From this same place I sent Burgos to Cuzco to accompany the escort bringing some treasure from your Honour’s estate, and I shall send it forward with the care that is necessary, doing all in my power to forward your service.
With regard to the pikes which you ordered me to burn, I have sent for them that they may be brought to Guamanga by little and little, and thence they shall be sent to Lima. I beseech your Honour that you will deem that I do well in this. For the kingly crowning with which we are, in a few days, to crown your Honour there will be a great concourse of people, and on that occasion I wish to have charge of such details as may be convenient. I assure your Excellency that the most terrible war that can be made for the security of your army and your person, and for the rout of an enemy, is with pikes, and I know very well what I am saying.
Rodrigo de Zamudio arrived here last night, who resides at Chuquiapu (La Paz). He came with Father Ortun Sanchez from your Honour’s estates, bringing 35,000 pesos of gold from Chuquiapu and in silver from Potosi, respecting which the Father informed me. I have sent it from here with the best escort I could arrange. I pray that you will give the bearers good treatment and presents, for it is true that much work is done each day, backwards and forwards, in your Honour’s service, and I will look upon it as a reward to myself. May the illustrious person of your Honour be maintained with all the health and increase of prosperity that you can desire. From this station of Andahuaylas to-day Thursday the 17th of March 1547.
Your Servant who kisses
Your Honour’s hands
Francisco de Carbajal.
La Gasca’s voyage.
Document in the special library of the King of Spain (16 fs cuaderna 17), in the handwriting of one of La Gasca’s secretaries, quoted by the Palentino. Neither Prescott nor Barros Arana had seen it.
Abridged.
We arranged that Lorenzo de Aldana should sail with two ships and a frigate, and in his company Palomino and Juan de Illanes, and the Provincial of the Dominicans with letters, provisions, and pardons, and 300 soldiers.
Finding all quiet in Peru, and himself popular, while Tierra Firme was in his hands, for he was ignorant of the treason there, his Council advised Gonzalo Pizarro to become King by an Act similar to that made at Avila by Alonso, in the time of his brother Henry IV, to be approved by all the citizens and principal persons in Peru. Carbajal, who was at Cuzco, was ordered to Lima. Meanwhile the Licentiates Cepeda and Carbajal, and Juan de Acosta a great favourite of Gonzalo, tried to persuade Gonzalo that the Camp Master was a traitor and advised Gonzalo to kill him. Carbajal set out, but was taken very ill at Andahuaylas. He wrote to Gonzalo of the Kingship he was about to assume, and of the great concourse of people there would be at Lima. The letter is dated at Andahuaylas 17 March 1547.