CHAPTER XLIV

_How the Bishop arrived at the place where Francisco de Almendras was encamped, what happened, and the letters which Pizarro wrote and which the Bishop answered._

After the Bishop Don Jeronimo de Loaysa had been some days at Guamanga, he set out with the desire of reaching Cuzco before Gonzalo Pizarro had left that city. After several days’ journey he met, in an Indian village called Cochacaxa, the Secretary Pero Lopez, Francisco de Ampuero, Simon de Alzate and the others who had gone to announce the royal provisions. He also found there the reverend Friar Tomas de San Martin, Provincial of the Dominicans, and a clergyman named Diego Martin. They all advised the Bishop to go no further, but to return to Lima, for that the affairs at Cuzco were ill directed and worse conducted. Besides that, Gonzalo Pizarro had stationed his captain Francisco de Almendras with no other object than to prevent the Bishop from passing. This was shown by a letter from the same Almendras in which he said that he was ordered to let no one pass.

Although there were many considerations in favour both of returning and of going forward, the Bishop determined to continue his journey, and he went on until he arrived at the place where Francisco de Almendras was stationed. That captain received him without that courtesy and civility which the prelate’s dignity should have ensured him. Although the Bishop felt this he put it aside and had some discourses with Almendras. Next day he spoke more fully about his mission and how much he desired to go on to Cuzco, to give counsel to Gonzalo Pizarro on the course which it would be most proper for him to take. Upon this Almendras replied that on no account could he pass onwards. When the Bishop understood the position of Almendras, and that his prayers to be allowed to pass were of no avail, he said that he took this contumacious conduct ill, and that Almendras fell into grave discommunion, in using his power with such violence. To this the rebel, with great pride and little fear of our Lord God, answered: “This is no time for discommunions. There is no God nor King but Gonzalo Pizarro.” The Bishop then asked to be allowed to go on, quite alone, without any of his followers. But Francisco de Almendras was inexorable, in truth he was obeying Pizarro’s orders. He said that he would take the Bishop’s mule and that, if he went on he must do so on foot.

The Bishop then wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro, letting him know of the violent conduct of Almendras, and saying that the object of his journey to Cuzco was to secure the good and peace of the country so that, having rest and tranquillity, all should enjoy themselves. For this his counsel to Pizarro was that he should disband his troops. When this letter arrived Gonzalo Pizarro was already in the valley of Xaquixaguana. He answered the Bishop by telling him not to trouble himself about proceeding further, as he was about to march to Lima, and they might meet on the road. When, he continued, he heard, in Cuzco, of the Bishop’s journey, he rejoiced, holding it for certain that it would be for the good of all. With a joyful mind he was waiting to do the Bishop all service. But some knights who were with him, as well as friars of white and even black habits, had since told him that under no circumstances should he receive the Bishop in Cuzco, for reasons that they would not mention. For it was not his affair alone, but that of all the others to whose will he must conform. With this letter there came another to Francisco de Almendras in which Gonzalo Pizarro instructed him, by art and dissimulation, to ascertain what the Bishop’s own feelings were towards him.

After some further letters had passed between the Bishop and Pizarro, the Bishop dwelt on the service which Gonzalo and his brothers had done to the King, and urged him not to obscure and nullify them by coming with an armed force to act contrary to the King’s will. To this Gonzalo Pizarro answered that he desired no disservice to the King, but to procure the liberty of the kingdom, for which object he would use all his power without swerving until that object was attained.

The Bishop then departed to Curamba on his return, and thence to Andahuaylas where Juan Alonso Palomino, with some soldiers, were stationed by Pizarro. In order not to hear the insolent gibes of the soldiers, the Bishop went on to Uramarca, where he remained until the 7th of September writing reports to the Viceroy of what had happened and what it was best to do. During the time that the Bishop was at Uramarca, he received several letters from Pizarro, all urging him to return to Lima.