_How the news arrived at Lima that Vaca de Castro had reached
the river of San Juan, how this was received by those of Chile,
and what else happened at that time in the city of the Kings._
When the President Vaca de Castro sailed from Panamá, several ships
went in company with him, as I have already related. At the Ancón
de Sardinas some were lost in a storm. The galleon bore up for
Buenaventura, but others, being smaller and better sailers, were
able to make southing and reach the port of Lima. There they passed
the news that the President was coming by sea, but had encountered
terrible weather, and they did not know whether he was lost or had
returned to Panamá, or had put into the port of Buenaventura. At this
news, the Marquis and those of his party were not a little pleased.
But those of Chile, when they heard it, complained of their bad
luck. For they were hopefully expecting him to arrive at an early
date and make amends for the injustice that had been done in killing
[the Adelantado] Don Diego [de Almagro], and in not giving them any
_repartimientos_, notwithstanding they had done good service and made
discoveries in that land. They went about very sad and downcast. They
were reduced to great straits, for between ten or twelve of them there
was but one cloak, which they went out in by turns. The citizens of
Lima were so indifferent that, though they saw them almost dying of
hunger, they did not help them with a single thing, nor would they,
even in their own homes, offer them any food.
When St. John's Day drew near, the citizens rode out on horseback to
make merry, but a very bad prognostic happened. It was this: Antonio
Picado[49] took up behind him on his horse a half-witted fellow, who
at the time was in Lima, named Juan de Lepe. He had scarcely mounted
when Lepe cried out, "This is the justice that is ordered to be done
this man." When the men of Chile heard it they rejoiced, saying that
they hoped the utterance of that ninny would prove to be a prophecy,
and that they would be avenged of their enemies by such words as those
coming true.
People want to say that at this time the men of Chile, seeing
themselves so overlooked, and that no judge before whom they could
state their grievances had come, were conspiring among themselves to
murder the Marquis, and that this very St. John's Day was the time
selected. It is further said that the good cavalier Cristóbal de
Sotelo prevented it, saying that it was not desirable to do such an
act then. It is also said that the Marquis had resolved to banish Don
Diego[50] and Juan de Herrada,[51] and to execute justice on those who
were seen to go about fomenting strife. Well! neither the one story
nor the other is true. It is well known to those who lived at that
time that the Marquis often went to a mill which he had ordered to be
built on the banks of the river that flows by the city, accompanied
only by an unarmed page. Being thus unguarded, it would have been easy
for assassins to kill him if they had wanted to do so. Although some
men talked of avenging the death of Almagro, it had not then been
determined to murder the Marquis. Neither can we believe, nor would
it be fair to affirm, that the Marquis intended to banish them, or to
put anyone to death; for we know that many of his friends advised him
to adopt such measures, and that he told them such a thing would never
be done by him, because it would at once be said that he did so that
there might be no one to plead in the _residencia_.[52] In the city
there was some commotion, accompanied by profound silence on the part
of the Indians, who said that the Marquis's last day was at hand, when
he would be murdered by the men of Chile. The same was common talk in
the marketplaces, and some Indian women repeated it to Spaniards who
were their house-masters. It is also said that the favourite, Garcí
Díaz, heard it from an Indian girl and warned the Marquis about it.
But Pizarro laughed, and said that no attention should be paid to such
Indian gossip. After some further discussion respecting these rumours,
the Marquis ordered the Bishop to have Juan de Herrada fetched, and
to bring him before him on the same St. John's Day, in the afternoon.
Four or five days before this, Juan de Herrada heard that the Marquis
was collecting arms, and intended to seize the men of Chile or banish
them, or kill certain of them, but he concealed what he had heard. He
consulted with Cristóbal de Sotelo, Francisco de Chaves, and others
of their party, and they determined to purchase arms, and if the
Marquis wanted to kill or take them, to unite together and kill him
first, if they could. Presently Juan de Herrada bought a coat of mail,
in which he always went about. The party also got some lances, and
other weapons which they kept concealed about them. Don Diego went
out better attended than the Marquis himself. Juan de Herrada also,
when he walked abroad, was followed by twenty or thirty men ready for
anything that might happen. The Marquis was told that the men of Chile
carried arms, went about in parties, and were plotting to kill him.
Hearing this, he told the Bishop elect of Quito to send for Juan de
Herrada. Don Juan was somewhat disturbed on learning that he had been
sent for, and the men of Chile wanted to accompany him, but he decided
to go alone. When they realized this they were in a state of confusion
until he returned. They kept their arms ready to hand waiting for the
result, because some of them thought that the Marquis would arrest
him; since with what other object, forsooth, could he have been sent
for?
Arriving where the Marquis was, Juan de Herrada found him in a garden
looking at some orange trees he had planted there. On knocking at the
door it was opened, and as he came in the Marquis turned to him, and
said "Who are you?" Juan de Herrada answered: "How is it that you do
not know me? I am Juan de Herrada!" The Marquis then said, "What is
this, Juan de Herrada, that they tell me, that you are buying arms
and preparing armour with the intention of murdering me?" Juan de
Herrada answered, "It is true, my lord, that I have bought two pair
of breast-plates and a coat of mail for defending my own person."
The Marquis then asked, "What reason has moved you to buy arms now
more than at any other time?" Juan de Herrada replied, "Because they
tell us--and it is the public talk--that your Lordship is collecting
lances to kill us all!" He went on: "Well! let us make an end of it
now, and your Lordship can deal with us as you please, for, having
begun with the head, I know not why the feet should call for respect.
They also say that your Lordship means to kill the Judge; but if you
think of killing the men of Chile, do not so! Banish Don Diego in a
ship, for he is innocent of any fault, and let me go with him wherever
chance may strand us." The Marquis, with an angry countenance, then
exclaimed: "Who has made you believe in such a great evil and treason
as this? For I have never thought of such a thing. I desire more to
see the Judge here than you can do. Diego de Mora has written to me
that he had arrived at the river of San Juan, and the masters of
ships who have come here bring the same news. As he did not care to
embark in my galleon he is not here. As to the arms that you say I
am getting, the other day I went out hunting, and I found that my
servants had not a lance among them. I told them to get one, and they
bought four. I pray to God, Juan de Herrada, that the Judge may come;
and may God help us to the truth, and let these things come to an end."
Juan de Herrada's heart was in some degree softened by what the
Marquis had said to him, and he answered, "_Por Dios_, my Lord, they
have made me spend 500 _pesos_ and more in purchasing arms,[53] and
I got myself a coat of mail, so that I may have protection if anyone
comes to kill me." The Marquis, showing more friendliness, said, "God
forbid that I should be guilty of such great cruelty!" Juan de Herrada
took off his cap and was about to depart, and as he went a fool who
was there, named Valdesillo, said to the Marquis, "Why don't you give
some of those oranges to Juan de Herrada?" The Marquis answered,
"_Por Dios_, thou sayest well, for I had not thought of it." Then the
Marquis, with his own hand, plucked half a dozen oranges from the
tree, being the first that were borne in that country, and gave them
to Juan de Herrada. That worthy then departed to his lodgings, and
on the road he met over thirty of the men of Chile, who had come out
to look for him. They were very glad to meet him, and asked what had
happened between him and the Marquis. He told them all that had taken
place. Don Diego was very anxious at the delay in Herrada's return,
and was delighted when he saw him coming, so that he went forward to
embrace him; while Herrada related to him and the rest of them all
that had been said between himself and the Marquis.[54]
[49] The Marquis Pizarro's secretary.
[50] Son of the Adelantado Don Diego de Almagro, usually known as "El
mozo" (the lad). He was a half-caste, by an Indian woman of Panamá.
[51] Juan de Herrada was an able soldier, a servant of the old
Almagro, and devoted to the interests of his son.
[52] At the expiration of the term of all Spanish governors and judges
a "Juez de Residencia" was appointed to examine into their conduct,
and receive complaints and representations from those whom they had
governed or judged. This was called a _residencia_. Solórzano points
out many evils in the working of the system (_Política Indiana_, Lib.
V, cap. 10, pp. 836-849). Vaca de Castro, however, was not sent out
with powers to terminate the rule of the Marquis. He was to receive
evidence, and report to the Home Government. If the Marquis was
dead when Vaca de Castro arrived, then the latter was to succeed as
Governor.
[53] So that the statement that they were starving appears false.
[54] This very interesting interview between the Marquis Pizarro and
his murderer is also given by Zarate and Gómara. Garcilaso de la Vega
copied from them. Prescott does not mention it; but Sir Arthur Helps
(iv, 136-137) gives a full account of this extraordinary conversation.
It is certainly worth preserving. Pizarro must have repeated it to his
friend the Bishop elect of Quito, immediately after it took place, and
the Bishop was one of Cieza de León's most valued authorities.