_How his Majesty appointed Belalcázar as his Governor, and how
he entered upon the government and arrested the Adelantado
Andagoya._
In the first book we mentioned how the captain Sebastián de
Belalcázar, being on an expedition of discovery, arrived at the
province of Bogotá, called the New Kingdom of Granada, where he found
some Spaniards of Santa Marta, who were the first discoverers of those
parts. Belalcázar, Fedreman, and the licentiate Jiménez embarked
together in one ship, each one desirous that the government of the
country should be given to himself. Although each one came to Spain
with the intention of applying for it, their hopes were disappointed,
for it was granted to Don Alonso de Lugo, Adelantado of the Canaries.
When the captain Belalcázar arrived in Spain he found that his Majesty
was absent, enjoying his immortal triumphs. It was easy for those who
came to Spain to negotiate, in those days, as the lords of the Council
favoured captains who approached them to seek posts; and Belalcázar,
after he had submitted his report, was given the government of Popayán
with the towns of Anzerma, Cartago, Cali, and Neyva, with all the
territory as far as the boundaries of San Francisco de Quito. With
these grants and favours he left Spain and came to Tierra Firme. At
the city of Panamá he embarked in a ship, with those in his company,
and landed near the harbour now called Buenaventura; whence he
continued his journey to the city of Cali, where news of his coming as
Governor had already arrived. Andagoya worked to obtain friends and
interest and resist Belalcázar's entry, and strove for the support of
the city magistrates and aldermen. Although they all raised his hopes
and made great promises, they desired first to see Belalcázar there
before their eyes, and then on his arrival to desert Andagoya and go
over to him. For novelties please the people, who are always friends
to anything new, and they like to see changes, especially among those
who govern.
Many letters, with great promises, came to Belalcázar; and Andagoya,
suspecting some persons, arrested them, and prepared to send men
into the hill country to block the arrival. After some things had
passed which I cannot now recount, and there had been emissaries
and proposals, Belalcázar arrived at the city of Cali. There, lest
he should have to decide by force who had the best title to govern,
he put his men under arms; and Andagoya did likewise with those who
supported him. They were almost coming to blows when some monks
intervened. It was then agreed that the Governor Belalcázar should
present his credentials to the municipality, and if they accepted
them he was to be acknowledged as Governor, but if not, then Andagoya
was to remain in office. By this time many who were at Cali had gone
over to Belalcázar's side. After seeing his credentials the municipal
delegates accepted him as Governor, and removed the Adelantado from
office. A few days later Andagoya was made a prisoner and taken to
the city of Popayán. Belalcázar then wrote to the captain Robledo,
and sent Pedro de Ayala to take possession of the cities of Cartago
and Anzerma, with orders that the city of Santa Ana, then called San
Juan, was to be henceforth styled the town of Anzerma. Pedro de Ayala
arrived at Cartago, where the captain Jorge de Robledo distributed
what caciques were there, among the conquerors, and for those other
Spaniards who received no _repartimiento_ he determined to go and
find Indians. So he proceeded from Cartago to the town of Anzerma,
whence he wrote letters to Belalcázar, for he knew that certain
persons, actuated by envy and malice, were speaking evil of him before
Belalcázar and that Belalcázar approved--for he was a man of little
knowledge and poor understanding, unable to take the measure of those
who came with false or unjust statements. The captain Jorge Robledo,
desiring to do what we have said, set out from Anzerma, taking as
his ensign the captain Álvaro de Mendoza, a principal knight among
those engaged in that campaign, who had served his Majesty for many
years. With a hundred Spaniards, horse and foot, they left Anzerma,
crossed the great river, and came to the village of _Irra_. Leaving
the affairs of that government at this point, we will return to our
principal subject, and relate how the licentiate Cristóbal Vaca de
Castro was appointed in Spain to be Governor of Peru.