The War of Quito

by Pedro de Cieza de León

The Inca sent for me late in the afternoon and I went against my will. He told me to sit down and began to boast, saying that he could himself kill fifty Spaniards, and that he was going to have all the Spaniards in the kingdom put to death. He took a lance in his hand and a shield and began to act a valiant man, shouting “Go at once and bring me all that people that are behind these mountains; for I want to go and fight the Spaniards and to kill them all, and I want the wild Indians to eat them.” Then there marched up about 600 or 700 Anti Indians, all with bows and arrows, clubs and axes. They advanced in good order, making reverence to the sun and to the Inca, and took up their positions. Then the Inca again began to brandish his lance, and said that he could raise all the Indians in Peru, he had only to give the order and they would fly to arms. Then all those Antis made an offer to the Inca that, if he wished it, they would eat me raw. They said to him, “What are you doing with this little bearded one here, who is trying to deceive you? it is better that we should eat him at once.” Then two renegade Inca orejones came straight to me with spears in their hands, flourishing their weapons and saying, “The bearded ones! Our enemies.” I laughed at this, but at the same time commended myself to God. I asked the Inca to have mercy and protect me, and so he delivered me from them, and hid me until the morning.

On the morning of the 16th of May the Inca sent for me to come to the open square which he entered in the same order as before, and as I came in I saluted the Inca and sat down. The Inca and all the captains then began to laugh heartily at what had happened the day before, and they asked me what I thought of yesterday’s festival. I replied that I thought it rather exceptional, and that to have treated me so was wrong, seeing that I had come on serious business. They explained that it was only their fun, and that they could not give it up. I then observed that I had to go without having settled anything. We should arrange some kind of peace in the way which seemed to them best, with a fixed period. From such an agreement they would derive much good, by having many new things in their land through which they might make much money and become very rich. They said they would agree if they had any confidence in our promises. The Inca then asked me what kind of peace appeared to me to be good. I said that the King would give more than $15,000 of rent for his maintenance, with which he might be in Cuzco, or here in the Andes, if he would consent to have a town of Indians in Vilcapampa. They answered that this was well, because I said that they should sell coca and wood to Spaniards who settled here, and become very rich.

On this proposal we were occupied for two days. Afterwards the Inca said that if the Spaniards lived amongst them and there was some grievance, owing to which the Spaniards killed one of them or they killed a Spaniard, there would be trouble. For this reason he did not wish that there should be a town, or that the Spaniards should live among them. I replied that I did not wish that to happen, and that it would be better for the Inca or his son to come out and take possession of the estates which the President had promised him in the name of his Majesty. A Corregidor might then come here in the name of his Majesty to administer and maintain justice in that land, the inhabitants receiving the evangelical law and holy baptism. From this much good would come and they would possess their houses and estates. They received this proposal very well, with the condition that his Majesty should pardon everything that had been done up to that time. The Inca’s conditions were that estates should be given to those who were with him and had served him; that the lands which he and his father had desolated near the land of peace and the valley of Amaibamba should be granted to him; that the Indians taken from there should be his; that his Majesty should gratify the persons favoured, that they should be given a promise that they should enjoy the liberties and privileges enjoyed by people of noble birth; that friars and clerics should enter to preach the holy evangel; and that he should be obedient to his Majesty. As the Inca was poor and unable to appear in conformity with the dignity of his position, he stipulated that his son Titu should go out, and be married to the Inca’s niece Doña Beatriz. He also stipulated that the friars and clerics should not be admitted until Doña Beatriz had been delivered to him. He feared that if she was married to anyone else, he and his son would be left without the repartimiento of Indians granted to his brother Sayri Tupac. After a year or two the Inca undertook to come out peacefully, having collected the means to buy what was necessary. He would settle near Guamanga or Cuzco, whichever locality he liked best, with his son Titu and the governor Yamqui Mayta. This arrangement appeared convenient, and he and his captains would swear to observe it, if it was necessary. I was to go out by the way of Guamanga, to complete the treaty with the President.

At this time a letter arrived from the Judge Matienzo announcing that he intended to leave Cuzco in ten days, and that I was to return, bringing the statement of what the Inca wanted. I then said to the Inca that, to show his sincerity, and that the Christians might see that he was acting in good faith, I would request him to allow me to assemble the Indians who were Christians, to set up a cross, and there to preach the law of our Lord Jesus Christ and the holy evangel. The Inca consented and ordered a great cross to be made. In order that the agreement might be more secure I asked and prayed him to tell me the truth. For I had seen in the baptismal book of the principal church (in Cuzco) that the Inca had been baptized and named Diego. He told me that it was true, and that he was a Christian, and he confessed it before the Indians. He said that they had poured water over his head, but that he did not remember the name. Presently about 120 Christian Indians assembled before the cross, kneeling and taking off their llautus. Those who were not Christians stood apart, wondering at our proceedings. We carried the cross, I and four Indians, and set it up. Then I said many things about our holy Christian religion and the salvation of their souls. Then I told them to pray for God’s mercy on their knees, which they did three times, crying for mercy with their clasped hands raised to heaven. Then I asked permission of the Inca to preach to those who were not Christian, as he was one. He agreed, and ordered them to come and hear me preach. I explained to them that the things which God had created were for the use of man, that the sun and moon were creatures made by God for man’s service, and to give him light. After they had adored the cross, I said it would be well for me to write to the Judge Matienzo to tell him that they wished to receive the evangel, to make peace, and to send me to Lima on horseback, by way of Guamanga, to settle the agreement with the President. They sent Indian runners, and I sent two of those I had brought with me, to convey the writing as agreed.

On the 17th of May the Inca sent certain macaws and baskets of earth nuts to the Treasurer Merlo and the Judge Matienzo. I then said it would be a good thing for the Inca to send thirty captains to the city of Cuzco, that they might see how well treated they would be, and how freely they could pass over the whole land. I should remain as a hostage until their return. The Inca said that if I thought such a proceeding advisable he would agree; but if the slightest injury was done to any one of those Indians, he said he would hang me. I replied that I was willing to run the risk. Then the Inca sent the thirty captains to arrive there in six days, and send an account of their treatment in another five days. He ordered them to go first to the chief or principal church and worship the holy sacrament, and then to the house of the Judge Matienzo. He also wrote to the friars of our Lady of Mercy, and to the Franciscan friars, to ask two of them to come and preach in his territory, and that he would give them the products of the land in exchange for their doctrine. He also wrote to the Judge Matienzo, thanking him for having sent me, for that I had made known to them the law of our Lord Jesus Christ. He asked for two friars as his people wished to be Christians and to be convinced that the things they had worshipped up to that time were foolishness. As his honour had expressed a wish to have an interview with the Inca at the frontier of the land of peace, the Inca would rejoice to comply, if his honour would come with not more than three Spaniards, and that he would be at the bridge of Chuquichaca, at such time as the Judge might appoint.

In the meantime I preached and explained the Christian doctrine every morning, and they came to hear me. The Indian messengers who went to Cuzco did not return at the appointed time. They thought that their friends had been put to death and were sad. The governor Yamqui Mayta said to me, that morning, that I had committed some sin in Peru, because they sent me here and here I should be killed. Before I arrived, he continued, they had resolved that, with 700 Antis and 2000 other Indians, they would attack the towns near their frontier, seize all the Indians they could capture, and kill all the clerics, friars, and other Spaniards they could catch. They had abandoned this plan out of regard for me. Yet, notwithstanding that they had received the evangelic law, I had deceived them. If within two days the messengers did not return, he added, they would make the raid which had originally been intended.

On the 20th of May the news came that the captains who took the message to Cuzco had been received and well treated. Out of joy at this news they played on drums and trumpets and had a great feast. They sent for me and told me I had told the truth. Then they read the letters from the Judge Matienzo which had arrived. In them he said that he wished to have an interview with the Inca, and that on the last day of Easter he would set out, arriving at the bridge on Friday or Saturday, making all haste. He said that he would bring fourteen or fifteen men with him, being the guard that his Majesty granted, to accompany him. At this the Inca was undecided, fearing that it might be a plot to kill him and his Indians, but that I would counsel him and that he would trust me. I said that not only could he trust the word of the Judge in going to Chuquichaca, but that he might trust it in going to Cuzco. If he brought a hundred men with him it would not be for offence but for service. All those he brought with him would come as friends. If the King of Spain wished to conquer him, not all the Indians in the kingdom and 10,000 more could stand against his power. His Majesty had done this because his thought was to maintain peace, and to advance the knowledge of God; not that the Spaniards should invade their land and seize their wives and children. To this he replied that the power of the King was great, and though he had so many nations, as well black men as Moors, subject to him, yet he, the Inca, like Manco Inca his father before him, knew how to defend himself in those mountains. At the same time, as I said he should go, he would do so, and presently he sent to Vilcapampa for more men.

On the 25th of May one of his generals arrived with 300 men, armed with lances, who entered the open place where the rest were drawn up, and made obeisance to the sun and to the Inca. Then a hundred captains of those who came from Vilcapampa went to where Yamqui Mayta was standing and asked why he had consented to have the cross planted in their land, seeing that it had not been set up in the time of Manco Inca. Why then was it there now? If I had persuaded the Inca to do this, they intended to kill me. The Inca replied that it was done by his order, and that it was well that they should accept the cross of the creator of all things. Having received this answer they went to their seats, and the festival proceeded.

On the 28th of May we set out for the bridge of Chuquichaca to meet the Judge who was coming. A garrison of 200 Indians was left in Arancalla and the rest went with us. We arrived on Saturday, the eve of the Trinity, at the bridge of Chuquichaca, where we received the news that the Judge Matienzo was at the bridge of Amaibamba with 30 Spaniards, 10 negroes, 20 arquebusiers and 150 Cañari Indians with their lances. Presently we received a letter from the Judge Matienzo in which he said that he had come with this escort, that the Inca should cross the river to see him, and that the Treasurer Merlo, a clergyman, two other Spaniards and I would be hostages for his safety. The Inca wished to comply, but the captains would not consent. The Inca then wrote to the Judge Matienzo proposing that he should come with all his company to the passage of the bridge, that his honour should pass over, and that he, the Inca, would send as hostages his governor and camp master, who would go to the other side. The Inca then detached 300 Indians to keep watch and ward. I said that the Judge Matienzo would not consent to this, not having a royal commission, but that he would cross with all his escort and that, in that open space which was large, the Inca and Judge could see each other and discuss what they desired. The Inca wrote a letter to that effect. Then there were prepared litters of silver and gold and much carving, and he had 25 alcabuçes brought out, which he distributed among those who knew. He said to me that, as I was his friend, he wanted to tell me a secret. He had had 300 cloaks and also breeches of dead people brought. Then he called an assembly, saying that those who brought those clothes had been killed, and if the Spaniards intended to attack, each one would become a good soldier in defence of his lord.

At that moment the Judge Matienzo arrived at the bridge with all his people. Then Garcia de Merlo, the clergyman, and the two other Spaniards crossed over and explained to the Inca the proposals of the President. He said that he understood and that he would come across the river. But the captains said that the bridge was tricky, that the Inca’s legs were bruised from a fall he had recently had, and that he could not pass over. Then he sent me, with the governor and two other captains, to be hostages together with the thirty captains who had come from Cuzco. I took the Judge apart and explained everything to him, but those who were with him would scarcely let us talk in secret. I began to understand that it was not intended to settle anything owing to the intriguers who were with the Judge, and who were unreasonable. The Indians were noting everything. The Judge said he did not wish to cross the river, and I returned with the governor and all the other captains of the Inca. I then asked the Inca to come over, and he agreed to do so, contrary to the wishes of all his captains, as I advised it. Then he went with all his followers richly dressed and with their arms in good order. They marched to a cross that had been put up and all did reverence to it. The Inca’s escort amounted to 600 Indians. Then I went to the Judge Matienzo and asked him to go alone to the bridge without any of his followers, so that he and the Inca might converse without anyone hearing them. He consented and went with the mestizo Porras as interpreter. He was armed with sword and arquebus, and the Inca also had his weapons. The Inca had passed from the other side with his governor, camp master, ten captains, and the mestizo.