_How the men of Chile came forth from the lodging of Don Diego
de Almagro, of the death they inflicted on the Marquis Den
Francisco Pizarro, and of the valorous spirit he showed before
his death._
There was much perturbation among the men of Chile when they learnt
that the Marquis had suspicions of their secret plotting. They did
not know whether any of those whom they reckoned as friends, to curry
favour with the Marquis and obtain his goodwill, had betrayed them;
and their consultations did not cease. Some were for sallying out
to murder the Marquis; others for retiring to the Indians' villages
until the Judge should arrive. Others said that the Marquis suspected
them, and that he was seeking some pretext for putting them to a
cruel death. Juan de Herrada told them to bring all their arms, and
that when the time came he would tell them what to do. The Marquis
was in his house in bed, and before he got up a page came to him, and
said, "Sir, all the town says, and it is publicly discussed among the
Indians, that the men of Chile will come this morning to murder you!"
The Marquis replied very angrily, "Be off, you silly boy!"[56]
I am perfectly astounded, and with very good reason, at the little
care and great remissness of the Marquis. He is told that they are
coming to murder him in the morning, and he treats it as a joke, as
if there were nothing in it. When I think of past events in those
kingdoms, as those who may read my books will see, I am astonished,
and it seems to me that God, for the sins of the Marquis, weakened his
understanding, and willed that he should die a death so cruel as the
one he did. I will say that one of the causes that have given rise
to troubles and dissensions in this Empire of the Indies, has been
the promotion by his Majesty and the high Council of the Indies of
illiterate men to the government of provinces, many without the tact
or prestige needful for the administration of justice. In ancient
times the Romans, who ruled the whole world with their wisdom, did
not, on any account, give charge of a government to those who were
not learned or acquainted with the laws; for he who has to govern,
if he be not prudent, is apt to count everything as nought. I have
wished to say this because if the Marquis had been as wise as he was
valiant, and as well educated as he was resolute, he would have paid
careful attention to the reports that were brought to him, and have
known that ten determined men may succeed in an undertaking, although
it may require great intrepidity. We read how Philip, King of Macedon,
being in his palace, surrounded by his knights and attendants, was
stabbed by a principal noble named Pausanias because, in a certain
case, he would not do justice. So one can see that, although Philip
believed that his death was in question, and had himself guarded in
a manner different from the Marquis, yet it happened after all. He
knew that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi had given a reply, through
the devil, that he would die by reason of a cart, so he gave an order,
that throughout his kingdom there should be no waggon or cart, and no
vehicle having that name was to be seen in any town in his dominions.
In spite of all this care there was a cart engraved upon the sword
with which Pausanias killed him. The great Julius Caesar, who ruled
the larger part of the world, and had a guard of ten thousand men,
was well beloved by all the Roman soldiery, and had the cohorts and
urban and preatorian legions on his side; yet was he not murdered
in a temple by Brutus, Cassius, and about thirty more, who gave him
twenty-three stabs? Besides these, many princes and great lords have
been murdered by the hand of some audacious man. These things are
certain. How, then, could the Marquis think he was secure and that
they were not conspiring to kill him? By my faith! I believe his sins
blinded him, and God permitted it, for He wills that His justice shall
be clear, and at certain times and in some cases manifests it to men.
The next day, which was Sunday, the Marquis was spoken to again
about the men of Chile being watched, because it was said that they
intended to murder him on that very day. Very lukewarmly he told the
Doctor Juan Blázquez to arrest the principals among them, and to
take precautions. Some want to say that the priest Domingo Ruiz, and
Perucho de Aguirre, told this to Juan de Herrada. The Doctor having
come to the Marquis, declared that while he held the wand in his hand,
the Marquis might rest assured that he would receive no annoyance
nor disservice, and that, for his part, he would see to it that the
informations were made out that same day. Having said this, the doctor
and all the rest who were present went to hear mass.
Those of Chile being assembled in the lodging of Don Diego, one of
them named San Millán came in panting for breath and much excited and
went up to Juan de Herrada, who had no intention then of carrying out
their design on that day. He said, "What are you doing, when in two
hours we shall all be quartered? The Treasurer Alonso de Riquelme has
told me this." This was a lie, for the Treasurer had said nothing. San
Millán invented it, to drive Juan de Herrada into immediate action.
The latter rose from his couch, picked up his arms, and there joined
in with him the following company:
Juan de Herrada.
Martín de Bilbao.[57]
Baltasar Gómez.[57]
Diego de Hoces.[57]
Juan de Guzmán.[57]
Pedro de San Millán.[57]
Juan Sajo (Navarrese).
Narváez (_killed by Pizarro_).
Francisco Núñez (of Granada), _deserted them_.
Juan Rodríguez Barragán.[57]
Porras (of Ciudad-Rodrigo).
Pedro Cabezas.[57]
Velázquez.
Bartolomé de Enciso.
Arbolancha[57] (_killed Chaves_).
Jerónimo de Almagro.[57]
Enrique Losa.[57]
Pineda (Page to Almagro).
Diego Méndez (_murderer of the Inca Manco_).
United and brave, these men came forth publicly and openly determined
to murder the Marquis or perish in the attempt, believing that he
intended to execute justice upon them on that very day.
They told off Pedro Picón,[58] a native of Mérida, and Marchena, and
Francisco de Chaves to station themselves in the _plaza_, mounted on
horseback. The warlike youth García de Alvarado y Sosa,[59] Martín
Carrillo,[58] Peces, Martel,[58] Francisco Coronado[58] of Badajoz,
Juan Asturiano, Pedro Navarro, Diego Becerra,[60] and Juan Diente[58]
were also in the plot. These were to be on the watch and help the
party when they came out. Before the latter started they sent a spy to
find out what the Doctor was doing, and how many people had gone to
the house of the Marquis, for they already knew that he had not gone
to mass. It is even said that the Doctor sent a spy, and that when he
entered they all hid themselves inside so that he could not see them.
Then, as Montenegro, a resident of Lima, was passing, they hustled
him inside by force. He found out what they wanted to do and tried to
hinder them, but his words had no effect.
FOOTNOTES:
[56] Or, according to another account--"That is not business for a
boy."
[57] Of these murderers Juan de Herrada died a natural death. Martín
de Bilbao and Jerónimo de Almagro were killed at the battle of Chupas.
Arbolancha (the murderer of Chaves), Barragán, Cabezas, Gómez, Guzmán,
Hoces, Losa, were hanged; Narváez was killed by Pizarro. Méndez
escaped to the Inca and murdered him, finally getting his deserts. The
fate of the others is unknown.
Both Prescott and Helps repeat a story told by Montesinos that one of
the conspirators, when they were rushing across the _plaza_, ran round
a pool of water instead of going through it, to avoid getting wet.
Herrada told him, as he was so particular, he must go back. Montesinos
is a late and not at all a reliable authority, and the story need not
be believed. It never rains, and there never are pools of water in the
_plaza_ of Lima. The name of Gómez Pérez is given, one of the villains
who murdered the Inca Manco and got their deserts.
It is to be observed that none of Almagro's old captains had anything
to do with the murder, except perhaps Chaves, although they were
violently antagonistic to the Marquis and were in Lima. They were not
murderers. Only one threw in his lot with young Almagro.
[58] Hanged.
[59] No relation to the other Alvarados.
[60] Deserted at Chupas.