The War of Quito

by Pedro de Cieza de León

CHAPTER XVII

How some citizens of Cuzco fled from Lima without waiting for the Viceroy, and how he was advised of their going.

The tumult in Lima was very great when news came that the Viceroy was coming and that he was enforcing the ordinances with extreme rigour. Vaca de Castro deplored what the people said of the Viceroy, and how ill they took his approach. He tried to appease them in public, saying some good things that, as time went on, he might not have occasion to say more evil: showing how all the provinces were tranquil and seeking the service of God our Lord and of his Majesty, before the Viceroy arrived, and that he was ill advised to come with so severe and rigorous a policy. The citizens of Cuzco, Hernando Bachicao, Gaspar Rodriguez and the rest also spoke in the same manner, showing a desire to leave Lima before the arrival of the Viceroy. As they sent their plans to many places, Santillana, the mayor-domo of the Viceroy, got news of it. He hurriedly sent a messenger, urging how important it was to come to Lima without delay, and not remain at Truxillo attending to trifling matters. This was not suitable to his dignity and to the authority existing in his person. Finally he gave an account of the tumults in the city and in other parts.

One Mendieta, also a servant of the Viceroy, set out from Lima with the letter, and, going with great speed, reached the city of Truxillo where the Viceroy had already been informed of what was going on by Diego de Aguero. After the arrival of the messenger, named Mendieta, the Viceroy was rather disturbed, but he did not believe that the kingdom would openly rise against him. He said that if he had fifty men of Aviles with him, it would be sufficient to pacify the whole of Peru, never mind how many kicks they aimed against the ordinances. Presently he gave orders for the march to Lima, though his brother Vela Nuñez was ill. The Viceroy was accompanied by Diego Alvarez de Cueto, his brother-in-law, his brother, and the same knights and others who came with him from Piura.

The events already mentioned having taken place in Lima, the citizens of Cuzco, who had arrived, found that the negotiation between Vaca de Castro and the municipality had fallen through, and that the Viceroy had already set out from Truxillo. They reflected that here would be great difficulty in enforcing the new laws, while it would be easy to oppose the Viceroy and oblige him to leave the country. The Licentiate Vaca de Castro might be restored to the government, for whom all felt great friendship, especially Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo. They declared as the truth that the Licentiate Vaca de Castro consulted in secret with Camporedondo whether he should return to Cuzco, and, if the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro had arrived there, should act with him. If not he might be received as lieutenant of the Governor, the Viceroy not being received. Afterwards it would be an easy thing to induce Gonzalo Pizarro to return to his estate and to desist from what he had begun. All the cities would then restore Vaca de Castro as Governor.

These and many other things passed between one and another. Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo came out into the square and, looking at those who were there he recognized Santillana, a servant of the Viceroy. He then said, in a loud voice, that he should go back to Cuzco to defend his property, and that others would do the same, as the Viceroy so cruelly intended to seize it. He then took leave of Vaca de Castro and set out on his return to Cuzco, accompanied by Hernando de Bachicao and Beltran del Conde. Diego Maldonado and Pedro de los Rios did the same, taking the coast road with the intention of reaching the province of Andahuaylas. They would not then be in the movements which they believed would be sure to take place. At that time the clouds were so congealed that, in no way could great calamities and troubles be diverted from the kingdom.

When Gaspar Rodriguez and Bachicao, with the others, arrived in the province of Huarochiri, they burnt the pikes left there by Vaca de Castro and took the small field pieces and arquebuses to Cuzco. Father Loaysa was following them with all speed. After they left Lima the Licentiate de la Gama also departed, attended by a soldier named Olea.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Gonzalo Pizarro sent Mezcua as a spy to Lima, and how, not finding the equipment he expected in the city, he did not wish to leave it.

When the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro was established in the houses at Cuzco, some of the citizens came to visit him, but they were not all disposed to follow him in his policy of resistance. In order to gain them over, he said that he would dispose all his forces for the public good, as for his own brothers and companions; without saying a word that would give them any suspicions of his evil intentions and tyrannical thoughts, which were to seize the kingdom. The citizens had received news that the Viceroy was coming from Truxillo to Lima (where he had been acknowledged, as well as in all the other cities and towns of the kingdom), in order to see that no harm arose in the future from the proceeding of Gonzalo Pizarro. Those in Cuzco who believed this, agreed not only to show him no favour, but seldom to visit him. He, seeing how cold those had become who had invited him to come, became sad, saying that he wished to return to Charcas. He sent for one of his servants named Mezcua, and told him to go to Lima with all speed, to find out what was happening there, and whether the Viceroy would soon enter the city. Mezcua set out, and Gonzalo Pizarro waited for the result, and to see whether the citizens of Cuzco would then receive him as their defender and Procurator-General.