VI. 1541. against the Zarro. for his advancement. Nor was affection for BOOK Almagro their only incitement; they were urged on by their own diftreffes. Many of them, destitute of common neceffaries, and weary of loitering away life, a burden to their chief, or to fuch of their affociates as had faved fome remnant of their fortune from pillage and confifcation, longed impatiently for an occafion to exert their activity and courage, and began to deliberate how they might be avenged on the author of all their misery. Their frequent cabals did not Confpire pass unobserved; and the governor was warned life of Pi to be on his guard against men who meditated fome defperate deed, and had refolution to execute it. But either from the native intrepidity of his mind, or from contempt of perfons whose poverty feemed to render their machinations of little confequence, he difregarded the admonitions of his friends." Be in no pain," faid he carelessly, ❝ about my life; it is perfectly fafe, as long as every man in Peru knows that I can in a moment cut off any head which dares to harbour a thought against it." This fecurity gave the Almagrians full leifure to digeft and ripen every part of their fcheme; and Juan de Herrada, an officer of great abilities, who had the charge of Almagro's See NOTE XXIII. education, BOOK education, took the direction of their confulta VI. tions, with all the zeal which this connection infpired, and with all the authority which the afcendant that he was known to have over the mind of his pupil gave him. ON' Sunday, the twenty-fixth of June, at mid-day, the feafon of tranquillity and repose in all fultry climates, Herrada, at the head of eighteen of the moft determined confpirators, fallied out of Almagro's houfe in complete armour; and drawing their fwords, as they advanced haftily towards the governor's palace, cried out, "Long live the king, but let the tyrant die!" Their affociates, warned of their motions by a fignal, were in arms at different ftations ready to fupport them. Though Pizarro was usually surrounded by fuch a numerous train of attendants as fuited the magnificence of the most opulent fubject of the age in which he lived, yet as he was just risen from table, and moft of his domeftics had retired to their own apartments, the confpirators paffed through the two outer courts of the palace unobferved. They were at the bottom of the stair-cafe, before a page in waiting could give the alarm to his master, who was converfing with a few friends in a large hall. The governor, whose steady mind no form of danger could appal, starting up,` called VI. called for arms, and commanded Francifco de BO O K Chaves to make fast the door. But that officer, who did not retain fo much presence of mind as to obey this prudent order, running to the top of the stair-cafe, wildly asked the confpirators what they meant, and, whither they were going? Inftead of anfwering, they ftabbed him to the heart, and burst into the hall. Some of the perfons who were there threw themfelves from the windows; others attempted to fly; and a few drawing their fwords, followed their leader into an inner apartment. The confpirators, animated with having the object of their vengeance now in view, rufhed forward after them. Pizarro, with no other arms than his fword and buckler, defended the entry, and fupported by his half-brother Alcantara, and his little knot of friends,. he maintained the unequal contest with intrepidity worthy of his past exploits, and with the vigour of a youthful.combatant, " Courage," cried he, "companions, we are yet enow to make thofe traitors repent of their audacity." But the armour of the confpirators protected them, while every thrust they made took effect. Alcantara fell dead at his brother's feet; his other defenders were mortally wounded. The governor, fo weary that he could hardly wield his fword, and no longer able to parry the many weapons furioufly aimed. at VI. BOOK at him, received a deadly thruft full in his throat, funk to the ground, and expired. 1541. Almagro acknow fucceffor. As foon as he was flain, the affaflins ran out ledged as his into the streets, and waving their bloody fwords, proclaimed the death of the tyrant. Above two hundred of their affociates having joined them, they conducted young Almagro in folemn proceffion through the city, and affembling the magiftrates and principal citizens, compelled them to acknowledge him as lawful fucceffor to his father in his government. The palace of Pizarro, together with the houses of several of his adherents, were pillaged by the foldiers, who had the fatisfaction at once of being avenged on their enemies, and of enriching themselves by the spoils of those through whofe hands all the wealth of Peru had paffed. New ap pearances THE boldness and fuccefs of the confpiracy, of difcord. as well as the name and popular qualities of Almagro, drew many foldiers to his ftandard. Every adventurer of defperate fortune, all who were diffatisfied with Pizarro, and from the rapacioufnefs of his government in the latter years of his life, the number of malcontents was Zarate, lib. iv. c. 6-8. Gomara Hift. c. 144, 145. Vega, p. 11. lib. iii. c. 5-7. Herrera, dec. 6. lib. x. c. 4-7. Pizarro Var. Illuft. p. 183. con VI. 1541. confiderable, declared without hesitation in favour BOOK of Almagro, and he was foon at the head of eight hundred of the moft gallant veterans in Peru. As his youth and inexperience difqualified, him from taking the command of them himself, he appointed Herrada to act as general. But though Almagro fpeedily collected fuch a refpectable force, the acquiefcence in his government was far from being general. Pizarro had left many friends to whom his memory was dear; the barbarous affaffination of a man to whom his country was fo highly indebted, filled every impartial perfon with horror. The ignominious birth of Almagro, as well as the doubtful title on which he founded his pretenfions, led others to confider him as an ufurper. The officers who commanded in fome provinces refufed to recognize his authority, until it was confirmed by the emperor. In others, particularly at Cuzco, the royal standard was erected, and preparations were begun in order to revenge the murder of their ancient leader. Vaca de THOSE feeds of difcord, which could not have Arrival of lain long dormant, acquired great vigour and Caftro, activity, when the arrival of Vaca de Caftro was known. After a long and difaftrous voyage, he was driven by stress of weather into a small harbour in the province of Popayan; and proceed ing |