CHAPTER XXVI

_How the Alcaldes Antonio Altamirano and Diego Maldonado the rich left the meeting, but finally had to sign, and how the Procurator Alonso Carrasco declined to provide a petition on the arrangement in the name of the city._

At the time when the members of the municipality give their opinions and votes at their place of meeting, the Alcalde Antonio Altamirano, seeing that the intentions of Gonzalo Pizarro were tyrannical and evil, left the building to avoid voting. Diego Maldonado the rich did the same. Gonzalo Pizarro came out with the wand of office, and all obeyed him as Chief Justice. Diego Maldonado being in his house, Captain Cermeño with a company of arquebusiers came to take him to the house of Gonzalo Pizarro who was very angry because Maldonado would not sign. Pizarro, with a haughty countenance, ordered him, having the first vote in the municipality, to sign before he left the room, that all might see it. He was told that his life would be taken if he did not sign, so he signed, but in a false hand, and different from his usual signature. Antonio de Altamirano also signed. Diego Maldonado asked all to witness, he and Pedro de los Rios making a secret protest that they did not join with Gonzalo Pizarro, nor would they be found acting against the service of his Majesty.

Notwithstanding what had taken place, those who were committed to Gonzalo Pizarro, in order that his reception as Chief Justice might be more pronounced, advised that he should speak to Pero Alonso Carrasco, the Procurator of the city, and induce him to present a petition to the municipality stating that the people rejoiced at the election, which was for the public good. Pero Alonso, acting prudently, and seeing that such a proceeding was not right, would neither make such a petition, nor present it to the municipality. Gonzalo Pizarro, indignant at his opposition, gave orders that his property should be confiscated. Pero Alonso Carrasco, fearing that they would kill him, took refuge in the church and, thinking that he was not safe there, he went to the house of Alonso de Mesa[40], a citizen of Cuzco, where he was concealed for two days and two nights.

Gonzalo Pizarro was so enraged because Pero Alonso Carrasco would not send the petition in the name of the city that, as some say[41], he ordered some of his servants to kill the Procurator. One night Pero Alonso ventured out to go to his house, and was badly wounded in three places by those who were waiting for him. They left him, thinking he was dead. This is the reason that Pero Alonso Carrasco did not go with Garcilasso and Graviel de Rojas when they left the city to join the Viceroy.