Ecuador -- History -- To 1809; Peru -- History -- 1548-1820; Peru -- History -- Conquest, 1522-1548; Pizarro, Gonzalo, -1548
The news of the arrival of the Viceroy in the kingdom, and his letter
having been received, Vaca de Castro was much disturbed in his mind, as
well from the things that his servant Ruy Lopez had told him, as from
the way he had been received. He would wish, according to what they
said, to enter Lima at the time of the reception, and make a petition
respecting the ordinances. He desired that his Secretary Pero Lopez
should see the Viceroy shortly, that he might be informed of all that
had been done. But he was perplexed as to what he should do, being
surrounded on all sides by anxious cares which greatly fatigue generous
minds. It is needful at first to consider what steps to take with much
prudence. For afterwards, if a mistake has been made, it is said to be
the fault of those who have not looked in advance, whereas if all goes
well they are regarded as prudent. In great affairs determination is
more needed than counsel. For when murmurs and discontents are converted
into wars it is better to follow a daring soldier than a noted scholar,
for they say that to gild a mistake they make a hundred.
Vaca de Castro considered that if he entered Lima accompanied by
artillery, arms, and arquebuses it would look bad and give rise to a
doubt of his loyalty; while if he entered privately the Viceroy might
ill use him, without regarding what was due to his position, nor
considering his services to the King, for it was notorious that the
Viceroy was coming with a prejudice against him. Notwithstanding these
dangers Vaca de Castro dismissed his followers and ordered the artillery
to be taken to Guamanga. At Guadachevi, 18 leagues from Lima, where he
received the news, he left the pikes and other arms.
The Licentiate, Benito Suarez de Carbajal[24], was with Vaca de Castro,
and a letter came to him from his brother the Factor, to let him know
that the Viceroy would deprive him of his Indians, as he had treated all
others who had been lieutenants, or officials. He was advised, on
receipt of the letter, to return to where he held the grant of Indians,
collect all the money he could, and to go to Spain, leaving the Indians
in trust to Rodrigo de Carbajal, Jeronimo de Carbajal, and Juan Vazquez
de Tapia. The Licentiate Carbajal, having received this letter, read it
publicly, and arranged the transfer with Vaca de Castro, although he was
no longer Governor. He then departed to do what the Factor advised. This
was one reason why the Viceroy was offended with the Factor, for he was
informed of the letter he had written, by Antonio and Juan de Leon, when
they went out to receive him.
After he had dismissed his people, Vaca de Castro went on to Lima with
very few attendants without trying, by any intrigues, to form new
friendships.
CHAPTER IX
_How the Governor Vaca de Castro entered Lima, and what happened._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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