HAVING imprisoned the principal citizens of Lima, got possession of the city, and seized all the arms and horses, the party resolved that Don Diego should be recognized as Governor. The news of the death of the Marquis was soon spread over all the districts, and reached the ears of the Indians. When it became generally known it was deeply mourned. The Indians said that the Christians had been very cruel to kill their captain, and that his death would give rise to grave evils. Never again would there be any one to shelter and protect them like him who was the first to discover and conquer them. They say that the battle of Chupas and its result was then foretold by the Indians.
It appeared to Juan de Herrada and his friends that it was a certain thing that the municipality must receive Don Diego[75] as its Governor; in order that justice might be maintained in the Realm until the rightful vengeance he had taken for the death of his father should be known to his Majesty, when the government would be granted to him. Fearing that the prisoners were not secure in the church, more guards were placed over them. The conspirators ordered the magistrates and municipal officers to assemble and elect Don Diego as Governor. The authorities, when they knew the intention of Don Diego and Juan de Herrada, considered that, although it was a great fault, still the lesser evil would be to accept the lad as Governor. It is said that among themselves they resented the force that was put upon them, and that Rodrigo de Mazuelos spoke very openly, at a meeting, against Don Diego. They proposed, however, to accept him in association with the treasurer Alonso de Riquelme. While the men of Chile were thinking that over, Antonio de Garay said that he did not hold that Don Diego was so ignorant as to need another to help him in governing. Finally Don Diego was accepted as Governor, and they took the wands from the ordinary magistrates, and gave them to Peces and Martín Carrillo. Cristóbal de Sotelo was made Lieutenant Governor; but Juan de Herrada was the man who governed Don Diego, and directed him in what he had to do.
Up to this time the secretary Antonio Picado had not been captured; but now the conspirators went to the house of the treasurer Alonso de Riquelme, where they already knew he was. Searching the house, it is said that the treasurer told them, when they asked him where the secretary was, that he did not know and had not seen him. At the same time he cast his glance in a certain direction, telling them by that sign that they would find him under the bed; where they took him. As he might know where the treasure of the Marquis was, and the documents, they agreed to treat him well, so that, thinking they were not going to kill him, he would divulge. They took him to the house of Don Diego, who was now called Governor.
At this time a gentleman named the licentiate Rodrigo Niño, a native of Toledo, arrived from Spain. He and one Francisco de Orihuela came to find the Marquis, Orihuela bringing despatches and the licentiate to be an advocate in the residencia. Just then, too, a trumpeter who had been in the service of the Marquis was killed. They also arrested Hurtado, whom they found in the house of the Bishop Don Garcí Díaz. They gave the officials, to be inventoried, certain gold and jewels found in a closet of the Marquis's house. A man left Lima and went to inform Alonso de Cabrera, Chamberlain of the Marquis, of what had occurred. Don Diego ordered all the papers and documents of the Marquis to be collected. Among other things they found a will he had made before he died. Among the papers there were letters from the Comendador Mayor, Don Francisco de los Cobos, and from Dr. Beltrán, and the Cardinal, and other Grandees of Spain favourable to the Marquis.
It seemed well that news of the death of the Marquis should be sent to Cuzco, to Gabriel de Rojas and other friends of Don Diego's father, that they might be aware of it, and it is said that an appointment as Lieutenant was sent to Gabriel de Rojas. There was a very diligent man in Lima named Juan Diente, who was ordered to go to Cuzco with the news. He went all that way on foot in five days, a thing that seems almost incredible. But many witnesses are yet alive who know to be true what I here affirm, that Juan Diente travelled the 120 leagues from Lima to Cuzco in five days,[76] over a road so rough and wearisome, and in parts snow-covered as we have described elsewhere. Some say, however, that Indians carried him on their shoulders over the greater part in a hammock.
[CHAPTER XXXIV]
How Don Diego de Almagro, having tyrannically occupied the city of Lima, sent messengers to other cities of the Realm, requiring them to recognize him as Governor.
DON Diego had got possession of the city of Lima, and had been accepted there as Governor. Next, by the advice of Juan de Herrada, Cristóbal de Sotelo, Francisco de Chaves, and the rest, he resolved to attempt to gain the support of the inhabitants of the city, and of other cities, by soft words. Letters were prepared and messengers despatched to all the cities of the Realm, but chiefly to Alonso de Alvarado, who was lieutenant for the Marquis in the city of La Frontera, which is a settlement in the Chachapoyas, stating politely that Don Diego would value his friendship, and desired him to be his lieutenant in the city of which he had charge. This letter was sent off at once. García de Alvarado, at Don Diego's request, then went to speak with Gómez de Alvarado, hoping to persuade him to remember the friendship he had of old for Don Diego's father, and not to go against the son nor even remain neutral. Gómez de Alvarado thereupon went to speak with Don Diego, whom everybody was calling Governor, and to offer his support as from the first. A messenger was also sent to Truxillo, and Diego de Mora, who was lieutenant at that place, wrote very agreeably to Don Diego, expressing satisfaction at what had been done. Don Alonso de Montemayor came back when he heard that the Judge had arrived at Buenaventura, and about what had happened at Lima. Juan Balsa collected what arms he could and some horses, to go and join Don Diego.
Alonso de Cabrera, who, we have said, was a servant of the Marquis, was in Guaylas. When he heard of the death of his master he was much grieved. He managed to get together some Spaniards, intending to go forth and do what damage he could to the men of Chile. When this was known in Lima, Juan de Herrada wrote to him to persuade him to come to the city and take charge of the children of the Marquis; but he, madly and without considering the changes wrought by time, replied almost with menace, which availed him nothing and only fired the anger of the usurpers, who would have been glad to get Cabrera into their power and kill him. Although they knew that Diego de Mora had shown himself to be friendly to Don Diego, they agreed, on the advice of Juan de Herrada and Cristóbal de Sotelo, to send García de Alvarado to Truxillo with forty horsemen, to do what was best for their party in that city. Presently García de Alvarado started, and in a place called Tambo Blanco he met Luis García Samamés, lord of the Conchucos Indians, who told him not to go on, because Diego de Mora and everyone in Truxillo had shown themselves to be his very good friends, and would do whatever he might ask them so long as it were not against the King's service. If Alvarado went there, he said, it would afford an opening for dissension in the city, and there would be trouble. García de Alvarado, thinking well of what Luis García Samamés had said to him, returned to Lima. Meanwhile there was news that Cabrera was collecting men. García de Alvarado was therefore ordered to embark in a galleon that was in the port, with fifty horsemen and twenty arquebusiers, and go and take Cabrera prisoner; and then to proceed along the coast as far as the city of San Miguel. García de Alvarado obeyed this order, and sailed away on the route to Truxillo with the force we have stated.