Arrested by Gov. Peralta y Aloque in 1613
following an altercation with an alcalde
ordinario, or civil magistrate, of the Villa de
Santa Fe.

The incident occurred in late June 1613,
when several vecinos, tax-paying citizens of the
Villa de Santa Fe, went out to La Ciénega,
described as being four leagues from Santa Fe,
to brand cattle. It was there that Simón Pérez
de Bustillo, a supporter of the friars, and Juan
de Escarramad, an alcalde ordinario of the Villa
de Santa Fe and supporter of Peralta y Aloque,
exchanged heated words that led to the
drawing of swords. In the ensuing scuffle,
Escarramad was injured.

The precise role of Alonso Varela and his
relatives in the incident is not clear from the
original record.