_How the Captains Francisco de Chaves and Francisco Núñez were
made prisoners, and how Francisco de Chaves was put to death._
Now this was the time when the funeral obsequies of the old Marquis
ought to have been celebrated, but rather was it signalised by the
commencement of the shedding of the blood of those who had spilled
so much of his that his life ebbed away. The youthful Governor began
to taste the bitter draughts which tyranny carries in its toils, for
with it neither does friend prove loyal nor enemy merciful. Better had
it been for him and his accomplices to await the Judge's coming and
not have put the Marquis to death in that atrocious way. Even after
his death no honour was shown him, as the reader has seen. On the
contrary, the body was thrust into the bowels of the earth as if it
had been that of a vile and contemptible man. With reference to this
I would quote that speech of the Constable of Castille, Grand Master
of Santiago, Don Alvaro de Luna. Seeing that there was a large hook
placed where he was to be put to death, he asked the executioner what
it was there for. The executioner said that it was to hang his head on
after he was dead. Don Alvaro replied, snapping his fingers, "After I
am dead do what ye will with the body and head," meaning that at the
moment of decapitation his soul would pass to where his deeds during
this life had merited that it should.
Captain Francisco de Chaves, finding that Juan de Herrada had taken
the Indian girl out of his house, against his will, took it as an
affront, and an insult to himself. Arming himself and mounting his
horse he went to the house of Don Diego de Almagro. They say that
Chaves told Don Diego to take back the horse and arms he had received
at his hands, but now brought back, for that he wanted them no longer,
nor looked upon Don Diego as his friend. One insult had been put
upon him by Don Diego's father and he had paid him well for it, the
other was from the son, and he would pay him too. They say that he
alluded to what happened at Guaytara when he was suspected of dealing
with Hernando Pizarro, but this I was never able to verify nor can I
believe, for Francisco de Chaves always showed himself a loyal friend
to the Adelantado and an enemy to Hernando Pizarro.
Those who were in the room with Don Diego, believing that rage had
made Chaves say those things, tried to appease him, admonishing him
that he ought to see that the girl had been taken from her owner by
one who had no right to her, and that to return her was quite proper.
There could be no reason in throwing away the friendship of Don Diego,
nor would it be reckoned to his credit. But he answered that he would
never be a friend of Don Diego again, nor would he uphold his cause.
When Juan de Herrada heard this he discreetly felt that it would not
be wise to leave such a man free, when he had so openly refused to
retract what he had done. He wanted to arrest him on the spot, but
did not dare to do so because Francisco Núñez de Pedroso was a great
friend of Chaves, and he was quartered in the barracks as captain of
the troops, and it seemed possible he might take Chaves' part. So he
went covertly to where Francisco Núñez de Pedroso was and asked him
to go and speak with Francisco de Chaves, since he was his friend,
and persuade him not to talk so defiantly; and he told him what had
happened. Francisco Núñez, believing that the intention of Juan de
Herrada was no other than what he said, cheerfully consented and went
at once and asked Francisco de Chaves, in the presence of Don Diego
and the other captains, not to cease from being a friend of Don Diego;
but he was unable to move Chaves from his resolve. On Don Diego and
Juan de Herrada seeing this they turned to those present and asked
what they advised. García de Alvarado answered that since Francisco
de Chaves refused to be a friend of Don Diego they should arrest him.
When Chaves heard this, looking towards García de Alvarado, he said
that if that was his opinion they had better arrest him and there and
then put him in irons. Francisco Núñez declared that if they arrested
Don Francisco de Chaves, they must do the same with him.
For these reasons, or because he was on bad terms with Francisco de
Chaves, when Francisco Núñez used those words Juan de Herrada said:
"Be it as you order," and they were both immediately arrested and
the irons clapped on them. For Herrada knew that Chaves was annoyed
at his being General instead of Gómez de Alvarado (it is said that
Herrada had been a servant to Don Pedro, Gómez's brother), because
Chaves had said that it was wrong, where there were so many gentlemen,
for Herrada to be General, and that for his own part he would not
put up with it. When night came, as the prisoners had friends, they
were sent on board a ship that was in the port lest any disturbance
should occur. With them the bachelor Enríquez was sent because, as
was afterwards said, it was by his advice that Francisco de Chaves
had taken the Indian girl, and he had been fomenting enmity against
Don Diego. Presently, next morning, there _was_ some disturbance at
the imprisonment of Francisco de Chaves and Francisco Núñez, some
denouncing it, while to others it seemed well. There were debates
and wrangling. When Juan de Herrada knew of this, he took counsel
with some whom he deemed friends, and they agreed that Francisco de
Chaves should be killed and Francisco Núñez banished. Next day, by
order of Don Diego and Juan de Herrada, they went to the port very
secretly, that it might not be known, to put Francisco de Chaves to
death. The latter was now sorry for what he had done, but when they
told him to confess, he was amazed. It is reported that he said that
he had two seats, one in heaven and the other in hell, and that the
divine Power had already decided which he must go to; he, therefore,
did not want to confess. Others aver that what he said was that since
his own friends were killing his body the devil might take his soul.
It is likely enough that he may have said either of those things, for
it could not be believed that a man who had shown so little respect
for the holy sacrament was to meet with any easier death than this.
Having said it, he was killed by the executioner, and the bachelor
Enríquez fared in the same way. Francisco Núñez was banished in the
same ship on board of which Doña Inés, the wife of Francisco Martín
de Alcántara, and the children of the Marquis had been embarked, for
reasons which were examined and approved.[84] They also banished Diego
de Peralta, a citizen of La Paz, one who has rendered his Majesty much
service; and it was ordered that they should all go in that ship.
As it was now many days since Pero Alvarez Holguin had taken charge
of the city of Cuzco and turned out Gabriel de Rojas, who held it for
Don Diego, and was collecting men to go forth and seek for those
who had killed the Marquis, the news travelled to Guamanga, and it
was soon known in the city of Lima. When Don Diego and his followers
heard it they were much alarmed at finding that Alonso de Alvarado on
the one hand, and Pero Alvarez on the other, had sided against them.
They consulted together, and it was determined that they should march
into the mountains and rout Pero Alvarez, if they should meet him, or
else proceed to the city of Cuzco. When this had been settled, they
collected all the arms and horses they could, to set out from the city
of Lima well prepared, and they appointed captains, ensigns, and the
rest of the officers who were to have charge of the war.
FOOTNOTE:
[84] They seem to have been landed at Payta, near which port they had
an interview with Vaca de Castro.