erved any
order, but such disorder as might have been made by Lucifer; when
they saw the copies, before the arrival of the new judges who were
to execute them, it is said and believed that they had been warned
of what was coming by those in Spain, who have till now encouraged
their sins and violence. They were so agitated, that when the good
judges who were to carry out the laws arrived, they resolved to set
aside shame and obedience to the King, just as they had already lost
all love and fear of God.
5. They thus determined to let themselves be called traitors, for they
are cruel and unbridled tyrants, particularly in the kingdoms of
Peru, where at present, in this year of 1546, such horrible,
frightful, and execrable deeds are committed, as have never been
done, either in the Indies or in the world; not only do such things
happen among the Indians whom they have already all or nearly all
killed, but among themselves. In the absence of the King's justice
to punish them, God's justice has come from heaven to bring
dissension amongst them and to make one to be the executioner of the
other.
6. Shielded by the rebellion of these tyrants, those in all the other
regions, would not obey the laws and, under pretext of appealing
against them, have also revolted; they resent having to abdicate the
dignities and power they have usurped, and to losing the Indians
whom they hold in perpetual slavery.
7. Where they have ceased to kill quickly by the sword, they kill
slowly by personal servitude and other unjust and intolerable
vexations. And till now the King has not succeeded in preventing
them because all, small and great, go there to pilfer, some more,
some less, some publicly and openly, others secretly and under
disguise; and with the pretext that they are serving the king, they
dishonour God, and rob and destroy the King.

The present work was printed in the most noble, and faithful town of
Seville, at the house of Sebastian Truxillo book-printer. To our Lady of
Grace.

The Year M.D.LII

What follows is part of a letter and report, written by one of those very
men who went to these regions, recounting the deeds the captain did, and
allowed to be done, in the countries he visited. When the said letter and
report was