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Show 986 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN EARLY HISTORY EXPLORATIONS 287 upon a peace footing, a few settlers should be left, the main body of the expedition should proceed across the buffalo plains to Qui- Beltran was most enthusiastic in his description of the people and vira and beyond, even to the shores of the north or south sea, or to natives whose intelligence was of a superior character. Furthermore, the Spaniards had never failed to remember the tales of the wealth of Quivira, and Espejo’s report of the big lake, the populous villages, and plenty of gold was all that was required to arouse great interest in the prospects of any expedition which might re- the strait ‘‘which is near China, in latitude 57 degrees, the occupation thereof by the English or French being in this manner prevented.’’ Don Rodrigo was also of the opinion that the expedition should carry with it the material necessary for building two small ships, so that rivers and straits might be safely and easily crossed, or possibly for use in sending news to the viceroy, in the event any great discoveries should be made. The officer goes into all the details, suggests that friars be sent along and proposes that the officers and men be encouraged in their effort thus to explore the country by having their property exempt from taxation, the giving of titles, and very liberal encomiendas UI. SPANISH of the Indians of New Mex- ico.?%4 The report of the viceroy and its accompanying communication from De Losa received a favorable reception at the hands of his royal master, and in the month of March, 1583, an order was made by the king, instructing the viceroy to enter into a contract with some suitable person to undertake the expedition, in accordance with the laws and regulations, but without any cost to the royal treasury, the contract to be submitted to the Council of the Indies before anything was actually undertaken. This order was received in Mexico some time during the following month of August.?% About one month after a copy of this royal order was received by the viceroy, Beltran and Espejo returned from their expedition to the north, and the reports made by them awakened a lively interest in New Mexico and adjacent lands and provinces. The friar and Espejo both reported that the people were not hostile; that they had received a most friendly reception, and that the country was well worth settling and colonizing; that the natives knew nothing of the use of the precious metals, but ores, rich in silver, had been found at several places, which, with proper development, would sane New doubtless Mexico 295 Pacheco, Doc., result in good Testim., xv, pp. 100; 96-97-99, xvi, 297. producing viceroy to the mines. king, The November friar 1st, the prospects of saving the souls of over a quarter of a million ceive the royal sanction. Again, Rio del Losa, in his communication to the viceroy, had made allusicn to the necessity of further exploration and conquest because of the possible activity of other powers, and, as he says, to prevent ‘‘otras naciones de franceses 6 ingleses luteranos no la ocupen.’’ One, Padre Diego Marqués, had fallen into the hands of the English and had been closely questioned by them respecting his knowledge of the countries then being explored in the north by the Spaniards. There was living in the vicinity of the City of Mexico at this time aman by the name of Cristobal Martin, wealthy and prominent, who, having heard of the royal cedula and the reports brought to the country by the friar, Beltran, and Don Antonio de Espejo, made application to the audiencia for a contract of exploration under the laws and regulations. He was willing to head an expedition of two or three hundred men and would spend fifty thousand dollars in the enterprise. He desired a missionary force of not less than six Franciscans and two secular clergymen, and wished that he be supplied with certain arms and ammunition at the cost of the crown. Don Cristoval was evidently an ambitious individual. He also asked that he receive the title of captain-general and governor for himself and family during three lives of the kingdom which he should be able to conquer. He also wanted the right to distribute as encomiendas to his soldiers all of the natives of the conquered provinces for ten lives. He had ideas of power that are somewhat amusing to those who know how jealous was the Spanish crown at this time, for he gave as a condition of his undertaking the enterprise that he be given the right to appoint and remove all officials, He thought that the royal one-fifth of the and to grant lands. product of all mines should be reduced to one-twentieth for a period of one hundred years; that all products be exempt from tax- |