995 / 1070
.
B
001(
VII.
.Royal Commmtariej.
Rebel's Anny expeél:ed
them in
Pucara,
with intention to give them Bat–
tel; _for, at
thac ci_me thcre were ,Fugirives from both Parties:, fome of
t~e Krng
s
Army
flyrn~
to the Rebels, and fome of che Rebels to che Roya
l1fts,
fo
t_hat by ~uch an mtercour[e no Counfels or Defignscould be concealed.
The Jufüces ~emg on the _mlirch to
Pucara,
fent away wirh all hafte to
ha~e the
1
Powder, Ammu~uon~ Match apd ·Bullec to be brought'
ro
them,
wh1ch had bi:;en lefr behmd
m
Antah1taitla,
by the negligence of
fome .
Offic~rs : Howfoever bt the care and diligence of
Pedro de
Cianea,
who was
ap~91nted for that Se_rv1c", fu~h expedition was made, that che Ammunicion
arnved at the Army
m
good time, and the day befare che Battel .
to
the greac
fatisfatl:ion and encouragement of the Army.
·
'
.
CH
A
P.
XXV.
The J(ing's
AmlJ
·
com_es to the place
where
the Rehels
had
fortified thenifelves.
They encamp in a Plain, and in–
trench;
feveral Sk}
rmifo.es· happen,
to the difadvantage
of
the King's
P
tJrty.
·
..
T
HE
Juftices, as they were on their march, received the
i1l
news of the un–
fottunate
lqfs
of
GtJmez.. de Solis
in
Areq~epá;
at wliich ~hough they were
much troubled, yet being that which could not be remedied, they difü:mbled
che refentment of it, and proceeded on their way to
Pucara,
where thc
Enemy had fortified themfelves to great advantage, in
a
place
fo
fituated,
and fi:rong by Nature, that they could not be attacked·on any fide:
it be–
ing
encornpaffed abouc with a Mountain fo fteep and cragged·, that it was
noc paffable without much difficulcy, andfeemed co be a waU madc
. by
Hand
and Art; the entrance thereunco was very narrow, \"!ith windings aüd turnings
to
che right, and left, bue che lódgment cherein was wide and capacious,
fuffi–
cient to receive their men, and bea!ts, with all the apputtenances belonging to
their Camp.
They·had ftore of all Provifions and Ammunition, for after
fo .
fignal a
V
iél:ory as chac obtained at
Ch11quinéa,
they could want nothing;
and moreover their bands
of.Negers,
or black Guard, ·brought daily in fuch
ProvilJOns as they found in the neighbouring Parts.
On the other fide, his
Majefües Camp was pitched in an open plain; without any natural Fortificáci–
on
ar .defence; and ill-provided eicher witb
V
iétuals or Arrimunicion,
(as we
have faid); howfoever not to lye open,and expofed to ~he 'f.nenfy,they intrench–
ed . in the befi: manner they were able; cafti¡ig up earth breaft high'roun~
the Camp; which was nót difficulc to be done, by the help óffo many
Indians,
who having been formerly ernplayed in cartying che Artillery, did.now ferve
far Pioneers, and other
Offices
belong_ing to che Camp; and by ch~ir labour in a
very fhort time a Trench was cafl: up quite round the
Army.Francifoo Hernandez.
obferving in what manner his Majefties Forces were encamped,mou.nted a battery
of Cannon on the top o_f a
Hill,
from whence he could Jhoot into the Enemies
Gamp; and oftentimes in bravery would lhodt over into the plains ; and thus
. ~ntini¡d firing ºday and night, ca the great difturbance of the Juftices and all
their Army : and howfoever (which is ftrange) che Bullets, as if chey had been
pellets of wind, did no hurt either to Man or Beaft : The which we mufl: attri.:.
buce to che-Myftery of Divine Providence, which would not permit chofe Guns
made and founded out of che confecrated Metal of Bells dedicated to God's
Servi~e,
to be ufeful in foch bloody Tragedies, as was obferve.d by conliderin§
m:::n, both in one Camp and
fn
the other. Boc~ At'mies being chas enc_amped
i_n
··fight of each other; che .Offic~rs and Sould~ers_ delired to lig~alize thetr
valour by
fome
feats of
A
rms;
in
the
fidt
Sk1rm1fhes cwo Sould1ers of good
Reputation on the King's
fidc
were killed,
and .
five
or
fix
o.cher?
ran
Gg gggg
away