_How, after Gonzalo Pizarro had been received in Cuzco as
Procurator and Chief Justice, he named captains; and how Diego
Centeno arrived at Cuzco and delivered despatches to Pizarro._
Gonzalo Pizarro, being received as Chief Justice in the city of Cuzco,
made haste to collect men, manufacture powder, and prepare arquebuses,
while letters continually came, generally in cypher, speaking ill of the
Viceroy, and urging Pizarro to come down to Lima without delay. Now that
he had got the command which he desired, he considered that it would be
well to nominate captains and officers for the war. He thought of giving
the appointment of Ensign General to Diego Maldonado the rich, but he
declined it with ingenious excuses, showing that it would be more
advisable to leave him in the city. The members of the municipality also
spoke to Pizarro, advising that Maldonado should be left as Alcalde and
captain in Cuzco. Consenting to this, Gonzalo Pizarro appointed Alonso
de Toro to be Master of the Camp. He was a native of Truxillo. For
Ensign General Antonio de Altamirano, a native of Hontivéros was named.
The captains of infantry were Diego Gumiel, a native of Villadiego, Juan
Velez de Guevara of Malaga, Cermeño, who came from San Lucar de
Barrameda, was captain of arquebusiers, Hernando Bachicao had charge of
the artillery, and Pedro de Puertocarrero commanded the cavalry.
A few days after Gonzalo Pizarro had made these appointments, these
rebels left Cuzco and those who wished to wage this wicked and atrocious
war formed their camp. Thus the drums and fifes proclaimed its
commencement. How rejoiced must have been the tyrant Gonzalo Pizarro to
find that now he had the power to oppose the Viceroy, thinking that it
would be easy afterwards to seize the government of the kingdom.
Lope Martin arrived at the city, publishing all the news of the Viceroy.
Diego Centeno also arrived with the despatches and provisions which the
Viceroy had brought. Some say that he delivered them into the hands of
Gonzalo Pizarro of his own accord, without making any conditions. They
say that Pizarro, when he saw the despatches, rejoiced at having got
them into his power, and ordered Centeno, on pain of death, not to tell
any citizen or any other person what he had brought. There was haste in
getting the arms ready, and providing everything for the march; and it
was resolved to send to the city of Guamanga for the artillery,
Francisco de Almendras, a strong adherent of Pizarro, undertaking the
duty.