The great Alexander, founder of the third empire, and the most powerful King of Greece, we are told by Quintus Curtius and Arrian, had an excellent captain who passed with him into Asia, named Parmenion. This Parmenion had three noble sons, Philotas, Hector and Nicanor. Being Prefect of Mesopotamia, some of his letters appeared to be against the service of the King. Alexander suspected his general’s son Philotas, because he knew through Diminus that he had a grievance against the King. He did not wish to communicate the matter to Alexander because it was a matter of life and death; yet for this and for the letters which were found from his father, Philotas was cruelly put to death. Alexander, calling on Polidamas, one who was daring, ordered him to go to where Parmenion was and to kill him, and after his death to show an order he had given about the captains, that those of the army might not mutiny. Polidamas, notwithstanding that he had received much kindness and great honours from Parmenion, came to him with some letters, and while he was reading them he stabbed him. Although the sight of his venerable person moved him to compassion, he could only give attention to the royal order[45]. In the same way the Viceroy was anxious that his Majesty should know that, with fidelity and good will, he complied with the orders he had received, without concerning himself with the scandals he must face, in proclaiming the laws. What I say is only to show the Viceroy’s good intention, without contending that it was not foolhardy, and that the service of the King would have been better considered if the laws had been suspended and not proclaimed. When the citizens of Lima heard the new laws proclaimed, they were much disturbed in their minds, and said one to another, “How is this? How can a Prince so very Christian as his Majesty seek to destroy us, when we have acquired this province at the cost of our property and the death of so many of our comrades. What will now become of our wives and children?” Many lost all feeling, and from that time looked upon themselves as bereft of Indians, and of all property. Being enraged they wrote letters to Gonzalo Pizarro, telling him what had taken place, and how the new laws had been proclaimed. CHAPTER XXXIV _Concludes the former chapter down to the imprisonment of the Licentiate Vaca de Castro._