4000003870

BooK

Royal Commentaries.

XXXl

Lope Martin

!ayes three Strannes

the Bridge over

the

River.

The Spies of

Gon~aio·

P1c;:arro

cut two of them

.off.

The

great

difiurbance which thi5 occafioned in· the

Royal

Camp.

Carvajal

gives order to

John de

Acofl:a

to defend the

pafs of

the River.

HE Gentlemen before mentioned, to whofe care it was committed to make

the Bridges, had provided all tl.e materials required thereunto.

Lope Martin

the

P~rtugue1,

co whom it belonged co ereet that at

Cotopampa,

expetling the Army

in a day's time; laid che firfi three Strannes on che Waters, which are the foun–

dation of the Bridge ; though he had received orders not to lay

any

until! the

coming of the Prelident.

Howfoever

Manin,

<hew his diligence and to anticipate a day, adventured

to Jay them, which proved a matter of great trouble and inconvenience to the

Prefident, Officers, and to the whole Army: for the Spies of

Pifar,,o,

being three

s1aniards

and eight

Indians

tracinp along the banks of the River, perceived the

three Strannes which were ca

over to their fide , and the little care there was to

defend them , adventured the night following to cut

them

with hatchets and co

them on fire; and proceeded fo far in their defign, that they cut

t\\'O

them before the guards could come from the ocher fide: but what they mofi ap–

prehended, was, chat the Enemy would hereby receive intelligence of their defign;

a d b fore they could pafs the Army over, they would have time co hinder and

difrurb them in their paifage;

that they fbould be confuained either co force

their way with great danger and hazard ; or otherwife

make their paffage

Accha,

which would be both incommodious ro the Army, and a difcou–

ragement and a lofs of reputation; and on the other fide it would raife mudi

the fpiritS of the Enemy, who might alfo give them the like interruption at

Ac–

cha.

Having confidered thefe matters, it was concluded, chat the onely fecure re–

medy and prevention was expedition ; and accordingly it was ordered, that

im- -

mediately after

Valdivia

and Captain

Palomino,

the General fhould march with the

Companies of

Pablo

de Menef

and

Hernan

Mexja

, (

which were Mufqueciers)

and endeavour, if

were poffible , co reach the Bridge that night ; and to pafs

over upon Floats to the other fide, both to defend the Bridge, and to give affi–

fience to the workmen employed in firecching the Strannes and fafining the Ropes.

Graviel

de Roj.u

was alfo appointed with his Cannon to hafren to the River, that

his

Indians

which belonged

the Artillery might alfo lend a helping hand to the

Work. Orders were alfo given to the other Coriipanies to follow the General ,

with whom the Prefident feeming co entertain difcourfe, he accompanied him fo

far, untill he came to the Banks' of the River, the BHhops foon followed after, whilft

the Marefchal remained

command the Camp,

&c.

Thas far

Palentino.

And here we will leave the Prefident and his Captains on their way, and em–

ploye~

in repairing and

~a~ing

their Bridge_;

to relate what

Gon2alo Pifarro

and his Officers were contnvmg at the fame ume, and what

Francifao

CarvaA

jttl

was pr jetting

counrermine hi Enemies, with the Strategems of War

·ch he was chiefly practifed. So foon as the Spies brought advice of what was

doin~

at the River of

Apurimac, G?nft:tlo Pif arro

called a Council of War, and com–

mumcated to them the News which was orought

him , defiriog their opinion

of what was to be done for defence of the Pafs, and what advantage might be ta–

ken on the Enemy in this prefent Conjuncrure.

Carvajal,

who was the rnofi an–

cient and

princ1pa~

Captain , firft anfwered and faid ,

Sir,

This day

turn

to alt, nor doth

belong to any perfon to go upon this exploit but my

felf.

Father, replied

Pifarro, for I

have need of your perfon and counfel

alway~

n~ar rn~

on all

emergenci.es

w~ich

may happen, we have young and flout Cap–

tai~s

with .us,

any of wh1~h

will

ready and

fi~

for this Work.

Carvajal

replied

again;

This Emerpnfe,

ir, belongs co

me)

and I befeech your Lordfhip nor

to.

· deny