_How the captain Pero Alvarez Holguin felt somewhat aggrieved
because the standard he had presented was not displayed, and
there was even some commotion; and how Vaca de Castro again made
public the decree of His Majesty that he held, and requested, by
virtue of it, that he be acknowledged as Governor._
As soon as Vaca de Castro ordered the standard which Pero Alvarez
presented to him to be taken over they all moved off towards the place
where the camp was pitched, which was not far away, and, as there were
many tents, it looked like a great town. When they were starting Pero
Alvarez observed that the standard the Governor had brought with him
was displayed, but not so the one he himself had presented. This hurt
his feelings very deeply. Some of his friends saw it also, and began
to make a disturbance, but not so as to reveal the cause of their
annoyance. Pero Alvarez, prudently dissembling his feelings, rode side
by side with Vaca de Castro, who had clearly discerned the other's
pique. When they arrived at the camp they found it all decorated
with sedges and green boughs. Before entering the quarters which had
been arranged for him, he ordered that all should remain where they
were, without moving or going to rest, because he had something to say
to them. When the Spaniards heard this, none of them went away: on
the contrary, all the captains and other principal people wanted to
hear why Vaca de Castro directed them to stay. A high stage was set
up covered with a cloth of black velvet, and on it was placed a blue
velvet chair. Then, without seating himself, he addressed them with a
countenance and mien of great authority, and spoke thus:
"Loyal Cavaliers, Renowned Captains, Subjects of Caesar our Emperor
and great King:--
"I am not unaware, for I well know, of the great loyalty and generous
valour which have moved you to serve his Majesty, and to undo the
rebellious tyranny which has been set up by Don Diego and those who
subserve his nefarious aims. Be assured that the value which his
Majesty, and I in his royal name, will put upon such loyalty cannot
be overrated. It has pleased God to at length bring me here, after
having suffered many perils by the way and endured such illnesses and
unrest as you all now know. I do not think lightly of telling you
these things; but rather do I rejoice and feel it a great happiness,
and congratulate myself that, with your favour, I may now perform
whatsoever is fitting in the king's interest. My desire will be to
reward and gratify each according to his service. That my coming
might be known in this illustrious army, I sent forward a copy of his
Majesty's decree commissioning me to govern these Realms to Captain
Pero Alvarez, and to the other officers belonging to it; and now it is
proper, having seen the original document, that you should receive and
acknowledge me anew as Governor and Captain-general."
When he had said this he took out the commission and ordered the
secretary to read it aloud, and all, holding up their right hands,
began to shout out: "Long live the King!" and that they took and held
Vaca de Castro to be their Governor. He then turned to them and said
that he had to apportion the land among them all. Having finished
his speech, the Governor stepped down and went to his lodging, where
the captains Alonso de Alvarado, Pero Alvarez Holguin, Garcilaso de
la Vega, Lorenzo de Aldana, Diego de Rojas, Pedro Anzures, and Don
Pedro Puertocarrero, with many other captains, remained with him. He
observed to them that since there are citizens and councillors in all
the cities of the Realm, those of each place should meet together and
elect municipal officers, to acknowledge him as Governor, just as the
army had recognized him as Captain-general: and this they presently
did. Then Vaca de Castro retired to rest, and the captains and
cavaliers did the same; where we will leave them for the present, in
order to say a little about Don Diego de Almagro.