NOTICES OP PERU. 



257 



of not succeeding, it was supposed that he would cause his 

 death, rather than suffer him to reach the city. It was reported 

 too, that Pizarro intended to banish young Almagro and his 

 associates. All these things wrought upon the goaded feelings 

 of " those of Chile," as Almagro's party was contemptuously 

 styled, until, seeing no prospect of redress through the tedious 

 process of Spanish justice, they resolved to right their own 

 wrongs. 



Seeing the state of poverty in which the companions of young 

 Almagro were left, from their property having been confiscated 

 by Fernando Pizarro, the marques proffered to them offices of 

 trust and emolument under his government. But recollecting 

 their cruel treatment after the battle of Salinas, and cherishing 

 the hope of obtaining justice at the hands of Vaca de Castro, 

 when he should arrive, they scorned the offer, preferring to 

 live by mutual assistance, and sharing the table of young Al- 

 magro, who inherited a part of his father's estates. There was 

 one mess of seven, who had but a single cloak amongst them, 

 and when one was out, the rest waited at home for his re- 

 turn. They sallied forth each in turn, and maintained them- 

 selves by gambling. By common consent, Juan de Rada was 

 both treasurer and caterer. 



This state of things gave birth to a conspiracy against Pizar- 

 ro's life, at the head of which was the same Juan de Rada, who 

 appears to have been a man of cunning, effrontery, and despe- 

 rate courage. Soon after the organization of the conspiracy, 

 several insults were offered to the marques. To express what 

 the conspirators thought to be merited by Pizarro, Antonio 

 de Picado his secretary, and Doctor Juan Velasquez, a gallows 

 was hung up over night, before each of their doors. The mar- 

 ques treated this insult with contempt, and remarked, when 

 advised to guard against attempts at his life ; Their heads 

 will be answerable for mine !" The conspiracy became public, 

 yet Pizarro walked about as usual without a guard, and even 

 visited his mills, which were beyond the city, attended only 

 by a single page. 



One day, Juan de Rada visited Pizarro, and found him in 

 his garden. When the marques asked why he was at that time 

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