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.

944 Rüyal . Commentaries. Boo« VII. When the Council was rifen, feveral of the Inhabitants of Cow and of the chamu, being men of Eíl:ates, to rhe number of about thiny, remmed again to che Maríhal, amongíl: which were l orenfO de. A!dana, 'fohn de Saavedra, Diego Mal- donado Gome"' A/varado, Pero Hernandez., Pamat,ua, Polo the Lawyer, {ohn OrtM de Carat:, Alonfo de Loayfa, [ohn de Sa!M the Agitane, Martin de Menefes, García de Meto rohn de Berrio¡ Anton Ruyz., de Guevara, Gonfalo de Soto, Diego de Truxiflo ai! of them' Adventurers in the conquefl of Peru ; who taking che Marfhal aftde, did eameílly entreat hirn to retraét his determinacion concerning the Battel ; that he would conftder of che fttuacion of the place wherein che enemy was poíl:ed, which was very firong; and rhat his own was equal to it, and as advamageouíly feated as theirs: that he fhould obíerve and remember w!1ar Rodrigo de Pineda aífured him of the ícarcity and want of all Proviftons in the Camp of Hernandez, by reafon of which they would be forced to quic their quarters diere in che fpace of three days.; that he fhould expeét untill the end of thac time and fee che iífoe, afrer which he mighc confider farcher, and cake fuch meaíures as fhould then feem moíl: advanta- geous and convenient : and .in the mean tim.e rhe enemy remained there before them, and ·could not cake a fhght through rhe a1r, but on rhe land onely; on which they might be intercepted and obfiruéted in cheir. paífage by orders and iníl:rufü. ons Cent to the Indian.r, whenas on the comrary, it could not but prove deíl:ruc- . ti ve to attack the Enemy in fo difficult a íl:arion; it was well known rhat che .event ofWar hath been alw:iys doubtfull ; and that to play fuch a deíperate game was to deliver up cheir Souldiers to ílaughter, and to íl:and íl:ill umil! they were all killed by che íhot of the Enemy ; That he fhould confider the íl:ace of his own Forces, which were in a rnuch more happy condicion chan che Enemy; for chey neither wanted Proviftons, nor the accendance of b:dians, nor ocher neceífaries to conferve them in che Camp. Thac che onely game tbey had now co play was to fiand íl:ill, and chat then a Viétory would follow of couríe, wichouc lofs or ha- zard of his men ; and that ir was noc good co advemure, without fome cogem rea- fons, che lofs of what they had already gained. Th~ Marfhal, noc refleéting, or · calling co mind, that on che farne River a Batee! of che nature of chis was ]oíl: (as befare related) anfwered with fome choler, that he had well confidered ali theíe paniculars; but chat it correíponded not with bis duty, nor was it reafo- nable or futable co their reputation, co fuffer fuch a company of pitifull Rebels to march away wich fuch boldnefs and infolence, and every nighc to alarm him in his Camp; which noc being able to fupporc any longer, he was refolved to fighc them that very day, noc doubcing but that before Sun-fetting, he fhould kili aod cut in pieces three hundred of cheir meo : wherefore he conjured chem to ralk no more of dec!ining che Batcel, but chat every one fhould repair to his charge and command, and acquit himíelf of bis duty, upon penalty of being proceeded againfl as Trairours and difobedient to the comrnand of cheir General. There was now no fa reher place far Anfwers and Replies, che Die was caíl: and the refo!ution fixed, which cauíed many of che principal men to dtpart wirh a heavy heart, ar.q ro difcouríe amongíl: chemíelves, that che Marfhal was prodigal of che lives of his Souldiers ; for if he looked upon chem as his Friends, his Kin- dred, or Sons, he would not expofe chem in chat manner to be deílroyed and ílaughrered by che Enemy. Bue whac could be faid more, it was their misfortune and unhappinefs to be fubjeéted to che command of a pafíionace and an inflexible General, who would not be períuaded to accepc of a Viétory which was offered to him, bue rather yield ir ro his Enemy at thé expence of their lives and fortunes: this and n:iuch more was expreífed, lamenting cheir condition, and prefaging as it were that ruine which eníued within the f pace of fix hours afterwards. Thus in defpair, che Captains, and moíl: confiderace of che Souldiers, prepared them- felves: though there were fome, who caking cheir meafures from che numbers, and looking opon themíelves as twelve hundred ro four hundred or chree hundred and fifry, were fo cerrain of fucceís as if che Enemy had been already in cheir hands: but cheíe did not confider che difficulties of the way ; or rhat chey had a deep and rapid River to pafs, nor che turnings and windings, and narrow paf- fages befare chey could come at the Enemy, whereby cheir Horíe would becorne uíelefs; and that nothing bue their Fire-arms could íerve, of which che Rebels were well provided, and cheir Souldiers foch excellem Marks-meo chat they could kili a finall Bird \~fith a fingle Bullet; amongfl which chere were fome ofmongliel 4 race, becween Spani11rds and Indiani, and parcicularly one called GrMado o[ ché Coumrey