wmsHipj ALLIANCE OF MENDOZA AND ALVARADO 409 



wiio were guided by able leaders possessing all the prestige of religious 

 authority — from attacking the frontier settlements and forcing the Span- 

 iards to congregate in the larger towns. 



There was much fighting during the early summer of 1540, in which 

 the settlers barely held their own. In August, the adelantado Pedro 

 de Alvarado sailed into the harbor of La Natividad. As the news of his 

 arrival spread, requests were sent to him from many directions, asking 

 for help against the natives. One of the most urgent came from those 

 who were defending the town of Purificacion, and Alvarado was about 

 to start to their assistance, when a message from Mendoza changed his 

 plans. The. two men arranged for a personal interview at Tiripitio in 

 Michoacan, where the estate of a relative afforded Alvarado a quasi 

 neutral territory. After some difficulties had been overcome, the terms 

 of an alliance were signed by both parties November 29, 1540. Each was 

 to receive a small share in whatever had already been accomplished 

 by the other, thus providing for any discoveries which might have 

 rewarded Coronado's search before this date. In the future, all con- 

 quests and gains were to be divided equally. It was agreed that the 

 expenses of equipping the fleet and the army should offset each other, 

 and that all future expenses should be shared alike. Each partner was 

 allowed to spend a thousand castellanos de minas yearly, and all expend- 

 iture in excess of this sum required the consent of the other party. 

 All accounts were to be balanced yearly, and any surplus due from one 

 to the other was to be paid at once, under penalty of a fine, which was 

 assured by the fact that half of it was to go into the royal treasury. 



Mendoza secured a half interest in the fleet of between nhie and 

 twelve vessels, which were then in the ports of Acapulco and of Santi- 

 ago de Colinia. Cortes accused the viceroy of driving a very sharp bar- 

 gain in this item, declaring that Alvarado was forced to accept it 

 because Mendoza made it the condition on which he would allow the 

 ships to obtain provisions.' Mendoza, as matters turned out, certainly 

 had the best of the bargain, although in the end it amounted to noth- 

 ing. Whether this would have been true if Alvarado had lived to 

 prosecute his schemes is another possibility. Alvarado took his 

 chances on the results of Coronado's conquests, and it is very likely 

 that, by the end of November, the discouraging news contained in 

 Coronado's letter of August 3 was not generally known, if it had even 

 reached the viceroy. 



The contract signed, Alvarado and Mendoza went to Mexico, where 

 they passed the winter in perfecting arrangements for carrying out their 

 plans. The cold weather moderated the fury of the Indian war some- 

 what, without lessening the danger or the troubles of the settlers in New 

 Galicia, all of whom were now shut up in the few large towns. Alva- 

 rado returned to the Pacific coast in the spring of 1541, and as soon as 



' The accusation was made by others at the time. H. H. Bancroft repeats the charge in his Mexico, 



but it should always be remembered that Mr Bancroft, or his compilers, in everything con led with 



the conqueror, repeat whatever it may have pleased Cortes to write, without criticism or question. 



