_How the Governor Vaca de Castro ordered the Adelantado
Belalcázar to return to his government, and how he was informed
of Pero Alvarez having entered into Guaraz; and how, being
at Motupe, Don Alonso de Montemayor and the captain Vasco de
Guevara came to him there._
After the arquebusiers who were sent by Captain Pedro de Vergara
arrived, a messenger named Francisco de las Balsas, also sent by
Vergara, came with the news that Pero Alvarez had taken the field in
the service of the King against Don Diego, and that he and Gómez de
Tordoya were at Guaraz with a strong force, waiting for the Governor's
arrival. The Governor was heartily pleased with this news, and
rendered devout thanks to our Lord. And there was great satisfaction
among all those who were with him, looking forward to the hour that
would see them united with the men under the captains Pero Alvarez
and Alonso de Alvarado, for there were upwards of 400 Spaniards, very
brilliant men, and many of them cavaliers of high birth. He learnt
too that the captains Pedro Anzures and Garcilaso de la Vega and the
people of the town of Plata had united with Pero Alvarez, and that Don
Diego had followed them to near Bombon, and everything else that had
happened. When the Governor Vaca de Castro had received such joyful
news, than which none other could afford him greater happiness, he
considered, since he was still feeling dissatisfied at having the
Adelantado Belalcázar in his company that this gave him a pretext for
ordering him to return. He, therefore, spoke to Lorenzo de Aldana,
and instructed him to tell Belalcázar that the time had now come for
him to return to his own government, where the natives were in revolt
and required to be brought into subjection; and that now that Alonso
de Alvarado and Pero Alvarez, with so many cavaliers, had declared
themselves servants of the king, his services could be dispensed with.
The Adelantado replied, to what Lorenzo de Aldana had said to him on
the part of the Governor, that he was there to serve his Majesty, that
he ought not to be ordered to return, because it would be a very great
disgrace for him to go back in that manner, and it would be said that
it had been for another reason.
The Governor ordered his secretary, Sebastián de Merlo, to go to
the lodgings of the Adelantado and to notify him by command on the
part of his Majesty, that he was required to return at once to his
own government to place it in order, because this was desirable for
the service of the King our Lord; and that, if he did not do so, he
could not be looked upon as doing the king's service, nor be regarded
as possessing the loyalty that was expected from him as a subject
and Governor of the king. The Governor ordered that this should be
notified to the Adelantado Belalcázar apart, where no other person
could overhear. Merlo went immediately to do this, and arrived in
the presence of Adelantado. On reading the order of Vaca de Castro,
Belalcázar was very much disturbed, and directed the people who were
with him, and who had come from his government, to accompany him to
the Governor Vaca de Castro. Merlo went before him, to apprise Vaca de
Castro of the coming of Belalcázar with his followers. Without making
any fuss, Vaca de Castro ordered the cavaliers who were with him to
be watchful lest Belalcázar should attempt anything [in the nature of
violence], and directed the arquebusiers to be ready, with arquebuses
in their hands. Belalcázar came, accompanied by his followers, to
where Vaca de Castro was, and when their arrival was announced the
latter ordered that he be allowed to enter. Belalcázar entered
alone, with a rueful countenance, and said that he was astonished
at what had been communicated to him with reference to returning to
his government. His departure from it, as the Governor knew, was to
serve his Majesty in this campaign, and not to return until Don Diego
had been punished for his insurrection in the Realm of Peru. If he
returned, some people would think that there was some sufficient
cause for it, or that he had shown himself an approver and favourer
of Don Diego. Having heard what Belalcázar said, and his arguments
to clear himself of the impression the Governor had of him, Vaca de
Castro replied with very serious words. He said that he did not doubt
that Belalcázar had always shown himself to be a very loyal servant
of his Majesty, who had entrusted him as such with the government of
a distant province. He, Vaca de Castro, would not have thought any
other thing of Belalcázar if it had not come to his certain knowledge
that he, and his people, had favoured Francisco Núñez de Pedroso, so
that he might escape without hindrance or punishment, and had supplied
him with a horse and guides to conduct him by a route where he could
not be found; also in Quito, and other places, he had not only tried
to show, but had given to understand by his words, that Don Diego
had acted very properly in putting the Marquis to death. For these
reasons, and because the captains up beyond had upheld the king's word
with great energy, he had sent to order Belalcázar to return to his
government. He now again admonished the Adelantado to do so, for he
had not yet secured tranquillity among the natives of his government
nor had they ceased to be rebellious.
The Adelantado would gladly have gone onwards, and not returned to
his government, as he felt that it would bring disgrace upon him; but
though he protested much, it did not avail with Vaca de Castro. Seeing
that he would have to return, he said it would appear to his followers
as if he had committed some fault, and he asked that an order might
be given to obviate this. Vaca de Castro, to content him, wrote from
there to his Majesty the king, saying that the Adelantado returned
to do his duties in the government to which he had been appointed,
because, in Peru, Pero Alvarez and Alvarado had declared for the
king's service, and the Adelantado's help was no longer necessary.
This was written that his Majesty might not consider he had always
been ill served by the Adelantado. And to satisfy those who were with
him it was agreed that he returned because he was an old man and had
so much to attend to in his own government. Next day, the Adelantado
took his leave, and all that we have related was done, and it was
believed that the Governor had no feeling against him. He was attended
by the men from Cali and others who were in his company, until they
arrived at Quito, whence they proceeded to the government of Popayán.
While at the same place Vaca de Castro received news that the
messengers from the captains were near at hand, at which he rejoiced.
Presently he continued the journey until he arrived at the buildings
of Cayambe, where the messengers reached him, and delivered the
letters from the captains. From them Vaca de Castro was glad to gain
full particulars of all they had done. He made the messengers very
welcome, and he sent back very gracious letters, giving the captains
to understand that his Majesty would grant them substantial rewards,
as they had proved themselves loyal servants. He added that he would
use all possible despatch to join them, admonishing them to preserve
concord in the meanwhile among themselves, and to treat the Indians
in such wise that they would have no grievance, and would not absent
themselves on account of any ill usage. He wrote in like strain to the
captain Alonso de Alvarado, and to the cavaliers and soldiers who were
with him.
At this time, Vaca de Castro's commission having arrived, he had been
acknowledged as Governor throughout the Realm, excepting the part
where Don Diego and his captains held sway. In the rest, the Justices
were for the king and in his name. Gómez de Tordoya, when he left the
camp at Guaraz to seek Vaca de Castro, came as far as Truxillo, where
the latter was expected, it being known that he was on the way. Don
Alonso de Montemayor and the captain Vasco de Guevara went on to join
Vaca de Castro, leaving the camp of Pero Alvarez, with his permission,
before he halted at Guaraz. Although at Truxillo they heard that
Vaca de Castro had left Quito, they did not wait there, but pushed
on to meet him. Vaca de Castro marched until he reached the valley
of Jayanque, where Don Alonso de Montemayor, Vasco de Guevara, and
Pedro de Vergara, with the men brought from Bracamoros, happened to be
awaiting him. Vaca de Castro was much pleased when he met them there,
and especially so at the arrival of Vergara, praising the zeal he had
shown in coming forward to serve his Majesty. He then asked Don Alonso
and Vasco de Guevara several questions about what happened in Lima at
the time the Marquis was killed, and was informed by them. Some of
those who came with the Governor counselled him not to trust Guevara
nor Don Alonso either, as they had been very close friends of the
Adelantado Don Diego de Almagro. Though he did not show that he felt
any suspicion of them, he took care that their arrival should cause no
mischief. But they were both resolved to serve his Majesty. Don Alonso
de Montemayor was always very loyal, as he appeared afterwards at the
time when the Viceroy came to Peru, for he was one of those who
followed and served him most diligently.