_How the alcalde Diego Núñez de Mercado arrived in Spain with
news of the death of Almagro; how his Majesty deemed that event
to be an ill service, and how he appointed the licentiate
Cristóbal Vaca de Castro as Judge._
The _alcalde_ Diego Núñez de Mercado, ever the faithful adherent
of the Adelantado Don Diego de Almagro, left Peru as quickly as
possible after his friend was beheaded, and embarked in a ship for
Tierra Firme. Thence he travelled and sailed until he reached the
Court of his Majesty with the news of the battle of Las Salinas and
the death of Almagro, and all the other events that had happened in
Peru. His knowledge was complete, for he was a third party in all
the negotiations and agreements between the two Governors. When the
Emperor heard of the death of Almagro he was much grieved, and held
that what had taken place in Peru was detrimental to his service. His
Majesty was angry that such a loyal servant and vassal should have
been put to death with such cruelty, and ordered the members of his
Council to see justice done in the case. Soon afterwards Diego de
Alvarado, and also Diego Gutiérrez de los Rios, arrived in Spain. They
too related the execution of Almagro, and prayed for justice.
Then Don Alonso Enríquez arrived in Spain with others, who told the
story differently; so that the Council of the Indies, in order to get
at the truth, nominated the licentiate Cristóbal Vaca de Castro as
Judge of Commission, to go out and collect evidence. Some say that
Hernando Pizarro obtained this appointment, through the Cardinal
Loaysa, that he might have charge of the affairs of the Marquis
Pizarro, because he would show himself favourable in that interest.
However that may have been, this licentiate was ordered to proceed to
Peru to investigate what we have said, and if perchance the Marquis
Don Francisco Pizarro should die before the Judge's arrival or while
he was there, he was to assume the government in the place of the
said Marquis. And as some complaints against Dr. Robles, a judge of
the Panamá Audience, had reached Spain, it was ordered that the Judge
Vaca de Castro should be President of the Panamá Audience so long as
he was there, and take steps to call Judge Robles and Dr. Villalobos
to account. On leaving that Audience in good order, he was to set out
for Peru. Having arrived there, he was to take evidence and make a
thorough inquiry into the course of recent events there, and send home
a report.
Vaca de Castro accepted the appointment, and had great hopes that,
with diligence, he would be able to perform the duties and do good
service to his Majesty. As soon as the appointment of Vaca de Castro
was announced in Spain, Diego de Alvarado and others wrote to Diego
de Almagro and Juan de Herrada, saying that Dr. Beltrán and other
members of the Council had received large presents from the Marquis,
whence it must be inferred that Vaca de Castro would not do strict
justice there. These letters caused some perturbation in the minds
of the men of Chile. Vaca de Castro, as soon as he had received his
sailing orders, took leave of the Court and proceeded to San Lucar,
where he embarked, with the title of President of the Audience of
Panamá. Correspondents were not wanting who informed the Marquis of
the appointment of Vaca de Castro, and of the very limited powers he
brought with him, telling Pizarro that he need have no mistrust, as
the Judge was going out rather to show him a favour, and that he would
suffer no dishonour in consequence.
Vaca de Castro sailed across the ocean until he came to Nombre de
Dios, whence he proceeded to Panamá, arriving in the middle of
January, 1542. It was given out that he came with wide powers and
commissions. Arrived at Panamá, he was received as President in the
Audience and Royal Chancellery. In the Audience Dr. Robles and Dr.
Villalobos were judges. As soon as Vaca de Castro had been received by
them as President, he produced a royal commission by which his Majesty
ordered him to investigate the judges' proceedings, especially those
of Dr. Francisco Robles, who had held office for a long time, and
respecting whose acts several complaints had reached Spain. Presently
this officer was suspended from duty, and his case was investigated.
As Vaca de Castro was anxious to get on to Peru, he handed over
the completion of the case to Dr. Villalobos, against whom there
was nothing, and to the licentiate Páez de Laserna, who had lately
arrived from Spain as a judge. He then arranged for his own departure,
and quitted the harbour of Panamá in a galleon belonging to Dr.
Sepúlveda. There went with him Don Pedro Luis Cabrera, and Hernán
Mejía, an alderman of the city of Seville. There were also with him
Juan de Cáceres, Accountant of Peru, and Sebastián de Merlo, who had
been the secretary of that Audience. He sailed for Peru, accompanied
by several other ships, on the 18th of March in the year 1542.