realmes: for that he is a great solliciter both by sea and land in all kinde of diligence, not loosing one houre in your seruice, and that which he hath in charge. With as much speed as may be I will depart from hence to Mechuacan, to serue that church and your maiestie; and there I will remaine according to your maiesties commandement, with the bulles or indulgences. Our Lord keepe your maiesty many yeres in his holy seruice. From the city de los Reyes the first of March 1590.
Frier Alonso bishop of Mechuacan.
A letter from Don Iohn de Miramontes Suasola to Don Iohn Garcias de Penalosa from Arica on the coast of Peru the tenth of March 1590.
After my long trauell and badde successe, my fortune brought
mee to the Indies; where being void of all hope, and full of
griefe, I am become a souldier: a thing in this countrey which is
most hated of all other things, not onely of men, but of the wilde
beastes: and is an occupation which is chosen of idle persons.
English men in the South sea sought 3 yeres. The occasion of this is, that there haue bene in these seas, and yet are certeine English rouers: and in seeking of them I haue trauelled these three yeres: the one of the yeres a souldier, and the other two yeeres I haue gone for captaine and ensigne-bearer. And at this time here is arriued Don Garcias Vrtado de Mendoça viceroy of these realmes: who hath chosen me to be chiefe ensigne-bearer of an army which departed from hence to scoure the coast.
This was M. Chidleys fleet, whereof the Delight was in the streights of Magelan in Ianuary and Feb. 1589. For here we haue newes of the enemy, which is comming vpon the coast: for wee haue stayed for their comming these foure moneths the same way which they must come, in a hauen called Arica, which is the first entry of Peru. So I haue 90 pezos a moneth, besides other profits, at nine reals the pezo; and foure shares at nine reals the pezo. So that I haue 1800 pezos euery yere of pay: for the viceroy is my dere friend, and maketh great account of me. And I haue alwayes 400 ducats in my chest to goe like a man. I beseech God to send vs quietnesse. But yet it is the part of a gentleman to serue the king his master in these actions. And thus I rest. From the harbour of Arica the tenth of March 1590.
I kisse your worships hands,
and am at your commandement
Don Iohn de Miramontes Suasola.
