VI 1546. fentiments of veneration for his sovereign. By BOOK a proper application to thefe, together with fome fuch conceffions as fhould discover a fpirit of moderation and forbearance in government, there was ftill room to hope that he might be yet reclaimed, or the ideas of loyalty natural to Spaniards might fo far revive among his followers, that they would no longer lend their aid. to uphold his ufurped authority. pointed to Peru as THE fuccefs, however, of this negociation, no Gafca apé lefs delicate than it was important, depended repair to entirely on the abilities and addrefs of the prefident. perfon to whom it fhould be committed. After weighing with much attention the comparative merit of various perfons, the Spanish minifters fixed with unanimity of choice upon Pedro de la Gafca, a priest in no higher station than that of counsellor to the Inquifition. Though in no public office, he had been occafionally employed by government in affairs of truft and confequence, and had conducted them with no lefs fkill than fuccefs; difplaying a gentle and infinuating temper, accompanied with much firmnefs; probity, fuperior to any feeling of private intereft; and a cautious circumfpection in concerting measures, followed by fuch vigour in executing them, as is rarely found in alliance VI. BOOK with the other. These qualities marked him out for the function to which he was destined. The emperor, to whom Gafca was not unknown, warmly approved of the choice, and communicated it to him in a letter containing expreffions of good-will and confidence, no less honourable to the prince who wrote, than to the fubject who received it. Gafca, notwithstanding his advanced age and feeble conftitution, and though, from the apprehenfions natural to a man, who, during the course of his life, had never been out of his own country, he dreaded the effects of a long voyage, and of an unhealthy climate, did not hefitate a moment about complying with the His mode will of his fovereign. But as a proof that it was from this principle alone he acted, he refused a bishopric which was offered to him, in order that he might appear in Peru with a more dignified. character; he would accept of no higher title than that of prefident of the court of audience in Lima; and declared that he would receive no falary on account of his discharging the duties of that office. All he required was, that the expence of supporting his family fhould be defrayed by the public, and as he was to go like a minister of peace with his gown and breviary, ration. VI. and without any retinue but a few domeftics, BOOK this would not load the revenue with any enormous burden". 1546. committed BUT while he difcovered fuch difinterefted The powers moderation with refpect to whatever related to him. perfonally to himself, he demanded his official powers in a very different tone. He infifted, as he was to be employed in a country fo remote from the feat of government, where he could not have recourse to his fovereign for new inftructions on every emergence; and as the whole fuccefs of his negociations must depend upon the confidence which the people with whom he had to treat could place in the extent of his powers, that he ought to be invested with unlimited authority; that his jurisdiction must reach to all perfons and to all causes; that he must be empowered to pardon, to punish, or to reward, as circumstances and the behaviour of different men might require; that in case of refiftance from the malcontents, he might be authorised to reduce them to obedience by force of arms, to levy troops for that purpose, and to call for affistance from the governors of all the Spanish settlements in America. These powers, b Zarate, lib. vi. c. 6. lib. ii. c. 14-16. Vega, dec. 8. lib. i. c. 4. &c. Gomara, c. 174. Fernandez, R 3 though VI. 1546. BOOK though manifeftly conducive to the great objects of his miflion, appeared to the Spanish minifters to be inalienable prerogatives of royalty, which ought not to be delegated to a fubject, and they refused to grant them. But the emperor's views were more enlarged. As, from the nature of his employment, Gafca muft be entrusted with difcretionary power in feveral points, and all his efforts might prove ineffectual if he was circumscribed in any one particular, Charles fcrupled not to invest him with authority to the full, extent that he demanded. Highly fatisfied with this fresh proof of his master's confidence, Gasca haftened his departure, and, without either money or troops, fet out to quell a formidable July 27. His arrival at Panama. rebellion . On his arrival at Nombre de Dios, he found Herman Mexia, an officer of note, pofted there, by order of Pizarro, with a confiderable body of men, to oppose the landing of any hoftile forces. But Gafca appeared in fuch pacific guife, with a train fo little formidable, and with a title of no fuch dignity as to excite terror, that he was received with much refpect. From Nombre de Dios he advanced to Panama, and met with a fimilar reception from Hinojofa, whom Pizarro Fernandez, lib. ii. c. 16-18, had VI. 1546. had entrusted with the government of that BOOK town, and the command of his fleet ftationed there. In both places he held the fame language, declaring that he was fent by their fovereign as a meffenger of peace, not as a minister of vengeance; that he came to redress all their grievances, to revoke the laws which had excited alarm, to pardon past offences, and to re-establish order and juftice in the government of Peru. His mild deportment, the fimplicity of his manners, the fanctity of his profeffion, and a winning appearance of candour, gained credit to his declarations. The veneration due to a perfon clothed with legal authority, and acting in virtue of a royal commission, began to revive among men accustomed for fome time to nothing more respectable than an ufurped jurifdiction. Hinojofa, Mexia, and feveral other officers of diftinction, to each of whom Gafca. applied feparately, were gained over to his intereft, and waited only for fome decent occasion of declaring openly in his favour. of Pizarro. THIS the violence of Pizarro foon afforded Violent them. As foon as he heard of Gafca's arrival proceedings at Panama, though he received, at the fame time, an account of the nature of his commiffion, d Fernandez, lib. ii. c. 21, &c. Zarate, lib. vi. c. 6, 7. Gomara, c. 175. Vega, p. 11. lib. v. c. 3. |