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 VIL Royal Com_me!ltaries. ~~~~~~ ~~~~ this method, things ·had fucceeded well, it were not good to change t hc courfe of their proce:dings, leít therewith they fhould change and alter .rh.: Curredt of their Fortune: An Example whereof they had feen and proved by che Enemies fuc cefs at Chitquinc.i. How coofident, fa id they, wcre they of Vitto- ry, aod with what heat and courage did they a!lail us, and how on a fuddcl) were they overthrown and defeaced ? Notwitbftanding all this Difcourfe, · 1 Hernandez.. declared his R efolution to beat up tbe Enemies Quarters that Night with the force of all his Army; and that he would never turn bis Back to the Juftices; for fome Wife Old Woman bad f9retold good fuccefs to him in that place: wberefore he intreated them ali, 'hot to <;ontradiél: or oppoÍe him in this fnatter, but to prepare t:hémfelves for that nigbt's Eoterprife. Thus ending the Confolcation, the Captains arofe very much difcomented, ~od out of humour, feeing fucha Ref9lutioo taken as wascontrary to the com- mon Opinion of all the Officers,of the Army, aod which was fo foll of hazard and danger, that they feemed rather to be led forth to Slaughter, tban to che doubtful chance of War: And though ¡he General obferved fadnefs and a cloud on tbe Brow of ali bis Captains, yet depending on bis Sorceries and Enchantments, nothing could alter che Refolution he had taken; but Orders were given to prepare for an Affault after Midnight, about fetting .of the Moon, and becaufe it would be.then . dark, every one was to be cloathed in White, to diíl:inguifh ,,themfelves from the Enemy. After Sun-fet a Mufter was taken of all the Souldiers, whereby two Souldiers appeared to be want- ing, who formerly belonged tp the Maríhal, and wer~ ~ufpeéted to be revol- ted over to the Ktng's Party ; but fome, who werit wllhng to pleafe Hernan- dez., did aver, that they were informed by Indians, That one of th9fe milling, who wa·s the moft confiderable ,of tbe two, was feen and met ,on his.way to- wards the Charcas ; and the otber of lefs account, was a Man fo filly, and ' without Senfe, that the Juftices would never give credit to any Report he fhould make them. · Thefe Stories were fufficient to fatisfie Hernandez., who with an unparallelled temerity gave ord~rs for all tbings to be in a readinefs againft the hour appointéd. Th~ two Souldiers, who were fled, carne though tate to his Majefties Camp, where tbey gave intelligence of the intention- of the Enemy to attack them that Night in two Bodies, for perceiving that they did not attempt them within their Fortification, they refolved themfelves to be the firft Affailants. The Juftices, Officers, and Counfellors, who were , of-the moíl: Ancient Conquernurs of Peru, and who by long experience in War, were become great Souldiers, were of Opinioi:,, that it was better to falley out of their Intrenchment, and to draw up their Forces in .the open Field, 1ather than to light within their '.Trenches, which were ftrait, and filled with Tents, Mules; and Indians, which would be incumbrances, and obftrultions in the time of Battel. And though many things were urged againft this defign, faying, Tbat Cowards, aod Men of little Courage, would fight · better under tbe íhelter of a Mud-wall, than in open Field ; yet by Gods Merey and Providepce, the firfr Refolution prevailed, and both Horfe and Foot were drawn forth in to the Plain. wbich forméd a very handfome ' Squadron, well furnifhed and p~ovided with Mufqueteers, and lin~d with Pikes and Halberds, and eleven pteces of great and heavy Cannon. , e_ HA P.-