CHAPTER XXIX

_How his Majesty sent a royal order to the Adelantado Sebastian de Belalcazar commanding him to execute the new laws and how the Procurators met in the city of Popayan and agreed to a supplication._

After the death of the Captain Francisco Garcia de Tobar and the arrival of the warlike Juan Cabrera at the town of Timana, the chain of mountains was crossed which separates one region from the other, and the Adelantado Belalcazar came to the town of Popayan where he remained for some days. At that time, being in the city of Cali, the news arrived of the royal ordinances and of the coming of the Viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela to enforce them. There was a great disturbance, but the people all believed that their neighbours would refuse to obey the ordinances. They said that please God, they would agree to what their neighbours did, for the injury was so great. Then came the news that the Viceroy had been received in Lima which was displeasing to them, and made them think that those in Peru had little resolution. Then a ship arrived at the port of Buenaventura which brought the new laws in a letter from the very high and illustrious Prince our lord Don Felipe, ordering the Adelantado Belalcazar to execute and enforce the new laws and ordinances issued for the government of the Indies, in doing which he would perform a great service. When this royal order arrived, all the people were disturbed, saying that they could not submit to such a serious injury being done to them; and that their services did not merit such treatment.

Belalcazar acted with prudence, telling the people not to be disturbed, for his Majesty would certainly show favour to them. He sent orders to all the towns and cities in the province to send Procurators, that they might consider what it would be best to do, in the matter of the ordinances. Having arrived at the city of Popayan, the Adelantado wanted to execute the new laws, having first put a great number of Indians under the head of his sons, because, at the time of compliance, it would not then be for him to give them up. The Procurators, when they saw that he wanted to comply, besought him, in the name of all the province, to support their protest. This was agreed to, the execution of the laws was postponed, and they named one Francisco de Rodas to go as their Procurator to Spain. His Majesty had already named the Licentiate Diaz Amendariz as Commissary General and examining Judge. In this way that province was kept quiet and there was no serious disturbance.