AFTER the Governor, Vaca de Castro, had adroitly1 restored friendship between the captains Alonso de Alvarado and Pero Alvarez Holguin, and had distributed among the soldiers all the arms that were there, he addressed them, urging them to prove themselves strong men, and so firm that, by chastising2 the insurgents3, the country might be free from oppression and his Majesty4 absolute lord of the land. For the despatch5 of business he brought with him as his secretary Pero López, a native of Llerena, as we have already said, and he ordered him to keep the letters which the licentiate de La Gama and the assessor Gonzalo Hernández had brought. And as the infantry6 had already begun to march out, an order was given to the cavalry7 to do the same, and the Guancas were requested, in friendly words, to provide Indians for carrying the munitions8 and camp baggage, which they did. When all was in order, the[255] Governor set out, with the royal standard of the eagle carried by Rodrigo de Campo. They marched in good order until they reached the village of Picoy, where they had a short rest, being anxious to get on to Guamanga, where Diego de Rojas had taken up a position and prudently9 built a fortress10 for his garrison11 to remain entrenched12 in if he should be attacked by the enemy. As it was thought certain throughout the Realm that there would be a battle between the factions13 of Pachacama and Chile,[119] public prayers were offered up, especially in the city of Lima, where they made great sacrifices to our God, the monks14 of all the orders going forth15 in processions, and praying for Divine aid, and that the victory might be given to Vaca de Castro, because he was waging war in the name of the king. The Spanish women, on their part, did the same, and fearing lest victory might fall to the Chile party, they put their goods and chattels16 on board the ships, intending, if the news should prove bad, to embark17 also themselves.
Diego de Rojas received word that Don Diego was at Vilcas, and sent messengers to Vaca de Castro, urging him to come to Guamanga with all possible speed, to forestall18 the enemy's approach. When this news reached the Governor at Parcos it caused great excitement, as if the enemy were already charging lance in hand, and the alarm was given at once. The Governor, in a state of perturbation, went from place to place, ordering his troops to march off in haste and occupy Guamanga. He ordered Captain Pedro Anzures to rush back and call up Alonso de Alvarado, who had dropped behind with his company of lancers, as well as the rest of the people who were still on the road. Pedro Anzures went back and gave the news to Alonso de Alvarado, who presently arrived at Parcos. The Governor then advanced, going down by[256] the way where Juan Chico was killed, when the ill-fated de Morgobejo retired19 to die on the heights of Lunahuana. From there Vaca de Castro ordered Lope Martín to push forward on horseback to Guamanga and find out whether Diego de Rojas had any further news. He came back with the same news they had before. As some of the companies of foot had gone far ahead, the Governor gave orders for them to be halted until the whole force was together. At Vinaque he pitched the camp with them all united. From the scouts20 sent out by Diego de Rojas, the news came that Don Diego was marching down from Vilcas to occupy Guamanga. This report caused more excitement than the former one, and Vaca de Castro held a consultation21 with his captains, whereat it was decided22 to push briskly forwards so as to reach Guamanga before Don Diego could enter it. They began their march in great disorder23, so that, if the enemy had been near, they would easily have been routed. On arriving at Guamanga, the various sections entered the plaza24, and mounted the culverins they had brought with them, at the ingress to the streets. They remained there that night, and next day the truth was learned, which was that Don Diego was still at Vilcas, and had not started nor moved his men the distance of an arquebus shot. The Governor passed out from the city on the side towards Vilcas, the tents were pitched, and the captain Pedro Anzures arrived with the laggers behind and the baggage train, so that all were united.
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1 adroitly | |
adv.熟练地,敏捷地 | |
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2 chastising | |
v.严惩(某人)(尤指责打)( chastise的现在分词 ) | |
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3 insurgents | |
n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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4 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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5 despatch | |
n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道 | |
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6 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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7 cavalry | |
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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8 munitions | |
n.军火,弹药;v.供应…军需品 | |
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9 prudently | |
adv. 谨慎地,慎重地 | |
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10 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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11 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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12 entrenched | |
adj.确立的,不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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13 factions | |
组织中的小派别,派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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14 monks | |
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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15 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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16 chattels | |
n.动产,奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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17 embark | |
vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机 | |
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18 forestall | |
vt.抢在…之前采取行动;预先阻止 | |
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19 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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20 scouts | |
侦察员[机,舰]( scout的名词复数 ); 童子军; 搜索; 童子军成员 | |
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21 consultation | |
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议 | |
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22 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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23 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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24 plaza | |
n.广场,市场 | |
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