Cabeza de Vaca, 1543 39 
Single Men and Widowers who say they have Wives in Spain. 
Hernando de Alvarado. 
He says that he is a native of La Montaña, legitimate son of Juan 
Sánchez de Alvarado and Doña Mencia de Salazar. His father possesses 
the principal house and is at the head of those of his family name. He 
came to this New Spain with the Marqués del Valle nineteen years ago, 
and has spent those years in the service of his Majesty in the first discovery 
of the South Sea, on the expedition which the said Marqués made, and on 
the expedition to Cibola. By command of the general he made explora¬ 
tions and conquests more than two hundred leagues beyond [Cibola]; on 
this expedition he 15 discovered the cows [buffaloes]. On all of these 
expeditions he served as captain at his own expense with many horses and 
servants, receiving no salary from his Majesty nor from any other person, 
and he has not been remunerated; hence he lives in necessity. 
Juan Rodríguez. 
He says that he is a native of the villa de Alauje in Estremadura, is a 
legitimate son of Francisco Garcia and Inez Sánchez. He came to this 
New Spain twelve years ago, served his Majesty three years in the war 
of Chiapa and in Tabasco; he went to the new land of Cibola, and is poor. 
Juan de Cepeda. 
He says that he is a native of the city of Toledo, and a legitimate son of 
Pedro de Cepeda and Catalina Alvarez. At the time of the discovery of 
Peru, he and one of his brothers sold a certain farm which they held as 
their patrimony, and went to Tierra Firme. In Nombre de Dios 16 there 
were a number of negroes in insurrection. They took part in the pacifica¬ 
tion of these negroes, his brother being killed by them. He served his 
Majesty in Cartagena 17 and Santa Marta 18 in a number of expeditions. 
Ten years or so ago he came to New Spain, and went on the fleet of the 
Cibola expedition 19 as far as Culiacán, where he fell ill. Thence he 
returned with some despatches for your illustrious lordship which had 
been sent from Cibola. On this journey he killed two horses. He has 
no office, but has always maintained himself equipped with his own arms 
and horses. He is ready to marry, though he has not done so because he 
has nothing on which to subsist; he is in debt. 
Governor Cabeza de Vaca asks for a brigantine which is in the River of 
Seville and in which he came as a prisoner . He offers evidence. 
i *543 ?] 
Most powerful sirs: I, Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, chief and gov¬ 
ernor 20 of the provinces of the River de la Plata, declare that as your 
Highness has been informed through the proceedings and acts presented in 
