The Marquis lay down on his bed, thinking over what Henao had told him. On that night the Licentiate Caravajal got word of the plots of the men of Chile, and sent for Juan de Herrada, telling him that he must be on his guard not to do anything which would cause more trouble. Herrada answered, with dissimulation, that nothing was contemplated that would be injurious to the Marquis, for they awaited the arrival of the Judge, believing that he would administer justice. The Licentiate, though Juan de Herrada had justified himself, sent to advise the Marquis that he had better go out well accompanied, and cherish that distrust of the men of Chile that their doings merited.
[55] Prescott concurs in thus fixing the blame for the death of Almagro. Sir Arthur Helps does not. The evidence of the Bishop of Quito, who was with the Governor, is conclusive that Pizarro had no knowledge of the intention of his brother to put Almagro to death, until he reached Abancay, when it was too late.
My own conviction is that Hernando Pizarro had no such intention, but that he was going to deliver Almagro to his old friend Don Francisco Pizarro, to deal with him as he thought best. But when he discovered the dangerous plot to assassinate himself and liberate Almagro, he was convinced of the necessity of passing the death sentence on the old Adelantado. He had no doubt whatever of its justice. It was quite in keeping with Hernando's stern and self-reliant character that he should take the responsibility solely on himself. He knew that his brother would not consent, yet he believed that it was a political necessity. Don Francisco Pizarro must thus be entirely exonerated from any responsibility for the execution of Almagro, whatever Cieza de León may assert on evidence derived from unauthentic gossip. The Bishop of Quito completely refutes him.
_How the men of Chile came forth from the lodging of Don Diego de Almagro, of the death they inflicted on the Marquis Den Francisco Pizarro, and of the valorous spirit he showed before his death._
There was much perturbation among the men of Chile when they learnt that the Marquis had suspicions of their secret plotting. They did not know whether any of those whom they reckoned as friends, to curry favour with the Marquis and obtain his goodwill, had betrayed them; and their consultations did not cease. Some were for sallying out to murder the Marquis; others for retiring to the Indians' villages until the Judge should arrive. Others said that the Marquis suspected them, and that he was seeking some pretext for putting them to a cruel death. Juan de Herrada told them to bring all their arms, and that when the time came he would tell them what to do. The Marquis was in his house in bed, and before he got up a page came to him, and said, "Sir, all the town says, and it is publicly discussed among the Indians, that the men of Chile will come this morning to murder you!" The Marquis replied very angrily, "Be off, you silly boy!"[56]