_How the captain Gonzalo Pizarro arrived at the city of Cuzco,
accompanied by some followers, but had not laid aside his
rebellious design of occupying the Realm; and of what else
happened._
The captain Gonzalo Pizarro travelled to Cuzco accompanied by a few
comrades who had come out of the Canela country with him, and others
who now joined him, who, by always talking of things of the past
without considering the serious trouble that must overtake them in the
future, incited him to no good purpose, but to a course which might
do much harm. This is the great sorrow I feel--that many princes and
great lords, if vain words had not been poured into their ears by the
voices of youths and flatterers, would not have involved themselves
and their neighbours in so many calamities and disasters. It has been
the same in these Indies, where the men living in them are alike
astute and malicious, as well as so much addicted to uproars that
the governors and captains who wish to live peaceably get no chance
of doing so. Some to avenge themselves on others, some to obtain
commands and dignities, some to secure favours and riches, incite the
poorer sort to live at enmity with their equals. They rise for certain
objects, and, forced by necessity, have to carry their opinions
forward, while those who thus commit them slip out of the mess when
they see a time for it. So it was with the ill-fated captain Gonzalo
Pizarro who, besides being ambitious to command, was so stirred up by
his followers that, after having served his Majesty loyally and well,
he entered upon bad and ugly courses,[149] as we are told on a stone
memorial which is set up in the city of Cuzco, forever branding him as
a traitor.
When Gonzalo Pizarro had arrived within a short distance of Cuzco, his
companions urged that, having been acknowledged as Governor at Quito
on the strength of his appointment and nomination by his brother, he
ought now to be Governor of the whole kingdom just as his brother the
Marquis was before his death. Should he not take this step, they said,
he would be looked upon by all as a weak man wanting in resolution,
and he would be held in poor esteem for not daring to take what was
rightfully his. With this specious talk matters reached such a pass
that he came to an understanding with them, and they with him, to kill
Vaca de Castro and seize the Realm: at least so it is said. Villalba
was present amidst these intrigues, but disapproved of their upshot
and pressed on in advance to Cuzco, where he warned Vaca de Castro of
what was in the wind. The Governor, when he was told about it, gave
orders to the guard to be very watchful; and, on collecting as many
more as he was able to, he found himself with 400 men. The principal
captains were acting in concert, and agreed that if, when Gonzalo
Pizarro should come, he did anything that was not lawful nor proper
for the King's service, they would cut off his head. By that time
Gonzalo Pizarro had arrived close to the city and, as there is never
any lack of some one to give information, letters were sent along
to meet him, advising him to be careful of his person, because Vaca
de Castro intended to kill him. When he knew this Gonzalo Pizarro
spoke to Juan de Acosta and others, warning them to be ready to kill
Vaca de Castro when they would meet, and that he himself would give
the signal. When Gonzalo reached the city, some persons came out to
receive him. It was now publicly known that Villalba had disclosed the
plot, so Gonzalo Pizarro declared with an oath that he had no such
thought, and that Villalba had spoken lies. Villalba maintained what
he had said, and retorted by declaring the names of those concerned in
it. As they now saw and understood that they were found out, some of
them fled, but Vaca de Castro ordered them to be searched for and, if
discovered, to be put to death.
When Gonzalo Pizarro came to the street where the Governor's house was
situated, there were numerous arquebusiers posted along the walls,
and a bodyguard within. Martín de Guzmán was at the door, with orders
not to let anyone enter except Gonzalo Pizarro himself, and this was
obeyed. Vaca de Castro received him very well, and conversed with him
on his expedition into the Canela country, and the great hardships
he had endured. After he had advised Pizarro to now give himself
rest, the latter took leave of him. But the men around Pizarro did
not discontinue their intrigues. They told Gonzalo Pizarro that Vaca
de Castro wanted to kill him while others told Vaca de Castro that
Pizarro wanted to kill _him_ and seize upon the government. Then Vaca
de Castro sent for Gonzalo Pizarro and, by a writ under the hand of
the secretary Pero López, required him to proceed to Charcas, where he
had estates, and to stay there, without maintaining any body of men
which might give rise to a renewal of the scandal, on pain of being
declared a traitor and forfeiting all his property. He was to live
there as a private person.
They say that, after this, Gonzalo Pizarro continued to entertain
damaging intentions against the Governor, and that one day, when Vaca
de Castro was out with his guards, Pizarro came up to speak to him.
The arquebusiers, seeing him approach, stepped forward to intercept
him; but on observing this Vaca de Castro said, "Stay where you are,
for where Don Gonzalo Pizarro is, I deem myself safe and need no
other guard." When Pizarro heard these confident words he abandoned
the design he had been nursing, and set out, accompanied only by his
servants, for the town of Plata, where he had Indians who yielded more
income than is possessed in Spain by the Archbishop of Toledo and the
Count of Benavente.
[149] He, at the request of all the principal Spaniards in Peru,
took up their cause against the New Laws, and, when it suited their
interests, they basely deserted him.