After the Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa had been some days at Guamanga, he set out with the desire of reaching Cuzco before Gonzalo Pizarro had left that city. After several days’ journey he met, in an Indian village called Cochacaxa, the Secretary Pero Lopez, Francisco de Ampuero, Simon de Alzate and the others who had gone to announce the royal provisions. He also found there the reverend Friar Tomas de San Martin, Provincial of the Dominicans, and a clergyman named Diego Martin. They all advised the Bishop to go no further, but to return to Lima, for that the affairs at Cuzco were ill directed and worse conducted. Besides that, Gonzalo Pizarro had stationed his captain Francisco de Almendras with no other object than to prevent the Bishop from passing. This was shown by a letter from the same Almendras in which he said that he was ordered to let no one pass.
Although there were many considerations in favour both of returning and of going forward, the Bishop determined to continue his journey, and he went on until he arrived at the place where Francisco de Almendras was stationed. That captain received him without that courtesy and civility which the prelate’s dignity should have ensured him. Although the Bishop felt this he put it aside and had some discourses with Almendras. Next day he spoke more fully about his mission and how much he desired to go on to Cuzco, to give counsel to Gonzalo Pizarro on the course which it would be most proper for him to take. Upon this Almendras replied that on no account could he pass onwards. When the Bishop understood the position of Almendras, and that his prayers to be allowed to pass were of no avail, he said that he took this contumacious conduct ill, and that Almendras fell into grave discommunion, in using his power with such violence. To this the rebel, with great pride and little fear of our Lord God, answered: “This is no time for discommunions. There is no God nor King but Gonzalo Pizarro.” The Bishop then asked to be allowed to go on, quite alone, without any of his followers. But Francisco de Almendras was inexorable, in truth he was obeying Pizarro’s orders. He said that he would take the Bishop’s mule and that, if he went on he must do so on foot.
The Bishop then wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro, letting him know of the violent conduct of Almendras, and saying that the object of his journey to Cuzco was to secure the good and peace of the country so that, having rest and tranquillity, all should enjoy themselves. For this his counsel to Pizarro was that he should disband his troops. When this letter arrived Gonzalo Pizarro was already in the valley of Xaquixaguana. He answered the Bishop by telling him not to trouble himself about proceeding further, as he was about to march to Lima, and they might meet on the road. When, he continued, he heard, in Cuzco, of the Bishop’s journey, he rejoiced, holding it for certain that it would be for the good of all. With a joyful mind he was waiting to do the Bishop all service. But some knights who were with him, as well as friars of white and even black habits, had since told him that under no circumstances should he receive the Bishop in Cuzco, for reasons that they would not mention. For it was not his affair alone, but that of all the others to whose will he must conform. With this letter there came another to Francisco de Almendras in which Gonzalo Pizarro instructed him, by art and dissimulation, to ascertain what the Bishop’s own feelings were towards him.
After some further letters had passed between the Bishop and Pizarro, the Bishop dwelt on the service which Gonzalo and his brothers had done to the King, and urged him not to obscure and nullify them by coming with an armed force to act contrary to the King’s will. To this Gonzalo Pizarro answered that he desired no disservice to the King, but to procure the liberty of the kingdom, for which object he would use all his power without swerving until that object was attained.
The Bishop then departed to Curamba on his return, and thence to Andahuaylas where Juan Alonso Palomino, with some soldiers, were stationed by Pizarro. In order not to hear the insolent gibes of the soldiers, the Bishop went on to Uramarca, where he remained until the 7th of September writing reports to the Viceroy of what had happened and what it was best to do. During the time that the Bishop was at Uramarca, he received several letters from Pizarro, all urging him to return to Lima.
CHAPTER XLV
How the Viceroy made preparations encouraging those who were with him in case Gonzalo Pizarro should come.
As the things that were passing at Cuzco were published and the news of the preparations of Pizarro became known, the Viceroy said to Diego de Urbina: “Captain, there can be no longer doubt. We must put on the leathern doublets and cloaks, and shoulder our pikes.” Diego de Urbina replied that it was very good, and from that time he doffed his peaceful garb. He was appointed Master of the Camp. From boards of cedar they made long pikes. Metal was collected to manufacture arquebuses, and the master gunner was expected to turn out four daily. As there was not sufficient metal, a bell which was placed in the principal church by the Marquis Pizarro, for divine worship, and had pleasantly rung ever since it was founded, was taken away and made into arquebuses. Oh miserable land! Great must have been thy sins, that such evils should befall thee. Prosperous and in great majesty in times of peace, it seems to me that thou now sailest in tempestuous seas, and cruel fortune turns foul and furious winds against thee, leaving thee in the high seas. Few of thy sons will escape without colouring the sea with their blood. Those who do escape will be left saddened, sombre, altered, thoughtful, and I see them walking deaf to all around. In Cuzco they are arming, in Lima they pull down the bell to make arms. In all the province they think of nothing but the search for arms and armour, that the time of trouble may come more quickly.
The Father Losa, who, as we have already said, left Lima with the Bishop, went as far as the bridge of Abancay, where Francisco de Almendras was stationed with the artillery. Thence he was allowed to go on to Pizarro’s camp, and was well received by him and his captains. Pizarro said that he rejoiced much to see him and thanked him for the news he sent in his letters, asking him for the latest news from Lima, and for the intentions of Blasco Nuñez with regard to the ordinances. The clergyman Losa answered that Pizarro and his captains were all knights who ought, with valorous hearts, promptly to assert their liberties, considering well what honour they will lose if the ordinances are fully enforced, and what profit will be gained if they are revoked. Continuing his discourse Losa went on to say that for brave hearts, such as those of the men he saw before him, many reasons were not needed. Let them assemble as many men as possible, collecting all the arms, and expending all the gold in the land. The Viceroy had not more than 300 men all armed, and few of them are his friends. This speech of the priest did no little harm, for many of those who were with Pizarro, their first anger having subsided, were beginning to regret that they had made him Procurator, saying one to another, “Where are we going? what do we want? are we to attack the King in arms?” and similar questions.