s if
I had committed some crime, and he had authority to proceed against
and punish me, he saying that he is the aggrieved and proper party;
and as if, besides, he could be judge with so great violence. He
had me summoned by edicts and proclaimed through the public streets,
an action that has scandalized this community. But, notwithstanding
his hostile demonstrations, he cannot satisfy himself, for all of
which I have tried to give many thanks to God, considering that I
am suffering thus for [the sake of] justice, and for defending the
service of God and of my king. In regard to that it must be considered
that, although all those lawless acts, insults, and violences to the
private person of Don Alvaro de Messa I consider as referred to God,
nevertheless it is a serious and intolerable matter to persecute a
minister for being loyal to his king. For the sake of the respect
and royal authority of your Majesty which is so offended by those
qualities in your minister, on account of the public scandal, and
for the conservation of justice and the security of the country,
and in order to avoid disservice to God and your Majesty--all which
is attained by the punishment of the guilty, by which the good would
be encouraged and those who are not good would fear--an exemplary
punishment seems very necessary for the governor, and for me a
reward and honor for the affronts and hardships that I have suffered,
especially in this country, where, because of the absolute procedure
of the governor, no attention is paid to your Majesty's royal orders,
and one trembles to displease the governor, without more reason than
that the latter desires such and such a thing. And because for many
years this has continued to increase, very justly may one fear that,
if it be not punished, it may reach such a point that the remedy
will be difficult and ever miraculous. To moderate the enormity of
the circumstances of my imprisonment and the grave scandal existing
hitherto throughout the community (and I think that it will exist
until satisfaction can be made for it), his guardian angels--one
of whom is Don Juan de Alvarado, who has been fiscal and whom your
Majesty ordered to be banished hence; and who was irritated because I
had not cloaked his residencia, about which I am writing your Majesty
in a separate letter--and others who are of the same sort, advised
the governor to make use of an ordinance which is one of those of
this Audiencia, never used and