Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/564

546 son Ignacio, and by the Picos, Don Pio and his brother Andrés. They offered to Castro and Villavicencio as their ultimatum that Don Cárlos on Alvarado's submission would countermand his request for 200 armed Mexicans, and would give guaranties for the lives of the rebels against Chico and Gutierrez. He would also consent to an interview at San Buenaventura. Castro promised to go as a comisionado to Monterey to make known the propositions to Alvarado, whom, with Vallejo perhaps, he would induce to return with him to Santa Bárbara, where negotiations might be continued. He started on the 11th, and both the Carrillos addressed letters to Alvarado, urging him to submit.

Castro believed that there was really danger of a force coming from Mexico, and his object in coming north was to consult with Alvarado. He proposed and the governor approved a sudden attack on Los Angeles, to be followed by the sending of Don Cárlos and some twenty others to the north as prisoners. This plan was submitted to Vallejo, who probably disapproved it or counselled delay, not putting much faith in Carrillo's threats. Of course there was no thought of accepting the latest propositions. In these days the theory became current that Carrillo's appointment was spurious, since neither Alvarado, nor