_Of the events in the city of Lima after the arrival of the
Licentiate Cristobal Vaca de Castro, and of what the Viceroy did in
Truxillo._
Now we should relate the departure of Gonzalo Pizarro from Charcas, but
it will be convenient first to relate what happened in Lima on the
arrival of the Licentiate Vaca de Castro. He was lodged in the house of
the Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa[26]. News was always coming to Lima of
the proceedings of the Viceroy in the city of San Miguel and more
recently in Truxillo, with the object of enforcing the ordinances. The
members of the municipality now very much regretted that they had
accepted the Viceroy before he arrived at Lima and established the court
of justice, without agreement with the judges, and they said one to
another that a mistake had been made in acknowledging him before he had
entered the city in person; for his Majesty had not ordered that he
should be received simply on the strength of copies, without the
original documents. It was also said that they should have waited until
the arrival of Vaca de Castro, who was the actual governor of the
kingdom. They say that Vaca de Castro spoke to the magistrates of the
city, saying that no blame attached to those who brought arms from
Cuzco, for it was only done so as to know whether the ordinances would
come, so as to cause injury to all. Another object was that, in the
absence of arms, there might be no rising at Cuzco and in the provinces
beyond, for it is known that the people of Peru do not lightly suffer
wrong. His people, knowing his wishes, and without considering their
past dignities and offices, had, with patience and good will, laid down
their arms and dismissed the troops, and the governor had entered the
city with few attendants and privately, as every one had seen. In all
this he had done what seemed most convenient for the service of the King
our Lord.
When the citizens and magistrates heard these words they wanted Vaca de
Castro to resume the government of the province and, being governor,
that he would see to the common good, and that his Majesty might be
informed that it was not for the good of his service that the new laws
should be enforced. In order to conclude this measure, they met in their
assemblies, requesting Vaca de Castro that he would be present, and
agree to what they desired. They represented that he should resume the
government. Vaca de Castro, thinking more of his position than of his
desire, replied with grave words. He said that they should hold their
official meeting where he was, for it was not reasonable that he should
go to them in person. Then various messengers were sent between them
Vaca de Castro not wishing to go to them and they not wishing to go to
him, both being suspicious of each other, for in times past they had
always opposed him. The result of these negotiations was that the
municipality ordered certain propositions to be drawn up for Vaca de
Castro to sign, but as all this was done secretly the whole intention is
not known.
The Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa intervened in this business and
induced Alonso Riquelme the Treasurer and Illan Suarez the Factor to
make friends with Vaca de Castro. When the documents were ready the
Treasurer gave them to Lorenzo de Estopiñan to take them to Vaca de
Castro for signature. After Vaca de Castro had read them, he said that
he would not sign any such thing, for that they needed both omissions
and additions. There passed negotiations between the municipality and
Vaca de Castro, but it ended in their not being able to agree to
anything. There is nothing more to be said about Vaca de Castro at
present, for they did not arrange anything they wanted with him. He
remained at Lima and they even say that he showed no anxiety about the
things that were said of the Viceroy.
Meanwhile the Viceroy was resting at Truxillo occupying himself with
such trifling things that, when the court of justice was established,
they could have been settled by a simple order to an alguazil. All those
whose duty it is to rule kingdoms, and govern provinces, and do so
without guidance are apt to think that they have achieved many things.
If the Viceroy had quickly left the suburbs, and had entered the cities
prudently, all the scandals and serious injuries he caused would not
have happened, and they were not few. All he did in Truxillo was to let
the Indians know what he had ordered and done at San Miguel. He took
away the Indians granted to the Captain Diego de Mora[27] because he was
lieutenant of the governor, and treated Alonso Holguin in the same way
because he had formerly held that office. In this city of Truxillo there
were the Viceroy’s brother Francisco Velasquez Vela Nuñez, a very noble
and virtuous knight, and his brother-in-law Diego Alvarez de Cueto, a
very prudent and steady adviser. Both these knights always gave good
advice to the Viceroy, as well as the others who had accompanied him
from Tumbez.
In the city of Lima Hernando Bachicao, Diego Maldonado, Gaspar
Rodriguez, Pedro de los Rios and others, when they understood what was
taking place in Truxillo, and how the Viceroy was enforcing the new
laws, discussed many things among themselves, and finally resolved to go
to Cuzco before the Viceroy arrived at Lima, to see what was going to be
done, touching these ordinances.