The Viceroy Blasco Nuñez had been ordered to fit out ships to sail from Spain, and to continue his journey to the kingdoms of Peru. When everything was ready, he sailed from that port, with the knights who were to accompany him, on Saturday the 3rd day of the month of November in the year of our redemption 1543[2]. Navigating swiftly over the great ocean sea, he sailed on until he arrived at Gran Canaria. Here he took in fresh provisions and was joined by the Licentiate Cepeda, who was going out as a Judge. Leaving that island, the voyage was continued until the ships arrived at Nombre de Dios three days after Epiphany in 1544. Here he remained for 15 or 16 days, at the end of which time he proceeded to the city of Panama with those who had accompanied him. I deeply lament that a knight so accomplished as was the Viceroy should have fallen into the hands of such wicked and perverse men. For his want of judgment and lack of prudence in public affairs did not merit a death so cruel as he met with at Añaquito near the equator. The things that must happen cannot be prevented, and all is in the will of the most high God. The Viceroy arrived at the city of Panama without waiting for the Judges who, for some reason, did not leave Nombre de Dios with him, but remained there. The Viceroy found the Licentiate Pedro Ramirez de Quiñones, now Judge of the Confines, in Panama. He was taking the _residencia_ of Dr Villalobos and the Licentiate Paez, who had been Judges of the Court established in that kingdom. Presently the Viceroy took the royal seal, and placed it in a box with the veneration which was its due, with several chapters of the Ordinances[3], intending to carry out the orders literally. They required that all the men and women of Peru should be sent to their native homes at the cost of those who possessed them, it being the will of the King that they should be free, as his subjects and vassals[5]. Notwithstanding that the order was just and righteous, some of the Indians evaded it because they were married, others because they liked their masters and were tolerably instructed in the matters of our Holy Catholic Faith. Even of those who were ordered to depart many merely went to hide in secret places so as not to go whither they were sent, and others went to the churches, whence they were taken by order of the Viceroy, and put on board ships, where many died. So that very few returned to their native places, and those that did went back to the rites and idolatries they had formerly been accustomed to. There was thus no benefit derived from compliance with this ordinance. Some Spanish conquerors, who returned to Spain, had lived with Indian women for many years, and had children by them. These were to be sent to the native places of the mothers at the cost of their masters. If they disputed or complained they had to pay double for freight and passage. Some had small children and prayed that they might