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.

RóJal C ommentariet. Book V. .CH A P. XVI. The Captains and Souldiers fly from John de Acoíl:a. Gon- ~alo Pi~arro comes to fiúariina, from whence he fends a Me/fage to Diego Centeno~ with his Anfwer therezmto. W HEN (ohn de Acnfla carne near to Cow, they received intelligence of che unfortunate fucceís of Gonfalo Pifarro, and of the general revolt of his People from him ; co conceal and fmother which ali endeavours were ufed but ali in vain, for many of the Letcers which were difperíed abroad fell into che hands of Officersand Souldiers, which made a foil difcovery of ali matters ; and though none duríl: to confide in each other fo far as to difcourfe and communicate che news ; yet by fome accidenc m ocher che Advices became che publick talk : and then the Majar-General Pae~ de Sotomayor and Captain Martin de Olmos ( with whom 1 was acquainted) reíolved ro kill '/ohn de Acofta, which delign was fo fe- cretly carried, rhac one did noc know che inrention of che orher, bue onely by cer- tain conjeétures and circumílances; and in like manner ar a diílance treated with fome Souldiers in whom chey chou'ght chey could befl confide: bue che Plot was not contrived fo fecretly bue chat it carne ro che ears of Aco.fta, who became there- by more watchfull, and doubled the Guards about his Perfon with chofe of whofe faithfulneís he was beíl aífured. The two General Officers growing jealous hereupon, and knowing that (ohn de Acofta was one day retired within his Tent, and in fecret conference with Captain Martin de Almendr&, and another intimare Friend of his, called DiegoGumiel, . and fearing that they were plotting to kili them, they refolved to revolr, lince they were difappointed in their def1gn of killing Acofta: and accordingly p:ifling their word in fecrec one to rhe ocher, wichout farcher delay they moumed on Horfe- back wirh chirty men following them wich their Arms, and in light of the Camp marched boldly away rowards Los Reyes. The principal perfons hereof were Pan de Sotomayor, Martin de Olmo1, Martin de Alarfon chie[ Stanciard-bearer, Garci G11- tierez, de Efcobar, Alonfo Renge!, Hernando de A/varado, Martín Monge, Antonio de Avila and Gafpar de Toledo. [ohn de Acofta made purfuit afcer chem, and overcook three or four of chem and puc them ro deach ; bue finding it in vain to proíecute them farcher, he deftíled and followed his way cowards Couo, where he cook away the white Sraves from the Sheriffi of rhe Town, who were appointed by Diego Centeno, and placed ochers in rheir ílead. ' And here he found Orders from Gonfalo Pifarro to come with ali haíle polTible to Arequepa, and to joyn bis Forces wich him there. Accordingly 'John de Aco.fta marched out of Couo, bue before he was cwelve leagues advanced on his way, Martin Alm1ndnu ( who was the perfon in whom he moíl confided) Bed from him carrying thirry of bis beíl: men wich him, and recurning again co Coz.co he cook the whice Scaves away from the Sheriffi, whom [ohn de Acofta bad conllicuced, as if che focceís of great maccers had depended chereupon ; and [o he wenc to Los R9es, coche greac admirarion of Acofta, who wondered mucb chaca man fo much elleemed and obliged by Gonr¡alo Pi';arro, íhould defert him who had rreated him like a.Son, out of refpeét to che memory ef bis Uncle Francifco de AlmendrM, who was killed by Diego Centeno. • '/ohn de Acofta duríl not adventure to purfue Martin de Almendr&, 1el1 ali bis Soul- diers íhould follow che like example, and therefore he took che direét way to Arequepa by long marches, but llill bis numbers decreafed by rn o and three in a company, fo thac by the time he carne to Arequepa to joyn wich Gonfalo Piptrro he broughc not above a hundred men with him, as is confirmed by Palentino Chapter fixty eight of che fecond Book, and by Cuate, the fixch Book, Chapter eighreen. And now having loíl their Honours by being outlawed and proclaimed Traitours, and their Eílaces, which remained in che power of rhe Enemy, chere was noching more to fave bue their lives onely, and how chac ílake mighc be rnnferved was their onely confulcation. In