LOPEZ VAZ AD. 



1572-87. 

 sooner agree unto the wicked intent of Agira) to murther 

 the captaine. Who on a night being asleepe in his bed, 

 the said conspirators and their faction entered into his 

 bed-chamber, and there stabbed him with their daggers ; 

 which being done, they slew also all the Captaines that 

 were his friends, and therewithall made a great out-cry, 

 saying, God save the king, God save the king : where- 

 upon all the campe was in an uprore. Then Lopez de 

 Agira made unto the souldiers a long oration, and got 

 them all to consent unto him, some by force, and some 

 because they durst not say to the contrary, and others of 

 their good will, and so in the end they all agreed unto his 

 determined purpose. Then made they Fernando de Gus- 

 man their head, & Agira was made a captaine. This 

 done, because the people should the better hold their 

 opinion, he did as great a villany as ever any Spaniard 

 committed : for he made an altar, wheron he and all the 

 souldiers renounced their service unto the king of Spaine, 

 & so as people without a king, chose the said Don Fer- I^on Ferdi- 

 nando to be their king, and did homage unto him. These ^^^^'^ ^^ 

 matters being thus finished they consulted among them- claimdkins, 

 selves which should be the best way for them to goe of Peru. 

 to Peru ? For they could not goe up the river, by which 

 they came downe, in regarde of the strong current, and 

 going backe overland they should be very weake for 

 want of horsemen : wherefore they determined to goe 

 downe the river. Then 'saide Lopez de Agira, that they 

 would carry nothing with them but the pinnesses & 

 souldiers which should fight, and that it were best to 

 leave behind them all the Indians which they brought 

 from Peru, with the women and the sicke men. Where- 

 unto the Generall Don Ferdinando would not agree, 

 because he knew that when they were gone the people 

 of the countrey would kill them all. Lopez de Agira 

 hearing this, and longing to be chiefe governour himselfe, 

 tooke unto him 30 of his owne countreymen of his 

 disposition, and on the sudden slew Don Fernando, ^Qj^^^^n 

 whom not many dayes before he had sworne to obey : & sMne. 



245 



Fernando de 



