The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-05-20
THE sPANIARD's REVENGE.
PERUVIAN TALE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.


It is now some three hundred years since
Licenciado Esquivel, governor Of Potocsi, now
called PotOsi, commanded two hundred men to
march out of tire garrison towards the kingdom
of Teumen, with strict orders to use 10 Indians
in carrying their baggage, and placed himself
at convenient station outside the gates, to
observe how his orders were put in execution;
he found they were wholly neglected, and that
Indians were laden with the baggage OF the
Spanards, but thought fit to let them pass by
till the last rank of all came up, out of which
he seized one man called Aguire, who had two
Indians laden with his goods. Within few
days after he was taken in arrest. he was SEN
tenced to receive two hundred stripes. Agure
represented by his friends, that be was the
brother of a gentleman, who had in his country
vassalage of Indians, and hoped his birth
would exempt him from a punishment of so
much indignity. Liceuciado persisted in the
kind of punishment he had already pronounced;
upon which Aguire pettioned that it might be
altered to one that he should not survive; and
though gentleman, aud from that quality not
liable to suffer so ignominous death, humbly
besought his excellency that he might be hanged.
But Licenciado appeared all his life, before he
came into power, a person of easy and tractable
disposition. be was so changed by his office that
these applications from the unfortunate Aguire
did but the more crafty his insoence; and dur
ing the very time of their mediation for the
prisoner, he insuitod them also, by commanding
with naughty tone, that his orders should be
executed at that very instant This, as it is
usual on such occasions made the whole town
flock together; but the principal inhabitants,
abborrng the severity of Licenciado, and pity
ing a gentleman in the condition of Aguire,
went in body, and besought the governor to
suspend, if not remit, the punishment. Their
opportunities prevailed on him to defer the exc
cution for eight days; but when they came to
the prison With his warrant, they found Aguire
already brought forth, stripped, and mounted
on an ass, which is the posture in which the
basest criminals are whipped in that city. His
friends cried ont, "take him off, take him off"
and proclaimed their order for suspending his
punishment; but the youth, when he heard that
it was only put off for eight days, rejected the
favor, and said, "All my endeavors have been
to keep myself from mounting this beast, and
from the shame of being seen naked; but since
things are come thus far, let the sentence pro-
ceed. which will be less than the fears and APP
prehensions / shall have in these eight days en-
suing; besides | shall not need to give further
trouble TO my friends for intercesson on my
behalf which is as likely to be Intellectual as
what hath already passed"
After he had said this, the ass was whipped
forward. and Aguire ran the gauntlet according
to his sentence. The calm manner in which he
resigned himself when he found that his dis
grace must be, and the scorn Of dallying with it
under q suspension of few days which mercy
was but another form Of the governors cruelty,
made it visible that he took comfort in some
secret resolution to avengc the aifrOnt.
After this indiguity, Aguire could not be per-
suaded (thOngh the inhabitants often importun-
ed him from the spirit they saw in him) to 20
upon any military undertaking. but he excused
himself with modest sadness in his oOunte-
nance, saying, that after such a shame as his
was death must be his only remedy and conso-
latjon, which he would endeavor to obtain as
soon as possible"
Under this melancholy he remained in Peru,
until the time in which the Office of ESquivel
expired; after which. Ike desperate man, he
pursued aud followed him, watching AN oppOr-
tunity to kill him and wipe out the shame OF the
late aflront Esquivel. being Informed of this
desperate resolution by his friends. endeavored
to avoid his enemy, and took long journey Of
three or four hundred leagues from him, sup.
posing that Aguire would not pursue him at
such distance; but Esquivels flight did but
increase Aguire's speed in following. The first
Journey that Esquivel took was to the city of
Los Reyes. being three hundred and twenty
leagues distant; but in less than fifteen days
Aguire was there with him; whereupon Esquivel
took another fight to the city of Quito, being
four hundred leagues distant from Los Reyes;
but in little more than twenty days Aguire
was again with him; which being intimated to
Esqulpel he took another leap as far as Cuzco,
which is five hundred leagues from Quito; but
in few days after he arrived there. came also
Aguirc travelling all the way on foot. without
shoes or stockings, saying, that it became not
the condition Of a whpt rascal to travel on
horseback or appear among men, In this
manner did Agure haunt and pursue Esquivel
for three years and four months; who being
now tired and weared with so many long and
tedious journeys, resolved TO fix his abode at
Cuzco, where he believed Aguire would scarce
adventure to attempt any thing against him,
for fear of the judge who governed that city,
who was a severe man, impartial and inhexible
in all his proceedings; aud accordingly took
lodging in the middle Of the street of the great
church, where he lived. with great care and
caution, wearing a coat Of mail under his upper
coat, and went always armed with his sword
and dagger which are weapons not agreeable to
his profession. However. Agure followed
hithcr also. and having in vain dogged him from
place TO place. day after day. he resolved to
make the attempt upon him in his own house,
which be entered. and wandered from room to
room, till he came into his study, where Licen-
ciado lay on his couch asleep. Agure stabbed
him with his dagger with great tranquility, and
very ltl-uItiJ uilu III ObHti pdl 70 vi
his body which were not covered with his coat
of mail He went out Of the house in safety;
but as his resentment was sated, he now began
to reflect upon the inexorable temper of the
governor of the city. Under this apprehension
he had not composure enough to fly to sane
tuary. which was near the place where he com
mitted the deed: but ran into the street frantic
and distracted, proclaimed himself a criminal,
by crying out, "Hde me, hide me-" He was
arrested and hung in ten days after.
The wretcheo fate and poor behavior of Licen-
ciado in flying his country to avoid the same
person whom he had before treated with so
much insolence. and the high resentment OF
man so incOnsiderabe as Aguire, when much
injured, are good admoDitions to little spirits
in exalted stations, to take care how they treat
brave men in low condition.
CRINoLNE-Of late we have had many inqni-
res into the derivation and Specification of this