1 88 OVALLE*S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



his fhip and his perfon by cunning. Paftene, though much prefled by Pizarro both by 

 promifes and threats to join with him, as very well knowing how much he might 

 a{fift him as his friend, or injure him as his enemy, yet perfevered in his loyaky to the 

 King, and found means to make his efcape out of the hands of the tyrant, and to re- 

 cover his fhip too ; which having new fitted with neceffaries, he returned to Chile, to 

 bring from thence fome of the beft officers to encourage the royal army, which was 

 preparing to engage . Pizarro, who on his fide had fuch a force, that he had put to 

 death the viceroy Velafco Nunnes Vela. In Chile they were waiting for his return, and 

 the fuccours he fhould bring with him ; but when they faw him without any, they were 

 much troubled ; for they found themfelves obliged at leafl to fufpend all their projects 

 upon Chile, to go and relieve thofe upon whom their own prefervation depended. 



The Governor Pedro de Valdivia, as foon as he heard what paffed in Peru, refolved to 

 go thither in perfon with fome of his beft officers and foldiers to join and help the 

 King's forces. He left in Chile for his lieutenant Captain Francifco de Villagra, a gen- 

 tleman of great courage and good parts, that he might govern and preferve what we 

 had already in that kingdom, it being impoffible to do more, or make any further 

 progrefs, till the times fhould alter, and he provide more forces. He got together what 

 gold he could, and went aboard with his captains and foldiers in the fame fhip, un- 

 der the condudt of the fame General Paftene. His arrival at Peru gave great courage to 

 the King's forces, by reafon of the gold and men which he brought, the valour and ex- 

 perience of which was fo great, that in the battle they performed extraordinary things, 

 being the chief caufe of the victory obtained over Pizarro in the valley of Quiriguana. 

 He himfelf was taken, and chaftifed with his guilty affiftants, as his folly deferved, 

 and his difloyalty to his Prince. The prefident of Peru, Gafca, always advifed with the 

 Governor Valdivia in all his moft important affairs, ^om he made of his council, with 

 fix more, for the fecreteft affairs and of moft importance, making great efteem of his 

 prudence and experience, as well as of the valour of his companions. 



The victory being obtained, the governor returned to Chile, with a good fuccour 

 of men and arms, and the fame officers and foldiers, who accompanied him to Peru, 

 with which, and other fuccours which came afterwards, he was in a condition to purfue 

 his enterprize vigoroufly, as we fhall fee hereafter. But all was little enough againft 

 the refiftance of the Indians, who not only kept them from advancing, but for fix 

 years together that their ftubborn oppofition lafted, they reduced the Spaniards to great 

 extremities of nakednefs and hunger ; fo that they were forced to eat herbs and roots, 

 and rats and mice, and fuch things ; and if the heart and courage of the Governor Val- 

 divia had not been invmcible, it would have been impofTible to have made the 

 conqueft. 



CHAP. XI. — What happened in Chile during the Ahfence of the Governor Valdivia^ and 

 after his Return ; and of the new Succours he received. 



PEDRO Sanches de Hoz was a foldier, to whom the King was pleafed to grant a 

 patent for the difcovery and conqueft of certain lands, to begin from the jurifdidion of 

 the Marquifs Francis Pizarro ; and he pretending that part of the kingdon of Chile was 

 in his grant, oppofed the Governor Valdivia, to whom Pizarro by a royal commiflion 

 had given the conqueft and government of Chile ; but the marquifs perfuaded him to 

 defift, and go along with Valdivia to Chile, recommending his perfon to the governor, 

 to ufe him with regard, and give him a fhare in the beft part of his conqueft. Vai- 

 lo ' divia 



