_How the Governor Vaca de Castro held a review of the Spaniards
who were with him, and how he sent the captain Lorenzo de
Aldana, and also Diego Maldonado, to the camp of Pero Alvarez._
AS the Governor had arrived so near to Guaraz, where the
Captain-general Pero Alvarez Holguin was encamped, many came from
thence to see him and offer their services for the king, some
remaining and others returning. And as in these parts of the Indies
there is much craft, and men put so little faith in each other, it
was not long before they began to sow discord between the Governor
and Pero Alvarez: in this way. To Vaca de Castro they said that Pero
Alvarez was suspicious, and that it was his intention, if he were not
retained in the rank of General, not to furnish the troops he had
raised, nor acknowledge Vaca de Castro as Governor. To Pero Alvarez
they said that, owing to what Gómez de Tordoya and Garcilaso de la
Vega had said to Vaca de Castro, he and others who had come from his
camp showed no inclination to recognize the great service Pero Alvarez
had rendered to his Majesty, and advised him not to hand over the
banners. While these things that we are relating were going on Vaca
de Castro consulted with the Provincial about what they told him. His
intention was not to leave the command with Pero Alvarez as General,
for it would not be proper that he himself, as Governor for the king,
and having to be on the battle-field in person, should share the title
of General with any other officer if the enemy attacked them. He also
intended to bestow the position of Camp-master on Lorenzo de Aldana.
The Provincial gave him his opinion as to what would be best for his
Majesty's service, and advised the Governor to send some trustworthy
persons to explain matters privately to Pero Alvarez and persuade him
to conform.
The advice of the Provincial appeared to Vaca de Castro to be good,
and, seeing that Lorenzo de Aldana, who was an intimate friend and
relative of Pero Alvarez, was there, he arranged to send him to speak
with Pero Alvarez on his behalf. He was to say that the Governor had
the greatest pleasure in recognizing all the service that Pero Alvarez
had done his Majesty, but he was to persuade him to deliver the
banners to Vaca de Castro, because, the Marquis being deceased, he was
now the Governor of the Realm by commission from his Majesty as Pero
Alvarez was already aware. As to what had been heard of him, that he
desired to retain the command, the Governor would promise that, after
himself, no one who was with him or elsewhere in the Realm should have
precedence of Pero Alvarez in honour, nor rank above him in the camp.
And since Aldana had always been such a loyal servant of his Majesty,
and was such a close friend and relative of Pero Alvarez, it was to
be expected that he would put his hand to this business in such a way
that the king's service would not suffer in any respect. The Governor
moreover wished that Diego Maldonado, a citizen of Cuzco, should go
with Aldana, as he was a person of importance and well known to all.
Lorenzo de Aldana replied cheerfully, expressing a confident hope that
the king would be well served by the mission of Diego Maldonado and
himself, inasmuch as there could be no reasonable doubt of the loyalty
of Pero Alvarez. So they presently set out and arrived at Guaraz in
a few days. After having been handsomely welcomed some discussions
took place between the parties. Aldana and Maldonado explained to Pero
Alvarez the suspicions that had been raised against him, and said
that having done such splendid service to the king's cause he should
not tarnish it by not conforming to the Governor's plans. In the end
they persuaded him to act with all friendship and loyalty, assuring
him that Vaca de Castro would look upon him as the second person in
all the camp, and would give him the position of Camp-master. So Pero
Alvarez delivered the banners to be given to Vaca de Castro and wrote
him a polite letter; and the same was done by the other captains and
cavaliers who were there with him.
Meanwhile the Governor Vaca de Castro had set out from where he had
halted and was approaching the place where Alonso de Alvarado's camp
was pitched, on learning which that officer prepared to receive him
in the most honourable way possible, with many festoons of sedges
and sweet-smelling flowers round about the tent. As the Governor
approached, Alvarado and his officers mounted their steeds and rode
out to meet him, in their armour, while the footmen came with pikes,
cross-bows, and arquebuses, in squadron formation and in fine order,
as if ready to fight, that the Governor might see how dexterous they
were in military drill. When Alonso de Alvarado came to the Governor,
he dismounted to make obeisance, and Vaca de Castro received him very
well, commending him for the great service he had done to his Majesty
in raising the banner in his royal name, and for the honour he had
acquired in having been the first to declare against the party of the
men of Chile. Alvarado replied that he had done what he would never
cease to do, which was to serve the king. Presently Gómez de Alvarado
and the other gentlemen and soldiers composing the cavalry and the
squadron came up to kiss hands, and the Governor embraced them all
affectionately and gave them sure hopes that they would be rewarded
for what they had done in his Majesty's interests. After saying this
and other things they all remounted and went into the camp, where
Vaca de Castro was lodged in quarters that had been prepared for him.
He was so happy and contented at seeing himself in command of the
troops assembled there, and at finding that Alonso de Alvarado was
loyal to him, that he could not conceal his pleasure.