258 



arquebuse, which I received in the valley of Coquimbo, 

 fighting under the orders of thy marshal, Alonzo de Alva- 

 rado, against Francis Hernandez Giron, then a rebel, as I 

 am at present, and shall be always ; for since thy viceroy, 

 the Marquis of Canete, a cowardly, ambitious, and effeminate 

 man, has hanged our most valiant warriors, I care no more 

 for thy pardon than for the books of Martin Luther. It is 

 not well in thee, King of Spain, to be ungrateful toward 

 thy vassals ; for, it was while thy father, the emperor 

 Charles, remained quietly in Castille, that they procured 

 for thee so many kingdoms and vast countries. Remember, 

 King Philip, that thou hast no right to draw revenues from 

 these provinces, the conquest of which has been without 

 danger to thee, but inasmuch as thou recompensest those, 

 who have rendered thee such great services. I am certain, 

 that few Kings go to Heaven. Therefore we regard our- 

 selves as very happy, to be here in the Indies, preserving 

 in all their purity the commandments of God, and of the 

 Roman church ; and we intend, though sinners during life, 

 to become one day martyrs to the glory of God. On going 

 out of the river of Amazons, we landed in an island called 

 La JMargarelta. We there received news from Spain of 

 the great faction and machination (maquina) of the Lu- 

 therans. This news frightened us extremely; we found 

 among us one of that faction j his name was Monteverde. 

 I had him cut to pieces, as was just : for believe me, 

 signior, wherever I am, people live according to the law. 

 But the corruption of morals among the monks is so great 

 in this land, that it is necessary to chastise it severely. 

 There is not an ecclesiastic here, who does not think himself 

 higher than the governor of a province. I beg of thee, 

 great King, not to believe what the monks tell thee down 

 yonder in Spain. They are always talking of the sacrifices 

 they make, as well as of the hard and bitter life they are 

 forced to lead in America : while they occupy the richest 

 lands, and the Indians hunt and fish for them every day. 



