When Gonzalo Pizarro conceived his evil design, he remembered that the artillery with which the younger Almagro gave battle to Vaca de Castro at Chupas, was in Guamanga. Having confidence in Francisco de Almendras, who was a citizen of Plata, Pizarro sent him, with thirty arquebusiers, to get possession of the artillery without doing any harm to that city. On the contrary he was to talk to the citizens and municipality, telling them that Pizarro had charged himself with the duty of answering in the name of all touching the question of the ordinances, and as they had written so many times and incited him to action, they should now be prepared to help. Francisco de Almendras set out from Cuzco with his men, and arrived at Guamanga where, at that time, Vasco Suarez was Alcalde for the King our lord. When the object of Almendras was known there was a meeting of the Alcalde and magistrates to decide what steps should be taken to prevent the artillery from being taken away. Vasco Suarez said that he desired to defend the artillery, and to oppose Almendras and his men. Juan de Berrio, a magistrate, declared that with his person, arms, horses, and servants he would support the loyal intention of the Alcalde. Diego Gavilan said the same. The Captain Vasco de Guevara feigned to have a bad indisposition which increased so much at that time that he was unable to leave his bed. Almendras, in a loud voice, asked how long they would delay to give up the artillery? Those of Guamanga equivocated, not wishing to tell where the artillery was deposited. Almendras waited, for the soldiers said that he had little occasion to pass compliments, for Gonzalo Pizarro had left home and estate to answer the calls of these men, and now they pretended not to know where the artillery was. Some say that Vasco de Guevara told Almendras where it was, but that is false. The truth is that, with the most persuasive words he could use, he deceived Francisco de Almendras and, when night came, he mounted his horse and rode off to the country of Soras, where his grant of Indians was, with the wish of helping and serving the Viceroy. When the Captain Almendras knew of the escape of Vasco de Guevara, he had a mind to destroy the town. In a great rage he went to the house of Guevara, and tortured his servants until they confessed where the artillery was. He took possession of it with great joy, saying to the citizens of Guamanga that he had little to thank them for, that he would return to Cuzco, and they would see what orders would come from there. This done he loaded the artillery on the shoulders of Indians, and took the road back to the city of Cuzco. CHAPTER XXXII _How it became clearly known at Lima that there was a rebellion in Cuzco and that the artillery had been taken, which gave the Viceroy much anxiety._