Civil Wars in Peru, The war of Las Salinas, by Pedro de Cieza de León

Sir Clements Markham, Sir Clements Markham

• Publisher: Hakluyt Society
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781317165484
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia del mundo

Book I of Cieza's chronicle, translated, with an introduction. For other sections of the same source, in volumes variously titled, see Second Series 31 and 42. This is a new print-on-demand hardback edition of the volume first published in 1923.

CHAPTER I
How the Adelantado Don Diego de Almagro, going by the Valley of Yucay, arrived where there was a garrison of the Inca and of what took place with the Inca’s captain who was there

As yet the Indians were not pacified, nor had the Spaniards entirely won their friendship. The Spaniards still kept in their houses the clothes, swords, and shields used when they discovered these provinces. The cities they had so successfully founded had not yet the importance, nor the adornment with sumptuous edifices, such as might be expected to have been made by Spaniards. The cords still existed with which the plans of such cities had been laid out, but the plans had no special value, for foundations were needed before magnificence could follow.

Finally the southern regions or equinoctial provinces had become generally known through the reports of the victory won by the Spaniards.

The Spaniards then turned their arms against each other, with great cruelty and recklessness, not having the fear of God nor reverence for His Imperial Majesty before their eyes, nor yet loyalty enough to comply with the behests of their own fathers, nor love for their brethren.

In order that they might commit greater cruelties on each other, they even deserted their wives and children, not perceiving that peace has such excellent and singular power that without it the world could no longer exist. Indeed it would wholly perish, for peace keeps all things in continual rest and tranquillity and enables them to grow, being the mother and originator of all virtues. Thucidides says, that peace is the best of all good things, and war the worst of all evils. St Augustine says that a peaceful man has a steadfast heart and is surrounded by a company of angels, and is full of the fruits of delight; all his affairs work for peace. He flies from discord, illumines the secrets of the soul, and is worthy to be the companion of angels. Other great and learned men condemn wars and speak in praise of peace. The Spaniards of Peru were not capable of such kindliness but were ready to fly at one another’s throats¹. The first disturbance and civil war in that kingdom was excited in 1537 and lasted until 1548, when the last battle took place, in the valley of Xaquixaguana between the President Gasca and Gonzalo Pizarro². I should be well pleased, if I had not to write of such sad events, but in order that the coming ages may understand the mad proceedings of these people, although my dull mind may be as rugged as of yore, I promise to trim my quill well to relate them.

He who has read the preceding volume³ will remember how I said in it that the Adelantado Don Diego de Almagro left Captain Juan de Sayavedra in Urcos with 250 Spaniards, horse and foot, while he, with the rest, numbering 200, went to the valley of Yucay where he thought that Manco Inca would come to him peacefully as it had been so arranged by letters. Leaving Urcos he marched until he arrived at a pueblo called Calica, where there was an Inca garrison. The captain of this garrison was a valiant youth of the lineage of Hanan-Cuzco, and was stationed there with six thousand warriors to do what he might be ordered.

As Manco Inca had decided to go to Yucay, he had sent instructions to this chief not to attack Almagro, until it was settled by them at Yucay what should be done.

When Almagro and his Spaniards arrived at the place where the garrison was stationed, he ordered the cavalry to skirmish in the plaza which was near where the Indians were camped, and some of the horses, not well controlled, came to a halt among the Indians in such a way that some of them were trampled underfoot.

Then the captain, whose age was about twenty-five, well made and manly in appearance, went up to the Adelantado Almagro and said:

I, with the men you see with me, oh great Captain, am keeping the frontier against the Christians who are in Cuzco. As I knew that you were coming from the direction of Chile, and had formed your camp at Urcos, I went to entreat Manco Inca to give me leave to make war on you with those under my command. For as you marched without care under the impression that we were going to make peace with you, I think that I might have done you Christians great damage. However, Manco Inca decided not to take my sensible advice, but rather to give ear to your persuasions, you, who are as much his enemies as those in Cuzco. Think not, oh Almagro, that the neighing of your horses frightens me, nor the sight of the iron points of the lances you carry. What has surprised me is that you have had the temerity to enter these parts, for those of Cuzco have always feared to do so. If it were not for the orders of the Inca against it, I would do a great thing, that is I would surround your men and kill them so that not one would be left alive.

He made this speech to the Adelantado with such pride and haughtiness that I know not whether it arose from the strength he felt in his own arm or the power of those under his command, since he showed little fear of those who, by the divine will, had conquered the Empire of the Indies. Don Alonzo de Montemayor was present at this interview and he told me what had passed.

The Adelantado, unmoved by anything that had been said, answered laughingly

It is quite clear that you are a boy and that, by reason of your youth, you do not wish that what you have said should be taken seriously. Yet if you knew how resolute and valiant the Spaniards are who come with me, I am sure you would speak with more care, and would remember the experience of your elders who, notwithstanding all the forces they brought against Cuzco, were unable to defend themselves against the two hundred Spaniards who held it. Do you want me to believe that you have now the valour to attack the five hundred Spaniards who accompany me, so dexterous in fighting from having no other employment but warfare? Were it not for the negotiations between the Inca and myself I would chastise you. But I will not do so for the Spaniards are not accustomed to kill or capture anyone by treachery or stratagems, although they may know them to be deceitful and of evil intention.

The Indian captain then answered and said:

I am unable in any way to prove my power against you that you may know my valour which I have by aid of the Sun, or I believe that none of those who come with you would fail to be left dead on the field. I will send messengers to the Inca to relate what I have said to you.

Almagro laughed still more, saying that the captain could send what message he liked to the Inca.

As soon as this had happened Almagro left the place.

¹ Literally were knives for their throats.

² This was not the last civil war. The rebellion of Giron followed a few years afterwards.

³ Not yet discovered, if indeed it still exists.

CHAPTER II
How Gonzalo Pizarro arrived at the city of Cuzco, and how it was resolved by the Spaniards to reconnoitre the force that was at Ur cos, and what happened

WHEN Gonzalo Pizarro had returned to Cuzco, it became known to Hernando Pizarro that Almagro had gone to Yucay to treat for peace with Manco Inca, having left the greater part of his force at Urcos. Hernando, therefore, called a meeting of all the principal people of the city. And there came before him the captains Gonzalo Pizarro, Gabriel de Rojas¹, Hernan Ponce de Leon, Pedro del Barco, DIEGO Mendez¹, the treasurer Alonzo Riquelme¹, Don Alonzo Enriquez¹, Pedro de los Rios and others. Hernando Pizarro told them the news he had from the Indians that Almagro had come back from Chile with all the men he had taken from that city. This news, he said, was doubtful, for it seemed to him that as the Adelantado had been so desirous of discovering new lands and had made such a point of it, and considering that he had 500 Spaniards with him, it was not an honourable thing to return to the land he had left without seeing or finding such lands, for what he might have discovered would have been of great profit to his friends and allies.

Again he assured them that the Adelantado was encamped at Urcos and that he did not understand why, being so near, he had not sent some horsemen to tell them of his arrival, knowing as he did (for he would already have heard it) of the great exigency and struggle the Indians had forced on them, and he prayed God that the Adelantado’s intentions were honourable and that his return would not give rise to further troubles in the land. He now wished to hear the opinions of those assembled. His own vote was that they should go and see with their own eyes whether what the Indians had reported was true. As soon as Hernando Pizarro had finished what he had to say, those who were present began to give their opinions one to another. Some thought it would be best for fifty mounted men to go to Urcos and ascertain the intentions of Almagro’s followers. Others were of opinion that, leaving the necessary garrison in the city, all should set out armed. After some discussion it was decided that Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro and the other captains should go with such a force of Spaniards as seemed desirable, leaving some for the defence of the city. Accordingly Hernando Pizarro, Gonzalo Pizarro, and Hernan Ponce with most of the people of the city, set out from Cuzco on the road for Urcos, where the camp of Almagro was said to be established.

After riding for four leagues they came to a place called Mohina¹, which was full of lagoons and morasses. The Indians had made trenches whence they shot darts and stones from slings at the Spaniards. As they approached, Hernando Pizarro, seeing the resistance made by the Indians, went round that place and marched for a league to the south, where the water from those ponds and swamps flows out, and led his party, by a more practicable route, to the trenches. The Indians sent forth great cries, on seeing the Spaniards passing over the trenches in spite of them, killing and wounding all those Indians they could reach with their lances. As the Indians were very numerous they wounded several Spaniards and some of the horses. The Spaniards heard the Indians loudly shouting out “Take care, Christians of Cuzco, wait a little, Almagro has already come and will kill you all! ”

Pressing on half a league Hernando Pizarro and his party came on the hoof-marks of horses and the tracks made by the Adelantado’s party on its way to Yucay. When Hernando Pizarro and his followers perceived that Christians had passed that way, and remembered the threats of the Indians, they were very much astonished, saying, “ What could it mean, and why was the Adelantado not going to the city with his men, and what was the reason they did not know his intentions?” Hernando Pizarro did not delay in making it plain, that if anyone should attempt anything to his dishonour, he would risk his life in resisting it, being under the impression that the Adelantado would try to lay hold on some part of the territory that Pizarro, his brother, governed, under the decree which he [his brother] had sent to him by Juan de Herrada.

Still they agreed to continue on the road to Urcos, to see the camp that was there.

At this time the Indians, shouting loudly, came to the camp of Juan de Sayavedra, and asked the Spaniards why they did not come out against those Christians of Cuzco, their enemies, for Manco Inca and Almagro are arranging to kill them all, Sayavedra, knowing that the Spaniards of Cuzco had set out and were near his camp, gave orders to his forces to arm themselves and to form in order of battle. He told Don Cristóbal Ponce de Leon to take charge of the infantry while he himself commanded the cavalry, and so all was got ready.

In addition to the fact that the Adelantado wished to get himself received as Governor in Cuzco, the principal persons in his company believing that, should he become Governor through their support, they would receive the best repartimientos (the foretime owners being turned out), and looking only to their own interests, did not wish to lead matters to an agreement, even should the other party desire it.

Although Almagro was absent from Urcos, Sayavedra and the others exclaimed “What do these Pizarros come for? Do they think we are going to be deceived by their words?” He promptly ordered two Spaniards, named Cristóbal de Sosa and Alonzo Arias to approach the men coming from Cuzco and find out their numbers and in what order they were coming, and not to come back until they were certain. They were to bid Hernando Pizarro to do no injury to the Indians, because that land fell within the jurisdiction of the Adelantado Don Diego de Almagro, who was treating for peace with the Inca Manco, and he should tell his followers not to be so furious against the Indians nor delight in killing so many of them, as the Indians, with great lamentation, said they had done in the recent battle.

Hernando Pizarro and the other Spaniards from Cuzco continued to approach Urcos, and the Indians came out, crying, with loud voices, that now was the time come to be avenged on those who had killed so many of their friends and relations, for the Inca was arranging an alliance with Almagro, and to kill all the Spaniards in Cuzco; for the Sun was now content to show favour to his people, while the good fortune which had hitherto attended the Spaniards had come to an end.

When the captains heard the Indians speaking so earnestly and with such assurance and saw them awaiting their approach without fear, they did not know what to say.

Knowing that the Adelantado was a Christian and a servant of the King, they could not believe that he was negotiating with the Inca, who was their enemy. On the other hand it was strange that, being so near the city, he should have sent no message to announce his approach and his intentions. This made them suspect that he intended to try something that was not for their benefit.

Finally, marching towards Urcos with these reflections they arrived at a place near to where the men from Chile had pitched their camp. Here they observed a great crowd of Indians and among them two Spaniards on horseback, who were those sent by Juan de Sayavedra. When the Indians saw them so near at hand they threatened them and shot many stones from their slings. Hernando Pizarro seeing in a moment that the Indians were obstructing his men, and that the two Spaniards were not reprehending them for it, but, on the contrary, were pleased at it, turned to his comrades and said “Let us go at these villains who are harming us so shamelessly.” When he said this, grasping their lances, they charged the Indians killing and wounding many and sparing none.

As the fight proceeded Hernando Pizarro noticed that the two Spaniards were stationed where the Indians were strongest, and he was then convinced that Almagro had arranged some treachery.

The two Spaniards watched the skirmish between the Christians and the Indians but d...