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 V. Royal Commentaries. to rime he had advices. of whatfoever was aéted in the Enemies Camp: In rhe time ofVVar, Jndians were not perfons to keep a Secret, for they ferved for Spies on both lides ; becaufe being doubtfull to which the Viétory would incline, they endeavoured to gratifie born parties ; that fo the Conquerour mighc not rerurn them ill for the good Offices· they had done him. And rhough we have in ano- ther place touched on the Treachery of the l ndian1 in rhis particular, yet here l):lore efpecially we are concerned again to repeat it, becaufe the Secret which the Prefi· denc on this occafion committed as well to the Jndian1 as to the Spanfard1 was 8i9 _ ( according ro the opinion of Hiílorians) of high concernmenr. And though G~nfalo Pifarro received certain intelligence that the Ptefident was marching to- wards him, arrd was ignorant of none of his proceedings, yet he thoughc not fié to obfüuét ·him in his march or defend che difficulc paífes ( of which there were very many) but onely to keep his own ground, and expeét che coming of Gafca -:; for having been flufhed with many Viétories , he did not doubt of the coníl:ani: fuccefs of fortune. On ché other fide Francifco de Caroajal, who day and night ap- plied his thoughts to milirary Affairs. that he might promote Pi1arro to the Go- , vernment of that Empire, obferving in him a íl:range negligence of his Affairs, and wirhout other Counfels' rhan onely ta give the Enemy battel ; he went to him, and defired his confideration of fome matters which he had to impart to ' him. Sir, faid he, confidering the late Succeífes, and the prefent íl:are of your Affairs, and the dubious fortune ofWar, 1 would not advife you to hnard your whole íl:ake on the uncertaincies of a Barre!, but rather endeavour to avoid figh- ting, and prolong the War untill fuch time as fome happy conjunéture happens to fecure your Affairs. To which end 1will lay before you what rnay be faid concer- ning the íl:ate of both Arrnies, that fo 1 rnay acquic rny felf in all points relating unto your felf, and to that caufe in which we are fo deeply engaged. Now, Sir, in order to obtain viétory over your Enernies, ir is in the füíl: pface neceífary for you to abandon chis City and leave it wholly difpeopled ; the Milis rnuíl: be broken clown, all Proviíions taken away, rhe-Inhabitants forced to cake refuge: in other places, and all their Goods, and what elfe is ·not porrable or to be carried with them , confumed and burnt ;. fo that there may remain nothing which rnay be of ufe and-relief for che Enemy. There are two thoufand men marching againíl: us, half of which are Seamen and a fort of raw Souldiers who are almoíl: naked, without Hofe or Shoes to their Feec, and 1 half íl:arved; and liv€ onely in hope of coming to this City, where they may. fatísfie their hunger, and be clothed: in wnich wben chey fhall find themfelves difappointed, and nothing but mifery and defolation, che.y will be totally difcouraged, and the Prefident will be forced to disband them, having no poffibility to fupport and fuíl:ain chem. . . In the next pl.ace I would have al! Centeno's Souldiérs difmiíl:; for kn0wing themfelves to be a conquered people, they can never be good friends : Yoo have at leaíl: five huiidred men, . \~·ho .f1nce the Batrel of Huarina are come in to you, to par.cake of che benefits of your Viétory, all which are choice rnen , who will ne, ver.leave you, or f orfake their Colours in the greateíl: extrernities. 1 would have two parties of Mufquetiers., of fifty men each , decached ltom che main Eody , ancL íenc to the rig~t-hand of che way , and .to che left; wirh orders t-0 march twemy or thircy leagues diíl:ant frorn che Arrny, and to feize ali Carde and -Gcher Provifions they can rneec; an4bring thern to us, and what cannot be carried with them , to bum and deílroy , chat nothing thereof may remain for fubfillence of che Enemy. In this manner your Carnp will be fupplied and fed with Kids and Sheep and other Provifions of che Coumrey, and with wharfoever the frefh Pro- vinces, through which we are to pafs, do afford : whilíl: che Enemy purfuing us with two thoufand men, half of which are ufeleís, will find themfelves i'n great wants and neceffities ; and then che orher half, which are Souldiers and rnen ex- perienced in War, will be íl:arved for want of·Provifions, which they muíl: be forced to fetch from pares above a hundred leagues diíl:ant from thern; for ali the Viétuals which the Countreys afforded through which they paífed are already con_, fumed , and they muíl: daily leave chofe pares at a farther diíl:ance in cafe they purfue after us. But indeed fuch a purfuit with a thoufand rnen will be almoíl: impoffible , fo chat they muíl: be coníl:rained to divide their Forces into two bodies , againíl: any one of which fingly your men will have che advantage. And in cafe you fhall be willing to decline fighting, you may march from. one Province ro another , and M mm m m 1. protraét