257 



NOTES 



TO 



THE FIFTH BOOK. 



Note A, 



The following are some remarkable passages in the letter 

 from Aguirre to the king of Spain. 



" King Philip, native of Spain, Son of Charles the In- 

 vincible ! I, Lopez de Aguirre, thy vassal, an old Christian, 

 of poor but noble parents, and native of the town of Onate 

 in Biscay, passed over young to Peru, to labour lance in 

 hand. 1 rendered thee great services in the conquest of 

 India. I fought for thy glory, without demanding pay of 

 thy officers, as is proved by the books of thy treasure. I 

 firmly believe, Christian King and Lord, very ungrateful to 

 me and my companions, that all those, who write to thee 

 from this land (America), deceive thee much, because thou 

 seest things too far off. I recommend to thee, to be more 

 just toward the good vassals, whom thou hast in this country : 

 for I and mine, wearied of the cruellies and injustice, which 

 thy viceroys, thy governors, and thy judges, exercise in thy 

 name, are resolved to obey thee no more. We regard 

 ourselves no longer as Spaniards. We make a cruel war 

 on thee, because we will not endure the oppression of thy 

 ministers ; who, to give places to their nephews and their 

 children, dispose of our lives, our reputation, and our for- 

 tune, I am lame in the left foot from two shots of an 

 VOL. IV. S 



