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 Commentarier. BooK VI. guard che four Veífels which they brought with them, and the other fou~ they had taken in Port: Salguero, as we have faid, was fent with thirty rnen to the River of chagre to take poífeffio.n of the Silver ~hich was·robbed there : Hern.a~do de Contrmu himfelf marched w1th fony Souldms more by way of Capira to fe1fe rhe Prelident and fack Nombre de .Dios; both which exploits he thought very eaGe to be done by a Íl)rprife; and {ohn de.Bermejo with an hundred ~nd fifty rnen íl:aid at Panama to keep and defend that City. And befides thefe p1eces of fooliíh ma~ nagement and rnifcarriages, th_ey were ÍQ inconfiderate a~ to entruíl: the rnerchan- dife which they had robbed m the hands of the Pr.opnetors thernfelves, and to other perfons of reputation and note on fecurity onely of Bonds under their hand- writing to yield them up to Hernando de ContrertU, when he fhould return ·from Nombre de Dios ; and [o far were they tranfported with vain confidence, that they looked upon chemfelves as Maíl:ers of ali the new world. And accordingly they gave out their Warrants to take up all Horfes an~ M~les that could be found, and to rnounr their Souldiers thereon, and to go to the rehef and aflifience of Hernando de Contrmu if occafion fhould be. And with this Equipage Bermejo depaned the City, Jeaving it to ic felf, and with as much aífurance of faithfulneís as if it had been his own Houfe: whereas on the contrary, had they embarked all the Gold and Silver they had robbed upon their Ships, togecher with the Jewels, Merchan- dife and other Booty, and had gene away chemfelves therewith, they had totally defüoyed and ruined the Prefidenr and all his Adherents. But they neicher de- ferving fo much good, nor the Prefident fo much evil, the wheel of fortune tur- ned, as we fhall fee by the fequel. Fer fo foon as it was day, thofe who had efcaped out by night, whilíl: they were plundring the Cicy, one of which was hiM d1 4~evedo, ( of whom che Hi-· fiory makes rnention) difpatched away a Servant ofhis to Nombre de Dios, to give inrelligence to the Prdidenc Gafta o[ all chat the Rebels had done at Panama: and chough as yec che advice was imperfeét, yet it ferved to alarm che Pre{]dent in fuch manner as chac neither he nor his People were totally unprovided. On the ocher Gde, the Inhabitants of che City, whom {ohn de Bermejo lefc with fo much confidence, and repofed chac Truíl: in as to commic a greac pare of his fpoil to cheir care and cuíl:ody ; no fooner was his back turned chan they aífembled cogether, rang out che Bells of che Town, and fell to fortifying che Cíty on the fide towards the Sea, and to fecure che paífage oo che way of Capira, in cafe the enemy íliould attack them oo either fide : At che found of the Bells all the neighbouring Inha- bicancs carne in with their Arms, being attended with their Negroes, thac in a íliort time becween \Vhite mea and Tawny they made up a force of above five hundred men, all refo!ute to die in defence of che Cicy. Two of the Souldiers belonging to [ohn de Bermejo, wbo fer want of Horfes were left bebind, hearing che n.oife and confufion amongfl: the people, fled away to give advice to cheir Commander how che Cicy was in rebellion, and again remrned .to the obedience of his Majeíl:y: Of which (ohn de Bermejo fei:lt irnmediate advice to Hernanda de Contreri:u, giving him to underíl:and· tbat he..¡ivas going to Panama, to cut thofe Traitours in, pieces wbo had fa!íly violated t~ir Oath and Faicb to chem: aod [o he recurned thither with eonfidence of becoming Maíl:er of it wirh as much ea fe as formerly ; bue things h~ppened out quite contrary to his expeétation, for che Ci- tizens, tq•,prevenr che burning of cheir Cicy, (whicb was all builc ,of Timber) came foPth to encounter him in che way, and mee (oh11 de Bermejo forrified on che fide of an Hill, where they atcacked húm wich great .courage; for being angry and afhamed of the late difgracefull ufage,. they fought with che more bravery: ac ~he nríl: aífau!t it was not known which parcy had gained che advantage, bue at che focond, the Cicizens fighting like defperate meo, and full of revenge, over- whelmed their enemies with their numbers ofWhite and Black men; amongíl: which Bermejo and SalgHero were both killed with about eighty more ; as rnany more were taken, and carried away to the City; where being put ali to- gecher in an open yard, the chief Bailiffof the Town (whofe name we fhall not mention) carne in amongíl: them wirh two Negro Servants, and wich Daggers fiabbed chem to death, whilíl: with load out-críes they defired time for Confef- fion. Palentino faith that, dying v:.rirhout Confeffion, they were buried on che Sea-fhore. The news of chis misfonune was foon brought to che hearing of Her- nando de Contrmu, who upon the advi_ce fo~merly given by Bermejo, was upon his march back to Pan{!ma; and confidenng h1mfelf now as a !oíl: man and ruined, he.