How the Alcalde Alonso Palomino and Don Antonio de Rivera arrived at the city of Cuzco, and what happened.

WE have already related, farther back, how the municipality of Lima ordered the alcalde Alonso Palomino and Don Antonio Rivera to set out and travel, with all speed, to the great city of Cuzco, where they would find Vaca de Castro, and to give him the Ordinances which the accountant Juan de Cáceres had sent from Panamá, that he might decide what course would be best for the Realm. Palomino and Rivera arrived at Cuzco, causing disquiet to those who were inclined for peace, urging that such a calamity as this must not be let pass, for they all knew with what labour these regions had been explored. Vaca de Castro, having seen the Ordinances, and, being a discreet man, in no wise lost patience. On the contrary, he summoned the following citizens to meet in the municipal chamber:

    Capt. Garcilaso de la Vega,
    Don Martín de Guzmán,
    Hernando Bachicao,
    Juan Julio de Ojeda,
    Juan Vélez de Guevara,
    Diego Maldonado.

When they had assembled he caused the Ordinances to be read to them in his presence. The officers of the municipality then discussed the matter in session, saying that[372] that city was the headpiece of the Realm and the others should be governed by it. The Emperor, our Lord, being so Christian a prince, it was not seemly to believe that, without hearing their objections, he should wish to deprive them of their property; and that the Ordinances could not be wholly complied with, notwithstanding that they must obey them as coming from their natural King. Vaca de Castro replied with some warmth that they should be silent rather than show such temper, because, since his Majesty had ordered that the Ordinances were to come into force, it had to be done and they must bow to the command, as that of their natural King and Lord. He said, further, that they must wait for the arrival of the Viceroy who, it might be, would consent to submit their petition before the royal presence. Meanwhile, they would not be dispossessed either of their estates or of Indians.

Subsequently, the alcalde Palomino, Don Antonio de Rivera, Hernando Bachicao, and Cerme?o and others, according to report, wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro at his estate where he was staying, acquainting him with the Ordinances that had arrived, urging him to stand as the defender of everyone. For, said they, he was the brother of the Governor who opened up these countries and, in times and necessities like the present, gentlemen should show their worth, and the whole Realm would be with him to help and petition against these laws, and would venture their persons and estates in that cause. The letters I mention having been prepared, they were sent with all speed to where Gonzalo Pizarro was staying; and the messenger presently returned to Lima. After these things had occurred Vaca de Castro, with the concurrence of the leading citizens of Cuzco, arranged to send messengers to all the cities and towns in the Realm. They were told to appoint proctors whom they were to send to him to prepare for despatching representatives to Spain, with all possible[373] speed, to inform his Majesty as to what was fitting in the interests of his royal service, and to entreat him to sanction an appeal against some of the Ordinances. When Francisco de Caravajal, who was Sergeant-Major at the battle of Chupas, heard that the Viceroy would soon arrive with the Ordinances, being a man of good understanding and clear judgment (though he afterwards put his talents to so bad a use) he spoke to Vaca de Castro, telling him that he well knew what a loyal friend he [Caravajal] had been to him, as the Governor had always found him ready with his services in all the recent events. He therefore now asked a favour, which was that ............