Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/267

 Captaine Baldiuia himselfe had 300000 pezos by the yeere.

The fame of these riches in the end was spred as farre as Spaine; from whence soone after resorted many Spaniards to the land of Chili, whom Captaine Baldiuia caused to inhabite sixe townes: to wit, Villa nueua de la Serena called in the Indian tongue Coquimbo; the second Sant Iago which the Indians call Mapocha; the third La Concepcion called by the Indians Penco; the fourth La Imperial; the fift Baldiuia; and the sixt La Villa Rica. Also he built a fort in the middle of all the land, wherein hee put ordinance and souldiers: howbeit all this their good successe continued not long: for the Indians in short time perceiuing that the Spaniards were but mortall men as well as they, determine to rebell against them;

wherefore the first thing that they did, they carried grasse into the said fort for the Spaniards horses, and wood also for them to burne, among which grasse the Indians conueyed bowes and arrowes with great clubs. This done, fiftie of the Indians entered the fort, betooke themselues to their bowes, arrowes, and clubs, and stood in the gate of the sayd fort: from whence making a signe vnto other of their nation for helpe, they wanne the fort, and slewe all the Spaniards. The news of this ouerthrow comming to the towne of Concepcion where Captaine Baldiuia was, hee presently set foorth with two hundred horsemen to seeke the Indians, taking no more men with him, because he was in haste. And in a plaine he met the Indians, who comming of purpose also to seeke him, and compassing him about, slew most part of his company, the rest escaping by the swiftnesse of their horses: but Baldiuia hauing his horse slaine vnder him was taken aliue. Whom the Indians wished to be of a good courage, and to feare nothing: for the cause (said they) why we haue taken you, is to giue you gold ynough.

And hauing made a great banquet for him, the last seruice of all was a cuppe full of melted gold, which the Indians forced him to drinke, saying Now glut thy selfe with gold, and so they killed him.

This Baldiuia was a most valiant man who had beene an olde soldier in the warres of Italy, and at the sacking of Rome.

Vpon this discomfiture the Spaniards choose for their Captaine one Pedro de Villa grande; who assembling all