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. BoÓK l. CH A P. VII. Wherein two Opinions are declared concerníng the Riches of - . l?eru, and the beginning of that Conquefi. H Aving already defcribed to what fum the Revenue of Spain did amonnt in former times, it would now be very fatisfaél:ory, if we could give an ac- co'urit to what a value it is amoumed and improved in thefe days; but I muft confefs, that that would preve too difficult a work for me, who have no intereft or communication with the Officers of rhe Royal Exchequer, nor fuch intirnacy with them, as to obtain fo great a favour from-any qf them; and indeed I amper- fuaded, that if I had, yet che vaíl: quantities of Riches which pafs through rheir Hands are almoíl: incomprehenfible, and fuch as-rhey cannot number, how 'mlich leís am I infufficient for this matter, who have no skill or knowledge of rhat Weald1, or, as I may ufe our own Saying, who know not what colour Flower Qr Meal bears. Onely this we may aver, as a matter clear and manifeíl:, thatall the charge and expence for equipping cmt the Fleet againíl: England, in the Year 1 s-88. was all charged on the Wealth of Peru; befides which Philip the 2d. King of Ca- flilr: , received eight Millions of Ducats from rhence in the fpace of fix years, be. lides ali other branches of his Royal Revenue; che which fum was commaoded afrerwards to be paid in che term ofevery three years. h is farther manifeíl: and apparenr, tbat foon afcer Philip the tbird carne to che Crown, that the Kingdom oftered anotber increafe of bis Revenue to eighteen Millions 1 payable in che fpace of fix years; che which concinues co tbefe times, befides ah ocher Rents and Du- ties paid to the Crown: By thefe, and other particular iníl:ances before rnentio- ned, we rnay colleél: and imagine che great improvement hach been in the King's Revenue ; rbe feveral branches of which being.much more various chan chofe of privare Eíl:ates, and there having in every one of chofe branches been a confide- rable advanee and improvement; the fum rhereof is become fo prodigious and ' vafl-, as can fcarce be va.lued by the Skill of our Arithmerick. By which we rnay conclude, rhat if that Man is to be eíl:eemed poor, who can value bis Riches, Pauperi.r eft numerare pec1U, how much muíl: we be plunged in our account, when we cóme to reckon, and fum up che Revenue of char Monarch, in the circumfe- rence of whofe_Territories (as Cofinographers defcribe) the Sun never íets? All which Riches and Grandeur are to be amibuted to rhe fuccefs aud labours of this our Triumvirate. , · And rhough it be true what we have faid befare, rhat we had lirtle acquain- tance or communication wirh rhe Officers ofHis Majeíl:ies Royal Exchequer; yet at length, by the friendfhip i 1 hich I gained wirh (ohn de Morales, a Native of Ma- drid, .who was avery honeíl: and intelligent Gentleman; 1 procured fome account of theKing's Revenue, with which he was pleafed to oblige me, for rhe berter ad- vance of chis Hiíl:ory, which I now write; the which was fo aifficult a work to him, that be kept me three momhs befare he could fatisfie me rherein; and ar laíl: he delivered me rhis following account, which I have extraél:ed ver611tim from his own P:iper. " Your Worfhip was pleafed ro defire of me, rhat to íerve a " -particular .occaíion of yours, I would fet clown in wriring che rems ant! value of " all his Majeíl:ies Revenue; the which is a bufinefs fo difficult, rhat I cannot " íumm within any tolerable compaís of cerraimy. And indeed, rhough the " King hath defired it, and commanded ir to be given in, for the better diretl:ion ;; and meafures of ~is C:ouncil of rhe Treafury, and or~ered all to be put_imo a. · J3ook, yet that work 1s notas yer begun, nor do we Know when it will be be- - " gun, rnuch lefs when it will be ended, for there are fuch vaíl: Rifes and Falls · " íucb Advances and Abaremems, that nothing can be delivered wirh any cerrain~ ' " ty, every thing running in fuch different chanels, as is impoffible to -reduce them to any coherence of merhod; but i_n tbe bulk or lump, we may affirm, rhat the