176 / 1060
)
R.oyal
Commentaries.
BooK
V.
came, the Van-guard of the Enemy appeared on the top of
the
Mountain
called
RJmac·tampu;
where having notice that the
Inca
lay encamped about five
Leagnes
off,
they
made
a
halt, and paffed
theWord to the
Rere,
that
both the Main
Body
and Rere-guard iliould hafien to come up and joyn with the Van of the
Army.
In
this
manner and order
hav~g
marched the whole day, they came at length
and
joined at
Sacfahuana,
a
place d1ftant about three Leagues and a half from
the Quar–
ters of the Prince
Viracocha
;
where afterwards
that
famous Batte! was given
be–
tween
Gonfalo
Pifarro,
and
de
la Git/ca.
)
.
C H · A
P. ·
XVIII.
Of the Bloudy Battel which foUowed, and the Courage
with
which the Prince overcame his Enemies.
T
HE
Prince
Piracocha
fent
his Ambaffadours to the Enemy then
encamped at
Sacfahuana,
with offers of peace and friendil1ip, promifmg to them Pardon,
and an Alt of Oblivion for all that was paft. But the
Chancas
being well infor–
med that the
Inca
Yahuar-huacac
had left
his
City, and retired into
fome
remote
part ; they were
fo
encouraged thereby, that though they kn€-W-Ihat the Prince
his
Son
was
in
Arms,
and in a pofiure to defend the City ; yet they fo flighted
his
AmbaiTudours, that they would oot fo much
as
hear them, or give chem Audi–
ence
~
for being puft up with the vain opinion, that the Father being fled,
the
Son would fpeedily give place, promifed to themfelves an affurance of Victory,
with thefe hopes ; next day following
they
removed their Camp from
Sacfahuana,
and
marched towards
Couo;
and though
they
made what hafie they were able;
yet
in
regard they were
to
March
in
order of Battel , the night came on before
they could arrive
at
the Prince,s Camp, and therefore they pitched about
half
a
League fhort of the Enemies Quarter
:
otwithfianding which, the
Inca Vtr1icocha
difpatched other Me!fengers
to
mern with Tenders ofPeace and Pardon; but the
ChancariliH
continued obfiinate, not vouchfafing other Anfwer, than
with great
fcom and difdain; faying, That
to
morrow it fhould be determined who de–
ferved the Title -0f King, and in '' hofe power it was to offer Peace, and Condi–
tions of Pardon.
This
Anfwer being given, both Armies remained the whole night upon their
Guard, with Centinels fet on each fide; and in the morning, by break of day,
the Squadrons Arming themfelves,
with
great Noife and bouts, with found of
Trumpets, and Timbrels, and Cornets, they began the on-fer. The
lnca
Piracocha
marching
in
the head ofhis Army, was he that threw the
firfi
Dart
at the Enemy,
·with which the Batte! began. The
Chancas
in
hopes of Victory, of' hich
they
feemed to be affured, fought with great refolution :· And the
lnca.r,
who did not
defpair neither of
fuccel~,
adventured to refcue the Life of their Prince, and
re–
venge the affront which the Rebels offered. The Fight continued unrill Noon,
being
maintained with equal Courage on both fides ; the flaughter
~as
great, and
not
as
yet determined to \vhich party the Vittory inclined :
At
length the
5
ooo
I ndians
\"-
hicb lay
in
At;nbu{h maae their
fally,
and
with
exn·aordinary refolution
and {bouts attacking the right
Wing
of the Enemy, began
to
give a
turn to
For–
tune ;
for
being frefh, they
fo
preffed rhe
Chanca&,
that they were forced to give
lvay;
and retreat with
great
lo.G and ilaughter: Howfoever, animating one the
other, they ogaged a fecond time encieavouring
to
recover the Ground
which
they had loll, being enraged to meet that oppolitioo '"'hi h they never expelted,
and
fo
much difficulty in attaining a Vittory which they promifed
to
themfelves
\ ith
fo
much
eafe
and affurance..
After