_How the Governor Vaca de Castro decided to send his army to the
province of Jauja, while he himself went to Lima._
The reader will remember that, farther back, we told how Vaca de
Castro arrived in the province of Guaraz, and how he was acknowledged
as Governor and Captain-general in the name of the King: and other
things. A few days later an assembly of captains and principal
cavaliers was summoned, to consider what ought to be done for the
pacification of the Realm. It was agreed that the captains should be
posted to the command of the several companies, and that they and
the sergeants and other officers were to understand that the war was
undertaken by the Governor Vaca de Castro's orders. He appointed the
captains to their former companies, and issued commissions to them
without making any change except in the case of Pero Alvarez Holguin,
who still looked to be General. But Vaca de Castro wanted that office
and dignity for himself, which Pero Alvarez begrudged him. These
things having been arranged by the Governor, he asked the captains and
principal cavaliers to rejoice and make merry, seeing that the mercy
of God our Lord in uniting their forces together had been very great.
On hearing this, they arranged tournaments with canes and rings;[112]
and the Governor entertained them at his tent. After their festivities
he named the licentiate León as chief magistrate of the camp; and
because Pero Alvarez learnt that his authority as Camp Master was not
to extend beyond military affairs, and not to touch the administration
of justice, he began to complain, and to say that that was how his
services were being requited. Vaca de Castro desired to establish
complete concord among his people; so without withdrawing the duty
given to the licentiate León, he sent to tell Pero Alvarez that, since
he was a gentleman, he should give his attention to serving God and
the King, and that, in the exercise of the office he held, he might
take over certain pikemen over whom to be captain; for the Governor
desired that, except himself, no person there should rank before Pero
Alvarez. With this order all questions ended between the Governor and
his officers and all were content, unless it were the captain Gómez de
Tordoya, who entertained enmity towards Pero Alvarez. Although he was
given a company of mounted men, he would not take charge of them, but
wanted to be merely a private soldier entering into the battle. He was
a very close friend and kinsman of the captain Garcilaso de la Vega,
and tried to persuade him by means of words to take the same course as
himself. Garcilaso wishing to see the realm at peace and to do just
what might be his Majesty's pleasure, would not, in all loyalty, do
anything but what the Governor ordered him.
These things having passed, and the companies having become known
to their respective captains, it was found that they had no good
pikes, which caused them great concern. But there happened to be one
Cervantes there, a resident of Lima, and this man knew where there
was wood suitable for making pikes, in the province of Jauja, where
he held some Indians in _encomienda_. He offered to go and see to
the matter. He went to Jauja and arranged with the Indians to cut
wood in the forests, for making pikes sufficient for the war, and
many very good ones were turned out. The captains then again entered
into consultation with the Governor, and they agreed that it would
be well to send scouts into the province of Jauja to learn the
state of affairs beyond and gain that region for the King. It having
been decided that this should be done, they told off Captain Diego
de Rojas, with troops sufficient for the purpose, to undertake this
duty. Diego de Rojas thereupon set out with those who were to go
with him. After further consultation between the Governor and the
captains it was their opinion that the Governor should go down to the
coast valleys and proceed to Lima, where his lieutenant Aliaga was
in charge, in order to obtain money for the payment of the soldiers,
and to enlist men wherewith to increase his forces. They also agreed
that the captain Pedro Anzures should go to the city of San Miguel and
arrest a certain Santiago, a rich man who lived there, and had plenty
of money, and who had shown himself to be a friend of Don Diego. His
goods were to be sequestrated, and any money of his that they might
find was to be brought to Lima by way of the coast road. So Pedro
Anzures presently set out. Then the Governor ordered the captains Pero
Alvarez and Alonso de Alvarado to lead the troops into the province of
Jauja without halting, and form the camp there pending the Governor's
arrival from Lima to join them. Having ordered these things, Vaca de
Castro proceeded to Lima, sending messengers before him to announce
his approach. As all those who were left in Lima were friends of the
Marquis, they were very glad when they heard that the Governor was
coming, and they gave him a grand reception. He made his entry on the
eve of _Corpus Christi_.
The licentiate Benito Suárez de Caravajal, who was then in Lima, came
out to welcome him, as well as his brother Illán Suárez de Caravajal
the factor, the captain Diego de Agüero, the treasurer Alonso de
Riquelme, the lieutenant Jerónimo de Aliaga and the magistrates, and
with them the Governor Barrionuevo. After they had kissed hands and
the ceremonies usual at similar functions had been gone through, Vaca
de Castro was lodged, and very well regaled by the inhabitants. As he
was entering the city the Factor addressed him in the name of all the
rest, saying that he was as welcome as the _Gran Capitán_ had been in
Italy, as to all that would conduce to the service of his Majesty, and
that he and all the gentlemen of that city were ready to serve him and
do all things in his Majesty's interests, like loyal subjects. The
Governor thanked him and showed pleasure at what the Factor had said.
FOOTNOTE:
[112] Tilting at the ring.