These Were _Levantines_ Or Greeks, Several Of Whom Had Come To
Peru Out Of Respect For Pedro De Candia, Who Was Master Of The Ordnance To
Don Diego.
Powder was likewise easily made in great abundance, as
saltpetre is to be had in every part of that
Country of excellent quality.
At the same time he had defensive armour made for those of his people who
were in want, forming corslets and helmets of silver mixed with copper,
which answered amazingly well, and, were made by the native artists, who
fabricated every kind of arms in imitation of, and as good as those of
Milan. By these means, and by collecting all the arms throughout the whole
country, every one of his men was at least provided with a coat of mail, a
cuirass or corselet, and a helmet[9]. In this manner Don Diego was enabled
to equip two hundred musqueteers, and to establish several companies of
men at arms, as hitherto in Peru, hardly any thing had been seen of that
kind, the cavalry being all light horse except a very few.
While these preparations were going on, an unfortunate quarrel arose
between the captains Garcias de Alvarado and Christoval de Sotelo, in
which they drew their swords and Sotelo was slain. As both of these
captains were principal leaders in the Almagrian party, and had many
friends and partizans in the army, this unfortunate affair occasioned much
strife, and had nearly occasioned a battle between the friends of the two
combatants; but Don Diego appeased them with some difficulty, and by using
a great deal of address.
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