_How his Majesty the Emperor, our Lord, ordered Blasco Nuñez
Vela to proceed as Viceroy to the Realms of Peru, to give effect
there to the new laws that had been enacted for the government
of the empire of the Indies._
AS his Majesty the Emperor Don Carlos our Lord, most fortunate King of
the Spains, and the members of his very high Council, had considered
many times who should go to Peru as Viceroy to maintain peace in
those provinces and enforce the New Laws, and notwithstanding that
several Spanish gentlemen had been discussed with that view, his
Majesty fixed his eyes on Blasco Nuñez Vela, a native of the city of
Ávila, of noble descent, and very zealous for the royal service. He
had already occupied important posts in Spain; and it was always
said that he had discharged the duties of them with fidelity. He had
been chief Magistrate of Malaga, on the frontier of Navarre he was
Inspector-general, and he once came to this country as Captain-general
of the Fleet to fetch the treasure that was here. He was tall, of good
bearing, and gentle mien, he had clear, light blue eyes, aquiline
features, a broad forehead, a thick and very imposing beard, was
an excellent horseman in both saddles, and quick of apprehension
save that it was not very sure. He was one of those who always lay
themselves out to serve their king; very God-fearing, homely, modest,
well bred, an enemy to traitors, the friend of loyalty, he was always
ready to rely upon himself, and put little faith in his followers, but
this I attribute more to the perversity of men in this country than
to his own worth. He was a passionate man and quick to anger; after
reaching this country he placed full confidence in no person, and
thus, impulsive as he was in his wrath he was equally so in killing
those who angered him. This was the person his Majesty summoned before
him and told that it would befit the royal service if he were to go to
Peru and be Viceroy there, and bring those regions under a just rule,
and give effect therein to the New Laws which had been made for the
government of the Realm.
Blasco Núñez Vela, it is said, felt regret that his Majesty had
ordered him to go; but although this was so, he replied that he
would do all that his Majesty might wish, having been born with that
obligation upon him. After other things, of which history does not
call for treatment here, Blasco Núñez Vela was appointed Viceroy of
Peru, and President of the _Audiencia_ which was to be established at
Lima. The Ordinances were given to him to enforce, dealing specially
with each section by itself. Having received the despatches and
instructions, kissed the hands of his Majesty, and taken leave of the
Lords of the Council, Blasco Núñez Vela went to the city of Ávila,
to enjoy a few days with his wife and children. He left that city
accompanied by his brother, Francisco Velásquez Vela Núñez, Diego
Alvarez de Cueto his brother-in-law, and other gentlemen who were his
relations or friends, and set out with a great quantity of luggage and
equipment for Seville. When it became known in Spain that Blasco Núñez
Vela had been selected to be Viceroy of Peru, there were murmurs, and
it was said no good would come of it, but that, on the contrary, great
evils would arise from his going there, for that he was not the man to
keep peace in that land. They affirm that the Marquis del Valle, D.
Hernando Cortés, the mirror of governors and captains in the Indies,
said publicly many times that Blasco Núñez Vela would not succeed
in establishing peace in Peru because the people who live there are
unruly and self-willed, and that when he himself was conducting the
exploration of New Spain he used to set up crosses along all the
roads, whereas the leaders who had discovered Peru had been always
envious of each other, and there was hidden rancour between them,
and transactions that ended in the battles of which everybody has
heard. The commonalty of Spain and the people at large rejoiced at the
promulgation of the new laws, and desired that those living in the
Indies should be governed by them. The gentry and men of backbone, who
understand what fortitude is, said that if the residents in the Indies
were to obey the Ordinances on all points they would be for ever
reproached as weaklings, and the sons who might be born to them would
live in affliction through the supineness of their fathers.
When Blasco Núñez Vela arrived [at Seville], he found there the Judges
who had been appointed, and there was great confidence that they would
discharge their duties well. Their names were the Licentiate Cepeda,
who was a Judge in the Canary Isles, Dr. Tejada, the Licentiate
Alvarez, and the Licentiate Zaratena. With these he set out for the
spacious port of San Lucar de Barrameda, and ordered the ships to be
got ready in which he and those who were going out with him expected
to sail--wishing himself already in the land of the Indies.