Pizarro Himself And
Almagro, With Two Assistants, Were Appointed Judges, With Full Power To
Acquit Or Condemn; An Attorney-General Was Named To Carry On The
Prosecution In The King's Name; Counsellors Were Chosen To Assist The
Prisoner In His Defence; And Clerks Were Ordained To Record The
Proceedings Of Court.
Before this strange tribunal, a charge was exhibited
still more amazing.
It consisted of various articles: That Atahualpa,
though a bastard, had dispossessed the rightful owner of the throne, and
usurped the regal power; that he had put his brother and lawful sovereign
to death; that he was an idolater, and had not only permitted, but
commanded the offering of human sacrifices; that he had a great number of
concubines; that since his imprisonment he had wasted and embezzled the
royal treasures, which now belonged of right to the conquerors; that he
had incited his subjects to take arms against the Spaniards. On these
heads of accusation, some of which are so ludicrous, and others so absurd,
that the effrontery of Pizarro, in making them the subject of a serious
procedure, is not less surprizing than his injustice, did this strange
court go on to try the sovereign of a great empire, over whom it had no
jurisdiction. With respect to each of the articles, witnesses were
examined; but as they delivered their evidence in their native tongue,
Philippillo had it in his power to give their words whatever turn best
suited his malevolent intentions. To judges pre-determined in their
opinion, this evidence appeared sufficient.
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