Immediately on his arrival at Tumbez, the viceroy sent an express to notify his arrival and the extent of his powers and authority to the governor Vaca de Castro, whom he directed to discontinue all exercise of authority as governor. By this messenger, and by other persons who followed him, the inhabitants of Lima were informed of the rigorous manner in which the viceroy had proceeded to enforce the new regulations, and of his refusal to listen to any supplications or remonstrances on the subject. On purpose still more to irritate every one against the viceroy, reports were spread of several other rigorous proceedings as having been exercised by him, of which he never even conceived the idea. These news caused much emotion and discontent among the persons who accompanied Vaca de Castro, insomuch that several of them urged him to refuse recognizing the viceroy, and to protest both against the regulations and his commission, as he had rendered himself unworthy of the government by executing his commission with extreme rigour, refusing justice to his majestys faithful subjects, and turning a deaf ear to their respectful remonstrances. Vaca de Castro soothed them as much as possible, by assuring them that when the oydors were arrived and had begun to act as the royal court of audience, they would certainly listen to their remonstrances on being instructed in the true state of the country; but that for himself, he could in no degree consent to disobey the orders of his majesty. At this time, Vaca de Castro had arrived at Guarachiri, about twenty leagues from Lima, and on receiving the orders which had been transmitted to him by the viceroy, he immediately divested himself of his office, and discontinued from exercising any of the functions of government; except that he granted some vacant repartitions of lands and Indians to different people, some of which grants were in his own name.
Finding all their representations to Vaca de Castro ineffectual, the principal persons who attended him set out in their return to Cuzco, under pretence that they dared not to await the arrival of the viceroy so long as he was alone; but that they would return to Lima on the arrival of the judges: Yet, in spite of these specious pretexts, it was easy to see that they were much discontented and had evil intentions. Indeed they clearly evinced this soon afterwards on their arrival at the city of Guamanga, where they excited a great tumult, and took possession of all the artillery which Vaca de Castro had disposed in that place after his victory over Don Diego. They then collected a great number of Indians, and caused the whole of this train or artillery to be removed to Cuzco.
Vaca de Castro continued his journey from Guarachiri to Lima, which he found all involved in confusion and discontent, the inhabitants being much divided in opinion as to the expediency of receiving the viceroy or refusing to recognize him in that capacity. Some alleged that the orders of his majesty did not command his recognition till his actual arrival. Others said that he ought not to be recognized even on his arrival, considering the unjust regulations which he brought along with him, and the rigour with which he put them in force, in spite of every remonstrance and supplication to the contrary. But by the earnest exhortations of Yllan Suarez, alcalde or judge of police and royal commissary of Lima, they came at length to the resolution of receiving the viceroy, and even to admit the regulations, which were published with much solemnity. Upon this all the magistrates principal inhabitants of the city, went to Huaura to welcome the viceroy and to pay him their respectful compliments. From Huaura he was accompanied by the whole cavalcade to Lima, where he was received with great pomp and magnificence, making his entry under a canopy of cloth of gold. All the magistrates walked in procession, carrying the ensigns of their office, and dressed in long robes of crimson satin turned up with white damask. In this grand stile the viceroy was conducted in the first place to church, and thence to his palace.
Next day as the viceroy had received information of the discontents and seditious conduct of the persons who had retired to Cuzco, he ordered Vaca de Castro to be arrested and thrown into the common prison, as he suspected that he had fomented these seditious practices, and that he had even been their secret adviser to that step. Although the inhabitants of Lima were by no means perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Vaca de Castro, they yet humbly petitioned the viceroy, not to allow a person of such high rank, who was a member of the royal council and had been governor of the country, to be thrown into the common prison; as, even if he merited the punishment of death, and were to be beheaded next day, he ought to be more honourably dealt with. The viceroy was softened by these remonstrances, and ordered Vaca de Castro to be placed under arrest in the palace, taking a bail bond from the burgesses for his safe custody under a heavy penalty; and besides, he placed all the effects of the late governor under sequestration. The inhabitants of Lima were extremely discontented by the harsh conduct of the viceroy, holding frequent secret conferences among themselves, and a considerable number of them withdrew gradually from the city, repairing to Cuzco, at which place toe viceroy was not acknowledged.
At this time Gonzalo Pizarro dwelt at Chuquisaca de la Plata, in the province of las Charcas, employed in the arrangement of the estate which had been conferred upon him by his brother the marquis, where ten or twelve of his most intimate friends resided along with him. On learning the arrival of the viceroy, the causes of his mission, and the regulations which he had brought out for the government of the colony, and which he rigorously enforced, Gonzalo took the resolution of going to Cuzco, under pretence of inquiring after news from Spain, and to regulate the affairs belonging to his brother Ferdinand, according to the instructions he had received on that subject. While employed in collecting money for his journey, he received letters from all parts of Peru, written both by private persons and the magistrates of the cities and towns, endeavouring to persuade him to stand forwards in defence of the common interests on the present emergency, by protesting against the execution of the royal ordinances, and demanding either that their execution should be delayed, or that some other remedy should be interposed to prevent universal ruin among the colonists. Gonzalo was even urged to this interference, as a person to whom the government of the country belonged of right, as heir to the marquis his brother. In some of these letters the writers offered to devote themselves and their fortunes to his service: Others informed him that the viceroy had publickly declared he would put Gonzalo to death. In this way every means was used to irritate Gonzalo, that he might come to Cuzco to prevent the entry of the viceroy into that city. As every thing seemed to conspire towards the accomplishment of the desire which he had always cherished, of acquiring the government of Peru, he gathered a large sum of money, both from his own funds and those belonging to his brother Ferdinand, and repaired to Cuzco accompanied by a retinue of twenty Spaniards237.
237
Zarate is exceedingly negligent in regard to dates. We learn from the history of America, II. 370, that the present occurrences took place in 1544. –E.