Note 57 — Chapter XXX

Of these murderers Juan de Herrada died a natural death. Martín de Bilbao and Jerónimo de Almagro were killed at the battle of Chupas. Arbolancha (the murderer of Chaves), Barragán, Cabezas, Gómez, Guzmán, Hoces, Losa, were hanged; Narváez was killed by Pizarro. Méndez escaped to the Inca and murdered him, finally getting his deserts. The fate of the others is unknown.

Both Prescott and Helps repeat a story told by Montesinos that one of the conspirators, when they were rushing across the plaza, ran round a pool of water instead of going through it, to avoid getting wet. Herrada told him, as he was so particular, he must go back. Montesinos is a late and not at all a reliable authority, and the story need not be believed. It never rains, and there never are pools of water in the plaza of Lima. The name of Gómez Pérez is given, one of the villains who murdered the Inca Manco and got their deserts.

It is to be observed that none of Almagro's old captains had anything to do with the murder, except perhaps Chaves, although they were violently antagonistic to the Marquis and were in Lima. They were not murderers. Only one threw in his lot with young Almagro.