WE have already related, farther back, how the municipality of Lima ordered the alcalde Alonso Palomino and Don Antonio Rivera to set out and travel, with all speed, to the great city of Cuzco, where they would find Vaca de Castro, and to give him the Ordinances1 which the accountant Juan de Cáceres had sent from Panamá, that he might decide what course would be best for the Realm. Palomino and Rivera arrived at Cuzco, causing disquiet2 to those who were inclined for peace, urging that such a calamity3 as this must not be let pass, for they all knew with what labour these regions had been explored. Vaca de Castro, having seen the Ordinances, and, being a discreet4 man, in no wise lost patience. On the contrary, he summoned the following citizens to meet in the municipal chamber5:
Capt. Garcilaso de la Vega,
Don Martín de Guzmán,
Hernando Bachicao,
Juan Julio de Ojeda,
Juan Vélez de Guevara,
Diego Maldonado.
When they had assembled he caused the Ordinances to be read to them in his presence. The officers of the municipality then discussed the matter in session, saying that[372] that city was the headpiece of the Realm and the others should be governed by it. The Emperor, our Lord, being so Christian6 a prince, it was not seemly to believe that, without hearing their objections, he should wish to deprive them of their property; and that the Ordinances could not be wholly complied with, notwithstanding that they must obey them as coming from their natural King. Vaca de Castro replied with some warmth that they should be silent rather than show such temper, because, since his Majesty7 had ordered that the Ordinances were to come into force, it had to be done and they must bow to the command, as that of their natural King and Lord. He said, further, that they must wait for the arrival of the Viceroy who, it might be, would consent to submit their petition before the royal presence. Meanwhile, they would not be dispossessed either of their estates or of Indians.
Subsequently, the alcalde Palomino, Don Antonio de Rivera, Hernando Bachicao, and Cerme?o and others, according to report, wrote to Gonzalo Pizarro at his estate where he was staying, acquainting him with the Ordinances that had arrived, urging him to stand as the defender8 of everyone. For, said they, he was the brother of the Governor who opened up these countries and, in times and necessities like the present, gentlemen should show their worth, and the whole Realm would be with him to help and petition against these laws, and would venture their persons and estates in that cause. The letters I mention having been prepared, they were sent with all speed to where Gonzalo Pizarro was staying; and the messenger presently returned to Lima. After these things had occurred Vaca de Castro, with the concurrence9 of the leading citizens of Cuzco, arranged to send messengers to all the cities and towns in the Realm. They were told to appoint proctors whom they were to send to him to prepare for despatching representatives to Spain, with all possible[373] speed, to inform his Majesty as to what was fitting in the interests of his royal service, and to entreat10 him to sanction an appeal against some of the Ordinances. When Francisco de Caravajal, who was Sergeant-Major at the battle of Chupas, heard that the Viceroy would soon arrive with the Ordinances, being a man of good understanding and clear judgment11 (though he afterwards put his talents to so bad a use) he spoke12 to Vaca de Castro, telling him that he well knew what a loyal friend he [Caravajal] had been to him, as the Governor had always found him ready with his services in all the recent events. He therefore now asked a favour, which was that he might depart for Spain, where he would give the King an account of affairs in Peru, and tell him how poorly the conquistadores had been requited13 for the great services they had done for his Majesty. Without this, the promulgation14 of the Ordinances that were coming would be rendered serious and difficult. Vaca de Castro and the officers of the municipality, after considering the matter in council, agreed that Francisco de Caravajal should go on the errand he proposed, and if perchance he should meet Blasco Nú?ez Vela who, it was now generally known, was coming as Viceroy, he was to explain the state of the Realm to him and counsel him to approach it with sentiments of consideration and forbearance, so as to preclude15 any revival16 of sedition17.
There was great excitement among the people throughout the Realm when they heard about the Ordinances. The Spaniards were deeply chagrined18, and declared that in the subjugation19 of this country many had lost their lives, and that to come here they had parted with their properties in Spain; while others, too, had grown old in campaigning in these regions—all without receiving royal pay or any reward except the Indians they held in encomienda, who were now, at their [liege's] death, to be[374] taken from the widow. In such circumstances what could be expected but that, forced by necessity, they should do ugly things and act against [the dictates20 of] their honour? And that their children would be left in poverty and their services meet with no recompense? Besides this they said that as for taking away from them the Indians whom they had obtained with so much labour, better were it that they should kill them all. And not only was this question about the Ordinances talked over, but false rumours21 were spread that all who might be found guilty of having been concerned in previous disturbances22 would be punished with great severity. The commotion23 among the people also gave rise to other versions which were all greedily listened to, and flew with great celerity from one place to another nourishing profound discontent and angry passions. Some showed the wounds they had sustained in their campaigns, which made the womenfolk shed many tears, saying that if their husbands were deprived of their estates, where could they themselves go to to maintain their lives with honour, being so far away from Spain? The agitation24 was greatest in the city of Cuzco, because the news was received there with acute displeasure: insomuch that angry words were bandied about, coming deep from their breasts, some of them violent and boding25 ill for the King's service.
When Vaca de Castro was informed of what was being said, being anxious to preserve the Realm in peace, tranquillity26, and contentment, and to stifle27 the wild utterances28 of persons who spoke so freely, he sent for Diego de Silva and Juan Vélez de Guevara (alcaldes) and said to them: "Go ye through the city, and if ye hear any one speak openly against the King's service hang such a man at once, without waiting to make a deposition29." When Diego de Silva and the other alcalde heard the talk that was going on, and learnt about the gatherings30, and that the[375] people were firm in their contentions31 and making common cause to resist, and not obey, the Ordinances, they went relentlessly32 through the city ordering all to hold their peace, on pain of death; and they warned the principal citizens to have patience, and wait to see what his Majesty would order, and whether the Viceroy would forward the petition against the Laws. To this it is said they answered, that if his Majesty did it to raise money, they and their city would make him a present of five hundred thousand ducats. So Francisco de Caravajal departed from Cuzco, very pleased at quitting Peru at this time, carrying despatches from the Governor Vaca de Castro, and from the people of Cuzco to the municipal authorities of Lima desiring them to write to his Majesty.
THE END
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1
ordinances
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| n.条例，法令( ordinance的名词复数 ) | |
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disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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concurrence
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| n.同意；并发 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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12
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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requited
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| v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复 | |
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promulgation
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| n.颁布 | |
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preclude
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| vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍 | |
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revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subjugation
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| n.镇压，平息，征服 | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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boding
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| adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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deposition
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| n.免职，罢官；作证；沉淀；沉淀物 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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contentions
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| n.竞争( contention的名词复数 )；争夺；争论；论点 | |
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relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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