_How the captain Pedro de Vergara spoke to the Governor Vaca de
Castro about providing some relief for the soldiers who had come
with him, and how the Governor arrived at Truxillo._
As the captain Pedro de Vergara had been engaged for a long time in
the subjugation of the Bracamoros, indeed, ever since the battle of
Las Salinas, those who came with him had worn out all their clothing.
Their need was so great, that they spoke to Pedro de Vergara, their
leader, to ask the Governor Vaca de Castro to afford them some relief,
by reason of their great desire to serve the king. Vaca de Castro
heard from the captain of their condition, and ordered equipment and
things they were in want of, to the value of 10,000 _pesos de oro_,
to be provided for them. With this help they were much pleased and
contented. Vaca de Castro did nothing without consulting Lorenzo de
Aldana, and he intended to nominate him Camp Master of the army which
was mustering where the captains were encamped. After having rested a
sufficient time they started for the city of Truxillo, and when the
citizens and dwellers in that place learnt that Vaca de Castro had
come they received him with great willingness, and showed a desire to
serve his Majesty in all that the Governor might direct. So he was
personally acknowledged as Governor in the presence of the assembled
_regidores_ and _alcaldes_, as commanded by his Majesty's royal
authority. Since leaving Spain, the Governor Vaca de Castro had passed
through great hardships, and had made long journeys. He was a man of
refined habits and had only been accustomed to work in his study, so
that he now found himself much broken down and needing rest. But to
think of stopping still in any place until Don Diego should return
to his Majesty's service or be obliged, by force of arms, to give
up calling himself Governor (to which he had no title whatever) and
surrender the province he had occupied, seemed to him a mistake. So
he was anxious to leave Truxillo promptly, and during the days he was
there he busied himself with disposing affairs as seemed best for the
task in hand.
At Truxillo he found Gómez de Tordoya and Garcilaso de la Vega, with
whom he spent much of his time. On learning the reason of their coming
he spoke to them most amicably, saying that among gentlemen there
should be no discord nor cause for enmity. He added that his Majesty
would be informed of their services, and that they should be well
rewarded. Some say that Gómez de Tordoya spoke well of the affairs of
Pero Alvarez; others say that he did not, but rather gave the Governor
to understand that the greater part of the honour of having raised
the banner in Cuzco in the name of his Majesty belonged to himself
alone, and that Pero Alvarez already knew at Lima, before he came to
Cuzco to invade the Chunchos, that the Marquis was doomed to suffer
death at the hands of the men of Chile--and that if Pero Alvarez had
been chosen General, 'twas in order that he and those with him should
not declare for Don Diego against the loyalists, who were so few that
they would not have been able to obtain their desire (which was to
serve the King) if he had wanted to prevent it. And further, that
Pero Alvarez was so ambitious to have charge and command, that if the
present holder should wish to deprive him of it, it would not take
much for him to become an enemy, or to refuse obedience. They also say
that when Vaca de Castro heard those things, he was much chagrined,
but concealed his emotion that it might not be thought he feared lest
Pero Alvarez, feeling his own power, would not pursue the war under
his authority. Presently he ordered all those who were going with
him to get ready to start at once, because letters from both camps
had arrived, urging him not to delay joining the other forces, but
rather to hurry on their union in the interests of his Majesty's
service. When those in the city of Truxillo saw that the Governor
wanted to depart, they entered into consultation to discuss which
would be the best route for him to take. Some thought that he ought
to go to Lima, assemble all the men he could collect there, and go
up with them to Jauja, where the other captains should be ordered to
join him with their respective forces. Others thought that unsuitable,
and that he should first go to Guaraz and be acknowledged by officers
and men as Governor and Captain-general. It was finally decided that
he should go first to Guaraz; and this opinion being assented to by
all, he departed from the city of Truxillo, leaving Diego de Mora as
Lieutenant and Justice, in the King's name. He marched, with those who
had mustered to accompany him, until they reached the valley known as
_Santa_, where he took the road up into the mountains.