CHAPTER I. APPOINTMENT OF THE LICENTIATE DE LA GASCA IN HE SAILS FOR PERU-HIS NEGOTIATIONS AT consider Peru. their way to Germany Pizarro's represen- B. XIX. tatives had gone to Valladolid, where Philip, Ch. 1. Charles's son, had charge of the Government of Spain. Immediately a Council was assembled Council to under the presidency of the Prince, to take into the state of consideration the alarming state of Peru. Some of the Council were of opinion that Gonzalo Pizarro and the other rebels should be conquered by force of arms; but the majority were for dexterous negotiation. They urged the impossibility of sending a sufficient number of men, horses, and arms, to such a distance as sixteen hundred leagues from Spain. Indeed, this distance must be traversed before touching at the first port, Nombre de Dios. Moreover, such an expedition would have to undertake a second conquest of the country-a conquest, not of unwarlike Indians, but of desperate Spaniards, occupying all the strong positions in the country. The Council determined, therefore, that Peru was to be reduced by gentle means;* and that, "Por buenas medias." Ch. I. Gasca chosen to pacify Peru. 202 Gasca chosen to pacify Peru. B. XIX. as a fitting agent to effect this purpose, the Licentiate Pedro de la Gasca should be chosen. He was already well known for his skill, both in civil and military affairs. He had been distinguished in the preparations that he had made for the defence and fortification of Valencia and other maritime towns against the fleet of the Turks under Barbarossa, and that of France. He had also been concerned in very intricate and difficult business for the Holy Office; and he was at this moment engaged in their affairs. ceptance of the commission. The Council communicated with the Licentiate, who came to Madrid to meet them there. At this time it was not known that the Viceroy, Blasco Nuñez Vela, had fallen on the field of battle; and Gasca's commission was to mediate between the revolters and the Viceroy, and to reinstate him and the Audiencia in their authoGasca's ac- rity. Gasca did not hesitate to undertake the commission; but observed that he wondered they should think of sending him with such small authority to settle an affair which was already so serious, and which threatened to become worse before he reached Peru. He, therefore, asked for the largest powers to be given him that could be given as large, in fact, as his Majesty himThe powers self possessed. The following were the powers demanded. that he claimed:-First, that he should have all that Gasca the men, money, ships, and horses that he might require: secondly, that he should have at his disposal all the vacant repartimientos, and all the offices of government in Peru: thirdly, that he might be allowed to give orders for new expe Gasca's personal Expenses. 203 Ch. I. ditions into unconquered countries: fourthly, that B. XIX. he might be allowed a plenary power of pardoning, and that those whom he pardoned should be protected not only from the government prosecutions, but also from those instituted by the injured parties:* fifthly, that he might send home the Viceroy if it seemed good to him: sixthly, that he might expend any portion of the royal estate for the pacification of Peru, and in its government after he should have pacified it. personal For himself, he did not wish any salary, and he would take with him but few attendants, in order that the revolters might observe that the chief means which he had were his clerigo's robe and his breviary. For his personal expenses Gasca's and for those of his suite, he would not receive expensesany money himself; but requested that an officer vided for. might be appointed by his Majesty to take charge of the requisite funds, and to disburse them for these purposes. The Council approved of all these requirements except one, namely, the power of pardoning in so ample a manner that those who were guilty of the great excesses which had been committed in Peru, should not in any way suffer for their deeds. They doubted whether the Prince could grant this. They therefore referred the point to Charles the Fifth in Germany. At the same * "Y no solo, para que contra los delinquentes y criminosos que se perdonassen, no se pudiesse proceder en lo criminal, de officio; pero ni aun á instancia de parte que dando quanto al in teresse de hazienda que uviessen how pro 204 Gasca's personal Appearance. B. XIX. time they expressed their wish that his Majesty Ch. I. would confer a bishoprick upon Gasca. The Gasca's de mands com Licentiate protested strongly against their making this suggestion, saying that it would not be right for his Majesty to give a church to a man who was going so far as to "the other World." Charles the Fifth acceded to all that Gasca plied with. had demanded; and, being at Venloo on the 16th of February 1546, the Emperor signed the requisite despatches, together with many letters in blank for the Licentiate to fill up in such a manner as he might find necessary. The Emperor also wrote letters to Gonzalo Pizarro, to Bachicao (thinking that this commander was at the head of Gonzalo's fleet at Panamá), to the Viceroy of New Spain, and to the other governing authorities in the Indies, ordering them to assist the Licentiate Pedro de la Gasca in any manner that he might demand of them. Gasca's personal appearance. It is a characteristic thing of this remarkable man, the Licentiate Gasca, that, before he set out, he completed with care the business for the Holy Office that he had on hand in Spain. The title that he went under was that of President of the Audiencia, though he had no intention of remaining in Peru after he should have pacified it. Gasca's personal appearance was not imposing. He was very small, and somewhat deformed. From the waist downwards he had the person of a tall man; and from the waist upwards his body was not more than a third, it is said, of the height it should have been. On horseback Ch. 1. sition and powers. he presented a strange appearance, the body sunk B. XIX. down in the demipique saddle like that of a dwarf, and the legs like those of any other cavalier, so that he appeared to be all legs. His countenance too was very ugly.* His natural His dispodisposition, however, seems to have been as well mental composed as his body was ill formed. Of his powers of mind there is but one account: all those who describe him speak of his penetrating sagacity and astuteness. A common soldier once asking him for some gratification which the President said he was not able to confer upon him, the soldier in despair replied, "Let your Lordship then give me that cap of yours with which you have deceived so many persons; with that I shall consider myself paid, and shall be content." The President merely looked at him, and bade him go away in God's name. dent sets 1546. The President set sail from Spain on the 26th The Presiof May, 1546. He went first to Santa Marta, sail, May, where he was informed of the death of the Viceroy. Those who accompanied the President were greatly disturbed by this news; but he said, that, though he grieved for the Viceroy, he thought that his death was rather an advantage than otherwise in the pacification of Peru. In truth, it is often better to deal with three enemies than with one perverse ally. "Era mui pequeño de cuerpo, con estraña hechura, que de la cintura abajo tenia tanto cuerpo, como qualquiera hombre alto, y de la cintura al ombro, no tenia una tercia. Andando á cavallo, parescia aun mas pequeño |