How the Viceroy appointed captains and assembled troops.
I know well that I digressed in the preceding chapter, but I could not do less in dealing with the materials. There are those who, when the author is long in his chapters and tedious in relating events, throw the book on the bench, not thinking well of the writer. On this I will quote what the glorious Doctor St Jerome[51] says, in his treatise on the instruction of virgins, “Keep thy tongue from evil speaking, and put the bit and bridle of reason on thy mouth. If thou must speak because it would be sin to keep silent, take care not to say anything that can be blamed.” Leaving off any further remarks on this, we will proceed with the course of our history.
The Viceroy, now having news of what was occurring in the city of Cuzco, appointed Don Alonso de Montemayor to be captain of cavalry, a native of Seville and a very loyal knight. His brother-in-law Diego Alvarez de Cueto was also appointed a captain of cavalry. He was a native of Avila. The captain of arquebusiers was Diego de Urbina, a Biscayan. Afterwards he was appointed to the post of Camp Master, the captaincy of arquebusiers being given to Gonzalo Diaz de Pineda, a native of the Montaña[52]. Captains of infantry were Pablo de Meneses of Talavera and Martin de Robles. Juan Velasquez Vela Nuñez was appointed Captain of the Guard. After the Viceroy had made these appointments he addressed the officers, saying that they were to be captains in the service of the King our Lord in order that if any tyrant should rise in rebellion with an armed force, they should give such a lesson that, the leaders having been punished, the province might remain quiet. He had placed his eyes upon them, taking them to be his companions and special friends into whose keeping he confided his person and his honour. As a man arrived from Spain in this new kingdom, he had not known who to trust. The Captain Don Alonso answered, that for his part he would die in the service of the Viceroy, and all the captains said the same, showing a strong desire to serve him. There then began the beating of drums, displaying of colours, and enlisting of men. Don Antonio de Ribera, Alonso Palomino and other citizens sent news of all this to Gonzalo Pizarro, putting their letters in very small calabashes, that they might not be seen by anyone. They even say that when Don Antonio could not send them, his wife did it. Sayavedra was appointed as Serjeant-Major, and at the sound of the drum 500 men were assembled, their pay being $300 or 400. Many horses were bought at $500 to 600 each, and more. In the end about $100,000 were spent.
Vasco de Guevara, the citizen of Guamanga, came to Lima to clear himself of what was said against him about the artillery. The Viceroy appeared to be angry, but accepted his excuses, and took him into favour. Francisco de Cardenas was at Huaytara, knew all that was happening, and promptly sent the news to Gonzalo Pizarro. They say also that the clergyman Juan de Losa, who went with the Bishop, when he arrived at Guamanga sent a letter to Pizarro advising him to begin his march, as the Viceroy was disliked, and he said other things not in accordance with his profession. If I was to recount all the intrigues of friars and clergy at this time I should never finish, and Christian ears would feel pain in hearing them. This Losa also wrote advising the rebels not to allow the Bishop to come to them, because he came to deceive them, adding that he would advise them of everything that happened, with all diligence.
CHAPTER XLI
How Gonzalo Pizarro prepared to depart from the city of Cuzco and how he ordered the Captain Francisco de Almendras to go and seize the despatches that were coming.
Gonzalo pressed forward his preparations for war, desiring shortly to open the campaign. Letters came constantly from Lima and Guamanga keeping him informed of what was taking place, and he knew of the approach of the Bishop and also of Francisco Ampuero and Pero Lopez with the royal provisions. Understanding all this he gave orders to Francisco de Almendras, who, when he took away the artillery from Guamanga had placed it in Abancay, whence he went on to see Pizarro, to go back and take the royal provisions from those who brought them and to find out from the Bishop what his wishes were in coming. Almendras proceeded to carry out the instructions of Gonzalo Pizarro, with the help of the arquebusiers who had been left to guard the artillery. He was to meet those who were coming with the royal provisions, and not to allow them to bring their despatches to Cuzco, lest they should disturb the minds of those who already showed such readiness to change.
This business having been arranged, Gonzalo Pizarro sent letters to Pedro de Puelles[53] who was Governor of Huanuco, and had come to Lima where he had been received with all honour by the Viceroy who confirmed him in the appointment he had held since the time of Vaca de Castro. Pizarro sent the letter by a diligent runner named Vicente Pablo. In his letter Pizarro sent to ask him to come and join him with as many as he could collect, as the city of Cuzco had elected him as Procurator and Chief Justice to proceed to Lima and protest against the ordinances. Pedro de Puelles, having received the letter, sent his reply by the same hand. He said that he had always held the affairs of the Pizarros in high estimation, and that, notwithstanding that the Viceroy had ordered him to be Governor of Huanuco, he would do what Gonzalo Pizarro asked. But he asked for another letter informing him how and in what manner the people of Cuzco had received Pizarro as Justice and Procurator. Gonzalo Pizarro replied, and Puelles then deserted the cause of the Viceroy.
Francisco de Ampuero, the Secretary Pero Lopez, with the others who left Guamanga with the provisions, travelled on until they came to the bridge of Vilcas, where they found no one. They continued their journey and received news that Francisco de Almendras was not far distant. Going on as far as Lucumaes they had just crossed a small bridge when Almendras came upon them, accompanied by his escort. He haughtily enquired who carried the provisions. The answer was Pero Lopez. Then Almendras said he was minded to kill him, and throw his body down a deep ravine. They could make no resistance as Almendras had more than thirty men, with arquebuses, under his command. He spoke to Pero Lopez, asking why he had had the boldness and temerity to travel along such a difficult road as this was. Pero Lopez answered that the Viceroy had ordered him to come by that road with despatches, and by no means could he excuse himself from bringing them, with some other words. Almendras, reflecting that Pero Lopez had done some good work in times past, determined not to kill him then, nor do more than ask for the despatches. Pero Lopez took them from his bosom, not without much reluctance, and they both mounted after having had some further conversation. Calling Francisco de Ampuero to him, Almendras said that he was very much surprised to see Ampuero coming with these things, from which no good was intended for Gonzalo Pizarro, and that if it was not for the love which he knew that Pizarro still felt for him, he would kill him there and then. He also asked him what was passing at Lima.