_What happened to the General Vela Nuñez and the danger he was in;
and how Gonzalo Diaz and others passed over to Pizarro._
The reader will remember that the Viceroy sent Vela Nuñez and the
captain Gonzalo Diaz de Pineda to the bridge of Xauxa, to intercept and
capture or kill Pedro de Puelles and Jeronimo de Villegas, with the
others who set out from Huanuco to join Gonzalo Pizarro. Vela Nuñez
travelled with the object of reaching the bridge of Xauxa in time, for
by holding that position they could not escape. But that was not
Pineda’s wish. He wanted the party of Puelles to pass on before he
arrived, and then to join Pizarro himself. His was a vile and
treasonable act. The Viceroy’s trust in him, his nomination as captain,
and the noble character of Vela Nuñez who was his companion, should have
made him refrain. But he was not himself destined to succeed in his
plot, and soon we shall relate his miserable end, and how he paid for
his treachery with his life. On their journey they came to a church in
Huarochiri where, after prayers, Gonzalo Diaz intended to murder Vela
Nuñez. The conspirator was in concert with Juan de la Torre, Cristoval
de Torres, Piedrahita, Alonso de Avila, Jorge Griego. The murder was not
consummated because Alonso de Barrionuevo, a native of Soria, a
determined man who loyally served the King, would not part from Vela
Nuñez. The same loyalty was shown by Sebastian de Coca, Hernan Vela and
the others who intended to return to Lima, and not to join Pizarro.
Gonzalo Diaz and the other disaffected officers continually discussed
among themselves how they should kill Vela Nuñez, but as they could not
find an opportunity in Huarochiri, it was not done. They proceeded on
their journey until they reached the snows of Pariacaca where they
continued their schemes, seeking to murder the innocent and to desert to
the tyrant.
Vela Nuñez was always surrounded by Barrionuevo and the other loyal
knights. As they proceeded on their journey they met the Regent Friar
Tomas de San Martin, the Secretary Pero Lopez and the others who were
returning from their unsuccessful mission. They had encountered Pedro de
Puelles and Jeronimo de Villegas in the valley of Xauxa, who were going
with great speed to join Pizarro, and they had some conversation with
them. When the Provincial heard that the General Vela Nuñez was going to
attack Pedro de Puelles, he took him aside and told him that he should
not go further, and that he should be careful of his person, because
those who were with him had a plot to murder him. He had overheard words
to this effect, spoken by Gonzalo Diaz. Besides, Pedro de Puelles had
already passed the bridge of Xauxa. The General, much disturbed and in
great trepidation, said to Gonzalo Diaz and the other officers that, as
Pedro de Puelles had already passed Xauxa, there was no longer any use
in marching against him. He intended, therefore, to turn back and rejoin
the Viceroy. He there and then turned the bridle of his horse, though he
knew that Gomez de Solis, with ten or twelve others, would go on to
Xauxa to join Gonzalo Pizarro. With great speed and as much fear they
returned to sleep at Huarochiri in great terror of treachery and lest
any of their loyal friends should be murdered.
Gonzalo Diaz, arriving at Huarochiri late, after sunset, as one who
brought intended crime with him, did not see his way to accomplishing
the treason with the others who had conceived it. So they assumed a
careless appearance, saying they were much fatigued by the road. Vela
Nuñez with his friends went back to Lima with all speed. Gonzalo Diaz
and his accomplices spoke to the rest of the men who were there,
advising them to go with them to join Pizarro, as he would treat them
well, while the Viceroy was cruel and wanted to take away all their
properties. Several, having heard his discourse, replied that they
wished to serve the Viceroy, and not to go with him and lose their
lives. When Gonzalo Diaz heard this he was annoyed, and agreed with his
friends to disarm those who would not go, and to take away their horses.
This they did, and in this condition, disarmed and on foot, Rivadeneira,
Sebastian de Coca, Rodrigo Niño and others had to return to Lima.
Gonzalo Diaz and his friends took the road to Guamanga. They entered
that city and at first there was some disturbance, Pedro de Puelles
thinking they had come from Lima against him, but when the truth was
known they all rejoiced, saying one to another that Pizarro would
certainly be Governor, and from that time they would give him the title
of lordship. They ordered Cristoval de Torres to go with all this news
to Gonzalo Pizarro, who had then arrived near the valley of Andahuaylas,
and he rejoiced to know that Gonzalo Diaz was in Guamanga.