268 
GUATEMALA. 
two means of entrance closed, and then the thatched and 
wooden roofs were to be fired, and so the imprisoned 
enemy destroyed. It was an effective plan, and might 
have been successful with a less wary general than Alva¬ 
rado. He discovered the plot after he had entered Utatlan; 
but feigning friendship, he managed to get out of the city 
on the plea that his horses could not bear the paved 
streets, and the next morning begged the honor of a visit 
from the two kings. Oxib-Queh and Beleheb-Tzi came 
with a considerable retinue of nobles, and Alvarado re¬ 
ceived them with pretended friendship. When all the 
preparations were made, a party of soldiers loaded the 
guests with chains, and then their host bitterly reproached 
them (the poor heathen) for their plot. By a court-mar¬ 
tial they were condemned to be burned alive. This hor¬ 
rible sentence was carried out, and during Holy Week, 
April, 1524, the last legitimate sovereigns of the most 
powerful nation in Central America perished in the flames. 
Bishop Marroquin named the city that succeeded Utatlan, 
Santa Cruz (holy cross), because the Indian capital was 
captured on Good Friday! 
Alvarado wrote to Cortez: u That I might bring them 
to the service of His Majesty, I determined to burn 
the lords; . . . and for the well-being and peace of this 
land I burned them (yo los queme ), and commanded 
their city to be burned and razed to its foundations.” 
The scattered Quiches, driven to fury by the awful 
death of their beloved monarchs, fought to the death; 
and Alvarado was obliged to despatch messengers to 
Iximche to demand aid from his Cakchiquel allies, who 
hastened to send four thousand warriors to crush the 
bleeding remains of their ancient rivals. 
