_How letters were sent to Gonzalo Pizarro from many persons, being
in Charcas, brought by Bustillo, urging him to come as Procurator
of the kingdom._
The Captain Gonzalo Pizarro had departed from the city of Cuzco, and had
gone to the town of Plata which is in the region of Charcas, where he
possessed a very productive grant of Indians. He was at a place called
Chaqui, arranging to work the silver mines of Potosi which had lately
been discovered. There came to him a servant of the Comendador Hernando
Pizarro, named Bustillo, sent to him by Antonio de Ribera, Alonso
Palomino, Villacorta, and many others, with letters. Luis de Almao, a
servant of Gonzalo Pizarro, also told me that Vaca de Castro wrote to
his master advising him to remain quiet although things were looking bad
with regard to the ordinances, for his Majesty would be informed of the
truth, and would order what would be best for his service.
But the letters of Don Antonio, of Palomino, of Villacorta, of Alonso de
Toro and others urged him to come forward promptly and relieve them from
so great an evil as that which was impending. They also sent him the
ordinances. The messengers arrived when Pizarro was hunting eight
leagues away, at a place called Palcocon, his servants being quite
unprepared for such a thing. When Bustillo arrived at the town, he found
Luis de Almao and asked him to go to where Gonzalo Pizarro was. Almao
replied that he would go with all speed, for he surmised that they would
cut off his head. He reached the place at the second vigil, and Gonzalo
Pizarro called for a light, asking who came there in such haste? Almao
answered: “Arise, for Bustillo has come bringing news and letters for
you, for they want to cut off your head.” Thinking that he spoke of Vaca
de Castro, Gonzalo Pizarro replied: “I will cut off his first, I swear
by our Lady.” Then he got out of bed without asking any more questions
and, before the dawn appeared, he galloped off to the town of Chaqui,
where he found the messenger. Taking the despatches he was reading them
all that day, until midnight; and when he knew the provisions of the new
laws he was much agitated. Without finishing their perusal he went out,
saying to those who were with him that such bad news had arrived that
neither they would understand it, nor did he know how to tell them.
Saying this he brought out the letters and the ordinances that they
might read them. He then despatched Juan Ramirez to the city of
Arequipa, that certain money might be detained which he had previously
sent for transmission to Spain. I know not whether his tears were
feigned or not, for those who intend to rebel and become tyrants deceive
those who follow them in many ways. After a few days Gonzalo Pizarro
went to the mines of Porco, where he collected all the money he could.