468 / 1070
44
2
Royal Commentariú.
BooK
L
So foon as the Ambaífadours were returned back again to their King, the
Spa–
niards
made rnany reflexions, and puc divers interpretations on the Meífage and
Prefents which were fent : Sorne were of opinion, that thofe Gifts and Oflerin~,
by how much che more rich and rnagnificent they were, by
fo
much more they
v..-ere to be fafpeél:ed; faofying chac they were defigned with intention to amufe
and lull chem into
a
kind of fecurity and confidence in their faith and fimplicicy,
and fo furprize and kili chem with more eafe and advantage; and therefore look-
, ing on chefe Prefents as fallacious, and defig0ed for traps and fnares, it was argued
that chey fhould be che more wacchfull and circumfpeél: in ali their proceedin~:
Howfoever che other
Spaniard,,
who were the greaceíl: number, being of a leís
fuípicious nature, were of opinion thac thefe Gifts and Offerings were onely evi-
' _dences of the good will of che
Indians :
And that though che Rules of
Milicary
:t>ifcipline did ohlige chem to be always vigilant and cautious
in
an Enemies Coun–
trey, yec chey could noc bue app)a,ud and eíl:eem the Magnificence of che
Inca,
the fuavicy of bis Words, and che Majeíl:y of bis Embaífy ; which
to
render more
honourable, he was pleafed to perform it by che hands of his Brocher, whoíe cour–
tefie and difcretion were very vifible. both in bis Reafons, and in bis Comporc–
ment ; though for want of a good Imerpreter
to
underlland the Language of
Cú.¿,.
~o,
much of his fenfe and words loíl: cheili true force and vigour : the which ap–
peared in his Speech, which feemed co be uccered in long Sentences, wich dieír
due Accents, Paufes and Periods ; bue in the rendering of chern, the Interpreca–
delivered chem in fuch broken Speeches, wichout coherence or fenfe, that chey were
fcarce intelligible
to
che
Spaniards
;
bue howfoever cbey cook al! in good parr, thac
w
hich was wanting in che words, being fupplied by che better effeél:s of Prefems.
Thac nighc, and feveral other days after, they cheered chemfelves with che Prefencs
of
Atahu11!pa,
and fo march~d towards
Caj{amarca,
where though chey found
noc
the
Inca,
as was éxpeél:ed, yec they were received chere by the
Jndian1;
who,
by
order of.che
King,
had aífembled both Nobles and Commoners to feafr and creac
the Off-fpring of che Sun, and Children of che God
Virtreocha,
íl:rowfog ali their
Chambers and Lodgings with Flowers, and fweec-finelliog Herbs; likewife
they
entertained chem wich plemy of Mear and Drink; checare and charge of al! which
was commicted to
Csdlqui Human,
\,Vho was the
Curaca;
or Lord,
of
Cajfamarcn
and who in obedience to the Comrnands of his King, did eadeavour to
exceed
~
all poims of civilicy and refpeél: towards che
Spani11rd1.
Bue amongíl: che many
Services which che
lndia111
füewed co chem, there was one of fingular remark.
which was, chac chey obferving chac che Bits and Curbs which che Horfes luid
j~
cheir mouchs, were made of !ron, they prefencly imagined thac the Iron was
theír
Meat ; and therefore noc to be defeél:ive in any point o
fServicetowards che
Spn–
niard1,
thfy readily brought feveral lngots of Gold and
Silv.er, which chey
laíd
in che Mangers befo¡-e tbe Horfes, defiring them
to
eac
of chofe Metals, whích
were much more delicate Meac chan che lron; the
SpatJiards
who ob(e1 ved
and
.laughed ac chis fimplicity of che
Jndian1,
commended rheir kindneís
to
che Hories
celling chem, chac chey could noc oblige them more, chan
by
giving them
good
ftore of thac Provinder.
CH A P.
1