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.

BooK IV. Royal .Commentariei. _ ]39 CH A P. XXXVI. Of a brave Strategeme of War which Diego Céntend per~ formed againft Francifco Carvajal. Severa/ other Suc- ce/[es and Paf!ages are re/atea, unti!J the end of that pur- fute. W E ·have formerly. mentióned in what manner F~ancifco de Carvajal p~rfu~d Diego Centeno, w1chour lofing one momenc of ume; and keep1ng h1m m (;:Ontinual Allarums , he ever marched wich a Squadron of Fooc , in a pofi:ure to fight ; and following them juíl: ar the heels, he daily fell in with their Baggage, or fome other pare of Centeno's Forces. In chis hot purfute, it happened one day, thac chey were co·pafs a deep hole or valley becween cwo bilis ( as is ufual in cha¡¡ Councrey) che defcent whereunco was about a League to the bottom, where was a fmall fiream of Water, and che rifing again about che fame dillance; and yec from che top of one Hill to che other , it was not farther than a Mufquet-íhot; Francifeo de Carvajal being well acquainced with chis place , was ~onfident that he fhould here cake bis Enemy in a Trap ; believing chat whilfi: Centeno was defcen- ding to che boctoni, he íhould be able to gain che Top of che Hill, and potfefs himfelf of char advantageous place; from whence he might much annoy him and his men; for they afcending che Hill 3 and he remaining on che top wirh íl:eddy footing and reíl:s for their Arms, they could fcare mifs-doing fome execution with every íhot. And as Carvajal and his Souldiers contrived chis defign , and were confident of che fuccefs of it ; fo Centeno was no lefs carefull to prevent che mi~ chief and fecure his rnen in che paffage, being well advertifed of che danger they were to pafs: in order whereunto , abom a League before he came to che boc- . tom, where che fiream of Water ran, he aífembled bis chief Commanders , and · told them thac they were now to país a moíl: darigerous place; for whilíl: we are mounting che Hill on tbe orher fide, che Enemy will poífefs themfelves of che eminency on chis pare, from whence chey may wich much advancage fire upon us, fo as [caree a !hot can mils of doing execucion. To prevem which, I would propo[e, as che onely means of fecurity to us, rhat fix of you, who are che'beft mounced, fhould fecretly retire behind chis Mountain , on che right-hand ; and that when Carvajal and his Van-guard are paíl:, that then you fally forth and fall upon the Rere; killing all che Negroes, Jndians, Spaniards, Horfes, Mules, and what elfe is in your way, making what noife and out-cry rhac is poffible , fo rhat Carvajal, being al\arum'd therewith, a Diverfion may be made, and Carva• jal may be forced to return back ro fuccour his own People , and in the mean rime we rnay make our efcape over chis dangerous paffage. To perform chis ex" ploit he nominated fix perfons, to avoid ali concencion amongíl: them, for every one ouc ofgallanfry, was forward and ready to offer himfelf; there beigg fifteen or íixreen whom he had called to chis conference. Accordingly Diego Centeno mar- ched fórward , charging his' people to make ali che haíl:e they were able, whilft he broughc up che Rere. Tbe ftx Cávaliers alfo turned off to che fide of che Mouncaiil, where they remained concealed, umill Carvajal with the Van , ( which coníiíl:ed of his beíl: and feleél: Souldiers) was paíl: , and then they falli· ed forth, and with greac· fury fell in upon che Rere; killing with their Lánces ali che Jndia·ns, N egro's, Spaniards, Horfes, Mules, and whatfoever íl:ood in theit way ~ fo that an out-cry was nude for help and fuccour. Carvajal though he heard che noife, yec he lhll kepc on his marcb, judging that che allarum was falfe; and that if ir íhould preve fo , upon bis recuro he fhould lofe che oppormnity of a Viél:ory, \vhich he believed to be now fecure and in his own power ;- in the rnean time che Ílx Cava liers carried all before chern ; and amongíl: che reíl: over~ chrew a Mu\e which carried fome quintals of powder, ro which they gave fire, and blew it up, which made foch a terrible noife chat che Woods and Moun· tains refounded wich che Echo; and that was fufficient to convince Carvajal, that che allarum was not falfe; and thereupon he gave order to his S0uldiers to face B b b b b l. about