Murders Xuarez.
Is taken and put in Prison.
Not long after this great Execution, Blasco Nunnez Vela came to Peru, and being appointed Vice-Roy, had four Councellors assign’d him, with whom he was to consult in all Affairs; and especially to set the Indians at liberty, which till then had suffer’d much misery under the Spanish Tyranny: To perform which, the Emperor had given an Order under his Great Seal, which was to be publish’d and proclaim’d in all Places. Vela at his arrival faithfully perform’d all his Commands, seiz’d upon Vacca de Castro, because he had Executed Almagro without any Examination or Tryal; yet by this means he got the hatred of all, so that most of the Spaniards chose Gonsalvo Pizarro for their Chief, whereby Affairs grew daily more and more out of Order. Nunnez Vela laid all the blame thereof upon William Xuarez, Governor of Lima, whom he sent for in the Night, and correcting over-severely, gave him also two mortal Wounds, of which he presently died: The Body was in the Morning drawn along the Streets, which caus’d so great a murmuring amongst the Inhabitants, that soon after they seem’d to make a general Insurrection: Wherefore Nunnez Vela fearing the worst, resolv’d to convey himself from thence incognito, and pass to Truxillo: But his four Councellors advis’d him to the contrary; yet he took his own way, causing all his Treasure to be sent aboard; and having made ready his Horses to depart, the Common People in a tumultuous manner set upon the Palace, catching, snatching up, and carrying away all the Silver they could find, and meeting the Vice-Roy, seiz’d, and thrust him into a Dungeon; which done, they fell at variance amongst themselves; for some would have him executed, but others insisted to have him sent Prisoner to Spain; which last being the more moderate, getting the upper Hand, Vela was put aboard, and committed to the custody of Didacus Alvarez, who Anchoring in the Mouth of the River Tombez (kindness growing betwixt them) releas’d the Vice-Roy his Prisoner, and set him ashore, who not long after got some Forces together.
Is Beheaded.
Mean while Pizarro was every where acknowledg’d for Supreme Governor, who having Intelligence of the Vice-Roys Design, sent Francisco Carvayales thither, between whom and Vela was a sharp Encounter; but at last being worsted, and retaken by Carvayales, he was soon after executed, and his Head plac’d on a Pole near the Gallows.
The Emperor Charles turmoil’d with Wars at home, saw no likelyhood to settle the confus’d Affairs of Peru; yet at last he thought it convenient to send one Peter Gasca thither, an Ecclesiastick, of a subtile and ingenious Wit, who landing Anno 1546. in Lima, with no other Title than Chief Councellor to the Emperor, took quite another course than Vela, perswading them all, that Affairs should be setled in order, according to their own desires, and former Miscarriages never be remembred, being utterly deleted by an Act of Oblivion.
Gasca’s murderous Exploits.
Gonsalves Pizarro strangled.
Cruelty us’d on Carvayales.
The News of this General Pardon spreading it self far and near, wrought a great change; for Pizarro’s Intimates, and those nearest of Concern, shrunk daily from him; which Gasca observing, march’d against him; and that they might make the more haste, they loaded several Peruvians, chain’d, with their Arms, whom when they lagg’d, they switch’d and whipp’d before them. And now both Armies being met, and discharging their Cannons at one another, with considerable loss to each side, whole Regiments came running over to Gasca; so that Pizarro being quite forsaken, yielded himself to the mercy of the Conqueror, who accus’d him of High Treason, and caus’d him to be strangled in a Dungeon, and fix’d his Head on a Marble Pillar in Lima, environ’d with Iron Rails, and inscrib’d with a brief Account of all his Offences. But Gasca not thus satisfied, hang’d up several Commanders, and whipping and stigmatizing others, condemn’d them after to the Gallies: But his greatest spight was against the Field-Marshal Carvayales, a Person of the Age of fourscore years, whom tying to a Horses Tail, he caus’d a whole Hour to be drawn up and down the Market-place, scorn’d and derided of all People; which done, he was quarter’d alive.