(See also #1209, a slightly different version w/o footnotes)
The Conquest Of Peru
by
William H. Prescott
"Congestae cumulantur opes, orbisque rapinas Accipit."
Claudian, In Ruf., lib. i., v. 194.
"So color de religion
Van a buscar plata y oro
Del encubierto tesoro."
Lope De Vega, El Nuevo Mundo, Jorn. 1.
Preface
The most brilliant passages in the history of Spanish adventurein the New World are undoubtedly afforded by the conquests ofMexico and Peru, - the two states which combined with the largestextent of empire a refined social polity, and considerableprogress in the arts of civilization. Indeed, so prominently dothey stand out on the great canvas of history, that the name ofthe one, notwithstanding the contrast they exhibit in theirrespective institutions, most naturally suggests that of theother; and, when I sent to Spain to collect materials for anaccount of the Conquest of Mexico, I included in my researchesthose relating to the Conquest of Peru.
The larger part of the documents, in both cases, was obtainedfrom the same great repository, - the archives of the RoyalAcademy of History at Madrid; a body specially intrusted with thepreservation of whatever may serve to illustrate the Spanishcolonial annals. The richest portion of its collection isprobably that furnished by the papers of Munoz. This eminentscholar, the historiographer of the Indies, employed nearly fiftyyears of his life in amassing materials for a history of Spanishdiscovery and conquest in America. For this, as he acted underthe authority of the government, every facility was afforded him;and public offices and private depositories, in all the principalcities of the empire, both at home and throughout the wide extentof its colonial possessions, were freely opened to hisinspection. The result was a magnificent collection ofmanuscripts, many of which he patiently transcribed with his ownhand. But he did not live to reap the fruits of his perseveringindustry. The first volume, relative to the voyages of Columbus,was scarcely finished when he died; and his manuscripts, at leastthat portion of them which have reference to Mexico and Peru,were destined to serve the uses of another, an inhabitant of thatNew World to which they related.
Another scholar, to whose literary stores I am largely indebted,is Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrete, late Director of the RoyalAcademy of History. Through the greater part of his long life hewas employed in assembling original documents to illustrate thecolonial annals. Many of these have been incorporated in hisgreat work, "Coleccion de los Viages y Descubrimientos," which,although far from being completed after the original plan of itsauthor, is of inestimable service to the historian. In followingdown the track of discovery, Navarrete turned aside from theconquests of Mexico and Peru, to exhibit the voyages of hiscountrymen in the Indian seas. His manuscripts, relating to thetwo former countries, he courteously allowed to be copied for me.Some of them have since appeared in print, under the auspices ofhis learned coadjutors, Salva and Baranda, associated with him inthe Academy; but the documents placed in my hands form a mostimportant contribution to my materials for the present history.
The death of this illustrious man, which occurred some time afterthe present work was begun, has left a void in his country noteasy to be filled; for he was zealously devoted to letters, andfew have done more to extend the knowledge of her colonialhistory. Far from an exclusive