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 Comment~riu. Book IV. CH A P. XXVI. Gon~alo Pi~arro flill continuing to pwfue the Vice-k_ing , both Armies fuftain great [amine ami hard/hip in their march. The violent death of the Vice-kJ,ng's Major Ge- neral and Captains. G Onyalo Eip trro ílill continuing to pu~[ue tbe Vice-king, ref?~ved totally to defeat liis whole Force; and accordingly, for better expedmon, derached abouc fifty feleél: Horfemea under the command Gf Francifco de Carvajal, to fali in upon the rere of che Enemy, whilíl himfelf followed the main body of the Army. On che other fide, he Cent Orders ro HernandoBachicao, who was then on the Coaíl:, to leave his Sbips at Tumpiz, under a good Guard, and to march with what Forces he had, to join with bis at fl!!_itu. And having given thefe Orders he cominued rhe purfuir, giving courage and fpirit to Carvajal; who knew that he fhould be well [econded in a very fhort time. In che mean time che Vice-king encouraged his people, and having marched eight Leagues in one <tty, they difpo- fed rhemfelves co reíl: , foppofing that rhey were got far out of the reach of their Enemies; but Francifco· de Carvajal who ílepr not, fell imo their quarrers abouc fonr hours in rhe nighr; and gave rhem the firíl: allarum wirh his own Trumpet. The Vice-king immediately arofe, and rallying his people together as \yell as he could, drew rhem imo a poíl:ure QÍ defence, apd fo marched away: Carvajal follo 1~ ing clofe upon their he Is, rook fome of the Foot, who lagged in the rere; burfo foon as ir was day, that they could take a view of each other, the Vice- king perceiving rhe fim ll number , drew out his mento give rbem bauel, and di- vided bis Body, confi fb ing of a hundred and fifry rnen, imo n o divifi ns or Ífílua- drons : bue Carvajal, oot being will ing to engage on fuch di fadvamages, founded a Recrear: upon "' hich che Vice·king drew off his 1 en , and proceeded on his march; bu , alas ! wirh litde cornforr, f< r his men were perifh ing wüh travail and famine , and thei r Horfes fo fa int for wanr of gra fs and provender, chat they 1~ ere nor fit for a march : wherefore che Vice king , commifera ting rhe coodirion of his men, told chem , chaeif any one of rhem were de fi rous ro remain behind, he freely gave rhem rheir difcharge, bur not a man of rhemaccepred thereof, but ía id, rhat chey would racher di e wich him, rhan efen hi1'n : fo chey marched day and níghc wid ouc íleep, or repofe , or fuílenance, or any refreíhmem. In che mea o rim::: intell igence w,1s given ro Gonf afo Pi f ftrro ofwhat had paíled becween rhe ice.king and Carvajrd; of which fome who were Enemies to Carv ajal made u[e , ro difparage his Conduél: , íaying, chat ic was in hi power to have defeared che whole fo rce of cbe Enemy ac rhat rime , having fu rpdzed chern as tbey were ílee¡;iing and ac reíl : and J fi nd chac fome Hiílm.ians objelt chis matter againíl: him as a poim of negleél: : but 1, who knew che perfon of che man, arn of an- orher opinioo, and havé heard from rnany well experienced in che War, thac íince the time ofTulim Ctrfar , rhere bach noc been a greacer Souldier rhan he, the rru rm is , and1fo all.Hiíl:orians report, chacche Vice-king being a hundred and fif.. cy to fifry , chat is, rlmie to one, it was prudence in him nor ro adventure on foch a diíadvamageous undertaking, bur mber to make a Bridge of Silver for defpe- race men to eícape over. Moreover fome fay he had no Commiffion to engage, or ro hazard his rnen ; but in rnilicary macrers ir is hard to cenfüre greac Captains, who bercer under ítand rl'ie íecret of cheir affairs chan Srrangers can do. Howfo- e\'er che mar rer was, Gonfalo Pi f arro rein forced him wirh two hundred men more, which he fent under che command of L icenciadoCarvajal, by which auxiliary force chey allarum'd and purfued fhe Vice-king umill he carne to che Province, and people called Ayah11act1, feizing every day fome of cheir Men, Hor fes and Baggage, 1 fo that by che rime he carne ro Ayahuaca, be had fi:arce eighcy Men remaining of ali his numbei· ; howfoever he proceeded forward ro fl!!_ itu , ,where he hoped to find Provifion for bis Men. In rhe like llraits alfo was the Army of Pif«m , who