Chapter VII

Pizarro’s fears of the Council of the Indies were more than justified by the events which followed the departure of the Emperor for Italy.

For more than six months the restless adventurer was forced to cool his heels in the anteroom of the council chamber. And with each day his slender means sank under the strain of his expenses and futile efforts at bribery.

He thought of Molina with vague misgivings. He thought of Almagro with distinct and painful fears. The impulsive firebrand had more than once threatened to organize an expedition of his own and defy all authority until the deed was done. He had sworn they would all then fight to recognize such an achievement. And if Almagro once got the ships and the men, he might elude the opposition, do the great deed and achieve the immortality Pizarro had dreamed for himself.

The more he thought it over, and the longer the delay, the more unbearable became the strain.

Again he found himself in a position where he must risk all by a leap over the heads of petty officials to the source of power. He dreaded the chance of mishap but had to face it. If he appealed to the Queen and she referred him back to the Council, they would drive him out of Toledo. The Emperor was now in Austria recruiting an army for war on the Sultan, and had forgotten the llamas and the golden vessels.

He decided to appeal to the Queen. And in spite of his fears, her gracious young Majesty received him cordially and expressed surprise at the delay of the Council of the Indies. She immediately ordered the execution of the capitulations with Pizarro defining his office, powers and privileges in Peru. They were generous beyond his wildest hopes.

The royal charter granted the right of discovery and conquest in the province of Peru which was to be called New Castile. He was made the governor and captain general of the province with the title of Adelantado and Alquacil Mayor for life, at a handsome salary. He was given the right to build fortresses and govern them, to assign Indians to labor under the provision of law and exercise all the powers and prerogatives of a Viceroy of the Crown.

Almagro was made commander of the fortress of Tumbez with the rank and privilege of an hidalgo. Father Luque was made Bishop of Tumbez and Protector of the Indians in Peru.

All salaries were to be drawn from the revenues of the conquered territory. The conquerors must, in short, pay their own expenses and give the Crown one-fifth of their spoils.

Ruiz received the title of Grand Pilot of the Southern Seas, de Candia was made Commander of the Artillery and the remaining faithful followers on the Island of Gallo were made hidalgos and _cavalieros_.

Pizarro protested at the unequal distribution of honors between himself and his partner, Almagro. But the Council was obdurate in refusing to divide authority. Such division had always been a source of jealousy and bitterness. Pizarro was compelled to take all or allow a court favorite from Toledo to take his place. So he risked the wrath of Almagro and accepted the honors.

The charter provided that Pizarro should obey the Spanish laws of good government and the protection of the native populations. He was ordered to carry in his expedition of conquest a required number of ecclesiastics devoted to the service and conversion of the Indians. With these churchmen he agreed to confer on all important questions of policy and the conduct of government.

In order to make good the charter he was required within six months to raise and equip a force of two hundred and fifty soldiers which the Crown agreed to arm. All other expenses were to be borne by Pizarro and his associates. He must be prepared within six months of his arrival at Panama to sail on his expedition.

The adventurer was honored with the habit of Santiago and authorized to claim armorial bearings.

On receiving his papers under the great seal of the Crown, he hastened to his native town of Truxillo. Here he had grown, among scenes of squalor and poverty whose memories were burned into his soul. Here he had lived, a miserable outcast, without the love of father or mother, suffering at times the pangs of hunger. And yet the heart of the man, now fifty-five years old, turned fondly back to the home of his childhood. There was something of stern pride in his desire to show his appointment as a viceroy of the Emperor Charles V to the people who had once looked on him as the veriest trash. There was more of boyish pride in his home and a genuine desire to lead its people to fame and fortune under his banner.

He sought at once his brothers and found them all eager to enlist. Three of these brothers were also illegitimate. Francis Martin de Alcantara was related to him by the mother’s side only. Two others, Gonzalo and Juan Pizarro, were descended from his father’s side. They were all poor and proud as they were poor, and their eagerness for gain was in proportion to their poverty.

Hernando, his older brother, was a legitimate son, a man of fine figure, repulsive features, and violent character. Arrogant, proud, jealous and revengeful, he soon acquired over Francisco an influence that was to have its effect on the expedition. Pathetic was the love which Francisco bore these men who had not given to him a thought since he disappeared from Truxillo a quarter of a century before!

In the late spring of 1530 their squadron of three vessels anchored at Nombre de Dios on the Isthmus of Panama. Here Pizarro found his associates Luque and Almagro impatiently awaiting his long-delayed arrival.

When the little one-eyed man heard the provision of the charter which gave to his partner all the honor and powers of government, his fury was boundless. He openly taxed Pizarro with treachery.

“Am I nothing as compared with you?” he shouted. “Am I thus to be dishonored before the world as your lackey and not your equal? Did we not both swear on the missal in the Church at Panama to share alike in both the perils and rewards of the enterprise? Yet in spite of your solemn oath you put this shame upon me!”

Pizarro was deeply distressed at the anger of his partner. He sought with all his powers of persuasion to explain his apparent betrayal of trust. He swore to Almagro that he was forced to choose the supreme power for himself or see it pass to a vain, incompetent favorite of the Court who would have ruled them both. He slipped his arm around the little man, led him aside and begged him to be calm.

“Don’t forget, my partner,” he pleaded, “that my honors are yours as well as mine. I seized them as a sacred trust for us both. All that I have will ever be yours for the asking.”

Almagro’s quick temper responded to this assurance and the quarrel would have been healed but for the stupid and arrogant interference of Hernando Pizarro. From the moment of their first meeting the venomous older brother had shown his scorn for the one-eyed adventurer. Almagro’s claims were scouted as ridiculous and he was held a contemptible impediment to Francisco’s career. This attitude Almagro resented with a violence that boded ill for the future of the enterprise. His friends, and they were many, heartily joined him in his hatred of Hernando.

On the way across the Isthmus to Panama the breach widened. The overbearing conduct of the leader’s brother was a thing not to be endured by veterans of the wilderness. Francisco Pizarro’s apparent betrayal of trust was enough without the insults of his vain, brutal brother.

At Panama, Almagro announced his break with the Pizarros, and began the purchase of ships and recruiting of men for an expedition of his own. Luque and Espinosa now rushed into the breach that must be healed at all hazards or the enterprise would be lost and a rival step in to reap the fruit of six years’ suffering and toil. A working truce was patched up between the partners. Pizarro agreed to surrender to Almagro the honor and dignity of Adelantado, and petition the Emperor to confirm his rival in the office. He promised to apply for a separate government for Almagro the moment he should be established in his. He also solemnly agreed to give no office to either of his brothers until his partner was satisfied.

“Come, man,” he pleaded, “the empire we seek is big enough for all.”

The little man was ready to give his hand in full reconciliation with his veteran associate when his one eye rested on Hernando Pizarro’s dark sneering face and he was in the air again. He finally accepted the promises of Francisco when the controversy between the three associates was rewritten. The spoils should be divided into three equal shares, after the fifth interest of the Crown had been deducted, one share for Francisco Pizarro, one for Diego de Almagro and one for Father Luque representing Espinosa.

But the final healing touch was given by Teresa’s soft hand. She led Almagro to a seat overlooking the Bay of Panama and pleaded with him through her tears.

“You like my Alonso, do you not, Captain?” she asked earnestly.

“As fine a young cavalier as ever came out of Spain!” was the quick answer.

“Then you will have pity on the girl who loves him and sail without delay. He has been there alone for more than two years--”

Almagro’s one eye glittered as a smile played about his rugged face. He rose and bowed low before her.

“Your tears are all that’s needed, dear lady. I’ll shake hands with the old pirate once more, hold my nose when his brother draws near and sail to find your sweetheart. I’d have done it anyhow in the end urged by your brother and Father Luque. Now, I’ll show you how quick I am in action.”

He was good as his word. The ships were found quickly. The vessels at Nombre de Dios on the Atlantic were sold at a good price and three were provided at Panama to take their places.

But the quarrel of the partners and the continued opposition of the governor had rendered recruiting difficult.

Rios feared the man who was now viceroy.

Instead of a fleet of big ships and five thousand men of which Molina had dreamed, Pizarro commanded three small vessels and only 180 men, with twenty-seven horses. He left Almagro to follow with more ships and men, and boldly sailed early in January, 1531, for the coast of Peru. With this small force he would begin operations and trust to the reports he would send back, for recruits.

On the second day out Pizarro was amazed to see standing before him in his cabin a slender youth dressed in a shimmering coat of mail. He gazed for a moment in surprise unable to place the name or features of his young soldier.

A low ripple of laughter betrayed her sex and the chief recognized Teresa. He leaped up in anger and alarm.

“What madness is this, Donna Teresa!” he exclaimed.

“The same madness which I have caught from you, Your Excellency,” the slender knight replied.

The grizzled veteran smiled at the first royal salutation which he had yet received. He had not fully realized that he was now sailing the Southern Sea, in his own domain and a viceroy of Charles V.

“Your brother to whom we owe so much will follow and give me trouble for this, dear lady.”

“Nonsense. My brother knows that good Queen Isabel rode to battle with King Ferdinand. My coat of mail is patterned precisely after the one she wore as she sat her horse beside the King. I like your high spirit of adventure, Your Excellency. I’ll ride with your Castilian horse, and my only complaint will be that we are so slow. Because, Your Excellency, I go to my lover, and women on journeys of love laugh at danger, flout the elements, and challenge death itself. So lead me, my Pizarro; our destinies are cast.”

And the conquistador smiled in admiration as the little fleet flew southward.