CHAPTER XXX

_How, after Gonzalo Pizarro had been received in Cuzco as Procurator and Chief Justice, he named captains; and how Diego Centeno arrived at Cuzco and delivered despatches to Pizarro._

Gonzalo Pizarro, being received as Chief Justice in the city of Cuzco, made haste to collect men, manufacture powder, and prepare arquebuses, while letters continually came, generally in cypher, speaking ill of the Viceroy, and urging Pizarro to come down to Lima without delay. Now that he had got the command which he desired, he considered that it would be well to nominate captains and officers for the war. He thought of giving the appointment of Ensign General to Diego Maldonado the rich, but he declined it with ingenious excuses, showing that it would be more advisable to leave him in the city. The members of the municipality also spoke to Pizarro, advising that Maldonado should be left as Alcalde and captain in Cuzco. Consenting to this, Gonzalo Pizarro appointed Alonso de Toro to be Master of the Camp. He was a native of Truxillo. For Ensign General Antonio de Altamirano, a native of Hontivéros was named. The captains of infantry were Diego Gumiel, a native of Villadiego, Juan Velez de Guevara of Malaga, Cermeño, who came from San Lucar de Barrameda, was captain of arquebusiers, Hernando Bachicao had charge of the artillery, and Pedro de Puertocarrero commanded the cavalry.

A few days after Gonzalo Pizarro had made these appointments, these rebels left Cuzco and those who wished to wage this wicked and atrocious war formed their camp. Thus the drums and fifes proclaimed its commencement. How rejoiced must have been the tyrant Gonzalo Pizarro to find that now he had the power to oppose the Viceroy, thinking that it would be easy afterwards to seize the government of the kingdom.

Lope Martin arrived at the city, publishing all the news of the Viceroy. Diego Centeno also arrived with the despatches and provisions which the Viceroy had brought. Some say that he delivered them into the hands of Gonzalo Pizarro of his own accord, without making any conditions. They say that Pizarro, when he saw the despatches, rejoiced at having got them into his power, and ordered Centeno, on pain of death, not to tell any citizen or any other person what he had brought. There was haste in getting the arms ready, and providing everything for the march; and it was resolved to send to the city of Guamanga for the artillery, Francisco de Almendras, a strong adherent of Pizarro, undertaking the duty.