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How the members of the municipality of the city of Lima arranged to send messengers to the city of Cuzco advising that there should be no disturbance; and how when Pedro de Hinojosa, Diego Centeno and Lope Martin were coming to Lima Hinojosa turned back; and what happened between the Viceroy and the Treasurer Alonso Riquelme.

The Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela remained in his house, while the Alcaldes and Magistrates met to consider the best course to take. The Treasurer Alonso Riquelme was so learned that he now asked to speak to the Viceroy for them all, with a view to sending a messenger to Cuzco. As he could not walk by reason of the gout, he was carried in a chair, heard their intention, and willingly undertook to get it carried into effect. The Viceroy, when the Treasurer came to him, rejoiced to see him and embraced him. The Treasurer said: “Your Lordship is welcome as one who comes by order of the King our natural Lord. Would to God that you had come with more despatch, for the municipality, with its letter, informed you of the evil that would result from delay and of the advantage from arriving with speed. No one who goes to do business in any province should linger in the suburbs, but should come at once to the principal city, seeing that the small streams and brooks eventually lose themselves in the great rivers. Your Lordship must be very tired. Enjoy yourself and rest for a few days. There will be time afterwards to do what is needful, and we will serve you loyally, which I promise in the name of the municipality and the citizens.”

The Viceroy cheerfully replied that he could not doubt the loyalty to their King of the numerous knights who were in the city. He would take some repose, while he waited for the Judges, when a court of justice would be formed, which would establish order in matters relating to the King’s service and the peace of the kingdom. The Treasurer departed in great joy at this good answer. He gave an account of his interview to the municipality who were well pleased and considered that it would be well to send a message to Cuzco advising that there should be no disturbance, and sending the good news of the desire of the Viceroy to give satisfaction to all.

The Alcalde Diego Centeno and Pedro de Hinojosa, Magistrates of the town of Plata[38] which is in a corner of Charcas, were coming near to Lima, to arrange about doing what had been ordered with regard to their town. With them came Lope Martin, a citizen of Cuzco. Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo and Bachicao, with others, had left the city of Lima, and told things concerning the Viceroy which certainly were not just, saying that he was enforcing the ordinances and taking away the Indians to let them go where they liked, from those who had been lieutenants. When Centeno and Hinojosa heard this, they agreed that Hinojosa should go back to Cuzco to report everything, while Centeno continued his journey to Lima with Lope Martin. When Centeno arrived at Lima he was very well received by the Viceroy.

The members of the municipality of Lima being assembled, it was resolved that messengers should be sent to Cuzco to counteract what might have been said by Rodriguez and the others, and to advise the people to make no disturbance, pointing out what great difficulties it would cause. Alonso Riquelme and the Overseer Garcia de Saucedo were requested, on the part of the others, to persuade Lorenzo de Estopiñan to go, with a letter of credence to this effect. Estopiñan consented to undertake the mission; and there was another meeting when it was agreed that the business might be better settled if Diego Centeno returned to his town. On his way he might give the citizens of Cuzco to understand what the Viceroy desired to do for the good of the kingdom. Some went to Diego Centeno, who had already asked leave of the Viceroy to return to Charcas. He said that he had come to Lima as Procurator from Plata, and that he rejoiced at what he had heard, for he understood that all would receive favour in the King’s name. The municipality of Lima having requested him to take certain despatches to Cuzco, he asked the Viceroy whether he would be served by his accepting the mission. The Viceroy replied that he had every confidence in Centeno, and that he would be glad if he took the despatches that would be delivered to him by the municipality; besides which he would give him a copy of the royal provisions of his Majesty, by virtue of which he should be received as Viceroy in the cities of Guamanga and Cuzco. The Viceroy further asked Centeno to tell the Spaniards in those cities to make no trouble for his proceedings were in obedience to the King’s orders. Diego Centeno promised to carry out these instructions and, after some further business with the Viceroy he took leave of him, receiving the despatches and provisions.

Diego Centeno was a native of Ciudad Rodrigo. His father’s name was Hernando Carveo, and his mother’s Maria de Vera. He was a gentleman, not very tall. He had a fair skin and pleasant countenance, with a red beard. Of noble condition he was not very liberal as regards his own estate, but expended that of the King largely. He had the usual vices common among men in the Indies. He left Spain for the Indies at twenty years of age, and had close affinity with the Captain Peranzules and other captains in that kingdom. Having received the despatches and provisions he left Lima accompanied by Lope Martin. On arriving at Guamanga the provisions of the Viceroy were obeyed as his Majesty had ordered.