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. XVI.

John de Piedrahita alarms the Camp of the Marshal. Ro∣drigo de Pineda comes over to the King's Party; and per∣suades them to give the Enemy Battel. The debates there∣upon. The Marshal resolves to engage.

SO soon as it was night John de Piedrahita with a party of thirty six Musquetiers divided into three Companies alarm'd the Marshal's Camp in three several quarters; which was not much regarded by them, and onely a few shot returned to shew that they were not asleep: so soon as the day began to break Piedrahita retired without effecting any thing, onely he thereby gave occasion to Rodrigo de Pineda, a Citizen of Cozco and Captain of Horse, upon pretence and colour of gi∣ving assistence to Piedrahita, to make his escape to the Marshal; of which Palen∣tino gives this account:

So soon, says he, as Rodrigo de Pineda was come to the Marshal, he assured him, that many, if not the greatest part of Hernandez his Souldiers would have made their escape had it not been for the strict watch which is always kept, and that in the night when he came over, he found the River shallow and easie to be forded: upon this advice, the Marshal presently called a Council of all the Captains and men of Interest and Estates then abiding in the Camp, and, having repeated to them all that Pineda had acquainted him with, he told them plainly, that he was resolved to fight the enemy, delivering his reasons for the same: but still many of the Council opposed this opinion, persisting, that it was not safe to make an at∣tempt on a Fortification with so much disadvantage: when the Marshal saw that he was opposed by so many principal persons, he desired Pineda to repeat himself before them all what he had before declared, and what was his opinion concerning the state of Hernandez his Camp, and how and in what manner he believed they would act. Then Pineda told them, that the Forces which Hernandez had, might amount unto three hundred and eighty men, of which two hundred and twenty were Musquetiers, but all ill provided, and most of them inclined to desert him, and revolt to the Marshal; and that he might have about a thousand Horses and Beasts of Burthen. And as to what he believed of the state of Hernandez, he was of opinion, that they would march away that night if not prevented, being af∣frighted, and forced thereunto for want of provisions: That in case they did march away, the pursuit after them, through craggy and mountainous Countries, would be very difficult and ruinous to the Army, as well as destructive to the Kingdom: and that the passage over the River was easie, and the way open to make an assault. Hereupon the Marshal declared positively his resolution that day to engage the enemy; and that he would not suffer them to escape out of his hands as they had formerly done from the Justices; and prevent them from do∣ing any farther mischief than what they had already committed; and that to fol∣low and pursue after them could not be done without hardship, damage and suf∣fering of the whole Army: but some made answer and replied hereunto, that whilst Hernandez remained in that fast ground, it were more secure to let him escape from thence that to attempt him in that Fortification; for that it was pro∣bable, that having abandoned that place, his Forces would disband of themselves, without hazarding the life of one Souldier: but the Marshal was not satisfied with this answer, and said, that it was not correspondent to his duty, nor sutable to the honour of so many brave Cavaliers and good Souldiers as were there pre∣sent, to suffer those Rebels to range and wander up and down robbing and spoiling the Countrey without controll, and therefore he declared himself resolved in de∣spight of all opposition to give the enemy Battel. Herewith many of the princi∣pal Captains who were present at this Consultation in the Marshal's Tent, went out from thence much displeased and dissatisfied: and particularly Gomez de Alva∣rado said, Come, since we must die, let us go, for I am sure it will be my fortune to be killed. Thus far are the words of Palentino.

When the Council was risen, several of the Inhabitants of Cozco and of the Charcas, being men of Estates, to the number of about thirty, returned again to the Marshal, amongst which were Lorenço de Aldana, John de Saavedra, Diego Mal∣donado, Gomez Alvarado, Pero Hernandez Paniagua, Polo the Lawyer, John Ortis de Carate, Alonso de Loaysa, John de Salas the Agitant, Martin de Meneses, Garcia de Melo, John de Berrio, Anton Ruyz de Guevara, Gonçalo de Soto, Diego de Truxillo all of them Adventurers in the conquest of Peru; who taking the Marshal aside, did earnestly entreat him to retract his determination concerning the Battel; that he would consider of the situation of the place wherein the enemy was posted, which was very strong; and that his own was equal to it, and as advantageously seated as theirs: that he should observe and remember what Rodrigo de Pineda assured him of the scarcity and want of all Provisions in the Camp of Hernandez, by reason of which they would be forced to quit their quarters there in the space of three days; that he should expect untill the end of that time and see the issue, after which he might consider farther, and take such measures as should then seem most advanta∣geous and convenient: and in the mean time the enemy remained there before them, and could not take a flight through the air, but on the land onely; on which they might be intercepted and obstructed in their passage by orders and instructi∣ons sent to the Indians, whenas on the contrary, it could not but prove destruc∣tive to attack the Enemy in so difficult a station; it was well known that the event of War hath been always doubtfull; and that to play such a desperate game was to deliver up their Souldiers to slaughter, and to stand still untill they were all killed by the shot of the Enemy; That he should consider the state of his own Forces, which were in a much more happy condition than the Enemy; for they neither wanted Provisions, nor the attendance of Indians, nor other necessaries to conserve them in the Camp. That the onely game they had now to play was to stand still, and that then a Victory would follow of course, without loss or ha∣zard of his men; and that it was not good to adventure, without some cogent rea∣sons, the loss of what they had already gained. The Marshal, not reflecting, or calling to mind, that on the same River a Battel of the nature of this was lost (as before related) answered with some choler, that he had well considered all these particulars; but that it corresponded not with his duty, nor was it reaso∣nable or sutable to their reputation, to suffer such a company of pitifull Rebels to march away with such boldness and insolence, and every night to alarm him in his Camp; which not being able to support any longer, he was resolved to fight them that very day, not doubting but that before Sun-setting, he should kill and cut in pieces three hundred of their men: wherefore he conjured them to talk no more of declining the Battel, but that every one should repair to his charge and command, and acquit himself of his duty, upon penalty of being proceeded against as Traitours and disobedient to the command of their General.

There was now no farther place for Answers and Replies, the Die was cast and the resolution fixed, which caused many of the principal men to depart with a heavy heart, and to discourse amongst themselves, that the Marshal was prodigal of the lives of his Souldiers; for if he looked upon them as his Friends, his Kin∣dred, or Sons, he would not expose them in that manner to be destroyed and slaughtered by the Enemy. But what could be said more, it was their misfortune and unhappiness to be subjected to the command of a passionate and an inflexible General, who would not be persuaded to accept of a Victory which was offered to him, but rather yield it to his Enemy at the expence of their lives and fortunes: this and much more was expressed, lamenting their condition, and presaging as it were that ruine which ensued within the space of six hours afterwards. Thus in despair, the Captains, and most considerate of the Souldiers, prepared them∣selves: though there were some, who taking their measures from the numbers, and looking upon themselves as twelve hundred to four hundred or three hundred and fifty, were so certain of success as if the Enemy had been already in their hands: but these did not consider the difficulties of the way; or that they had a deep and rapid River to pass, nor the turnings and windings, and narrow pas∣sages before they could come at the Enemy, whereby their Horse would become useless; and that nothing but their Fire-arms could serve, of which the Rebels were well provided, and their Souldiers such excellent Marks men that they could kill a small Bird with a single Bullet; amongst which there were some of mongrel race, between Spaniards and Indians, and particularly one called Granado of the

Countrey of Mexico (who had taught the rest) that could shoot either upon Rests, or at Arms length, as they pleased. Moreover, it was certainly believed, that Hernandez compounded his Powder with a certain sort of Poison: for the Chirurgeons reported, that the wounds made by the Rebels Gun-shot, though never so slight, were incurable, and which was contrary to the nature of such wounds, which are always more easily cured than those which are made by Lance, or Sword, or Halbert, or such like Weapons: but notwithstanding all these difficul∣ties engage they must, which cost many a man his life, to the defeat and ruine of the whole Army.