Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/240

 in Peru, could not here giue ouer his old wont, but asked his fellow-souldiers, what they went to seeke for in those wild deserts whither they were brought: For (said he) if you seeke riches, there are enough in Peru, and there is bread, wine, flesh, and faire women also; so that it were better to conquer that, and to take it out of the handes of the Spaniardes, and that it were no hard enterprize, because all the souldiers and poore men of Peru would turne vnto them, and that that were a better course, then to goe and conquere the sauage people in those mountaines: so that once hauing the gouernment of Peru, the king of Spaine should be inforced to agree with them: if not (sayd he) we shall not lacke them that will succour vs, to haue the riches of Peru. By these perswasions he brought many souldiers to be of his minde, and conspired also with a young gentleman of Siuill called Don Fernando de Gusman (who was in loue with a young woman which the captaine Pedro de Orzua had, and therefore the sooner agreed vnto the wicked intent of Agira) to murther the captaine.

Who on a night being asleepe in his bed, the said conspirators and their faction entered into his bed-chamber, and there stabbed him with their daggers; which being done, they slew also all the Captaines that were his friends, and therewithall made a great out cry, saying, God saue the king, God saue the king: whereupon all the campe was in an vprore. Then Lopez de Agira made vnto the souldiers a long oration, and got them all to consent vnto him, some by force, and some because they durst not say to the contrary, and others of their good will, and so in the end they all agreed to his determined purpose. Then made they Fernando de Gusman their head, and Agira was made a captaine. This done, because the people should the better hold their opinion, he did as great a villany as euer any Spaniard committed:

for he made an alter, whereon he and all the souldiers renounced their seruice vnto the king of Spaine, and so as people without a king, chose the said Don Fernando to be their king, and did homage vnto him. These matters being thus finished they consulted among themselues which should be the best way for them to goe to Peru? For they could not goe vp the riuer, by which they came downe, in regarde of the strong current, and going backe ouerland they should be very weake for want of horsemen: wherefore they determined to goe downe the riuer. Then saide Lopez de Agira,