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. BooK IV. his Title of Captain General or Procuratour General , fuppoGng that he might , according to our Prov.erb, be enabled hereby, To enter in at che íleeve, and cqme out at che collar. · · Thus was Pi farro chó[en and ele8:ed Procuratour General of Co<.,co, which was che Mecropolis of Pcru; in like manner the Corporations of Guamanga, the Town of PLate, and mher places concurred in the fame choice, a11d the Souldier}( gave him che Title of their Capcain General, .with foil and ample Authority to be cheir Agent and Plenipotenciary, promiGng to íl:and to whacfoever he fhould a- gree.and confent unto in their names: And on che ocber fide he took the ufual Oach which is commonly adminiíl:red on fuch occaGons. After this Piyarro [et up his Standard, beat up his Drums, and feized all the Gold in che Exchequer belonging to che King: .and there being a good Magazine of Arms at ChupM, he made ufe of chem, and armed 400 meo tberewith both 0f Horfe and Foot. Thofe perfons who were concerned in che Government, name- ly, ALtamirano, Maldonado, Garfilaf[o de la Vega and ochers, conGdering farther o( chis macrer, did upon Í9'.>nd thoughts begin to repent of che power they had paífed over unto Gonftilo Piyarro; knowing how faíl: he had them by the hand, when they onely had hold of him by che finger ; howfoever they thought not fic to revoke their power, though privacely, and in their hearts, they wit11ed that they could handfomely have recraéted ir. · Tbus far are che words of Francifao Lope~ extraéted verbatim from his own 'Nri- tings. Bue, to explain che meaning of chefe Auehours, who wrice fomeching con- fufedly upon chis point, and feem to defcribe che minds of chefe people , as if they were overmuch prompced to rebellion, which afterwards too maoifeíl:ly ap- peared by che fucceís. Howfoever we are to underíl:aod chac when Gonfalo Pifar- ro was by confent of the people eleéted and chofeo Procuratour or Adjurant Gene- ral, they entertained no irnagination or thought of viodicating their righcs aod privileges with che Sword; but their meaning onely was in an humble and plain manner to make their Addrefs and lay cheir cafe before the Chief Governour, re- prefenring, as Loyal Subjeéfs, their great merit in the conqueíl: of chat Empire, and annexing of it to che Crown of Spain: fuppofing that in ca fe the Vice-king would onely vouchfafe to hear chem ; their caufe was fo jufl: as could not be rejec- ted even ac the Bar or J udicature of che moíl: barbarous Nationsof che World. This was cerrainly the true meaning and original intentions of the four Cüies ar the beginning, when they diíparched their Agencs wich foil and :imple power ro fignifie their concurrence in the ele8:ion and choice of Gonyalo Pifarro to be their Reprefentative: bue füch was che rude and turbulent fpiric of the Vice-king, and che rumours and repotts which every day filled che City of Co~co, concerning rhe excravagances which he aél:ed; thac Gonr¡ala Piyarro thought it not fit to truíl: rhe fafety of bis perfon to bare Papers or che dead letter of Laws, though ne- ver fo much in his favour; bue racher to provide in prudence to íecure bis períon wich Arms and a forcible defence , as we fhall underíl:and by che fequel of this . Story. And indeed herein Go11falo Piyarro wifely conGdered,chac he had to doe with a wild brute Beaíl:, rigorous ánd pofüive to execure rhe new Laws; againíl: whom there was nodefence but power, for che Vice-king had ofren declared, .char he broughc wich him a Command from che Emperour to rake offhis head; to fecure which, he refolved to goe atrended wich a company of about cwo hundred Souldiers ap- poimed for a guard to his perfon ; but that he would neirher carry EnGgns or Co- lours, or name Captains, leíl: it lhould look too much like a martial force, or ía- vour of a rebellion. And this dofüine was notified and interpreced by the Jud- ges of every Cicy, declaring rhat their inteotion was nothing, but to aét by way of Pecition for confervation of their own righcs, wh ich being fo reafonable, rhey could not doubc but to obrain favour from cheir King and Prince therein; and upon chis ground chey advifed PiFarro to difpofe himfelf to aét in form and man- ner of one who was by wayofA9drefs to repreíent the ílace and condition of che peoples aggrievances ; in regard they entercained no other thoughts and intenri- ons rhan füch as became loyal and obediem Subjeéts. To which Pifarro made an- 7 íwer, tbat Gnce they were well acqqaimed wich the implacable fpírit of rbe Vice- king, who had ofren boaíl:ed that he brought a Commiílion wich him to take off his head; he could not but wonder, thacthey fhould fend him bound to che hands·of Ehe Execurioner; and with che glodous riele of cheir Rep1;efentative to fiand