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bad written to him to collect what he could, to fend to Caftillc. 

 The foidiers being thus excluded from any fliare, fome of them formed 

 a confpiracy to affaffinate Alvarado and his brothers. They were prin- 

 cipally mufqueteors and crofsbow-men. A foldier of the name of Tri- 

 bejo gave information to Fra Bartholome, a few hours before it was to 

 be attempted. The reverend father having called Alvarado afide, and 

 informed him of what he had heard, at the hour of vefpers, when the 

 latter was riding out in company with feveral of the confpirators, and 

 pafling by fome houfes, he faid to them, "gentlemen I am fuddenly 

 ** taken ill with a pain in my fide, let us return, and call a barber to bleed 

 me.'* On his arrival he immediately fent for his brothers George and 

 Gonzalo, together with the alcaldes and alguazils. He then ordered 

 them to arreft the afTaffins, two of whom were hanged; one was na- 

 med Salamanca ; he had been a pilot. The other was called Barnardino 

 Levantifco. They both died like good chriflians, the reverend father 

 taking great pains to bring them to a due fenfe of their fituation. 



Alvarado now returned to Mexico, leaving a colony in this place; 

 but when the colonifts found that the gold had been drawn away, that 

 the climate was hot and unhealthy, and infeflied with mufquitos, bugs, 

 and other vermin, and that they and their Haves were dying faft, they 

 determined to abandon it, fome going to Mexico, and fome to other 

 places. Cortes on hearing of the fetdement being thus renounced, cau- 

 fed an enquiry to be fet on foot, and found that it had been determined 

 by the alcaldes and regidors in council, for which he condemned them 

 to fufFer death, which was afterwards mitigated at the interceflion of 

 Olmedo to banifliment. Thus fell to the ground the colony of Segura 

 or Tutepeque, a very fertile country, but unhealthy. The cruelty and 

 extortion of Alvarado alienated the minds of the people, and they threw 

 of their allegiance; but that officer returning thither brought them again 

 to fubmiflion, and they afterwards continued peaceable. 



