Читать книгу The War of Quito - Pedro de Cieza de León - Страница 14

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How the Governor Vaca de Castro entered Lima, and what happened.

We cannot deny that Vaca de Castro was a distinguished statesman and, barring his avarice, he truly governed the kingdom with prudence. Although he had dismissed his forces, and only came accompanied by some knights who were citizens of Cuzco, he consulted with them as to the way in which he should enter the city. He knew that the municipality had acknowledged the Viceroy only on the strength of the copy of a despatch, and he desired they themselves should receive his resignation, so that he might answer the Viceroy. He sent to the Licentiate de la Gama, who had been his lieutenant, to precede him in entering Lima, to return his rod of office, writing very friendly letters to numerous persons, full of hopes, while, to some who had complaints against him, he sent promises. Vaca de Castro never left off sending such missives until he entered the city. Whether these despatches were written then or afterwards he and his clerks alone know, for I cannot make out, though I know what passed, nor will the reader fail to understand. We know that Vaca de Castro parted with many Indians on this road, belonging to himself or to the estate of the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro.

The Licentiate de la Gama had to retain the staff of lieutenant, because when Juan de Barbaran came with the despatches, he never liked to enter the municipal building, nor did he find it at the reception of the Viceroy.

O my God! how many deaths, robberies, insults, disgraces, destruction of natives were caused by the jealousies of these men who sought to secure commands. O that thy divine goodness had left Vaca de Castro among the snows of Pariacaca never to appear again, that the Viceroy had fallen so ill at Truxillo, where he then was, that it might have been his end, instead of finding it with disgrace in Quito, and that another pit had opened for Gonzalo Pizarro and Carbajal, like the one at Rome. Wanting these leaders the miserable country might not have suffered such evils, and the sorrowful fields of Salinas and Chupas might have sufficed. The sins of these men were so enormous, and the charity among them so minute, that it pleased God that they should meet with great calamities.

The Licentiate de la Gama set out for the city of Lima in advance of Vaca de Castro, to know what was wrong with the Treasurer Alonso Riquelme[25], and why he and the other magistrates had accepted the Viceroy simply on the strength of a copy of the appointment. He conversed with Lorenzo de Estopiñan, who had come out to give him information, and to see if it could be arranged to give him some Indians. For he was a friend of the Treasurer, and it might be negotiated that he should have better Indians than those he had dismissed. Estopiñan returned to Lima, but the reply of the Treasurer was that he no longer had any friendship for Vaca de Castro who had dismissed the Indians, and that if he came he would have his head cut off. This Treasurer was very wise and cautious, keeping clear of being committed to any side, and he knew afterwards how to remain outside.

The Licentiate de la Gama, when he arrived at Lima, went to the house of the Treasurer Riquelme and persuaded him, as one of the principal citizens, to call a meeting of the officials, adding that he would return the rod of lieutenant, for when he had left the city he had not surrendered it with the required customs and solemnities. Besides the Viceroy had written to say that he would be in the city and that they should receive him as his Majesty had ordered. Though this was true, and the Viceroy had so written, the intention of the Licentiate de la Gama was no other than that he should again take his place in the municipality, and that when Vaca de Castro arrived he should again take up the government and be governor. Having been lieutenant to former governors his Indians would be taken from him, and he could not negotiate anything.

Vaca de Castro continued his journey until he came to the city of Lima. Although his arrival was known, there was no great reception, and no one came out to meet him except a few of his friends and some servants. With these he entered the city and went to the house of the Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa. There the citizens came to visit him, and talk over the proceedings of the Viceroy and the rigour of the new laws.