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 Commentariu. J3ooK vnt. Amongíl: the rnany· orher ~lluíl:rious O!!.alit.ies with w~ich t~is Pri~ce wa~ ~n-· ' dowed he had one, by wh1ch he moíl: pamcularly obhged his Sub¡efü, g1ving early I~dications of his Ver~ue, which merited the Narne of Capac, during the time he was Prince, and wh1ch afte rwards he conferved, when he carne to be fole Monarch. The which particular quality \\as this : That he never denied any Wo- man rhe grant of her Petition, 'of whatfoever age, quality or co_ndition fhe were, anfwering her according to her .years ; for if íhe were elder than he, he would fay, M other, what J OU dejire, jhall be 1one. ~f íbe were of equal ye:irs with him, he would ufe the compellation of S1íl:er; if younger, he would call her Daughter, and fay, what thouMkeft,jhaLL be performed; and to all Women generally he would lay his hand on their left fhoulder, in token of his favour and refpeél: to them. And this Magnanimity of mind he carried fo even and coníl:am, that in mat- ters of great importarice; he w9uld condefcend to the diminution of his own Right and Prerogative of bis Majeíl:y. As we fhall hereaftet m0re at large difcourfe. . This Ptince being now about tweilty years of Age, purfüed his Wars, gaining on the Kingdom by little and litde, ever treating with them, and offering terms of Peace and Friendfhip. But this barbarous Nation, which wem almoíl: naked, and was ignorant of Political Government, would n'ever give ear to propofals of Accpmmodation. · Tupac the Father bbferving ,the good Conduét of his Son, committed the abfolute Government of this War to bis management, and fo returned to Co:{,co, the important affairs of his Empire requiring his prefence rhere. · The Prince in rhe mean time, with tbe affiílence of his Captains, fo well ma: naged the War, that in the fpace of three yeats he becanie abfolute Maíl:er of the Kingdom of fl!±itu, though · fome Jndians of that Countrey fay, that he was five years; but rhen they co,unt che two years, in which his Father was there in per- fon, attributing the Conqueíl of tbat Counrrey to rh~m both. The gemleneJS and good-nature of the Farher aIJd Son was the caufe of this long continuance of die War; for had they yigoroufly proceede<l wi b fire and fword, rhey mighc foon have complered their Conqueíl: ; but rhey willing to fave the Bloud of the Natives, preífed U.pon them as they retired, and fo won the Countrey by little and lirrle; though che Jndians íay, that the War had conrinuéd 1onger, had not the King of f2..!!_itu died at that rime ; rhey fay alío, that his Death was occafio- ned by grief, for feeing himfelf in aó unhappy cbndition, devefl:ed of the greateíl: part of bisDominion, and unable to defend the remainder ; and not daring to tr l1 íl, or confide in the Clemency of the I11ca , whom he believed he had prdvo- ked to that degree, as never to oh.rain his pardon; he died with the preífure of bis great troubles and afHifüons ; he being dead, His Captains prefently yielded rhemíelves to che merey of Huayna Capac , who received them with obliging terms, commanding rhem to be veft:ed with Garments of the fineíl: fort, and pre- fenred them wirh other gifts, which were mofi in eíl:eem amongíl: the lndifins - treating alfo the more common fort of people wirh great kindnefs and friendíhip ~ In 01orr, he perfonned all the generous Aétions he was ab e to them, to render his Clemency the more apparent and perfpicuous to that ílupid Nation : And to oblige ali.that whole Countrey in general, ío foon as rhe War was ended, he not onely made them Aquedu& to refrefh, arid make fruirfull·their Soil ; but alfo built a Temple rhere for the Sun, anda Hou[e for the Seleél: Virgin~, adorned with Ri- ches, and orher Embelliíhmems agreeable to the qualiry of rhofe Edifices : In p~rfonnánce of which,.rhofe l ndian r I:ad great advamage, fo· rheir Countrey y1elded much Gold, wh!Ch they had d1gged for .rhe fervice of their own IGng, and much more :ifterwards for the uíe of the Pnnce Huayna Cap'ac, becaufe they found rhat they very much gratified his humour by Prefents of that Metal · his affeétion and covetoufuefs of whicb, tranfporred h:m to fuch extremities or'üp- preffion, as were never befare praétiíed by Inc11n Kings, which was the caufe of the ruine of their Empire; and occafion of ali that mifery, which fterwards ex- tinguiíhed chis Royal Family.