The royal commentaries of Peru, in two parts the first part, treating of the original of their Incas or kings, of their idolatry, of their laws and government both in peace and war, of the reigns and conquests of the Incas, with many other particulars relating to their empire and policies before such time as the Spaniards invaded their countries : the second part, describing the manner by which that new world was conquered by the Spaniards : also the civil wars between the Piçarrists and the Almagrians, occasioned by quarrels arising about the division of that land, of the rise and fall of rebels, and other particulars contained in that history : illustrated with sculptures / written originally in Spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega ; and rendered into English by Sir Paul Rycaut, Kt.

CHAP. XL.

Who those Captains were that were employed on the New Conquests; the Arrival of Hernando Piçarro in Spain, and his long Imprisonment there.

SO soon as Hernando Piçarro had taken Almagro Prisoner, he immediately employed many of his Captains in new Conquests; both that thereby he might free him∣self from their importunities, who were in expectation of great and mighty rewards for their services, and might also secure his own Person from suspicion and jealou∣sies, which his Enemies were contriving and plotting against him. Pedro de Val∣divia was sent Commander in Chief, with a considerable Force to the Conquest of Chili, which was begun, but left imperfect by Almagro; the success of which, with his prosperous and unhappy fortune, we have formerly declared in the Life of Inca Yupanqui the tenth King of Peru. Francisco de Villagra (with whom I was acquainted) went in company with him, as did also Alonso de Montroy. Captain Francisco de Olmos, with whom went Garçilasso de la Vega, was sent to the Bay of St. Matthew: Of whose Conquest and Successes Gomara speaks in the 143d Chap∣ter, as follows:

Gomez de Alvarado was employed in the Conquest of the Province of Guanu∣cu: Francisco de Chaves was sent to suppress the Conchucos, who much infelted the Inhabitants about Trugillo, and in their Army carried an Idol, to which they sacrificed the spoils of their Enemies, and the bloud of Christians. Pera de Vergara marched against the Bracamoros, which is a Countrey, that to the North∣ward joins to the Countrey of Quitu; Perez de Vergara went to the Chachapoyas, and Alonso de Mercadillo to Mullubamba; but Pedro de Candia went to the High∣lands of Collao; into which, by reason of the difficulty and badness of the Coun∣trey, he could make no great progress; and besides, his people fell into a Mu∣tiny, who were for the most part friends of Almagro, as was also Mesa Captain of the Artillery to Piçarro: For which reason Fernando went to them; and ha∣ving accused Mesa of Mutiny, and with Scandalous Words against the Piçarros, and with a Plot to have set Almagro at liberty, in case he had been carried to the Marquis at los Reyes; all which having been proved against him, he put him to Death. The three hundred Men which belonged to Pedro de Candia he gave to Perançures, and sent him forward to the Conquest of that Countrey. In this manner all the Spaniards were employed, and in a very short time enlarged their Conquest, at least three hundred Leagues in length from East to West, though with the death and loss of Multitudes of people. Fernando and Gonçalo Piçarro subdued the Collao, which is a Countrey wherein Gold so much abounds, that they Wainscoat the in-sides of their Chapels, and Chambers with Plates of Gold; and therein is a sort of Sheep, which have some resemblance of a Ca∣mel, and something of a Deer.

Thus far Gomara, who farther on in the same Chapter adds:

Fernando Piçarro, saith he, returned to Cozco, where he met with Francisco Pi∣çarro, whom he had not seen since the Imprisonment of Almagro. After they had entertained discourse for several Days, concerning the matters lately past, and what was farther to be done in order to the Government: It was determi∣ned that Fernando should go into Spain to render a true information unto the Em∣perour of all matters which had passed, and to carry with him the Fifths of all which belonged to his Majesty, with an account of the Revenue, as it was late∣ly augmented. Many of his friends who knew the true state of matters, and how ill the Death of Almagro would be resented by the Emperour, dissuaded

Fernando from this intention, especially since Diego de Alvarado was then residing at the Court, and ready to accuse him, saying, That this matter would be bet∣ter negotiated at a distance, than upon the place: Howsoever, Fernando would not hearken thereunto, being of a contrary opinion, that he had greatly deser∣ved of the Emperour for his many Services, and for having by way of Justice cleared the Countrey of those turbulent Spirits, who were Disturbers of the Peace. At his departure, he advised his Brother Francisco not to repose confi∣dence in any of the Almagrians, especially those who were gone into Chili, whom he had found to be constant and affectionate to the Memory of Almagro: And he farther counselled him not to permit them to Cabal, for by experience he had found, that five onely of them being together, were plotting in what man∣ner to kill him. At length being departed, he came to Spain, and appeared at the Court with a great Equipage and Riches; but it was not long before they carried him from Valladolid, to the Prison of Medina de Campo, from whence, as yet, he is not freed.

And herewith Gomara ends that Chapter.

For the better understanding of which, we are to know, That though Gonçalo de Mesa had served Hernando Piçarro in Quality of Captain of the Artillery, yet he, with many others, was much discontented, because he looked upon himself as ill rewarded for his former Services; and that when he expected to have been sent Commander in Chief, he was then employed Under-Captain to Pedro de Candia: Wherefore finding himself in this manner slighted without any place of Honour, or Advantage, he began to speak ill of Hernando Piçarro, and to threaten, that he would set Almagro at liberty whensoever they brought him forth to carry him to los Reyes: All which he declared openly, and without any consideration of the dan∣ger he incurred of his life, he assembled his friends, and formed a party for Al∣magro, in which he found many that were ready to comply. So soon as Hernando Piçarro was informed hereof, he immediately, with all diligence, went to the Col∣lao, but Mesa was not then Quartered there, being newly returned with Pedro de Candia from the Frontiers, and was then at Mussus, which lyes Eastward from Collao, a Countrey very Mountainous, and full of deep Rivers, as we have descri∣bed at large in the Life of the King Inca Yupanqui: The Spaniards, by reason of these impediments, not having been able to make their Conquests, were returned from Collao when Hernando met them, and put Gonzalo de Mesa to Death; and ca∣shiering Pedro de Candia from his Command, he bestowed it on a certain Gentle∣man called Peranzures de Campo Redondo; who afterwards made an entrance into that Countrey, and did more than any that went before him; howsoever, the ways and passages were so difficult, that all his labours and endeavours proved vain and fruitless. Pedro de Candia esteeming himself affronted, and agrieved hereby, being troubled to be deprived of his Command, concealed the anger hereof in his breast, untill such time as an opportunity presented, that he might declare for the Almagrians; the success whereof was fatal to him, as we shall see hereafter. For Pedro de Candia could not so well dissemble his resentments, but that they were visible to Hernando, and appeared in his countenance; for though the Tongue be silent, yet the Face commonly discovers the grief, or the delight of the Heart: the like dissatisfaction was also apparent in the behaviour of many others. Wherefore considering that his endeavours to lessen the numbers of his Enemies, served to multiply them, he was as it were forced to put Almagro to death, which he accordingly executed after his return to Cozco from Collao; supposing, that when the cause and object of all these Mutinies and Disturbances was removed, all things would return to the usual and setled condition of peace and quietness; but it happened out quite contrary: For by the dolefull Tragedy of the Death of Al∣magro, Hernando Piçarro rendred himself so odious, that his condition was much more secure, by putting himself into the hands of the Justice of Spain, where Die∣go de Alvarado was ready to accuse him, than if he had remained in Peru, where the opposite Faction of Almagro watched onely an opportunity to destroy him. Hernando Piçarro was a discreet Person, and against the opinion and persuasion of all his friends, judged it the least evil to make a Voyage into Spain; where he imagined, that the great Services he had performed in the Conquest of that Em∣pire, and the insuperable Labours he had overcome in the Siege vvould justifie his Cause before his Majesty, and the Riches vvhich he imported vvith him, for the King's and his ovvn account vvould make his Access easie to the Royal Presence,

and obtain more mercy for him, than he could expect from his Enemies in Peru, who onely attended an opportunity to kill him. Hernando having on these Con∣siderations left the Indies, and escaped out of the hands of his Enemies; that ha∣tred which was prepared for him, was converted against his Brother the Marquis, and proceeded so far, as in the end to effect his ruine; the which will appear in what is to follow.

Hernando Piçarro being arrived in Spain, Diego de Alvarado brought a severe In∣dictment against him, desiring that the Cause might be tried either by the Civil Law, or by a Court-Marshal, as his Majesty should direct; or otherwise he chal∣lenged him to a single Combat, offering to prove by force of Arms, that he had violated both his Word and Faith, and that he himself was guilty of those crimes which he had objected against Almagro: Moreover, he laid many other things to his charge, which for brevity sake we shall pass by. Upon these Accusations Her∣nando was committed to the Prison of Medina del Campo; during which time, and whilst Alvarado was prosecuting his Suit, he complained, that many rich Presents both of Gold, and Silver, and pretious Stones, were given with intention to cor∣rupt the minds of certain persons; the which being proved, was occasion of trou∣ble to some great and considerable Men. But this being a nice point, we have onely touched upon it; and the rather, because in the heat of this prosecution Al∣varado died, not without suspicion of poison, by reason (as Gomara saith) that his Death was sudden and unexpected: Howsoever, before that time, he had so well grounded his process, and proceeded so far, that he had obtained several Verdicts against his Adversary. Howsoever, at length, time, which accomplishes every thing, moderated the severities of his Imprisonment, from whence he procured his discharge in the year 1562, after twenty three years that he had remained in custody, which he sustained with great equality of mind; of which he gave most certain proofs in all the particulars of his adverse fortune, which 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 Con∣quest 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.