_How some citizens of Cuzco fled from Lima without waiting for the
Viceroy, and how he was advised of their going._
The tumult in Lima was very great when news came that the Viceroy was
coming and that he was enforcing the ordinances with extreme rigour.
Vaca de Castro deplored what the people said of the Viceroy, and how ill
they took his approach. He tried to appease them in public, saying some
good things that, as time went on, he might not have occasion to say
more evil: showing how all the provinces were tranquil and seeking the
service of God our Lord and of his Majesty, before the Viceroy arrived,
and that he was ill advised to come with so severe and rigorous a
policy. The citizens of Cuzco, Hernando Bachicao, Gaspar Rodriguez and
the rest also spoke in the same manner, showing a desire to leave Lima
before the arrival of the Viceroy. As they sent their plans to many
places, Santillana, the mayor-domo of the Viceroy, got news of it. He
hurriedly sent a messenger, urging how important it was to come to Lima
without delay, and not remain at Truxillo attending to trifling matters.
This was not suitable to his dignity and to the authority existing in
his person. Finally he gave an account of the tumults in the city and in
other parts.
One Mendieta, also a servant of the Viceroy, set out from Lima with the
letter, and, going with great speed, reached the city of Truxillo where
the Viceroy had already been informed of what was going on by Diego de
Aguero. After the arrival of the messenger, named Mendieta, the Viceroy
was rather disturbed, but he did not believe that the kingdom would
openly rise against him. He said that if he had fifty men of Aviles with
him, it would be sufficient to pacify the whole of Peru, never mind how
many kicks they aimed against the ordinances. Presently he gave orders
for the march to Lima, though his brother Vela Nuñez was ill. The
Viceroy was accompanied by Diego Alvarez de Cueto, his brother-in-law,
his brother, and the same knights and others who came with him from
Piura.
The events already mentioned having taken place in Lima, the citizens of
Cuzco, who had arrived, found that the negotiation between Vaca de
Castro and the municipality had fallen through, and that the Viceroy had
already set out from Truxillo. They reflected that here would be great
difficulty in enforcing the new laws, while it would be easy to oppose
the Viceroy and oblige him to leave the country. The Licentiate Vaca de
Castro might be restored to the government, for whom all felt great
friendship, especially Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo. They declared
as the truth that the Licentiate Vaca de Castro consulted in secret with
Camporedondo whether he should return to Cuzco, and, if the Captain
Gonzalo Pizarro had arrived there, should act with him. If not he might
be received as lieutenant of the Governor, the Viceroy not being
received. Afterwards it would be an easy thing to induce Gonzalo Pizarro
to return to his estate and to desist from what he had begun. All the
cities would then restore Vaca de Castro as Governor.
These and many other things passed between one and another. Gaspar
Rodriguez de Camporedondo came out into the square and, looking at those
who were there he recognized Santillana, a servant of the Viceroy. He
then said, in a loud voice, that he should go back to Cuzco to defend
his property, and that others would do the same, as the Viceroy so
cruelly intended to seize it. He then took leave of Vaca de Castro and
set out on his return to Cuzco, accompanied by Hernando de Bachicao and
Beltran del Conde. Diego Maldonado and Pedro de los Rios did the same,
taking the coast road with the intention of reaching the province of
Andahuaylas. They would not then be in the movements which they believed
would be sure to take place. At that time the clouds were so congealed
that, in no way could great calamities and troubles be diverted from the
kingdom.
When Gaspar Rodriguez and Bachicao, with the others, arrived in the
province of Huarochiri, they burnt the pikes left there by Vaca de
Castro and took the small field pieces and arquebuses to Cuzco. Father
Loaysa was following them with all speed. After they left Lima the
Licentiate de la Gama also departed, attended by a soldier named Olea.