_How the Governor Vaca de Castro wrote from the city of Cuzco to
the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro, and touching his departure from
Cuzco._
The tumults and disturbances, caused by the news of the ordinances in
Cuzco, were continued. It is even said that Hernando Bachicao, Juan
Velez de Guevara, Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo, Cermeño and others
spoke to Vaca de Castro saying that he was the Royal Governor, that he
should continue in his command, and that all would serve and obey him.
Vaca de Castro answered in a way which showed that he understood how
changeable were the wills of men in Peru, and how inconstant. To gain
their ends they are ready to put any one at the head, leaving him in the
lurch if he failed. In this Vaca de Castro was not deceived. For those
who move in seditions and in wars coloured by justifications, although
they were accomplices in the demands of their leader, when the time of
failure comes, they sally forth, swearing with great oaths that they
were forced to join the tyrant.
Understanding this Vaca de Castro answered that he had taken charge of
the province by order of the King, and that he would now do no other
thing than proceed to the city of the Kings to wait upon him whom the
King had appointed as his Viceroy. Saying this, he ordered the
Secretary, Pero Lopez[9], to prepare the letters and despatches, as he
desired to set out from Cuzco without delay.
Some wish to say, and even men who were present have assured me, that
the Governor Vaca de Castro wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro to come with all
speed and take up the appointment of Procurator and Defender of the
kingdom while he, Vaca de Castro, after marrying one of Pizarro’s
daughters, would go to Spain and negotiate for his appointment to the
government of New Toledo, and other things, and urging him to proceed in
the matter.
I, being in the city of the Kings, was told by Don Antonio de Ribera
that among the letters which Gonzalo Pizarro had there--and I remember
that they were so numerous that three secretaries, continually reading
to the President La Gasca, did not finish in four days--was one from
Vaca de Castro to him, to which he answered that many had written to
incite him to come and lead them, but that he would not do so. On the
contrary, he would remain in his house, for his Majesty had sent his
Viceroy who had entered the country, and that he would do what the
royal service required. He wrote other things which were not intended to
be so evil as some have wished to make out. It may well be that both
letters were written by him.
After a few days Vaca de Castro set out from Cuzco, accompanied by
Caspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo[10], Antonio de Quiñones, Diego
Maldonado[11], the Licentiate Carbajal[12], Antonio de Altamirano[13],
Gaspar Gil, Pedro de los Rios, Hernando Bachicao[14] and other principal
people and some soldiers. With these he began the journey to the city of
the Kings.