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.

Royal Commentaries. - Boo·k V. -Dances of the young Maidens, and afüvity of the Youth, and with rhe military Exercifes of the Souldiery ; befides which they we~ent~d ~hem with ~ifc~ qf Golq, arid Silver; and Feathers, for the adornrnent of their Hab1ts, ac the times '?f t~eµ­ prindpal Fefüvals; and alfo they gave them Clorhs , and orher fmall c.unoficies, whidi rhey highly efl:eemed: fo that thofe People, t!1ough never fo barbarous and brutifh at tirfl:, were yet made fenliible of thefe kmdnelfes to fuch a degree thar they never afrerwards fo mu~h as atternpted t? _arife in Reb~llion. And t~ cake away ali occalions of complamt from che Sub¡eds of Aggre1vances and Op- preffions whatfoever ; lefl: thofe Complaints fhouid ~-om words proc~ed t? blows; and open violence; wherefore to prevent that, the1r Eíl:ares and L1bemes were always conferved to them; onely they were required to be obedient to the Laws, · Sramtes, and ancient lníl:irntions, which were publiíhed, and openly promulged. amongíl: thern, for unto thefe, and to che Worfhip of the S1,m, their fubrniffion was required, and no Difpenfation allowed in the cafe; and being obflinate, they were to be compelled by force; fometimes, where it was convenient, they tranf. plamed Colonies from one place to another, but then rhey provided them with L_and~, and Houfes and Cattel, and Servams, and whatfoever was neceffary and requifüe for their livelihood; and into their places rhey tranfporred perhaps fome bf che Cirizens of Cow, or others of approved Loya!ty, which ferv~d for Guards ánd Garrifons, to keep the Neighbourhood in awe and fubjeltion, and alfo to teach and inílrucfi chofe Savages, and ignoranr People in their Laws and Religion, together with che Tongue and Language of rheir Countrey. Ali che other points ofGovernment, and Injunétfons impofed by che Inca Kings, · were more ealie and gemlé rhan of any orher Princes, who ruled che Narions of the New World; che which is not onely made manifeít and apparem by their own Hifiorical Knots,by which they committed the occurrences ofpaít times umo rnemory~ bue are alfo approved and confumed by the faithfull Commentaries of the Vice-King Don Francifco de Toledo, who having informe<l hirnfelf of the Cu- fiQme and manners of every Province from che Indians thernfelves, made a Col- l~étion of them with his own hand-writing, and commanded his Vifüors, Judges ~nd Regiílers to tranfcribe them, Copies whereof are conferved unto this day in ihe publick Archives, and ferve to evidence that Benignity and Gentlenefs, which che Kings of Peru in exercife of tbeir Governrnent ufed towards their Subjeéts: foras we have noted before, rhat excepting fome particular matters, enjoined and ~mpofed for the Defence and Security of the Ernpire ; ali orher Laws, and Sra- tures had no oche'r afpeét, chan what regarded the fole benefit, and interefi of the · Subje&; for every Man's privare Efrate and Patrimony had che fame Proteétion, as that of the publick; no Souldiers were perrnitted co pillage, or plunder even thofe People whom rhey had fubdued by force of Arms ; but received and treated ~hem, as if they were faithfull and true Servants: and for chofe who volumarily fubrnitred and furr.endred themfelves, they conferred in fome fhort time Places and Offices ofpreferment, relating to civil or milirary Commands. The Duty of Tribute which thefe Kings laid on rheir Subjeéts was fo trivial, and inconliderabJe, that when in the fequel of this Hifl:ory we fhall come to treac ·0f the parriculars thereof, and wherein it conliíled, it will feem ridiculous tó the Reader; in return nótwithfranding hereof, the lnw were not oneJy conten- ted to beítow on their Subjeéts rheir Food and Rayment, but many other pr~ ferits, which they bounrifully conferred on che CHrac&, and Great Men, extending alfo their largeífes to rhe poor, and neceflitous, as if they ha<l been Stewards ot Mafrers of Families, whofe Office was to make Provifion for orhers, rather than Kings, who bore the renowned Title of Capac T itu, which the l ndians conferred upon them; Capac fignifying as much as a Prince powerfull in Riches, and Titu is as much as Liberal, Magnanimous, aDemi-God, or Auguftm. Hence proceeded that great Love and Atfeétion which che Peruviar11 bore cowards their Kings, thac evento this day, though they are become 'Chrifüans, they cannot forget the me- mory of them, bue are ready on ali occafions, when their prefent Oppreffions grieve rhem, with lighs and groans co invoke their Names; and in reality they had much reafon ; for \ye do not reade in ali che Hiíl:ories of Afia, A/rica,. or En• · rope, thac ever chofe Kings were fo gratious to their Subje&, as thefe; or thac they were fo frank, ·or familiar wich chem, or [o gemle and carefu!l managers of ~heir Imerf;fr. And now, from what we have already faid, and whac we fhall hereafrer declare, che Reader may be able to colleét 3 arid bnderfiand whac were the-