After he had been encamped in the valley of Xaquixaguana for some days, Gonzalo Pizarro determined to march onwards to Lima, and ordered the tents to be struck. They marched by the main road until they came to a place called Lucumaes. It was there that Pizarro, knowing how wise and skilful Francisco de Carbajal was, in all matters relating to war, determined to appoint him Master of the Camp. For truth to tell the Procurator did not feel much confidence in Alonso de Toro. For these reasons, after consulting his principal officers, he gave the post of Master of the Camp to the Captain Francisco de Carbajal. At about this time Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo, Alonso de Mendoza, Alonso de Toro, Villacastin, Diego Centeno and the others who, as we have stated, sent Beltasar de Loaysa for their pardons from the Viceroy, began to exchange ideas by word of mouth or by the play of their countenances, in such a way that Pizarro got wind of what had been going on. They even affirm that it was intended to kill him, the author of the conspiracy being Gaspar Rodriguez. When Pizarro came to know it he was much disturbed and even frightened. At once, and without waiting, he sent for the Master of the Camp, Francisco de Carbajal, and gave him a detailed account of what he had heard, asking his opinion on so important a matter. After Carbajal had given himself a little time to think over the matter, he replied as follows. “Even before Blasco Nuñez arrived at Tierra Firme, when I understood that he intended to enforce the new laws, I knew that great troubles and disturbance would arise, which are the armouries from which civil wars are equipped. Foreseeing these things I tried by every means in my power to leave the country. I conjectured that there would be two extremes in the business, one allied to reason and the other to justice. The one allied to reason was that which would lead those in Peru to defend their property, while that allied to justice would be the duty to obey the order of the King, as natural lord. I desired to take part neither with one extreme nor with the other. But I was unable to find a ship to take me away, either at the ports of Lima or Arequipa. This desire lasted until I found you to be my friend. But it must be understood that if the demand you bring leads to war, it will be a very cruel war, and its fury will extend over the whole kingdom, like a very contagious pestilence. For if there should be a battle in which the Viceroy is defeated, there can be no doubt that another will arrive from Spain, while if the insurgents are defeated they will have little chance of repairing their losses. There is, however, a way out of the difficulty. Let the Viceroy be sent to Spain while the Judges remain at their posts, all the past being condoned, and no one being deprived of his property. Afterwards affairs will be likely to progress more satisfactorily. Now, without considering