Vaca de Castro was now very anxious to reach Quito, in order to
increase his force, and to receive more complete news. Pressing
forward he made such good progress that he quickly arrived at
_Carangue_, which is fourteen leagues from Quito. Here a messenger met
him with news that gave him no little joy. Looking over the letters
he received, he learnt that the captain Alonso de Alvarado, who was
Lieutenant for the Marquis in the city of La Frontera, had raised the
banner in the royal name as soon as he heard of the murder, holding it
to have been a shameful deed by which his Majesty would be ill served,
and had himself collected all the troops he could, and stationed
himself in a strong position prepared for defence, where it would be
very difficult for the enemy to injure him. Vaca de Castro now gained
complete knowledge of all that we have just related, which Alonso
de Alvarado sent to tell him. All those who came with the Governor
saw the letters and heard the news; and they held what Alvarado had
done to be a good beginning, and the news to be gladsome. Vaca de
Castro then sent the messenger back with all speed to the Chachapoyas
provinces, where Alvarado was, with a copy of the royal _Cedula_ and
a gracious letter praising the step Alvarado had taken in raising
the royal banner, and saying that no less was to be expected from so
gallant and loyal a cavalier. The Governor also desired that news
of his own coming should be sent to Lima, Cuzco, and all the other
principal places in Peru. Soon after despatching this messenger, the
Governor Vaca de Castro arrived in the city of Quito, where he was
very honorably received, and with great solemnity, as Governor and
Captain-general. As soon as he was established there, he proceeded to
send other messengers to all quarters of the Realm, that his arrival
in it might be known, and announcing that he was then at Quito.
Diego Maldonado, a citizen of Cuzco, arriving on the coast and hearing
of the death of the Marquis, and that Don Diego had assumed the
_rôle_ of Governor, it seemed to him undesirable to go farther. He,
therefore, proceeded to Quito to join the Governor Vaca de Castro.
Diego de Peralta, and other settlers in Peru, did the same. Although
the Adelantado Belalcázar came with the Governor, he did so not
willingly, be it understood, owing to the reasons already explained;
but he always relied upon the opinion of Lorenzo de Aldana, and was
guided by his counsel. Report quickly spread the news to the maritime
towns of Puerto Viejo, Guayaquil, and San Miguel, of the arrival of
Vaca de Castro at Quito, and of how he had been received there as
Governor and was making a call for troops. Many, with the desire
to serve his Majesty, went to join him; and others, who had been
neutral, came forward at the King's call and for his service, and they
therefore went to Quito to accompany Vaca de Castro and serve under
him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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