Prizes taken here by Sir Fran. Drake.
Spilbergen attempts the Place in vain.
5. Lima, by the Spaniards commonly call’d La Cividad de los Reyes, or The City of Kings, so nam’d because Pizarro, who built it, laid the first Stone on Twelfth-day, Anno 1553. which they call The Feast of the Kings: It is seated in the Valley of Lima, (from whence the City is also so denominated) one of the fruitfullest Parts of all Peru, and so neatly built, that all the chief Streets of the City open upon a fair Market-place, or Piazza, of such a large Square, that upon the sides thereof are built, in a stately and convenient manner, the Cathedral, the Palace of the Archbishop, the Vice-Roy’s Palace and Courts of Justice, with the Exchequer or Publick Treasury, the Town-house or place where the City Magistrates meet and hold their Courts, the Publick Armory or Magazine, and a Free-School, wherein are taught by the Jesuits all Arts and Sciences, and also the Indian Language, and divers other fair Buildings of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens. No Countrey under the Heavens affords a more fruitful or pleasanter Place than this; the temperate Climate neither troubling the Inhabitants with excessive Heats or great Colds, nor terrifying them with Thunder or Lightning, but having almost perpetual Sun-shine and fair Weather; onely the three Winter Moneths, wherein there falls a sweet-smelling Dew, which cures the Head-ache; and there die but very few of pestilential Distempers. The Countrey about the City is pleasant without exception. The Pigeons which are kept here in curious Houses built on purpose, flie a thousand in a Flight. The Fields abound also with Cattel. The Orchards and Gardens flourish with all sorts of Trees and Plants, whereof those that are brought hither from Spain grow better than in their natural Countrey. The West side of the City is wash’d by a pure & clear Stream, which stores the Market with great plenty of good Fish, it being distant but a Musquet shot, especially when the Water rises. This River is of great consequence, for it not onely waters the whole Valley of Lima with its several Branches, but also runs under every House in the City, being built on Stone Arches; they are onely one Story high, because there is no Wood to be had in the Valley of Lima but what in three years becomes all Woorm-eaten; nevertheless the Houses are very beautiful both within and without; the Walls being very thick and strong, have curious Arbors of green Boughs on the top, in which the Owners shade themselves from the Sun. Most of the Houses built in the high Streets have pleasant Turrets, which face the Market-place, where all sorts of Provisions are brought to Sale, as Oxen, Sheep, Venison, Sugar, Oranges, Cittrons, Grapes, and Wheat, which is ground in Water-Mills built near the River. This City is inhabited by many able Merchants, which often load Ships to Panama, that are valu’d at above two hundred thousand Ducats. To the Arch-bishop’s See of this Place belongs the Bishopricks of Chili, Charcas, Quito, Cusco, Truxillo, Guanuco, Popaian, San Francisco, Panama, Nicaragua, and Rio de la Plata. The City is also adorn’d with two fair Churches, besides the Cathedral, and also other lesser Churches, four stately Cloysters, two Nunneries, and the Jesuits Palace, which is very magnificent. The Haven two Leagues distant from it, and call’d Callao de Lima, is large and secure for Ships. Anno 1579. Sir Francis Drake took twelve Ships from hence, one whereof was laden with Linnen and Silk, besides a great Chest full of Silver: Which Inconvenience to prevent for the future, the Spaniards have built two strong Forts, and fortifi’d them with Brass Guns. Thirty years after Sir Francis Drake’s Exploit, Joris Spilbergen coming to Anchor here, found the Place all inhabited, a Fort well stor’d with Guns, and a strong Castle before the Mouth of the Harbor, from whence they shot Bullets of thirty six Pound weight at the Hollanders, and so shatter’d their Frigat, call’d The Hunter, that she could scarce keep above Water: Fourteen Spanish Merchant-men lying near the Shore, receiv’d little damage, Spilbergen not being able for Shelves to get to them, neither did he judge it convenient to Land, the Vice-Roy having at that time above four thousand Men in Arms, besides several Troops of Horse; wherefore after having fir’d several Guns on the Fort, and against the Church, he set Sail to Guarmey.
6. Cannete, otherwise call’d Guarco, from the Valley wherein it is situate: It was built by the Spaniards out of the Treasure which they found in the Castle afore spoken of in the same Valley.
7. Valverde, situate in a Valley of the same Name, where excellent Fruit may be had for a small Price; it is a well Traded and rich Town, about sixteen Leagues distant from the Sea.
8. Pachacama, situate in a Territory of the same Name, four Leagues Southward of Lima, memorable chiefly for Pizarro’s good fortune here, who is reported to have found in one onely old Temple of the Natives, the quantity of nine hundred thousand Ducats of Gold and Silver, besides what his Soldiers are suppos’d to have seiz’d on, and convey’d away before he came.
9. Castro Verreina, threescore Leagues distant from Lima to the South-East: It lieth in the Valley of Chocolocha, and is a rich Place, by reason of the good Mines of Silver which are about it, and abundance of the best sort of Tobacco.
10. Miguel de la Ribera, in the Valley of Camana. The Inhabitants whereof drive a great Trade in Wine, Figs, and Raisins.
11. The City Arequipa, which extends up towards the Mountains, is built in the Dale Quilca, which runs eleven Leagues from the Sea, under a healthful Climate; but in the Year 1582. it was wholly ruin’d by an Earthquake; the reason whereof is ascrib’d to the wet sulphurous Mountains, which burns continually, and sometimes vomits out Flames and Ashes. The Marquess Pizarro built this City forty six years before the fore-mention’d Earthquake, since which being re-built again, soon attain’d to three hundred Houses, besides a Church and Cloyster; and though it be but a small Town, yet it is of a great resort, because the Gold and Silver is brought hither from the Mines Chancos, Porco, and Potosi, and from thence sent down the River Quilca, which washing the City Walls runs into the South Sea to Los Reyos, and from thence to Panama, Nombre de Dios, and New Spain. The Jurisdiction of this City Arequipa extends it self a vast way, viz. over the spacious Valleys between Hacari and Tampaca, and up in the Countrey beyond the County Condesuyo, full of Hamlets and Villages; the Inhabitants whereof heretofore worshipp’d the Sun. By the Way from Arequipa to Collao lie two great Lakes, out of one of which the River Aparima takes its original.
12. Caxamalca, rather a Fort than a Town, in a Territory of the same Denomination, built at the Foot of a Mountain wash’d with two Rivulets, over which lead several Bridges; near which also were formerly a stately Temple Consecrated to the Sun, wonderful Palaces and Baths for the Ingas, besides other magnificent Structures of Noble-men, which were the more famous for Attabaliba’s Imprisonment and Death. The Soil round about may compare with any part of the World for fertility. The Inhabitants are a peaceable ingenious People, and make curious woollen Hangings.