( 475 ) 



relations were infufficient, although the merchandize was taken upon 

 credit. The expence attending the fhips was nothing in comparifon to 

 that of his army, confifting of fix hundred and fifty foldiers with their 

 officers, and a number of horfes, of which latter a good one could not 

 be procured for lefs than three hundred crowns. Alvarado failed fome 

 time in the year one thoufand five hundred and thirty eight, for the 

 harbour of the Purification in the province of Xalifco, v/here he was to 

 take in water, and embark more foldiers. When the Viceroy heard of 

 this great armament, he becam.e anxious to have a fhare in it, and went 

 with Alvarado to view his fleet, after which they returned to Mexico. 



Alvarado wifhed to have a relation of his own, named Juan, (not 

 the Juan de Alvarado of Chiribito) as general, and the Viceroy was 

 anxious that an officer named Villalobos fliould have the command, 

 conjointly with him. Things were in this fl:ate when Alvarado was 

 obliged to return to his fleet at the port of Natividad ; and being there, 

 and juft ready to fet fail, he received a letter from Chriftoval de Onate 

 who was left in command at Xalifco, in the abfence of Francifco Co- 

 ronado, requefling his immediate affifl:ance to lave hirn and the fettle- 

 ment from the defl:ru(5liorr with which they were threatened, by the 

 force of the neighbouring Indians of Cochitlan. Alvarado fet off" with 

 his troops to their relief, and found them in a moft defperate fituation 

 indeed. The infurgents rather decreafed the violence of their attacks 

 upon the appearance of Alvarado's force, but ftill hoflilities were carried 

 on, and one day that Alvarado was purfuing fome of the enemy among 

 the rocks and mountains where they had retreated, a foldier who was 

 on horfe-back at a confiderable height above him on the fide of a moun- 

 tain, and whofe horfe had lofl: his footing, came, horfe and ail, rolling 

 down the precipice, and fl:riking Alvarado, brought him down with 

 them. By this accident he was fo much bruifed, that in confequence 

 thereof, and of being removed too fuddenly to the town of the Pacifica- 

 tion, he was.feized with fainting fits, and in the courfe of a few days 

 gave up the ghofl. God pardon his fins ! fome fay that he made a 



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