15^ ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



narch, and among other fons had thefe two, which were now in war, and fome of his 

 fubjefts followed the one, and fome the other. Guafcar was the lawful heir, but not 

 fo brave and warlike as Atagualpa, who, though a baftard, yet becaufe he had followed 



!^5^^»^ his father in his wars from a child, drew to himfelf a great part of the kingdom, with 

 '* which he made war upon his brother, with hopes to prevail. 



The Adelantado Don Francifco Pizarro refolved to have an interview with Atagualpa, 

 ' who was the nearefl to the place where he was. So putting his trufl in God, he fet out 

 with his fmall army, more to be valued for its bravery than its number, which neverthe- 

 lefs was feared and refpeded in its march. He came near the place where Atagualpa 

 had his camp, which was near fifty thoufand men, and fent him his ambafladors on 

 horfeback, which was a new thing in that country, to give him advice of his arrival, 

 and the reafon of it, which was, to perfuade His Majefty, and his valfals, to give obe- 

 dience to the true King of Glory, from whom is derived all the power and command 

 that princes have on earth. Atagualpa received the ambafladors in a llately tent, fhew- 

 ing in all his behaviour a fovereign majefty ; and though his courders were in great 

 admiradon of the horfes, which they had never feen, yet he kept his countenance, and 

 concealed the effeds fuch a novelty might have over him. He looked upon them with 

 fome pleafure, and not as on a ftrange thing he had never feen ; for the horfes begin- 

 ning to corvet, fome of his Indians run away, whom he prefently caufed to be put to 

 death, for having fhewed cowardice in his royal prefence. He anfwered the ambafla- 

 dors courteoufly, fliewing the pleafure he fliould have to fee and hear their general ; and 

 fet a day for it, telling them, that they fliould not be difturbed, nor afraid to find him 

 and his people in arms, for it was his cuftom to ufe them to it. 



The day came ; and Atagualpa marching in order with his army to the place where 

 the Spaniards were drawn up, he difcovered to his captains the mind he had to make 



^^^^ an end with thofe ftrangers, who had been fo bold as to enter into his country, and 

 come fo near him without having any refpe£t to his royal pov^er ; but he ordered them 

 not to kill them, but to take them alive, becaufe he would ufe them as his flaves j and 

 as for the dogs and horfes, he refolved to offer them in facrifice to his gods. The 

 Caftilians, who were not totally ignorant of this falfe appearance of peace and friend- 

 fliip, though they were fo few that the Indians were four hundred to one, yet they did 

 not lofe courage ; but with confidence in God expefted the encounter, taking their 

 pofts, and preparing every thing for it, though fecretly, that they might not be thought 

 the aggreflbrs. Therefore he drawing near, the Adelantado ftaid for him with only 

 fifteen men, the reft being retired and hid, and fent him an embafly by a friar, who 

 carried the Gofpel, and told him, " That in thofe books were contained the faith, by 

 which he and his people might be faved, and they brought it him from God 

 Almighty." 



The King heard the friar, and took the mafs-book out of his hands, looking earneftly 

 upon it ; but not knowing how to read it, and taking it all for a jeft and a fi£lion, he 

 threw the book up into the air, making a fign at the fame time to his people to fall on ; 

 which they did j and then the Adelantado lifting up a handkerchief, which was the 

 fignal to our men, they played upon them with their muikets on one hand, and the 



t tTt^' dogs and horfemen attacked them on the other, fo that the victory foon appeared for the 



^j Caftilians j God Almighty having refolved to deftroy that monarchy of the Ingas, and 



to remove that obftacle to the propagating of the faith, and to put that land into hands 

 that fliould increafe it, as Their Catholic Majefties have done. They took the King 

 Atagualpa prifoner ; but treated him with all refped due to his royal perfon, as the hifto- 

 rians relate more at large. While this happened, which was on a Friday, a day dedicated 



to 



