Читать книгу The War of Quito - Pedro de Cieza de León - Страница 26

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How it was known at Lima that the Viceroy was near, and how the Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa and the Governor Vaca de Castro, with other knights and citizens, went out to meet him.

When it was known that the Viceroy was near there were great disturbances and tumults in Lima, and all the people wanted to take up arms. There was a meeting of the municipal officers to decide what should be done, and they exhorted the people not to make a disturbance when the Viceroy arrived and entered the city, and until it was seen whether he still intended to enforce the laws. For in the meeting they held, they spoke of not obeying the detested ordinances even if the Viceroy insisted upon compliance. The Archbishop of Lima[35] told me that the Alcalde Alonso Palomino, the Treasurer Alonso Riquelme, and the Overseer Garcia de Salcedo came to induce him to come out to receive the Viceroy and require him not to enforce the ordinances. The Archbishop said that if he went out to receive the Viceroy he would require nothing from him, and that they, in like case, could do what seemed most advisable. It is also said that they spoke to the Archbishop on what they wanted to be done, calling him to hear their desires by ringing a bell. This enraged the Archbishop who said it was more like a village bell than anything else. It is even said that those who wished to resist, actually proposed to seize the Viceroy in the municipal building, and others relate that, in the lodgings of the Archbishop it was proposed that the Viceroy should be poisoned. The Father Baltasar de Loaysa told this to me, adding, that he knew it for certain. Talking of this not many days ago, to the Reverend Friar Domingo de Santo Tomas[36] of the Order of St Dominic, a person of great learning and sanctity, he swore to me that nothing of the kind ever happened as regards the Archbishop. The Archbishop has said the same to me himself, explaining that those who contemplated such things may well have been in his house, but that he knew nothing about it. It is certain that they plotted amongst themselves, and that they detested the very name of the Viceroy, but it cannot be supposed that either the Bishop or Vaca de Castro were concerned in the matter.

These tumults and rages having been appeased, the Licentiate Rodrigo Niño[37] was elected and appointed as Procurator to petition for three things, first the suspension of the new laws until his Majesty should take some other order, and receive information of the grave injury to the kingdom if they were enforced. The first petition should be presented with great humility. The second should be accompanied by a representation of the serious evils which would be caused by enforcing the new laws, for all the kingdom was disturbed, and the citizens of Cuzco who were in Lima had left it. For it was certain that Gonzalo Pizarro had received many letters from all parts urging him to allow himself to be named as the procurator and defender of all. The third object was to protest against the troubles and deaths that would be caused. The Captain Diego de Aguero had returned by order of the Viceroy and came to where the municipality was assembled. He told the magistrates that they should receive the Viceroy willingly, and that there was no occasion for any demands. Owing to this speech of Diego de Aguero they consented and gave orders for the reception.

At this time Don Jeronimo de Loaysa, Bishop of Lima, who had also been Bishop of Cartagena, and the Licentiate Vaca de Castro, with the Factor Illan Suarez, the Captain Juan de Saavedra, Pablo de Meneses, and the Factor Juan de Salas, with other citizens, knowing that the Viceroy was near the city, went out to meet him. They proceeded on the road until they met, and they were well received. The Viceroy was pleased to see the Bishop, and some discourse passed between them, respecting Vaca de Castro, to whom the Viceroy showed much cordiality. After some courtesies, the Bishop said he was glad that the Viceroy had arrived, because his presence would check the departure of citizens to Cuzco. He submitted that it would be profitable and show a Christian spirit to suspend the laws and advise his Majesty of the trouble they were causing. The Viceroy would know that anything which advanced the service of the King would be desirable. The Viceroy replied that his Majesty felt confidence in his lordship, and himself no less, and that he would comply with what the King had ordered. As for the ordinances he would see what was best, and that he would do. At this point the Factor Illan Suarez de Carbajal joined in the conversation. He said: “Give me, Viceroy, your hands.” The Viceroy was pleased and embraced him, for he had known him in the court of Spain, and he said: “I only regret that I can do you no good whatever.” The Factor was dismayed at hearing such words. He turned back with the Viceroy and they reached a place called Xaguey. Here the Bishop, Vaca de Castro, the Factor and the others prayed the Viceroy to sleep there that night for though it was early it would be convenient, and next morning they would enter the city. The Viceroy cheerfully consented.

Many citizens and knights presently arrived to see the Viceroy and to kiss his hand, and he received them all very well. He took the Archbishop aside, so that no one else could hear, and told him that, being in Spain, without a thought of coming to these parts, nor knowing anything of Peru, nor having had any intercourse with the people settled there, his Majesty had ordered him to go out as Viceroy and enforce the new laws. He said that it was much against his will to come out and take away what others had given. Though he was assured that his Majesty would be well served if the new laws were revoked and more favour was shown to the conquerors, yet he prayed the Archbishop to apprise him of what had passed, for he had been told that certain citizens of Cuzco went about to cause disturbances in the land. The Archbishop said, in reply, that many days had passed since news had come respecting the ordinances, and that they had given rise to troubles throughout the country. It, therefore, behoved the Viceroy to act cautiously. These discourses took place between the Viceroy and the Archbishop. The Viceroy had also conversed with Vaca de Castro and the other knights who were present.

Lorenzo Estopiñan had come out to meet the Viceroy, and seeing in him a disposition not to enforce the ordinances until the arrival of the Judges, went forward to take the news, and so did others. But though they announced this, they did not fail to feel much sadness, and the same was in the minds of all. They saw that the entrance of the Viceroy into Peru would give rise to a new war which would be worse and would last longer than former wars because it would be brought about from a more important and weighty cause.