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How the Governor Vaca de Castro wrote from the city of Cuzco to the Captain Gonzalo Pizarro, and touching his departure from Cuzco.

The tumults and disturbances, caused by the news of the ordinances in Cuzco, were continued. It is even said that Hernando Bachicao, Juan Velez de Guevara, Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo, Cermeño and others spoke to Vaca de Castro saying that he was the Royal Governor, that he should continue in his command, and that all would serve and obey him.

Vaca de Castro answered in a way which showed that he understood how changeable were the wills of men in Peru, and how inconstant. To gain their ends they are ready to put any one at the head, leaving him in the lurch if he failed. In this Vaca de Castro was not deceived. For those who move in seditions and in wars coloured by justifications, although they were accomplices in the demands of their leader, when the time of failure comes, they sally forth, swearing with great oaths that they were forced to join the tyrant.

Understanding this Vaca de Castro answered that he had taken charge of the province by order of the King, and that he would now do no other thing than proceed to the city of the Kings to wait upon him whom the King had appointed as his Viceroy. Saying this, he ordered the Secretary, Pero Lopez[9], to prepare the letters and despatches, as he desired to set out from Cuzco without delay.

Some wish to say, and even men who were present have assured me, that the Governor Vaca de Castro wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro to come with all speed and take up the appointment of Procurator and Defender of the kingdom while he, Vaca de Castro, after marrying one of Pizarro’s daughters, would go to Spain and negotiate for his appointment to the government of New Toledo, and other things, and urging him to proceed in the matter.

I, being in the city of the Kings, was told by Don Antonio de Ribera that among the letters which Gonzalo Pizarro had there—and I remember that they were so numerous that three secretaries, continually reading to the President La Gasca, did not finish in four days—was one from Vaca de Castro to him, to which he answered that many had written to incite him to come and lead them, but that he would not do so. On the contrary, he would remain in his house, for his Majesty had sent his Viceroy who had entered the country, and that he would do what the royal service required. He wrote other things which were not intended to be so evil as some have wished to make out. It may well be that both letters were written by him.

After a few days Vaca de Castro set out from Cuzco, accompanied by Caspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo[10], Antonio de Quiñones, Diego Maldonado[11], the Licentiate Carbajal[12], Antonio de Altamirano[13], Gaspar Gil, Pedro de los Rios, Hernando Bachicao[14] and other principal people and some soldiers. With these he began the journey to the city of the Kings.