( 476 ) 



will previous to his death, but it never appeared. He was buried with 

 as much ceremony as could be beftowed upon his funeral, and his re- 

 mains were, as I have heard, afterwards removed to the town of Piri- 

 pito by Juan de Alvarado his relation. 



As foon as the news of his death was known to his fleet and army., 

 numbers difcharged themfelves, and returned to their homes with what 

 they had received. In Mexico he was greatly regretted. The Viceroy 

 fent off immediately the licentiate Maldonado, to take proper fteps to 

 prevent any confufion likely to enfue, and fliortly after following in 

 perfon, collecSled what remained of the foldiers, and marching againft 

 the infurgents in the rocks, after a tedious expedition fucceeded in redu- 

 cing them. The lofs of Alvarado was feverely felt-in his family. As 

 foon as the fatal intelligence arrived in Guatimala, the Bifhop D. Fran- 

 cifco Marroguin of excellent memory, and all the clergy, aflifted in 

 rendering him the funeral honours. His majordomo alfo, to fhew his 

 forrow, eaufed the walls of his houfe to be painted black, which colour 

 they remained ever after. Many cavaliers waited upon his lady Donna 

 Beatrix de la Cueva and her family, in order to confole them, for their 

 diftrefs was very great. They told her that fhe fhould give thanks to 

 God, fince it was his will to take her hufband, to which fhe as a good 

 chriftian aflented, but obferved, that (he wiftied to be . free from this 

 melancholy world, and all its misfortunes. 



Thefe circumftances I mention, becaufe the hiftorian Gomara attri- 

 butes the unfortunate event which fliortly afterwards befell her, to her 

 having fpoken blafphemoufly, in faying that God could do her no 

 more injury than flie had already fuflered. She met with her death in 

 the following manner. A deluge of water and mud broke from the 

 Volcano which is at the difl:ance of about half a league from Guatimala, 

 and bringing with it great quantities of large ftones and trees, over- 

 .V^ helmed the houfe of Donna Beatrix, who was at the time praying 

 with her women. As to the words which Gomara afcribes to Jber, flie 



never 



