The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

BooK IV. Royal Commentaries. ring to the very rigour of the lerter without more rernoríe or cornpaffion, rhan if they had defuoyed a fwarmof Wafps, or drowned a liuer of Whelps · for the Inw defigning rheir Laws for the Rules of Humane life, would never fuffer rhem to be frnfuated or eluded by che boldnefs of any rhar arrempred to break rhern. CH A P. IV. That there were many other Houfes of thefe SeleEi Virgins. The feverity of the Law hefore-memioned, is proved by Example. A LL rhat ·we have faid before had relation to che Houfe of chofe Virgimi at Couo, who were dedicated to the Sun : But beíides this, rhere were fe- veral other Houfes for Wornen of the fame profeffion in divers of che principal Provinces, which the Inca out of his bounty and favour commanded to be builc and endowed ; but into thefe, Ma~ds of all conditions and qualities had admillion, as well chofe whof~ bloud was tainted with common mixture, as thofe who were of the pure and limpid ftreams of Royal Bloud. The Daughters alfo of Curac1u; as a mark of favour, were fornerimes admitted here ; fome Maids alfo of exaél: beauty, and rare features, though of the common race, .were fomerimes alfo re- ceived in, rhe which borh rheir Farhers and themfelves eíl:eemed for an exrraordi· nary favoar ; but rhen they were not admirred under the notion of Wives, or Concubines, to che Sun, but of the Inca onely. Howfoever, they reíerved them- felves with the fa me retirement and care as thoíe of the Sun ; :md were attended wirh young Maidens for their Servanrs, and rnaintained at the charge of the Inca : Their employment alfo was the fame with chofe ar Couo, being ro Spin and Weave, and make Garmenrs for the Inca, which they performed in grear abun· dance, and in rhe fame manner as we have relared of che orhers : But howfoe- ver, chofe Veíl:ments were not eíl:eemed fo facred, as to be onely appropriared ro rhe Perfon of the Inca, bue were fuch as the Inca beíl:owed on his great Lords and Captains, and other Subje&, whenfoever he was pleafed to honour them wirh fome fignal note, or mark of his favour. Theíe alfo had cheir Mamacuna1, or Marrons to overíee them, as rhofe had which lived ar Couo, and were governed by the fame rules; excepting that thofe who lived at Co:uo were ali of the true Royal Bloud, and obliged to a perpetua! Cloi/ler and Virginicy ; bue rheíe were Maids of all forrs and conditions, pro· vided chat rhey were beautifull, being not defigned for Wives ~ che Sun, bue Concubines to the Inca. The fame rigour of Law was praétifed againíl: thofe who debauched and de- filed che Women of the Inca, as againíl: thofe who became Adulterers wich che Virgins efpoufed to che Sun; for die crime being the fame, required che fame pu- niílunent ; bue as time was never any fuch .offence commirred, fo rhere vv.as ne- ver any fuch feverity execured; but to cenfirm chat there was fucha Law, we have che aurhoriry of .A,11g11.ftin de Carate, who in the fevench Chaprer of bis fe- cond Book, difcourfing of the caufes of che violem Death of A tahualpa , hach theíe very words, which 1 have copied out Verbatim, being very much ro our pur- poíe. And a1 ( faith he) all the Allegation1 w'hich were made herettpon were a/l pronotm· ced by rhe Tangue of the feme Filipillo, he interpreted nothing b11t what made tohi1 own p11rpofe. What migh t be th e catfe which moved him here11nto, can never be cerrain!J de- rmnined ; tho11gh ir m11.ft be one of rhefc two thin¡,1, either th11t thu Indian entertained p1·i1 •lfe Amoim with one of 1he Wive1 o Atabaliba, and expdJed b; hi1 d.fat h to enjoy her wirh