The office of Camp Master had devolved on Martín Carrillo.[103] At
Guamanga he had arrested Baltanas on some not very important charge,
and while the man was being escorted as a prisoner, some of his
friends came out to rescue him. When Don Diego knew of it, he grasped
his sword and said that Martín Carrillo should not be interfered
with, but that he should be left to execute justice. Martín Carrillo
put Baltanas into his tent. The captain Juan Balsa and others went
to prevent them from killing him, but when Martín Carrillo saw them
coming he ordered a negro to stab his prisoner. Thus was murdered
Baltanas, who was a great friend of Cristóbal de Sotelo. Although Don
Diego approved of his death, the Camp-master Carrillo was afraid of
Sotelo, and, therefore, began to make great friends with García de
Alvarado, who had not yet started for Arequipa. Carrillo represented
to him that Sotelo wanted to be above everybody and to have no equal,
and other similar things; and as Alvarado's mind was inflated with
pride, little was needed to enlist his sympathies, and arouse his
hatred for Sotelo. After these things, Don Diego set out for Cuzco
with all his following, but first he sent García de Alvarado to
Arequipa to collect more men and arms.
Continuing his journey, Don Diego arrived at Cuzco, where he met with
a grand reception, and he and all his men were lodged in the city. A
few days afterwards, Diego Méndez came to the town of Plata, where he
treacherously captured Antón Alvarez, a resident of the place, and
seized all the gold and silver there was in the mines of Porco and
in that region; and with all these spoils he took the road to Cuzco.
When he drew near, the Governor went out to welcome him, and was very
delighted because he brought such a good supply of money to pay the
soldiers with. All the men that could be collected were thus brought
together, and Cristóbal de Sotelo managed everything extremely well.
They were so well supplied with all there was in the land that many
had enough and to spare, while none went short. The captains had
tables set up in their houses, where the soldiers usually took their
meals. But Don Diego and all his followers knew full well that they
could retain neither lives nor estates unless they could successfully
defend them. After Holguin had passed beyond Jauja many lost heart,
and some would have been glad not to be in Cuzco; others, however,
with Don Diego, wanted to strengthen their forces in such wise that
their enemies would not be able to triumph over them. They, therefore,
determined to prepare themselves and make ready a stock of arms. They
collected a vast quantity of copper, and Pedro de Candía offered to
cast several heavy pieces of artillery. He gave out that he wished to
serve Don Diego in that war, although afterwards he seemed to favour
the other side. The first moulds he made for the new cannon were very
large, but they got him to have them made smaller. It was now known
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account