_How the members of the municipality of the city of Lima arranged
to send messengers to the city of Cuzco advising that there should
be no disturbance; and how when Pedro de Hinojosa, Diego Centeno
and Lope Martin were coming to Lima Hinojosa turned back; and what
happened between the Viceroy and the Treasurer Alonso Riquelme._
The Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela remained in his house, while the Alcaldes
and Magistrates met to consider the best course to take. The Treasurer
Alonso Riquelme was so learned that he now asked to speak to the Viceroy
for them all, with a view to sending a messenger to Cuzco. As he could
not walk by reason of the gout, he was carried in a chair, heard their
intention, and willingly undertook to get it carried into effect. The
Viceroy, when the Treasurer came to him, rejoiced to see him and
embraced him. The Treasurer said: “Your Lordship is welcome as one who
comes by order of the King our natural Lord. Would to God that you had
come with more despatch, for the municipality, with its letter, informed
you of the evil that would result from delay and of the advantage from
arriving with speed. No one who goes to do business in any province
should linger in the suburbs, but should come at once to the principal
city, seeing that the small streams and brooks eventually lose
themselves in the great rivers. Your Lordship must be very tired. Enjoy
yourself and rest for a few days. There will be time afterwards to do
what is needful, and we will serve you loyally, which I promise in the
name of the municipality and the citizens.”
The Viceroy cheerfully replied that he could not doubt the loyalty to
their King of the numerous knights who were in the city. He would take
some repose, while he waited for the Judges, when a court of justice
would be formed, which would establish order in matters relating to the
King’s service and the peace of the kingdom. The Treasurer departed in
great joy at this good answer. He gave an account of his interview to
the municipality who were well pleased and considered that it would be
well to send a message to Cuzco advising that there should be no
disturbance, and sending the good news of the desire of the Viceroy to
give satisfaction to all.
The Alcalde Diego Centeno and Pedro de Hinojosa, Magistrates of the town
of Plata[38] which is in a corner of Charcas, were coming near to Lima,
to arrange about doing what had been ordered with regard to their town.
With them came Lope Martin, a citizen of Cuzco. Gaspar Rodriguez de
Camporedondo and Bachicao, with others, had left the city of Lima, and
told things concerning the Viceroy which certainly were not just, saying
that he was enforcing the ordinances and taking away the Indians to let
them go where they liked, from those who had been lieutenants. When
Centeno and Hinojosa heard this, they agreed that Hinojosa should go
back to Cuzco to report everything, while Centeno continued his journey
to Lima with Lope Martin. When Centeno arrived at Lima he was very well
received by the Viceroy.
The members of the municipality of Lima being assembled, it was resolved
that messengers should be sent to Cuzco to counteract what might have
been said by Rodriguez and the others, and to advise the people to make
no disturbance, pointing out what great difficulties it would cause.
Alonso Riquelme and the Overseer Garcia de Saucedo were requested, on
the part of the others, to persuade Lorenzo de Estopiñan to go, with a
letter of credence to this effect. Estopiñan consented to undertake the
mission; and there was another meeting when it was agreed that the
business might be better settled if Diego Centeno returned to his town.
On his way he might give the citizens of Cuzco to understand what the
Viceroy desired to do for the good of the kingdom. Some went to Diego
Centeno, who had already asked leave of the Viceroy to return to
Charcas. He said that he had come to Lima as Procurator from Plata, and
that he rejoiced at what he had heard, for he understood that all would
receive favour in the King’s name. The municipality of Lima having
requested him to take certain despatches to Cuzco, he asked the Viceroy
whether he would be served by his accepting the mission. The Viceroy
replied that he had every confidence in Centeno, and that he would be
glad if he took the despatches that would be delivered to him by the
municipality; besides which he would give him a copy of the royal
provisions of his Majesty, by virtue of which he should be received as
Viceroy in the cities of Guamanga and Cuzco. The Viceroy further asked
Centeno to tell the Spaniards in those cities to make no trouble for his
proceedings were in obedience to the King’s orders. Diego Centeno
promised to carry out these instructions and, after some further
business with the Viceroy he took leave of him, receiving the despatches
and provisions.
Diego Centeno was a native of Ciudad Rodrigo. His father’s name was
Hernando Carveo, and his mother’s Maria de Vera. He was a gentleman, not
very tall. He had a fair skin and pleasant countenance, with a red
beard. Of noble condition he was not very liberal as regards his own
estate, but expended that of the King largely. He had the usual vices
common among men in the Indies. He left Spain for the Indies at twenty
years of age, and had close affinity with the Captain Peranzules and
other captains in that kingdom. Having received the despatches and
provisions he left Lima accompanied by Lope Martin. On arriving at
Guamanga the provisions of the Viceroy were obeyed as his Majesty had
ordered.