Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0071/00718.txt

Text File | 1993-07-27 | 21KB | 351 lines

$Unique_ID{bob00718}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{History Of The Conquest Of Peru
Chapter I: Part I}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Prescott, William H.}
$Affiliation{}
$Subject{pizarro
de
que
la
el
footnote
new
se
en
ms
see
pictures
see
figures
}
$Date{1864}
$Log{See Pizarro And Charles V*0071801.scf
}
Title:       History Of The Conquest Of Peru
Book:        Book III: Conquest Of Peru
Author:      Prescott, William H.
Date:        1864

Chapter I: Part I

Pizarro's Reception At Court. - His Capitulation With The Crown. - He Visits
His Birthplace. - Returns To The New World. - Difficulties With Almagro. - His
Third Expedition. - Adventures On The Coast. - Battles In The Isle Of Puna.

     1528-1531.

     Pizarro and his officer, having crossed the Isthmus, embarked at Nombre
de Dios for the old country, and, after a good passage, reached Seville early
in the summer of 1528.  There happened to be at that time in port a person
well known in the history of Spanish adventure as the Bachelor Enciso.  He
had taken an active part in the colonization of Tierra Firme, and had a
pecuniary claim against the early colonists of Darien, of whom Pizarro was
one.  Immediately on the landing of the latter, he was seized by Enciso's
orders, and held in custody for the debt.  Pizarro, who had fled from his
native land as a forlorn and houseless adventurer, after an absence of more
than twenty years, passed, most of them, in unprecedented toil and suffering,
now found himself on his return the inmate of a prison.  Such was the
commencement of those brilliant fortunes which, as he had trusted, awaited
him at home.  The circumstance excited general indignation; and no sooner was
the Court advised of his arrival in the country, and the great purpose of his
mission, than orders were sent for his release, with permission to proceed
at once on his journey.

     Pizarro found the emperor at Toledo, which he was soon to quit, in order
to embark for Italy.  Spain was not the favorite residence of Charles the
Fifth, in the earlier part of his reign.  He was now at that period of it
when he was enjoying the full flush of his triumphs over his gallant rival
of France, whom he had defeated and taken prisoner at the great battle of
Pavia; and the victor was at this moment preparing to pass into Italy to
receive the imperial crown from the hands of the Roman Pontiff.  Elated by
his successes and his elevation to the German throne, Charles made little
account of his hereditary kingdom, as his ambition found so splendid a career
thrown open to it on the wide field of European politics.  He had hitherto
received too inconsiderable returns from his transatlantic possessions to
give them the attention they deserved.  But, as the recent acquisition of
Mexico and the brilliant anticipations in respect to the southern continent
were pressed upon his notice, he felt their importance as likely to afford
him the means of prosecuting his ambitious and most expensive enterprises.

     Pizarro, therefore, who had now come to satisfy the royal eyes, by
visible proofs, of the truth of the golden rumors which, from time to time,
had reached Castile, was graciously received by the emperor.  Charles
examined the various objects which his officer exhibited to him with great
attention.  He was particularly interested by the appearance of the llama,
so remarkable as the only beast of burden yet known on the new continent; and
the fine fabrics of woollen cloth, which were made from its shaggy sides,
gave it a much higher value, in the eyes of the sagacious monarch, than what
it possessed as an animal for domestic labor.  But the specimens of gold and
silver manufacture, and the wonderful tale which Pizarro had to tell of the
abundance of the precious metals, must have satisfied even the cravings of
royal cupidity.

[See Pizarro And Charles V: Pizarro describes to Charles V of Spain the
tempting riches of Peru]

     Pizarro, far from being embarrassed by the novelty of his situation,
maintained his usual self-possession, and showed that decorum and even
dignity in his address which belong to the Castilian.  He spoke in a simple
and respectful style, but with the earnestness and natural eloquence of one
who had been an actor in the scenes he described, and who was conscious that
the impression he made on his audience was to decide his future destiny.  All
listened with eagerness to the account of his strange adventures by sea and
land, his wanderings in the forests, or in the dismal and pestilent swamps
on the sea-coast, without food, almost without raiment, with feet torn and
bleeding at every step, with his few companions becoming still fewer by
disease and death, and yet pressing on with unconquerable spirit to extend
the empire of Castile, and the name and power of her sovereign; but when he
painted his lonely condition on the desolate island, abandoned by the
government at home, deserted by all but a handful of devoted followers, his
royal auditor, though not easily moved, was affected to tears.  On his
departure from Toledo, Charles commended the affairs of his vassal in the
most favorable terms to the consideration of the Council of the Indies. ^1

[Footnote 1: Pedro Pizarro, Descub. y Conq., Ms. - Naharro, Relacion Sumaria,
Ms. - Conq. i. Pob. del Piru, Ms.

     "Hablaba tan bien en la materia, que se llevo los aplausos y atencion
en Toledo donde el Emperador estaba diole audiencia con mucho gusto, tratolo
amoroso, y oyole tierno, especialmente cuando le hizo relacion de su
consistencia y de los trece compañeros en la Isla en medio de tantos
trabajos." Montesinos, Annales, Ms., año 1528.]

     There was at this time another man at court, who had come there on a
similar errand from the New World, but whose splendid achievements had
already won for him a name that threw the rising reputation of Pizarro
comparatively into the shade.  This man was Hernando Cortes, the Conqueror
of Mexico.  He had come home to lay an empire at the feet of his sovereign,
and to demand in return the redress of his wrongs, and the recompense of his
great services.  He was at the close of his career, as Pizarro was at the
commencement of his; the Conqueror of the North and of the South; the two men
appointed by Providence to overturn the most potent of the Indian dynasties,
and to open the golden gates by which the treasures of the New World were to
pass into the coffers of Spain.

     Notwithstanding the emperor's recommendation, the business of Pizarro
went forward at the tardy pace with which affairs are usually conducted in
the court of Castile.  He found his limited means gradually sinking under the
expenses incurred by his present situation, and he represented, that, unless
some measures were speedily taken in reference to his suit, however favorable
they might be in the end, he should be in no condition to profit by them.
The queen, accordingly, who had charge of the business, on her husband's
departure, expedited the affair, and on the twenty-sixth of July, 1529, she
executed the memorable Capitulation, which defined the powers and privileges
of Pizarro.

     The instrument secured to that chief the right of discovery and conquest
in the province of Peru, or New Castile, - as the country was then called in
the same manner as Mexico had received the name of New Spain, - for the
distance of two hundred leagues south of Santiago.  He was to receive the
titles and rank of Governor and Captain-General of the province, together
with those of Adelantado, and Alguacil Mayor, for life; and he was to have
a salary of seven hundred and twenty-five thousand maravedis, with the
obligation of maintaining certain officers and military retainers,
corresponding with the dignity of his station.  He was to have the right to
erect certain fortresses, with the absolute government of them; to assign
encomiendas of Indians, under the limitations prescribed by law; and, in
fine, to exercise nearly all the prerogatives incident to the authority of
a viceroy.

     His associate, Almagro, was declared commander of the fortress of
Tumbez, with an annual rent of three hundred thousand maravedis, and with the
further rank and privileges of an hidalgo.  The reverend Father Luque
received the reward of his services in the Bishopric of Tumbez, and he was
also declared Protector of the Indians of Peru.  He was to enjoy the yearly
stipend of a thousand ducats, - to be derived, like the other salaries and
gratuities in this instrument, from the revenues of the conquered territory.

     Nor were the subordinate actors in the expedition forgotten.  Ruiz
received the title of Grand Pilot of the Southern Ocean, with a liberal
provision; Candia was placed at the head of the artillery; and the remaining
eleven companions on the desolate island were created hidalgos and
cavalleros, and raised to certain municipal dignities, - in prospect.

     Several provisions of a liberal tenor were also made, to encourage
emigration to the country.  The new settlers were to be exempted from some
of the most onerous, but customary taxes, as the alcabala, or to be subject
to them only in a mitigated form.  The tax on the precious metals drawn from
mines was to be reduced, at first, to one tenth, instead of the fifth imposed
on the same metals when obtained by barter or by rapine.

     It was expressly enjoined on Pizarro to observe the existing regulations
for the good government and protection of the natives; and he was required
to carry out with him a specified number of ecclesiastics, with whom he was
to take counsel in the conquest of the country, and whose efforts were to be
dedicated to the service and conversion of the Indians; while lawyers and
attorneys, on the other hand, whose presence was considered as boding ill to
the harmony of the new settlements, were strictly prohibited from setting
foot in them.

     Pizarro, on his part, was bound, in six months from the date of the
instrument, to raise a force, well equipped for the service, of two hundred
and fifty men, of whom one hundred might be drawn from the colonies; and the
government engaged to furnish some trifling assistance in the purchase of
artillery and military stores.  Finally, he was to be prepared, in six months
after his return to Panama, to leave that port and embark on his
expedition. ^2

[Footnote 2: This remarkable document, formerly in the archives of Simancas,
and now transferred to the Archivo General de las Indias in Seville, was
transcribed for the rich collection of the late Don Martin Fernandez de
Navarrete, to whose kindness I am indebted for a copy of it. - It will be
found printed entire, in the original, in Appendix, No. 7.]

     Such are some of the principal provisions of this Capitulation, by which
the Castilian government, with the sagacious policy which it usually pursued
on the like occasions, stimulated the ambitious hopes of the adventurer by
high-sounding titles, and liberal promises of reward contingent on his
success, but took care to stake nothing itself on the issue of the
enterprise.  It was careful to reap the fruits of his toil, but not to pay
the cost of them.

     A circumstance, that could not fail to be remarked in these provisions,
was the manner in which the high and lucrative posts were accumulated on
Pizarro, to the exclusion of Almagro, who, if he had not taken as conspicuous
a part in personal toil and exposure, had, at least, divided with him the
original burden of the enterprise, and, by his labors in another direction,
had contributed quite as essentially to its success.  Almagro had willingly
conceded the post of honor to his confederate; but it had been stipulated,
on Pizarro's departure for Spain, that, while he solicited the office of
Governor and Captain-General for himself, he should secure that of Adelantado
for his companion.  In like manner, he had engaged to apply for the see of
Tumbez for the vicar of Panama, and the office of Alguacil Mayor for the
pilot Ruiz.  The bishopric took the direction that was concerted, for the
soldier could scarcely claim the mitre of the prelate; but the other offices,
instead of their appropriate distribution, were all concentred in himself.
Yet it was in reference to his application for his friends, that Pizarro had
promised on his departure to deal fairly and honorably by them all. ^3

[Footnote 3: "Al fin se capitulo, que Francisco Picarro negociase la
Governacion para si: i para Diego de Almagro, el Adelantamiento: i para
Hernando de Luque, el Obispado: i para Bartolome Ruiz, el Alguacilazgo Maior:
i Mercedes para los que quedaban vivos, de los trece Comapañeros, afirmando
siempre Francisco Picarro, que todo lo queria para ellos, i prometiendo, que
negociaria lealmente, i sin ninguna cautela." Herrera, Hist. General, dec.
4, lib. 3, cap. 1.]

     It is stated by the military chronicler, Pedro Pizarro, that his kinsman
did, in fact, urge the suit strongly in behalf of Almagro; but that he was
refused by the government, on the ground that offices of such paramount
importance could not be committed to different individuals.  The ill effects
of such an arrangement had been long since felt in more than one of the
Indian colonies, where it had led to rivalry and fatal collision. ^4 Pizarro,
therefore, finding his remonstrances unheeded, had no alternative but to
combine the offices in his own person, or to see the expedition fall to the
ground.  This explanation of the affair has not received the sanction of
other contemporary historians.  The apprehensions expressed by Luque, at the
time of Pizarro's assuming the mission, of some such result as actually
occurred, founded, doubtless, on a knowledge of his associate's character,
may warrant us in distrusting the alleged vindication of his conduct, and our
distrust will not be diminished by familiarity with his subsequent career.
Pizarro's virtue was not of a kind to withstand temptation, - though of a
much weaker sort than that now thrown in his path.

[Footnote 4: "Y don Francisco Picarro pidio conforme a lo que llevava
capitulado y hordenado con sus compañeros ya dicho, y en el consejo se le
rrespondio que no avia lugar de dar governacion a dos compañeros, a caussa
de que en santa marta se avia dado ansi a dos compañeros y el uno avia muerto
al otro . . . . . . Pues pedido, como digo, muchas vezes por don Francisco
Picarro se les hiziese la merced a ambos compañeros, se le rrespondio la
pidiesse parassi sino que se daria a otro, y visto que no avia lugar lo que
pedia y queria pedio se le hiziese la merced a el, y ansi se le hizo."
Descub. y Conq. Ms.]

     The fortunate cavalier was also honored with the habit of St. Jago; ^5
and he was authorized to make an important innovation in his family
escutcheon, - for by the father's side he might claim his armorial bearings.
The black eagle and the two pillars emblazoned on the royal arms were
incorporated with those of the Pizarros; and an Indian city, with a vessel
in the distance on the waters, and the llama of Peru, revealed the theatre
and the character of his exploits; while the legend announced, that "under
the auspices of Charles, and by the industry, the genius, and the resources
of Pizarro, the country had been discovered and reduced to tranquillity," -
thus modestly intimating both the past and prospective services of the
Conqueror. ^6

[Footnote 5: Xerez, Conq. del Peru, ap. Barcia, tom. III. p. 182. - Oviedo,
Hist. de las Indias, Ms., Parte 3, lib. 8, cap. 1. - Caro de Torres, Historia
de las Ordenes Militares, (ed. Madrid, 1629,) p. 113.]

[Footnote 6: "Caroli Caesaris auspicio, et labore, ingenio, ac impensa Ducis
Picarro inventa, et pacata.' Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 4 lib. 6, cap. 5.]

     These arrangements having been thus completed to Pizarro's satisfaction,
he left Toledo for Truxillo, his native place, in Estremadura, where he
thought he should be most likely to meet with adherents for his new
enterprise, and where it doubtless gratified his vanity to display himself
in the palmy, or at least promising, state of his present circumstances.  If
vanity be ever pardonable, it is certainly in a man who, born in an obscure
station in life, without family, interest, or friends to back him, has carved
out his own fortunes in the world, and, by his own resources, triumphed over
all the obstacles which nature and accident had thrown in his way.  Such was
the condition of Pizarro, as he now revisited the place of his nativity,
where he had hitherto been known only as a poor outcast, without a home to
shelter, a father to own him, or a friend to lean upon.  But he now found
both friends and followers, and some who were eager to claim kindred with
him, and take part in his future fortunes.  Among these were four brothers.
Three of them, like himself, were illegitimate; one of whom, named Francisco
Martin de Alcantara, was related to him by the mother's side; the other two,
named Gonzalo and Juan Pizarro, were descended from the father.  "They were
all poor, and proud as they were poor," says Oviedo, who had seen them; "and
their eagerness for gain was in proportion to their poverty." ^7

[Footnote 7: "Trujo tres o cuatro hermanos suyos tan soberbios como pobres,
e tan sin hacienda como deseosos de alcanzarla." Hist. de las Indias Ms.,
Parte 3, lib. 8, cap 1.]

     The remaining and eldest brother, named Hernando, was a legitimate son,
- "legitimate," continues the same caustic authority, "by his pride, as well
as by his birth." His features were plain, even disagreeably so; but his
figure was good.  He was large of stature, and, like his brother Francis, had
on the whole an imposing presence. ^8 In his character, he combined some of
the worst defects incident to the Castilian.  He was jealous in the extreme;
impatient not merely of affront, but of the least slight, and implacable in
his resentment.  He was decisive in his measures, and unscrupulous in their
execution.  No touch of pity had power to arrest his arm.  His arrogance was
such, that he was constantly wounding the self-love of those with whom he
acted; thus begetting an ill-will which unnecessarily multiplied obstacles
in his path.  In this he differed from his brother Francis, whose plausible
manners smoothed away difficulties, and conciliated confidence and
cooperation in his enterprises.  Unfortunately, the evil counsels of Hernando
exercised an influence over his brother which more than compensated the
advantages derived from his singular capacity for business.

[Footnote 8: Oviedo's portrait of him is by no means flattering.  He writes
like one too familiar with the original.  "E de todos ellos el Hernando
Pizarro solo era legitimo, e mas legitimado en la soberbia, hombre de alta
estatura e grueso, la lengua e labios gordos, e la punta de la nariz con
sobrada carne e encendida, y este fue el desavenidor y estorbador del sosiego
de todos y en especial de los dos viejos companeros Francisco Pizarro e Diego
de Almagro." Hist de las Indias, Ms., ubi supra.]

     Notwithstanding the general interest which Pizarro's adventures excited
in his country, that chief did not find it easy to comply with the provisions
of the Capitulation in respect to the amount of his levies.  Those who were
most astonished by his narrative were not always most inclined to take part
in his fortunes.  They shrunk from the unparalleled hardships which lay in
the path of the adventurer in that direction; and they listened with visible
distrust to the gorgeous pictures of the golden temples and gardens of
Tumbez, which they looked upon as indebted in some degree, at least, to the
coloring of his fancy, with the obvious purpose of attracting followers to
his banner.  It is even said that Pizarro would have found it difficult to
raise the necessary funds, but for the seasonable aid of Cortes, a native of
Estremadura like himself, his companion in arms in early days, and, according
to report, his kinsman. ^9 No one was in a better condition to hold out a
helping hand to a brother adventurer, and, probably, no one felt greater
sympathy in Pizarro's fortunes, or greater confidence in his eventual
success, than the man who had so lately trod the same career with renown.

[Footnote 9: Pizarro y Orellana, Varones Ilustres, p. 143.]

     The six months allowed by the Capitulation had elapsed, and Pizarro had
assembled somewhat less than his stipulated complement of men, with which he
was preparing to embark in a little squadron of three vessels at Seville;
but, before they were wholly ready, he received intelligence that the
officers of the Council of the Indies proposed to inquire into the condition
of the vessels, and ascertain how far the requisitions had been complied
with.