Of what the Captain did after he had received this Order, and
how he was given another.
I was not satisfied with this Order, because it was confused, and
did not give me the power that was necessary to order myself what
was necessary for my despatch; and because in effect it left it open
for the Viceroy to order from what port in Peru I should sail as he
might choose. Remembering how badly the orders and decrees of His
Majesty are complied with in distant provinces, even when they are
very imperative, I began again to send in more memorials representing
these inconveniences, and declaring that 500,000 ducats were required
for my undertaking, and for what I had to spend and distribute;
and I sent in a detailed account of how I had spent what was given
me for the last expedition.
Don Francisco de Tejada told me that there were not wanting those who
considered that the despatch they had given me was well enough. I
replied that it must have been measured out according to my small
merits, not according to the grandeur and necessities of the work. So
I went on sending in more and more memorials to His Majesty, his
Councils and Councillors, until in the month of May I was sent for
by the Secretary, Antonio de Aroztegui, who told me that things had
been arranged as I wished, as regards the terms of the Order and the
expenses. I answered that the expenses of a cabin boy were enough for
me personally if the despatch was good; that I did not put a price on
my services. With this object I began new memorials to the Council
of State, and when I thought that I was about to secure my desires,
the business was again turned over to the Council of the Indies. In
this Council, as the feeling was cold towards me and my cause, they
turned and twisted much that His Majesty had ordered. On the 1st of
November, 1610, they gave me an Order of the following tenor:--
Revised Royal Order.
The King. To the Marquis of Montes Claros, my cousin, my Viceroy
and Captain General of the provinces of Peru, or to the person
or persons in whose charge their government may be. [121]
Dated at San Lorenzo, the 1st of November, 1610. I the King. By
order of the King our Lord, Pedro de Ledesma.