What more passed between Francisco de Almendras and those who were bringing the royal provisions.
After what happened which I have described in the last chapter, the Captain Francisco de Almendras and his arquebusiers returned a day’s journey towards Guamanga. Almendras reflected within himself that it would not be desirable to leave Pero Lopez alive, lest he should bear testimony to what had been done. He ordered the messenger to be killed, a shameful piece of cruelty. Finally he said that Pero Lopez and Simon de Alzate should travel alone so that the Andahuaylas natives or others, seeing that they were unprotected, might kill them. He ordered them to depart, but he kept Ampuero until Gonzalo Pizarro should come. Pero Lopez, quite understanding the intention of Almendras, said that his horse was so tired that he could not go on, asking to be allowed to rest for two or three days, and that then he would begin the return journey. Francisco de Ampuero said that Pero Lopez and Alzate should not go without him, and that he would not remain unless by force. Almendras, in a great rage, said that if they remained for the night he would kill them, and with this he went into his tent. Ampuero, seeing the great danger in which Pero Lopez was, went to Almendras and, speaking affectionately, entreated him to let him go back. Almendras was very angry and menaced Pero Lopez with his words. Certainly it cannot be denied that Pero Lopez did notable service in this expedition, for his life was in great danger. He passed that night without any sleep whatever, fearing that he might be killed, telling Alzate and the others also to keep awake.
As Ampuero had so much friendship with the Pizarros he succeeded, in the morning, in persuading Almendras to let them all return. So they all went back together very joyfully, praising God for having delivered them out of the hands of Almendras. Soon after starting they met Diego Martin the clergyman, and with him the Father Provincial Friar Tomas de San Martin[54], who told them of the evil intentions of Gonzalo Pizarro and how he had appointed captains and was preparing to march against the Viceroy. This Provincial was the Regent who had gone from Lima to Cuzco, with a strong desire to induce Pizarro to abandon such a mad enterprise. He had not succeeded in his good attempt though, by all means, he strove to turn many principal adherents of Pizarro from continuing with him. He understood that one Juan de Ribas, a native of Zaragoza, had been hanged for taking messages to one and another, from the Regent.
CHAPTER XLIII
How Gonzalo Pizarro prepared to set out from Cuzco, and how he took the money that was in the royal treasury for the expenses of the war.
Gonzalo Pizarro rejoiced much when he saw the letter which, as they say, the Father Losa wrote from Guamanga. He also had news of the coming of the Bishop. He made great haste to complete his preparations for leaving the city, frequently reviewing the troops. Bachicao went about in a small litter because, in firing off a piece, he got a wound in the thigh. The citizens assisted with some money, to pay the soldiers who had arrived. Pizarro said that the money to pay the troops must be taken out of the royal treasury. The citizens looked upon such a step as indecent, and said that they preferred to guarantee their persons and goods to make the payments; because it was not right that the property of the King our Lord should be expended without his order. The citizens, therefore, made the payments, for notwithstanding that they wished to see the protest go forward and the laws revoked, few wished, at that time, to do a disservice to the King nor, with an armed hand, to disobey his commands, notwithstanding that all were on the point of making war. For the learned men of letters said that this might be done without incurring the crime of treason.
Some soldiers came from Condesuyos, with a citizen of Cuzco named Navarro and bringing a few arquebuses. There also arrived, at Cuzco, at that time, Felipe Gutierrez, while Serna fled to Arequipa with the intention of joining the Viceroy. At Arequipa he conversed with the Captain Alonso de Caceres, a valorous man who was Captain General in the government of Cartagena, and held other honourable posts. Of this I am a good witness, for in the discovery of Urute I served under his banner. We passed through many hardships, suffering hunger and other miseries, as the readers will see in a book which I have commenced touching the events which occurred in the provinces bordering on the ocean sea. After we had served with Juan de Vadillo in the expedition he undertook, I passed into these provinces, Serna arrived at Arequipa and knew, from the Captain Alonso de Caceres, the evil intentions of Gonzalo Pizarro. They both agreed to take ship and proceed to Lima to join the Viceroy. This was swiftly done and, arriving at Lima, the Viceroy received them well. Meanwhile a youth named Martin de Vadillo[55] fled from Cuzco, but was hanged by Alonso de Toro.
As soon as everything was ready, Gonzalo Pizarro ordered the Captains Juan Velez de Guevara and Pedro Cermeño to Xaquixaguana. Alonso de Toro and Don Pedro Puertocarrero made some objection, but finally all the captains left Cuzco. Among them were Don Pedro Puertocarrero, Lope Martin, Juan Alonso Palomino, Tomas Vasquez. Gabriel de Rojas, Garcilasso de la Vega, and Jeronimo Castillas had excused themselves from going with Gonzalo Pizarro. The Licentiate Carvajal had to go against his will. From Xaquixaguana Pizarro ordered some captains to advance and form a camp at Lucumaes.
CHAPTER XLIV
How the Bishop arrived at the place where Francisco de Almendras was encamped, what happened, and the letters which Pizarro wrote and which the Bishop answered.