Ecuador -- History -- To 1809; Peru -- History -- 1548-1820; Peru -- History -- Conquest, 1522-1548; Pizarro, Gonzalo, -1548
When the coming of the citizens and the things they said of the Viceroy
were known, opinions in Cuzco altered a good deal. Men declared that
they would not suffer such injuries. Pizarro, sending for Alonso de
Toro, Villacastin and his other friends, showed them letters he had
received from Lima, and told Mezcua to state what he had been told by
Gaspar Rodriguez and his companions. The news made Gonzalo Pizarro
change his mind about returning to Charcas, and gave the citizens of
Cuzco a reason for electing him as Procurator-General to prevent the new
laws from being enforced until his Majesty had received and considered
the petitions of the conquerors of Peru.
Here the reader may see how fragile and slippery are the affairs of
this world, and that there are many changes in every hour that we live
in it. At one moment we find Gonzalo Pizarro about to retire into
private life, and the people of Cuzco in no mind to make him their
Procurator, nor to give him any other charge. In another, no sooner was
it known that citizens of Lima were coming to arouse those of Cuzco,
than Pizarro was accepted to take command over all others, march to
Lima, and drive out the Viceroy. Afterwards, by virtue of a clause in
the will of the Marquis his brother, Gonzalo Pizarro was to be received
as Governor. Pompey the Great, when Julius Cæsar passed the Rubicon, was
received as Captain-General against him and, being in Greece, at the
proposal of the Consul Lentulus he was given a commission to raise
troops, appoint captains, and fit out fleets against him who was looked
upon as an enemy. The simple people of all nations, when they saw the
mandate of the Roman Senate, and that Pompey was appointed as
Captain-General to defend the republic, easily came to the conclusion
that Pompey was fighting solely for the public good, which, God knows,
would be that he who conquered might do as he pleased.
Thus, in the kingdom of Peru the news spread that those of the
municipality and the other citizens had nominated Gonzalo Pizarro as
Procurator. Believing that his only object was their good, they rejoiced
and gave assistance. He had more time than Pompey had to mature the
tyrannical objects which he fostered in his bosom. Happy those who were
in the kingdom, and were able to desist from following the banners of
this tyrant. But what can I say, being far away in the dense cane brakes
of Quimbaya[39], yet this fury extended even to that distance, letting
us know how cruel are these civil wars.
CHAPTER XXIV
_How Gaspar Rodriguez and his companions arrived at the city of
Cuzco, and how Gonzalo Pizarro was received as Captain against the
Inca._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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