_How the Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela was coming near to the city of
Lima, and how Don Alonso de Montemayor went out to meet him with
the Secretary, Pero Lopez, and some others._
Having left Truxillo the Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela continued to approach
Lima with a strong desire to find himself in it, feeling certain that
the disturbed state of all parts of the country would be softened down
by his presence there. Two men set out from Lima very cautiously, when
his approach was known, who had grievances against Vaca de Castro, named
Anton de Leon and Juan de Leon. They went on the road to tell the
Viceroy what was passing, and to gain his favour. Continuing his journey
the Viceroy came to a town called La Barranca. Here he met the Secretary
Pero Lopez who had come in advance from the province of Xauxa and told
the Viceroy what Vaca de Castro had told him to say. The Viceroy did not
look favourably on the affairs of Vaca de Castro, thinking he was a very
avaricious man.
Don Alonso de Montemayor had come from Cuzco with the Licentiate Vaca de
Castro. When he knew that the Viceroy was coming near Lima, he went out
to meet him. As Don Alonso was a principal person, the Viceroy was very
glad that he had come and received him very well. Don Alonso told him
of the citizens of Cuzco having departed from Lima, and even what Gaspar
Rodriguez de Camporedondo had said publicly. The Viceroy deplored this,
and lamented that men should so easily be moved to oppose what his
Majesty ordered. He feared that it would cause scandals and disturbances
and increase his difficulties. For he also had news of the letters which
Gonzalo Pizarro had sent to all parts. As he came nearer to Lima other
knights came out to meet him. Some urged him not to enforce the new
laws, as they would cause serious detriment to the service of his
Majesty. He said that he could not delay what his King had ordered. From
the time that he arrived, he had seen the provinces disturbed at the
Indians being taken from widows. He would not submit the protest to the
Emperor as Don Antonio de Mendoza and the other governors did, which
would have saved this kingdom from passing through such great miseries
and calamities. But still worse! What do I say! That the coming of the
Viceroy, as I have already said many times, was a scourge of God, sent
to chastise this kingdom for its sins. They say how great was the
prosperity of the citizens of Quito in those times. In their feasts and
banquets some of them put on their tables salt cellars full of gold dust
instead of salt, and all had $30,000 or 40,000 some more some less,
which they had got out of the mines in a short time. They themselves
were for the Viceroy and took him to their city where, on the field of
Añaquito, he was killed with many of them. The cause of what happened in
Peru on the coming of the Viceroy was the great sins committed by the
settlers in that land. I myself knew some citizens who by their
concubines had fifteen sons. Many leave their wives in Spain for fifteen
and twenty years, living with an Indian girl: and so, as both Christians
and Indians sinned greatly, the punishment was general.