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 Comm? n1ar.if! 1. ) . .·e HA P. XXXI. 1•) '1 . ) ., Lop~ Marcio layes. three ~ Stramze,s.. ~f the Bridge ovef, .t~~­ Rzvfr. lJJe_Sp1es of Gom;a1o P1~arro cut !:WO of thnu off. . The great difiurbance which thi6 occafioned in the· Royal Ca'11ip. Caro/fljal gives ordú to John dé Acófüi to defend the pafs of the River. · -1 'L ··_. · . ,,_ ~ ' . ~ _8z..I T HE Gentle¡nen before meFltlioned, to whofe care ir was committed ca make . the Bridges, had prov'ided ali the materials required thereunro. Lope Martin the Portugues, to whom '.it belonged to erett chat at .Cotopa_mpa, expeéting the Army in l day's time; laid -rhe firíl: chree Strannes on the Waters, which are the foun- - dation of che Bridge ~ chough he had received orders not to lay any untilf riie; corning of che Prefident. _, , 1 ' Howfoever Martín, t-o íhew his diligence and to' antidpate a day, adventured to lay chem, which proved a matcer of greac trouble and inconvenience to che · Prefident, Officers, and ca the whole Army : for che Spies of Pi'jart'o, being chree -S¡aniards and eight Indians , tracing alon~ che banks 'OÍ the River, perceived che three Scrannes which were caíl: over to their fide, and che 'liccle care chere wasrco défend them, advemured che night following to cut them with hatchecs and ca-- fer t_hem on fire; and proceeded fo far in their defign, that they cut cwo o( them befare the guards could come frqm che ocher fide : but what chey moíl: ap- prehenaed, was, ihat che Enemy w.ould hereby receive intelligence of cheir defign ~ an\:i befare 1hey could país che -Army over, chey would have time to -hindei: and diíl:urH them in cheir paffage; fo that chey íhould be coníl:rained either to force í:heir way w.ith greac danger and . hazard ;· or otherwiíe to make cheir paffige ac Accha , which would be both incommodious to che Arrny , and ª" difcou- Fagernent and a lofs of repucation; and Off che ochei fide ic would raiíe rnuch' che fpirics of che Enemy, who might alfo give chem che like incerruption ac A e- cha• . Having confidered cheíe maccers, it was concluded; chat che onely fecure re- medy and prevencion was expedicion ; and accrordingly it was ordered, that im- mediately after Paldivia and Gaptain Palomino, che General íhould march with che Companies of Pablo de Menefes and Hernan Mexia, ( which were Muíqueciers) and· endeavour, if ir were poffible , to reach che Bridge chat night ; and ca pafs over upon Floacs to che other fide, boch to defend che·Bridge, ·and ca give affi- fience ca che workmen employed in füecching che Strannes and faíl:ning che Ropes. &r@iel de Roja:s ivas alfo appointed wich his Cannon ca hallen w che River, chae his Jndians which belooged to che Arcillery mighc alfo lend a nelping hand ca che Work. Orders were alfo given to che ocher Companies ca fof!ow che General , with whom che Prefident [eeming to encertain diícourfe, he accompanied_him fo :fár, uncill he carne ca che Banks of che River, che Biíhops foon followed after, whilfi: the Marefchal remained ro command the Camp, &c. Thus far ·Pa!entino. And here we will leave che Prefident and his Captains on their way ; and em- plo.yed in repairing and making their Bridge; to relace what Gonp i!o Piiar~o and bis Officers were concriving at che íame time, and what Francifco de Carva- jal was projeéting ca councermine his Enemies, with the Scracegems of War in which he was chiefly pra~ifed. So íoon as che Spies brought advice of what was doingat che River of Apurimac, Gonfalo Pi1arro called aCouncil of War, and com- municaced to them che News which was brought to him-, defüing cheir opinion of what was to be 'done for defence of che País, and what _advancage mighc be ta- ken on che Enemy in chis preíent Conjunéture. Carvajal, who was che moíl: an- cient and principal Capcain, firíl: aníwered and faid, Sir, This day ic is my tura to ali:,_nor doth it belong to any perfon to go upon chis exploit bue my fel f No, Father, replied Pi farro, for 1 have need of your perfon and' couníel to.be a'lways near me on all emergencies which may happen, we have young and ílóut Oap- tains wich us, any o(.which will be ready and fit for chis Work. Carvajal ·replied again; This Enterpriíe, Sir , belongs to me , and I befeech your Lordfhip not ro ' den y