“As soon as Pedrarias heard the great news which I had brought he was also told by the doctors that time alone could cure me, and in truth it was fully three years before I was able to ride on horseback. He therefore, asked me to hand over the undertaking to Pizarro, Almagro, and Father Luque, who were partners, in order that so great a discovery might be followed up, and he added that they would repay me what I had expended. I replied that, so far as the expedition was concerned, I must give it up, and that I did not wish to be paid, because if they paid me my expenses, they would not have sufficient to commence the business, for at that time they had not more than sixty dollars. Accordingly, these three, and Pedrarias, which made four, formed a company, each partner taking a fourth share.”[14] [Illustration: FRANCISCO PISARRO] CHAPTER III CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTS OF THE CONQUEST OF PERU I. _Francisco de Xerés._ II. _Pedro Sancho._ III. _Tomás de San Martín_; _Benito Peñalosa Mondragón_. IV. _Pedro Pizarro_; _Cristóbal de Molina_. V. _Alonso Enríquez de Guzmán_; _Diego Fernández_. VI. _Agustín de Zárate._ VII. _Pedro Cieza de León._ VIII. _Girolamo Benzoni_; _Juan Fernández_. I [Sidenote: The story of Peru] The especially important event in South America in the first half of the sixteenth century was the conquest of Peru. If the story as it has been frequently told has exaggerated somewhat the magnificence of the kingdom destroyed, this presentation has only perpetuated the impression made on the Spanish mind by contemporary rumours and reports. These reports and rumours inspired and kept alive for many decades the hope of finding other kingdoms equally wealthy, by the spoils of which the conquerors might be enriched. [Sidenote: Effect of discovery] [Sidenote: Francisco de Xerés]