Imatges de pàgina
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454

B. XVI. terpreter.

Ch. I.

Return of Pizarro to Panamá.

Pizarro and his companions were especially well received by an Indian lady near Reception Puerto de Santa. She did not even shrink from

of the

at the

house of

lady.

Spaniards coming on board their vessel for the purpose of inviting them to a feast, at which they were an Indian entertained with the greatest hospitality. After the banquet and the dance were over, Pizarro took occasion to deliver a religious and political discourse, in which he informed his entertainers of the nullity of their religion, the vainness of their sacrifices, and the obedience which it was necessary to pay to the King of Castille. The polite Indians, who probably did not understand one single word uttered by the Spanish Captain, took a flag which he had given them, and waved it, no doubt in imitation of some gesture of his, three times over their heads. This, I believe, was held to be an acknowledgment of subjection to the Emperor, though the Indians themselves, we may venture to say, were entirely guiltless of any such meaning. The Spaniards returned to their boat, the only misadventure being that one of their company, whose brain had most likely been affected by the hardships he had undergone, went mad for love of the Indian lady. The gallant company then made their way back to returns to Panamá, freighted with great news; and we need not doubt that the little world there, unless it were very different from other parts of the world, gave full honours to success, and omitted now to add the injurious name of loco, when they saw any of the three associates in the streets.

Pizarro

Panamá.

1527.

This was at the end of the year 1527.

CHAPTER II.

PIZARRO GOES TO THE SPANISH COURT-RETURNS
TO PANAMA-STARTS FOR THE CONQUEST OF
PERU-FOUNDS THE TOWN OF SAN MIGUEL.

IT

T was agreed by the partners that Pizarro B. XVI. should go to the Spanish Court, to bear the Ch. 2. good tidings thither, and to seek for due honours and rewards. The worthy schoolmaster seems to have had some misgiving about this journey, as he is reported to have said, "Please God, my children, that you do not steal the blessing one from the other, as Jacob did from Esau; but I would that you had gone both together.”

1528.

Pizarro arrived safely in Spain. He had not Pizarro however, long disembarked before he was seized goes to Spain. upon by that persistent Bachiller of law, Enciso, who put him in prison, probably for some claim which the Bachiller had against him in reference to the expedition of Ojeda. Pizarro was soon freed from this degrading imprisonment; and, making his way to the Spanish Court, was well received there. His main object was speedily accomplished. The government of Peru was assigned to him, the extent of that government being defined to be, two hundred leagues down the coast, province from Tenumpuela (the island of Puña is meant, I Pizarro.

Extent

of the

assigned to

456

Visit of Pizarro to his Native Town.

Ch. 2.

B. XVI. think) to Chincha;* the title of Adelantado was also given to him; and the bishopric of Tumbez was assigned to Fernando de Luque. Pizarro then went to visit his native town, Truxillo, in Estremadura. It is not often that a man has

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come back to his home with more renown; and he seems to have had the unusual fortune of inspiring his nearest relatives with some belief in him, or at least in his success. His brothers, join him in Fernando (who was the only legitimate one), Juan, Gonzalo, and Martin, resolved to sell their

Pizarro's brothers

his enter

prize.

Las cuales dichas ducientas leguas comienzan desde el pueblo que en lengua de indios se dice Tenumpuela, é despues le llamasteis Santiago, hasta llegar al pueblo de Chincha, que puede

haber las dichas ducientas leguas de costa, poco mas ó menos."See Agreement signed by the Queen of Spain as Regent, given in the Appendix to QUINTANA's Life of Pizarro.

Meeting of Pizarro and Almagro. 457

estates and to join their brother Francisco in his B. XVI. enterprize. This gathering of the family around Ch. 2. him apparently strengthened him much. His brother Fernando was a man of great ability, though of a nature and temperament which afterwards proved very detrimental to the Governor.

1530.

rejoins his

Notwithstanding all these present advantages, Pizarro found it difficult to furnish the necessary complement of men for his vessels; and it was only by a trick that he contrived to elude the Jan. 19, investigation of the King's Officers at Seville, who had orders to see that his vessels were duly furnished and equipped, before being allowed to depart. One hundred and twenty-five men were all that he could number, when he arrived at Nombre de Dios, from which port he made his way to Panamá. The meeting of the principal Pizarro partners was not at all friendly, for Almagro associates. was naturally much discontented at the neglect which Pizarro had shown of his interests at Court. Hitherto the only fruits of Almagro's enterprize had been the loss of his eye, and the various debts which he had rendered himself accountable for; and now he was not to share any of his partner's honours. It may here be mentioned that Pizarro, in addition to other marks of favour which he had received, had been appointed a Knight of the Order of Santiago.* The arrival, moreover, of Pizarro's brothers was not a pleasing circumstance to Almagro; and then began those

It is pleasing to find that the brave men who had stood by Pizarro in the Island of Gallo were made hidalgos.

458

Pizarro captures the Town of Coaque.

B. XVI. feuds between him and the Pizarros which afterCh. 2. wards led to the most deadly consequences.

Pizarro

sets out to

By the advice, however, of common friends -such as Fernando de Luque and Gaspar de Espinosa, who were deeply interested in the reconciliation of Pizarro and Almagro, the two associates were brought to terms; Pizarro agreeing to renounce the appointment of Adelantado in favour of Almagro, and binding himself not to ask any favour from the Spanish Court for himself, or his brothers, until he should have obtained a Government for his partner, to commence where the limits of his own ended.

The preparations for departure were then conquer completed, and Pizarro set sail from Panamá on Dec., 1530. the 28th of December, 1530, being the Feast of

Peru.

the Innocents,* in three small ships, carrying one hundred and eighty-three men and thirty-seven horses. In three days he entered the bay of San Mateo, which, as his secretary+ remarks, he had not been able to reach in two years and more when he reconnoitred it for the first time. Everywhere he found the people in arms against him. Advancing to the town of Coaque, he seized upon it, "lest it should revolt," and captured booty amounting to 15,000 pesos in gold, 1500 marks in silver, and many emeralds. Upon this good fortune he sent back his vessels with the spoil to

*This date is inferred from two passages in the Relacion of FRAY PEDRO DE NAHARRO, Doc. Inéd., pp. 237, 238.

FRANCISCO DE XEREZ.

Verdadera Relacion de la Conquista del Perú, y Provincia del Cuzco, embiada al Emperador Cárlos V. Salamanca, 1547.

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