CHAPTER LII

_What happened to the General Vela Nuñez and the danger he was in; and how Gonzalo Diaz and others passed over to Pizarro._

The reader will remember that the Viceroy sent Vela Nuñez and the captain Gonzalo Diaz de Pineda to the bridge of Xauxa, to intercept and capture or kill Pedro de Puelles and Jeronimo de Villegas, with the others who set out from Huanuco to join Gonzalo Pizarro. Vela Nuñez travelled with the object of reaching the bridge of Xauxa in time, for by holding that position they could not escape. But that was not Pineda’s wish. He wanted the party of Puelles to pass on before he arrived, and then to join Pizarro himself. His was a vile and treasonable act. The Viceroy’s trust in him, his nomination as captain, and the noble character of Vela Nuñez who was his companion, should have made him refrain. But he was not himself destined to succeed in his plot, and soon we shall relate his miserable end, and how he paid for his treachery with his life. On their journey they came to a church in Huarochiri where, after prayers, Gonzalo Diaz intended to murder Vela Nuñez. The conspirator was in concert with Juan de la Torre, Cristoval de Torres, Piedrahita, Alonso de Avila, Jorge Griego. The murder was not consummated because Alonso de Barrionuevo, a native of Soria, a determined man who loyally served the King, would not part from Vela Nuñez. The same loyalty was shown by Sebastian de Coca, Hernan Vela and the others who intended to return to Lima, and not to join Pizarro. Gonzalo Diaz and the other disaffected officers continually discussed among themselves how they should kill Vela Nuñez, but as they could not find an opportunity in Huarochiri, it was not done. They proceeded on their journey until they reached the snows of Pariacaca where they continued their schemes, seeking to murder the innocent and to desert to the tyrant.

Vela Nuñez was always surrounded by Barrionuevo and the other loyal knights. As they proceeded on their journey they met the Regent Friar Tomas de San Martin, the Secretary Pero Lopez and the others who were returning from their unsuccessful mission. They had encountered Pedro de Puelles and Jeronimo de Villegas in the valley of Xauxa, who were going with great speed to join Pizarro, and they had some conversation with them. When the Provincial heard that the General Vela Nuñez was going to attack Pedro de Puelles, he took him aside and told him that he should not go further, and that he should be careful of his person, because those who were with him had a plot to murder him. He had overheard words to this effect, spoken by Gonzalo Diaz. Besides, Pedro de Puelles had already passed the bridge of Xauxa. The General, much disturbed and in great trepidation, said to Gonzalo Diaz and the other officers that, as Pedro de Puelles had already passed Xauxa, there was no longer any use in marching against him. He intended, therefore, to turn back and rejoin the Viceroy. He there and then turned the bridle of his horse, though he knew that Gomez de Solis, with ten or twelve others, would go on to Xauxa to join Gonzalo Pizarro. With great speed and as much fear they returned to sleep at Huarochiri in great terror of treachery and lest any of their loyal friends should be murdered.

Gonzalo Diaz, arriving at Huarochiri late, after sunset, as one who brought intended crime with him, did not see his way to accomplishing the treason with the others who had conceived it. So they assumed a careless appearance, saying they were much fatigued by the road. Vela Nuñez with his friends went back to Lima with all speed. Gonzalo Diaz and his accomplices spoke to the rest of the men who were there, advising them to go with them to join Pizarro, as he would treat them well, while the Viceroy was cruel and wanted to take away all their properties. Several, having heard his discourse, replied that they wished to serve the Viceroy, and not to go with him and lose their lives. When Gonzalo Diaz heard this he was annoyed, and agreed with his friends to disarm those who would not go, and to take away their horses. This they did, and in this condition, disarmed and on foot, Rivadeneira, Sebastian de Coca, Rodrigo Niño and others had to return to Lima. Gonzalo Diaz and his friends took the road to Guamanga. They entered that city and at first there was some disturbance, Pedro de Puelles thinking they had come from Lima against him, but when the truth was known they all rejoiced, saying one to another that Pizarro would certainly be Governor, and from that time they would give him the title of lordship. They ordered Cristoval de Torres to go with all this news to Gonzalo Pizarro, who had then arrived near the valley of Andahuaylas, and he rejoiced to know that Gonzalo Diaz was in Guamanga.