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. BooK VII. CH A P. XXII. Of the New Method and Way of Fighting, contrived by an Old Indian Captain. • •' T HE Spaniards being allarumed with the noife and íbouts of the lndians, fa!. Jied forth in their bright and glittering Arms, with long Plumes on their Helmets, and Feathers on the heads of their Horfes ; and feeing the many Divili- ons and Squadrons of the Enemy, they imagined that they were more able to break che fmaller Battalions, than if they were united into one body. So foon as the lndian Captain faw che Spaniards appear, he encouraged the firíl: Squádron to fight with them, exhorting chem to doe their beíl:; not (faid he) that 1 expeél: you fhould overcome chem, but that you íhould perform what you are able in favour and defence of your Countrey ; and when you are woríl:ed, and can per- form no more, that then you fave your felves by füght, taking care in your retreat; that you break not into the other bodies, fo as to diforder them, but that you fly behind all che reft, and there rally, and make up your body again; the like advice and order he gave to ali the other Squadi-ons. With this delign and refolucion the lndians engaged with the Spaniards, with whom having foughc awhile, and performed whac they were able ; being routed, they retired into che Rere of the Army, the fecond, third, fourth and fifch, were ealily broken, and routed by the Spaniads, but yec not without fome lofs on che Spanifh fide both 0f Men and Horfe. Thus as the firíl: Squadrons were overthrown, íl:ill new refe~es carne up, who all foughc in their orders one after che ocher. In che Rere of all was another Cap- tain, who governed in che orderly rallying of the Squadrons, which he caufed to eat, and drink, and repoíe chemfelves, whilíl: the others continued the fight, that fo chey might be refrefhed, ·when their turn carne for che next engagement. The Spaniards having already routed five Squadrons of che Enemy, and feeing íl:ill ten or cwelve more befare chem coming on; and having foughc chree ·long hours, yet encouraging one che other, they affaulted the íixch Squadron, which carne in re- lief of che fifth, which chey overchrew, as alfo the fevemh, eighth, ninth and temh Diviíion. But now having foughc feven long hours wichour intermiflion, boch the Men and Horfes began to fail, not being able to charge with chat mettle and vigour as they did in the beginning; which che lndian1 obferving, would noc permic chem one moment of repofe, but ílill plied them with new and frefh Squa- drons, and after all the Spaniards faw nocwithíl:anding ten Divifions íl:ill to be foughcwich; and though che natural force both of Man and Horfe began now to grow tired, and faint; yec they füll roufed cheir invincible fpirits, not to fhew or evidence any fymptorns or appearances of failure to che Indian.1: Howfoever the Jndi{lns beginning íenfibly to find che decay of che Spanifh vigom: and rnettle, and that their force was noc fo impetuous and irrefülible as it was ac firíl:, íl:ill conti- . nued to bring up iheir Squadrons, untill cwo ;i dock in the afterrioon ; which che Governonr Pedrode Valdivia obferving, and that there were eight or nine Squadrons füll to be overcome.; and chac when thofe vvere routed, they vvere alvvays ral- lied, and made up; vvbich nevv vvay and method of Fighting having vvell con- fidered ; and that it being novv late tovvards che Evening, it vvas probable the Enemy would afford them as little repofe in the Nighc, as chey had given chem refpice in the Day ; he refolved to retreat before cheir Horfes were wholly fpenr, and difabled of farther fervice : According to his Command his Souldiers rerrea- ced towards a narrow país, which if they could reach; being about a League and a halffrom the place where the Fight was, they imagined themíelves fecure from ªQY attack of che Enemy ; for chat two Spaniards on fooc were abl to defend it from aU the Arrny of che Indians. Having taken chis refolution, though late, he gave ,