登陆注册
5384600000202

第202章

The whole country was thrown into commotion. Men assembled tumultuously in the squares and public places, and, as the regulations were made known they were received with universal groans and hisses.

"Is this the fruit," they cried, "of all our toil? Is it for this that we have poured out our blood like water? Now that we are broken down by hardships and sufferings, to be left at the end of our campaigns as poor as at the beginning! Is this the way government rewards our services in winning for it an empire? The government has done little to aid us in making the conquest, and for what we have we may thank our own good swords; and with these same swords," they continued, warming into menace, "we know how to defend it." Then, stripping up his sleeve, the war-worn veteran bared his arm, or, exposing his naked bosom, pointed to his scars, as the best title to his estates.15The governor, Vaca de Castro, watched the storm thus gathering from all quarters, with the deepest concern. He was himself in the very heart of disaffection; for Cuzco, tenanted by a mixed and lawless population was so far removed into the depths of the mountains, that it had much less intercourse with the parent country, and was consequently much less under her influence, than the great towns on the coast. The people now invoked the governor to protect them against the tyranny of the Court;but he endeavored to calm the agitation by representing, that by these violent measures they would only defeat their own object. He counselled them to name deputies to lay their petition before the Crown, stating the impracticability of the present scheme of reform, and praying for the repeal of it; and he conjured them to wait patiently for the arrival of the viceroy, who might be prevailed on to suspend the ordinances till further advices could be received from Castile.

But it was not easy to still the tempest; and the people now eagerly looked for some one whose interests and sympathies might lie with theirs, and whose position in the community might afford them protection. The person to whom they naturally turned in this crisis was Gonzalo Pizarro, the last in the land of that family who had led the armies of the Conquest,--a cavalier whose gallantry and popular manners had made him always a favorite with the people. He was now beset with applications to interpose in their behalf with the government, and shield them from the oppressive ordinances.

But Gonzalo Pizarro was at Charcas, busily occupied in exploring the rich veins of Potosi, whose silver fountains, just brought into light, were soon to pour such streams of wealth over Europe. Though gratified with this appeal to his protection, the cautious cavalier was more intent on providing for the means of enterprise than on plunging prematurely into it; and, while he secretly encouraged the malecontents, he did not commit himself by taking part in any revolutionary movement. At the same period, he received letters from Vaca de Castro,--whose vigilant eye watched all the aspects of the time,---cautioning Gonzalo and his friends not to be seduced, by any wild schemes of reform, from their allegiance. And, to check still further these disorderly movements, he ordered his alcaldes to arrest every man guilty of seditious language, and bring him at once to punishment. By this firm yet temperate conduct the minds of the populace were overawed, and there was a temporary lull in the troubled waters, while all looked anxiously for the coming of the viceroy.16The person selected for this critical post was a knight of Avila, named Blasco Nunez Vela. He was a cavalier of ancient family, handsome in person, though now somewhat advanced in years, and reputed brave and devout. He had filled some offices of responsibility to the satisfaction of Charles the Fifth, by whom he was now appointed to this post in Peru.

The selection did no credit to the monarch's discernment.

It may seem strange that this important place should not have been bestowed on Vaca de Castro, already on the spot, and who had shown himself so well qualified to fill it. But ever since that officer's mission to Peru, there had been a series of assassinations, insurrections, and civil wars, that menaced the wretched colony with ruin; and, though his wise administration had now brought things into order, the communication with the Indies was so tardy, that the results of his policy were not yet fully disclosed. As it was designed, moreover, to make important innovations in the government, it was thought better to send some one who would have no personal prejudices to encounter, from the part he had already taken, and who, coming directly from the Court, and clothed with extraordinary powers, might present himself with greater authority than could one who had become familiar to the people in an inferior capacity. The monarch, however, wrote a letter with his own hand to, Vaca de Castro in which he thanked that officer for his past services, and directed him, after aiding the new viceroy with the fruits of his large experience, to return to Castile, and take his seat in the Royal Council.

Letters of a similar complimentary kind were sent to the loyal colonists who had stood by the governor in the late troubles of the country.

同类推荐
  • 问花楼词话

    问花楼词话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 自然集

    自然集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 全相二十四孝诗选

    全相二十四孝诗选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Categories

    The Categories

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Tales of Trail and Town

    Tales of Trail and Town

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一人之第九奇技

    一人之第九奇技

    穿越一人之下世界,江心发现了自己独特体质带来的奇特能力。吕良:“悟得双全手,操掌三尸神。”江心:“双全手?好东西,我看看。多谢馈赠!”马仙洪:“我的法宝数量,超乎你的想象。”江心:“神机百炼?好东西,我看看。确实好用!”张灵玉:“我不想要通天箓,迫于师命,无奈接下。”江心:“你不想要,教我啊!打我就行。”王也:“奇门局中,我即是方位,我即是吉凶。"江心:”风后奇门,好东西,我看看。为什么这东西和算术有关?“江心:”鼯鼠五技,反制其身。不知道我的能力,有无资格称为第九奇技。“--------
  • 天武战纪

    天武战纪

    万物苍生,寰宇苍穹,一切存在皆有其存在的道理。我必挥剑斩狂澜,还道天地间!
  • Desert Gold

    Desert Gold

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 最有影响力的斯坦福演讲

    最有影响力的斯坦福演讲

    名人的话语总是饱含智慧,励志的演讲总是激荡人心,相信我们精心选编的这套双语阅读材料,能帮你找到学习英语的兴趣所在,也能让你在英语学习之余,对人生有所领悟。
  • 陆女神命犯桃花

    陆女神命犯桃花

    三年前,陆佳琪不辞而别,三年后,陆佳琪王者回归!当恋人打开心结,两人重归于好!可父辈的恩怨终究是阻止俩人的障碍。十几年前,阴谋暗起,让两家从此分道扬镳。十几年后,陆佳琪与秦麒恒相恋,风云又起!阴谋再出!十几年前的阴谋一步一步被揭开,一件件骇人听闻的事被发现,牵扯出一桩桩事!爆炸案、人体器官买卖……阴谋究竟是何人所为?人心背后藏着多少险恶?利益至上还是情义无价?她为人好强,性格百变,可强可暖,有大格局,是上位者的存在。他少年失去双亲,世界蒙上尘埃,年少老成,年纪轻轻便扛起秦家大梁。俩人披荆斩棘,携手一步步拨开迷雾。
  • 命难违

    命难违

    别被书名骗了,这其实是一本很普通很普通的修仙类小说。觉得写得好请给我推荐,订阅和打赏。觉得写得不好,请告诉更多的人让他们来骂死我!
  • 月老养成系统

    月老养成系统

    月老,牵红线的,养成,说明主角是个素人,系统,不用我解释了。这是一个普通人仰视神仙,在命运之神的眷顾下,意外成为月老候选人,最后成为月老,顺便拖家带口过上幸福生活的故事。……有一天,在修仙世界底层的小厨娘死了。她瞪着纯白空间发呆。一个声音说:“身为月老,我们怎么能对be的结局坐视不理呢?”“……所以?”“宿主,加油,你可以的!”“……”她只是一个可怜弱小又无助的小厨娘,命运为何要这么对待她?许姻缘以为,自己死了就算可怜的了,但是想不到,更惨的是,她还要改写虐文的结局?不过好在,她能当神仙了。可是这个……“这位大人,您已经跟了我一路了,意欲何为?”“你看这条路,它像不像通向你心里的那条路?”“我觉得不像。”“也是,毕竟这条路,只有我走过。”望着男人笃定而蜜汁自信的脸,她默默吞下到嘴的“您也没进去过”。
  • 云南志蛮书

    云南志蛮书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我为什么是魔主

    我为什么是魔主

    我为什么是魔主?我重生了,变成了万魔之主。我只记得自己飞机失事,然后梦里一直有一个声音重复着,“我是魔主”,我现在为什么是魔主,神经病。!当我醒来的时候我发现自己被困在一个箱子里面,脑袋上悬浮着一个金光闪闪的珠子。上面有一行字我不认识,感觉像梵文,看一眼就有种想睡觉的感觉,恩这和看数学题那种感觉不一样,我脑海却突然闪过三个字,镇天珠!
  • 绝世毒妃:逆天七小姐

    绝世毒妃:逆天七小姐

    【全文完】安以若,华夏毒医世家第五代传人。一朝穿越,沦为安府废材七小姐。废材翻身,盛世风华,绝代容颜,轻功绝世,翻手飞刀,覆手银针。昔日废材,如今盛世风华,睥睨天下。前世今朝两茫茫,记忆醒,王者归,笑江湖。三世今生天注定,爱恨缘,浮生怨,今朝醉。一袭紫衣飞扬,笑傲江湖。一袭红衣傲天,宠妻上天。“娘子,待我平定天下,许你一世长安!”笔墨纵横,落下三千惆怅。丹青妙手,泼墨渲染祭年。红颜劫,樱花似雪漫天扬。可曾记得奈何桥边飘逸的身影。丹青妙手在宣纸上渲染出江山,墨笔飞扬书写着纵横的牵绊,黛眉轻佻遥望着尘世的凄美,鱼台钓月回忆着以往的沧桑……我愿执你之手,与你共度三世风霜。