CHAPTER XLI

_How Gonzalo Pizarro prepared to depart from the city of Cuzco and how he ordered the Captain Francisco de Almendras to go and seize the despatches that were coming._

Gonzalo pressed forward his preparations for war, desiring shortly to open the campaign. Letters came constantly from Lima and Guamanga keeping him informed of what was taking place, and he knew of the approach of the Bishop and also of Francisco Ampuero and Pero Lopez with the royal provisions. Understanding all this he gave orders to Francisco de Almendras, who, when he took away the artillery from Guamanga had placed it in Abancay, whence he went on to see Pizarro, to go back and take the royal provisions from those who brought them and to find out from the Bishop what his wishes were in coming. Almendras proceeded to carry out the instructions of Gonzalo Pizarro, with the help of the arquebusiers who had been left to guard the artillery. He was to meet those who were coming with the royal provisions, and not to allow them to bring their despatches to Cuzco, lest they should disturb the minds of those who already showed such readiness to change.

This business having been arranged, Gonzalo Pizarro sent letters to Pedro de Puelles[53] who was Governor of Huanuco, and had come to Lima where he had been received with all honour by the Viceroy who confirmed him in the appointment he had held since the time of Vaca de Castro. Pizarro sent the letter by a diligent runner named Vicente Pablo. In his letter Pizarro sent to ask him to come and join him with as many as he could collect, as the city of Cuzco had elected him as Procurator and Chief Justice to proceed to Lima and protest against the ordinances. Pedro de Puelles, having received the letter, sent his reply by the same hand. He said that he had always held the affairs of the Pizarros in high estimation, and that, notwithstanding that the Viceroy had ordered him to be Governor of Huanuco, he would do what Gonzalo Pizarro asked. But he asked for another letter informing him how and in what manner the people of Cuzco had received Pizarro as Justice and Procurator. Gonzalo Pizarro replied, and Puelles then deserted the cause of the Viceroy.

Francisco de Ampuero, the Secretary Pero Lopez, with the others who left Guamanga with the provisions, travelled on until they came to the bridge of Vilcas, where they found no one. They continued their journey and received news that Francisco de Almendras was not far distant. Going on as far as Lucumaes they had just crossed a small bridge when Almendras came upon them, accompanied by his escort. He haughtily enquired who carried the provisions. The answer was Pero Lopez. Then Almendras said he was minded to kill him, and throw his body down a deep ravine. They could make no resistance as Almendras had more than thirty men, with arquebuses, under his command. He spoke to Pero Lopez, asking why he had had the boldness and temerity to travel along such a difficult road as this was. Pero Lopez answered that the Viceroy had ordered him to come by that road with despatches, and by no means could he excuse himself from bringing them, with some other words. Almendras, reflecting that Pero Lopez had done some good work in times past, determined not to kill him then, nor do more than ask for the despatches. Pero Lopez took them from his bosom, not without much reluctance, and they both mounted after having had some further conversation. Calling Francisco de Ampuero to him, Almendras said that he was very much surprised to see Ampuero coming with these things, from which no good was intended for Gonzalo Pizarro, and that if it was not for the love which he knew that Pizarro still felt for him, he would kill him there and then. He also asked him what was passing at Lima.