With the passing of the events we have narrated, there did not cease
to be deep mistrust between the one party and the other. Some soldiers
insisted to García de Alvarado that he should kill Don Diego, and
march with the remains of his army against Vaca de Castro, wherever
he might appear, for they did not deem it safe to trust Don Diego
any longer, nor others who had shown themselves to be their enemies.
Alvarado, who was very inconstant, but a bold youth to boot, did not
hesitate about doing what his friends advised, or killing Don Diego.
At this time there was, in Juan Balsa's troop, a cavalier named San
Millán,[107] a native of Segovia belonging to the family of the
Bocudos, very rich merchants. He had been one of the _conquistadores_
in various parts of this Realm, and was present at the murder of the
Marquis. He was very liberal and a great spendthrift, having lavished
upwards of 80,000 _pesos de oro_ upon the soldiers in camp. When
García de Alvarado was nominated General, San Millán wished to offer
him his friendship and service; and as San Millán was prodigal of
his means, he pressed Alvarado, after having made him many offers,
to accept the hospitality of his house and friends, at a social
reception he wished to give him. García de Alvarado, knowing that San
Millán's words to him were spoken with good intention, without any
afterthought or admixture of malice, thanked him for the invitation,
and replied that he would be happy to do what San Millán had asked
of him, especially as they might bring together at the reception or
banquet many who were disaffected towards each other, and so promote
friendship among all; and he told San Millán that he might get ready
for any day he wished, as he would like to invite Don Diego. They say
that, after this, García de Alvarado conferred with his friends about
murdering Diego Méndez,[108] Alonso de Sayavedra, Diego de Hoces,[108]
Juan Gutiérrez Malaver,[109] and other captains and soldiers who
were deemed to have been friends of Sotelo. They even resolved to
kill Don Diego de Almagro himself, and after these murders, to send
messengers to Vaca de Castro, offering to deliver up the camp and
render him obedience, upon which Alvarado was to be made captain, so
that he might go forth to explore some remote and unknown portions of
these Realms. After having formed this conspiracy, its authors and
conspirants, who were not few, set about preparing to carry it out,
and García de Alvarado, when he had arranged it, went to Don Diego
and announced that San Millán wished to give an entertainment and had
invited him. He begged that Don Diego would be present and allow the
captains to come too, as it was right that all should enjoy themselves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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