Besides frequently exercising his troops to perfect them in their discipline, he occasionally caused false alarms to be given that he might ascertain their disposition towards him, as it was much suspected that the majority were by no means hearty in the cause. Having some suspicion of Vaca de Castro, the former governor, whom he had lately allowed to be a prisoner at large on parole not to leave the city, and believing that he had some secret intelligence with his former friends and dependents, the viceroy ordered a false alarm one day about noon, reporting that Gonzalo was near at hand; and when the troops were all assembled in the great square, he sent his brother-in-law, Diego Alvarez de Cueto to arrest Vaca de Castro. At the same time he arrested Don Pedro de Cabrera, Hernan Mexia de Gusman, Lorenзo de Aldana, Melchior Ramirez, and Baltazar Ramirez his brother-in-law, all of whom he sent prisoners on board a ship comanded by Jeronimo de Zurbano. A few days afterwards, he set Lorenзo de Aldana at liberty, and sent off Cabrera and Mexia to Panama, and the two Ramirez to Nicaragua. Vaca de Castro remained prisoner in the ship, neither he nor any of the rest being informed of what they were accused, nor were any informations or law-processes made respecting them. While these civil discords were going on, two ships loaded with merchandise arrived at the port belonging to Arequipa239, both of which were purchased by Gonzalo Pizarro, with the intention of employing them to transport his artillery, and for getting possession of the harbour of Lima, and seizing the ships belonging to the viceroy, believing that whoever was master of the sea along the coast of Peru must command the country, by having it in his power to land in any unguarded place and to do all the mischief he pleased, on account of the prodigious extent of coast. By commanding at sea, he would likewise have been enabled to procure arms and horses from the vessels which are in use to bring these to Peru, and would have it in his power to stop all vessels coming there from Spain with merchandise or other supplies. On learning that Gonzalo had purchased these two vessels, and the purpose for which he destined them, the viceroy was a good deal distressed, fearing they might occasion considerable detriment to his affairs, as he had no means of opposing two ships so well provided with artillery; yet he took the best measures in his power to prepare for his defence. He equipped, therefore, one of the vessels in the port of Lima, which he armed with eight brass cannon and some others of iron, with several musquets and cross-bows, appointing Jeronimo de Zurbano to the command, with orders to make the best resistance he could against the ships of Gonzalo. Fortunately these preparations became unnecessary; for the captains Alfonso de la Caзares and Jeronimo de la Cerna, who dwelt in Arequipa, went secretly by night on board the two ships which Gonzalo had purchased, and which remained waiting for their artillery, and by large bribes to the masters and mariners got possession of them for the viceroy; then, abandoning their houses lands and Indians, they immediately set sail for Lima. On their arrival off the harbour of Callao, the viceroy got notice of their approach from some centinels who were stationed in a neighbouring island, and having no doubt that they were enemies, he immediately set out from Lima at the head of a body of cavalry. In the meantime, Zerbana discharged his artillery against the two ships, which immediately lowered their sails in token of peace, and sent some of their people on shore in a boat to surrender the ships to the viceroy. This circumstance gave much satisfaction to the viceroy and all the inhabitants of Lima, as it relieved them from a danger of which they were in great fear.
While these things were going on, Gonzalo Pizarro levied troops at Cuzco, which he carefully armed and disciplined, and made every necessary preparation for war. He assembled a body of 500 men, of which he appointed Alfonso de Toro major-general, retaining the chief command in person. He divided his cavalry into two troops, one of which he gave the command of to Don Pedro de Porto-Carrero, placing himself at the head of the other. Gumiel, and the bachelor Juan Belez de Guevera, were appointed captains of two companies of pikemen; and Captain Pedro Cermeno had the command of the musqueteers. He had three standards, one having the royal arms, which was given to Porto Carrero; a second having the arms of Cuzco was confided to Antonio de Altamirano, alcalde of Cuzco, whom he afterwards beheaded as inclined to the royal interests: the third, bearing his own arms, was carried by his ensign; but was afterwards given to Captain Pedro de Puelles. Ferdinand Bachicao was made commander of the artillery, consisting of twenty excellent field-pieces, with a plentiful supply of powder, balls, and every other necessary for their service.
Gonzalo endeavoured to secure the troops in his interest, covering his designs and endeavouring to justify his criminal enterprize by the most specious pretexts. Having assembled his army he made a long harangue to the soldiers, in which he represented, "That he and his brothers, as was well known to to them all, had discovered the kingdom of Peru, which they had reduced under the dominion of the king at their own proper charges, and had already remitted very large sums in gold and silver to his majesty; yet, after the death of the marquis, the king had not conferred the government of the country, either on the son of the marquis, or on him who now addressed them, as ought to have been done in conformity with the promises and agreements which had been made at the first discovery, but had even sent a cruel and inflexible person at this time to strip all of them of their property, as it was quite obvious that every person in Peru came under the scope of the obnoxious regulations. Blasco Nunnez Vaca, to whom the execution of these fatal regulations was confided, caused them to be put in force with the utmost rigour, not only refusing to listen to remonstrances and petitions the most respectful, but treating every one harshly who presumed to offer the most humble representations against their execution; of all which, and many other things of a like nature, every one who heard him were able to testify. Besides which, it was publickly given out, that the viceroy had orders to cut off his head; although it was well known to them all that he had not only never done any thing contrary to the service of the king, but had always conducted himself with the most zealous loyalty. For all these reasons, and by the consent and appointment of the city of Cuzco, he had resolved to go to Lima, to make a representation of their grievances to the royal audience, and humbly to supplicate a suspension of the ruinous regulations, that time might be given for sending deputies to the king in the name and on behalf of the whole kingdom of Peru, to inform his majesty of the true state of affairs, and of what seemed necessary to be done in the present conjuncture; having no doubt, when his majesty was truly informed, that he would devise a suitable remedy. If however, after using their utmost efforts, his majesty should still think proper to enforce the regulations, he and all with whom he acted would then obey the royal orders with the most entire and unreserved submission. His own journey and compearance before the viceroy, considering the menaces of that officer and the troops which he had levied, were obviously attended with the utmost danger to himself and all who should accompany him, unless he and they should be in a situation to defend themselves from lawless violence. For this reason it had been deemed indispensably necessary that he and the other deputies should be accompanied by a body of troops, which they had not the most distant intentions of employing to injure any person, unless they were attacked. He entreated them, therefore, to accompany him in his journey to Lima, and to observe during their march the strictest and most vigilant discipline, and that they might be assured, he, and those other gentleman who acted along with him, would reward them liberally for their toil and bravery, in enabling them to act with effect for preserving the properties of all from ruin."
239
Arequipa is a considerable way from the coast, on which there are several harbours, thirty or forty miles distant. –E.