They announced to him the
revolution that had taken place, and the suspension of the
ordinances. The great object of his mission had been thus
accomplished; and, as a new government was now organized, they
called on him to show his obedience to it, by disbanding his
forces, and withdrawing to the unmolested enjoyment of his
estates. It was a bold demand, - though couched in the most
courteous and complimentary phrase, - to make of one in Pizarro's
position. It was attempting to scare away the eagle just ready
to stoop on his prey. If the chief had faltered, however, he
would have been reassured by his lion-hearted lieutenant. "Never
show faint heart," exclaimed the latter, "when you are so near
the goal. Success has followed every step of your path. You
have now only to stretch forth your hand, and seize the
government. Every thing else will follow." - The envoy who
brought the message from the judges was sent back with the
answer, that "the people had called Gonzalo Pizarro to the
government of the country, and, if the Audience did not at once
invest him with it, the city should be delivered up to pillage."
*19
[Footnote 19: Zarate, Conq. del Peru, lib. 5, cap. 13.
It required some courage to carry the message of the Audience to
Gonzalo and his desperate followers. The historian Zarate, the
royal comptroller, was the envoy; not much, as it appears, to his
own satisfaction. He escaped, however, unharmed, and has made a
full report of the affair in his chronicle.
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