[XII‑14] Mendoza states that he fitted out as best he could 12 ships. Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iii. 507; Herrera, 12 deep-sea vessels, including one of 13 and one of 20 benches of oars. Beaumont, 12 ships. Crón. Mich., ii. 252; Tello, Hist. N. Gal., 382, a fleet of ships; Bernal Diaz, 13 good sized ships, including a galley and a patache. Hist. Verdad., 235; Vazquez, 13 ships. Chronica de Gvat., 159; Remesal, 10 or 12 large ships, a galley, and fustas with oars. Hist. Chyapa, 161; so also, Gomara, Hist. Ind., 268-9, and Torquemada, i. 323; Oviedo states that there were 13 ships, including large and small; 3 galleons over 200 tons each, a fine galley and two fustas; the other ships being of 100 tons burden and over, iv. 19, 20, 23; Juarros, 12 deep-sea vessels and 2 smaller ones. Gvat., i. 255, and Benzoni, Hist. Mondo Nvovo, 154, 10 vessels and 4 brigantines. Bernal Diaz asserts that the fleet was fitted out in Acajutla, and Tello at Realejo. Lastly Oviedo represents Alvarado as sailing from Iztapa, when 8 ships were built, to Acajutla. There is even more discrepancy with regard to the number of his men. Viceroy Mendoza states that the force consisted of 400 men and 60 horses. Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iii. 507; Oviedo of 1,000 men, some of whom he brought from Spain, and others had seen service in the Indies; Herrera that there were more than 800 soldiers and 50 horses; Bernal Diaz, 650 soldiers besides officers, and many horses; Tello, 300 Spaniards; Beaumont, 800, and 150 horses, and Benzoni, 700 soldiers.
[XII‑15] Herrera states that Alvarado despatched his expedition to the coast of Jalisco, there to wait for him, and went overland to Mexico, and Oviedo, iv. 26, also entertains this view; but Mendoza and Gomara, Hist. Ind., 268-9, distinctly states that he sailed with his fleet, and the former's testimony is conclusive. Oviedo gives the additional information that Alvarado sent a messenger to the emperor with an account of his expedition and drawings of his fleet. Oviedo had an interview with the messenger and saw the drawings. Vazquez wrongly asserts that on his voyage the adelantado discovered Acajutla. Chronica de Gvat., 159. He had already done so as early as 1524. See [Hist. Cent. Am., i. 670], this series. Bernal Diaz wrongly gives 1538 as the date of his sailing. Hist. Verdad., 236. The time of his departure was about the middle of 1540, for on the 19th of May of that year the cabildo requested him when on the point of departing with his fleets to take with him the imprisoned princes Sinacam and Sequechul. Vazquez, Chron. Gvat., 30.
[XII‑16] In Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iii. 351-62, is a copy of the agreement between Alvarado and the viceroy. Oviedo gives the copy of a letter addressed by Mendoza to himself, in which the viceroy states that the king, in his contract with Alvarado, was pleased to give him a share in the discoveries without his knowledge or solicitation, iii. 540. Mendoza states that this share was one half. Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iii. 507. Article 20 of Alvarado's capitulation with the crown authorized him to give Mendoza one third interest in his armament. Vazquez, Chronica de Gvat., 159.
[XII‑17] 'Acordamos despachar dos armadas; una para descubrir la costa desta Nueva España, é otra que fuesse al Poniente en demanda de los Lequios y Catayo.' Mendoza, Carta, in Oviedo, iii. 540.
[XII‑18] Hist. Mex., ii. 498 et seq., this series.
[XII‑19] When asked where he suffered, 'echando sangre por la boca decia: "Aquí y el alma;"' and when the priest arrived to confess him he exclaimed: 'Señor, sea bien llegado para remedio de una alma tan pecadora.' Tello, Hist. N. Gal., 393.
[XII‑20] His injunctions with regard to the disposal of his remains were but tardily carried out. Datos Biograficos, in Cartas de Indias, 709-10, 745; Tello, Hist. N. Gal., 395; Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iv. 276-7. Bernal Diaz erroneously states that he was buried at Purificacion. Hist. Verdad., 236. According to a clause in the will of Bishop Marroquin, made in 1563, Alvarado's remains were still at Tiripitío, 'donde està enterrado, que es en Tyrepati.' The former left 200 ducats to the convent where Alvarado was buried. He also left 1,000 pesos de oro de minas to found a chaplaincy in the church at Guatemala, that masses might be there said for his soul. Some years after the death of the bishop the daughter of the adelantado had her father's remains transferred from Tiripitío to Guatemala, where they were interred with great solemnity in the cathedral. Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, 190. Gonzalez Dávila says, 'En el año 1542 el Obispo comẽçó à executar el testamento del Gouernador D. Pedro de Aluarado,' and erroneously adds ... 'y el Obispo trasladó su cuerpo de Mexico à Santiago.' Teatro Ecles., li. 148.
[XII‑21] Tello, Hist. N. Gal., 394-5; Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iv. 274-6; Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, 161-2; this last author, page 187, states that Marroquin in carrying out the intentions of Alvarado's will, ordered the payment to be made for a set of clerical vestments which the friar Betanzos ordered him to furnish as a penance in 1528. Bernal Diaz remarks, 'Some say a will was made, but none has appeared.' Hist. Verdad., 236.
[XII‑22] The viceroy states that Alvarado's debts amounted to 50,000 pesos de minas, to which must be added 15,000 more expended by himself on his account. Carta, in Cartas de Indias, 253-4, and fac-simile R. Bishop Marroquin, August 1541, says that he left at his death debts to the amount of 50,000 pesos. Id., 429, fac-simile V.
[XII‑23] Mendoza, Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iii. 507-8.