_How the Governor Vaca de Castro entered Lima, and what happened._
We cannot deny that Vaca de Castro was a distinguished statesman and,
barring his avarice, he truly governed the kingdom with prudence.
Although he had dismissed his forces, and only came accompanied by some
knights who were citizens of Cuzco, he consulted with them as to the way
in which he should enter the city. He knew that the municipality had
acknowledged the Viceroy only on the strength of the copy of a despatch,
and he desired they themselves should receive his resignation, so that
he might answer the Viceroy. He sent to the Licentiate de la Gama, who
had been his lieutenant, to precede him in entering Lima, to return his
rod of office, writing very friendly letters to numerous persons, full
of hopes, while, to some who had complaints against him, he sent
promises. Vaca de Castro never left off sending such missives until he
entered the city. Whether these despatches were written then or
afterwards he and his clerks alone know, for I cannot make out, though I
know what passed, nor will the reader fail to understand. We know that
Vaca de Castro parted with many Indians on this road, belonging to
himself or to the estate of the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro.
The Licentiate de la Gama had to retain the staff of lieutenant, because
when Juan de Barbaran came with the despatches, he never liked to enter
the municipal building, nor did he find it at the reception of the
Viceroy.
O my God! how many deaths, robberies, insults, disgraces, destruction of
natives were caused by the jealousies of these men who sought to secure
commands. O that thy divine goodness had left Vaca de Castro among the
snows of Pariacaca never to appear again, that the Viceroy had fallen
so ill at Truxillo, where he then was, that it might have been his end,
instead of finding it with disgrace in Quito, and that another pit had
opened for Gonzalo Pizarro and Carbajal, like the one at Rome. Wanting
these leaders the miserable country might not have suffered such evils,
and the sorrowful fields of Salinas and Chupas might have sufficed. The
sins of these men were so enormous, and the charity among them so
minute, that it pleased God that they should meet with great calamities.
The Licentiate de la Gama set out for the city of Lima in advance of
Vaca de Castro, to know what was wrong with the Treasurer Alonso
Riquelme[25], and why he and the other magistrates had accepted the
Viceroy simply on the strength of a copy of the appointment. He
conversed with Lorenzo de Estopiñan, who had come out to give him
information, and to see if it could be arranged to give him some
Indians. For he was a friend of the Treasurer, and it might be
negotiated that he should have better Indians than those he had
dismissed. Estopiñan returned to Lima, but the reply of the Treasurer
was that he no longer had any friendship for Vaca de Castro who had
dismissed the Indians, and that if he came he would have his head cut
off. This Treasurer was very wise and cautious, keeping clear of being
committed to any side, and he knew afterwards how to remain outside.
The Licentiate de la Gama, when he arrived at Lima, went to the house of
the Treasurer Riquelme and persuaded him, as one of the principal
citizens, to call a meeting of the officials, adding that he would
return the rod of lieutenant, for when he had left the city he had not
surrendered it with the required customs and solemnities. Besides the
Viceroy had written to say that he would be in the city and that they
should receive him as his Majesty had ordered. Though this was true, and
the Viceroy had so written, the intention of the Licentiate de la Gama
was no other than that he should again take his place in the
municipality, and that when Vaca de Castro arrived he should again take
up the government and be governor. Having been lieutenant to former
governors his Indians would be taken from him, and he could not
negotiate anything.
Vaca de Castro continued his journey until he came to the city of Lima.
Although his arrival was known, there was no great reception, and no one
came out to meet him except a few of his friends and some servants. With
these he entered the city and went to the house of the Bishop Don
Jeronimo de Loaysa. There the citizens came to visit him, and talk over
the proceedings of the Viceroy and the rigour of the new laws.