_How Pero Alvarez Holguin was received as Captain-general
against the party of Chile, and how Gómez de Tordoya was
appointed Camp Master, and how they entered the city of Cuzco._
After Pero Alvarez Holguin had been fully informed of the events that
had occurred in the Realm, and that Gabriel de Rojas was Lieutenant
to Almagro in Cuzco, it was agreed that the next step should be to
return to that city, and arrest Gabriel de Rojas and the others whom
they might find there obeying the call of the men of Chile. With
this understanding they got ready to depart. But first they all
accepted Pero Alvarez Holguin as their General; and he appointed
Gómez de Tordoya as his Camp Master, confirmed Martín de Robles as
Ensign-general, and named Castro to be Captain of the Arquebusiers.
Having made these arrangements General Pero Alvarez immediately wrote
to Captain Pedro Anzures, who had been Lieutenant to the Marquis
Pizarro in the town of La Plata, giving that officer to know that
he, Pero Alvarez, had been named General to act against the party of
Chile, seeing that the disservice that had been done to his Majesty by
the outrageous murder of the Marquis was very great. As every knight
is bound to show his valour in such times, Don Pedro Anzures was
called upon to assemble all the men possible, and join Pero Alvarez
Holguin in the city of Cuzco, whither the latter intended to go to
collect others. Sancho Perero was sent to La Plata on this embassy.
Holguin, with those who were with him, determined to march to Cuzco
and enter the city without being expected. He had collected fifty
horsemen. Those on foot were ordered by Pero Alvarez to follow without
much hurry, until they should reach Cuzco, where endeavour would be
made to provide horses for all. He himself, with the fifty horsemen I
have mentioned, set out for Cuzco, where Gabriel de Rojas was still
Lieutenant for young Almagro.
Some of the men of Chile went to Lima with the news that the citizens
of Cuzco had sent for Pero Alvarez to come and be made their leader.
No small perturbation was caused by their tidings, and by the news of
the proceedings of Alonso de Alvarado as we shall show further on. At
Cuzco they had news of the gathering of men at Chuquito, and of how
Pero Alvarez had turned back from the Chuncho expedition. Gabriel de
Rojas placed spies on the road to find out whether Pero Alvarez was
coming or not, and what they had decided to do. Pero Alvarez, and his
Master of the Camp, Gómez de Tordoya, marched on to reach Cuzco with
all possible speed. Although the city was warned of their coming,
no resistance was offered; on the contrary, they were written to to
enter peacefully, for that Gabriel de Rojas had his appointment in
the King's name, and not from any tyrant whatsoever, and that all
were against Don Diego and the party of Chile. The municipality wrote
these and other things to Pero Alvarez. Some fled when it was known
that Pero Alvarez was coming, that is, those who had been with the
Adelantado at Las Salinas. Pero Alvarez and his followers entered the
city, making all the noise they could, to lead people to think they
were numerous, but without doing violence to or insulting those who
were within. Pero Alvarez ordered the municipal officers to meet in
Council, with the _alcaldes_ and magistrates, and he was accepted by
them as Captain-general in the name of his Majesty. This acceptance
was made unwillingly by the municipality because the members of it
preferred Gabriel de Rojas. But Pero Alvarez caused the meeting place
to be surrounded, and finally they accepted him. The magistrates
and _alcaldes_ asked for the accustomed fees, which he would not
give, and they were not powerful enough to enforce their claim.
Presently, at the sound of trumpets, the act of assumption of office
was proclaimed. All the other citizens and inhabitants of the city
approved the appointment of Pero Alvarez, and showed themselves glad,
because he inspired great hopes, and they shouted through the city,
with loud voices, "Long live the King!" When it became known that more
than sixty Spaniards had quitted Cuzco, Captain Castro was ordered to
follow and arrest them. And there went out with him--
Juan Alonso Palomino
Lope Martín
Jerónimo de Soria
Diego Manuel
Hernando Bachicao
Tomás Vázquez
Guillada
Cerdán
and four others. They travelled with such speed that they overtook the
fugitives and after meeting with some resistance captured more than
forty of them. As it was night time the rest escaped, Captain Castro
returning to the city with his prisoners. When Pero Alvarez heard what
had occurred, he ordered them to be released and to be allowed to go
where they liked, not being treated as prisoners.
Don Diego had also been received as Governor at Arequipa. But as
Pero Alvarez was now acknowledged as Captain-general in the large
city of Cuzco, while waiting for the captain Pedro Anzures de Campo
Redondo to come from the town of La Plata and join him, he sent his
Sergeant-major, Francisco Sánchez, to Arequipa, to persuade the
citizens there to range themselves in the service of the King, for
they must know clearly that Don Diego had assumed the government
tyrannically and without the royal authority of His Majesty. Sánchez
was also ordered to busy himself in collecting arms and men. There
had arrived just then at the port of Arequipa one ship out of three
or four that left Spain at the cost of the Bishop of Plasencia to
explore the Strait of Magallanes. The crews had suffered great
hardships, some of the vessels were wrecked, and the captains died.
Only this one ship of them all ever reached a port in Peru, and
brought a few Spaniards.[81] Pero Alvarez thought they might come and
join him. Cristóbal de Hervas was then lieutenant in Arequipa, on
behalf of Don Diego. Presently Sergeant-major Francisco Sánchez set
out for Arequipa to do what we have said.
FOOTNOTE:
[81] See _Hakluyt Society's vol._, Series II, vol. xxviii, p. 159, for
the expedition of the Bishop of Plasencia. It consisted of three small
vessels commanded by Don Alonso de Camargo, and left Spain in August
1539. Camargo lost his own ship at the entrance of the first Narrows,
in the Strait of Magellan. The second ship returned. Camargo went on
in the third ship. He reached Valparaiso, put in at Quilca, the port
of Arequipa, and finally reached Callao, the first ship that ever
gained the west coast of South America by the Strait. Camargo settled
at La Plata (Chuquisaca) and was put to death by Carbajal.