The Viceroy understood that the rebellion of the upper provinces was public, and that Gonzalo Pizarro and his followers, after the many ugly words spoken against the King’s service, were preparing to come in arms to prevent the royal commands from being obeyed. After having taken the opinions of his brother Francisco Velasquez Vela Nuñez, of Don Diego Alvarez de Cueto, of Don Alonso de Montemayor, and the other principal knights who were at Lima, he resolved to make a general call to arms throughout the kingdom. In great haste he ordered messages to be sent to all the cities and towns within his government, ordering all the citizens to come to Lima to serve his Majesty, with their arms and horses, without daring to show any favour to Gonzalo Pizarro or to any other who may be denounced as opponents of the service of the royal crown of Castille, on pain of being declared traitors and forfeiting all their goods. This being done the Viceroy ordered the Secretary Pero Lopez to get ready for a journey to Cuzco with the royal orders, requiring Gonzalo Pizarro and those who were with him to obey them fully with breasts on the ground as loyal vassals and subjects. Pero Lopez, notwithstanding the great danger he incurred, seeing that it was for the royal service, declared that he would go if the war was not commenced until his return, so that they might not kill him. The Viceroy gave the promise, yet if the ears of Pero Lopez were not deaf, he might have heard the sounds of drums and fifes before he had crossed the bounds of the city. In order that Pero Lopez might go more safely, the Viceroy ordered that Francisco de Ampuero[46], formerly a servant of the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro, should go with him, and so they set out from Lima. Simon de Alzate, Public Notary, also went with despatches and provisions, intended to draw off the rebels and bring them to the King’s service, on pain of being declared traitors, while those who became loyal would receive favour and help.
CHAPTER XXXVI
How the Judges arrived at Lima and established the Court of Justice.
We stated further back that, from the city of Panama the Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela went on, and the Judges remained behind, to come later. After some days the Judges, with their wives, embarked in ships, landed at Payta, and began the journey to Lima by land. The complaints they received about the Viceroy were loud. They were assured that more than forty Spaniards had died of hunger on the roads, because the Indians would supply them with nothing. They replied that the Viceroy was a rash man, but that when they came to Lima they would establish the court of justice, that he might not indulge in such follies as he had done since he entered the kingdom. Talking in this way they arrived at Lima, where they found the place armed for defence, as the Viceroy had begun to declare war against Gonzalo Pizarro. When they arrived they were well received, lodged in houses of citizens, were well attended, and received many visitors.
They went to see the Viceroy who told them that the whole province was in a disturbed state, that Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo and Bachicao with others had fled from Lima, and excited the people of Cuzco where, without the fear of God or the King, they had nominated Gonzalo Pizarro as Procurator, and that he had seized the artillery which was at Guamanga, that, with it and the troops he had collected, he might march to Lima against them. The Judges were surprised to hear this news. The royal seal was brought under a canopy, the wands being carried by magistrates. The court of justice was then founded, and notices were sent to all parts. The Viceroy wrote an account of what was happening in Peru to the royal majesty of our Lord the King, from the time he landed, and how there was opposition to the ordinances which he had ordered to be promulgated. He wrote the same information to the members of the King’s very high Council.
CHAPTER XXXVII
How some citizens of Cuzco, seeing the evil intentions of Pizarro, wrote to the Viceroy to receive pardons and to say that they would help him.
It is very certain that when there are grievances leading to war, and the first impetuous fury that gave rise to it has passed, reason resumes its sway with some who begin to see the error they are committing. Many who had joined Gonzalo Pizarro now began to receive this impression, and hesitated to march with arms against the Viceroy. They said, “Who is this that has deceived us into opposing the King? How can we supplicate or protest with arquebuses and artillery. Besides this we see the inclination of Pizarro to take command.” Others said, “Let us prudently adhere to our King before worse comes.” Accordingly Diego Centeno, Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo, the Camp Master Alonso de Toro, Diego Maldonado the rich, Pedro de los Rios and others, with a clergyman named Baltasar de Loaysa wrote to the Viceroy asking pardon for what they had done without any penalty, and affirming that they were ready to serve him loyally with their persons, arms, and horses. In order that Loaysa might go without being impeded, under the guise of dissimulation, they submitted to Gonzalo Pizarro that it would be a wise thing for the clergyman to go to Lima as a spy, find out what was being done, and come quickly back with the news. Gonzalo Pizarro, thinking that they advised in good faith, agreed and gave Loaysa permission to go. So, with letters from many persons, he set out from Cuzco to Lima[47]. At the same time the Bishop, and the notaries and Secretary with the despatches, were on their way to Cuzco.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
How the Secretary Pero Lopez, with Francisco de Ampuero, travelled along the road to Cuzco, how they arrived at Guamanga, and what happened to the Bishop after he arrived in that city.