_How the Bishop arrived at the place where Francisco de Almendras
was encamped, what happened, and the letters which Pizarro wrote
and which the Bishop answered._
After the Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa had been some days at Guamanga,
he set out with the desire of reaching Cuzco before Gonzalo Pizarro had
left that city. After several days’ journey he met, in an Indian village
called Cochacaxa, the Secretary Pero Lopez, Francisco de Ampuero, Simon
de Alzate and the others who had gone to announce the royal provisions.
He also found there the reverend Friar Tomas de San Martin, Provincial
of the Dominicans, and a clergyman named Diego Martin. They all advised
the Bishop to go no further, but to return to Lima, for that the affairs
at Cuzco were ill directed and worse conducted. Besides that, Gonzalo
Pizarro had stationed his captain Francisco de Almendras with no other
object than to prevent the Bishop from passing. This was shown by a
letter from the same Almendras in which he said that he was ordered to
let no one pass.
Although there were many considerations in favour both of returning and
of going forward, the Bishop determined to continue his journey, and he
went on until he arrived at the place where Francisco de Almendras was
stationed. That captain received him without that courtesy and civility
which the prelate’s dignity should have ensured him. Although the Bishop
felt this he put it aside and had some discourses with Almendras. Next
day he spoke more fully about his mission and how much he desired to go
on to Cuzco, to give counsel to Gonzalo Pizarro on the course which it
would be most proper for him to take. Upon this Almendras replied that
on no account could he pass onwards. When the Bishop understood the
position of Almendras, and that his prayers to be allowed to pass were
of no avail, he said that he took this contumacious conduct ill, and
that Almendras fell into grave discommunion, in using his power with
such violence. To this the rebel, with great pride and little fear of
our Lord God, answered: “This is no time for discommunions. There is no
God nor King but Gonzalo Pizarro.” The Bishop then asked to be allowed
to go on, quite alone, without any of his followers. But Francisco de
Almendras was inexorable, in truth he was obeying Pizarro’s orders. He
said that he would take the Bishop’s mule and that, if he went on he
must do so on foot.
The Bishop then wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro, letting him know of the
violent conduct of Almendras, and saying that the object of his journey
to Cuzco was to secure the good and peace of the country so that, having
rest and tranquillity, all should enjoy themselves. For this his counsel
to Pizarro was that he should disband his troops. When this letter
arrived Gonzalo Pizarro was already in the valley of Xaquixaguana. He
answered the Bishop by telling him not to trouble himself about
proceeding further, as he was about to march to Lima, and they might
meet on the road. When, he continued, he heard, in Cuzco, of the
Bishop’s journey, he rejoiced, holding it for certain that it would be
for the good of all. With a joyful mind he was waiting to do the Bishop
all service. But some knights who were with him, as well as friars of
white and even black habits, had since told him that under no
circumstances should he receive the Bishop in Cuzco, for reasons that
they would not mention. For it was not his affair alone, but that of all
the others to whose will he must conform. With this letter there came
another to Francisco de Almendras in which Gonzalo Pizarro instructed
him, by art and dissimulation, to ascertain what the Bishop’s own
feelings were towards him.
After some further letters had passed between the Bishop and Pizarro,
the Bishop dwelt on the service which Gonzalo and his brothers had done
to the King, and urged him not to obscure and nullify them by coming
with an armed force to act contrary to the King’s will. To this Gonzalo
Pizarro answered that he desired no disservice to the King, but to
procure the liberty of the kingdom, for which object he would use all
his power without swerving until that object was attained.
The Bishop then departed to Curamba on his return, and thence to
Andahuaylas where Juan Alonso Palomino, with some soldiers, were
stationed by Pizarro. In order not to hear the insolent gibes of the
soldiers, the Bishop went on to Uramarca, where he remained until the
7th of September writing reports to the Viceroy of what had happened and
what it was best to do. During the time that the Bishop was at Uramarca,
he received several letters from Pizarro, all urging him to return to
Lima.