court of justice and chancellory where those would receive justice who sought for it. He concluded with the announcement that, although he sent to tell them this, he also came with certain ordinances for the new government and respecting the treatment of the Indians which might appear heavy and causes for anger. Hitherto justice had been administered as between friends. They murmured at the announcement of the Viceroy, and when the news of his arrival reached them, they were not a little annoyed, so that the Viceroy’s name was abhorred by most, while all, from fear of the new rules, thought of no other thing than to extort as much gold as possible from the Indians and their chiefs.

CHAPTER IV

The tumults and disturbances, caused by the news of the ordinances in Cuzco, were continued. It is even said that Hernando Bachicao, Juan Velez de Guevara, Gaspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo, Cermeño and others spoke to Vaca de Castro saying that he was the Royal Governor, that he should continue in his command, and that all would serve and obey him.

Vaca de Castro answered in a way which showed that he understood how changeable were the wills of men in Peru, and how inconstant. To gain their ends they are ready to put any one at the head, leaving him in the lurch if he failed. In this Vaca de Castro was not deceived. For those who move in seditions and in wars coloured by justifications, although they were accomplices in the demands of their leader, when the time of failure comes, they sally forth, swearing with great oaths that they were forced to join the tyrant.

Understanding this Vaca de Castro answered that he had taken charge of the province by order of the King, and that he would now do no other thing than proceed to the city of the Kings to wait upon him whom the King had appointed as his Viceroy. Saying this, he ordered the Secretary, Pero Lopez[9], to prepare the letters and despatches, as he desired to set out from Cuzco without delay.

Some wish to say, and even men who were present have assured me, that the Governor Vaca de Castro wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro to come with all speed and take up the appointment of Procurator and Defender of the kingdom while he, Vaca de Castro, after marrying one of Pizarro’s daughters, would go to Spain and negotiate for his appointment to the government of New Toledo, and other things, and urging him to proceed in the matter.

I, being in the city of the Kings, was told by Don Antonio de Ribera that among the letters which Gonzalo Pizarro had there—and I remember that they were so numerous that three secretaries, continually reading to the President La Gasca, did not finish in four days—was one from Vaca de Castro to him, to which he answered that many had written to incite him to come and lead them, but that he would not do so. On the contrary, he would remain in his house, for his Majesty had sent his Viceroy who had entered the country, and that he would do what the royal service required. He wrote other things which were not intended to be so evil as some have wished to make out. It may well be that both letters were written by him.

After a few days Vaca de Castro set out from Cuzco, accompanied by Caspar Rodriguez de Camporedondo[10], Antonio de Quiñones, Diego Maldonado[11], the Licentiate Carbajal[12], Antonio de Altamirano[13], Gaspar Gil, Pedro de los Rios, Hernando Bachicao[14] and other principal people and some soldiers. With these he began the journey to the city of the Kings.

CHAPTER V

The Viceroy Blasco Nuñez de Vela arrived at Tumbez accompanied by Francisco Velasquez Vela Nuñez his brother, and the Captain Diego Alvarez de Cueto his brother-in-law, with other knights, and his servants. He was intent on enforcing the new laws. He sent out his orders before he had been received as Viceroy, commanding all to receive him as such, for in that way His Majesty would be best served. He ordered that no extra tribute should be taken from the Indians, and that no force or ill treatment should be used in dealing with them. These and other orders were given which, although just, should have been carried out with much order and prudence, and not with too much severity nor in such haste. Nevertheless they did not give sufficient cause to justify those in Peru in their revolt.

In Tumbez Diego Alvarez de Cueto and others who came with him, as well as some residing in Peru, advised that the new laws should not then be enforced, but that the Royal Court of Justice should first be established, and the kingdom be in the Viceroy’s power. But the Viceroy would never see things in that light. From this it seems to me that God, by reason of the grave sins of those who lived in Peru, was served that affairs should be guided in this way, that afterwards the sinners might be chastised with His mighty justice. For certainly their pride and their immorality in openly sinning, merited punishment from God’s hand. The gravity of such great sins deserved the calamities and excessive hardships which came upon them. The Viceroy answered, as he always did, that he must obey the King’s orders even if it should cost him his life.

He was fifteen days in Tumbez arranging these matters, at the end of which time he determined to set out for the city of San Miguel[15]. He accomplished the journey and was publicly well received, but really, at the bottom of their hearts, every one was sorry to see him, because he brought the new laws. Finally he was received as Viceroy, and at once began to enforce the ordinances. He ordered a copy to be made of the grants of Indians within the boundaries of San Miguel, asking the Caciques how many they had given, and the Encomenderos how many they had received, according to which he assessed the tribute which had to be paid. He then gave the Indians to understand that his Majesty ordered that they were to be free, and to be treated as his vassals.

The members of the municipality of that city, seeing how the Viceroy enforced the ordinances, entreated him not to do so at once,