atabaliba which seemed vnto him a great Citie and then tooke his leaue and returned with his answere to the Gouernour and when hee was come to his brother hauing declared what he had heard and seene it some what discouraged him hauing for euery Christian 200. Indians But notwithstanding he and all his company beeing hautâ—e minded and also of great stomacke The night followinge they comforted one another putting their only confidence in God so that than they occupied them selues in trimminge their Armor and other Furniture without takinge any rest of sleepe the whole night How the Battayle was giuen to Atabaliba and the taking of him Prisoner Chap. 5. THe next day following the Gouernor early in the morninge set his Armye in good order deuydinge 60. Horsemen into three partes and placed them in Ambush in seuerall places vnder the gouernment of Captaine Soto and Captaine Benalcasar for their Chiefetaines hee appointed his three Brethren Hernando Ihon and Gonsalo Pisarro and hee himselfe went with the infantry which is to be vnderstode al sortes of armed footemen prohibiting that none should stir without his watchword and the great ordinance shot of Atabaliba likewise set in good order his men of war appointing conuenient ground for his captaines to geue the onset He also commaunded that where he iudged the most danger of the christian force that one of his chiefe captaines called Ruminagui should attend that if nede required he might set on the Spanyards at their flight In this order Atabaliba set forward with great consideration and leasure that he was at the least 4. houres going one litle league Hee himselfe was caryed in his litter vpon noble mens shoulders There went before him 300. gentlemen attired in one sort of liuery making
of the Letter which he had receiued and was on his way toward Peru arriued at Puerto Viejo where in effecte Don Diego after his arriual vnderstood the good successe and proceedings of the Gouernour and how hee had in his power maruailous treasure of Golde and Plate wherof accordinge to the articles of agréement made betweene them at the first beginning of the Discouery the one halfe was and did appertaine vnto him Hée nowe knowinge that the Gouernour had aduise of his comminge and the same to be done by his owne Secretary hée forthwith coÌ„maunded his Secretary to be hanged and with all his power procéeded on his Iorney till hee came where the Gouernour was in Caxamalca where hee found a great part of the raunsome of Atabaliba gathered togeather which was a strange sight both to him his company for they thought that in the whole world was not so much Golde and Siluer And the same day that the Saymaisâ—er had made his ensay of the Gold and Plate which belonged to the company The Golde onely did amount to one Million and eyght hundred thousand Poyzes yet the ensay was made verye slight for the Golde was of greater value the want of strong water was the defect so that the ensay was made two or thrée Carets baser than the finenes wherby the valuacioÌ„ was found 300000 Poyzes to litle And concerning the Plate the quantity was great so that the Emperours fifte parte amounted in fine Siluer 600000 Poyzes and yet in the same plate was Gold of thrée foure Carettes wherof the Emperour his parte was 300000 Poyzes euery Horseman had for his share 12000 Poyzes in fine Golde besides his part in Siluer and euery Footeman haâ— a quarter part lesse then the Horsemen Yet notwithstandinge this great treasure the one fifte parte of Atabalibas raunsome was not deliuered and because that Don Diego brought with him a great company of men there was alleaged y t vnto them did not appertaine any portion of the raunsome of Atabaliba for why they were not at the takinge of him prisoner yet the Gouernour commaunded to giue vnto euery of them a thousand poyzes toward their cost And determined to send his brother Hernando Pisarro to certifie the Emperour of his proceedings and good successe and because the true account was not yet perfectly knowen he sent vnto his maiestie 100000. poyzes in gold 20000. markes of plate contayning sixe ducates to euery marke out of the whole stock Which present was wrought in sundry sort of vessell according to the Indian vse whereof some were great vessels for water or wine called Tinages chafingdishes drummes shéepe figures of men and wemen all wrought in the forsayd mettall With the said portion Hernando Pisarro tooke shipping with great griefe of his departing froÌ„ Atabaliba who loued him excéedingly and also discouered vnto him much of his secretes and sayde vnto him at his leaue takinge O good captaine goe you now away Truely your departure is gréeuous vnto me for when you are gone I shal be slaine by this one eyed man and this he spake by Don Diego de Almagro who had but one eye as before hath beene declared Likewise he liked not the iesture of Alonso Requelme who was Treasorer for his maiestie And truely poore Atabaliba iudged right for as soone as Hernando Pisarro was departed his death was conspired by meane of his Interpreter who was named Philip and was so called because he had beene in Spayne with the Gouernour who most falsely accused his Prince saying y t hee was minded to murther secretly the Spaniards and for that purpose he had appoynted in secrete places a great number of Indians and where the information was made by y e mouth of Philip who interpreted the witnes sayinges according to his owne pleasure But the cause of his wicked dealing was not certainly knowen but it was iudged to â—e one of two causes which were the one was thought that he was in loue w t one of Atabalibas wiues thinkinge by his death to enioy his desire without peril of which his pretence Atabaliba had vnderstanding and therof had made complaint to the gouernor saying y t that shameles ascent greued him more theÌ„ his imprisonment or yet any other mishap y t might come vnto him although it were preseÌ„t death to sée so base a man his subiect enterprise such villany knowing y e great punishmeÌ„t in his couÌ„trey prepared for such an offence which was to burne aliue any that should attempt such things The man being an offender was not alone thus punished but also the woman her father mother brethren and kindred yea euen the cattel of the aduouterer and the town where he or she were borne was destroyed made vnhabitable the ground sowed with salt the trées cut down and the houses beaten flat with the ground other gréeuous punishments were deuised in remembrance of the offence Others held opinion that the chiefe cause of Atabaliba his deathâ— was the excéeding couetuosnes of Don Diego de Almagro and also of his men because it was told theÌ„ that they had no right to haue any share of al y e raunsome of Atabaliba which they thought vnpossible to be perfourmed although all the gold in the world were gathered together Upon which occasions the soldyars of Don Diego desired the death of Atabaliba saying that as long as hee should liue the Gouernors men would say that al y e gold which should come to their hands was his raunsome and they should not be partakers thereof But be it as may be they condeÌ„ned him to death wher at the poore Prince was not a litle amazed saying that he neuer thought nor imagined the things which were layd to his charge and for the verifying of the matter that it might please him to lay more Irons on him with greater garde or to cary him aboord one of their shippes til the trueth were thorowly knowen Hee sayd moreouer to the Gouernour and the chiefest of hys companye I know not for what cause yee doo iudge mee for a man of so small iudgement or to thinke that I would goe about to work treason considering how I am your prisoner and bound in Iron chaines and also if any of my people should but shew them selues for any such purpose yee might then with the least suspition strike my head from my shoulders And if ye thinke that any of my subiectes shoulde come to rescue me against my wil ye are also deceaued and know not what obedience my people beareth vnto me for against my will the fowles of the ayre shall not flee nor the leaues of the trees stirre All these allegations preuayled not nor yet to geue great gages for the life of y e basest Spanyard that should pearish in the land But sith it was thought among the Spaniards that it was not a lawfull cause to condemne him to death vpon suspicion they charged him with the death of his brother Guascar
tooke the way to Quito by land in y t paralell of y e Equinoctiall along some part of the plaines among thickets called Arcabucos in which iorney they passed extreme necessity of victualles as wel of meate as drinke which would haue bene much greater if by good hap they had not met and fallen into a ground of great Canes whose propertie was that cutting any of them at the knot they found the hollow full of sweete water excéeding good holesome Those canes are ordenarily as big as the calfe of a mans leg so that betwéene two knots of ech cane was found a pottle of fresh water They hold opinion the particuler propertie of those canes is to gather water by atraction of y e dewes which dayly fall in the night season by meane whereof although the sayd plaines are drye without any kinde of Springs yet with this succour of water the campe of Don Pedro was wel comforted aswel men as horses yet notwithstanding their hunger was such that they were â—orced to eate many of their horses although eche horse was worth by iust valuation in that countrey 5000. castelins in gold And as they went on their iorney the most part of that low way there rayned hote ashes vpon theÌ„ which afterward was knowen to come out of a Volcan which is not far from Quito out of the which procéedeth such a marueylous fyer that lanched out ashes and imbers aboue 80. leagues compas and sometimes the noyce thundering that came from thence was heard a hundred leagues of In all the townes and villages which Don Pedro passed through vnder the Equinoctial Line he found great plentie of Emraldes and after he had passed so troublesome wayes whereof in many places hee and his men were forced to make way by force of hand he then came vnto a loine of hilles couered w t snow where it snowed continually with an exceeding colde through the which he was driuen to passe where with the extremitie of cold dyed aboue sixtie of his men although as many as were of his coÌ„pany put on their bodies all the apparrel which they had to passe that extremitie of colde yea they made such hast that none of them would tary one for another neither to comfort nor helpe them so that it hapned that a Spanyard who carried his wife two daughters with him and séeing them tired with wearines and that hee could neither succour nor yet carry theÌ„ away with him hée hauinge his harte kindled with paternall loue abode with them where as they al foure were frosen to death and although he mought wel haue escaped yet the loue of his wife and children was so great that he rather desired to die than to depart from them So that to conclude with this great daunger the Captaine with his Armie passed these snowy Mountaines holding them selues for most happy wheÌ„ they saw them selues on the other side and gaue God praise with excéedinge ioyful hartes and although the Prouince of Quito is inuironed with high Mountaines couered with Snow yet notwithstandinge in the middest are temperate valleyes both fresh pleasant where people inhabit and haue plenty of corne At that instant was so great a thaw of the snow of one of those mountaines that the water which proceeded out of that snow came downe with so great a furye that it drowned a towne called Contiega the force of this water was so maruailous that it draue stones bigger than any Milstone downe with the streame with such facilitie as if it had béene of Corke How Don Diego de Almagro met with Don Pedro de Aluarado and what passed betweene them Chap. 11. BEfore hath been declared how Don Diego de Almagro hauing left for Gouernor in Quito Captaine Benalcasar and not hauing perfect newes of the comming of Don Pedro de Aluarado into Peru hee returned vnto Cusco in which iorney he wan certain Fortes fortresses where the Indians had lodged them selues for their safetie in which affaires he was so long time occupied y t Don Pedro had time to aland his men and came into the Prouince of Quito before Don Diego had therof intelligeÌ„ce by mean of the great distance of way which is betweue these places and also where no towne of contractation is neither of christians nor yet of IndiaÌ„s As he went on a day conquering the prouince of Liribamba he passed ouer a mightie riuer with great peril for y â— Indians had brokeÌ„ down the bridges so that he was forced to wade ouer in the shalowest place that he could finde and when he was comen ouer he found ready to receiue him a great nuÌ„ber of Indians men of war against whom the victory hâ—e had obtayned with great difficultie for their wemen did great hurt wâ— slings yet not withstanding the Indians had the ouerthrow their Cascike was taken prisoner who certified Don Diego that DoÌ„ Pedro de Aluarado was 15. leagues from thence besieging a fort wherin was an IndiaÌ„ captaine called Sopasopagui WheÌ„ Don Diego had vnderstanding of these newes forthwith he sent seuen horsemeÌ„ to discry his camp but their fortune was to be taken prisoners by Don Pedro his men notwithstanding hee released them againe came with al his power and pitched his campe within fiue leagues of the Real of Don Diego with determinate intent to breake with him to take froÌ„ him both his men and countrey When Don Diego saw the great aduantage that his enemie had he determined to returne to Cusco with only 25. horsemeÌ„ and to leaue the residue with captaine Benalcasar for to defend y e countrey At this instant the Indian Interpreter called Philip of whom mention hath béene made who was the only cause of Atabalibas death fearing punishmeÌ„t for the same he fled from his master and went vnto Don Pedro he also caryed with him one principal Cascike and priuely conserted with Don Diegos army that when hee sent for them they should pas vnto Don Pedro his side WheÌ„ Philip was come to Don Pedro his presence he offered to put into hys hands al that countrey in quyet possession He aduertised him also that Don Diego was retired vnto Cusco moreouer he said that if it would please him to appreheÌ„d him he might now doe it with great facilitie for quoth he he hath but 250. men of the which are 80. horsemen Don Pedro geuing credit to the false Interpreter furthwith began to direct his way toward Don Diego whoÌ„ he found in Liribamba with determination to die in the defence of the countrey Don Pedro in like maner set his company in good order with spred ensigne was in readines to geue y t onset But Don Diego hauing but few horsemen meant to resist his encounter on foote wereupon he deuided his men into two quadernes w t the one was captaine Benalcasar and he himselfe had the other And in this order being in sight one of the other there
had no vnderstanding But when Villaoma could not bring his purpose to effect at Charcas he came flying to Cusco And when Don Diego was entred into the Countrey of Chili Philip the Interpreter who was priuie to all the conspiracie fled likewise howbeit hee was taken by certaine Spanyardes that followed him and aswel for this treason as the other that he committed in Quito the Gouernour commaunded his body to be cut in quarters who at the time of his death confessed that hee was the only cause of the vniust death of Atabaliba only to haue his wife at his commaundement as before hath béene rehearsed And as Don Diego was occupied in the conquest of Chili a seruant of his named Iuan de Herrada ouertooke him he it was that his said master had left in the citie of the kings to gather more soldyars for his seruice in the discouery who brought vnto him a prouision which Hernando Pisarro had brought out of Spayne for him by vertue of the which the Emperour had made him Gouernour of one hundred Leagues of ground beyonde the borders and limits of the iurisdiction and gouernment of Don Francisco Pisarro the which office and gouernmente was called in the letters patentes new Toledo for the Precincte of Don Francisco his Iurisdiction was named new Castile But now Don Diego iudging that the cittie of Cusco did fall within the compasse of his Regiment without any respect of his former othe which hee so solemnly had made hee determined to cease and leaue of the discouery which hee had in hand and to returne to take into his possession the Citie of Cusco Of the troubles which Don Diego de Almagro passed in his iorney toward Chili and of some other particularities of that countrey Chap. 2. GReate were the troubles which Don Diego and his company passed in the iorney toward Chili aswel with hunger and thirst as also with encounter of Indians which were mightie great men of groweth Also there were in some places excéeding good archers who were clothed in Zeale skinnes But the extreeme colde did much annoy them aswell the bitter sharpe aire as the frost and snow also the passage ouer the mountaines which were couered with snow where it hapned that a captaine called Ruydias who followed Don Diego de Almagro had many of his men and horses frozen to death for neither their apparrel nor armour could resist the excéeding sharpnes of the aire which did so vehemently penetrate and fréese them The extremitie of this cold was such that at the end of fiue moneths when Don Diego returned toward cusco he found some of his coÌ„pany which had followed outward frozen to death standing on their feete leaning vpon the Rockes and holding their horse bridels in their hands and their horses likewise frozen to death as fresh without corruption as though at that instant they had dyed The carcases of which horses was a great reliefe for his men at his said returne for want of other victualles and after they were past the extremitie of cold theÌ„ came they into such a wildernes without any kinde of habitation where they stoode in as great a néede of water to drinke so that their chiefe remedy was to carrye with them from the snowy hilles shéepes skinnes full of water in such sort that euery liue sheepe carryed on his backe the Skinne of an other dead Sheepe full of water Among diuerse properties which the Shéepe of Peru haue one is the strength of their ordinarye burden is halfe a hundred waight and many times thrée quarters of a hundred being laden vpon them as Cammels vse to carry their ladinge and are in makinge much like vnto Cammels sauing that they want the knop on the backe The Spanyardes hath now brought them â—o such purpose that they will carrye a man also in a rode Saddell foure or fiue leagues a day and when they feele theÌ„ selues weary they vse to lye downe and will not rise againe although they should bee beaten neuer so much or lifted vp with strength vpon their feete yet they will not goe one â—oote further except they bee vnladen And it happeneth often times that whan any rideth vpon them and they feelinge them selues weary they then lifte vp their heades and looketh vpon him that spurreth them and casteth out of their mouthes a thing of an exceeding euill sauor which is though to be of the foode which lieth in their stomackes They are beastes of great commoditie and their wooll is in euery respect as fine as silke especially one sorte or kinde of them called Palos their â—éedinge is very small chéefely such as labor whose ordinary meate is Maiz also they drinke very seldome that is to say once in foure or fiue daies the flesh of them is passing good and in euery respecte as good or rather better then the Sheepe in Castile of this kinde of flesh all the countrey is aboundantly prouided and in euery Citie and towne it is the principallest flesh in the Shambles although at the first comming thither of the Spanyardes they vsed no shambles for why euery one had cattayle of his owne and whan one Neighbour killed any sort of Beast his other neighbors might haue therof what they would require In certaine places of Chili were many Abstruses in the Plaines so that when they were disposed to hunte them the Spanyards would ride pâ—st after them very seldome could ouertake any although their flight was on their féete runninge and hoppinge and although their bodies were hugie and waighty yet with their leapes a good horse runninge neuer so swifte could very seldome out runne them There are also many running Riuers which runneth in the day season at night not a whit which is a thinge to be noted and especially among them that vnderstand not the reason therof which is that in the day time the sun melteth the snow and Ise of the mountaines so that the water that commeth from those high hilles in the day maketh great Riuers and at night all remaineth frozen againe But after we passe 500. leagues alâ—ng the coast come into 30. degrées on y e other side of the Equinoctial toward the Southward there is plenty of rayne and also al windes as ordinarily do blow as it doth in Spaine and other places Eastward All the countrey of Chili is inhabited and hath aswel plaine ground as mountaines and by reason of many crekes and bayes which are in the sea coast of this lande so that sayliâ—ge North and South requireth sundry windes Chili standeth in 40. degrees as is saide North and South from the Cittie of the Kinges till you passe to the saide 40. degrees in altitude the countrey is very temperate and hath Winter and Sommer in due season accordinge to the qualitie of Castile and their North Starre is in comparison like vnto ours sauinge alwayes hee is accompanied with a litle white clowde this starre according to Astronomers opinion is