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.

12-0 Royal Commentaries. that they muíl: rejeét their own Laws and Cufro!ns, and r~ce ive new ones from the Inca· who in recómpenfe thereof would unpofe Tributes and Taxes, and ferve hit~felfof their labour ;md Cervices, as of Slaves and Va~ls; which being conditions not to be endured by a People fo free as they, they refolved to defend themfelves, and dye in the Defence of their Gods, their Coumrey and their Li- berty. · e HA P. XVIII. Ofthe Argument and Debate which the Old Men held on ,thi-5 matter, and in what manner they received thelnca. N Otwithllanding this huff of the young Souldiers, the more ancient and con· íiderate amongíl: them, were of opinion, that they fhould not fo foon break forth into a War, but firíl of ali confider, that for feveral years they have had a neighbourhood and converfe with the Subjeéts of the Inca; and that they could never hear otherwife from rhem, but that their Laws were good, and the Yóke of rheir Governmem gemle and eafie: that he rreated his People rather like his Children, than his Subjeéts; that the Lands which they required, were nót thofe which the Indians had in th~ir poífeffion, but fuch as lay waíle, and untna- nured by them; and that he required no other Tribute than the Fruit and Benefit which thofe Lands, cultivated at his own coíl: and charge, fhould produce, and not exaét any thing ar the labour and coíl: of the lndians, to whom he rather gave than dirninifhed from their Eílates; and in proof and evidence hereof, without other argument, they defaed thern to enquire, and coníider feriouíly withouc paffion, how much the Subjeéts of the Inw were improved in their Eílates, and how quier, civil and profperons t_hey were become, 'fince rheir fubmiffion to his Government; how ali their Difrords, Anitnoíities, and Civil Diffentions, which in former times had miferably torn and diílraéted them, were now ºappeafed; how Ellates were more fecure, and more proteéted from Thieves, rheir Wives, and Daughters from Rapes and Adulteries; and in fine, how quier and well eíl-ablilhed was the publick Welfare, where none duríl offer injury, nor none could receive it withour redreís. That they fhould farther coníider, that many neighbouring-Provinces, being well fatisfied and allured by the gentleneís and happinefs ofchis fervirnde, did vo- 1umarily, and of their own accords, offer thernfelves, and beg the Proteétion of the Inca and his Laws. And fmce thefe things were chus apparent, it were better to fu bmi t readily and wirhout conílraint, than defending thernfelve~ for tbe pre- fent from th:i t which they know they muíl in a fhort time yield unto, provoke the Inca to rha't degree of Anger and Difpleafure, as might diverr him from thofe good IntentiC'lns and Favours which he defigned towards them; and that therefore it were more fafe and fecure, both for their Livés and Ellates, their Wives and Children, to make aVmue of Necefíiry, and fubmit with a voluntary furrender: anJ that as to rheir Gods, which rhe Inca impofed upon thern, reafon it felf in- füuél:ed, and taught them, that the Sun more vifibly deferved to be adored and woríhipped, rhan any of rhofe dumb and infeníible Idols, which rhey had made and formed wirh their own hands. With thefe Arguments, and others of the Jike narnre, rhe ancient and fage Perfons fo far prevailed, rhar took off the rnettle and heat of rhe young Men, fo that they ali u~nimouíly went ro receive che Inca; the young Men marched wirh Arrns in their líands, and the old with their Pre- fenrs of fuch Fruits as tbeir Counrrey yielded, faying, That tbe Fruits of their Land were in token of tbat Livery a!Jd Seizin which they were to give unto che Ir.et! rhereof: the young men profeíTed thar their Anns were to ferve che Inca in ' his