OVALLE S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 145 



confidering it, he perceived the fea coming very faft in, and did not ftay long before it 

 fet the canoes On float : he entered into one of them, and took witnefs that he was the 

 firft European that had ever been upon that fea. The tides on that coaft ebb and flow 

 every fix hours, fo as great fliips will be left on fliore, the water retiring fo fafl:, that it 

 gives great admiration when it returns, to fee fo great a fpace covered fo fafl:, that it 

 appears an inundation. 



Vafco Nunnes having advice of this, came down alfo to the coafl: ; and, going into 

 the fea up to the mid-leg, with a naked fword in his hand, faid, that he took poflfef- 

 fion of it, and all the coaftis and bays of it, for the crowns of Cafl:ile and Leon ; and 

 that he was ready with that fword, as often as it fliould be neceflfary, to make good 

 that claim, againfl: all that fliould oppofe him. The Indians were in great amaze at 

 this new ceremony ; and they were more furprized, when they faw him, againfl: their 

 advice, and that of the Caciques, venture to crofs the gulph of Pearls, to difcover the 

 riches of it in that commodity ; though it had like to have cofl: him dear, for he was 

 near perifliing in crofllng that arm of the fea. Now let us fee (in order to undeceive 

 thofe who fliall read this) how little this courage and boldnefs availed this generous 

 conqueror of the new world, and the great things his invincible mind had brought to 

 pafs. All his military prudence and cunning, by which he made himfelf be refpeQ:ed 

 by unknown nations, availed him little ; for this fo fortunate a great captain had a tra- 

 gical end : he lofl: his life in Dairen at his return, finding there the governor Pedrarias, 

 who came to fucceed him. The King, in fending this man, had recommended to him 

 the perfon of Vafco Nunnes de Balboa, and ordered him to mad« ufe of his council, as 

 of one who had honoured him by his bold undertakings, and to whom, for a reward, 

 he ordered the governments of Panama and Coiba, and the admiralfliip of the South- 

 Sea, which he hzid difcovered, and on which he had already built four fhips, and g&t 

 together three hundred men, to go upon the difcovery of Peru. But the faid Pedrarias 

 commanded him on fliore, and there feizing him, caufed him to be beheaded publickly 

 as a traitor. The crier went before him, crying, as is cufl:omary, that he was a traitor j 

 which, when Vafco Nunnes heard, he faid it was a lie, and that no man had ferved the 

 King with more zeal, nor more fidelity than he, nor more defired to extend his mo- 

 narchy ; but all his complaints were like voices in the defart, which were of no force 

 againfl: envy and emulation, which had prevailed in his enemies, and which can never 

 fail againfl: thofe who govern. His death was much refented, and appeared very unjufl: 

 in Spain, becaufe, indeed, the King lofl: one of his bravefl: captains, and one who would 

 have difcovered Peru with more facility, and without all thofe tumults, which fince 

 happened ; for his prudence, valour, and zeal, were above the ordinary fize. 



It cannot be denied, but that the fentence may be juft:ified according to the depofi- 

 tions of witnefles ; but yet it was a great argument of his innocency, that which he 

 himfelf faid to the governor Pedrarias, which was, that if he had in his heart to make 

 himfelf mafter, and independent, as they accufed him, he would not have obeyed his 

 call as he did, and leave his fliip without any difficulty ; for he had then three hundred 

 men all at his devotion, and four velfels, with which he might have been fafe, and gone 

 upon new difcoveries, if his confcience had accufed him. They add here, that an 

 aftrologer had told him, that that year he fliould fee fomething extraordinary in the 

 heavens, he fliould be in guard againfl fome great misfortune that threatened him ; and 

 that if he efcaped from it, he fliould be the mdfl: powerful and happy man in the whole 

 Indies. And that accordingly he did fee this fign, but laughed at it, as thinking him- 

 felf in fo high a fl:ate. 



VOL. XIV. u CHAP. 



