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THE

HISTORY

OF

AMERICA.

BY

WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D. D.
PRINCIPAL of the University of EDINBURGH,
HISTORIOGRAPHER to his MAJESTY for SCOT-
LAND, and MEMBER of the ROYAL ACADEMY
OF HISTORY at MADRID.

VOLUME III.

VIENNA,

Printed for F. A. SCHRAMBL, corner in the

Karthner-Street Nro. 1053.

I 7 8 7.

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FROM

THE

HISTORY

O F

AMERICA.

BOOK VI.

Schemes for discovering Peru.

ROM the time that Nugnez de Balboa dif

covered the great Southern Ocean, and received the firft obfcure hints concerning the opulent countries with which it might open communication, the wifhes and fchemes of every enterprising perfon in the colonies of Darien and Panama were turned towards the wealth of thofe unknown regions. In an age when the spirit of adventure was fo ardent and vigorous, that large fortunes were wafted, and the most alarming dangers braved, in purfuit of difcoveries merely poffible, the fainteft ray of hope was followed with eager expectation, and the flightest information was fufficient to inspire such perfect confidence, as conducted men to the moft arduous undertakings. a)

Unfuccefsful for fome time.

Accordingly, feveral armaments were fitted out in order to explore and take poffeffion of

the conntries to the east of Panama, but under

the conduct of leaders whofe talents and re

a) See NOTE 1.

ROBERTSON Vol. IIL

1

fources were unequal to the attempt. b) As the excurfions of thofe adventurers did not extend beyond the limits of the province to which the Spaniards have given the name of Tierra Firmè, a mountainous region covered with woods, thinly inhabited, and extremely unhealthy, they returned with difmal accounts cencerning the diftreffes to which they had been expofed, and the unpromising afpect of the places which they had vifited. Damped by these tidings, the rage for discovery in that direction abated; and it became the general opinion, that Balboa had founded vifionary hopes, on the tale of an ignorant Indian, ill understood, or calculated to deceive.

Undertaken by Pizarro, Almagro, and Luque.

But there were three perfons fettled in Panama, on whom the circumftances which deterred others made fo little impreffion, that, at the very moment when all confidered Balboa's expectations of difcovering a rich country, by fteering towards the eaft, as chimerical, they refolved to attempt the execution of his fcheme. The names of thofe extraordinary men were Francifco Pizarro, Diego de Almagro, and Hernando Luque. Pizarro was. the natural fon of a gentleman of an honourable family by a very low woman, and, according to the cruel fate

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b) Calancha Chronica, p. 100.

which often attends the offspring of unlawful love, had been fo totally neglected in his youth by the author of his birth, that he feems to have deftined him never to rife beyond the condition of his mother. In confequence of this ungenerous idea, he fet him, when bordering on manhood, to keep hogs. But the afpiring mind of young Pizarro difdaining that ignoble occupation, he, abruptly abandoned his charge, enlifted as a foldier, and, after ferving fome years in Italy, embarked for America, which, by opening fuch a boundless range to active talents, allured every adventurer whofe fortune was not equal to his ambitious thoughts. There Pizarro early diftinguished himself. With a temper of mind no lefs daring than the conftitution of his body was robuft, he was foremoft in every danger, patient under the greatest hardships, and unfubdued by any fatigue. Though fo illiterate that he could not even read, he was foon confidered as a man formed to command. Every operation cemmitted to his conduct proved fuccefsful, as, by a happy but rare conjunction, he united perfeverance with ardour, and was as cautious in executing, as he was bold in forming his plans. By engaging early in active life, without any refource but his own talents and induftry, and by depending on himself alone in his ftruggles to emerge from obfcurity, he acquired fuch a thorough knowledge of affairs, and of men, that he was fitted to

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