_How the messengers arrived at the camp of Vaca de Castro, how
it was learnt that Don Diego had left Vilcas, how Pedro Anzures
went to reconnoitre; and how the opposing forces approached to
give battle, each leader animating his men and exhorting them to
fight._
The time was now approaching when the hills of Chupas would be
sprinkled with the blood of men who were born in Spain, to bear
witness in future times that the herbs and stunted bushes growing on
them are seedlings sprung from Spanish elements. And you! ghosts of
Tabogan captains, if one may call you such, there in the place where
your deeds have laid you, gaze upon the fabric you have woven, and
watch how your ever-binding oath is accomplished to the utmost! Ay,
remember the famous Incas, with their Huayna Capac, and consider
the dire vengeance being exacted for the ruin brought about in the
Yupanqui lineage, and whether other weapons were not called for
rather than those by whose means rash men brought about and wreaked
that havoc. And you Romans! who so exalt the events that occurred
in your Rome during the civil wars, see how there arose another mad
struggle, near the equator, so long-drawn that eleven years sped
by before it ended, wherein there were not wanting its Curios, its
Scaevolas, its Centalios, nor its Brutuses! For in this war, while
hearts were transfixed by lance, and bullets tore by their impetuosity
the entrails and the caul, as if to cast the soul out by the mouth,
some gave the battle cry "Almagro!" and others "Pizarro!" but all
shouted for "the King!" I know not how I shall set about relating such
a horror, nor which side I can lock upon as in the right, but, after
all, tyranny is a fearsome and hateful thing before the divine throne.
And since I must not leave unfinished the task I have begun--though
many times I have stayed my hand, and thrust the paper on one side
that we might escape the sooner from such pangs--it will be necessary
to relate what Lope de Idiáquez and the factor Mercado did when they
left the camp which was about to become a sacrifice to its own folly.
They were not a little glad to find themselves clear of it, and at
once made for Guamanga.
The Governor, Vaca de Castro, having sent the messengers, and with
them, as their text, the law of the _Partida_, which, according to
the lawyers, declares those who deny obedience to the king to be
traitors, he held a consultation with the principal leaders in his
camp. Learning from the Indian Chiefs that Don Diego had departed
from Vilcas, and suspecting that he might be going by the route of
Guaytara to Lima, where he would do even more harm than when he killed
the Marquis, Vaca de Castro moved his forces from where they had
halted, and marched that day, which was a Friday, until they took up
a position on the level ground of _CHUPAS_. This was done on
the advice of them all.
That night there was a storm so violent that nothing short of torrents
of water fell from the clouds and thickness, accompanied by loud
peals of thunder, insomuch that the very elements appeared to be
enemies. They passed a very troublous night, for many soldiers had
no protection from the rain for the arms they would have to fight
with on the following day; and if the armies should meet it seemed
likely that the artillery and arquebuses could do little harm. If
this battle were being joined in Spain, or if one host encountered
another in Italy, there would be no cause for wonder, and nothing
need be stated beyond the fact that two thousand men met to kill each
other. But it is a striking and remarkable thing that, after making
such protracted voyages as those by way of the Southern Ocean, and
arriving in driblets a few at a time, so many of our people should
join together, and that, though in the aggregate their numbers are not
large, they should cause all the nations and regions from the Strait
to the uttermost parts of the land to tremble, without the barbarians
daring to oppose them. I know well that two thousand Spaniards outside
my country, wherever they may be, are feared, and that they can carry
on civil war with terrible savagery, as will presently be shown by the
case of a soldier who filled the post of Sergeant-major in the force
of Vaca de Castro.[123] Never was a Marius, or Sylla, a Dionisius,
or Falaris, his equal in cruelty; for in every phase of cruelty he
showed himself a past master of the class I have mentioned and the
trees[124] from Quito to the hill-crest of Potosí bear witness to it.
And now when the night was far spent and the falling snow had
scattered many of its flakes over the face of the country, and the
weather seemed clear enough to go forth, the Governor Vaca de Castro
ordered a reconnaissance to be made. Presently a very laughable thing
happened, which was that Don Pedro Puertocarrero, and one Juan de
Mora, straying apart from the rest of the scouts, came to where there
were some crags and great rocks. In the twilight Don Pedro thought
they were the enemy's patrols and that he could dash through them
to give notice to his captain, so he put his lance to the rest and
charged the rocks in such fashion that the lance was shivered to
pieces, and his horse and himself nearly broke their necks. Those
who went out to reconnoitre that morning did get sight of the enemy
scouts, and reported it to Vaca de Castro. Little time elapsed before
the factor Mercado and Lope Idiáquez arrived where the Governor was,
and reported what had occurred, and how the men of Chile had been
minded to kill them; and finally that war was certain, and peace quite
out of reach, for the enemy would brook none but what they might win
at the point of their lances. They said that there were five hundred
Spaniards at Vilcas, well armed and mounted, and some experienced
fighting men amongst them, all firmly resolved to conquer or die. On
hearing this the Governor ordered his secretary Pero López to enter
it in the records together with the letters from Almagro and his
captains. He then called a meeting of all his captains and combatant
officers, and said to them: "You are aware of the correspondence I
have had with Don Diego and his followers who are accomplices with
him in the tyranny they have set up. To avoid bloodshed and for the
service his father rendered to his Majesty I was anxious that this
boy should not be lost, but he has refused to repent and enjoy the
clemency and the pardon his Majesty would have granted him. On the
contrary, he was on the point of murdering the ambassadors, and, not
to mention the crafty and insincere letters he has written to me,
now comes against us to give us battle with tyrannical fury, and an
insatiable greed to usurp and rule over the Realm: a thing to which
we cannot consent, nor allow such a great calamity to befall. That
our men may take heart, and that punishment proportionate to so
great a crime may be dealt, my decision is that he and his defenders
are traitors, and that whatever may be found in his camp is lawful
plunder."
The captains Alonso de Alvarado, Pero Alvarez Holguin, Garcilaso
de la Vega, Diego de Rojas, Pedro de Castro and the Sergeant-major
Francisco de Caravajal, and the rest who were present, replied
that Vaca de Castro was Governor on behalf of the King, and very
learned in letters, and that therefore they, as his executive, would
support him in all things he might feel it right to be done. When
the meeting broke up, the drums were sounded, the soldiers stood to
their arms and, in a loud voice that all might hear, Don Diego and his
confederates were proclaimed as traitors, unless they should surrender
within six days from the date of summons. The soldiers of the King
were given free leave, also, to loot the enemy's camp. Vaca de Castro
did not hold a commission to proclaim this on his own authority, nor
had his Majesty given him powers to that effect; but in such times war
must be conducted in a way to instil fear. Having done this, Vaca de
Castro retired into his tent, lifted up his hands before a crucifix,
and besought God for aid, for he knew how strong His desire was for
peace and how He deprecated war.
At this time the men of Chile were about a league from the Pachacama
forces. Don Diego held a consultation with his officers to decide what
should be done. There was some difference of opinion. Some thought
that they should give battle to their enemies, which could easily be
done. Others said that victory would be easier to gain by going out to
the spur of Chupas, wheeling to the right, and marching into Guamanga.
Having occupied that city the enemy would run short of provisions, and
soon be in such straits that he would have to seek for them, whilst
themselves, having by then chosen a position and formed a camp, would
have the artillery so planted that the enemy would be broken up by
it. This seemed a good plan to all present, and they set to work to
carry it into effect; it being agreed that if the enemy should come
against them on the way they must give them battle without waiting for
anything else. Presently they started off accordingly, sending out
scouts in all directions.
FOOTNOTES:
[123] Francisco de Carbajal, afterwards the lieutenant of Gonzalo
Pizarro and a ruthless executioner of traitors to his cause.
[124] From which he hung his victims.