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 VI. Royal Commentaries. · CH A P. XXXIlf. t Of the Miferies and Sufferings of the Great Chimu 5 and of his Obflinacy therein ; and how at length he Wa5 forced to yield. W,. · Hilíl: the W~r was ~bus carrie9 on with great refolution? ~h~ twen~ytpon;_ fand Sould1ers which che Prmce had demanded for a recrUit to his Army arrived , which , ~uch abated the haughty and confident hu¡nour of Chimu, 'find· ing, w h~ great fot~ow, all his hopes and expeél:ations d.ifappolnt~d ; for on qne fide he percei\\ed the force and íl:rength of the Inca to be doubled, when heJuf>pp- fed, or imagined it to be decreafed ~ and on the other, he found the fpirit ind conrage of his own people to be dejeél:ed and mrified with rhe appearance of a. new A.rmy ; ·being of opinion, that they were now rather to fight in compliance . with the humour of their Prince, than in hopes of making defence againíl: th~ p'ower of the Enemy : Wherefore being much difmayed and terrified, the chief and principal Lords addreífed themfelves to Chimu, advifing him not to comend, or hold out untíll the laít extremity, but rather accept the offers and propofitions rnaqe to tliem by the Inca ; there being no reafon to perfiíl: longer in this obfüna- cy, wh,ich'.would give opportunity to their inveterare Enernies to enrich them~ fely~s with their fpoils, carrying away their Wives and Children into ílavery: To prevenc which; no farther delays ought to be made, leíl: their lafting obíl:inacy íhbuld prqv oke tbe-.lnca beyond all fufferance, and.bowels óf humane compaffion; and.that caíl :i.ng away the terms of Merey, he íhould emirely extirpare their race with fire ap d fw ord. - W-ith this cli,fcourfe and admonition of his Friends, ( which feemed rather like Menaces, than 'wholfome counfel) th~ brave Chimu loíl: bis wonted courage, not kqqwing w!1at to qpe, or unto whom to fly for fuccour ; ali bis Neighbours and Alifes .fai1'~mg uader t¡he .fame dread and fear of the Inca : So that at length not ' knqwing wh~re · ó turn, lie ,tefolved to accept the firíl: offers and propofitions whicb íhould be made to him by.the Inca ; for bis great Soul could not bear a füb- miífion in Perfon, or that the firíl: pl·offers íhould come from him , left it fhould b~ttay ·a rne'armefs of his Spirit, but rather that the Propofals and Articles of Peace fhould come 'to }fon from the Inca. And in the mean time covering this his intention to his .own people, he encouraged them to continue the War; tel- ling them, tpat he had füll hop!=s, and did not fear with the help anc! valour of Ms people, but to conclude . this War with great honour and advamage. And dierefore he encouraged them to íl:and up in the defence of their Coumrey, foi; whofe fake áod fa'fety 'they were obliged ro dye with Weapons in their hands, and not for every f mall difaíl:er to faint and yield ; it being the mannér of War to be. doubtfull, andto lofe th:it one day, which they might re-gain the next: lf they :were troubled to have.feen fome of their Wives and Children carried into ílavery, rhat tbey íhould comfort themfelves with the thoughts, that rhey had the advan- ~age of their Enemy in that particular, having made greater Depredations on tbeir Wives, than they ever did upon theirs. And therefore that they íhould not fhew }my Défpondency of mind, but rather truíl: to bis judgrnent ·and perfuafions, who had more car¿ of, their fafety than he had of his own. . . With thefe faint encouragernents and counfels, rather tban with folid hope, rhe Great Chimu dífmiífed his people, amongíl: whom he was much troubled to find.fuch dejeél:ed al)d difconfolate cGuntenances ; howfoever, putting che beíl: face he could on the.bufinefs, he maintained che War, untill fuch time as che ufua l PropoGtions ~ame from the Inca, offering pardon, peace and friendíhip according co '· che accuíl:omed. íl:yle often and often repeated. Having heard the Propofals pronounced again to him ~ he fe~med to entertain them wich che fame indifferency li m