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for high command, the viceroy possessed only integrity and courage; the former harsh and uncomplying, the fatter bordering so frequently on rashness and obsunacy, that in his situation they were defects rather than virtues.

When he landed, he seemed to have considered himself merely as an executive officer, without any discretionary power. Regardless of what he heard of the state of the country, he adhered to the letter of the regulations with unrelenting rigour. Through all the towns which he passed, he declared the natives free. Every person in public office was deprived of his lands and servants; and, as an example of obedience, he would not suffer an Indian to carry any part of his baggage in his march to Lima, from Tumbez. Wherever he approached, amazement and consternation went before him. On entering the capital, he openly avowed, "that he came to obey the orders of his sovereign; not to dispense with the laws." This marsh declaration was accompanied with a haughty deportment, and insolence of office, which rendered him odious to the people. Several persons of rank were confined, and some put to death without a trial.

Vaca de Castro was arrested, and, notwithstanding the dignity of his former rank, and his merit in having prevented a general insurrection of the colony, he was loaded with chains, and shut up in the common goal. From the time the purport of the new regulations were known, every Spaniard in Peru turned his eyes towards Gonzalo Pizarro, as the only person able to avert the ruin with which they were threatened. From all quarters, letters and addresses were sent to him, conjuring him to stand forth as their protector; offering to support him in the attempt with their lives and fortunes.

Gonzalo, though he wanted the talents of his other brothers, was equally ambitious, and of as daring courage. The behaviour of an ungrateful court, towards his brothers, and himself, dwelt continually on his mind. Ferdinand, a state prisoner in Europe, the children of the governor in custody of the viceroy, and sent on board the fleet, himself reduced to the condition of a private citizen, in a country, for the discovery and conquest of which, Spain was indebted to his family. These thoughts prompted him to seek for vengeance, and assert the rights of his

family, of which he now considered himself the guardian and heir.

But the veneration which every Spaniard had for his sovereign, made him shudder at the thoughts of marching in arms against the royal standard. He hesitated long and was still unresolved: when the violence of the viceroy, the universal call of his countrymen, and the certainty of soon becoming a victim to the severity of the new laws, moved him to quit his residence at Chuquisaca de la Plata, and repair to Cuzco. All the inhabitants went out to meet him, and received him with transports of joy, as the de liverer of the colony.

In the fervour of their zeal they elected him procurator. general of the Spanish nation in Peru, to solicit the repeal of the late regulations; they also commissioned him to lay before the royal audience in Lima their remonstrances, and, upon pretext of danger from the Indians, authorized him to march thither in arms. Under sanction of this no. mination, Pizarro took possession of the royal treasure, ap pointed officers, levied soldiers, seized a large train of ar tillery, which Vaca de Castro had deposited in Guamanga, and set out for Lima as if he had been advancing against a public enemy.

Disaffection having now assumed a regular form, many persons of note resorted to his standard; and a considera ble body of troops, which the viceroy had raised to oppose his progress, deserted to him. The violence of the viceroy's administration, and his overbearing haughtiness, had become so odious to his associates, the judges of the royal audience, as well as to the people, that the judges thwarted every measure he proposed; and set at liberty the prisoners he confined; justified the malecontents, and applauded their remonstrances. The viceroy became at length so univer sally odious, that he was abandoned by his own guards, was seized in his palace, and carried to a desolate island on the coast to be kept there, until he should be sent home to Spain. This revolution took place, while Pizarro was on his march to Lima.

The judges having now assumed the supreme direction of affairs, issued a proclamation suspending the execution of the obnoxious laws and sent a message to Pizarro, re quiring him, as they had already granted whatever he

could request, to dismiss his troops, and to repair to Lima with fifteen or twenty attendants. It was not expected that a man so daring and ambitious would tamely comply with this requisition: but it was necessary to throw a decent veil over their conduct: Cepeda, president of the court of audience, a pragmatical and aspiring lawyer, held a secret correspondence with Pizarro, and had already formed the plan, which he afterwards executed, of devoting himself to his service.

Pizarro now beheld the supreme power within his reach; and Carvajal, the promoter and guide of all his actions, had long fixed his opinion, that it was the only end at which Pizarro ought to aim. He, accordingly, demanded, to be made governor and captain-general of the whole province, and required the judges to grant him a commission to that effect. But the judges, from a desire of preserving some attention to appearances, seemed to hesitate, about complying. Carvajal, impatient of delay, and impetuous in all his operations, marched into the city by night, seized several officers of distinction, obnoxious to Pizarro, and hanged them without the formality of a trial. Next morning the court of audience issued a commission in the emperor's name, appointing Pizarro governor of Peru, with full powers civil as well as military; and he entered the town that day with great pomp, to take possession of his new dignity. Pizarro had scarcely begun to exercise the new powers with which he was invested, when he beheld formidable enemies rise up to oppose him.

The viceroy had been put on board a vessel by the judges, in order that he might be carried to Spain under custody of Juan Alvarez, one of their own number: who, as soon they were out at sea, touched with remorse, or moved by fear, fell at the feet of his prisoner, declaring him from that moment to be free, and that he would himself, and every person in the ship, obey him as the legal representative of their sovereign. Nugnez Vela ordered them to steer to Tumbez, where he landed, and erected the royal standard, and resumed his functions of viceroy. Several persons of note insantly avowed their resolution to support his authority.

Alarmed with these appearances of hostility, Pizarro prepared to assert the authority to which he had attained, and marched against the viceroy, as the enemy who was

nearest as well as most formidable. As he was master of the public revenues in Peru, and most of the military men were attached to his family, his troops were so numerous, that the viceroy, unable to face him, retreated towards Quito, and from thence to the province of Popayan, whither Pizarro followed him; but finding it impossible to overtake him, he returned to Quito. From thence he dispatched Carvajal to oppose Centeno, a bold and active officer, who had cut off his lieutenant governor, in the province of Charcas, and had declared for the viceroy, and remained himself at Quito.

Nugnez Vela by his own activity, and the assistance of Benalcazar, assembled four hundred men in Popayan: with these he marched back to Quito, disdaining the advice of some of his followers, who endeavoured to persuade him to send overtures of accommodation to Pizarro; declaring that it was only by the sword, that a contest with rebels could be decided.

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Pizarro advanced resolutely to meet him. The battle was fierce and bloody but Pizarro's veterans, pushed forwards with such regular and well directed force, that they soon began to make an impression on their enemies. The viceroy, by great exertions, in which the abilities of a commander, and courage of a soldier were equally displayed, held victory for some time in suspense. At length he fell, pierced with many wounds, and the route of his soldiers became general. His head was cut off, and placed on the public gibbet, in Quito. The troops assembled by Centeno, were dispersed soon after, by Carvajal, and he himself compelled to fly to the mountains, where he remained for several months, concealed in a cave. Every person in Peru submitted to Pizarro; and by his fleet, under Pedro de Hinojosa, he had the unrivalled command of the South Sea; had also possession of Panama, and placed a garrison in Nombre de Dios, on the opposite side of the isthmus, which rendered him master of the usual avenue of communication between Spain and Peru.

After this decisive victory, Pizarro and his followers re mained for some time at Quito; and although they were transported with their victory, yet he and his confidants, were obliged to turn their thoughts sometimes to what was serious, and deliberated with much solicitude, concerning the part he ought now to take.

Carvajal had, from

the beginning, warned Pizarro that in the career on which he was entering, it was in van to think of holding a middle course; that he must either boldly aim at all, or attempt nothing.

Upon receiving an account of the victory at Quito, he remonstrated to him in a letter, and in a tone still more peremptory, "you have usurped (said he) the supreme power in this country, in contempt of the emperor's commission to another. You have marched in hostile array, against the royal standard; you have attacked the representative of your sovereign in the field, have defeated him, and cut off his head. Think not, that a monarch will forgive such insults on his dignity; or that any reconciliation with him can be cordial or sincere. Depend no longer on the precarious favour of another. Assume yourself the sovereignty over a country, to the dominion of which your family has a title, founded on the rights both of discovery and conquest. It is in your power to attach every Spaniard in Peru, of any consequence, inviolably to your interests, by liberal grants of lands and Indians; or by instituting ranks of nobility; of creating titles of honour, similar to those which are courted with so much eager ness in Europe. By establishing orders of knighthood, with privileges and distinctions like those in Spain, you may bestow a gratification upon the officers in your service, suited to the ideas of military men. Nor is it to your countrymen only that you ought to attend; endeavour to gain the natives. By marrying the Coya or daughter of the sun, next in succession to the crown, you will induce the Indians, out of veneration for the blood of their ancient princes, to unite with the Spaniards in supporting your authority. Thus at the head of the principal inhabitants of Peru, as well as the new settlers there, you may set at defiance the power of Spain, and repel with ease any feeble force which it can send at such a distance."

Cepeda the lawyer, who was now Pizarro's confidential counsellor, warmly seconded Carvajal's exhortations, Pizarro listened attentively to both, and contemplated with pleasure the object they presented to his view. But happily for the tranquillity of the world, few men possess that superior strength of mind, and extent of abilities, which are capable of forming and executing such daring schemes. The mediocrity of Pizarro's talents, circum

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